when oh when are we gaming again....

Hey ho everyone... game schedule looks goofy so we may have to get creative.

Here is what I have thus far:

March 29: Claude out, Tako out, Eric out. Thus... no game

April 12: Easter Sunday: Unfortunatly I have been summuned by family to gather so I'm out. The rest are free to play with Mike as GM.

April 26: Bill and Claude are riding the Ironman.

May 10: Mothersday. We may be able to play... but we may want to talk about that one. Bill are you in Germany?

May 24th; Memorial Day weekend.

June 7th: Game day for sure !

June 21st: Game Day!

Whew!

Please input where you need to.

Karran-Kural (March 1 2009)

The Vanguard sees the Redshield’s off and then says their goodbyes to Dugobras.

They venture out of the second entrance to Dugobras’s stronghold into the harsh reality that is the Deamonskar. Sharp cutting rocks that shred normal boots are the norm. What is considered a nice flat surface here is the equivalent of a rugged, pock-marked terrain with random one foot potholes. A mere glance away from the ground leads to trips and cut knees and hands.

To make matters worse, the environment looks like some giant knife sliced canyons and fissures. These range from 10’ across to 30’ across, requiring a cautious climb down into the darkness and then up the other side.

To make matters worse, not a plant in site and with the tropical sun, armor turns into walking ovens. The travel is slow, painful and trying on ones patience.

At the end of the first long day of travel, they Vanguard only traveled 5 miles. Luckily, the edge of the jungle is in site and the very beginnings of weeds and small brush cling precariously to the tortured rocks.

That night the group has a fitful but undisturbed sleep.

The next day, after two more exhausting hours of walking bits of mettle tubing, and other evidence of the Spellweaver’s domain begin to jut at odd angles up into the air. The question is, where is the entrance to Karran-Kural?

With no other method at their disposal, the group begins the search for the proverbial needle. For hours the group enters caves that dead end, or tunnels that are collapsed or branch off into multiple smaller tunnels far too small for travel.

Again the Vanguard sleep undisturbed in the harsh environments. At least now they have shelter from the daily deluge of rain.

Mid-afternoon of the next day Barrette spots some worn bits of stone… no sharp slicing rock. It is faint, but notable enough… following the path in one direction leads strait towards the beckoning jungle. The other leads back into the Demon Scar.

The party quickly follows the path in single-file. The first chasm even has some boards on each side to make some make-shift bridges to cross back and forth easily. Shortly after the chasm the path lead strait into an old steam vent. It is huge, 12 or so feet in diameter.

The party quickly enters the vent and sighs of relief go all around. The temperature quickly cools, the sun is no longer hammer its rays and the ground is smooth and easy to walk on.

Light sources are brought forth, and everyone descends, walking quickly and efficiently down the steep decline of the steam vent. It doesn’t take more than an hour when Bolgrim predicts the depth underground at being about ¾ of a mile. Additionally, the air temperature is slowly getting cooler. The very stable 58 or so degrees is dropping every fifty or so feet. The heavy moisture in the cave is condensing to the walls in wet drips forming a small 1” stream down the center of the steam vent.

Moving a bit more cautiously, the group notices the temperature is dropping and now people are seeing their breath. It takes only another 100 or so feet when at the far reaches of their vision there is frost and ice clinging to one wall of the steam vent.

As everyone approaches there are two icicle strewn openings in the steam vent. One of the openings looks like it is used often given the number of icicle shards littering the ground. The steam vent continues down into the depths, but it is quite obvious where others have gone before.

It takes but a sweep of an arm to clear the newly formed icicles from the entrance of the side cave. Cold air, well below freezing, emanates from within the ice coated cave. Stepping through the threshold into the icy air Churchkey leads the group to a once large cave that is also fed by the second tube. Unfortunately, this room is blocked by a huge naturally occurring wall of ice. The southern most portion of the ice wall has been chiseled through, making a sort of ice cave/tunnel. A very thin sheen of ice has formed over the tunnel enterence.

Again, Churchkey shatters the ice, chunks falling to the ground like glass. Air, easily in the single digits Fahrenheit assaults Churchkey. The blue fingers and rose colored cheeks has Conall and Bolgrim casting spells that will endure the cold. Everyone, stomps their feet to knock the cold out of their extremities and then make their way through the 18’ of ice tunnel. Someone was very determined to get through this wall of ice.

Beyond the tunnel of ice is the other side of the cavern. On the far side is a beautifully sculpted and designed portcullis. The stonework is astounding. However, the portcullis itself is twisted and fully removed from its frame and sitting in a heap… frozen to the ground and the side of the cave wall.

Stepping through the former defense of Karren Kural the Vanguard steps into a 10’ wide meticulously and perfectly built corridor. The last defense o Karren Kural stairs at them. Two huge doors, carved of mettle and stone with art never before seen illuminate the doors.

Barrette searches for traps and finds none. In fact he even determines that the doors are unlocked. Churchkey again moves to the front and opens the doors. They glide open as if they weighed nothing. As the motion of the door opens, pale blue lights set flush in the ceiling turn on in rapid succession until in a matter of about three seconds the 60 foot corridor is lit. The walls have a subtle curve, and the entire length is etched with disturbing images and symbols. What is most disturbing are the ten, strange glassy circles, each a few inches shy of five feet in diameter, checker the length of the hallway’s floor. Above each disc, a six-armed humanoid figure hangs motionless as if suspended in fluid or encased in glass.

The group cautiously makes there way through the room. Each adventurer lost in thought and wonder as they stare curiously at the suspended creatures. Churchkey detects no evil and Bolgrim detects vast amounts of magic. Concentrating he determines the disc’s are artifact like powerful in their magic, and that the pale blue light tiles in the ceiling are also the tiles emanating the cold.

Then upon the examination of one of the tubes the creature contained within twitches violently and then settles. The whole of the Vanguard jump back startled. The sing of mettle being drawn from shaft fill the hall. Poised, everyone intensely watches the tube. Nothing moves and with a few hard swallows, lowers their weapons.

The group weaves through the suspended creatures and is now standing at a pair of mettle doors. Again, these doors are carved with beautiful but odd illuminations. While Barrette examines the doors and Donner listens, Pepper is examining one of the tubes when the body inside jerks and drags its hand down the inside of the “glass” surface. Pepper drops a hot pocket and leaps back.

Up ahead, the coast is clear and the doors are opened. The chamber beyond is nearly circular, although two sides are made flat by think walls of ice. The entire room is filled with a lattice of thin icy strands, each flickering with faint magical energies.

Donner yells, “Creature, hiding back of the room!”
At the same time Barrette calls out, “There is some form of sigil surrounding the room”

At this, a blast of air so cold ice instantly seals eyelids temporarily shut and knocks the breath out of your lungs. The cold seems to find you like a skeletal claw nipping and biting. Barrette leaps out of the way. Others dive for cover and others are caught off guard by the damaging blast of air.

Pepper retaliates, an explosion of flames and heat fill the back of the room. A magical barrio seems to keep the creature safe from the explosion but the walls of ice have large melted holes in them. However, a magical force of energy can be seen sustaining the wall.

Decisions abound, we need to fight the creature, but what of these strands that fill the room? Barrette does the experiment. He steps forward breaking a strand, cold and necrotic energy shock his system causing Barrette to yelp. That alone tells the rest of the party what not to do.

Conall gingerly enters the room ducking and weaving around the strands.

Churchkey quickly sizes up the chances to dodge the fibers in the room and charges into the room at the eight foot tall ice insect. The fibers snap and lash at Churchkey leaving frostbite and blood and then quickly reconnect making the filament whole again.

Bolgrim, following in Peppers concept of fighting cold with heat calls down a pillar of flame. The creature flexes its magical muscles and repels the fire with not a scratch. However a larger whole is carved into the walls of ice.

Donner pulls in his energy and disappears only to reappear a fraction of a second later next to the huge insect devil. Unfortunately, Donner appeared within the force of the new melted ice wall. The magic energies of cold arc through his body like electricity, leaving Donner weakened.

Another blast of arctic air emanates from this terrifying foe. Churchkey takes the brunt of the blast while Barrette effectively leaps out of the way. When a moment later an arc of lightening slams into the devil. The lightening penetrates but doesn’t seem to do much damage to the beast.

Barrette threads his way through the dangerous filaments when he realizes he is next to a beast far larger and rank than he thought. Barrette swallows hard and rethinks his plan. Uncharacteristically, Barrette retreats, obviously under some magical influence from the devil.

Conell, quickly casts a spell to remove the effects on Barrette and bolster himself and companions against the inherent magical effects on the devil. Then Conell plunges into the room ending up at Churchkey’s side

Churchkey steps forward and at this, the slug fest begins. Blow after blow is traded and yet the devil doesn’t seem to want to go down. Bolgrim is doing everything in his power to keep everyone up and alive, yet the devil just won’t drop. Blood is dripping from Churchkey. Conell is an enraged beast hacking and slashing, ignoring his multiple open wounds. Barrette’s lash is cutting through the chitin armor of the devil but the devils wicked tail and deadly spear are as equally deadly in return.

Then, a ray from Pepper penetrates the magical barrier on the devil and the ice fiend, although quick and lithe, is not moving quite as able as before. Donner begins pounding on the devil, not for damage, but as a means of distraction to help the others hit.
Barrette yells, “We need good aligned weapons!”
Bolgrim continues throwing out healings and Pepper joins Bolgrim in his task. The two are barely keeping up. When the heavily damaged devil casts and winks out of existence.

There are a few moments of ineffective weapon blows arcing into the air when Churchkey begins to take command, “Lets draw up position here. Barrette check those doors. Pepper, any way to dimension door to the other side of the ice wall?”

