[Leif]:

As they leave the pool after the clerics of Istus have had their monthly dip, Leif sees the Green Dragon Chloros flying towards the party. He warns everyone, and they prepare the best they can. The dragon turns before he reaches them, descending towards his destination (the Tower of Tharizdun hole) before actually even spotting the party. The party goes back to the temple of Ehlonna to see if the dragon turned off to investigate it. The dragon is not there. The party then goes back to where they left the Tower hole and finds the villagers building a new village, centered around a growing church for Tharizdun. Chloros the Dragon is talking to several of his Ogres (although the party does not know the Ogres "belong" to Chloros). The party decides to tail the dragon to its lair, but they cannot follow far, as the dragon flies off South and West. They decide instead they should take out the village and church. But first they must escort the clerics of Istus back to Castle Greyhawk and prepare their spells.

[Jean]:

10 months on the Isle of Raq. Several more escape attempts are made, but Raq always thwarts them.

[Lief]:

Party arrives back at Castle greyhawk. Preparation of spells and equipment.

[Lief]:

The party arrives back at the new village of the worshippers of Tharizdun. They attack without hesitation. Phaedrus kills one Ogre on his initial entrance with lance on horseback into the village. Villagers and Ogres are being slaughtered left and right. But Leif is prepared for further evil. The Lich that the party met earlier could still be lurking about. Sure enough, as the battle rages, a darkness raises itself from the depths of the new church. It then turns Capt. Koole and Ward into pillars of flame, killing them both. But, Ward is carrying a disintegrating raygun (from Duck Dodgers from the "Duck!" Level of Castle Greyhawk), which experiences a localized meltdown, causing a fireball

(eight hit dice) to engulf the area. Furthermore, this explosion causes Capt. Koole's Spirit Sapper Backpack to blow up in another massive (eight hit dice) fireball. The fire rages in the village. Phaedrus and Kay are turned to flame with one villager and two Ogres. Shzzt zaps the Lich with his Spirit Sapper Pack, but misses. The Lich MM's Shzzt but his Irving-supplied Magic Resistance holds. Leif fireballs the Lich, pissing it off. The Lich tries to put a pillar of flame on Leif

in return, but Leif's earlier resist fire spell saves his elven butt. Shzzt then zaps the Lich again and hits. Instantly, the Lich dissappears. Apparently, the party has won!

Now, however, Irving points out to the party that there is something in the sky to the West. The party fearfully comes to the conclusion that Chloros is coming, but prepare for battle. Irving says its Okay, its just some dark clouds massing and moving quickly towards the party. Leif goes down into the Lich's lab as the others enter the ground floor of the church. They find no way down to the Lich lair from the ground level and climb up to the uncompleted second level, where they see that a very unnatural storm is now brewing in the West. Shzzt, who was scouting the rest of the village for others, locates the missing cleric and finds him chanting. Shzzt draws his swords and ends the cleric's career and life and assumes that this will end the summoning of the storm as well. He then makes his way back to the church. It begins to rain. Each member of the party begins to get wet from the unnatural rain. The cleric who escaped the party to cast the spell was not casting weather control or call lightning, he was using a Quest spell available only to clerics of Tharizdun called "Baatezu's Rain". Tharizdun heard the call, and has sent the horrid fluid down upon the Gnarley in answer, even though the spell was not completed. The Baatezu's Rain turns people into living zombies! A Save Vs. Petrification is needed without bonuses except protection bonuses. If failed, the character slowly loses CON and becomes a Zombie. The loss occurs at a rate of 1 pt. CON per turn until a CON of

3 is reached. The character is then a Zombie. This spell is very effective for Tharizdun, since he controls all uncontrolled undead on Oerth! Note that the pool in Ehlonna's temple can cure this affliction.

The party is mostly turned into Zombies, and tries to quickly get to the temple of Ehlonna 4.5 miles away to bathe in the magic pool. Shzzt casts a haste on the party, and they all make it to the pool.

[Lief]:

Tharizdun will place a curse on the church after the party leaves, to try and give the Lich time to prepare things better for the villages defense. Party spends time healing while Leif goes to inform the Druids.

[Lief]:

The party rests up in preparation for a visit to the church and village again.

