Interlude - Session Notes

This is the first segment of a three-part side adventure for the Krolec player that we did over email because he missed three sessions in a row (one for a vacation, two for funerals).

The actual adventure wasn't split up into parts, but I just divided it that way for my own organizational structure.  It was a free-flowing series of over 300 emails back and forth over a six week period.

In the end, I think it turned out pretty well.  Since it was by email, I kind of had to stick to an investigative / interaction style adventure with little to no actual action (since trying to do a combat over email for 4e would have taken days).

Unlike my previous attempt, this one was a little better about being less railroady.  And unlike previous sessions, the investigative part actually worked out really well.

The first scene is a prologue I added for the write-up, it did not occur during play.  I did, however, write it up for myself back when I planned this plotline to help me visualize the various levels under the ground that led to the Devil's Attic area.  This plotline was originally planned for the entire group, but worked out very well as an interlude so I used it there instead.

A few notes about this section of the adventure:
* Mrs. Wilberforce was inspired by the character in the original film of The Ladykillers.
* Obviously the boarding house much more resembles some combination of 19th and 20th century buildings rather than anything remotely medieval.  Architecture is almost always anachronistic in my games and always ends up being more Victorian than anything for some reason.
* I have no idea why the PCs still go back to the Temple of Erathis for every little thing.  I've always presented them as only slightly able to assist in healing matters before (and even then, for high amounts of money).
* As I mentioned previously, the statue, Eli Leng, Whittlesey, and the hut of skulls all came from the Preston/Child novel, The Relic.  The prick on the finger was more inspired by Argento's Demon movie, though.  But yes, the mention of her cutting her hand several sessions ago was indeed foreshadowing.
* I love being able to throw in Lt. Gerdrand with his comments about being beleaguered having to clean up after the PCs.  To me, it gives a sense of consequence to their actions.
* Leng's body being found is loosely adapted from the Preston/Child novel, Reliquary, as is the Devil's Attic.
* Sgt. D'Agosta is another character ported in from The Relic (though, like most characters I take, I just use the name and not the personality).  
* The Kothoga tribe comes from The Relic as well, though the idea of a cabinet of curiosities come from Preston/Child's The Cabinet of Curiosities novel.  I just love using the word "provenance" because it sounds so important.
* Anyone remotely familiar with chemistry should notice that I have no clue what I'm talking about (never having taken a chemistry class in my life).  I used Wikipedia to get some basic terms and concepts to make Leng's alchemy setup seem somewhat realistic (or at least "Hollywood Realistic").
* The hollow glass dart was my attempt to come up with something like a hypodermic needle.  I have no idea when injections first came about or how that worked.
* I loved coming up with the system of shorthand for Leng because it was an easy way to add puzzle-solving that fit into the storyline.  I usually hate trying to come up with puzzle-solving activities because they come out ham-fisted.  I was surprised the Krolec player decoded them so fast (the one he didn't get was talking about how Whittlesey found Jantor because he was on her scent and it was mating season)
* I suggested Al's grandfather as the only alchemist Krolec knows in town since he's one of the few magical relatives anyone has.  More on him in the next section of the story.

Interlude - Cast of Characters

Krolec Jar'bin - Elven Ranger

Interlude - Scene 1 (of 5)

Hurrying along, Krolec reaches the small cottage of Albertus Magnus, Al's elderly grandfather. When Krolec knocks, a large elderly man with a bushy beard and a cane answers the door.

After Krolec introduces himself, Albertus invites him inside and serves him a cup of coffee. Once again, Krolec relates a quick telling of what he has found so far.

The old man listens carefully as Krolec tells his story. He seems intrigued by the idea that an herb could cause physical mutations / transformations by being entered into the bloodstream. Albertus mentions he's never heard of anything like that happening before, but stranger things have been known to happen.

Since Krolec was a friend of his beloved grandson and protege, the old man wishes to help. He asks what he can do to assist Krolec.

Krolec explains that the town guard is currently watching over Eli's store. He asks Albertus to accompany him back there, believing his experience with alchemy will catch things Krolec may have missed. Krolec also wants him to take a look at the statue, but warns him to be careful as it is so hazardous that a single cut was enough to affect his sister.

