Arcade’s Journal -- The Lizard People

...Rofan brings word that Thayar, High Priest of Galanna, has been kidnapped while investigating the rumors of trouble in the northwestern forests. We had heard that the dwarven stronghold in the mountains had been attacked by orc war parties, and now this!

A strange ransom note arrived. Someone named Quaquiss is demanding a holy artifact, The Rod of Communion, in exchange for Thayar. After a discussion with the temple officials, we agreed to try to rescue the priest. They gave us the Rod, and a device to track Thayar....

...strange tracks, lizard-like, leading northwest. After an uncomfortable camp (we had to avoid an angry badger) we set forth. Tao got off to a bad start, leading us due south. (She claimed we were headed for the swamps, and got quite flustered when we informed her that there are no southern swamps!) After that she got back on course, and followed the tracks straight into a walking, lizard-like humanoid. We suspected that he had delivered the ransom note. Tao jumped him and they began to struggle. I Slept him, and we tied him fast....

...long discussion with the lizardman, who is named Baass and comes from the tribe of Saraass. It turns out he is actually quite friendly, and likes humans a great deal. He told us that Quaquiss is actually the chief of the tribe, a very large lizardman. The tribe’s shaman (Sislassis) died some years ago. The priest, Thayar, was apparently caught inside the shaman’s House of Seeing. Baass agreed to lead us northwest to his village. We learned a phrase in lizardman: "Quassqueee," meaning "spends too much time in dreamtent." Naturally it was being applied to Rofan....

...it is well that Baass is a doughty warrior. In the swamp we were ambushed by a flying, armored, helmet-shaped creature with numerous barbed tentacles. The battle was fierce, and Baass proved his worth in combat....

...Tao discovered the tracks of an orc war party. I Spider Climbed into a tree to get a better look, and saw them camped up ahead. After consulting with the group, I climbed back up and blinded most of the orcs with Pyrotechnics. We made short work of them. Searching the camp afterwards, we found strange news. The commander was carrying dispatches which stated that the Blue Assassin had escaped, and that a new Great Goblin must be chosen....

...felt we needed to corral the horses for their own protection before continuing on through the swamp without them. As we set up the barricade and began hobbling the horses, Baass seemed very anxious. He told us of a creature called the "Gaakgaak," which has haunted this area for many years. Lizardman mothers use its name to threaten their children....

...just finished hobbling the horses when we heard screams of animal terror behind us. We whirled to find a gigantic two-headed humanoid reaching over the barricade to grab the horses. I cast Stinking Cloud full in its face with no effect. Everyone closed in, and a gruesome battle ensued. I sent off a few Magic Missiles, which seemed to injure the creature. Glimmer consumed a Potion of Ice Breath and breathed upon the creature, but even after many blows the thing refused to fall.

Nolin was very badly injured in the defense of his horse, Hemiola. (Sadly, the horse perished after all.) Finally, Tao severed the creature’s hand, which tried to scuttle away by itself! It was then that we understood the troll-like nature of the Gaakgaak, and began bombarding it with flaming oil flasks. After finishing the beast, we hunted down the hand and put it to the torch as well....

...got some rest, and then plunged into the swamp. We finally arrived at the village, which was surrounded by a moat. Alix and I Levitated, and were towed across.

We were immediately surrounded by guards, and things began to look a bit grim. However, Baass introduced us to Quaquiss, who in turn introduced us to Thayar, High Priest of Galanna. It turns out that the priest was not a hostage after all. He is a gruff old man, who told us that he preferred to solve problems in the wilderness itself, rather than staying "cooped up in a stuffy temple, even if the temple is made out of living trees." The priest had requested the Rod of Communion, but Quaquiss’ Common is not very good and he had phrased the note badly.

The chief was very grateful and impressed that we had killed the Gaakgaak. Thayar thanked us for the Rod, took Rofan off our hands (whew!) and ordered a banquet for everyone. Glimmer created a magical pavilion with his Rod of Splendor to house the feast. We received a reward as well, two magical wooden chalices that purify food and drink....

...reported back to the temple in Rampart, and received their thanks and payment as well. We had a word with the dwarven ambassador, Tairablade. He informed us that Grundo (who dyes his beard blue) is the Blue Assassin. He was captured after slaying the Great Goblin and many other orcs, but then escaped. The war is going well, and the orcs have been unable to make any advances. As a matter of protocol, I took part in the traditional dwarven farewell ritual of head-butting with the ambassador. It seemed a good idea at the time, but my head still aches!

We were very pleased to learn that Stavros has bought the Flaming Manticore. He has even paid off his own bounty. Our rooms on the second floor are nearly finished, and Stavros has hired a new half-orc bouncer named Garak ("he works for coppers!")....

...Nolin received a package, a bard’s spellbook. It was from "Fillane Deepleaf", and trapped with multiple Sepia Snake Sigils. Naturally. Nolin decided that he didn’t care about the traps as long as he was able to learn some new spells, so he is now spending most of his time as a coat-rack....

...training for ten weeks! During my researches I have learned of a magical tome penned centuries ago by the elven mage Arkadine (my personal hero), and a priest named Horrus Incabulin. The book, the Horrus Arkadanian, was last seen at the Academy of Flamecraft in the south of Gaunt. This sounds to me like an excellent future quest....

...at Tom-Tom’s request, and using his funds, I have successfully reasearched Alimir’s Fundamental Breakdown. With this spell I was able to tell Tom-Tom how to combine Gutshaker (the dwarven brew), with Griffin Grog (a fine ale), and with Pisspuss (a fermented swamp-water beverage favored by the lizardmen). The resultant concoction, which we have named Badgerbite, carries an incredible kick. Tom-Tom is overjoyed....

...very excited. I finally had the funds to cast Familiar Enhancer I on Nyquil. His intelligence has been greatly improved (he can now understand Common Speech). Also, he now can release a cloud of purple dust while in flight that acts as a Feather Fall! One unforeseen side effect . . . my eyes now look like those of a great horned owl. A bit strange and unnerving in the mirror. I like it...!