Hunting for Croc

THE ADVENTURERS
Arc, human barbarian woman
Daleen, human druid man
Rowayn, warforged fighter
Velus, human warlock male

Shalmanazar came to us in the morning and told us that Kazerebet had asked him to bring us some items: a scroll of protection against undead and a couple potions of cure critical wounds. He also told us that the sword used by the Crocodile Princes' consort would be a good weapon to use against the king, since it's particularly good at separating a person from their soul.

As the story was told to us by this little turbaned undead person who seems to run everything in Ysawis; The consort, Kasim, died and the princess was so distraught she turned to an artifact from the god Shajar (of rivers, life, death, wealth, poverty, feast and famine) to bring him back. The artifact worked but it also turned her into a crocodile. Apparently Kasim didn't like what he saw so he killed her. I'd at least have kept her around, but maybe there wasn't any druidic tradition on Xen'drik back in those days. Zaria, the Crocodile Princess, turned back into a woman when killed and Kasim was upset over what he had done. Somehow he died - I don't recall how - but he and she were put in a tomb together, forever, in peace and togetherness, blah, blah, blah ...

Shalmanazar showed us the way to the tomb and told us to go get the life sucker. Velus and I suspected a trap. Arc and Rowayn wanted to go downstairs and fight. So we went down thinking it may very well be a trap (due to discrepencies between what Shalmanazar told us and what Kezerebet told us). Down we went.

All along the passageway going down was written a warning on the walls about not disturbing the tomb of Zaria or paying the price. Something curse-like and lasting forever. We basically ignored it and continued on our way. We probably should get checked out for diseases, curses and the like. We had to get through a couple traps (or just bad construction), but we made it to a chamber with the prince's remains. He was undead and we had a fight on our hands. We took a few hard hits, but made it through more eaily than I expected. His sword was very powerful, but now it's ours. We found a hidden door beneath the gold divan he had been reclining on. It led to a circular chamber with a raised circular area in the middle. Of course we checked it out. There were many ingots of silver, and red crystal urns with gold coins in them. There was also a wooden box with an inlay of birds flying on it. Rowayn smashed the box open and we found a potion, a ring, a scroll and a dagger. I also found that the top of the raised area looked like it could come off. As I tried to find a way to get the large heavy black granite top off Velus read the scroll, Arc drank the potion, and Rowayn put on the ring. I got frustrated, Velus got VERY stupid, Arc got drunk and Rowayn got invisible and drunk. I felt left out so I pushed on with trying to get the top open so I could get some affliction. After trying many methods I finally tried wedging the dagger from the box between the lid and base. As soon as they touched the lid came sliding of with surprising rapidity. The dagger had Zaria's name on it, so it seems understandable that it would help to get her out (but hindsight is draconic). Right after the lid came off, and nearly crushed me, the giant dessicated corpse of a behir came out and attacked us.

The thing was huge, about 40 feet long, but luckily the room wasn't big enough for it to spread out. It could only bring it's massive jaws, four of it's legs, and occasionally it's tail to the party. Somehow, and I mean only by the grace of Eberron were we able to defeat this beast. Not only was the group in sad shape but every time Velus pulled out Kasim's sword it would sound this ungodly scream which managed to stun half of us each time. With his new found stupidity Velus;.1/ seemed to enjoy pulling it out (or maybe it's his general taste to spreading chaos). When Za'hir (Zaria the behir) popped out the sword let out an even louder scream and began burning in green fire. So, between a moronic Velus, a drunk Arc, a drunk and invisible Rowayn, and me as a black bear we managed to survive and defeat this undead behir. We collected some of the valuables (there was so much we couldn't carry everything - so much that it's more money than I've ever seen), including a large figurine of a blue hippo with Shajar's name on it with a magical aura of overpowering intensity, and climbed back up. Velus had recovered his speech, but was doing to in an unusual and rather polite, though cold, way. Something was amiss, Velus is never polite.

We made it back, and one of the skeleton watch took us to Kezerebet's chambers. All this and it had just become light. I love morning, but apparently Kezerebet is a bit of a late sleeper, which was fine with me as she met us in her bed clothes. But even half naked she was able to uncurse Rowayn, heal me, and un-stupidify Velus. Arc had sobered-up on her own - must be that barbaric fortitude of hers. Kezerebet couldn't free Velus of the sword, however (not until the next day). So a plan sprouted up like fresh bamboo shoots in the early spring. Rowayn and Arc wrestled with Velus and held him in place. Then I quickly drew Adar and divorced Velus from his right had (the one holding Kasim). Immediatly the curse/control was removed and Velus screamed at me for chopping his hand off for a second time. But I did it to free him of domination and I think he appreciated the effort. Kezerebet healed him up.

We talked and discussed for a bit with Kezerebet and Shalmanazar about how we were going to approach the next stage of this. It was decided that our best tactic would be to strike now. Honestly, I think it is a mistake, but the others want to do it now. They think, based on Shalmanazar's description that now is the best time to deal with Sumulael. I don't trust what Shalmanazar tells us. I think waiting another day would be better for us since we could properly get ready for the conflict. But then, fighters, barbarians and warlocks don't run out of their abilities like a druid does. So I'd be the only one 'restocking' my arsenal.

