Search of Noldair - 1

Dianabis

After quite a bit of discussion, the group decides not to take Dianabis up on his offer. JL however does have a conversation with Dianabis, which may have led to a separate deal.

Bono also brokered a bet with Dianabis in the hopes of removing the Unseely Court Accord. The bet involved a game of cards, 7 Card Draw. The deal is as follows, if Bono loses, he owes Dianabis a favor without restrictions. Bono's soul would be taken if Bono fails to complete his end of the bargain. Bono checks the deck handed to him by Dianabis and finds a standard deck with 2 Jokers. Bono insists on dealing. Surprisingly, Bono wins the hand, the bet, and the group's freedom from the Unseely Court Accord.

Rondax's Shouting Day

Rondax realizes the day and begins throwing rocks at the sun. The noise wakes up something in the rubble. At first one head pokes up from the rubble, but it is quickly joined by three others, they appear to be Frogmen.

The Frogmen

Round 1 Frog 1 Hits JL, 7 dmg Frog 2 Hits Sol, 6 dmg Frog 3 Lightning Bolt, misses Sol & Bono, 20 dmg taken Frog 4 Power Word Stun Rondax Charged #4, hit 10 dmg Prentice Attempted Dispell of PWS Bono Casts Cat's Grace Tyke (Stunned) JL hit F1, 2x, 1 crit Sol hit F2, no effect Herman Missed Round 2 Frog 1 3 hits on JL, 25 dmg Frog 2 hits Sol, 15 dmg Frog 3 hits Bono, 11 dmg Frog 4 unable to escape, hits Rondax, 9 dmg Rondax 3 hits with claws, little dmg, miss w/ club Prentice determines they're bullywugs and summons an Angel Tyke (Stunned) Sol 3 hits on F3, 30 dmg after reduction Bono 2 hits on F3, 27 * 18 JL hit, little dmg Herman attempted dispell of PWS Round 3 Frog 1 3x miss of JL Frog 2 Power Word Stun on sol Frog 3 vanishes Frog 4 1 hit on Rondax for 7 dmg Rondax 2 hits on F4, some dmg Prentice Break Enchanment: Tyke(f), Sol(p) Angel 1 wing hit F1, no dmg Tyke (Stunned) Sol 3 hits on F2, 41 dmg Bono 1 hit, 17 dmg on F2 Herman misses w/ Holy symbol JL miss

Round 4 Frog 1 Casts Darkness, escapes Frog 2 1 hit on Sol, 10 dmg Frog 3 Lightning Bolt, Prentice 18 dmg Frog 4 Escapes Rondax's hold, misses Rondax Prentice Dismissal of F4, gone Angel Dispel Magic (Tyke) failed Rondax Jumps on F3 Tyke (Stunned) Sol 1 hit on F2, 22 dmg Bono Ring of Light to escape darkness, hit F3, 18 dmg, dead JL hit F1, 9 dmg Herman out of Darkness, Doom on F2 Round 5 Frog 1 Stuns JL, goes into the Darkness Frog 2 1 hit on Sol, 12 dmg Frog 3 (Dead) Frog 4 (Dismissed) Prentice Flaming Sphere Angel Dispell Attempt on Darkness, success Rondax 1 hit on F1 Tyke 21 dmg to F2 Sol 1 hit F2, 27 dmg Bono 2 hits on F1, 27, 32 dmg JL (Stunned) Herman Holy Symbol, 4 dmg Bono - AoA 29 dmg Round 6 Frog 1 Acid Pool 32 dmg, Herman, Rondax, Sol, JL, Angel Frog 2 moves away Prentice Flaming Sphere + Burning Hands Angel Lightning Bolt F1, dead Rondax kills F2

While the Angel is around, Prentice asks it's assistance in scanning the surrounding area:

• 100 yards to West is a green stone, it is home to the slaads
• Obelisk is sentient. Wants to do harm and wants to be free
• Off to West (300 yards) there is a band of 6 adventurers, 2 are wearing robes.

Slaad Lair

As the group approaches the Slaad Lair, Prentice casts Silence on Rondax. The group finds a hole blown in one side of the building. Inside they find a single Dead Fall Trap. JL makes use of his architecture skill and determines the building is off, nothing is square, nor does it make any sense.

They group uncovers a Zyvart which is a chameleon that looks like a weapon. As soon as it is identified it runs off. Bono searches the building and finds the following:

• 600 gp
• A lot of platinum
• 6 gems, 50 gp each
• eye patch with a fake sapphire eye
• gold dragon comb
• silk cloak with moonstone clasp, taken by Tyke

Tyke takes off to spy on the other group and finds it comprised of a centaur, an orc, a goblin, and three humans (2 male, 1 female).

The Cluster of 4 Buildings

The avenue leading to the four buildings is clear of rubble. Each building is 40' to a side with 40' between each building. In the center of the square is a statue, at least what remains of it. Within the square is a symbol of Serox, but no unusual stonework. Rondax spots a collapsed wall with a reddish humanoid face peering out. While the group was looking around, Tyke levitated the statue back into place.

Upper Left Building

The group takes a closer look at the building with the collapsed wall. The rubble inside has been sifted and sorted into piles. In the process, they were able to get a closer look at the creature and determine it to be a Formian.

At this point, the statue collapses once again.

