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Game Session 18 (part 1)
After their defeat in the alchemists’ tower the beaten heroes dragged themselves back to the elven camp. There the elven healers tended to their wounds, and they rested themselves. Evinia soon summoned them to her tent where they reported on what had happened, and discussed plans for winning the war. The elves had sustained heavy losses against the drow, but they were still determined and ready to make one final press against the Academy of Arts. The companions once again agreed to act as a strike team, but they were eager to pay back the drow who had nearly killed them the day before, so they decided their first stop would be alchemy lab, and this time they would see it razed to the ground.
The next morning they moved out. This time the elves could no longer spare any archers to accompany them and they were left to their own devices. They managed to make it to the alchemist’s lab without incident, and soon they were mounting their second assault on the location. This attack proved to be much more effective. The heroes came at it from a different side, and both Jeleneth and Lavain teleported themselves up onto the ledge that circumvented the remains of the structure’s domed ceiling. Jeleneth again used her thunderwave spells to reduce what was left of the dome to rubble and send it crashing down on both goblin lackey and drow warrior alike. The remains of the dome also crushed much of the alchemical experiments and supplies stored in the room, unleashing clouds of noxious fumes and fiery explosions to further confound and harm their enemies. The rest of the heroes took advantage of the chaos to enter the tower and begin slaying the surviving opposition. Their foes consisted of vile trogs, deadly drow and the ogre they had faced the day before. While this battle raged, Lavain and Jeleneth continued to pummel their enemies with deadly spells and curses. The highlight of the fight was when Jeleneth blasted the drow alchemy matron off a platform and out of a hole in the structure’s wall. She crashed into the wall of a nearby tower and then plummeted to the ground. When she landed several of her flasks of alchemical acids and explosives detonated from the impact ensuring her a spectacular demise. The heroes took their share of wounds as well, but this time they managed to vanquish their foes and destroy the laboratory.
After a lengthy rest, and with their victory fueling their spirits, they chose to press on towards the Academy of Arts. In the distance they could hear the terrible sounds of battle, and they knew that elves were sacrificing many of their best warriors to draw out the drow forces and buy them a chance to reach the academy.
Game Session #18 Part 2 (Approaching the Academy of Arts)
The companions were not the most stealthy band of adventurers to be found. Lavain and Jeleneth could move with a fair degree of silence, but Elric, Trevor, Balthus and Alcove all clomped along like draft horses and even enchanted elven boots wouldn’t have been enough to silence their footsteps (especially 4E elven boots). Thus, it was no great surprise when they were heard moving through a stretch of woods that stood between them and the academy. Though most of the drow were busy battling the elves, they weren’t stupid, and they had left patrols to guard all approaches to the academy. This particular group consisted of several trogs, a hulking, red scaled, lion-like lizard that was known as a rage drake and another terrible creature from the darklands called a hook horror. At first the heroes tried to detour around their enemies, but the drake was as fast as a great cat, and it caught them before they could get far. The trogs hurried forward as well and soon another bloody fight had broken out among the boughs.
The hook horror proved to be the most deadly of the foes. Its tough exoskeleton afforded it excellent protection against the heroes’ weapons; its arms ended in deadly hooks, which could easily tear through armor to rend flesh, and with its great strength it was able to fling those who got in its way away like refuse. Alcove, Elric and Trevor were the ones that bore the brunt of the hook horror’s blows, while the rest of the companions tried to stay well out of the way, and focus on destroying their enemies with spells. The fight proved to be grueling, but eventually the heroes had managed to fell the hook horror and most of the trogs. Unfortunately, it was about his time that reinforcements arrived. The reinforcements were in the form of a pair of gargoyles and several small, chubby, winged demons that were horrific parodies of angelic cherubs. These menaces swooped in on them and began a brutal assault. The companions were already worn down, and had little energy left for battle, but they forced themselves to keep fighting. The healing magic of Balthus and the two paladins proved most needed, and several of the heroes were bloodied during the fight, only to have the nasty little demons suddenly teleport to them like moths to a flame. The fiends constantly giggled and snickered as they tried to strip and gnaw away at the flesh of the most wounded heroes with their wide fanged mouths. They nearly killed Lavain, when they suddenly appeared around him en-mass, and it was only his own teleportation magic that managed to save him. The companions came to hate them almost instantly, and they cut them down as quickly as they could. In the end, it proved to be another grueling fight, but through skill, determination and the favor of the gods, the companions managed to fell their foes.
After a short rest, in which clerical healing was repeatedly administered and weapons were wiped clean of demonic gore, the weary heroes made there way to the edge of the woods. Not far ahead of them stood the Academy of Arts, and outside of the academy battle raged, as the elves were in the midst of their final press against the drow. Fortunately most of the fighting was towards the far end of the structure, and the heroes had a clear path to the building. Luck was on their side, for there was even a gaping hole in a tower wall that was easily large enough to provide them with an entrance.
In German-accented English Kill Zem ... Kill Zem All.
I've been working hard at it, but those 4E characters can be a little tricky to kill- especially warforged. Now bring them down to 0 is pretty doable, but sealing the deal gets a bit tough. At any rate, I've got a couple kills to report coming up in the next game session. In fact, it was very close to a TPK so...
I've been working hard at it, but those 4E characters can be a little tricky to kill- especially warforged. Now bring them down to 0 is pretty doable, but sealing the deal gets a bit tough. At any rate, I've got a couple kills to report coming up in the next game session. In fact, it was very close to a TPK so...
Hrm ... perhaps a pint-sized imp specializing in coup-de-gras ? ^_^
Hi P.H. et al,
My name is Sjoe, (like Shoe) and I’m a 32 year-old urban professional who lives here in Toronto. Many moons ago, I came across your amazing Savage Tide campaign and now read your Second Darkness campaign regularly. It has been great!
You write really well, and I have been thoroughly enjoying your tales of adventure. I love the dedication you and your players have to the story - whether role-playing, in combat, or just having a laugh. As a DM, you seem quick on your feet and able to make creative use of NPCs to account for your player’s wild and inventive choices. You take the sessions in amazing directions, both dark and original. I also like the editorials you give on converting to 4E, and it seems that the new system in Golarion really works well in your hands! Your characters’ letters are also such a treat to read – Giles, Elric & Dante, and of course the occasional dismissive quip from Lord Davain. You clearly have an imaginative super-group that gets into it as much as you do – thinking, talking and writing in character!
I have run several D&D games in medical school and residency, but for one reason or another, we never could make the campaign last beyond the 4th level. School often got in the way; we graduated and moved to different cities. D&D was always a pleasure to play and it remains one of my all time favourite activities. Ever since those glory days, I have tired to meet with players in Toronto, including the pub-nights at the TRPA, but I never could quite manage to find a group as enthusiastic and dedicated as I was. I have bought a lot of Paizo and 4E stuff and continue to read, world-build and paint minis regularly, but it has been too long since I rolled a 20.
By now it might not surprise you that I am hoping to join you guys for a game … I am a friendly team-player and consider myself quite reliable and easy to get along with. I stay pretty organized and honour my commitments, too. I have been incredibly busy with my liscensing exams, but after a dozen years of studying, time has finally opened up! If you have any need for a new player, even for a trial run to see if I click with your gaming group – please let me know! And if you are planning on running Legacy of Fire I would be delighted to join in! Might I introduce you to Al-Razir, the impetuous genasi swordmage, Whitesand, the half-orc desert ranger or Pashmiri, the half-elf belly-dancing bard? How about Salud, the silken gnome rogue, or Averonne, the human wizard facing expulsion? Each of them are keen to write their own tales… and it probably goes without saying that I also play a masterful Dwarven cleric with a voice like Sean Connery and a breath like fermented Pesh. But doesn’t everyone?
I would be delighted to send along my email if you were interested in chatting privately!
It looks like we'll be losing one of our best players soon as he's moving to Vancouver the first of June. That will open up a slot at the table. Right now we're gaming at UoT, but we may have to change venues soon. We currently game on Sunday afternoons from about 1:30-6. If you're interested you could come check out a game session in the near future. As a dm I'm looking for any new player to be reliable and committed. I don't expect that every player can attend every session and we don't game every single weekend, but I do like my players to give me notice if they aren't going to be able to make a session and try to make sure they send me up to date copies of their character sheets. Beyond that we're a fairly laid back group.
Hi P.H. et al,
My name is Sjoe, (like Shoe) and I’m a 32 year-old urban professional who lives here in Toronto. Many moons ago, I came across your amazing Savage Tide campaign and now read your Second Darkness campaign regularly. It has been great!
You write really well, and I have been thoroughly enjoying your tales of adventure. I love the dedication you and your players have to the story - whether role-playing, in combat, or just having a laugh. As a DM, you seem quick on your feet and able to make creative use of NPCs to account for your player’s wild and inventive choices. You take the sessions in amazing directions, both dark and original. I also like the editorials you give on converting to 4E, and it seems that the new system in Golarion really works well in your hands! Your characters’ letters are also such a treat to read – Giles, Elric & Dante, and of course the occasional dismissive quip from Lord Davain. You clearly have an imaginative super-group that gets into it as much as you do – thinking, talking and writing in character!
I have run several D&D games in medical school and residency, but for one reason or another, we never could make the campaign last beyond the 4th level. School often got in the way; we graduated and moved to different cities. D&D was always a pleasure to play and it remains one of my all time favourite activities. Ever since those glory days, I have tired to meet with players in Toronto, including the pub-nights at the TRPA, but I never could quite manage to find a group as enthusiastic and dedicated as I was. I have bought a lot of Paizo and 4E stuff and continue to read, world-build and paint minis regularly, but it has been too long since I rolled a 20.
By now it might not surprise you that I am hoping to join you guys for a game … I am a friendly team-player and consider myself quite reliable and easy to get along with. I stay pretty organized and honour my commitments, too. I have been incredibly busy with my liscensing exams, but after a dozen years of...
It's times like these that I really regret leaving T.O.! (Where I am now, I'm running three campaigns in 3.5, but no one else has stepped [back] up to the plate yet to run some 3.5 for me.)
So, which character's player is leaving?
Edward, who played Alcove and Giles. He also played Breca in my Savage Tide game for anyone who read that journal.
It's times like these that I really regret leaving T.O.! (Where I am now, I'm running three campaigns in 3.5, but no one else has stepped [back] up to the plate yet to run some 3.5 for me.)
So, which character's player is leaving?
After a short rest, in which clerical healing was repeatedly administered and weapons were wiped clean of demonic gore, the heroes made there way to the edge of the woods. Not far ahead of them stood the Academy of Arts, and outside of the academy battle raged, as the elves were in the midst of their final press against the drow. Fortunately most of the fighting was towards the far end of the structure, and the heroes had a clear path to the building. Luck was on their side, for there was even a gaping hole in a tower wall that was easily large enough to provide them with an entrance. At this point Jeleneth temporarily abandoned the party to help the beleaguered elves (as her player was not present for the session).
Unfortunately, because I have fallen so far behind in my journaling, I’m going to have to give a very quick accounting of the next several events and game sessions to get caught up.
In the end, the heroes fought their way through the academy of arts. They found that beyond the gap in the tower wall was a summoning circle with an imprisoned vrock demon. When they entered the room they accidentally triggered the means for its freedom and a battle ensued against the bloodthirsty fiend. It was a dangerous foe, but the valiant heroes had the demon outnumbered, and though they weren’t able to kill it, they did drive it off.
Inside the academy, they encountered undead elves that had been turned into zombies. They put these creatures to the sword, and it was Balthus’s radiant clerical magic that proved to be extremely deadly against the horrors. Not long after they discovered a chamber filled with Carnage demons and the fat imp like gnaw demons, as well as another ogre. These foul creatures were busy tearing apart captive elves when the companions arrived. Of course a battle erupted here, and though it was a taxing fight, the heroes again prevailed.
Finally, they made their way into the tower that contained both an elfgate and a portal that they believed led to where ever the drow were retreating to hide and regroup. By the time they had reached the room this portal was closed. However, the drow had left a few guards here to defend it. They included a troll, a nasty drow paintaster and a few more carnage demons. Had the heroes been rested, the ensuing fight might have been less deadly. However, the pain taster was a fiend in battle and he savored every blow they landed against him, only to dish back equal amounts of pain. The fight was starting to turn in the favor of the heroes when a pair of gargoyles arrived to attack them from behind. The gargoyles must have come from the one large room they had not explored, and the heroes just didn’t have it left in them to deal with the deadly new foes. They began a retreat, but it was too late. Lavain, Trevor and Elric were all cut down. Alcove and Balthus managed to get out just as a band of elves entered the academy, and with the aid of the elves they finished off the paint taster. The elves had saved Balthus and Alcove, but they couldn’t get to the other three in time. When they finally found Lavain and Trevor, the surviving carnage demons had chewed Trevor and Lavain’s faces beyond recognition. Elric was still alive, for the carnage demons had chose to ignore eating his face in favor of more tasty human victims. The elves finished off the carnage demons and gargoyles and secured the academy. The battle had been won, but a high price.
From the Book of Alcove
On the Awakening of Grief and the Death of a Companion:
Later Alcove listened to the words of its god, and it came to realize that among the makers was where Alcove had purpose. Though Brother Ogg and cleric Balthus might worship different entities, observe different rites, and proselytize different theologies, they too were beings like it. Though they were born, not made, they too were purpose in form, will and action.
And thus, when the next day came and the attack was mounted again and after much terrible struggle Brother Ogg fell and did not return from null, Alcove felt for the first time.
Alcove had fought many foes that day, but at the last surrounded and outnumbered, Brother Ogg had fallen to their enemies and it could do nothing to stop his death. At the last, with Balthus, Alcove retreated in the hope of finding some way to return and bring its friend back, but when Balthus was mortally wounded, the only choice Alcove had was to save the dwarf, as its purpose required.
An emptiness filled the mind of Alcove where none had been before. Alcove spoke to the elves, who told it of tragedy and loss, and at last Alcove understood. Though it was made not to feel it felt. The Words of Erathis had brought it thought and action, and now the Words of Erathis brought it grief for Brother Ogg, chosen of Caiden Caylean, Lord of Wine.
<SUSTAINED MASSIVE DAMAGE>
<SYSTEM SHUT DOWN FOR INTERNAL REPAIR>
Dante falls silent when Elric falls but is still able to watch. Overcome now that they have lost too many the remaining of the Warforges companions begin retreating. Dante snarls mutely at losing his chance to kill the Drow but can feel Elric’s internal energies effecting repairs, Elric will rise again where lesser beings would succumb to eternal sleep. It will just take time.
After the melee has left the room, a single beast remains. Snarling it approaches Trevor Oggs still warm body. Biting into him it feeds. The paladin groans but is helpless as the monster tears at his flesh, with a final spasm his body goes rigid.
Dante watches the smell of the second dying body, Lavaine attract it. Apparently it prefers the taste of still living flesh. Dante screams out mutely and impotently, the sound of breaking bone, tearing skin and slurping being the only sounds filling the room. With a final grunt Levains body slumps.
Finally the animal turns its head to the final body. Dante can see it thinking. It cannot smell blood but it has obviously fought and fed off things in armor. Without living bodies to feed on curiosity crosses its feature and it leisurely approaches the Warforged. It’s claws tear away the armor and its jaws bite at his innards. Surprise crosses the creature’s features and it spits out the components in his mouth.
<INTERNAL DAMAGE DETECTED>
<SYSTEM FAILURE IMMENENT>
Dante lies helpless in Elric’s hand watching his uncertain future form. The creature’s jaws descend to put the final bight into the warriors body.
When a group of Elvin arches burst into the room. The creature snarls at the sudden appearance of a new enemy but having already been weakened is defeated quickly. Alcove and Balthus follows them. Alcove picks up Ogg’s body and instructs the Archers to get Levaine. The paladin construct looks down upon Elric’s body, thinking. Finally he reaches a decision and has the archers pick up Elric as well. They try to separate the sword from his hand but the Warforged will not let go. They start carrying the heavy warforged out.
<REPAIRS ON REGENERATION MATRIX COMPLETE>
<SYSTEM REBOOT COMMENCING>
<STAND BY FOR SYSTEM REACTIVATION>
<REACTIVATING>
Elric opens his eyes and brushes away the elves carrying him, now able to stand on his own.
