With the news of Hellgate Keep, the group decides to investigate the wild stories of magic and power. Orthan uses his carpet while others ride or fly on their own. Several days of travel brings the group to the mountainous region of Hellgate Keep. Upon approach, Orthan’s carpet abruptly stops. Other party members also have a sudden loss of magical abilities. Presumably due to the magical wards left behind. The area appears to be damaged from massive explosions. There is a giant triangular section cut from the mountains where the city once was. Regrouping in the valley the two druids, Max & Greenleaf, shape change into birds and begin to scout the area. It appears that trees and foliage have been growing at a heightened rate. With magic detections spells active, the druids begin to retrieve minor magic items that are scattered throughout the rubble. They return with several +1 rings, earrings and cloaks of protection as well as many potions. Traveling up one side of the devastated valley, the party enters a collapsed tower. Suddenly a group of goblins is spotted and Greenleaf sends them fleeing by conjuring a fire elemental. A secret door is discovered under an anvil in what appears to have been a smithy. Descending a long stairway, the group finds themselves in a room filled with sacs of rotting grain. A spiral staircase leads down to another level.
Conjuring another elemental, Greenleaf commands it to proceed down the stairs. As Skilver descends, a light coin in his pocket suddenly turns into a snake and attacks. Skilver quickly dispatches the snake with a few of magic missiles. It takes the group almost an hour to figure out that only magical light coins are affected and solve the puzzle by placing all coins in bags of holding.
Descending down two more levels the group emerges in a room with a hallway that leads to a four-way intersection. To the right is a door that is secured by a bar. Thud attempts to lift the bar and is surprised by the electrical shock that flows through his body. Skilver steps in and casts knock on the door and it opens effortlessly. In the room is a fountain that has water cascading into a bowl and a another door on the opposite side. The group rests here for the evening.
The next day the party enters the next doorway and enters another room. In the room the group discovers a magical axe. Moving on the group passes through several rooms that are decorated to represent different seasons. Then down another hallway to a locked door. Thud bashes his way through the door and runs into a nine foot bipedal skeleton with a scorpions tail. The creature immediately skewers Thud with it’s tail. Max slings a magical bullet at the creature striking it for minor damage. Suddenly an umber hulk crashes through the wall at the opposite side of the room and charms Greenleaf. He turns and runs away in fear as Orthan shoots the umber hulk with a +4 arrow. The monster disappears as a wall of ice materializes between Thud and the rest of the group. The demon creature skewers Thud again and thud returns a bare fisted punch with his ring of might.