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Shadows of Greatness, a Forgotten Realms campaign UPDATED February 1, 2008
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<blockquote data-quote="sniffles" data-source="post: 3592766" data-attributes="member: 30035"><p><strong>Pillars of Fire</strong></p><p></p><p>As we gazed in awe at the plain on which the efreet's palace lay, Khai explained to my friends and I that the Caliph in fact had more than one palace, but only one was his true palace. Though we could not see it from where we stood, a small town lay about the palace, occupied by many folk half of djinni blood to whom the Caliph had given refuge. Some of the desert tribes also gave the efreet their fealty. </p><p></p><p>According to the lore of Calimshan, the great Calim for whom the land is named lies beneath this desert, imprisoned there for aeons, though he still carries on his war with his rival Memnon even from his prison of earth. The heat of the fiery pillars that lay below us was reputed to be the flames of Calim's wrath.</p><p></p><p>Khai informed us that he had vowed never again to set foot upon that awesome plain, to which we responded that we would not ask him to lead us any further. We were already most grateful to him for his guidance thus far. But we had come to the plain several hours into the day, and we determined that we did not wish to make our foray onto that plain until we had fully rested and prepared with the aid of our gods.</p><p></p><p>On the following day we said our farewell to Khai, who had promised to wait a full two months before turning his back on us. We then girded ourselves as best we could against the heat and flames and set off toward the mirage-like vision of the palace we had observed on the previous day.</p><p></p><p>Liadan and Erim had both prepared spells that would lead us toward the true palace, and so we proceeded as directly as we could past the obstacles that the pillars provided. We had already observed that the pillars of flame appeared to move about like whirlwinds on the sands, and Khai had advised us that in some places between the fiery pillars the air formed currents that could lift a man off his feet. </p><p></p><p>The heat of the plain was oppressive despite the protections provided us by magic. It was as I would imagine it to be should I set foot in the heart of a volcano. Nekaya-Re grew anxious at once, sensing some evil that was as oppressive to her as the heat was to me. I observed that the pillars of flame contained a dark heart unlike any ordinary fire of my experience. No such heart could be seen in the obsidian pillars of course, but I felt that they radiated the same sense of menace. They resembled a flame that had somehow been frozen in stone. And the sand beneath our feet appeared glassy, as though it had been melted then ground to sand again and then melted once more, over and over throughout the ages. </p><p></p><p>Amid the pillars we found that our sight was confused by the waves of heat rising from the fires. Had it not been for the spell Lathander granted to Liadan we might have become hopelessly lost. And though we took greatest care we were unable to avoid some of the pitfalls of the plain. After some hours Liadan and Erim were swept up by one of the currents of hot air and lifted aloft. Erim was able to regain the ground immediately, but the air began to carry Liadan away from us.</p><p></p><p>Baran drew out his spool of never-ending rope and flung the free end into the maelstrom, hoping that Liadan would be able to catch hold of it. But the rope was so buffeted about that she was unable to grasp it. Erim then made a prodigious leap and bounded up into the air current, catching the rope and Liadan as well. He wound the rope about them both and the remainder of us drew them down. </p><p></p><p>Baran then began to assiduously seek out these air currents that we might avoid them. By his guidance we were able to avoid being caught up in such a maelstrom again. But the desert held other dangers for us. Some while after we had escaped being borne aloft one of the obsidian pillars suddenly lashed out at us with its sharp shards!