Notes on the Journey
by Talon

Volume Two
13 Alturiak, 1368 through 18 Alturiak 1370.

13 Alturiak 1368. Back on the trail.

We spent a couple of rides messing around in Daggerfalls before heading off on our next adventure. I was able to find a teacher to help me master the long sword. I feel like I can still go deeper, but my recent work has left me with many things to explore.

There have been some interesting developments in the dale this winter. One of the most ominous is the strange lightnings and sounds coming from the old tower of late. No one knows the source of these strange goings-on, but there are many theories.

The Temple of Lathander is well on its way to being rebuilt. Along with the rebuilding comes a strengthening of the faith. There are several Paladins of Lathander in town. Some of which were the same folks that hid in the ditch with us on the Day of the Orc Horde. One of them, Holly, seemed friendlier that the others and we talked for some time about our recent adventures in the Tomona Estates.

The Red Rock Tavern is being rebuilt. It was clear that our help was greatly appreciated and was one of the reasons that the rebuilding was proceeding quickly. The Tavern is being done in stone and Troy has been eager to help by giving technical aid and advice. I thought back to how I felt about giving my gold to help in this rebuilding process and wondered if I could perhaps find some other worthy causes to donate money to.

We had a long and friendly interview with Randal Morn. He told us that our land grants could be used in town, but when I brought up the idea of constructing a keep in a strategic location, he shook his head sadly. As much as he would like to finance a castle for us to occupy, it was simply a job that far exceeded his budget. He did tell us that there were still hot-spots all over the dale that needed attention and he would welcome our help. While all the larger bandit groups have been wiped out, there was still plenty to do before the dale was settled down as he would like. Lord Morn offered to charter us to clear out the hot spots for a 5% cut of any take we would recover. We readily agreed.

The first task he assigned us was to solve a mystery for him. He showed us a silver necklace with a medallion on it. It had a knight, a coat of arms with stars on it. Randal told us that his sister had married into the Cormerian royal family. She had a son, Randal's nephew. The necklace and medallion had been a gift from Randal to his nephew 15 years ago when the boy was nine. The boy, his tutor, and guards disappeared shortly afterward while they were on their way to Tantras via the Sea of Fallen Stars.

The necklace had been found this winter by a band of ranger-scouts sent out by Randal to the Desertsmouth Mountains. One ranger (of four) was returned to Randal by deep gnomes with no explanation. The ranger was dead from burns, freezing and something that shredded his armor. An attempt to raise the dead ranger met with no success. Likewise all attempts to speak with the dead man's spirit were unsuccessful. All Randal knew was that the dead ranger was clutching the necklace.

Lord Morn gave us a map of the scouts' route and asked us retrace their steps to see if we could discover what happened to them. We agreed and prepared for a winter journey. Ted would not be with us for the start of our trip. He would try to join up with us after he completed some additional training in Shadowdale. Fortunately the snow pack was very light and we would likely be able to make this trip on horseback. I was looking forward to that, as this would be my first expedition riding that powerful warhorse given to me by the beastman. I have yet to name the animal, though. Perhaps a name will come to me on the trip.

Along the way, we stopped at Mazarale's tower. I put 100 gold in a sack and set it on the stump where he had instructed. It disappeared and Mazarale's voice asked who was disturbing him. When he found out it was us, he appeared immediately. He was very interested in gaining the crown and did not really want to chit-chat until we turned it over to him. He put it on and sat down. Then he jumped up in a fury, fire shot from his eyes and spittle flew from his mouth. Then he smiled and said "Just kidding. That does clear up a lot of questions, though."

It turns out that the mage was around during the First Orc Gate War. He came from the home world of the orcs and wanted to ensure that they didn't do here what they did there. He created the gigantic golems that destroyed the orc gates. (He also created the Juggernaut.) Mazarale said then that he had a lot of work to do now and was about to leave. I mentioned to him that Ted seemed to have a bunch of memories that had not been present when the beastman was freshly returned from Mazarale's mission to the orc army. I suggested that it might be worth his while for the mage to question Ted some more. He agreed but soon left us.

I wanted to stop and pay a visit to the halfling we met here when Mazarale built his tower. Several others argued, saying that the halfling was really a dragon in disguise. I saw no evidence that what they were guessing at had any merit and so persisted in my case. A short time later, on the trail to the halfling's home, a green dragon swooped on in, landed in the trail and turned into a halfling. The ruckus didn't convince me that this was really the halfling we knew, and I suspected the bard was trying to trick me with an illusion. I was convinced of this when a door in the hillside opened up and the same halfling poked his head out, yawned, and asked us what was going on.

We introduced ourselves and explained that we were just passing through and thought we would stop in to say hello. We sat around in the halfling's sitting room eating his cakes, drinking ale and getting to know each other a bit better. The halfling's name was Prothareous, Prothus for short. He has only lived around here for 80 years. He gave us a fair number of clues to indicate that he was in fact a dragon. We talked about a red dragon named Mist that was destroyed over Westgate several years ago. He told us that if Daggerfalls is in danger, Zhents are tasty and he would help out Lord Morn.

Eventually we got around to talking about our mission and some of the features on our map. There was a strange set of ancient, giant stone statues along the trail that we asked about. One statue was a small child sitting and crying. Out of sight of this 30 foot tall statue were a man and a woman looking off into the distance with sad expressions on their weathered faces. Prothus knew about the statues but did not want to tell us about them. He did say that they were here before the elves and that we should avoid going near them.

We also learned at this time that Myk had converted to the priesthood of Shaundakul and was now learning to become a Wind Walker, a priest of the travelers' god.

On the fourth day of our journey, we found a small camp along the mountain trail. It had a strongbox filled with flint, tinder, dry rations and torches. The camp was last used about a month ago, and was perhaps used once a month or so. While we were there, we felt a rumbling of the ground that may have been caused by the activities of a couple of far-off volcanoes. I got somewhat concerned at this rumbling as we have passed several places where it appeared as though recent avalanches had gone through.

As we were crossing over a saddle headed toward one of the active volcano areas, we came across a band of fire giants cooking a gargantuan bird on an enormous fire in the middle of the trail. We had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide so we attacked. It was a touchy situation for a while, as they quickly started pelting us with huge boulders. I took a nasty hit and Beldin got a terrible strike, nearly killing him with one huge stone to the chest. After the spell casters softened the brutes up a bit and a muddy hole swallowed up several hell hounds, I made it over to the giants and helped finish them off. It was a close battle, and for a while I thought we were goners. Our spell casters have gained significantly in strength, though, and really made the difference. I have to remember to take this into consideration in the early stages of a battle like this.

When the giants were dead and our wounded patched up, we sat down to enjoy the great feast the giants had roasted up. It tasted like chicken.

18 Alturiak, 1368 --- Ted, Troy and an elephant.

We recovered a magic sword from a giant. Unfortunately, it was a giant-sized sword and none of us could wield it. It was a mighty neat weapon, though. We also found 2500 gold lions and a scroll of protection from water elementals.

Troy and Ted caught up to us as we were delayed for five days by an avalanche. Ted was excited, riding a huge, trained elephant. He had commissioned a local trading company in Shadowdale to deliver a war elephant to him months ago. It finally arrived, and he was in his glory, riding the huge beast up the mountain trail. I was amazed at the size, strength and agility of the creature. It was also clearly highly intelligent.

25 Alturiak, 1368 --- Sir Frederick's Tomb.

We came upon the frozen, rent body of a horse at the rim of a great crater. The horse's tack was marked with the insignia of Randal Morn and his ranger troop. Our first clue that we were we were near to where we would find our answers.

We stood at the rim of the crater and peered over. The walls were steep and covered with talus and black, volcanic cinder. A path wound its way down to a dark, mysterious lake, covered by glittering, silver ripples. At one end of the lake stood a leaning, ruined tower. The tower consisted of at least four floors above the water. A twisted metal bridge that once led from the path to the tower now led down into the black water. The tower leaned precariously from its perch in the lake to the steep side wall of the crater. It had not fallen over completely, but leaned about half way between vertical and horizontal. At the other end of the lake, a black cinder beach path led to an opening in the crater wall. A humid steam rose from the lake, occasionally obscuring our view of the far side of the crater. All in all, there was an aura of mystery and danger associated with the entire setting.

To help us decide our next move, Egewene cast a spell, asking for guidance from her goddess. The result was somewhat cryptic. She said, "Either route will give you answers. Final answers or death awaits in the cave."

We prepared for our "assault" on the tower. Egewene cast a water walking spell on us so we could get to the tower. I used my rope of climbing to snake up to the top of the tower and find a purchase. We started up the rope as several giant alligators approached. Ash fireballed the beasts and I was just able to save my rope from the fire. I got a bit of a steam burn, but was able to survive it. There were over a score of the giant reptiles circling our tower. We would deal with them later. We found the trap door on the top of the tower and went in.

Inside was the ruin of an old library. The weather had gotten into the tower decades ago and destroyed most of the books and furnishings. There were the broken bones of a man in white robes. A small chest was in his skeletal hand. In the chest was a piece of paper with the words "obsidian key." Someone else had been here a long time ago to strip any valuables from the place.

Ted opened a door and I was blinded by intense pain after a brief glimpse at a glyph written on the wall behind the door. The pain was accompanied by blue sparks, and lingered in my joints for hours. As I was recovering, Myk went exploring to lower levels. Under the water he found a dead knight who had carried a highly intelligent sword. The sword, Mironus, [Int. 14, CG, speak dwarf, gnome, common, detect large traps - 10' radius, detect evil/good -- 10' rad. detect gems -- kind and number -- 5' rad, sees from a blue sapphire in pommel, +3 enchantment) magic armor (+1 full plate) and a magic shield (+1, light as spell) belonged to the knight, Sir Frederick. Sir Frederick was a skeleton now and Mironus was desperate for a rescue.

Unfortunately, Mironus knew little of the events that led to the destruction of the tower and the death of Sir Frederick and the wizard. We did learn that the sword was made by Shrayven and that Sir Frederick's mission was to protect Uthion the mage. Mironus knew nothing of the cave at the other side of the lake. It was not there before the tower fell. Myk blessed the remains of the old knight, and we felt a slight wind move through the tower.

We finished our search of the tower and found only two more items, a potion of slipperiness and a large chest, exactly matching the little one held by the dead wizard. Once outside, Troy noticed a crushed impression on the side of the tower, created by one powerful blow. We had Ash fireball the circling gators again and ran across the water, back to the cinder beach.

26 Alturiak, 1368. Answers . . . and death!

After resting up and getting a bit of healing, we headed to the cave. It turned out not to be a cave but a big, perfectly square opening in the side of the crater. The walls of the passage were polished obsidian volcanic glass. It may have been dwarfish or gnomish work. Anyway, it appeared the work of a large force of excellent craftsmen over a long time. We entered cautiously, with the drow scanning for traps. She found one before long and we had a bit of trouble figuring out how to deal with it. It was a pit that covered the entire floor and involved a grating that would come down from the ceiling. We were reluctant to use the priestess' stone to mud spell as we were still uncertain of who or what lived in this place. We thought that if it was a dwarfish stronghold, we would be wrong to destroy their craftsmanship. It turned out that we were terribly mistaken. Rather than being concerned about messing up the cave a bit, we should have been running for our lives.

