Cast of characters
Wren, Gnome cleric played by Lisa
Sacristan aka Betty, Halfling rogue played by Ted
Rend, half-Orc fighter played by Sebastien
Zavuulon, Human sorcerer played by Henry
Krall, Elf wizard played by CR
Kizzka, half-Orc paladin played by Robin

And Katie as our beloved GM
game system 3.Piazo

Session #1. Did you hear that?

Six strangers meet in a busy market this morning, maybe not complete stranger pleasant company form the road perhaps. It was the first day of Autumn and many people had gathered in Sandpoint to witness the swallow tail festival, and the re-dedication of the church.

It seems even this small town had not escape without its troubles, a fire 5 years before had claimed the life of a few people and destroyed their house of worship. As the ceremony begins four speakers take to the podium, Mayor Kendra Deverin, sheriff Belor Hemlock, Father Zantus and Cyrdak Drokkus the proprietor of Sandpoint theater. Of course Cyrdak add a good word of an upcoming play called the Harpies curse, adding the fact they had an actress brought in from Magnimar (the big city to the south).

Over the course of the later morning and into early evening Drink passed Freely and Friendly competition was joined in by almost everyone. As the sunset ceremony was about to begin the speakers words where drowned out by a high pitch scream, then a chanting that only got louder as Goblins assaulted the crowd.

Chase the baby, catch the pup.
Bonk the head to shut it up.
bones be cracked, flesh be stewed,
we be goblins you be Food!.

Panic hit the crowed as several dogs seemed to be the first Victims, Our six hero's quickly jumped into action, dashing through the fleeing crowed shooting and cutting the goblins down, freezing their dark hearts with magic and sending them running. Making there way through the streets fighting fire and goblins they stumbled upon a fierce dog defending its owner, a large goblin on horse back pressing forward. After the dust had settled the man came forward introducing himself as Aldern Foxglove, thanking the six for there heroics he invites the lot to join him for some of Ameikos fabulous breakfast cooking at the Rusty Dragon inn. Being as the majority of the new hero's where already staying at the in they agreed.

Session #2. Breakfast at Amiko's

The morning after the failed goblin raid the Hero's where invited to meet Aldern Foxglove for Breakfast, the towns folk all seemed to be in good spirits other then some minor fire damage and a few animals killed no one had been killed. Well no one other then the raiders. For our part in repelling the attackers Aldern again thank us for saving him, and a special thank you to Betty and her heroics. Aldern gifts the party with some of the finest mounts in Varisia and invites us all to go boar hunting with him the next day.

As morning became midday the party wandered around town checking out so of the shops, been greeted with respect everywhere. After a while they wandered into the new church just in time to witness the blessing of the new church. After father Zantus had done his duties the group asked him if he had any problems from the night before, after not to much pressing he admitted that 2 graves in the church yard had been desecrated. the goblins had dug up Father Tobin and his daughter Nualia's Grave and taken what was left of their remains. We learned these had been the victims of the fire 5 years earlier.

Lacking a tracker the Hero's decided it was best to look for one locally before charging into the wilderness surrounding Sandpoint. Shortly after Sheriff Hemlock finds the hero's and introduces them to an Elven ranger named Shalelu, she has been working as a scout for the town for many years and has extensive knowledge of the tribes in the area. After informing us that all 5 tribes have united, Shalelu tell us that this could be very bad and is going to go out and scout for more information. Normally the tribes war with each other and they leave the town alone but being united under something powerful enough to stop this infighting.. well this could be very bad.

Sheriff Hemlock request that the group stays in town for a few days to keep public moral up, he is going to travel south and try and get aid from the big city. that evening we have diner with the Elven ranger and swap stories and learn about the tribes of the area.

the next day the boar hunt goes uneventful, Aldern seems to have a fair bit of interest in our Betty.

The evening after the boar hunt a women comes running into the Rusty Dragon, she is half dressed and holding a baby and dragging along a young child. she tells us a goblin has just killed there family dog and chewed on her son. It was hiding in the closet and has been scaring the boy since the raid.
Rushing to the peasants house and running upstairs we find the dog dead on the boys bed and the women husband on the floor half in the closet. He has also been killed by the wild goblin and is the first death of the raid. Pulling the mans body out the goblin lunges at the group missing its mark it finds itself impaled on a glaive before it can escape. After searching the house, the Hero's collect Father Zantus on the way back to the inn to break the bad news to Amiel Berret.

The next morning the group is awoken by a blast from the Paladins horn, Amiko is missing and the halfling cook of the rusty dragon has found a note from Amiko's half brother Tsuto that implies her father (the owner of the glass works) may have had something to do with the goblin raid, the note requests a meeting at midnight at the glass works and Amiko has yet to return. The hero's head off to find the missing hostess of the Rusty Dragon.

Session #3. goblin under glass

Smoke could be seen rolling out of the furnaces at the glassworks, as the Hero's paced around from door to door trying to look in the windows. Everything was looked and dark inside, it was late enough in the day they should have been open and from the smoke I would say someone is definitely working. After knocking a few times a quick decision was made, the young sorcerer and the paladin smashed the front door in. waiting looking around the office area there was no sign of a struggle, in fact there was no sign of anyone. The small group moved through the first office and into a long hall, sacristan peeking into a few rooms as they go, A destroyed eating area and a ruined store room, glass sculptures and plates shattered everywhere but still no sign of the workers or Amiko.

Opening the door to the main workshop the hero's stared in horror, they had found the workers. All where dead some having been partly sealed in molten glass, Lonjiku Amiko's father is sitting in a chair with a thick layer of glass poured over him his face twisted in agony. the goblins in the room begin to hurl glass and body parts at the group as combat breaks out.

The last few goblins decide to run traveling into a basement and revealing a secret door that they had been using to enter the city, in the a small office the Hero's find a very dirty Tsuto who is fighting along side of the goblins. With a smacked across the side of the head and a rapier through the calf he is subdued. after a short search a beaten and bound Amiko is found and a journal that belongs to Tsuto, it outlines plan for Sandpoint and suggest Nualia is in fact alive.

The hero's breaking the news to Amiko about her father she takes it rather well all things considered, Kizzka escorts her back to the Rusty Dragon as Wren and Zav alert father Tobin of the scene at the glassworks. Tsuto and one surviving Goblin are taken to the garrison and left in the care of a tough looking Jailer.

Meeting back in basement of the glassworks the party presses on exploring an old smugglers cave that leads to a hidden cove 1/4 mile north of Sandpoint, here they find a goblin camp but little else. Using a piece of chalk that paladin writes up a warning to all goblin and creatures with evil in there hearts warning them to turn back as only death awaits them, topping off the warning a not to bad sketch of a goblins head mounted on a pole. Heading back into the cave the group checks another passage, where a disgusting elongated twisted creature attacks them. Its form is alien to party and after the cave gives away to worked stone the group turns back to rest up and pick up supplies before going further into the catacombs.

Session #4 bleed a little more

After a short rest the group meets back up with Rend and explains the most recent events, before heading to the garrison to question Tsuto. With Kizzka standing against the parties decision to torture him to get the answer tried a short round of questions but Tsutos resolve was set not to talk.

After the questioning failed the group informed Vachedi that Tsuto may have information about a planed invasion upon Sandpoint and question the goblin may lead to some answers.

Heading back into the catacombs beneath the glassworks the group was jumped by another Sin spawns, it had been hidden in the same spot as the one they slew last time. after a short distance the cave gave way to work stone hallways and a statue of a Beautiful but anger looking women in robes holding a Ranseur and a book with a 7 pointed star on it.

Fallowing a set of stairs the group found a spiral stair case leading up that had been collapsed, heading back to the statue the group was lead into a room with an unmarked alter of jagged black marble, the stone slap had a small pool of water on it. beyond the alter was a set of double doors that lead into a great stone cathedral. Beyond the doors was a pool of dirty water surrounded by 7 spikes with a polished human skull set on each. the walls are covered in jagged runes and the 7 pointed stars at the back of the room the room raises to a second level with a triangular pool of bubbling lava. despite the appearance of the second pool the room is cold.

A small demon flying above the triangular yells at the group something about us defiling the church of the Mother, cutting its wrist and dripping blood into the bubbling pool a sin spawn crawls out and engages the party as the imp summon 2 more creatures. after what seems a long and awkward fight the demon vanished with out a word.

Examining the runes on the walls using what magic the Hero's had Wren informed us the runes speak of anger, rage, wrath and hate but none make much sense they seem to be written in an ancient language. As the group ventured further into the catacombs the came across a prison area that held 1 more sin spawn. The next room seemed to be a torture chamber with another set of cells the old skeletons in them seemed to be mutated and twisted. the next room had 11 holes with a zombie in each, covered by a thatched lid the party destroyed them after slaying a twisted goblin as large as a man but with many arms and extra twisted limbs. Even with all its extra arms it was no match and fell quickly.

The last room was a spherical room it walls where plates of red metal that shimmered and crackled with black electricity, in the room where a number of floating objects, bravely Sacristan launched herself into the room and gathered up the items. the oddest object is a ragged old book a sort of codex of monsters and methods to kill. The book is dedicated to Lamashtu the mother of all monsters and twisted creatures.

Session #5 A dead goblin on the ground is worth two in the bush.

After returning to town the hero's rest is quickly broken, It seems the night before our hot headed warrior assaulted a guest of the Rusty Dragon and Amiko wishes Rend to find other accommodations in Sandpoint....or apologies.

Kizzka returns to the Sandpoint jail to question Tsuto, however he still refuses to speak or even acknowledge the paladin. After 3 hours of talking to a wall Kizz gives up and heads over to the Pixies Kitten for some drink and a show, it seems being away from the church is starting to grind on his disposition and he needed to be around some people of high spirits if only for an evening.

Rend in now staying at the Berret house, since Amiel and her children have not yet returned. It was not long before Rend was banging on Wrens door back at the Rusty Dragon Inn, it seems someone slipped a poisonous snake into his bed and he was bit. Lucky for the warrior he is as hardy as a Ox and seems to be unaffected by the venom.

The next morning Shalelu returns, she looks bush worn but has information about the goblin's. A group from the bird cruncher tribe is staying near thistle top and she has over heard them speaking of the "Long shanks" staying on the small goblin fortress. This seems to give credit to the Tsutos journal entry and the party readies itself to leave post haste.

With the elf ranger guiding them it only takes a few hours to reach thistle top. Shalelu gives the group a bit of an education of the local wilderness as they travel, between the six hero's none are well practiced for survival outdoors.

After finding and securing the hidden bramble door that leads into a massive thorn patch, the group starts to slowly explore the thorn maze that leads to Thistle top. It is slow going in the hedge With Rend well over 6 1/2 feet tall and Kizzka just under 7 feet tall, luckily Sacristan is as short as she is agile and runs ahead of the party to scout.

After a few twists and turns the groups comes into close contact and wipes out all but one of the bird crunchers. Questioning the whimpering goblin the party learns that even though the tribes are somewhat united under an Angry lady Ripnugget will not allow any none thistle top goblins onto his island, Kizzka takes this as a good sign.

Down another path The group takes care of some goblin dogs, twisted rat faced creatures that where leashed to their pools. The Hero's also find a hole that leads down to the ocean, using a dead goblin for bait the elf wizard and the paladin start jigging for what ever creature the goblins have been feeding. After teasing it a bellowing roar echo's up the hole sending a few members of the group running, after everyone is collected Krall and Kizzka repel down a knotted rope into darkness below they find a ledge and a pool of water. After swinging each other over to the ledge and peering down into the pool of water a massive maw comes leaping out at the wizard chomping and biting, a couple of spells and a sword swing that would have split a man in half later the seal-shark corpse is pulled from the water. In the pool they group pulls out the treasure that caught there eyes then climb back up top to continue the exploration of the thorn maze.

Session #6

As the group turns the last corner of the hedge they are entangled in an area of fast growing thorny bush, stepping out of the far wall of the thistle hedge a goblin shaman and his pet start an assault on the group. The shaman of thistle top proves to be a powerful foe, nearly killing Rend with his companion pet a powerful cat called a firepelt. As the group presses nearer hacking and crawling through the thick thorny bush the shaman throws conjured fire at the group before being smitten by Kizzka. As the shaman died its pet enraged pounces on the paladin luckily Sacristan took advantage of the wild cats position and finished it with a few well placed bolts.

After resting in a newly made room in the thistle hedge, The hero's put together a convincing disguise and sent the little rouge out scouting. it appears the goblins where not aware of our siege as the front gates where wide open... or if they are this is going to be one hell of a trap.

One by one the party crosses the rope bridge and rushes to take cover along the walls outside of thistle top, its easy to see why this place is the envy off all the goblin tribes. the group starts to search for the inhabitants clearing room after room. entering a courtyard where a few more goblins dogs where being kept the Hero's hang back and make them funnel into a narrow doorway and deal with them. In a small boarded up stable they find a once great horse but it is starved and near insane, The paladin gives it what water he has and feeds it some oats that the group had discovered in another room.

As a few people care for and lead the horse back out front of the fort, the rogue and the young sorcerer creep quietly up the two guard towers and kill the goblins that where supposed to be on watch.

slowly making there way through the rest of the main part of the fort the hero's stumble into the throne room of Ripnugget the war chief of Thistle top, unaware of the invaders some of this elite troops where putting on a show for him fighting an illusionary human night. Zav dashes into the room unleashing a blast of fire form his hands before being beaten down by the dog mounted goblins. A long fight ensues Ripnugget joins the fray rushing his giant gecko by Kizzka dealing him a near fatal blow from his horse chopper, Sacristan joins in fight with the war chief and they bring Ripnugget down. before the paladin was about to kill the gecko the rogue dives onto its back and brings it under control. Shortly after Ripnugget met his end Rend but an end to his last shaman. searching the few remaining rooms the party finds some coin and a few keys as well an ornate holy symbol of Lamashtu.

The group sits and starts a short rest trying to decide what to do next.

Session #7

A brief questioning of a goblin survivor leads the group to believe that there are a few human in the lower level as well the angry women they call scare belly. It sounds like Nuelia has been sacrificing the goblins to her hounds and twisting and deforming her body.

After some debate Rend and Sacristan kill the goblin shaman, the majority of the group is worried about him leading goblins to attack the city in retribution for the death of their leader.

Entering a lower level of the thistle top fortress the Hero's encounter a trio of rather nasty flying hounds in a dark chapel. There are two fountains bubbling a dark liquid, the massive double doors depict a pregnant women with the infant clawing its way through. the rear walls are carved to a scene for gore torture and other horrible things. In the center sits a statue of the goddess of monsters. Kizzka collect the burnt remain of father Tobin's remains along with unknown other sacrifices. The group finds some writings in a small office they indicate that once the whispering beast is tamed the assault on Sand point would begin. Zavuulon informs the party that there is something infernal in this and Kizzka agrees, both have been feeling this presence since they step onto the island.

