Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
(4e) Saga of Valor
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Netherstorm" data-source="post: 5803768" data-attributes="member: 84943"><p><strong>13. Drow Invasion</strong></p><p></p><p><em>1/30/12: Lots of stuff happening</em>!</p><p></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> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Chapter Thirteen: Drow Invasion</em></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>Lucky</strong> - Human Warlord <em>Constable</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>and</p><p></p><p><strong>Hirbe</strong>, Hero of<a href="http://keepontheborderlands.webs.com/" target="_blank"> the Chaos Scar</a></p><p><strong>Zahar</strong>, Raven Knight of the Raven Queen</p><p></p><p>Some souls of the dead are held in a place in the Shadowfell known as the Hall of Final Fate. The souls were kept there for reasons known only to the Raven Queen, the goddess of death. The spirits of the dead were guarded by a creature that some called the spawn of the Raven Queen and Nerull - Vorkhesis, Master of Fate.</p><p></p><p>The Raven Queen herself was at the Hall of Fate, studying the soul of a leukodaemon that our heroes had killed in Rilauven. The Goddess of Death sent a raven to fetch her most favored of the Raven Knights - Zahar (<em>Zahar was one of the heroes who saved the Raven Queen's life in <a href="http://revengeofthegiants.webs.com/" target="_blank">the Revenge of the Giants/Orcus campaign</a>... I swear I'll finish those summaries some day!</em>).</p><p></p><p>Zahar arrived shortly, with the legendary Shadowfell blade in its' sheath. He'd used the blade to kill Falazure, the fallen god of shadow dragons.</p><p></p><p>The Raven Queen explained to Zahar that she'd been studying the leukodameon's essence, as it had been tainted by a primordial. She explained that the city of Olwynn was in danger. Zahar had come from Olwynn and was friends with King Thennrynia. She asked him if he thought the city should be aided in some way.</p><p></p><p>Vorkhesis listened to the conversation, and hecould hear admiration in his mother's voice. This enraged him. Vorkhesis was jealous of the attention his mother gave to Zahar.<span style="color: #68c2bc"></span></p><p><span style="color: #68c2bc"></span></p><p><span style="color: #68c2bc"></span>Vorkhesis said, "Why are you asking him?"</p><p></p><p>Zahar said, "Because I do things. I don't just sit around, Vorkhesis."</p><p></p><p>Vorkhesis said, "You always ask his opinion, mother. His opinion doesn't matter. He is one of your lackeys."</p><p></p><p>Zahar turned away from the Master of Fate. Vorkhesis raised his black spear to stab Zahar.</p><p></p><p>Zahar turned invisible and shoved him back.</p><p></p><p>Vorkhesis cackled. "I can only assume that you've turned invisible. You know that I have no eyes, fool!". Vorkhesis plunged his spear into Zahar. Zahar did not flinch.</p><p></p><p>The Raven Queen stood between them. She told her son to stand down.</p><p></p><p>Zahar said to him, "Yes, watch your temper, chum."</p><p></p><p>The Raven Queen turned to the shadar kai and said, "Zahar, my finest Raven Knight, will you go to Olwynn?"</p><p></p><p>"Of course I will, my queen."</p><p></p><p>"Bring your Raven Knights if you so desire."</p><p></p><p>Back on the world of Nyrod, the City of Olwynn braced itself for another attack. The heroes had warned the king that spelljammers bearing drow were heading toward the city. A horde of monsters - web golems, lolthbound goblins and spiders - were massing outside the city walls. With the city's army dealing with the drow-occupied city of Dunnwynn, the King had to gather up any able-bodied men and women that he could.</p><p></p><p>Once the adventurers had informed the King of the invasion details they'd gleaned from Belgos and Silussa, they spotted Lady Tarentia talking with the eladrin they'd rescued from the drow city, Solufine. She seemed very fond of him.</p><p></p><p>He saw the heroes looking, and approached them. He had written a draft of his ballad and offered to share it with them. The ballad was about how the heroes freed him and fought the black dragon in the Dragon's Tooth Inn in the drow city of Rilauven. It went like this:</p><p></p><p><em>"I hung in darkness as a slave</em></p><p><em>Waiting my cruel Lasher</em></p><p><em>Queen Morwel sent a gift to me</em></p><p><em>Hartaniel Draedsmasher</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>My ropes were cut and I was freed</em></p><p><em>He drank from a flagon</em></p><p><em>Ardra guarded my weakened form</em></p><p><em>As she fought a dragon</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The dragon's acid killed a drow</em></p><p><em>I hid in the dank