From Lexicanum

Ilthane's Revenge

Arriving back at Diamond Lake a couple of days later they found Allustan?s house and large chunks of the town in ruins and the people cowering in fear. Speaking to survivors from the local garrison, they found that the town had been visited by a large black dragon three days who had obviously been looking for the mage. Not finding him, the dragon had gone on a rampage, which the soldiers from the garrison had proved unable to stop.  The dragon had rounded up the townsfolk in the town square and begun executing them with her breath weapon until someone told her that Allustan had recently been spending a lot of time at the Whispering Cairn ? at which point the dragon had flown off after a final rampage through the town.
Before setting off in search of the patron, and the dragon that pursued him, Moonflower led a party back beneath the mine to where Skruge had fallen ato retrieve the demon horns from their fallen comrade's makeshift tomb. While they did that Esmeralda visited her mother to check all was well and Eric reported in to the temple.

Heading off early next morning into the Cairn Hills, the Diamond Dogs began their preparations for the upcoming confrontation with Ilthane ? many buffing spells were cast and potions of energy resistance quaffed.As they got closer to the Whispering Cairn, Esmeralda began anxiously scanning the area for some sign of the dragon. Suddenly she spotted something large moving in a copse opposite and called a warning to her colleagues, just as a large black shape launched itself skyward and towards them spitting a line of poisonous acid as it came!
Moonflower, Eric and Esmeralda leaped into the air to confront the dragon. Eric charged the beast, her weapon aflame with holy light, while Esmeralda flew round into a flanking position to sneak attack. Moonflower drew her wand of cure light wounds and took up a supporting position. As the battle commenced Ilthane roared incoherently at them, tearing and rending with her claws and teeth at Eric and Esmeralda. Back on the ground, Maeglin and Reverb took to the air as well launching a series of spells at the dragon to mixed effect, while Dormund unlimbered his bow and started firing arrows into the fearsome creature.
 
Eric took some fearsome blows from the black, but the creature enraged by Esmeralda?s sneak attacks,focused the brunt of her attacks on the rogue. Bleeding from a multitude of bites and tears, Esmeralda slumped in the air wounded and unconscious. Spotting this, Moonflower swung round to help the stricken rogue, just at the dragon spun off to one side unleashing another devastating breath weapon attack at Eric and the unconscious Esmeralda. The paladin managed to dodge the worst of the acid breath, but coughed as she breathed in the poisonous fumes that accompanied it, Esmeralda, unable to dodge, took the full brunt of it ? taking her to the point of death.  As another round of spells and arrows slammed into the dragon ? who deciding she?d had enough suddenly flew off to the north at great speed - Moonflower just managed to save the dying Esmeralda with her healing magic.
 

The Cairn Revisited

Battered and bruised the Dogs headed into the Whispering Cairn. Dormund took the lead trying to follow the tracks of the mage Allustan ? following them to a wall with a curious round shimmering pool in the centre. Esmeralda, Eric and Reverb, who’d been in the cairn before recalled that previously this wall had been obscured by a rock fall that Allustan must have had cleared. Maeglin with his arcane knowledge advised that the black pool was a portal of some kind; however he was pretty sure that it was not a planar one. Esmeralda, after checking for traps, offered to go through first but Moonflower took the precaution of casting invisibility on her first.
Esmeralda passed through the portal safely, finding herself in a smoke filled room where howling winds blew ? and no portal on the wall behind her! However when Eric tried to follow suit, something within the portal attacked her, grappling the paladin and drawing her close. Moonflower and Dormund moved closer to attack whatever it was, but with little effect. As they struggled to release the paladin, a smoky tongue snaked out, fastening to her forehead and draining her wisdom. Dormund, sensing the presence of a favoured enemy, recognised whatever was in the portal as some kind of undead and Moonflower recognised the smoky tongue as belonging to an abyssal ghoul. Eric, now aware that she was being grappled by an undead, used her lay on hands ability to channel damaging positive energy into it, causing the ghoul to howl. Her colleagues were having less impact as the struggled to damage the creature they couldn?t even see, until Reverb pointed out that if they were in contact with the portal itself they might better be able to attack into the non-dimensional space the ghoul inhabited. With this crucial information the undead was swiftly dealt with and Eric freed. Once the paladin was free, Maeglin was able to use a Restoration on her.
After a brief respite, Dormund was next to volunteer to pass through the portal. Finding himself in the smoke filled corridor with the howling winds, he could see no sign of his invisible colleague ? who? wandered up the passageway in search of another exit. As he searched vainly for Esmeralda, the smoke started to coalesce into a number of belkers who immediately attacked the ranger. Esmeralda, hearing the sounds of combat, rushed back down the corridor, and battle commenced. At first the Dogs were badly outnumbered against the smoke elementals, but one-by-one their colleagues began emerging from the portal to join the fray and the belkers were vanquished.
After recovering from the battle with the belkers, the group headed up the passageway to the large Hall, Esmeralda told them was there. The walls of the Hall were covered in the same strangely fluid carvings they'd seen elsewhere in the tomb. Two locations on the floor bristled with spikes - presumably where previously trapped had been sprung. Taking this as a warning Esmeralda began a tortuous process of searching for taps - inching forward to a doorway on the right, before declaring the way safe. The others followed rapidly.

