5 Years later in the Dalelands

 

Devin Thunderstrike has left and gone into the underdark looking for his friend Axel Redmane.  He left before the drow established a base in the Dark Watch. 

 

          With the sacrifice of Silnare’s soul and the unicorns, Lolth was pleased and placed a permanent darkness over a 15 mile area of the forest.  The drow forces have been bolstered by reinforcements of more drow from the underdark.  Many servitor creatures also came up from below.  The good fey creatures of the forest died or have been hunted and slain.  Several plants have been warped by the evil pervading the land and evil fey have come to the Dark Watch to ply their trade.

 

          Drow now have a stronghold in the Dark Watch and an alliance with the Legendary Chimera, the Blackheart.  With these assets, the drow have begun to threaten Highmoon and many of the Dales are rallying for war. The Zhentarim of Shadowdale are not committed in this upcoming war but Archendale and Arwen Fortress have a truce to work together against the drow and the Blackheart.

 

          Barrow’s Edge was recently attacked by a large force of Zhentarim and monsters.  The outcome was complete destruction of Barrow’s Edge and the sacking of Larathian village. Four days after the dome went upelven soldiers from Arwen Fortress and several contingents of Riders of Archendale were able to penetrate the Zhentish barrier.

 

          They found that the Zhents were able to teleport out of the dome. Most of the humans of Barrow’s Edge were slain. Many of the elves and a minority of humans managed to survive in the temple of Corellon within Larathian village.

Posts from the Grove of the Unicorns

Zaven finds himself in a meadow surrounded by lush deep forests. He feels the warmth of the sun. He feels exhilarated due to the healing heat of the sun after so many dark, cold days in the mysterious dungeons. His last memory in the dungeon was of a giant queen ant. Her enormous jaws and stinger sent shivers of pain and fear deep into his soul. Finding himself suddenly in the tranquility of the meadow brought immediate relief, but then he remembered Katie.

Katie, the most beautiful woman that Zaven had ever seen. Her voice could only compare to those of angels. Her presence brought him joy beyond anything he had experienced with any other. He knew that she was beyond his station, for he could never consider himself anything more than her humble servant. He saw himself as her protector. Although he could never hope to mean more to her, it was enough to know that she was safe.

As Zaven soaked in the warm rays of the sun, a shiver entered his being. Katie was alone. She didn't have her commander to protect her, and Styve and Thoven could barely manage on their own. Then he remembered; Styve did this to him. Styve came between him and his self-proclaimed position of guardian of Katie. His actions ripped Zavan away from the land of mortals and delivered him into the hands of his god, Mielikki. 

Zaven, lost in his anguish, didn't notice the approach of Mielikki. Once aware, Zaven quickly went to one knee. He bowed down and awaited forgiveness for his inattention. Mielikki reached out to him and told him to rise. 

Mielikki senses within Zaven an innocence and a fundamentally kind soul. His previous life has introduced a trace of chaos, in what is otherwise a pure intentioned heart. Mielikki reclines on the lawn, joining Zaven. Mielikki sees such promise in having a follower with such a pure heart, but she grieves for him knowing that he came to such a tragic end. 

Zaven, experiencing her divine light, realized that he had allowed his love for Katie to overshadow his love for his god. Zaven asks once again for Mielikki's forgiveness, "Most beautiful Mielikki, I have failed you. In my blind love for a mortal woman, I lost sight of my true purpose—a warrior and servant of Mielikki. If the gracious Mielikki can forgive me and allow me a chance to go back to her service, I will never stray again. My focus will always remain on your will."

Mielikki smiled. As she spoke, Zaven realized that Mielikki, not Katie, had the most beautiful voice in all of creation, "Zaven, there is always a plan for all of those in Creation. It appears that your destiny is here, with me. I have tried to claim you once before, but you escaped my grasp." 

Zaven, succumbing to her seduction, forgot momentarily about Katie and his friends back in the dungeon.  Then the memory of the mortal, but beautiful Katie, filled his mind with dread. "Mielikki, you and the other gods sent us to this dungeon for a purpose. It is beyond me to know the purpose, but I know we have not fulfilled your plan. If you grant me the opportunity to return, I swear my allegiance. I will do your will, protect your forests, and become an evangelist of Mielikki's."

Mielikki smiled, "Zaven, I know you love Katie. It is allowed for you to love your goddess and the lovely Katie. If I grant your return, you must continue to protect your friends. I also expect that from this moment forward, that you will use your sword to defend the forests and those in my service, especially the Shadoweirs. Given the opportunity, I expect you to join the Shadoweirs, or in the least to swear your skill and aid. Katie is in possession of my hymnal. I expect to hear her voice swell in song, as she fills the air and hearts of all those around her with praise for me."

Mielikki pulled Zaven close. He lay his head in her lap, as she stroked his cheek, "But now you must rest. I will have my answer for you the next time you awaken." Zaven drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep. 

Death but not dead

Whew, that was a rough session.  After all the anguish that occurred to restore Zaven, he goes out and gets killed right after he’s all fixed up.  Not only that but Zaven takes his “replacement fighter” with him to the land of the dead.  But did they really die?  

LORD RETCON HAS ENTERED THE STORY!!

   Well, it turns out they didn't die.  Being bitten by the snakes placed them in a catatonic state that lasts for a few (1d4) days.  The characters appear dead but are not.  Styve's examination reveals that they are alive.  

*************

   Why did Lord Retcon appear, you ask?  Is Law soft hearted?  No, not at all, but I am a rules type of guy and I am fallible.  Bearing those both in mind, I realized last night that the first round of that fight I used meta-game knowledge that resulted in that outcome.  The medusa should have wasted her first round of actions trying to petrify the party.  She was not aware of the scroll used to protect the party.  Therefore the outcome would have been different.  She may have been slain or the group may have been killed.  Dice rolls are fickle so who can say.  

Between Flayer and Flail

Following the commoners, the party find them attacked by two flail snails.

After a brief battle the snails are defeated but their death cries carry throughout the corridors and draw a gelatinous cube.  Then something strange occurs.  Behind Zaven appears a door and stairs that lead to down to a landing and a bare stone wall.  The party pile into the "new" corridor and close the door behind them.
     After resting 4 hours, the group is discovered by the small humanoids that shot up Zaven and Dusty before.

The creature's bite and club attacks almost overwhelmed the group but they were finally defeated. The party managed to get another 5 hours of rest and rememorize spells as well.
Which way will they explore next time?

So far (last of 2014)

The party has explored a bit more so here is a new map.

Sorry, small edit on the map.  Remember, this is a player knowledge map in a living dungeon, therefore there may be some changes if the PC's revisit certain areas.  Also, the area with the Capt. Dusty statue and the high burial niches is there but the niches are too small and high to include on this map. Here are some details I remembered.
Reminder of situation: the party just faced off against a mind flayer

 that fled back into his room leaving his two brain pets to fight the party.  This was just after the party beat into unconsciousness two other mind flayers and freed some peasants (3)

 and two other adventurers, Seoni (a mage) and Valerous (a fighter).

 When the brain beasts

 attacked the group, Seoni and all the peasants fled up the corridor.  When Katie (the Great One) managed to finish off the brainies, the rest of the group followed after them.  All assumed the mind flayer would return with more helpers.

*********
If you guys wanted to print this out, it may not be a bad idea.  Also, this is a reminder to CJ about the Gaming Paper, if you can.  See you folks next week.