From the journal of Alexi….

After agreeing to go to the summit to reunite Timothy (The White Robe Mage) with his body, Whupus teleported us to the central plateau where we had first encountered that massive black dragon. Thankfully there was no black dragon there waiting for us but curiously as we cast our eyes at the entrance to the chamber and we see humans and draconicans working at tables that had been just setup below the stairs to the entrance. The draconicans are in black dragon army. We head towards the entrance and as they see us Quinn issues a warning telling them to surrender. Both the humans and the draconians that are outside flee inside the chamber (two of the humans flee to the side).

We take up positions outside the chamber entrance, as we look 3 beings appear. One is a demon warrior (again…) and two of his minions. The leader says something to another being inside (I only catch a bit of it – It’s in Supernatural – Telling him to proceed and he will handle this this. We dispatch the three warriors (I manage to activate the staff for the first time – during the experience my conscience is somehow transported and I appear to interact with a being that seems to exist within the staff. He/She explains that the staff is a creation from the beyond and that eventually I will learn to use the staff if I continue to study it. There are several beings who are able to wield this power. Unfortunately my time was limited and I didn’t get to ask everything that I wished. I did discover that the staff can be used at the temple at Neraka (similar to using it within the summit room) to close the portal to the Dark Queen.

After defeating the three demon warriors we proceed inside and discover that an apprentice of Master Udoorin attempting to using the summit room to open a portal (To the temple at Neraka). We disrupt the spell and capture the apprentice. (As the portal collapses we see a force of dragon army coming through. One of the men in the lead is our cousin and another gentleman dressed in red dragon army clothing holding a mace (Possible Cleric??).
After interviewing the human servants that were left before (A Scribe etc) we make one more interesting discovery. Outside one of the humans that had been trampled by Quinn’s horse, has suddenly turned into a dead image of Quinn’s horse. We quickly discover that the human was infact a draconian (One of the ones that turns into an image of their killer).
Items collected: A Pendant, Shoes, Circle & Telepathic Bracelet from the Draconian/Horse.

Talking to the scribe we discover that the mage was trying to track the location of the staff and he recorded some information that we collected.

As we were preparing for the ceremony to raise Timothy, a large black dragon with a rider appears and lands on the summit. The man identifies himself as Lord Luther Von Drak of the black dragon army (A Solamnic Knight family line!!). He invites (only) Quinn to join the dragon army forces and after Quinn refuses… makes one final request for the staff (which we refuse). He then gets on his dragon and flies away.

Caleb proceeds with the ritual and Timothy is resurrected. He’s very weak so we wait and talk to the ‘servants’ that were left here, and keep the apprentice comatose.
Once we explain the situation to Timothy he agrees that we have to consult with the mages at the Tower of High Sorcery. With a little help from Caleb Timothy teleports us to the Tower. We were escorted to a room where we are asked to wait. Food & Drink is provided.
We are finally escorted to a meeting with the mages. Interestingly there are 5 white mages with Par-Salian, 3 red mages with Justarius and only LaDonna from the black robes is present. We explain all the information that we have gathered (Master Udoorin is not discussed). They do not seem at all surprised or upset by any of the information gathered except for the demon warriors who specialize in hunting mages, they were also interested in the staff and one of the red robes (I found out later who specialized in artefacts) examined it and confirmed its authenticity.

They adjourn the meeting to discuss and tell us we will be resummoned later. When we are summoned to the next meeting I note that there are more mages than before but still short of the full 21 conclave.

Par-Salian tells me that they wish to take the staff from me and keep it here safe at the tower, not being surprised by the request our group had already discussed this. In the end the choice was left to me. I agreed to hand over the staff after I made sure that the traitorous Udoonin had been discussed. Par-Salian did not seem happy but I thought it was important, considering the information found in his journal relating to LaDonna. After hearing of their plans to examine and study the staff and that it would be under the protection of Justarius of the Red Robes, I agree to give up the staff.
Par-Salian says that considering the situation it would be the appropriate time to administer my test.

During the Test:
• I am the head of the white robes; Quinn is High Clerist and his Gold Dragon is fully grown and his ‘companion’.
• Our father is alive and leads the knights of Solamnia. The High Cleric tower is the one of the last remaining bastions free from the dragon army.
• We arrive at the tower and our father is preparing to fight the dragon army that is heading towards us. He asks me to go out and ‘divinate’ the location and how many coloured dragons are coming.
• I have the staff of power and it now called the Staff of Alexi – (superior attitude much!)
• I go and divine that there are only 12 dragons coming…. Seems suspicious considering we only have 20 available.
• We decide to do a pass over the army. We discover that the army is about 10x bigger than what was reported and that there is this magical shrouding around the centre of the army. We are unable to penetrate the shroud.
• We proceed back to the keep to inform the council of the impeding army. Our father is preparing to lead the our minimal force out of the keep….!?!?!?!
• We manage to convince him to abandon the plan considering the overwhelming odds against us. (GM: you both realise this is not like your father at all, your info on him and your experience was he was a superior general who always had a plan B, C and D etc.)
• My father orders me to take one of the drakes and go to the tower of high sorcery (Practically ordering me away). Instead Quinn and I discuss the situation and we discover that in fact it is my IMP!! All grown up with the dragon orb leading the dragon army!!!!
• We decide to go confront him before the army arrives.
• We set out for the army and I manage to penetrate the shroud and the imp is now a fully sized demon. He taunts us.
• We engage him in battle. Quinn & the dragon manage (as well as an attack from my staff) are able to do enough damage to the demon’s right arm and he drops the dragon orb. I manage to grab it and attempt to control it.
• I am successful is controlling it and proceed to summon every dragon in range to attack the demon. Luckily the draconians are affected as well and start turning on the army.
• With all the attacks from the dragons, Quinn & Sally, as well as my staff we manage to finally defeat the demon.
• As the demon dies the test ends and Par-Salian and Timothy come forward and congratulate me on passing the test.
• I am so thrilled to have finally passed my test and timothy asked me to become his apprentice which I readily agreed. Quinn & I spend some time discussing what we should do next.

Important Entry From the Journal of Quinn….

Alexi has finally passed his test. This is a great day indeed and if Mother and Father were alive they would be truly happy for him as well. I am so very proud of my little brother. Will we stay together or grow apart? Our lives are changing all the time but whatever happens, I know I will always have Alexi’s support, and he will have mine. Will we need may go our separate ways in the future but we are both ready as the last few months have made us grow in to the sons our parents knew we would become. (GM: very true, you both feel you have done your parents and each other proud)

From the journal of Quinn…

With the Dragonarmy forces getting closer we use the remaining time we have as best we can with the dwarves help.

• Build a defensible wall across the entrance, with wood and stone. Amazing work by them!
• The ‘book of the grandmasters’ is hidden in the underground system and while doing this this, the dwarves with Alexi say there are probably secret passages going leading from it. Alexi asks are there any here and one of the dwarf’s points and says right there! It also leads up!!
• Caleb is lying in the temple while this is going on, shocked and confused; or meditating, hard to tell the difference at the moment!
• The rest of the monastery is checked and all bodies removed and there is no sign of the missing Grand Master.
• The dwarves bring up some barrels of oil so that we can throw them down on to the attackers at the narrowest point to maximise our chance of leaving un-noticed when the time comes.
• Alexi identifies the Horn – it is a Horn of Summons and lets my allies know when I need their help and will even wake them if asleep.

I observe the approaching force some more and we can see that they are moving forward carefully and with a line of skirmishers in front to spot any traps or the chance of an ambush. The leader is a human dressed in black leather armour and he has a person using flag signals back down the mountain to the force below. There are three ogre’s with the force and they are collecting boulders for throwing along the way.

At this point I blow the horn and soon Alexi, Caleb, the Dwarven Captain and myself, plus all the other dwarves are at the main gate. Alexi says he has had a chance to have a quick study of the relic staff. He says it seems extreamly powerful, but seems to have two conflicting powers destructive and serene, which is in the form of an elemental force that is constantly in flux. Alexi advises that it will require many, many hours of study to even undertand a 10th of this power. He grabs my arm and looks directly into my eyes as serious as I have ever seen him as he said “This staff can never fall into the hands of the dragonarmy”

We each relay information on what we have found as we watch the force slowly make it way forward. It is at this point the secret passage is mentioned and Caleb says ‘Oh yes, that leads to the Summit of the Gods’. Alexi and myself have heart failure and Caleb also says he had forgotten to mention it. It is decided that we will use the oil attack to cover our tracks and do the following:-
• The dwarves will head home and speak with their Thane and try to get their people moving towards war and helping against the Dragon Army threat – it will take then some time though, but we are welcome to go to their home.
• Alexi, Caleb, two dwarves and myself will travel via the underground passage to the Summit of the Gods, while a third will wait for us at the bottom of the mountain where the escape tunnel comes out. We will then go to the meeting with the Twilight Raiders and pass on all our information and then return to the horses and head back to Whumpus while the dwarf’s then head home.

