I Always Feel Like Somebody's Scryin' Me, and I have no privacy (oh oh oh oh)

After the Carstellan party excitement on the night of Wealsun 6, some members of SWAG enjoyed a restful sleep while others engaged in "nighttime diplomacy." The following day, SWAG met with Lord Bariss Carstellan and the Sumberton city council, who thanked them for their intervention and apologized for Thrann's actions. On SWAG's recommendation, the council agreed to shore up city defenses, muster the city militia, and begin evacuating civilians to the southern towns.

SWAG spent the next day helping refugees flee Dondurran. That night a group of barghests and hobgoblins attacked SWAG, knowing where they were camped at an abandoned farm from a previous scry. The barghests used their dimension door powers to teleport through walls to great effect, but SWAG drove them away in defeat.

SWAG then learned that a group of several hundred enemy troops had broken off from the main horde encampment at Dondurran and was heading toward Kel's Rise. SWAG flew to Kel's Rise to warn the village, which was huddled behind a small castle's walls with 20 village guard and 20 militia defending the town. SWAG contemplated helping the town resist the horde, but instead urged them to evacuate and planned an air raid on the horde approaching the village.

SWAG approached the smaller horde of 300 or so enemy troops and tried to get close enough to launch a fireball. Thirteen flying creatures were guarding the horde from the air, however, preventing SWAG from getting too close. Instead, SWAG dropped aerial bombardments of alchemist's fire and Odette fired her bow at the troops' leader, Wyrmlord Saarvith who had previously fled the battle at Rhest. After Odette hit Saarvith and several horde arrows hit SWAG, Saarvith and a few other flying creatures turned invisible and SWAG retreated.

SWAG then flew back to Sumberton -- now in full war preparation -- to retrieve Petra's newly upgraded heavenly burst greatsword +1, and they learned the location of the Ghostlord's lion-shaped lair. SWAG spent the next 4 days flying around the horde to the Ghostlord's lair in the Thornwaste, arriving on Wealsun 18.

With the Red Hand only 6 days away from its planned attack on Sumberton, SWAG enterred the Ghostlord's massive carved lion lair and battled hobgoblin monks with grappling dragonchains. SWAG defeated the monks and then encountered more monks, Red Hand clerics and the bard Ulwai Stormcaller. SWAG pummelled Ulwai's guards while she used bardic music thunderstrikes to attack Petra. As SWAG closed on Ulwai and landed several hits, she turned invisible and fled.

Miss Manners Wererat Party Tips

Dear Miss Manners:

I am planning on attending a party, but I believe the host is a wererat. I am concerned that he may be secretly allied with an invading goblin army. Time is short as the evil horde advances and refugees flee their homes. I fear that in order to expose him I must break the law, but if the law has been corrputed by evil, isn't it my duty to unmask it?

Dear Troubled in Sumberton:

Eating from the point of a knife was commonplace until it was roundly condemned about 200 years ago, when the fork came into widespread use. And cutting up all the meat before it is eaten is done only for small children not yet trusted to wield knives. That you were not told this before is a shame. But now you know.

Yours, Miss Manners

SWAG enjoyed a relaxing sleep in Sumberton following many days of travel, and had a breakfast meeting with Luminary Champion Armin Harrack the following morning, on Wealsun 6. He said that he had successfully persuaded the soldiers blockading Dondorran that their orders were unlawful, and they let the refugees begin their trek toward Sumberton.

SWAG also met with Naryalla of the Ebon Cabal who provided SWAG with scrolls of reveal lycanthropy to unmask Thrann Carstellan and his guards as lycanthropes. SWAG prepared for the party by procuring silvered weapons and hiding what weapons they could with reduce spells and other tricks.

At the party, Thrann Carstellan made a brief appearance. SWAG swung into action, dispelling magic protecting him and launching their attack. Thrann was revealed as a wererat to an entangled group of party-goers and SWAG fought to stop him. Two disguised warforged ninjas lept to his defense and SWAG fought a spirited battle. While SWAG attempted to hit Thrann and fought his ninjas and other guards, a small kobold cohort climbed under a table and critically hit Thrann with an inflict serious wounds spell. Thrann fell and the battle was won.

SWAG found Thrann's father and brother unconscious in a nearby room along with the halfling leader of the merchant's guild. With the wererat conspiracy unmasked, Armin Harrack promised to heal the Carstellan family and remove their lycanthropy curse. With the city's leaders rescued, an immediate council meeting would be called to begin preparations for a last-ditch defense of the city.

Panic on the streets of Dondurran

After SWAG destroyed the hobgoblin roadblock, they ventured on into the Blackfens swamp. The next day, they were attacked by a greenspawn razorfiend's acid and razor wing attacks. They defeated the creature and befriended the wild elf Tiri Kitor tribe that inhabits these parts.

The Tiri Kitor gave SWAG a safe place to sleep before investigating Red Hand operatives based in the ancient flooded city of Rhest. Joined by Tiri Kitor bard Trellara Nightshadow, who sought to avenge the death of her brother by the razorfiend, SWAG assaulted the Red Hand in Rhest.

