Not too long after, a book is left for Abe to find, "The Crazed book of Mog". It has plenty of info to decipher but, what he can understand takes the group through the planes again. This time finding a salt & pepper shaker used for further plane hopping and further infor into Artimus. They meet a verdant Prince (twice) throughout their travels. It/they has breasts,, and befriends the group, It's name is Lynette.
It doesn't take long for the robots to notice the group. Gourd charges out to attack and goes into a rage. Abe accidentally hits Gourd missing it's target. Gourd then uses him (Abe) as weapon and swings him around like a log. He then grabs Sura and uses her as a great spear towards a larger enemy near the river bulkhead. After the attack, Gourd charges the big robot again and disappears into the oil/blood river.
MoPuck instructs the group on how to navigate through the remaining buildings to get towards the ruins of his old tower. They rescue Gourd, and his now broken/ severed horn. They go through the painting portal.
They find that the Tinker Gnome "Sprock" in there. He reveals that these bots were all his invention!
Their next stop is in the Ethereal plane where they meet the "ghost" of Alexander Darkwood's protégé "Artimus".
They follow further breadcrumbs through the planes and wind up in Sigil. After some issues at the local pub, (Gourd threw a Centaur through a window), they make a "barter" for the tapestry on the wall of dead dragon", then head over to an abandoned warehouse that Abe knew of as a safehouse.
A storm comes through and a Ogre Mage plows through the door seeking refuge. His name is Gil and they all make friends and ride out the storm. Then a Mercykiller arrives with a warrant for Rasa's bounty from Diamond bed City. The combat is swift and executed perfectly. The Mercykiller never had a chance to get a hit off. The group asks if Gil wants to follow along with them on their journey and he agrees.
Wurm creates a zombie out of the Mercykiller who still wields his Greens-steel full plate armor (with no smell!).
Strange bells ring in the streets of Sigil, but no immediate horrible things happen after the bells ring....
Mordilane's second performance doesn't go so well. Drinks were thrown, lots of angry shouts and the group was asked to leave the pub. They make their way down to a new place called "You Dun Walk Right Inn".
Wurm encounters a cackling old crazy man. He touches Wurm's hand and burns a symbol into it. Abe recognizes this symbol as the signet ring of Alexander Darkwood. They press the old man for more information. He tells them to "follow the bread crumbs".
Meanwhile Rasa speaks to the barkeep (Sly M'Connor) who immediately points out the wanted poster with a picture of his face on it. Sly pulls out a stiff bottle of spirits and they drink at the bar as Rasa tells his tale to the barkeep.
Gourd breaks the closet window to where Rasa was sitting at the bar and says it is time to leave, he just killed 6 Diamond bed city guards. Rasa pays for the broken window and the group leaves. Wurm's new symbol guides them to a large citadel in town. They are invited in (eventually) and meet with Levinforth Reginaire the 2nd. After a most glorious meal and conversation, he reveals his true form as a large winged demon. They gain the knowledge of how to "follow the bread crumb trail" as there is a portal in the fireplace to take them closer to Abe's quest. MoPuck gets an important dimensional anchor magical eye ringlet that will make sure they can get home.
They have to drug the Gourd to get him to come inside and use the portal. Wurm sends the cart, horses, & clerics on their way to make the journey back to the new church of Noir with the barrels of the fountain of youth.
They follow the demons instructions and complete the ritual to allow them to use the portal in the fireplace.
They arrive in the far future in an alley in Diamond Bed city. There does not seem to be any living people here. There are just automatons bustling the streets. The rain comes down like oily grease. It is cold and damp, and everyone feels a sense of dread.
With some great rope use work, the group get's Abe out of the pit. They bash the door down beyond which leads into a large chamber with a pool of water at its center and an apparition of a man in white holy vestments. They converse with the ghost and find that the pool of water is a "fountain of youth" so to say. He says that this place was not meant for them. Shortly the old Paladin Sir Lewis Hensworth is in the doorway screaming at the group and draws his sword to attack. The group overtakes the Paladin and Sura's harpoon "runs him through"! The apparition points at the Paladin and magically is now naked. Sir Lewis makes one last dying attempt to enter the chamber and tries to tumble past Sura. He fails miserably and only makes the harpoon wound worse. He dies, a few feet from the pool of water. Wurm casts a spell which prevents Sir Lewis from ever being resurrected and pushes him into the pool of water.
The ghosts of both of Sir Lewis' squires appear. Percy asks Wurm to do the same to him so he can suffer the same fate as his lord. The other Squire Lucander mysteriously disappears. The group barrels up whatever amount of the sacred water they can. The place collapses in on itself shortly thereafter.
They head back East with plans to head back to Surnoth to bring the barrels of youth water back to the Noir Cathedral under construction.
They secure passage on a small ship which leaves in a few days.
The group makes their way down to the base of the mountain. Gourd overhears some arguing in the thick jungle and cautions the group to move silently. Mopuck cast an invisibility sphere and the group approaches. They come upon an old paladin of Ion yelling at his squire at a small campsite.
"I am telling you, there is evil in that thick jungle" he shouts, "Sure there is Sir Lewis" the squire says. "Just relax and drink your soup"....
