Willowwood Elves probe into North Hills.

  Acting on evidence gathered from their raid against the vampire and information from Mage-Master Evanzanthis of House Goldenfae, Magandella and a Yon Elf expedition wound its way deep into the North Hills to the site of an extinct volcano believed to be the nesting site of a Blue Dragon. Instead they met with the Gnoll forces that had been staging raids throughout the region.

  The Elves found their way barred in the ruins of an abandoned dwarf mining hamlet. The Gnolls took the high ground and set their spears for the charge of the glittering Elven cavalry. Elven steel triumphed, despite the presence of some awoken ghouls. Keeping their nerve the Yon Elves succeeded in driving off the Gnolls, their prince receiving a lethal arrow to the chest from Abigale as he screemed curses at them.

  Buoyed by their victory over the Gnolls, the Elves sent out a scouting company led by Esmeralda to the western wetlands, where they encountered troll territories. Unfortunately for the Elves their confidence overreached their ability as their magic was thwarted and their arrows failed to find its targets. The scouting company returned to the main group and came back in force. Masterful planning coupled with cat-like reflexes saw the elven host smash into the Troll line, sweeping it aside in a wave of mithril blades and blazing arrows. The battle was over quickly and after interrogating some of the captured Trolls,  the victorious elves returned to the willowwood. contemplating their return to the North Hills.

Black Luke leaves the forrest.

  Black Luke and Varek looked over the corpses of  Saundash, Molo, Trenton and Sarah.
Well that could have gone better he thought to himself, could have been worse, I could have died.

"You need to leave." said Varek, "I believe you have worn out the welcome."

"But, I've helped to do away with what would have been a big problem."

Varek nods, "Yes, but look at the elven camp guards, those are some stern looks."

 "Well, the roof of the root cellar Inn was too low any way." said Black Luke.

  Black Luke walks over to the elven sisters,

 "Looks like its time to hit the ol' dusty trail." grins Rose. "You going to need a lone of a horse, to get out with yer loot?"

"Yes."

Esmeralda looks at Black Luke "My sisters and I will escort you to the forest edge."

"You're the first human I ever met, Good Luck." says Magandella.

  Black Luke leaves the forest and notices a wanted poster, he leaves it up.

Black Luke hunts Vampire Nox.

  Black Luke sat in Evanzanthis' tent checking over his list of  equipment, when an elven messenger ran up.
"I am Saundash member of the Guardians of the Willowwood, there have been no encounters at the ruin entrance, your fellowship members are returning soon from their task of routing out encrouching goblin raiders that they were asked to help with, and ask that you and Magandella return to the entrance encampment by tomorrow eve. I am to provide a small escort."

   The following evening all members and volunteers of the fellowship met, they went over their various rolls; they were
    Black Luke, Wayward traveler (2nd level Assassin)
    Varek the Dwarven Fighter (3rd level fighter)
    Esmeralda, 500 year old Elven Priestess, Acorn of The Leaf Lord
    Abigale, 250 year old Elven Warrior-Maiden (2nd level Fighter)
    Marsha, Half-elven Mercenary Veteran (age unstated) Lvl 2 Fighter
    Rose, 99 year old Elf, Ranger of the New Order (2nd edition ranger)
    Magandella, 50 year old Elf Mage in training, Daggers.
    Saundash of House Elderbear, Guardian of Willowwood, 2nd level F/M
    Washington the Gnomeish Trapmaster Level 2 Rogue (2nd edition)
    Molo the Halfling Slinger (F/T first level)
    Trenton the Druid (2nd Level)
    Sarah of the Silver Mace, 3rd level Cleric of Cyndor

 They entered the Lower areas next morning, bypassing all the previously discovered traps, unknown to the group Black Luke directed them the way that the wight had instructed him.
A shrine was discovered with a small amount of treasure and tablets revealing the Vampire was the Lord Nox. A hidden door was found at the bottom of a pit trap and 6 undead skeleton panthers fought, passing this they entered what they assumed to be the lair of the Vampire.

  The chamber was quickly looked over and a pit with poisoned barbed spikes then bypassed, Black Luke began to set up an apparatus so when the lid of its resting place was opened Trenton the Druid could pull a cord and several flasks of holy water would dampen the vampires spirit. Varek the Dwarf and Marsha pushed the covering off and the fellowship began their grim task.

Black Luke and the Pirate Treasure.

