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
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is LIVE! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Wraith's Whispers - CoSQ (Update: 4/5/04)
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="Wraithdrit" data-source="post: 1215251" data-attributes="member: 10820"><p>With a mighty roar Kalan shrugged off the magic of the banishment spell. His mane flew about his head as he shook with anger. His roar echoing from the walls of the chamber he stilled and lowered his head to look at the dark priestess. His hands clenched into mighty fists, his knuckles cracking as his muscles tightened. “Time to die, vampire.”</p><p></p><p>From one corner of the room, hidden behind the doors leapt another vampire, it was the guard they had seen earlier. He leapt forward, his rapier lashing out at Kalan. The mighty celestial threw up one hand and slapped the blade aside, stalking toward the priestess.</p><p></p><p>Back behind the blade barrier, Plickit and Marcus both pulled potions from their packs. Plickit bent down and quickly administered his potion to Amador. The priest’s eyes fluttered open and he groaned through burnt lips. Marcus downed his own potion, leaning heavily on the wall of force that separated him from the other door. </p><p></p><p>As he finished the potion he glanced through the wall of force. The door on the other side had been smashed in. It was laying against the wall of force. Marcus frowned. The wall of force would only be there a few more seconds. Quickly he tossed the empty potion bottle over his shoulder and wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. The bottle smashed into a thousand glass shards that disintegrated in the blade barrier.</p><p></p><p>Marcus reached behind his back, beneath his cloak and spun out the two rods that were stored there. He set them both against the wall of force, one about chest high, the other about knee high. Clicking the buttons at the end they rods stayed in place as he pulled his hands back. That would slow down whoever was trying to get through the door.</p><p></p><p>The drider priestess that was left pulled back a moment and cast a deadly prayer. Black energy boiled from her fingertips as she lunged forward and touched Kalan as he went by. The celestial easily shrugged off the deadly spell and kept stalking toward his intended target.</p><p></p><p>Mytrym and Amador were tending to wounds, the paladin using his laying on of hands, and the priest using one of his last prepared prayers.</p><p></p><p>As Kalan strode forward, the guard continued to try and prevent him from reaching the high priestess. The celestial spoke a soft prayer, and his hand started to glow with a powerful healing spell. He leapt forward and grabbed the vampire guard by the throat. The powerful positive energy flowed into the vampire guard, causing him to convulse. His skin cracked as the energy flowed into him and when the spell was spent, the vampire was easily discarded to one side by the strong celestial. As the vampire landed hard on the ground it barely moved. But move it did, and it started to stand.</p><p></p><p>The high priestess strode up, the same dark prayer of slaying the others had cast rolling from her lips. Midway through her sentence several streaking orbs of fire ripped through the blade barrier. Will had been waiting for her to try and cast again and had held a spell ready to answer her. Growling at the pain, the angered high priestess shot a glare at the mage, her spell interrupted.</p><p></p><p>Back behind the battle, Delorian grabbed a handful of shadow and tried to pull it across himself to enter the plane of shadow. The shadows pulled easily at his command, but after they were pulled over him, he still stood in the material plane. He was still prevented from shadowstepping.</p><p></p><p>He could hear the sounds of the battle, but the blade barrier was preventing him from getting anywhere near even those cut off from the main battle. As he watched the door leaning on the wall of force was slammed into again. It fell back, revealing a figure in black armor. Behind it, a massive displacer beast stalked. Its tentacles were already probing the wall of force, trying to find a way through.