Into the Abyss

Wir, 11th - Mol, 16th Rhann 998 Y.K.

In their few days in Sharn the Fists see to individual errands.

Kapek makes himself known to House Jorasco.

Lorric visits the House of the Long Arm's 'Joy Street Hostel' to speak and spar with his old master.

Ajax hires a Cleric to send 'Sendings' to Clian and Yulunga.

Mirra speaks to the Carronberg Chronicle to discuss the possibilities of a novel based on her adventures and pick up her back pay.
They all convert the loot from the tower into new magical items that will help with their quest into the Abyss.

Mol' 16th Rhaan 998 Y.K.

But eventually the time comes for them to brave the Abyss. The Crimson Fists 'Teleport' to Stormreach and then 'Shadow Walk' to the Necromancers Tomb. There they enter the portal to Pazunia where they intend to bargain for the exact location of the prison that holds Lorric's mother.

They appear in the crumbling remains of a building. Kapek notices the tracks of a large snake-like body and two withered feet. It doesn't take much intelligence to realize they are the tracks of the Liche and Marilith they have recently defeated. Ajax sniffs the tracks and picks up the scent of the Liche. They decide to follow it, hoping it will take them to the nearest city.

After a short while Lorric and Kapek notice a cart ahead of them. It is moving towards a Keep in the far distance but the Fists realize they will catch up with the cart before it reaches the Keep.

As they get closer they see that on the cart is a cage with a prone figure in it. Mirra identifies the captive as a PALRETHEE demon. The cart itself is pulled by three BLOODFIENDS. The cart is also accompanied by three RETRIEVERS and a 12 foot tall, red skinned, hyena headed creature no-one recognises.

As the Fists approach a Marilith suddenly appears by Hyena Head who seems to be in charge of this weird group. Mirra addresses Hyena Head in Abysal but he is in no mood for negotiation and makes no attempt to hide the fact he intends to capture the Fists and sell them as slaves.

Happy that everybody knows where they stand Lorric and Ajax charge the cart only for Hyena Head to vanish! The Retrievers open fire, one shooting a line of electricity at Kapek, one a line of Cold at Wil and one a line of acid at Lorric (this one misses).

Celedrus replies with a 'Flame Strike' and Mirra intones tales of heroism to inspire her comrades. Then two of the Bloodfiends unleash 'Chaos Hammers' on the Fists. The lawful Wil reels under the effects of these attacks although no-one else seems affected.

A 'Blade Barrier' appears (which comes as no surprise to any of the Fists who are becoming veteran Marilith fighters) but Ajax won't be denied. He Shifts and Rages and then charges straight through the Blade Barrier and slays one of the Bloodfiends.

An invisible power tries to throw Kapek into the 'Blade Barrier' but he resists its effects.

Suddenly the main body of the Fists is hit by the appaling power of a 'Blasphemy' spell. The unholy power swamps the group and Kapek's dinosaur instantly perishes, Celedrus vanishes as he is thrust out of this dimension, Mirra collapses completely drained of strength and Kapek is 'Dazed' and 'Weakened'.

Lorric's keen ears hears the intoning of the spell coming from 20 feet above them. With one leap he soars up and attacks the invisible caster.

Ajax is charged by two Retrievers and clawed and eye-rayed. Ajax rapidly retreats so his opponents must come to him and slays a Bloodfiend.

The Marilith invokes another 'Blade Barrier' that both cuts off Ajax's retreat from his opponents and goes straight through the main group of the Fists, catching a Dazed Kapek with its whirling blades.

A devastating blast of sound rips through the Fists from their invisible assailant above. Lorric's keen senses identifies that the caster, wary after being hit before, has moved to 40 feet above the Fists. Luckily he had come prepared and chugs a specially alcholic 'Fly' potion.

More ranged effects miss Ajax thanks to his new Ring of Entropic Deflection as he tumbles around and through his opponents and manages to slay a Retriever.

The Marilith moves up in time to be caught in one of Wil's 'Flaywind Bursts' along with three other opponents.

Kapek pulls himself together and opens up on the invisible caster but he slides between the boomerangs then fires a spell at Lorric that attempts to suck out his soul. Lorric resists and then flies up to attack his foe.

Ajax is once again attacked by two Bloodfiends and a Retriever. He tumbles again and slays the Retriever. Kapek invokes his Dragonmark and casts 'Heal' on himself, Ajax, Lorric, Wil and the undead Bloodfiend (which perishes in the surge of Positive Energy).

The invisible caster unleashes a storm of blows against Lorric, revealing it to be Hyena Head, but every attack misses the agile Lorric. Lorric flurries back and stuns it, Hyena Head plunges out of the air to impact with the ground with a sickening thump.

Ajax slays the last Retriever and is then attacked by the Marilith.

Lorric drops down and attacks Hyena Head as Kapek pounds it with boomerangs. They slay it as Ajax slays the Marilith.

*Ajax comments
After his last experience getting slaughtered by a Marilith after having all of his powers removed by an Anti-Magic Field Ajax had been itching for a fair fight with one.
He falls on her with savage fury and within a few seconds has ripped her to shreds. Ajax feels his pride is restored, he's just disapointed that as a summoned creature she returns to her home plane before he can take her ears.

The Fists gather around the late, and very unlamented, Hyena Head in order to loot him. They curse bitterly as his Dancing, Vorpal, magical axe melts into nothing but do take his bracers, rings and a horn he was carrying.

Mirra speaks in Abyssal to the Palrethee demon and learns his name is AZAEL and he was being taken to be executed for failing his lord Orcus. This seems to provide a basis for negotiation and so an agreement is struck. Azael will guide them to THE GAPING MAW, the Plane on which DIVIDED'S IRE (the prison where Lorric's mother is held) rests.In return the Fists will free him from his cage.

With the agreement made Azael also reveals that Vanthus has been sent to DIVIDED'S IRE to recover 'the heart of Gorguth'. Also that Vanthus is now a DEATH KNIGHT, news that is greeted with quite understandable concern by all.

Attempts to pull the cart fail dismally so the Fists are forced to free Azael from his cage, although Mirra first 'Suggests' to him that he should honour his deal. So lead by their new acquittance the Crimson Fists forge onwards.

After about an hours travel they notice a cloud of winged creatures hovering over the cart they had left behind. An examination through Mirra's telescopes reveal them to be dozens of VROCKS.

The VROCKS form up into a flock and fly in pursuit of the Fists. It is quickly decided not to stick around for them.Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and the group flees. Quickly they reach the portal to THE GAPING MAW and without hesitation jump straight into it. They plummet downwards until they splash down into the ocean of THE GAPING MAW.

The Fists gaze at the plane they've arrived at. Ocean stretches for as far as the eye can see, broken only by the occasional island.

Kapek deploys a folding boat and all quickly climb aboard. They start to paddle towards a nearby island with twin towers on it until Azael points out that this is ABYSM, DEMOGORGON'S fortress and capital.

The Fists are just discussing the best route to DIVIDED'S IRE with Azael when Mirra receives a 'Sending' from Celedrus.He informs her he is lost in a strange land, with flights of dragons in the sky. He is near a carved Dragon's head, the size of a mountain. From his description Mirra guesses he is in ARGONNESSEN, near the Face of Eberron.

Unfortunately going to aid Celedrus involves abandoning Azael on this plane. Lorric makes the decision and pushes Azael overboard. Ajax feels this is a little hard on the demon and use his Sandals of the Light Step to give Azael an hour of 'Water Walking' and tosses him a 'Fly' potion ,which together should be enough to get Azael to shore.

Sojourn to Argonnessen

Mirra extracts a scroll of 'Plane Shift' and casts it and the Fists are transported across the Planes. They appear on a vast grassland somewhere in Argonessen. Another 'Sending' to Celedrus reveals he has been captured but is safe. He tells them to come to him and they will be found, he also gives them a code word that will help them, 'GLORIATRIX'.

Kapek notices some dark shapes in the skies flying towards them. The Fists hide, some more successfully than others. As the shapes get closer it becomes clear they are two huge Dragons, a red and a blue. Then 500 feet from the Fists they simply vanish ! Kapek and Ajax activate the blind sight ability of their Scout's Headband and Wil casts 'See Invisible' on Lorric.

As the Dragons circle, its obvious they've spotted some of the Fists so Wil stands up and addresses the Dragons. He uses the code word they were given. The Dragons recognize the name GLORIATRIX as the ruler of another area and point the Fists in the right direction but demand a tithe for crossing their land.

The Fists gather to discuss what they are prepared to give as tithe but also use a 'Message' spell to discuss other matters secretly. Wil and Lorric are positive the Dragons intend to eventually kill them anyway and so, trusting their comrades judgemen, the Crimson Fist attacks.

Lorric charges the red and with a mighty blow 'Stuns' it, Ajax follows up with his claws and Kapek with boomerangs. The blue sweeps down and breathes a cone of lightning on Mirra, Kapek and Wil.

Lorric finishes the red with a dazzling series of blows. Ajax moves up on the blue and quaffs a 'Fly' potion. Wil hits it with a 'Flaywind Burst' and Kapek with more boomerangs. The blue flees, to some mockery.

Ajax under the effects of the 'Fly' potion pursues the blue as Mirra 'Magic Missiles' it. Suddenly the blue's escape plan is foiled as Wil's 'Solid Fog' spell surrounds it. With no choice it turns and attacks Ajax but is no match in melee for Ajax and Lorric (especially when Lorric stuns it) and soon Ajax lands the fatal blow and the blue joins its comrade in death.

The Fists start to examine the Dragons for anything to loot when the more sharp-eyed of them spot a large group of creatures approaching from the same direction the red and blue had come under the cover of an 'Invisibility' spell. It is an eclectic group containing Giants, armoured T-Rex's, humanoids and burrowing creatures, all surrounding a gargantuan spine covered Dragon.

A quick look at the number of opponents decides the Fists as to what the wisest course of action is. Kapek uses his Bag of Tricks to summon a Glidewing for him and Mirra to ride. Ajax transforms into his Primeval Dire Tiger shape, sensing a big fight coming.Then Wil casts an 'INVISIBILITY SPHERE' on them all and they retreat.

Three rocks impact around the Fists but they keep going. Suddenly the Dragon surges ahead of its companions and draws level with the Fists ( although above them). In a powerful voice it demands they stop, this order is completely ignored.

The Dragon screams "GARNGRATH Arise!" and the ground shakes as a monstrous creature emerges from the ground. Lorric immediately charges this huge opponent and in response it fires a cone of light from the horn on its head which doesn't effect any of the Fists but does petrify Kapek's Glidewing and dumps him and Mirra unceremoniously on the ground. Ajax joins in Lorric's attack and then the Dragon, to all the Fists surprise, retreats back to the main group.

The Garngrath shoots orange light from its horn at Lorric, which he nimbly dodges and then it lowers its head, opens its mouth and like a plough it shoots forwards tearing the earth apart as it comes. Ajax and Kapek are caught in this unstoppable charge and both disappear into its huge gullet. Ajax is not amused and rips the Garngrath's guts apart from within its own stomach.

