Campfright

Failing to get past the 3 statues two different times the party faced the 3 women once again.  Most members were satisfied to move outside the cave entrance thinking that if the Hag once again animated she could leave the area.  Maybe that is what she wanted.   So Lythandar used his mage hand to place a coin into the Crone's hand while standing some distance away but still in the cave.  As the coin dropped into her hand all three statues animated and stepped aside, providing a pathway onward.  Just behind the statues the party found a war pick lying in the cave exit.  Moving ahead they saw two exits from the cave, one headed north and another to the east.


 Melisana moved to the north exit and saw that the cliff face rose above her heading to the east, it seemed around 70-80 feet high in this area.  About 60 feet up on the face cliff she saw an entrance, could be another cave or monster lair.  Deciding to avoid an confrontation the entire party moved to the east.  There was a pathway of clear terrain interspersed with thick grass which inhibited movement.  Other areas seemed to be large trees, brambles and otherwise impassable terrain.

The party moved forward with Pretis and Mara in the lead and they camp upon the remnants of a campground lying strewn about a small clearing, overshadowed by the towering dark stone cliff.  Several torn and collapsed canvas tents lay amid scattered firewood and old, rusted tools.  In a larger clearing further on there was a featureless dark stone obelisk protruding ten feet from the ground.  The obelisk had an artistic flourish at its top -- an old, rusted iron orb.  

At the north end of the clearing stood a 60 foot stone column with rope and plank bridges attached to its northern and eastern sides.  The bridge on the north connected to the top of the cliff, while the eastern bridge connected to a building on stilt like columns over fifty feet above the ground and a rushing river.  Just to the north the river flowed in a waterfall over the cliff.  The only access to the building that the party could see was a wide spiral staircase near the banks of the river.

Just as Pretis moved closer to the obelisk the iron orb opened and a burst of light exploded amongst several members of the party.  They felt lethargic and as they looked around several logs flew out of the abandoned campfires and sparked the party with fire damage.  Then the tents started flying and wrapping themselves around Mara's head.  Pretis attacked a log and then moved toward the obelisk to investigate but she fell unconscious at its base.  A will-o'-wisp moved out of the forest and attacked Melisana and then its light dimmed.  Gofin and Demin attacked logs and tents as they hovered around them, while Melisana attacked the will-o'-wisp in front of her.  

As the battle raged on another will-o'-wisp moved out from the trees and attacked Lythandar, followed by several tools, hammers and nails, flying at party members inflicting damage and immobilizing them.  Melisana cast Written in Fire amidst the animated camping gear which eliminated most of them but the party was still dealing with two will-o'-wisps and the Obelisk.  During the continuing battle Demin and Gofin fell unconscious but were revived by Alhellara's healing skills.  The will-o'-wisps would sometimes darken and the party would lose sight of them until the attacked again several feet away from their previous position.  Mara moved to Pretis and revived her and Pretis then boosted Mara up to the iron orb.  She pushed the lid open but it continued to attack the party.  Several members attacked the orb from distance and Lythandar and Demin used Mage Hand and Gauntlets of Remote Action to pick up a tent and stuff into the orb socket.  When the will-o'-wisp died, it darkened but then lit up again, and grey smoke escaped from the lights.  Having seen this previously the party just waited for them to take their turn and die for good.  

Soon the orb was disengaged and the party headed for the stairs to take a short rest.  Melisana found a scroll with "Iron Hand Unbreakable Form" inscribed on it, amongst the campground.  Also she found a rotting leather satchel which contained 500 GP.  During the rest the party determined that the war pick was a +3 Skewering Weapon.


Scorecard:  The party received 400 XP for finally getting past the stone statues and they received 557 XP for the Campground fight.  They are now at 20812 XP and will become 10th level at their next extended rest. They found 500 GP and the war pick and Alternate Reward "Iron Hand".