4709 Gozran 14th Scarwall, Belkzen

AM
After a long rest the pcs reenter Scarwall and again everything is strangely quiet. The pcs retraced their steps and met no opposition at first. After some searching the pcs found the 2nd floor area above the main gate keep where the murder holes are manned. The pcs found four giant minotaurs skeletons in the barracks and engaged them in battle.



While the thus occupied the pcs were attack on their flank on the stair side by two great undead humanoids with huge claws.

A quick firewall spell by Riley sent the two mighty creatures in full retreat. After a brief search the pcs then found stairs leading to the third floor. The pcs opened a small room and discovered a spiky devil standing guard near a gong. Before the pcs could slay it the creature rang the gong and the pcs were surrounded by gargoyles and another spiky devil. Just as pcs were gaining control of this situation the boneclaws returned and attacked the unprotected flank still on the 2nd floor.


Trinia Sabor was very nearly slain but luck and a timely rescue by Andrian spared her a gruesome death.


With Andrian's leadership the pcs won this three fronted battle with some difficulty. The pcs then rested and gathered their strength to push on exploring the third floor of Scarwall.

The pcs searched the third floor and eventually found a number of small towers and one large tower. In the large tower the pcs found a large bed and a small throne. Riley cast a spell of magic detection and found that there were magic items buried in the mattress. When the mattress was ripped open a great quantity of coins was discover with the few magic items. As the pcs were pocketing the treasure a voice from the ceiling encouraged their greed while threatening their lives. A few moments later a huge ice devil by the name of Nihil and her two spiked devil henchmen dropped from the upper level of the tower and attacked Bruntalmar. A furious battle broke out wherein Nihil used her frost spear to stab at the pcs over the heads of her spiny assistants while invisible imps appeared at the party's rear and attacked.



The imps were no match for the pcs but bought the other devils time. At first it seemed that the devils might win the day but then Shadowcount Sial cast a barrier blade wall that slashed away at the devil's feet. With nowhere to retreat the devils were forced to fight within the deadly blades. With the imps slain Nihil was soon left alone and outnumbered and was therefore quickly slain. A single imp surrendered to Shadowcount Sial and after Sial ordered the imp to chew off its own fingers to prove its loyalty. After this Sial cast a ritual to bind the imp to him to affirm its loyalty and allow it to leave the cursed castle.

PM
The pcs and their allies then began to debate whether to continue or to retreat and rest but decide to push on. After a complete search of the third floor the pcs continue to explore and end up on the first floor. They find a long and narrow room occupied by 5 more of the minotaur skeletons. The huge minotaurs are not able to take advantage of their number due to the narrow nature of the room and the pcs take advantage of this never fighting more than two at a time. After a brief battle the minotaurs are slain. When the pcs realize that the next room is open to the sky and the flock of gargoyles they finally decide to retreat.

Late PM
The pcs have returned to their base camp to rest for the night. Shadow Count Sial decides to "interrogate" the imp to find out what he know. Sial claims that the creature knows more than he says. Bruntalmar tries to intervene but Sial refuses to end the "interrogation". After a great deal of torture Sial asks Laori Vaus for her assistance and finally the imp cracks and tells what he knows. Apparently the star shaped spike tower is actually an ancient artifact created by the god Zon Kuthon to trap the dreaded "rough beast" Rovagug in the center of the planet following Rovagug's defeat by the ancient gods. Should the pcs destroy a part of the tower Rovagug could be released (ie door). At the very least it would hasten his freedom and another world destroying war of the gods. The only other way to gain entrance to the tower is to defeat all the other anchor spirts (the shadow dragon Belshallam, the skeleton captain Castothrane, and Bishop Zev Ravenka the demi-lich) and finally their chained spirit leader Mithrodar. This alone will break the curse that binds Scarwall and seals the door to the tower. With this information to ponder the pcs rest for the night.

4709 Gozran 13th Scarwall, Belkzen

Early AM
Laori Vaus and Shadowcount Sial argue over who is best suited to "question" the orc prisoner. The orc is hog tied during the debate. The Legend-That-Walks ends the debate by freeing the orc telling the priests of Zon-Kuthon that the orc can sleep in his tent. This turn of events seems to be quite acceptable to both priests and Sial even mentions that he will pretend not to hear the squeals of pain coming from Legend's tent.

AM
The party rests in the orcs' gatehouse ruins.

Early PM
The party again enters Scarwall but this time they are unopposed. The portcullises do not drop and the doors are all open. In the first large room after the gate keep, the pcs are attacked by an undead creature that is a bone amalgam of an entire military unit. The bone pile grabs Krojun and beats him relentlessly with weapons and bony fists but the party's healing powers keep the Shoanti alive. Furthermore the party uses Krojun's distraction to wear down the huge undead thing. Krojun outlasts the creature and the pcs win a hard fought victory. After a brief rest the pcs enter the next room which is decorated with rotting tapestries. A ghost animates from the skeletal corpse of some ancient knight. A curse briefly effects Andrian and he briefly attacks Laori but quickly shakes it off. The ghost seems to be the cursed spirit of the hero that killed Kazavon. The spirit of Mandraivus animates nearby bone pieces and they attack the party as fully formed skeleton. In a brief but furious battle the ghost is slain with minimal damage to the pcs. However after the exhausting battle with the bone legion the pcs decide it is best to retreat and rest and return another day. As they organize the retreat Shadowcount Sial suspected that the bone legion might reanimate and he decided to perform a ritual to prevent such an event. The pcs return to their base camp on the shore and spend the rest of this day and the night resting.

4709 Gozran 12th Belkzen

Early PM
The pcs attempt to sneak past the orc fortress nearest Scarwall but were spotted. A small army of orcs charged out to slay the pcs but are blown to bits by the pcs' explosive pyrotechnics.

Late PM
The pcs finally arrive at Scarwall. The pcs parley with a small force orcs guarding the dilapidated battlement on the shore side of Scarwall's causeway. The orcs allowed the pcs to pass clearly not expecting them to ever exit Scarwall alive.



When the pcs attempted to cross the causeway their ghost horses became slightly more substantial and turned on their masters but were easily slain. When Legend-That-Walks reached the door to the castle a portcullis dropped trapping him inside the castle's gate house. The castle's main doors swung open and skeletons attacked the trapped Skoan Quah warrior. Meanwhile the orcs left the battlements and moved to block the exit from the causeway. The pcs decided to attempt to lift the portcullis to free Qual Kehk. Krojun attempted to lift the heavy portcullis but failed despite his great strength. Andrian leapt forward and somehow managed to get the portcullis up freeing Qual Kehk embarressing Krojun. The pcs then fled before the hoard of advancing skeleton archers while arrows fell like rain upon the hindmost. Krojun insisted on serving as rearguard and received multiple arrow wounds in the arms and shoulders.

Carufinwe saw that the party was surrounded by orcs to the rear and skeletons to the front and thought to abandon the causeway to swim for safety. Then a great wake appeared and the elf was attacked by something deep in the murky lake. Carfinwe was pulled under the surface but fought his way free only to find himself in bow range of some twenty skeleton archers.



Despite a number of serious arrow wounds the elf managed to reach Scarwall's shore but his attacker, then revealed as an aquatic great grey worm, emerged from the dark water and bit him in half, quickly swallowing both pieces.

Meanwhile the other pcs, led by Andrian and Riley/Rizzle, began their assault on the blocking orcs. After an initial exchange of missiles the pcs quickly discovered that these particular orcs had a tenacity and battle madness unknown to them.


As the battle flowed back and forth there were many times wherein a pc was surrounded by the orc berserkers and was nearly slain, only the healing powers of Shadowcount Sial and Bruntalmar prevented death. Wisely the pcs changed tactics and instead of trying to kill the berserkers they merely knocked them off the causeway to be eaten the ravenous great grey worms. When the skeleton horde was close enough to begin firing into the furious melee, Riley cast a wall of fire blocking the archers' advance. After finishing off the last few orcs, the pcs fled to the safety of the mainland gate castle.

For a time the skeletons continued to advance into the wall of flame and were consumed. Some 5 dozen of the mindless undead were slain before they were ordered to break off the attack. After the skeleton retreated, Shadowcount Sial and Laori Vaus searched the downed orcs for signs of life. They managed to find one orc that seemed likely to survive "questioning" and took him captive. This orc looked a little more human than his fellows.............

