Adventurers

Character	Race	Class	Description
Tikatu	Human	Druid level 4	A dirty little man with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Kho Rimbo	Human	Magic-user level 3	A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic.
Kenso San	Human	Fighter level 3	An arrogant and self-assured sellsword wandering Wilderlands to prove he can best anyone.
Heinrik	Human	Magic-user level 1	Muscular mage with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
Sieghart Totschinder	Human	Fighter level 1	Soldier of fortune hailing from the City-State of the Invincible Overlord. Impoverished into desperation.
Nifft	Human	Thief level 1	A spendthrifty drifter, mutt, and vagrant. Lanky, tall, dark eyed and dark haired, with perennial little smirk matching his bent nose.

Harvestime 1st, Airday

There it was, a dilapidated ruin of once impressive fortification. Four towers and one gatehouse, now broken and moss-covered. Castle Yukanthur, the final have of the wizard it has been named after. The castle rested on the north-west slope of the Midnight Goddess Hills, overlooking a marshy area to the north.

Heinrik led the adventurers here after he had learned about the location from Old Crus, a venerable Wizard whom had come to favour the young muscle-bound magic-user. Centuries ago Crus was an adventurer too. He offered Heinrik a map leading to an old site he never got to visit—Castle Yukanthur—in return for the right to pick some of the magical treasure adventurers might recover.

Tikatu and Kho Rimbo joined Heinrik on this expedition. They hired three more adventurers who had just arrived to the backwater village known as Ironburg. Kenso San, a warrior from Kingdom of Karak, Sieghart Totschinder, a mercenary from City-State of the Invincible Overlord, and Nifft, a smirking apprentice from who knows where.

Adventurers approached the ruin from south, meaning they came from above. Castle Yukanthur was on a slightly elevated area. Walls were clearly damaged by siege equipment as well as magical artillery. There were numerous cracks, in essence making it possible to enter from whichever side.

Surveying the surroundings revealed a cave mouth of the east side, roughly twenty feet below the castle ruin. Natural tunnel was blocked by a large boulder, which was obviously jammed in. Adventurers decided it'd be best to ignore it for now.

Well to the north-west was slightly more interesting. Completely overgrown, and forty feet below the ruins, it was difficult to spot it among the trees and overgrowth. Insides were overgrown with lichen and slippery moss. Nifft descended a hundred feet—that was as much rope as they had—without reaching the bottom. He could hear running water beneath.

Finally, the party had gathered sufficient courage to approach the ruins themselves. North side suffered more devastation than other sides of the castle. Towers were almost entirely destroyed. Second level was nothing but rubble. Adventurers snuck in through the ruined north-west tower.

Then Nifft climbed on the second level, and threw down the rope to others. Upper level, or rather, what was left of it, was nothing but rubble. Any valuables that might have been here have been plundered decades ago. The only notable thing was a rusted ballista on top of the south-west tower. South-east tower led them down, back to the ground level, and into the gatehouse.

We shall not go into details of adventurers taking half an hour to break open a single, bloated, but stuck doors. Gatehouse was filled with rubble, but everything was obviously arranged into neat piles. There were spent torches in one corners, as well as bent shovels and pickaxes. Doors leading to south-west tower were ajar.

Peeking in revealed that this tower had spiral staircase leading down. Rubble was cleaned, making it possible to access the aforementioned stairs. Moreover, someone constructed an archway out of the rubble, reinforcing the staircase access. Adventurers grinned, clapped their hands, formed a marching order, and descended.

It was a long descent, going round and round, until they finally reached a landing turning right, a then leading them further down in a straight line. They could see a stone statue of a warrior just at the edge of their bullseye lantern light. It looked chipped and damaged.

Kenso approached first. Mouth formed above the statue.

“Who dare enter the castle of Yukanthur?!” it uttered loudly and vanished.

Adventurers descended. Statue remained quiet. The corridor turned left, fifty feet straight, and then left again, into dead end. Surprised by this, everyone spread out to seek secret doors.

Suddenly a hail of arrows came from the south wall. Kho Rimbo slumped to the ground, four arrows sticking from him. Heinrik dropped like a sack of rocks, with two arrows jutting out as antennae from him.

Adventurers were now confused. South wall looked just like wall. There was no obvious trap or holes, nor slits. Kenso yelled banzai and charged straight at the well. He stepped right through and into a chamber some twenty by thirty feet. He ran straight into a group of six horned bipedal dogs holding shortbows.

Kenso swung his sword.

Three kobold heads fell down to the ground.

Nifft, also wounded by arrows, crawled back to safety, behind almighty Sieghart. Tikatu and Sieghart joined Kenso. Remaining three kobolds were promptly slain, but not before one of them managed to cut the Karakan swordsman quite deep.

Nifft and Tikatu checked in on the downed magic-users, while Sieghart and Kenso explored the corridor going south. It led to a junction which split west towards doors and south to another bend east.

Both Kho Rimbo and Heinrik survived their ordeal, but were now in quite bad shape. Both refused to abandon the expedition, and opted to follow the party in the background. Party bunched up at the junction, with few of the fighters investigating the closed doors.

Doors opened, and a gang of six kobolds unleashed a volley of arrows. Kho Rimbo added one more arrows to those already lodged in him. He went down, hard. Tikatu was hit with two arrows, and Kenso was hit by one arrow.

Sieghart and Kenso barreled into the chamber, slaying three kobolds. Sieghart put aside his one-handed warhammer, and took out his might morningstar. Then he proceeded to completely crush the kobold leader barking orders. Little beastman died with a yelp. It was turned into nothing but goo. Kenso killed others.

Heinrik limped in, dagger in each hand. He was promptly gutted by a kobold hiding behind the doors. Small beastman drove its shortwsord deep into the belly of muscled medium. Alas, no amount of abs could stop pointy steel.

Adventurers killed all the surviving kobolds.

The chamber they fought in had three entrances: door to the east they came from, and two doors to the west, both closed. Room itself was some thirty by forty feet. A dozen or so filthy piles of straw were on the ground. There were also six rats-on-sticks, as well as stomped out fire.

Nifft was quick to spot a shoddy looking wooden chest with an iron padlock. He tried to pick the lock, but failed miserably. Red from shame, he searched the leaders corpse. Lo and behold, he found an iron key around its neck. He went back to the chest, and pretended to pick the lock, while in reality he used the key.

The chest held two hundred and fifty two copper pieces, ninety eight silver pieces, and fifteen electrum pieces.

Surprisingly, Heinrik and Kho Rimbo were both still alive. Although both were now crawling, whimpering messes, who needed help to move at all. Those still standing checked around the corner, then picked up two magic-users, and returned to Ironburg. It would take them a season to fully recover before they could adventure again.

Kho Rimbo became worried sick that all the friends he made in Ironburg could now cost him his head. He begged Tikatu to take him to his thorn hovel in the nature.

Adventurers now know about multiple promising locations ripe for plundering. Which one will they visit next? And will it be as spectacular as this delve?

Meme by Jan.

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Adventurers

Character	Race	Class	Description
Tikatu	Human	Druid level 3	A dirty little man with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Amari	Human	Ranger level 2	Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator.
Kho Rimbo	Human	Magic-user level 3	A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic.
Ambros	Human	Cleric level 6	Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time.
Ignaeus	Elf	Fighter level 4 / magic-user level 5	A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge.
Foxglove	Human	Thief level 6	A willowy human, long hair ties in a pony tail, looks a bit dangerous and dainty at the same time.

Thistleburn 5th, Earthday

The party of six, plus porter Irial, had found the cave Old Crus had pointed them to few days ago. Kho Rimbo begged the old wizard to tell him of any dungeon or lair worth plundering. He endured insults, and in return was rewarded with a scribble illustrating a path to a cave system inhabited by former slaves and servants of the vampire lord that Old Crus had driven out.

It was late morning when the party descended into the cave. First chamber they encountered reeked of body odour. Six pig-faced orcs were resting in their filthy bedrolls.

“Surrender in the name of Law and we might spare you!” Ambros thundered.

A prolonged, wet fart was the reply he received.

Dissatisfied, the adventurers had killed them all. Ambros smashed two, Ignaeus hacked two, while Amari and Foxglove each stabbed one to death. The chamber was some a natural cave of some thirty by forty feet. There was a tunnel on each side. Leather curtains served as sort of doors to the south and west.

“Look, chests...”

Indeed, lazy orcs had three broken chests. They contained a total of four thousand and ninety three copper pieces, as well as eight hundred and one electrum pieces. Adventurers took the latter, but left the former.

Peeking through the south curtain revealed the tunnel thirty feet long terminating in a t-shaped junction. Peeking through the west curtain revealed a phalanx of eighteen kobolds ready to fight.

Adventurers stepped through the curtain with confidence of Lords. Then they proceeded to butcher the pesky critters, crushing their morale. Survivors scattered, fleeing for their lives.

