So Many Planes

The adventurers have escaped being stranded in the astral plane. They move through the library, now in tatters, in silence. Rook seems especially off. As he moves through the library he seems to look for something but is unable to find anything, since the book have most of their knowledge and power removed by the arcane entity which they have just defeated.

The Evil Eye

Smallfang sensing something is wrong with Rook casts detect evil and sees that the eye that Rook has inserted into his eye socket, replacing his own, glows brightly evil and tendrils of evil now are spreading around it into the rest of Rook.

Something nags at Rook and he immediately leaves the keep. The others, now knowing the Eye of Falazure is making him evil, pursue but Rook takes form of aarakocra and takes to the sky. Katya quickly takes to the street weaving and dodging her way through the crowds eventually taking to the rooftops in pursuit. Smallfang strides right through the crowd and his intimidating demeanor parts the crowd in front of him, a wave a awe proceeds him. Hope and Lirath shrug and follow as best they can.

The City Library....or....If It Burns, We Burn It

Rook flies until he finds the city's public library. A large stone two story building in the middle of a large courtyard. He enters the library, a quiet sanctuary of learning. A few scribes attend to their duties while metal automatons go about their business of sorting and filing books upon the shelves. He shouts to the nearest scribe. "Where are the books regarding Venca?". The young boy stammers in fear and flees. But the boy is not fast enough for a magic missle. As the magic bolts hit him in the back he is flung to the floor dead. A female human scribe who witnessed Rook's cruelty tells Rook that they are restricted books and are locked away in the offices. Rook kills her with a fireball, setting fire to the bookshelves.

As the others finally arrive at the library they are blocked by a large stone slab which fills the doorway, thanks to Rook's illusion made real. Smallfang strides up to the library casting detect evil looking for Rook. He doesn't spot rook but sees a well dressed gentleman giving coins of silver and copper to poor children glows brightly evil. Smallfang, intolerant of evil, grabs the man and carries him along with him towards the library and then up upon the ledge of the second level. Looking down into the library through the windows he sees a large fireball flare up and begin to burn the bookshelves.

Hope casts disintegrate upon the stone slab blocking the door and walks through, followed by Lirath and Katya. They all soon begin to chase after Rook while Rook lobs firespell after firespell in his wake, the library now turning into a blaze. They chase Rook until he dives into the far office, after using his vision to see a hidden room below the office with books behind iron chains.

Rooklandia

Rook pulls back the rug in the middle of the room to expose the hidden door to the room below. Dropping down Rook looks for and finds the book regarding Vecna that he has come for. He then pulls from his satchel, the rod of security and gives it a twist. The runes that run its length align and glow with energy. Rook is transported into a lush world alive with people and vegetation. Mountains in the distance are bordered by a large ocean. Pasture land surrounds a large castle. People greet Rook with enthusiasm and love as he strides towards his castle.

Rook spends the next few months in this land catered and loved by the people of this land. They realize they live only at the whim of Rook. For as soon as he leaves, they will cease to exist. He earns the love and respect of a select few, especially Leroy the young boy who attends him, by giving them a name. He uses his time to learn and transcribe spell after spell into his own spellbook and reads the book he has taken from the library regarding Vecna learning all he can about the man who became a god. As well as taking care of and talking to his copper dragon's egg which he places upon the shore of this world's ocean, trying to incubate it.

A Dragon Is Born and The World Dies
2,000 XP

One day nearly at the end of his stay, Rook is by the ocean's shore and hears the egg begin to crack. With care he aids the young dragon from the egg and together the spend the last few days in this world, the dragon learning all he can from the world and from Rook. It is a quick learner and is not absolutely trusting of Rook's intentions.

Then when his days are done within the sanctuary world of the rod, Rook gathers the population with his courtyard. He tells them that they all have souls and will be taken, upon their deaths, to the Raven Queen. Most are enraptured, arms raised in praise to both Rook and The Raven Queen as the world around them quickly begins to dissolve. At the end many weep for the lives they no longer will have and among it all stands Rook impassively, with his boy companion, Leroy who looks up to him at the last moment with the unfinished question upon his lips, "Will I really...."

Then he is back in the hidden room with the young dragon.

