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<blockquote data-quote="Netherstorm" data-source="post: 5796463" data-attributes="member: 84943"><p><em>1/23/12: Sam couldn't make it, so no Lucky this week...</em></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Saga of Valor </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Book One - NyrodSpace War 3</span></span></p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center"> <em>Chapter Twelve: The Shadowborn</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p><p></p><p><strong>Ardra</strong> - Eladrin Bladesinger <em>Vovoidja</em></p><p><strong>The Blue Monk</strong> - Half-Orc Monk <em>Almoner</em></p><p><strong>Hartaniel</strong> - Elf Barbarian <em>Groom of the Stool</em></p><p><strong>Ryltar</strong> - Drow Avenger <em>Constable</em></p><p><strong>Scarlet</strong> - Human Fighter <em>Constable</em></p><p><strong>Varis</strong> - Half-Elf Warlock <em>Hostarius</em></p><p></p><p>Charinida was dead, but the heroes were still in her palace in the middle of the drow city. Ardra was unconscious, hurt badly and would not awake any time soon. There was a ritual circle nearby.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet pointed out that the drow might raise Charinidia from the dead. She thought it would be a good idea to toss her in the pool of magma down there. The heroes agreed, and decided to throw all the drow corpses in, including the bodies from up in the forge.</p><p></p><p>When the heroes headed back up into the forge, the four dwarves got scared and hid behind their anvils. </p><p></p><p>Hartaniel said to them, "If you'd like to be free, come with us. If you'd like to stay here and serve your masters, you may stay."</p><p></p><p>The dwarves looked at each other and cautiously approached the heroes. One of them said, "The name's Lumpy."</p><p></p><p>The adventurers looked at each other. Hartaniel asked, "Who named you?".</p><p></p><p>Lumpy shrugged and said, "That's just what we call each other. We don't know our real names. That's Grumpy over there...", He pointed to a crabby looking dwarf. Then he pointed to a naive dwarf and said, "And that's Chumpy." The last dwarf was behind an anvil. "...And that one's Humpy. Don't go back there."</p><p></p><p>The adventurers asked the dwarves to help carry the bodies down. The dwarven agreed, and began to whistle as they scooped up the corpses of their former tormentors.</p><p></p><p>As they dumped the last of the bodies in, Scarlet had another idea. She wanted to set off the blood veil in the temple! The cylinders had a kind of magical timer on them, so the heroes decided to set a timer, leave, and then hopefully the blood veil would spray and infect the drow of the temple.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet surmised that the drow would have to beg the Cult of Urgathoa to cure them. </p><p></p><p>The freed eladrin, Solufine, sat on the steps of the altar of Lolth and said, "That was quite a battle! It's so hot in here..."</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel said, "When you write a song about this, make sure to mention Hartaniel Draedsmasher."</p><p></p><p>Solufine smiled and said, "Well, that's quite... smashing!". Then he laughed at his own joke.</p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk scowled and mentioned that all Solufine had done was sit on his ass. Solufine explained that he was just very weak after years of being enslaved by the drow. "I can hardly wait to get back to Senaliesse! It's built upon silver trees, you know..."</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel asked Vecna, who was in his lantern, if their giant bird, Dark Secret, had made it to Echo Warrens with the stolen boat. Vecna confirmed that Dark Secret had.</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel turned to the dwarves and said, "When you travel with us, you travel with a god."</p><p></p><p>Chumpy's eyes went wide and he said, "Really..?"</p><p></p><p>Grumpy folded his arms and said, "You're not a god."</p><p></p><p>Ryltar wondered aloud, "Why are we giving the evil god believers?".</p><p></p><p>They set the timer on the cylinder and used the Linked Portal ritual to teleport from Rilauven back to the Underdark town of Echo Warrens. They appeared in the town square. Vecna flared with energy. They could hear the familiar howl, the sound that lead to Echo Madness.</p><p></p><p>Two members of the goblin gang called the Cave Whippin Boyz were hanging around - Cross-Eyed Piffy and Boss Corker. Hartaniel walked up to Boss Corker, slapped him on the back and said, "Let's get some bats!".</p><p></p><p>Boss Corker said, "Well h'ain't that a treat!", and he yelled out for the Cave Whippin Boyz.</p><p></p><p>Boss Corker confirmed that Dark Secret had brought the drow ship, and that the dwarven captain was preparing to launch it. The captain, Lombard Thickbeard, had his previous ship destroyed by the Black Dragon. The ship was the hero's gift to him.</p><p></p><p>They also spotted Dark Secret flying up by the tall cavern ceiling.</p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk headed to The Muddy Barrel tavern. Inside, he saw the beautiful drow, Vaona. She was wearing a home-made tabard emblazoned with the symbol of Vecna.</p><p></p><p>She gasped when she saw The Blue Monk. She ran over and hugged him.</p><p></p><p>He smiled and said, "That's right, I'm here."</p><p></p><p>The other patrons of the bar scowled, jealous. </p><p></p><p>Then she asked, "Where's the great and mighty Vecna?"</p><p></p><p>The Monk asked, "Aren't you interested in the Raven Queen, maybe..?"</p><p></p><p>"Raven Queen? You can't just keep makin' up gods and makin' me worship em, now."</p><p></p><p>He bought her a drink. He explained that the heroes were just passing through. She decided to go with him, even though the Echo Madness would make it difficult for her to survive outside the cavern.</p><p></p><p>The other adventurers approached Lombard on the drow ship. Solufine held his nose. He said, this town is quite.... ugghh... You're friends with these people?".</p><p></p><p>"Friends..?", Scarlet asked.</p><p></p><p>Solufine continued, "My friends include Queen Morwel, of the Court of Stars!".</p><p></p><p>Scarlet said, "You know what that is? That's really exciting."</p><p></p><p>"I'll have you know that I'm related to her former lover."</p><p></p><p>The heroes rolled their eyes. Solufine was a bit angry. He said, "Please do not insult the great Vaeros! He passed away. The whole city mourned."</p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk and Vaona had arrived. The Monk asked, "Did you watch him die? Did you just stand there and do nothing?".</p><p></p><p>"No, good sir! He went to The Abyss alone to rescue some captured eladrin. He was killed trying to save them. This is why everyone reveres Vaeros!"</p><p></p><p>"Sounds like an idiot...", said Varis, the 12-year old human warlock.</p><p></p><p>Solufine was outraged. He looked at the boy and stammered, "You - you are lucky you are young and naive! Tell me when you are 18 so that I may slap you."</p><p></p><p>Varis asked his allies, "Can I kill him?".</p><p></p><p>His skull familiar, Teddy, said, "Why bother? We'll all be dead soon anyways. </p><p></p><p>They visited with the Incunabulum, who were overjoyed to see their god, Vecna, again.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar said sarcastically, "It's so great that we're doing this. Why are we doing this?"</p><p></p><p>Scalret said, "There's worse things we could be doing."</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel went back to Lombard's ship. The dwarf thanked him. Hartaniel showed him the tooth of the black dragon. he told Lombard he was free to sail the Sea of Black Blood without fear of the dragon. Then he told Lombard to consider worshiping Vecna... </p><p></p><p>Then it was time to leave. The whole town gathered around the teleport circle to say goodbye to Vaona.</p><p></p><p>The adventurers used the other scroll of linked portal and appeared in the city of Olwynn. With them were the four dwarves, Dark Secret, Solufine and Vaona. They appeared on the city's teleport platform, which held eight ritual circles and a magical lift which led beneath the city. Down there was Thunderspire Labyrinth and the Seven-Pillared Hall, which was home to Ardra's Mages of Saruun.</p><p></p><p>The streets were busy, full of citizens wearing loincloths, gold arm and leg bands and little else. Wall monkeys were perched on the sides of half-destroyed buildings, looking for things to snatch with their sticky fingers. Panda-people were pulling rikshaws. </p><p></p><p>Vaona said, "Wow this is big! I'm a-scared!"</p><p></p><p>"It's OK," said The Blue Monk.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet looked at Vaona, who wore nothing but a tabard bearing the symbol of Vecna. "You're already dressed the part", she said.