The kidney shaped cave had three exits, all curtained. Party came through the central one on the east side. There was another on the north-east side, and one on the far west side. Adventurers pursued the west exit, which led them to a winding a tunnel, which in turn led them to two cultists inhaling some sort of smoke.

Approaching them did not help too much. The cave the hooded figures were meditating in was roughly circular. A dugout firepit in the center burned and cackled. Figures were men-like, or at least their tattoo-covered faces indicated so. Four dead kobolds close to them.

Communication attempts were rebuffed.

“We are far too busy to waste time on the likes of YOU!”

At that moment the party was surprised from behind by a pack of gnolls and kobolds. Although outnumbered, the adventurers used the narrow tunnel to their advantage. They slowly hacked beastmen to death. But the war of attrition was not going to their advantage.

Ignaeus made the call to cast Sleep. He knocked out all the remaining beastmen. He also put to sleep Tikatu, Amari, and Irial. Victorious, the adventurers plundered the corpses, recovering a total of three hundred and seven silvers pieces, and five hundred and eighty-eight gold pieces.

Leaving behind the rude cultists, adventurers backtracked to the kidney-shaped cave. From there there went north-east, traversing another curving tunnel. This led them to a largish, foul smelling chamber. Size of straw mats suggested this might have been the gnoll's chamber.

Curtain to the west led to a long tunnel stretching from south to north. The further south it went, the narrow it got. North direction passed by another tunnel—smelling of bear faeces—eventually ending with an elongated cave.

Exploring it was rewarded with spiders surprising the adventurers from above. Amari the Ranger had proven her worth in this encounter. She had slain two of the large spiders herself, while Ambros crushed the last one. Tikatu somehow survived.

Foxglove found a desiccated corpse with intact leather belt. Upon the belt were two coin pouches, holding a total of two hundred and fifty seven platinum pieces.

Opting to avoid going down the tunnel smelling like bear shit, the party followed the tunnel leading out of the spider cave. They eventually reached a junction splitting left and right. They turned right and confidently marched straight into the owlbear. In its lair.

The owlbear was thoroughly displeased with such display of disrespect. It promptly barreled into Ignaeus and Ambros. The duo deflected and dodged the onslaught.

“RAAAAAAAAH!!!”

Tiny roars echoed from behind them as a small army of kobolds wearing little pointy green hats charged from around the corner.

Kho Rimbo spoke in languages and summoned a large python made of smoke. It hissed and bit at the pathetic critters, sending them crying back to wherever they came from.

After getting bear-slapped, Ignaeus fell back from the front line. The Ambros nearly got beaked in half. Elf cast Mirror Image and then rejoined the fray. Although outnumbered, owlbear fought ferociously, clawing and beaking whomever dared to attack it.

It was momentarily confused when it hugged Ignaeus, and the elf just disappeared in a puff of smoke. Foxglove the Wise attempted to exploit the moment, and deliver backstab to the creature. The animal sensed him.

The thief was struck by one claw, almost severing his hand. Then he was struck by the second claw, tearing his chest to shreds. And, as if that hadn't been enough, the owlbear bellowed and then bit into his side.

Foxglove was dragged to the back.

Bleeding profusely from its many wounds, the beast roared and charged Ignaeus in its last moment of defiance.

“Poof!”

Mirror image disappeared with a poof of smoke. Real Ignaeus capitalised on the opportunity by driving his broadsword into the creature's maw. He twisted it, jerked upwards, and then jumped back as the creature slumped, dead.

Ransacking its lair revealed a bone case with Protection from Undead scroll. From then on the adventurers rolled through rest of the cave system, indiscriminately slaying everyone and everything they encountered.

There are two happenings worth mentioning.

First was greedy Tikatu pouring himself some pomegranate juice from yellow chalices. As he did so he felt increasingly heavy. Others observed in horror as the pygmy bubbled and inflated by the second, until the transformed into deformed, obese blob. Ambros sighed and rescued him with Remove Curse spell. Second was recovery of a small, metallic, boxy hand-sized object from a stiff corpse of man dressed in red shirt and tight black pants of unfamiliar textile.

Loaded with treasure, the adventurers returned to Ironburg.

Ironburg, where miners refused to work.

Ironburg, where Rall Kyle was drinking himself into lunacy.

Ironburg, where Kho Rimbo lied to be the Eyes of Wizard-King Klekess Racoba.

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Adventurers

Character	Race	Class	Description
Thorm	Dwarf	Fighter level 4 / thief level 5	Ashen hair, beard, and eyes. Left his own clan due to financial trouble.
Ambros	Human	Cleric level 6	Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time.
Ignaeus	Elf	Fighter level 4 / magic-user level 5	A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge.
Foxglove	Human	Thief level 6	A willowy human, long hair ties in a pony tail, looks a bit dangerous and dainty at the same time.
Tikatu	Human	Druid level 3	A dirty little man with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Amari	Human	Ranger level 1	Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator.
Kho Rimbo	Human	Magic-user level 3	A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic.

Sunstrong 15th, Spiritday

Adventurers roamed around the eight-sided chamber tilled with alternating obsidian and redstone slabs. An altar carved of black marble dominated the south side of the chamber. Subtle runes adorned its smooth surface.

Chamber had three egress points—doors to the north and west, and tunnel to the east. It was from the latter that the party had arrived from, crawling over damp, loose soil. Ignaeus and Thorm forced the west doors open.

A ten by ten chamber, nay an alcove, filled with damp soil. Loose ground was almost the same as the one in the tunnel to the east. Ignaeus stepped forth and vanished. Ambros exhaled and followed.

Other adventurers followed as well. Even Hazard, their torchboy, followed. Courage or cowardice? Either way, eight of them in total found themselves in a twenty by twenty chamber with low ceiling.

They stood on damp, loose soil. Walls and ceiling were bereft of anything interesting. Everything was completely featureless. A single alcove housing a blackened skull was the only noticeable thing.

Ignaeus investigated the alcove and skull while others sought secret passageways and openings. Ambros, standing in the center, holding his Gold Gavel of Justice, observed how everyone sank a bit into the ground. All the commotion had moved the soil.

Minutes turned into turns as adventurers desperately tried to figure out how to escape their predicament. Foxglove remembered a lyre he had recovered from the hands of a dead man earlier today. He took it out and played a discordant tune.

Skull flashed with emerald green light. Its eyes sparked green as the lyre played. Music turned into words, whispered effortlessly. Each person heard the words speak in their native tongue.

“Your presence here constitutes your agreement to the Tests. Choose your measure: Test by Strife, or Test by Wit?”

“Wit!”

“Hey, wit hasn't served us well so far!”

But it was too late, for the lyre sang its next tune.

“Answer me this and free you shall be.

Think well, for the wrong answer means you remain here with me.

A tormented soul sought to escape the House of Pain but was not privy to the password.

The spirit observed a few other souls who managed to escape.

When the first soul knocked to be let out, the door-wight hissed “twelve,” the soul answered, “six.”

When the second soul knocked, the door-wight spit, “six,” the soul answered, “three.”

The tormented soul saw a pattern, so it approached the exit and knocked to be let out.

The door-wight coughed, “ten,” the poor soul answered, “five.”

It was unable to escape the House of Pain.

Why?”

Adventurers sat in silence for the first half an hour.

They were stupefied.

Some of them were cursing algebra.

But they did not allow desperation to take them over.

They ruminated.

They calculated.

They discussed.

And then Foxglove got it.

And then they discussed how to answer.

For presenting the answer in the wrong way might mean certain doom.

And Foxglove played the lyre and spoke thus:

“Three. The word six has three letters in it.”

And flashed as tune screamed BAH!

Soil vomited a leather bag.

Adventures looked at it cautiously.

And then they found themselves stuffed in a ten by ten chamber.

They jumped out with further delay and slammed the doors shut.

Alive and kicking, they kicked down north doors, marched through long corridor with damaged statues, and reach the terminus with doors on west, north, and east walls.

Heading east led them to dead end with foul monster that fled Ambros's divinity—a spider-like abomination capable of turning incorporeal. Chief Justice turned it once again. Brave adventurers boxed it in, preventing it to escape.

Thorm, wielding a magical blade, cut it down. That did take some time though. Tikatu, courageous pygmy and door blocker, was bitten several times. Hellish insect pumped him full with venom. But little pygmy did not give in and crawled to safety.

Thorm cut off the creature's appendages and finished it by thrusting the sword through its deformed elven head. Kho Rimbo orchestrated butchering that followed. He was fully intent of bringing as much of this creature as possible to his Master, Old Crus.

“Come on, lets not go out just yet. We are all healthy and strong. Let's check just one more room!”

Thorm the Adventurer convinced others to push on.

Lords of Luck reward guts with glory.

Adventurers moved through two chambers to the west. Then they followed the corridor south, into a wider corridor. Peeking down the open archway revealed little except that there was a rather long passageway ahead of them. Two opening emanated sickly green light, now quite familiar to the party.

