I got home late last night from my last trip. I was paid as usual, and asked if I would like to sign on again. I refused; I told the Captain it’s too boring, but I’ll keep it in mind. I went down to the Bright Blade Brandished Inn for some dinner and a few drinks. Listening to some rumors I found out an old acquaintance had died during a short-lived adventure. I thought about it a little and decided I’ll find his companions, offer my sympathies, and any help they might require. I know some might find it wrong, but it still seems to be a good opportunity for me, that is, if they don’t mind my company. It only took a few questions to get some names and an address. Theona Galanodel seems to be the reasonable one to see first. Elves, are after, all a bit more sensible then most races. I’ll stop by her place around mid-morning. I only hope she’s home.

Theona was at her home when I got there, but I think the loss of her friend weighed on her heavily. She seemed to accept my condolences, but when I offered her my services she asked me to do some strange things. At one point she even hid behind a tree to see what I’d do. I just stood there a bit confused. Then she told me to follow her to the inn.

Deitricha, and Areon were waiting there and after introductions, Theona asked where Tassar was. Two elves and a human cleric, I’ve been on caravans with a lot less. I can tell we’re off to a great start already. Deitricha and I went to get their two horses and, strangely enough, a riding dog. I picked up Comet, my warhorse, and off we went to the west gate to wait for the others. Soon Theona and Areon showed up with Tassar and that’s when I realized the purpose of the riding dog. Say what you will about halflings, I like this Tassar fellow. Nicer than some people I’ve traveled with.

With all of us riding we made it to a small hamlet before sunset. We decided to stop for the night, eat, drink, then go out in the morning. Being a bit short on cash I took a spot in the common room. It was okay; I wasn’t the only one there. I got up early and after a quick breakfast we set out again.

It was easy traveling and it wasn’t long till we saw the tower and my spirits fell. Close to the tower was a lone wolf. I hate wolves. No one believed me that it was a bad thing till out of nowhere the rest of the pack attacked us. I can still hear my father’s words echoing through time, “Wolves never hunt alone. If you see one, expect twenty.” and I did.

The next thing I knew I had a wolf on my ankles. I tried to hit it with a spell, then run but neither worked, and I was down. As it tried to drag me away I took one final swing with my mace. If I’m going down, I’m going to take as many as I can with me. Then everything went dark.

In the darkness of oblivion I returned back to a time almost thirteen years ago. I was eight or nine and riding with my father. Looking off to the one side, I saw the biggest dog I’d ever seen up till then. “Look dad!” I yelled, and as he turned I watched his face pale. “Get in the back, get down and stay there!” He practically threw me in the back of the wagon as he said it. Then the horses started to run as fast as they could. There was no attack that day, but my father explained to me later what could have happened.

Then the darkness recedes and I’m looking up into a face that appears to be outlined in pure light. The face smiles apparently relieved and pulls away from view leaving me staring at the sun. Deitricha had healed my wounds and was off to see if anyone else needed healing. Tassar, at this point, mentions eating some wolf meat. I said it sounded good, and as he cooked I looked at our surroundings. In this tower there was one stairwell. It went up about six feet or so, and down into darkness.

After lunch we tried to allow Theona to go first but I fell along with Tassar and Otto, Tassar’s dog. I only took a few seconds to look around. As I watched Tassar set fire to cobwebs in one room I heard Deitricha yell from another. Peering out I saw the strangest insect on her back. I hit it with magic missile then stepped back for Tassar to get closer. Soon I was able to see more, so I missiled them also. We’re just standing around right now, so I’ll wait till they’re ready to move on.

I waited patiently for a bit, but after a while of just standing there I asked if we could get moving again. At first there was no response, but soon enough the hall cleared out and I found myself walking down a flight of stairs. I heard someone mention about a room filled with crushed bones. This didn’t seem to bother anyone else but me, so I waited in the doorway and looked around for the glow of any magic items with that one very useful spell detect magic. I love that spell, comes in very handy. Noticing that there was nothing of interest in the room we moved on.

The next room seemed to have a story played out. There was a robed figure, much like a mage, pinned to the wall with a bastard sword. Apparently dead for some time now. On the floor not too far away was another figure, this one dressed in armor. This person had a bow, a shield and an empty scabbard. Now I noticed, upon entering, the statues of mages lining both sides of this room. Each one appeared to be in the middle of casting a different spell. Try as I might I couldn’t figure out just what was being cast. After taking everything of value we moved on.