*Ajax comments

To Ajax being swallowed just means its much easier to hit his opponent.

Wil attempts to hinder the Dragon by casting 'Solid Fog' on it as he did so successfully with the other Dragons. However although the spell is successfully cast as it forms around the Dragon he suddenly slips out of the area of the spell.

As Wil summons two Dire Badgers in an attempt to dig out his two comrades (who are emerging from the Garngrath's stomach underground), Lorric examines the corpse of their foe and is suddenly struck by an overwhelming urge. Unable to stop himself Lorric pulls loose the Garngrath's horn and places it against his own forehead where it instantly grafts itself to his head.

A shock wave slams through the earth hitting every member of the Crimson Fists and killing Wil's Dire Badgers, making it a very bad day for creatures 'Summoned' by the Crimson Fist.

The main body of enemies is now roughly 200 feet away and from a rider atop one of the T-Rex's comes a 'Meteor Shower'.

Ajax having pulled himself out of the Garngrath, grabs Kapek and uses his Fleet Warrior Array to 'Dimension Door' them to the surface. Just in time for another volley of boulders to land on them and for one of the burrowing creatures to launch another shock wave at them.

The first wave of enemies, the humanoid creatures, who are now seen to be Half-Orcs, move to within 75 feet of the Fists. Wil casts 'INCITE RIOT' on them but only one is affected.

The second wave of the attack, a line of Giants, start to cast and Lorric charges the biggest one as Mirra uses her 'Horn of Resilience'. Although Lorric distracts his Giant the other four successfully cast 'Dimension Door' and appear in flanking position around the main body of the Crimson Fist.

Ajax charges the burrowing creature and rips it to shreds with his claws as more boulders slam into the main body of the Fists.

Three Half-Orcs screaming berserker battle cries and with flaming weapons charge and surround Ajax. Their weapons striking deeply into the Shifter. On the other flank four more do the same to Kapek and one attacks Wil. The Fists are all now deeply engaged with multiple enemies and split up across the battle-field.

Wil tumbles to join Kapek and casts 'FRIEND TO FOE' on the Half-Orcs attacking the Halfling. They prove about as good at resisting a spell that causes them to attack the nearest thing mindlessly as you'd expect a bunch of Raging Half-Orcs to be and all four fall to attacking each other.

Seeing the Half Orcs in front and the Giants coming in from the flank Mirra casts 'Dimension Door' and whisks herself, Kapek and Wil away from the fight. Lorric pulls back to the Giants who had been threatening Mirra Et Al and 'Stuns' one of them with a cunning nerve strike but two of the Giants 'Dimension Door' after Mirra.

Ajax, hurt badly by the Half-Orcs, pulls back to Lorric and kills one of the Giants.

Seven of the Half-Orcs confused by Wil's spells fight among themselves, the remaining three charge Ajax. They are joined by another Giant who strikes Ajax a powerful blow. Aware that only the boosted vitality of his Primeval Form is keeping him alive Ajax runs like hell.

Back with Mirra's group Kapek invokes the power of his Dragonmark to 'Heal' himself and his two wounded comrades. This seems to make him of huge interest to the two Giants that followed them. Although they still attack all three of the Fists who are there.

Wil casts 'Blast of Sand' on the Giants and then runs back to join Lorric. The Dragon yells "Regroup on me!" in an attempt to re-organize his forces and then proceeds to try to calm down the surviving, squabbling Half-Orcs.

Kapek tumbles to Mirra who then 'Dimension Doors' him to Ajax and Kapek uses his Dragonmark for the second and last time that day, to the sorely injured Shifter's immense relief.

The four Half-Orcs chasing Ajax reach him but Ajax, now feeling more like his old self (or at least as much as he could while being a Shifted, Raging, Primeval Dire Tiger) kills one and injures another. Kapek pounds another with Force Boomerangs, killing it.

Where Lorric and Wil are fighting, Lorric stuns another Giant, as he strikes at it he suddenly discovers his fists are surrounded by fire but he has no idea why. The rear-most Giant obeys orders and 'Dimension Doors' itself back to the Dragon.

Ajax slays the last two of his Half-Orc attackers. Then Kapek leaps onto his back and they fall back and join up with the rest of the group. Then powered by a 'Haste' from Mirra they all flee.

The Dragon flies over them again and declares that if they are still on his land tomorrow he will return in greater force then he turns and flies back to his forces

As they retreat the Fists wonder what just happened. Did the Dragon just regard the fight as a game which it was now tired of ? Did he feel he'd lost too many of his forces to continue to attack an enemy that was retreating? Or did he simply feel it was approaching the point where he could only win if he himself joined in the fight and just wasn't prepared to risk his own skin?

The Crimson Fist retreat, aware the Dragon is still watching them from on high. However it makes no move and they move quickly away from it. When night falls they decide to keep going for another four hours, covering 25 more miles before finally stopping to rest at 11.00 p.m. Watches are set but the night passes with no problems.

At dawn the spell casters in the group renew their spells. Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and the Fists are on their way again. After four hours travel they notice the land starting to change, moving slowly from grassland to pasture and rolling hills. After two more hours the breathtaking sight of the Face of Eberron comes into view.

After only a little more travel the Fists are suddenly hurled out of the shadow realm they were travelling in into the real world. As they start to pick themselves up they notice eight Silver Dragons swooping down from the sky towards them. The Dragons land some 300 feet from the group and then their leader walks closer to the Crimson Fist.

Mirra addresses the Dragon explaining they wish to speak to Gloriatrix. The Dragon says they are expected and makes an arcane gesture with one claw and a huge stone spire shimmers into existence in front of them.

The Dragons lower their heads and, to the Fist's astonishment, politely request that they climb on board. After some understandable hesitation each member of the Crimson Fists climbs onto one of the Dragons. The Dragons launch themselves into the air and spiral up to the top of the Spire, a quarter of mile straight up. As they fly up the Fists notice huge caverns carved into the sides of the Spire where hoards of Dragons and other creatures can be seen going back and forth about their mysterious business.

At the very tip of the Spire the Dragons fly into a cavern and let the Fists dismount. The Dragon who addressed them transforms into a elf male who leads them further into the tower. In a massive room dominated by a pile of gold big enough to drown the whole group in lies a colossal Gold Dragon. This is, of course, Gloriatrix, the Lord of the Spire.

He speaks with the Fists, inquiring about how they got here. Their story of their encounter with the spike covered Dragon deeply concerns him and he orders his lieutenant to prepare the troops as the 'Talons of Tiamat' are on their way.

Other matters are discussed, Gloriatrix mentions that one ZENOBAAL-the Prophecy Incarnate is searching for them. This is a Silver Dragon who has been driven mad by his study of the Prophecy. Some of the Fists are interested in meeting him until its pointed out that Xenobal's interest in Dragonmarks will lead him to skin Kapek in order to better study his Dragonmark tattoo.

The Fists are also re-united with Celedrus who is delighted to see them but also seems delighted with the opportunity to learn new spells his stay at the Spire has afforded him.

Gloriatrix is concerned that the Fists continue their quest and accomplish their part in the Prophecy and so preserve the world. So he offers to transport them back to the Abyss in the morning but for the night he offers them the hospitality of the Spire.

A magnificent feast is brought and the Fists eat and drink and Mirra tells Gloriatrix the tales of their exploits. After this the Fists are escorted to the luxurious rooms set aside for them. Gloriatrix's hospitality doesn't end there as there are also comely bed mates if they wish. Ajax, Lorric and Kapek definitely wish and take advantage of their hosts generosity.

*Ajax comments

Ajax can tell by the scent of the ladies that they are not the species they appear to be but shapechanged Dragons but he's a sophisticated guy and is okay with that.

In the morning the Fists join Gloriatrix for breakfast. He thanks them for their 'contributions' of the night before. He also gives them the chance to pick one item from his hoard. All pick apart from Wil who is true to his Vow of Poverty and politely declines, instead requesting Gloraitrix gives a suitable sum to charity.

Equipped with their new items the Fists gather to be transported. They thank Gloriatrix for his hospitality and then he casts his spell. To the utter astonishment of those of the Fists who recognize the spell, he casts 'WISH' !

The Crimson Fist appear on the beach by the turbulent oceans of The Gaping Maw. In the distance, about forty or fifty miles away, they see Divided's Ire. Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and they are on their way.Soon they reach the islands. One has an active volcano on it and the other is covered in forests. Wooden walkways connect the two islands.

The Fists decide to land on the forested isle but the distortion due to the 'Shadow Walk' spell leads them to slightly miscalculate and end the spell over the ocean. However Kapek is prepared and deploys the Folding Boat and the group climb abroad. They can see the mast of a ship over the trees, rising from a small inlet.

The Fists guide the boat into shore and move stealthily towards the stone building that guards the walkway between the two islands. As they get closer they notice the building has taken considerable damage. Inside the building a crack stretches across the floor of the building. A barricade also stretches across the floor of the building, improvised from rubble and bodies. On the far wall a line of cages are suspended against it.

Wil casts 'Invisibility Sphere' on the group and they move into the building. As they get closer to the cages they can make out their occupants. Many are evil creatures but two of them hold Angels.

Wondering how the Angels are held here Mirra casts a 'Detect Magic' and realises the whole area is under the effect of a 'Forbiddance' spell, preventing Teleportation spells or Dimensional Travel.

Wil casts a 'Message' spell that includes not only the Crimson Fists but the two Angels. The first one is suspicious of the strange voices in his head but is prepared to consider they wish to help. The second refuses to believe this isn't some demonic trick and refuses to speak with them.

The Crimson Fist check the other cages to each side to make sure none of them contain Lorric's mother, which they don't. An exploration of a stone hut to one side shows it to be a empty but obviously, disgustingly so, well used torture chamber.

They then move down the lines of cages to where they end in a clear path that leads to a pair of double doors. Rather than check every cage the Fists decide to head down to the doors and then through them which will hopefully lead them to the prisoner occupied half of the island.

Half way down the corridor Lorric hears whispered words in Abyssal. He whispers them to Mirra who translates them as an order to get help, despite the 'Invisibility Sphere' they've been spotted !

Lorric follows the sound to a large room where they see two Baubau demons reporting to a Glabrezu. The Glabrezu spots Ajax and politely invites him in. After a cordial exchange of macho threats the Glabrezu invites the rest of the group in. Kapek and Lorric enter but Mirra, Wil and Celedrus remain out of sight around the corner.

Lorric demands to know where his mother is and the Glabrezu offers to divulge this information if they will rid him of a rival, S'Sharra a female Kelvezu demon. If they don't co-operate he threatens to open all the cages and release all the prisoners. Lorric is in no mood for a lengthy debate, and gives the creature a count of three to tell him what he wants to know. When the information is not forthcoming, Lorric wastes no time in charging to attack.

