Attending:
Tom, Grant, Dave, Sean, Kyle and Leigh

Surviving a vicious attack by a group of 50 or more wolves, who seemed to be acting odd for wolves as they came into camp at night towards the fires and attacking with less tactics and more ferocity than they are known for.  Now, two paths lay before the group:  the crazed wolves who moved west or the search for the truth of Arkham and Candace and the Ogre Grim Jack who resided at an old Wizards Tower near the village.  Deciding that the boy's family should be informed and having accepted his request for help, they moved west to the town of Pear Grove half a days journey.

Following the path that the Boy Arkham had given us we went towards the town and saw a sleepy, quiet village that had no guards, and very little to offer.  Children played in the street in a carefree manner as we entered and the town did little to engage us, so Rolan, spoke first to an old woman who had much disdain for our mixed group seeing us only as a bunch of adventurers who did nothing but bring trouble to their village and seek out fortunes at the wizards tower.  Learning little about who the boy's family was from her we saw a man who was tending some pigs all covered in filth, the man that is, he did little else except tell us where the boys family was and that the girl Candace was better suited to him, as he wiped off his brow leaving a trail of filth.  The conversation almost ended badly as Nadarresh awkwardly asked about the girls family and the man, taking offense chased us off with a pitch fork in hand.  Not wanting to cause trouble we moved to the farm where the boy's family was supposed to be located.

After the mishap in the village, Rolan volunteered to speak alone to the boy's family and tell of his demise.  The man seemed to think he was someone else then quickly continued onwards asking who Rolan was and why he was there.  He was not too surprised that the boy was dead but did not even confirm that he was his family.  The man did not say much more about Candace either and we decided to move on to the Wizards tower.

As we approached the tower we noticed a lean to next the base of the tower.  It was determined it had been three or four days since anyone had been there and upon further discovery we found an opening that was underneath flagstones recently unearthed and a shaft that lead straight down.  Checking the structure was sound Nadarresh tied off a rope and it was agreed he would go down first, check and then call to the others to join him.  Dayereth would follow, Arendis would cover us from above with his bow.  Rolan and Luke would cover the top of the shaft to make sure no one could attack us from above as there were remains of a rope that was broken off.  The others looked at Nadarresh not seeing how one so big was the best to go down quickly and quietly but he did exactly that.

Scanning the room quickly, he found a small round room, with a pool of liquid in a center area and a door on the opposite side where the shaft ended.  He called for Dayereth to come down and then for the torch he lit to be dropped as well.  Dayereth used some of his magic to make one of Nadarresh's swords give off light and did the same to his own sword.  Arendis came down next as did Rolan with Luke covering the top of the shaft as we shouted out what was down here.  Small rat bones littered the right side of the room and some eviscerated parts of a very large humanoid were near the rat bones.  The center pool of liquid was used for a very powerful ritual magic and another odd goo like substance was on the left side, that moved when the mage used a magical hand to prod at it.  Suddenly as Dayereth moved close to the goo as we were heading to the far side door, the goo jumped up and attacked us.  Nadarresh standing next to the shaft relaying what the party had discovered to Luke seeing the goo attack, shouted for him to, "Get down here now!"

Using his magic, Dayereth teleported across the room as the goo just barely missed him.  Nadaresh stepped forward up to where Rolan was standing near the goo, just out of reach, dropping the torch as he drew his other sword.  Arendis went to fire an arrow but he unluckily snapped his bowstring and then Rolan stepped forward swinging at the goo with little effect and in turn he was attacked by the goo and was visibly weakened by its touch.  Luke landed at the bottom of the shaft determining what was happening as Dayereth casts a cloud of daggers spell at the goo with little effect and then shouted to us to burn it!  The goo attacked again, now attaching itself to Nadarresh and then Luke charged into the fray, striking the creature as Dayereth again casts more spells at it damaging it more.  Nadarresh then dropped his sword and grabbing the torch now attacked the creature hitting with his sword but missing with the torch and to the groups surprise breathed lightning at the creature.  The goo still moved but Nadarresh attacked again and hitting with both weapons it released them and was finally no more.

Resting briefly the group moved to the door and as the door handle was grasped the four braziers came to life and the door opened into a narrow hallway filled shin high with the same rat bones.  Before taking more than a few steps the bones started moving and using his magical hand swept away some of the bones revealing more than a dozen skeletal rats.  Arendis fired off an arrow taking out one and then Luke charged forward taking down some of their number as well.  Nadarresh stepped forward and breathed lightning again killing several and then Rolan and the others were able to quickly finish off the rest in what seemed to no time at all.

As the last of the skeletons were destroyed the door at the end of the hall opened up into the room and revealed a skeletal Ogre with a dagger in hand standing over Candace who was chained to an alter.  Grim Jacks Skeleton drove the blade into her chest killing her as tendrils of energy rose up and a misty form rose from the dais above the alter shouting it would live again and how pleased it was at the Ogre for bringing more sacrifices.  The horror of the thing made Nadarresh move quickly forward just barely into the room as the others made their way behind him finding the bones difficult to move through.

Grim Jack moved forward and stabbed down at Nadarresh ripping into his chest seemingly tearing parts of his soul with the strike, causing him much pain.  Arendis fires off an arrow hitting the bones as Rolan comes to stand by Nadarresh's side in the doorway.  The mist like Wizard fires off some type of energy hitting some of the party but they press onward.  Dayereth casts spells that hit the skeleton from behind repeatedly as Rolan and Nadarresh begin their assault.  Knowing how powerful the Ogre and Wizard combined are Nadarresh hearing Luke coming out from behind and shouting to move out of the way, attacks by unleashing his breath lightning and then hitting the Ogre as many times as he can shifting past it he finally drops the Ogre who drops the dagger.  His victory is bittersweet as the skeleton explodes knocking Nadarresh unconscious.  Luke seeing him fall drives forward taking a place near the doorway attacks with full fury as well.


The Wizard has now come down from the dais to unleash a powerful spell that actually pushes back three of the party but the group seeing their comrade down push forward Dayereth casting spells hurting the wizard and earning its ire.  As Luke and Arendis attack it Rolan heals Nadarresh bringing him conscious again but still on the floor from the explosion.  Just before rising he sees an awful sight of the wizards mouth extending beyond belief wider and horrid with tendrils of energy wriggling shoving back some of the party again who are all in the fray trying to dispatch this powerful opponent.  Each hit of theirs brings him closer to death until finally Arendis focuses his aim hitting the Wizard with a flurry of arrows each finding their mark in turn sending the wizard reeling and with a few lucky blows later the Wizard is taken down by another flurry of sword blows, finally disappearing into nothing his lifeforce or energy going into the dagger.

The battle won, Nadarresh drops down to his knees in exhaustion as the rest of the group likewise is glad to be rid of the wizard.  Dayereth sensing the dagger being dangerous quickly examines the dagger with a cloth around it, careful not to touch it and then puts it away.  He then moves to inspect the alter and the rest of the room as do the companions.  Nadarresh finding no wayout besides the shaft says he wants to take the body up to the family but a quick reminder from Luke he decides he should at least bury the body after confirming with Dayereth that the body will not come back to life.  They all move back through the rooms after carefully searching them and make their way outside...