This was a rather straightforward mission. Arlis, Solia, Yashir, Surx, and myself were sent to by the Lords Alliance, and Seer, personally, to clear out Durlag's Tower. We were asked to secure it, before decent could take place sometime later. There were also a pair of former Zhentarim members, twins, that we were to dispose of. Arriving rather quickly, we realized there were many buildings that would require our attention, so we slowly started to work our way through them.

The first was no issue, and we cleared out the barn like safehaven should we need to recover sometime later. Rounding the next corner, there were demons and a beholder, and combat soon ensued. Darkness filled the entryway, and it was almost impossible to get a shot on any of the creatures. But, rushing in, Yashir and I dispatched of the eye tyrant rather handedly.

We ventured round, looking into the other buildings. I found an old dwarven distillery, while the others located a druid who seemed... troubled. Surx saw a swarm of flying invisible creatures around her, and after some negotiations with them, Yashir and Solia soothed the druids worries and the stalkers dissipated. We tucked her away in the safehouse. Surx then discovered some sort of box, and Arlis and I approached the tower that was... locked.

Then the others were sent up to the sky. Unsure how that happened...

We were ambushed by the twin dwarves, but... I hate to say they put up little to no fight, but they were disposed of far too easily to have been a threat.

I quickly solved the mechanism to open the door, before Arlis gave it a shove open. We were greeted with 4 statues, a Crafter, a Reveler, a Hunter, and another I cannot recall, besides the fact the dwarf was beardless. We had to swap the items they held, which was... easier said than done. Failure to do so correctly lead to devastating and exhausting consequences. Eventually we determined the solution, and a elevator rose, and a lounging demon greeted us.

The battle started not long after.

We cleared the tower, disposed of all the enemies, and returned to Seer, and were rewarded for our efforts.

Party: Yashir, Surx, Solia, Vincel, Arlis

SEER from the Lords Alliance sent for us to clear out Durlag's Tower. Don't really know much about it but apprently some Zhentarim members are holding out there and we were to get rid of 'em. We showed up, there was a lot more than we expected. Assholes used darkness to keep us at a distance, but we cleared 'em out.

We looked around, the twins ambushed us. We took them out.

We got into the tower, there was a puzzle that the others figured out.

Then there were some demon... things? Devil things? I dunno. We killed 'em. Then we went back to SEER to collect our rewards.

Party: Yashir, Surx, Vincel, Arlis and Me

SEER of the Lords' Alliance sent word that we were to clear out Durlag's Tower. Apparently, a band of Zhentarim had taken up residence there, and someone decided it was our problem to deal with. I can't say I knew much about the place beforehand, beyond its reputation. Perhaps I should have asked more questions.

We arrived expecting trouble. We found considerably more than we'd bargained for. The Zhentarim had numbers on their side, and they made good use of darkness to keep us at a distance. A rather cowardly tactic, if you ask me, though I suppose I can't fault them for trying. It didn't save them in the end. We fought our way through and cleared the lot of them out.

Or so we thought.

While searching the area, we were ambushed by the twins. I can't say I appreciated the surprise, but they proved no match for us. We dealt with them and continued on our way.

Getting inside the tower proved a little more complicated. There was some manner of puzzle barring our progress, though thankfully the others were able to make sense of it. I'll admit, I was content to let them handle that particular challenge. Not every problem needs a sword put through it.

Beyond that, we encountered a collection of rather unpleasant creatures. Demons, devils, or something of that ilk. I confess I wasn't particularly interested in determining the distinction while they were trying to kill us. Whatever they were, they died just as readily as anything else.

With the tower cleared and our work finished, we returned to the Seer to collect our reward. A productive outing, all things considered. Though next time the Lords' Alliance sends us somewhere, I should very much like to know whether clearing out a few Zhentarim means a handful of thugs or an entire bloody army.

- Solia Faolanri

5 Marpenoth, 1502 D.R.

The party -- consisting of myself, Solia, Vincel, Surx, and Arlis -- were called upon by Seer of the Lord's Alliance, with whom we have worked before in various capacities. Today, we were summoned to the town of Beregost, where we met our benefactor to discuss, before traveling eastward to the apparently notorious Durlag's Tower. Our task was fairly straightforward: a couple of rogue ex-Zhentarim had taken up residence, and the tower itself was said to be infested with traps and fiends. We were to clear a path to the entryway of the tower, after which... someone would follow after us, but our task was to secure a foothold against Seer's enemy, a giant whose forces we have faced before. It is uncanny how frequently the interests of these two conflict.

There were indeed many fiends, and that was before we even entered the tower proper. We were equal to their challenge, however, and dealt with them handily. A mad druid lurked in a glade nearby, tormented by elemental spirits she had apparently inadvertently summoned, and by some horrid curse inflicted by the fiendish master of this place. I was able to restore her mind, and she made good her retreat with her gratitude.

The ex-Zhentarim assassins attacked us en route to the tower itself. Their initial attack caught us by surprise, but we rallied and cornered them one by one; their trickery was no match.

Within the tower, a puzzle. I confess I was of little use in this; there were those better suited to it in the party, and those who enjoy such things. I haven't the patience. They handled it. Success opened the way to the elevator. It also opened the way from the elevator to us, which was important, because the fiend who had broken the druid's mind soon came out of it, along with reinforcements, to break ours.

We were made of sterner stuff, however. These fiends were no match, either. Durlag's Tower stands open and ready for future exploration, but -- though I am curious -- that was not to be our task, at least not this night.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr