Rise of the Runelords

After a few days in Radigast accomplishing a variety of tasks that seemed to take each of you all over town you were finally all gathered and reunited with Henrik.  The magic split was completed and several of you talked about setting off to buy some new magic items with your new found wealth.  Edwin and D'Argo mentioned that would probably not be necessary as they have each been working on learning how to create many of the items everyone wants.  Edwin had learned the skill of crafting magic arms and armor and D'Argo had focused on creating all manner of wondrous items.  Everyone inundated them with their wish lists.  They started to working.  No one really even saw them for the next few days.

Golian returned one day to ask Malloric and Pirozzi of he could 'borrow' the bastard sword and spear for a while.  "Let me think...uhhhh.... NO" was the answer. Golian said one of his good friends in town was interested in ancient hisotry and the weapons.  Golian mentioned he might be able to help with some powerful divinations.  Malloric and Pirozzi agreed.  They were introduced to Lendil, a (as Malloric pointed out) 'quote' Locksmith 'unquote.'  All chatted for a while and the weapons were given up for a powerful divination that took over 30 minutes to cast.  Malloric was not surprised at the result.  Lendil didn't learn anything about the weapon that Malloric didn't already know.  What was interesting is that Lendil seemed to have gained some glimpse into Malloric's relationship with the weapon that was privy to no one else.

Henrik filled everyone on on the goings on in Ardrinn - the sink hole, eery sounds and shadow mastiffs.  All headed back to Ardrinn. Edwin and D'Argo were still busy with their work and couldn't be bothered much.

All were welcomed back by the Sheriff, Mayor and Father Zantus.  You examined the pit and decided to head in the next day.  The pit led to an opening into the chamber of the catacombs where you had killed (drowned) the quasit some time back.  Much of this level was collapsed.  Malloric remembered that there was a descending stairwell that had been completely blocked the last time you were here.  You headed straight for it.  When you reached the 'pit room' you encountered three shadow mastiffs.  Two of the three were pushovers.  The other was not that much more challenging, but was significantly larger than the others.  You got to the stairs to find them completely open.  You descended.

The stair ended in a room filled with thick spider webs and no way out.  A search revealed a secret door.  As the door was opened, fog flowed toward you from a large room beyond.  You could see a hazy source of light flickering some undetermined distance in front of you.  You moved into theroom staying near one wall in order to stay together.  Some of you noticed a crazy script that covered the walls in all sizes of words.  you couldn't make out any meaning.  You heard the sound of casting off to your left somewhere.  It was almost immediately followed by the now familiar baying of hounds.  D'Argo and Gloian were seized with fear, dropped what they had and tore off back up the stairs.  The rest moved in the direction of they mastiffs; some more effectively than others.  Pirozzi headed off toward the location of the spell caster.  These hounds were the smaller type and were quickly dealt with as soon as you could find them in the fog.  Pirozzi was unable to locate the caster before he cast again.  Just as you finished with the mastiffs, there was more casting from a very different location of the room.  Pirozzi took a bead on that location and headed off.  Instead of more hounds, a barghest appeared from the fog.  Smaller than the one you removed from Thistletop some time ago, this one was easily handled.  The challenge was getting to it in the fog.

Malloric approached the area of the casting and saw the source.  A man in ragged leathers, breastplate and serrated falchion.  "What has happened to Thassolonian?" the man asked.  Henrik began to parley when he could catch his breath in between blows.  The conversation wasn't going anywhere, so the effort was dropped.

He cast again and disappeared.  A silence was cast in the area to prevent him from more casting.  Pirozzi reappeared from the fog near Wolfgar.  He was pale-faced and in silence made a scary face and used his fingers as fangs.  Wolfgar shrugged it of as more of Pirozzi being Pirozzi.   He was soon proved wrong.

Golian and D'Argo had still not returned.  There was only a very brief discussion about going to get them.  As there was no where for them to go upstairs the decision was quickly made to let them find there own way back when the fear wore off.  Malloric was the first to work his way through the fog and found a huge, leathery, chitinous, multi-armed, horned, beast with glowing, beady eyes standing in the middle of the room - apparently waiting patiently. Golian arrived and said, "Sorry I'm late."  He, Balros and Malloric started to approach the creature from different tragectories.  The beast concentrated and a large vertical oval of swirling, colored smoke appeared.  A pincered arm just like the beast had started coming out from the circle, only to be forced back as the circle violently collapsed.  Balros nervously said, "That's good I hope?"  The creature cast a spell that did little damage and all avoided the the other status effect.  It then backed up more.  The three kept following.  Balros glanced a few times toward Malloric thinking something amiss.  The beast cast again with no effect and continued to the far wall.  The three followed.  Others were gathered and spent this time casting preparatory spells.  Wolgar charged only to encounter the most recent spell from the beast.  The half the group was cut off by a reverse gravity spell.  "Not again." thought Wolfgar.  The three engaged the beast as Balros moved in first to be that target of the early attacks.  They were mostly avoided.  Malloic and Golian followed.  Balros glanced again at Malloric now realizing what was wrong.  Malloric was not firing his bow and instead was using the bastard sword.  'Odd choice,' he thought, but as they had a larger, or rather huge, issue to deal with, discussion could wait.

The beast teleported to the other side of the reverse gravity wall into the midst of the casters and Henrik.  Wolfgar was still hanging in the air.  D'Argo reappears and Pirozzi started attempting to dispel the wall.  The creature started laying about. The wall was dropped after a couple attempts, freeing Wolfgar in a clumsy fall. All attacked.  The creature was hard to hit and when you did, it's thick skin and evil origin shrugged off most of the damage. Malloric was oddly having the most success.  The beast grabbed Golin in one of its huge pincers and began to squeeze.  D'Argo cast grease on him which allowed him to squirm out of its grasp but not until receiving some damage.  All the while it was flaying about with its other three arms and biting yet others.  Henrik called on his paladin powers and struck the creature.  Sensing a holy threat, the beast called down powerful magic, stunning Henrik.  He was effectively removed from the fight.  The group was taking a beating when Edwin who had been valiantly trying to keep up with the damage caused by the creature unleashed a powerful curative that healedall of the group, bringing some to being unhurt.  The creature grew furious and turned its physical attacks primarily to Edwin.  It also confused Balros.

The creatures spell resistance proved challenging for Pirozzi and D'Argo to overcome.  Yet some of their spells were able to do damage.  Malloric, who up to this point had seemed to actually be holding back with his blows, started attacking with more fury.  The creature was eventually dropped.  It surprisingly did not disappear back into the aether as summoned creatures do when they are killed.  Henrik soon shook off the stun and the group subdued Balros [who's confusion was forgotten about by the DM].  Henrik realized the beast was not dead but just unconscious.  Not totally sure why, he took the coup de gras blow.

After a quick review of assets and the fact that whatever is down here had not ventured out into Ardrinn resulted in the decision to return the the surface and return the next day.

During the short discussion, Edwin was able to get a better look at all the scribbling that covered every possible surface; some even placed that left you puzzled about how the author could even reach. With the help of a comprehend languages, Edwin was able to make out only two verses that seemed to make any sense:

Each stone the grace of seven lords,
One part of key each ruler hoards;
If offered spells and proper prayer;
Take seven keys and climb the stair.

If magic bright is your desire,
To old Runeforge must you retire!
For only there does wizard’s art
Receive its due and proper start.