“Let's check those doors we passed.”

Forcing them open revealed an empty chambers, some twenty by thirty feet. South doors were hanging ajar. Adventurers approached, with Thorm at the lead.

His keen senses kicked in, and he saw shadows moving. He jumped to his right, barely dodging the exploding doors. Large, seven feet tall, featherless bipedal monstrosity with large sharp claws, and massive axe-like beak towered over the dwarf.

Ignaeus and Thorm wounded the animal. Elf wounded it once more, and then attacked with the flat side of the blade. He successfully subdued the creature—hoping that alive specimen would impress Crus. Then Thorm killed it by accident.

Another, even larger, animal jumped out of the chamber. This time Amari contributed too. But it was yet again Thorm whom had killed the beast. He slashed across, and then vertically, cutting its head in two neat halves.

Investigating the chamber revealed animals' nest with thirty five gold pieces, one hundred and thirty one silver pieces, four sealed crystal vials with thick copper brown liquid, and one bone ring.

Thorm put on the ring.

Kho Rimbo once again orchestrated the butchering. Packing various monster parts took some time, but was done nonetheless.

“Now, let's head back to Ironburg!”

Sunstrong 17th, Waterday

Adventurers arrived into the miners' thorp on the evening of Sunstrong 17th. There were less men than usual. Hog's Head Inn was empty. Ambros and Ignaeus looked at each other wearily.

Kho Rimbo was too consumed with his geas to care. He took all the rotting monster parts and carried them off to Old Crus, some half an hour of hiking from the thorp. Amari accompanied him.

This time they did not have to wait long for Old Crus to open the doors. Not because he got any faster, but because his current student, Heinrik, opened them. Conversation was as slow and as miserly as usual.

Kho Rimbo boasted and boasted. Old Crus was very unimpressed. But he appreciated the monster parts greatly. At least the arachnid ones. Bird he did not care about—they are not Woelands natives, and therefore are of no interest to him.

“Am I free of the geas now?”

“What geas?”

“The geas you had put on me?”

“There was never any geas? That was all you?”

Kho Rimbo stood there, mute and dumbfound.

“Will... will you teach me other spells as we agreed?”

“Yes, of course. But you can always get more more monster parts if you wish.”

While Kho Rimbo was doing his thing with Old Crus, Ambros, Ignaeus, Foxglove, and Thorm were learning what was wrong in Ironburg.

Stroud Granger, the innkeeper, stammered:

“I-I-I would n-not like to insult you. B-but it all started with y-your friend Kho Rimbo. After he left Lord Kyle had miners rounded up. Then he ordered three of them to be brutally flogged.”

He gulped audibly before continuing:

“Including Darvin the Foreman, who is most outspoken about miserable work conditions. Following that, the miners have holed up in the mines and are boycotting further work. They refuse to return to Ironburg until the drunk tyrant has been removed.”

He sobbed audibly:

“There is no one drinking anymore. No one eating. You are my only customers. My best customers! Will you please stay here!”

Ambros leaned back in his chair. Gold Gavel of Justice was in his hands. “Kho. Rimbo. Kho. Rimbo.” he uttered, gazing into the distance.

How will adventurers help now? Should they even help?

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This was an impromptu session with my brother, father, and partner. Try to guess who played which character.

Adventurers

Character	Race	Class	Description
Dita Afrodita	Human	Cleric level 1	Lover of everything intellectual.
Holy Biggus Dongus I	Human	Cleric level 1	Worshiper of the Dong.
Holy Biggus Dongus II	Human	Fighter level 1	Also worshiper of the Dong.
Bobby I	Human	Fighter level 1	A fighter.
Bobby II	Human	Magic-User level 1	Thrown out of the academy due to his immense wisdom. Relative of Bobby I.
Bobby III	Human	Magic-User level 1	Thrown out of the academy due to his massive bulk. Friend of Bobby II.

Summer of year 4435 according to the Balozkinar’s Corrected Commoners’ Calendar

“Screw this, let's go drinking in the village.”

Three adventurers—cleric Dita Afrodita, cleric Holy Biggus Dongus, and magic-user Bobby—immediately abandoned dungeon in front of them, judging the place to be too dangerous.

Therefore they headed back to Ahyf, a fishing village overlooking the Winedark sea. There they partied and wasted their coin for days.

Dita entertained the villagers, Bobby was telling everyone what is real and what is not, and Biggus Dongus was asking around for other places of interest.

Wise Bobby collected pine cones and filled them with resin. Then he asked Dita to bless them. These, he was sure, would be perfect firebombs.

Weighing their options, the trio decided to return to the dungeon overlooking the sea. It sounded way better than going up the Ghinarian Hills swarming with cannibal barbarians flaying passerbys.

The dungeon was in fact an old fort carved into the side of the cliff. A narrow ledge, barely sufficient for one person, led to the entrance, an opening in the cave. The tunnel then led to a bridge over the river spilling into the sea, which connected the tunnel with the stone dock.

Stone platform stretched for some hundred yards. Stone wall was to the right, while three lower platforms were to the left. Rubble and debris covered the pathway.

Adventurers could see three ancient rowboats attached to each of the three piers. Visually inspecting them confirmed that all were in a rather poor shape. There was an interesting chest in the middle boat.

While the adventurers dreamt of treasure, half a dozen stirges surprised them from above. The fight was brutal. Monsters dive bombed with ferocity.

Dongus swatted one off Dita, opting to ignore the one sucking him dry.

“Forget the pine cones! Get them off me!” he yelled to Bobby. Alas, the magic-user was preoccupied with his “magical” cones. Another stirge rammed Dongus, driving its proboscis through his soft neck. The cleric was dead.

Dita crushed stirge after stirge. She also crushed Dongus's head, missing the monster on him. By the time she was finished there was no one and nothing breathing but her.

Overtaken by grief she left the dungeon, travelled to Ahyf, and then travelled to Hara. She hoped to gain audience with the Great Wizard-King Klekless Racoba, so she could ask him to bring her two friends back to life.

Alas, that did not go as she had hoped. So she recruited two new adventurers instead: Holy Biggus Dongus II and Bobby II. Together they travelled to Ahyf and prepared for the dungeon expedition.

They spent weeks following Bobby's plan to create three resin filled strawmen. Bobby II argued that burning them would surely keep the stirges away.

Dungeon was where they left it. Corpses were gone. Adventurers left a strawman on each pier. Then they focused on the pier with rowboat that housed a single chest.

Dongus II was smart. Instead of going into rotten boat he threw the rope around the chest and pulled it out. Boat creaked as it snapped and capsized, and eventually sunk.

Opening the chest revealed a thousand or so silver pieces, a silver necklace, and a dagger with pale bluish glow.

The party discussed what to do next for so long that they were surprised by four lizardmen jumping out of the water. Two jumped at the far side of the pier, while other two jumped out quite close to Dongus II and Dita.

Bobby II was promptly driven down and stabbed to death. Dita and Dongus smashed their opposition, cutting them down and crushing their limbs. They collected the treasure and left for Ahyf.

Back in the village they recruited Bobby III, another magic-user. This one was a fan of Magic Missile. No pine cone nor resin fetish.

Dita led the refreshed party back to the dungeon. This time they ignored the piers and explored rest of the dock.

At the far end was a twenty feet wide gate with rusty portcullis. Iron grates were rusted, locking the portcullis hanging some three feet off the ground.

In the center of the dock was another portal, albeit with no obvious gates. It was more like a twenty feet wide and tall alcove with flame motifs. Bobby III carried one of the strawmen into the alcove and then set it on fire. Nothing happened. Except smoke.

The trio reconvened by the rusted portcullis.

A large domed hall sprawled beyond the gates. A spiral of mystic runes and scrawls dominated the floor. Three corpses laid on the floor, their garments rotted beyond recognition.

Bobby III cast his single Magic Missile at one of the corpses. It turned over from the force, but otherwise remained dormant.

Dongus II the cowboy lassoed the corpses closest to him and then dragged it towards the portcullis. Corpse twitched and rose. Veteran pulled on the rope, pinning the undead to the iron grates. Dita and Bobby III quickly dispatched of the corpse by smashing and stabbing it.

Dongus repeated the process on the second corpse. Adventurers' tactic worked brilliantly once again. Third corpse was a different story. This one was powerful enough to pull itself free from the mighty thews of Holy Biggus Dongus II. It ducked under the grates, and lunged in savage assault.

Dita blocked, but was clawed. She found it difficult to move, and was soon entirely immobile. Dongus did not fare much better. It was Bobby III and his glowing dagger that saved the day. He drove it into the neck of vile undead. Then he touched his paralysed allies with magic dagger, silver necklace, and other items from the backpack. Nothing got them to move. So he dragged both to the dungeon entrance.

