Pulling my numb left arm out from under some debris, I finally had the chance to raise my body off of the cavern floor. My right arm was not as fortunate, for the deep gashes and dagger sunk to the hilt left it wracked in pain. The smoke biting at my eyes made me wonder if the fireball worked... or was I in the Nine Hells were I probably belonged?

With great effort I reached the sitting position and surveyed my surroundings. As I watched the still twitching leg of the nearest hobgoblin I came to two conclusions. One, I was still in the cavern; two, I don’t think I can hear anything. I tried my best to wipe the smoke infused sweat from my eyes. That’s ok, more pain helps me focus. I looked around for any of my comrades Rugar, Bathen, Trunks or Vlor. Truth be known I had not had the time to notice if they were even still fighting in this part of the lair. Having found myself swarmed by the enemy, taking shots from every direction I had little choice but drop a fireball on myself and hope to survive it.

After pulling a few crude arrows from my left thigh and hip, I found I still was able to stand. Up and moving it felt good, getting the blood moving is always a good feeling. Surveying the carnage around me I was pleased to not see any of my friends. This meant they could still be alive. Making sure my foes were permanently down, I walked among the bodies rubbing my ears hoping it would help my hearing, and used a longsword I had found on the floor to make sure at least these minions of Kurent would no longer bother anyone.

The new ringing in my ears told me I may soon have use of my ears again; this was good for I had surveyed my gear and decided that being out of arrows and having busted my quarterstaff of the head of the first hobgoblin I fought, I was truly in trouble. At least I had a few spells left at my disposal, but they were minor compared to the ones I had already spent. I came to the hall, the only way into this room, and the ringing in my ears turned from an inner pain to a new ringing, a ringing of swords. I worked my way down the hall towards the sound of battle using the walls to help keep me up, confident the enemy had not started fighting themselves.

Reaching a larger room I found a half-orc barbarian at the highest pitch of his rage. His orange eyes burned with a fire of anger and hatred that is rarely seen in this realm. The half-orc was bleeding badly and seem to be still standing more from an inner refusal to fall than actually having the strength. He fought with a greataxe that was nearly equal in size to its wielder. I caught a moment of eye contact with him, a moment where those burning orange eyes nearly made me turn and run from the room. Trunks acknowledged my presence with that quick glance, but swiftly turned back to the fight at hand for Trunks was surrounded by three of his most hated enemies - hobgoblins. The three foes were skilled and adept at fighting as a team, for they truly were getting the best of my friend.

Moving slowly into the room I took notice of the other two in the room: orcs. One seemed to be a cleric and the other a fighter. The two seemed happy to let their friends do the fighting, content to watch from a distance. This served me well as they were too entertained to pay attention to the hobbled sorcerer creeping up behind them. It seemed to take for ever but I did eventually reach my foes. If Trunks could see me, even in a rage he would have broken into a hearty laugh for I nearly mis-cast my spell due to the sneer I had on my face. For I hate few things more than orcs but orc clerics to the Great One Eye are very high on that list. Slowly I put my hands behind their heads and let loose magic missiles. As the sinew and bone flew from their skulls, mostly through their eyes, the two dropped to the floor. Stupid orcs.

To my good fortune the only one that heard the orc bodies hit the floor was Trunks who launched a furious attack to keep the hobgoblins too busy fighting to notice the death they would soon feel. Even though my body was still wracked in pain, I had plenty of life left in me, a fact the nearest hobgoblin soon found out. Using the sword I had found in the other room I put all of my strength into the lunge and sent the unaware fool to into the darkness of death.

This move proved that I am not skilled in hand to hand, the attack left me off balance and exposed, a fact one of the hobgoblins noticed as he brought his scimitar across my upper back, driving me to the floor and back into the dark dizziness and pain that I had so recently escaped. With the scimitar stuck in my shoulder blades, the attack on me left the hobgoblin open himself, and that left the opening for Trunks to finish him. This left Trunks one on one, and very few can stand one to one with Trunks. Then things began to turn black. A few minutes later Trunks was using a potion of healing to bring me around again. As its power brought my senses back to me, I noticed that Bathen our dwarven cleric had arrived and helped me more with his spells and a few prayers to Moridan. Not that I follow the God of the Forge, but I am no fool as to the power the great god.