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet activated the magic of her armor, converting it into the standard dress of Olwynn, aka almost nothing.</p><p></p><p>They all climbed onto their giant Vecna-bird, Dark Secret, and flew to Moonstone Keep, which overlooked the city. </p><p></p><p>The adventurers made their way to the throne room to give the King and the council a full report. The councilmembers in the room were Strom Wakeman (of The Us), Ambril (of The Hundred), and Fathom Silverfist (of the Silverfist clan, replacing the slain Phideas Silverfist). Another deva was standing next to Ambril.</p><p></p><p>The heroes told the King and the council everything. The King, a skillful ritualist, said he'd be able to rid Vaona of Echo Madness, and could also petition Bwimb 2 on Ryltar's behalf. </p><p></p><p>The King became alarmed when he learned that there were apparently drow spies in the city, and that drow ships from the world of Dracos were set to invade Olwynn. The army of Olwynn was trying to free the nearby city of Dunnwynn from drow control. He'd already had to commandeer the elite army of Korvosa to deal with the similarly drow-held city of Starbed. Olwynn's resources had already been stretched to the limit. </p><p></p><p>As the city, still re-building from the last drow attack, prepared for a second invasion, the heroes headed to their chambers in the castle to sleep. The dwarves, Solufine and Vaona (who was cured by a ritual cast by the king) were all given guest quarters to rest in.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet headed to the fey park in the city, where the satyr Benedictus (who she'd met during the party at Moonstone Keep before the heroes' trip to Rilauven) lived in caves by a rainbow river. She spent some "alone time" with him, then brought the four dwarves there. Scarlet asked the to be part of her bandit gang that she was forming along with Benedictus.</p><p></p><p>Chumpy said, "That sounds pretty good to me! I want to make money".</p><p></p><p>Grumpy said, "I'm so tired. I just want to sleep."</p><p></p><p>Lumpy, their leader, thought for a moment. Then he said, "All right. We'll do it."</p><p></p><p>The next day, they met with the King and talked about the mark they'd found on the cylinders. The mark was that of Ardra's grandfather. The adventurers decided to go to his house at the docks to see if he knew anything that might help them find the Cult of Urgathoa's lair in the city.</p><p></p><p>They arrived at the house. It was quite run-down. Ardra said, "My grandfather's become quite reclusive since the accident...". She hadn't told the heroes that her grandfather was once a swordmage who had taught her how to infuse her own blade with magic. Someone had tried to kill him with a magical explosion, and since then he'd frowned on magic and tried to steer Ardra away from magic use...</p><p></p><p>She knocked on the front door. Orem, her grandfather, opened the door. He was a bald eladrin. Orem greeted her, disappointed that she was wearing the mask of the Mages of Saruun.</p><p></p><p>Orem looked at the heroes with her and asked, is this your adventuring party? Which one's the cleric?". The heroes looked at each other and shrugged. "You don't have a cleric?! Find another group!".</p><p></p><p>Ryltar aid, "Well we have a lady who heals us sometimes-"</p><p></p><p>Orem interrupted, "You're one of those drow! Shut up. What can I do for you, Ardra?".</p><p></p><p>Ardra was quite embarrassed. She said, "We have some questions about your handiwork...". She asked him about the cylinders he'd made, that the Cult of Urgathoa had somehow got in possession of. He said he'd kept a log of all his sales, and invited the party in while he looked.</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel planted himself by a window and took a look outside. He noticed a number of strange individuals pulling themselves out of the water and on to the dock. They wore red and black armor, and had helmets shaped like the heads of praying mantises. They held sawtooth sabres - swords with a very jagged edge. Hartaniel called out a warning.</p><p></p><p>Orem shook his head. "You were followed?! Ardra, you've got to dump this group, I'm sorry..."</p><p></p><p>Ardra asked him not to discuss this now. She chanted, beginning to summon her armor.</p><p></p><p>He asked, "You're not still casting spells, are you?". In reply, her armor appeared on her in flash of light. He frowned.</p><p></p><p>She grabbed her blade, hoping to impress Orem with the new skills she'd acquired since he'd last seen her.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet kicked the side door open, ran toward one of the red mantis assassins. She grabbed him and sliced him with her broken blade. Another nearby moved in and flanked her. </p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk crashed through a window to help Scarlet. Ryltar was close behind, phasing through a wall. Ryltar sliced into one of the assassins with his scythe.</p><p></p><p>Other mantis assassins were near the front door. Two of them were spellcasters, called mist mages. They cast spells through the front window, One use a spell to fill the room beyond with red mist. Then the other cast a Misty tendrils spell, striking those inside and knocking them back.</p><p></p><p>Ardra came out the side door and tried to run past the red mantis assassins to get to the spellcasters in front, but one of the assassins slashed her deeply with his sawtooth sabre (<em>A critical</em>). She staggered around to the front and stabbed one of the mist mages.</p><p></p><p>Varis cast ethereal stride, made his way outside and pelted a mist mage with spells.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet, the Monk and Ryltar were making quick work of the assassins by the side door. Ryltar killed one of the assassins. The assassin fell to the ground, and his body became a red mist, which dissipated in moments. Only his armor and his sawtooth sabre remained. Scarlet left them, and came around front to help Ardra and Varis.</p><p></p><p>A mist mage pulled out a strange card, perhaps from a tarot deck or some other kind of magical deck. The ground underneath him shimmered, and a magical image identical to the image on the card appeared. It flared, and the mist mage cast a fire spell which scorched Varis, Scarlet and Ardra. Then, a weird energy swirled and sent the heroes flying in random directions. Varis was knocked off the dock and into the water.</p><p></p><p>Varis grabbed hold of the slippery post, and slowly pulled himself out of the water and onto the dock.</p><p></p><p>Ardra luckily landed in shallow water, which put out the fire. She was hurt very badly. She was also mortified. Her grandfather was watching, and here she was getting bested by mantis-men. The Blue Monk ran over and gave her a potion.</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel ran out and aided her, bloodying an assassin. He swung again, and killed it. </p><p></p><p>Then, Ardra's grandfather Orem came out with his old sword. He slashed into an assassin. </p><p></p><p>Scarlet was still on fire from the weird spell. She fell to the ground, dying. The Blue Monk came over and attacked the mist mages and remaining assassins with a series of blows. He was a cloud of blue fury, killing one, and closing the dead man's eyes before he even fell to the ground.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar ran into the hut, which was still full of red mist. He opened the front door and said in drow: "Death comes for you...". Then he killed the assassin.</p><p></p><p>Ardra had taken a moment to bandage her wounds. </p><p></p><p>Orem called out to her, "You know, if you had a cleric, he could heal you with a spell! Don't try anything with your fancy magic - now is not the time."</p><p></p><p>Orem noticed Varis, wet from the ocean, on the dock casting spells. Orem asked aloud, "When did a little boy get here?!</p><p></p><p>Varis said, "I've been here the entire time, senile old man...."</p><p></p><p>Ardra sighed. "Not now, grandpa!"</p><p></p><p>Orem shouted to the young warlock, "Little boy, go hide!".</p><p></p><p>Varis fired an eldritch blast at Orem's feet. He looked at the warlock, incredulous. Ardra felt rage deep in her bones. Varis may have been an ally to her, but if any of the heroes should strike her grandfather...</p><p></p><p>Orem called out, "The boy just shot at me! He's one of the enemy! Little boy, where's your mother? You deserve a spanking!".</p><p></p><p>Once ready to rejoin the battle, Ardra ran over to Scarlet and revived her with a potion. Scarlet got up and plunged her blade into a mist mage, killing him. He, like all the others, turned to red mist. His sword, armor, and the strange card all fell to the ground. Scarlet picked up the card.