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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 4235767" data-attributes="member: 3448">The following morning, we performed a few last checks to make sure the manor was secure before going to meet Drakhl.  The latest round of Pachak guards reported that all was well.  It is perhaps worth mentioning that because they reported in their language, not ours, there was some possibility of error in our interpretation, but they did not seem agitated.  The eum commander also reported that his troops had finished clearing the tunnels and were withdrawing.  As we looked around, we could see that the eum had burned the bones of their own people but left the bones of the enemy for animals, goblyns, and whatever else might want them.We set out in the direction of the dracolich’s camp.  We made some effort to make ourselves look as Shadow-like as possible-- in addition to my companions, we brought five of the Rapa and Alveera, in her succubus seeming.  From what I gather, Alveera was very convincing-- she reported later having heard some of the eum suggesting that her presence meant that Malacat, the accursed Queen of the Succubi, had taken an interest in the war.  As we walked, a very small group of undead approached--the quasi-lich, some skeletal commanders, and the dracolich itself, from whom we could feel an aura of fear radiating.  Drakhl turned his skull to face us.  “Hail, mortals.  I trust that you find the keep to your satisfaction.’“Excellent job,” replied Twang.  If Drakhl was bothered by the tone, he covered it well.“I know that the phylactery is not with you, because I would sense its presence.”“We thought that bringing it across the Shadowline would expose it to those who would wish to take it,” I said.Drakhl’s skull rotated up and down on its neckbones.  “There are those who would wish to see me destroyed or enslaved again.  You were wise to leave it where it is secure.”“We should make haste.  The Hastur will notice eventually,” said Buzz.“What of your minions?” I asked.  “We have followers we would like to install.”“The eum will withdraw.  I will send them back to Dragonhold Ripgut while we march.”We gave the orders to our people on how to secure the manor, leaving explicit instructions that no-one was to test the magical defenses and traps of the vault until we returned.  Once that was taken care of, we marched on with Lord Drakhl’s small company.  The three days of travel back to the Shadowline were uneventful.  I suspect that none of the creatures of Shadow dared to move close enough to the dracolich to be noticed.  We crossed over immediately upon reaching the Shadowline.  It was clear that Drakhl did not trust us, but he had no choice but to let us go to fetch the phylactery and we had no choice but to leave him just on the Shadow side of the Line.  Almost immediately upon crossing the border, a wave of mental force slammed into us.  We did not even try to resist and were immediately rendered unconscious.  I later heard reports that described what happened next.  Following our plan, the Hastur appeared at the Line, ready for battle.  Drakhl frantically tried to decide what to do, but before he could take clear action, the entire force of black eum fell on his company from the rear, with their allies from the Dragonhold.  The eum succeeded in disembodying him, sending his soul rushing towards the barrier and his phylactery.  When his soul reached the Shadowline, however, the Hastur Lady happily incinerated it with a gesture of her hand and a thrust of her mind.  While the lesser undead slew a few of the eum, and the desiccating spells from the quasi-lich were fierce, the eum had a surrounding position and ample missile weapons.  Lord Drakhl’s company was completely annihilated.We awoke to a bizarre scene.  The Hastur were throwing a party, with wine glasses and bottles of champagne, some distance back from the Line.  They had clearly moved us back along with their   Twang joins the party.  The Hastur noted that Drakhl’s destruction would leave a window while Dragonhold Ripgut is empty-- without a commander or some being that could act as a semblance of a commander, the undead there would be ineffective.  It could take months for a new lord of Shadow to arise.Twang suggested trying to recruit the eum, and we began discussing possible next steps.</blockquote>

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