Keledek’s Visitor

Keledek sat at his desk studying his spellbooks when he heard an urgent knock at his door. He listened carefully. It was the secret knock of the Scarlet Brotherhood. Keledek ran down his spiral stone staircase, wondering what was so important that it couldn’t wait for the next meeting in Crabber’s Cove. He opened the door a crack.

Standing on the other side was a wet, pruny man, who looked as if he’d been running for the last hour or two. He’d recently been in a battle, but he was mostly unharmed. He needed something. He needed something badly.

“You. How dare you show your face in Saltmarsh. You betrayed us, you slimy spineless traitor,” Keledek said insulting his visitor. Mr Dory sighed.

“You’d betray him too, if you knew what I knew,” the Krakenborn replied.

“And what’s that?” Keledek queried coyly.

“He never intended to take us into the Far Realm, Keledek. He’s determined to die with the rest of us. He’s bound for the grave,” Dory responded laughing slightly to himself.

“I will admit I have doubts that he will be as faithful to myself and the others, as we have been to him,” Keledek revealed. “But no one but the Gravebound wields the power to open the Far Gate. It’s not ideal, but he I s my only chance to put that kind of power into my hands,” Keledek finished.

“No. Not anymore, Keledek,” the Krakenborn grinned holding up a small device in his hand. It glowed with artifice. “We have other solutions available now, old friend, if you can help me with one small issue.”

Keledek smiled and opened the door.

Fate of the Frozen

The Intrepid Adventurers - twin Half-Orc Paladins Bhaciar & Raicahb, Barbarian Charlene, and the Ranger Kiruk - traveled on horseback through the Thin Sheets. They had been traveling for days to reach Salsvault and cure Charlene's Frigid Woe, a horrible disease that had already killed two people back in Palebank Village.

Kiruk was keeping track of the path. "We should be nearly there now. We just need to cross the Thin Sheets. But make sure to watch your step. You have to step lightly," Kiruk says, the ice cracking underneath his foot as he carefully dismounts his horse. He steps back and exhales with relief.

"You two need to be especially careful," Kiruk says to the Paladins, still calming himself from the close call.

The ice cracks anyway. Kiruk pulls the horse quickly away, but he isn't fast enough. A Remorhaz claws through the ice pulling the horse underneath. Kiruk readies his bow and lines up an arrow.

Charlene tries to calm him down. "Kiruk, let's just run. It's not worth your life to battle this monster." Kiruk turns to answer. His mouth opens, and a larger Remorhaz mouth closes down on his should. Kiruk screams in pain. Charlene begins attacking the monster. Kiruk grabs an arrow from his quiver and stabs the monster in one of its many legs. Bhaciar & Raicahb begin taking swings at the monster's body with their battle axes.

The Remorhaz was getting pummeled by the might of these desperate survivors. It sneered and howled in pain. Kiruk went for another arrow, but the Remorhaz took that opening to bite down on him again. The Remorhaz's teeth grappled Kiruk's arm. Charlene tried to pull him loose, but the monster swallowed Kiruk whole and tried to burrow under the snow.

Bhaciar threw a javelin through the back of the Remorhaz's head. Raicahb ran over and pulled open the monster's jaws. Kiruk spilled out on to the ground. His body was covered in acid burns and Remorhaz bites.

Kiruk looks towards the others to help him. They approach. Kiruk looks into Charlene's eyes, says "Good luck, Charlene," takes out a dagger and begins driving it into his heart. Bhaciar & Raicahb protest, attempting to find something that could save the Ranger somewhere on Bhaciar's Robe of Useful Items. Raicahb seems to find something, yelling "It's not your end Ranger."

But it was. Another larger Remorhaz burst forth from underneath the ice, and swallowed Kiruk again as it disappeared with him back underneath the Thin Sheets. The remaining trio look for Kiruk a while, until they notice a snowstorm brewing. Then they attempt to mount their horses but notice that the horses had been spooked by the Remorhaz attacks. The horse tracks trail off beyond what they can see.

Bhaciar, Charlene, and Raicahb were stranded in a snowstorm with no Ranger, no horses, and no idea which way they needed to walk. The cold weather was unforgiving. The occasional monsters were vicious. The Frigid Woe coursing through Charlene's blood was worsening. They were on the brink of death when they finally stumbled upon the door to Salsvault.

They were overjoyed, but that joy quickly turned to despair when they found they couldn't open the door. "Brother, this door will not open. Help me break it down!" Bhaciar said to Raicahb.

The Intrepid Adventurers were doomed, cold, and dying but Charlene protested the twins' plan. "It cannot be broken, Bhaciar. It can only be opened by a Wizard."

"No Wizard is around, only our axes!" Raicahb responded. Raicahb struck the door with his battleaxe. No progress was made. The trio stood waiting. It felt like they waited forever.