James McMurray
First Post
They push their way through the thick branches that have overgrown the bridge, and come out into a well cleared and cleaned area. Up ahead on the bridge are two men wearing brightly colored clothes over leather armor. Nadeem drops into a fighting stance but the man on the right calls out, “Hello there! Welcome to Rusva Nias!”
Taken aback at the friendly greeting, the party parlays with caution. They find out that these men work for Conrad, who was trapped here by the elves before their city fell. Conrad supplies them with food, drink, and even women (but only when asked for). In return they greet travelers and take them to meet Conrad.
The party decides to use these two as their path to the chained being and see what happens.
The two ex-bandits lead the group past a well-kept noble’s tree house and into the palace. At the bottom of a flight of stairs the party finds a shut door whose archway is covered in runes. They are leery of walking through, but the two men spur them on and lead the way. Seeing it is safe the group continues into the palace’s basement / dungeon.
The large chamber at the base of the stairs is large but sparsely furnished. The outer area is empty wood, but the center contains a fine rug, bookcase, desk and bed. Seated at the desk is a slender man with pointed ears. He is tied to a ring in the floor by two tiny ribbons of silk, and his head is slumped forward over the desk in weariness.
Between the group and Conrad stands a large ogre dressed in silver and iron piecemeal armor. The ogre turns towards the elf. “Pardon me sir, but it appears that you have visitors.” Conrad looks up and his eyes brighten.
“Hello there good sirs. What brings you here?”
The party explains that they are exploring, and they learn of the treachery of the nobles and the pact that brought the city prosperity and then ruin. Conrad offers to fulfill their wishes however he can if they would free him. But it will not be easy, as the ribbon is immune to nonmagical attack and encased in an antimagic shield.
Nadeem has heard legends of soul knives who could create their mind blades even with no energy in the air, and he tries. The first time he swings his blade it fizzles into nothingness and Conrad’s spirits drop. But the second time it slices cleanly through the ribbon.
Out of the corner of their eyes the party sees the ogre grow slightly larger and his head grow slightly bigger. Its wish to be smarter and stronger is being fulfilled. Nadeem swings again and the second ribbon breaks.
Conrad shouts in joy and triumph, and then hi face becomes business. “I have promised you a boon, what would you have of me?”
Nadeem wishes to be more agile, and it is so. Lord Djonnimar revels his inner desires by wishing for riches. The large sack of platinum coins that appears at his feet is almost too heavy for him to carry. Vides wishes to be more charismatic and stronger, and it is so.
Tor and The Duerf are torn as to what to ask for, and so Conrad gives them each a small silver rod. He tells them to break it when they have decided and he will come to them. He thanks the party again, and learning that they are mercenaries tells them he will come to them if he finds himself in need of aid. He then tell them that he is ready to exact his revenge, but will wait until the party has left the city before completing the bargain.
Ever vengeful, the party heads to the roof of the palace with the intent to hunt down and kill all of the griffins. But when they get there and find at least 4 griffins sitting in nests and 5 more circling lazily in the sky, they decide to just leave.
As their feet hit the ground by the ladder into Rusva Nias, the ground behind them erupts in a curtain of fire. The flames shoot to the sky, and when they subside there is only ash. Rusva Nias is no more.
Taken aback at the friendly greeting, the party parlays with caution. They find out that these men work for Conrad, who was trapped here by the elves before their city fell. Conrad supplies them with food, drink, and even women (but only when asked for). In return they greet travelers and take them to meet Conrad.
The party decides to use these two as their path to the chained being and see what happens.
The two ex-bandits lead the group past a well-kept noble’s tree house and into the palace. At the bottom of a flight of stairs the party finds a shut door whose archway is covered in runes. They are leery of walking through, but the two men spur them on and lead the way. Seeing it is safe the group continues into the palace’s basement / dungeon.
The large chamber at the base of the stairs is large but sparsely furnished. The outer area is empty wood, but the center contains a fine rug, bookcase, desk and bed. Seated at the desk is a slender man with pointed ears. He is tied to a ring in the floor by two tiny ribbons of silk, and his head is slumped forward over the desk in weariness.
Between the group and Conrad stands a large ogre dressed in silver and iron piecemeal armor. The ogre turns towards the elf. “Pardon me sir, but it appears that you have visitors.” Conrad looks up and his eyes brighten.
“Hello there good sirs. What brings you here?”
The party explains that they are exploring, and they learn of the treachery of the nobles and the pact that brought the city prosperity and then ruin. Conrad offers to fulfill their wishes however he can if they would free him. But it will not be easy, as the ribbon is immune to nonmagical attack and encased in an antimagic shield.
Nadeem has heard legends of soul knives who could create their mind blades even with no energy in the air, and he tries. The first time he swings his blade it fizzles into nothingness and Conrad’s spirits drop. But the second time it slices cleanly through the ribbon.
Out of the corner of their eyes the party sees the ogre grow slightly larger and his head grow slightly bigger. Its wish to be smarter and stronger is being fulfilled. Nadeem swings again and the second ribbon breaks.
Conrad shouts in joy and triumph, and then hi face becomes business. “I have promised you a boon, what would you have of me?”
Nadeem wishes to be more agile, and it is so. Lord Djonnimar revels his inner desires by wishing for riches. The large sack of platinum coins that appears at his feet is almost too heavy for him to carry. Vides wishes to be more charismatic and stronger, and it is so.
Tor and The Duerf are torn as to what to ask for, and so Conrad gives them each a small silver rod. He tells them to break it when they have decided and he will come to them. He thanks the party again, and learning that they are mercenaries tells them he will come to them if he finds himself in need of aid. He then tell them that he is ready to exact his revenge, but will wait until the party has left the city before completing the bargain.
Ever vengeful, the party heads to the roof of the palace with the intent to hunt down and kill all of the griffins. But when they get there and find at least 4 griffins sitting in nests and 5 more circling lazily in the sky, they decide to just leave.
As their feet hit the ground by the ladder into Rusva Nias, the ground behind them erupts in a curtain of fire. The flames shoot to the sky, and when they subside there is only ash. Rusva Nias is no more.