Ajax charges in to join Lorric and Mirra blows her horn to encourage the Fists in battle. Then the three of them are slammed into the spike covered ceiling as the Glabrezu casts 'Reverse Gravity'. He then Rages and proceeds to clobber Ajax and Lorric.

Wil casts an Empowered 'Flaywind Burst', which also incidentally kills one of the Baubau Wil hadn't even seen.

Suddenly a scream comes from the rear of the Fists and Celedrus collapses with multiple wounds in his back, so wounded not even his Contingent 'Heal' spell saves him. Wil spots a dark shape retreating back into the corridor.

Mirra moves towards the giant shape of the Glabrezu, judging it a lesser threat than the stealthy killer that just took Celedrus's life in an instant. Kapek activates his Scouts Headband and retreats in the same direction.

Ajax peels himself off the ceiling and with one furious blow finishes the Glabrezu.

Wil rushes into the corridor hoping to spot Celedrus's killer and seeing it casts 'Mummify' on it but the creature refuses to be mummified. Lorric swiftly catches up with it and strikes the creature two mighty blows. in reply she ( for Lorric can know see she is a female demon) casts 'Greater Dispel' on him removing, as she undoubtedly planned, his 'See Invisible' spell and then retreats through the cages.

Wil casts 'See Invisible' on Lorric who runs down their foe and strikes her again. She realises she cannot outrun Lorric and turns on him, unleashing a storm of blows. Not one of them lands so she quickly offers to take him to Vanthus ( his father).

Lorric solemnly agrees and then hits her again, this time only striking to stun and she goes down.

Having secured the demon's hands and locked her in one of the empty cages the Fists wake her up. She claims to know where Vanthus is but refuses to say where, pointing out that the Fists would then have no reason to keep her alive.

Without warning she begins to chant in Abysal, imploring Demogorgon for aid. Lorric strikes at her but she dodges away to the rear of the cage. Ajax Shifts and extends his arm into the cage and claws her. She collapses, dead before she hits the ground. Then her corpse turns to mist. Mirra casts 'Detect Magic' and sees a magical effect similar to a teleportation spell but before anything can be done the the mist is gone. The Fists reckon that right now S'Shara will be reforming back in Demogorgon's palace and will soon be informing him of their presence. From now on they will be working to a deadline.

They hastily proceed through the double doors onto a ledge which leads onto a stone bridge spanning the gap between the two islands. To the left is a platform with stairs leading down. On the platform wait four Nabassu demons. On the other island are four Nycaloths.

Mirra calls out to the Nycaloths in Abysal and they cautiously respond in Common. When Lorric asks about Vanthus they recognize the name and ask him to come forward and speak. (As this happens thunder and lightning sounds from the direction of Abysum. It sounds like Demogorgon is hearing the news).

The Nycoloths offer to help but want 20 thousand gold. Lorric offers them one of the magical axes they'd taken off the late Warden. The Nycoloths recognize the weapon and ask for both of the axes, which is agreed to.

The Nycoloths invite the Fists to cross the bridge under their protection. As the Fists move across the Nabassu rise into the air and the Nycaloths rise to meet them. The two sides meet in combat in mid air and the Nabassu are defeated, losing two of their number while the Nycaloths lose one.

The Fists safely pass through another set of double doors into a corridor. (The storm in the distance increases in intensity and the ground begins to shake). As the Crimson Fist move down the corridor Lorric hears voices speaking in Abysal, which Mirra translates for everybody. The voices are arguing about who gets the leg to eat and who gets the wings.

The Fists move to the room where they hear the voices coming from and slide the door open to reveal four demons arguing over the partially eaten corpse of a Trumpet Archon.

With Mirra coaching him via the 'Message' spell Lorric adresses them in Abysal. Sadly the demons have no intention of negotiating so the Fists attack.

Wil leads off by casting 'Incite Riot' on the squabbling demons and three of them succumb, temporarily turning on each other. Wispy vapour forms around Lorric and Wil burning them and trying to restrict their movement.

Lorric charges in and slays one, Ajax joins him in combat as another acid clouds lands on them. One of the creature shoots a ray at Lorric but misses.

*Ajax comments

Aware that they haven't found Vanthus yet Ajax wishes to preserve his two remaining Shifts and so fights unShifted and not Raging. He is a little shocked at just how crap is when he does this.

Ajax and Lorric ignore the restricting effects of the cloud thanks to the 'Freedom of Movement ' on them and tumble out of the cloud and engage the demons. Ajax is hit by a 'Ray of Enfeeblement'. Kapek charges in on an summoned dinosaur and joins the battle.

*Ajax comments

With the exception of anti-magic aura Ray of Enfeeblement is DEFINITELY Ajax's most hated spell.

Blows are given and received but the demons fall beneath the Crimson Fist.

The Fists have barely got their breath back when a voice booms out in Abysal demanding to know if his queen is there. Wil quickly casts 'Invisibility Sphere'. Lorric pokes his head out the door and sees a Belarion, basically a shit demon.

The voice calls out for 'S'Shara', it's 'beloved'. As the Fists just killed S'Shara they suspect the demon will not be well disposed towards them but they do feel that having seen the Belairon they probably did S'Sharra a favour by killing her.

Mirra 'Fascinates' the demon and the Fists sneak the other way but find another filth demon blocking that way. Again the voice demands its 'queen' and the Fists decide they are going to have to fight their way out.

As Lorric moves out he spots another two shit demons and a Demodand. He charges one of filth demons and hits it (to his utter disgust) and in reply it spews a shower of effluvia at him. Mirra stops 'Fascinating' her shit demon and blows her horn to encourage her comrades in battle.

Kapek pounds the demons with force boomerangs and Wil casts 'Wall of Sand' to cut one of the demons off from the combat. Ajax charges in to join Lorric and slays that demon.

As the demon trapped behind the sand wall pounds uselessly on it Lorric charges another Belarion. Wil emerges and casts an Empowered 'Flaywind Burst' on two of the filth demons and the Demodand but he is stricken by the vile aura of the shit demons. Ajax joins Lorric and slay a second demon.

The Demodand spits goo at Lorric but misses him as he does with a 'Ray of Enfeeblement'. Lorric tumbles past the shit demon and attacks the Demodan. The trapped filth demon forces its way through the sand wall.

Ajax is now facing off against two shit demons. One clobbers him and the other spews faeces at him. Ajax dodges the shit but the unfortunate Wil behind him is not so lucky. Already struck by the demon's aura Wil is severely, almost fatally, damaged. He swiftly retreats to 'Repair' himself. Kapek's boomerangs finish one of the shit demons.

The Demodan misses Lorric with another 'Ray of Enfeeblement' and then turns itself invisible. However Lorric is still under the effect of Wil's 'See Invisible' and so just presses his attack.

Mirra inspires Ajax to heroic efforts in his combat with the shit demon. The Demodand claws at Lorric and utterly misses him although the one who just clawed through the sand wall does land a blow.

Kapek finishes Ajax's demon and Ajax, freed up, charges down the Demodand and slays it.

Then to Ajax's astonishment one of the fallen filth demons flows to its feet in one smooth, if nauseating, movement and attacks him. It deals him hideous damage so only Ajax's Shifted vitality keeps him on his feet.

As the Fists are assaulted as the shit demons rise again and again, Mirra casts 'Know Opponent' and learns the creatures are vulnerable to sonic and bludgeoning damage. She hopes these forms of damage will also be ones they can't regenerate from.Kapek realises his boomerangs will work and pounds one of the downed creatures and it disintegrates. With Kapek's boomerangs, Wil's fists. Lorric's tankards and Ajax's pincer staff the Fists finally finish their tenacious opponents.

*Ajax comments

Ajax always enjoys a good fight but this, this was just too disgusting

Then the Fists make EVERY possible 'shit' pun imaginable!

The room beyond is flanked with statues of an incredibly beautiful demoness staring adoringly at a huge two-backed throne. Mirra identifies the figure represented by the statues as Shami-Amourae, the lover of Demogorgon, and guesses that the throne may be for the use of the two-headed demonic monarch himself. Otherwise, the decaying, rot-covered room is empty, and the Fist decide to explore one of the exits that lead off from behind the four statues.

Lorric is the natural choice for a stealthy reconnoitre, and he enters one of the side rooms. Chunks of sharp metal are strewn about it and it has three other exits. Lorric also notices the hunched figure of another Babau lurking in the corner, and consults his colleagues through the Message spell for advice. Ajax suggests talking to it in order to gain further information, but as soon as Kapek muses aloud about working with demons, Lorric attacks it.

Expecting a quick victory, like those against the Babau earlier, the Fist are surprised by the demon’s resilience under Lorric’s relentless attack. Both his tankards corrode away into nothing following their repeateded contact with its acid-drenched hide. Wil then moves into the room and casts a Wither spell on it.

The demon invokes magical darkness around itself and attempts to flee under its cover. Unfortunately for it, thanks to an Ebon Eyes spell Lorric is perfectly capable of seeing it and takes advantage of the error in order to trip the creature up and then deliver a brutal kick. Mirra then enters the room behind Wil, playing a stirring battle cry on her horn, followed by Ajax and Kapek. Ajax advances to the edge of the darkness, but no further, as he cannot see through it, while Kapek waits with his boomerangs for any sign of an adversary. He does not have to wait long before a Hezrou demon enters from the right hand archway. It is met immediately by a stinging hail of boomerangs, but undeterred it attacks Ajax, its wicked claws drawing blood. A second comes in behind it and moves to bite Kapek.

Lorric continues to strike at the fallen Babau, finally killing it as it struggles to its feet. Wil attempts a Charm Monster on one of the Hezrou, but his magic is resisted by the demon. Seconds later, it receives the full fury of a shifted Ajax and dies. The shifter turns his attentions to the second Hezrou and rakes it with his claws. The group are moving much more swiftly now, aided by a timely Haste spell from their bard. Kapek’s boomerangs finish off the work that Ajax has started, and the second Hezrou is slain.

Two more Hezrou move into position, one of them invoking the familiar and chilling tones of a Blasphemy spell. Another of Kapek’s mounts disappears from under him, but the group are otherwise unhindered. Lorric and Ajax both assault the next Hezrou, and kill it, while Kapek’s boomerangs slam into the other. It retaliates with a Chaos Hammer spell and despite their vigilance, both Wil and Mirra fail to counterspell it. The party, with the exception of the free-spirited Ajax, are hurt by it but not seriously. Yet more Hezrou can be seen down the corridor, and one of them casts an Unholy Blight into the room. Again this hurts the group but does not cripple anybody.

Kapek suggests that Lorric hold the corridor entrance, and the monk does so, preventing either of the two new arrivals from entering the room. Wil then casts an Incite Riot on the demons, and the two in the corridor promptly turn on each other. The Hezrou remaining inside the room at this point falls to Ajax’s claws, as Kapek unleashes a hail of boomerangs which do serious damage to the wall but nothing else. Lorric then finishes off the demon he was facing and Ajax races past him to kill the final one in the corridor.

