JollyDoc's Savage Tide-Updated 10/8!
WarEagleMage
First Post
Flaming Mass Murder! It was more like Flaming Mass Self-Defense! And if we'd just had a bit o' Grease (and some vertebrates for party members), things might have been much simpler...
WarEagleMage said:
Well, in the update that was just me (gfunk) taking the moral high ground. Anwar, on the other hand, whole-heartedly agrees with your analysis. In fact, he thinks the little bastards had it coming anyway. However, he has a policy of not killing "innocent" people when others are far more capable of doing the job for him.
JollyDoc
Explorer
Your wish is my command...
WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ FIGHTERS!
Thrisp stared in disgust. Dozens of five-foot wide iron cages were built into the walls of the large room in which he stood. Some were empty, while others contained the partially eaten remains of dead men and women. Most disturbing were those that contained thrashing, wailing figures. Each seemed more deformed than the last. Twisting legs, writhing arms, vestigial heads and jaws agape with too many teeth were all on display as the mad prisoners howled and slobbered and threw themselves against the walls of their cells in a frenzied attempt to break free. This was the source of the cacophony the Legion members had been hearing since they entered the sea caves.
“Pathetic,” the gnome muttered before returning to the others, who were still huddled over the contents of three sea chests they had stumbled upon in a trophy room beyond the kennel.
“I think it’s time we checked in with Anwar,” he announced after he’d told them of his gruesome discovery. “I don’t think Vanthus is here. We’re wasting our time.”
When they returned to the beach, they found the bard already there, dragging the skiff onto the shore.
“Well?” he asked as they approached. Thrisp filled him in on all they had encountered and his ultimate conclusion. He listened attentively, and nodded when the gnome had finished.
“I concur,” he said. “It’s obvious that Vanthus carried out his plan, but it’s just as obvious that something went wrong. That ship, the Sea Wyvern, is completely abandoned, though unharmed. It’s possible Vanthus and Brissa took another ship and left with their crew. Still, just to be safe, we’d best check out the remainder of the complex. Sepoto, I don’t think we’ll be needing you and Samson. I want you to go back to the Blue Nixie so that the crew doesn’t become doubtful of our return and abandon us here. We’ll be along in a few hours.”
The goliath looked dubious, but shrugged. “If you’re sure. I’ve had my fill of slavering, cannibalistic pirates for awhile anyway.”
He and the dragon shaman then took their leave, scaling the cliffs and setting off into the jungle once more.
_____________________________________________________________
Thrisp led the others back into the caves and back to the kennels. There were only two passages they had not yet explored, one leading due east, and the other south. Leaving his colleagues behind, he set off down the eastern passage, and soon found himself in a natural twisting, turning labyrinth. As he turned one sharp corner, he came face-to-face with another of the deformed pirates, standing as still as a statue in the corridor before him. Fortunately, so stealthy was the beguiler that the creature didn’t even register his presence, though he stood barely more than a yard away. Quietly, Thrisp retraced his steps, and hurried another direction, though always making his way east. Twice more he came upon pirates, standing just as still as their brethren, and each time he easily circumvented them. Finally, he found a single, wide passage leading from the maze, and as he began to follow it, he heard, faint but distinct, the unmistakable slobbering cries of rage and hunger from what sounded like a large number of savages, and a woman’s voice shouting profane threats and curses. Curious, Thrisp crept forward past a turn in the passage. The sounds still came from directly ahead, but beyond yet another turn. Immediately to his left was an archway into a small cave. The cave had been outfitted with the finest in stolen furniture. Thick rugs covered the floor, and fine silk tapestries and masterful seascape paintings hung from the walls, giving the room an almost regal feel. A four-poster bed took up much of a large nook, and nearby stood an oak desk with a matching armoire. Most of the furnishings were ruined, spattered with gore and deeply scarred by swordplay. A skeletal body dressed in the ruins of once-fine leather armor lay in a red heap at the foot of the bed.
Thrisp resisted the urge to investigate the opulent chamber when he heard the woman’s shouts again. Sighing, he quickly back-tracked through the labyrinth to his companions and made his report.
“A damsel in distress, you say?” Anwar asked. “Perhaps Vanthus abandoned his lady friend when he left. Do you think you can get us past the pirates in the maze so we can assess the situation?”
“I think so,” Thrisp answered, “provided you can at least try and be quiet.”
_________________________________________________________
Quickly, Thrisp, Basil and Marius wove spells of Invisibility about all but the gnome himself. The wily beguiler needed no such concealment, so adept was he at blending with the shadows. Stealthily, he led them back through the twisting tunnels, careful to avoid the passages where he had encountered the savages. They were within sight of the exit tunnel when he heard a sharp boot scuff and a muttered oath. Basil had tripped. Within moments the gurgling cry of one of the pirates echoed from a side tunnel, and shortly thereafter the thing shambled into view, looking this way and that for its prey. Thrisp quickly motioned to the others to stop. Barely breathing he watched as the pirate paused at the intersection, its misshapen head swinging from side to side. Abruptly, it turned right, east, and shuffled off in that direction, then came to a stop in the archway of the exit…blocking their path.
Before Thrisp could do or say anything, he heard Anwar’s voice from behind him intoning the words to a spell, and the rustle of parchment. The bard was using a scroll. Suddenly, another pirate appeared out of thin air between the group and the savage, this one normal. Thrisp recognized it immediately as a figment, conjured by Anwar’s spell. Fortunately, the savage did not. Howling, it turned and rushed towards the illusory pirate, hacking and slashing with its scimitar. Anwar caused the specter to dodge and flee back the direction from which they’d come. Predictably, the feral pirate followed. Just then, a second savage appeared in front of the illusion. It too growled hungrily and charged forward. Just as it and its companion were about to reach their quarry, the figment vanished, and they collided clumsily. Enraged, they tore and bit at one another while Anwar and his fellows slipped quietly away.
__________________________________________________________
At the end of the passage, they found themselves in a spacious cavern, the floor of which sloped downward to the southeast before ending in a large tidal pool. A hammock strung between two stalagmites swayed gently to the south next to an overturned table and a broken chair. Before this table stood a throng of a half-dozen or more of the savages, all howling and moaning as they strained to reach their victim. This was a bold beauty with raven-black hair that flowed like the deepest shade of midnight against her deeply tanned skin. She wore tight leather armor studded with fire opals and pearls, and she held a curved rapier in one hand and a dagger in the other. She had managed to place the table between herself and her attackers, creating a bottleneck where they could not flank her without blundering into the pool to her right.
“Ye picked the wrong lass to make of meal of today!” she taunted the misbegotten mob. “Hungry?” she laughed. “Have a taste o’me cold steel, ya stinking carcass!”
“I don’t think that’s Brissa,” Thrisp whispered to his unseen friends.
“Not likely,” he heard Anwar respond. “She looks like she can use those blades she’s holding well enough, but if we assist her, she might be…grateful.”
Thrisp could almost hear the leer in the bard’s voice.
“Marius, see what you can do,” Anwar suggested. Still invisible, the Seeker stepped into the room, and pushed back his sleeves. Shouting the words to his incantation, he momentarily brought the melee in the corner to a halt as nine pairs of eyes turned in his direction. A moment later, the air exploded with falling rocks, and the savages found themselves bombarded by the avalanche. Instantly, the warmage was visible again.
“Oi!” the woman swashbuckler called out. “Get in the fight or stay outta me way, bucko! These things are lookin’ to die, and I plan on obliging!”
“Get in the fight?” Marius muttered. “What does she think I’m doing?” His eyes grew wide as he saw the horde of savages dispersing. Three of them moved with horrifying speed straight towards him, while three more moved to the middle of the room, waiting to see whom their fellows would leave for them to feed upon. The first two of the charging trio reached Marius before he had a chance to step back into the tunnel. The mage threw up his hands in a vain attempt to ward off their blows, and their blades cut deep into his forearms, one all the way to the bone.
