Gidryntawg, Blackwind's wives, and the vampire lord himself were destroyed by the king's scouts at the pinnacle of the black spire. Many treasures were recovered, but outside his lair, docking on a metal ramp, they beheld a sailing ship with wings extending from it's sides. Sulvarax took control of the vessel, not by maneuvering the helm, but by wearing a helmet that absorbed all of his magical powers, in a chair in the captain quarters. TBW...
Entering the black spire, involuntarily pulled in by a whirlwind of mist, they were greeted by Lord Blackwind playing an organ solo. He turned to face the party, turning into mist as he reappeared on the balcony above the organ. The party fired at him, Tyrion riding up the balcony on Chad and cutting off Blackwind's head. Turning to snow, it was realized that this was a simulacrum of Lord Blackwind. TBW...
On their first foray into the Vampire Tower, they forced a vampire they had previously fought in the ballroom to retreat as a cloud of mist, as well as destroying a necromancer and his skeletal minions. Leaving Freudenstein's Monster as a polymorphed gerbil in the third floor, they hastily retreated to the garden sanctuary with the rescued hostages. Having rested, they returned to the tower to find the aftermath of the monster's rage. TBW...
Winded from the Science Wing, Tyrion elected to take a long rest, which was agreed on by the party. Eight hours later they awoke and heard knocking on the southern door. When it was opened by Virgil, they were met by a mounted griffon knight, who was sent with his squad to scout the castle after the storm had let up slightly. The party told the knight that the king's army should remain on the river, and wait for a signal from them before approaching the castle. Agreeing, and taking the blacksmith Griswold with him, the knight flew out towards the courtyard on his griffon. Moving on, the signs of the Freudenstein's Monster from the Science Wing were everywhere, broken walls, rubble, and cracked tiles. Being guided by Virgil, the party were informed of what they would face in the Pleasure Halls of Lady Castorena, and they continued on. Entering the halls they were met with two vampire death guard, who they quickly dispatched. Uzu used his magic to disguise the party as vampire guards, and they continued on exploring the two connecting halls. They deceived another guard to relieve his post and return to the inner ballroom, while another guard saw through their disguises and fought them while trying to murder a charmed woman. The pleasure halls had rooms filled with soft linen beds and various naughty equipment, while the torture halls had rooms filled with corpses, blood draining equipment, and mentally insane captives. Continuing on into the ballroom, the party acted as guards at the doorway, Rilithae informing a ghost waitress that the reason for the commotion was a giant centipede infestation in the corpse room. The party beheld a large gathering of vampires and charmed human guests participating in a masquerade ball. On a balcony above a stage of musicians, Lady Castorena clinked her glass as she gathered the attention of the ballroom. TBW...
Having defeated the apprentice (for now) and recovering the blacksmith Griswold from the foundry, the party returned to the garden for some much needed rest. Waking, Rilithae decided to stay with Griswold while the others continued on into the science wing. Entering the wing they were met with strange noises, contraptions, wolves, and frightened pig like creatures before being attacked by several wolven. Clearing out the science wing, the last monster being a dire wolf that jumped out of a sewer grate, the party saw a hallway continuing on to a large tower, Cerberus and several wolven assassins blocking the path. After slaying Cerberus and his assassins, the party continued into the tower, standing before a bubbling canister containing a 25 ft. tall human of pure muscle, several tubes attached to him. Ascending their way up the spiraling staircase on the edge of the walls, Uzu summoned a mage hand to tickle the colossal human, waking it, causing it to go into a rage, breaking free from it's glass container as it stampeded down the hallway into the science wing. Making it to the top floor of the tower, they saw a huge cannon with cables attached to a spire like machine in the center, rising out of the tower's open ceiling. Across the room, under the stormy sky, Dr. Freudenstein activated a machine Dr. Freudiger was laying on and connected to. Freudenstein scolded the party for interfering, as Freudiger transformed into a hulking brute, charging at the party. Tyrion cut the tubes running from Freudiger's brain to his back and suddenly his muscles withered back to their normal size, as he seized up and went unconscious. Uzu polymorphed Freudenstein into a rabbit, and Tyrion slashed into it, killing Dr. Freudenstein as he returned to his natural form. Sulvarax got in the seat of the huge cannon, and once lightning struck the spire machine and the electrical energy traveled down the cables, the cannon let out a blast of extremely intense electrical energy, blinding and deafening the party for several moments as a massive hole was blasted into the side of the tower wall. Gathering everyone, the party made their way down the tower and back through the science wing, following the trail of the huge creature they woke earlier. Signs of the creature's trail were everywhere in the round hall of the castle, but the party did not try to find him, as they returned to the garden with Dr. Freudiger, reuniting with Rilithae and Griswold.
