The Raiders of the Raven's Tomb

The RedWater Fellowship prepare to battle a demonic foe, deep in the Raven's Tomb.

 With massive statues of orcish female and male warriors, witch doctors and sages looking on, the Fellowship watch as the massive creature rises from the circular hole in the ground. The stone floor is covered in a black ooze, making the footing treacherous with the smell of sulfur and rotting flesh.
Screams and cries can be heard rising from the hole as well as a black mist that seeps along the ground.
Elsewhere a single hero rides to catch up to his friends. The demon raises an arm and a mass of smaller creatures rise from the hole and engage the Fellowship.

Soon after battle is engaged, Cedric arrives and all fight these

demonic entities. A horde of smaller creatures attack and try to overrun many, while a small creature soars above annoying the adventurers. With the spells of Graxus the many-titled (DM: I think he got 2 new titles this session), the arrows of Gothi and his powerful shark-hound - which had multiple kills - JawBone, to the protection and massive blows of the paladin Cedric, and finally the fantastic shooting and swordplay of Doc Holliday, the tide of demons is stopped. The party tries to determine then how to stop this flow of evil oozing out of the hole. Carefully looking over the edge a strange and horrid landscape is seen by the Fellowship. Below five hundred or size hundred feet is a writhing mass of humanity, orcs, goblins, kobolds. They are continually being harassed and attacked by a host of demons.
Looking down with his spyglass, Doc Holliday is at first uncertain and then confirms the sight of his Grandfather Holliday, he is on the top of a small hillock and organizing some to fight back.
Doc Holliday and the Fellowship try and devise ways to rescue the once caretaker of the Tomb of the Raven, but are unable to.
Kantif rejoins the party and his rogue skills are key to some further exploration.
As Cedric realizes a way to close this gate to the abyss, he prays to his god and at first reluctant, then Doc Holliday joins and with the power of the 2 gods,the black ooze receding and mist dissipating and finally the demonic gate closes,
Venturing further into the Raven Tomb, the adventurers come across 2 passages, angling down. Taking the left, they spiral down and come into a round room. There are 4 statues of orc warriors spaced around the wall as if holding the ceiling. In the centre of the room is a large sarcophagus. The stone lid is in the form of a 7' tall orc warrior.
Doing some research, the party determines that this is the WarLord Targak Selnagrak, leader of the orcish empire that once rules these lands over 500 years passed, before the elves defeated them. Further investigation shows that the lid had been recently moved. The party lift off and see much wealth about the skeletal orc, except the fingers were broken and the sword - HIS sword - had been taken.
Tomb robbers.
The Fellowship return and take the other passage, it takes a similar path to similar room. There are 2 sarcophagi here. One for Matron Silitar - an oracle and seer, and General Tenin - son of Targak and a heroic warrior. Both looked to be untouched.
Returning up, using the tracking skills of Gothi the party finds a secret door that it seems the tomb robbers used. The narrow passage led upwards to a secret door in the watch tower of the camp. It seemed that the orcish camp was built on what was once the orc citadel - centre of power, 500 years past.

Meeting a grey dwarf and Jankin in conversation. Realizing that the tomb raiders had a few weeks head start, the Fellowship met with Doc's grandmother, herself a powerful seer whom assisted the party. Doc was told to look for a face tattoo on a person in Wayberry, a very distinctive tattoo. Jankin and Gothi tracked the tomb robbers, and it seemed there were 4 - one with a boot heel with 2 nails awry. After some interesting conversations, the party decided to visit the Standing Stones a landmark to an ancient battle (North West) and then head off to the ancient Elf Keep to the Northeast. Doc Holliday had fond memories of this place  - of a sort - he dared Gilwin to climb to the top of tower and she did, coming back down she told him of ghosts she had seen..
Saying goodbye to Jankin and his small tribe, before the party left the grey dwarf gave them a newspaper - the Wayberry Gazette - a magic paper that would update with new news on occasion.

