The Seven Secrets

Notice: The Seven Secrets, and the Proper Names of Character’s within the storyline are © Copyright 2007, 2008 Dungeon Crawlers Design, Inc. All rights reserved. The Seven Secrets is a pending Trademark of Dungeon Crawlers Design, Inc.

The Seven Secrets • A Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Campaign by Justin Mason

Status: Completed (Pending a Future Campaign to Re-visit the Setting)

The picture above is the official Seven Secrets campaign portrait commissioned by the Dungeon Master from fantasy/comic book artist Barry Williams . Each player has received a frame print of the piece, and the original now hangs in the game room. Depicted from left to right are Alecia Va’Gracyn-Everstill, Romlynn Everstill, Marcus Stonemorrow, the gold dragon high-priestess Rebsilnisha Rymestara Themirox (Rebecca) in her human form, Decimus Draconis, Tristana the Druidess, Thorin Firewind, Verral Dessus, and the big guy in the rear of the group is Zion, keeper and guardian of Vaxpora. In the background to the left is Xaxoth in his red dragon form, and to the right the Silverveil, emperor class Elven airship. Also depicted in the background are the ruins of the once great tower of the Order of White Wizards.

The provided image has been slightly altered digitally by the Dungeon Master. Click here (JPG|455KB) if you would like to view the origianl piece by the artist without the digital enhancements.

The portrait is also now available as a desktop wallpaper that may be downloaded in various resolutions here:

1280×1024 (JPG|1,150KB) | 1280×960 (JPG|1,030KB) | 1280×768 (JPG|718KB) | 1152×864 (JPG|722KB) | 1024×768 (JPG|712KB) | 800×600 (JPG|487KB) | All Resolutions (ZIP|4,613KB)

Update 05/02/2008: AvatarArt is working on several of the images for the campaign. Be sure to keep an eye out for the lastest image updates!

Update 06/01/2008: The Seven Secrets has been selected by Obsidian Portal to be the Featured Campaign for June 2008. Thank you for the honour and the fantastic review. It’s greatly appreciated! And thank you to everyone who has voted and commented on our campaign, we hope you all have enjoyed reading about it as much as we did playing it.

Update 08/16/2008: Just announced, this fall (Approximate Date TBA) the Seven Secrets will be resurrected for a short tangent module intended to wrap up events from the earlier campaign. This adventure will include the main characters themselves.

A Message from the Dungeonmaster (05/04/2008)

So, with an epic battle, and unexpected happy ending, our adventurous journey of the past year has finally drawn to a close. While this particular story has come to an end, fear not: the world of Myterra and the intricate tales woven by the lives of the player-characters are far from over! They shall return, in one form or another, to this magnificent world that all the players have helped me to forge from pure imagination. In all my years of gaming, one thing I’ve learned is that it’s next to impossible to have such a large gaming-party to maintain a consistent campaign almost weekly for an entire year. I thank all of you who participated; it was no small feat, and your overall dedication is to be commended.

However, all good stories must come to an end. There will be no scheduled game sessions for the next few months. During this time it is my hope to complete the adventure logs with a relentless clarity that will accurately retell your stories with all the detail and grandeur deserved of them. As well, it is planned to more completely encompass the World of Myterra, in all of its massive detail here in our campaign wiki (something that, while already contains quite a reference, has still been sorely neglected simply due to a lack of free time to work on it).

When we return to the world of the Seven Secrets in the coming months, there will be a steadfast and dependable wealth of information to help develop your roles further. Until then; I bid you all adieu, and once again thank you for helping to make this past year one filled with suspense and adventure. Sincerely, Justin Mason (Dungeonmaster)

Total Campaign Running Time: 33 Game Sessions / 255 Hours (Average Game Session Length: 7.72 Hours)

This campaign ran on average three times each month from early June 2007 to May 2008.

nder the starry expanse blanketing the Narkati City, the Legends take their rest before their final battle. During the night, Marcus and Rebecca, lying together, profess their love, and come to know one another. For seven days, the party rests, and prepares, during which time Thorin modifies Jaren’s armband, allowing him to activate and deactivate it at will, in order to prevent direct assault from the Continuum Devourer. Jaren approaches Marcus, and tells him that he wishes to become a dragon-rider. Marcus, proud of his younger brother’s aspiration, draws forth an artifact that he had recovered from the orange stone’s timeline, and for no apparent reason at the time – the Rod of the Gold Wyrm. He explains that, within it, the gold wyrm Gildefax resides. Jaren, taking the rod, binds himself with the creature within it, and, with the help of Thorin’s timebubble, the halfling is quickly versed in the use of the artifact and the discipline of dragon-mounted combat, proving to be a natural… no doubt, Marcus later explains, due to the alterations within the timeline made by Romlynn. Veral, embracing his faith, is annointed by Rebecca as a cleric of Bahamut.

On the seventh day, Marcus notices, overhead, a great flock of golden eagles. He is informed by Estelldorn that it is, in fact, the great Narkati army, ten-thousand strong, called forth from across the expanse of time itself to assist the Legends in destroying the Continuum Devourer once and for all. Thorin, with Tristana, and Veral arrive in time to see the last file of eagles descend into the square of the Narkati city. The party, curious as to what was transpiring upon the prime timeline, question the Narkati, and are taken to the center of the city, to stand before a great golden fountain, filled with crimson liquid. As Marcus voices the parties questions, moving images form in the viscous material. Portrayed in the fountain is the horrifying, and unbelievable, image of Thallamachronorestaris, impaled through the chest by the mithril spire. The scene shifts, and a great struggle between the time-god and his destroyer, which ends with the Continuum Devourer, fully tangible, ripping th spire from the ground and piercing it through the robed figure’s chest… fastening him into the earth. Shifting once more, the obsidian statues of the gods are depicted for a brief moment, before they are sundered to dust, and utterly obliterated under the mass of the clashing titains. Thorin queries as to the wellbeing of Xaxoth and Decimus. Xaxoth is depicted, charging the Devourer, the Sword of Creation in hand. When showing Decimus, a scene plays out before the party, starting with the appearance of the Continuum Devourer over Nendal. Decimus, seeing the creature, explodes forth with a guttural roar, assailing it. In the distance appears Thallamachronorestaris, who, strangley, stills the priest’s assault. Estelldorn theroizes that the time-god was saving Decimus from a vain effort that would have lead to his annihilation. Turning away from the fountain, and faced with the crippling gravity of the situation, Thorin announces that he will go to the Silverveil and repair it, as it has been made painfully obvious that greater firepower is required for the coming battle. Employing his time bubble once more, Thorin creates an item which, coupled with his knowledge of arcane magic and chronomancy, should, in theory, repair the Silverveil, and all of its components, including Zion, to full working order. In the center of the Narkati city, the party begin to formulate a battle plan.