</p><p></p><p>Her mind was flooded with a vision. It was of Mari, the goddess of luck, when she was a mortal on the world of Dracos. She was kissing a leader of the coalition during the battle against the githyanki.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet shook it off. Could this card be one of Mari's Deck of Many Things? How did it get in the possession of the mist mage? The last Scarlet knew, The King of Terror himself had drawn from the deck and imprisoned himself in some unknown world.</p><p></p><p>As Scarlet was distracted by the card, she was struck with a misty tendrils spell and fell unconscious. </p><p></p><p>The heroes finished off the red mantis assassins and mist mages. Every last one of them turned to mist. The adventurers wondered why they had attacked and who they were. They caught their breath.</p><p></p><p>Orem shook his head. "You got no cleric. And whose kid is this?!".</p><p></p><p>Varis grumbled and went over to Scarlet, who was still unconscious. He snatched the card from her. As he touched the card, he too had a vision of Mari. His vision was of Mari in the final battle with the githyanki emporer Zetch'r'r'r, where she slew all four of his handmaidens and teleported Zetch'r'r'r down the where her allies were all in mere seconds (<em>This happened in the Scales of War campaign. Summary is <a href="http://scalesofwar5.webs.com/adv78.htm" target="_blank">here</a>: <a href="http://scalesofwar5.webs.com/adv78.htm" target="_blank">Adv78 - Scales of War</a></em>). </p><p></p><p>Orem said to Ardra, "It's a good thing your mother isn't here. She's safe in the city of Sigil, which is where you should go... so you'll be safe from numbskulls like this!" He was referring to the heroes. He explained that the back door to his hut was a portal to Sigil, activated when he touched his sword to the door. It didn't always work, though. </p><p></p><p>Hartaniel asked, "What is wrong with you, old man? This is your granddaughter you're talking to.".</p><p></p><p>Orem said, "My granddaughter should not be running around casting spells."</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel began to talk of his uncle, the hero, Hirbe.</p><p></p><p>Orem said, "That's very nice. I'm so happy for your uncle." Then he turned and looked over his scrolls. He found the name of the person who'd bought 20 cylinders from him. It was a man named Tark Gravin. As Orem remembered, Tark was something of an alchemist. Orem didn't know where Tark was presently.</p><p></p><p>The heroes asked Orem if he knew who the assassins were. He said, "They may have been sent by... the void things."</p><p></p><p>Ryltar said, I assume you're going to explain, right?"</p><p></p><p>"It's none of your business."</p><p></p><p>Ryltar said, "OK. Screw you, too, old man."</p><p></p><p>Ardra felt a combination of shame and anger. While her grandfather was certainly blunt, she was disappointed that Ryltar and the others would dare to speak to him in such a manner. This was compounded when The Blue Monk turned to her, arms folded, and said, "Ardra, your grandfather is a prick."</p><p></p><p>Some more back and forth followed. Orem finally sighed, went into his room, and put away his weapon. He came out, muttering, "I can't believe I had to use the warning sword..."</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel asked to see the sword. Orem brought it back out and showed it to him. </p><p></p><p>Hartaniel asked to hold it. Orem told him and the others to get out. But he wanted Ardra to stay, so he could take her to Sigil. Hartaneil continued to ask about the sword, so Orem threatened to call the Immortal bound to the docks - Lord Saligia Foul - over here to deal with Hartaniel. </p><p></p><p>Orem began to rant, "These are the worst adventurers I've ever seen in my life! You need one fighter in a loincloth. You need one thief with a hood on who never says anything. And a wizard with a pointy hat!"</p><p></p><p>Scarlet smiled and activated her magic armor. It changed so that Scarlet was wearing a loincloth and a metal bra, like a classic female fighter.</p><p></p><p>Orem took one look approvingly and said, "She can stay, the rest of you get out of here."</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel tried buttering him up. Ryltar said they should probably leave 'the crankiest guy in Olwynn' and go look for Tark Gravin. Hartaniel quietly hissed, "I want that sword!".</p><p></p><p>Ardra was aghast. The mask on her helm of seven deaths hid her reaction. Not only had the heroes disrespected her beloved Grandfather, but now Hartaniel was trying to steal from him.</p><p></p><p>The adventurers began to leave. They grabbed some of the assassins' stuff. The mantis helmets had a power to see invisible for a short time. Hartaniel asked Ardra to use a ritual to transfer the enchantment to the owlbear skull he wore on his head.</p><p></p><p>The heroes said farewell to Orem and spent the rest of the day walking the streets of Olwynn searching for Tark Graven, the man who'd bought the cylinders. They didn't have a lot of luck, as Olwynn was home to over a million people.</p><p></p><p>They also were able to sell the adamantite Ore they'd acquired from the drow temple's forge. They received quite a nice pile of gold. Then they went and bought some potions and other equipment.</p><p></p><p>Night fell and the exhausted adventurers returned to Moonstone Keep. Hartaniel went into the War Room, where Fathom Silverfist was looking over a map of Dunnwynn and tracking the army's movements. </p><p></p><p>Fathom was not overly welcoming to Hartaniel. He told her about the red mantis assassins and asked her if she knew anything about them. She did. She explained that the King of Terror had three exarchs who each had cults operating in the area. Up until now, the heroes had been dealing with the cult of an exarch named Urgathoa.</p><p></p><p>But she knew that the Red Mantis Assassins were devoted to another exarch - Achaekek, He Who Walks in Blood. The assassins had likely been sent to avenge the theft of the cylinders. </p><p></p><p>Ryltar went to the throne room and watched the King as he dealt with his council and the efforts to rebuild the city, as well as try to gather forces to repel the possible attack from the drow of Dracos. Ryltar noticed that the King looked skinnier. Ryltar became a bit alarmed. He knew that if the King did not kill someone with Blackrazor every week or two, he'd transform into a hideous wight forever. The King looked a bit, well, wight-ish.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet stayed in the caves with Benedictus, and discussed the idea of buying a place outside the city to use as a base of operations.</p><p></p><p>Ardra went to her room in the Keep and learned the Transfer Enchantment ritual, so that she could shift the Red Mantis helmet's powers to Hartaniel's owlbear skull helmet.</p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk headed to the ruined temple that serve as the home to The Blue Monks. He looked there for Elder Teal and the monks, but found the place to be utterly abandoned.</p><p></p><p>A man approached him from across the street. He was bald and had a long black mustache. His armor bore the symbol of The Silverfists. He was Kromar Silverfist. Kromar smirked and said, "Oh, you didn't hear, eh?".</p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk said, "No - I didn't."</p><p></p><p>"They're all in prison."</p><p></p><p>"Why are they in prison?"</p><p></p><p>"Attempted robbery. The Blue Monks tried to rob a caravan bearing potions that came through the city. It's a good thing you weren't around, or you might have been caught up in it too."</p><p></p><p>"Are you threatening me?"</p><p></p><p>"I'm just making an observation."</p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk became angry. He knew that his fellow monks would never commit robbery. This was clearly a scheme of The Silverfists, revenge for The Monk getting into an altercation with Phideas Silverfist which led to Phideas being killed by the King. </p><p></p><p>The City of Olwynn's prison was inside one of the city's five guardian immortals - The Unfathomable One, the being who claimed to have evolved into a kind of walking Quasi-Dimension. All prisoners were held in a strange nether-space where they didn't need to breathe or eat. </p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk began to think about breaking them out, but knew that the immortals were almost demi-gods themselves. To challenge The Unfathomable One was probably suicide.</p><p></p><p>Kromar began to walk away. The Blue Monk said, "I don't like you."</p><p></p><p>Kromar stopped walking. Without turning around, he said, "Likewise. Say hi to the King for me." Then Kromar walked down the street and disappeared into the night.