Equinox

10/24/1999

Prelude

At Long Lake
silence

At the Manor
This wine sucks.
No kidding. That elf is a pansy, let's go get a beer
I'm with you

Somewhere
Damn, and I had so hoped to watch him die.
I thought he was your friend
Ha! He was a tool, now I don't need him. I have other plans

Summary of the Adventure

Things looked bleak for Daran and Androth as the mighty strangler began to squeeze them ever more tightly in its grasp. They struggled, but to no avail - the monster's grip was like iron and they could barely move. Malz released a spell which dissolved the wooden vine which threatened to squeeze the life from his friend Daran. Harkonen and Calidon strode forward with weapons in hand. Harkonen's axe bit deep and Androth was released, the three scrambled back to safety.

Calidon, moved by a spirit rarely seen by his companions, lay about with his sword, heedless of the danger. Two more of the tentacles were severed with mighty ^tm blows of his massive weapon. He moved forward again, relentless in his attack on the fell creature, but four more of the wooden tentacles snaked down from above and he was held fast. Harkonnen, fearing for Calidon's life, charged forward and cut one. It wasn't much help but it was enough, with one heave of his mighty ^tm arms, Calidon was free and then two more tentacles were removed. The fourth retreated to the room above.

The company was badly wounded and rather than press on, they chose to rest in the wizard's bedroom. Arriving there, they found Andivari Shea waiting for them. Properly rested, they pressed forward on their quest, entering the new room, heedless of the danger of the tentacled monster. Andi took the lead, his keen senses focused on the slightest sign of danger. As he neared the top of the stairs, something suddenly rushed at him. He fended it off with one hand and drew forth his sword with the other. The creature, a docile looking rabbit, fell to the ground below and hopped away.

The room was a deciduous forest, remarkable for both its variety and its size. As the grop crossed the room, it appeared the spells which governed the environment were out of control. In the space of an hour, they experienced nearly a whole year of seasons in the forest. Other than that constant move from dark to light, the only hazard was the rabbits, who were far too numerous to be entirely natural.

Leaving the room, they entered into a lab, which Malz recognized as being aimed primarily at students. They continued their investigation, eventually identifying the complex as a school for magicians, but encountering nothing. Finally, they found two secret doors, one leading to the right and the other to the left.

Following the first, they were shocked by a magical trap which brought fire upon them. The door led to a secret guardroom overlooking the entrance to the school.

The second door proved more fruitful leading first to a "teacher's lounge" and then to another hidden passage. At the end of the passage was a door. As they moved down the passageway, Malz noted another secret door. Opening that door, they at last discoved the fabled Library of Lylgamen.

As they explored the library, alert for danger, Androth was suddenly struck by a spectre which melted away before he could react. They began looking for it in earnest and, when they spotted it cowering against one wall, the company attacked in earnest. Malz unleashed a Lance of Disruption, Harkonnen attempted to abjure the creature, Androth launched a volley of arrows and Daran summoned the eldritch magic of his ring. Andi, unaware of his companions intentions, was struck unconscious by the lance, which struck him in the back when he charged into the line of fire. Luckily for him, the spectre was also killed in the ferocious assault.

A great deal of arguing ensued when Androth and Harkonnen began removing volumes from the collection. Harkonnen was looking for books which were sought by his order and Androth was trying to make sure he had something valuable to trade for healing later. Andi, seeing that the others were doing it, decided to help himself to a few books as well. Androth convinced Harkonnen to stop, but had less luck with Androth. Daran, fearing there would be a fight, cast an enchantment on the three who had been taking books. Androth resisted the spell and threatened to kill Daran if it ever happened again.

Eventually, Malz was able to convince the others the library was worth more intact than broken into pieces. Andi became bored and convinced Calidon and Daran to help investigate the door at the end of the hall. Despite having said "It's a false door" several times, Harkonnen elected to join them. Andi removed two traps from the door, then opened it. The hail of needles from behind the false door left Andi near death and the other three badly wounded.

Harkonnen caused a second argument when he steadfastly refused to heal Andi, whom he claimed was under a ban by his order. He, Malz and Androth had quite an argument, but in the end, Harkonnen held to his decision that he would heal Andi only if he were needed to complete their mission. This troubled Androth greatly and he stalked off to regain his composure, rejoining the group a little later. They decided to rest in the library and posted a watch.

In the morning, Androth gave Andi a drink from a potion and he was healed enough to regain consciousness.

The group then followed Malz back to the lab where he had found, but not opened, a secret door in the floor. When they arrived, the ceiling above the door was littered with needles and there was a strange smell in the air. The door itself lay open. Moving carefully, they found another, more advanced lab hidden below the student lab. Leaving that lab through a secret door, they found a passage which led back to the library and then down a steep slope to the outside.

Once outside, they confirmed their fear - they had been in the library for nearly a year. With their horses gone, they began the long walk back to Ansalea.

In Character Moment(s) of the Night

Player Moment(s) of the Night

The Spoils

Andivari Shea		Potions of Diminuation, Cloud Giant Strength, and Health Thief Tools of Stealth Belt of Feather Falling Ring of Recall?
Androth		10 +1 Arrows Rug of Comfort
Brother Urbane		Draynor's Ring (power unknown)
Calidon		Log of Everburning
Daran		Earcuff of Clairaudience Humidor of Freshness Spellbook
Malz		Staff of Invocation Draynor's Hat

Experience Summary

Base experience for this adventure computed as:

Monsters	4 Harpies	4,000
	2 Flesh Golems	4.000
	9 Skeletal Veterans	9,000
	Tangler Tree	18,000
	Spectre	4,500
Accomplishments	Discovery of Library	20,000
	Roleplaying	25,000

Individual Awards and Totals

All previous totals have been verified by adding up all previous points awarded, regardless of published totals. Any questions should be brought to my attention before the next session or these will be DT (Deemed True)

Player	Adventure	Bonuses, penalties and what not	Total
Andivarai Shea	8,000	Oil +1,000	41,200
Androth	21,250	Undisclosed +5,000 Roleplay +1,000	215,450
Brother Urbane	17,250	Roleplay +1,000 "It's a false door" +1,000 "I could use a scroll" +1,000	92,500
Calidon	16,250	Charging the Tangler +1,000	79,350
Daran	16,750	Class Goals +2,500 Hold on Party -1,000	83,000
Jameson	0	Did not play	10,250
Malz	19,250	Class Goal +2,500 Roleplay +1,500	79,750

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