L:2 28 Leagues Later

Starring: Dario, Thaddeus, Tarralon, Nict, and introducing Malyth
Guest Starring: Johannes the Dream Knight; Malen the mayor of Pendarguin;
Challenge: Surviving the night; Johannes douchiness; Zombies and skeletons; Puns
Location: Pendarguin area (Ferry and forest)
Date Played: 31 July 2011

On a boat

Dario: Fire raged on the shore, allowing us to see the deformed outlines of the monstrous beasts milling about the shoreline, clawing the air in our direction. My caravan-mates and I do our best to quell the fear in the smallfolk and crying falls to a soft murmur. Mayor Malen and his men talk amoung themselves and are overheard saying "Salla didn't warn us...". As I was nearly eaten by one of these beasts, this flags my interest.

The mayor's lips are loose and he tells us that Salla is the caretaker for the city of Pendarquin. Every city is supposed to have one but most don't, so I was surprised to find out about this.

On a horse

Dario: As the sun waxed the monsters waned, disappearing with the night. Once the sun is completely in the air we see a rider on the shore. Tarralon recognizes him as a warrior in the service of the Church of Dreams. We make our way to shore.

The warrior introduces himself as Johannes and his blood is mixed with that of the elves. He gives a name to the creatures we fought, Assybah's handmaidens, and the recipe for them comes from a long dead necromancer. We explain that the city's protector was missing in action and he dictates that we journey to find out why.

On a lake

Dario: Johannes parts ways for a personal quest and we continue to seek Salla on our own. Her home is easy to find, we just follow the eerie lack of wildlife. Across a small lake we spy a derelict house and make our way there.

We find signs of struggle and a lot of blood and hair, but no bodies. Under the porch that hangs over the lake we find a strange steel chest. The "keys" and a journal are found in a false bottom of a drawer. Examining the chest yields the following words, written in the language of the ancient shadedale mountain dwarves:

Ten trolls strength, ten trolls length, one troll can pick it up, no troll can stand it up.

We pour over the puzzle for the entire night, eventually solving the riddle—ROPE. Inside the chest are fifteen soulstones, a list of those who died at Kethren's field centuries ago, 209 ancient gold coins of the dwarves, a ring of dwarven nobility of the shadedale mountains, two potions, and a hastily written note that says:

If you find this, inform the Dream Knights that their dust is being reappropriated

As the crow flies

Dario: Nict throws a torch at a raven in the ceiling as Tarralon yells for us to not hurt it. Apparently the bird is a wizard's servant and Tarralon says that we should follow it. I disagree, but am in the minority, so I keep a watchful eye.

As days pass it is evident that we are making progress towards Eliador and when we get there we are greeted with destruction. The fog takes the shape of a foul rider on horseback for a moment, revealing shambling smallfolk. We make quick work of the aberrations.

Mausoleum of horrors

Dario: We find the crypts defiled. The symbols of Belinos are smeared with blood and excrement. Exploring the underground tombs we discover a secret passage and hear the sounds of battle!

Loot

• 209 Dwarven GP (34.83gp each, including Slush)
• Ring of protection +1 - Dario
• Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds — Malyth
• Potion of Bear's Endurance - Slush, carried by Dario