</p><p></p><p>Liadan instantly summoned a blast of frigid air to attack the pillar in response, though it seemed to have little effect on our strange foe. Seeing that we were surrounded by many pillars that might also turn against us, I called out to her that perhaps we should rather depart as quickly as we might rather than attempt to combat the obsidian pillar. I was gratified when my friends agreed with my reasoning and began to retreat from the pillar. </p><p></p><p>But as we drew away, a pillar of flame nearby began to pursue us. A tongue of flame shot out of the pillar and struck me, scorching me badly as I came behind my companions. Liadan ran to the opposite side of the obsidian column rather than remaining with the rest of our group, and was caught up by another air current and lifted aloft once more. </p><p></p><p>Nekaya-Re drew a javelin and hurled it at the obsidian, which then lashed out at Baran. I left my swords in their sheaths and broke into a run. The fire sent out another limb of flames to strike Pakkin. To the opposite side of the black pillar Liadan called upon Lathander's aid to float herself to the sand. The black stuff chose not to turn on her then, but to instead strike Baran again. </p><p></p><p>I dodged between the two threatening pillars, the fire pursuing me with alarming speed. It swallowed up Pakkin entirely, but the courageous goblin emerged a moment later scorched but relatively unharmed. The black stuff then struck me, leaving me with numerous small wounds that bled profusely. </p><p></p><p>As I attempted to defend myself against the stone, the fire turned its attention to Nekaya-Re. Within the blink of an eye the fire had swallowed up both Nekaya-Re and Pakkin. I could see nothing of them. </p><p></p><p>But as quickly as they had been engulfed, I then heard through our enchanted rings a joyful cry from Nekaya-Re and both she and her small comrade burst free of the pillar just as its flames went still and turned to black.</p><p></p><p>We stood for a moment catching our breath and both Liadan and Nekaya-Re called upon their gods to heal my wounds. The other pillars surrounding us made no move toward us. Our caution further heightened by this experience, we resumed our journey, taking pains to pass no nearer to the pillars than we must, though in the hot air of the plain distances were difficult to determine. </p><p></p><p>At last we seemed to have reached the end of the plain of pillars and stepped out of the infernal heat. As we did so we encountered a huge creature made all of fire. Not seeking to struggle with it, we attempted to circumvent it, but the creature began to follow us. Strangely it seemed to make some noise which might have been speech, though in no tongue any of us knew. </p><p></p><p>Nekaya-Re, with her curious boundless optimism, spoke to the fire elemental and told it that we had come peacefully seeking audience with the efreet. This appeared to have no effect on the creature, and it continued its efforts to block our attempt to pass. Each time we moved to cross its path it would crouch and its fires would flare brightly. </p><p></p><p>Nekaya-Re attempted to speak with it again to no avail. As this exchange continued it occurred to me that I held something in my possession that might make some impression upon the creature. I stood before it, making no threatening gesture, and drew <em>Brimstone</em> slowly from his sheath, calling out his name to bring his flames to life. I then saluted the creature with the fiery blade. </p><p></p><p>As I did so the creature's own fires flared once more. Then behind the elemental appeared another being, this one resembling the description I had heard of how an efreet appears. As this efreet stepped through the curtain of heat around us, he demanded to know why we were there and remarked, "You are far from where you should be." </p><p></p><p>Liadan replied that we sought the Caliph's guest. The efreet laughed and answered that the Caliph had many guests enjoying tortures in his palace. He threatened us with such tortures as well. Liadan then offered him treasures in exchange for his assistance in reaching the palace. He showed some interest in this offer. Liadan brought out several valuable gems she carried to display for him, and he then approached where we all stood. As he drew nearer to us we recognized as one that the being we saw was not real, merely a magical projection of some sort. </p><p></p><p>As this realization dawned upon us I heard a threatening cry from behind us...</p><p>__________________</p><p></p><p><strong>Quips & Quotes:</strong></p><p></p><p>Zora: "How does a beholder wear a monocle? It doesn't have eyebrows."</p><p>Devo: "The beholder can hold his monocle on with the squinky part of his eye."</p><p>Hedrin (singing the Slinky toy jingle): "The squinky, the squinky, it holds the monocle on..."</p><p></p><p>Devo: "The books in the beholder library were about phylacteries and creating undead."</p><p>Jubilee: "Better Living Through Necromancy!"</p><p></p><p>Jubilee: "This ring summons a huge monstrous centipede. Let's give it to Pakkin."