The root of the Emerald Spire

Sarenith 30, 4712

Thorne drops a few barrels of red dye in the town water supply early in the morning. Within a few hours, the tension has ratcheted up even further, and there is palpable panic in Fort Inevitable. During the day, Daryle and Darelle go to the Temple of the Golden Key and purchase several potions of cure heavy wounds, cure medium wounds, and cure light wounds. Both sisters anticipate that the battle with the Vault Keeper will be a tough one. They also purchase potions of invisibility from Falandra, who has just brewed a new batch. Darelle then goes to Abernard's house. The sorcerer is there, reading a book on his porch. Darelle shoots the breeze with him for a while, then asks him if he could identify an item for her. He agrees, and examines the hand Darelle discovered in the Emerald Spire. After a few moments, Abernard tells her she's the owner of a hand of glory. Darelle thanks him.

Following his failed attempt at leading his cultists to the Emerald Spire, Rowen grabs his scrolls of magic missile from his ruined estate and returns to Fort Inevitable. Kazmauk remains outside the town's walls at the Hunters' Lodge and awaits the return of his sisters with trepidation. He's ready to return to the Emerald Spire. Omok continues to read the Book of the Damned, hoping to unlock all of its knowledge.

The Cooper sisters finally return, but it is too late to leave the Hunters' Lodge. The group decide to head out early in the morning.


Erastus 1, 4712

Awake before dawn, the Coopers realize that Olifrit is gone. Instead of the gnome, they find a Gerald in the building. This Gerald wears priestly robes and seems saner than some of the other versions they have encountered in the past. The Coopers wonder how he eluded security and entered the lodge, but after a short discussion, the rest of the group agrees to take Gerald with them They begin the trek to the Emerald Spire. Each of them experience a sense of foreboding. This could be the day they triumph over the evil that dwells at the root of the Emerald Spire, or this could be the day when their adventure comes to a permanent end. It takes them out of the morning, and the Coopers give the Spire a wide berth, hoping to avoid the large giants and goblins encampment at the base of the Spire. Their circuitous route allows them to not be seen from the Spire, but they also can't see it. They enter through the secret tunnel leading to the Splinterden level. From there, they use spire tokens to travel to the Vault, the sixteenth and last level of the Emerald Spire.

Arriving at the base of the Spire, the Coopers first stop by the strange creature that looks like a pillar of stone. Ooviroon is happy to see the Coopers return so soon, and he asks them for news of the outside world. Darelle reports on what has happened in Fort Inevitable, and questions the outsider on the happenings down here. Ooviroon has no news. He's now happily digesting the remnants of the grugs the Coopers killed and fed him a few days back. Darelle questions him on the origins of the Spire. Oorivoon explains that eons ago Vault Builders, which hailed from the Plane of Earth, arrived on Golarion shortly after its creation. Using seeds of crystallized magic, they seeded the planet with vaults, spaces where they could study the nature of life. The Vault Builders were responsible for creating numerous spaces throughout Orv, Golarion's third and lowest level. When the Vault Builders departed following their war agains the Aboleth, a Vault Keeper was left behind to guard the Emerald Spire. Named Iluchtewhar, this Vault Keeper has slowly gone insane over the eons, according to Ooviroon. Oorivoon further talks about what motivates Iluchtewhar, and mentions that as an outsider from the elemental plane of earth he is vulnerable to bludgeoning.

After this discussion, Darelle bids goodbye to Ooviroon, and the party heads northwards. Kazmauk stops and examines the strange stone sphere. Daryle notices that the sphere is completely smooth and has no seams. Omok uses divination and determines that the stone sphere was built by someone to protect itself against an enemy coming from the root of the Emerald Sphere. Gerald uses spell craft and realize that the structure was built overtime with a large number of shape stone spells. Rowen makes some quick calculations and believes that one could move about 25 feet in using some sort of teleportation spell and be safe.

Tired of these arguments about the best way to penetrate the sphere, Darelle uses a hammer and chips away at the stone wall. Surprisingly, the wall crumbles easily. Kazmauk grabs tools and also begins to bash away, and soon most of the Coopers are at it. After half an hour, they emerge on the other side into a small cavern. Inside they discover a small fey floating on air. She introduces herself as Eriniell, and she invites them inside. She also informs them they must not touch the floor as Iluchtewhar can sense their thoughts when they are in contact with the earth. She tells them she used to be one of Iluchtewhar's servant but eventually realized that he had been corrupted by the Spire. She has been hiding behind this barrier, protecting herself from the Vault Keeper, hoping to strike at him when the time was right. The Coopers, sensing a possible alliance, tell Eriniell that the time is now, and manage to convince her that today is that day. She agrees, and mentions that Iluchtewhar is dwelling beyond this room. The Coopers ask how they are supposed to go there. Eriniell tells them they could travel through the roots that spread around this level, but she has the ability to dimension door to his lair. After some negotiations, she agrees that she and her children will transport the Coopers to Iluchtewhar's personal chamber by means of this spell. Darelle then notices that there are several invisible stalkers in the room with them, all hovering behind the fey. The Coopers are ill at ease but decide this seems the best plan.

As they speak with the fey, whispering of wind causes Rowen to change personality and he becomes very self assured. Eriniell casts dimension door and the Coopers and their allies arrive in Iluchtewhar's room. Eriniell immediately engages in combat, and the Coopers join in. Kazmauk hits with sword but realizes that his attack is ineffectual. Only magic and blugeoning will hurt Iluchtewhar. Darelle and Thorne unleash a torrent of magic missiles, while Kazmauk engages with his lesser weapon. Omok joins in, and Rowen casts a few spells as well. Iluchtewhar replicates against the party by unleashing a blast of razor-sharp crystals that strike everyone but Thorne. He also summons earth elementals to fight on his behalf. Daryle engages one of the elementals, while the other strikes at Omok. The party is quickly depleted of healing spells, and finds itself on the tethering edge of doom. Iluchtewhar has suffered massive hit, yet he is still standing. It is clear, however, that he is slowly maneuvering himself towards a side door to escape the room.

While fighting, Rowen hears sounds coming from the hallway leading to this room. Is it reinforcements? Daryle moves away from her earth elemental long enough to spike the doors close. As combat rages, one of the Coopers nears death, followed by another one. The Coopers have met their match and will surely perish.

Suddenly the door explodes outward, crushing Rowen beneath a ton of splintered wood and rubble. Duke Mosley enters the room, resplendent in a dust-free and shiny uniform. Mosley does not look sick in the slightest. Followed by a horde of Hellknights, he greets the Coopers and unleashes a wave of healing, restoring everyone's strength. Kazmauk turns around and deals the death blow on Iluchtewhar, who explodes in a shower of sparks and green crystal dust, hurting everyone with debris. The Coopers are surprised to see him Mosley. The Duke tells them that he has been faking his near-death to fool his enemies into thinking him weak. His plan was to capture the Spire all along, and now thanks to the Coopers' valiant efforts he controls the structure. He tells them that war is coming to Cheliax, and he will use the enormous power of the Spire to attempt to dethrone his mother the thrice damned queen, Queen Abrogail Thrune II. He is grateful to the Coopers for their assistance, and he invites them all to a banquet tonight to celebrate his brilliant victory. All, except Gerald. He tells the sorcerer that he will give him and his myriad copies a day's head start, then it will be hunting season.

In a private conversation with Daryle and Darelle, Duke Mosley informs the sisters that while his forces have been assaulting and clearing the Spire, the former Lady Commander Audara Drovust has been leading the quarterly relief force of Hellknights against Fort Inevitable, hoping to catch Mosley dying in bed with a small guard protecting him. This force left their planned itinerary at Daggermark and seized Mosswater before trekking to Fort Inevitable. Unfortunately she encountered a force of goblins and giants equipped with emerald automatons, and both forces are fighting within view of the Fort. Furthermore, he lets them know that a rebel force has seized control of Fort Inevitable and removed the few Hellknights who did not switch allegiance. As it is, both Greenhide and Drovust will exhaust themselves against each other, and the victor will be unable to seize the town back. Mosley tells them his own army has suffered some losses, but are now encamping in the Spire and will not be challenged by Drovust, Greenhide, or the rebels in Fort Inevitable. He apologizes to the sisters to have made them pawns of his plans, but as a thank you he recognizes that the Hellknights' possession of Fort Inevitable has now run its course and he agrees to leave the town alone. After all, he will need all of his strength and manpower to secure the Spire and study it.