In a race to find and kill other enemies before his power fades, the shifter then rushes into adjacent rooms. The first room he finds is nondescript, and merely leads back into the area that the group have already explored, but the second is luxuriously appointed, with cushions and fine silks and exquisite viands. He notices as he looks around him, that there is movement from beneath some cushions and calls out a challenge. Predictably there is no reply, and Ajax promptly throws aside the concealing cushions. What is revealed is not the succubus that the shifter was expecting (hoping?) to see but a wizened elderly gnome, obviously terrified. Mirra is quite pleased to see a fellow countryman and calls out to him in her native tongue. He answers, although in Common, and tells them that his name is Nert Bilgeflower. He came here on a planar vessel called the Crimson Scar, having been pressganged into its crew. Mirra has heard of this vessel, it belongs to Orcus and is capable of sailing between the Abyssal oceans as well as the Prime Material plan and the River Styx. Nert goes on to explain that he came ashore with its captain Vanthus. Naturally the group are interested in anything he can tell them about Vanthus, and he answers their queries. The Death Knight wields a flaming sword and a flaming sickle together, and wears a breastplate of tarnished mithral. He is surrounded by wraiths and shadows at all times, as well as what he refers to as “Shadows of his Master”. Mirra’s guess is that these are creatures known as Shadow Demons. She then goes on to invite the elderly gnome to join them, as they are clearly his best hope of getting out of the Abyss, and he agrees. Lorric and Ajax have meanwhile liberated all of the booze.

As Kapek and Ajax examine the ground in the spiked metal room for tracks, the building is shaken by another quake. Ajax believes this to be a symptom of Demogorgon’s approach, and says as much, while Kapek is sceptical. Nert mentions a gem that Vanthus carries, capable of activating the volcano, and Kapek assumes this to be the cause, but Nert then dismisses this explanation and agrees with Ajax’s suggestion. Nonetheless, the quake adds urgency to their mission. They decide to follow the corridor from which the Hezrou came, in the hope that Vanthus and the Crimson Scar crew have not passed that way.

Again Lorric scouts ahead. At the end of the corridor is a room, lit by a steady red glow, which the monk cautiously enters. It contains more torture cells, with no living occupants, only gruesome implements and the mangled remains of demons. The glow itself comes from a larger room beyond, a pit of lava with a narrow walkway around the edge. Suspended above the lava are six cages, three of which are occupied. One has another Trumpet Archon in it and one has a creature which Mirra is able to identify from Lorric’s description as an Ice Devil, but it is the third occupant which is of the most interest. It is a human woman, whose description matches that of Lorric’s mother, Lavinia. Lorric notices at this point that there is a Marilith in the room also, although it appears not to have noticed him. Lorric then leaves the room and returns to the others.

It occurs to Kapek that the human woman in the cage could be some sort of illusion or trick, and so Lorric asks for Wil to cast a spell of True Seeing upon him. Once this is done, Lorric can clearly see Nert Bilgeflower for what he is, a Succubus. Immediately he leaps at the demon with a cry of “Succubus!”

The others follow his lead, in particular Kapek who has been suspicious of “Nert” all along, and although the Succubus puts up a valiant fight she is clearly overmatched and swiftly dealt with. This does serve to alert the Marilith however, who erects the customary Blade Barrier along the walkway, sealing off the lava room. Lorric is still able to make out the woman through the barrier though, and with his new magically enhanced sight is able to confirm that she is as she seems. The group now have to get into the room.

The Marilith calls out in a booming voice, demanding to know who the group are and why they have killed its servants. The Crimson Fist make no reply, instead they are planning their next move, covered by the noise of Mirra’s horn. Wil first Hastes the group then dispels the barrier. Lorric races down the walkway and assaults the Marilith, discovering as he attacks her that she is a far more difficult foe that most of her kind. Ajax shifts into his great Dire Tiger form and makes his way with difficulty down the walkway after Lorric, before leaping across the lava to a wider section, the other side of the Marilith. Kapek watches the demon, boomerangs ready, for signs of spell casting and both Wil and Mirra wisely stay by the archway entrance.

Lorric strikes at her, then there is a whirlwind of steel as she uses her halberd with devastating skill against Ajax, and a variety of other weapons against Lorric. The shifter is a bloodied mess in seconds, but Lorric manages to evade the blows aimed at him. Kapek throws boomerangs at the creature, hitting with several. Ajax strikes at it now, but only manages to connect once. Mirra, seeing the dire situation, calls upon the power of her oratory to inspire the fighting men to greatness as Wil attempts to Confuse the demon. Unfortunately it resists the effect.

Again Lorric’s fists slam into the creature, and it changes its tactics. This time it uses the halberd against the monk, and its other weapons against Ajax. Lorric manages to weave around the weapon and remain unhurt, but Ajax takes a terrific pounding, only his shifter resilience keeping him in the fight. Slowly Kapek advances towards the melee, hurling boomerangs as he comes. Ajax tears brutally at the Marilith with his claws and teeth, but it is a deadly blow from Lorric that finally brings her down. He manages to pull her back from the brink as she dies, ensuring that her undoubtedly expensive gear does not go with her into fiery oblivion.

With the demon dead, the group can now get on with their task. Wil casts Knock on the cage containing what seems likely now to be Lavinia, and Lorric leaps up to rescue her. He greets her with the word “Mother” and she responds with the name she gave him, Yeshmal, surprised to see her son now a man full grown. He explains to her that he is now known as Lorric. She harbours some suspicion that there may be some sort of demonic trick going on, but she is unwilling to dismiss all hope. When the group starts arguing about whether or nor to release the Archon, she comments that he is beyond help anyway, being totally insane. Kapek simply smiles at this and comments that this should not be a problem. A brief argument follows, with some of the group arguing that the Dragonmark should be saved for battle with Vanthus and his undead menagerie, but Kapek cuts it short by using its power. A warm glow of healing energies bathe the group, closing up most of Ajax’s horrific injuries and fully restoring everyone else. More importantly though, awareness returns to the Trumpet Archon’s eyes and he beseeches the group to give him his freedom.

As the Trumpet Archon is freed the rest of the group quickly equip Lavinia with some spare magical equipment. Then everybody gathers in a tight group around Wil and he casts 'Invisibility Sphere' and together they move towards the exit. (As they leave the ground shakes again and continues to shake. They hear the earth start to crack open).

As the Fists open the doors that lead onto the bridges that span the gap between the two islands they see gout's of lava erupt from beneath them. The whole island looks to be tearing itself apart.

A quick check reveals all but Lavinia and Kapek have ways of flying. Lorric donates a flying potion to Kapek and carries his mother and the group runs across the increasingly precarious looking bridge. As they cross the water around the islands bubble and two gigantic sea creatures burst from the sea.Behind them the volcano erupts and a gargantuan Magma Drake emerges from the volcano ridden by a sinister black armoured figure.

The group reach the other island and belt through the cages, as they go Wil casts three 'Knock' spells freeing the angels imprisoned there (including the two they'd talked to earlier).

They exit the building into a gathering of fiends the like of which even they have not seen before. A Balor sounds a mighty horn, the two sea creatures move up towards the group, two Mariliths ready martial arts weapons, another Balor bears a banner flanked by two more Balors, four Retrievers and a Admantine Golem bring up the rear. In the skies overhead four Vrocks circle. Behind them the Death Knight on the Magma Drake is joined by several dark flying figures and a score of Shadows.

For once the Crimson Fist need not debate what to do, with one mind they break left and run for the sea as the angels rocket straight upwards. Mirra casts 'Detect Magic' and yells that the Forbidance spell ends a few feet from the edge of the island.

As the Fists pelt at lightning speed to the edge of the island the sea boils again as the enormous form of Demo-Gorgon himself emerges from the water. He is too late however as is Vanthus who yells out his wife name desperately but the next instant the Fists pass the edge of the Forbidance and Mirra casts 'Plane Shift' and they are gone.

The Sundered Tower of Faeriax'soth

For the next ten days the Fists work alongside the expedition digging up a long buried temple to Vulkoor. They help explore the first two levels, Wil proving his worth opening a very tricky locked trap-door on the first level.

Wir 4th Rhaan 998 Y.K.

Then its back to Stormreach to pick up Celedrus and two scrolls of Planeshift, which they've decided to have around in case of emergencies. From there they Shadowwalk to the Necromancers Tomb.

In the tomb the bodies the Fists had left behind have been stripped to the bones by the insects that infest it but nothing attempts to harm them as they make their way to the Gate.

They pass through the Gate unopposed and enter Mabar where Celedrus casts Attune Form on everybody but Kapek, who carries the item that shields an area against the effects of Mabar.

Will examines the stones that surround the gate on the Mabar side and translates the writings on them as 'the portal to the tower lies towards the great forest'. In the distance they can see a forest but in the OPPOSITE direction to the one they had gone last time.

Roughly a hundred feet from the stones they encounter an archway, standing alone on the plain. Mirra through the use of her magic sees that it resonates with Conjuration magic. Wil translates the words written on it and with his help Mirra activates the portal and the Fists leap through. They appear at the base of the floating tower.

Quickly the Crimson Fists scale the chains that connect the tower to the ground. Reaching the chunk of rock on which the tower rests Kapek grapples the edge of one of the four outlying towers and they climb up. However no sooner is the tower reached than strips of skin stir from the ground and attack. Mirra identifies them as FORSAKEN SHELLS.

The creatures attempt to wrap themselves around their victims and the Fists attack back but the creatures seem able to absorb incredible amounts of damage. Luckily protected as they are by Freedom of Movement spells the creatures tactics have little effect and they are, eventually, defeated.

The balcony they are on contains a strange apparatus of buttons and rods. A metal door leads into the tower. Wil examines the door and discovers it doesn't actually touch any part of the tower, just hovering a little in the air in the gap of the doorway.

Mirra examines the apparatus hoping she can figure out what it does. She manipulates the buttons to raise and lower some kind of power but exactly what they have no idea.

Ajax applies a crowbar to the door and it disintegrates the second it touches the door. Making Ajax very glad he hadn't gone with his first instinct of trying to kick it down !

Wil casts Clairvoyance but his magic doesn't work, neither does Mirra's when she casts Knock.

Wil decides to magically examine the door, to his suprise it has no magic aura but he suddenly notices he can't see the aura's of his comrades magical items either, although a quick check reveals they are still working. He guesses all Divination magic is being suppressed.

A close examination of the door leads Mirra to decide it is made of 'Void Stone', a vital component in making 'Spheres of Annihilation', and a substance that will disintegrate anything that touches it. This news does nothing for the groups comfort levels.

As they debate what to do next suddenly the door swings open to reveal a strange, metal creature.......

Immediately the creature releases a burst of negative energy that strikes every member of the group. Miira identifies their foe as a Shadesteel Golem. Ajax charges into teh coridor and attacks it, Lorric joins in tumbling behind the creature. As they attack acidic slime starts to pour from faces carved into the cieling. As it burns into the two members of the Crimson Fist they notice it is healing the Golem.