  Black Luke was at the end of his endurance, he gave a single cry of help and collapsed, His companions herd him and rushed into the chamber with weapons drawn. Seeing it was him Esmeralda came to his side and did a curing spell. Magandella pulled off and killed the biting worms, she placed one in a small flask for later indentification.

"We thought you were dead," said Esmeralda, "We saw Henery crushed, what happened to you and Zac Anton?

"Zac, He... he didn't make it." sighed Black Luke. "There was a hole, I found my way here."

"There's something else, there's a vampire some where down there, in the other direction, there's a crypt, I'm sure of it." said Black Luke.

"Wait. What?" said Magandella and Abigale together.

"Well that's just...... There's something going on here, these ruins were here for over 500 years, ogre slavers and a necromancer, now this." said Esmeralda.

"What's the history of these ruins?" asked Black Luke.

"Just a long abandoned watchtower as i understand it." said Rose.

"We call it the Ruins of Nox, Nox meaning night and also the name of the last leader to garrison here." said Magandella.

"Pirates would come in from the sea near here, we elves didn't like em." said Rose.

Black Luke thought, 'PIRATE TREASURE'. then composed himself.

"Wait a second, that's it, the shield symbol the orc knight had, it's a black shield with a symbol on it, like a pirate flag, it's all pirate related." he then added, "We gonna need all the holy water and oil we can get our hands on for the vampire."

"I need to meditate on this, I may need to contact my order." said Esmeralda.

"We don't need them coming here, taking our gold and glory." said Marsha.

"Seems to me, we need more magic, we need more than silver, I have an enchanted arrow, Marsha has the rune sword, what else we got?" asked Rose.

"My shortsword has the first rune power." said Varek.

"I know some one who has a magic longsword." said Abigale.

"I know very little about vampires, but mostly don't they turn to mist and escape? Resisting its charming should be no problem for us elves, but the gaseous form? How do we stop it? it's probably in some kind of hibernation now and that's why this is new to us, if we wake it without doing it in, our whole community is in trouble" said Magandella.

Black Luke and the Wight.

  Black Luke sat almost peacefully in the 'Root Cellar' Inn common room, he looked over at the old dwarf warrior talking to Varek.
Varek then comes over and sits down and orders an ale, "He say the diggers should be here on the morrow, they bringing shoring, and we gonna need to escort them to the site because of the ogre slavers, 10 gold per digger, 60 in all, double in case of death."

"I see, and how long?" asks Black Luke.

"They think 8 hours, and after they finish, Esmeralda wants to camp in the first level, so we can start bright and early, she also wants to hire some guards to be on the outside to guard the exit."

Black Luke nods, "Good, getting jumped on the way out was getting old."

  The next day the elven sisters told Black Luke that escort services were going to be done by the Guardians of Willowwood, so he only needed to be on site for the over night camp, also that Magandella, Marsha and Rose would go with him that afternoon to get supplies for the excursion.

  The evening came, Black Luke and companions arrived with the supplies, lots of oil, and meals for the workers and guards. Half the guards were leaving in the morning with the diggers, all except one digger, a Halfling named Henery, who agreed to assist the group for extra pay.
  The morning came with out bother, the elven sisters keeping a watch in shifts, then Henery cooked the brerakfast, soon after they were at the new tunnel in the pool chamber, they passed thru it with Black Luke checking along for any deadfalls, and Varek inspecting the stonework. Coming to a 'T', they chose to turn right and there after a great stone door fell, blocking the way, with no way to lift it in evidence they moved on, finding long abandoned crypts and rooms with green slime or spiked pits.
  Soon they found a room with a large wheel that when turned lifed the stone door but also reset a moving wall trap and the group was split up, with Henery being crushed to death by the wall and Black Luke with Zac Anton also apparently killed, But unknown to the elves they fell thru a trap door into another chamber, where then Zac Anton confronted a wight and then that killed him.

Black Luke stared at the wight, then spoke in the language old, old from the fall,
the tongue of tyrants, Law twisted to Evil. "What is wanted, for to live myself?"

The wight hissed, "Words of old, not herd in ages, you have spoken, that said is bond of law, oath/make slay the other ancient, the vampire,
the chaos must be undone, oath this, and live."

"Oath this, the vampire, will be undone." spoke Black Luke.

"In the other crypt it waits, slay its lusts, and I will have peace." said the wight.

"Crawl." the word was softly herd, as the wight sank and pointed to a small dark hatch that must be the way out.