</p><p></p><p>Delorian frowned, the light was still to great, but if he could not shadowstep past it, perhaps he could get rid of it. He had to get into the fight now. Concentrating he willed the shadows of the area to surround and overcome the light coming from the celestial. Slowly the shadows responded, and the light dimmed to a fraction of intensity than it was before. </p><p></p><p>Watching the barrier closely, the monk set himself then leapt through the whirling blades. The first blade caught him in mid flip, and spun him to one side. Pulled from his acrobatic move, several more blades sliced into him. He twisted in pain and finally spun free of the barrier. He landed hard against the wall behind the barrier, a small five-foot channel between the wall and the barrier giving him access to the door. The wall of force was still in place, but it could not last for long. Pulling himself from the wall and ground, the monk concentrated for a moment and let his body mend itself. He would be no use in fighting the dark elf warrior if he was half dead when he got there.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile the drider priestess and Mytrym locked into battle once again. The drider’s acid dripping dagger flashed out over and over, but Mytrym’s armor was just too hard, his shield was always in the way, and he was lashing out with his bastard sword, the reach of which was far greater than her small dagger. Still Mytrym could not find a good angle to hit the drider either. As he fought, arrows from Amador’s bow flashed through the barrier. One was cut up in mid flight, but the other ripped past the drider, barely missing. </p><p></p><p>Kalan strode toward the high priestess. She lifted a massive mace, and stepped up to meet the mighty celestial. Kalan stopped a step back and let loose with a might roar. The shockwave of sound hit the priestess, but she seemed to shrug it off. Stepping the last step up, she lashed out with her mace, slamming into the celestial multiple times. </p><p></p><p>Kalan fought back, but the priestess was well armored and fast. She had reach on him, her mace smashing into him again while he could not get a single claw to connect. The celestial had seen enough. He stepped even closer, letting the mace smash him as he grabbed the vampire priestess up in his massive arms in a bear hug. The vampire writhed, trying to get to a position to bite the celestial. </p><p></p><p>Mytrym finally connected against the other priestess. She looked like she could take the hits all day though, her large drider body fueling her strength. </p><p></p><p>Plickit looked between the priestess and paladin and knew that Mytrym needed help. His chatckas were laying on the other side of the blade barrier though. He looked down at his blades and squared himself. His long insectoid legs bent then sprung him forward. The blade barrier cut deep into him, but he was through it before he could take too much damage. </p><p></p><p>Landing amid his blades he bent down and started snatching them up. As he grabbed them up he flung them out at the drider priestess. Blade after blade bit into her. She tried to spin away, and dodge, but the thrikreen ranger was far too fast for her. Though a couple of chatckas flew wide, most sunk deep into her. Finally she slumped to the ground, her eyes staring blankly ahead, a single chatcka imbedded in her forehead.</p><p></p><p>Kalan began walking back toward the rest of the group, hauling the writhing vampiress in his arms. Mytrym stepped up and swung his bastard sword in a wide arc. As he swung, holy energy enveloped the blade. The paladin sliced deep into the vampiress, then backed away to give room for the celestial to continue to haul her back.</p><p></p><p>Plickit flipped up one hand, his magically reappearing chatcka readied. He threw it into the vampire’s flank, but it did not penetrate deep enough to cause any harm. It blinked out of existence and reappeared in his hand once again.</p><p></p><p>The two mighty creatures continued to wrestle for control but Kalan was just too massive. Mytrym kept stabbing at the vampire, till Kalan turned and backed into the blade barrier. The blades spun around the celestial, failing to hurt it at all. The vampire priestess was not so lucky. She shrieked in pain as the blades sliced into her over and over again. </p><p></p><p>Finally her screams ended and her form dissolved into gas. She started slowly drifting across the chamber, toward the back of the chamber. </p><p></p><p>Then the wall of force fell. Will immediately unleashed a ball of fire into the room. It exploded with an intensity that only a well-versed fire mage could master. The dark warrior did not seem amused. A crossbow bolt buried into his shoulder, as Marcus fired and backed down the small five foot corridor between the wall and the blade barrier.