The party met in mid air. Not a
suitable location for the ones on a boat. They were 500 feet above the nearest land. In
the moment before the boat was effected by Gravity, the group on the boat managed to
attach a single mooring line onto the Blip. After much effort, the loss of 200 feet of
altitude and the falling off the gondola of the Druid, only to be saved by the Monk and
the Magic User, the party were all saved. The ship was lost, falling to destruction.
The party were able to heal the blip and get it down to the ground, next to the stair
down the cliff and the base of an old tower. They buried the unharmed device that was on
the ship. They determined that the device is called a van der van. It was created by Van
Hill and was involved an a disastrous event 900 to 1000 years ago. The tower was also
created by Van Hill and also was involved an a disastrous event 900 to 1000 years ago.
The party flew down to the wreckage of a merchant boat on the shore of the island. They
noticed that this appeared to be a smugglers ship and that there had been a group flee the
ship followed by some large creature.
Following the groups tracks, the party met a group of intelligent monkeys and asked to
meet their leader. The monkeys left to determine if this was allowed.
The party noticed that the tracks were leading for the stair, and being worried for the
safety of the blip, lizard and two storemen left behind, headed directly to the stair.
Here they found the very large creature, an Oni. Defeating the Oni without a single loss,
the party went back to try and pick up the trail of the first group from the ship.
At the end of the session they had just met a man dressed as a magic user.
The part meets the man (Won Ton). He turns out to be the captain of the ship. The crew
is cowering near by. Having determines that these people represent no threat (as the are
just sailors), the party takes them back to the blip.
There is much investigation of the tower, but the party cannot find any way in. The
tower is made of huge hexagonal granite stones. They are fitted. There is no mortar.
That night the party again spies a monkey watching them. The monkey talks this time in
Undercommon. Rob determines that the monkeys are not actually using their mouths, as their
lips are not quite in sync with the words.
The next day the party further investigates the island. They discover two things.
Off the shore is an Island. The Island is alive, and anyone who approaches within 400
yards, is attacked by thrown stones. Sharpclaw, summons a hawk, which flies out to the
island. When the hawk is within 100 yards, a great arm (100 yards long) comes out of the
water and tries unsuccessfully to grab the hawk. The party does not pursue this matter.
Around the edge of the island the party discovers that there is a cylindrical force
field. It has been there a long time as the plants have grown up against it and the
watercourses run along the side of it. There is no harm caused by touching the wall. It
goes up at least one mile.
Searching the cliff and stair finds nothing of note.
Back in the forest the party again meets up with one of the Monkeys. This one is called
Toric. After a short discussion, Toric agrees to organise a meeting. That evening, a group
of Monkeys come to the party. One called Torvil leads them. They are shown a path into the
tower and are led into one of the customs rooms off the main entrance. Here there is much
discussion about where the party is from and what are their intentions.
The next day the party is again invited into the tower. They are shown into the library
where they spend much time investigation the magical device. They also discover another
magical device.
What is know so far:
Van Hil ran a trading empire from an Elvan Kingdom that seems to have spanned planes.
The device, the Van der Van, was the key to this. The party has learned to use the primary
key sequence to activate the device. Tony’s MU confirms this is what he did. There
are also discs that are associated with the device. Little can be learned of these discs,
but James confirms that there is one in the catacombs of his family palace. He also learns
that the strange writing on the door to the catacombs is in fact Elvan and says “Van
Hil Trading company”. The spice seems to be involved heavily in whatever the trading
company was doing.
After discovering the crystalline ball, the party learns that it is a fore field
generator and Torvil asks that it not be disturbed. It seems to have been in full time use
since the tower was destroyed.
The party learns that the tower was one located in a great Elvan Kingdom. It was 500
feet tall and the Van der Van was located at or near the top. When the great catastrophe
happened or shortly afterward the humans and elves in the tower were turned into Monkeys.
They decided not to turn themselves back again. There is little written history after this
event.
The party is unable to determine if the empire ceased to exist, or the island was
teleported. After the catastrophe, the mainland simply ceased to exist from the vantage of
the island.
There is no mention of the island off the beach in any records, but the monkeys say it
has always been there.
The party discover that the Crystal-o-graph shows a picture of a red haired man who
appears to be in a strong electric filed. He does not move or respond in any way. They
confirm that this is a picture of Van Hil.
After further investigation of the Island, in particular, the Library, the party moves
into the tower. Here they find a long lost safe belonging to Van Hil. This contains his
somewhat short personal diary from just before the destruction of the tower. The Party
learns that Van Hil was also working for a group called the League of Guilds. They also
find two scrolls.
Tony decides to be decisive and turns off Van Hil’s Cylindrical Home Guard. This
completes the teleportation spell that was started a thousand years earlier, and in a
nauseous wobble, the Island finally settles into the Endless Sea.
Having released the Island from its in-between bounds, the party is now able to talk to
Van Hil using the Crystal-o-graph. Can Hil asks the party to work for the council in
rebuilding the teleportation system. Without much else to do, and for some, no easy way to
return home, the party takes up the offer. During these negotiations, Van Hil advises the
party that the Magic Users Guild of Greyhawk is also a member group of the League. This
involves some discussion in the party about the League of 8’s possible involvement.
Disk Of Chan
