highsun
Past the Black Gate found at the Whispering Cairn
smoky windy cool air
After an interesting night of the 3rd with an encounter (enough said about that), the heroes are well fed by Egwaine who calls upon her divine powers to summon a Heroes Feast. Jasper takes direction from Kamist to include replacing all the stores in the Guild House save for the wine and ale in the large casks in the cellar. Tyree paid for the costs of this precaution.
The trip to the Whispering Cairn is uneventful until the the Heroes approach the ancient tomb. With the warning from Tyree's armor all know that the Dragon must be near. After searching a ghastly black putrid pond the Heroes were attacked by three Lizard Spawn of Kyuss and one large Kyuss Spawn Walking Crocadile. After a short fight the Heroes dispatched them but not before having to burn off worms from their flesh. Menelvagor nearly lost his clothing as it was damaged by fire, but still barely usable.
Menelvagor recognized some of the ruins around that Cairn as Djinn ruins and related what history he knew of them:
The crafters of these ruins were Djinn and from the Auran markings they described an ancient battle between the Wind Dukes of Calim (Djinn Generals who represented the forces of Law) and ancient Efreeti foes under command of Memnonar in service to the elemental god of fire, Kossuth (representing the forces of Chaos). Menelvagor related the long winded details about the Age of Skyfire (which was also referred to by some as the Battle or War of Pesh) that ended thousands of years ago in the destruction of both Djinn led and Efreet led empires and the creation of what is now known as the Calim Desert...He adds that the Calshite are ancient relatives of these ancient beings and points to the distinct markings and how they resemble modern day Alhezdo Calashite text. The actual language is known as Vaati and died off thousands of years ago.
Menelvagor goes on to discuss the Scepter of Calim (Scepter of Law) and how it was a symbol of the Djinn's sovereignty in the lands south of what is now the river Agis (or more commonely know as the River Memnon) until it was shattered by elven High Mages of Keltormir. Menel indicates that this Scepter is now referred to as the Shattered Scepter of Calim and had allegedly been shattered and hidden throughout the land to protect the pieces... Menel finished his story by reporting that the Djinn buried their dead in the cold, harsh, unclaimed wild lands of the north, far beyond the reach of Memnonar's tomb raiding legions. Menel opines that this Whispering Cairn may in fact, by the markings, be an ancient Wind Duike Tomb.
Then Tyree's armor began glowing again and he found the invisible female Black Dragon, or better she found him and blasted him with a line of acid. Luckily the Heroes were prepared for such an attack and the fight was on. The dragon seemed evenly matched with the Heroes but due to the Heroes shrewd defensive planning they eventually gained the upper hand and drove the Black Dragon off. Highlights included Tyree being bitten and tossed about like a rag doll, Rumple shooting off one of the creatures horns and recovering an engagement ring from Morgan Hizari destined for Suzanna, and Storn heaving his mighty blade deep onto the creatures abdomen (oh no...she has the stornian blade lodge in her belly...and is flying away).
As the beast fled all could feel deep in their insides that she would be back someday soon to try and slay the Heroes again. More than one recalled the human bones in her lair in the Stump Bog and how they were gnashed and crunched up as if....(you get the idea).The Heroes then entered the Whispering Cairn and soon discovered that Allustan had been busy excavating the buried section and had exposed some sort of black liquid mirror. Here Menelvagor worked on the ruins and discovered that it was some form of ancient Djinn portal leading to parts unknown.
Tyree was the first to enter prior to being healed and found himself in a crushing thick black liquid. Alone in time and space he struggled and found that he was without his DEX bonus for AC and could not wield his Bastard Sword. Then he was attacked by what others later intimated that must have been an Abyssal Ghoul...Very Dangerous; luckily he had a hand axe that he utilized with stunning accuracy at about the same skill as his Bastard Sword. The battle was pitched and he was alone in space in time...but in the end, Tyree prevailed alone against the vile and dangerous creature. The battle seemed to last an eternity though it was merely 2 minutes and 54 seconds in length ( a long time to be in melee combat).
Eventually Tyree emerged in a sharply sloped hallway filled with rushing screaming wind and smoke. Small hallow projections in the hallway seemed to be making the noise, but it was obvious that the air inside was being pushed out at an unusual rate. Due to the noise Tyree found it hard to hear and speak and barely noticed the other Heroes as they entered the room directly behind him.
