Eye of the Dragon

1st-7th day in the 11th month 1372

Having left Kronstadt, on their way to Fire Eye Mine, the heroes met Mora and Carat. These twin simulacrums of the ice witch claimed that their mother had a lucrative opportunity for the heroes. 

The heroes pressed on to the mine and learned that kobolds had slain miners who dared to explore the deep caverns. Beyond a pool, Welborn found an ancient stone door beyond which was the tomb of Soral the Dragon Lord. Fearing what could be hiding within, Welborn and Fidlthid turned back to rejoin the party. 

Unseen, the heroes pressed into a massive cavern occupied by scores of kobold miners. It wasn't long before a fight was underway. Dozens of kobolds and their hobgoblin masters met their bitter end. Beyond another tunnel was the kobold shaman and the rest of his flock. They stood before a great stone relief of a dragon, and in its eye was set a great ruby. The kobolds agreed to flee the mine, but the shaman warned of a wicked curse that would befall any who dared to claim the gem. 

Aided by magic, the heroes pried forth the Dragon's eye, and as it rolled toward the bag of holding, it brushed Lyral's hand. Her soul was transported into a ruby chamber, while her body was now possessed by the Dragon Lord, Soral. Soral wished to claim his golden crown from his tomb, and he led the party forward. Subtle was this magic, and the heroes did not yet know that it was not Lyral who rushed toward the chamber. Welborn used a mighty scroll to part the water, and the heroes wiggled their way into the antechamber. Heironymous, of course, was changed into a gnome to squeeze through. Once inside, the heroes paused for a blessing by mighty Visefrin, as the false Lyral hurried into the crypt. 

By the time the heroes entered the chamber, Soral the Dragon Lord had already donned the golden crown and taken flight. From the shadows, a great undead dragon emerged prepared to do its master's bidding. The fight was swift. The dragon blew its icy breath and slew Sir Fidlthid and Visefrin where they stood. Welborn used a scroll of power to disintegrate the undead monstrosity. Soral, in the body of Lyral, was quickly slain. Soral's powerful shade again entered the ruby, and Lyral did battle with her own form to drive him out and destroy his soul. She began to wait in her ruby limbo. 

The heroes gathered their treasure, too shocked yet to mourn their honored dead. They prepared the bodies and pulled a leaf from the magic branch, and appeared in Verdengard. There, they were met by the mighty Breiberus, who agreed to prepare the rituals of reincarnation. 

During the night, Heironymous and Welborn used the wizard's library to learn of the Eye of the Dragon. Built to house the soul of the terrible dragon lord, Soral was tricked into his prison as his body withered, sealed beyond the stone door. The eye was an item of great power, and any who touched it risked the possession of their body by the soul within. Perhaps, they thought, Lyral's soul might yet live within. 

The next evening, all the occupants of Verdengard attended the ritual of reincarnation. As Visefrin's body was touched, a humble gnome appeared from the misty woods. 

As Fidlthid was touched, no creature came forth. The great hobbit hero was in the golden halls of Valhalla, sharing tales and mead with the many heathen heroes who reveled endlessly. Perhaps it was his will to remain there. Nevertheless, the realm lost a great hero that night. 

A funeral procession bound for Hal's Hill made ready. And Visefrin, small yet mighty, communed with the unknowable divinities of Law.

Will those who have been baptized remain loyal, or does this new form jeopardize the congregation’s faith?

Your new form may diminish your authority over all men. You will be doubted, but through this test, you will be humbled and may yet arise brighter than ever. The new churches you have made in the wild lands are built on foundations of sand.

Are there any forces that could return me to my former appearance?

A great miracle awaits a great deed. Cleanse the deep altar at the dungeon’s utmost depth. Consecrate and make holy this befouled altar, and your form will be returned to you.

Are there any smiths capable of tailoring the Crusader’s armor to fit my smaller stature?

There is yet one. A giant of ancient blood who resides in the cave atop Snarfell Peak may have the skill, but this is not without risk. 

Demon's Tower

Having contacted a higher plane, Heironymous confirmed that Calanis was waiting in the Demon's tower, a grim location long rumored to be home to an evil wizard. The group set off toward the barrow hills to seek their new foe. They battled through many horrors on their way up the tower, and finally confronted the image of Calanis and two fire elementals. The heroes endured a fireball cast by the image that slew Sir Feek and his henchman. The rest survived but barely. Finally, Heinymous opened a secret door behind which Calanis was hiding, and he was undone by a feeblemind spell.

Calanis was seized by the party. On a floor below, the heroes encountered a djinn who was bound to the tower. He asked that the crystal skull be destroyed, thus freeing him. Lyral destroyed the skull, and in return, she was granted a wish. She wished for her sister to live again. 

Later in the week, the party scryed the sister of Lyral. She now lived as a wretch on the wicked streets of Zagra. Visefrin grudgingly agreed to pay Pagovin his tribute, but told the messenger that his lord should expect a visit from the Bishop of Tandis. 

Calanis

20th day in the 10th month 1372

Another week passed in Kronstadt, and the heroes learned of the new high priest of Valka, a man named Calanis. Calanis had ousted the former priest, Pomek, who had become a fugitive. The heroes located Pomek, who claimed that Calanis was a terrible wizard who had charmed the other priests with sorcery. Taking Pomek's ke,y they decided to put a stop to the wickedness of Calanis. Later that night, they met a sellsword called Stanek of Nightspass who was eager to join them. 

The next day, they entered the rear of the temple and eventually met Calanis, who unleashed several hellhounds on them. The battle was fierce, and Sir Feek fell to the wicked hounds. Calanis eventually escaped through sorcery, but the heroes seized the spell book, Time Diamond, and the scrolls containing eldritch knowledge. 

In the heat of battle, many charmed acolytes of Valka were slain, and afterwards, Bishop Visefrin pushed over the brazier of Valka and declared the temple was to be consecrated to the new gods. This was supported by Governor Sava, who declared himself to be Margrave of Kronstadt. Visefrin baptised over 500 in the city. Scouts were dispatched into the hinterlands to hunt the evil wizard. Many other things occurred in the following week that will not yet be recorded in this chronicle. 

Escape from Kasliminapurin pt. I & II

9th - 13th day in the 10th month 1372

The journey through the underworld continued, and the heroes found themselves before the Drow city, Kasliminapurin. On the shore of the Sunless Sea, the heroes met Dolyra, a Drow exile who claimed to know a way to the overworld. In order to seek it, the heroes were to sneak through the city itself. On the way, they went on a witchwood boat, pursued by Drider slaves of the Spider Queen.

They found themselves in a smuggler's district. Many of the heroes were obscured by magic, but Fidlthid and Sir Feek went in as slaves and were made to battle a grotesque giant in a foul arena. Later the heroes learned that Dolyra had unfinished business with a sorceress called Tyris. The party agreed to help her with her vengeance and they climbed Tyris' black tower and slew her and her spider minions. From there they stole into the dark streets and made their way beyond the city into the Darkpass

The heroes chose the lower branch of the pass and battled foul beasts along he way. Two days later, they arrived at a Drow spider temple, and after a skirmish, they made their way down to a deep pool and beyond to the Elf Stair that led above to the Temple of Lobab in the realm of the wood elves. They continued on to Kronstadt with Dolyra in tow.