Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (a draining experience)

May 8, Temple of Kharad

The Starborn determine to reach the top of the temple and see what the creatures found thus far are guarding. The move through the narrow crawl space and confront the black pudding. Actually, the confrontation was rather simple as Alev stated at the crawl space entranced and dowsed the creature with multiple fireballs . . . no more pudding.

Exploring the upper levels they found a horrid man-beast that attempted to punch Tilk's heart out! A few seconds of swords and sorcery and the creature was down for the count. They then moved upwards another level where they found a coffin marked in ancient script: "The Wisest".

While inspecting the area, and carefully avoiding the coffin, the heroes were set upon by a spectre . . . the same elfin lady that had been following them throughout the temple. The creature laid her hands on Kettle and Tilk, draining each of them of their vitality. A long, hard-fought battle ended with the spectre vanishing in a puff of mist.

Kettle quickly took his vengeance on the creature. He rummaged through the coffin, pulling out treasures and passing them on to his fellows and finally descrated the coffin and the bones of the elf lady in a most . . . disrespectful manner.

The heroes pressed on only to find they could not make it to the top of the temple. A massive sandstone block guarded the way, and had the following inscriptions:

Behind the last seal He rests, who is the Lord of this place. He is the servant of the Master of Life and Death, the Sovereign of the Two Gates. His are the twin powers of golden blessing and silver destruction. Let none approach save the Three who he has blessed as Brides, unto whom he has given the jewels of his kingdom for a dowry. Peace of undying darkness be his for ever and for ever.

The heroes determined to find the rest of the key and come back. Another night of rest may see to healing of Tilk's and Kettle's lost life force.

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Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (clues in the temple)

But plans change . . . having thought they would go after the black pudding in the upper levels of the temple, the heroes instead set out down the steps to the lower levels. The beckoning ghostly elf lady seemed to want them to go there . . . so they did.

On the stairs leading down Kettle found two secret doors. One led to a map room that showed a three dimensional detail of some temple. Rygorh sketched out the map. Meanwhile, Kettle and Alev investigated the other secret door where they found dozens of clay containers smelling of vinegar. A small glass vial held oil of keen edge and a large clay pot held a preserved and beating heart. They smashed the jar containing the heart and left the room quickly.

The Starborn headed down the grand stairs into the depths of the temple. Here they found a massive cavern filled with water and vines hanging from the ceiling:

The corridor opens out into a gigantic cavern, not at all the kind of thing you would have expected to fid under a swamp! The roof is some sixty feet above you, with countless vines and dangling growths hanging from it, as if the vegetation of the world above had broken through into the world below. The vines are so thick and multitudinous that you cannot see the ceiling. Tiny dark shapes flit to and fro among them. Below, an expanse of dark water shimmers, ripples spreading through it from an unseen source. The bottom of the cavern is flooded to an unknown depth. In the centre is an overgrown island with a small white structure on it that has a pyramidal roof. There are eight piles of loose stone breaking the surface of the water, in two rows of four. At the far southern end of the room is an archway, flanked by two statues. After only three steps, the stairway leading down into the cavern is broken, as if some huge hand had struck it. From the few remaining steps on the island, you can see where it originally led. Now, there is only a sheer drop.

The heroes stared at the water and the pyramid in dismay and spent a great deal of time planning their next move. They finally settled on rappelling down to the pyramid using rope and a grappling hook. Casey headed down first. As Tilk moved to join her a pair of giant preying mantises attacked Casey. The heroes worked well together to dispatch the insects rather quickly.

After securing a position on the pyramidal island they set to investigating the water. They determined the water was about twenty feet deep with a rope and grappling hook. They also saw a swirling in the water that they identified as a swarm of flesh eating fish. They decided to craft rafts out of the wooden doors from upstairs. Some couple of hours later they sailed across the massive cavern to the statues and door on the southern wall.

Two stone statues tower above you on either side of this gateway. They must once have been painted in bright colours, for you can see tiny flakes of paint on the mottled stone. The one on the left has the face of a solemn adult elf and is raising his right hand; the one on the left has the face of a naked skull and is raising his left. Each statue holds a simple club or mace in its off hand, resembling a cylinder with a ball on the end.

After inspecting the statues and gateway they moved on to the temple ahead:

This room is strangely featureless and has a lifeless, hushed feel to it, as if it had been cleansed of all living things. The floor is tiled with white marble and a rough-hewn stone altar is at the south end. Five feet in from the door, there is a broad black burst on the floor, as if something had exploded there, or been burned in a bonfire. Against the west wall is a large brass gong, hanging from a twisted black iron frame.

The heroes inspected the temple rather closely and eventually determined that this was a sacrificial chamber of some sort. They spent a great deal of time arguing and deciding what to do. They sacrificed a body of one of the preying mantises to little effect . . . except for the massive flame strike that comsumed the insect. Eventually they determined to "sacrifice" Seebo to see what would happen. Seebo avoided any damage from the flames and the alter became translucent. Alev saw a sceptre inside the altar and grabbed it.

At that point all hell broke loose. A dozen zombies rose from the waters and attacked. Neil and Rygorh dispatched most of them with their holy powers while the others were laid low with more direct methods . . . swords and clubs to the head and body.

Neil identified the sceptre and determined its powers: it grants the ability to rebuke undead once per day and to cast slay living once per day and animate dead three times per day. They held on to it assuming it may serve some other purpose in the temple.

Having explored as much as they felt they could handle for the day the heroes retired again to the entry chamber to the temple.

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Casey: Dancing

Good Gods! First a flesh creature in green goo, then a black pudding type thing and now a ghost!

Most everyone has decided that the Ragged Man is evil because he'd be over a thousand years old. It would explain why Lady Arigane thinks we'll find him alive, or at least that's what I think she said. I'm more under the impression that we'll find bare bones and perhaps a book that will tell us the history of the Starborn and where our weapons are. Of course, if this is where he lies then he may very well be some evil creature. The creatures we've found here so far don't bode well for the old guy.

Now I'm guessing this calendar-name chart has something to do with the ghost. Oh, wow, the ghost! This woman-ghost kept beckoning us all over this pyramid. Everyone excluding me, Tilk, and our new friend, Kettle wanted to follow her. They all said she was evil so why would we follow her? It didn't make any sense to me, and we didn't follow her after all which was fine by me. I was more interested in what was over the water than what was in it. It makes more sense to me to have the loot hidden behind a crawlspace than in water that wasn't there from the beginning.

For the second time we headed back up to the top of the pyramid and found the lady-ghost's sarcophagus. She didn't seem to appreciate that much. But what she didn't like more was this cool spell that Rygorh cast on my scimitar called Magic Weapon. Oh, it was so . . . magical! I kept thinking that this was nothing like when we fought those black shade-like creatures that came swooping out of the Node. I couldn't hit them at all. But then I started dancing around her! Hah! I danced to the left! Swish! I danced the to the right! Swash! Swipe! Slash! Die again! Die again!! Then she started to glide away from me. I was really hurting her with my excess slashes. She ended up turning to dust, I think; whatever ghosts turn into when they die for good is what she did.

Then Kettle started flipping out! I stood there thinking that my father would find him a perfect candidate for the fool in the King's castle! He took his war-axe and chopped off her already dead head. I was confused by that, but apparently he was upset that she'd touched him. He started hollering and he climbed up into the coffin and started jumping on her head. I had to turn away then because he started unbuckling his pants to :::ahem::: make water on her. I've never met a dwarf before. I didn't realize they were so retaliatory.

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Ashton's Tale

"What? I require no one to serve me; I would welcome your assistance but not service," Rygorh stated vehemently. "I would turn down none who wish, of their own free will, to aid us, and they are also free to leave when they wish to do so." Looking around at his friends at the table, Rygorh is a bit embarrassed over this whole affair. He turns back to the mysterious stranger, "So tell us about yourself. Start with your name and how you came to this decision?" "Well my name is Ashton Halford. I was born in Saragost, however, I haven't been there in many years," looking down he sighs before continuing. "Well, until recently that is." Looking back up, his eyes focus on Rygorh's holy symbol, he says, "I believe it to be the will of the Goddess that I serve, er, um, aid you." Looking at young Ashton intently Rygorh sits back in his chair, glance towards Alev, a hint of a smile on his face, "So", turning back to Ashton, "you serve the Mistress of war? Where is your long sword then?" "Oh, you misunderstand me, my lord; I am not a holy follower of the Goddess as one of her priests would be. Actually, I am ashamed to say my faith is probably not as strong as it should be. I have a love of nature and things that grow, but primarily of the beasts that live within the natural environment. I respect the Goddess for her strong approach to war. Sometimes it is necessary to take up arms to defend these creatures that are helpless before the so-called intelligent races. I also believe the teachings of the Church that Chaos is the natural state of all things even within nature. As for weapons, I choose to use the bow and the staff; both are weapons of nature and not man." Sitting back and with his chin resting on his joined hands Rygorh says, "Sounds like there may be a tale here worth the telling, Ashton. Please start from the beginning." Aston looks around the table, takes a seat and begins his story, "As with most teenagers it starts with a rebellious youth who seeks his father's approval. See, my father was a scout for the Saragost military and a devout follower of Aranu."