All goes to plan and we find out that the human leader of the skirmish force is Captain Karnak, of the Queen’s Imperial Force (Black Dragon Army) (GM: you realise this small army is a “special forces” type group) and demands our surrender and we also see a small goblin like creature with a rod with a skull on it whispering and pointing to us. Evil indeed. At this point they attack, we light and throw the oil and make good our escape. Could this goblin like creature be connected to the evil barbarians we saw in the sewers of Hargoth.

The climb up the passage is a long one, but the slope is gradual and we climb it easily. The most amazing thing Alexi forgot to mention what that the passage has MITHRAL veins running through it. Alexi even managed to get one of the dwarves to cut him off a chunk. This find leads to talk of the prophecy and the silver arm that will help forge a new dragonlance. Have not seen any silver arm in our travels. (GM: Is Quinn serious here?) We are about 15 mins from the exit as the dwarves say they will need to knock their way out and want to be able to reseal the tunnel once they are done. We decide that we will approach the next morning so that we are all well rested.

It is during the night that the dwarves mention Caleb is not ‘coping well’ and I go back to see him as he us meditating in peace. I talk to him and say that the guilt of living that he has is only natural and that he will find the strength and FAITH within himself to move on so that he cannot let the lives of all the friends he has lost be for naught. Paladine and Mishakal are with us and tomorrow we will change the world (or something along those lines!).

The next morning we enter out on to the Summit of the Gods – it is a plateau area carved into the mountain itself, all covered in white from the snow. We move and explore and see a painted rock wall. I see Paladine; Alexi – Solanari; The dwarves Reorx and Caleb – a faceless shape… he needs to find his faith! We also see a set of stairs leading into a cave entrance.

It is at this point I feel, rather than see first, the presence of a Dragon. We all look around and can see in the distance a large shape approaching. We decide to make for the cave instead of leaving back the way we came. As soon as we enter we feel the warmth of the passage and can see that it leads to a cavern a bit further in. Inside is a room divided into three – black, white and red, with a walkway around the outside. At the centre where the three meet is a stone pedestal with a round hole, about the size of a staff, in it.

Once safely inside we see a huge Black Dragon land with an armoured figure on its back. The figure, dressed in black armour dismounts and sticks his sword point first into the snow and slowly walks towards the passage entrance. The dwarves are keen to attack but I tell them honour demands parley and we really need the information. The black armoured human introduces himself as General Chang, he looked a human about 40 years old, and demands we surrender the staff for the good of all Krynn, and in exchange he will spare the lives of the monks they have taken captive. Not going to happen of course but he steps back outside and waits to give us time to discuss his offer.

Caleb wants to save his fellow monks, but Alexi and I speak to him, explaining the staff is too powerful to be given over. Again Alexi confronts Caleb “What is it that is so important about this place and this staff” as my brother puts the staff back into Caleb’s hands. Caleb stares around the room and lastly concentrates on the staff in his hands. Alexi asks the question again for a third time and finally Caleb replies softly “I never believed this place existed, there is something here I just can’t remember’. At that point the young monk eyes widen, it looks to me that he has remembered something. Caleb then stated with purpose “I know what must be done” and walked to the middle of the room and plunged the staff in the hole. This creates a blue portal and he steps towards it.

Outside, General Chang screams in anger, grabs his sword and charges forward to attack. The two dwarves battle him at the cavern entrance as we wait for Caleb to finally enter the portal. Chang is forced back by the combined might of the dwarves and Alexi’s magic, but as the dwarves start to press forward I order them not to leave the tunnel for they will be in range of the Dragon. Luckily they heed my warning and do not leave the tunnel for the Dragon was poised to strike. In the fight with the dwarves Chang loses his longsword and dagger and retreats away on his Dragon. Alexi shouts out to the retreating Chang, “Stay away or you will end up like Udoorin, and Lord Arakas will not be pleased” I’m fairly certain by the sharp turn of his head the general heard the taunt. (GM: Oh he heard it alright!!)

We turn back to the cavern and there is Caleb, kneeling on the ground with the portal gone. He turns to us and says that he is at peace and has gazed upon the face of his God! He proves all by healing the dwarves of their wounds from the fight with the general, and they are amazed by what they have seen! We talk about how to get back down and Caleb says he can use the staff and teleport us to the ground! And he does. Caleb certainly seems more serene than before. It is like much of the doubt he had about himself has been answered. I think he has finally found his faith. In a surprising move I watch Caleb hand the staff back to Alexi “It is now your task to protect this staff and learn from it. You are right, it must never ever fall into the hands of the Dark Queen or her minions”. Caleb explains he must go out into the world and show that the good gods have returned to fight the Dark Queen.

At the campsite on the ground, the dwarf waiting for us is surprised by our sudden appearance but all is soon told and the dwarves that came with us back up the story. We speak together and use the griffins to transport us to the meeting with the Twilight Raiders but arrive early. We rest and the next day I walk in the meeting and between Alexi and myself we get the pass phrase right. Two rangers appear and information is passed on; we tell them all about what has happened and that they must get to the city and warn the Spy Master! They tell me that knights council about Goldenscale happened behind closed doors at Vingarrd Keep and a sword with black roses was placed on an altar. Not sure if it was about me or not but the intelligence gathering of the Twilight Raiders is impressive if it is true. We leave and get dropped off at the horses and ride like the wind (GM: bullseye!!) towards Whumpus’s tower. The remaining dwarf flies back to their stronghold, armed with the eye witness account of Caleb’s benediction, and the healing miracles he has performed. It is good knowledge of the old gods is growing.

We are almost there when we come across four dead Black Dragon army soldiers; I quickly determine that they died from arrows and blows made none other than by Lon; and like a shadow Lon materialises out of the trees and we fills us in on what has been happening. Caleb heals Lon – FULLY – shoulder is perfect and any cuts he had from dealing with these four are all gone. He is amazed as well. We arrive back at the tower and after some fast talking from Alexi gets us inside. We eat drink and rest while we await the arrival of Whupus who is currently in council with the Mages! The gold dragon seems to be feeding well, and is growing at a fast rate of knots, it is now approximately the size of a large dog.

During this time Alexi waits at the tower and studies the items \ books etc we have found over the past few weeks. When Whupus appears he seems less than pleased. Alexi told me later that after trading quips with the master mage he learns that part of the discussion at the mages council was about him! Also Whupus made a request that Alexi give him the staff. In the end Alexi thinks it is some type of test, but he does not really want the staff but to know what my reaction would be. My brother told me he never offered it to Whupus which seemed to be the correct answer as far as the master mage was concerned.

While Alexi takes council with Whupus, I travel out with Lon and Caleb and view the Dragon Army – it is preparing to attack the city but by now the Twilight Raiders should have gotten through (hopefully). Back at the tower we discuss our next moves as Whupus returns – talk of the staff and taking it \ not taking it and where to go next. I fear Alexi is in for a surprise when he eventually meets the mages of the High Tower of Sorcery. There appears to be infighting amongst them just as there are with the Knights of Solamnia. These are dark times indeed. Travelling the world has certainly opened my eyes to what is truly going on.

Eventually we decide to go to the Summit of the Gods as Whumpus can teleport us there; we can raise the White Robe Timothy as Caleb says he can do it there with the staff and in that cavern. Whumpus can also then get us back to his tower. I feel that after this we must go to Hargoth as there are too many un-answered questions there and I will have to defend my families honour. Alexi has been making noises of wanting to speak with the mages, but that would mean we would have to go separate ways. I’m not sure if that is best….

From the journal of Alexi…

The party follow the draconians towards the library and one of the draconians stops and guards the entrance into the left hand side. This one has wings and is large, but we have met them before. When they die their body turns into the person that kills them, it’s very unnerving. We go right to the other entrance of the library and see a wall of darkness. I study it and cast a glitterdust spelll into the room which allows us to see the glittering outlines of four draconians, it looks like they were going to ambush us! Caleb leaps to attack Eagle Style (not Gangnam) and hits one but it moves away where I cannot see it.