Although he would never tell Elric this directly Dante is always impressed by the Warforge’s resilience. A mortal companion would have surely died if he has sustained the injuries that this construct had and yet he is walking out on his own two feet. Though death had been close this day, Elric is not indestructible. Dante has been careless with his companions lives in the past, there are so many mortals, but there are so few Warforged. Perhaps it would be within the swords best interest to take care of this body. There is much to think about.
Thanks P.H.
Sorry to hear about your departing player! Time and location work great for me, and I'd love to come by soon and check out a game! You can email me at saborst at yahoo dot com or let me know another way to reach you. Thanks for your quick reply and friendly invitation ... my hoots of joy sound nothing like having a demon crunching on the faces of three fallen heroes. What a dramatic end!
Sjoe
So, which character's player is leaving?
Edward, who played Alcove and Giles. He also played Breca in my Savage Tide game for anyone who read that journal.
His characterizations will be sorely missed!
(And my compliments to Edward for running Breca, a character who survived the entire STAP - granted, with at least two in-combat-but-not-permanent personal fatalities.)
i tried to send you an e-mail, but I'm not sure if it went through. Let me know.
Thanks P.H.
Sorry to hear about your departing player! Time and location work great for me, and I'd love to come by soon and check out a game! You can email me at saborst at yahoo dot com or let me know another way to reach you. Thanks for your quick reply and friendly invitation ... my hoots of joy sound nothing like having a demon crunching on the faces of three fallen heroes. What a dramatic end!
Sjoe
Game Session #20
Over the next few days Jeleneth studied the two portals in the Academy of Arts while the elves regrouped from battle and saw to their many dead. In this endeavor, her training with the cyphermages proved most valuable. She determined that one of the portals (the smaller of the two) was an elfgate that had been tampered with so that its destination was now likely somewhere in the darklands. It was probable that the drow had moved their forces into the city through this gate. Currently, the gate’s magic was spent, and it was building up the power to be used once again. The second portal was a rune-scribed arch, and the keystone for the arch was an actual fragment of Riddleport’s cyphergate. The runes formed a cipher of sorts, and Jeleneth deduced that a magical device with a rune scribed in it likely existed and served as both the key to the cipher and the trigger for the gate. Without this device the portal could not easily be opened. However, she was a crafty eladrin, and she was certain that with some effort she could crack the code and learn the missing rune. She could then likely replicate the rune with silver powder and use the makeshift rune to open the portal for a brief moment, which would hopefully give the heroes a chance to venture in and go after the remaining drow forces.
Evinia selected two of the most powerful members of the elven army to join Elric, Jeleneth, Balthus and Alcove on this important mission. The two were an elven druid known only as Gar, and an elven holy assassin devouted to a secret order of Callistria. His name was Feredir.
A couple days later Jeleneth found success. She managed to replicate the trigger rune, and she traced it with silver powder in front of the gate. The portal was activated and the companions leapt through just before it closed behind them. They found themselves in Celwynvian near the great library of Reenai, but this version of Celwynvian was much different than the one they knew. It was a strangely shadowy world and the buildings were still immaculate and fully intact. The skies above were turbulent and reminded them of the skies above Riddleport just before the star fell. The heroes all suspected that they had some how traveled back in time, and that the time was very close to apocalyptic event now known as Earthfall. The streets were deserted, so the heroes ventured towards the library.
In the library they found their first citizen, an eladrin named Eloquan who was the high librarian. He was busy packing up books and scrolls and readying them to be moved to the safety of Kyonin. Eloquan was able to tell them much, and explained that the eladrin seers believed that the end was rapidly approaching, and that if the eladrin were to survive they must retreat to the fey wild. Most of the citizens had already evacuated, and only a few remained behind. The librarian had little information about the drow, but did make mention of having seen strange dark skinned, foreign elves about in the city, but he knew little beyond that, and was utterly preoccupied with his work.
After their visit to the library they made their way to the palatial home of the human ambassador to the Runelord Alaznist. They were pointed in this direction by Eloquan, who seemed to think that the humans and their hubris was responsible for the impending doom. Ambassador Ekarandi was home and willing to grant them an audience, though she was far more interested in taking with the Jeleneth the eldadrin wizard than any other members of the group. The two of them retired to her private quarters to converse about topics arcane, while the remainder of the heroes were left to wait in her villa’s sprawling foyer. Unfortunately, their wait was not a peaceful one. A pack of flesh hungry ghouls had got wind of their scents and followed them to the villa. They burst in on them eager to rend their flesh from their bones. The heroes were outnumbered but were rested and ready for a fight. Gar and Feredir both had a chance to prove themselves in battle. Gar hurled himself at the undead, transforming into a wolflike beast and pouncing on the stinking horrors to tear and rend them with his claws. Feredir moved with grace and speed, darting about the battlefield slamming his foes with his flail. His tactics focused on one foe at a time. Once he picked his target he hounded his opponent with tenacity, striking at the enemy again and again until it was dead. Elric, on the other hand, tried to take on all the ghouls it once. He called them to him, and intentionally allowed them to surround him, but that was the way he liked it. His job was to keep the enemies focused on him because he could take the punishment, and it left his companions free to work on striking the ghouls down from behind while they focused their hate on him. Unfortunately, with ghouls his strategy proved dangerous. The ghouls had a toxin in them, a toxin that caused his body to seize up and not want to move. For much of the battle, he couldn’t even lift his blade, despite Dante’s curses and protests. The ghouls took advantage of this and tore into him, and it was fortunate that Balthus was there to offer healing and use his holy radiance to help blast and burn the undead. The companions emerged victorious, and Feredir and Gar proved their worth, but at the same time they were reminder to never underestimate the perils of facing the undead. They also learned something else of use. Several of Ekarandi’s guards had rushed in to help fight off the undead and see that they never threatened their mistress. However, their attacks were utterly ineffectual against the ghouls. Not only that, but the ghouls hardly even acknowledged their existence. Every once in while a ghoul would bother to take a swing at one, and when the ghoul’s claw connected the guard would vanish into a cloud of swirling mist. It was as if the guards were some sort of illusion or ghost, and the heroes began to wonder if the residents of this version of Celwynvian weren’t mere echoes or shades of the beings that had once called the city home.
During the entirety of the battle, Jeleneth had stayed with Ekarandri, and from the woman she had learned that some strange elves fitting the description of drow had been seen near the observatory. Jeleneth passed this on to her allies, but she was too fascinated with speaking to the ambassador to show any desire to chase after the drow at the moment. After all, she had studied with the cyphermages, and it was said that Runelords and their subjects were responsible for many of the ancient relics and megalithic structures and ruins that still dotted Varisia, including the legendary cyphergate of Riddleport. When else would she have a chance to speak with someone who was a member of a civilization that had vanished thousands of years ago? Thus, Jeleneth remained behind, while the rest of the party headed off to see what their enemies were up to.
A journal entry from Gar's player introducing his new PC- Agares Blight aka Gar (elven druid)
A young but battle-scarred officer pushed aside the flap of the command tent, and stepped inside, offering up a deferential salute. “Sir, we have a bit of a situation in the camp.”
The captain inside the tent looked up from the battle plans he was surveying and said, “Go ahead.”
“It’s about one of the men we pulled out of the Academy of Arts after those irregulars from Elfmeet swept through it, sir. Since being rescued, his behavior has been erratic, and there are…..other issues.”
The captain furrowed his brow and looked back down to his maps, annoyed about being interrupted for so trivial a matter. “There had better be more to this story, lieutenant. Who is this soldier and what does he have to say for himself?”
“His name is Agares Blight, sir. He was a support member of a recon squad that was captured about a week ago and presumed dead. As you know, most of them weren’t killed but rather were captured by drow and held for questioning about our encampments. After the interrogation, the survivors were given to the drows’ demon allies, as appears to be part of their agreement.”
“Yes, yes, and he was rescued by the warforged and the rest of the lot. Come to the point quickly, lieutenant. What did he tell them about our forces?”
“That’s just it sir. It appears that in order to avoid divulging any of our secrets to the enemy, he…erm, he bit off his own tongue, sir. It’s made him a bit of a minor celebrity in the camp.”
The captain looked up for a moment, his face a combination of disgust and relief. “Well, that’s one way to do it. Have the healers had any luck in patching him up?”
“That’s the other thing, sir. Obviously, he was brought to the healing tent as quickly as possible. But as soon as he was conscious again, he escaped from the healers and went back into the city. Apparently, he killed three drow stragglers and brought….trophies back to his tent. It’s made him even more well-known among the men, sir.” The lieutenant paused for a moment. “Permission to speak freely, sir?”
“Go ahead.”
“He seems to be completely off his rocker, sir. There doesn’t seem to be any way to convince him to stay in camp, or to get him into another unit. He goes off to the city, comes back bloodied to hell and carrying drow parts, goes to sleep and then gets up to do it again. If he keeps this up, he’s going to get killed, sir, and we’re going to look bad for having let him do it.”
“Can’t we keep him restrained somewhere? We’ve dealt with plenty of nutters before. We’ll send him back with the other invalids when the next supplies come.”
“He has…certain talents that make it almost impossible to keep him restrained, sir. The only places that have proper facilities are the prisoner cells and the infirmary, sir. We can’t very well keep him locked in with a bunch of drow, and the men wouldn’t stand for it anyway. To them, this is a guy who came back from the jaws of hell. Locking him in a prison cell is not going to be good for morale. As far as the infirmary goes, there’s a bit of a problem with the trophies he keeps collecting. He….has a tendency to wear them around, and the medics won’t let him get within twenty feet of their tents without screaming bloody murder about hygiene issues.”
The captain sighed and distractedly massaged his temples. “S*!+. OK, how about this? Those irregulars….the ones that rescued him, they lost a couple of their own in that assault, didn’t they?”
“I believe so, sir.”
“Why don’t we send him with them on their next mission? Hell, he can’t be any crazier than they are. I’m sure they’ll have plenty to talk about.”
“Sir, I doubt it.”
“Wha….? Oh, right, the tongue thing.” The captain sighed again, heavily, and gazed longingly at the bottle of elven brandy sitting on the sideboard. “Shehanine’s Light, I need a vacation.”
The following are Elric's thoughts on being paralyzed for nearly an entire battle against a pack of ghouls and watching them try to tear him to pieces.
"Come you stinking undead nasties! Do not fight Elric's friends. Fight Elric. Elric give you good fight. Elric kill you all!"
The things surround the Warforged, unable to resist his challenge. Dante swings screaming for blood but missing their shifting bodies. His second strike cuts truer, digging into their flesh and making them scream. This does not kill them, it only enrages them, none of them fall.
Elric braces himself for their onslaught, their entire attention now on the construct and his screaming blade. As they attack, Elric feels his body seizing up and his mind getting groggy.
The remainder of the battle happens in flashes. Elric watches, helpless, as his companions fight. The dirty elf continually shifting to the form of a beast, jaws snapping at his enemies. The other elf, shifts and weaves among the ghouls, taking them down one by one.
The claws rend at Elric’s skin and teeth bite deep. He can feel critical damage to vital systems. Yet, he can also feel the dwarf heal him; keeping him alive. Unfortunately, as the battle progresses his friends are engaged and cannot focus on those around him. When Elric returns to consciousness, Dante screams at his companions' impotence. The warforged is content where the blade is frustrated. Eight of the enemy surrounds him and that is eight who are not engaged in battle with his friends. He takes his wounds proudly, for every rend of his metallic flesh is a wound that they would not have to feel. This is his purpose.
Finally his companions can take down those that have immobilized him, and the last of his enemies fall. Elric moves slowly, his regenerative systems healing his damage. Dante grumbles that they were not able to give as good as they got, but Elric is satiated. He is tougher than his fragile friends and he has served his purpose this day.
Game Session #20 part 1
The heroes verses Razorhorn!
Elric- warforged fighter 8
Alcove- warforged, paladin 7
Feredir- elf, avenger 7
Gar- elf, druid 7
Balthus, dwarf, cleric 7
The heroes approached the observatory with caution and stealth. Feredir went first and crept up as close as he could to investigate, and he promptly returned to report that the place was indeed infested with drow. The remainder of their forces had made camp in the buildings outlying the observatory, and he was certain that were many more inside the sprawling structure.
The building itself was large and featured a central tower that rose up out of its center. At the top of the tower were several lenses to view the stars as well as a massive orery. A grove of trees backed the building, and the heroes figured that it might provide some cover and access to windows that could serve as an alternative to going through the big double front doors, which would surely result in disaster. They crept through the trees and Gar took on the form of a tiny bird to fly up above the structure to do some further scouting. He learned that there was much of activity on the top of the tower. A drow wizard, and an entourage that featured apprentices, bound demons and bodyguards were all clustered there. The wizard was focused on a table full of charts and scrolls, and seemed busy making notes regarding the turbulent skies. Gar was pretty certain that the wizard was the drow called Noveliss and the commander of the invading forces.
Two large, stained glass second story windows sat like watchful eyes in the rear wall of the observatory looking out over the forested grove. The windows were big enough to accommodate Elric, so it was decided that they would use them as their means of entrance. Unfortunately there was one major problem with the plan- inside the building, on the other side of the windows, curled up on large balcony overlooking the expansive chamber beyond was Razorhorn the green dragon. None of the heroes had ever faced a dragon in battle before, and the thought of it was unnerving to say the least. Yet, it still seemed like a better option than going through the front, so they proceeded.
Dain, Balthus’s tiny construct “child”, used his grappling hook hand to fire a rope up to the window sill. Gar remained in bird form on the sill and watched for signs of the dragon stirring. If it was aware of the intruders it had not yet shown it. The distance to the window was not great, possibly 15’ at the most, and Elric was up the wall in no time. He and Gar burst through the window and onto the great balcony. Razorhorn was ready for them, and in an instant the dragon had pounced on Elric and pushed the construct back out the window for a nasty fall. Elric was hearty and survived, and fortunately Gar and Feredir were quicker and able to nimbly get in to keep the dragon busy, while Balthus, Alcove and Elric clambered up the wall and through the window. When Balthus finally got through his allies were wounded and needed healing, which he did his best to provide. With the entire party in the battle was on. The dragon took to the air, for the room was big and had a very high ceiling, and the dragon was still young and by no means fully grown, enabling it to move about with ease. It spewed toxic gas on the companions that poisoned and burned their lungs and stung their eyes; they mustered their courage to fight and hit the dragon with some of their most potent attacks. The dragon was a quick, savage foe, and its scales were strong, but the magical weapons of the party were able to pierce them, and it wasn’t long before it had taken many wounds. Razorhorn was a tough beast, and he gored heroes with his great horn, tore into them with claws and slapped them with his mighty tail, and whenever possible he dowsed them with another deadly gout of toxic gas. When the battle finally came to an end the heroes were all still living, and the dragon was dead on the ground. However, every single one of the companions knew he had been in a battle.
There was little treasure to be found in the makeshift lair, but tapestries aplenty hung from the walls, and they had caught the eye of the dwarf. He had already collected several from the embassy and was eager to sell the collection. Feredir merely smiled whenever the dwarf mentioned all the coin he hoped to get from selling them, for although the elf was happy to allow the dwarf to have his delusions, and happy to let the dwarf struggle with trying to transport the heavy artworks, he certainly had no intention of ever allowing them to fall into none elven hands. Unfortunately for Balthus, looting tapestries was currently a low priority. The observatory needed to be secured. The heroes spiked a pair of double doors that they suspected led up into the central tower, and they then set about securing the lower level. They wanted to ensure that the front doors got sealed so that they wouldn’t have to worry too much about a camp full of drow warriors coming in at them while they were in the middle of a fight with Noveliss.
An argument between Elric and his sword....
Session 20: Fighting Back
> A dragon. We were up against a dragon! I had a chance to show up that arrogant dragonslayer blade. Show them all what we’re made of. And what happens? I don’t get even a drop of its blood on me.
We fall out a window for starters. That armor of yours may keep us from dying but it doesn’t make climbing any easier. When we finally do get in we don’t even land a single attack. The dragon however, well he gets in several. We haven’t even touched it and we’re practically dying.
How are we supposed to become a epic warrior of legend if you can’t even wield me properly? Honestly I hope you survive but don’t expect you to and on the day that you die I should at least hope that you take our enemy within an inch of his life.
* What you say Dante? You teach Elric everything he knows of fighting Dante. Elric has memories. Memories that are not his, but you always there Dante. Elric is doing what Elric was made to do. Enemies come to hurt Elric friends, and Elric puts himself between them and takes their attacks. Elric is tough, he can take more injuries then his soft friends. Elric good at taking the damage. Elric is proud of his battles even though he does not hurt the enemy back.