The ranger also suggests that Albertus may want to bring his own lab equipment. He would like Albertus to help discover an antidote to administer to Jantor and Whittlesey. He mentions the two are still in their altered forms in the sewers, and could be very dangerous.

Albertus goes over to an old desk and takes a black satchel out of a drawer. He agrees to try and go see Eli's lab, though he mentions his bad hips will make it difficult to descend the stairs into the cellar. Krolec offers to help him as best he can.

Interlude - Scene 2 (of 5)

Heading back across town, two head back to Eli's shop. As they get near, Krolec spots Sgt. D'Agosta entering the building ahead of them.

Several minutes later, Krolec finally gets Albertus inside the shop and down the cellar stairs. The retired wizard heads over to the work bench and puts down his satchel. He begins to open it and take out some tools, small bottles of dried herbs, and a couple of books.

Meanwhile, Krolec notices that Sgt. D'Agosta is standing at the doorway to the other room, his back is to them. The soldier hasn't said anything since the two came down. As Krolec goes over to him, he sees D'Agosta staring into the room, which is splashed in fresh blood. The soldiers who were guarding the area are nowhere to be seen.

Krolec expresses his sympathy, pauses a second, then mentions he has brought an alchemist so an antidote can be made. The sergeant, however, is not interested in any antidote. He is quite angry, and says he plans to head out, grab a full platoon of men, head into the sewers, find the creatures, and kill them.

Thinking quickly, Krolec tells D'Agosta he understands his anger and agrees the sergeant would be justified in going after them. But he cautions him that two of the creatures might easily shred an entire platoon of men so he had better save enough men to go collect the bodies.

Forcefully, but respectfully, Krolec asks D'Agosta for time to try and reverse the mutations, not only for the sake of his sister and the other man, but for the soldiers that would get killed if they have to fight them.

Sgt. D'Agosta seems momentarily mollified. Relaxing a bit, he tells Krolec he'll give him 24 hours. The sergeant then leaves to go inform the families of the dead soldiers and to get reinforcements.

Krolec then rushes back to Albertus, telling him that he bought them twenty-four hours. But after that, the soldiers will hunt down the creatures and kill them.

Albertus is hunched over the workbench, busily examining the substance on the hollow dart and consulting his tomes. He tells Krolec it could take him a while.

While he's waiting, Krolec decides to go check out the other room again and see if there are any trails from the attacks on the soldiers. He asks Albertus if he'll be OK by himself – the old man forcefully responds that he is not that frail.

Moving quietly into the next room, Krolec sees a scene of apparent carnage. He spots some monstrous-looking tracks in the blood heading out the doorway with the metal door, leading back into the sewers.

Krolec follows the trail through the doorway a little way. The light from the cellar, where the gaurd's torches still burn, allows him to see the stairs leading down from the doorway into the sewers. It looks like a few trails of blood smears continue into the darkness beyond.

From what the ranger can tell, it looks like one creature snuck up from the sewers and attacked the soldiers. Krolec is disappointed as it is not a good sign - he was hoping it was the soldiers that attacked first.

Heading back to the other room, he checks in on Albertus' progress. The old man explains it will take him a couple of hours just to fully read through Eli's notes, but he will hurry as fast as he can.

When Krolec asks if there's anything he can do to help, Albertus notes that he is low on one of his reagents – silver powder – and asks Krolec to find him some. Krolec scours around Eli's shop, but finds only an empty container for the powder.

Interlude - Scene 3 (of 5)

After making sure Albertus will be OK on his own, Krolec heads out of the shop to look for somewhere to get silver powder.

Krolec decides to check first with his father, to see if they carry silver powder in their shop. Honlor informs him they do not, but suggests that the mysterious merchants of House Azaer (rumored to be owned by a Tiefling family) specialize in hard to find items, so Krolec should start there.

Hurrying over, Krolec arrives at the store of House Azaer and asks to purchase some silver powder so he can give it to Albertus Magnus. The short, older man behind the counter apologizes, stating they have already sold the last of their silver powder to another alchemist.

Intrigued, Krolec asks who this other alchemist is. The merchant gives the name as Harlan Fogarty. Krolec doesn't recognize it. When asked when the powder was purchased, the shopkeeper tells Krolec it was a few days ago.