In a small room the group finds some female goblins they are released with instructions to run south until they cannot run anymore. the door leaving this room is blocked the two half-orcs bash the door down and stumble into a deadly trap, a human merc warrior and wizard are in waiting along with the bugbear champion. After an exchange of brutal hits the human and bugbear lay dead the wizard has split off down stairs and vanishes in a thick fog. sacristan tries to follow but is almost caught in a devilish trap. badly wounded and worried about how scattered the party is Kizzka blasts his conch horn trying to regroup the Hero's before someone is single out and killed.

Session #8

After taking a few moments to rest the group again is on the move, Sacristan takes up the lead and runs down the stairs not making a sound. Opening the closed Door a the bottom she is Confronted by Nualia. Fighting in the narrow half devastating blows are exchanged before Kizzka rushes Nualia pushing her back into the large room. Taken the opportunity the rest of the hero's rush into the room and quickly deal with Wizard who has been blasting the party with magic missiles from behind her employer.  Surrounded and battered Nualia calls to her goddess once more before being cut down.

After disabling the trap in the hall the group finds themselves in a large round red marble room, it is filled with books and holy text of Lamashtu as well as many jars filled with twisted creatures. After sorting through the majority of the books Nualia's journals is found, Reading the story of how a lifetime of being of being picked on and teased by other children, of being poked and prodded by the public. they thought her touch could cure disease and her hair could help infertility. she was forbidden to have a relationship she had a secret lover and when she got pregnant he turned on her calling her a slut and a harlot before fleeing Sandpoint. Her father kept her in the church in sand point and lectured her everyday, she was told to beg for Desna's forgiveness.

Seven months pregnant Nualia's anger and rage was like a magnet to the twisted powers of the rune well bellow the town in the smugglers tunnel. She miscarried her child and catching a glimpse of the twisted deformed demon she was overwhelmed and fell into a coma.  In her sleep the goddess called to her using the power of the rue well. Showing her unhealthy things her in sleep, after a time Nualia began to see her angelic heritage as a curse. When Nualia finally awoke she jammed her fathers door shut and burned the church down.

She fled to Magnimar where she enlisted to aid of a group called the skinsaw men. with there help she tracked down Delek her former lover and murdered him. yet with his death Nualia revenge was not satisfied she wanted all of Sandpoint to burn.

The leader of a then skinsaw men could see a kindred spirit in Nualia and gave her the seven pointed Sihedron medallion and using her dreams as a guide she went back to Sandpoint and found the well and the demon priestess of Lamashtu and studied under her. Nualia was sent a dream of a monstrous goblin wolf locked away in thistle top, a Barghest named Malfeshnekor was to be the ultimate tool of her revenge on Sandpoint. She sought to tame and free him before unleashing him onto the town.

Reading her story the hero's couldn't help but feel sorry for Nualia the story hit Kizzka a little harder he knew the pain of being forced into being something you didn't want to be. torn between two world the nature of your own kinda and what was expected of you by your family. Wrapping up the dead wizard, fighter and Nualia body Kizzka builds a funeral pyre.

As the rest of the group looked through the library and the paladin tended the bodies Rend explores further in the back on the catacombs finding a crypt. Prying the lid off of one of the tombs 3 ghost come forth form the other crypts and assault Rend. As each hit drains his strength Rend keeps fighting as Zav blasts magic into the room trying to buy him the time needed to escape. On the surface Krall finds Kizzka working on the last details of the pyre, yelling about ghosts Kizzka and the elven wizard go charging back in time, but it appeared the spirit where bound to stay in that room alone. And once Rend was beyond the threshold he was safe.

Just before Sunset the pyre is ignited and Wren and Kizzka both prey to their gods asking that souls of the dead maybe guided to a peaceful rest.

Session #9

The hero's rest on the second floor the women staying in the master bedroom and the men in the former merc's rooms. After having terrible dreams the women change rooms and after his watch Kizzka settles into the master bedroom. shortly after falling asleep he has terrible dreams of being pregnant and some creature clawing its way through his stomach.

in the morning Kizzka, Wren and Sacristan head back down the gold pillar, feeding it a few more coins the venture into the first room on the left.

Sitting on a marble throne an illusion of the man depicted in the statues, speaks to an invisible audience. His speech is in an ancient tongue But Wren using her divine magic listens to him and recites what the vision is repeating. the last line catches the paladins attention "take my final work to the gave, but I command you to stay".

Having no luck interacting with the illusion Wren and Sacristan wish to search the crypt that Rend had awaken the spirits in. After a short search sacristan finds a secret door where the sixth crypt should have rested. Leading down a set of stairs the trio finds what was once the vault. Its walls are damage but the carving of the mythical city of Xin Shalast can be seen. Xin Shalast is said to be a city made of giant gems and the streets are paved with gold.

Half the rooms has cracked and fallen into the ocean, But Sacristan quickly picks up the glinting of treasure in the bottom of the pool. recalling the seal shark Kizz approaches the water slapping his glaive on the surface. After a moment a giant gold helmet starts to shamble towards the paladin. It is a massive hermit crab that has been using the helm as it home. after a few good hits the crab clasps Kizzka in its claw and starts to crush him. As sacristan continues to fire bolt after bolt at the well armored creature the group beats it to death before it cut the paladin in half.

With more then a few sacs filled with coin the trio heads back up stairs and searches another of the rooms behind the pillar. this rooms has 3 tables that where used for devious medical means, in one of the many drawers a Sihedron key made of silver and gold is found. this appears to be what is needed to open the marked door.

After some debate the last door is unlocked. this small room is filled with ever burning candles and in the center a large pit of fire. around the door and on the floor are runes of holding. it seems this room is indeed a prison. Not being able to shake the feeling of evil being so near he steps in the room to close the doors. appearing from this air the Barghest try's the cast a spell at Kizzka just before the doors where slammed shut and the door resealed.

this creature should remain in this room until the end of time, if we kill it we are in fact freeing him. After being killed a demons essence returns to whatever hell it was spawned from but in time it will find its way back to our world. If it is locked away unable to escape it can do no harm. Kizzka places the key in his pack and ponders how best to guard it.

Returning to town the group sets about dealing with all the loose ends, the weak but strong spirited horse is given to Daviren Hosk. He inform the group a merchant had reported a horse being lost some time ago and is impressed at the horses goblin body count.

Visiting the mayor they inform her that the assault on Sandpoint has been stopped and it appears the goblins wont be bothering the town for sometime. She commends the Hero's and insist on presenting with the medals for saving the town.

Visiting Father Zantus Kizz hands over the bag of remains and tell him the full story of Nualia being behind the assault and of the chambers under the city. The priest of Desna is horrified and asks the party to keep this to themselves, Nualia was an icon to the town and this would only further lower the moral of Sandpoint. Not disagreeing with this point the paladin suggest that he look into the cause of these events and perhaps teach what he learns to his flock.
Father Zantus must of picked up on Kizzka's feelings about the matter as he did not seems to take it as an insult.

that evening Father Tobin's ashes are re blessed and buried and Amiko has a grand dinner for the Hero's.

the next day loot is sold and sorted and the Trio seek out a Varisian Historian named Brodert Quink. Brodert tells the group a great deal of local and ancient history. the 7 runes of the sihedron link to the 7 schools of magic and the 7 virtues of the ancient rulers. He identifies the woman in the statue under the city as Alaznest the rune lord of wraith and the man with the glaive as Carzoug the lord of greed. It appears as time wore on the rune lords became corrupt and perverted the 7 virtues into the 7 sins.

Brodert wants to go into the catacombs and Kizzka agrees to take him, he also tell the group he thinks the giant light house on the bluff was once an ancient weapon that could spit fire.

Wren and Sacristan learn that a group has informed the merchants of Sandpoint that anyone aiding or serving rend may find misfortune. the merchant also agrees to speak to the other of the guild in the town to all agree to ignore this warning and band together to give this "hero" the same treatment as everyone else.

Sacristans comb and ever burning skull go missing from her room and claw marks are found outside her window.

Session#10

Rend Finds Room and board at the Cracked tooth inn. And Sacristan's Fork goes missing.

The next day Kizzka takes Bordert down into the catacombs, after finding another sin spawn Kizz brings the hero's back together. quietly sneaking into the temple under Sandpoint the group slays the small Demon with easy. Brodert is absolutely thrilled with the finds under the city and cant thank the hero's enough.

The next day Sacristan has found that her hair ties have gone missing.

early in the day the group is called into a meeting with the sheriff Hemlock, over the last few days there has been a series of murders and the all seem to be linked. And one of the last victims had a note pinned to them that was addressed to Betty aka Sacristan. It is to say the least a very creepy love letter.

A deranged man has also been found and was sent to the asylum just outside of town.

arrive at the barn the group find a scene of gore and horror, Benny Harker is hanging from a pair of hooks in the ceiling, his face has been torn off along with his lower jaw. there is a 7 pointed star carved into his chest with great care and detail. On the lower level the body of Katrine Vinder is found, it appears after attempting to fight the attacker with an axe she was pushed through the log splitter.

The whole barn has a faint odder or rotten flesh, and foot prints are found that lead into the river. searching around the barn not much can be found. bloody foot prints lead up one wall and out the window, and rotten flesh is found on the axe head. It would seem this weapon has been used before, or the attacker was a zombie.

examining the bodies of the first three victims confirms they where killed by the same man, each has been defaced and detailed with the same sihedron drawing. A note was found at the barn these three where killed in and it is signed by the same signature as the letter to better.

Iber Thorn is the mill wright that found the bodies of Katrine and Benny, he was aware of there affair and tips us off to the fact he may have been stealing money from the mills owner and Mr. Scarnetti may be behind the murders.

Heading back tot he jail the group visits Ven Vinder who was taken into custody in the interest of public safety, He seems to believe that Zav is responsible for taking his Daughters from him. Assuring him that they wont let the murder get away with this and that Shylen takes care of young lovers, the group goes looking for the sheriff again.
After talking to the sheriff again the Hero's learn of the Chopper murders a few years ago.

In 4702 AR, amid the terrible time that would come to be known as "the late unpleasantness", the town's local serial killer, called Chopper took the life of the sheriff, Casp Avertin, in a dark alley. When the town guard found the sheriff dead with another victim several minutes later, they were able to follow the bloody trail left by the killer.

A trail that led straight to the stairs of Stoot's Rock.

At first, the town guard refused to believe the implications, and feared that Chopper had come to claim poor Jervis Stoot as his 26th victim. Yet what the guards found in the modest home atop the isle, and in the larger complex of rooms that had been carved into the bedrock below, left no room for doubt. Jervis Stoot and Chopper were the same, and the eyes and tongues of all 25 victims were found in a horrific altar to a birdlike demon whose name none dared speak aloud. Stoot himself was found dead at the base of the altar, having plucked his own eyes and tongue loose for a final offering. The guards collapsed the entrance to the chambers, burned Stoot's house, tore down the stairs, and did their best to forget. Stoot himself was burned on the beach in a pyre, his ashes then blessed and then scattered in an attempt to stave off an unholy return of his evil spirit from beyond the grave. And in the months to follow, Sandpoint did its best to forget the terror, although even today, children who remember the dark times only six years ago sometimes wake with nightmare visions of Chopper hiding under their beds.

After hearing the story from Hemlock he deputizes the Hero's and they head of to question Titus Scarnetti. He is unaware of any missing profits but is going to have his accountant look into it, Kizzka does not believe he is lying but Titus rubs him the wrong way. Their next stop is the home of Benny Harker, There is an agent of Mr. Scarnetti that shows up shortly after. Telling they are unaware of any authority he has in entering the mans home they allow him to observe to avoid accusations of theft. Finding nothing more then a large sack of money at the mans home the groups is somewhat at a loose. the only other lead is the man at the asylum. The money is given to the Sheriff who can further look into the origin of it.

Heading of to see Grayst Suvilla at the "sanity home of rest bite". Knocking on the door of the asylum the group is met with a very flustered and busy Doctor. He asks us to come later he seems to be having problems with some of his patients. Convincing him it is urgent the group is lead up to Grayst. The doctor says he has been mumbling none sense and ranting about the barn and the skinsaw men and Razor teeth. Sacristan and Wren are the first into the room, leaping to his feet the man says

"He said, He said you would visit me. His lord ship. the one who made me said so, he has a place for you. a precious place I'm so jealous. he has a message for you. he made me remember it. I hope I haven't forgotten then master wouldn't approve if I forgot. let ... me... see

he said if you came into his Misgivings, that is you joined his pack he would end his harvest in your honor"

After his message is delivered his arms break free of his straight jacket and he tries to assault Sacristan. after the man is subdued the doctor apologize he knew that Grayst was infected with ghoul fever, and he wanted to see it progress and learn what he could. he apologizes many times and asks if we would send the Father out to cure the poor man.

Processing the days even the group is interrupted by a sweaty drunk man bursting in, he is saying a nursery rhyme over and over something about mumble mumble scarecrow. he tell the group they are all dead, walking scarecrows out at the Handly's farm. they went to burnt eh body's but they where attacked and everyone but him was killed.

Session #11 "If I only had a heart"

Mumble Mumble Scarecrow,
Alone and in the maize.
Sleeping in the daytime,
A stitched man he stays.

But when the moon she rises,
Up Mumble gets.
He shakes his hands at first
And moves his feet the next.

And when the dog is snoring,
And when you’re fast asleep,
Mumble Mumble Scarecrow
Will find you good to eat.

The heroes leave Sandpoint in a haste heading for the farms to south. taking the inner roads and path that lead them by the northern farm houses. The farmers are scared and with a bit of diplomacy they come out long enough to tell us people have gone missing and most ask us to leave. Arriving at the second to last house the group discovers a bloody scene but there are no bodies to be found.

Its easy to tell when the heroes crossed into the Handley's land, with corn stalks well over the groups heads and still nearly shoulder height mounted on the warhorses Aldern Foxglove had bought them.
slowly wandering through the maze of paths between the corn fields Sacristan spots a pair of scare crows tied up to a pole, letting bolts fly the halfling places a few well aimed bolts into the straw stuffed clothes.

Further down the path the group is almost caught off guard as a pair of the scare crows bursts off the poles and rushes at them. After cutting them down the forms are identified as a women and young boy who had been turned into ghouls. Fallowing the path to the main farm house is much the same with a mixture of ghouls and straw scarecrows. One of the last is found to have not turned yet, cutting the man down and binding his arms and legs the group leaves him with the intention to take him back to town when done at the farm house.

Leaving the corn field the barn is the first thing the group notices, it is an "L" shaped barn but its wrapped around a massive stone carved to look like a head. It is heavily weathered and covered in moss but its form is still notable. Sacristan tried to swing into the upper hay loft from the roof, on her third attempt Kizzka picks up the nimble halfling and tosses her through the open loft doors just as the great double doors down below burst open and more then half a dozen ghouls poor out.

