1st day of Gather, Sun Descending, Year of Priest’s Defiance

Six months have past since the Obsidian Storm, and the city of Tyr has all but recovered from the attacks of the Wastewalker. Alfred, Garook, and Skander have been working with the Veiled Alliance cell in Tyr supporting its efforts to train arcanists as perservers or protect those who already are. Cato and Grrr’ik’tik have been sharing a small apartment with Cato working in the Merchant’s Ward while Grrr’ik’tik has been spending time at the Arena betting on the matches. Ysabel has kept to herself and has not been seen in some time, although a few members of the group know that she was investigating something in Tyr.

The cell leader called Alfred, Garook, and Skander into a meeting and asked if they could look into the disappearance of a research team, and a previous investigation team that had been sent to a small settlement in Under-Tyr, in an area called Tembo’s Teeth. The area is a sprawling network of natural caverns. There are rumors that years ago Kalak had some of the areas sealed off because the caverns lead to a ruined city-complex beneath the sands of Athas. However with the death of the Sorcerer-King it is possible that any of the wards tied to his magics might have failed.

The colony was said to have a water supply that didn’t draw upon any of Tyr’s aquifer and it was thought that maybe there was an arcane artifact involved. The first group was sent down four days ago, and should have reported back so a second team was sent to look for them, neither has returned.

The trio was given a small stipend with which they could hire any they thought could be trusted, and so Catp amd Grrr’ik’tik were brought with them.

When the group reached the settlement, named Hadley’s Hope, they found a disturbing stillness. No one seemed to be around, however when the group started to investigate the homes of the settlers they found that they had all been slaughtered. Many were found in bed, while others still were found posed in strange or disturbing positions. When the party investigated the main house, which also served as a small fortification, they found the remains of the second group sent by the Veiled Alliance and the settlement’s children. The four adults had been killed and posed to look like they were in fighting positions and the children had been slaughtered, torn apart by some wild beast. The party found several odd tracks that seemed to indicate some kind of beast, but they also found some indications that what ever it was it wasn’t entirely animalistic.

The group moved to the settlement’s water source and found a large basin of water with a strange obelisk. As the group approached the obelisk, Skander and Grrr’ik’tik became fatigued and their movements slowed. Grrr’ik’tik scaled the obelisk and found that the top, which looked just like an iron orb, was in fact modeled like an eye with its lid closed. There were signs that the lid had been closed recently and that seemed to activate the magics.

However before the group could investigate further they were attacked by a group of giant ants that had moved into the area recently, and who were perhaps responsible for the first team’s disappearance. The party fought the ants until only the soldier remained, and it scurried back into the nest, calling for its allies.

Awarded XP: 260

29th day of Sorrow, High Sun, Year of Priest’s Defiance

The unnatural storm heralded the forces of the Wastewalker. Stooped and slightly sickly looking, with a tail that was easily the length of his entire body the ssurran shaman still held power over this kinfolk. The Wastewalker demanded the life of Skander due to his use of arcane powers. A brief argument was had before the fight was engaged.

Ysabel used the power of her fey weapon to teleport the Wastewalker from his high perch to where Garook could reach him and something dark interacted with the feyish magics. The Wastewalker was pulled away from something that seemed to have power over him. A dark shadow, a being seemingly made up of tiny shards of obsidian. The Wastewalker became confused, and didn’t seem to understand why he and his kin were fighting the party as they carried boons from ancient primal spirits. The ssurrans gathered around their leader to protect him while he gathered his wits. Meanwhile the Shard Slave commanded the two storm shards to attack the party. The elemental beings pummeled the party with thunder and lighting, while the Shard Slave used its power to dominate the wills of Grrr’ik’tik and Skander.

As the fight wore on, other members of the party came under the Shard Slave’s power, while some of those who were dominated managed to shake off its dark touch. Finally the Shard Slave was laid low, and as it lay broken on the sands it called out, “Master please help me!”.

