Session 13
General Summary
The group awoke in Delvo�s lair and decided it was time to give themselves a name. What with
being led by a Prince of House Snow and with them generally wandering the wilds making things
better the general consensus was to call themselves Snow Patrol. Clearly their skill at arms
exceeded their skill at choosing names.
Fett offered to escort Lordana back to Pembrose as there was some discussion that the group
wanted to head on to Twain and see the wizard Crus, whilst they were so nearby. Lordana was
happy to be escorted home by the elf and so they bid him and her farewell. Then they turned their
attentions to the tunnel below Delvo�s lair and the fact that there was still a �zombie army� to
find and deal with. Jaina explained that she had been reading the journal last night and that she
had discovered that a side effect of the evil ritual contained within was that the people sacrificed
to it were turned into living dead: zombies. And according to Delvo�s journal he had done this
ritual seven times. So there was a fair chance they would encounter about a half dozen zombies in
the tunnels below. This made the group feel better as seven was not quite what they would call a
zombie �army�. So, armed and ready Elijah unjammed the door leading to the tunnels and set
off to scout.
He made his way down the stairs and into the natural tunnels they led to. Sneaking forward,
relying on his excellent hearing he could smell death and decay and a hint of damp fur. Moving
cautiously forward he almost stumbled face first in the darkness into a dead body. A dead body
which was standing up right! Impossible to hear, as they were totally motionless and did not
breath, and hidden in deep alcoves out of sight, were two zombie guards. As Elijah came into view
they lurched forward but his quick reactions and almost supernatural danger sense allowed him to
jump back out of their reach. He stuck his shortsword into one�s gut and retreated back towards
his friends who were still at the top of the stairs. The group heard the sounds and rushed down to
help him, Jaina quickly bringing Pelor�s light to her holy symbol so they could see. As they
reached Elijah a half dozen or so dead bodies were shambling ponderously forward out of the
darkness. Jaina�s holy light washed over them and Drax, Lynott and Elijah set about
dismembering them all. They took some stopping as even when you chopped arms off or ran them
through they would keep coming. The only way to stop them was to decapitate them. Fortunately
Drax was a dab hand at that and the others were skilled enough that soon all seven zombies had
been destroyed.
The zombie bodies were burnt to prevent them being reanimated and the tunnels were searched.
There were two small caves in the darkness � one of which smelt of fur and was no doubt the
home to the wargs, and the other of which smelt of death and decay and was probably home to the
zombies. Both caves were empty and uninteresting but a further cave led off and upwards until it
came out on a hillside a quarter of a mile away. The entrance was well hidden and hard to spot
from the hillside. Returning to the lair the group searched it thoroughly, looking for signs of who
might have owned it, but they were unable to do so. So they decided that there was nothing much
more they could do with this hobbit hole for now. They jammed the door to the tunnels and locked
the front door � using keys found on Delvo � and set off east, heading for Twain.
The Gaskar Hills were quiet this September morning and the group moved through mist shrouded
valley and over sun dappled hill tops. Elijah scouted ahead a short way and the others strolled
along, chatting of their aims and hopes for their visit to Twain. It was a lovely day and a real
change from the horrors of the shrine to the Demon Prince and the zombie warrens they had just
left behind. The Gaskar Hills were a wide range of lightly wooded slopes. Numerous streams and
brooks trickled down out of these hills, feeding both the Wren and Quail rivers. This was new
territory to the group and they moved carefully. As the sun set they came to the edge of the hills
and looked out over the farmland below. In the far distance they imagined they could just make
out the silver band which was the Quail River, although this was probably just imagination as the
river was still a long way from here. They estimate they would reach Twain late afternoon the next
day and so they cast around for a suitable campsite and quickly found one. That night Drax had
another dream, although this one was quite shadowy and felt far away. He dreamt of a human in
plate mail standing in some kind of cave system, talking to another human, this one with dark hair,
wearing leathers and with an assortment of daggers strapped to him in various places. He felt like
this threat was somehow far away.
The morning of the 11th September dawned warm and bright. The farmlands ahead of the party
looked pretty and inviting in the early morning sunlight as the sun rose above the mountains far to
the east. The group set off down following a tributary of the Quail River and passed small
farmsteads and hedgerows. Some farmers were out early gathering in their harvest but the group
ignored them and pressed on towards Twain. In the afternoon they reached the small village,
fording the river to enter if from the south. They spotted the Hog�s Head Inn and checked in.
Rooms acquired they asked around the few merchants and miners in the inn about Crus and about
how they might best treat with him. The general consensus was that as long as they were polite
and showed interest in �underground� things they would probably be okay. Deciding that they
probably meant the Underdark, the group took on their advice and also figuring there was no time
like the present and set off up the road to Crus� tower.
