Session 10: Sneaking into Diamond Lake

The group went back into ‘Cold Stones Keep’ to heal up before trekking across the Mist Marsh another day.
The following day they took off and hours later crossed the Ghoul Bridge. They were attacked by swarms of mosquitoes and 6 aquatic ghouls. They quickly dispatched them. Suspecting some of the group who were fighting in the mosquito swarms may have come down with disease the clerics cast protect disease on Feldnar and Lath. Later the next day Stiggund started showing the signs of a horrible disease called ‘the Shakes’ as his body was wracked by tremors.
The second day of traveling the group made their way to Slurroth the potion maker’s hovel, only to find it a smoking ruin. Slurroth was no where in sight. They had been hoping to find antidotes for their illness.
The group camped for the night and the next day they went to Krudin’s hut. They found the ‘swamper’ fishing. He greeted them and was surprised to hear about the fire at Slurroth’s place. He intended to investigate, but not before the group bought some of his fish and whatever other food he had available. They were starving, having not brought enough food along for such a long expedition.
Later that day the group also encountered a small rider on a pony riding fast. He veered towards the party. It was a gnome wearing the colors of Greyhawk. Introduced as Xanther of the Greyhawk Couriers Guild, he was looking for a band of adventurers led by a fighter named ‘Simone’, said to be trudging out of the Mist Marsh after a deadly encounter with a black dragon. When the group professed no knowledge of this group he took off to the west as he encircled the fringes of the Marsh looking for the group.
The next day the group encountered the self same band. Led by a tough female fighter named Simone, a beefy man in furs who claimed to have used a magical sending to request aid for their fallen leader named Dag Gunnar, a sharp faced half elf in black leather named Corraigh, a half elf hunter named Theriol, and a trio of druids, an older man named Gerrad, and his two younger students Willow and Terra.
They told the tale of having been hired to slay a black dragon named Ilthane Deep in the Mist Marsh. The contractor wanted it’s hide from which to make armor.
After days of trudging through the Marsh, killing or treating with bands of lizard men, and killing other foul monstrosities, the dragon found them. Their leader Bridgette, a fighter, and Sabah Cesh their priest were slain by the dragon. Sabah Cash was consumed and Bridgette fell to the beast’s acid breath.
The group fled under concealing mist conjured up to cover their retreat. Having no cleric, Dag sent for a scroll of Gentle Repose be sent by courier to bolster their chances of Raising Bridgette from the dead. Alas they seem to be too late.
Both groups traveled to Diamond Lake, keeping a distance ‘just in case’. The trio of Druids worshipped Obad Hai and for a donation cast Remove Disease on Feldnar, Lath, and Stiggund. Feldnar and Terra started to talk and spent a fair amount of time with one another.
They parted ways since the group was still wanted for the death of Kullen. Moregrim and Stiggund took Moregrim’s cart into town to sell goods, while the rest stayed at the Mine Office.
Moregrim first treated with the clerics of Heironeous and gave them Imm’s body. He was informed the prostitute Constance Grace would no longer be welcome without Imm’s oath binding the clergy to put her up. When Moregrim offered to have her hide at their place outside of town she refused and said she would hide out at the Midnight Salute until everything blew over.
Work on the Mine Office was nearing completion. Lath took Arianna’s body and built a funerary pyre. Saying some words over her body, he also consecrated the surrounding graves to his god Correllon Larethian.
Later in the day a cadre of 16 men arrived from Diamond Lake. Led by Sheriff Cubbin and his deputy they outnumbered the 6 inside. Umm, 5 inside, since suddenly Mouse was no where to be found.
The Sheriff had a warrant for their arrest and after some serious intimidation he coaxed Mendax from the building. He told the group they had two choices. One was bloody and messy and involved most of them being arrested and/or dying, the other was to work for Mr. Balabar Smenk.
Smenk has a problem with some sort of cult in Dourstone’s mine. The cult had to be eliminated or else… The group was given one week in which they would be allowed to go freely around Diamond Lake.
Cubbin and his boys left. Moregrim and Stiggund passed them on the road back.
It was time to make some plans to get into Dourstone Mine.