Through the Looking Glass... Session Four

Date: Friday, November 2nd, 2001
Players Attending: Dave, Ike (whoo!)
Characters Introduced: none
NPCs Introduced: none
Notable Enemies:

• Eralion, mad shadow-mage

After a long and brutal battle, the surviving party members dutifully transport their fallen comrades to the roof of the chapel, which will become the lookout point from which they can spot any dangers before it’s actually upon them. Spirits are low, looking down at the surface of the rooftop and seeing so many of their companions lying at Belsameth’s door. It’s a cold and miserable night, but the coolness isn’t the only thing keeping Jaroo and Jerinor awake...

Local legend has it...

1. Jaroo begins to have a dream, a very disturbing vision of a man in fine robes entering the southwest tower of the keep, and slowly sinking into the earth. Then, just before he wakes, his vision becomes terribly skewed, wailing at the light and how painful it is, and a thousand voices start speaking all at once, swelling and breaking and nearly screaming – Jaroo awakes, a bead of sweat dripping from his brow.
2. Jerinor and Jaroo start to make some plans about what they think that they should do, when Jaroo spots Tavik come out of the northeast tower.
3. Jaroo nearly cries out as he spots the evil half-orc priest, and runs over to the scorpion to fire on Tavik. Striking the door right besides Tavik’s head, the priest lets out a shriek and retreats back into the tower.
4. Still shaken, Jaroo and Jerinor debate this new turn of events and try to decide about how best to defend against this threat. Off in the direction of the northeast tower, they hear a door open and close. But when they look, nothing can be seen.
5. Dampening their ability to see is the thick fog that rolls in. The forest now seems to grow very quiet.
6. Jaroo heads down into the courtyard to investigate, and hears another door open and close off in the same direction. Fearing for his life, he runs back up to the roof of the chapel and him and Jerinor try desperately to see who (or what) is moving out there. Jerinor cries out into the fog several times, trying to get a response...
7. Jerinor decides to investigate the chapel below them, and looks into the murky blackness. She goes back up to quickly get a sunrod, and descends into the chapel to find the same large black candle on the altar... LIT.
8. Jaroo fires two cross-bow bolts at the candle, but because of it’s size does not topple. Jerinor takes her spear and knocks the candle on the floor, putting it out with the butt of her spear.
9. Both party members enter the priest’s quarters behind the curtain and find, among other things, a prayer book/journal of Tavik and a small chest containing some silver and gold.
10. Jaroo puts the book in his backpack and they leave the priest’s quarters... only to see the same candle standing on the altar once more, bleeding it’s red ichor from it’s lit wick.
11. Terrified now, Jerinor spears the candle and carries it up to the roof of the chapel, where she puts it out.
12. Jaroo ascends the tower to try and get a better vantage point, and spots movement from the edge of where the chapel rooftop meets the western portion of the curtain wall. Jerinor pokes her head around the staircase, and then the crenellation to find a grim-faced Tavik with weapon readied!
13. Tavik strikes Jerinor and presses his attack, but gets his evil-looking skull-tipped mace stuck into a slightly out-cropping crenellation. Jaroo swings the scorpion around and before Tavik can evade, a long steel bolt of steel courses through the priest and he falls over, dead.
14. Jerinor watches in horrid fascination as his body dematerializes right in front of her! Jaroo tries to get there to see it, but is too late. No trace of Tavik remains.
15. Jerinor rests and Jaroo tries to help her mend the opening on her forehead that she got from Tavik. Jaroo then proceeds to do a little exploring.
16. Upon reaching the northeast tower from the top of the curtain wall, Jaroo steps onto the roof – and falls through the crumbling and decayed roof! A mass of thick, sticky cobwebs greets Jaroo as he stands up and discovers that this whole tower is filled with cobwebs!
17. Jerinor hears Jaroo cry out and calls out his name from the top of the tower, trying to see him through the fog.
18. Jaroo steps towards the stairs leading up and calls out to Jerinor that he just fell through the roof, when he is bitten in the back of the leg! Spinning around to meet his foes, he sees two spiders who are much bigger than him try to surround him!
19. Calling upon his newfound acrobatic skills, Jaroo drops and pushed off the wall to roll out of the outstretched mandibles of the spiders and sprints for the stairs. The spiders are close behind him...
20. Jaroo makes it onto the crenellation and practically runs on the edge of the wall to the eastern portion of the curtain. Unfortunately, Jaroo did not look closely at his options, for this wall ends in fifteen feet in a pile of crumbling stone! Seeing the spiders crawl out of the stairwell, their footfalls a harsh-clacking sound on this keep’s stone, Jaroo lets out a shriek and jumps to the ground!
21. Despite twisting his ankle, Jaroo runs for his life towards the chapel, which Jerinor has just descended from. Jerinor tries to ask Jaroo what happened, but she has to wait until she can catch up to him on top of the chapel.
22. Jaroo tells Jerinor the story as he curses his own stupidity, and falls back against the wall as he feels his strength leave him. He tries to tell Jerinor more, but all he can manage is some incoherent mumbling.
23. Jerinor keeps watch over Jaroo and the rest of the companions, and Jaroo has the same strange vision of the mage descending into the darkness of the tower, and awakes to find some of his strength returned. He tries to get up, and as he does he feels that the clouds opened up for a brief second and as the sun touches his face he hears an otherworldly voice say “Avenge me”.
