The Lejendary Borderlands

Chapter VIII

2006-04-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cast of Characters
Inigo, Human Bravo (Swashbuckling) played by Jeremy
Gwydion, Human mercenary fighter (henchman of Inigo)
Loralask, Human Elementalist (Geourgy), played by Mike
Morpheus, Human Ecclesiastic (Theurgy), played by Carl
Phylus, Unordered Gnome (Physique), played by Chad

Thursday, 11 October - Dusk
The Avatars emerged in a lightly wooded area. They started marching in a southwesterly direction and it wasn't long, perhaps a half-hour or so, before they came across an east-west road. Unsure of which direction to travel, Morpheus attempted a divination: "Are we east of the Keep?" Unfortunately the divination failed. The Avatars then decided to break the "safe haven" so that Loralask could use his flying ability to determine their location. It turned out that the Keep lay several miles to the east of their current location, and on the same road. (The Old March Road.) The Avatars then packed up their gear as best as they could (Phylus, though conscious, was too weak to carry his own equipment), lit their torches, and started on their way home.

After an hour or two of walking, the party saw torches in the distance ahead (perhaps 300 yards). These torches were almost immediately extinguished, however, and the party was able to continue along the road unmolested. Except possibly for a few tracks, no sign of the other party could be found, and the Avatars returned safely to the Keep.

The guards at the gate were curious (especially about Phylus' missing arm), but not belligerent. Morpheus and Phylus returned to the party's apartment while Inigo, Gwydion, and Loralask descended on the Tavern for a night of revelry (celebrating the party's first amputation, perhaps?). The place was full of regulars this evening and no one seemed out of place.

When the next morning dawned, Morpheus and Loralask took the small green gem they had found in the Caves to be appraised. Kris, the jeweler, told them that he would give them 5 gold sovereigns ($600) for the gem, which turned out to be a beryl. Thinking they could get a better deal, Morpheus and Loralask left and made for the apartment. One of the acolytes from the Keep's small church was already at the door waiting for them. "Morpheus!" he called out. "Morpheus!"

"Yes?" Morpheus responded.

"Melchior would like to see you at your earliest convenience."

Figuring that no time would be more convenient than the present time, Morpheus (he took Loralask along with him to do the talking) went to see Melchior.

Melchior greeted the two Avatars, then immediately apologized to Morpheus. It turned out that Friar Simon had indeed been nothing so much as a charlatan -- Melchior, being a bit suspicious because of Morpheus' warnings, had taken the chalice he received from Friar Simon to be appraised. It turned out to be a cheap piece of work with gold plating and fake gems, worth perhaps 5 shillings ($50) (the real chalice was clearly worth much more). Melchior then handed Morpheus an envelope containing some letters and asked him to take them to the bishop (His Supernal Devotion Victor Oldham) in Yggsburgh -- about 200 miles to the west of the Keep. Morpheus and Loralask both agreed to undertake this task. Melchior thanked them and they both left the Keep by the gate.

Once they had gone about a mile or so down the road, Loralask inscribed a protection circle and command circle and summoned a Devati (air elemental). The elemental creature whisked them away and in short order (about an hour) set them down on Dunfalcon Pike near the entrance to Yggsburgh Town. They crossed the bridge over the River Nemo and each paid the four-penny toll ($2). The guards at the gate gave them directions to the Grand Temple or Cathedral where the Supernal Oldham could be found -- Crossgates Ave. to the Market Plaza to Citadel Ave. They found the great church and attached monastery with no difficulty (passing another smaller church on their way) and pulled the rope next to the nearest entrance. A porter dressed in a monk's habit (tunic, scapular, and cowl) answered the door. He took one look at their travel-stained garments and asked, "Weary travelers, how may I be of assistance to you?" The two Avatars replied that they had letters for the His Supernal Devotion and asked if they could have an audience with him. The porter explained that His Devotion is a very busy man; in addition to his duties here at the temple he is also a member of the town's Council of Eight. He told the two that he would take the letters for them and deliver them to His Devotion. Morpheus was suspicious and decided to question him on the subject of religion in order to prove his (the porter's) integrity. He asked an obscure question about the nature of angels and the monk, though a bit taken aback, answered it without difficulty. Morpheus gave him the letters and asked about Friar Simon. The porter averred that he had never heard of them, but referred the Avatars to the Priory of the Gray Friars.