bar</em></p><p><em>Thieving goblins met the scythe of</em></p><p><em>The avenger Ryltar</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>My wounds were grave I needed aid</em></p><p><em>My saviors were plucky</em></p><p><em>My cuts were healed by a grim one</em></p><p><em>Suicidal Lucky</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Ardra slashed and drank wine as </em></p><p><em>A half-orc monk of blue</em></p><p><em>punched the foul dragon very hard</em></p><p><em>He'd also punched me too</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Acid blood sprayed I ran and hid</em></p><p><em>The Monk threw a fierce jab</em></p><p><em>Scarlet pulled the dragon away</em></p><p><em>She had the dragon grabbed</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>To my surprise I saw a lad</em></p><p><em>His chest was surely hairless</em></p><p><em>His soul was dark His spells were strong</em></p><p><em>Little Evil Varis!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>My heroes surrounded the beast</em></p><p><em>Who else would even dare?</em></p><p><em>Hartaniel murdered the dragon</em></p><p><em>And then he cut a chair</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>As they took a five minute rest</em></p><p><em>To take me they agreed</em></p><p><em>Ardra's armor became a skirt</em></p><p><em>'Twas scandalous indeed</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I thanked my newfound saviors</em></p><p><em>Even the fiendish youth</em></p><p><em>Acid had melted treasure so </em></p><p><em>They took the dragon's tooth"</em></p><p></p><p>The adventurers liked it. A bit of a crowd had gathered and applauded.</p><p></p><p>Vaona, the drow from Echo Warrens, spoke to Ryltar. "Hey there Ryltar."</p><p></p><p>The drow avenger said, "Hi. Can I help you?"</p><p></p><p>"Vecna told me about your secrets."</p><p></p><p>"My what?"</p><p></p><p>"Julhara."</p><p></p><p>"Uh huh...". Julhara was Ryltar's matron back in the drow city he came from, on the world of Dracos. Ryltar wasn't sure how Vecna knew anything about this..</p><p></p><p>Vaona continued, "It's a little sad, that's all." </p><p></p><p>Julhara had been taken away after a traitorous handmaiden had turned her in for worshiping a deity other than Lolth. "Maybe we can find her some day. Maybe Vecna can help you."</p><p></p><p>"How about you not talk about her?", asked Ryltar angrily. Ryltar glared at Hartaniel, who held the Vecna lantern.</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel, the eladrin, said to him, "Hey, I trance just like you."</p><p></p><p>The heroes rested, to heal their wounds from the battle with Belgos and Silussa. The next morning, they awoke to calls of alarm. The drow ships were in the sky, bearing down on the city!</p><p></p><p>The few able spelljammers in Olwynn's harbor took to the sky, ready to attempt to repel the invaders. The heroes geared up and climbed on the back of their giant Vecna-bird, Dark Secret. They soared up into the sky and headed straight for one of the drow galleons. The drow spotted the massive bird and launched a glowing catapult boulder at it. Dark Secret maneuvered and avoided the boulder, which plummeted to the city far below.</p><p></p><p>Varis pulled out the card he'd obtained from the red mantis mist mage. A fiery image appeared on Dark Secret's back. From it, he could cast the card's fire spell.<span style="color: #ff0000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000"></span>Dark Secret flew up to the deck, close enough so that the heroes could jump on to the enemy ship. On board, they saw drow males with skeletal left hands. The skeleton hands were burning with darkfire. The drow were accompanied by a half-dozen skeletons whose entire bodies were shrouded in darkfire!</p><p></p><p>The drow and skeletons held up their hands and launched dark, purple, fist-sized fireballs at the heroes! Ardra, Hartaniel and Scarlet took the brunt of the attack, and were knocked back.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar darkened. These drow were from his world all right. He'd barely escaped his home city after being forced to deal with an evil drow necromancer called Altonolil. He'd had to to serve Altonolil after his matron had been betrayed by a handmaiden, Xunae. Ryltar escaped when none other than Zahar came to kill Altonolil for The Raven Queen.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar jumped onto the ship and slashed his scythe through a skeleton. It exploded, and shrouded Ryltar in darkfire. </p><p>The Blue Monk solemnly applied blue powder to his hands, jumped on board and destroyed three enemies in a flash of motion. Hartaniel went with him, and dropped two as well.