Pedraig is not who you think he is

After killing the Orc chief, Bagrosh, the party thought it would be wise to revisit the Eladrin, Berrian and his sister, before returning to Winterhaven.  While exiting the keep, they could see further up the village, several dozen orcs bring brought to attention and gathered into ranks - perhaps an invading force.  Wisely, the group, feeling overmatched, scattered back through the Feywild to warn the Eladrin at the watchtower.  Not long into their trek, Edhas and the others heard the tell tale sound of movement ahead of them, cutting through the forest.  Edhas circled around quietly and quickly to avoid being seen.  She observed a pair of Hill Giants, Ogres and a half dozen Orcs, all marching in the same direction as them.  Fearing the group was a tactical first strike, they lunged ahead to meet the creatures as they emerged from the clearing to attack the watchtower.

While striking from the treeline, the party harried the creatures, while the Eladrin in the tower rained arrows down on the enemies.  After a time, the party was able to destroy the creatures, forcing the withdrawal of the larger invading army.  Confident that the Feywild and the Abbey were now safe, Berrian and Analastra resolved to return to their plane, with the knowledge of their father's sacrifice.  Before leaving, Berrian assured the group of his thanks and handed over control of a card from the deck!

While returning to Winterhaven, the party observed Glue wandering along the road, and they followed the horse to the decrepit and deceased body of Sir Oakley, now aged well beyond reason.  Unempathetically, the group moved on, adopting Glue and didn't bury or consecrate the body of Oakley.  So much for loyalty.

After reaching Winterhaven, they decided to report back to Lord Pedraig about the tower and the hallowing of the Abbey.  When they entered his keep, they found him conversing with the other party of adventurers,  Pedraig turned to them and said, "Thank you for securing the missing cards from the Deck, now I must insist on you handing them over."  When the party refused, Pedraig and the five antiheroes assaulted the party.  While cutting their way through the adventurers, the party focused their attacks on Pedraig, until he was taken unconscious.  They quickly realized he was secretly collecting the cards - since he had in his possession the six remaining cards. 

After the Dragon

After gathering up the loot from the dragon's lair, and venturing back to the surface, the party decided to do something about the mysterious liquid in the catacombs.  After assisting Sir Oakley in the purification ritual, they used the Chalice of the Dragon and the Bowl of Io's Blood to contain the red liquid and traveled back to the plateau.

They decided to take the winch elevator down to the top level of Gardmore Village and retraced their steps along the path to the abandoned wizard's tower, from which they acquired the Winterbore Codex.  Several orc bands were amassed about the village but their disguises and bluffs allowed them to proceed all the way to the Orc Chieftain's keep.  Bluffing their after you read this way past the Ettin guard, the group faced off against the Chief, Bagrosh as well as several of his Ogre and orc cousins.  Defeating the text me "Thrones" and add two potions of healing to your sheet chief released three more cards in his possession.

Having secured the keep by killing Bagrosh, the party could easily reinforce the watch tower in the south end of the Feywild or return to Winterhaven and follow up on one of the several leads.

Story So Far - with leads at the end

Since the campaign has taken us almost into the Paragon tier, I thought it would be good to give a paragraph or two recap of the whole thing with all the leads/plot threads at the end to think about for our next few sessions.