Quinn attacks a Kapak in the room that has glitterdust all over it but the one Caleb was attacking disappears! While this is going on the larger Draconian rushes around the corner from the other room and attacks me, but misses. As the battle continues, I casts a web on other glittering figures we can see in the darkness and at least two are held in place. The battle rages on as the Aurak follows me into the room and Quinn & I fight back to back (well almost). Quinn slays a Kapak that once more turns to acid. I cannot see Caleb during the battle as he is not touched in any way with light or the glitter from my spell.

Eventually we defeat the draconians – managed to force the Aurak into the acid; seems even they are not immune to each species death curses or the Dark Queen’s touch! A Kapak was trapped in the web so Quinn pulled out the Dragonlance and stabbed the creature from a distance so that its death’s acid does not harm anyone. I hear Caleb has moved up into the room north of us and I follow through the passage on the right of the room. Quinn being caught by the acid and web proceeds to head back the way we had came.

It was fortunate that Quinn did for Caleb was in battle with the draconian caster and a BEHOLDER! What an evil creature! It was at this point I see the draconian pick up a Golden Dragon Egg and is ordered by the Beholder to get the Egg out! On the floor nearby is another circle of magical power. They must not take the egg, even though it is tarnished in some way.

Eventually we stop the creatures and rescue the egg (but not before Quinn is unable to move his legs because of a beam of magical power from one of the eyes of the beholder). Quinn manages to move the egg away from the circle as the last draconian turns into a walking pillar of flame – is there not evil the Dark Queen will not unleash on the world? – I had cast an arcane whirlwind in the room to push the draconian away from the portal and luckily I am able to keep him away from Quinn and the egg and it dies without really harming us. Unfortunately the egg was damaged in the combat.

Quinn takes a closer look at the Golden Egg and sees that it is tainted by the necro magic (how did he know this? Something Mother may have taught him long ago or the blessing of Paladin, or both?). Quinn does not hesitate and prays to Paladin, you can be sure my eyes rolled at this point. Quinn take off his gauntlets and place both hands on the egg, drawing the evil out of the egg and into himself. I can’t believe it but what he does seems to heal the egg. Quinn collapses, but smiles with satisfaction. The egg cracks open and then the head of a baby gold dragon looks at Quinn with eyes of knowledge and innocence. Quinn whispers to me that his suffering was worth it. As he slump forward, the baby dragon climbs out of the egg, looks around and then curls up in my brother’s lap.

After our fight, we hear dwarf footsteps and they find us in the library. They want us to come and talk with their captain. Quinn awakens and moves out into the court yard to meet with them. The baby dragon is in the crook of his shield arm. I have feeling it will be too big to do that soon!

While Quinn heads off, Caleb has already gone to search the surrounding area for the grandmaster and I decide to stay in the library to try and work out what they were looking for in here. In the main library there is evidence of the draconians looking and sorting through books. I find two books which I put in my pouches. I’ll have to look at them later. Not quite sure what I’m looking for I pull out master Udoon’s journal and flip to his last entry to see if he wrote down what they are looking for in the monastery. He makes reference to a ‘relic’ and considering they were looking in here and not where we found the inner sanctum, I have a feeling it’s around here somewhere.

Caleb comes back and tells me that he has found the master librarian. He is dead and Caleb thinks there is evidence of torture and asks me to have a look. I examine his body and see that some being used a magical spell to torture the Librarian. Probably for information! After seeing they were torturing him I head to his office(Where the beholder and Portal are) which is in a room off from the library. Bringing out my familiar we have a look around for any secret doors etc. My imp lets me know that he would rather be getting to know the gold dragon (He wants to drain its power) I suggest he go examine the gold egg shell that has been left on the floor. He looks up excited and runs over it and eats some of the mucus (gross). He likes that.

I find a secret door behind the master’s desk and after disabling the magical trap I open it up and find a staff inside! Initial discovery of the staff makes me think that it has both arcane & divine aspects to it! Very “non-coshure” with the current situation on arcane and divine magic in Krynn). Not sure what to do with it at this point.

Caleb calls me to come outside and we meet up with the Dwarf Captain. We discover that he was sent by Whoopus (very sneaky) and that he wants our opinion on what to do next. There is a portion of the black dragon army coming up to the monastery they will be here in about an hour. There is a train heading down the mountain side, and looking through a spy glass we see a black robe(!!!) and some monks taken prisoner. Caleb says he doesn’t notice any masters in that group. We discuss options on what we should do next!

From the journal of Caleb…

With the dragon army forces fooled into going the wrong way we decide to deal with the guard on the balcony first before heading to the Temple.

Alexi steps out from the training room doorway and casts a sleep spell on the guard in the top balcony of the Grandmasters room, while I jump from the roof of that building to grab hold of the cliff and climb up the mountainside. As I gain the balcony I glance at the guard and still find him asleep. But what stops me cold in my tracks is the figure of Master Yamato, the Monastery’s second in command, rummaging around in the Grandmasters room. Yamato tries to seem unsurprised, but I know he is as shocked at seeing me as I am him. The Master slowly starts walking towards me, but I get the sensation he is ready to pounce on me, so I jump out of sight and vault up onto the rooftop to hide myself and determine what my next actions will be.

Peering over the rooftop from a dark corner I see the Master Monk walk towards the edge of the balcony and realise this is my one and only opportunity, as I know Yamato is not a Master to be reckoned with. Flying in hard and fast, I leap down and land a solid kick, which knocks the surprised Master clean off the balcony, leaving him fall the 100 foot drop to the hard ground below.

Peering over the side in shock disbelief, that this actually worked against a Master of Yamato’s combat prowess, my shock turns to dismay as I watch the agile master tumble and slide against the rock face to reduce the effects of the massive fall. With a satisfying thud however, Yamato still hits the ground hard, and from there I see him look up at me like a predator, all fake smiles gone, a look of pure hatred while he spits foul obscenities at me swearing revenge.

Yamato is up in a flash, almost running up the rock wall in an effort to get to me. I act quickly and grab the Grandmasters heavy bed chest and hurl it at the climbing monk, hoping to distract him. Mishakal must have guided my hand because with surprising accuracy the chest hits the oblivious master square in the face, exploding in a shower of wood, and again knocking Yamato off the rock wall to the ground below. This time the Master is not able to break his fall and he lands awkwardly breaking his leg.
Knowing in my bones that Yamato must be the traitor that Alexi counselled may exist in the monastery, I yell out to the Goldenscale brothers that the betrayer is on the ground at the base of the Grandmasters balcony, all thoughts of steath gone.

Hearing my cries I see Quinn walk around the back of the temple building to investigate. He exchanged words with the betrayer, but while I could not make out the words from this distance, Quinn’s intent is apparent, for the knight slowly draws his sword, assumes a battle stance and warily moves towards the prone master. I found out later from Quinn that he was questioning Yamato on why he was betraying the order he had been a member for so many years, and it seems Yamato did this out of spite at not being able to claim the Grandmasters mantle and the power that he believed was rightfully his. However Shee-Cou had also come to investigate and heard the exchange between Quinn and Yamato. Yelling… Why?… Why?… Why? I saw the young monk lose all reason and launch in to attack the fallen master overcome with grief at the betrayal of one Shee-Cou had idolised. Moving faster than I could follow, Yamato blocked the attack and before Quinn could do anything, the former master snapped Shee-Cou’s neck in a bone crunching twist and flung the boys frail body to the side.

Seeing this I felt the rage burn within me, and made a vow there and then that Yamato would pay for his crimes. As I was about to climb back down to assist Quinn I notice the Grandmasters katana hanging on the wall over his bed. I take the opportunity to grab the sword and then quickly move back down the rock face.

At this point Quinn has engaged in battle with Master Yamato and I am surprised to see the young knight is holding his own against the veteran combat master monk. I’m truly amazed as I marvel at Quinn’s prowess for one so young.

I climb down to a point where I decide to jump with katana in hand and launch with an almighty leap that cuts into Yamato deeply. Finishing the move I roll forward and produce a backward slash with all the power I could generate. It was an all or nothing gamble. I see Quinn looking at me, standing up straight from his battle crouch, and I look over to see the headless body of the former master fall to its knees and slump over onto the ground. I am truly amazed at the craftsmanship and exquisiteness of the grandmasters sword. I cannot believe how cleanly it cut through Yamato.

Knowing we have little time, I gently pick up the body of Shee-Cou and we move quickly around to the Grand Hall where Alexi has been working on a spell to hold close the doors, to give us time to investigate the shrine. I see Quinn pick up the severed head of Yamato, show it to the forces of evil watching and start to stride towards them. To a man they flee, allowing Quinn to toss the head and follow close behind.