</p><p></p><p>Varis fired off an eldritch bolt from Dark Secret's back, dropping a drow. His skull familiar held the spirits of a drow boy and his mother, Yasnabrinna. Yasnabrinna usually just screamed "I'm burning!". But as Varis engaged the drow, Yasnabrinna suddenly began to cackle and tell Varis that the drow would destroy him, and that his only chance was to surrender.</p><p></p><p>Ardra raced down one of Dark Secret's wings, jumped onto the ship and destroyed a skeleton. Scarlet hopped on board, killed a skeleton, and then turned the drow catapult toward another nearby drow ship...</p><p></p><p>There were shouts from a deck below. More drow emerged! Four priestess holding fang whips came through hatches and stairways to engage the adventurers. Two of them were familiar to Ryltar. One was the traitorous Xunae... and the other, his matron, Julhara! She wore veils, but he was sure it was her. She spotted him, and was shocked. "<em>Zhah ol dos, Ryltar</em>?", she called out. She'd asked in drow if it was really him.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar indicated that it was.Xunae cackled and hissed, "<em>Il z'klaen xun vel'bol usstan telanth</em>." She'd used magic to make Julhara her willing slave!</p><p></p><p>The sight of Ryltar, however, gave Julhara pause. She fought to break free of Xunae's magical control...</p><p></p><p>The other priestesses launched off skull ray spells. One beam struck the Blue Monk and staggered him. Then the priestesses spoke foul necromantic words, and raised four of the drow male corpses up as more dark fire skeletons.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar waded through enemies, raised his scythe, and cut a bloody swath into Xunae's torso. She shrieked, fell back, and demanded that Julhara help her. Julhara held her head, focused, and shattered Xunae's spell! She raced to the catapult that Scarlet had aimed, and launched it! The boulder soared through the air and struck the nearby drow ship. The ship began to turn...</p><p></p><p>Xunae looked to create some space between herself and Ryltar. But she walked right into the Blue Monk's path. The Monk was going from foe-to-foe, striking each while drinking a healing potion. He bore down on Xunae, who was bloodied badly. He pummeled her. She fell to the deck, dead.</p><p></p><p>Ardra stabbed a priestess and knocked her into the ship's railing. the priestess teetered but didn't fall overboard. </p><p></p><p>Scarlet was near the catapult. She plunged her broken blade through the heart of a drow, and then slashed a skeleton, causing it to explode. </p><p></p><p>From a nearby hatch came the captain of the ship, a drow priestess called Yathrin Natharra. She stood near Scarlet, held forward a metal rod and spoke a command word. From the rod sprung three yellow tentacles!</p><p></p><p>Scarlet turned to face her foe. The heroes had fought two priestesses with tentacle rods before, and both fights had been very harrowing. Those rods had been purple. Scarlet was not looking forward to seeing what the yellow ones did.</p><p></p><p>Natharra shrieked and struck Scarlet. The tentacles' slimy secretion dazed the fighter as the tentacles lashed and choked her. Scarlet fell to the ground, unconscious.</p><p></p><p>Ryltar and The Blue Monk engaged Natharra as Julhara fired spells off on the drow. Ardra stabbed a priestess, killing her. She absorbed the priestesses' soul into her helm of seven deaths. All seven gems were full, unleashing the helmet's full power. Lucky knelt down and healed Scarlet, reviving her.</p><p></p><p>Varis cast a spell, turning Natharra's tentacles against her. Yasnabrinna hissed, "Who do you think you are?! You little monster!"</p><p></p><p>Varis said, "I'm Varis and you're an evil bitch."</p><p></p><p>Natharra shrieked and fell to the ground, struggling against the dazing tentacles. Lucky cleared a path for Ardra, who launched off two magic missiles which struck Natharra in the chest and killed her.</p><p></p><p>With the drow defeated, Julhara led the adventurers below decks, where they found a priestess in the ship's helm. Ryltar cut off her head and Julharra sat in the helm. She steered the ship and powered it with her mastery of arcana. She headed toward the nearby drow ship.</p><p></p><p>The heroes' ship traded catapult fire with the enemy vessel. Further to the south above the city, other drow ships battled the few spelljammers able to defend Olwynn...</p><p></p><p>On board one of the enemy ships over there was the eladrin, Hirbe. Hirbe had been taken captive on a drow ship, along with the Tiger-Man and six green-skinned kara-kara tribesman. They had been able to stop the drow from building a web tower in the ruined asteroid city of Nedragaard, but were subsequently captured by the incoming Drow from Dracos.