After clearing out the ghouls den in the barn the group finds a key with a flowers and thorns emblem this is know to be the Foxglove emblem.

Inside the farm house another body is found, it has had the rune carved into the chest as well as its lower jaw and face has been removed. This body is pined with another creepy love note to "Betty". the search of the house turns up little, but in a secret compartment a locked wooden box is found and it has 34 leather sacks each holding the same amount of silver coins. It seems to be payments but the box is far from full and the group is unable to tell if they are payments received or yet to be paid.

Leaving the Handley farm the heroes send Rend and Sacristan ahead of the group with the sick man as the rest slowly make there way through the farm lands warning and trying to encourage the farmers to head into town where it is safer.

Arriving in the town just after the sun had set the heroes meet with sheriff Hemlock and warn him of the danger in the south. Kizzka and Wren start asking around town about the key and the Foxglove family. After making the rounds of the town a great deal is learned the foxglove family has been plagued with tragedy for the last 80 years. Fires, deaths and odd happenings has earned the old manor house the name Misgivings, this almost instantly brings the message Grayst Suvilla had for sacristan to mind.

The Heroes rest before gathering supplies and begin the ride to the old Foxglove manor house.

Session #12 "A vision of Foxglove manor"

Traveling along the path to Foxglove its becomes clear that this roads has not been heavily used in years, despite the claims that Aldern had tried to restore the manor the only visible tracks are bare foot humanoid tracks. The close the group gets to Misgivings the more the signs of corruption become visible in the woods surrounding it. At last the old house comes into view, old and twisted the manor is perched right on the side of a 300' cliff.

The first room entered is a smallish room with a grand piano two of its legs are missing, the floor boards have twisted with water damage. Sacristan moves towards the piano to plunk on the keys of the thing. After the first few notes are played it erupts into a Varisian tune, and Rend begins to dance around the room as the song ends a very tired and horrified Rend slumps against the piano.

Pressing further into the house Zav comes into a large trophy room filled with stuffed Busts of animals and a large creature in the middle of the room. Just as he walks into the room the young sorcerer asks if anyone smells burning flesh. Between the trophy room and the banquet room there is a moldy slimy rug with a swirl pattern to it.

The banquet hall has Several large stained glass windows depicting creatures being pulled into a 7 sided box with spiky runes engraved on it. Krall hers crying coming from upstairs.

Walking up the stairs the heroes enter into a child's room Sacristan spaces out for a moment then snaps back awake. Int he next room Wren has a similar moment but when snapping back awake she feels around her face.

Kizzka walks into the bathroom and leaps back just in time to not to go through the floor with the large bath tube. Entering into the master bedroom Krall notices all the panting are destroyed but one, a painting of Aldern's is turned backwards but still hanging on the wall. There is a large blood stain in the room and a search turns up nothing ells.

The room above the dining hall has a few instruments in it and another set of large dark stained glass windows, this stands out a little odd to the group as there would be a beautiful and breath taking view of the bath without them.

Another room leading further into the house is a picture gallery and has portraits of the entire Foxglove family. Rend freaks out when he sees the painting of Aldern's wife, he says he danced with her when we first came into the house.

As Krall takes a close look at each of the paintings studying them the room suddenly gets very cold and the heroes can see their breath. The walls freeze and the images in the images in the paintings change. The women and the girl turn into tumor ridden masses, another man erupts into a cloud of spores and fungus, another man goes pale and looks to have had his throat slit, another women appears to have had all her arms and legs broken and is burnt to a crisp, the boy who we guess to be Aldern turns into a ghoulish creature and his sisters images just frost over there images do not change.

Krall passes beyond the gallery room into a study picking up an object off a desk Kizz walks into the room and Krall looks at him with blank eyes then puts down the large splinter of wood. Nothing ells is found in the study.

A room filled with maps and scrolls and all sorts of fetish and curiosities is found, searching through Krall seems to find a few things that catch his interest. Krall seems to space out again then snaps back out of it, all the wonders of the room just seem to be getting to him. hanging on the wall is a painting off a bull fight signed by an artist from Magnamar.

Entering into small room the group could here crying from, an undead women is huddled in the corner with a mirror facing her. Kizzka knows that this undead creature is very deadly and will not rest until it has resolved whatever business that is keeping it going, usually revenge for a violent death. Krall thinking she is Aldern's wife shows her the painting he has been packing around with him. Screaming she stands and start moving towards the door "Aldern I can smell your fear". The group moves out of her way and follows the creature into the basement.

Coming to a closed steel door the undead women starts to claw her way through as the heroes still waiting in the cold storage and kitchen area start to hear the clawing and scratching of claws as tiny eyes peer out form the darkness at them.

Session #13 "Rats, Bats and dead Orc's"

As a massive swarm of rats pour through the cracks and holes in the basement kitchen. The swarm heads right for Rend, smashing a few with his shield Zav Lights up the room with magical fire. Killing the Rats in two great blasts. toasting Rend like a marshmallow in the process. A search of the area turns up a canister with a few garnets and pine cones. This is known to be for fertility.

The heroes head back upstairs seeing that the undead creature is not getting anywhere with the iron skin door. Splitting into two groups Kizz heads up to the attic to finish searching the office as the two others explore that last few rooms on the first floor.

Sacristan, Zav and Rend find a small room with a fireplace. Quickly Sacristan notices a disturbance in front of the fire place, it looks as if a phantom figure is pacing back and forth in front of the large stone fire place.

Crossing the hall into a library the books are heavily water damaged and there is a golden scarf laying on a upturned chair. A shriek sounds out as the scarf animates and wraps itself around Rend's neck, it only takes a few moments before Rend drops over dying and the scarf flutters lifelessly to the floor. Wren comes rushing up front the basement in time to heal the fighter before it is too late. Searching the room a broken statue to Desna is found it appears to have bits of hair flesh and skull on it and one wing has been broken off.

Walking back into the trophy room Zav is light ablaze as the stuffed manticore animate with the visage of an angry women face, she shots a ray from the creatures tail.

Kizzka finds a the body women body upstairs behind some crates, she has been dead for 2 months and is in bad shape. Wrapping her body up to take it outside and bury it Kizz is faced with thousands of ravens as he opens the front door. Deciding to simply say a blessing over the body for the time being she is left inside by the front door.

Having no luck finding a few to open the iron door downstairs the group heads back down to see if the ghost has broken through. the spirit is curled up and crying again. With more room to work and less danger Sacristan pops the door open with her picks. Behind the heavy door is study or a lab possible. it has another set of stained glass windows these show a man drinking a green liquid decaying and being pulled into a 7 sides box with runes on it. there are books in the room and it seems someone was trying to become a Lich.

Sacristan has a vision of Aldern digging and saying "for you" over and over. He breaks through the floor and is pulled into the black by ghouls.

The Heroes enter through the opening into a lime stone cave system carved out under the Manor. Hugging the left the group wanders down a long hall towards a spot of light, A huge bat drops from the shadows far above their heads and drops Rend in a flurry of savage attacks. Charging forward and calling for the aid of his goddess Kizz smites the creature and after a few volleys from Sacristans hand cross bows the undead bat is destroyed. Rend is revived and other then being a little shaken appears no worse for wear. A search of the area turns up an Adamantine longsword a magical hat and a pearl ring.

On alert the group presses further into the cave system, they are ambushed by a group of ghouls that were hidden in the lime stone walls. A magical war pick is found in the third wing, it is scattered around with a bunch of digging tools. Just before the cave opens up into a large area the groups is jumped by ghouls again, one of this group has the other part of the statue stuck in his skull.

The last room is a large spiral carved into the walls it leads down into the churning seawater. As the heroes carefully inch along the slippery and steep path down to a metal door. A group of ghoulish goblins come running up the ramp and the group quickly shoots them down.

Opening the last door and walking into a small study/living area Aldern is sitting in a fungus covered chair beside a table covered in dishes of rotten meat and goblets of red ichors, there is a smashed 7 sided puzzle box sacristans missing items and several outline of humanoid figures can been seen in the goop covered walls. Seeing Sacristan enter Aldern stands and says "My Betty You've come to me I knew my letters would sway your heart my love. now let us consummate our.. our... hunger"

Session #14 Birds of a feather

A confused looking Aldern pauses for a moment then begins to speak as the group surrounds him. He asks us to stop him before the "Hunter" returns. Needing no further convincing from this obviously tortured soul Kizzka strikes the undead fiend. Aldern focuses all his efforts on killing Sacristan. The battle is short and intense but the heroes manage to put and end to Aldern and his harvest.

A note is found, it appears Aldern harvested something from beneath the manor to pay a dept to the brothers. As well it seems they are responsible for his undeath. the Note is signed by your mistress, wanton of nature's pagan forms. Aside from the note and a list of victim that need to be marked and killed using a sihedron ritual no further clues are found. It appears something is very wrong in Magnimar.

Opening the front door the heroes are faced by a thousand black eyes. hordes of raves have gathered on the property. Spending the night in the large common room the groups has dreams of being stalked and hunted through the crumbling manor.

After a not so restful night the group finds the ravens have not left, Stepping outside and asking Zav to use his fire magic's Kizzka makes a stand against the mass of birds. battered bleeding and slightly singed the paladin has taken about all the abuse he is willing to form this evil and haunted place. Piling everything that will burn the heroes set the unholy house on fire as they leave and head back for Sandpoint.

Returning to town the group informs Father Zantus of the unholy infestation and Sheriff hemlock that there ma be a few wandering ghouls left but the den has been taken care off. Another feast and celebration is set to be had for the Heroes and Rend manages to further offend Amiko........ again.

The heroes put in for an early night and some well deserved rest.

Session#15 "Did someone say Biscuits"

Gathering in the morning the Heroes decide it is time to go to Magnimar and learn why some much trouble is coming towards Sandpoint from the city. Much of the town gathers to see the travelers off.

The next four days are wet and dull, the most interesting information they gathered was in a small road side in they sheltered at for a night. It seems Magnimar has been having a few murders but the city watch and its officials have been keeping the details and the crime scenes under tight wraps.

Its late on the 5th night when the Heroes finally arrive at the city, passing through "the great arch" a pair of 200' tall stone statues  of long forgotten heroes cross blades looms high over the street and all who enter. Finding pretty much the first in on the street the heroes secure lodging for the night and turn in.

the next morning everyone heads down to the bazaar, centered on a spit with docks on every side the Magnimar bazaar is a bustle of activity. local merchants craftsmen and outland traders from half the world come to sell there goods here. It is said anything your heart may desire can be bought here.

After some time wandering and haggling the group heads to Aldern town house, it is a three store home and the first floor windows have all been boarded up, it appears as if no one has been home for some time. Walking up to the front door Kizzka knocks and......

Much to everyone's surprise Aldern answers the door, as if greeting old friends the man invites everyone in "Ieasha has just made fresh biscuits do come in". Leading the way the halfling and Rend enter into a destroyed common room "oh pay no attention to the mess Ieasha wanted to re-decorate' the man says as the heroes enters into the dinning area. Indeed from the kitchen Ieasha and a child come in, sensing something isn't right the group asks Aldern a few question that he answer with great detail. still something isn't quite right.

As Aldern, Ieasha's and their child's faces melt away along with there clothing they assume there true form, a humanoid body bloated and sickly purple with a single eye in a round shapeless head. the attackers move swiftly flanking and shaking the young sorcerer putting him down hard. After the first of the three would be assassins falls the seconds bolts out the back door dashing across the small yard and leaping over a fence with Sacristan, Wren and Krall in pursuit. trying to block the thirds escape Kizzka kicks the tables in front of the door, the creature tumbles under the improvised blockade turns soft and slides between the crack under the door, and with a smash the creature is gone.

Session #16 “10 of em, big guys too”

 Searching the already tossed townhouse Krall finds a hidden key hole in the back of a brass statue, the statue of a lions head. Opening a secret cache the heroes find a bag of 200plat a ledger with several entry’s titled Ieasha’s trip to Absalom. Inside the box is also the deed to foxgloves manor, it says the family only paid for 2/3rds the coast and the rest was paid by the brothers 7 and after 100 years ownership would be transferred back to the brothers 7. Payments have been being made on every Oathday at midnight at the seventh sawmill. Kizzka  picks up a zebra skin rug.

 The groups splits into two and questions the owners of the houses on either side and don’t  find out much more then Aldern's has not been seen in quite some time. Seeing that greed has been the common bond between al the victims Kizzka's works on a hunch the Aldern may have been a gambling addict and become indebted to the brothers. Asking around the arena though no leads. Krall does learn that despite being a merchant noble Aldern’s wife was a commoner.

 The next day Krall heads of to the arena to meet his underworld contact. The area is crawling with the Hell knights of Magnimar and after waiting long past to meeting time he notices a note in his pocket. The note says to meet on the iron span at midnight that night.

 Cloaked in his magic invisible to the world Krall heads off to the bridge alone, there are three men waiting on the bridge for him. They are cloaked in red masks and robes and upon hearing his voice they demand the 100plat payment and that he shows himself.  Feeling he could subdue the thugs the wizard drops his protection and try's to put them to sleep. His spell fails and he starts to take hits from the wicked war razors, attempting to cast a  fire ball the stress of combat distracting him yet another spell fails and he takes several more hits. As his last spell fails now faced with over-helming odds the wizard dives through a hole in the iron span and drops 100’ to the water below.

 With the fall of its master Krall's owl finds the group, and they find him floating in the bay. With a bit of healing he seems no worse for ware. That Night Krall is awoken by a female elf sitting on his chest holding a knife to his throat, she accuses him of being a snitch and for bringing the hell knights to the meeting. With some fast talking Krall manages to settle to rogue down by explaining we are working towards ridding the streets of the murderous cult. She claims to know nothing of the attack on him at the iron span and tells Krall that the city isn’t working very hard at caching the killers, they seem to be content just keeping it quite. Offering to share any info she discovers the rogue slips out the window.

 In the morning when being questioned about his night Krall inform the heroes he thinks he has made a contact. Heading off to the seventh saw mill the groups sets up to case the place and see who is coming and going. As the day winds down and still being 1 day from the payment date rend heads back to the iron span to see if the cultist return and Zav heads back to the inn.  Thinking he has a opportunity to snoop deeper Krall takes on the image of a worker he sees leaving and heads up tot eh door.

 Knocking at the locked door a man answers and asks the disguised wizard what he wants. “oh I left my jacket and came back for it”. Sensing something is wrong the man asks “James” if he left it in the workshop where he was working that day. Agreeing that’s where he must of left it, the man points the wizard upstairs locks the door and follows him upstairs.  About half way up the stairs another man starts walking in down stairs, the first workman say “James here forgot his jacket in the workshop where he was working today”… but James wasn’t in the wor… oh the other man replies before the pair pulls out there razors and start striking at the wizard. Finally a bit of luck as Krall’s sleep and sending spells work and the man blocking his exit drops.  Running out the front door meeting Kizzka before taking cover behind a building near by. Again sending his Owl to retrieve the other two heroes the group prepares to end this cut tonight.