We investigate the outer shrine area and cannot find a physical entrance into the inner temple where I believe the sacred items that my monastery has been entrusted with is kept. Alexi determines that the way in is hidden behind an arcane illusion which he can decipher. Upon understanding the illusion he is able to determine the magical words that open the way into the Inner Temple. (GM: “Mishakal’s Blessing” was the password Alexi uses)

With the open doorway before me, all that I have been struggling with this since I knew I would be returning to the monastery washes over me. What do I do about the law? It is very clear that no one other than the Grandmaster can enter the Inner Temple, and I know I am not supposed to do this, it is forbidden. I have tried praying to Mishakal for guidance but so far have not received any revelations. In the end I just cannot bear the thought of my orders treasures falling into hands of evil. Even if it means I am breaking the orders most sacred law, I must do what I think is right, I just hope my masters would understand. We enter the temple…

The room holds many, scrolls, books and other wonderful items that have been well preserved and maintained by the Monastery. There also murals on the walls that depict scenes that include, several magical items actually located in this room (Horn, Shield, Brooch, Staff, Rod and a Mirror)
• Horn (Paladine)
• Shield (Mishakal)
• Brooch (Mishakal)
• Staff (Arcane)
• Rod (Arcane)
• Mirror of Deception (Wondrous Item)

In the centre of the room is a table with a scroll and a small book on it, that Alexi determines may be a true copy of a section of the Disks of Mishakal and beside it on a large pedestal is the huge book known as the Tome of the Grandmasters, a forbidden book that contains information and history known only to the Grandmasters. I still wonder if being here is the right thing, but as Alexi has said there may be information here that we need. For the second time today I break one of the orders most sacred laws and decide to read from the tome.

It seems within the Inner Temple Alexi is not able to use any of his arcane powers or he will “suffer the wrath of the gods” as he puts it. Quinn and I don’t seem to be affected.

I start reading from the large book, and there is so much information, it is hard to find any relevance without serious study, but a number of pages catch my interest including Whupus, the Dragonlance, The Disks of Mishakal and even a reference in there about me Young Caleb Wow what a privilege to know that I’m in the middle of my own history and legacy on how to continue the advancement of the Order.

While I am reading Quinn finds a secret passageway leading down underneath the Inner Temple floor, which is good in case we need to make a quick escape. Quinn notices the secret room is like the one in the ruined town, with a painting of the gods and there is a corresponding painting here that shows the city, as the painting in the ruined town showed the monastery. Both secret places show the painting of the third city Xak Tsaroth.

During my reading, we can hear pounding of the doors and an organised group of hobgoblins and draconians trying to get into the main temple room. They try baiting us out saying that they have more monks as prisoners. But I’m not entirely convinced that this is the case as I know we have been over most the Monastery and have seen no further signs of my people.

Alexi is interested in the Mirror and investigates the item using his keen understanding of arcane properties to determine what its function and purpose is. He eventually discovers that the Mirror is a wondrous item that is used for deception, with the ability to change a person’s appearance.

Further pounding on the door is heard and we decide that in case they break in, we put all the valuables in the secret stairway underneath the room and move the Mirror closer to the doorway to cause an explosion that would put all at risk in the area.

After another period of 5 or 10 minutes all is quiet outside, except for the faint sounds of battle. We decide to go out and investigate and see the great hall empty and a band of dwarves battling the forces of evil out in the courtyard – such a welcome relief!!! We also see three draconians running towards the library area. It is evident that the dwarves are holding their own so we begin to chase the draconians, acknowledging the dwarves as we run past. It seems they arrived on the backs of griffons… Alexi comments this is very strange, but we have no time to converse.

Following the fleeing draconians we enter the eastern rooms of the monastery and see the large draconian (GM: Sivak) holding a sword and waiting for us, and we notice the other two draconians in the library looking for something. We prepare for battle…

From the journal of Alexi…

After a quick consultation with Whupus he created a portal to transport us to a summit near the monastery. The spell looked like a dimensional door but without the limitation that I was aware of. {His magical skills are extremely impressive}. We arrive at what looks like a small plateau that has a large hut and what looks like a contraption that the monastery uses to pull food up (A massive crane device that can be activated from the top or the bottom). {I would guess that either dwarves or gnomes were commissioned for this.}

We also notice that it is much colder this high up in the mountains. Quinn looks around, trying to get his bearings but cannot see any sign of the invading army the smoke signs Lon saw previously suggested, but Caleb says that we are on the northern face of the mountain and we will not be able to see the army. Good to know!

The area where we are has been leveled and there is plenty of room for wagons to come up and offload food etc., and a hut for waiting in. Caleb walks over, listens at the closed door but hears nothing. He then opens it and sees two beds (made up) and the horn behind the door he explains is for getting the attention of the monks in the monastery. There are also many cloaks and we grab some to make sure we stay warm. I refuse to wear one due to the strong animal smell emanating from them and instead to keep warm put on my noble cloak. Quinn gives me a “you are a bit over dressed for the occasion, brother…” My response is not worth repeating.

Quinn works the winch and quickly raises Caleb up to the pantry of the monastery as it made a lot more sense to have him enter first as he can hide and scout the area better for this is his home. Halfway up Caleb gets our attention and Quinn stops the lifting – he has spotted something and he relays that he has spotted the army, camped at the base of the path that’s winds around the mountain to the main entrance of the monastery at the top summit. He signs this to us and Quinn understands. It seems this must be the mobile force in the area. They may or may not have entered the monastery itself.

On his trip up the winch Quinn also tells us that he noticed that the force is led by a strong leader. The troops are organized into their own groups and there are pickets around the army. Very well disciplined troops; This is a force to be reckoned with.

After getting to the top we appear to be in the monastery’s kitchen. We find two dead monks, after examining the body it seems like they were taken by surprise. {No marks on their hands}. Quinn comments to Caleb that there may be a traitor in the monastery. Caleb doesn’t seem convinced.

As we are preparing to leave the kitchen Caleb goes and examines the fireplace, and inside the chute is a small monk boy {How did you know that he was there} – Shee-Cou. The poor child is almost exhausted from keeping himself up the fireplace shaft. (He says 5 hours) {Incredible endurance}.

Shee-Cou told us that the monastery was attacked without any warning. From his story it seems the boy was with Master Sagaki (GM: the librarian) in the library when the attack happened. As soon as the monks realised what was in motion Master Sagaki told the boy to run. On his way through the courtyard Shee-Cou noticed another of the monk leaders; Master Dishuko wielding his dual swords in scintillating patterns, a score of corpses pilled at his feet, holding the black dragon army at the entrance to the monastery almost singlehanded. Seeing Shee-Cou he yelled at the boy to run and hide. I noticed that Shee-Cou was crying as he told this, when I looked over at Caleb I could see he wasn’t taking it well also, Caleb asked the boy if he saw what happened to Master Dishuko, but Shee-Cou not trusting his voice just shook his head in the negative.

The young monk also told us that some ‘rangers’ had arrived about 1 week before the attack happened and that they were assigned a room in the sleeping quarters. According to Caleb that was close by, so we head off to investigate.

As we approach, out of the cell marches two hobgoblin warriors (Of all the luck)… they are surprised to see us and one of them turns and mutters something into the cell (Is there someone else in side??). In the narrow passage we seem to have the advantage. Caleb and Quinn take up position in front of me and I readied a spell to attack them. Caleb turns to Shee-Cou and tells him to run and hide.

As Caleb and Quinn engage the two hobgoblin warriors, I am about to cast a spell when I see a flash of smoke and standing 2 steps away from me is a man of some kind. After close examination he appears to be anything but human. He has horns and devil features. I have never heard of such a being but he looks surely dangerous.

He looks at me sinisterly and starts to approach me. To gain distance I created an arcane whirlwind to try and keep him away, but unfortunately as I was to discover, this Dark Warrior was a specialist at hunting mages.

He got in close and I was able to avoid his first attack. (Looking closely it seems that his weapons are poisoned!). While Caleb and Quinn are attacking the two warriors I use this opportunity to blink towards them hopefully to keep distance from the warrior. Unfortunately these two warriors were not just the standard army forces that we had been fighting; these two had tactical training and to that effect were able to weave around my companions to the point where one of them was able to attack me.

