Session 25 - Wringing Out the Sodden Hold

5th of Uktar, 1371 DR
Met with Master Agent Fenten at the Hall of Justice today. He wants us to get to the bottom of this “Doppelganger problem.” I spent the rest of the day researchin’ Doppelgangers. It cost me a bit of money and what I learned scares the holy hell outta me.

6th of Uktar, 1371 DR
The Champions Belt Games have been announced. Everyone seems quite excited. Alobron really wants us to field a team and since he happens to know a licensed manager, this seems like a real possibility. I think this is a great idea. As long as we put up a good performance, even if we lose, we should make a good name for ourselves and the Three Hills Adventurn’ Company.

Tyree has a new “recruit” for us. A quiet, shy little man named Quarto. Claims he’s good with locks and such. Not that I want to stagnate the guild, but I don’t think it’s such a hot idea to accept new people into our fold while we are under assault by Doppelgangers. Everyone else seems to think I’m bein’ paranoid. (That’s only because they don’t know what I’ve learned.) At any rate, we have a new probationary member, now.

7th of Uktar, 1371 DR
A member of the city watch (the same lieutenant that was sent to investigate disturbances at the Sodden Hold) was exposed as a Doppelganger. This has started the beginin’s of what could build into widespread panic and paranoia.

8th of Uktar, 1371 DR
The Hill Giant diplomats were attacked by Calishite thugs today. I immediately went to talk to Master Agent Fenten as soon as I heard the news. I told him about Mascar WinterEagle and his proposition. He chastised me for not doin’ somethin’ about it as soon as it came up (we were still unsure as to our duties, responsibilities, and authority), but said that he would look into it and we were to leave it alone for now.

9th of Uktar, 1371 DR
Trouble in Cormyr. I heard a rumor that the King had been killed by an ancient Red Dragon (killin’ the beast in the process). If this is true it could mean dark times in the east. The Prince is just a child, so intrigue and death is certain to plague Cormyr for the foreseeable future.

10th of Uktar, 1371 DR
More rumors of a Black Dragon attackin’ travelers on the roads. I bought a map of the local are and am using it to mark all the locations of the sightin’s of the monster (includin’ where the senior guild members were killed and the lair of the Twisted Branch tribe). I hope I can use this information to figure out where the Dragon’s lair is.

13th of Uktar, 1371 DR
Wow! I got to witness an honest-to-goodness mage duel today! A Red Wizard named Ezeek Fastoon (also known as the “Black Hand”) walked into the Eltorchul Academy and started ranting at Thesp. Eventually, this argument became a duel. It was amazin’! I had no idea there were so many different spells in existence! I mean, I’ll stick with my Magic Missiles and other Force spells, but wow!

Thesp won the duel and Ezeek went limpin’ off to the Thayian embassy. I never did get anyone to tell me what that was all about.

15th of Uktar, 1371 DR
I completed by studies at the Eltorchul Academy, and let me tell you, it wasn’t easy! Most of my classmates were trained Wizards with lots of book learnin’ and such. Me, magic always just sorta came to. Half the time, I’m not even sure how I do what I do. So, tryin’ to actively learn new magic is a bit of a struggle.

Thesp keeps tellin’ me that people like me (Sorcerers) just need practice and life experience with their magic. He says even though I can’t reliably use the techniques I learned yet, I would eventually get the hang of it. He said my magic would adapt itself to the teachin’ as long as I am diligent and determined.

Let’s hope so.

At any rate, Thesp calls these skills part of the Argent Savant – a school of magic that specializes in manipulating Force energy. I did learn more about what makes up my Magic Missiles than I ever knew. I just hope I can fit it all together sooner rather than later.

16th of Uktar, 1371 DR
We used the cover of night (and the comin’ storm) to approach the warehouse known as the Sodden Hold. Quite the imposin’ structure – lots of windowless stone with only one door. The doorway is lit, though, confirmin’ that the warehouse is not as abandoned as people are led to believe.

We used the key we found on the Doppelganger to enter the buildin’ An altercation with some vagrant resulted in Alabron accidentally killin’ the man. Not sure what we’re supposed to do about that. Anyway, the main room of the warehouse is full of boxes, crates, and barrels. Definitely not an abandoned warehouse. We soon discovered that not all was as it appeared. Five of the crates turned out to me Mimics lyin’ in wait!

Alabron and Tyree killed one pretty quickly, but the nasty creature gets stuck on Alabron’s sword. Alabron the proceeds to wield the dead Mimic as a weapon, bludgeoning the other mimics to death with their own deceased kin!