A half mile up the road they saw a large round tower. It was about sixty feet across and about fifty
feet high and had a large oak door at the foot. Elijah scanned the door carefully and saw plenty of
small runes etched into it which he suspected were runes of protection. He knocked hard on the
door and jumped back as a large mouth appeared in the doorway, asking who they were and what
they wanted. Lynott said that they were the adventuring party Snow Patrol and that they had come
to gather some information about the Underdark from the wise wizard Crus. They heard a click
like a door unlocking and the mouth invited them in. Opening the door they came into a ground
floor with a dining room and kitchen in it. The dining room had a large table and many chairs
placed around it. The kitchen was functional and plain but amazingly they saw a set of knives
chopping and slicing at vegetables and meats � magically preparing dinner with no one else in
the room. Both rooms contained many full bookshelves. A staircase ascended above following the
contours of the wall. They stayed where they were, acutely aware that they had not been invited
upstairs and a few moments later a robed, wizened old man appeared at the top of the staircase.
Crus asked them what they wanted. With the utmost respect they explained who they were and
that they had been working for Lord Kyle and helping to make the valley safer. Crus said that he
had heard of them as he kept in close contact with Lord Kyle, and that they were welcome to come
upstairs and make themselves comfortable. They followed him up the spiral staircase and into a
comfortable sitting room.
Crus bade them make themselves comfortable and he went and sat in a huge arm chair near a fire
which was burning low. Trays of sweetmeats and drinks floated up the stairs from below and
allowed the group to help themselves. At a subtle gesture from the wizard the fire built up a little,
warming the cosy living room. Crus asked them to tell him about their recent exploits. Lynott
began by telling him about how they met in Endhome and then about how they had travelled north
into the valley. He told of their work for Lord Kyle in routing the hobgoblins from Quail Keep and
about how they had also cleared an orc burial chamber and found a map which belonged to the
Birds of Prey. He told of how they had followed it into the Underdark and encountered trolls and
other nasty denizens of the deep. Crus listened intently, asking pertinent questions from time to
time, gauging their ability and experience. He was able to answer some of their questions
including telling them that the Pillars on their map were strange geometrically shaped unnatural
pillars covered with magical runes. He told them that as yet he was not prepared to tell them what
these runes meant. They clearly had a ways to go to earn his complete trust. Lynott asked him
about dragons and it turned out that Crus had not heard of the dragon Thuskamasker, son of
Bezzalt, so Lynott told him all he knew about this dragon.
The group then asked Crus if he would be prepared to determine the magical qualities of some of
the items they had acquired on their adventures. He agreed, for a price, and some money was
exchanged. After a few minutes Crus told them that unfortunately their �magical� ring was
nothing but a fake � an ancient spell of illusion had been placed on it to make it appear magical,
when in fact it was nothing of the sort. The waistcoat he told them was an interesting item. Often
crafted for assassins and indeed illegal in many of the cities of the Empire, this was magical
armour which allowed the wearer to appear to be wearing any colour and style of clothing or
armour as took their fancy. It was perfect for Elijah as it meant he could wear it at all times and be
protected, yet appear as nothing more than the gentle hobbit he liked to be at times. Crus did,
however have a query as to where this item had been found. At this question, Lynott explained all
about Delvo and Bak and the fight to bring them to justice. This seemed to please Crus and when
quizzed about it he told them that he had a long term friend and hobbit, one Theodore Bagwell
esquire, who had gone missing some time ago. �T-Bag� as he was affectionately known had
owned a waistcoat just like this. It appeared that Delvo had in fact sacrificed T-Bag and taken up
residence in his hobbit hole in the nearby hills. Crus was sad to learn of the fate of his friend but
glad that the group had extracted vengeance on his killer. Crus told them that T-Bag had family in
the north of the valley and if they travelled there wearing that waistcoat that Elijah should expect
some questions.
Drax then asked if Crus could tell him anything about his axe, Demonbane and about the demon
stone which the group had found. Crus told them all about the history of the demon stone and its
creation by Belzur Orloff. Unfortunately this was all stuff Drax and the team already knew. When
it came to Demonbane, however Crus had some news. He told Drax that Demonbane was in fact a
key and that when used to open up whatever lock it had been crafted to open it would reveal more
of its powers to the wielder. Now, Crus was unable to tell Drax exactly which lock the axe would
open but he suggested it would not be any sort of physical lock, more likely some sort of magical
one. Furthermore he said that some of the dwarven runes on the handle of the axe spelt out some
words in the language of magic but which made no immediate sense to Crus: �Resolve to rent the
vault of the Fatuity�. Drax was left to ponder what that meant.
The group then asked Crus if there was anything they could do for him. He did say that many
years ago there was a village nestled in the Forest of Nin, alongside a tributary of the Quail River.
This village had long ago fallen into ruin. However he was aware there used to be a way into the
Underdark there and wondered if this was still true. He would be thankful if they happened to be
in the region of this village if they could find out if this was still true. They said they would go and
look the next day. Crus had one last gift for the adventurers. He drew a map of the Underdark
below Quail Valley, such as his exploration and wanderings had shown him, but warned them that
it had been ten years since he had descended into the depths and it might be a little out of date by
now. Thanking him greatly the group said their farewells and returned to the inn where things
were getting rowdy.