Krolec asks the man where Fogarty can be found, but the merchant refuses, citing confidentiality for his customers. Krolec pleads to the man's sense of duty, explaining there is a tight deadline and it involves the city guard. The merchant, seeing the importance of the request, relents and gives Krolec an address where the silver powder was delivered to.

Following the address given to him by House Azaer, Krolec finds himself a few blocks away at what looks like an old barn that has been converted into a home. He knocks on the door. After a long pause, someone finally answers it.

Opening the door is a younger middle-aged human, balding with pale white hair and blue eyes. He is also wearing a set of glasses, but they have slid down his nose to a low position. He makes sure to only open the door as far as he needs and positions himself firmly in the doorway. He asks what Krolec wants.

Krolec explains he is looking for an alchemist, and the man at the door responds that he is the one the elf is looking for. Krolec and Harlan introduce themselves to each other. Krolec briefly explains he is on a mission of life or death involving the town guard and asks Fogarty to accompany him back to Leng's shop.

Fogarty listens to Krolec's story. He then responds that he recognizes Krolec as being "Anna's friend". Krolec has no idea who the man is talking about. The alchemist goes on to explain he is in the middle of an important experiment and cannot leave.

He does, however, provide Krolec with the silver powder. Krolec offers to pay the man, but he refuses, stating it is a gift.

Interlude - Scene 4 (of 5)

With the silver powder obtained, Krolec quickly heads back to Eli's shop and checks in. Albertus is still hard at work. Krolec explains about getting the powder from Harlan Fogarty, but Albertus doesn't recognize the name.

Albertus explains to Krolec there is nothing he can assist the alchemist with, it will simply take a lot of time and work to get a potion created that might act as a cure. Krolec offers to go get the man dinner, and is informed that Magnus is partial to the steak sandwiches at Big Bill's Beef Barn along with elderberry wine.

Familiar with the large restaurant on the west side of town, Krolec goes off to pick up the food and returns with two sandwiches and a bottle of the wine.

The elf had planned on having the meal with Albertus, but the alchemist doesn't stop working for a minute; he simply eats and drinks while he reads through Eli's notes.

Some time later, he finishes. Albertus explains that Eli was working on an antidote, but was unsuccessful before he died. The alchemist suggests he could try to make his own formulation, but it will require a lot of work. He also notes that Whittlesey is a lost cause; he's simply been exposed for too long. But, Albertus notes, there is still a chance for Jantor.

While the alchemist continues to work, Krolec decides to check in with Sgt. D'Agosta. He explains how Albertus is close to creating a possible cure. But D'Agosta doesn't seem overly interested, reminding Krolec that he only has so many hours left.

The soldier also mentions that he's since discovered there has been an increase in missing persons lately, particularly of the homeless. He believes the creatures having been feeding on the missing people.

He is adamant that he will not allow any more townspeople to be killed and plans to flush the creatures out and kill them.

Krolec expresses his concern for the missing and dead, and his hopes that the condition isn't contagious. He tries to explain to the sergeant more about the cure and how it will only work for one of the creatures.

Sgt. D'Agosta, in return, explains that Lt. Gerdrand has ordered two more platoons of men activated. The plan is for two platoons to enter the sewers in town and use a pincher move to flush the creatures out towards the river exits where a third platoon will fire down a rain of arrows on them when they emerge. As soon as the deadline expires, the troops will begin the flushing process.

Krolec tells the sergeant he understands. He mentions he will likely still be in the sewers by the time D'Agosta's men move in.

Afterwards, Krolec heads back to Leng's shop. Albertus is still hard at work. He has started his process of creating chemicals. He half-listens as Krolec tells his story. The old man then explains he will have to work through the night in order to finish, and will need to be undisturbed during that time.

Krolec decides to try and secure the metal door to the sewer as best he can then takes a nap in the lab.

Interlude - Scene 5 (of 5)

Krolec awakes early the next morning. Albertus is still hard at work. He notices Krolec rousing and says the substance will be finished processing things soon, but then it will have to wait a few hours to cure properly.

The elf calculates there are around 7 or 8 hours left at this point before the deadline. He gets up, eats a snack, and then prepares his gear.