We all ended up helpin’ with the fight, but it was Alabron and his deadly Mimic-sword that was the most conspicuous. Honestly, I still can’t decide if I’m impressed or repulsed by the entire display. I’m leanin’ towards impressed; I mean what a feat of strength! But every time the memory comes into my head, I get a little nauseas.

We ransacked the offices look for clues, but all we found was a Ring of Swimming. We eventually found a secret door (after narrowly avoiding a terrible pit trap) and beyond that a prison complex. Even though Dolgun and Olaf were in a cell, we knew we couldn’t trust anythin’ any of them had to say on account of any one of ‘em could be (probably would be) a Doppleganger.

My suspicions proved valid when the “prisoners” who looked like captured city watch, burst from their cell and attacked us. By the gods they were brutal fighters! I used Fel Drain Magic Missiles to hurt and hinder them and we finished them off in short order, but not before several of us were seriously hurt. As they fell, their featured flowed like meltin’ wax revealin’ them for what they really were – Doppelgangers!

Next, we came to a room with no floor. Or rather, the floor was some twenty feet below us covered by a layer of water and the water, in turn, concealin’ hundreds (if not thousands) of rusty blades, spikes, and hunks of jagged metal all pointin’ up! Risin’ from the water were a series of narrow pillars and these pillars supported a zig-zaggin’ lattice of wooden planks leadin’ to (we hoped) another door.

Tyree, of course, ran out onto the planks before we could come up with a solid plan of attack. He was ambushed by one or more invisible enemies and was nearly knocked off the plank he was traversin’! What followed was a chaotic and frustratin’ fight with a handful of Invisible Stalkers. The unseeable Elementals pounded into us from every angle. Even though must of us opted to stay on the stable floor rather than venture out onto the wooden planks, the fight was tough. In the end, I think it was mostly Aedrinar’s area of effect spells (and my Scroll of Lightnin’ Bolt) that won us that fight. Each time one of these spells went off, it briefly outlined the location of one of the Stalkers, allowin’ Alabron and Tyree to bring their swords into play.

I think we killed four of ‘em, but I can’t be sure. We were able to cross the planks (Egwaine flying and acting as a portable balance beam for all of us) to a door on the other side. The door lead into a room with a deep well leading down to yet more water.

Session 23 - City of Splendors

2nd of Uktar, 1371 DR (just past midnight)
We were camped dear the road to Waterdeep with Storn on watch, when who should pay us a visit, but our old friend, Balbadar Smenk. Of course now he’s bloated and full of green worms! Even though the Smenk Zombie dropped a couple of worm swarms, we were ready for ‘em. Of course, we did burn down a large oak tree in the process, but no one seemed ta mind.

Moments after the last of Smenk’s worms were flash-fired, some farmer come a runnin’ and a screamin’ down the road chased by almost of dozen more Zombies! The new guy, Aedrinar, dropped a Fireball so hot it was almost white on the mass of Undead flesh and worms and obliterated all but two of ‘em! By the gods, there’s a useful spell!

The farmer’s comin’ to Waterdeep with us, now.

Later in the day, we met up with a travelin’ merchant (George Benton) who was headin’ right inta Zombie territory. We tried to warn ‘im and his response was ta try an sell us his overpriced wares. Not wantin’ him to become another worm infested Zombie that might go on to kill dozens more, I used a couple Blast of Force spells to bust up his wheels, forcin’ him to head back to the nearest town with us. Not sure if it’ll save his life, but it’ll at least give ‘im a chance to rethink his destination.

2nd of Uktar, 1371 DR
We arrived in Amphail today. As Agents of the Alliance, I felt it our duty to report the authorities in town and explain what was goin’ on. They are undermanned, but it’s not like we can stay and defend every town, village, and thorp between Diamond Lake and Waterdeep.

3rd of Uktar, 1371 DR
We arrived in Resslantar today. As Agents of the Alliance, I felt it our duty to report the authorities in town and explain what was goin’ on. They at least have a few knights and a small Keep nearby, so they may weather the Zombie storm now that we’ve warned ‘em.

After havin’ supper with the local garrison/nobility, we complete out journey to Waterdeep. We met up with Dolgun at the Crooked House, settled in, and gathered some information and planned our next day or two of errands and shoppin’

4th of Uktar, 1371 DR
Did a lot of shoppin’ and errands today. I picked myself up a bunch of magic trinkets – nuthin’ too powerful, but they should help give me an edge.