Thrisp noted Marius’ plight, but believed the others would be able to aid him. The woman was still on her own and still facing two of the twisted pirates. Quickly the gnome began his own spell, sending a surge of colored lights at the savage nearest to her. The brute screamed and clawed at its eyes as the vivid display temporarily blinded it. Simultaneously, all the color was leached from Thrisp, and he faded slowly from view. His pride in his accomplishment quickly vanished as it seemed that the lady was not in need of his help after all. She was poetry in motion, moving as smoothly as silk in the wind.
“Jebediah?” she called. “Is that you lad? You’ve looked better boy. Here, let me send you on your way!” Her blade seemed an extension of her arm as it darted forward in three quick jabs, each one piercing a vital spot on her blind opponent. With a final snapping of its jaws, the creature dissolved into a hissing pool at her feet.
“Inspiring,” Anwar murmured as he watched the woman move. “I have just the song.” Pulling his lute from his back, the bard began to sing. It was a truly motivational tune, one about a lady referred to only as a ‘Man-eater.’ Even his allies were struck by the combination of his words and the swordswoman’s fighting prowess. It was epic.
Thrisp was correct about Marius. He was not alone. As savages hemmed him in on all sides, a swarm of snow and ice balls began pelting them from above. Basil winked into view beyond the encircling pirates and gave the warmage the thumbs-up. Marius nodded, then bowed his head. Suddenly, an explosion of flames fanned out from him, leaving him unscathed but incinerating two of the three pirates.
From his position within the concealing shadows of the near wall, Thrisp hurled his own magic at the three savages still waiting in the room’s center. A net of living shadows dropped over them, limiting their vision and preventing them from charging in to reinforce their fallen brethren. Two of them began stumbling blindly towards the two wizards, while the third began moving back towards the swordswoman.
For her part, the daring lady was making her battle look easy in comparison. Another of the pirates fell under her whirling blades, as did the last of her opponents as it blundered into her, still wrapped in its shadowy cocoon. Leaping over the table, she started towards her would-be rescuers, but she saw that her assistance would not be needed. Another barrage of fire and ice from Marius and Basil destroyed the last three savages, but not before one of them managed to sink its fangs into the warmage’s calf.
As the last of the caustic pools dissipated, the woman sheathed her blade and regarded the company with a cold, appraising eye as she caught her breath. After a moment, she called across the room to them: “What manner of driftwood do we have here? Speak up! Your names, lubbers! If only so’s I can cut’em inta’ yer chests and save the undertaker some askin’round.” Of course it was Anwar who stepped to the front of his companions, doffing his beret and sketching a deep bow.
“My compliments, my lady on your swordplay,” he said, rising. “Are you part of the crew of the Sea Wyvern?”
“Crew?” she laughed. “Hah! I’m captain of the Slippery Eel. Harliss Javell’s me name, and the Sea Wyvern’s another ship of the Kraken Society.”
Anwar arched one eyebrow at the mention of the notorious pirate fleet. He had not known they operated so far south from the Sword Coast. Perhaps the depredations of the damnable Veritas had driven them to warmer waters.
“I see,” he answered. “And would you know of the current whereabouts of a man named Vanthus Vanderboren?”
Harliss’ eyes grew wide with rage, and she launched into a poetic litany of profanity that lasted several seconds and was as magnificent as it was scandalous to hear. When she paused for breath, Anwar quickly interrupted.
“My apologies if I offended you, but we are no friends of his. In fact, we dismantled a smuggling ring he had infiltrated in Tashluta, and we have now been sent here to find him and bring him to justice.”
Harliss remained silent for a moment longer, her impressive bosom heaving with her agitation. Then, sighing, she righted the table she had previously used as a barricade, and seated herself upon it.
“All this ye see here,” she began as she waved her hand at the ruined chamber, “and what nightmares ye must have fought through t’get t’me, t’was all Vanthus Vanderboren’s doing! That vomitous pig came t’me with his hussy’n asked t’see our wares. Made like he were a black marketer lookin’ fer some fur or scale t’move. Told him we had a ship coming in what were full of exotica for him ta’shop, so he stayed on a few nights. Seemed a fine enough chap, but then he dumped a hold full o’whale oil into the cove and lit it up. I was on th’Slippery Eel at the time, and that’s when I caught the two o’them on board, fixin’ t’rob me! Can ye imagine that? A pair o’base curs tryin’ t’rob Captain Harliss Javell? Anyway, I stuck the fool in the arm with me blade, he yelped, and then as he ducked aside he dropped what he were tryin’ t’rob. Were a black pearl. One th’size o’a man’s fist, mind you! Was going to make some fair coin off that bauble, but as it fell, the thing cracked like an egg. Some o’Vanthus’ blood from me blade spattered the pearl, and it boiled and flashed with light. This foul, choking green gas started spewin’ from it, burning through the wood like it were acid. I grabbed th’thing, ran up topside, then threw it inta’ the water, but as it struck, the thing exploded! After that…things got a bit weird, mind ye. A green mist filled my vision, and I felt strange. Like someone else were in my head. Someone…someone hungry! And the rage! Rage like I never felt ‘afore! And then, just like that, it were gone. Vanthus were on deck too by then, but he and I were the only humans left. That pearl, it did something to me crew. Ta’Vanthus’ little girly too! Turned’em bad, like something ye might find in a net and throw back on account the sun got no purpose lookin’ upon it. Whatever were in that damnable pearl turned over three score men into…man-eating freaks! Vanthus, he seen what his friend and the rest turned into. He dove into th’water t’get away. I did the same, only I swam for shore. Found me first mate, Drevoraz there. He’d resisted the change too, as had some others here and there, yet they were nothin’ but the banquet for those things. We fought our way into th’caves and managed to hole up here with Captain Kigante, the man who keeps these caves for us. Only, Kigante’s freak food now. He got jumped by a mob o’them not twenty minutes ago. Tore him apart like they was sharks! And one more thing. I think they got the sick in their maws. The places they done bit me still burn, and its hard to think straight. But hey! You fought yer way in here! That means there ain’t much left o’them out there, yeah?”
At that moment, as if to punctuate her assertion about the bite of the savages, Marius suddenly cried out and grabbed his leg, tearing the cloth of his trousers away from his skin. There, the flesh beneath had broken out into a terrible, black rash with short, bony protrusions extruding from it. The mage then rubbed at his temples, swaying unsteadily for a moment.
“Ye see?” Harliss said. “Demons they are!”
“If they carry disease,” Thrisp asked, looking with disgust at Marius’ wound, “are there any other survivors still here that might be able to treat it? We saw a barricaded room on our way in here, just past the room of hanging silks.”
“Ah, that’d be Leemo,” Harliss nodded. “He’s our poisoner, and a damned good one too. Smart. He might just know a cure, at that, and if ye saw his lab barricaded, might be a chance he’s still alive.”
“What about the prisoners we saw caged beyond the kennel?” Anwar asked.
“Slaves,” Harliss said.
“I see,” Anwar smiled. “I was once involved in the slave trade myself when I lived in Waterdeep.”
“Then ye’ll understand how much money I lost when they went rabid,” Harliss spat. “Just one more thing I owe the Vanderborens for! I’ll learn that cur what it is t’foul me business! I know who he is! Th’Vanderboren name’s no secret t’me. I know he’s got family’n holdin’s in Tashluta! I sent me right hand Drevoraz t’deal with yer friend, I did. Drevoraz is on his merry way to Tashluta as we speak. He’ll do fer Vanthus’ sister, his mum and pop, and any other family or friends th’bastard has in that dunghill city! Cross the Kraken Society and we take everything in yer life from ye. Best not forget that, boyos!”