Then a unseen but terrible force smote the Shard Slave draining its power utterly leaving nothing on the sand but a patch of dead, fully defiled earth. Alfred and Ysabel were knocked unconscious by the thing but moments later recovered.

With the destruction of the Shard Slave, the Wastewalker told the party what it knew. The Shard Slave had come to him months earlier whispering promises of power and vengeance against those who had defiled Athas. As the dark power grew within him he knew nothing but rage. He said that the dark thing’s master now knew their names.

”It is Hollow, and it lives in the Hollow. It is ancient and terrible and it does not forget.

The two groups parted, the Wastewalker leaving with his people find his path once again, and the party able to enter through the Caravan Gate. Battered and weary, much like the city itself, the party left the wastes for the relative safety of the city walls.

Awarded XP: 333

29th day of Sorrow, High Sun, Year of Priest’s Defiance

With the dawn came the burning sun of Athas. Gone were the mighty trees, and the lush undergrowth as if it had been some kind of dream. However the weapon that Ysabel crafted was still there as a faint echo of the night before.

The party again headed towards the mountains, looking for a pass that would take them back to Tyr. The dark clouds with their obsidian rain could still be seen in the distance, circling the city.

After several hours of searching, Garook saw a rockface that looked like it could be climbed, but it looked treacherous. Just as he was about to dismiss the idea, he saw a group of humanoids moving along the rocks. Their pace was hurried, and they were not taking the care that he thought that cliff face deserved. He then noticed that another group of humanoids were chasing the first group. This group seemed to move among the rocks with great speed and sure footing. He lost sight of the groups for a moment when there was a blinding flash and a huge section of the cliff came away. Most of the party were blinded by the flash but those that weren’t saw the humanoids from the first group falling to their deaths, there was no trace of the first group.

After everyone regained their sight there was much discussion about what had happened. Several of the members of the party were concerned that if there were someone who could cause the rocks to fall they would be a extremely dangerous foe. However, it seemed that the likely cause of the avalanche was a massive amount of bolt stone which was rock charged with lightening. However, the party chose to be wary of the cliff so pressed on ahead. After some time the party found that many of places where there would be a natural pass, were closed off. Soon they found signs that a tribe of gnolls had moved into the area and were establishing their hunting grounds. Faced with this, the possible threat of the mountain seemed more reasonable, and they returned to the cliff.

Climbing across the landfall, the party found a series of passageways that led through the mountains. However these also seemed to be controlled by the gnolls as the group was attacked by a gnoll hunting party. Bolt stone still was in the area making movement more hazardous but the party fought and defeated the gnolls. Garook identified them as being part of the “Poisonfang” tribe.

As the party passed through the mountain they could see fewer and fewer signs of the gnolls, until at last they were in the badlands that surrounded Tyr. However the storm still raged, and from the clouds a group of warped dray flew towards the party. Fortunately Cato and Skander took aim with their bows and managed to drop one of the dray before it would land. However the remaining three took their vengeance out on the dune trader and Cato was dropped to the ground. The dray summoned a dust devil as well and fought fiercely. Even in death they tried to harm the party, with some dissolving into acids while others turned to stone trapping their attackers weapons. Finally the dray were dispatched, and the party could collect themselves and tend to their wounded.

Their rest would be short as the all-to-familiar sounds of obsidian falling from the sky and crashing on the ground became louder. The Wastewalker was on his way to face the party at long last.

Awarded XP: 318

28th day of Sorrow, High Sun, Year of Priest’s Defiance

The group awoke to find themselves captured by a tribe of halflings. Everyone except Garook found themselves tied hand and foot in a yurt with only Skander being armed. The party freed themselves but stayed in the yurt, not knowing what was going on or where Garook was. Garook meanwhile was meeting with the tribe’s elders to determine what had brought the party to this area. According to the halflings this valley was sacred and the tribe had come here due to a vision the shaman had.

After the initial meeting Garook was brought back to his companions where he discovered that they had managed to free themselves. Ysabel refused to be bound or held against her will and challenged the guards outside the yurt. After a brief fight she was knocked unconscious again and a dozen more halfings arrived, and encircled the entrance to the yurt.