4709 Gozran 7th-11th Cinderlands to Belkzen

The pcs and their allies employ their spirit horses to cross the Cinderlands and then cross deep into the orc lands of Belkzen at breakneck speeds.

4709 Gozran 6th Cinderlands

The pcs are seen off by the entire surviving Sklar Quah tribe and receive the honor of the special "Ritual of the Sun". This ritual will last until the pcs succeed in their quest to retrieve Serithial. As pcs say their goodbyes two black and red garbed priests of Zon-Kuthon arrive and offer assistance. The two seem to hate and distrust each other.

Shadowcount Sial is a handsome middle aged Chelaxian human that claims to be a priest of Zon-Kuthon. Laori Vaus is a graceful and pale shaddar-kai with many tattoos and piercings and is some sort of holy assassin. The pcs decide to allow both to accompany them on the quest for Serithial.

4709 Gozran 5th Cinderlands

Very Early AM
The Sun Shaman holds the ceremony of the "Blessings of the Ancestors" wherein the spirit of Andrian's grandmother Zellara is summoned from beyond the grave. At sunup she enters Andrian's body and recites a cryptic poem. Andrian has received flashes of insight from the past and the future but has no memory of the poem.

Zellara's Song

Fate of Steel-Serithial
Her cage for years sustained
Four enthralled in lost Scarwall;
Undead to keep her chained.
A spirit first, red war his thirst
Still stands at post of old;
A second foe, infernal soul
Waits high in tower cold.
In kennel's grime third bides his time
Then vents his killing breath.
And on a stone 'mid ash and bone,
The final dreams of death.
The spirits worn and battle torn
And locked in their damnation,
The Chained One's hold at last grows old
And ushers in salvation.
Yet hope remains amid the chains
When blade's stone cage has crumbled
Friends to dread and the death of the dead,
Keys to Kazavon humbled.

4709 Gozran 3rd-4th Cinderlands

Very late PM Gozran 3rd
The Sun Shaman holds a council with pcs and tells them the history of the Crown of Fangs. Apparently the Crown of Fangs are formed from the teeth of a mighty blue dragon by the name of Kazavon. Kazavon was a mighty warlord-tyrant in the service of the god Zon-Kuthon. Kazavon crushed every army sent against him and seemed invincible. The a mighty hero by the name of Mandraivus took up the great sword Serithial and organized a band of powerful allies. Mandraivus wisely sought to slay Kazavon without facing his army. One of his allies was the Sun Shaman of the Sklyar Quah. The dragon was slain but his body tried to regenerate itself. In order to prevent this the creatures corpse was burned and dismembered. Mandraivus asked each of the surviving allies take a piece of Kazavon away with them so that the dragon could not reform. The Sun Shaman left with an armful of the creature's teeth and formed it into a crown which was hidden away in the deep recesses of the Skylar Quah's pyramid. Then the Chelaxians arrived and stole the Shoanti's land and built their castle atop the great pyramid and there the queen must have found it.

Very Early AM Gozran 4th
After the council was completed the Sun Shaman called for a feast and dancing to celebrate Qual Keck's great feat. After a couple of hours of celebration the Skylar Quah encampment was attacked by a small army made up of Red Mantis assassins and their mercenary gargoyle allies. It was dark and their was much chaos as the Red Mantis set fire to tents and slew indescriminately. The pcs had a difficult time with the gargoyles because as soon as they wounded one the creature would turn to stone and would begin to regenerate its injuries.



Soon their the pcs were surrounded by gargoyles in stone form while wave after wave assaulted the camp. The legendary Cinderlander fired on the pcs from the safety of his flying gargoyle ally. However even this could not save him from the dagger of Andrian and the bow of Carufinwe and he was soon slain. Then just as the fight was seeming to teeter in favor of the Red Mantis, the dreaded assassin captain Cinnabar challenged Andrian to a duel. Seemingly outmatched Andrian managed to defeat the renowned Cinnabar through a combination of cunning and luck. With Cinnabar dead the Mantis assassins fled and thus the Skylar Quah were able to fall upon the inert gargoyles and smash them to bits. The Skylar Quah took heavy losses but the tribe won and avoided a near annihilation.