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
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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="steeldragons" data-source="post: 6156700" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>A cursory glance by an invisible Pyrnion revealed no enemies in the next level. There was, however, a large crystal sphere upon a pedestal in the center of the open floor. A high backed chair of dark wood, heavily carved with images of swans and padded on the seat and middle of the back with a well worn blue velvet. It had apparently been very rich fabric once, but now worn from age and use to near tatters.</p><p></p><p>Alaria and Fen neared the orb. Both of their magical vision still intact. The orb gave off an aura that nearly filled the whole chamber. While Fen’s natural magic revealed nothing more than the sphere’s arcane nature, Alaria’s revealed a huge swirl of divination intermingled with transmutations, evocations, the inky blackness of necromancy...and a fifth swathe of energy she could not identify...a dark blue inset with twinkling star-like points of light within it.</p><p></p><p>“That’s not it, is it?” Haelan asked, confused. It was much too big and his sense, which he reported was beginning to fade, still said “up.”</p><p></p><p>“Definitely not.” Alaria reported. She reached out a hand toward the sphere and concentrated...the ball immediately began to pulse with inner lights of white and dark blue, pink and orange.</p><p></p><p>“Show me.” Alaria whispered out loud.</p><p></p><p>An image took form within the sphere, fuzzy at first, then more solid. White...fields of white...a barren silver forest swept in snow. She saw great white and grey wolves...then the ice giants...she saw the spire upon an isle in a frozen lake. It was the winter realm of Gorathgraard!</p><p></p><p>“Is that...?" Braddok questioned.</p><p></p><p>Alaria thought upon the Lady Amthyriine.</p><p></p><p>The image stayed upon the spire in the lake.</p><p></p><p>Of course, Alaria realized. When they had been there, Amthyriine had been clear that Tresahd’s power could not pierce her tower.</p><p></p><p>Alaria turned her mind the Lady Evaranthriine and the starry realm of Summer’s Night.</p><p></p><p>The image within the crystal swirled once again and came to center on the spire in the night realm, edged now on one side in a the pinkish dawn and to the other the orangey glow of a sunset. The garden Fen had brought into being there bloomed and full still beneath the daylight glow he had created. But of the Night Lady or her Swan Knight lover-champion, there was no sign.</p><p></p><p>“Hey...memory lane is nice and all...but can you see stuff here with that thing?” Duor posed.</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps this is what the dark one’s servant called the Overseer uses to...ya know...’oversee.’” Fen guessed.</p><p> </p><p>“Just questions, both.” Alaria answered distracted as she turned her mind first to this “Overseer” the image swirled a bit and there was only an image of the castle itself. With more concentration, the image “moved” into the great hall/throne room where they had been so sorely defeated on their last visit. A curious scene appeared as it seemed beings in the tattered finery they recalled form the wights last time, moved and swirled about the hall’s floor in smooth motions of...were they...courtly dances? There were about a dozen of them just...dancing. The dais with the teleportal pulpit, for lack of a better term, and the grandiose carved throne sat vacant. </p><p></p><p>What was this? Alaria wondered. They couldn’t <em>all</em> be the Overseer. </p><p></p><p>“Well, least we know the wights are still here.” Haelan said with a nervous smile.</p><p></p><p>“True.” Alaria said and turned her mind to Rach’sha. The image swirled again, the behir seemed to be in its cavern lair, lounging the in the pool of sulfuric waters near where they had escaped. Whether it slept or merely relaxed, she could not tell. But it was there, beneath the mountain in its lair. Past experience, however, told her that wherever the passages were, the creature could be in the castle in only a short time.</p><p></p><p>“How 'bout those dark elves?” Duor asked. “Be nice to know for sure they aren’t here.”</p><p></p><p>Alaria gave it a moment’s thought but the sphere revealed nothing, simply continued to swirl its colors.</p><p></p><p>“So...that’s a no?” Haelan very much hoped.</p><p></p><p>“I...don’t know.” Alaria admitted. “Either it is a 'no’ or they are impervious to such revelation.”</p><p></p><p>“Should we see about...ya know...the big one?” Fen posed cautiously.</p><p></p><p>“Better, I think, we should seek the Ihs Repahl.” Alaria said. “I fear that Tresahd might be made aware if we were to try to scry him directly...and even searching for the orb might tip him off.”</p><p></p><p>“Then don’t.” Braddok quickly said. “We can go off of Haelan’s magic and not tip off anyone.”</p><p></p><p>Alaria pulled her hand away from the sphere before she thought too long on the wind-controlling orb. The sphere went dark.</p><p></p><p>“If we are successful, I definitely wish to retrieve this device.” Alaria noted.</p><p></p><p>“<em>When</em>’, beloved.” Braddok grinned.</p><p></p><p>“Huh?” Alaria replied.