The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

Khzuro casts see invisibility and Heroism then goes to investigate what Ayako is doing. Drasta stays in camp trying to figure out how to get the ghost on board with them. When the kobold crests the hill, he finds out he has lost sight of her but can hear the general direction she is going and can follow the tracks easily enough. He follows her out about 2 miles and just before he decides to turn back, he comes to a cliff where the tracks suddenly veer off to the east but peaking in the canyon, he sees 7 more large cats down there laying down. It’s a whole pride of cave tigers.

He decides to return to camp. Whatever Ayako is doing it doesn’t involve him. Drasta watches as Khzuro returns. “Curiously chasing again?”

"Ayako went off, tried to figure out why she suddenly rushed off again like that. Thought she might have sensed trouble. Didn't find anything but more cats though."

“Perhaps she has gone to find another to pull energy from.”

"Think she's gone several miles. I think I found her trail but, I figured if it was imminent danger, it would be something closer." a huff. "Really getting annoyed that she doesn't communicate this stuff to us."

“It is her way; I was once the same.”

"Either way, seemed imprudent to chase her down alone when this one has no idea of what she is doing or if our adversary has traps prepared for us."

Drasta nods, “I would agree.” She sits sharpening her rapier which since it’s magical it really doesn’t need it but it’s something to do.

As Drasta and Khzuro talk Aiami pulls out a biwa and Iwao pulls out a shakuhachi. They sit by the fire and play music together. Drasta watches the pair quietly. The rest of camp gorge themselves on the meat provided by Ayako and vegetables provided by Aiami. When dusk dims the view most head to their tents. The elf heads back to Aiami’s tent and sits at the entrance in a trance nodding to her.

Aiami not used to a nod like that asks, what do you wish, Drasta?”

“Wish? I am unsure what you mean.”

“Oh? I must have drifted.”

Drasta sits quietly. “I am here to make you feel safer perhaps…”

“I hope that Ayako has all the game she needs and now I’m nothing but very small prey: not worth the effort when there are other giants about.”

“Regardless I will stay with you if it helps.”

“It’s cold, even with the fur.” Drasta moves over and places Aiami’s head on her lap watching the tent entrance covering the hengeyokai with her cape. It turns into a clear and chilly night with the temp going down into the low -30s Fahrenheit: A chill that almost freezes alcohol. Drasta draws a sigil of summer into the ground around them to keep a low heat in the tent.

When everyone wakes up in the morning Ayako is back in camp and Iwao is tending to her. She has some hideous looking, grave lacerations across her whole body, but they aren't bleeding. It looks as though she healed the worst of it herself while coming back. Iwao is sewing the wounds up.

Khzuro does make sure to spare an endure elements casting for any who want it, but then looks over to Ayako and Iwao, then looks to Ayako. “What happened out there?”

While everyone gathers around Ayako, Masako uses the opportunity to cast mass endure cold. Drasta leaves the tent and rushes over to the group. Ayako looks to Khzuro. “Challenged the pride mother. They are mine now." As she ends the sentence, she spits out some blood.

Iwao looks to the side, "It’s best not to interrogate her at the moment let me work." Khzuro gives him a nod letting him tend to Ayako. Drasta hands over a murky green bottle to Ayako gesturing her to drink it. She does. Most of the wounds close but not all of them. She’s taken a lot of damage.

Drasta sits patiently and bandages any that haven’t. “We need you in your best health in what comes.” It takes the group about 2 hours to work on her then she changes and trots off into the distance with a slight limp. The group once again heads out.

[Winterhawk99]

They travel following the now faint footsteps in the snow. About midday our intrepid comrades negotiate a crevasse and on the other side is a steep hill. Cresting the hill, they see something glittering in the sun some 500 yards from the base of the mound. Whatever it is it’s long and the glittering sometimes hurts their eyes.

Shin pulls out a large captain’s glass and looks through it while Khzuro looks it over trying to recognize it from any of the dreams or visions he had. Shin comments, “It looks like some kind of obelisk about 15 to 20 feet long with about a 2ft square base. It’s all broken up as if it fell over or something. It seems to have an inner light within it. Blue/whitish in color.”

“Ever seen anything like it before…?”

"Have to get a closer look. but it definitely looks like magic. It’s in about 20 pieces." Shin gives Khzuro the glass it looks like this only fallen over and broken up into 20 or so pieces.

Khzuro peers through the glass. “Looks more like blue crystal than stone.” Shin nods.

Drasta muses while looking at it and listening to the other two. “It might be either an elven mythal or a Netheresse Mythallar, but I can’t tell from here. If we were not so far, I may be able to say what it could be.”

Khzuro looks over to all the wu-jen in the party. They are all shaking their heads in wonderment. He shrugs, “Any ideas? Or shall we get closer?”

Drasta is the one that answers. “Best to be a bit closer so I can make out more features. We should however be careful.”

Khzuro nods, “Agreed.”

The group walks down in the valley. As they close in, they all see that it is indeed some form of obelisk that has fallen or was thrown and is broken into pieces. The crystals all glow with an inner blue/white light. The runes scribed on the crystal look like ‘Roman writings.’

Drasta says, “I am still unsure what it is but it’s not an elven mythal.”

As the group studies the crystal there is a rumble and explosions all around them. Khzuro, Drasta, Aiami, and Katsu suddenly feel sharp jaws catching them and they are lifted into the air. Haru and Ogano are also attacked, however they are able to pull themselves out of the jaws of the giant monsters. Of the six creatures that attacked the group from under the snow 4 of them have people in their jaws.

The 40 ft creatures are icy blue in color and have a spiked ridge along their back burning with an inner fire. Winglike fins flare from the back of the creatures’ heads, and their wide mouths brim with jagged teeth. The group know they are facing a family of Remorhaz.

Khzuro, Drasta, Aiami and Katsu are all grappled. Drasta fights to gain hold of her rapier still in its sheath. With a bellowing war cry Samo attacks the remorhaz holding Drasta between its jaws. He devastates the creatures yet somehow it still has the elf locked in its jaws hungerly trying to chew. There is a muffled cry from the one that holds Khzuro in its mouth. A few closest can hear, “The Darkness!”

Haru attacks the one that’s holding Aiami and gives it a good slice with her naginata. Ogano throws magic missile at the same one. When he does something strange happens. The four missiles veer off target and hit on of the broken crystals that absorb the magic. Only one hits the monster for minimal damage on the great beast.

Shin fires off his blunderbuss throwing an Issac’s missile storm at the creature that has Khzuro almost swallowed whole. The spell works normally. The lights hit the creatures all over doing some harm to it but again these are not your average run of the mill monsters. There seems to be something very strange about them.

Masako throws vitriolic sphere at the one holding Drasta. The spell seems to be suddenly empowered doing a huge amount of melting pain to it. Its body falls to the ground. Unfortunately, as it does its jaws crunch down on the elf’s leg like a bear trap nearly severing it from her body.

Iwao tries to cast power word blind on the one that has Drasta. The spell discharges a wild magic surge and one of the remorhaz that missed another of the companions is turned into a chicken. Khzuro tries to cast dimension door having no somatic component to get away from inside the huge monster. Instead of the spell working he somehow summons a balor demon who is quite angry at being summoned to the material plane. Meanwhile the chicken runs off.

Drasta finally gets her rapier out and stabs the one that is holding her. It is now so weak that it releases her and it is dying on the field. The one that has Khzuro, Katsu and Aiami swallow them. now in the gizzard of the Remorhaz taking a massive amount of heat damage.

The last Remorhaz that has not gotten prey attacks Samo. He ducks and dodges around the creatures strikes ready to deliver another blow. Aiami can be heard crying in the gizzard of the one that swallowed her as she tries to transform into her hybrid form. Khzuro again tries to cast dimension door even with the pain of the heat. Somehow, he gathers enough concentration to cast and this time it works but the spell is diminished. He ends up 200 feet away slightly up the hill behind the balor. He hears a thundering behind him. As he turns, he watches 7 female saber-toothed tigers stampeding straight at him as they aim for the balor. The kobold rolls and tumbles while trying to avoid being trampled by assholes cats, but manages to get out of their way before they crush him in their charge.

Samo ignores the remorhaz attacking him and turns to take on another. The one that ate Katsu. He again does a massive amount of damage to it on his first two strikes but slips on the hot blood of the creature and loses his Katana on the third. The monster is gravely wounded but has not given up the fight.

Haru keeps on the one that swallowed Aiami. She does some damage to it, but others notice that this one seems to be regenerating rather quickly, much like a troll. Iwao decides to stop trying to throw spells and attacks one that swallowed Katsu with his naginata trying to take it down while Samo is fishing for his sword. He kills it but Katsu is still inside. Shin uses his weapon again and it badly damages one of them.

Masako, encouraged by her success throws another vitriolic sphere at the one that swallowed Khzuro. Most of the spell is absorbed by the crystals and she does minimal damage to it. The remorhaz that can still fight attack, but they miss everyone they get close to as the companions duck and dodge the attacks. The battlefield is so chaotic at this point that Drasta can only pull her bow and shoot one arrow. She aims it at the one that swallowed Aiami. It dies on the spot with an arrow in its brain. Khzuro manages to get off an enervation spell at the balor, but it misfires, somehow and all enemy combatants are instantly slowed and move as if trying to swim through mud. He blinks seemingly caught off guard by the wild magic and he spell no working as he thought it would.

Drasta fires a splintering arrow but somehow it breaks midflight, and the two halves shoot off in different directions. She screams at Samo and Haru, “GET THEM OUT OF ITS FLESH!... WE NEED THEM TO FIGHT!”

Now that Khzuro slowed them down Samo can take up his sword again and attacks the one that ate Katsu who is still in there being digested. With one mighty blow he strikes it sending his sword into its brain killing it instantly.

One of the tigers is lying on the ground now, its belly ripped open by the balor’s sword. The other six are still on him tying him up so he cannot cast spells. They rip him half to shreds in the first few minutes they are on him.

Haru starts to split open the dead remorhaz that ate Katsu burning herself quit badly in the process, while Ogano throws a banishment spell at the balor which fails. Iwao turns to the remorhaz that ate Khzuro and casts an implosion spell at it. Instead of imploding he turns it into a chicken. Shin uses his blunderbuss again but this time it misfires, and an earth elemental suddenly appears and starts to fight the remorhaz with them.

