Thorgrim vs White Death

Deep within the frozen heart of the northern mountains, where jagged peaks pierced the sky and icy winds howled through treacherous passes, lay an ancient and perilous dungeon known as the “Frostfell Abyss.” This desolate place held a chilling secret—a powerful and malevolent white dragon known as Arauthator, feared far and wide as “White Death.”

Thorgrim, a battle-hardened dwarf with a braided beard as white as the snow surrounding him, had heard of Arauthator’s legendary terror for years. His armor bore the scars of countless battles, and his mighty axe, known as Frostbane, had tasted the blood of many foes. But Arauthator was a challenge unlike any other, and Thorgrim couldn’t resist the call of adventure.

Gathering a band of fearless companions, Thorgrim embarked on a treacherous journey through the frozen wilderness. The biting cold tested their resolve, and the unforgiving terrain pushed them to their limits. Yet, Thorgrim’s determination remained unyielding, for he knew that defeating Arauthator would be a feat for the ages.

After days of relentless travel, they arrived at the entrance of the Frostfell Abyss, a massive stone archway half-buried in snow. With lanterns in hand and weapons at the ready, they descended into the dark abyss, the echoes of their footsteps resonating through the frozen halls.

As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, the temperature plummeted even further, and the very air seemed to freeze their breath. Encounters with monstrous ice creatures and deadly traps tested their skills, but Thorgrim’s leadership and his comrades’ unwavering trust in him carried them through. They fought side by side, each victory bringing them closer to their ultimate goal.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the heart of the dungeon—a colossal chamber encased in ice. At its center stood Arauthator, a massive and majestic white dragon. Its scales glistened like purest snow, and its eyes gleamed with an eerie, piercing blue, radiating an aura of dread.

The battle that followed was nothing short of epic. Thorgrim charged forward, Frostbane gleaming with an inner fire, while his companions unleashed their own devastating attacks. Arauthator retaliated with blasts of icy breath that threatened to freeze them solid. The battle was a ferocious dance of steel and ice, and Thorgrim’s heart surged with determination.

After a grueling struggle, Thorgrim landed the decisive blow, burying Frostbane deep into Arauthator’s chest. The dragon roared in agony, its icy form cracking and splintering. As it crumbled to the ground, Thorgrim could see a mixture of fear and sadness in its eyes.

With a heavy heart, Thorgrim knew that Arauthator, like all legendary creatures, was a guardian of ancient secrets and a part of the world’s rich history. But it had posed a dire threat to the lands beyond the Frostfell Abyss, and he had done what he believed was necessary.

As they emerged from the dungeon, the frozen wastelands felt different, less oppressive. The winds were gentler, and the mountains seemed to whisper their gratitude. Thorgrim had conquered White Death, but he knew that the stories of their epic battle would echo through the ages—a testament to the indomitable spirit of a dwarf named Thorgrim, who had dared to challenge the mightiest of dragons in the coldest of dungeons.

The Legacy of Fatsack

Jiminy Fatsack was a gnome-like no other. Born into a family of gnomish thieves, he was taught the art of thievery and deception from a young age. However, Jiminy quickly discovered that his true talent lay in finding hidden traps and treasures that others could not. His keen senses and nimble fingers made him an expert at uncovering secrets that others could not, and he soon became known among the gnomish community as the one to call when you needed to find something valuable.

As he grew older, Jiminy began to put his skills to use in more dangerous endeavors, using his stealth and cunning to rob the rich and powerful. He soon became a master of the shadows, able to attack his enemies without being seen, and his reputation as a rogue began to spread beyond the borders of his small community.

Despite his success, Jiminy never forgot his humble roots, and he always used his wealth and power to help those in need. He became known for his generosity and his kindness, and many of those he had helped in the past sought him out when they needed aid.

