Classic Campaign Logbook - Revision history

Cmatney: /* The Lost City (2022) */

2023-09-07T10:13:01Z

The Lost City (2022)

Cmatney: /* The Lost City (2022) */

2023-09-01T13:48:18Z

The Lost City (2022)

Cmatney: /* Plundering the Overlord's Palace II (2022) */

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Plundering the Overlord's Palace II (2022)

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 Finally, an exit is found.  In a 20'x20' room, the familiar image of the black rook painted on the ceiling.  What lays in the uppermost chamber?  The party's approach has not been secret, so its occupants will be on guard.  Steeling themselves for another battle, U-Gene reaches up with the black rook to make contact...
-== The Lost City (2022) ==
+== The Lost City (2023) ==
 '''January 1, 919 TA.'''

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:48, 1 September 2023
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	'''March 1, 921 TA'''		'''March 1, 921 TA'''
		+	[[File:lost city.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|The Lost City]]

	''It has been a year since the Invasion from the Sea – the arrival of the six infestations of blooms and mounds of moving green tentacles that poured into the Reaches in the springtime of 920 TA. The devastation of the vines was immense with nine cities, towns and castles destroyed and countless lives lost. The immigration of displaced townsfolk from the south has continued since the autumn.''		''It has been a year since the Invasion from the Sea – the arrival of the six infestations of blooms and mounds of moving green tentacles that poured into the Reaches in the springtime of 920 TA. The devastation of the vines was immense with nine cities, towns and castles destroyed and countless lives lost. The immigration of displaced townsfolk from the south has continued since the autumn.''

