(Beginning of the Saga of the Dragon Orb)

N16 This phase of the campaign opened in the Ruined Dwarven Stronghold of "Kat-Lund". The party consisted of a small group of Drow mercenaries and a pair of Minotaurs intent on plundering the Dwarven ruin. Tanner, the only survivor of the previous campaign phase, meets the party as it enters the ruin's ancient library, seeking information on another Dwarven Ruin, "The Dearth." (extra points if you get the joke)

The Dearth is believed to be the final resting place of an ancient artifact known as the Nasthicus, which is rumored to hold the power to turn back the demonic horde threatening the Realms.

While exploring the library, the party encounters a stranger who identifies himself only as "The Oc". The Oc forces the party to part with informaiton that could lead to the location of the Dearth and escapes the ruin. The party vows revenge and determines to seek out the Nasthicus somewhere in the Galena Mountains.

N17-19 While the Party continues research in the Dwarven Stronghold, Sam and Darryl have visions from their gods ordering them to seek out the Nasthicus. While the party prepares to leave the ruin, it unexpectedly encounters a Wood Elf. The wood elf does not attack, but warns the party not to get involved and quickly leaves. Party treks south to a shrine of Selune. At the shrine, the party meets Fallstaff, a grizzled priest, and his friendly alcoholic owl, Fezzik. Falstaff agrees to assist the unlkely heroes and helps the group Dimension Fold to another Shine of Selune in Bloodstone Pass.

N 20 Party arrives at the shrine in the middle of a blizzard. The party wanders for many hours before finding shelter within a ring of obelisks. The ring seems magicly protected from the weather, so the party settles down for rest and planning. Unfortunately, Jeremy's character decides to steal a shiny stone from the middle of the shrine. His unfortunate action results in attracting the notice of a small White Dragon, who dives in and snatches him away. Mann cleverly escapes the dragon only to land in front of a nearby Dwarven Patrol. Naturally suspicious and hateful of Drow, the patrol decides to attack Mann despite his protests. Mann responds with a few well-placed spells. The patrol flees after much spell-hurling. Meanwhile, the party continues to fight the dragon and is buried in avalanche. Only through the combined teamwork and efforts do they escape. Moreover, they also succeed in killing the Dragon. The party then moves towards Hillsafar Hall and encounters Mann's Dwarven Patrol. They quickly explain their presence and convince the dwarves not to attack. They are taken prisoner for questioning by the lord of the hall, and Mann returns to the Party. The party's Minotaurs try to escape and are killed. After meeting the Dwarven king, the party is sent, along with guides, to go to the Dearth and explore same.

N 21 The party dimension folds to Ironspur where the Dearth is located. (The DM begins to really hate that spell) At the gates of Ironspur, the party encounters a Priest of Ghaunadaur supported by 30 dwarven zombies and 12 goblins on dire wolves. A battle follows where the priest unleashes a devastating weapon. The priest's flail turns out to have a fragile ceramic head that contains a black pudding. Rich's character is greviously wounded. During the battle, Falstaff arrives and assists in turning the undead horde. As the group enters Ironspur, they are met by the many ghosts of the Dwarves that used to occupy the hold. It seems that something had recently invaded and slaughtered the inhabitants. During further exploration, the group encounters a goblin patrol and quickly defeat them.

N22 Party explores the Dwarven Stronghold and reach the Dearth. in order to enter, they must pass a number of tests. (Yes, I ripped off Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade for this one...) The party is attacked during their attempts and Tummy's character Emannil disappears after battling a dark knight named Kallannar. Mann’s character, a priestess of Selune, is killed while trying to circumvent one of the temple immortal guardians.

(Enter bulette death here)

The party is able to pass the final test of faith when Sam's priest uses his holy symbol to walk across the river of earth. However, when they finally reach the holding place for Nasthicus, they discover that they are too late. The Oc had reached the relic before them and escaped with it. Fallstaff dimension folds the group back to Bloodstone Village.

N23 The party meets Gareth Dragonsbane. A priest of Selune (Hemlock) and a Paladin of Selune (Cummings) join the party. Falstaff gives gifts of magic to the party to aid them in tracking down The Oc and the Nasthicus. Tummy's Drow character gets in a fight with Dragonsbane is banished from the hall. His character tries to link up with a local theive's guild that turns out to be a clandestine group of wererats. Tummy gets eaten. (Drow, it's what's for dinner...)