One day, Jiminy received a summons from a mysterious stranger, who offered him the chance to use his skills for a greater cause. The stranger was a member of a secret society of adventurers, who sought to use their talents to fight against evil and injustice wherever it might be found. Jiminy was intrigued, and he soon found himself joining society, using his skills to help those who could not help themselves.

Jiminy quickly proved himself an invaluable member of the group, using his ability to find hidden traps and treasure to lead them to untold riches and powerful artifacts. His stealth and cunning allowed him to scout ahead of the group, giving them an advantage in battles against their enemies. And his kindness and generosity endeared him to his companions, who came to rely on him as a trusted friend and ally.

And so, Jiminy Fatsack, the gnome rogue, continued to travel the land, using his skills to fight against evil and bring hope to those in need. His name became synonymous with cunning and bravery, and his legend lived on for generations to come.

A Barbarian’s Glory

Castor Troy was born into a barbarian tribe in the remote northern lands, raised to be a fierce warrior and to revel in battle. However, as he grew older, Castor began to yearn for something more than just mindless violence. He wanted to be remembered as a hero, a legend among his people.

One day, he met a group of adventurers consisting of a female druid, a male gnome rogue, a female monk elf, and a male human sorcerer. They were traveling the land, fighting battles for good and justice, and Castor was immediately drawn to their cause. He joined them on their travels and soon became an integral part of the group, using his strength and cunning to protect those in need.

Together, the group faced countless challenges and overcame many obstacles. Castor proved himself a brave and loyal ally, always ready to put himself in harm’s way for the sake of others. With each victory, his reputation grew and he became known as a great hero, feared and respected by all who encountered him.

However, Castor’s quest for the legend was not without its difficulties. He often struggled with the fact that his barbarian roots were at odds with the noble purpose of his new life. Nevertheless, he persevered, determined to prove himself worthy of the title of hero.

And so, Castor Troy, along with his friends the female druid, male gnome rogue, female monk elf, and male human sorcerer, continued to travel the land, fighting for justice and defending the innocent. Their deeds became the stuff of legends, and Castor’s name was forever etched in the annals of history as a true hero.

The Troll’s Den

After fighting the two Remorhaz and convincing the Ice Villager you are strong enough to fight the dragon, the party entered the Ice caves hunting for their mark. Ivy saved a sick Ice Hunter and he gave her his crampons after which the group quickly found their way to the Troll’s den where they were ambushed by a Dire Troll and one of his underlings.

After cleaning out the troll’s den and getting some cool loot the group entered the hallway just in time to encounter a squad of kobalds. Strom fried them with a fireball and most of the group were able to salvage crampons for their boots from the corpses.  Then headed south and found two more caves. The second one held a tent hut, but before they could explore a mutant acid troll attacked the group.

 Once the troll was dead the party explored the hut to find the person they were sent to rescue, Maccath the Crimson, a Tiefling. She was a wealth of knowledge on the complex and the dragon they will be assaulting next.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2021

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. The end of this year has been very rough for me, being in the hospital for low oxygen levels and having a hard time getting rid of a cold. Apparently viruses have been more aggressive this year, according to Doctors. I really hope everyone is able to spend time with family and friends, as well as stay safe and healthy.

I know during this time of year, I love to drink eggnog straight. What I mean by that is drinking it without alcohol. Hopefully I’m not the only one who enjoys eggnog without alcohol. It’s definitely a good indication the holidays are around the corner. This year it seemed right after Halloween, Christmas stuff came out in all the retail stores. It always seems as if the holidays change quicker than the year before in retail or in general.

We put up the same tree we had last year, a black fake tree. I had no idea they made black fake trees, but it’s pretty awesome when decorated. I’m sure at some point we will get a more natural looking one. The natural looking trees with white frost are also very awesome. That might be more my families style. Anyways, here is a picture of our current tree on the right.

