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The Furious Fated - The World of Low'verok (Updated 10-26-03)
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<blockquote data-quote="Isida Kep'Tukari" data-source="post: 1217451" data-attributes="member: 4441"><p>The game from November 1st marked the return of Rhianna's player, as well as my foray into a new gaming frontier. It being the day after Halloween, I wanted to run a horror-type game. </p><p></p><p>However, before I could get to the soul-sucking horror, I had a little one-on-one session to run. Uianya's player's very first D&D character was a weretiger, and she had wanted to be a weretiger in this game. However, the weretiger is one of the stronger lycanthropes, and I had no time to figure out a balanced ECL for one. Thusly, she played her druid and kept her weretigran dreams to herself.</p><p></p><p>Then Dragon #313 came out. This is the issue that contained the weretiger character classes, and thus a way for a weretiger to be a balanced option for a character to take. I showed it to her, and she was quite happy about it. We decided she would burn her (recently) acquired level of druid to take this, and that we'd run a little one-on-one session to get her properly intiated into lycanthropy. </p><p></p><p>I didn't want her to be a cursed lycanthrope, as the dealing with the rampant violence every full moon didn't appeal to me. I think there's a time, place, and group to deal with that kind of thing, and this was none of the three. Besides, no one likes to have their character under the DM's control half the time. Thusly with a dash of altruism, a bit of prophecy, and a vision from a god, the following tale was born...</p><p></p><p><strong><u>The Tale of the Lurker in Darkness</u></strong> <em>or tyger, tyger, burning bright...</em></p><p></p><p>Uianya wanted to get away from the city, after all the traveling she had done in a large group. She wanted to be on her own with nature. Etriki and her traveled several hours' journey, enjoying the woods and peace of nature. However, she came across a rather unusual sight. In the middle of a clearing was a bunny sitting on a tree stump, and across the clearing a person that was both tiger and man (hybrid form lycanthrope). However, just as the tiger-man started running out into the clearing, Uianya noticed that the "harmless little bunny" actually seemed to be part of the stump.</p><p></p><p>When the tiger man got within a few feet, a vine growing near the stump suddenly lashed out and grabbed him around the waist, pinning his arms. Uianya stepped into action, coming out and running over to help. Unfortunately, the vine/stump thing had different ideas and lashed her up as well. </p><p></p><p>Etriki came up to save the day, biting at the vine, while the tiger man struggled and the vine squeezed. Eventually the tiger man got free, and ran to the bushes to grab his crossbow. Firing at it, finally Etriki got Uianya free. The tiger man attacked it with his claws while Uianya hacked it at with her scimitar. Between the two, they managed to break open the "stump." </p><p></p><p>[It was a wolf-in-sheep's-clothing, a great monster if you can want to torment your PCs with something that looks innocent.]</p><p></p><p>The tiger man changed into human form, introduced himself as He-terron, and wanted to know her reason for helping him. Most would be glad to see a lycanthrope like him die. She said that she was a child of nature, a druid, and that she has always had an attraction to the large cats. She also introduces Etriki, though the squirrel seems somewhat frightened (understandably) by the huge former-tiger-man. He-terron also asked about her race, as her coloring indicated that she was not entirely human. When she said she was a steam genasi, the combination of fire and water, He-terron seems very interested. So interested that he suggested she come with him and see his sister. Curious, she agreed.</p><p></p><p>Leading her through the heavy forest, through many twists and turns, he leads her to the gates of a beautiful stone city, tucked away in the wilderness. He-terron named it Jazarra, and took her inside. Etriki pressed against her leg, as everyone he passed on the streets seemed to be viewing him as a tasty morsel. He-terron brings her to a large, and well-appointed house. Going upstairs, he returns with an elegantly-dressed woman wearing red. She introduces herself as Zakara, a priestess of Kossuth, the god of fire.</p><p></p><p>Asking about Uianya's heritage, she seems intrigued that she was "fire kin." Zakara said that it was fortuitous that Uianya had showed up, as she had had a vision that one of her kind would be needed. It seemed that there the city wished to expand, but there was an old, abandoned temple of the Firelord near the place where they wanted to build. Zakara said that Kossuth had withdrawn his favor from the old place, but some of the old guardians remained and must be dealt with. The most worrisome was one she named the "lurker in darkness." No ordinary hero would do, only one named to her from her divinations and dreams, which meant Uianya was destined to go.