Return to Sharn

Sar 14th Nymm, 998 Y.K.

The Crimson Fist finally return to Sharn aboard the “Skystar”. Lorric is cautious as they arrive, keeping an eye for unusual law enforcement activity. There appears to be none however, and the group safely disembark. It is at this point that they say farewell to both Katerina and Anvil.

The others head for home. Lorric, cautious again, approaches the building stealthily and observes. He sees two elves keeping a surreptitious watch on it, one on either end of the bridge. Kapek, doing a brief flypast on Hurricane, spots one of them but enters the building regardless. He is followed in by Ajax and the other dinosaurs.

On seeing the arrivals, the two watchers have a brief discussion, the result of which is that one leaves and the other returns to his post. Lorric follows the first one, losing him however when he takes to a soarsled. Ajax is informed about the surveillance and goes out to talk with the hidden observer. Other than having his suspicions confirmed that it is indeed agents of Martel watching, this is largely fruitless.

Lorric continues to watch, and is concerned by the arrival of no less than six soarsleds. Elves step from these and take up defensive positions around the bridge. Overhearing that “Cannith is on his way” does nothing to allay his fears.

*Lorric comments
Lorric, having overhead that Cannith is on the way, urges the others to leave (albeit fruitlessley) before his arrival. Lorric continues to be cautious, and hides to watch how events unfold.

Then he sees a large black skycoach without markings approach. When it lands, he sees Martel d’Cannith emerge and head to the house. He is welcomed in by Kapek. For once, the Cannith nobleman has good news, and rewards the Crimson Fist for their efforts with bags of platinum. He is concerned at the news that Palamino is at war with eldritch forces and at the fact that the child had not been immediately taken into Thelanis, but resigned perhaps to the fate that the child’s fate is now out of his hands.

Outside, two cowled and hooded figures are making their way to the house also. Intrigued by this, Lorric decides to return to the house also, but makes his way back by a circuitous route in order to remain undetected. When the figures enter the building they are revealed to those inside to be Katerina and Velseth. The discussion moves on to the group’s next plans. When they mention their intention to travel to Xen’Drik, Martel mentions that he already has people there, looking into a cure for Helmsbane, and he would appreciate it if the Crimson Fist would keep an eye out for them.

*Ajax comments
Ajax is not surprised at all to discover the cunning plan to get them away from Martell, all this Prophecy stuff leads them right into another strand of Prophecy.

The conversation is drawing to an end, and Martel is preparing to leave, when Lorric makes his presence know from the stairs. Everyone seems startled by it, including the normally unflappable Velseth who gets a stern glare from his employer. The conversation resumes then, with Lorric stressing the end of the Crimson Fist’s debt to House Cannith. Eventually Martel agrees, but hopes that they can continue to work together. The Fist agree.

Prophetic Revelations

Martel has several things to say about the Prophecy. The Bleak General is from the Abyss, a demon lord currently slumbering with his heart missing. It is said that if he regains his heart, the fate of the world will change, and the dead will not rest easy in their graves.

The Crimson Fist also have questions about anything related to the “hand dipped in blood”, since it is possible that this is a reference to them. It is associated with an item known as the Nox Noctis Tellum, or Night Spear, which is also linked with somewhere called Kirx’Katech. This place is mythical, dating back to the Age of Legends, and is possibly in Xen’Drik. The “hand dipped in blood” will apparently travel to its heart, and return with the Oboxian Tablets, upon which are inscribed writings that will aid in the final battle. Both Kirx’Katech and the Spear itself are controlled by demonic forces.

The “hand dipped in blood” is also prophesied to be responsible for choosing the final combatants, waking some and destroying others. With these heavy words, Martel leaves the group once again, taking Velseth and Katerina with him.

New Employment

The next task for the Fist is to arrange a trip to Xen’Drik. While Ajax is keen to assist with the problems ongoing in Sharn, Lorric still wishes to leave but will compromise to the extent that it will certainly be some time before an expedition is leaving and the group can use that time to help. At the Deathsgate Guild, they find three notices pertaining to expeditions to Xen’Drik.

The first directs them to make contact with a Farambor Tenolas at the Black Jest tavern. This turns out to be at the end of a jetty, floating in a rough area of the docks, inhabited by the worst collection of lowlives that the group has seen since Shamukaar. When they enter the tavern and purchase drinks, the barman entreats Kapek not to start any trouble. Ajax’s shifter pride is offended by this, as he clearly feels that he should be regarded as the group troublemaker. but the reason becomes quickly clear.

The prospective employer, sitting alone at the table and clearly regarding his surroundings with distaste, is a Valenar elf. Kapek manages to control his fury and simply storms out of the bar. The others, not sharing his attitude, chat amiably with the elf and learn that his expedition is sponsored by the Wayfarer’s Foundation with the aim of collecting rare herbs. He suggests that, should they be able to ditch the Halfling, he would welcome their presence on the journey.

The group re-unites elsewhere and travels on to Morgrave University to enquire about the second expedition. Here they meet Professor Zophik, a brisk elderly lady. She explains that the University expedition is of an archaeological character. It will meet up with a Professor Dresdarn in Stormreach, and then proceed to a site in the Jungle believed to once belong to the extinct Thri-Kreen empire. If this does not turn out to be as fruitful as hoped, the expedition may well be searching for other ruins in the area. The group will be hired for a period of time between a month and two months, and paid 7,500 gold each. The Fist say that they will consider the offer.

The final expedition is hiring on behalf of the Acquisitions Directorate of the Twelve, representatives of the Great Houses. The Fist travel to House Sivis, there to talk with Lodlac d’Sivis who is the agent for this expedition. The gnome explains that this expedition is being funded by the Brelish Crown, in order to find something which can alleviate the problems currently being suffered by Sharn. The terms are very similar to those offered by Professor Zophik, free passage there and back (which will take another 32 days in total), free pick of any items not already claimed by the expedition leader. The expedition leader in this case is a Professor Mellurit. The nature of the expedition, to help Sharn, salves Ajax’s conscience and this is undoubtedly the factor that prompts the Fist to accept Lodlac’s offer. Although the payment for this is slightly less, 7,000 apiece for about the same duration, Lorric manages to haggle up to 8,000. 

The "Southern Sun" is docked and will be ready to sail on the morning tide, once the job is accepted the boat is stocked and checked ready to depart shortly after sunrise.

The group then returns to the Deathsgate guild in order to consult their hireling roster.

*Ajax comments
Ajax hires a member of House Sivis for a Sending to Clian. He's relieved that she is still alive but is shocked to discover she is still running and hiding from the forces that had been unleashed from the Beholder's keep. He had been sure her Druidic talents would have enabled her to win free by now.
Ajax is torn, he accepts he has agreed to go to Xendrik and has a duty to his comrades and to try to fix the problems he's created in Sharn and he doesn't even know where in the woods Clian is but he feels terrible that he is not rushing to her aid.

Prince Palomino's Heart

With a mission to accomplish the Crimson Fist decide to rest until the next dawn to replenish their strength. They pass out through the crystal cave where they exchange a few polite words with the dragon, who turns Lorric's offer to spar down politely and promises to stop the monsters returning in the tower.

*Ajax comments

Ajax is embarrased when the Dragon reveals he is picking up the surface thoughts in their minds. This is because he happened to be staring at Katerina and really didn't want to share those thoughts with a stranger.

They then head up to the Autumn level where they settle down for the night.