</p><p></p><p>Caught standing in the doorway, Amador lashed out with his sword, then backed off quickly. Delorian stepped into place in front of the door.</p><p></p><p>Though the rods kept the two from moving at each other. The dark warrior and the monk locked into combat quickly. The warrior carried a dire flail, its ends spinning and smashing anything they contacted. Delorian was protected by a powerful enchantment that turned his skin to a stone like hardness. </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Plickit and Kalan raced after the gaseous priestess. She moved slowly in gaseous form, and they quickly passed her. Plickit found a small hole in the back wall and quickly plugged it. Kalan spun and threw a wall of force up between them and the gas. They knew they had to prevent her from getting into her coffin, and it was probably through the small hole.</p><p></p><p>Plickit looked at Kalan and frowned. “Can we break-tck through the wall?” He unplugged the hole and looked in, it looked fairly deep. “Looks deep… hard digging-tck.”</p><p></p><p>Kalan shook his head, “I have a better idea.” He shuddered and his form started to melt away. Soon he was nothing more than a blob of goo. The goo snaked a long psuedopod out and into the whole. Soon the entire puddle of goo was pulse and pumping into the whole. After a few moments, the celestial was gone, through the hole, on its way to destroy the last hope of the vampire head priestess had of returning to life.</p><p></p><p>Back at the fight, the fireball had really taken a lot out of the blackguard, and he quickly fell to the many strikes of the shade monk. That only seemed to anger the blackguard’s massive fiendish displacer beast pet. The thing stomped forward and lashed out with its tentacles. Again and again its tentacles bounced off Delorian’s enchantment, chipping away chunks of stone as the two fought. </p><p></p><p>Arrows flew through the doorway, shot by Marcus, Mytrym, and Amador. Some hit, others missed. And still the twin dark creatures battled on. Delorian could feel the enchantment weakening. His limbs were starting to get heavy with the exertion of fighting. The huge beast just seemed to have no end of energy, its tentacles lashing out again and again. </p><p></p><p>Finally the beast slammed its tentacles into the monk, and the stoneskin enchantment fell away to nothingness. The monk stumbled back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Marcus and Amador sent another bolt and arrow into the creatures hide. It shuddered, and then slumped to the ground. Its tentacles twitched, then they too lowered to the ground and stopped moving. With a heavy sigh, the massive displacer beast let out its last breath.</p><p></p><p>The group all slumped down against walls, or propped on each other. The carnage around them was immense. Bloated drider bodies bled out across the stark white bones of skeletal warriors. Charred remains, blasted into twisted lumps of their former selves lay scattered about the massive inner chamber of the temple. Finally the blade barrier disappeared into nothingness and the group gathered together.</p><p></p><p>Kalan looked at those around him and nodded slowly. “My task here is complete.” He collected his payment and turned to regard Amador. “I found this with the rest of the baubles the vampire had collected. He held out a small golden crown. “There was a note with it. She was to have it delivered immediately. Her body reformed at the destroyed coffin, and I found this letter on her as well.” He handed the letter to Will. </p><p></p><p>Amador looked down at the golden crown. Its make was definitely elven. It was lightly stained with blood. Amador knew without a doubt that the blood was that of his friend. A friend he had buried a month earlier. A friend he had sworn to avenge. </p><p></p><p>He looked up to Kalan and said, “Thank you my friend, I will not forget your aid.”</p><p></p><p>The celestial nodded and replied, “You are most welcome, animal-friend. Call on me again when you have the need. Now, I need to get back to His service.”</p><p></p><p>Amador nodded and the celestial turned to quickly move off. When he was clear of the forbiddance spell that held the temple firmly linked to the material plane, the mighty celestial leapt into the air and disappeared in a flash, back to his home plane.</p><p></p><p>Will stepped up to Amador and said softly, “Its what you were looking for?” He motioned at the crown.</p><p></p><p>Amador nodded quietly, “Aye. And it needs returning to its proper owner.”</p><p></p><p>“Of course, where is that? We can help you get it there.”