Albertus explains that once the substance is ready, Krolec will need to introduce it into the creature's bloodstream in order to have any effect. The hard part, the old man explains, is that Eli's notes indicate the creatures have thick scales that are hard to pierce through.

Albertus takes another hour or so to finish up. Once he's done, he tells Krolec the mixture will need to wait around 6 hours to cure. In the meantime, the old man heads upstairs to get some sleep, mentioning he is feeling very tired.

Krolec looks over at the liquid, wondering if there is enough for two doses. He sees there a moderate amount of liquid in the flask that's curing, though notes it may reduce a bit while it is curing.

The elf tries to rest while waiting, but gets ancy. He knows he may only have one chance to dose Jantor. Krolec hopes that she still has some memory as an elf left and that he can draw it out with folk songs from their youth.

About 15 minutes before the substance is ready, he starts singing elvish folk songs from the room with the metal door, hoping to draw Jantor to him and also remind Jantor of who she is. Nothing approaches the door.

Since Albertus has not returned yet, Krolec heads upstairs. He finds the old man still lying down on the couch in Eli's parlor.

After making sure no notes or instructions were written down, Krolec decides to wake the old man. He gently, but firmly tries to wake him. But Albertus does not awaken, and Krolec notices he is cool to the touch. The strain must have been too much on the old man, and he apparently died in his sleep.

With no time to waste mourning, Krolec begins his preparations. He cleans out the green substance from the hollow dart on the workbench and fills it with Albertus' mixure. He also uses the mixture to coat three of his arrows. As he prepares, Krolec shudders at the thought of having to injure his sister in order to save her.

Once he's ready, Krolec quietly slips into the sewers.

Interlude - Session Notes

Here's part 2 of the three-part interlude for Krolec.

Some brief notes about this portion:
* The Al player never gave a name for his grandfather.  So I named him after an actual alchemist, Albertus Magnus.  I chose that name in particular since Al would have been named after him.  I thought it was very fitting.
* Albertus' bad hips was an in-joke about the actual Al player (who was in his 60s and had hip replacement surgery)
* The soldiers being killed was to add suspense and give a time limit for the activities.
* Silver powder was listed as a reagent in one of the Adventurer Vault books.  Here it just serves as a MacGuffin to give Krolec something to do.  In my mind, Albertus didn't even need it - he just wanted to get Krolec out of his hair - kind of like the old "go boil some water" routine with expecting fathers.
* The Leigh player gave me a background on Harlan Fogarty a little before this started.  Since she made him an alchemist in that background, I decided to introduce him into this storyline.  Unbeknowst to Krolec, the project he's working on is for Sgt. D'Agosta's plan (something that did not come out in the actual sessions but was in my plotline notes).
* The old barn house and the actual meeting with Fogarty was loosely inspired by a scene from a horror film called "The Resurrected" (that was itself somewhat based on the Lovecraft novel "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward").  The comment about "Anna" was funny because neither Krolec nor his player attended the session where Fogarty showed up before so he didn't know Fogarty was referring to Leigh.
* Big Bill's Beef Barn and the bit with steak sandwiches and elderberry wine was more or less me mocking the player for always wanting the tiniest, most insignificant details of things (while usually glossing over the really important plot revelations).  Plus, I loved the alliteration.
* I wanted Albertus to die because otherwise he would have been relied on too much.  Plus, he was supposed to be pretty old.  And it added some pathos to the adventure.  I had him die of a stroke from being overworked because no one ever dies of natural causes in RPGs and because I thought it'd be funny to have "Krolec worked Al's grandfather to death" as a running joke we could use at sessions.

Interlude - Cast of Characters

Krolec Jar'bin - Elven Ranger

Interlude - Scene 1 (of 5)

Krolec activates one of his sun rods and slowly advances into the sewers. He tries to follow the tracks of the creature from the attack, but it is slow going because of the nature of the sewers. The elf finds himself getting deeper and deeper into the sewers.

Some time later, Krolec hears the far-away screams of men. He slowly advances towards the sounds, being careful to dim his sunrod using his cloak.

As he gets closer, Krolec starts to smell smoke. He hears one last scream that is very close, apparently from around the corner. It is then silenced, followed by a loud grunt and the sound of something big moving away from the area.

