Curbag's Log
I awoke to Rosia returning an empty bottle to her pack. My battle with Orghar had taken more than I could give, but I now felt almost good as new.
I stood over my fow's dead body. He was well equipped but it had not helped him. His followers looked at me expectantly. They appear to be hardy band of veterans. I asked for their oath and they gave it to me, only to be broken upon death; mine or theirs. They promised to honour my companions too.

Returning to the ex-leader I took his, armour, shield and axe. Between Isaac, Oren & Rosia they were all found to be of great quality, the axe is even magical.
This has been a day of fortune; a warrior defeated, a horde of valuables and the leadership of an orc retinue. I hope it doesn't turn sour. The orcs do out number us but I believe they will hold true to their oath.

As we discussed where to explore next, a cold wind blew in from the corridor. Voices echoed round the room, something about being almost free. Rosia called back to them and then again as though in conversation. She reported that she had had a vision of a chapel to the north and believed that we should go there to free the spirits who owned the voices we had heard. I'm not sure that's a good idea but north is the way that appears to hold most promise.

Our group travelled that way and finally made it past the t-junction where we met the owlbear. We soon came across a room filled with blade traps. After Rosia squeezed through to scout ahead some of the orcs & I attempted to reset the blades. Our efforts only managed to break what ever mechanism was left. In the next room in the centre of the floor a brass plate produced a warm flow of air. I vehemently refused a suggestion that one of the orcs should try standing on it. Quercus stepped up first; his faith in his god is strong. Flames whipped about him but he remained unburned. Better yet he left the plate feeling better than before. Rosia also stepped into the flames, but I didn't trust it. The exit to the room had a symbol on it which matched one
on the plate. Why is the flame plate here and what does it mean that the door is marked too ?

Rosia Lightfoot's Journal - Part 10

I cast my first spell! After Curbag had defeated the orc leader, and been accepted as the new leader, he claimed the possessions of the previous incumbent. These included a fine set of studded leather armour (Shame it wasn't a bit smaller...) and a war axe of exceedingly good quality. Isaak was going to cast a detection spell on these, to see if they were magical, but I offered to do it instead. After a mix-up with the material components (I would have thought Isaak would have known better...) I made my first attempt. Unfortunately my armour makes it difficult to perform some of the necessary hand movements, and I messed up the first casting. However, I succeeded on the second try and the magical energy flowed through me! It seemed so natural, I wondered that I had not done it before. Perhaps it took a sojourn in this nightmarish place to wake to powers that slept within me? Anyway, I was able to discern that the axe was indeed magical. This is a good addition to our arsenal, surely this will give us an edge over the fiendish creatures who lurk in these dark hallways?

Suddenly a loud rumbling filled the air, and the whole dungeon began to shake. I feared that the ceiling might cave in, but the tremor passed by without damage to the area we were in. Then the cold wind, which we had experienced before, started moving through the room, and we could hear the voices of spirits pleading for help. I called out to them, asking what we could do to aid them, and they filled my mind with a vision of a chapel in the north area of the dungeon. Apparently we are close to freeing them, and there is something called the vortex which will allow us to complete the task. I believe these are the souls of the creatures tortured to death in this place, and I tried to convince the others to move to the north, that we might discover more.

They agreed to head northwards, and we did some more exploring. We didn't encounter any creatures, but we did come across a number of strange rooms. The first was a room with a large black block in it, with a brass plate set in the floor in front of it. I did some more magic detection, and discovered that there was some sort of teleportation magic in operation. We decided not to risk tampering with this for the moment, and moved on.

The next thing we found was a room with an old whirling-blade trap in it. Some poor soul had set this off, and his or her skeleton rested in pieces all over the place. I determined that the trap was no longer functioning, and I was able (thanks to my non-giganticness) to crawl under the blades and scout ahead. I discovered a room with a brass pate in the floor, inscribed with a strange rune. A gust of hot air hit me as I looked into the room, but I was not harmed by this. I went and got the others, who forced the blades back to get past, and Quercus revealed that the rune was in the language of the Celestials, and that it meant "Fire". He then stood on the brass plate, and was surrounded by fire! However, this did not harm him, but rather soothed and refreshed him. I followed him on to the plate on hearing this, and was also unharmed. There was a door leading out of this room, with the same fire rune on it. It was locked, but I was able to open it easily using my special tools.