Those outside the corridor see the slime start to build up against a invisble barrier that blocks the doorway. Celedrus casts Disintegrate on the Forcewall blocking the doorway destroying it. Their attention quickly switches to another Shade Steel Golem as it climbs over the edge of the balcony. It breathes a blast of black fire that sets fire to the unfortunate Celedrus.

Meanwhile in the corridor Ajax Rages and knocks the Golem into immobility and then, remembering the slime is healing it, hits it again knocking its head clean off. As the Golem dies the door descends again clipping Ajax's arms which goes numb but doesn't disintegrate. The door clicks into place blocking the way out and locking him and Lorric in with the acidic slime.

Lorric leaps up and grabs a hand-hold on the roof and hauls himself up above the slime-spewing faces. Ajax tries to copy him but fails and plunges back into the slime, burning himself yet again, leaving him hovering on the edge of death..

Outside the second golem unleashes a burst of Negative energy, Kapek replies with a clutch of Force Boomerangs and Wil with a Flaywind Burst.

Celedrus tries, and fails, to put himself out. Near death he collapses but then the Contigency spell he wisely cast easrlier kicks in and casts a Heal on himself.

In the corridor Ajax is near death he grabs Lorric's hand and uses his 'Fleet Warriors Array' to cast Dimension Door on them both, transporting them out of the slime and onto the balcony.

Celedrus seeing the bone showing beneath Ajax's flesh uses a wand to cast Cure Moderate Wounds on him. As this happens Kapek and the Golem exchange black fire and boomerangs. Then Lorric sweeps in and finishes the creature.

Ajax lends his Third Eye to Kapek and Wil boosts Kapek's intelligence with a spell. With this advantages Kapek concentrates furiously on his DragonMark and manages to cast a Heal against the opposition of Mabar.


While the other Fists get their breath back Wil climbs down to the base of the tower and recovers the body of the Shade Steel Golem which had plummeted over the edge. He brings it back up and proceeds, with Mira, to dissect the body. Within it they discover a strange mechanism, Mira analyzes it and realizes it is what the Golem used to open the doors to the tower's interior and that it is powered by Negative Energy.
Celedrus theorizes that he can power it with his 'Rebuke Undead' ability. He channels a 'Rebuke undead' attempt into it and the doors slide open. Wil moves slowly down the corridor, checking for traps. He finds and disarms the trap that Lorric had tripped earlier but discovers no other traps. Every few minutes the doors try to shut again but Celedrus keeps burning 'Rebuke Undead' attempts to keep it open.
At the end of the corridor they see a cavern filled with crackling black lightning. A bridge stretches over the cavern and leads to a door into the tower.
It is decided that the black lightning is probably a Negative energy effect that their 'Death Ward' and 'Life's Grace's' spells should protect them against. Wil volunteers to test this theory and steps out into the lightning and is unharmed.
The Fists cross the bridge and open the door into the tower. Inside is revealed twelve figures dressed in robes and chanting softly, standing around a jewelled skull floating in mid-air. A stone gargoyle stands behind them, watching over all.
Wil gets off a 'Flaywind Burst' before the Acolytes can react and driving sand rips into them, knocking some flat and wounding most. Before the rest can fully recover Ajax and Lorric are among them, ripping them to shreds.
The Acolyte's arcane skills prove no match for the Crimson Fist's 'punching-in-the-face' skills and with claw, tankard and tangat the Acolytes and the gargoyle are brought down. They do get off some spells first and Ajax finds himself on the wrong end of a powerful 'Ray of Enfeeblement', much to his disgust.
The floating skull does nothing during the fight, to the Fists relief who had feared it might be a Demi-Lich. More careful examination proves it to just be a skull allthough one with ruby teeth and sapphire eyes, so Ajax smashes it and takes the jewels.
Kapek goes to throw a grappling hook up through a hole in the roof to the next floor but when he steps under the hole he finds himself rising up into the air. The other Fists quickly rush over to the space and join Kapek in floating up to the next floor.
The next floor has strange patterns carved into the floor and contains two huge statues. The Fists seeing neither a Gilded figure nor a Liche decide to simply move on to the next floor.
The next floor is a small space surrounded by walls with several doors set into them. Lorric hears faint noises coming from behind the nearest one. Wil picks the lock and the doors swing open......to reveal two Mummies who have clearly been waiting for the Fists.

The Mummies take advantage of the Fists surprise to cast Blindness and Hold Person on Wil but he resists both spells. Simultaneously a Dread Wraith steps through the wall and hits Ajax draining his vitality.

Two Shadows also step through the wall but the ever-vigilant Kapek attacks before they can do anything, slaying one and injuring the other which flees back into the wall.

One of the Mummies touches Wil and invokes foul necromantic powers against him but Wil is protected by his Deathward spell. Wil responds with a 'SandScour' spell and Celedrus adds a Fireball. Ajax tries to hit one of the Mummies but due to his 'Enfeebled' state his attack bounces off their armour.

The Dread Wraith tries to attack Lorric but he has been waiting for it and dodges the attack and hits it back. The Wraith flees into the wall.

Wil shrugs off another Hold Person and, to Ajax's relief, dispels the 'Enfeeblement' on him.

The Dread Wraith and the remaining Shadow charges out of the wall but Kapek and Ajax were waiting for them and shred them before they can do anything.

Lorric charges one of the Mummies, its friend responds with a Slay Living but Lorric resists. Kapek and Ajax join him attacking the creatures. Blows whistle back and forth and the Mummies fall.

An examination of the notes the Mummies were working on by Wil and Mirra show they were writing about the tower itself. It is apparently a huge machine for extracting or imbuing life force, a 'SOUL MACHINE'. While those two concern themselves with intellectual matters the rest of the group loot the Mummies.

The Crimson Fists float up to the next floor. There three black skinned giants are sitting playing cards at a table. A tiny figure is imprisoned in a bell jar on the table. The Crimson Fists recognize the creatures from the battle at the Necromancers tomb, they are Death Giants. Familiar as they are with such creatures they just attack them before they are noticed.

Wil summons three giant spiders which shoot webs on the enemy and Mirra intones tales of glory. Lorric and Ajax charge in, supported by Kapek's boomerangs, and although they take mighty blows, give better than they receive and quickly kill the Death Giants.

Urged on by Ajax, who wants to continue while his final Shift lasts, the Fists hurry on to what they reckon must be the topmost level.

The room contains a huge iron statue from which spurts strange energies. A book floats in front of the statue's face. A table is also there with several books upon it.

A whirlwind of blades suddenly appears and explodes driving blades into every corner of the room doing hideous damage to everyone. The blade creature reforms and Lorric charges the creature and slams it with his tankard, Kapek pounds it with boomerangs and Ajax slashes it with his claws. It disintegrates under their attacks.

Kapek's senses, honed by his years as a hunter, tell him something is in the shaft heading down to the lower floor. He unleashes a trio of boomerangs and one impacts with an invisible figure. Kapek feels something trying to force its way into his mind but with a supreme effort of will he expels it.

Lorric leaps on the invisible creature and attacks and Ajax joins in, striking where Lorric does. They feel glass shatter under their blows and a smashed brain suddenly appears and plummets to the floor below in a shower of glass and strange fluids. The energy fades from the statue.

*Ajax comments
Thus confirming Ajax's philisophy of life : 'Brawn will always beat brain'.

An examination of the statue shows it to be made of iron but with no magic. The books are on many subjects but nothing to do with the Tower or its owner.

On descending to the lower floor they examine the figure in the bell jar which Kapek reckons to be an Eladrin. However it doesn't respond to their words or even register on a Detect Thoughts spell,which does work as Divination magic has started working since the death of the brain creature.

The Fists decide to retrace their steps, heading down to the floors previously visited and exploring them more thoroughly. This floor and the Library however reveal nothing new.

The floor after that is the one with the metal statues and the strange marks carved into the floor. Despite Ajax's warnings that they should just leave Kapek insists on experimenting with the statues.Eventually one of them is pushed around the room (using the marks carved in the floor as tracks) until it rests next to the other statue. Then they both come to life.

One of the statues breathes a Cone of Fire on the Fists, the other attacks Lorric. The Fists pile in. The other statue gets off a painful Cone of Cold but they are battered into uselessness.

After a while further examining the room the Fists notice the statues are starting to regenerate and decide to leave.

On the floor where they first entered the tower the Fists mount a intensive search. Wil decides that the far wall is illusory and as he concentrates on it, it dissolves away to reveal a corridor that leads to glass double doors with a crystal eye set into it, it looks down on them, blinking occasionally..

Ajax wishes to stop there and rest before the group continues. He cannot Shift or Rage again today (if Mabar HAS days), Kapek cannot cast Heal and Celedrus is running low on offensive spells. Perhaps most importantly the Deathwards and Life's Grace spells that had protected the Fists have run out.The others are unsure what they should do next.

After some debate the Fists decide to rest until dawn. In order to do so safely it is decided to leave Mabar and rest in the real world. The Fists Dimension Door past the black lightning, climb down the cables and teleport back to the gateway and out of Mabar.

It is 5 in the evening when they re-enter the jungle and set up camp for the night.

In the morning the Fists breakfast on a Heroes Feast and re-enter Mabar, renewed and ready for battle. In a short while they find themselves back in the tower, in the room where they had defeated the Acolytes and the Gargoyle. It seems empty until the group's blood is chilled by a soul-numbing scream.

A creature sweeps out of the ceiling and another, still shrieking, pokes its head through the solid ceiling. They are Deathshriekers.

One of them strikes Ajax, draining his charisma. Lorric hits it in return and Kapek lashes the screaming head with Force boomerangs. It swoops down and tries to strike Kapek in return but misses.

Furious Ajax slays the Deathshriek which attacked him and Kapek finishes of the second one.

Wil examines the double doors while the crystal eye watches him impassively, blinking occasionally. He discovers the door is magically trapped, a casting of 'Detect Magic' reveals the trap is related to the spell Black Blade of Disaster ! This news does nothing to reassure the Crimson Fists.

Aided by Mirra Wil disarms the trap and pushes the doors open. It swings opens to reveal a staircase spiralling down into the darkness. The Fists descend into the depths. After a turn of the stairs they reach a landing where a room is fenced off by an iron grill. Inside the room lies two coffins and a raggedly dressed human standing guard over them with a rusty broadsword. He has numerous puncture marks all over him.

When spoken to he yells wildly and rushes to the attack, trying desperately to hit the Fists through the bars of the grill. Ignoring his useless attacks Mirra decides he is under the effect of a 'Dominate' and uses her 'Song of Freedom' on the unfortunate. The spell works, the poor man is freed from the spell and returns to his senses.

Now himself again he introduces himself to the Fists as AERISTUS HAMMEL (Mirra recognised the name as a renowned adventurer). He and his group entered the tower to try to free a noted hero but fell to the occupants of the tower. He doesn't know the fate of his comrades but has been kept as a food source for two female vampires who sleep in the coffins.