Rasa approaches and starts up a friendly conversation. "Sir Lewis Hensworth XII of the Abbey Isle, last of his name" is properly introduced to Rasa by the squire. Before long the rest of the group emerges, and despite some of the group being "evil", the old Paladin invites them for some Tea.
"Percy, get the good cups and spoons!" shouts the Paladin. "Percy has been dead 20 years sir Lewis" the squire snaps. " I am you new squire now, Lucandor Ferinoth, remember?".... "Yes, yes, I suppose."
Sir Lewis asks for help in getting to the ruins of Mithra as they have gotten a bit lost. Wurm and Sir Lewis draw up a contract and the group agrees to the quest.
Randy asks Lucandor to take a walk and they leave camp to get firewood. Randy tries to put the moves on him, but the squire is steadfast in his holy ways.
Meanwhile the old Paladin falls asleep after his tea. Mopuck fills his armor with blueberries and apricots as a fun joke.
The paladin eventually wakes up and stands up and the blueberry and apricot mush pours out of the coif of his armor, all over his turkey neck fat. He seems quite confused and scared. He stumbles, and faints. Lucandor comes to his aid and removes his armor to clean him up. While he is doing this, Randy wraps a noose around his neck and hangs him in the campsite, just like Percy, Sir Lewis' previous squire who also hung himself 20 years ago. The group leaves before the Paladin regains consciousness.
The front horse gets killed by a massive spear out of nowhere. They find Queen Sura, Mopuck's old friend. She apologizes for killing the horse. They make it to the ruins of Mithra and take shelter in the dome of an old cathedral during a wicked hurricane.
The hurricane washed away a bunch of soil around the base of the ruin and reveals a set of steps leading down. They find a door at the bottom with the symbol of Ion and enter. Mopuck creates some skeletons to set off any traps. Abe moves further in and he also falls through a pit trap...
The group heals up and spends a few days at camp. They then spend several uneventful days heading west into the jungle. Wurm gets a message from his ghost that there is a tortured soul of Noir nearby. The group puts the beast to rest....
They are then attacked by apes.... Most stay in the trees. One attacks and grows in size tenfold!
They kill the apes and move forward.
They get to the base of the mountains. There is a village nearby that is known as the "Petrified Village of Mithos" The group wrangles over heading up the mountain verses heading to the village.
Ultimately, they head to the village. They find a magical rectangle with choices. They decide on sacrificing a bunch of apes instead of time travelling....
On the mountaintop, Rasha gets hit with razor-vine and starts to bleed out. Luckily Mopuck leaps to the task and scorches the ever bleeding wound with a fire spell. Abe finds the weapon he was tasked to locate.
The group heads into the jungle. They are ambushed not long after by woodland creatures know as Wood Woads.
The group hires a Lawyer by the name of Neopold Dixon Esq. (assistant "Chevonne" ~ clearly a man in drag). They discuss multiple options. Ultimately, they decide on breaking him out. They hire a dragon to help with a payment of horses.
The group enjoys a great birthday party for Mopuck at the sages castle.
They break Rasa out from prison in a brazen event of dragon acid breath weapons which nearly kills Rasa in the process.
Wurm had prepared two coffins to get them out of the city. They escape without a hitch on a ship to Mikas. A well laid out plan well executed...
The group discusses their options in the common room of the guest house. A zombie raven arrives with a message from the high cleric of Noir here in Evonmar. He offers his assistance and gifts the group with the messenger bird. They decide to send word to Gourd to send Patrina to confront the Duke, Wurm even uses the raven to send the eyes of the dead servant to Patrina so she has them when she arrives.
The Duke's family graveyard bursts with movement as the dead rise from the graves. The zombies take a protective stance in front of the guest house. The Dukes troops mount outside as Patrina arrives. She holds the eyes of the servant and explains her diabolical murder. She throws the eyes at the Duke which hit him on his breast plate. Then the large tentacle creature inside of Patrina comes out.
The Duke clears the group of any wrong doing and are free to go. The creature burrows into the ground, (maybe we can adventure with him again someday...).
Logan, the high cleric of Noir, tasks Wurm with the delivery of a very important sarcophagi, treasure, & 100 skeletal soldiers to the new cathedral building side.
They travel to the site and find the circling elk all dead and now just bones, fused together into a large circular fence. They witness older animals come from afar to the fence to die there. And their corpses get fused to the wall as well. The master Mason meets them and shows them all of the progress. The 100 skeleton soldiers fuse with the fence as well, but look more like equally spaced guardians around the compound. The only portion of the church completed so far is of the time delay chamber. This is where the sarcophagus is to be buried.
MoPuck gets to work on building custom book shelves inside the chamber as the rest work on digging the hole and getting the sarcophagus into place. Wurm's friendly clerics arrive on Dragonback with sacks of Noir bibles to fill the shelves. The group asks for a ride back to Diamond bed city as they are going to help Abe get to Mikas to further his quest.
When they arrive in Diamond bed, they are greeted by the town guard upon leaving the grounds of the church of Noir. Rasa has a warrant for arrest and is taken into custody. The group goes through all of the red tape and finally gets to see him in his cell. Rasa tears a piece of his robe and ties it to his small window grate (so the group can find it from outside).
The group is told to seek legal council. Mopuck's mentor call's him home and informs him that his birthday is coming and to prepare for a celebration!