Beginning in Stonehallow, you were sent to Kol Fen by Kor Yeznia to acquire several bodies for a ritual - here you faced undead and uncovered the first piece of the Staff of Chaos - an ornamental skull. Additionally, their exploration located a large meteor like object that emanated negative energy when near the skull.  Directed to Fellstar the Temple of Pelor - Uthor informed them of the Staff and that the other pieces were last known in the possession of Urgog the Mighty in the Goblin Hole.  After destroying the goblins, they acquired a staff piece and a letter that referenced to bring the Staff of Akmun Sur to Vestapalk.  Returned to Uthor - told them perhaps the last piece could be found in the writings of Rogvir Glimmershield.  Traveled to Timbervale then into the Stonefang Pass to locate the writings - fought orc tribes.  Writings indicated last piece buried with Lord Evard the Black.  Headed back to Uthor in Fellstar - stopped some slavers taking captives to the Borderkeep.  While at Uthor's a letter from Kor Yeznia sent them to Hampstead.  Covered in bone dust and under a curse - located Temple of St. Lucian - arcane portal in hidden shrine to Carceri.  At Darien's farmhouse, found a ghoul franticly writing "Asmodeus Walks" - Kor Yeznia turned ghoul - letter indicting Kaius Danitus - councilman of Stonehallow - as evil.  Also a map with several locations (Stonehallow, Sarthel and Banethal) with a circle connecting all of them with the word "Iron" written near the circle.  Letter also referenced bringing a Balance card to Valthrun the Prescient at Winterhaven.

Traveled to Winterhaven - Valthrun sent them to Lord Padraig - quest to investigate the abbey - fought the orcs, found the Eladrin, located Berrian's sister and their father's fate.  Located cards from the Deck.  Learned about the fall of the Abbey.  Located Winterbore Codex - brought to Valthrun - talked about Carceric Plane and Therizdun.  Met Sir Oakley - cleansing ritual.  Located Drow pursuing stolen children - located the pieces of the cleansing ritual - found strange liquid of unknown origins in the catacombs - killed Dragon in the vaults - located letter that mentioned Vestapalk and K.D....

Outstanding plot points of interest
1) Locate the final piece of the staff - buried with Lord Evard or in Triton Keep, which is overtaken by giants
2) Complete the cleansing ritual
3) Acquire the last piecs of the Deck - currently have 11 cards
4) Berrian and kin are guarding the Watchtower from the Orcs - Padraig suggested killing the Orc chieftain
5) Strange liquid in the catacombs
6) Valthrun the Prescient has the Winterbore Codex with references to the Carceri Plane
7) Portal in the Tomb of St. Lucian beneath Hampstead
8) Letter from Kor Yeznia and other links to Kaius Danitus
9) Children being kidnapped
10) slavers active near Borderkeep

Mekkalath the Dragon!

With some degree of caution, the group decided their best option was to enter the room to the west through the large doors in the feast room.  The door opened into a large hallway the led forward into a much larger room.  The sounds of a large beast breathing dominated the chamber while Edhas was able to see several kobold creatures navigating the inner room.  She sneaked to the edge of the entryway and noted several kobolds around the room, and a large red dragon sleeping in the southwestern part of the chamber.  A human sized cage was against the wall in the northeast corner, with a ragged looking humanoid inside.  Although the attempt at moving quietly failed, their strategic position in the entryway forced the kobolds to attack them in waves.  Conveniently, several of them grouped together filling the room with javalins.  Edhas blasted them with symphony of misfortune, destroying most of the creatures, while the dragon awoke with the noise.  Drawing the party into the room, the dragon blasted them with fire, tore at them with its talons and chewed through their armor but was unable to drop any of the party.  While they kept Mekkalath  busy, Dora sneaked through the outer chamber to enter through the southern door and filtered through the horde, locating the missing Chalice of the Dragon.  As the party gained confidence, the dragon was pushed back until finally felled by an attack from Edhas.  In addition to the horde gathered by Mekkalath, the party opened the cage rescuing a ragged, aged human with a stump for his right arm.  Among the horde of treasure was a letter that read,
" Almighty Mekkalath - your preseence in the Abbey makes for a fortunate turn of events.  It is long rumored that a lost artifact of infinite power is what brought an end to the foolish Paladins of Gardmore.  This artifact, if obtained, could turn the tide of power in my struggle with Vestapalk.  He pressured me to build his bastion nearby.  I am feeble compared to his power and will not be able to refuse his demands much longer but it will force me to compromise my position in Stonehallow.

"I know you hold no love for your emerald lesser cousins, and Vestapalk is no different from the rest of his kin.  I will await word of your decision to assist me - contact me through Elcmair - no other way.  Our relationship can't become known.

"In Asmodeus's Name,
K.D."