By the time Krolec gets around the corner, the creature is long gone. The elf sees that the smoke is coming from a side coordidor, where a large fire appears to have been set. In front of the fire is a scene of carnage - a whole team of soldiers appears to be dead and dismembered.

Looking around, Krolec spots the tracks of the creature that ran off. It appears to be the same tracks left by Jantor and/or Whittlesey. He quickly follows after the tracks, trying to close the distance with the creature.

But between the creature's faster speed and the ranger being unable to move at top speed, Krolec is not able to really catch up or even get the creature within sight to try to tell what gender it is. He is, however, able to tell that it is dragging at least some body parts of the soldiers with it.

After a while, he spots the tracks going into a large hole in the side of the sewer tunnel walls. Krolec cautiously approaches the hole and looks inside. He sees that it leads into a natural cavern that appears to go down and connect with some other kind of passageway. After double-checking to make sure the trail leads into the hole, he decides to head in.

Interlude - Scene 2 (of 5)

Crawling through the tight passageway, Krolec makes his way down to the chamber about 15 feet below the sewers. It appears to be a large carved tunnel. To the sides are ancient skeletal remains. The tunnel continues in either direction.

Krolec can tell he is in some kind of catacombs, but isn't sure what they are. Finding the creature's trail, he heads down the tunnel.

After heading deeper into the tunnels for a while, Krolec eventually comes to a split in the tunnel. The creature's tracks head down one way, but Krolec hears a crunching sound echoing from the other direction. He decides to check out the noises.

Moving quietly down the right passage, quietly move down the right passageway. A short distance away, he spots a pale humanoid eating a large, dead rat. It appears to be a wight.

Krolec can tell it hasn't spotted him yet. He decides not to try and take on the wight at this point, and quietly backs out without the wight noticing him.

He then heads back down the left passageway and follows the creature's trail for a few more twists and turns. Eventually, the tracks just stop in the middle of the tunnel.

Krolec looks around the area carefully. He spots a hidden door in the side of the tunnel. The tracks would appear to go through the door. Krolec carefully opens the door, revealing a stairway leading down further into the earth.

The ranger starts to become unsure; the creature seems to be acting rather strange. He double-checks the trail and confirms the tracks head down the stairs. He decides to follow.

Interlude - Scene 3 (of 5)

The stairs lead down very far, into the domain of the underdark.

The cavern below is wide and twisting, with various rock columns all around. Strange insects can be seen off in the distance, some rather large sized. Pale white rodent-like creatures with no eyes run across Krolec's field of vision nearby. Bizarre sounds echo all around you - some sound like the movement of rocks and earth, others like sounds from various types of creatures, and in the background the sound of flowing water.

On the cavern wall next to the bottom of the stairs are some carvings in a strange language. They look very old.

Once again, Krolec wonders if he is in the right place. He reconfirms again that the tracks look like those of the Jantor / Whittlesey creatures.

Krolec heads in deeper into the underdark. Along the way, he sees strange things like rocks that move on their own, large insects that burrow through stone, and a large underground lake. As Krolec walks by, gets the sensation that something is out on the lake, watching him; but the sensation passes after he turns to look.

Continuing on, he reaches an area illuminated by luminescent fungi along the cavern walls. In that section is a set of large metal doors built in to the side of the walls. The creature appears to have gone through them as the tracks end at the door.

Krolec looks around for any signs or writing to identify the door. Looking closely at the door, he sees that under the layers of dirt and grime the door is engraved with the letters "J. A."

After making sure the door is not trapped, Krolec slowly cracks it open. He makes sure to look around carefully while he does so, making sure no one is sneaking up on him.

To his surprise, the door opens to yet another set of stairs heading down further.

Interlude - Scene 4 (of 5)

The stairs are long and winding. As Krolec nears the bottom, he sees the glow of torchlight below. He decides to move to around ten feet above the bottom of the stairs and listens.

Sounds echo in what appears to be a large tunnel below. Krolec hears the sounds of some kind of animal grunting, tearing and crunching sounds, and the sounds of someone whispering in a language he is not familiar with.