Heading Northwest the Fellowship camped and came to the River Seran. A rope barge cold been seen on the far side 100' across. The nearside had a small hut, but no one was in. The party tried to get the attention of the barge man, but no one came out from the larger building on the far side. Goth jumped on JawBone and the shark-hound swam easily across, Gothi holding on in the cold Spring rush of water.
Entering the inn, he came upon the 2 proprietors: Carl - a gnome, and Sando - a dwarf. Striking up a conversation with the 2 interesting characters, the party finally made it across. They learned some key information - 6 drow had come by and used the barge to travel across south towards the orc camp. This made for some animated discussion. Carl was more than willing to pass on details on the supposed tomb robbers:

•  Leader was a female - bald
• 2nd in command, male with an eye patch
• 4 male warriors

Traveling onwards, they came to a lake and the Standing Stones - it seemed a shrine or former battleground to Gruumsh the god of orcs - only 2 were now standing, 3 had fallen. Doc Holliday used a mirror that allowed him to locate any object. So he scanned for a sword. There were none in the lake but he did locate at least one in the area of the Standing Stones. Graxus used his sorcerous power to dig and came upon a sword. A unique blade - looking to be an executioner's sword. The former owner it seemed did not appreciate and an undead spirit attacked. Not taking long the fallen foe was put to rest.
Moving on the Fellowship headed east along an old path and finally in the distance the old elf Keep could be seen in the distance..

City of Wayberry

Maps

Holliday Orc Camp

 

Hand drawn map by Connor for his family tribe camp in the hills north east of Duress estate.

Local regional map around the Holliday Orc camp 

 

Duress Estate is about 1/2 day ride to southwest.

(Wayberry is another 1/2 day ride again to southwest of Duress Estate)

I'm havin' a bit of a Conundrum..

2nd month of the year - Starday -  5th day of Readying (for most - Elves it is the month of Yellowillow)

The Fellowship awoke from restful sleep, for some of the stalwart band, it had been many days they had last slept in a comfortable bed and room.
Walking down the grand staircase, all smelled the enticing smells of bacon, sausage, pancakes, eggs and more wafting up from the kitchen.
The twin chefs made a splendid buffet for the Fellowship. Many questions and conversations brought up a number of current events:

• There was to be a the seasonal winemaker guild meeting in 2 weeks - 13 days. The Duress estate needs a master, or none can attend. This is a critical  meeting for both the continuing business and life of the estate, advised Trust the butler.
• In recent months, one of the formerly best vineyards (giving the famous Duress Ice Wine), was sold off to the Crakin estate. This was to cover costs and taxes etc. This allowed the Duress Vineyards to survive a little longer. Trust advised privately to the Doctor and the Fellowship (after Doc vouched for them) that they would run out of moneys to support the estate in little over a month 
• Crakin brothers - as the Fellowship know 1st hand - have been seen riding on Duress lands quite often every week.
• The latest news of the various fronts:
• Black Runes - The capital city of Tringlee has been taken by the Black Runes as a major headquarters for their forces. Black Runes continue to move westward, into Keoland and Southwest along the coast
• To the North the hordes of Iuz the Cambion Daemon Lord fight south and East, engaging the Overlord Romack's armies north of the Kron Hills and near Verbobonc
• It seems that Iuz and the Black Runes have a peace agreement or alliance (?) of sorts as there is no current hostilities between the two empires
• There was further discussion of the large monster that was rumored to have taken the head winemaker and possibly defeated Doc Holliday's father. Gothi was ready to head out and track and capture the monster, looking at a variety of traps as she planned , to do this, whereas the rest of the party, Doc fingering his pistol, rather thought to kill it.
• Discussion of an heir for the Duress estate brought up the will, Trust advising it was probably in Master Duress' study.
• Visiting the city of Wayberry as well as Doctor Holliday's family orcish camp up in the hills were discussed as well

While Kantif, Graxus, Doc and Thograa went up to Master Duress' study, accompanied by Trust, Gothi decided to go start doing some tracking of the monster, eager to capture it or at least find some sign of the beast.
Entering the now unused study, they found a grand room, lined with book shelves as well as a large OOC: one of the common phrases of the day was: "Wish we had a wizard to identify items!" )

fireplace and large windows overlooking the estate. Asking Thograa to detect magic, they started searching. While at the large oak desk, they came upon a variety of information, and some possible magic items, as well as elvish armour, helm, shield and weapons that stood on a manikin  (
Graxus found a secret passage behind then fireplace and a narrow small passage descending down into the darkness.