</p><p></p><p>The priestess allowed Uianya to rest in her home, rousing her early the next morning. Assembled in her home were He-terron and two other women that Zakara introduced as her acolytes. She said they would all help her defeat the lurker and cleanse the temple for Jazarra's safety and continue glory. After the priestess' blessing, the four set forth.</p><p></p><p>Uianya couldn't help but be somewhat impressed by He-terron, even to the point of having a bit of a crush on him. Etriki didn't needle her about it though, as he had bigger worries on his mind.</p><p></p><p>It was midmorning by the time they arrived at the cave entrance that marked the old fire temple. Mentally preparing themselves, they all started down the slope. Fires burned in niches along the walls, giving a very warm atmosphere to the broad downward slope. As they proceeded downward they noticed two large braziers filled with fire bracketing the hallway. Uianya noted a bit of movement in one, and called the others' attention to it. </p><p></p><p>As they drew closer a serpant coiled in the flame launched itself at her, scaring everyone. Claws and scimitar were joined as they hacked the small snake to pieces. Startled, they continued forward, their nerves on a hair trigger. Finally the long passageway debauched into a huge cavern, in the middle of which was an enormous bonfire burning out of the stone. The entire place was lit with the hellish glare. And in the center of the flames a huge form waited. Large as all but the largest dragons, though lacking wings, the lurker in darkness lunged out of the flames, spraying them all with his flaming breath.</p><p></p><p>The two acolytes hurled themselves at it in hybrid form, while He-terron, in the form of an enormous tiger, jumped onto its back. Uianya waited and judged the time was not yet ready for her to strike, holding Etriki back wit her. While He-terron began digging a terrible wound in the lurker's side, the lurker jumped up in the air and pinned the two acolytes under its claws, crushing them unmercifully.</p><p></p><p>Dashing to their rescue, Uianya ordered Etriki to climb up the lurker and take out its eyes. Bounding away with a will, the dire squirrel evaded a bite from the lurker and scaled its enormous neck. He-terron continued to work on its back, causing it to howl in pain. Etriki reached the top of its head and valiently bit his sharp teeth into the lurker's eye. Screaming the lurker swung its head, throwing Etriki across the chamber, knocking the squirrel out.</p><p></p><p>Furious at her companion's treatment, Uianya threw herself into the fray, stabbing the lurker even as He-terron continued to rake at its side. The two acolytes remained pinned, their cried growing weaker as the huge beast slowly crushed them. It bit at the druid, its huge jaws snapping deep into her side. Blood dripping from its jaws, it tried to gnash at He-terron, but missed. Though blood dripped from her side and down her leg, Uianya readied herself for one last assault.</p><p></p><p><em>For Etriki!</em> she thought as she lunged forward. Her sword penetrated deep into its hide, seeking and finding its heart. As burning hot blood flowed over her hand, she withdrew. The beast thundered to the ground, dead. He-terron and the acolytes drew themselves upright, panting in exhertion and pain. Uianya tended to Etriki as the others praised her for her bravery against the lurker.</p><p></p><p>"You were a true hero today," He-terron said, his voice rumbling with approval as he helped her from the temple.</p><p></p><p>They all walked back to Jazarra, the day seeming brighter and sweeter than ever after the sweltering heat and terror of the old fire temple. Zakara welcomed them back, praising Kossuth that they had done well. Looking at Uianya curiously, she took the druid aside.</p><p></p><p>"You have proved yourself to be a worthy individual, not only in my eyes and the eyes of my people, but in the eyes of my god. It is apparent that you were destined to become one of us in time. Would you sacrifice what you are to become what we are? Would you take this honor into yourself, giving up some of your own self to embrace us?"</p><p></p><p>"I would be honored," Uianya said, deeply touched.</p><p></p><p>They took her to Zakara's secluded temple that evening, along with He-terron and the acolytes. As He-terron held her, Zakara opened the skylight to let the moon fall on her. The acolytes bit Uianya as Zakara used a silver amulet to imbue her with the sacred lycanthropy as if she had been born to it. Uianya felt the change deep inside her as her very blood and marrow changed to accept her new form. When it was done, she was able to change her form to that of the powerful and beautiful tiger!