> Taking damage is your purpose Tinman, dishing it out is mine. I am not pleased with your performance, we are just not hurting our enemies enough.
* When Elric and Dante fight I can feel our two minds join Dante….Elric does his purpose, Elric think that a poor conciousness blames others for his incompetence..
> That doesn’t sound like you! That sounded like Galinndan. That’s happening more and more as our bond grows stronger; it’s creepy. Besides your wrong. I am an ancient blade and have been fighting for generations of Eladrin. Do you have any idea how long that is?
* Long time, maybe Dante going senile? Elric only knows he does his side of fight very well….gets much practice…maybe if Dante do his job better Elric won’t get as much practice?
> I AM NOT SENILE!! You are getting a lot of nerve Patchwork. I have been in the hands of some of the greatest warriors across eras. I have been great in their hands, I am not used to this many disappointments.
* All your companions die Dante…did that not disappoint you?
> We are through talking Construct.
* Why you never call Elric by his name Dante?
The blade is silent, but now the bond is so strong that Elric can feel the answer in a whisper in the swords thoughts…because that is not your name.
Game Session #21 part #2
Thus, they quickly set to dealing with foes on the main level. They headed towards the front of the building, and in a large common room with big trestle tables they found themselves in a fight with a particularly nasty breed of drow warriors. The heroes had not yet encountered “Paintasters”- a vile group of masochistic fighters, who only wore light armor and savored every blow that their foes landed upon them. The two forces faced off in a brutal combat. The paintasters certainly lived up to their name, but they also dished out almost as much hurt as they gleefully endured. Elric, Alcove and Feredir got into the the thick of things with them while Balthus hung back and attacked with bolts of radiant fire and provided healing for the wounded. Gar also did what he could to aid in the fight in his savage beast form, but was distracted when he had to chase down a drow servant that tried to make a break for the outside to fetch reinforcements. Gar raced into the foyer and caught her just as she was lifting the bar off the heavy double doors. She had no chance to fight back as his wolflike form pounced on her and savagely sought out her jugular. He dealt with her quickly and then assumed elven form so that he could make sure the door was securely barred. Afterwards he returned to the fight to help his new allies.
He arrived just in time to see a new threat. A drow spell caster and a trio of armored undead warriors had managed to get out of the main tower and were attempting to attack the heroes from behind. Balthus used his divine powers to burn the undead with radiant fire and turn them back. He then slammed the door to the room shut and held it closed by propping it with his sturdy back. He knew he couldn’t keep them at bay for long, but he had to try to hold for as long as he could. The rest of the party was still in combat with the paintasters, and though they were faring reasonably well, the last thing they needed was a drow mage and a pack of undead joining the fight. Soon the undead were hammering at the door, and Balthus could feel their armored gauntlets slamming into it. The door was strong and was holding. The fight with the paintasters raged on, and both the companions and the drow had taken many wounds. Then Balthus heard a sizzling sound and could smell a noxious acid. The mage must have hit the door with some sort of acid spell. Suddenly, a thunderous blow shattered the door, and the dwarf staggered forward. The undead came surging through, and deadly spells began raining down on the heroes. Balthus’s companions could do little to come to his aid at the moment, but the dwarf felt that his god was with him, and he bravely turned to face the armored, sword wielding undead. A smile crossed his face and he unleashed his new catch phrase- “I got this…”
With that tiny utterance, he seemed to transform into a virtual undead destroying machine. He smashed at them with his hammer and unleashed his holy radiance on them. All the while, they cut at him with their swords leeching his very life force. Balthus performed admirably, but the numbers were not on his side. Luckily, Alcove was able to come to his aid, while the others finished off the last of the paintasters. The remainder of the fight was grueling for the undead were well armor and their life drain swords sapped robbed the heroes of their strength and very souls. Once again they managed to persevere, but when the fight was done and the mage and undead were put to rest for good, the heroes were spent. They had used every resource at their disposal, every potent spell, every ounce of healing, every trick of every magic item, and every fancy tactic they could come up with. Things were looking grim, for they still had to deal with Noveliss, and retreating was currently not a viable option. It was all or nothing. But they all agreed on one thing- if they were going to die, they were going to go down fighting. For the moment things were quiet, so they took advantage of the brief respite to do what they could to bandage and heal their wounds, and come up with a strategy for dealing with the wizard and his entourage.
Game Session #22 (Armageddon Echo- Finale)
Gar again assumed the form of a raven and flew out of one of the building’s windows. He soared up in the air, well above the top of the central spire. Looking down he was able to see that the wizard and his minions were still there, but obviously alert to the intrusion below. Two babau demons waited eagerly near the top of the stairs that led onto the tower’s roof top, ready to pounce on any invaders. Noveliss’s three drow bodyguards were also alert for trouble, but staying close to Noveliss, who had returned to his studies. The wizard’s demon hound (canoloth) was still at his side, but also had its attention focused toward the stair. There was no sign of the apprentice, and Gar presumed that was drow spellcaster they had killed earlier. He flew back to his allies and reported his findings.
A plan was quickly formed. Gar assumed his true form and cautiously made his way up the stairs of the central spire. The rest of the heroes hid behind the corpse of the dead dragon. Once Gar reached the top the babaus tried to jump him, but he was expecting this and was not taken by surprise. He suddenly assumed his beast form, which was more of a shock to them, and then he bolted back down the stairs. The demons proved true to their nature, and tore after him, wanting nothing more than to rend him to shreds. In his beastform his was quicker and more agile and he was fast down the spiral staircase. Yet the demons were quick too, and one them managed to rake a clawed arm across his rump as he burst out into the former lair of the dragon. He bolted through the room and headed for the foyer at the front of the building. The demons chased him and took no notice of the rest of the heroes who were hiding behind the dead dragon. Alcove promptly moved out of hiding after they had moved into the next rooms, and he barred the battered door to the mess hall. He wasn’t sure if it would hold, but he hoped that it would by them some time to get up the tower and deal with Noveliss. Gar led them as far away from the tower stairs as he could, and again assumed his raven form. He then flew out a nearby window leaving the demons isolated from their master with no prey to tear up. They howled and cursed in frustration and soon turned on one another to sate their bloodlust.
The party hurried up the tower stairs to the roof. Feredir and Elric led the attack with Alcove and Balthus coming up last. Feredir focused his attention on the canoloth and using his divine powers he managed to teleport it off the side of the tower, causing it to plummet some eighty feet to the rooftop below. The demons were now out of the fight, and only Noveliss and his bodyguards remained. However, the drow offered the battle weary heroes plenty of challenge. Noveliss was skilled in the dark arts of magic, and had made pacts with demons to heighten his powers. He initiated battle by conjuring a zone that was filled with writhing, insubstantial demonic shadows. They tore into anything caught in the zone with claws that seemed to drain the very life forces of their victims. Balthus was their primary victim, and he spent what felt like an eternity caught in the shadows, with more of his life force being drained with each passing second.
The heroes tried to close in on the wizard to cut him down before he could unleash more of his horrid spells, but his bodyguards did a good job at putting themselves in front of him, and they also used their innate magic to surround themselves with clouds of magical darkness. They seemed to see fine in their respective clouds and while he heroes bumbled around trying to get a fix on their foes, the drow slashed at them with their deadly blades. Luckily, the effects of the magic didn’t last long, and when the spells vanished the heroes pounced on their enemies with a vengeance. They knew that it was a fight to the death, and that victory was their only hope of survival. Retreat was not an option. They fought with tenacity, and as Noveliss blasted them with spells of acid, lightning and frost they cut down his guards. Soon only he and his most loyal and skilled bodyguard remained. By this time Balthus had managed to free himself from the zone of shadow demons, and all the heroes converged on their two surviving foes.
They were wounded from Noveliss’ magic and the drow blades, but they had the pair outnumbered. Rifkin, Noveliss’ surviving bodyguard, was a deadly combatant he deftly parried his foes most deadly attacks, turning killings strikes into mere grazing scratches. At the same time he fought back with a combination of precision sword slashes and powerful brutal strikes. At the same time, he skillfully used his shield to protect both himself and his master. Despite his best efforts, the Elric, Feredir and Alcove inflicted several grievous wounds on the wizard, while Gar darted about hounding his foes in beast form. The wounds had bloodied the wizard, but his pacts with the demons had allowed him to sustain more damage than he should have been able to take, and he once again tapped into his dark magic. This time he called upon the power of the mighty balor demon, and a nimbus of flame erupted around him, burning the heroes and encasing him in a sheath of unholy fire. Only Alcove, who fought with his halberd, was able to stand far enough back from the wizard that he could attack him without being burned. Elric didn’t care about the fire; he set his metal jaw, readied himself for the pain and moved in on the dark wizard. Rifkin did his best to keep defending his master, but in the end he failed, and finally the heroes cut the drow down. Rifkin knew his enemies would show him no mercy, and he kept on fighting attempting to avenge his dead master. He nearly managed to bring a couple of the heroes down, but in the end Feredir managed to maneuver him dangerously close to the edge of the tower, and Alcove was able to charge him and force him over the edge. He plummeted to his death, and victory belonged to the heroes.
By the time the fight had ended they had expended all their resources and we bloodied and exhausted. The drow camped outside the observatory had taken notice of the fight and were attempting find a way into the observatory. The heroes had to escape. They searched the body of the wizard, and on him they found a strange purple crystal with arcane glyphs etched into it. Though they didn’t have Jeleneth available to help them, for as far as they knew she was still conversing with Runelord ambassador in the embassy, Balthus was able to determine that the device might serve as a key to returning back to the true version of Celwynvian. After several attempts they managed to trigger the device, and suddenly they found themselves whisked back to the real world. It was good timing on their part, as the apocalyptic event known as Earthfall was just beginning in the version of Celwynvian they had been trapped in. Now the drow had truly been defeated. Unfortunately, Jeleneth had been left behind, and it seemed probable that she would have died in the impending armaggedon.
In this journal from Elric's player, Elric finally starts to take charge of his egotistical blade and show some true sentience.
After the return Dante is complaining again, but Elric isn’t listening this time. Unfamiliar thoughts are forming in the Warforge’s mind and they are so profound that for once Dante is stunned into silence.
* “You are done Dante? Good. All my life I listen to you Dante, now you listen to me.”
“First me have come to realize that Elric is not my name, I have memories that are not mine in my head, they are from people that you knew. I will have a new name, a name that is mine.”
The construct ponders for sometime in silence.
“When dwarfs make armor for us they told us of a strong metal…”
Elric pauses, listening to Dante’s thoughts.
“Yes, Adamantine. I am like that, I have taken much damage in battle, much more than friends and I still stand when they would have fallen. That will be my new name.”
Again he listens, Dante not even speaking in his head, their bond so strong that he simply can scan the swords thoughts.
“Yes it is too long, Adam is simpler; And Dante…I am simple, not stupid…you will not call me names ever again; the pain you have put me through has earned me that.”
“No, YOU will LISTEN Dante. I am not done.”
Dante is again stunned into silence, in their long months it is the first time that the construct has talked back.
“You are reckless, you leave us open to enemy attack and cause my body unnecessary injury to make your attacks more powerful. But it is for nothing because we miss many attacks and cause the enemy no damage. That ends today. I have done things your way my entire life, now we do this my way.”
“I was built as a defender, that is my function and that is what we will be doing from now on. First, we will buy new equipment, most importantly a new shield. We will ask the elves and Balthus to attach them to us, making them a part of us; when that is done, I can heal better. Because of all the damage you have caused my body, it has learned to heal better.”
“You are a part of me Dante, and I do not know what would happen to me if the bond is broken and I do not wish to find out. I share your purpose and will do my best to fulfill it as well. We will continue to hunt Drow, for I have seen their evil in my memories and for myself, but from now on we do this my way.”
“Am I understood?”
Dante searches the Warforge’s mind. The bond had never been like this before, so strong. The sword could feel his usual arsenal of bristling insults, stubborn denials, cutting remarks and tantrums in the back of his mind, but in the face of the Warforge’s resolve they were nothing. It was no use fighting and besides, as long as…Adam…still killed Drow, what did it really matter?
> “We are understood, Adam”
* “Good Dante, we are true partners now, let’s tell the others of my new name and see the Elves about what equipment can be bought in this place.”
A character journal entry from Gar the elven druid.
I had a dream last night.
I remember sitting by a campfire. All of the old guys from the squad were there: Cricket, Shanker, Harteg....even Old Finn was there, playing that damned flute of his. We were just sitting there around the fire, talking and laughing like we used to do before this whole campaign even started. I thought we were out on the borderlands, but when I looked up we weren't. We were in Celwynvian, but not the Celwynvian I have known, filled with drow and demons and death; this one was....healed. The moon and the stars looked down on a place of life, one that was old and scarred, but with a heart that beat along with the people who were coming to live there....my people. I walked to the edge of our camp and watched as the elf city healed itself, old wounds closing up as new blood flowed in through the city gates.
Behind me, I heard Finn start up a reel on the flute, and I heard Ky laughing at some joke that Cricket had just got done telling. Shehanine forgive us all, but that guy always had the most inappropriate stories to tell. I turned around to go back to join them, but they weren't there, and I wasn't in Celwynvian any more either.
I was standing in the middle of a forest, far from the city. This was the forest of my youth, the forest where I first heard my call. Sunlight was filtering through the canopy above me, and the voice of the wild was speaking to me in the spring breeze. The rustling leaves whispered to me, and I *remembered.* I remembered the wheel of life, I remembered that there are other things than just the sharp red claws of the predator. There is the cleansing of the spring rain, the solemn dignity of a midwinter day, the silent secrets in the heart of the mountain.
I remembered all these things, and I felt the path under my feet. I knew then that I had to go on. I took one step, and then another. Looking up, I realized that I was not alone on the path. I was with a new pack. All of them, from the strange constructs, to the zealot, to the AWESOME DWARF with his amazing warhammer, we were all walking on the same path. I hurried to follow them, but then I heard a sharp whistle behind me, a simple greeting used between scouts on the borderlands.
Looking over my shoulder, I saw my old squad. I paused, thinking to go to them, but Finn took a step forward and slowly raised his hand, as if to bid me farewell. As the path between myself and them grew longer and longer, I understood. I knew that I would see them eventually, but that it wouldn't be for a while yet. There is still far too much to do.
Game Session #23 (part #1, Endless Night begins, discomforting disguises)
PCs
Elric/Adamantine (Warforged, fighter 9)
Balthus (Dwarf, cleric 8)
Feredir (Elf, Avenger 8)
Gar (Elf, Druid 8)
Weemat Angus (Gnome, Sorcerer 8)
The battle for Celwynvian had been won. Noveliss was defeated and an elven garrison had been established in the Academy of Arts to guard the elfgate that led to the darklands. The heroes had returned to Crying Leaf and there they recuperated from the war, and considered their next moves.
Lady Evinia was very pleased with their contribution to the elven victory, and she rewarded them by hiring an eldarin mage from Iadara to enhance the enchantments on their weapons and armor. She also gave Balthus access to the smithy and a few apprentice smiths, so that the dwarf could spend some time tinkering away on Elric to make him ever more efficient in battle.
It was during those couple of weeks of peace in the late days of summer that a sad event came to pass. One morning the warforged known as Alcove announced that he was leaving the Mierani woods. His god had called him in new directions, and he felt that his time among the party was at an end. Though the heroes were sad to see him go, they gave him their thanks, wished him their best and watched as he tromped off into the woods with his halberd in hand.
Eventually, the quiet life came to an end. Evinia called them together, for she had another mission in mind for them. Though the drow in Celwynvian had been defeated, they remained a threat, and she hoped that the heroes would be brave enough to venture into the darklands to try to discern the full truth of the drow’s evil schemes. To help ensure the success of this dangerous mission she had developed a plan of her own. She had recruited an eladrin necromancer from the Mordent Spire to help her, and with the aid of his magic the heroes would be disguised as drow so that they could move among their enemies undetected. Sending the heroes into the heart of enemy territory certainly was a dangerous idea, but they agreed despite any misgivings.