Bolgrim casts a true seeing… the sigils on the walls become very apparent, magical forces in the ice walls become visible, but no invisible creatures, no scrying. For now, everyone seems safe.

A few moments later, Pepper transports the party to the other side of the ice wall. Everyone rests and some final healing spells are cast. The searched doors are opened.

The doors open into an “L” shaped corridor with more of the suspended spellweavers inside the tubes. It doesn’t take long to realize that one part of the corridor has collapsed forcing the group to move in the following direction.

At the end of the corridor it comes to a four way intersection. Across there are some collapsed stairs going down. To the right are some double doors and to the left are two ice walls with some large shadowy figure behind them.

Conell begins blasting dispel magic’s on the walls. Meanwhile, the rest of the Vanguard is around the corners out of site of the creature behind the walls. Churchkey bolsters himself with extra strength and resistance to cold.

Then, after multiple attempts the walls of ice collapses followed instantly by another arctic blast of air. Conell is nearly bowled over by the force of the blast but charges the devil swinging hard. The sword bounces off the devils armor while the scorpion like tail plunges into Conell’s abdomen.

Churchkey quickly runs to Conell’s side touching him with holy power healing some of the damage done by the ice fiend. Bolgrim blesses the party while Pepper protects Barrette from cold attacks.

Barrette hastes himself and runs into place while behind him Donner hits the devil with an unexpected Ki blast.

Another arctic blast of cold shoots down the hall to little effect. Conell’s sword finds its mark tearing into the devil. Alakast is licking his lips crushing into the devil. Bolgrim again heals the combat group from afar. When the final whip of the “good” enchanted chain of Barrette finds its mark and the devil falls.

Now, quite prevalent in the dead-end wall behind the devil is a tangled lattice of icy strands that flicker and writhe with cold blue tendrils of light.

The corridor they were fighting is also lined with three pairs of doors across from each other.

The group examines the first door and opens in a bizarre room. It is under lit compared to the halls. In this 10x15 foot room is a single tube. However the liquid inside is slightly grey.

There room across the hall is an exact duplicate, complete with under lit room and single grey tube.

Further search of the remaining four rooms brings a shock. The remaining 10 x 10 rooms have four tubes in each room. In two of the rooms each tube is filled with a dwarf and in two of the rooms each tube is filled with an elf.

At this news, Barrette begins attacking the force tube while Bolgrim and others begin trying to figure out what is happening. After a 3-4 good solid hits by Barrette the tube shatters, liquid hits the ground knocking people off their feet. The dwarf hits the ground and turns into a gelatinous mass and then begins to reform, distorted and misshapen. It wanders without direction or purpose. Bolgrim calls upon the power of Pelor and reaches into the creature and with effort severs the tortured soul of the dwarf from the body. Bolgrim then releases the soul to return to the gods.

With this news, Churchkey and Bolgrim begin doing everything they can to help the trapped beings in the tubes. Once their resources are exhausted the group beds for the night in the dimly lit rooms with the single tube.

Thus ends this chapter of the story. Stay tuned for more adventures of the Vanguard of Cauldron!

The wedding of Churchkey

The Vanguard is dazed for a moment. Slowly everyone has takes stock of themselves and their friends. Once it is realized that everyone is alive and the major ichor is brushed off armor and plucked out of hair a plan is again formed.

First, the coffins are destroyed, shattered in to splinters and unrecognizable planks of wood. Todd is stashed in Barrett’s haversack and Jenyas body is gently laid to rest on Churchkey’s horse. Ice walls are breached and plans are made.

The group makes its way back downstairs to where the “spawn” and the church business chambers are. All creatures are spiked no matter what. From there the group begins a detailed search of the two remaining rooms in the Church of Wee Jas. It is quite evident that the first room is that of Ike Iverson. There are no special or out of place items. Although the flagrant misuse and abuse of Wee Jas religious relics is appalling, there are no documents other than church business. After some careful pouring over of church financial records (happens over the next 24 hours) the church is basically broke. Ike and Embril have used every copper. (see below)


The next room is obviously Embril’s. It looks perfectly preserved and unused for months. Clothes are missing and a very slight amount of dust covers everything in the room. After some careful research there is a false bottom found in a desk drawer where three potions and some letters are recovered. It takes some time to read through all the letters. They are all very cryptic and hard to follow (being all one sided).

From there it is decided that Jennya’s body should be placed on the balcony to be exposed to sunlight to remove the vampirism.

Because the group can’t just leave the temple and Churchkey is to be wed is three hours, it is decided that Barrett and Pepper will stay behind. In the meantime the rest of the Vanguard make their way to the Lathenmire’s. Here they send the Redshield’s back to help protect the temple and then get to wedding preparations. Bathing feels like a week of sleep not to mention the arrival of guests to keep one awake.

In a small wedding in the Lathenmire’s great room; Bolgrim gives a sermon to stir the soul and adds some much needed levity to a heavy and burdensome time. By 9:20 Anna Taskerhill and Paulus “Churchkey” Matrius are married. With happiness and glint in their eye, they kiss for all to see. From here a brunch with wild soups, meats poached in coconut milk, grilled vegetables and stuffed venison. A bounty of food for all appropriately ended with a table of sweet treats for every tooth and pallet.

As the guests are leaving and saying their goodbyes it come to the attention of the married couple, their friends and family that a large group (15 or so) ½ Orc mercenaries are taking careful notes across the street. It takes very little deliberation before the ravishing and silver tongued Anna Matrius walks to guards with a smile on her face. Cora and Zachary are standing close by and the rest of the group watch nervously from windows. Conversation waxes and wanes and there are moments of hands slipping to blade but in the end, the talents of Anna win out and the mercenaries make the leave.

The rest of the day is spent with family and lone time for the newly weds.

•••

Meanwhile back at the Temple of Wee Jas. Pepper, Barrette and the Redshields have begun to take in their surroundings. They are looking at cleanup of bodies, research of materials and how to dispose of all the vampires. All of this and shortly there after a small stream of water begins to pour down the stairs from the hundreds of cubic feet of ice that are melting. After about 30 min of wandering and looking in the nooks and crannies of the church there is a heavy knocking on the door. Barrette and Pepper look out over the Balcony and see 8 Acolytes with buckets and other implement of cleaning. Additionally, stone masons are showing up as are the young priests giving out the daily prayers to the people on the steps of the new Cathedral.

The thrumming of the Acolytes pounding on the door puts Barrette and Pepper into a quick discussion as to what to do… Perhaps a minute later Barretts magical hat is throne on Peppers head and Pepper morphs into Ike Iverson. Moving onto the Balcony in his new disguise, Pepper gives a short prayer and says the Cathedral is almost ready to be opened. We are however in the midst of doing some rituals of blessing and so the church will remain closed for the day.

Jennya’s body is placed carefully on Ike’s bed and from here the party sits.

The Redshield’s spend most of their time making sure all the spiked Spawn stay spiked. Barrette is bored and Pepper is reading over church records and the letters recovered from Embril’s room. Of the cryptic letters found earlier that day there is not much information. However, there is one letter that is damning. This letter alone brings Embril from the ranks of “give her the benefit of the doubt” to “definitely bad and must be dealt with”.

Pepper receives a message from Anna at Churchkey’s request asking how they are. Pepper responds, “All is well, sent workers home for the day, uncovered interesting information we should discuss. CONGRAGULATIONS!”

That evening Barrette slips out of the Church and makes his way to Churchkey. He grabs a bunch of food, chats and dumps Jenya’s body out for Bolgrim to raise dead.

That next morning, before the sun has had a chance to rise, the Vanguard and the Stormblades make their way to the Church of WeeJas. At dawn, all of the spawn, except for 1 are put on the balcony to be permanently destroyed by the sun.

Pepper, dresses like Ike and then dons Barrette’s hat of disguise. He gives another speech on the balcony telling them to take the rest of the week off, the ritual will take longer than expected. The Acolytes leave, seeming concerned and whispering anxiously amongst themselves.

At this, Donner, dressed as the merchant, goes and finds Skellerang. Skellerang follows Donner back to the church but is wary of an ambush. He has sergeants and magic wielding gnomes follow him to the church. Here there is a standoff. Skellerang calls out Churchkey and the group. It doesn’t take long for an agreement. Everyone is to vacate the Church except for Churchkey and then Skellerang will enter alone for a one-on-one meeting. This is agreed to. With the large show of force, not to mention the whole of the local heroes in front of the new cathedral a crowd begins to form.

Skellerang and Churchkey have a long discussion, lasting more than an hour. The crowd sees Skellerang walk onto the balcony. From here he gives a speech. Not a great speech but an honest speech. One that gives thanks to the Vanguard and Stormblades. One that says that the city has been duped by the current rulership of WeeJas and once things are sorted out, the law abiding true followers of the faith are welcome to return to their place of warship. That until the Lord Mayer and Vhelantru are found, Skellerang will run the city.

The next day (Day 5)

Bolgrim raises Alec Tercival and casts spells to shield him. Then, everyone prepares for the public wedding.

There is a new freshness in the air. People are baking and as if by magic people have placed laced flowers bridging the streets as acts of true altruism. Although the mercenaries are still abundant and the taxes are still abhorrent, people can see the change. There is a sense of cooperation again, Noble families that have problems with one another have taken their struggles from open fist-fights to back door political maneuvers. Some kind of veil has been lifted and is marked by the public wedding of Churchkey and Anna.

Baths for all then clothing and regalia are handed out. As an added bonus, Pepper has the spire on the top of the cathedral of WeeJas toppled. Again, the Church of Pelor sparkles in the sun again.

