In which we learn much and little

After working out a temporary truce with the Twisted Branch lizarfolk we made our way back through the ice cold swamp to the outpost. The bitter cold bites through my meager robes chilling me to the bone. Nallec and I worked some enchantments to keep us from freezing during our trek. Upon arriving we discovered that one of the guards stationed there had been feeling ill and while we were gone he had dragged two guards down with him into the cellar before the rest of the guards were able to barricade him in there. They had seen strange green worms dropping from their former friend when he attackes so we quickly went down and took care of the three infested guards.

Our first encounter with the worm infested undead taught us much. First off is the horrid wave of terror that radiated from them. Even my calm demeanor was shattered as they supernatural horror took over me. We also learned that the worms die quickly without a host, but the zombies spread the worms as they batter you with their fists. The worms are not too hard to remove if done quickly, but I shudder to think what would happen should they burrow in. Also, if the worm inflicted are not destroyed quickly they will swiftly heal any damage received, but they are still subject to the Lady's command as I was able to rebuked them.

The tower was assaulted by a worm infected lizardfolk later that evening.
Concerned with the spread of this plague my fellows and I confered and we decided that we should head back to the Twisted Branch tribe's den to investigate further.

I am really beginning to hate swamps, and I think Nallec has developed a fear of snakes.
The lizardfolk were not helpful believing that the soft-skins had brought the evil worms and they attacked us after we insisted on seeing their shaman Hishka instead of leaving.
After fighting our way into the den we found Hishka and convinced the other lizardfolk to let us talk.

We discovered that a single lizardfolk had fallen ill recently and he was exiled from the den. Trying to find possible sources of the worms we questioned Hishka further. We learned the lizardfolk chieftain had made a deal with a black dragon to have it guard the tribe's eggs. The dragon had left one of it's own eggs in the hatchery as a token of its intentions. Fearing that the dragon may be the cause of the outbreak in the area we went to investigate the hatchery.

Invoking blessings and various protections we swam through the submerged tunnel ready for the worst. What we found were mere guardians, strange black scaled kobolds that were well equipped. They did not put up much of a fight as I called on Wee Jas to let a peal of sound that left them reeling.

We investigated the hatchery and found nothing out of the ordinary. There were more eggs than we had expected to be there, but they all seemed healthy and there did not seem to be anything strange with the dragon egg. Not wanting to draw the ire of a dragon upon us we convinces Slivik to leave the egg where it is after I purged any diseases from it as a precaution.

We decided to head back to Diamond Lake after not turning up much at the Twisted Branch tribe. Solara, now adapted to this dreary swamp environment, managed to detect signs of crocodiles and giant snakes waiting in ambush. We were able to avoid any further attacks as we made our way out of the chilly swamp.

Sun's Ebb the 15th
We arrive back in Diamond Lake and go see what Allustan has been up to since he teleported back to town after finding out the outpost was under attack. He suggested that we bring several of the artifacts that we had found to an acquaintance of his named Eligos in Greyhawk.

We set out right away and arrived a week later. Asking around as we neared the city we were able to find a druid willing to attempt a reincarnation of our departed friend Ash. The ritual was a success and Ash is back among the living. I daily strive in my prayers with the Ruby Lady to give me the strength I need to protect my companions as we investigate this unnatural occurrence.

We arrived at the city of Greyhawk and endured the long lines of travelers waiting to get in. The guards at the gate were searching those that looked suspicious quite thoroughly. After bribing them we managed to get in without investigating our possessions to closely.

While making our way through the city to where Eligos resides we encountered a caravan of entertainers and carts filled with exotic creatures.
On of these, a three-headed beast with a lion, goat, and a dragon head burst out of its cage and started a rampage in the street it's electrical breath frying several of the onlookers. In the confusion a pickpocket nabbed something off of Nallec and fled during the commotion.