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:46, 1 September 2023
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	Finally, an exit is found. In a 20'x20' room, the familiar image of the black rook painted on the ceiling. What lays in the uppermost chamber? The party's approach has not been secret, so its occupants will be on guard. Steeling themselves for another battle, U-Gene reaches up with the black rook to make contact...		Finally, an exit is found. In a 20'x20' room, the familiar image of the black rook painted on the ceiling. What lays in the uppermost chamber? The party's approach has not been secret, so its occupants will be on guard. Steeling themselves for another battle, U-Gene reaches up with the black rook to make contact...
		+
		+	== The Lost City (2022) ==
		+	'''January 1, 919 TA.'''
		+
		+	The adventure begins with U-Gene touching the black rook to the ceiling of the Tower of the Great Walls. The party finds themselves in the top room of the tower facing General Foxwich, a modern Old Kingdom leader, and three mechanical suits of armor – each with a glowing lance. While the General teleports the black chess piece into Ernie’s backpack in the hopes the party would use the Javelin of the Black Knight (which slays the holder of the chess piece), his minions begin shooting death rays. The battle is short. The party figures out that the lances target specific party members (and makes them immune to attacks by that member). The General fails to use an Inversion Mirror to charm Hylax. U-Gene lops Foxwich’s head off, and the spellcasters quickly provide immunity from the knights.
		+
		+	A search of the room reveals a map which is later discovered to control the position of the Great Walls. The windows of the tower observation room overlook the land and provide infinite magnification with concentration. Discovering several buttons on a desk. One allows the party to travel to a treasure room – containing a golem with a Copper Rune Band, a device that allows it to use the party’s runes. This results in a short fight. The second allows the party to exit the tapestry to the Throne Room – home!
		+
		+	The Throne Room is awash in activity – mostly aimed at destroying. Anton Graves has hired two mercenary organizations to help out. The first is the Acendancy, freelance dark elf wizards who are controlling the flames around and the tapestry – lest the entire palace burns down. They have also dimensionally anchored the room – in an attempt to keep the party from fleeing. The second group are four red dragons, later discovered to be kobolds from Ssruthu led by Rubywrath, are using their breath weapons to attack the tapestry – without avail.
		+
		+	As the party exits into the maelstrom, it is clear that the tapestry is not going to be destroyed and the mercenaries are no match for the party. Fuzzwort dehydrates a dragon, and one of the Ascendancy is lopped. Not being paid for a fight against the party, the mercenaries withdraw while Graves flees for little Theo’s room. Falstaff warns the dark elves of a threat to all (including Dor Daedeloth) from the sea.
		+
		+	Little Theo (the new Overlord) is in his room, as the party discovers he is wearing Malloc’s gloves – illithium relics tied to the control of the Dark Councilors. He is pretending to be a knight battling dragons. Near him is Graves. After a brief argument, Ernie lops Graves’ head off. Over the wails of Theo, the gloves are removed Vince disintegrates the relics. Finally, Hylax casts a Memory Theft on Theo, making the young leader of Rembia forget the trauma of these horrifying events.
		+
		+	The party finds a suitable reagent for Theo in Doyle, a Paladin Knight, trusted by both the elves and the Collegium. The red-haired knight is loyal, and also possesses some sort of natural immunity to magic. A short ceremony is held, and Ernie uses a Vesper Candle to eavesdrop, ever so discretely on the new regent – he appears to be a real paladin with noble intentions to his new calling. Falstaff gives Theo a green Acorn of Succor in case the young king is in trouble or fears for his life. Further searches of Graves’ and Theo’s quarters turn up nothing new.
		+
		+	Some research is done into the tapestry. Qiro, the creator of the Great Walls, is identified but cannot be contacted. It is discovered that the tapestry can be moved (if both black knights are present). U-Gene orders the tapestry taken to Dwarrrowdelf and allocates 100,000 gp to redraw the magical map to the Reaches.
		+
		+	Satisfied that the Old Kingdom campaign is concluded, the party teleports back to the Reaches and a new challenge.
		+
		+	'''March 1, 921 TA'''
		+
		+	''It has been a year since the Invasion from the Sea – the arrival of the six infestations of blooms and mounds of moving green tentacles that poured into the Reaches in the springtime of 920 TA. The devastation of the vines was immense with nine cities, towns and castles destroyed and countless lives lost. The immigration of displaced townsfolk from the south has continued since the autumn.''
		+
		+	''But the weeds had died over the winter. Great fires were erected to burn the gathered vines. There were celebrations that the worst was over. Rumors held that the whole affair was just some mad wizard’s experiment gone wrong. As springtime came, watchful eyes turned towards the sea. Would the vines return? Would it be another year of fighting a foe, seemingly without purpose.''
		+
		+	''The question has been answered. Reports of vine appearing along the most southern and northern coasts of the Reaches have already started pouring in.''
		+
		+	In the early morning on March 1, 921 TA, a message arrives that an emissary is waiting for King Vince. The page, Preston Powell, standing before the king is clearly nervous, shifting from foot to foot.
		+
		+	The emissary is a large shambling mound smelling of the sea. He introduces himself as Calian and welcomes the party to travel to his master Myodynn. The creature drops six red, glowing berries. Falstaff attempts to charm the creature. It mutters, “that’s your only mistake.” Without awaiting a further response, Calian disappears.
