The time had finally come for the big expedition into Davokar to get to the ancient capital of Symbar. The town was a hive of activity, with many new arrivals coming for the journey. After stocking up on supplies, the party were soon summoned for the off. Gathered in the Queens Square was most of the town. As well as 200 Returners, the expedition was joined by:

• 100 mercenaries, paid for by the funds secured by the party on their various missions,
• 10 mages from Ordo Magica, thanks to the party's rapport with them,
• 50 members of the Reformists, mainly healers, thanks to the party's help with their plight,
• 20 of the queen's panzers - secured due to the party's reputation with the queen,
• 50 barbarians to help as guides as well as warriors, thanks to the parties ties to Duke Ynedar,
• The 3 elves, Keri-Las, Saran-Ri, and Godrai - now friends of the party.

All in all, well over 400 men were leaving for the forest. Soon there was silence, as Hurst stepped to a stage. He gave a rousing speech, stating that this was the first expedition of it's kind, with such a large and varied, yet unified group. He was adamant that they would succeed in finding Symbar and uncovering it's secrets.

After much cheering from the townsfolk, they left with their heads held high. The expedition left for Kurun, and were met by several boats, including Wesley, who was loading splendid in new finery. He was pleased to see his old friends, and they boarded his boat. They spent a couple of weeks on board, heading the usual route into the forest. However, they went past their previous stops, and further into deep Davokar. Here the vegetation got even denser, and barely any light made it in. Eerie sounds were all around, and even the bravest of men struggled to hide their fear. A few minor creatures attacked the ships, but posed no real problems.

Eventually, they were dropped off as the river turned to marsh and the forest got denser. They said their goodbyes to Wesley, who was glad to be headed back out. The men set off on foot through deep Davokar, the party near the front not far from Hurst.

The First 30 Days

Progress was slow. The marching order became long and thin. Despite the large number of men, only a few could be seen ay anyone time, so it felt like a lot less. The men were harried by various monsters and beasts who were seen off without too much trouble - these included blight worms, garougs and killer shrubs. It wasn't without casualty though--men were already being lost. Some of the party began to succumb to exhaustion.

Day 32-33

The party heard screams in the night and bodies were found, drained of all fluids, simply the skin left behind. They decided to keep a close watch the following night. On Lanky's watch, he saw one of the other night watch attacked and drained by some sort of living thorns. He alerted the others and a violent battle ensued. The thorns began squeezing the life out the men. The battle was tough, and Hurst came to help the party finish off the last few plants. Many more men had been slain.

The Next 30 Days

The forest got even thicker. Water became scared. The barbarian guides had trouble finding safe water. Some of the party got sick from this, causing further exhaustion. Screams were regularly heard down the column, and people ran off, crazed into the undergrowth. More men were lost to the sickness. Every now and then the party caught sight of weird faces in the undergrowth. Keri-Las said these were winter elves, but they appeared to be leaving them alone, fortunately.

Day 61

Part of the floor of the forest gave way to a seemingly bottomless ravine in front of Lanky. He managed to save a man from falling in, though others did fall. Lanky befriended another of the rescuers, a rogueish half-elf by the name of Alvelor Altener (AKA Arc), who gave Lanky some nice drugs to try. 

Day 70

The party heard battle noises up ahead. They come across a few aboars with possessed looks fighting a number of skullbiters. Another ravine formed beneath the party, with Brunt on one side along with Wulf's wolf, and the others on the other side. Another violent and bloody battle took place, and around 30 more men were killed.

The Next 20 Days

Parasites began to fall on people as they walk, draining them of blood, though the party managed to get off lightly. They start to see weird things, such as glowing vegetation and bottomless streams. The exhaustion really began to take it's toll by this point.

Day 91

Finally, the trees thinned, and the men saw in front of themselves a large clearing with a number of stone structures ahead. By this point, there were about 200 men left. Hurst said that this was the right place--they had finally made it. Symbar lay in front off them in all it's glory. The buildings were 500 metres away, but appeared stretch away for a mile in each direction. There were hundreds of small stone buildings--houses presumably--but they appeared in good condition, with strangely no sign of ruin. They were dwarfed by several massive stone pyramid structures behind them, thought with the tops cut off so in trapezium shapes. It was a magnificent sight, and clearly an ancient city.

