Sunday, 21 June

Finally, we arrived at the tower -- or rather, its ruined remains at the top of a hill. It appears the tower was destroyed about 70 years ago. We found tracks leading up the hill -- human and goblin. The human tracks led to bodies (presumably of the group sent three days ago), all with sting wounds to the neck. We buried the bodies, and followed the goblin tracks, which led up the hill.

As we neared the top, the ground shook (the same earthquake that squad 1 experienced while in the goblin tunnels). The ground at the top collapsed, and a group of goblins emerged, coughing from the cloud of dust, and looking anxiously behind them. We hid, and watched as the goblins drew their weapons and watched the hole. Suddenly, an imp [level 3 lurker] appeared near one of the goblins, and lashed out with its tail sting. The goblin fell down dead, and the rest fled down the hill (and past the party), while the imp disappeared.

Cautiously approaching the ruins, we found a staircase spiralling down into the hill. After waiting for an imp attack (which never came), we descended the stairs which ended at a 40'x10' corridor. Along the walls of the corridor were mosaics of runes, which appeared to be completely random (at least, Arcana and History checks weren't sufficient to discern any meaning). We did find a 10' section of one wall outlined with cracks. We pushed on it, but the wall pushed back! We dashed past the closing section, and found ourselves in a 30'x30' room. Two doors were on each side of the room, two goblin bodies in the centre of the room, and at the back was an alcove with a horned statue.

Baxter approached the statue, which leapt at Baxter, revealing itself as a clay scout [level 2 lurker], a type of homunculus. The battle started badly, as the clay scout kept redirecting our attacks onto its enemies (us!) that were adjacent to it. But once we moved away and made ranged attacks, we took it down, although it was E'bor who did all the damage (with acid arrow and magic missile). After defeating the scout, we searched the side rooms, finding more goblin bodies. Tirah triggered a trap, resulting in a net containing bits of armour falling on her. However, the minor indignity (and damage) was made up for with a sack containing a large amount of treasure.

We continued exploring the dungeon, finding a trapezoidal door with a gargoyle carved in it. In the gargoyle's mouth was a keyhole. In a sideroom, we found a lectern with a parchment, with two gargoyles on either side, in front of a 10' circle of runes. In the centre of the circle, screaming in rage, was a evistro or carnage demon [level 6 brute]. Deciding discretion was the better part of valour, we quietly closed the door.

In the next room, we were confronted by skeletons [level 3 soldier] and decrepit skeletons [level 1 minion], one of which was carrying a wooden key in its ribcage. Destroying the skeletons, we took the key (which had a dragonshard crystal embedded in it).

In another room, filled with charred furniture, E'bor found a summoner's tome +1.

We tried using the wooden key in the gargoyle door, which resulted in a thunderous roar that caught Fardrak and Baxter. Obviously the wrong key!

Finding a secret door, we travelled down a narrow corridor, ending in a room filled with cobwebs. We burnt off the cobwebs, causing a potion of healing to fall and shatter on the ground. Another secret door revealed a wooden chest, which E'bor opened using mage hand -- just as well, as there was a huge gout of flame that would have incinerated anyone opening the chest themselves. Inside was more treasure, including a bronze key with a dragonshard crystal.