</p><p></p><p>Three dark fire skeletons were watching over them. Hirbe quietly cast a burning transformation spell, scorching his ropes and freeing himself. The skeletons lunged at him. Hirbe destroyed them with a cold blast spell.</p><p></p><p>Hirbe untied Tiger-man and the kara-kara.</p><p></p><p>Rellskar Grave, the Tiger-Man asked, "Why did it take yo so long to do that, friend?"</p><p></p><p>Hirbe said, "I wanted to give you a chance to escape first."</p><p></p><p>The Tiger-Man laughed. The small team fought their way through the ship. The drow were no match for Hirbe's spells and the Tiger-Man's fighting prowess.</p><p></p><p>They broke into the helm room. There were two priestesses with their leader, who held a yellow tentacle rod. Hirbe cast a lightning bolt spell that hit and killed all three of them in one shot. </p><p></p><p>Another drow priestess was sitting on the helm throne, piloting the ship. Hirbe ordered the kara-kara to take her up and to throw her overboard. Hirbe took the helm and had control of the ship.</p><p></p><p>Back on the other side of the city, the heroes shot down the enemy ship. It crashed down to the city, striking a section of the wall surrounding the city and crumbling it. The heroes' hearts sank as they saw the massed army of spiders, goblins and golems racing toward the hole! The adventurers climbed onto Dark Secret and flew down..</p><p></p><p>Down below, Zahar and his band of Raven Knights also raced to fend off the invaders. The Raven Knights made their way through the hole and attacked! Zahar had maybe 50 raven knights at his command. The enemy horde was at least 500 strong. There were more enemies, but the knights were far more powerful. The knights cut through them with ease...</p><p></p><p>However, a few monsters made it past the knights. A massive spider with 5 goblins on its' back skittered through the hole in the wall and closed in on a dwelling. Dark Secret landed. The heroes climbed off and made their way to the spider.</p><p></p><p>The goblins charged. One raced up and plunged its' war pick into Ardra's thigh, bloodying her. </p><p></p><p>Scarlet engaged the spider, dodging a flurry of attacks. The spider brought a leg down on her, knocking her to the ground.</p><p></p><p>One goblin ran through the house and came out the front door. It was planning on making its' way to the rear of the party. The Blue Monk ran over and battled it.</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel climbed onto the roof of the house and opened fire on the goblins with his repeating crossbow. </p><p></p><p>Varis killed a goblin with a spiteful glamor spell. Ardra activated her helmet's power, releasing all of the souls and infusing her blade with power. She landed an explosive strike on a goblin, causing its' blood to spray everywhere. </p><p></p><p>Ryltar killed another goblin as Scarlet plunged her blade into the spider's underbelly. </p><p></p><p>Hartaniel got off the roof and ran at the spider. It bit him with its' massive mandibles. He shook it off, and climbed onto the spider's back. He plunged his blade into it twice. Poison blood spewed everywhere. The spider collapsed, dead..</p><p></p><p>Suddenly, Ryltar's mud sorcerer ring glowed. It transformed into the tiny snake that had bit him and given him Bwimb's curse. The snake whispered something and burrowed into Ryltar's hand. He could feel it swimming through his body, charging him with energy.</p><p></p><p>The Blue Monk ran by a goblin. As he passed, the monk asked, "Do you feel the hurt awaken from within you? You shall see the Raven Queen, naturally." The Monk had rings on each hand that spelled out "BLUE" "MONK" - gifts from Scarlet. He hit the goblin so hard, he shattered its' face. Dark light shot out from the goblin as it fell over, dead. </p><p></p><p>The ground all around the heroes became muddy. Ardra killed the last two goblins as the others looked around, trying to figure out what was going on.</p><p></p><p>Five massive, glowing oozes grew up out of the mud, along with one mud grue. The grue had eight glowing runes on it. The runes were in the shape of the mud sorcerer symbol for earth and water existing harmoniously.</p><p></p><p>The mud grue said, "Greetings from Bwimb, the paraelemental princess of ooze!". The grue pointed at Lucky, and one of the eight runes on its' body faded out.</p><p></p><p>As "luck" would have it, the oozes had risen up all around Lucky. She clenched her adamantine fist as the mud grue pointed at her. Suddenly, from under her feet, a glowing glob off ooze rose up and engulfed her. It ate away her skin and muscle in an instant, killing her! The ooze paused for a moment. The shocked heroes could only see Lucky's skeleton and adamantine arm floating within. Then, the glob retreated into the muddy ground, taking Lucky's remains with it!