Upon this news, Darelle sends a message with her tree token to Dr. Mordel reporting what has transpired at the Spire. with message of new management. Rowen, who explores the next room, finds a strange device. Duke Mosley, who enters the room, chats amicably with Rowen and they discuss the purpose of the device. A large map shows the entirety of Golarion with blinking spots scattered throughout. When Rowen begins touching parts of the Orvgate, a potent artifact that allows travel to other Vaults throughout Golarion, Mosley backs away. The necromancer pulls the first lever, which lines on a specific Vault that appears to be in the expansive jungle of  Mwangi. As soon as Rowen touches the second lever he is transported far and away to that Vault. Mosley shrugs and walks away. 

Thorne, sensing his opportunity, swiftly melts in the shadows and leaves the scene. Making it back to Fort Inevitable, he retrieves a few items and flees the area, motivated either by Duke Mosley's revenge or the ire of his sisters ...

Darelle notices that the green dust that used to be Iluchtewhar begins slowly drifting on the floor. She uses windwall and blows it all away. The Coopers have successfully conquered the Emerald Spire, but so much unanswered questions remain!

When all the threads tie together

Sarenith 28, 4712

Returning from their latest trip to the Emerald Spire, the Coopers arrive in Fort Inevitable to find the town in uproar. The entire Hellknight guard has been deployed at the gates and on the walls as if an assault was expected. People entering the town as well as people leaving are being thoroughly searched, and traffic is backed up on both sides of the gates. Noticing this, and realizing that there is now a dwarf and a gnome among their party, the Coopers decide to avoid the questions and fees their appearance would receive at the gates and instead enter through the sewer tunnels. Instead of following her siblings, Daryle heads back into the woods. She will hunt for a few hours, then return through the Juliver Gate and see what information she can obtain from the guards.

The gnome Olifrit is the first one to enter the town, followed by the rest of the party through the sewers. They head directly to the secret door that leads into Dr. Mordel's basement. A few creatures are laying in clean beds, while in the corner the silver demon paces his cage relentlessly. They come up the stairs and meet Erynna, who greets them warmly. When questioned by Darelle as to what is happening, she informs them that two nights ago, Duke Mosley returned in a covered wagon. Deathly ill, he has taken residence on the top floor of the Citadel in Roscoe's old quarters. The few that have seen him report that he is bleeding heavily from a large gash on his shoulders. Magical healing has been unable to staunch the flow, and remove curses have all been ineffective. He is ghastly pale and shivers uncontrollably. Even though it is the height of summer, fires burn in all fireplaces of the Citadel. She further tells the Coopers that though Dr. Mordel's healing and alchemy skills are well known, his services have not been called for.

They then join Dr. Mordel himself in his small laboratory on the second floor. He also greets them warmly, and tells them that he suspects Duke Mosley is both dying and highly infectious, if the rumors and gossip reported by his network of informants are to be believed. Most people who can flee the town have already done so, but the Hellknights are ensuring that valuables are left behind. Hence the heavier security details at the gates. Darelle asks him what Mosley might be suffering from. Dr. Mordel replies that to the best of his knowledge the Duke was stabbed by a demon during a campaign in the World Wound, and Mosley has never recovered. He's not sure what it could be, but with magical healing not working, it has to be some seriously powerful demonic magic. Dr. Mordel might be able to analyze the sickness and prepare an antidote, but he would have to get a sample first. Concerned about herself, Olifrit interrupts the discussion and asks Dr. Mordel to restore her hands and her left foot to their proper nature. She confesses that she used to be Gerald. Dr. Mordel agrees to do so but it will require some time, extensive and very painful testing, and most of Dr. Mordel's patience, but it should be possible to at least address some of the issues currently plaguing Olifrit.

Pulling Darelle aside, Dr. Mordel also tells Darelle that her that Fort Inevitable's enemies are marshaling their forces against the town. Events are coming to a head and the fate of the town's citizens hang in the balance, he warns her. Armed with this newfound knowledge, Darelle and the remaining members of the party, minus Olifrit, head back out of town to avoid the contagion.

Thorne enters the town a little later through the same sewers wearing a disguise. He returns to his old shop, and finds it shuttered by Roscoe's orders, but it has not yet been repurposed. The rogue gathers gear, and he bids farewell to his place of commerce. He heads to Dr. Mordel's house, but Erynna turns him away and does not let him in the house. Dejected and sad that no one recognizes his role as a hero and savior of the town, he enters the sewers and heads out. Thorne manages to avoid two Hellknight patrols, but he runs into his siblings right outside Dr. Mordel's basement. As they leave, Darelle fills him on what has happened in town, but tells him flat out that she does not trust him. They emerge from the sewer outside the walls, but unfortunately Thorne is noticed by two guards and the alarm is raised. Thorne runs away, pursued by a Hellknight patrol but eventually manages to lose them.

Daryle comes in a little later with the produce of a hunt through the Juliver Gate. She encounters Bolgur, the Hellknight half-orc who leads the guard detachment. He seems very unhappy to see him, but he's generally unhappy so she's not too worried. She tells him she's been gone for four days, and she inquires as to what is happening in town. Bolgur reports that the Duke has returned with a small escort of four guards, and is now living atop the Citadel. He's real sick, and it is said he's taking it out on the staff. Bolgur then tells Daryle that Maralictor Wirt has left her a letter. He retrieves it and hands it to her. Daryle reads Wirt's message, which tells her not to enter the town but to send word she's back with a place to meet. Daryle tells Bolgur she forgot something at the farm she must get. Could he send Wirt a message? The half-orc replies that he can, but it will cost her. Daryle agrees to leave him the result of her hunt.

Half an hour later, Wirt meets Daryle outside in the shade of a grove by Mother Holworth's farm. The Hellknight reports on the event of the last three days. On top of the information already gathered by the other Coopers, Daryle learns that the Hellknight contingent that transits through Fort Inevitable every three months has disappeared. More than 600 troops have simply vanished. On top of everything else, quarterly taxes are due in three days, the merchants are stuck in Daggermark awaiting their Hellknight troops as escort, and the population is restless and panicky due to persistent rumors of infection. Wirt advises Daryle to avoid entering the town right now due to the possibility of contagion. She also tells the ranger that the Seven Foxes have all left the town. Daryle requests that a meeting be set up at the Hunters' Lodge with everyone to discuss the current situation. Wirt replies that she should be able to get them there in time for supper.

The necromancer Rowen, who has finally recovered from the betrayal of his cult, has spent the greater part of the last months rebuilding his evil forces. Having returned to Fort Inevitable, he decides to investigate Duke Mosley's claims to see if there's any way Mosley might be entreated to join him in his last days. Rowen contacts a highly placed servant in the Citadel, and that servant describes that the mental status of the Duke has deteriorated and he's been abusing his staff. The servant also reports that Duke Mosley is compiling a list of individuals he plans on executing before his death to settle old grudges. No one seems to know who's on the list, but speculations are rife among the Hellknights. Rowen wonders how he can capitalize on this situation. He decides to spread rumors through town and wipe up the hysteria that surrounds the fears of an epidemic. Throughout the day, more and more people gather to listen to speakers at the fountain boasting of the benefits of joining the Death Cult. Rowen rubs his hands in glee.

Daryle and Darelle connect at the Hunters' Lodge. There they are met by Shim Longbranch, who is very much out of breath. He has run all the way from Dimsdale to report that an army of emerald automatons has laid siege to the village. They are left by four different Geralds. Shim reports he barely managed to escape the siege. Gerald has threatened to burn the village down to the ground if a powerful object is not turned over to him before nightfall. Shim tells the Coopers that the inhabitants have fled across the bridge into the forest, but all fighters have remained behind to resist the invasion. The Dimsdalers have some experience with a siege, having suffered one only a few months back. The sisters agree to help Shim. Darelle summons her jar of cloud and they fly south, reaching Dimsdale a half hour later. Shim also mentions that his patrols have discovered that the giants have finally arrived and that they have setup a camp at the base of the Emerald Spire and could attack at any moment.