Tassar was being impatient, and moving ahead fell into a pit trap. Deitricha decided to go after him. It took us a while to get them out. Tassar still impatient tried to jump, but being so small only made it back into the pit again. We got him out and Theona, with a rope around her waist, jumped to the other side. This is where I lost interest for about a minute. The next thing I knew I heard combat from the other side. Being so far back I could only stand there. After a bit I was able to see enough to get off a spell, but it wasn’t enough. Tassar, who had apparently found a way across, went down just after Theona was yanked back across the pit trap by Areon. Theona quickly wedged the trap shut, showing she thinks better under pressure, and off Deitricha went to save Tassar. That’s when I got a good look at the enemy. I wasn’t sure if they were constructs or undead so I tried a disruption spell on one to no effect. After that all I could do was attempt to do actual damage. All my spells missed. All except for the last one that is. That one accidentally hit Tassar. I apologized but I don’t think he heard me because after the constructs fell he turned on me so fast no one could stop him. It was totally uncalled for and we’re going to have a discussion about it soon. One he won’t forget.

I want to get this down in what probably will be my last few minutes alive. I would say on this world, but being as we left our world I can’t. Allow me to explain.

I awoke this morning with a minor headache, probably from the unwarranted beating I got last night. I don’t blame Tassar though; there is something about that place that is definitely evil. I felt it from the moment I set foot in what was left of the door topside. I didn’t think much of it— just an underlying feeling I had. The longer I was there the more I got the impression it’s not the place but something it’s connected to. Things started to really get fuzzy at that point and all I wanted was some fresh air. I mentioned I was going up for some air, but no one seemed to notice so I just left. The sun and clean air was nice till I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye. I hate wolves.

I ran about as fast as I could till I got to the room with all the mage statues. Something about this room makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I walked the rest of the way to the room everyone was waiting in hurrying a little over the pit tap. I mentioned the wolves twice before anyone took notice and even then Tassar only wanted to kill one to eat it. I was all for it at the time though; it’s better to eat wolves then to be eaten by wolves anyway. I never noticed everyone else following us, not that we ever did get topside again. Had I known that was going to be my last look at the light of day, I would have relished it a bit more. But I digress; allow me to continue.

About half way up the stairs, one of the ladies we were traveling with called us back down. By the way Tassar ran back down I figured it was Deitricha who called, but I wasn’t sure, that feeling of being so close to evil suddenly got stronger. When we got to the room with the mage statues, Theona pointed out a hallway that was apparently behind a secret door and asked me, of all people, why I hadn’t noticed it. As politely as I could, I ignored the comment and went to join Tassar and Areon down the hall to see what had scared the ladies. At the end of the hall there was part of a ladder attached to a wall going down. About 20 feet down there seemed to be a dwarf apparently half buried under rubble. I tied my rope to a ladder rung and Tassar climbed down, I thought, to help the dwarf. What Tassar did next shocked me. I watched as he sat on the dwarf and pulled his beard. I hurriedly climbed down myself along with everyone else. Theona got Tassar off and I stared to remove the rubble. Helping the dwarf to his feet I attempted to make apologies, but all he seemed interested in was ale. Theona gave him some and he told us his name was Rosorc.

Rosorc had apparently been there awhile and as we talked a bit I head the creak of a door. I said, “Great now what?” I think Rosorc heard me because he dropped behind a shield with speed I didn’t think he had. Then there’s that feeling of evil, even stronger now. It feels like it’s emanating form someplace very close by. The next thing I know I hear a slight clicking noise followed by a loud crash and I’m snapped back into focus again in time to see 2 armored figures attack Tassar and Deitricha. They apparently were caught on the wrong side of a cage that fell out of the ceiling. Everyone did what they could and Rosorc had some great ideas about me casting fire on some oil he smashed on the skeletons that appeared. After a while I ran out of good spells and decided to try to burn the bars away with an acid cantrip I had. Didn’t work. Then the bars were removed. I noticed this, but for some reason it didn’t register. That feeling of evil— it overwhelmed me I guess. I had trouble focusing as my mind started to drift. I saw what was going on around me, but I felt like I was somewhere else. Then someone yelled at me to help the fallen companions. I snapped back to real life and if I had known then I would have left in a hurry. By Lathander I almost did.