In a swift nighttime surprise raid, SWAG swept into Rhest, quickly killing ogre guards. SWAG fought an ettin and Red Hand goblin ranger Wyrmlord Saarvith mounted on a black dragon. After killing the ettin, and bringing it back as an undead minion (shhh, don't tell Petra), Saarvith and the black dragon were badly wounded and fled. SWAG dispatched the remaining lizardmen and hobgoblins with the aid of a summoned squid and shark.

With Saarvith and the black dragon gone, SWAG found the dragon's hoard and its many coins and magic items. SWAG also found a phylactery belonging to a lich named the Ghostlord and a note from Red Hand leader Ulwai telling Saarvith to keep the phylactery secure. SWAG then returned to the Tiri Kitor, securing their alliance in the fight against the Red Hand, the use of several giant owl mounts, and a host of magic items.

SWAG learned that Lukrimar Keep had fallen to the horde, and flew back to Sumberton to meet with Armin Harrack. On the way, SWAG rescued Teyana Suri, allowing her gold caravan to continue on to seek the aid of the Shining Axe Company of dwarven mercenaries in the northern dwarven lands.

Aiding refugees along the way, SWAG made a pit stop in Dondurran to find several thousand refugees trapped in the town by the elite guard of Sumberton's Lord Carstellan. SWAG tried to persaude the guard to let the refugees past, but the guard insisted it must follow its orders. SWAG uncovered a spider-woman spy in town and killed her, and then continued swiftly to Sumberton.

In Sumberton, SWAG met with Armin Harrack, who pledged to break the Carstellan blockade of Dondurran. He also said that he had called a town council meeting but that it had been delayed by the arrest of the halfling leader of the merchant guild. He urged patience until the council meets. Ebon Cabal bard Naryalla also contacted SWAG, prodding them to end their strict adherence to law and order and expose Thrann Carstellan as a lycanthrope agent of the Red Hand.

SWAG investigated the merchant guild, breaking in and finding signs of a struggle but no clue as to the whereabouts of its leader. As the Red Hand Horde moved toward Dondurran in the first week of Wealsun, SWAG pondered its next move.

R.I.P. Red, We'll Especially Miss Your Glowing Posterior

SWAG helped Andrushel recover from a second goblin raid as the remaining residents prepared to flee. On a drizzling Flocktime 20, the last of the residents left the village, heading south toward the settlements in the Valley. SWAG remained in town briefly, destroying remaining goods in the village warehouse and destroying the ferry barges that the Red Hand horde could have used to cross the river in Andrushel.

On the hot and sunny morning of Flocktime 21, SWAG left the now empty town of Andrushel, with the horde a mere 1 day away from the village. SWAG began a 6 day journey into the Headwater Hills to investigate a roadblock on the road to potential allies in the Dwarven Lands.

During the trip, SWAG saw an athach -- a massive three-armed giant -- on the side of road, which began lobbing rocks at the group. SWAG responded with attacks while Red and Petra closed to fight the giant. With the athach taking a pounding, it lashed out at Red. DeKelley closed Red's wounds, saving him from death. But then a critical hit bite attack lopped off Red's head. Red was dead. SWAG avenged Red's death and gave him a proper burial.

With Red gone, SWAG pressed on through the Headwater Hills and into the swampy bog where the ruins of Rhest apparently lay hidden. A call for help and a glowing light in the bog led SWAG to investigate, only to find a will o' wisp ambush. After several electrical shocks from the will o' wisp, SWAG dispatched the creature.

Finally, SWAG reached the hobgoblin roadblock. With fireballs, flaming spheres and oil attacks, SWAG injured, killed and/or set fire to the minions of evil guarding the roadblock. One hobgoblin lept 20' off the burning roadblack rooftop in a desperate attempt to escape, only to be cut down in SWAG's complete victory over the forces of evil.

Raids on Andrushel Continue As Residents Prepare To Flee

A fatigued SWAG spent the night helping to put out fires and returned in the morning to the inn for breakfast. The innkeeper mentioned that most folks in town, along with the town council, would be holding a memorial service for the children and militia who died in the fighting the night before. SWAG declined to attend the service, except for Petra who paid her respects.

SWAG then attended the town council meeting where each council member stated their view on the best approach to combat the increased raids and threat of attack. SWAG informed the town that they had about 5 days until the horde attacked.

DeKelley urged that the town quickly flee. The council members stated that it would take a few days to convince the farmers to pack up all their belongings and abandon the homes they have lived in all their lives, particularly with food still in the fields and that needed to be quickly harvested to feed the refugees on the journey, and supplies that needed to be ferried from the west bank warehouse. Petra argued that the town should pack up and leave as soon as they could, and that perhaps SWAG could stay to briefly harry the horde and delay its advance. Odette grew frustrated with the town's slow pace, and called the town's leaders murderers and the townsfolk stupid.

The council decided to urge all residents to pack up and leave as soon as possible, estimating that the evacuation of all citizens and retrieval of food and warehoused supplies would take about 3 days.

After the council meeting, commotion in the streets led SWAG to attempt to stop a horse riding through town with a flaming wagon. A chimera soon appeared, attacking SWAG and nearly killing a child and mother fleeing the battle. SWAG drove off the wounded chimera and spent that day helping the militia and tending for the wounded. Several wagonloads of refugees from south of town arrived seeking shelter. SWAG informed them that it was not safe here - they had to turn back and head south.