They spot from the sky four distinct forces arrayed against the village, all led by a different Gerald. They all appear to be collaborating together. Darelle and Daryle land beyond the village, connect with the refugees, and then enter the village. They meet Dunleaf Appletop, Dimsdale's mayor, who informs them of Gerald's demands. He doesn't know what Gerald wants, but he'll fight to protect his village. Daryle heads out and, under a flag of truce, meets with Gerald. He reveals that he has had a vision that the Hellknights have hidden a powerful weapon in Dimsdale. In his vision he has seen Duke Mosley use the weapon to destroy Fort Inevitable, and he wants to prevent that from happening. He's not sure what he is searching for, but he is convinced it is here in the village. If it is not turned over by nightfall, he will order an assault and burn everything to the ground. During this conversation, Gerald is joined by the other Geralds, who all agree that this is the proper course of action. All of them have had similar visions, and they all sincerely believe that they are saving the town from certain doom. Daryle informs the Geralds of the events that have transpired in Fort Inevitable over the last few days. Gerald is encouraged that his vision is coming true, and he threatens his sister with bodily harm if she remains in the village.

Daryle returns to the village and reports what she has discovered from Gerald. Darelle, meanwhile, searches the former Hellknight barrack and discovers a secret space behind a wall. In this small space she finds a lead chest. Even without any particular ability regarding the detection of evil, Darelle feels a faint trace of it emanating from the chest. The sisters remove the chest from Dimsdale and depart on their cloud. The Geralds sense that the object has been removed. One Gerald returns to Fort Inevitable to retrieve his wife and mother and save them from the destruction that's about to take place. One Gerald takes control of some automatons and heads back to the Emerald Spire. Another Gerald decides to search for the missing Hellknights, while the last Gerald launches an assault on Dimsdale with greatly diminished forces and is quickly wiped out. Darelle and Daryle head back to the Hunters' Lodge.

There they meet six members of the Seven Foxes. Dunleaf remained in Dimsdale. The Foxes advise they have about 80 fighters ready to seize key infrastructure areas of Fort Inevitable if an attack by giants and Greenhide leads the Hellknights to attempt a sortie. They are concerned, however, about the remaining civilian population still in the Fort. Darelle and Daryle agree that in case of an assault on the town, the Foxes' forces will need to remain hidden until needed to either turn the tide of battle or to remove weakened Hellknight forces. Abernard Royst identifies the object the Coopers retrieved from Dimsdale as the Octillio Crystal Sphere, a deadly weapon that could destroy a large section of the town.


In the late afternoon, feeling that the Death Cult has been sufficiently frenzied, Rowen leads a group of about 100 individuals out of Fort Inevitable. The Hellknights do not oppose this departure, correctly assuming that these discontented folks were better off beyond the wall, and possibly dead, in their quest to get rid of the powers that dwell in the Emerald Spire. Having taken refuge in a barn, Thorne spots the procession and follows it. The crowd walks down the road and passes in front of the Hunters' Lodge. Rowen senses the evil of the object newly acquired by the Cooper sisters, and he attempts to break into the Lodge. His attempts are repulsed none too gently by Daryle, and Rowen accepts for the time being to move his group away from the Lodge, bidding his time.

Omok, who also joined the Coopers at the Lodge, feels the pull of the object as well. Rowen attempts to convince Omok to join him and take the object by force, but reason prevails and Omok chooses not to align himself with Rowen at this time. Thorne, who has observed this whole exchange, also attempts to enter the Hunters' Lodge, but is turned away by Daryle. She vociferates a series of threats and advises him that he needs to step up. To prove his loyalty to the family, he must organize an evacuation of Fort Inevitable. If an assault does come, he must get as many inhabitants out as possible.

Thorne returns to town and, working with his remaining contacts, creates a plan that will safely see most of the remaining residents depart Fort Inevitable in the first minutes of the conflict. Darelle contacts Zoarth and delivers a message telling him about the alliance between hill and cloud giants and Greenhide, and request any possible assistance the cloud giant could provide. Worried about their new object, the sisters decide to hide it in the dimensional gate below the Hunters' Lodge. It's possible, but improbable, that a creature from that level of the Abyss would stumble upon it, and it would also remove its influence from the Material Plane. The sisters thus take into the basement, through the mine tunnels, and into the Abyss, before using the hand of banishment to block access again from the Abyss.

As night falls, the Coopers feel as ready as they ever will for what is surely to come on the following day.

Law versus chaos

Sarenith 26, 4712


With the investigation of the poisoned sausages now wrapped up, the Coopers decide to head back to the Emerald Spire and explore the 15th level. They trek through Echo Wood, then arrived at the tunnel leading to the Splinterden level. Suddenly they hear two familiar voices. Thorne steps out of the shadows and tells his siblings that he'd been waiting for them. Daryle's first reaction is to pull her bow and notch an arrow, but after a few tense moments the other members of the Coopers agree to let Thorne and Rowen join them. Not that they trust them or anything, but perhaps it would be easier to deal with the Emerald Spire with a full complement of party members. Thus, for the first time in months, the entire party is together.

After some discussion as to whether to move to down to the 15th level or perhaps clear the 9th level for real this time, the Coopers decide to head to the depth of the Spire. They use their transport tokens to teleport to the 14th level. Scattered around the room, they are greeted by the lich Nhur Athemon, who inquires about the happenings outside the Spire. Roscoe relates some of the events that have taken place, then the Hellknight questions the lich about how the Coopers can travel down to the 15th level. Thorne maneuvers around Athemon's throne, getting in a position to backstab the lich. Nhur Athemon remains focus on Roscoe, however, and magnanimously opens a secret staircase leading downwards by pushing a button on his throne. The Coopers head down.

After about a descent of 600 vertical feet over more than 1,000 steps, they reach a strange level, with gold wires embedded in the floor. Two creatures looking like mechanical centaurs stand guard, but they do not attack until Thorne steps in the room and begins to pull the gold wire out of the ground. The battle is short, and the party takes a beating until Darelle releases a cloud from her jar of cloud and reduces visibility to zero. The Inevitables threaten the Coopers with certain death, but Thorne wisely states that they are in fact here to support the Inevitables' quest to eliminate the Proteans. Darrelle recalls her cloud, and the creatures allow the Coopers to freely move about the level as long as they don't touch anything and that they take the fight to the Proteans.

In the next room, they discover two creatures looking like large mechanical eyeballs who were clearly expecting them. They are manipulating various parts and appear to be rebuilding something. They reveal that they have been fighting the Proteans for eons, and that the battle is at a stand still, neither side being able to communicate with their plane of origin. The Inevitables wish to keep the Spire's gate closed, while the Proteans wish to open it and release chaos in the world. The Inevitables control the gate, but the Proteans have the key. Tempted by all of the wonderful stuff laying around, Gerald briefly considers taking a few spare parts, but a deadly look from his sister Daryle moves him along.

The third room looks like a power generating station, and the wires here hum softly. A set of doors lead out of this room into another one, and all lawful creatures are able to walk through freely, while chaotic creatures suffer some damage. Omok is the worst off, but he quickly heals. In this room they meet the caulborn, who are observing what is happening in another part of the level. In their conversation the Coopers quickly gather that the caulborn are monitoring the situation and taking copious notes, but appear to support neither side.

Gerald decides to add a variable to the fight between the Proteans and the Inevitables in the Spire room, and he casts fireball on the large window, hoping to ignite the room beyond. Unfortunately it is only a screen and the room where they stand is engulfed in flames. Gerald and the other Coopers take significant damage. Daryle shakes her head in disbelief. Here we go again, she's thinking...

Playing Catch in the Pleasure Garden

Gozran 3, 4712

On his way out of Fort Inevitable to conduct business, Thorne receives a message from the gate guard. The note, from Roscoe, tells him that the Coopers and Omok headed out to the Emerald Spire yesterday to gain access to the 13th level. Forgetting his business, Thorne rouses Rowen out of bed and the two of them head to the Spire.

Reaching the 12th level, Thorne and Rowen spot Gerald by the control panel of the automaton factory. Gerald appears to be carefully documenting the function of each button. Rowen makes a noise and Gerald attempts to in the shadows. Thorne and Rowen decide to mock Gerald, and Thorne grabs the large parchment Gerald was working on. On it, in a childish hand, Gerald has noted the function on more than half of the symbols. To mess with Gerald, Thorne changes some of the symbols on the parchment. Rowen then grabs the paper and throws it behind him. In an award-winning theatrical performance, Thorne lays it thick by claiming to Rowen that Gerald has always been the best brother and that he would always be there for him. Gerald doesn't buy it and remains hidden. Rowen tires of this little game and pulls Gerald out of his hiding space.