Anwar’s face went momentarily pale as she spoke, but he kept his voice calm.
“My lady, let me assure you that Vanthus’ family is in no way involved with this. In fact, we are in the employ of his sister, Lavinia. It was she that sent us to exact retribution upon her brother for the murder of their parents, and the looting of the family vault. If you harm her, you will only be helping Vanthus attain his ultimate goal of claiming the Vanderboren name and estate solely for himself.”
Harliss listened to the bard intently, but shook her head when he finished.
“Fer some reason, I believe ye, pretty boy, an’ I’m truly sorry fer any trouble me mate might be bringin’ t’the Vanderborens. I’d advise ye to head back t’Tashluta straight away, but I doubt ye’ll get there in time. Still, I’ll write a note fer ye t’give t’Drevoraz if ye find’im. Even then, he won’t believe ye, so ye’ll give’im this.” She took a demon-shaped earring from her left ear and handed it to Anwar. “This is a signal ‘tween him and me that the bearer can be trusted.”
“Thank you,” Anwar bowed. “Now perhaps we should search out this Leemo you mentioned, but first, there is a small matter of the labyrinth…”
________________________________________________________
Harliss took the lead on their trek back through the maze, calling out loudly to attract the attention of the savages. When they arrived, she moved cat-like to meet them, darting in among them before they had time to react. In a matter of seconds, she had dispatched all three, and smiled smugly back at the Legionnaires, gifting Anwar with a sly wink.
In short order, they found themselves standing before the barricade, a stout barrier of shelves and small tables.
“Leemo!” Harliss called out. “Ye in there, lad?” Silence. With a shrug, the pirate captain began hammering at the wall with the hilt of her sword, until it lay in a heap at her feet. A fairly even layer of sand covered the floor of the musty-smelling cavern beyond. Large pottery urns lined the walls of the cave, and within each grew a riot of strange mushrooms, fluted toadstools, phosphorescent molds, greasy-looking fronds of pale lichens, and all manner of strange fungi. Several large, glass terrariums, their walls beaded with condensation, stood along one wall. One of them was shattered, the loamy soil within spilled out onto the floor near a long, low table heaped with flasks, jars, bottles and tools. Protruding from under the table was a pair of small boots.
“Damn shame,” Harliss said, shaking her head. “Fool went an’had himself an accident after all.”
Cautiously, Marius moved forward, a spell on his lips as he went.
“There’s magic under there,” he said as he reached for the boots. At that moment, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and when he looked up, he saw a large, violet toadstool lurch towards him, ropy tendrils protruding from its cap and reaching for him. Harliss was beside him faster than he could have ever imagined, shoving him behind her, and stabbing her blade into the mushroom. A burst of flaming missiles streaked past her from Basil’s hand, frying the fungus in an instant.
“That explains that then,” Harliss said, eyeing the mess in distaste. Marius pulled Leemo’s remains from beneath the earth pile and plucked a pair of scrolls from the dead gnome’s belt. Unfurling them, he nodded in satisfaction.
“These will temporarily undo the effects of the disease until we can get proper healing in Tashluta.”
After the scrolls had been read, Harliss moved towards the door of the laboratory.
“Sorry lads, but I won’t be goin’ with ye t’Tashluta. Me face is known there, and I’d just as soon not see the inside of a prison cell. Ye’re on yer own from here, though ye have me thanks.” She swatted Anwar on the backside as she passed. “Maybe we’ll meet again some day.” With another wink, she was gone.
The company left the sea caves shortly after the pirate captain, and began the long hike back to the Blue Nixie. Sepoto and Samson were already there, and listened raptly to their tale, cursing their luck on having missed out on such an exciting battle. At Anwar’s command, the crew weighed anchor and set sail for Tashluta, traveling straight thru the night.
________________________________________________________
The next morning, as they pulled into a slip in Merchant’s District, it was apparent that Wormfall was in full swing. Even so early in the day, the streets were teeming with celebrating crowds. There were acrobat troupes, marching bands, and garish costumes in homage to the heroes of Starmantle and Tashluta, along with corresponding effigies of their undead and wormy enemies. Also present were floats constructed in the image of enormous green worms and shrouded skulls, along with kites of green worms borne on sticks and strings, which danced in the air above the rooftops. Green lanterns burned above the streets, casting a sickly pale glow upon the cobblestones below, each with a removable shade and a layer of bright gold paper beneath to bathe the city in the warm sunlight of victory at the exact moment the worms fell, and the Ebon Triad stuck down their foul god.
“It’s going to take forever to get through this mess,” Sepoto grumbled.
“Which is why we’re going to split up,” Anwar replied, looking up at the goliath. “You and Sepoto will take the back alleys and lanes. Get to the mansion as fast as you can. If there’s trouble, you two are best equipped to deal with it. The rest of us will move through the main streets and meet you there as soon as we’re able. We may be able to find some information on whether or not there have been any disturbances.”
“Remember what happened the last time you sent us away,” Sepoto chided.
“Look around you,” Anwar said, indicating the crowds. “It’s a festival. What could happen?”
Sepoto and Samson soon disappeared into the throng, while Anwar, Basil, Thrisp and Marius began negotiating Puppetmaster Lane. They hadn’t gone very far when Basil felt himself roughly bumped. Fearing a pickpocket, he clasped his belt pouch and whirled around. At first he saw no one nearby, but then a tug on his trouser leg caused him to look down. There stood a rather surly looking, and more-than-a-little inebriated, gnome, rolling up his sleeves.
“Watch where yer goin’, ya bunch of rude, oversized louts!” the gnome shouted. “You think just because yer big that ya can just run over people?”
“Now, now Jilanth,” said a hulking half-orc, stepping between the gnome and the young wizard, “these folks were just minding their own business. I’m sure they didn’t mean any harm.”
“Your friend’s right,” Thrisp said, stepping forward and prominently displaying the Spire of Tashluta, “this is all just a misunderstanding. Please, enjoy this glorious festival.”
Jilanth’s aggression ebbed a bit at the sight of another gnome.
“I guess so,” he said, and then he slapped Thrisp on the shoulder. “You’re right! It’s a celebration! Just mind where yer walkin’, ya big galoot!” he said to Basil, and then the pair vanished into the crowd.
After several more minutes of pushing and shoving, the company arrived at the intersection of Stirge Street. They were just crossing the thoroughfare when Anwar and Thrisp both heard shouts of alarm coming from up the hill to their right. Looking in that direction they saw a particularly large float-wagon barreling out of control down the street, headed straight towards an open-air café. The float bore a huge humanoid form shrouded in wriggling paper-mache worms and bearing two burning lanterns for eyes. Worse yet, the four adventurers were directly in its path. Thinking quickly, Marius raised his hands, the words to a minor incantation on his tongue. Suddenly, a loud crack sounded as one of the wagon’s front wheels shattered into a dozen pieces, sending the float rolling onto its side where it slid harmlessly into a fruit stand. All around, the crowd began to applaud and cheer, several of them pointing out the badges the Legionnaires wore, and whispering praises for ‘the city’s heroes.’ Red-faced (and not with embarrassment) Anwar waved politely to the people, and then hurried up the road through the path they’d cleared.
Finally they turned onto Vine Street, the long, curving lane that would lead them directly to Vanderboren Manor. Halfway up the street, however, they were stalled again, this time by a band of costumed street performers mounted on stilts. They were led by a talented female acrobat dressed in a form-fitting and sensual-if-macabre black bodysuit decorated with a white skeleton. The gathered onlookers applauded enthusiastically as she performed an impressive array of flips and leaps, while the stiltwalkers juggled daggers and flasks of oil with burning rags stuffed into them. Anwar groaned in exasperation at this newest delay, but as he watched the troupe approach, something about them seemed not right.