		+
		+	After some discussion and serious buffing, the each adventurer eats a berry and appears on a rocky shore (later discovered to be Sandal). There, offshore, stands Myodynn, a kelp creature a hundred feet tall. Myodynn tells the assembled heroes of the location of an artifact that will help control the blooms and mounds that ravage the Reaches. In exchange, Myodynn demands Sandal as his own. After a lengthy discussion and negotiation, the party agrees. Before returning under the waves, Myodynn tells of the Lost City of Inassea, known as the most dangerous place under the Great Sea. It is from the Lost City that all the plagues of the sea-born invasion have come. Beware an ancient evil lurks in its depths, he warns. In the Lost City, the party will find an artifact – a net made of blue-green metal – that will allow them to defeat their enemy.
		+
		+	A bargain struck, the party teleports to the Lost City. It is in the western Great Sea, nearest to the shores of the Old Kingdom. Unable to withstand the pressures of the deep sea, Hylax creates a submersible from nanognomes to aid the party in travel. Falstaff and Ernie polymorph into octopi, and the exploration is on.
		+
		+	The first exploration expedition finds a city of alabaster with dwarves working on fixing a crumbling temple-like structure surrounded by stinging blink rays. Periodically, tentacles whip out from inside the temple to prod the workers in their tasks. The party moves to attack – only to find that the entire city was a dream, not really an illusion, as they wake up back in Hylax’s boat after a brief but violent encounter.
		+
		+	Restart with a second expedition. The city now appears as the top of a volcano. A large black pit dominates the volcano’s throat. Circling the pit, buildings and roads are built ring-like to the edge of the crater. From the pit a whirling tornado of steam, inky blackness and tentacles extend hundreds of feet in the sea. The buildings appear to be dwarven in nature, and of First Age construction.
		+
		+	The party quickly discovers that any spell cast or rune expended causes a violent shaking, and the volcano to rise – sometimes only a few inches and other times a number of feet – towards the surface. Eventually, the volcano will crest the surface, but not today.
		+
		+	A random search of the area sends the party to the Temple of Luck, where Vince snags an All or Nothing Coin from a game of chance. Leaving the temple, the party is attacked by a handful of dream crabs – nasty creatures with hundreds of eyes that come from the steam vents leading under the city. In addition to a ferocious attack, they invoke a madness in their prey. Annoyingly, they seem to learn from each other what is successful against the party. As Fuzzwort is killed by one of the beasts, it is clear that the complex may contain hundreds of the creatures – an impossible onslaught of madness. The party retreats and casts Find the Path to quickly detect its location.
		+
		+	Standing outside a barracks, the door has been sealed with a magical warding with a strong aura of abjuration and a weak aura of necromancy. The party enters a hall filled with dwarven undead. Hiding at the front of the room is Ozith Abar, a beholder, who is invisible to the undead because of a Cloak of Death. Fuzzwort disintegrates the undead, but Ozith escapes after losing his purple cloak.
		+
		+	In moving back to the ship, a most unfortunate occurrence takes place. Falstaff, in transforming from an octopus into his elven form, suddenly clutches his heart and dies, the system shock of a transformation made thousands of times before is too much. Then, as the Circlet of the Oaken Avatar attempts to bring Falstaff back to life, he dies again. Permanently. With a quick intervention by Hylax, the Archdruid is brought back to life, albeit temporarily. Tragedy from seemingly the most mundane of activities.
		+
		+	Following Ozith, the party is led to a Magnetic Chamber. It is clear that Ozith was trying to activate the device, a large spinning metal ball inside a circular arena. Interrupted, the floating eye retreated, but the party dives in and solves the puzzle, revealing the secret of the Magnetic Chamber. In its day, it was a device to control giant birds, presumably rocs, using metal collars. Turning it on pulls the metal-laden members of the party onto its spinning surface. The reasoning behind Ozith’s desire to use the sphere is obvious.
		+
		+	The party follows the path to a building, mostly rubble with a set of stairs leading into the inky darkness. U-Gene fills the Hammerheim Chalice with gems and summons a god from the dwarven halls to aid them. Behind the dwarf, the party walks past the lair of a gargantuan lion fish, through a kitchen area, and into a dining hall. There, in the collapsed corner of the room is the makeshift grave of Greyson Fox, a Ranger of the Wilderlands. The beholder is trying to bury a token in the grave – mistakenly thinking that the trinket was how the party was following him. The party questions the creature and releases him.
		+
		+	Fuzzwort casts a Speak with Dead spell, and the party learns the Grayson and his partner, Olivia-Rose Mason, had been sent by John Oldcastle to find a magical feverstone net located in the city – the blue-green net. He did not know the nature or powers of the artifact. Grayson died before finding the net, and does not know the fate of Oliva-Rose. Their goal was to find the net and put it into a magical anti-scrying bag and return it to Vendredi Hall for storage. As a final gesture, he gives the party his Fletcher’s Mitt and asks to be buried in the Reaches.
		+
		+	Returning, the party discovers that Oliva-Rose was successful in her mission and returned the net artifact to Vendredi Hall. However, she, John Oldcastle and the rest of the Rangers who collect artifacts have not been heard from in some time. It seems that the Hall, like the rest of the Reaches, is under attack…

