Session 57 - Scene 3 (of 5)

and the sky turns an unnatural color of purple.

Looking around, they see that they are at a small graveyard at the bottom of a mountain.  A road leads out of the graveyard and winds up the mountain to the Keep on the Shadowfell.

Leigh believes they should inspect the tombs before moving on.  Krolec disagrees, noting the tomb do not appeared to have been opened recently.

When Tarlyn points out the crypts may contain treasures and even useful magical items, Krolec points him up to the sky; they are running out of time.

The group concedes Krolec's point and they begin heading up the long mountain.  After a couple of hours, Krolec spots a side road up ahead; there appears to be a smaller, but heavily travelled path leading off from the main one.  Krolec asks the others if they think they should investigate it, or press on.

Sa'lid wonders if it could be a path to a side or back entrance to the keep, noting that it would probably be better than assaulting the keep directly through the front.  Talaste agrees the side road is worth checking out.

After traveling on the side path for some time, Krolec hears noises up ahead; it sounds like tools being used and some people talking.  He signals the group to stop then quietly tells them what he heard.

Krolec decides to scout ahead to see where the path leads and who is out there.  Tarlyn offers to come with him, but Krolec elects to take Talaste instead, as she is more skilled in being stealthy.

They head in, finding themselves overlooking a large excavation site.  Down in a large pit are four men in typical peasant garb, digging with shovels.  They appear to be digging up the burial site of dragon bones.

Behind them are three barbarian warriors.  Krolec suspects they act as task masters.  Nearby in a corner of the pit is one peasant tied up and badly wounded.  The ranger wonders if it was a worker who acted up while Talaste suspects he is there as a sacrifice for some nefarious ritual involving the dragon bones.

The ranger also spots a couple of goblins guarding over the pit from above, armed with crossbows.  He and the priestess decide to head back to inform the others what they have found.

When Krolec explains it to the others, he admits that they were unable to see a path continuing on from the pit to the keep.

Sa'lid wonders if the dragon bones are part of the ritual to bring back Tharizdun.  Talaste consults her pages of the book she copied, but finds no reference to anything involving dragons.

Tarlyn argues that whether or not the dig site is directly related, the people at it are clearly up to no good.  He wonders if they are digging up the bones in order to create a dracolich, thinking of the glory a fight against such a creature would bring.  Talaste agrees that clearly there is some important purpose to it.

Krolec, however, disagrees that it is anything they need to worry about at the moment.  He sees it as a distraction, and argues they need to continue on to the keep.  In the end, his arguments sway the group, and they move on.

Session 57 - Scene 4 (of 5)

Another hour or so passes as the group makes the long trek up the mountain road.  As they enter a small forest valley, Krolec can feel something is being off.  He thinks they are being watched and suspects an ambush.

The ranger leads the group off of the main road.  As they exit, goblins and kobolds emerge from their hiding places up ahead.

A group of goblin crossbowmen fire at Krolec, hitting him three times.  One of the bolts lodges into his side, causing him to start bleeding.

Xunrar immediately reacts by saying a prayer of amoth's grace, giving Krolec a chance to staunch the flow of blood.

Tarlyn then charges ahead at the force of kobold dragonshields in amongst the trees.  Using a whirling attack, he strikes two of them.  Talaste assists by blasting at the creatures with a flame strike, hitting one of them.

Krolec is more concerned by the kobold wyrm priest near the goblins.  He moves into position and fires a shot, but the priest is behind a large boulder and the cover protects him from even Krolec's elven accuracy.

Xunrar charges at one of the other dragonshields, striking through its armor.  Sa'lid follows it up with a swirling stars spell that blasts three of them.

As the kobolds move in to attack Tarlyn and Xunrar, Tarlyn activates his cloud of darkness, blinding them.

Meanwhile, Leigh is more concerned about the goblin archers.  She uses a fireburst to hit them all and the wyrm priest.  The wyrm priest tries to fire an energy orb back, but misses.  The goblins have better luck, hitting her twice with their crossbow shots.

Inside the dark cloud, Tarlyn whips himself into a whirling frenzy, striking all three kobolds around him as well as Xunrar.  As the darkness clears, Talaste blasts two of the vile humanoids with the light of avander.

Xunrar summons his strength from valor, cutting down one of the kobold warriors while fending off an attack from the other.

Sa'lid blasts the other two dragonshields with a blazing starfall spell.  They respond by stabbing into Tarlyn with their swords.

Back across the road, Krolec moves behind cover himself and fires again at the wyrm priest, this time hitting him with a shadow wasp strike.  Leigh follows it up with a forceful retort that kills him.  For her troubles, she is hit by two more crossbow bolts.

Meanwhile, Tarlyn slashes at the kobolds, maneuvering himself around again to face two of them.  Talaste blasts the other one with her sacred flame.

As Krolec fires arrows into one of the goblins, Xunrar blasts the kobolds with his astral thunder, killing one of them.  Sa'lid blasts another with an explosive pyre.

The kobolds attack back, but Tarlyn and Xunrar fend them off.

Leigh then blasts the goblins with a shock sphere.  They weather the blast and return fire.  Overcome by the hits from their crossbows, she collapses.