Zol 10th Nymm, 998 Y.K

After dawn has come and spells have been prayed for the group approach the double-doors. Ajax translates the writing on the doors as "Dance in the cold and let your legs feel like clams", though strangely nobody else believes he got it right.

Anvil examines the door and finds it not trapped but locked and with the wood warped so the door is jammed shut. Anvil laboriously picks the lock then casts 'Bull Strength' on Ajax, Kapek and Lorric and 'Mage Armour' on Lorric. The three of them put their shoulders to the door and push, the doors creak in protest then suddenly burst open.

8. The Meeting Hall

The temperature in this room is several degrees lower than the rest of the structure; a low mist clings to your feet. Two rows of 5 pillars support an ornately carved and painted ceiling, depicting an image of the night sky. Each pillar is coated with a thick growth of ivy as are the walls. Tiny specks of light dance through the leaves, they appear to be fireflies or some other insect.

A huge tapestry hangs on the northern wall depicting a pair of satyrs in an act of passion, surrounded by detailed knot-work designs.

The Crimson Fist moves along the room revealed to the far end. Anvil carefully examines the tapestry and discovers it is magical. When he intones the command word the scene depicted in the tapestry comes to life. To Ajax's delight and Katerina's horror (and Anvil's complete non-comphrension) the Nymph and Satyr engage in exercises of a carnal nature.

9. The Waiting Room

An empty pool stands in this room, corridors lead east and west. A bench has been built around the pool as though it was once a place where folk could sit and reflect. The curved wall to the north was once painted with a vibrant vision of what could possibly be Thelanis or possibly Lammania

When the tapestry is pulled back it reveals a door. Beyond is a room with corridors leading off to the east and west. Lorric hears strange noises coming from each corridor.

14. Sirine Communal Room

A makeshift, but obviously well used, fire-pit sits at the centre of this room. Cushions made of thick moss and leaves line the rooms edge. Two doors leave this room the one to the west has been packed with moss and fabric, it looks as though the inhabitants are trying to prevent draughts coming from whatever is behind.

To the left is a door which opens to reveal a small room, with two corridors leading off from it. Inside the room is a strange woman, singing a mournful song. Ajax identifies her as a SIRINE, normally a happy Fey that loves to sing and dance.

The Sirine's song tries to seize control of the groups minds but they resist its effects and try to convince her of their peaceful intentions but when they mention they come from Palomino she breaks into a piercing scream.

Ajax leaps at her but because he is trying to subdue her his attack misses. Suddenly from one of the corridors emerges a black, oily looking form. A SCRAG, a form of aquatic troll. Lorric immediately attacks it.

Anvil casually knocks the Sirine unconscious. Katerina, who is still in the main room, yells that other creatures are coming. Ajax Shifts and moves up behind Lorric, stretching his limbs to engage the same Scrag Lorric is fighting. More singing comes from outside the room but has no visible effect.

Katerina runs into the room bleeding from obvious wounds. Clearly visible behind her are three more Scrags. Anvil moves into the entrance to the room to hold the Scrags there.

Kapek's boomerangs finish the Scrag Ajax and lorric are fighting and Lorric moves into the corridor to attack another Scrag.

Meanwhile in the main room a Scrag at the rear chants and another facing Anvil slashes viciously at the empty air but somehow its blows land on Anvil who responds by quickly shutting the door on the creatures.

Kapek runs up alongside Lorric and attacks the Scrag he is facing, Ajax moves behind Lorric and with his extended limbs also attacks, finally Lorric's blows kill the creature.

One of the Scrags in the main room charges the door Anvil is hiding behind, smashing it into splinters. Anvil imbues his shield with fire and strikes at the Scrag but the fire has no effect whatsoever.

Kapek and Ajax move back into the room to help Anvil. Lorric dashes out of the room and tumbles past three astonished Scrags and two confused Sirine, ending up positioned behind the spell-casting Scrag.

The Scrag fighting Anvil bull-rushes him backwards into the room with his comrade rushing right in to engage Kapek, Ajax and Anvil.The fight in the room is fierce but Kapek drops one of the Scrags ( although it continues to regenerate). Lorric drops the spell-casting Scrag and the two Sirines, seeing the way the wind is blowing flee for their lives.

With his acid dripping Sharesh Kapek finishes the Scrag on the floor and Lorric smashes an acid flask on his downed foe, ensuring it won't rise again. Ajax chops down the last Scrag and Kapek finishes it off.

*Ajax comments

With a glad cry Ajax leaps on the corpse, delighted to finally find something in the tower that has ears he can keep.

Lorric chases down the two Sirine and knocks them out. Kapek and Anvil express great concern for the Sirines and rush out to find them. They then bring them back to be examined by Katerina. It is obvious to the rest of the group that they have been charmed by the Sirine's song but they refuse to accept this or that the Sirines meant them any harm. They are eventually persuaded to let the Sirines be tied up.

*Kapek comments

Kapek doesn't understand the others' attitude. With the exception of the logical and clear-headed Anvil, they seem to be of the opinion that these gentle and lovely beings are hostile in some way. What have they done to harm anyone?

10. Guard  Room

This room has a small dividing wall; it is unclear what purpose this room used to have.

The Crimson Fist move into the room to the left where they discover a 'Stone of Alarm' buried in the wall. 

11. Food Stores

This room is several degrees colder than the rest of the tunnels here. Barrels and crates, some dated more than 300 years old, are piled from floor to ceiling, although none of their contents are that old.

One of the doors of the room leads to a store-room, the other leads to a natural tunnel heading downwards. Both Kapek and Ajax note large, wet footprints in the tunnel, leading to the door.

12. The Dock

The tunnel winds down some 30 feet, the sound of lapping water drifts up from below along with the dim glow of daylight.

The tunnel opens into a partially natural cavern, several barrels and containers rest on the smooth rock floor, a wooden platform extends from the floor into the water that fills the natural part of the cave and a small rowboat is tethered to a wooden post.

The tunnel comes out on a dock, leading on to an underground lake. A boat is tied up at the dock and on the rocks against the wall of the cavern in the lake curls a huge snake. A tunnel leads off from the side of the dock. Kapek notices dark shapes moving in the waters of the lake.

Anvil activates the 'Stone of Alarm' and its linked stone immediately begins to howl enabling Anvil to find and collect it.

13. The Fungal Orchard

The natural tunnel leads from the dock, descending slightly as it progresses, ahead there seems to be a source of light, although it is particularly faint, as you approach it becomes more apparent that the light is a mixture of blues and greens.

After about 50 feet the tunnel widens out into a large cavern, about 30 feet across by 80 feet in length, still mirror-like pools take up about half of the caverns floor, and the whole room is illuminated by scores of fungi, ranging in size from a few centimetres across to over six feet across. Many of these fungi are glowing with either a blue or green luminescence, there are smaller specimens of other colours, red, yellow, white, but these are not prolific enough to affect the rooms lighting.

The Crimson Fist head down the side tunnel. It eventually comes out in a underground cavern. The Crimson Fist hold up the seal that was given them and loudly declare that they have come from Palomino. One of the mushrooms shuffles forward, revealing itself to be a Myconid. It gestures for Kapek to come forward. When he does, it realeases a cloud of spores all over him. Luckily Kapek's knowledge of the natural world means he knows that this is the way the Myconids communicate with outsiders and so he calmly breathes in the spores. Indeed he soon hears the Myconid's calm and steady tones in his mind.