Meanwhile, Gothi had with the assistance of the dwarf gamekeeper, Runthyr, had came upon the tracks of the massive bi-pedal beast. Each foot was over 2' long, the ranger estimated. Realizing this monster may be too much to overcome, especially with its pack of dark hounds it ran with, Gothi and

Runthyr returned to the estate.

Upon her return, she followed the lizard-man sorcerer into the dark passage - Graxus cleverly having secured a rope and tied it around his waste. Meanwhile Kantif and Doc searched the desk and Thograa was scanning a variety of tomes.

Graxus and Gothi both needed light so torches were prepared. Descending downwards a step was depressed by Graxus and the stone door at the fireplace closed... darkness. They decided to move onward, coming to an area where there were stepping stones in a flooded area of dark brackish water.
Jumping from stone to stone, a slip and Graxus fell in. Feeling a spiked tentacle around his leg! Battle was engaged, then Gothi fell in as well.
Some crafty spell-casting by the sorcerer and fighting by the ranger allowed the two to escape back to dry land, both gasping for breath and wounded. Retreating the two found the secret pull-chain and were able to exit back into the study.

A painting on one wall showing a blasted alien landscape -which seemed to continually change - held a safe behind it with some interesting books and scrolls as well as a heavily enchanted case.
The books one in an unknown language had 667 pages, another was called: "All-Seeing Tale of
Inscrutable Rituals - bound in some strange hide. One scroll was an agreement between Chromatic Dragonkin and the Master of Duress, allowing the summoning of twenty Dragon-kin knights for battle. The final of the scrolls was the deed to the Duress estate and mentioned a cousin in Wayberry - a 1/2 elf whom may well now be the Master of Duress. going under the name of the Dralos Seensar (assumedly his mother's name)

Placing most of this back in the wall safe and securing the painting - touching the 2 moons (which now were near the horizon) sealed the area.
The Fellowship geared up, having decided to visit Doctor Holliday's family tribal camp. Going out to JawBone. He was trying to figure out if he could make it more fearsome than the monsters already double row of teeth..
the stables, Nalin it looked to have b=moved into the unused smithy and was already hard at work. He took a few orders from the party including creating a possibly strange mouth piece for Gothi's shark-hound,
Heading North into the hills, the Fellowship saw more evidence of the Crakin brothers, the boundary
markers chipped and punched through with musket ball holes. Doctor Holliday knew these lands well and with both his guidance and the excellent tracking skills of Gothi they made good time.
Finally, they saw the telltale signs of the Doctor's tribe. Then further up a path, the stream along one side nearly overflowing with spring melt, they came upon a body. A dwarf in black leathers.
All of the Fellowship went on high alert as they moved forward. Then ahead the camp was seen as well as the high watch, normally never lit, but now with 2 lanterns.
All the party prepared weapons, Doc Holliday checking his pistol. Moving forward they saw a single dwarf with a crossbow at the gate to the camp. Overcoming his first instinct to shoot, they moved forward. After a few words, the grinning dwarf motioned the group to enter. It seemed there was a parley going on.
Entering the camp, 4 dwarves with crossbows on the walls all watched the adventurers, while 3 more spoke with a tall orc further into the camp.
Doctor Holliday stopped, swings down from his horse "Hey fellas, I'm having a bit of a conundrum here.. I only have 4 bullets and there's more than 4 of you.. what do you suggest?"
There was a moment that lasted it seemed for some to be an eternity and then, the crack of pistol fire,
With incredible skill and speed, 3 dwarves' crossbows fell to the ground while the 4th dwarf coughing up blood slumped over and fell to the ground from his perch. It seemed battle was engaged. A firebolt from a cough from Graxus' mouth took another of the dwarf crossbowmen down. Then a yell from the other side of the camp, the tall orc running over waving his arms.
It seems there was a misunderstanding.. these dwarves originally thought to be Black Rune dwarves,
were NOT.. they were grey dwarves, a group of merchants from the Underdark.
The Fellowship pulled up weapons and then under the watchful eye of the orc - Jankin - and the dwarf leader, they all dropped their weapons. Reparations were made, the revivification of the 2 just dead dwarves using the sorcerous power of the circus master Graxus, as well as a figurine of wondrous power.
The Grey dwarves appeased - for now - headed off to do more trading. Jankin spoke to the party and they learned of the current status, most of the warriors out hunting and watching to the North for forces of Iuz and to the East for the forces of the Black Runes. The Duchy may have surrendered, but that did not include the tribe.