</p><p></p><p>Amador shook his head, “You can not go were I go. The crown must be taken to Evermeet.” He turned to all of them. “I am afraid this is were I must depart your company.”</p><p></p><p>Plickit cocked his head to one side, but said nothing. Delorian frowned ever so slightly but said nothing as well. Marcus turned away and found something else to occupy his hands with. He started looting the dead, knowing that as a newcomer to the group he had little to say to the priest.</p><p></p><p>Mytrym nodded and spoke first, “Our way ahead is dangerous, and I am sure it would be even more dangerous if that crown were to fall in there hands. Go with speed, my friend, and may your god watch over you.”</p><p></p><p>Will spoke again at last. He sighed a little then said, “Our way ahead will be most difficult without a priest, but I know that you must do what you must. At least travel with us back to Dagger Falls and get rested up before you leave.”</p><p></p><p>Amador nodded. </p><p></p><p>Mytrym spoke up then, “I’m not going back to Dagger Falls with you.” The entire group turned to look at the paladin. “I have far too much work to do here.” </p><p></p><p>Will nodded, “You will be staying here with Naria then when we proceed?”</p><p></p><p>Mytrym nodded, “I fear I must. I cannot ignore the plight of the many drow here. If Eilistraee’s will is to be done, it has to start somewhere, I see no reason why it should not start here.”</p><p></p><p>Marcus frowned, “But what of the city these drow came from?”</p><p></p><p>Mytrym shrugged, “You must learn to crawl before you walk. This is where the drow of the Underdark will learn to crawl. Perhaps then one day they will be able to walk on the surface.”</p><p></p><p>The group gathered their things and began for the surface without two of their companions. Amador strode along away from the others, quiet in his own thoughts.</p><p></p><p>Will and Marcus were talking, Delorian and Plickit flanked them, listening, but not adding much.</p><p></p><p>“When we are done resting up in Dagger Falls we can teleport to a larger city, like Saerloon. There we can hire some extra help, and buy supplies.” Will was eagerly anticipating getting some extra spells for his repertoire. </p><p></p><p>Marcus nodded, “Sounds good. Did you read the letter yet?”</p><p></p><p>Will frowned and then nodded, “Yes.” He pulled it out and handed it to Marcus.</p><p></p><p>Marcus read it out loud to others.</p><p></p><p>“Daughter:</p><p></p><p>“Our Dark Lady favors my efforts, and my research proceeds well. Within five tendays, perhaps six, all will be ready for the Day of Great Vengeance. The Spider Queen is dead; we have already brought low the Spider-kissers and seized our rightful place in the realms of the dark. Now the Day draws near when we shall avenge ourselves upon those of the day-blasted lands, too, and achieve that ultimate triumph denied us so long ago.</p><p></p><p>“While I prepare my Great Revenance, it falls to you to make ready the way. Harry the surface-dwellers, hunt them in their woods and fields, and take the measure of their strength. Do not concern yourself with putting them on guard; our Lady desires their blood, their fear, and their dreadful anticipation of our ultimate act of revenge. With each slaying we grow in her favor and sow the seeds of our coming victory.</p><p></p><p>“If they come against you in Szith Morcane in irresistible strength, slay as many as you can. Withdraw from the fight if you must, and bring Zedarr with you, but as for the rest- they are to stand and die for the glory of the White Banshee. The battle for Szith Morcane will come to nothing when our Great Revenance comes to pass. If anything, our final vengeance is made ever sweeter by each fleeting, false hope our enemies entertain before it falls upon them.</p><p></p><p>“Work great slaughter for our Lady’s dark glory, my daughter. Soon I will come to you from Maerimydra with such dark and terrible might that all of Faerun will tremble before us.</p><p></p><p>“Mother.” Marcus rolled the letter closed and swallowed hard. “Five or six tendays it is then.”</p><p></p><p>Will shook his head, “Less. The letter had to get from Maerimydra to Szith Morcane.”</p><p></p><p>Delorian frowned, “How long would that take?”</p><p></p><p>Will looked over, “Your guess is as good as mine.” He pulled out a map and unrolled it. “This is the map we found in the blackguard’s quarters. It shows the way to the city… but there is no official scale. Here it shows the distance between the two entrances of this massive lake.”