Krolec notices Leigh has gone down and calls out to the others.  Enraged, Tarlyn slices down the two remaining kobold dragonshields with his whirling blades.  He then lunges ahead, slicing into one of the goblins.

Talaste uses her mass cure light wounds prayer to heal the group and allow Leigh to recover.  Krolec rushes over to provide her first aid as well.

Xunrar stays focused on the goblins.  He moves into a flanking position on one of them, but misses with his radiant smite.

Sa'lid has better luck, blasting one of the creatures with his energy strobe.  Leigh then stands herself up and follows up with a scorching burst spell of her own, hitting the goblins as well as the drow warriors.  One of the creatures collapses as a flaming corpse.

The remaining archers step back, firing two shots into Tarlyn.  He responds by making a whirling rend attack, killing one of them.

Talaste then moves up and strikes down another with her sacred flame.  

Tarlyn calls out to save the last goblin for interrogation, but Krolec ignores him, firing two shots into its chest.

Session 57 - Scene 5 (of 5)

As the group pauses for another rest, Krolec second guesses their earlier decision.  It still bothers him that they left the cultists behind with the dragon bones, as well as not saving the injured man.

He asks the others if any of them are bothered by it.  Leigh agrees it is troubling while Tarlyn points out he always wanted to deal with them.

Krolec announces they will head back and deal with the cultists at the dig site.  Sa'lid, once again finding the group leadership lacking, gives a look to Talaste.  She responds in kind, rolling her eyes at the indecision.  But neither of them actually objects.

Leigh makes sure they hide the bodies of the dead kobolds and goblins first and Krolec wants to check them over for any keys or letters or other things of importance.

Between the goblins and kobolds, they find a total of five gold worth of gold and silver coins, which Tarlyn laughs at.

They also find a carved stone necklace around the neck of the wyrm priest.  Leigh determines it is not magical while Talaste notes that it is carved into a symbol of Orcus.

Despite being somewhat valuable, Krolec has the necklace idol destroyed.  Tarlyn slightly protests, but Krolec points out some things are more important than money.

As they head back down the mountain, Tarlyn feels at peace with Kord, feeling he has proved himself in battle most well.

Session 57 - Session Notes

After the incredibly fun previous session it took a whole month to play again, as the previously scheduled session fell on Memorial Day weekend and was away on a trip to Chicago.

While there, I got to once again visit my favorite game store ever, Games Plus in Mt. Prospect, IL.  While there, I bought this customizable game screen - very handy.

Anyhow, by the time we got to this session, most everyone forgot what happened the previous session so we spent a lot of time just getting everyone back on the same page.

This session brought the game back into high combat mode, which will likely continue for the next couple of sessions.

The combats I designed for the road up to the keep (and once inside the keep as well) are not overly difficult, but designed to slowly whittle the group's resources down.  This normally doesn't work that well, but this time they have a big time constraint and can't just rest whenever they want.

So far, the slow bleed appears to be working well.  For the most part, they are holding back their dailies and action points, and trying to play it safe.

I basically took the Keep on the Shadowfell module and mashed it up.  Since the graveyard map had a magic circle on it, I figured that was the perfect spot for the teleport circle.

Then, I took the ambush from on the way to Winterhaven via the road, and put it on the road up to the keep instead.

I also put the dragon dig site on the road as well to give them an interesting choice.  Plus it has an entirely different purpose now (the Tarlyn player was not far off).  As is usual, they can't make a decision to save their lives, LOL.


Outside of the sessions, I've been working on the future.

A survey of everyone determined that the majority prefer to stick with high fantasy for now (as I lamented in a different thread), so I'm going to go ahead with a Paragon level campaign that continues this one.

I've started putting together some ideas.  First was to detail the lands outside of the Nentir Vale.  Honestly, I haven't really followed whatever WotC is doing too close, though I did use the upcoming war boardgame as inspiration.

I had already established the Border Princes (taken from the Warhammer RPG) and the Sind Desert.  I've decided the lands beyond that will be a collection of free cities ala Al-Qadim.

In the north, there will be my previously-mentioned kingdom of Kanadia.  And to the south, a bunch of different human, tiefling, dragonborn, and elf communities, including one with a theme of religious intolerance (previously mentioned with the alternate group) that is inspired by the Stannis Baratheon situation in George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series.

I see warfare as a big theme of the follow-up campaign.  There are the Slave Lords in the western deserts, the goblins running wild in the south forests, Drylak the Impaler's horde of barbarians, ogres, and giants gaining strength in the Stonemarch, and Lord Reiner is still out there trying to retake control of Fallcrest.

To that end, I believe I'll be using mass combat system from Birthright to resolve some of the upcoming conflicts, though I haven't fully decided.  My original idea was to use the rule set from the wargame DBA, but that would be a bit too different I think.

Not that it will be all battles of course.  The PCs will have to do a fair amount of realm management, scouting, diplomacy, etc.  Not to mention big quests.

Another requested theme was political intrigue.  To that end, I've begun detailing out all of the major and minor houses of the Vale area and into the border princes.  I wrote it up somewhat in the style that Martin does in the backs of his novels.  Most of the minor houses were just naming variations on the major houses, as they are all "distant cousins" of each other.

