Session 60 - The Spire's Last Defenders

Arodus 23

After resting, the monk and Phain scouted out the rest of the spire. Having seen their deployment on defense, they returned to the group and formed an attack plan.

Arodus 24

The party buffed and teleported in. Phain brought Orik, the monk, Xantumal, and Preacher on his first trip. There were two Rune giants guarding two hallways leading into a room with a number of Lamia Harridans. They attacked one giant while the monk moved over, enlarged to block the other giant. Preacher cast stone wall on the door to secure it in place just in case.

The first giant went down without even taking a swing. Xantumal conjured a pair of elements behind this giant and used them to keep the hallway blocked.

Phain teleported in with the rest of the party and started in on the second giant. While the giant got a couple mighty swings in, the group dispatched him just as a reinforcement of giants were coming down the hall.

The group focused on the remaining Rune Giant as the other hallway a fight broke out between the elementals and some Storm giants. Unknown to the party, one of the Storm giants had broken free and decided to help. Soon the remaining Rune Giant was dead, and all of the other giants were free of domination. The one storm giant stayed to help as the others fled the city.

The Harridans had not advanced down the hallway, so the party moved down to fight them while their buffs were still active.

Two Harridans blocked the hallways as another one cast a spell of Phain preventing him from teleporting. While the harm spells the harridans had did major damage the party was weathering the fight.

The leader of the Harridans however was causing a ton of problems. The leader cast a summoning spell which brought a Glabrezu, a powerful demon. It was using reverse gravity constantly, knocking the party up to the ceiling and down again. Preacher cast dismissal in desperation, and it worked, sending the demon back to its plane, but the party was hurt badly. Next, the leader harridan cast Destruction on the monk who avoided the reverse gravity because of slow fall and his dimension door ability. Unfortunately, the monk failed his save and his body was destroyed. Soon after Orik took a harm spell which was close to killing him as well. The party was losing the fight.

A quick heal from Xantumal and some channeling from Preacher soon turned the fight around with the Storm giant's greatsword wreaking havoc. Finally all the Harridans were dead, the spire's guardians defeated, and only Karzoug remained....if they could figure out how to get to him.

Session 59 - Denizens of Leng

Arodus 20

With the head of the wizard in the cage the party asked their three questions and found out that his name was Kalib and is Karzoug's apprentice from the days of Thassilon. He is working to bring back Karzoug who was close to returning.

Arodus 21

Phain and the monk decided to scout out the spire. Both going invisible and moving silently they teleported inside the spire at the alarm spot. Phain used his gauntlet to stone shape the area around it to disable it.

They heard the patrol move by so they moved to the throne room and Phain used a Clairvoyance wand to peer in the throne room. Inside was a Rune Giant, a Storm Giant, and 2 Cloud Giants. Phain used Dimension Door to move into the hallway past the throne room and moved further into the complex. Using his wand Phain scouted out the rooms and discovered a number of room where it appeared Karzoug was standing. He also found a room with alien life forms doing work on strange machinery. The monk used the scrying eye that Preacher loaned him to look at them and he recognized them, they were Denizens of Leng. Being on the border of Leng he wasn't surprised to see them. He also noticed that the machinery the Denizens of Leng were working on was showing a time from the height of Thassilon.

Heading back down the hall they decided to kill the Rune Giant. Phain teleported back to get the druid, Preacher, and Orik while the monk position himself. Preacher barred the door again with a wall of stone while Xantumal cast Reverse Gravity between them and the lesser giants. Orik began to pound of the Rune Giant.

Soon the giant was dead and the other giants freed from domination. The party teleported back out. Asking the head more question they discovered the Denizens of Leng were helping Karzoug by using this device to bring Karzoug's army back from the past right before Thassilon was destroyed so he could use them today.

The party came to the conclusion that these creatures and their project must be destroyed.

Arodus 22

The next day they got their spells ready and teleported into the room immediately attacking the Denizens of Leng. While no one got hurt, the creatures were resistant to their blows and healed quickly. Fortunately once they were dead, they stayed dead.

After the last Denizen of Leng died, the machinery began to make a strange noise, and soon it became apparent that it was overloading. Then, with a burst of energy, a large Hound of Tindalos appeared howling loudly. The party decided it was time to go, allowing the hound to rampage the spire.

Session 58 - The Champion of Karzoug

Arodus 20

After resting and planning, the party heading back to the spires. They appeared outside the door of the woman who was the Champion of Karzoug. Buffing and getting ready, Preacher slammed open the door and the party attacked!

Phain dimension door a group of people over to one of the Rune Giants, while Preacher,Xantumal and Shalelu stayed back. While they started to beat down the first Rune Giant, the second Rune Giant charged the druid. The Champion moved over to attack the monk. Xantumal hit her with a dispel magic, and the monk hit her with his Sword of Blah, removing all of her current spells with its special power.

When the first giant went down, the second giant became the target and it soon went down with it. The monk made a new special move he learned that could kill it one hit, and it worked! The Champion went down as the second giant was dying.

Meanwhile Shalelu heard giants coming down the hall so she slipped inside the room while they closed the door and did a stone wall to brace it. The monk heard commotion coming down the other hallway and saw six lamia harridans coming. Bracing for the initial assault, the party took heavy wounds, but Preacher was nearby to keep people alive. Xantumal summoned an earth elemental to guard the braced door in case the giant broke through.

Ready to run at any moment, the party stuck out the fight and as they killed a couple lamias, they heard the pounding on the door change as more Rune Giants came to break down the door. Also at the same time, a wizard appeared and started to pelt the monk with magic missiles. The monk did a dimension door and hit the mage with his sword taking off his protections. Then the mage disappeared.

When they looked for him they noticed he was behind the remaining lamias and a summoned vrock was attacking Preacher. The monk chased him down by dimension dooring back to his location, stunning him with a mighty blow. Meanwhile the rest of the party was trying to kill the remaining lamias before the doors buckled in.

With the mage and one lamia left, the Rune Giants finally broke the door in. One of the giants killed the earth elemental while the other one charged in hitting Shalelu. Shalelu moved closer to Phain to allow him to teleport her out, while the last lamia went down. The wizard fell unconscious while acid arrows were killing him. Preacher and Phain used spells to escape as the room filled in with giants.

Wiped out, the party returned to their base to rest and recover for the next assault.

Session 57 - To the Pinnacle of Avarice

Arodus 16

The monk decided he would go up the Golden Road to the Pinnacle of Avarice and scout it out, then Phain would follow and learn an area to teleport to and from. Heading through the tunnels and using his invisibility ring, the monk crept up the Golden Road avoiding any creatures as best he could. The road was mostly abandoned, with just a few giants using it.

Passing the 26,000 foot mark, called the death zone, the monk didn't see anything living. The monk himself would have been dead if not for his magical items sustaining him. at over 30,000 feet, the monk found an abandoned complex that used to house troops and personnel over 10,000 years ago. Despite the fact it had long been abandoned, the buildings were in great shape. He decided this could be a great staging area and headed back down to direct Phain on where to go.

Arodus 17

Phain took the same path as a monk to get close, but used the invisibility ring and a couple fly spells to fly up the mountain. Using the direction the monk gave him, he flew up the side that the complex was on. He encountered several mountain ropers on the way up, but managed to no get entangles by their tendrils. Once he made it up to the complex, he studied the area to learn it well and teleported back.


Arodus 18

The group decided today was the day to assault the spire and teleported to the staging area. They traveled the remaining 1,000 feet or so up the mountain and entered the spire. A ramp spiraled up nearly another 1,000 feet until they reach the top. There a group of cloud giants attacked and raised an alarm.

The party cast some buff spells and attacked. From around the corner came a storm giant. As the first cloud giant went down, a huge pair of double door opened up to reveal an even bigger giant, a Rune Giant from the history of Thassilon.

Phain grabbed as many as he could and teleported behind the rune giant to surprise it, but was further surprised by another Rune Giant coming from down the hall, and another door opening up with more cloud giants.

The party focused their attacks on the rune giant and soon killed it, releasing two of the cloud giants and the storm giant from its control. They ran off to escape Xin-Shalast if they could. Despite the numbers being against them, they started on the next Rune Giant. With Preacher and Xantumal healing, the second giant soon fell, but not before a door down the hallway opening up with two more rune giants, and a woman bearing the last sword of power they have been looking for. Knowing they couldn't survive much longer, Phain teleported out and Preacher used his word of recall to get back to their tower.

Session 56 - In Search of Sihedron Rings

Arodus 14

After scouting for a couple days the Skulks located Karzoug's blue dragon Glorofaex and watched it and knew its schedule on when it would be in its lair. They were sure it would have a ring. The party tallied up their rings and amulets and they needed 2 more rings before they could approach the spire. The skulks agreed to scout some more.

The party prepared their spells and took the tunnels that lead to the dragon. Phain scouted hidden and when he returned teleported the party right to its doorway. Heading inside, they fought the dragon, taking many injuries during the fight, but coming out victorious. Searching its organized pile, they found the Sihedron ring in a chest, they only needed one more.

After about an hour after the fight, the group was in for a surprise. An Ice Devil wielding a large spear came out of nowhere and dropped Phain, saying in Thassilonian "That's what you get for not taking up the Runelord's offer!"