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar began to trance. He felt exhausted. The Curse of Bwimb was taking its' toll.</p><p></p><p>The next morning, The Blue Monk met with the King, hoping to get the Monks freed. Fathom Silverfist was there as well, and explained that the Monks would get a trial soon. </p><p></p><p>Ryltar asked King Thennrynnia to cast a ritual so that they could talk with Bwimb 2, to see if there was any way to get the curse removed. The King brought all the heroes to the ritual room. There, the King stood before a ritual circle inlaid with runes of silver. </p><p></p><p>He explained that he'd be casting a ritual called Summon Demon which would summon a fragment of Bwimb's will. The heroes could speak with her verbally or telepathically.</p><p></p><p>He chanted and the air swirled with magic. There was a burst of glowing smoke, and then, the translucent image of Bwimb 2 appeared! She was at least 12 feet tall and covered in slime. Demonic worms crawled freely over her flesh. </p><p></p><p>She shrieked in anger. The King looked at Ryltar. Ryltar muttered "Great...".</p><p></p><p>Ryltar said, "Hello... ...Worm Lady. How may I remove-"</p><p></p><p>She interrupted, "My name is Bwimb! The Paraelemental Princess of Ooze! You will address me accordingly! Why have you summoned me?!"</p><p></p><p>Ryltar said, "I somehow came to have your touch upon me-"</p><p></p><p>She interrupted again. "You're wearing a mud sorcerer's ring, aren't you?"</p><p></p><p>Ryltar had indeed obtained the ring when the adventurers made their way through the mud sorcerer's tomb on Cat Island...</p><p></p><p>"You're the ones who went to Cat Island!". She reached out to crush Ryltar in her grip, but her translucent hand could not penetrate the boundaries of the King's ritual circle.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar feigned injuries mockingly, groaning "Ohh - Ow! Owww!", sarcastically.</p><p></p><p>Bwimb hissed, "You defiled the tomb of one of my finest sorcerers!".</p><p></p><p>Ryltar said, "...Sorry?".</p><p></p><p>"Why are you wasting my time?", she asked angrily.</p><p></p><p>"I can't sleep-"</p><p></p><p>She threw her head back and laughed. "The curse! Ha ha ha! The tiny little snake!".</p><p></p><p>Ryltar said "Yes.." and mocked her laughter.</p><p></p><p>"Ingenious, wasn't it?".</p><p></p><p>The heroes agreed. Scarlet began to point out that the snake actually helped them a bit.</p><p></p><p>Bwimb rubbed her chin and said, "I could decide to let the curse go. But why would I do that?!".</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel asked, "What could we do in return?".</p><p></p><p>She looked at him and said, "What could you do for me? Could you destroy Ben-Hadar, the Archomental of Good Water?"</p><p></p><p>Ryltar said, "No, and that doesn't sound like something we're interested in."</p><p></p><p>"Well! Then there's nothing! And when you sleep, you'll dream of me! Ha ha ha!".</p><p></p><p>The King was uneasy. Bwimb was a powerful enemy, and the adventurers had been mocking her to her face. He knew there was a good chance that she'd sent some horrid ooze creatures to destroy them if they weren't careful.</p><p></p><p>Bwimb said, "Well you've been thoroughly unconvincing, boy!"</p><p></p><p>Ryltar said, "Very well, I'll petition for the Raven Queen's help then!".</p><p></p><p>Bwimb laughed and said, "Perhaps I'll send some mud grues to destroy you all for not addressing me properly."</p><p></p><p>Scarlet said, "That worked really well last time." Bwimb laughed at Scarlet's insolence. Scarlet again pointed out that the snake aided the heroes in the tomb. Bwimb chanted, and Ryltar's mud sorcerer's ring glowed.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar asked his friends if he should take off the ring. They shrugged. King Thennrynia was more than alarmed. He told them that this was not going well at all. </p><p></p><p>"Ryltar said, Tell me about it!".</p><p></p><p>King Thennrynnia ended the ritual. The image of Bwimb disappeared.</p><p></p><p>The King sighed and shook his head. Ryltar said he'd just deal with the curse until he could find a cure. The King left, and plodded back to his throne for a long day. </p><p></p><p>The heroes had breakfast. Then they were met by Paunchcrammer, Zanestra Shadowborn's imp sidekick. He had a live rat in his hand, and bit its' head off. The heroes were shocked. Paunchcrammer had up until now been very polite and often offered people orange juice. Zanestra had chided him for not being evil enough...</p><p></p><p>Varis said, "Zanestra asked you to do that specifically, didn't she?"</p><p></p><p>Paunchcrammer gave a sinister grin and said, "No - I wanted to do it!".</p><p></p><p>The adventurers congratulated him. He told them that Zanestra wanted to talk to them, at the Shadowborn Clock Tower, home of the Shadowborn clan.</p><p></p><p>Paunchcrammer led the adventurers out of the keep and through the streets of Olwynn. They arrived at the clock tower..</p><p></p><p>They headed inside. There was blood on the floor. Nearby stairs led up to a balcony which overlooked the main floor where the heroes were. </p><p></p><p>Paunchcrammer smiled. He said, laughing, "You guys are really stupid. That was so easy!"</p><p></p><p>Two familiar individuals appeared on the balcony - Belgos and Silussa! </p><p></p><p>Belgos and Silussa were originally agents of the drow, but befriended the heroes instead. But when they came to Olwynn, they ended up staying with the Shadowborns. Varis had suggested that the Shadowborns torture Belgos and Silussa to see if there was any more information.</p><p></p><p>The Shadowborns did so while Varis was away, but Belgos and Silussa's innate domination powers allowed them to turn the tables on their torturers. Now, all of the Shadowborns were vampiric thralls of Belgos! Even Paunchcrammer had become vampiric!</p><p></p><p>Belgos looked down on the adventurers and said, "Silussa, your plan was so clever!"</p><p></p><p>She smiled and said, "No, you're the clever one!"</p><p></p><p>Belgos pointed an accusatory finger at Varis. "You! We befriended you! And then you had your Shadowborn friends try to torture us! Isn't that right? Well, now we run the Shadowborns and we contacted the drow. We are going to destroy your city and we are going to make you our thralls - if you're lucky! Isn't that right, my darling?"</p><p></p><p>Silussa nodded and smiled.</p><p></p><p>Blue Monk called out, "I thought you liked us!".</p><p></p><p>Belgos said, "I did, until the boy showed us his true nature."</p><p></p><p>Silussa said to Varis, "...And to think, I was going to make out with you!".</p><p></p><p>Scarlet blurted out, "And to think I was going to watch... I mean, I was back at the camp the whole time."</p><p></p><p>Belgos had his bats and rats summon all of the Lolthbound goblins, giant spiders, and Web Golems wandering the forests and had them join up, ready to attack Olwynn. And he'd even been the one who contacted the drow in Rilauven.</p><p></p><p>Vampire thralls burst from the adjacent rooms and attacked! The Blue Monk fought back, and punched his way into the kitchen area. Ardra killed one vampire with her blade, and another with her unseen hand.</p><p></p><p>Belgos took control of Hartaniel's mind.</p><p></p><p>The vampire laughed and said, Now you're all going to suffer! You've doomed your whole city. Isn't that right, my darling?"</p><p></p><p>Silussa the succubus agreed. It's true, darling. They are doomed one hundred percent!"</p><p></p><p>Varis called up to Belgos and Silussa. "You know what happened to the last people who attacked my family? Have you met Teddy? I decapitated one and burned the other alive, and sucked them both into this skull!"</p><p></p><p>Belgos looked at Varis in alarm. Then, he commanded Hartaniel to charge The Blue Monk. The monk dodged the attack, and Hartaniel shook off the vampire's control. </p><p></p><p>Varis used the power of the card he'd found on the red mantis, scorching the vampires (as well as some allies), and scattering them in random directions.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar plunged his scythe into a vampire (<em>with a critical</em>). Ardra killed another vampire, and injured one nearby as well. Scarlet finished off another of Belgos' minions with her broken blade. </p><p></p><p>Belgos remained at the top of the stairs, with Silussa behind him, and cast a spell down on the heroes that exploded and injured them. </p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk was fighting two vampires at once. They clawed him again and again, bloodying him. Ardra knocked one of them away from him.</p><p></p><p>Belgos watched as the heroes cut down the Shadowborn vampire thralls. He said to Silussa, "Look at how traitorous they are. They cut down Varis' Shadowborn clan with no compunctions at all." Belgos called down to them, "Truly the drow are more worthy allies than you!".