Telenet

Telenet Adventure Log

Part 6: The Ways of War

Main - Search for Charisma to Jeremiah's Hideaway

39. Icefield B: Search for Charisma February-March 1991

Background and summary: during the weird events of the summer, Kalvin has become more and more obsessed with the idea of becoming a Paladin to Mimosa. Problem is, he hasn't quite got the required Charisma for the job, and he spends a great deal of time and effort looking for a way of enhancing it somehow. Finally, he hears rumours of a possible Charisma-augmenting device over on the island of Finnia, quite possibly hidden in the same complex under the spire where the Party found the dragon eggs that started the 7-DHC. So, once it appears Jack and Lisse will be staying in what's left of Forlinden for a while, Kalvin - who can't wait any longer - rounds up the rest of the Party and heads to Finnia on what would end up as a successful mission.

Starting members(from Quest for the Heartstone): Judah(A-9), Kalvin(Cvr-7), Monach(MU-5/I-5), Havelock(Cvr-6), Felemid(B-6), Rianne(R-6)
New members: Donnamira(NtC-4), Aldea(NtC-4), Miriel(NrC-4)

Sep 2 488	Leave Erelond.
Sep 4	A gang of 16 ordinary bandits attack the rusty Party and survive a surprisingly long time.
Sep 6	Arrive Wurgen
Sep 12	Arrive Fjellmar, hire a local guide.
Sep 19	6 Frost Giants attack Party on icefield and don't last as long as the bandits did.
Sep 23	Tapio, the Party's guide from their last time here, joins; new guide sent home. Cross icefield on an iceboat, reach complex by nightfall, and Tapio leaves.
Sep 24	Party bashes its way through small groups of nasties who have moved in during the summer. Kalvin finds a brooch that gives +1 Charisma to the wearer. Party tries to leave, but keeps getting attacked, and decides instead to fully explore the place. Rianne killed during all this. A couple of individuals named "Laura" and "Edgar" attack a by-now-quite-weakened Party; Havelock and Monach killed, and rest of Party in rough shape except Kalvin.
Sep 25	Party discovers a Blue Dragon with a Human rider, frozen solid in the ice. Excavation begins.
Sep 29	The rider is extracted from the ice, and begins thawing.
Sep 30	Rider awakens; Filethar(F-10) joins, and immediately asks Party to dig out the Dragon. They do, but continue exploring in between times.
Oct 4	A discovered room with an odd pattern in its floor proves to be a node in an ancient teleport network. Kalvin gets sent to the site of the Forest Ruins adventures, but soon figures out how to get back. Various other people fail to get it to work, at first.
Oct 5	Miriel and Aldea teleport to Forest Ruins and come back with a companion: Nilareth(NrC-9) joins.
Oct 13	Dragon dug out and thawed at last: Slartibartfast(Dragon) joins. He and Filethar have been frozen in here for centuries; both are convinced that some imposing destiny awaits, or else they would not have been dug out, and both begin developing ever-grander ideas of their own heroism.
Oct 14	Nilareth plane-shifts everyone to Widdershyn except Fil. and Slarti., who fly.
Oct 17	Arrive Erelond.
Oct 20	Plane-shift to Terrance.
Oct 23	Havelock, Monach, and Rianne revived via "wish" in Terrance; plane-shift back to Erelond, then Nilareth leaves. By this time, Fil. and Slarti. have arrived, causing something of a stir among the locals.

Surviving members: Judah(A-9), Kalvin(Cvr-7), Monach(MU-5/I-5), Havelock(Cvr-7), Felemid(B-6), Rianne(R-6),
Donnamira(NtC-5), Aldea(NtC-5), Miriel(NrC-5), Nilareth(NrC-9), Filethar(F-10), Slartibartfast(Dragon)
New members: Nilareth(from The Tower); Filethar, Slartibartfast
Retirees: (Nilareth, Havelock, Donnamira, Aldea, Miriel - all to Drow Caverns)
Casualties: (Rianne, Havelock, Monach - all revived via wish)
Continuing party(to Forlinden Valley 1): Judah, Kalvin, Monach, Felemid, Rianne, Filethar, Slartibartfast

43. Forlinden Valley 1 March 1991

Background and summary: for all the time Forlinden has existed as an Elven land, one valley has been - quite literally - a consistent thorn in its eastern side. With the sudden loss of population brought on by The Piper's call, there are not now enough Elves to defend the border of this valley, and its inhabitants - Giants - are becoming ever more bold. A few even strike as far in as Erelond; this would ultimately prove to be the start of their undoing, as Jack and Lisse round up the Party and - in no less than 13 different attempts logged here as 4 adventures - spend a year to eventually wipe out the Giants and their base of operations.