The rest of the party, unprepared attacked the Devil, taking a lot of damage in the meantime. Phain was healed by Preacher, and took the time to retreated and begin casting spells to help the party fight this thing. Eventually they came out on top, badly beaten up but kept alive by Preacher's healing. They found another ring on the devil which meant they finally had enough Sihedron items to make it to the spires.

Not wanting to hang around too much longer and risk another attack, the party retreated to their hangout to rest and to plan their trip to the Xin-Shalast Spires.

Session 55 - Lower Shalast

Arodus 11

The party made their way into Xin-Shalast they were amazed by the scope of the city. Here is a description of what they saw

This tableau defies belief. A narrow mountain pass opens into a glacial valley extending north and then turning to the west at the base of the vast mountain at the far end. Filling this valley is an ice-capped city of enormous proportions. The near end is mostly blocked by a huge fortress of smooth black stone, with multiple towers rising from its high walls. Exiting the bailey of this fortress is a massive causeway of gold that dominates the city as it travels down the center of the vale.

Enormous towers and spires of many-colored stone pack both sides of the central thoroughfare, rising to prodigious heights and giving the illusion that the road itself is a valley. The eastern slope of the valley has been partially subsumed by an ancient glacial flow—nearly a quarter of the city appears to have been so buried. That section is now little more than a great mass of ice, with the jagged angles and peaks of ruined structures poking through its topmost layer here and there. Where the valley curves slightly to the west, the structures, if anything, grow even larger, becoming truly gigantic as they climb up and over the rocky spur. At the far end of the valley, the city abuts the lower slope of a truly massive peak. Yet the city builders appear to have taken no heed of this change in slope, for the great causeway merely elevates at a steep angle and continues to climb the increasing slope in a nearly straight line, transforming into an immense stairway.

Additional buildings cling precariously to the mountain face alongside the causeway, growing even larger and more impressive as they ascend. The gigantic buildings finally give way a few thousand feet above, but the mighty road continues to wend its treacherous way to just below the mountain’s peak. There, a spired citadel looms, its size and proportions truly magnificent. It, too, fails to summit the mountain—instead, its topmost spires end just below the dominant face of a stern man, carved into the peak of the mountain and surveying the city below. The otherworldly quality of this strange panorama is further reinforced by the sound of the cold winds slicing across the high peaks, making strange cries and shrieks in the ether.

They made their way to where they were supposed to meet their contact. The massive tower seemed abandoned, but they went inside carefully. Inside they met a skulk name Morgiv. Seems that there were underground passages all over lower Shalast, but a being they call the Hidden Beast were subverting the skulks and Morgiv required the party to help them first before they would help the party.

Arodus 12

After resting, the party let Morgiv lead them to where the Hidden Beast was. Morgiv had never been down there, no one returned back from there, but he knew that the Hidden Beast could be found down that passage.

Heading down the passage they eventually came to a room. It appeared to be a basement of some building long buried under the ice and stone. On a throne was a skeleton that stood up as the entered and demanded one of them needed to give up their blood for it. Phain cast a spell to see invisible things and noticed a large octopus thing next to skeleton controlling it.

Attacking the octopus thing, Phain exposed its position and Orik used his blind-fighting skill to attack it. Vampire Skulks attacked as well but with Preacher's aura protecting them from energy drain they were able to beat the Hidden Beast and his vampires.

The skulks were impressed by their skill and now that the danger of the Hidden Beast was taken care of agreed to scout the city and bring back whatever information they could.

On the Hidden Beast they found a ring, like the ring they found on the silver dragon outside of the city. They asked the skulks about them, and they told the party they were Sihedron rings, special rings for the highest ranking members of Karzoug. It allowed them to enter the protected area around the spires, without it anyone would die. The party asked the skulks on information on where to find more.

The skulks agreed to find more creatures in the city for them, but suggested that they should clear out the area around the tower they were staying at. A group of yetis were staying in a dome nearby and often go out and hunt and they could stumble upon the party if not dealt with.

The party snuck up on the dome and attacked the yetis. They posed no problem for the group and soon had all of them dead. Heading back to the tower, they rested and waited for more information on Sihedron rings.

Interlude - Part 5

So ends the fifth part of "Rise of the Runelords" adventure path called "Sins of the Saviors". The party is now either 13th or 14th level.

Xantumal - 14th Level Druid of Gozreh
Preacher - 13th level Shoanti Cleric of Pharasma
Phain - 10th Level Sorcerer/ 4th Level Rogue
Nameless Monk of Thassilon - 14th level Monk

There is a break until mid August because of some people being gone during July and Gen Con in early August. (Plus this was a great place to leave off)

"Spires of Xin-Shalast" will continue in August with the party just entering the city.

Session 54 - Runeforge Completed

Erastus 9

As they were leaving, they came back into the room where the statue animated and attacked. There down below was a woman who calimed to be the Highlady Athroxis, ruler of the Halls of Wrath. She challenged the group to a fight to the death, and they obliged.

The monk appeared behind here and knocked her to the floor, while Phain took Orik, Vale, and Preacher with him after casting Dimension Door. As they starting beating her down they were surprised to learn there was an invisible gargantuan demon hidden next to her. Vale went down from damage while the rest of the group continued to beat her down. Soon they had her dead but still had to defeat the demon. After hurting Orik, the death of Highlady Axthroxis seemed to affect its movement and it started to clumsily swing at the group. Soon their repeated blows killed the demon.

Erastus 10

Battered and weary the party rested again in the Shimmering Veils, and returned to the Halls of Wrath to make sure no enemies remained.

Searching through the rest of the wing they found vats where they "grew" warriors from proto-flesh. They also found the magic circle that was talked about in Vraxeris's journal. Phain studied the circle and determined it could summon a planar creature, or could send them back home if any kind of teleportation spell was cast inside it.

The group completely searched the wing and after being satisfied that nothing hidden remained, Phain cast dimension door to send them back to Rimeskull. They appeared inside the circle of heads that they first fought Freezemaw at. Phain cast some spells to retrieve the keys used to open the portal to Runeforge to make sure no one else could get inside of it.

Erastus 11 through Arodus 4

The party returned to Magnimar to sell items and to upgrade and purchase new items for their trip to Xin-Shalast. Going through their contact at the Golemworks, he assured them he could have all their requested items in 3 weeks.

Phain returned home, once again human, just in time to see the birth of his son. Vale returned on his own to Fort Rannick to run it now that Khazen was dead.

After three weeks they reconvened back in Magnimar, went to Runeforge and did a Planar Shift to arrive as close to Xin Shalast as possible.

Arodus 4

The group prepared endure elements spells for everyone, and had appropriate clothing for the outdoors. Using some spells, they found they arrived pretty close to where they were trying to get to. They appeared in a frozen mire that would unfreeze and refreeze causing hazardous pit to open out of nowhere. Preacher fell into one, but was pulled out quickly by the monk. After traveling for a few hours, they realized something was following them, it turned out to be a seal. Xantumal couldn't speak to it with a spell, but then its form changed into a beautiful fey creature.

It told them her name was Svevenka, sister to Myriana whom they helped near Fort Rannick. She recognized them by their description and wanted to help. She told them that she had a contact inside Xin-Shalast. She hadn't been there for a few months, but let them know where to find him. She also offered to lead them to the road into Xin-Shalast, and warned them that it was guarded by cloud giants.

Arodus 11

After a good night's sleep (so they thought, actually one week's time) they were lead to the road by Svevenka. She wished them luck in defeating the Runelord.

At the point where she said the road was guarded, the monk snuck ahead to scout. He say a number of cloud giants in a high vantage point. He let Phain know and they devised a plan to dimension door up and surprise them.

Completely surprised them first of two giants went down without a swing, while the second giant died soon after. Another pair of giants rushed in to help, but the only hit they made knocked Xantumal off the ledge 60 feet below, injuring him, but with some healing from Preacher was fine.

Continuing down the road they saw the city ahead of them. An old man was walking towards them. Confused, but wary, they asked the man who he was. The old man asked if they were the ones he was looking for. Not sure how to answer they paused. The old man turned to a silver dragon. Relieved they found an ally they paused, but were attacked by the dragon. Wondering if perhaps the dragon confused them for an enemy they tried to let it know they were not his enemy, but it continued attacking. A fierce fight followed that almost killed both Orik, Preacher, and Hogie, but everyone lived except the dragon.

Searching the dragon they found a special ring with the Sihedron Rune on it. It was a powerful magic ring that seemed to have a special purpose.

Continuing on, they entered the mythical city of Xin-Shalast.....

Session 53 - Halls of Wrath

Erastus 9

After another rest in the Shimmering Veil, the party was ready to clear out the last remaining wing of Runeforge and then return home.

Entering the Halls of Wrath, they came into a enormous room with a raised platform on the other side about 30 feet above the floor. On that platform was a large iron statue holding a bow. As they moved into the room the statue started to shoot energy arrows at them. Phain cast dimension door and moved Orik and Vale with him next to the statue. The monk used his abundant step to appear next to it as well. Shalelu started hitting it with arrows, landing a solid blow.