While we were runnin’ around town, we happened upon a circus parade or some such. They had a Chimera in an iron and glass cage, and the beast was furious. We stopped to watch, and thank the gods we did, because the beast broke loose from its cage!

We killed the beastie in short order and managed to catch a thief in the process. Four people were injured and only one person was killed – and that happened just as the monster broke loose…nuthin’ we could’ve done about that. Durin’ the fight, Storn saved the lives of three or four children by takin’ the full brunt of the Chimera’s lightnin’ breath.

That gives me an interestin’ idea. Maybe I should put together a rankin’ and commendation system for the Three Hills Adventurin’ Company. That sounds like a good idea. Need to put some thought inta that.

Session 22 - Diamond Lake Has Gone All Squirmy

29th of Marpenoth, 1371 DR
It was good to sleep in my own bed again. I got better rest last night than I have in a tenday. After a fabulous breakfast, we had a chance to talk to Jasper’s friend. The man seems to have discovered a way to use the powers of the green worms against ‘em. He brews potions out of ‘em and seems to be immune to their burrowin’. In fact, it’s as if the worms don’t recognize him as food.

Very strange. Makes me wonder how we can use his skills to combat the worm threat.

Then we headed off to the garrison to another town council meetin’. Along the way, we discovered that Seargent Voss and Sparrow had both become worm zombies or, as the townsfolk call them, “squirmers.” We had destroy they both. It was a horrifiyin’ thing to do, but I just keep remindin’ myself that they weren’t Voss and Sparrow anymore…just a pair of brain-hungry zombies infested with the harbingers of some evil overgod.

The council meetin’ went about as expected. We got a reward (much smaller than expected) for dealing with Nergul. Sheriff Cubin and that little thief of a lieutenant tried to make us look like criminals again, but once again, I was able to point out, not only the flaws in their arguments, but also shined a light dangerously close to their lies and incompetence. They backed down.

The council made us Agents of the Alliance – a post that comes with an oath and a monthly stipend. They made Kullen and his cronies peace officers. Can you believe that? Kullen is now an authority figure! The albino tried to pick a fight with us after the meetin’, but I diffused the situation by supportin’ Kullen and his new position. I figure, even in a position of authority, there’s only so much bad Kullen can do. With Smenk now a mindless squirmer, Kullen doesn’t have the brains, creativity, or personality to be as harmful to the town as Smenk was.

I managed to get a short but blissful moment with Marcella. She’s doin’ well, and I was glad to see she hadn’t been hurt in all this turmoil. I’ll have to do somethin’ special for her before we leave for Waterdeep. Gods knows when the next time I see her will be.

After getting’ fitted for our new tabards, we met with Allustan. He wants us to go to Waterdeep to talk to Eligose the Sage in the Sea Ward. Apparently, he believes he can shine some light on what our next course of action should be. I also told Allustan about Jasper’s new friend and the fact that I think they should compare notes. Allustan agreed to pay him a visit.

We had to get rid of Storn’s Owlbear. Storn ain’t gonna be around to tame it and it’s growin’ like a weed. So we sold it to Zalimandra. While doin’ that, we got to see exactly how bad Diamond Lake had become. Buildins had burned, there were huge pyres for bodies…all in all…it was depressin’. I wanted to stay and help sort things out here, but Allustan was insistant – and with good reason. If an outbreak of worms can do all this to Diamond Lake in just a few short days, imagine what chaos would erupt if the same thing happened in a city the size of Waterdeep where people are living all on top of each other.

On the way back to the guild hall, we dispatched a family of squirmers and rescued a child. Last night, the Dire Wolf got into the compound and savaged a horse, but we saved it. On our first day out of Diamond Lake headed for Waterdeep, that damned Black Dragon strafed us! It swooped down and breathed acid all over Adrinar and Storn. And then just flew away.

What he hell was that?

It seems I forgot to mention Adrinar. He’s an Elf mage of some kind. Seems to have the bearing of one of those Cormyryn Warmages. The council basically assigned him to our guild, completely ignoring our charter (which they themselves approved). He’s a good guy though. He came up to us and apologized for the way he had been forced upon the group and agreed to adhere to our probationary acceptance. I think he’s gonna work out fine.

30th of Marpenoth, 1371 DR
We arrived at the Bargewright Inn today. Stayin’ here the night and getting’ an early start for Waterdeep in the mornin’.

