After securing their newly acquired fotresses the party move on to their next mission which
is to recover the
Banner of Athena, the last of the legendary
artefacts of
Athena, from deep in the southern jungles of the Wilderlands.
The party teleport to a ship which then puts into
Chim, once the capital of one of the
Ghinorean Successor States but now little more
than a small trading and fishing port.
The party do not take long to discover that the main trade out of the port involves the
gathering of narcotic substances from the jungle. Furthermore a significant percentage
of the population of Chim appear to partake of these substances themselves. A nocturnal
visitor to their inn is captured and duly sent for rehabilitation with
Penva and the party uncover the tunnels of the local
snake-people who reputedly run the drug trade. Investigating the dangerous ruins of the
ancient city the party scare away the monster that haunts them and find the remains of the
temple of Athena. The party discover that the priests fearing (accurately) the downfall
of their city sent the Banner of Athena to a safer location inland.
The party journey to a village close to the location of the ruined inland temple of Athena
but are told by the villagers that the temple still exists above ground and many adventurers
seek to find treasure in it. In fact the temple appears to be dedicated to the snake-gods
and inhabited by a huge snake with scintillating scales which would have enchanted the party
if Midge hadn't taken a few precautions beforehand. The snake guardian is killed and the party
travel underground to the old temple of Athena. This appears to be now inhabited by Athena-
worshipping Minotaurs who welcome the travellers. The Banner of Athena was indeed at the temple
for some time but was stolen by a renegade priest who took it deeper into the bowels of the
earth.
Exploring the passages believed to be taken by the renegade priest the party discover
a deserted lizardman stronghold. The pictograms on the walls detail the founding of an
underground lizardman paradise by means of an extraordinary ritual during which a
powerful lizardman hero-cleric sacrificed his own life.The party follow the clues to the
whereabouts of this paradise and discover that it does indeed exist (complete with what appears
to be its own mini-sun), and consists of a huge underground cave filled with jungle which is
roughly 100 miles in diameter. In the centre of the jungle is a cleared area in which a large
city has built with an enormous temple in its centre. Wasting no time the party fly over the
jungle towards the city but are intercepted by lizardmen flying on pterodactyls. Puzzled
how they were detected the party proceed more cautiously towards the city and conceal
themselves before sending Midge to do some scouting.
When Midge returns he somewhat sheepishly
confesses that instead of finding where the artefact was he has instead started a war - with a
God. on the other hand he has learned much about the hsitory of the area surrounding
Chim and also some useful things about the lizardmen's god,
Zillah.
Seeing the arrival of the party as a sign the lizardmen in the outlying villages revolt
against the capital. Reinforcments are brought in by the party from the surface world including lizardmen
mercenaries. The party split up to help the villagers repulse troops sent by Zillah
to put down the rebellion. On seeing the strength of the rebellion many of Zillah's soldiers
change sides and soon they have sufficient strength to march on the capital. As suspected
Zillah in his anger comes out of his temple to crush the rebellion. Unfortunately he is
targetted by the party who kill him in an epic battle. His followers soon surrender and the
party locate and retrieve the artefact from his temple.