 With a few spells and a quick prayer and blessing upon the party Zav opens the door as Rend and Kizzka rush in.  A spell confuses the two casters and they start striking each other as rend and Kizzka hack and slash into the cultists trying to get to the leader. After a short fierce battle and just as the mage and sorcerer are coming back to there sense the cultist leader drops, after killing the last few cultists Kizzka quickly damasks and stabilizes the leader.

 It is Ironbrier a noted justicar of the city.

Session #17

After the cultist have been defeated Ironbrier is tied up and carried form room to room like a hand bag. the work shops is filled with sawdust but it seems to be mostly a cover for the torture and pain that has been inflicted on people here, traces of blood and sinew are seeping through the cover. The next floor holds an office it small and simple but decorated with the tanned and stretched faces of the cults victims. The heroes find a foot locker by a small cote it has several sea charts and a few tomes of a forgotten alchemical based of school of magic, a painting of a city carved from ice as well as a wizards spell book a thin journal written in an unreadable language and another old book.

Waking and questioning Ironbrier Krall quickly figures out he is under some type of enchantment. Knocking out Ironbrier again the paladin tosses him into a sack and packs him back to the inn so Wren can try and dispel the magic’s on him. After a few short prayers the cult leader is again awoken, the anger is visible in his eyes but its not with the Heroes but with a creature named Xanesha. In exchange for not letting turning him over to the city and for giving him a 12hour lead Ironbrier will tell us where to find the true leader of the cult. After some hesitation everyone agrees to Ironbrier's terms, Kizzka has no doubt that he is evil but secretly hopes the horrors he was forced to perform by the charm spell will but him back on a lawful path.

Ironbrier tells us the Leader or rather puppet master is a Lamia matriarch, she is a large creature with a human torso and a snakes body, Xanesha has several powerful magic items and is a powerful spell caster. Her nest is located in the top of an old condemned clock tower in the dark area beneath the iron span. She is guarded by a flesh golem nick names the scarecrow and 2 or more shape changers. Ironbrier answers a few ore question about Nualia, but gives us no more information about the brothers seven. The heroes rest for the majority of the day then prepare to assault the shadow clock. Just as the sun is starting to set the Heroes slip into the dark of underbridge, as quite as they can they sneak towards the old twisted clock tower. Even from a distance its clear that this building is going to fall in the near future most likely killing dozens and claiming homes. Passing into the dark base of the tower everything is quite.

Other then a pile of garbage nothing is in this room. Creeping towards the stairs a large hulking form rises from the pile of trash, its the scarecrow. With old tattered clothing a cloth mask and heads hanging from his rope belt the name is well deserved. The battle is short and fierce a well placed cold spell slows the massive construct and Rend and Kizzka hack on it with all there considerable might. Climbing the stairs quickly and quietly the mood is shattered by a crashing thunder as one of the 4 massive bells hanging from the top of the tower drops. Clearing 15 foot wide sections of the stairs from every floor as it plummets the bell slams into the group Zav, Kizz and Wren take hard hits but manage to hold onto the rotting walls.

With the element of surprise completely lost the group pick ups the pace Sacristan running ahead and climbing the wall so the group can climb up a rope and by pass the missing sections of stairs. In a smaller room above the bell house the heroes are confronted by three snake women, there features melt away and they resume there natural form of a grey purple bloated humanoid with a single ugly eye in there round head. Still enhance with spells cast before they entered the clock tower the stalkers fall fast and the group once again advances closer the Xanesha.

Sticking his head out the trap door in the roof Krall sees a pit fiend circling the top its massive form just inches form the bottom of the iron span casting a spell the wizard hurls a fireball at the illusion and it explodes into the bottom of the ancient bridge. As the party emerges they see a nest in the middle its filled with silks and plush pillows. The heroes notice they are standing in a void of silence just as Xanesha lunge out from the shadows and slashes at Rend with her spear a blast of despair is sent out from the spear and a few of the heroes start to think for the first time they may not survive this. The battle rolls on and brutal its are exchanged the silence spell cuts off Wren from the rest of the group but Kizzka lands a brutal hit empowered by Shylen. The lamia turns on the paladin and strikes him to the ground with three heavy hits from the powerful spear, crawling out of her reach Kizzka starts to heal himself as the casting from Krall send the creature into flight. As Xanesha circles the party a barrage of spells and arrows finally take her down. Crashing tot eh roof rend takes her head to make sure the monster would stay down.

Searching the nest the heroes find a log of names many of which have been crossed of, the one name that stands out is the mayor of Magnimar. Quickly grabbing the loot from Norgorber priestess and searching the scarecrows nest on the first floor the group rushes to the mayors to warn him and update him of the actions of Ironbrier and why the cultists had not been captured. With many thanks and a very generous reward the heroes look forward to some much needed rest.

Session #18 “a trek into the country”

After a peaceful night the party splits into different directions and enjoys a little time to them selves, Sacristan heads off and starts making maps, Rend gets some clients looking for Orcish tattoos and Kizzka heads for the forge to do some honest worship of his goddess. After the dinner party Shalelu and Rend are both going a bit stir crazy in the city and they head out into the wilderness for a few days or drink and mayhem. Well into a bottle of spirits Shalelu confides in Rend and tells him her mother was killed by a dragon when she was young and that she has been alone for along time. There was some human guy that had been around but he fled crying leaf the Elf settlement where she was born.

Shortly after crafting several sets of armor and a sword for himself Kizzka puts down his hammer just in time  for a messenger to find him, The mayor of Magnimar wishes to meet the heroes again. The furthest fort in Magnimar’s care has stopped sending word and no one has heard from them for a while. Fort Rannick is settled near the Storval plateau.  Not fearing anything serious the mayor just wishes to send some people he can trust out to check on them. Taking care of the last bit of business in town, the party find passage up the river on a gnomish crewed ship. It takes 3 days to get to Elsurian  a militia type town on the far north side of Syrantula lake. The group will wait here for 2 days for a ferry that will take them north.  The Heroes cant help but be a little surprised as a ferry made from a massive turtle shell floats down the river into sight. It appears Turtle Back isn’t just a clever name, the small port town operates 3 ferries all of the same construction. Arriving at the small trading town the group cant help but pick up on somber mood.

It has been raining in the mountains for the last 3 weeks solid,  Kizzka suggest that there may have been a mudslide and the soldiers of Fort Rannick cant get out,  one of the towns people in the inn tells the heroes that they sent a runner to the fort a while back but he didn’t come back. Pausing for a moment Kizz suggests that perhaps they have an outbreak and the men have been keeping out of the town to stop the spread of any disease. Shalelu is noticeable worried. Asking about the town and the area the group finds out that 3 weeks ago a gambling barge on the small lake burned killing 26 people, in a small town such as this everyone knows someone who died that night. Trying to bring some cheer to the mood of the inn Kizzka reads a tale from his holy book, it actually seems to help but t is a tragic loss for the town.

Some members of the group head out to find some cold weather clothing more suitable to the mountains in the morning as Kizz talks tot eh supply master about taking some of the essential gear the Fort may need. Loading up 400lbs of  food, arrows and other supplies the group heads into the rainy mountains. Along the path the paladin hears a  groan of pain, such as an animal would make. Heading up a small game trail a black bear is spotted. It has it rear leg caught in a iron trap. Seeing the party the bear starts to approaches but more as a trained pet would not a wild animal. Perhaps this is a ranger’s companion pet.  The two half orcs spring the trap and the paladin heals the bear just in time for a pack of greasy black dogs and an ugly half ogre  to come over a small hill close by.  This ogre’s face is twisted and deformed his left arm end in one over sized thumb. The ogre is strong and deals several brutal hits on Rend before its knocked out.  The brute is wearing a cloak with a the Black arrows Shalelu tells s this is the group that mans the fort.

The bear tugs at Sacristans hair and Kizzka's cloak, it seems to want to guide the group somewhere maybe to its injured master. With no one wanting to stay behind and wait for the half ogre to come too Rend slits its throat at Shalelus request, Kizzka grumbles but doesn't make an issue of it. Following the bear further into the woods down a widening path the group comes to a clearing, it has a barn a farm house and a sickly looking but tended to corn field. Another ugly half ogre is in the field patrolling around, this one has two faces and is wielding an ogre hook. Krall puts an arrow into him before the brute charges and is quickly hacked down.

Sneaking up to the decaying hose there are childish paintings on the walls of backs of dogs ripping women apart and Manticore's impaling people with their tails. There is a rocking chair made from putrid bones and several wind chimes made from the same material. The windows of the house are boarded up and the paladin feels the presence of evil. As rend kicks open the front door a set of bone spikes drops down from the roof and strike him at the same time a pair of saw blades rip down the porch striking the whole party.  Inside there is a large hearth and a couch made of animal and human hides, searching the room Sacristan approaches the coach and then leaps backwards as a trap floor falls away and the coach is dropped into a spiked pit. Opening the door into a hall with a few doors and a staircase. Listening at the door the rogue points us towards a door.

Swinging the door open the heroes cant help but gag at the sight, there are a few buckets filled with red and brown “stuff” a painting easel, .three twisted half ogres lay in coffins there mouth are stitched closed. And in the corner of the room sits a massive disgusting four to five hundred pound older female half ogre. This room seems to be her little den of filth and pleasure. The three dead half ogres animate and shamble towards the party as the fat ogre casts mirror image. Sacristan lets fly a hail of bolts striking the  half ogre mage, as the two fighters battle the tough zombies. Krall sends out magic missiles and attacks but before the group can get to the fat ogre she casts a spell and escapes through a black portal.

Searching around the heroes find the privy one of the pits is filled with bones of young females.

Session #19 "Make sure its dead before you eat it"

The heroes continue to search the disgusting house, the sick creatures who live here have left a gauntlet of traps from saw blades to swinging scythes hidden above the doors. After passing through the clouds of flies and gore that passes for a Dinning room the group wanders into a blood and gore spattered "play room". Two deformed half ogre children are playing here, spotting Sacristan they begin to argue who gets to eat the little one.  Zav and the elf ranger call out to the group from the front porch, the fat old hag has come back with several more half ogres.

Krall and the rogue deal with the stumpy fat "children" as the rest of the heroes rush out front to meet the others head on. One of the ogres has no hair and is bloated with stumpy misshapen legs, another has a partly formed third arm while the third looks more less normal. A well placed lightning bolt from the young sorcerer blasts through the ranks weakening the ogres as Kizz and Rend hack them down. Floating in the air it takes several barrages of magic and missile weapons to take the old witch out.

Feeling the fight is won the groups plugs their noses and take deep breaths as they head back into  finishing searching for the owner of the bear. Finding nothing up stairs they delve into the basement, killing a half ogre and his mule rats. this creature seems to be the craftsmen behind the bone and flesh furniture. Heading down into a dirt room half filled with dirty bloody water Kizzka and Rend are ambushed and entangled by a bizarre plant creature, the thing is massive and nearly fills the whole room. Hacking and slashing both half orcs are swallowed whole. The mage gets grabbed next and is quickly tangled up just as he was about to blast the creature with a fireball spell. With a great twitch and lurch the plant abomination collapses to the floor as the paladin carves his way out the top of the ugly thing.

taking a few moments to gathering themselves the group cant help but wonder how this beast got down here. In a small room the group finds a looked chest with the personal affects of some black arrows along with shalelu's fathers bow. Assuring her they will find the missing black arrows Kizzka tries to inspire the elf ranger to compose herself.

Sneaking towards the old barn the group finds the main doors are blockaded and even with a battering ram they cannot break down the door. Climbing up to the second level they find the barn has been taken over by a try gigantic spider. Quietly and quickly they find three cages with a man locked in each. Seeing her father starved beaten and caged something in the elf ranger snaps and she becomes very erratic. Just as the men are broken out of there cages a huge spider emerges from the centre hole the web makes. Quickly Zav blasts the spider with a fire spell lighting the web on fire, it hisses and clicks as both spell casters blast at it before it finally falls into a charred heap in the centre of the burning web.

Jakardos breaks down crying  after seeing Shalelu, calling her by her dead mothers name the man is almost hysterical he keeps repeating "after she died I just couldn't take it". Shalelu introduces Rend as her lover and Father and Daughter deal with some past issues. Vale a large shoanti man and Kaven a charismatic human informs the group there where 6 of them when these monster captured them and fort Rannik has been overrun by ogres, real ogres not these twisted half sized abominations. Turning around and heading back to town the plan is the get these three men to safety and then figure out what to do about the overrun fort.

That night at the bar Sacristan spots a 7 pointed star on the barmaids lower back, questioning her Kizzka convinces her to tell them the origins of it. the gambling boat paradise that sank a while back was run by a women who used the sihedron as her logo. She even went as far to tattoo it on people as the trademark of the gambling, drug and whore house.

Session #20 " it was a good plan"

After some discussion about this Lucrecia and what her using the sihedron symbol could mean. A young stable hand comes running into the inn he whispers a message into Kizzka's ear and the paladin gets up and walks out of the inn. After the better part of an hour the half orc returns, covered in mud with the exception of his tabard. This is sister Carmalizzia from Magnimar's church of the inner light, she has come to us wishing to aid us. After a round of introductions Lizzia takes a seat at the table and no one inquires why the orc is covered in mud.

Lizzia is a stunning Varisian women in her early thirties, and is a devote follower of Shylen. With the typical dark features and love for jewelry its easy to imagine her living among the gypsy bands that travel the lands. Carmalizzia wears an ornate breast plate stylized to look as though its made form feathers and carries a masterfully made glaive. He travelers outfit and back pack seem to new for her to be a seasoned adventure.

The next day planning for the assault on Fort Rannick begins. Shalelu and Jakardos head out to work out there issues and Kizzka collects all the platinum coins form the party he can before heading to the smithy. On the second day of planning its decided Sacristan and Vale will leave now ahead of the group to climb the bluff behind the fort and do some scouting.

With not to much debate it is decided the best plan of attack is the enter a secret entrance behind the waterfall and take the tunnels to the jail below. This is likely any survivors maybe kept. If for some reason the heroes are discovered and an alarm sounds out the three rangers are going to create a distraction from two other secret exits.

Arriving and meeting up with the scouting party the group learns the majority of the ogres seem to be living in a wooden building in the courtyard. Vale laughs at this as they decided to not use it for living quarters since under the building they also store fire wood. After the group has freed any captive black arrows they will return to the main level where Krall plans to hurl a fireball or two at the wooden building hopefully killing the bulk of the ogre force.

The heroes wait for night fall and then swim through the natural mote around the fort. its sickly red water and the banks are covered in gutted and mangled live stock and giant eagles. Once the group gets to the main pool the water clears and then proceed behind the water fall and into the small cave complex that leads below.