The Narkati agree to send forth an elite strike team of one hundred warriors. Marcus – upon Rebecca, Jaren – upon Gildefax, and Veral – upon a transformed Tristana, will remain with the bulk of the army to assess the initial strike. Thorin takes the Traveller’s Stone from Marcus, and explains that he will use it to return to the party should his plan fail. After hours of careful planning, the party, in the midst of an army, ten-thousand strong, parade down the main causeway of the Narkati city until they reach a golden stairwell. Gazing down, the steps can be seen disappearing into the clouds below. With a deep breath, the Legends plunge through the clouds, where the travel an unknown distance through a mist filled realm. Upon breaking through the clouds, the flow of time normalizes, and the Legends are thrust to their designated places upon the prime timeline. Thorin gasps, overwhelmed by the ebb and flow of time around him, once again. Gazing up, he sees the great worm overhead… and a sprawling void below, filled with rubble. In the expanse, he can see Decimus, frozen as he was in the images of the fountain. Wasting no time, he casts fly on himself, and makes his way up through the great worm. Upon passing the arcane barrier, he teleports to the Silverveil, where he is faced with explosive decompression. In agony, but unable to scream in the vacuum around him, he struggles to maintain consciousness as he places his creation upon the main deck of the ship. Wracked with convulsions, he forces himself to make the gestures necessary to activate the item. Succeeding, a pulse emits from the device, a spherical ripple exploding out and away from its base. In its wake is a repaired Silverveil. Zion, springing to life, activates the ships barrier, and Thorin falls to the deck, wracked by the pressure shift again, as he is torn from the vacuum. Panting, he orders Zion to prepare the ship. On the captain’s crystal, he conjures forth a scene depicting the happenings over Ancient Tubanor…

Marcus, Jaren, and Veral, each with their mounts, find themselves hovering steadily over the sundered ruins of New Tubanor. Away, to the north, looms the towering, sinister figure of the raw manifestation Continuum Devourer, it’s gaze set southward, towards the still army. Tilting its head slightly, observant, the Devourer rises up to its full height, crossing its arms. From the mass of eagles behind the party explode one-hundred Narkati, spurring their mounts onward with blinding speed towards the Devourer…

Xaxoth, hefting his blade overhead, screams out at the Devourer with a blood curdling cry of rage. He finds himself quickly surrounded by the Narkati, as they fly past him towards their target. Stowing his blade, he quickly transforms into his red dragon form, and joins their charge.

From their position in the south, the army stands fast. In the distance, Jaren calls out that he sees Xaxoth, who becomes readily apparent as he transforms into his red dragon form… flying up with the Narkati to meet the Devourer. As the eagles converge from all sides on the beast, it is bathed in golden light – the breath weapon of the birds, and hundreds of blows from Narkati weapons. With a roar, the Devourer is obscured completely by the light. After a few moments, a sickening crack echoes across the landscape, and, with a final flash, the golden light of the eagles vanishes. In its stead, can be seen the falling corpses of the Narkati. Xaxoth, caught up in the shockwave, is thrown to the ground behind the Devourer. Over the outskirts Ancient Tubanor, the Silverveil appears. At the head of the ship, Thorin stands, his arms spread wide. He shouts something over his shoulder, and the full firepower of the Empire Class ship begins to rain down upon the Devourer. Sensing the fall of their brethren, the Narkati charge forth with their full strength. With the rallying cry, “For everything!”, the Legends fly out, attempting to keep pace with the Narkati as they rush into the melee. Closing the distance in short order, the army assails the Devourer, forcing it back to the center of the ruins. Breaking away from the battle, Marcus ushers the party over to the Silverveil. Thorin, greeting them coyly, explains his obvious success of his creation. Seeing the swarm converge on the Devourer, Thorin suggests bringing Xaxoth aboard, that they may all plan a method by which to assail the beast. However, his attempts to teleport the collosal dragon to the ship fail. Jaren, thinking quickly, hurries to the teleportation chamber, and teleports himself onto Xaxoth’s back, where he promptly orders the red dragon to take his human form. The red dragon complies, and the two are swiftly teleported back to the ship. After a hasty greeting, the party begin planning. Thorin explains that, if he was in possession of the spire, he could employ the Focus Crystal to assail the beast. Xaxoth, wasting no time, dives from the side of the Silverveil, whereupon he takes his dragon form, and flies towards the impaled corpse of Thallamachronorestaris. Latching onto it, he begins trying to free it from the ground, and after several moments of struggling, he manages to rip it from the time god’s chest. Rising slowly, he begins to carry it back towards the Silverveil, some four hundred yards away.

In the center of Ancient Tubanor, the explosions of golden light from the eagles increase in ferocity, the intensity of the light making it impossible to stare directly into the heart of the ruined city. The Narkati, pressing their epic assault against the Devourer, plummet from the sky by the hundreds… each ruinous swing of the beast’s arms accentuated with a sickening crack. From a mile away, the Silverveil halts its firing. Zion instructs the party to brace, only seconds before a massive concussion rocks the ship. From beneath, a colossal bolt of energy erupts. The remaning Narkati part to avoid the beam, and as it crashes into the Devourer, it pierces through it, tearing its form asunder. Marcus, seeing the dwindling Narkati numbers, calls for Zion to resume his assault. Again, the Silverveil begins firing. Thorin draws out the blue stone, and suggests that Romlynn be freed… that he may be allowed to help in the struggle. Before he can act on his plan, however, the stone ignites into a brilliant white flame. Screaming in agony, he clutches the stone, and attempts to open the portal. As he does, an explosive concussion erupts from the stone, and in the distance the Devourer explodes into tiny fragments. The Narkati, their number reduced to two thousand, continue to circle the area. Estelldorn, along with the other Narkati, convey a sense of confusion. On the deck of the Silverveil, Thorin writhes in agony… refusing to release the stone. Jaren turns to Marcus, announcing his wariness of the situation. Thorin is suddenly jerked from the ship, and begins flying straight up in the air. Veral, in an attempt to stop the wizard’s ascent, dives forward and catches his boot, but both are carried into the heavens. Hovering for a moment above the Silverveil, the wizard and ranger dangling precariously from it, the stone, as if guided by some invisible force, begins hurtling at a breakneck speed towards the heart of Ancient Tubanor. Xaxoth arrives, the spire in his massive talons, and inquires as to Thorin’s whereabouts. Zion, taking the helm, follows Thorin and Veral on their expiditious sojourn. Xaxoth, grunting while redoubling his efforts, continues to heft the massive spire as he struggles to follow the ship.

Making all haste to to heart of Ancient Tubanor, the stone suddenly comes to rest over the original site of the spire. Through the miasma of pain, Thorin notices that the stone has stopped where the tip of the spire would have been, and also, that his hand and lower arm have turned dark – the same dark tone as the Continuum Devourer. Veral, casting healing magic over the wizard, urges him to release the stone. With cold revelation, the wizard releases the stone, and the two plummet from the sky. With a thud, they land on the deck of the Silverveil, which arrives just in time to break what would have been a three hundred foot fall. The two quickly regain their footing, and Zion slowly circles the stone, along with the Narkati.