The seal convinces the Myconid leader that the group have indeed come from their Lord. He asks for it and when he recieves it, he snaps it in half and the stone heart rises from the lake in the cavern. He recovers the heart and passes it to Kapek.

As the Crimson Fist leave the cavern Myconids emerge from the shadows and great clouds of pollen shoot into the air. These give the retreating heroes a pleasant buzz and bright colours dance at the corner of their vision. They assume this is the Myconids way of celebrating.

*Ajax comments

Indeed Ajax lingers in order to take a deep breath.

As you leave the Myconid caverns you are awash with the clouds of heady spores from their gills. You feel yourselves briefly shift out of time and space as your minds fill with thoughts that are not your own.


Ten thousand whispers echoed through the ruins of a once great hall. The ghostly voices all imparting the same message in a confusing cacophony, "The last vessel is safe".
As the words swirled around the long abandoned hall they began to stir the dust that had lain there, still since time immemorial. Gradually coalescing, the air took form and the force that had slept for an aeon opened its mind once more and let consciousness flood in.
With a sharp inhalation the being, that was once considered a king amongst its people, felt life enter its form and the thoughts of every one of its subjects imparted the knowledge of past millennia. Dust became bone, air became flesh and the king walked once again upon the lands that were inherently His.
Looking up to the maelstrom in the silver sky above He trembled with rage, the orbiting dark speck that was ever present was drawing nearer to the centre.
Sending out a pulse of telepathic energy He summoned his sages to his side at once.
“How many have awoken?” came the first question of many.
“The Gates of Zionyn have opened,” came the less than confident reply, “Ixtchamel’Traa walks the earth, His prophet subverting hearts and minds. Pale Night watches from her Bone Castle and tempts ‘The Hunger Below’ to work against Thoon, but he is slow to respond and sluggish in his rising. Xhagevoxhab pulls at his binding chains beneath the Scarlet waters and his influence is already spreading. The Sibriex are rising from Emlachmara’li’Racus, and Kirx’Katech has seen the return of it’s King. More positively, the Stone Prince is flesh once more, but his awakening has stirred the Mabarian and aberrant forces will move to test his resolve.”
“What of the Librarian? What of The Mistress in Chains? What of The Bleak General? What of the Clockwork Fortress? What of the Hand Bathed in Blood?.... We have much to discuss.” The master’s voice trailed of into deep thought as the court of sages gathered to his presence. Watching the vortex above once more his every cell filled with concern.


As the Crimson Fists return along the tunnel they hear chanting ahead of them. It is a sound they are all to familiar with, the chanting of the words to the spell 'Obscuring Mist'. Anvil decides to get rid of the mist......with a fireball.

*Anvil comments

Anvil feels that when in doubt, fireball it out.


The mist clears as Lorric moves cautiously ahead of the group to assess the situation. He manages to enter the cavern unnoticed by the two Scrags who wait either side of the entrance, greatswords at the ready. He then deals one a mighty blow to its tender parts, causing it to drop the sword in shock.
Once Lorric has revealed himself, the fight begins in earnest. Two other Scrags in the room loose arrows at him, one of which would have run him through, were it not for his monk training which allows him to pluck the deadly missile from the air. Another Scrag emerges from the water and begins casting spells to augment his comrades. The two beside him go incandescent with anger, one successfully delivering a mighty blow to the beleaguered monk.
The rest of the Crimson Fist also engage. Ajax shifts into his war form, his elongated limbs allowing him to engage the foe at a distance. Anvil tries another fireball while Kapek and Katerina simply move up into better positions.
Lorric agilely moves back from his position to a safer one down the corridor, where Katerina can heal him. Ajax similarly attacks and withdraws, noting as he does so that the flames on his weapon are having no effect. This is unfortunately a little too late for Anvil who has unleashed yet another fireball.
The Scrags are drawn by the Fist’s withdrawal down the tunnel, where their attacks are limited. Ajax holds the line, striking with his usual manic aggression against all comers, while Anvil uses the sentient shield Guardian to protect the shifter. Kapek hurls his boomerangs to lethal effect. Despite these precautions, Ajax is still being battered with sword and arrow, Katerina once again proving her worth keep the warriors standing.
When the first Scrag drops, Lorric tumbles his way back into the room, deftly moving past the archer Scrags to deal one a devastating blow from the rear. The Scrag, its wounds quickly healing, tries to stand once again but a swift blow from Ajax knocks it back down and Kapek uses an acid-tipped boomerang to end its life once and for all.
Lorric is now under attack from both of the archers, but they are not the equal of the sword wielding warrior-Scrags and he manages to put them both down. Seeing the direction that the battle is taking, the spellcaster in the water discreetly leaves. The second sword wielder is also despatched by Ajax, and the helpless Scrags are finished off with acid.

The battle over, the Crimson Fist move on swiftly, fearing the possibility of reinforcements. Not so swiftly though, that they forget to loot the dead. In the next room they find the Sirines still tied, and another argument ensues over their fate. Ajax wishes to loosen their bonds so that they can eventually struggle free, while the ensorcelled Kapek and Anvil wish to simply free them now. In the end, Kapek just slices their bonds and the terrified Sirines flee.

Back in Palamino’s cave, Katerina is entrusted with replacing the Heart. With a little help she correctly positions it, but to no effect. Palamino then explains that his current condition is the result of an encounter with a Basilisk, and Anvil realises that a spell called “Stone to Flesh” will be required to reverse the effects. Katerina explains that she can prepare this spell, but not until morning.
It is now a time for conversation, and for revelations. The dragon Xeshenell pokes his head in from the next room to join in. He has many things to say about coming events, about the Prophecy, and about the Fist themselves.
He has been conscious for about two weeks, during which time he has studied the Dragonmarks which have recently appeared in the crystals of his cave. From this, he has concluded that the “sleepers are awakening”. The Crimson Fist have also been the subject of some speculation, with the dragon concluding that they are a force for good, and not for ill. In conversation he reveals that he is aware of many things mentioned in the Fist’s recent vision; the Librarian, the Sleeper beneath Scarlet Waters, the King beneath the Waves, stirred at the behest of Holashner. The Mabarian is simply another name for the dragon Mistwing, so named for his home plane of Mabar. Clearly the belief of the vision is that Palamino’s resurrection will mean renewed activity on Mistwing’s part.


*Ajax comments
Ajax is stunned by Loric's suggestion that 'the Hand Dipped in Blood' may refer to the Crimson Fists. Its one thing to hear prophecies of world changing events but quite another to discover they refer to you.


The Crimson Fist are, not unnaturally, a little nonplussed by all this. Things seem very confused to them, but the dragon explains that while the paths of the Prophecy are indeed complex, the goal of it is not. The goal is simply the survival or destruction of existence itself. He warns that many powerful forces study the Prophecy; including the Dragons of Argonessen, the Elves of Aerenal, the Giants of Xen’drik, and the demonic Lords of Dust.
Xeshenell goes on to explain more about the child that the Crimson Fist have been so desperately defending. The Last Vessel is the living embodiment of the Universal soul of magic, were he to die many aspect of magic itself would begin to fail. There are nine other such vessels, tied to the other schools of magic, but what their fates are, the dragon cannot explain.
He does mention more of the Prophecy that he believes pertains to the Fist themselves. “Five will become three, and head to the Lost Continent.” Most of them look perturbed, but Katerina has revelations of her own.

