Welcome to the Swamp I  to Stairway to Heaven
[includes "Asgeir's Saga"]

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CALENDAR:

Starting members (from Black Hand II):  Calion(F-5/T-5), Pearl(MU-6/NrC-2), Throy(F-7), Dior(WrC-6), Chiron(F-5), Myra(B-4), Mrikle(I-6),
                Grolsch(T-5), Darcie(MU-4)

Surviving members:  Calion(F-5/T-6), Pearl(MU-7/NrC-2), Throy(F-7), Diora(WrC-6), Chiron(F-6), Myra(B-5), Mrikle(I-6), Grolsch(T-5[again]),
                Darby(MU-5), Trilby(NtC-5), Demetrio(NrC-3), Maica(NrC-4), Bartolo(NrC-3), Adamira(NrC-3), Pasqual(NrC-3), Perry(T-0)
New members:  Trilby, Demetrio, Maica, Bartolo, Adamira, Pasqual, Zayvius
Retirees:  Demetrio, Bartolo, Adamira, Pasqual; Perry(to Lost Temple)
Casualties:  Zayvius; (Pearl - revived)
Continuing party (to Welcome to the Swamp II):  Calion, Pearl, Throy, Diora, Chiron, Myra, Mrikle, Grolsch, Darby, Trilby, Maica

So how did Perry come to be in such a mess?

After successfully infiltrating and joining the Black Hand Assassins' guild (see Black Hand I), Perry was treated like any other new Black Hand recruit: sent south to a 6-month boot-camp training course in how to be an effective Assassin.  He had borrowed Akasha's Crown of Telepathy and hidden it under a turban, and with this he sent back a stream of reports detailing what he was doing and - more importantly - where he thought he was; only because of this did the rescue party have any chance at all of later finding him.

This camp, he learned, was operated as something of a joint venture between several widely-scattered guilds, including the Black Hand and a guild in Baldur's Gate.  He learned a fair bit about those who ran the day-to-day operation, but knew only there was something inland that was behind it all.  Knowledge of this would come the hard way, later.

Then, two weeks after he got there, his cover was blown.  A random Detect Magic cast by one of the resident trainers revealed the magic "turban"; a quick strip-search found the Crown, and it was confiscated.  This alone might not have been so much of a problem, but when the Crown was turned over to Dolos he tried it out and discovered what its use was.  At this point, Perry was fingered as a spy and given over to Dolos, who drained him of all his levels and then used him as a bottomless, if slow, blood bank.  Dolos also charmed Perry, ensuring his non-cooperation if any of his outside contacts managed to get in touch with him.  By the time he was rescued, Perry was down to Str. 7, Con. 3, and about 0.5 h.p., but bed rest and good food led to a complete recovery.

25. Welcome to the Swamp II: Dolos' Revenge (14-3-2;2), Scori 27-Tari 3 757, AL-JL 02

Background and summary:  The Party goes back to the swamp to clean out the fortress where Perry had been held, and finds its owner to be a somewhat more significant opponent than first expected.

Starting members (from Welcome to the Swamp I):  Calion(F-5/T-6), Pearl(MU-7/NrC-2), Throy(F-7), Chiron(F-6), Diora(WrC-6), Myra(B-5),
                Mrikle(I-6), Grolsch(T-5), Darby(MU-5), Trilby(NtC-5), Maica(NrC-4)

Surviving members:  Calion(F-5/T-6), Pearl(MU-7/NrC-2), Throy(F-8), Chiron(F-6), Diora(WrC-6), Myra(B-6), Mrikle(I-7), Grolsch(T-5),
                Darby(MU-6), Trilby(NtC-5), Tylara(F-6), Ssthisss(NtC-3), Metsamo(R-4)
New members:  Metsamo, Ssthisss; Tylara(from Dafan)
Retirees:  Metsamo (to Lost Temple); Grolsch, Darby
Casualties:  Maica; (Grolsch - raised)
Continuing party (to Lost Temple of Tharizdun):  Calion, Pearl, Throy, Chiron, Diora, Myra, Mrikle, Trilby, Tylara, Ssthisss

And what becomes of Metsamo?

Knowing the Party didn't need him, and using such information the Party could produce about this sleeping god and where He might be found, Metsamo heads off to that area to scout.  On Scori 16 he meets another Ranger in the same area doing the same thing, and they join forces, so Aqliea(R-4) joins.  After gathering much useful information, they get back to Muraan on Scori 28.  But there is no sign of the Party, so off they go again east to some Hobbits who might have more insight into this god.  The Party is waiting for them in Muraan when they get back, and they then lead Party to their next adventure.