As we crossed the trap area (I was spider-climbing the wall with Ash on my back), the pit opened, a portcullis came down behind us and a red dragon appeared and spewed a ferocious gout of fire down the tunnel. Ash was nearly lost in that first attack. He grabbed Myk's sword, Infiltrator and teleported away. Troy and Egewene were on the other side of the gate. Ted was charging in, and Myk was firing his magic bow. I was stunned and frozen in place for a moment. All I could do was to rush in, trying to help some of my companions survive this horrible encounter. Ted was quickly driven into the dirt beneath the furious attacks of the dragon. I tried to get into the fight to give him a little slack, but was too late. By the time I got into the pit with the wyrm, the beastman was dead. The dragon was sorely wounded, and I landed a few good blows with Spellward as it hovered in the air at my command. I had it up and fighting as I downed a potion of extra healing, trying in vain to recover from the clawing attacks I had received from the dragon. I did not have any time to consider my options, but clearly they were few. If any of us were to survive this encounter, I could not hold anything back or worry too much about my safety. I dove in for another attack and succeeded in gaining the attention of the horrible red wyrm. Giant claws, and a pounding tail crushed and shredded my body and I was in dire straits even before I saw the huge, dagger-toothed mouth, still drenched in Ted's blood, streak my way. I felt the crush of the teeth and a powerful shaking as the beast lifted me up and shook my entire body with his powerful head and neck.

After that I felt nothing. I descended into a blackness that lacked even the remotest idea of light. I was dead. Somehow the thought penetrated, is this how I would be reunited with Marista? As a petitioner, wandering the outer planes? It seemed so unfair.

27 Alturiak 1368 --- I'm Alive!

I have decided to adopt this day as my "birthday." I was dead and now I am alive. I do not know what the date of my first birth was. I may never know. However, I know that today I have been reborn into a new life, a second chance.

The dragon killed both me and Ted. After the battle the surviving adventurers explored the cavern a bit and Egewene studied hard to raise me and Ted. Before she cast her spell, she spoke to our dead spirits. At first, when she started talking to me, I thought that she was Marista, coming to guide me on. Instead, it was the priestess there to discover whether I was willing to return to the land of the living. Not only was I willing, I was eager. I was not ready to be dead. I have too much left to become.

Ted was a different story. He was unwilling to return. His path led toward his dead brother Jed. I was extremely weak for the whole day of my rebirth, but was strong enough to participate in the cremation of the remains of the great body of the beastman. I was angry that my strong friend was gone forever and expressed that anger during the ceremony. I saved my tears for private.

28 Alturiak 1368. Dragon Trove!

By the time I was feeling well enough to look around a bit and register the activities of my friends, plans were well under way to handle the dragon's horde. Beldin, at first, had been completely immobilized by the scale of the treasure and the task ahead of us to deal with our new found riches. The others had a bit of fun with him as he was speechless with the effort to think through the process for addressing this glorious problem.

I too was taken aback with parts of the discovery. Sitting atop a heap of skeletons and treasure sat a great ship. I was caught in a vertigo of emotion and confusion when I recognized this wooden wreck as the caravel Scorpion! Years ago, back to some of my earliest memories, I had served on this ship. This is where I first learned the survival skills I would use to live for nearly ten more years amongst the pirates of the Isles. Before my recent visit to Sigil, the only life I could remember at all was the life that began on the Scorpion. This is where I first was given the painful name Spotty. The crew of the caravel took great pleasure in causing great bruises to cover my body. Another memory surfaced as I stood entranced by the ship. I was not the primary target for the pirates' cruel tortures. They turned to me only after they had finished with another young boy. He came to the ship dressed in fine clothes that were immediately stripped from him. I now realized that the boy that had befriended me, the boy that shared in the pain of the lowest rung of the pirate pecking order aboard that cursed ship was the nephew of Randal Morn. That poor wretch the pirates called "the Bone" was the heir to the Silverstar royal family.

I searched the thousands of skeletons and skulls until I was certain that I found the remains of Jaluosa the Merciless, Captain and supreme terror of the Scorpion. I knew when I found him. He had a scar from a terrible accident when he was young across the right side of his head. The broken then rehealed bones on the skull could belong to no one else. I had a momentary pang, wondering if the terrible injury to a young Jaluosa had created the terror of my memory. Nothing could excuse his treatment of me and the Bone, though. And before I could smash the skull to flinders, I remembered a more recent memory. There had been a 1000 gold lion reward in Suzail for the dead remains of the Pirate Captain Jaluosa. Perhaps the reward still stood. Perhaps This skull was worth more in one piece. I mounted the skull on a pole made from a yard arm and set it to watch over the ruin of the Scorpion. I would later claim a 5,000 lion reward in Suzail for hauling this old, weathered hunk of bone in to the Master of the Port. Jaluosa had been missing for the past ten years, but the reward money had been sitting and building all that time.

It was with mixed feelings of anger and dread and lingering, youthful fear that I explored the ship. I found the ship's log and spent long hours locked up in the cap'n's quarters pouring over the yellowed pages. I found the record of my arrival in the company of that evil character recorded here as Radbourne. I discovered the record, less than two months later, of the arrival of the "SS kid." While it seemed a far, far greater time, It was only 8 months later that the Bone was sold into a different form of slavery, into the hands of an agent of the slavers of Zhentil Keep. I remember the day the Bone was dragged off the ship. We looked at each other for as long as we could as he was dragged away. We had each promised that someday, when one of us escaped and grew strong, he would rescue the other. Tears and bitter laughter intermingled as the memories returned of impotent youthful promises. Greater horrors and more terrible tortures followed after I was sold off the Scorpion and into a succession of ships before escaping the pirates off the Ill Wind. No greater friendship ever grew, however, that what developed between me and the Bone in those short months aboard the Scorpion.

I finally dragged myself away from my maudlin memories and back to the circus that developed over the dragon trove. There were enormous piles of coins, crates of fine silks, barrels of spices and huge, raw chunks of adamantite. There was a gargantuan pile of cloth and assorted remains of hundreds of people arrayed as a bed for the great red beast. There was a fine, noble's carriage inlaid with jade and decorated with silver and pearl and diamonds. There was a matching scepter from the house of the Silverstars. There were magical items every time one turned around. There was too much to be comprehended.

We eventually returned to Daggerfalls to report to Lord Morn. Somehow the bard Storm already knew of Ted's death. The beastman's friend and teacher, along with another Harper accepted Ted's ashes and respected his wishes to be left alone in death. They took his remains away with regret. Randal Morn, for his part, helped equip us to head back to the lake I began calling Dragonsmere. We traveled with a small troop of dwarven companions. We gave the dwarves the entire pile of raw adamantite and they were eager to help us with anything and everything we asked of them. They spent months in planning and preparation before one great burst of energy in which they completely straightened Uthion's Tower. As a part of the preparation, they discovered where Flame, the Red Dragon had plugged up a series of narrow fissures that drained away the top 30' of the lake. The work done by the dwarves restored the lake to a level a good 30' below that which we first saw when we arrived here. Near the end of the dwarves' stay at Dragonsmere the clever folk winched the Scorpion up a shaft from the dragon's lair and dry-docked it on the shore. Ash, Egewene and I later commissioned carpenters to repair the ship and we launched it upon the tiny waters of Dragonsmere. Beyond all imaginings, I was now the Cap'n of the Scorpion.

The dwarves fixed the bridge to the tower and built a wide stair down into the dragon's lair. They also rigged up a mechanism for us to use the dragon's gate as security rather than a trap for unprepared adventurers. While the dwarves were busy with the engineering tasks, we buried the remains of Sir Frederick and Uthion as well as the thousands of additional bones found in the dragon's lair. We discovered and identified many magical items, including:

• necklace of frost resistance
• Broach of Shielding
• Amulet of proof against detection
• Maul of the titans
• cloak of fire resistance
• ever burning brazier
• ring of swimming
• 3 suits of +1 plate mail
• a +4 dagger
• a +2 battle axe
• large shield +1/+4 vs missiles
• 2 handed sword -2 (+2 in the hands of a reptile)
• Ioun stone: Sustain with out air
• Ring of wings
• leprechaun's pot of gold
• robe of blending
• 15 potions of healing and 5 extra healing

The dragon also had a huge spell book of carved wooden pages. The book contained the following spells: Magic Missile, Light, ESP, Invisibility, Audible Glamor, Haste, Slow, Phantasmal Force, Hallucinatory Terrain, Polymorph Other, Identify, Preserve, Dispel Magic, Read Magic, and Polymorph Self.

With this and the many items carried by our fallen friend, Ted, we had to spend many hours trying to figure out the most just and useful division of loot.

A long trip to Cormyr saw us returning the coach and scepter of the Silverstars. We received a generous reward for the return of the lost items. The reward was less, though, than what we estimated we could have sold the stuff for in Tilverton. It was difficult to place a value on the alliance we built with the Silverstars in our brief stay with them. I do know that Troy was awfully excited to learn that the matriarch of the Silverstar line successfully petitioned the King for a lifetime Cormerian Charter for our adventuring company. I kept quiet about my friendship with their lost son. I believed that nothing good would come of them learning more about the horrors the Bone and I shared aboard the Scorpion.

Back in Daggerfalls Lord Morn and the wizard Mazarale had cooked up a plan to use the rod of alertness we had found to work up a teleport/alarm system whereby we could use a magical word (Merrydale) to teleport ourselves from a location just outside our tower to a room in the Red Rock Inn. Furthermore, the rod and a bell system were worked together so that when ever Lord Morn needed us, the bell would ring at our tower and we could come to his aid. This was handy for us as well as for Randall Morn as the teleporter would save us a good ride and a half of travel between our new mountain fortress and the town of Daggerfalls.

While I was in Daggerfalls I proposed to Lord Morn that I use some of my recently acquired wealth to help build a better town. I asked him to help me give out grants of 500 to 2,000 gl to families that wanted to start a business or farm in the dale. Lord Morn enlisted the help of the Lathanderites to identify families that would be desirable to recruit and bring to the dale to start a new life here. During this whole process I had the opportunity to engage in some long conversations with the priests of Lathander. I really like what they stand for. They seem to be inordinately impressed with the activities of our adventuring party and were thrilled to help me grant out the money I wanted to donate. In one conversation I learned that they have the ability to restore health and strength that are lost through magical injury. After agreeing to owe the Lathanderites an unspecified favor, they restored not only my lost health that I associated with my recent death and resurrection, but were able to restore my strength that I lost when I drank that frightening "green-bean elixir."

While I was engaged in my charitable works Myk and our newest companion, Tebrynith, a gold elf bard we freed from Flame's cavern had been busy purchasing trained griffons and learning to fly them in combat. Tebrynith had a strange elven cat companion, that seemed more at home riding the griffon saddle with the bard than she did stalking through the trees grown up around Dragonsmere with the aid of Egewene's magic.

