Session Ninety-Eight: Mountain Dwellers

After some discussion, the group decided that Samsun would carry Raco on his back. They fashioned a harness to make Raco into a backpack. Even though Samsun was a half-giant, he found carrying the mul and a thirty gallon barrel of water troublesome, but he didn't complain.
As they climbed a mountainside, there was a rockslide. Cheet and Dimitria slid with the rolling boulders. They both were slammed against the jagged ground. Cheet was able to catch herself and find secure footing, but Dimitria kept sliding toward a mountain precipice.
Kraah swooped down, got hit by a few rocks, but was able to grab Dimitria. He could lot lift her completely, but he was able to prevent her from falling to her doom. Through bloody lips, she thanked Kraah for saving her.
Dimitria used her healing magic to heal herself. Kraah used his healing magic to heal himself and Cheet. After a brief rest, they continued on.

Session Ninety-Seven: Mountain Dangers

Cheet explained to Samsun that aarokocra had attacked the village, but they had been driven off. Samsun yawned and said okay. He then went back into the hut to sleep.
Uhrakkus Yacoub, the leader of the village and eldest dwarf resident, summoned Raco to his stone hut. Yacoub praised Raco and his companions for their battle prowess. He asked if they would be willing to free the village from another threat they faced. He explained that some stone-walking monsters sometimes kidnapped people from their village and they were never seen again. The dwarven warriors, who had followed the stone walkers into their mountain, had also never returned. He asked if Raco and his companions would be willing to confront the monsters. He offered to return the iron broadsword, if they were successful. Raco said he would present the idea to his group.
Raco returned to the hut they shared and presented the offer to the group. After a brief debate, they decided that the rain drake eggs were more important than the dwarves. Raco returned to Uhrakkus Yacoub and declined the offer. The Uhrakkus was disappointed.
After getting packed up, a dwarf lead them down a small mountain pass. Then, they had to climb. Cheet had the most difficult time climbing. Eventually, she tied a rope around herself and Samsun pulled her up.
After hiking for a few hours, they found a small cave. Inside was a dead mul. Raco and Dimitria moved into the cave and were a little surprised when the dead mul moved. They were even more surprised when he spoke. He asked them who they were and what they wanted. They said that they were traveling to the Forest Ridge, through the mountains, and just needed a place to rest. The mul said he didn't care what they did, as long as they didn't get in his way.

Session Ninety-Six: Mountain Inhabitants.

Kraah slept lightly and was awoken by the sounds of wailing below. He asked Raco what he thought it was and Raco said it might be the undead on the plateau. Kraah decided to fly down and investigate.
Kraah heard the wailing and saw the glowing red eyes of the banshees below. He estimated there were a dozen or more. Before he could study them further, he was filled with irrational rage.
Kraah flew back up to Raco and began viciously attacking him. Raco punched and kicked Kraah in return. Being a hand to hand master, Kraah was no match for the mul and was quickly knocked unconscious. Raco then tied him up, with some giant hair rope.

Day 4, Week 1, Dessalia, Friend's Vengeance, 190th King's Age, Sun Descending

The morning was cold. More cold than any of them could remember. Cheet had a blanket, which was normally warm enough, but she shivered as the cold breeze glided over her skin. Yusef was wearing two sets of clothes, along with a blanket and cloak. Everyone else in the group, besides Raco, was dressed in a similar fashion. Raco had a light robe and Cheet was wearing a skirt and shirt, which left her arms bare. They were both very cold.

Session Ninety-Five: Negotiating with Abductors

Once the group had healed enough, they pressed forward, determined to invade the living chamber of the dwarf-like creatures. The creatures expected the group to follow them, so they had evacuated all of the non-combatants, and prepared an ambush.
This time, the fight was more difficult, as one of the creatures was an elemental cleric and another was a preserver. Raco targeted the preserver first and knocked him unconscious. Seeing how fiercely Raco fought, the cleric used his elemental magic to freeze Raco in place. 
Samsun used his magic to charm one of the creatures, who tried to stop the other creatures from fighting Samsun. The fight progressed, with the group getting the upper hand. However, the group was badly injured and was uncertain of victory.
Cheet used the way to telepathically contact the dwarf-like creature who was a cleric. She told the priest that they did not want to keep fighting and that they were just looking for their friend. She proceeded to explain what Shada looked like.
The priest called out to the creatures to stop attacking and the fight ended. The priest admitted to Cheet that they had taken Shada. He said that Shada walked too close to the cliff face and they pulled him into the mountain. They took him to feed the mountains guardian. The mountain was scared to the creatures and the guardian protected it.

Session Ninety-Four: The Plateau

As the group was marveling at the clear water, Fain reminded them that going further into the mountains would probably mean their death. He had seem many brave, but foolish, people climb the cliff. He told them that there was no path from the plateau. He said it matter-of-factly, but the group noticed a hint of concern in his voice.
The group thanked him for his concern, but said they were on an important errand. With this statement, Samsun retrieved the eggs from his pack and used the mountain water to clean them. Fain looked on in confused wonder. Samsun then wet the fabric he was carrying, wrapped the eggs back up, and placed them back in his backpack.
The group explored the ruins. There were the foundations of square buildings, with bits of wall still standing erect. The doorways were wide enough for a human, but there were remains that indicated the doorways were shorter. They concluded that this was likely a dwarven village.
They looked up the sheer cliff and suggested climbing it. Kraah asked Shada to prepare the climbing gear. Shada emptied his pack and began organizing and preparing the climbing gear for the arduous climb.

Session Ninety-Three: The Mountain Trek

The group walked and walked and walked up the mountain. Yusef complained about all the walking, but everyone ignored him. They noticed that the day didn't seem as hot, as any other day they had ever experienced, and were thankful for that.
Kraah spotted movement among the rocks, above the group, but was surprised when two stone colored eagles flew toward him and attacked. It took a moment for the group to grab their ranged weapons, as the birds made swooping attacks at their aarakocra companion. Kraah was doing his best, but the birds were worthy foes.
The arrows Yusef was shooting were somewhat effective, but magic and psionics proved more effective against the creatures. In the end, the birds were no match for the group. One of the birds died and the other fled, badly wounded.
After Kraah used his elemental magic to heal himself, the group pressed on. They walked and walked and walked. Yusef resumed his complaining.
After a couple more hours, Fain told them that their destination lay up ahead, but he suggested they wait until morning. When asked why, Fain explained that the ruins, up ahead, were supposedly haunted and he was not keen to find out if the rumors were true.
The group agreed and found a small cave to sleep in. Samsun only fit halfway inside. So, he slept with his head and upper torso inside the cave and his legs and feet sticking out.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day.

On July 4, 1776, The United States of America was born. We have come along way and have had our ups and downs, but I believe that the United States still has a chance to be what the founders of this country envisioned. A country where people are free.

Below is the preamble of the United States Constitution and the first ten Amendments to that document, known as the Bill of Rights. These rights were not given by a government, or by any man, but by God himself and are, thus, sacred.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

II: A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

III: No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

V: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

VI: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

VII: In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

VIII: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

IX:The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

X: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.