The first week of December, my wife and I have watched all the Harry Patter movies in order. It has been really fun to watch them with my wife. I haven’t seen all of them just a few here and there, so watching them in order I’ve been able to follow the story line better. However, I haven’t read the books and my wife keeps telling me how much better the books are compared to the movie, which doesn’t surprise me. Trying to narrow down a book within a movie in two hours or three probably doesn’t do the book series justice.

Speaking of movies, everyone has their favorite Christmas movies. I actually tried to watch one of my favorite ones today, however my little two year old gremlin interrupted me. I was actually introduced to this movie by my wife and it’s new as of 2020. The main character is played by Mel Gibson, whom I miss seeing more often in movies. This Christmas movie is called Fatman and it’s definitely not a kid friendly flick. If you would like a new spin on Santa and a Christmas movie in general, I recommend this movie.

Next on my list is Elf. This is by far my favorite Christmas movie of all time and favorite Will Farrell movie. It is just freaking hilarious and I enjoy going to quote a-longs or movie party of this movie at the Alamo Draft House. The quote a-longs or movie party make this movie even more fun during the holidays. Go to one, I promise you won’t regret it.

Another favorite Christmas movie of mine is Scrooged with Bill Murray. This is the best comedy adaptation of Charles DickensA Christmas Carol. This is a must see every year and fun to have a watch party.

Also last, but not least is a movie that is always at the top of the list every year National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. This is probably the best of the Chevy Chase National Lampoons Vacation trilogy. You could say this movie has a cult following during Christmas every year. That’s it for my movie list. I know there are tons more, but those are my favorites and must watch movies every year. Again, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving 2021

Happy ThanksgivingBotch Happens wants to wish all you D&D players out there and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving. We hope you and your family are well and safe. There is so much to be thankful for this year. I have already seen Christmas stuff out in stores right on Halloween day.

Stay tuned for more episodes and posts of our D&D sessions. Episode 2 will be posted soon. Hope everyone is enjoying the audio. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year. Lets hope and pray 2021 is not as chaotic as 2020. I’m guessing they will be streaming the ball drop this year in Time Square, due to the everlasting pandemic, which is complete bull crap. Whatever! We have a PC out of commission for the moment, so that’s why we haven’t posted the latest blog regarding the adventure of our heroes thus far. Once that’s resolved we will get back to our adventure and be posting them again soon. Just be on the lookout for them sometime after New Years day.

The decision is in the are about posting our adventures in podcast format. There are plenty of those type of podcast out there, but we are hoping to make this one a little more unique if possible. More to come on the podcast, which will be posted on our podcast page. We want everyone to play it safe and enjoy family and friends as we get closer to Christmas Day. I know I speak for some, that 2020 was just a disaster and that we are so ready to begin anew in 2021. Happy New Year everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy ThanksgivingEveryone at Botch Happens would like to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! This is the time of year where we give thanks for the people we are surounded by and support us in out time of need or just during rough times. Also, we give thanks for all things we are able to have and do in our daily lives. We hope you had lots of turkey and were able to catch up with friends or family considering current state of this pandemic. I know some states had a curfew. Even San Antonio had a curfew from 10pm to 5am the following morning. This I’m sure put a damper on Black Friday shoppers. I on the other hand don’t really like to be out and about on this day. It’s just to much chaos and I think we have had enough chaos in our lives just because it’s 2020!

Lets hope we all got some needed rest as we transition to Christmas. I’ve already seen decorations out since last week of October. This year has gone by so quickly. Anyways, stay safe and thank you for following our blog and keeping up with our campain. We are still working on the last encounter and will post it as soon as we can. Life has just kinda happened and some of us are really busy folks at the moment. Please continue your support of our blog and comment if you can, thank you.

The Altar of Evil

We continue our story in the dungeon with our heroes sleeping.  Jimini the halfling rogue is on third watch, his back to the door, sitting on the chest against the door so he can see through the peephole if need be.  He hears the sound of footsteps approaching and looks to see two spear-men as they knock on the door.  Nadia the monk is awakened by the sound of the guards knocking on the door and sits up.  Jimini sees her rise and she quietly pads over to join him at the door. He holds a finger in front of his lips and listens at the door.

