43 - 9/9

Standing before the party stood a large stone slab, with no noticeable method of entry. After a moment, a blue face appeared from the stone and began to speak to the party. It offered a riddle for entry, which the party quickly solved. A magic portal opened to a long hallway, and the group ventured into the strange new realm.
Inside a hallway with six alcoves with large suits of armor in them, and after walking close they animated and attacked! The helmed horrors were difficult to hit, but were eventually overcome. The next room had two side passages "Laws of Nature" and on the right "History of Lloegyr". The group split, the left finding an enormous arcane construct animate and attacked! While it did a few devastating hits, Pink finished it off with numerous large blows. To the south was a strange wheel with the different planes on it, similar to the large archway to the north. It appeared to be missing a gear, causing it to wobble and not function. Morrigan stumbled upon a mysterious book that sucked her into it! A bizarre dragon reading books greeted her, and in return for her story about vampirism the dragon seemed content, offering payment should she bring him books of value. With a flick he sent her back to the library.
To the right the other group found scribbles! Unfortunately she seemed catatonic, and a mysterious mindflayer with odd mimic-like properties assaulted the party! Its attacks were thankfully warded off and the creature slain. Scribbles returned to normal after its dying with little more than a bad headache, and relayed some useful information to Panic. She thought that the books on Embers grandfather might hold useful knowledge on how to cure Ember, but four blasted imps had stolen them! They were somewhere in these halls. She agreed to sit tight while the group sought them out. Zelem continued south and found a mysterious book that tried to get him to free it from, but Zelem tucked it in his bag of holding.
To the north a large archway carved to resemble a book stood, with fix carvings that resembled the outlands plains etched in them. Pathways lay to the east and west, but the group decided to go north first. On the west side an imp was found holding one of the books! After scolding the devilish critter, Panic took the book and Morrigan blasted it. On the east side investigation was begun, but before much progress was made three flaming skulls erupted, cackling maniacally before turning to attack!

Important Characters

Morrigan Oweland - Morrigan is a noble from the town of Saltmarsh. She serves the dark goddess Hecate who has transformed her servant into a fearsome creature of darkness, a unique form of Vampire. Upon return to Saltmarsh she has now reclaimed her position and is one of only two noble families in charge of the port city. Morrigan has formed the Akadian Pact and an alliance of towns in the Plains of Mayfurrow.

Zelem - Tiefling, conman and swindler. He has numerous alter-egos and a strange dark patron. Recently a mysterious tortle has given him a quest to find a powerful artifact, which seems to have been taken by a Priest of Muir. After his disguise was outed, he is now a famed hero of Saltmarsh and revered by the guard, much to his dismay. He has spent much time and money in turning the former town of kennmouth (now, Fortune's Crossing) into a haven for his criminal enterprises.

Panic - A tiefling more like a moth than a devil, the charming Druid joined the group in an effort to save her beloved from a terrible affliction. She is weary about some of her new companions, but hopes that together they can help her. Now that the winter is over, Panic has headed back to Darnagal with her new friends to learn what she can about aiding her wife, Ember.

Ruven - A trusty half-elf that has worked with Zelem in the past, after her adventures with the Snake God in the south she has ventured to the north with her friend Panic in an effort to aid her on her quest. She seems distrustful of the significantly more evil companions Zelem has found himself in the company of, but has reluctantly continued to journey with them. Upon return to Saltmarsh she has taken up the role of Spymaster and seeks to further the parties goals by learning as much as she can of the nearby regions.

Pink - After exacting revenge on her mutinous crew, she has reclaimed her title as Captain of the Lady Matilda and is now Pirate Lord of the Pinnacle of Freedom Isles. With the assassinations from the Stoneheart Company she has continued on to conquer the remaining ports, and rallied them to her side. She has now returned to Saltmarsh to aid her companions in their endeavors.

Danta - The Half-elf Bard has aided the Owelands in the past and is a friend of Morrigan. Having met an untimely death in the mysterious caves now controlled by Hector, the party has managed to resurrect their old friend who know has joined them on their adventures. He has taken to personally leading the task of forming an entertainment district in Saltmarsh.

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Ember - Panics wife, one day she was struck with a terrible affliction that began to sap at her spirit. She became lethargic and unresponsive and has deteriorated over time.

Scribbles - A friend of Panic and scribe of Brighthallow, the energetic gnome ventured into the mysterious portal despite protests from the Archmage in an effort to find aid for Ember. The group managed to save her, and she is positive that the key to Embers affliction lies with her grandfather.