Starting members (from Search for Charisma): Judah(A-9), Kalvin(Cvr-7), Monach(MU-5/I-5), Felemid(B-6), Rianne(R-6), Filethar(F-10), Slartibartfast(Dragon)
(from Quest for the Heartstone): Jack(MU-7), Lisse(F-7/MU-2)

Sep 28 488	Jack and Lisse receive word of troubles along the main road through ex-Forlinden, and investigate.
Sep 29	First encounter with Giants in forest.
Oct 4	A few Giants manage to reach Erelond, but are soon killed there.
Oct 23	Rest of Party now available after finishing Search for Charisma adventure.
Oct 25	Havelock, Donnamira, Aldea, and Miriel leave for training. Party recruits another Cleric; Tremean(NrC-4) joins.
Oct 26	First expedition leaves for the valley, less than a day's travel from Erelond.
Oct 27	A string of battles against a total of 16 Hill Giants, 13 Ogres, 4 Mountain Giants, and 2 gargantuan Cloud Giants convinces the Party there really is a serious problem here. Lisse killed in one of these fights, then Lisse revived moments later with an Elixir of Life. Battered Party returns to Erelond in evening. Somewhere around here, Monach discovers that he is psyonic.
Oct 28	For some reason, Party now decides to ignore the Giants, take a break, and then go off somewhere else; the Giants would continue to increase their numbers in the meantime. Tremean retires.

Surviving members: Judah(A-9), Kalvin(Cvr-8), Monach(MU-5/I-5), Felemid(B-6), Rianne(R-6), Jack(MU-7),
Lisse(F-7/MU-2), Filethar(F-10), Slartibartfast(Dragon), Tremean(NrC-4)
New members: Tremean
Retirees: Tremean
Casualties: (Lisse - revived)
Continuing party(to Drow Caverns): Judah, Kalvin, Monach, Felemid, Rianne, Jack, Lisse, Filethar, Slartibartfast

44. Drow Caverns April-July 1991

Background and summary: during her travels, Nilareth has become aware of a developing Drow threat, perhaps due to an already-growing lack of Elvish defenses brought on by The Piper's calls. One flash-point of this threat is a small island in the inland sea of Monamys; Nilareth takes the Party there, and despite taking heavy casualties and throwing everything they have at the Drow, they are only marginally successful until they decide to simply let Monamys do the work for them. End result: one very-well-flooded Drow complex, and a very slight delay in the plans of the Drow as a whole.

Starting members(from Forlinden Valley 1): Judah(A-9), Kalvin(Cvr-8), Monach(MU-5/I-5), Felemid(B-6), Rianne(R-6), Jack(MU-7), Lisse(F-7/MU-2), Filethar(F-10), Slartibartfast(Dragon)
(from Search for Charisma): Nilareth(NrC-9), Havelock(Cvr-7), Donnamira(NtC-5), Aldea(NtC-5), Miriel(NrC-5)