The following day, SWAG continued to help train militia and care for the wounded. As the first wave of refugees left for Lukrimar Keep, a thunderstorm rained down, slowing the warehouse ferry. A Luminous Order knight named Teyana Suri rode into town, bringing news of a roadblock preventing travel to the northern cities and dwarf towns beyond the Headwater Hills.

That night another raid took place during a driving rainstorm, with 3 goblin worg riders and a hobgoblin spellcaster fighting in the west bank. SWAG killed the goblins and worgs and drove off the hobgoblin.

Goblins Attacking the West Bank!

Faced with the daunting reality of thousands of goblinoids and their allies massing at Cinder Hill, SWAG began the journey back to Andrushel, planning to lay traps along the way. The detour around the now-ruined Skull Gorge bridge would take about 3 days.

Camping near Skull Gorge, SWAG slept while Red kept watch. A few hours into the night, SWAG was awakened to the screams of Red being ripped to shreds by a large girallon. SWAG lept to Red's defense as the girallon began eating Red and dragged him off into the woods. SWAG gave chase and repeatedly attacked the girallon, finally killing it before it could finish its buggy dinner. DeKelley healed Red and SWAG continued on to the other side of Skull Gorge, and Jorr warned that at least 100 hobgoblins had set up camp on the Cinder Hill side of the gorge.

Not knowing whether flying creatures accompanied the hobgoblins, SWAG chose to avoid battle, continued to Vraath Keep, and raced back to Andrushel, arriving before nightfall on Flocktime 17. SWAG warned the town council that a huge force was headed this way. The town council called an emergency session for the following day, and invited SWAG to join in. Finally, SWAG met the druid Avarthel and asked him if he could send an animal messenger to warn Sumberton. Avarthel said that he hadn't memorized that spell, but would do so in the morning.

About 2 am that night, screams rang out through the town as fires raced through buildings and the druid's grove on the west bank of Andrushel. SWAG and a dozen of the town guard and militia boarded the ferry for the long 6 minute ride across the river. By the time they arrived, many building and trees were in flames. Illuminated by the light of the flames, six goblins on worgs raced around the town, peppering townsfolk and the SWAG/town guard/militia forces with arrows. SWAG helped save children and townsfolk trapped in burning buildings and engaged the goblins in battle. SWAG also attempted to save the druid Avarthel, who emerged from his grove in flames. Unfortunately, Avarthel died of his injures before Petra could save him.

As the town guard slowly advanced and SWAG killed or chased away several goblin worg riders, a dozen hobgoblins emerged from the darkness. SWAG and the guard engaged the second wave of invaders, killing most of the hobgoblins. Two hobgoblin spellcasters with red hands emblazoned on their chests escaped. With the druid Avarthel as the only obvious hope to warn Sumberton, DeKelley used the staff of life found in Vraath Keep to raise the druid Avarthel.

The battle was won and Andrushel safe for now. Six militia and two town guard stationed at the west bank outposts were killed in the battle. DeKelley helped heal the others and all worked through the night to form bucket brigades to put out the fires.

Madness! Madness!

The battle of Skull Gorge Bridge raged on, with Thelonous joining the fray. Tired of the mighty slashes by Petra's greatsword, the dragon Ozyrrandion yelled to the hobgoblins to rip her off her horse. They grabbed her repeatedly, yanking her to the ground, while the bugbear Koth fired magic missiles and lightning bolts at SWAG.

SWAG fired arrows, magic missiles and fireballs, while Red stormed across the bridge to engage the foes. Petra rose, enduring opportunity attacks and leaping onto her horse with a grand fast mount. Red and Petra then began slashing away at the hobgoblins, dropping them left and right. DeKelley raced to heal all of the wounds caused by the hobgoblins and dragon.

With the battle turning against the Red Hand, Ozyrrandion the dragon retrieved an invisibility potion while Koth drank a fly potion to flee. The dragon made one last appearance, enduring yet another fireball before unleashing his acid breath attack and diving into the gorge to make his escape.

With the battle won, SWAG spent an hour searching the bridge and the camp, finding a weak spot in the bridge. Red hacked away at it collapsing it into the river 150' below.

SWAG pressed on to Cinder Hill. Late in the afternoon of Flocktime 12, SWAG saw the full picture of the Red Hand menace. A vast encampment in the valley below Cinder Hill of thousands of goblins, hobgoblins, and worgs, joined by dozens of giants, siege engines, and other creatures such as manticores and a red dragon swooping overhead.

Battle of Skull Gorge

On the balmy afternoon of Flocktime 10, SWAG enjoyed a brief repast at the inn at Andrushel after battling goblin forces at Vraath Keep. The council of Andrushel approached and enquired about SWAG's success in stopping the hobgoblin raids. SWAG told the village leaders that there may be more hobgoblins meeting at Cinder Hill, and agreed to investigate. The village began mustering its militia to defend against any new raids.