The Earl of Coalchester

Beyond the doorway was another passageway dominated by a statue which held a gleaming sword in one hand and a set of scales in the other. Esmeralda began searching for traps again, but this time her skills let her down. As she trod on a particular flagstone, a incomprehensible word thundered out - the others were unaffected, but Esmeralda was rooted to the spot - deafened  and paralysed. As Dormund moved forward to aid his comrade, he hear a door opening and closing somewhere ahead and warned the others.
A second later, preceded by a wave of heat, a large noble salamander slithered round the corner saying !I really am most frightfully sorry about this!" and attacked them - at the same time as a huge fire elemental manifested in the Hall. As those who had them quaffed potions of energy resistance battle was joined. As the salamander thrust and parried with his gleaming longspear he maintained a cheery conversation - continually apologising for what he was being forced to do. Despite his demeanour the salamander was no mean opponent as both Dormund and the now recovered Esmeralda found as the tally of their wounds grew. In the main Hall, things were no less brutal as the fire elemental slammed into Eric several times, driving the paladin to the ground severely wounded. While Moonflower strove to keep Eric alive, Maeglin drew off a way and began casting spells at the huge creature. Eventually however, through sorely wounded the tide of combat turned in favour of the adventurers and their fiery opponents were slain. Severely damaged by this bruising encounter, those capable of healing tended to their wounded comrades, and themselves, before deciding not to risk going further, but to rest here for the night.

Next morning, Maeglin and Moonflower retrieved a stone chest from the room the salamander had come from, and recovered a goodly portion of treasure. Moving on through the door opposite  they found a curious -dimly lit room, again dominated by frescoes of the Wind-Duke's ancient battles with the forces of Mishka - one in particular showing a large inevitable drew the party's attention.  Moonflower, Esmeralda and Maeglin spent some time studying it and translating the runes inscribed on it. As they entered the room which was dominated by a gallery from which several doorways led-off, Esmeralda spotted something she didn't like about the floor and warning the others headed up the stairs to the gallery. Eric moved forward to investigate while the others joined Esmeralda on the gallery above. After much cautious investigation, Eric recoiled as she suddenly realised that what had originally looked like a pool of darkness on the floor was in  fact a huge black pudding resting in a shallow depression. Deciding to let the creature lie undisturbed she joined her colleagues on the gallery.
Esmeralda discovered that one set of doors was false and another led to a passageway sloping sharply down. The first door led to small tomb dominated by a large urn. Unable to find any traps on the urn, The rogue removed the stopped only to be stricken as she was suffused with black energy. Weakened by the energy drain spell, Esmeralda looked into the urn to discover it contained ashes. Arranged in orderly fashion around the tomb were several small black boxes, but the locks proved too difficult for the rogue in her weakened state and they decided to try elsewhere.
 
Returning to the main Hall, Esmeralda was obviously still suffering badly, as she failed to spot a trap on the far door, and as she tripped it poisonous vapours poured out of hidden holes and began flowing about the walls. While Eric and Moonflower, seemed impervious to the vapours, Esmeralda and  Dormund began coughing as the poison affected them. Maeglin initially seemed unaffected but a minute later he too began to cough and retch as the poison coursed through him .
 