The two Avatars then traveled down Friars' Lane to the Priory and rang the bell at the door. A piebald half-orc, dressed the habit of a friar, answered the door and asked what he could do for them. "I am Dutiful Brother Hrodmund," he said, speaking slowly in a deep, low voice. "What help might I (an unworthy sinner) offer to ye?" Morpheus explained about Friar Simon. Br. Hrodmund replied that he had never heard of him, but told them of a traitorous friar known as Br. Beanis, who was known as the "Black Friar" and who had been thrown from the top of one of the towers to die on the rocky bank of the river below, all many years ago. Br. Hrodmund also explained that the Gray Friars currently were lodging a wandering exorcist named Br. Stephen. The mention of the word "exorcist" set off alarm bells in the Avatars' heads, and they asked Br. Hrodmund if they might speak to Br. Stephen. Br. Hrodmund showed them to a small waiting area and left.

When Br. Stephen appeared less than 10 minutes later, Morpheus and Loralask knew immediately that he was not Friar Simon. Br. Stephen was shorter, older, balder, and wore the black robes of a desert hermit rather than the brown habit worn by Friar Simon. Br. Stephen apologized for his lack of social graces, noting that he had lived the eremitic life for many years and was not used to receiving visitors. Morpheus and Loralask cut right to the chase and asked the old hermit if he had ever heard of Friar Simon or seen anyone matching his description. He averred that he had not, but that if he had seen such a person he almost certainly would not remember, as he meets many friars, monks, and the like. The Avatars then asked him if he, being an exorcist of some renown, would travel to the Keep in order to exorcise the spirit now inhabiting the old graveyard. Br. Stephen replied that he would, and asked them to consider making a donation to the Priory in return for his service. He then asked the two Avatars' names so that he might ask for them upon getting to the Keep. "Morpheus," said Morpheus. "Loralask," said Loralask, forgetting temporarily that he had used a fake name at the Keep itself. But he covered his mistake quickly by telling Br. Stephen that he ought to ask for Melchior once he got to the Keep. Loralask then asked Br. Stephen if he might arrange for magical means to bring him to the Keep. Br. Stephen demurred, stating that he only travels on his feet, and pointed down to his aged feet in their well-worn sandals. Morpheus and Loralask thanked Br. Stephen and took their leave.

Friday, October 12 - 10:00 a.m.
Not trusting the price offered to them for the beryl by the jeweller at the Keep, Morpheus and Loralask decided to find a jeweller or gemner in Yggsburgh to whom they could sell the gemstone. They walked east on Citadel Ave. until they got to the Market Plaza, where a jewelry shop was easily recognized by the cluster of diamonds on its sign. Ranolf Marks, the jeweller, offered the same price for the gem as did Kris, the Keep jeweller, but recommended that the Avatars approach a jewel merchant named Edward Bloomer, who was particularly interested in emeralds and beryls, back on Friars' Lane. They would recognize the house by the armorial bearings displayed at the gate: an anchor or on a field purpure. And, indeed, when Morpheus and Loralask approached Master Bloomer he offered them 7 sovereigns and two crowns ($900). The two gladly made the exchange. They then returned to the Grand Temple to see if the Supernal Oldham had returned. Upon hearing that he had not, they asked the porter some further questions: Has he ever heard of any clerics with the ability to regenerate limbs? is it possible that His Supernal Devotion has this ability? etc. But the porter, Br. Lithos, was not very helpful in this regard, and the two Avatars decided to return to the Keep.

(Meanwhile, Inigo, ostensibly keeping an eye on Phylus, was silently stewing over the party's plan, revealed the prior evening, to "renegotiate" his contract. The party had initially agreed to give him 1/3 of all the treasure recovered on an expedition, mindful of the fact that he was paying Gwydion out of his own pocket; but now Morpheus and Loralask wanted to reduce his share to 1/4 to make for a more "equitable" distribution.)

The two travelers returned to the Keep around noon. They immediately went to Melchior and informed him that they had delivered the letters. "Already?" he asked. Morpheus nodded toward Loralask, who started launching into an explanation of how they had managed to travel so far (and back!) so quickly. Melchior put up his hand. "I don't even want to know." But he also told them that he had arranged for them to be introduced to the Castellan the following morning.

