This campaign has now ended.

AG-18 is now the most famous adventuring company in the history of Ptolus. You started out looking for Cheava’s sister, Callista. When you finally found her you discovered her memory had been clouded by the elder gods to hide something. In order to restore Callista’s memory you contacted the ancient elven spirit known as the dream king. He told you in order to restore Callista’s memory he needed 2 objects, the cask of frozen dreams, and the dreaming stone. Many long adventures were required to recover these two items. After which, you finally found out the secret. The Vallis moon, where the gods had stored the soul of the world is destined to return. When it does the Galchutt, the gods of chaos will be free to wreak havoc on the world. The soul of the world will have to be moved from the Vallis moon to the elven city of Dreta Phantas. Not-coincidentally, the dreaming stone and the cask of frozen dreams is exactly what the dream king needed to break the Drow spell that had kept Dreata Phantas trapped in the Underdark for the last thousand years. The city is now restored to the surface, the Vallis moon has not yet returned. No one knows when it will…..

Apostle is now considered one of the living saints of Lothain. Many pilgrims, clerics and Paladins come to hear her teachings.

Cheava is now the undisputed crime-boss of Old City, with power rivaling that of Malkeen Balcazaar, the head of the Balcazaar crime family.

Elanna is one of the most powerful mages in Ptolus. She sits on the secret council of mages that guides the inverted pyramid. She is often in contact with Ril, the lady of Castle Shard. Rumors abound that Elanna will be the next lady of the Shard.

Grawl has attracted her own band of mercenary followers, who she is molding into an effective force to defend your stronghold in old city. Many of the mercenary guilds of Ptolus are courting her for a leadership position.

Yarkblar is now the master monk of Ptolus. Winn Rainbal, after discovering the fate of his wife, retired from training new students and left Yarkblar in charge of his school.

In our nearly 5 year campaign you characters:
Escaped from the Dark Reliquary
Cleared out the infested rat warrens of Old City.
Rescued Phon from the Pale Dogs street gang.
Stopped the Drow mage Shilukar from gaining entry into Castle Shard.
Cleared the Chaos worshipers from the manor house in Old City and established it as your base of operations in the city.
Recovered the fabled Swords of Ptolus.
Cleared out and resealed the legendary Banewarrens.
Raided the dungeons of the Dark Reliquary and rescued Callista.
Entered and cleared out Goth Gugamel in search of a way to restore Callista’s memory.
Stopped a gang war in Old City and took control of the local underworld.
Rescued another team of guild members from the labyrinth beneath Ptolus.
Rescued Phon and her child from the child’s father, Helmut Issentien, who had turned to Chaos worship.
Ventured into the underdark and stole the dreaming stone from the Drow city of Ul-Drakken.
Explored Jabel Shammar, the fortress of the Dread One and recovered the cask of frozen dreams.
Defeated the resurgent spirit and the Dread One and the Book of Inverted Darkness.

I have opened up the campaign archive so you can look at anything you wish.
Main Campaign Page: http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/ptolus-4e/wikis/main-page
Adventure Log: http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/ptolus-4e/adventure-log

Thanks For a Great Campaign!

Ellanna, Cheava, Apostle, Yarkblar, Grawl

Session 52-53 6140
Session 54 9960

Eric, Tiff, and Nicole got 22890 xp each. Marc you get 20390 since you missed one session but Eric played your guy. Grant since you only played the finale you get 9240 xp.

That includes all the XP for skill challenges, encounters and the quest to retrieve the dreaming stone.

Updated XP

Session 44-45 7875
Session 46 – 3512
Session 47 – 4075
Session 48 – 4400

I’ve neglected to post about the last few sessions so here’s a quick wrap-up.

Sessions 41-42 Guild Rescue

AG 18 is contacted by the leader of the Delver’s guild. Another group of adventurers has gone missing in the dungeons beneath Ptolus. He promises to promote AG 18 to Master Delvers and tell them where they might find someone to lead them to the Drow City if they rescue the adventurers. AG 18 manages to rescue one surviving member of the group, who had wandered into part of Ghul’s Labyrinth. The guildmaster is true to his word and tells AG 18 that there is a Drow under “house arrest” at Castle Shard that might be able to lead them to the Drow city in the underdark.

Session 43 Phon and the Runebearer

As AG 18 prepares to head into the Underdark, they go to castle shard to see if the Drow there can lead them to the Drow city, Phaervoral. The Drow is none other than Shilukar, the mage AG 18 defeated in one of their earliest adventures. AG 18 is able to convince Shilukar to lead them into the Underdark. He is suitably bribed with new magic items and the promise of escorting him back to his own home city, and of course his freedom from Castle Shard.

In the meantime, Apostle’s friend Phon, is about to have her baby. The father of the baby, turns out to be Helmut Issinstein, the leader of the republican movement in Ptolus, and high priest of the watcher of the skies temple. He comes to Brother Fabitor’s chapel in Midtown and demands both Phon and the baby. Brother Fabitor knows of Helmet’s desire to wipe out all Runebearer children in the city and fears that Phon’s child may be one. Callista, Cheava’s sister, is somehow able to drive off Helmut in time for AG 18 to arrive and protect the temple.