An hour or so later both Dita and Dongus regained control of their bodies. Adventurers called it a day and returned to Ahyf.

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Adventurers

Character	Race	Class	Description
Thorm	Dwarf	Fighter level 4 / thief level 5	Ashen hair, beard, and eyes. Left his own clan due to financial trouble.
Ambros	Human	Cleric level 6	Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time.
Ignaeus	Elf	Fighter level 4 / magic-user level 5	A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge.
Foxglove	Human	Thief level 6	A willowy human, long hair ties in a pony tail, looks a bit dangerous and dainty at the same time.
Tikatu	Human	Druid level 3	A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Amari	Human	Ranger level 1	Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator.
Kho Rimbo	Human	Magic-user level 3	A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic.

Sunstrong 13th, Earthday

“What do you mean?”

Rall Kyle, a minor noble in charge of Ironburg, squirmed in his chair. Just minutes ago he was yelling at one of his servants for not letting in Kho Rimbo sooner. But now he was growing suspicious.

“I was waiting for you to hear about latest news. How could I inform you? Is this... is this another test?”

Rall squinted at Kho Rimbo quizzically. Foxglove and Thorm sat in silence. They were in Rall's house, a two-story building with six rooms, situated some twenty minutes east of the village.

Kho Rimbo acted before Rall had time to think.

“That's about right! You are always being tested! RAKOBA HAS HIS EYES EVERYWHERE! I AM HIS EYES! HE KNOWS ALL! NOW, SPILL YOUR GUTS!”

Rall Kyle began sweating profusely. Adventurers' intimidating ruse worked.

He stammered and stuttered, trying to explain how he did his part of the bargain, but mining is getting harder and harder. Miners are lazy and incompetent and always ask for rest and wages. He was hoping that orc miners Racoba had promised would arrive any day now.

“D-D-Darvin. He is the foreman. He is guilty for the delay!”

“Fix this! I will be watching! Wizard-King Racoba will be watching!”

Satisfied with what they have learned, the adventurers left Rall to marinate in fear and anxiety while they headed back to Ironburg. There they decided that it would be most opportune to work on Kho Rimbo's geas—which the conjurer accept in exchange for tutelage by Old Crus, and experienced wizard. All he had to was bring some monster parts from Woelands.

Ignaeus and Ambros knew the closest entrance into the Wilderlands' underbelly—the stone circle atop the Midnight Goddess Hills. A party of seven adventurers and one porter—young Hazard—set out for the hills.

Sunstrong 15th, Spiritday

Sun was brutal. Heat was immense. Adventurers did not care, for they marched on. They reached their destination around noon. Descending down long, spiral stairs, worn by time, chilled everyone down.

This dungeon was familiar to Ignaeus, Foxglove, and Ambros, whom had been here several seasons ago. This was the place where Tagoler of the Castle of the Wode lost a patrol of rangers. A place where abominable spider-men walk about. A place where abyssal monstrosities weave pale green webs that paralyse men, and melt flesh.

Entry chamber was filled with azure blue haze, preventing anyone from seeing further than their own palm. The elf remembered all the traps and thus warned others accordingly. It took adventurers two hours to navigate this humble chamber and figure out how to open doors with a pit trap in front of them. But they succeeded.

Once they were in the long, dark corridor, they opted to head east for some hundred feet. The corridor bent south and then west. They stopped to inspect broken doors through which pale green light emanated. Empty.

Moving on, the party followed the bending corridor, until they reached a sixty feet long stretch with three doors on the west side. Behind first doors was an empty room. Behind second doors was a room with tattered greenish webs. Third doors revealed a chamber filled with intact webs pulsating with sickly green hue.

Thorm took a peek, pushing in the arm he was holding the torch with. A disgusting spider-like monstrosity surprised him from above, but failed to bite him. The dwarf slammed the doors shut. Adventurers spent some time planning how to overcome this threat. Military oil was the solution everyone agreed upon.

One of the adventurers pulled the doors wide open. Thorm chucked in a flask of burning military oil. It splashed on strings of web. Amari, followed by few others, charged in from the adjoining room, the one that was behind second doors, only to be assaulted from above by the same monstrosity that tried to impregnate Thorm.

She got bit, and felt getting weaker by the round. Tikatu soon suffered the same fate. Adventurers were unable to strike the abomination for every time their weapon was about to connect the monster would simply become immaterial.

“Begone!” Ambros thundered, holding up his Golden Gavel of Justice. Abyssal spider-like creature hissed and fled through the webs. Carefully following, adventurers moved slowly through the webs, making sure they do not accidentally touch them.

There was an opening on the south side, an alcove, leading into three feet tall crawlspace. Ground was covered by damp soil. Foxglove and Ambros got down on all four and went it. The former spotted something glowing in the soil, some fifteen feet westwards.

Coming closer, the thief could see this was a hand harp of sorts. He tried to gently pull on it. As his reward two rotten arms burst from the loose soil and grabbed him around the neck, choking him. Luckily, Ambros was right next to him. The arms disintegrated into dust as soon as the cleric began chanting the holy words.

Foxglove played with the harp a bit, but produced nothing but disturbing and discordant tunes. He tucked it into his backpack and continue crawling forward, into an octagonal chamber.

This eight-sided chamber was tilled with alternating obsidian and redstone slabs. Slanted ceiling rose from north to south, from eight feet around the walls to reaching twenty feet high on the south side. Beneath the highest point an altar carved of black marble sat, with subtle runes carved upon its smooth surface.

Adventurers spread out to investigate the chamber and altar.

What will they learn? And will Kho Rimbo find something to bring back to Old Crus? Or will he disappoint him once more?

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Adventurers

Character	Race	Class	Description
Heinrik	Human	Magic-user level 1	Muscular mage with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
Ambros	Human	Cleric level 6	Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time.
Ignaeus	Elf	Fighter level 5 / magic-user level 4	A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge.
Foxglove	Human	Thief level 6	A willowy human, long hair ties in a pony tail, looks a bit dangerous and dainty at the same time.
Tikatu	Human	Druid level 3	A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Amari	Human	Ranger level 1	Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator.
Kho Rimbo	Human	Magic-user level 3	A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic.

Sunstrong 5th, Spiritday

Sun beat down on Ghinarian Hills with no mercy. Not a trace of clouds to offer some shade or protection. Seven adventurers—Alaric, Ambros, Andvar, Heinrik, Ignaeus, Seren, and Tikatu—spent a week hiding away in a smelly ogre lair they had cleaned up.

During that time Alaric and Seren scouted Midway, confirming that it too was conquered by Racoba's forces. Tikatu was still recoiling from his wounds. A decision was made. The party would travel close to Ahyf. Then all but Heinrik would find a spot by the coast to hide.

Heinrik would go alone, with nothing but staff and few well hidden gold pieces, to the village, check in on Amari, Somniel, and Mepheus, and finally, hire a sailing ship to take them to Ironburg.

That was the plan.

Here is how it went.

Enroute to the village Heinrik was stopped by a dozen brigands. They were cheerful and offered him to “escort” him to Ahyf in exchange for some coin. Heinrik was delighted to pay them seven gold pieces. They indeed delivered on their promise, which was easy since the village was literally within sight, less than half an hour of walking away.

Magic-User had no problem with the guards at the entrance. “We already took care of him!” patrol leader winked to the guards. The latter just waved them away, cart half-full of weapons and trinkets behind them.

After confirming that Mepheus, Somniel, and Amari were fine, he negotiated with three fishermen with sizeable coaster to take him to Ironburg, forty leagues upriver. He agreed to pay them thirty gold pieces if they set out tomorrow morning.

Sunstrong 6th, Airday

Amari, now fully recovered, and Mepheus, joined Heinrik on the boat. They set out before dawn, rowing along the coast to pick up Ambros, Ignaeus, and Seren whom were hiding an hour or so away from Ahyf.

Then they sailed west, to the confluence of mighty rivers Cedarwade and Farhills. These are wide rivers, and clear day provided good visibility. Thus, they sailed north, towards Ironburg.

As they approached Hara they could see a man waving a flag at them, pointing to the harbour.

“What shall we do?” asked the fisherman “They want us to enter.”

“Just sail around them. As close to the east bank as possible.” instructed Ambros.

The coaster was soon peppered with arrows, kill two out of the three fishermen. The surviving one cursed the adventurers all the way to Ironburg. Navigating a coast with one third of the crew was an insane undertaking, but through sheer luck they made it in one piece.

“Where will I find seamen in this godforsaken place?!” the fisherman lamented as he wiped away the tears with a purse filled with gold pieces.

Ambros went straight to the Hog's Head Inn and rented out all the rooms. This will be the adventurers base of operations for the time being. Or,at least, so they planned.

Sunstrong 7th, Waterday

Adventurers caught up with Kho Rimbo, Foxglove, and Thorm, whom were each on their own mission in Ironburg for some time now.