@@ Line 1,197: / Line 1,197: @@
 A quick set of resurrections, and party moves off to investigate the strange invisible wall.  Invisible, except that U-Gene, holding the black knight, can see a four-story red-brick tower with strange glass windows at the top.  He sees a long wall stretching from the tower to the south.  Before the party can reach the tower, however, a group knights appear from behind the walls.  Clearly, they are lying in wait.  The battle is over quickly with the horses in front collapsing, Ernie shooting the leader into a catatonic state, Vince bringing stone giants to bear while Hylax and Fuzzwort fill the field with fireballs and lightning.  As the battle ends, Vince destroys the lances with the Sphere of Annihilation.
-Hurriedly gaining the tower, the party finds a simple door with a chess rook painted on the outside of the door.  Touching the door, they enter a series of 20'x20' rooms - each with a grey stone hovering in the air.  Touching a wall, the party moves through a maze of rooms - each filled with a deadly encounter: traps, puzzles and monsters.  The monsters prove formidable with each new room adding a new beast to the mix: a reflective horror which reflects the damage and spells done to it, anelemental shambler that attack its opponents senses, and the like.  In one room, Ernie dies, Yawgmoth's Vile Offering allowing the party to escape the chess room monsters.
+Hurriedly gaining the tower, the party finds a simple door with a chess rook painted on the outside of the door.  Touching the door, they enter a series of 20'x20' rooms - each with a grey stone hovering in the air.  Touching a wall, the party moves through a maze of rooms - each filled with a deadly encounter: traps, puzzles and monsters.  The monsters prove formidable with each new room adding a new beast to the mix: a reflective horror which reflects the damage and spells done to it, an elemental shambler that attacks its opponents senses, and the like.  In one room, Ernie dies, Yawgmoth's Vile Offering allowing the party to escape the chess room monsters.
-Finally, an exit is found.  The familiar image of the black rook painted on the ceiling of the room.  What lays in the uppermost chamber?  The party's approach has not been secret, so its occupants will be on guard.  Steeling themselves for another battle, U-Gene reaches up with the black rook to make contact...
+Finally, an exit is found.  In a 20'x20' room, the familiar image of the black rook painted on the ceiling.  What lays in the uppermost chamber?  The party's approach has not been secret, so its occupants will be on guard.  Steeling themselves for another battle, U-Gene reaches up with the black rook to make contact...