12 Marpenoth 1368. --- The call from Randal Morn.

We had spent months repairing Uthion's tower and the Scorpion, dedicating shrines to Ellistreae and Shaundakul, reforming the landscape around Dragonsmere, and trips to discuss dragon lore with Prothus, return a coach to Cormyr, and gather supplies and equipment from Tilverton and Shadowdale. Lord Morn had allowed us time to build and equip and staff our mountain fortress. We hired two griffon handlers, two cleaning staff, a cook and two stable hands/grounds keepers. In addition, my friend Kellis and the portly Fr. Mayi would be permanent fixtures at Uthion's tower from now on.

When we finally got the call from Randal Morn, I was full of anticipation. I had great hopes for what he would call on us to do. I was not disappointed. He wished for us to follow up on the sale of the Bone, his nephew into the slaver's hands in Zhentil Keep. I knew, on one level that it was unlikely at best that my childhood friend would still be alive or, if he was, would be the same person I remembered. However, I could not but remember the promise I made to him when we were both captives aboard the Scorpion. Fear of Zhentil Keep and the frightening rumors of disappearing scribes warred within me with a burning desire to rescue the little boy I once knew. I could not but agree with eagerness to the assignment laid before us by Lord Morn.

Alas, my heroic vision of rescue was not yet to be fulfilled. Morn was clearly emotionally torn between his need to see his nephew either rescued or avenged and his need to address another, more pressing problem. He told us of his dilemma. The town of Daggerfalls was well on its way to being rebuilt with a new stone wall. The Bone Witch had been foiled and new settlers were being attracted to the town and the dale. However, surrounding Daggerdale, strange things have been happening. Strange things with a familiar flavor. The city of Teshwave has been taken by the Zhents. There has been an increase in fighting in Yulash. Voonlar has been taken and the Citadel of the Raven was now controlled by Manshoon as part of a series of fortresses supporting the Black Network. The Citadel was once used by adventurers much as the famous Damaran Gate is used yet. Some score or score and a half of the adventurers live in the vicinity of the Citadel yet, living like brigands, preying on Zhent caravans.

Another fortress, to the north has come to prominence since the time of troubles. It is a stone tower on a huge floating rock. It is chained to the ground to keep it from escaping the bonds of the ground. It can be seen flaming all the way to the Citadel of the Raven.

The Zhents have been moving food into the Citadel and the Desertsmouth Range. In Voonlar priests of Bane have been burned by Cyricists, and Zhentil Keep has pulled troops back from Yulash. The Zhents are obviously moving internally and externally. There is a need to send a message to the Black Network that their expansions and battles will not go unopposed. Randal Morn asks us to send that message for him.

In a village called Snowmantle a Druid has been captured and is being held by the Zhents as hostage to assure the enslavement of the rest of the village. Morn wants us to free Lanciril the Druid, free the village and crush the Zhentish invaders.

14 Marpenoth 1368 -- To Free Snowmantle!

We equipped ourselves and were ready to do Morn's bidding. He gave us contact information for a Master Harper agent in Zhentil Keep and we departed Daggerfalls. Along the way we passed by the floating tower, giving it a wide berth but nonetheless observing cautiously the flying creatures that guarded the tower.

In the edge of the woodland, before we neared Snowmantle Egewene cast a spell to summon a helpful woodland being. Little did we expect what we got. Following a frightening encounter that nearly led us into battle with the creature, we met and befriended Grim. Grim is a hugely stout, 5 foot tall creature with huge hands and feet. His wide mouth and sharp teeth look as deadly as the enormous Damaran great sword he carries ready to use. He is covered from head to foot in dreadlocks matted and died with the blood of his Zhent prey.

Grim seems more a description of this creature than a simple name. After dark, when the creature had finally accepted that we were fellow predators of Zhentish prey, Grim settled into a fitful slumber. Late in the night he woke us as he was gripped in a terrible dream/possession. His screaming words came through a green nimbus that surrounded the blood covered thing. The words sketched a first-person account of our recent experiences in the realm of the Tomonas and in the lair of the dragon.

Another orcish voice said "I will travel east now that our plans to the west have failed and I will bring low a power that stands in our way."

Grim was pulled straight up in the air as if yanked up by the scruff of his trunk-like neck. His eyes glowed with a painfully intense green fire and an awe-inspiring voice that at once was too big, too old, too alien to resist bowled us all over and washed over us. "I AM THE FOREST! It started. Then as if knowing that we still could not comprehend, it went on. "I AM THE SPIRIT OF THE BORDER FOREST. THIS, WHAT YOU KNOW AS GRIM IS MY ANGER! IT! IS! NOT! ENOUGH!.

Our heads were pounding, our ears ringing. Just as the power seemed too great to bear, the Spirit lowered the power of its manifestation to a level of merely painful, no longer deadly, and went on describing, in a confusion of images, scents and emotions the idea of someone in Snowmantle knowing of or collecting a spirit of the forest that is no longer believed in. It ended that though in a confused tangle as Grim turned to Beldin "In you lies the blood of Alando." is said as it faded and Grim's deep, raspy voice took over. The green fire in his eyes dimmed but did not fade away until a strange prophecy was uttered "This is the year of the banner, the black banner. The year of the black book. Black walls. Black Alters. Black lies and the Black Network. It is the year of the death of tyrants and the resurrection of tyranny. Lies will be written, spoken and believed. None, not even gods will be exempt. Children must be saved. Priests will burst into flames. The black walls will topple. The Prince of Lies will suffer from his madness. Winter will be the least of the chill. And the slaug will play their hand and the black hand will grab for power.

Grim fell into a heap and did not move again until morning. We all quickly drifted off to join him in a fitful slumber, joined in one shared, frightful dream. There was a pulling and a tearing. I was forced to look at a black book decorated with a silver skull. I fought, pulling away. I was jolted awake to find Ash screaming in a terrible, horrified scream of unending terror. It went on for over a glass before Egewene cast a spell upon the exhausted mage and he fell into an undisturbed slumber.

Later, when Ash awoke he recounted seeing a happy Fzool of the Zhentarim. A young woman. Not eating, finger bloody, writing for weeks. Then Fzool saying "My lord we have done it. It is finished." as he handed the book to the god Cyric.

Cyric said "Then my time has come. Let the Banedeath begin."

Priests of Bane were dragged out into the streets and burned. The temple of Bane in Zhentil Keep was put to the torch and the Black Alter burned to ashes.

15 Marpenoth 1368. Grim leads us on.

We spent the next few days in the company of Grim, learning the ways of the Zhent patrols. We could find no pattern, no mistake or weakness to safely exploit to weaken them or make them nervous. Patrols were at random times and locations, consisting of 6-24 Zhents, sometimes with wizards, sometimes without.

We began to contact some of the other creatures in the forest, though none could give us any great aid in our quest. Myk and the elf Tebrynith took on a mission to go to Zhentil Keep to make contact with the Harper agent there.

18 Marpenoth 1368. Grant's Wolves

Myk and Tebrynith returned with information about entering into Zhentil Keep and a charter from the Zhents for us under the name of Grant's Wolves. Our charter required us to register in Snowmantle and assist in the mission there where the Zhentarim were cutting lots of timber and shipping it off as well as making mushroom wine. The rules were simple in this well run operation, and anyone caught helping a slave became one himself.

Egewene also made a breakthrough by contacting a badger who was a friend of the Druid Lanciril. It told us of a raid by some sylvan centaurs that went badly. We also learned that there are 3-4 Zhent wizards in Snowmantle along with a Priestess of Cyric and about 100 warriors.

We entered the village under the guise of Grant's Wolves and registered with the Zhentarim leadership. The mage and priestess that were in command were both clearly tough and seasoned. Most of the troops had the look of veteran warriors, unlikely to make stupid mistakes. I had to grin to myself, though when that though struck me. Someone made a mistake when he pissed off Randal Morn.

We spent several hours of our free time wandering the village, trying to assess the situation. We found what appeared to be likely potential allies in Juliana who runs the tavern, Willard at the winery, a dwarven smith.

Myk found an opportunity to meet with Lanciril once we found his prison. The ranger slipped into the prison with the help of his magic and talked briefly with the Druid. Lanciril urged us to find the lost elves in the forest. They had wanted to speak to the Druid, but now he asked us to speak for him to the elves.

We had a touchy moment when a female slave tried to make an escape and ran straight at Myk. The former drow slave kept his composure and assisted the Zhents in as gentle a recapture as possible under the circumstances. I could see him biting his tongue and struggling with himself, promising that her freedom would be soon in coming. We all struggled with that event. It was, perhaps the most difficult part of the mission so far.

Later that night we met up with Grim in the forest and asked for his help in finding the lost elves. If they were to be found, Grim would find them. Even with his help, we spent the next three days deep in the forest seeking the elves.

21 Marpenoth 1368. ENTRUSTED

A green arrow, shot as a warning, announced that we found our quarry. Green elves erupted in eerie silence all around us in a frightening display of the elven ability to be unseen in their own haunts.

There were several tense moments when is was not certain that the elves would accept us as the voice of Lanciril. It seemed more likely that we would find ourselves each sprouting scores of deadly arrow shafts. Finally, Grim spoke out to the elves and they began to be more receptive. When the badger friend of Lanciril spoke to them the tide finally turned and we could ease out our breath in a gentle sigh of relief.

Tansarill, the ancient leader of the elves told us that he could no longer allow the destruction of the forest brought about by the human invaders. They had to be destroyed. We urged him to accept that not all the denizens of the village were the same as the Zhents. The people of Snowmantle lived in harmony with the forest before the Zhents came, they could do so again afterward. Tansarill was skeptical, but consented after I gave him my word that I would take personal responsibility for ensuring that the people of Snowmantle accepted the stewardship of the forest after the events that were to come.

Tansarill presented us with a scroll and instructions. We were to return to Snowmantle and read the scroll in the center of the village. The spell would summon the heart of the spirit of the forest. As soon as we did, we were to run for our lives for the spirit would destroy the village. It sounded simple enough. On our return trip we discussed our plans for freeing the villagers held prisoner by the Zhents including the druid. When we had a plan we reentered the town and moved swiftly.

23 Marpenoth 1368. Enraged Spirit

Beldin went to the hall where the slaves were kept. He snuck into the hall, drew the Sword of the Dales and called out "By the power of the Sword of the Dales, I call upon the name of Merrydale for the freedom of prisoners held in unjust bondage." The shackles fell and the prisoners surged out of the hall. The bard quickly led them away from town.

