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
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Barrow of the Forgotten Story Hour - Complete! 8/13/08
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="Abciximab" data-source="post: 4347142" data-attributes="member: 46017"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>The Assault Continues</strong></p><p></p><p>Wencis cautiously approached the strange stone archways. All seven were filled with a brilliant green light that obscured whatever lay beyond. He was about to return to his companions who were still on the lower landing when a spine chilling howl filled the rooms. Immediately after, a large black hound and four winged snakes flew down from above. The dog bit at Wencis as it flew past him and one of the serpents spit venom toward his face as two others flew up and tried to bite him. Dodging the venom spray Wencis slammed the dog with his hammer.</p><p></p><p>Down below the last serpent flew down and sprayed the remaining companions with venom, catching Celtir right in the face. Struck blind by the venom, he cautiously moved to safety on the other side of the doors that led to the stairs. </p><p></p><p>Raising Merthuvial above his head, Tristan quickly charged across the room and slashed the serpent from the air. Hearing Wencis’ shouts from above, Bootsy moved to the bottom of the stairs where he saw the three remaining snakes and the dog harrying Wencis. A Scorching Ray burned the hound right out of the air. Wencis quickly dispatched another serpent as Celtir returned to the fight. Having wiped the burning venom from his eyes, his arrows dropped another serpent. Tristan reversed direction and ran up the stairs where he quickly killed the last of their opponents. </p><p></p><p>“So, how long have we been at this?” Wencis asked as everyone was catching their breath.</p><p></p><p>Bootsy gave it a moments thought, “About forty five minutes.”</p><p></p><p>“How is everybody doing?”</p><p></p><p>Everyone took stock and the consensus was clear. “We’re all good.”</p><p></p><p>Wencis examined one of the flashing archways. “It looks kind of like the portal that got us here. Should we go through?”</p><p></p><p>Celtir looked at the seven portals along the wall. “No. I think stepping blindly through one of these would be a bad idea. Let’s at least explore a little more first.”</p><p></p><p>The others agreed and seeing that there was little left of the tower to explore, the companions descended to the first landing and took the stairs there down to another set of double doors.</p><p></p><p>Celtir stepped up and opened the doors. Standing on the other side and seemingly reaching for the very same door were a mixed group of humanoids. First, reaching for the door was another of the small green lizardfolk they had fought at the top of these very stairs. Second there were three creatures with the unmistakable snakelike features that had been rounding up the slaves outside, Yuan-Ti Purebloods. Standing at the back of the group was what appeared to be a large serpent with arms. The Abomination rose to its full height and spoke in a hissing tongue. It pointed a finger at Celtir who gave a short cry as if in pain and then seemed to disappear as all of his equipment dropped to the ground where he had stood just a moment before. Then a small snake head poked out of the top of the pile and seemed to look around with what might pass for a shocked expression on its serpentine face. Celtir had been Polymorphed into a small snake. His companions stood only a moment in silent shock before attacking their foes in force.</p><p></p><p>A Fireball from Bootsy blossomed toward the back of the enemy party, dropping two of the Purebloods and singeing the small lizardman. The Abomination and the remaining Pureblood were unscathed. Wencis charged forward, killing the Pureblood with an electrically charged hammer strike. Tristan followed close behind, slashing the Abomination with Merthuvial. The lizardman fell back and launched an arrow at Wencis.</p><p></p><p>Bootsy fired a shot with his crossbow that glanced off the hide of the Abomination as Celtir slithered up the stairs to make sure he was not caught underfoot. </p><p></p><p>Wencis and Tristan both struck at the Abomination who returned as good as it got with its scimitar. </p><p></p><p>Seeing its only remaining ally engaged with two skilled fighters the lizardman started to back away, inching toward a ramp that would take him down to the entrance level. When the abomination was finally struck down by blows from Both Wencis and Tristan, it ran to the ramp and ducked around the corner out of sight of the companions. Bootsy moved to the bottom of the stairs and launched a Fireball at a point as close to that corner as he could and was gratified to hear the creature cry out.