Bathen informed us that my childhood friend Rugar had gone after our ranger Vlor. Vlor was going after Kurent the Red, the leader of a devious group of thugs that had been raiding caravans up and down the Sword Coast for some time. Normally this could be considered suicide for Kurent was well known for his skill in battle. Skills that had killed hundreds in the last few years alone. I almost felt sorry for him, Kurent has no chance against my half-drow friend Vlor. Vlor and his scimitars, is, in my opinion, the most dangerous man alive. And since Kurent had fled the cave, and my friends and I had eliminated his entire army of thugs, Kurent was alone.

We headed out for them; the trail was so obvious that even I could have followed it. The three of us arrived at the final battle in time to see Vlor toying with Kurent. Rugar had taken a seat on a fallen tree and was cheering on Kurent and snacking on an apple. Well, it was all in mockery, but after all that is what makes Rugar... Rugar, and our party leader. As we joined him on the tree Bathen called out for Vlor to gut him, and Trunks just begged to have his turn at the fight. Vlor just smiled at the gallery and actually took the time to bow to us at one point. Vlor is not an evil person, vain yes but not evil. After a few more moments of battle, he had tired Kurent enough to disarm him without harming him. Vlor pinned him to the ground and let Kurent know that his days of terror were over.

It was Vlor who had planned from the beginning to bring the brigand in alive and unharmed as possible. He wanted this cretin to face the families and friends of all those he had robbed and killed. Personally I don’t think it will mean anything to the fool; I have yet to see anyone truly feel sorry for their wrongs, no matter what they say while at carnival in Luskin.

That is the way I want to remember my friends, at their and our best. Those were good times when we were minor heroes to the coast. Before our fall from grace. Before we were framed for a murder we did not commit. Before we barely escaped with our lives from carnival. Before we split up and went different directions to increase our chance of finding a halfling named Cutro. Before I heard word that one of my friends my have been killed in Waterdeep. And before I found myself wandering into the town of Silverymoon, tired and hungry. I have exhausted all leads. Maybe I can find a group of adventurers who can use my help for a while. I need to build up my money, and traveling alone has gotten me talking to myself.

Character sheet: Tyan Broathfirst [Human Sorcerer]
Glitch [Rat Familiar]

I have found Silverymoon to be both as beautiful and strange as I had been told. The mixture of races here amazes to me. The first hours in town were spent searching bulletin boards and bars for a way to make some quick money. Then Glitch convinced me that it was time to trust someone a little and join a party for a while.

As usual, Glitch got me in trouble. Oh, I found a group that seems perfect, but joining them may get me killed. This new group has some strength, but lacks direction. Glitch could probably lead them better than they lead themselves. Now Glitch also thinks this is a great chance to make some money and he doesn’t think they will notice me guiding them towards my goals.

The first day after meeting them we all went to a library to help the ranger figure out where to find a statue. After talking to a sage, and for some reason I have agreed to help them chase this item. To the point of telling them we can get there quicker if we teleport. Oh and the place they want to go is very near they last place I want to be. Glitch has been telling me I am an idiot for about two hours. Maybe backing the play of the quiet ranger will help me down the road.

Why I agreed to go so close to Luskan, so close to the power of the judges, and the families who blame my friends and me for the death of Lord Geltron. Not that he was a powerful or well-loved man, just a pawn in a larger game. A pawn used to eliminate another pawn, my party. I don’t know who is behind it, or why. But when I find that halfling, I will get some answers.

Regaining our composure from the rooftop battle, I took the time to reflect on the recent goings on. We had been greeted by a trio plus one from the same town that lost those men in the caravan attack. I won’t go into why the attack was successful at this time, sufficed to say that with more thought on someone’s behalf, there would have been more of the caravan to survive.

Anyway, I took the opportunity to convinced these young lads to join in our mission. Well, that was not the words I used, but it was for a good cause, and they would have a chance to get revenge on those who ordered the attack on the caravan. And, technically there was a chance that a member of the caravan had been taken here. I had no evidence to the contrary. And we could use the extra help.