Ajax sniffs the coffins to learn the scent of the vampires and then smashes them to deny them to the vampires.

*Ajax comments

This is Lorric's idea and to help track an enemy so there is absolutely NOTHING weird or freaky about him sniffing where two female vampires have been sleeping.
They do smell nice though.


Aeristus agrees to accompany the group and they provide him with what magic gear they can spare.

Joined by their new ally the group descend the next spiral of the stairs, suddenly coming face-to-face with a Nalfeshnee, crammed into the corridor.

Celedrus casts 'Align Weapons' as Wil feels his intelligence start to fade but with an effort of will throws off the effects of the spell. Ajax charges in and attacks the Nalfeshnee, noticing as he does so a Marilith standing behind it. Behind the Marilith the corridor ends in a stone wall, besides it is a doorway into a room.

Ajax pounds the hell out of the Nalfeshnee and then Kapek finishes it with a boomerang but the other two he had thrown pass straight throw the Marillith. Kapek realizes it is an illusion. A 'Blade Barrier' appears cutting Ajax off from the rest of the group. Lorric dives through the barrier avoiding the blades with amazing speed and attacks the Marilith, realizing as his blows pass through it that it is an illusion.

Ajax moves up to the doorway and glances through taking in the weird contents of the room. There are eight pods set in the walls of the room and fed by eight glass tanks. In three of the tanks float figures in the fluid that fills the tanks. Two tables also occupy the room, on one invisible hands assemble a patchwork man from bits of bodies.

In the middle of the room stands a throne upon which sits the Lich. He is flanked by a Marilith and a huge Fire Elemental. Above the Lich hovering near the ceiling is a man who skin seems to be made of gold. The Gilded Man !

Using the 'Message' spell on him Ajax informs the others of what he can see. Mirra casts 'Dimension Door' to transport the Fists on the wrong side of the 'Blade Barrier' into the room. They disappear but don't re-appear !

The Marilith casts 'Blade Barrier' across the doorway. Ajax grits his teeth and charges straight through the Blade Barrier but the Liche was waiting for him and a ray shoots from his fingers and strikes Ajax. An anti-magic ray. In a instant Ajax is stripped of his 'Bull's Strength', 'Heroes Feast', 'Barkskin', 'Align Weapon', 'Death Ward' and 'Attune Form'. Much worse he loses his Shifted form and any ability to Shift until the spell wears off.

*Ajax comments
Once again Ajax realizes exactly how rubbish he is inside an anti-magic effect. Not only is his fighting potential destroyed but without his Fast Healing, Beastskin hide and extra vitality he is easier to kill.

Ajax switches targets and attacks the Marilith with his Pincer Staff and Lorric tumbles in and attacks the Lich. Unfortunately powered only by his Rage Ajax is a shadow of his previous self and his attack doesn't really bother the Marilith, her attack however slashes into Ajax with deadly force.

The Lich produces a scroll and casts it and disappears to re-appear on the other side of the room. There he gestures at Lorric, Lorric sees a space full of twisting black walls appear before him. It feels it try to suck him in but he resists and the maze vanishes.

Ajax tumbles desperately away from the Marilith towards the Lich, Lorric joins him but as they attack they realize it is another illusion.

The rest of the Crimson Fists finally appear. Kapek spots the distortion that tells him where the invisible Liche is hiding and pelts it with Force boomerangs, following his aim Wil blankets the area with a 'Flaywind Burst' and Celedrus adds an 'Acid Rain'. The Liche retreats behind the Blade Barrier and spits a line of fire that catches Celedrus and Wil.

Lorric leaps through the 'Blade Barrier' to take the fight to the Liche once more. The Marilith, rather unimaginatively, casts a 'Blade Barrier' that cuts through the rest of the Fists. The whirling blades nearly kills Celedrus, only the vitality granted him by the 'Heroes Feast' keeps him alive. Kapek opens up on the Liche with force boomerangs finishing it. Immediately the Fire Elemental goes out of control.

Wil casts 'Control Monster' on the Fire Elemental and succeeds in gaining control of it and he immediately turns it on the Marilith. The Marilith however disposes of it in one blur of attacks.

Lorric picks up the Liches body and to make absolutely sure of it pushes it feet first into the 'Blade Barrier'. Mirra casts 'Greater Dispel' and dispels the 'Blade Barrier' trapping her and the rest of the group. Now able to see the Marilith it comes under a hail of attacks as Kapek hits it with his boomerangs, Wil with a 'Flaywind Burst' and Celedrus with a 'Magic Missile'.

Enraged the Marilith charges Kapek and so Lorric and Ajax seize the opportunity to jump on it. Lorric smashes it with his tankard and Ajax snaps his Pincer Staff shut around its neck and grapples it and pins it down. Kapek steps up and slays it with a cold iron Tangat. The last of the tower's defenders had fallen.

Ajax smashes open one of the tanks. He discovers the fluid it contains has a paralyzing property that Ajax just manages to resist. The figure it contains is dead, as are the other two figures in the other tanks.

As the rest of the Fists loot the Liche Mirra examines the Gilded Man and discovers he is surrounded by a 'Temporal Stasis' spell. Mirra casts a 'Greater Dispel' and the Gilded Man is free !

He is strangely unsurprised, having apparently been expecting just this from his reading of the Prophecies. He calmly informs the group that the Expedition are all dead as are all of Celedrus's tribe.

The Fists have many questions and the Gilded Man answers them. They discover that Lorric's mother has information vital to dealing with the threat to all existence. The Gilded Man also informs them that the tower can be destroyed by setting all the machines that surround the tower to full power. He also confirms that Martell was part of the group that arranged their kidnapping where they had first met.

The Gilded Man refuses to accompany them on their mission to the Abyss declaring that there are two tasks that must be accomplished and it will take whichever the Fists don't. As they are going to the Abyss it will travel to the Utter Cold to find the angel Zaphikel. He does however offer to transport them, once, to any destination they choose. The Fists discuss the matter and decide to head back to Sharn to equip themselves properly for an assault on the Abyss.

First though the Fists set the machines to their highest settings, they expect to find the Vampires but although Ajax gets a whiff of their scent there is no sign of them. With the tower set for destruction the Gilded man 'Planeshifts' the Fists back to Sharn. Then vanishes off on his own mission.

Hammel thanks the Fists for his rescue and tries to return the magical gear they had loaned him but they insist he keeps it. He asks where he can find them in future but his attitude takes a distinct turn when they inform him that they can be located at the 'Deathsgate Guild'. Hammel is a member of the rival 'Clifftop Guild' but more than that he claims there is something deeply evil about the operations of the 'Deathsgate Guild' although he refuses to provide specific examples. He earnestly warns them of continuing their association with the Guild. Then he heads off to reclaim his life.

The Fists head back to their home where they find Anvil and are happily re-united with their old comrade. They also divvy up the loot from the Necromancers Tower and begin, often with Anvil's help, to turn it into items that will help in their next mission.

Over the next few days two noteworthy incidents occur. Mirra discovers that when an Anti-Magic Field is cast on the Eladrin in a bottle he transforms into a fully grown, living Eladrin. Although he immediately reverts to stone when outside the Anti-magic field. Mirra eventually figures out that a 'Break Enchantment' will free him of this curse and he is freed.

It turns out he was in the tower to rescue the Gilded Man and is pleased to hear that the Fists have succeded in releasing him. He has come from Thelanis where Palimino is locked in combat with the forces of Mabarian. He is also able to tell the Fists that the child is still alive.

*Ajax comments

Ajax also takes the time to hire a Cleric to perform 'Sendings' for him. He contacts Yulunga to enquire about the Black Claws. He learns they are doing well but are preparing for battle as the fighting in the Eldrin reaches is getting closer.
The other is to Clian who he is relieved to learn is alive and prospering and missing him. 

They also receive a visit from Martell D'Cannith. Lorric responds to his arrival by belting him one for his involvement in their kidnapping which Martell glumly accepts as just. They discuss their past involvement.

*Ajax comments
Ajax doesn't hit Martell because he fears if he starts he won't stop.

Original adventure, 'Prisoner of the Castle Perilous' by Stephen S. Greer.

Stormreach and the Red Ring

With the decision made the Crimson Fists Shadow Walk to Stormreach where Lorric sets to converting the various loot they've collected into cash. With the swift talking Lorric at work the Fists are soon supplied with more coin then they've ever seen before.

On the next day Oz is bid a fond farewell by his comrades with 33,000 thousand gold in his pack and a near death dealing hangover from the previous nights celebration.

With so much gold burning a hole in their pockets the Fists decide to spend a few days relaxing in Stormreach and purchasing items that will help them with their extra-planar quests. Celedrus requests some gold to tide him over and is gifted with 6,000 although after he tries to buy a glass of wine with a 100 gold pieces it has to be explained to him how much that can buy in this new world.

They also bump into their old friend Galin, who on being quizzed about adventurers who might be prepared to join the company tells them of a Warforged called WIL who is looking for work and can be found at the 'Ship's Cat'. According to Galin Will was part of an expedition into the Menechtarun desert. When he lost contact with the expedition he fell into a passive state only recovering when he was uncovered by another expedition whom he accompanied back to Stormreach.

The Fists decide to talk to Wil. He turns out to be a cheery fellow with a laugh that could be counted as a Sonic weapon. Skilled in trap finding and magic and with the endurance native to his kind he seems just what they need. For his part Wil cares little for money, tending to give away his share of any loot. Of more concern to him is that the quests he go on are for the cause of good and are interesting. He deems the Fist's plans worthy of his attention and agrees to join up.

With a few days to relax the Fists set about their individual errands.

Ajax seeks out Kolos the minotaur to arrange a gladiatorial battle for him and one is arranged for a few days hence in the Far games. It is only after this that Ajax hears the rumour that the reason the Crimson Fists left Stormreach was that they had fled in fear of Malketh. It does occur to him that entering the games that Malekith controls could be considered a giant 'up yours' to him but, as with most things, this occurs to him too late.

Kapek visits the House Jorasco enclave to declare his new found status as one of the Dragonmarked. They eagerly question, examine and catalogue him.

Mirra and Wil research into Pazunia and Mabar at the Temple of the Sovereign Host. There they learn of the Blood War between the Demons and Devils and how Pazunia is the main battleground for this conflict. They also learn of a hub of trade there called 'Broken Reach'

Mirra also delivers the stories she has been writing to the local office of her paper. She picks up the latest news herself hearing tales of half-demon pirates, conflict between the Sahuagin possibly linked to undersea earthquakes, the incidences of the dead rising again and the re-birth of the 13th Dragonmark.

Lorric as well as consuming heroic amounts of alcohol visits the Church of the Silver Flame to inquire of the 'Gilded Man'. From them he learns that the 'Gilded Man' is not human but probably an Inevitable, a being of pure Law dedicated to maintaining the balance. He was captured by Feriax'soth several centuries ago.