“Anwar,” Basil said, tugging at his sleeve, “is it just me, or are they coming right towards us?”
That was it, Anwar realized. The seemingly random movements of the performers were too random, used to cover their steady approach towards the four companions.
“Scatter!” the bard shouted, and then cast a brief spell, rendering himself invisible. Basil followed suit just as the woman in black darted right at Marius. As she closed to within a few feet, she hissed from behind her mask, “Lady Kellani sends her regards!”
Suddenly, chaos erupted as the stiltwalkers began hurling their flaming flasks into the crowd. Panic ensued, as burning civilians ran terrified into the mass of humanity, sending them fleeing in turn. The Legionnaires found themselves trapped in the middle of the mob, but the stiltwalkers easily waded through, still spinning their now-deadly looking knives.
As the acrobat continued to close the distance between herself and Marius, Thrisp began spellcasting, bombarding the woman with the same colorful burst he’d used on the savage in Kraken’s Cove, blinding her while at the same time instilling invisibility upon himself. At that moment, however, Marius’ robes erupted in fire as another flask from a nearby stiltwalker struck the ground at his feet. Moving quickly to his friend, Basil cast a second invisibility spell, and the burning warmage winked out of sight…only to reappear a moment later, as the spell he had already begun exploded. A burst of fire spread out from where the Seeker stood, enveloping not only all of the stiltwalkers, but also the unseen Basil as well. Worse still, the flames engulfed a score of fleeing revelers, burning them to ash where they stood. One of the stiltwalkers also succumbed to the flames, but the others deftly avoided the explosion with cat-like reflexes. No one ever knew whether Marius meant to cast such a destructive spell in a crowd of innocents, or whether he simply acted on instinct. The result was the same…mass murder. Fortunately for the Seeker, he had been invisible at the time, and the people were already panicked by the fiery cocktails they had witnessed the street performers throw. In the official record of the Watch, the deaths were directly attributed to the would-be assassins.
Basil’s burns were horrendous, and the young mage found himself barely able to stand. In blinding agony, he fumbled at his belt for a healing elixir, his plight unwitnessed by any of his companions. Meanwhile, Thrisp reappeared as he hurled a Net of Shadows at three nearby stiltwalkers who were hurling daggers willy-nilly at Marius, heedless of the bystanders. Just then, the acrobat regained her sight, and lunged at Marius, her hands closing around his throat like a vice. Still, the mage managed to croak out the words to another spell, sending a second wave of fire over the woman, but fortunately injuring no more citizens in the now-empty space about him. The acrobat rolled and flailed as she struggled to extinguish herself, and then she leapt to her feet and darted into the mob, disappearing from sight.
Thrisp and Marius were the only two opponents visible to the five remaining stiltwalkers, and so it was they who were targeted by their deadly thrown knives. One struck Thrisp in his shoulder before he unleashed a spray of rainbow colors upon two of the assassins, stunning them into unconsciousness. They fell heavily to the ground from their stilts and lay there, unmoving. Marius was struck by a pair of daggers, but he retaliated with a ray of scorching heat, immolating the man who had attacked him. Turning, he hurled an orb of fire at one of the two remaining stiltmen, roasting him as well. Thrisp felled the last opponent with a second Color Spray, rendering him inert alongside his two companions. Gradually, the crowd ceased their panicked flight and began to mill around in curiosity, now that the danger had passed. With calm, sure steps Thrisp walked across the street to stand over the three unconscious assassins. Slowly and methodically, he loaded his crossbow. Once more flashing his Spire, he shouted to the gathered onlookers, “This is what happens to those who murder citizens of Tashluta!” Moving from one to the next, he fired a bolt at point-blank range into each of their heads. The crowd roared in approval.
WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ FIGHTERS!
Thrisp stared in disgust. Dozens of five-foot wide iron cages were built into the walls of the large room in which he stood. Some were empty, while others contained the partially eaten remains of dead men and women. Most disturbing were those that contained thrashing, wailing figures. Each seemed more deformed than the last. Twisting legs, writhing arms, vestigial heads and jaws agape with too many teeth were all on display as the mad prisoners howled and slobbered and threw themselves against the walls of their cells in a frenzied attempt to break free. This was the source of the cacophony the Legion members had been hearing since they entered the sea caves.
“Pathetic,” the gnome muttered before returning to the others, who were still huddled over the contents of three sea chests they had stumbled upon in a trophy room beyond the kennel.
“I think it’s time we checked in with Anwar,” he announced after he’d told them of his gruesome discovery. “I don’t think Vanthus is here. We’re wasting our time.”
When they returned to the beach, they found the bard already there, dragging the skiff onto the shore.
“Well?” he asked as they approached. Thrisp filled him in on all they had encountered and his ultimate conclusion. He listened attentively, and nodded when the gnome had finished.
“I concur,” he said. “It’s obvious that Vanthus carried out his plan, but it’s just as obvious that something went wrong. That ship, the Sea Wyvern, is completely abandoned, though unharmed. It’s possible Vanthus and Brissa took another ship and left with their crew. Still, just to be safe, we’d best check out the remainder of the complex. Sepoto, I don’t think we’ll be needing you and Samson. I want you to go back to the Blue Nixie so that the crew doesn’t become doubtful of our return and abandon us here. We’ll be along in a few hours.”
The goliath looked dubious, but shrugged. “If you’re sure. I’ve had my fill of slavering, cannibalistic pirates for awhile anyway.”
He and the dragon shaman then took their leave, scaling the cliffs and setting off into the jungle once more.
_____________________________________________________________
Thrisp led the others back into the caves and back to the kennels. There were only two passages they had not yet explored, one leading due east, and the other south. Leaving his colleagues behind, he set off down the eastern passage, and soon found himself in a natural twisting, turning labyrinth. As he turned one sharp corner, he came face-to-face with another of the deformed pirates, standing as still as a statue in the corridor before him. Fortunately, so stealthy was the beguiler that the creature didn’t even register his presence, though he stood barely more than a yard away. Quietly, Thrisp retraced his steps, and hurried another direction, though always making his way east. Twice more he came upon pirates, standing just as still as their brethren, and each time he easily circumvented them. Finally, he found a single, wide passage leading from the maze, and as he began to follow it, he heard, faint but distinct, the unmistakable slobbering cries of rage and hunger from what sounded like a large number of savages, and a woman’s voice shouting profane threats and curses. Curious, Thrisp crept forward past a turn in the passage. The sounds still came from directly ahead, but beyond yet another turn. Immediately to his left was an archway into a small cave. The cave had been outfitted with the finest in stolen furniture. Thick rugs covered the floor, and fine silk tapestries and masterful seascape paintings hung from the walls, giving the room an almost regal feel. A four-poster bed took up much of a large nook, and nearby stood an oak desk with a matching armoire. Most of the furnishings were ruined, spattered with gore and deeply scarred by swordplay. A skeletal body dressed in the ruins of once-fine leather armor lay in a red heap at the foot of the bed.
Thrisp resisted the urge to investigate the opulent chamber when he heard the woman’s shouts again. Sighing, he quickly back-tracked through the labyrinth to his companions and made his report.
“A damsel in distress, you say?” Anwar asked. “Perhaps Vanthus abandoned his lady friend when he left. Do you think you can get us past the pirates in the maze so we can assess the situation?”
“I think so,” Thrisp answered, “provided you can at least try and be quiet.”