The rangers warn that there are shocker lizards in these caves so the group takes care to shoe them away before stepping on any. Down a short pit Zav notices a faint glow of magic, sending the rogue down Sacristan finds a magic short sword and a few gems as well as in one of the crates or emergency supplies the heroes find a few magic arrows.

As the group wanders further in the cave starts to dry out and they are lead into a small crypt. Floating out of one of the natural wall a specter attacks the party before anyone has a chance to snoop around. Lizzia channels holy energy and Kizzka smites the ghost as sacristan nimbly dodges most of its attacks. Its finally brought down by a barrage of magic missiles form the casters.

Ogres are more active at night so the heroes decide to rest in the old unmarked crypt until morning.

Sneaking down a tight tunnels the group ends up right in the shocker lizards rookery, the rogues and the wizard chat for a minute on how they might smuggle a few eggs out. They take time to train but these lizards can be wonderful guardian pets. Pressing open the secret door the group steps into a transformed jail. The room is decorated in silks and the floor is covered in plush pillows and small fancy tables. A redheaded women is there and she invite them all in for a Drink and tell the group Mokmurian would love to meet them. Kizzka demands to know her name, Vale approaches from behind the part the red head introducing herself as Lucrecia informs the heroes it was Kaven who provided the ogre attack force on the details tot he fort so they could easily defeat the Black Arrows.

transforming into a snake Lamia like Xanesha Lucrecia attacks the group as the traitor Vale attacks Sister Lizzia from behind. Carmalizzia shatters Vales long sword with a spell as sacristan tumbles behind him and cuts him down. Kizzka smites and attacks the Lamia as her attacks start to drain his reasoning. The paladins attacks become more ferocious as he draws his falchion and starts swinging wildly. Lucrecia hits the group with a magical attack as she deftly dodges all magical assaults against her. Lizzia channels her holy energies to heal the party. After a few good hits the Lamia turns to flee but barely aware of anything ells purely running on the ferocity of his orc heritage Kizzka chases the monster up the stairs taking hacks and swipes at her tails as she retreats. The party following they finally get a good chance and with a barrage of magic's the Lamia goes down.

As Kizzka stalks her way to collect the monsters head a group of ogres burst out of a common area and are quickly defeated with a few well placed spells and the outrage of the paladin as these dumb brutes interrupt his work of beheading Lucrecia.

Session #21 "The passion of battle"

Wave after wave of ogres crash against the heroes battling in the halls of Fort Rannick. After the wave stop the groups spreads out and quickly searches the area making sure there are none of the brutes hidden in the bedrooms. Lizzia walks over to the snarling paladin and smacks him square across the face slapping some sense back into him.

A few moments rest and the heroes are on the move again, sending Krall up to one of the battlements to wait and fireball the main ogres sleeping quarter. If the alarm bell is sounded or an ogre flees the keep to raise an alert eh mage will spring into action.

Walking up stairs the group opens the door of a defiled chapel and confronts a huge 14' tall ogre wearing little more then a loin cloth and a belt he fly's into a rage and swing at the half orcs with his huge ogre hook. The battle is short and brutal heavy blows are exchanged as rend drops to the floor just before a the young sorcerer takes the big brute down.

Checking the last room the heroes are confronted by a large steel jawed ogre and a female sorcerer. After the ogre mage blasts a lighting bolt down the hall Zav fires a ball of web into the room cutting her off her line of sight. Battering down the steel jawed brute the group gets a short rest. Lighting the web 7 ogre mages step out of the room. after many minutes of battle and many of the false images are destroyed the ogre turns to run for the front door. chasing her down the front hall Zav and rend keep a few hits on her. When reaching the bared front door the ogre mage lets loose a lightning bolt splintering the bar and blowing a hole through the door and the ogre on the other side of it.

As she steps out the front door one last wave of attacks hits her cutting her down as the heroes sorcerer yells up the tower for Krall to blast them. A series of explosions sounds out in the courtyard as a huge group of the remaining ogres are set a blaze. With a call to his goddess Kizzka sprints into the courtyard flaming glaive in hand cutting down the fleeing ogres as the rangers spring into action letting loose barrages of arrows against their hated foes.

After the battle a the group splits apart, Kizzka and Lizzia head back to the chapel to clean it up. Sacristan rounds up a bunch of pillows from Lucrecia's lair and makes herself a nest. Seeing a blood splattered Shalelu, Rend can no longer contain himself and he gives the elf a passionate kiss. The two disappear into one of the rooms moments before a tiered Jakardos re-enters the keep and collapses in a room.

After a good long rest the group performs a better search of the keep. They find several maps detailing secret areas in the Lurk wood, Riddle port and Snake wall. And a burnt box with letters and sonnets written to a women named Mirriana, Sister Carmalizzia casts make whole on the letters. 

Jakardos and Vale take the traitor out back make him dig the graves for the dead and dismembered Black arrows, Then they have him dig his own. Kizzka asks the Jakardos and vale what they wish to do about the keep, Jakardos wishes to stay with his daughter for now and Vale feels its time for a new lease on life and he wishes to return tot he city. The Paladin tells the party he is going to sends Three letters, 1 to his order in Absalom 1 to Magnimar's church of Shylen and the last to the mayor. He also sends a 4th letter but he dose not tell anyone about it.

The plan is to change shifts between the keep and town until re-enforcements arrive. The mood and actions of the young Lovers do not go un-noticed by the heroes or by Shalelus father. The followers of Shylen cant help but giggle and laugh at their goddesses work.

Session #22 "Damn"

The victory is short lived as the group realizes that they have loosed a half dozen ogres on the country side. The handful that escaped are not pre-paired for the winter and the heroes fear they will prey on the town to survive. A watch order is worked out so the town wont be left unguarded.

A runner comes sprinting into the old fort and asks the heroes for help, the town is flooding and people are stuck in the church. it was a flash flood and everyone was caught off guard. Riding full out the group gets across the river before the bridge is washed out. Arriving at the town the heroes see one of the great turtle shells washed up against a building, there are several children inside and it look as if it could capsize at any moment.

Sacristan leaps the 15' to the shell and starts to tie a rope off to the large shell. A massive serpent rises from the water and grabs one of the children and starts to crush the life out of here. Rend throws a few of his hammers as the rogue launches a barrage of bolts at the snake. turning its attention to sacristan the massive snake takes a bite out of her as the last few attacks kill it. using the horses the two half orcs the shell is pulled ashore and the children saved.

taking a moment to rest the group heads off towards the church, as the water rushes through town. Its more mud and debris then water buts its moving so rapidly the group starts thinking how they are going to get the sick and injured from the building. Standing on the shore a plan is devised to use one of the ferry shells. Taking the party by surprise as a gargantuan monster springs out of the water, it has a head and neck like a snake but its body is bulbous and has many tentacles. Its head blasts the party with a nasty breath knocking many of them reeling. Rend lunges forward and gets pummeled down and grappled by its many tentacles. Lizzia preys to her goddess to heal the party as several attacks miss the beast. Another serge of water rushes through the town dragging the beast with it.

As the water level lowers the group decides to head up river and check out the dam named skulls crossing. Heading out the group camps near the washed out bridge as the towns people rebuild it. Huddled in a tent the weather remains wet and gloomy. Heading up river in the morning Skulls crossing comes into view a large break can be seen near the top. winding up a set of large stairs carved into the mountain side the heroes enter into a cave and crawl up a small ledge. In this cave they are assaulted by an Ettin it lands some heavy hits but is out numbered and defeated quickly.

Heading further into the cave and up another ledge the heroes come out onto the walkway of skulls crossing. There are 4 weak looking ogres chopping and hacking at the dam there is a large less enthusiastic overseer watching over the group. With a call to his goddess Kizzka charges ahead and the battle is started, the ogres hearts really don't seem into it even with there lives at risk.

Defeating the ogres the group looks tot he main building in the centre of the dam. Its been boarded up and Rend and Kizzka bash the door in with a small ram. The rooms are empty and its dirty and dusty inside, one of the double doors is painted in bloody graffiti. opening the last door on the top layers the heroes discover 4 trolls. using the door as a funnel the two orcs battle the beasts as Sacristan sneaks around to a back door where she can take shoots from a hidden vantage point.

The beats are tough but the heroes hack them down then drag the outside onto the bridge and set there bodies ablaze before they can regenerate. Taking the set of doors the group heads deep inside the dam leading lower and lower until they are at or even below the water level of the lake below the dam. In a large room there is a large pool a water in front of a set of double doors. A mountain of skulls piled before the double doors puts the heroes on edge as Kizzka starts to slowly step towards the pool of water.

About 5 feet from the pool of water a massive water troll lunges out at the paladin throwing a nasty looking military fork past the heroes and impeding it into the wall. The paladin startled by the speed of the attack misses with a wild blow. The combat is brutal and long fought, heavy hits traded back and forth as Rend and Kizzka battle the monster sword and glaive to claw. Once the creature is knocked out Kizzka put another savage strike through the beast and pulls its disgusting corpse out of the water, fearing it reviving itself the group quickly sets fire to its body.

As the body of the troll pops and sizzles the heroes search the two side rooms, one has a magical scale model of the dam and the other has another large pool of water. kicking the skulls aside the last room as two large rune bound cages, nothing more then pile of dust sits in one and in the other is a weak nearly dead pit fiend.

the devils begs the group for its release and in return it will tell the group all its knows of the dam. with a grimace Kizzka agrees and gives his word to free the fiend. It tells the group that the rune lord Carzoug bound him here as well as another demon, there where the power for the emergency release for the dam. Its drains his power when the flood gates open and the creature can feel the dam as if it where part of him. The fiend smiles as Kizzka plunges his glaive through the beast banishing it back to the hellish plane it came from.

After some thought and a close examination of the scale model Kizzka and Sacristan take a place in each of the rune bound circle as Rend pulls open the mouths of the two skulls that act as a flood gate. The rogue and the paladin can feel the water rushing through, they can feel ever brick and stone that makes up the dam as it drains there energy.

heading back to town the heroes tell the mayor of the ogres and the power system needed to runt he dam. With many thanks the mayor hails the group as heroes and much feast and drink is had. The group rests for 4 days as they wait for word from Magnimar.

Session #23 "No love is lost"

Shalelu tells the heroes when there is a break in the weather her and her father are going to head back to thistle top at sand point for the winter. Shortly after Kizzka gets a letter form the church of Shylen in Magnimar. Its going to take a little time but they are going to come out and take care of the fort.

As the group sits around the table at Fort Rannick, Rend pestering Kizzka asking about a good gift for a female elf, a tiny hand starts to tug at Zav's sleeve as a 2' tall winged pixies tries to get his attention. He seems to think we server the master of the fort and tell us his Mistress is sick, so sick that death would be a kindness and her heart is poisoning the woods around her. He begs us to come help her.

The pixies calls himself Yap and he tells us he will guide us but we will needs boats. Heading into town the group buys a couple of boats and asks around town to see what they can learn of the fey in the area. It seems the shimmer glen is haunted and a board walk was built so people could travel through without being assaulted and toyed with by the fey of the area. Even still people tell tales of husbands being seduced by nymphs and the fey playing tricks to keep people lost. Its also rumored that the whitewillow glen boarders the first land of the fey, another plan that all fey originally came from.

While telling tales of the battle at skull crossing the heroes have many rounds of drinks and Carmalizzia and Sacristan dance with a stumbling Rend, much to Shalelu's dismay. Yap enjoys a drink then breaks down crying, rambling and balling about his mistress.

The next morning the group rows across the lake and heads into the marshlands. After paddling a while the trees start to become noticeably more twisted the deeper they venture into the marsh. After being attack by a swarm of pesky stirge the heroes find a moss covered derelict ship of an unknown nation. Boarding and searching the ship the heroes find ocean charts of lands they don't know, a book of music and a harp besides the captains dead body. The man still dressed is a rotting uniform the man clutches a silver goblet. as the group looks over the maps Lizzia reads and takes an attempt to sign the music, and with a little practice she thinks she should be able to work it all out.

Leaving the cabin the heroes find a ghostly white dog with milky eyes sitting in the middle of the deck. it ignores the groups attempt to call or feed it, then it walks off the deck across the water and heads into the swamp. Rend, Sacristan and Zavuulon jump in there boat and head after it as Kizzka clears away the moss on the bow looking for a name. Rend looks down into the water when the reeds give way to a small pound, staring down the half orc sees in the water a reflection of the young sorcerer as an undead creature about to strike down on him. Spinning around with a wild swing Rend hits nothing but air before falling over bored.

Kizzka and Carmalizzia come paddling towards the noise they here in the distance nearing the pond Rend is standing waist deep in the water freaked out and screaming about Zav being a zombie. Having no luck convincing the half-orc Zavuulon is not a zombie they change around the order in the boats the heroes continue on.

As they near the heart of whitewillow the group passes through a circle of ghostly fey dancing and signing in a circle. not to far beyond Yap tells them the heroes they have arrived. Seeing nothing in sight Kizzka steps out of the boat and gets into the water, glaive in hand the paladin slowly steps forward. A ghostly nymph rises up from the water her arms are severed and floating at her side, even being dead she is blindingly beautiful as Sacristan finds out. As she screams in rage Kizzka starts to read the poetry Lamatar had written for her. Mirriana curses the heroes and tells they failed her beloved Lamatar, the paladin tells her that the ogres and the one who betrayed the black arrows is dead but this does nothing to easy her rage.

She says when Lamatar went missing she went to find him in the hook mountains, this suddenly rings a bell as Kizzka recalls them not finding his body and the map they found that marked a location in the hook mountains. Mirriana asks the group to go and find her loves body so she can revive him and give him a second chance, only then will her spirit rest. Without hesitation Kizzka agrees to do everything he can to re-unite the lovers.

Paddling out of the marsh the group asks Yap if he will wait for them at the fort so he can guide them back to the heart of whitewillow. After resting the night the heroes head out in the morning heading for the peak of hook mountain, after a wasted morning trying the climb to the peak the group decides they need help. Heading back to Fort Rannick the group asks Shalelu and Jakardos if they would help them reach the peak, the next morning the two rangers lead the group right to the marked path the leads up the mountain, and after a good days walk they find a cave 1/2 mile form the peak.

Session #24 “the problem with being a hero"

As wind and rain howl outside the Heroes push onwards into the cave. Climbing up a ledge the group sees two massive ogres standing watch before another tunnel. Calling to his Goddess Kizzka charges forward Rend close behind, The second ogre leads a counter charge sprinting for the sorcerer just as lightning bolt blasts through both ogres. As the brute winds up with a mighty kick to launch Zav backwards off the ledge he kicks low and shatters his toe on an rock.

Searching the room the group finds the next tunnel is lined with the ribs of a long dead but huge blue dragon, seeing the chance to bring his pointy eared angle Rend starts to hammer and chip a piece of the ribs away. As echo's crash down the tunnel the other three glare at the half orc.