</p><p>Devo (as Pakkin): "I'm not hungry. I couldn't eat a whole one."</p><p></p><p>patv: "Don't enrage the fire."</p><p>Zora: "We didn't start the fire."</p><p></p><p>Devo: "The fire elemental looks angry."</p><p>Jubilee: "Maybe it's hungry."</p><p>sniffles: "Maybe it's hot."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sniffles, post: 3592766, member: 30035"] [b]Pillars of Fire[/b] As we gazed in awe at the plain on which the efreet's palace lay, Khai explained to my friends and I that the Caliph in fact had more than one palace, but only one was his true palace. Though we could not see it from where we stood, a small town lay about the palace, occupied by many folk half of djinni blood to whom the Caliph had given refuge. Some of the desert tribes also gave the efreet their fealty. According to the lore of Calimshan, the great Calim for whom the land is named lies beneath this desert, imprisoned there for aeons, though he still carries on his war with his rival Memnon even from his prison of earth. The heat of the fiery pillars that lay below us was reputed to be the flames of Calim's wrath. Khai informed us that he had vowed never again to set foot upon that awesome plain, to which we responded that we would not ask him to lead us any further. We were already most grateful to him for his guidance thus far. But we had come to the plain several hours into the day, and we determined that we did not wish to make our foray onto that plain until we had fully rested and prepared with the aid of our gods. On the following day we said our farewell to Khai, who had promised to wait a full two months before turning his back on us. We then girded ourselves as best we could against the heat and flames and set off toward the mirage-like vision of the palace we had observed on the previous day. Liadan and Erim had both prepared spells that would lead us toward the true palace, and so we proceeded as directly as we could past the obstacles that the pillars provided. We had already observed that the pillars of flame appeared to move about like whirlwinds on the sands, and Khai had advised us that in some places between the fiery pillars the air formed currents that could lift a man off his feet. The heat of the plain was oppressive despite the protections provided us by magic. It was as I would imagine it to be should I set foot in the heart of a volcano. Nekaya-Re grew anxious at once, sensing some evil that was as oppressive to her as the heat was to me. I observed that the pillars of flame contained a dark heart unlike any ordinary fire of my experience. No such heart could be seen in the obsidian pillars of course, but I felt that they radiated the same sense of menace. They resembled a flame that had somehow been frozen in stone. And the sand beneath our feet appeared glassy, as though it had been melted then ground to sand again and then melted once more, over and over throughout the ages. Amid the pillars we found that our sight was confused by the waves of heat rising from the fires. Had it not been for the spell Lathander granted to Liadan we might have become hopelessly lost. And though we took greatest care we were unable to avoid some of the pitfalls of the plain. After some hours Liadan and Erim were swept up by one of the currents of hot air and lifted aloft. Erim was able to regain the ground immediately, but the air began to carry Liadan away from us. Baran drew out his spool of never-ending rope and flung the free end into the maelstrom, hoping that Liadan would be able to catch hold of it. But the rope was so buffeted about that she was unable to grasp it. Erim then made a prodigious leap and bounded up into the air current, catching the rope and Liadan as well. He wound the rope about them both and the remainder of us drew them down. Baran then began to assiduously seek out these air currents that we might avoid them. By his guidance we were able to avoid being caught up in such a maelstrom again. But the desert held other dangers for us. Some while after we had escaped being borne aloft one of the obsidian pillars suddenly lashed out at us with its sharp shards! Liadan instantly summoned a blast of frigid air to attack the pillar in response, though it seemed to have little effect on our strange foe. Seeing that we were surrounded by many pillars that might also turn against us, I called out to her that perhaps we should rather depart as quickly as we might rather than attempt to combat the obsidian pillar. I was gratified when my friends agreed with my reasoning and began to retreat from the pillar. But as we drew away, a pillar of flame nearby began