Saturday, October 13 - 8:00 a.m.
The party (minus Phylus) went to the gate of the Inner Bailey accompanied by Melchior. The gatehouse stood here, virtually a small fortress, with heavy gates double-bound in iron and spiked. Two guards stood in front of the gate, two on the lower battlement of the gatehouse, and two more on the upper battlement. The party was admitted to the Inner Bailey, a grassy area on which some dozen soldiers were engaged in jousting and weapons practice, and brought (by the two gatehouse guards) to the Fortress. In turn, they were admitted to this structure and brought into a long (50' long) audience hall. The Castellan, Sir Maldwyn, stood at the far end of the audience hall, flanked by Ben-adar on his right and another soldier, unknown to the Avatars, on his left. Sir Maldwyn spoke first: "Salvete! I thank you for coming to this audience. After hearing of your deeds from the Pious Melchior, my two advisors, Ben-adar" -- here he gestured to his right -- "and Albrecht" -- here to his left -- "thought it best that you be brought before me."

The Avatars began the audience by wondering, since they were now in the employ of the Church, whether they might be excused from paying the 10% tax levied on all booty brought into the Keep. Sir Maldwyn looked at Melchior, who shrugged his shoulders. "Employed by the Church?"

"Well," replied Loralask, "we are undertaking a certain mission for them," and then he explained about the haunted graveyard.

"Very well," responded Sir Maldwyn. "Any booty you recover while on your mission for the Church will not be subject to the levy. Still, any other booty you might bring into the Keep will be subject to it. I cannot set aside our law based on your deeds alone; it would not be fair to the others whose deeds have been even greater and who paid out the tithe without complaint." The party agreed to these terms. "You are not in my employ, and if you were, you would certainly not be permitted to keep 90% of the treasure you recovered!" Here he smiled and gestured for the Avatars to come before him. "Melchior?" The three Avatars then knelt while Melchior stretched out his hands and said a blessing over them.

Chapter VII

2006-02-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

People and Places II

2006-02-02T06:34:00.000-08:00

Allan - A mercenary fighter once employed by the party.
Ben-adar - The Castellan's advisor and chief tax enforcer. An Ilf.
The Blue Fairy Tavern - The Keep's lone tavern.
The Caves of Chaos - A series of caves located in a wooded area about two hours' travel to the northeast of the Keep.
Friar Simon - A wandering holy man and renowned exorcist.
Gwydion - A mercenary fighter once employed by the party, now a henchman of Inigo.
Inigo - A swashbuckler or Bravo the party encountered in the Keep.
Johann - A mercenary fighter once employed by the party.
Kris - A jewel merchant currently staying in the Keep.
Leo Reximilian - The taverner.
Melchior - A Curate or Under-priest. The highest-ranking clergyman in the Keep.
Mercy's Fortune Mine - A mine located somewhere to the north of the Keep.
Wilhelmina - A waitress at the tavern. A pixie.

Comments, anyone?

2006-01-30T12:37:00.000-08:00

Chapter VI

2006-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Chapter V - Part 1

2005-11-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

Cast of Characters

Inigo, Human Bravo (Swashbuckling), played by Jeremy
Gwydion, Human mercenary fighter (henchman of Inigo)
Loralask, Human Elementalist (Geourgy), played by Mike

Morpheus, Human Ecclesiastic (Theurgy), played by Carl

Phylus, Unordered Gnome (Physique), played by Chad

Thursday, 4 October
The Avatars debated what to do from the safety of their haven. In the end they decided to return to the Keep -- the kobolds had even managed to slay the Destroyer summoned by Morpheus (not, of course, before he cut down many of them) -- by surrounding him and pulling him to the ground. Rhys' untimely death made the decision easier. They returned to the Keep area with his body in tow, and buried him at the foot of the Flat Rock. They entered the Keep at dusk, not long before the gates closed; Phylus returned to their apartment, while Morpheus and Loralask returned to the Tavern.

