EXPEDITION: 16th April 2026

Expedition notes

The night before the next expedition Lacrymosa and Shanks, being night owls, hear the sounds of a note being nailed to the door of the wizards tower in which they temproarily reside. Shanks opens the door and manages to catch sight of a person clothed entirely in black robes with ornate silver trim. The robed interloper makes a hasty escape before shanks can react, but there is indeed a note stuck to the door. It reads You have been touched by the fetid sink of Malfreces Nul and his undead servants - the runes tell me so. The eye of chaos watches you." The note is marked with a black hand encircled by an eight-pointed star. After talking to Tugel's apprentice it is discovered that the symbol is the of the Abbott of Chaos, but not much more than that is known about him. Tugel and the Abbott of Chaos have corresponded, but in a coded script no one can read.

Hobgoblin raids on Traitor's Gate have stepped up in intensity, and as a result there are several keen locals ready to work for cut prices to accompany the party into the dungeon to root out eh hobgoblins. Bonk hires a magic-user (Dylan) and Fiona hires a thief (Susan Sarandon). The party, once again, set off into Stonehell.

Arriving at the gatehouse dividing the canyon they spy the sillhouette of goblins AND orcs standing around. Worrying that their double cross has been discovered, Dylan is sent ahead to see what's going on. It quickly becomes apparent that the orcs and goblins have entered into a truce in order to combat the hobgoblins and, whilst both the goblins and orcs ARE aware of the party's double cross, they would like the help of the party. it is revealed that hobgoblins have been raiding the first floor and trying to push into orc and goblin territories. The spokesperson for the Open Sore orcs, Orcrates (known the the party already) also communicates a message - the orc chiefain has agreed to let the party hire orcs as retainers, should they wish, specifically to help drive the hobgoblins out of Stonehell. They also find out that a group of around 20 people in black robes with ornate silver trim entered the dungeon a few days ago, and have not yet emerged. The party enters the acursed halls of Stonehell with two initial goals - recruit some orcs, and find Parabola's gear.

The journey to the heart of the orc's territory is uneventful and the party is granted audience with the orcish chieftain. He's a terrifying hulk of an orc, and he has a large iron bound chest, clearly full of treasure, in his chambers. He grants Lacrymosa two orcish hirelings* - a pair of fabulous twins, Orc Scratchings and Crispy Orc Belly. The party also has concerns about the way orcs appear to treat gnomes - much like humans treat dogs - but put that aside for now. They explore a little more of the south-western section of the dungeon, defeating yet more crab spiders on the way, discovering evidence of bloody clashes between hobgoblins and both orcs and goblins. They follow the bloody trails of these battles towards the steps down in the south-east, concluding that this must be where the hobgoblins are coming up to the second level. On the way they discover a group of orcs betting on the outcome of a fight between several kobolds and a giant shrew. A stealthy poisoned arrow thrown by Lacrymosa ensures that the shrew loses this one. The kobolds are relieved, and inform the party that Trustee Sniv has Parabola's gear at the market.

On the way to the market a secret door is discovered in the wall of a former shrine the kobolds have been using as a cesspit. It leads to a section of the dungeon that seems to have been untrodden for decades (in contrast to the rest of the first floor) and, it later turns out, completely unknown even to the kobolds. The first room appears to be some sort of waiting room, and the next a room with a large brass magic circle engraved into the floor. Behind it is an iron bookcase, locked shut and containing several tomes one of which Fiona identifies as a spellbook. There is also a sizeable mirror of pure silver on the rune-covered wall. After breaking the locks on the bookshelf Fiona reaches for the spellbook, whilst standing in the magic circle. She feels a wash of arcane energy across her, but her elvish fortitude shrugs the spell off, and she claims the spellbook for herself**. The rest of the party take a couple of the valuable looking tomes each, and the silver mirror is also looted. Returning to the corridor they find a door with a pale lavendar light shining out from underneath it. Peeking through the keyhole reveals a levitating orb of lavendar light in the centre of the room. The party thinks better of this, and returns to the market.

They find Trustee Sniv eating in the rat restaurant, and he demands 200gp for the return of Parabolas stuff. Bonk says that the stuff is powerful and useful and they really need it, so can they have a discount? Especially since they saved some kobolds just a few mintues ago. Sniv's eyes light up at the realisation that these items are powerful, and says a discount is already applied - it would be 300gp normally. Eventually a deal is struck - Sniv gets to keep the scroll (which is cursed, he doesn't know that though), and takes ownership of the silver mirror and the party gets Parabola's gear for 100gp. Realising the day is getting on a bit the party decides to rest in the kobold in rather than return to towm.

*The half-orc class is now available for replacement or additional characters.
** The book contains two level-less spells, unfamiliar to many modern practitioners of magic.

• Bloodlust Awakens the inner beast of the target, granting it +1 to attack and damage, and -1 to all damage taken. If the target is unwilling, it can make a saving throw. Once under the effect of the spell the target must make a melee attack against the nearest target (friend of foe) in the most violent manner possible. When the spell explires target must make a save or fall unconscious. Lasts for one round per level of the caster.
• Recall A container, designated by the caster, will be transported to the location of the casting of the spell. The container can be no larger than tha required to contain a numbner of significant items per level of the caster.