The others are there lying in wait. It has only been moments that Rook has been gone. Not even a mere breath has occurred in his absence. They surround him and Smallfang is able to pounce and grab hold of him. But after talking they tell him they know something is wrong and they only wish to help him.

He convinces them that he is simply looking to return the eye to it's rightful owner.

With that they agree to travel with him to where Vecna, a great mage and now god, was last known to be. But first they must travel to his own plane of Eberron. They agree.

Into Eberron
5,000 XP (just 'cause it was so much fun)

Rook, a changling, hails from the world of Eberron. A world from a different plane within the material world. He is able to fashion a tuning fork, with the frequency of his world as an illusion and then when it is just right, Rook turns it real. When he strikes it, the hum is different to that of the last tuning fork he made and the world disappears in a glow of white. When the glow fades, they stand in the midst of a bustling city.

This world is drastically different from the world the others are familiar with. The city and its population is a mixture of technology and magic. The darkening sky of the approaching night is filled with the neon glow of lights and the arcane flashes of magic in the shops. They travel via a monorail train which hovers above a track of smooth rock. The populace of the train is a mixture of all races. None minding much the ratag look of the outworlders.

As the train moves through the city of Sharn, the train's passengers dwindle at each stop until there is only the most rough and disreputable collection of individuals. The announcements through the cabins of the train change in tone. The disembodied voice warns the passengers that this will be the last stop before entering the lower city. The warning repeats ominously and the group makes their way to the exit.

Lirath approaches one, who has many cybernetic implants. Lirath asks where one may obtain such a fabulous eye of technology such as his. The large man pulls back a mechanical arm which makes a whining whir increasing in pitch as it stores energy until at its peak the man unleashes it against Lirath's face. Nose crooked and bleeding, Lirath makes his apologies and the group exits the train.

The Super-8 Of Sharn

Rook, escorts the group to a building much like an inn but made entire of smooth stone and metal. Inside an unattended multi-barrelled weapon scans the room and the group goes to the counter to obtain rooms. They are given tags which must be prominently worn, lest the gattling gun take them for solicitors or loiterers.

They take shelter in their room while Smallfang pushes one of the large beds up against the door. This world is interesting but not very inviting.

In the morning, the group gathers in the center of the room and Rook again performs the planeshift spell and concentrates of the place where he has read that the worshipers of Vecan made their last stand, Tovag Baragu. They are transported back into the world of Faerun.

Tovag Baragu

They stand among a circle of towering towers of rock forming archways. The group moves about them and soon enough they discover runes running the length of the tall pillars of rock. After examining them and pushing arcane energy into them the group discovers that they can activate them. It would seem that they have not been in use for centuries if not for millenia. The grounds appear to have been the site of some ancient battle.

Perhaps the archways were a means of escape or a perhaps a trap.

They activate one portal at a time after which they deactivate them by disturbing the runes.
Smallfang takes lead entering each archway as it is activated.

In the one he enters a world under water. He finds and swims to the surface but has to race back to the portal when several sahuagin give chase. Another portal leads to a world filled with floating farmland tended by orcs. And one is a world filled with a world whose time is vastly faster than this world. Seasons, decades, centuries perhaps pass in a matter of moments.

The archway portals are a maze of planes. Which way to go?

The Library Of The Arcane Entity

The group stands around the magic pool of resurrection which has been fouled by some dark magic long ago. Rook decides he will use his magic, as strong as he is able to muster to try and dispel the magic that lies within it. Rook reaches into the weave and pulls at the magic within the pool. The sickly green glow from deep within the pool, which seems to arise from hundreds of feet down slowly fades. Soon enough the pool lies quiet and unremarkable. It now is only a shallow pool of only about a foot deep.

The Eye of Falazure In The Wrong Hands

As the group decides the course of their next action, Rook retreats slightly down the long hallway to look at his new treasure. It seems to call to him. He pulls it from his bag of holding and looks at it. It is a large black sphere, with only the hint of a orange glow in the shape of a oval iris surrounding a thin pupil, deep within.