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"Sherria," a large, dark tanned man calls as he walks into the door of a modest house on Trumpets Way. A handsome woman of about fifty enters from a back room "Oh, Serin, you are home; I wasn't expecting you for a while." Looking around the man Serin says, "We are going out on patrol, and I wanted to see if Ashton wanted to join us; you were right; I don't spend enough time with him." "Oh, Serin that's just wonderful, but he left early this morning." Serin suddenly interrupts his wife, "He is not down at that stupid grove again with those druids is he? I've taught the boy everything I know about using a bow and tracking but he would rather hang out down there. I don't understand it." "Now, Serin, be nice, I don't think so. His friend Arun came by, and he went with him." Eyebrows shooting up, "Sherria, you know I don't like him hanging around with that boy; he is nothing but trouble; him and that weird family of his. They are not the proper kind of people; everyone in Saragost knows that! How does it look for us that our son is over there all the time? People will talk." With that he turns on his heel and leaves the house, mounting his light brown mare, marked with the scout insignia of Saragost, he starts down the lane. After a short ride Serin comes upon two boys about the age of seventeen walking up the road. "Ashton, where have you been all morning? Your mother is worried, and I was going to take you on a scouting trip." "No thanks, Father, I went to worship with Arun today and heard the most interesting-" "You what!" his father suddenly exclaims, "You went to that Firinnian church? What is wrong with you boy!" "There is nothing wrong with me," Ashton retorts. "I wanted to check it out, and I liked what I heard!" "When I get back, I am taking you to the cleric of Aranu to make sure you haven't been bewitched by those people." "No, father you won't I am old enough to worship where I want and now I want to worship the Goddess!" "By the ancients, as long as you live under my roof and I feed you then you will do as I say. I don't know where I went wrong with you, boy!" "If that is the case then I will take the Walk of Chaos and join this order then I will leave your house," Ashton turns back the way he came and begins walking away as a bell tolls in the distance. "Damn, that boy. I will finish this when I return," Serin thinks to himself as he watches his only son walk off in the distance. That evening when Serin returns home he finds his wife still crying at the table as she tells him that Ashton returned wearing a Firrinian holy symbol then packed up his belongings and left on Serin's warhorse.

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Ashton traveled northwest for about a week using every trick his father had taught him about concealing his tracks when he came upon four goblins about to kill what appeared to be some farmers. He quickly began firing his arrows, and all of the goblins were dead before they knew what happened. The happy farmers led him to their small village of Bent Creek which was northwest of Hockton Barrow and not far from Churney-on-the-Green. There he learned that the village had been suffering from goblin attacks ever since the disappearance of their village warden, whose job it was to protect the village from such encounters. Ashton was quickly offered the job by the village counsel and told that it did not pay much, however, he was given the warden house which was a cottage built in a treetop near the center of town. He was also provided food by donations given by the farmers and herdsmen of the village. The next two years were pleasant for the young man who did is job and spent what time he could with the druids at Churney-on-the-Green. Tales of his skill with a bow traveled to nearby towns and villages to the point that one of the archers from Hockton Barrow traveled to tell him of the tournament they were going to hold; everyone wanted to see him display his talent. Of course, he accepted the proposal thinking that this prize bow could be a great help to him and his continuing job. When the day arrived as he prepared to leave for Hockton Barrow some people from a nearby village came through Bent Creek with tales of a massive army that was heading down on them and a group of strangers that were spreading the word. Ashton assured everyone that these were just rumors and he would find out more in Hockton Barrow. What do these strangers know about this land anyway? Ashton arrived in Hockton Barrow and the first person he noticed was a priest of Firinna who seemed angry at the world. This had been the first time he had seen a priest of the Goddess since he left Saragost. He participated in the tournament and lost to a strange hooded individual who broke the prize bow; Ashton did take note that the large man with the priest of Firinna also participated in the Tournament. Watching the strange group closely he realized these were the strangers spreading the tales of this impending army that was bringing doom.

The next morning as Ashton prepared to head home and alert the village counsel that he was wrong and the rumors must be true. Captain Jabril of Hockton Barrow approached him, "I have heard of your bow, Ashton. We are preparing to defend Hockton Barrow and would like you to join us." "Capt. Jabril," Ashton says with a bow, "I would be glad to fight beside you and the people here but first I must be off to make sure Bent Creek knows of the danger and begins evacuating to Saragost." "Of course, as that is your duty to the village, I fully understand that, however, we can use your help here preparing. I can send someone with a note from you to the Village." Ashton agrees and quickly writes a note to the counsel with instructions and gives it to the courier. He then joins the rest of the people of Hockton Barrow in preparing a defense. Late in the afternoon as traffic from the north increased on the road someone sees a curious sight: three riders are heading north. Normally this would not be a big deal, however, since word of the coming army all traffic has been southbound. Ashton moves over to the roadside to see three of the strangers ridding hard. The priest he had taken notice of earlier lay dead across a horse with his skull smashed. They didn't stop; seeming intent on their destination somewhere north they rode past and continued on Ashton. Heard someone say, "One of those Starborn dead already?" Ashton thought that was a weird name for someone to call them so he sought out Captain Jabril and asked her. She gave him the tale that they had told her, and that she had already confirmed with the druids of Churney-on-the-Green. These were Starborn, some kind of legendary heroes destined to fight the evil that attacks us. "Humph, some heroes," he thought, "one dead already." He then went back about his business of helping with the barricades putting that horrible picture of the dead priest out of his head.

Several days later after the refugees from the north had stopped coming down the road Aston sat at his post near the barricade and he heard someone yell, "Riders to the north!" Ashton turned to the road to see these Starborn return however somehow the dead red robbed priest of Firinna lived; he could not understand how this could be. Just days ago he lay dead with his head crushed, and now he rode with his fellows alive? They stopped at the town inn this time for something to eat on their journey and told the tale of the Dwarf army's massive size. Ashton attempted to get into the inn to speak with these Starborn, but was turned aside and instructed to return to his post Even as he did so he marveled about the power of Firinna; the ability to bring one of her followers back from the dead was incredible.

Several days later the attack came at dusk. This massive army of dark faces moved slowly to the sout. Rangers were all around hidden from view waiting the signal from the druids. Nobody was told what this signal would be but they would know it. Suddenly the sky lit up like midday and pillars of fire with bolts of lighting erupted from the sky. The very trees and plants seemed to come alive and attack these horrible creatures. Ashton knew at once that this must be the signal, and he began firing his bow in rapid succession. This went on for several hours; his fingers now bleeding and eyes burning from exhaustion he continued to fire. He ignored the pain in his arms and joints and continued to fire. When he ran out of arrows, someone brought him more and still he fired. Finally in what seemed like an endless night he could find no more targets. A cheer went up from the defenders. They had driven this army back. They had succeeded where nobody thought they would; the army had turned back. They waited the next couple of days for the dwarves to return however nothing came from the north. A rider from Saragost showed up on the south road and told them that the dwarves had chosen to skirt around Hockton Barrow and now was marching on Saragost itself. "NO!" the single word rang in Ashton's head, he could think only of his parents he left behind and the city of his birth. Mounting his father's warhorse he raced south to Saragost; he must help. He drove hard and topping a rise that led towards the city, he was horrified. Saragost the shining star of Chillhame, the walled port city of refuge lay in ruins. Smoke rising from the city, gates battered and smashed, dark dwarves roaming the streets with some massive unnatural creatures standing silent and unmoving around the city. From this point he could see flashes of magic from the wizard's tower as well as from the druid's grove. "Well some still fight," he thought "I must go see what has become of my parents." Pulling his cloak about him he silently slid into the city unnoticed. Making his way to what once was his home he found the door smashed. Inside his mother lie naked' she had been brutally rapped and murdered. One of his father's swords lay next to her. Fighting back tears, he covered his mother's naked form and said a prayer to Firinna for her soul, and then he made his way to the druids' grove. There he learned that jis father must surely be dead as the dwarves killed all that opposed them. He also learned that the Lady Argaine had befriended the Starborn and gave them her ship to head to Crescent City on some mission. He sneaked out of the city again, mounting his horse and thinking about these Starborn whose name keeps coming up and the priest who was no longer dead. As he rode around Saragost and up the coast deep in thought he came upon a ship bound for Crescent City to flee Chillhame. Putting on one of his father's uniforms he had found at his parents' home he boarded the vessel, intent on finding and helping this risen Priest and those who call themselves Starborn.