Making sure his sunrod is fully dimmed inside his cloak, Krolec quietly moves towards the bottom and peers around the corner. What he sees is quite possibly the vilest area he has ever seen.

The floors, walls, and ceiling of the tunnel below are made of fine-quality stonework, but the water and wastes from the layers of tunnels above seep down through the cracks between the stones creating flowing pools of sludge everywhere. The walls are lined with torch holders; several have fresh, lit torches in them while others are covered by the sludge on the walls. The walls also hold the remains of what would have once been fine tapestries, now completely eaten by mold and fungi.

Along the walls sit pieces of finely-carved stone furniture; many are covered with fungus. Next to them are the remains of what appears to have once been high quality wood furniture, now rotten and collapsed with much of it already turned to dust.

The air from the tunnel is very hot. Krolec can see a section a distance away where the red glow comes off of a pool of magma from a large crevasse in the floor.

Nearby, in the middle of the tunnel, stands a structure of some kind, about four feet tall. It appears to be made out of fresh bones and skulls. Some of them still have blood glistening on them.

In front of the hut of skulls is a large symbol on the floor, made in blood. It appears to be some kind of spiral.

The wall closest to Krolec has several figures that appear to be connected to the wall by metal spikes driven through their limbs. They are unmoving and appear to be dead. They have dusky purple skin, pointed ears, and white hair; Krolec immediately identifies them as being drow. Their clothing has been ripped away on their chests, and each of them has the same spiral symbol carved into their chest (though the wounds no longer appear to be bleeding).

Near the drow are the two reptillian creatures. They appear to be hunched over, eating the remains of the soldiers that were dragged back here; they rip the flesh from the bones with their razor-like teeth.

Standing next to them, whispering something, appears to be a man wearing a cloak. As he turns a bit into the light, Krolec can see it has a purple lining.

The scene of it all nearly overwhelms Krolec. He wonders if the man is the same mysterious man in the purple cloak from the plaza many weeks ago; it is difficult for him to tell at this distance with the poor lighting, but he certainly looks to be the same.

Rather than try to take on three people, Krolec elects to try and talk to the man. He figures he might be able to get Jantor back and even get some answers out of the man in the purple cloak.

Staying hidden, Krolec starts by saying Jantor's name aloud in elven, trying to gauge her reaction in lizard form. He then quickly follows with, "I come in peace, and mean no harm to you. I wish to talk."

One of the creatures perks its head up when he says Jantor's name. The other does as well a moment later when he continues talking. The two of them start to stand up from their bent over positions and move towards Krolec, but the man in the purple cloak reaches out his hand and gives a command to them in a language the elf does not understand. They hold back.

Staying behind them, he calls out in elvish, "Show yourself, drow, and deliver your message. If it pleases me, I shall let you die quickly; unlike your brethren."

Krolec announces that he is elven, but not drow. He gives his name to the man, and says he is the brother of Jantor. The ranger then steps slowly out into open view, hoping to calm the situation. He apologizes to the man for alarming him, saying that he was only being cautious.

The man looks Krolec over for a few seconds then gives a half-smile. He says to the elf, "You again... Well, this is unexpected. And what, Krolec, brother of Jantor, have you come here for?"

Krolec explains he comes carrying an antidote for his sister and indicates one of the creatures. He explains that the other creature is Julian, and that the alchemist believed it was too late for him.

The man finds Krolec's explanation of an antidote to be curious. He then asks him a strange question, saying "Do you know what lies in the shadow of the unchained god?"

Krolec does not understand the significance of the question and asks the man why he asks it. Before the man can respond, Krolec changes the subject and thanks the man for taking care of Jantor and Julian. He then speaks to Jantor in elvish again, trying to see if she understands him and asking if she wants the antidote. To the Julian creature, he speaks in common, asking if Julian wishes to try the antidote as well.

The man in the purple cloak is not amused that Krolec has failed to answer his question. His smile fades. He remarks that it is a pity Krolec was unable to answer him and mentions that Krolec had potential but appears to be on the "wrong side".

He then points at Krolec at shouts a command in the unknown language to the creatures. The creatures both rush towards the elf, claws out and making aggressive grunting sounds.