Egewene raced to warn Lanciril and get him to leave his prison. Myk and I made for the center of Snowmantle. I provided cover as he opened the scroll and began to read. As soon as he finished we witnessed a huge hand made of earth and roots and leaves push its way up through the hard packed dirt at the village square. An enormous arm followed. Without a word to each other, Myk and I both bolted for the woods outside the village. A glance back revealed the hand grasping a Zhent figure fully around the middle. Only the unfortunate man's head and feet were visible. A moment later the crushed body sailed off into the treetops, spiraling like a rag doll thrown by a careless child. The gargantuan nature elemental pushed itself fully out of the ground and erect just as the priestess arrived on the scene. She did not even have time to fully understand what was happening before a powerful foot crushed her to the ground and left only a bloody stain in a deep footprint.

As we got into the edge of the forest, the nature elemental proceeded to completely destroy the village, crushing Zhents along the way. The only buildings left intact were the winery, run by one of our contacts, a fellow named Willard and a storehouse filled with much of the recent harvest and supplies. Amazingly, none of the villagers were killed by the elemental. It completely destroyed all things tainted by the Black Network and killed every last Zhent soldier, mageling and camp follower associated with them, but left the village folk with only minor injuries, mostly associated with their rapid flight from the village.

The people of Snowmantle were jubilant with their freedom but daunted by the task of rebuilding. Later, when we contacted Lord Morn, he told us that help was already on its way. We left Snowmantle after we were sure there were sufficient food stores for the villagers to survive the winter and made our way back to Daggerfalls where we learned that Shantir and Storm recommended that we all receive Harper pins for our work. It was satisfying to know that they approved of our efforts.

I talked at length with Storm while she was in Daggerfalls. We discussed the people of Snowmantle and she gave me suggestions for how I could fulfill my commitment to the Elves without being oppressive to the needs of the villagers. We also talked about my sword work and we spent much time training together. She invited me to visit her in Shadowdale for even more intensive training. I was happy to accept the invitation. I am eager to learn more. It seems that just when I start to think I have experienced everything I can with the weapon, I reach another level of understanding and everything feels different and new again. Throughout this training I discovered more mysterious powers I have when using this weapon. On occasion I can leap high into the air and a great distance forward to deliver a powerful, devastating blow. At other times, I can seemingly reach though the air for a hundred feet to cut down an opponent at a distance. I do not know where these powers come from but Storm advised me to seek answers with Sword Lord Bannon in the Bloodstone lands to the east.

1 Uktar, 1368 Would-be Assassins

We heard the bell tolling late in the afternoon, summoning us to Randall Morn's aid. As we were preparing to go, I expressed my concern that a weakness of the summoning device and gate was that a false summons could send us into a trap if it was cleverly enough done. We all prepared a bit more thoroughly before we gated through to the Red Rock Tavern. It was well that we did.

There was a message that we were to meet Lord Morn at the Barracks. However, we met him astride his horse just outside the tavern. He quickly inquired of us what brought us to him with such urgency. Just as we realized that something was amiss, four Zhent wizards appeared out of nowhere and began throwing fireballs and lightning bolts at us. Morn's guards hustled him off toward cover as we faced the mages. I used a recently developed inner sword power to reach out across the distance that separated us from the evil spell casters and strike at them. Some of their own spells were turned back on them and they quickly fell to our attack. They had reinforcements, however. A hideous, floating eye-tyrant disintegrated the wagon in which it was hiding and proceeded to attack. I charged in, hoping to get in close enough to avoid the worst of its eye stalk spell abilities. Fortunately, Tebrinyth cast a blindness spell that took several eye stalks out of action. We focused our attacks on the great horrid eye and with the spells and swords, our group finished it off, only to discover (through Myk's quick thinking) that Morn's guards were also part of the ambush. In fact, former Constable Tren was the ringleader. Tren and the others were battling Myk and Randall behind the building I thought was providing cover for the Lord of Daggerdale. I and the others quickly joined the fray and with the aid of Spellward, was able to take off Tren's head just before he could use his Zhent ring to teleport away from the lost attack.

Other Zhent infiltrators were killed by citizens and Freedom Riders near the gate and the barracks. We quickly discovered that a doppleganger had replaced the man who was to later become Morn's Chief of Staff back when Tren was replaced as Constable. This was a plot that was deeply laid. The doppleganger also explained that the Zhents promised the dale to Tren if he could retake it. They even provided the services of the Yulash Terror Team of war wizards that lead the attack. Morn took the creature away after it was questioned and we did not see it again.

We spent the night close to Morn in case the Zhents tried to catch us unprepared. But, either they were nursing their wounds or they did not expect us to let our guard down for no secondary attack followed. Nor did anything unpleasant happen at Dragonsmere despite concerns from some of our band. Randall Morn seemed confidant that the evil in the ranks had been fully exposed. He refused to have his troops scanned for possible infiltrators, counting the cost in lost loyalty too great a price to pay for what he expected to be no gain in knowledge.

2 Uktar 1368. On to Shadowdale

Lord Morn told us that we were all invited and encouraged to travel to Shadowdale with all possible haste. He could not (or would not) explain why the need for such haste, but he assured us that Storm rarely made such invitations if the need were not great. So, with a little preparation, we set off to Shadowdale. Along the way we met a couple of Harpers, recognizable by our newly learned signals that Harpers use to identify themselves to each other. They had little news except to confirm that we were invited and urged to visit Storm in Shadowdale.

8 Uktar 1368. Powerful Connections

Despite Lord Morn's efforts to carefully patrol the dale, monsters still roam. Our morning ride was interrupted when four two-headed giants rounded a corner of the trail. A pitched battle immediately followed. I stuck close to the spell casters, doing my best to block the attacking giants before they could get close enough to disrupt spell casting. I used the distance attack I had recently discovered to good effect. Two of the giants survived the onslaught of our spell and sword power and closed in. I was able to intercept the first before it could get to Ash. His powerful, hammering blows with the tree-trunk club bounced off at first, thanks to the spell cast on me by our mage. The spell quickly dissipated under the continued attack and I only lasted a few more moments. I blacked out for a moment as the club pounded me into the ground. Myk stood over me looking about in amazement when I awoke. I was fully healed and feeling rested. It felt as though the pain from the giant's weapons was a nearly forgotten memory. Fortunately, the giants were all dead. They had been sufficiently softened up during their rushing attack and I was able to keep them off the spell casters long enough to allow them to do their work. We recovered nothing more than a few bags of silver from each of the giants. After we rolled them most of the way off the trail, we continued onward.

11 Uktar 1368. A Storm on Harper's Hill

As we approached Shadowdale we were greeted at the bridge over the Ashaba by a pair of guards that directed us on to the Lady Storm's Cabin. Along the way we encountered what I at first took to be a knight in full plate armor. As it strode by it greeted us in a friendly manner. As it left us, Beldin explained that this mysterious suit of armor haunts Storm's wood. No one knows why it wanders here.

At a large log cabin in a small forest glen we were escorted into the dwelling by a disembodied set of eyes that greeted us and announced to Storm that we had arrived. We shared great steaming mugs of spiced herb tea and chatted amiably with the silver haired warrior. We learned a bit more of the code of the Harpers and the functioning of the Harper Pins we were recently awarded.

Later, after a bit of food, we made our way to Harper's Hill where we were joined by the great Elminster, Encanthra and Morngrym and finally by Dove Falconhand, Storm's sister. Elminster began by telling us of terrible happenings caused by the workings of the Mad God Cyric. Other gods were rising against him. Suddenly the peaceful grove was filled with a manifestation of the Avatar of Shaundakul, God of Travelers. He was joined by a being of silver fire, filled with the aura of Lady Mystra. Last to arrive was the radiant power of Elistreae, Goddess of the good drow.

We learned that Cyric was creating a book to increase his powers. Chauntea, Lathander and others were trying to destroy it. Though the discourse was hard to follow and the aura of the mighty powers assembled here made it difficult to think at all clearly, the message came through that the Gods and Goddesses wanted our small band to travel to Zhentil Keep to retrieve the sword Albruin. We learned only a little of what Elminster referred to as the unchaining of Iactu Xivim, the Godson of Bane. This was somehow linked to a great army from the north that is moving to attack Zhentil Keep. Cyric and a great elemental power are behind this army. Elminster asked us to work with other agents to help get the innocents in Zhentil Keep out of harms way into the Foreign Quarter. Storm was furious at the very thought of any Harper helping any resident of that filthy city. Storm refused to help and left the meeting in a fury.

We were told that Chauntea would help the orphans of the city. We would be needed to help with this effort but that our priority was to retrieve Albruin and return it to the royal house of Cormyr from whom it was taken. Elminster then devastated me with what he said next. He told us that Albruin was held by Malakar, the nephew of Randal Morn, the grown man I once knew as the boy aboard the Scorpion. Malakar had become an evil mage and joined forces with a dark, fearsome creature called Stallik, a banelich, invested with vile power from Bane himself, much like the Chosen of Mystra are invested with a portion of Her power. Elminster suggested that we may be able to find Malakar in an inn called "The Shield Faces North." We accepted our mission and with a heavy heart I turned toward Zhentil Keep. I slept poorly that night and all the nights to follow, haunted by the eyes of the boy I once knew and the promise I had made to rescue him just as he had promised to rescue me.

The trip northward was made all too short by the power of Shaundakul speeding us onward. I fear my meeting with Malakar Silverstar. Elminster and the others seemed so certain that he had chosen his fate and now must meet the consequences. They do not know the determination of his captors to break the young spirit I saw clinging to life aboard the Scorpion. I survived the punishment of the pirates, but what I tasted was the smallest portion of the meal fed daily to my friend. I know that I could not have survived the years of torture and debasement that he likely suffered. I shudder to think of what he might have gone through, how long that young spirit survived until it was crushed . I cannot believe that it is completely gone. When I told my companions of the youthful promise of rescue, Myk, with smug self riotousness, asked where Malakar was for me when I needed rescue. They seem to think it is so simple, but I know not what to do. My spirit weeps.

15 Uktar 1368. From bad to worse.

We slipped into the city of Zhentil Keep with a minimum of difficulty. I didn't feel any easier about this. I've always heard that getting out of the Keep is the hard part. After entering the city we careened from one disaster to the next with hardly a break. We learned that our Harper contact had been killed when a mage blew up the building where he worked. Next we met a terrifying group of wandering players that seem to be scripting a series of tragic events that were actually happening. I was not certain whether they were causing the tragedies, chronicling them or merely reveling in their observation of them.

Early in our wanderings we had to seek cover as we watched the Black Temple of Bane get destroyed by a swirling tornado of fire that struck down from the sky. As we were escaping that disaster we ran across a forest troll surviving an incredible series of challenges in the area. There we met up with a drow that left me feeling covered in slime just from talking to him. He was Kymil Kilsek and we learned from an old journal left by Pruey that he and the Greased Ferrets had run into each other several times in the past. Kilsek wanted us to rescue one or more of the Ferrets for some reason he would not explain.

Also at the arena I met the legendary Bannon. We did not get time to talk. When the three of us (Bannon, me and Kilsek who is also apparently a sword lord) were together, we began to hear the baying of yeth hounds and felt the impending approach of the Shroud Hunter. We quickly split up but Bannon told me that once I decided what I want to be when I grow up, I should seek him out in Damarra.