The most fun part for me was looking up coats of arms for the houses.  Rather than use fantasy type ones, I looked up the names I was using on a website (House of Names) and got the actual ones.  Or in the case of non-historical names, something close.  For the elf and dwarf houses, I just found ones I thought looked cool and fit the theme I was going for.

I also detailed out some of the barbarian clans in the region, but didn't give them coats of arms (they are, after all, barbarians).

When it came to naming everyone, I used another website (called 20000 Names) to get first names for everyone based on the ethnicity of the house name.

The final request for high-level adventures involved plane-hopping, but I think I'll leave that for later on and let that lead into the Epic campaign (should there ever be one).

Session 58 - Cast of Characters

Sir Krolec Jar'Bin - Elven Ranger
Dame Leigh - Eladrin Battle Mage
Sa'lid Dra'lah - Human Sorcerer
Talaste zyne'Phyrva Noquval - Drow Cleric
Xunrar Torar - Drow Paladin
Tarlyn Delal - Drow Barbarian

And including special guest stars:
?? - ??
?? - ??

Session 58 - Scene 1 (of 10)

While heading back down the mountain, Talaste gets increasingly annoyed with the others.  She begins complaining about Leigh hitting allies with her attacks; particularly Xunrar.  She firmly states she does not want to waste healing and makes an ultimatum that anyone who injures an ally will not receive healing from her.

Leigh takes issue with this.  She begins pointing out that Tarlyn was the one who injured Xunrar last, not her.

Talaste takes her point, but since she feels she can keep Tarlyn in line, she continues to argue with Leigh.  The wizard, fed up with Talaste's baseless accusations, tells her she hopes she dies.

The two egos continue to clash, with Talaste claiming her healing abilities are the most important while Leigh considers her long-distance magical attacks to be just as important to the group if not more so.

Krolec tries to calm everyone down, nervous about all the noise they are making in enemy territory.  He attempts to point out that they both have a point, noting that everyone needs to be more mindful of everyone else during fights.

The bickering continues.  And when Krolec specifically mentions the problems of charging into battle before paying attention to the mage (looking specifically at Tarlyn as he says it), the priestess interprets him to be taking Leigh's side.  She insists she will not follow the wizard.

Leigh stresses no one need worry about her blasting them with her spells while Tarlyn tries to enter the conversation to point out he already apologized to Xunrar.  Krolec, however, steps in again, forcefully pointing out they need to nip the conversation in the bud and stay focused on their objective.

Just then, the earth begins to shake and the sky darkens further.  As the rocks begin to form an avalanche, Krolec looks for a safe spot for the group to move to.  Seeing one, he yells to the others to take cover.

Tarlyn gets to the safe location almost immediately.  Leigh and Krolec have more difficulty, but do eventually make it.

Xunrar, Talaste, Sa'lid, and Snarg, however, are cut off and knocked down in the rock slide.  Sa'lid quickly finds himself buried beneath the rubble.

The area is encased in darkness and dust as the thundering sounds of the avalanche continue.

Session 58 - Scene 2 (of 10)

As Krolec stands underneath the natural barrier protecting him and all goes dark, he receives a divine vision.

He sees once again Sa'lid and Talaste exchanging glances as he declares they will head back down the mountain to stop the dragon bones from being dug up.

This fades into a second vision, this one slightly less clear.  He sees himself and the group back down in the tunnels below Fallcrest as they stand near the teleportation circle.  As he and Leigh discuss what to do next, Sa'lid and Talaste exchange glances again.

The third vision is somewhat blurry.  It appears to take place the previous night, in a room at the inn.  Sa'lid and Talaste lie together in bed.

Talaste playfully tells Sa'lid he is a bold man and asks if he fears her husband.  Sa'lid smirks and comments that he thought her people where polyandrous.  He notes that in any event, he already made a cuckold of one of the group's members.

Talaste is surprised.  She laughs, calling him a wicked man and asks who he is referring to.  Sa'lid explains it was a fool named Silas who married above his station but left his lonely young bride to go adventuring.  The sorcerer goes on to explain it didn't take much for him to win her over, and says his plan is to marry her for her fortune.

The priestess notes that she had something similar in mind for Tarlyn.  She says that once the elf is gone, she promised his sister to Tarlyn; noting that she will marry them by force if necessary.  Once the sister has a male heir, she will suffer an "accident", leaving Tarlyn to inherit the Jar'Bin family merchant company.

They both laugh and kiss passionately.  Talaste notes that it will be time soon, reminding the sorcerer that once they get into the keep, he is to take out the wizard while her men take care of the elf.  With them gone, she reasons, they can kill the Usher and take the power for themselves.  Sa'lid agrees, stating that Krolec and Leigh won't know what hit them.

A fourth and final vision comes to Krolec.  This one is wisps of visions and whispers, nearly ephemeral.  It appears to take place at some point in the past at Leigh's house.  Krolec can barely make out the conversation between Talaste and Sa'lid.

Talaste says something about the elves and eladrin being enemies of the drow and not being sure how long the peace between them will last.  She notes that Sa'lid is a man who takes the opportunities give to him and says something about asking a favor of him.

Sa'lid then responds, saying something about seeking power and how the group was close to power but didn't have the wits to see it.  He then notes something about being tired of the elf and open to hear Talaste's plans.

The priestess tells him she is seeking an alliance, and says something about not siding with the others, promising him rewards of wealth and power.  She warns that if he assists the others, he will die beside them.