</p><p></p><p>The mud grue said, "Her soul belongs to Bwimb now." Then he pointed at Hartaniel. "You shall be next!".</p><p></p><p>The stunned heroes couldn't believe it. Lucky had been killed in an instant. Vecna called out to Hartaniel, "You have no chance against them! You must run. You've angered Bwimb, you idiot!".</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel said, "If you were a real god you'd do something to help us right now."</p><p></p><p>"Now you're turning on me?! You fool!"</p><p></p><p>Ryltar called out to Hartaniel, "You didn't anger her. I did!"</p><p></p><p>Hartaniel scoured the ground, looking for any remains of Lucky's body to use so that she could be raised. But not a hair remained.</p><p></p><p>Scarlet grabbed an ooze and called out to the raven knights through the hole. Zahar heard, and came running.</p><p></p><p>Varis teleported into the nearby house. Ryltar turned invisible and ran toward the wall. The Blue Monk went into the house with Varis. </p><p></p><p>Zahar, shadowfell blade in hand, charged up to the mud grue and slashed it. As he ran past Ryltar, he said, "...my investment!".</p><p></p><p>The grue howled in shock and pain as blood poured from the wound. The heroes ran out to where the Raven Knights were as Zahar made quick work of Bwimb's monsters.</p><p></p><p>Lucky was dead, and Bwimb was determined to take all of their souls...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Netherstorm, post: 5803768, member: 84943"] [b]13. Drow Invasion[/b] [I]1/30/12: Lots of stuff happening[/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 Thirteen: Drow Invasion[/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]Lucky[/B] - Human Warlord [I]Constable[/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] and [B]Hirbe[/B], Hero of[URL="http://keepontheborderlands.webs.com/"] the Chaos Scar[/URL] [B]Zahar[/B], Raven Knight of the Raven Queen Some souls of the dead are held in a place in the Shadowfell known as the Hall of Final Fate. The souls were kept there for reasons known only to the Raven Queen, the goddess of death. The spirits of the dead were guarded by a creature that some called the spawn of the Raven Queen and Nerull - Vorkhesis, Master of Fate. The Raven Queen herself was at the Hall of Fate, studying the soul of a leukodaemon that our heroes had killed in Rilauven. The Goddess of Death sent a raven to fetch her most favored of the Raven Knights - Zahar ([I]Zahar was one of the heroes who saved the Raven Queen's life in [URL="http://revengeofthegiants.webs.com/"]the Revenge of the Giants/Orcus campaign[/URL]... I swear I'll finish those summaries some day![/I]). Zahar arrived shortly, with the legendary Shadowfell blade in its' sheath. He'd used the blade to kill Falazure, the fallen god of shadow dragons. The Raven Queen explained to Zahar that she'd been studying the leukodameon's essence, as it had been tainted by a primordial. She explained that the city of Olwynn was in danger. Zahar had come from Olwynn and was friends with King Thennrynia. She asked him if he thought the city should be aided in some way. Vorkhesis listened to the conversation, and hecould hear admiration in his mother's voice. This enraged him. Vorkhesis was jealous of the attention his mother gave to Zahar.[COLOR=#68c2bc] [/COLOR]Vorkhesis said, "Why are you asking him?" Zahar said, "Because I do things. I don't just sit around, Vorkhesis." Vorkhesis said, "You always ask his opinion, mother. His opinion doesn't matter. He is one of your lackeys." Zahar turned away from the Master of Fate. Vorkhesis raised his black spear to stab Zahar. Zahar turned invisible and shoved him back. Vorkhesis cackled. "I can only assume that you've turned invisible. You know that I have no eyes, fool!". Vorkhesis plunged his spear into Zahar. Zahar did not flinch. The Raven Queen stood between them. She told her son to stand down. Zahar said to him, "Yes, watch your temper, chum." The Raven Queen turned to the shadar kai and said, "Zahar, my finest Raven Knight, will you go to Olwynn?" "Of course I will, my queen." "Bring your Raven Knights if you so desire." Back on the world of Nyrod, the City of Olwynn braced itself for another attack. The heroes had warned the king that spelljammers bearing drow were heading toward the city. A horde of monsters - web golems, lolthbound goblins and spiders - were massing outside the city walls. With the city's army dealing with the drow-occupied city of Dunnwynn, the King had to gather up any able-bodied men and women that he could. Once the adventurers had informed the King of the invasion details they'd gleaned from Belgos and Silussa, they spotted Lady Tarentia talking with the eladrin they'd rescued from the drow city, Solufine. She seemed very fond of him. He saw the heroes