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Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (inside the Temple of Kharad)

This room smells of dust and decay, with an acrid stench of embalming spices. Against the south wall is a fresco of a humanoid figure with spread wings. His head is a skull with living briars twisting through it. Beneath this is an open pit in the floor that looks like it was once hidden but is now stuck open. It drops down ten feet, to a mass of jumbled bones and rotten debris. You cannot tell how deep this is. Just inside the entrance are the smashed stumps of two similar pillars to those outside. On the floor by the stone block are the cracked, smashed fragments of a crimson wax disc.

The heroes inspect the room thoroughly discovering some strange, ancient script on the wall beneath the fresco. Kettle is able to decipher the script as follows:

XIOLOCHE	Man'ak 13	Hekolosh 22
NUNANNA	Relethen 18	Man'ak 2
KREESHA	Abriolon 30	Shenn 6

Casey looks over Kettle's shoulder and helps him out. She manages to determine that the first column represents names while the other two columns are dates . . . in some ancient elven language.

The heroes search the first level of the pyramid thoroughly. Kettle and Seebo manage to find and disable pit traps in a couple of corridors leading from the entry room into what they call the "statue room" where they find nine statues:

This silent chamber is lined with alcoves to the north and south; five in the north wall, four in the south. The floor of the room is marked with a pattern of lines and rectangles. In the centre of the southern wall is an archway fashioned from stone carved to look like tangled vines, or vines magically transmuted into stone – it is impossible to tell which. There is a shadowy figure in each alcove, eight feet tall and immobile.

The statues are actually a mechanism to open a secret door behind the central statue on the north wall of the room. The statues include the four animal totems from the Swamp Elf villages. The first experiment in opening the secret door results in Dinah losing her face . . . literally. When she turns the wrist on the blank-faced statue in front of the secret door her face melts away . . . eyes, ears, mouth . . . leaving only her nose. Her face appears on the blank-faced statue. The heroes retire to the entry chamber of the temple to rest and recover spells. Neil hopes to remove curse on the morrow to help poor Dinah.

The next morning Neil's faith in Old Heakun proves strong enough to overcome the curse and Dinah's face is restored. Afterwards, Kettle and Seebo work to disable the trap on the statue and the team manages to get the secret door open without further mishap.

The secret door leads into a passage of stairs going up. The next level of the temple is a single massive room filled with webs and a spiral stair case leading up. Spiders and Ettercaps attack and the heroes make quick work of the creatures. Rygorh's burning hands spell makes quick work of the webs.

Seebo determines that the staircase is not safe to climb. Tilk and team rig up a grappling hook and rope to climb to the next floor. Tilk, Seebo and Casey go up and find a flesh golem on the next level. Initially the creature just sits in a pool of green goop staring towards them. It then rises up and begins to move towards the heroes. Confusion sets in. Tilk charges the beast while Seebo calls for a retreat and Casy stands about trying to decide what to do. The rest of the heroes make their way up the rope slowly while Tilk trades blows with the golem. Tilk gets the worst of the exchange. Once all of the Starborn make it into the room a flurry of blows from the fighters and some healing magics lay the golem low and bring the wounded warriors back on line. Alev discovers that most of his magic is ineffective against golems.

Another room on this level of the pyramid appears to be a "charging" cell for the golem:

There are four cucurbits of cloudy glass in this room, each one the height of a man and filled with murky liquid that bubbles furiously. Rods of some dark substance are half-submerged in them, with metal hawsers trailing from them through supporting frames to a central wooden cradle. This is fitted with a metal crown or headband.

Following the only passage on this level the heroes find that it narrows down to a two-and-a-half foot by two-and-a-half foot crawl space. The halflings can enter reasonably well . . . everyone else is forced to crawl. Seebo and Neil take the lead while the others stay behind. Some twenty minutes later the halflings return to report that the crawl space is about two or three hundred feet of turning corridors that opens into a temple like area on a higher level. In this temple there are about half a dozen or so demonic baby skeletons.

Rygorh and Alev set out to vanquish the beasts with Seebo leading. Alev hits the creatures with fireball spells while Rygorh turns them. Seebo cracked a couple in the face with his magical undead bane mace. The heroes pursue the creatures into the room but are attacked by another guardian . . . a black pudding. Luckily no one is hit by the ooze and the heroes retreat back down the crawl space.

The Starborn gather in the flesh golem room to determine their next course of action. They decide to "camp" another night in the entry way to the temple and attack the pudding the next day.

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Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (to the Temple of Kharad)

After spending a full day and two nights with Father Abstinence of the Church of Marius, the heroes set out on the final leg of the journey to find the Ragged Man. While staying at the mission a dwarf named Kettle Bricknell happened upon the group. It turns out he is also a Starborn, and he joins up with the party.

The heroes spend three days slogging through the swamp heading for the Temple of Kharad. After two days in the swamp, while Kettle is on watch, a strange scent of lilacs and roses alerts the dwarf to a strange presence. He wakes his friends and they watch a ghostly elfin lady around outside of the camp. She is non-threatening, and the heroes simply watch her as she spies on them. After about five minutes she vanishes from sight in a shower of rose petals and sweet-smelling air.

The next day the Starborn come upon the statue of the dead god. It's head makes a massive island in the water, and an uprasied arm towers into the air overhead. A cursory inspection reveals little about the statue as time and the environment have eroded the statue to the point that its features are not distinguishable.

Moving on the heroes come upon the temple in the swamp:

The trees of the surrounding swamp stop abruptly at the edge of a drop. It is a stone-lined trench or moat of some kind, surrounding a central flat region where a pyramidal structure stands. The pyramid is stepped, with a curious gleam to the top tier, as if it were made from metal instead of green-encrusted grey stones like the rest of the edifice. The water in the moat is black and has an oily gleam to it. The collapsed remains of a bridge span the moat. This seems to have been a rope bridge, but with chain links instead of ropes. Judging by the stumps of stone that jut from the edges, the chain bridge was itself a replacement for an older structure that has collapsed long ago.

After a bit of discussion about how best to cross the moat, Neil casts water walk on six of the party members who carry everyone else across the black water.

The square archway before you seems to be an obvious entrance into the temple. A single huge stone block closes it off. It is fifteen feet square, with no sign of a door anywhere. In front of this block are two small stone posts, three feet high and three feet apart. They are badly eroded but look vaguely like hunched creatures of some sort.

Neil figures out that the posts are the mechanism for opening the door. He places one hand on each post and the stone block begins to rise. As the block rises Neil can feel his strength being sucked away into the temple. After the block is about ten feet high he releases the posts and the block begins to drop again. Everyone scurries into the temple.

As the stone block drops down behind them with a resounding thud, the adventurers see that the posts for opening the temple on the inside are a shattered ruin. It looks like the Starborn may be here for a little while . . .

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Chronicles of Rygorh: City of Mystery

I find this a strange place; still consumed by the aspect of such a city although one that worships Law. I find it hard to comprehend anyone worshiping an Ideal; this can be nothing more than some strange Lawful Cult. After a couple of nights off relaxing and looking around the city, there were some beautiful girls offering themselves for just a few silvers. As much as I would like to take them up on it I have business with the Goddess first. I set about town making a few purchases; I was able to convince my companions to give me a couple of weeks to commune with the Goddess. I felt the need to research a new spell in which she can aid us in our quest. Neil decided that he would use the time to enchant some items for the group. I asked him to make me a new cloak if he had time. The rest of the group would spend the time to learn more about this city, country and this ragged man.

Once my research was complete I felt honored that the Goddess assisted me in finding a spell that would help boost everyone's combat abilities. I came down stairs to find the group sitting around a table discussing more information that had been gathered. It seemed that a lot has gone on in this place: a king of thieves that was overthrown and left a prize, a plantation shrouded in mystery and a lawful church created by a former elven slave that supports slavery. Seebo seemed very intrigued by this maze and treasure left behind about ten years ago. I tend to agree with him on that. I keep wondering if this so called treasure could be a Starborn item; well time will tell I guess. Alev seemed more than ready to go begin telling all to the "Lawful" leaders of the city although I did not think this was a wise decision. Our new Bard friend however had befriended one of the Swamp Elves who said he could lead us to this Temple where the Ragged Man was. It was finally agreed after a long discussion that in the morning we would first attempt to leave the city then after finding the Ragged Man we will return and see to some of these rumors.

I lay awake for some time thinking over the discussion we had in detail. I find it odd that a lot sure has seemed to happen in this city within a 10 year span including a change in government within the last 6 months. Alev seems determined to speak to the city leaders. "*Sigh*, a lot of good that will do us if the Drow have already infiltrated the infrastructure as they did in Saragost! We still do not know how long they have been preparing for this war. They could have their agents already within every major city. We definitely have a long road before us." As I drift off to sleep unbidden dreams, or were they memories? I wasn't sure as the found their way into my sleepy mind . . .