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Isida Kep'Tukari, post: 1217451, member: 4441"] The game from November 1st marked the return of Rhianna's player, as well as my foray into a new gaming frontier. It being the day after Halloween, I wanted to run a horror-type game. However, before I could get to the soul-sucking horror, I had a little one-on-one session to run. Uianya's player's very first D&D character was a weretiger, and she had wanted to be a weretiger in this game. However, the weretiger is one of the stronger lycanthropes, and I had no time to figure out a balanced ECL for one. Thusly, she played her druid and kept her weretigran dreams to herself. Then Dragon #313 came out. This is the issue that contained the weretiger character classes, and thus a way for a weretiger to be a balanced option for a character to take. I showed it to her, and she was quite happy about it. We decided she would burn her (recently) acquired level of druid to take this, and that we'd run a little one-on-one session to get her properly intiated into lycanthropy. I didn't want her to be a cursed lycanthrope, as the dealing with the rampant violence every full moon didn't appeal to me. I think there's a time, place, and group to deal with that kind of thing, and this was none of the three. Besides, no one likes to have their character under the DM's control half the time. Thusly with a dash of altruism, a bit of prophecy, and a vision from a god, the following tale was born... [b][u]The Tale of the Lurker in Darkness[/u][/b][u][/u] [i]or tyger, tyger, burning bright...[/i] Uianya wanted to get away from the city, after all the traveling she had done in a large group. She wanted to be on her own with nature. Etriki and her traveled several hours' journey, enjoying the woods and peace of nature. However, she came across a rather unusual sight. In the middle of a clearing was a bunny sitting on a tree stump, and across the clearing a person that was both tiger and man (hybrid form lycanthrope). However, just as the tiger-man started running out into the clearing, Uianya noticed that the "harmless little bunny" actually seemed to be part of the stump. When the tiger man got within a few feet, a vine growing near the stump suddenly lashed out and grabbed him around the waist, pinning his arms. Uianya stepped into action, coming out and running over to help. Unfortunately, the vine/stump thing had different ideas and lashed her up as well. Etriki came up to save the day, biting at the vine, while the tiger man struggled and the vine squeezed. Eventually the tiger man got free, and ran to the bushes to grab his crossbow. Firing at it, finally Etriki got Uianya free. The tiger man attacked it with his claws while Uianya hacked it at with her scimitar. Between the two, they managed to break open the "stump." [It was a wolf-in-sheep's-clothing, a great monster if you can want to torment your PCs with something that looks innocent.] The tiger man changed into human form, introduced himself as He-terron, and wanted to know her reason for helping him. Most would be glad to see a lycanthrope like him die. She said that she was a child of nature, a druid, and that she has always had an attraction to the large cats. She also introduces Etriki, though the squirrel seems somewhat frightened (understandably) by the huge former-tiger-man. He-terron also asked about her race, as her coloring indicated that she was not entirely human. When she said she was a steam genasi, the combination of fire and water, He-terron seems very interested. So interested that he suggested she come with him and see his sister. Curious, she agreed. Leading her through the heavy forest, through many twists and turns, he leads her to the gates of a beautiful stone city, tucked away in the wilderness. He-terron named it Jazarra, and took her inside. Etriki pressed against her leg, as everyone he passed on the streets seemed to be viewing him as a tasty morsel. He-terron brings her to a large, and well-appointed house. Going upstairs, he returns with an elegantly-dressed woman wearing red. She introduces herself as Zakara, a priestess of Kossuth, the god of fire. Asking about Uianya's heritage, she seems intrigued that she was "fire kin." Zakara said that it was fortuitous that Uianya had showed up, as she had had a vision that one of her kind would be needed. It seemed that there the city wished to expand, but there was an old, abandoned temple of the Firelord near the place where they wanted to build. Zakara said that Kossuth had withdrawn his favor from the old place, but some of the old guardians remained