After a tense moment of eerie silence… the stone flashes brightly, and another explosive concussion radiates across the landscape. The portal to the pocket dimension opens, and from it fall pieces of rubble – the sundered courtyard, and the uprooted Tree of Life, as well as Romlynn. At the last possible second, Romlynn flips himself in mid-air, coming to a safe landing, kneeling on one knee. Raining about him like metorities, debris from the pocket dimension crashes to the earth, creating a field of small craters – evidence of the force from which it had been expelled. Romlynn regains his footing, and rises to his full height. As he does, however, his robes flash a black color, and his demeanor undergoes a violent change. His face, which was once kind and noble, becomes gnarled and vile. He extends a clawed arm, and plants his staff firmly into the ground. From above, the seven stones descend and begin to circle about his head. Facing the party, he hefts his staff, from which a bright white glow emenates…

Marcus, gazing down from the deck of the Silverveil, nearly loses his footing when, again, the ship is rocked by a massive concussion. From below, another bolt of energy fires out, making its way towards the chronomancer. In a bright flash, Romlynn is knocked from his feet. Skidding to a stop several yards away, the chronomancer rises, hefting his staff skyward. From it’s tip, a beam of white light rips towards the Silverveil. Piercing through it’s outer shield, the beam explodes through the hull of the ship, ripping a massive tear from stem to stern. Buckling into itself, the ship crumbles, cleft in twain by the wizard’s spell. Marcus is thrown from the deck, but Rebecca manages to catch him, preventing his certain doom. Thorin scrambles to mount Tristana, in her red dragon form, and Veral simply hovers in place, flapping his wings. Jaren, bringing Gildefax around, joins with the rest of the party. Zion, rushing from the helm with blinding speed, tears Thorin’s device from the deck of the ship. He remains behind a moment on the falling vessel, gazing skyward. Marcus, seconds away from calling out to the guardian, is startled by his speed as he leaps into the heavens, wings of light spreading from under his flowing blue cloak. In seconds, Zion is but a bright point in the sky.

Turning his attention back to Romlynn, Marcus asks him why he is acting this way. Romlynn, his gnarled features staring up at the party, explains that he is the Continuum Devourer – and that he has come to set time right. He explains that the only possible way to set right what Romlynn started is to utterly destroy everything. As a testament to his new power, he waves his hand, and summons forth Sara, who he grips by the throat. He calls out to Marcus to save her and, without hesitation, rips her head from her shoulders. Grinning wickedly, he hurls it up into the air at Marcus. Horrified, Marcus falls silent. Romlynn, laughing, explains that he should not despair, for he had already betrayed her with Rebecca. Shifting his eyes to Thorin, he reprimands the wizard – calling him a fool for believing he and the old man could master the intricacies of time. He hefts his staff and plants it into the earth once more, calling out in a booming voice, commanding the party and the Narkati to kneel before him, that they may do their part in repairing the flow of time. At this provocation, the remaining Narkati converge on Romlynn, their voices raised to form a keening, ear-shattering cry. As eagles divebomb him, their golden breath focused on his person, Romlynn waves his hand and releases a powerful concussion which buffets the Narkati and sends them, vanquished, to the ground below. With an indifferent expression, he waves his staff, which causes the ground about him to peel away in every direction, sending not only the Narkati, but the very earth, away and out of sight. In the wake of the chaos, a silence falls across the desolate wasteland that was once Ancient Tubanor.

Romlynn, a wicked grin spreading across his features, glares up at the party. Marcus, Vesica and Estelldorn in hand, charges forth, screaming, on Rebecca, followed closely by Jaren, on Gildefax, and Thorin, on Tristana. As Tristana closes the distance, she and Thorin, unleash a barrage of flames upon Romlynn, who makes no visible attempt to dodge the onslaught. From the inferno, a crackling bolt of lightning erupts, which strikes Tristana, who is unaffected by its touch. Veral, from his perch, fires several volleys from Soul Shot down on the chronomancer, but is quickly surrounded by an area of void space. Romlynn, his finger pointed at Veral, laughs at his attempt at combat, unphased by the volley of explosive bolts. Awaiting a clear avenue through which to advance on Romlynn, Marcus and Jaren split up, with Marcus flying directly towards the chronomancer through the fire and flames of Tristana and Veral’s attacks, and Jaren flying around to flank him. Romlynn, his gaze fixed on Marcus, keeps his staff trained on Jaren as flies wide of the battlefield. Finally meeting his foe, Marcus crashes into Romlynn with several crippling blows, sending the chronomancer back several steps each time he makes contact. He notices, however, that, while the chronomancer’s limbs should be littering the wasteland below him, they are still attached, and he surmises that the glowing stones, orbitting his head, are somehow protecting him. With this revelation, he wheels Rebecca around, swinging at, and destroying, four of the seven stones. The smug look on Romlynn’s face turns to one of revulsion and disgust as he casts his hand towards Rebecca while emitting a guttural roar. Rebecca, in mid-flight, ceases to move – frozen in time, forcing Marcus to dismount and fall forward. At the last second, he manages to catch the reigns of the dragon’s saddle, from which he lowers himself to the ground. With a growl, he hurls himself at Romlynn, and they meet, filling the air with the sound of metal against metal. Jaren, having gotten behind the chronomancer, urges Gildefax onward, crashing into his back, and sending him forward, off balance. As the halfling leaps from his dragon mount, he manages destroy another stone before landing on the ground beside Marcus. The two quickly advance on Romlynn, and find themselves in an epic struggle with the chronomancer, who is being much more careful to protect the remaining two stones. As Marcus and Jaren press the chronomancer, he turns and takes several strides away from them, casting his hand out behind him. Giving chase, the two are rocked by a concussion that hurls them away from Romlynn, slamming them painfully into the ground. Dazed for a moment by the unexpected blow, Marcus and Jaren find themselves gazing up into the heavens…

In the sky above, Xaxoth arrives over the great battlefield, the spire in tow. Thorin, wheeling around for another pass over Romlynn, notices his arrival. He calls out to Tristana, and she takes him to the red dragon. Arriving at the tip of the spire, he activates the door mechanism and makes his way to the focus crystal. Using telekinesis, empowered by the crystal, he finds that he can not only hold the spire in place, but guide it. Xaxoth, his work finished, dives towards the battlefield. During his descent, he reverts to his human form, hefting the Sword of Creation high above his head. Seconds before impacting the ground, he drives his blade into the earth with a mighty thrust. The force of the impact, coupled with the power of the weapon, causes a massive crater to open under the fleeing chronomancer. Romlynn, his footing suddenly usurped, tumbles head over heels into the bottom of the great pit. Xaxoth, wasting no time, leaps from its rim, falling upon the chronomancer, driving his blade through his foe’s chest and into the freshly sundered earth. With a roar, Xaxoth cleaves the ground with his sword, dragging Romlynn a short distance before hefting him and hurling him to the opposite end of crater, the sudden change of direction forcing the chronomancer to drop his staff. As he rises to his feet, casting a hand over his robes to cleanse them of dust, a thunderous sound erupts from the heavens above, startling him, causing him to turn to investigate. Above, where once had been only sky, hovers Vaxpora. Xaxoth, taking advantage of the moment, retrieves the chronomancer’s staff. Romlynn, seeming to be in a panic, leaps from the crater, turning to hurl a massive, churning bolt of energy down at the red dragon. Xaxoth is unable to escape and is smout by the spell, collapsing to the ground in a charred heap.