Once the camp is set up, and the Fist warmed by protections cast by Xeshenell, Katerina explains herself.
As Ajax, who pre-empts her revelations, had guessed, she is the one working for a dragonmarked house. She is a member of House Thuranni, of a group called the “Dragon’s Path” who are dedicated to studying the Prophecy. Her mission here was to keep the group alive, a task which they all agree she has carried out with skill. The initial meeting with her at the Gaze was part of a ruse, and her cover story there was bought with some suffering it seems. She answers to the shadowy Velseth, also a member of House Thuranni.
However, she also reveals that upon meeting the dragon Xeshenell, she manifested the Mark of Shadow herself. On return to Sharn she will need to consult with her superiors, and will be there for some time. So she will be unable to travel with the Crimson Fist to Xen’drik.
The group listens to her story, without condemnation of her hidden role, and the consensus seems to be that she remains a valued comrade and friend.


*Ajax comments
Ajax isn't bothered by Katerina's revelation, her loyalty to her House, whom after all she was working for before she meet her comrades, is entirely understandable. She has risked her life alongside the group and saved the life of every member of the Crimson Fist. He's much more bothered by the thought of losing a good friend, not to mention what adventuring without her help is going to be like.


Anvil then speaks. He explains in his careful methodical way, that on return to Sharn he needs to pledge himself to the service of House Cannith in order to continue on his path as a Spellcarved Soldier. This will involve him training with other Spellcarved Soldiers and serving with the House with some considerable time, and therefore he, regretfully, will similarly be unable to continue with the group to Xen’drik.
Thus is that part of the Prophecy fulfilled. The Fist are obviously grieved to lose two of their boon companions, even though it will hopefully not be permanent.

Wir 11th Nymm, 998 Y.K.
In the morning, Katerina’s magics are able to restore the Faerie Prince to health. Through his arts, they are able to see across the whole valley as it returns to life with its Lord. Before leaving, he offers them a boon; one item each from his collection, as well as one piece of armour or weapon.

As Palamino is restored to flesh and blood the walls of the tower slowly become translucent, before fading from view almost entirely. The warm summer sun can be felt upon your skin and the dull canyon that surrounds you slowly bursts into colour. Gently you feel the room rising above the ravine, before settling just above the canopy of the surrounding forest.
Across the lake below, you can see blackened woodland turning green once more and bursting into life. The grey slate walls to the canyon erupt with plant life and dancing lights that are reflected in the waters of the lake that is rapidly turning from black to crystal clarity. Then with a sudden burst of air and mist spray you watch as water jets over the edges of the canyon throwing a thousand rainbows into the air before it cascades into the waters of the lake below.
Wildlife, startled by the sudden flurry of activity, leaps into life, flocks of fowl take to the air and smaller game run for their burrows. The grey shore on the far side of the lake blazes with colour as meadow plants shoot from the once dead earth, it is soon waist deep with grasses and flowers and you can see the air filling with pollen as you watch.
Palamino turns to you, a broad grin on his face, “I thank you Crimson Fist, you have done this place a great justice. The winter of Six Falls is at an end, and for that I must reward you.”
Outside you see day rapidly turn to a cloudless starlit night as the Half-fey centaur waves his hand towards the great mirror, before your eyes you see a trove of wealth and magic materialise.
“Please make your choice; you may take one item and one weapon or piece of armour. If there is nothing that suits your taste, you may take gold in its place.”

These causes some discussion, as clearly some items are more useful than others, and a little friction as Lorric and Ajax bargain with the Prince over the terms.


*Ajax comments
Of course there would have been less friction if Kapek hadn't grabbed the shield Ajax had his eye on first.


Eventually the gifts are taken, and the Crimson Fist leave Palamino as he prepares for war. The Prince advises them to move swiftly. On the way out, Xeshenell playfully flicks a small rock into the back of Lorric’s head.

Once you have chosen your gifts, Palamino looks to the sky with concern.
“There is a presence coming for you, to take you from here”, he says in soft tones, “But they have stirred the dark-lord of the skies from his slumber. Mistwing’s territory has been trespassed upon and now he seeks to fell his rival.”
Following his gaze you can see a dancing speck of light in the sky, as you focus upon it, the magics of the tower magnify the object allowing you to clearly make out the “Skystar”, and its captain, the beautiful half-elf Syrina d’Lyrandar looking down upon you with her spyglass, her eyes filled with concern.
She looks to the west where you can see and feel a palpable darkness rising above the trees.
Palomino speaks once more, if you wish to return with this vessel then you must leave now, if not then you will have to endure watching its destruction.

When they get to the other side of the ravine, they see the “Skystar” approaching at speed. The captain is clearly in a hurry, and the Crimson Fist swiftly board, with the exception of Ajax who is concerned for the missing Clian. However, there is no sign of her and Ajax reluctantly follows the others. As the ship rises, it can be seen that the distant Oramellyx Keep is buzzing with activity.

As the Skystar take to the skies you can make out a single torch rushing to the edge of the ravine from the east.
To the west the oppressive feeling of pure evil and dark energy compels you to turn your gaze to the west with urgency, the sound of heavy wing-beats like a slow pulse grow gradually louder.
Below you the torch waves frantically as you can see the solitary form of a shifter desperately trying to catch your attention from the edge of the ravine; from the darkness to the east you see a dull green glow from the ruins of Oramellyx Keep.
Despite your pleading the captain refuses to take the ship down, “One life is not worth sacrificing all for!” Syrina informs you in sombre tones.

The group also notice a lone figure running from the woods towards the ravine. Ajax is frantic that it may be Clian, and in response to his pleas, although against the wishes of the captain, Kapek agrees to try and rescue her.


*Ajax comments
Ajax will be eternally grateful for Kapek's courage in risking his life as he was seriously considering leaping off the Skystar to help the figure below. As this wasn't Clain he would have been extremely embarassed (and probably dead).


Hurricane and Kapek launch from the cargo hold and the great beast is directed by Kapek to swoop past and grab the figure. As the shifter climbs up onto Hurricane’s back and the waiting saddle, it becomes obvious that it is not Clian, but Malgor, one of the Ashbound. He is grateful for his rescue, and Kapek is pleased nonetheless to have rescued him from what seems to be the very jaws of death. Strange creatures called Grells seem to be infesting the forest now and the Skystar is not waiting around. Kapek spurs on his mount, enhanced by the Halfling’s ranger magic, to catch up with the vessel, where he safely re-embarks.

As the vessel drifts closer to the ruined Beholder Lord’s keep you can see movement on the forest floor, at first you can not make out what it is, but as the creatures begin to rise above the canopy you can see the hideous forms of these ghastly aberrations. 
These creatures have a large, bulbous body composed of wrinkled, light gray flesh that seems to float in the air of its own volition. Ten long, spiny tentacles hang from the bottom of its body, twisting in the air like ropes. It has a sharp beak in the front of its body, but no other visible facial features.
Beneath the canopy you can see that the forest seems to be alive as hordes of them all silently race towards Six Falls.
The Skystar rises higher and higher into the night sky, its hull groaning as the bound elemental roars, straining against its bindings and carrying the small ship at full speed towards Greenheart.


The ship makes good time on its way to Greenheart. The captain explains that her actions were not driven by altruism, since a call has gone out for heroes to assist Sharn in its woes and there is money available for those who bring them in. The Fist are rather concerned by this, since they are partly responsible for these woes. Lorric in particular wants to lay low for a while, avoiding Sharn entirely.