SWAG traveled to Jorr's cabin and spent the night there, prepared to head out toward Cinder Hill the next day. On Flocktime 11, SWAG journeyed on, again fighting the 6-headed hydra on the Dawn Way. The hydra's corpse was all that remained after a battle this time, floating in the murky water.

SWAG continued on past Vraath Keep, finding a forest giant effigy and a wide path leading off the road to the west. SWAG kept going and camped near the road a few hours' ride from Cinder Hill. On Flocktime 12, SWAG made it to Skull Gorge bridge, a key bottleneck along the road from Cinder Hill to Andrushel and the Valley of Obelisks.

The bridge was guarded by a large force of 2 hell hounds, 9 hobgoblins and a medium sized green dragon. Four hobgoblins stood guard on watch towers, armed with bows and arrows. SWAG engaged the enemy, striking down the hell hounds. The green dragon breathed deadly acid gas, nearly killing Quintavian, DeKelley, and his kobold cohort Sosukan. Meanwhile, Petra rode across the bridge to battle the hobgoblins there, Red captured a southern tower, and Odette and Jorr fired arrows at the enemy forces. With SWAG controlling both southern towers and the dragon readying for another acid gas attack, the battle raged on...

Uncovering the Mysteries of Vraath Keep

After the battle at Vraath Keep, SWAG spent several hours searching its rooms and healing. Red, Quintavian and Petra gained a level, with Red specializing in improved bull rush, Quintavian learning the powerful fireball spell (useful during enemy group photos) and Petra getting in touch with her mysterious air elemental affinity to learn how to levitate.

In the tower, SWAG found a dead farmer glowing with a pale green magical light. DeKelley suspected this was a ruse to convince travelers that the keep was haunted. SWAG also found a long undisturbed vault with what is likely the body of Avery Vraath and his treasure -- many coins, a powerful staff of life, magic armor and weapons, the deed to Vraath Keep itself, 2 letters of credit and Avery's papers, many of which mentioned a kingdom of Rhest. Upstairs in the hobgoblin lair, SWAG also found a paper with strange, unidentifiable writing on it.

SWAG spent the night at the keep, and then returned to Andrushel on Flocktime 10, rushing past the hydra on the Dawn Way's swamp bridge. SWAG spoke with the town speaker, militia captain and other local leaders about the map found at the keep and their next steps...

Assault on Vraath Keep

With a rallying cry of "Death to the Gardener's Shack!" SWAG stormed the hobgoblin base at Vraath Keep. Step 1 - investigate the rotting vegetable garden and decrepit gardener's shack. Step 2 -destroy the gardener's shack. With Odette's determined rattling, the old shack collapsed with a thundering crash.

Perhaps alerted by the crash outside, goblin worg riders emerged from the keep and attacked with bows and scimitars. A worg repeatedly tore into Red, yanking him to the ground. Red and Petra responded with hack and slash attacks while Odette peppered the goblins with arrows. Quintavian threw magic missiles and DeKelley was ready with healing and alchemist fire. As the battle turned against the goblins, a manticore flew up and perched itself on the roof of the old keep, watching but otherwise seeming grumpy and bored. Two hobgoblins with banded mail and short swords emerged to join the fight, but were struck down by melee weapons and cleave attacks.

SWAG entered the keep, finding two more hobgoblins. A hobgoblin admonished the manticore for its laziness and ordered it to attack, as Koth was paying it to do. It reluctantly flew up and fired repeated spike volleys from its tail at SWAG. The battle raged on, and Red chased a hobgoblin into a room in the keep. A massive minotaur and a spell-casting bugbear entered the room and attacked. Red backed away while DeKelley and Quintavian fired a web and then fireball into the room.

The minotaur attempted a charge on DeKelley with its sharp horns, but Red, Petra and her horse struck it down. SWAG chased off the wounded manticore with cries of, "You're not paying me enough for this!" The bugbear then drank a fly potion and escaped, leaving the hobgoblin to yell, "The Red Hand will prevail" as he was killed.

Which way to the Witchwood?

On the night of Flocktime 8, SWAG arrived at Andrushel and was greeted by a town guard watchpost. The guard welcomed the Luminous Order but was disheartened to hear that no reinforcements were behind them - SWAG was it for now. They recommended seeking out Town Speaker Wiston and Captain Sorrana (pictured at right).

Wiston and Sorrana quickly met up with SWAG, and asked for help driving away the hobgoblin raiders. SWAG agreed, for a price (500 gp/person if the hobgoblin menace is defeated). SWAG asked about Vraath Keep, and Wiston suggested they find the woodsman Jorr to help on their journey to the keep, which could be a base for the hobgoblins.

The following morning SWAG explored Andrushel, stocked up, and headed north into the Witchwood. They met Jorr's guard dogs, avoided a fight, and convinced Jorr to join them for only 10 gp per day.

Jorr led SWAG through the forest to the Dawn Way road. At a causeway over a deep bog, SWAG saw an overturned wagon. As SWAG approcahed, a 6-headed hydra attacked. After a pitched battle, with the hydra repeatedly fleeing to heal itself in mere seconds, SWAG raced to the other side of the causeway and pushed on to Vraath Keep...

How Do You Sing 'Girl From Ipanema' In Gnoll?