28. Lost Temple of Tharizdun (19-7-3;9), Tari 8-Prici 15 and Prici 26-Aqui 28 757, JL 02-JA 03

Background and summary:  Omens and portents of all kinds are indicating the sleeping menace Tharizdun - a much-feared god in his day - is stirring, and will awaken by spring equinox if not stopped.  Pearl, Diora and Trilby get personal warnings from their deities and assume this to mean they and their companions are to be responsible for preventing this, and in this they are correct.  So, using the information Metsamo has gathered while everyone else was dealing with Dolos, the Party heads off into the mountains.  Once here, they find that Tharizdun's imminent reawakening is attracting all sorts of other nasty wildlife, and Party has to bash its way through to Tharizdun's temple; the in-Party bickering grows ever nastier all the way.  Then, lots more fighting is required to secure the place, and the Party casualties mount while the arguing continues.  Finally, they find their way to the deep crypt where Tharizdun rests, and are able to make that rest permanent - they hope.

Starting members (from Welcome to the Swamp II):  Calion(F-5/T-6), Pearl(MU-7/NrC-2), Throy(F-8), Chiron(F-6), Diora(WrC-6), Myra(B-6),
                Mrikle(I-7), Trilby(NtC-5), Tylara(F-6), Ssthisss(NtC-3)
                           (from pre-scouting missions):  Metsamo(R-4), Aqliea(R-4)
                           (from Welcome to the Swamp I):  Perry(MU-3/T-4)

Surviving members:   Calion(F-6/T-7), Pearl(MU-7/NrC-3), Throy(F-8), Chiron(F-7), Diora(WrC-7), Myra(B-6), Mrikle(I-7), Trilby(NtC-6),
                Tylara(F-6), Ssthisss(NtC-4), Metsamo(R-5), Perry(MU-4/T-5), Nigella(Cvr-5), Volker(--), Moray(F-8), Gruff(F-2)
New members:  Aqliea, Nigella, Volker, Nivvy, Moray, Teldroll, Gruff
Retirees:  Myra, Ssthisss (both to Groa's Journal); Tylara (to Windward Ho via Alpha series); Moray, Volker
Casualties:  Aqliea, Nivvy, Teldroll; (Volker, Ssthisss, Metsamo[twice], Chiron, Nigella - all raised)
Continuing parties (to Loki's Torch):  Calion, Pearl, Throy, Chiron, Diora, Mrikle, Trilby, Metsamo, Perry, Nigella
                           (to Sword of Hope):  Gruff

And what does Tylara get up to next?

After leaving the Party, Tylara meets up with Ancalidon and spends several months in Waterdeep learning psyonics from him, finishing on Touri 20.  She then journeys back to Baldur's Gate, and finds Alcavron and Florelli - also expatriate Dafanites - in a forest near here, and these three join forces and head north in search of other Dafanites who might have made it to this world. By mid-Canne they make it back to Waterdeep; Tylara does some more psyonic training while Flo. and Alc. make inquiries; they learn that another ex-Dafanite - Fredregar Overhill - passed through town about half a year ago and was making much the same inquiries.  Hearing this, Tylara commissions a number of distinctive coins to be given to the Dafanites, so she can communicate psyonically with them.

By late Verga, the three Elves have made it to Riveria, and on Fieth 3 they arrive at Verwood and are reunited with Helga.  Alcavron and Florelli almost immediately settle down in Linithe Wood, while Tylara gets to know people at the Keep.  On Fieth 7, she and Llandreesa meet; what starts as a good old cat-fight leads to both becoming extremely drunk and forming a solid friendship!

The next morning, a very hungover Tylara and her new Party leave the Keep, for what becomes Alpha 5.

33. Asgeir's Saga A: Loki's Torch (12-2-1;1), Touri 21-28 757, JA-MR 03

Background and summary:  Via Throy, the Thain of Luskan hires Party to travel to a nearby island and there find and recover - if they can - something called Loki's Torch.  The island has been cursed by Loki such that no Norse may approach within a mile, but as none of the Party are Norse this is a non-issue.  So off they go, and without too much difficulty they recover the Torch - a sword, in fact, that brightly glows and adds a lot to the wielder's Charisma - but in so doing they realize there may be much more to this, as the sword has a short rhyme inscribed on it that ultimately starts the Party on a lengthy series of adventures.