24. Shaken, Jaroo manages to stand and Jerinor helps him to get more comfortable. Then they hear a low groan coming from the direction of their companions!
25. Kath awakes! Jaroo is very excited and thanks the gods that Kath is awake, and Kath tells Jaroo to keep his voice down. Jaroo tries to suppress his joy, and then asks Kath if he had any strange dreams. Kath replies no, and then remembers his last stance. He grabs Jaroo by the front of his cloak and asks “Is the ogre dead?”
26. Kath is very pleased to hear that the ogre has been slain, and he lies to rest while Jaroo reads through Tavik’s journal and discovers a great many things about Tavik and his ambitions.
27. Upon awakening, Kath makes his rounds as only a cleric can and offers Corean’s healing to the rest of the party, who is all awake now to hear the full account of everything that’s happened from Jaroo, who is all to happy to tell. Only Hathol out of all the newly-conscious companions can attest to having the strange dreams, however.
28. The party then decides to take care of the spiders, and Kath lights his torch and throws it into the tower. They can hear it hit the floor of the tower, and all but Runic and Jaroo climb the curtain wall to see if the spiders will attempt to flee the fire.
29. The first of the spiders clatters up the wall and bites Lauriel’s arm and tries to drag her down into the burning tower. Lauriel shakes off the attack and Kath sends the spider shrieking into the dark and smoke below.
30. The second spider climbs up the opposite side of the tower and attempts to make an escape over the wall, but arrows from Hathol and Lauriel strike it dead and topple it over the wall. Jaroo goes to make sure it’s really dead, and has to fight to keep his breakfast down...
31. With the spider threat removed, the party rests for the night before taking on whatever lies in the southwest tower.
32. Spirits are somewhat better today, and with everyone feeling a little bit stronger, they open the door to the tower and peer inside. The tower reeks of the same orc feces and urine smell that they remember from the chapel, albeit a little stronger.
33. They try to find something that would suggest where Eralion might lie, and finally they deduce to start moving the rugs to look for a passageway down into the tower. Hathol throws himself to the task with great vigour, bent on finding whatever it is and putting it to rest.
34. The party finds a trap door and fastens a rope so that they can climb back up. The room below is 40 feet wide and circular. There is a lot of broken furniture and shredded tapestries here on the floor, and the party discovers that there is another trapdoor leading down here, although this one has been wedged and nailed shut. Funny thing is, it’s wedged in silver to keep something inside...
35. The party realizes that they are on the right track, and Kath reminds Jaroo of the scroll that Quinn gave them. Kath reads it for Jaroo and Kath helps Jaroo as the gnome prepares to read it. Despite a few failed attempts, Jaroo actually manages to recite the spell properly and dispel the lock on the door!
36. Kath opens the door and the party peers down. It appears to have been some sort of laboratory, and there are six statues of knights in chainmail and full-helm lining the walls.
37. Jaroo and Runic descend into the room, and are soon attacked by six zombies come to (un)life! Lauriel makes her way down the rope and attacks the nearest zombie, with Kath leaping right down to join the fun!
38. The battle commences in full swing as Hathol and Jerinor descend and the zombies press the attack. The zombies are not much of a threat, and they are defeated soon.
39. The party comtemplates what might lie beyond the door in the eastern wall. Kath opens the door, and the party sees a room that is undisturbed. It appears to be the quarters of a wizard, with three spellbooks lying on the table beside the table.
40. The party leaves everything as is, and debates what to do when they see that there is actually another trap door leading down. The party tenses for another attack as Kath opens the door, and they peer cautiously inside.
41. The party sees the six stone sarcophagi lining the walls, and another stone coffin in the middle of the room on a raised dais of the blackest stone. Beside the coffin is a broken flask of fine make and some papers scattered, and lying on top of the coffin is the skeletal remains of a mage in ornamental robes, with one hand drooping over the side holding an ornate staff with a sun on it’s head.
42. The party descends cautiously into this room, fearing an attack from every corner. Soon they hear the voice of Eralion call out to them, and Runic tries to convince the extra shadow in the room to show itself.
43. Eralion materializes a little and goes after Jaroo, who is holding both lit sunrods.
44. The party tries it’s best to attack Eralion, but he doesn’t notice. Kath tries a couple times to turn the shadow-Eralion but is unsuccessful, so he blesses the party and tries to enhance his greatsword to deal with the shadow.
45. Hathol manages to break the staff out of the corpse’s hand, and hands it to Jaroo, who inadvertently speaks a command word. The staff’s head erupts with a blinding light, making the dark room appear as a daylight. Eralion is further enraged with Jaroo and doubles his efforts to kill him.
46. Kath manages to infuse the power of Corean in his greatsword, but is having difficulty at first landing a hit on the mad shadow-Eralion. Soon, the mage is defeated at Hathol’s hand and a dart from Jaroo, and the group discovers Eralion’s treasure in his coffin. The party loads everything up and makes it’s way back up to the surface.
47. The party then sets to clearing out the desecration of Hedrada’s temple, and Kath consecrates the temple back to Hedrada. The party then rests before their journey back to Fairhill.