The statue started to pummel them with its fist. Orik took a blow that knocked him off the platform. Vale and the monk continued to rain blows upon it until the monk took a hit knocking him off the platform. Phain finished it off with a solid hit.

Past the platform was a hallway leading to a room with two circles. After studying them for awhile they determined that these may be teleportation circles leading further into the wing. Xantumal summoned an animal to determine which one was teleport away from the room and which one teleported them into the room.

Phain, Orik, Vale and the monk went first with the rest of the group schedule to come 30 seconds later. On the other side they saw a group of wrath sinspawn, with armor and axes and looked a lot tougher than the ones they saw under Sandpoint. Phain also heard spellcaster from behind them in a larger room.

Orik Vale and the monk attacked the sinspawn while Phain made an educated guess where the casters were and used dimension door to get there. He used his quicken rod to cast lightning bolt on a row of them then after the fighting wizards attacked hit them again and used improved invisibility. They seemed to have no way to locate him and used fireballs to hopefully catch him that way, but Phain dodge all of those easily.

Meanwhile the fight was hard for Orik, Vale and the monk, with the sinspawn knocking Vale unconscious and close to death, and the monk taking a heavy beating. The monk decided to go through the return circle and request for healing help, and send the rest of the group through.

Appearing back in the first room, Preacher channeled and saved Vale's life and bolstering the monk's. Xantumal and Shalelu went through as soon as the monk was ready with Hogie to follow the next round.

As the sinspawn were about finished, the remaining magus decided to forget about the invisible guy and focus on someone else, which happened to be Orik. Eight bolts of fire streaked into his body, killing him outright. Preacher was still in the other room at the time and couldn't be there for his Breath of Life.

Soon after Orik died,the party killed the rest of the mages. Preacher used Raise Dead on Orik and let him use his War Razor to Coup de Grace one of the magus and restore some of his life energy. The party searched the bodies for useful items while Preacher channeled some more and used some spells to heal everyone.

Session 52 - The Ravenous Crypts Continued

Erastus 7

The party started searching for secret doors after getting themselves healed up. The monk found a trap door in the floor that had a ladder leading down to a hallway. The group headed down the hallway and found yet another secret door leading to another room. Inside the room were three sarcophagi and the lich. It immediately cast a spell that made a cloud that made everyone sick, except Phain who was immune, and tapped his stick against a sarcophagus behind him. Immediately waves of negative energy pulsed healing the lich and Phain while injuring everyone else in the room.

Phain and the lich battled while everyone else fought the nausea. Xantumal, who had changed into an Earth Elemental and was traveling in the walls, came out and grabbed the lich and dragged him back up into the previous room. Everyone but Phain moved back there and dispatched the lich once in for all. Phain meanwhile broke all the sarcophagi with his adamantine gauntlet, including the lich's phylactery.

Having taken heavy damage, the party decided to rest back in the Shimmering Veil and come back to fully explore the Ravenous Crypts the next day.

Erastus 8

The party had one area left to explore in the crypts. Those doors lead to a larger room that was the tomb of some Thassilonian noble. An armor plated golem was inside protecting the tomb. The golem hit the monk, but otherwise the party was careful in their fight. Preacher tried to heal the wound, but somehow the wound was resisting the magic spell and Preacher told the monk it would have to heal on its own.

Searching carefully the rooms, they found one more hidden area. Inside was a sarcophagus made entirely out of crystal. Inside were undead, but they were not sure how to get them out. Phain took his adamantine gauntlet and smashed the crystal release two dread wraiths, larger version of wraiths. Preacher used his death ward to protect the group from level drain while the monk used his ghost touch sword to do full damage to the ghostly figures. Some damage was taken, but nothing the group couldn't handle.

A secret cache was found that had some treasure, as well as a plan shift focus. Preacher and Phain were sure that it could be used to travel directly here, instead of having to use the heads at Rimeskull.

Session 51 - The Ravenous Crypts

Erastus 7

The group went back to the Shimmering Veils to rest and returned the next day to the Ravenous Crypts. All the doors were locked and the rooms were empty. As the party mapped the rooms to make sure they didn't miss anything, they finally came to a room with more mummies in it. Having learned from the last battle, the party was more careful of their disease touch.

They found a secret door leading to a hallway. Phain sneaked down the hallway and saw an undead creature using surgical tools on a dead body. The party got hasted and charged into the room taking down the undead surgeon in no time. Another search found yet another secret door.

Opening that door they were quickly attacked by a lich. Xantumal was hit by a spell instantly killing him, but Preacher was there to use Breath of Life and save him from dying. Phain hit the lich with a lightning bolt, but when Orik hit it, the lich disappeared. Phain cast see invisible and found that the lich was actually in a separate corner. Phain moved and hit it with a lightning bolt but it had no effect. The lich cast a few damaging spells on the party, and became visible to everyone. Orik and Vale hit it a few times, driving it away when the lich cast a dimension door.

The group having no idea where it could have gone, grouped up and got healed before starting the search for the lich.

Session 50 - Runeforged Weapons

Erastus 6

The party decided to infuse their weapons right away so they headed to the central chamber of runeforge, where the pool awaited surrounded by the statues of the last Runelords.

Dropping a shard of mirror from the Shimmering Veil in the pool, followed by Delvahine's "equipment", the pool started to bubble violently and swirl with many colors. Phain dipped his weapon in infusing it with the powers of illusion and enchantment. Just then Karzoug's voice boomed

You. Again. I can’t help but be inspired by your optimism, but alas,
your weapons will never reach Xin-Shalast. Your fate is death, here
in Runeforge.

The statue of Karzoug attacked! Vale or Orik dipped their weapons in right away and joined Phain in attacking. They found the statue was vulnerable to their Domineering weapons and called for the other to infuse their weapons as well. The newly empowered weapons made short work of "Karzoug".

The party then had a choice. The way out was supposedly in the wrath wing, but they wanted to make sure there wasn't anything else in Runeforge that they could use in the fight against Karzoug.

The decided to investigate the Abjurant halls. They knew from Vraxeris's journal that a couple years before this hall was wiped out by the other wings in a joint effort. Phain out ahead of the group found a room with a broken rod stuck into the floor. As he moved in to investigate, the rod burst with energy and powered down his magic items. He retreated back into the hall, took off his items, then return in the room and used his knowledge to disarm the rod so it would not go off and affect anyone else.

No one was left alive in the wing, but they found a magical pool filled with some strange liquid that was almost a solid. Phain investigated and determined that if you put magical items in the pool, it would break down the item into its components that could be used to create new items faster and cheaper. Unfortunately with Khazen dead, no one could use the pool, so they left it alone.

Next the decided to check out the Festering Maze. Phain scouted it out first and discovered everything dead inside and it was filled with poisonous gasses. Not needing anything from there, they moved on.

Next Preacher wanted to head into the necromancy wing and kill off all the undead, so the group headed there next. Coming into the first room, it was filled with mummies. Preacher rushed into the room and started channeling positive energy while the rest of the party attacked. Preacher and Orik were infected by disease while fighting, but everyone survived the battle. Preacher healed Orik and himself before heading deeper into the wing.

Session 49 - Iron Cages of Lust

Erastus 5

Knowing that they had one of the two components to infuse their weapons against Karzoug, they decide to go the the Lust wing, The Iron Cages of Lust, to get their second part. They had to find one of Delvahine's "equipment".

Heading into the Lust wing, they came into a grand cathedral, with a 90 foot domed ceiling. Flying around were six "women" with bat wings and horns. They were calling out appraisals of the men and the things they wanted to do to them. Eventually they got tired of catcalling and attacked the party when they started to enter the room.

They tried to charm and dominate the party, but none of them succumbed to their desires and killed all but two that disappeared. Phain recognized that they had cast dimension door.

There were cages all around the room, but only one cage that had anyone alive in it. Inside was a broken man, his mind long gone and beyond any repair that party had at its disposal, so they put him out of his misery.

They decided to go inside a "building" that looked like the walls were made out of cloth. Inside were a group of fire giants protecting their mistress. A long tough battle ensued but the group survived.

Healing up and getting ready for the mistress, they found her in the next room. She was a succubus and in control of the wing. She was angry and upset that the group had killed some of her daughters and attacked. Preacher put up his protection against negative energy while the party attacked and killed her and her two remaining daughters.

Searching the room they found a cache of her equipment. They tried to find one that was the least used. After searching the wing and making sure there was not anything else in it, they decided to rest.

Vraxeris's Journal

Here are the important excerpts from Vraxeris's Journal

Session 48 - The Shimmering Veil Part 2

Erastus 1

After smashing the mirrors, the party continued around the corner and they came into a massive room with a golden peacock on a pedestal. Six identical wizards working on various equipment all turned at once and said "The Master is in the study, he is not to be disturbed!" and attacked.

All the wizards cast mirror image and displacement causing issues with hitting them. The battle raged on and on with the party slowly whittling them down, and in the end they were victorious.

Nothing else was in this room. They decided they were run down from numerous fights and moved back into the greed wing to rest.

Erastus 2 - 5

Returning to the Shimmering Veils, the party searched the huge room for any clues or secret doors. Eventually they found one. Behind that they found the Master's room. The wizards in the previous room were simulacrums of the leaser of the pride wing, Vraxeris. They found his journal with information they needed to infuse their weapons against Karzoug. The investigated the rest of the wing and decyphered the rest of the journal.