Fighting through the tunnels of the foundry, the party faced exploding skeletons, swarms of bats and rats, saw blade and spike traps, a ballista, and skeletal knights before coming to a large lava filled chamber with a central platform extending out from the opposite side of the entrance. Standing there on the platform in front of an anvil, the Apprentice laughed at the party as Sulvarax barely missed him with a guiding bolt, as he proceeded to go invisible. Coming into the chamber, two vampire spawn dropped down and tried to drag Rilithae away, but they were quickly cut down by the party, despite them grappling Rilithae and Uzu and getting several claw and bite attacks in. They tried to flee for their lives but were cut down on top of each other, their undead corpses kicked into the lava. The blacksmith ran out onto the platform and asked for the party's help, but the Apprentice appeared behind him and grappled him. He told the party to surrender one at a time, so Tyrion dropped his sword and was the first to make his way around as the rest of the party slowly walked around the edge of the intensely hot chamber of bubbling lava. When Tyrion got to the edge of the platform, the Apprentice threw the blacksmith down and engaged him, grabbing Tyrion as he repeatedly sunk his fangs into his neck, feeding off his blood until he was too damaged by the party (and Rilithae's giant owls) to continue, he turned into mist, dropping two items, as the mist flew out of the chamber entrance...
Entering the chapel, the party beheld a hall full of skeletons and Lord Grail, a death knight, sitting on a throne behind an altar. He rose, telling the party he had been expecting them, as he hurled a hellfire orb and it exploded, nearly knocking the entire party unconscious. The fight in the chapel was short but furious, with Sulvarax briefly getting banished to a demiplane, and Rilithae summoning a herd of Elk. In the end, Lord Grail and his skeletons were defeated, the party recovering his prerequisite lich items and tossing them down the well in the gardens. After a short rest, the party made their way through the next available door to the foundry...
After reporting to the king, they were sent to investigate the sighting of wolf like creatures south of the river. They found a wolven named Fire Eye, who they brought to the king, and he said that Cerberus and his wolven warriors were going to attack. He claimed to be the leader of the rebels who escaped the science wing of the castle, and that they were created there by Dr. Freudenstein. After taking part in the battle plans with Captain Freeman of the King's Forest Rangers, Duke Bouchard of Francia, and Count Gerald of Godam, the king's scouts retired in the stables with Garrett and their wagon full of gold. Woken by an ambush at midnight, they helped defend the camps from an ambush of several hundred wolven warriors, and swarms of bats and rats. Fire Eye's rebels lost half their numbers as they also helped defend, and the king's army was able to push the attackers out of the camps. Returning to an angered king, they decided to listen to Fire Eye and take an underwater passage in the river to a tunnel leading to the sewers underneath the castle. Commanders agreed it was too dangerous to send their armies uphill, so instead the plan was made for the king's scouts to clear a way and send a signal for the army to attack. Two of Fire Eye's wolven led the party to the area in the river above the tunnel. So Uzu scouted ahead as Sulvarax controlled water to secure their passage. Traveling into the sewers, they found a rowboat, investigating the various tunnels around a circular drain when they were ambushed by a fiendish monster, exploding from underneath the sewer water! Over twenty feet tall it struck into Tyrion with an unholy fury, sucking the life from him as he was dropped unconscious. Uzu rowed Rilithae and Von Hendrix away as Sulvarax leaped up and down onto the fiend, striking it as he used his magic and ultimately sent it back to its home plane. Recovering Tyrion, they continued on, passing more creatures lurking in the sewers, but finding a staircase leading up. They came to a room leading to a round hall with connections to many other rooms. They were approached by a ghost named Virgil, the caretaker of Castle Highveil, and he explained where all the doors led to. In the center of the hall were doors leading to a garden, a magical sanctuary with a large willow below a clear summer sky. Virgil slowly disappeared as the party were left to make their next move...