One man stood out from the rest of the Tavern's patrons -- a garishly-dressed dandy arrayed for what can only be described as "swashbuckling." He sat at a table in a dark corner of the Tavern's common room -- along with a companion whose back was turned to the Avatars. As Morpheus and Loralask approached the young bravo, they recognized his companion as Gwydion, one of the mercenary fighters they had hired to explore the Caves while Phylus was ill. Morpheus was not pleased.

Chapter IV

2005-10-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cast of Characters

Loralask, Human Elementalist (Geourgy), played by Mike

Morpheus, Human Ecclesiastic (Theurgy), played by Carl

Phylus, Unordered Gnome (Physique), played by Chad

Rhys, Human Warrior-Monk (Unarmed Combat), played by Jeremy

Wednesday 3 October - 12:00 p.m.
The Avatars stood outside the cave for a short while debating what to do. While they stood undecided, six more kobolds came out of the cave mouth and started hurling spears at them. Phylus rushed forward to attack them and cut one down almost immediately. But he took damage from the spears of two others, and some of his fellows sustained further injuries, too. Morpheus then activated a "safe haven" and drew them all -- Loralask, Phylus, and Rhys -- into a pocket dimension for rest and healing. They could still see the material world from their haven, though it appeared dim and shadowy, and they watched the five kobolds drag the bodies of their comrades back into the cave mouth.

Wednesday 3 October - 5:00 p.m.
The Avatars rested for the night. The next morning (Thursday 4 October), they traveled to the eastern border of the Wood. Morpheus built an altar there by the main road and summoned a Destroyer. The party then traveled back to the kobalts' cave and went in. There was no sign of the previous day's battle at all. They had gone only 30 feet down a passageway when suddenly the ground opened before them. The Destroyer fell into a pit and the floor closed on him. As the party struggled to pull him out, the kobolds (kobalts) became aware of them and mustered a huge force to attack them.

Phylus, Rhys, and the Destroyer stepped carefully around the pit to engage the kobolds, while Morpheus and Loralask stayed on the other side and fought with spells. The three warriors cut down many of their foes, but the kobolds were too numerous and both Phylus and Rhys suffered grievous wounds. Rhys fell under the crush of the attack. Morpheus was able to activate another "safe haven" for the Avatars, but it was too late to save Rhys. The remaining Avatars watched from their sanctuary as the kobolds slew the Destroyer through sheer force of numbers.

Chapter III

2005-09-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cast of Characters

Loralask, Human Elementalist (Geourgy), played by Mike

Morpheus, Human Ecclesiastic (Theurgy), played by Carl

Phylus, Unordered Gnome (Physique), played by Chad

Rhys, Human Warrior-Monk (Unarmed Combat), played by Jeremy

Tuesday 2 October - 5:00 p.m.

The Avatars returned to the Keep on the evening of October 2 with a severely-injured Rhys in tow. The whole Keep -- except for the Tavern and the Inn -- was closed in anticipation of the next day's religious holiday. The Avatars returned to their apartment, while their hirelings Allan, Gwydion, and Johann headed over to the Tavern. Rhys' wounds were rubbed with salve and he went immediately to bed.

About two hours later (around 7:00 p.m.), there was a knock on the door of the Avatar's rented rooms. Loralask opened the door to reveal the slender figure of an ilf. The ilf introduced himself as Ben-adar, an advisor to the Castellan. He asked the Avatars if they were associated with some mercenaries -- Allan, Gwydion, and Johann. It seems that these three had engaged in some revelry at the Tavern, bragging about their exploits in the Caves of Chaos, and had a little too much fun. They were put in gaol for the evening and warned that if anything of the kind happened again they would be expelled from the Keep. Loralask, somewhat surprised, responded that he had no knowledge of the three and couldn't be responsible for them. Morpheus and Phylus pleaded innocence, and said that they weren't responsible for them, either, and had severed whatever business relationship they might have had. Ben-adar then warned the characters that because their adventuring was exposing the Keep to risk, they ought to "donate" a certain percentage of their adventuring "take" to the Keep. The Avatars also learn the Castellan's name from their conversation with Ben-adar -- Sir Maldwyn. Loralask (foolishly?) shut the door on Ben-adar while he was still talking.

After this brief encounter, they retired for the night.

Wednesday 3 October - 7:00 a.m.

