Session 08 - Tiny Green Worms

After the defeat of Filge by the Heroes, a decision is at hand as to what to do next? Kamist made an appointment with Allustan for the morning of the 12th. Saverick, the Gnome Apprentice took the glass jar with the wriggling worm inside up to Allustan. Allustan advised that he had time in the morning to discuss the matter as well as the rubbings from the Whispering Cairn.

12th Marpenoth 1371 DR
Morning
Three Hills Adventuring Company compound
Light Rain and moderate winds from the SW

At breakfast with Jasper he indicates that he would like to start mounting the ballista but has received no plan or recommendation from Hein. Apparently, Jasper mentions, that there is a plan but Jasper has just not seen it or received a copy. However, Jasper has made some recommendations as to where the Ballista should be mounted; in the attic above the 2nd floor rooms there a small room with a balcony overlooking the courtyard. This balcony is a perfect place to mount the ballista. Jasper has taken the liberty of dismantling the ballista and is prepared to insert it on this balcony. He will need the help of at least two other Heroes and will use a pulley system he has managed to rig. Interesting enough, this same pulley system will be used to reel in a dragon should the compound ever come under attack. Jasper just needs Kamist's authorization to continue.

As far as the rooms. Jasper is ready to assign rooms and needs Kamist's approval. Jasper has removed one item from each of the rooms to serve as a memento of his slain brothers and sisters, but thinks it is time to assign rooms. The following room assignments are being made with Kamist's approval and a list of items in the rooms and the foot lockers is listed as well:

Kamist (Morgan's old room)
Foot Locker - working lock (one key), chain shirt, dagger (masterworked), Potion Cure Light Wounds, Armor Stand - Half Plate Armor, Desk - Book of Knowledge (Diamond Lake), Chairs x3, Table (round), Rug (Rashemi Emblem)

Dolgun (Bogar's old room)
Foot Locker - working lock (one key), daggers x2, caltrops sets x3 (indivudally wrapped), hand axe, dragon chess set (ivory, appraise 100gp normal sell value), Weapons Rack - Great Sword (masterworked), spear x2, battle axe, Armor Rack - Banded Mail

Valcrist (Jerrin's old room)
Foot Locker - working lock (one key), daggers x2, alchemist fire x2 (be careful), a skinning knife, a silver locket (appraise 25gp full sell value), Potion Cure Light Wounds, Weapons Rack - Spear x2, Longsword, club, short sword, Chair, Desk - Picture Book of Monsters (after 10 time periods of study, provides Knowledge Dungeoneering 2 ranks for purposes of identifying Monsters and their abilities) Armor Rack - Banded Mail

Trogdor (Sarin's old room)
Foot Locker - no lock, daggers dark black metal x2 (matching pair), black mask and matching black pants, shirt, and black dyed leather vest, black skin paint, sack of 125gp, silver locket with the words Jaspurtin and Mehri on the back (shinny), a vial of green oily liquid, and an old bottle of wine, Desk - empty, and Chair (with the word Tarin carved in the back)

Hein (Elgan's old room)
Foot Locker - no lock, dagger(masterworked), a silk shirt (the name Elgan embroidered over the left breast with a symbol of a raven below that), a warm looking jacket, letters from a woman named Joan (address on Beaconmarch Street in the Northward, love letters), Desk - Potion Cure Light Wounds x2, Chair

Storn (Tarrin's old room)
Foot Locker - Working Lock (one key), a wool sweater (too tall and too tight to wear for a dwarf), a set of leather armor (dyed black), a wooden spoon set, and a wooden set of dragon chess pieces (two pieces missing, sell value 2 gp, 5gp for full set), Desk (but no chair)

Carenthal (Suzanna's old room)
Foot Locker - no lock, white dressy dress, blue dress, yellow sun dress, a silk sash (sell value 5gp), a sack of 75gp, a flute (broken), a flute mouthpiece, a flute cleaning kit, a book of music (sell value 25gp in Waterdeep, no sell value in Diamond Lake), a bottle of perfume (sell value 15gp), a silver dagger, a Book of Knowledge (Diamond Lake), A flute stand with a flute (masterworked), Desk - Book of Knowledge (Waterdeep, Knowledge Local 2 ranks after 10 time periods), a love letter to Morgan Hizari (detailed, they were obviously lovers), a letter to her mother (address on Sulmor Street in the North Ward of Waterdeep), Chair

Sparrow (Empty old room)
Foot Locker - working lock (one key) empty, Desk, Chair

Eldron (likes the barracks and is too stubborn to move his things)

After Breakfast
Jasper turns to working on his Ballista Project, granted that Kamist approves Hein's plan or in the event of no plan, Kamist just approves Jasper's verbal briefing as to what he is going to do. Japser will need at least two heroes to remain behind and help him. (Trogdor and Eldron fit the bill).