Gerald tells his brother and Rowen that he's trying to figure out how the old Atlanz magic was engineered. He asks Thorne to push four buttons at random. Thorne does so, and then runs away. When nothing happens, Gerald gets closer to the console, only to be zapped. Having wasted enough time, Thorne and Rowen leave Gerald behind and ride the elevator down to the 13th level.

Coming to the room with the two statues, Thorne considers pulling the spikes that hold the double doors open, but decides against it. Inside the large cavern, Thorne goes to the theater and is met by the imp who leads the orchestra. In no time music from demons begin to play, and Thorne suddenly loses the will to live the music is so bad. In fact it is the worst he's ever heard. After twenty minutes Thorne manages to pull himself out of his chair and he drags his carcasse out of the theater, but not after being hit by a bolt of lightning.

Rowen, meanwhile, does not like the look of the alien plant life that fills the underground cave. He casts fly and travels through the cavern. He spots several tracks, and he decide to head to the bathhouse. Landing on the bridge, he knocks on the door. Omok grabs him and brings him in. Rowen has rejoined the party, and Roscoe fills him in on what happened.

Thorne also makes his way to the bathhouse, and knocks on the door. Another lively discussion takes place among the siblings as to whether they should open the door, and they eventually decide to let Rowen open the door. Puzzled by the three bathtubs and not knowing what the third tub does, Rowen dips his toes in the muddy tub. Nothing happens. However, he finds a figurine of wondrous power at the bottom of the tub.

The Coopers explore the rest of the cave on the south side of the river, and find nothing else of interest. They debate how to get across the river. Roscoe decide he will jump the river. The current is very strong and pulls him away quickly, but the Hellknight reaches the other bank and climbs out of the river. He is soon joined by Omok, who transported through the stone wall of the bathhouse. The two of them head down a pathway. They find the body of two dead drow fighters wearing mithril armor and equiped with rapiers. As Roscoe examines the bodies to make sure they are truly dead, Omok disturbs a hellwasp swarm and soon both are engaged in combat. The remaining Coopers on the other side take a few pot shots at the swarm, but when Roscoe notices the drow reanimating he decides he's had enough of both the swarm and the dead drow, so he grabs the first drow and throws it in the river.  

Daryle fishes it out when it passes by her, because she wants to get that armor. Unfortunately, she did not notice it had reanimated, so she is taken by surprise when it attacks her. The Coopers fight courageously and take numerous wounds before they are able to destroy both the swarm and the drow. Roscoe heals everyone, and Omok provides more healing to Rowen.

With everyone now across the river the Coopers enter the hallway and arrive in a museum. There are five pedestals, with objects placed on four of them. The first one features a sleeping yet purring cat. The second is a large dire shark tooth. The third is an oversize brain. The fourth pedestal is empty. The last pedestal features a helmet made of the shrunken head of a cyclop. Roscoe grabs the tooth and considers stabbing the brain, but the sight of the helmet attracts him. The paladin takes the helmet and notices its magical capabilities. He detects evil in the room, and only the brain registers as evil. Daryle and Darelle pet the cat, but it doesn't wake up. Omok dispels the magic that keeps the cat in suspended animation, and it immediately turns into an angry skeleton. Omok throws the cat at Thorne. The undead cat claws Thorne's left eye. Thorne throws the cat back at Omok, and this angry and violent exchange goes for a few minutes, much to the delight of the other Cooper siblings, before Roscoe puts an end to it. exchange the dead cat back and forth.

Darelle examines each pedestal, and discover that there is a small plaque written in Azlant under each. With much difficulty, the cat's is translated as "My very first familiar." The tooth is translated as "Never saw a sea creature so big." The third states "The brain of my enemy." The fourth and empty pedestal's plaque reads "The weapon of my youth." The final pedestal says "This helmet never saw me coming."

While the party is searching the artifact room, Rowen opens the door to the north and walks in the large cavern. At the end of the room he sees both a large undead sitting on a throne and armed with a big sword, as well as a beautiful woman who asks the wizard to come closer. He feels compelled to do so, and closes the door behind him. In no time the undead removes Rowen's soul and eats it. Rowen now feels listless and disconnected from life. Plus, he is under the thrall of the beautiful woman.

Roscoe decides to explore the rest of the cave full of plants. Walking by a large thicket of vines, he is attacked by what looks like a giant alien flytrap that manages to swallow him whole. Luckily, Darelle and Daryle hear the struggle and intervene. The combat with a moving plant is harrowing, but eventually they manage to rescue Roscoe and defeat the flytrap.

Meanwhile, Omok still considers what to do with the brain. He turns around for a moment, and when his gaze returns the brain is gone. Suddenly he is attacked from above and the brain manages to possess him. When the Coopers return, he fires a lightning bolt at the other members of the party. Combat ensures between Omok and the Coopers, and a well targeted hit by Roscoe forces the brain out. As Roscoe, Omok and Daryle fight the brain, Darelle opens the door where Rowen previously ventured and suffers the same fate.

With the brain defeated, the Coopers regroup and notice that there are only four of them left: Omok, Thorne, Roscoe and Daryle. It's clear to them that both Darelle and Rowen must have entered the room. Roscoe rushes in, and is confronted by a Devourer. In the battle that ensues, the party comes close to defeat but successfully manage to slay the guardian. The succubus, meanwhile, once agains teleports away, leaving Rowen and Darelle behind. The Devourer's chest glows with swirling patterns, and Omok identifies them as souls. Thorne carves the souls out, and all but two fly away in the nether. The two remaining souls begin floating above  Rowen and Darelle, respectively, and their condition does not seem to improve. They also spot a hovering platform that can take them down to the next level down.

Omok realizes that their bodies will need to be reunited with their souls, but only a powerful ritual in a temple will be able to manage such a feat. The Coopers decide to head back to Fort Inevitable.

Are the Coopers responding to chaos, or are they the cause?

Pharast 30, 4712

It's been twelve days since the Coopers have returned to Fort Inevitable following their confrontation with the automatons. They spend time replenishing their equipment, selling gems and other trinkets, and preparing a return to the Emerald Spire. Unfortunately, events conspire to prevent them from heading back today.

Roscoe is bruskly awakened by Maralictor Wirt early in the morning. She reports that the entire night guard at the Juliver Gate has bee slaughtered between the 4th and 5th hour of the watch. No sound was heard, though there seems to have been several attempts at raising the alarm. As Roscoe rushes to dress, the Hellknight's Chancellor intercepts him and tells him that the treasury is empty. It will not be possible to meet the Hellknight payroll in two days' time. Finally, a representative of the civilian town council catches the Hellknight commander as he exits the Citadel and notifies him that all of the town water wells have either run dry overnight or have been contaminated by a strange waxy substance, making the water unfit for drinking purposes. Finally, as Roscoe meets his siblings along the way to the Juliver gate, he notices that there are many newcomers in town who appear to not be doing very much. The arrival of over 2,000 workers to rebuild Fort Inevitable following a devastating fire has caused the population to swell, but now that most of the housing stock has been rebuilt, these newcomers seem to have become a nuisance.

Roscoe questions Thorne on the number of workers should stay and how many should go. Thorne answers that he's discovered a plot. His network of people reports that the laborers, who are not the most skilled, are actually part of a force looking to spread chaos throughout Fort Inevitable. They were sent here by enemies from Daggermark. He proposes mandatory conscription to attack the hill giants. Roscoe says that this is a genius move, but what would prevent the workers from just walking away or turning on the Hellknights? Thorne replies that if they acted switfly, this problem would disappear.

Daryle contacts the Hellknight Spymaster and requests information on this plot. The spymaster advises her that Thorne was responsible for hiring and paying the workers, and he selected the dredges of Daggermark. The spymaster has no proof, but he believes that Thorne was hoping to overthrow the Hellknights. Daryle informs Roscoe of her findings. Thorne points out that Roscoe and the Coopers were often gone in the last few months, yet the workers did not strike. Those must be rumors planned by enemies of Fort Inevitable.

Roscoe asks about the fighting value of these men. Hellknight officers report that all of them are of fighting age and seem to have some experience. Against the full contingent of Hellknights these men would not stand a chance, but if allied with another group, like an army of giants, a victory would not be assured.