Just beyond the rib lined tunnel is a large open room and a 40’ tall stone statue of a giant. He is wearing a jewel studded breastplate and is wearing a 4’ wide sihedron rune necklace. Rend climbs the statue with easy and slips the medallion off the giant thinking he has found a new shield. As the statue crumbles the massive breastplate crashes and clangs to the floor as Rend falls through the neck hole and lands in a pile of dust. The heroes yet again glare at the half orc.

Slowly and quietly up the winding passage the group is confronted by a mass of 13 ogres, there are a few massive brutes in the group but most look overworked and tiered. Charging forward the two half orcs slay the first two as a lightning bolt blasts through into ranks sending ogres flying. As they battle pushes back and forth both sides trying to gain the upper hand, the heroes trying to use the tunnel entrance as a bottle neck and the ogres trying to tempt them into the wider open junction. Finally As only a few remain Kizzka lunges forward taking two ogres down, another surges forward and lays a massive blow into the paladin dropping him to one knee. Seeing the opportunity another ogre pounces landing another brutal hit embedding his ogre hook into the paladins head. Falling the group stone dead the remaining heroes charge hacking the last few ogres down.

Fighting back the tears Carmalizzia looks to the other two for what to do. Thinking back she suggest maybe the ghostly nymph will bring Kizzka back. Recomposing themselves the three press forward looking for lamatars body. In one of the large caves to the back they find three hags working away over a large caldron. Casting a web spell to entangle them Zav realizes the spell is overlapping a fire pit and the web bursts into flame. After one is slain the other two disappear and escape the heroes as Lamatars animated undead body is battered to the ground.

Gathering the two bodies and loading the into the breast plate the heroes walk back down the side of the mountain, walking away from the last few caves one of which was occupied by two stone giants.

Paddling back to the heart of whitewillow Rend asks Mirriana to return the paladin back to life because he is sick of rowing.  Shocked Lizzia pipes up and begs the nymph to please return Kizzka to them. Seeing something in the cleric she agrees and puts resurrecting her love off for one more day and starts casting a spell. As mud earth and roots bind together, moss pushing up turning to skin as a blinding light hits the mass and standing before them is a very confused and blank looking human male. I have done as you asked Mirriana says, please return to me tomorrow and be here for Lamatar when he returns.

A very quite groups sits and waits through the night, Kizzka says nothing eats nothing and maintains a blank look his thoughts turned inward. The group is haunted by terrible dreams the next morning the image of Mirriana rises again and casts her spell again, as the blinding light fades the image of the nymph disappears and a dwarf is left standing before them. Staring at his hands Lamatar starts to cry before composing himself. Looking around the twisted woods Lamatar pledges to take up the task of protecting the nymphs beloved woods. Trying to comfort Lamatar Lizzia returns his boots to him to aid his task.

Arriving back at the Fort Lizzia guides Kizz to the chapel on the second floor, as he sits on the pew in the chapel Gorum comes wandering in, the badgers first reaction is a growl before lunging at and slobbering his master. A smile comes to his face and the reborn paladin snaps out of his trance. Walking down into the common area he asks for an update on what he missed.

The heroes again assemble to head back into the hook mountain peaks. Pausing at the forge before they eave Kizzka tosses his family signet ring into the forge fire, watching it melt he cant help but smile and feel free for the first time.

Marching straight to the throne room the group confronts Barl Bonebreaker, quickly killing the giants companion Kizzka yells questions at he the giant as he takes to the air using a fly spell. As arrows and barrages of lightning hit the giant he comes crashing back to the ground. Binding his hands and arms with chain and rope the group revives the stone giant and begin to question him. They learn a powerful stone giant mage named Mokmurian has been gathering an army at Jurgenfist to raid and destroy the human who inhabit the lands and ruins of long forgotten powers that they can not understand. They also learn that the town had been marked as sacrifices for an unknown power. Finished with the giant Kizzka starts to head back down the mountain, when the paladin is long out of sight Rend kills him.

Getting back to the fort Kizzka starts to deal with the followers of Shelyn that have arrived, they are a little shocked to find he is a human but with a short explanation the keep quickly becomes alive with activity as repairs get underway. The paladin is going to stay at the fort for a few weeks before meeting the others in Magnimar.

Session #25 "black bars"

After spending a week at Fort Rannick with the followers of Shelyn that have come to learn form Kizzka, The paladin leaves and heads to Magnimar to join the rest of the group. After selling the spoils from the hook mountain everyone splits apart for some time to take care of personal interest.

Sacristan Heads out and looks for rogues with similar interests, Zav does whatever sorcerers do when they are left to themselves. And Kizzka starts on his latest master piece. A suit of solid adamantine full plate.

After 2 months of crossing paths and seeing each other briefly in bars the Heroes of sand point come together and meet at the pathfinder lodge. The lodge is kept b a very nice couple and all the members in the lodge hang on the groups ever word of their adventure. A Chelish explorer named Elmea seeing the skill in the group she tells them of a statue in the south named the lady's light. It seems no one has ever entered the place and she thinks there will be more information inside regarding ruins in the area.

After his visions on his rebirth this peaks the paladins interest, but Kizz senses something dark in the women and wont commit to working for her. Of course now being apart of the lodge he will fully report on anything they find and it will be available to other members.

After a bit of research Sacristan, Carmalizzia, Zavuulon and Kizzka gather there things new and old and head south. using the boats the got in turtle back ferry they rush through the marshlands and head toward the ancient statue.

The lady is huge well over 200' tall and half naked, she is holding a rather suggestive looking staff and the group figures out she must have been the rune lord of Lust. Examining the base they find where the door should be but cannot find any handles or secret latches. Zavuulon pulls out a wand and gives the door a strike, nothing happens. after looking at it again he gives it another strike, again nothing. Standing before the door Carmalizzia calls to her goddess and blasts the door with a swirl of light, again nothing.

Somewhere inside the statue something stirs and Zav hears a plea form inside. After several hours go by and the group is running out of ideas the young sorcerer speaks up. I think you need to be naked to enter, a few in the group blush as Zav strips down and stares right through where the door is. Taking his lead the rest of the unashamed heroes follow suit and they can all see an open portal where the solid door used to be.

Stepping in too the statue three things a noticed right away, you can see outside in every direction from inside like the walls where made of glass, and two Incubi swooping down the stairs towards the Cleric. bring his glaive up Kizzka puts himself between the leachy demons and Carmalizzia. Zav yells at the and tell them she is not for them. Sacristan slips her leathers back on and heads up stairs drawing the demons away. They are being very forward and ask for release form this place.

The rest of the heroes take a few minutes to get there armor and clothes back on. Heading upstairs they find a massive book shelf and an even bigger bed. the Incubi are still being very pesky and are harassing the women. As they walk back down stairs the demons ensnare Zav and the sorcerer starts to plead with heroes to stay here, and to let the Incubi loose. Seeing what has happened the cleric casts a protection spell on the sorcerer and breaks the enchantment.

Having enough with these demons Kizzka lashes out and smites one, just as an dominated Sacristan attacks the paladin. A hail of magic launches form Zav killing one the first as the last one looks around for some escape. Here is your freedom Kizzka growls. swarming the last the Heroes dispatch the trickster with no effort.

Staying the night in the place they all have rather interesting dreams, gathering up a 10 volume set of books of lust, an old geography book and a bestiary from 10 thousand years ago the heroes head back to Magnimar. reporting on there finds Sacristan and Kizzka are giving wayfinders, a symbol within the society itself.

Session #26 "Like talking to a rock"

Shalelu finds tracks and signs of giants lurking around the outskirts of sand point, this puts the heroes on alert. So they wait, and it is not long before they are awoken by the sounds of stones shattering stone.

As three stones giants pound the North gate of Sandpoint with stones a roar can be heard form the east, as two more giants drive dire bears into the town. Shouts and taunts can be heard from the south as another set of giants demand the brewer give up his drink in exchange for the safety of his home.
Kizzka and Carmalizzia look around trying to find Rend and Sacristan, but that comes to and end when a large dark form is spotted off in the distance soaring in on the town.

As Sacristan darts form tomb stone to grave stone behind the chapel, evading the bears she steps through the shadows to a better vantage point and start to pelt the giant herders with her tiny lethal darts.

Rend comes into view just as the red dragon flies over head, pulling back his bow screaming a challenge at the dragon Kizzka lets loose an arrow imbued with holy energy. As the projectile slams into the body of the large dragon it wheels around and comes swooping in on the tri. Carmalizzia smiles as she pelts the serpent with a barrage of searing holy light, As the dragon unleashes his deadly breath, Rend rolls out of the way of the flames as Kizzka and the cleric just smile as divine powers deflect and absorb the flames.

The three close in on the dragon slashing at it as it claws and snaps back. Using it wings and tail, without notice it takes flight and heads off into the distance north east. Kizzka tosses Carmalizzia his way finder and tells her to take a heading from the dragon. Rend charges off towards the giants and the bears with the paladin close on his heels.

Running down the street the two warriors find two giants tossing random objects from a home at one of the lower roofs of the chapel where the rogue is perch, still firing tiny bolts with deadly accuracy. Just as they start to charge the giants prod a pair of dire bears that slash at the two warriors with massive paws.

With the bears and giants dead, the heroes head south following the shouts and calls of the remaining giants. After battling the last few giants in the south the group decides to make a circle of the town to make sure the giants where run out of the town.

The heroes spot a trio of giants sneaking towards the east bridge, One of these giants stands out he is wearing armor and wielding a pair of battle picks. using building for cover the group closing in on the giants and trade heavy blows back and forth until the giants lay defeated. checking them quickly Kizzka chains up one of the giant guards and Carmalizzia revives him.

Questioning the giant they learn more about the fortress Jurgenfist. And learn that this group had gone to the ancient light house and taken a piece of stone. Stone giants can talk to stone and after talking to Brodert they thing they are maybe trying to build another one of the ancient war machines.

After visiting the Scarnetti estate, the learn old artifact had been stolen and two children. The heroes rest and make there way away town they find 6 people have been plucked up by the giants, and much to Rends dismay Shalelu seems to be missing.

Session #27 "Ya almost feel sorry for them"

After the town calms down and all the people are accounted for the group gathers to head off in pursuit of the giants carrying people. Rend is a little torn up about Shalelu being taken right out form under him, and demands Jakardrose come with the heroes to track the giants. Jakardrose sees his daughters abduction as rends fault and agrees to help only if he will never see his step daughter again. Rend will not agree to this and Kizzka step in before it gets physical.

Asking Jakardrose to help and put aside is hate for Rend because 3 children had been taken. The ranger groans at the the plea knowing there is no way he could refuse it glares at the paladin, fine I will help but I'm not doing this with his good health in mind. Kizzka thanks him for helping and ignores the threat against the Fighter. Playing it off as the worry of a father.

Quickly taking to the country side its easy to find the wagon tracks of the giants that looted the rich manors south of the town. After about a half day of travel they come to a farm house that has been destroyed, the wagon lays idle and has a few of the large items left in it, one being an old desk. As the heroes search for tracks and signs of survivors Sacristan finds a secret compartment in the desk. It has letter that detail the owners involvement in a set of arson against his competition.

Kizzka asks for the letter and tucks them into a pouch, Jakardrose yells to the group as he has found a crimson splotch in the road and small tracks leading into the woods. Not to far down the road they find two dead giants, it seems Shalelu has gotten loose and is dropping them 1 at a time while she tracks them.

As the day becomes early evening the group comes upon another wounded giant and 1 knocked out. walking the knocked out one they find out a third giant took the remaining people and headed back tot he giants fortress wounding the one and knocking this one out. the paladin sense no evil in these two and tells the one to take his friend and go back to his homeland.

the group rests for the night and takes a trail leading north again, when they get close to a crop of trees they find another two dead giants and heavy tracks leading into the woods. Stepping into the bush and arrows pings off Rends armor and Shalelu steps out of cover. The elf ranger has two children with her and tells the heroes a few got away, they still have some towns people with them. Heading back to town with the children Rend does his best to hide his tears, as the lovers are re-united.

Kizzka hands the letter over too sheriff Hemlock, and the man is clearly shocked.

the group heads to the Rusty Dragon and the paladin once again calls on Amiko to watch Gorum while he is on the road. The heroes rest and then head out the next day.

Both rangers come with the groups as they ride towards Nybor, the rain starts again and by early evening the heroes are in the oddest town they have ever been in. The town is inhabited b mixed race family and lone half breads. everyone in town is very friendly and Shalelu gets a little protective of her half orc.

Kizzka and Carmalizzia head down to the docks and higher a barge to take them as far as the river will go. the captain is hesitant at first but the paladin offers him 250gold if he will aid them as long as he is needed. That night spirits are high as they dance and sign and dance at the inn in this wonderful little town. The paladin makes promises himself to come back here again.

the next day they head off and by evening they are at the river mouth half way to the town of Galdiria, ashore they are close to Wolfsear, a leper colony for werewolves . when the current mayor of Magnimar came into power his first act was to send the army out and they eradicated the colony.

Ravenmore is the next town on the way, but soon after arriving they are asked to leave. outsiders are not allowed within the city limits at night and the group sleeps on the barge listen to scream of pleasure and pain as the night wears on.

heading further up the river the heroes land in Galdiria, this town is best know for its mage school. The group however is surprised when where the town should be is a great black sphere. An spell has been cast over the town and it completely hidden. Feeling there way in the group stumbles into a shop where they learn giants had come buy and one of the students or master of the scroll had cast a the spell. Unfortunately he was taken and no one knows how to dismiss it, even if it can be dismissed.

the heroes get direction the the school and they head over, hoping a mage may be able to locate there friends from Sandpoint and help them get ahead of the ogres. At first the mage they see tells them they will need money if they want anything casts they he figures out the heroes are willing to bring the missing mage back in exchange for his help.

The go back to the barge and head off towards the Storval steps, helping the captain hide and tie up the boat they unload the horses and head towards to stairs to the plateau above. A group of giants is stationed at the top and through rocks at the group. Zavuulon uses a wand to make some illusions and the group makes a plan to assault the peaks in the morning. Once they control the steps they only have to wait for the returning giants and the captive townsfolk.

Session #28 "to the rescue"

Casting Air walk, Carmalizzia, Zavuulon and Kizzka start climbing towards the guard house at the top of the stairs. Sacristan and Rend start sneaking up the stairs in the shadows of early morning.

Holding Zav the paladin moves so the sorcerer can peak in through the window of the guard house. The giants stare at the seemingly impossible sight of humans outside the window where a 300' drop was. walking out the door they arm themselves with rocks and the battle begins. Fighting from the roof and fighting from the side of the steps the heroes have the giants beat before the group holding the people from Sandpoint arrive at the stairs. The rangers slowly make there way up letting barrage after barrage of arrows rain down on them.