The balor kills another tiger and throws an implosion spell at Masako. She absorbs most of the spell but takes a massive amount of damage from it and falls to the ground. The last two remorhaz attack Samo and Masako but both are moving and dodging the attacks. Drasta shoots 2 arrows at each. The elf kills the remorhaz chicken and the other that’s still a remorhaz. Khzuro repositions to get in sneak attack distance of the Balor then opens fire with dual crossbows. He hits with his first and third arrow. Doing some respectable damage to the demon.

Drasta yells at the balor trying to banish it, “I SAID LEAVE, NOW!” It doesn’t seem to work. Samo and Haru are hard at work trying to cut Katsu and Aiami out of the bellies of the Remorhaz, each getting more and more burnt by the effort.

Iwao turns once again to support Ayako and her pride he casts Anger of the Sun at the demon. The spell fizzles as all its energy is absorbed by the crystals. Ogano casts Rain of Needles at the demon. That spell is also absorbed and fizzles out.

Shin now with his weapon recharges shoots at the demon but instead of the missiles coming out of it Khzuro turns into a fwuzzy and possibly snarly badger, maybe both. Samo shouts out, “QUIT THROWING SPELLS!” The badger runs from the demon and the cats as fast as he can.

Drasta shoots at the Balor adding to his wounds, so the cats are able to finish him off easily. The five cats still alive that is. Badger-Khzuro tries to quickly get over to the humanoid companions before the cats decide to do anything to him. Ogano picks him up and takes him back up the hill to reverse the effect. What he suspects is out of range from the broken crystal.

Drasta opens her book and starts to study the crystals, making notes. Most of Aiami’s hybrid form’s fur is burnt off Katsu isn’t doing well either. Haru and Samo have third degree burns on their hands. Drasta tosses a couple of med kits to them and just washes away all the noise. Khzuro, now a kobold again puts his long-duration buffs on, then moves over to the others.

The battle over Aiami and Ayako change back to their human forms. Ayako uses all her healing spells on the tigers. Iwao tends to Aiami because she is the most badly burned. Drasta keeps on her guard and does what she can to help. The snow leopard comes bounding up and jumps on Samo as she’s trying to work on him. It lays on his stomach and torso. It’s late in the day and the women that are not badly wounded start to make camp. Ogano and Shin set up chairs by it and strike their pipes. Ogano says, “It’s going to get a lot worse much worse. We need to prepare.”

Drasta nods while wrapping up Samo’s hands, “This is apparent…”

Khzuro give a nod to Ogano, then looks over for whomever needs healing, “We’re out of range of whatever was interfering with magic now, yes?” Ogano nods. “Ayako is she around?” Ogano points. Khzuro sees that Ayako is also terribly wounded and cannot get up on her own. She took the brunt of the Balor’s attacks trying to protect her sisters. He turns his eyes back to the battlefield. “Two fell in battle the rest are ok.”

Khzuro then walks over to Iwao who is working on Katsu. He sighs, “Can you get them all up” or will we need to rest and recover before you can do that?” Meanwhile Drasta heads to each person needing it and bandages them. The ones in the worse condition.

“It will take a day Khzuro. Tomorrow Ayako will be able to help too.” He considers.

Samo is laid out with his arms to the sides all bandaged up saying, “Nice kitty. Be a nice kitty now.” It starts cleaning his face and he’s making faces while the cat is doing it. “It’s tasting me, I think.”

After camp is set up Drasta and Khzuro come up to Ogano and Shin and sit with them by the fire. Khzuro asks, “Any idea what that was that was... interfering with our spells like that?" Drasta stares into the fire not answering while contemplating what that thing was and how it could be doing what it did.

Shin nods, "Something to do with that crystal. Those remorhaz also had spell effects on them. You see how some of the spells bounced off one of them? Probably living around it long enough to absorb some of its magic."

"Glad this one was able to escape from them..." A slow nod.... "And ssskh, noted. Wonder what the crystal was though." Pauses, considering. "Probably was wiser to withdraw and not split us off to investigate. That demon was probably no coincidence."

Ogano says, "perhaps go back and study that crystal. figure out what it is first. We may encounter something similar. It was obviously highly magical. It could absorb magic and seems to have altered the very fabric of the weave around it."

Shin inhales from his pipe, "You know if we could understand how that thing works maybe we can alter our spells to make it augment ours."

"We'll have to do that when we're ready then. For now, we have four who are too badly wounded. First thing in the morning then, and this time we'll be ready in case there's another ambush." Khzuro insists.

Drasta nods to them listening, “Sounds like a fair plan.”

The group sleeps the night. Nothing disturbs them except growls of giant cats echoing on the windswept glacier.

[Winterhawk99]

In the morning it’s snowing. Khzuro goes to check up on the wounded and the clerics when he gets up. Aako is bruised up but walking now. She heals Aiami first then Haru and Samo. Iwao tends to her while she is tending to them. Everyone is back up and around in no time though Ayako is still a bit slow. She takes it in stride. Shin gives everyone a packet of crystals. saying, "I made these in the tent last night. They are crushed up fire beetle shells in a silk wrapper magicked to be warm they will last a few days. Everyone travels back to the crystals after camp is broken down and packed.

Khzuro refreshed his buff spells before he got into the wild magic zone. Everything is as it was. The dead are still there but covered in snow. Ther crystal pieces too. The wu-jen wipe away the snow from them to inspect them more closely.

Khzuro starts looking around for interesting things and starts trying to discern just what is going on here. "Well, let’s get to looking and studying. Remember, careful with the magic here, it's unstable."

The crystals unbroken form is obviously carved like a Mulhorandi obelisk. There are runes along all 4 sides of it. Shin and Khzuro realize that the crystal is like a battery where raw magic can be saved used or manipulated under the right conditions.

Katsu looking at the runes says, “I think these are from that lost empire. We saw some of these in that book that turned to ash.”

"Looks like something that takes and stores magical energy to this one... and... that is likely. Is this crystal still operating as it is meant to though?" Khzuro asks.

Masako observes, “Except it is creating erratic effects. Could be because it is broken up.” Drasta shrugs looking at it.

Khzuro muses, “I wonder how it broke?”

Aiami says, "So now what? What do we do? It's too big to cart away with us?"

"And it's unstable. Dangerous to handle. Is there anything else here that might suggest others have been here? Is likely this was supposed to be guarded, doubt those creatures we fought were here by coincidence alone." Khzuro adds.

Haru says, "If there were evidence it's been covered up by the snow and ice."

Khzuro looks around for anything else of note that might be present… “Quite likely…”

Shin shakes his head. "We know the ranger must have come through this way."
Khzuro notes that there is nothing to think that anything has been manipulated in fact the fractures of the crystal look somewhat weathered it’s been here a long time. "Seems like this has just been here a long time, possibly broken at some point, become unstable." Looks around "Anyone see anything else of note?"

Ogano asks, "Do you think this is one of these famed Netheresse crystals?”

"It could be... doesn't look like those... positive energy negative energy power sources we've heard about, though. If this is what is powering the artifacts, they cannot be too far from here." Khzuro answers.

Katsu asks, "What about the watch? is it different magic not powered by the crystals.?"

Khzuro nods, “"I think so, am... not exactly sure how it works, though."

Aiami conjectures, "perhaps the watch is not made with Netheresse magic?"

Ogano asks, "Does this change things?"

"Maybe... pretty sure it's one of Sithmore's creations. It... could interact with the crystal, maybe, but it's a dangerous prospect." Khzuro responds.

Masako nods, "I don’t think we can learn anything more here."

"Guess we should keep moving. Let’s try to fan out and see if we can pick up a trail anywhere here, then..."

[Winterhawk99]

With the leopard the group picks up the trail again making slow progress. They negotiate several deep crevasses, fissures and cliffs. Along the great glacier. As evening approaches, they see someone has shoveled the snow just after a deep crack in the ice going 50 meters down into the earth. It looks like writing of sorts. Footprints go from there off into the distance. The symbols are several feet in length.

Khzuro carefully considers the symbols. Are they magic wards or something or even understandable? He looks about. “Any idea what those are…?”

Drasta easily reads the words. “It’s in elven. It says, ‘Go Back! To dangerous! Seems as though some kind of warning to keep others away.”

over "In elven, we might be on the right track then. Could be a misdirection though if they want to avoid being seen... but to write it in elven doesn't... make a lot of sense, does it?" Khzuro states.

Drasta studies the marks, “That would depend on when it was written…. Hmmm not that old… Within the last day.”

Khzuro snaps his fingers. "Seems less likely that someone put this here to dissuade us then. If it's elven it's probably Sithmore. Were they trying to help us or misdirect us? Think misdirection is more likely, what do you think?"

Ayako says, "Seems a pretty clear warning to me."

Drasta thinks about it, “It is possible but either way this seems to more than likely be our path forward.”

Khzuro makes the call, “Well, let’s keep moving then, rather than try to find another lead...?" The group moves out until near dusk and make camp again. Khzuro refreshes his Overland flight and Greater Magic Weapons after what happens next, he is glad he did it.

Late at night everyone is awakened by an explosion. The ground shakes cracking the ice all around the area in spots. Drasta looks around as to what the hell that was. Everyone is scrambling. Ayako transforms after casting. She sets off running toward a dim light in the distance; her paws and teeth giving off a golden glow. It’s two hours before dawn. Whatever is going on it’s in the next valley.

Everyone is accounted for. They are scrambling. Samo and Haru are in the lead after Ayako. There are shadowy giant forms at the edge of the horizon also running in the direction of the light. Everyone hears another explosion. After a minute a shock wave hits everyone in turn. The companions feel it in their chest and the ground rumbles, but no one seems to stumble or fall yet.

As Khzuro passes Samo, Haru, and Drasta with his overland flight he says, “Think we’d better check that out... but we’d better be careful.” He goes 300 meters to the crest of a hill the scene of battle unfolds to him.

In the back of the valley is a Balor one very familiar to him. It’s Chrome. In front of him is a Marilith who is directing the battle of two squads. Both are run by a Hezrou. Each has 5 Vrocks fighting with him. A dozen more Brocks are dead and dissolving on the ice. Against them is a small Kozakurian woman floating 5 feet in the air. She has with her two giant creatures made of shadow called Nightwalkers. The shadow creatures are 20 ft tall and are decimating the Vrocks while taking light wounds from the frantic casting of light spells by Chrome and the Marilith. Ayako and her pride of 5 tigers are sprinting down the hill at the mobs.

As Drast come up abreast of Khzuro he casts haste upon her. The Vrocks now have the Nightwalkers surrounded. As the frontliners are debating what to do the floating woman casts Time Stop. Everyone stops but three people, Chrome, the Woman, and Khzuro. The woman and Balor are casting. Khzuro decides to get into sneak attack range of the Hezrou and Vrock.

