***See bottom of this post for XP and GOLD info.*** The group of ten adventurers traveled directly to the Palace of the Vampire Queen via raft to the island and the old overgrown road leading from the shore. They decisively entered the far left set of doors at the front entrance, not encountering anything immediately. The group took notice of a portrait titled "Lord Virez" and attempted to remove it from the wall; immediately the portrait protested and began yelling help when it was not promptly returned. The group attempted to throw it outside of the palace, but it disappeared into a puff of white smoke when it entered the sunlight outside the door. When the group returned to the painting's spot, they saw that the painting had resumed its original position and was silent again. However, it was at this time that three average-sized house cats dropped from holes in the poorly maintained ceiling, falling upon several of the party members, injuring one of the magic users. The party quickly obliterated the three cats, taking souvenirs of the encounter, and capturing one of the cats alive into a thick canvas bag. The group then proceeded to explore one of the northern areas from the hallway, and encountered three goblins playing cards. The group similarly dispatched the goblins, taking one prisoner. The prisoner remained uncooperative despite the efforts of the group, but Sugarbunny the elf-warrior princess discovered a secret passage. After opening the passage, Mi'Gron spent many minutes searching passage for traps, and was set upon by a Gelatinous Cube unbeknownst to most of his party. Mi'Gron suffered a mighty blow from the thick pseudo-pod appendage of the cube, but was pulled to safety by Sugarbunny who just happened to glance inside the passage while the others were looting the room. The group, called to action, fortunately dispatched the gelatinous cube before any casualties were sustained. About this time, the goblin became more cooperative after being shoved into the secret passage with the cube. He then led them to the location of the goblin's treasure, through the dark winding corridors of the secret passage. When the group arrived outside a doorway, they listened inside and heard the rasp of steel as the goblins inside were putting on their weapons and equipment. The group quietly opened the door, and threw inside the carcass of one of the cats, promptly shutting the door, causing the goblins to argue with each other about which of them was playing a practical joke. A minute or so later, the group quietly opened the door again, and tossed in the cat from the bag, quickly closing the door. This time, the goblins were dumbstruck at the appearance of cat from out-of-nowhere. The party heard hissing and yowling of the cat followed by a thump and thud as it was silenced. When they next opened the door, the goblins saw them and a quick battle was engaged; the goblins were left dead in their own blood. The group, thinking the area was a dead end, almost struck down the captive goblin for leading them into a trap, before the goblin to tell them that the treasure was located there. The group pulled on a rusty sword displayed on the wall, revealing a chest with an ornate cobra-headed lock. The group quickly found the corresponding key from their encounter with the two-headed goblin from days before, and found a large pile of gold. The group decided to leave the area, but while they were walking down the corridor, they heard the shllurrrrp shllllllik of a gelatinous cube approaching from an intersecting corridor. The group took positions on either side of the corridor just as the cube emerged. Within the first moments of battle, the cube reached forward, grabbing Vayne the fighting-man whole, crushing him outright and then pulling it into itself it began to quickly desolve the corpse. In a moment of panic, Ondraedon and Ramkus fled towards the goblin's card-playing/training room and shut the secret entrance tightly, while the others in the group were blocked off from exiting the area. Mi'Gron and others desperately threw their last oil flasks, and opened fire with crossbows and throwing daggers. Barely was the gelatinous cube stopped before it reached them; it collapsed in death, releasing the grotesque muscle-stripped form of Vayne. The party regrouped in the goblin's room, and set forth to return to town. Just as they were opening the front doors to leave, the rusty metallic squeal of the hinges attracted Nekros who had been wandering nearby. Nekros and his skeleton and zombie horde gave chase to the party as they dashed outside onto the mountain road; the zombies quickly lagging behind. For over a mile the party ran, before Nekros overcame them and they were forced to turn and face him. The group immediately put their hands up and offered gold, wine, and a silver ankh for their release. Nekros, immediately made them throw the silver ankh into the woods, and decided to accept their other offerings. He released them, telling them not to return to the Palace, and made his way back. The group camped in the woods for the night once they came down the mountain, and returned to Stilt Town the next day. --------------------- The following Characters earned 166xp and 53 gold, 5 silver, and 7 copper in the first part of the game: Kaizer Eezo Vesryn Ondraedon Ramkus Mi'Gron Vayne Varon The following Characters earned 175xp and 60 gold, 6 silver, and 3 copper in the second part of the game: Kaizer Eezo Vesryn Ondraedon Ramkus Mi'Gron Vayne