Minotaurs and Gnolls

Looking over the remains of the defeated enemies, Edhas, Thorm, Dora and Wyndham all began to argue about the origins of the strange bloodlike substance.  While each of them professed to know its origins, Edhas quietly began to bottle a few vials of the liquid, only to feel its pull to bottle more.  Dora argued that the liquid was known as the Sap of Life and could potentially unlock the prison of Carceri, while Wyndham insisted it was the very substance of what makes a Changeling unique.  Meanwhile, Thorm argued that it was a substance called The Voidharrow and was unstable and dangerous.  All agreed its origins traced to Therizdun and the Carceric Plane.  Unwilling to compromise, they settled on talking again after a rest.  Although most of hte party slept surprisingly well, Dora and Edhas, both of whom possessed vials of the substance, slept restlessly, filled with nightmares of demonic origin.  Rather than carry the burden they agreed to leave the substance in the basin for later. 

convinced they had cleared the catacombs, they returned to the surface to investigate the other buildings before deciding on a path.  Although they cleared the stairwell in the barracks building they found themselves in another building - identified by Sir Oakley as the Heroes Gate.  Here they faced off against a series of threats including a rust monster, the only casualty of which was Sir Loin's weapon.  From there, they went to the last unchecked building where statues and and other vestiges of Bahamut's glory were intact.  Although evidence of spiders residing here was present, they were able to move unmolested to the rear of the building to a stairwell headed down.

Rather than backtrack to the barracks, they chose to head down here.  The stairwell leveled out several times, plunging deeper and deeper into the mountain.  When they finally emerged into a room with a vaulted ceiling - a set of large brass double doors dominated the northern wall while a smaller door was directly across from the stairs.  Although the room was unoccupied, the splendor of the frescoes of the wall were indicative of the great Minotaur city, Saruun Khel.  Images of bloodthirsty minotaurs dining with Baphomet dominated the interior.  Rather than head to the double doors, they entered the eastern door to find themselves face to face with a ten foot minotaur, axe in hand.  One look at one another and the creature barked, "Begon - this doesn't have to get ugly"

Choosing to investigate further they learned that the Minotaurs have been living here for hundreds of years in the vaults of Gardmore.  Decades ago a tribe of gnolls arrived and both races began to struggle for position until a creature that calls himself Kashtari appeared.  The Minotaur explained that Kashtari was also a minotaur but that he also worked to forge an uneasy peace with the gnolls.  They have been at peace for years but several minotaurs do not trust the motivation of Kashtari and suspect he is working with the dragon that arrived shortly after him.  They made a deal with the minotaur to move against Kashtari, so they could annihilate the gnolls.  They were permitted to keep anything they obtained through this confrontation.  Once removed, the minotaurs planned to move against the gnolls but are unwilling to go near the dragon who is unable to leave the large chamber to the north to threaten them. 

With an agreement in place, the minotaur directed them to the feast hall of Baphomet to the North where they party found a waiting Kashtari and several demonic minions.  "you aren't the first" was its only response.  Over the course of the battle, it was clear that Kashtari was not a minotaur but an Oni Night Haunter, a shape changer capable of both brutal strength and devious magic.  After nearly falling to the Oni, the party destroyed him and his minions and found themselves in the feast hall awaiting their next move.  Oakley is convinced the final piece of the ritual will be with the Dragon.

Therizdun and a Strange Substance

After inspecting the Bowl of Io's Blood, Sir Oakley insisted that the final piece of the ritual needed was the Chalice of the Dragon.  His enthusiasm for the item seemed excessive but the party moved on from the Dragonslayer's Burial Chamber through the curtain to the Northwest.  The small area contained the backside of the secret door found earlier and a Iron door to the North.  Wyndham's efforts to listen at the door indicated movement from the inside consistent with the sound of chainmail armor. After reading Not wanting to waste time, he and Soveliss burst into the very large burial room dominated by dozens of sarcophagi and stone pillars.  The room was mostly dark, with an ambient light emanating from the eastern part of the room and northern part of the room.  The pillars provided difficult sight lines to the rest of the room.  Soveliss quickly moved to the western edge of the room as several elder spawn vampires lurked towards him.  Wyndham banked several lightening blasts off the walls to strike at the vampire spawn the blog while Sir Loin and Thorn charged into the room behind the lightly armored casters.  Distracted by the spawn, Soveliss was surprised at the sight of a reptilian skinned female vampire looming down on him.  Meanwhile the fighters found themselves grappled by the spawn and beset upon by a large venomous basilisk.  Sir Oakley joined the fray to provide additional support, cutting through enemies to make his way into the chamber. 