Helmut returns, equipped with Chaositech devices, and horrible Chaos-bred monsters at his side. AG 18 defeats him and his minions while Phon’s child is born. The baby is indeed a runebearer. AG 18 convinces the lord and lady of Castle Shard to shelter Phon and her baby for the time being.

After an extended break AG 18 returns to adventure in Ptolus.

In search of the location of the Drow city that contains the dreaming stone AG 18 becomes embroiled in a turf war between the rival criminal organizations on the Old town district. The urchins who work for Cheava and the street children that Apostle shepherds are turning up missing. Investigating the disappearances, the group discovers that Thuella, the local Killraven boss, is both kidnapping the children and waging an all out war against Lerthan Dengstrom, the Balcazar crime boss. Lerthan has sought refuge with AG18 and swears to introduce them to the Balcazar boss if they will protect him from Thuella’s retribution.

AG 18 is lured into an ambush by Thuella using the kidnapped children. Thuella, who turns out to be a were-spider is killed in the battle. AG18 captures one of her underlings and learns that her base is the brothel and gambling hall called the white house.

Investigating the white house, the group discovers a portal that leads to the dungeons beneaht the city. They discover that the lich, Agga-Shan, is the real power behind Thuella and he is kidnapping children for vile experiments and constructing a machine to draw in all of the shadow energy produced by in Ptolus. Ag 18 defeats the lich’s minions, destroys the shadow engine and dispatches the lich. The lich’s phylactery is nowhere to be found though, so AG 18 knows they will have to face him again.

Elanna, Apostle, Cheava, and Yarkblar all participated in this adventure. Each gained 9750 xp.

At the conclusion of the adventure, Lethran is true to his word and introduces the adventurers to Malkeen Balcazar. Malkeen is impressed with the adventurers and makes Cheava the new local crime boss of old town. Malkeen’s vampire bodyguard disposes of the traitorous Lurthan, who had planned to turn the district over to Killraven in exchange for his life.

Everyone played in this session.

Each character receives 2533 xp. That includes the xp for completing your current quest.

Ag 18 continued their exploration of the fortress of Goth Gulgamel, in search of the portal to Dreta Phantas and hot on the heels of a group of Mind Flayers who had invaded the fortress.

The group encountered a being known as a “Soul Rider.” Soul Riders have no corporeal form but are able to possess people and control their actions. The being said that the soul riders lived in Goth Gulgamel, but that they were deathly afraid of the Mind Flayers. The Soul Rider told the group how to find the room with the portal that lead to the Dreta Phantas. The soul rider did not seem particularly good or evil but the rumors of the Soul Rider in Ptolus imply that they are usually up to no good. Many of the more powerful individuals in Ptolus are aware of the Soul Riders and use special magic items to prevent possession.

Exploring further, AG18 entered a large cavern that had become part of the elemental plane of fire. The group battled their way through salamanders and fire elementals to reach the other side. Two passageways led off from the cavern. One to the north, the way the soul rider had told them led to the portal, and one to the south, which appeared to contain a Banewarrens Vault.

AG18, being experts on the Banewarrens vaults at this point, saw that the vault was an imitation of a real Banewarrens vault. Deciding to enter it anyway, the group discovered three unusual magic items: The utterdark lenses, a tablecloth that aids in negotiations, and a window that casts feather fall on anyone who jumps out of it.

Continuing to the north, over paths made of humanoid bones, the group came upon a room containing a statue of a titan. The Mindflayer leader and his Drow and Drider thralls were waiting and a massive battled ensued. Defeating the monsters and activating the portal using the idol of the titan they had found earlier, the group was transported to where the Utheron Adar waited. Here a second portal was opened to transport them to Dreta Phantas and the Dream King.

Cheava explained to the Dream King the problem of his sister’s memory. The Dream King found this to be very interesting. He explained how Dreta Phantas was built to house the soul of the world, in order to keep the evil Galchutt trapped in their prison. (Their prison being the entire world of Pramel.) Before the Elder Gods could transfer the soul of the world to Dreta Phantas, the Drow assault stole away the city and trapped it in the Underdark.

In order to restore Callista’s memory the Dream King needs two artifacts, the Dreaming Stone, and the Cask of Frozen Dreams. These are also the two artifacts he needs to break the Drow magic that holds Dreata Phantas trapped in the Underdark. He surmised that it as not a coincidence that AG 18 had been led here to him, and that it would be of mutual benefit for Callista’s memories to be restored.

The Dream King told the group that the Dreaming Stone is located in a cavern beneath Ptolus and the Drow and built a city to defend it.

He was under the impression that the Cask of Frozen dreams was in the Banewarrens. Since AG 18 did not find it in their exploration of the Banewarrens, either it was removed before they could find it or it is located somewhere else. He promised to have the Urthon Adar begin searching for where it may be located.

AG 18 now has a new quest to retrieve the Dreaming Stone from the underdark beneath Ptolus.

Everyone played in this session. (Including Symba!)

1734 XP each.

Symba acquired a Cloak of Survival +3

Ag 18 began exploring the ancient fortress of Goth Gulgamel, in search of the portal to Dreta Phantas. The fortress appeared to have been sealed at some point but had been broken open in the recent past. The Elder elf had warned the group that some of the more powerful evil beings of Ptolus now used it as a hideout.