Flies In The Web

Beyond the poison-trapped door lay a columned hallway. While the others waited in the corridor, Eric and Esmeralda carefully entered the room. It quickly became apparent that something was wrong however as although Eric strolled along without incident, anytime Esmeralda went past one of the columns it collapsed on top of her! Fortunately the nimble-footed rogue managed to avoid any damage from the falling masonry. The double-doors at the end of the hallway led only to a blank wall inscribed with the single arrow of Law.
Led by Moonflower, the party decided to brave the lower levels and made their way back to the passageway they?d found leading down. The steeply sloping passageway led into another columned hall. As Moonflower stepped into the room a huge shadow spider appeared and attacked the flat-footed monk. While her comrades attached at range the spider bit and paralysed the monk, Dormund moved to help but before he could assist, the spider and her paralysed prey vanished.

Reverb identified the creature and postulated that it had returned with Moonflower to its lair on the Plane of Shadow. The party briefly considered their options but none had any magic that could allow them to follow their hapless colleague. Meanwhile the helpless monk was being stripped of her gear and being placed in a cage spun from shadow-webs. As she lay helpless, the monk could hear the spider muttering continuously about herself (apparently she was called Flycatcher), adventurers, thieves and most disconcertingly of all ?lunch! As her paralysed vocal cords finally freed, Moonflower began to negotiate with her captor, and after some fast-talking Flycatcher offered the monk a deal. He would free the monk and return her to the Prime if the monk retrieved an item stolen from the tomb by the thief Moretto. Moonflower initially agreed, but when Flycatcher said that she would retain all the monk?s ?baubles? as security, the monk thought again.
 
Back on the Prime, having decided they could do nothing for their comrade, Esmeralda opened one of the doors leading off the columned room. This small chamber was dominated by a shrine in front of which on a stand stood a suit of shining armour. In from of the armour was a weapons stand, however unlike the armour whatever weapons had once been there had long ago rusted away. As she moved into the room, followed by Eric, a dread wraith stepped out of the wall and with a soundless scream attacked the rogue, with its cold death-touch. Calling out a warning to her colleagues, Eric closed to combat the undead. As Reverb launched a fusillade of magic missiles, Maeglin attempted to turn the wraith, but it proved too powerful. Dormund moved to support Eric and Esmeralda as they fought the foul undead. Its draining touch took its toll on the rouge who eventually had to retreat, but under a sustained assault from her colleagues the wraith was put to its final rest.
 
They had barely caught their breath from this fight when Flycatcher suddenly appeared. Before the shadow spider could attack, Esmeralda called for a parlay. Surprised, the shadow spider held back. Encouraged by this and Eric began negotiating for the release of Moonflower. The spider made her a deal, bring her Moretto?s head and she would release Moonflower. After a brief struggle over the ethics of the agreement, Eric agreed and Flycatcher vanished after telling them they should follow the River of Blood to find Moretto and indicating which door they should go through.
Heading through the door, it led to a huge dark cavern in which the pounding of fast-running water could be heard. Casting fly on himself, Reverb took to the air with a light source to reveal a reddish-hued river flowing off to the east where it disappeared into the cavern wall. A once proud bridge that spanned the river now lay partially collapsed and dangerously tilted to one side. Cautiously, Dormund began making his way across.

Back on the Plane of Shadow, after a somewhat confusing discussion, Moonflower informed Flycatcher that she had reconsidered the offer and was now willing to agree to the terms. Flycatcher, after paralysing her, released the monk from her cage and shadow walked her back to her colleagues ? much to Maeglin?s surprise as a naked female half-orc was dumped at his feet. Somewhat nonplussed, he did however, have the presence of mind to offer Moonflower some of his spare clothing to protect her modesty.
Dormund, made it safely across the bridge, but as he stepped out onto the land on the other side a xorn erupted from the ground and attacked him. Eric, seeing her comrade threatened rushed to aid him, however she lost her footing on the bridge and plunged into the raging torrent below. To make matters worse, what was left of the bridge collapsed down on top of her - leaving Dormund stranded on the far shore.

