Where to start seemed obvious, often the murdering bandits were found to be carrying maps that appeared to lead to the bandit’s lair, however making head or tail of the maps proved to be problematic as a very specific skill set was required to understand the maps.

Fortunately Mirv Wrutehugor the Dwarven Druid had spent hours honing just these skills and was up to the challenge posed by the Maps, and so off to the bandits.

The first few visits ended in disaster, the results of deadly traps and then a huge impenetrable door. However not to be put off some research and assistance from fellow adventures led to the discovery of a document that allowed Brian of Nazarith the human Monk’s considerable skill, both in the stealthy arts and as an orator, to defeat the traps and deceive the keepers of the portal. Once inside the bandit’s lair proper the fight was on, human and goblin minions of the Bandit Queen seemed to attack in a never ending stream, but these attacks became insignificant in comparison to the attacks of the Queen herself and the diabolical traps placed seemingly on top of each other in the vast cavern still give poor Brian nightmares.

It was plain that while our skills and equipment were adequate to get us into the bandit’s hideout more work was required before we would be a match for the queen in her home. The weeks that followed included many hours of training and preparation, countless trips to visit some off the finest crafters in Ormath, while equipment was improved, fine tuned and out right replaced. Then finally when all was ready a call was put out for assistance from like minded adventurers to contribute to this great undertaking, and on the fateful day…

We, Mirv Wrutehugor and Brian of Nazarith, set off to try and put an end to the Bandit Queens tyranny. We met at the appointed hour and made our way to Assam, then off to the swamp to find the bandits lair. After a short search only encountering the usual swamp creatures Mirv found the entrance and it was down to the tunnels. Here as usual Brian took point clearing the traps to the great portal and was once again able to convince the portal guards to let us in.

Once again the fighting on entering the bandit’s hideout was fierce, however we managed to be able to fight them in manageable groups avoiding the constant streams of previous visits. So once each group was defeated Brian was able to take some care looking for the dreaded traps. In this way progress through the cavern was slow but steady even to the point of setting a few traps ourselves to guard against attack from unexpected directions.

It seemed like the queen must be running out of minions yet there had been no sign of the women herself. Brian left Mirv behind to scout ahead for more traps, finding none he turned back to give Mirv the all clear when she struck. Brian didn’t stand a chance and was struck down with a single blow, dead. Mirv was horrified and it took all his powers to stop himself calling out to his friend giving away his hiding place. Mirv was sure he had heard the breaking of one of the Tears of Ilmater that they both carried so he new help was on the way, however the Paladin of Tyr would do no good when she arrived if she to was struck down by the ruthless head of the bandits. So Mirv quickly came up with a plan and put it into action.

Mirv moved from the shadows where he was hiding and as soon as he caught the Queens eye he was off and running. “See how you like those apples.” Mirv said under his breath, as he passed over the traps Brian had set to guard their rear. Mirv hurried on not waiting to see the damage if any the traps had done. Arriving back at his friends side and seeing no one else around Mirv hurriedly grabbed a scroll and attempted to raise his friend Brian and everything seemed to happen at once (or nearly).

The scroll had worked Brian was getting to his feet when Triad Paladin of Tyr appeared like a vision, but before she could utter a word, the queen struck from the shadows once again. This time however she had not timed her strike so well and the blow glanced off the paladins shield. There was a moment of stunned silence, then chaos reined.

The Bandit Queen and Triad the Paladin were going blow for blow Mirv had to move around the still unsettled Brian and newly arrived Paladin to get at the bandit and once Brian realised what was going he joined the fight to. It was a fierce fight but the queen was out numbered 3 to 1 and a mighty swing from Mirv’s Scimitar finally put an end to the tyrant of the shinning plains.

When the dust settled we asked Triad to join us for the remainder of our quest, she agreed but only on the condition that we donate eleven thousand gold pieces to the church. We thought that was bit rich but agreed anyway, so the party had grown to 3.

Unfortunately none of the queen’s equipment made it through the fight, however of all the little lean-tos and hovels that the bandits had made for themselves one stood out as being made with a little care and quality, and this caught our attention. Of the wonders inside the queen’s hut a locked and trapped chest was of most interest and a finer collection of precious metals, gems, rings and amulets we had never seen before in one place. We also found some curious books on the book shelves and the Queen’s own journal in a draw next to her bed. We can’t wait to investigate the secrets contained within.

Having helped ourselves to a hoard fit for a queen it was time to move on. On leaving the queens residence however we did receive a bit of a shock, waiting for us out side were the remainder of her human guards and a host of goblins. With our now expanded party we were more then a match and it didn’t take long for the screams of dying goblins to fade from the cavern.

We then moved from this cavern to a large tunnel that would have been of more interest to our crafting friends then us as apart from the odd beholder and umber hulk contained a quantity of what appeared to be mineable rock. Of what types we have no idea how ever, as none of us have the skills or the equipment to mine it. When we passed through the opening at the end of this tunnel we found ourselves sliding down the side of a hill with no way of getting back to the tunnel we slide until we stopped on a ledge and finally able to look around it appeared we were high in the worg hills from there we made our way back to the shining plains and relative safety almost without incident.

By Mirv Wrutehugor and Brian of Nazarith