Beyond the Widowmaker

Morning, Day 3

Our disheveled guide has finally take his leave.  We now move with all due haste towards the far side of the Widowmaker, keeping level with the crown of the mountain, and keeping an eye out for structures of interest.

Afternoon, Day 3

There is an outpost of Melora here, presumably Samhein, and Aelar has found a path down.  Even from here I can see that the scrivening circle present at other stations has been extensively defaced.

Late afternoon, Day 3

The circle outside was thoroughly destroyed, and a large pit marked the central point.  It looks as if something specific was excavated from the center of the circle-- perhaps the power source?  A sign on the outside of the Samhein station reads "YOU ARE NEXT."  We approached carefully and discovered a runic glyph inscribed on the door.  It was rigged to explode, but the deft fingers of Bran managed to disarm the glyph (by crossing the channeling rune back onto itself, naturally).  Inside, we found the standard station layout, and signs of gnoll habitation.  As soon as we entered, an unknown entity triggered the death portal and fled.  We're following now; I expect a fight.

Evening, Day 3

The gnolls were ready for us when we exited the portal.  We found ourselves in a narrow corridor.  Carl, on point, triggered a trap as he advanced, and poisoned darts began firing from the walls.  A drawbridge immediately ahead of us was raised up and an archer began pouring fire into the party.  Aelar quickly darted forward and breached the raised bridge (employing the transspatial capabilities of his armor).  He seized control of the bridge and the party advanced into a cavernous room.  We quickly assumed a defensive formation around the entrance and assessed the situation.  We were facing a group of nearly a dozen gnolls, many of them entrenched atop walls ringing the room.  The initial combat was fierce, and Garg took the brunt of the damage, falling unconscious.  The battle was compounded by the appearance of a bizarre creature who began to support the gnolls with his unnatural aural abilities.

  Firinne was able to revive Garg, the party closed lines, and we began to prevail in the pitched melee battle.  Ryn maneuvered to harass the entrenched archers.  Finally, the gnolls broke.  Their leader fell and we routed the remaining creatures.

  There are stairs here leading up.

Dusk, Day 3

This complex proved to be extensive: up the stairs we found a similar space filled with altars to Melora and other aligned deities.  A prisoner freed from the chambers in this room now accompanies us (he is a cook).  Following further passages to the summit of the mountain, we found yet another defaced circle, marked by the same curious excavation.

  In the upper corridors we also discovered a pair of reliefs, as before, but set in a long hallway adorned by a finely crafted mural of the seasons.  At one end is a portal marked by the sun.  We now stand at the opposite end, about to enter the portal of the moon.

Scribbled hastily in the margin:

  There is a blizzard here.  Bran has experienced something remarkable during his transit.  He is gesticulating excitedly.  He found himself in a featureless room, unable to move or even blink.  A blackbird, its neck twisted, lay dead on the room's floor.  Bran found he could somehow speak, and expressed his surprise.  The bird answered back, claiming to be an aspect of Gemerat, angelic servant of the Raven Queen.  The aspect explained that the 101 immortals are an affront to the Queen and must pass on to death.  The source of their immortality is Gemerat himself, who was somehow enslaved.  An artifact is required to liberate him: the Shroud of the Raven Queen.  This artifact is somehow invisible to the gods.  The Mad Mage knows of the shroud.