Into the Eternal Night

As they rest Kapek raises objections to heading into Mabar without knowing anything about it and with no protection. Ajax uses his gem and discovers that if the realm has a minor negative aura upon entering they will start to die until there is nothing left of them but dust. If it has a major aura they will die much more quickly before becoming a Shadow.

Taking this into account it is decided they will put off entering the pocket realm and instead go in search of the Drow.

That night the Fists again hear unearthly wails coming from the north.

Mol, 9th Barrakas. 998 Y.K.

In the morning it is decided to have a quick check around the Necromancers tomb, mainly to see what was in the other room with the circle carved into the floor.

They enter the tomb without opposition and make their way to the entrance to the pocket realm of Mabar. There Ajax and Kapek find a fresh set of tracks. They are of a mummified human figure carrying a staff and accompanied by some form of large serpentine creature that, to Ajax's nose, stinks of sulphur.

As an experiment Lorric uses a Wand to summon a bird and then sends the unfortunate thing into the pocket realm. It lasts a few seconds before disintegrating into a pile of dust.

They travel to the right hand side where they again find eight smaller sarcophagi in two lines and one large one on its own. The eight small ones gape open and reveal shattered skeletons within. The large sarcophagus is cracked open to reveal a skeleton in it with an amulet around its neck. Mirra examines the amulet and declares it to be magical, further examination follows and she declares that it creates a field of Positive Energy in a 10 foot radius around it that will protect everyone in the field from the effects of being in a negative energy environment, such as in Mabar. Kapek volunteers to put it on.

Ajax examines the other room. The carvings in the floor form a semi-circle around a set of double-doors through which a red light glows. Mirra examines the runes carved by the circle and translates one of them to be PAZUNIA, one of the layers of the Abyss.

Ajax sniffs a trail of sulphur from the doors to the circle that leads to the pocket realm. It seems the master of the tower has summoned a little infernal help.

The discovery of the amulet changes matters considerably and the debate begins anew. Finally they decide that now they will enter the realm and confront the master of the tower. Together they step through into Mabar.

They find themselves on the edge of a 200 foot wide chasm. On the other side of it some three or four miles away they can see the tower.

They move around to the other side of the portal which is surrounded by six obelisks. They also find the tracks of the mummified humanoid and the large serpentine creature. They also spot a new set of tracks that seems to appear from out of nowhere to follow the other two. They are again of a humanoid creature but with cloth wrapped feet.

The Fists decide not to pursue the tracks but head straight to the tower. Mirra Dimension Door's the group across the chasm and they set off to the tower.

After travelling for about a mile through the dead and depressing terrain of the realm Lorric's trained eye spots two creatures waiting in ambush for them behind two pillars of rock situated in a gorge ahead of them and three more creatures circling high overhead.

The Fists move closer, faking ignorance of their would-be ambushers until close when Lorric charges the nearest one, a great shadowy form as black as sin and twice as threatening, a Nightstalker.

The Crimson Fists engage and discover that all but Ajax's claws don't seem to do there full damage. Though Ajax finds this to be a mixed blessing as the Nightstalker's claws cut through his own resistance to damage.

Two of the flying creatures swoop down out of the sky, revealing themselves to be huge shadowy bat like creatures, Nightwings ! They attack Lorric and Kapek.

The Fists are getting battered and four of the creatures are in range so Kapek decides it is time to use his big gun and summons the power of his Dragonmark and........ ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING HAPPENS ! The realm has completely suppressed Kapek's ability.

This puts a very new and terrifying perspective on the battle and even Ajax slaying his Nightstalker doesn't make the Fists feel any better about the way the battle is going.

Noticing the effect Ajax's claws are having Lorric whips out a silver tankard and is gratified to see it strike his Nightwing to full effect.

The remaining Nightstalker unleashes a 'Cone of Cold' on the Fists and then three Shadows spring from it. They rush forward and attack Kapek, leeching his strength from him. Lorric finsihes his opponent in a blur of tankard blows.

One of the Nightwings summons another two Shadows. Another swoops down to attack Mirra but Ajax leaps into its path and rips it to shreds before it can hurt her.

The Nightstalker intones a 'Finger of Death' and inflicts it on Kapek who manfully (halfingfully ?) resists it.

Lorric and Kapek slay the three Shadows attacking them. Another Shadow strikes Ajax draining his strength. Ajax ignores it and charges one of the Nightwings, slaying it and one of the Shadows.

One of the Nightwing disgorges three Shadows. The last Nightstalker tries to cast 'Confusion' on Kapek but he resists.

As Lorric and Kapek slay another Shadow the remaining ones meld into the walls of the gorge.

Ajax charges the last Nightstalker in a mad charge that takes him out of the range of the amulet and feels the aura of the realm start to eat into his health. Lorric charges in behind it and together they slay it.

Two of the Shadows flit from one wall straight into the other, both attacking Ajax as they pass. Luckily Kapek was waiting for this and lashes one with boomerangs causing it to miss its attack. The other doesn't.

Ajax whips out his Pincer Staff and attacks the last Nightwing as it floats safely, or so it thought, twenty five feet above them, instantly killing it.

The last Shadows flit from rock wall to rock wall again. Two hitting Ajax and one Kapek although he cuts it down with boomerangs as it flees.

Again the two remaining Shadows try their hit and hide tactic on Ajax but Lorric is ready and slays one. Kapek gets the other.

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief and relaxes and then Ajax collapses under the weight of his gear. Without the boosted strength from his Shifted state and Rage after the Shadows Ajax barely has the strength to lift his head.

A glimpse of a golden gleam in a crevice leads to the creatures treasure cache and it is quickly looted. It is quickly and unanimously decided (for perhaps the first time in their history) that they aren't ready for the challenges of this realm yet.

Ajax transforms into a Dire Tiger (which he hadn't been aware he could do until then) giving him enough strength to get off the floor and Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and takes them back to the portal. They pass quickly through into the Tomb and there Kapek uses his Dragonmark to heal his comrades and, to his immense relief, restore Ajax's strength.

As they recover Kapek hears a voice in his head. It is the Drow Queen. She informs Kapek that she cannot contact her son anymore. Kapek reluctantly tells her that her son is dead. She orders him to return immediately.


Kapek informs the rest of the group of the message he has just received. This is unsurprisingly not a message they are happy to get. The fastest way to get to the Queen is for Mirra to cast 'Shadow Walk' but she cannot cast it again that day and so they settle down to rest until tomorrow when Mirra's magic can transport them. Of course they have yet to decide just where they will actually go.
Lorric believes to go back is almost certain suicide, that the Drow Queen will kill them for allowing her son to die. Kapek agrees its dangerous but feels that they gave their word to the expedition when they signed on and the expedition needs them to get the Drow to work with them. Ajax agrees with Kapek that they gave their word and maintains a belief that if the Drow turn on them they can fight their way out.
The argument goes back and forth but eventually Lorric accepts his two comrades determination to return the corpse of the Drow. He does insist that he be dropped off just short of the Drow hall as a last ditch rescuer if things go very wrong. The decision made the Fists settle down to what some of them believe has a very strong chance of being their last night alive.

Come the dawn the Fists offer up prayers to their deities and then gather up their goods and the corpses of their former comrades and Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk'. In a blur of shadows they are whisked across the countryside, Lorric jumping ship at what he hopes is a good spot, before the rest finish up in some familiar looking jungle.
The group soon bump into a Drow patrol who are clearly expecting them and insist on escorting them to their Queen. Accompanied by the patrol the Fists tread the familiar path to the Drow hall. Waiting for them there are the Queen and surrounding her fifty members of her Royal Gaurd. This does nothing to dent Ajax's (over) confidence and he whispers to Kapek that if he take the twenty five on the right, Kapek can take the twenty-five on the left.
The Queen calmly requests the Fists leave their packs and weapons behind and accompany her to a more 'private' room. The Fists dump their (obvious) weapons and follow the queen down a side passage from the hall to a comfortable room where they are encouraged to sit. When they are settled the Queen begins her questioning.
The Fists calmly, and without lying, inform her of what happened (they take some comfort from the fact she seems mildly pleased by the news of the extermination of The Shunned). Once they've finished the Queen calmly asks her questions. She seems very interested in what they found in the Necromancer's tomb and in the realm it leads to. She also asks if her son ever disapproved of the Fists exploring the ruins or suggested they go elsewhere which the Fists truthfully answer that he didn't.
Having finished her questioning she informs the group that she will now speak with her son and hear what he has to say. She hints that both her son and Oz may be restored if his answers back up the Fists story. Then she leaves.
The second she is out of the room Ajax leaps up and begins to search for the death trap he is certain the room contains. He finds no pit traps or acid chutes but does discover the cracks in the walls are packed with unfamiliar but nasty looking black scorpions.