</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel teleported up to the second floor balcony where Belgos and Silussa were. Hartaniel said, "We wanted to be your friends".</p><p></p><p>Varis shouted from below, "Speak for yourself!".</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel stabbed Silussa (<em>with a critical</em>). She shrieked in pain. Hartaniel sent her hurtling over the side of the balcony. She crashed to the ground on the first floor near the heroes.</p><p></p><p>Varis eyes went wide. He drained power from Scarlet and blasted Silussa with a spell, devastating her (<em>with a critical!</em>). Then, Ryltar brought his scythe down on her. Blood sprayed from the wound. She was dead. Ryltar looked up and gave Belgos a cold stare.</p><p></p><p>Belgos, atop the stairs, yelled "NOOOOOO!". </p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk and Ardra continued to battle the vampires in the kitchen.</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel staggered Belgos with a shout of terror. Belgos swore revenge and transformed into a mist bat. But before he could make his escape, Scarlet raced up the stairs and grabbed hold of him. </p><p></p><p>Varis made his way near to Belgos and said, "You must be so sad. Your girlfriend is dead, right in front of your eyes! Maybe you should kill yourself so you can be with her." Varis' cast a spell that forced Belgos to injure himself. Scarlet stabbed her broken blade into him for good measure.</p><p></p><p>Belgos gasped and said, "If Silussa's gone, then I don't want to be here. With my last breath, I do not curse you. I tell Silussa that I love her!"</p><p></p><p>Silussa, below suddenly gasped. She called out "Nooo!". And then they both died.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet said, "They were annoying in life, and they're annoying in death."</p><p></p><p>With Belgos dead, the Shadowborn were no longer vampiric thralls. Those still alive shook their heads and took control of their senses.</p><p></p><p>The adventurers now knew who had been contacting the drow, but unfortunately, the drow were still on the way....</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Netherstorm, post: 5796463, member: 84943"] [I]1/23/12: Sam couldn't make it, so no Lucky this week...[/I] [CENTER][FONT=Arial Black][SIZE=3]Saga of Valor [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Black][SIZE=3]Book One - NyrodSpace War 3[/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER] [CENTER] [I]Chapter Twelve: The Shadowborn[/I] [/CENTER] [B]Ardra[/B] - Eladrin Bladesinger [I]Vovoidja[/I] [B]The Blue Monk[/B] - Half-Orc Monk [I]Almoner[/I] [B]Hartaniel[/B] - Elf Barbarian [I]Groom of the Stool[/I] [B]Ryltar[/B] - Drow Avenger [I]Constable[/I] [B]Scarlet[/B] - Human Fighter [I]Constable[/I] [B]Varis[/B] - Half-Elf Warlock [I]Hostarius[/I] Charinida was dead, but the heroes were still in her palace in the middle of the drow city. Ardra was unconscious, hurt badly and would not awake any time soon. There was a ritual circle nearby. Scarlet pointed out that the drow might raise Charinidia from the dead. She thought it would be a good idea to toss her in the pool of magma down there. The heroes agreed, and decided to throw all the drow corpses in, including the bodies from up in the forge. When the heroes headed back up into the forge, the four dwarves got scared and hid behind their anvils. Hartaniel said to them, "If you'd like to be free, come with us. If you'd like to stay here and serve your masters, you may stay." The dwarves looked at each other and cautiously approached the heroes. One of them said, "The name's Lumpy." The adventurers looked at each other. Hartaniel asked, "Who named you?". Lumpy shrugged and said, "That's just what we call each other. We don't know our real names. That's Grumpy over there...", He pointed to a crabby looking dwarf. Then he pointed to a naive dwarf and said, "And that's Chumpy." The last dwarf was behind an anvil. "...And that one's Humpy. Don't go back there." The adventurers asked the dwarves to help carry the bodies down. The dwarven agreed, and began to whistle as they scooped up the corpses of their former tormentors. As they dumped the last of the bodies in, Scarlet had another idea. She wanted to set off the blood veil in the temple! The cylinders had a kind of magical timer on them, so the heroes decided to set a timer, leave, and then hopefully the blood veil would spray and infect the drow of the temple. Scarlet surmised that the drow would have to beg the Cult of Urgathoa to cure them. The freed eladrin, Solufine, sat on the steps of the altar of Lolth and said, "That was quite a battle! It's so hot in here..." Hartaniel said, "When you write a song about this, make sure to mention Hartaniel Draedsmasher." Solufine smiled and said, "Well, that's quite... smashing!". Then he laughed at his own joke. The Blue Monk scowled and mentioned that all Solufine had done was sit on his ass. Solufine explained that he was just very weak after years of being enslaved by the drow. "I can hardly wait to get back to Senaliesse! It's built upon silver trees, you know..." Hartaniel asked Vecna, who was in his lantern, if their giant bird, Dark Secret, had made it to Echo Warrens with the stolen boat. Vecna confirmed that Dark Secret had. Hartaniel turned to the dwarves and said, "When you travel with us, you travel with a god." Chumpy's eyes went wide and he said, "Really..?" Grumpy folded his arms and said, "You're not a god." Ryltar wondered aloud, "Why are we giving the evil god believers?". They set the timer on the cylinder and used the Linked Portal ritual to teleport from Rilauven back to the Underdark town of Echo Warrens. They appeared in the town square. Vecna flared with energy. They could hear the familiar howl, the sound that lead to Echo Madness. Two members of the goblin gang called the Cave Whippin Boyz were hanging around - Cross-Eyed Piffy and Boss Corker. Hartaniel walked up to Boss Corker, slapped him on the back and said, "Let's get some bats!". Boss Corker said, "Well h'ain't that a treat!", and he yelled out for the Cave Whippin Boyz. Boss Corker confirmed that Dark Secret had brought the drow ship, and that the dwarven captain was preparing to launch it. The captain, Lombard Thickbeard, had his previous ship destroyed by the Black Dragon. The ship was the hero's gift to him. They also spotted Dark Secret flying up by the tall cavern ceiling. The Blue Monk headed to The Muddy Barrel tavern. Inside, he saw the beautiful drow, Vaona. She was wearing a home-made tabard emblazoned with the symbol of Vecna. She gasped when she saw The Blue Monk. She ran over and hugged him. He smiled and said, "That's right, I'm here." The other patrons of the bar scowled, jealous. Then she asked, "Where's the great and mighty Vecna?" The Monk asked, "Aren't you interested in the Raven Queen, maybe..?" "Raven Queen? You can't just keep makin' up gods and makin' me worship em, now." He bought her a drink. He explained that the heroes were just passing through. She decided to go with him, even though the Echo Madness would make it difficult for her to survive outside the cavern. The other adventurers approached Lombard on the drow ship. Solufine held his nose. He said, this town is quite.... ugghh... You're friends with these people?". "Friends..?", Scarlet asked. Solufine continued, "My friends include Queen Morwel, of the Court of Stars!". Scarlet said, "You know what that is? That's really exciting." "I'll have you know that I'm related to her former lover." The heroes rolled their eyes. Solufine was a bit angry. He said, "Please do not insult the great Vaeros! He passed away. The whole city mourned." The Blue Monk and Vaona had arrived. The Monk asked, "Did you watch him die? Did you just stand there and do nothing?". "No, good sir! He went to The Abyss alone to rescue some captured eladrin. He was killed trying to save them. This is why everyone reveres Vaeros!" "Sounds like an idiot...", said Varis, the 12-year old human warlock. Solufine was outraged. He looked at the boy and stammered, "You - you are lucky you are young and naive! Tell me when you are 18 so that I may slap you." Varis asked his allies, "Can I kill him?". His skull familiar, Teddy, said, "Why bother? We'll all be dead soon anyways. They visited with the Incunabulum, who were overjoyed to see their god, Vecna, again. Ryltar said sarcastically, "It's so great that we're doing this. Why are we doing this?" Scalret said, "There's worse things we could be doing." Hartaniel went back to Lombard's ship. The dwarf thanked him. Hartaniel showed him the tooth of the black dragon. he told Lombard he was free to sail the Sea of Black Blood without fear of the dragon. Then he told Lombard to consider