Ajax is able, with the use of a scroll of Sending, to establish that Clian is alive but probably in peril.

Zor 12th Nymm, 998 Y.K.
At Greenheart, they visit the tree once more. It seems pleased that the ravine is restored, but reiterates its warning about the doom-laden Clian. The group then leave it to its slumbers and return to their camp to commence theirs.

The Tower of Rainbows

Sul 8th Nymm, 998Y.K.

The Crimson Fist heal up and head up the stairs that have been bored into the inside of the tree. After climbing 50 feet they emerge onto a platform cradled in the branches of the tree. The platform is surrounded by a crystal dome within which float various small orbs, representing the planets. It is identified as an Orerry, a place for observing the movements of the planets.

From the alignment of the orbs representing the planets Anvil estimates it stopped moving some 600 years ago.

Set into the floor is a brass ring inscribed in a language which none of the group can understand.

Spring

Finding nothing else the group head down to the base of the tree and then take the stairs that lead down into the earth. Emerging after a short while into a underground room. Trenches filled with fertile, dark earth run along either side of the room and two statues of gardeners are by the rear wall. A corridor leads off into another room.

Katerina spots something strange in the wall between the two statues. A closer examination reveals it to be a recess the size of a basketball and in the shape of an acorn and around it a concealed door.

A closer examination of the statues reveal them to be of Eladrin. Anvil also detects Transmutation magic on the statues and Abjuration magic on the doors.

Ajax explores the corridor and finds a circular room. In the centre of which is a circular pool and with the walls covered in friezes depicting various Springtime scenes. Set into the far wall is a winch, a rope and hook are attached to the winch and dangle directly above the pool.

Ajax and Kapek examine the pool, the waters of which give off an icy chill. In the pool are two huge golden discs with the smiling face of the sun carved into them. Where the two discs meet is a ring.

As the rest of the Crimson Fists join them an ethereal shape slides out of the wall, Lorric greets it cheerily but it ignores him. Katerina identifies the creature as a WRAITH. Another one appears behind the group.

The Crimson Fist cluster together to protect each other and, as a group, move towards the winch.

A third Wraith steps out of the wall, quickly followed by a fourth and fifth.

Kapek beings to winch the hook down into the pool. One of the Wraiths utters a terrible wail and they charge the Crimson Fist.

As the Wraiths engage the group Katerina casts 'Mass Cure Moderate Wounds', the Positive energy of the spell blasts into the Wraiths, instantly killing two of them. Ajax finishes off another and Lorric, with the child tucked under one arm, strikes down another. The last is struck down by Anvil.

With the distraction efficiently dealt with Kapek lowers the hook into the pool and hooks the ring. He then winches the discs out of the pool. Hidden beneath where the discs lay are two 5 foot deep pits. Each with something at the bottom of it.

After trying with a rope and grapple to get the objects out of the pool Ajax patience runs out and he jumps into the pool, taking a small amount of cold damage, and recovers the two items. The items are a giant acorn made of a tarnished, golden material and a wooden mallet.

The acorn is placed in the recess in the first room but is slightly too big. Ajax notices that the acorn is actually made up of two parts and separates them to find ten acorns inside.

Kapek decides to plant the acorns in the tubs of earth on the sides of the room but nothing happens.

When Ajax screws the two parts of the acorn back together they now fit into the recess perfectly but still nothing happens when it is placed there.

The Crimson Fist debate the problem. It is thought that the acorns need to grow, Ajax theorizes that as they have earth and water all they need is sunlight. He goes to fetch the sun discs which represent this, then Lorric is seized by an inspiration and seizing the wooden mallet he strikes the hanging discs soundly.

The discs produce a strong sound and as it echoes throughout the room the roof turns transparent allowing sunlight to flood into the room. Suddenly the statues come to life, they fetch water from the circular pool and water the acorns. Green shoots rise from the acorns and the doors swing open to reveal a spiral staircase heading down.

Summer

The Crimson Fist head down the stairs which lead into another room. In the middle of the room is a mosaic of the sun. A corridor leads off to the left and the right and in the opposite wall are stone double-doors.

Anvil checks the double doors for traps and finding none opens them to reveal a strange, bottle shaped corridor which ends in a door. The door is unlocked but the wood has swelled and the door is jammed. Ajax steps up and shoulder charges it open and just manges not to fall into the pit that is revealed just beyond the door.

The other side of the pit is a row of bars and behind them a spiral staircase heading down.

The Crimson Fist try the left hand corridor. They soon reach a door behind which a bright light shines. Behind the door is room containing a disc on the far wall that emits an intensely bright light.

They then try the right hand corridor. This also ends in a door. Behind the door is a room which is empty apart from a plinth on which sits a scroll. The heat in the room is intense. Behind the plinth is a door.

The heat is so intense the group quickly realize it will destroy anybody who lingers too long in the room. Ajax runs in to grab the scroll but halfway across the room the floor disappears underneath him and he plunges towards a suddenly revealed pool of lava!

*Ajax comments

Having only minutes ago missed plunging into a pit Ajax can't help feel, as he hurtles towards the lava, that the universe is trying to tell him something. He just has no idea what it is.

Luckily Ajax's boots enable him to skip along the surface of the liquid rather than plunge into it . Still his feet catch fire and he hastily exits the room.

Katerina pokes curiously at Ajax's wound before healing him.

*Ajax comments

Ajax isn't sure where their normally gentle healer picked up this bad habit. But he's sure its one she needs to lose very quickly.

Anvil warns that something is emerging from the lava. The Crimson Fist swing round and Lorric rushes off to get water from the circular pool upstairs but the creature merely emerges momentarily, examines the group and then slides back into the lava.

Healed up Ajax volunteers to go back into the room. Anvil casts 'Resist Energy' on him and Ajax rushes into the room once more. He leaps over the lava and grabs the scroll. Which immediately crumbles to dust!

Ajax curses fluently. He then tries the door behind the plinth and reveals a small room containing a metal box with a lever sticking out of it. Encouraged by Lorric he pulls the lever.

Instantly the monster emerges from the lava again, it is recognised as a Conflagration Ooze. Kapek hurls boomerangs and Lorric throw flasks of icy water at it. The creature oozes forward and seizes Ajax in its mighty form and releases some vile poison into his body as it does so. Ajax resists the poison, mostly, and using his warshaper ability shapes his fists into tentacles and slams them into the creature. Lorric charges into the room and attacks the creatures rear quickly followed by a flying Anvil.

Assaulted on all sides the creature perishes.

*Ajax comments
And not a second to soon. Ajax is bleeding from multiple wounds and with the creature's venom running in his veins. He's well aware that if not for Anvil's protective magics he'd be toast by now.

