Redmark Date: Third Age—April 19-20, 1331

Despite putting the ordeals of the [name of pocket dimension island] behind them, the parties island adventures are far from over. Now they find themselves on another one, albeit one in Redmark at least, seeking out ancient weapons of great power located beneath a dormant volcano.

Their safe journey through the jungles of of the island of Dasarria was rudely interrupted by some good for nothing Knolls. Fortunately, the party has mastered the art of turning things up to 11 and utterly destroyed…maybe dispatched would be a better way of putting it…and were soon safely on their way again.

At first, with steam bursting out of small crevasses all over its side and smoke spewing out of the top, the volcano appeared to be only mostly dormant. However, the parties surprisingly average intelligence was somehow able to figure out that the steam was all venting at the same time and at precisely 30 second increments. This could only mean one thing! Something else was creating the steam. Naturally, the most obvious answer was “There be dragons in that mountain”. So, with weapons drawn and spelunking hats dawned, they charged head first into a cave from witch steam belched out.

Annnd, no dragon. Just a dead end cave with a difficult to open hatch. Fortunately, traveling to pocket dimensions, fighting leach kobolds, talking down an angry mother dragon, and surviving a terrifying haunted house had girded their loins against fear and doubt. Thus they were undeterred by this mysterious and unexpected man-made hatch inside a volcano and continued on.

And again…no dragons. There was a gynosphinx, though. It seemed terribly bored with life. It told of a legendary ancient wizard from the 2nd age called Keraptis(he’s bad, apparently), who had built this strange underground bunker. Those wishing to pass the gynosphinx were first required to answer three riddles. Seemingly unaware of their not low but all together unimpressive intelligence, they confidently agreed to the challenge. And won with great ease! Hoozah!

Now, with loins still very well girded, they spelunk ever deeper into this cave. Which isn’t actually a cave, but a man made structure. Hmm…maybe they aren’t really spelunking after all. Just trespassing. Again.

Redmark Date: Third Age—April 19, 1331

(Writeup to come!)

Redmark Date: Third Age—April 19, 1331

A good long talk

Standing at the entry to the cave, Lundie suggests to Fire Wilow that she stay outside, as she is deathly afraid of the Copru. Once it is decided that she will cast invisibility on herself and wait inside the boat the group took to get across the small moat. During this time the group learns from Fire willow and a little deduction that the Copru may have been formed by a kobold, which is now a kobold-lich. Marcus and Quintos surmise that this Kobold-lich is Kredigag. (See session log #25 for details).

Near the end of the conversation Quintos (or was it his owl) sees some movement out of one of the eyes of the sculpture on one of the walls outside the cave entrance. Quintos gives chase and sees 2 figures running down the hall way from this viewing port. Only to figure, that the party has lost the element of surprise. Due to this the party decides to charge into the cave.

The group is encountered by 3 witch doctors and 3 tribal warriors in the entry room of this temple(?). With every party member doing their part they make quick work of the potential attackers. With two trying to flee only to lead the party to a secret door. Which the party opens and soon find that a much larger room awaits them.

Loot Report

Nothing more than the lint found in our pockets

Inside the medical area the party spotted a gruesome medic performing horrible experiments on all sorts of bodies…or what would once be considered bodies. Horribly malformed and mutilated, the bodies began to stir, waking and pursuing the heroes. Instinctively attacking, the party set to work and laid waste to the foul creatures, and eventually setting upon the mad doctor himself. Realizing it was another undead beast, nothing was off limits and his destruction was swift (but not painless).

Beyond the medical bay stood a long narrow hallway with no doorways, only a left turn many feet down. Following the hallway, the heroes turned the corner and immediately felt the presence of all things wrong, unholy and foul. Sensing urgency in the situation, the religious leaders (Marcus and Lundie) burst through the doors in front of them and stared in awe at the desecrated temple. Large enough to appear as though it did not belong in this small of an area but small enough to feel as though it was constantly closing in on them, this room was wrong and unholy. As the heroes began making their way into the sanctuary, shrines to Margon were noted and immediately four large spirits appeared and attacked. These large 8-foot tall creatures resembled what was left of some form of human, but far too tall and certainly ghastly.

Wading in, these spectral monstrosities flew in and around the combatants and hit immensely hard. After nearly being felled by wicked blows from these four kings, the party focused fire and took them down one by one. Striking hard and fast they were able to pick the kings off, and had the foresight to destroy them completely with radiant magic. Having defeated the enemies and knowing that their escape was looming, Lundie and Marcus could not leave the sanctuary in such a state. They chose to spend time and forego some rest in order to cleanse the temple as best they could with their limited time.

Seeing one ominous staircase at the back of the sanctuary the party struck out, determined to find their exit. Down the seemingly endless steps laid a single door in a small landing area. More and more foul energy emanated from behind the closed door and the heroes booted in the door to face whatever evil lay beyond.

Inside this carved out cave of a room lay the plague maiden herself. The leader of the Conclave of Dreams, corrupted with undead energy, cackled and whispered something in a language our heroes could not speak. Choking on the noxious fumes, the heroes saw a way out and set out to lay this awful creature to rest. Struggling against the horrible aura that this woman (or former woman) had upon her, Marcus and Quintos teamed up to take her out in hand-to-hand combat while Lundie focused his holy damage upon her in an attempt to striker her from existence. Ghost Dancer, sensing the need of the group threw a series of support spells and damage spells, drawing both attention and her ire. Each contribution was of enormous help but each hit they dealt to her in turn dealt damage to the heroes from her overwhelmingly corrupted body. The tide suddenly turned when the last of her minions was struck down by Quintos, allowing the full force of the party’s resources to be poured onto her in a flurry of glorious battling fury. After mere moments she was felled and the party were able to escape the nightmarish compound.

They did not manage to set fire to the compound, nor did they ensure that they recovered the bodies of any that had wandered in before them. What became of the Lost Conclave? I guess we will find out if anyone ever stumbles upon it again. Perhaps the Chromatic Wizards will find a more suitable location for this awful resting place.