Game Date: August 13th, 2006 (Silver Creek, NY – The Shop)

Experience: 7,500 per player; 6,000 per cohort. Bonus: +300 Namakin

CHAPTER ONE – The Thistled Den / Meeting Relak

Having returned to a less-than-pleasant future, the group spent the night at Falstrom’s abandoned homestead, attempting to gain some plan of attack on the upcoming days. Their plan was delivered to them, however, in the form of a cryptic messenger, supposedly sent by Ghanadar, who had days ago fled the city. The group was ordered to meet the messenger that night at the Thistled Den, a tavern near the Great Hall. They did so, but only to find that Calad Brae, now under the rule of Omus, had become a city under watch. Wards and glyphs peppered every building, and wizard-led patrols scoured the city at every hour, keeping a constant watch over the populous. Large and ominous constructs followed the patrols as well, making the thought of an ambush a little less intriguing. At the Thistled Den, the messenger revealed himself as Kedwin, a friend of Ghanadar. Telling the group that they were expected to meet Amadius and Ghanadar north of the city to devise a plan. The adventurers wasted no time, and thanked Kedwin for his efforts. They would not leave the city unharmed, however, and when a scuffle outside of the tavern drew Ander’s attention, the city Watch gathered as well.What had started as a dispute between a half-ogre and the guardsmen soon turned into a brawl when Loutarin’s father was publicly mocked for his cowardice. A battle ensued, leaving the adventurers wondering if they had truly picked a fight with the best odds. They were circled by the guards, whom them made quick work of, but two patrol wizards and their following constructs made the fight a little more balanced. When all was said and done, everyone but Relak and Pontius stood, the others all having been turned into stone by the constructs’ supernatural abilities. It was only by sheer strength and speed that Relak was able to gather all of the tinier statues and make haste down an alleyway where the constructs could not follow.

The group took shelter in a hidden dojo that Relak had directed them to, gathering their strength and regrouping for another possible attack. The attack never came, but Shen-shao, Relak’s teacher, helped to aid the battered group and heal their afflictions. He told them of an underground movement that was in place to undermine the rule of Omus, but there would more time to explain later. For now, they left the dojo under the cover of night, with the large half-ogre, Relak, adding his strength to the group.

CHAPTER TWO – Reunion with Ghanadar & Amadius / Reunion with Egeus & Valgres

Under the cover of night, the search for Ghanadar and Amadius began. Luckily, with the tools that Namakin’s uncle had provided, coupled with the tracking abilities of the group ranger, the small alcove that the two fugitives were using as a base was easily found. Easily found, but not quietly. During their search, the group had split up, with Pontius and Loutarin coming upon a group of patrolling Watchmen. Apparently, the search for Amadius was still on, and enough noise was made to alert the enemy.

While the adventurers did not yet know that preparations were being made for their attack, a moment of respite was had while Amdius and Ghanadar were reunited with their relatives. Their strength being low, it was agreed to take them back to the Cardinal & Crow so they could be properly healed, but not before they would have to fight their way out. A patrol wizard and his men attacked the holed up group from multiple sides, forcing them to split up before they were entombed. The battle was won with Namakin and Ander protecting the wounded Amdius, while Loutarin, Pontius and Relak fought the mage outside. Quickly after the fight, the party teleported to Ogden, desperately looking for some shelter and rest.

The Cardinal & Crow was one of the few places that had not changed for the worse since the group’s return. It was discovered that Egeus and Valgres has used their ‘past’ knowledge of the thieves den located below the tavern to their advantage; they made a deal with Miksalak that eventually allowed them to muscle their way into owning the bar. Upstairs at the Brothers O’Toole, everyone was able to relax and regroup. Amadius was undergoing healing for the potent affliction he contracted, and a bit of informal conversation broke the tension that had followed them everywhere. For tonight, they were able to ease their bodies and minds.

Egeus brought many things to light over some Firewine, including: the fact that the Pale Commander had arrived in Alaron over six months ago, Marzul had been slain, Mask recovered Sorrow’s Memory, the church of Lathander was divided, and that Falstrom had been imprisoned in the seaside dungeons known as Red Ribbon. Without wasting time, the trip to red Ribbon was organized, while Egeus offered to investigate the church matters, while at the same time trying to gather support from Amadius’ troops, who had left the city and were rumored to be hiding in the northern woods. The night of rest was over quickly, and the next morning, the trip to red Ribbon commenced.

CHAPTER THREE – Entrance Into Red Ribbon

The trip to the prison was uneventful, and no plan was made as to how to actually enter the structure until they stood at the doors. Luckily, a mixture of diplomacy and wit gave them access to one of the wardens as they bluffed their way to ‘visit’ an inmate under the orders of Omus. What was going to have been a straight forward assault into the dungeons now became a carefully planned mission of bluffing and lying their way to Falstrom’s cell.

By using Omus as their ’superior’, the adventurers managed to descend three levels into the prison, once by paying off a guard to kill a prisoner, and the other by finding Falstrom’s cell, only to discover that he had managed an escape through the hollow floor into the lower-most level – a dark and fetid underground place that was used for only the most dangerous and troublesome prisoners.

Using once again the tracking skills of Pontius to shed some light on Falstrom’s tracks, the group came face-to-face with the common duergar guards, as well as the large corpse collectors that rifled through the bodies of the deceased prisoners. It was a grim sight, but the trail of Falstrom was still visible, and after a vicious encounter with a few of the previously mentioned constructs the journey continued: straight into a deurgar ambush.

Large and dangerous fey, let loose by the guardsmen for some unknown reason, brought havoc on the group, causing the underground tunnels to rumble with screams, magical energy and the clash of weapons. While the adventurers were victorious, only two of the large fey had managed to sap a good portion of their resources, leaving Loutarin and Pontius in an uncontrollable rage, Relak on the dungeon floor, and Ander & Namakin with the task of restraining their enchanted comrades from killing everything in sight – including their friends.

As the sounds of battle echoed away, the long walk through Red Ribbon was only just beginning….