Entering the fortress, AG 18 discovered two groups of monsters, both being led Mind Flayers, who were searching the fortress. What they are looking for has not been discovered.

After dispatching he second group, AG 18 found a small idol of a Titan. On closer examination the idol appears that it might be some kind of key or possibly used in a ritual of some sort.

You DID NOT rest after this session.

Everyone but Symba played in this session.

In addition to the xp from encounters AG 18 completed 2 quests. Rescuing Callista from the Cruciform Prison and Cardalian the halfling who had been replaced by a shapeshifted demon.

2400 XP each.

In this session, Ag 18 continued their hit and run rescue of Callista from the Cruciform prison. The group dispatched a fearsome Snake-man sorcerer and his demonic minions who were guarding Callista. On the way out they defeated another group of demons who blocked their path.

Returning to the Pythoness House in Ptolus, AG 18 discovered that Callista had no memories from before being brought to the Dark Reliquary by the demons. She did not even remember her brother Cheva. She was inclined to believe this fact however, in addition to her and Cheva’s uncanny resemblance, AG 18 had just braved the Dark Reliquary to rescue her. Callista seems surprisingly well adjusted for having grown up in a prison full of demons and undead.

Ellanna, Aurora, Apostle were able to determine that a powerful enchantment had been placed on Callista but anything more was beyond their magical abilities. The Demons of the Dark Reliquary seemed to think that Callista knew some kind of powerful secret, but they were never able to break the enchantment.

AG 18 sought out Rill, the sorceress of Castle Shard, in order to find out more about the enchantment on Callista. Rill was able to determine that it was not an enchantment, but that Callista had been spoken to by the Elder Gods. This communion was so powerful that she no longer remembers what the Gods told her or anything about her life before that.

Rill suggested that it might be possible for Callista to access her memories in a dream and that the Dream King might be able to help.

The Dream King is the legendary ruler of the elven city of Dreta Phantas. May thousands of years ago, the elder elves, of which all the current elven races are descended from, fought a war with their dark kin, the Drow. The Drow assaulted Dreta Phantas, the great Elven city, but were never able to break the magical defenses. In an act that stunned the elves, the Drow used a powerful magical ritual to transport Dreta Phantas into the Drow kingdoms in the Underdark. According to legend, The Dream King is trapped inside Dreata Phantas to this day using the cities magical defense to keep the Drow at bay.

Rill informed AG 18 that the mysterious knights know as the Urthon Aedar are actually the last surviving elder elves and that they may know a way to contact the Dream King.

At this point, Zavere, the other Lord of Castle shard led in one of the Urthon Aedar. The Urthon Aedar revealed himself to be an elder elf. He explained that Guhl, the skull king, had cursed all elder elves with visions of the future, in order to see their own doom. This backfired as the elder elves all foresaw Ghul’s death and not their own. Despite this, the elder elves were nearly wiped out, most of them becoming the cursed harrow elves. The few reaming elder elves became the Urthon Adar and use their visions of the future to fight the minions of the Galchutt.

This particular elder elf received a vision of the future that showed him here in castle shard at this time. He explained that the Urthon Adar have a portal that can transport AG 18 to Dreta Phantas, so they may converse with the Dream King. Unfortunately, the portal is located in the heart of Goth Gulgamel, Ghul’s ancient fortress, located halfway up the Spire.

The Urthon Adar warned AG 18 that Goth Gulgamel is used a a base by some of the most powerful evil beings in Ptolus and that the journey to the portal would not be easy.

Everyone but Symba played in this session.

You got 1320 xp each.

AG 18 recovered from their adventurers in the Banewarrens and spent some well earned loot. The necessity of closing the Banewarrens had taken the group away from their original quest, finding Cheva’s sister, Callista. Navanna Vladaam has informed the group that Callista is being held in the Cruciform prison beneath the Dark Reliquary. The same prison that AG 18 themselves escaped from in their very first adventure.

Ag 18 gathered as much information as they could about the Dark Reliquary and headed back into the secret passage they had used to escape months earlier. Fighting their way through the demons and devils that inhabit the Dark Reliquary , AG 18 discovered that Callista was being held in a room near the Cruciform prison.

AG 18 is both rich and somewhat famous from their adventurers in the Banewarrens. Among the adventurers of Ptolus the group is well known. At the Ghostly Minstrel, AG18 has joined the ranks of the “famous adventures” and rarely have to buy their own drinks.

In the city at large, “the heroes who sealed the Banewarrens” are known but not usually by name.

The Delvers guild has now raised the status of all members of AG18 from “Guildsman” to “Master Delver” This includes Aurora. The fact that she wasn’t previously a member of the Delvers guild seems not to bother them in the least.

When the assembled Staff of Shards was used to to destroy the Sealing Rod and Banewarrens key it was not completely destroyed. The remaining piece of the Staff of Shards functions as a Rod of Wonder. (It’s just too cool to let go.)

AG18 has agreed the help Cheava in his endeavor to take over the organized crime elements in the city. Yarkblar also expressed a desire to bring about the downfall of House Vladaam, since the two goals are likely to intersect.