“Heinrik, I am telling you, you need to meet Old Crus. He is old and slow, but great mentor. Amazing library too!”

Heinrik had lost his spellbook, and he wanted to write himself a new one. But that was nigh impossible without source material and appropriate supplies. Prospect of Old Crus sounded great.

And so, whilst others shopped and explored the hamlet, Kho Rimbo, Heinrik, and Ignaeus went to visit the Old Crus's tower.

As it goes, they had to wait nearly half an hour before the grumpy wizard opened the doors. He looked at Kho Rimbo. Then at Ignaeus. Then at Heinrik. Then at Kho Rimbo again. Then elf. Then muscle mage.

Kho Rimbo talked, but old Crus did not listen. Instead he asked:

“Am I Lysander?”

Kho Rimbo was dumbfound.

“Sorry, what?”

Old Crus leaned in and enunciated:

“Am-I-Lysander?”

“Sorry, I do not understand!”

Old Crus widened his eyes and spelled it out:

“A-m I L-y-s-a-n-d-e-r?”

Kho Rimbo cried out:

“I am sorry, is that a-”

Old Crus slammed the doors shut, almost hitting the scarred man in the face.

“Well, that went great.”

“I'll knock again!”

“What did you do to him to piss him off so much?” Heinrik inquired.

The doors swung open once more.

Kho Rimbo talked about Klekless Racoba, and how he is out to get all the wizards, and how he needs help so he can get monster parts from Woelands, and he begged and begged and begged until Old Crus relented.

Old wizard leaned on his gnarly staff and squinted at Heinrik, sizing him up. “Well, I never mentored an imbecile. I guess I could try it as a fun pastime.” He motioned the muscle mage to come in. Then he turned to Kho Rimbo, eyes of attack. “Enough groveling! Do you take me for a fool! You evaded and dodged your geas for long enough. This elf next to you knows how to enter Woelands! Do not come back empty handed!”

“No, really, Kho Rimbo, I must know what you did to the old man? Why does he hate you so much?” Heinrik whispered to Kho Rimbo as he entered Crus's tower.

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Adventurers

Character	Race	Class	Description
Deigos	Human	Thief level 3	Oily dark hair, slightly mustached, youthful expression, feels the call of revolution.
Alaric	Human	Paladin level 3	Big, doe eyed country boy with wavy blond hair and willingness to do the right thing. Paladin of Tyr.
Ambros	Human	Cleric level 6	Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time.
Ignaeus	Elf	Fighter level 5 / magic-user level 4	A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge.
Tikatu	Human	Druid level 3	A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Andvar	Dwarf	Fighter level 2 / thief level 2	A standout amongst dwarves with clean shaven chin and two large braids hangings from the sides. A scruffy looking redhead.

Warmshade 16th, Airday

Adventurers spent the day asking around in Ketche. They hadn't learned much, for this is a secluded fishing village which is rarely visited by civilised folk from Hara. Queen was nowhere to be seen, and Ambros did not feel compelled to follow her command anymore. Deigos, a thief full of dreams joined the party. Tikatu convinced a team of fishermen to transport them to Ahyf.

Warmshade 17th, Waterday

Adventurers sailed out of the Vigil Sound bay and towards Ahyf. The fishermen dropped them off some two leagues west of the village, per adventurers' request.

Seren and Tikatu found a nice wooded gully where the party could sequester to and rest. It was evening and adventurers decided it'd be best to stay out of Ahyf before less known adventurers scout it out. Tikatu and Deigos volunteered to do so.

They reached Ahyf in two hours of brisk walk.

“No weapons in Ahyf. King's orders.” They were stopped by three armed brigands. Nearby cart had a small pile of weapons in it. Duo gave up theirs. As they walked towards the village they could see brigands take Deigos's knife.

They quickly learned that a throng of brigands led by a man named Bandles marched into Ahyf just three days ago. Bandles seized control as the new Sheriff appointed by the Wizard-King Klekless Racoba. At that time a manacled man dressed in a wizardy robe, with a bruised face and scab-covered palms, was forced to read the proclamation:

“Peoples of Hara, rejoice! The reign of tyrannical Red Bitch has come to an end! His Regal Magnificence, Majestic Munificence, Wizard-King Racoba, has liberated Hara and all of its lands! A new era of prosperity is about to begin!

People of Ahyf, rejoice! You too shall enjoy protection from Hara, effective immediately! You shall fear no more! You shall suffer no more! You too shall prosper!

His Regal Magnificence, Majestic Munificence, Wizard-King Racoba, has great plans for Our Kingdom. Therefore, all men of talent, foresight, and gumption are invited to Hara and seek employment at the Court.

Gifted and loyal men will be greatly rewarded, for few are as generous as His Regal Magnificence, Majestic Munificence, Wizard-King Racoba!

What greater evidence of his generosity than Royal Pardons for Chief Crook Ambros, Incompetent Castellan Marlon, Selfish Mavis, and number of others who have actively worked against the wellbeing of peoples?!

Peoples of Hara, rejoice! People of Ahyf, rejoice!”

All Altanians residing in Ahyf were captured, enslaved, and sent to Hara. Bounties for Earani Cor, alive Altanian men, dead Altanian men, and dead Altanian women, were hammered by the docks and on the gates of Elders' house. They are 18 000 gold pieces, 20 gold pieces, 10 gold pieces, and 50 gold pieces respectively.

Tikatu and Deigos also learned that everyone residing at the Belching Vicar tavern and Swordsman's Citadel were kicked out so Sheriff's men can stay there. This was where their injured friends Somniel, Amari, and Drokh were recovering.

Camus, cleric of Thoth, and a friend of Ambros, took the injured adventurers in. They are currently resting at his temple, while Mepheus is helping the cleric with daily tasks. Two brigands charged Tikatu and Deigos an “entry donation.”

“Are you happy with this turn of events?” Tikatu asked the cleric.

“Tyrants come and go. People are forever.” the man shrugged.

The duo snuck out and sought shelter in one of the stables at the edge of the village. They met Ivan the Slow, who happily welcomed new friends. They slept in hay with few of the horses. Ivan was happy.

Warmshade 18th, Earthday

Deigos and Tikatu left with first rays of sun. That made Ivan sad, and he waved them away with a tear in his eye. People are rarely kind to Ivan, so these two made an impression on him.

“Can we have our weapons back now?”

“What weapons?”

Tikatu looked at the cart behind the brigands. His spear was on top of the pile.

“That weapon, right over there.”

“I don't remember taking any weapons away from you. Do you?” one brigand asked the other.

“No, I don't. You must be confused little man!”

“I rolled that spear between my ass cheeks. It is rolled in my shit.”

“Bugger off, or we will drive something up yer ass!”

Tikatu and Deigos sulked off.

“Next time hide that dagger of yours better.”

They reached the wooded gully in some two hours of walking. There the party discussed what to do next. Ambros would surely be recognised wherever he appears. They wondered where the Queen went and what is she up to. There were fierce discussions about loyalty. Finally, the adventurers decided to appropriate an ogres' lair midway between Midway and Ahyf, on the northern side of Ghinarian Hills.

Adventurers travelled through the woods, avoiding the trail, fearing they might run into one of Racoba's patrols. Deigos daydreamed about revolution that is to befall this usurper Racoba. His dreams were shattered as he was shredded to death by fourteen forearm-sized iron spikes.

Other adventurers looked in horror as four huge, lion-bodied monstrosities with grinning man-like faces, horns, dragon wings, and tails full of iron spikes hovered above them. Two of them descended on Deigos, slurping his remains. Other two gave chase to fleeing adventurers. Tikatu ran into some brambles and buried himself like a little shit-stained bunny he is.

Everybody fled in their own direction, panting and sprinting as fast as they could. They eventually lost sight of the pursing beasts. After catching a breath, they proceeded with their plan.

“Brigands can't be worse than these beasts! Let's follow the trail!”

Indeed, they reached the ogres' lair by evening. There they met a serious looking dwarf called Andvar. He was delighted to join this band of adventurers. What a good day it was to delve into a lair!

Ignaeus cast Mirror Image, and the party descended. They confirmed that all the chambers were still empty. Then they explored west side of the cave, where they found owlbear faeces last time. They rushed on, waking up one owlbear. The beast, although not taken by surprise, was savaged by Ignaeus and Andvar. The latter killed the monster by driving his spear right through the owlbear's skull.

Owlbears' nest was a domed natural cave. Animal and humanoid remains were neatly tucked in the southern portion of the cave. Searching them revealed silver anklet adorned with jade fragments and a copper chain necklace with topaz gem.

An assortment of soiled furs, rugs, and carpets, covered with several thousand copper pieces, dominated center of the cave. Area indicated that at least three owlbears could fit on it.

The party spent hours arguing what to do next. Ignaeus decided to walk back to the entrance and watch guard. This paid off, for he had seen an absolutely massive owlbear slumber into the tunnel. Elf ran back to the nest and informed others of the sighting. They covered their light sources and prepared an ambush.