</p><p></p><p>Delorian nodded, “That says 17 miles. Our entire trip then is what… 150 miles?”</p><p></p><p>Will nodded, “Assuming passable terrain. He looked at Plickit. How fast can we travel down there?”</p><p></p><p>Plickit thought for a moment. “Without the paladin in armor to slow us down… we could probably make 12 miles a day.”</p><p></p><p>Marcus did the math quickly. “That’s at least a ten day.”</p><p></p><p>Will nodded, “Plus about that time to prepare before we go. Leaves us somewhere between 2 or 3 tendays to stop the Day of Great Vengeance.” </p><p></p><p>Marcus chuckled nervously. “No pressure, eh?”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Wraithdrit, post: 1215251, member: 10820"] With a mighty roar Kalan shrugged off the magic of the banishment spell. His mane flew about his head as he shook with anger. His roar echoing from the walls of the chamber he stilled and lowered his head to look at the dark priestess. His hands clenched into mighty fists, his knuckles cracking as his muscles tightened. “Time to die, vampire.” From one corner of the room, hidden behind the doors leapt another vampire, it was the guard they had seen earlier. He leapt forward, his rapier lashing out at Kalan. The mighty celestial threw up one hand and slapped the blade aside, stalking toward the priestess. Back behind the blade barrier, Plickit and Marcus both pulled potions from their packs. Plickit bent down and quickly administered his potion to Amador. The priest’s eyes fluttered open and he groaned through burnt lips. Marcus downed his own potion, leaning heavily on the wall of force that separated him from the other door. As he finished the potion he glanced through the wall of force. The door on the other side had been smashed in. It was laying against the wall of force. Marcus frowned. The wall of force would only be there a few more seconds. Quickly he tossed the empty potion bottle over his shoulder and wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. The bottle smashed into a thousand glass shards that disintegrated in the blade barrier. Marcus reached behind his back, beneath his cloak and spun out the two rods that were stored there. He set them both against the wall of force, one about chest high, the other about knee high. Clicking the buttons at the end they rods stayed in place as he pulled his hands back. That would slow down whoever was trying to get through the door. The drider priestess that was left pulled back a moment and cast a deadly prayer. Black energy boiled from her fingertips as she lunged forward and touched Kalan as he went by. The celestial easily shrugged off the deadly spell and kept stalking toward his intended target. Mytrym and Amador were tending to wounds, the paladin using his laying on of hands, and the priest using one of his last prepared prayers. As Kalan strode forward, the guard continued to try and prevent him from reaching the high priestess. The celestial spoke a soft prayer, and his hand started to glow with a powerful healing spell. He leapt forward and grabbed the vampire guard by the throat. The powerful positive energy flowed into the vampire guard, causing him to convulse. His skin cracked as the energy flowed into him and when the spell was spent, the vampire was easily discarded to one side by the strong celestial. As the vampire landed hard on the ground it barely moved. But move it did, and it started to stand. The high priestess strode up, the same dark prayer of slaying the others had cast rolling from her lips. Midway through her sentence several streaking orbs of fire ripped through the blade barrier. Will had been waiting for her to try and cast again and had held a spell ready to answer her. Growling at the pain, the angered high priestess shot a glare at the mage, her spell interrupted. Back behind the battle, Delorian grabbed a handful of shadow and tried to pull it across himself to enter the plane of shadow. The shadows pulled easily at his command, but after they were pulled over him, he still stood in the material plane. He was still prevented from shadowstepping. He could hear the sounds of the battle, but the blade barrier was preventing him from getting anywhere near even those cut off from the main battle. As he watched the door leaning on the wall of force was slammed into again. It fell back, revealing a figure in black armor. Behind it, a massive displacer beast stalked. Its tentacles were already probing the wall of force, trying to find a way through. Delorian frowned, the light was still to great, but if he could not shadowstep past it, perhaps he could get rid of it. He had