Ellanna, Apostle, and Jevicca Nor have performed the ritual to remove the curse from the Sword of Lies. Again making it into the Sword of Truth. Stats on the sword of Truth are forthcoming.

Jevicca would rather that AG18 left the sword in the Banewarrens but accepts this as a reasonable alternative.

Additionally, Jevicca has extended an invitation to Ellanna to apply for membership in the inverted pyramid.

The Church of Lothian is now ambivalent to AG18. The high temple is not happy that their Avenger is dead and that they do not have the Sword of Truth. The clerics in the other temples have mixed feelings. Brother Fabitor, the priest of the Midtown church (and a former adventurer), supports you completely, saying you “Stuck it to the old codgers in the high temple.” Other priests have less positive views.

Ag 18 has a large number of evil magic items pulled from the Banewarrens that need to be disposed of in some way.

Power, Insight, and Deceit are artifacts. Artifacts only remain with a wielder until they feel they have fulfilled their goals. With the sealing of the Banewarrens Power and Insight feel they have helped Symba and Apostle as much as they can.

Power was very pleased with Symba. When the sword moves on it permanently raises Symba’s STR by one point and permanently adds 1 to his Fortitude defense.

Insight was also very pleased raises Apostle’s WIS by 1 and permanently adds one to her Will Defense.

Deceit does not move on it seems happy where it is.

The date is now the third of Rain as AG18 prepares to reenter the Dark Reliquary and rescue Callista, Cheava’s Sister.

You can purchase any magic item of Level 12 or lower that you can afford. Jevicca will have the Dreaming Apothecary create one level 13 magic item for each member.

Magic Items gained:

Deep Pocket Cloak – Yarkblar

Handy Haversack – Cheava

Armor of Sudden Recovery +3 – Yarkblar

+3 Flaming/Icy Greatsword – Cheava

Battle Standard of Tactics – ?

Imposters Armor +4 – Apostle ( I think? )

Ring of Shadow Travel – Cheava

Rod of Ruin – Ellanna

Ruby Lenses – ??

Rod of Wonder – Cheava

Everyone but Symba played in this session.

Symba gets 1340 xp for his part in completing the Banewarrens and Sword of Truth Quests.

Everyone else gets 3100 xp, which includes the XP for the two quests.

AG 18 started by finally facing the Church of Lothian team that had been sent in to retrieve the Sword of Truth. Not giving the Lothian team any quarter, AG 18 attacked and dispatched the Avenger, Priest, and 2 of the Paladins in the team. The remaining Paladin and their old friend Kalrecent surrendered rather than fight AG 18 any longer. The adventurers allowed the Lothian team to retrieve the bodies of the Priest and the Paladins for resurrection but not the Avenger. Symba and Gary the construct escorted the two surviving Paladins to the surface with the bodies.

AG18 then climbed into the very top of the Baneheart and discovered a huge vault. The group used the Banewarrens key and a giant damaged construct to open the vault. Once the vault was open, the fallen angel, Malificent, shouted in triumph. The angel had been trapped in the vault by contingency spells that were triggered upon the Dread Lords death. Not only was he trapped in the vault but he was also imprisoned in within a magical black egg within the vault. He had been able to escape the egg in the intervening years but not the vault. The Angel used his influence over the creatures of the Banewarrens to damage the warding generator. This allowed the Pactlords to find a way in.

AG18 entered the vault and faced the Fallen Angel, a Draconian, and a group of Wyverns. The arduous fight led to the near death of Yarkblar and Apostle but the Angel was defeated. Among other treasure, AG18 recovered the sealing rod and the last piece of the staff of shards. The group returned to Ptolus and used the sealing rod to seal the Banewarrens. AG18 the used the power of the staff of shards to destroy the sealing rod, the banewarrens key, and the staff itself, ensuring that the Banewarrens remain forever sealed.

As a result of their adventurers, AG18 is now both rich and for better or worse, famous.

Everyone played but Symba and Aurora.

Aurora was proxied so she gets half xp.

Aurora gets 1050 xp.

Everyone else gets 2463 xp each.

AG 18 was contacted by Sharah Nestor, a Holy Avenger of Lothian. She used a sending to inform the group that she wants the Sword of Truth. She stated she would not ambush them and offered to meet them outside the room where the sword was found. Before she could finish the sending was cut off with Sharah exclaiming “Oh No! They wouldn’t dare!” All of the doors in the Baneheart (and presumably the rest of the banewarrens) slammed shut and were unable to be opened. The warding generator also began to hum loudly. This continued for a few minutes and then everything went back to normal. As near as the group could tell, someone had just tried to seal the Banewarrens without the use of the sealing rod, and it failed.

Sharah contacted he group again saying the Inverted Pyramid had just tried to seal the Banewarrens, and to bring the sword to her immediately or she would hunt the group down.

Ag18 ignored this sillyness and continued to explore the Baneheart, in search of the Sealing Rod and the two remaining pieces of the staff of Shards.

Coming to what appeared to be the top of the Baneheart, AG 18 discovered the site of the Final Battle between the Dread Lord and the ancient heroes who battled him thousands of years ago. At the battle site, AG 18 was set upon by a horde of specters, remnants of the Dread Ones dark soul. Defeating the undead, the group discovered a piece of the sealing rod.