The party was invited to meet with Doctor Holliday's grandmother, but the 1/2 orc was determined to find his grandfather first.
They decided to head down into the chambers of the dead - the hall of warriors.
Kantif looks at the tomb before him as he hears the whispering. “This place is pretty creepy, no offence Holiday. I never expected I’d be in someplace like this.”
Sigmund's raven flew off his shoulder and right through the massive doors to the chambers. They could hear the echo of her call even as they entered.
The halls were dark filled with blackest night. Even torches only shed a small circle of light around

the holder. The party explored down into the halls, taking in the number of dead, it seemed that this was once a mighty empire. Then the skithering of voices hit them all, it was hard to understand, over powering in some cases. Concentrating it seemed the fallen orcsih heroes all were telling their stories over and over again.
At first Doctor Holliday wanted to listen to them all, but then realized there were hundreds if not more fallen and entombed warriors both female and male here.
As Sigmund listens carefully to the stories of an ancestor. "If only you could hear this. Ill write it down and translate it later. When this is all over and we have peace im going to write all of their stories down in a grimoire of some sort."
Venturing on, they came into a massive room, the torches finally glowing out to far off walls. 15' statues of orcish warriors and generals lined both walls, grimly looking down upon the party. Raven feathers were engraved into the cloaks of most of the statues.

Then a rumbling jarred the Fellowship of RedWater. A crack opened up in the floor and boiling stinking fog spewed out dark as blackest night. a massive scaled hand sunk clawed fingers into the
floor pulling itself upwards revealing a massive demon. Grinning, drool spilling down from rows of teeth, burning holes into the stone as grating voice cut into the heroes' minds. "Hellooo pretties...."

Until next game..

GreySkull Mercenary Leaders

Commander Bajin

This dwarf is different from other Black Rune dwarves, he leads a regiment of dwarves (whom still grow their beards, goblins, hobgoblins, ogres and even 2 hill giants 

. Wearing heavy chain-mail with a BlackRune symbol with 2 crossed hammers over-top, dented helm and carries a large 2-handed hammer on his back as well as a shield and another hammer at his side. Some say the one-handed hammer returns when he throws it..

Bajin has a long blonde beard, 4 long braids, green eyes and weathered darkened skin. Bald, his skull shows dead grey skin - rumour is Bajin fought a ghost who touched the tough dwarf and withered his hair away.. he had been leading a smaller crew at the time and they decided to name the group there and then.

 

Dhemma Eberuzu - 

Bajin's wife. a dark elf woman -  is 2nd in command for the mercenary crew. Tall with long silver-white hair down her back, with violet glimmering eyes. Some say she is a wizard or witch. None cross her though to their detriment.. not even Bajin, whom loves her dearly.

There is a rumour they have a son, but none in the mercenary crew no more that that of the boy.