Never mind that, the four of them were happy to help. Although the elves did take an interest in one who seemed to them at least to be a Zhent. And by denying that he was one just made them believe it even more.

As the party discussed the possible Zhent identity for far too long, I asked the other three new fellows to sneak down to the castle to help me scout. I don’t remember telling them all about the giants and ogre mage, but I do remember telling them about the orcs. Or was it the hobgoblins I told them about?

Anyway, they had enough information to be happy to help. Well, we reached the building on our side of the river without any problem. In fact we easily climbed to the roof and had a chance to look about at our situation. The building on this side, while looking worse for wear, was in fact quite sturdy. It had in its past at least one other floor, as did its counterpart across the river. Yet time nor battle have done enough to prevent them being used as a stronghold.

As I thought about our situation the rest of the group arrived from the camp. I guess they decided not to let us have all the fun. After some debate on what the situation was, and with some added information from the cleric, we had a better picture of the situation. Glitch says to trust her, but I have been lied to by too many clerics.

The party looked for a way into the building, other than the hole from the night before, or the front door. I was going to argue more for the front door when Glitch mentioned that he could get in ahead of us and scout. This idea was met well with the group and we searched for a place to sneak the adventurous rat in.

Soon was found what was previously a stairwell that someone had taken the chance to fill with boulders. Glitch easily slid his way in and found two giants waiting with large clubs. The giants were hiding, well, as well as two giants can hide, and watching the ceiling where we were. I called Glitch back after he looked around a bit and we began forming another plan.

Deitricha and I figured out a way to combine our spells to get us across the river and to the roof of the opposite building. We tied a rope to all of us for precaution, then I lifted the party into the air with a scroll I was saving for just such an emergency. Deitricha then cast a spell to make her fly across to the other building, with us in tow.

Once on the other building we scouted once again for a way in. And to the credit of our enemy, they had clogged this building’s stairway with boulders just as well as the other. With a snicker Glitch snuck in again. This time there were no giants at the bottom, instead it was a small 10’ by 10’ room with one door. Glitch snuck over and tried to peek through the crack under the door. In a flash of confusion that quite disoriented both Glitch and me, a spell was triggered and Glitch was teleported to a prison cell.

This will not do, I thought. I retrieved a wand from my backpack that Theona had given me days before and began casting against the floor below me. The next few moments came all at once, I created a large hole and saw movement below. Not wanting to react second I cast a sphere of electricity into the hole. Mind you, most creatures do not survive this spell, most creatures except for the hydra below. It was as I backed up from the opening that the party yelled they were being attacked, something about giants and displacer beasts. And I wanted to help them, really, except the ogre mage that landed behind me and cleaved me nearly in two got the highest priority.

Quickly I raised a globe of darkness and moved slightly away from the ogre mage. Soon I felt the wind of a great swing that was far too close for comfort. I could hear the cries for help from my comrades as their end of the fight turned badly on them. Doing my best to hold my innards in, I began casting my most potent spells at the area I thought the ogre mage to be. Running low on spells and realizing that there were now less calls for help then before I decided that even if the ogre mage cuts me down when I leave the globe of darkness, I had to try and help my friends.

I stepped out to see all four of the people that joined us this morning were down and I didn’t know if they could be saved. Areon was carrying a limp Theona and Deitricha was standing up against two giants and two displacers. I cast my last sphere of electricity where it could do the most damage, killing one of each along with a couple of orcs that I didn’t notice.

It was then that the ogre mage came at me again, and by some miracle its great swing missed me. Areon apparently put Theona down and raced to my aid while Deitricha and the now-mobile Theona fought off the others. Somehow Areon and I finally killed the huge foe. When we once again could look to the others there was just one giant left, and he was running. I summoned a celestial bird to attack it while Areon and the now-standing, and last-surviving member from the town, Ebin launched arrows at it.

As we watch the giant run off into the hills, I was once again wondering how I was going to get Glitch back.

Having won the roof and once again being able to concentrate on my dearest friend Glitch, I informed the party that I could drop us all safely to the bridge bellow and we could enter from there. Someone asked about the hole I made, and what was in there, but I could not be bothered by such things while seeking my friend.

