Jungle Day 1

It is several days into our travel. We have left the towering troll monolith called Gruk behind and continue our quest to assist the elven king. While it is not in our contract, we feel it necessary to assist. Additionally, this gives us a purpose as opposed to just wandering about, randomly mapping the continents. We know that our goal is to reach the lone mountain in the center of the vast jungle. The elven prisoners should be there.

Selecting a spot at the edge of the jungle, we have begun the tedious process of forging a path into the murky underbrush.

After hours of hot, sweaty work, we have made camp near the edge of the jungle for the night. This is not because we wish to camp here, but because one day's work has only moved us a few feet toward our goal of the mountain. We are a sorry looking sight; hair matted, faces dirty and scratched, all of us exhausted and sleepy.

Jungle Day 2

It is fortunate that the night passed uneventfully for we were in no condition for an encounter with any hostile creature. As the majority of the party was breaking camp and preparing to attack the jungle once again, Mariah the zephyr begins her morning scouting run. Goldarn the Centaur just disappeared into the brush with his handmaiden.

Suddenly, with no warning, a huge, three-headed fire-breathing beast attacked. We have no chance of beating the creature in a fair fight, but must outsmart it, for it is a beast-dragon. The beast- dragon is a formidable enemy, nearly impossible to kill, especially by such inexperienced combatants. Fortunately, the creature is as stupid as it is evil. While the others distract it with a frontal attack, I decided to sneak around behind the monster. I had no plan, but I was sure that I could affect the creature in such a way as to distract it while my companions escaped.

Thankfully, I was able to record the incident and continue with my part of the expedition as Memnoth the Alchemist intervened. Memnoth took it upon himself to climb onto the beast and drink a potion. Suddenly, the beast-dragon became submissive and non-violent, and left the area. I later discovered that it had been charmed by an alchemical potion that promoted friendship with the drinker. With the warning that the potion would only last a few minutes, the party made a speedy exit from the scene. While the rangers are being treated for leg wounds they had received in the battle, the wizard returned to the scene of the camp and led Goldarn, Mariah and Goldarn's people to our resting place.

Whether the beast-dragon intended to or not, it did bring us a stroke of good fortune. The wide girth and excessive weight of the beast had created a quite serviceable path leading in the mountain's general direction. With this newly created passageway, we were able to travel a full day unhindered by the jungle.

The rangers estimate that we can travel nearly 15 miles. One thing troubles me though. If my memory served me correctly, beast-dragons are not regular inhabitants of the jungle. It was my recollection that they usually inhabit ruins. Could it be that we were walking directly into its lair?

This does not seem to trouble the others, and the path has definitely removed days off our travel time, so we will continue. My suspicions are well founded. Following the path of the beast-dragon, we have come to what appears to be an ancient ruin of a temple or pyramid. Goldarn the Centaur is quite sure that this is the lair of the creature, and I have to agree.

Carefully we examined the entire outer appearance of the ruined structure. While the walls are deteriorating, the front appears to be in good condition and the entrance is sealed. At the back however, a gaping hole indicates the entrance to the lair of the beast-dragon. Mariah the Zephyr and the Eandroth carefully entered the structure to explore and verify its inhabitant(s).

After a few minutes within the building, they returned carrying three bags. Two of the bags contained clothing of various sizes and in various stages of decomposition. The third bag holds the bones of a small human boy and a magic amulet. Picking up the amulet, I sense the presence of the boy. The amulet had been a gift to the boy, and had not been in his possession long before his death. I also sense great power within the amulet: the ability of the bearer to create fire, grow to enormous proportions, breathe in tainted air and stay dry in the rain. Under our agreement with Lord Agvare, we had agreed to return all treasures to him. Since this item was very magical, I entrusted it to the Elfin wizard for safe transport according to his judgment.

While discussing the amulet with the wizard and healer, I heard a noise in the underbrush. The fighters of the group spread out to try to identify the culprit. The beastmaster, Beastie, located and conversed with a small creature in the brush. We were stunned when somehow, he convinced a tusker to show himself without attacking. According to the tusker, the rest of the pack was on its way and was due in about an hour from the North.

Needless to say, we continued west to the river. The river was swollen, swift and vast. We came up with a plan involving the amulet we had found that enabled us to cross the dangerous river. Shortly thereafter we made camp.

Jungle Day 3

Night passed uneventfully, but a pterodactyl flew by while we were breaking camp. Someone or something must be patrolling the area, and we would have to be even more cautious. The jungle seemed to be thinning today. Perhaps we will have easier going.

This was not to be, however. As we traveled, we seemed to be entering a swamp. Mariah took to the air to discover the range of the swamp area. She estimated a two day travel through and one day travel to skirt. The party split with the majority skirting the swamp while Mariah, Claiborne, and the Eandroth went through the swamp to find herbs and plants.

At the other end of the swamp, we met the swamp wanderers and made camp.

Jungle Day Four
The night passed uneventfully. However, that morning just prior to rousing the camp, a dragon flew overhead. Everyone was awakened quietly.