We made our way to the Bone Pavilion, which is where Sumulael spends his days asleep, under the cover of a silence spell from Kezerebet, and invisibility from a wand we had aquired a while back, or the ring which Rowayn enjoys wearing now that he can remove it at will, and stop feeling drunk (which is a new experience for the warforged). Velus had scouted earlier, but alerted the guards to our presence without realizing it. We did find out that Eda is a Yuan-Ti, of which none of us knows anything. The two guys with her may be as well, we didn't take the time to ask. The initial conflict went smoothly. Due to our preparations we were able to dispatch with them in about 15 seconds. However, the second set of guards, 18 skeleton statues surrounding the pavilion, we alerted to our presence and we had to deal with them next. They took longer, but were not difficult.

There is a set of spiral stairs heading down into the bowels of the Bone Pavillion. It is partially concealed with magical darkness. Our next step is to go down there. I've told the others I can only provided some limited healing and I'm the one carrying Kasim Life Drinker in case we have to deal with Sumulael (as well as carrying Adar Giant Slayer) on this trip. I'm worried but resolute.

Finally, we didn't tell Kezerebet about finding the Shajar artifact because I want to have it as leverage if things to badly.


Daleen d'Vadalis, Gatekeeper Aspirant

Ysawis is the Unplace to be

Two items of note which I failed to note; Teesan is the name of The Geomancer, and Tadabur is the name of the place where she was imprisoned.

Ysawis is FULL of undead with only two living. Tevish is pissed and I'm intrigued (good thing the Gatekeeper's idea of 'unnatural' is only really concerned with what plane a creature comes from, and if the creature is intent on dominating/destroying Eberron). They even have skeletons doing the farming, cooking, cleaning, and everything else.

The first person we meet is Shalmanzer, who seems to be some kind of steward for the king. Seems like it runs things (Shalmanazer is some kind of undead creature). Then we meet the King and queen. King Sumulael and queen Kazerebet of Ysawis are human and alive. He is enormously fat and she is inceadibly beautiful. He isn't intersted in us, but she is quite the smart on - turns out she's some kind of history researcher and is in the area to do her work in the wild. She's also a cleric of The Host and is kind enough to cure us of our lycanthropy. VERY kind of her, though I was looking forward to a bit of experience as a werehyena. She tells us that the ancient river god, Shajar (a giant hippo), and also the god of life and death (as a river at the time controlled life and death), was the god of Ysawis. I suppose back then Xen'drik was much dryer. Now there is no lack of water.

As we leave the king and queen we see three people approach, the one woman with them has 'off' colored skin and pointy teeth (I think she's a vampire, given the abundance of undead) - the two men seem to be body guards, and move in some kind of feral-like way. I'm not to excited about the undead, but she happens to be good looking. Can't blame a man for thinking about trying.

That night we had dinner with the queen, the king, Rabat/Barak (the caravaner) and Edda, the vampire woman. The vamp wouldn't give any of us the time of day, and the king was horribly disgusting in his eating practices (in the raw amount of food he consumed). No wonder he's a fat man of enourmous girth. Kezerebet seems more than willing to talk with us. And we have many questions.

According to Kez., Adar, son of Ad, was also called the "Master of the Four Winds". He went insane before dying and was undenigably evil. That's the reason he was undead instead of undying (aparenly evil keeps you from becoming undying). She reacts in some way to the name of Tadabur, but I'm not sure how. But she does tell us it was a a retreat for the geomancers (when they needed to get away from the stresses of leading). She also tells us the geomancer magic was a cross between divine and arcane power. Some geomancers were very evil, some not so evil. The vast majority of the later geomancers were evil. But even she is not to sure about the racial stock of the geomancers or the people of their empire in southeast Xen'drik.

Now, if I had to guess, and I do, I'd say they were not giants or any kind of elf of human. But aside from that I have no idea. For all I know they were a bunch of dwarves, with their penchant for earth/rock based stuff.

Kez. tells us the geomancers is a reference to the ruling 9 of this ancient empire. Others have said they were a group of 10. Kez. says the geomancer magic was bound up in their writing, and that writing was not allowed much in their empire because of this. Kez. also says the Geo-Elf war has unknown origins but that it was a territory or a vindictive conflict, and was only undertaken by ONE house of elves? Which? Of course it's the only elf who travels with us: the Norrfolg house of elves (I bet Tevis was told this by his gramps). Now, if it was a territory war, why do the Norrfolgs not now live in SE Xen'drik? I think it's more likely a blood-fued (revenge) kind of thing, which makes me wonder if they were other elves after all. Probably only Tevis knows and he's not telling us.

Edda eats these little furry, rabbit-like creatures for dinner. Not to much unlike watching a big cat eat it's prey.

After dinner we asked for maps of Xen'drik. I tried to get one of the skeletons to talk to me but it refused. It then brought us three maps (1)from the Giants, (2)from the Elves, (3)one by Ysawis people (written in draconic). We compare the three and think Tadabur is somewhere near Lake 'Bob', which is only about 500 by 250 miles across. I was tired, and conscerned about Sereen so I went to bed. I think I may have to replace her soon.