We made our way down and through the door without a problem. The next door was found to be trapped, good thing we have a thief to disarm it. Oh yes, she says she is not a thief, but she sure seems to know her way around a set of thieves’ tools for not being a thief.

Theona opened the second door and we made our way to a set of jail cells. I called to my friend as we knocked on each door. In the last of five, Glitch called out that he was inside. Theona, once again with thieves’ tools, opened the door and let him out. It was so good to see him again. After checking him out for any injuries and giving him a good scolding for getting himself into danger, all of which he was happy to endure, Glitch climbed into my backpack to find his favorite treats.

That being done, we moved on to find a room of sarcophaguses. This seemed to match the cleric’s dream, and proves to us that we are on the right track. We opened each one, ready to battle, only to find dried husks of which were of no danger to us. I then tried listening to the walls to see if I could tell which room had the hydra. After a few questions from the party I realized that I had not told them about the beast. I could see the spirits of the group weaken as I mentioned that I had seen at least five heads for sure, but there may have been more.

A bit more somber we headed out to check for other rooms and the tiger statue that brought us here in the first place. We found a door that when we listened to it, it sounded as if a great beast was moving inside. Being easy to figure, we found the hydra.

To my amazement Glitch once again volunteered to go and take a look. I agreed and set him on the floor, and he bravely climbed under the door. He informed me once under that there was a few doors on the left and one big one on the right. And he even went as far to take a good look at the hydra to confirm it was there. Having exceeded the bravery of several rat generations he came back and I gave him more treats.

I explained to the party that I could go up on the roof and get the hydra’s attention, then signal Glitch to signal them that it was safe to go through and attack it from behind. That was the plan. I got to the roof and was about to cast when I heard Glitch laughing. This is never a good thing. I quickly reached the hole and fired off a spell to try and help, but Ebin had already gone too far and gotten all of the hydra’s attention.

The rest of the party tried to help in what I can only call some of the bravest and stupidest maneuvers I have ever seen. And some were both at the same time. The next thing I know Theona had gotten herself in a corner, separated from the party, Ebin was hiding in the hall, and the hydra was leaving his room to go after him. I used on of my favorite spells, feather fall, to jump through the hole and land behind the hydra. Adding yet another brave yet stupid thing to the list. As my luck would have it, the hydra was more concerned with the three in the hall than me casting spells into its backside. Theona took the opportunity to go and open the door that the hydra was protecting, though she did seem a bit pale when I caught up to her.

The hydra was finally slain, but to add insult to injury the hydra died blocking the passage. My comrades had to go climb up the roof on the outside and then climb down from the ceiling through the hole to join us.

It was then that Theona explained that the next room contained a sarcophagus the size of a giant. Again, an easy one to put together, big vampire, very bad, only a few hours of sun left too. We went up to the roof and made another hole, and did everything we could to break the sarcophagus open, but as the night approached, valor was set aside for common sense, and we retreated to the camp of the previous night up on the hill.

Well, the morning broke and to my surprise, we were all still alive. It took several minutes to convince Glitch that we were not playing a joke on him, that we were not all really turned into vampires overnight. But common sense prevailed and he came out of my backpack and ate the treats I had arranged for him and in a few minutes he was humming a small tune. A drinking dirge actually. Something about a simple farmer that took his pitchfork to a cave to kill a dragon. A sad story actually.

The party ate an awfully solemn and cold breakfast. We all agreed to head back to the ruins and finish the creature off. Though I believe we were not all doing this for the same reasons. Me and Glitch, we really hate evil things and do our best to stop them from hurting innocent people. Not that we don’t mind a fight now and then too.

This fighter, Ebin, he seems to want to fight anything that moves. He has no rational other than, “Can I hit it with a big stick?” Glitch wants me to learn to make an illusion of an orc, over where a tree really stands. Just to see how long he would fight it. I have seen many of his kind in my day; they usually don’t last long.