---

The dark windowless room held a pungent aroma that I could not place. The half-orc sat behind his table taking a long deep breath in the middle of one of his lectures. "You have got to apply yourself better. How many times have I told you the flame is a living creature of itself? Unless you are a woman you can never master it but you can learn its discipline. Are you listening to me?" My gaze, which had wandered off to the single lamp in the room giving off a pale light that left everything in shadows, snapped back to the Master. "Yes, Warlord, I am. I just don't understand it. I try like everyone else and . . ." "No flaming excuses boy," he cut in quickly. Lowering his tone he said, "Why do you wish to be a disciple of the flame so badly? Not many men have the ability. You are too concerned with people. You care too much about others to be able to control the flame. I have suggested to you before that I think you would make a great Lord of Chaos. I have heard you speak to the other acolytes. You are too good and concerned with doing good to master the flame," he looks into my eyes questioningly. Carefully weighing my response I started, "Master, I wish to be as you: a Warlord blessed by the Goddess and use the flame to bring chaos to those who would oppress." "Bahhh," he bellowed, "I care not for the flaming oppression of people, I bring war for the sake of bringing war, in the name of the Goddess, people are oppressed because they are weak and allow it! Get out of here, I will see you tomorrow, but mark my words boy your bleeding heart will be your undoing one day." I heard the door close as I exited the chamber. "Don't look so upset Rygorh, I suppose it was the same ole lecture?" I looked up to see Elainia standing there. "Yup," was all that I could muster. She pulled me into an embrace. "You will do fine, and one day when I am a mistress of fire and you a Warlord the world will tremble before our temple." Feeling her soft form pressed against me always seemed to make everything seem better. "C'mon Rygorh I have a surprise for you," taking my hand, she led me down the corridor . . .

---

I woke with a start, the morning rays of sun were already coming through the window, and I arose, put on my armor and gathered my gear for the day. "Well, we enter this swamp today; I wonder what trials are in store for us now? I went down stairs to find my companions seated around the table. Ordering a morning brew I joined them. Of course Alev was still going on about meeting with the city leaders. That is when a low quit voice said, "You are the ones they call Sarborn, I remember when you passed through Hockton Barrow." In surprise, I turned to see a young man wearing a dark green cloak and a bow strapped across his back looking directly at me. "I have sought after you since the fall of Saragost. I would serve you and your quest in saving the lives of others like myself," he said with a bow. I then noticed that he wore the uniform of Saragost. As he spoke only one phrase burned in my head: "Your bleeding heart will be your undoing one day."

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Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (the interloper)

As the rain pours down in the swamp, Ashton hears a loud splash in the water nearby. He alerts Rygorh to the noise. Looking towards the sound they can see a very short, squat man lumbering through the water towards them. He is submerged up to his chest in the filthy swamp water and his features are obscured by the darkness and the rain.

A flash of lightening reveals the "man" to be a dwarf wearing what appears to be full plate armor and carrying a massive axe in one hand and lugging a monstrous tower shield in his other hand. His beard is tangled and matted with swamp filth. He is soaked and dripping water.

As the dwarf gets closer he makes for the mission building while keeping a wary eye on Rygorh and Ashton in their boat. He steps up onto the porch of the mission and stamps out his boots spreading mud and stray vegetation over the place. He is clad in steel from head to toe and his massive shield is a fine silvery metal. His axe has a wicked edge to it, and he carries a monstrous sack tied over his right shoulder. Strapped across his chest is a leather bandoleer with a dagger and various tools and widgets poking out. He looks over to the soaking wet humans and says matter-of-factly, "Eh, pretty wet out here, huh?" He then turns and makes for the front door.

So, what are you going to do?

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Seebo: The Evil Swamp

So are you keeping up so far? It's a long tale but don't worry, it'll be worth it in the end, you'll see. Now where did I leave off?

Ah, Crescent City. Yeah, blew out of that town as soon as we could. I said before I thought it was filthy but that doesn't begin to describe how truly depraved it was. Rygorh was right at home.

But all kidding aside, there were a lot of problems in that town that we were sure to butt heads with eventually. The thieves' guild had split into four separate entities back when the old guildmasters disappeared. They divided the town and each ran their own side. The maze was in Raglan's side so I was going to have to get in good with them at some point. Rather than start something in town, we decided to go find the Ragged Man and come back to stir up trouble later.

So into the swamp we went. We were better of in Crescent City. It was a horrible start to the journey. The swamp elf Lorelei had befriended was kind enough to gather some of his brothers and sisters to lead us at least part of the way. They said they would take us to a point but no further, they never ventured past the border of their village. Something was better than nothing.

On they led. We piled in four at a time to these little skiffs, one elf on stick duty and three passengers. Along the way we noticed some bubbling in the water. I surmised it was some unknown danger that was best left alone. I hate it when I'm right about things like that.

Out of nowhere this large crawfish looking monstrosity lunges out of the water and swipes at Rygorh standing right next to me. Thank the gods it didn't come after me. The gods must still have it in for me because that's exactly what it did next. I'm wily, I'm small, I'm wiry, I'm even a bit evasive and have some pretty wicked reflexes. It still grabbed me and proceeded to have a midmorning snack of halfling surprise. The surprise was a dagger in the gullet. Too bad it didn't really do any good.

I've only ever come close to dying a few times in my life. I remember only one of them really well. I didn't like it then and sure as hell didn't like it now. I was sure I was a goner. Somehow, everyone else managed to fight them back and free me. I came to a little while later, reeking of rotten fish, drenched in crawfish bile. I'm sure I smelled just peachy.

But we moved on. We stopped at night on shore and made camp. The elves were absolutely dumbfounded. See in Caldraza slavery is legal and swamp elves were the slaves. You might be thinking "those dirty rotten humans!" but the truth of its origins might surprise you. It turns out the elves of Xoth Sarandi were the first to enslave their wayward cousins. The Caldrazans just maintained the tradition. So it's actually "those dirty rotten elves!"

Of course we couldn't have a peaceful night either, that would be too easy. While me and Neil were up on watch, we caught the sound of fluttering in the woods. It sounded like a swarm of bats. I was half right. The disembodied heads did have bat wings. About two dozen swarmed in on us. Neil and I roused everyone we could before they got to us.

Dinah later clarified what exactly we were fighting. Apparently if one of these things bites you, a few minutes later your head pops off and grows wings. There were swarms of them at a nearby plantation. We had to clean it up, but it could wait until the trip back.

The next few days were fairly uneventful. We avoided bubbling water and evil vampire-like creature ridden plantations and eventually got to the swamp elf village. To be honest, I was surprised it was still there. I wouldn't want to live in a swamp like this. Not that I would want to live in a swamp at all.

We rested a day and then moved on. The longer the journey took, the more we walked, the further in we got, the more I just wanted to leave. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. This time is was a crocodile that wasn't a crocodile. I would clarify but I'm not sure I completely understand it. To be honest I caught sight of something in the sky and missed the whole battle. I looked away one second and the next Dinah, Casey and Rygorh had pummeled the thing to death.

I was fed up. This swamp was nothing but trouble and we were getting nowhere slowly. Then a respite came, a small reprieve from the trials of this unforgiving land. A missionary from the Temple of Marius in Crescent City had set up shop here trying to show the heathen swamp elves the glorious truth of the world. You know I don't much care for the gods, though I'm coming around. Well, I despise those people who think their way is the right way. There's nothing worse than a "holier than thou" attitude. But I was hungry and the gnats were really annoying me so I kept my big yap shut and enjoyed Father Abstinence's hospitality. It was a good thing too because it turned out I had what he called swamp fever. I could have died!

All healed up we made our way further in. That's where the real fun began.

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Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (a brief respite)

Having found a hospitable place to rest, the Starborn spend the afternoon at the Mission of The Blessed Marius in the Hogglepot Marshes. Rygorh and his cohort Ashton elect to remain outside as Rygorh does not trust the lawful church of Marius.

Early in the afternoon a soft rain begins to fall . . . a gentle stream of warm water sprinkles the land. In the meantime Father Abstinence and his swamp elf followers tend to the needs of the heroes. They are shown to a pair of large rooms on the upper floor of the mission where they can rest and stow their gear. Father Abstinence seems obsessive in his desire for cleanliness. "This swamp is a cesspool of vermin and filth. You should all bathe, and we will see to the cleaning of your clothes." He's rather insistent on this point and refuses to allow anyone up to the common bedrooms that does not agree to bathe and have his clothes cleaned. In fact, anyone that refuses to take a bath is asked to leave the place . . . politely at first, but forcefully if any continue to ignore his request.