Thoughts from the party...

Jaroo's View

The only sentiment I have that rivals my confusion, is my elation at my continued life.

But two days past I had given up on this cruel world. This world who would lay bare the frailty of mortal bodies and strike down everyone who I could call friend in the span of a single minute.

And yet, here I am.

The huge body of Kath actually blocks out the sun as he towers above Runic and Lauriel, the three chatting amiably, releiving the tension as my short steps take me further and further away from my nightmare. Jerrinor and Hathol walk together, and I get the impression of more than just simple camaraderie from the two, as I have several times since I've known them.

I stay behind a few steps, joining in when prompted to do so, and laughing at the grim and sometimes strained jokes. I take in the amazing scenery here, and enjoy the somewhat sunny day. I listen to those I am with, happy to be alive. I am thankful to them, and to Hedrada and whoever else saw fit that I should continue drawing breath.

But under all my happiness, I am inwardly barely able to block out just how confused I am about what has happened. It's regrettable, but even as lazy physically as I've always been, my mind has always been very sharp. I am inquisitive and enjoy a test of the mind, and I've cursed myself for it more than just once. And now, here I am, ignoring those to whom I owe my life because I have not the answers that I seek.

Who spoke to me when i woke and then after the chapel was cleaned out? Did anyone really speak to me at all? How was the candle relit and replaced? What became of the orc we released after encountering him in the chapel? Is Tavic dead? What do the bracers do? What does my dagger do? Will Hathol be alright? How did Eralion die? Who was the person Eralion's shadow asked for? What kind of strange alchemical processes create zombies? What does Tavic's Mace do? Why didn't I think to grab the books in the lower parts of the tower? What was the green ooze?

Runic finishes a joke. Something about the number of giants it takes to start a fire, and I join in the laughter that ensues, being drowned almost completely out by Kath and Runic's deep chuckles, wishing I could shut my mind down and enjoy this trip as easily as my muscles were shut down after the bites from the spiders.

