Knightfall's Realmsian Dragonstar (Updated: Jan 4/09)

[Knightfall]

[While I haven't finished part two I did sort of promise a post by today so here is the beginning of part two of book two.]

Part Two - Below the Burning Sky

Arassil sat at the end of the table drumming her long clawed nails on the wood. She was annoyed. These dalesfolk spent too much time talking and not enough time doing. After all, there was a war going on. Arassil stared at the humans, elves, and half-elves seated around the table with disdain and concern in her eyes. The half-dragon elf had become fond of these dalesfolk people but she knew they wouldn't be a match for seasoned Imperial Legions.

The Legions would be posed to strike into the valley within hours and nothing this Dales Council could do would matter if they didn't listen to her. Arassil and her men could hold off the Legions for a couple hours at most in a frontal assault, not an option. The only option was guerilla tactics using the forest as cover. Of course, the dalesfolk would have to abandon their homes to the trees, which none at the table were willing to concede. Not even the stubborn Lord of Shadowdale who had gathered the Council together so quickly.

Arassil hated councils. These men were worse then the Arcanum.

"If you don't do what I say, you will be wiped out." Arassil was done being diplomatic. "Or worse."

"Come now," one of the Swords' of Archendale spoke as if he could hold off the Legions with just his sword. "These invaders are just men. They will die as easily as any other man by my sword."

Arassil hated the man and hadn't cared to learn his name. Most of his fellow Swords' were either dead or captured, yet he still danced like a overzealous rooster. He believed he was destined to unite the Dalelands, as Elminster called it, and was for a frontal assault on the Legions.

"You will die for nothing."

The others in the council were not as convinced but still refused to surrender Shadowdale to the Imperials.

"Featherdale, Harrowdale, Scardale, and Tasseldale have all fallen in less than two days. All others are either hard pressed or simply haven't been strategic enough to have been conquered first. Shadowdale and Mistledale are our best hopes of holding them off. We must not fall back. I will not run and hide. If I am to die it will be here defending my home, Lady Arassil."

Arassil was impressed by Lord Mourngrym's courage but knew what he suggested would be a death sentence for him and his people. And the worst part was they were willing to follow him into death. Fanatics, they were all fanatics. Arassil sighed looking out upon the ruins of what had been Shadowdale, the town.

The plasma fire had stopped soon after she had saved Mourngrym's hide. She knew why. Commander Madden had obviously revealed himself and attacked the Imperial ships in orbit. She had tried to raise the Victory without luck. Her radio wasn't strong enough and there wasn't any other way to contact them as long as they had the ship shielded and on alert.

She wasn't even sure if the Victory had survived. Arassil looked skyward watching as debris fell out of orbit and burned up in Toril's atmosphere. The sun would be setting soon but the sky was already red with fire in the dim light of early evening.

"I won't help you lead your people to slaughter, Lord Mourngrym." Arassil knew the council would do what it set its deluded, collective minds to, regardless of what she said but she had to try. "Those plasma cannons that have laid waste to your homes were just the beginning. The Legions will come with smaller versions mounted on hovering machines of death and destruction like you've never seen before. Each soldier will come armed in a mechanical steel suit of armor, which will protect the soldiers from any mundane weapon. They will carry weapons of mass destruction in their hands. Laser pistols, plasma rifles and worse, cutting you down in the hundreds. Do you really want your people to die that way?"

The table went silent. Maybe they would listen to her after all. She wished Elminster was by her side to back up her words. They would listen to him without question. But he had gone to Waterdeep to help protect that great city from the Legions now laying siege to it. Of course, Elminster could return to Shadowdale within moments. His Arcanum ring could bring him to his home before one of his spells could have. Arassil fingered her own ring worrying about whether or not she would have to use it to escape the slaughter that these dalesfolk were heading for.

Finally, Lord Mourngrym spoke. "We understand what we are up against, Lady Arassil. But we cannot flee. If we give up Mistledale and Shadowdale then all is lost. Forget dying. Without our home, without the Dalelands, we have nothing."

"Aye," Randal Morn of Daggerdale turned towards Arassil. "The time for fighting as a bandit in my own lands is over. I just got my homeland back and I'm not about to abandon it now. And let's not forget that Cormanthor isn't that safe either. The number of drow in the forest increases every year. And then there are the Zhents. They could use this Dragon Empire invasion to their advantage and try to conquer the Dalelands."

"Oh bugger," Arassil couldn't believe her ears. "Your worry about these drow and Zhents to much. You want something to worry about. Imagine them aligning with the Empire against you. Drow are major players in Imperial politics and would gladly recruit your enemies to attack you so they could deal with other larger concerns. Imagine those Zhents with laser rifles and war machine to back them up."

The half-dragon elf let her words sink in. Now, maybe they would listen.

"By the Gods," Lord Mourngrym was starting to get the picture. "That would be a disaster. Do you really think that could happen?"

"I'm planning my strategies based on the fact that I'm positive it will."

A murmur went around the table of the Dales Council and all were in agreement.

"What do we do?" Randal Morn stared at Arassil with terror in his eyes. She was their only hope.

* * *

Elminster of Shadowdale stood atop the ramparts of the city of Waterdeep staring calmly out towards the hovertanks and Imperial Legions of the Dragon Empire bombarding the City of Splendor with plasma and laser fire. The Sage of Shadowdale held his thundering longsword in one hand, his other hand outstretched palm up. His brow was covered in sweat and he was concentrating harder than he'd every had to before in his life. The Lord Mage of Waterdeep, Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun stood next to him upon the rampart in the same pose, his breath raspy and uneven.

Without the Weave, without their goddess they were mere wielders of magic, not great Archmages of Faerûn. Dozens of the wizards and sorcerers from in and around Waterdeep stood beside them each with their hands outstretched palms up. The only reason Elminster only needed one hand was the power of his goddess she had given to him before her death. He felt it still but it was slowly slipping away. Three down from his left was Laeral Silverhand, one of the Silver Sisters. She strained under the onslaught of the plasma fire slamming into the magical shield they had erected to surround Waterdeep and protect its citizens and warriors. Even Halaster Blackcloak stood with the defenders of Waterdeep - strangely lucid.

Of course, none of it would have been possible if not for the God standing in the center of the city, taller than any giant could hope to be. Kelemvor, Lord of the Dead, Judge of the Damned and now the leader of the Faerûn Pantheon used his godly might to power the magic of the arcane spellcasters holding up the shield against the onslaught. The priests of Kelemvor in the city had spread the news that Ao had betrayed the world to the Dragon Empire causing the Weave to collapse and send Mystra to oblivion. Not only that, Ao's betrayal had destroyed over half of the gods and goddesses of Faerûn leaving many people without their gods or their faith intact.