As Romlynn flees the crater, Marcus and Jaren regain their footing and begin to give chase. Jaren points out the obvious spectacle of the arrival of the city, and announces that Vaxpora is teeming with life. As the city descends, it lands in the crater, sealing Xaxoth in a varitable tomb. Marcus, glancing up to the Master’s Terrace, sees Zion, his light wings spread, wave his arm across the expanse of the battle field. From within the structures, thousands of guardians begin to pour into the city streets, amassing under the terrace, where they all gaze up at Zion. With a single gesture from their leader, they turn, and begin to empty the city, charging toward the fleeing chronomancer. From above, the spire begins to glow and from its tip erupts a beam of brilliant white light. It collides with Romlynn in mid stride, obscuring him from sight. The earth around the chronomancer’s feet glows brightly for a moment, but is transmuted into a sheet of glass from the overwhelming heat produced by the beam from the spire. When the blinding light clears, Romlynn is floating above the glass sea, his robes and hair wavering about as if stirred by a great wind, despite the still air. He spreads his arms and clenches his clawed fists, glaring at Marcus and Jaren as they charge out to meet him again. Closing the distance, Marcus leaps at the chronomancer, destroying the last of the stones with two well placed strikes from Vesica. He immediately brings Estelldorn to bear upon Romlynn, the blows having full effect, and grievously wounding him. He waves his hand at Marcus, buffetting him with magic missiles, causing him to stumble back. Seeing an opening, Romlynn plunges his fist into Marcus’ chest with such force that he pierces both Hextor’s Armor and flesh. Eviscerated and bleeding profusely, Marcus doubles over, forced to use his blade for support. Seeing his brother’s wound, Jaren leaps into action, but Romlynn snatches him up by the throat, his claws digging into the halfling. Jaren, grappled, can do little, but manages to sink several punches deep into Romlynn’s ribs. With Marcus incapacitated for the moment, the chronomancer utters a phrase of magic, conjuring up a massive sphere of liquid, blue fire. Laughing at the halflings futile attempts to escape, Romlynn advances toward the flames, obviously intending to force his writhing victim into them. Marcus, through blurred vision, manages to overcome his agony to race forward, assailing the chronomancer from behind, further enraged by the eminent doom of Jaren. Marcus explodes with all fury into the unsuspecting Romlynn, raining down several flesh-rending blows before driving both blades home into his foe’s back. Jaren, inches away from the flames, sees the tips of Marcus’ blades escape from the chronomancer’s chest. Romlynn’s expression betrays surprise as his jaw goes slack and his eyes roll back into his head, whereupon he releases the halfling. Marcus, roaring, rips both of his swords free, sending a spray of gore in every direction. Romlynn goes limp, and spins around to face his destroyer, falling to one knee. Gazing up at Marcus, his demeanor undergoes another change, whereupon his eyes light up with their kind glow once again. He offers a knowing smile up at Marcus, but says nothing, as he closes his eyes. Marcus, having shared the brief moment with his friend, now free of the influence of the Continuum Devourer, beheads the chronomancer with one mighty swing. As he does, a pall of silence falls across the world… a silence broken only by the soft humming sound emitting from the guardians, who have, unbeknownst to the combatants, formed a sprawling circle around the battlefield. Inside the spire, Thorin is moved to tears as he feels Romlynn’s presence in time fade away to nothing. He closes his eyes and wishes that the focus crystal will become affixed to Syrinthaa. With his magic, he is successful, and he is shocked to see the spire melt away into liquid mithril which cascades to the earth below.

Marcus, panting with exertion, glances at the circle of guardians around him. Before he can raise his voice to ask their purpose, he becomes aware of an increase in pitch of their humming. From their bodies, a massive blue field erects, reaching up into the sky. As he watches it rise into the heavens, he notices a churning black cloud forming from nothing overhead. Thorin screams that the cloud is the Devourer, and Veral calls out to Marcus and Jaren to get out of the circle of guardians. Before they can act, however, the field closes overhead, sealing them in with the beast. As the dark mass coagulates above, Marcus transforms into his dragon form and flies up towards it. Jaren, standing over Romlynn’s body, is spellbound by the sight of it. Shortly before reaching the cloud, he hears a voice call out from beyond the field. Below, Thallamachronorestaris, his size diminished to that of a normal man, charges toward the circle of guardians. Marcus, taking no note of the time god, reverts to his human form and, using his upward momentum, slashes into the Continuum Devourer with Estelldorn. As he does, waves of golden light ripple out across the dark cloud. Jaren, turning to face the approaching figure, sees that the time god has somehow retrieved Romlynn’s staff. With a great throw, he hurls it through the field formed by the guardians, where it lands at Jaren’s feet. He screams for the halfling to destory the staff. Jaren, bending to take the staff, is overwhelmed in darkness as the Devourer lashes out at him, swallowing him up in a funnel cloud. Marcus, now falling, sees the dark farm surround his brother, and, without hesitation, he dives into the cloud, lashing out with Estelldorn as he passes into it. Thorin’s eyes go wide as he feels his friend’s presence in time fade as Romlynn’s had a few moments before…

...In the great void, Marcus sees nothing outside of himself. In utter darkness, his figure is visible as though illuminated by some unseen source of light. He floats through space, attempting to call out to Jaren, but he finds that his voice fails… as though his words simply cease to exist before escaping his mouth.

...In the great void, Jaren sees nothing outside of himself. In utter darkness, his figure is visible as though illuminated by some unseen source of light. He floats through space, grasping Romlynn’s staff. With great effort, he snaps it over his knee, destroying it. As he does, a great concussion emits from him, and the void about him is sundered.

As the darkness dissipates, he sees the world around him in a frozen state, and with pristine clarity. Above, Marcus plummets from the heavens, his blades in hand. Thorin, hovers in the air outside the field, his mouth agape. Below his chin, a tear is visible in mid-air. A short distance away from Veral, Jaren spies a mass of frozen projectiles, each glowing a vibrant color, which he realizes to be a volley fired from Soulshot towards what would have been the Devourer. For a brief moment, he revels in the still silence. In the next instant, he is overwhelmed with pain as the world about him shatters into fragments like glass struck by stone and his eyes darken.

And for a time, there was nothing.

