Narlock's Secrets (Date 1/3/12)

The monster was dispatched quickly, dealing only minor damage well within Marty's ability to heal, and the remainder of the tower was quickly searched. Discovered were a ballroom containing a magical harpsichord (though badly out of tune), a scribing room with magical ink and copious notes, and a library with a pair of magical tomes and a fastidious invisible librarian. The ballroom had several tapestries showing, among other things, elves at court and a city on the north side of the lake. They also found a hidden portrait of the Euwyn's great-great-great grandmother Lunette behind a portrait of Narlock the elder. The group agreed to attempt to sleep in the tower and the night passed without incident, that is until Euwyn awoke to a strange buzzing sound and a peculiar trick of the light that seemed to fold into the corner of the room. He dismissed it as "seeing things" and moved on.

Opening the final door through magic and will, they found a luxurious bedroom with a life like doll inside. The doll also resembled Lunette, but the magic animating her had dwindled over time. The party removed the doll's magic dress and stowed her under the covers with awkward care.

With many magical items to identify and mysteries to explore the group left the tower and headed to their various homes. Hedge and Justice discussed reconstituting the cavalier legions of Malwan, Marty tried out his new cape before having more sober and thorough sex with Lumi, and Euwyn discovered that the dress was glamered to appear as any dress the wearer desired. But could a doll have desires!

Magic Tower (Date 1/3/10)

Town was much as they had left it. The council was meeting to discuss what to do with their new windfall, and Euwyn gave into his friend's cajoling and sided with the temple upgrade. Lex disagreed with the Prince's "political decision", but it was already done.

On his way home, Lex spotted the mysterious tower once again, this time in close proximity to the castle. He immediately went to tell the prince, who, having just come into a new level of power, gathered the group to see if they could now unlock its secrets. Giada was noticeably absent, having returned home to check in with her family, leaving a caution behind, "Do NOT explore the old fort!"

The prince's new magic's opened the outer door and inside the group found many wonders; a dancing coatrack with 4 magic cloaks, a mysterious room with a paralyzing magic ward, one-way magic windows not visible from the outside,  references to a place called the Sky Tower said to be in the northern hills, and an angel guarding the top floor. They found a magic harp and an enchanted bottle on display, but the place was not without its perils. A fire elemental struck from a faulty magic fireplace, and - though easily defeated - revealed a deep-seated terror from Justice's past. Then while exploring the guest rooms on the 3rd floor, a bizarre one-legged, one-armed, axe-wielding horror burst from a bureau and attacked!

Unintended Consequences (Date 1/3/7)

Marty's party came off better than he could have dreamed. Drinking and dancing - by all save Justice - culminated in a sloppy, gropefest in an upstairs bedroom with Lumi that counted as a passage to adulthood for both participants. Even Lex and Giada finally consummated a years' long flirtation. Euwyn and Mjelde slept alone while Hedge dozed in his armor on the communal landing, and Justice sat guard on the porch until he eventually succumbed to one-eyed slumber.

Justice woke to full alert some hours later, hearing odd stirrings in the night. He went to investigate and was overwhelmed by and enemy possessing superior numbers and magic.

The rest of the party awoke when the house was surrounded by howling horsemen hurling lanterns and flasks of oil through several windows. Chaos followed with Hedge and Giada nearly dying, when the true enemy showed himself. One of Bartok's men, an adept named Dravo, was seeking redress for his master's death and for the simple fact that the Prince was allowed to openly utilize magic where he had felt the need to hide his curse or be thought a freak. The prince was subdued and dragged from the house where Dravo prepared to execute him by beheading mere steps from where Bartok had perished, only the timely arrival of the mortally wounded, but still kicking, Justice save the prince's life.

Stashing the girls and the wounded Justice with the locals, the party tracked the injured men to a nearby farmhouse where they scared Dravo into flight, put his horse to sleep and cut him down. The rest of his men fled, save for one who begged the prince not to execute his family for their involvement. Euwyn was a little taken aback by this sentiment, realizing he had a bit of reputation for tyranny in these parts.

Gathering up the girls, the group returned home. Marty began pushing Mjelde toward religion over assassin as a new career, and Giada renewed her push to return home if the Prince wasn't going to head for the fort after all. 

Crime Syndicate (Date 1/3/5)

Roman's Hideout turned out to be a sight for illegal gambling and underground fights. Wisely scouting out the place before charging in, the party discovered that the warehouse contained nearly 30 people and several crime bosses. Justice informed them Shelby was on her way with back up, and they decided to wait. When Shelby stormed the place with a dozen guards, they circled around back and managed to capture Kiros Ismort, a local smuggler who fell quickly to prince Euwyn's magic. The group eventually returned the man's captured sword. It was discerned that Roman was holding a meeting between the town's criminal elements to deal with the fallout of the death of Radek. Using Lex's guile the party attempted to sow distrust among the bosses in hopes they would fight each other.

Justice had some cross words with an old friend named Chesapeake, and tracked the man down that night to pay him in fists for insults to the prince's honor taking a few blows himself in the exchange.

Lumi persuaded Marty to get Mjelde out of jail, and she was remanded over to the party's protection. Mjelde has turned over a new leaf and is now a devout follower of Strom. Though Hedge is also working to train her as a courtesan/assassin.

The group road out to the manor house and had a huge drunken party. Justice stood hate-watch and Giada danced while Hedge showed Mjelde how easy it was to murder drunken people. Marty/Lumi & Lex/Giada got laid, while Justice slept on the porch bitterly on watch.

Wolf Piper (Date 1/2/30)

The wolves were powerful opponents. As the first one engaged, the rest of the pack appeared out of the darkness, twisting and growing as they came. During the battle, the mysterious piper drew close, but fled as the wolves fell. The party was too fast for him, however, and overtook the monstrosity before he could reach the water. It was the same type of creature that the trio had battled in the warehouse months earlier wielding a similar coral flute. Marty insisted the thing be buried on the spot.

The party returned to the city and began planning the festivities for Marty's birthday celebration. Hedge took an interest in Mjelde's health and safety, and went searching for her with Lumi, but did not press the issue when she was not easily found. Justice sought out Giada and Lex to help him get back at his old entourage for ditching him. Lex investigated the Bubsy family history, and discovered that Giovanni looked to be trying to acquire the gnome's resources.



Mjelde showed up at the temple in tears claiming that she had been used as a pawn by Roman to lure a rival gang leader out to be murdered. Marty gathered the team to investigate. Justice dropped Mjelde off at headquarters, and tried to get the proper authorities to investigate the matter, but Marty would not be deterred.

Racing ahead of the city guard, the group headed for Roman's hideout....