Horros, the halfing hunter who had led the hunting band that had captured the group arrived and led the party to meet with the chieftain. The part stated their case and was told about the nature of the valley. Garook was made a blood-brother to Horros and was made a member of the Valewalker tribe.

The party left the valley and journeyed north along the mountains. They found themselves in a massive forest and Skander realized that the party had stepped into the Feywild. Attempting to rest near an ancient tree the party was attacked by a group of zairtails, small fierce lizards. Cato was ambushed by a fey panther that attempted to make a quick meal of him, however the party was able to kill the zairtails and chase off the panther. After dispatching the last of the reptiles the party found a pieces of Feyblade wrapped in cloth beneath the tree. Ysabel took the blades and fashioned them into a new trikal. The party then rested the night in the shadow of this ancient wood.

Awarded XP: 258

27th – 28th day of Sorrow, High Sun, Year of Priest’s Defiance

Wind and Sand seemed to fill the area around the spirit and is summoned shadows and tiny dust elementals to destroy those who disturbed the chamber. While the party had encountered several strange beings before this one seemed more dangerous than those they had encountered before. Wind, shadow, and dust combined together buffeting the group and keeping them off balance. The being seemed to shift and teleport when attacked, the dust motes caused extended wounds, while the shadows seemed to slow the limbs of the party.

As the fight continued Ysabel noticed that the statues on the reliquary began to shift and move in subtle ways. First the Fire icon, then the Water icon, and finally the Stone icon. Garook only noticed the Water icon, while Skanderdidn’t seem to notice the movement of any of the icons. The party was forced to draw upon inner strengths, but eventually the spirit was banished and was drawn back into the reliquary. Stillness filled the chamber, and just as the group collected themselves three beings appeared near at the reliquary. One seemed to be made of fire, another water, and the last made of stone.

These Ancients explained that they had been bound here by the Elan, of the first peoples of Athas. This had been done during the Green Age, when the land and seas were still fertile. Then one of the first people sought power for himself, and taught others how to corrupt and burn the land for their own power. Those that would be King burnt the land and brought the end of the Green Age. The Ancients had been bound here to be used in a time when the Green had returned, to help put back what had been lost. However in the long aeon that had past the Ancient-of-Zephyr had fallen into despair and let madness take him. With his defeat it was possible that he would regain his balance, and for that the Ancients thanked the group and bestowed upon them Aquifer’s Venerable Gift, Aurora’s Venerable Gift, and Bedrock’s Venerable Gift.

The Ancients let the party know that they are being pursued by a being known as the Wastewalker. The Wastewalker is a dark reflection of several members of the party, he seeks to heal the world and punish those who use arcane power, but in his madness he has made pacts with dark powers and no longer can tell friend from foe. The Ancients foresee that the Wastewlker will confront the group and it will fall to them to redeem the Wastewalker, or to slay him.

Profoundly moved by the encounter with the Ancients, the group followed the hejkin tunnels through the mountains until they could find somewhere beyond the unsettling madness of the Ancient of Zephyr and rest fully.

The next day found the group finally emerging from the rock and soil and out under the burning sun. Their taste of freedom was short lived as a large group of halfings were waiting for them. The group was ordered to come with the halflings as their prisoners. Garook advised that the party should go with the halflings, however several members of the group resisted and had to be subdued.

As the group was led to the halfling’s camp the saw a valley nestled in the mountains that seemed to shift between a small forest and an area of towering trees and lush undergrowth. Garook had heard of such things and determined that this area must be close to the Feywild.

Awarded XP: 154

27th day of Sorrow, High Sun, Year of Priest’s Defiance

After the party collected the few salvageable items from the corpses they searched the two small cliffs and found that one had a stairwell that continued downward. The stairs were finished, but showed signs of damage over the long years. Alfred and Ysabel both felt that the workmanship was familiar although neither could determine why.