After the father and son duo head off toward Diamond bed, the group continues heading East. After a few days Wurm is starting to hate camping and traveling. They find a large clearing (wheat field). What is strange is that there is the symbol of Noir in the Wheat (like a crop circle). It can only be seen from the sky, but it is a clear that this is the "sign" Wurm was looking for. Mordilane finds a dead tree not too far off and is enamored with it and starts to peal off the dead bark. Once he peals off all of the bark, the tree appears to be made of fused bone.
One of the areas of the crop circle (the tombstone portion of the Noir symbol) seems strange. After stepping within the circle, time seems to slow down. They determine that this area allows time to slow down by 1 hour per minute, giving the person time to rest or study and pray. 24 hours in the area = only 24 minutes in real time. A great find indeed.
Wurm places down the foundation stone seeing a perfectly dug hole to accept it and feeling quite confident that this is "the place". After placing the stone a caravan arrives with a group of 13 masons. The leader of the group introduces himself as Master Mason Bierson Remley. He explains he is on a mission from god to build a church. He comes up with a quick sketch of the first chamber which will encompass the area around the strange time altering portion of the field. He also sets a stake in the ground of where the eventual front entrance will be which will look at and be centered on the bone tree 200 yards away.
Bierson gives Mordilane a page of sheet music. Once he starts to play, a herd of Elk arrive at the site and start to run in a circle around the area. This piece of sheet music seems quite special as after he finishes the song, the entire page changes to a new song.
The masons start pulling stones from bags of holding and begin work. The adventurers leave and head further east towards Evonmar. When they arrive, Mordilane finds one of his flyers hanging in the blacksmiths shop and immediately goes to work of drumming up excitement for his upcoming performance. He works his way through the community and finds himself in the company of Duke Orek Isenwood. The Duke is smitten with the Bard and invites him and and his friends to stay at his guest house on his estate.
A formal dinner is produced for the "out of towners". A whole pig is presented and the group enjoys a quite lovely and elegant dinner.
During dessert a scream comes from the main entrance. One of the female servants has been murdered. Her vocal cords and entrails strapped around her, hanging from the girders above. Her eyes are also gone/ removed.
Everyone heads back to their quarters. In the morning the Duke and several fully armed soldiers arrive at the guest house. He is not happy. He gives the group 12 hours to turn over the murderer before he is forced to call upon the clerics in town to speak with dead and call out the culprit. He assures the group that if they give up the member of their party that did such horrible deeds, he will be merciful. But if they don't, then all members will suffer the same fate as the murderer.
12 hours....
The group heads East another day and makes camp. Wurm spends time with the ghost and realizes he can concentrate and see through her eyes. Fascinating!
After the nuns clean up breakfast, a large boom in the sky is heard. The group sees an air ship in flames crashing in a clearing in the forest and go to investigate.
There are human and Wyvren bodies everywhere. They witness three humanoids traveling to the ground on a floating disk. When they go to greet them, one is already gone. They meet a father and son fencing duo on vacation who had plans to head to Diamond city.
Checking out the crash site, they find an open portal. It leads to an underground prison of sorts. Tentacles attack from the grates in the floor, a strange metallic looking beetle and two strange purplish hounds escape behind a door. After solving a few riddles, the group is able to obtain the keys to the prison chamber (floor). Instead of attacking the strange large tentacled creature, they parlay. MoPuck brokers a deal. The creature can only leave by taking the body of a humanoid. Patrina agrees and the creature enters her. She looks a bit odd, like her skin is not sitting right.
The fencing duo spends the night and leaves in the morning after breakfast. They vow to meet again. The father and son leave towards the west for Diamond bed city.
Abe finds another item. One that turns his hand into wood. He can move it but it takes some effort.
Soon after the group is greeted by two clerics of Noir riding young black dragons. Applebottom gets a chance to ride one and is beyond the moon excited (even shitting himself). The clerics bring holy vestments and equipment for the four damsels. They perform a ceremony inducting them into the holy church order.
Gourd the minotaur admits to licking the ass of one of the dragons and was rather intrigued!!!
The following morning one of the damsels is missing!!!! (Becka). Abe uses his tracking skills and unfortunately finds her disemboweled and hanging from a tree by her own intestines.
Wurm calls on Noir for help and takes Becka's skull. He is granted the ability to speak with dead. He learns how she died. She materializes as a ghost and jumps on Wurm like a backpack.
Another strange encounter finds Abe with a new pet/friend. A baby Blue dragon. He names him Alexander. Alexander's first effort to impress his new friends is to eat Abe's snake, then belches.
Varis has a heart to heart with the rest of the group (minus Rasa).
Mordinlane expresses interest in going on a world tour and has flyers made and sent out throughout the lands. The group gears up for their first "camping" trip out of the city.
Varis, says he will stay behind to find his stuff that was stolen.
Wurm is given a new mission from the high cleric. He needs to place a foundation stone and hire a builder & architect to build a new church. He is told that he will know when and where to build it from a sign from god.
The group leaves for the east and gets to the forest by nightfall. As they set up camp, they hear screams in the distance. They rescue 4 young maidens being savagely raped by a large group of thugs. They kill the thugs and bring the maidens back to a camp for a glorious meal prepared by Gourd (rabbit stew).
