The Rising Darkness seeks to engulf your world...
It captured you on the outskirts of Galadan...
It saw you fight for the pleasure of the crowd in the Arena of Hadorak...
It drew your father, Darren Athlan, High Lord of the Order of the Moon of Galadan, here to the North to secure your release...
It clearly consumed your fellow Gladiators, along with Prince Gord, the Orders only real ally in Hadorak...
Now, your former Brothers have come. They have come to collect you and your father, to also serve the rising darkness...
The building shakes, and then the windows and walls of the room violently explode inward showering you and the others with shards of glass and debris!
"Gods! They’ve found us! Run Leoran!", High Lord Athlan roars as he scoops up his map and shoves it into a magical bag. Knowing that they have come, he thrusts the bag into your hands, and pushes you towards the door!
“Get my Son out! I’ll hold them here! Go! Go no*!” Your Father's voice is cut off as the Dark Soldiers descend on him and the others...
A pair of rough hands grab you and shove you out of the door before you are able to protest!
"Run," screams Bartigan as he pushes you, staying to your back in protective stance. "Run or we all die!"
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Leoran's training kicks in and, against his better judgement, he runs away from the fight, away from his father. "Gods, how are we supposed to face that? How can we win when the Darkness keeps bringing everyone back?" Unsure of where the Sea Queen is, Leoran continues running toward the docks.
Bartigan follows you through the streets, his Galadanian Rapier out and held at the ready. He weaves with you through the streets, and towards the docks where the Sea Queen awaits. As you run you begin to hear the unmistakable sound of cannon fire commencing from the direction of the docks! The screams of panicked fleeing civilians fills the air as many run away from the harbor!
You both reach a vantage point overlooking the harbor and see that the Sea Queen is unmoored and moving quickly out to sea! The great ship stands aflame as her forward Guns realease a volley toward four incoming ships with black sails!
”Not good,” Bart says as he looks towards his ship and home for the last 5 Years sailing into battle without him. He sets himself to his new task and turns to you. ”What is your will Sire,” he asks bowing in deference with all the formality of a Noble of Galadan.
"Not good at all!" Leoran takes a moment to take in his surroundings. "Is there an exit from the city near the docks or even smuggler tunnels that lead outside of the city?" Leoran continues to survey the area looking for an exit or another, smaller boat, that they can use for their escape.
Leoran can't get a clear line of site on anything amidst the fire, smoke, and chaos.
"Not sure. I've only been here a few times, and never explored the city. Let's get off of the streets. How about that alley or tavern?"
Leoran begins looking around for a building or alley to duck into. He also begins looking to see if there are any entrances to the city's sewer nearby.
You see a Tavern and a Manhole Cover in the immediate vicinity.
"We should be able to hide and hopefully get out of the city through the sewer. Give me a hand with this", Leoran says as he moves towards the manhole cover.
Stroud helps pull the manhole cover up!
The manhole cover comes free as the two powerful men lift!
”Let me go first,” Bart says as he sheaths his sword. He quickly pulls out a dagger which he holds in his teeth as he descends into the darkness.
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Leoran begins to climb down and attempts to slide the manhole cover back over the sewer entrance.
With some effort the cover slides back into place.
You descend into the maze of tunnels and junctions that make up the sewers of Beliai.
Bartigan, breathing heavily, looks around and says, ”Can you please tell me what the hell is going on Leoran?”
"As far as I can gather, an ancient evil known as The Rising Darkness has either been resurrected, reawakened, or released and seems intent on conquering and/ or destroying Tharin. It appears that the Darkness can bring back the dead and twist the living to it's own will. Something along those lines. I'm still trying to figure things out too. None of this bodes well and I'm not yet sure how we're supposed to fight something like that." Leoran's voice is dulled and he is clearly shaken. "Do you have any ideas on where we can go once we're out of the city?"
"I'm from Galadan originally," Bart says with a hint of pain. "So, other then Belial, and some other coastal cities, I have no idea. You're father didn't happen to give you that magic map he was showing us did he?"
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Leoran's eyes widen as he says, "That's right, he did!" Leoran takes out two ioun torches and hands one to Bartigan. "Here, take this." Leoran reaches into the bag his father gave him and pulls out the map.
Bart takes the torch and shines its light down the corridors of the sewer, his Rapier in hand just in case. The sounds of running and screaming continue to be heard from above.
You open the magical map of Tharin, anxious to plan your move.
You remember your father touching a place on the Map and gaining magical images of the places themselves.
Leoran touches the city nearest to Beliai on the map, Arcaan.
A small bright image of Arcaan Keep comes up just above the magic map.
You remember from your Father’s training that Arcaan Keep is run by the Hammerhand Clan of Dwarves. They have stood as Arcaan’s guardians since the barrier was erected to protect Tharin a century ago.
You cannot recall who is the current Baron of the Keep.
Leoran then touches Beren on the map.
Beren Keep is illuminated by the magical map. You instantly remember that the Keep is under the watch of Baron Hestan Arcurio, an old classmate of yours.
Hestan is the only son of Lord Vincent and Lady Belaina Arcurio, the richest nobles in Galadan.
After touching the map a couple time and considring some options, Leoran says, "Arcaan and Beren are the closest cities. I am hoping that these sewers will lead out into the Last River, which we will need to cross. Hopefully the dwarves of Arcaan can help provision us and give us some news. We should continue on to Beren after. I was a classmate with Hestan Arcurio, the son of the Lord and Lady Arcurio, who rule there. My hope is that they might have information that could be useful to us, given their strong ties to Galadan."
"We should get moving," Leoran says as he folds the map and puts it back in the bag.
”Not going to happen unfortunately,” Bartigan says with an exasperated sigh. ”We’ve got company!” He quickly places the torch into one of the sewers sconces and points his sword towards the menacing forms turning down your tunnel.
As the six figures enter the lighted area, you see what can only be the disgusting forms of Wererats closing in on you!
One of them disgustingly hisses, ”Surface dwellers! Invade our territory and pay the toll of loot and meat!”
Wererat 1
Wererat 2
Wererat 3
Wererat 4
Wererat 5
Wererat 6
Bartigan (0/70)
Wererat 4 (0)
Wererat 5 (0)
Wererat 6 (0)
Wererat 2 (0)
Wererat 3 (0)
Wererat 1 (0)
Leoran (0/68)
”I hate Wererats...,” Bart says as he moves forward pointing his Pepperbox at the incoming lycanthropes. ”Dirty teeth.”
*BLAM!*
The bullet slams into one of the lead Wererats drawing a pained squeal from the wretched creature!
The Wererats swarm with deadly purpose! Makeshift blades and diseased teeth and claws seem to glow in the torchlight, promising a sickening death!
The first three close on Bartigan!
,
,
,
Bartigan ducks and parries with incredible grace allowing no hits to get through!
The remaining three Wererats skirt their kindred and close at a dead run with Leoran!
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"Death comes to take the city above and soon death will come for all here, down below. Your toll will be paid for in your own blood unless you flee this place now,"Leoran says as he draws his blade and cleaves the Wererat's in front of him.
Leoran’s powerful demeanor shakes one of the Wererats, the Lycanthrope realizing that his doom may be at hand!
He immediately slashes at the Wererat in front of him sure of a kill! He reverses his powerful stroke and slices the other!
Leoran recovers and realizes that both Wererats still stand!
”Watch out Leoran! Silver!” Bart yells realizing that the Wererat he shot just moments before is completely undamaged!