Not long after they got back there a big fight broke out between a bunch of drunken miners. Very
soon, wiry old Constable Duggin arrived on the scene and started laying about himself with his
cudgel. Order was quickly restored. The Constable spotted the heroes and approached them. He
told them that a huntress out in the Forest of Nin not too far away had recently spotted a pair of
giants who appeared to be based in the ruined village out that way. This was a big risk to the
village of Twain and he wanted them slain or driven off. He had spoken to Lord Taylor Kyle, ruler
of Twain, and had managed to get a reward agreed. Three hundred and fifty imperials if the giants
were dealt with. Given they were going to head there anyway for Crus, they of course agreed.
The next morning, the 12th of September dawned a beautiful late summer day. The sun was soon
high in the perfect cloudless sky as Snow Patrol headed out to the ruined village. They followed
the Quail River till the first tributary flowed in out of the Forest of Nin and then turned off,
following that upstream. The day was warm with a fresh and pleasant breeze wafting through
every so often. There was plenty of shade under the trees of the forest and the party were in good
spirits. They could perhaps have done with Fett�s woodland skills to aid them here but Elijah
was no mug in the forest either. As the sun started to set they could see the ruins of a walled
village off through the trees a little way away.
They approached and snuck up carefully and then settled down behind a rock near the edge of the
village. Elijah was sent out to scout. He came back a while later telling that he had found a large
building which housed two hill giants, who were sat around a fire. Beside them was a set of steps
leading underground. Elsewhere in the ruins he had spotted a few fire beetles, strange giant beetles
with glands behind their eyes which glowed like torches. Inside one old shrine or church he had
seen a group of sarcophagi. And in one corner of the ruins he was sure he had seen some sort of
large scuttling creature, but each time he thought he saw it, it was already gone. Finally, in another
place he had found the ruins of a wizard�s tower which had some steps leading down to a
basement. He had been down there and found a wooden door which led off to a tunnel. He felt he
could lead the party safely to this basement, so they all snuck into the village in the twilight.
Sure enough Elijah got them safely into the tower basement. Here they opened the door and Elijah
headed into the tunnels. He found a cross roads. One tunnel led to a chamber below the shrine. A
second led off to where the scuttling creature had been seen. The third seemed to lead to a
chamber below the building where the giants were lairing. As he returned to report he heard
scuttling noises coming from one passage. As he rushed back to his friends out of the darkness
loomed a giant horror. Like a cross between a beetle and a scorpion a massive ankheg rushed out
at him. Elijah dropped back, the horror looming over him, and reached his friends who unleashed
all their powers to stop this creature. Back with his friends Elijah tumbled through the terror�s
legs and got behind it. As the team smashed at the hard shell the creature screamed a strange
insectoid scream which echoed down the tunnels. Then Elijah ducked low and drove his
shortsword up into the ankheg�s soft underbelly. At this stage a second ankheg, perhaps attracted
by the calls of the first, came barrelling around the corner. Elijah, quick as ever, dived back into
the basement and the group shut the door. They prepared for it to come through but it never did.
They took a deep breath and waited for a few minutes, catching their breath and steadying their
nerves. When Elijah popped open the door a few minutes later there was no sign of the live
ankheg, although the dead one still lay in the corridor.
A quick plan was made and agreed and then Elijah set off into the tunnels again. He snuck past the
crossroads and on to the area where the giants laired. He hunkered down and waited. Up above he
could hear the sounds of the two giants chatting, their deep voices drifting down. He settled down
for a long wait. As the time passed it grew steadily darker in the tunnels until it was pitch black.
The flickering light of a fire could be seen. Just as Elijah was thinking of heading up to find the
giants he heard a scuttling in the darkness. It was coming closer! With unnatural speed another
ankheg burst out of the darkness at Elijah! He rolled, just dodging getting caught in its huge
mandibles and managed to get past it. He stabbed at it and then dropped back. His friends, hearing
the fight, rushed forward to help, Jaina making her holy symbol glow with holy light, banishing
the darkness around her. The four of them rushed the ankheg which then blasted them all with a
huge gush of acid out of its mouth. A few axe blows and sword thrusts later the ankheg was dead,
but in the distance the group saw a flickering light and before they could retreat or douse their
lights, a hill giant appeared far down the tunnel, torch in hand. It had clearly spotted the party.
They dropped quickly back into the basement and Lynott slammed the door shut, but not before
Elijah had bounced a sling bullet off its head. Unfortunately the giant also had access to stones and
his were a lot bigger. The oak door splintered into little pieces as the giant hurled a massive rock
into it from range! Drax and Lynott dropped to either side of the doorway and took cover. The
giant retreated upstairs � possibly to get his friend. Elijah scampered up the stairs and secreted
himself in the rubble in the base of the tower. Jaina hid in the basement, supporting Drax and
Lynott. Then simultaneously one giant, torch in hand, reappeared in the tunnels below their
building, and another giant, also with a torch came striding out of the building above ground,
heading straight for Elijah�s hiding position. The battle for the ruined village was about to
commence in earnest�
Report Date
10 Apr 2024
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