Hours pass.
Outside Lorric hides in the jungle, watching and listening to the patrols and working on his Drow disguise in case the Hat of Disguise is neutralized. It soon becomes obvious to him that the Drow are on a much higher state of alert than last time and it is not (just) ego that tells him it is him they are looking for. When after the passage of hours he hears guards saying the strangers are almost certainly doomed he decides its time to act.
Carefully he stalks one of the patrols, at an opportune moment a thrown stone attracts the attention of the patrol in the wrong direction and as they look where it fell Lorric leaps on the last man in the patrol, knocks him out and stuffs him into the undergrowth out of sight. Hearing the sound of the body hitting the floor the Drow look round but Lorric is in his place, his 'Hat of Disguise' making him look like the missing Drow. The patrol leader inquires what the noise was and Lorric picks up the unconscious Drow's bow and claims he dropped it when a sudden attack of weakness struck him. The magic of the 'Hat of Disguise' and Lorric's acting skills are perfectly convincing and the patrol accept that Lorric is their comrade.
Sure all is well the patrol, with Lorric in tow, march straight into the Drow halls. However Lorric's plan instantly starts to unravel when the patrol is met by the Queen's Guards and asked if anything strange happened while they were patrolling. The leader mentions one of his patrol sudden attack of weakness and the Guard instantly call for the High Sorcerer. The Sorcerer quickly appears and the situation is explained to him. He casts a spell and then with a sly grin turns to Lorric and compliments him upon his skills to get so far when the Drow were on their highest alert after his exploits penetrating their security last time.
Lorric accepts his capture and tells how he got in and where the unconscious Drow can be found. The Sorcerer assigns some Guards to escort Lorric to his comrades and some to find the missing Drow. Then he sends the patrol off to be punished for their failure.
Lorric joins the rest of the Crimson Fist and they exchange their stories of what has happened since they were parted.
At dusk a Drow appears with food for all of them, even tasting from each plate to show it isn't poisoned. Some of the Fists eat, others refrain.

*Ajax comments
Ajax devours his meal and the meals of the more cautious members of the group. He finds the Drow swamp based cuisine to be very much to his liking, especially the centipede stew and the blood-fed leeches.
Night falls and the Fists settle down to sleep, although they maintain their standard sentry routine. The night passes peacefully.

Zol, 10th Barrakas. 998 Y.K.
A bit after dawn a Drow appears and escorts the Fists to a room they have never seen before. Waiting for them are ten Royal Guard, the High Sorcerer, the Queen and Celadrus. However Celadrus's ears have been crudely cropped of their tips and a ugly purple mark disfigures his forehead. Mirra recognizes this as the result of a 'Mark of the Outcast' being inflicted on him.
The Queen explains that her interrogation has revealed that Celedrus rather than leading the Crimson Fists to the lakes to the north as she had ordered had deliberately lead them to the ruins, seeking power for himself. For this crime he has been exiled but may earn his way back into Drow society if he helps the Fists find her missing people. She further tells the Fists that if they want Celedrus to accompany them he will be utterly under there command. She informs the Fists she is willing to hold with the original deal and if they find her missing people the expedition will be allowed to explore as they will. There is a brief debate and the Fists decide they will keep to the deal and find the missing Drow.
The Queen then informs the Fists that as she promised Oz has been restored and he enters and with many glad cries is reunited with his comrades.
Kapek inquires if it might be possible for them to trade with the Drow, exchanging some of the loot they have picked up for some more useful magical items. The Queen tells them to talk to the High Sorcerer and then sweeps imperiously out of the room.
The Fists turn to the High Sorcerer and a extended period of hard bargaining commences. Finally all the Fists are happy with the items they have traded with the Drow and with a weary and dispirited Celedrus in tow they leave the Drow halls.

*Ajax comments
Ajax secures for himself a Ring of Resistance, a Wilding clasp (which he attaches to his chain shirt) and a Vest of Freedom, the only item he hadn't got from the Array of the Swift Warrior

The Fists wait until they are well away from the Drow before they start to talk to Celedrus. Interestingly he has a different take of events, claiming he wanted to explore the ruins so they could be used by his people and not for his own personal power. When asked about where they are now heading he says that in times past something immensely evil fell from the skies to there. Something called 'The Tear of Death'.
Cleldrus confirms he is under their command and inquires what spells he should learn for the 'morrow. The Fists try to cheer him up, suggesting he may start a new life away from the jungles of Xendrik. Ajax points out that in the outside world woman are generally not in charge but Celedrus finds this hard to believe, claiming only women are cruel enough to rule.
Having got what info they can from Celedrus Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and they travel to the lake. Which turns out to have no water in it. Around the empty lake the land is barren of all life, above them an evil moon leers down indicating that once again they are in the area where the influence of Mabar leaks in.
Circling high in the sky above them are two Atrophal Psions and one Dark Angel. Although they pay the Fists no attention. Strange howls and moans echoes on the winds from the North. Here they find two dead trees and around dance two strange, transparent figures. They appear to be Dryads but immaterial.
Ajax approaches and instantly the two figures charge towards him, screaming their hatred to the turbulent skies...............

Mabar Awaits

6. The Stage

Bas-reliefs depict giant guardians either side of the main entrance, a huge stone door that stands open but an inch or so. There are 2 to each side, their faces contorted into fierce grimaces, an obvious attempt to deter trespassers. A fifth figure carved from granite above the door seems to watch all that approach with menace, carved as if poised to pounce.

This area provides a clear view of the necromancer's domain. From this position the moon can be clearly seen overhead, unearthly wails spew forth from the heavens filling your minds with unutterable blasphemies. This dark speech tells of how the dead shall rise and destroy the essence of everything.

They speak of the 'Sundered Tower' and of 'Gorguth', the 'Bleak General' who shall lead the armies of death across the face of Eberron. They speak of the 'Tears of Atropos' that fell from the moonlet, and their awakening of ‘Shothragot’, the force that lies beneath the surface. Images pour into your minds of foul pits spawning insects that follow the will of their masters, ancient and foul evils trapped deep within Khyber for millions of years, their vengeful intent growing with each passing year. Whilst bathed in the subtle glow of this celestial body the chaos and confusion continues.

From the very walls of the building before you the bas-reliefs begin to creak and judder their way out of the masonry, turning their angry faces to glare at you they raise their fists to attack.

Having taken a few minutes to wash the gore of dozens of Abyssal Ghouls off themselves the Fists set off to explore the rest of the ruins, with Oz and Lorric scouting ahead.

As they approach the wails echo from the ruins and the ground shudders beneath their feet and the moon seems to leer down from the sky at them. Even for Mabar the area seems dark and unsettling.The four statues of the giants begin to stir. As they near the statues the evil enchantments that saturate the area begins to affects them. Oz babbles mindlessly and Ajax attacks Kapek's mount in a mindless fury. Realizing what is happening Lorric grabs Oz (who is now starring blankly into space) and drags him away from the statues. Once out of earshot of the unearthly wails Oz returns to normal. Seeing this work Lorric then proceeds to also drag Ajax out of the area.

Meanwhile the statues have fully awakened and begin to pull themselves free from the building. Oz and Kapek open fire on them and Mirra casts Haste and then begins to intone tales of heroism to inspire her comrades.

Ajax, ignoring the fact, or just not remembering, that he's entering the zone of the mind-altering magic, charges one of the statues but his blows seem to have less effect than normal on the stony giant. Lorric joins him and finishes off the statue with his admantium fists. One of the other golems gestures at Lorric and he feels something scrabbling at his mind but throws it off.

Ajax is suddenly filled with terror and flees the scene. With a huge shaking of the earth the massive statue of the giant above the doorway rips its way free of the building and leaps down to the ground.

Lorric is assaulted by another of the golems and strikes back only to see it disintegrate when hit by a hail of Kapek's Force boomerangs. Meanwhile outside the area of the enchantment Ajax recovers his mind and, somewhat shamefacedly, runs back to the combat.

