(G312 15/04/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ, HK) WA2

(G312 15/04/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ, HK) WA2


DAY 284 (19th Nightal)(December)

Arahel spent the day in the tavern as she was not prepared to do anything until her armour was ready.

Fenrir went into town to do some clothes shopping as he only had the outfit he had arrived in and wished to present a more dashing figure around Westgate. Among other things he bought a very fashionable hat. In Westgate the height of fashion was a wide soft hat with feathers around it.


DAY 285 (20th Nightal)(December)

Today Arahel's armour was ready to be picked up and the cottage they had rented was also ready for habitation.

The cottage was close to Thessar's House. Thessar was a retired mercenary who now spent his time telling stories and drinking beer on his porch as well as acting as an agent for sellswords.

Fenrir wisely arranged with a local locksmith to get new locks fitted of the most excellent quality on the front and back doors.

The moved in the gear they had taken with them from Pedestal, including a magical 'Field Provisions Box' which could feed up to fifteen people and several horses a day.

They spent the rest of the evening settling into the cottage. Harvel would not be moving in with them.

DAY 286 (21th Nightal)(December)

Today Harvel decided to earn his fee and start looking into getting Fenrir and Arahel 'in' with the
Night Masks.

To that end he went to look for someone known as 'Rudolph the Snitch' (asking a friendly watchman that he knew called Lushyr Myan) and eventually found him in a crows cage hanging from a gibbet on the  southern road into town.

Harvel tried to bargain with Rudolph - a good word with the watch in return for help contacting the
Night Masks. Rudolph only wanted out of the cage though. Harvel walked away, probably expecting to be shouted at to come back, but in this case his bluff was called and Rudolph remained silent.

What he didn't know was the Fenrir had followed him, with Arahel as a wee puppy in his pocket. Invisible and flying they witnessed the whole exchange. When no one was looking Fenrir turned visible then walked up to Rudolph and agreed to come back and release him that night in return for his help. Rudolph readily agreed.

Meanwhile Harvel went to the Bent Mermaid and tried another of his informers, a man known as  Shady Doug. He arranged for Doug to meet his 'clients' then returned with Fenrir and Arahel who were back at the cottage.

After some haggling they agreed to pay 200 gold for an introduction to a mid-level Night Mask and a 'Red hot tip' for the noon race at Bleth Track tomorrow - a horse called 'Two In the Pink'.

They next located Yntar Shieldblazon, a bard, in another tavern and Fenrir asked him a few questions about Yuan-ti in the city. Yntar remembered some trouble with them about ten years ago, involving the Fire Knives (an assassin's guild) and activity in the 'crypts', but said he would  need a bit more time to gather more detailed information. They agreed to meet again the next day.

They went back to the cottage after that and in the evening Fenrir went and rescued Rudolph. When you can fly and be invisible this is no task of great difficulty, although it was noticed by people on the street. Westgate does have an aerial 'Giant Owl Patrol' but they were not called out.

Back at the cottage Rudolph was very grateful to Fenrir for saving his skin. He went on to say he would gladly help get them friendly with the Night Masks and that he just needed to go sort out a few things and he would meet them the next day at the Bent Mermaid.
He left the cottage, skulking out into the dark night.

All this time Arahel had been in bed.

DAY 287 (22th Nightal)(December)

Fenrir spent the morning at the race track and was delighted that when he bet 1000 gold on his horse it came in first! Since it looked like the race had probably been fixed though he had trouble with the bookies, but did get all his winnings in the end. He made an enemy of one of them though, a tough fellow called Hrumkle the Bookie.

At the Bent Mermaid, Shady Doug had also made a packet so when they met him he had a girl on each knee, a cigar in his mouth and a feather boa around his neck.
'Good day at the races lads?' he called as they came in.

They talked for a while and Fenrir asked if Doug had seen Rudolph the Snitch. He then hinted that he, Fenrir, had rescued him. Doug then said,
'Well, if Rudolph was in a crows cage then he was there because the Masks wanted him there. They would have rescued him if they wanted to. He wasn't called "The Snitch" for nothing you know. He'll have legged it, be well away from the city by now. Next time use the old noodle eh?'