Starting members (from Lost Temple of Tharizdun):  Calion(F-6/T-7), Pearl(MU-7/NrC-3), Throy(F-8), Chiron(F-7), Diora(WrC-7), Mrikle(I-7),
                Trilby(NtC-6), Metsamo(R-5), Perry(MU-4/T-5), Nigella(Cvr-5)
                           (picked up en route):  Lanefan(F-8), Veraska(Mk-5)

Surviving members:  Calion(F-6/T-7), Pearl(MU-7/NrC-3), Throy(F-8), Chiron(F-7), Diora(WrC-8), Mrikle(I-7), Trilby(NtC-6), Metsamo(R-5),
                Perry(MU-4/T-5), Nigella(Cvr-5), Lanefan(F-8), Veraska(Mk-5)
New members:  Lanefan, Veraska
Retirees:  none
Casualties:  (Calion - revived)
Continuing party (to Groa's Journal):  Calion, Pearl, Throy, Chiron, Diora, Mrikle, Trilby, Metsamo, Perry, Nigella, Veraska, Lanefan

34. Asgeir's Saga B: The Journal of Groa Snowshaper (15-1-0;3), Jema 2-8 and Jema 9-Canne 11 757, AL-MA 03

Background and summary:  The Party now seeks information about this Fili person mentioned in the poem on Loki's Torch, and soon learn the best place to find it might be from someone named Groa, who actually knew and adventured with Fili some 50 years ago.  However, their approach is anything but organized; while most people train and-or take a break, Throy and Metsamo head off on their own for where they think Groa might be found and succeed only in getting themselves killed.  So the Party's next mission is to bail them out.  Then, arguing all the way, the whole group heads up and after much mayhem find Groa's old cottage high in the Arctic mountains, and her journal that tells of Fili's last days and what the Party now needs in order to finish what Groa and Fili could not.

Starting members (from Loki's Torch):  Calion(F-6/T-7), Pearl(MU-8/NrC-3), Throy(F-8), Chiron(F-7), Diora(WrC-8), Mrikle(I-7),
                Trilby(NtC-7), Metsamo(R-5), Perry(MU-5/T-6), Nigella(Cvr-6), Lanefan(F-8), Veraska(Mk-5)
                           (from Lost Temple of Tharizdun):  Myra(B-6)
                           (from Mansion on the Hill): S'nel'be(WrC-8)

Surviving members:  Calion(F-6/T-7), Pearl(MU-8/NrC-3), Throy(F-8), Chiron(F-7), Diora(WrC-8), Mrikle(I-8), Trilby(NtC-7),
                Perry(MU-5/T-6), Nigella(Cvr-6), Lanefan(F-8), Veraska(Mk-6), Myra(B-6), S'nel'be(WrC-8), Ssthisss(NtC-4), Mikalla(R-10)
New members:  Mikalla; Myra (from Lost Temple); S'nel'be (from Sword of Hope); Darby, Ssthisss (both from Welcome to the Swamp II)
Retirees:  Ssthisss, Veraska: Darby(to Into the Abyss); Lanefan, Perry, Mikalla (all to Stairway to Heaven); Mrikle (to Heart of Asgeir, later)
Casualties:  Metsamo; (Throy, Perry - both revived)
Continuing parties (to Heart of Asgeir):  Calion, Pearl, Throy, Chiron, Diora, Trilby, Nigella, Myra
                           (to Sword of Hope):  S'nel'be

Groa Snowshaper's tale:
During the winter of 725, a small adventuring Company called the Wolves were busy in the high north, doing goodly deeds and slowly earning a decent name for themselves.  At one point, this little Company - which included Groa(NtC/F), Fili(F), Gudrun(R), Taffey(B), and Thingvall(MU/T) - visited the Ruins of Trakand as one of their adventures, and thought they cleaned it out.  In truth (and probably just as well, for them) they missed most of it, but got far enough to find a book called "Asgeir's Cloud".  In hindsight, this book was clearly a Loki-planted curse, but at the time the Wolves were blissfully unaware, even when Fili - hardly a literary sort - read the book and became somewhat obsessed with it.

Using information contained in the book, Fili led the Wolves to the base of an invisible stairway that seemed to lead up into the clouds above.  But when they tried to climb up, the stairs completely vanished once everyone was 100' or so off the ground; Fili and Taffey were killed by the resulting fall, and Gudrun and Thingvall both perished from their injuries within days as for some reason curing spells had little effect.  The sole survivor was Groa, though it was most likely she - as a Freya Cleric - the curse had been aimed at all along.

Her spirit nearly broken by this tragedy, Groa retired to her cottage high in the mountains and set about trying to solve the puzzle of the book.  A few months later, no further ahead and close to succumbing to the book's curse, she gave up and put the whole matter in Freya's hands.  Freya refused the offered book but granted Groa the insight she sought: to safely climb the stairs required possession of the Heart of Asgeir, which the Wolves did not have.  Content with this, Groa burned the book, retired to a long, quiet, pious life, and - despite her isolation - over time rose rather high in the ranks of Freya's Clerics.  She took an oath to herself, however, that if any folk of good intent ever came seeking the information contained in "Asgeir's Cloud" she would freely give it.  None ever came, and Groa - by now a very old lady - died peacefully in 754.