Late in the afternoon, after everyone has bathed, the rain outside begins to pour down in sheets. Great gusts of wind whip the rain about and it becomes impossible to keep dry. Father Abstinence acts a most pleasant host . . . he tends to any minor hurts and casts detect disease, a minor spell that none of you has heard of before. He casually explains that it is an orison of his own invention that he felt would be most useful in the swamp. His preparedness proves most useful for the Starborn, particularly Seebo, Rumus and Alev, all of whom have contracted what he calls "swamp fever." The disease is in its early stages, but untreated it can be most deadly. "I will tend to this disease on the morrow, after I have prayed to Marius for your well-being. He will cure this disease from each of you. In the meantime, you three should sleep separate from the others." He provides a room for just that purpose on the first floor of the mission.

Father Abstinence answers any questions the heroes have about the swamp and the area to the best of his ability:

• There is indeed a temple further south from here but it is a wretched place, best avoided by clean-minded people. He has never been south of this point but the last priest to serve here has. That priest unfortunately went insane and fled into the swamp some months ago. The poor man is probably long dead by now. His name was Father Industry Maxwell.
• He has no idea what the 'dead god' means.
• The swamp elves worship animal spirits. Their totem poles represent the primary ones.
• 'Kharad' is the name of a god of vegetation, worshipped by a small sect of elves many years ago.

As evening falls the rain outside has become a torrential downpour. The water level around the mission begins to rise. Flashes of lightening, punctuated by roaring thunder, provide glimpses of the dreary night outside. Poor Rygorh and Ashton must surely be chilled and soaked to the bone by this point . . .

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Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (Father Abstinence)

Alev approaches the front door of the mission. Standing on the modest front porch he knocks at the door and steps back waiting for a response. For several moments nothing happens. Then the door opens and a wide-eyed swamp elf looks about peering at each of you in turn. The sounds of singing burst forth from the place and everyone can hear the swamp elves struggling to sing hymns to Marius. The elf at the door holds his index finger and makes a shushing sound. He then waves you into the place.

Inside about a dozen swamp elves stand in a group facing the altar. They are all singing with great heart about the greatness of Marius and how the wheel turns and other such. The elves appear to be a pretty standard selection of the race: lanky, dirty, wearing ragged clothing with mud on their feet. At the front of the congregation is a well groomed, balding human. His forehead is slicked with a thin sheen of sweat and his arms flail about punctuating parts of the hymn as he directs his congregation. His rather ample belly jiggles in rhythm with the lyrics.

As the song comes to an end the man's eyes light up as he seems to have just noticed the "visitors" in the back of the church. In a jovial voice, the man calls out, "Palebranch, will you please lead your fellows in singing 'The Wheel Grinds out Justice' while I greet our guests?" One of the swamp elves moves to take his place at the front as the old man walks down the center aisle of the church towards the Starborn. The elves take up another song with the same enthusiasm as before, but with less talent, as their "chior master" has abandoned them.

"Greetings, greetings, welcome to our humble mission of the Blessed Marius," the man stage whispers to the heroes working to be heard over the music without interrupting. "I am Father Abstinence Morton of the Church of Marius. Please come inside and take your rest from that wretched swamp!" Father Abstinence seems friendly enough as he ushers the party into the place.

Anyone that enters the place feels an almost immediate relief of tension and weariness. A sense of a load being lifted overcomes each of the heroes . . . a great burden taken off of their shoulders. The more observant members of the party (Seebo and Casey) notice fleas, ticks and swamp bugs leaping off of people's bodies as they cross the threshold of the building. Curiously, none of the insects will enter the building as they scuttle off of the front porch back into the swamp.

Father Abstinence will answer no questions or talk with anyone until the singing is complete. He motions rather insistently for quiet if anyone tries to speak while the elves are singing. After the elves finish singing he claps his hands in celebration and calls out, "That will be enough for today, my brothers. Thank you, thank you. Please help yourselves to the refreshments." The elves make their way towards a banquet table off to the left of the large worship room and take handfuls of fruit, nuts, cheese, bread and jerky. Father Abstinence turns to the heroes, "Will you join us for our noon repast?"

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Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (Interlude)

Having set out from Crescent City seeking the Ragged Man at the Temple of Kharad, the Starborn have passed beyond the last boundary of civilization into the eastern swamps . . . the Hogglepot Marshes. Here they have encountered chuuls, swamp elves and an aboleth and its skum slaves. The swamp elf guides have left the heroes to their own devices, opting to stay in their village just east of the Crescent City River Fort. Greenroot, Lorelei's friend, gave instructions on how to reach the temple of the Dead God . . . continue east to a major branch in the channel and head south. In that branch they will see the Dead God in the water and should take the nearest sowthwestern tributary from there . . . the temple will be easy to find. Greenroot further advised that there is a priest of Marianism who has set up a mission in the area . . . they will find him north of the Dead God.

Traveling through the swamp is constant misery. Everyone sweats profusely in the hot, sticky air. The stench of rotting vegetation and dead animals assaults the senses. Biting insects buzz around incessantly, feasting on the adventurers' blood. Crickets, frogs and other unidentifiable animals chirp, belch and croak throughout the nights making sleep a serious challenge. While the battle with the chuuls was tough and the aboleth was a horror to behold, the unremitting misery of the journey through the swamp might actually be worse.

Around noon on April 30, two days after the fight with the Aboleth, the heroes come upon what must surely be the mission that Greenroot spoke of:

In a cleared area to the side of the river stands a long wooden building, obviously not the work of the swamp elves. From inside comes the curious sound of many voices singing and having trouble with the words. From what you can hear, the song sounds like a hymn of some sort.

A short rest in a sturdy building, one crafted by a civilized race, might be just the relief the Starborn need from the unrelenting wretchedness of the swamp . . .

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Chronicles of Rygorh: Crescent City

Once we had control of the Drow ship we found that they had a crew of slaves onboard which was very unsettling for me. I have complete disdain for any type of servitude, especially slavery. I again wondered about the poor folk in Saragost and what oppressions they must be feeling. We made quick work freeing the slaves who were quite eager to help us of there own free will. Now we had two ships at our disposal. The former slaves were becoming good seamen, and of course, the crew from the Elensil knew what they were doing. It was decided that the new ship would bear the name Evening Star, which I thought was quite fitting. Knife claimed the Captain's chair on the new vessel which I saw no problem with as he was the one who boarded her.

We were still a few days out and nobody in the group seemed particularly interested in conversation so I went to our crew of former slaves and spoke with them. When none of my companions were around I spoke with the poor fellows about Chaos. I explained to them that only through Chaos comes true freedom and how Law and Order was nothing more than a humanoid attempt to control others. Law was nothing more than a mortal creation to make others submissive before a few who considered themselves special, not a natural occurrence: citing the chaotic nature of the environment, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. I believe I did a good job in helping them to understand that the universe itself was Chaotic in nature and there was no order to things except what men claimed. I felt much more like my old self, before arriving at the Tump, speaking passionately to a group of willing listeners and telling the tales of the Order of Firinna. It was kind of refreshing and comforting to know that I had not lost my flair for words or my skills to motivate the masses. I wonder constantly how my companions would take it if I told them of my life before meeting them. I can't explain why but for some reason I have been compelled lately to share my past, and I am uncertain why; maybe that is something that comes with friendship.

We finally reached our goal, a port called Crescent City. What a city it was to behold. At first glance it seemed to be a city that embraced Chaos as people seemed to be running free with individual freedoms. On a closer look though I saw right away a race of people called Swamp Elves. I soon found out they were nothing but slaves, and the only religion recognized here was one that worshiped Law. Hmm, I found that completely absurd. How could you worship an Ideal rather than a God? After all I believe strongly in Chaos but I don’t worship that in itself; I worship the Goddess who is a provider of Chaos. To worship an Ideal in itself seems senseless to me but it wouldn't be the first time I did not understand those who believed in Law. This city was completely odd, Chaos in the streets, Law worshipers and slave owners. Kind of goes to show what I have said all my life: Law creates servants and oppression.

We found a place to stay and had a nice sit down dinner and before anyone started to discuss what to do next I suggested we take a day or two off. We have been striving and working against the clock ever since we met. One night of relaxation would not hurt. By the planes of hell, we earned the right to take a break for a night. So we had a nice dinner and went to bed then the next morning broke up in groups to wander the city while trying to keep a low profile. Me, Tilk and Casey grouped together and wandered from bar to bar for a bit having a good time. We were sitting at one place, Tilk spinning tales of his homeland and Casey laughing and relaxing for once, when sudden long forgotten memories began to surface. Memories best left forgotten, things I never wanted to relive, a woman fierce in combat, a sister of the order, a companion and more . . .