Later in our visit to this horrid city I was approached by a stunningly gorgeous lady drow that delivered a note from Kymil that I was invited to meet him at a tavern called the Cloven Ogre. Myk also had a note inviting us to learn more at midnight on the 15th at the Battered Kobold. As it turned out, we were to meet Kymil first.

We were wandering the city streets, getting a feel for the city and how to approach entering the walled off and exclusive harbor district when we stumbled upon a bloody scene. A mage and a couple of priests of Cyric were going door-to-door and murdering people. It was not clear why but we guessed that it had to do with the Cyricists purge of Banites. Stumbling out of a wretched alley, bare feet steaming on the cobblestones we saw a crazy looking man with a dark black hand approach the Cyricists. He cried out "The Black Hand is coming, the Black Hand is coming!" He went on in a cracked scream as he lifted his own blackened hand, gestured to one of the priests and died, steaming and melting the fallen snow around him on the cobblestones. The priest he cast his spell upon immediately shriveled up and turned into a skeletal figure which began to attack the other priest. The mage and the half-dozen or so guards were indecisive only for the brief moment it took for the second priest to be struck by a swirling finger of green fire coming from the direction of the destroyed temple of Bane. That priest burst into flame as he was invested with the avatar of Cyric himself.

We took that as our signal to attack the mage and the guards. We were not alone. Bannon and a friend with completely black eyes started attacking guards just as Kymil and his beautiful companion arrived. The lady drow tried one poison dart attack on Egewene before disappearing again. Kymil started to attack guards when another elven figure in an eagle-winged helm began firing arrows at Kilsek. I was occupied killing guards after the mage was felled by magic missiles from the priestess when I got a powerful series of painful jolting charges through my sword. I could see that Bannon and Kilsek were similarly affected. I happened to be near Bannon at this time and he looked down at his sword and then over at me. "The Shroud Hunter is here. Run." I did not need to ask him if he was serious. He took off at a full sprint leaving the combat immediately. I left at full speed in the opposite direction, followed by the earsplitting howl of yeth hounds. I was unhappy about leaving my companions, but the battle here was over and I would be far more trouble to them if I stuck around as a Shroud Hunter attractor than if I left now. I learned later from Egewene and Ash who spent a few terrifying hours in a magically created extra-dimensional space near the battle scene that the Hunter arrived in a dark explosion of electrical energy, and sniffed around for a while before disappearing in a puff of dust.

Egewene learned through another spell that the series of events that occurred there will have longer term repercussions that will continue for some time. Parts were significant to us. In a reference that I took to mean me, she learned that part of the encounter will be significant only to one of us. There may or may not be a significant crossroads. We were to stay out of the limelight.

That evening we snuck out after curfew to get to the Battered Kobold as instructed by the note delivered to Myk. Along the way we were attacked by big bulbous creatures called Magedooms. They were created by Zhentilar to destroy any non Zhent spellcasters. Magic did not affect them in any way. Even magical weapons did not fully function in their presence. It was a troubling battle, but the aftermath, when they were finally killed went beyond troubling into the realm of terrifying. The deaths of the creatures caused wild surges to affect some of our group. I was spared, but others were affected by walls of fire, stunning booming noises, a summoned rust monster, stirges, uncontrollable levitations, and Troy, who seemed to get hit the hardest, lost his memory, got his head enlarged, was turned into a cat, and levitated high into the air. With a lot of quick thinking and careful actions, we were able to get the effects dispelled and get away without any real serious damage.

We were not warmly welcomed into the Battered Kobold. The tavern was rater exclusive to orcs and the other lower humanoids. When it was clear that we were not getting into the place we went a little further up the street and took refuge in a seedy tavern frequented by the poor and broken. Beldin cast an invisibility spell and went back to eavesdrop at the Battered Kobold. He learned a lot.

The forest troll from the arena was there speaking with General Varak, the scro general that Ted told us of meeting on his mission with Mazarale. He still had Jed's bardiche. Beldin learned that the bridges had been trapped with kegs of smoke powder and the scro and troll were leaving for Hillsfar. A airship left the Battered Kobold and headed off to the east after the conference between Varak and the forest troll.

Beldin had barely gotten back to us and made his report when an old woman in a plain smock entered the tavern. Despite her simple dress and plain appearance, I was struck by the feeling of command she possessed. She approached and told us that our help was needed. I was up and following before another thought came into my head. I realized immediately that I was with Chauntea, the Great Mother. I was awestruck but she just smiled a grandmotherly smile and said "We are walking tonight." She dismissed my awe with a wave and said that there were troopers attacking a caravan of wagons that had kids inside. She was gone the instant we saw the wagons. We attacked in a ferocious charge and the troopers were killed almost immediately. One of the wagon drivers had been drug out of the wagon and as we assisted him back up we discovered that it was Elminster himself. We warned him of the trapped bridges and for just a moment I saw a flash of despair as he wailed out that he didn't have enough people to deal with this.

He whipped the horses up and they were off in a thunder of hooves and wheels. Just then fire came out of the sky and we could see with perfect clarity a temple of Cyric standing upon the ashes and ruins of the Black Temple. The fire struck Cyric's temple with a roar and panic erupted throughout the city. Nearby a patrol of troopers was rushing by. A priest of Cyric burst into flame in mid-stride. The troopers scattered in horror and confusion just as a flight of white dragons whipped overhead and frost slammed into the roof of a nearby building, destroying it's roof completely.

In amidst the confusion and panic, just for a brief moment I recognized a face silhouetted against a nearby fire. It was the Bone. He turned away and before I could yell he had disappeared around a corner. I shouted to my companions and we were off in pursuit. Myk cast a spell to find the path to my friend and we ran after him. A shock wave struck the city and I found myself slammed into the freezing cobbles. I scrambled to my feet and continued to follow Myk following the Bone. Another explosion and another fall. More blood and bruises. The path took us into an open sewer hole and we followed. A third explosion and bricks rained down on us from the ceiling. At this rate the Bone should be able to recognize me from the bruises alone when we finally catch up to him. I only hope that there is still a glimmer of my old friend left alive underneath the exterior of Malakar when we do.

Into the Sewers

The frustration is driving me mad. I feel as if I'm losing control of myself. We dropped into the sewers of Zhentil Keep chasing the Bone and he has slipped away from us. We ran into delay after delay in our pursuit. First a mad follower of Bane writing on the walls with ink that burned. We scuffled and Beldin lopped off the thing's head in horror when he realized it was turning into something terrible. Then a magic door that forced us to speak the name of Bane to pass. Then many many undead warriors. Some set in place to block our way. Others in battle against each other, Cyric's army versus the forces loyal to the Black Hand. They focused on us as a common enemy when we were discovered. It was a short, fierce battle that did nothing other than drain us of time and energy.

Further on, one dark juju zombie spoke to us with the voice of Stallik when I addressed it. It told me that Mallakar was a most loyal and effective servant. Mallakar, he said, sought him out, earned his trust and serves from his desire. Mallakar, he claimed, made his own choice before seeking out the lich. It is a dark road he chose to travel, but the choice was made by Mallakar himself.

Stallik went on to make a deal with us. He promised to have the Bone deliver the sword Albruin to us if we kill Krenshin of the Burning Bones, his nemesis in these dark warrens. As we were leaving, some strange spell effect was seen upon the group. Troy compared it to the effect he experienced when dealing with a Zhent-aligned beholder. Beldin recognized it as a spell called the dark promise. It was a form of geas. I did not like the idea of being geased or any other spell being cast upon me without my consent. I find myself getting less and less tolerant of it. I wonder if it is some influence from Spellward.

Stallik told us to travel north and east to find Krenshin. We found him where we were told we would. We prepared ourselves to battle its evil menace but when we entered his presence we quickly reconsidered. Krenshin of the Burning Bones was a large black skeletal figure burning with a fire inside himself. The heat when I was near was frightening. The monster was attended by a dozen or more priests and other cowled figures. Rather than attacking, we discussed our situation as if we were before the King of Cormyr. I became more and more outraged and barely held my temper in check. I was supposed to be invisible, but it became clear that the monster knew I was there. It convinced our group that it knew the location of Stallik's preserved life force and that we should go destroy it. It told us that it was unable to accomplish this as its undead minions were turned against him when they entered Stallik's territory. It gave us a map that would take us back past the juju zombie that had spoken to us with Stallik's voice.

I did not like any of this. It seemed more likely that I would give aid to the Bone if I destroyed Stallik rather than Krenshin however. There was also the consideration that Cyric, Krenshin's master happened to be in town at the moment and I had no desire to run afoul of Cyric's avatar directly. Bane is dead, although apparently not gone. Between the two, Bane seemed to be less of a threat right at the moment. Even so, it probably did not matter much. We were in so far over our heads that it probably did not make any difference if the surface of the sea was 100 or 1000 feet above us. We are sinking fast, well on our way to the Bitch Queen's cold embrace.

The Rescue

In returning to Stallik's lair we discovered the awful curse behind the dark promise. Those of us it affected began losing our life's energy soon after returning to the part of the dungeon under Stallik's control. We were also attacked by a ghost that tried to take control of Beldin through possessing him. Fortunately, however, the spell cast upon him by Egwene that protects from negative plane energies was still operating and the bard was able to expel the spirit. The ghost split into three parts and howling madly, left by flying through a wall, the floor and the ceiling. We followed the map given to us by Krenshin, trying in vain to find a way around Stallik's main chamber through to where his phylactery was hidden. It was to no avail. We discovered some cells and freed one prisoner before realizing that to get to the phylactery, we had to go through Stallik's throne room. We retreated from the Banelich's demesne to regroup and rethink, out from under the curse of the dark promise. Despite my hopes and apprehensions, I was unprepared for what came next.

We ran into Bone and a contingent of skeletal troops in a passage before we exited into the battle room where Stallik's and Krenshin's forces regularly warred. When I said "Hello Bone, I'm here to rescue you now" My old friend stared at me, stunned. His mouth formed my old nick-name "Spotty" and he struggled to figure out what was happening. I went on. "Long ago, when we were young and naive, we both made a vow to rescue the other when we could. I escaped from the pirates and have come for you. Now . . .

Suddenly and without warning, from behind me erupted a lightning bolt. It ripped through the air of the passage and into The Bone and the skeletal warriors. I couldn't believe it. After all the promises to give my way a try first, Tebrinyth attacked before I could even finish my plea. I was furious and nearly turned to strike the head off the lying, stinking, bastard elf. Fortunately, both The Bone and his troops were immune to the spell and it did not precipitate the full out battle the elf wanted. Mallakar's eyes hardened, however and he became all business. He had recovered his emotional footing. We agreed to parley in the battle room where we could talk without my dying due to that cursed dark promise before we were through.

It was a short discussion. It did not have to be long. In a low whisper, out of sight and hearing of the skeletons, The Bone said, "Spotty, get me out of this!" I could see the desperate hope in his eyes and hear the longing in his voice. That was all I needed. My spirit soared! Mallakar went on to warn that Stallik could see and hear through the skeletons and that they had to be destroyed. When I realized what this meant, I was in a panic. I froze. Here was the chance I had been hoping for for years and I didn't know what to do next. It was all going to fall apart and it was going to be my fault!