Nov 20 488	After assorted mundane travels, everyone gathers back at Erelond. Lisse has commissioned a rather fancy longsword from Valanyr, at great expense.
Nov 21	Nilareth plane-shifts everyone to the island where she thinks the problem is.
Nov 22	Party finds a cave and enters; battle 4 Drow and something called a Thoranti (with 125 h.p.), Judah uses a device to build a Cube of Force around Party so they can rest.
Nov 23	Just after midnight, Party exits to surface, cast Hallucinatory Terrain on landscape so they can rest. Nilareth throws Speak With Dead on the defeated Drow, learning much useful information. Party re-enters caves that evening; battle 6 more Drow and a couple of animated pillars, Aldea nearly dies. A Mind Flayer shows up and brings a Demon for company. Filethar turns on the Party (via charm), and in the confusion both Judah and Felemid get taken prisoner by Drow. Half the Party stunned by psyonics from the Mind Flayer, would not come around for hours, but were lucky to be alive at all as the Mind Flayer had hit them all with "psyonic blast" and every one of them had made their save.(!) Filethar forcibly restrained, but not killed. Felemid and Judah end up in a jail; Felemid escapes almost immediately and manages to rejoin Party. Return to surface, followed by a mixed band of Drow and Duergar who pull a surprise attack: Kalvin and Jack killed. At this point, only Lisse, Havelock, Monach, and Felemid remain functioning. Monach almost singlehandedly takes out an Earth Elemental (summoned by Drow?).Retreat to an abandoned village at the other end of the island.
Nov 24	Stunned people finally snap out of it near sunrise. Kalvin and Jack raised by Nilareth. Kalvin spends the day in prayer, trying to convince Mimosa to take him on as a Paladin. Plane-shift to Terrance that evening, looking for more help. Filethar comes to his senses.
Nov 25	Rosencrantz(WrC-5) and Guildenstern(WrC-6) join; all they want to do is kill Drow. Winter(T-9) joins and downplays her skills somewhat; all she wants to do is make money any way she can. Filethar leaves for a temple, seeking atonement for his actions while charmed; leaves Slartibartfast with Party.
Nov 26	Nilareth buys a Commune and gets some information; much of it turns out to be wrong. Rianne leaves seeking other Rangers for some reason. Plane-shift back to island. Wild magic surges enhance both Nilareth's and Guildenstern's spells to maximum possible effect for 24 hours; unfortunately neither knows this, and the whole time is spent planning.
Nov 27	Late in evening, Party enters caves again and finds very tough opposition. Rosencrantz killed, then Guildenstern killed, and everybody else thrashed in a battle against 152 levels worth of Drow (highest was an MU-17/F-9) and 4 demons. (DM note: this one battle took 3 sessions to play)
Nov 28	Party finds and kills a Blue Dragon (not Slartibartfast!) deep in the caverns, then rescues Judah at last from the Drow holding cell. Nilareth casts another Commune; takes answers with a grain of salt this time.
Nov 29	Rescue a bunch of other prisoners including a Drow already known to Nilareth: Tamjeeka(MU-6) joins. Rianne rejoins when Party reaches surface.
Nov 30	An earthquake (generated by Party?) cracks the bottom of Monamys and floods the Drow caverns; Monamys sea level drops by about a foot, untold devastation visited upon the Drow below.
Dec 1	Guildenstern raised by Nilareth; Rosencrantz fails raise. Guildenstern retires. Slartibartfast retires; he's tired of waiting for Filethar and wants to do something more exciting, like find a lair for himself. Kalvin learns he has been accepted by Mimosa as (quite likely, Her only) Paladin.
Dec 2	Plane-shift to Terrance. Tamjeeka retires from Party but stays in contact with Nilareth as an informer; Winter retires as this Party is too hard to steal from.

Surviving members: Judah(A-9), Kalvin(Cvr-8:P-0), Monach(MU-6/I-6), Felemid(B-7), Rianne(R-6), Jack(MU-7), Lisse(F-8/MU-3),
Filethar(F-10), Slartibartfast(Dragon), Nilareth(NrC-9), Havelock(Cvr-7), Donnamira(NtC-5), Aldea(NtC-5),
Miriel(NrC-6), Tamjeeka(MU-6), Winter(T-9), Guildenstern(WrC-6)
New members: Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Winter, Tamjeeka
Retirees: Filethar, Guildenstern, Slartibartfast, Tamjeeka, Winter now; Kalvin, Nilareth, Rianne; Lisse (to Forlinden Valley 2) later
Casualties: Rosencrantz; (Kalvin, Jack, Guildenstern - all raised)
Continuing party(to Forlinden Valley 2): Judah, Monach, Felemid, Jack, Lisse, Havelock, Donnamira, Aldea, Miriel

So who goes where and does what now?

***Kalvin brings some people back from the dead; Dec 8 Thorn resurrected; Dec 14 Norton resurrected and turned over to a Hobgoblin rescued from the caverns. Kalvin then goes off for several months of Paladin training, followed by a short string of adventures [see below]; Kalvin retires from the Party, for now, and Norton retires for good.
***Judah goes to Forlinden and bashes a few Giants on his own until the end of March.
***Havelock-Donnamira stay near Monamys; Havelock finds some land and begins to establish a holding with Donnamira's help, eventually ends up in Erelond in mid-March.
***Jack-Lisse go to Forlinden, stay there, and try to make babies; Lisse miscarries on Jan 26, and Lisse retires.
***Rianne-Miriel-Monach go to Driesse for a few months. Miriel and Monach train, Rianne takes a vacation. To Erelond by mid-March; Rianne decides to call it quits and organizes a tournament to find her own replacement, won by Asha. Rianne retires, Asha Asbjornsdottir(R-6) joins(from Journeys in Neidra).
***Aldea goes to Forlinden, stays there, and begins setting up a temple.
***Felemid goes off with Slartibartfast on a search for a good lair for Slarti.; they part, Felemid ends up in Cohena where he trains for 2 months and discovers he is now psyonic...sort of. He returns to Forlinden by the end of March.
***Thorn, once resurrected, goes to Forlinden and bashes enough heads to require training; done by end of March.
***Everyone else remains in or near Terrance, retiring from the Party.