Lorric is warned that the 'Gilded Man' will hate those who have died and returned, regarding them as an offence to the natural cycle of things. A description that applies to two of his party both Ajax and Celedrus having died and returned.

Also all the group invest in new magic items. Kapek and Ajax pay to have some their items improved, this involves handing them over for this process to be done. Ajax hands over his Beast Claws, a decision he will soon come to regret.

Far, 20th Barrakas 998 Y.K.

On Far morning the Fists receive a letter, it contains First Class tickets to the games where the final event will be a battle between Malixendria the Champion and Ajax, accompanying it is an note inviting them to 'The Death of Ajax of the Crimson Fists'. It is signed, naturally, by Malketh.

That evening the other Fists use the tickets and are soon seated next to Malketh himself. He is accompanied by a robed figure that they instantly recognize from the encounter when Malketh's forces attacked the Fists outside Stormreach. The spell-caster who cast the Teleportation Circle that brought Malketh's people there, which made him a formidable spell-caster indeed. However as they are introduced he leans forward and for a second his features shift becoming a woman, her features pulled tight by chains sunk into her flesh. It is Saeloth the Sorceress who the Fists freed from the Yellowtooth goblins, who attacked the village of Gullsnest and who recommended them for membership in the Deathgate guild. Malketh seems to have not noticed his companion's brief change and invites Lorric to sit next to him while the Fists wonder what game Saeloth is playing.

Malketh is, of course, here to bargain. He offers Lorric that when Ajax loses he won't call for his death if Ajax will serve as his slave for six months. Lorric feels he cannot make the decision for Ajax so makes a counter-offer. If Ajax wins Malketh will tell him where he can find his mother. If Malexendria wins Lorric will fight her in the arena. Malketh agrees with one proviso, the fight about to happen must end in the death of one of the combatants.

Down on the sands of the arena the two opponents walk out to the cheers of the crowd. It is clear that Malexendria is by far the favourite, despite Mirra's best efforts to get everyone to cheer for Ajax.

The Announcer introduces Malexendria and then declares Ajax is there to 'defend the honour of the Crimson Fists after they fled the city'. His opinion on this subject are interrupted as a remarkably well aimed tomato thrown by Kapek impacts with his chest.

The formalities over the fight begins. Ajax is without his Beast Claws as they are still being improved and so charges straight in with his Pincer Staff, delivering a flurry of blows that all miss his nimble opponent. Malexendria tumbles past him and with blinding speed and deadly accuracy backstabs him in the heart and kidneys. To her astonishment this seems to merely annoy the Shifter.

When another blizzard of attacks also all miss Ajax simply throws away the Pincer Staff and uses his natural claws, finally managing to land a hit. To both his and the crowds relief as so far this was proving a very one-sided competition. Although this is still one blow in return for the three more telling blows she lands.

Realizing he is losing badly Ajax decides its time for an all-or-nothing move. He backs off from his opponent, putting the breadth of the arena between them. Malexendria takes the opportunity to spread her wings and fly into the air and invoke a Horrid Wilting on Ajax. Now only alive thanks to the vitality granted him by his Shifted Form Ajax transforms into his Primeval Dire Tiger form (losing all his magical gear) and charges straight at the astonished Malexendria. With one mighty leap he collides with her and unleashes a series of terrible blows.

They hit the ground and a glow surrounds Malexendria as some item she possesses casts a Heal on her. She desperately strikes back but it isn't enough, Ajax's jaws clamp down on her and with fang and claw he tears into her.

Malexendria goes limp and Ajax rolls off her. He hopes she might still be saved but the intestines leaking from her indicate that she is dead. Ajax quickly transforms back into his humanoid form and exhausts his Healing Belt to heal himself enough that he won't just die when his Shifting wears off.

The crowd goes wild as Ajax is declared the winner. Lorric turns to speak to Malketh but he is already stalking to the exit, furious at the loss of his Champion.

Ajax rejoins his comrades and immediately offers his apologies to Lorric for the death of his half-sister. Lorric kindly forgives him. Unable to resist anymore Ajax heads out to bask in the adulation of his new fans. The other Fists decide that once again its time to leave Stormreach in a hurry.

Having done a lap of honour Ajax returns to his comrades with a huge grin on his face. Just then a boy approaches Lorric informing him that Malketh would like to speak to him and his friends.

The Fists are escorted to Malketh's inner chambers. Malketh receives them, offers them food and wine and, grudgingly, congratulates Ajax on his victory. Malketh quickly gets down to business and informs Lorric of his parents. His father was called VANTHUS and his mother LAVINIA. A pair of noted adventurers who had left Lorric with a friend who, in Malketh's carefully chosen words, 'they thought they could trust' before heading into the jungle.

They were said to have found ruins that served as a prison for a crazed mind called Dynroth. It was here the rest of their group had lost contact with them. When next they were heard of they were being help prisoner in Pazunia. Apparently Lavinia knew something of value to DEMOGORGON for she was moved to his realm,'THE GAPING MAW'. There she is said to held in a prison but a prison where the prisoners control half of it and the guards the other half.

Malketh also informs Lorric that his mother is an aasimar. Malketh makes gloating reference to the fact that in the Abyss 'her flesh is the sweetest.' Having gotten his petty revenge Malketh dismisses the group.

The second they step outside they are mobbed by fight fans who spot the new champion. Ajax leads his new fans off to the nearest pub and gives the group breathing room. The rest of the group head off to find a bard to quiz about Lorric's parents.

*Ajax comments
It is a horrible thing for Ajax to head off to the pub with a crowd of admiring fans who want to buy him all the drinks he can manage but that is a sacrifice he's prepared to make to free his comrades to persue their mission.

A search produces a bard who remembers them and even recognizes Lorric and informs him of his real name, Yeshmal. He tells some stories of Lavinia and Vanthus and informs Lorric of where his parents used to live.

Lorric mulls the information over a few dozen pints and decides he needs to purchase a scroll of Discern Location to locate his parents when the Fists are in Pazunia. However to make it work he will need some objects closely connected to them.

The night passes.

Sar 21st Barrakas 998 Y.K.

The next morning a tired Ajax rolls up to the 'Sea Cat' to meet up with the rest of the Fists. He requests a Remove Disease from Celedrus and is refused on the grounds Celedrus feels his god's gifts shouldn't be squandered on protecting Ajax from the consequences of his own over indulgence.

*Ajax comments
Ajax having discovered the concept of 'groupies' the night before.

With everyone together they head to the address given them by the bard. As they approach the house old memories stir in Lorric's mind and memories long buried return to him.

The current owners of the house, Mark and Larissa Zemore, are more than a little surprised to be woken by such a strange group (including the new Champion) first thing in the morning but kindly invite them in for tea. Over the tea Lorric explains his need for something connected to his parents to enable him to find them. Mark mentions that when they first moved in twenty years ago he discovered a locket which his wife wears to this day. However it has great sentimental value to them as a reminder of the house that has been their home for twenty years. Lorric promises to return it if he can and offers them 500 GP.

Larissa obviously doesn't want to part with it but Mark realizes it can reunite Lorric with his parents and, with some sadness, hands it over. Lorric thanks them and reiterates his promise to return it. Ajax touched by the couples generosity to strangers presses one of the diamonds he keeps for emergencies into Mark's hand and suggest he uses it to create another piece for his wife.

The Fists then head to the bank in the hopes of being able to access the account of Lorric's parents. The manager is naturally reluctant to allow this but is persuaded to part with something of no real worth from their deposit box. The box is bought before Lorric and with a rush of fond childhood memories he instantly recognizes a pair of wooden swords his father and he used to play with. He takes the one his father used to use.

All that is left to do then is to purchase two scrolls of Discern Location.

With their business in Stormreach concluded the Fists are ready to return to the expedition. Celedrus decides not to return to the territory of the Drow and will wait for their return in Stormreach.

The Atropal Lachryma

As the creatures come closer the true horror of their visages becomes clear and strikes to the heart of Kapek, Mirra and Celedrus, robbing them of the their strength,speed and vitality. Mirra is so badly affected she is paralyzed by the mere sight of the Banshees.

But this is nothing compared to the horror of what happens next. The Banshees howl and Mirra simply dies. Her noble heart stilled in an instant by the horror of that sound. Fuelled by burning anger Ajax and Lorric hurls themselves at a Banshee each as Oz sends an anti-undead arrow winging into one of the foul creatures.

Kapek rushes forward and unleashes the power of his Dragonmark but the power is halved by the evil atmosphere of Mabar that surrounds them.

As horrific as the Banshees are at attacking from range, up close they are less formidable. Lorric's Banshee tries to flee but is tripped by him and quickly finished. Ajax's sinks into the ground and so evades the enraged Shifter who, in the grip of his fury, charges the trees as the only targets in sight.

The second Banshee leaps from the ground into the middle of the group and is pounded by missile fire by Kapek and Oz but they fail to kill it before it can scream again and in that terrible instant Oz's life is ripped from him. The next second Lorric finishes the creature as Ajax reduces the trees to fragments.

The remaining members of the group are in shock. In the span of a few awful seconds the Fists have lost two members. Celedrus assures the rest he can return their comrades on the morrow if they are all still alive by then. In a daze they decide to remove themselves from the Mabar affected area until their numbers are renewed and the damage done by the Banshees healed.

The Crimson Fists retreat out of the area and set up camp. Over the next few days Celedrus's Raise Dead spells return their lost comrades and other spells restore the speed, strength and vitality lost by them (and him and Kapek) to the Banshees. They also have Celedrus communicate via Sending with the expedition leader to assure him they aren't dead and are working on securing a deal with the Drow.

On the fourth day they start the day with a Heroes Feast to prepare themselves for the horrors ahead and return to the area via Mirra's 'Shadow Walk', which leaves Oz, Mirra and Kapek teetering precariously at the edge of a 100 foot drop. The drop leads down to the dry bed of the lake, there they see Obelisks and statues and a square pit. Celedrus identifies one of the statues as being of IXTCHAMEL'TRAA, a vast centipede-like creature coiled around an Obelisk, the other , a hulking form without a head, is a being that is known as an aspect of ATROPOS.

A groove has been carved into the lake bed, none of the Fists are really in doubt that this was caused by the fall of the comet from the skies. Most strange is that throughout the lake patches of algae float on the air, as if supported by the water that had vanished long ago.

Then the moon appears from behind the clouds, as moonlight strikes the lake bed swarms of ghosts become visible, flowing like shoals of fish through the lake. The Fists grab for weapons only to relax in astonishment as the moon slides behind the clouds and the undead vanish.

The Fists are understandably dubious that the missing Drow could be alive in this lake of horrors but it is suggested that Celedrus use a 'Sending' to a friend among the missing. To everyone's surprise he receives the message 'We are in the lake'.

Two flying creatures start to move towards the Fists, gathering shoals of undead to them. As they get closer the Fists open fire with a barrage of arrows, force boomerangs, Magic Missiles and Fireballs.