We went through the doors at the end of this hall and what I saw was a shambles. Even though I can see in the dark, I can’t see as well as in light, so I created light. In the center of this room on a table was what appeared to be a dissected gnome. Rosorc appeared to be very affected by it, and as he tried to cover it up the gnome turned its head and looked right into my eyes. What I saw there brought me back to a summer just after my ninth birthday. My dad and I were going back to Silverymoon from Everlund. This woman offered the guards some cash to travel with them and let’s face it a little extra cash is always helpful. She had a child with her. I was latter informed that he was a tiefling, but at the time all I knew was that I didn’t like him. I asked him where his dad was as we camped the first night, he said Hell. I must have looked confused because the kid explained his dad lived in Hell and they were going to Hell to his dad. The look in his eyes gave me nightmares for weeks after.

The next thing I knew I was looking at a ceiling. Sitting up I looked around; I noticed we were in the same room with the dissected gnome, its head now lying on the floor. Deitricha told me how it spoke and I ran. She apologized profusely for beating me unconscious, even though I told her not to worry about it. She also informed me of the treasure they found while I was out and they were planning on resting here for another day to fully heal up. The feeling of evil surrounding us was still there, but not as intense. As we waited I pondered over my dream. I couldn’t for the life of me remember that boy’s name. I still don’t know why it’s bothering me so much, I just get the feeling it would be very helpful.

After 2 days we opened what was to be the last door in this place. There was a chest filled with all kinds of goodies in it and a circle of runes on the floor. The feeling of evil was very strong there. It had me preoccupied as I tried to study the runes. Then, out of the corner of my eye I caught what appeared to be a copper piece fly through the air and vanish over the circle. That’s when I figured it was a portal, but I didn’t know where to. At least I wasn’t positive. I simply mentioned it and that it probably went both ways; most portals do. PROBABLY. Meaning not definitely. Unfortunately Tassar didn’t understand the difference and went running in, followed by Deitricha yelling at him for doing so. I didn’t think— I just went after.

That feeling of evil is overpowering now as I open my eyes. It’s all around me as I notice the blood red sky above me and matching earth below me. Rosorc appears next to me and Theona and Areon show up a minute later holding hands. I try very hard to conceal my heritage within the depth of this outfit I got not too long ago. I watch as a large group of devils move between us and this green fortress off to the left. Tassar begins moving to the right towards some mountains. That seems like a better idea then the fortress so I follow. That’s when I hits me. Haimen. His name was Haimen I say to myself as we begin to walk to what I hope will be a safe place for us.

“Third from the left, fourth from the right, the door in the center leads to your desire.”

That’s a rhyme my father used to say often when someone traveling with our caravan started talking about different worlds.

As you probably guessed, we are still alive. This small miracle was accomplished by a lot of running. Allow me to pick up where I left off.

We started heading towards the mountain range being as it seemed to be the safest choice. On the way this small black creature covered in horns appeared from around an extremely large boulder. Tassar approached it telling it his name and that it probably heard of him. I would have laughed right there if the creature hadn’t dropped to the ground shaking and screaming in a language I didn’t understand. I asked it if it spoke common and all it said was “no hurt” over and over. After a while of discussion, Hixtali, as its name turned out to be, agreed to lead us to a place where an evil sorcerer lived. Now being in Hell itself, I figured anything it considered evil was probably going to be extremely helpful to us.

We were led to a river of blood and forced to cross it to reach our destination. I hated it. Almost to the other side Deitricha yelled and started to run. Apparently something attached itself to her leg and started leaching off of her. The creatures were quickly removed and after some special healing we continued as far as this devil would take us. It was obvious the creature was evil especially when it started licking the blood from the river off of himself.

Hixtali came to a stop several feet from the cave of this sorcerer and refused to go any further. I decided to continue up as well as several of my companions. This cave felt just as evil as the rest of Hell, but the half elf who eventually emerged form a small cottage inside this cave didn’t seem evil. She was mad that much is obvious, but not evil.