Sa'lid appears to scoff at the idea of helping them.  He says something about hypocrisy and taking what they wish to suit their own whims.  He then says something about bringing harm to them and that his ultimate loyalty is to himself.

The sorcerer also denigrates the wizard, noting that she believes herself to be untouchable then says something about Leigh having no talent as he does, warning she will face real power.

Talaste smiles, stating they are in accord.  She says something about an attack against the others and cautions Sa'lid not to mention the conversation.  He agrees, stating they will not hear of it from him.

Session 58 - Scene 3 (of 10)

Nearby, Leigh has a vision of her own.  Like Krolec, the first two are of Sa'lid and Talaste exchanging glances.

When the third vision appears, it is somewhat blurry and appears to take place at the inn as well.  She sees Sa'lid and Snarg in a dark corner in the bar area of the inn.

Sa'lid reminds Snarg about a previous conversation.  Snarg recalls that the sorcerer talked about the wizard getting too powerful and having to do something before she took the tower.

He is pleased the goblin remembers.  He says he has discussed the matter with the charming drow leader and she thinks it is time they deal with the wizard and the ranger.

Snarg happily agrees.  He dislikes Leigh and Krolec, noting they treat him poorly when pretty things fall into his pockets.

Sa'lid tells his servant he need not worry about them anymore.  And if Snarg does as he says, he will give the goblin the wizard's special bag that contains all of her interesting things.

The goblin is excited at the possibility.  He inquires if this will include Leigh's books, as he has been hoping for them to fall into his pockets for some time.

Laughing, Sa'lid affirms that Snarg can have them to do as he wishes – keep them as a collection, try to read them, or just use them for wiping material in the privy.  He doesn't really care.

As Snarg beams, Sa'lid tells him he will need the goblin to stab Leigh in the back once they reach the keep.  Snarg protests, noting that Leigh will fry him to a crisp.  But Sa'lid assures him she will be surprised and that he himself will finish her off before she can retaliate.  Then he will be the most powerful magic user in the land.

Sa'lid goes on, explaining that once they steal the Usher's power, he will become the most powerful magic user in the world, warning he will show the world what real power is...

This fades into a fourth vision, nearly ephemeral.  It appears to take place inside her house.  Talaste and Xunrar are talking, but Leigh has a difficult time making out all the words.

Talaste says something to Xunrar about needing his advice.  He pledges his loyalty.  She is pleased, and explains she has been considering their situation.

The priestess then says something about the power she wields, a good hope of an outcome, something about a change of survival, and something about another group of people.  Xunrar responds, saying something about agreeing with her and pledging to follow her into battle with the surface dwellers.

Smiling at Xunrar, Talaste says something about performing the bond with him.  As Xunrar says something about eagerly awaiting it, Talaste continues.  She something about keeping a secret and showing their devotion to the other, mentioning something about their simple minds and how they won't understand a show of strength and treachery.

Xunrar appears to agree, saying something about putting the others and ease and being treacherous.  He mentions something about how the others would start to trust them and how it would work to their advantage.  Talaste agrees, noting something about letting them feel in control.

Session 58 - Scene 4 (of 10)

Some distance away, Talaste finds herself struggling to breathe as the rocks flow all around her.  She then receives a divine vision.

She sees a recent image of Krolec looking at her and Sa'lid suspiciously.  This is followed by a second vision, less clear, showing Krolec suspiciously looking at her and her men from afar as she is trying to talk to them quietly.  Talaste can see that Krolec is trying to overhear them.

A third vision appears, somewhat blurry.  It appears to take place the previous night at the inn, as Krolec and Leigh sit in a corner at the bar talking.

Krolec appears to be discussing Talaste, saying they need her to get them to the keep but can't trust her.  He notes that although she converted faiths, she still has her own agenda.

Leigh notes that Sa'lid is trouble as well.  She says that not only has the goblin been eyeing her things again, but the sorcerer himself appears to be growing impatient about something.

The ranger thinks on it a moment.  He notes they are definitely up to something, as he's noticed them exchanges glances a few times.  He also knows she has been plotting with her men and Sa'lid about something behind their backs.

The wizard wonders if they know about her and Krolec's plan, but Krolec doesn't think so.  He doubts that Sa'lid or the drow could have seen them planning inside Challa's tower unless he sent Snarg to follow them.

Leigh notes that Sa'lid is not cunning enough to plan like that.  She agrees the others are oblivious to their plans, noting they won't know what hit them when the time comes.

The elf cautions that something is still going on though, and doesn't feel they can afford to wait until they finish matters with the Usher before taking the others back to Challa.

When Leigh asks him what they should do, Krolec states they cannot risk the others getting inside the keep.  He suspects both Sa'lid and Talaste want the Usher's power for themselves.  

Once they enter the keep, he explains, they need to take down Sa'lid, killing him if necessary.  He notes that in any event, they should kill the goblin as letting Snarg live is a disgrace.  Krolec goes on to explan he will take care of Talaste, and get her lovers to surrender once his blade is at her throat.  Then, once they are all tied up, he and Leigh can go take care of Arlo and the Usher.