Hurst mentioned that Taveck, Gem, and Cleric Boyden were camped out in one of the houses based on the report he had received from them. The group walked into the city, which was weirdly quiet, though soon picked up on some human tracks. Sure enough, they were led to a house, and all three of the Returner scouts were in there alive. 

They were all in a very bad state. Malnourished, filthy, and tired. Taveck was missing part of his left arm. Even Boyden was no longer his usual cheery self, and Gem could barely speak. But they were glad to see the others arrive--it all hadn't been in vain. The three gave a report. Taveck's foraging skills had kept them alive, though had cost him his arm. Boyden had used his healing skills to make sure Taveck had at least survived. They'd been hiding out in this house the whole time, praying for help to arrive. The house was in very good condition considering it had supposedly been uninhabited for a thousand years, with even small trinkets from those who had lived there before.

They then mentioned that they hadn't been able to infiltrate the pyramids in the centre of the city, for there was something terrifying guarding the way. The party would have to see for themselves. Hurst was adamant that this was where any secrets and treasures would be found. The men were led by Taveck to where the houses ended and a large square wall surrounded the pyramids. There was a gap of several metres in the wall, allowing access to the central area, and in the gap were about 40 of the most terrifying undead creatures the party had ever seen. Some were skeletons brought to life, others were floating wraiths. 

Taveck reported that there was an entrance on each side, and each had the same amount of ghostly guards, so 160 in all. After much talk, it was decided the best approach was a frontal assault, with support from bows and magic from the houses. After a short speech from Hurst, the attack began. The cryptwalkers and wraiths were a formidable foe, and soon all of them joined the fight, but eventually the Returners and their allies prevailed, though at great cost. There were now only X men left, and they were in a sorry state. It was now time for them to head for the central pyramids...

The time had finally come for the big expedition into Davokar to get to the ancient capital of Symbar. The town was a hive of activity, with many new arrivals coming for the journey. After stocking up on supplies, the party were soon summoned for the off. Gathered in the Queens Square was most of the town. As well as 200 Returners, the expedition was joined by:

• 100 mercenaries, paid for by the funds secured by the party on their various missions,
• 10 mages from Ordo Magica, thanks to the party's rapport with them,
• 50 members of the Reformists, mainly healers, thanks to the party's help with their plight,
• 20 of the queen's panzers - secured due to the party's reputation with the queen,
• 50 barbarians to help as guides as well as warriors, thanks to the parties ties to Duke Ynedar,
• The 3 elves, Keri-Las, Saran-Ri, and Godrai - now friends of the party.

All in all, well over 400 men were leaving for the forest. Soon there was silence, as Hurst stepped to a stage. He gave a rousing speech, stating that this was the first expedition of it's kind, with such a large and varied, yet unified group. He was adamant that they would succeed in finding Symbar and uncovering it's secrets.

After much cheering from the townsfolk, they left with their heads held high. The expedition left for Kurun, and were met by several boats, including Wesley, who was loading splendid in new finery. He was pleased to see his old friends, and they boarded his boat. They spent a couple of weeks on board, heading the usual route into the forest. However, they went past their previous stops, and further into deep Davokar. Here the vegetation got even denser, and barely any light made it in. Eerie sounds were all around, and even the bravest of men struggled to hide their fear. A few minor creatures attacked the ships, but posed no real problems.

Eventually, they were dropped off as the river turned to marsh and the forest got denser. They said their goodbyes to Wesley, who was glad to be headed back out. The men set off on foot through deep Davokar, the party near the front not far from Hurst.

The First 30 Days

Progress was slow. The marching order became long and thin. Despite the large number of men, only a few could be seen ay anyone time, so it felt like a lot less. The men were harried by various monsters and beasts who were seen off without too much trouble - these included blight worms, garougs and killer shrubs. It wasn't without casualty though--men were already being lost. Some of the party began to succumb to exhaustion.