Faerûn would never be the same.

A young mage next to Blackstaff cried out in pain, as a missile impacted the shield in front of her. The woman, who was barely old enough to be standing with such esteemed company, fell backwards over the rampart down into the street below. The fall left her unconscious and battered but none on the rampart could move to help her. It would be folly for anyone to do so, as it would now be even harder to keep the shield up. It had happened dozens of times before, as wizards and sorcerers dropped in exhaustion. They would need the help of every bard in city very soon at this rate. Elminster steeled himself against a powerful plasma burst that hit the shield next to where he stood.

Clerics of Kelemvor, Ilmater and Lathander tended to the dead and wounded, while the clerics and warriors of Helm, Talos, Tempus and Tyr fought a desperate battle against foes with better magical power and advanced weapons and technology. It was strange watching Talos and Tempus's followers fight side by side with those of Helm and Tyr's. Elminster watched as they charged the incoming hovertanks on horseback and on foot. It was suicide but there wasn't any other choice. Dozens of warriors disintegrated in a flash of plasma fire. Those still alive met the column of Imperial Legions fighting sword and mace against blaster and powered armor.

"It won't be long now."

* * *

[Piratecat]

This just keeps getting better and better!

Thought: other people may disagree, but I find it easier to read a couple of shorter posts and a few really long ones. Take that for what it's worth.

[Knightfall]

Originally posted by Piratecat
This just keeps getting better and better!

Thought: other people may disagree, but I find it easier to read a couple of shorter posts and a few really long ones. Take that for what it's worth.

Like someone said before... that's high praise coming from the master. Heh!

Thanks P'Cat.

And yes, I've found that writing really long posts is to time consuming and hard on the brain. But I'll have more of this done middle of next week.

[Knightfall]

Several hours later…

Disan felt like her was lost in the dimensional corridors of Outlands Station. He had been walking through the desert wastes of this Toril, in a place where there logically shouldn’t be a desert, for at least a day. Of course, Disan had seen stranger things in his career but it was a new one.

He’d gone west around the strange, fog-enshrouded lake staying far enough away from water’s edge, as not to become lost in the fog, while staying as far away from the strange, jagged mountain range that formed an imposing horseshoe around the lake. There wasn’t any way he was going to look for a pass through those black, jagged mountains. At least the desert was something he could relate to.

Disan was from Merial, a dry , desert world in the Fiustt system in the Domain of Sarava. While his parents had sent him to the Imperial Military Academy on Draconis Prime when he turned thirteen, Disan had spent twelve great years on Merial. He had loved sand-cart derby racing and had wanted to go pro on the T.E.S.T. sand skimmer circuit when he was old enough. Of course, being sent to school on Draconis Prime had forced Disan to give up on that dream. He’d never seen his parents since. They simply took the Empire’s enrollment fee and moved somewhere else he’d never been able to find. He didn’t use his last name anymore, not that anyone in the Imperial Fleet had gave a crap what he called himself.

Now he was stuck on a hostile planet without backup and only his laser pistol to protect him from whatever lived in this place. He’d already had to kill a pack of predators that tried to make him their dinner. They looked like something out of his nightmares, as a teenager. The Imperial Military Academy is a hard place to grow up.

Disan checked his digital compass again. It was fluctuating widely, which wasn’t a surprise. Digital compasses never work right.

“Give me an universal sextant any day.” Disan’s voice was raw and tired. He immediately wished he’d not spoken aloud. He coughed through the hood and scarf that he normally kept in his ethereal dufflebag. The magical pack is the one thing he won’t let out of his sight. He should have had it stowed it in his ejector seat module but didn’t trust the design of the module. Its homing rocket engines should have fired bringing the module down near where he had landed his parachute. Now it was under the lake with the rest of his gear.

He smacked the digital compass a couple times and it whirred in complaint. He was pretty sure he was heading roughly north, northwest. Then the digital readout blinked once and went dead.

Disan lost his temper screaming at the alien sky. He threw the digital compass as hard as he could into the fog towards the lake. He heard it make a satisfying splash in the water.

The Imperial pilot looked up at the dark sky trying to make sense of the star pattern. If he could find it then he would know where north was. He had studied the reports on this sector carefully before the Basilisk had left on this mission. He knew the star Arador would be in the Northern Hemisphere form any planet in this system. The basic recon of the system by the runnerships had determined that would be the case. The star should line up 30 degrees off the center of the worlds North Pole. It would also be the brightest star in the sky. He turned around scanning the night sky. He couldn’t find it where it was supposed to be then realized that the fog was moving in from the lake. It was obscuring his vision he’d never find it now.

Disan headed towards the dark mountains hoping that higher ground would help him get his bearings. It was the last thing any sane person would have done but he didn’t have a choice. If he didn’t figure out where north was he would die out here,

The Imperial pilot walked for several miles in brooding silence. The mountains loomed above him like dark shards of volcanic glass yet the landscape remained the same rolling, sandy wastes. No hills or foothills appeared before the jagged glass-like mountains. Disan shivered in fear. This was definitely not natural.

Then he heard them.

“What do you think, mate? Should we spare her or take her?”

“Don’t be stupid, Brett. Remember what happened to Chambers?”

Imperial Legions, he knew this because of the ‘Chambers’ name reference they used. Of course, there wasn’t anyone real named Chambers. It was slang used by Imperial pilots and legionnaires to refer to the last member of their unit to get busted or killed by not following procedure. It happened a lot and soon everyone was using the false name ‘Chambers’ to show a strange, morbid respect for the dead.

“Who’s going to know, Sarge? Tell me that?”

They were roughly fifty yards in front of him, standing in the darkness. Three legion soldiers stood around a woman shivering on the ground. Several dead bodies lay on the ground near the soldiers. Disan could smell the burnt flesh. The soldiers were in full body armor, the metal joints whirring through the night. Imperial Legion soldiers weren’t known for being subtle or silent.

“I’ll know, soldier.”

The three armored men pointed their blaster rifles towards Disan or at least where he’d been. Several small shards of rock stood nearby and Disan found cover just in case the soldiers were trigger-happy. Disan covered his ears as plasma fire rang through the night. He sighed shaking his head. Of course they were trigger-happy.

“Who goes there? Identify yourself!”

“2nd Lieutenant Disan. Pilot of Lander 29 of the Imperial Hammerhead, Basilisk.” Disan tried not to laugh. Ground pounders weren’t known for their sense of humor.

“Come out slowly, Lieutenant. Your hands where I can see them.” It was the sergeant’s voice.