While this conversation is taking place, Darelle obtains a leather armor +3 from the Hellknight armory but it will identify her as a Hellknight. She paints it to hide the colors but the symbols are still visible to the perceptive eye. Gerald, meanwhile, requests that a helmet be made to make his new horn appear to be part of this helmet and not his head. He shines it and sharpens it so it can be used as a weapon.

Tired of the discussion taking place in the Citadel, Omok storms off and decides to investigate the murders at the gate. The guards were clearly slaughtered with a piercing weapon and in order, one tower then the next. They appeared to have defended themselves, but neighbors and members of the night watch confirmed they heard nothing. Omok returns to the Citadel and reports this new information to Roscoe. The Hellknight and his entourage head back to Juliver Gate and investigate. Darelle does not find any new information on the town side of the gate, but on the outside Daryle finds a set of tracks that belong to an individual about 140 pounds. The cuts and trusts indicate that the person was about 5'9'. Darelle uses her ranger abilities and speaks with the towers' resident pigeons. They confirm that the attacker was one humanoid, came from inside the town, slaughtered everyone on that side before jumping the wall and attacking the sentries outside. The person then climbed the wall. The birds also tell her that the person was very agile, almost like a cat.

Roscoe questions Maralictor Wirt as to whom inside the wall would have the skills necessary for accomplishing such a feat. Wirt replies that she doesn't know of anyone agile enough to successfully drop from the wall and then climb it back up again without the aid of magic, but as far as the manner of killing, Karlyle the Butcher certainly would be able to pull this off if he were so inclined. Roscoe decides to confront Karlyle, so the Coopers head to his shop. Even this early in the morning, the doors are opened and Karlyle stands inside, processing cuts of beef from this morning's slaughter. Roscoe and Omok stroll in and begin questioning the butcher. Omok successfully intimidates the man, who backs off towards a corner of the shop.

Just as Roscoe accuses Karlyle of killing the Hellknights at the Juliver gate, a volley of arrows slam against all three inside the butcher's shop. Surprised, the other Coopers draw their weapons. The assault is coming from the roof of the third story building across the street from the butcher. Currently in construction, scaffolding surrounds the building on two sides. Roscoe throws himself against Karlyle to protect him. Gerald becomes invisible and flies upwards. Daryle fires off a volley of her own. Rowen uses his sleep spell and manages to incapacitate one of the attackers. More arrows fly down to the Coopers. Omok uses his ring of ram and collapses the building, while Gerald incinerates the ruins with a fireball. The surrounding buildings catch on fire but Darelle is able to put the fire out with a wall of wind. Roscoe uses his paladin's abilities to heal everyone in the group.

In the rubble of the building the Coopers find one of the attackers. The other two are missing. Roscoe interrogates the survivor, and quickly discovers that it is a demon. He decides to cart it off to the temple. Unfortunately, High Mother Sarise Dremagne informs the Hellknight Commander that she can't guarantee that the demon won't escape. Roscoe decides to keep custody of the demon in the prison of the Citadel under triple guard.

Darelle tells Dr. Mordel about what has happened around town in the last ten hours. He does not seem surprised. He tells her that the tensions are high in town with the foreign workers, and could boil over at any time.

The search for the missing two demons continue, but is fruitless.

Back at the Citadel, Thorne proposes a bold scheme for getting rid of the foreign worker problem. The Coopers will plant a fake map indicating that there is gold in the hills north of the Emerald Spire. Rowen will be sent in the hills, and return to Fort Inevitable the next day with a bag full of gold and the map. With a change in personality, Rowen will not remember that this is a set up and will be able to sell this idea to the ruffians. Ideally, all of them will depart Fort Inevitable. They may encounter the giants that are mustering in the hills, or at least act as a buffer between the two sides.

Roscoe approves the plan, and the wheels begin to turn.

Pharast 31, 4712

It's the end of the quarter, and several of the Coopers have set up businesses or work for other people. These are their statements for tax purposes:

• Gerald's message delivery business and his Hellknight wages earned him 62 crowns after expenses.
• Daryle's hunting has earned her 43 crowns after expenses.
• Darelle's employment with Dr. Mordel and Mother Holworth, as well as her herb business earned her 51 crowns after expenses.
• Thorne's general store earned him 139 crowns after expenses.
• Roscoe earned 1,200 crowns as Hellknight Commander.

In the morning, Rowen comes riding into Fort Inevitable carrying gold and a map to a location where the gold was supposedly found. The rumor spreads like wild fire, and by noon most of the riff raff has departed. Thorne's general store makes a fortune selling panning gear. By the end of the day, the overwhelming majority of foreigners have departed for the hills. The town is now very quiet.

All tax payments are made today, and there is enough money in the coffers to meet Hellknight payroll. Somehow Thorne has come through and located enough money to pay the troops. How did he do it? He returned to the Emerald Spire the day before and met with the Mistress of Thorns. In exchange for the gold he needed to replenish the Hellknights's coffers, he traded her the magical name of each level of the Spire. Then, he swore fealty to her and declared that henceforth he would become her agent within Fort Inevitable in exchange for a cloak of invisibility. He also promised her the souls of the Daggermark workers he so cleverly attracted to a deserted location.

Thorne's network also spreads the rumor among the guards and the public that Thorne was responsible for the rebuilding of the city. There wasn't enough money to pay wages, but somehow Thorne intervened and secured enough funds. He hopes this will buy him some goodwill in the city.

Omok departs Fort Inevitable for the Emerald Spire.


Gozran 1, 4712

In the morning, Thorne, disguised as a ruffian, rides into Fort Inevitable with another report that  more gold was found. The remaining ruffians depart, along with several citizens. With the foreign threat now gone, Roscoe orders that all patrols be doubled. Orders are sent out to bring in as much food from surrounding areas while collecting as much water as possible. In two days' time Fort Inevitable's gates will be closed. The Hellknights are also now required to keep a record of who comes and goes, and only taxpayers are allowed to enter Fort Inevitable.

Omok enters the Emerald Spire and meets with the Mistress of Thorns. In exchange for information on the assassin he will perform a service for her. Omok reveals to him that the individual behind the attack is Nagal Imban, someone of considerable means since he or she was able to take control of three demons and order them. The Mistress of Thorns reveals that she knows of Nagal Imban but has nothing to add at this time. In exchange for this, she requires that Omok assassinate Roscoe within the next two weeks.

And Gerald Dies Again, and Again

Pharast 18, 4712, continued

With six automatons activated, the Coopers' combat in the armory continues. Daryle lets a few arrows fly, while Roscoe miss his two attempts. The automatons strike back, but one misses Omok, while two others fail miserably at their attacks. Thorne, who happens to have a small paint vial, throws it against one of the automatons and successfully covers its eyes. Darelle engages a new opponent, and it's general mayhem in the automaton armory. Automatons are slowly being destroyed, but the Coopers all suffer wounds.

As Gerald delivers the killing blow to the automatons standing in front of him, it explodes, embedding a large shard of shrapnel in his skull. Gerald now looks like a shiny unicorn. A giant automaton activates and joins the combat. Thorne uses his wand of webbing and attempts to stop it. Unfortunately it barely stops. The giant automaton heads straight for Gerald. Omok, meanwhile, is engaged in a brutal combat of his own, so he summons a land shark to help him. Darelle, who's fighting another automaton next to him accidentally steps near the shark and gets bitten. Rowen maneuvers himself behind the automaton fighting Darelle and joins that battle.

It eventually takes all of Roscoe, Gerald, Thorne, and Daryle's efforts to slay the large giant. It explodes in a shower of sparks. Most of the party manages to step out of the way but Gerald suffers another wound.

With the battle wrapped up, the Coopers explore the rest of the armory. In the southwest corner they find a curtain of lightning that stretches from wall to wall and from the floor to the ceiling. Rowen comes up with a clever way to walk through the curtain. He will build a circuit that will conduct the current using pieces of the destroyed automatons. Thorne looks at the curtain and attempts to discern a way to disrupt it, but he cannot find one. Gerald steps forward and also looks at it. Omok casts a spell and travels through stone and emerges on the other side. Thorne, sensing a great prank, shoves Gerald through the curtain. The sorcerer makes it across but not before suffering significant damage.