Day 32-33

The party heard screams in the night and bodies were found, drained of all fluids, simply the skin left behind. They decided to keep a close watch the following night. On Lanky's watch, he saw one of the other night watch attacked and drained by some sort of living thorns. He alerted the others and a violent battle ensued. The thorns began squeezing the life out the men. The battle was tough, and Hurst came to help the party finish off the last few plants. Many more men had been slain.

The Next 30 Days

The forest got even thicker. Water became scared. The barbarian guides had trouble finding safe water. Some of the party got sick from this, causing further exhaustion. Screams were regularly heard down the column, and people ran off, crazed into the undergrowth. More men were lost to the sickness. Every now and then the party caught sight of weird faces in the undergrowth. Keri-Las said these were winter elves, but they appeared to be leaving them alone, fortunately.

Day 61

Part of the floor of the forest gave way to a seemingly bottomless ravine in front of Lanky. He managed to save a man from falling in, though others did fall. Lanky befriended another of the rescuers, a rogueish half-elf by the name of Alvelor Altener (AKA Arc), who gave Lanky some nice drugs to try. 

Day 70

The party heard battle noises up ahead. They come across a few aboars with possessed looks fighting a number of skullbiters. Another ravine formed beneath the party, with Brunt on one side along with Wulf's wolf, and the others on the other side. Another violent and bloody battle took place, and around 30 more men were killed.

The Next 20 Days

Parasites began to fall on people as they walk, draining them of blood, though the party managed to get off lightly. They start to see weird things, such as glowing vegetation and bottomless streams. The exhaustion really began to take it's toll by this point.

Day 91

Finally, the trees thinned, and the men saw in front of themselves a large clearing with a number of stone structures ahead. By this point, there were about 200 men left. Hurst said that this was the right place--they had finally made it. Symbar lay in front off them in all it's glory. The buildings were 500 metres away, but appeared stretch away for a mile in each direction. There were hundreds of small stone buildings--houses presumably--but they appeared in good condition, with strangely no sign of ruin. They were dwarfed by several massive stone pyramid structures behind them, thought with the tops cut off so in trapezium shapes. It was a magnificent sight, and clearly an ancient city.

Hurst mentioned that Taveck, Gem, and Cleric Boyden were camped out in one of the houses based on the report he had received from them. The group walked into the city, which was weirdly quiet, though soon picked up on some human tracks. Sure enough, they were led to a house, and all three of the Returner scouts were in there alive. 

They were all in a very bad state. Malnourished, filthy, and tired. Taveck was missing part of his left arm. Even Boyden was no longer his usual cheery self, and Gem could barely speak. But they were glad to see the others arrive--it all hadn't been in vain. The three gave a report. Taveck's foraging skills had kept them alive, though had cost him his arm. Boyden had used his healing skills to make sure Taveck had at least survived. They'd been hiding out in this house the whole time, praying for help to arrive. The house was in very good condition considering it had supposedly been uninhabited for a thousand years, with even small trinkets from those who had lived there before.

They then mentioned that they hadn't been able to infiltrate the pyramids in the centre of the city, for there was something terrifying guarding the way. The party would have to see for themselves. Hurst was adamant that this was where any secrets and treasures would be found. The men were led by Taveck to where the houses ended and a large square wall surrounded the pyramids. There was a gap of several metres in the wall, allowing access to the central area, and in the gap were about 40 of the most terrifying undead creatures the party had ever seen. Some were skeletons brought to life, others were floating wraiths. 

Taveck reported that there was an entrance on each side, and each had the same amount of ghostly guards, so 160 in all. After much talk, it was decided the best approach was a frontal assault, with support from bows and magic from the houses. After a short speech from Hurst, the attack began. The cryptwalkers and wraiths were a formidable foe, and soon all of them joined the fight, but eventually the Returners and their allies prevailed, though at great cost. There were now only X men left, and they were in a sorry state. It was now time for them to head for the central pyramids...