Exploring further AG 18 was attacked by a Red Dragon! One of the leaders of the Pactlords of Quan, who have come to the Banewarrens to claim the evil magic items within. After a furious battle with the Dragon and his Bugbear Assassin companion AG 18 rested for the night, making preparations to misdirect the Lothian Avenger still on their trail.

Everyone played including our newest character Aurora.

1800 xp Each

Cloak of Survival – Aurora

3 Vials of Alchemists Fire

Unfettered Thieves Tools – Cheva

Ring of Freedom of Movement – Yarkblar

At the start of the session, the group was contacted by Jevicca Nor of the inverted pyramid. She warned AG 18 that a large group of pactlords had entered the Banewarrens and were seeking them. She asked if she could teleport in an ally to aid the group. Aurora the druid joined the group, having been wounded in the Godsday battle on Clasthamus Isle. Aurora had been healed by the inverted pyramid and was repaying them by helping AG 18. Jevicca also warned the group that a second group of delvers from the Church of Lothian had entered the Banewarrens and was seeking the sword of truth. This group is led by a zealous avenger named Sharah Nestor. Sharah is well known in the church of Lothian for not letting anything stand in the way of her service to the church.

AG 18 survived an ambush by a group of pactlords, defeated an Ogre tribe, and put to rest a fearsome Kyton chain devil.

Everyone but Yarkblar played in this session, Yarkblar gets half xp.

1000 xp for Yarkblar and 2250 xp for everyone else.

Champions Hauberk +3 went to Apostle

Flame Bracers went to Symba.

Continuing their careful exploration of the Baneheart, AG 18 was able to locate the Sword of Lies, which both the Church of Lothian and the Inverted Pyramid want and are willing to pay you for. There was some disagreement among AG 18 as to what to do with the sword. The discussion was put off till the group emerges from the Banewarrens.

After recovering the sword, AG 18 encountered a huge Golem made of gems. The monster was dispatched and a not inconsiderable amount of gems recovered.

Moving up to the next landing, only one vault was open. This vault contained a floating blue gem. The gem immediately sucked up Cheava, Apostle and Symba were able to resist, but Ellanna and Yarkblar were also absorbed by the gem. Inside the gem appeared to be some kind of extra-dimensional space. An image of a blue eyed Eladrin told the ones inside them gem that they were now it’s slaves. Cheva began to deface the Gem anyway, which caused everyone to be ejected from the Gem and a Blue Dragon to appear in the room. AG 18 was able to defeat the dragon with some considerable effort and more than a few lightning burns.

And the end of this session it is the 21st of Wind.

The group is now carrying around quite a few evil magic items.

The Wraith Box

The Sapphire darkstar (the one the sucks people inside.)

The Dark Skull

You’ve also still got the disintegrating disk, a jug that no one has dared to open, Gem that causes Nightmares,and the Dagger of Varghul Curse. I think the plan was to turn those in to the Malkuth but I don’t think you have done that yet.

Okay here is what I have for XP totals for everyone. This does not include any bonus xp you may have gotten individually but does include session 30.

Ellanna – 26,848

Symba – 23,302

Yarkblar – 28583

Apostle – 27510

Cheava – 26644

Everyone played in this session. You got 1300 xp each.

AG was awakened at thier camp in the lower reaches of the Banewarrens by “Gary”, the mechanical man, who had been acting as a kind of “caretaker” for the first level of the Banewarrens vaults. Gary informed you that “Sagyryntis”, the silver dragon had come and found him. The dragon said there was no reason for him to keep resetting the traps and cleaning up the bodies and that Gary should help AG 18 seal the Banewarrens. The dragon also released Gary from his need to “fix” the Banewarrens.

Up entering the Baneheart, AG 18 discovered they were actually inside the spire that towers over Ptolus. The entire interior of the spire was lined with hundreds if not thousands of vault doors. These vaults were different than the ones in the outer vaults, the banewarrens key would not open them. Each door appears to require a specific key. Gary informed you that the keys were intially stored in the inner vaults but that at some point Malkith had taken them into Jabel Shammar at the top of the spire.

A long winding spiral staircase climbed the interior of the spire with landings interspersed along the way.

AG 18 was set upon by a group of vrock while exploring the base of the spire. After he creatures were dispatched, they discovered the vrock’s lair, and some vaults that had already been opened, one of which had a secret passage leading to an unopened vault.

You gained the following items.

An ebony skull that seems to need some kind of ritual to activate.

A box, when opened, summons a specter.

Gloves of the Battlemaster +3 (Went to Yarkblar)

Everyone but Jadera played in this session.

Jadera Gets 750 xp.

Everyone else gets 1688 xp.

At the beginning of the session, you spent 2 days in town. It is now the 19th of Wind.

You spoke with Jevicca Nor, who again warned you that the Church of Lothian had sent a group of adventurers into the Banewarrens to seek the Sword of Lies. Jevicca said that the Sword of lies was a powerful artifact that was used to slay mages. Of course, unbeknown to Jevicca, AG 18 is the group of adventurers who are seeking the sword. Jevicca has also offered a reward for retrieving the sword for the Inverted Pyramid. She left the amount somewhat vague, simply saying that they would create a magic item for you.