Disan came out from the rock his arms in the air.

“Sergeant,” Disan was trying very hard not to smile. “What’s going on here?”

The Imperial soldiers lowered their weapons after a signal from the sergeant. Of course, if he’d been anything else but what he’d appeared to be the sergeant would have known instantly. The true seeing enchantment built into every command suit of powered armor was a great boon for every Legion commander.

“You should be more careful, Lieutenant.” The sergeant tried to evade his question. “We could have killed you.”

Disan wasn’t going to let this man forget his rank. “I wasn’t in any danger, sergeant. And you still haven’t answered my question. What’s going on here? Where is the rest of your platoon? What’s you name?”

“Fielder, sir,” the sergeant saluted Disan and his men followed suit. “Our platoon was split up after the attack by the flying fortress, sir. We were part of landing group 6.”

He was still avoiding the first question.

“You still haven’t answered my first question, sergeant! What is going on here!” Disan was losing his temper. Ground pounders never gave Imperial navy officers any respect. By the Twelve, he was going to put fear in their hearts. He took out his pistol, a pathetic weapon against their blaster rifles but he knew their training taught them to fear Imperial officers.

“Sir,” the sergeant cleared his throat. “It’s not what you think. Corporal Thunder and I were just discussing what to –“

“I know what you were ‘discussing’ sergeant! And you better pray I don’t decide to tell the Protocols about this. We are here to put down an insurrection! Not rape and pillage! Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes sir!” The three Imperial soldiers chimed in unison.

Disan steeled himself under the weight of the fear their armor put into his heart. He had to appear to remain confident or else they’d think him weak and turn the tables on him. He strode past the sergeant to the prisoner. She glowered at him showing no fear. He wouldn’t be able to intimidate her, not that he’d planned to. But he’d have to put on a show regardless.

“What is your name?”

She said nothing.

“She doesn’t speak any Imperial languages, sir. She’s quite the primitive.”

She looked at Corporal Thunder unable to hide her fear of the armored man. She understood his motivations just fine.

“Corporal Thunder, scout the area for any more of her people. There has to be a settlement here somewhere.”

“Yes sir.” The man saluted again then clomped out into the fog that had crept up and engulfed them.

“Sergeant Fielder, setup some sort of perimeter for the night. We aren’t going anywhere in this fog.”

“Yes Lieutenant,” the Imperial Legionnaire saluted Disan, which was starting to get on the pilot’s nerve. “Shanks, your with me.”

The two Imperial grounders stopped off out of earshot.

“Don’t even think of running, girl.” Disan whispered to the young woman crouched in front of him. “They’d spot you in a second even through this fog. And they’d shoot first, beat you senseless second.”

She tried to make it appear as if she didn’t understand, shaking her head.

“Don’t give me that,” Disan eyes peered through her ‘primitive’ disguise. “You understand me just fine. And if you want me to get you out of this then you’ll do what I tell you. Imperial soldiers have short fuses and will kill us both if they think they can intimidate us.”

She raised an eyebrow then nodded her head in agreement.

“Good,” Disan checked over his should for a second but kept an eye on her regardless. “Now, I suggest you continue to play stupid. Best they think you ‘primitive’.

The woman nodded again pulling her torn cloak tightly around her. Disan could see why the corporal had been tempted even though such a thing was completely against protocol, not to mention sickening. Her profile in the foggy darkness was exquisite and Disan was glad she couldn’t see him blush.

Disan and the Bedine girl waited together for the Imperial Legion soldiers to return – both prisoners of circumstance.

* * *

[Knightfall]

Hey, just to let you all know that I'm a little better this week and will have an update for you either late today or sometime tomorrow.

Until then check out my latest World of Kulan post. It's not very long but it's a good star to the Alliance.

Cheers!

[Knightfall]

Hadrhune stood in the central facility of the City of Shade looking at the reports coming in from his operatives across the continent. It wasn’t good but it could have been worse. Waterdeep still stood, holding off the Imperials with the help of the god Kelemvor. The situation was the same in Calimport. Shar had chosen that city to defend instead of coming to Shade’s defense. Of course, Shade could take care of itself but Hadrhune couldn’t help but feel betrayed by the Lady of Loss.

The shade put such thoughts out of his mind as he switched to a different datapad looking at the situation in Silverymoon. He kept going back to the report and had read it dozens of times. The city was hard pressed, on the brink of collapse. It wouldn’t last the night without real help. Everything in his being told him that it would be folly to do what he was considering. His men wouldn’t understand and neither would the High Telamont.

Not that he was worried about the mad clone currently wandering the city looking for him. He was more concerned what his true father, still on the Plane of Shadows, would have to say about him coming to the aid of the people of the Silver Marches. Destroying Imperial vessels landing near shade territory was one thing but helping the enemy was another thing entirely.

Hadrhune looked up from the datapad at the holographic projection detailing the area around the ruins of Ascore. The city had come to Ascore after one of Hadrhune’s agents had sent him a message that the Imperials had attacked the shade camp there. Hadrhune had sent the expedition to the ruins himself. There had been evidence of advanced technology at the ruins and Hadrhune wanted it. His men had been working on the site for months and had uncovered material that had proved vital in the creation of a new type of automated aircraft, which Hadrhune had named shadow strikers. Dozens of these special strike aircraft were near ready for testing hidden deep within the innards of the City of Shade.

The Imperials had detected the energy signatures coming from beneath the shade camp and had attacked without warning. The placement guns built into the sites ruined pyramids had held them off until Shade had arrived and destroyed the Imperial hovertanks and strike aircraft. Hadrhune hadn’t even needed the shadow strikers. He wouldn’t risk losing them unless absolutely necessary.

Hadrhune watched as several Imperial units that had been routed in the fight retreated down the Fork Road past the Fork. They would continue on past towards Sundabar, which lay in ruins and then on to Silverymoon through Silverymoon Pass. The city wouldn’t stand a chance after that.

Hadrhune made his decision.

“The Imperials run like the cowards they are.” Hadrhune pointed to the fleeing units with a handheld laser pen. The holographic display shifted zooming in on the region near Sundabar. “They will not escape our wrath. Set course for Silverymoon Pass. I want those bastards hides before they reach Silverymoon. After that, we just might as well destroy the other Imperial units laying siege to Silverymoon. It could turn out to be good politically for Shade if we help the Silver Marches.”

“Yes Hadrhune.” The shades working in the central facility replied in unison. The shades went to work calmly setting the city in motion towards Silverymoon.

Hadrhune moved away from the holo-projector. He could feel the city begin to move as he switched to another datapad detailing the situation in Cormyr. His mind wandered as he read the report, not giving it much thought. He had a debt to repay to Storm Silverhand and the love of Mystra to carry him forward. And if it meant saving the Silver Marches and Alustriel of Silverymoon then so be it.

