We rested for spells, all the while coming up with a plan to strengthen and protect Gonchar and send him into the water to fight the kraken. We came up with the following plan for Gonchar:

Kyril cast barkskin and chill metal. Tim cast invisibility, quickening, haste, strength, water breathing. Menka cast aid, prayer and resist cold.

The party decided to head underground through the entrance to the undertemple to the south of the river. Grastic was still talking Kyril’s ears off. He asked if it was time to open the gate and looked scared as he mentioned that activity. When asked why he had to open the door, he said it’s because his dad said the scary lady would be angry if he did not. Menka asked if he would not open it if his dad said not to and he said the scary lady would still require him to open it. Menka then mentioned that the scary lady was gone, M-O-O-N gone, and Grastic didn’t believe him.

There were actually 2 separate sets of stairs down, separated by a wall. While the party formulated a plan, Randolph Carter rang us up. He called to tell us that he had to depart. The large brutes at the surface had departed. They were set upon by bees and a giant owl. They attempted to set the monastery on fire and the fire was immediately put out by a rain storm. (There seemed to be some “positive” forces at work pushing them out, couldn’t keep up with the spoken detail).

Still in the temple of the Elder Gods. We were surrounded by a feeling of doom and woe. At the feet of each statue was a large, 3’ diameter alms bowl, though we hadn’t gotten close enough to look in them.

Flint approached the Goat With 1000 Young, with Cathal nearby for the Protection from Evil. As he got closer, he felt extremely uncomfortable. The statue was a large, humanoid black goat, surrounded by a pool of matter. The statue was glistening and the surface seemed to be moving. In the bowl he saw coins, black sapphire gems and a goat statuette, carved from ivory. It seemed to be smirking at him. Menka and Cathal looked over his shoulder.

We seem to have found the chain of binding for Grastic’s gate. Apparently at the end of the last session we headed back up to the stream and the little outlet near the alarmed door.

Hypothetically: Menka with water walk (with Ulland, Gonchar), Kyril shape changed, Cathal levitates, carpet: Lycovyne, Tim, Flint.

Abecoste backed away, apparently not inclined to follow us, though she did not attempt to impede us. The small chain from the vampire’s neck indeed was very powerful. The party voted to cast Legend Lore ivory strips formed into a rectangle and an item to sacrifice. We decided to sacrifice Kyril’s +1 Staff. We sliced some ivory with the Sword of Sharpness from tusks found in one of the mountain giant’s treasure chests.

Pippen really wanted to return to the Hall, did not want to head downstairs. Pippen and Grastic met up again.

We heard from Pippen that Abigail was very proud of that 4-sided statue and devoted to it. We headed down one level (to level 6?) to the 4-sided statue and planning to return, presently, after having drained the aforementioned statue of some of its treasure.

The Dwarven Stronghold In The Mountains#

The dwarves were not part of the training fiesta, so they did what bored dwarves do. Drink. And drink some more. The Halfmoon Inn barkeep just fed them breakfast and ale when they awoke and came down, lunch and ale a few hours later, and dinner and ale 5 or 6 hours after that.

Chairs and tables in the room were laden with rancid, thawing meat. Smelled awful. There was a terrifying, multi-species sculpture along one wall. Pieces of several different animals assembled into one horrific whole. The party shuddered and left the room.

Back in the corridor, we smelled a metallic, burning odor. We could see and smell smoke leaking out around a door down the hall. Menka cured Cathal’s lighter wounds, getting him back 8 points (32). Cathal laid his hands on Gonchar in a shocking fashion, getting the dwarf back 14 points (77). We lined up around the door with the smoke creeping outward near the floor. Flint checked the door for traps, finding none. He then checked the door to the right (west) and heard someone muttering in an accent from the Isle of Many Kingdoms.