“The officers are probably all sleeping, you should knock harder.” says one the the guards to the other.  Followed by a louder knocking at the door. And still they waited, Castor snores loudly in the corner still unaware of the situation at hand.  As they waited the guards begin to argue back and forth.

“Well what are we going to do?”

“I don’t know, we are suppose to tell them what’s going on.”

“Well somebody is down here and we should tell the officers what happened but nobody is at the door.”

“Maybe they already took them out too,who knows? But I’m not gonna stand here waiting at the door if nobody is gonna do something.”

At this point Jimini calls out “Ahh.. Hold on, hold on.” trying to imitate the voice of the man whom Castor and Nadia had interrogated earlier.  Jimini and Nadia push the chest quickly to the side unbar and tear open the door coming face to face with two spearmen.  Nadia strikes without hesitation stunning the guard in front of her as Jimini lashes out stabbing the other in the unmentionables, while shouting a harsh whisper at Castor to wake up!  Castor who is actively snoring on his pallet in the corner awakens to the sound of combat at the door and rises eagerly to his feet taking up his large great sword as he does so.  The man across from Jimini stabs wildly with his spear but misses as Jimini dances back and out of the way.  Nadia strikes twice at the stunned man in front of her and steps aside just as Castor charges into the fight cleaving both of the opponents to the ground in one fell swoop.

Having ended the threat they quickly drag the bodies in and close the door.  Nadia checks for vital signs and stanches the bleeding of the unconscious but still living combatant. She could do nothing for the other man who’s torso had been severed in two. Shortly after the commotion had ended the rest of the party awaken and begin preparing for the the day. They then proceeded south to the boat and make their way across the underground lake.  Taking heed of  the previous warnings they stayed in the boat and did not explore the waters any further.  Upon disembarking from the small craft Mr. Whiskers, the small weasel familiar of the old wizard Ramne from the grove of elms in the Village of Orlane, scampered down from Ivy’s shoulder and skittered up ahead sniffing and indicating it wanted to take the passage to the east.  At the end of the hundred foot hallway the passage took a turn to the south and abruptly ended at a doorway which appeared to be barred from the other side.  This time, instead of beating on the door right away they pulled back and decided to try a ploy of their own.  They went back and got two of the guard’s uniforms and when they returned with Castor and Zarkon wearing the guards gear, they knocked on the door while everyone else crouched just around the corner waiting.  A short moment later they hear footsteps and the bar being drawn away from the door, suddenly they found themselves face to face with a troglodyte.  Castor stares hard at the reptile for a second and the beast quickly steps back, as if expecting them to follow him in to the room, and so they oblige.

Castor and Zarkon move forward with Jimini hiding behind the bulk of the barbarian and without warning Castor strikes at the second of the two critters with the guard’s spear but unfortunately misses.  Jimini steps out and flings a dagger which buries itself in the second reptile while shouting “The gig is up. Get in here!” then directed at Castor with a sarcastic lilt “You missed…”  Nadia instantly steps into the room and strikes the first reptile stunning it with the blow as Zarkon launches two glowing blue magic missiles which burn into the second creature.  Brother Thimble steps to the door and fires his crossbow missing the mark as his bolt thuds into the timber of the wall.  Jimini quickly somersaults across the room and stabs the first troglodyte in the posterior with a flanking motion and the reptile drops to the ground unconscious and bleeding.  At this point the second troglodyte releases an expanding cloud of stench which fills the room, and knocks on the door, alerting the others waiting in the next room to the attack.  Castor, with his Mask of Sweet Air, is not affected by the stench and tears the spear free from the wall and buries it in the monster, pinning it to the wall were it stood.  The rest of the party takes a moment to get over the nausea from the stinking cloud, then Zarkon cast Bull’s Strength on Castor who rages and knock the second bared door straight off its hinges.  The door flies into two more of the creatures slamming them back into the wall behind them.  Nadia leads the way through the gaping doorway striking at one of the two stunned lizard creatures followed by Castor who cleaves both of the pitiful creatures in half with a single blow.  Seeing their comrades bisected by the raging mass of muscles and leather welding a larger greatsword than should be possible the last two troglodytes release their stench and throw their javelins at Castor, only one strikes him but he fails to notice, and both of the critters dart off into the darkness.  Nadia pulls out a torch and lights it providing more illumination for the group and everyone enters the room to find the last of the creatures cowering and snarling on the back of the next cavern.