N24 The party learns that the armies of darkness have once again descended down from the Galena Mountains. They agree to help in the defence of Bloodstone and departs an escort of 20 paladins of Selune to scout for enemy. throughout the night, their position is probed by goblin wolf-scouts.

N25 The party returns to the village after many small battles to rest. Fallstaff returns, joined by Mann's new character (an assasin) and two Wood-Elf Blade-Singers (Tummy and Jascott). Mann and Tummy gather evidence that Gareth Dragonsbane has had an affair and is suspects that he is a fallen paladin. (Dragonsbane is really already dead and was replaced by and agent of the Oc).

N26 After another scouting endeavor, the party returns to Bloodstone only to find it replaced by a wasteland of shadows. (The Oc used the power of the Nasthicus to dimension-shift it and exchange it with a portion of the Plane of Shadow). A ranger of Meilikki joins the party. The party learns that the Oc is working out of the underdark and decides to search for him there. While searching for an entrance to the caverns of Blindnflind, two party members (Tummy and Mann) turn on the rest of the party in an act of vile treachery. The two villains unleash a devastating spell-barrage and kill off all of the paladins except for Cummings and Hemlock. Despite their efforts, the traitors are slain. The party suspects that they were agents of the Oc, but are not able to confirm.

When they reach the gnomish city of Blindinflind, the pary finds it under siege by the Drow of Beatezzri. While aiding in the defense, a powerful Baetezzu (Pit Fiend) attacks the party and wounds Matt’s character, infecting him with an extra-planar disease known as "The Pox.

N27 Party scouts no-man's land with gnomish patrol escort in order to try to find the Drow main body, while fighting beholders, drow and duergar scouts.

N28 Falstaff sends reinforcements. Group is joined by an ogre (Hudley), a warlock (Rapp), a warrior/bard (Anderson), a dwarven spider-rider (Tummy), and another ranger of Meilikki (Young). After consolidation and rest, the group aattacks a duergar company of spider-riders. A massive battle ensues in which the druergar suffer heavy casualties adn retreat. Rubric (a Cambion emmissary of Graz'zt) suddenly teleports in while chasing a planar mage (Mann) from Sigil. Rubric offers to "help" the party to cure Matt's character.

N29 The party agrees to follows Rubric but is tricked into traveling through his gate into the Abyss! Bert’s character stays behind by himself. All alone against an army of Drow, Bert's character scouts out the enemy forces and actually battles the Oc after using spells to disrupting the Drow main body. (Enter gaming moment here) Meanwhile, in the Abyss, Graz'zt offers to cure those members of the party who have the Pox in their system. Matt accepts, unwittingly selling a part of his soul in the process. (I think he actually wanted to sell his soul, he just won't admit it...)

(I love my job...)

N30- Party returns to Bert and tries to flee the Underdark. The Oc pursues with a host of his forces. Tummy’s character is captured by drow. Sam's character teleports the rest of the party to Halruaa, where he petitions the Temple of Azuth there for help. Tummy's character is meanwhile tortured visciously for information. Falstaff reveals himself to be Tamarand, the Gold Dragon of Bloodstone Pass. The party also learns that the Nasthicus is one of the Orbs of Dragonkind, hidden with the Dwarves to protect the world. The wizard-priests of Halruaa agree to sponsors the party to go to Chult to try to retrieve another known relic, the Green Orb of Dragonkind.

Hammer (January)

H1 Party arrives in Chult seeking the stronghold of a Yuan-Ti lord. Bert's character creates a Treant to help the party travel through the swamp. this turns out to be less than sneaky. Later in the evening, the party enters the temple of the Yuan-Ti and begins to explore the seemingly abandoned ruin. While exploring the turret of one of the palace's corner towers, they are ambushed by carnivorous plants. The plants are quickly joined by a number of other plant monsters and a Clay Golem. Rich’s character is sorely wounded byt he golem and is evacuated to Halruaa for healing. In the night, Crimson Mists arrive to harass the party. The party survives, but is ambushed later by Yuan-Ti and a pair of young Green Dragons. Another one of Mann’s characters dies.

More coming soon!