The travels of Kalvin

Mar 4 489	Finishes Paladin training (to P-1), signs on as a bodyguard or henchman with someone.
Apr 9	Joins up with a party; long journey to an adventure.
May 18	Adventure done, requires plane-shift to get back to Ballydoon.
Jun 9	Arrives Terrance, missing main Party by months; by now needs double training.
Jun 20	Finishes training to P-3, heads north. (to Forlinden Valley 3)

47. Forlinden Valley 2 (a.k.a. Giants In the Ground 2-7)   July-October 1991

Background and summary: the Giants on Forlinden's eastern edge have had six months to add to their numbers and fortify their position after the Party's October raid, and they are becoming an ever-greater threat to the land. The Party mount a series of "weekend warrior" raids with some success, but once again get distracted before the job is completed, and head off somewhere else allowing the Giants another chance to recover.

Starting members (from Drow Caverns): Judah(A-9), Monach(MU-6/I-6), Felemid(B-7), Jack(MU-7), Havelock(Cvr-7), Donnamira(NtC-5), Aldea(NtC-5), Miriel(NrC-6)
                           (from Journeys in Neidra): Asha(R-6)
                           (from Lost Temple of Tharizdun B): Thorn(WrC-5/MU-4)
                           (from Hill Giants of Forlinden): Sh'kaira(F-5)

Mar 30 489	By now, the Party has reassembled in Erelond, and decides to tackle the Giant problem once again.
Apr 2	Leave Erelond on expedition number 2, with the first having been last October.
Apr 3	Arrive at valley; Asha does some scouting, finds 9 Hill Giants that Party soon takes care of. Giants send out reinforcements; another 10 fall, and Party retreats to town.
Apr 4	Jack posts a 2000 g.p. reward for a Leomund's Secure Shelter spell. Aldea leaves for training (to NtC-6).
Apr 7	Third expedition leaves Erelond, quickly getting to valley. Jack killed in a battle vs. 3 Giants, finishing at -52. Sh'kaira killed in a much more significant fight with a Cloud Giant and 6 friends; Party retreats again.
Apr 8	Arrive Erelond; Jack resurrected and Sh'kaira raised. Party unaware the Giants have similar capabilities.
Apr 11	Fourth expedition leaves, arriving at valley late morning. A series of battles with assorted Giants: Judah killed by a Cloud Giant; Judah raised in field within minutes (by staff?). Party still have not made good more than 100' into Giants' caves. Party retreats, arriving Erelond very late at night.
Apr 13	Fifth expedition leaves Erelond, reaches valley, and finds surprisingly little resistance. Into caves; actually have to search out Giants this time, but find some, kill them, and retreat once more. Thorn charms Monach during Party's trip back to Erelond.
Apr 14	Arrive Erelond; Havelock experiencing deja-vu, as he has now killed the same Giant twice.
Apr 15	Lisse rejoins, having become tired of missing all the fun.
Apr 16	Sixth expedition heads for valley, arriving early afternoon and wading into the caves; several battles later they retreat once more, but have made good progress this time.
Apr 17	Arrive Erelond, carrying the head of a Fire Giant as a trophy. A general training break follows.
Apr 24	News arrives of civil war in Telenosti; Party ignores for now.
May 10	Seventh expedition leaves Erelond for valley, arriving in afternoon and finding no resistance on surface. Advance into caves, find and defeat several groups of mixed Giants. Thinking (erroneously) that all the Giants are dead and the job is done, Party retreats once more.
May 11	Arrive Erelond.

Surviving members: Judah(A-9), Lisse(F-8/MU-4), Jack(MU-8), Havelock(Cvr-8), Felemid(B-8), Donnamira(NtC-5),
Monach(MU-6/I-6), Aldea(NtC-6), Miriel(NrC-6), Asha(R-6), Thorn(WrC-5/MU-5), Sh'kaira(F-5)
New members: none
Retirees: none
Casualties: (Jack, Sh'kaira, Judah - all revived)
Continuing parties (to Telenosti Civil War): Judah, Jack, Havelock, Felemid, Monach, Donnamira, Aldea, Miriel, Thorn
(to Forlinden Valley 3): Lisse, Sh'kaira, Asha

48. Telenosti Civil War October 1991-January 1992

Background and summary: Telenosti, an Elvish land far to the southeast, is embroiled in a most uncharacteristic civil war. When word of this reaches the Party, they at first do not react, but after some thought decide to go to Telenosti and investigate, thinking (correctly) the war might be the result of Drow plotting. Once there, they quickly find out which side is which, and eventually learn that the main palace has been completely taken over by enemy agents working from the inside. The Party then storm the palace and cause a great deal of damage and destruction in process of killing these agents. This done, they do away with a number of enemy Elves en route to the epicentre of the trouble: a cave complex housing a Vampire and a group of Drow Clerics. Once these are taken out, the war is for all intents over, and the Party departs, leaving the remaining Elves to clean up the mess.

