We stop and stay at “The Borders” Inn.

“We might as well stay here. We’re Entrepenuers!” –Kire?

We all enjoy a meal of finely roasted woodchuck and ale. There’s a big black guy with a kilt and sunglasses wording loudly for a beer. Kire manages to eat the entire woodchuck on his plate. Kire hands a business card to the gentlemen who uses it as a coaster. While handing out business cards gets busted by the innkeeper. Kire tries to “sing” his way out of it. This does not work. Kire tries to hire the body guards, finding out one of them is the son of the owner. Meanwhile on the outside…

Meanwhile… a huge lady enters Orander’s room trying to kick him out of the room. A fight ensues. Sends the lady screaming in fear. Now the two bouncers come to his room.

“Muggers!” yells Orander

A grapple ensues and Orander breaks free to jump up on the bed, but gets the blankets wrapped around his feet, then gets carried away. He breaks free at the door, and falls to the ground, then kicks one guy in the legs. The rest of the party join in the fray as the door to the establishment is kicked open. Kire threatens the brutes by stunning one… and stating “Give Orander his stuff and money, and we won’t burn down the place!” [I think Orander made the threat –Ed] Some sighs come from the party… Orander gets up and punches a guy HARD, nails him. Then the bouncer attacks Orander with a big wooden spoon, fumbles, and throws it past him. The black man in the kilt helps himself to a brew, then heads towards the door.

Kire spouts off with “There’s no need for us to kill you.”

Orander gets hit by his 6 silver. An argument ensues.

“If I don’t get my stuff, I’m burning the place down!” –Orander

Aldar goes in and gets Orander’s stuff from the room. Orander paints the sign of evil on the door, and kire kicks in the door and shouts “Free beer at Lost Veluna!” The spirit of “business men” has taken over Kire’s soul as he tries to keep selling Veluna City to the new guy in the kilt.

Aldar introduces himself to the stranger. His name is Cestis. We ride through the night to Lost Veluna. Qwand drinks in the cart.

We reach Lost Veluna. Quigly tries to get us to open one of the boxes. Qwand ties himself up. (practice or something)

To unveil the RCM’s, they plan to levitate Orander wearing his glowing magic cap and have some gnomes use dancing lights. Orander is surprised that Fezzik can cast dancing lights, so Fezzik proves it. One less dancing lights for the unveiling.

It’s time for the big unveiling. [of the Quigly’s Random Chance Machines –Ed] Kire makes MC speech. It is unveiled!!! The gnome who wins is very excited and many more line up to try the chance machine. The party continues. Everyone drinks, some pass out.

In the morning Kire talks to Aldar of a peace offering for the Border Inn. He suggests [undecipherable alien script here –Ed] it to the caravan. Kire does so and puts in a good word. He tries hard not to put down other inn. Caravan master says he will go and say it was recommended. Aldar and Qwand leave [for Veluna City to tie up some loose ends with the Temple of Pelor, buy mountaineering supplies, and round up a priest of Farlaghan to setup shop by Lost Veluna]

…Phil is passed the book as Ben takes baby and Dukee explains journaling. Stench prompts Ben to exclaim “What’d you eat?!” –not to me, but that’s all I’m saying.

400’ of hemp rope and enough rations to feed 8 for two weeks and crampons (8 sets) and… tents? “we have a portable house – screw that noise!” and 8 pick axes for climbing.

Back at the ranch-bar-casino… Cestus knows of a trail that helps these guys find the mountains they’re headed for, so he’s in. Aldar makes an overture to the temple of Farlaghn. “It’s just better for everyone… keeps a little touch of goodliness nestled in among the, uh, scum and villainy.”

The divination on the ioun stone reveals to Aldar that “No, it’s not evil” and a big elaborate ritual confirms these will protect from cold and “… is somehow bound to another, otherworldly consciousness. Though it’s not evil, there is a type of curse on it – the more you wear it, the easier it is to take off.”

A priest of Farlaghn accompanies Aldar and Qwand back to the casino and Kire tries to get him to gamble. He’s impressed.

Equipment is… no one, not even the ex-military guy Brian can remember what the word is for “handed out” and Kire says, “So, we’re going to look for some undead mage…”

HEAD OUT! On the trail Cestus knows about… We’re goin’ West until we hit “The Trail” … woods, then rocky terrain, then watch-time... on day 2, Qwand gets a pig –Lvqo! On 3rd day, an icy wind doesn’t bother anyone sleeping in the portable house… which we ain’t. Goodness – a figure steps out from behind the trees.

“Hey!” sez Aldar “That’s the dumbass what tried to kill me.” And fake combat begins, followed by the REAL, ambush-type combat… Kire gets first take-out… it’s decided Qwand should get a repeating crossbow… so hyeah – COMBAT! Orander and Cestus are brought to the brink of death before Kire’s song and Aldar’s mighty sword fell the foul badguy. Qwand, fresh from a rossbow duel, arrives in time for healing and stripping of badguy.

**

To elaborate some on the combat, the guy stepped onto the trail and demanded S-Team to put down their ioun stones and turn back, or die. He motioned to some figures in the trees about him. Of course, the heros (of sorts) did nothing of the sort and unleashed hell upon him. Orander fired off a… fireball centered on dude. It knocked a bunch of straw-stuffed dummies from the tries and the man sort of dissolved away. There was the shortest “oh-shit” type moment, then 6 archers, 3 on a side popped up nearly surrounding the group and fired. Shortly after that Dude appeared again and starting slowly advancing towards the party and firing arrows. Orander launched a magic missile (3 of em) at him, but they encountered some sort of force field. Cestus and Kire went to attack the baddies on the right while Aldar went off to the left and was promptly held by a wand wielded by Dude. Orander tried an acid arrow on the guy, but missed. Missiles were also fired at him, but shattered on the force field. Orander eventually used cause fear on him, and he ran off for 3 rounds while his cronies were dispatched (except 1). He seemed pretty pissed as he came charging back on a horse. Actual conventional melee ensued, and a crit and some good rolls caught him by surprise and he was felled. It seemed perilous until he lay still, with Cestus unconscious and Orander 1 or 2 HP away from DEATH, though still standing through the use of some spell.