Finally, part of my mind became unstuck and I acted. I drew Spellward out of its scabbard with a Sword Lord power and shouted "By the power of the Sword Lords, I strike to rescue your spirit. I draw it forth from the clutches of evil for its salvation!" I pricked him in the shoulder and he immediately clutched his hand to the wound, spreading blood across his arm and up to his neck. He fell to the ground and lay still. The skeletons immediately attacked. I stood over my fallen friend, guarding him and the spell casters, thinking that perhaps, just perhaps this was going to work. I was battling furiously, and using my sword lord powers to good effect until the tide changed.

Using a Sword Lord power I had pushed to the ground the swords of four of the big skeletons. As one they let go their useless weapons and grabbed hold of me. I was lifted into the air and carried off. They were set on bearing me back to their master's lair. I let go of Spellward and used a power to animate it so I could go on fighting even though my arms were pinned. My friends also came to my aid. Troy was right behind the Skeletons, harrying them and cutting at them from behind. Ash, using a spell from a scroll he had, summoned terrifying monsters to aid us. They were long, flying snake-like worms that struck and constricted around the skeletons, crushing them in powerful coils. Between the snakes, Troy and the animated Spellward, (to say nothing of panic-induced strength), I was able to break free of the skeletons not long after they carried me back into Stallik's part of the dungeon. We fought our way back to the battle room to join our companions in the last gasps of the fight there. The skeleton warriors were broken and crushed to flinders, The Bone was hidden away up Egwene's little extra dimensional hidey hole and we were left to figure out what to do next.

I was afraid. Despite having won the battle, I was afraid of what I would find when I looked into Mallakar's eyes. Even though I told everyone, including myself that I did not believe that he was evil, I harbored a tiny seed of doubt. I was afraid that I would find a truth I did not like. I was even more afraid that The Bone would not see my faith in him and his goodness, but would instead see the doubt. That wouldn't be fair to him. He needed, more than anything, my faith and trust. I would give it to him. I crushed out the doubt and blew it away in the wind of open trust. Come what may, I would trust him because that is what he needs.

To be safe, we continued our ruse, lowering Mallakar's body out of the hidey hole and bearing him off into the near end of Krenshin's caverns. We found a side passage to be out of the way and tried to hunker down for a break. We had to fight a pack of giant, vampire-ish rats for our resting place but we prevailed and got a much needed rest. I sought out The Bone and we talked briefly. He still found it hard to believe that I was there and that we were trying to rescue him. I tried to explain the whole story about Albruin and the Gods to him, but he just kept shaking his head in disbelief. He had been too long in a world where no one ever kept a promise to believe that a young kid's promise from more that a decade before would have lead me to help him now. He told me a little of his situation in return. Stallik was holding his family captive. That was the Banelich's hold over my friend. No magic, nothing mystical, just the old tried and true method of hostage keeping. It was not creative, but it was powerful.

The desperation was still there in his voice and in the set of his shoulders. He wanted out. But he wanted out on his terms -- with his family. He was sure it could be done with our help. First we would take out Krenshin. Then, with Mallakar posing as our prisoner, we would go back to destroy Stallik. My companions were uneasy about this but agreed. We were all relieved when Mallakar lifted the dark promise and the pain and weariness caused by the curse could finally be healed with the magic of the priestess. Time seemed to have lost any meaning, but we rested for a good long time, each lost in our own thoughts.

16 Uktar 1368. The End of Krenshin

Moving fast, we returned to Krenshin's throne room. This time we caught him less prepared. We launched into a full, charging attack. He, in turn, held nothing back, lashing out with terrible spells that, if successful could have destroyed any of us. I am sure the Harper pins helped us greatly. I thought I could almost feel mine get warm during the fight. We were fortunate that the creature had less time to get ready for the battle. There were many fewer attendants in his throne room and we were able to kill them all in a short, furious battle. We prevailed because of surprise and because we had rested. I was not so sure that we would be as successful in our next task.

We salvaged what we could from Krenshin's attendants (a total of 157 gold) and left quickly. We did not want to run into more of his minions. As it was, we still ran into a bit of trouble on the way back to our resting place. A few horrid ghasts attacked our band but were quickly dispatched.

17 Uktar, 1368 Facing the Banelich

After resting for several hours, we began to plan our attack on Stallik. Mallakar told us that the banelich was deceptive, inhuman, shrewd and believes himself to be Bane reborn. Bane knew he was going to die and before this happened, he put shards of himself all over to preserve his essence. Stallik hold one of these shards. He also holds the bodies of Mallakar's family. He also has been poisoning Mallakar for the past several years with many layers of poison. In the Banelich's lair there is an antidote that Mallakar must have if he is to survive.

Over the alter in his main room he has a large obsidian black hand that has magical powers. Lurtis, his high priest guards this area. We would do well to be prepared for a fight in the alter room.

After a brief visit from Elminster we went back into the lair of Stallik. We again spent some time reading the inscriptions of the tombs of the High Imperceptors. Stallik was the seventh to receive a shard of Bane's power. Tomar was eighth and Wedic B'donder (901-1010) was the last.

We reached the alter room with little trouble and met with the high priest. He was not strong enough to stop us. The giant hand was a powerful magic deadener. Fortunately I did not touch the thing with Spellward. Troy was not so fortunate and one of his axes was forever drained of its magic. The axe still worked well enough to smash the hand to rubble though.

Mallakar showed us the secret door into the next room. We rounded the corner and found our way barred by a blade barrier and a wall of fire. In the fire were three spikes with the burning bodies of Mallakar's family. I used my spiderclimb ability to climb over the wall of fire and trusted Spellward to get me through the blade barrier. Myk was nearby when I came down and he and Stallik were exchanging attacks. Myk was firing arrows and in turn was getting struck by gouts of cold green fire that dripped off Stalliks's arms. I attacked with Spellward and Troy, who had also made it through the deadly walls, attacked with axes. Mallakar also joined us in the battle. Stallik must have cast a stoneskin spell upon himself for it was some time before we could penetrate with a hit that did damage. Meanwhile Ash was busy casting fireballs at the knot of battle around the banelich. Unfortunately, the banelich's magic resistance was working better against the fireballs than mine. I was able to dodge out of the worst of the fire, but got singed none the less.

Stallik tried a few futile attacks on me that were blocked either by Ash's casting of stoneskin or my magic resistance. Myk was not so fortunate and I saw him go down in a burst of cold fire. Troy also fell to a horrible reversed casting of a curative spell. Stallik turned his attention on Egwene while Mallakar and I pounded away on the banelich. Egwene was near the end when I was able to slice off Stallik's amulet that protected him from magic missiles. I landed another powerful blow immediately after this and the banelich went down in a flurry of magic missiles from the bard.

We found his secret room and his phylactery, a huge spinning red stone supported by big metal clawed feet. Before we could do anything more, we were interrupted by a huge rumble and shaking that caused everyone to fall to the ground. Big things were still happening above ground it seems. Mallakar found a big black bottle that he believed was his antidote. When he uncorked it, wisps of smoke came out. He drank the potion and strange black vapors rose from his body. His skin took on a sickly gray color and his hair turned white. But, after a fit a coughing and sputtering, my friend appeared to be alright.

We turned our attention to the Phylactery. While the others waited in a hidey hole provided by Egwene's magic, Myk and I attacked the thing. We both hit the stone several times before one of my strikes shattered it. A cold black ring of explosive force erupted from the shattered stone, going through the two of us and through the surrounding walls. Mallakar, who was just outside the range of the explosion fell over non-the-less, his hand which had been holding Albruin was frosted and sore. He recovered from this, smiled a bit and we all returned to the alter room.

Here we found that a huge building had crashed through the ceiling, leaving a gaping hole through which we could see the cold sky, new fallen snow, and the form of a white dragon cruising by above the city. We decided to remain below for a while to recover. Even though the banelich was destroyed, we did not rest well and in the morning, none of our spell casters felt like they wanted to stay here to regain spells. We moved on into the cold, ruined city, staying low and trying to keep from being noticed.

18 Uktar, 1368 The Ruins of Zhentil Keep

Everything in Zhentil Keep has been destroyed. About a half a foot of new fallen snow covered the rubble and ruin that once was the city. Here and there a tall building still stood. We traveled in silence for some time before we heard the rumble of another building collapsing. Along with this sound we also heard a scream, so we went to investigate. In the recent ruin we found the body of a dead Harper. We were able to get him out but were unsuccessful at saving him. We took his body and gear hoping to return him to Shadowdale. We discovered, amongst his things a note from Elminster with the names of two books and a request for them to be delivered to the Sage. The two books, Weapon smiths of Eveningstar and The Dark art of Soul Catching were in the dead man's pack.

Later in the day we came upon a trio of red robed wizards who promptly attacked. I used my Cloudsplitter maneuver to slam into their midst, taking off the head of one instantly. Another fired a lighting bolt wand at me that missed by mere inches. Mallakar was there quickly and before I knew it, all three wizards were dead. One lay still, surrounded by globes of magical energy and dark swirling vapors. We did a quick salvage on them and their victims who appeared to be wealthy merchants.

Further along we came upon a grisly sight. One lone priest of Orcus was dragging himself down the ruined street, dragging most of his guts behind him. Myk quickly dispatched him with an arrow and we were left a skull headed mace that hissed and snapped at us. We covered the mace with a cloak and stuffed it in a bag. Suddenly we heard an elven-sounding cry of rage from ahead. Carefully investigating we discovered the site of the battle. Dead priests of Cyric and Orcus were everywhere, huge chunks of broken ice lay scattered across the battlefield. Twinkling motes of fading magical energy dotted the field. Two figures remained in rubble. One was Kymel Kilsek. The other was his female companion. She was down and clearly in bad shape. I was all for moving on and leaving them to their evident rage. Egwene felt bound to help and she cast a curative spell on the injured drow woman. Kilsek looked on, not comprehending the feelings that drove Egwene to help a fallen enemy. I stayed carefully on guard for black deeds but nothing more occurred until we moved on.

Travel through the broken city was rough. I fell frequently, skinning my hands and fingers until they were bloody, and giving myself a glorious new set of bruises. At dusk we were close to the Harbor District and we were able to find a fairly secure part of the ruin to spend the night. Myk and Egwene were able to cast some spells that made our camp very comfortable despite the cold and damp from outside. Sometime later we were discovered by two men. One was a Zhentilar trooper. The other a Zhentarim Captain. We shared our camp with them throughout an uneasy night. We saw little point in killing them. From them we learned that Cyric brought in an army of giants, gnolls, orcs and others. He was planning on saving the city at the last moment but his plans went awry with the rise of the Godson and the reappearance of Bane. These two were trying to make it to a check point they saw yesterday from the top of a standing building.