Mad and ticked off at his brother, Gerald drags Omok through the doors and Gerald closes the doors and wizard lock them. Gerald takes the steward's head from his backpack, who survived the lightning curtain. At the back of the room is a large console bearing rows of gems, placed in front of the Emerald Spire. The gems pulse and seem to randomly light. On each side of the room is a large sarcophagus-like structure standing, with a smaller one in the north wall. The air positively shimmers with electricity. Omok takes a step forward, but as soon as he reaches the middle of both large structures on either side, doors slide inward, revealing a brand new automaton. The automatons emerge from their coffins and attack Omok and Gerald. The sorcerer makes a run for the console with the steward's head firmly in his hands, but he is tackled by one of the automatons. At the same time, the smaller structure also opens, and another swarm of reclaimers comes out and joins the fray. Gerald and the head soon disappear under the swarm. Omok manages to flee by merging with the stone wall again and coming out on the other side.

Unaware of the drama taking place next door, Rowen comes up with the clever idea of creating a circuit to discharge the lightning curtain. He will employ bits and pieces of the destroyed automatons, and create an arch that should discharge enough electricity out of the lightning curtain to render it inoffensive.

When Omok emerges from the stone he reports to the Coopers what has happened next door. Roscoe, determined to rescue his brother, braves the lightning curtain, taking some damage. Omok joins him and casts a dispel magic to counteract Gerald's wizard lock. Inside he finds that the room is as the hobgoblin described it, minus the automatons and the reclaimers. In the middle of the room is a bleached skull with a piece of metal sticking out, the last remnants of the sorcerers. The reclaimers devoured everything else. Rowen meanwhile successfully shorts the lightning curtain, and the remaining Coopers enter the heart of this level. A lively discussion ensues as to whether Gerald should be resurrected for the second time, and eventually Roscoe decides that it would benefit the expedition to do so.

Gerald is thus brought back from the dead a second time, and he begins his third life. Confused, Gerald only remembers being attacked by the reclaimers. He doesn't know what happened to the steward. He then notices that his gear is missing. Naked, without spell, and without any equipment save for that piece of metal sticking out of his skull, Gerald enters into a rage and he rushes the console. The automatons and the reclaimer swarm emerge from their resting place and Gerald is soon engulfed again, much to the horror of his friends and family.

Fully engaged in combat, the Coopers have no time to question what just happened. Rowen uses a fly spell to cross the space above the battle and he reaches the console. Omok consults the orb of command and asks which button Rowen should push. The orb tells him to push the 57th button from the top, but because Omok did not think to ask for the proper sequence and not just the first button, Rowen is unable to shut the factory down. With combat going poorly, Thorne spikes the doors to the coffin closed, hoping that more automatons will not come out. The swarm and the automatons already in the room pursue the battle, while Rowen pushes random buttons. More automatons in the hall behind them activate and try to enter the room, but Darelle disactivates the circuit that shorted the lightning circuit and the automatons are effectively locked on the other side.

Noticing that Rowen was not attacked, Darelle realizes that by flying over the enemy she will avoid combat. She summons her blue pegasus and crosses over to the console, then sends the pegasus back to fetch each member of the party. With the automatons defeated, the Coopers find themselves on the safest side of the room. Rowen continues to push buttons, and he eventually discovers the proper sequence to turn the level's defense mechanisms off. 

Once again Roscoe resurrects Gerald. The sorcerer has now been reborn three times, and he suffers from a permanent piece of automaton sticking out of his skull. Nude and without gear, hurt, and badly needing supplies and healing, the Coopers decide to return to Fort Inevitable.

Welcome to the Rendering

Pharast 18, 4712

Following their encounter with the greater fire elemental in the forge, the Coopers decide to head back to the reception room and continue their exploration there. Thorne opens the west door and enters what appears to be a kitchen. Exotic fish and plants fill in an aquaponics area, with mechanical devices that harvest, process and deliver fresh food to the reception area. Gerald admires the machinery while the steward explains how the system works. Each water tank has a summoning device that connects it to the plane of water and when fish deplete or die new fish are summoned to replace them.

The party explores the kitchen and Daryle notices a door behind a deep layer of barricade.Why would someone have barricaded the door on this side? As the Coopers ponder the answer to this question, Rowen searched the pantry and discovers an ancient Azlanti cutlery set for 12 made of platinum. Omok asks the steward what's behind the door. The steward tells the group about the Reclaimers, a swarm of small automatons who disassemble other automatons and reclaim their parts to build newer sets.

While the party remains in the kitchen to discuss what to do about the barricaded door, Thorne returns to the reception area and searches for a secret door, but he doesn't find one. He examines the painting of the Prince, which seems to simmer and switch to a different glorious pose every few minutes. He takes it off the wall before placing by the door so he doesn't forget to take it with him on his way out. Daryle, tired of the arguments in the kitchen, joins Thorne. They decide to proceed through the forge's secret path and explore the rest of the level.

At some point, Gerald decides to return to the reception area and notices that the painting has been moved. He notices that Thorne and Daryle are missing, so he searches for them.

Meanwhile, the remaining Coopers dismantle the barricade and reach the door. Omok seizes the initiative and kicks in the door. He is immediately set upon by a swarm of reclaimers. Roscoe comes to the rescue and enters the fray. Darelle and Rowen are soon involved in this battle. While fighting they come up with a clever plan. Rowen will draw the swarm away, while the others rush through the door. Then he will become invisible and the swarm will be left in this room. They quickly execute the plan. Roscoe, Omok and Darelle find themselves in a room with a small pool of liquid metal in the middle. Rowen, meanwhile, is left invisible in the kitchen.

Omok uses his trident and measures the depth of the pool. He discovers that it is about 2 feet deep. The trident is not affected by the liquid metal, but the Coopers are wary of what may dwell in there.

On the other side of the dungeon, Thorne and Daryle open their door. They are attacked by metallic tentacles that surround a large pool of acid, and they are also set upon by a swarm of reclaimers. Gerald joins the fray and uses fireball. Swarm attacks, but eventually the three siblings are triumphant.

With the swarm defeated, the Coopers are reunited. Gerald suggests a great plan. The Coopers will lead the remaining swarm up the tunnel to invade and clear off the upper levels. They discuss the pros and cons of Gerald's plan. After a short discussion, they agree that this is the best course of action. Thorne uses his scepter to command the swarm of reclaimers into one of the storage room. For now, the swam problem has been solved.

Entering the room next to the Rendering pool, they come upon the armory. Many automatons are lined against the walls. Six automatons activate and attack. The battle goes poorly at first, but then Omok uses his ring of ram and pushes the emerald guardian into the pool of acid. The automaton sinks and disappears from view. But the battle continues ...

Finally, a relaxing level!

Pharast 17, 4712

Abernard returns home to find his house destroyed. He immediately rebuilds the house, and for most passerbys it is as if the house had never exploded. The Coopers know better, however. Gerald brings the jar that contains a live remnant of the critter that Rowen took out of him, and he fills him in about the destruction that happened to Fort Inevitable during his absence and the discovery of the massive Azlantian star gazer machine. Abernard takes furious notes. Cassandra comes to the house and invites Gerald for dinner. Gerald skillfully dodges the invitation.

Roscoe receives the bad news from the Hellknights' Exchequer that the treasury is empty. There is just enough money to either meet quarterly payroll or the Hellknight tithing share to be sent with the quarterly convoy, but not both. Roscoe summons Thorne, and the thief justifies his actions to support the town's food acquisition since the fire, but says they can borrow easily, he just need to get a few signatures. Perhaps they should also not collect taxes this month. Roscoe approves both measures. Roscoe also receives reports that food shortages are afflicting the town, and there is increasing resentment that the Hellknights are not sharing food.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Volunteer Society, a Daggermark outfit closely linked with the Assassins' Guild, approach Thorne to offer "protection" against perceived enemies in the Poisoners' Guild. After a heated conversation, Thorne agrees to pay them 1,000 crowns a month for protection.

There has been several infections afflicting the town, including influenza and typhus. The worse, though is a devil's chill, which is spreading quickly through town. Dr. Mordel is very concerned that the overcrowding in the shelters and the arrival of foreign construction crews is fueling this disease. Darelle wants to institute quarantine measures. She brings this issue to Roscoe, who in turns instructs Gerald to cast detect magic. The necromantic disease has been brought in magically but has now transformed into a regular illness and is spreading rapidly. There are 7 to 12 individuals being infected a day. Roscoe agrees to the quarantine. Darelle seeks High Mother Sarise Dremagne of the Temple of the Golden Key and she agrees to help.

