| Session Date | November 09, 2019 |
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| Base XP Gained | 10000 |
The party, having ascertained that the best door to pass through was the very one the Captain of the Flying Kraken had first shown them, made their farewells to both Aldeberon and the ship's crew. They then stepped through and found themselves in a strange world, with an oddly uniform pinkish-purple sky and a fair amount of low scrub and trees of strange and unknown type. The air was dead and still, though a strange, hollow noise sounded throughout, as of a distant, howling wind. Before them was a two-story cottage of fairly modest, nondescript appearance. There were no windows on the lower floor, but dim lights shone from upper windows and smoke came from the fireplace.
The party decided to knock politely and were greeted by a man (also nondescript) who welcomed them inside. He seemed a bit odd but was friendly enough, inviting the party sit in his parlor where he provided them drinks as he prepared a meal, insisting that they join him. The home was dark, lit by dim candles and the fireplace, but was very comfortable. When asked, he said that they could call him Ben-adar. There was a good deal of conversation, much of it shouted as he prepared a meal in an adjacent space. The party spent a good deal of time asking him questions, but he was fairly close with information. Of Trickster, he said little, other than how he came and went, and seldom did folk know him. The meal proved to be excellent, and this was followed by the offer of pipes and tobacco in the fireplace room, which the party accepted gladly.
When it grew late, he told them he wished them to spend the night. The party, having no further plans, acquiesced, and were shown upstairs to two small bed chambers; the stairs were decorated with dark paintings of grim folk in black clothing (think Old Masters style). He told them to heed no nightly noises and went to his own room. Meanwhile, the party found themselves in two room opposite one another in a narrow hall. They decided they would ensure one person remained awake throughout the night. Late, during ZZ's watch, he heard scratching at the window to his room, but resolutely did not look, and they soon ended.
The next morning, their host treated them to an excellent breakfast and more conversation. Finally, the party declared their need to continue searching for Trickster. At this point, their host admitted that it was he, and that he knew of their purposes in seeking him. Indeed, he had gently tested them since they had arrived in his home and that he was pleased with them. He now agreed to lift their curses of chaos, including telling ZZ his jester outfit was now removable and could be worn or not at will. Indeed, he said that it had grown fond of its owner and would begin to reveal its secrets to him. (Did not mention, but Mordecai and Cadwallider felt inexplicably better as if Trickster had removed some malady form them they did not even know they had). He did, however, tell them that he chad no power over the Earth Dragon thrall marks around the necks of ZZ, Cadwallider and Iban. Cadwallider, wishing to thank him, presented him with a simple silver mirror; Trickster seemed inordinately pleased with it, clapping his hands with joy and placing it prominently upon his mantle. Iban, in turn, gave him a magical tree which he immediately tossed over his should, causing a great tree to sprout beside the cottage.
Now, Trickster said, he could show the party the way out of the Temple, if they wished. They acquiesced to this with gratitude. Near the cottage was an archway of stone with ever changing scenes beyond it (and from which they had arrived from the ship the day before). This he caused to open for them and, with a farewell, they passed through and found themselves in the shrine of chaos within the dungeon where Astraharsis had taken them all Astral to start this adventure. It took them a short time to realize this was the same place. When they did, ZZ celebrated by consuming a crushed gem of great worth, and the party then made their way towards the Dark Market. They had one brief scuffle with Hobgoblins when they ran into one another by surprise; ZZ cast hold person on two and the rest were slain in battle. (I believe they also sprang some glyphs at one point). Later, they had a scuffle with some human thieves; one was slain, one was stopped cold in his tracks by a Command spell, and one escaped.
Finally, the party reached the Dark Market and made their way to the Inn of the Welcoming Darkness, where they found Ilsar and Lazos, who they ordered to come with them immediately, as they were headed for the surface. The expanded party first made their way to see Astraharsis, where they discussed the cauldron they'd captured and otherwise thanked the sorceress for her help; they also learned form her that it was merely a few hours after she had sent them on their way, as if no time had passed in that other place. They then made their way to the level above, where they blew through a small unit of Hobgoblins and what appeared to be zombified Dwarves. These were all left behind as the party and the two refugees fled up the long hall to finally come to the surface, where the Dwarf garrison was most pleased to see them. They were most disturbed to hear of the zombie Dwarves, saying that several of their garrison had gone missing weeks before. As an added defense, Mordecai cast a fire glyph into the corridor, and the party made their way towards the Dwarf city as night fell on the mountains. Though early spring, the air was remarkably cold.