On Groa's death, Freya held her to her oath: She knew that sooner or later someone of good heart would seek to free Asgeir and that Groa's knowledge was an essential requirement to do this, so She forced Groa to remain in her cottage as a (benevolent) spirit until such time as she could properly impart this information.  Freya also tinkered with the Heart of Asgeir itself; while She could not undo what Loki had done, She could and did ensure that none who found the Heart could learn of its connection to Asgeir unless they had first spoken to Groa and that Groa had - through Freya - determined their intentions to be good. (Thus Dahnakriss, despite owning the Heart for some time, remained ignorant of its true function and destiny.)

Groa's spirit was released once she had spoken to the Party as recorded above, and happily rose to Freya's realm where it remains to this day.

35. Asgeir's Saga C: The Heart of Asgeir (14-3-3;2), Canne 24-Verga 17 757, JN-OC 03

Background and summary:  The Party needs the Heart of Asgeir, which can be found in a place called the Ruins of Trakand somewhere east and south of Luskan.  Armed with not much more information than this, the Party sets off, and after many mishaps, strange events, and arguments they eventually come out with the Heart.

Starting members (from Groa's Journal):  Calion(F-6/T-7), Pearl(MU-8/NrC-3), Throy(F-8), Chiron(F-7), Diora(WrC-8), Trilby(NtC-7),
                Nigella(Cvr-6), Myra(B-6)
                           (from Sword of Hope):  Serioge(R-7)

Surviving members:  Calion(F-7/T-7), Pearl(MU-8/NrC-3), Throy(F-8), Chiron(F-7), Diora(WrC-8), Myra(B-6), Trilby(NtC-7),
                Nigella(Cvr-7), Serioge(R-7), Ancalidon(P-6), Munin(R-6), Germanica(MU-6), Mrikle(I-8)
New members:  Ancalidon(from Swordquest via A-Series); Munin, Victor, Germanica
Retirees:  Ancalidon
Casualties:  Victor (revived later); (Trilby - raised)
Continuing party (to Stairway to Heaven):  Calion, Pearl, Throy, Chiron, Diora, Mrikle, Myra, Trilby, Nigella, Munin, Germanica, Serioge

And why was Ancalidon here?

While wandering the countryside looking for goodly deeds to do and evil foes to vanquish, Ancalidon at one point happened to pass through a small village some 60 miles north of Waterdeep.  Here, he was asked to help out the villagers with a problem: somehow, the village had become cursed such that one resident was dying every 4 days. The villagers knew that something called the Blue Gem of Healing would fix their problem, but had no idea where to even begin to look for it or whether any of them would survive long enough.

In true Paladinic form, Ancalidon took this mission on as a personal quest.  He used both his religious and psyonic contacts to learn everything he could about the situation, and eventually discovered the Gem was probably in or near something called the Ruins of Trakand, far to the north.  So off he went, and had almost reached the Ruins when the Party came upon him; realizing their goals were at least somewhat intertwined, he and the Party joined forces for the time being.

Once the Gem was found, Ancalidon had Pearl teleport him to Waterdeep, and from there he rode hard to the village to present the Healing Gem to its residents.  It seemed to work, as the villagers stopped dying like clockwork soon after.

36. Asgeir's Saga D: Stairway to Heaven (16-1-1;1), Verga 18-Fieth 11 757, OC-NO 03

Background and summary:  The recovery of the Heart of Asgeir triggers a quest, on everyone that survived the Loki's Torch adventure, to climb the invisible stairway and present the Heart to Asgeir.  Various people suffer various mishaps trying to get there from far away, while the main Party holds off Mikalla's final duplicity, climbs the stairway, and restores Asgeir to her former self.  The Party then have to take a detour to the south to bail out Lanefan, who managed to get himself captured into slavery en route to answer the quest.  This done, everyone takes a well-earned break and lots of people retire outright.