As the ranger, attempted to defend himself against the xorn, things immediately got very much worse, as another four of the creatures burst from the earth nearby and joined the attack. Before such a ferocious onslaught, the ranger quickly fell. Reverb, seeing Eric being swept away by the current, fired off an orb of acid to help Dormund, then swooped down and cast fly on the paladin just before she was swept into the darkness as the river flowed under the cave wall. Esmeralda launched a fusillade of arrows at the xorn, who simply retreated under the ground, leaving Dormund lying very still.
 
Eric, being very careful not to touch the ground, flew over hand retrieved her friend?s body. Esmeralda handed a scroll of Raise Dead to Maeglin as he and Moonflower joined them and Dormund was swiftly returned to life

Alustan Recovered

After resting in the columned hallway, the party decided to explore the immediate area further before setting off in search of Moretto. In the side room where the dread wraith had attacked, they discovered that the dusty suit of armour was in fact magical and when the thick dust was removed it glowed with a blue sheen. Through the doorway at the foot of the stairs a golden statue of a wind duke stood in solitary splendour in a room carved with bas-reliefs of wind-warriors.
Beyond that room lay a curious sight indeed ? in a funnel shaped room inside a glowing sphere of lightning 20ft across the figure of Allustan hung motionless, his clothes torn and ragged and terrible burns across his chest. Esmeralda entered the room cautiously only to have to dodge as a  lightning bolt from a metal spike in the ceiling launched out at her.
Reverb cast a fly spell on Esmeralda who then flew in to investigate the spike ? dodging lightning bolts as she flew, she quickly discerned it was some kind of trap but it proved beyond her ability to disable.  Still dodging lightning bolts she then flew to the other end of the room and down a staircase there that let to two corridors both of which ended in dead ends. Flying back (dodging lightning bolts) she reported back to the party! After a brief discussion the decided to attack the traps with magic, and Maeglin and Reverb began launching spells at the iron spike, with Esmeralda occasionally stepping into the room to test whether the trap was still active. Eventually they ran out of offensive spells, but the spike, though damaged, was still firing lightning bolts at anyone who entered the room. Momentarily defeated they decided to rest that day and renew their assault next morning. Moonflower and Maeglin spent the day discussing comparative theology while the other played cards and sat around looking bored.
Next morning Maeglin and Reverb went to the doorway they were met by the gloomy sight of what looked like a freshly replaced iron spike! Undaunted the duo launched a fusillade of their most fearsome object-affecting spells and quickly destroyed the new spike. Heartened by this Reverb and Maeglin moved into the room followed by Esmeralda and Eric. Reverb quickly used a dispel magic on the sphere and while the cleric and mage dealt with Allustan?s wounds the other two headed down the staircase to re-examine the two tunnels. Maeglin suggested they remove Allustan quickly in case the sphere returned ? which proved an excellent suggestion!

A Paladin's Fall

Eric and Esmeralda left the staircase and began moving down the corridor, a huge steel shutter slammed down behind them! As they turned to seek a way out they were met by the sound and sight of a wall of water rushing down towards them form the passageway to the northwest. As the wall of water hit them they were swept along the corridor and out of the far end ? right over the top of a waterfall! As the two went clattering down the falls, banging off rocks, Esmeralda managed to grab onto a rocky spur and arrest her descent. Eric however, encumbered by her armour tumbled helplessly down the falls till she crashed gasping into a small lake at the foot some hundred feet below.
Back up in the tomb, while the others had a hurried conference with Allustan, Dormund went to examine the steel shutter. He could hear the sound of water flowing behind it but little else. Re-joining the others, it was decided that Allustan, bereft of most of his spells and somewhat in shock when told what had happened in Greyhawk and his friend Elegios and also to the town of Diamond Lake; would return home using dimension door to get to the surface.  Once the mage had gone, the others led by Dormund made their way to the Blood River and using a  fly spell from Reverb began to navigate its course. 

Meanwhile, far below, Esmeralda began the tricky descent of the waterfall in complete darkness ? she called out Eric?s name several times with little hope that the paladin would her over the rushing of the waterfall. Something heard her however as a fusillade of crossbow bolts slammed into the rock face next top her ? unable to see where they had come from in the total darkness and realising she was a sitting- duck, she let go of the rock face and dropped - crashing into the pool some distance away from where Eric lay.
Far above, the others were having an easier time of it as they flew along the course of the river. Arriving at the top of the waterfall, they flew down into the depths and quickly caught up with their two lost colleagues on whom Reverb cast fly spells. Flying down swiftly, they made their way down through the depths to the final foot of the falls in a huge cavern where, in the darkness beyond, they could see a green light glowing!