Starting members: Judah(A-9), Jack(MU-8), Havelock(Cvr-8), Felemid(B-8), Donnamira(NtC-5), Monach(MU-6/I-6), Aldea(NtC-6), Miriel(NrC-6), Thorn(WrC-5/MU-5)

May 20 489	Having decided to investigate this war they keep hearing about, Party leaves Erelond.
Jun 14	Arrive Cohena for the second time this trip, having gone in circles for some reason. Timber(T-7) joins as a local guide.
Jun 17	Felemid finally catches up with Party; his training took longer than most.
Jun 22	Arrive at Telenosti border; Felemid and Timber pre-scout and find little.
Jun 23	Felemid and Timber get caught spying and are thrown in jail.
Jun 24	Party rescues F+T, then sit at the border waiting for someone to notice them.
Jun 26	Torgel Blacksmith(R-5) joins; Party gives up waiting and tries to enter Telenosti uninvited, make good only 3 miles.
Jun 27	Party fights 2 groups of Elves (but has no idea whose side they're on) while trying to reach Anduriel, the main city.
Jun 29	By now, Party has figured out who is fighting who among the Elves and are surprised to discover there's in fact 4 separate factions: the "old guard" who used to rule; the "renegades" who want to rule now; the "gnomes" who are backed by an invading force of Gnomes from the north, and the "Mithi" who just seem to want to kill everyone. Quickly conclude the renegades and old guard have no real argument with each other. Aldea is sent as a diplomat to the renegades to try and convince them to join forces with the old guard.
Jun 30	Party reaches palace in Anduriel (held by old guard), and try and convince them to join forces with the renegades.
Jul 3	Aldea reaches camp of renegade commander; completely confuses him with all the information she's gathered.
Jul 4	Negotiations well in hand, Felemid, Judah, Jack, Monach and Thorn go to Cohena to buy weapons for the Elves and gather info via Commune questions; over 22,000 g.p. worth of weapons are soon on their way south.
Jul 5	Timber retires and heads north not to be seen again.
Jul 14	By now, both the old guard and renegade leaders are convinced they should join, but both have trouble convincing their line troops; success eventually comes...sort of.
Jul 15	Party reconvenes near Anduriel, with leaders of old guard and renegades; advancing Mithi are 20 miles away and main palace in Anduriel has been taken by turncoat old-guarders. (who are in fact Mithi agents)
Jul 16	Into Anduriel with a few key Elven leaders, to storm the palace: o Judah flies in and plucks a guard off the palace roof; he has little useful information, and is let go miles from town; o the first significant opponent turns Havelock into a slug and Aldea into a snail, but they recover; o a much more imposing pair of opponents (one is MU-13/A-7, other is F-12) are dealt with; o Party reaches main council chamber and is met by waves of giant spiders, this causes great concern as these are often associated with Drow; o Felemid killed as Party wades into council chamber; Donnamira - about to raise with her staff another Elf who had fallen - is standing right behind him and instead raises Felemid the segment after he dies! o council chamber held by a F-18 and a NrC-12 (to the Drow goddess Llolth) but Party prevails. Spellcraft reveals Mithi base to be a Drow-held cavern to the north; spies and Rangers are sent out by the Elves to find it.
Jul 17	Party's spellcasters fly north and carpet-bomb the advancing Mithi with fireballs, killing many.
Jul 23	Judah gets a lost limb regenerated (but when did he lose it?).
Jul 25	Thorn begins training to WrC-6, done by Aug 2.
Jul 28	Scouts find the cavern at last, and report its location; Party and others start moving that way.
Aug 2	Thorn catches up to Party. Into cavern; battle many Elves, then start fighting a string of different Golems; Judah killed by an Iron Golem. Judah raised by Donnamira (via staff).
Aug 3	A Vampire backed by several Drow causes problems: Monach killed and Havelock loses 2 levels.
Aug 4	Party leaves Telenosti, hoping the Elves can take care of things from here.
Aug 5	Monach raised by the local Elves.
Aug 19	Havelock gets his levels restored in Cohena.
Aug 20	Torgel retires (but eventually meets some other characters; see end of Journeys in Neidra).
Sep 2	Arrive Erelond, except Havelock, who has gone off on his own. [see below]
Sep 5	Thorn retires as she has discovered she is pregnant, courtesy of Monach.

Surviving members: Judah(A-9), Jack(MU-8), Havelock(Cvr-8), Monach(MU-7/I-6), Felemid(B-8), Thorn
(WrC-6/MU-6), Miriel(NrC-7), Aldea(NtC-7), Donnamira(NtC-6), Torgel(R-6), Timber(T-7)
New members: Torgel, Timber
Retirees: Timber; Torgel(to Against the Pirates); Thorn(to Book of Gant); Havelock(to Lemmings' World)
Casualties: (Felemid, Judah, Monach - all revived)
Surviving party(to Forlinden Valley 4): Judah, Jack, Monach, Felemid, Thorn, Miriel, Aldea, Donnamira

So where does Havelock go?