After the gate battle, SWAG searched the gate room and found a note to Gashkarr, describing a gathering of forces near Vraath Keep, a place unknown to SWAG. SWAG destroyed 2 gate sigils to disable the gate, an act that would greatly displease the Ebon Cabal. SWAG then decided to spend the night in the gate room resting, with Red on guard. Red surprised a powerfully-built gnoll (later determined to be a flind), and SWAG dispatched him after a short battle.

SWAG awoke the next morning, Flocktime 2, and headed back to the main elevator room. There they encountered 3 gnoll priestesses carrying a large ark with animated severed heads, and quickly webbed them all in place. As the web burst into flames from the nearby flaming demon arches, the gnolls desperately tried to escape, but were burned in the process. Quintavian countered an invisibility attempt with a well-placed glitterdust and Red bull rushed a gnoll into the ark of severed heads.

As SWAG defeated the two ark-bearers, the 3rd gnoll fled to the elevator and Petra rushed in as the doors were closing. Petra's luminary tabard unfortunately burned to a crisp in the process. Petra battled the gnoll up the elevator, bull rushed her way out and chased the gnoll down stairs to a hall ending in 4 doors. The doors were barred before the gnoll could enter, with high pitched voices cheering on the battle from behind the doors. The final gnoll was killed, and SWAG retreated back to the Shining Citadel with the ark.

At the Citadel, the Luminous Order promoted Petra to Luminary Champion and gave her a greatsword of the celestial host +1 and a new luminary tabard. Odette and DeKelley were also inducted as Luminary Captains. The Order reported slow progress in the clockwork horror battles, and asked SWAG to journey to Andrushel to check out Vraath Keep, located just beyond the town.

SWAG journeyed on to Andrushel, stopping at the U. in Riverbend, and checking in with Armin Harrak and shopping in Sumberton. Lukrimar Keep welcomed the group and finally, on the hot summery day of Flocktime 8, they neared Andrushel. A large force of hobgoblins and fire-breathing dog-like creatures waited in ambush, however, attacking from fortified positions along the road near an old farm house.

After an intense battle that nearly saw the end of Red and Quintavian, the battle was won. SWAG found a map of a town on the hobgoblin leader and a dead farmer, merchant and 3 bodyguards in the farmhouse. SWAG also found a note on the merchant, dated nearly a week ago, asking for help from increasing bandit attacks...

The Fonz is Jumping His Motorcycle Over What?!

After the lenghty troglodyte battles, SWAG made their made to the mimic room to rest overnight. On the morning of the first day of the new month of Flocktime, SWAG went back to the troglodyte room and disabled the violet demon arch. Water cascaded down the stairs out of the room, and SWAG descended, reaching a pool of water at the bottom of long sets of stairs.

Across the water was a woman who greeted the group. She announced that she was a sorceress with "that other organization" and had slipped this far into the dungeon using stealth magic. She said that Gashkarr was nearby, attempting to open the demon gate, and she was willing to join them in disabling it.

SWAG opened nearby doors to a large chamber with 4 gates, 3 of them obviously broken. A mezzoloth wielding a trident was guarding the chamber, and Tybalt of the Luminous Order charged forward to engage it. The mezzoloth responded with a cloudkill, instantly killing the brave Tybalt and sending other SWAGgers retreating to a safe distance. Petra, immune from poison, continued to engage the mezzoloth, while DeKelley cast poison protection scrolls on SWAG. Meanwhile, a chanting was heard from a hidden position at a balcony beyond.

After about a minute of skirmishing, the cloudkill drifted away, and SWAG re-engaged the mezzoloth. The mezzoloth responded with a dispel magic on SWAG and another cloudkill. Some of SWAG again backed away, and then attacked again once the cloudkill began to drift, finally killing the mezzoloth.

At that moment one of the gates opened with a blast of magic, sending hundreds of skulls and a large toad-like demon hurtling out of the gate. SWAG engaged the demon and Quintavian cast dispel magic on the gate. The dispel attempt failed, but caused a cascade of magical force to again hurtle out of the gate. Two men dressed in blue uniforms and wearing a strange metal weapon were blasted out of the gate. The startled men opened fire on the demon with the weapons they called revolvers. The demon battled back, eventually killing the two men.

Meanwhile, Red raced up the balcony, finding the gnoll warchief Gashkarr reading from a magical tome. Red chased him down the stairs. The sorceress then grabbed the tome from Gashkarr, grew leathery wings, and fled through the gate. Gashkarr followed, just as the gate magic ceased, dragging the demon and the two men's bodies with it. All was silent again in the gate room...

Troglodytes? Perfect Time for a Swimsuit Competition

While pondering how to get past the violet demon arch, a roguish human approached. After some questioning, SWAG agreed to allow the rogue Kerylen to join the group, and he proceeded to disable the demon arch.

SWAG entered a flooded armory -- a waterfall cascaded through an opening in the wall, pouring water into the room. The water covered the floor and filled a pit in the center of the room. Along the edges were weapon racks with dozens of piercing and slashing weapons, along with a Luminous Order knight, tied up and unconscious. Guarding the room -- two troglodytes. SWAG engaged the troglodytes while DeKelley healed Tybalt of the Luminous Order. Another troglodyte them shot up out of the pit, slowing descending to the floor and casting spells to attack SWAG. After a lengthy 1 1/2 minute battle, the heavily injured troglodytes fled by diving into the water pit, and SWAG was victorious.