The rest of the Heroes then follow Kamist up to Allustan's to hear about the little green worm in the jar. Carenthal pays his 20gp and heads up to the library to continue his studies. He has been working on some very racy drawings of men and women having raw anamalistic relations. He seems to be drawing the pictures over and over again, 10 copies of each one. What ever he could be doing no one knows. Allustan then comes out and meets with the rest of the Heroes in the garden. The ususal silent awkward pause proceeds any conversation and Allustan obviously has something under the dark silk cloth covering the cylindrical object sitting on the table. He just ignores it and talks about ordinary non-relevant topics until Storn has had enough and nearly smashes the jar but instead impatiently pulls the black cloth off.

As if Allustan was expecting such a reaction he grins in satisfaction of being a good judge of character and personalities and says the following:

"As you know good Kamist, I Allustan, most likely the smartest man in Diamond Lake, have been researching local legends and lore. Recently, I have been researching a disturbing development. Apparently, there have been encounters and sightings of strange undead creatures stalking the hills south of Diamond Lake. These creatures have been found to be infested with tiny green worms...When encountered these undead creatures have been able to spread their disease by the transfer of these tiny worms in close combat. Be warned, should you come across one of these undead creatures I recommend you keep your distance."

"I am truly worried that what you have found here is indeed one of these worms. I am concerned that these undead creatures and these worms could pose a grave danger to Diamond Lake and perhaps beyond. I would like to enlist your help to further investigate the few leads you might have in tracking down the source of this worm. I want to add, that based on my calculations, I fear that the worms could be coming from very near by. "

Allustan breaks out a map and points to red marks that show all the locations of the undead creature sightings. Each mark has a date. Allustan points out the marks and the dates of the encounters.

"From my careful calculations I have discovered that the encounters are spreading and seem to be emanating from a point around the Dourstone Mine, owned by Ragnolin Dourstone. From my research, I have discovered that coincidently, an ancient temple of Myrkul (a dead god that fell while walking the Realms as a mortal during the Time of Troubles in the Year of Shadows 1358 DR), once was located deep below ground in the vicinity of that Dourstone Mine. I have not necessarily drawn the conclusion that somehow the two coincidences are related, but it would be prudent to know for sure by investigation."

"I recommend you follow up with spying on the Dourstone operation and perhaps find a way to sneak in and explore the mine to determine if in fact something is afoot deep within the mine. As further evidence, the Cult of Final Passage has recently been very busy carrying dead from the mine and rumors abound about sinister secrets within. I also believe Balabar Smenk might have something to do with it, for no better reason than Smenk always seems to have his hands in the seedier side of society."

"Oh...and the rubbings from the tomb. I shall want to inspect this location myself very soon when I have time, but in the mean time I will tell you what I have discovered."

"From the rubbings I have identified these as the sigil of the Wind Dukes of Calim who were djinn generals of the Calim Empire in what is now far away Calimshan. Their ancient foes were the armies of Memnonnar led by the great efreet general Memnon in service to the god Kossuth, the Elemental Lord of Fire. The Era of Skyfire ended thousand of years ago in the destruction of both genie-led empires and the creation of the Calim Desert. The Scepter of Calim was a symbol of the djinn sovereignty in the lands south of what is now the River Agis until it was shattered by the elven High Mages of Keltormir. It is now known as the Shattered Scepter of Calim. The djinn buried their dead in the cold, unclaimed lands of northern Faerun, far beyond the grasp of Memnon's tomb-raiding legions; the Cairn Hills in some cases."

"These specific rubbings point to two specific djinn Wind Dukes; Nadroc a djinn Wind Duke Architect and designer of burial tombs for great djinn Wind Duke Warriors and leaders; and the other is that of Icosil the Great Wind Duke general who defeated the great efreet general Memnon. Though Icosiol is not rumored to be buried in these parts, it is possible that what you have found is the tomb of one of his warriors, perhaps a loyal djinn Wind Duke Warrior in service of Icosiol during the ancient epic struggle between these forces of good and evil. If you could get me rubbing from the tomb of this djinn Wind Duke Warrior it I would pay you handsomely, say 500gp for it."

"I shall need to spend some time in this 'Whispering Cairn' sometime soon in the future when I have some free time. In the mean time you should find the true tomb of this Wind Duke Warrior and bring me back a rubbing from his sigil."

"I also want to reiterate how important it is that you find out more about these tiny green worms before they spread outside of our control. Hurry young Heroes and do some good."

Session 08 - Tiny Green Worms
12th Marpenoth, 1371 DR
Midmorning
Allustan's Place
Clearing, moderate winds from the SW