Hadrhune’s cold heart quickened at the thought of seeing Alustriel again. Yes, his father would not understand.

* * *

[Knightfall]

Hi all, I've been taking a bit of a break from EN World, as I was updating some things about my webpage and other roleplaying stuff.

But now I should have an update to Realmsian Dragonstar either Saturday or Sunday. Until then check out the update to my World of Kulan Story Hour.

Cheers!

[Knightfall]

Kelemvor watched in frustration from the Cynosure. Of course, his main Avatar still stood at the center of the City of Waterdeep. It mattered little to a god of Kelemvor’s stature. He was now the de facto leader of the Faerûnian Pantheon, which he had had announced to his faithful followers. The news spread quickly through the churches of the pantheon as well. Many of those mortals that had lost their god to Ao’s betrayal had flocked to his church for answers and protection. Kelemvor had accepted all that were true in their hearts to his faith and his power and portfolio had expanded overnight, returning him to the power of a greater god.

Not that any of that concerned him at the moment, as he watched the Imperial forces spread across Faerûn conquering and razing all in their path. Cormyr was in ruins, as were dozens of other kingdoms and city-states in the Western Heartlands. Only Waterdeep and Silverymoon stood in the North. Calimshan was holding on due to Shar’s influence. Amn was not as lucky even with Bane’s help. The Black Lord, surprisingly, was giving it his all to protect Athkatla, Amn’s capital city. Bane was definitely not acting like Bane. Unfortunately, Tethyr wasn’t faring as well as the rest of the Lands of Intrigue. Not even the aid of Ilmater was keeping the Imperials at bay. Of course, the Crying God’s followers weren’t known for being frontline militants, regardless of their amazing endurance and determination.

It was the same all across Faerûn. The faithful of the Pantheon were outmatched and outgunned. Even Gond’s followers and their smokepowder bombards were making very little difference. Many of the rulers of the Moonsea had already surrendered and gladly joined the ranks of the Imperials marching on the Dalelands and Sembia. Cyric had ordered his followers to align themselves with the Imperials in a mad grab for power. He’d betray them, of course, hoping to conquer all of Faerûn. It was madness.

“That jackal is going to be the death of us all.” Kelemvor thought the words out loud in the Cynosure.

Milil was scribbling the names of the dead next to his lord. The Lord of the Dead had passed as much godly power to his new Scribe of the Doomed as he dared. He replied to his lord without looking up from his ledger.

“Cyric was always a madman, Lord Kelemvor. It’s not surprising that he’d do something as foolish as align with the enemy.”

“Agreed,” Kelemvor switched his mind’s focus towards the lands that troubled him most. “He is a lunatic and his plan will get him killed. I am not as concerned about Cyric as I am about the God of the Mulhorandi.”

Milil stopped scribbling, for the smallest moment in time, before continuing to write down the names of the dead. He did not respond to his Lord’s concerns. After all, there wasn’t anything her could do about it. He waited for his Lord to continue.

“Tempus and his followers oppose the armies of the Mulhorandi near the Methmere but not even all the power of the Lord of Battles can hold off an entire pantheon.”

The Lord of the Dead watched as several Avatars of Tempus clashed with the new Imperial Aspects of the Mulhorandi. The Mulhorand Gods had changed – these traitors of Toril and its people now appeared in even stranger forms than they had before. They carried powerful plasma weapons, both ranged and melee, and were decimating the followers of Tempus.

Several powerful bombards of Gond returned fire and Kelemvor watched as the projectile missiles bounced harmlessly off the energy shield that protected the Mulhorand army. One of Tempus’ Avatars met Horus-Re’s on the battlefield. The two titans clashed but Horus-re obviously had the advantage. He was a greater god after all, while Tempus was barely an intermediate god now. Horus-Re cut half of Tempus’ left arm off with his new plasma-enhanced khopesh. The Lord of Battles’ Avatar actually screamed in pain, which echoed through each of Tempus’ Avatars. Kelemvor sensed Tempus shift enough of his power to keep his other Avatars whole. The one fighting Horus-Re wouldn’t last much longer without help.

Kelemvor made a decision unlike any he had ever considered before. The Lord of the Dead reached out with his mind contacting the remaining gods of the Faerûnian Pantheon.

“Brothers, sisters! Our battle with the Mulhorandi goes against us. Anyone with enough divine power left must send an Avatar to the shores of the Methmere to help in the battle. The Mulhorandi Gods even now walk those shores dealing death to our people. I for one have had enough!”

Just as Horus-Re brought his khopesh to behead Tempus’ Avatar, Kelemvor transferred his main Avatar from Waterdeep to Unther and transferred another to Waterdeep to help protect that city. He would not lose any of Tempus’ power even if it meant Waterdeep might fall.

Kelemvor blocked Horus-Re’s strike with his divine bastard sword, Fatal Touch.

“Hello Horus-Re,” Kelemvor sneered at the greater god of the Mulhorandi. “You and I need to have another discussion!”

Kelemvor’s words echoed across the battlefield as he smashed his fist across the other god’s Avatar sending him flying into the air, over his advancing army, and deep into the bowels of the Methwood. The sight of Kelemvor’s Avatar on the battlefield gave hope to the followers of Tempus and they surged forward to meet the Mulhorandi army.

Soon half-a-dozen Avatars of the remaining gods of the Faerûnian Pantheon appeared on the battlefield striking back at the Mulhorandi - Gond, Helm, Kossuth, Talos, Tyr, and, surprisingly, Bane.

Horus-Re’s Avatar reappeared in front of the Lord of the Dead, as Kelemvor helped Tempus’ Avatar off his knees. The Lord of Battles’ arm reappeared, as Kelemvor passed some of his divine power to the warrior god – something Ao would never had done. But Kelemvor wasn’t Ao.

“That was a mistake, Kelemvor.” Horus-Re was incensed that Kelemvor had so easily destroyed one of his Avatars. “I had been content to conquer and hold the lands of the south for the Dragon Empire. I was going to offer you the chance to join the Unification Church but now, now I will settle for nothing less than total domination of all of Faerûn.”

Tempus stood beside his liege, his battleaxe, Battle Prowess, ready to defend Kelemvor from Horus-Re. He was amazed and pleased to see Kelemvor step forward to meet the Mulhorandi God.

“You will have to go through me first, Horus-Re. You will not subjugate a single soul for the Empire, as long as I have a spark of divinity left in me. Those souls belong to the Faerûnian Pantheon alive or dead.”

