THE HISTORY OF THE NEW INZELADUN HEROES

ADVENTURE THREE

“Escape from Alisander”

Characters:

Dovinyae : Druid from the Unknown Lands with wild psionic talents.

Prefers the staff in combat and possesses one of the

five Statuettes of Vendulamon.

Ragnar : Runcaster from Indor, seeking for more runes. Now has a

clue to seek out a runecaster who lives next to the Wall.

Alrek : Indorian warrior ready to fight at a second's notice. Also very willing to risk everything for a bit of loot.

Xavier : Drychtnothian Paladin on quest for a holy sword to further his

war against Evil. Searching for Swords in Stones.

Amren : Ophyrish ranger with bad temper and a hatred for oppression.

Usually on the run from the established law.

Toki : An Indorian warrior living in Alisander after the dragonship he was serving on was sunk by the Merchant Fleet of Amn.

The Time : 8th Age, 5th Year, 25th Day of Drauj (late summer) through the 1st of

Odan (early autumn)

The Places: Lamapacher (Alisander); Lamapacher (A Road); Lamapacher (The Wall);

Lamapacher (Xornav); Lamapacher (Talnav Xorclerat)

Notes on the City: Alisander is under siege by the forces of Yam ibn Saud. General Al-Madhiri is in command of this operation. He is stretched a little thin in places, but has done a reasonable job locking the city tight. He waits for the arrival of General Morgul's forces to reinforce his own. A rumor is that Iss'ul is outside the city waiting for orders to terminate the life of Lord Tasurth of Alisander. Rumor also states that Iss'ul is giving his elite force of assassins (which some stories say are nothing less than a legion of ghosts Iss'ul has forced into servitude) a chance to practice their craft by hunting and killing escapees from the doomed city.

Amren was found manning one of Alisander's walls. The slaughter of innocents by Yam ibn Saud's men outraged him. Dovinyae thought of little else for the past day other than escape from this deathtrap of a city. He certainly saw no point in standing in the rain on the walls waiting to be killed by an Azraelite sword even if Al-Madhiri and his men didn't set fire to the city once the rain quit. Dovinyae decided to go over the wall and check out the enemy camp. Xavier the Pure and Amren the Ranger decided to re-explore the catacombs under the palace for an escape passage out of Alisander. Ragnar and Alrek opted to seek out the secret passage of the Snakemen into Xum Thanill’s laboratory.

The passage of the Snakemen was easily found, and it led to a well that connected to an underground watersource. Xavier and Amren, after finding a secret door, and hours of walking, found a forgotten bronze-age tomb. Dovinyae got over the wall, watched the Saudian camp, decided it would be difficult to sneak through or bribe someone, and returned to Alisander. Only one man of the Azraelite army noticed him, one of Iss’ul’s assassins. Dovinyae was marked for termination.

After meeting in Toki’s home, the group decided the tomb located by Xavier and Amren offered the best chance for escape. Once in the tomb, they found the original entrance, and collapsed it. This created an opening to a burial mound right in the midst of the Azraelite camp. They rushed into the camp, hid in a tent, then escaped in the night using an obscurement spell. The rain began to lighten. (The Carnivorous Ape of Dovinyae escaped through the camp into the wilderness while the party hid in the tent). Iss’ul’s representative in the camp, Imagawa Kokuji, dispatched six novice assassins to trail the party.

Fifteen miles out, they encountered a burnt out village. Twenty more miles along the road, they found another. Dovinyae had a dream from his Spirit Guide telling him to go to Drychtnoth. As they rested, they were attacked by six of Iss’ul’s assassins. (One of the assassins was a psionic wild-talent, with the power of telepathy, and he related the fact that Dovinyae, marked earlier, was among the group. Imagawa Kokuji dispatched three of his ranked assassins.) The party quickly killed the six novice assassins. (25th Drauj)

As they travelled the next day they found a sapphire on the road with a sword-like blemish in it. Xavier kept the stone with his others. They travelled 32 miles without incident this day. (26th Drauj)