worshiping Vecna... Then it was time to leave. The whole town gathered around the teleport circle to say goodbye to Vaona. The adventurers used the other scroll of linked portal and appeared in the city of Olwynn. With them were the four dwarves, Dark Secret, Solufine and Vaona. They appeared on the city's teleport platform, which held eight ritual circles and a magical lift which led beneath the city. Down there was Thunderspire Labyrinth and the Seven-Pillared Hall, which was home to Ardra's Mages of Saruun. The streets were busy, full of citizens wearing loincloths, gold arm and leg bands and little else. Wall monkeys were perched on the sides of half-destroyed buildings, looking for things to snatch with their sticky fingers. Panda-people were pulling rikshaws. Vaona said, "Wow this is big! I'm a-scared!" "It's OK," said The Blue Monk. Scarlet looked at Vaona, who wore nothing but a tabard bearing the symbol of Vecna. "You're already dressed the part", she said. Scarlet activated the magic of her armor, converting it into the standard dress of Olwynn, aka almost nothing. They all climbed onto their giant Vecna-bird, Dark Secret, and flew to Moonstone Keep, which overlooked the city. The adventurers made their way to the throne room to give the King and the council a full report. The councilmembers in the room were Strom Wakeman (of The Us), Ambril (of The Hundred), and Fathom Silverfist (of the Silverfist clan, replacing the slain Phideas Silverfist). Another deva was standing next to Ambril. The heroes told the King and the council everything. The King, a skillful ritualist, said he'd be able to rid Vaona of Echo Madness, and could also petition Bwimb 2 on Ryltar's behalf. The King became alarmed when he learned that there were apparently drow spies in the city, and that drow ships from the world of Dracos were set to invade Olwynn. The army of Olwynn was trying to free the nearby city of Dunnwynn from drow control. He'd already had to commandeer the elite army of Korvosa to deal with the similarly drow-held city of Starbed. Olwynn's resources had already been stretched to the limit. As the city, still re-building from the last drow attack, prepared for a second invasion, the heroes headed to their chambers in the castle to sleep. The dwarves, Solufine and Vaona (who was cured by a ritual cast by the king) were all given guest quarters to rest in. Scarlet headed to the fey park in the city, where the satyr Benedictus (who she'd met during the party at Moonstone Keep before the heroes' trip to Rilauven) lived in caves by a rainbow river. She spent some "alone time" with him, then brought the four dwarves there. Scarlet asked the to be part of her bandit gang that she was forming along with Benedictus. Chumpy said, "That sounds pretty good to me! I want to make money". Grumpy said, "I'm so tired. I just want to sleep." Lumpy, their leader, thought for a moment. Then he said, "All right. We'll do it." The next day, they met with the King and talked about the mark they'd found on the cylinders. The mark was that of Ardra's grandfather. The adventurers decided to go to his house at the docks to see if he knew anything that might help them find the Cult of Urgathoa's lair in the city. They arrived at the house. It was quite run-down. Ardra said, "My grandfather's become quite reclusive since the accident...". She hadn't told the heroes that her grandfather was once a swordmage who had taught her how to infuse her own blade with magic. Someone had tried to kill him with a magical explosion, and since then he'd frowned on magic and tried to steer Ardra away from magic use... She knocked on the front door. Orem, her grandfather, opened the door. He was a bald eladrin. Orem greeted her, disappointed that she was wearing the mask of the Mages of Saruun. Orem looked at the heroes with her and asked, is this your adventuring party? Which one's the cleric?". The heroes looked at each other and shrugged. "You don't have a cleric?! Find another group!". Ryltar aid, "Well we have a lady who heals us sometimes-" Orem interrupted, "You're one of those drow! Shut up. What can I do for you, Ardra?". Ardra was quite embarrassed. She said, "We have some questions about your handiwork...". She asked him about the cylinders he'd made, that the Cult of Urgathoa had somehow got in possession of. He said he'd kept a log of all his sales, and invited the party in while he looked. Hartaniel planted himself by a window and took a look outside. He noticed a number of strange individuals pulling themselves out of the water and on to the dock. They wore red and black armor, and had helmets shaped like the heads of praying mantises. They held sawtooth sabres - swords with a very jagged edge. Hartaniel called out a warning. Orem shook his head. "You were followed?! Ardra, you've got to dump this group, I'm sorry..." Ardra asked him not to discuss this now. She chanted, beginning to summon her armor. He asked, "You're not still casting spells, are you?". In reply, her armor appeared on her in flash of light. He frowned. She grabbed her blade, hoping to impress Orem with the new skills she'd acquired since he'd last seen her. Scarlet kicked the side door open, ran toward one of the red mantis assassins. She grabbed him and sliced him with her broken blade. Another nearby moved in and flanked her. The Blue Monk crashed through a window to help Scarlet. Ryltar was close behind, phasing through a wall. Ryltar sliced into one of the assassins with his scythe. Other mantis assassins were near the front door. Two of them were spellcasters, called mist mages. They cast spells through the front window, One use a spell to fill the room beyond with red mist. Then the other cast a Misty tendrils spell, striking those inside and knocking them back. Ardra came out the side door and tried to run past the red mantis assassins to get to the spellcasters in front, but one of the assassins slashed her deeply with his sawtooth sabre ([I]A critical[/I]). She staggered around to the front and stabbed one of the mist mages. Varis cast ethereal stride, made his way outside and pelted a mist mage with spells. Scarlet, the Monk and Ryltar were making quick work of the assassins by the side door. Ryltar killed one of the assassins. The assassin fell to the ground, and his body became a red mist, which dissipated in moments. Only his armor and his sawtooth sabre remained. Scarlet left them, and came around front to help Ardra and Varis. A mist mage pulled out a strange card, perhaps from a tarot deck or some other kind of magical deck. The ground underneath him shimmered, and a magical image identical to the image on the card appeared. It flared, and the mist mage cast a fire spell which scorched Varis, Scarlet and Ardra. Then, a weird energy swirled and sent the heroes flying in random directions. Varis was knocked off the dock and into the water. Varis grabbed hold of the slippery post, and slowly pulled himself out of the water and onto the dock. Ardra luckily landed in shallow water, which put out the fire. She was hurt very badly. She was also mortified. Her grandfather was watching, and here she was getting bested by mantis-men. The Blue Monk ran over and gave her a potion. Hartaniel ran out and aided her, bloodying an assassin. He swung again, and killed it. Then, Ardra's grandfather Orem came out with his old sword. He slashed into an assassin. Scarlet was still on fire from the weird spell. She fell to the ground, dying. The Blue Monk came over and attacked the mist mages and remaining assassins with a series of blows. He was a cloud of blue fury, killing one, and closing the dead man's eyes before he even fell to the ground. Ryltar ran into the hut, which was still full of red mist. He opened the front door and said in drow: "Death comes for you...". Then he killed the assassin. Ardra had taken a moment to bandage her wounds. Orem called out to her, "You know, if you had a cleric, he could heal you with a spell! Don't try anything with your fancy magic - now is not the time." Orem noticed Varis, wet from the ocean, on the dock casting spells. Orem asked aloud, "When did a little boy get here?! Varis said, "I've been here the entire time, senile old man...." Ardra sighed. "Not now, grandpa!" Orem shouted to the young warlock, "Little boy, go hide!". Varis fired an eldritch blast at Orem's feet. He looked at the warlock, incredulous. Ardra felt rage deep in her bones. Varis may have been an ally to her, but if any of the heroes should strike her grandfather... Orem called out, "The boy just shot at me! He's one of the enemy! Little boy, where's your mother? You deserve a spanking!". Once ready to rejoin the battle, Ardra ran over to Scarlet and revived her with a potion. Scarlet got up and plunged her blade into a mist mage, killing him. He, like all the others, turned to red