Odette then volunteered to swim into the pit to see where the troglodytes went. She found a flooded ranged weapon armory room below, the weapons destroyed by the water. A flooded stairway went up at the other end of the room. She swam up and was immediately attacked by heavily armored troglodytes with halberds. She was heavily wounded, but barely escaped.

SWAG then prepared to swim to engage the other troglodytes. Petra, in her full plate armor, was not up for swimming. With assistance she removed her armor and was buffed with mage armor and shield of faith. Petra, the high charisma, blonde teenage paladin, waering only her standard issue Luminous Order lingerie and longsword, then swam with SWAG through the water to fight the troglodytes.

SWAG swam to the other room, a bludgeoning weapon armory, and engaged in yet another lenghty battle with the heavily armoed troglodytes. After another 1 1/2 minutes of skirmishing, SWAG was victorious.

He's Undead Now, But He Packs a Wallop

After battling the fang dragon to a draw, SWAG rode back to the Shining Citadel for some rest. Near the Citadel they again met with Naryalla, bard and representative of the Ebon Cabal. She repeated her plea that the group not destroy the demon gate, but instead help restore it so the Cabal could channel its power to protect the valley. SWAG was not pursuaded, but Thelonius continued his "discussions" with Naryalla throughout the night at a private room at the Jewelford Inn.

On the last day of Planting, SWAG rode to the Slaughterscar, and again suspected that someone might be following them. They entered the depths and fought two more gnoll archers. The archers, however, were rather green and failed to penetrate Petra's solid plate armor.

The archers were quickly overshadowed by the half-fiend orge that SWAG had finally killed the day before, now animated as a zombie. It crashed out of the pit and landed with a thud in the long hall, pummeling Secundus with a critical hit slam attack for more than 40 points of damage. DeKelley quickly cast close wounds on Secondus while SWAG counterattacked. Petra failed to turn the powerful zombie, which responded with a death dealing pounding to Secundus, sending him to his maker. SWAG continued the fight, with hacks, slashes and magic missile volleys finally sending the zombie crashing to the ground.

SWAG continued on to the troll, who said that Gashkarr was quite angry at his repeated mistakes in allowing intruders past. Rolff the troll was quite insistent that none shall pass, but SWAG finally intimidated him into letting them past, albeit with a warning for SWAG never to return.

SWAG entered the demon arch chamber and rode the SE elevator up, finding a room of non-animated skeletal horses. Upstairs, a room barred from their side opened to find a dead gnoll, badly pummeled, and a 5x5' chest. As SWAG approached the chest, it grew an arm and slammed Odette, grappling her with its sticky appendage. SWAG battled back, with Petra's sword getting stuck on the chest creature. The skirmish finally ended with the creature's demise.

SWAG then rounded the corner, down some stairs, to a violet demon arch at the end of the corridor...

KIA - Secundus, Knight Luminous

Luminous Order Reinforcements

SWAG returned to the Shining Citadel after suffering heavy losses in their Slaughterscar raid. The Citadel was surrounded by military tents treating the wounded and burying the dead from the clockwork horror battles to the south. SWAG sold some of Petra's items to raise her from the dead, buried Morna, and spent the night licking their wounds.

The following day, on Planting 27, SWAG returned to the Citadel and was joined by 3 Knights Luminous who had returned from the front lines of the clockwork horror battles - Odette the 4th level Fighter specializing in shot-on-the-run bow attacks, Lundquist the Elf 4th level Ranger, and Secundus the 4th level Paladin. The 3 joined Petra, Thelonius and DeKelley in returning to the Slaughterscar.

A reinforced SWAG entered the scar, again having a feeling of being followed but not spotting anyone in the scarry mists. SWAG descended and again fought 2 gnoll archers in the long excavated corridor. After a short battle, SWAG was victorious.

DeKelley again talked his way past the troll and the group descended the elevator to again fight the half-fiend ogre. SWAG engaged the orge in a tough battle. Petra and Secundus both fell unconscious, but were healed by DeKelley and the fiendish ogre was vanquished.

SWAG explored the orge room's 4 demon gates, which shot a beam of light onto the chest of anyone standing in front of them. SWAG found the ogre's hidden claw medallion -- the two southern gates scanned this medallion and temporarily disabled the gates' fire, allowing passage. Both southern gates led to elevators going up. SWAG entered the SW gate and rode up the elevator.

At the top, SWAG entered a hallway and took stairs to the south to another fire gate. The claw medallion allowed this gate to also temporarily shut down its fire. Beyond was a large fang dragon that attacked SWAG, while two humanoids with horned heads watched the battle from the top of the room's stairs. SWAG damaged the dragon, but with healing spells low retreated to continue the fight another day.

SWAG Suffers Heavy Casualties in Slaughterscar Raid

After defeating the elite gnoll guards, SWAG turned their attention to the massive troll standing just a few feet down the corridor. The troll called out in the gnoll language, asking who was there. It was bound with an iron mask secured over its face blocking its sight and heavy chains bolting it to the wall.

