The Brain Behind The Army

Making their way up through the mountains towards IceThorn Castle, the group finds themselves eventually standing on the ancient courtyard ruins on the opposite side of the castle. One remaining chain, each of the links weighing several thousand pounds and almost 10 feet thick, is the only bridge to the other side.

As night settles swiftly, the cold mountain air fills with swirling snow so the group decides to make camp on this side of the chasm. Safely away from the troll filled castle on the far side. Rook takes time to cast mirage arcane upon a large swath of land so he can later contort the land as he sees fit. Katya climbs a tree near the end of the bridge and lays on the branch and watches for movement on the bridge or on the far side, though the blowing snow hampers her vision.

A Storm of Snow and Rocks
5,000 XP

When Rook is finished casting the spell he conjures a small shed to shelter him from the weather and steps inside. His peace is quickly broken by the frantic knocking on the door. Smallfang and Hope wish to enter as the freezing winds are quickly increasing outside and his shelter seems to be large enough to hold them as well. He lets them in, but conjures a door beside him, which he opens to the elements, walks out and conjures another shack, small enough for just him. Smallfang quickly closes the door and he, Hope and Rook's raven, Poe, remain inside.

The night begins to pass with only the sounds of howling winds and snow buffeting around them. But it does not last. They are all awakened by the sounds of crashing rock within the courtyard and instantly the shack that Hope and Smallfang are in disintegrates in a shower of splinters as a large boulder comes crashing through. Thankfully they are quick enough to avoid most of the rock.

Laying down across her large tree branch, Katya is knocked off her perch by another rock. She sees it flying out of the blowing snow, from the direction of the far side of the chasm, in time to avoid the worst of the damage.

Rook immediately conjure a forest of trees to provide cover. As the forest grows up around him he grabs onto a tree growing up out of the ground beside him, stepping onto a branch which lifts him high into the night sky, as he blends himself into the trunk. He looks from his vantage point across the chasm but can see nothing but blowing snow. He sends his raven, Poe, up into the night sky and across the chasm to scout for the enemy.

Smallfang runs to the chain bridge and runs across the underside, using his ring of spiderclimbing. He sends his griffon into the air and uses it to scout across the chasm. Katya runs across the bridge in one swift movement, passing Smallfang below her. She arrives at the ruins of the courtyard in front of the IceThorn castle. She can just make out, through the blinding snow, the figures of trolls moving into the castle through the front entrance.

Rook takes the form of an arrokokra and flies across the chasm to the far side.

Hope, alone now on the opposite side of the chasm from the castle decides she better stick with the group and makes her way slowly across the bridge. By the time she gets to the other side the others have lined up along the mountainside beside the entrance way to the castle. A large tunnel has been excavated through the rubble that had previously blocked the entrance.

Coaxing Trolls Out Of Hiding

Catya decides to move stealthily through the tunnel to see what the trolls on the other side are doing. She is able to walk stooped through the tunnel, keeping to the shadows. Near the end of the tunnel she sees 4 trolls each holding a massive boulder and talking about bashing any creatures that come through. Katya quietly retreats back through the tunnel. Haflway back she decides to make the sounds of a cat. Rook outside the tunnel, sees what Katya is doing and decides to produce the illusion of a cat inside the tunnel. Hopefully they can lure the trolls outside where they can be attacked.

Katya sees the large face of a troll peer into the tunnel. Its mouth turns to a mischievous grin. "I hates cats", and he throws the boulder he is holding. It barrels through the tunnel and Katya doesn't have much room to evade but she is able to avoid the worst of it. She decides this is not the right strategy. Katya retreats out of the tunnel.

Meanwhile the others begin to explore the not-so-secret entrance on the far side of the courtyard. Lirath, a late show to the expedition, turns into ethereal form and moves through the castle. He spots several trolls in various rooms and hallways. He comes back to report to the others.