Owlbear cried out in pain as it sniffed the smaller, dead of its kind. Adventurers flashed it by uncovering the light source. The beast barreled at them, and vicious fight broke out. Andvar hit the beast, while the beast savaged Ignaeus. Elf retreated out of combat to take a sip of healing juice.

Beast turned its attention to the little bunny. It clawed him brutally, and then almost snapped him in half with its powerful beak. Ambros hit the beast as it threw Tikatu to the other side of the cave. Ignaeus rejoined the fight, and struck true, only to be struck in return.

Ambros made himself a bigger target, allowing Ignaeus to flee once again. He was rewarded by two mighty slaps. Andvar used the opportunity to hop on the beast, grabbing its fur with his right hand. Once on top he held on with his legs, whilst holding the spear with both hands. Then he drove the spear down with all his might, penetrating the owlbear's left eye.

The beast roared, and tumbled over. It twitched thrice, and then exhaled its last breath. Ambros rushed over to check on Tikatu. He flipped the shredded pygmy over. Druid was still alive!

Tikatu watched Ambros in the eyes and uttered painfully:

“A few weeks ago we had a keep, a townhouse, and a pile of cash. Now we have a cave that smells of ogres armpits and owlbear shit. But it is our cave.”

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Adventurers

Character	Race	Class	Description
Heinrik	Human	Magic-User level 1	Muscular mage with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
Ambros	Human	Cleric level 6	Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time.
Ignaeus	Elf	Fighter level 5 / magic-user level 4	A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge.
Drokh	Human	Monk level 2	A tall, lean human monk with piercing eyes, weathered skin, and a warrior’s poise—calm and charismatic, he speaks with purpose and strikes with precision, wielding spear, bow, and blade.
Tikatu	Human	Druid level 3	A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Amari	Human	Ranger level 1	Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator.
Seren	Human	Ranger level 1	Beardless and blinkless ranger.
Alaric	Human	Paladin level 3	Big, doe eyed country boy with wavy blond hair and willingness to do the right thing. Paladin of Tyr.

Warmshade 8th, Earthday

After two days of panicked retreat from Ghinarian Hills, Ambros, Tikatu, Decarili, Heinrik, Seren, Drokh, and Amari reached Ahyf, a fishing village just north of the hills. There Somniel was recovering from his injuries, while Ignaeus and Mepheus were waiting for the adventurers. Decarili bid his farewell and left for Hara.

Messenger sent by Marlon informed Ambros of latest grim developments. Klekless Racobas and his army have conquered all the settlements surrounding Hara. Mounted scouts led by Jace discovered their advance and reported a force of approximately two hundred beastmen and three hundred brigands.

Racoba's split his vasthrong into five throngs and attacked from three directions. Marlon led a squadron of heavy horsemen in a preemptive attack alongside River Farhills. He successfully stopped two throngs approaching from the north-west, but lost a third of his squadron. He was also wounded in duel with Racoba's Chaos Champion.

“Marlon sent me to Ahyf to wait for your return and inform you about these developments. I left Hara as Racoba's vasthrong approached Hara.”

Ambros and adventurers spent a day planning and preparing for their return to Hara. They hired three fishermen to take them to Hara via river. This, they theorised, would allow them to move faster.

Warmshade 10th, Spiritday

Ambros, Ignaeus, Alaric, Seren, Heinrik, and Tikatu set out by boat with first rays of sun. They sailed from Ahyf until the reached an estuary where mighty rivers Farhills and Cedarwade converge and flow into the sea. Fishermen then dropped sail and began rowing upriver, towards Hara. It was a bright sunny day, hot and windless.

Around morning they could see a large dark cloud in the distance. It was obvious to Tikatu, a druid, that this was no natural phenomenon. Cloud was roughly above the area where Hara is. They reached Hara by evening.

Towers and walls were unmanned. A throng of beastmen—gnolls, orcs, hobgoblins, ogres—were pilling the dead outside the walls on little mounds. Bestmen and brigands argued and yelled, but no significant fighting transpired.

Nobody cared about a fishing boat rowing into Hara. Passing between two towers flanking the river bank and Queen's Isle, revealed a sad sight. Brigands in Hara were rounding up peasants and survivors in what once was the main square.

Most of Hara had burned down to the ground just weeks ago. There was little but walls and few foundations of stone buildings. A ten foot tall pile of armoured corpses was in front of Temple of Forseti. Arlon's severed head was on top of it.

Adventurers commanded the fishermen to take the boat around, and row to the east side of the river. There they disembarked and allowed fishermen to return to Ahyf.

Hara had fallen.

Warmshade 11th, Airday

Victor's drunken singing and debauchery kept the adventurers awake. In the morning Ambros communed with Forseti, asking him three questions.

“Is the Queen still alive and free?”

“Yes.”

“Is Klekless Racoba in the city?”

“No, he fears Earani Cor.”

“Is there a secret tunnel leading into Hara?”

“Yes, there is a long passage through Woelands, connecting Castle of the Wode with Hara.”

Adventurers discussed what to do next throughout the morning. They heard rusted trumpets blare around noon. Around that time men began appearing on the Hara's towers and walls. They put up flags depicting bull head with two thunders on its forehead. Very similar to the usual flags and banners that adorned Hara's walls.

There was unenthusiastic cheering and chanting around evening. That was followed by some sudden yelling and roaring. As a result, cheering and chanting sounded much more enthusiastic. As far as the adventurers could see, the beastmen were not allowed into the city, only brigands.

Chanting sounded like “RA! KOH! BAH! RA! KOH! BAH!” but it was difficult to make out from the drums and trumpets.

“This is it.” Tikatu said “The Queen was captured and executed. Racoba came into the city. There is nothing for us here left. Let's go.”

“Forseti said she is still alive and free.”

“But that was in the morning. Now is evening.”

“I see.”

Party decided to go to the Castle of the Wode and assess the situation there.

Warmshade 12th, Waterday

“Father Ambros!” a dozen of survivors from Hara were rejoiced to see Ambros alive. They were all wounded and exhausted. They briefly informed Ambros about what happened.

“We were holding the walls and resisting the siege. Racoba did not have any siege equipment so we were confident in our defenses. Then sky got dark, and powerful lightning struck the Temple of Poseidon.”

“We” and he motioned to survivors “were in the inner citadel, assigned to be the last line of defense. After the lightning struck we saw a mass of men spill into the north side of the city. The gates were not breached! Everything went downhill from there. Marlon led his last surviving knights to meet the enemy. His last order to us was to escort the Queen out of Hara.”

“We took two rowboats and sunk the rest. Queen and her retinue took two more. Then we rowed upstream, and followed her to here. She is in the tower right now, planning with Tagoler and Jace.”

Ambros went to the tower alone. Earani Cor, even without her kingdom, was a feared woman. There he was assaulted by revolted Jace. She spit the cleric into the face. Ambros wiped the spit and told her to go fuck herself.

Decarili and Ambros updated the Queen on the Ghinarian Hills expedition.

“Is it true” she asked Decarili “that this ray of Umannah had killed the Mother?”

“It is possible. But I did not see her corpse. There was great chaos and confusion in the wake of the destruction.”

“Then we go there.” and she looked into Ambros's eyes. He felt a bit woozy and shaky. “You will go there too.”

“I will go there too.” Ambros repeated.

Plans were made to march all the way north to Ketche, sail to Ahyf from there, and then march to the Lair of Bull God. Other adventurers were not too keen on the plan, but they decided to follow and support Ambros.

“We will move ahead since we are much faster. See you in Ketche. Or not. We will wait for three days before moving on.” Decarili informed adventurers.

Party reached Ketche on the evening of Warmshade 15th, Spiritday.

Queen and her men were nowhere to be seen.

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Adventurers

Character	Race	Class	Description
Tikatu	Human	Druid level 3	A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Amari	Human	Ranger level 1	Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator.
Drokh	Human	Monk level 1	A tall, lean human monk with piercing eyes, weathered skin, and a warrior’s poise—calm and charismatic, he speaks with purpose and strikes with precision, wielding spear, bow, and blade.
Tobias Lindflags	Hobbit	Thief level 3	A sixth-born son standing to gain nothing from inheritance, so he set out to make his own fortune in the world.
Heinrik	Human	Magic-User level 1	Muscular mage with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
Dalkanarion	Human	Fighter level 6	A youthful specimen in full strength, full of purpose, bluster, and eagerness to prove himself.

Warmshade 5th, Spiritday

The dead-end cave vibrated from constant tremors. Tobias, Drokh, and Heinrik desperately searched for any hidden opening while Dalkanarion, Amari, Tikatu, and Seren held the narrow tunnel leading into the cave.

As time passed so did adventurers become more and more desperate. And in a moment of darkness they asked the sword to guide them out. “Well, I have shown you the way out once and you cursed me!” the sword told them. Dalkanarion asked it nicely to lead the way.