They meet a new companion named "Abe" who also joins them for dinner.
The forest is cold and damp and all of the companions feel it as they are used to warm beds inside of buildings with fireplaces....
After the skeleton battle, the group searches the underground lair. They find a pile of bones in the center of a ritualistic pentagram. It starts to grow flesh and after some time a large Minotaur is "re-born". He introduces himself as Gourd and then upon realizing he is underground he faints. Once revived the group gets him safely to the outdoors.
The group enjoys a great evening of food and drink at the Dead post Alley Inn with the Bard playing his sad, sad songs.
Meanwhile Gourd tells the group of the two orc females he rescued in an alley. He says he killed the assailants and wasn't sure who they were. The group investigates to make sure he didn't kill the town guard. Thankfully, they were just thugs. The orcs had only come into the city to buy some sheep. Varis offers to help them get their sheep at a fair price and escort them out of the city. After seeing them clear of the city walls, he is ambushed by a bunch of thugs who beat him to near death and leave him naked in the streets.
Meanwhile, a fire rages at Rasa's dojo and the city quickly responds. The roof will need to be rebuilt, but the building is saved.
Back at the Dead Post Alley Inn, soup is served and Rasa is nearly killed with poison. Thankfully Wurm was there with a quick spell to prevent his untimely death. The barkeep and employees are interrogated, but none seem to have been the one to spike the soup.
Later that day, the group heads over to MoPuck's citadel where they discover his mentor Malacron is missing. He then notices that his new obscure sheep painting above his bed has changed and now shows a new image on it of what appears to be the old sage Malacron next to the blurry sheep. They speak to Malacrons assistant who provides them with scrolls that allow them to "enter" the painting (a "demi-plane"). They rescue Malacron along with a young girl named Amy who was trapped in there for about 10 years.
A few days later Yo-Soon approaches the group with a new mission. He gives them the location of an underground crypt which he explains, has multiple skeletons that need eradicating. After some intriguing work with a magical cauldron trap, the group makes their way down into the dungeon. Wurm "charms" multiple skeletons (even taking some to be his henchmen) allowing the rest of the group to handle the rest. They find numerus scrolls, potions and fun items after fighting a Troll sized undead.
The group is hanging out at the Church of Noir when a high ranking member of the Town Guard enters and asks to speak to Wurm. He explains that his name is Gabriel and was told by Yo-Soon (the Anti-paladin) that Wurm and his companions might be able to help him with a delicate situation. Gabriel explains that his daughter Emma was brutally raped by a rich merchant who is in town, with his large ship docked at the pier. Emma is in bad shape and is fighting for her life. He asks the group to kill the merchant, but before his death he wants to makes sure his penis is removed. He gives the group a set of glasses to wear during the event so he can scry magically from a distance to watch. Being a prominent member of the Town guard, he cannot participate, but ensures the group that the rest of his men are aware and will not interfere with the event.
Randy Applebottom's eyes light up and eagerly accepts and puts on the glasses. The group stages a diversion for the ship's henchmen with the Bard playing on the dock, encouraging all to join. A successful diversion and intense performance by Mordilane (bard) allows Randy to get onboard and into the lower levels of the ship without notice.
Randy finds the merchant (Louis Farboat) in his master suite in the process of raping yet another young girl tied to his bed. Randy overtakes the merchant and rapes him to his surprise. While being raped and screaming for help, Randy cuts his penis off and stuffs it into his mouth.
They rescue the girl and kill the merchant. Town guards all around give an approving nod thereafter.
Unfortunately, Emma succumbs to her wounds and dies. She was never able to have the knowledge that her rapist was properly violated himself and then killed.
The group heads into the dungeon. They come to a room with multiple doors. Yo-Soon takes time to decipher the various texts & hieroglyphics and determines which door to use. The group enters and is immediately thrown into combat with some strange creatures with no eyes and a strange tentacle coming out of its head.
Everyone spends a few days handling their personal affairs. One morning Rasa is practicing his "Kata's" in the yard behind his closed dojo when he is approached by an Andalanese man in simple silk clothing. He tells Raja that he hasn't seen that routine since watching his father do them every morning so many years ago. He explains that he came to the dojo to put flowers on his father's grave who is buried here. He tells Raja he is on several quests from his god and asks if he and is friends are looking for some work. He introduces himself as Yo-soon Hallabauk, Paladin of Glamdrin
The group is introduced to Yo-soon outside of the Dead Post Alley Inn as they all are coming to meet for dinner. Yo-soon is now in full armor on a mighty horse with a squire riding a pony. He hires the group to help him find and clear an ancient bone temple that is buried deep beneath the city streets.
To get there though, they need to gain access to a fireplace located within an art gallery in the very fanciest part of town. Mordinane tries first to approach the receptionist to somehow gain access to the back room where the fireplace was located. Even being as charming as he is, he was not able to win over the heart of this woman. Varis then makes an attempt but causes an altercation which leads to him being asked to leave. He runs out pulling paintings off the wall.
They then check out the rear and find a back entrance. Once they figure out how to open it, they are met with four 1/2 orc security guards. Battle ensues and they are victorious.
They get down the fireplace secret shaft and find a room with 6 doors. Yo-soon takes some time and determines that the door to the East is the right one. They open it and find a bone encrusted door at the end of a short hall....