A few days later they were introduced to the wizard Gisiel. With him was his apprentice, a gnome named Weemat Angus. Weemat was as mad as a derro, but his heart wasn’t quite as black. It was obvious that Gisiel was looking for an excuse to get rid of him, and he volunteered the gnome to be the first to undergo a ritual that would transform him into a drow. Gisiel led the party into the village infirmary and there, laid out on a series of palettes were the deceased, but well preserved bodies of several drow warriors, which had been salvaged from the war. Weemat happily stripped off his clothing and hopped onto an empty palette beside one of the dead drow. Giseal then began incanting a terrible ritual. The heroes watched in horror and fascination as the skin of the drow transformed into an oily black smoke that hovered in the air just above its remains. Soon the drow was nothing more than a skeleton with a roiling cloud of smoke above it. Gisiel then directed the smoke like a puppeteer, and it suddenly flew straight into Weemat’s mouth. The gnome’s eyes bulged, and he sputtered and gagged as more and more of the smoke poured down his throat. It wasn’t long before it all vanished into Weemat, and the gnome instantly began to transform. A moment later he had taken on the very form of the drow that had just been lying beside him. Yet, even though his appearance had radically transformed, he was still a crazy gnome underneath.
The remainder of the party wasn’t eager to follow in the gnome’s footsteps, but they did none-the-less. One by one they underwent the transformation. Gar was fortunate in that he found that he now had a tongue in his new form. However, he had become so accustomed to not speaking that he didn’t intend to start now, and made only a few grunts as he stood up and attempted to grow accustomed to his new form. The ritual didn’t go as well for Elric. Something about his warforged nature wasn’t compatible with the magic, and though at first it looked as though the ritual had worked, only a few minutes passed before his drow flesh started falling off in big, slimy disgusting chunks. It looked as though he was only meant to kill drow. It was probably for the best, as Dante couldn’t bear the thought of being wielded by one of the very creatures he was forged to kill.
Poor Balthus was last, and unfortunately the only remaining corpse was female. It was a miracle that he even agreed to the ritual. Perhaps he was so distracted by watching the ritual’s interactions with Elric that he hadn’t even noticed that the body beside him was female. He certainly had a look of surprise on his face when he stood up and saw that he was missing some of his usual equipment.
According to Gisiel the ritual would last for many weeks, and would be sufficient to pass the scrutiny of any of the common divinations that drow might use. Of course being a drow was more than just looking like a drow. The heroes had act in a manner that would be convincing, and they had to come up with a plausible story for their appearance in the darklands. It was decided that Balthus would be the leader, as she was the only female. She called herself lady Xoon, and decided to take the role of a houseless mercenary. Feredir was her bodyguard. Weemat was her personal attendant. Gar took the form of a giant spider and became her pet. And Elric became her trophy from the surface world and second bodyguard. Finally they were ready to venture through the elfgate into the darklands.
Another journal from Elric/Adam
Pimp my Warforge 2
Finally, all the parts from Magnimar arrive. Dante briefly wonders how the dwarf got them, which makes Adamantine wonder too, but both decide it is unimportant in the long run.
The elves were only able to spare two apprentice engineers, and Balthus grumbles about this. All of his equipment is removed for refitting and adjusting except for Dante, which never leaves the construct's side. A team of elven black smith's apprentices buff and shine him and perform routine maintenance while organized chaos erupts around him. He is the eye of the storm, ever watchful but still as stone, only moving when someone asks.
The Dwarven Scalemail is radically altered, most significantly a hole is made for the crystal that is being installed into the warforges chest. Balthus watches over that carefully, making sure that the modifications do not ruin the fine dwarven craftsmanship.
A shield is brought in. It is a finely crafted one of elven make. It bears no insignia at Adamantine and Dante’s insistence.
Dante can feel Adamantine’s mind, and Adamantine his, it is a strange feeling and one that he is not used to. The bond had never been this way before and it frightened him. They didn’t even need to talk any more; they could read each other’s thoughts as they had them. When the modifications first began Dante wracked his mind with anything that could sway the warforge’s newfound resolve, to get him back under his sway. Try as he might, there was no gap in his defenses. They were simple thoughts, even crude but effective, a defender in mind and body. After days, he just gave up; reminding himself that as long as the construct continued to hunt Drow, none of it mattered.
Dante could even sense the modifications, the boots annoyed him even more now that they were part of them. At least since they were able to change the color scheme to better match the warforged. In fact everything was getting a touch up so Adam never looked better. The armor no longer looked bulky, the shield fit neatly onto his arm and the boots actually looked decent on him. Only the bracers looked out of place now. Adam had thought of trading them in for another item but had decided to keep them to the sword's relief. The construct had taken away much of their power with his recent upgrades and it would have been aggravating to lose everything.
As the days passed, they began to hear details of their next mission. They were to infiltrate a Drow city and try to find out what their plan would be. In order to do this they will be using a ritual to change the fleshies to actual Drow. Dante, seeing that Adam is not a fleshy, has serious doubts that this ritual will work on them. Even though he would be surrounded by Drow; the prospect of getting abandoned in a Drow city again was something Dante would not allow. Unfortunately, Adamantine could not abandon his new friends, particularly Balthus who had just spent the month upgrading him, so disguise or not, Adam was going.
Dante spent the month trying to change the Warforge's mind, presenting logical arguments and anything else he could come up with. He came close a few times but in the end the bond between the construct and his friends was too strong to break. Adam would see this through to the end, and he would make sure that as many of his companions as he could save would survive as well. As much as Dante hated it, he would have to come with. He wouldn’t go happy, but Adam cared very little about that.
Game Session #23 part 2 into the darklands.
“This will be a great story to tell my grand children.” That was the thought that ran through his head as he held up his slender female drow hand to place a bid on a hook horror at a slave market in the drow city of Zinakarin.
Needless to say, it had been a rather strange day. The heroes had ventured through the elfgate. On the other side they had found a camp full of drow guarding the portal. Fortunately, their disguises held up, and they were able to pass themselves off as survivors from the war. They were interrogated and afterwards the captain of the garrison ordered them to travel to the nearby drow city of Zinakarin to bring their news to the drow of house Azrinae. It seemed that house Azrinae had played a major role in organizing the invasion.
Their escort into the city was a gregarious drow merchant named Gadak. He was in the service of another one of the prominent noble houses of the city- House Vonnarc. The heroes joined him on his wagon, which was pulled by a giant cave lizard, and they began the four hour trek to the city. Eventually, they arrived at their destination, but not without incident. While following the merchant road through a trail of giant mushrooms they were ambushed by a band of stinking trogs. That battle was a quick one, and the heroes efficiently dispatched most of them, and sent the survivors running. Even so, it served to remind the heroes that danger was ever present in the darklands.
The drow city was as beautiful and terrible as they had imagined it; its sprawling, vice infested expanse filled a cavern that was a few miles in length and hundreds of feet high. Gadak informed them that this first portion of the city was called Cocyrdavarin. They had to trek through its entirety to reach a route that led to another great cavern that served as the home to the palaces of the powerful drow noble families. They were led to the fortified palace of house Azrinae. Gadak advised them to avoid it, for the Azrinae’s were not known to accept news of failure well. He suggested that they instead come with him to house Vonnarc to make their report, but they insisted on visiting House Azrinae. At that point Gadak pointed them in the right direction and left them to their fate.
The visit to House Azinae was not pleasant. The place was heavily guarded by demons, though the heroes were allowed through the gates and into the main grounds. There they met with first brother Kardinnyr and reported the defeat of the drow by the elves. At the same time they tried to keep their eyes open for any clues regarding the activities of the house. Kardinnyr did not take the news well and had a mind to order a flock of vrock demons to descend upon the heroes and tear their limbs off. Luckily, Weemat was highly skilled in the art of groveling. He managed to convince Kardinnyr to take his frustrations out on him and spare the rest of party the consequences of his displeasure.
Sometime later the heroes were released from the Azrinae compound with orders to bring their news to house Vonnarc. Weemat had received one of the worst floggings Kardinnyr had ever given, which was saying a lot. His back was completely bloodied, and the gashes were deep enough that his spinal column was exposed in places. Adam (formerly known as Elric) had to carry him out, and if it hadn’t been for the healing powers of Lady Xune (Balthus) he likely would have died.
The adventurers decided that perhaps paying a visit to house Vonnarc would be a good idea. Unfortunately they didn’t know where it was, so they made their way back to the city proper where they figured they might be able to find a guide to help them find the Vonnarcs.
While taking in the plethora of sights, sounds and smells the vile city had to offer, they had stumbled across a slave market. On the auction block was a hook horror. Balthus recalled his encounter with such a creature in Celwynvian, and remembered how dangerous the beast had been. He couldn’t help but think that the thing would make a fine addition to his entourage. Thus, he suddenly found himself raising his graceful female drow hand and placing a bid on the creature.
Game Session #23 (part 3, the trials of being the owner of a hook horror)
PCs
Weemat Angus (gnome, currently a drow, sorcerer 8)
Elric (warforged fighter 9)
Gar (elf, currently drow/ spider, druid 8)
Feredir (elf, currently drow, avenger 8)
Balthus/Lady Xune (dwarf, currently female drow, cleric 8)
Nothing was simple or easy in the darklands- not even buying a hook horror (if you can imagine). Lady Xune’s bidding was interrupted by a wealthy looking drow woman and her own entourage of drow guards. The woman introduced herself as lady Akneth, and it seemed that Elric had caught her eye. She had many questions about the construct, the likes of which had not been seen in the city. Thus, Lady Xune’s (Balthus’s) attention was divided between the woman and the auction, and as he tried to answer a few of her questions, he suddenly found that she was offering him coin for Elric. She turned the drow down, and attempted to send her on her way, for Xune had more important matters to attend to. For instance, another drow further up in the crowd was in a bidding war with her, and she had ordered Gar to go take care of the competition. In spider form, which he hadn’t left since he arrived, the druid skittered his way through the crowd, startling many a drow as he went. Soon he reached his competition. He lunged in and sunk his fangs into the man’s ankle and pulled him to the ground. He howled in pain, and his guards rushed for Gar, attempting to skewer him with pole arms. Gar deftly darted back into the crowd, and made his way to an alley where he assumed his drow form to elude his pursuers. The wound he’d inflicted on the bidder hadn’t been terrible, but it gave lady Xune the opening to place the winning bid. She then started to make her way towards the stage to retrieve her purchase with Feredir. Elric, who had been looking for an excuse to slay some drow, stayed behind to wait for Gar, but secretly he was hoping lady Akneth might try something stupid while Xune left him unattended. Weemat remained with him.
The warforged didn’t have to wait long, after Xune and Feredir disappeared into the crowd, lady Akneth signaled for her guards to try to capture the construct. This proved to be a big mistake, Dante (Elric’s sword) howled in glee as it was bathed in their blood. However, it would have been a tough fight for Elric to manage on his own if Weemat hadn’t been there to unleash his wild magic sorcery on them. The scuffle had only lasted a few seconds before it was clear that the drow were losing, and lady Akneth was forced to surrender and beg Elric and Weemat to spare her life. Feredir had been alert enough to hear the commotion, and bring lady Xune back to Elric. They found that the fight was over by the time they got there. Elric forced Akneth to grovel at Xune’s feet, and Xune agreed to spare in exchange for restitution.
A little while later, the heroes were walking with lady Akneth and a couple of her surviving guards back toward her brothel. In tow they had a hook horror. The hook horror had a thick iron collar around its neck with a short length of chain attached to it, and a long iron pole attached to that. Elric and her two guards were charged with leading the thing through the streets. It was somewhere around this time that lady Xune realized she hadn’t fully thought things through when she made her purchase. The hook horror was not fully domesticated and proved quite difficult to control. It was frequently tempted by the various smells of food vendors, and more than once Elric had to use all his strength to keep the thing from bolting off down a bustling street. Gar did his best to try to keep it calms and docile, but he was far more knowledgeable about creatures of the surface world than those of darklands. Furthermore, such tasks were more easily done in drow form than spider form, and he was committed to maintaining his guise as an arachnid. Their real problems began when they passed by another hook horror. Their beast, which they had decided to name “The captain”, suddenly stopped and started madly clacking his massive hooks together. The other hook horror responded, and the clacking continued back and forth. At first the adventures thought they were going to fight and Elric tried to pull the captain away, but the hulking beast refused to budge. It was then that Gar realized that this was actually some type of mating ritual. Suddenly the two hook horrors charged each other and locked together in the most horrifying display of copulation the adventurers had ever witnessed. They couldn’t tell which one was the male and which was the female, but it didn’t really matter. The sight quickly drew a large crowd. At first Elric tried to pull the captain off, but the two hook horrors were locked together, and he didn’t stand a chance. He soon gave up and waited for them to finish. Finally it all came to a messy conclusion. Afterwards, they found the Captain to be much more relaxed, and he didn’t give them any more trouble for the rest of the trek through the city.
Game Session #24, Part #1 (Endless Night, more hook horror on hook horror action)
PCs
Adamantine/Elric and his blade Dante (Warforged, fighter 9)
Weemat (Gnome currently drow, sorcerer 8)
Feredir (Elf, currently drow, avenger of Callistria 8)
Balthus aka Lady Xune (Dwarf, currently female drow, cleric 8)
Gar (Elf, currently drow, druid 8)
The Captain- party's pet hook horror.
The establishment lady Akneth led the companions to turned out to be more spa than brothel, though certainly companionship could be rented. The place catered to wealthy drow females and was designed to pamper them and give them an opportunity to engage in the fulfillment of any perverse appetite that happened to occupy their thoughts. The heroes fully anticipated treachery at Akneth’s part, suspecting that on her home turf she might summon reinforcements to kill them in retaliation for the humiliation they had made her suffer. However, it turned out that the spa was controlled more by Akneth’s elder sister than Akneth, and after the sister had learned what had transpired, she happily tormented her sibling by agreeing to stable the hook horror and allow the heroes the full hospitality of the establishment all at Akneth’s personal expense. Akneth was obviously infuriated by this, but it was clear that she was terrified of her older sibling and would not try anything vindictive at the moment. Akneth was also required to find the heroes a guide to lead them to house Vonnarc the next day and even a trainer for their new pet.
It was difficult to mark the passage of time in the darklands, but many hours had passed and the heroes found themselves traveling the tunnels once again. The heroes made for an odd sight. Lady Xune (Balthus) appeared to be the regal drow matron, except that she was wearing the custom harness Balthus had made long ago, and sitting in the harness, strapped to her back was Balthus’s construct “son” Dain. Dain hadn’t gotten used to his father’s new form, but was trying to call Balthus mother instead of father now. On one side of Lady Xune walked the ever stoic Feredir and on the other Gar skittered along in his spider form. Adam (formerly known as Elric), the massive warforged, trudged just behind them, and Weemat, who appeared as a slightly manical drow sycophant, led the procession. They also had a drow guide leading them to house Vonnarc, and at the very rear of the party was the hulking form of the captain- their new hook horror pet with his new handler. The handler was a wild, bug eyed derro dwarf. The derror held a pair of ceremonial bone rods that he clacked together. With the rods he was able to tap out directions and commands that only the captain seemed to understand. The derro’s clacking technique was very effective, and the Captain obediently followed the dwarf’s orders. Gar paid close attention to the derro, trying to see how he commanded the savage hook horror with such ease, and he spent most of journey enthralled by the unceasing, clacking rhythms.
Their journey was not without incident, and as they made their way through the tunnels a trio of wild hook horrors descended upon them from the above. The beasts were a constant nuisance to the drow, for drow flesh was one of their favorite meals, and hook horrors often lurked near the city waiting for tasty drow snacks to come by. This band of hook horrors had been clinging to the rocky cavern walls above the heroes, and had leapt down and caught them by surprise. The section of tunnel they were traveling through was quite narrow at this point. Two of the monsters landed in front of them, and one landed behind. To make matters worse, in the distance they could hear the clacking sounds of another hook horror coming to join the fray. Elric and Feredir rushed to engage the hook horrors at the front of the fight, while the Captain and Gar dealt with the one coming at them from behind. Xune and Weemat tried to stay out of melee and hurl spells at the beasts. The hook horrors were dangerous opponents, and one of them nearly killed Feredir with its deadly rending hooks. The Captain was also badly wounded and lady Xune had to use her healing powers to keep it alive. In the end, the heroes were able to fell their foes including the forth one that arrived, but walking out of the encounter without some wounds had not been an option.