The largest of the golem lumbers over to attack Lorric but he tumbles away from it and engages another golem.

Not one to shirk from a challenge Ajax charges the largest of the golems. It responds by 'Slowing' him, which counters the 'Haste' cast on him by Mirra, then hammers him into the ground with its massive fists. Meanwhile Lorric engaging the last two golems, slays one. Oz rushes in to get a better angle for his shot but is rendered senseless by the enchantment.

As Ajax and the largest golem exchange blows Lorric finishes his last opponent and Mirra drags Oz out of the area although he responds by shooting her. Kapek leaps on Oz and, to Oz's eternal humiliation, grapples him to the ground and pins him.

Ajax is 'Slowed' and then has the living crap beaten out of him before Lorric charges his opponent from behind and finishes him.

There follows a long gap which involves much use of the Fists various healing wands before everybody is feeling healthy again. This is followed by a even longer gap as Kapek tries to pass through the area of enchantment and repeatedly fails to resist its effects !

Mirra feels the Confusion effect is created by the moon, if they are hidden from it she feels they won't be affected.

Lorric, who has successfully resisted the confusion, examines the door to the building and discovers its locked. Oz, carefully, joins him and discovers the door is trapped so spikes will spring from the ground. Therefore a rope is tied to the roof of the building and tied round Oz and then he is hauled into the air so he can pick the lock in safety. Which, despite his discomfort, he quickly does.

7. The Necromancers Tomb

Giant stairs lead down into utter darkness, flanked on either side by a series of more usual sized stairs. Images on the walls show scenes of dark landscapes, fractured towers and legions of undead marching beneath skies of roiling blackness. Although the paint is dried and flaky now, these scenes still fill you with a sense of trepidation.

The door however is just to heavy for the two of them to move so the rest of the Fists join them and eventually manage to wrestle open the door enough for them to squeeze through. Revealed is a large set of stairs heading down, flanked by two narrower set of steps.

With Oz and Lorric once again in the lead they head down the stairs. About two hundred feet down the scouts notice two giant spiders ahead of them. The two of them sneak closer then Oz opens fire and Lorric charges one. Oz's spider charges him biting him and draining his strength down to practically nothing.

Back at the rest of the group a dark figure rises through the floor, its very presence chilling the blood as it attacks Mirra. Ajax charges past it and slays the spider attacking Oz as Lorric slay his spider. A second figure appears, radiating a dark aura that 'Fatigues' everybody.

The first figure vanishes into the floor and the second charges Oz and merely touches him but it is enough to drop Oz dead on the spot. Ajax attacks it with a roar of rage, some of his attacks simply pass straight through the creature but enough land to kill it .

The last creature rises through the floor next to Ajax. It shoots a ray of black light at him, rendering him 'Exhausted' and then hits him twice but the robust Shifter refuses to die. Then the rest of the Crimson Fist pile onto the creature slaying it.

Exhausted, demoralized and horrified by the loss of their comrade the Fists gather up Oz's remains and leave the building. As they make camp for the night Mirra informs them the creatures were 'Phantasmal Slayers'. Things that exist to drive people to death through fear. It is said the creator of the spell 'Phantasmal Killer' based it on these creatures.

As they eat their evening meal the Fists wearily discuss the loss of Oz and the high casualty rate among their associates and what, if anything, they can do about it.

Early in the morning those on watch notice the blankets that have been wrapped around Oz to protect him from insects twitching. They unwrap his head to see him starring at them, snapping his teeth in a futile attempt to sink them into their flesh. Ajax restrains Oz with his pincer staff while Mirra checks his vital signs. She confirms their worst fears, Oz is dead.

Kapek solemnly declares there is only one way to end their comrade's curse with respect.He invokes the power of his Dragonmark and in a burst of pure light and healing energy Oz is laid to rest.

In the morning they eat and pray and then grimly return to the building. Another two hundred feet past the point they encountered the 'Phantasmal Killers' they come to huge double doors with an inscription in Giantish above them.

Mirra translates it for them.

“Here Lies Faeriax’soth Master of Life and Death. Master of Insects, Disciple of Vermin, Lord of All That has Passed and of All Things to Come.”

She tells how Faeriax'soth was a mighty necromancer in ages past who became a lich before creating a pocket realm in Mabar where he dwelled. She also tells of the hero, a member of the Church of the Silver Flame, who entered this realm to destroy the Lich.

*Ajax comments
Ajax shudders nervously at the mention of the Church of the Silver Flame.

Kapek reminds them of the fragments they have heard of the 'Gilded Man' in relation to the Prophecy.

Ajax checks the door and finds it neither locked nor trapped. All present take a deep breath and push the door open.

*Ajax comments
With Oz gone it is left to Ajax to check for traps and pick locks although he's aware he is no match for Oz's skills in either departement.

As the door slowly opens a cloud of smoky shadow billows forth from the interior, it threatens to suffocate you but you realise that the feeling is simply anticipation and trepidation rising from within yourselves.

Darkness lies beyond, a gentle wailing chant echoes from somewhere within carried on an ethereal breeze. As your eyes become accustomed to the darkness you see what looks like several giants standing in rows on either side of a grand hall, their 40ft hulking forms pushing against the ceiling to keep it from crashing down.

The air in here carries the cold chill of death, cold wisps of air gently brush your skin without sound or source.

This place has the air of a tomb, tattered banners of an age lost in time hang from the walls, barely holding themselves together as time has decayed their threads.

With a whisper the door swings open, a gentle wailing chant sounds in the distance and the hall is shrouded in shadows. A line of pillars carved into the form of giants leads down either side of the hall. In the middle of the hall, a few from the door is a stone altar with a small depression holding water on its top. As the Fists enter their feet gently crunch on the forms of myriad insects. To the right and left of the entrance are shimmering Walls of Force barring entry to small rooms with unhealthy looking diagrams carved into the floor.
Suddenly footsteps sound, moving down the hall as simultaneously the doors behind the Fists slam loudly shut!

The walls in this place shimmer with crawling vermin, ten great statues line the great hall each built to look like they are holding up the ceiling.
A font lies at the entrance to the hall and far across the other side and up a set of stairs you can see dim green flames adorning an altar of some kind.
On the wall behind you can faintly see a mural depicting a falling star that crashes into the jungle. From this star spring dark shapes, the fallen returning to life and the birth of a force that controls them all.
To either side you can see translucent walls that glow faintly with magical energy, beyond are ritual circles carved into the floor and hanging above each circle are images that distort your perceptions, being both close and distant at the same time. Any details are unclear due to the wards that stand between you and them.

Within the circle beyond the northernmost shimmering veil, in the distance, a tower can be seen apparently floating. Rope-like tendrils can be seen drifting into the shadows below it as if tethering it to the ground.
Within the southern circle, a dim red glow can be seen from narrow cracks as though there is light seeping in from around a pair of double doors.

Lorric's sharp eyes pick out the creatures and he whispers a description via the Message spell to Mirra who identifies the two creatures as Death Giants.
As they close the wails of the damned souls surrounding the Death Giants chill the blood. Mirra sings a uplifting song and cancels out the effect. Kapek summons a dinosaur to ride. Suddenly a oily blackness engulfs Mirra, Ajax and Kapek, wounding them and instantly slaying Kapek's dinosaur. This is followed an instant later by a roaring column of divine fire that hits Kapek and Mirra. Kapek opens up with his boomerangs and Mirra heals Kapek and then prudently retreats into a corner.
Ajax charges one of the Death Giants and lays into it doing hideous damage. Meanwhile the insects on the floor stir and gather in disturbingly organized patterns. Lorric charges Ajax's Giant in the rear and slays it. The second Death Giant retreats behind a pillar, out of sight.
Nine swarms form out of the insects and attack the Fists. Ajax and Mirra throw flasks of Alchemists Fire at the hordes of insects. Kapek hurriedly summons yet another dinosaur then shows off his skill with missile weapons and throws a flurry of three flasks creating a wall of flames cutting into the swarms.
Then Lorric and Ajax attack the last Death Giant, Lorric strikes at it then retreats, it turns round and strikes Ajax a massive blow with its giant sized two-handed axe. Ajax declares " Is that all you got?" strikes back and slays it.
Mirra hurls yet another flask of Alchemist Fire and then leaps onto the back of Kapek's raptor, right behind him.
While all this is happening, unnoticed in the background one of the swarms coalesces into one creature, a withered corpse-like being dressed in rags. It is joined by two more huge creatures.
Mirra, hanging on to Kapek like grim death, manages to slay a swarm with another flask of Alchemist Fire. She hears the two new arrivals casting Shield on themselves.
Lorric uses his 'Necklace of Fireballs' on the swarms surrounding Kapek and Mirra, destroying one of the swarms and carving a path through them which Kapek quickly rides through.

