While in the city of the invincible overlord (desert city) Skilver hears rumors of inquiries being made regarding him. Following up on the lead Skilver, Raineer and Thud head off to meet with the mysterious contact. When they arrive they are told by a guard to come back after sunset. They decide to go to the church of Belial. It seems as though Skilver has convinced Thud to convert to the Belial religion. Thud converts and has his tongue split in the center in accordance with the traditional Belial initiation. Skilver also receives the tongue splitting as it was overlooked at his first initiation. They are reminded that the iron fist is best wrapped in a velvet glove. Thud must also contribute to the church 10% of his income for the next ten years.
The three depart the temple and travel back to meet with the mysterious contact. They arrive to find a familiar friend to Skilver. It is Leonardo the vampire. He would like Skilver to go and capture the crimson death that is his soul and return it to him so that he may re-take his human form. (step toward being a litch)
The group decides not to partake in the mission and look for more leads. After paying for information on several leads the group decides to travel across the eastern desert and into the Grey Peaks to find the lamp of wondrous power that runs on crushed gems. At the end of the day the group can see that a large portion of the city is in flames…
Upon entering the grey peaks the party spots a group of eight mountain giants traveling on an adjacent slope. Max uses the helm of brilliance to summon a fireball. Doubling the effects using the rod of fury, the 20 hit dice fireball produces quite the explosion. Two more fireballs from Raineer and Skilver leave the giants in ashes.
The following day the group finds a cave entrance that looks like a giant mouth with vicious teeth. The teeth being the great stalactites and stalagmites that fill the cave. As the group moves further into the cave it becomes evident that other groups have camped here before. In the very rear of the cave there are stone carved stairs that lead down. At the bottom there is a large cavern that has seven tunnels that lead in different directions. Between each tunnel there is a droopy face carved on the wall. As the group approaches one of the tunnels a face says: “turn back, this is not the way.” The group notices that each mouth has a different gem on the tip of each tongue. The group decides to rest and decide on the next course of action.
It doesn’t matter where we go danger and intrigue
seem to follow us might as well be in a dungeon
and face the dangers head on maybe thats what we should do here
“Hey, if some one is looking for us why don’t we go looking for them”
Thats more like it we’ll sick the beggars guild on them, see how they like it Could be the master
the black mage haven’t seen him for awhile or could be something else entirely
Whats all the chaos looks like a building is on fire “Hey, lets just go around”
What the hell now? Some kind of festivalweird ritual? this is nuts “hey buddy,what is this madness?” “its been going on for days”….”thanks for the info pal”
waitaminutewhatwasthatFUCKER…got him
“you stupid Bastard, you think you can steal my shit, don’t deny it, I should kill you on the spot” “Hey Thud turn this bastard upside down,and we’ll see what he has in his pockets”
Hmmm…starting to attract attention
“you’re lucky we don’t kill you Now Get The Fuck Out Of HERE!”
“stay sharp, this is the building”
a gaurd huh must be some one with clout
come back after dark? What? could be one of thoses
vampires They where all chummy with Skilver
“could be one of those vampires”
Time to kill I guess I’ll tag along over to the Belial temple that Thud has taken to many blows to the head he’ll follow any one
“You really going to go through with this?”
“”Yes””
this ought to be interesting:
Oh Shit look at that they’re splitting his tongue
ha,Skilver thought he was getting off clean now its his turn these are some sadistic fuckers What?
hanging him on hooks I must try never again to think I’ve seen it ALL
“Was that worth it ogre?”
funny, I think he means it
“can we go now that you boys have had your fun?”
A different gaurd this time…he can’t speak…oh theres the other guy he’s waving us in Dimension Door ready just in case…ha, I was right, its Leo-nards-o I’ll let skilver do the talking shit is he giving him his blood again crazy fuck
quietly-“I don’t know elf, sounds like little gain for alot of pain”
Good we’re leaving “Lets go get a drink”
“Out of all the leads, I think the lamp thing sounds the best”
Alright, we are hitting the road lets go
“”Hey look, the city is on fire again””
That town is Wild
“gaints you say, lets fireball the shit out of them”
Wow, I’ve never seen a fireball that big and some of those fucks are still standing…better finish them off
Theses are tuff motherfuckers
three fireballs and they’re all not dead
Hopefully magicmissles do the trick
Not much left better move on
Thats a impressive cave mouth lets take a look inside “Hey Skilver how about a detect traps”
Shit we just did this Caverns and a maze of possibilities thing
Careful what I ask for, Now I got it!
Update to the lands of the north:
The demon horde has been contained, and the Book of Evil has been rebound in a new location. Still, the devastation that has ravaged the lands for the past years will take some time to undo.
Luskan has expanded it’s powerbase with the annihilation of Nevrwinter, nothing stands betwee then and the Mere of the Dead, where rumor has it that Emor the Evil has seized control of the Elemental temple complex and has strongly fortified the area while the forces of good chased the minions of chaos around the land.
Ending a plan put into action by the matriarch of the Tharzidunian temple, it appears as though the Luskan pirates have ‘conquered’ the Moonshae Isles by slaying thier king and exterminating as many of the rangers and druids as they could find. In this task it is said that they were aided by the forces of the Golden Orb, a splinter group of Tharzidun allied with Emor.
Silverymoon has beaten back the invaders and the dwarves have similarly resisted complete annihilation, but fields have lain fallow for years now, and the populace has been decimated by war, famine and disease. Prices on staple goods continue to climb and many are in danger of starving in front of wagons filled with edibles. As a result, food riots have broken out in cities – including Waterdeep, Silverymoon and the string of inland towns along the Dessarin.
The assassination of several of the Lords of Waterdeep during the crisis, and the vaporization of a large contingent of good-aligned rangers, harpers, druids, mages and such when Neverwinter vanished has left power a tenous thing. Alliances are now being condsidered that would previously have been ridiculed. Among these is a non-aggression pact proposed by the Black Mage of Orlbar between the town of Daggerford, Zelbross and those of Lorkh and Orlbar. the town of Daggerford is said to be undecided, though some of the more proimnent supporters of the arts are srguing that increased contact can only lead to more commece. Having learned that the BMoO is rumored to be responsible for the creation of the Boots of Halfling Stomping, the riverside hobbit community is decidedly against the idea.
Still – with the trade routes from the Desert lands allowing a shorter trip to market, maybe the use of the Dawn Pass will entice the more conservative citizens. Daggerford has become a hotbed of political intrique, with agents from all concerned power factions asking questions and trying to look inconspicuous.
…what happens next?