The woman gets off two spells. She casts a black orb at each of the two groups fighting, However Chrome is counter spelling her and one of the orbs dissolves in mid strike. The other partially hits the other group. The legs on three of the Vrocks disintegrate under the spell and the nightwalkers seem to heal from the same spell. Khzuro sees that the Nightwalkers do not seem to be threatening the woman, in fact it seems they are under her control. Time starts again.

Khzuro, having to prepare himself is the first to strike at the demons. He chooses to aim at the Vrocks. He hits one of the Vrock demons that lost its legs. He wounds it so badly he almost killed it outright. It falls struggling to get up.

Three tigers attack the demons on the 1rst nightwalker. Two attack the other. The tiger that has a golden aura surrounding her goes straight to the marilith but doesn’t get there in time to do anything before they attack. Of the other tigers One takes down a Hezrou to the ground. It attacks with fangs and is able to rake him down his stomach with its back claws opening up his guts. The other two take on Vrocks. They do some damage but not enough for the Vrocks to even turn their attentions from the Nightwalkers.

The two that went to fight the ones fighting the other Nightwalker each hit too unwounded Vrocks. One takes the demon down raking it with its claws. It is badly wounded and starts to fight from its back against the tiger. The other is only lightly wounded but wounded enough that it turns on the tiger.

Chrome, seeing several new combatants enter the field of combat tries to nullify them quickly and casts implosion on Drasta. The spell doesn’t work on her somehow, she is able to resist its affects just barely.

The woman casts another orb at the Marilith. The white globe of energy descends upon it. There is a great explosion when it hits. It blows three of her arms away. She is gravely wounded but still trying to direct the fight and moves in while casting a blade barrier back at the small floating woman. The woman quickly moves avoiding damage from the spell.

Drasta shrugging off the effects of the implosion fires at Chrome shouting an elven war cry. Two of her arrows bite down on him. One deflects off his armor leaving a flesh wound on his arm. Drasta notices that where the arrow skipped off and cut him something glitters as if his skin covers a metal core.

The nightwalkers still only lightly wounded are still fighting. One slams into a Hezrou throwing it like a toy It bashes into a rock. It gets back up slowly. The other steps on a Vrock crushing it completely and instantly. The Vrocks that are left attack One attacks a nightwalker and the other two are trying to fend off tigers. The nightwalkers shrug off the attacks while the Smilodons start to get cut up as bad as they are giving.

Ayako leaps on the Marilith raking and biting with her claws glowing with a holy light. She wounds it to the point that it can no longer cast or fight anything else except for Ayako herself.

Khzuro keeps his sights trained on the Vrocks and Hezrou. He hits another of the down Vrocks. He kills another on the ground and one facing off against one of the Nightwalkers. As he shouts a cry of victory, he sees Chrome casting out of the corner of his eye. Time freezes but Khzuro does not. He tries throwing an Enervation spell at Chrome, but the Balor gets his spell off first.

It cast firestorm into the middle of the battlefield. Khzuro flies as fast as he can to avoid the spell when it goes off while trying a hail Mary shot at chrome it hits him but does not stop him from getting a second spell off. The spell the woman gets off makes the Marilith shimmer.

When time starts again. The Firestorm catches all the cats, Drasta, Samo, Haru and the woman. The woman’s spell rots the Marilith’s skin off showing a cyborg like frame that rusts away. It becomes petrified, unable to move because of the rust encompassing all its joints. The woman falls as the Firestorm hits her and the Nightwalkers disappears. The second spell the Balor cast was greater teleportation. He disappears from the field of combat to parts unknown.

The mages move in now along with Samo and Haru. Samo is there first and is enrages because half his face and hair are burnt up. He completely cuts a Vrock in half. Haru attacks another with her naginata severely wounding it. It tries to flee the field. Ogano throws banishment at one of the Hezrou it disappears in an instant back to the abyss where it came from. Aiami casts transmute metal to wood on one of the Vrocks. Its bones turn to wood. Masaka throws fire shurikens at it in tandem and it goes up in flames. Katsu casts vitriolic sphere at the wounded Hezrou. It’s acid resistance saves it.

Drasta also burn and enraged focuses on Marilith, putting all her effort into ending it. She sends a slew of arrows into the frozen demon. It falls apart and starts to dissolve on the ground.

The Hezrou casts Blasphemy. Three of the tigers instantly die and Samo starts walking around in a complete daze. One of the Vrocks rips Haru’s shoulder armor off and wrenches her arm. Her naginata falls to the ground. She is completely surprised by the move. The woman crawls back on her feet, but she is wobbly from the Firestorm spell.

Shin hits a Hezrou with a greater missile storm backing it up. Samo takes the arm off another Vrock. Haru picks her naginata back up and goes to face another Vrock. She quickly thrusts it into the demon’s midsection dropping it. Ogano casts magnetism on two of the Vrocks. They get entangled with one another. Drasta kills another with her firing arrows. Even though they do no fire damage she still sticks them like pin cushions. She kills another one. Khzuro fires off and kills another one.

The last Hezrou gets too close to the severely wounded Ayako. She jumps on its back and takes off its head. It falls with her on it the head rolls away and starts to dissolve. Samo and Haru take on another Vrock together and severely wound it. The mages all cast magic missile on the three Vrock that are left. They kill two of them and another starts to run away until a green beam hits it. Everyone turns to see the Kozakurian woman on the other end. She completely disintegrates the demon into mush.

As some flop over in pain and others cry out a victory shout, some of the group see the ranger walk out to several piles of black and white crystals in the middle of the field. There are about 60 to 80 of each color there.

Khzuro looks over to the ranger, then a look around, then back to her, “How much did that demon get when they withdrew?” He holsters his crossbows, The greater invisibility fading soon after the battle is over.

She backs away from everyone. “Go Back! This not be the place for mortal hands. It’s too dangerous for ye! I’ll stop it, I will. Go Back!”

Drasta looks to the form, “Power in numbers sister.” All the while she’s slowly walking to the center of the piles of crystals.

Khzuro infuriated says, “Let’s cut the backtalk about either of us not being ready, I’m pretty sure you know what this is.” He shows the watch. "Sithmore, right now there's a demon lord that has one of your artifacts and has been using it to break time. It has been noticed. What's important right now is stopping them from abusing time further."

"What I'm saying lad the things on that ship, they be trapped everything be trapped be me magic. You cannot go on her. I’m the only one that can be doing this. You all be need'in to turn back the way ye came."

Drasta walks towards Khzuro and stares at Sithmore’s host as he responds to her. "The demon has already gained access. They've gotten around or through the traps somehow. And have been using it for quite some time. We /can't/ leave this be. Not unless we want to leave a demon lord with an artifact that can turn back time. You know how much damage can be caused if they fully figure out how to use it. And the demon has already made moves with this. My involvement has been forced in this matter. If you were able to handle this demon and their minions, it already would have been done by now. We wouldn't be in this situation. We need each other's help if we're going to stop them." Drasta stands firmly behind Khzuro giving his voice support.

The woman looks at her hands. "I done an unworthy thing to this child she will'na take much more of me being her." She then looks up to the group. "Alright but I'll be haven to show you the way. You venturers touch one thing of mine and I'll be coming back for ye souls. NOW RUN!" She casts a spell her whole body starts to swell with negative energy as she uses the body to open a rift to the plane."

All the mages including Khzuro recognize what she is doing. She is casting a rare energy spell called Negative energy pulse. It’s s devastating spell to anything within range even if they are able to negate some of the magic through strength of soul.

Khzuro starts screaming, “Everyone back! Away from her! He flies away from her trying to get out of the pulse’s range. “Sithmore! What are you doing…!?” Drasta runs to the nearest person and void steps them back 100 ft. All the mages run for their lives, and everyone else is right on their feet.

The woman holds the energy within her body as long as she can to delay the spell then it is released. All the white crystal piles instantly disintegrate. All the black ones, overcharge with negative energy and explode violently. Every crystal in the spell’s range is destroyed and the ranger herself ages several years. Grey streaks now line her hair.

Panting and huffing Khzuro looks over to see if it’s safe to return now. It is. The w3oman is standing there. As the group tries to approach her, she says her last words to them. “I showed you, yer star. I hope I did’na hurt the lass.”

Drasta give a courtesy to her, “If you need another to see this through you can stay with me.”

Khzuro blinks confusedly, then approaches, “Could have been worse I guess…” With that an ethereal like form pulls away from the body. The form looks like a female elf in a captain’s uniform. She turns and looks one last time then disappears after giving a salute to the companions. The ranger crumbles to the ground.

[Winterhawk99]

Khzuro moves over to the ranger, then motions Iwao to her. Deciding to leave it to the healers then he makes a heavy sigh, looking over to the others. “That’s… well, I suppose that solves one thing… but was really hoping to get Sithmore’s help…”

Drasta sits down in the middle of the battlegrounds. “We could have used her help… It is unfortunate.”

Iwao runs over to the ranger and starts to cast. The burns heal, the aging does not. Aiami also comes over and puts several spells on her. Drasta peels some singed skin from her arm and looks amongst the others. Khzuro breaths out heavily… “Guess we should be thankful for this. We upheld our oath to their asshole cat friend as well.”

Aiami says. “She’ll live. She’ll need a few days to heal though and some of the damage can’t be reversed. Her body was never trained to use magic let alone that of a high archmage and being possessed so long. She’s probably aged 20 years or so.”

The kobold frowns with another breath out, nodding, “At…least she’s alive. That’s something. We did what we can.”

“I suggest we make camp here. All those crystals mean we must be close.” Ogano chimes in.

Khzuro nods, “with fortune on our side hopefully our foe is starved of the power source they need, for now…”

Samo asks, “What was all that talk about, “I showed you your star?”

Khzuro pauses, considering. “Sea of Fallen Stars, where the Moonflower set sail, and possibly guiding stars, the ones sailors use to guide them as they navigate the ocean.” He looks at the watch, examining it closely.

Drasta comments, “I looked into the rift as she opened it. There was nothing but cold, blackness, a soul sucking nothingness. It was…the first thing that truly made me afraid in a long time.”

With a grimace Khzuro nods to her, “Also that.” He looks over to Iwao, then considers. “A few days?... No way to speed that up? If we stay here the demon will keep sending forces at us. Not sure it wise to postpone the mission that long…”

“Maybe. I’m having a hard time dealing with what I am seeing. It’s her mind. It’s all messed up along with the aging a decade and a half… maybe two in a few months.” She retorts.

