The morning awoke with a warmth that teased of a day full of sweat and toil ahead. Having been met by a FRIENDLY Spirit of the Woods to start their day (Ranger Mya), the day seemed to have a positive feel to it already.

So as the group began searching through the items there, finding a pouch with gold and magic and a mystic Dwarven Hammer (unaware the Keeper was stirring from the very ground around them), Sir Doouane was attacked by a giant Scorpion who had been feeding off the decaying flesh of the thief's corpse.

Though the Battle was brief thanks mostly to Greegan's skilled sword and Kelvinia's lightening, Doouane was poisoned by the Scorpion's sting and only High Priestess Talyn's healing stopped him from joining the Dwarven Hero and Grave Corpse Thief in death.

Peering across the body of water, they saw the grey and dark mist- covered lands of Kan'aka on the other side. It was while checking out the top level of the tower that Sir Reginald Gryphon noticed the dagger sticking into the top rail of the watchtower. Talyn checked for magic wards and Greegan for rogue type traps before the weapon was retrieved.

When Lored by the Mage Sabra, it was revealed that it was one of the daggers of the Thieve's Guild Master Zortox. This particular dagger aided the Rogue in backstabbing and combat, as well as augment their current rogue skills.

Leaving the tower, the band checked a few empty paths, and then came across the Merchant Guild, or, at least two of their members, peddling their wares.

Honest Hilaria and Duglah Darwinder, both vying to increase their status within the Merchant rankings, were here to sell an array of beneficial potions, pendants and items while trying to outdo the other's daily take.

The Merchants were so FRIENDLY, however, to incur the groups deepest suspicions (Think Sleazy Car Salesmen!!), and the group only bartered for two potions, a broach and a map out of the nearly 40 magic items the pair offered at bargain prices.

It was Talyn's offer of the star gem to Hilaria that earned her the map, but unknowing to the group, the star gem was worth MUCH more than just gold to the Merchants. It represented ranking, and by acquiring it from Talyn, Hilaria NOW was of higher rank than Duglah, and he became her servant.

The Map showed the group the land they had traveled through, and marked another Tower on the river, along with a bridge that lead across the water to the dark lands of Kan'aka. Yet before they arrived at the 2nd Tower, Greegan explored another path and found a scroll near the river's banks. Opening the item, he felt dizzy and immediately lost his eyesight. Doouane lead him back up the trail to the party, and when Kelvinia tried to read the magic scroll, she too became blind. Even when Sabra tried her lore on the scroll, it gave her a warning, that she was only a mage and the magic was NOT for her kind, and blinded her too.

Finally, Talyn took the scroll, and felt as one with it. Opening it, she discovered it held the massive power to Raise Dead, and only Priests could read or open the scroll without becoming blind by the Divine power within. Talyn's own dispel magic ability then cured the curse on Her 3 fellow comrades.

This was a good and timely thing, as they discovered the bridge, as legend often warns, was guarded by THRASH the Great Troll. Demanding much more gold for passage than the group had, the group let Greegan go invisible using one of the potions they had acquired, slip behind the troll, then the ban attacked The Bridge Guardian from two sides.

The strategy worked, and with fighters surrounding him and Kelvinia's lightning hammering into the Great Troll, the bridge was taken. Both Doouane and Sir Reginald however, were gravely wounded. Again thanks to the healing hands of Talyn the Priestess as well as Sabra's first aid, the party was brought back to full health, and after more rest, moved on.

Finding the Great Barrier that separated the Dark Fey land of Kan'aka from their beloved Valourworth, the party took stock of their possessions, as well as the items taken from the Troll's body.

One item in particular caught the party's eye, the bell hanging around the Huge Monster's neck. As Sabra went to cast her Lore spell on it to divine its powers, Doouane, holding the bell shook it, making it ring. Her spell had begun to work, but was instantly fizzled out.

Connecting the effect to the sound, Sabra cast again, this time ensuring the item was quiet. Indeed, the item was the Bell of Disenchantment. Any item it touched while ringing, would forever be dispelled or lose it's magic properties. This included their own magic items, but, as Talyn realized, might also work on the Great Barrier that blocked their path.