I had once again underestimated the dark warrior as well, because he disappeared in a puff of smoke, only to appear beside me where he stabbed me with his poisonous dagger. My companions managed to dispatch one of the warriors so I used my last escape ability to try and keep away from that Dark Warrior that seemed eager to kill me! I received confirmation of that when he turned to the remaining hobgoblin warrior and (GM: in supernal) ordered him to “kill the mage at all cost.” I use my blink ring to get away from his reach but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. The Dark Warrior got in close again and this time unfortunately he stabbed me and I fell with a cry. Caleb and Quinn dispatch the last hobgoblin warrior and turn to engage the demon Dark Warrior left. I still do not understand what power the Dragonlance has but in this case like in the time before with the Cleric I was most appreciative of that power. As Quinn rushed to charge the dark warrior to try and get him away from my near death body he called upon Paladine’s might and when he stuck the Dark Warrior with the Dragonlance, a great beam of light transferred from it to the creature and he was smited in an explosion of blood and gore. All that was left was a pinkish mist that landed on me mostly {gross and in my high quality robes too}.

I am unfortunately still gravely injured and I can feel the poison in my system starting to spread. I also wasn’t able to focus to try and tell my brother what herbs to gather from my pack. As normal, while I prefer to rely on my internal magic and practical herbal knowledge my brother and Caleb have more faith in the gods, as intangible as they are. Near where we fought, Quinn spied a statue of Mishakal. Somehow Caleb is able to draw power from Mishakal and heal my wounds (Just like a true cleric from the old stories …). I am healed and the situation here has gotten very confusing. While I am recovering I hear Caleb and Quinn discussing the “miracle” they just witnessed. I just want my head to clear so I can think straight and try and sort this out. That Dark warrior wanted me dead more than my brother and Caleb was not expected. {Is there something here that only I can find/use?}. After focusing on the ‘mist remains’ of the dark warrior I sense the presence of a god and it’s not Takhisis. I sense the presence of Hiddukel. The evil god that makes deals of betrayal and chaos, this creature was some kind of spawn of his power. This is getting really weird.

Inside the room where the hunters were staying I find an arcane rune on the ground. It seems to depict a location – small house \ hut \ shack but we are unsure where exactly it is. We realise the two rangers are members of the Twilight Raiders, the secret police working out of Hargoth. We touch the rune again and the symbol changes –now it is an outside \ distance symbol. Touch it again and the symbol changes to a direction North \ North West and it is on the secret path that goes through the mountains. Seems if we want to make this meeting we will need to be there in three days (GM: possibly, you were not 100% sure of time, but seem very sure of location). We hide the bodies of the hobgoblins in the room and Alexi uses his magical abilities to hide our being here.

We proceed to Caleb’s former room and in there we find the remnants of more arcane scrying. I also sense the presence of Nuitari and the feeling that he has made a reluctant deal with another god but between the three of us we don’t believe its Paladine, Mishakal or Solinari. Very unusual and this will take some time to contemplate this arrangement. From what we have learnt from Master Udoorin journal (GM: Limited examination at this time) he was searching for information about this evil corruption ritual. I feel like there is some kind of book here (pre-Cataclysm) here that may contain something that we definitely want to get before the black dragon army get their hands on it. I believe it may be a deal with Gilean because he is the god of knowledge, but will need more time to study and contemplate.

I ask Caleb to direct us to the library and as we approach the courtyard we unfortunately discover a black dragonarmy force camped near the main entrance to the library and we are not sure how we can get in. As we try to sneak to a closer location we (Actually me) are spotted by a scout on guard from a tower. He raises the alarm and the group of hobgoblins looks around ready to respond to the call. Quinn quickly says that we need a decoy, and Caleb turns to the boy, Shee-Cou, and asks him to be the decoy.

Not certain this is the best course of action, I take charge and use my magic, as the troops approach my spell mimics the Dark Warrior’s voice, and as Quinn drops to his knees and pretends to be bound I order the troops to go the way we have already come thus buying us time.

Lucky that we didn’t engage these troops in a fight because inside a room next to the stable were about 6 goblin archers, an ogre(!) and a half-goblin commander {Who certainly seemed more intelligent than the fodder we have fought before}. They accept my bluff {One handy thing about these beings I impersonate – they are feared by everyone beneath them} and rush off looking for phantom rebels hiding in the sleeping cells.

We unfortunately still have the scout up in the tower to deal with and a large open courtyard to cross to reach the temple/library, plus there could be more troops in the courtyard. This is going to be difficult.

From the journal of Quinn…

The battle started as the 5 ghouls charged out of the Temple grounds at the command of the evil cleric. I step forward to hold the line and strike one with the Dragonlance. As the ghoul is pierced I get a ‘feeling’ of good or right – this was meant to be! The ghoul that I pierced on the lance explodes! The power of Paladine is with me!

Alexi calls down a magical light that destroys another and the remaining three cower from the light. Caleb then kicks and punches in a whirlwind of destruction and strikes the three remaining ghouls and another falls dead to the ground. One of the two remaining ghouls hits me – a strange tainted of evil tries to take me but I shrug it off and continue to fight. After this we quickly slay the two remaining ghouls, though the bite I took from the ghoul still hurts greatly.

We move forward and the cleric has disappeared, though I am lucky enough to see him through a shimmer. At the same time as Caleb leaps and attacks the cleric, I charge forward and strike with the Dragonlance. Alexi is forced to blast a snake like creature that the cleric had summoned and which slithers over the temple outer wall, poised to strike the young mage. From my strike the Cleric chest is pierced and I feel Paladine course through me – there is a flash of light and the Cleric is destroyed! There was a brief clash of the Gods – Paladine victorious and the Dark Queen defeated and surprised at the same time. It was like she did not expect this to happen! As the Cleric dies so does the snake creature; with the battle over we quickly enter the Temple – I stride forward, Paladine flowing through me and we watch as the darkness flees from my every step. Once in the Temple we see the desecration that the evil Cleric performed. There will be a reckoning one day!

Caleb notes that Quinn is still bathed in the divine light that emanates from the lance as he strides within the temple. It looks to the monk that Paladine now has the upper hand over Takhisis, at least in this temple. Alexi also notices that bat cat seems interested in following Quinn into the temple.

The group moves through the temple and finds the place empty except for two rooms, and an altar at the back. On the altar Alexi finds two books (one arcane and one divine), a journal , arcane components, a piece of cloth that is to do with summoning (GM: or so Alexi believes) and an orb and stand. After concentrating on the orb Alexi announces that he believes the spirit of the white robe mage from the tower is in the orb.

Regarding the room’s one looks to be where the cleric resided, the other a warrior. In the clerics room the group discovers a map with troop movements, papers (empty satchels on floor) and a dispatch on a table that are military correspondences on troop movements in Solamnia. There is also a signet ring and sealing wax. On the wall is a map of Solamnia and in it are pins – there is a yellow at our home and a black one at the ruin city we are at now. There is also a yellow one at Cargoth and they are planning to hit Vingaard Keep! It may have already happened. Alexi also finds a globe that he believes holds the spirit of the dead white robed mage.

The other room is bare except for an amour stand and a shrine to the Dark queen. This room belonged to the Black Knight. As we leave the room I destroy the shrine in this room as I did for the one in the cleric’s room.

The outcome of our initial search and my going over the military reports is this – Uncle is a traitor – our keep is on the supply lines for the enemy we face and is of great importance. After Vingaard Keep is hit, the forces will turn towards Palanthas. We also see that the main headquarters \ base of operations is in a place called Neraka. There also appears to be more than one army – we face the black here and it seems there is also a red army based out of Neraka (GM: Quinn got this with his knowledge roll) going to hit Vingaard Keep.

While reading the reports with his brother, Alexi notices a terrible smell coming from what looks to be the cellar. At the same time Lon, who had stationed himself at the door as lookout gives a signal to the group that indicates smoke rising in the distance from the direction of the Monastery. It appears that area is already under attack. Caleb seems shocked, both that this has happened and also that he couldn’t prevent it from happening. His loyalty to the monastery and its people is clear to see.

Lon also advises that the local hobgoblin camp are preparing to move out and a small command group have arranged a horse and cart and are walking over to the temple area presumably to escort the cleric. The group remains in hiding in the temple while Alexi bluffs the hobgoblins and tells them to go away. Alexi tells his brother to go and check the cellar quickly.