Luckily none of the people in the giants bags are harmed and they are patched up by Carmalizzia. after talking to them they identify everyone and the Mage from the school is safe. He asks about his spell and the group informs him of the service they provided tot he heroes. The rangers are going to take the barge and take everyone back to safety.

Searching around after they find some small items of value, one of which is a black star sapphire eye patch, picking it up and looking at it the paladin puts it and makes a funny face at the group. The group takes the direction from the last giant there questioned and follow the trail into the valley of the black tower.

At last the group gets a view of the giants fortress. Seeing no way in or too even get close with all the smaller camps of giants around it the heroes feel they need to find a secret entrance somewhere or they have no chance getting into the fortress.

camping on the mountain faces for the night the cleric uses her divine power to allow the group to walk on water. Lowering themselves down into a ravine the group cross the swollen river then scramble up the other side. they spend the next day walking up the river looking for a cave or ledge, Sacristan using her giant gecko to walk on the ravine wall closet to them. just north of the keep they find two caves, the sorcerer uses a web spell and Rend fires a rope attached to an arrow at it. Sacristan with cat like agility walks down the rope and looks into the cave. Its crawling with bloated spiders and she runs back up towards the group.

they rest another night and uses magic to cross the river and climb up to the lower cave, Rend peers into the dark cave and starts to sneak in. Kizzka now lacking his dark vision casts daylight in the centre of the cave and a group of wyvern rush the group. the battle is short and the serpents are defeated, Rend picks the best scales and hide form the monsters as Zavuulon searches the cave, he finds a powerful stay and a chest filled with coin.

Session #29 "Its going to rain like a mother tomorrow"

Climbing up the cliff face from the Wyvern cave The heroes enter a much large cave, its filled with thick webs and everything appears to be moving as 10 of millions spiders scurry around.

Step after step after step crushing spiders as they go the group finds a wall of spider web, each strand several feet thick. tap on one strand, 24 sets of massive eyes glimmer from the dark as 3 house sized spider constructs lumber forward.

Each strike and chunk cut off the huge beasts shows the are hollow and filled with smaller spiders. As the heroes pound on it the smaller spiders inside poor out and start to sting and bite the attackers.

After the last construct collapses Kizzka somehow manages to herd the majority of the spiders out of the cave. Search it the group finds some minor treasures and then in the deepest corner of the cave they find what they are looking for. A narrow crack forms a natural cave that will hopefully lead under the stone giants fortress.

Following the path the cave starts to fork over and over, Rend starts to mark cave the walls so they don't get lost. after a few hours they come to a small collapse just big enough for Sacristans to wiggle through. Finding and disarming a trap on the other side Carmelizzia uses the staff to widen the stone passage . Following the path further into the earth a group of small ugly red capped gnomes assault Kizzka with scythes much to large for them.

The little evil creatures focus on the paladin and his Cold Iron weapon hacks deep wounds in them. the fight is short and Sacristan fires a round of round of her tiny deadly darts at the few that flee.

After a heated debate on the best course of action the heroes continue on the path and end up back where they last split of. Heading back to the Wyvern cave the heroes rest. Sacristan runs up the cliff with her giant gecko and scouts off to see if the giants maintain any patrols around the fortress.

After a short rest the group plans out an attack strategy then rests until the middle of the night. Climbing the steep cliff face again the Heroes creep from the river canyon to the walls of the giants fortress. Lizzia uses the staff again to open a hole in the wall and the group slips into a tower.

Sneaking through the courtyard Rend and Sacristan scout out the place. Then lead everyone to the black tower. Entering the place there is snow and ice on the floor, the room is freezing cold and a few spells get tossed around to protect against it. The strangest thing is the inside of the ancient black tower is empty, searching the place Sacristan finds a hidden door in the middle of the room dropping a rope down and a light the group starts to descend.

Rend hits the floor first and notices a giant sized mummy floating around the room, its does not notice the fighter and he rolls to one side. Kizzka and Carmelizzia hit the floor next and both back away. The Mummy is holding a massive cylinder in one arm and is seemingly mindlessly patrolling in a circle.

Sacristan and Zav get to the bottom and the creature finally notices its not alone. Rend launches himself at the giant and launches a brutal assault but for the most part it does not seem to be damaged. Seeing how tough it is Kizzka calls for his goddess aid and smites it over and over and Zav blasts it with fire and arcane power and Lizzia uses her own god given magic's.

Getting mad Rend jumps off a stone alter and grabs the mummified giant and wrestles with it. One last blast of divine energy and it falls to the ground.
examining the cylinder it becomes clear it is a puzzle bow and the group takes some time to try and open it but after 2 hours have no luck.

heading back into the courtyard the heroes open a massive stone door on a solid stone building inside is a sleeping frost giant.

Session #30 "not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"

Rend crouches and readies himself to pounce on the sleeping giant, Lizzia quickly motions and gets everyone out of the stone building. slowly pushing the heavy door closed as the cleric lifts her staff into the air and uses its power to meld the stone door solid with the walls.

Seeing little other options the heroes head for the pit in the center of the courtyard. Walking close behind Sacristan the humans stumble in the dark, the tiny rogue leading the way. Passing by the stone pillar Sacristan notices the sides and the base are caked white with "bird" droppings.

As The groups nears the hole Lizzia cloaks the group in a radius of silence and the begin the decent down the ramp. The bottom of this hole is filled with bones and bodies and in the first little cave the heroes sneak past a group of sleeping dire bears. After quickly looking into a few more shallow caves the group finds the main entrance.

Leading the way with his glaive shedding a pale soft light Kizzka is taken by surprise when a massive stone hand clasps over his arm. His nerves and resolve hold fast as the giant starts to talk and motion. Carmelizzia drops the silent stone into a pocket and giant speaks in common. Quickly conforming the Heroes are there to kill Mokmurian the giants tell them to follow quickly.

Leading the group into a large room where the walls are painted and decorated. The giants tells the group she was the tribe mother and her name is Kona, and tells them about Mokmurian. When a stone giant is born if they are a runt they will almost always be a sorcerer and be able to speak to ancestors, he lied about having these powers for years until he was caught practicing unnatural magic. The mage was exiled from the tribe and went into hiding for years.

When Mokmurian returned he killed the tribe father and took command of the tribe, the tribe father was Kona's mate and he haunts the room they now stand in. To aid the heroes and avenge Vanderick's murder, Kona draws out a map and gives the group information on where Mokmurian will be. She does ask the group not harm any of the other giants if possible, she says they are simply misguided. She does mention one more thing, in his sleep she has heard Mokmurian say a name, she thinks he is being influenced by an ancient spirit named Karzoug. With that the group gives a heavy sigh, how long will they have to clash with the minions of the long dead rune lord of greed.

Sneaking through the mess hall the group passes by a lone giant in the kitchen, down a hall and as the cave starts to narrow Sacristan runs back. In the tunnel ahead there is a cave with a Kobold in it, its sharpening a weapon so maybe they can sneak past. Just as soon as the group is about to slip out of the tiny lizards cave it jumps to its feet lets loose a scream silenced by the clerics spell. Lunging forward spear slashing forward the kobold assaults Lizzia, doing serious damage before anyone can respond. Kizzka pulls his falchion and clashes with the impossibly strong little creature. Carmalizzia just barely slips past and out of the reach of the kobold. Heading into the narrow of the cave ahead she takes refuge barely able to stand.

Zav blasts the little creature with magic as the silence bubble passes beyond him, the kobold is screaming and yipping an alarm and the group throws everything they have at it. Its takes devastating hit after hit and keeps pushing forward dealing vicious hits of its own. Finally one last hard hit from the paladin and the little barbarian hits the floor dead.

After waiting a few minutes to see if the rest of the cave had been alerted. the groups presses forward, slipping by the tanner the forge and the barracks before coming to a hall that Kona warned them about. Hides cover the walls here and just as the young sorcerer gets to close to the wall a ranseur shots out and clips him hard. stumbling to the center of the room two massive armored trolls step out of some hiding side room and both attack Sacristan, dodging and rolling the trolls hit the rogue and send her flying tot he ground. Kizzka sets his glaive and waits for the charge, fighting back and forth the paladin holding the two trolls back as Zav blasts the trolls with acid and fire.

After dismembering the trolls drenching them in oil and lighting them on fire, Carmalizzia uses her own magic to seal on of the side rooms trapping them in.
Not to far past the group comes to a set of double doors in a room that seems to shift and waver in size. Its all polished marble and its hard to concentrate on anything other then the door.

The group pushes into the room and are confronted by a rune carved twisted giant, its head is to small for its body and its muscles and veins course and pulls with some unholy power. As if sensing intruders the runes start to glow on its body and Kizzka smites it calling to his goddess as the heroes clash and kill another powerful guardian of Mokmurian.

Session #31 "Soups up"

A figure appears walking down the hall towards the heroes of Sandpoint, weapons at the ready the group confronts this intruder. A human Varisian man dressed as a cleric of Pharasma introduces himself as Chev and quickly tells the party his goddess has set him on a path to aid them. That and a kinda crazy elf ranger found him walking down the river and gave him specific directions to come help her "Rend". Studying the cleric Kizzka uses some of his magic to make sure this isn't some sort of trick being played by the wizard Mokmurian. Sensing no deception in the cleric the group welcomes his aid.

Entering a small hallway the group pauses for a moment. the onyx room still skewing there vision and spinning their senses. Peeking around the corner into a red glowing room with rune carved walls, in the center of the room is a massive carved cauldron. The runes on the side of the cauldron are necromantic and a low fire burns underneath it keeping the contents in a slow boil. Priceless spell components bob and turn in the foul smelling broth.

As the heroes step into the room a stone golem standing in the corner animates and starts to lumber towards the group. After bashing and battering the stone golem for a few moments the paladins Adamantine weapon carves it to a crumbling pile of rock. Kizzka glares at the cauldron sensing the evil from it, sets his weapon and sunder the side. spilling the boiling contents onto the stone floor and breaking whatever magic that had been protecting it.

Zav passes into the next room studying the statues of the near frozen room, ogres trolls and hill giants have been stuffed and posed wearing suits of ornate armor and holding finely crafted weapons. The young sorcerer climbs up onto the first statue as tries to pull the weapon form its hands. Animating 6 of the massive undead creatures lurch forward to surround the casters.

Blasting the undead with his holy power Chev quickly starts to batter and repel the undead. As Kizzka comes running from the cauldron room to join the fray. The first wave of attacks knocks the sorcerer to the group as he is caught off guard by the undead. As a storm a steel dance through the group Chev takes a set of heavy hits and hits the group, reviving the downed cleric Lizzia sets about healing the group. Regaining his footing Chev let forth another blast of holy energy halting the last of the undead as they crumble to the ground.

Session #32 "The puppet master"

As Sacristan checks another passage, Kizzka heads towards the main hall. Just as his glowing weapons lights the path a massive living iron fiend leaps for its belly cracked open in a toothy maw, its belly glowing red hot like a forge. Rend charges in as the fiend pukes forth a massive gout of lead covering the half orc. As the fiend falls back to the ground dead its form shrivels and turns to ash. As Rend chips the last of the lead coating off his armor the group proceeds down the rune carved hallways. Several have collapsed and soon the heroes are in a long hallway with a set of missive double door, one door is blocked and the runes on the wall identify it as the library.

Using his divine sight Chev peers through the other side of a small set of doors, on the other side is yet another door and 3 twisted hounds. The cleric knows a fair bit about these hounds and tell the group they can slip through corners into another plan and are know for stalking and murdering several well known people. Throwing the door open Zav blasts a fireball into the room as Rend and Kizzka charge in, Chev close behind. The hounds are twisted and unnatural looking, their gaze seems to force some power on the heroes harming them.

Once the final dog lays dead Chev using his power again to peer through the next set of doors, in this room upon a throne sits a stone giant in wizards robes sitting almost as if waiting for the heroes. Kizzka sets himself and lunges through the door, or at least he would have had he bothered to check if it was locked. Quickly Sacristan picks the lock and Rend and Kizz set themselves and rush in. A massive semi solid fog hinder there entrance and they push through.

The paladin cures himself as he hears Rend fall and hit hard, breaking out of the fog Kizzka falls....up. hitting the ceiling crawling forward on the roof as the rest of the group starts to break the fog Rend and Kizzka fall to the floor. Using the wall as cover Rend and Kizzka ready to rush the mage, as Lizzia screams as the party turn to look up pinned to the ceiling Chev was caught out in the open and Mokmurian casts a spell hitting him with a black ray. Chev's face twists in a silent scream as he bursts to dust, rushing up a short wall and charging Rend engages the giant as Kizzka comes out from around the corner.

As steel bites at the giant magi sensing he may be outmatched the giants casts another spell and blinks out of the room. Quickly searching the room the heroes have little time to mourn the loss of Chev as they prepare for the giant to return with re-enforcements.

The reverse gravity spell ends and Lizzia works fast to gather the fallen clerics remains, After a few minuets the doors to the room swing open Zav who had been waiting for the sounds lets forth a massive blast of lightening through the cloud and into the returning giants forces. Two lamia with lions bodies push through the fog and into the range of Rend and Kizzka who had been waiting. both lamia are killed quickly with Zav's magic and the two melee monsters. Taking careful aim Sacristan readies a shot just as a powerful magic spell transforms her into a small green turtle.

A blast of lightening hits the party and Lizzia rushes over to pick up Sacristan, Rend and Kizzka charge through the fog and within seconds Mokmurian is dead. Before his body hits the floor he delivers a message in a voice not his own, a voice the heroes remember from Thistle top. The voice that belongs to Karzoug.

"So these are the heroes of the age. More like gasping worms to me, soon to be crushed back the earth when I awaken the armies if Xin-Shalast, when the name Karzoug is again spoken with fear and awe. Know that the deaths of those marked by the Sihedron the giant you have so conveniently slain for me hasten my return, just as yours soon will. Fools, a of you. Is this all you could manage in ten thousand years."

As the form of the giant laughs and cackles it falls to the floor dead.

Session #33 "When was the last time something new was in your inbox?"

The heroes post the fallen giants head as a warning and rest for 8 hours after barring the door. The battles yesterday had drained them but they were far from done.

After stripping spells and curses off the party the group packs up and gets ready to fight their way out. Opening the door spells and swords at the ready, they are happy to see nothing.

Turning the key on the library door the heroes step into the prize they had earned. A mechanical man greets them in the ancient tongue. Before translating to the group the Paladin asks to see all information on the Rune Forge.

The Rune Forge was a school of study that each rune lord had appointed a master of his chosen school. The goal was to create a way for each of the specialists to find a way to master every school of magic. It is hidden on another plane and requires a key to enter. After hours they find no information on the key or the location of this place.