_________________________________________________________
Quickly, Thrisp, Basil and Marius wove spells of Invisibility about all but the gnome himself. The wily beguiler needed no such concealment, so adept was he at blending with the shadows. Stealthily, he led them back through the twisting tunnels, careful to avoid the passages where he had encountered the savages. They were within sight of the exit tunnel when he heard a sharp boot scuff and a muttered oath. Basil had tripped. Within moments the gurgling cry of one of the pirates echoed from a side tunnel, and shortly thereafter the thing shambled into view, looking this way and that for its prey. Thrisp quickly motioned to the others to stop. Barely breathing he watched as the pirate paused at the intersection, its misshapen head swinging from side to side. Abruptly, it turned right, east, and shuffled off in that direction, then came to a stop in the archway of the exit…blocking their path.
Before Thrisp could do or say anything, he heard Anwar’s voice from behind him intoning the words to a spell, and the rustle of parchment. The bard was using a scroll. Suddenly, another pirate appeared out of thin air between the group and the savage, this one normal. Thrisp recognized it immediately as a figment, conjured by Anwar’s spell. Fortunately, the savage did not. Howling, it turned and rushed towards the illusory pirate, hacking and slashing with its scimitar. Anwar caused the specter to dodge and flee back the direction from which they’d come. Predictably, the feral pirate followed. Just then, a second savage appeared in front of the illusion. It too growled hungrily and charged forward. Just as it and its companion were about to reach their quarry, the figment vanished, and they collided clumsily. Enraged, they tore and bit at one another while Anwar and his fellows slipped quietly away.
__________________________________________________________
At the end of the passage, they found themselves in a spacious cavern, the floor of which sloped downward to the southeast before ending in a large tidal pool. A hammock strung between two stalagmites swayed gently to the south next to an overturned table and a broken chair. Before this table stood a throng of a half-dozen or more of the savages, all howling and moaning as they strained to reach their victim. This was a bold beauty with raven-black hair that flowed like the deepest shade of midnight against her deeply tanned skin. She wore tight leather armor studded with fire opals and pearls, and she held a curved rapier in one hand and a dagger in the other. She had managed to place the table between herself and her attackers, creating a bottleneck where they could not flank her without blundering into the pool to her right.
“Ye picked the wrong lass to make of meal of today!” she taunted the misbegotten mob. “Hungry?” she laughed. “Have a taste o’me cold steel, ya stinking carcass!”
“I don’t think that’s Brissa,” Thrisp whispered to his unseen friends.
“Not likely,” he heard Anwar respond. “She looks like she can use those blades she’s holding well enough, but if we assist her, she might be…grateful.”
Thrisp could almost hear the leer in the bard’s voice.
“Marius, see what you can do,” Anwar suggested. Still invisible, the Seeker stepped into the room, and pushed back his sleeves. Shouting the words to his incantation, he momentarily brought the melee in the corner to a halt as nine pairs of eyes turned in his direction. A moment later, the air exploded with falling rocks, and the savages found themselves bombarded by the avalanche. Instantly, the warmage was visible again.
“Oi!” the woman swashbuckler called out. “Get in the fight or stay outta me way, bucko! These things are lookin’ to die, and I plan on obliging!”
“Get in the fight?” Marius muttered. “What does she think I’m doing?” His eyes grew wide as he saw the horde of savages dispersing. Three of them moved with horrifying speed straight towards him, while three more moved to the middle of the room, waiting to see whom their fellows would leave for them to feed upon. The first two of the charging trio reached Marius before he had a chance to step back into the tunnel. The mage threw up his hands in a vain attempt to ward off their blows, and their blades cut deep into his forearms, one all the way to the bone.
Thrisp noted Marius’ plight, but believed the others would be able to aid him. The woman was still on her own and still facing two of the twisted pirates. Quickly the gnome began his own spell, sending a surge of colored lights at the savage nearest to her. The brute screamed and clawed at its eyes as the vivid display temporarily blinded it. Simultaneously, all the color was leached from Thrisp, and he faded slowly from view. His pride in his accomplishment quickly vanished as it seemed that the lady was not in need of his help after all. She was poetry in motion, moving as smoothly as silk in the wind.
“Jebediah?” she called. “Is that you lad? You’ve looked better boy. Here, let me send you on your way!” Her blade seemed an extension of her arm as it darted forward in three quick jabs, each one piercing a vital spot on her blind opponent. With a final snapping of its jaws, the creature dissolved into a hissing pool at her feet.
“Inspiring,” Anwar murmured as he watched the woman move. “I have just the song.” Pulling his lute from his back, the bard began to sing. It was a truly motivational tune, one about a lady referred to only as a ‘Man-eater.’ Even his allies were struck by the combination of his words and the swordswoman’s fighting prowess. It was epic.
Thrisp was correct about Marius. He was not alone. As savages hemmed him in on all sides, a swarm of snow and ice balls began pelting them from above. Basil winked into view beyond the encircling pirates and gave the warmage the thumbs-up. Marius nodded, then bowed his head. Suddenly, an explosion of flames fanned out from him, leaving him unscathed but incinerating two of the three pirates.
From his position within the concealing shadows of the near wall, Thrisp hurled his own magic at the three savages still waiting in the room’s center. A net of living shadows dropped over them, limiting their vision and preventing them from charging in to reinforce their fallen brethren. Two of them began stumbling blindly towards the two wizards, while the third began moving back towards the swordswoman.
For her part, the daring lady was making her battle look easy in comparison. Another of the pirates fell under her whirling blades, as did the last of her opponents as it blundered into her, still wrapped in its shadowy cocoon. Leaping over the table, she started towards her would-be rescuers, but she saw that her assistance would not be needed. Another barrage of fire and ice from Marius and Basil destroyed the last three savages, but not before one of them managed to sink its fangs into the warmage’s calf.
As the last of the caustic pools dissipated, the woman sheathed her blade and regarded the company with a cold, appraising eye as she caught her breath. After a moment, she called across the room to them: “What manner of driftwood do we have here? Speak up! Your names, lubbers! If only so’s I can cut’em inta’ yer chests and save the undertaker some askin’round.” Of course it was Anwar who stepped to the front of his companions, doffing his beret and sketching a deep bow.
“My compliments, my lady on your swordplay,” he said, rising. “Are you part of the crew of the Sea Wyvern?”
“Crew?” she laughed. “Hah! I’m captain of the Slippery Eel. Harliss Javell’s me name, and the Sea Wyvern’s another ship of the Kraken Society.”
Anwar arched one eyebrow at the mention of the notorious pirate fleet. He had not known they operated so far south from the Sword Coast. Perhaps the depredations of the damnable Veritas had driven them to warmer waters.
“I see,” he answered. “And would you know of the current whereabouts of a man named Vanthus Vanderboren?”
Harliss’ eyes grew wide with rage, and she launched into a poetic litany of profanity that lasted several seconds and was as magnificent as it was scandalous to hear. When she paused for breath, Anwar quickly interrupted.
“My apologies if I offended you, but we are no friends of his. In fact, we dismantled a smuggling ring he had infiltrated in Tashluta, and we have now been sent here to find him and bring him to justice.”
Harliss remained silent for a moment longer, her impressive bosom heaving with her agitation. Then, sighing, she righted the table she had previously used as a barricade, and seated herself upon it.