@@ Line 1,147: / Line 1,147: @@
 Meanwhile, on the throne, the Overlord of the Old Kingdom, Theodrick XIX, crumples to the ground dead.  The Grey Councilors leaving his desiccated body falling from the throne.  As the Overlord falls, a strange blue-green orb rolls from his hand and begins spinning around the room - moving between those in attendance at the Masquerade.  Illusive, it dodges between the court and the party, as if choosing a new partner.
-As the stunned guests recover, a quick coronation ceremony, thrown together by Antone Graves, is used to crown little Theo, grandson of the dead Overlord, Theodrick XX of Rembia.  The party supports the coronation as do a majority of the nobles in attendance.  A collective cheer goes up from the Throne Room.
+As the stunned guests recover, a quick coronation ceremony, thrown together by Antone Graves, is used to crown little Theo, grandson of the dead Overlord, Theodrick XX of Rembia.
 Suddenly, the blue-green orb jumps into Hylax's hand.  The wizened gnome nods, and the entire Throne Room is teleported into the sea.  Visions cloud your mind, and the adventure takes a dark, damp twist.

@@ Line 412: / Line 412: @@
 The second meeting is with Rutland Guildford, youngest son of the Baron Guildford.
-My father, as you know, the Baron Guildford, has a small forest in the eastern edges of the barony in the Bishophill - a beautiful place with creeks running clear and cold out of the Shadowyarns. Well, we haven't had any trouble with orcs or raiders from the south recently - thanks to your lordship, Mr. U-Gene, sir. So, I was sent there to gather some roots and berries - I'm kind of a potion-maker you see. And, well, I came over a small rise, and there was… well… a hill there that had never been there - a right spire of rock with a castle sitting on top of it. I saw hundreds of, well, ratmen pouring from the castle and into the woods and hills. Well, I had a magic draft of invisibility with me, and I drank it and got home as fast as I could. Dad is sick right now, some sort of fever, but he thought that I should report this to you straight away.
+My father, as you know, the Baron Guildford, has a small forest in the eastern edges of the barony in Bishopshill - a beautiful place with creeks running clear and cold out of the Shadowyarns. Well, we haven't had any trouble with orcs or raiders from the south recently - thanks to your lordship, Mr. U-Gene, sir. So, I was sent there to gather some roots and berries - I'm kind of a potion-maker you see. And, well, I came over a small rise, and there was… well… a hill there that had never been there - a right spire of rock with a castle sitting on top of it. I saw hundreds of, well, ratmen pouring from the castle and into the woods and hills. Well, I had a magic draft of invisibility with me, and I drank it and got home as fast as I could. Dad is sick right now, some sort of fever, but he thought that I should report this to you straight away.
 The third is a message from Laura, Lady of the Elves to Vincent Fleetwood
@@ Line 422: / Line 422: @@
 Tracking Falstaff near the River White shows that the druid's tracks have been mysteriously erased once he entered the dark woods of the Loftwood. His trail, missed by the Elven Rangers, leads to a simple stump in the center of a clearing. Speaking with a nearby bird, the party learns that Falstaff was lured to the stump by a mysterious dark man (later learned to be Baron Valdemar). Sitting upon it, he disappeared - apparently trapped. Scrying on Falstaff showed only darkness. Attempts to locate the arch druid showed that he was, indeed, in the Tang Empire.
-Unable to help their friend, the party focused their attention on the Castle of the Winds near Bishophill.
+Unable to help their friend, the party focused their attention on the Castle of the Winds near Bishopshill.
 Reconnaissance of the mysterious castle showed a fortress guarded by ancient green dragons, ratemen streaming into the nearby forests, and a strange periodic flash from a third floor window in one tower. Coming into contact with the base of the castle, Fuzzwort speaks with the stone and discovers that the castle is a living creature - one of the Uru, an ancient race of beings from the First Age. In this case, the castle had been under the diseased effects of the Master of the South Winds for thousands of years - and begged for release. Although compelled to serve the Master, the castle aided the party in their quest.