---

It was a bright afternoon outside the windows of the classroom. You could see the rays of the sun streaming into the room casting interesting shadows on the floor. I stared intently at the small flame on my table and it just stood there not dancing, not moving. I willed it harder to dance like the others but it refused - then I heard it. Our instructor, one of the few War Lords in the temple, noticed my flame not moving. The half-orc instructor yelled across the room "Concentrate you stupid boy!" He still reverted to calling me boy whenever he was displeased with my performance even though the temple had made sure we shared the same name. "I am sorry, War Lord, I lost focus," I started. "That is no excuse, boy! What do you think will happen if you lose focus when some lawful bastard is tryin' to gut ya? Boy, you had better start tryin’ . . . What in the name of the goddess?" The hem of his robes suddenly caught fire and distracted him enough that he forgot all about lecturing me. I looked across the room to see Elainia grinning at me. "I owe ya one for that," I thought.

Casey: Swamp Crazy

By the time we reached Crescent City I was feeling a little better. Now I'm back to feeling like we're in a non-winnable situation. We all decided to go to see if we could find this Ragged Man and get some information from him concerning the Equinox and our weapons. I was the one who mentioned that we should go find him since that was part of the reason Lady Arigane sent us here. I'm really wishing I'd kept my mouth shut.

We're in a swamp. It's not a normal swamp, I'm thinking. It has the strangest of creatures. In fact any knowledge I have of nature must be completely skewed. Never in million years would I have thought to be attacked giant crawfish. What in the hell are these swamp elves tossing in the swamp to grow them that big? I know that catfish grow as big as their surroundings but good grief! Poor Seebo was nearly swallowed whole by one of them. After I was able to free Dinah and Rygorh from being eaten all of us went to attack the one that had Seebo in its mouth. It makes me shudder to think about it. Neil was barely keeping him alive with healing spells. Dinah, Alev and I were beating it down but not nearly as quickly as it was eating Seebo. In the end we won that one.

But then we were attacked by flying bats with human heads. According to Dinah these things bite people and then their heads pop off their bodies and they become one! Oh, the horror that would be! They weren't difficult to kill, but they made some horrible screeching noise. I guess I'd make that same screeching noise too if I was bodiless.

Then this odd crocodile-fish creature kept trying to force us into something, but never managed to do what he was attempting. I still don't know what he was doing. I felled these two nasty looking elves while Dinah went beating on that crocfish and then I joined her in beating it down. I thought the elves were trying to break through a dam, but then noticed they weren't even elves after the croc-fish died and the dam was just a figment of our imaginations. Imagine that. One other good thing that came out of that fight was Seebo spotting some treasure.

And Alev thinks I'm acting out of character. Hmph: I can't believe all of us aren't insane after this!

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PC Fiction: Chapter Nine

This is an archive of the past player-posted fiction from Chapter Nine:

• Seebo: Reflections on Death
• Casey: Swamp Crazy
• Dinah's Thoughts
• Seebo: The Evil Swamp
• Casey: Dancing
• Ashton's Tale
• Chronicles of Rygorh: Swamp, Misery and a Mission?
• Chronicles of Rygorh: Leadership, Why?
• Chronicles of Rygorh: The Ragged Man
• Chronicles of Rygorh: Private Reflection

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PC Fiction: Chapter Seven

This is an archive of the past player-posted fiction from Chapter Seven:

• Alev: Journey to Caldraza
• Chronicles of Rygorh: Aftermath
• Chronicles of Rygorh: Chased as Sea
• Seebo: Out of the Fire

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Seebo: Reflections on Death

"Were you trying to teach me a lesson? Was I too excited at the prospect of meeting death and then coming back? Was I just a little bit too curious? You're just plain mean.

"Well, lesson learned. I'm not going to go and try to meet death any sooner than I'm supposed to. The idea of being munched on the last moments of my life is extremely unappealing. Truth be told the last thought that ran through my head as I was slipping away was 'I don't want to die.' Are you happy now? You find out the true mettle of someone's convictions, the truth about what they really want when faced with the very real possibility it can come to pass. I'm not curious about death anymore; you did you job fine. Now don't do it again.

"Sorry, I forget who I'm talking to sometimes. It's just that I've come to really appreciate these talks we have. Well, I mean I talk and you listen, but it still helps a lot. So when are you going to start contributing? Yeah, I know I ask you this every time we talk but it'd kind of help if you would let me know you're listening. You know, just so I know for sure. I mean I have faith and all. I think. Hm.

"Anyway, though, on to bigger things; do you think this maze thing in Crescent City is a Starborn related thing? It's only been there for ten years and the last Starborn was a thousand years ago. It could have been passed along the generations though. Maybe there already is a secret society devoted to helping the Starborn every time the equinox comes. I doubt it though seeing as we've had so much trouble. Petrus was able to find out the Equinox has come; there's no reason the secret society wouldn't be able to do the same. And if so, they should have been looking for us. No, I highly doubt there's anyone out there that's going to help us except the friends we make along the way.

"Let's hope this trek into the swamps is all worth it. I almost died once. I'd hate to almost die again, or worse. If you feel up to it and have the time, maybe give us a blessing or something, just to help us along. We are after fighting for the good of the world, vanquishing evil and such."

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Seebo: City of Sin

A few days later we pulled both ships into the Crescent City port. Commodore Loman said he'd watch both the ships and even train the slaves we freed from the Drow ship. They were welcome to stay on as crew for the Evening Star or move on and try and find something else in Crescent City.

Crescent City was something foreign to me. The air was muggy and warm. The town was dirty and not just in a filthy sort of way. Whores waited on every street looking, both men and women of all ages. Hawkers tried to push their goods on us, some of it legal, most of it not.

We made our way to an inn, found a room and settled in. This town didn't seem like the kind of place we really wanted to stay in for too long. I know what kind of people run a town like this. I didn't always used to be the hero I am today you know.

We decided to stick around for two weeks before moving on. We'd poke around, try and find some information on The Ragged Man, see about rumors of the war and whatever else piqued our interest.

The first couple of days were pretty bland. I went with Alev and Dinah to check out the local church, talk about oppressive. I didn't much care for it but with my newfound respect for Old Heakun, I decided to keep an open mind.

We sold off our spare gear and started making plans for upgrades, preparing for the next leg of our quest. I got me a new mithril shirt and some more knives, while Neil spent time working on creating magical gear for a few others.

Lorelei was able to find out a lot of information for us. She does have a way with the men. It turned out that she was from Beacon City, right here in Caldraza so she knew her way around pretty well. She befriended a swamp elf, yeah, that's right, an elf from the neighboring swamps, and was able to find out a lot of good information.

Meanwhile, the rest of us found out some interesting things of our own. Apparently there was a very prominent husband and wife guildmaster team that basically ran the city about ten years ago. They were run off or hanged or something but left a treasure in a maze for anybody strong enough to find it. It's been there for ten years and no one has made it yet. I felt bad for Crescent City having a long established icon such as that, snatched away by some nobody Halfling, but anyway, more on that later.

Lorelei found out that there was a temple to this Kharad guy in the swamp. But they called it the temple of the dead god and all the swamp elves had a real strong disliking for it. It sounded like fun and nothing in this whole deal was ever easy so it seemed like the perfect place to start.

After Neil was done with his magic stuff and Rygorh had finished his research, we ventured into the swamp, chasing the Ragged Man to a dead god's temple. Oh, the fun we were about to have.

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Seebo: Out of the Fire

The first day was tough. I don't think any of us spoke to each other. I'm not ashamed to say I felt a strong sense of loss over what happened in Saragost. We later learned that Lady Arigane still survived in her sanctuary. The Drow couldn't break through the powerful magic the wizards of the Seven Archways were protecting themselves with. Crastic came out of hiding and took up rule over the city. He executed the rebels, most notably the Commander of the city guard; I forget his name. All in all, it could have been far worse I think.

We were safely away from Saragost and on our way to Caldraza in search of the Ragged Man, someone who could shed a little light on our predecessors. About halfway through the voyage, the lookout spotted land. "Now wait just a second, halfway you say? You're in the middle of the ocean!" True enough. You see, Astercote floated by. Yes that's right, floated. At least we knew the city was relatively safe though we still had no idea how it was possible. I mean I've seen Rygorh fly, Neil used some powerful mojo to do that, but I can't imagine what it would take to float a city.

That's about the time the trouble started. From out of nowhere this flying demon woman grabbed Neil and the lookout from the crow's nest, pulling them towards her as she hovered above the ship. Neil used his magic to break free but the sailor was dropped to the deck below. He didn't make it, poor guy.

So, yeah, the two demon women started to engage us. Yeah, that's right, two of them. The other one was hiding somewhere off to the side out of sight. It was a brutal fight, we were mostly ineffective. The demon women shot flaming arrows at the sails and burned them up pretty damn thoroughly.

Then they left. It was the oddest thing. Why attack and then just leave when you know you're obviously winning. When I say we were completely ineffective, I mean completely and utterly ineffective. Well, it wasn't really that much of a mystery as we found out later. So the sailors pulled out the oars and started rowing.