The groups discussion is halted as some of them hear grunts and groans of pain from Rook's direction. They only see Rook's back as he is hunched over with his hands to his face. Smallfang approaches and turns Rook to face everyone. It is then the group can see what Rook is doing. He is clawing his own right eye out of its socket. He holds his eyeball still attached by the thin string of optical nerve still connecting the eye to its socket. They stare in horror as the sinew is snapped and the eye detaches. It is then they realize what Rook is doing. With his other hand Rook holds the Eye Of Falazure.

Smallfang tries to grab for the eye before Rook can do the unthinkable. But Rook is too fast. He slips the large orb, which shrinks as it approaches it's new home. With a pop, the Eye of Falazure has repleaced Rooks old eye. The group stands back as Rook acclimatizes to his new eye. It spins around in it's socket seeming to look in all directions. Rook's vision eventually, coalesces into a new type of vision. He can see with truevision as well as he can see through thin wood and rock walls. The x-ray vision is disturbing at first but he soon comes to enjoy it as he gazes at the group.

Rook also feels an ancient magic grow and begin to spread from the eye into his being. The eye grants him incredible magics. But as he feels the magic begin to spread through him, so does the influence spread to his mind. Rook might have been a little reckless before being tempered only by some moral vagueness of trying to to be evil. This moral compass is now gone.

Confused by the new events, the group flounders for only a bit until they realize they should return Tithe, one of the Order's clerics, back to Baldur's Gate and their keep. Abigail Alebottom, agrees to accompany them. Anywhere is better than here. She is keen to see what has become of the world.

As they make their way back, they soon realize that they have forgotten to take care of the horses and wagon that they used to get here. It will be a long walk back for some.

The Return Of Tithe To The Keep
1,000 XP

Finally, they arrive back in Baldur's Gate and as they enter the keep of the Order Of The Obsidian Dagger, they are met with cheers as they see the group return with the much beloved Tithe. It takes a bit of convincing from Hope, the bard, that the group really deserves a hero's welcome for this mission and soon the group is receiving hugs and slaps on the back. All except, Lirath, who many still fear and loath for his part in Tithe's abduction.

The group, wanting to maintain their status of returned heroes, decide to escort Tithe back to her quarters, before Lirath can make anymore ill thought out actions that may cause a disturbance. Once Tithe is back in her quarters, Hope closes the door and as the group stands in the hallway outside the clerics door. Hope decides to inscribe a glyph of warding upon Tithe's door so that no harm may come to her. But just as she is pulling at the weave to push magic into her newly inscribed glyph, the magic slips awkwardly from her and she feels herself change. She no longer hears or sees or feels quite the same.

The others see after the flash of light fades, instead of Hope standing at the door they see a small potted plant sitting on the stone tile of the floor. The group stares at each other in horror. That's right. Magic cast in the keep has been off, to say the least. Now what?

Rook with a sly smile casts speak in tongues to converse with Abigail, the half-orc. The magic cast goes awry and a blast hits everyone in the hallway, including the potted plant, that is Hope. The pot shatters and the plant lies shriveled and dead upon the stone tiles. It then transforms back into the unconscious form of Hope. Smallfang uses his god given power to heal her.

The group moves out of the keep into the courtyard in hopes of escaping the wild magic surges that occur within the keep. Again, Rook casts the spell again, and again he feels the spell slipping as he casts it. Rook feels the energy building up. It will cause him harm if he holds it, so he looks around and sees Lirath. Rook releases all of the energy, in the form of lightning, and casts it at Lirath. With bright flash of arc lightning and the sound of thunder, Lirath lies dead upon the ground.

When the dust settles and the smell of ozone in the air dissipates, Smallfang approaches Lirath's body and heals the elf.

Exploring The Library

Realizing that whatever has affected the weave of magic within the Order's keep has grown, the group questions a few of the Order's members and find that the problem had started off in the lower levels, where the library is housed. It started off with members seeing odd sights out of the corner of their eyes, the arcanic lights flickering and  disturbing sounds It progressed to the point where people went missing and now no one will venture into the library.

Rook sends an illusion of himself down into the library. He is able to see the library in shambles with many books tossed upon the floor. He hears voices and moves towards them. He is able to see with  his newly acquired eye through the thin walls of the library. Moving about the shelves of the next room are two fox-like creatures dressed in robes and wearing eyeglasses on the ends of their long noses. The two arcanaloths go methodically through the bookshelves seeming to be looking for knowledge and magic they can pilfer. They discuss their findings with each other until they look up and seemingly through the shelves and the walls to wear the illusion of Rook stands. Their conversation halts for only a moment and then they discuss the qualities of Rook's illusion. They think it is a fair illusion, not entirely without some skill. Passable.