to get into the fight now. Concentrating he willed the shadows of the area to surround and overcome the light coming from the celestial. Slowly the shadows responded, and the light dimmed to a fraction of intensity than it was before. Watching the barrier closely, the monk set himself then leapt through the whirling blades. The first blade caught him in mid flip, and spun him to one side. Pulled from his acrobatic move, several more blades sliced into him. He twisted in pain and finally spun free of the barrier. He landed hard against the wall behind the barrier, a small five-foot channel between the wall and the barrier giving him access to the door. The wall of force was still in place, but it could not last for long. Pulling himself from the wall and ground, the monk concentrated for a moment and let his body mend itself. He would be no use in fighting the dark elf warrior if he was half dead when he got there. Meanwhile the drider priestess and Mytrym locked into battle once again. The drider’s acid dripping dagger flashed out over and over, but Mytrym’s armor was just too hard, his shield was always in the way, and he was lashing out with his bastard sword, the reach of which was far greater than her small dagger. Still Mytrym could not find a good angle to hit the drider either. As he fought, arrows from Amador’s bow flashed through the barrier. One was cut up in mid flight, but the other ripped past the drider, barely missing. Kalan strode toward the high priestess. She lifted a massive mace, and stepped up to meet the mighty celestial. Kalan stopped a step back and let loose with a might roar. The shockwave of sound hit the priestess, but she seemed to shrug it off. Stepping the last step up, she lashed out with her mace, slamming into the celestial multiple times. Kalan fought back, but the priestess was well armored and fast. She had reach on him, her mace smashing into him again while he could not get a single claw to connect. The celestial had seen enough. He stepped even closer, letting the mace smash him as he grabbed the vampire priestess up in his massive arms in a bear hug. The vampire writhed, trying to get to a position to bite the celestial. Mytrym finally connected against the other priestess. She looked like she could take the hits all day though, her large drider body fueling her strength. Plickit looked between the priestess and paladin and knew that Mytrym needed help. His chatckas were laying on the other side of the blade barrier though. He looked down at his blades and squared himself. His long insectoid legs bent then sprung him forward. The blade barrier cut deep into him, but he was through it before he could take too much damage. Landing amid his blades he bent down and started snatching them up. As he grabbed them up he flung them out at the drider priestess. Blade after blade bit into her. She tried to spin away, and dodge, but the thrikreen ranger was far too fast for her. Though a couple of chatckas flew wide, most sunk deep into her. Finally she slumped to the ground, her eyes staring blankly ahead, a single chatcka imbedded in her forehead. Kalan began walking back toward the rest of the group, hauling the writhing vampiress in his arms. Mytrym stepped up and swung his bastard sword in a wide arc. As he swung, holy energy enveloped the blade. The paladin sliced deep into the vampiress, then backed away to give room for the celestial to continue to haul her back. Plickit flipped up one hand, his magically reappearing chatcka readied. He threw it into the vampire’s flank, but it did not penetrate deep enough to cause any harm. It blinked out of existence and reappeared in his hand once again. The two mighty creatures continued to wrestle for control but Kalan was just too massive. Mytrym kept stabbing at the vampire, till Kalan turned and backed into the blade barrier. The blades spun around the celestial, failing to hurt it at all. The vampire priestess was not so lucky. She shrieked in pain as the blades sliced into her over and over again. Finally her screams ended and her form dissolved into gas. She started slowly drifting across the chamber, toward the back of the chamber. Then the wall of force fell. Will immediately unleashed a ball of fire into the room. It exploded with an intensity that only a well-versed fire mage could master. The dark warrior did not seem amused. A crossbow bolt buried into his shoulder, as Marcus fired and backed down the small five foot corridor between the wall and the blade barrier. Caught standing in the doorway, Amador lashed out with his sword, then