In the cellar I find a mound of bodies – all have been sacrificed through some dark ritual. It is good that the evil Cleric has been killed so that this cannot happen again. Some of the bodies even have disease. Men, women and children from the surrounding lands have been brought to this temple and their precious lives taken from them for some evil purpose. It is here that again I realise that I do not need the torch to see – is it true I have elven blood in me? As I ponder this I notice behind the mound of bodies 5 large shapes. I cannot believe my eye but I know it to be true – Dragon Eggs! I can the colours as well – Gold, Bronze, Silver, Brass and Copper. Oh My God!! I tell the others as I use the Dragonlance to move the bodies and clear a path to the back of the cellar. I eventually get close and let everyone know that they are Dragon Eggs – I can’t help myself I give the Gold one a hug and receive a vision!

In my vision, the good dragons are staying out of the fight with the Dark Queen because their eggs are being held a ransom against them. The problem is that the reptile creatures, etc that we have fought are created from the evil ritual that corrupts the good dragon eggs. They are called Draconians. The good Dragons must be told that the bargain has been broken, that their children are being corrupted, but how? There is also no other exit from the cellar. Alexi searches the main priest room and finds a well hidden door – at least we have another way out it seems.

Caleb is ready to leave, as he yearns to help his people, so we devise a plan. We take the Dragon Eggs from the cellar and put them in the secret passage as it is far bigger than we believed. Alexi then tells the kobolds to find the Black Knight and prepare to leave while Caleb goes and gathers the remains of the White robe wizard from the tower. Strange thing to do but Alexi is driven by a need to know if he is right or not for he believes that with the orb the dead wizard could be brought back to life. We then hide our path and leave via the secret passage and seal it behind us.

The secret passage goes to a set of stairs that wind down and eventually we come to the catacombs themselves where the buried priests of Paladine are laid. Here we see a beautiful wall picture of the monastery of the purple lotus and there is something emblazoned in light stored there. What could it be, Caleb notices the light seems to be coming from the main building area.

There is also a picture of Paladine doing the same thing at another place that is not in Solamnia – it is Xak Tsaroth- a southern city that was destroyed during the Cataclysm. There are also many different pictures to the Gods – they are all the Good gods though – no neutral or evil ones, and we see pictures of Dragons flying around. It is indeed a magnificent sight to behold.

We keep walking along the tunnel – goes down further but we still feel air as we continue – hours pass and we finally start to go upwards and eventually we come to a wall. There is lever and I push it down – it has not been opened in a very LONG time. Eventually the wall opens and we come out at a location north of the ruined city and head to where we left the horses. We wrap the wizard’s body and then have to decide – monastery or tower… Lon’s health is bad and he collapses, so we have to go to the tower. While Caleb decides to follow the group I can tell he is not happy with the decision. The unknown fate of the monastery is weighing heavily on him. But practically speaking we have to go to the tower anyway. We could not travel to the Monastery with two bodies, a weakened and unconscious Lon and the woman we had recused. We have to think of the greater good and not just the individual, and the Wizard at the tower may be able to speed up our journey to the monastery.

We arrive at the wizard’s tower and enter after I say we need his help and that we found the Dragonlance – we get in and once more are provided with food and drink, and then we wait once more. Whupus arrives and has a talk with Alexi on the laws of magic – arcane and divine together is possible – Timothy (the dead white robe) was trying to find out some truths. Whupus advises Alexi that he will need divine magic to return the soul from the orb to the white robes mages body. We ask that Lon, the woman and the bodies of Timothy and Farra be left in his care until we return. I write a message for Lon asking that he stay for he must gather his strength for the enemies we will surely face in the future and that we will return safe to the tower.

I also tell Alexi to cast a spell or drug Lon to stop him from following us – Alexi is not happy about this but it is either that or Lon will probably die following us. Whupus then opens a portal – what he calls a Dimension Door to a location somewhere near the Monastery easily halving the time it would have taken to get there. Even faster than the time it would have taken us if we had of gone straight from the ruin city to the temple.

From the journal of Quinn…

Alexi decides to open the bone scroll case and with a small puff of smoke the message inside is burned to ash. The mages little familiar just shakes his head in disgust. Nonplussed Alexi takes the Takhisis amulet and puts it in the now vacant scroll case and closes the lid. We move over to the altar and place Lon on the ground next to it. I place the Dragonlance on Lon, place his hands on it and my left hand on his. My other hand is on the altar and I pray to Paladine. This is important and I need to help Lon “Paladine please help me!!” Somehow father appears as an apparition and tells us that he is held against his will by the dragon men is some dark place. Beware them! He tells both Alexi and I that he is proud of what we have become. We explain that we have defeated a dragon and forces of the Dark Queen. Father tells us that all this was a trap. I discover that I am part elven as mother was half-elven (Alexi already knew this and chose this moment to tell me) and that Lon is actually family. OMG. I ask father if he can help Lon, with a sad smile father nods, and before I can say anything father gives up his essence and heals Lon but I realise what he is doing and grieve, I understand that this is fathers final sacrifice. He is now truly dead. Lon is not fully healed, but we can now move him and his internal bleeding has stopped. He now needs time to finish the rest of the heal process.

After this Alexi works on the altar with his magic opens a gate to a place of Good. Where this is exactly we do not know but after all that has happened I have had enough and say we are going through the portal! Just as I step through Caleb notices two shapes on the other side of the portal. I do not notice but once through I am attacked by two crystal shard golems. I am hurt but move around and drop Lon and Farra to one side, standing over Lon as battles starts. Caleb and Alexi come through and we do damage to the golems until Alexi realised he can command them! A place of good after all – was this the temple? Or the mage tower?? Alexi commands the golems as he tells us what they are and that they were created by wizardly magic. Alexi and Caleb investigate the top floors and while I wait with Lon. We are on the 4th floor of the mage tower in the ruined city. On the roof level they find nothing and then go down to the 3rd level and find a winged cat creature – a familiar? Alexi feeds it but the creature stays in the room. Alexi’s own familiar is intrigued but stays away from it.

On the second floor there is an open door but nothing in the room. On the ground floor are more shards that seem to be patrolling the area. The pair come back up the stairs and fill me in on what is happening and we decide to rest. Six – seven hours later we decide that we must leave and head down the stairs to the ground level. Alexi believes he can control the other golems as well and somehow he does! He says the golem’s final orders were to protect the tower. On the ground level we find bodies – a dead white robe – lightning struck him down and five dead goblins and hobgoblins. It seems the battle happened a number of weeks ago from the decay of the bodies. We assume the forces of evil were not willing to lose more life, or more likely the case was just plain scared of the golems due to the bodies still being here.

We find a wand, spell components, necklace with one pearl, bracers, leather boots and a hand held orb on the white robed body. The robed hobgoblin has been picked clean, as have the other goblins.

At night we decide to sneak across to the temple for a closer looks since the troops are drinking and do not know we are around. On the way we see a human female being forced out of the mansion and thrown to the hobgoblins drinking around a bonfire in the middle of the marketplace square. Alexi, Caleb and Lon want to save her and charge in, but we decide to use the golems instead. Alexi plans to send in the golems to get the female out safely, and once they manage this, send them all towards the main gate to hopefully lead the goblin army away from our position. Caleb uses his uncanny stealth ability to circle around the fight, looking for a way to assist. The hobgoblins go into panic mode and the plan seems to work. We get the girl and use the golems as a distraction to lure the troops away towards the gate at the other end of the city. Once there the golems will fight and kill all that attack them or be destroyed doing it.

Unfortunately as we are standing very close to the temple which we notice has been defiled by the army here, I start to sense true evil coming from inside it. The power emanating from it is so majestic in power that it can only be her – the Dark Queen herself. It makes me feel sick to my core. As we stand in the dark of the temple wall, very close to its entrance, while the goblin troops follow the golems to the main gate, a true cleric of the Queen steps from blackness around the inner door of the temple and taunts us saying he could feel me and tries oh so hard to goat me into attacking him within the defiled temple grounds. That would be suicide! This cleric then starts to raise 6 or 7 undead creatures – ghouls we believe, taunting us while praising his might and that of the Dark Queen. We move back to a defensive position and Alexi takes out the Amulet of Takhisis from the chest in the underground cavern and shows it to the cleric with a smile. (GM Alexi’s familiar s#its himself at this point) With a scream of rage the cleric commands his unholy creatures to attack us and then battle is joined!

For Paladine!

From the journal of Quinn…

Before entering the tunnel we check the general area of the hot spring. Caleb notices that there is a fine mist rises out of the entrance to the tunnel, but it is in fact steam for it is warm on our faces as we look down. Also under the fine sand around the spring is worked stone, telling us that the current spring is man-made. Eventually after a small discussion on the Gods between Quinn and Caleb, we head down the stone tunnel into the earth below.

