The Temple of Lobab

The 6th - 14th day in the 3rd month of 1372

The heroes of Tandis, led by the young elf Naebros, set off deep into the Tanglewood seeking Lobab's temple. Sybael and Elaris were nowhere to be found. In the days leading up to the expedition they had been seen frolicking in the woods. 

As the party drew nearer to the wood's center, the forest became dark and sunless, overcome with black vines of otherworldly provenance. Then, Naebros told them he feared that Drow protected the demon mother of spiders. This Elsalor had refused to speak about, but Neabros thought the heroes should know what they were to face. 

In they went into the foul temple, itself overgrown with eldritch vines. They skillfully passed a courtyard occupied by huge burrowing spiders and found themselves in a wide hall. From void-like darkness stepped two Drow warriors, their skin ashen dark and hair white. They bore black swords in their wiry arms strong as corded steel. Even two of these dark elves proved to be dire foes. Young Neabros was slain, but the drow sentries were defeated. 

Into the fane of Lobab the heroes went, a massive chamber filled with black vines and milky web. They spied the Demon mother, a gigantic black spider of terrible aspect. Upon her back were her many young, which began to leap down and join the fray. Taran spotted the forms of Sybael and Elaris webbed to the wall in a state of unconscious stupor. They were to be meals for Lobab's brood.

The fight was long and hard. The heroes slew a score of Lobab's children and eventually the Demon Mother herself. During the battle, the young hobbit apprentice, Gripplewild, fell, and despite Visefrin's intervention, he succumbed to the terrible venom. 

When Lobab died the darkness and vines began to recede and the forest returned slowly to its natural state. The heroes poured over the great treasure laid before a dark spider altar. This included a flashing dagger, shimmering mail, and the Shield of the Unicorn. The heroes packed their booty, freed the captive elves, and loaded their hallowed dead. 

On the way out they also discovered a strange Spider Chalice and a tunnel leading down and down into the earth. 

Upon returning to Nymora, Elsalor and the elves of the wood hailed them as champions and mourned for their lost brother Naebros. Elsalor told them of the artifacts they recovered. All three were of elven make and had long been ensconced in Lobab's foul lair. He told them that the Tanglewood elves were among the last to war with the drow before they were driven into their subterranean halls. Ever since the center of the wood had been forbidden, and the elves of the Tanglewood were made to forget their wicked cousins. He admitted that the tunnel found by the heroes led far below the earth and into the nighted halls of the Underdark, but without the darkness of Lobab, no drow could long stand the light of the overworld. 

The artifacts of the Elven hero, Arluin recovered from Lobab's fane

Arluin's Brightstar Dagger +2, sheds white light in the darkness

Arluin's Mail +2, weightless and stronger than steel

Arluin's Unicorn Shield +2, nimble and brightly painted

Serpents in the City

The 24th day of the 2nd month - the 6th day of the 3rd month 1372

The heroes of Tandis made more inquiries into the murders of the Valkan clergymen. Although Potek, the high priest insisted that the governor's wife, Vaseela was responsible, the heroes thought it best to see for themselves. Governor Sava was a generous host, and the charming Vaseela proved a guileful seeress, but no wrongdoing could be proven. 

The heroes visited the house of Syral Mora, purchased a few of his prized blades, and learned of his interest in the Rama Dagger. They sought information about strange men prowling the docks, and Syral told them to investigate a derelict riverside warehouse. 

Within the warehouse were several serpent assassins who were swiftly dealt with. One, who was charmed revealed Syral Mora himself to be the architect of the murders. 

The heroes returned to Mora's house, battled several more assassins, and killed Syral himself. Evidence uncovered at the scene exposed Syral's dark deeds. He had been using the wicked Rama Dagger to slay innocent travelers, siphoning their life force. A young priest of Valka had begun to suspect Syral of evil deeds. Fearing exposure, Syral hired the serpent assassins to silence the priest and eliminate four others who posed a threat to his plans. He likely knew the priests of Valka would be quick to blame Vaseela.

This conclusion was eventually accepted by both Sava and Potek, though Potek refused to make peace with Sava and Vaseela. Upon Vaseela's insistence, both she and her husband were baptized to the gods of Law, and Visefrin christened their union. 