He considers how far they are already from the portal when Katsu takes an interest in the subject. “While she was possessed, she will have experienced the very best and worst of the ghost’s memories and vice-versa. It’s one of the reasons possession is so dangerous.”

Khzuro sighs, considering, then looks over to her. “Think she’s in more danger if we stay with her. The demon will want to focus on us, not her. Unless they don’t know the archmage has left her. Which is possible, am afraid.”

Iwao asks, “So what should we do? Ayako still has two sisters left. But with only three cats they can only give warning of any large encounters.”

Khzuro considers, looking around the group, trying to see how they’re holding up after the last battle. “Opinions, anyone?” Everyone but the cats held up much better this encounter however more in general ware wounded from the balor’s magic.

Ogano says, “Magnetism seems to be very effective at slowing them down.”

Aiami adds, “Mind spells don’t work, magic is only partially effective against Chrome. Acid, fire and electricity don’t work.”

“But acid and sonics will.” Masako adds.

Drasta gestures to the mechanic, “Perhaps we can find some way to combine a magnetization with something sonic?”

“We’ll need something to hit that big demon, but… meant more what to do about the ranger and their companion. We don’t have time to let them recover. But if we abandon them the demon will likely think the archmage is still there and kill them.” Khzuro explains.

Drasta shrugs, “Yes, it is an unfortunate problem though either way they may die.” She looks to Ogano. “Its too bad my drawings were removed from my chamber, or we could have sent her there in a way.”

Ayako joins the group badly wounded but healing. “I’ll take her back. She will need people around her and Snowy so she can heal.”

Haru says, “I’m not sure about that. You and the pride are some of our best upfront fighters. Its not tactical.”

A heavy sigh "Possible... not sure I like the prospect of leaving us shorthanded. We'll need everything we have to defeat that demon lord and their remaining minions." Khzuro reflects.

"The demon uses implosion. It’s a hard-handed spell. If someone drops from that there’s no way back. Still, you will have Iwao for those of the wounded. The mages most likely won’t make it back on their own. I’m the only one that can bring her back and still care for her."

Khzuro looks off in the distance. “Think the most sensible thing is to do what we can for her now, then keep moving towards the demon. if we occupy the demon's attention, odds are their attacks will come after us and not her." Shin gets some paper and a quill and starts drawing something.

“We are still not using our strengths.” Katsu suddenly exclaims.

Khzuro looks over, “Do you have a better idea?”

He nods, “"why do clan battles almost never see magic until the very end?" Drasta smirks while listening. He continues, “Why is it the samurai and soldiers that mostly win the battles?”

Khzuro raises and eye ridge, “Why is that?”

Ogano is the one who answers, “Because one side is always counter spelling the other.”

, "And that is what we are not doing keeping the magic off the table." Katsu nods. Drasta, somewhat surprised at the simple thing, nods too as he explains.

“But they outnumber us in arms.” Samo emphasizes.

“Both physically and in other ways.” Drasta adds.

Aiami says, “But not in magic. There may be no Archmages here but we all can do 8th circle spells.”

Masako raises her hand, “7th.”

Shin then shouts “YES!”

They all look over at the dwarf. Drasta asks, “Figure something out?”

"I can make orbs that are magnetic and let off a sonic burst when they hit." Ummm may take some time............ 24 err 36 hours if I have help."

Haru slaps Samo, "What about tin can here in his new armor?"

"Hey that's Dancing Bear."

Haru smirks, "go ahead and dance in that. I like watching crashing towers. Maybe that will be your new war name."

Drasta nods to Shin, “I am good with my hands if you need, and I will follow your instructions.”

Samo adjusts his belt, "I think I like that war name better, Crashing Towers!" Drasta chuckles at Haru and Samo.

Haru rolls her eyes, “Oh gods.”

“More like tumbling boulder at times." Drasta smirks.

Shin is still drawing, and he says to the elf, “Ok, Drasta come with me. I’ll set up my shop.”

Khzuro looks over, considering, “Just... worried, do we really have time to make a stop like this? ..."

Ogano says, "It's a risk, Khzuro but I would rather be better prepared and take it than lose more people."

"24 hours Shin no more! if Khzuro decides to stay." Katsu shouts. Drasta steps over to help Shin if he wants it from her for a bit of time.

Khzuro gives a nod to Ogano "Right then, guess it's best we set up camp. In the interim, well, we saw their leader's capabilities there. That demon lord. We'd better prepare some countermeasures." Looks over to Iwao "Will you be able to counter spell those implosions it was casting?"

Ogano shakes his head. “That’s not a spell that can be countered, but the others I think the mages can.”

While they start work Drasta asks If it would be possible to do the same with an arrow. Shin says, “You can have sonic or magnetic Dasta, I can’t do both with an arrow."

Ogano looks at everyone but Drasta and Shin who have walked some distance off but are still within hearing range. “How do we organize then?”

Drasta talking to Shin says. “I would prefer sonic, but this device comes first.”

Katsu says "Ogano and Aiami have the most experience counter spelling. Masako is young she would not have the eyes for it yet."

Masako says, "I can concentrate on my summoning and sonic spells.

Iwao asks, would holy water help?

“It’s a demon not a vampire.” Drasta chuckles back at Iwao.

Katsu says, “I have imprisonment but i am not sure that will work on a demon lord. Everyone looks at Khzuro.

"Might be worth trying regardless of if you get the chance."

Masako says, "let’s try to use our summoning spells first. That way we have more to block more of them from getting to us as we cast or counter."

Katsu shakes his head. "If we can before the fighting starts. So far, We have been surprised more than ready for trouble."

Masako counters, "We didn’t in the last battle."

Shin gives Drasta a jar filled with water and some tiny creatures in it. "Hold this very carefully."

Masako asks, "What do you think, Khzuro?"

"How long do those last? We do spend a long time travelling."

Aiami says" it depends, Khzuro. some last a long time and some a short time."

"We can save the short duration ones for when battle is upon us then, but if we have longer duration ones, cast those when we begin travelling, if they'll last several hours." Khzuro says.

Ogano nods, "A good idea."

The ranger wanders out of her tent asking, "Where am I? who are you people in low shou." The snow leopard follows her. Drasta looks over to her calmly.

Khzuro also looks over. “You... probably won't believe us, but this one is Khzuro, and you were possessed by an ancient archmage who was fighting a demon lord."

"Dreams so many dreams." She laments.

Interested, Khzuro asks, “"What did you dream about...?"

"Water, floating cities, drawings, people vanishing, hanging men, a sailing ship.......no two one small, one very large. writing, so many things,"

"The memories of the archmage who was possessing you..." A heavy sigh, then looks to Aiami "Can you still speak with animals?" He asks after explaining to the woman.

"Some yes,"

He looks back to the ranger. “Look, this is probably still going to be a shock, but you're still in danger. The demon lord the archmage was fighting is still at large, and possibly thinks you still are possessed by the archmage. You're not safe here." Then a look to Aiami "Will her companion be able to lead her back? Through the portal?"

Aiami nods, "He should he’s a cat. They can trace back where they came from."

A nod "That might be the best thing for them to do then. Have them go back. The demon is still at large. We'll just have to ensure that their focus is on us and hope they have enough time to get out of the battle zone." Looks to the Ranger

"I don’t even know where I am?"

Iwao states rather pressingly. "She will need a lot of counseling."

"Probably a lot, but for now what she needs is to not get caught in the crossfire of us fighting a demon lord." Khzuro counters. He then looks at Ayako. “You stay. Have your sisters follow the ranger.”

Drasta thinks a moment on perhaps there is a chance she can still cast magic but dismisses it from her head

Ayako shrugs, "I'll tell them. My new stud will be upset for losing 2/3rds of his harem."

Khzuro gives her a slow nod. “Best they do not risk the rest. We have darker destinations, I fear."

Ayako says, "Alright I'll tell them to shadow her to the portal."

Khzuro bobs his head, “Thank you.”

The talk dies down except for Drasta holding the jar of very dangerous pistol shrimp and Shin. Khzuro looks over, but doesn't interrupt, despite being curious as to how long they need to get ready. Drasta peers into the clear jar wondering what chaos these tiny creatures can cause. Shin, after he is done making the glass globes, takes the shrimp and puts one in each of them with some sea water and begins enchanting them. People start to eat, read, smoke and generally camp life starts in earnest. Shin laughs, "Nobody will think of a sonic fireball. I just created one.” Drasta chuckles to his words. Khzuro looks about camp content. Everything seems set…. for now.

[Winterhawk99]

Late at night when everyone is asleep, Khzuro has a dream. A familiar demon comes into his dreams this time he bears no hourglass. The kobold looks around at the dreamscape, trying to see if there’s anything unusual besides the large demon. He sees a cavern with ice all around Chrome. The demon looks at him menacingly. “Who are you that intrudes upon my territory! Begone with all that follow you, kobold!”

“Is this a joke of some kind?” Khzuro asks while raising an eye ridge…. “Wait! Is this the first time we’ve met…?”

“A JOKE! you have destroyed only a thimble full of my minions. You and that witch hiding in the ranger's form.......Lauriella. She is a challenge you are nothing but a flea. What is your name Kobold?

Raises an eye ridge "Haven't you already called this one by their name?"

He stops and thinks. “I did? Yes, I must have done it conquered her, her magic and her machines........ He grins a malicious smile. "I will succeed!" He then turns to you. What is your name?

"You haven't." Khzuro shakes his head "You don't know how that magic works, do you? It's slowly working its way so that you will never have existed at all."

He grins and turns his head as if listening. after a moment he turns back to you. “Khzuro that is your name. I will be magnanimous this one time. If you leave now. No harm will come to you or yours. I so swear as Lord Chrome, the lord of the 244th layer of the abyss. Now leave me to my ways, Khzuro! or die a cruel death and be reborn as one of my own machines."

"This one knows enough of demons that they are not inclined to honor their promises. Harm has already been done. Can make you a similar offer though. Leave the artifacts you have. Go back to the abyss. Otherwise, this one cannot prevent what will likely be a fate this one would wish upon no one. And this one would not have to do anything to do it. You walk a path of self-destruction."

"You have made your decision little flea. I will await you and your lice so you may join my armies as living machines." You awaken to the camp in absolute chaos.

Meanwhile Drasta wakes up to the blackness in the dream world. After some time two giant orbs bigger than her own body appear. A deep voice in draconic asks, “Who disturbs the ground. I can smell you elf, tiger, kobold and others. Who disturbs my rest?” The gigantic orbs are aquamarine in color.

Drasta gives a bow towards the voice and replies in draconic, “I am Drasta, and we seek to stop a demon.”