The two gods rushed each other, their godly blades clashed producing thunder and lightning. The skies of Unther roared with the sounds of battle, god versus god, mortal versus mortal.

* * *

[Salthorae]

Hey there first post on this thread....and i must say I love it!

FR is one of my favorite settings and i've just recently begun playing in a Dragonstar campaign and I love what you've done with combining the two it is so awesome. I love all the little twists you've done thus far such as the betrayal from Ao and Kelemvor becoming the overpower.

i'm pretty much hooked I just wonder now...what's gotten into Bane? heheh

[Broccli_Head]

Wow! I'm glad that I found this post! I will have to pass it on to my other players. I wonder what it would be like to game in this world....

[Knightfall]

Originally posted by Salthorae
Hey there first post on this thread....and i must say I love it!

FR is one of my favorite settings and i've just recently begun playing in a Dragonstar campaign and I love what you've done with combining the two it is so awesome. I love all the little twists you've done thus far such as the betrayal from Ao and Kelemvor becoming the overpower.

i'm pretty much hooked I just wonder now...what's gotten into Bane? heheh

You just wait, Salthorae. You haven't seen anything yet. Bwah-ha-ha...

I'll hopefully have another post for you all before the end of the weekend but don't quote me on that. I'm going to be writing up the next installment of my World of Kulan Story Hour first, plus I'm busing writing up and posting my 3e Spelljammer Cosmology to the Spelljammer Mailing List.

Updated Links

Knightfall's Arcanum of the Stars
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/arcanumofthestars/

Spelljammer: Into the Void Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spelljammer/

Walk the Road
http://walktheroad.wikispaces.com/

Knightfall's Spelljammer Cosmonomicon
http://lost.spelljammer.org/Knightfall/

Busy, busy, busy.

KF72

[Knightfall]

Finkel Sunbottle led his friend Ruby Theragain and Lily Tibbles through the deserted, ruined streets of Beluir. The trio ducked into a narrow alley behind Fanny’s Wicker and Little Treasures to avoid a patrol of Imperial legionnaires. The shop had been gutted, of course, but the remaining ruins were high enough for the three halflings to hide behind.

Finkel held his breath gripping the laser pistol he had stole from an Imperial officer, after he killed him. Finkel was wanted by the Imperials. Wanted dead or alive. Preferably dead or at least beaten black and blue. If the Imperial’s sensors detected them he wouldn’t live long.

The Imperial patrol stomped down the ruined tangle that used to be Firefly Street. Somehow their sensors had missed them and Finkel praised Brandobaris for their luck. Ruby pulled on his sleeve wanting to go on as quickly as possible. He motioned for her to wait while he made sure the Imperials weren’t coming back to check an anomalous reading on their sensors.

He crept out to the edge of the building pistol in hand peering cautiously around the edge in the direction the Imperial patrol had gone. No sign of them it was good to go. He motioned for Ruby and Lily to follow as he dashed across the street using the darkness as cover. Ruby was right behind him dragging Lily with her.

Finkel sighed shaking his head. If Lily hadn’t had information on where the Imperials were holding Ruby’s aunt and uncle Finkel would never have let her come along. She was in her Sunday dress and was slowing them down. Finkel had tried to get the halfling girl to put on the same sort of dark breeches and shirt that he and Ruby now wore. But had stated matter-of-factly that she’d never be caught dead in such an outfit. Finkel prayed they wouldn’t find out.

The halfling boy had become older over the last few days. He felt all grown up. He didn’t have a choice really. All the adults of the city had either been rounded up or killed. Ruby’s aunt and uncle were two of the last free adults in the city, as they had not given the Imperials any reason to arrest them. Then they had come in the middle of the night, which was not more than two hours ago.

The Imperials had discovered that Finkel was Ruby’s friend and had come to take her prisoner. She hadn’t been there but that didn’t stop the Imperials from taking her aunt and uncle. They had left a note saying that if Ruby gave up Finkel and the rest of his halfling freedom fighters, they would let her family go. Of course, she didn’t believe a word of it. They had made similar promises to the desperate and had broken their word.

What made it harder to take was that many of these promises came from the Imperial halflings preaching the benefits of the Empire and the Unification Church.

Ruby tugged on his shirt again to let Finkel know that they were ready to continue on.

“Which way?” Finkel whispered to Lily.

Lily looked like she was going to cry pointing down the adjacent avenue that crossed Firefly Street. Finkel knew that avenue was called Windy Leaves.

“How far?” Ruby was worried about her aunt and uncle.

“About half the way down to the next intersection. That’s where the map said the detention center has been set up in the theater.”

Lily had caught a glimpse of a map of the city when visiting the Imperial command center in her role as a faithful convert to the Unification Church. She had been supplying good information to the freedom fighters ever since. Finkel knew that if she said it was in the theater then it was.

“Alright,” Finkel pulled his hood up while adjusting his belt so that he could draw his dagger at a moment’s notice. “Lily, you’ve done your part for tonight. Go home and be careful. Ruby and I will handle this.”

“B-but there could be guards,” Lily’s voice wavered and Finkel thought for a second that she was more than just concerned for his safety.

“Lily,” Ruby grabbed her friend shaking her. “You can’t be involved in this, alright. Now go!”

Lily ran off ducking into an ally disappearing from site. The duo watched her leave hoping she would be all right.

“You ready, Rubes?” Finkel flicked the safety off his pistol.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Ruby pulled up her hood drawing her short sword. It had been her father’s.

“Ok, let’s go and get your family.”

The two halflings darted down Windy Leaves towards the theater. Nothing moved around them but Finkel knew that the Imperials didn’t need to be present to see them. Their technology could do it for them. Finkel quickly crossed to the other side of the avenue staying as low as possible. Ruby was right behind him.

They ducked down the alley that led behind the theater. Finkel dived into the shadows quietly as a cat. Ruby slid in next him with a thud. Finkel held his breath praying to Brandobaris for more luck. Imperial sensors could detect the slightest noise variation and Finkel knew there would be such a device around the detention center. Nothing happened.

Finkel didn’t like it. Ruby had made more than enough noise to trigger any sensor. Could Lily’s information been wrong? Not likely, she’d never been wrong before. The damn Imperials trusted her. She was the best spy they the freedom fighters had.

Ruby looked at Finkel as if to say sorry but he put his hand over her mouth. She’d helped him with missions before but usually only in the planning part of it. This was her first time on a mission. He’d wanted her to stay behind too but she had refused. They were her family.

Finkel pulled his hand away looking up for a way in without tripping the sensors. This wasn’t going to be easy. All of the windows would be rigged and if they tried to break the glass the audio sensors would detect it. Ruby tugged on his shirt again pleading to go on. She was becoming impatient. Finkel grabbed her hand shaking his head. He had to think this through.