Daryle visits with Karlyle the Butcher, and he reports that none of his hunters have seen or captured goblins in the last month. Karlyle the Butcher is concerned that they are plotting something. He also reports that a far ranging hunter has spotted a pair of hill giants on the edge of the Emerald Wood. Daryle reports this conversation to Roscoe. After much back and forth he decides to send a few scouts out, but does not plan on immediately dealing with this situation.

A small group of necromancers approach Rowen, and inform him they would like to worship him. They have heard of his exploit with Gerald, and they want the opportunity to learn from him. Rowen agrees to let them live in his farm.
 
Omok has been arm wrestling 37 times at the Juliver Arms. He has a match coming up with Bolgur in a few days. Thorne and him plan on rigging the match by using a ring of reflection. While there, Omok hears a rumor from one of travellers from the north who is rooming at the inn for the night: Duke Mosley was badly hurt in an battle against a demon army.

After dealing with their various issues, the Coopers gather at Gerald's house and head out to the Emerald Spire. They are ready to begin the exploration of the 12th level. After a morning trek they enter the underground tunnel and transport to the Yarrix level. They then descend the stairs. After a hundred feet they reach a large hole with a ladder going down. Thorne begins the climb down, followed by the others. The thief reaches a point where the ladder has rusted away, but it seems to pick up again about nine feet below. As everyone hangs on the ladder, a long discussion ensues among the Coopers to decide how to proceed. Gerald passes a torch down, and eventually it gets to Thorne, who drops it down on the ground. It fizzles and extinguishes. Darelle throws a coin down, and it does not hit the ground.

Thorne ties himself, then is lowered down by Roscoe. The thief stops at the ceiling of the room, and waits there. Omok throws himself off the ladder and lands in the room. He immediately notices a gelatinous cube hanging from the ceiling. The cube oozes down, and combat ensues, as more Coopers drop from the hole. Eventually they manage to destroy it. Within the remains of the cube Darelle discovers a wax statue that strangely resembles herself. Omok, for his part, finds a small golden imp. Gerald casts detect magic and discovers that neither of these objects are magical.

While the Coopers argue about their next move, Thorne takes the initiative and moves down the corridor. He finds a room that features a small but now empty pool. He moves around the room, and the bronze double doors in the southern wall open up automatically. The room beyond is cozy and warm. Thorne is greeted by the head butler, an automaton's head that sits on a table. The headwelcomes him to the tea room. The thief makes himself at home, and soon a servant automaton brings him a tea cup and come cookies.

The Coopers settle their disagreement and meander down the hall. They too arrive at the tea room, and soon the entire party is enjoying warm food and tasty drinks. Rowen switches personalities and is now lawful good. Roscoe asks the head butler if he can get a map, and the servant automaton returns with a map of four rooms. The servants don't venture outside these four rooms. They were assigned by the Patron to remain here and assist any who call, but the visitors have been few and far between over the last 10,000 years.

The Coopers tour the oasis. The rooms are dedicated to relaxation, and soon all of the Coopers are enjoying the services the automatons offer. Omok and Rowen get antsy, however, and they decide to explore some more. They enter the old alchemy kitchen, and they begin poking around. It appears something exploded in here a long time ago. They do not notice the crystal creatures hiding in one of the corners, and they are ambushed. The battle is joined and soon both Omok and Rowen are in real trouble. Roscoe, hyper vigilant as always, notices that they are missing, so he steps in the room weapons drawn. Soon all Coopers are participating in the fighting, but it takes effort on everyone's part to finally defeat them.

Noticing a crack in the kitchen's wall, Darelle discover a greater fire elemental in the other room. The elemental has been enslaved to fire the forge. Various molten metal parts are being crafted here. The Coopers bargain with the elemental that if they free him, he will help them. The elemental agrees, and as soon as it is free it returns to its plane. It considers leaving the forge helping the Coopers. With that potential enemy gone, the Coopers are ready to pursue their exploration.

If you ain't got your health ...

Pharast 4, 4712

Following their fight with Yarrix, the Coopers and their henchmen spent the night waiting for Rowen, as he surely will come out of the temporal trap. Eventually, in the early hours of what they think is the morning, Rowen returns, exhausted from all the running.

Roscoe advises the rest of the party that he will remain behind with Omok and Iomane to consecrate this space. They will remain in this room while the Coopers continue exploring. 

Entering in the next room, Thorne opens the door and discovers that the whole room itself is a giant trap designed to drop oil and ignite the room, and its occupants, when the far door is opened. Clearly it was thought that attackers would come from the east. Gerald suggests they open the door to set off the trap by hooking a rope to the door and then pulling it open. Thorne retorts it would be better to cast knock. Gerald says he has both knock and open, so he will cast a spell. Unfortunately for him, he steps back in Yarrix's sarcophagus room to protect himself and casts open, forgetting that any spell cast in the room also takes place there. The door opens, the trap triggers and the oil catches on fire. Unfortunately, Gerald is flattened not by the explosion in the next room, but by the sarcophagus' lid, which opens up and smashes him.

After the Coopers dig Gerald from under the ruined stone pieces, Darelle, Gerald and Rowen decide to go through the exploded room and check out the door they just opened. Daryle and Thorne, for their part, head back into the main room with the fountain and begin looking for secret doors, suspecting that this room should connect with the area currently being explored by the other members of the party.

Gerald discovers that the next room is a large circular hole, with hand and feet holes strategically placed around the curving wall to allow a person to carefully climb across. The sorcerer begins to move on the northern wall, but then he stirs up some type of cave birds. Gerald backs up and lets a fireball loose in the room. Stepping back into the room, they see that the birds have been vaporized. Gerald begins crossing the room again. In one of the hand holes he discovers a pair of gauntlets. As he reached to grab them, a large bebilith, unnoticed by the party, slitters from higher in the room and silently drops on the sorcerer. Her sting immediately paralyses him and he is unable to scream and let his sister and Rowen know he's being attacked. Darelle, for her part, is looking at the pit and wondering how deep it goes, while Rowen is busy examining the mechanism that triggered the trap in the other room.

While this is happening, Thorne and Daryle check for secrets doors, and the rogue finds one. Entering the room, they discover there are two mummies and an emerald automaton who engage. Upon departing the room, however, they all stop fighting and return to their positions. The Coopers devise a clever strategy to start a series of fire and are eventually able to destroy the creatures and disable the automaton.

Back in the room with the hole, the spider continues to attack Gerald who, even in his misfortune manages to hang on to the wall and the gloves as he passes out, surely due to being fully rigid. Rowen notices Gerald and the large spider munching on him, and he immediately attacks. Darelle follow Rowen and begins to help her brother. The fighting is hard, but eventually the Coopers triumph over the spider. Its corpse drops down in the pit, then drops again from the ceiling. As it continues to drop, it becomes progressively more crushed. If Gerald had fallen, he would have died. Rowen casts fly, and he gently retrieves Gerald's unconscious body from the hand holds. He sees the sorcerer clutching the gauntlets, so he retrieves them and places them in his own bag.

Thorne and Daryle follow the path and enter the pit room from the other side. They carefully cross over the pit. Daryle heals Gerald. Coming back to life, the sorcerer notices that his gauntlets are missing. Rowen and Gerald almost come to blows, but eventually Gerald recuperates the gauntlets.

Exploring the holes, Darelle finds 150 crowns as well as two emerald teeth of fine craftmanship. These teeth appear to be Azlanti in origin.

The party returns to see Roscoe. Gerald announces he's got a great plan. Having suffered a catastrophic drop in Constitution, he will kill himself and Roscoe can use the wand of resurrection to bring him back to life. Roscoe says no, he can't abide such a decision. Gerald will have to find a different solution to his problem.

The Coopers decide to return to Fort Inevitable to help Gerald recuperate. Having defeated Yarrix, the seals to the outside doors have been broken, and they are able to leave. Gerald gives Darelle the wand of shield (22 charges), and the party treks back to Fort Inevitable.