[Lief]:

The party sets off for the village. Six Zombie Ogres are waiting/guarding the hole. They are simultaneously Fireballed by Leif and Shzzt and only one is left standing. Garz sets foot on the top of the second level to cream a Zombie Ogre, and as such is subjected to the curse of Tharizdun. He makes his Saving Throw, however, and thus is not affected by the curse. The party gains some very old Nobles and a Red Potion. The party decides to open a chest they have found as well. There are three traps in and on the chest, and the party is aware of one non-magical trap upon the lock from Leif's two spells find traps and detect magic cast earlier. Phaedrus asks his Dagger of Trap Detection about the chest and the trap, which is amazing since the Dagger was only endowed with the ability to detect large traps, but oh, well. The dagger knows there are two and thinks there are more which are protected from detection (blank spot or "dead zone"). The first trap is on the lock. When the lock is unlocked, the lid springs open, causing the second trap to be set off, since the second trap's trigger is the lid being opened. Inside the chest is a gas trap which explodes in a poisonous 30 x 30 x 30 cloud. The sapphire inside is trapped with a magical electric charge trap (6d4+6 dmg) which will discharge when it is touched. The sapphire has been protected and has a magic mouth and a new spell, false alignment [W5] (which gives a random, false reading whenever know alignment is cast), plus another new spell inner glow [W4] cast upon it. Both of these spells are held in place by a permanency spell. There are 3800 Nobles inside the chest.

The party then spends four days walking back to Castle Greyhawk, since their horses have become Zombies (now controlled by Tharizdun).

[Lief]:

Tharizdun is not impressed (although he is still asleep and has only vague psychic dreams about all of this, but they do not impress him). Other than a forgotten temple in another area of the World (see WG4), he now only has the Lich to worship him on Oerth. This lack of worshippers is one cause for him to remain mostly asleep.

The killing (by the party) of the last three powerful clerics of Tharizdun on the Wild Coast has put Tharizdun further asleep, his dreams breaking up and all but closing his window to Oerth. Had the Lich's TRUE soul container been destroyed, Tharizdun would have been completely powerless, totally asleep, and dreamless. Since the Lich and the power of the Lich in the Prime Material is the last tenuous hold Tharizdun has in this part of the world, he must dream up protections for his servant. Tharizdun has dreamt that somehow the party survived the Baatezu's Rain, since he did not dream of controlling them when the Rain stopped. The protection of the Lich and the last, barely active church, and revenge on the irritating party of adventurers who have almost put Tharizdun back to total sleep. These are the priorities of a dreaming God.

Tharizdun tries to dream defenses and offenses. The Lich is healing.

Preparations are made between the Lich and his dreaming God to gate one of Tharizdun's servants from The Gray Wastes to the Prime Material. "Gerald" the Arcanaloth is prepared.

[Lief]:

Phaedrus and Kay get engaged. The party destroys the sapphire and the Spirit Sapper Pack. The Lich does not appear. Is it dead, or did the party capture it after all? The Lich has completely recovered inside its Ruby. A dreaming God is heard inside the Lich's head, "The church must be repaired. You must protect yourself. The dragon must help. Traps must be built. Summoning to

the Gray Waste must occur." At this point, the Yugoloth appears, summoned in REM sleep by Tharizdun and augmented by the gate spell from the Lich. This effort puts Tharizdun deeper into sleep, where his dreams end. Galotseg the Arcanaloth is ready to serve. The Lich then casts create hordeling twice.

Tharizdun gates an Arcanaloth to guard the Lich and be a servant to it. With that, the conversation ends, for Tharizdun's power is almost drained. He now has bare control over uncontrolled undead, and over the perpetual storm hanging over the ruined village (no longer "Baatezu's Rain, but the adventurers don't know this). The Lich creates two Hordelings.The Lich and the Yugoloth and the hordelings make their plans.

For details on the Arcanaloth, see "Gerald"

Hordeling 1: Bebop

Hordeling 2: Rocksteady

[Lief]:

Phaedrus has to work for his Plate Mail strap repairs (result of a near drowning?) for ten days. Phaedrus spends 2,000N on an engagement ring.

Notice is put up at the Cavalier's Club by Shzzt.

Gerald approaches the fortress of the Dragon Chloros. An encounter with some unruly Ogres leaves the Ogres wishing they had not approached the figure. Then Gerald demands an audience with Chloros, and receives it. A request for aid of the Dragon's armies is made. Negotiations lead to the remainder of the Lich's treasure (except the ruby) being given to the Dragon.