The Marquis of Ravenstone

No sooner had the party landed safely at the foot of the series of falls, when danger threatened again! Three armoured figures descended from the gloom. Eric and Esmeralda immediately recognised them as wind warriors ? and battle was swiftly joined. Dormund, Eric and Esmeralda, rose swiftly into the air, eager to conclude the combat before Reverb?s fly spell finally wore off; Moonflower meanwhile went invisible and flitted around the aerial combat healing her comrades. For a moment or two the Diamond Dogs seemed sorely pressed, but eventually they defeated the wind-duke?s guardians who crumbled into dust.

As the battle raged, Moonflower noticed that the green light she?d seen earlier was moving towards them, illuminating three figures, once clad in noble?s robes, holding a glowing green lantern,  the other two being skeletons. As the last of the wind warriors crumbled, the noble called up ?Excellently done!? revealing rows of gleaming teeth file to sharp points! The Dogs flitted down to earth as the figure bowed, introducing himself as ?Moretto, Marquis of Ravenstone?. 
Eric noted that one of the skeletons ? actually mohrgs ? held the Seal of Law and commented on it. A lively discussion ensued as to property rights, salvage laws and the ethics and morality of adventuring. When Flycatcher was mentioned, Moretto made a counter-proposal ? he would give them the Seal if they killed the shadow-spider!
The party seemed disinclined to accept this offer and Eric eventually simply demanded that Moretto hand over the Seal. Moretto refused and as Eric grew more insistent withdrew behind his mohrgs, prepared for battle ? launching a lightning bolt at Eric as his opening salvo. Dormund, Moonflower and Esmeralda attacked the mohrgs - one of whom was swiftly dispatched. Eric meanwhile charged Moretto, who seeing the Paladin rush him, drew his greatsword. As the battle raged, Eric used her smite evil ability, grievously wounding the True Ghoul, who dropping the Seal of Law, fled the battle, calling on his retainers to follow.

Moonflower chased after him, mindful of the deal she had done with Flycatcher. Moretto, thinking to escape the monk, clambered into the swift flowing river and, not needing to breathe, submerged. Undaunted, Moonflower dived in after him. Swimming strongly with the current, she quickly caught up with the ghoul and grabbed at him. Moretto responded by sinking his sharpened teeth into her, but the monk simply pummelled at the badly wounded ghoul, eventually killing him.
Back in the cave, while Eric and Esmeralda chased after the remaining mohrg, Dormund peered warily at the Seal of Law, desperately trying to remember what Maeglin had said about touching it. Able only to remember that it was dangerous, the ranger took out a sack and gingerly attempted to pick up the Seal using the sack as protection. Unfortunately the sacking proved little protection against the wave of sonic energy that burst from the seal, and the already wounded ranger collapsed to the ground. Eric, seeing her comrade fall, rushed to aid him, but it was too late, the brave ranger was dead!

Meanwhile under the river, Moonflower had her own problems, as she dragged Moretto?s corpse to the shore, his spirit rose, transformed as a spectre and began attacking her. Hauling the corpse up out of the river, Eric managed to turn the spectre, which fled ? only to return minutes later when a combination of Eric?s holy sword and some judicious magic missiles from Esmeralda?s wand managed to destroy it finally!
Next morning after resting, Reverb was prevailed upon to cast fly again and they began the ascent of the falls. Esmeralda, carrying the Seal of Law (after recalling the correct ritual) felt a pull towards a side passageway. Eric (carrying Dormund?s body), and Moonflower (carrying Moretto?s head) followed. The side passageway led to a huge set of stone doors, graven with Vaati runes. Holding the Seal in front of her Esmeralda caused the massive doors to swing open.

The Dogs, looking into the room beyond, could see seven stone pillars rising up from a blue fog some eighty feet below. On the far side of the room another set of massive doors stood. Round the walls and ceiling, hurricane force winds howled and lightning crashed. Taking advantage of Reverb?s fly spell ? Esmeralda flew into the room ? holding the Seal of law in front of her. Unfortunately, almost immediately, four greater air-elementals manifested and attacked her. As Esmeralda was rendered unconscious by her wounds, Eric managed to grab her and pull her back, the Seal of Law however, tumbled from the rogues hands and disappeared into the blue fog below.