This door led out into a long corridor running north to south, with several short corridors branching off at intervals to the east. Each of these ended in a large door, sealed with a brass circle bearing more celestial runes. Isaak determined that some powerful magic was guarding these doors, but I was unable to locate the trap, so I could not try to disable it. We thought it best to leave these doors until we could find more information about them, or perhaps a key of some sort. Instead we explored some rooms that were through doors in the west wall of the long corridor. The first we entered via a secret door discovered by Oren. This was a room most strange, filled with glowing spheres, all hovering in the air. We feared to touch them, so we left this room undisturbed.

Next we found a room containing another brass plate, this time marked with the rune for thunder. As we entered a loud peal of thunder sounded around us, and I was filled with an unaccountable dread. I fled the room, unable to bear the cacophony. Oren did not seem affected by it, perhaps the dwarf is immune to its effects? Anyway, he was able to stand on the brass plate with impunity. Perhaps there are more of these rooms, each attuned to a different element? The first was fire, could this one be air? What other such rooms shall we find, and what is their purpose? Perhaps they hold the key to the sealed doors? So many questions! I must collect myself and steel my nerves to enter the room of thunder once more. Then I think we should go back northwards and try to find the chapel I saw in my vision. I pity the wretches whose spirits linger here, and I wish I could do something to help them.

Players Map for Session 10 Although the party encountered a number of rooms with Celestial runes, they acquired zilch experience points. Somewhat to their chagrin.

Hey ho, that's the way the arrow falls.

The orc warband they now command have been left to guard a room with stone pillars, which contains the remains of broken blade trap, whilst they explore the long north/south corridor to the east.

Every exit to the East is shuttered by forbidding 15ft tall doors, each sealed with a brass plate engraved with celestial warding runes.

Rosia Lightfoot's Journal - Part 9

Much has happened since my last entry! We have fought several battles, and been sorely tested. More darkmantles attacked us, but we made short work of them, despite them surprising us. We have found out that there is a network of small tunnels and fissures, high up in the walls, which the darkmantles are using to move around. We have been extra vigilant since we discovered this.

We tried to explore more of this dark dungeon, but we didn't get very far. In one long corridor we encountered a large darkmantle, which we thought was charging at us. However, it soon became apparent that it was fleeing from a large, fiendish creature which looked like a cross between and owl and a bear. This "Owlbear", as Isaak later told us it was called, attacked us (after Curbag had killed the wounded darkmantle) and we looked to be in bad shape for a while. The creature had some sort of resistance to wounds, my sling bullets and the arrows of the Kobolds seemed to just bounce off it, and the mighty blows which Curbag and Oren rained down upon it seemed to have less effect that usual. Quercus was knocked unconscious as the thing charged at us, and Curbag soon joined him as the Owlbear ran amok. Oren slew the beast, but we feared the worst for Curbag and Quercus. We decided to return to the room where Kahliss and Slith were holed up, to ask them for aid. The kobolds broke our alliance after hearing this. They seem to think we are taking too many risks... I can't say I'm sorry, the vile creatures have offered us little in the way of help, and I don't trust them to cover our backs when the going gets tough.

The lizardmen did indeed help us, though I think it was more to get rid of us than anything. We left them the next day and decided to rest for another day in the rooms where we found the water-pillars. We used this time to heal up and rest. Isaak spent some time in meditation, and after this I asked him to teach me how he worked his magic. He told me that the magic comes from within, and that it expresses itself differently for each person. He showed me some techniques to clarify the mind and bring forth the mystical energies, and I spent much time praticing them in the room of illusions and the room of silence. I can feel the magic awakening within me, I just need an opportunity to try it out. Unfortunately I have spent so much effort working on the magic, that I have had little chance to pratice my other skills. At least I have kept up with searching and disabling the many traps that have been set in this deadly place...

