Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Joshua Randall" data-source="post: 9629826" data-attributes="member: 7737">220Estla knows us when she sees us (so to speak) even though Thayne told her we were dead at the hands of "the monstrous enemy who is determined to destroy us all." We remark that she knew otherwise, of course, to which Estla smiles. "Her smooth, ageless skin gleams in the sunlight beneath her shock of white hair."Estla comments that apparently we have "developed some wisdom" since we left, and that she knew the son of Landor and daughter of Perth would survive "such threats as this one."At our prompting, Dalris steps forward and one again tells the tale. (Her bard features are getting a workout!)The elves are spellbound by the ancient Bhukodian legend. They particularly enjoy the idea that their matriarch is descended from the goddess Aerdrie, and they're excited when they hear of the Sorcerer's Crown [take a shot] having the power to balance Lolth's crown.The crowd cheers and asks Estla to use the crown's power against our enemies. Estla announces that because the crown of Aerdie was given to her by "our friend, Archmagus Landor of Tikandia", it is fitting that she return its power to "Landor's son, Mage Carr Delling!"The crowd cheers again and asks US to use the crown's power against our enemies, to drive the evil hordes off Seagate Island.There's a moment of awkwardness when we realize no-one is wearing the crown right now, so Estla sends a servant to retrieve it. Dalris gasps at the crown's beauty. We place the crown on our head with trembling hands."Oh, Aerdrie!" calls Estla, her voice carrying into the sky. "Hear our prayers and send your assistance to us in this hour of great need and danger. Honor us with your wisdom, and empower this champion with the magical strength he will need to face the demon Pazuzu and his evil servant, Arno!"A "beam of ivory light" surrounds us and then shoots into the sky, "a dagger of magical energy piercing the heavens." The crown's dweomer fills our brain and body with power.A magnificent creature descends from the heavens. "It's a copper-skinned giant human with flaming bronze hair and yellow eyes. Twin golden wings extend from the shoulders of the astral creature."We recognize this creature as a solar, "a powerful servant of good." He introduces himself as Nithran, steward of Aerdrie, and says that Pazuzu has overstepped its bounds "and must never again be summoned to Aerdrie's holy island!"We ask how "we" can do this, sorely beset as we are by the hordes of eeeeevil creatures. Nithran tells us not to question the power of the gods (of course), says whatever force we require will be at our command as long as we wear the crown, and announces that "planetars and devas" are even now destroying the enemy in Delmer and Freeton and will drive all of Pazuzu's forces into the sea.Perth (remember him?) asks what will become of Tikandia. Nithran is forbidden to speak of the future (of course), but then he does: Garn must recruit a new force of cavaliers to combat Pazuzu's 'Knights of Truth' because the Kandian people will only survive through the courage of men like Garn.We ask how we can help the cause. Nithran says we are the link between all Kandians and their past and that we are destined "to seek [our] father's legacy and to restore the magnificence of Bhukod to its descendants."The shaft of ivory light vanishes as suddenly as it came, leaving a stunned silence broken only by the distant cries of battle between Pazuzu's evil forces and your own astral allies. You stare in silence toward the north, and wonder what the next bequest of your father will bring. ✠THE ENDDEATH COUNT: 6NONLETHAL FAILURE COUNT: 1NUMBER OF SHOTS TAKEN: 17(11 from the book's title, 3 from Dalris's braid, and 3 from Dalris's blushing)---And so The Sorcerer's Crown is finally over in an abrupt ending with an almost literal deux ex machina that smacks of we-ran-out-of-time-and-money-to-film-a-proper-battle-scene-between-good-and-evil-so-that-happens-offstage-and-we-foley-in-some-sound-effects.</blockquote>

Verification