19 Uktar, 1368. Another Day amongst the Ruins

After our unwelcome visitors had left in the morning, posturing and bragging of their strength, and understanding nothing, we got down to business. Egwene spoke to the spirit of the dead harper. He was, as we knew, on a mission from Elminster to recover the books. He was relieved when we told him we would finish the task. He warned us of the Soulcatching book, saying it was dangerous and not of this world. He finished by asking that we leave his body on a rock in the wilderness. We wrapped the body tightly and carried on into the ruin.

While the drow was doing this, the bard identified the powers on the Harper's short sword called Silkrunner. It was especially strong against spiders and their ilk. The user is immune to the effects of web spells, can speak thieves cant, can cast glitterdust and is better at hiding in shadows.

Late in the day, after hours of frozen stumbling and painful bruising, we came across two huge frost giants shouting at a white dragon. There were several gnolls also involved in a fight over the ownership of a pair of dead horses still attached to the wagon they had been drawing. Ash introduced us by casting a fireball into their midst. I spent the battle trying to get into position to do something. First as a blocker to the spell casters, then after a fly spell was cast on me, trying to catch up to Myk and the dragon. All I did of value was to catch the ranger as he fell out of the sky after the dragon broke off the battle and fled.

The others had discovered an opening to the sewers nearby so we retreated below in case the dragon brought back reinforcements. Below we discovered a man in ornate robes having set up his own little retreat until things settle down above. He called himself Dirge and it was obvious from the crates and other scattered bits that he had recently moved into this little retreat. Just as obvious was his desire to be left alone. He told us of a secret door and another hidden part of the sewer that we could use if we wished then he bade us goodbye.

We found the hideout as Dirge had described and hunkered down for the night. Further down the tunnel we could see an opening to the river, blocked in part by the hull of a broken ship. Beyond the ship we could see white dragons out over the river playing gruesome games with refugees who sought to cross the river and escape the city.

20 Uktar, 1368. Return of the Black Hand

We spent most of the day working our way through the tunnels below the city. Traveling was easier in the areas we could get through. There were a lot of dead ends where the ceiling had collapsed, but at least the footing was a bit more secure. We were not stumbling over snow covered rocks and frozen bodies as we had been above ground.

Our first encounter of the day was with a priest of Cyric that had thrown off his holy symbol and was trying to get away. He was running from a spell battle between Banites and followers of Xivim. We sent the fellow toward the river, warning him to stay away from the wards that guarded Dirge's new home. An explosion a short time later led us to believe he did not take our advice.

The site of the spell battle was hard to miss. It was a big cavern with scores of bodies. The tunnel continued on until it ended near a door. There were pegs near the door, hung with black robes bearing the green eyed symbol of Iactu Xivim. We donned the robes, and wrapped the dead Harper in a torn and bloody robe from the site of the battle. Inside we could hear the booming chant of hundreds of voices. Ahead was a cathedral to Xivim filled with people in the dark robes. At the alter was a figure in black plate shooting green fire out at his followers that were dying by the dozen, giving up their spirits to him. Beside us for a brief instant were the eyes and the smell of Elminster. We heard his injunction "Hold until the last instant. I cannot stop the others."

Suddenly a cloaked figure threw off his cloak with a shout "For the Harpers!" and attacked. Taking that cue for their own, three other figures, baneliches by the look of them, also threw off their cloaks and started toward the alter.

Mallakar then got this terribly shocked look on his face and turned into Stallik. I later learned that the banelich had used a second phylactary, Albruin, to escape his destruction and return in the body of my friend. From there he was able to hide until this last terrible instant.

From our vantage we could see the terrible fight between the Avatar of Cyric and Iactu Xivim and the progression of Stallik as he attacked and consumed the other baneliches, rapidly gaining in power until he became Bane himself. Cyric was distracted, looking for his book while the poor woman who had it burst into our midst. The battle turned into a chaotic seething mass and all I could see was my friend's body being turned into something horrible. After destroying the baneliches, Stallik crushed the avatar of Iactu Xivim before turning his attention on Cyric. Cyric was quickly destroyed and stripped of much of his power, left little more than a gibbering mad thing.

Somewhere in all of this I went mad myself. Everything turned red and I moved in to attack Bane. My first Windslicer attack went wild and before I could strike again I was being dragged out of the cathedral by Troy and Myk. At this time, Bane manifested above the ruin of Zhentil Keep. His voice boomed out to everything that remained alive in the shattered waste "Let this be a lesson to all who lose faith!"

Stumbling out of the tunnels we learned that the woman with the book was Rinda, the scribe who was forced to write the book. We took her with us and the dead Harper along with the other Harpers that survived the Battle of Bane's Return into the frozen swamps to the west of the city. Before we lost sight of the ruined towers I turned back to look at the terrible place we had left. I stood upon a great stump and raised Spellward to the sky. "You may be back, but know this. None of you followers is safe, none of your temples are safe, none of your priests are safe from me!"

The cold of Ukar bore down on us as we made our way westward until we found a crossing near Teshwave. I could not tell, after a while if the cold came from inside our outside myself. The pain of loss was too great. When we finally arrived in Shadowdale the Sage himself was there to greet us with kind words and warm lodgings. I found no comfort in either. I had failed so miserably to rescue Mallakar that I began to feel as if I might drift off into the cold night sky and be lost myself.

There was a great deal of talk about what had happened. How Bane, the Lord of Strife, had planned all this for so long along with the other "dead" gods. How Bane had set all this in motion. This and the Godswar. All for his own benefit. I couldn't find it in me to care. We made our way up to Harper's Hill where we once again found ourselves awed by the Presence of many of the good powers. They were generous in their rewards but they couldn't give me what I really wanted. I tried to be thankful but it was hard to feel anything through the pain.

I stumbled down the hill alone and collapsed near the edge of a little pond outside of the village. I sat alone until it was dark. Elminster joined me quietly. The smell of pipe smoke was getting familiar. He told me that he had lost in Zhentil Keep too. Of the 83 thousand people that lived in the city, today more than half were dead. With our help about 13 thousand were saved by the gods and another 10 thousand had fled. Many of the survivors were headed this way. Storm was in charge of dealing with the refugees.

He asked me if in the few days Mallakar had between the time I had rescued him and the time when Bane took him if I had seen the look in my friend's eyes. I told him I had and that I had seen the freedom and joy and trust there. I realized that I had not failed completely, because I had given Mallakar something important in that short time. He was right of course, but that did not take away the pain. I didn't think anything could. It felt like the price for what little we had been able to accomplish had been far too high.

"Coming out of that place alive and with yer spirit not all shriveled up is good" The old sage told me. He did not have to add the admonition I was thinking: Don't give the Black Hand the one thing he can't take from you. Then he left me alone with my tears and the night sky.

22 Alturiak 1369. Return to Dragonsmere

After a bit of time away, our company reassembled at our tower, prepared to adventure together once again. Before we left our place, though we caught each other up on the events of the past few rides.

Our Bard told his tale first. Only Beldin is no longer a Bard. He sacrificed a good bit of his health for the sake of his learning. He has become a student of magic under the guidance of Mazarale. Through some taxing time travel Beldin was able to pack about three years worth of magical studies and travel into the time we spent apart. He traveled to Mazarale's tower where he learned a lesson in the responsibility that comes with knowledge and learning. He traveled then to Mazarale's home world, a place destroyed by space faring orcs through the release of a terrible thing called a witchlight marauder. Mazarale and some of his people escaped to the island of Nimbral where they live in self-imposed isolation.

The second stop on Beldin's journey was to a lush forest world covered with ancient trees that reached far into the sky. This was an elven world where the orcs and forest trolls seek domination. There are other worlds that the orcs have been taking. There is great interest here as well as evidenced by the last great orc gate war and the resurgence of the orc gates. The lesson here was that we need to take responsibility for what we know and take the initiative to figure out what is going on here.

Beldin's last stop was the island of Nimbral where he studied magic with the Nimbrali mages. He returned to us with silver eyes and grey robes.

Egwene stayed closer to home during her sojourns. She traveled to a secret location under Daggerfalls, below the temple of Lathander to a scrying pool. There she saw images of Erigen the Dark who follows Bane now. Erigen held a black staff with a blue crystal. Either she or someone else brought back an imprisoned power known as Night Shade. This powerful evil being and his consorts (one of which was Gothyl) struck a great deal of fear into Erigen. Night Shade itself wore flowing robes and carried a huge (8-foot long) 2-handed sword. He was the instigator of the wizard war over the Dagger Hills until he was betrayed by one of his minions. It appears that his betrayer was Gothyl.

She also learned that a Black Dragon is looking for the party that killed Flame. The red had a large holding of land but the other dragons do not know where her lair was hidden. The Priestess also took the opportunity to once again speak with the spirit of Ted, our dead beastman companion. He had tired of his time in the realm of the dead and wished now to be returned to the land of the living. We were able to use a scroll of resurrection left for us at the Temple of Lathander to bring him back to us.

Myk, now a High Priest of Shaundakul traveled to Myth Drannor to retrieve a holy weapon at the urging of his faith. There he ran into remnants of the army that attacked Zhentil Keep including gnolls and a frost giant. He met a guardian elf of the forest and learned that the followers of Shaundakul are trying to free the temple within Myth Drannor from the evil forces that surround it. He recovered a powerful magic shadow bow called The Hammer. He told us much that he learned about the powers known as Mythals, hot spots in the magical weave that enable mages and priests to channel much greater power. Myk also told us that Elminster helped create the Mythal at Myth Drannor several hundred years ago.

Troy helped Storm for a time, building shelters for refugees from Zhentil Keep. He then went to Tilverton and met with the priests of Gond who were happy to hear news of the events surrounding the rise of Bane. They were still all a buzz over a rift between Gond and Mystra over Her destruction of several of His creations that were to aid Bane.

The builder then met up with Kymel Kilsek and they used a magical portal at a bar that took them to The World Serpent Inn and then on into Sigil. The drow really appeared to be trying to mess with Troy's head because he gave Troy some information about the dwarves that left Eagles Eyrie during a rift that developed long ago within the dwarven clan. These dwarves are said to have traveled into the Dagger Hills and disappeared. In exchange for this information and the gift of a ring, Troy agreed to fight the Forest Troll champion in the ring at Hillsfar. Troy learned that the forest troll was a sword lord and that the ring he received from Kilsek was a powerful protection from some sword lord powers. All of the non physical attacks and powers would not function against the ring bearer. In addition, when certain command phrases were spoken, command phrases that referenced the Lady of Pain, wicked blades and/or blade barriers would appear around Troy.

It appears that with all this activity going on in the Dagger Hills, we should do a little exploring there. I spent my time on a journey to the coastal city of Selgaunt and found the Grand Master of the Long Sword known as Bordrak. I found him and became his student. I learned that there is a lot I do not yet know. He was encouraging, though and told me that I was welcome to return when I was ready to learn more. I found his approach and attitude much more to my liking than that of Bannon of Bloodstone. While there Bordrak and I discussed my choice of weapons a great deal and upon returning to Dragonsmere, I chose to put Spellward away for a time and accept Beldin's gift of the Sword of the Dales. While I can obviously use Spellward to great effect, I found that after putting him away, it was almost as if a low, irritating buzzing sensation that I never even noticed before was suddenly gone and my steps all felt lighter than before. All Beldin had to say was that he would be glad for the Sword of the Dales to see more use.