The wind catches her for a moment and tries to pull her closer to the two orbs then it stops almost at the point where she is lifted off her feet. “I can smell the scent of demon strongly. This is no place for mortals. Cease and desist in your efforts. I do not know you and do not know if you work with these fiends. Anyone I find in my caverns will be………...DEVOURED!...........except dwarves which need to be slowly roasted………Now leave this place and forget you ever knew it existed. The orbs fade back and disappear. She wakes up to total chaos in camp, and quite the light show.

Outside of camp everyone is screaming and carrying on. Ayala is in tiger form now pouncing on something invisible and rolling around in the snow. She stops, gets up, and pounces on another spot at something only she can see. Iwao is screaming, “I’M DROWNING, I’M DROWNING!” while making guggling noises in his throat. The mages are casting spells at imaginary enemies. Shin is wandering around and fighting something invisible. He cries out, “Stop! Stop! I made you all!” Haru is crying and kneeling on the ground as if she is holding someone. Samo is walking around in a drunken stagger and swinging his katana around calling out his ancestors. Aiami is running around camp in circles crying out for Ayako to stop chasing her.

Khzuro casts detect magic to find there is illusionary magic all around camp. Not only that there are two different and distinct spells going on, but both are the same spell just different flavors. It is a spell of dream illusion: Not so rare in Kura-tur but rare in the west. He next casts Break Enchantment.


Once he does everyone stops and looks around completely confused. He looks around to everyone. “Sssk, everyone ok now?” Drasta arches and eyebrow looking around. Aiami and Ayako change back to their human forms but Ayako is still digging and saying, “Where is it? Where is the giant mouse?” After a moment she stops and looks around at everyone, “What’s going on?”

Khzuro says, “It was a Phantasm. An extremely potent one. All of you seemed to be affected, except myself and Drasta.”

Ogano scratches his head. “I cannot believe I fell for that!”

Everyone comes back to the middle of camp and huddles down by the coals. Masako reignites it and throws some logs on. Iwao says, “I cried out to you, Khzuro but you didn’t come. I thought I was drowning. It was so cold and wet.”

Haru says, “I watched my first apprentice die all over again. It was like I was reliving it.”

“Hordes of yakuza! Never ending all the way to the horizon!” Samo exclaims.

Ayako says, “Did you see the orbs………. Just before……... Like the color of the sea on a fair day.” Some say yes others say no.

Khzuro shakes his head, “No… but this one was contacted by the demon in a dream.”

Ogano concurs, “I saw no orbs, but I also saw the demon. When he could get no information from me, he sent his creatures to destroy me.”

Masako raises her hand. “I saw the demon too.”

Iwao also confirms, “Demon!”

"I saw no demon just a field of blackness and great orbs in the sky. Then I was in my shop and my own inventions attacked me.” Shin reports.

Khzuro nods, "Curiously, in this one's dream, the demon didn't seem to recognize him at first. Offered to not harm this one if he led this expedition away. This one told him to go back to the abyss."

Katsu surmises, "My guess is he did not like your answer?"

"Oh, he went on about how he awaits us eagerly so he can turn us into his mechanical minions."

“This one spoke to a draconic I believe…” Drasta thinks on what she said questioning it in the way she said it thinking as she listens to the kobold talk too much and it’s rubbing off.

Khzuro looks to Drasta, seeming particularly interested "What did they say...?"

“They spoke of smelling the demon and that it did not trust us and if we were to find it that it would devour us all.” chuckles a bit “Well...except dwarves it would slow roast them.”

"That is.... curious... do you think it's aligned with the demon? Or not but still hostile to us?" Khzuro asks.

“I do not believe it would be aligned with the demon in the anger it spoke of it. It would seem that way. I do not know what would need to be done for it to have a neutral opinion of us.”

“What did they appear like...?”

“I only had seen two large aquamarine orbs that were floating I did not see the creature but one of those talking is not something one can forget.”

The ones that saw the orbs light up. "Thats what I saw! Shin nods, Me too."

Khzuro considers, “Any idea what they were?” Looks to Shin.

“Perhaps we had two forces attempting to cause problems in this camp then?” Drasta questions.

Katsu finally says, “They were great orbs. all it said was turn back no one should have knowledge of what is in my treasure.”

Khzuro perks up at that. “Sounds like it might have been something Lauriella set up..." A sigh

Drasta nods her head. “I believe if that is the case it may be of that nature.”

He looks at Drasta, “Did it behave in a manner that's... fitting for an elf?"

She looks at him dead in the eyes, “The only thing that would come to mind of what it is a very old Wyrm of copper decent.

Khzuro gets excited remembering something. “Copper Dragon, might be the same one that worked with Lauriella in safeguarding the artifacts then."

Drasta frowns, “It is a possibility.”

Katsu says, "Would this be her dragon knight?"

"I'd say that's... quite likely. Suppose if it IS a dragon it..." A pause, considering, then looks around "Don't suppose anyone has a scroll of sending?" Khzuro looks around.

Shin says, "I can make one in a 1/2 hour."

"Go ahead then. If I use it, I can attempt to contact them. They could reply, and maybe be less hostile." Khzuro says in hope. It turns out to be a minor chore for Shin. Meanwhile some are still dealing with their dreams especially Samo and Haru who are not used to this sort of thing.

When finished he looks to Khzuro who considers the 25-word limit. And keeps the timepiece handy. Maybe he can use the spell to show he has it somehow. He decides he cannot. He asks, “The dragon is called ‘Clyde’, right…? Doesn't sound like a name for a dragon, but... sskh"... He stops a minute and considers again. “Right, should be a moment for this, am... hoping it works..." Pauses, considering
Casts the sending, speaking in Draconic. "Honored Copper, am Khzuro. Given Sithmore's Timepiece by old elf. Chosen to stop demon. Sithmore's out. Demon has vault. Coming to help. Cooperation/Direction appreciated."

He casts and awaits a reply. He gets a short message in his head, “Nothing leaves these caverns.” He sighs. “Well... not the reply this one was hoping for..." A sigh "Guess we're on our own..."

“Unless we find this dragon and speak with it.” Drasta comments.

Khzuro shrugs dejected, “They're probably about as paranoid as Sithmore is."

Ogano says, "The real question is: Is it worth the risk? yes, or no? We are talking about a very old dragon. not something we can take on easily if it decides to attack us.”

"It very well could be, an ancient dragon would be a powerful ally against a Demon Lord, or at least, we don't want them opposing us. We both share the goal of stopping this demon, at the very least." Khzuro says.

Katsu replies questioningly, “I do not know of western dragons. They have no masters like ours do. that I know of. It is a risk.

"My people have tales of the Western Dragons.... that they were once like the Eastern Dragons but abandoned their purpose and tried to steal the power to create life of their own. And were stripped of much of their power for it. It admittedly doesn't paint much of a flattering picture." Khzuro says.

Aiami asks, "Drasta what do you know of these copper dragons?"

“They are generally untrustful in most cases though I only know what is in books.”

Aiami continues, "What is in the books?"

“From what I have found they could be greedy, envious, and stingy, and particularly dangerous when their treasure hoards were at threat. Though in most cases they also can be particularly good company when their trust is earned, and it seems they do enjoy the company of bards at the best of times”

Ayaka asks, "Who gets the multicolored dress and the floppy shoes."

Haru lightens up for the first time and punches Samo in the shoulder, "We have a volunteer. Samo is perfect."

Samo shakes his head, "I'm going to be eaten."

Drasta chuckles slightly then looks over to Ogano. “Do you have the materials to copy a spell?”

Ogano asks, "what spell?"

Katsu chuckles, "I don't think any mage worth their salt would leave home without magic writing materials."

Drasta hands him a shapechange scroll to look over. He takes it and carefully observes it. "I believe I understand this. its written funny but I can grasp its nature." He copies the spell. She nods and waits patiently. He gives her the scroll back.

Daylight arrives on the glacier along with the creaks and moans of the ice underneath their feet.

Khzuro looks to the west. “Well, supposes there's nothing else to do but keep moving. If we do encounter the dragon maybe this one can try to negotiate with them but... they don't sound like they would be a reliable ally. Still, Sithmore allied with them, so..."

[Winterhawk99]

They pack up camp after eating a good breakfast, continuing along the ice flows. After ½ a day they crest a hill and see a huge opening in the ice. Before the cavern entrance is a machine the size of a peasant’s hovel. There are three strange creatures surrounding the machine. They look like giant floating wormlike creatures, each having 4 hands. With giant maws on the top. In their hands they have small things that gleam in the sunlight and reflect the sun, like crystals. Each creature is the size of a hill giant.

Khzuro looks aside and asks if anyone knows what they are and recasts his long-term buffs. Everyone else just shakes their heads. Aiami comments. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen the like.”

Shin shrugs, “Looks like something my great wand can take care of in short order.”

Khzuro turns the other way and looks at Drasta. She recalls, “They are called Phearimm. They are creatures of legend. I don’t know much about them other than they are reported to be extremely evil and highly magical.”

Khzuro scratches and eye ridge and thinks. “Well… Least we spotted them first.” He looks around trying to determine if the only way through is through them, or if they can get around the monsters. He sees that they either must go through them or try to sneak very close to him. He looks to Samo and sighs. “Right, only way through. We’ll have to take them out. Let’s get ready everyone.”

The creatures are levitating off the ground while looking and working on the machine. The mages and clerics do their buffing spells. Ayako changes form but just as she does there is a muffled boom! The Phearimm and machine seem to disappear. That is all except for Khzuro. He still sees them. Khzuro says, “They’re invisible.” He casts see invisibility and Heroism on Drasta.

Katsu says, “They disappeared.”

Drasta says, “I still can’t see them.” Everyone else agrees with her.

Drasta uses her necklace and casts ultravision on herself. She still cannot see them.

Khzuro casts see invisibility and heroism of Samo. He shakes his head, “I can’t see them.” Drasta stares really hard where the creatures were, and she still can’t see them.

Khzuro keeps passing around spells assuming they’ll be able to see the Phearimm. It doesn’t seem to work. Ayako gets bored with it all and starts to slink down the hill toward the cave entrance.

Khzuro does a double take. “Ayako! Where are you going?! They’re still there!” Everyone hears Ayako growling in a low voice as she slinks down the hill and an even lower deep humming in the area barely detectable by human or elven ears. Khzuro turns back to the machine. The monsters are still studying it. It has a flower like device at it’s top that slightly opens and tilts. He realizes that the metal flower seems to be some form of gyroscope but for what he has no idea for. He looks at everyone. “You do see them, right?” Everyone shakes their heads. He slaps his hand to his forehead. “Okay... I can, probably because of the Timepiece I have. If I had to guess there's some kind of temporal trap ahead."