</p><p></p><p> “<em>‘When</em> we are successful.’ I shall carry it back to Grinlia for you myself.” the swordsman smiled.</p><p></p><p>“Oh will you?” Alaria grinned back.</p><p></p><p>“Honestly! You two pick the absolute <em>worst</em> times to make goo-goo eyes. I'm gonna yack.” Duor blurted and headed for the next set of stairs.</p><p></p><p>Pyrnion now made himself visible to the party. This caused a second of alarm as most of them had forgotten the zephari was even around. His face was a stoic mask of severity.</p><p></p><p>“I have taken a look upstairs. It is a laboratory of some kind. There is a hunched figure in black robes working. I did not see the Kalanaptra, but the wizard is there.”</p><p></p><p>The party stood in a cold silence of tension that could be cut with a butter knife.</p><p></p><p>Steeling themselves, the group raced up the stairs, Braddok first. Then Fen. Haelan followed then Alaria, hands pulsing with magic, prepared to throw darts at a moment’s notice. Pyrnion flew up into the chamber, short bow at the ready. Duor had drawn his ethereal dagger, but stayed decidedly behind the magess [“Savest place t’be in a wizard duel."] Jovias brought up the rear, also with a shortbow nocked.</p><p></p><p>Alaria’s energy darts slammed into the back of the black-robed figure and the thing seemed to splay onto the table before it, sending beakers and bottles scattering across the table and to the floor. </p><p></p><p>Two arrows whizzed through the chamber and pierced through the back of the robes. </p><p></p><p>Braddok’s sword blasted into blue fire as he entered the chamber and the warrior heard Kandu speak into his mind even as he brought the blade down upon the hunched figure.</p><p></p><p>*<em>Braddok, this is a creature of undeath.</em>*</p><p></p><p>Braddok didn’t stop to consider the statement, but swung a second time and removed the head from the shoulders with a single blow. </p><p></p><p>The hooded robes caught the mystical blue fire of Kandu and burned away into smoldering tatters, even as the bones revealed beneath it burned for a time before turning to dust.</p><p></p><p>“What in the...?” Haelan began to voice.</p><p></p><p>“This is a ruse! We’ve been tricked!” Braddok said in horror, seeing the skeleton’s bones burned away in Kandu’s blue undead-eating flames. </p><p></p><p>“Then...he knows!” Fen said in panicked comprehension.</p><p></p><p>“HA! HAHAHAHAHA!” a horrid pitched cackle came form the side of the chamber where the fake-Tresahd’s head had sailed.</p><p></p><p>The party came near enough to see a bare skull, sitting upon the floor. Its jaw moving of its own accord.</p><p></p><p>“Of course ‘he’ knows. Storm-<em>Jesters!</em> You think flitting around my lair cloaked in <em>faerie</em> magic would hide you from<em> my </em>Sight?” the skull said.</p><p></p><p>The companions stared in silent fear and horror at each other and the speaking skull.</p><p></p><p>The skull’s wicked cackles echoed through the chamber to a deafening pitch.</p><p></p><p>“HAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 6156700, member: 92511"] A cursory glance by an invisible Pyrnion revealed no enemies in the next level. There was, however, a large crystal sphere upon a pedestal in the center of the open floor. A high backed chair of dark wood, heavily carved with images of swans and padded on the seat and middle of the back with a well worn blue velvet. It had apparently been very rich fabric once, but now worn from age and use to near tatters. Alaria and Fen neared the orb. Both of their magical vision still intact. The orb gave off an aura that nearly filled the whole chamber. While Fen’s natural magic revealed nothing more than the sphere’s arcane nature, Alaria’s revealed a huge swirl of divination intermingled with transmutations, evocations, the inky blackness of necromancy...and a fifth swathe of energy she could not identify...a dark blue inset with twinkling star-like points of light within it. “That’s not it, is it?” Haelan asked, confused. It was much too big and his sense, which he reported was beginning to fade, still said “up.” “Definitely not.” Alaria reported. She reached out a hand toward the sphere and concentrated...the ball immediately began to pulse with inner lights of white and dark blue, pink and orange. “Show me.” Alaria whispered out loud. An image took form within the sphere, fuzzy at first, then more solid. White...fields of white...a barren silver forest swept in snow. She saw great white and grey wolves...then the ice giants...she saw the spire upon an isle in a frozen lake. It was the winter realm of Gorathgraard! “Is that...?" Braddok questioned. Alaria thought upon the Lady Amthyriine. The image stayed upon the spire in the lake. Of course, Alaria realized. When they had been there, Amthyriine had been clear that Tresahd’s power could not pierce her tower. Alaria turned her mind the Lady Evaranthriine and the starry realm of Summer’s Night. The image within the crystal swirled once again and came to center on the spire in the night realm, edged now on one side in a the pinkish dawn and to the other the orangey glow of a sunset. The garden Fen had brought into being there bloomed and full still beneath the daylight glow he had created. But of the Night Lady