Lower Right Building

The building in the lower right is 20' tall with a low domed roof and a stone door in the western wall. Bono unlocks the stone door which opens into a passageway lined with ice. Prentice steps into the building with Fire Hand active. At the end of the passage, Prentice finds a door encased in ice, which he promptly melts revealing an inscription. Upon reading the inscription, Prentice takes 25 damage from the explosive runes. Sol steps forward to force the door open into the base of a cross with each end blocked by a door.

They head left and discover the door has a glyph of warding. Sol forces this door as well into a room. The walls in this room are covered with shelves and the shelves covered with well-preserved bodies. Each has a name plate. Prentice determines this must have been an old burial site for those of the Talad religion. Bono finds a secret door behind a set of shelves. The passage off of this door leads into a big room. Sol and Bono delve deeper into the room fighting against the biting cold. The room appears to take up half the building. The three of them decide it best to keep Sol back on solid, uncovered ground while Prentice and Bono continue exploring after tying off to Sol. Bono and Prentice discover the mounds scattered throughout the room are more bodies, approximately 8 of them. They also find a sword, a shield, a wand, and a sack.

Meanwhile

JL, Tyke, Rondax and Herman remained outside the building for about 10 minutes before Rondax follows the others. He finds the body room and after a short deliberation with himself, he begins stripping the most important appearing person. Once he's gathered up the valuable looking loot, he takes it out to Tyke.

Back in the cold

Prentice frees the frozen loot. Bono takes the shield and drops it down the hole in the center of the room. The hole drops into a large cavern. When the shield hits bottom, something awakens. All three decide it best to evacuate the room, taking the freed loot as they leave. They head back into the central hall and wait a few minutes before going through the center door. It, as well as the door on the right contain the same setup, rooms filled with bodies lying in repose. In one of the two rooms, they do find a dragon offspring, a bracelet, a chain, and a long carved knife.

They also find mention of Momos, dead near 900 years from trickery. They also find the symbols of the Dragon and Infinity.

The Formians

The group is approached by Formians. The formians state that the group is not scheduled to be there. They insist the group should have communion with the Queen. The group tries to explain that Dianabis has given the group permission to be in the city. The Formians do not recognize Dianabis' authority and become upset at one of his names. The formians claim the entire city as their domain. The formians also provide the group with others in the city who may grant passage.

Auch Craught owns the broken palace at the northern end of the city.
Mishreal Gaust located to the east in the Ashen Waste.

In the meantime, the formians warn the group to tread carefully and supply the group with an ivory tablet.

To the East Then North

The group heads to the east towards a fairly large rectangular building they had seen earlier. Only now, the building is on fire and the other band of adventurers is running out. Shortly after the other group leaves the building, blue flames erupt from the windows. Despite their desire to search the building, the group continues north past Dianabis' tower. The further they procede, the more the architecture becomes monumental. They pass the eastern wall which still shows signs of the ancient explosion, covered in ash. They continue to notice signs that life has returned despite the wasted conditions.

The group begins to hear the shouts of a town cryer, faint at first but growing stronger. They tell of battles occurring all of over the ruins including those involving cryohydras and formians facing down burning skeletons. The group finally sees the town cryer, a fat squat human wearing out-dated clothes. Yet the man is a ghost, still wearing the instrument of his death, an axe protruding from his head. JL is suprised to see him active during the day. JL and Prentice both express an interest in putting the poor man's soul to rest. The group presses the cryer for more pertinent information. They are able to learn the following, the other group entered from the west near the Temple of Nartan (the burning building); Argraught is a Beholder; and Mithrigrax is a dragon at odds with the formians. The cryer also informs the group of several places within the area that may be of interest.

• Golden Serpant - ran by Reygus, is an inn that serves alchohol. The inn is located 12 blocks to the West and is identifiable by the brazen serpants framing the door.
• Inn @ Ashen Quarters borders caters to the dead
• N.E. Corner has the Silver Slipper, where dancing has been known to occur.

The Golden Serpant

The group visits the Golden Serpant and upon entering find the main room filled with a single long table over a hard packed floor. There's no bar, but a 1/2 man/serpant comes through the doors leading to the back room, armed. Identified as a Yuan-ti which may or may not have major spell-like abilities. Uncertainity due to the number of varieties that exist. He's quite happy to see paying customers for the first time in quite some while. He offers his daughters for entertainment.

Temple of Nartan

Not wishing to risk their lives sleeping in the north, the group decides to return to the Temple of Nartan after dinner. Unfortunately, they did not move quick enough for night fell before they arrived. They know they're being watched, the ruins have come to life in the darkness, and the undead have risen once again.

They make double-time for the temple and find the front door still open. The building still maintains it's aura of sanctity. The round Ante Chamber displayrs the phases of the moon. Three doors lead off of the ante chamber.The group heads left down a long narrow gallery littered with piles of dead bat-like creatures (Narkers). They find a Bathing room, still with water, and the collapsed membrane of a snake on the edge of the bath. There's hooks on the wall. Next the discover a small chapel and meditation room.

The group settles in for the night, missing the wierd energy vibe that permeates Noldair, yet the temple still remains an abandoned religious center. They can still hear the weird, other worldly, clattering sounds of Noldair. Sometime during the night, an undead approaches the window. Sol awakens JL to drive the creature away.

And Finally sunrise comes.