What would the Imperials not have thought of? Every entrance would be rigged and the Imperials understood magic better than anyone he’d ever seen. He did have a Dispel Magic scroll but he doubted it would work against Imperial magic. He had another device as well. A device he loathed to use. He had had a dream the first night of the Imperial attack. The goddess had spoken to him and when he had woke the amulet had been laying next to him.

Finkel reached under his shirt grabbing a hold of the symbol of the Dark Mistress, Shar. The halfling boy closed his eyes making sure to keep a hold of Ruby’s hand. He called on the power of the amulet and he and Ruby were pulled into the Plane of Shadow. Ruby hadn’t known about the amulet. He hadn’t told anyone about it. She screamed in terror thinking Gods’ know what.

“Rubes,” Finkel shook his friend. “It’s alright, were on the Plane of Shadow.”

“H-how did you do that?” Ruby looked as though he were a monster.

“I’ll explain later. Right now we need to get your aunt and uncle out of there.”

“Out of where? We’re not even it Beluir anymore.”

“Actually, we are but we aren’t. Look.”

Ruby looked around at the horrid plane. Everything was in black and white. The sky was black but not like at night. There weren’t any stars. The theater was still there but looked more like an abomination of the real theater. Ruby couldn’t help but be terrified. She looked at Finkel in terror.

“Don’t look at me like that. I don’t like it anymore than you do. But we needed a way into the theater without being detected.”

“But how?”

“Look how the building is warped in places. Even now it changes as you look at it. If we take a half-a-step we should end up in the center of the theater. But be careful. Distance isn’t the same here. If you step too far you could end up on the other side of the city.”

“You’ve done this before.”

“I haven’t had a choice.”

“There is always a choice when comes to dark magic.”

“Don’t lecture me Rubes! I’m fighting a war here!” Finkel’s skin appeared to darken as the plane’s darkness tore at his soul. “Now, are you going to help me rescue your aunt and uncle or wait here until I get back?”

Ruby swallowed hard grabbing Finkel’s hand. She was shaking uncontrollably. “Y-your n-not leaving me h-her, Finkel Sunbottle. But this conversation isn’t over. We are going to talk about this later. Now get me out of here!”

Finkel took half a step with his left hand around the symbol of Shar and the other in Ruby’s hand. He closed his eyes again concentrating and they were on the Material Plane again. Finkel looked around. They were near the middle of the theater. Ruby sighed in relief.

Finkel stared in shock. There wasn’t anyone in the theater. It was empty. He didn’t understand it. Lily was never wrong. She…

Then it hit him. Lily had never been wrong once. Not even off by the minutest detail. He had thought it luck granted by Brandobaris. The cold, hard truth sank into him just as the Imperials burst through the door and windows of the theater.

“Oh no.” Finkel fired his laser pistol hitting an Imperial soldier directly in the chest. The laser bolt bounced harmlessly off the soldier’s armor.

Ruby screamed. Finkel felt her hand slip away from him as a Imperial soldier grabbed her by hair. The huge man held her aloft as the Imperials surrounded him. Dozens of laser rifles were now pointed at his head just daring him to continue firing. Finkel signed dropping his weapon. He put his hands up over his head.

“Finkel,” Ruby whimpered. “How did they know?”

The ring of soldiers parted in front of Finkel. Three halflings walked into the theater. The two in front were Imperial officers devoted to the Unification Church. Finkel had known who the third halfling was even before he could see her.

“Lily.”

Lily looked right at Finkel without emotion or a second thought. She tuned towards Ruby looking at her as a scornful mother would at a bad child.

“Yes,” one of the Imperial halflings put his hand on Lily’s shoulder. “Mistress Lily has done the Empire a great service this night.”

“Lily, how could you?” Ruby screamed wiggling trying to get free. The Imperial soldier knocked her unconscious.

Finkel ground his teeth in frustration. He could use his amulet to escape but he couldn’t bare the thought of leaving Ruby behind.

“Poor deluded Ruby.” Lily spoke towards Ruby as if she was still conscious. “The Empire is the best thing to happen to Faerûn since sweat meats.”

Finkel lost his temper. “Traitor! I’ll kill you!”

Finkel Sunbottle lunged for Lily’s throat. It was the last thing he ever did, as the energy blasts from dozens of laser rifles cut him to pieces.

* * *

[Broccli_Head]

Knightfall...that's rough!

Hey, I told one of my players about your story and campaign concept and he loved it!

What would it take to run a game in your Battle for Toril world?

[Knightfall]

Originally posted by Broccli_Head
Knightfall...that's rough!

Hey, I told one of my players about your story and campaign concept and he loved it!

What would it take to run a game in your Battle for Toril world?

Well, I haven't finshed writing yet although I already know how it ends. The best resource for anyone that wants to *create an adventure* set during the battle is my wikisite, Walk the Road.

http://walktheroad.wikispaces.com/AotS
updated link...

Realmisan Dragonstar is set ten years before the actual campaign setting but all the information there is good. I have updated planetary statistics for all the worlds in the Amaunator system on the page but not any of the characters' statistics.

It is a work in progress, after all.

As for good side plots, there is the defense of Waterdeep and/or Silverymoon or the ongoing battle between the followers of the two warring Realm Pantheons. You could be one of the pilots of Fathom Wing or even be a shade helping defend the City of Shade from landing Imperial troops. Or you could set up the conflict that about to occur in Shadowdale... whoops, did I give away to much. Heh, heh...

Anything is possible but you will need the appropriate books. I suggest have at least the following:

Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
Dragonstar Starfarer's Handbook
Dragonstar Guide to the Galaxy

Optional but good choices as well:

Dragonstar Imperial Supply
Faiths & Pantheons
Lords of Darkness *
Magic of Faerûn

* This is the only other one I own.

Cheers!

KF72

[Knightfall]

Minutes before dawn:

High Lady Alustriel, Speaker of the Silver Marches, watched helpless from one of the many balconies of the Palace of Silverymoon, as the Imperial Legions stormed through the greatest city in the North. The magic that had kept invaders out of Silverymoon for ages was now fading with the death of her goddess, Mystra. She had done everything humanly possible to protect her home. The Silver Marches would fall.

Alustriel watched as the Knights in Silver, Silverymoon’s army, through themselves at the advancing hovertanks and power-armored soldiers of the Dragon Empire. They fought bravely, despite the odds and the futility, dying under the strength enhanced feet of the Imperial soldiers, as well as from countless laser and plasma fire. The ranks of the Knights of Silver had swelled with the populace of the Silver Marches once in was known the Imperial army was attacking the city. Now there were barely enough to hold the Imperials back from the walls of the palace. Dwarves from Mithral Hall and Citadel Adbar fought beside humans, elves and halflings from Everlund and those that escaped the destruction of Sundabar.