The night passed uneventfully. In the morning, Morpheus was able to heal Rhys and also Phylus, who had suffered a number of injuries the previous day when fighting first the ghoul and later the troll. Morpheus and Rhys then went to the Chapel and joined the Curate, Melchior, and his three acolytes, Shem, Ham, and Japeth, in singing the morning's Office. They were able to speak to the Curate once services were completed. Here they learned some new details about why many inhabitants of the Keep are so mistrustful of gnomes. The mine that the gnome-like creatures known as "kobalts" were under contract to quarry was known as Mercy's Fortune and it lay somewhere to the north of the Keep. But Melchior wasn't certain when the mine was abandoned -- it must have happened before he arrived at the Keep some 12 years ago. Melchior was also careful to point out that at least some of the dislike of gnomes prevalent among the Keep's inhabitants is probably just old-fashioned prejudice, and the incidents at Mercy's Fortune only brought it out into the open. Morpheus and Rhys then told Melchior about the chapel and cemetary immediately north of the Keep and the ghoul-like creature inhabiting one of the tombs. Melchior gave his thoughts on the matter, namely that the tomb should be sealed completely and the entire area (re-)consecrated. But neither he nor Morpheus has the ability to do so at the moment.

Morpheus and Rhys went back to the Avatars' rooms and then on to the Tavern with Loralask. Allan, Gwydion, and Johann were there, looking a bit disheveled. Morpheus talked with the taverner, Leopold, briefly, trying to find out more about Mercy's Fortune. But Leopold didn't know much more than Melchior; he said that he had been in the Keep for over 15 years and that Morpheus should ask an old-timer about the mine. While Melchior et. al. were sitting at the bar, Allan came up and asked if anything was on the agenda for that day. Morpheus told him that his and his cohorts' services were no longer required. Allan became quite angry, pointed his finger in Morpheus' face, and told him that he would regret it. Then he stomped off.

The Avatars then set out for the Caves once more. Realizing that they were low on food supplies, they decided to do a little bit of hunting. Thanks to Loralask's Ranging ability, they were able to track and kill a small deer. Quickly butchering the deer, they were able to procure some 20 pounds of venison. They decided to pack it up as well as they could, and perhaps smoke it later to preserve it.

They reached the Caves about two hours later. This time they decided to try and explore the first cave on their right, but before they could even take a peek inside they heard a rustling in the trees above and 10 small, blue-skinned figures dropped down and moved in to attack. The Avatars were were taken by surprise, and a bit taken aback by the speed and ferocity of the "kobalts"' attacks, but eventually were able to overcome them. All of the kobalts were slain, but the party did sustain a number of injuries.

People and Places

2005-09-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

Black Mountain - A desolate region far to the north of the Borderlands, dominated by a large mountain and surrounding forest (the Barren Pines).

Bolieac - One of the sons of Tharkun, killed in the mines of Dar-Shazzar.

Borderlands - The semi-civilized region between the Eastmark and the western marches (Westmarch) of the Realm.

Bruno - One of the sons of Tharkun, killed in the mines of Dar-Shazzar.

Catfish Creek - A creek located to the south of the Keep, so-called because of the abundance of catfish that can be found there, that flows into the Hidden River.

Dar-Shazzar - An ancient, abadoned city of the Dwarves in the Cairn Hills of the Westmarch.

Dunfalcon - A large free city about 380 miles from the Keep.

Durag - A Half-elven Magic-user killed in the mines of Dar-Shazzar.

Eastmark - The region immediately to the east of the Great Kingdom, ruled by three palatine nobles and a number of petty nobles. The Eastmark is some 50 miles from the Keep.

Flat Rock - The small plateau on which the Keep is situated; or the surrounding area.

Goranthus - The capital city of the Realm.

Great Kingdom - A kingdom located about 100 miles to the west of the Keep.

Great River - A wide river, flowing from the north to the south, separating the Realm proper from the Westmarch.

Grink - A monk killed in the mines of Dar-Shazzar.

Harbury - A small village near Black Mountain.

Hidden River - A river flowing west to east into the Great River, called "hidden" because its mouth is obscured by dense foliage.

Hommelet - A small village in the Westmarch.

Kallistos Halifirien - An Ilf messenger of the Crown.

Karl Thrommel I - First Prince, now King of the Realm, rescued by the party in the Moathouse of Elemental Evil.