We head down in the following order – Lon, then myself and Farra, followed by Alexi and Caleb at the rear. The way down is made easier for there are carved hand holds in the walls to use as we descend. We get to the bottom of the stairs and find ourselves in a HUGE cavern. We cannot see the roof or very far out but the echo tells us it is massive. Alexi casts a light spell on my shield and we move around. The floor is made of stone and as we explore further, we find are huge pillars spaced at intervals that go up into darkness. Alexi has a second torch so that we can spread out a little. We move around and it is near one of the large pillars that I sense \ feel ‘good’ coming from somewhere deeper in the cavern. Alexi is dubious (he lacks faith!) but uses his arcane abilities an says he can sense ‘power’ from the direction I can sense ‘good’. I more around the pillar and try to see where the ‘good’ was coming from. It is then that I can see, without the aid of any light source, I can see the glow of the ‘good’ in the distance. I point it out to everyone and say that it is right there as clear as day and begin to move forward. I get the feeling the others still do not believe me!

As we more further through the cavern, the glow of something ahead is able to be seen by all (that will show them!). What we see is a truly amazing sight – on a raised area of stone on an altar is a DRAGONLANCE! Now as much as I wanted to jump up and grab it, even I am wondering if this is not a trap. We all move around the raised stone but see nothing but more darkness around us. Alexi does so that he can still feel ‘power’ further to our right. The good I sensed is coming from the weapon on the altar. We decide to leave it as we need to explore more just in case there is anything else hidden in the blackness. We do find the other end of the cavern and then move northwards… and run straight into trouble. I bark a warning to the group as I see creatures racing to attack us.

The creatures attacking are dressed in black uniforms like the army above, but are far from human, for they look like the mage we killed above in the ruins! We have never seen anything like these creatures and I have never read anything on them in any of the books about Huma or the Dragon Wars that I have been able to find. We eventually are victorious, but not before finding out that when these dragon-like creatures die they turned to stone. My sword was caught in one until a few minutes after the combat was over. With the combat over I move forward to the river and see nothing but Caleb feels a sense of foreboding coming from the other side of the river. It is then that we hear a growl and a voice say “Go away… Go away” and then the sound of a creature flying, followed by another growl.

We need to high tail it out of there as we all remember the talk about a possible Black Dragon somewhere in or around the ruins. Could it be on the other side of the river? Just how big is this cavern!! I make the decision to go for the Lance. Again I stop just before the raised stone and wait for everyone to get ready. Unfortunately we did not know it but there were more dragon-like creatures lying in wait as one of them (Kapak) drops from the ceiling and attacks (and misses) Alexi! We all turn and before we react the creature is out of there, flying through the air into the darkness. I leap up on to the stone and grab the (Footman’s) Dragonlance giving praise to Paladine. The voice across the other side of the cavern screams in anger (or fear?) for it is obvious the beast is a Dragon and the item I was now holding was really a Dragonlance! At the same time as I grab the lance, the Black Dragon appears and attacks. Lon is struck down and knocked out by Farra (epic fail…) and Farra runs away from the Dragon, dropping his weapons and screaming in fear. I charge forward with my shield and the Dragonlance. Marveling at the perfect balance, and how lite it feels, I strike the black beast (overcoming a gut wrenching fear as I get close) – the Dragon screams in pain from the touch of the Dragonlance!

The battle with the Dragon is terrible – the acid spray from the beast is damaging and poor Lon is caught in the way, but somehow was are victorious. The beast is dead!!! I drag Lon out of the way and Alexi applies first aid and miraculously Lon is stabilised. We move back to the altar heal up then go back to the Dragon and I cut out the horns. Alexi speaks with his familiar (I do not trust that little creature a bit) and we cut out the heart and some scales of the beast and then go looking for Farra as he has still not returned. We know he went south so we head in that direction; as we go past I grab cloth the Dragonlance was on. We find his body; the (Kapak) had stabbed him multiple times and then slit poor Farra’s throat as he was heading back towards battle. The body has also been looted (there will be a reckoning for this!) Alexi points out Farra is missing his acorn necklace, so I continue looking around for the dragon-creature as I am sure Caleb also hidden nearby me – I am the bait.

Lon and Alexi lay Farra’s body on the altar and a cloak is placed over him in a position. Alexi takes a copy of some writing he has found on the underside of the altar, he believes it is magical, and after consulting with his familiar thinks it also may be summoning in nature. On the other hand I manage to find and slay one of the dragon-creatures (Kapax’s – it erupts in explodes in an acid spray – damn) and then the other one that killed Farra (I avoid that acid spray). He has been avenged! Amazingly, it is as I kill the beast that I find a hidden doorway in the stone that leads to a secret room. Caleb and I return to the others; I give a prayer to Paladine to help Farra’s soul find piece and head down to the secret entrance.

We go into the hidden room and find the silver acorn necklace and scroll case that belonged to Farra on a table next to an open book. I take the silver acorn necklace for Lon says this should be returned to Farra’s elven clan and give the scroll case to Alexi. We realise that this must be the mages hidden lair from upstairs as the chest from the ruined library is here! There is another table with books and a skull on it and in the top corner of the room is an ACTIVE teleportation circle. The room is lit up by four glowing balls of light around the room. The familiar looks at the open book and collapses (GM epic fail) – Alexi tries to close it with Mage hand and fails. The magic is dissipated as it gets close to the book. In the end we throw a cloak over the book and I use it to close the book; once closed I wrap the book in the cloak and put it in a backpack. Alexi is sure the power protecting the book is some sort of anti-magic shell.

After completing a check of the room we decide that the only way to open the chest is to use the book to counter the magic defenses. We push over the heavy oak table – Alexi and I are behind it with Caleb and Lon outside the room! (GM both moved pretty quick too) I use the Dragonlance to push the book to within one square when suddenly there is a HUGE explosion; if we had not put the table down Alexi and I were as good as dead. The book is destroyed and the globes of light are extinguished but the magical defenses on the chest are gone.
Inside we find :- A silver dagger and Medallion – both have the symbol of Takhisis on it them. There is also a bone scroll case (sealed with runes) with inscriptions all under a velvet pillow. While we are all looking through the rest of the chest, the teleportation circle activates! We try to hide (no good) as we cannot run, and take up positions around the circle. I place my shield face down on the ground so that I can shine the light in the eyes of whomever it is that steps through. We are all totally surprised when we see the Black Knight step through! He is enormous – this is going to hurt… we get surprise though and go all out (really did not want to!) but since we really did not have much choice it is a do or die fight.

After an epic battle we defeat The Butcher (half-ogre of some kind, carrying a massive mace/maul). Lon’s shoulder is shattered from a massive blow of that mace, Alexi says it looks to him like Lon’s shoulder has been crushed into his body and I notice the resigned look in his face as he is telling me this. I am worried that Lon may never use the arm again, but after Alexi wraps the arm I use the cloth from under the Dragonlance to help give some extra comfort and support (and pray to Paladine that there are some magical healing properties in it as Lon really does look in bad shape). I take the helm off the knight and Alexi takes the horns as they are from a dragon! He also had a Great Maul (with symbols on it), a ruby ring, a medallion of Takhisis and a black sash; the sash looks like a military rank of some kind. We also have the four magical black books that were on the other table before it was destroyed. I also cut the straps on the Black Knights armour so I can take the chest piece – it has the symbol of Takhisis on it and I can use it as evidence for the knights and Lord of Haregoth.

After leaving the tower we move around the wizards tower and follow the hidden path we were told about. We only travel along it for a short distance before finding a camp site for the night. We decide on a cold camp just in case there are unwanted eyes watching us. All is quiet until my watch for it is during it that I see a strange light moving quickly through
the forest. I alert Alexi and he wakes the others while I watch. It is not long before the ‘light’ appears to be a ghostly apparition running from something and carrying what looks like a DRAGONLANCE! Well, I think it is one but not having seen one before I am only taking a wild stab in the dark!

I give chase and watch as the ghost knight fights against something big and uses the oversize spear \ Dragonlance to slay it. The knight then pulls out a bowie knife and cuts out the heart of a large beast. He holds it up for his audience (not us obviously) and then throws it on the ground and walks away until I cannot see him anymore. He was a dressed as a Knight of the Rose. Whoever he was, he was reliving an event from the past. Since it is early morning we quickly eat and head towards the valley of the ruin city.