Rook deems it time to return upstairs to the others and let them know what's going on.

Arcanaloths In The Library
2,000 XP

The group gathers together and decides that this disturbance in the weave cannot be left to grow as it has done in the past few weeks. More than a few of them discuss the problem of not being able to reliably cast spells down there but eventually the group descends the stairs into the library. The library is dark with sputtering arcanic lights and random tears in the fabric of the plane appear and disappear. Some tears large enough to fall through some small enough just to be able to see through. On the other side seems to be a dark, star and mist filled infinite sky.

Rook tells them the room where he has spotted the arcanaloths. They move into the room and as they move along the massive bookshelves, several of the group encounter the arcanoloths. Hope tried to talk to the aranaloths in hopes she can find out what is going on. Who are they? What are they doing here? Are they responsible for what is happening to the weave here?

Hope finds out that the arcanaloths have come, attracted by the large collection of knowledge and magic items housed here, when they sensed a tear through the plane which they could cross into. They seek to collect up the knowledge before it is sucked away. They are definitely not responsible for what is going on in their world.

An Odd Current

Katya, meanwhile is fascinated by the slight current of air which seems to be pulling in everything in a particular direction. She spends her time making observations by dropping various items of differing weight and making notes on the results. While she pulls a book of the shelf as a source of a piece of paper to observe, she sees that most of the books words and letters are being pulled off the page. Some of them in a jumbled mess along the sides of the pages. Eventually she discovers that all things, including the words on all of the books are being pulled in one particular direction....deeper into the library.

As Katya tells this to the group, Smallfang has Katya point out which direction everything is being pulled towards, and he strides in that direction. Coming to a pair of large doors, Smallfang whips them open and the current of air pulling everything increases dramatically. The group moves hesitantly through with Smallfang in the lead. The weave casters hang back trying to avoid using their magic.

The rooms architecture flows from that of the library into unfamiliar rough rock as the two planes begin to blend together.

The Shabti Librarians
7,800 XP

They are soon blocked by several stone statues. They are olive colored statues in the form of humans wearing loin cloths and wearing jewelry around their necks and arms. They tell the group that they may proceed if they intend to give all of their magic and knowledge to Azim, the All Knowing and All Seeking. The group is not so sure they are willing. So they, one by one, take on the statues. The statues retaliate and throw down their arm jewelry, which quickly transform into massive snakes which attack.

Soon the room is quiet again, with only the sound of rushing air flowing deeper yet into the library.

They walk deeper into the library. They find themselves in a vast chamber with a large glowing orb floating in the middle. It is sucking all of the energy, knowledge and just about everything else into itself. Smallfang approaches it and inspects the object.

Smallfang sees a form, a human form, within. It looks to be Azim, the great grand nephew of the great mage Armakan Amun-Ra. The Order had some time ago sent a group to help Azim regain access to the Soul Spire, the tower of the assumed late-Armakan Amun Ra. Pieces of imagery flash through Smallfang's mind. He sees Azim being sent away from the Soul Spire by the not-dead-at-all Armakan. Azim blamed The Order and set out for revenge. He sold his soul to an old gnome woman who's magic shop appears whenever and wherever she wishes.

Azim and The Arcane Entity
2,900 XP

Smallfang now sees through Azim's eyes. He has acquired great power and knowledge but know faces death several times a day. He has sold his soul and assumed he would have a lifetime of being able to gain knowledge and power enough to fend of the old gnome woman but it would seem she now is trying to kill him constantly. "Accidents" constantly befall him and he is surrounded by chaos which threatens him at every move. In desperation, he peforms a spell ritual he is not prepared for and is turned into this arcane entity. It's only purpose, that of which was foremost in Azim's mind at the time of his death.

Acquire knowledge and power...and seek revenge on The Order.

The arcane entity releases barrage after barrage of magic missle-like attacks and tentacles of arcane energy. The group has to contend with it's power attacks as well as the growing rips in the fabric of this material plane. When the arcane entity is finally defeated and Azim's soul is released, assuredly to be claimed by the old gnome woman.