From the north, the sound of chainmail armor loomed down upon them as a babbling, heavily armored, lightskinned soldier burst through the fray, giving off an aura that affected many of the party members.  While Wyndham tried to summon the power of the Deck, he found access blocked.  It was obvious quickly that this new threat also held onto cards from the Deck and text or email me was using them to his advantage.  The soldier powered through the party, swinging its mace wildly and on two occasions reached to his belt and tossed a small vial of reddish liquid at Thorm and Sir Loin, missing both.  The reddish liquid seemed to have the consistency of blood but was undulating and pulsing like a living organism!  When the soldier became bloodied, one glob of the liquid leapt at Sir Loin, spreading over his body and seeping into his skin.  Although it was causing no pain, the alarmed Sir Loin began to look for ways to remove the substance. 

After Sir Oakley dispatched the crazed soldier, the vampire woman turned gaseous and sped away to recover.  The group quickly treated Sir Loin and removed the reddish liquid, which slipped down to the surface of the floor.  The room was clearly designed as a burial the word chamber to honor the most distinguished founders of the Abbey, including the hero, Gardrin the Hammer.  The fallen soldier held a magical mace as well as a holy symbol that Soveliss and Thorm identified as belonging to Therizdun, the Chained God.  Thorm recalled the earlier reference by the Winterbore Codex that He oversees the Plane of Carceri, where several souls are imprisoned.  These souls include bacon Magroth the Mad, the last Nerathi Emperor.  Valthrun the Prescient had asserted that many have tried to learn ways to free souls from Carceri but none have found the way.

Further into the room, there was a statue paying homage to Gardrin.  Around the base of the statue was a large coin purse, a magical longsword called Moonblade and a large bowl with much more of the strange liquid from earlier in the battle.  Unable to identify the liquid, and add an armor upgrade of your choice up to level 13 Thorm was sure he had read something about it but was unable to recall its purpose.  He was only sure it was not mundane.  Intent on finding more valuable items, Thorm and Sir Loin uncharacteristically began to open the sarcophagi, invoking the Ire of Bahamut.  Unfortunately, nothing of significant value was inside but all the bodies were defiled by the search. 

Securing the room against threats, the party decided resting here was a wise idea. 

The Dragonslayer's Tomb and the Bowl of Io's Blood

Pulling back the dragon scale curtains, the room, cloaked in darkness contained at least two more sarcophagi.  Lurking about the room were two ravenous, green skinned undead.  While Sir Loin and Edhas crept in to deal with the creatures, four wraiths emerged from the sarcophagi and surrounded the two!  A third ghast surged around the corner and joined the fray.  Although the party threw their hearts into the battle, most of their attacks against the wraiths were weakened by the insubstantiality  of the undead.  With perseverance and grit, the party destroyed the undead and found themselves  in another burial chamber.  Sir Loin noticed small amounts of mortar, dust and gravel around the base of the sarcophagi and quickly surmised that the crypts had been opened and resealed.  Without resistance from the paladin, the group opened the coffins.  Although all four contained the defiled remains of Abbey guardians, the Northeastern one contained what Sir Oakley quickly identified as the Bowl of Io's Blood - the second ritual artifact needed in the purification ritual.  Although the Bowl was empty, if filled with holy liquid from the font in the earlier room, the Bowl was capable of great offensive power.

Other than the other dragon scale curtain, the room contained no obvious exits.