The Zephyr, being a dragon worshipper, went to scout the cavern where it kept its lair. The Zephyr has requested that she be allowed to attend or worship it -- as a great horned dragon is very powerful. The wizard chose to accompany her. The rest of the party continued around the dragon's lair and would meet them later.

We had not traveled far when the wizard and the zephyr returned. They had little explanation, only that they had accomplished what they wanted. As we traveled further, we heard a loud reckless movement coming from in front of us. As we scattered, prepared for combat, a human female ran into the Barbarian.

Once she was calmed, we were able to get some information about her. Her name was Zarnoth. She was from a local tribe. Her tribe has lived in the area for several generations, but had never had problems before. Until a few fortnights ago that is.

It was at that time that They came. "They" are great evil snake people. Presumably, they had originally come to begin trade with the small jungle village, but the village elders did not trust them. Wisely so. When the village refused to trade with the creatures, people had begun to disappear.

At first, they only kidnapped people at night, but recently the daylight raids had begun. Eventually, she had been captured and taken to their mountain stronghold not far from here. She was placed in a cage and held by the snake people.

Recently, she had managed to escape. We determined that this was where the elfin people we were seeking must also be. She said she had not seen any other living creature besides the snake men, but that she had acquired something that seemed very important to her captors. It was a magic parchment that bore a formula calling for several killings. The wizard thought that it may be an incantation for a summoning. We sped up, hurrying to the mountainside.

We were correct in assuming that this was also the place that the elves were being held. However, we were too late to save them. Twelve elfin females were impaled around a pond in a sandy clearing. The pond was created from a waterfal l fed from a spring. The mountain appeared to be about eighty feet high.

We had to hurry, for although our original quest was unsuccessful, we could not allow the Naga (as the snake people were called) to complete their summoning and release some unspeakable horror.

Sometime in the next few hours a virgin might be sacrificed and the incantation would be read. We prepared to enter the cave. The single troll guard that stood before the waterfa ll was dispatched with relative ease. Zarnoth had indicated that the entrance was hidden behind the waterfall.

Before entering the cave be- hind the waterfall we searched the troll. In the troll's pouch we found a gold coin and a map.

With the scouts leading, we entered the tunnel. After 70 feet the tunnel made a sharp turn. Another 20 feet and we turned to the left again. It seemed to get much lighter at this point. There ahead of us we saw an opening. Standing at the opening we saw a great granite building showered in "sunlight" (magic).

Its huge dimensions held us in awe for moment. It was two stories tall and 230 feet wide in front. Two huge doors in the center were guarded by two Naga. We killed the outer guards with bows from a distance. Goldarn used the amulet to grow to 20 feet tall. He slammed the door into the inner guards; shattering the doors and the guards. The noise was deafening.

We began checking the doors. The first door on the right had a horde coming toward the main hall. The alchemist drank a friendship potion similar to the one that he used against the beast-dragon, however, the Naga are a great deal more intelligent than that creature, and the potion failed.

Realizing this, he dodged out of the way. It was not a moment too soon, for Mariah had taken to the air and fired on the first line of Naga attackers. The wizard threw a spell into the room to disorient the remainder. Things began to get a little out of hand as the barbarian went berserk. He and Goldarn were felling Naga in droves. He with his weapon and Goldarn with his enormous hooves. As combat continued, the wizard and I began to guard the unopened doors while the healer freed prisoners we had found. The single door on the right housed spiral stairs. The wizard identified the stairs as leading to a lava pit and chose to explore them further. As members of the party left the battle due to injuries, the Naga began to flee.

Unfortunately, the Barbarian, although severely wounded, was still berserk and followed them -- followed closely by the Zephyr. By the time the Naga fled, the barbarian was healed and the wizard had returned from the depths.

We prepared to open the second set of doors as Krista (Goldarn's handmaiden) used a gem to heal the Barbarian. (I must make a note to learn her native language, it is both compelling and beautiful.) We entered a large area with an altar in the back of the room.

Lava spewed forth from the altar and created a pool at its base. There were three high priests and five lesser priests near the altar, and two armor-plated guards at the door. The priests appeared to be per- forming the ceremony that we wished to prevent.

The wizard cast a spell of silence as we planned; the party launched an attack. I attempted to free the maiden tied to the altar as Goldarn destroyed the high priest. I carried the girl away from the battle towards the door.

By the time the girl was free and revived, the battle was nearly over. The healer, the girl and I entered a side room while the others finished the battle and explored the other attached room.

Within the room were capes and clothing belonging to the Naga. It was within this room that they prepared for their rituals. I examined a robe as Claiborne studied a golden helm. It was a beautiful creation - feathers falling in two graceful wings down the back and three precious gems imbedded in a solid gold helm. It was hard to believe that this piece of art was made and used by Naga.
Sadly, the feathers needed to be removed to prevent total destruction of the piece by the Zephyr. The helm was used in the ceremonial sacrifice of Zephyrs, and I do not believe that she would have allowed us to keep the treasure if she had know its previous use.
We returned to the elfin king and although we had not been able to save their women from their fate, he was grateful for our help. He assured us that the knowledge of the Naga stronghold would not be wasted, and we left that part of our adventures behind.