As Eric healed her comrade's wounds ? Moonflower leaped onto the first pillar with ease, and then on to the second. The third pillar proved somewhat of a conundrum as it appeared to reach to the ceiling. Undeterred, the monk leaped towards the pillar prepared to grab it ? only to find that its upper stretch was an illusion and she landed safely on it?s real top. Barely pausing for breath, she leaped onto the fourth, larger pillar, again landing safely.  Pausing for a moment on this larger pillar she surveyed her next target. The top of this pillar appeared to be smeared in some substance, and gather her nerve the monk leaped again ? only to discover that it was some kind of grease! Failing to find her footing she slipped off the pillar and fell! Dropping towards the blue fog, she chose not to use the fly spell still active and draw the ire of the air elementals and plummeted into the fog. After falling for what seemed like an eternity, Moonflower crashed in to the ground below with a jarring bone-crushing thud.Seeing the Seal of Law lying nearby, Moonflower retrieved it and flew back up through the blue fog, hoping the air elementals wouldn?t see her. When she realised she was nearing the top of the fog, she launched out towards the wall where she clung on. Seeing her, Eric and Esmeralda dropped a rope to allow her to clamber back up to safety.

The Blessing of Icosiol

Once everyone had rested and healed they decided that it was far to dangerous to try jumping from pillar to pillar again.Esmeralda, volunteered the information that she had a scroll of dimension door, and leaving Dormund's body with Maeglin and Reverb,  in case back-up was required. Esmeralda, Moonflower and Eric used the scroll to get across to the other ledge. This time fortunately, the air elementals didn't attack; unfortunately however, Esmeralda swiftly found out that the huge doors on the other side of the room were false!
 
Desperately casting around for a slue, Esmeralda spotted a small depression in one of the pillars nearby - a depression about the same size as the Seal of Law! Moonflower, easily made the jump from the ledge to the pillar and then using a rope helped her colleagues across. Placing the Seal of Law in the depression caused the pillar on which they stood to begin rising. The pillar passed harmlessly through the raging storm on the ceiling and the Dogs found themselves standing in a chamber above where a white marble sarcophagus floated serenely - a carved representation of a Wind Duke, hands outreaching, on its surface.
 
As they stood pondering this marvel, a  bolt of grey energy lanced into Eric from the far corner, and a hideous demon - every part of it's flesh covered in hundreds of eyes -  materialised charging towards them. A furious battle with the occulus demon ensued, but though sorely pressed by the foul demon, the Diamond Dogs eventually triumphed. After Moonflower once again healed those who needed it - Esmeralda reverentially placed the seal  into the carved Wind Duke's hands. As she did so the sarcophagus silently dropped to the ground and the lid faded into nothingness.
 
Within the coffin there was little left of the great Icosiol however his weapons and equipment has survived intact. Esmeralda spoke aloud in auran asking if she might take these weapons for the battle to come - for a moment she had a sense of anger and jealousy and then  sense of peace and approval as a gentle breeze blew over them. From within  the sarcophagus she took Icosiol's swords and his ring and also what appeared to be part of a broken rod. The swords were given to Eric while Moonflower took possession of the ring and rod. At that Esmeralda retrieved the Seal of Law and as they left the sarcophagus serenely floated back into its position of rest.
 
Heading back to join the others proved relatively simple as, with the blessing of Icosiol upon them, the guardians of the tomb ignored them. After a night's rest from their exertions, Reverb cast fly once more on the group and they continued their ascent of the River of Blood. In the middle tomb, they were met by Allustan who informed them his attempt to dimension door out of the tomb had failed and he had waited for them, spending the time reading Elegios's copious notes.
 
Moonflower completed her deal with Flycatcher and returned the Seal of Law to it's rightful place after which the shadow spider returned the monk's equipment. Esmeralda then presented Flycatcher Moretto's head as promised, as was rewarded by being allowed to gather up treasure left by Flycatcher's previous victims. Followed by Allustan, the Diamond Dogs returned to the upper tomb, to find the portal they had entered by was now open from this side.