Black Luke crawled thru the tunnel feeling sharp pains from the biting worms untill he climbed upward and out of a hole behind the wall in the old orc knight's chamber.

He could hear Magandella crying over her lost companions

Black Luke verses the Ogre Slavers.

  Black Luke and Varek looked over the pile of zombie and skeletal remains.

"Thart were a good idea, sneaking and using the potion of invivibility to come behind that caster." said Rose.

"Well I'm not so sure." said Esmeralda, "We should have tried to take him or the orc back to the Guardians alive for questioning."

"I think this orc's sword is magical." said Zac Anton, "It has rune work on it, Rose you can dual wield, you can get it, better than trying to poke things in the eye with your left hand, like you usually do."

"You is just the jester, I would think it's better for Abigale, did you see the way the orc tried to kiss on her?" said Rose.

"If you are going to fight over who dosen't get it, I sure would like it." said Marsha.

"Every one agreed?" said Esmeralda, "Marsha gets the Runed longsword, and what did the caster have on him?"

"Not alot, some coin, a ring, some spell components." said Magandella, "His staff is just a wooden stick.Wait, a scroll, I found a scroll!"

Young Magandella casts her 'Decipher Scroll' cantrip, "Oh, Ewww, it's nercomatic magic, it has multiple Animate Dead on it, and a Charm Person as well."

"The orc has a map," said Zac Anton, "It shows a tunnel on the other side of that far wall, we didn't find it because it's not a secret door or anything, it's all original construction, so not obvious."

"And me with out my pick and shovel." comments Varek.

"Maybe we can use the Animate dead scroll to reuse some of these skeletons and whatnot, to dig for us? questions Black Luke.

Esmaralda scowls, "No, We not doing that, I'm going to conduct a rite to put them to rest, they can be put back in their watery grave."

Magandella looks over the scroll and thinks to herself, 'Well they are not evil undead, so maybe.' then ponders the distastefull thought.

"It's too high for me to cast off the scroll anyway, it would probably fail."

Magandella's sisters look at her blankly.

  On exiting the ruins they are soon set apon by Ogres, "What is it with exiting this place?" asks Black Luke.

"Where is Necromancer Master!" shouts an ogre, amist a barrage of arrows.

"In his grave! Where else?" shouts back Rose. Shooting more arrows from behind Varek, Abigale, and Zac Anton.

"Kill the Dwarf, take elves slaves as master wanted." said an Ogre.

"I'm special." said Varek. Dodging attacks and splitting the ogre's head open like a mellon.

The companions tried to take the last ogre alive as it tried to escape, but it turned and made one final charge at Black Luke, who then killed it.

"Oh, I should have use the charm person scroll." said Magandella.

Black Luke and the Necromancer.

  Black Luke sat by the campfire outside of Evanzanthis' abode checking the captured loot chest for traps, he found none, at least he hoped there were none, he then picked the lock. There were various flasks, and a small bag of gems, and several other bags of copper, silver, and electrum. He took the bag of gems and a handfull of electrum coins and put them in his pack, he then laid out his bedroll and went to sleep.

Inside Evanzanthis' abode Magandella listened as her sisters discused the matters at hand.

"So this Orc Knight had a shield with the same eye symbol on it." said Abigale.

"The stone scorpion fell in one of the dark pools, it looks to be unrecoverable." said Varek.

"Well, these ghouls, is what seems most troubling, some one animated horses for them to ride." said Mage-Master Evanzanthis. "and this some one has an intrest in those ruins, I'm in the middle of an important project and can't take the time to see for myself, as I have to be elsewhere, I'll send a message to the Druids, they will want to know about this."

"In the morning, put up my old tent outside for us to use as a meeting place and for our human assistant to stay in between excursions." said Evanzanthis. "Young Magandella, Take any of my low level spell scrolls for your use."

Magendella nods, "Yes, Mage-Master."

  The next day the loot was divvied up, and the potions were found out to be of healing, invisibility, speed, ESP, and water breathing. They set off for the ruins again and made it to the chamber with the pools with out finding trouble, but trouble found them.

  A group of zombie came out of one of the pools and the door of the orc knight chambers was opened during the melee, and out came a dark robed figure, accompanied by the orc knight and several skeletons. The orc charged Abigale, and the dark caster enacted a hold person spell, Abigale and Marsha made their save, Rose and Magandella failed. Varek fought off skeletons trying to rend Magandella, and Zac Anton went after the dark caster and wounded his personage with his glave, the caster attempted more magic but found he could not as his head had come off his body from an attack from behind done with Black Luke's bastardsword. The Orc Knight tried to ecsape again but he too was done in.