Suddenly becoming aware again, Marcus hears, echoing across the darkness, a soft sound. As he struggles to right himself and get his bearings, he is unable to identify it. He is startled when he feels something warm on his cheek, and with each passing moment, the sound grows louder, becoming something similar to a bark. Realizing that he has yet to open his eyes, he does so, taking in his surroundings. About the greatroom of the Stonemorrow home his companions lie, sleeping. Kael, licking his face, barks at his master. As he attempts to rise, he finds that his arms are wrapped protectively around Sara, cradling their daughter, and Rebecca. Down the hall, he hears a cough. As he stands, careful not to wake anyone, he follows the sound. He is overcome with joy when he finds, to his amazement, his father, asleep in his bed. He returns to the greatroom, taking a moment to look at his friends. He calls out to Bahamut, who seems startled by his ability to do so. As Marcus questions the dragon god, he is informed that, while Bahamut is aware of his presence, and that he is, in fact, his blessed avatar… he has no recollection of how he came by the mantle. Marcus senses great confusion within his diety, and suddenly feels his mind being probed. He doesn’t resist, and hears, in his mind, the voices of the God’s arguing amongst one another about the information they are uncovering. After reliving his entire journey in a matter of moments, he hears the voices fall silent and, simultaneously, everyone awakens. Thorin, as if gleaning a wealth of information from the ordeal, explains that time has been corrected. He also explains that Thallamachronorestaris and the Continuum Devourer were not actual beings… but merely anomolies formed by the disruption of time, created by time, in an attempt to correct its flow – mechanisms of self-preservation. Finally, he points out that Romlynn does not exist, his influence on time having been factored out by its resetting. As he attempts to use chronomancy he finds that it no longer functions, or even exists, but is, again, overwhelmed with knowledge. He explains that it is exactly one year to the day before the afternoon that himself, Marcus, Decimus, and Jaren gathered in the same room to plan their original adventure. Xaxoth rises to his feet and announces that he must take his leave, for he has much business to tend to in the Lower Draconic Nations. Marcus turns to face the red dragon, extending a hand. The two clasp arms, and vow to unite the Draconic Nations. Rebecca, going to Marcus’ side, agrees to the union. Xaxoth, unwilling to be used as a puppet by Tiamat and Nerull any longer, turns against his sires, and forgoes his plot to rule the world. Marcus announces that there is much, still, to be done… as there are many things in the world that require attention. Veral, eager to return to his people, and Decimus, wanting to do the same, agree. Jaren, who has remained quiet, announces that he has spoken with the God’s, and has been made into a demi-god – the Protector of Children. Thorin explains that he is now able to fulfill his duty as the Guardian of Time – as he is the only one with memory of the now defunct magic of chronomancy. Before parting ways on their seperate business, however, the Legends gather around the table in the greatroom of the Stonemorrow home, for the first time in years, where they dine in a feast catered by the God’s themselves, in celebration of their great victory.

“And, thus Xaxoth, with a mighty cleave, thrust the massive sword forged in ancient times, into the belly of the terrible manifestation that stood before them. In a blinding flash, the continuum devourer was split nearly in twain, and its all consuming destruction set upon that plane was put asunder.”—Sillgorn Everstill, Lorekeeper

hile Marcus, Thorin and Romlynn discuss a method by which they can prevent Rebecca, Jaren, and Tristana from becoming suspended in time whilst in close proximity to the dark consuming shadows of the Continuum Devourer, the ever curious Jaren manages to sneak to the Tree of Life. The halfling climbs its rigid branches with a skillfuness allotted only to the most practiced of rogues, and then plucks and eats one of the large fruits. Once again, his disobediant nature overwhelmed what little wisdom the short fellow had amassed, and for a few moments, he is horrified by the transformation that takes place to his body – his once sparkling eyes become no more; replaced only by slightly recessed dips of skin and flesh. Stumbling about, he makes his way to the corner of the courtyard, where he slowly realizes that though his eyes are no more, he can see everything around him, and with perfect, unnatural clarity. Amused by his new ability, Jaren sneaks quietly behind Thorin and “borrows” one of the wizard’s arcane tomes, and begins to read.

Frustrated, and arguing furiously about the vagaries of time and using arcane magic to bend its will, Thorin, realizing that the formulation and creation of such a device will take several weeks, isolates the three inside a greater time bubble. While inside, Marcus studies over several tomes, reading magically infused tales of great leaders and battle strategies. Thorin and Romlynn, after several weeks, agree on their theories, and present an item: an armband of onyx, with a dim, pulsating blue strip around its circumference. The chronomancers explain that it should, through magic, allow the mortals to exist outside the flow of time. After making a few last minute adjustments, the three return to normal time, whereupon Marcus notices Jaren in the corner. Calling out to him, he is startled when the halfling turns to look upon him with no eyes. Jaren confesses to eating the fruit, but explains that it is a boon. Marcus scorns him for disobeying him yet again, but quickly returns to the matters at hand.

Veral steps forth, and says that he will examine an alternate path than the party. He explains that he feels it would be prudent to enlist the aid of one, or several, of the alternate versions of Zion. Romlynn agrees, and ushers Veral into the red stone. Marcus and the others, however, decide to go into the green stone. However, when Romlynn opens the portal, the party observes a great black void. Marcus bids Romlynn to open the portal into the orange stone, through which they see a vibrant green world. Uneasy about the stability of the green stone’s time line, the six decide to examine it further. Thorin distributes the armbands, and, along with Tristana, makes his way onto Xaxoth’s back. Marcus mounts Rebecca, and leads the party through the portal.

After arriving, it is obvious that there is truly nothing more than a void surrounding them. Marcus casts a daylight spell, and it is quickly pulled from around the party, disappearing into the distance in a bright streak. They give chase to the magic, making their way to where it disappears into a singular point. After several tests, Thorin determines that it is a hole in the world – the end of all things. Assured that the time line had been devoured, the five make their way back through the portal to the pocket dimension.

With no other alternatives, the party make their way through the portal into the orange stone’s time line, into the vibrant green world they had observed before. As the dragons fly above the forested green landscape, Marcus points out that he does not know what nation they are over. Thorin attempts to scry on New Tu’banor, but instead, sees a vision of a massive, sprawling platinum city – Ancient Tu’banor… above sea-level – the Mithril Spire gleaming under the sun – and stretching for miles. Thorin deduces from the time-flow that the cataclysm of the prime time line never occurred, and the ancient Tu’banorians were allowed to thrive, rather than being snuffed out. He teleports the party to the city, and, as they walk through the streets, they find the majority of their alternates. Veral, in stocks, being beaten by Marcus… Decimus, running a bakery… and Thorin, strolling down West Ivory Way. Aware that time is of the essence, the party make their way to the Glittering Orb, where they each gather up several magic items which may be of use to them in the coming battle.

As they step outside, the portal opens, and Veral steps forth. He informs them that the time line of the red stone was but a vast nothingness. Fueled by the urgency of having had two time lines devoured, the party leaps into action, Xaxoth and Rebecca taking flight and baring the party west. After a bit of travel, the six begin to see a dark blight on the horizon. As they had on their time line, they fly head on into the devoured space. Up ahead, in the darkness, Jaren sees a shape… the Continuum Devourer – head, torso, and legs. Before they can act, the Devourer leaps into action, charging at tremendous speed, towards the party. Jaren, with his sight, explains that something is wrong… that he sees only a misty shadow where he had once looked upon the solid form of the beast. Marcus and the others note no change in its form… but are met with the uneasy feeling that something has gone awry.