Searching around the library as Sacristan works on opening the adamantine cylinder, Lizzia finds an old scroll of raise dead. The Custodian agrees to allow them to use it so long as they replace it. Casting the spell over the bag of dust Chev's form once again takes shape. A very confused very naked cleric looks around the room before asking for some clothes.

As the divine agents research through tomb after tomb the sorcerer uses his own magic to find a book on ancient abyssal creature and learns of a demon lord named Pazuzu. Zav thinks on it as he recalls seeing the demons sigil and arcane marks before.

Further research grants the group with details and each of the eleven rune lords and the old boarders of the kingdoms. After several hours studying maps and bits of text the heroes find a path that should lead them to the mythic city of Xin-Shalast. It appears all the rune lords worshiped of at least gave lip service to an ancient deity called the Peacock spirit.

Sacristan pops the top on the cylinder and inside the group find instruction to enter the library without the key and several powerful divine and arcane scrolls. Hoping to take some of the knowledge with them the Heroes learn that this room is what is keeping the books from falling to dust. Casting several spell on the custodian to help repair its 10,000 years of self repairs.

Planning to return with scribes and historian the group heads up to the other path looking for the dragons and another powerful inhabitant that may hinder there return. Just outside of worked stone area Kizzka is grabbed in Kona's arms and given a mighty hug, she tells them she is glad that they were not killed. She had been worrying about them when Mokmurian went back down and did not return. She wishes them luck and they go their own way.

Finding an empty scorched cavern they continue on into the area the Lamia practiced there rituals to Lamashtu. Finding a hidden compartment under the alter the rogue and the barbarian pocket a couple of books.

Kizzka finds and picks up some red dragon scales, and the heroes push forwards to exit. Chev uses his sight to see into one last room, it appears to be a torture room where they have been branding the giants and other servants. After talking shortly the heroes decide to try and reason with the ancient blooded Giant-kin and see if he knows the location of the Rune Forge.

After panning around the room he smashes out of the ground, cursing the party for ruining his chances to return. Rend and Kizzka make a frontal assault as Sacristan pounces from pole top to pole top stinging the giant with her deadly bolts.

Not getting any answers from the giant the group watches his dying form crumble to dirt. Heading up the inner ramp they hear singing near  the front gate as two harpies can be seen flying over head.

Session #34 "That's gotta hurt"

Three harpies ensnare Rend and Sacristan with their song, they dive bomb Kizzka and Carmalizzia breaks the enchantment on the half orc. A few moment later an alarm sounds and the heroes can feel a rumbling in the distance.

A pair of huge stone doors burst open as a pack of mammoths charge towards the group. They fall back to the bit in the center and Lizzia summons a stone wall to deflect the charging beasts. Three dire bears are being driven up the ramp by a stone giant. Rend charges the bears to cut them off as Kizzka waves his weapon calling out commands in the ancient tongue and much to the heroes surprise the bears retreat turning on the giant that had been herding them.

Rend turns and runs back up the ramp and along the summoned stone wall. Seeing his chance to kill something big Rend slashes at a mammoth as it runs by. The herd wheels about and one charge's Rend smashing him against the wall before being cut down. Seeing one of them being killed the remaining mammoths charge the half orc trampling him and smashing him through the stone wall.

Quickly healing the fighter Kizzka picks up the severed head and the heroes run for the front gate. Taking the path between two of the other tribes of giants the heroes hustle keeping the severed head in view for all to see. Before heading into the foothills Kizzka puts the head on the ground and the group starts looking for their horses and old camp site. After a few hours of looking Lizzia and Kizz are unable to find their mounts so they elect to move on.

Rend notices tracks of what looks like to be an orc hunting party, after another hour or so the heroes meet up with the two rangers who seem to have located the missing horses (poor orcs they really didn't have a chance).

The next week goes quickly and everyone gets some much needed rest, the trip back down the river is uneventful and even enjoyable. Magnimar is the next stop and the groups first business is to inform the pathfinder lodge of the discovery. After a few days the leaders of the local pathfinder lodge have a expedition of their own underway.

It takes a week for Kizzka to get together the materials he needs and everyone uses the time in the city to take care of a few personal things. It seems like it takes no time at all and the group is back in Sandpoint, after all this time it almost feels like coming home to some.

It seems things have not been quite in Sandpoint, a sink hole has opened up in town and the patrol sheriff Hemlock sent into investigate has not returned. A terrible noise has been herd ever night since it opened and it is getting louder. The Mayor and Sheriff are glad to hear the threat from the giants is over but they waste no time asking the heroes to have a look into what's making the sounds.

Rend keeps watch over the hole for a few days then the group gathers and gets ready to head in. Dropping into the sink hole and heading down a worked stone tunnel the heroes quickly figure out they are in the catacombs they had investigated not to long after they came to Sandpoint.

Heading down and around getting there heading they notice some newly excavated areas as well some old areas have caved in and are no longer usable. The black electricity room still has its anti gravity effect but lightning no longer crackles along the walls. Heading down a newly unearthed spiral stair case the heroes come into a room filled with a thick fog. A raspy voice greets them and starts to ask questions about the current state of Varisia, Kizzka answer each question with another trying to figure out who they are talking too.

After getting lost a little Lizzia dispels the fog as the voice inform Chev and Kizzka that he has the key to the runeforge but he cannot share the information, as well he is an agent of Lamashtu and is aiding the long dead rune lord of greed. One the floor is the symbol of Lamashtu and standing on a raised platform is a Glabrezu. Rend and Kizzka both hit the roof as they charge forward the demon laughs.

An ugly masked guy appears behind the group he has three hideous twisted dogs with him. Carmalizzia summons a stone wall to protect them from the rear as the two fighters battle the massive demons. Calling for his goddesses aid Both Kizzka ad Rend smite the monster and after a few moments its defeated. As the Glabrezu disappears the reverse gravity spell ends the the hounds drop to the floor and charge under the stone wall. The masked man summons a Barghest and then disappears.

Session #35 "The writing on the wall"

After the hounds are defeated the masked man appears behind Zav hitting the unaware sorcerer with a brutal hit from his falchion before disappearing again. A moment later he does the same thing to Carmalizzia. After taking up defensive positions and waiting for a few a while the heroes become annoyed and decide its best to keep pressing forward. Navigating this place is also annoying, you never seem to be going the way you think you are.

Stopping and pulling out a rope the groups ties in and at least if the get lost they will get lost as a group. Looking down a hall and into a few small rooms something on the wall catches Chev's and Kizzka's eye, the rambling gibberish hides a few lines of a poem here and there. Going back and searching the walls several verses of a poem start to come together.

Searching up another passage the group finds the dead guards, they have been gnawed on. As the heroes remove personal items to take back to the families the masked man appears and the Heroes charge at him, they get a few hits in but he hits just as hard and after a few seconds of battle he vanishes again. Walking up a more natural stone hall the heroes find a large room with nearly a dozen of the twisted gods in it, stepping forward the young sorcerer launches a fireball hitting many of the hounds. As the hounds move in to surround Zav, Kizzka does his best to fight his way over, Chev uses his Gods power to surround the sorcerer with a wall of swirling swords trying to hold the dogs at bay. A wall of fire does a massive amount of damage to the pack and Kizzka and Sacristan pick off the last few wounded hounds.

Searching another worked stone room they find another poem verse and a secret door, About half way up a hidden hall a voice enters the heroes mind, "Your friends have been tainted by Lamashtu" it says and Zav and Lizzia turn to flee attacking everyone in there path A bolt of lighting making a path for the sorcerer as the cleric hits him hard with her glaive. As the two break into a full sprint Kizzka runs after the cleric.

Tackling Lizzia and binding her arms and feet Kizzka can only watch as Zav escapes. Finding a closet to hide in Zav curls up in the corner, as the masked man appears only a few feet away from the young sorcerer he casts a firewall and fills the short room with blistering flames. Sitting on the cleric Kizzka is hardly surprised when the masked man appears. He asks one more time if they will work as his agents but the paladin only answers him with a smite.

An epic battle ensues, heavy blows get traded back and forth as falchion strikes falchion. Using his divine power to heal himself through out the fight Kizzka final strikes the man down then claims his head with one more swift strike.

Once everyone has come to their senses the group gathers and uses up the last of there healing power. Marching up the hall Chev, Kizzka and Zav search a small study at the end of the hall. They find a peacock feather quill that is a very powerful magic item, it appears to be for divining and the masked man had been using it to answer questions about the world above him. Its hard to tell how long the man had been in stasis or dead but it appears he had only been back and awake for a few months.

Session #36 "What the cards hold for you"

After a nights rest Kizzka gets back to work at the forge as most of the party has need of his skill. In the evening the heroes go and seek out the poet who runs the opera house in Sandpoint, he cant help much with the order of the verses but he does shed some light on the way ancient writings where put together.

The after going over the poems at night for a week or so the groups decides to go see the Wise women Madam Vastage. She opens the door as the group arrives at her door step, she greets the group and informs them she had been expecting us for some time now. She says she cannot help us with the poem but she can read our cards and shed some light on what is to come.

It takes a few hours to do the Harrow reading for the heroes but they get the impression that they are in the fight for their life, and they are no longer going to be pre paired for foes they will have to face.

As the last of the groups items are improved by Kizzka's crafting skills, he takes a day to make two more items, one a wyvern scale suit of scale mail for Rend to give to Shalelu and the other a delicate and ornate suit of wyvern scale studded leather for Amiko. A gift in thanks for taking care of Gorum and her hospitality.

After another week of reading the poems they heroes have a heading and a target, the poem speaks of an old mountain and a steaming lake. Also of a open mouth and 7 statues. Heading to the docks they hire a boat named the Oily Snake to take them north up around the most western cape and far beyond Riddle port. the voyage takes 10 days but the weather is with them and time passes quickly.

Leaving the Snake and taking a small boat ashore the heroes find a circle of standing stone each with an open mouth and marked with a rune. Above on the foot hills is a head with an open mouth carved into the mountain side.
The hint offered by the poem is to offer each the proper spell and prayer at dusk, so they wait until the sun starts to set and then Zav starts casting his spells. As the first spell is cast the stone glows and a key appears in the open mouth.

A swooshing sound is heard in the distance as a white shape starts to take shape. As the dragon takes shape someone utters its name, Freezemaw. the huge dragon covers the distance in an impossible amount of time and is soon blasting the heroes with its icy breath. Rend, Sacristan and Zav flee from the terrifying monster. Kizzka call for Shylen's aid and smites the dragon with a blow that would have killed any other creature, Lizzia sends out a healing burst as the dragon picks up Chev and in one leap it air born and nearly 200' away. Casting a searing ray at it Lizzia hits the beast and Chev touches it with a spell of his own, just before the dragon drops him.

Kizzka and Carmalizzia watch helplessly as Chev falls over 200' to the ground, amazingly the cleric survives but is in need of a lot of healing. As a few minutes pass the other start to come back from the beach and out of the woods. Zav finishes casting his spells an soon after Sacristan uses a spell of her own they hold all 7 keys

Session #37 "The master is not to be disturbed, please keep your screaming to a minimum".

Since the Dragon seems to be content to hide and wait the group starts the climb to the screaming head in the foothills. Climbing up the steep switch back that must have been carved by giants the heroes path forward and back is blocked by two 36' tall earth elements. Rend charges the first and gets knocked off onto the switch back below, Thinking fast Zav banishes the brute and it disappears before the groups eyes. Kizzka charges the one behind and takes another heavy hit that knocks him off the ledge onto the level below. Before Rend can get back to the group another elemental rises from the stone steps punching the falling paladin to the ground while he is still in mid air.

Sacristan lets a few shots of her crossbow go but catches a backhand and goes flying off the cliff far beyond the level below and lands some 40' below. the young sorcerer blasts the second elemental with a disintegration spell and nothing more then a bit of dust blows off the mountain side. The two warriors batter down the last and the group heads further up the climb finally reaching the carved screaming face at the summit.

Walking through the mouth into the tunnel the floor becomes slick and icy, the heroes fight to not slip and fall. down incline is two statues on the left and right and an open hole in the middle. Chev casts a spell and looks around seeing through the illusion "the statues aren't real and there is a narrow ledge that leads around the edge of the hole". once everyone has passed through the illusion the ledge becomes clear as day and the group inches down the slippery slope. A few people slip but are quickly caught by the others.

Once at the bottom the group finds what they where looking for, 7 statues and a central pillar. as well in the back corner of the cave is a massive horde of coins, golden statues and very shiny weapons and armor. Its almost frightening how many items are for slaying dragons, and still this dragon lives after what must be a dozen hunting parties worth of gear.

Taking a quick inventory and loading up the bags of holding Chev and Zav examine the statues and start to line up the keys turning each counter clockwise twice. Once the last key clicks and all the statues are glowing and humming a portal appears in the middle of the room and Kizzka takes the lead.

The heroes end up in a high domed room with the sihedron rune on the floor, a calm pool of water in the middle and at each point a statue of each rune lord. The group goes over what rune and school of magic is tied to which lord, the majority of the party wants to take the wing of illusion and pride. The rune lord Xenderghul was the diplomat of the seven and keeps the nation from tearing each other apart.

Heading down a small hall Rend is the first to reach a "T" looking to his left and right he sees two mirrors and the infinite reflection of himself. Watching himself for a moment as the two reflection step out of the mirror and charge him. Carmalizzia quickly casts a stone wall cutting one of the clones off from the group and disrupting the infinite reflections. The 6 heroes surround the clone of Rend and batter the shield master down. Walking down the rest of the hall and into a large cathedral like room with a 20' tall peacock statue.

In the ancient tongue 4 voices ring out with exactly the same message "The master is in his study and is not to be disturbed, please keep your screaming to a minimum". As the message finishes 4 devastating fireballs strike hitting everyone but the rogue, Kizzka and Carmalizzia use there combined powers to heal the group as Chev cuts the room in half with a wall of swords "there are 4 invisible men in the middle of the room" the cleric inform the group.

Sacristan is hit by a feeble mind spell and goes into a more feral state and Lizzia runs tot he middle of the room reading a scroll that purges the invisible attackers. Zav returns with a magical barrage of his own as Rend charges his other clone and battles it one on one. Once they are visible it doesn't take long for the 4 mages to die, a few moments later Rend is finished his battle with himself and the group assumes he won.

In the back of the room they find a secret door and a lavish study within, sitting in a chair is a dead man with a book in his lap. Reading the mans book the group learns a great deal, he tells of the pool string and the 6 other halls joining together to destroy the abjuration hall. To his Dismay its Karzoug stirring and not his own lord, he knows the rune lord of greed will remake the empire in his own image. The are notes of the current kingdom and how he is pleased with it and feels it needs to be left alone, the old ways are dead and should stay that way.
there is also an entry on where Karzoug's sleeping body is and how to defeat him using fragments from his rune lords essence and from the essence of Sorshen the rune lord of enchantment. It appears this man had a truce or a relationship of some type with the Sorshen's chosen.