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 herd 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 a 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 farther 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.