After leaving the Party on Aug 25, Havelock goes off somewhere for some reason and by Sep 8 has found an adventure of unknown purpose. Havelock killed Sep 14 during this, and Havelock raised Sep 19 once his party is safely back in town. By Sep 30, he has made it back to Cohena, and on Oct 29 arrives in Erelond.

51. Forlinden Valley 3 (a.k.a. Giants in the Ground 8-11) February 1992

Background and summary: despite the Party's best attempts, the Forlinden valley Giants are still kicking, and they once more become a nuisance after the main Party leaves for Telenosti. A few remaining characters do their best to keep a lid on things until the Party finally returns and can deal with it once and for all.

Starting members: Lisse(F-8/MU-4), Asha(R-6)

Jul 1 489

Lisse and Asha lead expedition 8 against the Giants; Asha killed during this.

Asha raised in Erelond.

Kalvin(Cvr-8:P-3) and Rianne(R-6) join(both from Drow Caverns).

Jul 14

Expedition 9 leaves, accomplishes a decent amount of carnage, but Rianne killed.

Rianne raised on return to Erelond.

Sh'kaira(F-5) joins.

Expedition 10 leaves; gets just about nowhere against the Giants, and Sh'kaira killed.

Return to Erelond; Sh'kaira raised.

Expedition 11 leaves; again makes little headway, and Party realizes this has again become more than just the few of them can handle.

Aug 25

Return to Erelond once more, wait for reinforcements; meanwhile Asha trains to R-7 and Kalvin trains to P-5.

Surviving members: Lisse(F-8/MU-4), Asha(R-7), Kalvin(Cvr-8:P-5), Sh'kaira(F-6), Rianne(R-6)
New members: none.
Retirees: Sh'kaira(to Book of Gant)
Casualties: (Asha, Rianne, Sh'kaira - all raised)
Continuing party(to Forlinden Valley 4): Lisse, Asha, Kalvin, Rianne

52. Forlinden Valley 4 (a.k.a. Giants in the Ground 12-13) February-April 1992

Background and summary: finally realizing there is more to this than just a colony of Giants, the Party mounts two last expeditions to the valley, and this time fight their way far enough in to find where the Giants have been coming from: a powerful undead has been maintaining a gate and summoning them through it. They kill the undead - a Lich - and close the gate, then leave the local Elves to clean up what Giants still remain.

Starting members (from Telenosti Civil War): Judah(A-9), Jack(MU-8), Monach(MU-7/I-6), Felemid(B-8), Miriel(NrC-7), Aldea(NtC-7), Donnamira(NtC-6)
(from Forlinden Valley 3): Lisse(F-8/MU-4), Asha(R-7), Kalvin(Cvr-8:P-5), Rianne(R-6)

Sep 17 489	After a short break, Party re-gathers in Erelond.
Sep 18	Aldea and Felemid go to Giants' valley to scout; find that Party's earlier predations have made little impact on Giant activities.
Sep 19	A+F return to Erelond and brief Party; Party buys a wish to determine full population of complex and are stunned at the result: over 200 Giants along with 175-odd non-Giants (including at least 1 Dragon) still inhabit the place. Party spends much time debating how they could have missed that many on previous visits.
Sep 20	Party splits in two; Felemid, Monach, Judah and Aldea form a "swat team" while rest set up a diversion. Kalvin and Donnamira find a pair of Giants; Kalvin puts 160 points damage into one of them in one swing! Swat team accomplishes next to nothing; rest of Party finds a camp of Giants and wades in. Asha and Miriel killed but 20 Giants also fall along with a few smaller companions; Party by now has help from local Elves, Giants driven back out of forest into their caves.
Sep 21	Return to Erelond; Miriel fails raise. Aldea stays near valley in bird form to scout.
Sep 22	Fatman(MU-9) joins as Party need access to "stone-to-mud" spells to dig down to passages.
Sep 23	Aldea, still in valley, realizes Giants have spellcasting capability; she quietly goes around dispelling everything they can cast (including, fortunately, some very powerful glyphs across the cave entrance).
Sep 24	Thirteenth and last expedition leaves Erelond for valley, debriefed by Aldea on arrival. Wade into caves; several battles against Giants in twos and threes, then a major brawl against 11 powerful Giants gains Party a reprieve, and they retreat outside.
Sep 25	Back into caves, battle through several more Giants and finally find and kill a Lich; this being has been summoning and supporting the Giants all along. A few more Giant encounters later, Party leaves; with the source of new Giants cut off, the local Elves should be able to mop up what's left.
Sep 26	Start of a travel-and-training break except a few people stay and help fight Giants.
Oct 9	Rianne killed fighting Giants.
Oct 11	Felemid has a wish thrown in Ballydoon; Asha and Miriel revived, Felemid leaves for training.
Oct 17	Rianne resurrected in Widdershyn.
Oct 18	Rianne, Fatman, and Lisse all retire.