Session 21 - One Villain Down, a Dozen or so to Go

28th of Marpenoth, 1371 DR
We headed to Diamond Lake today, tyrin’ to get there quick because Allustan’s note sounded pretty bad. After a brief stop at some tiny tradin’ post, we started passin’ Diamond Lake refugees – people fleein’ the town for greener pastures – on the road. Everythin’ they told us confirmed what Allustan had sent.

We all grew more anxious. I would imagine all of us had different pictures of calamity and disaster in our minds. The first two things that popped into my head – I suppose the two things I care most about – was the Three Hills Guildhall in flames with Jasper either dead or missin’ and the thought of Marcella killed (or worse yet) transformed into a worm-ridden Zombie!

Not pleasant images at all. So, I was in quite a hurry to get back.

Just about half way to Diamond Lake, we came upon a refugee wagon belongin’ to someone who waited to long to leave. They’d been attacked by Zombies, and the foul creatures were still there pickin’ over the remains! I think Tyree was over confident. We’d dealt with several of these worm Zombies, but usually in singles or maybe a pair. Tyree didn’t really stop to consider that this time there were six of ‘em we could see and he charged right into all of ‘em!

I tried to help by knockin’ one down with a Blast of Force, but that didn’t stop the others from maulin’ Tyree. Next thing we know, Tyree’s covered in little green worms all preparin’ to burrow into his flesh! Thanks to her connection to Kelemvor, Egwaine was able to send most of the Zombies fleein’ down the road so we could kill ‘em at our leisure, but that didn’t prevent one of the worms from getting’ inside Tyree. It took me, Tyree, and Egwaine (all diggin’ into poor Tyree) with silver knives to get the worm as it tunneled its way towards Tyree’s brain. Egwaine got it just as it reached his neck!

That was really close. The last thing we wanted was one of our own turnin’ into a worm Zombie.

We did manage to destroy and burn all the zombies and the bodies nearby to make sure they wouldn’t be a threat to anyone else.

We were nearly to Diamond Lake when we came upon an old man leading a stubborn donkey up the road. He didn’t have all his worldly possessions strapped to the beast, which made him stand out from the other refugees. As it turns out, he was going to trade his meager livestock for the lives of his wife and child, both of whom had been kidnapped by none other than Nerjul the Black! The old man said that Nerjul himself (along with his bandits) was waitin’ to make the trade at the Maglar ruins nearby.

Most of us had just about had it with Nerjul’s continued attempts on our lives. And now, when Diamond Lake was in the grip of an Undead plague, he chose to prey upon the weak, poor, and helpless. We’d had it with this so called “bandit king” and told the old man we’d get his family back if we could.

What happened next is perhaps the proudest moment of the Three Hills Adventurin’ Company. It’s certainly my proudest moment. We really came together as a team. We used my Invisibility magic and Egwaine’s Fly spell to allow her to scout out Nerjul’s base on the hill top. Then we came up with a plan (quickly, I might add) and put it into motion.

I think what pleases me most about the plan, which I was primarily responsible for, is that it was able to adopt so well to changes during the fight – for example, when a pair of Smenk’s albino Dire Apes turned out to be on loan to Nerjul!

I used up a large portion of my energy to make all of us Invisible, but this allowed us to sneak right into the midst of Nerjul’s camp. Within seconds, Nerjul and his cadre of mages were all dead. I wish I could have made a paintin’ of Nerjul’s face when Alabron appeared next to him swingin’ that falchion!

Just after we had annihilated the command element, and a huge number of angry bandits were turnin’ their attention to us, Egwaine touched the amulet she had recovered from the Lizardfolk to one of the Maglar standin’ stones. She must have thought she’d be able to use it to call down lightnin’ like the Lizarfolk shaman did. Instead, the entire hilltop exploded in an expandin’ ring of fire!

The fire wiped out huge numbers of Nerjul’s bandits. Those not killed outright were soon finished off by us or fled for the lives into the hills. We were only able to survive the blast ourselves by taking shelter behind Nerjul’s men! Unfortunately, the blast also killed the old woman Nerjul had kidnapped, but the farmer’s daughter survived long enough for Egwaine to heal her.

Now that I write it down, I don’t feel as proud. I mean, that old woman lost her life. I don’t think anyone could have done better, though. We succeeded against overwhelmin’ odds (at least 11 to 1) and saved the little girl. In addition, we dealt with a threat (Nerjul) that had been troublin’ the region for a long time. Nerjul would never again kidnap and murder anyone. His bandits would not rob or kill any longer.