So what's the big mystery you ask? I'll tell you. With the sails burned and the ship moving under rowing power, you can imagine we were going a lot slower than before. This gave the other ship ample time to catch up; yup, the other ship. They paced us throughout the day but as dusk fell they approached. We all had a bad feeling about it so we prepared ourselves for the worst.

And the worst wasn't so bad. Yeah, it was full of Drow, and sure they tried to kill us but that's nothing new. We were old veterans by now, having just come out of Saragost. There was one guy who thought he was something special. Rygorh and Dinah put him in his place. You know, Dinah, the paladin. Oh I didn't tell you about her?

Just before Astercote flew by, we came upon wreckage in the water. There were two women among the floating debris; one was treading water while the other was struggling just to keep her head up. It turned out that these two women that we rescued just happened to be Starborn. What a handy coincidence! Actually I wasn't surprised. It wasn't the first time the crazy lady dropped a couple of Starborn in on us randomly. I'm guessing that as she finds more of them, we'll all kind of band together. There were ten of us, now there were twelve, although we lost track of three of them during the whole Chillhame Saragost incident.

So anyway, Dinah was a paladin and the other woman was a bard, Lorelei. Let me tell you something about bards and paladins: the female ones are amazingly hot. The paladin had this strong, "I'm the boss" kind of hotness to her while the bard was more of a sweet and mischievous sort of hotness. Suffice it to say, it was a good day pulling two hot women out of the water.

But of course that didn't last. So the Drow pulled up on us and shrouded our ship in darkness, thinking that would throw us off, the fools. While Rygorh and Dinah played with their "special" friend, I plunged into the darkness cutting down anyone in my way. That's right; I boarded the ship as the rest of us cleaned up.

With the Drow defeated, we decided to claim their ship for ourselves. Neil suggested renaming it the Evening Star, a fitting name. I claimed the captain's chair and we promoted the captain of the Elensil to commodore over the fleet. A few days later, we arrived in Crescent City. That's when the real fun began.

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Chronicles of Rygorh: Chased at Sea

After about a week at sea, a week since the events at Saragost I was standing on deck looking out at the horizon when I heard the sailors suddenly start shouting. I turned and looked there was what appeared to be the wreckage of a ship in the water and two figures frantically trying to swim in armor. The Sailors managed to bring the two women onboard. There standing in front of me were two beautiful women soaked to the bone. "Now they could liven this journey up a bit," was my immediate thought. We spoke with them for a few moments and we soon found out that they too were Starborn but that wasn't the biggest shock for me. "A Flaming paladin, how in the name of Chaos could the gods allow this to happen?" was the only thought on my mind. As if Alev's constant mutterings about Order weren't enough, now I have to deal with a fanatic. "Sigh, things just keep getting better and better." The other young woman was a bard, which did make me feel a bit better. I know that people of that profession are rarely into law and oppression.

Soon after when I finally was able to somewhat accept that now I had to travel with a paladin I heard a shout from the crows nest. Looking up I could see what looked like a pair of naked women with wings they had Neil caught in a rope and were pulling him up. By Firinna's sacred blade, where in the hell did they come from? Drawing on the power of the Goddess I called forth a glowing long sword of divine force and attacked. Neil managed to get away and fly on his own, however, the creatures seemed intent on burning our sails. Only once did one come onto deck and within moments realized that was the wrong thing to do as me, Casey, Knife and flaming paladin struck it hard. Even Rumus got into the action dropping his crossbow and attempting to tackle the beast. The creatures just sat in the air flying, shooting our sails with arrows that were setting them aflame, neither one dared to come close again. Once they were satisfied that our sails were destroyed they flew off. I wonder what in the planes of hell that was all about; flaming bitches show up and destroy our sails then leave.

After a couple of days rowing the answer was revealed as a ship showed up behind us keeping a steady pace. We kept an eye on this ship all day, and as evening approached the ship began creeping up on us. I do not think anyone had any doubts that these were Drow chasing us down. Suddenly everything fell into place in my head those bitches only wanted to slow us down so this ship could catch up. We were ready for them as the ship pulled along side and the Drow cast their darkness spells. The paladin cast an enlarge spell on m,e and I laid a vicious blow to the first person to board our ship. Unfortunately, he just shook it off and hit me with a chain, and then with another swing he used the chain to trip me and leave me flat on the deck. This was very aggravating as every time I would regain my footing the bastard would trip me again. Looking over it appeared as if Neil was having the same problem. I was so pleased to see Casey drop his ass. Once I was on my feet and looking around the fight was already over. While chain-boy was busy keeping us all busy Knife had boarded the other ship and cut down all the Drow in their own darkness. By Firinna's blade we now had our own ship!

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Chronicles of Rygorh: Aftermath

Sitting alone in this cabin these last couple of days contemplating the events that have transpired for the last few weeks, I realize that we did the best that we could have. I must be getting weak; in my lifetime I have seen so much death and destruction but never have I had such an empty feeling in my stomach. Whenever I try to sleep those faces of the people of Saragost seem to haunt my dreams. I can still see their faces as they prepare to defend the city. I see the bartender cussing me as I order my morning brew, the people walking the streets going on with their lives. Now that is over, freedom is lost to those people they will now live under an evil dictatorship, "Sigh." Pinning the Freeman of Saragost badge back upon his chest, "I once considered this a badge of servitude to law now it has become a badge of vengeance for me, a remembrance of what happened and a memorial for those who gave their life for freedom's sake. Even living under the tyrannical rule of a human noble would be better for them than the life that awaits the survivors now. In this I must keep myself aware and put aside my contempt for Human lords."

I have been in so many battles, wielded the destructive power of the Goddess by bringing down many a noble with war and fire. Ah yes, the days when all I was concerned with was teaching people how to live free in Chaos, rallying them to war to bring down their self-appointed lord. Hmmm, there was that Duke Burness or something like that, he built his lands on the backs of others then left them with little food or money to live on with his taxes. Took me what, three, four battles to bring him down, but now the lands he claimed are free. Of course, the tri-alliance was a tough one, the temple fought them before I was born and finally after many battles and deaths we brought them down. Oh, I took such pleasure in removing that lord's head and displaying it for the crowds. Well, he was the one who sent armed men to attack the temple. Yes, vengeance was sweet that day for sure; he earned his death many times. How many lives did he steal with his laws? That is a feeling I will feel again when I remove the head of the Drow bitch responsible for Saragost.

Well now, my companions are not taking this well at all. I still don't know their backgrounds but I am guessing war has not been part of it. Knife spends most his days huddled up on deck by himself while Casey seems to prefer the company of her horse these days. Alev seems fine and Rumus has not left his cabin. Tilk, may be a bigger issue, he hasn't looked right since being raised from the dead; now he sits in his cabin claiming sea sickness but I wonder. Neil, well as odd as it sounds I haven't seen him taking to the air since we left; that is not him at all. I am guessing that this is the first time they have lost and are feeling the weight of failure upon their shoulders. I must speak with them, help them to understand life does go on and it is for us to make those who did this to Saragost pay. A war is not won or lost by the outcome of one battle; we did all that we could with what was given us. Yeah, I must speak to them and try to bring them out of their miseries looking towards that glorious day when vengeance is ours.

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Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (the journey begins)

On the morning of April 25 the Starborn set out to find the lost Temple of Kharad in the Hogglepot Marshes. Having spent two weeks in Crescent City the heroes have tasted a bit of what the city had to offer and managed to get in a bit of rest and relaxation. They also learned a great deal about what was going on in the city. Rumus, Neil and Rygorh spent the time a bit more industriously working at their magic.

Greenroot, a swamp elf slave, his sister Autumn and about a dozen of their relatives meet the heroes at the eastern docks of the city early in the morning. They demand one copper piece each for each day that they will accompany the heroes. Neil gives them each a gold piece and they are instantly happy to help.

The swamp elves provide a veritable fleet of tiny skiffs that each hold three people. The heroes spread out among the boats with a single swamp elf poler in each. Laden with tents and camping gear, the party sets out at a snail's pace up the Sappent River.

The first day of the journey is uneventful. The lands just east of the city are still mostly civilized. Monstrous manor houses overlook wide ranging plantations and orchards. Dozens of swamp elf slaves tend the fields and trees throughout the area.

On the next day on the edge of the civilized part of the river the party is ambushed by pair of chuuls. Things were going quite badly for a while as the beasts used their massive claws and slimly tentacles to squeeze anyone they could touch. Eventually the might and magic of the Starborn overcame the creatures, but not before Seebo was nearly lost. Had it not been for Neil's healing magic the halfling would surely have been eaten.