Hope, deciding she can try and persuade the trolls to come out from the protection of the castle. She walks through the tunnel until she can see the trolls. She gestures repeatedly at the trolls finally getting their attention when she mimics the gesture of eating. Rook produces an image of a leg of meat in Hopes hands. As she gestures the trolls begin to crawl through the tunnel while Hope retreats always keeping some distance between her and the trolls. As she begins to step out of the tunnel the others turn their attention to Hope's attempt at drawing out the trolls.

They dont think this is a good idea.

The Return Of The Gazers
400 XP

Katya runs, blindingly fast, and rushes towards Hope. Just as the trolls hand shoots out to grab at Hope, Katya grabs her by Hope's cloak and pulls her to safety. Right behind Katya is Smallfang who lops off the arm of the troll. There is a bellow of pain and anger.

Soon the spheroid shapes that had harassed the group upon the last time they were here begin to descend down out of the blowing snow. They shoot beams of magic at the group. One of the beams hits Hope and it instills a fear so dread that she begins to run. She runs towards the secret entrance and continues to run.

While they deal with these odd creatures, Rook racks his memory for information on these odd creatures. If his memory is correct, Rook believes these are creatures born of a beholder. Born may not be the correct word. He tells the others that these creatures are brought into existence when a beholder dreams. Sometimes these dreams warp reality until the beholder's dreams of himself are made real, creating tiny versions of himself.

This means there is a beholder behind all of this.

Some of these creatures, sensing they are being overpowered, retreat back into the sky. Smallfang mounts his griffon in an attempt to give chase but the blowing snow makes it difficult. He eventually comes across several holes dug into the sides of the mountain. Very spherical holes about the shape of the creatures that were attacking them. He peers down one of the tubes but after a number of feet it turns sharply and he cannot see further in.

He returns to the ground to tell the others.

Lirath, meanwhile, has gone to see if he can help Hope who has fled into the castle. He turns into ethereal form and moves through the secret entrance.

Finding Two Prisoners
2,000 XP

Hope running through the secret entrance and eventually finds herself in a long hallway. She moves down until she approaches a door, her fear slowly dissipating. She opens the door and finds Tithe, the kidnapped cleric. As Hope approaches Tithe, she notices a deformed creature laying in a cot on the other side of the room. Hope prepares to attack but Tithe stops her. This is Jabir and he is the reason she is still alive. He has been keeping her safe. He refuses to aid Thech unless Tithe is unharmed. It would seem Jabir still holds on to the dream that he too can someday become a hero.

Hope uses that and tries to convince Jabir that she can help him. She can get him inducted into the Order Of The Obsidian Dagger. He need only to prove himself by helping them get out of the castle with Tithe. Jabir seems conflicted.

It would seem that Lirath, unseen to the group, is messing with Jabir's mind and trying to convince him of just the opposite.

Hope's charming ability eventually wins out. Jabir agrees to help them all escape. Jabir, using his numerous vines that are growing out of his body to grab on to walls and ceiling to pull himself along, with more than a little difficulty, towards the door. He opens the door and stands in the hallway.

Voices of other trolls are raised in surprise and they see Jabir, who obviously does not come out of his room very often. They question Jabir with a mixture of concern, reverence and shock. Jabir talks to them while gesturing to Hope and Tithe that they should use his body as cover and move down the hallway towards the secret entrance. He continues to distract the other trolls as the group moves down the hall.

Thech Makes AnAppearance  (Sort of )

Suddenly there is another voice in the hallway. This voice is sharp and quite alien sounding. This must be Thech. It is reprimanding Jabir for being out of his room. It then changes its voice to a mockery of a stern parental voice, telling Jabir he must return to his quarters and that he is not well. Jabir begins to mutter excuses but the group can tell it is not going well.

Hope conjures a portal and pulls Tithe through with her, escaping to the outside of the castle standing beside the others. The light from the portal though alerts Thech and as Lirath begins to pull the weave with his psionic mind the finds the magic is gone.



Lirath's last thoughts are, "Oh....right.", before another ray of magic is blasted towards him. He cannot move as he feels the entirety of his body turning to stone.

The group outside waits for everyone to be accounted for before making their plans.

They continue to wait.