The party reached the Wall and entered the town found there, Xordithat Navco. This town, whos economy was based on horse raising, gave them directions to Ktc and his witch wife. Ragnar bought a horse and gear here. The horse lady, Blucher, gave them a holy symbol, a hammer of Thor with a stone in the center. The stone was a topaz with sword-like blemish in it. Xavier kept the holy symbol. They travelled north to meet Ktc. They found Ktc and his wife being assaulted by Lamapachan troops from the town of Telnav Xorclerat. They slew the soldiers. Ktc and Ragnar traded runes. Ktc paid for one rune with a fire opal with a sword blemish in the center. They also found out where Ktc got the stone. The stone came from a Drychtnothian captain who hired Ktc to contact the dead Xerethes. A warlord travelled with the captain. The captain had at least three of the stones that Ktc saw. Xerethes’ spirit told the captain and the warlord that Karanthes, a priest of Olanigan, would soon receive the god with the long neck soon, in Drychtnoth. (27 Drauj)

The group took the road toward Drychtnoth. Two days later, they met a caravan. The caravan was under assault by bandits. The warlord that Ktc mentioned was there, but he was already dead. The party defeated the bandits. They then battled and killed the Drychtnothian captain. Xavier captured three more stones, an amethyst, Oriental emerald, and a peridot. The caravan was taking a large round golden Khemian coffin to Karanthes in Drychtnoth. The caravan offered the party the coffin to repay them. They were unable to open the coffin. They decided to accompany the caravan to Drychtnoth. (29 Drauj)

The caravan reached Tolnav Xorclerat the next day. That night the coffin was broken into by a pair of psionicists (an owl who witnessed the event, communicated the information to the druid later). The god with the long neck broke free and killed the caravan guards and escaped into the city with the psionicists. Inside the Khemian coffin, written in perfect Drychtnothian, was the words “To Karanthes, a gift from Sappanema Kherit, Pharoah of Khemt.” The Caravan decided to remain in town. Dovinyae and the rest gave the round coffin to the town in return for anything in town they may want. Ragnar, Xavier, and Toki commissioned plate armor. The town forced six of the Legion of Three Hundred to give up their black Indorian warhorses, complete with black plate barding embossed with their red battleaxe insignia. They acquired new weapons and supplies, then headed on their way.

(30 Drauj)

The next evening the party was attacked by the “god with the long neck”, a spirit naga. They killed the monster. Xavier had a close scrape in that battle, all survived very well. They continue to be tracked by three of Imagawa Kokuji’s ranked assassins. They are also being tracked by the six knights of the Legion, who want their horses back (since they were not residents of the town, they feel they were not obligated to give up their horses.) Unfortunately, the knights are on foot now.(1 Odan, Holy Day of the Silver Tree)

Current Events : General Al-Madhiri has surrounded Alisander. He has been in occasional conference with both Yam ibn Saud and Iss'ul, and, according to rumor, Grindill.

The terrible surge of dark energy called the Dark Intrusion continues to slide out of the unknown lands, reaching further into the edges of Lamapacher and Indor, attracting the attention of the Twilight Gathering.

The Paladin Raloth, along with the archmage Samadhi and his warrioress Lalla travelled toward the mountains bordering the Shanto River in order to find out more about the Dark Intrusion and, hopefully, put an end to it.

On Drauj 27 General Morgul’s forces finally arrived at Alisander. Also, the great wyrm Anigon, a crystal dragon, awoke from his decade-long slumber in the Ranma mountains.

Notes on the Bronze Age Tomb: This was the tomb of Solex the Dragon Slayer and dates back to 3V (third year, fifth age), and therefore is about 1576 years old. A warrior named Solex was born in Koph during the Ice Age. He was befriended during his childhood by a Crystal Dragon. When Solex came of age during the first year of the Fifth Age, he and his dragon hunted down White Dragons.

During year 3, Solex the Dragon Slayer had a son. He named his son Xelos. Solex died later that year from a wound sustained during a combat with a very ancient white dragon. He was buried near the place he died with his fifty two loyal soldiers who died in the same battle. His dragon friend, Anigon, swore that he or his descendants would hunt down and destroy any who disturbed Solex’s rest or stole any of his accumulated treasures. The dragon bonded with the treasure. It should be noted that Anigon is still alive, now a great wyrm and is 2,487 years old. It should also be further noted that Solex’s son, Xelos, founded Drychtnoth in the year 20V.

The tomb was found by King Alisander’s excavators in 1080V (about 500 years ago). Through a divination he cast, he became aware of the guardianship of the tomb so he resealed it and hid it behind a secret door in his maze of tunnels under his palace.

Notes on Imagawa Kokuji: An Oriental assassin, rumored to be a ninja. He is a very high level warrior, a bushi in his culture. He rose to be one of Iss’ul’s most trusted lieutenants.