The elves, they are dwelling on the statue thing to the point of near insanity. Most rational individuals would stroll away at this point. Actually, I think only Areon thinks this way and Theona just want to make her man happy. Not that he seems to exactly notice these sorts of things. I know elves are supposed to be aloof, but neither of these two seem to be living in the same world as each other, or us.

Deitricha, well, she just seems to follow the elves. For following a deity of love, she sure likes to hand out a lot of pain. In fact she seems the giddiest when in battle and drinking. Glitch thinks she ate a barbarian.

I think that is what I like about this group; they are all a little bit insane. I have discovered that on the surface they all seem mentally stable, but if you start to look below the surface, they are anything but.

Together in task if not in purpose we prepared and set off towards the ruins. Wanting not to have anyone sneak up behind us again, we decided to clear the first tower before moving on. We found some odd things. We got a couple uniforms from a mercenary group called “The Chill,” a handful of magical arrows, a lot of fine meats, and the favorite of the ladies and Glitch … a barrel of wine.

The three of them began drinking, and the other three of us started looking around harder. Soon we were joined by a trio of … umm…. happy friends. The rest of the place was empty and we made our way to the other tower. This tower was also empty, except for the vampire. This is where the fun started, the fun that must be documented to be studied by others who wish to kill a vampire. Documents that tell what the heck not to do.

—First we tried to open the ceiling up more to let in more sun before opening the sarcophagus to kill the vampire.

Ok, it was overcast and starting to rain. Then the party wondered if the vampire was still in there, or even alive. So after entirely too much bickering I made everyone stand back for I had decided to do both open ceiling and the sarcophagus at once. Ok, maybe not an elegant solution, but hey what are sorcerers for?

—Ceiling is opened and the sarcophagus is cracked.

Now we tried looking in from up close, which in review was maybe our most bone-headed of ideas. We see the creature, and it is not moving. Well, now we are wondering if it is alive. Again the squabble begins. Here folks, is where a party leader is important. And since we don’t really have one, nobody stopped me again. I asked everyone to back up, and they did. I looked in the crack at the body from about 20 feet away and cast my most powerful acid spell. As I finished my hand movements and watched the orbs of acid fly into the body I received a confirmation that the vampire was alive. What confirmation do you ask? Well, apparently when you attack a vampire in his sarcophagus, they like to stand up so quickly and violently that the sarcophagus explodes.

—Vampire alive and angry.

Quickly I backed up, some sort of instinct for self survival. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the others doing the same, well, except for Ebin. I think where he grew up they never heard of vampires, or had anyone say don’t charge the big powerful undead thing. No, where he grew up they just charge in, and he did. I will give him credit, he did last four or five seconds before the vampire, which was a giant in case I forgot to mention, snapped his limp body up and ripped his head half off, then drank his blood as if the body was just a tavern mug of ale. We all attacked with bow and spell, except Areon. No, his logic sent him around to the back side of the beast. At first I thought to get a better angle or to confuse the beast. Nope, he snuck in and grabbed the statue and back up. He had the look of a man about to run and abandon his party. I will never know if that would happen because the three things that happened almost at once. Deitricha cast a spell that hurt the vampire badly. The vampire hit her with his club and fist and she dropped to into death’s darkness. Lastly I hit the beast with a giant ball of lightning finishing the battle that killed two of my friends.

The battle over, we went to our downed friends. Sadly the best we could hope for was to take their bodies to the nearest town and hope a powerful cleric was there. We spent the next day crafting a raft, and making sure there was no more treasure left behind. Then we loaded the bodies of our friends and loot of our journey onboard and drifted down stream.

I have to give him credit; Areon can build a nice raft. The trip went without incident, and we arrived in the town this entire trip into the swamp started in. To our luck there was a cleric in town who with a little convincing and a lot of gold was able to bring our friends back to life.

Sometimes when I see such miracles I begin to wonder if I chose the wrong path in life. If I should have listened to my mother, and become a cleric. I think of all the healing and protection I could have given people. The lives I could have touched. The children I could have cured of illnesses.

Then I think of the huge ball of electricity enveloping a group of charging orcs. The site of their hair standing on end as their eyes swell and stare blankly in pain. Oh no, I made the right decision, and tonight I will raise a toast to that decision with my very best friend Glitch.