06/09 A battle quickly begins, Karrut wild shapes into an rhino, quickly charging at Zargathax. Ellette rushes in swinging her sword at him, he quickly turns and stuns her with a spell. Steve throws her hammer Big Guy supporting her efforts. Morgar realising he is still dressed in the curtains VV had attempted to make shift into clothes looks around for anything he can use. He spots the book which had fallen from Ellette possession in the panic. He rushes over taking it, immediately he casts fireball but it comes out in green and black flames that quickly engulf Zargathax. As the flames subside we can see his hair and face have burnt away showing a more lich like appearance. "Give me the book if you want to live" He snarls and Morgar replies "No" with his own. After freeing Ellette from her stunned state, Karrut turns to see the pair facing off. Not thinking he uses summoning magic. He gives birth to a glob, he stares confused before the glob explodes revealing a fully grown, strong, red Tiefling. Only 75% sexy. Like Hugh Grant or Daniel Radcliffe. Karrut greets it but the creature can't seem to speak. The pair go to attack Zargathax. Morgar in his crazed state sees everyone as an enemy and attacks the entire group. Qwimby is sent flying landing on the roof of a nearby building, knocked unconscious. Ellette freezes his hand hoping to stop him. Morgar frees himself using the power of the book, his golden scales turning black. Steve rushes him hitting him with her hammer sending him flying, his grip on the book releasing and it hurdles towards Zargathax who has been watching the events looking amused while his undead army continues to destroy the city. When the book lands in front of him he picks it up quickly reading the contents, he glides over to Morgar holding a hand over his head speaking a language no one can understand. Morgar collapses to the ground and Zargathax opens a portal, the remnants of his hoard shuffle through. He turns to the party giving them a brief nod and what appears to be a grin before going into the portal himself. Karrut dashes forward trying to reach the portal, he jumps in with only his top half managing the enter the now half closed portal. He sees what could be Zargathax's lair before he is forced back out. The group stare in the now empty space, the town now silent except for the sound of the remaining fire crackling throughout. Not having much or maybe too much to say, Ellette turns quietly heading back to the Lucky Griffon, followed by Zara. Big Guy and Steve quickly act going to the building Qwimby is laying on top of. Big Guy breaks one of the remaining supports to lower the roof before throwing Steve up to get Qwimby. The pair bring him to the Lucky Griffin. Karrut goes over to the unconscious Morgar, waking him up. The pair look at his black scales, Morgar seemingly not knowing of the past hours events. They have the great idea for Karrut to kill him and reincarnate him to try rid the potential curse. His body turns into a Yuan-Ti. The pair head to the Lucky Griffin seeming proud of their handiwork. Big Guy and Steve leave Qwimby in the care of a cleric aiding the injured before approaching Ellette who is sitting at the bar quietly drinking a glass of whiskey, Zara has found a group of children in the corner she is keeping entertained with music. Big Guy questions Ellette's status asking if she is a princess, she curtly cuts off the sentiment but Steve then joins his musing. Ellette poking fun at the two sharply suggests they marry. The two get very excited at the thought exclaiming that she's a princess and her saying that means they are rightfully married now. Ellette both tired and confused looks at Quintin for help who laughs in return agreeing with the pair legitimising their marriage. The two then head outside to exchange and throw their hammers in their own version of a marriage ceremony. Big Guy reveals his name is actually Bhaldorus and begins telling Steve of his life and friendship with many dragons. When Karrut and Morgar return to the bar they are met with a stunned silence. Karrut gleefully explains their actions and Morgar's new appearance stating any potential curse should truly be gone from Morgar now. Ellette, now feeling done with her drink, ignores Karrut and Morgar turning to explain to Quintin of the events that transpired with Zargathax. 13/09 After explanations are given, We head home to the Keep. Big Guy is introduced to the kids as the rest of the party explain to Jess, Derek and Zolton the events that happened in Alexandria. Jess is upset to hear her shop was fully destroyed. They all then head to their rooms for the evening. The next morning, most of the team is in the main hall quietly eating breakfast. The children are also uncharacteristically quiet. Karrut, ever the same wakes up, gets the apple from the tree and smokes his elf root. He saunters down there stairs greeting everyone cheerily when a loud explosion is heard from outside. The team quickly grab there weapons, Ellette instructing Jess to take the children downstairs. They burst through the door and outside is Morgar, a vortex of gaseous skulls circling his body lifting him to the air. "I thought you fix him!" Qwimby says looking at Karrut who responds with a shrug, "I thought I did" Morgar hurls fire at the group causing them to split and surround him. A battle commences spells and bullets flying through the air. Big Guy joins the fight picking up Steve, throwing her at Morgar who knocks her back into Big Guys arm's. Morgar summons a circle of death targeting Qwimby but is countered by Ellette. "FIREBALL!" A small voice screams. The air goes silent as they all turn to see Darvin standing atop the ruins of the tower. An evil smirk crosses Morgar's face "Foolish child" as he begins to summon his own fireball aiming towards the child. Steve sees this and looks at Big Guy who simply nods and throws Steve towards the child. As Morgar releases the ball of green and black fire, Steve reaches the child just in time tackling him from the ruins. Zara's eyes furrow as she looks at Morgar, her normal chaotic demeanour looking calm as she casts heat metal on her frying pan and looks to the sky, "Dimension door". With a flash, Zara appears 500ft above Morgar and begins to plummet. Her eyes solely focused on Morgar's frame as she falls. Just before they come to contact she holds her frying pan up, swinging directly at him at the point of contact. The rest of party can't do anything but watch as Zara first appears to them like she's floating. Their mouths agape. Morgar seeing this turns, but its too late. Zara crashes into him, frying pan crushing his face then the two quickly crash into the ground. Stillness fills the air. A heartbeat passes before the team quickly springs into action running towards their friends. But it's too late. All that remains couldn't even be described