The tunnel led to an area where there were more bodies, these much older having decayed to the point of just being skeletons. The area also glowed with slight light as a series of crystals pulsed with the remaining energy of those that had come before. After some experimentation the group determined that the crystals were too fragile to be able to remove from this place. Moving forward they found a pit that had been covered by fine strands of crystal in a web pattern. No sooner had they found this than the skeletons began to stir. The skeletons, and long-disused gauntlets came at the party with the intent to make them one of their number. The skeletons were quickly destroyed and as the party searched the area a crystal spider, lurking nearby for a meal, attacked Skander. The group rallied to the aid of their companion and soon the spider joined the skeletons. Among the remains the group found a set of scale armor that was made from crystal.

After searching the cavern they found that the only way out was through the pit, which seemed to drop down a rope’s length and end in a chamber. The group investigated and found that it was a tomb of some type. Cautiously they climbed down into the area, aware that ancient things may still lurk in the darkness. The chamber had a pair of ancient braziers, which Skander seemed to be linked to the Elemental Chaos in some small fashion. The walls were covered in a form or writing that the group had never seen before, although Alfred and Ysabel still found it familiar. There were a number of relics and a pair of stone slabs with a statue of a reclining warrior on them. As the group investigated the relics, the statues began to move. Soon the party found themselves fighting the tomb’s guardians, a pair of crystal constructs. The room also was filled with poison dart traps, which were activated by pressure plates in the floor.

The guardians fought fiercely, each with the strength of two, however in the end the party was able to destroy the guardians. Among the rubble they found a key to the iron gate that led out of the tomb. Following the corridor the found that a group of hejkin and found the chamber beyond and were counting up their spoils from a recent raid. The two groups fought and although the hejkin managed to knock several of the party members unconscious they were not able to defeat the party. After claiming the hejkin’s loot as their rightful spoils the party investigated the room further. The room held an ornate box with small statues of stylized elemental beings, one for Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. The fire statue seemed dull as if something were missing, but the earth and water statues seemed to resonate with a hidden power. The air statue was corrupted and showed extensive signs of decay. One of the members of the party touched the reliquary and a terrible wind filled the room. A air elemental, corrupted by time and rage, pointed at the group and said, ”You should not have come here. The time is not right.” and attacked…

Awarded XP: 343

26rd – 27th day of Sorrow, High Sun, Year of Priest’s Defiance

Ralo led the party to the Ringing Mountains, while keeping ahead of the obsidian storm. Soon the group faced a large cliff where they could see a few cracks in its face. At the base of the cliff, nearly obscured by blackened sand was a small cave. Ralo mentioned that the sand hadn’t been black the last time he had been here, but that was some months ago. As the party began to investigate the area near the cave they detected some movement near a series of boulders. On their guard the group advanced, and then a small group of ssurans stepped out and began their attack. Their poisoned javelins were mostly deflected by Garook’s shield and Grrr’ik’tik quickly brought the fight to the lizardfolk. However shortly after the two groups had started fighting an ankheg surfaced, intent on finding its meal. Hard on both sides, Garook fought the insect beast while Skander and Grrr’ik’tik fought the ssurans. Despite attempting to flee once its prey proved more trouble than its worth, the ankheg was laid low with Alfred Senal landing the final blow.

After the ssurans and the ankheg were defeated the group found a pair of healing fruits, and a white diamond that could be used as the top of a staff. Skander was able to translate the inscriptions on the jewel and explained the meaning of its name, Diamond of the White Queen.

The group excavated the tunnel and followed the cave into the Ringing Mountains. Shortly they came upon an area where two tunnels diverged. The area had been worked, and obviously been part of a mine at one point. Ralo explained that one tunnel led to the south, and he was pretty sure that it would come up in the Ringing Mountains three days away from Tyr, but then the party could cross the mountains to get back to the city and avoid the storm. The other tunnel was thought to open up closer to the city but was also rumored to be haunted. Many of the members of the party were aware that there were stories of such things in the mountains. Tales of the unquiet dead, of lost civilizations, and the ruins of things that came before the Red Age. After a brief conversation the group parted ways with Ralo, who headed south, and headed into the “haunted” tunnels that would lead them to Tyr.