That afternoon there is a grand wedding. The church of Pelor is packed to the gills and the streets are lined with well-wishers. Carriage after carriage bring guests to the Chalice for a dinning and dancing experience. An exhausted, but much more rested Skellerage makes a short appearance but makes his leave to for duty calls. That evening in their private guest chamber is a gift basket with expensive oils, perfumes, fruits from Barrette.

The next morning, the happy guests are unexpectedly not brought home via the carriage, but to one of the now abandoned buildings in the city. There the Matrius’ and Taskerhill’s await. A small army of workmen are already at work converting this one-time Rug shop into the new home of Churchkey and Anna. Churchkey and Anna spend a good amount of time together that day and on the morrow, planning and work begins again.

The following day, the crew begins training new skills and honing their old. They learn new spells and research clues.

Anna begins research with Pepper on:
Vittris Bale and Karan-Kural
Pepper also casts a Hallow spell on the church of WeeJas. It at least cancels the UnHallow that was shadowing the Cathedral.

Skellerage has dropped taxes by 10% and fired 10% of the ½ Orc mercenary army that was infecting the town. He also reinstates the Caulderon Broadsides. Their first interview? Churchkey!

From here the Vanguard helps Churchkey unlock another attribute of Alakast. They make a five day trek into the mountains and down into a steam vent. At the appropriate spot they smash through the rocky crust and expose the magma below. It is here that Churchkey must submerge part of his body. Then, on his way back to Cauldron, they summon a devil and Churchkey slaughters the creature with but a few nicks and scratches.

When the group returns, Anna has a whole bunch information she found about Vittrisss Bale.

Vitriss Bale is a Green Dragon that lived a thousand or so years ago. Vittris was hired by the spell weavers to protect the their city Karran Kural. They promised Vittris eternal life for his task. The inhabitants of Karran Kural have left, or died out… no one really knows. However, Karran Kural is the neighboring community to where the Demon Scar currently is located. Unfortunatly no one knows how to enter except via the last time everyone entered which is a long treck

So the Vanguard packs up… they bring the Redshields with them and head to Redgorge.
Then get on boats and a day down river they beach next to the boat they left behind 5 months ago.
From here they trek into the Jungle for just over a day and find the giant mettle tube.
Maneuvering through the maze, the party emerges into the ear-shattering canyon of the demon scar
The group gives the password to the Ogres that are protecting the enterence and from there the group spends the rest of the day relaxing and chatting with Dugobras. Most importantly, people get their new equipment and the Redshields now know the “trade rout”.

It is in the safety of Dugobras’ chambers that we leave our adventurers.

Todd is Dead... again. (Jan 25, 2009)

Charging after the swarm of bats seems to be the unified thought of the Vanguard. Only one member opts to wait and that’s Pepper. Hoping to minimize further attacks on Bolgrim, Pepper Deathwards Bolgrim.

For the next 12 second everyone is running after the swarm of bats heading back towards the Church nave. The bats amass in a massive swarm of black, screeching madness. Bolgrim yells out that Todd has turned to gas and slipped through a door.

Here Connal steals himself and charges into the black chaos. The bats claw and bit generating a lot of blood, but not a lot of damage. Connal feels along the wall until his had finds its way onto a door handle. Quickly, Connal turns the knob and shoulders his way into the room beyond.

Connal yells, “I’m through!” and takes in the room. Its a small room at the base of a tower containing a large spiral staircase. At this the group moves through the dark and damaging swarm of bats. Donner swiftly charges up the stairs and yells down to his companions, “The gas is going upstairs” Churchkey casts a prayer to keep everyone protected.

Todd changes back into a solid form and begins running up the stairs. Connal, freaks and in blind rage charges up the stairs. Donner easily steps by Connal, places a foot on the wall and literally leaps over Todd. Todd reaches up and grabs a hold of Donner, trying to force him back. Todd’s angle is bad and Donner just barely makes it past Todd, lands clumsily but a foot jabs into Todd’s stomach. Barrett charges up the stairs to help join the fray.

Todd tries to retaliate but misses. Connal sees his chance and raising his sword above his head bring it down in a mighty strike. The sickening sound of bone shattering strikes the ears but Todd seems unaffected but is then quickly struck by two solid blown from above by Donner. Todd turns back to gas and this is quickly noted to those below on the staircase.

In the mean time the rest of the group has made it through the bat swarm and has put their energy into healing and protection spells. Churchkey yells, “Where is the cloud going?”

The gas cloud begins to move at its easy to follow pace up the stairs. The Vanguard follow by passing two doors on the way. All the while Bolgrim (from the back) is yelling that we need to kill him in his coffin.

Then the mist slides under a door. Still in a rage Connal blindly attacks the door scream for the demise of Todd. Donner deftly reaches under Connal and turns a doors handle. The door opens with a crash and before the party is a wide stairway that at its terminus takes a 90 degree turn to the left. Still in a rage, Connal charges up the stairs and turns the corner. Donner, a bit more cautious moves to the top of the stairs and gingerly peers around the corner.

The rest of the group is gathered along the stairway when Bolgrim (still with “true sight” enchanting his eyes) steps into the room and realizes that there is a huge illusion cast in this room. The hallway at the top of the stairs does not exist. On either side of the hallway are five 9’ tall Zombies poised and surrounding Connal. He also takes note that the room is huge and suspended from the 50’ ceiling by a 10’ chain is a soulcage. Standing on the air, above the cage is a human with multiple versions of himself casting spells.

Bolgrim yells a warning, “We are in an illusion – actually in a huge room – cage above us.”

Once warned, Peppers magical training kicks in and he immediately sees through the illusion. Noting Ike is the one next to the cage, he casts “shield” on himself.

Donner also sees through the illusion and yells “Connal, watch out – undead next to you” he then takes a short step and seems to punch through the wall. In reality he makes four solid punches into one of the massive Zombies. Due to Donner’s position, he can also see that in the center of the room is a dais and on that dais are two coffins, and a third in the making. There is also a huge creature with skin taught over its muscles and horns. A long prehensile tail whips dangerously behind.

Moving up the stairs, and using the elevation as a defensive move Barrett’s deadly lash cuts into the Zombie who’s focus is Donner’s.

At this, Ike’s spell is finished being cast and a pillar of unholy fire arches down from above dowsing most of the party in a blast furnace of heat. Burnt flesh and hair fill the room... but the fire was not the most dangerous thing Ike does that round.... spittle and the word, “Attack!” lunge from his mouth... and the room erupts in deadly combat.

What later is identified as a Bone Devil summons the realm of magic. The moisture in the air condenses and freezes and begins to form around Pepper. Pepper flexes his proverbial muscles of magic and shatters the crystalline structure. Moving like a shadow and a wisp a large wraith charges Connal. Its eerie hand reaches into Connal’s flesh becoming solid for a moment and then wisps out of his flesh. Connal jerks and muscles tense from the pain. But Connal keeps fighting.

Connal, now able to see the Zombies swings in his maddened state at a Zombie. Chuncks of flesh break off like a lumberjack attacking a tree. Bolgrim using the power of Palor shoots a light of pure good at a zombie. Char and visible damage are evident, but the zombie continues to move.

Churchkey turns to Pepper, “Ike has turned! Pepper, get him!” Churchkey tries to shuck off the zombies with his own divine might, but the evil of this chamber is too great and weakens Palors touch.

In an act of pure bravery and wild intentions, Donner activates his boots of spider climbing and dimension doors to the top of the cage. His boots adhere to the top of the soul cage. Pepper, launches four screaming bolts of energy at the images around Ike taking three out. Only two images left and Ike, the problem is to figure out who is who. Ike, shocked by the sudden danger tries to cast a spell on Donner, but is flummoxed and fails to cast. He takes a step back, still walking on air.

Barrett still hammering on a zombie finally rips one of its bloodless legs off. The Zombie falls to the ground limp. the other Zombies descend on Connal. Connal can barely stand, bloodied and broken. His rage is all that keeps him standing. As a coup-de-gras the wrath steps in takes another swipe at Connal’s soul. This time Connal stairs at the wraith... locking eyes and with raw determination denies the wraith his treasure.
Todd reforms in his coffin... conscious, Todd is unable to move or react to anything for an hour. It is maddening trying to figure out what is happening, only able to see the actions of Donner and Ike as they are directly above him.

Connal on the verge of collapse strikes at a Zombie, his strength is at a place where his sword is weighing heavy in his hands. Bolgrim, runs to Connal’s aid and hits him with raw healing power unmatched by anyone in the Vanguard. Connal’s muscles heal and bruises disappear. The spark reappears in Connal's eyes.

At the same time the Bone Devil again crystallizes the water in the air making a wall 12’ high and 1’ thick cutting Pepper off from the rest of the party but putting Pepper and the Bone Devil a good 50’ form one another. In a life saving desperation, Pepper dimension doors across the room.

Not sure what to do, Donner throws his kama’s at Ike hoping to remove one of the magical images. Success. Now it is down to two versions of Ike. Ike responds... a magical dagger flys out of Ike’s hand and begins jabbing and stabbing at Donner as if it had a mind of its own.

Barrett quickly realizing the big threat in the room is the wraith, moves forward and lashes his mighty chain. The Chain ineffectively passes through the body of the wraith as if it where a shadow.

Churchkey charges forward as well, due to the raw power of Alakast the wraith is unable to resist and seems shocked to have been hit. Alakast is screaming in Churchkey’s mind, “The Devil... kill the devil!”

The wraith quickly turns its attention at Churchkey and reaches into the heart of Churchkey and pulls. It is a struggle to the outside person lasts but a split second, within the spirit of Churchkey, he and the wraith wrestle and after a long struggle Churchkey casts off the attacker. Although, Churchkey saved his soul, his body did not fare as well.

The Bone Devil begins to section off the room with another wall of ice. This one taller and again isolating Pepper. Pepper, ignores the Devil for now and fires four more bolts at Ike. The remaining image disappears and Ike is hit by two of the sizzling bolts of energy.