Doug then went on to tell them to meet a man called Tormstar the Scarred at the Spitting Cockatrice at midnight that night. It was just down the road from their cottage in fact.
Doug also warned Fenrir to make sure and give Tormstar a good reason for why he wanted to join the Night Masks as they would be highly suspicious of someone from out of town.

On the way back they located Yntar Shieldblazon again and in exchange for a few coins learned that the yuan-ti had been seen around a place on the docks known as The Silver Star warehouse.
This had been ten years ago though.

Harvel spent the rest of the day 'doing the rounds' then found a good spot to watch the  Spitting Cockatrice from.

DAY 288 (23th Nightal)(December)

Fenrir and Arahel walked down the road to the inn they were to meet Tormstar at. Arahel was in the form of a weasel.

One of the guards at the door said, 'Here mate, no weasels.'
Fenrir replied, 'Ahh, I'll just put it round the corner...'
He then went around the corner and Arahel jumped into his hat.
It also took a small bribe to get in after that.

While he had a drink at the bar a very attractive woman came to him and said, 'Follow me.' Fenrir did as he was bid and was lead to a private room upstairs where he was met by Tormstar.

Perhaps the ale he had been drinking was stronger than he had thought, because if he had had a plan at all, it evaporated into beer fumes.
He told Tormstar that he and his two companions wanted to join the Night Masks and Tormstar asked, 'Where are your companions tonight?'
He replied, 'If you don't mind I'll keep that under my hat.'
Arahel giggled a tiny weasel laugh from her hiding place.

Fenrir then said he had come from Waterdeep and was on the look out for new ventures. He then went on to display his ability to fly and to turn invisible.
'All very good,' said Tormstar. 'But this isn't a knitting circle. If you're companions want to join then I have to meet them.'
'Well,' said Fenrir lifting his hat. 'This is Arahel.'

Arahel hopped down, then turned into her normal form of a green skinned girl.
'Ah, a kiloren, I see,' said Tormstar. 'And your other companion?'
'...wishes to remain anonymous.'
Fenrir went on to explain about Harvel and wishing to be helpful wanted to inform Tormstar that Harvel now worked for him and anything he had done in the past against the Night Masks could  perhaps be forgotten about. Tormstar hadn't heard of him, but did say,
'Bring him here, and your other friend. Then we can talk again.'
Fenrir realised he had put his foot in it. He had meant that Cavu was the "third man" but he had no idea who he was. Also, he pondered later, it might have been best not to mention Harvel at all.
'Well...' he said. 'Our third member is out of the city, perhaps I should have mentioned him...'
'You seem like powerful people, you look more like adventurers than thieves to me. Find a crypt and raid if for treasure. That's my advice.'

Fenrir then went on to talk in terms of an alliance, rather than joining the guild and Tormstar said, 'You can hire the guild if you need something stolen, or something killed.'
'What about information?'
'Yes, that too.'
'What can you tell me about Snake Gates?'

At this point, dear reader, you may be forgiven for letting your jaw drop open as Fenrir casually revealed one of the main reasons he was in the city to a powerful member of the local thieves' guild!
Be that as it may, Tormstar did reply, 'I'll see what I can do. Come back tomorrow.'

Fenrir and Arahel walked back to the cottage, the young warlock thinking to himself that if Ozborne had been around he would be getting a telling off by now. That wily rogue was much better at this sort of thing, Fenrir reflected.

And so, obviously, he unwittingly led the Night Masks right back to his house. Harvel, who had waited outside the Cockatrice in the shadows observed a stealthy figure follow the warlock and druid all the way back.

Harvel snuck up on the figure who lurked in the trees by the cottage. He noted it was a female.
'See anything interesting?' he asked.
'I don't know what you are talking about,' she said, but she did leave.
Harvel noted that she was dressed in leather armour and had a knife on each hip.