Wurm heads to his church and is tasked will helping "dispose" of the two bodies from Randy's back alley endeavors. He gets a chance to watch his high priest at work to create skeletons and takes any remaining organs he might have use for. The new skeletons are given cloaks and sent to work the grounds of the church of Noir as gardeners. Wurm can be the one to thank for cleaning up the "ass axe murder mess" from the night before.
The group meets back up at the Dead Post Alley Inn and make amends with the barkeep (Rarfalynn ~ 1/2 elf) after Randy's exploits. Business is bad with all of the town guard sniffing around so Mordilane heads over to the docks to rouse's up some new business. In no time at all the place to hopping with patrons and all is well. The group enjoys a great evening of food and drink.
They are ambushed by 12 thugs upon leaving. The battle is fierce, but the adventurers prevail.
The adventurers all find themselves at the Dead Post Alley Inn for various reasons. They arrive before the dinner rush and have the place to themselves. Mordilane the Bard puts on a glorious show for the group. Eventually the place fills up with a large group of sailors. Randy realizes his money is gone after a little back alley action with two sailors. He takes the two sailors back out to the alley and puts an axe to their backs. He then accuses Varis and his prostitutes of stealing his money. Eventually, one of the prostitutes is caught by Mordilane as she tries to plant the missing money pouch on him while he is playing on stage. He returns it back to Randy. Wurm puts on his gear and gets to work taking the vital organs of the dead sailors. They all head over to Rasa's dojo afterwards and they all meet his sensei Yanewmay. Yanewmay is apparently good friends with MoPuck's Sage teacher Malacron. Yanewmay says he needs to close up shop for awhile as he has business over seas in his homeland of Andalahn. He encourages Rasa to head out and seek adventure and return at a later time.
New List of adventurers
Jon J: Wurm - Human, Cleric
Sal T: Rasa - Elf, Swordsage
Sal D.: Randy - Human, Dragon Shaman
Greg: Varis Daenar - 1/2 Elf, Rogue
Paul: MoPuck Granger - Beholder, Wizard
Austin: Fyorn Bughenswart - 1/2 Elf, Wizard
Eddie: Mordilane Solgloom - Human, Bard
The group moves further through the chambers. After several battles, including Jin being killed, they make their way to the last chamber. Thunk (Eddie) kills Xeroxen and they are sent back to the prime material plane (back home).
They get Jin (Sal T) resurrected. The companions decide to do one more mission before Delvin (Jon J) has to return East for his wedding. They decide on the Mud Sorcerer's Tomb and contact the "Xavier" (luxury ship) to arrange travel.
The group battles through many interesting creatures and puzzles in the Mud Sorcerer's Tomb and make their way out successfully. Afterwards, the adventurers part ways for now to handle their own obligations, promising to meet and adventure together again someday.
Sura heads back to Mikas to see her mother and daughter.
Jin heads to Diamond bed city to further his fledging business & real estate endeavors.
Clyde (Greg) heads back to his workshop aboard the Xavier.
Murphy (Sal D) flies away to connect with other forests & groves to share his knowledge of current events and just get back to nature.
Panaras bids farewell as he and his new wife Sonata (song dragon) plan to "See the world!" and spread their music!
Fyorn (Austin), MoPuck (Paul), & Thunk (Eddie) head to Diamond bed City to find new adventure.
Sprock decides to leave and head to Burningtown on Furnoth, a place he has always wanted to visit being the "worlds ultimate forge".
Delvin's father's business with the exotic horses provided by the group long ago is thriving, and will be the leading breeder in all of Surnoth in no time at all.
They rest and then head into the next crypt/dungeon of Xeroxen. They encounter several traps which Dohnt takes care of. They find chained up a fiery creature and a young beholder which seem friendly enough. They free them and they join the party and head further into the dungeon. They encounter a large giant who is the "protector" of his "friend". He doesn't budge, eventually he is relieved and another version of Xeroxen appears. After a good conversation, they convince him to at least take "just the tip" of the dagger to prove their story. He agrees and pops he like a bad balloon covering everyone in chopped meat and goo.
They use the compass to head towards the next Xeroxen. They get to the crypt, dismantle the entry traps and enter the next lair.
The group fights their way through some fiends & devils (being in hell has that kind of problem unfortunately). Dohnt dons his new "forever boots". They take over his legs and make them like molten lava. Not fun to look at, but effective. Jin dies after being injured in trap he "didn't see" and then getting swarmed by more devils. The group "agrees" to send forward nine of Murphy's guys to their death. It is needed to open portals.....The group kills the next version of the god Xeroxen and they move onto the next.
Things look bleak when the rest of the group does not hear back from Sprock. They go to investigate and find both the witch & daughter dead on pikes, and the horses gone.
Panaurus (killed in the alley out back of the church), the witch, & her daughter are brought back to life by the clerics in Evonmar. Sprock, Clyde, the witch, & her Daughter are heading to the ship in Diamond bed city.
The group is asked to take on the task of killing the god Xeroxen. None of the high priests are overly conformable with this, but it appears to be the only way to restore order on this planet/plane. The Tree-ant "Westerlund" finally arrives and after a brief encounter, kills a large demon (Pit Fiend) outside the church.