Drasta still squinting in the area where the machine was says, “That seems odd.”

Khzuro adds, “They're working with some kind of machine there too, sskh, might be one of Sithmore's devices."

Drasta replies, “Or the demon’s trap.”

Lightning suddenly strikes out of nowhere and hits Ayako. She charges the cave entrance, but two more beams of lightning hit her. The lightning stays on her. It doesn’t stop. The beams do not recede. She tries to press forward for a moment then suddenly treats to the north sideways to the group. The beams stop as when she gets far enough away. Drasta watches curiously at the exact spot the beams came from. Khzuro observes, “It was those Phearimm. They all unleashed Witchbolts at her. She got within a 100 ft before they reacted. He tries to shout at Ayako and sign to her, “Ayako those things are striking you from outside of time!”

Drasta knocks and arrow keeping quiet while Khzuro laments, "Damn it, we'd better get in there. We have to shut down what they're doing somehow. Only I can see them, but I can definitely see them attacking her."

Aiami had been carefully observing everything and says, “I think they thought she was a lone tiger and that was a warning shot.”

Khzuro shakes his head, “Oh... and if the rest of us go in we'll get fried with more powerful magic… Can any of you throw a powerful dispel around where they were?"

Ogano nods, “I don’t think they know about the rest of us yet.”

Khzuro asks him, “How far away can you throw a dispel?"

Ogano replies, “300 ft or so. So, I need to cover 40 meters before throwing it.”

"Right, let’s get moving..." Ogano nods.

Khzuro commands, “Spell up and then Ogano leads with a dispel, Drasta once they’re dispelled start shooting them.” Everyone charges down the hill to the cavern’s direction. Samo and Haru are in the lead acting as cover. Ogano throws his spell. The spell is reflected back at the group. Everyone’s shields and buffs are dropped around Ogano including his and they become visible.

The creatures each pick up four or two weapons. One has 4 long swords two are electric and two are flame. Another picks up 4 halberds two are dripping acid and 2 shines with a light vibrating light. And the last picks up two long bows. Not only that each throws a spell at them simply by thinking it. One chain lightning, another crown of madness and another magic missile. Katsu gets hit with crown of madness, and several get hit with chain lightning.

Drasta gets driven back a small amount by the missiles. A twisted iron crown grows on Katsu’s head. He immediately attacks Iwao with his staff, but misses. The lightning hits Samo first. He takes the brunt of it and stops for just a moment as the electricity frazzles him. Haru is hit next but easily shrugs most of it off her. Aiami gets hit next and needs to stop her advance as the lightning affects her greatly. Katsu is hit harder and takes a major shock to his system even though he is one of the enemies now. Drasta and Khzuro take some minor damage from the lightning as it bounces from one comrade to another. Shin also gets hit but stands up to it. It seems he is used to shocks from time to time.

Katsu is chasing Iwao attacking him. Iwao continues running to the cave. The party travels another 10 feet and suddenly a humming drones in everyone’s ears. All the group can see the creatures. Aiami and Ogano stop and put their staves out in front of them ready to counterspell. The rest go into action. They can feel every molecule in their bodies vibrating as they enter the harmonics field. It has a strange numbing affect as they enter the field of the machine’s touch. Haru and Samo manage to get within 10 feet of the monsters Even still smoking from the major shocks they took.

Khzuro quickly gets off an Enervation spell on the one with the longbows. However, he is not sure how effective it was. Drasta shoots two arrows into the one with the 4 halberds. Masako tries to give as good as she got and unleashes a chain lightning back on them. She hits the one with the halberds but instead of it being hit by lightning it absorbs the spell and the arrows that Dasta shot into it fall out and the wounds close.

Shin fires his blunderbuss on the one with the longswords. His weapon breaks through its resistance and hits it hard unable to absorb the strange magic the beast reels back a moment. Masako tries a spell that seems to also break through one of the Phearimm resistance. A green beam hits it at the same time Khzuro hits it with 4 bolts. The creature completely disintegrates before everyone’s eyes.

Iwao casts a dispel on Katsu as he is about to throw a spell directly at him. The one that got hit by Shin throws a magic missile at him hitting him again and making him reel back. The other one tries a mass suggestion spell, but it fizzles and dissipates and Aiami and Ogano work in unison to counter spell it.

Samo attacks the body of the one with the longswords. He starts to carve it up. Haru misses her strikes on the one with the halberds as it blocks all of her shots. The humming in everyone’s ears is starting to distract and give everyone a headache especially Drasta. If the battle lasts much longer it may well go to the phearimm who do not seem to be affected by the distortion.

Khzuro hits the one with the Halberds with three shots from his crossbows. The monster is both hurt and healed at the same time by the strikes as it absorbs the magic of the bolts themselves. Both Drasta and Masako attack the one that’s on Haru. Drasta’s arrows get there first and destroy the levitating monster before Masako’s spell hits.

Iwao tires using sunbeam on the last remaining phearimm the spell is turned back upon him, and he reels back from his own magic. Shin fires his big wand again now that it’s recharged. It gets through its spell resistance again and the monster takes quite a bit of damage. It focuses now on the fighters in front of it.

It bites Samo with its maw and starts to chew his arm off. A giant tiger leaps on to it with flaming jaws and claws. Ayako is back in the game. She rips into its flesh as it has Samo’s arm in its mouth. Khzuro carefully aims his crossbow being that Samo is dangling from one end and Ayako is ripping into it on the other. He fires 4 time striking each and every time. The bolts sink deep into it. It falls to the ground releasing Samo. Ayako not satisfied keeps biting and clawing at the dead body. Drasta half smiles watching them die then returns to her stern nature. Khzuro does a little twirl with his dual hand-crossbows and returns them to their holsters.

[Winterhawk99]

Ayako changes forms. She and Iwao start to heal the injured which is pretty much everyone. The group is still in the harmonics field. Drasta looks over the phearimm bodies for anything noteworthy. She finds they all had +4 weapons with various elemental properties. Khzuro casts resist sonic energy on himself while Drasta tosses all the weapons into a bag of holding. Khzuro finds that casting the resist spell makes the disruption to his body slightly easier to manage.

Shin motions to Masako to come with him and they examine the machine and the controls. Khzuro says, “Ssskh, can tell there’s a sort of disruption in the flow of time within here…”

Shin shouts out, “I CAN READ THESE SYMBOLS!” Khzuro looks to shin as he opens a panel and puts his head into it. Khzuro decides to cast a resist sonic energy on Shin who gives him a thumbs up.

Ogano says, “What do we do with the machine?”

Masako answers him. "Technically its outside. We could keep it for study?"

Khzuro studies the machine and says, “Seems a little simple for one of Sithmore's artifacts, doubt it's related... what do you think?"

Shin laughs and says, “Oh no it’s not.” While Drasta shakes her head doubtfully. Shin climbs upon on the machine and dismantles the panels on a box in the middle of the flower like thing. As he does the group sees a complex set up. there is a large blue crystal in the center. and 8 alternating black and white crystals around it. Shin says, “This my friends is a rotor, and the petals are gimbals that take out influences. I’m not sure yet but I think its magic, time variations and magnetism. This box is a giant rotor. the whole thing is like a magic gyro. THIS IS GENIOUS!” He starts digging around the machine more and Masako is right there with him. Samo just scratches his head and shrugs. Shin comments "This rotor must spin at an amazing speed so fast it disrupts time itself and those around it."

Khzuro observes and listens to Shin and Masako. The machine has a centralized rotor. It’s the size of a small shed. The rotor is about the size of a 505 Chevelle engine, and the petals form a sort of open flower around it. Shin comments pointing at them. “Those are the gimbals.” The rotor has a small Mythallar in the center with the black and white crystals surrounding it. The Crystal chassis spins around the Mythallar. Melted Iodium pounded into the chassis lines go from the rotor to the control box like fill engraving. Masako pulls one of the white crystals from the chassis and starts to study and tinker with it.

Khzuro recognizes them as the same positive and negative energy crystals that Lauriella used in the rest of her works. "Well, can definitely say this is one of Sithmore's works. Question now is what we should do with it. Might simply be too bulky to take with us."

Shin replies, “We could break it down store it and rebuild it back home in Dojyu.”

“How long would that take?”

The dwarf scratches his head. “A few days. It’s really complex and I don’t know how fragile some of the individual pieces are."

"Don't have time for that now, no telling what else the demon might throw at us..., we may be able to come back for it later but for now, we need to deal with that."

Masako thinks, "We could try to reverse engineer it and maybe build our own."

The kobold looks to her. “"How long would it take?"

Her eyes go wide. “Ummm longer than a few days unless we get a key to understanding how she did all this."

Shin says, "yep maybe a few maybe 5 or 10 years

Masako says, "We are probably just as smart as she was."

Khzuro sighs, “Don't think we have that time now."

Shin seems to tentatively agree. “Sure, how many centuries did the elf take to come up with this thing"

Haru looks up. "We need to destroy all those crystals."

Masako looks aghast, "Then how will it work?"

Looks up to Haru, considering, then a nod "They have a point. If we leave it here the demon could send a minion to harvest the crystals to power their devices against us. It's dangerous to leave them here."

Ogano asks, "Where would they harvest the crystals. Mythallar are created. The crystals. no one knows where any of the mines are or if they have been played out?"

Drasta adds her thoughts, “In any matter it needs to be taken care of and torn apart to understand it.”

Iwao responds, "The ghost may really get angry if we take it. and if we destroy it that may amount to the same thing. I think its best we find a way to destroy the crystals. I also think if this thing has been sitting here for almost 4 millennia, then it will be here when we get back.”

Khzuro agrees, “Her works are too dangerous to let this kind of magic be utilized again, our mission is proof of that." A pause, considering "Can we destroy the crystals without them exploding on us?"

Samo nods, "I'm with Iwao on this one guys. I really don’t want an archmage that can age me to ash to be shoved right up my butt."

Ogano says. “She used a spell to destroy them, didn’t she?"

Aiami nods, "it seems like we have to find that spell or a similar one."

"Do you recall which spell she used...?" Khzuro tries to think on it.

Katsu responds. "I've never seen the like. it looked like she opened a corridor to another place soaked in the energy and cast it in the form of a pulse."

Khzuro shakes his head. “Well, if none of us can do it..." A sigh "We might just need to keep moving."

Ogano asks, “What about the mythallar?”