Another night of camping in the wilderness is uneventful. On the next day, April 27, the party comes upon the River Fort. The stone edifice on an island in the middle of the river is the last bastion of civilization in the swamps. The heroes submit to a search of their boats by the guards and Neil manages to convince them that he is rightfully in the swamp on a slaving expedition.

Late in the afternoon the party arrives at one of the many swamp elf villages scattered around the swamp. Prominently displayed throughout the village are totem poles of the swamp elves' pagan spirits; each has a macaw head on top, followed by a monkey, then a snake, then a crayfish. Greenroot tells the adventurers that this is his home village and the elves will go no farther with the heroes. The heroes rest here overnight. Around midnight the Starborn are set upbon by a dozen vargouilles. The heroes make quick work of the creatures as most of them manage to resist the paralyzing effects of the beasts' screams.

Early in the morning, before sunrise, Greenroot tells the heroes of the dangers to expect in the marshes. He says a dragon prowls the lands farther east. He also gives them directions to the temple. They should take the first major fork in the river to the south. Some way south they will come upon "the Dead God" in the river. They should make east from the dead god and they will find the abandoned temple there.

On April 28 the heroes leave the swamp elf village. They make plans to return to deal with the vargouille mance that comes from the Valjean plantation nearby. Early into the journey that day the come upon a pair of swamp elves working a breakign through a dam in river. As the heroes approach they see a massive crocodile. As the Starborn prepare for battle the "crocodile" begins using mental control magic on the heroes and the "swamp elves" attack. Again the heroes make quick work of their enemies. They were lucky as no one succumbed to the enslave ability of the aboleth that had laid this ambush for them. His skum followers were disguised as swamp elves in an effort to draw in the unwary.

Seebo managed to spot the aboleth's treasure horde under the surface of the water, and the heroes looted the beast's lair. They then continued east to find the temple . . .

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Alev: The Chaos of Crescent City

April 10, 998CE

We arrived in Crescent City. I admit I knew little of this place prior to coming here, but it was outside of any expectations of mine ever. A city of chaos, to say the least. Rygorh would feel right at home here, except for the overbearing Marianism religion that rules the land. They worship Law as an Ideal. The problem with ideals is they are always open to interpretation, never truly a form of order, as is necessary in a government, as can be seen by the chaotic nature of this city. I am going to learn more about this religious group, and see if the fanatics can see reason and the threat before them.

The first night was uneventful, Rygorh taking a more firm leadership role since we arrived, advising us to tread carefully. While I agree with him on this front, I am going to let him continue with this path. No need to shake the foundation just yet, but I don't see his chaotic nature allowing him to continue this path too long. We shall see. At least everyone is working together now. There is so much to do, so much to learn again. Another new place we have been taken, with little to no knowledge of our surroundings, no allies to speak of. We are again alone. Though we seem to work best this way. I will do my best in the coming days to step back into more of a leadership role within the group. Lately I have been pondering too much on the strategies of our enemies and trying to plan our next moves. I must be more visible; too many of my friends have seemed down of late; I must help them pull themselves back up. We may have lost the Battle of Saragost, but the war is not yet over. In the end, that loss will be but a skirmish in the grand scheme, and we must prepare for the next one. We must overcome this foe, or the world is doomed.

April 11, 998CE

Today Seebo, Casey and I went to visit the Cathedral of Blessed Marius. Seems this prophet of another time was actually a human slave to the Elves of Xoth Sarandi, when they ruled this land and kept slaves of all the races. Like these Swamp Elves I have seen everywhere, but are native to the area. Marius realized that time was a wheel, and the wheel was the power behind the world, that neither gods nor magic determined the fate of people, but the wheel, which represented Order. He prophesized that the Elves would not rule forever, and the Elves killed him for that. But, his prophesy came true, nearly one year after his death, the Elves had already began to pull back to Xoth Sarandi, no longer ruling the lands of Caldraza. Marius became a Martyr to the people here.

The Cathedral itself is quite an interesting structure. A beacon of order in a city of chaos, a white marble structure with straight lines and simple, but solid architecture. I picked up a book on Marianism, the worship of Law as an Ideal, named after the slave turned prophet. It is an interesting read so far. After I have read more and learned more, I will approach the church, it is said the King of Caldraza converted to Marianism and ruled it as the state religion afterwards. Through the Church maybe we can spread the word and convince the powers of what is coming - of the need to arm the country and prepare. United, the world stands a better chance against our enemies. As it stands now, the Host will slowly, one by one, chip away at the countries, taking them. They are a large, united force, and to defeat them we will need the same. Makes me wish we could reach Jehannum soon, they are always prepared for war. With them and their dwarven allies behind us, we could gather the rest of the countries to our banner. A rally, if you would.

April 16, 998 CE

We have spent the last week scouting Crescent City, getting our bearings and planning our next move. Neil has been hard at work making magical items for the party, while Rygorh has been researching some new spell he has yet to mention. It is for the good of all that we wait, but hopefully they will finish soon. We cannot dally and stay still for too long. Many rumors have reached our ears, and many things we have had to research.

There are four major items that I feel we must complete before we can leave though. I am beginning to feel that these rumors are present for a reason. Like a puzzle we must sort out.

First, the murderer: someone is taking people in the night; we must find out who. Since the local authorities cannot find them, we should assist. Bring the people to our side by showing them Justice. Restoring a bit of Order to the chaos that surrounds them. There is a rumor of a vampire; maybe this is the same person. That would be nasty.

Second, the farm: a wealthy family does not get up and leave their plantation in the middle of the night for no reason. Do we have proof they actually left? There has to be a reason for the vacancy, something at the back of my mind is nagging me about it.

Third, the treasure: it is of great interest to Seebo, and intellectually I understand why. A great treasure of a powerful thieves guild master, two of them actually. This could be very useful to us. Rygorh has mentioned it might be Starborn related. While it is possible, I have not seen anything to indicate that. The only one who would know is the Ragged Man I guess. He supposedly knows where these things are.

Lastly, I strongly think we must warn the governing powers in this town. They need to begin preparing to fight the Drow, or determine their best course of action in the coming war. I am trying to get through to the Church to do this, but have yet to succeed. The governor must be made to see. Possibly the guild masters of the four warring thieves guilds would need to be made aware as well.

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Alev: Journey to Caldraza

April 4, 998CE

I've been going over the maps of Chillhame. The only reason I can come up with for the attack is the Nodes. That had to have been their goal. Hopefully this black orb we stole from them, which I still carry, has slowed down their ability to convert the Node in Saragost. Somehow they already knew of these places. There must be a written history of them somewhere, for our enemy already has more knowledge than we do. And in this war, knowledge is power.

Today we rescued two ladies from the remains of a destroyed ship. After long discussions, we find out they are also Starborn. After our fiasco in Saragost, I am glad The Voice took a hand in sending more help our way. Our need was great then, but I can only imagine it will be greater in the coming campaign. One of them is from Jehannum; it is good to have someone from home. She seems quite capable in combat and attractive also, a good combination. The other is an attractive woman from Caldraza; I'm sure her knowledge of the lands will come very much in need soon. A guide and another capable warrior . . . a good start.

April 5, 998CE

Seems that summoning devils is not beyond our enemies. Today they sent two Hell beasts with flaming arrows to cripple our ship and set the sails on fire. We are slowed to just the use of the oars for rowing the ship. Our trip just doubled in time. I gleaned nothing else from the maps, nor any idea of where else they could strike. Without knowledge of their movements, I cannot find the pattern.

April 6, 998CE

We just finished handily wiping the deck with some Drow, literally. This morning we saw a ship approaching from the rear, and then they paced us for the entire day before attacking as night fell. They began in their usual fashion, casting darkness then faerie fire, quite a nasty combination of innate abilities they possess. Unfortunately for them, we were prepared. With Dinah using her wand of Enlarge on Casey, Rygorh and herself, we were able to dominate that combat. Seebo was actually the first person across to the ship and attacking the Drow in the darkness.

Some things to ponder on more are the Drows' lack of using experienced sailors to crew their ship. Either they thought this vessel was disposable, or they truly are unknowledgeable in naval warfare and travel. This could be an advantage to the forces of good in the coming war. If all naval battles are this one-sided, the Drow could be forced to only use their underground labyrinth to travel the world. It would slow their advancement considerably. Also Seebo's recent change from wanting to be called The Knife to his actual name Seebo is an interesting development; will ponder more on that later.

Now, even I can admit that when Dinah was enlarged, that was a very large attractive body to look at. I'm sure Rygorh must be having wet dreams about it by now.

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PC Fiction: Chapter Eight

This is an archive of the past player-posted fiction from Chapter Eight:

• Casey: A Wild City
• Casey: Rumors and Prayers
• Alev: The Chaos of Crescent City
• Seebo: City of Sin
• Chronicles of Rygorh: Crescent City
• Chronicles of Rygorh: City of Mystery

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