At least it was not forty years...

This last session had its highs and lows in the extreme. At one point, three hours were spent in an attempt to reunite the party. At another, two party members were almost rendered gone from existence in one horrible faux pas.

The session began with the party continuing to track the errant Kobolds. Things were going well, until a severe sandstorm hit. Just prior to the sandstorm, the party had split - and also because of the sandstorm, the party of further split up. It took a couple days, and several scattered kobold (and wolf) encounters to finally tie them back together. One together again, the decision was made to abandon tracking the Kobolds, and to perhaps find out a bit more about where the Halfling came from.

They took a short cut back to the initial town, where they bartered and resupplied, and then traveled to the Logan's "landing zone." Because of the sandstorm, no evidence could be found. The decision was then made to make an attempt to find any nearby Sem caravan - Brandon had somewhat of an idea where one might be.

While traveling towards the last known location of one such caravan, the party came upon the edge of a forest that was ominous. Brandon (and Kami) made it known that this forest was guarded by an agent of the gods - Humbaba. Nothing more was really known, except that most people stay away from the forest, and certainly no one messes with any of the trees.

Logan, the tribal pygmy, being completely ignorant about such things, inadvertently summoned Humbaba. (After the sandstorm, the party leveled up to second level. Brandon managed to pick up a snippet of Logan's language, and did try to warn Logan about such dangers. However, there is a world of difference between "do not mess with the trees" and "do not ever touch the trees.") The initial impression of Humbaba is mixed; he is a large hairy man with a large axe, but apparently a man in every regard. However, his speed was unnaturally fast, and his strength, fabled to be infinite, appeared to be literally so. Logan tried running, and was quickly overtaken. Prostrating himself before Humbaba, he was seized and dragged off to Humbaba's altar. Here, Logan was subjected to direct contact with divine elements.

The party, with exception of Kami, made the decision to attempt to rescue Logan. They successfully tracked Humbaba through the forest to his lair. There, they saw Logan on the altar, with a thin beam of light from the heavens piercing his head. He was barely responsive. Humbaba would not allow approach, apparently being able to be in several places at once. Ricco, especially persistent, finally attempting tumbling past Humbaba (affectionately called, at this point, Captain Woodstock). The tumble attempt, while close, was ultimately unsuccessful, and Humbaba showed no mercy. With the death of Ricco's character, the party decided to wait. After a time, Logan was released with a greater understanding as to how not to mess with the trees. Humbaba then tossed the party back to their camp, to be rescued from the river by Kami.

From there, the party caught up with the Sem caravan, and did some minor bartering. They did not find out too much news, but did do some bragging about having met Humbaba face to face.

The session ended there, with the party having decided that the next thing to do was to travel to the biggest city.