Spell Book of Syral Mora

Level 2 spells: Detect Invisible, Locate Object, Wizard Lock, Knock

The heroes did not linger long in Kronstadt, and traveled with the young elf, Naebros to the tree village of Nymora. There they met the elven lord, Elsalor, who told them of the spreading darkness in the ancient wood. From the darkness came spiders, no doubt the spawn of Lobab, the demon mother of spiders, who dwelt in a ruined temple forbidden to the elves of the Tanglewood. 

The brave heroes pledged to aid Elsalor's people and settled into Nymorian life. Sybael learned that some of these wood elves possessed magical hides that allowed them to transform into animals. This was a magic not seen among more civilized elves

Fidlthid and Visefrin sought Elvin lore that might aid them in fighting their venomous foes. They learned that little foraging could be done in the winter, but the elves had already distilled some protective potions that might aid against Lobab's venom. The Heroes were given 5 such draughts. 

Visefrin spoke to more ravens and awaited word from the West.  And finally, on the third day, a loyal raven arrived. With it came a message from Bishop Boraint. Winter in Tandis was thus far peaceful, and preparations were well underway for the arrival of The Court of Love. Boraint had shared the revelations of The Last Crusade with Lord Fillip and his retainers, and the bold Sir Jean of Manglian was preparing an expedition into the dungeons below. 

Taran too sought elven magic with which to battle Lobab, and Lord Elsalor, beguiled by her mortal beauty gave her a twisted Willow Wand of Missiles to use in the battle to come.  Taran also learned that a tribe of capricious centaurs dwelled a day's ride downstream from the Elven town. 

Welborn, during his stay, dedicated himself to the study of Syral's tomes. These ancient worm-eaten texts detailed artifacts great and terrible lost to men. One artifact of note was The Black Sword of Kas. This sword of incredible power was used by the chaos lord Kas to slay his terrible master. The name of Kas' master had been crudely redacted as though even its utterance might invite doom. This wicked sword was believed to be in the catacombs of a great necropolis in the Barrow Hills - the very same guarded by the Gray Princes. 

Claiming the Libram

The 8th - 17th days in the second month of 1372

Again the heroes of Harrowhoff delved into Fidmalion to claim the Libram. They happened upon a chamber of the sun and after braving its hazards claimed several vials of many colored oil. Mosaics in this chamber depicted mages with such colors upon their daggers. 

Down they went ino the final level. Sybael entered the Chamber of the Sun Wizard and coating his dagger in the magic oil used it as a key to open a door beyond. Meanwhile, Taran entered the Chamber of the Moon Wizardess and deposited the glowing orb in a basin. A magic mouth spoke to her: "A woman must travel alone through the door of the stars”.

They continued on and came across the door of the stars, now opened by Sybael's key. Looming before the door, they saw the great hulk of iron. It stood inert, yet terrible to behold. Taran alone pressed forward and crossed the threshold of the starry door. There she saw the Libram with golden pages upon a pedestal. She took it swiftly and returned. The hulk briefly stirred, but moonlight began to glow around Taran and flashed in the dull eyes of the hulk. The hulk stirred no more. She had claimed the Libram without further bloodshed. 

The heroes returned to the lands of Balga and as they drew near a wicked blizzard blew from the west. From the tempest emerged the white-haired beasts of Morcarat, and her voice echoed through the howling wind. She demanded Taran give the Libram to one of her beasts which reached out is monstrous hand. This Taran did, and Morcarat proclaimed her free of the curse. 

The party traveled further east, arrived at the troubled city of Kronstadt, and settled in at the Sword Dancer Inn.

Visefrin immediately visited the priests of Valka whose clergy had been plagued by assassinations. He learned the priests of Valka suspected that the governor’s mistress was responsible for the murders. They claimed that she was a witch and said that church of Valka had publicly condemned the relationship. 

The bishop also communicated with local ravens and sent them flying west to warn Bishop Boraint of the revelations found in The First Crusade. 

The heroes searched the market square for armor, weapons, and an apothecary, but found no equipment better than their own, and only poultices and unguents hawked by Astoradian mountebanks. 

The elves disguised themselves to explore the town, seeking rumors of their kind in the surrounding lands. They found only one, a trader who came from deep in the forest south of the city. This elf was from a small Sylvan tribe. He told Sybael that in recent years spiders had taken up residence in the forest. These creatures, he said, were servants of darkness and dwelled in a foul ruin forbidden to the elves. 