“All this ye see here,” she began as she waved her hand at the ruined chamber, “and what nightmares ye must have fought through t’get t’me, t’was all Vanthus Vanderboren’s doing! That vomitous pig came t’me with his hussy’n asked t’see our wares. Made like he were a black marketer lookin’ fer some fur or scale t’move. Told him we had a ship coming in what were full of exotica for him ta’shop, so he stayed on a few nights. Seemed a fine enough chap, but then he dumped a hold full o’whale oil into the cove and lit it up. I was on th’Slippery Eel at the time, and that’s when I caught the two o’them on board, fixin’ t’rob me! Can ye imagine that? A pair o’base curs tryin’ t’rob Captain Harliss Javell? Anyway, I stuck the fool in the arm with me blade, he yelped, and then as he ducked aside he dropped what he were tryin’ t’rob. Were a black pearl. One th’size o’a man’s fist, mind you! Was going to make some fair coin off that bauble, but as it fell, the thing cracked like an egg. Some o’Vanthus’ blood from me blade spattered the pearl, and it boiled and flashed with light. This foul, choking green gas started spewin’ from it, burning through the wood like it were acid. I grabbed th’thing, ran up topside, then threw it inta’ the water, but as it struck, the thing exploded! After that…things got a bit weird, mind ye. A green mist filled my vision, and I felt strange. Like someone else were in my head. Someone…someone hungry! And the rage! Rage like I never felt ‘afore! And then, just like that, it were gone. Vanthus were on deck too by then, but he and I were the only humans left. That pearl, it did something to me crew. Ta’Vanthus’ little girly too! Turned’em bad, like something ye might find in a net and throw back on account the sun got no purpose lookin’ upon it. Whatever were in that damnable pearl turned over three score men into…man-eating freaks! Vanthus, he seen what his friend and the rest turned into. He dove into th’water t’get away. I did the same, only I swam for shore. Found me first mate, Drevoraz there. He’d resisted the change too, as had some others here and there, yet they were nothin’ but the banquet for those things. We fought our way into th’caves and managed to hole up here with Captain Kigante, the man who keeps these caves for us. Only, Kigante’s freak food now. He got jumped by a mob o’them not twenty minutes ago. Tore him apart like they was sharks! And one more thing. I think they got the sick in their maws. The places they done bit me still burn, and its hard to think straight. But hey! You fought yer way in here! That means there ain’t much left o’them out there, yeah?”
At that moment, as if to punctuate her assertion about the bite of the savages, Marius suddenly cried out and grabbed his leg, tearing the cloth of his trousers away from his skin. There, the flesh beneath had broken out into a terrible, black rash with short, bony protrusions extruding from it. The mage then rubbed at his temples, swaying unsteadily for a moment.
“Ye see?” Harliss said. “Demons they are!”
“If they carry disease,” Thrisp asked, looking with disgust at Marius’ wound, “are there any other survivors still here that might be able to treat it? We saw a barricaded room on our way in here, just past the room of hanging silks.”
“Ah, that’d be Leemo,” Harliss nodded. “He’s our poisoner, and a damned good one too. Smart. He might just know a cure, at that, and if ye saw his lab barricaded, might be a chance he’s still alive.”
“What about the prisoners we saw caged beyond the kennel?” Anwar asked.
“Slaves,” Harliss said.
“I see,” Anwar smiled. “I was once involved in the slave trade myself when I lived in Waterdeep.”
“Then ye’ll understand how much money I lost when they went rabid,” Harliss spat. “Just one more thing I owe the Vanderborens for! I’ll learn that cur what it is t’foul me business! I know who he is! Th’Vanderboren name’s no secret t’me. I know he’s got family’n holdin’s in Tashluta! I sent me right hand Drevoraz t’deal with yer friend, I did. Drevoraz is on his merry way to Tashluta as we speak. He’ll do fer Vanthus’ sister, his mum and pop, and any other family or friends th’bastard has in that dunghill city! Cross the Kraken Society and we take everything in yer life from ye. Best not forget that, boyos!”
Anwar’s face went momentarily pale as she spoke, but he kept his voice calm.
“My lady, let me assure you that Vanthus’ family is in no way involved with this. In fact, we are in the employ of his sister, Lavinia. It was she that sent us to exact retribution upon her brother for the murder of their parents, and the looting of the family vault. If you harm her, you will only be helping Vanthus attain his ultimate goal of claiming the Vanderboren name and estate solely for himself.”
Harliss listened to the bard intently, but shook her head when he finished.
“Fer some reason, I believe ye, pretty boy, an’ I’m truly sorry fer any trouble me mate might be bringin’ t’the Vanderborens. I’d advise ye to head back t’Tashluta straight away, but I doubt ye’ll get there in time. Still, I’ll write a note fer ye t’give t’Drevoraz if ye find’im. Even then, he won’t believe ye, so ye’ll give’im this.” She took a demon-shaped earring from her left ear and handed it to Anwar. “This is a signal ‘tween him and me that the bearer can be trusted.”
“Thank you,” Anwar bowed. “Now perhaps we should search out this Leemo you mentioned, but first, there is a small matter of the labyrinth…”
________________________________________________________
Harliss took the lead on their trek back through the maze, calling out loudly to attract the attention of the savages. When they arrived, she moved cat-like to meet them, darting in among them before they had time to react. In a matter of seconds, she had dispatched all three, and smiled smugly back at the Legionnaires, gifting Anwar with a sly wink.
In short order, they found themselves standing before the barricade, a stout barrier of shelves and small tables.
“Leemo!” Harliss called out. “Ye in there, lad?” Silence. With a shrug, the pirate captain began hammering at the wall with the hilt of her sword, until it lay in a heap at her feet. A fairly even layer of sand covered the floor of the musty-smelling cavern beyond. Large pottery urns lined the walls of the cave, and within each grew a riot of strange mushrooms, fluted toadstools, phosphorescent molds, greasy-looking fronds of pale lichens, and all manner of strange fungi. Several large, glass terrariums, their walls beaded with condensation, stood along one wall. One of them was shattered, the loamy soil within spilled out onto the floor near a long, low table heaped with flasks, jars, bottles and tools. Protruding from under the table was a pair of small boots.
“Damn shame,” Harliss said, shaking her head. “Fool went an’had himself an accident after all.”
Cautiously, Marius moved forward, a spell on his lips as he went.
“There’s magic under there,” he said as he reached for the boots. At that moment, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and when he looked up, he saw a large, violet toadstool lurch towards him, ropy tendrils protruding from its cap and reaching for him. Harliss was beside him faster than he could have ever imagined, shoving him behind her, and stabbing her blade into the mushroom. A burst of flaming missiles streaked past her from Basil’s hand, frying the fungus in an instant.
“That explains that then,” Harliss said, eyeing the mess in distaste. Marius pulled Leemo’s remains from beneath the earth pile and plucked a pair of scrolls from the dead gnome’s belt. Unfurling them, he nodded in satisfaction.
“These will temporarily undo the effects of the disease until we can get proper healing in Tashluta.”
After the scrolls had been read, Harliss moved towards the door of the laboratory.
“Sorry lads, but I won’t be goin’ with ye t’Tashluta. Me face is known there, and I’d just as soon not see the inside of a prison cell. Ye’re on yer own from here, though ye have me thanks.” She swatted Anwar on the backside as she passed. “Maybe we’ll meet again some day.” With another wink, she was gone.
The company left the sea caves shortly after the pirate captain, and began the long hike back to the Blue Nixie. Sepoto and Samson were already there, and listened raptly to their tale, cursing their luck on having missed out on such an exciting battle. At Anwar’s command, the crew weighed anchor and set sail for Tashluta, traveling straight thru the night.
________________________________________________________
The next morning, as they pulled into a slip in Merchant’s District, it was apparent that Wormfall was in full swing. Even so early in the day, the streets were teeming with celebrating crowds. There were acrobat troupes, marching bands, and garish costumes in homage to the heroes of Starmantle and Tashluta, along with corresponding effigies of their undead and wormy enemies. Also present were floats constructed in the image of enormous green worms and shrouded skulls, along with kites of green worms borne on sticks and strings, which danced in the air above the rooftops. Green lanterns burned above the streets, casting a sickly pale glow upon the cobblestones below, each with a removable shade and a layer of bright gold paper beneath to bathe the city in the warm sunlight of victory at the exact moment the worms fell, and the Ebon Triad stuck down their foul god.