Donner sees his chance and leaps of the cage at Ike. He tries to latch onto Ike. Ike and Donner begin to struggle. Ike hammers on Donner’s hands all the while Donner trying desperately to climb higher onto Ike. All the while the annoying and dangerous dagger slashes and jabs into Donner’s flesh. Eventually Donner can’t hold on any longer and falls, landing hard onto the ground 30’ below. If not for Donner’s athletic prowess, broken legs would have been inevitable.

Meanwhile a slugfest is happening below. Churchkey focuses on the wraith and Barrett turns his attention on the far more easy to hit zombies. Bolgrim, again swearing the name of Todd for his lost power shoots another beam of perfect bright holy light into the wraith. The wraith shrieks and spasms. All the while the zombies swing claw with their massive hands at Connal, Churchkey and Barrett.

Pepper, thinking he is temporarily safe from the ever approaching Devil looks up to see that the Devil is now flying and easily moves over the ice barrier and hovers 5’ off the ground be-lining toward Pepper.

Then, Connal in pure exhaustion falls to the ground unconscious. The tremendous damage and effort combined was too much for his body. But not for long... Bolgrim steps in and one more time shoots raw energy of healing into Connal. Connal, still badly beaten and tired staggers up and with shear bravery? stupidity? well either way, Connal attacks a zombie and pulls one down.

Barrett has also been concentrating on one of the huge zombies and pulls another one down at the same time. Donner also pulls himself up and tumbles towards a zombie and heals himself.

Pepper, scared out of his wits tries to dimension door out. The stress of the on-coming devil almost makes Pepper err, but he pulls it off in the end and shoots back to about ½ way down the stairwell.

Ike, angry begins “stepping” down towards the combat. A spell of terrifying power slams into Churchkey. Alakast uses his own will to help buffer Churchkey and with the combined efforts of the Deathward provided by Bolgrim, Churchkey is unaffected. Churchkey strikes with all his might at the wraith and like a candle flame, the wraith is gone.

The Bone devil, frustrated, tries to section off the room but one more time. Churchkey steps into the forming block of ice and shatters the flow of magic stopping the wall all together.

The focus is now the remaining zombies, Ike and the devil. the party is beat to snot but they will not relent. Connal swings again at a zombie trying to protect the nearly dead Bolgrim. Bolgrim steps up and instead of healing himself, rescues the injured Connal. Churchkey takes a moment to survey and quaffs a healing potion. When Pepper changes the tide of battle.

Pepper concentrates on Ike and doing all he can begins to unweave the magic on and around Ike. Ike tries to resist and blocks some of Peppers attempts but is unable to stop them all. Most importantly, Ike stops walking on air and falls with a loud “crunch”.

At this Donner tumbles to Ike; feet and hands making deadly strikes. Ike's armor and Constitution seem to absorb some of the hits and resist the stunning effect. Barratt also strikes. The chain tearing into Ike’s legs.

Ike, stands up and with a spell all too familiar to the party, become a giant version of himself.

The zombies thump into Churchkey dissolving any gain made by his previous healing potion. When another wall of Ice shows up. This wall cuts the party in half.

Donner and Barrett against Ike and a Bone devil

Pepper, Churchkey, Bolgrim and Connal against two huge zombies.

Connal steps in to try and take out a zombie and makes good headway toward his goal. Bolgrim seeing the waning light of Churchkeys life steps in and touches Churchkey healing him. In that effort a zombie hits Bolgrim from behind bringing him dangerously close to death.

Churchkey barks a command, “Pepper, get me through that wall” and attacks a zombie hitting it with a notable crunch. Pepper, swallows hard and tries to dodge by a zombie unsuccessfully. Peppers ears ring from the hit but grabs Churchkey and they blink out of existence... a moment later they are on the other side of the ice wall.

On the other side of the wall Donner puts everything he can against Ike. At this time Barrett whips the chain around the devils waist and pulls... flesh shreds and blood flies and the devil howls in pain. Barrett yanks out a stakes, takes a quick side step and jabs the stake into Todd’s chest. The Devil sends out a pulse of fear. Barrett succumbs to the magic and runs toward the edge of the room.

Ike swings pulls his bladed hand back and two strong swings at Donner. Donner tries to dodge but Ike is too good. The blades find their mark and Donner falls. Pepper quickly casts “Intervention” forcing some healing into Donner as he collapses. Donner still breaths but is unconscious.

Churchkey goes to town on the Devil while Pepper makes a mad dash to Donner's side and casts a major cure spell. Donner stands up, takes a step in and attacks Ike. Ike falls to the ground.

Meanwhile Bolgrim is clobbered by a Zombie and drops to the ground, blood dripping from multiple wounds. Connal runs to his side and heals Bolgrim. Bolgrim’s eyes blink open and return the favor by healing Connal. With this, Connal is almost fresh and with wild abandoned strikes at the remaining zombies. The zombies strike back drawing fresh blood, but with Bolgrim casting one more searing light and Connal’s blade it takes a matter of 15 seconds before their are no more zombies.

The Devil makes a mass of attacks on Pepper. Amazingly Pepper stands until the lightening quick flick of the Devils tail and then Pepper gurgles blood and slumps to the floor. Churchkey charges into the devil swinging the blood lusted Alakast. Again Churchkey says, in a calm but commanding voice, “Donner, attend to the mage.”

Donner does a quick flip and bounds to Peppers side. Quickly pulls a potion from his pouch and begins to force it down Pepper throat.

The Devil now turns its attention toward the heavily wounded Churchkey. The devil finds Churchkey much harder to hit but find his mark a few times. Churchkey returns the favor and with Alakast in hand the devil screams and is returned to his own plane.

With that, the room is quiet except for heavy panting, moans of pain and inquiries as to one another’s health.

Pepper takes the next 3 min and casts a ritual of healing on Bolgrim help to restore the damage by Todd. In that time the group begins to search the room and chips at the ice.

In the room they find:

• one coffin with Todd
• a coffin with Jena’s body in it
• a coffin being built with the name Anna Taskerhill on the brass name plate.
  
  

The group also finds a list on Ike Iverson:

Alek Tercival

Sarcom Delshrn

Kristoff

Mirthan

Jena Urikas

Bolgrim (focus on him)

Ekaym smallcask

Embril Aloustiani

Ruphus Laro

Severan Navalant

Vhalantru (find him)

It is 5:00 AM. The sun is just about to rise over the mountains. The room is beginning to fill with water as the ice melts and there is much to research before Churchkey and Anna are married in a mere 4 hours.

Todd v Bolgrim Part II (Jan 18, 2009)

Day two... three days to the wedding.

The party wakes up and does a series of activities this day:

1. They research Stone Giants and their weaknesses
2. Bolgrim begins research on Vampires... (how made, special abilities, weaknesses etc.)
3. Anna, having researched the cagewrights for the last three weeks gives quite a report on their goings on. although, they were really, really good at hiding their tracks. It took her to use her bardic knowledge skill often.
4. Looked to see if church of Pelor is still Hallowed. (it still is)

Some key members of the party took part in activities over the course of the day:

Churchkey:

Had a private meeting with Anna, Her parents (the Taskerhills), his parents (Matrius) and Bolgrim. They move up the "private wedding" to tomorrow (day 3).

They are going to have the wedding in the morning at the Taskerhills. There will be a small number of guests, some will be key noble families from Caulderon. This being agreed upon and details being worked out takes a few hours.

Barrette:

Barrette scouts around the city and digs around a few of his old haunts (the Bath house, Chisle, and of course his Bar) During his sortie into the city Barrette finds out the following:

• Vhelantrue hasn't been seen in 4 days. Just disapeared
• Skellerag has taken control of the city
• Noble families have begun to argue. Accusations of all kinds are being batted back and forth between certain families including theft, infidelity and stolen wages. guards have had to break up a few fights amongst family workers.
• Regorge getting ready to have as many militia members as possible by "Day 5"

After all this... Everyone moves to the Taskerhill estate. The Matrius' home is far too damaged and no longer secure.

That night, everyone is sleeping lightly. Churchkey is tossing and turning thinking of his eminent wedding. Bolgrim is awake worried about Todd the Vampire returning. Barrett is nervous about his profit margin and what is happening on Occipitus without his watchful eye. Pepper is wondering about Embril and his church... "What happened?" he thinks to himself. Connel is the only one who seems to be sleeping well.

all are awakened to the sounds of the city alarm. It takes all of about 10 seconds to blink the sleep out of your eyes and see the glow of a fire in the distance. On the recommendation of the Vanguard, the Taskerhills send out a runner to investigate. Once it is realized that the warehouses of Maavue are fire the Vanguard quickly realizes that they must act quickly.

The Stormblades are assembled as are the immediate family member of the Stormblades. They are to protect family members and the bodies of Kristoff and Alec. They also summon the Redshields. They are also helping to guard the family. However they don't show up until nearly 4:00 AM.

All the while, the spellcaster memorize their spells. Once memorized the group says their goodbyes and grimly sets out into the morning mist. It takes no more than a couple of minutes before they find themselves in front of the massive doors of WeeJas.

The group spends a minute or so chatting and coming up with a plan of action.

Donner and Barrette sneak up to the balcony. They quietly open the doors and survey the room. Standing under the balcony on either side of the Alter is a Stone Giant. They are literally standing statue still staring at the main doors. two pairs of low ranking members of the church are also spotted. They are hanging out on the balcony chatting with one another.

Barrett whispers down to the waiting party and says count to 30 or wait for the obvious signal. Then come in swinging. At this everyone springs into action:

Bolgrim summons the power of Pelor and everyones muscles tighten and grow. Churchkey blesses Barrett's weapon and Barretts caltrop is used as a focus for "silent" spell.