We talked about a way to get us home, and she said she could do it if she had my eyes. She would need both of them, one for us and one for her. I was almost convinced to do it when she let slip about another possible way out. I had to giver her my hair in exchange for the information. My companion are apparently unaware that the blood of the divine flows through my veins. However diluted it may or may not be, it’s still there. I informed her before we left that if this didn’t work I would give her my eyes for the spell to go home.

We followed the flow of the blood river for a while and eventually came to a pillar of skulls we were informed to go see. There was only one obstacle on the way and that was simply to hide from some blue creatures that look very much like dwarves. Talking to this pillar was difficult at best, but eventually we got what we needed to know from them. Apparently there was a portal out of Hell a little further down the blood river, we only needed a key. All we needed we a piece of the Avernus. I was informed that this is a street leading out of the green fortress we saw when we first arrived in Hell almost 8 hours ago.

Looking ahead we did see a bridge, but it was guarded by being I have never seen before and really didn’t want to fight. So we went back to the place we first crossed the river and re-crossed it to get our portal key. We got to this Avernus a little too easily if you ask me. As we rounded the last corner of the fortress we saw what appeared to be an army gathering to go out to battle. The creatures were so fierce even Tassar paled a little.

We waited for them to go and after awhile they did. Tassar decided to prove himself by going out to get the brick from the road. As he was returning with it winged creatures took off from the fortress. We knew we couldn’t outrun them so we prepared to fight when we noticed another batch of winged creatures advancing on the fortress. We took this opportunity to get away and ran all the way back to the other side of the blood river.

We stopped just in time to see the dwarf-like things from before coming our way, and this time they saw us. Off we were again running as fast as we could while staying together, past the pillar of skulls and giving the bridge a wide birth. I had to look over my shoulder after we passed the bridge, and I wish I hadn’t. All the creatures guarding the bridge had joined the pursuit. Looking ahead we saw the structures we were looking for and there was the most hideous being I had ever seen. Something in his eyes reminded me of Haimen, but I’m sure it wasn’t him, after all what are the odds that would happen? He said we could go, but only if we took this black orb with us. Tassar took it as the portal opened up and we all jumped though.

My eyes were closed when I felt sturdy ground beneath me. Opening them, and being very thankful I still had them, I looked around. Everything in this place, which I’m told is the City of Doors, looks rundown. It’s kind of dark right now. I look up hoping to see sky and I catch the twinkle of lights. The orb crumbles to dust and I think, “That’s over.” I need a hot bath and some new clothes.

The City of Doors is a strange place indeed. Maybe another time I would have enjoyed exploring it, but we have horses we need to get back and there’s a portal to Hell we need to close.

We eventually found an inn, bathed, slepted, and gathered enough information to find a way out. Right now we just finished killing more undead. Killing undead... that always makes me smile a little. Providing a few zombies are all we have to deal with, then Lathander willing, we shall be home by night fall.

We dispatched those zombies a little too easily and I soon found out why. The party split up and I followed Rosorc figuring he’d be the safest bet. He checked a room while I waited in the hall. Shortly after he vanished from view I heard a noise off to the one side and Rosorc holler for help in another direction. He was closer so I went to see what was happening only to find him fighting what looked like a shadowy thing. I attempted to help, and then Theona appeared cast some light then ran off to get everyone else. I didn’t know it at the time, but they had problems of their own they were dealing with. Eventually Deitricha came and somehow made Rosorc’s waraxe a magical weapon. He was able to finish off the shadowy things and that’s when I saw a light off in the distance. Tassar was fighting something but I couldn’t make out what it was. The three of us immediately went to help. It was more zombies and some other undead with a bit more intelligence in their eyes. It was an interesting but short battle ending with Rosorc telling us that the black rose was glowing. As Rosorc was attempting to find which way the portal was it opened right before us in swirling colors. Something cold touched me at that point and I felt very weak, so I quickly jumped through the portal…

and into a hall. Everyone else slowly appeared as if out of nowhere. Rosorc mentioned the dwarven architecture ad so I asked if he knew where we were. He didn’t and so Areon and Tassar both scouted. We ended up following Tassar down to a small room with writing on the wall. Rosorc read aloud the history of this place. The story ended up being spread across 4 rooms. I know we’re in our home world now, but not to sure exactly where. It was mentioned about resting here and so we did. A good night’s sleep did help to clear my head a little and with the healing Deitricha had given me I have most of my strength now. In the morning we explored a bit. Rosorc was beaming with pride when we found a large room with banners of different dwarven families hanging on the walls. We looked down a side door and started searching the smaller rooms. Tassar ran ahead as he often does and when I saw him toss his torch back I knew he found something. Now we’re going to see what.