and must be dealt with. The most worrisome was one she named the "lurker in darkness." No ordinary hero would do, only one named to her from her divinations and dreams, which meant Uianya was destined to go. The priestess allowed Uianya to rest in her home, rousing her early the next morning. Assembled in her home were He-terron and two other women that Zakara introduced as her acolytes. She said they would all help her defeat the lurker and cleanse the temple for Jazarra's safety and continue glory. After the priestess' blessing, the four set forth. Uianya couldn't help but be somewhat impressed by He-terron, even to the point of having a bit of a crush on him. Etriki didn't needle her about it though, as he had bigger worries on his mind. It was midmorning by the time they arrived at the cave entrance that marked the old fire temple. Mentally preparing themselves, they all started down the slope. Fires burned in niches along the walls, giving a very warm atmosphere to the broad downward slope. As they proceeded downward they noticed two large braziers filled with fire bracketing the hallway. Uianya noted a bit of movement in one, and called the others' attention to it. As they drew closer a serpant coiled in the flame launched itself at her, scaring everyone. Claws and scimitar were joined as they hacked the small snake to pieces. Startled, they continued forward, their nerves on a hair trigger. Finally the long passageway debauched into a huge cavern, in the middle of which was an enormous bonfire burning out of the stone. The entire place was lit with the hellish glare. And in the center of the flames a huge form waited. Large as all but the largest dragons, though lacking wings, the lurker in darkness lunged out of the flames, spraying them all with his flaming breath. The two acolytes hurled themselves at it in hybrid form, while He-terron, in the form of an enormous tiger, jumped onto its back. Uianya waited and judged the time was not yet ready for her to strike, holding Etriki back wit her. While He-terron began digging a terrible wound in the lurker's side, the lurker jumped up in the air and pinned the two acolytes under its claws, crushing them unmercifully. Dashing to their rescue, Uianya ordered Etriki to climb up the lurker and take out its eyes. Bounding away with a will, the dire squirrel evaded a bite from the lurker and scaled its enormous neck. He-terron continued to work on its back, causing it to howl in pain. Etriki reached the top of its head and valiently bit his sharp teeth into the lurker's eye. Screaming the lurker swung its head, throwing Etriki across the chamber, knocking the squirrel out. Furious at her companion's treatment, Uianya threw herself into the fray, stabbing the lurker even as He-terron continued to rake at its side. The two acolytes remained pinned, their cried growing weaker as the huge beast slowly crushed them. It bit at the druid, its huge jaws snapping deep into her side. Blood dripping from its jaws, it tried to gnash at He-terron, but missed. Though blood dripped from her side and down her leg, Uianya readied herself for one last assault. [i]For Etriki![/i] she thought as she lunged forward. Her sword penetrated deep into its hide, seeking and finding its heart. As burning hot blood flowed over her hand, she withdrew. The beast thundered to the ground, dead. He-terron and the acolytes drew themselves upright, panting in exhertion and pain. Uianya tended to Etriki as the others praised her for her bravery against the lurker. "You were a true hero today," He-terron said, his voice rumbling with approval as he helped her from the temple. They all walked back to Jazarra, the day seeming brighter and sweeter than ever after the sweltering heat and terror of the old fire temple. Zakara welcomed them back, praising Kossuth that they had done well. Looking at Uianya curiously, she took the druid aside. "You have proved yourself to be a worthy individual, not only in my eyes and the eyes of my people, but in the eyes of my god. It is apparent that you were destined to become one of us in time. Would you sacrifice what you are to become what we are? Would you take this honor into yourself, giving up some of your own self to embrace us?" "I would be honored," Uianya said, deeply touched. They took her to Zakara's secluded temple that evening, along with He-terron and the acolytes. As He-terron held her, Zakara opened the skylight to let the moon fall on her. The acolytes bit Uianya as Zakara used a silver amulet to imbue her with the sacred lycanthropy as if she had been born to it. Uianya felt the change deep inside her as her very blood and marrow changed to accept her new form. When it was done, she was able to change her form to that of the powerful and beautiful tiger! [/QUOTE]
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