@@ Line 1,137: / Line 1,137: @@
 Roderick XIII escapes the Laboratory, however, and the party follows.  Down a secret passageway, the party discovers the Grovewalkers, an ancient race of teleporation stones.  Rescuing the tortured form of Nessa, a First Age caretaker of the Grovewalkers, the party solves a binding riddle and is teleported by Menhir, the Grovewalker, to an ancient stone circle in the wilderness of the Old Kingdom.  There two ancient green dragons lie in wait.  They are quickly dispatched and the party ventures to their lair nearby where Roderick XIII is hiding.  The ancient Overlord is slain, and the party returns to the Overlord's Palace and the gaiety of the Masquerade.
-Knowing that the final piece of Alfric's Amulet lies with Quintin Howers, the current Master of the Highgate Freelands, Hylax uses his magic to determine that the young leader is at the Masquerade.  Making their way to Quintin's suite, the party first engages the Sisters of the Bloodmoon - the personal guard of the Master.  Using their ability to move ethereally, the Sisters prove formidable.  A second challenge, the Master's wizard, Silentstroke is providing protection while a dozen dollmakers are discovered using ethereal ravens to gather small bits of hair and clothing from the revelers - a plot is discovered.  The dolls, if finished, will allow Quintin control of the guests.
+Knowing that the final piece of Alfric's Amulet lies with Quintin Howers, the current Master of the Highgate Freelands, Hylax uses his magic to determine that the young leader is at the Masquerade.  Making their way to Quintin's suite, the party first engages the Sisters of the Bloodmoon - the personal guard of the Master.  The leader of the Sisters, Eveningdust, is given a message for Quintin, but it is intercepted by the Grey Concilors, and the party is attacked.  Using their ability to move ethereally, the Sisters prove formidable.  A second challenge, the Master's wizard, Silentstroke is providing protection while a dozen dollmakers are discovered using ethereal ravens to gather small bits of hair and clothing from the revelers - a plot is discovered.  The dolls, if finished, will allow Quintin control of the guests.
 Disrupting the dollmaking activities, the party rushes into Quintin's chambers only to find him asleep in the embrace of Grey Councilors who control his mind.  Returning the real crown (found by the party previously in the Crown Jewels) for the tainted crown (infused with illithium that he had been wearing), the party rescues Quintin, Silentstroke and the others from the captive Grey Councilors who had been enslaving him.  After a short meeting, Quintin decides to abandon his "mission" to attempt an overthrow of the Overlord by staging a palace revolt.  One plot foiled.
-Armed with the all the pieces of Alfric's Amulet, the party returns to the Throne Room and assembles the ancient device.  After a brief moment of silence, all the control amulets in the palace drop to the floor - freeing guests, servants and other from service.  Seeing his control wane, the Overlord panics and his guards move in to protect.
+Armed with the all the pieces of Alfric's Amulet, the party returns to the Throne Room and assembles the ancient device.  After a brief moment of silence, all the control amulets in the palace drop to the floor - freeing guests, servants and other from service.  U-Gene discovers that all the guard's lances are trained on him shooting death rays at the dwarf (later to be discovered targeting a strange black rook chess piece in U-Gene's pocket). Seeing his control wane, the Overlord panics and his guards move in to protect.
 In the chaos, the party seeks an entrance behind the throne and move down into a cave where the dead Molloc (a Mind Flayer under the influence of the Grey Councilors) had previously been building additional replica crowns.  Another plot!  They discover a half-finished Crown of Durin and an illithium meteorite which Vince destroys with the Sphere of Annihilation.  The Grey Councilors flee upward.  Falstaff overhears them saying as they leave, "this one is lost, another will be found".