Black Luke and the Ghoul Riders.

  Black Luke was not happy with the Inn, as the local elves lived in the trees or in elaborate towers, what he got, was not what was expected. The Inn was a hole, it was called the
 'Root Cellar', and was mostly for those special friends of the elves, the few dwarves and halflings. As he was not one of them, he had to be taken in secret to a room, a room he considered a cell. He expected to be in it for only one day, he was there for three, with Varek the dwarf, his warden bringing him his meals.
  On the last day he was found out, and was removed from the Inn and Varek was given a 'talking to', and that was fine with both of them as the companions were ready to make their exploration past the secret door in the ruins that they had previously been in.

They were Black Luke, Wayward traveler (2nd level Assassin)
                 Esmeralda, 500 year old Elven Priestess, Acorn of Leaf Lord
                 Abigale, 250 year old Elven Warrior-Maiden (2nd level Fighter)
                 Marsha, Half-elven Mercenary Veteran (age unstated)
                 Rose, 99 year old Elf, Ranger of the New Way (2nd edition ranger)
                 Varek the Dwarven Fighter (3rd level fighter)
                 Zac Anton, Half-elf Master at Arms, Veteran Glave Specialist
                 Magandella, 50 year old Elf Mage in training, Daggers.

  Along the way things are discussed, the symbol on the Buheer's shield, and the disapearance of the horses. Rose said she had tracked the horses and they looked like they were taken by more bugbears, the symbol on the shield was an open eye of unknown meaning according to Evanzanthis.

  Arriving at the ruins, Abigale, Luke and Rose went first followed by the rest,
they passed stright to the unopened secret door and Varek was able to figure out how to open it. They passed down into lower levels where the companions skills were all put to full use, Rose finding goblin tracks and Luke detecting various boobie traps of a piercing nature, Varek saving the group from a crushing stone ceiling and Rose detecting the ambush of a group of goblins led by some self-styled orc knight. The Orc Knight seeing the battle going against him, made his escape with an arrow sticking out of his hide for good measure.

  Finely finding a series of pools they were attacked by some type of giant scorpion made of stone and then found the chamber of what was taken to be the orc knight, finding its chest of loot, they decided to make their way out, exiting at dusk out of the ruins. They were then assaulted by a group of ghouls riding skeletal horses, Esmeralda was able to turn some, but during the battle both Varek and Black Luke were paralyzed, and Marsha was put into a bleeding out condition before the last ghoul rider was glaved in twain by Zac. With Esmeralda saving her with the last healing spell, they decided to head to the abode of Magandella's teacher. Evanzanthis.                              

Black Luke and the Doubting Dwarf.

  Black Luke peered at the darkened figure standing in the light of the exit. All members of the group were wounded badly and Ceesul was dead. Only young Magandella, who during the previous conflicts either tossed daggers or got in lucky strikes when the fights were nearly over, was unhurt.

"Now what is all this about?" spoke the darkened figure.

"Stand forth and indentify yourself... Oh, it's you dwarf." Esmeralda said.

"Indeed only the one and only Varek, dwarf friend of the elves." states Rose.

"Never mind such talk, what are you doing draging the young one down here?"

"There was hardly any fighting at all, I did not even get to use any magic, and also i'm 50. In the ancient days i could get married and have children." Magandella beems.

"You better not!" Esmeralda, and Varek say in unison.

 It was at this point Varek began to scrutinize Black Luke and scowls at the phrase "wayward traveler". as he inspects the bugbear shield emblem.

"So, whats the plan now?" Varek asks.

"We have decided to take this man to the Inn, and are coming back on the morrow, so help us carry my sister Abigale." said Esmeralda. "We need to tell the patrol about the Buheer and that Corporal Ceesul has been done in."

  Standing at the upper ruins, the group see that the horses have either been stolen or have run off, Black Luke sees that his dressed rabbit is gone as well. Varek walks behind the group, inspecting Black Luke, 'leather armor, crossbow, and hand and a half sword'. Black Luke turns and glances at Varek.

Varek says, "Watching you."

Black Luke and the Bugbear.