or her Swan Knight lover-champion, there was no sign. “Hey...memory lane is nice and all...but can you see stuff here with that thing?” Duor posed. “Perhaps this is what the dark one’s servant called the Overseer uses to...ya know...’oversee.’” Fen guessed. “Just questions, both.” Alaria answered distracted as she turned her mind first to this “Overseer” the image swirled a bit and there was only an image of the castle itself. With more concentration, the image “moved” into the great hall/throne room where they had been so sorely defeated on their last visit. A curious scene appeared as it seemed beings in the tattered finery they recalled form the wights last time, moved and swirled about the hall’s floor in smooth motions of...were they...courtly dances? There were about a dozen of them just...dancing. The dais with the teleportal pulpit, for lack of a better term, and the grandiose carved throne sat vacant. What was this? Alaria wondered. They couldn’t [I]all[/I] be the Overseer. “Well, least we know the wights are still here.” Haelan said with a nervous smile. “True.” Alaria said and turned her mind to Rach’sha. The image swirled again, the behir seemed to be in its cavern lair, lounging the in the pool of sulfuric waters near where they had escaped. Whether it slept or merely relaxed, she could not tell. But it was there, beneath the mountain in its lair. Past experience, however, told her that wherever the passages were, the creature could be in the castle in only a short time. “How 'bout those dark elves?” Duor asked. “Be nice to know for sure they aren’t here.” Alaria gave it a moment’s thought but the sphere revealed nothing, simply continued to swirl its colors. “So...that’s a no?” Haelan very much hoped. “I...don’t know.” Alaria admitted. “Either it is a 'no’ or they are impervious to such revelation.” “Should we see about...ya know...the big one?” Fen posed cautiously. “Better, I think, we should seek the Ihs Repahl.” Alaria said. “I fear that Tresahd might be made aware if we were to try to scry him directly...and even searching for the orb might tip him off.” “Then don’t.” Braddok quickly said. “We can go off of Haelan’s magic and not tip off anyone.” Alaria pulled her hand away from the sphere before she thought too long on the wind-controlling orb. The sphere went dark. “If we are successful, I definitely wish to retrieve this device.” Alaria noted. “[I]When[/I]’, beloved.” Braddok grinned. “Huh?” Alaria replied. “[I]‘When[/I] we are successful.’ I shall carry it back to Grinlia for you myself.” the swordsman smiled. “Oh will you?” Alaria grinned back. “Honestly! You two pick the absolute [I]worst[/I] times to make goo-goo eyes. I'm gonna yack.” Duor blurted and headed for the next set of stairs. Pyrnion now made himself visible to the party. This caused a second of alarm as most of them had forgotten the zephari was even around. His face was a stoic mask of severity. “I have taken a look upstairs. It is a laboratory of some kind. There is a hunched figure in black robes working. I did not see the Kalanaptra, but the wizard is there.” The party stood in a cold silence of tension that could be cut with a butter knife. Steeling themselves, the group raced up the stairs, Braddok first. Then Fen. Haelan followed then Alaria, hands pulsing with magic, prepared to throw darts at a moment’s notice. Pyrnion flew up into the chamber, short bow at the ready. Duor had drawn his ethereal dagger, but stayed decidedly behind the magess [“Savest place t’be in a wizard duel."] Jovias brought up the rear, also with a shortbow nocked. Alaria’s energy darts slammed into the back of the black-robed figure and the thing seemed to splay onto the table before it, sending beakers and bottles scattering across the table and to the floor. Two arrows whizzed through the chamber and pierced through the back of the robes. Braddok’s sword blasted into blue fire as he entered the chamber and the warrior heard Kandu speak into his mind even as he brought the blade down upon the hunched figure. *[I]Braddok, this is a creature of undeath.[/I]* Braddok didn’t stop to consider the statement, but swung a second time and removed the head from the shoulders with a single blow. The hooded robes caught the mystical blue fire of Kandu and burned away into smoldering tatters, even as the bones revealed beneath it burned for a time before turning to dust. “What in the...?” Haelan began to voice. “This is a ruse! We’ve been tricked!” Braddok said in horror, seeing the skeleton’s bones burned away in Kandu’s blue undead-eating flames. “Then...he knows!” Fen said in panicked comprehension. “HA! HAHAHAHAHA!” a horrid pitched cackle came form the side of the chamber where the fake-Tresahd’s head had sailed. The party came near enough to see a bare skull, sitting upon the floor. Its jaw moving of its own accord. “Of course ‘he’ knows. Storm-[I]Jesters![/I] You think flitting around my lair cloaked in [I]faerie[/I] magic would hide you from[I] my [/I]Sight?” the skull said. The companions stared in silent fear and horror at each other and the speaking skull. The skull’s wicked cackles echoed through the chamber to a deafening pitch. “HAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!” [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
Top