Having been patched up by Katerina Ajax moves to examine the pit he nearly fell into earlier. As he suspected the bars have disappeared but a fierce wind now whistles up the shaft. Meanwhile Anvil and Kapek head carefully into the left hand room, checking for traps as they go. Fifteen feet into the room a cloud of shifting darkness suddenly springs into existence. The light in the room is immediately extinguished as the strange creature of living darknesses whips tentacles down at the pair.
Anvil attacks back but in the dim light of the room he misses the creature. Lorric rushes to the door of the room and uses his sling to strike the creature. Kapek unleashes boomerangs at it and Ajax rushes over to help.
Lorric decides to take advantage of the removal of the blinding light and rushes past the conflict to the disc, beneath it he finds a door. Behind the door is a small room with a stone table with four pieces of stone on it, each carved in the shape of a lilly-pad. Lorric swiftly grabs all of them.
Back at the conflict Anvil and Kapek find their efforts severely hampered by the dim light of the room. The creature lashes out and is clearly going to miss when suddenly reality ripples and Anvil suddenly finds himself in the path of the striking tentacle after all. The creature lands a vicious blow on the surprised Warforged.
Lorric rushes past the combat and deposits the stone lilly-pads outside the room with Katerina and the child.

Anvil is struck again by the creature and then suddenly sucked into the main mass of its body, as its shadowy body surges around him Anvil feels his strength drain away as the creature feasts on him. Ajax strikes into the creature and although the creature recoils from the blow Ajax notices the fire and lightning created by his blade seem not to bother the creature at all. Nor can he discern a vital point to strike at. In reply the creature lashes out at Ajax striking him and then seeking to draw him also into his body but Ajax manages to resist the pull as the creature tries to draw him in as well.
Lorric joins the fight and although he nimbly dodges the creature's blows, again reality warps and despite his best efforts he finds himself in the path of its blows. He too is then drawn into the creature to join Anvil. Both members of the Crimson Fist feel their strength drain away. However the creature has made a fatal mistake, surrounded as he is by it Lorric easily buries his claws into the creatures body finishing it off.
Combat over, Katerina uses the last of her healing magic to heal the two and is able to restore some of Anvil's strength.
Anvil examines the lilly-pads and discerns that they are magical with a nature similar to an Immovable Rod. A rope is tied around one of the lilly-pads (in case the theory that has sprung into everyone's head is wrong) and it is thrown into the shaft where the air blows so violently. As they expected the lilly-pad floats on the air, forming a stable platform. With four of them a path can be created across the shaft to enable the group to safely reach the downward spiralling stairs on the other side.
However Katerina is out of spells, Anvil and Lorric are still weakened from their encounter with the shadow creature and Ajax knows he cannot Shift again that day. The Crimson Fist decide to wait and rest here until the next dawn.

*Katerina comments
Katerina recognises the shadowy mass as a Vasuthant, although she has no idea what an undead creature such as this monstrosity would be doing in a place like this...

The Crimson Fist decide to camp on the surface of the island and so head up and set up camp just outside the tower. Suddenly the island rings with strange sounds. Lorric borrows Kapek's telescope and soon spots a force of about twenty Harpies attacking strange eagle-like creatures, which Anvil identifies as Perytons, that are emerging from the caves to the south. Lorric suggest the group intervene but when the malicious nature of both species is explained to him he quickly changes his mind. The two sides engage in a vicious combat that goes on until the sun sets at which point the Harpies fly away.

Understandably nervous the group settle down for the night but it is not long before more noises come from the water and a strange mist emerges from it. Three huge creatures emerge from a copse of trees near the beach. Kapek identifies them as Fog Giants. The Crimson Fist watch them carefully but they move northwards away from the group and so the Crimson Fist decide to leave them alone.

That night is full of strange and threatening noises, howls and singing, the wind rages about the island as the invisible stalkers that guard this place howl in frustration, but nothing threatens the group and they manage to get a reasonable nights rest.

As his comrades sleep Anvil spends his time investigating the runes on the door and figures out how to deactivate them in order to prevent the teleportation effect. After a quick debate the Crimson Fist decide to not deactivate the rune and head in. Kapek however is teleported down the path again and again, and again. Eventually Anvil (not understanding what the rest of the group find so funny about this) deactivates the runes and Kapek is able to enter the tower.

Mol 9th Nymm, 998 Y.K.

The Crimson Fists head up to the Orrery once again, where Ajax attempts to us his Third Eye of Improvisation to translate the writing on the brass ring embedded in the floor but he draws a blank, Anvil also has a go at deciphering it but with little success.

The group head down to the Spring Level where they find everything has reset itself to the way it was before they had arrived yesterday, apart from the Wraiths which do not reappear. Knowing what to do the group quickly travel down to the Summer level where everything also has reset.

Ajax quickly leaps across the concealed lava pit and pulls the lever to withdraw the bars. Meanwhile Anvil examines the runes in the floor of the other room. He decides they will summon another Vasuthant if activated and so carefully deactivates them, enabling Lorric to get the stone Lilly-pads.

When placed in the updraft whistling through the shaft the Lilly-pads set in place and the Crimson Fist skip across them to the other side with Ajax , the last across, picking each up when he had left it and taking it with him as he moves across.

Autumn

They descend the stairs eventually entering a room where mist covers the floor and their feet (and Kapek's knees) are covered by it, the air becomes chill and carries the rich smell of leaves fallen to the forest floor and dark earth. Two statues of fierce Eladrin warriors stand against the far wall guarding double doors. Doors are also set in the right hand and left hand walls. Katerina also identifies a hidden door behind them.

Lorric examines the hidden door and notices four hidden keyholes set to either side of the door in the wall, he points these out to Anvil who is able to pick the locks but the door remains stubbornly closed.

Instead Anvil turns his attention to the right hand door and examines it carefully. Discovering it is locked but not trapped he picks the lock and opens the door. The door opens onto a corridor with steps leading down. The group follow the steps down for twenty feet before they end as a jetty in a room full of water. Visible under the water are two doorways leading out from the room.

It's decided to check out the left hand room first. The door leading to it is quickly picked by Anvil leading to a corridor sloping down. The corridor ends in a circular room which has a shallow layer of water in it and in the centre of the room is a stone column. Thirty feet up the walls of the room are two gaps on either side of the room.

5. The Talking Statue

As Ajax enters the room the column changes into the form of a stone warrior woman armed with a bastard sword. She declares: " Speak the words and pass unhindered". This is all she says, replying it to questions and guesses at the password alike.

Ajax notices something oozing through the water towards them. He yells a warning as three amoeba like shapes slide out of the water towards him. Kapek hurls force boomerangs at them and warns his comrades that edged weapons will just split the creatures into two more creatures. Ajax hurls his last flask of Alchemist frost, Lorric passes Ajax a quarterstaff and the fight is on.

The Ochre Jellies are no match for the Crimson Fist and are dispatched with relatively little trouble.

Despite Ajax's warning Anvil moves past the statue and it immediately springs into action, striking him down with two lightning fast and devastating blows. The rest of the group launch themselves at the statue but it is immediately obvious that its stony skin is highly resistant to their blows.

*Ajax comments

It seems highly unnatural to Ajax for him to be the voice of reason.

Embattle drags his master from out of the desperate melee. Kapek is struck a mighty blow and retreats to the back of the group but still hurls his boomerangs. Ajax and Lorric go toe-to-toe with the monster, though both wisely decide to fight defensively having seen what the creatures blows can do.

Embattle feeds Anvil a 'Repair' potion and Anvil rises to his feet and casts 'Bane' on Lorric's tankard which Lorric soon uses to punch a hole straight through the construct's head.

Healed, and with their breath back, the Crimson Fist explore the steps leading out of the room. They split into two staircases curling around either side of the room. They pass the holes in the walls the group had seen from the room blow. Both sets of stairs end in a door.