</p><p></p><p>Seeing this whole area was a balcony that overlooked the level below, Tristan ran to the railing and looked over. There he found himself meeting the hollow gaze of a huge skeletal lizard standing just below him. Shouting a challenge Tristan raised his sword above his head and prepared to jump over the railing, only to see a small blur zip past him and over the railing as Bootsy jumped over and dropped two vials of acid onto the undead creature’s skull. Following him over the railing Tristan’s blade bit deep into the creature as he dropped to the floor next to Bootsy. The creature reared up and attacked Tristan with tooth and claw, scoring deep wounds that bled freely. They both heard someone cry out and saw a figure behind the huge skeleton. A Half Elf in full plate raised a symbol above his head and a dark pulse filled their view. The negative energy burned their flesh even as it healed the undead creature before them. </p><p></p><p>Wencis ran to the railing and launched his hammer at the creature’s head over and over, electricity arcing from the hammer where it struck. </p><p></p><p>Sorely wounded, Tristan took a few steps back and called for his Celestial Dire Wolf, Moro. Bootsy focused his ire and scorched both the Half Elf and the skeleton with a Fireball. The Skeletal lizard attacked Bootsy but the quick Gnome’s dodging kept the wounds from being too serious. </p><p></p><p>Moro finally appeared and attacked the skeleton, his powerful jaws cracking bone. Tristan raised his holy symbol and called upon the power of his god, healing some of his wounds and those of his friends while the energy burned at the huge undead creature. Another negative burst from the Half Elf undid that healing and the attacks from the skeleton left Tristan all but dead on his feet. He retreated across the large hall to heal his wounds as the combined attacks from Wencis and Moro finally destroyed the Huge Skeleton. Bootsy Roasted the Half Elf with a Scorching Ray and Moro quickly leapt in and crushed the Half Elf’s throat in his jaws.</p><p></p><p>With no immediate threats the companions regrouped and healed as much as they could. </p><p>Pulling out a scroll, Bootsy called for the small serpent that was Celtir to be brought out. Casting from the scroll, he dispelled the powerful magic that had transformed Celtir into a snake.</p><p></p><p>Looking around, they found themselves in a great hall. Much of the chamber was open to the chamber above. Two large winches, their handles carved to resemble striking cobras, flanked a set of brass double doors that the companions assumed were the exterior doors. Across from the doors, clear water glinted within a circular marble pool. </p><p></p><p>Examining two doors on one side of the room the companions found a kitchen and a dining room that were empty except for the furniture, which Bootsy set on fire just for spite.</p><p></p><p>Celtir opened the only door on the opposite wall where they found things a little more interesting. The walls of the small rectangular chamber were covered in carvings. What first seemed to be a group of serpentine figures, revealed itself to be a single impossibly long snake with numerous heads along the length of its body. Near the west wall stood an altar slab of black marble atop an iron stand in the shape of a coiled cobra. </p><p></p><p>Standing behind the altar was a tall, broad-shouldered lizardman clad in green leather. His dusky scales were almost black and he stared at the companions with an unblinking eye. His clawed talons clenched the hilt of a spear, but he made no move to attack. </p><p></p><p>Tristan stole a quick glance over Celtir’s shoulder and whispered “Evil.”</p><p></p><p>Before he could say anything more, the remaining companions stormed the room. Wencis’ hammer pummeled the lizardman even as it was pierced by an arrow from Celtir. A bolt ticked off the wall next to the creature’s head as Moro leapt forward and tore out its throat.</p><p></p><p>Tristan stood silent for a moment. “Is it just me, or did it seem as though he had something he wanted to say to us?”</p><p></p><p>As he stepped over to inspect the body Bootsy just shrugged. “Guess we’ll never know.”</p><p></p><p>Gathering up what they found on his body they turned to the other door in the room. Opening it, they found a large open chamber that appeared to be an audience hall. A raised dais sat against the east wall, complete with a stone podium adorned with serpentine carvings. </p><p></p><p>Celtir started to move across the floor to inspect the podium when he disappeared through the floor. A pit had swung open, dropping him through the floor, and then the doors of the pit quickly closed once again. </p><p></p><p>Once again, after a moment staring at where Celtir had been just a moment ago, the companion s burst into a flurry of activity. As Wencis and Tristan found the edges of the trap door, Bootsy summoned a Celestial dog. Tying a rope around the animal, Wencis and Tristan held tight to the rope as Bootsy led the dog over the trap. As the animal fell through, they kept the line tight so the dog fell only a few feet and kept the trap door open.