At this, Barrett and Donner sneak along the balcony. All the while, the rest of the Vanguard are casting buffs and readying for attack.

Barrett and Donner get to a corner and ready and on "three" charge the two unsuspecting victims. Barretts chain destroys the first guard so fast not even the look of surprise enters his eyes. Donner springs to Barrette's side and with a complicated set of finger strikes stuns the second guard.

Bolgrim and Pepper climb up to the Balcony.

Moments later Barrett's chain garrotes the guard and with a swift pull hundreds of lacerations accumulate to almost remove his head in a silent murder that paints the walls with blood. Donner, with Barrett on his back runs along the wall from Balcony to Balcony by using slippers of spider climbing. Again, the deadly lash causes mayhem. Unfortunately the blood and falling body parts causes one of the Stone Giants to yell. He then bends over a picks up a huge rock... perhaps 1' across. The Giant pulls his arm back when a chanting Bolgrim enters the room from the balcony. The air erupts with the buzz of a thousand blades wiping slashing. Sparks fly at the constant high pitched chink of the blades against the floor and the balcony forcing the Giant to step forward or be cut to ribbons. The blades also make a virtually impenetrable barrier from those approaching from the back side of the dais.

The mammoth front doors of the Cathedral of WeeJas push open as Churchkey moves into the room. One of the Giants glances briefly at Churchkey but chucks his cargo at Bolgrim. The stone shatters against the railing saving Bolgrim from certain bludgeoning. Pepper steps up from behind Bolgrim and with rage at the blaspheme of his church unleashes a bolt of raw electricity at the offending giant.

Donner, seeing what is happening easily flips over the railing and drops to the ground and activates the magic stored in his ring. Donner begins to grow into a giant himself. Meanwhile Barrett does a run around the balcony and does a face floor slide to stay out of rock throwing range/danger. Following behind Churchkey is the young muscular Connel... quickly seeing the danger in the room, he too calls upon the powers to cause him to match the stature of the the giants. The second giant, after seeing the damage done to his companion side arms a rock and it collides with Peppers head causing Pepper to stagger and blood to gush.

Trying to trap the stone giant against the blade barrier, Bolgrim summons the energy of the earth and quickly makes a 10' stone wall surrounding the giant on three sides.


Churchkey summons his mount while the second giant throws another rock at Donner. Donner deftly ducks around a support pillar. He then dashes out jumps into the air landing a number of blows and finishes by back handspringing back behind the pillar.

Pepper pulls forth a wand and 4 magical bolts streak through the air hitting the captured giant. Barrett unleashes his chain and in a crouch moves so he is above the giant in combat with Donner. Bolgrim casts a spell allowing him to see through any illusions or hidden items and begins scanning the room. The "captured giant" ducks into a protective position and yells in common, "We give up. Just let us go."

Not hearing the yell due to the silence spell, like a hovering gargoyle, Barrett springs death from above. The Giants head erupts in shredded flesh and blood. One of the hooks catches on a piece of skull and the giant collapses. Donner yells "Drop the Blade Barrier!" and looks ready to spring onto the dais. Pepper touches Bolgrim and in a blink of an eye they are on the main floor 100' from where they started standing behind Donner.

Connel and Churchkey charge up to the captured giant who is repeating his please for surrender. Unable to hear Barrett contiunes his movement along the balcony. Bolgrim complies with Donners request and with a wave of his hand the deadly barrier fades away. Donner quickly moves to the back of a dais and looks down a hall where a lone 1/2 orc is standing guard.

Churchkey takes command of the situation. Commanding Bolgrim and Pepper to move to the dais and removing the silence that isolates Barrett from communicating. As Bolgrim and Pepper move as commanded Bolgrim removes the silence... but not in time. The whip like speed and deadly accuracy of Barretts chain force the remaining giant to take his last breath. Connel move to the dais all the while keeping his eyes on the main doors and a side door. Donner yells to Churchkey that there are more guards located in the priest quarters and shuts the door enough to block sight and ranged weapons.

The group all consolidate at the door at the back of the dais. Churchkey closes the main doors to the church and rejoins the group.

Everyone readies and Donner squeezes himself down the corridor and enter the first room.  Dropping from the ceiling are three vampires.  They claw and scratch and Donner who amazingly doges and blocks the attacks.  Donner spins onto his back and with a flurry of fire imbued blows destroys two of the spawn.  

The last spawn tries to flee but finds a chain wrapped around its neck.  Churchkey has  made his way to the end of the corridor and cracks the armor of a 1/2 orc guard.  noting other 1/2 orcs further down the corridor he shrugs of the effects of a spell but takes a bit of a physical blow from a charging 1/2 orc.  

In an amazing show of courage, Pepper steps in front of Churchkey and an arc of lightening bounces down the corridor.  The 1/2 orcs jump and twitch but remain standing.  Seeing the limited use of being huge in this environment Donner shrinks and tumbles into the corridor evading swings by newly arrived spawn.

At this, they hear a figure at the back of the corridor yell, "everyone attack!".  Bolgrim gets swarmed.  Life force is sucked from his veins and blood stains the floor.  Barrett yells at Pepper, "Get the Fuck out of the way!"

Churchkey is belining for Bolgrim yelling "Keep a sharp eye out!"

Before Pepper can react to Barrett's command the 1/2 orc pounds on him draggin his blade deep into Pepper flesh.  Pepper flashes with anger with a quick spatter of magic, Peppers hand turns black and undead. The new appendage lashes out and the 1/2 orc squrms and dehydrades in seconds.  His skin wrinkles and eys buldge all the while Peppers wounds heal.  The 1/2 orc drops to the floor and pepper steps back half a dozen steps.

Barrett then leaps through the door previously occupied by Pepper and lashes at the Spawn on Donner.

Now with added help, Donner swiftly takes out the remainding two spawn.  Barrett and Donner notice that when they explode into dust they also become "gas clouds" and float away.

Bolgrim, being overwhelmed by spawn calls upon the power of Pelor and with a blinding flash two of the spawn expode into large piles of dust that scatter around the room.

Then....

the whole group is envelped in pitch black.  Connel, who has been keeping rear guard yells," whats going on in there?"

Pepper yells at the now envelped cleric of weejas, "Calamus Vel, you hav ebeen judged unworthy by WeeJas.  Prepare to meet her.  He then further heals and steps backwards and eventual out of the darkness next to Connel.

Bolgrim brings the power of daylight into the room and the darkness shatters like a mirror falling to the ground in small shards and then evaporating away.  Bolgrim looks around the room and sees the invisible form of Todd flying at him with immense speed.  Bolgrim points and Todd claws at Bolgrim.  The sound of his claws on the armor screech and ping. 

Churchkey smites another vamp but it doesn't drop.  Barrett winds up and the lash of the chain catches and tangles thunking into the floor. 

Donner, locked in combat with Calimus Vel flurries at the multiple images of him.  Calimus sends out a claw of magic that misses Donner by a hair.   

Bolgrim screams "Todd in here and tried to turn"  The power of the temple seems to block the powers of Pelor and although a mighty blow to most undead, Todd scoffs.  However, Connel, hearing Bolgrim call charges down the corridor into the room with Bolgrim. 

Churchkey also charges into the room leaving a 1/2 orc behind in the hall, and pushes all the positive energy into Todd.  Todd shakes and veins raise out of his skin.   Ignoring Churchkey, Todd puts up an aggressive assault on Bolgrim.  Bolgrim can feel the venomous touch of the vampire and his life force sags.  Todd’s wounds heal as Bolgrim’s drop. 

Donner is now surrounded.  He stuns Calamus and then in a flurry takes him down.  Donner then spins and his foot connects with a charging 1/2 orcs throat. 

Pepper steps next to Todd and with a quick spell fails to cast so steps out... Bolgrim tries to use positive healing on Todd, but with the chaos in the room he is unable to concentrate.  Churchkey summons powers of good and just cant seem to hit.  Todd blocks and dodges with deft ability.  Barret taking up a flanking position has a hard time hitting as well, but finally places the chain firmly upon Todds flesh and tears chuncks away.

Connel runs back to the dias (as there are too many people in the room).  He guards the enterence to this hall way when what he heard becomes wildly apparent.  Hundredes, perhaps thousands of bats swarm out of the main chamber and slam into Connel and flood the hallway.

Donner easily dispaches the 1/2 orc while Pepper slits Calamus Vess' throat.

Todd, again steps toward the retreating Bolgrim through the team of blinding bats and claws at Bolgrims face.  The flesh rips from Bolgrim and Todds teeth find a vein, if only for a few seconds.  Bolgrim is able to push him off, but is panting with exhaustion.  Bolgrim tries to cast but too much is happening for him to cast.

Churchkey again tries to hit, but Todd seems to dodge and block like a combat expert.  Barrett takes advantage of Todd's concetration on Churchkey and with two swift strikes tears cloathing from flesh and flesh from bone.

Donner tumbles in trying to protect Bolgrim and hits Todd.  Todd turns into a bat quickly disapearing into the swarm.  the thousand bats begin biting and scraching at the party.  

Bolgrim still able to see through illusions takes a feable swing at the newly transformed Todd and tries to point him out.  The group begins to follow the swarms of bats out of the hallway and to the side tower to up stairs.

what will happen next?

the party is wounded.  Todd is wounded but what is upstairs?  Will Bolgrim survive?  Will the Vangard of Caulderon vanquish the evil located in WeeJas?

Stay tuned!

What!? Bolgrim Dies? Shut up! (Jan 4, 2009)

(Sara says, "No way! I 'heart' Jooj!")