Forward they went, into the cave with dead Altanian bull-man and curled up shit-stained dwarf, and then spent time figuring out how to carry the latter since Ambros could raise him from the dead. Planning done, they moved past the the basket of copper pieces acting as trap for the dumb and greedy, and then stopped by the tunnel opening leading into a four way junction.

“Yes, there, and then straight, you know, like the last time I guided you...”

But as they stepped forward their light illuminated a large, bull-headed figure at the end of the tunnel. The figure just stood menacingly. Party retreated and went down the hereto unexplored tunnel. Amari protested, unhappy with having exposed behind.

Several winding tunnels and perplexing cave later, adventurers decided to back track. No bull-man will bully them in changing their course. They ran into the beast sooner than they expected. Now it was blocking their return.

Illustration by MLord.

“Maybe it is paralysed?” Dalkanarion theorised, for it hadn't charged not roared. It was obviously breathing and moving, but a man can dream. Myrmidon approached carefully, for which he was rewarded with a greataxe to the thorax.

Dalkanarion held the front, while Drokh and Amari stabbed with spears from the second rank. Mighty warrior, tired, naked, and wounded, delivered a good number of cuts to the beast.

Bull-man reciprocated in kind, and sent Dalkanarion flying, knocking him out. Drokh capitalised on the grim moment by crouching and then lunging upwards, piercing the monster through the chin and skull. He paused for dramatic moment, and then pulled it out. The beast slumbered few steps and then collapsed to the ground.

They checked on Dalkanarion. Wounded and shaken but still alive. Then they proceeded on, intent on returning to cave Tobias, Amari, Seren, and Heinrik entered through.

“Yes, that way. Maybe left. Maybe right. It's been a while.”

Adventurers eventually reached the Y-shaped split leading into the cave. But there was light coming from it, as well as excited yelling and hollering. Tobias took the initiative, slid on his Ring of Invisibility, and then advanced toward the light. He observed a dozen of Altanians, squatting, wrestling, and uttering “Hunt! Hunt! Hunt!” in rotations. He reported back.

Locked in arguing about what to do next, adventurers were surprised by a mighty earthquake that knocked most of them prone. Same thing happened to Altanians next cave, momentarily interrupting their festivities. Indecisive adventurers approached the cave, but then Dalkanarion made a gross error.

“You want WHAT?!” the sword thundered “YOU WANT TO DO WHAT, YOU UNGRATEFUL MEATBAG?!” It was deeply insulted by Dalkanarion suggesting to pass the sword to another, less muscular and impressive adventurer.

“Move! Follow me!” Tobias quick wit saved the party, for he quickly realised cannibals had heard them and were now acting. Remembering the tunnels, he navigated the adventurers down the tunnel, then through the cave with beheaded bull-man, then left, straight, left again, which led them to the lit cave, now bereft of Altanians.

“To the right and straight!” they turned and moved, tremors making the advance challenging. But yelling and hollering was now behind them, in far distance. They walked and crawled, until they could see the tunnel splitting left and right.

Light and distressed yells were coming from the right. Steps carved into the cave floor led up to the left. Tobias scouted ahead. A cave, some forty by forty feet, was a beehive of activity, with three dozen or so Altanians milling about. There were two adjoining caves, one straight ahead and one to the left. Invisible hobbit returned to the party and informed them of the options. They decided to sneak past the cave opening and go left, up the carved steps.

They entered a foul smelling cave filled with emaciated men and women of the Wilderlands. Starving Alyrians, Altanians, Thabrians, and more, numbering between two and three dozen. They were huddled on one side of the cave, while broken Heran Marod lied on the other. He emanated heat so powerful that it could be felt in the whole cave.

Dalkanarion ran up to him, and whispered “We are here! Bring down the wrath of your god!”

Three tribesmen walked in from the other side. At first they did not notice adventurers mixed with captives. Amari, Drokh, and Heinrik seized the moment and struck true. Dalkanarion lifted Heran's broken body, hoping that he could use him as a holy symbol that spews fire at infidels. He pointed him towards the cannibal barbarians, but nothing happened. Catatonic cleric let out a doleful moan.

“Dalkanarion! Quick, pass me to the invisible hobbit! I can help him struck with surprise!” the sword suggested.

“Shut up and do your job!” the myrmidon retorted, putting Heran down gingerly.

Amari was hit hard and fell down in defeat. Drokh drove the spear through the man's throat. Tobias took off his ring and surprised another barbarian with dagger through heart.

“Oh no, it is you who will shut up now.” the sword announced deviously.

Tobias felt sharp pain in his back. Then he felt nothing but longing for his mother. And then all was black.

Heinrik watched as Dalkanarion split the hobbit in half with a single swing of a sword. “Huh” he thought “he is a cool guy, so probably the other guy had it coming.” Then he turned around and stabbed another barbarian.

Drokh watched in horror as Dalkanarion seized the Ring of Invisibility and disappeared. Heinrik the Muscle Wizard parried the cannibal's attack and then killed him with a clean overhead dagger to the skull.

Drokh rushed to Tobias. Hobbit had a deep gash from top of head to the bottom of his butt. He was most certainly dead. Heinrik checked in on Amari. “Kill me now...” she muttered “just kill me now... I don't want to fall in hands of these savages...”

Heinrik was distracted for long enough to go into wish fulfilling mode.

“Quick, look at them. They are all naked and bloodstained! Get rid of your clothes and smear blood over yourself!”

Drokh, Heinrik, and Seren discarded their armours and clothing. Then they painted themselves red with crimson blood of the Altanians.

“What about women, how are they dressed?!”

“No idea!”

“Tie me up and pretend I am your prisoner then!” Amari suggested.

Another powerful earthquake shook the caves. Whole tribe buzzed with chaos and madness.

“Now is our chance! Let's go!” Drokh led the way.

They exited into an elongated cave adjoined by five other caves. Altanians were running around, some in panic, some in confusion. Something was happening.

Disguised adventurers moved cave by cave, surrounded by countless tribesmen hollering and pushing through in the darkness. They followed the mass moving up and down a tunnel.

At one moment a tribesman ran into Drokh. Barbarian stopped and looked at Drokh. Monk pumped his muscle, grunted, and spat on the ground. Barbarian backed off and continued wherever he was headed to initially.

“Light!”

Hearts pounding, adventurers moved forward towards huge ball of orange light. Overpowering smell of seared hair and flesh permeated the damp cave air. Huge column of liquid fire melted through the cave rock.

The party moved hard left, towards the only solid opening. They ran through winding tunnels, hoping that at least some of the tribesmen were wise enough to flee for their life. Tunnels turned left and right, junctions split all the ways, but adventurers pressed on and on. At few occasions some of them almost fell down, to be trampled by the moving horde, but were saved in the last second.

“Light!”

Drokh, Heinrik, Seren, and Amari escaped the lair of Bull God alive. They ran as fast as they could, making distance from the cave entrance. They ran past the skull-adorned stakes driven into the ground. They ran past roaring Altanians hurling insults at the sky. They ran until they reached Ambros and Tikatu, guided by Forseti's divine intervention. And then they all ran together, as the sun melted the very Ghinarian Hills they stood on.

⁂

Dalkanarion watched as his hand swung towards the right. That was not the direction he wanted to go in. Was he now so tired that his very limbs were failing him? Bloodied, tired, wounded. Is this how he would go down? By slaying his ally?

Then he heard it. That annoying, arrogant, anxious voice. “You thought you were better than me, did you not? You doubted me? Well, now I will show you!” The sword spoke to him mentally.

Dalkanarion watched as his arms frisked the hobbit's corpse. He watched as he put a ring on his blood finger. His only solace was that Tobias died quickly and without suffering. The cut was clean. Straight through the brain and down the spine. He didn't even realise he died.

“Watch now, watch!”

Dalkanarion could se the environment change. Amari was knocked down. Heinrik, Drokh, and Seren put up a desperate fight. But he was moving away from them and through the mass of Altanians buzzing through the caves. He moved, pushing them aside with ease.

“What a body! What power! You, boy, will server me well!”

Sword did care little for Dalkanarion's torn feet, skinned shins, or bleeding palms. It had driven him mercilessly. It drove him forward, through the mass, and away from the fire.

It drove him true. It did not care for Dalkanarion's eyes screaming in pain as they were exposed to bright sunlight after weeks of being captured underground. It did not care for Dalkanarion's body almost falling apart from exertion, pain, and exhaustion.

It drove him downhill, until the body could take no more.

“I know a cleric that could heal us. Then we would be stronger.” Dalkanarion spoke to the sword. He might have lost control of his body, but his mind was his.

“Do you take me for a fool! A cleric! So he can Dispel Evil! You will obey me, slave!” sword yelled in anger.

“We need to rest. Heal up. I know safe places. You seem lost.”