to pursue us. A tongue of flame shot out of the pillar and struck me, scorching me badly as I came behind my companions. Liadan ran to the opposite side of the obsidian column rather than remaining with the rest of our group, and was caught up by another air current and lifted aloft once more. Nekaya-Re drew a javelin and hurled it at the obsidian, which then lashed out at Baran. I left my swords in their sheaths and broke into a run. The fire sent out another limb of flames to strike Pakkin. To the opposite side of the black pillar Liadan called upon Lathander's aid to float herself to the sand. The black stuff chose not to turn on her then, but to instead strike Baran again. I dodged between the two threatening pillars, the fire pursuing me with alarming speed. It swallowed up Pakkin entirely, but the courageous goblin emerged a moment later scorched but relatively unharmed. The black stuff then struck me, leaving me with numerous small wounds that bled profusely. As I attempted to defend myself against the stone, the fire turned its attention to Nekaya-Re. Within the blink of an eye the fire had swallowed up both Nekaya-Re and Pakkin. I could see nothing of them. But as quickly as they had been engulfed, I then heard through our enchanted rings a joyful cry from Nekaya-Re and both she and her small comrade burst free of the pillar just as its flames went still and turned to black. We stood for a moment catching our breath and both Liadan and Nekaya-Re called upon their gods to heal my wounds. The other pillars surrounding us made no move toward us. Our caution further heightened by this experience, we resumed our journey, taking pains to pass no nearer to the pillars than we must, though in the hot air of the plain distances were difficult to determine. At last we seemed to have reached the end of the plain of pillars and stepped out of the infernal heat. As we did so we encountered a huge creature made all of fire. Not seeking to struggle with it, we attempted to circumvent it, but the creature began to follow us. Strangely it seemed to make some noise which might have been speech, though in no tongue any of us knew. Nekaya-Re, with her curious boundless optimism, spoke to the fire elemental and told it that we had come peacefully seeking audience with the efreet. This appeared to have no effect on the creature, and it continued its efforts to block our attempt to pass. Each time we moved to cross its path it would crouch and its fires would flare brightly. Nekaya-Re attempted to speak with it again to no avail. As this exchange continued it occurred to me that I held something in my possession that might make some impression upon the creature. I stood before it, making no threatening gesture, and drew [I]Brimstone[/I] slowly from his sheath, calling out his name to bring his flames to life. I then saluted the creature with the fiery blade. As I did so the creature's own fires flared once more. Then behind the elemental appeared another being, this one resembling the description I had heard of how an efreet appears. As this efreet stepped through the curtain of heat around us, he demanded to know why we were there and remarked, "You are far from where you should be." Liadan replied that we sought the Caliph's guest. The efreet laughed and answered that the Caliph had many guests enjoying tortures in his palace. He threatened us with such tortures as well. Liadan then offered him treasures in exchange for his assistance in reaching the palace. He showed some interest in this offer. Liadan brought out several valuable gems she carried to display for him, and he then approached where we all stood. As he drew nearer to us we recognized as one that the being we saw was not real, merely a magical projection of some sort. As this realization dawned upon us I heard a threatening cry from behind us... __________________ [B]Quips & Quotes:[/B] Zora: "How does a beholder wear a monocle? It doesn't have eyebrows." Devo: "The beholder can hold his monocle on with the squinky part of his eye." Hedrin (singing the Slinky toy jingle): "The squinky, the squinky, it holds the monocle on..." Devo: "The books in the beholder library were about phylacteries and creating undead." Jubilee: "Better Living Through Necromancy!" Jubilee: "This ring summons a huge monstrous centipede. Let's give it to Pakkin." Devo (as Pakkin): "I'm not hungry. I couldn't eat a whole one." patv: "Don't enrage the fire." Zora: "We didn't start the fire." Devo: "The fire elemental looks angry." Jubilee: "Maybe it's hungry." sniffles: "Maybe it's hot." [/QUOTE]
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