Game Session #24 part #2 (Working for House Vonnarc)
Sometime later they found themselves in the palace of house Vonnarc. They stood in a well appointed audience room. Before them was a large desk carved of wood imported at great expense from the surface world, and behind the desk sat slave mother Undamesta Vonnarc. Undamesta looked them over with a spiteful, suspicious glare and asked them many questions. The heroes did their best to answer her, and for the most part she was satisfied with their responses. She showed particular curiosity regarding Adam, and had many questions about the construct. It was also clear that she was not fond of lady Xune, she seemed to think that the houseless vagabond was arrogant, pretentious and trying to play the part of one far above her station. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Weemat’s exceptional groveling skills and ability to say just the right thing at the right time, she likely would have sent them all on their way with a thorough flogging. Instead, she sent them to the slave quarters to wait, and eventually returned to inform them that she had decided that she would give them a chance to prove their worth to the house. To bring lady Xune down to the level that Undamesta thought she truly deserved to be at, she gave the woman a position as a common maid. She did grant her two concessions, for she allowed her to retain both her pet spider- Gar, and her construct Dain. Of course, Undamesta had no knowledge that the spider was actually the druid in disguise, and she made it clear that if Dain was not useful she would have him melted down. Feredir was given a position among the palace guard, and Weemat was put to use as an attendant for various important nobles of the house. She kept Adam for herself, for Undamesta was completely fascinated by the warforged.
The next several days were full of drudgery. Xune was low on the seniority list among the servants, and she was given the worst jobs. She had to deal with their incessant gossiping and backstabbing, and it was clear that they all despised her. Feredir’s days were tough as well. He was forced to endure the brutal training regimes of the household guard (though they were no worse than anything he’d had endured when training as an avenger of Callistria). Weemat’s lot was slightly better, he was required to do all manner of minor tasks for the nobles, and though they were sure he was mad, they found him entertaining. Adam had by far the best job. He became Undamesta’s personal assistant, and she had him follow her everywhere. She outfitted him with a whip, and he became her personal flogger. Whenever a servant did something that pissed her off Adam would be there, eager to offer a thorough flogging. His arm never tired, even though there seemed to be an endless number of servants to flog, and his enthusiasm and passion for his work never waned. In fact, in the years to come he would likely look back on those days with fondness.
This is one of my favorite player journal entries so far. It is a song that I can only assume Adam was singing while flogging drow for slave mother Undamesta.
To fully appreciate it you must go to the web address and listen to Spongebob singing away. While Spongebob sings his tune substitute in the following lyrics.
Lady Zune kneeled down and she frowned at me
Said it’s going to be alright, but you must whip me.
Finished whipping her and was brought outside
And saw Drow to beat far and wide.
It’s the best day ever (best day ever)
It’s the best day ever (best day ever)
I’m so busy I have so much to do.
Spent the last two hours beating someone new
Every servant, slave and man
Is reaching out trying to stay my hand
It’s the best day ever (best day ever)
It’s the best day ever (best day ever)
Sometimes the servants try to run away from me
I chase them down, and lose my frown
By beating them into the ground.
These crowds of Drow, that I despise
They line up for punishment right before my eyes.
Seeing them in pain is a welcome sight
My arm never gets tired I can last all night
Yeah, the best day ever is going to last all night now.
It’s the best day ever (best day ever)
It’s the best day ever (best day ever)
It’s the best day ever (best day ever)
It’s the best day ever (best day ever)
Well I'm on vacation right now, so hopefully I can get caught up on my neglected campaign journal. I'm currently about 6 game sessions behind, so I have ways to go.
Here's a start:
After serving house Vonnarc for several weeks in the most drudgerous of capacities, slave mother Undamesta finally gave the disguised heroes a chance to demonstrate their talents more fully. A small group of driders had recently escaped the house’s herd, and the masters of the house wanted them hunted down. Undamesta decided to give the heroes the chance to do it. They were loaned cave gecko mounts and escorted by a pair of Vonnarc trackers into the wilds outside the city. There they found the small cavern complex that the driders had made their lair. At this point everything was left up to the companions. The trackers stayed back to monitor the mounts and wager on which of the heroes would return alive.
The passages through the caves were narrow and sloped steeply. It wasn’t long until they reached the driders, which were in the midst of devouring their latest meal in the back of one of the caves. Driders were nasty creatures- part drow and part spider- the product of drow fleshwarping. Their minds were twisted and broken from the painful transformation, and they were in a perpetually foul mood. They immediately set upon the intruders. They slashed at the heroes with glaives, bit at them with poisoned fangs and tired to entangle them with sticky webbing. Luckily Gar was able to call upon his druidic magic and erect a wall of thorns across the cave that divided their enemies. This proved to be a most helpful tactic and enabled the heroes to hack their way through their tortured foes with relative ease. It wasn’t long before they marched out of the cavern carrying the dripping heads of their quarry, much to the surprise of the drow trackers.
Word of their feat swept through the palace quickly, and soon they caught the attention of second brother Tiryin Vonnarc. Tiryin decided that he wanted to meet the house’s promising new recruits and he summoned them for an audience. Undamesta was required to attend as well, and the first thing Tiryin did was chastise her for not telling anyone about the wondrous construct she had acquired as her personal assistant. In fact, he was so angry with her that he promptly ordered Adam to flog her to within an inch of her life. The irony of this was not lost on the adventurers, and Adam took to the task with even more glee than usual. Of course Tiryin had also heard rumors that the warforged was built for combat, and being a warrior of skill, he insisted on putting Adam to the test. He also took an interest in lady Xune (aka Balthus the dwarf), for she was physically very attractive. He insisted that she be taken to his chambers and be readied for him, so that he could have his way with her after his sparring match.
Shortly thereafter, Adam found himself in palace’s plaza ready to spar with Tiryin. A large crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle, including Tiryin’s sister- second daughter Faideva Vonnarc. Tiryin was quicker and probably more skilled than Adam. In seconds, he had landed a couple of nasty strikes with his rapier, strikes that would have dropped a normal opponent. In fact, Tiryin was certain he had won, and was ready to start proclaiming that the construct was hardly a worthy foe. It was then that he learned what it was to face Adam and his blade Dante. What Adam lacked in speed and finesse he made up for in brawn and hardiness. His warforged body was nearly impossible to kill, and suddenly he was back on his feet (thanks to his cute magic boots). Dante was all fury. He had spent too long in his scabbard, surrounded by enemies that he wasn’t free to kill, watching as Adam’s whip took away all his fun. The blade was starved for drow blood, and it urged Adam on with tremendous ferocity. Tiryin was taken by surprised, and though he fought back with skill, he could not bring the warforged down. As Tiryin tired, Adam’s blows began to land true, and soon the drow noble collapsed to the ground from his wounds and was forced to beg for mercy. It took all Adam’s strength to overcome Dante’s will and not drive the blade through the drow’s throat.
In the moments that followed, drow priests rushed to Tiryin’s aid to work their healing magic upon him and feed him potions for his wounds. As soon as Tiryin had the strength to speak, the humiliated drow ordered his guards to move in and kill the warforged. It was then that Faideva stepped in and commanded them to stand down. She would have none of it, for she was quite amused by Tiryin’s humiliation, and as a female she outranked her brother in the family hierarchy. All that Tiryin could do was sputter and curse as he retreated back to his quarters while Faideva smiled caustically at him.
When he arrived in his chambers, Tiryin found lady Xune tied naked to his bed as per his request. Unfortunately for Xune, Tiryin was not in a loving mood. He took his anger and frustration out on her in ways that would have made even the most deviant brothel goer queasy. The experience left Balthus/Xune tramautized and in great pain. He couldn’t wait to be a dwarf again, and he prayed to Erathis that Tiryin be punished for the abuse he inflicted upon him/her.
The following is Adam's perspective regarding the fight with Tiryin:
Second Blood
Although beating Drow day and night was good, this undercover mission was hard for the Warforged. Echoing within his mind were the all the past wielders of Dante…generation upon generation of warriors whom all shared a common, deep running hatred of the Drow. Being the Chief Flogger at House Varnak helped, Adam could take out his frustration on Drow slaves, yet the willingness of the slaves sometimes made these beatings routine and unsatisfying.
It was difficult to speak to them without contempt, even more difficult to stop himself from going on a killing rampage, cutting them down one by one and then making a break for the surface leaving mutilated bodies in his wake. In fact many of the echoes dreamed of this, trying to taunt him into action.
Surprisingly it was Dante who stopped them. The Sword was terrified. If Adam fell here there was no way out. It would be even worse then the dark pool in that forgotten ruin. They would lock him up, no one would be allowed near him. He would be surrounded by Drow but be silenced and powerless to kill a single one. There could be no greater torture. Therefore the blade stayed silent.
Adam kept his responses short and kept to his simple story that these adventurers rescued him and that he followed Lady Zune willingly in gratitude. It seemed to satisfy them. It did not stop the curious looks he would get, or how the eyes of the drow would follow him. This was another thing that stopped him from leaving the party for the surface, how far could he get before some Drow raiding party captured him and dragged him back into true slavery?
The Warforge’s reputation did not escape the notice of the Second Brother Tiryin. He was a warrior and wanted to test the constructs mettle in one on one combat. Upon meeting the construct it was not long before Adam found himself challenged and squaring off with the Drow in a space surrounded by House Varnaks militia. There was no way to talk his way out, even if he wanted to; but this is what the Warforged had been wanting for since he got here, what the echoes have been screaming for. He was looking forward to a challenging fight with a Drow, and he didn’t even have to hold back; no one expected him to win.
Adam settled into his fighting stance. Sizing Tyrian up with his eyes as the Second Brother did to him. Seconds passed like minutes, then Tiryin struck, his sword rending a deep tear in Adam’s metallic flesh. His enemy smiled at drawing first blood, passing gracefully and regaining a fighter’s stance a few feet away.
Surprise crossed his face next as he watched Adam’s armor mend itself before his very eyes. The Warforged used the distraction to bring his sword down in a devastating blow. And thus the exchange went. Tiryin’s blade digging precisely and deeply with each cut and Adam healing the damage and counterstriking. The Second Brother was a more skilled warrior than Adam and could do more damage with his weapon. Adam could feel Dante admiring him. With every strike however, Adam would mend the damage. The look in Tiryin’s eyes was one of frustration and since he lacked the ability to heal himself it soon became obvious what the only end to this battle would be. Dante clashed against Tiryin’s armor without his customary battle cries and his opponent fell to his knees and raised his hand in surrender.
The Echoes screamed for the Drow’s head and it took everything Adam had to stop his arm from executing one last swing. The Drow got up shakily with the help of his militia, where Adam stood practically healed. Dante could see and feel the stares upon them, they had not made many friends with the Houses army, that could only end badly.
One thing was certain; it was worth it.
(Game Session #25 continued) In the Service of Faideva Vonnarc...
PC
Adamantine/Elric and his blade Dante (Warforged, fighter 10)
Weemat (Gnome currently drow, sorcerer 9)
Feredir (Elf, currently drow, avenger of Callistria 9)
Balthus aka Lady Xune (Dwarf, currently female drow, cleric 9)
Gar (Elf, currently drow, druid 9)
Over the following days, Tiryin lusted for vengeance over his humiliating defeat at the hands of the warforged. However, there was little he could do. The adventures had won the attention of second sister Faideva, and she had taken them under her wing. Adam and Ferridir were both made her bodyguards and Lady Xune, along with her pet spider (Gar the druid), become her apprentice. Weemat, the crazed gnome (now drow) sorcerer, began serving her as an attendant, sycophant and errand boy. The days passed, and Xune was taught the ways of house Vonnarc’s demonic patron- Areshkagal. She began assisting Faideva with her daily services, which gave her the opportunity to have her revenge against all the household servants who had mistreated her. Of course, Faideva was not a kind mistress, and serving her without incurring her wrath was a challenge.
One day Faideva decided to make a trip into the city. She had commissioned the creation of a bust of herself by a talented local sculptor, and he had just completed the final touches on the work. The piece was ready for her to pick up, and a visit to his workshop was in order. Members of the drow nobility never traveled without a large escort, and Faideva was no exception. A huge cave behemoth was mounted with a beautiful palanquin large enough to hold 3-4 drow on the inside. Attached to the outside of it at the front there was sculpted bench for a driver. Lady Xune and Faideva traveled in the Palanquin, while Gar rode on top of it still disguised in his spider form. Adam sat beside the driver on the bench. Ferridir rode a cave gecko, as did seven other Vonnarc guards. Weemat remained at the palace to attend to other duties. The journey into the city was without incident, for there were few among even the drow that were willing to attack such a formable looking procession, and as they made their way through the city streets, the lower caste citizens and slaves pushed and shoved one another to get out of the way of the Vonnarc entourage. Faideva was clearly enjoying the spectacle she was causing, and she was also enjoying watching Xune peel, cut and feed her fruit from a silver platter.
Finally, they entered the artisans’ ward. This was a part of town that only the wealthy could afford to shop, and here many talented artisans and their apprentices worked tirelessly to produce the beautiful works of art that few on the surface world had ever set eyes on. They entered into a large plaza; at the opposite end was their final destination, but it was as they approached the shop that the ambush was sprung. Crossbow bolts suddenly came raining down on them from above as masked assassins sprang up from the rooftops of the surrounding buildings! The procession was taken by surprise. Several guards were killed or wounded in those first couple seconds, and chaos ensued. Fortunately, the heroes were able to maintain their cool. Ferridir reacted quickly. He ordered the remaining guards to aid him and they spurred their gecko mounts forward. The creatures scaled up the very sides of the shops and raced along the walls. Ferridir crested one of the walls and saw several assailants reloading their crossbows. He charged forward and brought his flail down on his enemy’s head while his gecko mount snapped at the drow with its needle like teeth. Back on the ground Xune, Gar, Adam and Faideva dismounted the behemoth, for it was beginning to buck from the arrows that had sunk into its flanks and the space was too cramped for it to move easily. Faidieva seemed to be the target of the attack, for many arrows fired at her. Luckily, her robes were actually an illusionary glamour to disguise her enchanted chain armor. The magical armor protected her from many of the bolts, but still a few got through, causing her painful wounds. However, Faediva had more tricks, for she when she had made Xune her apprentice she had performed a ritual that allowed her to magically transfer injuries to her over to Xune. The priestess didn’t hesitate to use this ability, and suddenly Xune was the one suffering, and she was forced to use her healing magic on herself to stay alive. Balthus, who wore the guise of lady Xune, cursed and swore in his mind, as his body was suddenly shattered by injuries that Faideva has passed onto him. Life as a female drow had not been good to him. It seemed to be one bad thing after another, and he was sure that if he had just remained a dwarf, things would have turned out much better. They desperately made their way towards workshop where they would have cover from the arrow fire. Gar was the quickest in his spider form, and though he couldn’t open the door. He launched his heavy arachnid body through one of the windows and came crashing into the studio. Inside he found several more drow ambushers waiting. Among them was a dreaded illithid, a creature with a head the resembled a squid or octopus. Gar knew little about these foul aberrations, but he learned quickly as it loosed a mind blast on him that left him momentarily dazed. The drow closed in on him and it was hard for the druid to defend himself. He was forced to shed this disguise and assume his drow form. He then cast a wall of thorns spell that separated him from the mind flayer.
Outside, Ferridir continued to attack the drow on the rooftop. He was not accustomed to doing battle from the back of a mount, particularly one as exotic as a giant cave gecko, so he leap from the saddle and attacked his enemies on foot. Despite his efforts, the rooftops were crawling with attackers, and he couldn’t get to them all at once. The other guards did what they could to help, and Faideva, Adam and Xune continued to hurry towards the workshop. Faideva’s luck proved bad, as an ungodly long, barbed tongue reached out from an alley to wrap around her and pull her towards a horrific demise. A terrible demonic creature, known as a cannoloth had been lurking in the alley waiting for them to pass by. The creature was from the abyss and must have been summoned through some vile ritual at the behest of their enemies. It had waited as patiently as a demon could, and now it was time to feast on the drow priestess. Adam ordered Xune into the workshop and was about to go help Faideva when suddenly she used another one of her tricks. This time she magically swapped places with her apprentice. Now it was Xune that was trapped in the Cannoloth’s barded tongue. Adam was about to try to help his friend when Ferridir leaped down from one of the rooftops to land dexterously in the alley behind the cannoloth. At the same time he brought his flail down on its back. This caused it to release its hold on Xune and turn to face Ferridir instead. The avenger was full fury and the divine rage inside him drove out any fears he might have had of the foul fiend. Adam hoped that Ferridir and Xune could deal with the creature, and he turned and shouldered his way through the doors of the workshop. The fighting inside was fierce, as Adam hurried to help Gar. Fadeiva even engaged the drow inside, using her divine magic to inflict horrible pain on them, but the mindflayer that was the biggest threat. The wall of thorns had kept it out of the fight for a few seconds, but it managed to leave the shop and detour around the wall. It came back in to help its allies. However, though it was a dangerous being, Gar, Adam and Fadevia outmatched it, and soon Adam had cut it down.