“This is madness,” Alustriel wept openly for her people. “Don’t these Imperial bastards ever get tired!”

“You must not give up hope, Speaker.” Drizzt Do’Urden, hero of the Sword Coast North, stood next to the High Lady.

The drow ranger had learned of Silverymoon’s plight soon after the Imperial’s had landed. The arrogant Imperial soldiers hadn’t consider the communities of the North enough of a threat to attack Neverwinter, Luskan or Mirabar. The North was relatively safe. But if Waterdeep and Silverymoon fell then no one would be safe.

Wulfgar and Cattiebrie had gone to Waterdeep to help in the city’s defense. He and Bruenor Battlehammer had helped defend Mithral Hall until it fell. Bruenor had stayed with his people to try and retake his home. Drizzt had come to Silverymoon at behest of the High Lady after Taern “Thunderspell” Hornblade had died in the first assault on Silverymoon. Drizzt had led the city’s army during the second Imperial onslaught. Now he stood by the high Lady as her protector in case the Imperials reached the palace.

Helm Dwarf-friend and the remaining members of the Bloodaxe Mercenary Company had to come to Silverymoon after Sundabar fell. Helm had been the best choice to lead the Knights in Silver against the Imperials. If the city survived, the populace would likely name him the next ruler of the city, if he didn’t go back to Sundabar and try to restore it.

Several Imperial hovertanks swept over the Knights in Silver heading straight for the palace. Drizzt stepped in front of High Lady Alustriel as the tank’s powerful plasma cannons swiveled into position to blast the balcony where the two heroes of Faerûn stood. The tanks didn’t see what hit them.

Powerful bolts of energy blew the hovertanks to dust.

“What the-“ Drizzt turned towards where the weapon fire had come from. What he saw was both frightening and awe inspiring.

The City of Shade loomed over the gap of Silverymoon Pass just as the dawn rose over the Nether Mountains, dark, shadow-tinged plasma raining down on several Imperial units that had come down through the pass. The gun-emplacements of Shade continued firing, hitting those Imperial units outside the city until nothing was left but smoldering remains. Rockets and missiles screamed out from the city’s launchers destroying hovertanks and unit of legions, which were now in retreat.

Dozens of strike aircraft supporting the Imperial troops, rocketed towards the floating city firing plasma and missiles at the gun, rocket and missile emplacements. High Lady Alustriel watched in amazement as the weapon fire impacted a powerful energy shield protecting the city.

“Where in the Realms did they get that technology?” Drizzt was angry. Of all the races to come to Silverymoon’s aid why did it have to be the shades?

“I-I don’t know,” the Speaker of the silver Marches was dumbfounded. Then the Shade wizard known as Hadrhune stood next to her on the balcony. Drizzt attacked Hadrhune passing right through him and hitting the wall behind the shade man.

“Aggressive, isn’t he.” The hologram of Hadrhune had flickered slightly as the drow ranger passed through him. “The City of Shade offers its generous support to the citizens of Silverymoon and the Silver Marches against the army of the Dragon Empire.”

“And why would you do that, shade?” Drizzt had got to his feet quickly and was now waving one of his swords through the hologram trying to determine whether Hadrhune was there or not.

“Drizzt,” Alustriel reached out to stop the drow from antagonizing the shade man. ”What do you want in return for this assistance Hadrhune? And don’t tell me you are doing it out of the goodness in your heart.”

Hadrhune of Shade looked at the holographic image of Alustriel and Drizzt Do’Urden in front of him. He stood on a platform in his personal imaging chamber on Shade. He wished he didn’t have to ask for anything. Alustriel’s thank you would be more than enough for his heart. But his position as Prince and Emissary of the City of Shade demanded a tribute of some kind. Of course, it didn’t have to be decided upon at the moment.

“You are correct High Lady, the City of Shade’s help does come with some conditions but I assure you they will be reasonable.”

“Speaker, you cannot trust him!” Drizzt stepped in front of the hologram projecting Hadrhune’s image. He grabbed Alustriel by the arms looking right into her eyes. “You cannot do this! Think of your people! He is evil, he will betray us to the Empire!”

Alustriel looked at Drizzt and then at his hands clamped around her arms. “Let go, Drizzt. Now!”

The drow ranger let her go backing away from her and the hologram of the shade. He looked at her as if she had grown a second head.

“Think of your people.”

“I am Drizzt, someday you will understand. Hadrhune, what assurances do I get that the silver Marches will remain free of Shade rule.”

“I can only say that the Imperial Legions are as much Shade’s enemies as they are yours. Once they have been eliminated then we can talk about the continued sovereignty of the Silver Marches.”

“I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“No.”

“So be it.”

“Very well then,” Hadrhune tapped the Comm on the wall of his imaging chamber. “Deploy the shadow strikers. I want air superiority over Shade and Silverymoon in less than fifteen minutes.”

“It will be so, Hadrhune.” The voice echoing across the Comm was monotone and calm.

“Watch this High Lady,” the hologram of Hadrhune faded from the balcony of the palace of Silverymoon.

Alustriel turned towards the City of Shade, which was still being pounded by the Imperial strike aircraft. The great plasma guns and missile emplacements had not returned fire. Then the top of on of the floating city’s huge towers opened up and dozens upon dozens of small, sleek mechanical aircraft rocketed out of the top of the tower. They were shaped like black disks with purple highlights bordering the edge of the flying saucers. The shadow strikers passed through Shade’s energy shield unimpeded. The shadow strikers were much faster than the Imperial aircraft and easily outmaneuvered them. Those Imperial pilots able to target and fire upon the strange black saucers must have been horrified to see their striker’s laser cannon fire and missiles pass right though the Shade shadow strikers.

The Knights in Silver cheered when one of the Imperial walkers guarding the entrance to the city exploded in shadow plasma, unable to avoid the guns of the City of Shade. The city’s protectors rallied behind Helm who led an counterattack against the Imperial Legions.

While high above on the balcony of the palace, Alustriel held her symbol of Mystra tightly in her hand. She watched one of the shadow strikers streaked through the sky above Silverymoon. She knew the symbol of Shar when she saw it and knew that powerful shadow magic protected the Shade aircraft. Soon the Imperial forces would be on the run and Silverymoon would survive to see another day.

“But at what cost,” Alustriel again watched helplessly as the Battle for the Silver Marches escalated in front of her eyes.