Loralask - An Elementalist who joined the party in Flat Rock.

Malangrod - One of the sons of Tharkun. A Dwarven fighter, one of the survivors of Dar-Shazzar.

Maldwyn - The Castellan of the Keep. A gentleman.

Morpheus - A cleric (or Ecclesiastic), one of the survivors of Dar-Shazzar.

Paul - The banker who owns the loan bank in the Keep.

Perun-Ydey - A battle-hardened Gnome fighter killed in the mines of Dar-Shazzar. Phylus' cousin.

Pharkun - A Dwarven assassin killed by the party in Dar-Shazzar. Tharkun's twin brother.

Phylus - A Gnome fighter, one of the survivors of Dar-Shazzar.

The Realm - A kingdom located about 150 miles to the east of the Keep.

Rhys - A Warrior-monk who joined the party in Flat Rock.

Stoneford Meade - A village north of the Keep, about 50 miles from the Eastmark by the River Nemo.

Thac0 - A Wizard killed on a deserted island by a carniverous ape.

Tharkun - A Dwarven fighter falsely accused of a crime committed by his twin brother, Pharkun. Rescued by the party and later exonerated after the disaster at Dar-Shazzar. Had four sons -- Bolieac, Bruno, Malangrod, and Ubaldus -- three of whom were killed at Dar-Shazzar.

Ubaldus - One of the sons of Tharkun, killed in the mines of Dar-Shazzar.

Westmarch - The western marches of the Realm.

Yggsburgh - A free town in the Eastmark.

Chapter II

2005-08-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cast of Characters

Loralask, Human Elementalist (Geourgy), played by Mike (absent)

Morpheus, Human Ecclesiastic (Theurgy), played by Carl

Phylus, Unordered Gnome (Physique), played by Chad

Rhys, Human Warrior-Monk (Unarmed Combat), played by Jeremy

Monday 1 October - 8:00 p.m.

The Avatars, minus Phylus, made one more trip to the tavern (The Blue Fairy) before turning in for the night. This time both Morpheus and Rhys tried the special drink. It left Morpheus feeling a bit sluggish but Rhys got violently ill. Morpheus was able to put his knowledge of herbalism to good use, however, and identify a few of the herbs that went into the making of the blue fairy -- sage, wormwood, and a local herb known only as blue grass (said to give one a greater appreciation for rustic music), responsible for the blue tint of the drink. Rhys retreated to the apartment but Morpheus and Loralask sat in the tavern looking for likely fellows to bring on as mercenaries. The tavern was still busy at this time of the evening but nearly all of the patrons were local folk -- watchmen, guardsmen, and the like. With prospects rather dim, Morpheus and Loralask returned to the apartment and turned in for the night. They did not set a watch but their sleep was not disturbed.

Tuesday 2 October - 6:00 a.m.

The Avatars awoke early the next morning. Loralask announced that he would spend the morning doing some scouting, and Morpheus returned to the tavern for breakfast. Phylus, wary of appearing in public, stayed back at the apartment and he and Rhys shared a hunk of dry sausage and some bread. Then Rhys, too, went back to the tavern.

Morpheus' quest met with some degree of success as he encountered three mercenary adventurers looking for work -- Allan, Gwydion, and Johann. They struck a deal whereby the three would join the Avatars for an expedition as long as they received 50% of any treasure won. Rhys, suitably appalled at his fellow Avatar's negotiating skills, suggested that Allan and company give a tithe of their reward to the Church. The mercenaries agreed.

Loralask had not returned when the party decided to set out to explore the rest of the Flat Rock plateau. Just north of the Keep they encountered an overgrown area and espied some ruins, seemingly deserted. As they crept closer they found that these were the ruins of an old chapel and cemetary. They poked around these ruins for a bit and found a small crypt with a hole in it, looking as if it had been recently disturbed. Phylus peered in and saw heaps of trash, piles of old bones, and a few half-eaten carcasses (of what creature he dared not guess). He volunteered to go in and explore as he was the only party member small enough to crawl in. He was surveying the debris when something slammed into him from behind and nearly sent him stumbling. There was a sharp pain in his back. He wheeled around with his sword drawn to face a small (no larger than he!), ghoulish creature with yellow fangs and impossibly long claws. Before the creature could slash at him again, Phylus struck out with his short sword and sent the creature reeling. The ghoul raked Phylus with his claws again, but another sword-blow from the gnome dispatched the creature.