We explored some more after this period of rest: we decided to fill in some of the gaps in our map. This turned out to be a good tactic, as we discovered some magical potions under an old bed, which we believe to be healing drafts. These will be useful if Quercus is incapacitated again. We also found a room filled with orcs, and we discovered that this was the remains of the band led by Orgar. We decided to parlay with them, despite Quercus's best efforts to get us to kill them. We found out that Orgar had fallen into a great despair. Curbag tried to reason with him, but when this failed he challenged him for leadership of the band. They fought and although Curbag flew into a rage and struck many great blows, it was clear that Orgar would get the better of him. This would have been very bad for the rest of us as well, as we were split into two groups and surrounded by orcs. I suspect it was not strictly within the rules of the challenge, but I waited until no one was looking at me and shot my crossbow at Orgar, hitting him right between the ribs. This seemed to distract him somewhat, and Curbag used the opportunity to run him through with his sword. I think that one of the orcs spotted my bolt, but he declared Curbag the victor anyway. Perhaps the orcs were looking for a new leader, someone to get them out of this place. Let's hope he can get us out as well!

Curbag's Log
We headed north keen to make progress. We made none. Instead we were first faced with a large charging dark mantle and then a huge feathered beast. The dark mantle was in fact fleeing but it found no safety upon my sword. We fell back to ready our defence, Quercus closing the door before it could reach us. Such a powerful creature it smashed the door into the room and advanced upon us. The cleric is to be admired for his bravery but his jab from behind only achieved the thing's attention. It's claws crashed down, knocking his limp body to the ground. I charged in to slay the beast but I may have bitten of more than I could chew. Oren joined me but we both were heavily blooded. The last moment I remember was it's feathered claw filling my vision.

I awoke in the lizardmen's room. We had survived. Oren had slain the owlbear. I thanked Kord for the lesson he had sent me; trust in the battle it will see you through.
The kolbalds, after the battle, had decided we were too dangerous to follow.

We spent the next day back in the pillared prayer rooms with. The water was refreshing but the rats were elusive. We again went back to familar corridors to ensure a safe rear. We found mostly debris but Rosia & Isaac said they'd unearthed a potion.

A final unexplored corridor held a surprise. The orcs from Longtails retinue. They too were holed up like the lizardmen. Quercus behaved like fool, he can heal so well but was so keen to shed their blood ; makes no sense. The orc's leader, Orghar, had led them here but now could not lead. I urged them to take me to him. Orghar was an empty orc, they had faced many dark mantles but his spirit was now broken. I pressed him to explain himself but he would not speak. I have found with other demoralised orcs the only way to get a reaction is an attempt on take their life. In the past they have, in turn, tried to kill me. Orghar was no exception. He grabbed his axe and came at me in a manic rage. His blows were mighty but I repaid in kind. A great fow I almost believed he would win. In the final moment Kord must have whispered his fate; Orghar screamed in pain before I even landed the deadly blow! He fell to the ground. As I finished him off his warriors proclaimed my victory.

Session 9 Players Map


The horrors of this deadly dark appear to be growing stronger and more fearsome. The hideous owlbear tore the party apart leaving Curbag and Quercus moments away from death.

Darkmantles still abound.

The hasty alliance with the kobolds is broken.

But, hope from an unlikely source is discovered hiding in one of the rooms. Orghar and his remaining Orc warriors, Orghar was but a distant shell but the proposal of alliance brought forth his rage and he and Curbag fought the deadly fight.

Orghar blows were true and strong and Curbag was soon weakened, only the sneaky intervention of Rosia saved the day,which enabled Curbag to slay Orghar, however this was spotted by one of the grizzled Orc veterans.

Sense of tension was palpable throughout the party when he raised his notched war axe and when he proclaimed 'All hail the Victor', the exclamations of relief were loud.