The ambush had been contingent on a fast and deadly surprise attack. The element of surprise had been lost, and Faideva still lived. The ambush had failed, and the attackers knew it. The surviving archers on the roof began their retreat, abandoning their allies in the workshop. In the next few seconds, Ferridir and Xune managed to slay the cannoloth, sending it back to the abyss, while Gar, Adam and Faideva finished off the remaining drow inside the workshop. Soon the fight was over, but they had all suffered their share of injuries. Xune was in the worst shape, for Faideva had consistently been transferring her wounds over to her apprentice. The drow priestess seemed surprised, impressed and perhaps even slightly jealous that Xune had been able to survive the wounds that her mistress had given her. She was also angry that Gar had managed to keep his true form hidden from her and that she had been deceived in this regard. Normally such deception would result in death or worse, but given the role he’d played in fending off the attackers she decided to spare him. He would be punished, but a few days of thorough floggings would suffice. Faideva also decided that she would keep his secret. Having a shapechanger a her disposal could be useful and she didn’t want to ruin the opportunity by letting the rest of the house know about his abilities.
The sculptor and his assistants were all found dead in the shop. Their heads had been split open and the brains devoured. The bust Faideva had come to claim had also been destroyed, and she was furious. She vowed to learn who the attackers were and have her revenge. The corpses of the fallen were investigated for clues, but there was no evidence to suggest were their loyalties had been.
Over the next several minutes the heroes regrouped, gathered the surviving mounts and made their way back to the Vonnarc palace. The procession was no longer as impressive, and they were the subject of many stares and whispers, for it was clear that they had just seen battle. It was certain that rumors would be circulating wildly through the city for days to come. It was also certain the Faideva would be asking many questions, and sooner or later she would determine, which of her enemies had dared to make such an assault on her.
Game Session #26 part #1 (End of Night finale)
PCs
Adam/Dante- warforged fighter and his intelligent eladrin blade, level 11
Balthus, dwarf cleric of Erathis (aka lady Xune the drow), cleric 10
Weemat Angus, gnome sorcerer 10 (currently disguised as a drow)
Feredir, elf avenger of Callistria 10 (currently disguished as a drow)
Gar, elf druid 10 (currently disguised as a drow but hanging out in beast/spider form)
Game Session #26
The stories of the characters’ defense of Faideva during the ambush in the artisans’ ward spread quickly through the palace, and soon it seemed as though every drow in the house was interested in the new upstarts who had been moving so quickly though the ranks of the hierarchy.
Finally, the opportunity the adventurers had been waiting for arose. They were summoned to the house’s prestigious school of the arcane arts- the tower of Solacas. The tower was within the palace walls, just outside of the main palace, and it was here that many members of clan learned their magical skills. The summons had come from house Vonnarc’s first daughter- Alicavniss. Alicavanis was said to be the most powerful wizard in the city, and she commanded the fear and respect of every drow within Zinakaryin. The fact that she should want to meet with a small group of outsiders who had only recently joined the house was unheard of. Faideva was not pleased to hear this news, for Alicavanis was the only person in the family who could take her new toys away from her, and she hadn’t expected that her sister would have any interest in them. However, she could not afford to incur the wrath of someone so dangerous, so she had no choice but to comply with her sister’s wishes and send the heroes to the tower of Solacas.
When they arrived they were met by first brother, Erdrinneir Vonnarc, the family’s most skilled male wizard. He begrudgingly led them through the tower to its highest level where he showed them to the portal entrance to Alicavniss’s extra-dimensional lair.
They emerged from the portal to find themselves in what appeared to be a cavern, dimly lit by floating globes of bluish light. The spacious chamber was part laboratory and part study. Facing the heroes as they emerged, sitting at a large finely crafted stone table was the drow wizard, Alicavniss. In her splendid, but revealing robes, she was a picture of sensual beauty and simmering danger. The characters were clearly expected. Fortunately, Weemat was smart enough to remember his manners and bow before the drow noble. The other heroes followed suite, and she bid them to come forward before her. In the shadowy alcoves that surrounded the room, the adventurers could sense the presence of dark and dangerous creatures ready to tear them limb from limb at the slightest gesture from their mistress.
Immediately, Alicavniss made it clear that their disguises, though good did not fool her, and that it was clear to her that they were surface dwellers in disguise. Whether she was bluffing or not, the heroes could not say. They decided to err on the side the caution and be up front with her. Over the course of the next several moments, a tense conversation ensued in which the wizard questioned their reasons for being in Zinakaynin. They decided that attempting to deceive the drow woman would be unwise, so they spoke the truth. Luckily for them, Alicavniss was no real friend of house Azrinae, and she was familiar with their new matron. She clearly was not pleased to have surface dwellers in her midst, spying within her very home. However, instead of destroying them she decided to go a different route.
Alicavniss slowly stroked the fingertips of her dark steel gauntlet as she spoke. “I believe there’s much we can do for one another. You seek the Azrinae secrets, and in Zinakaynin secrets hide better than anywhere in you surface world. What you want to know of the Azrinae plot against you surface world will surely take time to uncover, but I am confident that I have agents capable of revealing what you seek.
While we wait, I know of a diversion you’d be particularly suited to. In the city, on the plateau of Arshyrvhar near the Pale Market, lies an unseemly den of debaucheries known as “Venom’s Kiss”. The place is a charnel house for souls, and I regret to admit that even my students are from time to time not immune to its temptations. One of my most prominent apprentices has proven himself quite susceptible.
Go there. Seek out the owner, a petty mercenary who calls himself Orvignato, and see that his corruptions never foul another noble soul. Do this for me, and I assure you that by the time you return I’ll possess the information that you seek.”
The heroes breathed a sigh of relief to discover that for now she did not intend to kill them. Adam and Dante were pleased- both had been eager for a chance to slay more drow, and it seemed that the time had come. The companions quickly departed Alicaniss’ lair, for it was clear they were no longer welcome. They were escorted out of the tower and headed directly for “Venom’s Kiss.”
Alicavniss had provided them with a secret password that easily allowed them to bypass the two drow at the door and enter the exclusive establishment. The place did not disappoint. It was every bit the den of vice they had anticipated. A haze of strange smelling, and highly intoxicating smoke hung in the air, and drow in various states of undress could be seen engaged in activities that might even make Malcanthet blush. Nearly everyone in the place was drow, the main exception being a few strange humanoids made of living fungi called myconanoids. The fungus men circulated among the drow like cocktail waiters bearing h’ordeuvres. However instead of appetizers, the myconanoids were allowing the drow to pull choice pieces of fungoid growth directly from their bodies. The drow would then eat them, for presumably the fungi induced some sort of psychotropic state.
A wide staircase led to the upper floor, and a balcony ran around the perimeter of the establishment allowing for a view down towards the action. There was no sign of Orvignato on the main floor, so the heroes headed upstairs. Adam and Lady Xune were the only ones of the group that carried a visible weapon. Ferridir had his flail hidden in his glove of storing, Gar was disguised in his spiderform, and Weemat carried no weapon of consequence. Beyond the hulking warforged accompanying Lady Xune, they didn’t stand out among the other patrons, and they reached the second floor balcony with no difficulty.
Scanning the balcony, they could see that it had several curtained off rooms, and judging from the various moans and screams coming from behind the curtains, it was pretty clear what the rooms were being used for. However, there was one door near the top of the stairs that clearly was for a different purpose. It looked sturdy and well secured, and the adventurers suspected that their quarry was behind it.
They knocked on the door and the voice that responded sounded like an annoyed drow male. A little bit of bluffing convinced the individual to open the door. On the other side were two figures. One was indeed a drow male who fit the description of Orvignato. However with him was a twisted flesh forged creature that had the lower body of giant scorpion and the upper body of a drow. Its forearms had also been severed and replaced with clacking pincers. There was little need for dialogue, for the companions’ objective was clear- take out Orvignato. Adam and Dante were eager to kill drow and the warforged moved in to kill. The scorpion drider moved in to block their entrance into the room and defend the corrupt mercenary, stinging at enemies with his tail and slashing with deadly pincers. Orvignato summoned a cloud of darkness to blind the heroes and began shouting for aid. The response was quick, and drow guards were soon coming up the stairs to defend their employer. Gar summoned a wall of thorns to try to block them off, and he was able to seal of several of the guards so that they could not easily come up to help. However some got through and Feredir moved to engage them with his battle flail, while Adam fought the scorpion beast. Weemat hurled spells at whichever foe happened to catch his fancy. Lady Xune called up a blade barrier spell to pin down the scorpion beast and tear into it at the same time. For the most part Orvignato stayed out of the fight. He was a skilled commander of his troops, and his orders were enough to help his allies find weaknesses and opportunities to take advantage of. The fighting was fierce, but with most of the guards unable to get to the heroes they were easily able to cut down their enemies. The scorpion drider proved the most challenging foe and despite the blade barrier he held the doorway preventing anyone from getting into melee with his master. Orvignato was not a fool, and when he saw that the fight was going against his guards he had the sense to make a retreat. His room had a secret door that opened to the outside, and even though it was on the second story, he decided the jump was preferable to fighting the heroes. By the time they slew the scorpion drider and entered his room, he was gone. Feredir tried to pursue him briefly, but the old mercenary knew the streets much better and had too big of head start. The heroes finished off the remainder of the guards, pillaged his chambers and set the place ablaze. Their mission had not been a total success, but they hoped that Alicavniss would be satisfied with the results.
Some time later they found themselves back in Alicavniss’s lair. She already knew the results of their mission before they made their report, and though she was not pleased that Orvignato still lived, she was content with the damage they had inflicted on his pleasure house to honor her end of their bargain. Her network of informants had come through for her, and she had learned some details regarding Allevrah’s plans. It seemed that Alleverah, the new matron of House Azrinae, had taken a large band of followers to the legendary land of Black Blood in Orv- the deepest level of the darklands. There they planned to perform a lengthy and complex ritual using ancient Aboleth starfall magic. They would pull another star from the sky. One that would devastate the surface world above the land of Black Blood, and that portion of the surface world would be the eladrin and elven nation of Kyonin. After revealing this information, Alicavniss made it clear that she knew they were surface dwellers in disguise (whether she actually knew or was just acting on a guess was unclear, but she spoke with confidence and conviction, and the heroes understood that her magical power was great). It was also utterly apparent that the woman had no love or respect for Allevrah, and she was concerned about how Alleverah’s plans might ultimately affect things in Kyonin. In her eyes, Alleverah was a crazed and dangerous maverick with too much power- someone who in the long run might threaten the status quo of her homeland, and that was something that Alicavniss could not abide. At the same time, she could not tolerate having spies from the surface world among her house, and she made it clear that it was only through her infinite good nature and mercy that the heroes were being allowed to leave with their lives.
Weemat, whose groveling skills were unparalleled, thanked the woman for her generosity and the party was on their way. They grabbed what few possessions they had and departed House Vonnarc immediately. Their destination was the surface world. Unfortunately, the only means they knew of by which they could return was the elfgate that they had come through and that was defended by a drow garrison. However, they did have some funds amongst them, and in the teeming metropolis of Zinakaynin there were many opportunities.
Game Session #26 (The flight from the Darklands and conclusion of Endless Night)
The next day they marched on the elfgate with a squad of hired duegar dwarf mercenaries in tow. As they neared the fortified cavern that housed the gate, they realized that things had changed since their arrival. The bodies of several drow littered the base of the ramp that led up to the cave. From inside they could hear the sounds of primitive drumming and chanting. Cautiously, they made their way up the ramp and they peered inside. What they saw was the horrific sight of recent slaughter. The drow were all dead and a couple dozen muscular, gray skinned humanoids with wild wiry hair were dancing among their bodies, gutting them and entwining themselves with the entrails. This was disturbing enough, what made them even more frightening was the fact that the creatures had no eyes. There was only flesh where eyes would normally be. In addition to these foul beings, several hooks horrors were busy devouring the corpses of the few driders that had once helped defend the place. The upside of the situation was that the heroes didn’t really need to fight these fiends; they just needed to get to the elfgate.
The heroes looked back towards their mercenaries, and were pleased with their decision to hire gray dwarves. Like surface dwarves, they were brave and weren’t afraid to die in battle. In fact, from the looks on their faces they could hardly wait for the order to attack. Lady Xune issued the command and the duegar surged forward. A fierce and bloody fight ensued and the heroes took advantage of the distraction to race for the portal. They had to pass by the hook horrors to get the gate and Adam bravely stayed back to hold the beasts off while the rest of the party hurried to the portal. The portal wasn’t active, and it would take time to get it ready. Weemat went to work on this task, while Lady Xune cast a blade barrier and Gar a wall of thorns to protect them from some of the grimlocks that had taken notice of them. The hook horrors were dettered by the barriers and took to preying on the deugar instead. Adam fell back to join his friends and then he and Feredir set about holding off the few grimlocks stupid enough to try to get to them. Soon Weemat had activated the portal and the heroes hurried through, leaving behind the remainder of their payment to the gray dwarves.
Game Session #27 part #1 (A memory in Darkness begins)
PCs
Adam/Dante- warforged fighter 12
Balthus- Dwarf Cleric 11
Feredir- Elf Avenger 11
Lyvander- Half Elf Bard 11
Back in the Mierani forest, the heroes were greeted warmly by the elves and escorted back to Crying Leaf where they revealed the details of Alleverah’s apocalyptic plot to Evinia. Evinia was not surprised by the scope of the drow plan, but it did confirm her worst fears, and it was clear that an envoy must be sent to distant Kyonin to warn the eladrin of the threat that now faced their nation. However, before that could happen there were a few other details that needed to be attended to. First of all, rituals had to be performed that would free the heroes of their disguises and bring them back to their true forms. Once these were completed Weemat the crazed gnome took his leave from the heroes and returned to the Mordant Spire with his master.
The heroes then took a day to recover from their trials in the darklands, but after that Evinia called them to meet with her, and she made a request that they go on her behalf to Iadara, the capital of Kyonin to take audience with queen Telandia and report what they had discovered. It was a little strange, but it was clear that though Evinia still cared for the kingdom there had been an incident in her past that had caused her to leave Kyonin, and she made it plain that she had sworn an oath never to return. It was for this reason that she requested that the companions travel there on her behalf to act as diplomats. Feredir agreed to the task and Adam/Dante understood the need, but Gar and Balthus were more hesitant. In fact, Gar refused. He had little patience for most eladrin, who tended to treat elves as their lesser cousins, and he couldn’t imagine himself in a royal court. Balthus was also starting to grow quite weary of elves and their problems. He longed to return to Gas Forges in Riddleport to see how his kin were progressing with utilizing the notes they had made about Adam to fabricate their own warforged. He imagined himself there, offering his expertise and bringing to “life” the next generation of living construct. That was the sort of legacy he wanted to leave behind. Unfortunately, he also knew the dire nature of the drow threat, and he knew that his goddess Erathis would want him to do what he could to save the eladrin civilization. Furthermore, he was fascinated by the how the warforged was developing. When he had first met Elric the construct was clearly a servant of his blade, and it was difficult to say if he did in fact have a true personality or intellect of his own, but as time had gone on things had changed. Elric had begun to develop a will of his own; even to the point where he had changed his name to Adam. Balthus suspected that much of the change may have been a result of his contact with Alcove, but perhaps it could be attributed to life experience as well. Regardless of the reasons, it was a fascinating process to watch and almost worth going to the eladrin capital for. After some hesitation, the dwarf agreed. He and his “son” Dain would accompany Feredir and Adam on the mission.
Crying Leaf was fortunate enough to have a functional elfgate that could transport them to Iadara. The gate’s arcane power took many weeks to recharge after use, so the people of Crying Leaf used it sparingly, but this was certainly a worthy cause.