Session 47 - The Shimmering Veil

Erastus 1

The party engaged the silver man in conversation. They found out his name was Ordikon and he served Karzoug and passed themselves off as servants as well. Unfortunately they couldn't answer his questions well enough and he attacked.

Feeling betrayed by another transmuter, a deadly looking green ray shot off of Ordikon's fingers and hit Khazen square in the chest vaporizing him. Shocked with horror, the rest of the party launched themselves at Ordikon killing him. Preacher tried to save Khazen's life by using breath of life, but he was too far gone for it to work. No remains were left to raise or resurrect.

In a room off of Ordikon's room was a pool of energy. Phain deduced that the pool could recharge items with charges, but could also destroy them. Preacher, Phain, and Xantumal all experimented with items, destroying some int he process but also recharging some.

They finished searching out the rest of the Hall of Greed, and found that one of the goldfish was radiating magic. Xantumal did a dispel magic and the fish turned into a man. This man had been trapped as a goldfish for over 10,000 years (though did not remember any of that time) and had been trying to infiltrate the halls of greed. They let him pick any unclaimed items that Khazen had to aid their escape.

They decide to head to the Pride wing next, The Shimmering Veil. The hallway leading in was filled with mirrors. As they approached the end of the hallway, figures that looked like them stepped out of the mirror and attacked. The duplicates attacked their real version of themselves. The party ganged up on the barbarian while Phain went invisible. While invisible, he flew over to the mirrors and smashed them with his adamantine gauntlet, causing the duplicates to disappear.

Session 46 - Vault of Greed

Sarenith 30 - Erastus 1

The party spent a day resting up and strategizing how to beat the dragon. They took inventory of their magic items and their available spells. After having a solid attack plan, Khazen teleported the group back into the cave. He sent an Arcane Eye down and scouted ahead seeing where the dragon was. They used their buff spells and walked there silently.

Phain attacked the dragon with Acid Arrow spells, bypassing it spell resistance, and also using his quicken spell rod. Khazen hasted the group, while everyone got in place. Orik and Vale slipped on the ice covered floor, but the barbarian made it across the room. The dragon went after Orik, but Orik managed to dodge the bite. Phain sent two more acid arrows at it, while the barbarian move in and hit it with his greatsword. Orik stood up and got hit by a bite but missed the dragon on his swing. Hogie came in a bit the dragon twice. The dragon retaliated and hit with two claws, a bite and a wing that sent Hogie to the floor unconscious while slapping Vale with his tail. The barbarian hit it twice again, as well as a hit from orik and Vale. Khazen slipped a spell past its resistance that slow down the dragon. The dragon, extremely hurt and looking to escape didn't make it far as Phain sent two more acid arrows into its body killing the ancient beast.

The group found the circle of heads inside and the keyhole on each. Inserting and turning the key twice made each statue glow, and a portal opened up inside the circle when all seven had been turned. The party went inside the portal and found themselves in a large room with a bubbling pool in the middle surrounded by huge statues of each runelord. Searching the room they didn't find anything so they decided to head into the greed wing.

Heading down the hallway, some people were able to go in, and others were not. Luckily there wasn't anything to fight on the other side so they were able to wait for the others to catch up. The ones who were not making said the they would head down the hallway, then find themselves back at the entrance coming out.

They found themselves at a door. Phain searched for traps, but couldn't find any. He thought it was locked, and when he touched the door it shot out at him, but he managed to dive away. Realizing it was a trap they searched for secret door with no luck. Eventually Khazen found a door which lead down another hall.

At the end of the hall was a sparkly green mist that radiated transmutation magic. Xantumal used his Staff and used gust of wind to blow it away. They ran through the mist into a large room with a pool. In the pool were mephits. Xantumal changed into a water elemental while Khazen tried to reason with them. They told of a mean man of silver that keeps hurting them.

After a short conversation with them, they continued down the hall, coming to another room with water and goldfish. Past that room were a number of room that could cast fabricate at will. Khazen just knew its purpose when walking into the room.

Past those rooms they came to another door which lead into a workshop that contained a man made of silver....

Session 45 - To Rimeskull

Gozreh 2 - 4

The party finished searching the Lamashtu shrine. Reading through the all rantings in Thassilonian they came across bits and pieces that came together to become a poem.

If magic bright is your desire,
To old Runeforge must you retire!
For only there does wizard’s art
Receive its due and proper start.

On eastern shores of steaming mirror,
At end of day when dusk is nearer,
Where seven faces silent wait
Encircled guards at Runeforge gate.

Each stone the grace of seven lords,
One part of key each ruler hoards;
If offered spells and proper prayer;
Take seven keys and climb the stair.

On frozen mountain Xin awaits,
His regal voice the yawning gates
Keys turn twice in Sihedron—
Occulted Runeforge waits within.

And now you’ve come and joined the forge
Upon rare lore your mind can gorge—
And when you slough the mortal way
In Runeforge long your work shall stay.

Gozreh 5 - Sarenith 22

Over the next 2 plus months, the party spent time finding out more information and taking care of personal things. Phain spent time at the Jorgenfist library studying for information on Xin-Shalast and Karzoug. Khazen and the rest spent time at Magnimar selling and buying items and Fort Rannick keeping the area secure.

Also time was spent on the poem. There is a place called Rimeskull that had seven heads in a circle next to a lake heated by a geyser, a nearby mountain looked like a face.

Sarenith 23 - 28

Khazen, Vale, Xantumal and Preacher headed out to scout ahead so Khazen could teleport the rest to catch up. Khazen started by teleporting to Wolf's Ear, which they had been to before, then took Phantom Steed's to Riddleport. They spent part of the day and the night there then heading north. They travelled a couple more days north and stayed at Brinewall, teleporting the rest of the group to them. From there they all travelled up the Steam river to Lake Stormunder. They then water walked across the lake and settled inside two rope tricks for the night, wanting to be fully rested the next day.

Sarenith 29

The group knew from the poem, that they would need to cast a spell from each school of magic into the appropriate head and had prepared as many low level spells as they could to fit all seven heads. Phain started out on the head of Karzoug. The statue head seemed to absorb the spell and then it started glowing. A key appeared inside its mouth with the Thassilonian rune for greed. Phain started to work on the second and third head when suddenly a massive white dragon swooped out of the sky breathing cold air on almost everyone.



Phain and Khazen cast as many defensive spells as they could, but with surprise and with great mobility in the air, the group was barely able to scratch it. The dragon seemed to be playing with them. Finally Khazen told everyone to group up in two group and took one group with him into the nearby caves and then teleported everyone back to Sandpoint, returning via teleport to pick up the remaining group, who all turned invisible. With almost everyone hurt badly the group knew they would have to be better prepared when they returned.

Session 44 - Finding Xaliasa

Gozren 2

The party entered the Catacombs of Wrath and headed to the newly cleared stairway. The stairway was filled with webs even though they had been previously cleared. Phain did a detect magic and it was confirmed to be magical webs. Studying them he and Khazen realized they were the result of a guards and wards spell, a defensive spell used to protect a stronghold. Clearing the webs with fire, they made it to the bottom, and Phain used his rogue skills to bypass the magically locked door.

Inside there were fog filled hallways and writing on every inch of the walls. A voice from the fog grilled them for information, but was willing to answer a question for every one asked. They confirmed this was Xaliasa, who was a follower of Lamshtu, and wasn't going to give them the answers they wanted peacefully. Xaliasa, now known as the Scribbler, disappeared from the fog after making some threats.



Having checked out a few room, they confirmed this had once or was again a temple to Lamashtu. Heading west from the initial room they came to a shrine. Inside a shrine was a huge demon that Khazen identified as a Glabrezu.

The glabrezu had mirror image on so the druid cast dispel magic on it to remove it. Orik charged in and attacked with Vale. Phain worked his way closer to attack it, while Khazen cast hast to make everyone faster.



The scribbler was invisible and casting summons from the hallway leading out of the room, and summon a Hezrou and a shadow demon. Preacher blasted the shadow demon twice with searing light killing it, while Vale and Khazen moved to attack the Scribbler. Xantumal conjured an earth elemental to also attack the Scribbler while he himself turned into one and attacked the Hezrou. Khazen was hit with a confusion spell and was acting randomly, though managed to use a slow spell on the Scribbler..

Feeling outnumbered the Scribbler dimensioned door to Shalelu and Hogie expecting easy targets, but Hogie hit with a massive bite knocking him to the floor. Shalelu followed up with a couple of sword attacks which didn't hurt him, but did remove a spell protecting him from damage. Xantumal came back over to help. Soon they had him unconscious and Xantumal coup-de-graced him.



All attention was then turned on the Hezrou which was soon defeated, then everyone attacked the Glabrezu who was able to survive a few rounds more but was defeated as well.

Some Shadow Mastiffs had attacked before they defeated the Glabrezu, Phain sent two lightning bolts down the hallways leaving only 4 badly injured hounds left. A Scorching Ray spell killed three more and the last was easily dispatched.