mist. His sword, armor, and the strange card all fell to the ground. Scarlet picked up the card. Her mind was flooded with a vision. It was of Mari, the goddess of luck, when she was a mortal on the world of Dracos. She was kissing a leader of the coalition during the battle against the githyanki. Scarlet shook it off. Could this card be one of Mari's Deck of Many Things? How did it get in the possession of the mist mage? The last Scarlet knew, The King of Terror himself had drawn from the deck and imprisoned himself in some unknown world. As Scarlet was distracted by the card, she was struck with a misty tendrils spell and fell unconscious. The heroes finished off the red mantis assassins and mist mages. Every last one of them turned to mist. The adventurers wondered why they had attacked and who they were. They caught their breath. Orem shook his head. "You got no cleric. And whose kid is this?!". Varis grumbled and went over to Scarlet, who was still unconscious. He snatched the card from her. As he touched the card, he too had a vision of Mari. His vision was of Mari in the final battle with the githyanki emporer Zetch'r'r'r, where she slew all four of his handmaidens and teleported Zetch'r'r'r down the where her allies were all in mere seconds ([I]This happened in the Scales of War campaign. Summary is [URL="http://scalesofwar5.webs.com/adv78.htm"]here[/URL]: [url=http://scalesofwar5.webs.com/adv78.htm]Adv78 - Scales of War[/url][/I]). Orem said to Ardra, "It's a good thing your mother isn't here. She's safe in the city of Sigil, which is where you should go... so you'll be safe from numbskulls like this!" He was referring to the heroes. He explained that the back door to his hut was a portal to Sigil, activated when he touched his sword to the door. It didn't always work, though. Hartaniel asked, "What is wrong with you, old man? This is your granddaughter you're talking to.". Orem said, "My granddaughter should not be running around casting spells." Hartaniel began to talk of his uncle, the hero, Hirbe. Orem said, "That's very nice. I'm so happy for your uncle." Then he turned and looked over his scrolls. He found the name of the person who'd bought 20 cylinders from him. It was a man named Tark Gravin. As Orem remembered, Tark was something of an alchemist. Orem didn't know where Tark was presently. The heroes asked Orem if he knew who the assassins were. He said, "They may have been sent by... the void things." Ryltar said, I assume you're going to explain, right?" "It's none of your business." Ryltar said, "OK. Screw you, too, old man." Ardra felt a combination of shame and anger. While her grandfather was certainly blunt, she was disappointed that Ryltar and the others would dare to speak to him in such a manner. This was compounded when The Blue Monk turned to her, arms folded, and said, "Ardra, your grandfather is a prick." Some more back and forth followed. Orem finally sighed, went into his room, and put away his weapon. He came out, muttering, "I can't believe I had to use the warning sword..." Hartaniel asked to see the sword. Orem brought it back out and showed it to him. Hartaniel asked to hold it. Orem told him and the others to get out. But he wanted Ardra to stay, so he could take her to Sigil. Hartaneil continued to ask about the sword, so Orem threatened to call the Immortal bound to the docks - Lord Saligia Foul - over here to deal with Hartaniel. Orem began to rant, "These are the worst adventurers I've ever seen in my life! You need one fighter in a loincloth. You need one thief with a hood on who never says anything. And a wizard with a pointy hat!" Scarlet smiled and activated her magic armor. It changed so that Scarlet was wearing a loincloth and a metal bra, like a classic female fighter. Orem took one look approvingly and said, "She can stay, the rest of you get out of here." Hartaniel tried buttering him up. Ryltar said they should probably leave 'the crankiest guy in Olwynn' and go look for Tark Gravin. Hartaniel quietly hissed, "I want that sword!". Ardra was aghast. The mask on her helm of seven deaths hid her reaction. Not only had the heroes disrespected her beloved Grandfather, but now Hartaniel was trying to steal from him. The adventurers began to leave. They grabbed some of the assassins' stuff. The mantis helmets had a power to see invisible for a short time. Hartaniel asked Ardra to use a ritual to transfer the enchantment to the owlbear skull he wore on his head. The heroes said farewell to Orem and spent the rest of the day walking the streets of Olwynn searching for Tark Graven, the man who'd bought the cylinders. They didn't have a lot of luck, as Olwynn was home to over a million people. They also were able to sell the adamantite Ore they'd acquired from the drow temple's forge. They received quite a nice pile of gold. Then they went and bought some potions and other equipment. Night fell and the exhausted adventurers returned to Moonstone Keep. Hartaniel went into the War Room, where Fathom Silverfist was looking over a map of Dunnwynn and tracking the army's movements. Fathom was not overly welcoming to Hartaniel. He told her about the red mantis assassins and asked her if she knew anything about them. She did. She explained that the King of Terror had three exarchs who each had cults operating in the area. Up until now, the heroes had been dealing with the cult of an exarch named Urgathoa. But she knew that the Red Mantis Assassins were devoted to another exarch - Achaekek, He Who Walks in Blood. The assassins had likely been sent to avenge the theft of the cylinders. Ryltar went to the throne room and watched the King as he dealt with his council and the efforts to rebuild the city, as well as try to gather forces to repel the possible attack from the drow of Dracos. Ryltar noticed that the King looked skinnier. Ryltar became a bit alarmed. He knew that if the King did not kill someone with Blackrazor every week or two, he'd transform into a hideous wight forever. The King looked a bit, well, wight-ish. Scarlet stayed in the caves with Benedictus, and discussed the idea of buying a place outside the city to use as a base of operations. Ardra went to her room in the Keep and learned the Transfer Enchantment ritual, so that she could shift the Red Mantis helmet's powers to Hartaniel's owlbear skull helmet. The Blue Monk headed to the ruined temple that serve as the home to The Blue Monks. He looked there for Elder Teal and the monks, but found the place to be utterly abandoned. A man approached him from across the street. He was bald and had a long black mustache. His armor bore the symbol of The Silverfists. He was Kromar Silverfist. Kromar smirked and said, "Oh, you didn't hear, eh?". The Blue Monk said, "No - I didn't." "They're all in prison." "Why are they in prison?" "Attempted robbery. The Blue Monks tried to rob a caravan bearing potions that came through the city. It's a good thing you weren't around, or you might have been caught up in it too." "Are you threatening me?" "I'm just making an observation." The Blue Monk became angry. He knew that his fellow monks would never commit robbery. This was clearly a scheme of The Silverfists, revenge for The Monk getting into an altercation with Phideas Silverfist which led to Phideas being killed by the King. The City of Olwynn's prison was inside one of the city's five guardian immortals - The Unfathomable One, the being who claimed to have evolved into a kind of walking Quasi-Dimension. All prisoners were held in a strange nether-space where they didn't need to breathe or eat. The Blue Monk began to think about breaking them out, but knew that the immortals were almost demi-gods themselves. To challenge The Unfathomable One was probably suicide. Kromar began to walk away. The Blue Monk said, "I don't like you." Kromar stopped walking. Without turning around, he said, "Likewise. Say hi to the King for me." Then Kromar walked down the street and disappeared into the night. Ryltar began to trance. He felt exhausted. The Curse of Bwimb was taking its' toll. The next morning, The Blue Monk met with the King, hoping to get the Monks freed. Fathom Silverfist was there as well, and explained that the Monks would get a trial soon. Ryltar asked King Thennrynnia to cast a ritual so that they could talk with Bwimb 2, to see if there was any way to get the curse removed. The King brought all the heroes to the ritual room. There, the King stood before a ritual circle inlaid with runes of silver. He explained that he'd be casting a ritual called Summon Demon which would summon a fragment of Bwimb's will. The heroes could speak with her verbally or telepathically. He chanted and the air swirled with magic. There was a burst of glowing smoke, and then, the translucent image of Bwimb 2 appeared! She was at least 12 feet tall and covered in slime. Demonic