The Biscuits	Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) G'Leina - Fighter/Cleric 2nd/3rd Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 3rd Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 4th Level (PC) Hannah - Mage 3rd Level (NPC) Wed - Mage 3rd Level (NPC)
Locale	On the road to Hommlet
Date	5th day of Needfest, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	Mid-morning

The weather was good for mid winter, mild and clear. The biscuits had gotten an early start and Dyvers was now barely visible in the distance. As the party broke for a short rest, G'Leina pulled out a deck of cards she had acquired.

Hannah	Cool, magical cards. Are we playing hearts again?
Rheaphlyndar	Can somebody quiet her down?

The half-elf had picked up quite a hangover from the Earth Wine he had tried, and one interesting attribute besides -- overnight he had grown a beard!

Gimar

Well, they say that stuff puts hair on your chest.

The Deck of Many Things had just appeared in G'Leina's hands, some say by aliens influence. The cleric next set about explaining what she understood about this particular deck of cards.

G'Leina	So each of us has the option of drawing up to four cards, but the number must be decided in advance. Roughly half the cards are good, and half are bad.
Gimar	I heard of such things from Silence the Loud. I will not risk any of my gains on this gamble.
Jaron	As a TRUE follower of the will of Pelor, I will rely on the power of the divine to guide and nurture me . . . not some trumped up arcana.
Hannah	Hey, count me in -- I'll draw three.
Rheaphlyndar	Hannah, are you any relation to Silence the Loud ? I think I shall be over here a ways, shaving quietly.
Wed	(chuckles) I don't think I want to participate at this time.
G'Leina	Well, it's girls only then. I'll take four cards.

Hannah drew the first card. The plaque held a stylized representation of a red Key. Hannah had the urge to go over to a nearby rock, which she turned over to find a map and a staff.

Wed	(mumble mumble) Hey, that staff is magical!
Hannah	Alright! I'll give this map to Gimar for now. Hey, nice staff. The inscription here says "Battlestaff."

Gimar unrolls the map and begins to study it while G'Leina pulls her first card from the deck. This one held the image of a ruin, covered by a pall of black smoke.

G'Leina	Hey, my purse is empty. I've lost all my wealth!
Gimar	On the other hand, this map looks like it leads to a location in the cairn hills, and the notation on the end is definitely gold. You may be able to replace that wealth very soon.
Hannah	OK, next card please.

The card Hannah pulled from the deck next was a knight in shining armor, with a red plume atop his helm. Within a round the approach of a horses hooves was heard, and the party quickly formed for battle. A warrior road into the clearing astride his destrier.

Hannah	Halt! Friend or foe?
Warrior	Friend. I am John McClane, but folks just call me Little John. I had a dream that you would need my service, and I recognized this clearing so I rode straight away -- and here you are, just as in my dream. Are you in trouble?
Hannah	Well, no, although I do have a mild headache. Still, the day is still young, and trouble may lie just down the road. Will you ride with us?
Little John	Sure thing.
G'Leina	OK, time for my luck to change. If you don't mind, Little John, we have a few more cards to pull here.
Little John	Oh, I've heard of such things, and none of the stories have a happy ending. Are you sure you want to take such a risky action?

But G'Leina didn't answer, a card dropping from her hand. This card was black as the void, and held no other image, for the void it was. Her body was now a soulless automaton.

Gimar	I remember being involved in the campaign to rescue a gem that contained the lost soul of Silence the Loud. Perhaps Ballanon can help us locate whatever gem or item now contains G'Leina's soul.
Little John	I know of a nun's cloister in Dyvers where her body will be safer than it would be here with us -- unless you guys have some other suggestions.
Hannah	Well, that does sound like a good idea. But first, I have one more card to draw.
Little John	Oh no, you mustn't do that!
Hannah	Unfortunately, John dear, the magic doesn't work that way. Here goes.

Fate took a surprising turn as Hannah also drew a black void, after which the entire deck disappeared. John wept openly, and the party quickly agreed that return to Dyvers was probably the best solution for the moment. Wed made a notation in his rumour book to contact Ballanon for assistance in recovering their lost companions.

The Biscuits	Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 3rd Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 4th Level (PC) Wed - Mage 3rd Level (NPC) Little John - Fighter 4th Level (NPC)
Locale	Dyvers
Date	5th day of Needfest, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	Early afternoon

Nicola spotted the group of adventurers coming up the walk, and rushed to alert the matron.

Matron	Mr. McClane, what can we do for your group?
Little John	Matron, these are my friends. These two (indicating the two women) have had their souls captured by some sort of evil magic.
Matron	Pelor protect us.
Gimar	What we need, m'lady, is a place to keep them where they will be safe.
Matron	I believe I understand your request, noble dwarf. For a small donation, I am sure we can arrange for suitable quarters for your friends.
Nicola	(under her breath) . . . And there's the nightly torture by the head matron.
Jaron	Thank you, we shall put our coin purses together and see what we can arrange.
Matron	(after dismissing the party) Nicola, come here.
Nicola	Yes matron.
Matron	You know, I think it's time for you to get out in the world. Perhaps you should travel with this party, help them to find help for these poor unfortunate souls. Nicola
Nicola	I shall consider it, matron.

After some consideration, the party decided that Hannah's 1735 gold should be able to take care of the pair for quite some time. As Hannah's protector, Little John claimed the staff, since he could use it in combat, and Wed claimed the spellbook. Gimar held onto the map, although he cautioned that the Cairn Hills were not to be taken lightly.

Upon returning to the cloister, the matron introduced them to Nicola Machiavelli, a priest of Pelor in training. She was somewhat tall, her red hair cascading down over the right side of her face, which was mostly concealed in a hood.

Nicola	I look forward to getting to know you all, however I have no "adventuring" equipment.
Gimar	Hmmm, it seems G'Leina and Hannah will not be needing theirs -- perhaps we can put something together. Can you use a mace?
Nicola	Yes sir.
Gimar	(hefting G'Leina's mace) Then I think you should inherit this. Our party travels to the west, to find and vanquish the Temple of Elemental Evil. Recent rumours indicated it to be a home to undead legions.

So Nicola joined the party as well, and the group agreed to set off for the Temple in the morning. After some discussion, Gimar summed up the shares of the new members thusly.

Gimar	There are two levels of membership in this party. New additions to the group are in for a share of treasure only. This includes any magic, art, or other materiel that is sold for cash. After the first campaign, which I define to be a major foray into danger, we will re-evaluate all new members and vote on them becoming full members. Naturally full members receive a share of the magical treasure as well.
Little John	Those sound like very acceptable terms.
Nicola	Off to the Temple of Elemental Evil!

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