DeKelley, the only SWAG member to speak gnoll, responded that they were friends of Gashkarr. DeKelley had overheard the gnoll guards mention Gashkarr's name in the initial assault into the Slaughterscar. After a few gifts of "crunchies" to the hungry troll, DeKelley managed to sweet-talk the troll into letting them pass. The troll, Rolff, even offered to lower SWAG down the 50' dropoff using the winch and elevator system the gnolls had set up to ease their descent into the excavated tunnels.

SWAG descended and hopped off the escalator. Around the corner was a large beast, with rippling muscles and wings, and wearing full plate armor and a shining falchion. It stood in an ancient room with a fallen statue and four flaming demon arches. The creature appeared unaware of SWAG, so Petra cast bless and Quintavian cast mage armor to buff the group.

The creature heard the spellcasters' enchantments and moved to attack while also creating a shadowy field around its falchion. Morna lept forward while the rest of the group advanced. The creature charged Morna, causing substantial damage. Quintavian cast enlarge person on Petra to increase the damage she could inflict with her longsword +1.

As Morna retreated for healing, Petra moved forward but missed the creature. It responded with a devastating blow, critically hitting for massive damage. DeKelley attempted to heal Petra, but she was hit again, dropping her to -11 hp and an untimely death. With Petra down, Red moved forward while Morna slipped behind the creature. Quintavian blasted the creature with magic missiles, penetrating its spell resistance about half the time. The creature responded with another devastating blow, dropping Morna unconscious and dying. Red attacked and missed, and then he too fell unconscious from the creature's unyielding assault.

With most of SWAG down, Quintavian summoned a celestial eagle, which managed two miraculous 20's to hit, injuring the creature. Quintavian continued her magic missile barrage while the creature attacked the eagle, inflicting massive damage and sending it back to its celestial plane. DeKelley retreated to the elevator until it looked like the creature was fleeing from its wounds. But before DeKelley could reach her, Morna failed to stabilize, and died from her wounds. Red remained unconscious, presumed dead, but unbeknownst to the group, still clinging to life. DeKelley and Quintavian dragged the bodies of their friends out of the Slaughterscar and rode back to the Shining Citadel for help.

Killed in action - Petra, Morna
Severely wounded - Red, evil creature
Sent back to its celestial plane after two miraculous attacks - summoned celestial eagle

Clockwork horror horde attacks, SWAG enters the Slaughterscar

The late spring heat began to grow in the Valley as SWAG awoke on the morning of Planting 22. SWAG ventured over to the Carstellan manor to claim the reward for freeing Jarrik Carstellan, son of Lord Carstellan. While they received their reward, Morna snuck into the kitchen to query the skullery maid, who said that she makes meals for both Lord Carstellan and Jarrik, but has not seen them recently.

The group also received 1 affiliation point with the Stiletto Crew for rescuing Phillius Stirp, leader of the Stiletto Crew, from the sewers. Ollie the Shakes expressed confidence that Phillius would soon be freed from the city jail.

Petra retrieved her new +1 full plate armor and summoned her Palidan mount, while Thelonius, Morna and DeKelley purchased horses for the ride south to the Shining Citadel. The group travelled 3 days by horse, stopping over briefly in Riverbend to chat with Carrack and Erlwyn at Riverbend U.

On the night of Planting 24, SWAG arrived in Jewelford and stayed the night at the inn. The morning of Planting 25 SWAG headed over to the Shining Citadel to receive payment for the adventures in Surrinak. Petra was inducted as a Luminary Captain and received a luminary tabard and Morna was inducted as a Knight Luminous. While at the Citadel, two dozen badly wounded knights rode from the south, reporting a pitched battle with about 100 electrum clockwork horrors and 2 lightning bolt shooting gold horrors. The horrors appeared to have been created from the ore barge previously reported missing. About 100 Sumberton troops marched south to engage the horrors that destroyed most of the shipping lanes and bridges to the south, which cut off vital metal ore supplies to Valley.

DeKelley and Luminous Order clerics helped heal the wounded knights while other knights suited up to ride south. With the Luminous Order stretched thin fighting the horrors to the south and gnolls near Kel's Rise, SWAG was asked to investigate a third piece of Slaughtergarde that Order clerics devined to be in the Slaughterscar, where dark forces may be opening a gate to the Abyss. The Order warned that the scar is patrolled by bands of powerful undead. SWAG would be paid 1,500 gp per person to destroy any gates there.

SWAG immediately returned to Jewelford for shopping, and encountered a bard who identified herself as with the Ebon Cabal. She offered SWAG 2,000 gp per person to keep any gates intact, rather than destroying them. She warned that the Order was short-sighted in seeking their destruction -- a powerful evil was growing and that the gates' magic could be turned against this growing force. SWAG reacted with skepticism, and the bard transformed into a hawk and flew off.

