The group found themselves transported from the mansion of Selamchant to the Plane of a Thousand Portals, a layer of the Abyss.

Once deposited upon the plane, they faced down a group of nasty demon roaming the plane seeking victims. The party dispatched the enemies and then after taking a brief rest, headed in the direction of the nearest known township with mortals, Plague-Mort.

After traveling several hours over treacherous terrain, the party made it to Plague-Mort by dusk at its eastern gate. Going through, the party found themselves in a seedy and grim residential district with bodies, suspicious and dangerous looking beings roaming about, and horrific screams and other noises.

They made their way to a where they had heard of one inn run by mortals, the Eye of The Dragon. Once within they purchased a room and had an interesting dinner of exotic food.

Ready to retire, they went to their room, and after barricading the door and setting up watch proceeded to a well-earned rest. However, during the second watch, a mysterious cloaked figure took the party into a state of lucid dreaming and brought to a large banquet table. During their feast he produced a deck of cards and each party member drew forth.

Vox, Elmmorra, Kiva, Kallindor, and Valiant drew luckily, and received a handsome reward. Antaris and Gnorm unfortunately drew cards of ruin, and are now forced to undertake a minor quest to rid them of the deck’s influence.

After they drew their cards, the party was brought back to their watch and sleeping quarters of which they experienced a failed attempt by a couple of hapless goblins to break into their room and thieve what they could.

Next morning, the group breakfasted and then went to the marketplace pondering their next move when Kallindor was approached by a strange looking old man who appeared half-human and half-demon. The stranger identified himself as Mercentius, and revealed his was once a possessed Paladin of Torm who fell from his deity’s favor due to the atrocious acts he committed.

Sensing the Unholy Avenger, Mercentius offered a deal; he would bring Kirgill to the group and also provide information as to someone who would pay well for the troublesome Gnome if he was given the sword. The party agreed and Mercentius was true to his word bringing the Gnome back to one of his safe houses a little over 24 hours later.

The sword was exchanged, and Mercentius told Kallindor of Szass Tam, a zulkir Red Wizard of Thay willing to pay handsomely for the Gnome if brought to him.

The party started their interrogation of Kirgill, learning that the Circle had sent a team to retrieve the last component of the Staff of Pelor within the depths of the Underdark at Mantol-Derith, a secret trading city in which nearly anything is bought and sold. Kirgill revealed that if all went well, the team would be retrieving it today, but that is if they actually survived.

Kirgill also told that his master, Zaidar Hunfrid, was the only human of the Circle, and the one intent on the re-forging of the staff. The leader, Helminion Faradol, an Eladrin, is the oldest and most power of the Circle. Kirgill also divulged one of the favorite hiding places of Zaidar.  Something the party will follow up on (it was said to be near Highmelt Lake on an earth mote 5 miles up).

The Gnome also confirmed that Antaris’s brother Calanion was killed and his form assumed by aberrant outsider.

The group formed a planned getting word to their airship crew docked in Athkatla to finalize repairs and meet them outside of Baldur’s Gate. They plan to continue their interrogation of Kirgill aboard a special room to be created aboard the airship which will contain him. Then, they will stop over the Werewoods to handle an issue with Elmmorra’s tribe of Shifters.