Leigh notes she is powerful enough to take out the filthy drow, but wonders if the two of them are strong enough to take on the Usher themselves.  Krolec tells her not to worry as he has a surprise planned.  He tells her when the moment arrives she should act surprised.

The wizard is pleased to hear Krolec has a plan.  She notes once they take care of the cultists, they can haul the sorcerer and drow vermin back to Challa so she can bring them to justice.

Talaste then gets a fourth vision, nearly ephemeral.  It appears to take place sometime before, inside of a tower.  Krolec and Leigh are speaking with a gruff-looking, one-armed warrior woman.

Their words are like whispers and difficult to make out.  The woman mentions something about hanging and drow.  Krolec says something about needing them for now.  The woman responds by saying something about returning once they are done to face justice.

Session 58 - Scene 5 (of 10)

As Sa'lid is being buried alive, he, too, receives a warning from the divine.  Like Talaste, his first two visions are of Krolec watching them suspiciously.

He then gets a third vision, somewhat blurry.  It appears to take place the previous night.  While Krolec is on watch as Leigh meditates and he sleeps, Krolec sneaks out of their room.

He appears to head across town towards Moonstone Keep.  There, he goes up to the Justiciar's Tower and meets with Challa Kri.

Challa asks him if everything is going according to plan.  Krolec responds that it is; the drow priestess is getting ready to get them to the Usher.  Once they are there, he explains they will neutralize her, the other traitor drow, and the treacherous foreigner and his goblin.

She is pleased, noting that when he returns, she will hang them all.  Challa notes the irony that the drow began life underground but shall leave it suspended in the air.  She also notes her joy at being able to rid the city of the goblin.

Krolec points out that he may be forced to kill Snarg and Sa'lid before they come back, noting that they may be forced to do so in the event the others resist.

The justiciar expresses her disappointment, noting she wished to see the goblin swing but pointing out she will be happy as long as his rotten corpse is decaying somewhere.  She continues to explain that as for Sa'lid, she wants to geld him before he dies to punish him for his sinful dalliances.  She will then have his lover's forehead branded with an "A" and put her in the stocks so that any commoner can have her; noting it is a punishment that befits a noble whore.
Krolec believes the punishment for Lady Abigail seems a bit excessive, but defers to her authority as High Justiciar.  He then asks if she's put his plan into motion.

Challa explains she has, noting that everything will be in place when he needs it and how the others won't know what hit them.

Session 58 - Scene 6 (of 10)

Sa'lid's visions are interrupted as someone pulls him free of the debris.  As he emerges, he sees he is being helped up by none other than Tiberius Enchilada.  The warlord looks somewhat worse for wear than the last time Sa'lid saw him, and his hair appears to have turned white.

Standing next to Tiberius is a rough-looking dwarven warrior of some kind.  He, too, has an unnaturally-looking head of white hair and carries a large axe.  He looks at the sorcerer suspiciously.

Before Sa'lid has a chance to talk to Tiberius and his dwarven companion, Tarlyn emerges from around the bend.  Seeing him, the dwarf instantly raises his axe and prepares to charge.

After Tarlyn heads out from underneath the natural barrier, Krolec holds Leigh back a moment.  They quickly whisper that they've each received a vision warning of treachery from the others.  Krolec notes his suspicions about the visions, cautioning Leigh to wait to see if they are true before acting.

As Leigh prepares to use her magic powers to divine the cause of the earthquake and darkening clouds, Krolec spots Tiberius and Larrak.  Momentarily confused as to their presence, he quickly realizes Larrak is about to attack Tarlyn.  He yells to the dwarf to hold.

Krolec also calls for Tarlyn, who has already drawn his swords, to hold back as well.  He explains to the drow that Tiberius and Larrak are former members of their group.

At this point, Talaste, Sa'lid, and Xunrar meet up with the others.  They instantly adopt a defensive posture at the sight of the warlord and fighter and Talaste wants to know what is going on.

Krolec then orders Tarlyn and Xunrar to drop their weapons and for the three drow and Sa'lid, along with Snarg, to surrender themselves.  He informs everyone that he knows Talaste and Sa'lid have been having an affair, and that the two of them have been plotting with the other drow against him and Leigh.  He accuses them of plotting to betray and murder them and marry his sister to Tarlyn.

Tarlyn seems rather confused at the accusation about Jantor.  Oddly, Talaste seems most upset with the accusation of sleeping with the human.  She angrily asks why should would sleep "with that"?  Sa'lid, who considers himself quite the Lothario, objects to her so quickly dismissing the idea as inconceivable, noting his charm and good looks.

Larrak isn't interested in the soap opera drama.  He asks Krolec if they should just kill them all now and be done with it.

Tiberius assumes Krolec means to kill them as well.  He congratulates the ranger on finally taking a more pragmatic, instead of idealistic, approach.  The elf quickly corrects him that is not the case.

Talaste then laughs at Krolec's objections.  She says that Krolec has been planning to have them killed all along.  When Krolec objects, she calls him a liar and points out that the Raven Queen has sent her a divination to warn her, showing how Krolec plans to bring them back to Challa to be hanged.

Tarlyn takes the argument as an opportunity to step back into the shadows and disappear.  Larrak notices, and in his mind this confirms the treachery.

Krolec, however, begins to piece together that he and Leigh were not the only ones to have visions.  He tells everyone that the forces of evil are trying to trick them, explaining he had a vision as well.