As the creatures get close the Fists see there are three Atropal Scions and two Dark Angels and they do not seemed to be particulalrly bothered by the firepower being thrown at them.

Oz and Celedrus cautiously retreat and Mirra casts Major Image so an angel bearing a flaming sword (and looking strangely familiar to Mirra's comrades) appears beside the front-line of Lorric and Ajax.

Celedrus casts Fly on Lorric and Ajax and Mirra intones tales of glory as the creatures close in and then the Psions vanish !

The Dark Angels swoop in, one viciously attacking the Fists angelic 'ally'. They are in return charged as Lorric and Ajax charge one each.

A wave of despair wash over the Fists, sapping their will to fight as the Atropal Scions invoke their aura's of despair and Negative energy. Mirra realizing the first Dark Angel has tumbled to the truth of its adversary moves her illusion to attack the other one but its comrades barks a warning that it is an illusion.

Locked in combat with one of the Dark Angels, Ajax endures a barrage of claw and wing attacks and feels his skin start to rot off his body. But joined by Lorric Ajax is able to slay his opponent. Together they turn on the second Dark Angel and swiftly slay it.

Kapek once more invokes his Dragonmark, healing his comrades and smiting the invisible Atropal Scions, they appear high above the Fists squawking in pain. One unleashes a Cone of Cold on Ajax and the other two try to drain his and Lorric's life-force but are resisted. In return the duo, making full and gleeful use of their Fly spells, dive upwards towards their foes and slay one each.

The last Atrophal Scion flees into the lake but Ajax's blood is up and he is not going to let a foe escape. He sweeps down into the lake and with a swipe of his claws sends the last Atropal Scion tumbling, broken, to the lake bed. Ajax grins in satisfaction but the grin vanishes as he suddenly realises he is inside the lake and the moon floods the scene once again with moonlight..........


Ajax freezes with horror as the undead merge into one gigantic cloud from which a huge hand made up of dozens of squirming ghosts reaches out for him. A chorus of unearthly screams and wails assault the ears of the Crimson Fist as the hand strikes at Ajax who, quite understandably, flees as fast as the Fly spell will take him.
Kapek urgently warns his comrades that two invisible Atropal Scions are flying alongside the massive composite creature which Celedrus identifies as a creature called a LOST SOUL.
The Lost Soul charges and Lorric counter-charges it with them both meeting in a head-on collision on the edge of the lake. Ajax joins him a moment later. Lorric notices while his blows don't seem to pack their proper punch Ajax's claws do and quickly switches to using his Claw Gloves.
The Atropal Scions target Lorric and Ajax with Dispel Magic removing the Fly from Lorric and the Heroes Feast from Ajax but losing the protection of their invisibility by this overt move. They also invoke their Negative aura's sapping Ajax and Lorric's will to fight. Meanwhile Kapek and Oz target the Scions with withering missile fire.
The Lost Soul disintegrates under the blizzard of attacks rained down on it. Ajax charges down and slays one of the Scions and the other one flees under a hail of missile fire before Ajax runs it down and finishes it off.
This does, of course, leave him in the middle of the lake again ! And the remaining ghosts start to coalesce into another Lost Soul. However before it can attack the reckless Shifter the moon vanishes behind the clouds and it disappears.
The group gather on the ledge to discuss the matter and heal up. It is estimated judging by how many ghosts remain that only two more Lost Souls can be formed before there are no more ghosts left. It is suggested Ajax act as bait and draw the Lost Souls to the group so they can be disposed of and he readily agrees. A rope is tied around him and Ajax flies once more into the lake.
This time two of the composite creatures form, one on either side of Ajax. They start to move towards him and Ajax watches them carefully ready to flee when he judges they're close enough. Then the moon is covered and they vanish leaving a very nervous Ajax with no idea where they are.
Kapek uses his 'Scouts Headband' and is able to see one of the Lost Souls closing in on Ajax and the other moving in on the rest of the group.
Kapek sends glowing force boomerangs winging into the seemingly empty air, the whereabouts of the nearer Lost Soul becoming obvious as the boomerangs impact with it, while Lorric reels Ajax in.
The Lost Souls continue their approach, Mirra recites tales of glory and Ajax invokes his primeval nature and transforms into a Dire Tiger.
Then at the last moment the moon comes out and the Lost Souls are revealed practically on top of the Fists, screaming their mind-shredding cries. Luckily the Heroes Feast has rendered the Fists immune to fear that day (apart from Ajax who gets by on sheer bloody-mindedness).
Lorric, Kapek and Ajax leap into melee with one of the Lost Souls. As they strike at the creatures ghostly hands burst from every inch of it to strike at them.
The other creature charges Mirra and strikes her forcing her to Tumble away from it.
The Fists in combat with the Lost Soul tear into it slaying it then quickly turn their attention on the other and deal with it in a similar fashion.
With the lake now emptied of ghosts Ajax flies into it once again on a scouting mission. He flies over the structures they had observed on the lake bed. The pit is sixty feet deep and at the bottom of it is a pedestal on which rests a giant lump of glistening black stone.
Ajax also spots a raised stone slab surrounded by obelisks. In the corners of the slab burn dim purple flames, they surround a magical circle carved into the stone.
Having returned and reported this it is decided that Ajax will fly over the area again, this time carrying Celedrus so he can give his expert opinion on what lies down there. Celedrus is a little reluctant as to this plan but is gently remained he is under the Fists command.
Ajax and Celedrus set off, this time flying lower so Celedrus can get a good look at the details. At this height it becomes obvious the statue of Atrophos is oozing black ichor and as they pass over the pit they can feel the palpable evil emanating from it.
Celedrus observes the circle carefully and theorizes that it is some sort of teleportation circle or portal. He makes out three words carved into it, 'ATROPOS', KIRX'KATECH' and 'SHOTHRAGOT' which he believes to be destinations.
The subsequent discussion touches on the fact that these seem very unhealthy places to be travelling to. The course of the discussion triggers a memory in Lorric, he remembers the Sending Sparky received from his sister which mentioned his mother was held in Pazunia. It is pointed out that one of the portals in the Necromancers Tomb leads to Pazunia, one of the upper circles of the Abyss.
Lorric wants immediately to return to the tomb and enter Pazunia to rescue his mother. The rest of the group are sympathetic but feel just charging in will get no-one rescued and probably them dead. Kapek having gained little from the Drow particularly wants the chance to turn some of their wealth into useful magic items. Also Kapek and Ajax feel they are honour bound to fulfill their contract with the expedition first. Lorric is reluctantly persuaded to not invade the Abyss just yet.
It is decided that Celedrus will cast a Flame Strike on the rock in the pit, which is undoubtedly one of the Atrophal Lachyrmae, in the hope of destroying it. The flame roars from the skies and strikes into the pit with immediate effect. The earth shakes and the moon seems to form a screaming mouth, an appalling scream rips across the landscape flattening the Fists and permanently deafening everybody.
Kapek uses his Dragonmark to cast Heal restoring everybodys hearing and healing them up.
Lorric and Kapek notice several objects detach themselves from the surface of the moon and start to fall towards the earth. As this happens strange skeletal creatures which are recognized as Mohrg start to emerge from caves in the edge of the lake along with what appears to be a Lich.
From the mud on the lake bed more undead pull themselves up, although these are fully fleshed but with glowing red eyes and fangs. They are accompanied by some form of gigantic undead lizard. With fear and awe in his voice Celedrus identifies the creature as the 'HULLATHOIN'. Mirra remembers tales that say how the insects that swarm around it turns every living thing near it into undead.
Lorric notices the vampires accompanying it are Drow. He passes Celedrus a spy-glass and Celedrus confirms what they all suspected, those are the missing Drow, now Vampires. It is vaguely considered that they should put the Drow out of their misery but no-one really wants to attack thirty Mohrg, a Lich, twenty vampires and the Hullathoin
The Fists quickly decide to leave and report what they've found to the Drow Matron. Mirra casts Shadow Walk and they hastily depart.
They soon make their way to the Drow territory. Celedrus opts to wait in the jungle in case he is executed on his return and Lorric waits with him to mess with the Drow and make them paranoid about him sneaking in again.

*Lorric comments
Lorric remains with Celedrus as much to make sure the Drow don't mess with him or execute him as much as anything else, but does not draw undue attention to this, as he figures Celedrus' confidence has probably taken enough of a battering already.

The rest of the Crimson Fist march boldly towards the Drow caves and are soon intercepted by a patrol who escort them to the Drow Matron.
In the presence of the Matron and her court the Fists tell their story and reveal the fate of the missing Drow. The Matron listens quietly and then has her High Sorcerer cast some form of truth identifying spell and has them repeat it. Having heard everything she passes her judgement. The Drow will allow the Expedition to study the ruins albeit under constant Drow supervision. Celedrus will be allowed to return home after he has spent ten years and a day in exile. She then curtly dismiss the Fists who exit glad things went so smoothly for once.
They return and pass on the news to Celedrus who receives it with no great joy but resignation and the acceptance it could have been worse. He asks if he can accompany the Crimson Fist and is gladly accepted as a capable, if fragile, spell caster is a useful addition to their ranks. Ajax lends him his Amulet of Constitution to raise his survival chances.
The matter with the Drow settled the group return to the Expedition to inform them of the deal they have secured with the Drow. The news is received with some thanks but unfortunately due to the time it took the group to join up with the expedition and then to find the missing Drow there is practically no time left in the expeditions schedule. Also during this time the problem of the cloud over Sharn has apparently been solved. A group of adventurers lead by their old comrade Anvil have solved the problem and freed Sharn of its curse.
Therefore Professor Melurit has contacted the expeditions backers and arranged for a two week extension to the time it will spend in Xendrik to gather what knowledge it can from the ruins. He offers to hire the Crimson Fist for this period as well.
The Crimson Fist request some time to decide and take themselves off to a quiet spot to discuss the matter. Lorric wants to enter Pazunia and find his mother, Kapek wants to return to civilization so he can have magic items made that will improve his chances of survival and everybody wants to return to Mabar and rescue the Gilded Man.
It takes some time but eventually a plan is reached. They will return to Stormreach where they will sell the items they have recovered then Kapek will use his share to commission the creation of items that will aid him.
Then they will return to the Expedition and gaurd it for the last two weeks, when it returns they will accompany it as far as Stormreach where Kapek will pick up his items. Then they will return to the area where they will enter Mabar to rescue the Gilded Man and then Pazunia to rescue Lorric's mother.
There is one final element, Oz had originally signed on only for the intial job to protect the Expedition. He announces that when they reach Stormreach he will depart for Sharn. It has been a fun ride with the Fists but Oz has wisely decided its time to cash in his share of the loot and buy a bar while he's still alive. He invites his comrades to drop in for a free drink anytime and the Fists wish him well with genuine affection, Oz has been with them through some amazing and dangerous events and none blame him for choosing a more peaceful path when the opportunity arises.