Fidlthid made inquiries of the many Astoradian sellswords. These eastern mercenaries were paid well to escort caravans of miners to and from the hills. One claimed he spied a glimmering castle high in the mountains. It was whispered that great treasure was ensconced within it. This mercenary offered to guide them to the castle for a price. 

Of the recent assassinations, the mercenaries said that there were strange folk seen by night near the river dock.

Fidamalion: The First Delve

 27th day of the first month to the 1st day of the second month 1372

Leaving Taran behind the adventurers set off for Fidamalion. They eventually found the ruined tower and entered the dungeon below via a secret tunnel in a nearby ruined village. Within they found two trolls and a barbarian prisoner. The heroes dispatched the trolls, rescued the barbarian youth, and learned that he was there seeking the Crown of the Mountain Queen - a long-lost barbarian relic. 

The heroes continued exploring the ancient wizards' lair, and it wasn't long before the crown was recovered and given to the barbarian. 

The Heroes learned the secret of the initiate's path and claimed some relics of the mages. They passed the initiate's proving ground, a dangerous chess game, and discovered that a cloak of power was missing. 

They entered an ancient library filled with many rotting tomes. They recovered some writings authored by the mages of Fidamalion and an intact copy of the long-lost tome, The First Crusade. 

Down they went into a level choked with lifelike statues. There they battled a terrible creature with the body of a woman, the tail of a serpent, and hair like many vipers. She was destroyed and from her foul corpse, the heroes recovered the Cloak of Displacement. 

On they continued eventually finding a Potion of Giant Strength and the Chamber of Womanly Magic. This iridescent chamber was blocked by a barrier of soft light that no man could pass. Within the chamber, they spied a floating orb, the source of the strange light. Elaris, the elf, entered the chamber, the orb flashed and from a void in time and space came dire foes. She was nearly killed but managed to seize the orb and escape the Chamber. The purpose of this orb was not yet known to the adventurers. 

The heroes ran low on spells and energy and returned to Balga before finding the Libram of Kryon. They hoped that Taran could stave off death for one more week. 

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The First Crusade

Written nearly a thousand years ago, this tome details the rise of a champion of chaos from within the ranks of the clerics of law. This champion and his cult wished to summon the demon prince, Demogorgon to rule over the mortal world. 

The great clerics of the age and their forces laid siege to the champion's temple, slew the cult of Demogorgon, and destroyed the wicked champion of chaos. Above the foul temple to Demogorgon, the clerics of Law raised a great hill to bury forever its secrets. Upon the hill, a small monastery was built. This was Tandis Hill.

The book also claimed that in 1,000 years, the heavenly bodies would again align to allow for Demogorgon’s summoning.

Downtime II

 21st - 27th day in the 1st month of 1372

The Heroes of Tandis continued their sojourn in Balga. They set about gaining knowledge and began to draw their plans.

The magic users wished to learn more of Necron and the Grey Princes. Though the lord of Balga and his retainers were not well-read, they found that the priests of Valka, the Astoradian god, possessed many tomes and much lore. 

The magic users learned that the Grey Princes were once red-haired heathen kings from the north. In seeking immortality, they all joined in a foul pact with chaos and became undead horrors of tremendous power. They ruled over the Barrow Hills, a range of rocky hillocks where many heathen burial mounds were located. It was rumored that there was a dungeon beneath their fortress that contained a powerful relic. This they were sworn to guard until the breaking of the world.

The magic users attempted to learn more about the amulet believed to contain Necron's lifeforce, but such lich-lore still eluded them, perhaps a powerful necromancer would know more. 

They also sought knowledge about the strange black mirror-like opal. It seemed that much of the dark-spired fortress was made of a similar material. This mineral proved to be otherworldly in origin, though they managed to learn little else. 

The Book of Necron contained the following spells

Level 2: ESP, Knock, Invisibility, Wizard Lock, Magic Mouth

Level 3: Hold Person, Clairvoyance, Dispel Magic, Infravision, Protection from Normal Missiles

Level 4: Wall of Ice, Charm Monster, Dimension Door, Ice Storm

Level 5: Hold Monster, Telekinesis, Animate Dead, Contact Higher Plane, Feeblemind, Cloudkill, Monster Summoning III

Level 6: Flesh to Stone, Anti Magic Shell, Death Spell, Control Weather

Visefrin too spent much time with the Priests of Valka, who wielded great influence in Astoradian society. These priests he learned, were a power all their own in the Principality to the East. Valka measured the arc of power in centuries, unlike short-sighted men who ruled for mere decades. These priests were friendly to the bishop, but would not entertain any notion of adding the Western gods to their pantheon.