Now with the arcane entity defeated, the rifts begin to tear wide open. Each of the group begins to fall through the tears and begin falling through a dark star filled sky. As they oddly land upon a rocky ground, they are disoriented and have trouble finding which way is up. Moving is an odd combination of moving their limbs and willing themselves forward.

The Astral Plane and the Mysterious Starcallers

At one point everyone is pulled through and they witness several robed creatures floating towards the largest tear in the plane. Orbs of energy orbit around the creatures heads as they converge upon a tear. Lirath approaches one and attacks it. It shrugs off the attack as one would fend off an annoying insect. It hits back hard and tells Lirath to leave them to their work of healing the universe. The rest of the group leaves them alone.

But with the tears quickly being healed and closed off they decided they need to get back to their material plane. Hope and Lirath use dimension door to escape back into the library. Katya, Smallfang and Rook are soon trapped. That is until Rook produces an illusion of a tuning fork. He concentrates on the illusion. Forming the fork in just the right way that is is of the proper frequency for the world they were just pulled out of. When he believes it is just right, he forces it to become real.

With a quick strike against the heel of his hand, the fork rings true and he uses planeshift and they too are back in the library.

Behold My Greatness

The group catches their breath outside of IceThorn Castle.

They decide that moving through the castle seems like certain death, with several massive trolls inside as well as possibly a beholder. So they decide to follow where the few gazers had fled in retreat. Each find their way up the mountain side. Rook, in the form of an aarakocra. Smallfang atop his griffon. Hope casts fly upon herself and the cleric. Katya simply scales the side of the mountain as though simply strolling along a garden path.

Into The Mountain

Nearer the top of the mountain, Rook stops them where he had discovered the small hole that descends into the mountain. Much to small to fit any of the party, Rook sends his raven, Allan, down into the tunnel. The tunnel, smooth as glass and nearly perfectly circular, descends straight down several tens of feet, turns a few times until it finally descends straight down into a massive cavern.

Moving about the cavern, Allan sees several statues. Each is a creature poised in various states of horror, attack or surprise. There are several humans, a few elves but the vast majority of the creatures are dwarves. After all, this used to be a dwarven stronghold eons before. Many of the statues are moved together to form odd scenes, set together as a child would play with toy soldiers. This may be the beholders lair. Rook produces the illusion of a silver dragon and using his formidable skills transforms the illusion into a real dragon. It will only last a minute but if the beholder is there, the dragon is sure to attack it.

While they wait, the group moves over the mountain looking for more of the tunnels, as Smallfang had also discovered others. They finally discover near the mountains top, a massive tunnel over 15 feet across and glassy smooth all the way down which extends down into darkness.

Rook descends while Hope descends by rope. She looses grip and lands on Rook. Together they land at the bottom of the tunnel which turns horizontal for, again about 70 feet. Then descends straight down again. At the bottom is a pitch black large space. One by one the others arrive and they descend into the large cavern below. This cavern too has a few statues too. There are also hidden in the darkness several large cages. As the group moves about exploring, they discover the statue form of Lirath. They also discover that within the cages scattered about the vast cavern, are an odd assortment of rare creatures. A drakkon, a massive snake like creature whose head resembles a dragon. A massive dinosaur as well as smaller creatures such as cows and a collection of dozens of kittens.

As the group examines the ornately decorated cave, its floors and walls are finished with a glossy sheen and intricate patterns carved within, a voice comes from above. Alien and severe sounding. It asks who dares intrude upon its private realm. Its sanctuary. Creatures of such baser quality. They do not deserve to be witness to its greatness.

Thech The Beholder
13,600 XP

The voice comes from near the ceiling but the ceiling extends into the height of the mountain such that they cannot see the source of the voice. The battle begins and Hope is caught in a weave of magic that holds her and raises her into the air until she is eye to massive eye of the beholder.

Thetch, the beholder is angered at their intrusion and their audacity. To think they have, without permission or grovelling, they have entered its private chambers. Hope is hit again and again with damaging spells until she falls dying. Rook, casts greater invisibility upon himself and flies up into the air, making sure to stay out of the gaze of its main eye, as wherever the eye turns magic fails.