[Lief]:

Phaedrus works, Shzzt waits for the Cavaliers to find him. Gerald prepares the Ogres for work in constructing walls and traps. Several score of Goblin miners from Chloros' lair are used to mine stones from the original tower for the construction of the walls and the rest of the church.

[Lief]:

Short sword duel vs. Paladin Velgren the Heroic (6th level). Velgren is forced to use a potion of levitation from Keilbasa's magic shop. 12:00, High Noon is the time for the duel. "Skinner" is the name of the short sword of Velgren. Shzzt has already cast a stone skin on himself. He then casts a haste and then a fly spell. The paladin discovers that Shzzt is immune to his attacks. He then calls, "Foul!", but Shzzt kills him anyway. The cavaliers fall into lively debate as to whether there was a problem with the duel or not. The Paladins of Heironeous are very upset, but many of the other cavaliers maintain that the duel was fair. Stephen Adams, Lawful Evil Cavalier of Hextor, supports Shzzt's side.

Shzzt expalins himself to Rasp. Rasp is chosen to make a decision about the duel. Was it fair? Are there charges to be brought about?

Julie has sent a message to Kay, saying she is doing fine hanging out with some Hobbits. She was almost sacrificed to an evil god by their priests, but was saved daringly by the Hobbits.

The village area becomes a horror filled sight. Tharizdun's Living Dead from surrounding areas patrol the borders around the village, while undead animal life hangs about doing very little. Grim-faced Ogres construct pits of death and high spiked walls, while Goblins emerge from holes with wheel-barrows of stone. A Warthog and a Rhino with human bodies and huge muscles walk around with weapons, clearly on patrol. A wolf-headed humanoid keeps watch over things, clearly the overseer. From the church, odd noises and odder smells issue forth from an area of perpetual darkness.

[Lief]:

The judgement of Rasp is announced:

Shzzt should have been limited to his weapons and the single spell of fly. It was in the spirit of the duel to use only Short Swords as weapons. Shzzt cast haste and magic missile, and must therefore pay for the ressurection of Velgren, which will cost 5,000N.

However, Velgren did lose the duel to a minion of Hextor, and must redeem himself by going on a quest, as suggested by the paladin judge present. He is sent to the Barrier Peaks to find an artifact.

Shzzt publicly announces that all the rules are off and the Paladins are in real trouble now.

[Lief]:

Paladins are very angry. The cavaliers and paladins are splitting factions. What will happen next? Leif is trying to convince the party that they can copy spells. Shzzt is looking at the Lich's books. He finds the legend of the Crystal Sword of Rel Mord. There are no books on Tanar'ri, Dragons, Wildlife or Ancient History. There are books on: Modern History, Legends of Famous Adventurers, Poison Research.

Leif visits Rasp. He enquires about the type of traps on the Lich's spellbooks and whether Rasp will buy the Lich's books. Leif recieves an affirmative.

[Lief]:

Shzzt studies up on poison. Zuphaitz supplies a desk and a small section of his library for Shzzt to use for his books and research in thanks for the donations of the past and present to Zuphaitz's library.

Leif blows up the first book with a successful dispel magic.

[Lief]:

Shzzt and Garz and henchmen go to pick up Kay's mother by teleport spell. Kay's mother Donna lives in Lankhmar with Kay's Stepfather Dennis. Shzzt leaves a +1 Bastard Sword and a Pearl of Wisdom (Allan's Stuff) under Leif's mattress with a note saying, "Sorry, Leif, couldn't hold this

stuff any longer." On the way to the market, Garz meets Friedar, who is now a theif/hooker in Lankhmar. He insists that she come back with him to the Castle to be Kay's bridesmaid. They then discover Slime singing with Dave (the Bard) in the bar. Garz kills Friedar's pimp. They lock the door to the pimp's place, try to burst it open, then leave.

Gerald is now disguised. He goes to Narwell to employ a thief to set the needed traps around the church.

[Lief]:

Shzzt memorizes reverse enlarge to diminish Slime's horse Arlee, which he refuses to leave behind. They do nothing exciting that day and they leave for home that night.