Dispatching with the last two beast quickly, our heroes head south to a set of stairs that lead down and to the east.  Coming to the bottom of the steps a clearing opens out to the north but ends in a thick pool of mud stretching off to the south west, the west and around the corner to the north.  Mr. Whiskers again scampers down from his perch and scents his way to the edge of the mud but is not able to leap across to the stepping stones  he is pointing to.  The stones continue off into the dark to the west and split off to the north also.  Following the stones to the north our adventurers cross the mud and come to solid ground in a tunnel that runs northwest in one direction and east in the other.  Upon reaching the tunnel Mr. Whiskers is not able to pick up the scent he had been following and clambered back up onto his spot on the druids shoulder with a somewhat puzzled look on his face.  Confronted with a decision of which way to go our heroes take a moment to listen and hearing a strange insect like sound coming from the northwest passage they decided to head to the east instead.  Coming to a fork in the path first they follow the southern tunnel and found a hidden boat at the edge of a body of water but choose not the continue that way so they double back to the northern fork and came to a door which while not lock or bared is swollen shut with moisture.  Castor slams the door and it swings in banging against the inner wall.

They enter the room and a creature which once must have been human but now resembled a zombie stumbles around pillar in the center of the room and begins advancing on the party.  Ivy slings a bullet right on target nailing the monster right in the forehead but the creature seems to shrug off the majority of the damage.  Zarkon steps forward pointing his wand and a cone flames engulf the thing charing into it’s already rotting flesh.  Brother thimble strides in to the room brandishing his wooden holy symbol and calls on the power of his god. Something about this creature bothers him but he is not quite sure what.  The creatures eyes lock on the little gnome cleric in what could only be an expression of terror and it began to turn away, but it was to late.  Castor lunges forward flattening the thing with his oversized great sword and it drops to the ground immobile.  Thimble steps a little close and realizes that it only looks like a zombie but it is actually a coffer corpse.  At that very moment the coffer corpse rises up from the ground once more, all of our heroes feel the icy chill of the grave reaching for their very souls.  As the creature stands it swings at Jimini but misses and Ivy screams and runs back down the hallway. Brother Thimble clutches his holy symbol again, and again the coffer corpse lurches away from the gnome in terror hissing in pain.  Castor also turns and runs as fear rips his control away from him temporarily. Nadia strikes the creature twice, a flash of blue light emanating from the charm on her necklace and her fists, and the coffer corpse falls lifeless to the ground.

To the north is a locked door which Jimini quickly checks and opens.  On the other side of the door is a hallway to the north with another door to the immediate west.  A few of the party check the hallway to the north while Jimini unlocks the door the the west finding a room with prison cells lining the west wall.  Here they find and rescue four human prisoners, the son and daughter of Orlane’s carpenter, a merchant who’s caravan had been taken in the dim forest, and a farmer’s wife. The prisoners had saved verses the Naga’s charm affect but had not yet been murdered and raised as undead by Garath Primo.  They were all too happy to share and confirm the stories the hero’s had heard regarding the Naga “Explictica Defilus” and that Primo was acting as the creatures right hand. Throughout the questioning the heroes learn Garath Primo’s chapel is north of the small room with all the bodies in it.  After a brief moment to pass along the information the prisoners quickly proceed back the way the party had come from and the heroes continue north through the “zombie factory” to Primo’s Alter of Evil.