One of the new creatures fires a swarm of glowing meteors at the Fists which explode to devastating and wide-spread effect (but also takes out two of the swarms and yet another of Kapek's luckless summoned dinosaurs). Mirra now identifies the two creatures as Grisgol. and the creature formed from one of the swarms as a Swarm Shifter.
Kapek painfully aware of how battered, burnt, blasted, beaten and poisoned his comrades and him are, uses his Dragonmark to cast Mass Heal on them.
The ground between the Fists and their opponents erupts with spikes. Lorric nimbly runs across the terrain, sweeps behind the enemy, charges in and runs straight into some sort of force field. Ten feet out from them Lorric is bounced of an invisible wall. He runs back to his comrades.
Mirra casts Dimension Door on everyone, planning to transport them all inside the force field. It doesn't work, Kapek and Mirra are the only ones who land inside the field and they are instantly shunted outside it, Lorric and Ajax are left ten foot further away.
One of the Grisgol casts Horrid Wilting. Ajax and Lorric try to attack but are deflected by the field, which Mirra identifies as an Anti-Life Shell. The other Grisgol gestures and a line of fire shoots from his hands and strikes Ajax and is then followed by a Flame Strike.
Lorric whips out a three sectioned staff and attacks one of the Grisgol from beyond the Anti-Life Shell. He strikes it unleashing clouds of choking dust. Kapek and Mirra retreat away out of the Shell.
Ajax draws his Pincer Staff and from beyond the Anti-Life Shell' strikes the Swarm Shifter then snaps the collar of the weapon around it's neck, trapping it. Then to his intense irritation it turns back into a swarm of insects and flows out of the grip of the staff.
Lorric's Grisgol tries to cast Chain Lightning but, probably thanks to the damage inflicted by Lorric, the spell fizzles. The other one casts Ice Storm on Ajax and Kapek. Kapek uses his Dragonmark again, healing his comrades and hurting the Swarm Shifter.
Ajax attacks the other Grisgol and then snaps the Pincer Staff around it. Mirra 'Inspires Greatness' in Kapek and Ajax.
Lorric and Kapek pound on their Grisgol with staff and force boomerang.
Ajax resists the Grisgol's attempts to free itself and then taking a firm grip on the staff pushes it out of the Anti-Life Shell and straight into the Spike Stones.

The Swarm Shifter slithers away into the darkness away from the melee.
Lorric leaps on the Grisgol Ajax had pushed out of the Anti-Life Shell. Finally able to close with it he drops his three section staff and with his admantium fists flying he kills it.
Ajax guesses with the Swarm Shifter fled the Anti-Life Shell will be down and successfully charges the last Grisgol, while Mirra and Kapek deluge the Swarm Shifter with Alchemist Fire. Ajax is hit several times by the Grisgol but shrugs off the negative energy within the attacks. Ajax hits back and then grapples it.
Leaving Ajax to fight the Grisgol, Lorric and Kapek pursue the Swarm Shifter. Its attempts to disguise itself among the hordes of insects are ruined by the fact that its still on fire. They pound it with Alchemists Fire (and Alchemist frost in Kapek's case, as he has run out of Alchemist Fire). It makes no hostile move in return but continues to flow its way to the rear of the hall.
The Swarm Shifter reaches the end of the hall and scuttles around the corner to a room which contains a large sarcophagus placed on its own along with eight smaller ones in two lines. Beyond it they see the small room they'd seen through the 'Wall of Force' earlier. The creature seems to be heading for the circle carved into the floor. As the Crimson Fists enter the room they hear the grinding sound of stone-on-stone.
Ajax slashes the last Grisgol into tiny pieces and then grabs Mirra, hoists her on his shoulders and runs to catch up with his comrades.
Kapek and Lorric pursue the Swarm Shifter pelting it with Alchemist Fire, Frost, Acid and anything else they have that does area effect damage. Then the sound of stone on stone intensifies as the lids of the eight small sarcophagus slide off revealing eight, strange mis-shapen creatures.
Ajax and Mirra catch up just in time to see the creatures emerge and for Mirra to identify them as a particulalrly disgusting form of undead called Plague Spewers. They start to advance on the Fists. Mirra responds by casting Haste.
Two of the creatures attack and two vomit up swarms of rats. The Swarm Shifter wends its way between them, putting them between itself and the Fists.
Lorric hurls the last bead from his 'Necklace of Fireballs' into the middle of their enemies, killing one of the rat swarms but NOT the Swarm Shifter.

Ajax engages the first Plague Spewer as two more vomit up rat swarms. Leaving the rest of the group to deal with the Plague Spewers Lorric tumbles past them and the ever-growing number of rat swarms and races ahead of the Swarm Shifter stopping just short of the circle.
Back in the sarcophagus room Ajax places himself between the Plague Spewers and the others and one-by-one begins to slaughter them with great joy. While behind him Kapek keeps up a steady flow of flasks of acidic fire into the rat swarms.
As the Swarm Shifter rushes to the circle Lorric gets in a last attack with a flask of 'Holy Water'. The creature burns and withers but it flows into the circle and vanishes.
Lorric swears fluently and returns to join Ajax and helps finish off the last of the Plague Spewers. While Kapek and Mirra finish off the rat swarms with flasks of Alchemist Spark.
After a brief pause for breath they check out the large sarcophagus. Having discerned to the best of their now limited abilities that it isn't trapped they push it open to reveal the treasure within.
Greatly cheered by this (though again disappointed by their inability to turn it into anything useful or pleasurable in the middle of Xen'drik) they go to examine the circle. On closer examination the circle contains a hole that drops into another realm. One of roiling clouds and dark shadows. In the distance they can see a tower floating in the air, connected to the ground by ropes, but wether this is for entry into the tower or to tether it to the ground no-one knows.
This seems to be the dark tower where it is said the Gilded Man is held. It is also they're sure deeper into Mabar than they are now. After a brief debate they decide they will explore the tower but not until Kapek's Dragonmark is renewed at dawn. Until then they settle down to identify their new loot.

Oinia - Land of Eternal Night

The Fists return to their boat and begin to paddle the short distance across to the island on which the ruins reside. As they cross they become aware of dark shapes moving clumsily in the water beneath them but they reach the shore unmolested. They begin to move along the shore-line towards the ruins but have not travelled far before the water near them begins to churn as five water-logged corpses claw their way out of the water. The Fists recognize these monsters from previous encounters, they are DROWNED.

Kapek and Oz open fire as the creatures drag themselves towards the group. As the Drowned close in the Fists feel the sickeningly familiar sensation of drowning creep over them. Celedrus casts Flame Strike on a group of the creatures and then collapses chocking to the ground as the creatures aura overwhelms him.

Ajax shrugs off the suffocating effects of the Drowned and charges them, killing one. Lorric quickly drags the drowning Celedrus clear of the creatures auras before he dies. Another Drowned emerges from the water.

Kapek uses his wand to Summon a mount and then leaps onto its back and charges into battle, only to have his mount immediately collapse from underneath him, drowning.

As the Drowned advance more and more auras wash over Kapek and Ajax but resolutely Ajax stands his ground, slaying another enemy. Kapek Summons a bee and flies straight up on it, out of range of the aura. Ajax is surrounded by the remaining Drowned but fights on killing another.

Kapek dives his bee down and strafes the Drowned with force boomerangs slaying one. Lorric charges in engages the enemy. Between them Lorric and Ajax slay their opponents,the last of the undead monstrosities.

After a brief rest the group push on to the ruins.

The Necromantic Ruins

As they approach they notice an insectoid leg poking out from behind the rubble. Suddenly an eerie howl rings out from the rubble and nausea rises in the group but quickly Mirra bursts into song, countering and neutralising the sickening effect of the cries.