7. The Slumbering

The doors to this room are unlocked, they are however a little stiff. Beyond the room looks much like an attic room, diffused sunlight seems to shoot through cracks in the ceiling highlighting piles of fabric here, and old rocking chair there. Stuffed toys spill out of an over-full trunk, covered picture frames lean against a rusty old candleabre. A dusty haze fills the air and the same dust has settled in thick layers over everything in the room. Hanging from a fine silvery chain in the centre of the room is a jewelled key.

You can make out amongst the toys and trinkets there are several skeletal shapes, it seems that they did not put up a fight, their weapons are still sheathed.

Picking the right hand door Anvil performs his usual routine and opens it. It reveals a dusty room, littered with discarded clothes and, which instantly attracts attention, a jewelled key. Kapek suddenly feels an almost overwhelming wave of sleepiness wash over him at the same time as the rest of the group notice several skeletons in the room. Anvil enters the room and instantly a mysterious force hurls him straight down the corridor into the wall and only Kapek and Ajax's combat honed reflexes enable them to get out of the way of the flying warforged in time. Anvil, when he has recovered, theorizes that the room is protected by a spell that repels wood, which his warforged body is mostly constructed from.

Ajax tries to lasso the key but his first attempt misses and raises the dust in the room which instantly puts him to sleep. Ajax is lassoed and pulled out of the room and then rudely awakened. Lorric wets a scarf and wraps it around his face to protect himself from the dust and approaches the room rope in hand to attempt to lasso the key again.

As the threshold to the room is crossed the dust in the room begins to stir a little. The floorboards begin to creak and from between the cracks fine sand and dust seems to rise gradually taking a humanoid form.

This creature appears as a slender, lithe humanoid constructed of sand and dust. Delicate features can be seen on its face, and its fingers are long and slender.

Anvil identifies this creature as a Sandman, an elemental associated with earth.

With incredible speed Lorric dives into the room, tumbles past the Sandman, grabs the key and rolls out again. Exiting he turns and slams the door in the surprised creature's face.

6. The Magnetic Floor

The Crimson Fist move around to the left door which Anvil opens. In this room is a pedestal with another jewelled key standing upright on it. Anvil also notices some form of trapdoor concealed in the ceiling.

Kapek tries to lasso the key and although he gets the rope around the key when he tries to flick it across the room the key is knocked down but instantly flips back up it its standing position. Suddenly Anvil and Ajax are drawn by their metal armour into the room and pinned to the floor by the same strange force. As they lie there the earth beneath them starts to tremble ominously.

Lorric lassoos Ajax and with Kapek's help begins to pull him out of the room, as he is drawn away Ajax uses his Warshaper abilities to shape his arm into a 10 foot long tentacle and reaches out and grabs the key drawing it out of the room with him.

Suddenly the earth beneath Anvil erupts as a huge earth elemental emerges from the ground and slams a huge fist into the prone Ajax. Ajax leaps to his feet and is instantly seized by the pull of the room, by exerting every last iota of his Rage, Shifted and spell enhanced strength Ajax manages to pull himself free of the area of the room's pull.

Then with a groan and crack, the trap-door in the ceiling opens, showering tons of iron ore down into the room. The ore passes harmlessly through the elemental but slams into Anvil further pining him to the ground. Lorric, unhindered by any form of metal, tumbles into the room and secures a rope around Anvil's ankle.

The Elemental walks into the wall and seconds later his fist emerges and strikes Ajax. Ajax strikes back but his blade seems to barely scratch the creature. Katerina rushes up behind the severely wounded Ajax and heals him. Lorric meanwhile hauls Anvil free of the rubble and with Kapeks help begins to tortuously pull him free of the rooms pull .

The Elemental bull-rushes Ajax who miraculously stands his ground and bounces the creature off himself. Katerina heals Ajax a second time and then retreats to the back of the group where she yells a warning. The Sandman is approaching from behind them !

The Elemental fully emerges from the wall and engages Ajax. The Sandman attacks the rear of the group, its sleep aura spreads out to affect Katerina and Anvil ( who are immune to it) and Lorric, who resists it.

The Elemental charges into Ajax again and slams him backwards into the grip of the room and he is once again dragged back by its magnetic force only just digging in his heels and stopping himself at the very edge of the room before he is once again pinned to the floor.
As Kapek and Lorric attack the Earth Elemental, Ajax is inexorably pulled into the room and pinned to the floor by the magnetic force. Anvil alone faces off against the Sandman.
The Earth Elemental steps back into the wall and so Lorric rushes over to help out Anvil. Ajax desperately tries to claw his way out of the room but for every foot he pulls himself forward the room pulls him back. Then to add insult to injury the Earth Elemental emerges from the wall in the room and slams a massive fist into his prone body. Unable to even rise to his feet Ajax attacks the creature from the floor carving a chunk out of its leg.
Responding to Ajax's desperate, but manly, cries for help Katerina dodges pass the Sandman, narrowly avoiding a blow, and rushes over and heals him. Kapek also joins the battle against the Earth Elemental.
Anvil finally dispatches the Sandman with a swing of his shield. Ajax and Kapek finish the Earth Elemental with sword and force boomerangs.

*Ajax comments
Ajax is disappointed that once again their opponents leave no ears to add to his collection. The tower has been hugely disappointing trophy-wise.

Ajax is lassoed and pulled out of the room and Lorric quickly loots the room the Sandman came from.

2. The Wading Room
The corridor leads eastward, descending some 30 feet down 2 sets of steep stairs. Two distinct pools are divided by a central walkway, steps lead into the water on the far eastern wall. The air is chill here and the water seems to be the source of the cold. The water is 3 ft. deep at the steps and slopes down to 15 ft. deep at the western side of the room, it is particularly cold.

The Crimson Fists descend to the Wading Rooms and consider their appraoach to the problem. It is decided Katerina will wait on the walkway with the child. Anvil casts 'Water Breathing' on the rest of the group and they enter the cold waters.
Anvil approaches the entrance on the right-hand side of the room. He finds a door under the water and efficiently picks the lock. The door opens onto a small room.

4. Jewelled Key Room 2
The water here is filled with organic sediment that is disturbed into clouds when the water is passed through. Resting here there are 3 figures, each seems to be coated in a light layer of ice or frost. A key is hung on a hook on the far wall.

Anvil cast 'Protection from Energy' on himself and enters the room and searches for traps. The three figures within begin to stir to life and the waters around them are infused with biting icy cold. Although Anvil's spell protects him, his comrades waiting outside the room feel the cold bite into them.
Anvil plods steadily past the creatures, enduring their attacks and grabs the key but in doing so he releases some strange substance into the water that lowers the temperature of the water still further.
With the cold biting ever more viciously into the group they desperately swim for the steps at the end of the pool. Kapek is hit hardest by the cold and slips into unconcious as the cold devours his life force. Seeing what is happening Katerina casts a mass 'Cure' spell from the walkway that revivies him just in time. Infused with new life by their comrades spell the group manage to pull themselves out of the water.

*Kapek comments
Kapek muses that he seems to have no luck with water whatsoever. Perhaps it's down to his desert upbringing.