Returning to the surface after having cleared the Old Graveyard and gaining custody of a 13 year old boy, the party made their way to Crowley's manor, retrieving the gold they stored from the ruins of the Ashen Keep. Deciding to go and find the dwarves to the north east, they made their way out of the hills, first stopping between Weshaven and a village they had yet to explore. They could tell from a distance Weshaven was destroyed as Rilithae and Sulvarax saw a 50 foot tall amalgamation of bone in the shape of a human rising from the ruins of the keep and running towards the party. Before they could make it to the abandoned village they were ambushed by the monstrosity, and after a terrifying encounter, the creature knocking Sulvarax unconscious, Tyrion was able to bring it down with the help of the party! Sending a message to Counselor Klaus, Sulvarax received a response saying that the first wave of the king's army was arriving soon and that the king was anxious to see them. Deciding to go and meet the king instead of see the dwarves, they made their way passed Weshaven and towards the western hills. Making their way along the river, Chad slipped into the edge of the water, nearly dragging the wagon in with him if he had not pushed his way out with the help of Sulvarax and Tyrion. Arriving below the lightning storm covered Castle Highveil, the party saw thousands of units in three separate camps, and were eventually greeted by very defensive units. After twenty minutes, Counselor Klaus met with the party, and brought them to the king's tent in the center most camp. The party finally reunited with the king, some meeting him for the first time, as they delivered their report and made their next plans...
Sulvarax cast clairvoyance to see on the other side of the only door in the cavern. He saw the Horned King, a necromancer using the Black Cauldron to raise an army of skeletons, just like the vision from the black memoirs. Rilithae told the party to play dead as she transformed herself into Artemis Black, using Tyrion's key he got from the necromancer at the abandoned farm, she opened the metal door. Attempting to deceive the Horned King into coming into the cavern, he instead sent his death guards, who were ambushed by the party as Rilithae slammed the door behind them. After killing the death guards they opened the door again to see the army of skeletons crowding in towards them. After a vicious exchange of spells between the Horned King and Uzu, he was defeated, and the army of skeletons in the graveyard were obliterated. Destroying the Black Cauldron and making their way up through the ghost infested catacombs, they met a undead paladin named Sir Cain who joined the party for a brief crusade. Finding a female necromancer controlling several zombies, ghouls, and a wight in the crypts, Sulvarax accidentally destroyed Sir Cain fighting her. Uzu once again cast fireball, killing the necromancer and rendering her zombies useless. Proceeding on into the surface chapel, they found a 13 year old boy named Garret in the tower. He told the party his aunt Caeyla was a necromancer, and Tyrion broke the news to him that they were forced to kill her. Taking the boy with them, the party went out onto the surface for the first time in days.
Traveling towards the mines in the covered wagon, the party stopped at the abandoned mills, finding no survivors, but looting what little was left. Continuing southwest, they saw smoke rising from Weshaven, and their fears were confirmed when Sulvarax' messages were sent with no response. Traveling closer to the storms, they stayed away from the graveyard and made their way between the hills towards the mines. Destroying the outer undead, they made their way into the mines, destroying a necromancer and many zombie miners. Catching up to a death guard messenger in the underground tunnels, he was killed before he could warn the undead at the graveyard. Fighting carrion crawlers, the party eventually made it through to the graveyard catacombs, interrupting the coven as they were slain one by one! Tyrion recovered the final piece of a Holy Avenger, and they continued on into the graveyard...
Although the party defeated Sayax and his companions, they were unable to stop his dark ritual in time, as Gidryntawg the adult red dragon was raised from the dead, flying out of the ruins and joining the undead forces. Traveling back towards Crowley's Manor, they were ambushed by a huge bat creature, defeating it, and eventually returning to the manor after repairing a wagon wheel. Comparing information and making plans, the party reunited with Von Hendrix and Theron, preparing to attack the mines!