"Can we do anything to it safely...?" Khzuro considers.

Samo says, "We take it the machine can’t be used without it right?”

Khzuro answers him in a way. “"Needs those crystals too."

“So do we just take one of the crystals? all of them or the mythallar or that two with all of them?" Katsu asks.

Khzuro looks around. “"Recommendations...?”

Drasta asks, “It would seem all the machines she created uses those crystals, no?”

Ogano nods to Drasta, "Yes it seems so like some form of power source"

Aiami says, "I think we take the mythallar. there seems to be many crystals but we've only seen two of those.

“Perhaps we may need a crystal on our journey if we are to gain any advantage though it could also be our own downfall.” Drasta observes.

Ayako snorts, "how so?"

“If there are further machines not activated and we were to attempt to bring it to life we have no idea what it would be capable of. It is a large risk.” Drasta answers her.

Samo shakes his head, "I really don't like that risk."

Masako says, "Oh I do for such knowledge, and I would."

"It's... definitely an idea, especially if it gives us a leg up against the demon. Still risky though... we don't really know how they work, and the demon has the best ones..." Khzuro considers.

Drasta comments, “Or perhaps he believes he does.”

"Well, if we can't dispose of the power crystals safely, then taking the mythal crystals may be the best option." Khzuro says sounding resolute.

Haru nods, "I think that’s the best way at least for now."

"I like that idea Khzuro.” Ogano affirms.

Masako and Shin are not too pleased but Shin asks, "We will come back. right?”

Khzuro searches his soul knowing the conflicts between what Shin and Masako want and what Lauriella told him. He says, “I can't promise that, but we'll see."

Shin dislodges the mythallar and gives it to Masako who puts it in a bag of holding. She holds the bag out to everyone. Khzuro looks to see if anyone volunteers. Aimai nods. "It should be me or Ogano we are your counter spellers and will be outside most battle ranges. choose one of us Khzuro." He looks them over, , but remembers Ogano's rather old, so nods to Aiami "Go ahead then."

She nods. Shin carefully explains how she should handle it and not to touch it directly he helps her pack it with some form of magic cloth he pulls from his mini workshop. Khzuro looks around and asks, "Well, anything else we need to do here? Or shall we keep moving?"

Everyone agrees to keep moving just to get out of the cold, except for Ayako. She is nice and comfy in her natural environment.

[Winterhawk99]

They head into the cavern system of ice caves. It gets colder as the wind whistles through them at a good pace of 7 knots. As they enter, they find mostly hollowed out ice with a good amount of rock formations holding it all together. The torches of the humans light up the path before them quite well but sometimes the brightness of the gleaming ice hurts their eyes. They travel 20 feet in going east then there is a fork. One goes north and another north-east.

Khzuro looks to Ayako in the lead. “Any tracks you see of note.”

She changes form and circles the area around the fork. She then shifts to her hybrid form. She is quite large, about 8 feet tall. “Demons in both directions.”

Khzuro checks on the status of his buffs then says, “Guess it doesn't matter which we choose then."

Drasta smirks, “Flip a coin perhaps.”

Khzuro recasts his heroism and see invisibility on himself. He then decides to take the north fork. They proceed slowly about 40 yards and begin to hear chittering. He goes ahead casting protection from evil upon himself and looks around the corner. He sees that 30 yards ahead there are giant spider-like creatures, and they are definitely: Yokai. He draws his crossbows. Turning his head he says, “We’ve got company. Get ready.”

Drasta nods and gets herself ready. She sneaks up to where Khzuro is and peeks around the corner. She whispers, “Great. Two bebiliths at the crossroads.”

He looks at her, “Recommended tactics?”

“Kill them as quickly as possible.”

Khzuro nods and looks up at the ceiling. It is irregular going down as far as 6ft from the ground to a vaulted 50ft. crossroad areas and major caverns seem to be high where the longer tunnels are low seemingly water has cut through them to create the structures. Drasta knocks an arrow and waits for orders.

Khzuro let’s the other prepare. Haru comes up next to Drasta stringing her Yumi. Khzuro speaks quietly to the group. “If you have preparations to make, cast them. Will cast a final enhancement on Drasta then engage. Try to kill them at a distance." He casts another heroism on Haru. The other mages put up shields and spirit armors. Some cast elemental shields. Ayako changes to her true form, that of a sabertoothed tiger and her fur takes on a golden glow as she chuffs a spell. Khzuro casts one more spell on Drasta. It is haste then commands to the girls, “Shoot!” Ayako crouches down in front of the archers and her butt goes up ready to spring.

Haru aims for the one on the left and starts shooting. She puts two arrows into its thorax. Drasta under a haste spell, is able to put 5 arrows into the other. It is hit so many times in the head thorax and legs at critical spots it stumbles before it can even go on the attack. Khzuro fires his arrows at the same that Drasta did but can only hit it once. The creature is barely able to stand. The other however is barely damaged and comes racing in on the group of our brave companions. It is immediately hit by a barrage of Issac’s missile storm coming from Shins blunderbuss.

Masako hits it with a lightning bold but it bounces on and hits the ceiling. Our companions hear ice cracking and there is an eerie roar as the ice flow shifts around them. Ayako charges and jumps on top of the creature charging the group. She rakes its sides with her claws. As she does the skin of the creature rips open revealing metal underneath.

The demon spider keys in on Drasta but can’t quiet make the distance. Haru again hits it once and it loses one of its 8 eyes. Again, Drasta hits it all five times while Ayako buries her great teeth into its steel shell. It dies not even getting an attack on them. Samo easily finishes off the wounded one that can no longer walk.

As our brave group come up to the crossroads where the spiders were they see another fork. One goes to the west and another to the north. Khzuro asks. “Any notable tracks on the paths, Ayako?”

She paces around and again shifts to her hybrid form. “Demons both ways but a whiff of gas to the west too.”

"Not sure I like that... let’s check the north path first." Khzuro considers. He gives a nod of thanks to Ayako and prepares to float off on that northward’s direction with the rest of the group. They go 20 yards, and the tunnel turns east then goes another 35 yards turns north and after 10 yards they come to another fork. Khzuro inspects the paths in the fork. He finds that the northwest fork is clear but there are demons that have seen the group and are coming at them from the east fork. There are 10 shadow mastiffs led by a fat demon like creature and there are also several tiger hengeyokai hybrid like creatures but unlike hengeyokai their hands are facing the wrong way. Khzuro screams out to the group. “Incoming, from that side!” He points east.

Somehow, perhaps divine luck, the group gets off the first move against the incoming swarm. Khzuro casts greater invisibility upon himself. Drasta nods to Haru and fires her bow into the big demon. She hits it three times. Ayako jumps into the middle of the dogs. She picks up one and everyone hears an awful crunching sound as she breaks its backbone. Haru shoots the lead demon in support of Drasta. Samo has gotten out his own Yumi and shoots the lead demon too but only hits once in 5 attempts for minimal affect. Shin casts a spell and a wave of force catches all the demons and rolls them back like a reverse magnet 40ft. That is all except for the Hezrou who weighs too much for Shin to affect.

Masako casts a spell. Her hand change to a brownish blue caste and she starts running to Ayako. The Hezrou attacks the great cat strafing her across the shoulder. Khzuro takes the opportunity to attack the big demon he scores 4 hits in vital areas. It drops on the spot. The carcass begins to disintegrate.

Now with the Hezrou dead Drasta focuses on the Rakasha She hits it 4 times once through the heart. It also falls to the ground. Its body does not disintegrate. A pool of blood forms around dead creature. Haru aims at one of the great mastiffs severely wounding one with three hits. Masako now within range for hand-to-hand combat touches one of the dogs with her hand. The skin peels off the mastiff reveling a metal form underneath. It starts to rust badly, and it joints fuse together. It cannot move now. Ayako mauls another dog and kicks the body against the wall. The body drops and begins to disintegrate. Khzuro watches her and thinks, ‘She’s an asshole cat, of course she mauls dogs.’

Both Aiami and Ogano cast snake darts. 4 snakes come out of their hands and fly at two of the dogs. They severely wound one and outright kill another. Its body falls to the ground and starts to disintegrate. Haru kills the last two on Ayako and Samo downs the last still able to fight with 3 arrows to its chest. Katsu finishes off the one Masako touched.

The group finds themselves in a sizable cavern that is approximately 40 yards x 30. Drasta looks around carefully. Khzuro spots the two chests first partially covered in ice. The chests have been opened and there are gold coins in them. Each is about ½ full. The rest of the gold seems to be scattered about the cavern. Ominously there are also piles of dust skeletons and one dead human here that looks to have been somehow naturally mummified. Khzuro also sees a piece of paper in one of the chests.

He studies the chests and the paper. He cannot read it. There also seems to be words on the trunks. He calls Drasta over. “Take a look at this can you read any of it?”

She heads over to him and says, “The Trunks say Merchandise Trunk in western trade tongue. The note is elven for sure let me see it. Handwritten script at that.”

Everyone gathers round her as she reads.

Dearest Lauriella, My wild bird,

We have missed you these last fifteen years. Now that we have an heir, Kailand again asks me to seduce you back to the kingdom to take care of the family. Your magic must have grown tenfold wandering the seas and fighting against the evils of the ports you find. I have faith it has not corrupted you as it has so many others. I know you were trained to resist the tempting allure of necromancy. We would have great use for it here as troubles strike the kingdom. The great families are playing a dangerous game of intrigue making Kailand worry for us and our son. Your magic would help greatly keeping other houses from pointing fingers in our direction.

I refused my wild bird. You are probably thousands of leagues away on some distant continent. Besides, you would be caged by my side unable to feel the waves under your feet. Do not worry, I have worked behind the scenes this last decade to keep peace among both our house’s allies and enemies. Have no fear for me as I will have no fear for you. You own the sea my wild bird. I own the shadows of court. What a team we would make you and I, if together we would find ourselves.

He is a boy Lauriella. A beautiful baby boy. With a mass of golden hair like his mother. He has his father’s eyes. That rare golden gift of a natural leader. You would swoon over him. His name is Jhaan, Jhaan Lunan’ari. Kailand is so poetic at times. You would make a fast friendship I know.

Enough about me, my family, and troubles. You found your man too. He sounds like a strapping fellow. Does he hold you strongly in the night after taking off your dress? Does he accept your nature when in uniform or in mage robes? Ah but you do not have such wanderings of the mind when you are in robes do you. Tis a pity for you look sexiest when dressed as a wizardess.

I laughed when you told me you pinned him to the deck. I could almost see the look on his face of puzzlement. Haimon is a strong name. He must be very strong, and I know you will keep him on his toes to make sure he stays fit and able to help you run the Moonflower.