...

That night I received a note from the queen asking to see me: She is afraid, her husband has become very crazy since moving here (3 years ago) - he used to be a regular size. He has been experimenting with 'the living' in some way - he has surrounded himself with undead as protection, she is okay with undead, but not to this extent. She thinks he has moved his soul to a phalactory in the bone pavilion in the southern end of the garden as protection against her (he's becoming VERY paranoid). No matter what her motivation is I think we should help her, because I think she knows more about Tadabur than she has said so far.

Just becasue he's paranoid doesn't mean she isn't out to get him - but that's not really our concern, now is it.

Daleen d'Vadalis Aspirant Gatekeeper.

Many Things and Lots of Stuff (MTLS)

We decide to have the druids send us to Sharn first, so we can get some history on The Geomancer. Professor Roan directs us to Professor Carlton, who is the head of Xen'drik studies at Morgrave University (and who is a rather attractive woman). She explains much to us concerning geomancers: They were a council of ten leaders who ruled large parts of Xen'drik's southeast region for most of the giant empire time and a bit after. Their racial stock, language and magic are unknown today. After the downfall of the giant empire(s) the elves fought against the geomancers. Why they did this is not understood. The elves were able to kill 9 of the 10, but not 'The Geomancer' (she was to powerful). So they bound her in some kind of extra-dimentional space and warded the area around her bounding. There is an order of elves called something like 'the sons of the feathered serpent' (or 'the sons of [someone's name]'), who are responsible for her binding/keeping her bound. This is thought to have taken place about 50,000 to 30,000 years ago. This group is the same as the paladin order Velis was brought in to when the stone in his pack burned him (and made him return from the dead - which we find out about later).

She also told us there are different kinds of elves in Xendrik - Drow (half-underground peoples, and mostly savage and evil) - coal-black skinned and commonly white raised scars, with white hair).

We then went back to Greenheart and we helped the Gatekeeper reseal two of the gates in the Eldeen: Fought 5-headed hydra, and then (2nd gate) 1 wraith and 2 Bearded devils. I was knocked unconsious in both battles, but we won them. I'm really tired of being knocked down in battle.

The Gatekeepers sent us to Arenal the next day, via plant transport spell (after they grew an appropriate plant). Of course we had no idea where we were so we just kind of wandered for a while. Then we met an elf woman who did not speak common so we had to trust Tevis. Her name is Ilsiner of House Velinis. Tevis is going by the name Tolak Norrfolg and pretending to be his own younger brother since his aberrant dragon mark makes him a mark.

Through her we figured out where we were and how to get to Shae Mord... (the undying capital of the elves). Where he spoke with his grandfather elf and got some information to help us deal with The Geomancer. On the way there we found a tomb with the inscription "I am Adar, son of Ad, Terror of giants, He who never yielded in battle, defeated only by time - great destroyer of men and societies." Of course Adar was still in it (apparently even time didn't defeat him as he was now an undead mummy) and we had to fight him. So we did and we defeated him, but not until he knocked me unconsios and gave me 'the rot' (which is better than 'the clap'). From this
we gained several major spoils, of which I got a ring to protect me and a sword to destroy giants, which is, in some way, similar to the swaord we have which destroys aberrations (except that mine is an elven scimitar, and the other is an orcish greatsword).

After the talk with gramps Tevis is cagey. He refuses to tell us anything and goes to bed. Later we find out something which he probably held from us, but that comes later. Anyway, it's tough trusting your life to the whims of dishonest people.

Using the token given to us by the Gatekeepers we go back to Greenheart. Tevis tells the druids something (but not me even though I am a druid too), and they ask me to help in a ritual to try to find her location. More of the same, though. All we know is there were ten geomancers and they fought the elves about 30,000 years ago. The Geomancer was the last and the strongest and could not be destroyed. So she was bound to a demiplane created specifically to hold her, and warded against detection, by these elves.

Next the Gatekeepers plant travel us to Xen'drik near Stormreach. We find a caravan which is going part of the way we are going and join on to help protect it along the way. After a couple nights we were approached by a flying light-ball which asked for our help because it's place was being shaken by mini earthquakes. The rest of the group left, I notified the other guards, and waited about 20 minutes (knowing they would travel very slowly through all the undergrowth - and thinking it may be a diversion to pull us away from the caravan). At that point I figured it was okay to follow, so I followed their tracks and caught them when they had passed into a temple-like compound with a cavern-passage blocked off (wall of stone) with a small air-hole (something wants privacy but needs to breath).

It turns out to be a dao who has been imprisoned by 3 illithids. We end up in a fight with the brain suckers, kill two of them, the third magics it's self away, and the doa is freed from their hold. In it's gratitude it grants us three wishes.

The only other events of note on that journey are when were are attacked by 5 werehyenas and then when we are attacked by two giants. We survive both attacks, but some of us end up infected with lycanthropy (now I've had mummy rot and lycanthropy).

And then we make it to Ysawis...