Pharast 5, 4712

After a good night's rest, the Coopers go about their various activities. Gerald meets Cassandra on the road to town and she pointedly ignores him.Thorne was successful in acquiring the devil's caravan, and he puts out the word among the upper echelons of the Hellknights that the Mistress of Thorns have failed to provide the food she promised. He also spreads the rumor that the Hellknights have failed to provide the food but he will. The plan is to borrow more money and increase taxes at tax time but food will be on the table tomorrow.

Rowen meets Dr. Mordel and discusses his current phobia.The good doctor tells him that there isn't much he can do for him, as the wizard would be better off with a mental health specialist. He will need to learn how to deal with his own issues. Darelle visit Falandra Nolm and gets news from Abernard. The old man sent her a letter recently stating he had found the rare flower he was seeking in Belfroy and he was on his way back. She also consults the book seller on the emerald teeth. Falandra tells Darelle that these are genuine, and worth much to the right collector.

Seeking a solution to his problems, Gerald visits the temple, where he is not so kindly turned away. He also visits Falandra and offers her mummy wrapping for spell components. He then hobbles to Dr. Mordel, hoping the good doctor will be able to help him. Unfortunately, Mordel also tells him he wants nothing to do with this activity. But assuming that he would participate, Mordel outlines how he would go about removing the aberration in Gerald's chest.

Armed with this knowledge, Gerald gets the wand of resurrection back and makes a deal with Rowen to meet him at the wizard's cottage where Rowen will operate on him. On his way there, Gerald runs into Cassandra again, but this time she seems happy to see him. She asks him if she can come with him, but he declines.

Gerald heads with Rowen to the latter's cottage and they go in the basement. In a very gruesome procedure, Rowen cuts a strange slimy green creature from Gerald's chest while he's still alive, then he kills him. For a few moments Rowen toys with the idea of not bringing Gerald back, but in the end he uses the wand and brings Gerald back. Now healthy again, Gerald brings the aberration to Dr. Mordel. Over the next few weeks Gerald plans on studying this creature with the good doctor.


Pharast 6, 4712

A caravan of four wagons arrive in Fort Inevitable. The simple food stuff is distributed to the starving people, but all of the best food is visibly delivered to the Citadel, per Thorne's orders. The people grumble.

Gerald presents himself at the Temple of the Golden Key to conduct a banishment ritual. He lays down on comfortable bed and for twelve hours the priestess and her disciples sing a lyrical prayer. Upon the conclusion of the ritual, Gerald's creature is banished.


Pharast 9, 4712

Daryle and Darelle get their seeds ready for the garden at Shadowborn Manor. Spring is coming any day now.

I want my mummy!

Pharast 3, 4712

Having spent the night resting in a dimensional space, the party emerges from the fortress. Gerald was unable to rest, however, so he looks haggard and was unable to recuperate his spells. Fortunately for him, there were no random encounters. With two unopened doors, the Coopers decide to head north. Daryle opens the bronze door. A blast of cold air rushes past.

The room features five sets of bunk beds, upon which are the bodies of seventeen priests wearing various religious garments. Each priest worshiped a different deity, and each one had their throat slit. Though clearly Azlanti, the priests appear as if they had just been killed. A layer of ice covers everything. Nothing that he is still without pants, Omok looks for a body with pants. He discovers that this particular priest worshiped his own deity. He takes the body into the magical room, casts a small spell and is attacked by a small fireball, which de-ices the pants.

The Coopers take a look around. Roscoe surmises that the priests in this room were executed to conduct a sordid ritual. Rowen suggests that Roscoe could use the wand of resurrection to bring back one of the good-aligned priest. Roscoe agrees that this is not a bad idea. Returning to the room now wearing pants, Omox takes another look and he discovers an amulet of spell storing on one of the dead bodies. Roscoe asks the hobgoblin to find a good-aligned priest. Omok examines each person's religious symbol carefully and he is able to identify five good deities, two neutral deities, and two evil deities. While no one is looking, he takes one of the evil priests' amulet of Nurgal. Rowen, spotting Omox, does the same thing and he grabs the amulet of Achaekek.

Using the wand of resurrection, Roscoe resurrects a female priest of Shelyn. Once she recuperates from the shock of her death and her return to life thousands of years later, she begins to speak Azlanti. Gerald understands about a third of the conversation, while Omok casts comprehend languages on himself and acts as a translater for the rest of the group. Inexplicably, Rowen also speaks a fluent, if garbled dialect of Azlanti. It's almost as if he had been taught the language by a zombie...

The priestess introduces herself as Iaome and she explains to the party that she had been kidnapped by cultists of the Shadowed Fire, and had been brought to this distant continent and to this Spire to be sacrificed so that Yarrix could be restored to her full power and break the ward that keeps her in this tomb. Clearly, the ritual had failed.

When she concludes her tale, She is healed by Omox, Gerald and Roscoe. Roscoe asks her if she would like to join them in their quest, and she replies in the positive, since the world she came from is gone and she'd rather not remain here in this tomb.

While the party remains in the cold room discussing their current predicament, Daryle moves across the main room and heads to the southern door. She listens to the door but she hears nothing. She opens the door and is greeted by a blast of fresh air. The room is a vision of hell. A sarcophagus stands in the middle of a swirling cloud of greenish gas. Gargoyles are in the wall spewing the gas, while purplish flames lick the walls and the floors. Darelle comes up behind her and slowly the rest of the party meanders over to observe this room.

After some discussion, it is agreed that Gerald should deal with this situation. The sorcerer decides that a fireball will burn the fog and deal with any presence in the room. The fog is indeed burned off, but unfortunately, the plan goes awry as the fireball enters the room. It returns to the sender, hitting him and two others behind him. Smoke arises as charred clothes falls off Gerald.

Omok uses a spell to protect himself, then he enters the room. He circles around the sarcophagus, then takes a closer look at it. Without knowing, he is transported to an alternate dimensional space. Two demons step out of the shadows and attack him. Outside the room, Darelle notices that something is wrong with Omok and he does not appear to be moving anymore. She also enters the room, but as she nears the sarcophagus she too becomes trapped in this space, and she must engage the demons.

Daryle realizes something is wrong. She tells Roscoe, but the Hellknight hesitates to enter the room as more fog has started pouring from the gargoyles' mouths again. His sister convinces him to go, so he enters the room with weapons drawn, but when he takes a look at the other two members of the party he also sees the symbol on top of the sarcophagus' lid and he is also transported to an alternate reality.

Now three of the party members appear paralyzed in front of the sarcophagus. Meanwhile, Gerald, having recovered from his own attack, uses open to throw the sarcophagus lid off. Again, however, the spell backfires when the lid flies out of the room above Omok, Roscoe and Darelle's heads and lands squarely on Gerald. With the lid open, a mummy arises from the sarcophagus. The great Yarrix joins the fight. Suddenly there are two combat situations going, with Omox, Roscoe and Darelle fighting two demons, and Daryle, Gerald, Thorne and Rowen fighting Yarrix. Upon seeing Yarrix, Rowen takes off and runs away from the room. He enters the temporal trap, and keeps on running.

For a time the demons appear to be winning, as they land successful blows while the party is unable to strike them. But the tide turns when Roscoe lands a critical hit and slays one of the demons. Helped by Omok's summoned creatures, the three of them are able to triumph over the demons and they are immediately ejected from the alternate dimensional space, only to land in a battle with the mummy.

The rest of the party have been pummeling Yarrix with attack after attack, but the mummy seems hardly damaged. Roscoe jumps on top of the sarcophagus and lands a great blow on Yarrix. Having crawled from under the sarcophagus, Gerald, still not having learned from his previous mistakes, casts close on the lid. It goes flying back to the sarcophagus. Yarrix is able to avoid it, but Roscoe gets hit and falls in just before it closes. Now Roscoe is inside!

The fight continues with each member of the party successfully attacking the mummy, but she in returns strikes several times. Eventually, a combination of blows manage to destroy the mummy. Omok rescues Roscoe from the sarcophagus. Being bloodied, the party decide to retreat back to their dimensional space, but they realize that Rowen ran away with the staff. So, they camp in the room with the statues.

Omok asks the the orb of command. his daily question: "How do I read the book without going insane." The orb tells him that he must use goggles of truth seeing.

Roscoe gives the Sword of Savith to Darelle. She now has a better weapon. Eventually, Rowen makes his way back to the party. Unfortunately, unlike the rest of them, he is not rested.