While in Selgaunt I also visited the wharves and docks. I ran into a few old acquaintances, but the Ill Wind had not been in port for some time and was not expected any time soon. I felt a curiously free feeling to be abl to visit an old haunt without the old fear gripping my guts. It did not matter that Egan was not here. It mattered that I had grown beyond him and his petty brutality. I felt perched on the edge of two worlds here on the docks of Selgaunt. I could dip my fingers into the seamy underside of the city and knew that almost without effort slip into the world of the pirates again if I chose. I could also, with my resources and contacts, ride the high crest of opulence with the rich merchants and high society. On a whim, I tracked down the names of the top 20 oldest wealthy merchant families based in Selgaunt and learned what they had made their fortunes on and when.

On my trip I was also able to visit the city of High Moon during the Feast of the Moon. There I stayed at the Temple of Selune and participated in the ceremonies of that holy day. I dedicated myself to the service of the Church of Selune and the leaders there welcomed me into the family of the church. We discussed development of a temple in Daggerdale, but there were no priests in High Moon that were willing and able to lead the effort. Perhaps that will be my task after I become a priest of Selune. They did mention that the folk of Daggerdale were still somewhat suspicious of anything having to do with the moon because of its connotations with the night and a series of unfortunate vampire invasions.

After swapping tales and getting geared up for some wintertime adventuring we set out into the Dagger Hills. Almost at once we discovered some of the activities going on in the hills. Close to evening on the first day of our investigations we stumbled across a band of evil adventurers engaged in some kind of nefarious activity at an old hill top ruin or open air temple. Upon seeing us, one of them advanced and warned us off. A detect evil spell cast by Egwene told us that either that they were all very evil or were engaged in evil deeds. We attacked.

The battle was fast and deadly. I don't think it lasted even a minute. In the end I had brought down an evil sword lord (that had an incredibly neat distance parry power) and a drow that sought to protect a female mage. The mage got away, but she was the only one out of about 9 people that started the battle on their side. Ted also fell again, damn him. He hasn't learned anything. It was the same old tactic of drive in fast, even when wounded. Myk was able to raise him again, but the beastman was incredibly bleak and annoying afterward. Just after the battle we spotted a new figure appear. It was a dark skeletal being in leathers on a black horse. It stared at us for a moment then vanished. We quickly salvaged what we could from the scorched and battered bodies and then turned our attention to trying to figure out what they were up to here.

As we were preparing to investigate further, the dark one reappeared. This time he was bearing a huge sword and looked as though he meant to use it on us. From the gloom a zombie shuffled up and spoke for the dark one. "You are in the lands of Night Shade. You are trespassing, I suggest you leave."

Before we had a chance to reply, the zombie collapsed and lightning cut through the sky to the north. Night Shade immediately disappeared. We could see the illuminations of meteor swarms, lightning bolts and walls of fire from the north, east and southeast. Just as things started to settle down, Elminster arrived to tell us that Mazarale informed him of something bad happening, something very big. "Just beware . . ." he continued until his image abruptly disappeared.

We decided the best thing for us to do was to head back to Daggerfalls and stick close by Lord Morn. The stars were out and I made some estimates. I figured that most of the spell battling we saw occurred at Castle Crag, the orc tower, Daggerfalls, and Mazarale's tower. What ever happened, it was powerful enough to send waves of force rippling through the weave. The spell-casters sensed titanic forces at work with the weave being torn in places and hot spots being generated elsewhere.

I felt the Sword of the Dales drop into my hand, dark and heavy and empty of magic at least twice as we sought to leave the hills. Black planes of force shot across the landscape more than once. In one area, hundreds of skulls pushed up out of the rocky soil and began to scream and burst into flinders. We ran into one of Morn's Freedom Riders who had been injured by a bursting skull. He was grateful for the healing offered by our priestess. He was somewhat in awe of us, having heard many tales.

When we arrived at Mazarale's Tower, we could see that something big had happened here. The snow was melted back for at least 50 yards all around the tower. There was fire burning in the mortar between the stones in the upper levels. We had no way of getting in the tower after the bag of gold trick did not work, so we pressed on for Dagger Falls despite our worries that the powerful mage may be inside and in need of assistance.

Still a ways out of town we were stopped by a man on a white horse. He was quite a sight, with a fancy black doublet, satiny black and white pantaloons, and a plumed hat with a huge white feather. Beldin warned us that there were lots of invisible folks all around. This included the Zhent captain we once dug out of a Dagger Falls warehouse and sent away from the Dale never to return. He was quite apologetic, but he and the Dandy Highwayman, as he called himself, explained they were refugees from Zhentil Keep. They had run afoul some of the monsters that attacked the Keep and were headed south to Tilverton. They were seeking a donation to ensure that they would not have to turn to banditry along the way. At first I saw very little difference between this approach and outright banditry, but I realized that he had given me the power to decide whether this encounter would be a robbery or a chance to help travelers in need. Myk was nearly purple with the moral problem of acceding to their demands versus helping travelers. It was almost funny to watch. To confuse matters more, Sharantir showed up behind Thorak, the Dandy Highwayman and nearly escalated the encounter into a pitched battle. In the end, Egewene gave the travelers more than they asked for and we sent them on their way.

We arrived in Daggerfalls just after a dragon attack. We were told that a black dragon had attacked the temple of Lathander where Mazarale lay recovering. His female apprentice arrived in time to drive it off. She was inside with him now. I knew instantly that it was Erigen inside. Egwene realized the truth immediately as well. We rushed in and startled the bone witch from her foul work before she could penetrate the Mazarale's defenses. She disappeared and we were able to hear a few words from Mazarale before his contingency spells kicked in and wisked him away to a place of safety. He whispered some instructions to Beldin and gave him something. He told us that he was investigating in the Dagger Hills when he ran into Night Shade. Elminster came in to lend a hand. Mazarale told us he found out all he needed to know from the orc tower, but said nothing else about it.

From Mazarale, Beldin got a scroll that gave us permission to ride on any ship in the Elven Imperial Navy. We were instructed to make our way to the Rock of Bral to find Selanos. He also received a note to give us audience at the elven embassy and 10 clerical scrolls, 6 were spells to "contact home power" and 4 were passwall spells. The final item was a key with which Beldin could get us into Mazarale's tower and from there to the Rock of Bral.

We met up with a huge dwarf, Moorgin, that wished to accompany us and continue to spread the word of Clangidin.

25 Alturiak. -- For Merrydale!

It was not easy to prepare for a journey in which I knew not where we were going, what we would encounter or how long it would take. In any event, We were back in Daggerfalls preparing when We ran across this very strange fellow from my old home town of Sigil. He was ranting on about being caught in a maze for 400 years and was happy to be out. He promptly set up a shop in Daggerfalls as a purchaser of all manner of cursed and useless magical equipment. He called himself the Tooka and I don't trust him a bit.

Ash purchased a bag of devouring with the key that allows something dropped in the bag to appear at the location of the key. The goofy mage left the key with Tebrynith and planned on dropping through all manner of strange things. I asked for information and was told that the price of a question was 25 lions. I paid this and asked "who would benefit from the kidnaping and sale of a youngster from Sigil, someone who might have been affiliated with the Society of Sensation?" The Tooka scowled and closed up shop immediately, shooing us out with not another word.

Another loose end that we wanted to deal with in Dagger Falls was the problem with the Wizard's tower. Ever since the war, the tower had been a problem. It was the source of weird lights and strange magics. We notified Lord Morn that we were ready to take it on and he sent a troop over to stand watch outside. The Lord Himself also came to watch. It was not much fun to have him and the others looking over our shoulders in amusement, but I'm glad we let him know we might be stirring up trouble before we went in. We were more encouraged when we heard the voice from the tower that said "Know that I am a prisoner within. The reason for the dale changing its name to the dagger lies within."

Myk cast a handy new spell that conjured up a black shield of energy and used it to disable a couple of the tower's wards and let us in. Just as the door opened, Myk and Troy jumped out of the way of a lightning bolt. Fortunately for me, since I was standing right in front of the bolt, I had just drawn the Sword of the Dales. The lightning was drawn up to the blade and launched back out, striking the vampire that sent it our way. We charged in to attack the vampire but it turned to vapor and rose up through the ceiling. We pursued and Troy triggered a magical trap that nearly killed him. We made it up to the next level and repeated the battle and the vampire's disappearance.

We chased the thing up again and finally hit it a couple of times causing it to turn to vapor again. Just as it turned to vapor I got one last hit in with the Sword of the Dales and blood poured out of the vapor. I murmured a prayer to Selune, thinking that this vampire's death was a small step in helping to clear the way for greater acceptance of Her faith in this dale. I had learned in Highmoon that the people of Daggerdale still harbored concerns of anything related to the night, including the Moon Maiden because of the infestation of vampires the dale suffered long ago. My words were not polished and I received some ribbing from my companions. I only hope the intent rather than the form counted more to Lady Selune.

The creature appeared to be guarding a red gem in the center of the room. After several attempts to destroy the thing, I brought the Sword of the Dales to bear and said "Selune lend your power to those of us who seek to protect Merrydale." I had gotten a bit of coaching on the words, this time from our priestess.

There was a breaking of the bonds that held the prisoner and a flare-up of magical energy that gave Beldin the willies. When the energy died, we confronted the shade of Shrayven, the Weapons Mage who had been imprisoned within the gem for hundreds of years. We talked for a while and I ended up showing him the evil sword used by one of the minions of Night Shade in our most recent battle. He promptly took it and disappeared through the wall. Troy was quick-thinking enough to call off Holly and Lord Morn who were still outside waiting for any fallout from the battle with the tower residents. Shrayven took the sword to the steps leading up to the temple of Lathander. He called out Jesala and summoned up four black warriors from out of the sword. Jesala drew her own sword, struck the tip with a finger and caused it to set up a powerful humming vibration. I saw her deliberately squeeze off the vibration. The four warriors each yelped out in pain, dropping their own weapons. The four vanished and Shrayven began to speak to Jesala. It was clear that she too was a Sword Lord. When we caught up with the group outside, Shrayven was dismayed by the state of affairs regarding the Sword Lords and appeared to be ready to sort things out.

We invited the Shade of Shrayven to reside at our tower as long as he desired and he took us up on that offer. Back at Dragonsmere we picked Tebrynith's brain about the Elven Imperial Navy. The elf told us that the fleet of spell jamming ships that traveled between worlds fought the First Unhuman War (so named because of its marked lack of human involvement) which resulted in the brutal defeat of the goblinoid kind throughout wildspace. After the war, the elves were left with undisputed control over wildspace. Tebrynith told us again that his father was the leader of the Elven Imperial Fleet. I don't know if our association with this prodigal son would be to our benefit or not, but it appears as though we shall see.