The first step in their mission would be rendezvous with a half elf playwright, minstrel and bard named Lyvander. Lyvander was apparently a friend of Evinia’s and he was familiar with the royal court. Evinia felt that he would be able to help them gain an audience with the queen and help them navigate the intricacies of eladrin politics. Before leaving she warned them that Kyonin was a much different place than the Merani. For the most part it was insular and conservative. The eladrin were a haughty lot and had little respect or interest in what other races and cultures had to offer. They even tended to look on elves as second class citizens. Fortunately, queen Telandia was known to be far more liberal, and she was working hard to try to bring changes to their society. None of this information made poor Balthus feel any better about going there. Hadn’t he been through enough? For the past several weeks he’d been forced to wear the guise of a female drow, and he’d even been raped. The last thing he wanted was a bunch of snobby eladrin looking down their noses at him. But as he watched Adam plod through the gate, he followed after him.
Iadara proved to be spectacular place. Ancient trees towered above them, and with the help of magic they mingled flawlessly with the architecture to produce a cityscape that co-existed with the natural world. They followed the paths among the forest giants and passed by the homes and shops of the eladrin. They were subject to many stares, for non-eladrin were rarely seen in Iadara, particularly in the portion of the city they had arrived in. Initially, Feredir did the talking, and they learned that Lyvander was a well known name in the city. The half elf resided in Iadara’s lesser quarter, which was neighborhood that was home to the city’s non-eladrin, and after getting some directions the heroes made their way there.
Lyvander made his home in the Greenbough theatre, which was located in a large park in the center of the lesser quarter. When they arrived the theatre was nearly empty, but it appeared that there was an afternoon show that would be beginning in not too long. They headed back stage and could hear muffled singing coming from behind a door to a dressing room. Feredir knocked on the door and a handsome half-elf opened it. Surely this was Lyvander. Feredir handed him his letter of introduction from Evinia. The half elf read it, and for a moment it looked as though a tear was forming in the corner of his eye. He quickly brushed it away and smiled at the adventurers.
“Welcome you are just in time. I happen to be short on actors today, and I have a play to perform in less than an hour. If you help me I’ll happily help you.”
Feredir and Dante resisted. They didn’t feel there was time for theatrics. They had an important task to accomplish. However, Lyvander was persistent, and it was clear that if they didn’t help him than he wouldn’t help them. Finally they agreed. Adam put on the ogre costume and practiced his growling. Balthus was dressed as a princess, and Lyvander was happy.
Soon after the heroes found themselves in midst of performing “The two Princes and the Ogre.” Balthus grumbled under his wig and makeup. This was exactly the kind of nonsense he had expected from a visit to an eladrin kingdom, and he called upon his godess for strenght. Despite the lack of theatrical training among the cast, the play was proceeding well. The audience seemed quite entertained by the bumbling performances of the strange troupe. It was in the midst of their second act when they were interrupted.
An angry half elf burst into the theatre accompanied by a hulking human with a battleaxe and two satyrs brandishing short swords. The half elf immediately started shouting at Lyvander.
“You bastard. You f!$+ed my wife. How could you? You vile traitor, I considered you a friend. I let you into my home and gave you work. You’ve entertained my guests and this is how you repay me. I’ll slit your gut and feed your entrails to my hounds.”
The man then drew a long sword and a short sword, and he and his allies rushed the stage. Feredir and Adam weren’t entirely sure what to do at first. Perhaps this man had a legitimate beef with Lyvander or perhaps Lyvander was going to get what he deserved. Either way, they needed the half elf, and it wouldn’t due for him to die. It didn’t take much for them to decide to defend the rake. Adam drew Dante, and Feredir called forth his battleflail from his enchanted glove of storing. Lyvander had his own blade ready as part of his costume, and it was only Balthus who wasn’t armed. Luckily the dwarf had the spells of his god to protect him. Feredir was the fastest member of the party, and he leapt down from the stage to seek out the half elf, and the pair squared off in single combat. The half elf was a skilled fighter and used both blades to parry and strike. However, he was not an avenger. He was not a divine assassin of Callistria. He had not trained for decades amongst the secret Order of the Wasp. Feredir soon landed a powerful blow, and the half elf realized that he was overmatched.
Meanwhile, on the stage Adam, Lyvander and Balthus had their own problems. Three more rogues burst rolled out from under the rear curtain to attack Lyvander. They caught him by surprise and he was grievously injured. Adam and Balthus did what they could to defend the playwright, but they were busy battling the satyrs and the big man with axe. It was fortunate that Lyvander’s bardic training had taught him songs of arcane healing, for they along with Balthus’s clerical healing powers saved him from death more than once during the fight.
Mass panic had broken out in the audience and most fled the theatre. However there was a small group of devoutees of Lyvander who were certain that this was all more of his theatrics, and they sat back and enjoyed the bloody show. As each enemy fell they applauded with enthusiasm. When the act finally came to a close, Lyvander still lived and the other half elf and several of his henchmen were dead and the remainder had fled to nurse their wounds. Thus ended the day’s performance of “The Two Princes and the Ogre.”
After the show the bodies were quickly wrapped, removed and hidden under the stage. Not long after that a squad of eladrin soldiers arrived to find out what had happened. Lyander was skilled with words and bluffed the guards into thinking that it was all part of his show and that nothing untoward had happened. They were satisfied with his responses for the time being and left, though Lyvander was certain that sooner or later they would discover he had been lying. Lyvander was grateful that the adventures had defended him and essentially saved his life. He was fully willing to cooperate and promised that he would get them an audience with queen Telandia.
It was a few days later that the heroes finally got their audience with the queen. Things did not move quickly in Kyonin, but by eladrin standards a few days wait was exceedingly fast. In the days that preceeded their audience, the companions were given quarters near the palace in a beautiful villa reserved for visiting dignitaries. Lyvander chose to remain with them, for he had no interest remaining in the lesser quarter given what had happened at the theatre.
Finally, the time of their audience arrived, and they were escorted by a company of eladrin guards to the royal palace. There was some debate over bringing weapons into the palace. Lyvander and Balthus agreed to leave theirs behind and Feredir hid his in his glove of storing. However, Adam would go nowhere without Dante, or perhaps it was the other way around. The guards were shocked when Adam drew the blade from his scabbard and Dante began to speak aloud. It was then they recognized the sword for what it was. Dante the Destroyer was well known among the eladrin. It was a weapon of legend, a blade that had been forged centuries ago and had many wielders. When it spoke the eladrin listened, and they knew that it must enter the palace.
The court was a busy place. Numerous eladrin courtiers dressed in finery mingled among one another and basked in the presence of their queen. Enchanting music played in the background and the whole scene was everything Balthus had anticipated and dreaded. Heads turned as the heroes made their way down the aisle. It was a rare thing for non-eladrin to set foot in the court, and none among the courtiers had ever seen anything like Adam before. The queen sat on her viridian throne. She was a picturesque eladrin beauty, but her clothing and jewelry were not ostentatious. This pleased the dwarf, for it was common among many dwarf kings to wear clothing that was fairly plain. Adam and Balthus bowed before the queen as best they could, trying to follow the lead of Lyvander and Feredir. Dante cursed silently at the clumsiness of his wielder’s efforts. The blade had been before nearly a dozen eladrin monarchs and never had it been borne by a wielder who could not perform a proper eladrin bow.
Introductions were made to the queen by Villister, the queen’s highest ranking advisor, and there were many murmurs among the court when they learned that Dante the Destroyer had returned to them. Some eladrin were outraged that the eladrin relic was being carried by a non-eladrin, but Dante made it clear that he intended to stay bonded to warforged for the time being, and he would not tolerate any attempts to be taken from his wielder.
With the introductions complete, Feredir and Dante told their tale to the court. They began with the details about the test shot on Devil’s Elbow and then gave details about the drow route in Celwynvian. After that they shared the tale of their journey into Darklands and the drow city and what they learned of Alleverah’s plans for Kyonin. Queen Telandia listened and there were many murmurs among the court.
However, once they were done Villister saw fit to interrupt them. He immediately started trying to discredit them and Evinia. He reminded the court that they represented Evinia and that she had fled to the Mierani forest after a scandalous tryst with a human diplomat. Surely their wild tale could hold little real truth, and were good for nothing more than a fanciful tale at a banquet. He even encouraged Lyvander to use it as the basis of a new song or play. This was all a little more than Feredir could take, and he lashed out at Villister with some scathing words. They did little to rattle the advisor, but the queen intervened before a full scale argument ensued. She assured the heroes that she would have her best scholars and arcane advisors try to verify their tale, and that if it was indeed true, appropriate measures would be taken. In the mean time she requested that they remain at the guest quarters in case she had more questions for them. They agreed to her terms and were escorted back to the villa.
Feredir and Dante fumed the whole way. They couldn’t believe that Villister had the gall to cast doubt on their tale. They were here to save the nation, and this eladrin bastard was trying stone wall them. Balthus, couldn’t have cared less. If the eladrin were too stupid to take them seriously then he wouldn’t shed a tear if a giant star fell on them. Lyvander was more insightful on the matter. He knew that there were many factions in the court, and that many of them sought to undermine the queen, but things still didn’t make sense. Clearly this was a matter that threatened the entire nation. It was the kind of threat that went beyond politics and should bring the kingdom together. It was madness that Villister would want the heroes warnings to be ignored. There was more going on than met the eye, but Lyvander wasn’t sure what it was.
The following are the first character journals I received from Lyvander's player.
“Lust, Art & Revolution: The Authoritative Biography of Lyvander”
Chapter 4 “The first thrust of greatness”
Presented by Grimaldus Vim to the Department of Histories
Torvin Academy, Galt
Sarenith, 4819 AR
Ladies and gentlemen, when we last spoke, Lyvander was poised to meet the saviours of Kyonin. While Feredir, Balthus and the Magnificent Machine of Magnimar are now household names – imagine the impression of Lyvander, hopelessly in debt, fearing for his life and mismanaging the Greenbough theatre. Moments before a matinee showing of his popular comedy “Two Princes and the Ogre King”, in comes a blunt construct wielding an avaricious sword, a dwarven priest with a humuncular son and a dire elf with a message of doom. How Lyvander was able to turn this dramatic event into a smash theatrical hit is the key to understanding his genius. Though details are scant, we archivists at Torvin Academy have recently examined the collected theatre reviews of the Greenbough that day:
“A perfect blend of brutal action and triumphant comedy … I give it four flowers!”
- Colomarius, Elven Chronicler
“I can’t believe the fighting was fake – the illusions were bone-cuttingly real”
- Cremann Finch, Half-Elf Minstrel
“Two swords raised way up! This was a gut bursting, head-smashing, couch-shredding good time! The must see gore-soaked comedy of the season!”
- Sickle and Eldebert, from the Kyonin Daily Leaf
“I got brains all over me and my girlfriend cried … it was awesome!”
-Touramis, Elven Fletcher of Iadara
Entry 4
From the Collected Poems of Lyvander, Bard – Half-Elven
She dwelt among the well-trodden ways
Beside a half-eared tease
A maid whom many would praise
And only one could please:
A flower in a cobbled stone
Half trampled by the boot!
- Fair as a buxom lass, when she gives in
To an ecstatic hoot.
She lived in fame, yet few could know
When Allanah ceased to be;
But she is in her grave, and, oh,
The difference to me!
Entry 5
Mother,
How long has it been since I last wrote you? Of course, there were all those times I would write to the sky as a child, staring out from Aereen Keep – an orphaned moon and an orphaned child, carrying the light of the elves into the gloom of humanity. Did you wonder about me then – between your decisions to send me off and leave Kyonin for good? I thought of you like the sky, forever hovering over me, yet forever out of reach.
And here you are, Mother, with another mess on your hands – and a solution that I know all too well. So you have sent your wayward problem far into another land, where others can look after it for you!
But all my words are not harsh – for I am also thankful. Yes, thank-you ever so much for sending me that trio of actors – and I mean that in the deepest sense, mother – for they act above all else! While their methods leave little for the bending of reeds, they have the power to crack an oak. But I will soften them, mother, and we will have our victory over the court yet. The lads and their clockwork wonders arrived right on time to help me out of rather ponderous situation – and it was the least I could do to bring them to Queen Telandia. Of course Villister made his usual accreted guffaws, but the Callistrian Elf sure stung him back. Your name came up, of course, but I let our friends do the talking. I fear it is still too early to reveal our true connection, mother – but the news they have brought with them is dire indeed.
And even more grave news – I suspect the Winter Council exists! You must tell me everything you know about them – they seem to lack all the usual élan of the eladrin – and yet possess all their subtlety.
I await your word, your humble and proud son,
Lyvander
Session #27- the finale.
The days passed, and the heroes grew impatient. Time was wasting, and every moment Allevrah was getting closer to realizing her plan to destroy Kyonin. Then one night while they were resting in their quarters all hell broke loose.
Adam was standing in the common area, for as a warforged he did not sleep and would merely stand still, rest and keep watch while the “fleshies” slept. The rest of the heroes were in their respective chambers when suddenly armed and armored eladrin began teleporting into the villa’s common area. They immediately called out for everyone to surrender themselves in the name of the Winter Council. Adam had not heard of the Winter Council, but he was not about to let these eladrin haul him away. He drew Dante, and though Dante was hesitant to shed the blood of his people, the blade had heard of the Winter Council, and he feared that if the Winter Council took him then he would be forever separated from Adam. Adam had served him well, and he intended to maintain his bond with warforged until Alleverah was dead. Capture was not an option.
Thus, combat ensued. Balthus and Lyvander emerged from their chambers to help Adam, while Feredir hurried to strap on his enchanted leather armor. The fighting was fierce. The heroes were outnumbered, and there were a couple of skilled arcane archers among the eladrin swordsmen. Balthus helped even the odds by blocking off some of their assailants with a blade barrier. This prevented the heroes from having to deal with all their attackers at once, and kept them safe from the archers while they dealt with the swordsmen. If it hadn’t been for this tactic there likely would have been casualties among the companions, but as it was they were victorious. They even managed to capture one of their assailants, and after an interrogation they learned that their attackers had been given orders by the Winter Council to capture them and bring them to a warehouse in the Lesser Quarter. The captive knew nothing about what the Winter Council wanted with them, but he was able to give them directions to the warehouse.
The heroes were bent on figuring out what was going on, and why they had been attacked. In the earlier hours of the morning, before dawn, they ventured to the warehouse hoping for answers. In the basement they found several more mercenary guards who knew nothing about the Winter Council or what plans they had for the heroes, but they were able to free a couple of other prisoners. Unsurprisingly, the prisoners had little knowledge of the Winter Council, but one was an author who had written several liberalist manifestos, and he was certain he’d been taken because of this. They decided to take him with them, yet in the end they returned to their residence with very few answers.
Game Session #28- A memory in Darkness, trapped in the paradise chamber.
By the next day Queen Telandia had received word of the brazen attack that had taken place within steps of the palace. She insisted that the adventurers be moved to a more secure location on the palace grounds, and they accepted her generous offer. As it turned out it was all a deception. The chamber they were escorted into was actually a prison cleverly cloaked by illusion and enchantment magic- magic that made them see the room as an elaborate paradise that they had no desire to leave. In the paradise chamber there was another prisoner. She was a beautiful half elf bard named Qualindra. She too had offended the winter council, and she was determined to have her revenge.
It was difficult to measure the passage of time in the paradise chamber, but over the course of the days that passed Qualindra taught the adventurers how to steel their minds against the enchantments of the room and see it for the barren prison it truly was. She had overcome the enchantments long ago, and what kept her in the chamber was the guardians outside the door. The guardians were stone statues of giant wasps that had been blessed by Callistria to punish any who tried to escape. Luckily, the heroes had not been relieved of any of their weapons or equipment, so they were ready for a fight. It was almost as if someone wanted them to escape, and once Qualindra had taught them how to overcome the eladrin enchantments, all that stood between them and freedom was the Callistria’s two guardians.
The guardians were not a big concern for the party. They had faced tough enemies before and always they had persevered. This, they stepped out of the chamber without fear or hesitation, and as they did a ghostly swarm of stinging wasps emerged from each of the statues. Each of the swarms resembled a single, giant, intangible wasp, and they attacked as one. Their intangible nature made them difficult to fight, for blades and spells were not nearly as effective as they were against flesh and blood enemies. Unfortunately for the heroes, the wasps’ stinging poison was plenty tangible and deadly. It took its toll on the companions, but there were no fatalities, and in the end they defeated Callistria’s guardians and fled into the hall.
Although they had escaped their enchanted cell, they still had to escape the palace. Lyvander took the lead on this task, and used his bardic magic to disguise the heroes as lowly servants. In this guise they were able to bluff their way past a patrol of guards they encountered and walk right out the palace’s front gate.