“Shut up! I know exactly where I am going. Shut up! Get up!”

Dalkanarion, a youthful beast of a body, slowly rose from the ground. The body crawled on, dragging itself in defiance of nature.

And while the body might have been enslaved, the mind waited patiently for its chance. It was surprised by the Sword once. Now it will surprise the Sword—when the chance presents itself.

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Adventurers

Character	Race	Class	Description
Tikatu	Human	Druid level 3	A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Amari	Human	Ranger level 1	Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator.
Ambros	Human	Cleric level 6	Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time.
Drokh	Human	Monk level 1	A tall, lean human monk with piercing eyes, weathered skin, and a warrior’s poise—calm and charismatic, he speaks with purpose and strikes with precision, wielding spear, bow, and blade.
Tobias Lindflags	Hobbit	Thief level 3	A sixth-born son standing to gain nothing from inheritance, so he set out to make his own fortune in the world.
Seren	Human	Ranger level 1	Beardless and blinkless ranger.
Heran Marod	Human	Cleric level 4	Bearded, aging man with shaved head. Follower of Umannah, the Sun God, The Radiant Death.
Heinrik	Human	Magic-User level 1	Muscular mage with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
Belegar Grimlisnev	Dwarf	Fighter level 3 / thief level 3	4’6”, 150 lbs; white hair; bronze eyes; pale blue skin tone; very hairy. Observant, dependable.
Dalkanarion	Human	Fighter level 6	A youthful specimen in full strength, full of purpose, bluster, and eagerness to prove himself.

Warmshade 5th, Spiritday

Amari, Seren, Heinrik, and Tobias rushed to a dead-end. There the rangers braced for charge. They heard a loud, angry, protracted bellow moments ago. Prepared, they waited.

⁂

“Oh yeah, you can hack this hack without any issues.” the sword cheered Dalkanarion as he stepped towards the bull-headed man. Belegar followed, shit-caked dagger ready, slinking through the shadowy cave. Ecteri gripped iron piton nervously.

“Athena protects!” the Myrmidon roared.

⁂

“Wait, listen!” Tobias the invisible cautioned the party. Bellowing was now replaced by a familiar voice echoing down the tunnels. “This sounds like Dalkanarion!”

“But which way to go?”

“Hey, let's spend a round listening closely!”

“Sounds good!”

⁂

The beast swung wildly at Dalkanarion, but the warrior dodged. Belegar delivered his coveted backstab, intended for his torturer, straight into the beast's thigh. He was rewarded with a mighty blow to the face, shattering his nose and cheeks.

“You got it! Keep swinging! Stay focused!” the sword cheered Dalkanarion on.

⁂

“This way, I think”

Amari, Seren, Heinrik, and Tobias moved through the caves and tunnels. Indecisive, they moved slower than usual.

⁂

“Even a dull blade can kill in the hands of great warrior like you!”

Dalkanarion stood over dead bull-headed man.

Belegar had curled up in a dense ball of hair and flesh.

Myrmidon checked on the dwarf.

He was dead.

⁂

“Which way to go?!”

“We can't hear him anymore...”

“DALKANARION!”

“DALKANARION!!!”

The quarter stood and yelled.

⁂

“Can you hear that?” Ecteri asked.

“Yes! Yell with me young man! Yell with me if you value your life!”

⁂

Both parties did their best to follow each others voice. Echos made it for a very disorienting experience. Without Belegar, the dwarf, Dalkanarion was much more lost.

⁂

“Wait, wait. Let's pause and listen again.”

⁂

“Sword, do you know they way out?”

“Of course! You just need to ask.”

“Please lead the way out then.”

⁂

“We should go there.”

“No, we should go there!”

“Wait, which way should we go?”

“I am invisible.”

The quarter lost round to being indecisive.

⁂

“Yes, just keep going straight. Almost there. I am, uh, quite sure. Yes, quite sure.”

Dalkanarion kept following the sword, Ecteri right behind him.

⁂

“Hey, I think I know where we are now!”

Amari, Seren, Heinrik, and Tobias were back in the cave with beheaded bull-man's corpse. Bloody head was tied to Heinrik's back.

“I know which way to go now!”

⁂

Dalkanarion could see light up ahead. He and Ecteri moved slowly.

“Yes, just straight.” the sword said.

Grunts and growls could be heard, matched with familiar sounds of screaming, pleading, and crying.

“You led us back!” Dalkanarion whispered through gritted teeth.

They turned around and ran.

“You asked for a way out! This is the way out!” the sword protested.

⁂

The rangers led the way back to the cave with three exits, the one close to the three flayed corpses.

They readied themselves as they could see the light approaching from the long tunnel.

⁂

Dalkanarion and Ecteri ran as fast as they could, but these deep, underground tunnels are quite treacherous and uneven.

Heinrik, Seren, and Amari saw a large, naked, bloodied man running towards them, sword swinging. Luckily Tobias had recognised Dalkanarion from before.

“You are alive!”

“I am!”

“Where is Heran?”

“Alas, he has been captured and broken. His god will take care of him.”

“Do you know a way out?”

“No, do you?”

“We think so but are not sure...”

There was little time to rejoice.

Wounded and spent, the rejoined party roamed the tunnels and caves.

Eventually they passed the familiar flayed corpses, and reached a four way intersection with upside down corpse in one of the dead ends.

“This is familiar...”

“Yes, you pulled me out of the cave just up ahead and then to the right.”

Meme by MLord.

“Brace yourself!”

The party was not surprised by three large bull-men rolling up behind them.

Drokh shoot arrows; striking true. Others braced for the charge.

Bull-men fell back into the tunnel.

Adventurers discussed what to do.

“They must be circling us!”

No one heeded Seren's warning. The ranger chased into the tunnel, but was checked by a single bull-man waiting around the corner.

“Behind! Watch out!”

Two bull-men came running from the opposite side of the intersection. It was a total whirlwind now, everyone fighting in the center of this cave. Dalkanarion slashed, and Amari stabbed. Little Tobias finished what others had started—he took of his ring, and stabbed the bull-man right into his heart.

Seren was duking it out with the bull-man in the tunnel, ensuring that his party does not get overrun. The beast was wearing him down, quick.

Drokh went down in one of the exchanges. Amari and Dalkanarion were consistent in their efforts. Large bull-headed men fought with ferocity. He swung his great-axe with awesome violence, caring little for who or what he hits.

Ecteri, emboldened by the fight, also joined the fray. He was promptly cleaved in half. His business plans would never come to life.

Heinrik, the Magic-User Who Should Have Been a Fighter, leaped on the wounded bull-man, grabbed his neck with his left hand, and stabbed him in the throat—repeatedly—with the dagger in his right hand.

Beast fighting Seren backed off and disappeared into the dark caves.

“Check on Drokh...”

The monk was still alive, but battered and injured. He would require some serious bed rest.

“We must go back... That must be the way out! Maybe we took the wrong turn somewhere?”

Adventurers limped back to the crossing with flayed corpses. And then they had seen the light to their left. Shouts and grunts accompanied them.

“Hunt! Hunt! Hunt!”

Ecstatic growls and howls echoed.

“HUNT! HUNT! HUNT!”

“Screw this, go back!”

“I could smell fresh air in the cave where I found this sword.” Dalkanarion shared.

“Oh. I can take you there if you wish. Just ignore that basket full of copper pieces—it is a trap for less intelligent men.”

Amari, Dalkanarion, Drokh, Heinrik, Seren, and Tobias turned around, went straight, right into the junction, straight, then right, ignored the basket to the left and went right, then left through narrow opening and into the dead end cave with fresh air.

“Hunt! Hunt! Hunt!” echoed from all directions. Growling and howling was without break. Bull roars could be heard intermittently.

“Spread out! Look for secret entrances and passageways!”

⁂

Ambros was deep in prayer.

Tikatu fiddled and fidgeted.

Decarili sat in silence.

Morning and noon passed, and Tobias and his team had not returned yet.

The trio waited patiently, hidden in the crevice an hour or so away from the Wyverns' Crag and Bull God's lair.

It was evening in a sunny, hot Altanis. The sky was clear. Sun was beating down mercilessly, showing no signs of abating any time soon.

All three men looked up simultaneously.

Decarili squinted.

Sky rapidly transformed from pinkish into bright orange.

Sun raced across the sky—as if it had been ridding a chariot of stars—until it was almost directly above the hills.

Then it became larger and larger and large until it was a blinding fireball covering all of the sky, forcing the men to cover their eyes.

It vomited a great beam of pure fire, blasting straight on top of the Wyverns' Crag.

Ghinarian hills shook violently as the sun blasted the rock.

Beam slid south-wards.

⁂

Heran was warm, content.

He was bodyless; immaterial.

Umannah had seen him; Umannah had heard him.

The burning eye gazed into his very existence.

This was Heran's final test; his final chance to prove the weight of his soul.

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