These priests told Visefrin that several of their clergy had been recently assassinated in the nearby city of Kronstadt. The murderers left only a sigil of a serpent near each of the kills. 

Sybael, the fair elf, married his lover, Elaris in a gay ceremony presided over by Visefrin. This was a great amusement to Pagovin and his retainers who had never before reveled with elfkind. 

Taran, meanwhile weakened greatly having been geased by Morcarat. By the end of the week, she was barely able to walk and she subsisted only on sour goat's milk administered by Pagovin's servants. No spell or benison could relieve her condition. It seemed she would continue to waste away until the heroes recovered the Libram of Kryon.

The heroes managed to learn something of Fidamalion from the library of the Valkan priests. Fidamalion was once a tower and home to an insular order of mages. Through their hubris, the tower was destroyed, though the maze beneath still existed. No adventurers had survived their perilous delves below Fidamalion, though many had tried to claim the lost relics of the mages. The Libram itself, a grimoire that contained many spells lost to common usage, was said to be deep within the dungeon guarded by a hulk of magical iron impervious to any mortal weapon.

Army of the Dead

15th-21st day of the 1st month 1372

Over the course of their sojourn in Balga, the heroes of Tandis learned of Astoradian miners disappearing in the mountains. The commoners whispered of an army of dead men haunting the passes and adding these miners to their ranks. While Count Pagovin did not believe these rumors, he encouraged the heroes to investigate. 

Into the mountains, the heroes ranged and discovered two abandoned mines. They eventually encountered the army of dead men as they appeared from a heavy mist rolling down from the high passes. They evaded the army and followed them back to a dark-spired fortress on a desolate peak. 

Inside this place, they saw countless skeletal remains. They pushed through toward the spire urged on by a disembodied voice who taunted them. Atop the spire the trap was laid and from behind many mirrors emerged a half dozen wights and Necron, the lich. During the fight, the army of the dead was roused and began to choke the stairs that led up to the spire. Even Necron could not withstand the onslaught of spells wielded by the magic users of Tandis and the battle was won. As Necron fell, so did his army. 

The heroes investigated Necron's lair. They discovered a strange amulet of dark stone. This they believed to be a relic that contained Necron's vital essence. They also recovered the spell book of the lich. Subsequently, the heroes discovered that Necron had served foul masters known as the Grey Princes. Moreover, they found a mirror portal that led to another dark-spired tower somewhere far afield. Here they found the Grey Princes, six specters of great power. The Heroes decided not to push further toward a confrontation with such a foe and made their way back to Balga.  

That night, Morcarat appeared to Taran and laid a terrible geas upon her. The heroes were to travel to the ruins of Fidamalion and recover The Libram of Kryon. Only this task would lift their obligation to her. Morcarat ensured Taran that this would be a dangerous quest. 

House of Horrors

 First day in the final month of 1371 - 15th day of the first month of 1372   

The heroes of Tandis ranged east to slay the vampire that had been plaguing an Astoradian settlement west of the Snarfell range. On the way, they stopped at Duncrag and learned that King Oddi had been assassinated. Left near his body was a serpent sigil carved into a wooden table. Visefrin decided to nominate Egilrik of Duncrag to be the King of the Gorge.

Days later the heroes entered the manor of the vampire without incident slaying a gaggle of ghouls. During their exploration, they tripped an alarm bell that woke the fiend. The heroes pieced together that lord Polar, once the lord of the manor, brought back a sarcophagus from crusade. This relic contained the vampire and she laid ruin to his family. 

The would-be slayers met the ghost of Adalla, the daughter of Poldar who pled with the heroes to find her bones and consecrate them so that she might rest. The heroes entered a richly adorned bedroom laden with finery and treasure. The beautiful vampire appeared from a mist and charmed Heironymous. The vampires disappeared commanding Heironymous to slay his companions. Welborn quickly used the iron rod of fear to send the centaur running from the scene. 

The heroes made their way into the crypts and confronted the vampire. She fought fiercely, but Visefrin drove a stake through her wicked heart and ended her reign of terror. The bishop consecrated Adalla's bones, and the girl's spirit finally found peace. They were reunited with Heironymous, no longer compelled by the vampire, and made their way to Balga, the castle of Count Pagovin, who welcomed them and gave them quarters.