Wasting no time, the dragons meet the Devourer head on, each of the Legends assaulting the creature in their own way. Seemingly unphased by their blows, the Devourer begins running in circles around them, causing a mighty gale to churn up. On the horizon, at the edge of the blackness, Veral sees debris gathering. Orbiting the battle-field at its maddening pace, the Devourer lashes out at Xaxoth, smacking the great wyrm senseless for a moment, forcing Veral to leap from his back. Drifting in the devoured space, Veral unleashes Soul Shot upon the Devourer. Volley after volley of explosive arrows bombard the creature, supplemented by waves of fireballs from Thorin and Tristana. Marcus guides Rebecca in close, and makes solid contact with Vesica – but is confused when a blow that had once felt solid, felt as though it were dragging through water. The battle rages on, as the dragons attempt to stave off the maddening ferocity of the Continuum Devourer. In the heat of battle, something catches Thorin’s attention – a pulse in the air about the party. With sudden realization, but all to late, he screams that the wall of debris is collapsing towards them. Boulders, and chunks of landscape avalanche upon the party, savagely wounding Tristana. Marcus, thinking quickly, and casting shield other upon Rebecca, takes the brunt of the damage for the two. Jaren is bombarded, as are Thorin and Xaxoth. Veral is nearly lost in the virtual landslide… but from the dust explode several arrows, all of which find their mark in the beast. Despite their agony, the party members are suddenly overcome with a sense of being aided… as if they were being strengthened.

Wheeling around, the dragons take care to mend their wards. Jaren uses a wand of cure moderate wounds to attempt to stave off Thorin’s blood loss. Tristana, barely conscious, continues her barrage of fireballs, despite her grievous injuries. Rebecca heals Marcus, who, in turn, lays his hands upon Jaren… and the battle rages onward. Marcus activates the Napesh Luck Token, and, like a man possessed, unleashes his full fury upon the Continuum Devourer… raining blow after blow upon the creature with Vesica in a single instant. Once the magic of the pendant wanes, he is horrified to see the Devourer no worse for the wear. Almost as if to retaliate against Marcus, the beast lunges out at Jaren, who had fled to Rebecca’s tail. In a split second decision, Thorin dispels Jaren’s armband, freezing him in place. As such, the Devourer’s assault passes harmlessly through the halfling. Xaxoth, seeing an opportunity, launches towards the beast, pouring his flaming breath across its entirety. In return, the beast dives through Xaxoth’s center, mortally wounding him. As the dragon plummets from the sky, Thorin is forced to leap from his back with Tristana. Again, Thorin detects a disturbance… but before he can bring it to the party’s attention, he is overcome with agony. The Devourer, with a roar, explodes into likenesses of each member of the party, and, in an instant, mirrors what damage had been done to it – smiting the Legends. Again, they are overcome with the sense of aid… a sense of compulsion to do battle with the creature.

Rebecca, no longer able to fly, simply floats through the devoured space, attempting to steer Marcus from harms way. At his wits end, Thorin casts a wish, that each of the six would be restored to full vitality. His spell is successful, and everyone quickly returns to the fight. Almost instantly, however, a second wave of debris crashes into the party, again causing grievous wounds amongst their ranks. Suddenly, mercurial spheres appear before the faces of Marcus, Veral, and Thorin. In the distance, Veral sees a golden light – hundreds of glowing objects approaching the devoured space.

Behind the Devourer, Xaxoth takes his human form, and with a wave of his arm, calls forth his greatsword. Taking it in one hand, he closes his eyes for a moment, his blade taking on a blue glow. With a guttural roar, he flies directly into the center of the beast, causing a blinding blue emanation to explode out and away from the melee. When the light subsides, Xaxoth is no more, and the Devourer is split nearly in two… reeling in agony, and emitting shrieking cries. Not, for a moment, intending to allow Xaxoth’s sacrifice to be in vain, Marcus reaches out, in faith, and grasps the sphere before him. At the same instant, Veral explains that golden eagles are approaching, mounted by beings with spread white wings. Marcus is overcome by a presence, which introduces itself as Estelldorn. The sphere quickly takes the shape of a greatsword.

In an instant, Marcus’ mind is flooded with the knowledge of a race of beings known as the Narkati – timeless creatures, existing outside of Thallamachronorestaris’ realm – creatures responsible for miracles and fortune – beings that alter the time lines from outside, avoiding the repercussions of what they deem as “elementary” chronomancy. Estelldorn explains that the Narkati have been battling the Continuum Devourer on the other time lines, and that they have been aiding the party. Thorin and Veral claim the spheres before them as well, and are met with the staff Syrinthaa and the rapier Tudorath, respectively.

His thoughts crashing back to reality, Marcus charges into the stunned Devourer with his weapon from the Narkati, as do Thorin and Veral. Within moments, the golden eagles are upon the beast, and it is quickly destroyed. When it is, however, the world about them becomes a darkened void. The Narkati explain that the Devourer has been destroyed here, and, as such, the time line has been reset to the moment of Creation. Confused, Marcus begins questioning Estelldorn. Suddenly, the party finds themselves standing in a great golden city – the Narkati city. In the sky, overhead, Marcus is astonished to see seven moons… each of a color corresponding to one of the seven stones. Estelldorn explains that the Devourer is complete, and has collapsed back to the prime time line He also informs the party that, while Xaxoth should have been destroyed by his ploy, he was devoured, and is now safely back upon the prime time line The Narkati offer the party rest, which Thorin and Veral eagerly accept. Marcus however, continues to question the beings.

He learns that the Narkati have always been, and that they shall always be. They do not wish to see the time lines destroyed, and as such, they have thrown in their lot to save them from the Devourer. He also learns that the ancient Tu’banorians managed, somehow, to find a way to the Narkati world – an impossible feat – and crafted the seven stones, their time traveling devices, in the likeness of the Narkati moons. He learns, also, that the Tree of Life is also a creature that exists outside of time, and has existed for ages. He is told that it is doubtful that Thallamachronorestaris will release the Gods of Good, Neutrality, and Evil once the Devourer has been destroyed. He is also told, that a possible future lies ahead where the Legends will be as powerful as the Gods they worship. At peace with the answers he has gleaned, Marcus gazes overhead to the blue moon – upon which he sees a twinkling light. Estelldorn answers, without his having to ask, that the light he sees on the moon is the Beginning of All Things. Estelldorn bids Marcus and Rebecca to rest – for as long as they remain in the Narkati city, the flow of time is interrupted – and the Devourer can do no harm to the prime time line. Exhausted, the two retire to rest before their final battle… before the end of all things.

This entry will be updated as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

Special thanks to Noah (Player of Decimus) who made the eight-hour drive down from Maryland to join in this adventure and the return of the Seven Secret’s Legendary Heroes. It was great to have the entire party back together for this momentous occasion!