Notes on Olanigan: Olanigan is the god of war, the patron diety of Drychtnoth. The Azraelites and Saudians call him Saud. Yam ibn Saud is supposedly his son. Olanigan is one of the Higher Entities, more powerful than a greater god. He often takes the form of a red sky with a red eye or a powerful warrior. His holy color is red. He often grants bonuses to hit and/or damage to worshippers he favors. His worshippers are expected to be wise, sincere, humane, courageous, and strict.

Notes on Indorian warhorses : The Indorians are famous for their breed of warhorses. They come in all colors, but all are heavy warhorses. The blacks are the most valuable and are used by Legion of Three Hundred, an Indorian order of knighthood. An Indorian warhorse is almost invariably a charger, a high-spirited horse of exceptional quality. Anyone riding an Indorian warhorse is instantly garnered a lot of respect by those who know their horses.

Notes on Spirit Nagas: Possessing high intelligence and magical abilities (5th level wizard, 4th level priest), naga are snake-like creatures with human heads. Generally they smell of carrion, but this particular one had its smell disguised with Khemian oils and perfumes. It’s snake body is about 15 feet long and can strike very powerful blows with its tail. It has a poisonous body and can charm anyone who looks into its eyes. This one’s name was Efen Emaka and served the Pharoah of Khemt, Sappanema Kherit.

Notes on the Psionicists who freed the Spirit Naga: These were psionic assassins employed by Iss’ul sent to intercept the naga so that it did not reach Karanthes. Their names are Rathul and Imanul. They were trained by Iss’ul and Imagawa Kokuji.

Notes on Sappanema Kherit: The Pharoah of Khemt, the most powerful sorcerer on Inzeladun, excepting the demigods Tomodachi and Grindill. He is a High Priest of Set and is considered a god by the Khemian people, chosen by Ra to lead Khemt.

Notes on Karanthes: Formerly a priest of Thoth from Khemt, he knows secrets about Pharoah Kherit. He is now disguised as a priest of Olanigan (Anu) in Drychtnoth, trying to hide from Kherit’s wrath. It is unknown how he crossed the Sea of Storms, but this can be taken as evidence of extremely potent magical power. Home-sick, he collects Khemian artifacts and has taken charge of a smuggling ring.

Notes on Tolnav Xorclerat: A fairly large Lamapachan city with a wall around it. It is most famous for its Vault. Although it has been broken into twice now, it was once considered impenetrable. Now it is used as a yearly contest of ingenuity. The winners get a treasure. The losers die. The lord of the Vault hires adventurers to search the world for the treasure he puts into the vault. No one has succeeded in getting the treasure in the past decade. The city is a popular stop-over for bards, caravans, and carnivals. This city is well known for its numerous festivals and parades. Not a terribly warlike town, they fear Yam ibn Saud and his approaching armies.

Notes on Xordithat Navco (often called Xornav): Originally a Shanto border fort, this place is now a thriving town. They make their name in horses and have some of the finest breeds in Lamapacher. A Xornav riding horse is an excellent breed of horse, prized by horsemen. They also breed a fine light warhorse, also prized amongst light cavalry. This town is now allied with Yam ibn Saud and is considered part of the Saudian Empire.

Notes on Ktc and Ullen: Ktc (his real name is Gwynmund) comes from Indor and is an old, old runecaster. His mental facilities have fallen considerably and he only really remembers one of the many runes he once knew. His advanced age have also softened his once considerable sword arm. Ullen is a Lamapachan witch. She is a healer and tries not to harm others, worried that harm would return to her threefold. They have suffered much at the prejudiced and superstitious hands of the Lamapachan people. They met Captain Al-Madhiri and registered under Yam ibn Saud’s Empire, grateful that they should now have protection. Ktc believes that Dovinyae, Ragnar, and the others are servants of the Empire, sent to save them from the oppression of Lamapacher’s ignorant masses. Ullen is quite powerful and still retains her intellignce and wisdom. She could destroy an army if she wanted, but that is not how she wishes to live her life. Al-Madhiri sends his wounded to her, but has never, ever requested that she fight for him. Ullen has sent word to Al-Madhiri about the heroism of the party.

Notes on The Registry: Yam ibn Saud has decreed that all persons of magical power register their names and locations. A registered mage is protected by Saudian Law for the use of reasonable magic. An unregistered magic-user is a criminal.