The group completed the exploration of the inner vaults of the banewarrens. AG 18 freed an angel who had been trapped by Malkith many thousands of years ago. (Seems like freeing angels is becoming a habit.) The angel warned the group that the Baneheart contained a malignant magical force that would tempt spellcasters into using it. The Baneheart is also inhabited by the Malificite, a fallen angel who was Malkith’s most powerful servant. The angel also said that the sealing rod and the staff of shards were almost certainly located in the Baneheart.

The group encountered and dispatched a group of skeletons and opened the last few vaults of the in the inner vaults.

Having cleared out the dangerous monsters and retrieving the evil magic items from the inner vaults, the group set off through the secret door leading into the Baneheart. The legends state that the concentrated evil in the Baneheart was so great that the earth itself rebelled and pushed the Baneheart away, creating the spire that looms over Ptolus. Entering the next area, its hard not to believe this legend. The area is full of large deep caverns, treacherous ledges, and long climbing staircase. AG 18 was set upon by a group of monstrous humanoids who inhabited this part of the Banewarrens. After this tough fight, the group decided to rest before continuing. The entrance to the Baneheart itself looming before them.

You gained two magic items:

Periapt of cascading health +3

Shielding Girdle

Both of which went to Symba

Everyone played in this session, you got 1980 xp each.

As they were resting in an out of the way room in the banewarrens, AG 18 was contacted by Jevica Nor of the inverted pyramid. She had not heard from the group a a while and wanted to check their progress through the banewarrens. The group informed her that they now knew how to seal the banewarrens, (using sealing rod and staff of shards) and they were currently searching for them deeper in the banewarrens. (The quest for Jevicca has now been completed. The XP is figured in above. She owes you 5000 gp each)

Ag 18 freed the silver dragon, Sagirantus from his prison. He has been trapped there by Malkuth many years ago. After some initial confusion and some overzealous use of his breath weapon, he realized time had passed. He asked the group many question but ultimately decided to meditate near one of the warding generators, which he had helped to build some many years ago.

Exploring further, AG 18 dispatched Slaad, a Xorn, and a pack of Kruthik and removed the contents of some of the banewarrens vaults.

The group also gained access to the heart of the banewarrens by figuring out the correct phrase to open the door, well after a few tries anyway.

The way into Tremoc Korin,the Baneheart, now lays open before you.

It is now the 16th of wind. According to your notes on the pad o’ initiative, your were to report back to Jevicca on the 16th of wind. She did contact you already, but she owes you 5000 gp each (which can be used to purchase a magic item from the dreaming apothecary.) Between this session and the next let’s say you went back into town so you can collect your money. At the very least someone needs to go back to town, you are running out of food and water. (Xorn burger anyone?)

We can run the in-town interaction over email before the next session. If there is anyone you wish to speak with during this time, or anything you want to do, let me know. You can spend any money you have to purchase any magic item level 10 or below. Elanna and Apostle also have access to some fairly useful ritual magic now so you might purchase some of those as well.

In addition to whatever money you have on your sheet you have the 5000 xp from Jevicca. You also gained 744 gp each in this session from the loot in the Slaad cave.

You also have the following magic Items that need to be dealt with:

Gem that causes Nightmares

Dagger of Varghul Curse

Disintegrating Disc

Jug of Posion (not identified)

You can sell these items if you find the right buyer. The inverted pyramid might be interested in the evil items for study, you could also give them to the Malkuth for destruction, which would earn extra xp.

You still have an outstanding quest from the church of Lothain to find the Sword of Lies, they have offered 20k gold for this. (Total not each.)

Everyone played, you got 1580 xp each.

AG 18 continues their exploration of the banewarrens, in search of the Sword of Lies and the sealing rod. They began by trying to figure out how to get the silver dragon, who was encased in glass, out of his prison. Exploring the area, no way to free the dragon was discovered, however the ever-present banewarrens vaults were not in short supply. Many of the vaults had been opened and plundered already. Some were not empty and AG-18 had to deal with a winery elemental and a pack of specters. Soon they also discovered a profane temple inhabited by a vampire lord and his wight minions. Having dealt with these creatures and sanctifying the vampires crypt, the group rested for a night.

It is now the 15th of Wind.

Items gained:

Swift-step boots

Symbol of Demon-Turning +3

Everyone but Symba played. You got 1525 xp each.

In this session AG-18 continued their exploration of the inner vaults of the Banewarrens. The inner vaults were converted into a prison and lair by dreadlords more powerful servants. The group was nearly ambushed by a group of wights and their commander. These undead were servants of the Dreadlord and continue to defend the inner vaults as if no time has passed. Forging deeper into the dungeon, the group encountered the jailer of the prison, who had become a lich, and his two skeletal guardians. Dispatching these creatures, the group was able to recover the lich’s magic items from his previous life. Exploring further AG-18 discovered a silver Dragon trapped in a glass floor, and a large area where the dungeon appeared to have been destroyed by some kind of magical catastrophe. The magical conflagration appeared to be inhabited by Slaad.

Treasure gained:

• Cloak a Resistance +3
• Targeting Bow +3
• Staff of Fiery Might +3

At the end of this session, it is the 14th of wind.

At the end of this session, it is the 13 of Wind.

