16 Eleasis 2993
While Grexes, Huzzah!, Axle, and Fenpenny were training for 2nd level, another party of the R3C went to Arden Vul to investigate Crasstonistorex and find the R3C’s unofficial mascot, Lil’ Bitch. This party, made up of Monster Guurl, Xcision, and newly arrived Vogelvina set out on a humid, cloudy morning.
On the party’s first approach to the end of the second switchback, by the simple outpost room with the firewood, Xcision grew curious about Arden’s posture and decided to investigate the open palm at which the statue appeared to be starring. Anchoring himself to Monster Guuuuurl with 50’ of hempen rope, he climbed to the pauldron and rappelled down to the palm. On the way down he noticed seams at the shoulder and elbow, but in the palm, nothing. Still curious, he spoke in Sylvan, “Arden, open thy palm to me” but nothing occurred. The party then continued up the Long Stair to the gatehouse on the plateau of Arden Vul. Upon arrival, they noticed two wyverns circling the southwesternmost where they had heard was the lair of Crasstonistorex.
At the former gatehouse to Arden Vul, the party investigated the more extant tower. Monster Guuuuuurl, upon the shoulders of Xcision, looking in the first floor window of noticed a squirming silk wrapped cocoon amidst large and extensive spider webs. Suddenly a blue iridescent wing burst from the cocoon and Monster Gurl recognized Lil’ Bitch, the unofficial mascot of the R3C that had been missing since the dissolution of the cohort, but about which Monster Guuuuuuuurl had received news that the pseudodragon was headed to Burdock’s Valley to meet other members. At the same time that Monster Guuuurl noticed Lil’ Bitch in the cocoon, she saw a giant wolf spider descend to toward the cocoon. Frightened, she burst through the swollen, stuck door to the tower and sees a second spider coming down from above. Xcision entangles the spider near Lil’ Bitch and Vogelvina kills the first spider with her short sword and her unarmed strike. The second spider descends and bites Vogelvina in the shoulder and she is rendered unconscious but not before she wounds it. Monster Guuurl hits it with magic missle and kills it while Xcision heals Vogelvina. The party locates a pouch in the webbing that contains 45 gold solidi and they free Lil’ Bitch.
Proceeding along the cliff wall of Arden Vul to the southwest, the party encountered a number of round towers, the first was completely collapsed but contained a seemingly safe 10’ diameter, dry “cave” that was free of inhabitants. The second tower to the west of the southern gates was fully extant, but the party could hear buzzing inside. Trying to sneak to the window as before, Monster Guuuuuuurl made noise and four stirges exited the window and attacked. Xcision killed one with a thorn whip and Monster Gurl killed the last three with one magic missile to each. Unfortunately, nothing of value was in this tower’s first floor and the party moved on to the next tower. This tower was mostly collapsed except for an intact first floor that appeared free of inhabitants.
Arriving closer to the last tower the party noticed that the two wyverns had entered the tower through its destroyed roof. About 100’ from the tower the party could hear a deeper but sonorous voice speaking. Realizing that wyverns were too low in intelligence to speak language they realized that the voice must belong to the green dragon Crasstonistorex. Attempting to sneak closer, the party hears the voice say, “I tire of his constant attempts to take power”, right before Vogelvina and Xcision stumble and make enough noise that the dragon stops talking and tells them that she can smell Xcision because he is a lizardman and seems to know that Lil’ Bitch is with the party and calls her by her name. The wyrm asks the party why they are seeking her out and they tell her that they want permission to explore the ruins and the Halls below. She flies from inside the tower and perches on the parapet to see the party and says that she gives leave to explore as long as they come by and give her items of value from time to time. Vogelvina asks the dragon if she knows of any entrences to the Halls and Crasstonistorex tells her about the Pyramid of Thoth but also about a hidden entrance under five feet of rubble in the building on the northwest corner of the main forum. The party makes obeisances and retreats to Gosterwick for a long rest and for Monster Guuurl and Xcision to train to second level.