The thought makes me wince, and my hand instinctively goes to the two gold-piece sized wounds in my left side just below my ribs. They are still tender, and will likely scar, though if I asked I could surely convince Kath or another to heal me entirely... but no... I won't do that. I will keep these two painful welts as a reminder of what has made me what I am this day. Surely, I will never look at the tavern the same, or anything else for that matter. It seems to me that my existence so far has been an unremarkable waste of time. I am resolved to live a fuller life... I am resolved to help those in need, however I best can... I am resolved to make myself more than just another Gem-mongering gnome.

Surely there is a reason I am still alive, and for that I place the credit squarely on another's shoulders, although, other than the 5 others who share my company, I know not yet who to thank... Voril certainly. It was his craft that ended this ordeal, and I can see the silver dart gleaming on Hathol's belt, his hand dropping to it every few minutes, as if for reassurance.

I do not believe that my tiny existence is worth the attention of the gods... but maybe... just maybe, someone greater than what I am decided to give me a second chance at this.

And I suppose that maybe it was just dumb luck that I have not met my end on several occasions.

I smile to myself; it only took several near death experiences to give me a violent shove into realising my second chance was here, and I've resolved now to grab it and hold on.

I laugh out loud at the thought, not caring that Kath was in the middle of a current story and ignoring the strange looks I get from everyone as we trudge along. I feel alive truly for the first time in 49 years, and I hurriedly step forwards under the eyes of my comrades, not daring to miss another word from anyone all the way home.

Runic's View

. "Damn humans and their meddling riddles." I smile to myself as we make our way back through the forest towards Fairhill. "Why do they always have te think with goblin brains?" The bright colours of the forest and the sounds of animals, however, give me no answers.

"Enough of the ghosts." I grumble in typical dwarfish fashion. "Give me a straight-up Giant fight any day. Give me somethin' me axe can bite into! I don't need no more of these stinkin' shadows and evil human magic types. Titans be damned!" I spit.

So many questions. Why would Eralion hole himself up in that damn tower? More magic research? And why were those zombies so familiar? Was he somehow behind creating the ones Yonix and I saw before as well? What were the orcs up to? They couldn't have been in cahoots with the wizard, seeing as he'd been dead for so long. Were they just after the Crucible? Or was is somethin' else? And where the hell did that spell-slingin' orc leader get to? Have to ask Jaroo about that.

I didn't even slay the ogre. Blasted giant. Can't be lettin' people down like that. I'm glad Kath was there to see us through, and thankful I am that Jaroo and Jerinor kept watch, but I can't tolerate that kind of weakness in meself. Got to work on me hammer and make sure no more blasted orcs get the best of me. I think I'll be doin' some shopping when we gets back.

With that, I look down at the heavy chest that Kath and I haul along. "Not a bad little bit of return for our efforts." When it comes right down to it, even the blasted human mages hoard gold. Good old reliable gold.

I shake my head and try to clear these cluttered thoughts from my mind. Too many damn questions. I think ahead to all the things we must do when we return. There's a lot of work to be done if we're to set things right for this little human town. It's an even longer road for this royally messed-up world of ours. But after the town's dealt with, well, there's a certain Giant I'd like to have a little meetin' with.

At that thought, I am reassured to feel Kneesplitter hanging at my side. A warhammer is a dwarf's best friend. When I look up I see Jaroo, talking to himself as he skips along. Aye, Gnomes. Perhaps this darn wizard has gotten us all speakin' inside our heads. Still, Jaroo's got a spark of spirit in him, that one. Maybe I'll even ask him to come along with me someday. By the Beard! Killin' giants isn't half so much fun if'n ye haven't got someone to compete with fer skulls.

With that, I decide to break this depressing chain of silence. Everything will work out. We'll go talk with that Quinn sage fella, he'll be able to explain things. No sense in sweatin' over a goblin that isn't there.

I turn my head again back towards the party and speak up, with a dwarfish glint in my eye. "Hey Jaroo, how many Giants does it take to start a fire?"...