Panarus decides to stay behind and not head back to Hell after his last experience. He reunites with the Song Dragon "Sonata" and they run off to Diamond bed city and will reunite with the rest of the group there.
One of the security guards at the Glamdrin church offers up his services "Dohnt" and joins the group on their quest back to hell to "kill a god".
All of the high priests unite and combine their clerical energy to send the group to the multiverse.
They arrive in the city of doors ("Sigil").
Not too long after arrival, they make their way into a tavern which has some curious looking "hourglass" sconces around the main fireplace. This leads to their portal back to hell.
They find themselves in a large grassy field. Eventually, they find a cave entrance leading underground.
The group heads into the forest. On day three towards Evonmar they encounter a newly crashed air ship which is still smoldering. They determine that there is much loot to be gained here along with a bunch of magical items. But they will have to come back for it.
The next day an intense looking (attractive, but strange) woman riding on a young dragon lands at the camp. She introduces herself as Princess Dealeeya and proposes her request to marry Delvin to align a secure Hilltown alliance and the hills beyond. She expresses her great admiration for the deeds he has done and Delvin agrees. They shall be wed in six months time. She gives him her hair pin with which they can speak with one another via message spell each day.
The group gets to Evonmar and informs Sprock about the airship wreckage salvage site. He mounts up with some hired hands and the witch and her daughter (Elga & Elsa) join them to handle the cooking and camp duties for the crew.
The "queen" arrives like she owns the place. Conversations go south and the group is attacked by several large Orcs and Minotaurs inside the Wyrmwood Inn. Jin is able to summon an "Assassin" to help. He turns out to be a cerebral vampire (sucks brain juice).
Unknown to anyone, the quite dead "Gericks Blackfoot" surprises all with summoned undead skeletal ground support.
The companions take down all enemies. The Vampire turns to Jin and tells him that this was not the queen, but a decoy.
The heroes grab some horses and head south to regroup.
Halfway to the town of Berens, they encounter a nasty oversized undead skeleton with nasty bowel issues. They survive the encounter and move further south.
The group discusses their options. Sprock finally gets back and brings with him all of the material components Clyde would need to create a magic item of "message" so that they can be in constant contact with Captain Octavior of their ship "Xavier". This way Sprock doesn't need to travel by Wyvren every time they need to contact him. The ship is now sailing back to port at Diamond Bed City. With the massing army to the north, Sonata (the song dragon) says she is going to fly south and see if she can muster up some more of her kind to help. They discuss fleeing the town with the townsfolk to get them to safety. The governor of Hill town says that he and his citizens are choosing to stay. Why run? Their town is basically one road. The approaching armies will most likely pass it right by as it has no tactical benefits. If this new queen is going to rule Surnoth, then why not get under her good grace early...... (so the letter he received said).....
The group Hitches a ride on the Song Dragon "Sonata" and heads to Mikas. Sura's mother is unwell and the kingdom crown's Sura as queen. Sura's daughter "Sera" is full grown now (wings & tail and all). After speaking, Sura admits that there is more in this world she wishes to do and see. She abdicates her throne to her daughter. Sera tells her mother that she is quested with bringing home a new heir (get pregnant again). They leave and head back to Hilltown.
Murphy and Sonata fly out to do some recon work on the army and find that their is in fact more to the story. They are being lead by a female Satyr who is claiming Surnoth as hers and naming herself Queen. "Queen Hellmyra". She is sending out scrolls to all communities saying to join her or be enslaved under the new kingdom of Surnoth. They also find that she has a second in command which is a Centaur by the name of "Lyiam Darkfoot". She now has an elite strike force of Minotaur's that look quite battle-hardened as well as 4 quite large Blue dragons in their ranks now. The Army is rapidly growing.
Much to be discussed at dinner at the Wyrmwood Inn....
The group travels North. Before they reach the next village, they encounter a large (+2,000) Orc army encamped in the hills. They turn around and head back to Hilltown to warn them . On the way back they find a strange "sewer grate" covered in rock and mud. Murphy melts the earth and they open the metal grate. A beautiful half elf emerges and Panarus is immediately enamored. The two head off into the forest and much music can be heard. A few hours later the group finds Panarus naked in the back of the cart huddled in the fetal position. He is not trembling in fear but in shear adrenaline/ excitement/exhaustion. He tells the group that the woman is actually a song dragon (quite rare) and they in fact made love and music together. He says it was the best moment of his life!
The group heads back to Hilltown and warns them of the massing Orc army to the North. They catch a ride from the Song Dragon "Sonata" so Sura can get back to her mother in Mikas. Sprock takes Delvin's Wyvern to re-route the ship back to the port in Diamond bed city.
Jin is left alone and interrogates Sir Jonathan extensively. He eventually gets the knight to confess. He took on a job for the Mercy Killer Guild in the planar city of Sigil to kill the adventurers. He has been jumping in and out of time portals and killing chronomancers along the way to find the group and kill them. Jin finds a sack of broken and bloody hourglasses & the wanted/reward posters for the group in his possession. The knight admits he has failed and wishes to die. Murphy provides him with a poison.