@@ Line 1,026: / Line 1,026: @@
 Teufeldorf returned, the Second War of the Reaches comes to an end.  Peace falls across the land, and the reign of the Three Kings continues.
-== Alfric's Amulet (2018) ==
+== Secrets of the Old Kingdom (2018) ==
 [[File:secrets_old_kingdom.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Secrets of the Old Kingdom]]
 '''January 1, 918 TA.'''
@@ Line 1,124: / Line 1,124: @@
 Once there, the party discovers a slightly raised rectangular area that feels "dead" - light is muted, sounds are muffled, and magic is weaker.  Cutting mundanely through the stone, four guards move to attack.  Slaying the guards and moving into a tunnel behind the Mausoleum wall, the party looks down a hallway.  More adventure awaits...

@@ Line 1,090: / Line 1,090: @@
 [[File:mc-38.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Overlord's Masquerade]]
 '''January 1, 919 TA.'''
 Skirting the edge of the Masquerade Ball, the party moves into a side room off the Throne Room and discover an ancient gypsy telling fortunes.  The room is a library of sorts with one particularly interesting display - that of an ancient First Age dagger - Alfric's Dagger.  The dagger was reportedly used by the Butcher of White Cliff during the Great Gypsy Exile.
@@ Line 1,103: / Line 1,105: @@
 With Max as her only protector, Amber is quickly slain and Alfric's Dagger is taken.  The 492 souls released when Amber dies allows Hylax to be resurrected with the use of a Luck Coin.  Within moments, the party is returned to the Overlord's Palace and the gypsy Maria who tells the party to use the "real" dagger to exact her revenge on the Old Kingdom.
-With Alfric's Dagger secured, the party resumed their quest for the last two pieces of Alfric's Amulet.  Ginger's research pointed to a shard being somewhere in the display of Crown Jewels at the Palace.  Approaching the elaborately decorated Coin Door, the party encounter guards who have closed the exhibit down for a private audience for the Countess of Oakenfield.
+With Alfric's Dagger secured, the party resumed their quest for the last two pieces of Alfric's Amulet.
 Quickly donning a disguise and with some fast talking, the party gains entrance to the rooms.  A magical examination of the items show that some are blurred by several images that are slightly off-centered.  Hylax moves into Oblivion and sees that some of the items glow brightly but others are dull.  More importantly, he alerts stocky barrel-shaped, tentacled guards covered with eyes and rows of wickedly sharp teeth. The creatures are dispatched quickly, but the alarm has sounded with guards rushing in and patrons rushing out.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:24, 23 August 2021
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	With four pieces of Alfric's Amulet, Hylax notices that something is wrong - too much time has passed. A year, in fact, a party seems to be underway at the Palace. What new mayhem can our heroes cause? Footstep approach. The game is afoot.		With four pieces of Alfric's Amulet, Hylax notices that something is wrong - too much time has passed. A year, in fact, a party seems to be underway at the Palace. What new mayhem can our heroes cause? Footstep approach. The game is afoot.
		+
		+	== Edgeworld Lighthouse Interlude (2019) ==
		+	'''April 4, 908 TA.'''
		+
		+	In the months leading up to the events of April 4, 908 TA, Morgan, the court wizard of Dragonsford Castle, had sent notes about the opening of the 11th Covenant of the demons in the Eastern Reaches, a lengthy report of the demon attack on Portsmith, and the outline of a plan to find Sineater (and hopefully the ever-elusive Foultooth). All was going well until the arrival of an ur-vile in Teufeldorf heightened concerns that an attack was eminent.
		+
		+	As per Morgan's plans, the arrival of the Wanton Wench at The Tangles and reports of both Foultooth and Sineater in the vicinity brought the party running. There, they found a strange floating lighthouse with flying ur-viles and cavewights pouring from the structure. The lighthouse was five levels of stone that rotated in opposite directions with a lantern room gallery above.
		+
		+	While U-Gene, Vince and Ernie took care of the creatures already amassed, the others found an entrance into the Edgeworld Lighthouse. Dragons were conjured and the loppage outside was immense, but still new demons poured from the lighthouse.
		+
		+	In the ground level, Loremaster Sezzon was animating more demons to join the army. A white avenger from Fuzzwort stopped the demon in his tracks. The second level was filled with storerooms - enough armor and weapons for a host of demons not seen in the Realm since the Second Demon War. Loremaster Borak was tending to the stores. The party ignored him and continued up through a stairway trap caused by the rotating tower.
		+
		+	On the third level, the party found 13 rooms - two guarded by red runes that flickered on the slick black stone of the lighthouse. The party read the entry in the book - a message from Loremaster Borak to the other Demons of the Covenant - telling of a plan to use a gate at the Crossroads Cave to bring forth a host of new troops from the Demondim.
		+
		+	Ignoring the map room and a sunroom on the final two stone levels, the party ventured to the lantern room gallery at the top. There, they encounted Wickie, a small demon with shiny black armor and a black rune staff. The rune staff was used in conjunction with a maze of holes bored in the floor to control the lighthouse. The party attacked, but the armor reflected all damage done to Wickie, although he was unable to cause damage directly in return.
		+
		+	As the party subdued Wickie (with Vince taking his armor), they set about figuring out the puzzle of the holes in the control room floor. The runes faded from the yew staff with Wickie's death (which was then taken by Falstaff). Solving the puzzle, the party shut down the Edgeworld Lighthouse.
		+
		+	Hylax cast a mighty stasis spell to encompass the entire Edgeworld Lighthouse in a time-stopped bubble. This bubble was then teleported to the Collegium for study and safekeeping.