Starting members (from Heart of Asgeir):  Calion(F-7/T-7), Pearl(MU-8/NrC-3), Throy(F-8), Chiron(F-7), Diora(WrC-8), Myra(B-6),
                Mrikle(I-8), Trilby(NtC-7), Nigella(Cvr-7), Serioge(R-7), Munin(R-6), Germanica(MU-6)
                           (from various other places):  Perry(MU-4/T-5), Lanefan(F-8), Mikalla(R-10)

Surviving members:  Calion(F-7/T-8), Pearl(MU-8/NrC-4), Throy(F-9), Chiron(F-8), Diora(WrC-9), Myra(B-7), Mrikle(I-8), Trilby(NtC-8),
                Nigella(Cvr-7), Serioge(R-7), Munin(R-6), Germanica(MU-6), Perry(MU-5/T-6), Lanefan(F-9), Lusia(MU-6)
New members:  Lusia
Retirees:  Perry, Diora, Chiron, Germanica, Lanefan(all to Assault on Verwood Keep); Nigella, Trilby, Myra(to Scaifa); Pearl(to Temple of Pyrate);
                Lusia(to War of the Giants – West, eventually)
Casualties:  Mikalla
Continuing parties (to Dark Ships at Nymph Bay):  Calion, Mrikle
                           (to Against the Giants Again):  Throy, Munin, Serioge

Mikalla's Story

And who is this Asgeir person, anyway?

Sometime around year 531, Asgeir Olssdottir - a young, bright and aspiring Mage - began what would become a brilliant career when she left Luskan on her first adventure. She was at first a devout Thor follower, though there is no doubt this devotion was helped by the fact that for their first few adventures their party's Cleric was to Thor. Be that as it may, their party thrived and after half a dozen adventures eventually became a full Company in 534. Various locals took note; the deities by and large could not have cared less.

By year 538, Asgeir and her Company were really hitting their stride. They relocated to Mirabar, as there were more adventuring opportunities there than Luskan and surrounds could provide, and before long Asgeir - always a Lawful sort - became involved in the politics of the Mirabar MU's guild when not out in the field. In fact, by year 540 she was doing more politicking than adventuring, and was beginning to drift away from her Company.

In 543, her position in the guild now secure, she and a group of others formed a party and spent the next 4 years roaming through the far north spilling blood and vanquishing evil - particularly chaotic evil - at every turn. By the time they returned to civilization for good in 547, she and her companions were beginning to attract a little divine attention, and not always welcome; despite her lawfulness, it is certain she somehow annoyed the great Hobgoblin deity Azak'hri during this trip - and suffered dearly for it.

She settled down for the next few years. Some say she fell in love. Of a certainty, she took complete control of the Mirabar MU's guild and despite her unbending ways the guild thrived on her watch. But, the call of the adventuring life was too strong, and in 554 - by now fully 16th level - she set out yet again, this time with a small but very powerful group whose aim was no less lofty than to remove all the major chaotic influences from the Norse city of Jaarvikshold. And they almost did it, too.

By the end of 555, Loki's Jaarvikshold temple had been reduced to rubble, and His followers either converted, killed, or scattered far and wide. Meanwhile, Asgeir and her companions had barely taken a scratch; to this day, some suggest they had the backing and protection of either Heimdall or Thor. In any case, their actions drew Loki's full and complete attention...and anger.

Early in 556 Asgeir's group disbanded, their work done, and she returned to her stately home just north of Mirabar. A few months later, a lone traveller who said he wished to speak with the mighty mage called by the house, and - as befits custom and politeness - he was invited in and made welcome. The traveller was Loki Himself, and He was here to exact revenge the best way He knew how: by playing a prank.

By the next morning, the house had been placed high in a permanent cloudbank over a part of the bleak northern plains nobody visited or even really cared about, and its occupants horribly transformed. The butler and his staff had become Frost Giants; the scullery maids and housekeepers were now Vampires, and Asgeir herself - her life force taken from her and stuffed into a heart-shaped red gem - had been turned into a full Lich. Loki tossed the gem back onto Riverian soil, attached the house to ground by an invisible stairway, had a jolly good laugh at his own handiwork, and left.

To those in Mirabar, it appeared as if Asgeir's house and all its occupants simply vanished during the night.

To add to the cruelty, everyone in the house retained full memory of who and what they had been before. Asgeir in particular retained her powers - but as she had no place to either use them or study to improve them, she could not enhance her skills. Meanwhile, her friends and associates back in Mirabar grew old and passed away.

Loki was not through yet, however. He had planted various clues and hints around the northlands as to where and how Asgeir might be rescued; knowing that her Lawful allies were the most likely to try and retrieve her, He figured some of them might get battered or even killed in the attempt: benefits all round, as far as He was concerned. And some of the clues were indeed found and followed: over time, about four dozen adventurers perished either trying to climb Asgeir's stair or inside her house before she was finally rescued by the party whose story is told above. Meanwhile, Loki pretty much forgot about the whole thing shortly after He finished putting it in place, and went on to cause other mayhem elsewhere.