Interlude - Part 4

So ends the fourth part of "Rise of the Runelords" adventure path called "Fortress of the Stone Giants". The party is now either 11th or 12th level.

Xantumal - 11th Level Druid of Gozreh
Mogart - 11th level Shoanti Barbarian of the Skoan-Quah clan.
Phain - 8th Level Sorcerer/ 4th Level Rogue
Khazen Dren - 1st Level Ranger/5th Level Wizard/6th Level Eldritch Knight

Here is the information they found out about Runeforge:

Runeforge was created as a place where agents of the seven Runelords could gather to study magic and develop new spells and magic items.

The Runelords wove wards around Runeforge that barred entrance into the complex to any Runelord or his direct agents, in order to keep the research within free from sabotage at the hands of an enemy.

Those who joined Runeforge joined for life. The complex’s constant renewal of air and a magical matrix sustained those within without the need to eat, drink, or even sleep.

The final project the Runelords set Runeforge on was the development of ways the Runelords could escape the imminent fall of their empire. Each faction developed a unique answer for its Runelord, based upon the underlying principles of that faction’s magical traditions.

Session 43 - Clean Up Part 3

Pharast 20

After defeating the harpies the party entered the tower to attack the Black Monk. Phain flew in first. Inside the tower the temperature of the air was freezing and everything was covered in a layer of frost making it slippery. Inside they found the Black Monk flying in the air, its legs and arms wrapped up tight.

Phain blasted it with a scorching ray, greatly injuring it. But then Phain was no longer in control of his actions and started blasting the party with lightning bolts. Orik moved in the tower but fell on the frost, while Xantumal tried to flam strike it. Physical weapons seemed to not affect it. Preacher was paralyzed with fear and was unable to do anything. Swarms of bugs came from the mummy and started to hurt the party while a second lightning bolt made preacher unconscious. Vale, almost dead himself, dragged preacher away. Finally the killing blow was delivered with almost half of the party almost dead.

The Black Monk was carry a scroll tube that was impossible to open. Khazen used a wand of knock 3 times to finally get it to open. Inside were valuable ancient scroll detailing a religion of the Peacock Spirit and also contain some clerical scrolls.

Pharast 21 through Pharast Gozran 1

Phain and Khazen studied in the ancient library for information on Runeforge. They also used Mokmurian's head to get more information with the magical cage they had found. Khazen also used teleport to return the party to Magnimar so they could sell the items they had found and buy new items with that money.

After six days Phain and Khazen had the information about Runeforge and were ready to return to Sandpoint to try and find the traitor Xaliasa. Khazen wanted to make a few scrolls so Phain spent a couple days starting to research Xin-Shalast. After they were both ready, they teleported back to Sandpoint and met up with everyone else.

They were greeted by the Sheriff and the Mayor of Sandpoint. They informed the party that almost two weeks ago there was an earthquake and that the runewell below flared back to life. Also at that time the callapsed stairwell became clear and that there were strange howling sounds coming from down there. They posted guards but a couple days ago they disappeared. The party assured them they were heading down to investigate.

Session 42 - Clean Up, Part 2

Pharast 18

Phain used an invisibility spell to get Conna and brought her back to the cave with the lamias. Showing her the head of Mokmurian she was very grateful and immediately brought the stone giant general over to let him know that she was in charge now. The general accepted the news, but seemed disappointed that he wasn't going to get the fight he wanted.

The group also showed her the cauldron and they all agreed that it was a bad item and needed to be destroyed or at least kept secret. Conna assured them that no one except her and a couple she trusted could come down to the lower level, and that if the group could get rid of the remaining creatures aligned with Mokmurian, that her clan would stay at Jorgenfist and protect the area for them.

Pharast 19

After resting again in the library, the party decided to go after the giant described as a pure blood, and that they see no one come out once they go in that room. Asking the head for information about the creature, they learned that it moved through earth and that a move earth spell could hurt it.

As the spell took ten minutes to cast, the party got themselves ready for the fight, and when Xantumal indicated it was time for it to go off, they threw open the doors in time to see the dirt floor in that room ripple and eject an 18 foot giant.

As the party was ready for the fight, they almost took out the fiend before he could react, though he got a mighty swing in on both Orik and Vale before falling dead.

After healing up, they decided to head after the dragon. They flew up to his cave and confronted him. Phain again used his resist energy spell to protect themselves from fire. Khazen teleported Phain, Vale, and Orik up to the dragon. Vale went down bleeding, but Phain and Prik managed to kill it.

Pharast 20

After another rest period the party decided it was time to take out the Black Monk and his harpy disciples. Xantumal used the staff they found in the undead spider cave and used it to create a gust of wind that kept the harpies from flying, while Preacher cast a silence spell to protect everyone from their song. Phain was unaffected by the song and flew out of the silence to battle one while the rest of the group teamed up to kill of the other two.

Session 41 - Clean up, Part 1

Pharast 18

After the battle with Mokmurian was finished, the party was bruised, bloody, and beat up. They retired into the library and rested up. Phain spent a little time researching and asking the head of Mokmurian some questions.

The next day they decided they were going to take the head up to Conna after clearing up what was left in the level below. Back-tracking their way they came to a room that was kept cool and had a ton of giant and ogre bodies, including one that was missing it's head.

As Phain flew across the room, the headless body and as well as three others animated and attacked. A well placed fireball by Khazen took out all but the headless one, and the rest of the party attacked it while Phain got attacked by a stone golem from the next room.

The barbarian took care of the headless hill giant while Khazen took Orik with him to battle the golem as Orik had the medallion against golems.

Having cleared out their foes, they examined a large cauldron filled with some sort of necromatic liquid. Researching it in the library, they discovered some information that it was used for re-animating giants, that fit the description of the giant they fought in the first room that had nauseated everyone. Not knowing a way to destroy it, Xantumal used a spell to evaporate the liquid instead essentially deactivating it.

Heading up the cork screw passageway, they decided it was time to take out the lamias. Knowing dragons were nearby, Phain used a spell to reduce the damage from fire.

Having the jump on the lamias, they party attacked. Phain started it off attacking one of the two lamias, while the rest of the group moved in against the other. With a flurry of attacks back, the lamias used weapons, claws and touches that drained their wisdom. In addition, the lamias were very powerful spell casters and the dragons from the next room came in.

Khazen tried to reduce their attacks with a spell, one dragon was affected but the others were not. The dragons breathed fire on the group but everyone was most unharmed as they were protected from the fire. The first lamia went down quickly, and preacher saved it life for a coup-de-grace later. The other lamia knew the fight was lost and cast a spell and seemed surprised that it didn't get the result it was looking for. the group soon took care of it and the other young dragons.

Session 40 - Mokmurian

Pharast 17

The tunnel past the trolls wound its way down into the earth like a corkscrew. After a few hundred feet down it opened up into an underground structure that the party recognized as Thassilonian.

Khazen cast a spell and sent an arcane eye down through the complex, identifying all the rooms and its occupants including the location of Mokmurian. There were a number of collapsed hallways that funneled the group through the series of room to get to Mokmurian. Khazen had another idea.

They headed into the first room where because of the way the room's angles were cut, became disorienting and made people nauseous. Inside this room was a hill giant with weird Thassilonian runes all over his body, and it looked like its muscles were about to break through its skin. Despite some people being sick from the room, the party took it out.

Khazen used a spell to bypass the rubble in a connecting hallway to the room where it lead to an ancient library. Everything in it was written in Thassilonian, and even had a construct that acted as the librarian. Knowing the didn't have time to do any research, they decided to leave the library heading to Mokmurian's room and use another spell to bypass the wall.

As the opened the door out of the library, and bright flash of light appeared blinding everyone except Phain and Vale. An otherworldly creature appeared burning everyone with a bright intense light. The barbarian hacked away at it blindly, Xantumal summoned some elementals, and Phain and Vale continued to hack away at it until finally it disappeared in another flash of light.

Preacher re-prayed for some spells to relieve the blindness while the other prepared for the battle with Mokmurian. When everyone had their sight back, Khazen cast the spell to bypass the wall and the attacked Mokmurian.

Mokmurian seemed moderately prepared for them as when they brought out the silence medallion, he cast a silenced dispel magic, and also was able to dimension door to another part of the room to get off a fireball. Some other planar hounds came in the room as well splitting up the party. Mokmurian took a beating and dealt out a lot of damage, but in the end the group was victorious over him and the hounds.

Before he died, however, an unseen force overtook his body and a voice spoke to them, “So these are the heroes of the age. More like gasping worms to me, soon to be crushed back into the earth when I awaken the armies of Xin-Shalast, when the name Karzoug is again spoken with fear and awe. Know that the deaths of those marked by the Sihedron—the giants you have so conveniently slain for me—hasten my return, just as yours soon will. Fools, all of you. Is this all you could manage in ten thousand years?”

Conna's Story about Mokmurian

In stone giant society, those born with an innate magical ability are often marked. Although these markings border on deformities, the stone giant gifted with sorcerous power can expect a role of honor and power in his tribe. The disadvantage of unsightly crystalline growths on the skin or a diminished physical stature are outweighed by the increase in social status and respect. Mokmurian was one of those born with a diminutive stature.