Curbag's Log
I'm getting better at avoiding these traps Rosia misses. I was only slightly singed by the flames from opening that door and Lightfoot can't be blamed for the ball of fire which was rolling towards me behind it. Turns out that all these flame devices were set by a lizardman druid and archer who were hiding in the room. We charged in to defend ourselves. Once they realised they'd chosen the wrong enemies they dropped their weapons and explained themselves.

Part of Longtail's retinue, their job was to guide him to some kind of portal. They also said Longtail was a wererat - think it might be best to kill all the rats we see. They now seemed happy to hole up in that room. We rested there for a night but while we explored on they stayed behind to hide.

We wanted to go on but leaving enemies to sneak up behind us would be dangerous. The group decided to go back to get the kobald band. Once there Rosia nogotiated a truce and they said they'd come with us to defeat the flying octopusses; dark mantles. Our "plan" was an ambush. I was sent in to draw them out. They weren't playing ball so I charged in to really give them something to think about. They set upon me squeezing my life away. Fortunately Oren and then the rest of my companions joined me. The ambush plan was over, the kobalds were nowhere in sight. It was a mighty fight but I always felt in control. One by one the mantles fell; even the kobalds turned up in the end.

We regrouped and explored on. Dark mantles seemed to inhabit all the surounding rooms. Some we left to hide in the darkness; Rosia jammed them in. Others, I decided to take on. Backing them into a corner I charged to attack. Meanwhile we were the subject of an ambush more successfully set by the dark mantles. While Rosia & Isaac defended themselves from behind I was being grappled by the two I'd cornered. Enveloped in tentacles I strained against their deadly grip. Fortunately my grip is deadlier. Squeezing right back I threw my arms open ripping the dark mantle in half. His friend wisely attempted to flee; wise but futile. My friends had turned the tables too. The remaining dark mantles disappeared into tunnels in the ceiling.
The kobalds, again nowhere to be seen during a fight, seemed confusd by our successful tactics.

Session 8 Players Map


Can you spot the difference yet?

Alliances forged and fights fought, were the order of the day.

The kobolds agreed to accompany the party in a 'safety in numbers' style pact.

The party decided to revisit the lair of the giant flying octopuses, which have now been revealed as darkmantles, these were the biggest darkmantles yet encountered.

Employing an ambush strategy, the party's plan of using Curbag as bait collapsed into a 'use the entire party as bait' strategem within seconds of encountering the Darkmantles, and they were immediately surrounded by the huge flapping strangling beasts.

Boyikt, the leader of the kobolds unaware of this change of plans, waited patiently outside the room for the party to withdraw.

Eventually the kobolds joined the fray, every hit and miss was being made to count, many of party had been injured and fear of death was keen in the air.

Finally the party and kobolds emerged victorious with only one Darkmantle escaping.

They now tend their wounds, and prepare to advance further into the forbidding darkness.

Rosia Lightfoot's Journal - Part 8

In the room behind the trapped door which got Curbag, we met two lizard-folk, Kahliss and Slith. They attacked us at first, Slith was a druid who summoned up a ball of fire which he could move to attack us. When they realised we weren't orcs (or at least most of us weren't!) they offered a truce. We discovered that they had been hired by Longtail to guide him through the mountains to this place, Kahliss turned out to be a ranger who presumably had knowledge of the area. Anyway, they told us that Longtail had summoned up the FOs (which turn out to be called Darkmantles) and then lost control of them. They weren't very happy with him, or the other members of his retinue, and were waiting for a chance to escape this place. They also told us that this place used to be a prison, which explains all the traps and manacles. I wish we could find some way of making the traps think we were guards!