Celedrus recognizes the signs, saying they are creatures his people call The Shunned. Once Drow but horribly altered by the touch of the Quori. The normal Drow have driven them into this area and regard them with fear and loathing.

1. Pavilion of the Shunned
The huge dome of this structure once gleamed with heavenly radiance, but it now stands a tarnished and crumbling shadow of its former glory.
Steps lead up some 50 feet to the broken plinth that supports the squat building. To the west of the building are 3 large pillars, only two of which still stand.
From the platform you can see through the swamp mists, to the north-west across a body of dark still water, the crumbling ruins and giant statues that were obviously part of a larger group of structures.

As they watch a patch of darkness spreads out from the ruins, obscuring the part where they had seen the insectoid leg. Celedrus casts Ebon Eyes on Lorric and he sneaks forward to scout the ground. He sneaks up on and observes one of The Shunned waiting in the darkness. Then it begins to sneak forward, making an instant decision Lorric leaps to the attack and slays it with one blow !

Lorric's sharp ears catches the sound of movement in the undergrowth in the ruins as something moves off. Lorric pursues it and discovers another of the Shunned sneaking off and kills it as well.

The rest of the group catch up with Lorric and are shocked by the sight of the Shunned (indeed a brief argument breaks out as to whether they were the weirdest thing the Fists have ever encountered). Ajax and Kapek check the grounds for tracks. They found no tracks of Drow but the ground is criss-crossed with myriad tracks of the Shunned.

It looks increasingly unlikely that any of the missing Drow will be found here but in the interests of leaving no stone unturned the Fists decide to search the ruins.

The open archway leads to a shadowy ruined hall, shafts of light cut through the holes in the domed ceiling, dust and rubble is strewn about the floor and there are signs of predation everywhere. Directly opposite the entrance is what appears to be an altar that has been kept well in contrast to the surroundings, scorpions, spiders, flies and other vermin adorn the altar either through artistic medium or simply through their chitinous remains. A large bowl in the centre of the altar is flanked by black candles, and upon the wall is a crudely painted symbol that looks somewhat like a scorpion dangling by its tail, which is threaded through the eye sockets of a jawless skull covered with twisted runes. To either side of the room staircases lead down.

The first building contains an altar, which appears to be to a debased version of the Drow scorpion god, and stairs that lead underground on the ground floor. And in the rubble of the first floor lurk six more of the Shunned.

Lorric addresses them in elvish and they reply in the same language. They recognize Celedrus as a Drow, who they clearly dislike but are too scared of the Fists to attack. They also mention that a mighty undead dragon lairs not 300 feet away when it wasn't searching for its missing horde. They also made passing reference to 'masters' whom they served.

Then Lorric asks if they intend to eat the group when darkness falls. The Shunned's smug smile is all the answer Lorric needs and he attacks without another word.

Ajax attacks another and Oz opens fire. One of the Shunned wails and Oz is sickened and the creature seizes its chance to retreat down the stairs. Another spews forth a swarm of scorpions. The one fighting Ajax does the same then also retreats down the stairs.

Kapek takes out the first swarm with a flask of Alchemists Fire, while Mirra hits the swarm attacking Ajax (as well as Ajax) with another flask. Lorric slays the Shunned he is fighting. Ajax tumbles away from the swarm that had engulfed him and finishes it with another flask of Alchemist Fire.

Lorric and Kapek cautiously follows the Shunned down the stairs to the underground level of the building. He observes a decaying hall in which a score of the Shunned lurk and from steps leading further underground a giant, purple, insectoid creature emerges.

Lorric and Kapek are suddenly outlined by vivid purple fire, that doesn't burn but does give away their position. They quickly retreat up the stairs to prepare for battle. Celedrus casts Bull Strength on Ajax and Lorric. Ajax casts Bark Skin from his 'Hand of the Oakfather' on himself and Mirra casts Sonic Weapon on Kapek and then Haste and then begins to recite tales of glory.

As the purple insect comes into view it is identified as a demon known as a Bebilith. It spits webbing at Oz but misses and Kapek replies with force boomerangs. Lorric leaps onto its back as another appears. Ajax joins in the attack on the first Bebilith and then Oz puts an arrow through a hole torn in its hide straight into its heart and it falls.

*Oz comments
Oz is Sooooooo glad to be fighting something that he can really hurt with his arrows and not more shanari (elvish word for goblin droppings) undead.

The second  Bebilith charges Kapek and bites him, injecting poison into him but the sturdy halfling throws off the effects. Lorric and Ajax charge the creature and slay it. Ajax chops off the Bebilith's head and then throw it down the stairs, yelling to the hiding Shunned, "Is this the best you've got !"

The group head down the stairs to find the Shunned cowering in the corners of the hall. They head down the next set of steps and discovers a room half flooded with water. A crack in the rock at the far end of the room leads to half collapsed room with enticing glittering objects in it. Kapek squeezes through the crack and recovers the loot and then returns.

The Fists debate briefly as to what their next move should be. It is considered extremely doubtful that any of the Drow they're searching for are in this area but it is decided to search it to be absolutely sure. They carefully look over the area. Nearby is a structure with four towers. This is where the Shunned said the undead Dragon resides. So with their eyes peeled they move to where the four towers rest.

As they approach the sky darkens, the clouds roll more swiftly in the sky overhead and the temperature drops. The sky becomes a starless black depth with the exception of on single heavenly body; The World Born Dead can clearly be seen in the blackness above, the moonlet sits high in the heavens and although it emits no light, it is marginally paler than the darkness beyond. Lorric backs up and the weather changes for him as he exits the area. Mirra starts to cast Detect Magic but halts as she feels the power that will overwhelm her if she finishes casting.

Celedrus believes the area is connected to the plane of Mabar. Leaving the Crimson Fists to nervously wonder if the dragon that dwells here is the Mabarian himself.

3. The Watchmen
These statues are 50 feet wide at their base and tower a magnificent 200 feet or more above the surrounding swamp. Each is a distinctly different figure although they are broken and crumbling in places. The jungle has tried to cover these great monuments but has succeeded only in covering their feet with a thick matting of green.

Despite this the group moves on with Lorric sneaking ahead of them to scout the way. He sees three creatures emerge from the solid rock of the statue ahead. Three fifteen foot high pillars of darkness. Mirra believes them to be living spells, Blasphemy spells. Creatures that exist only to destroy.

Mirra recites tales of glory and Lorric opens fire with his sling but the shot passes straight through the creature, doing no harm. Kapek's Force boomerangs however strike true and damage the creatures.

One of the creatures attacks Lorric but he strikes it true and stuns it. Ajax attacks it from behind Lorric with his Pincer Staff, killing it. The second creature disintegrates under a hail of Force boomerangs. The final creature charges in but is swiftly dispatched by Lorric and Ajax.

5. The Speakers Platform

This large, stepped platform is almost in the centre of the stronghold. A plinth at its peak holds a huge, weathered lectern, a small set of steps rise in front of it, perhaps so that smaller beings could also use it.

4. The Four Towers
The platform that rises out of the waters here has four stone structures upon it, these cylinders of stone have broken in places but the orifices that used to be windows can be made out. It looks as though these used to be towers, but they were certainly not for use by giants.

Cautiously the Fists continue their advance towards the towers. The first two towers are completely empty but in the third, Lorric catches a glimpse of a shadowy dragon's head before it dips into the floor and vanishes into the solid stone. Suddenly the group feel the all too familiar sensation of their lungs filling with water. Drowned are near !

Five drowned pull themselves out of the water and with a strangled gasp Celedrus collapses to the ground along with Oz and Mirra. Simultaneously the ghostly form of a green dragon rises from the water (which comes as something of a relief as the Mabarian is said to be of the Black variety) and breathes a cloud of acid over the half of the party still standing. In response Kapek invokes the power of his Dragonmark and in a massive burst of pure, white light a Mass Heal engulfs the area, healing his comrades and smiting the undead.

Ajax Shifts and Rages and charges the wounded Drowned and slays two of them in a blur of claws. With lightning speed Lorric charges in to the combat and engages one of the Drowned. Oz, Mirra and Celedrus drag themselves out of the area of the Drowned and can breathe again.

One of the Drowned charges Kapek, the other two charge Lorric. As they move closer their aura engulfs the group and Oz, Mirra and Celedrus drop again. The Dragon charges Ajax its aura of negative energy robbing him of life and strength.