Mokmurian was late to show powers but once he did he his power grew quickly. Eventually he took a wife, and she discovered that he had hidden spellbooks and exposed his lie to the clan. He killed her with his magic in a rage, but before he could conceal his crime, his tribe’s elders found out. They burnt his books, censured him as a traitor, and exiled him into the wild.

Five years ago he came back and started to unite the various tribes by promising the lands of Varisia that were taken from us thousands of years ago. The elders would have nothing to do with it, but the younger giants were swayed by the promise of glory and riches. Mokmurian challenged the elders, his right by tradition, and slew them with powerful magic. Without the calming influence of the elders, the younger generation joined his cause. Mokmurian eventually swayed enough clans that even our own clan that exiled him had to join him.

Mokmurian set up his base here in Jorgenfist, previously off limits to all stone giants because it used to be a place of our old oppressors. Mokmurian invited my husband and I to this shrine to officially bring us into the fold, but instead betrayed us by killing my husband. He left me alive mainly because I wasn't enough of a threat, but also because he needed an elder for something.

Mokmurian began to brand the giants with his personal rune as a dign they belong in his army and are loyal to him first. They wear it with pride and is considered quite an honor in the army.

If you could kill Mokmurian, and prove he is dead, as an elder I could gain enough sway to convince the tribes that war time is over and to return home. Stone giants are not naturally warlike, and with the influence of their surviving elders things should return back to normal.

She tells you one more thing, that she has heard Mokmurian say a name that belonged to an Ancient Lords that enslaved her people long ago, Karzoug.

Session 39 - Into Jorgenfist

Pharast 17

Searching the cave that the undead spiders were in, the party discovered a hidden tunnel. Deciding to check it out they enter the tunnel to see where it goes.

After walking through tunnel after tunnel they come to a small maze of tunnels. A group of small creatures that look like old men but wielding a scythe and wearing iron spiked boots and a blood soaked hat attack. The barbarian take a vicious hit, but the creatures are no match for the party.

Navigating through the tunnels the group eventually came to a 2 foot crack that opened into a larger room. Preacher detected magic and something was magic on the other side of the crack. They were pretty sure they could squeeze through the crack one at a time, but Khazen had a spell that opened up that crack to make it so they could walk through.

Once it was opened they could see a necklace laying on the floor that had a bunch of red rubies on it. From their right, another ruby hit them and exploded in fire severely hurting everyone. Phain saw a kobold and the barbarian charged him. The kobold was ready and hit Mogart as he attacked. Vale came over to help and flanked the kobold while Khazen and Phain cast spells. The kobold slowly backed down the hallway and right as he fell, the noise from the fight attracted two stone giants from one hallway and a bunch of ogres from another.

Vale got hit and went down in a bloody mess. Preacher with his goggles could see he was still alive and channeled to heal everyone from both the fireball and the damage from the kobold. Phain flew over and cast a lightning bolt down the hall of ogres killing over half of them, and followed up with another killing the rest. The barbarian and Orik teamed up to take out the stone giants with spells from Khazen.

Before they could catch their breath, an older stone giant female came around the corner in a non-hostile way. She said that she wanted to help them and that they could help her. When they were ready they should come north and see her.

Not sure what to make of her, they decided to hear her out. She distracted some giants in a common area and led them to a shrine. She told them a story about Mokmurian and see wanted to help them defeat him.

She had her loyalists clean up the battle site and cover as long as they could so the group could rest. She then told them Mokmurian stayed in a place no one was allowed to go. She gave them the directions and cleared the way for them when they were ready.

Past the giant barracks, there was a tunnel to Lamias loyal to Mokmurian and another tunnel leading to him. Khazent took out the silenced medallion and used it so they could move quietly.

The tunnel leading to Mokmurian had furs lining the walls and as they moved down the hallway, ranseurs poked out hitting the barbarian. he ran down the hallway to an opening on one side seeing a troll. Orik ran to the other side and also saw a troll. Khazen left the medallion at the intersection of the tunnels to prevent sound from reaching the lamias while he and Phain each took a troll and hit them with fire to stop them from regenerating. Mogart and Vale took out one troll while Orik killed the other.

Session 38 - Into the Valley of the Black Tower

Pharast 16

The party stared at the huge steps leading up to the plateau realizing it was going to be hard to climb. Khazen cast a spell that increased everyone's size making the stairs seem close to normal stairs to walk up.

Approaching the top, rock began to rain down on the group. Climbing the stairs as fast as possible revealed a number of giants at the top pushing rock down. Phain, who was flying with a spell, positioned himself to hit most of them with a lightning bolt spell as the rest of the group neared them, while Khazen hit them with a fireball. Knowing they were going to lose the fight, one giant tried to escape while the others fought to the death. Vale quickly caught up with the giant and prevented his escape.

The party headed east, avoiding giant patrols, and arrived at the Valley of the Black Tower, where Jorgenfist was located. Xantumal shape shifted into a bird and scouted the valley. When he came back he drew a map. He had noticed three caves surrounding the valley, and Jorgenfist itself was in the center of the valley with a huge hole leading down into something.

The group decided to check out the caves first. Xantumal changed into as large a bird as possible that allowed most everyone to ride on him. Khazen made him invisible. They flew to the first cave and encountered a nest of wyverns. After a tough fight, they preserved the dead bodies and search the cave. Inside they found an ancient staff that the druid could use. They decided to rest up here and check out the next cave the following day.

Pharast 17

They flew to the next cave after a night of sleep. As they entered there were an extreme amount of bugs and spiders crawling all over the place. They also came to three huge spider carcasses with even more bugs and spiders all over them. Wary of what could kill spiders of that size, Khazen decide to cast a fireball in the area where two of the dead spiders were, blasting away some webbing there. The dead spiders started to move and attacked.

Preacher, hating undead, blasted one spider with a spell with channeling positive energy on the others. Vale and Phain attacked the spider which didn't get hit by the fireball, and the bugs were making Vale sick. Soon however they defeated the undead spiders.

Session 37 - Battle of Sandpoint Completed

Pharast 6

Rounds 19 - 24

The party approached the Two Knight Brewery and saw three giants looting and brewery and drinking beer. They quickly dispatched the giants. Xantumal came back and said that a group of giants had looted the Scarnetti manor and were pulling wagons loaded with valuables and people down the Long Coast road.

Moving as fast as they could they intercepted the giants and killed them all, being careful of keeping the prisoners safe. The freed the Scarnettis and escorted them back to their manor.

Pharast 7 - 15

Grateful of the defense of the town, the group was once again the heroes of Sandpoint. Phain's defeat of the stone giant commander was celebrated by a new holiday, "Phain Day". The town also grieved for the 18 death suffered at the hands of the giants.

The party took the head of the commander and put it in their interrogation device found in the Dwarven Monastery. They discovered that his superior was a powerful stone giant called Mokmurian. Mokmurian wanted him to search all of the ancient Hellfire Plume ruins and bring back a piece of each. The commander wasn't sure exactly what for, but knew that stone giant elders can speak with stones and learn things from them. The head also conveyed that a larger force would come back and that Mokmurian was gathering a large contingent at a place called Jorgenfist to retake all of Varisia.

Everyone felt this was a large enough threat to follow up on. Khazen knew approximately where Jorgenfist was and so they prepared to head out.

Over the next few days they traveled north, encountering the destruction the stone giant raiding party left, as well as being attacked by bandits outside of Wolf's Ear. They captured one of the bandits and turn him into the authorities. A day later they ran across an ogre raiding party and killed them. The rested at the foot of the Storval Stairs, an ancient Thassilonian landmark.

Session 36 - The Battle of Sandpoint

Pharast 6

The night before the druid prepared as many spells as he could of soften earth and transmute rock to mud. They left Tanner's Bridge open, and made everything south of it past the south bridge either muddy or hard to pass through.

The militia lined the fortifications to the north armed with bows. The guardsmen in town was positioned at Tanner's Bridge, while ten dwarves from the nearby Torag Monestary that came to help were position at the south bridge. All the townspeople that had any experience were given horses and were stationed near the Sandpoint theater to help where needed. The only exception to this were Veznoot Parooh and Risa Magravi, both were arcane spell casters that were old and could not travel fast but wanted to help, they were stationed in a tower of the cathedral and given wands to use. Some messengers that could ride horses were stationed at various intervals to help communicate. The party stationed themselves at Tanner's bridge.

Rounds 1 - 3

Two stone giants appear north of the city and begin to bombard the gates. The defenders starting shooting arrows at them, occasionally getting hit with a boulder or some shrapnel. Xantumal, in air elemental form cast lightning storm and began to pummel the giants outside the gate.

Rounds 3 - 8

Xantumal continued to throw lightning at the giants at the north gate, while the defenders kept shooting despite their numbers starting to decline. The mobile force of townspeople were called to the north gate to help shore it up.

Charging across Tanner's Bridge came four Dire Bears followed by 3 stone giants. Khazen cast haste followed by a lightning bolt while the others closed in. By round 7 they had pretty much killed off the giants and bears and started towards the north gate to help.

That's when a large red dragon swooped over the north wall scattering the defenders and their reinforcements. It stopped at the garrison where it tried to burn it, but as it was mostly stone the building survived with little damage.