</p><p></p><p>“You ok down there!” Bootsy called. </p><p></p><p>About thirty feet down they could see Celtir standing in a small room. “Yeah, the stone floor broke my fall!” He called back.</p><p></p><p>Bootsy quickly lowered the end of the rope that was not tied to the dog and helped Tristan and Wencis hold the rope as Celtir climbed out. Once he was out, Bootsy dismissed the dog and the trap door swung shut. </p><p></p><p>A quick search revealed nothing of interest within the chamber.</p><p></p><p>They opened the double doors at the northern end of the chamber. Beyond the doors they found a chamber of horrors. </p><p></p><p>A rack and an iron maiden stood next to terrible contraptions of cables, needles and cuffs whose purpose the companions chose not to guess at. The floor was stained with dried blood. A red-black pool was spread around a rusty grate in the center of the floor. </p><p></p><p>Tied to the rack was a man, obviously one of the abducted slaves. His tormenters were one of the Yuan-Ti Abominations and a Halfblood female. As Tristan and his mount charged into the chamber, the Abomination cast and this time it was Tristan that was turned into a small snake. Angered by the loss of his friend, Moro charged forward and tore into the Abomination. Wencis also charged forward, hammering the creature with his electrically charged hammer. Bootsy cast and tried to strike the female with a Shocking Grasp, but the charge seemed to dissipate harmlessly as he touched her. </p><p></p><p>The female Halfblood’s skin seemed to ooze as her distended jaws bit Bootsy on the shoulder and he cried out in anger as he felt acid burn his flesh. Then the air around them came alive as Celtir prayed to Solonor and a storm of flashing energy appeared around both Yuan-Ti, burning them with its energy. The abomination was quickly killed by the combination of attacks from Wencis and Moro and the effects of the storm. With nothing else distracting them, the Halfblood soon followed.</p><p></p><p>As the others searched the room and released the prisoner, Celtir caught Tristan and gathered up his things.</p><p></p><p>Questioning the prisoner, they found out there were more prisoners held below, but they were guarded by a ghostly Yuan-Ti that enjoyed tormenting them. </p><p></p><p>“Well, we’re in no shape to help them at the moment,” observed Bootsy. “We’ll have to rest up. Back to the top of the tower has my vote.”</p><p></p><p>The others agreed and after showing the prisoner out the front door, they climbed back out and up to the top of the tower to rest.</p><p></p><p>End of Session Thirteen.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Abciximab, post: 4347142, member: 46017"] [CENTER][B]The Assault Continues[/B][/CENTER] Wencis cautiously approached the strange stone archways. All seven were filled with a brilliant green light that obscured whatever lay beyond. He was about to return to his companions who were still on the lower landing when a spine chilling howl filled the rooms. Immediately after, a large black hound and four winged snakes flew down from above. The dog bit at Wencis as it flew past him and one of the serpents spit venom toward his face as two others flew up and tried to bite him. Dodging the venom spray Wencis slammed the dog with his hammer. Down below the last serpent flew down and sprayed the remaining companions with venom, catching Celtir right in the face. Struck blind by the venom, he cautiously moved to safety on the other side of the doors that led to the stairs. Raising Merthuvial above his head, Tristan quickly charged across the room and slashed the serpent from the air. Hearing Wencis’ shouts from above, Bootsy moved to the bottom of the stairs where he saw the three remaining snakes and the dog harrying Wencis. A Scorching Ray burned the hound right out of the air. Wencis quickly dispatched another serpent as Celtir returned to the fight. Having wiped the burning venom from his eyes, his arrows dropped another serpent. Tristan reversed direction and ran up the stairs where he quickly killed the last of their opponents. “So, how long have we been at this?” Wencis asked as everyone was catching their breath. Bootsy gave it a moments thought, “About forty five minutes.” “How is everybody doing?” Everyone took stock and the consensus was clear. “We’re all good.” Wencis examined one of the flashing archways. “It looks kind of like the portal that got us here. Should we go through?” Celtir looked at the seven portals along the wall. “No. I think stepping blindly through one of these would be a bad idea. Let’s at least explore a little more first.” The others agreed and seeing that there was little left of the tower to explore, the