The world is closing in... life is getting complicated. Luckily, in the short term, Sassaurine provides enough goods and services where everyone is able to learn new skills, find rare materials and buy the magical items they need to carry out the Vanguards intended plan.

Time is growing short, a wedding is closing in and the groom hasn’t seen his bride in five months. So, with aplomb the group teleports themselves to the edge of the city wall. Then with a liberal usage of dimension door, the party quickly deftly moves across the city and to the Family Matrius’s estate. It is here, the group, decides to hold up.

Donner quickly settles into his old room. The rest of the group explores the house and grounds and then, including Churchkey’s parents they all hunker around the dinning room table for a long and candid discussion about the upcoming events and strategy.

First, a time line is established:

• there are five days until the wedding day
• invitations have been distributed. Turnout seems to be in the low hundreds
• as a group they decide that Bolgrim is going to marry the couple
• they need to find a way to resurrect Alec Tercivel
• they want to find out about Tercen Skellerage... is he
o a bad man
o just super nationalistic and thus doing as commanded
o being some-how manipulated/charmed etc.
o not really Skellerag, but a doppelganger of some kind
• check out the news on the streets about
o the wedding
o the cathedral to WeeJas and its impact on
 Temple of Pelor
 relationship with St. Cuthbert
o the impact of and the total number of ½ Orc mercenaries
o the Red Shields
• contact Skie
• contact Shensen
• contact Jennya
• contact the Chisel
• go to Barrett’s bar and make sure business is still good :)
• The family Matrius and the Family Taskerhill will meet in two days (on Day Three) to make full wedding plans and schedule etc.
• continue research on: (have a high level bard with Legend Lore, and access to a Library at the University not to mention a whole slew of investigatory spells)
o Deamonskarred
o Shackleborn
o Cagewrites
• Broadsides are not functioning (government shut them down)
• discussion of the noble families and alliances

Once the list of activities has been determined the Vanguard decides that in the best interest of safety they should remain incognito until the wedding proper. With that the group hunkers down for the evening with the exception of Barrett. Additional guards are put on watch and a hand written note is delivered to the Taskerhill’s from Churchkey. The note invites the wit filled and beautiful young Taskerhill to a private lunch on the morrow.

Barrett slips out of the house and makes his way to his home and to this bar. It is here Barrett feels far more comfortable. Barrett reconnects with some of his old contacts and makes it known to his trusted few that he is back in town.

Very early in the morning Barrett returns to the manor and joins the team. About a half hour later Bolgrim sets about the long ritual to bring Alec back to life, an expensive but important endeavor. Fifteen minutes later, Alec’s finger twitches, his chest fills with air and moments later his eyes flicker open.

The Vanguard figures out their first set of actions for the day.

First, Pepper and Barrett don their hats of disguise and make their way to the Cathedral of WeeJas. They question a number of the Acolyte preachers outside of the main doors. The Cathedral is closed to the public and all Acolytes until the grand opening. They are not sure when that will be, but it must be soon because security is pretty tight. The two do a little examination and figure out that the Cathedrals height blocks the sun from striking the Church of Pelor except at dusk. This of course is an amazing slight and in any other city would create a church war. But with the current power of WeeJas and the lack of Pelor’s influence this has gone unnoticed.

The two return to the Matrius estate and learn that Jennya is in hiding due to the fact that Kristoff, head of the church of Pelor, was assassinated. With the exception of a few lay priests, Bolgrim is the sole practitioner of Pelor in Cauldron. Between the seeming competition of WeeJas and St. Cuthbert for the souls of the citizens of Cauldron, and the slow erosion of traditional belief systems for both of these faiths, Jennya figures she is next on the chopping block.

The group comes up with some key activities for the remainder of Day 1:

• Keep Alec hidden, only reveal his new arrival on the wedding day
• Barrett has a whole list of activities that he wants to accomplish.... In fact there are eight items on his “to do” list. It will take him all day and a good portion of the evening.
• Donner will wear one of the hats of disguise and visit Skellerag. He will observe him with The Gem of True Seeing to at least determine if there are any glamers or other hidden aspects about him.
• The rest of the group will do research, talk with The Stormblades


Churchkey has a private interaction with Anna that needs to happen before the wedding, he quietly places the ring back in his breast pocket and returns to the discussion at hand.

Donner puts on his hat and transforms into Graflex the merchant. He makes his way to City hall looking for Skellerag. Being so busy he makes an appointment and says he knows where Churchkey is. The guards make Donner… I mean Graflex… wait for about fifteen more minutes and then Skellerag come out to meet him. The two have a good five minute conversation and Graflex is paid for his troubles. He is also promised a handsome reward for the whereabouts of Churchkey before the wedding day.

Barrett makes his way out the door at the same time as Donner, but his errands take him to eight different locations all over the city. Barrett doesn’t come back until late into the night.

Meanwhile back at House Matrius, the group is chatting when the front door flies open and the room explodes in spells and the flash of blades. Most notable are two fighter types. Their speed and ability to tumble not only frustrate Connel to no end but these two are positioning themselves into strategic flanking positions. Their obvious target… Bolgrim. Blades slash into his flesh, spells crash against his body. The power of Palor is great, but it can’t seem to keep up with the barrage of damage being done. The other focus of their attention… Alec Terceval. In Alec’s highly weakened state, the deadly tactics of these very able assassins takes Alec down in under 15 seconds.

Alec is laying dead… well, nearly dead on the ground. Churchkey is standing over his body. Connel is chasing down this large lug of an assassin who is far lighter on his feet than one would expect. Bolgrim is nearly dead. Pepper is expending spells bouncing between healing and attack spells. When Donner comes sauntering in the front gate. Immediately he takes in what is before him… Churchkeys parents are running as fast as they can toward him from the house. Three guards lay dead on the grounds. Donner takes off at a dead sprint for the house.

Churchkey takes a step toward the lumber oaf who is now threatening Pepper and making their way towards the nearly vivisected Bolgrim. Connel makes another frustrating charge toward these villains… large arcs of marking his path. When a vampiric Todd Vanderborden appears over Alec’s body and with a final blow a chunk of the noble paladin’s throat is torn free and consumed with glee.

Donner dashes into the room taking a defensive stance in front of Bolgrim and with due to the shouts of the others takes out his gem of true seeing.

Bolgrim takes a shaky breath and the energy of Pelor arcs towards Todd. Todd stumbles for a second and then smirks. With that the room erupts in flying chunks of ice. Bolgrim collapses on the ground Pepper quickly tries to cheat death but the damage is too great and Bolgrim slumps to the floor; his life essence staining the teak boards.

Enraged, Connel screams and his body is filled with blood lust. His now stationary target takes a full throttle death storm from his mighty two handed sword. His companion slips around Todd and begins running. Donner leaps toward the invisible spell caster and knocks her so hard that she stars for a few seconds. Her dazed blinking gives the rest of the group time to respond.

Todd is blocking the door and begins to step backwards into the hall when Churchkey in blind rage leaps at this undead foe. Somehow his hands don’t just touch Todd, but find there way around his throat and with that he unleashes all of his energy of pure good, of healing. Todd’s eyes bulge and his hands scratch at Churchkey’s armor and then in a silent explosion Todd is nothing but dust covering everything.

It doesn’t take long for Churchkey to come to blink the dust out of his eyes and charge down the corridor where the other assassin ran. Meanwhile, Connel, Donner and Pepper make quick work out of the remaining two in the room.

Donner then charges down the corridor and out the back door followed by Connel and Pepper. Churchkey charges up the stairs turns the corner and thunders his body into the locked door. He shoulders it again and stumbles through. Before him running on the air itself a good ten feet from the window is the female assassin. Churchkey leaps out the window and just can’t gain the distance needed. With that Churchkey falls with a heavy Thud and exhale of air.

Pepper casts a bubble of force around the escaping assassin, Donner jumps and some arrows are unleashed from below. The Assassin makes a bloody fall to the ground.

That night when Barrette returns the party has already scrambled for resources purchased at Sassarine and Bolgrim is again alive.

A few members make their way to the Taskerhill's. Churchkey and his parents go to seek some safety measures. It is here that Churchkey gets Anna alone and formally proposes.

Barrette reports on a number of things:
• He has Kristoff in his bag of holding. The other Acolytes of Pelor are scared nearly to death and a few of fled for their lives… but the remaining five are still carrying on their duties as they were given by their deity and Kristoff.
• Barrette has made contact with the Redshields and has asked them to come to the wedding and be body guards for an unknown guest. (Alec)
• He has some trusted people following Skylar Krewis and Skellerag to see what turns up.
• Researched info on Mayor, not a lot of info yet.
• Talked to Shensen and Jennya. They are hanging out together. Jennya has had two assassination attempts on her. She survives only because she ran and is able to hide with Shensen’s help.
• Talked to the Chisel and found out they are digging a tunnel down from inside one of Maavu’s warehouses to the Ebon Triad Tunnels. This won’t be finished for at least six months.
• There is a leak in the thieves’ guild. Someone is working with the government. With the number of guards, a depressed economy etc… the guild must be getting some government kickback. From who? Barrette isn’t sure.

DAY 2

The group again gathers at the dinning table of Matrius, this time Anna, Cora and Zach are also here to assist in any strategy. There is a lot of chatter bouncing from theme and topic without much direction.

Pepper returns moments later looking ashen. He has just cast a divination to determine the location of Todd. The remains of Todd are somewhere in the Temple of WeeJas. As this the members around the table are stunned. Perhaps a full twenty seconds goes by before the silence is broken. “We need to see inside that temple”

Scrying into the temple works pretty well. The main chamber looks pretty familiar to Pepper, but all the pews have been removed. Standing guard in the main room are a number of clerics, some ½ orcs and two Stone Giants. At this news the room erupts in discussion and debate.