Once they had safely escaped Qualindra explained to them that before being imprisoned she had discovered the location of the Winter Council’s secret stronghold. According to her, the council made their lair in an ancient eladrin fortress deep in the Ferani forest. However, the section of the forest it was located in was now known as the Tangelbriar, and the Tangelbriar had for centuries been the demon infested domain of the dread demon lord known as Treerazor. She wasn’t certain how they had managed to survive in such a hostile location, but she assumed their stronghold was protected by some sort of powerful magic ward that kept the demons at bay. Getting to the Tanglebriar would not be an easy task, but Qualindra knew of a means by which they could quickly make their way using the eladrin’s portal network.
They set out right away, for they seemed to have many enemies in Iadara, and they weren’t sure who they were. Navigating the gate network was easier and smoother than they had suspected it might be. At least it was until they had to make use of the Ustalev gate. The Ustalev gate was known to be haunted by a horrific undead spirit known as a banshee. Few travelers had used the gate since the banshee had come, and those that had were not seen again. It was said that the banshee’s wail could cause a man’s soul to freeze and his body to drop dead in an instant. Fortunately, the adventures were not men. Adam was a living construct, a warforged- purpose made form. Fear, courage, life, death- these concepts meant nothing to him. To Adam a banshee was nothing more than an obstacle for him to overcome, and he was confident that he and Dante could hew their way through it, as they had every other obstacle that had stood before them. Things were not quite as simple for Feredir, Lyvander and Balthus. They were all children of the gods, and as such they understood fear. Yet, they knew it well enough to know that the only way to vanquish fear was with courage, and courage was something that they all possessed in no small measure. Thus, they said their prayers to their gods and entered the elfgate.
Beyond was an eladrin shrine to Callistria, and like the rumors had said, it had been desecrated, and it wreaked of death. In moments the banshee and her spectral minions revealed themselves. Diplomacy was not an option, for the undead despised the living and wanted only to destroy them. The legends of the banshee proved to hold much truth. The Banshee truly was a terrible foe. Her wail was deadly, and if it hadn’t been for Balthus’s divine healing powers, and Lyvander’s bardic inspiration the companions might have all been destroyed. Instead they persevered, and at long last they had vanquished the banshee and reconsecrated the shrine. After that ordeal they were forced to take an extended rest to recover, for nearly all of them had at one point been only inches from death.
That night Qualindra and Lyvander found one another. The two were consumed by passion and took refuge in their own private corner of the shrine where they could enjoy life’s pleasures.
From the Diary of Tobius ------ Chief Chronicler of the Eladrin Relic Blade ‘Dante’
Seems that fool Dante has gotten himself into trouble with the Winter Council. Serves the bastard right and I got a great deal of pleasure seeing him put in his place. I would have liked to have seen his meeting with the Queen and her Court but the damn chamber has more anti-scrying magic than a Sultan’s Harem. Still I suppose I should have alerted someone that my ‘charge’ had been waylaid but honestly it is rare to get a break and I don’t think anyone cares about the relic blade’s plight in this current political climate.
There was a day that Dante was watched by a team of scryers. If any trouble befell him soldiers would be sent to retrieve him. Dante however had been in several influential families in the Eladrin court and one of his many names loosely translated to “Rootrot”. As time passed and family trees were cut the interest dwindled in supporting this ‘venerable’ Eladrin artifact. Now there is just me and I even have to make my own tea.
Besides, the people he’s with are a resourceful bunch and Adam is nearly indestructible; they’ll find a way out eventually I’m sure. I deserve a vacation.
Dante’s life has been a bit busy lately. I have watched day and night and with no one to relieve me I might add. I have done my duty without complaint….well alright maybe with bit of complaint, but I have every right.
The woman in their cell is interesting. They think she’s a half-elf bard, but in reality my scrying has revealed her true form to be a succubus. Their new bard seems to be under her thrall. No surprise since he’s a half-elf as well. That’s what you get for mixing the bloodlines with the weaker races.
He should be able to provide me with entertainment at some point. Perhaps it is the solitude of this dry den, but ever since Dante bonded himself to this androgynous drone I miss the sexual exploits of his previous companions to break up the tediousness of the battles. There is only so much sweaty man on man action I can take, not that warforge sweat, but you get the idea. Dante seems to revel in it, and he does seem to favour male companions. Perhaps it indicates an emerging sexuality?
Hmmm.
This could warrant further study.
But another time; for now a vacation, the Riesa Boudoir will do my old bones good for a week.
Game Session #29
PCs- Adam (level 12 warforged fighter)
- Feredir (level 11, elven avenger)
- Balthus (level 11, dwarf cleric)
- Lyvander (level 11, half elf bard)
From the shrine the heroes were able to travel through a final elfgate, one that took them into the heart of the Tanglebriar, and according to Qualindra not far from Thorn’s End- the stronghold of the Winter Council.
It took many hours of travel through vile swamp and briar to reach Thorn’s end, and their journey was fraught with danger. When they emerged from the gate they had been attacked hulking spider demons known as bebiliths, and while venturing through the forest they were attacked yet again, this time by dryads and a treant, all of whom had been corrupted by the demonic energies that festered in the woods. These encounters had been harrowing, but fortunately there had been no casualties among the heroes.
These were merely the beginning of their trials, for Thorn’s End itself proved to be under siege by demonic forces. A small army of demons had made camp in the bailey. They seemed to have no real means of pushing into the fortress, so instead they waited. Demons were not known for patience, and waiting was not something they did well. They were chaotic by nature and always needed to be occupied. They had turned on each other long ago, and their days were now spent tormenting and fighting one another. Qualindra suggested that if the demons were enemies of the Winter Council they might make good allies, but the heroes would have none of such nonsense, and though she was surprisingly convincing they paid her no mind.
The demons were so focused on their unceasing squabbling and brawling that it was a simple matter for the heroes to sneak around behind one of the fortress’s great towers where there were no demons. Despite the threat of the demons, there were no eladrin guarding the crumbling ramparts, so it seemed doubtful that anyone would notice them. They then had Balthus’ construct companion Dain fire his grappling hook up to the nearest window sill, so that they could scale the wall. Feredir and Adam went first, while Balthus, Lyvander and Qualindra waited down below. As Lyvander was about to climb the rope, Qualindra suddenly made a disheartening revelation. She dropped her half elfin disguise, and assumed her true form, which was that of a vile demon known as a succubus. She then spread her bat like wings, took to the air and flew off to join her fellow demons at the front of the fortress. As he departed she wished Lyvander well in his fight against the Winter Council and thanked him for the fiendish child that was now growing in her unholy belly.
Inside the tower they found a room that held several empty cages. One of them wasn’t so empty and held a captured pixie. There were a couple of eladrin guards there as well, and after a brief scuffle the party decided to make use of their diplomacy skills. They explained to the now wounded guards that their intentions weren’t hostile, despite what their initial actions might have suggested. They related how they had come out of an elfgate and then after a long trek through the Tanglebriar they had stumbled on Thorn’s End. There trials in the Tanglebriar had been harsh, and they were in desperate need of rest. Their tale was fairly close to the truth, and it served them well enough, especially when it was Lyvander’s honeyed words doing the telling. The guards led them down to the former entry hall where more eladrin stood guard and passed time by practicing their sparring. In the entry hall was a sturdy set of barred double doors that led to the demon infested courtyard beyond, and even though the demons seemed to be unable to do much to fight their way in, the sounds of their unceasing violence could be heard drifting through the doors. In this room they encountered the commander of the Thorn’s End guard, an eladrin named Armistil. He listened as Lyvander described their encounters with the Banshee, bebiliths and the corrupted dryads. It was clear that the companions had been through much for they weary and battle worn. They asked for little. All they requested was a safe place to rest before they moved on. Armistil pondered this simple request. He was inclined to grant it, but Thorn’s End was not a place that travelers visited, and he decided that he would first need to speak with his own superiors before that could happen.
From the Diary of Tobius ------ Chief Chronicler of the Eladrin Relic Blade ‘Dante’
Seems I was right, that weak willed half-elf bard sired a child with that succubus woman. Idiot of a man, but what more can I expect with the human taint mixed with the lesser elf blood? Of course, he put on quite a show; it would seem that what humans lack in wisdom they make up for in creativity. I have made some sketches for further study; the bard is quite limber. Before watching him I would have been certain that humanoid bodies do not bend that way…
I digress.
Once our intrepid “heroes” made their way out of the temple they found themselves in a festering swamp. It wasn’t long before they ran into trouble.
They were discovered by a pair of dryads disguised as Eladrin guards. To my surprise it was Adam that spoke up. Believing that they were sentries for the Winter Council he fed them a story that sounded believable, that they were adventurers commissioned to clear the temple. It was a one-way trip and now that they had done they’re job they were looking for a way back to civilization to claim the other half of their commission. It was a simple lie, filled mostly with truth; so it was believable. Having watched the construct for this long I wouldn’t have thought it capable of this kind of deception. Apparently, I was wrong, he is a remarkable companion, more than just a weapon like some relics.
Of course it wasn’t long before the dryads were forced to discard their rouse. Dante and Adam fight like no other; when battle begins they are of one mind. Unlike Dante’s mortal companions Adam can take the injuries that Dante’s reckless fighting style invites. An ent joined the fight, it had also been corrupted by the demonic influences of the swamp. It was monstrous, controlling the trees around it and tearing at Dante’s entourage. The fight lasted longer then normal but they were still victorious.
And so it was that the “Great” and Ancient Relic Blade Dante was led by their masked guide to the remote fortress of the Winter Council and what they found was a window into hell. It would seem that the council was being heavily besieged by a demonic horde. Her purpose complete, the succubus revealed her true form and flew away, thanking her unwitting lover for the child growing in her belly. The look on his face was priceless, I haven’t laughed like that in a long time.
Seeing the front door as a death sentence….and let me interject to say I was surprised by this. Humans say that fools rush in and these have been the biggest fools I have ever had the privilege to watch. It seems they have faced harder odds and ran in screaming most of the time. Except this time they seemed to see sense. It was very odd.
But I digress.
As they were looking for a way in I became peckish and went to get some tea. There was a time when there were many of us that watched Dante, not any more. The bastards want to know what happens to that fool of a blade every minute then they should get more people down here. Before that they can take up my lack of vigil with my stomach followed by my bladder.
Game Session #30 part 1 (A meeting with Malindil)
PCs
Adam and his intelligent drow killing eladrin blade- Dante (Warforged, Fighter 13)
Lyvander (Half Elf, Bard 12)
Balthus and his clockwork child- Dain (Dwarf, cleric 12)
Feredir (Elf, Avenger of Callistria 12)
The heroes were left under guard in the great hall as Armistil went off to confer with his commander. They were exhausted enough that they did little other than drink water, eat rations, tend to their wounds and rest. Finally, Armistil returned. With him was an eladrin woman dressed in golden armor. Her face looked like it had been sculpted out of marble and though no one could argue that it was not beautiful, there was much sorrow in her green eyes. She looked on the heroes with suspicion, as she introduced herself.
“Travelers, I am Malindil. I am the Commander in Chief of the defenses here at Thorn’s End. It is my job to ensure the safety of the residents of this stronghold, and as you can plainly see we are currently under siege. It is my understanding that you wish to rest here and recover from the trials of your travels through the Tanglebriar. If that is your wish, then you must first convince me that you pose no danger to Thorn’s End. Our wards protect us from the demons for the time being, but they do not protect us from mortals who have been coerced into aiding the fiends. Tell me who you are, and how you came to arrive here.”
Once again they related the story how they purged a shrine to Callistria of a banshee, and then found themselves in the Tanglebriar. Lyvander did most of the talking, for he was a bard, and as such he was both a gifted story teller and a diplomat. Few could match his skills in these areas, and certainly no other member of the party could come close. Malindil was clearly enthralled by his tale, but still she remained suspicious.
“I know of the Elfgate of which you speak,” she responded. “Still, it is some distance from here and as you have made clear it requires a significant and dangerous overland journey through the twisted demon infested briar to get from there to here. It seems unlikely that you would just chance upon this place. What are you really doing here?”
The heroes began to tense up. They readied themselves for action and sized up the opposition. It would likely be a tough fight, and that didn’t even take into account the reinforcements that could surely be brought in to aid the eladrin. However, Lyvander was not deterred by her questioning, and he stuck to his story. His honeyed words came through for the heroes, and finally Malindil nodded her head as if convinced.
“Fine, for now I will accept your story. You may rest here for the night. But you must remain in this room, and you will be placed under guard. I also insist, as a show of good faith, that you put your weapons on the table for the time being. This room is protected from our enemies and if your intentions are true you will have no need of them.”
The companions complied with her wishes, though Dante made it clear that he didn’t go anywhere with out his warforged, and he and Adam stood overtop of the party’s gear. Warforged always rested standing up, and even while in resting mode, Adam and Dante were ever vigilant. There was never a need to assign watch duty with a warforged in the party.
After Malindil had left, Armistil turned to the heroes and said, “I apologize if mistress Malindil seems cold or dour. These are dark times for us. Several years ago we were betrayed by one of our own. This was particularly hard on her, and she has been a different person ever since. The experience certainly hasn’t made her someone eager to place trust in strangers.”
This statement was intriguing, and though Lyvander was tempted to pry, he decided that it wasn’t yet the time for such things. He nodded and said, “Thank you for the hospitality you have shown us. We understand her suspicions and are not offended in the least. Looking around I see that many of the folk here look as though they could use a dose of good cheer. I am a talented musician, poet and playwright. I have performed many times at the royal court in Iadara, perhaps a song or two would help to lift their spirits.”
Armistil happily agreed, and Lyvander raised his lute and played for him and the guards. His songs lifted their spirits and brought them some cheer that they had not known in a long time. Even his companions felt the trials and horrors of the past couple of days melt away, leaving their minds at peace and allowing them to sleep untroubled by nightmares.
The next day the eladrin brought the companions water and a light breakfast. As they ate Malindil again appeared to speak with them. Once again her face was grave and full of suspicion. Armistil tried to ease her somewhat by making mention of Lyvander’s talents.
“You should see this one play his lute. He is a gifted musician and song writer. You would do well to listen to him. It might help brighten your spirits. His music has certainly brought me cheer that I have not felt in a long time,” he said.
Malindil nodded
“Yes it probably would, but I am not in the mood for songs right now. Travelers, you have had a chance to rest. What are your intentions?”
Lyvander again did the talking, “Well milady, we are of course eager to find our way back to Iadara, but not so eager to venture back into the Tanglebriar. Armistil suggested that there might be others here that could use some cheer and entertainment. Clearly, the demonic siege has been taking a toll on everyone’s spirits. I would be happy to try to help lift the morale of your guards or anyone else you think is in need of it.”
Malindil pondered his offer for a couple of moments and then nodded in acceptance.
“Follow me. I have a close friend who could certainly use a smile. Leave your weapons here however. They will be safe, and if your intentions are peaceful you will have no need of them.”
There heroes agreed to leave weapons behind, though Feredir had his flail stowed away in his glove of storing, and an exception was made for Dante and his warforged. They were escorted up one of a series of spiral staircases that led to a chamber where they met another brooding eladrin. Malindil introduced him as Arlindal. Arlindal did not fit the mold of a typical eladrin. His hide clothing, tribal style jewelry and facial tattoos gave him a primal look, and the heroes suspected he might be druid or shaman. Like Malindil, his face showed a deep sorrow.
Lyvander played his lute for the pair, and for the first time in many years a look of happiness crossed Arlindal’s countenance. After the performance they chatted for a time, and the heroes learned that there had been an incident several years back during which the wards that protected the stonghold had been temporarily deactivated. The demons had assaulted the castle and were only barely fending off. They severely damaged much of the upper section of the tower they were now in. This section had housed Arlindal’s personal chambers, and since the attack he’d been forced to move his quarters to the lower level they were now on. This damaged portion of the tower was still home to a nest of vrock demons, and even from his new residence they could be heard squawking and carrying on up above. In an effort to better earn the trust of the eladrin, so that they might soon learn about the Winter Council, the heroes offered to slay the vrocks. It had been some time since Arlindal had made a sortie against the demons, and this offer helped renew his resolve to purge Thorn’s End of the demonic scourge that hungered at its doors. The adventures retrieved their weapons, and soon they along with Malindil and Arlindal were ready to make their assault on the demons.