Surviving members: Judah(A-10), Jack(MU-8), Felemid(B-9), Kalvin(Cvr-8:P-6), Monach(MU-7/I-7), Aldea(NtC-7),
Miriel(NrC-7), Donnamira(NtC-7), Rianne(R-6), Asha(R-7), Lisse(F-8/MU-4), Fatman(MU-9)
New members: Fatman
Retirees: Fatman, Rianne; Lisse, Donnamira(both to Book of Gant); Felemid(to Jeremiah's Hideaway)
Casualties: (Asha, Miriel, Rianne - all revived)
Continuing party(to Lemmings' World): Judah, Jack, Kalvin, Monach, Aldea, Miriel, Asha

53. Lemmings' World April-May 1992

Background and summary: the Party decides to roam around the rest of what used to be Forlinden and clear out some encroaching nasties. While doing this, they stumble across a very odd chest that proves - after much trial and error - to be a gateway to a very different world, populated by strange little beings quaintly referred to as "lemmings". Jack and Monach go to great lengths to befriend these creatures, as they have realized time passes very slowly here and that this world would make a perfect place to study, train, rest, and do anything else that requires time - but not miss anything back on Telenet.

Starting members (from Forlinden Valley 4): Judah(A-10), Jack(MU-8), Kalvin(Cvr-8:P-6), Monach(MU-7/I-7), Aldea(NtC-7), Miriel(NrC-7), Asha(R-7)
(from Telenosti Civil War): Havelock(Cvr-8)

Nov 4 489	Leave Erelond, having heard reports of trouble to the west.
Nov 5	A band of trolls proves little challenge; then Judah and Aldea take out a small adventuring/raiding party between them. An enormous Black Dragon attacks; Aldea killed.
Nov 6	A roving troop of a couple of dozen Bugbears are easily taken care of. Another huge Black Dragon (the mate of the first one?) attacks; Havelock killed.
Nov 8	Reach western edge of what used to be Forlinden; here meet Sirranon, who has little to report.
Nov 10	Return to Erelond; Havelock fails raise.
Nov 12	Aldea resurrected in Terrance (plane-shift to get there and back?)
Nov 13	A drunk in an Erelond bar looks vaguely familiar; Judah sobers him up, and Steng(F-7) rejoins after brokenheartedly drinking his way around the northlands for months.
Nov 14	A couple of Dwarves independently show up and answer Party's call for tough guys: Ur-Khor(WrC-6/A-8) and Darth-Kull Darkbeard(F-6) join; Ur-Khor's Assassin class would remain hidden for some time.
Nov 17	Trials by combat between Steng, Ur-Khor, and Darth-Kull to see if they're any use; no record of who won.
Nov 18	Leave Erelond for undetermined destination. (travelling at random?)
Nov 22	Find and check out an abandoned castle; it's empty, but provides shelter from an oncoming snowstorm.
Nov 24	Find another castle in a lake; spend 2 days exploring.
Nov 25	A single Wraith proves to be the castle's only occupant, but still manages to drain Jack of a level.
Nov 26	Find yet another castle, this one in much better shape and held by Orcs - or so it appears.
Nov 27	After much planning and preparatory spellcasting, Party mounts a major assault on this latest castle but are stunned to find it almost completely empty; half a dozen Orcs provide the only opposition, and they flee in terror at the first opportunity. Exploring the castle, Monach opens a chest via a Knock spell and gets somehow sucked inside. Jack finds a spellbook nearby with 2 previously-unheard-of spells; eventually realizes they are control spells for the chest, and he takes the whole Party through except one: Aldea leaves and heads back to Erelond. Aldea hears tell of a Blue Dragon lair nearby on her way back to town.
"Day 1"	Monach, and soon the rest of the Party, make contact with some odd chatty little creatures in the new world; Miriel cures one and becomes a local favourite.
"Day 2"	Party explores and clears out a castle close to the Lemmings' lair; it proves to be empty, but the Lemmings didn't know this.
"Day 3"	Jack starts trying to teach magic to the Lemmings. They are intelligent enough, but have trouble remembering even simple things (such as who Jack is) from one day to the next. Realizing the possible benefits of such things, Monach quickly joins in.
"Day 4"	Teaching goes on for some time; meanwhile, the Lemmings move into the castle and claim it for their own.
"Day 25"	Some spell goes wrong and teleports Party all over northern Telenet, except Ur-Khor who winds up on Greyworld, thus Ur-Khor retires unintentionally.
Nov 28	Characters arrive scattered all over the place; Miriel shows up in Erelond, waits for everyone to come to her. Kalvin arrives in a distant land and is immediately taken hostage; released days later, he starts travelling to Erelond via Ballydoon and takes months to get there: Kalvin retires for now, not entirely by choice. Everyone else has a simpler journey, mostly reaching Erelond by year's end.
Dec 19	Jack gets his lost level restored in Erelond.

