Umber

The adventurers once again avail themselves of Yiss’ hospitality; Svengali delivers a wedding invitation from Haissha and a present of sorts to Psydney.

With Marial’s assistance, the party makes its way through the passes of the Corusk and Griff Mountains without incident. After stopping in the town of Catbut to acquire horses and supplies, they continue southward to spend some time in the rather swampy but always sincere hospitality of King Yiss and his Lizard People. Kuhlefaran restores Bane, Magnus and Psydney to full and complete health. Jake, Bane and Magnus rest and train, but Psydney scarcely draws her sword, and spends hours in silent meditation.
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The party finds a coded missive to Gulthias from an old, mysterious nemesis, Ren. (sab)

Dearest G.

This letter is to inform you of an upcoming event that I believe will interest you.
Keep this note, as it will serve as your guest pass. Many friends, including
everyone that you met on your last visit will be there. It should be quite fun. In the
event that you cannot attend, please send me a note. Your attendance, as befits you, is
particularly desired.
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Meepo gains a friend and grows up a little; the adventurers learn that all is not well within the Circle of Eight. (sab)

With the finality of a coffin lid slamming shut, the wooden stake pierces Gulthias’ body. A ragged cheer rises from the open archway, where Thiff and her band have gathered to witness this final punctuation mark in the party’s long, dreary struggle against the mad vampire mage. “Truly this day have we been granted our freedom. Our long years of servitude are finally over. Our debt to you can never be repaid.” Almost reverently, she lifts Gulthias’ body up in her two lower arms, and turns to begin the long trek to the top of the Spire.
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The adventurers mull over the implications of their dreams, and exhibit what will prove to be rabid overconfidence. (af, dj, ler, tad)

After a night of dreams of uncanny reality, Bane is sitting upright, deep in thought, but apparently at ease. Jake is still sleeping quietly. Magnus awakes with a grin and clenches his fist a few times, as if testing its strength. Psydney is the last to awake. She draws her blade, checks its edge, and slams it back home, her visage the very icon of grim determination.
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Bane sleeps, and dreams…

Twin moons…orbiting? Or moving closer…Off in the distance, some beast howls. So very very cold…A stern-looking bespectacled man dressed in gray stands before you. “Power, my son,” he says, “is Truth.” To the left, three white-robed women kneel facing each other, as if in prayer, chanting slowly. The man points his finger down the hill that until now you did not realize you stood upon. “Look…”
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The party returns to Salt Marsh too late to save Alf, but travel to the Spire in the hopes of saving Meepo and foiling Gulthias’ plans for world domination (sab)

The party is travelling from White Plume Mountain toward Salt Marsh, discussing what to do about the baby Keraptis, which they have not entirely willingly acquired responsibility for, when the cuckoo hops to Bane’s shoulder and stares off intently to the southeast. After a few seconds, it raises its head and sounds a long, mournful wail, then dips its head and tucks itself back into Bane’s clothing.
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The party gains a cleric, nearly loses Bane to the curse of a psionic fungus and, in a classic case of saving the world only to potentially damn it, completes a ritual returning the all-powerful Keraptis to life and confronts…a newborn infant. (sab)

In which the party finds four of the most powerful weapons known to Greyhawk, only to destroy three of them to prevent every inhabitant in the world from being reduced to (1) drooling idiots, or (2) dueling False Kerapti.
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Bane narrowly escapes transformation into a shallow clone of a once-mighty mage. (sab)

Pleased to acquire several powerful new spells, Bane found himself subjected to a number of uncontrollable urges. Beware the symptoms:
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The obvious gnome imposter responds in a childish scrawl. (sab)

Freeday, Sunsell 7

Dearest Gulthias, Greetings.

As per our agreement, I am sending this agent with five scroll copies of a potent new spell I’ve developed. Please transfer the monies we’ve agreed upon to my agent. It is a pleasure doing business with you and I look forward to increasing contact with you in the future.

Best regards,

Keraptis

An intercepted letter which suggest that Gulthias was not merely a strange species of dangerous tree. (sab)

Godsday Sunsell 3

Greetings to the noble wizard Keraptis!

I, a devout follower of the ancient dragon Ashardalon, seek your aid in a pressing matter and am willing to reward you handsomely for your indispensable attention. If you wish to learn more, send an envoy back to me. The escorts will show you the way.

Keep in mind that I have also sent envoys, each of a slightly different nature, to those obvious imposters Urf and the Gnomish one. While obviously insane, their powers cannot be ignored and I seek to insult no one with such capabilities.

— Gulthias of the Spire