“It’s going to take forever to get through this mess,” Sepoto grumbled.
“Which is why we’re going to split up,” Anwar replied, looking up at the goliath. “You and Sepoto will take the back alleys and lanes. Get to the mansion as fast as you can. If there’s trouble, you two are best equipped to deal with it. The rest of us will move through the main streets and meet you there as soon as we’re able. We may be able to find some information on whether or not there have been any disturbances.”
“Remember what happened the last time you sent us away,” Sepoto chided.
“Look around you,” Anwar said, indicating the crowds. “It’s a festival. What could happen?”
Sepoto and Samson soon disappeared into the throng, while Anwar, Basil, Thrisp and Marius began negotiating Puppetmaster Lane. They hadn’t gone very far when Basil felt himself roughly bumped. Fearing a pickpocket, he clasped his belt pouch and whirled around. At first he saw no one nearby, but then a tug on his trouser leg caused him to look down. There stood a rather surly looking, and more-than-a-little inebriated, gnome, rolling up his sleeves.
“Watch where yer goin’, ya bunch of rude, oversized louts!” the gnome shouted. “You think just because yer big that ya can just run over people?”
“Now, now Jilanth,” said a hulking half-orc, stepping between the gnome and the young wizard, “these folks were just minding their own business. I’m sure they didn’t mean any harm.”
“Your friend’s right,” Thrisp said, stepping forward and prominently displaying the Spire of Tashluta, “this is all just a misunderstanding. Please, enjoy this glorious festival.”
Jilanth’s aggression ebbed a bit at the sight of another gnome.
“I guess so,” he said, and then he slapped Thrisp on the shoulder. “You’re right! It’s a celebration! Just mind where yer walkin’, ya big galoot!” he said to Basil, and then the pair vanished into the crowd.
After several more minutes of pushing and shoving, the company arrived at the intersection of Stirge Street. They were just crossing the thoroughfare when Anwar and Thrisp both heard shouts of alarm coming from up the hill to their right. Looking in that direction they saw a particularly large float-wagon barreling out of control down the street, headed straight towards an open-air café. The float bore a huge humanoid form shrouded in wriggling paper-mache worms and bearing two burning lanterns for eyes. Worse yet, the four adventurers were directly in its path. Thinking quickly, Marius raised his hands, the words to a minor incantation on his tongue. Suddenly, a loud crack sounded as one of the wagon’s front wheels shattered into a dozen pieces, sending the float rolling onto its side where it slid harmlessly into a fruit stand. All around, the crowd began to applaud and cheer, several of them pointing out the badges the Legionnaires wore, and whispering praises for ‘the city’s heroes.’ Red-faced (and not with embarrassment) Anwar waved politely to the people, and then hurried up the road through the path they’d cleared.
Finally they turned onto Vine Street, the long, curving lane that would lead them directly to Vanderboren Manor. Halfway up the street, however, they were stalled again, this time by a band of costumed street performers mounted on stilts. They were led by a talented female acrobat dressed in a form-fitting and sensual-if-macabre black bodysuit decorated with a white skeleton. The gathered onlookers applauded enthusiastically as she performed an impressive array of flips and leaps, while the stiltwalkers juggled daggers and flasks of oil with burning rags stuffed into them. Anwar groaned in exasperation at this newest delay, but as he watched the troupe approach, something about them seemed not right.
“Anwar,” Basil said, tugging at his sleeve, “is it just me, or are they coming right towards us?”
That was it, Anwar realized. The seemingly random movements of the performers were too random, used to cover their steady approach towards the four companions.
“Scatter!” the bard shouted, and then cast a brief spell, rendering himself invisible. Basil followed suit just as the woman in black darted right at Marius. As she closed to within a few feet, she hissed from behind her mask, “Lady Kellani sends her regards!”
Suddenly, chaos erupted as the stiltwalkers began hurling their flaming flasks into the crowd. Panic ensued, as burning civilians ran terrified into the mass of humanity, sending them fleeing in turn. The Legionnaires found themselves trapped in the middle of the mob, but the stiltwalkers easily waded through, still spinning their now-deadly looking knives.
As the acrobat continued to close the distance between herself and Marius, Thrisp began spellcasting, bombarding the woman with the same colorful burst he’d used on the savage in Kraken’s Cove, blinding her while at the same time instilling invisibility upon himself. At that moment, however, Marius’ robes erupted in fire as another flask from a nearby stiltwalker struck the ground at his feet. Moving quickly to his friend, Basil cast a second invisibility spell, and the burning warmage winked out of sight…only to reappear a moment later, as the spell he had already begun exploded. A burst of fire spread out from where the Seeker stood, enveloping not only all of the stiltwalkers, but also the unseen Basil as well. Worse still, the flames engulfed a score of fleeing revelers, burning them to ash where they stood. One of the stiltwalkers also succumbed to the flames, but the others deftly avoided the explosion with cat-like reflexes. No one ever knew whether Marius meant to cast such a destructive spell in a crowd of innocents, or whether he simply acted on instinct. The result was the same…mass murder. Fortunately for the Seeker, he had been invisible at the time, and the people were already panicked by the fiery cocktails they had witnessed the street performers throw. In the official record of the Watch, the deaths were directly attributed to the would-be assassins.
Basil’s burns were horrendous, and the young mage found himself barely able to stand. In blinding agony, he fumbled at his belt for a healing elixir, his plight unwitnessed by any of his companions. Meanwhile, Thrisp reappeared as he hurled a Net of Shadows at three nearby stiltwalkers who were hurling daggers willy-nilly at Marius, heedless of the bystanders. Just then, the acrobat regained her sight, and lunged at Marius, her hands closing around his throat like a vice. Still, the mage managed to croak out the words to another spell, sending a second wave of fire over the woman, but fortunately injuring no more citizens in the now-empty space about him. The acrobat rolled and flailed as she struggled to extinguish herself, and then she leapt to her feet and darted into the mob, disappearing from sight.
Thrisp and Marius were the only two opponents visible to the five remaining stiltwalkers, and so it was they who were targeted by their deadly thrown knives. One struck Thrisp in his shoulder before he unleashed a spray of rainbow colors upon two of the assassins, stunning them into unconsciousness. They fell heavily to the ground from their stilts and lay there, unmoving. Marius was struck by a pair of daggers, but he retaliated with a ray of scorching heat, immolating the man who had attacked him. Turning, he hurled an orb of fire at one of the two remaining stiltmen, roasting him as well. Thrisp felled the last opponent with a second Color Spray, rendering him inert alongside his two companions. Gradually, the crowd ceased their panicked flight and began to mill around in curiosity, now that the danger had passed. With calm, sure steps Thrisp walked across the street to stand over the three unconscious assassins. Slowly and methodically, he loaded his crossbow. Once more flashing his Spire, he shouted to the gathered onlookers, “This is what happens to those who murder citizens of Tashluta!” Moving from one to the next, he fired a bolt at point-blank range into each of their heads. The crowd roared in approval.
Neverwinter Knight
First Post
This was not an easy update, JollyDoc, but you managed to capture all the little details very, very well! I especially liked the display of Harliss and the way you brought her accross. If only they'd tried to fight her... ![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
As for the "incident": Since it was 3 mages and a bard against the assassins, I won't hold Marius mass effect against him.
As for the "incident": Since it was 3 mages and a bard against the assassins, I won't hold Marius mass effect against him.
That was rich! Will we see an Anwar vs. Hawk at the end of the module?