We spent the night in the room with Kahliss and Slith, they offered us some rats to eat, but I decided I would scrounge some rations from Quercus instead. He made me pray to Pelor for an hour, but it was worth it to avoid the rats. (I was secretly praying to Ehlonna, but I don't think I'll tell Quercus about that...) We decided that it might be good to go back to the Kobolds we'd met before and try to parlay with them. We though that they might have more information about this place. We managed to form an alliance with their leader, Boyik, despite the fact that he didn't really have anything to tell us. (He made us drink blood wine to seal the pact - ugh!) But he did agree to join with us on raid of the Darkmantles' lair. We thought it would be best to deal with them before we explored any more, as we didn't like the thought of them popping up when we least expected it. With the Kobolds (and the strange cat-like creature they have with them called a Krenshar) we made quite a force. We decided to ambush the Darkmantles, using Curbag as bait. Being the fastest of us, he volunteered to run out into the FO lair and bring them back into the large room where we would be waiting to surround them. It all went a bit wrong though... The Darkmantles wouldn't come out of their room when Curbag went to the door, so he ran further in, but was caught by one and surrounded. We all waded in and it got messy and scary very quickly. I was nearly strangled by one, but Isaak zapped it with his magic missiles. I was too busy trying to breathe to watch how he did it this time! We finally managed to kill them all, with the help of the kobolds, but it was a tough battle. I think we are ready to move on now, but I'm not sure how long our alliance with the kobolds will last.

Still no sign of food, other than rats...

Character Status

• Rosia Lightfoot - Halfling - Rogue 3
• Curbag - Half-orc - Barbarian 3
• Quercus - Elf - Cleric 3
• Oren Viggrimmar - Dwarf - Fighter 3
• Isaak - Human - Sorceror 3

Rosia Lightfoot's Journal - Part 7

We found a strange artefact, a weapon of some sort, made out of bone and covered with ancient runes. I tried to decipher them, but didn't recognise the script. The weapon rested on top of a sphere of glass, and was surrounded by the charred bodies of the flying octopus (FO) creatures. Assuming there was a trap I was about to move in to disarm it (or set it off, which would have been more likely...) when Isaak stopped me and instead performed some incantation which allowed him to move the weapon safely towards us through the air without touching it! I watched him carefully when he did this, and I think I could master this skill if I had a bit of help.

Anyway, after seeing the runes on the weapon, Isaak and Quercus were keen to go back to the manacle room (the one where I had my nasty experience) and make copies of some of the runes we saw there. (Or in Quercus' case to destroy them, I expect. I worry about his fanatical attitude, I think it could lead to problems...) Anyway, I had no inclination to go back there, and Curbag didn't seem very interested either, so we decided to split up. The two of us went off to the north east, and the others went off looking for runes. Curbag and I discovered a large room, full of kobold and orc bodies, and more dead FOs. (But no Trogs, do they carry their dead with them? Or worse, are they cannibals?) We decided not to explore too far into this room, at least not until the others caught up with us. Instead we explored some side passages, which just led back into the main room (although I did find a nasty wire trap, which we were able to circumvent).

The others finally caught up with us, and we explored more of the large room. We noticed an FO there and chased after it, ending up in a room to the east. Here we were ambushed by several very large FOs, who came out of nowhere. Their darkness effect was stronger than the smaller ones we have met before, and even the magical light rods we are using now could barely penetrate the gloom they generate. We decided that we could defend ourselves more easily from behind a closed door, and ran back into the larger room. Unfortunately there were three small FOs waiting for us there, although this was a fight much more in our favour. We were able to kill two of them, but the other escaped. It took with it the body of Toerag, who got strangled to death. Can't say I'm too sorry to see him go! I think we should move on from this open area, it is too easy to be surrounded. We need to rest as well, I am growing weary in this underground tomb. We still haven't found a decent source of food. We might end up eating FOs...

Session 7 Players Map.


Haunting sounds, eeries cold spots and phantasm sounds also plague the group.

At the eastern end of the long room the players met their most difficult foes yet (even more difficult than the kobolds), the largest flying octopuses they had yet encountered. They were quickly surrounded and only by concerted teamwork did they manage to escape.

Unfortunately Turag met his end in the clutching tentacles of those foul beasts.

The magical traps are coming thick and fast, testing Rosia's abilities to the limit and beyond...