Kapek slays one of the Drowned as does Lorric. Ajax tumbles away from the Dragon and attacks the last Drowned and finishes it off, removing the Drowned aura from their fallen comrades. Oz unsteadily arises and quaffs a Healing Potion, Celedrus casts Mass Cure Light Wounds and Mirra casts Haste on the party.

The Dragon moves in and unleashes its breath weapon on the group, draining everybody's vitality. Celedrus, already weakened by the Drowned, drops like a stone.

Ajax charges the Dragon head on and Lorric sweeps around to attack its back. The three exchange a storm of blows and then Kapek's Force boomerangs finish the matter.

Mirra rushes over to examine Celedrus but, despite not having a wound on him, he is dead. Silence descends, everyone is thinking how the Drow queen will react to the death of her son. No-one thinks it will be good.

Lorric and Kapek slip into the lagoon to investigate its waters. They find the floor of the lagoon carpeted with decaying bodies. They encounter two ooze like creatures which attack them but are easily dealt with.

Exhausted and uncertain what to do now Celedrus is dead they decide to find a spot to rest and recuperate and consider their next move.

Sar 7th Barrakas, 998 Y.K.

The night is full of the strange cries in the darkness but nothing bother the camp and the night passes.

In the morning the Fists get down to the serious matter of deciding what they do next. They realise if they don't return Celedrus's body to the queen they are condemning the expedition to failure. But what will be their fate if they present the queen with the corpse of her son? What they know of Drow leads them to believe that as a people they admire strength and will and so they hope the blame will fall more on Celedrus for being weak then them for not saving him. It is also very likely the Drow queen will have someone in her realm who can return Celedrus to life. In the end the decision is made; they have been contracted to help the expedition and they must do everything in their power to honour the contract.

Having decided they must inform the Drow queen they do decide the news will go better if they're accompanied by her missing subjects. So Celedrus's body is wrapped tightly in blankets to keep the insects at bay and lofted onto Ajax's shoulders and they begin to search again.

Unlikely as it is that the Drow are in the ruins it is the closest thing to the Fists and so they decide to cover the entire area before they move on.

They quickly discover the ground is now covered with strange tracks which neither Ajax nor Kapek can identify. However between Ajax's nose and Kapek's eye they reckon the tracks are of some form of undead. Following the most recent set of tracks leads them to the fresh corpses of Shunned.

The tracks lead them to another ruined building. It is almost completely collapsed, all that is intact is an archway that stands over stairs that lead down into the darkness. Strange cries and screams echo up from the darkness.

2. The Abyssal Hive

The building before you has all but collapsed, the only parts that remain are a large archway that leads directly into a staircase on a giant scale, beside this is a smaller elven size set of stairs. These stairs lead down into utter darkness, sounds of screams, howls and growling echo from far below. 

The stairs lead down for perhaps 500 feet before they simply end with a sheer drop. The smell of decay and rotting matter assails your nostrils. 

With a light source you can make out a great hall some 150 feet long, 100 feet wide and 100 feet high, filled with tumbled pillars, collapsed walls, and vast mounds of rubble creating an almost web-like tangle of masonry. Just below the end of the stairs is one end of a tumbled pillar allowing access into this sandstone jungle of ruins. Crawling across the walls and amid the ruins are multitude humanoid forms, the floor is barely visible through the spoils of their predation, bones, clothing, fur and feathers can be seen in the thick carpet of guano and festering mulch.

As they descend the stairs the sky darkens and the clouds roll in the way they now recognise as them passing into the realm of Mabar. The stairs descend until they end in a sheer drop to the floor of a hall some forty feet below. A pillar has fallen against the cliff providing a ladder down to the floor. Crawling over the walls are a few humanoid creatures. Mirra identifies them as Abyssal Ghouls and Ajax and Kapek believe they'd leave the kind of tracks the group followed here.

Deciding the Ghouls aren't going to be friendly the Crimson Fists open fire. The ghouls quickly scuttle into cover, one under the pillar that leads to the floor. Lorric climbs onto the underside of the pillar and kills it.

Unable to resist the temptation Ajax grabs his shield and slides down the pillar to the floor below. Lorric joins him and together they charge off to engage two of the creatures who are in hiding (although it turns out when they reach them there are three of them). As they battle Ajax discovers to his horror that the flames sheathing his claws heal the Ghouls, but then of course Ajax is not known for his wit and does not realise that the are simply resistant to flame.

Two of the Ghouls flank Lorric and the third and a new one flank Ajax. Kapek summons a dinosaur and rides down the pillar accompanied by Oz, only to be attacked at its foot by three more Ghouls. More move up to threaten him, and more and more. As the Fists find themselves facing nineteen foes.

Realising they are in imminent danger of being overwhelmed the Fists change their tactics. Lorric and Ajax tumble past multiple foes, and in Ajax's case over one, to join up with Kapek at the foot of the pillar where they slay one of the Ghouls.

Kapek slays another Ghoul and then has his dinosaur cut from under him but lands gracefully and ready to fight.

The Ghouls rush in, completely surrounding the three as nine more Ghouls emerge from the shadows at the edges of the hall.

Oz finds himself face-to-face with one of the Ghouls. This is not his preferred fighting position and he tumbles away from the Ghoul and back up the pillar.

Lorric flurries on a already wounded Ghoul but to his, and his comrades, horror it takes five of his blows to finish his opponent.

Ajax, surrounded by seven Ghouls backs up and then lays about him in a fury killing two of the creatures. One of which was the one threatening Oz.

As the Ghouls tighten the ring around the three Kapek knows the time has come. With a mighty yell he releases the power of his Drangonmark and the power of it engulfs the group and many of their opponents. The environment of Mabar, dampens the effects somewhat but as well as healing his comrades three of the Ghouls are slain and eleven more are wounded. Kapek steps back to form a line with his two comrades.

With cries for vengeance the Ghouls press the attack with power and speed. Too much speed in the case of the one Lorric trips. Still the gaps in the line of the Ghouls are soon filled with fresh opponents, hungry for blood.

Lorric lays into the wounded Ghouls killing three of them. Ajax kills another one and yet another drops with one of Oz's arrows in his eye, reducing the Ghouls to a mere thirteen !

One of the Ghouls howls and the noise seems to fill the rest with frenzied energy and they hurl themselves at the Fists even more savagely.

Step by bloodstained step Ajax, Kapek and Lorric retreat slowly up the pillar. Narrowing their front so only a few Ghouls can attack them at one time.

Slowly the Ghouls fall, then three in the rear rank break from the melee and start to climb the wall behind, towards Mirra and Oz. Seeing this Mirra retreats back up the stairs towards the sunlight. Oz shoots and then tumbles through them and joins Mirra in fleeing up the stairs.

Ajax, Kapek and Lorric are now facing three enemies in front and three behind. A direly wounded Kapek tumbles through the front line of the Ghouls into the hall and away from the melee. Ajax and Lorric now face one enemy in front and three charging down the pillar from behind them.

The lone frontal attacker is slain by Lorric and one of the new ones by Ajax. Then Kapek opens up with his Force boomerangs slaying the penultimate Ghoul. The last Ghoul seems to throw off the blood lust that had driven his comrades on despite their hideous losses and realises his situation. It attempts to flee and dies.

The Fists collapse to the floor, completely drained by their battle. Eventually they wearily rise, healing is done and the remains of the Ghouls victims searched for loot. There are, of course, no Drow here.

As they recover they wonder why the Ghouls had not attacked the Shunned before. It occurs to them that before the Ghouls would have been scared off by the Bebiliths. As the Crimson Fist had slain the Bebiliths it had freed the Ghouls to slaughter the Shunned and then the Fists had slaughtered the Ghouls. Their interference had resulted in the destruction of every creature in the area.

CHAPTER 4 - Hullath'mir Ergmise - The Waters of Deathly Tears

With the rising sun your mind clings to the fragments of dream that linger from your drunken slumber.

An altogether alien yet strangely familiar voice echoes through long silent chambers, it speaks a tongue that you do not understand, yet your mind fills with words, images and concepts that make perfect sense.

One voice becomes many as you attune your mind to the cacophonous thoughts that fill this ancient and crumbling structure.

“Xhagevoxhab has returned to his prison my lord, the wanderer without aided the prophesised to the Crown of Blibdoolpoolp. Now he must leave them to follow his own path.”