Rounds 9-12

Since only a handful of defenders remained at the north gate, Xantumal ignored the dragon and continued to pummel the giants there killing one.

Another force of giants appeared south of Tanner's bridge. They managed to leap over the muddiest part of east bank, and slogged through the loose dirt and swam across the water. The party moved to intercept and getting anther haste spell. Shalelu took a different route as to get a better shooting angle and managed to see a larger stone giant moving through the city and decided to intercept it, calling out to whomever could hear. Meanwhile the giants that crossed went down quickly from Mogart, Vale and Orik and a couple spells from Khazen.

Meanwhile the dragon started to fly around town, intimidating what defenders were left and circled back to the Cathedral and torched the roof, including the towers. Veznoot and Risa both used the wands and injured the dragon, but had no way to protect themselves and were torched by the dragon's breath. Xantumal finished off the giant at the north gate and summoned an air elemental to distract the dragon and threw a couple lightning bolts at him.

Rounds 13 - 18

Breaking off to help Shalelu with the giants heading into the city, most of the party ran as fast as they could to catch up, some . Xantumal was communicating where the giants was heading so everyone could follow. When they caught up with him, he was digging around the old light looking for something. He knew he had to face them and attacked. The barbarian took a powerful blow almost killing him, while the rest of the party came to his aid and started to pummel the giant. Phain circled around and attacked from the rear and placed a perfect blow killing the stone giant commander.



Xantumal was attacked by the dragon and nearly killed, but the dragon took enough damage that it fled the town only stopping long enough to torch the theater and the Hagfish.

The victory was short lived as Phain noticed smoke coming from near his estates and a messenger telling them that giants attacked near the south bridge. Xantumal agreed to scout Phain's estates to make sure his family was OK, while everyone else left to help at the south bridge.

See all the pictures of the battle here.

Interlude - Part 3

So ends the third part of "Rise of the Runelords" adventure path called "Hook Mountain Massacre". The party are now all 10th level and each of them has a cohort at 8th level. Here is what the party looks like now:

Xantumal - 10th Level Druid of Gozreh
Mogart - 10th level Shoanti Barbarian of the Skoan-Quah clan.
Phain - 6th Level Sorcerer/ 4th Level Rogue
Khazen Dren - 1st Level Ranger/5th Level Wizard/4nd Level Eldritch Knight

After the events at the end of Hook Mountain Massacre, the party traveled back to Kaer Maga to pick up some of the items they had purchased or upgraded, and also spent some more of their money buying additional items. On returning to Fort Rannick, additional recruits had arrived from Magnimar to become rangers. Needing to clean, repair and rebuild the fort would take time, but now they had plenty of help.

Here is a list of Fort Rannick troops:

Khazen Dren - Commander of Fort Rannick
Vale Temros - Officer
Xantumal - Officer, Coordinator of security in the forest around the fort
Shalelu - Officer
Jakardros - Officer and Chief Trainer of recruits
Mogart - Shoanti Ambassador at Fort Rannick
Preacher - Shoanti Ambassador at Fort Rannick

Each of the three players with leadership has followers manning the fort or the area. Khazen has a group from Magnimar of mostly criminals or down on their luck individuals looking for a second chance. Mogart brought a group of barbarians and rangers from the Storval Plateau. Xantumal has a contingent of forest animal to scout and report to the fort in case of any threats in the area.

After about a week, the party traveled back to Magnimar to report their findings and progress on rebuilding. Phain demanded and received a parade in his honor. Each of the players were rewarded with one magic item of 20,000 or less of their choice.

Everybody but Phain and Orik returned to Fort Rannick. Phain returned home to greet his wife, but now as a goblin instead of human. Assuring the town that he was not a goblin, but the hero that had saved them numerous times, the town came to accept him again. Phain and his Vinder in-laws worked to expand their business in town and in Magnimar.

Things were peaceful for awhile until rumors of attacks on villages and farmsteads began to surface. Magnimar sent out some patrols to find the bandits, but with no luck. Fort Rannick patrols started seeing increased stone giant activity and Magnimar's mayor specifically asked that the heroes that helped him go and find more information.

Khazen, Vale, Xantumal, Shalelu, Mogart and Preacher all headed out searching for giant raiding parties. Tracking some west of Sanos forest and North of the Malgorian Mountains, they eventually came to Wolf's Ear where their patrols had encountered some southwest by the Fogscar Mountains. Scouting around those mountains they headed south until they picked up a trail heading southwest. Soon the discovered that the raiding party was heading towards Sandpoint so they headed there straight away to warn them.

With Phain and Orik they asked for as many volunteers were willing to help defend the town. They also called in the militia. They evacuated as many people as they could into the smuggler's tunnels and the catacombs, and any other place they felt people could be safe.

In the morning....they came....

The next game will be the Battle of Sandpoint. It will take place at one of the player's houses, and the town will be built from miniature terrain. Pictures will follow!

Session 35 - Kreeg Lair Completed

Neth 18 Around 5 PM

Heading towards a passageway leading west at the choke point, the party reached the final room of the lair. Inside were three hideous women around a cauldron, and the undead body of Lamatar.

Preacher used his aura ability to prevent level drain while everyone else but Phain attacked Lamatar. Phain attacked one of the hags. Lamatar was destroyed very quickly, but the hags cast a spell that looked like a cage made out of energy that either trapped everyone inside the cage or blocked entrance to the room. Preacher managed to get in the room before the cage surrounded him, and the druid shape shifted into an earth elemental and moved through the stone wall and joined Phain. A spell from Khazen and another hit from Phain managed to kill one of the hags, preventing another joint spell from going off. Phain used his boot to retreat up a wall and to the ceiling to prevent attacks, letting the druid attack the remaining hags. Soon the hags were dead too.

The party gathered up the remains and made sure there wasn't any secret areas they had missed. After they were sure the Kreegs were defeated, they headed back down the mountain and went back to Fort Rannick.

Neth 19

The party travelled back to Whitewillow and gave the ghost a piece of Lamatar. As the ghost faded she thanked the group and the curse to the area started to recede. Lamatar, reincarnated, reappeared and thanked Khazen, Vake, and Shalelu for all they did. After getting introductions to the rest of the group, he thanked them each as well. He told Khazen that he wasn't returning to Fort Rannick and instead decided to remain in Whitewillow as its protector. That meant Khazen would be the commander of the fort now. He also gave them a magic device that allowed them to re-size an item once a day.

They all returned to Fort Rannick with all of the threats in the area finally defeated.

Pharast 5, 4708

Khazen, Vale, Mogart, Preacher, Xantumal and Shalelu come riding into Sandpoint during the evening. They immediately go to see Sheriff Hemlock, and Phain and Orik are soon summoned into the meeting.

They report that a raiding party of stone giants will arrive to Sandpoint in the morning and there isn't much time to prepare.

Session 34 - Kreeg Ogre Lair

Neth 18 Around Noon

The barbarian led the party up the trails leading to the Kreegs. As they came around the bend, they saw two Kreegs guarding the entrance. Khazen enlarged everyone except the barbarian and cleric, then the group charged the ogres. The barbarian got there first and used his new greatsword to stun a giant while Orik and Vale soon got there to help out with the other ogres. The two guards were down quickly and unable to raise an alarm.

At the entrance to the cave were ancient bones of a dragon sticking out of the ground. Thassilonian runes were carved on the bones over the years by various ogres. Inside was a gigantic statue of a giant they didn't recognize. Upon closer inspection they realized it wasn't a statue at all but a frozen preserved giant wearing a Sihedron medallion. Knowing one of the powers of the medallion is to preserve the body upon death, they assumed taking it off would destroy the body. The barbarian climb up and removed it, falling in the process when the body crumbled to dust. The barbarian kept the mediallion for the false life spell it could cast would be handy in times of emergency while raging.

Heading further into the caves, the stumbled upon three ogres guarding a choke point in the cave. With everyone still enlarged, the area became tight. Orik attacked one ogres, while the barbarian attacked another. Phain used his quick reflexes to catch the farthest one off-guard, and dealt a mighty blow to it. Unfortunately for Phain, when it recovered, it returned an even mightier blow with his Ogre Hook which killed Phain outright. Vale also became victim to an ogre hook, but still clung to life. The barbarian was also close to death but managed to kill off his ogre while Preacher channel and healed those still alive.

Knowing Phain was important to their success, Xantumal took Phain's body and prepared to Reincarnate him back to life. Orik and Vale disposed of the Kreeg bodies and kept watch to make sure no Kreeg's interrupted the ritual. A little over an hour later, Phain was back alive, but in a goblin body. Phain, very concerned about his physical appearance and how this would affect his life was very upset about the change, but was ready to exact some revenge.

Heading south from the choke point, they came into a huge room being worked on by a number of ogres that looked to be worked close to death. Three Kreeg ogres were keeping them on task. Using the advantage of surprise, Khazen blasted the ogres with a fireball while the Mogart, Orik, and Vale all charged an ogre. Two of the taskmasters were dead before they could put up a fight. The third went down easily enough, and the other ogres were to exhausted to threaten the party seriously.

Heading down another passageway north, the party found a long abandoned shrine to Lamashtu. Preacher wanted to rededicate it, but they decided that could be done when all of the threats were gone.