Katya and Smallfang, still upon the ground end up fighting the creatures released from their cages. Smallfang is finally able to frighten the drakkon enough that it flees down a tunnel, while Katya climbs upon and brutally claws the dinosaur until it lies dead upon the glassy floor of the cavern.

Meanwhile, Tithe, the cleric sees Lirath, standing across the room in statue form. She runs to him and casts a greater restoration and his flesh returns to normal. He is shocked and surprised at the situation but quickly comes to the realization of the battle and begins to cast damaging spells. Unfortunately, the first thing he saw was the stampeding kittens running towards him, their only thought is escape from the fierce creature which snacks upon their brethren. He kills kitten after fluffy kitten until there is only a mass of fur and gore upon the floor.

DM Note: Not nice Lirath. Not Nice.

Finally, Smallfang, flying upon his griffon, casts banishment upon the beholder and is able to hold his concentration long enough for the spell to take permanent effect. The beholder wont be returning anytime soon. They heal Hope and move about the cavern looking for loot. And loot there is.

DM Note: Totally screwed up on this one. First the beholder was looking in the wrong direction and not focused on the flying dragonborn. This would have negated ANY spell. Second, I didn't read the component costs of the spell. It would seem you would have needed to find or craft an item that was "distasteful to the creature". I should have made it so you would have to look for or make something after figuring out what that item was. But......poof.....beholder banished!

The Eye of Falazure

Among the gold, silver, silk, rare art pieces, an a rod of security, they find a smooth orb almost a foot across. It is dark Eye Of Falazure. A crystal orb said to have been the eye of the god dragon Falazure, sibling to Bahamut. Falazure is said to have been tricked out of his eye by a powerful mortal seeking to become a god. The eye Falazure exchanged for is said to have slowly made him made insane. Being the god of undeath and decay he is worshiped by shadow dragons and undead dragons.
but an orange glow emanates softy from within. The orange flair of a vertical pupil glows very slightly inside. After everyone carefully inspects it they believe it is the

The group now moves through the various tunnels and caves that have been carved out of the mountain by the beholder's disintegrate rays. They discover the cavern that Rook had left his illusionary dragon in. There are many more statues here. Many of them look ancient and weathered. They examine many until they discover one that does not look as old as the others. They have magically restore the creature back to life.

Abigail Alebottom
2,000 XP

The half-orc female that quickly comes to life with a warcry looks around in puzzlement. Between the groups explanations and Abigail's last memories, she figures out her predicament. Her clan had come to destroy the scourge that had been terrorizing their lands. Abigail, turning 17 years old had been allowed to join them. She was incredibly proud and stood side by side with her mother as they went into the monsters lair. Abigail, bearing the banners of her clan watched in horror as everyone was killed, destroyed or turned to stone. Finally, she was the only one left so she dropped her banner, picked up a battle axe and charged. That is the last thing she remembers.

The group quickly invites her along to leave with them. They find her a suitable weapon, after she admits that battle was not in her training. She is a proud tailor. She is the one who creates the colors of her clan, the banners and ceremonial costumes. She thanks them though with gifts of her own to give.

A Bronze Egg

Rook looks through the treasure they have newly acquired and hands her a substantial amount of wonderfully colored silks. This impresses her very much and she in return gives him a item she retrieves from her satchel. A large bronze egg. Is This a dragon's egg. She is unsure. It has been in her family for generations. But seeing as she is the last of her clan. She feels she can honor them best with her skills as a tailor and the silks will aid her in that.

Moving through this cavern they find other tunnels leading down as well as a couple of staircases, one going up the other going down but blocked by a massive slab of rock. This rock is a different color and texture from the surrounding mountain rock. But there is nothing anyone can find to open the passage or even with everyone pushing, can even budge it.

Sounds of Battle

The group makes camp by moving several statues making a makeshift barricade on one side of the cavern. They settle into the cramped space and set Rook's raven companion, Allan, to watch through the night. Several hours in the voice of Allan inside Rook's head awakens the changeling. Allan says he can hear the sounds of battle beyond the odd massive stone slab at the bottom of the staircase. Sounds of yells, grunts and metal clanging. Rook tells the raven to continue to monitor it but to let him sleep otherwise.