Interlude - Scene 5 (of 5)

Krolec reacts by immediately letting the sunrod drop out of his cloak, hoping the extra light will be enough to temporarily blind the creatures. It doesn't work.

He then grabs two of the arrows with the dried solution on them and fires one at each of Jantor and Julian. The arrows hit the two creatures. The dried solution does not appear to be enough to cause any major transformation; however, the Jantor creature does seem slightly affected.

As the Julian creature lunges at Krolec, the Jantor creature grabs him and stops him. The two of them roll around on the ground in battle with each other. Meanwhile, down the tunnel, the man in the purple cloak steps back into the shadows and disappears from sight.

Krolec carefully waits for a good opening while the two creatures engage in melee, then moves in and strikes into Julian with his shadow wasp strike. While the Julian creature is distracted by the pain, the Jantor creature slams into him, knocking both of them back. As they are rolling back, the Julian creature claws into Jantor with a deep cut.

The Julian creature then rolls off the side of the nearby crevasse, into the pool of magma. His screams are heard for a few seconds, then nothing more. The Jantor creature lies on the ground near the edge, bleeding; Krolec can see she has been badly wounded.

Krolec rushes over to her, administering the needle of antidote into her open wounds. He glances around carefully for the man in the purple cloak, but he has once again vanished without a trace.

The cure seems to have an immediate effect on Jantor, helping her stabilize from her wounds and begin to transform back to something more recognizable. Krolec moves her away from the magma pit ledge and checks around for healing potions, but finds the drow bodies have already been stripped of their belongings.

The elf realizes his sister could be unconscious awhile, and it is too dangerous to stay in the underdark for any length of time. He decides to go ahead and haul her out. Krolec is able to make it back home without incident, and spends many days helping Jantor recover to full health.

Interlude - Session Notes

There - now you have the whole story.  This actually was finished up over email two weeks ago, but I just now got around to posting it all.

In the end, it was a well-liked diversion by both me and the player, and it advanced the campaign plotlines a bit while adding new mysteries.

Some more notes about this section in particular:
* The soldier attack was meant to indicate that Sgt. D'Agosta started earlier than he said he would, but the player never picked up on that.  Also, the fire they are using is alchemical fire created by Harlan Fogarty, something else that has yet to be revealed in the campaign.  The purpose was to add more drama and tension to the experience and avoid a dull tracking scene.
* The wight in the catacombs was thrown in as a decision point.  I'm glad we didn't have to do a battle over that.
* The Krolec player was completely confused about the whole trail leading further and further into the earth thing until he figured out what was happening in the last scenes.  I kept re-assuring him that he wasn't following the wrong path.
* The Underdark section was meant to feel strange and alien.  I think it worked as he seemed pretty freaked out about it.  Obviously a lone elf in the underdark should normally have been killed or at least attacked, but I wanted to keep things moving.  Likewise, I also avoided a few ideas I had for interaction here (with either some drow or a group of kuo-tao who worshiped the unseen aboleth out on the lake) because I felt the pacing was wrong and at that point the focus should be on getting to the finale.
* While not directly acknowledged in the story (because I'm not sure the Krolec player made the distinction), "J.A." referred to Jacob Astor and the doors led down to the Astor Tunnels (aka, The Devil's Attic).
* I'd been waiting for an opportunity to re-introduce the man in the purple cloak.  And this was perfect.
* The spiral symbol and discussion of the unchained god refer to the evil god Tharizdun (sp?) mentioned in the DMG as the secret destroyer god.  Of course, it will be a while before the PCs get that info.
* Having the dead drow had the exact effect I was hoping for - Krolec's blind hatred of drow leads him to completely miss the fact that the man in the cloak is evil as well.  
* I liked the idea of the cloaked man using the creatures to wipe out his drow enemies in retaliation for their assassination attempt.
* The question about "Do you know what lies in the shadow of the unchained god?" is meant to be mysterious.  Obviously it is based on a similar phrase in the tv show Lost.  I'm not sure the player caught on that it was being used as a kind of password.
* The last scene was a combination of pre-planning and based on Krolec's actions.  I always knew either Julian would die or Krolec would.  Jantor could have gone either way.  And, of course, the man in the purple cloak was going to disappear so he could show up again later.  More on him and his plots in future sessions.