Seemingly. As Phylus looked over the debris in the room again, he felt another blow land on his back. He spun around and swung his sword, leaving the ghoul in a heap on the floor. He stood over the creature, waiting to dispatch it once more, and watched with his own eyes as the wounds he had inflicted upon it healed of their own accord. The ghoul jumped up, but before it could attack again Phylus lopped off its head! However, as he watched the head rolled back toward the creature and reattached itself to the stump of its neck! Wisely, perhaps, Phylus decided to leave the crypt before the creature attacked again. The others (all 5 of them) were waiting outsitde.

Leaving the crypt/cemetary area, the Avatars decided to explore the chapel. They found a carved stone altar lying on its side upon a dais. Examining the bottom of the altar, they noticed a small hole cut into the stone that looked as if it once might have held a compartment of some sort. Perhaps to hold the relics of a Saint? In any case, whatever had been stored or hidden here was now long gone.

Rhys and Morpheus decided to set the altar in its proper position, and with Phylus' help they were able to push it over. It fell with a loud BOOM but did not sustain any damage.

Tuesday 2 October - 8:00 a.m.

The Avatars, a bit shaken after the encounter with the ghoul, decided to return to the Keep. They went back to the tavern once again (minus Phylus) and debated whether they should set out once again without Loralask. The three mercenaries -- Allan, Gwydion, and Johann -- sat in another area of the tavern and attracted a bit of attention with their tall tales of their own bravery. Loralask returned to the Keep around the same time and handed the other Avatars a rough map of the surrounding wilderness area, then announced that he was going to bed, having worn himself out flying around the Keep. The map showed a forest to the north with two clearings, one large, one small. Morpheus, Phylus, and Rhys decided to make for the smaller clearing. The three mercenaries accompanied them.

They were able to find the clearing without much difficulty (it was about 1 hour's walk from the Keep, and another hour through the dense forest; they approached it from the east) and discovered that they were at the bottom of a ravine! The walls of the ravine were rather high -- about 100 feet or so -- of dark, streaked rock mingled with earth. Clumps of trees could be found here and there, both on the floor of the ravine and up the sloping walls of the canyon. The floor of the ravine seemed to be about 200 feet wide and 400 feet long, the western end rising in a steep slope. Gaping cave-mouths beckoned from various heights on all sides of the ravine. The Avatars were quite certain that they had located the Caves of Chaos.

The party decided to explore one of the Caves. Two caves could be found on their left (the south side of the ravine wall) at an elevation of about 25 feet. The Avatars and their hirelings scrambled up the side of the ravine, loosening some earth in the process and making a future descent more difficult. They chose to explore the more westerly of the two caves. Peering inside, they saw the sleeping shape of a large bear.

Morpheus decided to summon a venging angel, and began to prepare his propitiation and votive summoning materials. Rhys decided not to wait, and taking Allan with him entered the cave itself. They were confronted almost immediately by a huge troll-like creature, at least 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide, standing atop a leather bag, and wielding a huge spear. Before Rhys and Allan could even approach the creature, he flung the spear directly at Rhys. Rhys was able to dodge the spear, but the troll drew a huge flail with a spiked head. Rhys pummelled the creature with his fists, to no avail, while Allan swung and missed with his short sword. The troll brought his flail down on Rhys, causing a bitter wound. Rhys, sensing that his unarmed combat skills were of little use in this battle, drew his knife. The commotion attracted Phylus and another of the hirelings -- Johann-- and they, too, entered the fray. Before they could come to Rhys' aid, the troll delivered another blow with his flail, and Rhys fell to the ground in a heap, unconcious. Allan and Johann swung wildly with their weapons, but Phylus was able to strike the troll with his sword. As the din of battle grew louder, Morpheus decided to abandon his Invocation and come to the aid of his friends. As he entered the cave with Gwydion, he tried a new spell. Failure.

Meanwhile, Phylus endured a strong blow from the troll, and struck back again with his sword. The hirelings seemed completely ineffective. Morpheus tried his spell again. This time brought success, and a glowing mace wrought of white gold appeared in his hand. He and Phylus were able to bring down the troll, though not without Phylus' suffering another injury from the giant flail. Morpheus then tended to Rhys -- binding his wounds and casting a spell to bring him back to conciousness -- while Phylus and the three hirelings explored the cave.