We arrive just as the sun is about to rise and see the ruins. There is a giant temple, a ruined Mage Tower as well as what appears to be a Palace at the back. We survey the area and see a palisade blocking the northern entrance into the valley and nearby is a tree with a figure hanging upside down on a rope. Near him is a robed figure and a few kobolds and orcs. Soon we notice a big black armoured figure (horns on helm) approaching from the southern end of the valley on horseback. He dismounts and salutes the robed figure. Alexi is hell bent on rescuing the figure. I argue with him about the ‘greater good’; Father always said that a commander had to make the hard the decisions for the sake of the mission. This certainly looks like one of those times, but if the opportunity did arise we should try and save the
prisoner. We slip down the valley wall thanks to Alexi’s magic and continue to watch. It is obvious that the robed figure is in charge. He orders the black figure (has red hair and skulls attached to his armour?) to leave via the gate. We notice for the first time a goblin at the gate – he lets the black knight out and closes the gate again. The robed figure uses claws to slash the prisoner!

Then opportunity knocks as the sun starts to rise. The kobolds and orcs scatter into the ruins as they do not like sunlight and the robed figure – Alexi says it is a mage as and is starting to cast a spell of some kind! We quickly make a plan and move in – a quick battle ensues and mage dies and explodes after I kill it – damn that hurt! I cut the figure down and grab the person clothing while the goblin is killed and the gate sabotaged to stop people coming through. We move to a building and find that the person we saved and is a Monk of the Order of the Purple Lotus. His name is Caleb. He was captured but not before gaining valuable information on the amount of troops in the area.

300 troops – black uniform – humans, kobolds, orcs and Ogres – the black armoured guy is the leader of the army. Also siege equipment as well Must get this info back to the Spymaster and Lord of the City.

We move to a 3 story building which is an ancient library – Alexi and Caleb are very interested in this building. We also find that the dead mage was using this building as its base. From the roof, Caleb and Farra tell us that there is a Palace \ Temple then Mage tower and Coliseum next to a steam pool. Gladiatorial fights to the death in this city long ago. Mage Tower is a school but it is not a tower of high sorcery. And a Knight broke the siege
on the city long ago which probably explains the ghostly apparition we saw. The mage tower is avoided – the palace has orcs in it and the temple has been desecrated. There is also a large stable next to the Palace.

We the hear horns from outside – someone is trying to get in – the kobolds try but cannot work the mechanism and run away. We continue to explore the library and there is a table with a lit candle on it with an open book! Look around and see nothing as Alexi goes to the table. Also find a bedroll, backpack and chest – there is a bottle of wine from Calaman?? here! It is a long way from home. Magical lock on the chest. We can hear the banging of a hammer on the palisade as the armoured figure tries to get in. The kobolds have run and hidden as they cannot open the gate. I realise that we cannot stay here as the black knight will come here looking for the mage so we have to make a quick decision on which way to go without being seen. Alexi want to go to the mage tower but we cannot as we will be seen going that way. In the end we head to the stables as Caleb’s horse is there. We are about to enter when we manage to notice the that the horse is dead – reason – lunch for the two black Wyverns that were sleeping in the stable! CRAP that was close!!!

After a quick recon, we realise that we have to go to the hot springs and Alexi’s says he can cast a spell that will help us get past to elsewhere. Using the lay of the land and the morning sun we get to the springs without being seen. It is here we make another choice – we see that the springs are not touched by the kobolds and orcs and there is a tunnel and stone steps leading down into the earth. Could this be a hiding place for the Dragonlance?? It is decided to cross the pool and enter the tunnel. We crossing the pool (with only Alexi having a ‘slip’), reach the top of a set of stone stairs that head down…

Session starts in the house that belongs to ‘our father’ where we talk about ‘the star with a circle notation’ from the journal, but nothing comes to mind. I think we need to go east for two days and see what we can find – why did he not write down any journal notes for three days?

While I am training in the yard, Alexi and Lon head up to the loft to look at the chest. It is here we meet ‘Lazarus’ whom we believe is the Spymaster for the Lord of the City. He wears a secret police uniform and has brought with him a letter, penned by Edwin to his father. Edwin has no honour!!! Castor who is supposed to be in a jail cell is under a type of ‘house arrest’ and is plotting revenge against us!

He and Alexi come to an arrangement (I agree once I have cooled down) and we are to head east and investigate and ancient ruined city where there are believed to be Kobolds. It is 2-3 days ride to the east of Hargoth in the area Father went to! Lazarus also informs Alexi that Castor has his power base in the city, so he will not be leaving anytime soon. We are to look for Lazarus’s missing agents that have not returned from this area. He gives Alexi a star and circle pendant (say what – did father have dealings with the Lord or the Lords family in Hargoth?) and a set of passwords to use once we get to Korval.

“Go to the inn and leave a message for the seamstress and say ‘the order is ready’. If the barkeep says ‘the order is cancelled’ get out fast! If the barkeep does not what you are talking about, still get out fast.”

Farra comes in and says we are going to ‘The Track’. It is an offshoot path that goes to a ruin city but the kobolds keep the roads blocked. What is going on?? The watch were told not to go there and the kobolds now stay on their side of the path. There is EVIL a foot and there is corruption in the city – the Knights should have gathered an army and wiped the humanoids out! Farra then talks a bit too much and I tell him to change the subject – we discuss looking for ancient knowledge in a library somewhere – Korval or further a field. We just need to locate it. Maybe even in the ancient ruined city??

After Alexi goes to his wizard contact picking up the items we got from Castor we leave the city in a bit of a parade to make out we are going north to Tidesafe where it appears we have booked passage back north. Once out of the city I get changed back into normal travelling gear and we follow the same path back to the east which Farra has patrolled before. We do get taught some Wood Lore by Farra to help us while recognise his sign while travelling as Farra is ahead of us scouting the way.

After travelling for some time, Lon returns to us and says there is a meeting of some kind about to go ahead in a clearing further down the path. It appears that some guards or army personnel are waiting for someone or something to happen. Alexi and I take the horses and hide in the forest while Lon goes back to Farra. After about 25 mins we get the signal to come with the horses at pace as something has gone wrong and the two of them have been spotted. As we charge down the road we see 6 guards chasing Farra and Lon. I still have pent up rage and charge in at them.

We manage to take them down – 4 dead and two alive – one is unconscious and the other squeals like a pig to give us information. There are symbols on his arms – they are death symbols so he is a cultists! The master was meeting with the a Colonel from the city. This squealer also says there is BLACK DRAGON under the masters control and there are scaled ones in rags also at the ruined city. There is another way to the Track past the ivory tower – there is a wizard and wolves there as they got one of the cultist. A wizard?? This bears investigating as he may be a possible ally! Alexi is not so sure…

Lon hears horses coming from the patrol route and kills the unconscious one as we throw the bodies to the forest and clean up to hide our passing. The minion \ squealer then says he can hear his masters voice in his head and runs off – I take pity and deal with him. We hide and then see the patrol ride past – they are bunched and have no outriders – no discipline at all. We follow along after.

Alexi brings out his imp and has it check around for the tower and the patrol. Eventually he spots the ivory tower – 3 story’s tall! He then checks around the circle of stones and then yells at the tower but gets no response. I say that upon on my honour as a knight-errant we are not a threat – the old mage in the tower laughs and says there are no Knights with honour anymore. That is just not true!

He invites us in but only the two of us. Lon and Farra are not allowed in. We enter the tower and are lead to a room where we eat our fill and have exotic desserts. The grey cloaked servant \ apprentice is a girl.

Whupus??? – a very old man that was once on the council of mages. I say – Paladine is with us – “Yes – but are we with him.” I realise that the balance must be restored. Good and evil must always co-exist. Man turned away from the Gods, not the other way around. While we search for items of Good that will help us, there will be those that follow the path of evil and the Dark Queen that are doing the same thing. The Priest-King and the Elves and other forces for good all went too far towards a utopian society – the cataclysm was the result. Father searched for the wizard as well and eventually found him but he never found what he was truly looking for which was a DRAGONLANCE!!! I will follow the path and find it! And I think father is alive – Alexi does not and he also does believe mother is alive, but I think there is a chance she might be. I also believe in Paladine and the Gods but Alexi is not so sure. My faith is re-enforced when we look at the night sky and she that the Paladine’s and The Dark Queen’s constellations are missing! As we are leaving, the wizard tells us that there is a path to the ruins from the south side of his tower that will help us bypass things but we will still have to be careful.

We leave the tower and return to Farra and Lon – Farra tried to leave earlier but the wolves stopped him. Interesting… We point out the missing constellations and Lon is speechless – Farra is not sure about this and it is like he is also having trouble taking it all in as well. We return to the horses and setup camp for the night.