The fellowship were woken up from their rest by screaming throughout the night. No matter how many times they tried, the screaming would always wake them up. They woke in the morning getting minimal rest and found that their tiredness and wounds were not any better.

The fellowship discussed their next steps and agreed to explore the tower of Cirith Ungol to the east. They left the room to the south and heard some rustling from a room to the south. They explored the room and found two more Desdursya warriors which they were able to quickly dispatch. The room seemed to be a guard outpost with minimal bedding and supplies.

The fellowship continued to the east and moved past a room that was filled with bones. The party examined the bones and found that they were in various states of decay but they all appeared to be either Orcs or Hobgoblins. The party was also able to determine that it appeared the corpses were killed by bites, claw marks or short sword – not the massive battle axes that the Desdursya warriors swing.

The fellowship continued east and found more rooms full of Orc and Hobgoblins corpses. Out of the shadows stealthily approached two Desdursya Shadows. Although they were smaller than there warrior brethren, they were no less dangerous and deadly. They moved forward and attacked with their shadow blades.

For some unknown reason, Jesoc broke off from the party and continued on through a door at the opposite end of the room and surprised two Desdursya Shamanesses. The Shamanesses had a frightening appearance with their skin covered in bone dust

A deadly battle ensued. While the Desdursya Shadows were defeated first, the Shamanesses turned out to be terrifying foes. The Shamanesses were able to fell both Jesoc and Hallamir, but Jesoc and Hallamir were both protected by their compatriots. Kifak smartly pulled the injured Jesoc behind him and cast Spirit Guardians. The mini-Kifak Spirit Guardians were able to assist in finally defeating all of the Desdursya Shadows and Shamanesses.

The fellowship paused and recovered from the deadly battle. They continued east, finding yet more rooms with Orc and Hobgoblin bones.

The fellowship eventually came to a final closed door. Arbun snuck forward and opened the door to see two critically injured Hags being tended to by a Desdursya mage. The fellowship discussed their plan of attack and Kifak cast silence and then the fellowship burst through the door and descended on the Desdursya Mage. The fellowship defeated the Mage quickly under their onslaught with Kifak lifting Ghor’Thrak, the Orc-Splitter above his head to bring him to his knees before Jesoc delivered the final blow.

The fellowship moved forward to question the Hags once Kifak’s Silence spell lapsed.

The Hags both cackled and coughed.

“You’ll never get out of here. She will never let you leave”

“You will not be successful. Even if you escape the spiders more horrors await you”

Eventually they heard the tale of how the Hags retrieved the Palantir from the spiders and paid with their lives. The Hags also confirmed that the spiders are located in the courtyard. The Hags also shared that the Palantir is now with the leader of their cabal, Cofen-Taur. Hallamir was able to translate the name of Cofen-Taur to mean “Empty King”

The Hags continued to taunt the fellowship and Kifak once again raised his axe, Ghor’Thrak, the Orc-Splitter, and decapitated both Hags.

The party examined the Hags and found that each Hag had one white ring. The party found that there was nothing else of value in the room or on the Desdursya Mage. Kifak decided to take no chances and piled the bodies up and burnt them.

The party returned to the room they had used for a campsite last time and rested to recover. The fellowship was once again woken in the night by screaming. They woke in the morning getting minimal rest and found that their tiredness and wounds were not any better.

The fellowship exited the room and continued south-west. They soon came to room with a regal-looking man standing on the opposite side of the room. They would soon learn that this was indeed Cofen-Taur when he held out the Palantir and dared them to cross the room.

The fellowship noted that they had seen Cofen-Taur before – this was the King’s Royal Seer! The fellowship asked how he has arrived here as he was last known to be on a sailing ship. Cofen-Taur shared that he came back for the Palantir.

Kifak asked Cofen-Taur if he was a Hollowed One. He replied:

“A Hollowed One? I am The Hollowed One!”

Cofen-Taur raised his hands and cast a spell on the floor of the chamber. The floor lit up and then returned to normal. Arbun tossed a stone on the floor and it bounced a couple of times before it landed on a tile and was immediately struck by multiple elemental attacks leaving a pile of dust behind.

Cofen-Taur continued to taunt the fellowship to come across, but the fellowship backed away to determine their next steps.