Larrak isn't listening.  Instead, he's heading straight for Talaste, planning to have her head off.  Krolec again yells to him to not attack.  The dwarf questions the elf's sanity.

The ranger then goes into a long explanation about the visions being received and how he had to expose them to learn the truth.  He suspects Tharizdun himself sent the visions, noting that at least they are still considered a threat to his plans.  Krolec also spends some time reassuring Larrak that the drow have been helpful, loyal companions so far.  

The fighter seems mollified at Krolec's vouching for their honor.  He then notes to everyone they are in a bad location for arguments as they are behind enemy lines.  He tells Krolec to lead on, noting he and Tiberius will take the back as they don't trust anyone at this point.

By now, Tarlyn has reappeared.  Still feeling slandered by the whole experience, he decides to again argue with Krolec about how he should have listened to the barbarian the first time they were at the dig site.  When Krolec starts to defend himself, Larrak again insists they move out immediately and argue later.

Leigh voices her agreement with Larrak.  She has determined the clouds and earthquake are related to a magic ritual, which could be related to the dragon bones.

The whole thing happens so fast, Krolec and Leigh don't even have a moment to think about how Larrak reappeared from presumably being dead, nor how Tiberius found him, nor how they happened to meet up with the group or what they are doing here.  

Larrak and Tiberius, however, do notice no one has asked them much, and are both relieved.  Larrak notes to himself that it is just as well they asked no questions, for he couldn't answer them anyway.

Session 58 - Scene 7 (of 10)

As the group nears the dig site, Larrak calls up for Krolec to halt.  Before they get in too close, he and Tiberius want a briefing of the layout of the area, based on Krolec and Talaste's previous reconnaissance.  

The ranger draws him a quick map in the dirt and notes the opposition.  Larrak is unimpressed, noting a couple of cultists, goblins, and barbarians will be easy to defeat.

Krolec then heads into the area again to scout.  He sees the cultists have stopped digging and the dragon bones have been removed.  The man on the ground appears to still be alive, though the elf notices this time that apparently his hand was cut off several days ago – with the rotting remains of it attached to a piece of rope hung around his neck.  Most importantly, Krolec notices the barbarians are starting to leave the area, and the one in the rear is carrying a large sack.

The ranger quickly rushes back to tell the others.  Talaste, however, is busy whispering with Xunrar about something; Krolec scolds her for not listening and repeats himself.  Larrak stresses they must stop the barbarians from leaving with the bones.

The group moves in to stop the barbarians as fast as possible.  Tarlyn charges ahead, hit by crossbow fire from the goblins as he gives out his battle cry.

Krolec circles around to the other side, towards the goblin archers.  He aims, however, down at the barbarian carrying the bag, hitting him in the back with a hawk's talon shot.

Larrak knows he is slow-moving and needs to take the direct approach.  Instead of following Tarlyn around the side of the cliffs down to the barbarians, he simply charges down the cliff side, falling and rolling a bit but continuing on.  

His straight path takes him nearly all the way to the nearest cultist.  The cultists then surround the dwarf, striking him with their shovels.  His armor easily withstands the blows.

Tiberius is impressed by his friend's bravery, but not so bold himself.  He follows behind Tarlyn, along with Xunrar, Talaste, and Sa'lid, while Snarg hides back in the bushes.

Leigh is more calculating.  Moving herself to the edge of the cliffs, she calls out a spell to block the path of the barbarians with an illusionary wall then blasts them and one of the goblins with a large fireball.

Confronted with the wall and artillery fire, the barbarians turn around and charge at Larrak.  Their large swords cut into him deeply.

Tarlyn then maneuvers himself in to the mob.  He cuts into the barbarian carrying the bag with a pressing attack.

Up on the cliffs, the goblins fire at Krolec, missing him badly.  To the first archer's surprise, he runs straight past him.

Larrak takes a moment to steady himself then chops into the barbarian bag man with his axe.

Nearly at the bottom, Tiberius jumps down the remaining distance of cliff and charges one of the cultists next to Larrak.  He chops straight through the man's shoulder with his axe, spraying blood everywhere.  The other cultist still has no luck piercing Larrak's armor with a spade.

Next to Tiberius, Xunrar charges one of the other barbarians as Talaste moves up and blasts several of the barbarians and the cultist with her light of arvandar.  The surge of divine power is too much for the cultist's brain to handle, and his brain explodes with an aneurysm, sending him crashing to the ground.

Sa'lid then moves over next to Talaste and casts an explosive pyre spell, causing the barbarian and his bag to both explode in a fiery mess.

One of the other barbarians moves in to flank Larrak, leaving him remaining surrounded.  Their swords continue to pierce him.

Tarlyn uses his own barbarian strength to fight back at them.  Whirling around, he slashes at both men with his swords.

Up on top, one goblin fires at Leigh and the other at Krolec.  Leigh is hit, but the ranger manages to duck out of the way of the goblin's bolt.  As he runs, he fires two shots of his own, sticking two arrows into the goblin in front of him.  Leigh also fires back, blasting the goblin with a fireburst.

Down below, Larrak continues to lash out with his axe against the warriors surrounding him.  He strikes at two of them with a cleaving blow.