“What of the second hand bathed in blood? Do they exhibit signs or portents that are relevant to the Prophecy's current course?” comes a regal sounding reply.

“Their part is unclear master. Malsheem has sent many forces, it is feared that the cell that landed in Stormreach are employing Yuggoloths to secure their place in the weaving of this vast web.”

“My master,” comes another voice from the mayhem, “We have reports of cysts opening throughout Droaam spilling hordes of Kaorti into the ranks of Jaerdrael Keep. They bring Skybleeders with them and early reports indicate they plan to move east in search of Kra’T Ymraag Draal. Zul has been gifted with the ‘Ebon Seal’ and has begun creating his undead abominations beneath the circle there, yet there are abominations rising from Khyber to battle him even as we speak.”

“Then Zaphkiel is being sought. How do the tides of battle fare on Shavrath?”

“The celestials are still struggling with the Abyss, my Lord. The denizens of Hell are merely fuelling the fire with political interference. There is no sign of the battle turning.” comes the reply. “Kirx Katech is awaiting the arrival of the prophesised and they are moving to protect the Oboxian Tablets."

Silence falls for a few brief moments.

The Lord's voice begins once more.

“333 are the Atropal Lachryma, the Tears of Atropos that fell to Eberron, all have been retrieved by the Ashen Covenant. Shothragot, the Patient One stirs and the Gilded Man has still not been located, his prison of the Sundered Tower lies somewhere within the roiling shadows of Mabar. The first sign of the Restless Dead is manifesting, there is word of the newly dead rising from their graves across Eberron, and Atropals have been seen falling from the World Born Dead, surrounded by clouds of their scions and the surge of negative energy has drawn dark angels from caverns deep beneath the Thunder Sea. Once the sigils burn in the sky we are all but lost. The time nears with increasing rapidity, we are losing the periphery of our realm, the towers are crumbling and still the child is not safe. We must all persevere and guide lest the battle begin without the pieces in place.”

The Crimson Fists awaken with heads throbbing from strange, visionary dreams (and massive hangovers). Over a quiet breakfast Father Jack informs them he feels his destiny takes him elsewhere. He will travel with them as far as the expedition though.

The treasure recovered from the tomb is examined and divided up. Lorric receives an item which increases his Wisdom and a Ring of Freedom of Movement, Oz takes his old Wisdom item, Kapek receives a magical spear and Ajax a strange Kuo-Toa weapon called a Pincer Staff, a staff with a closable collar on the end. Although imbued with mighty magics Ajax has never used such a weapon before and intends to turn it into ready cash at the first opportunity.

With everybody ready the Fists set off into the jungle with the cheers of the town ringing in their ears.

They travel all day through the blistering jungle heat before setting up camp under the beautiful clear sky and watching the showers of shooting stars that illuminate that night.

The second days journey is as uneventful as the first.

Mol 2nd Barrakas, 998 Y.K.

On the third day they come in sight of a camp flying the banner of House Sivis, they have finally reached the expedition they were hired to protect all those weeks ago. The leader of the guard greets them warmly and takes them to a tent in the centre of the camp. There they are introduced to two gnomes; Professor Melurit the head of the expedition and his scribe Abonwick.

Less welcoming are the two carefully wrapped bodies resting inside the tent. The Professor explains these are the bodies of the last two emissaries he sent to negotiate with the local Drow. Melurit wishes for the Fists first task to be to take their place and speak with the Drow.

It is too late for the Fists to set off now and so they settle down for a meal around the camp-fire while Melurit briefs them on the ruins the expedition is here to explore and the rain clouds that eternally hover over them, turning the land around into a treacherous marsh. (The similarity to the clouds plaguing Sharn is lost on no-one). He also informs the groups that the Drow seem to be particularly hostile because of a prophecy of theirs.

As they talk Melurit spots Kapek's Dragonmark, he calls over the expeditions House Jorasco healer who examines it with great interest. It seems to be a Mark of some power.

Zol 3rd Barrakas, 998 Y.K.

The next morning the Fists set forth to talk to the Drow. Jack is first bid farewell with fond wishes by the group and with his tiger in tow he sets off on his own journey.

To reach the Drow the Fists must descend a cliff, this almost immediately leads to violence as Reaver is set against the idea and prepared to maul anyone who attempts to force him. This requires some persuasion on Kapeks part before Reaver is convinced to allow himself to be secured and lowered down the cliff. Eventually though the group reach the bottom intact. Lorric notices a Drow observing them from concealment and so he sneaks off and creeps up behind the Drow before introducing himself to the startled elf. Pleasantly the Drow is not overtly hostile merely saying if the Fists can reach the leaders of his people they will be allowed to speak to them. The Drow will not interfere, they will just watch.

The group make their slow way through the swamp without incident. Stopping at nightfall to make camp. At 10 o'clock as those on watch are enjoying the sight of another shower of shooting stars, Lorric notices dark shapes rising against the night sky to meet the falling stars.

At 2.00 Oz and Lorric hear wing-beats approaching from the East and feel a strange chill in the night air. Quickly they wake their comrades and as the Crimson Fist arm themselves they see strange spectral figures sheathed in darkness, approaching them. Remembering they are about to give battle in a swamp Ajax uses his sandals to cast Water Walk on everyone.

As the creatures close in a tightening ring on the Fists Lorric simply charges them and slays one. Suddenly a feeling of death and corruption washes over the group, birds drop from the air killed instantly. Heads snap up to see a horrid creature hovering above the group, an Atropal Scion. Before they can react the Fists are blasted with a Cone of Cold by it.

The creatures on the ground are now close enough to be identified as Wraiths, though two appear larger and more impressive and are probably Dread Wraiths. Like a noose the seven creatures move in on the Fists from all sides, while above the wing-beats circle the group.

As the Wraiths reach striking range Kapek unleashes the full power of his Dragonmark and a Mass Heal spell bursts from him. No match for this power the five lesser Wraiths evaporate into nothingness and the two Dread Wraiths stagger under this assault of positive energy. Off balance they are soon finished off by Ajax and Lorric. (While Oz curses the fact they are, yet again, fighting undead).

A second Atropal Scion swoops in from behind and unleashes another Cone of Cold. The first hovers 50 feet above the group letting his aura spread fear and despair into their hearts. The wing-beats descend and at the edge of their vision a strange, rotting creature appears and shuffles towards them.

The second Atropal Scion is hovering 20 feet above the ground, no doubt feeling safe at that height but Ajax is suddenly struck by an idea (a good one for once). Whipping out the Pincer Staff he charges the creature, the Staff is ten feet long and with the arts of the Warshaper Ajax's arms grow longer and suddenly twenty feet is within range. Ajax slams the creature with the Staff twice and then snaps the collar shut around its neck and with a heave of his arms, slams it into the ground. Lorric is on it like a shot and the last thing to go through the creature's mind is Lorric's tankard.

The first Atropal Scion sweeps in and blasts the group with yet another Cone of Cold. As does a third one, this final blast is too much for poor Reaver and it topples to the ground its mighty heart stopped forever.

*Kapek comments

Kapek is consumed by grief and rage, as if a part of his soul has been ripped away. But he feels guilt as well; it took a lot of persuasion to get his agitated mount down the cliff and Kapek now fears that Reaver could sense his coming doom.

The rotting creature continues its ominous advance, the ground and vegetation around it rotting into corruption.

With a scream of rage Kapek unleashes a swarm of Force Boomerangs at Reaver's killer. Ajax charges the first Atropal Scion and again strikes it twice before ensnaring it with the Pincer Staff and slamming it into the ground where Lorric leaps on it and makes short work of it.

*Ajax comments

And to think Ajax was planning to sell this wonderful weapon. If it continues to be this useful he may even learn how to fight with it.

The Rotting creature fixes Ajax and Lorric with its gaze. To his horror Ajax feels his skin start to rot. The creature follows this up with a storm of claw attack and buffets from its wings.

Oz runs over to the sorely wounded Kapek and heals him with his 'Healing Belt' while Kapek continues to pummel Reavers slayer with Force Boomerangs. While Ajax engages the Rotting creature Lorric leaps up and strikes the last Atropal Scion, this and more boomerangs finish the creature.