A few things are determined:
1. Churchkey and Anna will be “officially married” on Day 4 not on Day 5. This wedding will be small with only 30 or so key people in attendance.
2. The public wedding on Day 5 will be the spectacle. They will be married again, but it will be a “military wedding”. Everyone in full armor etc.
3. They must storm the Cathedral of WeeJas.
4. Possible coordination of the Cathedral attack and that of one of the wall gates.
5. The private meeting with the Taskerhill's will still be on Day 3.

With this.. the group is still in serious discussion about the rest of the days events. What could it bring? The city of Calderon, their home their life’s blood is in peril. Can it be saved?

Stay tuned!

Part III (I am Barrett ruler of all Occipitus, but for $50 you can call me Nick)

Part III is finally up! Wow! I will post a write up for last weeks session this week. That should catch us up. Enjoy.

After an amazingly quick execution of Zaur Sza (the Rakshasa) and his fire giant companion (Motruk), the group cautiously continues up the tube like tunnel.

The Tubes upward spiral ends in a round chamber with a doorway in the opposite end leading to a spiral staircase. Furniture in this room is limited to a massive iron throne festooned with spikes. Most of the back of the throne is missing, although the framework of the back remains. Before the throne lies a pile of wood - furniture debris from the looks of it. There are ceramic shards on the floor; it looks as if some smashed dozens of clay pots here. The whole room is littered with the tiny shards, but there is a concentration to one side of the throne with an ever decreasing density radiating from the mound.

Wondering about the contents of the room doesn't last long when stepping from behind the throne is a seven foot human shaped mass. Grey in color and lacking any distinguishing marks or detail. It shambles towards the group flaying its huge wet meaty fists in front of it.

Deftly tumbling around the behemoth Donner kicks it in the back. His foot hits the creature and it seems to do nothing for kicking it is like kicking a thousand pounds of wet clay. Barrett’s chain whips over the heads of Connel and Churchkey. The chain seems to leave a permanent mark on the clay flesh, but shallow and nearly insignificant. Connel's massive swing with his sword does a bit more than Connel and Churchkey's artifact also has little impact on the massive structure. At this one of the creatures meaty fists slams into Churchkey. His helmet actually spins a couple of degrees and sends ringing in his ears. Amazingly, Churchkey is able duck another swing.

The spells begin to fly. Some land harmlessly upon the super absorbent flesh of wet clay, while others seem to knock away at the animated life force of this creature. Bolgrim steps into place readying heals.

Donner moves into the, I'm just gong to be a super annoying gnat to this thing in hopes of helping the others hit this thing, mode. Again, weapons lash nicking and scratching. Churchkey looks up seeing the fists of this creature having joined into a massive club come rocketing strait down upon his shoulders. Churchkey is knocked to one knee and dizzy stands to take on this unnatural foe. Bolgrim dodges in behind Churchkey imbuing him with the healing energy of Pelor. Kaurophon resorts back to his default magic missiles and Pepper goes back to some decent easy to cast spells actually causing some damage to the now identified golem.

About 10 seconds later, the knicks and scratches have done its work. The magic animating this horror is released and it is if the golem has walked into a giant kiln. It shakes and its flesh begins to discolor and crack. It begins flaking away and deep fishers become prevalent when moments later it shatters into thousands of piece of dried clay scattering across the floor.

After a bit of recovery the party walks to the spiral staircase. Listening carefully, they hear nothing and so climb the stairwell. Then enter a room that for lack of a better description is like a natural cavern.. if it didn't look like it was made of living flesh. Stretched out before the party is a rough 30 foot wide by 70 foot long corridor with a little over half a dozen rough hewn corridors breaking off in either direction.

Dominating the center of the room is a 15 foot diameter bonfire of utter blackness. It crackles as if it were normal flame, but its a slick, glossy black rather than orange-red of a fire. There seems to be a dozen or so scraps of paper around the outside of the flame littering the floor. Surrounding the black flames is a pale yellow corona that casts light about the room. Just as you are taking this in and begin to explore the room, there is a command "attack".

Charging from the darkness of the different tunnels are these massive, emaciated looking wolves.. cats... not sure. But they have a bristling main of menacing quills.

Trying to pinpoint the command and to get behind these creatures Donner charges one, flips over one, lands in a perfect running roll and ends up on the far side of the bonfire. Pepper dimension doors beside Donner. The rest of the group is besieged by these creatures that don't prove too difficult. However.. backing up these gaunt things are a group of huge wolves, black saliva dripping from their snarling fangs.

A few of the wolves trap Pepper and Donner on the back side of the bonfire. Kaurophon turns Barrett invisible turning Barrett into an impressive killing machine, Bolgrim puts a mass blessing upon the group while Churchkey and Connel do what they do best... they thump heads.

The combat doesn't prove to be too difficult, but spells are flying from some spell caster that are strong and deadly. Churchkey resists two spells but can tell the power of what he is resisting is devastating.

Then, Donner yells out that the spells are coming from something in the black bonfire. Because Donner is Demonscarred he jumps into the flame to see what resides inside. The flame is fueled by the energy of pure evil. It burns like a real fire causing Donner to yell as the flames lick and sting his body. But then Donner yells at the top of his lungs, "Lich!". At that Donner stumbles out of the fire. He looks weak, clumsy and pale. He is a shadow of his former skills and abilities. Drained and near death Donner repeats over and over, "Lich, lich... lich" while pointing toward the fire.

The rest of the group finishes off the creatures and surrounds the fire. Bolgrim tries to turn but to no avail. Barrett, invisible, moves to the edge of the bonfire and lashes out with his magical spiked chain. Churchkey also moves to the edge of the bonfire. A beam of dark energy emerges from the fire and Barrett shudders and feels his muscles atrophy. Another round of spells launch into the darkness. Again Bolgrim attempts to turn, but the Lich scoffs and rebuffs Bolgrim's attempt. Working in Unison with Alakast, Churchkey swings and a resounding thunk is heard.

Emerging from the fire, a tortured skeletal hand reaches out and ever so shortly grabs a hold of Churchkeys arm. Churchkeys eyes turn wild and he begins to pull back with every increasing panic. Eventually the hand releases, but Churchkey is a shadow of his former self... his life force has nearly completely been sucked away.

Bolgrim musters up one more attempt and on this attempt a raw and uncontrolled holy power of the sun itself shoots from the holy symbol in Bolgrims hands. The lich writhes and screams a silent scream.. its skeletal jaw mechanical pumping up and down and then with the sound of thousands of nuts cracking the lich collapses to the ground in 500 pieces, bones shattered and splintered.

Beat-up and low on spells Bolgrim points out that the lantern of guidance is very bright and a solid beam of light is pointing towards another spiral staircase at the far end of the room. Staggering to their feet the group decides that they must rest. Bolgrim is to memorize restoration spells and the group tenuously enters one of the side tunnels. Here they gladly shut their eyes, licking their wounds and thanking their gods that they still live.

The next morning Bolgrim and Pepper heal and restore what they can. Donner is feeling 100%, Churchkey is also feeling much better and even Barrett is nearly back to his muscular self. They eat a quick meal and then make their way to the staircase where the lantern is still spotlighting the spiral staircase.

The staircase winds around and around going up several hundred feet. Eventually the spiral staircase emerges into what can only be the eye socket of the skull itself. The stairway ends in a shallow depression, with curving walls that eventually become the ceiling some sixty feet up. From the center of the eye socket - in midair- a gusher of blinding red light rushes outward and upward, eventually spreading to fill the sky with firey clouds above. The origin of the gusher isn't visible - it's as if the plasma is being vented from a rip in the fabric of the plane itself. At the opening of the eye socket float a multitude of fiery clouds. The clouds don't drift into the eye socket due some magic force field.

Another great mummy waits here; the mummy is dressed in golden armor and remains silent for a few moments.

Adimarchus, Most Potent Ruler of Occipitus, bids you welcome to the Final Test of the Smoking Eye. A worthy successor to the throne of Adimarchus must complete only one more task. To rule Occipitus- to grasp its power and use it for good or ill - means to sacrifice everything you hold dear. The final test is this: Sacrifice an ally to the plasma, and Occipitus is yours!

The mummy is then silent and seems to laps back into the more natural state of death.

Looking at one another, everyone is silent. Kaurophon seems to be in deep thought and contemplation, when Churchkey begins to undo his armor. "There is no way we are going to sacrifice a friend, I shall sacrifice myself for the good of all". Bolgrim, about to undo his own armor agrees to Churchkeys request and starts helping him out of the layers of metal surrounding his body.

Kaurophon looks on in awe, shock and total interest.

The rest of the Vanguard is solemn. Connel retreats into his own thoughts; Pepper says a prayer to WeeJas the lady of death herself. Donner says his goodbyes to Churchkey and Barrett seems withdrawn, brow furrowed in thought. A few minutes later Barrett's head snaps up, and with clarity of voice and determination announces, "That the one who wields Alakast should be the last to sacrifice himself". Barrett continues, "The rest of the party would die without the abilities of Bolgrim, the rest of you are too important", and with that Barrett leaps into the pillar of raw energy.

Everyone is stunned. The smell of burning flesh assaults the nostrils as Barrett twists in the gout of plasma energy. Moments later Barrett is unceremoniously pushed from the gusher... Barrett has not a scratch on him, he is reborn, healthy and strong but with his left eye missing and small wisps of smoke emanate from the empty socket.

Kaurophon is the first to break the silence, "NO, NO, NO!" he screams. "You have robbed me! You are not worthy; this was my destiny, my chance!" Spittle is flying as fast as his accusations. "You would have been lost without me, you are nothing! A group of pawns in a game bigger than any of you! You don't deserve this, you are meant to fight in the field not sit on a throne! This is mine! Do you hear me?! MINE!" And Kaurophon falls to the ground.

