5 Jelenios 2993

"..and on the 5th of Jelenios in the year 2993, Thud McLoad of the Iron God, Shaka Khan of the young god Sheebus, Dodger Graves of the wooded grove, Bucky Wunderlick of the long trail, and Summers Eve of the uknown order did enter the river between worlds, never to be seen again..."

We start in media res.

The party is embroiled in fast and furious combat with the bandits that looted Dodger Graves. Men shout and steel flashes. Several party members are on the wrong end of the pointy things, but Golric Windwalker's arrows fly true even as Thud McLoad is mauled by a war dog and Dodger Graves's shield is splintered.

The strange necromancer casts an incantation over one of the fallen and flees for the tower, only to be cut down on the doorstep by Bucky Wunderlick's bowshot. When the dust settles, there are no surviving bandits, and the party is alive, though worse for wear.

Dodger retrieves her mistletoe and silver coronet from the body of the necromancer. Golric confirms that these are the bandits he was looking for. He takes the necromancer's head as proof and disappears into the forest, as men of his profession are wont to do.

Shaka Kahn casts some healing spells and the group realizes that Summers Eve is not among them! After looting the bodies, Bucky begins to track her footsteps, which lead into the tower. They find a growling war dog on the second level, but Dodger keeps the beast at bay while the party scrambles past.

On the third floor, they find the necromancer's lab, guarded by the undead. Shaka turns them with aplomb, and they are quickly dispatched.

They search the room and find the rest of Dodger's missing gear, as well as some additional loot. Seems this bandit crew picked off more than one wealthy traveller.

More interestingly, they find the necromancer's notes and spellbooks. While they can't read the arcane script, they do recognize that the writing gets messier and larger and begins to repeat itself as time goes on. Standing next to the 'mancer's desk is a strange metal apparatus with a sort of control panel somewhat reminiscent of something the party found under Arden Vul. Summer's trail leads right to the apparatus, but no further...

Three of the four slots are filled with blue crystals, and wouldn't you know it - Dodger has a blue crystal of her own. Once placed, a shimmering wall appears, reminiscent of running water. The party steps through...

And disappears.