Heading east from the shrine, they came to a gigantic chamber. A Stone giant was sitting on a throne and ordered a second stone giant bodyguard to attack the group. Phain used his boots to climb up to the ceiling and try to sneak up closer to the stone giant on the throne, but he noticed him and started to throw some spells his way.

The main group took care of the bodyguard soon enough and turned their attention to the one on the throne, which they found out was Barl Breakbones as he announced to the group wanting them to know who would kill them.

The group prevailed, but Barl severely injured the Mogart and Vale. Preacher was able to heal their wounds, but was close to being out of spells, including the rest of the group. They hadn't yet found Lamatar's body, and knew there wasn't anytime to rest. They had no choice but to press on.

Session 33 - A Little Rest

Neth 5 - Neth 17

In the aftermath of the last week, coming to Turtleback Ferry, clearing out the Dam, killing the Grauls, retaking Fort Rannick, and retrieving the Seven Swords of Sin, the group finally had a chance to rest.

The keep, with the aid of the barbarians and the townsfolk, had started to get some emergency repairs and getting the bodies out and disposed of. After making sure everything was proceeding with the repairs, the party took a boat to Kaer Maga. There they sold off their magical items and either bought or enchanted some of their existing items. Also in this time, Phain and Khazen researched the swords and discovered their history and some of their power. Mogart too the Sword of Wrath, while Phain took the Sword of Pride, and Khazen took the Sword of Envy.

Upon returning to the fort, there was a pixie named Yap waiting to speak with them. His mistress, Myriana and nymph was killed exacting revenge on the kreeg ogres and was corrupting the forest. He wanted them to help since she was the lover of the former commander. Khazen agreed and they all went to talk with her.

As they neared here location the forest became corrupted, dark and twisted. When they reached her she told them that she wouldn't stop unless a piece of Lamatar was returned to her, and his body was taken back to the Kreeg's stronghold. The party agreed to return with his body, or a piece, if she would stop corrupting the forest.

They return to Fort Rannick, got a supplies they needed, and headed off to Hook Mountain.

Session 32 - The Swords of Sin

Sunday Neth 4 Around 8PM

Continuing on, the party came to a room with a huge well of lava. Two small red dragons were in the pool. One dragon was taunting the party, while the other yelled out for a wish. A Genie came out of the pool and started to fling spells at the group. Khazen used the amulet with the silence on it from the room before to stop the dragon from using any more wishes. Xantumal summoned an air elemental to help control some of the damaging spells. A barbarian charged into the room and helped to kill the dragon.

The barbarian revealed he was actually preacher's brother. They are Shoanti, barbarian from the Storval plateau. Preacher wasn't really a cleric of Pharasma, but a shaman of the Skull clan, though he was aligned with Pharasma in his mission. The barbarian, Mogart never knew where his brother had gone, and was only here to help out the fort. The Skull Clan of the Shoanti, for reasons of their own, want access to Korvosa and are in peace talks with them. But if an agreement won't work, the Shoanti want to help Magnimar win control of Varisia and part of that aid will be access to Korvosa. Mogart brought barbarians with him and when he heard the description of the party that assisted Jakadros retake the fort, he recognized the description of his brother and rushed down to help.

The genie came over and thanked them for freeing him from the control of the dragon. He granted Preacher, Xantumal, Phain and Khazen all one wish. He gave them a token that they could call upon him whenever they felt like using it. Preacher used his on the spot to regain his old form. The genie also warned them that the sword were in the next room.

Heading south they saw the swords rotating around a woman. Phain noticed there were only 5 swords in the air, with one in her hand. The stone pillars were in the side of the room closest to the entrance, while a bridge conncted the other side of the room over a small river. Mogart was going to take the silence amulet and cross the bridge and keep Tirana silenced so she could cast any spells.

As the barbarian crossed the room, Earth elementals popped out of the ground, and Mogart discovered there was some sort of barrier blocking the bridge. Unable to cross, he turned his attention to the elementals. Despite the hard rocky surface reducing his weapon efficiency, each blow seemed to crack and break pieces off of them.

While the barbarian kept the elementals busy, the rest of the group either studied the rock pillars, or tried to find another way in. Khazen used a scroll to turn himself into an earth elemental, as did Xantumal use his shape shift to do so, and tried to find an alternate angle to get inside, with no luck. Orik, Phain and Khazen who returned used a teleport scroll to get inside, but the spell fizzled.

After the elementals were defeated, a kobold came out from a crack in the wall and asked to be freed in return for him helping them get to Tirana. The machine on the upper level had to have a certain pattern of switch flipping and dial turning to power down the three pillars protecting the area. Vale took him upstairs while everyone else waited for the force field to disappear.

When it did, their plan worked to perfection. Mogart used the amulet to keep Tirana silent, while the druid dropped in elemental form right on top of Tirana. The party killed her off without much resistance.

As they recovered the swords, they noticed the scimitar, Chellan the sword of Greed, was missing.

Session 31 - Council of Truth Levels 2 and 3

Sunday Neth 4 Around 2AM

After a rest they approached the next room. This room had spikes all along the floor and ceilings. There was a staircase across the way leading down. Phain used his boots to walk along the wall and check out the staircase. It was real and not trapped. Searching for traps on the way back he was finding multiple traps when a glowing creature attacked him and then disappeared. Khazen cast a detect invisible spell and directed everyone on its movements until they killed it. Phain lead everyone safely through the traps.

Heading down the stairs they found a room with a strange device. When they started to investigate it, a wizard appeared out of no where telling them to leave his experiments alone. A fireball sprang from his fingers damaging everyone. The group attacked him and managed to avoid a slippery area on the floor. After they killed him they found a Hound Archon corpse he was dissecting. The device in the nearby room turned corpse into healing potions, and they used both the wizard and the Hound Archon to make some.



Going down the other hallway, they came to a room with a breeze blowing inwards. Inside the room was a man covered in tiny bug-like creature. It attacked as well as a swarm. When they killed the man. a swarm burst out of it. Khazen and Xantumal used spells to damage the swarms, Khazen almost was infected but Xantumal had a wind spell that dispersed them long enough to save him. Beyond this room was a scrying pool that required a key. The party remember the key in amber, so they went back up and experimented with the remaining combinations of powders and liquids until they made an acidic solution that freed the key. Using the key caused a pod of water to cover the users head. Xantumal cast water breathing so everyone would be OK when using it.

Heading further down the other hallway, the worked stone turned to natural cavern. They entered a large area with a lake and a boat. Also a small hallway branched off so they decided to see what was down there first. As they were going down the hallway they came to a ziggurat shaped room that had swords raining from the ceiling and falling into slits of the floor only to reappear at the top of the room to fall again. A vampire was in the center of the room and pulled in Phain, Khazen and Orik. Gravity increased in the room and they had a hard time standing up or avoiding falling swords. Orik managed to stand up and attack while Preacher used his aura against death to protect from life drain and then hit him with a searing light spell.



They killed the vampire, but it escaped down a small hole in gaseous form. Xantumal changed shape into a tiny creature and followed it down to the vampire's lair. There he staked the vampire, cut off its head and doused it in holy water.

Heading back to the large cavern, Xantumal cast air walk on everyone so they didn't have to rely on the boat. A large black dragon emerged from the water and breathed acid on everyone, and then bit and held Phain in its mouth repositioning itself for another breath when they felled it as it was inhaling.

After searching for the dragon's treasure, they continued on to an area the was covered in some slippery slime leading to a trench in the floor where water was flowing, and on the other side was a door. Preacher moved up first and got attacked by two crab like humanoids. One grabbed him and took him underwater, but luckily still had water breathing spell in effect. The other Chuul grabbed Phain and took him underwater as well. Vale jumped in to save them, while Khazen, Xantumal, and Orik used ranged attacks. Preacher used his channels to keep himself and Phain alive, but even those were not enough to save his life.

The group retreated back to the library to rest.

Sunday Neth 4 Around 5PM

After resting Xantumal cast a reincarnate spell on Preacher. Preacher came back from the dead, but now as a gnome. Gone was the intimidating priest of Pharasma, replaced by a perky looking gnome. Preacher was not happy about the change, and seemed to have a death wish.

Heading past the water trench to the door, it lead to stairs. Preacher bolted past the group, down the stairs, and into the following room. There were three levers int he room that wouldn't budge. Khazen and Vale came into the room and when Khazen approached the southern doors, they all closed, and three fire elementals appeared. They each moved to one of the switch and pulled at the same time opening the door, but causing walls of fire sectioning off the three areas. Xantumal used a quench spell to remove the walls and weaken the elementals as the rest of the group poured into the room and killed off the elementals.

Heading to the next room there was a grate on the floor and when Phain approached it, two oozes pressed through the grate and turned into four oozes. Khazen cast a well placed fireball damaging the oozes while Xantumal summon elementals to finish them off.

Heading east, the group came to a room with a portal to another plane. Phain advanced and saw a Xill and a Destrachen. The destrachan emitted a piercing howl, while the xill appeared in the middle of the group with a silence spell on. They killed the xill before it could lay eggs in anyone, then turned their attention to the destrachan. Soon both creatures were dead.