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Nebulous's Keep on the Shadowfell (FR)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nebulous" data-source="post: 4697517" data-attributes="member: 31465"><p><span style="font-size: 15px">Adventure #13: The Claws of Orcus</span></p><p></p><p><strong>PART TWO</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong>Die you traitor!” shouts the fat goblin boss, and then slinks out of sight, jamming a new bolt into his weapon. But Splug’s problems are just beginning, for there is a very pale woman standing in the shadows, smiling at him with glistening teeth. Splug doesn’t like that and flees to the wizard for protection.</p><p></p><p>In the main chamber, Helga cleaves into both the berserkers and removes the head from one, but suddenly lurches from a glob of necrotic energy slamming into her back. Kalarel, it seems, has finally entered the fight.</p><p></p><p>“You shall pay with your lives for coming here!” he shrieks. </p><p></p><p>“And YOU shall answer to Kelemvor for your vile deeds!” answers Kerric, sprinting up to engage the priest.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath9.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>His longsword slides through the priest’s armor, eliciting a cry of agony. Helga and Brandis are still exchanging blows with the beserker, who is now staggering from pain and close to death.</p><p></p><p>More vampires surge into the antechamber where Erevan zaps one in the head with a magic missile, slaying it, but the others converge on Splug and severely wound him. Nearby, Irann is harassed by a new foe that appears out of nowhere, a short ugly humanoid with cloven hooves. She has heard of such creatures, known as Dark Creepers, that dwell and thrive in the Shadow world, but she does not know anything else about them. The vicious monster twirls a black dagger in its hands, and then it leaps at the warlock, sinking the blade deep. </p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath10.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Kerric and Kalarel are engaged in battle, but the paladin is by far the superior warrior and has rained numerous blows upon the priest. His lungs heaving, Kalarel attempts to flee, but the paladin skewers him from behind, splashing more blood on the walls. </p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath11.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Kalarel spins on the paladin, peppering him with feeble blows, but Kerric easily deflects them with his shield. </p><p></p><p>“You will answer for your sins, priest,” the paladin mutters. “And these abominations you surround yourself with shall meet the same fate!” Blood speckles Kalarel’s lips, and he doesn’t seem so sure of himself anymore. </p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath12.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Nearby, a vampire spawn and the dark creeper are still alive, but between the dwarf, warlock and wizard, the creatures cannot survive for long. But Boss Fatty has stopped his crossbow attacks, and by the time the others notice, the cowardly little goblin is long gone and hobbling through the dark corridors of the Keep, looking desperately for a new place to hide…and what better place than a deep, black, quiet cave…</p><p></p><p>[GM Note: I can’t believe that guy survived. He always ran when the running was good. This won’t be the last we see of him, no doubt about that…]</p><p></p><p>The dark creeper is dispatched before it can inflict more damage, and Brandis moves to Kerric’s side to help him bring down Kalarel, but the paladin is doing an outstanding job by himself. He thrusts his blade through the priest’s armor again, and from the expression on Kalarel’s face, Kerric knows that the wound is fatal. Blood gushes from the his side, and the priest slowly slides himself off the sword, falls to his knees, and then crumples backward. </p><p></p><p>Brandis stands above him, Wolftooth poised to skewer him yet again if necessary, but the priest is mumbling something through bloody lips.</p><p></p><p>“Kalarel…(cough)…prepare…prepare…my…way…”</p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath15.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>And then he dies. </p><p></p><p>Brandis looks to Kerric in disbelief. “You mean, that’s NOT Kalarel?” </p><p></p><p>[GM Note: Aha! It worked! This twist caught a few players off guard, but some suspected that “Kalarel” went down too easy]. </p><p></p><p>This news bodes ill for everyone. The high priest must still alive somewhere in the complex, maybe even aware of what just happened and planning a counterattack. They thoroughly search the chamber, including the priest, but he is only carrying one magic item, a Headband of Intellect. He also wears an iron key around his neck. Brandis inspects the shattered crystal, wondering what purpose it holds, but Erevan is sure that this entire room is devoted to reopening the Shadowfell Rift and plunging Winterhaven and its environs into chaos. </p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath16.