backed off quickly. Delorian stepped into place in front of the door. Though the rods kept the two from moving at each other. The dark warrior and the monk locked into combat quickly. The warrior carried a dire flail, its ends spinning and smashing anything they contacted. Delorian was protected by a powerful enchantment that turned his skin to a stone like hardness. Meanwhile, Plickit and Kalan raced after the gaseous priestess. She moved slowly in gaseous form, and they quickly passed her. Plickit found a small hole in the back wall and quickly plugged it. Kalan spun and threw a wall of force up between them and the gas. They knew they had to prevent her from getting into her coffin, and it was probably through the small hole. Plickit looked at Kalan and frowned. “Can we break-tck through the wall?” He unplugged the hole and looked in, it looked fairly deep. “Looks deep… hard digging-tck.” Kalan shook his head, “I have a better idea.” He shuddered and his form started to melt away. Soon he was nothing more than a blob of goo. The goo snaked a long psuedopod out and into the whole. Soon the entire puddle of goo was pulse and pumping into the whole. After a few moments, the celestial was gone, through the hole, on its way to destroy the last hope of the vampire head priestess had of returning to life. Back at the fight, the fireball had really taken a lot out of the blackguard, and he quickly fell to the many strikes of the shade monk. That only seemed to anger the blackguard’s massive fiendish displacer beast pet. The thing stomped forward and lashed out with its tentacles. Again and again its tentacles bounced off Delorian’s enchantment, chipping away chunks of stone as the two fought. Arrows flew through the doorway, shot by Marcus, Mytrym, and Amador. Some hit, others missed. And still the twin dark creatures battled on. Delorian could feel the enchantment weakening. His limbs were starting to get heavy with the exertion of fighting. The huge beast just seemed to have no end of energy, its tentacles lashing out again and again. Finally the beast slammed its tentacles into the monk, and the stoneskin enchantment fell away to nothingness. The monk stumbled back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Marcus and Amador sent another bolt and arrow into the creatures hide. It shuddered, and then slumped to the ground. Its tentacles twitched, then they too lowered to the ground and stopped moving. With a heavy sigh, the massive displacer beast let out its last breath. The group all slumped down against walls, or propped on each other. The carnage around them was immense. Bloated drider bodies bled out across the stark white bones of skeletal warriors. Charred remains, blasted into twisted lumps of their former selves lay scattered about the massive inner chamber of the temple. Finally the blade barrier disappeared into nothingness and the group gathered together. Kalan looked at those around him and nodded slowly. “My task here is complete.” He collected his payment and turned to regard Amador. “I found this with the rest of the baubles the vampire had collected. He held out a small golden crown. “There was a note with it. She was to have it delivered immediately. Her body reformed at the destroyed coffin, and I found this letter on her as well.” He handed the letter to Will. Amador looked down at the golden crown. Its make was definitely elven. It was lightly stained with blood. Amador knew without a doubt that the blood was that of his friend. A friend he had buried a month earlier. A friend he had sworn to avenge. He looked up to Kalan and said, “Thank you my friend, I will not forget your aid.” The celestial nodded and replied, “You are most welcome, animal-friend. Call on me again when you have the need. Now, I need to get back to His service.” Amador nodded and the celestial turned to quickly move off. When he was clear of the forbiddance spell that held the temple firmly linked to the material plane, the mighty celestial leapt into the air and disappeared in a flash, back to his home plane. Will stepped up to Amador and said softly, “Its what you were looking for?” He motioned at the crown. Amador nodded quietly, “Aye. And it needs returning to its proper owner.” “Of course, where is that? We can help you get it there.” Amador shook his head, “You can not go were I go. The crown must be taken to Evermeet.” He turned to all of them. “I am afraid this is were I must depart your company.” Plickit cocked his head to one side, but said nothing. Delorian frowned ever so slightly but said nothing as well. Marcus