Everyone played but Cheava. Cheava was played as an NPC so he gets half xp. Cheava gets 746 xp. Everyone else gets 1680 xp. (I think that’s slightly higher than the amount I gave you last week.)

Ag 18 continued their pursuit of the Pactlord team lead by the Beholder. They emerged into the the room with the Vault Door leading t0 the inner vaults of the Banewarrens to discover a battered and broken “Gary.” Gary told the group that the Pactlords had passed through the Vault door, but he had managed to close it afterwards. Ag 18 used the banewarrens key to open the vault and prepared to face the pactlords. When the Vault opened, “Gary” shape shifted into an Orge Mage! The Beholder and his 2 wyverns attacked from their hidden spot near the ceiling. (Thanking the adventurers for opening the inner vaults and laughing like Jabba the Hutt.)

Despite disintegrations and death rays, AG 18 was able to prevail over the pactlords. Rather than venture deeper into the warrens the group decided to rest and check the vaults they had passed by in their pursuit of the beholder. They discovered a suit of armor haunted by an ancient evil warlord, a skull that allows communication with evil gods, a particularly strong poison, the hand of a lich,a disk that disintegrates both target and user, and a knife that turns anyone killed by in into a Vairgoulle.

The group then ventured into the Inner Vaults, expecting the worst. The very first room was inhabited by a pair of black puddings which were dispatched with some difficulty.

Everyone played and you got 1250 Xp each.

You have one outstanding quest from Jevica Norr of the Inverted Pyramid. She has offered to pay you 5000 gp each to discover how to seal up the Banewarrens forever. (With the recovery of the dagger, Yaelsha from the pactlords and the information from Gary the metal man, you have probably completed this.)

Apostle, Symba, and Yark informed the church of Lothian about Brother Heth and his involvement with the Pactlords. Thr church has asked you to recover the “Sword of Lies” from the Banewarrens. The church believes that the sword of lies is actually the sword of truth, a powerful artifact of Lothian. The sword is rumored to be stored in the inner vaults of the Banewarrens. The church offered to pay you 20,000 gp to recover the sword.

While all this was going on, you had left Gary the metal man with the Shuul to be repaired. Once he was repaired, he took it upon himself to return to his duties in the Banewarrens, despite the Shuul’s opinions to the contrary. Gary returned to the Banewarrens with the Shuul not far behind. When they reached the Banewarrens they were set upon by a new group of Pactlords, led by a Beholder. You found out about all this mostly from the horrendous amount of gunfire that occurred when the Shuul encountered the Beholder.

AG 18 investigated and discovered that the Pactlords have captured Gary and are going to attempt the penetrate the inner vaults. You followed the pactlords deeper into the Banewarrens encountering Wisps, Gorillons, and firelasher elementals, before having to stop and rest.

Everyone played in this session.

You received 1590 XP each. That includes the quest xp for finding the Banewarrens key.

You received another quest in the session. Jevica Norr would like you to continue to investigate the banewarrens and hopefully find the pieces of the staff of shards as well as the sealing rod so the Banewarrens can be sealed permanently. She would like to meet with you in a week see what you have found out. She offered to pay you 5000 gp each depending on how much progress you make.

You negotiated with Navanna Vladaam for her freedom. She agreed to tell you where Cheva’s sister was, to write a writ that will get the watch off your back and as an added incentive not to kill her, “other information that pertains to the banewarrens.” She would only provide this last bit of info after she was let free.

Cheava’s sister, according to Navanna, is being held in the Dark Reliquary. Lilith, the succubus, thinks she knows some important information.

Cheva and Symba proceeded to mull this over at the Ghostly Minstrel while the rest of the group went to Rivergate to discuss the Banewarrans key with Brother Heth.

Navanna was true to her word and provided some important information to Cheva. Brother Heth is actually a member of the Pactlords of Quan, and is seeking the Banewarrens key for himself.

Rushing out the door, Cheva and Symba arrived just in time to help the rest of the group fight of a group of pactlords that attacked them at the rivergate temple.

Investigating the temple further you discoverd that it had been used as a base of operations by the pactlords. Ultimately you confronted Brother Heth, a Naga, and a Basilisk in the Belfrey of the temple. The belfrey had been converted into some kind of lab with 2 choasitech machines.

After defeating the pactlords, you discovered that Heth had a magical dagger that spoke to you. The dagger is one of the 3 pieces of the staff of shards. (The dagger has a much longer story to tell but that will be in the next session.)

The Swords of Ptolus are very pleased by the recent turn of events. All three swords are happy that the Pactlords (at least this group) has been defeated. The swords consider the pactlords “invaders” to Ptolus.

Power liked the heroic “nick-of-time” rescue of your comrades. (Power likes to be heroic and deeat enemeies)

Insight likes that fact that you have found both the banewarrens key and a piece of the staff of shards. (Insight likes to discover secrets.)

Deceit is pleased that you are using it to hide the banewarrens key, which is much desired by many people at this point. (Deceit likes to keep things hidden.)

The swords are now providing the following additional powers.

Insight now adds +2 to Will Defense instead of +1. You may also now use the “Consult Oracle” ritual once per day instead of the “Consult Mystic Sages” Ritual.

Power now adds +2 to fortitude Defense instead of +1. Once per day power will give you an additional action just as if you had spent an action point.