looking, and approached them. He had written a draft of his ballad and offered to share it with them. The ballad was about how the heroes freed him and fought the black dragon in the Dragon's Tooth Inn in the drow city of Rilauven. It went like this: [I]"I hung in darkness as a slave Waiting my cruel Lasher Queen Morwel sent a gift to me Hartaniel Draedsmasher My ropes were cut and I was freed He drank from a flagon Ardra guarded my weakened form As she fought a dragon The dragon's acid killed a drow I hid in the dank bar Thieving goblins met the scythe of The avenger Ryltar My wounds were grave I needed aid My saviors were plucky My cuts were healed by a grim one Suicidal Lucky Ardra slashed and drank wine as A half-orc monk of blue punched the foul dragon very hard He'd also punched me too Acid blood sprayed I ran and hid The Monk threw a fierce jab Scarlet pulled the dragon away She had the dragon grabbed To my surprise I saw a lad His chest was surely hairless His soul was dark His spells were strong Little Evil Varis! My heroes surrounded the beast Who else would even dare? Hartaniel murdered the dragon And then he cut a chair As they took a five minute rest To take me they agreed Ardra's armor became a skirt 'Twas scandalous indeed I thanked my newfound saviors Even the fiendish youth Acid had melted treasure so They took the dragon's tooth"[/I] The adventurers liked it. A bit of a crowd had gathered and applauded. Vaona, the drow from Echo Warrens, spoke to Ryltar. "Hey there Ryltar." The drow avenger said, "Hi. Can I help you?" "Vecna told me about your secrets." "My what?" "Julhara." "Uh huh...". Julhara was Ryltar's matron back in the drow city he came from, on the world of Dracos. Ryltar wasn't sure how Vecna knew anything about this.. Vaona continued, "It's a little sad, that's all." Julhara had been taken away after a traitorous handmaiden had turned her in for worshiping a deity other than Lolth. "Maybe we can find her some day. Maybe Vecna can help you." "How about you not talk about her?", asked Ryltar angrily. Ryltar glared at Hartaniel, who held the Vecna lantern. Hartaniel, the eladrin, said to him, "Hey, I trance just like you." The heroes rested, to heal their wounds from the battle with Belgos and Silussa. The next morning, they awoke to calls of alarm. The drow ships were in the sky, bearing down on the city! The few able spelljammers in Olwynn's harbor took to the sky, ready to attempt to repel the invaders. The heroes geared up and climbed on the back of their giant Vecna-bird, Dark Secret. They soared up into the sky and headed straight for one of the drow galleons. The drow spotted the massive bird and launched a glowing catapult boulder at it. Dark Secret maneuvered and avoided the boulder, which plummeted to the city far below. Varis pulled out the card he'd obtained from the red mantis mist mage. A fiery image appeared on Dark Secret's back. From it, he could cast the card's fire spell.[COLOR=#ff0000] [/COLOR]Dark Secret flew up to the deck, close enough so that the heroes could jump on to the enemy ship. On board, they saw drow males with skeletal left hands. The skeleton hands were burning with darkfire. The drow were accompanied by a half-dozen skeletons whose entire bodies were shrouded in darkfire! The drow and skeletons held up their hands and launched dark, purple, fist-sized fireballs at the heroes! Ardra, Hartaniel and Scarlet took the brunt of the attack, and were knocked back. Ryltar darkened. These drow were from his world all right. He'd barely escaped his home city after being forced to deal with an evil drow necromancer called Altonolil. He'd had to to serve Altonolil after his matron had been betrayed by a handmaiden, Xunae. Ryltar escaped when none other than Zahar came to kill Altonolil for The Raven Queen. Ryltar jumped onto the ship and slashed his scythe through a skeleton. It exploded, and shrouded Ryltar in darkfire. The Blue Monk solemnly applied blue powder to his hands, jumped on board and destroyed three enemies in a flash of motion. Hartaniel went with him, and dropped two as well. Varis fired off an eldritch bolt from Dark Secret's back, dropping a drow. His skull familiar held the spirits of a drow boy and his mother, Yasnabrinna. Yasnabrinna usually just screamed "I'm burning!". But as Varis engaged the drow, Yasnabrinna suddenly began to cackle and tell Varis that the drow would destroy him, and that his only chance was to surrender. Ardra raced down one of Dark Secret's wings, jumped onto the ship and destroyed a skeleton. Scarlet hopped on board, killed a skeleton, and then turned the drow catapult toward another nearby drow ship... There were shouts from a deck below. More drow emerged! Four priestess holding fang whips came through hatches and stairways