He then went inside to talk to Fenrir who told him that he'd made rather a mess of everything. Harvel was not too happy about his name being dragged into things but did realise that while he
had the protection of Nebulus he was safe from the Masks.

It seemed that Fenrir was off to his usual rocky start, but perhaps, like in Waterdeep, he would find a way. Gertrude always seemed to have faith in him to not necessarily do the right thing when it came to it, but to at least do the thing that moved things in the direction that she was hoping for.
What was her plan? Who knew? Not even Cavu at this stage. Gertrude played the long game and she did  indeed move in mysterious ways, her wonders to perform.

(G311 01/04/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ, HK) SS19/WA1

(G311 01/04/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ, HK) SS19/WA1
 Meanwhile back in Pedestal.

DAY 280 (15th Nightal)(December) continued ...

[Merlock Tomes continues his report]

This is the conclusion of my report. The group of adventurers known as the 'Buffalo Bunch' entered the chamber occupied by Fadheela and her cohorts and a melee ensued.

At the same time as they entered Dwerry Gentile finally revealed her true evil nature and turned on the others. I did not know this while I was in the Spike, but I have since learned that she was in fact a Vanguard of Sertrous agent known as Wathuss.

Fenrir had had previous dealing with her I am lead to believe, back in Waterdeep. Back then she had been the chief Vanguard agent and in a war of nerves and intermittent raids on each other's hide outs she had battled to keep Fenrir and his friends following the trail to Pedestal.

She, of course, had failed in that, but had at least infiltrated their group and in one last throw of the dice attacked them in the rear while they were occupied with Fadheela and her minions.

It was a brutal combat. To begin with, sensing that now was no time for messing about, Arahel for once used her head and summoned up a bunch of crocodiles (and a single wolf). They went in and engaged the grimlocks that surged forward in the first few moments of the battle.

Dwerry, or Wathuss rather, fire off two fireballs that blasted Arahel dead and Durz nearly so. Fenrir was injured too, they were all crammed in too tightly. Durz tried to get at her, but she avoided his blows as she fled down the corridor back to the stairs. When he was overcome with a torrent of magic missiles he chose to flee before he too was killed.

Meanwhile, in Fadheela's chamber Billi and Fenrir battled a bloodhulk. These things are immensely strong and it killed many of the crocodiles. Fenrir blasted at it and Billi shot it until it had taken so much damage it could hardly stand. At that moment, the wolf, which had been skulking about trying simply to stay alive nipped in and bit the bloodhulk in the leg and killed it.

While all this was going on Fadheela, who was a medusa, was trying to petrify Billi and Fenrir but she had no luck with that at all. Fenrir then blasted her once and Billi killed her with a single arrow through the heart.

The room cleared Fenrir rushed into the corridor to discover Arahel was dead. Enraged. he blasted at Dwerry with his magic, channeling everything he had into it. It knocked her down onto her knees, exhausted and badly injured. As she opened her mouth to plead for mercy he killed her off with another dreadful blast.

As they got their breath back, unexpectedly Maaril the Dragonmage (of Waterdeep) teleported in with four sellswords and two large gargoyles. Fenrir recognised him and took a step back as Maaril ordered his men to loot the corpse of Fadheela and to gather up the body of Dwerry.
From Fadheela he took a key and a staff, then without a word of farewell they all teleported out of the room once more.

Not entirely sure what all that had been about they then looted the chamber of all its treasure, gathered up Arahel's corpse and exited the Spike through Fadheela's secret door.

Next they went back to the Dripstone Inn where I gather Es Sarch brought Arahel back to life by some  mysterious means. From what I heard, the process that he uses is rarely pleasant and falls a long way short of being what a cleric would call a Resurrection.

That night, from what I gather, the Bunch arranged selling the massive amount of treasure they had  looted from the various places they had raided, again with Es Sarch.

They then spent the night in the Inn. The next day they left town.

