Giving til it hurts

Speeding through the remaining tunnels, Bastien, Volkon, Nitendae and Lady Sybille eventually reach the bottom of the six-hundred foot shaft leading up to the treasure room.

Nitendae notices Lady Sybille tense up as she sees the substantial pile of her gold coins spreading out from the shaft opening, but she says nothing.

Both Volkon and Bastien have already expended their miraculous flight abilities but fortunately Nitendae's magical boots of levitation, though slow, have no limits on usage.

Too far for ropes, it takes the slimly built Nitendae almost half-an-hour to carry everyone up, one by one, to the relative safety of Lady Sybille's treasure room.

It's only then that Lady Sybille speaks.

"Thank you. Thank all of you. You have saved my life and I'm truly grateful. As a reward, please accept a portion of my accrued wealth. Would one-hundred thousand gold be sufficient... Each?"

Nitendae's eyes narrow as he takes in the huge piles of gold all around him, but one-hundred thousand is more gold than he'd previously ever seen... And the bisected Paladin in the corner, killed in one blow by the huge stone golem standing by the doorway seals his lips.

As all three nod their heads in affirmation, Lady Sybille smiles.

"That should easily be a man's weight in gold each."

Volkon, Bastien and Nitendae all receive 100,000gp each!

Tell us what you know? Asked the Murder Hobo just that one time...

Astonishingly, after three years and six adventures, just at the very last door leading to the final campaign do-or-die battle, Volkon questioned a guard!
He didn't manage to get an answer before slicing the man in two, but just in case you were curious...
Fluetin the Drider, leader of the Drow was attempting, with the aid of the remaining Black-cloaks and Death-cultists, to reopen the scar torn by the Dragon Thereanthor and Zartak; Prince of Hell.
The scar between realms, once reopened, could be used to usher Lolth; the Spider queen into Fissa, where she could bring destruction to the surface dwellers and supremacy to the dark elves.
The Black-cloaks, led by the dragon disciples. were promised wealth and power in exchange for their knowledge and secret rituals. The Death-cultists, led by Lord Akbarr were assured wars and many, many deaths.
Thanks to the party's truly heroic efforts though, they failed and Fissa is safe-ish once again.

Life of Pie: (Profit in Escape)

Back through miles of tunnels, illuminated only by Volkon's magical flaming sword, the three adventurers race, with the strikingly beautiful Lady Sybille safely ensconced between them.
Up close, she looks no older than twenty-five but you know that old Captain Dunn knew her from when he was just a child.
Nitendae's mind recalls unbidden, the stage make-up he'd found on her dresser when he was searching for hidden doors in her chamber.
As they move forward, any possible opposition scurry, terrified out of their way until the acrid smell of the burning oil of Lord Akbarr's kill-zone assails their nostrils.
Ahead in the darkness, Nitendae spies the intimidating shape of Akbarr's fiendish warhorse. It snorts steam as you approach, but just as before, Volkon calms it enough to allow you all safe passage.
The sunken floor of the gargantuan cavern is merely smouldering now and easily safe to walk across. The thirty-six window-like portals, running up and around the domed walls and ceiling are empty and silent.
In the centre of the room though, lies the burnt out corpse of Lord Akbarr himself. Gingerly, Bastien tests the cadaver with the tip of his armoured toe, but it merely confirms what he was already sure of... Akbarr is dead again, and this time he won't be coming back.
Though still hot, Nitendae unbuckles the ornate armour and loots everything even remotely valuable looking, before wrapping it all carefully and placing it carefully into Issack, the enchanted backpack.
The half-elf smiles to himself... Profit after all!

Full plate armour +4 (Fire resistance: 10) (Value: 35,650gp)
Longsword +3 (Human bane) Doesn't glow (Value: 50,315gp)
Heavy shield +3 (Value: 9,170gp)
Potion of Gaseous form x 2 (Fool me once) (Value: 750gp each)
Potion of Cause serious wounds x 1 (Value: 750gp)
Light Crossbow +2 of Seeking (Value: 18,335gp)

The Bizzare Vertical Final Boss Battle!

