The Demiplane Of Dread

The group gathers at the mouth of the cave. Giant teeth-like structures span the height of the opening, each bone white bar sharp enough to cut through bone. Outside is a stark landscape which is completely obscured beneath a blanket of thick white fog, lies below several feet below. In the far distance, a vast rocky outcrop can be seen rising out of the mist. It vaguely resembles a humanoid skull.

Rook conjures the illusion of a wide red carpet which he rolls down the slope of the cave towards the razor sharp teeth at the bottom, so as to avoid slipping down and falling into the blade-like teeth. The carpet rolls and the left over roll of carpet embeds itself into the teeth below. Now protected from a dismembering death, Rook slides carefully down to the others.

Lirath enters his ethereal form and moves through the caves teeth and begins to descend down into the mist. It takes Lirath about 100 feet before he reaches the ground and finds the fog to cover the ground to a thickness of about 20 feet. Within the fog he can barely see a mere 10 feet in front of him. He ascends back up into the cave's mouth to tell the others.

The group moves through the cave, which has formed from the mouth of a massive, ancient fallen demon. They find that perhaps the "mouth" may still be able to open further, with a little assistance. Rook conjures the illusion of a jack, a metal device with a long toothed support which he lifts towards the ceiling of the cave using a long wooden handle. As he forces the illusion into reality, the cave's mouth begins to open further. The teeth beginning to separate, forming a gap between. But the illusion dissipates before the gap can become large enough to allow for the group to leave unharmed.

They all decide to rest. It has been a harrowing journey thus far. Katya already is curled up in a corner sleeping soundly.

Remembering Smiles

 When they wake they discuss the different possibilities that they may take. Someone brings up Katya's friend, Kenavu as well as their pet dragon, Smiles. Rook realizes his illusory cover over the ship they had hidden beside the hills formed by the ancient fallen demon has perhaps dissipated. Depending on how time works between the various planes they might have traveled, perhaps it has dissipated long ago.

There is a  mournful silence from both Katya and Smallfang.
Rook shrugs. Another soul for the Raven Queen. He conjures his mechanical jack once again and tries to lift the mouth open. Only having one minute to force his will upon the illusion to force it into reality, Rook finds he is not able to lift the mouth fast enough before his time runs out. Smallfang pulls Rook away from the device and starts to force the jack faster in order for them to finally escape.

When the illusory jack fades the mouth has opened enough that they can pass by the teeth unharmed.

Hope casts fly upon those in the group who cannot fly and they fly down towards the ground. They approach but do not enter the fog below them, wary of the dread they feel. They continuing flying towards the skull-like mountain in the far distance. Hope casts fly a couple more time before they realize that it will take them considerable time to fly there and she does not wish to deplete her spell casting ability, potentially leaving her helpless

Into The Mist

They descend slowly into the fog. Katya, Hope and Smallfang descend disappearing into the mist while Rook and Lirath continue to fly onwards, not immediately realizing their friends have ceased their flying. They soon realize it and circle back.

Meanwhile, within the mist, the others huddle close as they cannot see more than just a few feet. Both Hope and Katya stare helplessly into the fog and feel an overwhelming sense of dread and fear. As Smallfang tells them that they should get moving, both Hope and Katya fail to move or even respond. With a sigh, Smallfang gathers them, one under each arm, and carries them along.

A Dreadful Warning
60,000 XP

It is not long before Rook and Lirath return and, with some difficulty, find their companions and land beside them. They travel by foot for some distance until they see a faint outline of a creature ahead of them. As they approach, the figure slowly resolves itself into the form of a hooded humanoid. It raises a thin and bony hand and points at them, telling them to, "Return whence you came. The living do not belong in this land."

They try to approach and speak to the creature but it simply repeats it's demand. Finally when the group takes a threatening posture, the creature pulls forth a scythe and attacks. It is then that the group finally notices that there indeed, 3 more of these creatures surrounding them. Finally, Hope and Katya are roused back to their normal selves and the group defends itself. Black tendrils of mist rise from the ground and grasp at the adventurers.

The fight goes poorly for Lirath as he is felled and revived by Smallfang.
Rook conjures an illusory slide which extends a mile away. Hopefully enough to evade these creatures. He raises the land under the group's feet to the top of the bridge/slide. But standing atop blocking their way is one of the hooded creatures. Much to Rook's surprise, the creature dispels Rook's illusory bridge.

The group finds itself once again, submerged within the mist.

They continue to battle until finally each of the creatures is dispatched, as they turn to black ashes which dissipate quickly into the mist.

A Rest Interrupted
5,000 XP

The group is wary to travel within such a dangerous mist. So Rook conjures refuge in the form of mordenkainen's magnificent mansion. The group rests, eats and entertain themselves, feeling safe within their magical shelter.

Their peaceful rest is interrupted by shouts of panic from outside the walls. There are three people who have found their mansion and are pleading for sanctuary. Outside they find a young man, a tall beefy man, who holds a third elderly unconscious man under his arm.

Rook exits the mansion and toys with them. They plead with him to allow them into the safety of the mansion. They are exhausted. They are trying to comply with the demands of some mysterious hooded creatures, but they cant leave. They have tried everything but they cannot seem to travel home. They cannot run any longer.

Lirath exits the mansion and approaches them. He probes the mind of the younger man and looks back into his immediate memories.

Flashes of memory play for Lirath forming the poor man's story.

The three men sitting in a tavern, while the elderly bearded man tells them a plan that will make them rich beyond belief.
He has acquired a magical tome which they can use to travel anywhere. They pop in somewhere, find and steal what goods they can, and pop back. Fool proof. They need Jahner as muscle to carry as much as they can. Rini, the cleric, is there because Jahner will only listen to Rini. 
The plan has worked several times. That is until they travel to this plane.
They see nothing but mist. No treasure. Only threats from some mysterious hooded creatures. 
They run.
But they always run into another of the creatures.
They cannot run anymore, as Grandar, the great mage, passes out from the exertion.
Then they run into a column of earth, atop which sits this great mansion

Rook, moves to the old man and rummages through his belongings. He finds a magical tome, takes it and retires into the mansion. As he turns the pages he finds it only contains one spell, plane shift. Hmmm....useless. He tears out the page and tears it  half.

Outside Lirath forces his mind into the three newcomers and bonds them to protect him beyond all else. With that done, he lets them enter the mansion.