To the north, Jimini checks and finds the door untrapped and unlocked.  Brother Thimble cast detect magic and is practically blinded by Castor’s sword right in front of him, but looking past him and the rest of the party he is able to make out several magic auras in the room as well.  Throwing open the doors and rushing into the room the party sees the wood paneled walls and floors of a chapel, ribbons of skin hanging from the ceiling in places, with a raised platform on the north end of the room. On the platform behind the wooden alter with the stone statue on it stands an undead creature of some kind.  Next to the alter stands Garath Primo robed in dark cleric attire, sporting a chainmail shirt and holding a wicked looking snake-headed  hammer and a wooden shield.  He was waiting for the heroes. Brother Thimble sees the creature and shouts out a warning that it is a wight and not to let it touch anyone. Zarkon fires off two glowing blue magic missiles which burn into the wight standing behind the alter.  Castor instantly charges the villain and Primo reacts casting hold person.  As the barbarian’s momentum carried him like a missile to his target he suddenly found himself frozen in place mere feet from his intended victim, unable to even bat an eyelash as he glared at his foe with murderous intention.  The others from the party file into the room and without warning two masses of skin hanging from the ceiling drop from the roof and begin flapping their five foot wingspans of stolen skin. These skin kites attack Jimini and Zarkon attempting to latch onto their targets and feed on their skin.  Zarkon swings wildly with his torch knocking the thing loose and feeling the pain of it tearing at his skin as it let go. Jimini was not so lucky as the mass of rotting skin and fangs wrapped around him feeding on his skin he lets out a scream of pain as he wrestles with it.  While all this commotion is happening on the south end of the room back to the north a wight has crept out from behind the alter and advances recklessly toward the now held and helpless Castor Troy. simultaneously Garath chants out an evil sounding verse and points at Brother Thimble menacingly.  The gnome cleric wails in terror scampering away from Primo into the corner to huddle in fear. With quick thinking Ivy the druid is able to summon a small fire elemental at the wights back in an attempt to distract the undead monstrosity from it’s motionless target. Garath calls out a few choice words and silence falls over the heroes half of the room. Echoing in Castor’s ears alone, an evil cackle escapes Primo’s lips as it would appear our heroes face certain and utter doom!

What ever will happen to our brave heroes?  Will Castor Troy be torn to pieces by the rotting undead, unable to respond while being held by the vile magic of the evil cleric Garath Primo? Will Brother Thimble regain his composure or will fear grip him while his companions suffer?  Will the flying abominations continue to strip the skin from Zarkon and Jimini?  Will our adventurers die with their silent screams unable to escape their lips?  Who, I ask you who can save our heroes now?

Interrogation & Troubled Dreams

The main room is quiet except for the constant dripping sounds which seem to fill every waking moment in this swampy underground environment.  The torch light burns on unwavering in the still, stifling, humid air.  Nadia has been on watch by the bared door for an hour, Castor and Jimini are both sleeping on their make shift pallets in either corner.  The bound and bloodied figure in the middle of the room groans in pain as he comes to.  Nadia swiftly crosses the room and checks their prisoner’s bonds finding them tight and secure. Jimini does not seem to notice the commotion and does not stir from his slumber. Castor, wakened by the noise, rises and moves to the captive grabbing him roughly by the tunic he questions the injured man.

“Where does the boat go?”

“Sod off ya big lout I ain’t talkin to the likes of you!”

Blood and spittle fly as Castor drives his fist into the captives mouth. Castor asks a follow up question.

“Is there a second floor to this dungeon?”

To this the captive responds by spitting his bloody broken teeth into the barbarian’s face.  Castor backhands the man and more blood and teeth fly across the room. At this point Nadia steps in to intervene.  She places a hand on Castor chest and requests calmly.