This entry will be updated as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

This entry will be updated as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

fter the harrowing battle in the shadows of Geithmere castle, the party makes their way back down the treacherous steppes to Shettletown. In the Inn of Homage, the patrons part for the adventurers, toting the fallen Marrith . Unable to open the stones due to Kalia’s warning, Caysmall is unsure as to how she will manage Marrith’s resurrection. Thinking quickly, she decides to employ chronomancy. She attempts to alter the past such that she will possess the diamonds necessary for Marrith’s resurrection, taking them from the elves before the start of the journey, in the event of his untimely death. As a result of completing the spell, she remembers where she had tucked the diamonds away. She begins the ritual to acupressure Marrith. Ooma quickly takes notice that Sarena has gone missing. After returning Marrith to life, Caysmall scries upon the missing companion, and is met with the grisly image of the elf being eviscerated by hundreds of vampires. The three vow to avenge Sarena, and begin to strategize, plotting a method to lay siege to Geithmere.

After several hours of planning, Caysmall begins to feel strange – as if she is being drawn back to Geithmere. She manages to resist, but attempts to scry upon Sarena again. She sees the vampires again, and attempts to cast her searing light spell through the image, as a wizard would cast a spell through their arcane variation of the spell. She receives a rude awakening, as a column of light crashes into her from above. She begins to believe that her divine magic is being retarded by something… and Sarabeth explains that Caysmall is turning into one of the vampires, due to her exposure to their bite. Ooma suggest that, because of the change, she is no longer smiled upon by the gods. Sarabeth refuses to be near Caysmall, exclaiming that she is “one of them”.

From the corner of her eye, Caysmall spies a young girl standing behind Ooma. The girl takes her extended finger, and places it through the back of the woman’s head. She calls out to the girl, who ignores her. Ooma turns, seeing nothing. Putting two and two together, Caysmall deduces that she is capable of seeing spirits – most likely do to the change within her. Caysmall asks Sarabeth to describe her younger sister who was taken by the vampires. Sarabeth, confused, describes the girl that Caysmall had seen only a moment before. Having had enough, Sarabeth excuses herself to the back room of the tavern, bidding the party not to follow her. Ooma , concerned about the girl’s sudden change in attitude, bids Caysmall to scry upon her. Doing so, she see an image of Sarabeth, hanging upside down from the ceiling, slit from stem to stern. Wasting no time, the three rush to the back room, bursting through the door to find the startled girl, gazing out the window. Caysmall begins to explain her vision, but is cut short by Sarabeth when she explains that Caysmall will inadvertently bring Thymara down upon the people of Shettletown. Ooma questions the accusation, trying to calm the girl. Sarabeth explains that she knows, for a fact, that the dwarf will bring the lich down upon her people… because the is standing behind them as they speak. Ooma , turning, comes face to face with Thymara, who she immediately attacks. The others quickly follow suit. Ooma , with a flurry of blows, lands several impressive hits on the lich. Marrith transforms into a fire elemental, and assaults her briefly, but is quickly driven unconscious by her ice magic. Caysmall, so accustomed to relying on her divine magic, attempts to hurl searing light at the lich – only to have it reflected back upon her, as it had before. She is suddenly overcome by the urge to attack Sarabeth, but she manages to resist what she assumes is the liches desire. Sarabeth, also, lands several impressive blows upon Thymara, but in her earnest to drive a steak through her heart, she leaves herself vulnerable to her onslaught, which quickly fells the young girl. Having slain Sarabeth, Thymara teleports away from the fray, leaving behind the compulsion for Caysmall to slay Ooma . After a failed attempt, she returns to her senses. Screams erupt from the main room of the tavern. Investigating, Ooma finds nothing… save for the eviscerated corpses of all the patrons.

In the back room, the three continue to plot their attack on Thymara. Marrith is wary of entering the keep without Sarabeth’s guidance. Caysmall explains that she may be able to remedy his fears, as she, again, uses her chronomancy to call forward a past version of Sarabeth. Upon completing the spell, a younger, by several years, Sarabeth appears beside her. Caysmall, attempting to explain the situation, is quickly attacked by the girl, who recognizes her as a vampire. Marrith , thinking quickly, transforms into an earth elemental, trapping the young girl within his stone hands. Caysmall finishes her explanation, and the young girl agrees to help the party – though, at that time, she had yet to venture into Geithmere. Caysmall announces that they have limited time – as when the duration of the spell expires, the Sarabeth before them will be sent back from whence she came. Ooma suggests that, if Caysmall can alter her own past by suggestion to her former selves, perhaps the same will work with the past Sarabeth. Caysmall is quick to discount the idea, but after hearing Ooma’s reasoning, and at Marrith’s behest, she decides that the theory is plausible. Ooma writes out a letter that Sarabeth is not to open until she meets them in her future. The letter explains the full gravity of their situation, and explains that, if Marrith’s plan to bring light to Geithmere is successfully executed, than Thymara, as well as her vampires, will be destroyed… and the ill that has befallen the people of Shettletown can be made right. The girl agrees, and takes the letter. The four converse until the ispell’s duration ends, whereupon the past Sarabeth is whisked away. Suddenly, the world around them becomes a blur of color as everything seems to change around them. Caysmall explains, from her limited knowledge, that this is the effect that chronomancers experience when they alter the past. Immense pain comes over the three, the focus of the change, as they are nearly torn to shreds by the fluctuation in time.

Stepping out into the main room of the Inn of Homage, the three are greeted by overjoyed townsfolk, as well as Sarabeth and Sarena. Sarabeth explains that, with the information from Ooma’s letter, she was able to prevent Sarena’s death, as well as Caysmall’s infection by the vampiric taint. Also, she informs them that Marrith’s plan was, in fact, successful, and the party had already returned to Nendal with Thymara’s phylactery, where they disposed of it. A great celebration is held, as the people of Shettletown come to realize that they are finally free. Ooma explains to Brock that he and his people may return to the castle that is theirs by right. Sarena, wary of the adventure, decides to wed Grommewyn, having, strangely enough, fallen in love with the broken man. After the celebration, the remaining members of the party bid the people of Shettletown farewell. Caysmall, aware that she is in full control of her magic again, uses her Word of Recall to travel, with Ooma and Marrith , back to Nendal.

oma, Sarena, Caysmall, and Marrith are charged with tracking Thymarall, the Wraith Lord. They learn from the Elven Prince that he has taken up residence in a land far to the east, in Geithmere Castle. The four set out and make their way east, travelling for many weeks on horseback. As the party progresses, they receive a sending from Kalia – a warning not to open the pocket dimension. Coming at the worst time however, the four find themselves navigating a precarious mountain pass, a winter blizzard bearing down upon them. Ooma suggests turning back to find an alternate route, or to, perhaps wait out the snowstorm. Marrith explains that the weather will not become more favorable until well into the spring months… he also explains that time is of the essence. Resigning the fact, Ooma agrees, and the four continue through the pass.

