Doors of Shadow & Flame

30th day in the 5th month 1372

It was noticed in the realm of Tandis that a storm was gathering far to the northeast, a storm that seemed to linger, unnaturally still, in the distance. Again the heroes delved beneath the castle seeking the seventh level of the dungeon, where the Cult of Demogorgon dwelt. There they found a massive chamber attended by foul magic users who ushered forth a brigade of hobgoblins from a black stone portal. The heroes, who had charmed a great hydra gave battle, but the hydra was turned against them by the wicked sorcerers. 

It was a terrible clash in which many of the heroes were wounded and the stalwart man at arms, Dangelo, perished. Onward, they continued into the strange level characterized by foul serpentine motifs. Beyond they found a pair of Fire Giants. One was cast away by the wand of fear while the other was slain by sword and spell. Beyond a massive door, the heroes found a portal of fire that led to some dark stone keep occupied by a half dozen more of those horrible giants. They seized the treasure surrounding the portal and reached the surface. 

A powerful scroll recovered contained the following spells: Lightning Bolt, Disintegrate, Part Water, and Contact Higher Plane

The spell books used by the cultists contained the following spells: sleep, magic missile, hold person, detect invisible, phantasmal forces, charm person, dispel magic, and charm monster

Heironymous began construction on a staff capable of accepting powerful enchantment. This endeavor would cost him at least 1,000 pieces of gold. 

Again mighty Visefrin communed with the gods.

What is the source of the black clouds in the distance?

Those lands have been plunged into an eternal winter conjured by the sorceress, Morcarat.

What realm do these heathen giants with coal-like skin occupy?

Their keep is high in the mountains that bind the Red Steppe north of the Snarfell range

Has the necromancer used the Rama Dagger?

The dagger yet whispers in the dreams of the necromancer. It has not yet severed any soul by his hand.