I saw no need to confront them as they had essentially done us a huge service by clearing the  Necromancer's Spike and proved themselves to be pretty tough customers. Despite the fact they had much money and valuable magic items about their persons an attack on them would require so much resource to hardly be worth it.

They certainly killed Elessarwa Nledoor, but it may be better to let Es Sarch think for now that his little plan worked. It will require careful thought before moving against him.

Billitoppe, Durz, Arahel and Fenrir should certainly be punished for their crime, however I  recommend subtlety and not a direct attack.

Dwerry is dead and will most likely stay dead.

Here ends my report.

DAY 281 (16th Nightal)(December)

[Back to Rollo's Journal]

That's all I managed to get a hold of from the report by Merlock Tomes of Pedestal.

From what I gather though, Billi and Durz decided to head back to their mercenary company where they probably planned to have a six month bender with their newfound wealth. Berum went with Durz, her husband.

Fenrir and Arahel, an odd couple of travelling companions, left Pedestal and went across the Oceanbrigde to the Earth Node where they teleported back to the King's Barrow. From here they once more emerged at the Kingsholm Cemetery and walked back down into the town and went to get some food and drink at the Coronet and Cabbage. Cavu was waiting for them.

While they ate in his room he said,

'Well, I guess mixed success there. We knew Maaril was an interested party but rather hoped he'd stay out of it. Getting the staff back from him will require subtlety, so I think we'll try a few diplomatic approaches before resorting to .. ahem .. brute force and ignorance.
If you want a job in the mean time though I can give you one. Sort of... all a bit vague at the moment, but Gerty, bless the old girl, has got a real bee in her bonnet about a place called Westgate. She hasn't told me what's what, all I know is that she wants a base established there initially. I can provide transport and some funds to get you there and a contact. Interested?'

They shrugged and agreed, 'Why not?'

Within a few hours Cavu had organised some transport, a female human wizard called Thjodhild who teleported them to just outside of Westgate.

As instructed they first headed to the village of Ferbone that lay about five miles south of the city. Here they asked for and found a lady cleric of Sylvanus known as Weynay the Worrisome.

She was the cleric of a temple on the edge of the village and when they explained who had sent them she said,

'Oh right. Cavu sent you? I've never met with him, but a friend of mine vouches for him. My friend said that he can be trusted up to a point and that he aligns with Sylvanus generally. Very well, I can help you. Go to the Purple Lady and ask for Nebulus the Rascal. He's an old friend of mine and owes me a huge favour. Tell him you are calling it in. He can help you. Don't let him fob you off or give just a little bit of help. He owes me big time and he is stinking rich. Get him to help you
with advice and such in Westgate. He'll be a big help getting to know the place and making contacts, he has a finger in every pie in the city. He's a good enough sort really, but don't trust him, not to begin with anyway and don't flash any obvious wealth or magical items in front of him, he's a terrible crook and you'll only put temptation in his way. Other than that, good luck and let me know how you get on! And come back any time if you need any restorations or such like!'


Although they could both fly if the wanted to, for perhaps no other reason than to enjoy a nice walk through the snowy fields and copses of the Dragon Coast they arrived at Westgate again as it grew dark. They had no great problem with gaining entrance and after asking around for a shop that dealt in magic items, headed to Gondeth's Magery and arranged to spend some of their money.

Once that was all done they went to the Purple Lady Tavern and 'Festhall' to meet their next contact a merchant known as Nebulus the Rascal.

He was signing documents as they entered. Two scantily clad wenchs also reclined on couches at the back  of the room. The rear windows were open and the sound of the street and the docks gently wafted inside on the icy winter breeze. Despite this though the room was warm from the well banked fire in the stone fireplace.
Nebulus was a short fat man with a bald head. He was well dressed, as you would expect from a rich merchant in fine furs and with a gold chain around his neck. He seems pleased to see them.