They find a door in the basement which leads them to a wounded frail man. He is missing his foot. It turns out that he is the high cleric of Xeroxen from Furnoth, but from a different time. The group fights 2 suits of animated armor, they also find a nasty torture room with hanging limbs, & and ultimately, find a fireplace which has a portal to send the high cleric back to his own home/time. The group also finds a door which they can't open but somehow they think is part of the mud sorcerer's tomb which is halfway around the world! They leave the Wryrmwood tavern basement and make plans to head back to Diamond bed city to go investigate the Mud Sorcerer's tomb.
The companions make their way back to Hilltown. The town has grown substantially since last they were back. Delvin's Barn is filled with new massive horses, Sprock''s workshop next door, is still under construction... The Wyrmwood Inn which forever ago the group helped Gertrude build is thriving. She greats them enthusiastically and summons her staff to prepare a major feast. All is well and the group finally feels a sense of relief. They delivered Sura's baby home, saved their friends soul from Hell, and became luxury ship owners... life is good.
Before the blood pudding could be served, the door slams open and men in chain mail and armed to teeth start firing cross bows at the group. A great battle in the Wyrmwood Inn is about to go down!
Thunk almost dies, one guy runs away and Clyde follows after him into the streets and eventually knocks him out and drags him back, only the squire. They leave the last guy barely alive. The Interrogation begins....
Sir Jonathan Argenti of the knight's of Torinklar
The group heads out of Diamond bed city to make their way back to Evonmar. Their quest is to save their friend Panarus back from the depths of Hell!
Halfway through the journey, they are ambushed by a band of orcs. Rather then parlay or engage, they ride faster. Fyorn and Thunk cast spells at the orcs killing most as they ride by. The arrows and spears hurled at the war cart do nothing, money well spent...
They arrive in Evonmar and speak to all of the high Clerics. They retrieve Panarus's body (on ice) and the Clerics prepare a ritual to send back to hell.
They arrive in a strange place with swirling mists and limited visibility. They are attacked by shrieking ghosts of some kind but manage to keep them at bay as Panarus' body violently flails around as his soul transitions back into his body.
Panarus is back, but the group quickly realizes that Koa (the spirit walker) is gone. When they speak to Panarus and mention Koa, they find out that it was his imaginary friend as a boy and shows them his children's toy he always keeps with him. It is Koa indeed with fiery wings. The spirit walker (maybe Panarus' guardian angel) is all but a small figurine.
They head back to Zearth leaving Hell behind.
The group mounts up and heads back to Hilltown. It has been a long time since they have been back home for most.
The group arrives at Squint-town. After the ship crew has headed to town, Jin gets the word through his coins to take out the captain. He (captain) is found trying to create new glyph's & wards to summon more demons on the ship. Jin kills the captain and with no one on board to hear any screams, sneaks out quietly.
Jin and the group meet up at a tavern and compare notes. Just then, several large demons (most likely pit fiends) attack the ship and set it aflame. They fly off only after confirming it is destroyed.
Late in the night, a Very Large ship arrives (The Xavier). The crew and passengers head into town. The captain has a few drinks with Clyde and eventually confesses that he hated his life & sells the group the Xavier only if they make it a point to throw all of his current rich passengers belongings overboard so he can watch!
The group, along with their crew from the previous ship head out on their Grande new vessel "The Xavier". The previous crew agree to take the ride with them to Diamond bed city and show everyone the ropes on how to man the ship properly.
They arrive back in Diamond bed city. They hire a captain (Octavior Desaclyse) and a 1/2 orc security officer (Goodock Greenburr "goodie") and a Madame (Ellousa Diavalia) and her 8 maidens (previous prostitutes eager for a new life).
Sprock greets them warmly and immediately gets to work on modifying the ship to handle the war cart and the groups other animals (including a hatch for the Wyvern to get out and fly and fish each day to keep his wings strong).
They spend some time in the city. Delvin reunites with his father and all is well. Jin does some real-estate shopping and Fyorn checks the great library for new spells. The rest of the group does some shopping.
They mount up onto their war cart (joined by the witch and her daughter) to take the journey back to Evonmar.
After a few uneventful days the group arrives at the port of the great city of Amonzonia. Before they can even get to dock though, they are greeted by several small ships sailed by large Amonzonian female warriors. They board the groups ship and then the queen (Sura's mom) comes aboard. She seems to care little about Sura or the group and demands her grandchild. She refuses to let Sura come ashore. She does give the group new provisions but sends them on their way.
Back at sea, the group discusses the Jin situation (without Jin present of course). Delvin explains that he swore an oath to make sure all of these ancient beings (bortasheta) are sent back to their native planet. Delvin uses the sand portal magic to head back to the planet and bring back the coffin containing Gary. They store it in Fyorn's state room. They devise plans on how to best get the being out of Jin and back into the coffin.
Ultimately Murphy suggests that they try and talk to Jin instead of attacking him. Jin eventually concedes and the group helps him transfer his essence back into his body and put Gary's essence into the demon box. The sarcophagus takes off into the sky. Jin, back to his original self feels lonely and empty. He already misses his symbiotic relationship with the creature.
The group continues their travels over the high seas. They come upon a strange barge coming towards them. It looks to be a pit fiend but waves friendly gestures. Jin has some telepathic words with the creature. He then comes clean on what he is.....