In the morning, Allan reports that the sounds went on for some time but eventually died out.

A Brittle Floor
4,600 XP

After everyone makes preparations, the group moves out. They choose the tunnel that leads down. At the bottom of the tunnel is a small cave about 40 feet around. As they cross it the floor beneath crumbles as if it was only thin slabs of rock made to look like floor.  Most of them plummet down. The rest watch as the ones in the water far below now fend off leech like creatures with long thick tentacles. The tentacles grab hold of Lirath and Hope. They are soon being pulled under the water towards what looks like a gaping maw lined with jagged and sharp teeth.

Spell after spell and several spears later, the creatures are defeated while Smallfang's griffon is used to swoop down and retrieve the near dying adventurers.

Signs Of A Viny Battle

After drying themselves off they continue down the tunnels until they arrive at a long corridor a couple hundred feet long. The walls are lined with hundreds of dwarves are turned to stone. These statues are ancient, their stone worn and eroded by time. As they approach the end of the tunnel they find themselves back in the dwarven carved castle. There are signs of battle here. Bodies of trolls lie scattered and torn apart. Many still with thorny vine growths holding the pieces of body lining the floors and walls.

The group follows the vines as they seem to grow thicker as they leave the castle down another circular tunnel. They follow until the vines become almost unpassable. Katya stops pulling and cutting the vines when she hears a groan from just ahead. A face turns to her. It is Jabir. He is being held in the middle of the tunnel by his vines which protrude from his body and cling to the walls of the tunnel. He is in pain. Massive damage can be seen all over his body. He speaks, with great effort, to the group. It would seem that he is still trying to be a hero. He has heard the trolls speak of killing off the intruders.

Lirath turns into ethereal form and flows through to the next cavern. There are several trolls here and many more dead ones. Bodies litter the floor as they have through the rest of the tunnels and castle. The remaining trolls yell out to Jabir. They don't want to kill him. He was their leader. If he walks away they will leave him be. They look to be reading for a charge. Jabir does not look like he can fend off another charge. Lirath returns to the group and tells them of what he saw.

The Song Of Jabir
5,000 XP

Hope approaches Jabir. She holds his bleeding and injured face in her hands. She tells him that he can still be a hero. Songs will be sung of his deeds. She will sing them herself, as she begins a song speaking of the noble troll who overcame so much to become what he always wanted to be. A Hero.

The song moves many to have damp eyes, if not outright tears. Jabirs gives a pained smile and then charges into the far cavern. The group waits with pained expressions. No one moves or speaks as they listen to the sounds of pain and death ahead. When all is silent they finally move in.

They can see all the trolls are dead, including Jabir. Jabir hangs lifelessly held only by his vines which spread out before him. He hangs arms held out from his body, messiah-like. His life given to save others.

The group moves solemnly onward.  At the end of the cavern, they find a massive stone slab. It is a different texture and color than the surrounding mountain rock. This is the stone slab that had blocked their path before. This is the other side of it.

Blocked By A Magic Stone Slab
1,000 XP

Again, they investigate the stone but cannot find anything to move it. Rook prestidigitates the dust and muck from the stone. The now cleaned stoned reveals words carved into it.

I've little strength, but mighty powers; 
I guard small hovels and great towers. 
But if perchance my master leaves, 
He must ensure he safeguards me

The group ponders this puzzle for a bit before they begin shouting command words at it. Finally, Lirath says the word "Key" in common and then when nothing happens he says the same word, this time in deep speech. The stone wall rises, disappearing into the recess above. The group moves through and moves about. It would seem they have been here already.

DM Note: That's what you get for going in through the hidden back door.

The Befouled Pool Of Restoration
DM Note: notice how I stopped using the word taint

Finally, they move back through IceThorn castle looking for the restoration pool. They eventually find it in a long wide corridor. This was obviously a revered part of the castle long long ago. The corridor is constructed to bring the occupants focus to the radiant pool at the end which is raised upon a dais.

The pool emits a magical glow. Long ago it probably radiated a healthy magical color. Now though is gives off a sickly green color that seems to churn the stomach just gazing upon it. The group debates how to handle this dangerous site.

But not before some of them attempt to collect some of its foul waters.