Donner is standing over him, stunning fist at the ready. Churchkey orders him tied up. Kaurophon quickly becomes un-stunned but by that time, the whole group has weapons and spells raised. Rope is being gathered from backpacks.

From here a Kangaroo court is held. It is quickly held and expedited equally as fast. Within 10 minutes the trial is held, Kaurophon is accused of being guilty of treason, wanting to expand the denizens of evil, putting the party in jeopardy. For these crimes Kaurophon is to be put to death. 10 seconds later, Kaurophon is dead.

Once the body is disposed of the incident is not spoken of again. No one says as such, but it is agreed upon in that unspoken way that says this event is for us to know about and no one else. The pact is strong after a year of adventuring and no one questions it.

...

Meanwhile political and social intrigue abound:

Pepper: Pepper sends a message to Embril asking her about the group of Wee Jas people hanging out on Occipitus. Embril responds that she knows nothing of these people. She is still busy and won't be able to return to Cauldron for about another 3 months. Talk to Ike Iverson... He is in charge of "the followers of the Lady".

Taking her advice Pepper fires off another spell to Ike respectfully asking the same question. Ike says that if the Vanguard is on Occipitus and have completed the tasks on that plain then he will remove the group on the plain and thanks Pepper. He really wants to see Pepper for a one-on-one discussion as soon as he gets back to Cauldron.

Barrett: Barrett is going through a terbulent time. He has just become the ruler of the 507th layer of the Abyss. It is a heavily wounded pain of existance. In 100 or so years with a constant ruler putting a lot of energy into the healing of the plain, it will look a lot better. The plain of cysts will be nearly gone, ulcers will begin to disapear and perhaps, in another 100 or so, the actual diameter of the plain will begin to slowly expand. Barrett is getting used to just balancing all of the sensory imput of running the plain... well that and figuring out how to best use his new powers and the plain for growth in power and money.

Churchkey: Churchkey has been having a series of short "message" conversations with his love Anna Taskerhill since shortly before arriving on Occipitus. Most of the conversations are innitiated by Anna due to her Bardic ability to cast the spell.

Over the last 2 months Churchkey has found out the following:

• Severen Navalant (the lord Mayor of Cauldron) has disapeared. At this time he is only 14 so the regent Vhalantru is now the defacto leader of Cauldron.
• There has been a very detailed and swift assassination attempt on Anna, Zachary and Cora when they were in some tunnels below Cauldron.
• Churchkey has asked Anna to research the Cagewrights. At first she has come upon virtually nothing, but with time to research she is slowly putting together clues. Her use of Legend Lore and access to the Library's both in Cauldron and out are aiding her research.
• Perhaps prematurly but on track, Anna and Churchkey are to be wed, binding two factions of noble families together. The hope is to try to create as many links among the noble families so as to generate a faction strong enough to offset the rapid collaps of their beloved city.
• Finds out Jennya has had a few death threats and one assassination attempt. Jennya is hiding out with Shensen near the shores of Crater Lake.
• A new tax has been levied on Cauldron... Magic items comming into the city have a 20% tax on their value.
  

...

The group has a long, long discussion about what to do:

• They need to train, Cauldron? Sassaureen?
  
• They need to get to Cauldron but obviously the tax will kill them.
• The Vanguard needs to stay on the plain of Occipitus for at least three weeks for Barrett to become more attuned with the plain so he can start manipulating some defensive measures (like resetting/changing the test) and learn to control some of his new found powers.
• Need to sell items.
  
• While waiting those three weeks they deside to do the following:

1. Go to the plain of cysts and harvest all of the magic items they can find. They want to do this mainly for the money to do the ceremonies for Alakast.
2. This action however will tip the balance of the plain a little more to the evil side so they somehow need to remove some the demons from the plain to help create some balance.
3. It takes about a week to ride to the plain, a week of work and a week back. Perfect.

The party rests up and departs the next day (minus Barrett who sits on his throne and absorbs info about his new kingdom). The party moves more quickly and safely for Barrett chatters at them via telepathic communication about possible dangers ahead.

The party notes that they are being followed, perhaps a mile away, by a group of Babau. They are followed for a day or so when appearing around them like a blink of the eye are a dozen Babau. They are obviously well trained and working in a group.

A solo Babau is not a tough foe for the Vanguard, but a group of twelve is frightening, for when they swarm, their sneak attack damage is devistating. Quickly, Connel finds this out as he is quickly swarmed. Slashes and blood gush from various wounds covering his body. Pepper unleashes a fireball engulphing a large group. They seem damaged but unphazed by the gout of flame.

The others band together to form a tight line trying to keep the Babau from surrounding them. Churchkey can feel Alakast almost laughing with glee with each deadly hit of his sentient weapon. Donner and Connel are desperatly trying to curb the left flank from curling around the rest of the party... especially trying to keep pepper from the action. This is turning Connel into a punching bag and Bolgrim into a healing machine.

It is becoming quite obvious that this combat is completely and totally deadly. They are shoring up the ranks and yelling out short commands and making sure where healing potions are located. With this Bolgrim takes a chance and calling upon the forces of the heaven he yells "RUN!" For a brief second, everyone looks at Bolgrim in confusion and then they see four of the remaining Babau sprinting at top speed away from the group in various directions.

Suddenly the odds have changed, the remaining Babau redouble their efforts but now the party is working in full coordination. Donner is flipping behind enemies giving his fellow Vanguard members the ability to land more powerful blows. Alakast is cutting throw the demonic resistances and now Bolgrim is able to move from defense to offense. It takes about 30 seconds of combat but when they look up the four Babau that ran are not returning. They are watching again from afar. Following the group.

The party desperately needs to rest after that combat so Barrett watches over them from his throne room while the party beds down for the evening. Eventually, the Babau go their own way, leaving the Vanguard to a eventless couple of days journey to the Plain of Cysts. The whole time they are traveling Churchkey can feel the pull of Alakast. Kill, kill, kill all the demons on this plain.

The party arrives at the plain of cysts and begin "harvesting" all the magic they can. It takes a good one to two hours of hard labor to puncture a cyst and dig out the items contain within. They start by having Bolgrim and Pepper casting detect magic. From here they mark 6 or so cysts. Return to the first and then begin digging.

It is late in the afternoon of the first day when Barrett gives the group a heads up. Flying low from the south are a group of 6 Vrock. They are wondering about the deal you made with them more than three weeks ago. Three weeks is enough time and they are angry. Barrett joins the conversations telephatically and with that they Vrock summon their leader to do their bartering.

Moments later Vectara, a huge Vrock of previously unprecidented size appears. After a long and terribly uncomforatable session of negotiations an agreement is made:

• The Vrock and the Vanguard will meet in two weeks time Near the celestial rubble North, North-East of the skull.
• As a combined group they will kill all of the rival Babau and their leader a deadly Balor.
• In so doing the Vrock are the offical "police force" of Occipitus for a 10 year trial period.
• They are given specific instructions about rules to enforce on the plain (there are not many), to encourage people to settle on the plain etc. etc.

With that the Vrock depart, Churchkey shutters and has to use a good part of his mental energy to keep Alakast from going crazy. The idea of working with demons rather than slaughtering them is repugnant. After a short discussion and calming down the party goes back to their harvesting.

Pepper identifies a series of items and then as a group they travel to the base of the hills. Barrett meets them and the Vrock teleport in shortly after. As a group of 15 vrock, Vectora and the Vanguard the remaining 24 Babau don't stand a chance. Theristar the Balor prooves to be a deadly fight but is eventually successful.

With that the party makes their leave and planeshifts, hoping to land near Cauldron. They land in the mountains to the north. After a few hours they get their berrings and recognize that they are about a days travel from Crazy Jared's.

Three days later the party finds themselves in the town of Kingfisher Hollow. Here they feel better, they are surrounded by very familiar surroundings, familiar customs and food. However, Kingfisher Hollow has grown a three hundered person refugee camp on the outskirts. After talking with the residents of Kingfisher Hollow:

• They talk about the thousand or so 1/2 orc mercenary guards patroling the streets.
  
• The Magic tax doesn't really impact anyone except for people like the party.
  
• The redshields are stuck in the city due to the tax, but they are seen by the citizens as their protectors.
• the Ecnomic system is duely stressed. There is a lot of anamonsity between WeeJas and St. Cuthburt.
• No one knows where Jennya is.

At this they decided to have Barrett put on his hat of desguise. Put on very little magic items and sneak in to the city. At this Barrett takes care of a lot of business... the most important of which is the following:

• He delivers a note from Churchkey to Anna and to his parents.
• He contacts Skie Alderstun. They have a good hour plus conversation. the long and the short of the conversation is that there is no way with the current climate that Skie can sell a bundle of magic items but gives a number of contacts in other large cities that she uses. Saying that if they use her contacts, she would like a cut of the business. She also shows Barrett a very well secured secret vault... sort of like a panic room. It is where her most valuable magic items are stored and if neccessary could hid 1 or 2 people temporarily. It is secure from teleporting, scrying etc.
• Goes to his bar to chat with his co-owner.
• Makes contact with Shensen
  
• Barrett takes care of some other business that we can not discuss here... unless Barrett would like to divulge his other dealings in the city.

with the help of Pepper, Churchkey talks with Anna and his mother. They decide to set up a wedding for three weeks from now. That will allow for formal invitation but still have a rushed wedding.

Barrett returns and after a long discussion of events the group decides to teleport to Sassaureen, sell items, buy about 50,000 worth of articles needed for ceremonies for Alakast. A wedding ring and most importantly, training for the whole of the Vanguard.

With this the group makes their way back to Caulderon with 5 days left before the wedding.

Stay tuned for one last post!