The bloated, spider-like body of Fluetin, floats slowly down towards the furious skirmish raging below.
Unfortunately slipping from the Drider's back, after appearing astride him, Bastien desperately attempts to defend the bound and chained Lady Sybille from her three crystal dagger wielding, would be sacrificers, shielding her with his plate-mail armoured body as best he can.
After killing the drider, with his flaming greatsword wielded one-handedly,  Volkon releases his grip and drops the remaining twenty feet to help his armoured companion, while high above, the half-elf Nitendae struggles to gain control of the dominated, yet still terrifying Beholder.
Surprisingly quickly, Bastien and Volkon dispatch Teela the Dragon disciple, Vludmila the Drow priestess and Kole the Death-cult leader, but there's no time to waste, as they are still surrounded by literally hundreds of dangerous opponents and under the ever-growing shadow of the dead drider sinking ever closer.
Finally gaining control of the will drained, balloon-like beholder, Nitendae hovers downward to pick the locks of the manacles before lady Sybille and his friends are crushed.
Fortunately, Nitendae deftly makes quick work of the four locks holding her and the three of them drag her off of the Dias, just in time.
Pushing through the drug addled and confused crowd of naked Death-cultists and Drow, they make it to the bottom of the steep stairway unopposed and ascend as fast as they can towards freedom.
Nitendae curses through, that aside from the horrific fleshy and toothy blob floating above him, they didn't manage to grab anything off Fluetin or the three cult leaders up on the weird triangular sacrificial platform.

A Hexology Worth of Experience.

The sixth and final adventure is done and the campaign over, but never let it be said that I didn't give out your hard earned experience...

Ironically, given that I'd forgotten up until Assif reminded me, you all really did go up to 11th level after the second spell-stitched Wight battle.

The next set of encounters (considering the loss of your henchmen) tested your collective skills to their limit!

The Death Knight; Lord Akbarr and the funnel kill-zone Black cloaks, revealed itself to have been an 'overpowering' encounter. Good job for defeating him and getting past them!

After the last 'Very difficult' encounter and winning several experience bonuses along the way for things like: Finding secret doors... and then, resealing secret doors behind you. Or working out the fee to be paid to gain entry to Lady Sybille's hoard... and then for Volkon being actually prepared to pay it. Oh, and a nice 'Mission completed' bonus, you finished as you'd hoped...

Volkon: 67,682 xp = 12th level!

Bastien: 66,091 xp = 12th level!

Nitendae: 67,052 xp = 12th level!

Congratulations!

:)

Music and Games

Just a couple of days to go before our final cottage-of-doom-apade.
As usual, I've over egged the adventure and probably kill you before you get to the middle.
Scott, please bring your lino matt map thing and some wipeable markers.
I found my video camera and tripod but no power cable but if Scott doesn't mind bringing his one, it might make for a few recorded memories.
Also, I always forget to bring music. Anything you want, possibly even appropriately atmospheric?
And lastly, in case of that possible/probable scenario coming to pass, please also bring some of your brain injuring four player board games.
You're all welcome to stay Sunday night but pre-lunchtime leave on Monday.
See you three soon!

Eight days until your final doom!

Just a week to go before our final adventure! 

Beers and cokes in the fridge, clean sheets on the beds and the adventure 'already' half written!

...

Looks like I'm going to be busy this weekend!

I'll be driving down on Friday but not until very late as I'm collecting family from Heathrow airport in the afternoon.

I should be at the cottage around 9pm if David fancies joining me to help set up tables etc.

Otherwise, everyone please join me as soon as you're able on Saturday morning. 

Traditionally Assif and Scott have turned up around 1pm-ish but you're welcome to come earlier.

I'll be back from the shops and walking the dog and set up by 11am at the latest.

On Sunday, we can play until I kill you all, as I'm not planning to leave until Monday morning. That way, I can keep on drinking on Sunday.

As last sessions meal was too bland for Assif's tastes; any suggestions / requests?