4709 Gozran 16th Scarwall

After much needed rest the pcs once again entered Scarwall. Andrian employed his grandmother's enchanted harrow cards to choose the best route to locate the shadow dragon anchor Belshallam. After passing through the courtyard safety yet again they located the dragon and attacked.




Belshallam summoned a vast horde of skeletons to hold the pcs at bay but the mindless undead were cut down almost as quickly as they are summoned. With the skeletons destroyed and the dragon surrounded the battle quickly became one sided and Belshallam was slain. However before the pcs could catch their breath the skeleton of Kazavon's high captain Castothrane attacked with another horde of skeletons. Castothrane used his hellfire power to burn any pc unlucky enough to come within reach. Soon it began to look as though the pcs were over matched and in danger of being overrun and slain. The fresh skeleton horde was quickly reduced but the undead minions provided a distraction that Castrothrane exploited to the near ruin of the pcs. Just when things were looking hopeless the pcs managed to force Castothrane out into the hall and his ability to overwhelm the pcs dwindled as his access to them became limited by the terrain.



With team work the pcs quickly turned the battle around and soon Castrothane was the one being overwhelmed by pcs superior numbers. Finally Castrothane, the last of the spirit anchors, was destroyed and as a result the curse of Scarwall became very weak. The pcs retreated and the curse attempted to repair itself by making Laori Vaus and Dawk Grunchar its new anchors. Now Laori and Dawk are unable to leave Scarwall but have gained the power to animate the ubiquitous bones and to command the lesser undead. The pcs are unwilling to leave their comrades behind and they begin to discuss their next move.

4709 Gozran 15th Scarwall, Belkzen

Early AM
After resting the pcs re-enter Scarwall yet again. This time they head to the first floor area they had vacated the night before. The pcs and the priests of Zon Kuthon debate strategy for crossing the open court yard. They decide to send in their stealthers first to open the door to the 2nd floor opposite them. Andrian, Laori, and the imp successful cross court yard though they do cause the gargoyles to begin speaking to each other in their strange language.


Next the non-stealth members (excepting only Sial and Bruntalmar) make a run for the door and finally the gargoyles fly down from the ramparts to attack. A desperate battle erupts but the endangered pcs manage to reach the door and safety. However Sial and Bruntalmar are trapped on the other side and attempting to cross the courtyard seems suicidal.


The two clerics decide to spike the doors closed to avoid being overrun. The party is now split with the clerics on one side of the court yard and the balance of the party on the other.

After some discussion the main group decided that it would be wiser to risk a crossing of the court yard again rather than to split the party. The main group talked the imp Jogub into sneaking back across the court yard invisibly to request that Bruntalmar and Shadowcount Sial attempt a crossing with support from their side. Then followed a heated argument between Bruntalmar, who wished to comply with the request, and Sial who thought is suicidal and ludicrous. Shadowcount Sial was only persuaded because Brunt threatened to cross and leave Sial alone with the undead.

Bruntalmar burst through the door and sprinted for the far side of the court yard so quickly that he caught the gargoyles off guard and managed to escape. Although Shadowcount Sial was only a few seconds behind Brunt he was not nearly so lucky. After only a few steps Sial was surrounded by the gargoyles that Brunt had startled with his mad dash. Sial fought desperately but was dragged down and ripped to pieces by the claws of the gargoyles. The last sounds Sial heard was the mocking voice of Laori Vaus telling him he could make it.



No one shed a tear for Shadowcount Sial's untimely demise and eventually the party began searching out the rest of the second floor near the star tower. The party discovered 5 small rooms for priests of Zon Kuthon and the curse caused the spirits of the dead to attack the party. Instead of engaging as expected the ghosts passed through the floor. Apparently the ghosts had run off to warn the guardian of the this level a mummy named Prelate Aruth.

After a long battle in confined hallways the pcs led by Andian defeated the five spirits and the mummy-priest Aruth. The pcs found a stair case leading down to the first level area near the star tower. After looking around a little the pcs opened the door to a large diagonal room wherein they found a gem encrusted disembodied skull that levitated into the air and hissed, "STEAL YOUR SOULS". Apparently the pcs have discovered the anchor they were looking for, the Bishop of Zon Kuthon Zev Ravenka.



The animated skull of the former bishop floated in the air and a furious battle erupted. Andrian charged the demilich and in turn Zev Ravenka summoned a small army of skeletons and charged the pcs. For a time it seemed that the pcs were doomed, out numbered by skeleton warriors and out gunned by the soul stealing powers of the demilich. However the pcs were still protected by the ritual of the Sun Shaman and were thus able to resist the soul stealing powers of the demilich. The turning point in the battle came when Riley cast a spell that temporarily rendered the demilich inert and Bruntalmar destroyed Zev Ravenka's skeleton minions with his turning power. The pcs exploited this opportunity and destroyed the demilich and defiled its phylactery. The battle exhausted the pcs and they decided to retreat and rest. Fortunately the gargoyles were off hunting and they were able to pass through the courtyard unmolested. Once back at their base camp the pcs attempted to rest though a gargoyle disturbed Andrian's turn at watch and Bruntalmar drove off a foray by a small party of orcs.

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.