  Black Luke stared at the being in awe, he had herd, and seen, and even killed goblins before, this being was different, it was large, hairy, and brutish. It barely fit down the hole. The elves with him stoped their small talk and a pause fell over them.

"A Buheer..." whispers Magandella.

"Elves die now."  said the Beast as it charged forward striking Ceesul and killing him.

"Arrows fly!" shouts Rose letting her arrows go. They deflect off the beast's shield.

  Black Luke's crossbow bolt strikes true. The Buheer smashes its heavy morning star into Esmerelda, she feels her ribs crack. Rose steps forth striking the creature and drawing blood, it attempts to strike Esmerelda again but misses while also deflecting Marsha's and Abigale's assault.
  The creature scowls at the group as it handedly blocks their next onslaught of swords and weapons. Abigale seeing an opening, then strikes the Buheer, wounding it. It immediatly strikes her back, felling her. Magandella lets fly with a dagger to no effect, but for the beast to turn its eyes toward her. Rose takes this moment to strike it again, wounding it more, and the chance is not lost by Marsha, and lastly Black Luke getting the final hit in, slaying the Buheer.

"Ok, thats enough for one day." said Black Luke "What was that thing?"

"Thart was a Buheer, you humans call them Bugbears." said Rose.

"Lets take it's gear back" said Marsha.

"I will check it for coin as well." nods Black Luke.

"Abigale still lives." Esmerelda states, "but needs more than i can give, my healing is spent, and I can hardly stand, we have to get her out and go now."

They once more turn toward the exit, and see another figure standing there.

" Oh, no." Magandella said "More trouble."

Black Luke and the Elven Sisters.

  Black Luke and the red haired elf named Rose watched the approaching riders, One in front attired in green, and two others in blue, the rest a motley bunch of what he assumed to be some sort of partol. As they came to a stop, those with bow, nocked arrows and pointed them in his direction.
  Rose began to speak in what he believed was the elven language, pointing around at the ground, and at him, and the location of the goblin bodies, then most of the elves rode off continuing on their way. The remaining elves introduced themselves.

Young Esmeralda, Priestess of Rillifane Ralathil, Daughter of House Winetree.

Young Abigale, Warriormaid, Daughter of House Winetree.

Young Magandella, Aprentice of Evanzanthis, Daughter of House Winetree.

Ceesul the Spell Blade, Corporal Guardian of the Willowwood.

Marsha of Willowwood, Half-elven Mercenary in service to the Guardians of Willowwood.

Black Luke only says he is called Luke.

  It is at this time that various ways of getting past the stone door are discused, and so finaly Ceesul takes it apon himself to use his second level spell levitate to lift it so it may be pushed away. With this done the group then agrees to treasure shares and to only make an initial survey of chambers.

  Exploring the under ruins they encountered various vaulted chambers, some being occupied by fire beetles, others by centipedes, and passing by a discovered secret door, a chamber with two huge spiders. Finishing off the spiders, a few gems and silver coins were found, they headed back to the tunnel exit, agreeing to return the next day. The elves spoke in elvish of how they should bring Luke to the Inn and if there would be a problem as he is a stranger to the elven folk.

A dark shadowy figure was standing in front of the way out.

TO PART 5.

Young Magandella and her Teacher

  Young Magandella stoped at her mage-master's tree domicile, she knew she had to get out her supplies quick.

"And where do you think you're going?" her master said.

".... I'm off poking around with my sisters."

"You can't even cast a first level spell yet."

"I can do 'Decipher Scroll' as a ceremony and as a cantrip, and can cast from a scroll  'Ancient Elven Aprentice Aura' and 'Falcon Strike.' " said Magandella.

"Your oldest sister, has come out of the ancient grove as a full priestess of the Leaf lord?"

"Yes, finaly." Magandella sang, "All praise the Leafe Lorde, all praise the sun."
                                               "Look to his holy star, and all he has done."
                                               "Noble Elf lords in the valley of the vine."
                                               "O' Honor the Leafe lorde, he is divine."

  "Fine, you can go, take my bracers of protection, and a scroll of cure light wounds out of my old adventure trunk, give the scroll to Esmeralda, i would like it back unused if possable, and try not to cut yourself on your own daggers."

  After the young elf lass left, Mage-Master Evanzanthis of House Goldenfae, the Blue Wizard of Willowwood and Sage of Falcons, turned to a figure in the next room. "Follow her, son of my old friend, for she is the next Blue Wizard".