Deceit now adds +2 to reflex Defense instead of +1. Deciet also now had the following daily power.

• Move Action
• Teleport 5 Squares and become invisible till the start of you next turn.

Everyone but Symba gets 1098 xp each. Symba gets 488 since he was played as an NPC.

You decided to go ahead and kill Navanna Vladaam, at least temporarily, since that seemed the easiest way to carry her around without her teleporting away. You discverd that Navanna had been speaking to Geristranomos, a clockwork man. Geristranomos had been built by Danar to perform maintenance on the Banewarrens. During the earthquake that created the spire, he was trapped in the room you found him. “Geri” knows a lot about the Banewarrens so you decided to take him with you.

Continuing you exploration you encountered mechanical scorpions in one of the vaults and recovered quite a trove of evil magic weapons. On the way out you defeated a second team from the Pactlords of Quan who were searching the Banewarrens, now that the outer vaults have been opened.

You placed Navanna’s body in a trunk, preserved with gentl repose and stored the trunk at Castle Shard. Zavere seemed highly amused by this and promised to look after the trunk for you.

You rested for the night and it is now the 8th of Wind.

The magic weapons you took to the Dark Market sell for 720 gp total.

Game Time: 6th and 7th of Wind

Everyone played in this session you received 1135 XP each.

Regrouping at the pythoness house, AG 18 immediately set out to track down Nicalon, who had stolen the Hand of Danar, which is the key to the Banewarrens.

Cheva and Yarkblar went back to the Griffon, where you had first met Nicalon. He was nowhere to be found but the watch showed up asking about AG18 and a break-in at the Vladaam estate.

Thinking Nicalon might have used to key to enter the Banewarrens or more likely sold it to someone who did, Cheava and Symba went to check on Kalrecent, the Paladin, and his squire who were guarding the sealed door in the Banewarrens.

Unfortunately, someone had returned to the Banwarrens. Kalrecent and his squire were dead and Kalrecent appeared to have his brain eaten out. Most likely by a mindflayer.

Raising the squire from the dead, you discovered that a group of monsters, including a mind-flayer, an ogre, spiders, and “spider people” had attacked them. During the fight, a woman with dark skin and four werewolves had used the key and slipped through the door. Seems like another group of Pactlords are trying to get into the sealed door.

Entering the Banewarrens past the sealed door, you encountered numerous traps and many of the banewarrens guardians. Moving through the warrens and using tracking, you were able to determine that the pactlords came and left, leaving a gnoll and dire ape to guard the entrance, but the woman and werewolves had pushed further into the dungeon.

You discovered the woman, who turned out to be Navanna Vladaam, conversing with someone or something in one of the rooms deep in the Warrens. You were noticed by the werewolves before you could discover anymore. During the fight, a green hag appeared and grabbed the key away from Navanna. AG18 was able to defeat the Hag, as well as Navanna and her werewolves. As Cheva prepared to finish off Navanna once and for all she said she knew where his sister was located.

You finally have the banewarrens key and two different people willing to pay you for it. Jevica Nor of the Inverted Pyramid wants you to find they key, though she didn’t necessarily say that she wanted it. You suspect that she wants you to find the sealing rod and reseal the banewarrens. Right now your only lead is that the sealing rod is somewhere deeper in the Banewarrens.

Brother Heth, of the church of Lothian, wanted you to find the key and bring it to him. Most likely to keep it away from anyone who would use it to unseal the warrens further. Unfortunately, the Banewarrens are now unsealed.

1338 xp each.

Everyone but Symba played.

In this session the group had quite a few leads to follow-up.

You have, for now, convinced Phon to stay in the Chapel of St. Gustov in Midtown with Brother Fabitor.

You were able to contact Naven Blueflight, owner of the Pythoness house. He stated that he would give the house to whoever could beat him in a game of Dragonscales.

• Dragonscales
• Int based skill
• Can gain a +2 by playing regularly in taverns and bars.
• Can use a feat to gain a +5.
• To beat Naven is a Skill Challenge, you must pass 5 Dragonscales skill checks before failing three to defeat him.

You traveled back down to the Banewarrens and read the scroll given to you by Brother Heth. Brother Heth is the head priest of the Lothian temple in Rivergate. After reading the scroll you discovered that the sealed door can only be opened by Danner himself, the creator of the Banewarrens. House Vladaam has his mummified hand, though they do not realize that this is what it is for.

You contacted Nicalon Regelis, a member of the Knights of the Chord, and former enforcer of House Vladaam. He told you that he had seen such an item in the vaults below the main house in the nobles quarter and that he would lead you to it.

In the house, you encountered many traps, and fought some of the house guards but managed to recover the mummified hand. While escaping you encountered some of the urban werewolves that are allied with House Vladaam led by a fearsome were-tiger. In the ensuing combat, Nicalon pilfered the hand and teleported away. Why he did this is not known.

You managed two rescue two prisoners from the dungeons below the house.

• Thariad Rivelost is a Half-Elf commoner. He might be willing to work for you at the pythoness house.

• Degar Ravenspell is a 5th Level Wizard and is willing to help you in whatever way he can. Currently, he needs to recover from being tortured by the Vladaams.