Through Ultan's Door

Here is the current map of the gardens of the Summer Palace. Last session the party explored the wooded area in the center of the gardens that connect the two wings. In no particular order, here are some things they uncovered: 1. A pond filled with lily pads. In the central, a massive, closed flower structure sits on a giant lily pad. On the shore, there is a strange bush with large pods that dangle into the water. At the ponds edge, the water has overlflowed given the tilt of the gardens, creating a marshy area of tall grasses to the upper left. The party was generally freaked out by this area and didn't explore. 2. Shirishanu's grove. This was the area represented in the mural in the Cenotaph of Lady Shirishanu. It contained, among other things, a bejeweled fountain, a strange cosmic tree, and the shade of Lathanon, last of the Incandescent Kings. He said a number of things, but seemed generally distracted, appearing in martial form (accompanied by three knights) when the par...

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The Summer Palace The legendary Summer Palace was built by the Incandescent Kings at the height of Zyan's power. It hangs on the eastern edge of the White Jungle, in the Bright Bowers (3rd level), where the air is clear and cool, and the jungle growth much less dense. The palace is suspended in an enormous floating mesh sphere, half a mile in diameter. This sphere is almost invisible at a distance of more than 10’, revealing itself only by a faint shimmer, or the occasional glint in direct light. The jungle growth stops at uniform fifty feet from the sphere and is held at bay by the sphere’s enchantment, except for a circular column of trees, roughly 650 in diameter that bisects the sphere through its axis. The sphere floats very close to the edge of jungle, leaving a clear view to east through trees of the deep blue of the Endless Azure Sea, dotted with islands of white clouds. At the top of the sphere is set the great Brass Valve, a disc of shining metal. The brass valve is opera...

RIP Selwin The sole hireling to ever survive the party's repeated, dangerous excursions through Ultan's door. He began as an obsequious and pale linkboy, desperate to climb above his miserable lot as an apprentice fisher. And rise he did. Selwin lived through more than 20 sessions. He rose from a pasty-faced, obsequious linkboy to an imperious employer of his own linkboys. He was a second level fighter when he died, receiving a full share of experience and treasure. His death was not entirely noble, but in part the product of tragic misfortune. The party had, at long last, penetrated the mesh sphere inclosing the Summer Palace. Proceeding down an impossibly long winding staircase leading to the palace gardens below, they were beset by strange defense lozenges, that transformed into unearthly heads. The black beams that streamed from their mouths struck Selwin, felling him. He saved against death to hold on to dear life at -2 hp. (Nor was this the first time he had so saved, for...

Session 28: The Take 8 White Swine defeated 80 XP 1 Shadow infected Sow Mother 600 XP 5 living white swine sold to one very happy Vassimo Cox 5000 GP Jabber, Salinger's long lived animal companion was slain, impaled by a spike of the shadow monstrosity XP per player: 1262 GP per player: 1,111 Gus L Eric Boyd Aleksandr Revzin Chris P.

Campaign news for 2/2: The party spends the night at the village of the Panther Priests. They respect your daring (mad?) intention to seek the Summer Palace, and are hopeful that if you survive, you will return to run their Gauntlet in the belly of the God Who Died. You are served a meal of roasted jungle meats, garnished with succulent, colorful fruits. The slaves serve the food to the other villagers who recline on woven matts. Among the masters, the five panther priests are identifiable by their regalia--fetishes, jewelry, and headdresses. They are shown deference by all. When the meal is concluded, and Salinger offers to perform, drums are immediately produced. At Balkata's orders a sweet fermented liquor is passed around in hollowed gourds. The matts are cleared from the center of the feasting area. The slaves sit further back, climbing on tree limbs so they may see over the heads of the villagers. The ridiculous turban of Regimund Cruft can be seen bobbing up and down among t...