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>They don’t find anything else of interest in the room until they reach the chamber at the back. There are two locked doors, but the wall is shattered so Irann steps inside, but doesn’t feel confident to plunge through alone. Brandis pushes past her, ready for anything. </p><p></p><p>It is pitch black. </p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath13.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Manacles hang from the walls where prisoners were kept. In the next cell block are two dead farmers from Winterhaven, their bodies rotting. And in the final cell, as Brandis turns the corner…he sees a familiar Halfling from Salvana Wrafton’s Inn.</p><p></p><p>It is Shuck, who played harp for the elf minstrel Kelrella Sweetleaf. </p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/shuck.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>“Hey! Lemme out of here!” the Halfling squeals, kicking his furry feet against the wall. He’s dangling from his wrists and looking none too happy. </p><p></p><p>“What are you doing here?” demands Kerric, and the Halfling immediately says that he was captured while taking a walk the other night. He begs again to be let free, but Kerric and the others aren’t so trusting. Something seems…wrong. And then Kerric notices the sheaf of paper in his pocket and pulls it out. </p><p></p><p>“You foolish halfling! Did you even try to help Lord Maw and Ninaran, or did you just sit on your hairy ass and watch? Return to the Keep at once. I have a new mission for you. – KALAREL”</p><p></p><p>Kerric points at the letter. “Know anything about this?” But nothing the Halfling can say will remove him from the scene at the graveyard, even though he desperately tries. </p><p></p><p>“No! LIES! It’s not true! I know nothing! I’ve…I’ve been captured by a lunatic! Just GET ME OUT OF HERE!”</p><p></p><p>But Shuck fails to persuade anyone, and he finally, dejectedly admits that he is a spy for Kalarel, and he and Ninaran are the only two of whom Shuck is aware. The group asks where the High Priest is, and Shuck says he is down below, in the Inner Sanctum, and he rarely if ever leaves there. Shuck says he can tell them more about Kalarel if they release him, but for now, they party leaves Shuck where he is. </p><p></p><p>There’s only one way left to go. Straight down.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath14.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nebulous, post: 4697517, member: 31465"] [SIZE=4]Adventure #13: The Claws of Orcus[/SIZE] [B]PART TWO [/B]Die you traitor!” shouts the fat goblin boss, and then slinks out of sight, jamming a new bolt into his weapon. But Splug’s problems are just beginning, for there is a very pale woman standing in the shadows, smiling at him with glistening teeth. Splug doesn’t like that and flees to the wizard for protection. In the main chamber, Helga cleaves into both the berserkers and removes the head from one, but suddenly lurches from a glob of necrotic energy slamming into her back. Kalarel, it seems, has finally entered the fight. “You shall pay with your lives for coming here!” he shrieks. “And YOU shall answer to Kelemvor for your vile deeds!” answers Kerric, sprinting up to engage the priest. [img]http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath9.jpg[/img] His longsword slides through the priest’s armor, eliciting a cry of agony. Helga and Brandis are still exchanging blows with the beserker, who is now staggering from pain and close to death. More vampires surge into the antechamber where Erevan zaps one in the head with a magic missile, slaying it, but the others converge on Splug and severely wound him. Nearby, Irann is harassed by a new foe that appears out of nowhere, a short ugly humanoid with cloven hooves. She has heard of such creatures, known as Dark Creepers, that dwell and thrive in the Shadow world, but she does not know anything else about them. The vicious monster twirls a black dagger in its hands, and then it leaps at the warlock, sinking the blade deep. [img]http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath10.jpg[/img] Kerric and Kalarel are engaged in battle, but the paladin is by far the superior warrior and has rained numerous blows upon the priest. His lungs heaving, Kalarel attempts to flee, but the paladin skewers him from behind, splashing more blood on the walls. [img]http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath11.jpg[/img] Kalarel