		+
		+	Missing the ravers who were not inside the lighthouse, the party journeyed into the Crossgate Cave. There, they found the two leaders on either side of a small, glowing glass bowl. It was determined that while these were the bodies of the ravers, the husks did not contain their spirits. The cave was destroyed anyway.
		+
		+	Finally, the party met with the crew of the Wanton Wench. After a brief battle, Nomed and Wrane were slain and resurrected with their memories altered to forget the events. Instead, they were subliminally instructed to continue their voyage and to look for Foultooth and Sineater along the way. Any sighting will trigger a scrye from Hylax. Happy and successful, the crew of the Wanton Wench set sail for ports unknown with the vague idea that they will meet the demons sometime soon.
		+
		+	== The Overlord's Masquerade (2019) ==
		+	[[File:mc-38.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|Overlord's Masquerade]]
		+	'''January 1, 919 TA.'''
		+
		+	Skirting the edge of the Masquerade Ball, the party moves into a side room off the Throne Room and discover an ancient gypsy telling fortunes. The room is a library of sorts with one particularly interesting display - that of an ancient First Age dagger - Alfric's Dagger. The dagger was reportedly used by the Butcher of White Cliff during the Great Gypsy Exile.
		+
		+	The gypsy, Maria, gives them a reading - six visions to discover the identity of the Butcher and release the real dagger. Maria then helps them pass over to the past - where they are warned not to make too many ripples. Maria wants revenge for the wrongs done to her people. The party arrives on a cold October night in 496 First Age.
		+
		+	The scene opens in a market square, eight dog-like Soul Harvesters are killing the town bread merchant. Killing each dog gives the party a vision which leads them to the Kingson Manor home of Alfric Kingson (later to be Overlord Alfric I of Rembia) who is away on Kingdom business. The party investigates a number of suspects: Lucas Ward, the magician who comes to entertain young Alfric II, General Callum Tate who is the primary investigator, Zachary the Cook who dabbles in poison, and others.
		+
		+	But, all roads lead to the groundskeeper, Max Hammerhead, a dwarf with a small pet dragon who digs holes in the ground at night - seemingly searching for something. A map found in his cabin marks the spot of "the treasure". There, he is found digging.
		+
		+	The party realizes too late that Max is a dupe for the real Butcher of White Cliff - the archaeologist Amber Davis who, driven mad by the dagger she found at an ancient burial site. Max loves her and follows her instructions to dig holes, not for treasure but to hide bodies. Moving to the attic where Amber is hiding, the Butcher tries first to trap the party in a mirror. Then, using the power of the dagger, surprises and slays Hylax in a single stroke.
		+
		+	With Max as her only protector, Amber is quickly slain and Alfric's Dagger is taken. The 492 souls released when Amber dies allows Hylax to be resurrected with the use of a Luck Coin. Within moments, the party is returned to the Overlord's Palace and the gypsy Maria who tells the party to use the "real" dagger to exact her revenge on the Old Kingdom.
		+
		+	With Alfric's Dagger secured, the party resumed their quest for the last two pieces of Alfric's Amulet. Ginger's research pointed to a shard being somewhere in the display of Crown Jewels at the Palace. Approaching the elaborately decorated Coin Door, the party encounter guards who have closed the exhibit down for a private audience for the Countess of Oakenfield.
		+
		+	Quickly donning a disguise and with some fast talking, the party gains entrance to the rooms. A magical examination of the items show that some are blurred by several images that are slightly off-centered. Hylax moves into Oblivion and sees that some of the items glow brightly but others are dull. More importantly, he alerts stocky barrel-shaped, tentacled guards covered with eyes and rows of wickedly sharp teeth. The creatures are dispatched quickly, but the alarm has sounded with guards rushing in and patrons rushing out.
		+
		+	Upon consideration, the party realizes that the real items are being stored in Oblivion and only projections are being shown to the guests in the mundane world - a clever way to keep them safe.
		+
		+	Running quickly through the gallery, the party looks vainly for shard of Alfric's Amulet. They are stopped by heads of Vince, Ernie, and U-Gene - each wearing a replica crown of their kingdom. While the heads of Vince and U-Gene appear mundane, Ernie's crown shimmers slightly. Solving a puzzle that locked the case, the party takes Ernie's crown from the display.
		+
		+	After some searching, the party finds the mannequin head and stone crown of King Quentin Howers, Master of the Heptarchy. The crown is glowing and appears to be made of interlocking puzzle pieces. The party takes that crown - only to discover later the shard of Alfric's Amulet in it is fake.
		+
		+	As the crowns are taken, a man-shaped creature with four tentacles by its mouth, dressed in simple white robes with a dull, grey belt of metal approaches. Its hands are covered in grey gloves and are outstretched in a sign of peace. Molloc sneezes some dust at the party, summoning grey counselors - whispering menaces that attempt to confuse the party.
		+
		+	The party resists and slays Molloc, taking his gloves and belt. As the hallways of the Crown Jewel display fills with guards and palace officials, the party retreats towards the final location given to them by Ginger - the Mausoleum Room. No Cha has arranged for the party to get past the guards and should allow for two hours of unfettered access to the room..
		+
		+	Once there, the party discovers a slightly raised rectangular area that feels "dead" - light is muted, sounds are muffled, and magic is weaker. Cutting mundanely through the stone, four guards move to attack. Slaying the guards and moving into a tunnel behind the Mausoleum wall, the party looks down a hallway. More adventure awaits...