worms crawled freely over her flesh. She shrieked in anger. The King looked at Ryltar. Ryltar muttered "Great...". Ryltar said, "Hello... ...Worm Lady. How may I remove-" She interrupted, "My name is Bwimb! The Paraelemental Princess of Ooze! You will address me accordingly! Why have you summoned me?!" Ryltar said, "I somehow came to have your touch upon me-" She interrupted again. "You're wearing a mud sorcerer's ring, aren't you?" Ryltar had indeed obtained the ring when the adventurers made their way through the mud sorcerer's tomb on Cat Island... "You're the ones who went to Cat Island!". She reached out to crush Ryltar in her grip, but her translucent hand could not penetrate the boundaries of the King's ritual circle. Ryltar feigned injuries mockingly, groaning "Ohh - Ow! Owww!", sarcastically. Bwimb hissed, "You defiled the tomb of one of my finest sorcerers!". Ryltar said, "...Sorry?". "Why are you wasting my time?", she asked angrily. "I can't sleep-" She threw her head back and laughed. "The curse! Ha ha ha! The tiny little snake!". Ryltar said "Yes.." and mocked her laughter. "Ingenious, wasn't it?". The heroes agreed. Scarlet began to point out that the snake actually helped them a bit. Bwimb rubbed her chin and said, "I could decide to let the curse go. But why would I do that?!". Hartaniel asked, "What could we do in return?". She looked at him and said, "What could you do for me? Could you destroy Ben-Hadar, the Archomental of Good Water?" Ryltar said, "No, and that doesn't sound like something we're interested in." "Well! Then there's nothing! And when you sleep, you'll dream of me! Ha ha ha!". The King was uneasy. Bwimb was a powerful enemy, and the adventurers had been mocking her to her face. He knew there was a good chance that she'd sent some horrid ooze creatures to destroy them if they weren't careful. Bwimb said, "Well you've been thoroughly unconvincing, boy!" Ryltar said, "Very well, I'll petition for the Raven Queen's help then!". Bwimb laughed and said, "Perhaps I'll send some mud grues to destroy you all for not addressing me properly." Scarlet said, "That worked really well last time." Bwimb laughed at Scarlet's insolence. Scarlet again pointed out that the snake aided the heroes in the tomb. Bwimb chanted, and Ryltar's mud sorcerer's ring glowed. Ryltar asked his friends if he should take off the ring. They shrugged. King Thennrynia was more than alarmed. He told them that this was not going well at all. "Ryltar said, Tell me about it!". King Thennrynnia ended the ritual. The image of Bwimb disappeared. The King sighed and shook his head. Ryltar said he'd just deal with the curse until he could find a cure. The King left, and plodded back to his throne for a long day. The heroes had breakfast. Then they were met by Paunchcrammer, Zanestra Shadowborn's imp sidekick. He had a live rat in his hand, and bit its' head off. The heroes were shocked. Paunchcrammer had up until now been very polite and often offered people orange juice. Zanestra had chided him for not being evil enough... Varis said, "Zanestra asked you to do that specifically, didn't she?" Paunchcrammer gave a sinister grin and said, "No - I wanted to do it!". The adventurers congratulated him. He told them that Zanestra wanted to talk to them, at the Shadowborn Clock Tower, home of the Shadowborn clan. Paunchcrammer led the adventurers out of the keep and through the streets of Olwynn. They arrived at the clock tower.. They headed inside. There was blood on the floor. Nearby stairs led up to a balcony which overlooked the main floor where the heroes were. Paunchcrammer smiled. He said, laughing, "You guys are really stupid. That was so easy!" Two familiar individuals appeared on the balcony - Belgos and Silussa! Belgos and Silussa were originally agents of the drow, but befriended the heroes instead. But when they came to Olwynn, they ended up staying with the Shadowborns. Varis had suggested that the Shadowborns torture Belgos and Silussa to see if there was any more information. The Shadowborns did so while Varis was away, but Belgos and Silussa's innate domination powers allowed them to turn the tables on their torturers. Now, all of the Shadowborns were vampiric thralls of Belgos! Even Paunchcrammer had become vampiric! Belgos looked down on the adventurers and said, "Silussa, your plan was so clever!" She smiled and said, "No, you're the clever one!" Belgos pointed an accusatory finger at Varis. "You! We befriended you! And then you had your Shadowborn friends try to torture us! Isn't that right? Well, now we run the Shadowborns and we contacted the drow. We are going to destroy your city and we are going to make you our thralls - if you're lucky! Isn't that right, my darling?" Silussa nodded and smiled. Blue Monk called out, "I thought you liked us!". Belgos said, "I did, until the boy showed us his true nature." Silussa said to Varis, "...And to think, I was going to make out with you!". Scarlet blurted out, "And to think I was going to watch... I mean, I was back at the camp the whole time." Belgos had his bats and rats summon all of the Lolthbound goblins, giant spiders, and Web Golems wandering the forests and had them join up, ready to attack Olwynn. And he'd even been the one who contacted the drow in Rilauven. Vampire thralls burst from the adjacent rooms and attacked! The Blue Monk fought back, and punched his way into the kitchen area. Ardra killed one vampire with her blade, and another with her unseen hand. Belgos took control of Hartaniel's mind. The vampire laughed and said, Now you're all going to suffer! You've doomed your whole city. Isn't that right, my darling?" Silussa the succubus agreed. It's true, darling. They are doomed one hundred percent!" Varis called up to Belgos and Silussa. "You know what happened to the last people who attacked my family? Have you met Teddy? I decapitated one and burned the other alive, and sucked them both into this skull!" Belgos looked at Varis in alarm. Then, he commanded Hartaniel to charge The Blue Monk. The monk dodged the attack, and Hartaniel shook off the vampire's control. Varis used the power of the card he'd found on the red mantis, scorching the vampires (as well as some allies), and scattering them in random directions. Ryltar plunged his scythe into a vampire ([I]with a critical[/I]). Ardra killed another vampire, and injured one nearby as well. Scarlet finished off another of Belgos' minions with her broken blade. Belgos remained at the top of the stairs, with Silussa behind him, and cast a spell down on the heroes that exploded and injured them. The Blue Monk was fighting two vampires at once. They clawed him again and again, bloodying him. Ardra knocked one of them away from him. Belgos watched as the heroes cut down the Shadowborn vampire thralls. He said to Silussa, "Look at how traitorous they are. They cut down Varis' Shadowborn clan with no compunctions at all." Belgos called down to them, "Truly the drow are more worthy allies than you!". Hartaniel teleported up to the second floor balcony where Belgos and Silussa were. Hartaniel said, "We wanted to be your friends". Varis shouted from below, "Speak for yourself!". Hartaniel stabbed Silussa ([I]with a critical[/I]). She shrieked in pain. Hartaniel sent her hurtling over the side of the balcony. She crashed to the ground on the first floor near the heroes. Varis eyes went wide. He drained power from Scarlet and blasted Silussa with a spell, devastating her ([I]with a critical![/I]). Then, Ryltar brought his scythe down on her. Blood sprayed from the wound. She was dead. Ryltar looked up and gave Belgos a cold stare. Belgos, atop the stairs, yelled "NOOOOOO!". The Blue Monk and Ardra continued to battle the vampires in the kitchen. Hartaniel staggered Belgos with a shout of terror. Belgos swore revenge and transformed into a mist bat. But before he could make his escape, Scarlet raced up the stairs and grabbed hold of him. Varis made his way near to Belgos and said, "You must be so sad. Your girlfriend is dead, right in front of your eyes! Maybe you should kill yourself so you can be with her." Varis' cast a spell that forced Belgos to injure himself. Scarlet stabbed her broken blade into him for good measure. Belgos gasped and said, "If Silussa's gone, then I don't want to be here. With my last breath, I do not curse you. I tell Silussa that I love her!" Silussa, below suddenly gasped. She called out "Nooo!". And then they both died. Scarlet said, "They were annoying in life, and they're annoying in death." With Belgos dead, the Shadowborn were no longer vampiric thralls. Those still alive shook their heads and took control of their senses. The adventurers now knew who had been contacting the drow, but unfortunately, the drow were still on the way.... [/QUOTE]
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