Jin explains that back when Gary first opened that first sarcophagus long ago the ancient being known as a Bortasheta possessed his body. After Gary's public death, the being inhabited a new body, Jin. Jin quickly found the adventurers and befriended them and has been with the group ever since.
The group helps this other Bortasheta in the pit fiend find its sarcophagus (stuck on the ocean floor). They release his essence back into the coffin and Jin traps the pit fiend into his demon collection box. The Sarcophagus shoots into the sky back towards its home planet.
Finally hitting the real ocean!
After a few days they see a ghost ship adrift at sea. They approach. Getting onboard proves to be quite deadly as Thunk is dropped to the ground dead by powerful undead sea farers almost immediately. Black Eyed Delvin grabs his body and retreats.
Delvin prays to all the gods for help and his prayers are answered.
Thunk is alive! Though Delvin looks weakened...
Late in the evening, the crew and Captain Grekon make their way back to the ship. Grekon seems confused. The companions question him on what has happened. He explains that he fears the ship is cursed. It was him that scrawled the evil wards beneath Sura's baby's crib. He couldn't control himself. He thought that if he burned the ship, we can be free from this curse.
The group makes haste and switches the name plates of the boat docked next them (same class and model). They load all of their cargo onto the boat and leave the cursed ship behind.
As the new "Termatoor" hits the high seas, we can all see a great blaze of light from the docks at the city...
The "Termatoor" drops anchor. Delvin tracks the wererat but the rat must of have jumped overboard so the trail is cold. Meanwhile Sura heads into the water with her water breathing helmet. She finds a glow at the bottom of the ocean and goes to check it out. After further investigation and getting the rest of the party involved, they determine it is the fabled "Mud Sorcerer's Tomb". They decide to investigate. Once they gain access inside, it has breathable air and they find themselves in a chamber with 4 large statues with various weapons in hand. In the center of the room is an empty cauldron. Then a sinister shape shifting undead appears and a battle occurs. They destroy it after an epic battle.
Sura suddenly gets a feeling her daughter on the ship is in trouble and heads back to the surface.
The group determines that the weapons fit into the cauldron and that they open different doors depending on what is inserted. They open up one hallway which is filled with water. Murphy shifts to a water creature but is hit with a horrible water poison that almost kills him, The other path is riddled with swinging blades and also under water. Both hallways have locked doorways at the end.
Sura gets back to the surface and boards the "Termatoor" followed by Delvin. They head to the baby's chambers. Sura swears she saw a strange black mist like aura above the baby briefly as she entered the room. Delvin and the rest of the group investigate and find a pentagram and ward symbols scrawled into the floor boards beneath Sura's baby's crib. Clyde determines it is a summon spell for that nasty devil they dealt with before arriving in Diamond bed city.
The "Termatoor" arrives at the Free city of Jostlin on Mikas. Everyone is having a great time at shore. The group overhears some type of a commotion with a few locals and their captain "Grekon" at the local pub. They decide to follow the group. The ruffians head towards the "Termatoor" with Greek fire and appear to be ready to destroy it. The group attacks and kills all but one for questioning. The survivor states that the Captain "Grekon" hired them to burn the ship, saying that it was cursed........
The group enters the great City of Diamond Bed . They make their way around and eventually come to Delvin's Father's newly established horse farm. Several barns are still under construction but in the few months since he has been there, business is thriving. Delvin is asked to seek out and hire a horse trainer. Meanwhile Fyorn visits the great Library and "borrows" a book called "The book of the travelling Nomad". Jin heads to village hall for some personal matters. The rest of the group does some shopping and then makes their way to the dockmaster to secure passage across the seas. They meet the Harbor master David Longbridge. He finds a ship heading out soon to Mikas called "Termatoor" with captain Grekon Ropetight. Upon meeting the captain, they come to an agreement and are ready to set sail. Delvins father brings gifts for Sura's mother. Two Wyvern eggs and two great horses from the latest brood. Murphy speaks with the druids about the flesh helmet found in the cave of the ooze demon. He is instructed to put it on and also the flesh armor in the other chest. They say that it is cursed but is important and that he will become a greater ally for nature and the world. He puts it on and his skin becomes darker and "Bark like". He gains new abilities including now being able to shape shift into trees. The group leaves port and heads out to the high seas.
On board the first evening, the cook is seen bringing out a large pot of stew when a rat startles him and he spills the soup all over him causing severe burns. Dinner is lost, but Murphy makes good with numerous good berry spells to keep the crew (18 + the captain) well fed. He also heals the chef. The captain reveals his real name is Viktor Blackwater. He is not well liked in town so thought it best to use a fake name within Diamond Bed city.
The rat that scared the chef was a strange creature with red eyes. They kill it and wrap it in leather. As soon as it is wrapped up it immediately changes weight to about 30 pounds....
Not too far from arriving in Diamond Bed City, the group rests for the evening. While having dinner around the fire, a grotesque looking creature stumbles into camp and asks for medical aid.
The group is given tons of provisions by the Glamdrin church for their journey to Diamond Bed city. From there, they will charter a ship to take Sura and her baby home to Mikas. Two days into the trip, Koa stops the caravan to say that there is a "bad spirit" near by. The group investigates and come across a gross, bloated demon violently masturbating in the woods.