Garz has the 10 rings from the pimp- one of them did not come off the pimp's thumb, and Garz simply cut off the thumb. This ring is cursed- it turns the victim's skin black and makes them talk strangely. Another is a +1 ring of protection. Shzzt has the pimp's bag, which contains 3 Iron

Tiks and 17 Bronze Algols. 11:00 PM Garz arrives in Kay's room. Kay is very surprised and pleased to see her mother and Friedar.

Gerald approaches the thieve's guild in Narwell. He is very impressed with the Guildsmaster and decides to be frank with him. The job is dangerous and the one performing the services cannot live to be a witness. Knopfler is assigned immediately and without hesitation, and a considerable sum is paid to the Guildsmaster. Leif leaves the Tower with one book intact and takes cover off the other book. Puts up a notice for a fighter hireling.

[Lief]:

Shzzt sends a note to Phaedrus saying, "I was so impressed by the joy that Steele brought into yours and Kay's lives that I thought that you could bring that same joy to the Bonecrusher clan through Garz and Friedar." The next day Shzzt and Garz and their henchpeople leave for the village of ??? in the Duchy of Urnst to pick up Phaedrus' mother.

Quartz to delay any attempt by Phaedrus to go get his mother.

Leif goes to visit the Herzog. Tells him he is looking for a hireling.

[Lief]:

First day of travel towards Greyhawk City. Spent night in Greyhawk City.

[Lief]:

Phaedrus' last day of work. Phadrus and Lief go to the bar and Leif tries to fight first one guy and then four more. Garz and Shzzt travel through the Cairn Hills. No encounters.

Leif and Phaedrus make arrangements to pick up the 3 clerics of Istus and take them to the temple the following day.

Then Leif goes down to the 8th level late that night, burns away the Web, and promptly gets turned to stone by a Cockatrice (of which he saw eight). Phaedrus then decides Leif has been gone too long and decides to go look for him. Kay casts a prayer and an augury to see if it would help if she went to look too. "Paper is paper" is her cryptic reply. Quartz and Phadrus go to investigate. They find Leif turned to stone and go back up. They talk to Zuphatiz and find out the creatures they glimpsed were Cockatrices. They go down and accidentally touch the Web, and Phaedrus develops paranoia.

Phaedrus leaves immediately, realizing that everyone is against him and that this was all a plot to have him killed. He passes Quartz, shouting the question, "Surprised to see me still alive?!" with a maniacal expression on his face. As he passes Kay, he spits at her feet. He leaves no possessions and grabs his horse, freeing the other horses and torching the stable. He leaves the Castle, heading North to cross the river and head around the Northern edge of the Nyr Dyv to get to his mother's.

Kay borrows 20,000N at 11% interest from Fudge to pay for Leif's stone to flesh. Phaedrus attacks a farm to gain food. He knows the farmer and his family are in on the plot, and makes the farmer eat some of the food before he will try it. He steals some sacks and extra food.

Party attacked by Hillsmen who want their money.

Number 4 broke the string on his bow. Number 5 was killed by Shzzt with a fireball spell. Garz killed one alone, Bill used 2 MAGIC MISSILES, Slime killed one alone, and Schweigy bravely cast a cure light wounds spell.

Meanwhile Kay picks up her 20,000N from the tax collector. They take Leif to the Tower. Trucan and Ybenso turn Leif back into flesh, but he does not make his system shock roll, and he dies. His ring of Regeneration brings him back eventually. He is not pleased about the money spent to bring him back, and Kay bursts into tears.

Phaedrus has changed his mind and gone to Greyhawk City. He arrives and stays at an inn in the River Quarter. He shaves off his beard and cuts his hair short. He puts away his trademark wolf cloak and then puts a blanket over himself to look like a peasant. He then rolls his horse in the mud. Looks like a very down at heels fighter. He then goes to the docks. He finds a boat heading for Leukish in seven days. They send him to Captain Bill of the Dominico, leaving the next day. Phaedrus sleeps on the boat but does not sleep well. Gerald and Knopfler arrive at the village. Knopfler is immediately assigned to setting traps. Knopfler has been informed that he is now in the service of the Gods themselves, and that he will granted immortality upon completion of the job. He has been Charmed by Gerald, who has not exactly lied since petitioners on the Outer Planes, as Knopfler will soon become, are something like immortal, and he falls to with vigor.