spins on the paladin, peppering him with feeble blows, but Kerric easily deflects them with his shield. “You will answer for your sins, priest,” the paladin mutters. “And these abominations you surround yourself with shall meet the same fate!” Blood speckles Kalarel’s lips, and he doesn’t seem so sure of himself anymore. [img]http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath12.jpg[/img] Nearby, a vampire spawn and the dark creeper are still alive, but between the dwarf, warlock and wizard, the creatures cannot survive for long. But Boss Fatty has stopped his crossbow attacks, and by the time the others notice, the cowardly little goblin is long gone and hobbling through the dark corridors of the Keep, looking desperately for a new place to hide…and what better place than a deep, black, quiet cave… [GM Note: I can’t believe that guy survived. He always ran when the running was good. This won’t be the last we see of him, no doubt about that…] The dark creeper is dispatched before it can inflict more damage, and Brandis moves to Kerric’s side to help him bring down Kalarel, but the paladin is doing an outstanding job by himself. He thrusts his blade through the priest’s armor again, and from the expression on Kalarel’s face, Kerric knows that the wound is fatal. Blood gushes from the his side, and the priest slowly slides himself off the sword, falls to his knees, and then crumples backward. Brandis stands above him, Wolftooth poised to skewer him yet again if necessary, but the priest is mumbling something through bloody lips. “Kalarel…(cough)…prepare…prepare…my…way…” [img]http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath15.jpg[/img] And then he dies. Brandis looks to Kerric in disbelief. “You mean, that’s NOT Kalarel?” [GM Note: Aha! It worked! This twist caught a few players off guard, but some suspected that “Kalarel” went down too easy]. This news bodes ill for everyone. The high priest must still alive somewhere in the complex, maybe even aware of what just happened and planning a counterattack. They thoroughly search the chamber, including the priest, but he is only carrying one magic item, a Headband of Intellect. He also wears an iron key around his neck. Brandis inspects the shattered crystal, wondering what purpose it holds, but Erevan is sure that this entire room is devoted to reopening the Shadowfell Rift and plunging Winterhaven and its environs into chaos. [img]http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath16.jpg[/img] They don’t find anything else of interest in the room until they reach the chamber at the back. There are two locked doors, but the wall is shattered so Irann steps inside, but doesn’t feel confident to plunge through alone. Brandis pushes past her, ready for anything. It is pitch black. [img]http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath13.jpg[/img] Manacles hang from the walls where prisoners were kept. In the next cell block are two dead farmers from Winterhaven, their bodies rotting. And in the final cell, as Brandis turns the corner…he sees a familiar Halfling from Salvana Wrafton’s Inn. It is Shuck, who played harp for the elf minstrel Kelrella Sweetleaf. [img]http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/shuck.jpg[/img] “Hey! Lemme out of here!” the Halfling squeals, kicking his furry feet against the wall. He’s dangling from his wrists and looking none too happy. “What are you doing here?” demands Kerric, and the Halfling immediately says that he was captured while taking a walk the other night. He begs again to be let free, but Kerric and the others aren’t so trusting. Something seems…wrong. And then Kerric notices the sheaf of paper in his pocket and pulls it out. “You foolish halfling! Did you even try to help Lord Maw and Ninaran, or did you just sit on your hairy ass and watch? Return to the Keep at once. I have a new mission for you. – KALAREL” Kerric points at the letter. “Know anything about this?” But nothing the Halfling can say will remove him from the scene at the graveyard, even though he desperately tries. “No! LIES! It’s not true! I know nothing! I’ve…I’ve been captured by a lunatic! Just GET ME OUT OF HERE!” But Shuck fails to persuade anyone, and he finally, dejectedly admits that he is a spy for Kalarel, and he and Ninaran are the only two of whom Shuck is aware. The group asks where the High Priest is, and Shuck says he is down below, in the Inner Sanctum, and he rarely if ever leaves there. Shuck says he can tell them more about Kalarel if they release him, but for now, they party leaves Shuck where he is. There’s only one way left to go. Straight down. [img]http://www.zikadik.com/shadowfell/cath14.jpg[/img] [/QUOTE]
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