(G199 16/05/2014 via Roll20 - JF, AP(GM), Mira)

(G199 16/05/2014 via Roll20 - JF, AP(GM), Mira)


DAY 217  (14 Marpenoth)(October) cont ...

Now that all our enemies were vanquished we explored the rest of the keep and secured it. Not a very
pleasant place in the country I have to say though. Not as comfortable as the pie shop has been and
certainly not as nice as father's place.

Apart from the swirling black portal to the Plane of Shadows though it was habitable. Everyone decided
to set up in the gate house though, which was probably sensible.

In the main room where the portal was Mira found a switch behind a statue, which when pulled, lead to
a small altar where there was a black wooden disc about three feet wide and a burning bowl of oil.

To the left was a door with a big lever. This lead to the room under the tower where we had met the
howling dog.

By nine in the morning we were all done. We set up the prisoners in the small rooms in the main keep.
This was Gathan, Bestra Mornscroll, Mendios and Kithguard Maurran (the Shadar Kai).

Outside by the pool inside the grounds we first talked to Bestra. At first she had me fooled into
thinking she was innocent and misguided but in the end we didn't believe her.

Next was Mendios who we did believe. He had been a victim of domination and now that he was free of
that he was awake again.

Kithguard was sullen but told us a bit about the Shadar-Kai and their plight. I had some sympathy for
his race, doomed to torment and suffering in the Plane of Shadows and only wanting to find a way out.
They were killers though and the gal-ralan that they wore around their arms, a band of spiked metal
that kept them pinned down in the Material Plane, that pierced their skin and kept them in perpetual
pain, made them violent and unpleasant.

I spent the rest of the day helping to dispose of the corpses. I got the teeth out of the big
lizard thing upstairs and skinned it. Very nice stuff, would make a fine bag or somesuch.

DAY 218  (15 Marpenoth)(October)

In the morning Sylvia cast 'Speak with Dead' on Destyl. She was happy where she was and didn't
want to come back apparently. We divided up her stuff.

After a long talk we decided on a plan of action.

Shump, Jiggles and Mendios were to go back to Weyloon with the donkey, Bestra and the loot to sell it and
buy more supplies. Everyone else would wait at the keep. We would expect them back in about six
days.

I also had a fly over to the lizardman camp to talk to K in regards to Gathan. He was about as
much use as a fart in a bottle though. 'Gathan decides his own destiny' was about the size of
it. Bloody savages.

So when we got back I used stone shape to put him in a cell next to Kithguard. The rooms were sealed
except for a slot to put food into. That would sort them out. Pair of idiots.

In the keep tonight then was me, Sylvia, Lavinia and Mira. We organised a watch for the night.
The person awake would patrol the keep with a lantern and look in on the prisoners from time to time.

DAY 219  (16 Marpenoth)(October)1

I used all my Stone Shape spells to fix up the keep walls.

I then flew about for the rest of the day and paid a visit to K. I asked if he could send over
a few lizard folk. Maybe a couple of guards and a maid. I could pay them in gold or javelin heads.
He said he would see what he could do.

Lavinia and Jiggles cleaned up the gatehouse and made it a bit more homely.

DAY 220  (17 Marpenoth)(October)2

Once I'd fixed up the walls a bit more I spent the rest of the day flying around studying the
local wild life.

(see Beast Journal Entries #1442 to #1514)

DAY 221  (18 Marpenoth)(October)3

A similar day to yesterday. I brought back some food and cut flowers for the guard house.

Today some lizardfolk arrived. I'd already arranged their payment with K. Two warriors called
Nakal and Nanti, a female who could cook called Jatol and a boy called Cupcay.

DAY 222  (19 Marpenoth)(October)4

I used all my Stone Shape spells again to repair some of the keep and put in a ladder to
the roof.

Mira seems happy pottering about in the keep and exploring the area around the keep. Lavinia
seems bored, but is happy enough to take i.e. easy. Jiggles is always tagging along with Lavinia,
she seems to adore her.

I'm glad they don't need much attention anyway as they swamp is thick with wildlife. I could
spend years here cataloging the butterflies. The beetles would take a life time. I've seen more
wisps and hydra's, but I keep my distance!

DAY 223  (20 Marpenoth)(October)5

I brought back some rabbits today and we had a nice meal together. We gave some to Gathan and
Kithguard.

Mira seems to have become the guardian of Gathan. I thought he should be set free and allowed to do
what he wanted (i.e. jump through the portal and probably die). Mira wants to keep him prisoner
and keep him with us when we go through.

I'm not sure when it was decided that we will explore the portal, but it seems to be what we are
doing.

DAY 224  (21 Marpenoth)(October)6

Shump and Jiggles returned with the donkey. Apparently Bestra was killed by a Shambling Mound on
the way to Weyloon. Oh well.

They had all the supplies we needed though, so we got ready for our expedition into the Plane
of Shadows.