Session 24

Date Played: January 5, 2002

Tserdain, 24^th of Thaumont, 1,000 A.C. (continued)

SYNOPSIS: The party was involved in a quest to help the people of Haven. A red magic glow had begun to spread from the ruined Palace of the Silver Princess, spoiling crops and killing or infecting livestock. Hordes of humanoids have descended from the northern Thunder Mountains, barely held in check by the Protectors, powerful faerie spellcasters who have summoned the party here to help. The Protectors had opened a tunnel in the red glow, keeping it open just long enough for the small party to make it into the Palace. There they hoped and prayed that they could find some way to stop this terrible menace before it destroys all of Haven and spreads beyond into the Duchy of Karameikos.

10:20 pm

Once the party arrived at the eastern portcullis, they investigated to make sure that no one else was in the entry room before exploring the passageway to the east. The party found two eastern corridors linked by a short hallway containing a door. Both eastern corridors ended in stairs leading down into darkness. Not wanting to descend at this time, the party chose to open the door. Inside, the room was coated with an oozing, greenish slime, so Eric quickly shut the door. The party then headed back south along the main corridor to the side passage at the half-way point. A short hall ended with a door to the south. Once they entered, the party found a room stocked with crates. However, the crates were all nailed tightly shut, so the party had to find a hammer to find out what was inside. The closest location where a tool could be found was back amidst the dead kobolds in the old scriptorium. The party headed west but came upon a group of five orcs coming down the western corridor towards them. Chow-Lin managed to cast sleep on the group, catching them all before they had a chance to attack. Markus happily killed them all and then looted the bodies, gaining a battleaxe (to use on the crates), 3 torches, and 19 gp.

10:50 pm

The party backtracked to the storeroom and began chopping the crates open. Inside one crate they discovered 12 tins of iron rations (containing 1 week worth of food for one person in each tin). They split these up amongst themselves before proceeding, taking care to close the door behind them. A little more than ¼ of a flask of oil remained in the lantern. The party headed back to the southeast corridor beyond the broken crystal statues. They explored and mapped but found nothing unusual except for a very long corridor and several doors. They stopped exploring and turned back when the corridor began to turn to the west.

11:40 pm

The party headed back north to examine the very first door in this long corridor. Beyond the door was a library filled with bookshelves, scroll shelves, and writing tables with chairs. Chow-Lin, Eric, and Hamlin begin searching through the shelves while Markus kept his eye open for trouble, armed with his crossbow. Unfortunately, trouble found him! A huge spider, hiding camouflaged on the ceiling, leapt on Markus’ back, viciously biting him and injecting him with venom. The spider was killed during a quick battle but Markus was obviously in danger of dying from the poison. Eric was unable to save him with his spells or abilities, but Chow-Lin remembered that one of the potions identified at the Alchemist Shoppe was a purification draught known as a potion of sweet water. Not knowing if the potion would have effect, she administered it to Markus anyway, and just in time. As the potion was absorbed into his body, the effects of the poison subsided and then disappeared entirely. By this time, the lantern oil had grown quite low and the party was winded from the battle. Before the fray began, Chow-Lin had discovered a scroll that she could not read. Believing it to be a magic spell scroll, she folded it up and tucked it into her spellbook for safe keeping.

END TIME: 12:10 am on Moldain, the 25^th of Thaumont

Burning time remaining for Hooded Lantern = 1 turn.