So, we’ve searched out everything and still no Idol of Ildrana or anything to do with the clue we translated from Old Gospar. There’s not much else to do but search everything again. We go back to the Throne Room, the Stage Room, the Kitchen – all of the “logical” places. After those rooms turned up nothing again, Growlyn and I studied the map we’d made and I pointed out the hallway of single bedrooms. The doors to those rooms all faced north. Well, for lack of any other ideas, we ventured off together to check them. Starting with the fourth room, Growlyn found the eighth block over and the sixth block up on the far wall and pushed. He got a bit of a nasty surprise when his hand got sucked into the wall! He yelped in pain and I instructed him to say “actor” while crossing my fingers that we’d gotten the translation right. The pain stops and a hidden door opens into a small room. There’s a desk, many playbooks, and a mask in there. It looks like a study of sorts. Growlyn begins reading the books, looking for clues or information and I hustle on back to the rest of the party and tell them of our findings. We search the room thoroughly and find nothing resembling an idol. Il’s particularly interested in the mask and Caradryan was able to keep it from him until it had been checked for chaotic magic – it seems to be untainted and Il puts it on. The mask doesn’t reveal any hidden secrets in the room. We conclude that whatever is associated with the red claw mark is what has the idol. It was most likely in the ransacked eastern room up on the third level, but this is at best an educated guess. Hopefully someone in Erengrad will be able to shed some light on what the mark means or who/what it’s associated with it. Determining that there’s nothing left here for us to see, we loot the room of its playbooks and mask and go back to our injured. We’ll go back up top tomorrow when the tide’s right.
Day 2173 (the next day)
Back up top, we find Plavin, Amber, Paul, and carts and horses are not where we left them. In fact, they’re nowhere to be seen. Caradryan curses Plavin’s obvious betrayal of us and Nivak spots a faint trail. A short distance away, we find Plavin and the hidden carts. Paul’s still unconscious. We start our trek back to Erengrad. Turns out Plavin knows of the red claw symbol – it belongs to the Black Fang tribe of orcs and goblins that regularly raids in this area. Add “hire some nameless mercs to be meat-shields” to our Things To Do In Erengrad list.
Day 2181 (1 week later)
Paul’s still unconscious – is he ever going to wake up? I’m beginning to wonder. Well, besides that, have a run-in with some gobbos and orcs.
Battle Records: Caradryan = 9 kills. Nadon = 14 kills. Lillay = 16 kills (including the Leader). Ilmarian = 3 kills. Nivak = 7 kills. Jezeg = 12 kills. Growlyn = 15 kills, High Damage Kill at 31 points. Arvin = 5 kills. Axtrica = 6 kills. Esch = 3 kills. Vladimir = 3 kills.
Day 2185 (4 days later)
Paul’s woken up and seems to be no worse for the wear. Attacked by mutants. Growlyn lost three fingers on his axe hand during the battle. He’s most upset that he can no longer wield his prized weapon. Arvin’s been badly wounded as well – he won’t be joining us in battle for another sixteen weeks or so.
Battle Records: Caradryan = 20 kills. Nadon = 6 kills. Lillay = 8 kills. Ilmarian = 1 kill. Nivak = 6 kills. Jezeg = 11 kills. Growlyn = 8 kills, High Damage Kill at 22 points. Paul = 3 kills. Axtrica = 7 kills.
Day 2201 (2 weeks later)
We’ve been traveling for the last four days. Had to rest up for over week after that last battle. Plavin’s left us to scout out the area for trouble.
Day 2202 (the next day)
Plavin returns with nothing to report – the area looks clear.
Day 2217 (1 week/7 days later)
Mutant attack today – this one a minor skirmish if you will.
Battle Records: Caradryan = 4 kills. Nadon = 5 kills. Lillay = 2 kills. Jezeg = 6 kills.
Day 2222 (5 days later)
Arrive in Erengrad. Take rooms at the Frosted Axe and settle down for a while. There’s healing to be done, mercs to hire, information to gather.
Day 2272 (6 weeks/2 days later)
We’ve spent our time here in Erengrad wisely. Caradryan took the crown, necklace, and bracelet to the Verena temple and found out they were of local historic meaning. We agreed to donate the items to one of the nobles. The playbooks are taken to the library for further investigation. Baroushki has decided to leave the party. We completed as much training as possible. We hired on two groups of mercs: the first one includes one sergeant and ten advanced and the second one includes one advanced sergeant, two sergeants, five advanced, and ten newbies. Also hired on an outlaw chief (complete with two lackeys) and a cleric of Ulric. And now we’re on the road again – in search of the Black Fang tribe.