After an hour of exploring the tunnels were shaken, as something colossal slammed into the mountains above. Dust and debris from the impact made its way even to where the group stood, deep in the mountains, and Alfred noticed that there was obsidian in the the debris. The storm seemed intent on following the group, even if it had to fight the mountains to do so.

A fitful rest later found the group in an area that showed signs that it had been worked. First only small signs, like a cut tile in the floor. But later they could see signs of old supports along the walls. Then the group made their way to a section where an old rope bridge crossed what could have been a river. The bridge was worn and rickety, and the river had long since dried up leaving only silt behind. Skander attempted to climb down and slipped, landing in the silt. On the other side of the ravine there were a pile of dead bodies, where a group of mercenaries had met their end. Skander scouted ahead and and he approached the bodies they began to stir. Quickly the group found themselves fighting a group of corrupted corpses, as well as a shadowy being of grief and pain. While the battle raged, a gray ooze dropped in behind Alfred and began to attack the aged psion. With a battle on two fronts, and only the aged bridge to cross the group found themselves either moving carefully to engage the enemy or leaping across the chasm. In the end the corpses and ooze were put down, and the shadow escaped into the depths of the cavern. However among the remains of the adventurers the group found a few vials of panther tears, which Garook was familiar with, and the makings of a set of piecemeal chain armor.

Awarded XP: 343

25rd – 26th day of Sorrow, High Sun, Year of Priest’s Defiance

After the group recovered from the attacking kanks, they harvested some of the meat from the beasts to supplement their provisions. The fire spirit was nowhere to be seen and the messages that it had burned into the sand had been obliterated during the attack. With nothing left to tie them to the place the party pressed onward to escape the obsidian storm.

The group found a small oasis that they figured would provide enough shelter from the storm to allow them to rest for the night. Skander moved ahead of the group to scout and was ambushed by some brownish/green humanoids. No one in the party had ever seen their like before and the small humanoids attacked from the tops of large boulders raining arrows and curses down upon them. The party briefly contemplated retreating and leaving the oasis to the troublesome ambushers when Grrr’ik’tik, apparently affronted by nerve of the creatures to stay out of harms reach, jumped onto the rocks and unleashed a torrent of attacks which left several of the creatures dead and the others badly hurt. The attack did not come without a price as the gladiator then dropped to the ground unconscious. The party, rallied by Grr’ik’tik’s example, rushed the remaining creatures and put them all to the sword. Later they were able to stabilize Grrr’ik’tik and then gain some rest. During the rest the group was able to combine the combine the meat from the kanks with some of the resources of the oasis to supply the group with another survival day.

The group then headed out, the storm close behind them and as they neared the Ringing Mountains they came upon a dwarven miner who was being attacked by a Ssuran elemental speaker and a trio of dust devils. The party, motivated either by a desire to salvage or aid the dwarf, joined the melee and quickly dispatched the ssuran and his elemntals. The dwarf introduced himself as Ralo and let them know that the storm that has been chasing them also has surrounded Tyr and cut off all access to the city. However he knew of a cave system in the mountains that there was rumors that it connected to the catacombs beneath Tyr.

Awarded XP: 178

24rd – 25th day of Sorrow, High Sun, Year of Priest’s Defiance

The freakish storm of obsidian shards abated for the moment but the party was confronted by a band of silt runners looking to take the supplies from the caravan. Faced with the dual threat of the silt runner raiders and the obsidian storm the party split their attention between fighting the silt runners and looting survival days from the caravan’s one remaining wagon. Among the supplies Skander found a pair of healing fruits.

The party put the ambushers to the sword and started to loot the caravan, when another group of silt runners appeared, apparently reinforcements for the previous group. Grrr’ik’tik in an amazing display that made him famous in Tyr’s arena launched a devastating attack that left all of the reinforcements badly hurt and two of their members dead. The party, inspired by the thri’kreen’s example made short work of the reinforcements. However at this point the storm began to pick up again and the group was forced to flee the caravan and search for shelter elsewhere.