Sharing a vision with Theron Crowley, the party heads north towards Bernadette Drachs lair, where the party does her bidding, retrieving a cluster of magical amber crystals, and surviving her plot to betray them by destroying her (acquiring the Holy Avenger crossguard) and her ogres. Recovering at Crowley Manor, the party left early in the morning under the eerie eyes of ghosts. The party's goal was to investigate the ruins in the western hills while Von Hendrix investigates the old graveyard.
Having defended Weshaven and defeated Lady Castorena's forces, the king's scouts attempted to send a message to the king, rally more levies, and investigated the abandoned farm once more. Realizing the necromancer's key went to the old graveyard, the party returned to Weshaven and found a half vampire named Theron Crowley in the castle halls. Meaning no harm to the party, and with critical information on the dark forces, the party listened to him and accompanied him to his manor in the hills to the north (acquiring the Holy Avenger hilt).
The party successfully defended Weshaven from Lady Castorena's undead horde!
The King's Scouts spent the week tying up loose ends, planning defenses, and rallying the people of Weshaven to the defense of their town!
Leaving Midway, the party camped across the river from Weshaven until nightfall, when they then rode across the water, infiltrating the town through the docks. Setting a warehouse on fire as a distraction, the party made their way to the dungeon through the sewers, freeing Von Hendrix after defeating two vicious undead creatures. Unknown humans in blackened armor and hoods intimidated the party into climbing up to the keep, where they met with Lady Castorena. She revealed herself to be a similar creature as she gifted Weshaven to the party, telling them they would have one week until they would be attacked, disappearing with her guards as a swarm of bats...
Defeating the necromancer at the abandoned farm, the party decided to try and track Gog and Ivy Sullivan. Lady Castorena delivered a message to the party via a crow, inviting them back to Weshaven. The party's new companion, Rillithae, was able to follow some of their tracks, concluding they went back to Weshaven. The party decided to go to Midway to wait on Von Hendrix, getting ambushed by several knights along the way who were easily defeated. While in the tavern, the party discovered Von Hendrix was being held prisoner in Weshaven. The next morning, the party debated their next course of action over breakfast...
Having survived the wolven ambush, the party proceeded to the nearby farm which appeared to be abandoned. They quickly realized however that it was overrun by the undead! Combat ensued as two wolven and a lady wood elf ranger joined the fight! Defeating the undead on the surface, they took the fight to a necromancer, hiding in the earth below them...
Having saved Ivy Sullivan and cleared Hester Farms, the party decided to return to Weshaven. Camping outside the fields, they noticed three of their party members walked away. Tracking them down, they were ambushed by wolf creatures. Defeating them, they captured one and got some information before it committed suicide. They continued on, investigating the nearby farm...
Defeating a disgusting creature Dr. Freudiger called a Latrine Lurker, the party continued on into the fields. Fighting scarecrows and harvest golems, they made it to the pumpkin patch, defeating the pumpkin king, saving Ivy Sullivan, and looting the witch's lair after she escaped.
Defeating the knights at Lynn Ranch, the party continued on to Hester Farms, where they quickly discovered that Lara Hester is a witch, and Frank Hester is suffering from an unknown condition. Sulvarax got into a rather, shitty, situation...
Having crossed the river and beached the stolen vessel, the party made their way to Lynn Ranch. Followed by a sizeable force of the baron's men, they eventually caught up to the party, sparking a battle as the knights tried to kill or capture the party.
The party gained several new members, breaking out of the sewers by stealing a small cargo ship on the docks and escaping Weshaven, beaching the vessel a few miles up and across river, making their way for the nearest farm following Von Hendrix' map.
The party broke several people out of the Castle Weshaven dungeon, suffering grievous wounds but surviving, killing several of the baron's knights in the process.
The players met with Baron Naylor, and although he was welcoming, it wasn't long before the party fell out of his good graces.
The players finished creating their characters, and began their quest by sailing up river into the land of Miseria.