Sunday Night Update
1. The entire Legion (finally!) meets up to march into the Vanderboren estate.
2. The Bullywugs go down fast and hard except for the named ones -- those are some tough bitches. They took down our tank!!!
3. Basil is finally poisoned by Anwar's corruption. An act of unspeakable depravity pushes him to Lawful Evil.
4. The Legion meets a couple of Jade Ravens and treats them . . . poorly.
5. The final act to free Lavinia from the clutches of Drevoraz and the Cleric of Dagon is an operation of brilliant audacity. Deceit + a cleverly laid trap + psy-ops that would put the best counter-intelligence agency to shame = a story hour update for the ages.
1. The entire Legion (finally!) meets up to march into the Vanderboren estate.
2. The Bullywugs go down fast and hard except for the named ones -- those are some tough bitches. They took down our tank!!!
3. Basil is finally poisoned by Anwar's corruption. An act of unspeakable depravity pushes him to Lawful Evil.
4. The Legion meets a couple of Jade Ravens and treats them . . . poorly.
5. The final act to free Lavinia from the clutches of Drevoraz and the Cleric of Dagon is an operation of brilliant audacity. Deceit + a cleverly laid trap + psy-ops that would put the best counter-intelligence agency to shame = a story hour update for the ages.
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
I've been waiting for the alignment issue to come to a head. And Anwar's all set up to win. A very smooth talker, that fellow. And I'm looking forward to a Legion-style rescue mission.
Demiurge out.
Demiurge out.
Hmmm . . . a lot of views but no comments!? Well, here's a post that will hopefully stimulate a little conversation. This is Anwar prior to walking into the Vanderboren estate in the Bullywug Gambit.
Anwar Rosznar CR 4
Male half-elf Bard 3/Marshal 1
NE Medium humanoid (half-elf)
Init +5; Senses low-light vision; Listen +0, Spot +0
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Elven, Undercommon
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AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 16
(+2 Dex, +4 armor, +1 shield)
hp 21 (4 HD)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +6; +2 racial bonus against enchantment spells and effects, immune to sleep effects
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Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Ranged shortbow +4 (1d6)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +2; Grp +1
Combat Gear 1 potion of cure light wounds, 3 scrolls of silent image, perfume of shendelvari (5 uses), 1 scroll of invisibility, wand of cure light wounds (14 charges), hat of disguise
Bard Spells Known (CL 3rd):
1st (2/day) -- grease, inspirational boost, tasha's hideous laughter
0 (4/day) -- detect magic, light, ghost sound, mage hand, minor disguise
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Abilities Str 8, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 17
SQ motivate dex aura, bardic music (6/day), fascinate, inspire courage, soothing voice, inspire competence
Feats Artist, Deceitful, Song of the Heart, Skill Focus (Diplomacy)
Flaw Noncombatant
Trait Polite
Skills Bluff +10, Concentration +7, Diplomacy +22, Disguise +14, Forgery +11, Gather Info +11, Knowledge (history) +6, Knowledge (nobility) +8, Perform (singing) +12, Sense Motive +7
Possessions combat gear plus shortbow w/ 36 arrows, chain shirt, rapier, torch, flint & steel, backpack, mithral buckler, forgery tool, disguise kit (6 uses)
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Hook "Never take something by force when you can convince fools to give it to you. You can always slit their throats later."
Minor Aura (Ex) A minor aura lets allies add Anwar's Charisma bonus to Dexterity checks, Dexterity-based skill checks, and initiative checks.
Soothing Voice (Su) Requires at least 3 ranks in Diplomacy. Calm Emotions on one target within 30’ (Will Neg,DC = your Diplomacy check). Effect lasts as long as you continue using the ability and the target says in range. This is a Language-based ability.
Inspire Courage (Su) A bard with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use song or poetics to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to hear the bard sing. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the bard sing and for 5 rounds thereafter. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 8th level, and every six bard levels thereafter, this bonus increases by 1 (+2 at 8th, +3 at 14th, and +4 at 20th). Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability.
Inspire Competence (Su) A bard of 3rd level or higher with 6 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to help an ally succeed at a task. The ally must be within 30 feet and able to see and hear the bard. The bard must also be able to see the ally.
Fascinate (Sp) A bard with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and able to pay attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creature. The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a bard attains beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with a single use of this ability.
To use the ability, a bard makes a Perform check. His check result is the DC for each affected creature’s Will save against the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and listens to the song, taking no other actions, for as long as the bard continues to play and concentrate (up to a maximum of 1 round per bard level). While fascinated, a target takes a -4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Listen and Spot checks. Any potential threat requires the bard to make another Perform check and allows the creature a new saving throw against a DC equal to the new Perform check result.
Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a ranged weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.
Anwar Rosznar CR 4
Male half-elf Bard 3/Marshal 1
NE Medium humanoid (half-elf)
Init +5; Senses low-light vision; Listen +0, Spot +0
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Elven, Undercommon
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AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 16
(+2 Dex, +4 armor, +1 shield)
hp 21 (4 HD)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +6; +2 racial bonus against enchantment spells and effects, immune to sleep effects
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Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Ranged shortbow +4 (1d6)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +2; Grp +1
Combat Gear 1 potion of cure light wounds, 3 scrolls of silent image, perfume of shendelvari (5 uses), 1 scroll of invisibility, wand of cure light wounds (14 charges), hat of disguise
Bard Spells Known (CL 3rd):
1st (2/day) -- grease, inspirational boost, tasha's hideous laughter
0 (4/day) -- detect magic, light, ghost sound, mage hand, minor disguise
----------------------------------
Abilities Str 8, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 17
SQ motivate dex aura, bardic music (6/day), fascinate, inspire courage, soothing voice, inspire competence
Feats Artist, Deceitful, Song of the Heart, Skill Focus (Diplomacy)
Flaw Noncombatant
Trait Polite
Skills Bluff +10, Concentration +7, Diplomacy +22, Disguise +14, Forgery +11, Gather Info +11, Knowledge (history) +6, Knowledge (nobility) +8, Perform (singing) +12, Sense Motive +7
Possessions combat gear plus shortbow w/ 36 arrows, chain shirt, rapier, torch, flint & steel, backpack, mithral buckler, forgery tool, disguise kit (6 uses)
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Hook "Never take something by force when you can convince fools to give it to you. You can always slit their throats later."
Minor Aura (Ex) A minor aura lets allies add Anwar's Charisma bonus to Dexterity checks, Dexterity-based skill checks, and initiative checks.
Soothing Voice (Su) Requires at least 3 ranks in Diplomacy. Calm Emotions on one target within 30’ (Will Neg,DC = your Diplomacy check). Effect lasts as long as you continue using the ability and the target says in range. This is a Language-based ability.
Inspire Courage (Su) A bard with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use song or poetics to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to hear the bard sing. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the bard sing and for 5 rounds thereafter. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 8th level, and every six bard levels thereafter, this bonus increases by 1 (+2 at 8th, +3 at 14th, and +4 at 20th). Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability.
Inspire Competence (Su) A bard of 3rd level or higher with 6 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to help an ally succeed at a task. The ally must be within 30 feet and able to see and hear the bard. The bard must also be able to see the ally.
Fascinate (Sp) A bard with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and able to pay attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creature. The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a bard attains beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with a single use of this ability.
To use the ability, a bard makes a Perform check. His check result is the DC for each affected creature’s Will save against the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and listens to the song, taking no other actions, for as long as the bard continues to play and concentrate (up to a maximum of 1 round per bard level). While fascinated, a target takes a -4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Listen and Spot checks. Any potential threat requires the bard to make another Perform check and allows the creature a new saving throw against a DC equal to the new Perform check result.
Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a ranged weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.
Last edited:
EvolutionKB
First Post
Hmm...no inspirational boost?