The group retreat to the main room. Katerina is just tending to Kapek when they hear voices coming from the room they'd just departed. A glance reveal that the creatures they found in the room had emerged from the water and are grouped on the walkway.
Anvil quickly casts 'Resist Energy' on Ajax and Kapek and then drew his Wand of Fireballs and fires it down the corridor towards the creatures. Ajax charges down the corridor and attacks the creatures. But he see's in horror that when he strikes the creatures the magical fire of his blade is absorbed into the creature and its wounds start to heal.
Anvil casts 'Resist Energy' on Lorric and Lorric flips down the corridor, over the heads of the creatures and strikes at them from behind, slaying one.
Ajax quickly removes the Fire gem from his blade, extinguishing its fire, and then renews his attacks on the creatures.
With their cold powers blunted by Anvil's protective magics the creatures are far less of a threat and the Crimson Fist deal with them quickly and violently.
Katerina identifies the creatures as undead known as BLEAKBORN. She says that if provided with heat they will heal themselves, so the group chop them into pieces and then dump the bits into the chill water of the Wading Room.

3. Jewelled Key Room 1
The water here is filled with organic sediment that is disturbed into clouds when the water is passed through. A skeletal figure lies slumped in the corner of this submerged room, a jewelled key strung around its neck.

The Crimson Fist quickly enter the water on the other side, wanting to act while the spells protecting them last. Again they find a locked door in the entrance which Anvil picks the lock of.
Anvil checks for traps and finding none he grabs the key. Triggering the trap.
As the Key is pulled away the string concealed upon it is pulled tight, springing the trap. The door locks behind them and the walls of the room start to close in.
Quickly Anvil swims to the door and with a few deft moves picks the lock. The rest of the group hurriedly exit, sliding out of the room just as the walls close in on where they had been.
The Crimson Fist return to the main room and insert the four keys into the hidden keyholes. When turned the door slides into the floor, revealing stairs leading down.
Expressing worries about what waits for them below the group carefully descend the stairs.

Winter
The entire level is a natural series of caverns all are thick with beautiful crystal that seems to almost sing with each sound that is made.

A white light dances across the crystals giving the entire cavern a luminescence akin to a winter’s night with a full moon shining.

1. The Stairs Down
As the stairs from the upper level are descended there is a noticeable drop in temperature. Your breath becomes visible and the steps beneath your feet become slick and treacherous.

A thick layer of frost and ice covers the walls floors and ceiling. The steps descend some 80 feet the last 20 feet of which are a descent through a crystalline cavern.

The entirety of the natural cavern is covered in thick crystal growth, any light you are carrying is magnified and refracted into a thousand dancing rainbows.

Once the bottom is reached the true beauty of the cavern can be appreciated, however movement from the exit catches your eye as shapes move through the huge crystals.


2. The Ice Pool

A freezing mist rises up from this pool and is strangely drawn up the shaft in the cave ceiling. An icy cold waterfall spills from an inaccessible tunnel into the pool here and it seems to flow away somewhere in the back of the cave. A shimmering curtain of light betrays the presence of a portal here, most likely to Risia judging by the way the ice and air mephits dance through it.

The steps become more frost covered as they descend, becoming more treacherous. In fact Ajax and Katerina travel the last 10 feet of the stairs on their backs as they slip and slide down the stairs. Finally landing at the bottom in a untidy heap.
In the cavern Mephits flit through the air until Lorric hurls a rock from his sling slaying one of them. His comrades quickly apologize to the Mephits as they have no desire to start another fight.

3. The Crystal Cavern

As you pass from the smaller entrance cave you see a massive natural pillar of crystal directly ahead. Beyond this pillar is a startling display of natural crystal growth, the entire 60 feet by 40 feet of the cavern is made of pure crystal growth, at first it is a little disorientating. As your eyes adjust to this new environment they can make out a passage to the left with the sound of running water and at the far end another passage heads down, a great dragonmark extends across the room’s vaulted ceiling from floor to floor, however, more importantly you can make out a huge form moving towards you.

A creature that appears to made of pure crystal spreads its vast wings and with a dull clanking, ringing sound it shifts it draconic head to face you.

With an ethereal roar the creature addresses you.

“What brings you to this most sacred of places?”

“My name is Xeshenell - The guardian of the 7th Pathway. If you carry no evil in your heart and the Prophecy holds true then you may pass, if these things do not apply to you, then you will surely perish.”

“The master of this place is through there, he is unable to do anything in his current state though. And it will take more than simple magics to help him.” He gestures to a tunnels across the cavern that leads down into darkness.

“In order to enter you must pray that the God of Fate is watching over you.”

The Crimson Fist are glad Xeshenell is so reasonable, especially after Lorric had hurled a rock at it. This despite Kapeks best efforts to stop him (Ajax and Katerina were cowering at the back of the cavern having been driven there by the waves of DragonFear.) Xeshenell seemed to accept their explanation that after everything else on the island has tried to kill them they were all feeling a little trigger-happy and also not really regarding the Crimson Fists as a threat.
Lorric is berated by his comrades for his actions and apologises graciously.

4. The Passage of Crystal Stars

A ramp with a slight incline descends some 25 feet out of the room, the cavern beyond is darker; the crystals here do not seem to catch the light as readily as everywhere else. When the crystals are closely observed, the darkness here allows individual points of light to be made out. These points of light reflect the constellations of the night sky.


*Anvil comments
Anvil realises that one of the constellations represents Chronepsis, the Draconic God of Fate, and so the group all pray to this mysterious deity before proceeding.


5. The Crystal Sanctum

As you reach the bottom of the stairs you can see several features, the first and closest to the bottom of the stairs is a huge silver mirror. On the wall opposite to this stands a stone statue of a strange butterfly-winged centaur by a still pool, a look of shock in its eyes as it seems to be flinching away from the stairs you have just descended. As you look closer the statue has been broken, a large hole in its chest seems to correspond with the location of its heart. And finally on the far side of the cavern is a raised dais, floating several inches above this dais is a huge crystal, some 5 feet high, it emits a dull silvery radiance that only seems to extend a few feet from the crystal itself.

The Mirror Portal

This 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide silver mirror has an apparently flawless surface. It is framed by gold and silver ivy with various small creatures, such as butterflies, beetles and spiders, climbing through the dense leaves.

The Scrying Pool

This perfectly still and clear pool is constructed from a deep green crystal, etched around its rim are arcane runes and sigils, all in Sylvan, that seem to dance and move as you try to read them.

The Glowing Crystal

Floating a foot about the dais that holds it and standing 5 feet high itself, this crystal emits a dim silvery light which seems to ebb and flow from deep within. The dais upon which it rests is 3 steps high and 10 feet in diameter, it is made from the same green crystal as the pool and upon its surface is carved a huge symbol, that of Balinor.

As the Crimson Fist enter the room a voice sounds in their heads. They have finally found Palomino !
Palomino hears the reason the Crimson Fist have travelled this long and dangerous road but explains in his current state there is nothing he can do to help them. Naturally the group ask if there is any way they can help him and he explains that after he was defeated in ages past and his heart torn out, it was taken and hidden by the MYCONIDS, loyal servants of his who dwell in the tower. It is quickly figured out that the Myconid's are behind the double doors on the Autumn level, the only area of the tower the Crimson Fists haven't explored.
When it is wondered if the child can survive while the group recover Palomino's heart, he suggest they place the child in the pool as apparently it is embued with the properties of his realm and no time will pass for the child while he is in it. With some trepadation the child is placed in the pool but he slips quietly into its waters and floats gently to the bottom where he rests peacefully.
The Crimson Fists inquire if there is some token that they could carry to convince the Myconids they are acting with Palomino's authority. He informs them there is a seal at the bottom of the pool which will do exactly that. It is quickly recovered.