And we even have more evidence that Smenk is a bad, bad man. We are brinin’ back the body of his Dire Ape to show the garrison. Although the garrison’s not allowed to intervene in town matters (like what was goin’ on in the mine), they sure as hell will want to get involved now. Nerjul was a garrison matter and once we demonstrate that Smenk was assistin’ the most wanted outlaw in the region, I’m sure they’ll have a few questions for ol’ Balabar.

I hope I get to be there when the drag his sorry ass to the stockade.

We’re back in the guildhall now. I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed and get some good rest. A friend of Jasper’s is stayin’ here, too. Sounds like a merchant of some kind. Maybe he’ll have some things we can use for sale. That’s gonna have to wait til mornin’, though. I’m goin’ to sleep now.

Session 20 - Cleaning up After Corporal Green

27th of Marpenoth, 1371 DR
Exhausted, we headed down to the basement of Blackwall Keep. Corporal Green had been makin’ us more anxious with each passin’ minute, tellin’ us how this creature had been down there for more than two years! Tyree didn’t make matters any better, hollerin’ at the basement door as if the Zombie would understand anything he had to say. And people call me a comedian.

We cast some spells, but really, we had very few left. Before we could start to tear down the boards securin’ the basement door, however, two clawed hands covered in dull withered scales punched straight through the wooden boards. As if that weren’t bad enough, the fists opened up and dropped swarms of those green worms all over the floor in front of us!

I pulled out a flask of alchemist’s fire and doused one pile of worms. Tyree tried to smash the worms with his sword, but his weapon had no visible effect on the swarm as a whole (although there was one worm that would cause us no trouble again). Valcrist fired his crossbow through the whole in the door and was rewarded with a low moan from his hit. The burnin’ worms started crawlin’ toward Valcrist while the other group started crawlin’ up Alabron’s legs! Egwaine immediately ran up and used her silver holy symbol (as the worms are vulnerable to silver for some reason even though they aren’t Undead themselves) to burn off one of the worms crawlin’ on Alabron. Alabron managed to pluck off the other worm, but barely avoided the things spiral teeth!

I hit the initial pile of worms with more alchemist’s fire and they finally died and disbursed. Valcrist managed to fire another absurdly precise shot through the hole in the door and hit the Zombie on the other side. That’s when the worms got on Egwaine and started crawlin’ up her legs! Storn, who was momentarily stunned by the appearance of all the worms, bolted towards the exit as fast as his stumpy legs would carry him. Egwaine retreated out of the worm swarm, but wasn’t able to kill any of the three worms that were on her. That’s when Alabron did somethin’ crazy! He doused Egwaine in alchemist’s fire! At first, I thought the Half-Orc had lost his mind, but then I saw that he had killed all the worms – of course, Egwaine was on fire. Suddenly, the door exploded into the room and a trio of worm infested, Lizardfolk Zombies started to come in the room. Tyree charged into the lead Zombie and hit it hard with his Bastard Sword, bottling the rest in the short hallway. One of the Zombies did get by him (despite a vicious slash deliver by his sword) and slammed into Valcrist, depositin’ a tiny green worm on his neck!

I was still tossin’ alchemist’s fire at worm swarms as Tyree finished off the Zombie he was fightin’ and then slashed into a second one. Valcrist ginergy flicked away the worm on his neck and moved away from the flamin’, clawlin’ worm swarm. Egwaine started rollin’ on the ground to extinguish the flames that were just startin’ consume her clothes and Alabron charged past her to kill a Zombie and cleave into another one with his follow through. The remainin’ Zombie hammered Tyree to one knee with a solid blow and dropped a worm on his arm.

More worm swarms started showing up, but we used a combination of torches (wielded by my Unseen Servant) and lines of silver coins to control the worms and kill them. It took some time, but using this method, no one was even in any danger of being turned into an Undead abomination.

After takin’ up a collection from the soldiers in the keep, we set off down the stairs armed with more torches and a bag full of silver coins. More worms were dealt with and then we entered the basement proper. It once served as a barracks, but now it was inhabited by a trio of worm Zombies Alabron and Tyree killed two Zombies (includin’ the man who was the origin of the infestation) while Valcrist, Storn, and I killed the third one.

A sweep of the area revealed no further threats. We did find, however, a crude tunnel that led to the outside. We informed the soldiers of all this as well as made sure to tell them about the tiny Lizardfolk Zombies in the mangaroo swamp. I went so far as to advice addin’ a silver inlay in the floor of each doorway to help protect against further worm problems.

Then we went to sleep. We had to rest up for our trip back to Diamond Lake. Hopefully the town will still be there when we return.

28th Marpenoth, 1371