turned away and found something else to occupy his hands with. He started looting the dead, knowing that as a newcomer to the group he had little to say to the priest. Mytrym nodded and spoke first, “Our way ahead is dangerous, and I am sure it would be even more dangerous if that crown were to fall in there hands. Go with speed, my friend, and may your god watch over you.” Will spoke again at last. He sighed a little then said, “Our way ahead will be most difficult without a priest, but I know that you must do what you must. At least travel with us back to Dagger Falls and get rested up before you leave.” Amador nodded. Mytrym spoke up then, “I’m not going back to Dagger Falls with you.” The entire group turned to look at the paladin. “I have far too much work to do here.” Will nodded, “You will be staying here with Naria then when we proceed?” Mytrym nodded, “I fear I must. I cannot ignore the plight of the many drow here. If Eilistraee’s will is to be done, it has to start somewhere, I see no reason why it should not start here.” Marcus frowned, “But what of the city these drow came from?” Mytrym shrugged, “You must learn to crawl before you walk. This is where the drow of the Underdark will learn to crawl. Perhaps then one day they will be able to walk on the surface.” The group gathered their things and began for the surface without two of their companions. Amador strode along away from the others, quiet in his own thoughts. Will and Marcus were talking, Delorian and Plickit flanked them, listening, but not adding much. “When we are done resting up in Dagger Falls we can teleport to a larger city, like Saerloon. There we can hire some extra help, and buy supplies.” Will was eagerly anticipating getting some extra spells for his repertoire. Marcus nodded, “Sounds good. Did you read the letter yet?” Will frowned and then nodded, “Yes.” He pulled it out and handed it to Marcus. Marcus read it out loud to others. “Daughter: “Our Dark Lady favors my efforts, and my research proceeds well. Within five tendays, perhaps six, all will be ready for the Day of Great Vengeance. The Spider Queen is dead; we have already brought low the Spider-kissers and seized our rightful place in the realms of the dark. Now the Day draws near when we shall avenge ourselves upon those of the day-blasted lands, too, and achieve that ultimate triumph denied us so long ago. “While I prepare my Great Revenance, it falls to you to make ready the way. Harry the surface-dwellers, hunt them in their woods and fields, and take the measure of their strength. Do not concern yourself with putting them on guard; our Lady desires their blood, their fear, and their dreadful anticipation of our ultimate act of revenge. With each slaying we grow in her favor and sow the seeds of our coming victory. “If they come against you in Szith Morcane in irresistible strength, slay as many as you can. Withdraw from the fight if you must, and bring Zedarr with you, but as for the rest- they are to stand and die for the glory of the White Banshee. The battle for Szith Morcane will come to nothing when our Great Revenance comes to pass. If anything, our final vengeance is made ever sweeter by each fleeting, false hope our enemies entertain before it falls upon them. “Work great slaughter for our Lady’s dark glory, my daughter. Soon I will come to you from Maerimydra with such dark and terrible might that all of Faerun will tremble before us. “Mother.” Marcus rolled the letter closed and swallowed hard. “Five or six tendays it is then.” Will shook his head, “Less. The letter had to get from Maerimydra to Szith Morcane.” Delorian frowned, “How long would that take?” Will looked over, “Your guess is as good as mine.” He pulled out a map and unrolled it. “This is the map we found in the blackguard’s quarters. It shows the way to the city… but there is no official scale. Here it shows the distance between the two entrances of this massive lake.” Delorian nodded, “That says 17 miles. Our entire trip then is what… 150 miles?” Will nodded, “Assuming passable terrain. He looked at Plickit. How fast can we travel down there?” Plickit thought for a moment. “Without the paladin in armor to slow us down… we could probably make 12 miles a day.” Marcus did the math quickly. “That’s at least a ten day.” Will nodded, “Plus about that time to prepare before we go. Leaves us somewhere between 2 or 3 tendays to stop the Day of Great Vengeance.” Marcus chuckled nervously. “No pressure, eh?” [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Wraith's Whispers - CoSQ (Update: 4/5/04)
Top