“Allow me.”

Castor releases the man’s tunic and Nadia deftly clamps her left hand over his mouth while simultaneously driving the forefingers of her right hand between the lower most floating ribs on his left side.  The man’s howl of pain is only muffled by her iron like grip on his jaw. She twists her fingers, separating his ribs and he squeals in agony. She looks in his eyes and very calmly says “You are going to answer my friend’s questions, understand?” He gives a short nod; Nadia releases him and he collapses back to the floor gasping in relief. The captive sucks on his broken teeth and spits a glob of mucus and blood to the ground, he mumbles through swollen lips.

“The boat is to cross the lake, and the stairs down are south of the lake.”

“Is there anything dangerous in the waters of the dungeon if we take the boat?” asked the barbarian.

“The giant crocks won’t bother ya long as ya stay in the boat.”

Castor asks “What do we face in the lower level?”

He replies “I hate going down there. The hallways, they crawl with giant vermin of all sorts, and I figure there must be an entire colony of them stinkin troglodytes, and that’s not even the worst of it. That crazy sicko Primo’s got his lab somewhere down there. That’s were all the folks what resist the charm go.  Nothing and no one who goes in there ever comes back out, at least, not alive.”  As he is speaking a dreamy faraway look overtakes his demeanor and he continues “And then, then there is the Lady Explictica herself.  She lurks below as well.” A look of manic frenzy rising in his eyes, the tone of his voice becoming shrill as he rants on. “She is an unkillable god! She knows your coming! Your dead walking and you don’t even know it! Haha… Hahahaa.” The man’s maniacal laughter is cut off sharply as Castor smashes his fist into bound captive’s face sending him collapsing the ground again. After a moment of sobbing the man speaks. “You have to let me go. I’ll leave and you’ll never see me again.” He goes on pleading “If he finds out I squealed I’m as good as dead. I’m worse than dead. If, if she finds out… If she… my torment would never end.” He collapses, whimpering.

Nadia steps forward and speaks.

“Double his bindings and gag him. When we come back, we’ll take him back to Orlane and turn him over to the authorities. They will deal with him as is fit.”

Pleading, he starts screaming “No, No you can’t! They’ll Ki…” his rant is cut short as Castor clubs the man into unconsciousness, and silence follows.

Later, having finished her watch as she takes her turn sleeping, a troubled dream comes to Nadia. Dark clouds chase her every foot step.  Thunder rolls and lighting flashes all around as she struggles through a swampy wasteland hopelessly in search of some kind of shelter from the raging storm. And worse still is that thing she can’t seem to lose, constantly at her heals.  She cannot see it. She only catches vague impressions of an alien looking triangular head and pincer like claws constantly reaching for her. Through the chaos of the dream she sees her Master approach her, his old deceptively frail form and dark skin an immediate comfort to her unusually chaotic state of mind.  He smiles and speaks.

“Nadia my dear one.  It is a blessing to see you.  You must not stray from the path of your true self.  Mind you show compassion to those pawns of the true evil with which you struggle. A word of caution, your former classmate has defiled the hidden temple and stolen forbidden Jujitsu. Beware, the evil is greater than we feared. Be safe young one.” And with that the Grand Master fades from her view as the dream ends and she awakens.

In the other room. Thorgrim tosses and turns in a feverish fitful sleep.  Images come to him from long ago, interspersed with nightmares and visions of demons.   He sees his mother and his father and the images fade slashed apart by ghouls. Other loved ones and relatives mixed with scenes of torture and gore. Fond childhood memories mingled with those things that haunt him most.  Above it all a darkness building, bearing down on all of it as if to blot it all out.  And throughout all of it he wanders a land of giants far away were everything seems upside-down as he searches endlessly for the great unseen evil that somehow threatens it all. Suddenly, the dream breaks and Thor awakens to the cool hand of Brother Thimble on his forehead. The fever broken, finally feeling his right dwarven self again.