to engage the adventurers. Two of them were familiar to Ryltar. One was the traitorous Xunae... and the other, his matron, Julhara! She wore veils, but he was sure it was her. She spotted him, and was shocked. "[I]Zhah ol dos, Ryltar[/I]?", she called out. She'd asked in drow if it was really him. Ryltar indicated that it was.Xunae cackled and hissed, "[I]Il z'klaen xun vel'bol usstan telanth[/I]." She'd used magic to make Julhara her willing slave! The sight of Ryltar, however, gave Julhara pause. She fought to break free of Xunae's magical control... The other priestesses launched off skull ray spells. One beam struck the Blue Monk and staggered him. Then the priestesses spoke foul necromantic words, and raised four of the drow male corpses up as more dark fire skeletons. Ryltar waded through enemies, raised his scythe, and cut a bloody swath into Xunae's torso. She shrieked, fell back, and demanded that Julhara help her. Julhara held her head, focused, and shattered Xunae's spell! She raced to the catapult that Scarlet had aimed, and launched it! The boulder soared through the air and struck the nearby drow ship. The ship began to turn... Xunae looked to create some space between herself and Ryltar. But she walked right into the Blue Monk's path. The Monk was going from foe-to-foe, striking each while drinking a healing potion. He bore down on Xunae, who was bloodied badly. He pummeled her. She fell to the deck, dead. Ardra stabbed a priestess and knocked her into the ship's railing. the priestess teetered but didn't fall overboard. Scarlet was near the catapult. She plunged her broken blade through the heart of a drow, and then slashed a skeleton, causing it to explode. From a nearby hatch came the captain of the ship, a drow priestess called Yathrin Natharra. She stood near Scarlet, held forward a metal rod and spoke a command word. From the rod sprung three yellow tentacles! Scarlet turned to face her foe. The heroes had fought two priestesses with tentacle rods before, and both fights had been very harrowing. Those rods had been purple. Scarlet was not looking forward to seeing what the yellow ones did. Natharra shrieked and struck Scarlet. The tentacles' slimy secretion dazed the fighter as the tentacles lashed and choked her. Scarlet fell to the ground, unconscious. Ryltar and The Blue Monk engaged Natharra as Julhara fired spells off on the drow. Ardra stabbed a priestess, killing her. She absorbed the priestesses' soul into her helm of seven deaths. All seven gems were full, unleashing the helmet's full power. Lucky knelt down and healed Scarlet, reviving her. Varis cast a spell, turning Natharra's tentacles against her. Yasnabrinna hissed, "Who do you think you are?! You little monster!" Varis said, "I'm Varis and you're an evil bitch." Natharra shrieked and fell to the ground, struggling against the dazing tentacles. Lucky cleared a path for Ardra, who launched off two magic missiles which struck Natharra in the chest and killed her. With the drow defeated, Julhara led the adventurers below decks, where they found a priestess in the ship's helm. Ryltar cut off her head and Julharra sat in the helm. She steered the ship and powered it with her mastery of arcana. She headed toward the nearby drow ship. The heroes' ship traded catapult fire with the enemy vessel. Further to the south above the city, other drow ships battled the few spelljammers able to defend Olwynn... On board one of the enemy ships over there was the eladrin, Hirbe. Hirbe had been taken captive on a drow ship, along with the Tiger-Man and six green-skinned kara-kara tribesman. They had been able to stop the drow from building a web tower in the ruined asteroid city of Nedragaard, but were subsequently captured by the incoming Drow from Dracos. Three dark fire skeletons were watching over them. Hirbe quietly cast a burning transformation spell, scorching his ropes and freeing himself. The skeletons lunged at him. Hirbe destroyed them with a cold blast spell. Hirbe untied Tiger-man and the kara-kara. Rellskar Grave, the Tiger-Man asked, "Why did it take yo so long to do that, friend?" Hirbe said, "I wanted to give you a chance to escape first." The Tiger-Man laughed. The small team fought their way through the ship. The drow were no match for Hirbe's spells and the Tiger-Man's fighting prowess. They broke into the helm room. There were two priestesses with their leader, who held a yellow tentacle rod. Hirbe cast a lightning bolt spell that hit and killed all three of them in one shot. Another drow priestess was sitting on the helm throne, piloting the ship. Hirbe ordered the kara-kara to take her up and to throw her overboard. Hirbe took the helm and had control of the ship. Back on the other side of the city, the heroes shot down