The storm pushed them ever on, but finally the group was able to find a place to rest for the evening. The next day the storm continued and the group made their way ever closer to Tyr and the safety of the Ringing Mountains. As they continued through the day they were further hampered by the massive amounts of silt that were being kicked up by the storm.

In the relative safety of a small oasis the party came across a flame spirit who was bound to the area. However before they could determine much from the spirit a group of kanks attacked. The wild beasts, much more aggressive than the domesticated beasts of burden, seemed to be a hunting party, intent of taking back food for the hive. The three large soldiers, and two smaller spitting kanks attacked with little regard for themselves, however in the end the party proved stronger than the kanks.

Awarded XP: 305

23rd – 24th day of Sorrow, High Sun, Year of Priest’s Defiance

A moment of triumph turned into a moment of shock as the body of Tellemon hit the arena floor. The crowd was quickly separated into groups. Those that were far enough from the event were ushered out of the arena. Those closer to the body were confined to await questioning.

The party were closest to the body, although their involvement wasn’t in question as they had been in the arena at the time. However Skander did “investigate” the body but was quickly ordered away by the guards, and the party was sent to their quarters. Within the hour the official overseeing the games came to give them their reward for their victory, 50 bits or a healing fruit. After they collected their winnings and the well armed mul guards carrying the prize box had left. The official introduced himself as Selonius. He informed the party that Governor Arisphistaneles had been present at the games and had charged Selonius with requesting that the group work as an “neutral third party” to investigate Tellemon’s death as there was the possibility that the murderer would have ties to the local guards. The party was hired for the sum of 50gp in minted gold, and given a writ to prove their authority.

The party began their investigation by inspecting the body where they found that the wound on the captain’s throat had been made after he had died. The wound that killed him was a slender but deep wound in the captain’s back. There were traces of poison in the wound that Skander determined was of an arcane nature. They found the murder weapon, a small dagger with a trace of parchment wrapped to the hilt, near the scene confirming Skander’s suspicions. the party then found some witnesses who saw a “large, bald man wearing a white tunic and gladiator’s sandals” fleeing the scene.

The party then went to the barracks to question the guards and off-duty mercenaries there. They discovered that Tellemon frequented the arena and was often very successful. In fact it seemed that the captain had made a wager on their fight against Kaldras and his elven kin, and that some of the “winnings” that the party had received were in fact a “gift” from the captain. Grrr’ik’tik noticed a disheveled dwarf muttering to himself and leaving the barracks. Grrr’ik’tik slipped away to follow the dwarf, without any of the other members of the party noticing that he had left.

Soon the party noticed that thri’kreen was missing and went to look for him, but not before finding out that Birk Suntouched had been asking about Captain Tellemon before the murder. The party found Grrr’ik’tik, who himself had found Birk talking to a mul gladiator. The gladiator had some blood on his white tunic and after conferring briefly with the party they confronted the dwarf and mul.

After some talks the party learned that Birk was not all that he seemed and he promised to let them know the full story after they had talked to Arisphitaneles. The party brought the pair before the governor where the dwarf confessed that Captain Tellemon was working with The True, to assassinate Governor Arisphitaneles. With coming to light, the governor released Birk and the mul gladiator and discussed at some length with the party, and he revealed to them that he was the leader of the cell of the Veiled Alliance operating in Altaruk. They were paid the agreed sum and Grrr’ik’tik and Cato Iverson took their leave. The rest of the party stayed to talk with the governor and were eventually initiated into the Alliance.

With the dawn came time for the party to leave and Arisphitaneles made arrangements for them to be hired with another caravan that would be returning to Tyr. He also gave Tellemon’s sword, Psyche’s Zephr to Garook.

The party met with the caravan the following day, unable to find another contest in the Arena, and headed out into the desert. However the second day into the trip a storm of Obsidian Rain destroyed the caravan and left the party at the mercy of the desert. To make matters worse a group of silt runners appeared just as the party was gathering its wits and launched an attack…

Awarded XP: 225