The party more or less began to follow Menka’s insect path in reverse. We reached the wall we had previously taken down with Gonchar’s hammer and, passing through, headed north. The tunnel was supported in makeshift fashion with hastily erected wooden beams. Ahead, in the distance we heard a loud, barking scream. A cross between a human and an animal.

The party had entered the Hall of Seven Pillars. We paid our “tax” to security. We were free to move about the cabin/cavern. We were also filthy, stinking, exhausted, bloody, and wounded.

Osgoth Map Key#

Note to players: this is a map of the ‘known world’. The major regions are denoted by numbers, with descriptions of each set forth below. Each region is summarized in terms of political situations, rulers, gods, terrain and some description of note to adventurers. It is all ‘common knowledge’ a resident of Osgoth such as yourselves would know. Only major cities are noted (and described below) - no cities are named on the map, because an 8x12 piece of paper didn’t allow room. Major geographical features (large mountain ranges, hilled areas, forests (temperate and pine), large lakes, huge swamps, major deserts/steppes, significant islands and the largest rivers) are noted. This is not to say that ‘clear’ areas on the map do not include smaller forests, mountain/hill regions, lakes, ponds, smaller rivers, swamps or other terrain. Only the major areas are noted. Further, countless smaller keeps, cities, towns and villages exist throughout the continent, and none are noted on this map.

Ronan MacHood was a well-known figure in Hibernia. MacHood was known as a warrior of note, well-known for his skill with the bow, and even as a young man the bards sung of his feats in the wars against the giants of the north of Hibernia, and it is said his sword and arrows helped defeat the Giant-king O’Grummach, and sent he and his brutes howling back into the mountains and caverns to the north.

The primary difference between southern magic and spells of the north is the writing system used to record it - the Thoth mage script. This script, named in honor of the scribe of the gods, is indecipherable to a standard read magic spell. A read southern magic spell is required to perform this task, and mages in the south guard this ability with great secrecy in an effort to solidify their power and preserve their autonomy. Only through the direct tutoring of a southern mage can a wizard from elsewhere in the Realms gain this capability, and many northern mages have found frustration or worse when searching for a willing teacher.

Appearance: This tome is two octagonal half-rounded slabs of shadowtop wood enclosing 16 vellum pages. Each page contains a single druidic prayer (written spell) as follows: detect magic, faerie fire, invisibility to animals, pass without trace, wailing wind (a unique spell), cure light wounds, fire trap, locate animals or plants, produce flame, touchsickle (a unique spell), call lightning, cure disease, flame shield (a unique spell), hold animal, mold touch (a unique spell), water breathing.

An annotated map of Markheim is saved here.

We entered Markheim from the southeast, following a road that crossed through a village of huts (1). The village seemed of recent construction. Fields and groves lie just south of the village. Men and women of the same racial stock as the worshippers of the ice god worked the fields and populated the village though the overt, undead evil was not apparent. An ancient-looking elven woman worked the groves among the people. Kyril recognized her as Auntie T and acknowledged her all-seeing glance. He dismounted, handed off his horse and walked out into the fields to speak with the elven druid. We would not see him again for a week or so.

Preamble#

The game will be AD&D 1st edition. We’ll be able to hit the ground running if everyone can roll characters up on their own pre-game. I’m happy to sit in and roll up the character with you if we can meet up, but since it is a busy pre-holiday week as I write, and we all have jobs, families and lives, it is fine if you roll up the character on your own. Just get it done before 12/29.

Upon entering Farthis and checking the environs, the party visited the local gin mill looking for, of course, information. Working on this information the party visited The Kleb for an entertaining dinner party. After our interview with The Kleb, Kyril and Flint hopped the wall at the Kleen’s complex in an attempt to reconnoiter the hops gardens with explosive consequences, ending with the party taking shelter inside the Kleen’s house. While hiding the party found a trap door and a hatch among the hops bines and headed below ground. Currently the party is exploring the complex beneath Farthis.

Menka returned from his interview with the demon wench at (9) unscathed. Apparently demonic, the woman was a creature of surpassing beauty. She stated quite clearly that if we could get Guldar Heel to free her she would aid the party in its quest to find Melios and the brooch and would be willing to hand over “Hraelock’s” treasure.