The Map showed one more trail before the barrier, and at Greegan's perseverance, the group explored it and found two massive arrows.

Troll Bolts.

They were heavy and awkward to fire, but Ciera the archer knew, that if the DID hit, they would leave a pretty big hole coming out the other side of the target.

Finally, standing before the barrier, Talyn took the bell, held it forth, shook it and touched the wall of magic. In a shimmer, it disappeared, to reveal not a dark and ominous forest as they had seen from the other side of the river, but such a lush and green fertile woods that few had ever laid eyes on such beauty in their life.

Moving cautiously now through the woods of Kan'aka, the party kept eyes and ears open as they wound deeper into the unknown lands. Amazed at how green and well kept the woods were, the group were surprised that the land resembled nothing of the Dark tales they had been told of growing up or expecting.

Sir Reginald found another scroll in a tree stump, and this proved not to be cursed, and of great power to Kelvinia. Rather than just one lightening bolt, she could cast a full lightening storm and deliver the damage to a massive radius from it.

Not far from that spot, the group found a massive clearing on one side of the trail, as if `something' had squished all the trees, bushes and grass from above. As if, something had landed there? often.

Across from that clearing on the other side of the trail, was another smaller clearing, almost tunneling into the thick tree growth, and the group came to an eager halt, their eyes widening.

Treasure!

A huge Axe, a splendid looking bow, a tall and regal looking staff, a holy full shield and more.

All lay strewn about the outdoor alcove.

Cautiously Reginald, Doouane and Greegan moved to the farthest depths of the clearing, while Talyn and Ciera moved to the center.

Reginald noticed something else near the back as well. An egg. A rather large egg, almost a foot long, and it was cracked, part of the shell missing. Inside they could see something red...moving...

Beside the egg lay a multitude of jewels, and as Greegan picked up a strand of rubies, the first creature attacked. Widow, a huge black spider crept from the dark thicket and spew forth a sticky web that entangled Sir Reginald.

Ciera, who was creeping towards the bow that beckoned to her, had FANG, an orange and black giant spider leap from the shadows to land on her shoulder and bit her neck.

And even Greegan had a smaller blur of black and orange leap to land on his shoulder, biting him (Barely), but feeling the foot long spider draw blood and leave the wound numb.

The party, now seasoned a bit and working together, spun into action, and Sir Reginald flexed his muscles and broke free of the webbing holding him, moving to attack Widow.

Greegan struck at the creature on his neck while Kelvinia and Ciera attacked Fang. Doouane moved to aid Reginald and within minutes, Widow and Fang were dead and Spud scurried off and retreated into the deep woods.

Moving quickly away from the lair, the party healed themselves and lored the multitude of magic items they had acquired, dividing it appropriately where it best would be used.

Within the cracked egg, an orb of Dragon larva was found, and it would give the holder immunity to fire, but also control over Red Dragons. Kelvinia, her obsession with the elements peeking, kept this powerful possession.

When they arrived at her own Capital, the Queen stepped into a Circle of Protection and showed her true identity, summoning forth Kronk and Bonk, her two Henchmen.

It was here, that the Queen pointed the finger at the Kingdom of Valourworth for starting hostilities, and at the powers that be there, for stealing her beloved Mate.

The mages of the Party had not told their comrades, that the head of their Order, erring during spell casting, had stolen the beloved Mate of the Queen by the spell's summoning. A spell that then bonded the Mate to the Mage as Her familiar. A spell that could not be broken, cept for the death of the Mate?or the Mage.

The Queen screamed forth her hate, and aqusations, as the Henchmen moved closer.

The tension grew, and the party paused for long moments deliberation the approaching Henchman, then finally had to defend themselves and launch into battle.

When the dust began to settle, Doouane and Sir Reginald had fallen, as had Sabra and Kelvina; the Mages. Both Kronk (Aite) and Bronk (Aitis) fell from the party and finally it was down to The Queen, against Talyn, Greegan and Ciera.

Seeing herself outnumberd and wounded by the great magics and weapons the party now carried, Queen Madrune Muredach, Queen of the Dark Fey, portalled away from the Battle, vowing vengence on the party, and the Kingdom of Valourworth.

It was War!