Tiberius maneuvers around to a flanking position to help the dwarf.  He then gives him an inspiring word as he chops into a barbarian with his axe.  Xunrar follows up with a holy strike.

Talaste fires out with a vengeful flare, blasting one of the barbarians away.  Sa'lid finishes off the other with an energy strobe.

With the barbarians dead, Tarlyn whirls across the battlefield over to the goblin attacking Krolec.  He slashes into it with both his swords.  When the goblin moves to attack back, Tarlyn counterattacks, running the monster through with his blade.

Krolec then fires two shots into the back of the other goblin, sending him to the ground as well.

Session 58 - Scene 8 (of 10)

With the fight over, Tarlyn immediately moves to grab the remains of the bag.  Some bone fragments are left, but the explosive pyre caused heavy damage.

Larrak scoffs at the attention to the bag and looks at the injured prisoner.  He yells to the others he needs a medic.  Xunrar responds by coming over and applying first aid, not wanting to waste any healing powers on some injured human.

Krolec keeps a careful eye out around the area as Leigh examines the bones.  They are not magical themselves, but the old dragons bones could be used for ritual components.

The dwarf argues they should rid themselves of the bones as fast as possible.  Leigh notes that Sa'lids spells should be sufficient.  Everyone watches on as he reduces the rare and valuable bones to dust with his explosive pyre spell.

While the fiery explosions carry on, Larrak takes the hand from around the injured man's neck and throws it away then stands guard around him, being sure that no one is sneaking up on them.

Seeing Larrak over by the man, Krolec decides to go see if he can talk with him.  After Xunrar's attentions, the man has recovered enough to speak.  He explains he is a historian and explorer from Winterhaven named Douven Stahl.

Douven goes on to discuss how he discovered documents of an ancient dragon burial ground being located in the mountains below the old keep and hired some men to come dig it up.  Unfortunately, he stumbled right into the activities of the cult operating out of the keep.

After being taken hostage, Douven watched as the cult dug up the dragon bones for their own purposes.  When Krolec asks what those purposes were, the historian cannot say, except that the barbarians were taking them to someone named Drylak the Impaler.

Tiberius' ears perk up at the mention of Drylak, the same warlord once destroyed his village and enslaved his people.  Full of suspicion and rage, Tiberius marches straight over to Stahl and grabs him by the throat, demanding what he knows of Drylak.

Krolec quickly moves to pull Tiberius' hand from around the man's throat.  Coughing and wheezing, Dahl still tries to comply – he explains that the barbarians apparently worked for Drylak, but he doesn't know where the warlord is.

Talaste suggests that it is obvious, to her at least, that Drylak must be back up in the keep.  Tiberius isn't so sure.  He doesn't trust Stahl, commenting that Stahl knows about the warlord and is therefore suspect.

As Krolec tries to explain the man was found beaten and chained, Tiberius cuts him off.  He insists that the man knows about the keep and is therefore a risk.  He suspects the man is trying to set them up.

Sa'lid, sensing a rift growing, suggests they should kill Stahl now so he can't be a threat to them when they go to the keep.

Larrak thinks they are putting the cart before the horse.  He plainly asks the now-terrified man if he has ever even been up to the keep.  Douven strongly states he has not, which satisfies Larrak that he is no kind of threat.

Krolec, for his part, is taken aback at the whole conversation.  Exasperated, he points out that they came back here to save the man.

Talaste then interjects, making a point of her own that Krolec is incorrect; they came back for the dragon bones.

Larrak is becoming upset at what he sees as the stupidity of the conversation.  He can't believe they'd murder an innocent man that couldn't possibly threaten them.  What upsets him more, he yells out, is that they are forcing him to side with Krolec (whom he believes to be too soft to make difficult decisions, in general, but Larrak does not say as much out loud).  

Taking a stance with his axe in hand, he pointedly tells Stahl that no one will harm him, but he needs to know if the man knows anything else.

Douven explains he has told them all he knew.  Talaste can tell the man is not lying, and points out to the others that he is not trying to be deceptive.  Tiberius counters that the man could still be under a magical charm of some kind.   Larrak, however, will hear no more about it and makes sure the discussion is ended.

Once the matter is settled, Larrak loots the bodies of the dead men and goblins, pocketing a small amount of gold.  He also discovers an amulet worn around the neck of one of the barbarians.  Leigh notices and tries to examine it.  Larrak holds it back from her until she actually asks to examine it.

Leigh uses her knowledge of magic to determine it is an amulet of health.  By this point, Douven notices and says he can see they have found his amulet.  After everyone eyes him suspiciously, he tells them they can keep it as a reward for saving him, but he would like the picture of his wife that is inside the locket portion of the necklace.

Douven explains to them how one of the barbarians took the amulet from him then chopped off his hand and threaded it through some rope to trade him – a necklace for a necklace the crazy barbarian laughed.  Larrak opens the locket and discovers the picture.  He then hands it back to Stahl to keep, noting he (and the group) are not thieves.

After making sure the man is capable of getting around on his own, Larrak tells Douven to head back down to Winterhaven.  No one attempts to interfere.  Instead, they all begin the ascent back up.

Session 58 - Scene 9 (of 10)

A few hours of travel later and the group can finally see the keep up a distance away.  Krolec very carefully examines the area for ambushes.