the enemy ship. It crashed down to the city, striking a section of the wall surrounding the city and crumbling it. The heroes' hearts sank as they saw the massed army of spiders, goblins and golems racing toward the hole! The adventurers climbed onto Dark Secret and flew down.. Down below, Zahar and his band of Raven Knights also raced to fend off the invaders. The Raven Knights made their way through the hole and attacked! Zahar had maybe 50 raven knights at his command. The enemy horde was at least 500 strong. There were more enemies, but the knights were far more powerful. The knights cut through them with ease... However, a few monsters made it past the knights. A massive spider with 5 goblins on its' back skittered through the hole in the wall and closed in on a dwelling. Dark Secret landed. The heroes climbed off and made their way to the spider. The goblins charged. One raced up and plunged its' war pick into Ardra's thigh, bloodying her. Scarlet engaged the spider, dodging a flurry of attacks. The spider brought a leg down on her, knocking her to the ground. One goblin ran through the house and came out the front door. It was planning on making its' way to the rear of the party. The Blue Monk ran over and battled it. Hartaniel climbed onto the roof of the house and opened fire on the goblins with his repeating crossbow. Varis killed a goblin with a spiteful glamor spell. Ardra activated her helmet's power, releasing all of the souls and infusing her blade with power. She landed an explosive strike on a goblin, causing its' blood to spray everywhere. Ryltar killed another goblin as Scarlet plunged her blade into the spider's underbelly. Hartaniel got off the roof and ran at the spider. It bit him with its' massive mandibles. He shook it off, and climbed onto the spider's back. He plunged his blade into it twice. Poison blood spewed everywhere. The spider collapsed, dead.. Suddenly, Ryltar's mud sorcerer ring glowed. It transformed into the tiny snake that had bit him and given him Bwimb's curse. The snake whispered something and burrowed into Ryltar's hand. He could feel it swimming through his body, charging him with energy. The Blue Monk ran by a goblin. As he passed, the monk asked, "Do you feel the hurt awaken from within you? You shall see the Raven Queen, naturally." The Monk had rings on each hand that spelled out "BLUE" "MONK" - gifts from Scarlet. He hit the goblin so hard, he shattered its' face. Dark light shot out from the goblin as it fell over, dead. The ground all around the heroes became muddy. Ardra killed the last two goblins as the others looked around, trying to figure out what was going on. Five massive, glowing oozes grew up out of the mud, along with one mud grue. The grue had eight glowing runes on it. The runes were in the shape of the mud sorcerer symbol for earth and water existing harmoniously. The mud grue said, "Greetings from Bwimb, the paraelemental princess of ooze!". The grue pointed at Lucky, and one of the eight runes on its' body faded out. As "luck" would have it, the oozes had risen up all around Lucky. She clenched her adamantine fist as the mud grue pointed at her. Suddenly, from under her feet, a glowing glob off ooze rose up and engulfed her. It ate away her skin and muscle in an instant, killing her! The ooze paused for a moment. The shocked heroes could only see Lucky's skeleton and adamantine arm floating within. Then, the glob retreated into the muddy ground, taking Lucky's remains with it! The mud grue said, "Her soul belongs to Bwimb now." Then he pointed at Hartaniel. "You shall be next!". The stunned heroes couldn't believe it. Lucky had been killed in an instant. Vecna called out to Hartaniel, "You have no chance against them! You must run. You've angered Bwimb, you idiot!". Hartaniel said, "If you were a real god you'd do something to help us right now." "Now you're turning on me?! You fool!" Ryltar called out to Hartaniel, "You didn't anger her. I did!" Hartaniel scoured the ground, looking for any remains of Lucky's body to use so that she could be raised. But not a hair remained. Scarlet grabbed an ooze and called out to the raven knights through the hole. Zahar heard, and came running. Varis teleported into the nearby house. Ryltar turned invisible and ran toward the wall. The Blue Monk went into the house with Varis. Zahar, shadowfell blade in hand, charged up to the mud grue and slashed it. As he ran past Ryltar, he said, "...my investment!". The grue howled in shock and pain as blood poured from the wound. The heroes ran out to where the Raven Knights were as Zahar made quick work of Bwimb's monsters. Lucky was dead, and Bwimb was determined to take all of their souls... [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
(4e) Saga of Valor
Top