Ajax meanwhile is in dire trouble, under the rotting creature's relentless assault he is taking wound after wound until only the temporary vitality of his Shifted state is keeping him alive. Just in time Lorric charges the Rotting creature from behind and it diverts its attention to him. Trapped between Lorric and Ajax, it soon falls.

Mirra quickly applies healing magic to the group as all are sorely wounded. All are also aware of the sound of wing-beats receding into the distance.

Healing done all that is left to do is build a pyre for Reaver and send him on his final journey in a suitable manner.

Far 6th Barrakas, 998 Y.K.

The sun rises on another hot and humid day and after prayers the Crimson Fist press on through the swamp. Lorric scouts ahead of the group, using his skills to pass silently and unseen through the undergrowth.

As the journey takes you further east and deeper into the swamp you judge that you have travelled some 70 miles or so and are nearing the centre of the vast and fetid basin. Above and ahead you can see the solitary swirling cloud that perpetually rains, its distance is unperceivable as no other clouds offer any source of perspective. As the sun passes its zenith the jungle around you deepens, shadows grow deeper as the canopy overhead becomes a heavy tangled mass of mosses and lichens. The occasional shaft of light illuminates a struggling patch of ferns here and there offering a faint green luminescence as the light bounces from the fronds.

From somewhere ahead you hear sounds of movement, and catch faint glimpses of the shadows moving. The hot, humid air seems to thicken and every breath has to be forced, your lungs finding little sustenance beneath the dark canopy. Motion crawls over almost every surface that you can see, seemingly a thick carpet in some places merely a few lone scorpions in others, their black chitinous shells shining like gems 

Words are uttered from the darkness ahead; although you do not recognise them you are more than aware of the power that they carry.

Ahead you see the shafts of light grow fewer in number and less intense, without the eyes of the drow the darkness grow all but impenetrable smothering you in a veil of utter blackness. The air seems to grow thin as the humidity rises and your head swims as your lungs pant for oxygen.

After travelling for a good portion of the afternoon you see the canopy begin to thin ever so slightly, the light becomes like that of early twilight and you see a dark rocky outcrop ahead. A stream runs from a tunnel at the base of the cliff, and to the left an almost imperceptible set of steps are carved into the rock face where they meet a door some fifty feet above the waters. Perched upon platforms to either side of the door and crouched around the lip of the rock-face you see dark-skinned figures, flashes of white paint adorning their midnight faces.

You soon feel firm ground underfoot and the familiar sound of boots upon rock resounds in your ears as you are led up the stairs.

The door opens and you are led into a natural rock hallway, steps lead up on either side and ahead you can hear the sound of rushing water. The walls are decorated with rough tribal depictions of scorpions and what seem to be large portions of insect carapace, claws and stingers are placed with seemingly religious reverence. In fact as you watch you see several smaller specimens crawl from cracks in the walls.

A pair of imposing figures blocks the way ahead, each bears a chain with dagger-like blades at each end poised and readied to strike.

Spoken in elven.

“At ease”, comes a soft voice from behind them, “Let us listen to what the light-dwellers have to say this time.”

“Yes Mistress” they reply in unison before dropping to one knee to either side of the strikingly beautiful and regal drow.

“Fall before Matron Shi’Na” demands one of you captors in the common tongue, before you are forcefully shoved to the ground.

“Let them speak” come the soft voice from the Matron, “Let the pale ones inform us of why they continue to pollute our lands with their presence, let them tell us why they continue to bring death.”

Turning to facethe group she speaks, this time in common.

“Welcome to the fallen empire of Kerrick Mal’irak, the dead temple-city dedicated to Ouralon, purged by the might of Vulkoor. Speak your purpose.”

Around noon movement is spotted ahead of the group and muttered words of power are heard. The Fists, apart from the hidden Lorric, feel their limbs stiffen into immobility as they are paralyzed where they stand.

Invisible creatures splash through the water towards the Fists and as they strip them of their weapons and gear the magic cloaking them fades and they are revealed as Drow warriors. The Fists are then bound with rope and only then does the Drow leader appear. She instantly recognizes the group is down a member and loudly demands Lorric show himself, unsurprisingly Lorric declines the offer.

The leader turns to the now unparalyzed Fists and informs them they will be taken to the leader of the Drow. The Fists are not pleased by their treatment but decide to co-operate and set off with the Drow and with Lorric trailing them.

*Ajax comments

Ajax knows if he Shifts he could then use his War-Shaper talents to make his arms so thin the ropes would simply fall off. And though the Drow had taken his weapons he would still have his claws, which he prefered anyway. Ajax's aggressive spirit longed to fight back but they were there to negotiate with the Drow not fight them and the Drow seemed to want to take them to their leader. With great effort Ajax muzzled his bloodthirsty nature and accepts he will have to remain bound......... for now.

After some time the Fists and their escort arrive at a hall guarded by more Drow and taken inside. Lorric uses his 'Hat of Disguise' and disguises himself as a Drow and follows his comrades into the building. Inside the hall is decorated with murals depicting scorpions and the stingers and claws of giant scorpions decorate the hall. The Fists are guided to stand before a throne upon which resides the Matron of the Drow of this area.

She is unamused by the fact that one of the Crimson Fists is missing and calls for Celedrus, declaring he will use his True Sight spell to discern if the missing Fist is present.

Celedrus arrives and is set to the task of searching the hall as she interrogates the Fists. The Matron demands to know why the expedition is here and the Fists explain that their goal is to uncover new knowledge. The Matron is suspicious that the troubles that have plagued her realm are the fault of the newly arrived expedition. The Fists declare that they are innocent of this and that the whole world is beset by strange events and the rise of ancient powers. The Matron is convinced enough to propose an accord, she will allow the expedition access to the ruins (under supervision) if the Fists search for a group of her people who have gone missing. Remembering the fate of the previous ambassadors the Fists readily agree.

Then to the Matron's surprise one of her Drow steps forward and joins the Fists in front of the throne. It is Lorric, who has been cunningly keeping other Drow between himself and Celedrus while this was going on, and now a deal is made rejoins the group (to the muttered comment 'show-off' from Ajax). Luckily the Matron seems both impressed and amused by this.

The Matron insists that the Fists find her people before the expedition will be allowed entry and that Celedrus will accompany them as her liaison to the expedition. The Fists find this agreeable and a deal is reached.

Celedrus introduces himself to the Crimson Fists explaining he is a Mystic Theurge and capable of casting both Divine and Arcane spells. He also explains that his background is mostly scholarly and he will require protecting in battle. To drive this point home he also points out he is the Matron's son !

The new group head off discussing their various cultures and the differences inherent in them. They travel for a few hours before stopping for the night.

In the morning Celedrus casts Shadow Walk to transport them more quickly to the area where the Drow went missing. The Fists are plunged into a mysterious realm of whirling shadow in which they travel at breath-taking speed for an hour before plunging with a burst of light into the Material Plane, right into the middle of a lake ! The Fists plunge into the water, only to be instantly shot back to the surface as Ajax uses his sandals to cast Water Walking on the group.

A quick scan of the area reveals they are in a large lake with several islands in it. It also reveals a nearby, yet dilapidated, boat into which some of the Fists climb and which the rest then push to the largest island.

On the shore of the island they find the ground littered with bones. With their senses straining for the signs of danger the group carefully move to search the island. They soon come to a gouge in the earth which ends at a tree, which suddenly lashes out to attack Kapek. It is an Ironmaw, a predatory plant creature that eats anything it can get its vines on.

The creature's vines grab Kapek but then loose when Lorric leaps behind and strikes it a blow that stuns it. The Fists scan the area and see a second, third and fourth Iron Maw approaching. Mira casts Haste and Celedrus casts Fly and heads straight up and out of danger. Ajax leaps on the first Maw and slays it with a storm of blows.

The second creature attacks Ajax, grabbing him with its vines but the hearty Shifter throws off its grip. The other two creatures approach ponderously coming under fire from Kapek's boomerangs as they do. Lorric attacks the second Maw and again stuns it, after which he and Ajax quickly finish it.

Lorric fails to stun the third and fourth Maw but they still fall under the combined assault of the Crimson Fist.

The bones, with Celedrus's permission, are searched for loot then Lorric climbs one of the dead Maws to check the area. He spots some ruins to the north and the Fists decide to investigate there. And so discussing exactly how you stun a plant anyway they move on.