The thing Tassar had found was a room full of orcs apparently eating dinner. We caught them by surprise and things were going well until I saw 2 large ogres enter. I hit one 2 or 3 times with different spells before it got me. I stayed alert and watched Tassar finish it off. He hollered a number at Rosorc who yelled a higher number back. They really need to get over who kills more, but what can you expect from fighters. The room was cleared soon enough and we ventured further. A door on our right led to another door with the mentioning of drow on it so we decided to leave that alone and check the kitchen. We got there just in time to hear Tassar yell, “the stew is mine.” There apparently were only a couple of orcs coming because they were all dead before I entered the room. We followed the hall these orcs came from only to be ambushed by crossbow bolt. The battle was on again and all I had left was cantrips. Fortunately that was all I needed. Rosorc fell into the only pit and as I went forward to help him out I was hit by a flying orc.

The next thing I new Deitricha was helping me to my feet and we were talking about a large door. Being unable to open it we turned back to the great hall we found earlier that morning. Checking the different doors we eventually found an altar to one of the dwarven gods. On this altar was the most amazing war axe I’ve ever seen. We left Rosorc alone with it and after a bit he emerged with a new weapon; unfortunately Tassar was gone again. He came running back into his hall we are now in gasping for air. He attempted to explain what he saw, but no one understood him. Tassar and Rosorc then went to investigate, but Deitricha cut that short so we are resting here for now. I hope we find our way out soon; I’d like to see the sun again.

We traveled for a bit down one of the corridors obviously lost in this labyrinth of a fortress. As we traveled I decided to watch for any creatures from above being as Tassar had an encounter with one. I did see a large opening in the ceiling at one point but Rosorc said it appeared to be from an already spent trap. Walking a few feet further I saw what he meant. A large cylinder of stone had apparently come to rest rather abruptly at the end of this hall and apparently taken someone with it many years ago. Shortly after seeing this someone spotted a rust monster. I didn’t know what it was at the time, but I soon found out as booth my shield and armor rusted off me before my very eyes. A couple of spells and a few well-placed arrows took care of them, but the damage was already done. Being as we couldn’t stop or turn back we went forward. Theona I think found a secret door and we looked inside. I was the last one in and figured we’d be safer if the door was closed. Soon I heard sounds of combat and entering this room I saw Tassar and Rosorc battling an Earth elemental. I kept out of its reach, casting spells as best I could watching the 2 fighters fall over get healed and fall again. Then Theona cast enfeeblement on it with her wand and the elemental was soon defeated. We then had to rest and tend to our wounds.

Early the next day Tassar had got a bit anxious to be on and fell into another pit trap. I don’t know what all happened to him while he was down there, but when we got him back he had a black longsword and matching dagger. All I heard him say was Drow, and then he passed out. Deitricha carried him as we worked our way through the hidden chambers and found what appeared to be a barracks filled with spider webs. Of course with webs comes spiders and the battle was on. Rosorc got the poison this time but we were able to dispatch them before it got to really affect him. We decided to rest here another day being as both our fighters were currently impaired. The next day Rosorc went one way while the rest of us went the other. We didn’t get 50 feet hen we opened a door containing 4 creatures with beastlike heads, a red robed wizard and apparently a scribe of some type. Tassar, Theona and I went in, then I remembered I had no armor, so I just as quickly left thinking I would be safer with people between me and them. That’s when I saw Rosorc and Areon running down the hall towards me. The next thing I know everything went black. When I could see again I saw a crossbow bolt coming right for me. Suddenly a nap seemed like a good idea and I drifted off to oblivion.

I was very surprised to awaken to my companions’ faces instead of a priestess standing over me about to sacrifice me to some evil god. There was some armor lying around from the drow and it fit nicely. Now I just wait for everyone to wake up and hopefully this headache will be gone by then.