==== V3 Session Twenty-Six -- 23 July 2010 -- "Glimmer Lake" ====

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=== Story ===

== May, 1120 ==

After a narrow escape from a Drow Demon, the party (without [[Erasmus]]), along
with a Dwarven scout and a half-elf named Majid head down the hills to the
Dwarven city of Hammerfast.

Once there, they meet up with Geld, the Loremaster.  Despite Majid's assistance
with the Hobgoblins, Geld does not yet trust the half-elf and insists he remain
outside while he and the party discuss things.

The party and Geld share information about the gates -- and decide that the gate
discovered by the party under the [[v3session20|The White Crypt]] is actually
one of Azêllay's.  More recently, Geld says that a group of Dark Ones was
spotted at a ruins near "Glimmer Lake".  A scout's report has convinced him that
the Dark Ones are trying to build a new gate -- presumably because Geld's
resident wizard has sealed up the one in the The White Crypt.

Later, [[Zim]] buys a //"Sending"// ritual and uses it to contact [[Erasmus]].
Sounding a little paranoid, Erasmus tells Zim the following: //"I bear the death
shroud and am pursued.  In one week, meet in the place I and Ibiza both competed
and both fell."//

Since they have a week, the party decides to follow Geld's lead and explore the
ruins near Glimmer Lake.  On the way, they are attacked by Satyrs and an
Owlbear.  And once at the runs, they find Dark Ones heads on pikes -- and are
attacked by a group of Harpies and a Manticore.

After defeating these creatures, the party searches the ruins and finds a
shredded ritual book and some evidence that a gate was being enchanted on one of
the surviving walls.

In addition to the useless ritual book, the party finds the following loot:
  * 1 Level 9 Magic Item: Avalanche Hammer +2, Mordenkrad ([[Ibiza]])
  * 1 Level 11 Magic Item: Survivor's Belt ([[Imbo]])
  * 1,700 gp

=== Game ===

== Encounter 1: Satyrs ==

The first encounter was a home-brew using the "King's Road" map from "Fantastic
Locations: Fields of Ruin".  The party entered from one side, with most of the
Satyrs visible on the road ahead -- just before it curves off to the right. The
layout was meant as an ambush -- with the Satyrs charmed Owlbear waiting just
behind the bushes.  While the party engaged the Satyrs, the Owlbear was to come
out and attack the party from the rear.

Naturally, this plan fell apart within a couple of rounds -- when [[Ibiza]]
stumbled across the Owlbear directly.  The remaining fight was then somewhat
split in two pieces: Those who engaged the Satyrs and those who engaged the
Owlbear.

In the end, the Satyr Piper was not effective enough to help the Rakes and the
Rakes themselves were not able to gain combat advantage often enough to deal
serious damage to the party.  Shortly after the Owlbear went down, the remaining
Satyrs fled -- and the party opted not to pursue.

== Encounter 2: Harpies ==

The second encounter was a home-brew using the two "Keep of the Fallen Kings"
map from "Fantastic Locations: Fields of Ruin".  It involved four Harpies and a
Manticore and because of the Harpies' songs, it turned into a battle of
attrition that dragged on for over thirteen rounds.

==== ====
^ # ^ Challenge  ^  Type  ^  XP  ^
|  3  | Satyr Rakes  |  Skirmisher/7  |  300  |
|  1  | Satyr Piper  |  Controller (Leader)/8  |  350  |
|  1  | Owlbear  |  Elite Brute/8  |  700  |
|  4  | Harpy  |  Controller/6  |  250  |
|  1  | Manticore  |  Elite Skirmisher/10  |  1000  |
^  Total XP ^^^  3,950  ^
^  (5 PCs) ^^^  790  ^

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