I wonder what you told him when you said he could not dance with you at high moon. For only women dance. Their men watching. The woman getting aroused by the praising of the goddess. The men getting aroused by the spectacle of the dance. Thus, it is so for those of us that worship the Moon Mother.

Did you tell him that two women could join in the dance and what it looked like? The two lovers bonding so close while swirling round inside a grand ring of flowers. Did you tell him how magical it is? How invigorating? How intoxicating?

If you find your other mate he will be enthralled as you dance the dance with your wife. Will you take lead or follow? Oh, did I get you my wild bird? I see your indecisiveness now. No worries my darling love. You will follow as you will always follow with me in the dance. Afterall, I did not buy you that moon dress without reason.

And do not worry my love. When you wear your uniform and become courageous captain, I will fall willingly into your arms for you to love and hold me. I know my wild bird of the sea even more than she knows herself. You will hold me through the long night and into morn: both in trance thinking of one another.

Until the time we meet remember that the more one loves the more one can love. With enough time one could love the whole of good and joyful people. That is how I see it Lauriella. We are separated for now but will be always together in the afterlife. Until then let us both enjoy our time on this earth with others of good heart. Perhaps we will get a chance to join in the here and now and may not have to wait till death. I hope so. My longing for you grows in depth every day. I pine for my wild bird to come home.

Do you also pine for me, your Heart, Love, and Soul? Give Haimon your love. Give him your heart, but you know who truly owns your soul, as my soul belongs to you, my love.

Lovingly from your Heart, Love and Soul

Alluin Lunan’ari


Khzuro looks at the chests and figures out there is about 150-200 thousand gold in the room all together. He casts detect magic on the chests and coins. All the coins start to glow to his eyes. It seems like chronomantic magic, but he is not sure. He looks to the others. "Don't take the coins. They have chronomantic magic on them. Don't know what magic specifically is on them but doubt it's good." A sigh "Let’s move on" Khzuro looks around for where else he can go from this room. “Anything pertinent on that note, Drasta?”

Samo says, “Umm. I picked up about 10 of them.”

Khzuro looks over to Samo to see if anything strange is going on with him. He does look slightly different. His beard has about 5 years of new growth and there are faint lines around his eyes.”

Khzuro screams out, “Put them back! Now!”

Drasta absently comments, “I would suggest not touching anything.” Samo puts them back quickly, but the 5 years of age does not change. It seems permanent. Khzuro casts break enchantment on Samo using his timepiece as a focus, and nothing happens.

Drasta looks at the note again. “It seems like some type of love letter in a way.”

Khzuro nods, “Best put it back as well then.” He sighs looking at Iwao and Ayako. “Can either of you cast remove curse or restoration on Samo?”

Ayako tries both…… Nothing happens. Iwao tries both……. Nothing happens. Khzuro sighs again, “Right, can't waste more spells on what might not work. We'll think of something after we get back. For now, we need to keep moving. Think from now on, should assume any treasure is cursed or trapped."

Drasta watches them try their spells and tricks while putting the letter back exactly where it was. Everyone nods. Samo says, "Sure am glad I didn’t pick up a whole pile." while looking around at all the skeletons.

The group leaves all the gold and note lay and moves on.

[Winterhawk99]

Khzuro looks around to see where they can go next. He sees he can head back south or go further to the north. He directs the group to go north. The tunnel they take twists and turns slightly aways going generally in a northerly direction. They come to a T section. One branch goes northeast the other more west than north. Khzuro looks to Ayako. “See any tracks in either direction?” She studies the ground and seems to be confused. She then lays down in the middle of the area. Khzuro raises an eye ridge.

Some of the party including Drasta and Khzuro then hear a small explosion coming from the tunnel going to the west. Khzuro looks over to the group. “Heard something that way. Let’s go.”

Drasta smiles, “Well, this will be interesting.”

They go about 30 yards slightly north and west then the tunnel turns to the southwest 30 yards forward they see what looks like black and white energy bolts shooting both ways. Across a new T section. The bolts are small. The ones going north to south across the T are pure white. The ones going south to north are vague bolts of black energy.

Khzuro looks around, trying to see if there’s any safe path through or around the flying bolts. Drasta comments, “Looks like we are not the only ones fighting down here.”

He answers back, “Unless those are from a trap."

Ayako starts to creep up on the t section in a crouch her belly still dragging on the ground. Drasta shrugs and quietly approaches listening for any talking as well. Khzuro follows in close, looking for trap triggers and searching for anything out of order. Ayako looks around the corner and backs up very quickly almost knocking Drasta over. She changes into her little 4 ft human form and says, “I don’t know what those things are.”

Khzuro also backs up hastily. “What did they look like?”

“Like floating balls with lots of tentacles.”

Khzuro considers, “ Well, our goal isn't to fight through them. I have an idea for getting past them."
Calls everyone over "Everyone hold hands, we'll need to be together. I'll do a short dimension door to get us past the blast zone."

“I'd rather not fight what sounds like a beholder today if needed.” Drasta nods.

A black ball full of tentacles comes into view from the south and a white ball comes floating in from the north. The two touch and there is a tremendous explosion.

Khzuro yells out, “Everyone hold hands!” He casts his spell. The group ends up behind the Xeg-ye who are fighting the Xag-ya. In front of them is a huge crevasse. Some of the group are now ducking and dodging negative energy bolts. The tunnel turns slightly behind them but not enough for a few to get out of the line of fire. There is another explosion but its far enough away that no one gets hurt. The ice groans again and 2 feet of tunnel collapses into the Crevasse. Along with-it Katsu falls. He falls a long time before they all hear a muffled thud and his screams go silent. Khzuro estimates that the bottom is 300-350 feet based on timing of when the ice shelf fell and when they heard Katsu’s body stop.

Khzuro quickly shouts, “Everyone hold hands, we're not leaving one of ours behind." Then would get ready to Dimension Door down to Katsu's location. His spell ends and he’s still 20 feet short. Everyone falls. Luckily everyone knows how to roll rather well, and they take minimal damage. They find Katsu’s broken body at the bottom. Brain matter and blood is spread out everywhere. His red jenbei (shirt) is completely soaked. Khzuro rushes over to see if he is still alive, then calls Ayako and Iwao over.

Drasta pulls out her bow being ready just in case. Ayako changes form. She and Iwao come over. Iwao looks Katsu over. He then turns and looks at the kobold, “He’s dead Khzuro.”

Khzuro frowns and looks away. Ayako says, “I could try a raise dead. I have it prepared.”

Khzuro nods still looking away. “Go ahead then.”

Ayako casts a raise dead spell while Iwao prepares a cure critical wounds spell. Katsu starts to breath. Iwao immediately casts his spell. Katsu’s bones and skull mend but he’s still in very bad shape. Khzuro lets out a breath of relief as he stirs back to life. Ayako then casts another cure critical wounds. The bruising lessons slightly and Katsu can now sit up. He shakes his head, “Oh my, watch that first step.”

Ayako and Iwao are working on him as fast as they can. After about ½ hour the two clerics patch him up pretty well, but everyone is also slightly wounded by their fall and the first explosion. During the time down in the crevasse the battle seems to have stopped.

Drasta keeps watch over everyone while Khzuro tries to see how everyone is doing, both on fatigue and prepared spells. The mages seem ok. Samo is sitting down and cutting his waist long beard. Ayako is the one with the most fatigue from both casting and generally fighting. Iwao seems fine to. Katsu is ok now but also very fatigued and is out of prepared spells.

The kobold looks over to Ogano, then a breath out. “Can you do anything about Samo's new... condition?"

"Perhaps. but I would have to rest and prepare the spell. Hopefully it will not backfire."

Khzuro nods. “Think we may need to set camp for now here. Seems like we're pretty worn, much as I do want to keep moving..."

Ogano nods, "Then I shall prepare a limited wish." The women set up a makeshift camp and start a fire on a large boulder.

Khzuro looks around the group, trying to see who wants to set up camp and who wants to keep going.
"Once I'm recharged this one should be able to dimension door us out of that crevasse and continue on." As they rest nothing happens the caves seem to be silent except for the occasional groaning of the ice as it shifts which they are used to by now. He goes to check on Katsu after they're done resting. "Are you feeling well enough to continue?"

He nods his head, "thank you all of you for saving me. I need to be more careful." Khzuro asks everyone to hold hands while he casts overland flight, heroism, greater magic weapons and see invisibility. He then goes and holds hands with two others and casts dimension door. He has a hard time visualizing the edge of the ice shelf with all the emotions over the last several hours. When he casts, he gets to the shelf, but the group bounces off the ice before dropping down to the shelf again. There are a few sprained ankles but nothing Iwao and Ayako cannot take care of.

They find themselves on the other side of the crevasse. The only direction they can go is north. They do for about 50 yards. It’s very quiet here. After that it makes a u turn and they come out on the ledge again in a different area. There is about 10-12 feet of walking space here. It goes east along the crevasse then turns north. After 20 yards it turns to the east. They find a small 30x20 yard roughly oval shaped cavern to the north. The tunnel is completely collapsed with ice choking it on the other side.

Ogano asks Khzuro to cast heroism on him. After that is done, he casts limited wish upon Samo. The extra lines in Samo’s face fade and the aging from the coin’s reverses. The spell works. Khzuro lets out a sigh of relief, “Good going Ogano.”

Samo pats his belly and smiles, “I can dance again.”

"I was lucky. and no backlash." Ogano nods. Khzuro wonders if he is going to learn a variant of that spell that only works when someone gives him head pats if his magic grows strong enough... Ogano goes on. “Wishes and limited wishes can be extremely dangerous spells to the caster."

The kobold nods. “Have noticed a tendency for wishes to be granted in not an intended way, which can be troublesome."

Ogano nods, "It often is associated with intent of the caster. The gods do not look kindly on those who abuse those spells." Khzuro nods, taking note, perhaps wondering if there are parallels to all the head pats he's received and wishes granted from them.

He looks around to see if there’s anything of note at all. It’s very quiet and cold here but not as cold as outside. The wind is negligible in the area and the air has a slightly stale taste to it. "Anyone seeing or sensing anything? Or is this a dead-end?"

Everyone goes quiet and they all listen. They hear nothing but the ice. Ayako says, “There are no tracks here.”

Drasta shakes her head. “I hear nothing.”

"Guess it's just a dead-end, lets head back. And um.... we'll try not to have a repeat of that crevasse incident." Khzuro orders.

Drasta nods, “Best that is the case.”