'Come in, come in! Have you eaten? Are you hungry? I've got in a shipment of spices from Calimsham. I've been cooking with it ever since! Some lamb? Some chicken? Girls, bring up some food and wine for my guest!'
He eyed up then said to Fenrir,
'Can I also offer anything for your, servant? Pet? ...Daughter..?'
He sounded serious, but Fenrir wasn't so sure,
'My name is ... ah, Raziel Lightningrod. My companion is a young lady of independence and intellect  known as Arahel.'
'Does she speak?' asked the merchant.

They talked for a while longer, Fenrir was in no huge hurry to start Cavu's mission just yet and preferred to go back down and arrange his dinner and a room.
He opted for the luxury version with all the 'extras' while Arahel went for a more basic arrangement.

Here now I will introduce someone new, a man called Harvel who had lived in Westgate after arriving from the Dale Lands about a year ago. He was a middle aged man who sported a red beard that was peppered with grey. He was watching Fenrir and Arahel, not just because he was the sort of fellow that watched strangers out of habit, but also because he was employed by Nebulus to do so.
He'll be playing a prominent role in this tale as it moves forward.

DAY 282 (17th Nightal)(December)

Having now established a 'base' in the Purple Lady and after a night of having relations with the tavern prostitutes Fenrir ate his breakfast that morning with a sense of achievement.

Both he and Arahel spent the day relaxing. They certainly could not be blamed for doing so as they were still tired from all the fighting back at the Spike and the travelling the day before.

Meanwhile Harvel did some asking around town and discovered that they had arrived by teleportation.
He past this information on to Nebulus.

DAY 283 (18th Nightal)(December)

Fenrir and Arahel went back to Gondeth's Magery to check up on their magical armour orders then wandered back to the Purple Lady.

Waiting to meet them was Cavu. He had a girl on his knee and was singing her a love song.

When they could talk in private he said,
'Oh, the whole Maaril thing was kind of Billi's fault. Well, I don't blame him. He was given a Stone of Sending by an agent of Maaril, probably that Jolly Underhill character and then he gave it to Dwerry. She used it to feed lies to Maaril, so who knows what he thought when he teleported in and grabbed the staff and key. If he uses magic to speak to her or bring her back I dare say he'll learn the truth. He is no friend of the Vanguard, but then, he's no friend of ours either. Next time, put your back into it Fenrir old chap, if you'd managed to bring her onto our side then we would have the staff, the key and a valuable asset in the form of Wathuss herself. You seem to think the only way to seduce a woman is to stick your spear in her, one day remind me to teach you how to treat a lady properly. Well, I suppose we dealt with Fadheela and are a step closer at least.'

He then gave them one thousand gold and told them to buy or rent a property then find a faction in Waterdeep they liked the look of and join it.

'This is the priority. She still hasn't told me what is going on, but it seems very important. One other thing, not quite so important but anyway...  Maybe you've figured this out and maybe you haven't but Gerty gets really excited about Snake Gates. All the time I've worked for her she's been on the look out for them and I suppose that's why she's up against the Vanguard so much.
Anyway, she think's there is one either in Westgate or near to it and she'd like you to find it. I've got no more information than that, but you are resourceful chaps. Make very very delicate enquiries, you don't want to draw the Vanguard down on you. After all, they will probably not be happy that you thwarted them in Pedestal. See if you can't find where it is and then report back.'

Fenrir tried not to giggle when Cavu described them as resourceful. Didn't Cavu realise they were idiots?

Harvel had managed to eavesdrop on this conversation and report it back to Nebulus. It didn't really matter though as it was not long before Fenrir and Arahel were back talking to the merchant, seeking his counsel.
They discussed the city and the factions that were in it to some extent then Nebulus told them to go downstairs and ask for his man Harvel who would be able to guide them around the city as and when required.

Harvel took them to his office, which was not too far from the tavern. It was a small terraced dwelling, a room downstairs he used as his office with a living area above it.
Harvel made his living as a sort of private investigator, a similar sort of role to Merlock Tomes I suppose.
He'd take any work he could get though and arranged a small fee to be paid to him much to Fenrir's displeasure.