* * *

Dawn over Shadowdale:

Arassil had worked all night preparing the citizens of the Dales for what she knew would come. She forced the humans and elves to cut down dozens and dozens of the trees of the forest they called Cormanthor. The elves had originally refused until Arassil explained what would happen to their precious forest in the Imperials won. The imperials would clear cut everything and rape the planet of its natural resources. The elves had been much more cooperative after that.

She had the trees cut into logs and trenches dug. The logs were sharpened and place strategically around Shadowdale. Bakner and Samuall had spray painted as many logs as they could with iron dust making them as hard and durable as steel. The earth from the trenches was used to make mounds between those same trenches making the terrain difficult to navigate.

She ordered dozens of buildings in and around Shadowdale broken down to use as much need resources such as polearms and boards with nails sticking up all around the towns perimeter. She placed her men in the best possible locations so that they could fire their laser pistols and plasma rifles almost anywhere across what would become the battlefield.

Elminster was still in Waterdeep but Arassil could call him in a moment’s notice with her Arcanum ring. She looked at her ring and thought of Syrath back on Charamosh. He would know by now that she had aligned herself with the Freedom League. He wouldn’t be happy but she couldn’t worry about that now.

“Commander,” Caranarth stood in front of the half-dragon. He had been standing there for some time trying to get Arassil’s attention.

“Yes Caranarth, what is it?”

“Everything is in place including our little surprises.”

“Good,” Arassil looked out towards the northeast. The sun rose over the forest of Cormanthor. The red glow of the Toril’s sun glinted off something near the edge of the dale’s valley. “And not a moment to soon.”

The half-dragon sprinted across the field to her designated position in the trenches her voice booming over the landscape.

“Get ready, Arassil snarled at the thought of getting her claws on some Imperial slime. “Hovertanks on the valley wall! Everyone take cover!”

Dalesfolk dived into the trenches just as the first bolts of plasma rained down from the hovertanks above. Arassil fingered her ring and thought Elminster’s name.

“It’s time. It has started.”

Elminster of Shadowdale appeared next to Arassil just as the Imperial Legions and Zhents poured down the rim of the valley in the thousands.

“Mystra save us!” Elminster’s words were drowned out by the sounds of war unleashed.

[End of Part Two of Book Two]

[Broccli_Head]

I love it! And it keeps getting better.

Did I miss something? Or maybe you haven't gotten to it...Kelemvor v the Mulhorhandi's and the conclusion to the space battle?

What might help is how many days and/or hours since invasion started as a guide to determine the events...if I want to spring this on my PCs...oh yeah!

[Knightfall]

Originally posted by Broccli_Head
I love it! And it keeps getting better.

Did I miss something? Or maybe you haven't gotten to it...Kelemvor v the Mulhorhandi's and the conclusion to the space battle?

What might help is how many days and/or hours since invasion started as a guide to determine the events...if I want to spring this on my PCs...oh yeah!

You didn't miss anything. Book Two is going to have five parts just like Book One did, although those five parts are turning out to be longer than Book One's five parts. Part Three will continue the space battle and detail the aerial battles to come (the releasing of the automated shadow strikers is the springboard for that). Part three will touch upon the gods again at least once.

Part Four will return to the surface for the land battles and Part Five will be a mix of space, aerial, land and God events all leading to a intense cliffhanger like the one that ended Book One (just moreso).

As for how many days or hours since it started, I'm not 100% sure. It has been at LEAST two days but I don't have an exact number of hours. But it's at least two days.

Cheers!

KF72

[Broccli_Head]

Originally posted by Knightfall1972



As for how many days or hours since it started, I'm not 100% sure. It has been at LEAST two days but I don't have an exact number of hours. But it's at least two days.

Cheers!

KF72

Maybe dates or hours of the day would help

[Knightfall]

Originally posted by Broccli_Head


Maybe dates or hours of the day would help

Ok, first off the story begins on the first day of the tenday right before Midsummer (FRCS pg 77) in the year 1374 DR, on the Calendar of Harptos. Thus, the day that the Centurion and the two Hammerhead drop ships starcast into the system would be Flamerule 21, 1374 DR (The Year of Lightning Storms).

In Part Two of Book One, Hadrhune steps out on the balcony of the High Telamont's throne room and lloks up into the night sky. This occurs when the Weave is destroyed, which one might think means the story begins at night. It does, but it doesn't. It begins during the 'middle of the night' before the day of Flamerule 21 has begun. So, Hadrhune is looking at the night sky around say 2 or 3AM. Thus, when I note that 'Mid-afternoon later that day',while introducing you to Ruby, it is later on the day of Flamerule 21.

In Part Three of Book One, Elminster is speaking in Arcanum House. The part of the event that you read takes place sometime after Mid-afternoon but doesn't have a solid beginning time. The debate in the house would have been going on for hours though. Note that Hadrhune was speaking to the High Cleric of the Temple of Shadows at the same time Elminster was pleading his case to the Arcanum. Hadrhune would have left that temple, traveled to the House of Mystra in Harrowdale, encountered Storm there and journeyed back to Shade before Elminster was *finished* pleading his case to the Arcanum and teleported back to Toril with Arassil, which would be an instantaneous event.

Its kind of hard to pin down. The problem is that the story isn't linear in how I am writing it. Elminster arrives back on Toril before Captain Farhand gives the order to fire but you read the part of Farhand firing first, which I did for effect, I guess. Thus, all the parts of the story set on the Centurion before Farhand gives the order to fire happen before Elminster returns to Shadowdale. And of course the parts with the Gods in the Cynosure takes place after Ao has promised Centurion to betray the world to the Imperials. Of course, he's a GOD and could have been doing that WHILE he was agreeing to betray the world.

I'm pretty sure that I can say that ALL of Parts One to Four of Book One happens on the same day, Flamerule 21. For at the beginning of Part Five, we see Ruby and Finkel outside Hale's Fine Woodcarving. The text there refers to the events up until that time happening in less than one day and night. This could be interpreted in many ways, which is why I wrote it that way. I didn't want to pin-point the exact time or date. And remember it is from Ruby's point of view. So it is probably less than one day and night from the point of Mid-afternoon when you first meet her. Which means it is likely during the early evening of Flamerule 22. However, the rest of Part Five is 'hours earlier'.

After this, it's going to be REALLY hard for me to pin down exact times. I'll let you know.

Cheers!

KF72

p.s. Note that this story is set ten years before the actual start of my Arcanum of the Stars' campaign.

[Salcor]

Knightfall,
This is an outstanding storyline...look forward to it every week. I was wondering if you are planning on making it available for download on you website?


Salcor