Larrak is more concerned with the naturally dangerous fauna that lives up in the peaks of the Carrington Peaks.  Luckily, they are not that far up yet and all he sees are some mountain goats.

As they make their way up, Krolec inquires as to whether they should attempt the front entrance or try to find an alternate way inside from around the side.  Talaste and Larrak adamantly agree – they do not want to enter through the main entrance.

Krolec wants the entire group to scout around, but Larrak points out it will take too long.  Leigh concurs, noting that the ritual to open the gate to Orcus' domain could occur at any time; certainly by midnight.

The area off of the main road is very difficult to travel through, being largely sheer mountainside.  Krolec and Tarlyn, the best climbers, decide to go on their own.

As they make their way around to the southeast corner of the keep, they spot a large crack in the lower part of one of the keep walls; it has produced an opening that could be crawled in through.  When they move in for a closer look they do not see any guards in the area.

The ranger makes sure to plot out the best pathway for them to take the group along to get back to this area.  He and Tarlyn then head back and explain the situation to the others.

Larrak suggests splitting into two groups – one to take the front door while the other group goes in through the side.  But Krolec won't hear of it, insisting that no good ever comes from splitting the group up.

Despite Tiberius' note that a distraction could be useful, the group presses on, en masse, to the crack in the wall.  But even the route plotted by Krolec is very tricky for inexperienced climbers, and many have difficulty along the way.

Xunrar and Talaste both manage to fall.  Tarlyn is close enough to catch Xunrar, but his mistress begins tumbling down the mountainside.  After falling 40 feet or so, she manages to catch on to a small ledge before she tumbles down into oblivion.

As Talaste holds on for her life, the others begin arguing over whom is the best suited to rescue her.  Tired of their foolish ego contest, Sa'lid uses his sorcerous powers to lift her out; he notes he doesn't trust any of them not to get themselves killed in the process of the rescue.

Session 58 - Scene 10 (of 10)

All of the commotion with arguing and falling has attracted attention from the keep.  The group hears goblinish voices above and people moving about.  Everyone quickly tries to hide.

As a group of goblin archers look over the wall's edge, Larrak and Xunrar are spotted.  They fire several crossbow bolts into them.

Larrak yells for the two of them to run.  He drags Xunrar off with him as the two are hit by more missile fire.   Meanwhile, Krolec signals for everyone to quietly stay put; a condition very hard for Talaste, as her husband is now separated from her and in danger.

Krolec quietly whispers to everyone that the plan is unchanged; they will wait for the guards to move away, then head inside the keep.  Talaste forcefully whispers she will not leave Xunrar behind, but Krolec tells her she may not have a choice.

The goblins, however, do not leave.  They are now carefully scanning the area for other intruders and ignoring the taunts of Larrak, who is trying to lure them his way.  Sa'lid can hear them call out something to someone below, but can't hear it clearly enough to decipher what they are saying.

Meanwhile, some distance away, Larrak leads Xunrar around towards the front of the keep.  They then spot a hobgoblin patrol up ahead, heading straight for them.

Larrak yells out insults to them and waits for them to move in.  Two of them charge straight at him, hitting him with their swords.

Xunrar steps up next to him, blasts two of the creatures with his astral thunder, then cloaks them both with darkness.

The hobgoblins flail around in the dark.  One of them still manages to hit Xunrar, while another scores a lucky strike on Larrak.

The drow then strikes back, hitting a hobgoblin with his strength of valor.  Once the darkness fades away, Larrak knocks back the other one with a powerful dizzying blow but it recovers quickly.

The creatures move in and surround Larrak, hitting him thrice.  Xunrar using his healing hands and amoth's grace to keep the dwarf alive, but misses with his holy strike counterattack.

Swinging his mighty axe, Larrak chops the head off of one of the creatures with a brutal strike.  Two others flanking him stab him again.

As a stream of blood descends the mountain, Xunrar uses the prayer of two paths to blasts one of the goblinoids while laying hands on Larrak again.

Larrak continues to swing away, but one of his attacks is parried.  He is stabbed in the side for his trouble, while Xunrar's arm is slashed.

Xunrar strikes back with a radiant smite.  Larrak follows it up with an attack that severs the creature's leg at the thigh, sending it crashing to the ground in a pool of blood.

The two sides fight on, temporarily at a stalemate as they parry each other s blows.  The clang of their weapons echoes across the mountains, drawing the attention of the goblins along the wall.

After being stabbed again, Larrak strikes back, taking down another of the villains.

But fatigue begins to set in.  Neither Larrak nor Xunrar have much luck hitting the last attacker as he darts in and out, scoring strikes on Larrak.

Eventually, the hobgoblin missteps, and Larrak catches him with a crushing blow.  Xunrar follows it up with a holy strike and then Larrak strikes the creature again, knocking it to the ground.

The hobgoblin stabs Larrak in the leg before Xunrar finally brings his sword down to kill the monster.  Larrak, nearly collapsed from blood loss, sits down and lets Xunrar lay hands on him again.

Meanwhile, Krolec has noticed the goblins are no longer looking their way.  Tarlyn tells the others it is time to move in, nearly having to drag Talaste with them.

Leigh has some trouble moving up to the hole, but everyone makes it.  They head inside...