The Scaled Halls

9th day of the 9th month 1372 

The elf, Potasias, arrived at Harrowhoff, and joined the heroes there in a delve beneath Tandis. In the Court of Chaos, they encountered a pair of vile harpies. One was slain and one was charmed by the sorcerer, Herionymous. The heroes made their way deeper into the dungeon and arrived once more on the 7th deep. They encountered a pool of ooze and a group of cultists bringing foul meat to some goblins. The heroes slew most of these cultists, and Sir Feek compelled one of them to his service. Disguised as cultists and bearing the massive litter of meat, the heroes entered an enormous hall filled with a hundred goblins eager to feed. With sword and spell the goblins were slain.

Beyond the goblins' room, the heroes found another chamber filled with recently summoned ogres. Past them was a massive portal of chaos. Heironymous conjured a wall of iron to block the portal and the heroes slew the ogres and cultists. Beyond the wall of iron, an unseen creature attempted to enter the fight, but the heroes did not linger. They gathered what treasure they could and made their way once more above, satisfied that they had dealt yet another blow to the cult and their operation. 

On the way back up, they encountered a terrible phasing spider of terrible aspect. This beast was charmed by the sorcerer Welborn. Both the harpy and the phase spider were taken back to the tower of Harrowhoff. 

Fidlthid tutored the elf in the ways of men and began to train him in the arts of battle. 

Wellborn began to research a way by which he might ride the ethereal plane on the back of the spider. Such a feat yet eluded him, but in the process, he learned much about the ethereal plane. It was said that this plane mirrored our own in many ways, and that it was populated by spirits, wraiths, ghosts, demons, and other strange creatures. Perhaps a talisman or charm made from such a creature may help him enter the plane on the back of the spider. 

Heironymous, inspired by the harpy, began to research a spell with which to charm multiple foes

The Bishop of Tandis communed with the gods

What powers do the Eye-Tyrants possess?

They possess terrible magics that issue from their many eyes

What lurks beyond the portal that Heironymous sealed?

Beyond the portal was a most terrible foe - a Shadow Dragon from the depths. She now haunts the dungeons, bound to her masters' will

From the first circular room in the 7th deep, in which direction is the altar where the Crusader's Helm is located?

Northeast

Beyond the Gates pt. II

 31st day in the 7th month 1372

The heroes entered the ziggurat and endured numerous hazards. Lyral claimed the ring she had long sought on the second level - the ring of three wishes. On the third level, the heroes met Ilnorus, a vampire lord who guarded the fane of Orcus. Thorne was killed, and Lyral Shadowhand claimed the wicked sword. The vampire charmed Lyral and turned her and the black blade against her erstwhile companions. The fight was terrible, and Lyral was struck down, but the vampire lord was driven away.

The heroes then claimed the ring and wished that the Hand of Vecna would appear before them - this it did, but connected to the arm of Ilnorus. Another battle ensued, and Ilnorus was once more defeated, and Fidlthid hacked the Hand from the vampire's arm. The heroes wasted no time pulling a magic leaf and returning to the Tower of Brieberus. 

Two more wishes were used: One to revive Lyral and one to destroy forever the hand of Vecna. 

Breiberus claimed that as long as one wish remained in the ring, it would serve as a deterrent to Vortigen, who no doubt would divine that the heroes had claimed such a power. 

Visefrin communed with the gods

What lies in the 8th deep of the dungeon?

It is the realm of the Eye Tyrants

How do we get to the 8th Deep?

It can be accessed from the level above

What weaknesses does the cult of Demogorgon have?

Their love of chaos is their weakness.

Beyond the Gates pt. I

 The 13th-30th days in the 8th month 1372

The heroes of Tandis set off at full strength into the east, seeking once more the portal to the Red World. Along the way, they ran afoul of a goblin lair and lost several henchmen, but they pressed forth and parleyed again with the Grey Princes. From there, they entered the portal and found themselves upon the Red World amid the stinging sand and demon winds. 

They entered Tamegor and quickly found refuge with Lyral Shadowhand, who was to accompany them through the caverns beneath the Flaming Wastes. The following day, they set off, not wishing to wander the city itself.

From an old undercroft, they entered the caverns and travelled north through the darkness for five days, battling the terrain, elementals, and finally a demon of shadow and flame, which they slew in a cavern of boiling pitch. They finally emerged into the red light of the overworld and spied their destination. Only the top tier of the ziggurat stood above the sands, which had long ago buried it. They planned to rest one more night before entering the wicked Temple of Orcus.

At the grim campsite, Visefrin attempted to commune with the gods

While on our expedition, has Tandis remained safe from attack?

Tandis is, thus far, as you left it

We passed through the Dunlands but did not stop. How has the winter storm affected them?

Almost all the Dunmen have fled east to the lands of the Astoradians. Their king still occupies his keep at Dunmorg.

Is Lyral able to be trusted?

She serves chiefly her own objectives, but will not stand in your way

Wanderers on the Red World

1st Day in the 8th month 1372

The heroes traveled east once more to seek the location of the Hand of Vecna. In order to compel the Grey Princes, Thorne, brother of Taran, claimed the Black Blade. The Blade bestowed terrible power upon him, and wickedness began to twist his mind. Nevertheless, the Grey Princes parleyed with the keeper of the sword and revealed that they had long ago ensconced the Hand in the Ziggurat of Orcus upon the Red World. After much hesitation, the group entered a portal of red stone high in the tower of the necropolis and found themselves on the wind-blasted Red World not far from the Iron Gates of Tamegor, the wicked city. 

In the city, they met Lyral Shadowhand, a former Zagran assassin, now inkeeper in the city. The heroes learned that she too sought a relic inside the ziggurat - a ring which could "right many wrongs".  To earn her trust, Lyral sent to recover a treasure stolen from her. On the way back from the task, the heroes were ambushed by Black Talon orcs. It seemed that Vortigen's forces already had a foothold upon the Red World, yet it was unclear if the evil wizard knew the location of the artifact he sought. 

Through a captive orc, the heroes learned that Voritgen's forces upon the Red World were led by a powerful creature called Bormal. Upon their return to the Goblin Skull Inn, Lyral promised to join the heroes if they were to seek the Ziggurat. The Ziggrat was located beyond the terrible Flaming Wastes, known to be impassable. Lyral knew another way - through great caverns that lie beneath the wastes, accessible from Tamegor. This route too would no doubt be fraught with danger. 

The heroes left the Red World and traveled to Verdengard. Brieberus was hesitant to allow the brother of Taran to stay in his tower while in possession the terrible blade. 

Upon his return to Tandis, the bishop communed with the gods.

Will the Black Blade make Thorne so evil that he will turn on us?

The wielder of the blade will serve his own purposes and those of the sword. If those purposes are misaligned with your own, he will oppose you. Trust him not.

Does Vortigen have more forces on the Red World?

The Red World is a realm of demons and chaos. Our omniscience does not extend to such a place. 

Are there measures that can be taken that could make my priestly spells effective beyond the Flaming Wastes?

Our powers do not govern the Red World.