After hours of arduous travel, Ooma spots, in the distance, wisps of flame. Marrith and Ooma scout ahead, discovering a small hamlet nestled under the shelf formed by an outcropping of the peak of the mountain. Marrith takes on the shape of a dire wolf and makes his way toward the hamlet. He is stricken with arrows that rain from above. Ooma, seeing his plight, spots a group of archers on a ledge… the culprits. Marrith takes on his humanoid form once more, but the assault does not subside. Ooma uses her abundant step to appear behind the archers where she hails them, bidding them to stop. The only responses are panicked cries warning of wearewolves. They then accuse Ooma of being a witch and turn to assault her. The assault is short lived however as two of the men are suddenly yanked from the cliff face – disappearing up into the snowstorm. One of the men fires a flaming arrow into a well in the center of the hamlet below, activating a signal fire… causing the small settlement to become alive with movement. The men escape by way of cables they have rigged to the mountain face, leading down into the village. Ooma gives chase…

Having heard nothing from their scouts, Sarena and Caysmall move towards the flames in the distance to investigate.

Ooma, landing in the center of the town, turns to the man next to her, only to see him lose his footing and go flying up into the snowstorm. As she gazes around the village, the scene playing out before her, she sees that the villagers that have burst forth from their homes, pitchforks and table-ware in hand, are striking up into the air at nothing. Several of said villagers are whisked away into the angry grey skies. She turns her eyes to Marrith, who is still lying on the ground, arrows through his shoulder and leg.

Caysmall and Sarena arrive at Marrith’s writhing corpse. Caysmall tends Marrith’s wounds, and as they rise to their feet, they see Ooma within the hamlet, calling out to them, albeit inaudibly over the storm. They hasten to her side. As they reunite, Sarena yelps in pain as she is hefted from the ground by an invisible force. Marrith dives for her and manages to secure her ankle, but to no avail, as they are both lifted from the ground. Marrith, thinking quickly, takes the form of a dire ape, jerking Sarena away from her seemingly invisible assailant. For a brief instant, Marrith is met with a snarling, skeletal face. The four retreat, and make their way indoors, ignoring the shouts of a rather burly man, who brands them as cowards. After the battle is over, many of the townsfolk begin to return to their homes. The burly man and several of his cohorts approach the party. As he enters, he walks across the floor and behind a bar. It is then that the party realizes they had taken cover in the local tavern, the Inn of Homage. After a spectacle where the party is forced to prove that Marrith is, in fact, not a werewolf, the man introduces himself as Brock Stone, the proprietor of the inn of Shettletown.

Ooma explains that the four are from Nendal, and they have come in search of Geithmere Castle. Brock informs them that it is on the peak of the mountain, and that it is the source of the vampires – the creature Marrith had seen earlier, who have been attacking the village. He explains that the people of the village are descendants of the original masters of Geithmere… masters who fell when “Thymara” attacked. The party explains that they have come seeking one by the name of Thymarall, but Brock tells them he has heard of noone by that name. Caysmall assures him that the lich lord is, in fact, in the castle… and would have arrived sometime within the past year. Upon making this point, Brock mentions that the attacks, though they have occurred since times long past, have become more frequent and ferocious within the last six months. Ooma theorizes that Thymara and Thymarall are two seperate entities, and that Thymarall’s arrival, clandestine as it was, was the direct cause of the increase in the attacks. Sarena asks Brock why, if times are so hard, he and his people do not leave the shadow of Geithmere. He explains that the people of Shettletown are cursed, and cannot leave the valley. He illustrates this when he leads the party out into the valley whereupon he bursts into flames. Marrith theorizes that, upon slaying the lich lord, the people of the smal town will be free – their curse lifted. Knowing a bit about vampires, Caysmall suggests the party begin their excursion in the morning light. The party agrees, and Brock tells them that they will stay with the Grommelwin family, and points them in their direction.

After leaving the Inn of Homage, the party make their way across the lane to the local pawn shop, run by Burmaleu, a beautiful young woman who takes a liking to Marrith. Marrith, however, ignoring her call to bed, simply gathers information from the woman. She explains that the vampires have attacked for as long as she can remember, and she sees no end in sight. She also suggests that the four make haste to Grommelwin’s house, where they may rest for the coming day. Ooma inquires as to how the woman knew of their plan to siege the castle, and is informed that word travels quickly in a small village. Back out into the cold, the four make their way to a house on the far end of the village. They are greeted by a short man sporting a crooked leg and a short arm. He introduces himself as Micha Grommelwin, and lets the party inside. Sarena blurts out the obvious question about his appearance, and is informed that he was injured killing one of the vampires, who’s head is now mounted upon his wall. He explains that that particular vampire was responsible for his wife’s death. Shortly thereafter, he introduces his daughter, Sarabeth, and offers the group a place to rest for the night. After a bit of conversation, they learn that Sarabeth’s sister was taken in the raid earlier in the night. Ooma consoles Sarabeth, and the party accepts Grommelwin’s offer, and lay down for the night.

In the morning, the party make their way to the Inn of Homage, where they prepare a Heroe’s Feast for the townsfolk. Sarabeth arrives, and informs them that she will be escorting the party up the mountain and into Geithmere. After their meal, the five make the steep climb to the summit. After a few close calls, they arrive at the front of the castle, whos every portal was sealed by black stone. Caysmall, shaping the stone at the entrance, steps aside for Sarabeth, who enters with no hesitation. Attempting to detect undead, Caysmall is nearly rendered unconscious by the amount of evil she feels just beyond the wall in front of them. Sarabeth informs the party that the hallway they are in connects to the next chamber from both sides. She lights up several vials of oil, and hurls them down the right corridor. Upon doing so, tortured screams can be heard from beyond the wall. As the party makes haste down the left corridor, they are met with a horde of vampires, all huddled together in the now sundered darkness. Sarabeth charges forth, and a great battle ensues. In the end, the party is victorious, but Sarena lies unconscious, having fled from the battle and been chased down by the vile creatures. She is quickly brought around. As the party regroups, Ooma spies a figure, feminine, in the northern corridor… as she points the presence out to the others, Marrith makes for the southern wall, the only thing preventing the sunlight from the entrance from streaming through the structure. As he reaches it however, he is felled by the figure’s dark magic, her voice slithering across the stone to announce her contempt for the party’s meddling. She sarcastically bids them to wait until sundown to continue their assault. The four remaining party members recover Marrith’s body and flee from the castle to reasses their situation.

Perplexed as to how to return Marrith to life, the party decides to venture into the pocket dimension for Gregor’s assistance, despite Kalia’s warning. Entering, the find it empty… and all too soon, Sarabeth is wracked with convulsions as she contracts the plague. Having been unaware of the threat that lurked within the stone, Caysmall calls upon Thorin’s power to send a message to her past self, bidding the party not to open the pocket dimension, warning them about what lies in wait…

Perplexed as to how to return Marrith to life, the party decides to venture into the pocket dimension for Gregor’s assistance, despite Kalia’s warning. However, as Ooma draws out the stone, Casymall stops her, and explains that she has received a message from her future self, warning them not to use the stones. They decide, instead, to return to town and take their rest… and to try to find somone capable of resurrecting Marrith.

This entry will be updated as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

This entry will be updated as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.