as a singular in' solid being let alone two. Karrut, using his druidic power, scans the crash site, separating Zara's remains from what's left of Morgar the rest of the party staring in confusion and disgust as he gets covered in the blood of his friends. Ellette goes to stop him but Qwimby holds her back. With a silent prayer, a glow of vibrant green surrounds Karrut and a glow of vibrant green grows from him covering himself and the mound of flesh. A bright light erupts blinding the party. When it subsides they see a body in front of Karrut. It's Zara but different. Her once pointed ears now rounded and what appeared to be a cats tail curls from behind her. Karrut looks at the others a reserved smile across his face "I still haven't gotten the hang of that fully yet." The group is speechless but the silence is broken by a scream, they look to see Steve kneeling by Big Guy at the steps of the keep. A large piece of rock protruding from his stomach. Nissa and Derrick appear at the doors staring at the chaos. Jess rushes to Darvin who's standing by Steve in shock, picking him up and rushing him inside to the rest of the children. Ellette, Qwimby and Karrut rush to Steve followed by VV who is carrying Zara's body. Derrick and Qwimby pull the stone from Big Guy and Nissa gets to work taking some of her healing herbs from the Feywild and rubbing them into the wound as Karrut casts healing magic. The wound seals, colour returning to Big Guys face. The next morning they all sit by the table. Zara wakes up in her bed, confused she stumbles out. She feels pressure on her back as he reaches around and screams "I've shit myself!". Hearing this the others run up to her room to find Zara spinning around holding her tail. "Why do I have a tail! I thought I killed myself!" The others can't help but laugh at her no one explaining everything before she spots herself In a nearby mirror seeing her act like features on her face for the first time. "Why am I a cat!?" 20/09 VV sits by the fire making a magnet that will allow them to find all the pieces of Zara's frying pen. Content with the work they head outside, gathering all the pieces and head to Zoltan's forge putting the hammer back together. Zara now used to her new body thanks them as the group prepares to head to Alexandria Big Guy tagging along eager to see home. As they head into town Zara has seemed to master her new tail using it to help her play the lute. All of a sudden she gets this tense sensation. "The kitty kat senses are tingling" She looks down the road and spots a bag 100ft away. Jumping from the carriage she runs to the bag and tries to kick it, failing and landing beside it instead. She picks up the bag looking in then sticking her hand inside it begins to pain her. As she takes it out the rest of the party see the smallest gelatinous cube in her hand. "HE'S SO CUTE!" She squeals taking some bread from her own bag and feeding it to the green cube. The party, not wanting to upset her, give each other an unsure look before deciding to continue on their way. When they reach the city they can see the true extent of all the damage and see the townspeople hard at work restoring what they can with the help of some heavily armoured guards. They find Quintin in the centre speaking to King Radagon who seems to be directing all the repairs. He seems very stern as he speaks of the book and tasks the party to locate the book and solve the Zargathax situation, still clearly holding resentment to the man who kidnapped his daughter. He then introduces them to Ash, a tall purple Firbolg who he wants to join us in our journey. The Firbolg seems less than impressed by the party and they him but Ellette speaks for the team and begrudgingly agrees. The king notices VV a chuckle escaping his mouth as he explains he hasn't seen a Modron since the last March and that he has in fact seen three of these "Great Marches". He gifts VV a bronze coloured cog but the metal doesn't seem to be as it appears. Radagon then turns to Big Guy, embracing his friend with a great hug patting him on the back happy to see his friend alive. Big Guy tells him of his recent marriage to Steve. The party are very confused by them knowing each other and Big Guy explains they've been friends for a long time. The king explains Zargathax seems to be working out of what remains of Phandalin. He asks the party to stay in the city for a week to help restore buildings and help with the injured. In return he will portal them to Phandalin, saving the time it would have taken them to walk there. The party agree and get to work. Later on that evening as the people gather around fires to eat their meals, VV learns of Radagon's true identity. The little Modron baffled by the revelation sits on the ground jotting everything they've seen. Radagon takes a moment to speak to Ellette, questioning her about her past and Visidera. He then present her with one of his chromatic scales. "This may serve you some purpose." He the leaves going back to the tavern to continue working. The party spend the next week rebuilding the city and feeding the hungry. Ellette and Zara gather the orphaned children leaving them in the care of a makeshift orphanage. Qwimby uses his skills to help the hunters gather food. Karrut helps the farmers restore their fields setting crops to grow. VV helps the smiths restore their workshops. Big Guy and Steve help in removal of broken building and repurposing the left over materials for other uses. At the end of the week the king gives the team the warmest of thanks. Big Guy decides to remain in Alexandria for now to continue helping the people. Radagon then prepares a portal and the party walk through. Ellette, Qwimby and Karrut feel uneasy looking at the once familiar village now covered in black gooey tendrils. As they enter the town they hear the unmistakable sound of the undead. There is a brief battle but the team deal with them quickly. They walk into the village centre where the fountain now stood broken and ruined. There is a rustle from some near by bushes. The party brace themselves as a bird flies out. The party explores the town fighting some animated skeletons as they wander. The reach the old church, looking past it they can see the source of the tendrils leads outside the town towards the mountain path. The enter the chapel, Ash gathers some holy water while the others use it to clean some of the gore from themselves with help from Qwimby's control water abilities. They don't find much else and Karrut remembers the general goods store where they had gotten the drugged cakes the last time they were there, suggesting they go there to look for some supplies. They find the store finding nothing bar a few potions and mouldy rations. As they go to leave they hear a bang towards the entrance of the building. They look out to see undead have begun to surround the building.