The "bear" turned out to be nothing but a huge bearskin, under which lay a pile of leaves and twigs. Presumably this was the troll's bed. Phylus cut open the leather bag and found seven large sacks within. He opened each sack to examine the contents:

silver coin
a wheel of hard cheese
copper and electrum coin
gold coin
a keg of brandy
copper coin
gold coin

He thought it unwise to count the coin right there in the cave.

Phylus also discovered a side cave (to the east of the main cave) that the troll had been using for waste. Under a heap of old bones in this side cave he found six arrows, a vial of some clear, viscous fluid, and two plaques (1 & 2), each holding one Theurgy activation: Confer Righteousness (1), and Nullify Toxins (2).

Chapter I

2005-08-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

We began the evening by making introductions. Carl is playing Morpheus, an 8th Rank Human Ecclesiastic (Theurgy); Chad is playing Phylus, an unordered Gnome (Physique); Jeremy is playing Rhys, a 9th Rank Human Warrior-Monk (Unarmed Combat); and Mike is playing Loralask, a 9th Rank Human Elementalist (Geourgy).

Cast of Characters

Loralask, Human Elementalist (Geourgy), played by Mike

Morpheus, Human Ecclesiastic (Theurgy), played by Carl

Phylus, Unordered Gnome (Physique), played by Chad

Rhys, Human Warrior-Monk (Unarmed Combat), played by Jeremy

Background

After the disaster at Dar-Shazzar, Morpheus and Phylus received word from an emissary that the King had been assassinated and Prince Karl Thrommel had acceded to the throne. Most importantly, the messenger (one Kallistos Halifirien) informed them that they were no longer under the protection of the Crown. Their task, if not complete, was now made impossible and they decided not to return to the Realm. They would encounter both Rhys and Loralask (separately) along the Old March Road in the Flat Rock region of the Borderlands. Having seen so many of their friends and colleagues killed (Durag, Grink, Thac0, Perun-Ydey) already, Morpheus and Phylus were reluctant to take them on, but a nighttime encounter with some halfling thugs quickly changed their minds.

The area known as the Borderlands is a barely civilized region sandwiched between the western marches of the Realm and the lands of the Eastmark (so-called because it lies to the east of the Great Kingdom). Getting to the Keep itself can be difficult -- it lies about 150 miles, or three days' hard riding, to the west of the Realm proper along rough wilderness tracks; and about 50 miles from the eastern reaches of the Eastmark through barren fields that are mostly unsettled. Still, in the area immediately around the Keep one can still see the vestiges of civilization -- a few small family farms, itinerant workers, wandering caravans, and the like.

The Keep is located along the Old March Road. Fifty miles to the east, the Old March Road joins the March Road, and this road extends for another 100 miles to the east, at which point it enters the Realm itself and becomes the King's Highway. Twenty miles to the west of the Keep, the Old March Road meets the March Road again, and from then on as one travels east the road is known as the River High Road and its track is closely marked by the course of the River Nemo.

Some leagues to the north of the Keep can be found the village of Stoneford Meade, and further north still the desolation of the Black Mountain.

South of Flat Rock one finds the Catfish Creek and its tributaries, and still further south the Hidden River (so called because its mouth at the Great River is concealed by dense foliage). Between the Catfish Creek and the Hidden River lies a lush but wild region called the Valley of the Greenleaves, or (colloquially) the Valley Green. There are swamps and fens surrounding the Catfish Creek, known to be extraordinarily dangerous.

The Keep is one of the holdings of John Richard, the Lord Smythe, and is administered for him by his Castellan, Sir Maldwyn. Smythe's arms are a red shield with two arms embowed holding a torch, above an arm holding a dagger; his motto is "Tenebras expellit et hostes" -- "He drives out the darkness and the foe." Smythe is a palatine noble and has so far resisted attempts by two nobles of the Eastmark, the Count Easmoor and the Marquis Talworth, to bind him to vassalage. In this he has the secret support of the Realm, which would rather not see Easmoor and Talworth extend their holdings to the east.