Surviving members: Judah(A-10), Jack(MU-8), Monach(MU-7/I-7), Kalvin(Cvr-8:P-6), Miriel(NrC-7), Aldea(NtC-7), Asha(R-7),
Darth-Kull(F-6), Ur-Khor(WrC-6/A-8), Steng(F-7)
New members: Steng(from Lost Temple of Tharizdun B); Ur-Khor, Darth-Kull
Retirees: Kalvin(to Book of Gant, eventually)
Casualties: Havelock(revived later), (Aldea - resurrected)
Continuing parties (to Jeremiah's Hideaway): Judah, Jack, Miriel, Aldea
(to Book of Gant): Monach, Asha, Darth-Kull, Steng

54. Jeremiah's Hideaway May-June 1992

Background and summary: one of the leaders of the Hobbits who now live in ex-Forlinden is a high-level Mimosa Cleric named Deirdre. She sends a small team off on a mission to recover a Rod of (Resurrection?) from someone called Jeremiah, who the Party initially thinks is a Blue Dragon known to live to the west. They go and slay the Dragon, but the Rod isn't there, however bashing some Ogres living in the same complex ends up sending the Party in the right direction: Jeremiah is a person, and the Dragon and the Ogres guard his hidden home. After a lengthy conversation (including much apologizing for killing off his guards) the Party convince Jeremiah to give them the Rod, and they return home successful. More importantly even than this, Judah proves to Deirdre (and thus, Mimosa) that he is indeed worthy of the trust they are about to place in him in the coming months.

Starting members (from Lemmings' World): Judah(A-10), Jack(MU-8), Miriel(NrC-7), Aldea(NtC-7)
(from Forlinden Valley 4): Felemid(B-9)

Jan 6 490	Deirdre gets in touch with Jack and asks Party to undertake quest to retrieve a Rod of Resurrection(?) from Jeremiah, who it doesn't really belong to.
Jan 8	As many characters are still busy training or resting, Jack puts together a small strike force and leaves for where Aldea thinks a Blue Dragon lair is; somehow, the Party have got the idea the Dragon and Jeremiah are one and the same.
Jan 13	Arrive at lair, spend the night scouting and planning.
Jan 14	Lure Dragon out of cave and - with difficulty - kill it.
Jan 15	Enter Dragon's cave and begin looting; very surprised to find Ogres living in there as well - the Party wades through them yet still cannot find the Rod. An illusionary wall at the back of one cave leads into the comfortable home of a Human; this is Jeremiah, and he is initially very annoyed with the Party for killing off his guards. Negotiations begin for the Rod once Jeremiah recovers his temper.
Jan 16	Jeremiah gives up the Rod in exchange for a magical crown and Judah's little metal wogglebug, among other things. (in giving up the wogglebug, Judah accomplishes the real purpose of this quest, proving himself worthy to continue with this Party on its upcoming missions - see background for Book of Gant.)
Jan 21	Arrive back in Erelond.
Jan 22	Meet Deirdre, debrief, and give her the Rod. A lengthy break now starts, with Party characters slowly gathering in Erelond throughout the winter and early spring.

Surviving members: Judah(A-10), Jack(MU-8), Felemid(B-9), Miriel(NrC-7), Aldea(NtC-7)
New members: none
Retirees: none
Casualties: none
Continuing party(to Book of Gant): Judah, Jack, Felemid, Miriel, Aldea

What do some other people do in the meantime?

Monach leaves Telenet on Jan 9 490 for the Lemmings' world; he spends 50 subjective months there, learning their language and conducting spell research. He also helps the Lemmings fend off some intruders, and becomes a major local celebrity by so doing. He returns to Erelond on Feb 10 490, having aged 4 years in a month.

Thorn returns to Erelond in March 490, and she and Monach promptly charm (or re-charm) each other. Monach tells her of Lemmings' world, and they hire a nanny and go there on Apr 16 490. Both conduct spell research in the 29 months they are here, and Thorn gives birth to a (1/2-Dryad:7/16-Elf:1/16-Djinni) baby boy during this time. They all return to Telenet May 5 490; the boy is already a year old!