On Planting 26, SWAG began the short journey to the Slaughterscar. SWAG found a dark tunnel descending 500 feet below and entered to find 2 raging, powerful gnoll barbarians guarding a stockade. SWAG defeated the gnolls and passed through the stockade entrance to find 2 gnoll rangers guarding another fortified stockade and portcullis down a 100' hall. Thelonius opened fire with magic missiles while Petra ran down the hall, only to fall into a pit trap. With Petra stuck 40' down in full plate armor, the rest of SWAG fought for many rounds to help Petra escape and stop the gnoll arrow barrage. DeKelley raced to heal the wounded. After a lengthy, near-deadly battle, Morna clambored over the stockade and opened the portcullis, allowing Petra to kill the gnoll ranger.

Now about that large troll 15' feet away from the stockade with the iron mask secured over its face...

Deeper Into the Sumberton Sewers

Morna, DeKelley, Petra and Quintavian continued on deeper into the Sumberton sewers. They noticed that the polluted water in one of the sewer channels was swirling in the wrong direction and investigated. The water quickly came to life, as a polluted water elemental slammed its watery appendage into Morna. SWAG engaged the elemental, although Morna and DeKelley were sickened from its polluted stench. As the battle raged, DeKelley raced around, healing the wounded so they could continue the fight.

The elemental retreated into the water and formed a swirling whirlpool that kicked up slimy debris in a blinding vortex. Shortly thereafter, the elemental emerged again, continuing to attack until it was finally brought down from weapon slashes, magic missiles and the like.

SWAG pressed on and explored the abandoned brewery, finding tracks that led out and into a secret door. SWAG opened the door and saw a wererat standing over two unconscious and tied up bodies. Two electrum clockwork horrors were also in the room, busily sawing away at wooden support beams that held up the crumbling city walls above.

The clockwork horrors fired pressure darts at Petra and SWAG responded with sword and magic attacks. The wererat fired a crossbow, missing several times before fleeing down a drain. The clockwork horrors wounded some of the heroes but were destroyed before they could do too much harm.

After the battle, DeKelley healed the unconscious men, both of whom had strange bite marks on their necks. The first announced himself as Jarrik Carstellan, son of Lord Carstellan, ruler of Sumberton. He demanded a quick escort out of the dank sewers. The second man announced himself as Phillius Stirp, leader of the Stiletto Crew. Jarrik demanded Stirp's arrest.

SWAG escorted the bunch out of the sewers and the riff-raffy part of town. Jarrik summoned the guard, who took Stirp away, and promised a reward to SWAG the next day. SWAG informed Ollie the Shakes of the result and shuffled off for a night's sleep at the inn. Morna, DeKelley, Petra and Quintavian each gained a level -the first two to level 4, the other two to level 5.

Sumberton Sewers

On the full moon night of Planting 18, SWAG rested fairly well in the small beds of the gnome town of Riverbend, after days of tough adventuring and the death of SWAGger Erlwyn. Carrack retired from SWAG and brought Erlwyn's body back to Riverbend University to have her raised from the dead with the proceeds of their conquests.

On Planting 19, SWAG met two new travelers, Morna, a rogueish one, and DeKelley the Healer. These two joined SWAG on their journey north to Sumberton. SWAG obtained passage on a barge carrying lumbering equipment destined for new logging operations at Lukrimar Keep.

SWAG spent the day traveling by barge and overnighted at a small tent city half-way between Riverbend and Sumberton. Quintavian shacked up with a barge mercenary while Red observed their bargekeeper's sleeping habits at an uncomfortably close level.

On Planting 20 SWAG continued the journey north, and soon saw the Sumberton army marching south to deal with an attack on the shipping lanes. SWAG learned that a metal ore carrying barge disappeared a week or so ago and that was followed by an attack that threatened to cut off the Valley's contacts with the Southern Cities. This could mean limited ores for the Valley and no trade in the Valley's farmed goods with the larger cities to the south. That night SWAG arrived in Sumberton and slept at the inn for their finest rest in many days.

On Planting 21, Petra ordered a suit of magical full plate armor while the rest of SWAG learned that Ollie the Shakes, a go-between for the Stiletto Crew, had been looking for Erlwyn. Ollie met up with Morna, DeKelley and Red and hired them to retrieve the Stiletto Crew's leader who had been kidnapped by a foe working out of the eastern sewers.

SWAG then met Armin Harrack of the Luminous Order for dinner. He thanked them for their work in Surrinak and advised SWAG to go to the Shining Citadel to receive their reward. He also recommended that Petra and the others accept the Luminous Order's offer to have them join the Order. The Order has been busy fighting gnolls near Kel's Rise, repelling the attack on the southern shipping lanes, and patrolling the Slaughterscar, and could use SWAG's help.

SWAG then met up with Ollie at dusk and headed to the eatern sewers. Ollie gave SWAG a map of the sewers. Before reaching the sewers, goblin snipers attacked from the rooftops, knocking Ollie unconscious. SWAG lept up to attack the snipers, killing one while the other appeared to summon a large owl and escaped. DeKelley healed Ollie and then SWAG headed into the sewers.

The sewers are filled with flowing green, polluted water. Out of the water emerged a swarm of several hundred rats. They scored a few bites but were quickly dispersed by a SWAG now better prepared to fight swarms. Now, deeper into the sewers...