After discussing the city factions (more on that later) they decided to look at  property in the city. Harvel introduced them to his own landlady, a woman known as Hildigunn. They settled on a cottage just outside the western walls and arranged it to be cleaned and staffed by a housekeeper.

They then went back to the tavern for the rest of the evening.

(G310 25/03/2017 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, MJ) RL5

(G310 25/03/2017 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, MJ) RL5

DAY 342 (9th Alturaik)(February)  cont ...

It was about two in the afternoon when we headed up to the church. After talking it over with  Ashlyn it appeared she really wanted to see how her pals were doing before tackling anything else.

At that time I was sort of thinking they were probably fine. If they were as tough as Ashlyn I  doubted they could have come to much harm.

On the way there we were attack by three of the tough sort of zombies you get in these parts and then a further set of nasties that we later identified as ghasts. They were unpleasant but a good dose of Searing Light, Magic Missiles, Fireballs and bears did away with them.

Towards the end of the fight, for reasons that I cannot guess at Tie Pie launched a Fireball into the melee just as my bears were finishing off the last of the undead. Result, three dead bears.
Those poor things. I summoned a monkey and made it follow Tie Pie around for a full minute with a  little sad monkey face.

After that small tussle, although just a couple of spells had been used the pestilential sorcerer next insisted that we go back to the inn and rest so he could recover his magical energy.
I suppose we had killed off quite a few undead today anyway and since Ashlyn had nothing to say on the matter we went back to the inn.

I spent the evening deep in thought. After all the bother we'd had in the Plane of Shadows here we were in another dark corner of the world.

DAY 343 (10th Alturaik)(February)

I can hardly bring myself to write down what happened today, but I owe it to he who has fallen to collect my thoughts and commit them to paper while they are fresh in my memory.

In the morning, after breakfast, we headed back up the road to the church. As we approached it we could hear chanting, some sort of nonsense prayer.

We entered through the front door and I saw a figure at the altar across the main chamber. Now, I must have been thinking of nothing other than trying to offer friendship to this fellow as I failed to notice the large hole in the floor. What I mean is, I did see it, but I mistook the dark patch on the floor, thinking it a carpet or something. I had cast a Light spell on my scimitar but the shadows and gloom worked against me.
Anyway, as I fell I made a quick decision and turned an inelegant scramble into a graceful dive. If I was falling to my doom I would at least do it in style. Also perhaps I would be able to fly back up as an eagle and declare it had all been part of my plan.

In hindsight it is perhaps just as well I fell as I could have been the one that died when the man at the alter turned and used a Zone of Death scroll on the others as they entered.

Some of them felt the effect of the spell but managed to fight it off. Poor Mr Badgerington  wasn't so lucky and dropped stone dead on the spot. I felt the magical link severe between us as he died.
Badger had been my animal companion since I had first become a druid and had been with me all the way to Sasserine and back, Waterdeep and all those troubles and then at my side all through the expedition into the Plane of Shadows. Now he was dead and I was hit with a tremendous sense of anguish and loss.

I was also immensely angry. I turned into and eagle and flew out of the hole and cast a Polymorph spell on the priest that had killed Badger, but it failed to get him. He then jumped down the hole and I followed after.

Undead gathered above and the others dealt with them while I pursued my prey. The room below was dark and full of undead but I cared not. I cast Inferno on him, but he dispelled it. I then cast Hypothermia but it missed.

Yli fired arrows down at the undead from above as the others finished off the enemies they were facing in the main chamber.

I cast Arc of Lighting at my foe and it hit him, just as Sylvia and Ashlyn jumped down to join the fight below. I summoned bears and sent them into the combat. One was killed by two swift strikes from a large skeleton. Yli saw his target and shot at it, arrow after arrow finding its target.

I swooped and soared around the melee, summoning bears. Sylvia turned some of the undead, skeletons and other stranger things while Ashlyn methodically hammered away at them with her mace. It was turning into a brutal battle, but I didn't want it to end until I had slaked my thirst for revenge!