companions descended to the first landing and took the stairs there down to another set of double doors. Celtir stepped up and opened the doors. Standing on the other side and seemingly reaching for the very same door were a mixed group of humanoids. First, reaching for the door was another of the small green lizardfolk they had fought at the top of these very stairs. Second there were three creatures with the unmistakable snakelike features that had been rounding up the slaves outside, Yuan-Ti Purebloods. Standing at the back of the group was what appeared to be a large serpent with arms. The Abomination rose to its full height and spoke in a hissing tongue. It pointed a finger at Celtir who gave a short cry as if in pain and then seemed to disappear as all of his equipment dropped to the ground where he had stood just a moment before. Then a small snake head poked out of the top of the pile and seemed to look around with what might pass for a shocked expression on its serpentine face. Celtir had been Polymorphed into a small snake. His companions stood only a moment in silent shock before attacking their foes in force. A Fireball from Bootsy blossomed toward the back of the enemy party, dropping two of the Purebloods and singeing the small lizardman. The Abomination and the remaining Pureblood were unscathed. Wencis charged forward, killing the Pureblood with an electrically charged hammer strike. Tristan followed close behind, slashing the Abomination with Merthuvial. The lizardman fell back and launched an arrow at Wencis. Bootsy fired a shot with his crossbow that glanced off the hide of the Abomination as Celtir slithered up the stairs to make sure he was not caught underfoot. Wencis and Tristan both struck at the Abomination who returned as good as it got with its scimitar. Seeing its only remaining ally engaged with two skilled fighters the lizardman started to back away, inching toward a ramp that would take him down to the entrance level. When the abomination was finally struck down by blows from Both Wencis and Tristan, it ran to the ramp and ducked around the corner out of sight of the companions. Bootsy moved to the bottom of the stairs and launched a Fireball at a point as close to that corner as he could and was gratified to hear the creature cry out. Seeing this whole area was a balcony that overlooked the level below, Tristan ran to the railing and looked over. There he found himself meeting the hollow gaze of a huge skeletal lizard standing just below him. Shouting a challenge Tristan raised his sword above his head and prepared to jump over the railing, only to see a small blur zip past him and over the railing as Bootsy jumped over and dropped two vials of acid onto the undead creature’s skull. Following him over the railing Tristan’s blade bit deep into the creature as he dropped to the floor next to Bootsy. The creature reared up and attacked Tristan with tooth and claw, scoring deep wounds that bled freely. They both heard someone cry out and saw a figure behind the huge skeleton. A Half Elf in full plate raised a symbol above his head and a dark pulse filled their view. The negative energy burned their flesh even as it healed the undead creature before them. Wencis ran to the railing and launched his hammer at the creature’s head over and over, electricity arcing from the hammer where it struck. Sorely wounded, Tristan took a few steps back and called for his Celestial Dire Wolf, Moro. Bootsy focused his ire and scorched both the Half Elf and the skeleton with a Fireball. The Skeletal lizard attacked Bootsy but the quick Gnome’s dodging kept the wounds from being too serious. Moro finally appeared and attacked the skeleton, his powerful jaws cracking bone. Tristan raised his holy symbol and called upon the power of his god, healing some of his wounds and those of his friends while the energy burned at the huge undead creature. Another negative burst from the Half Elf undid that healing and the attacks from the skeleton left Tristan all but dead on his feet. He retreated across the large hall to heal his wounds as the combined attacks from Wencis and Moro finally destroyed the Huge Skeleton. Bootsy Roasted the Half Elf with a Scorching Ray and Moro quickly leapt in and crushed the Half Elf’s throat in his jaws. With no immediate threats the companions regrouped and healed as much as they could. Pulling out a scroll, Bootsy called for the small serpent that was Celtir to be brought out. Casting from the scroll, he dispelled the powerful magic that had transformed Celtir into a snake. Looking around, they found themselves in a great hall. Much of the chamber was open to the chamber above. Two large winches, their handles carved to resemble striking cobras, flanked a set of brass double doors that the companions assumed were the exterior doors. Across from the doors, clear water glinted within a circular marble pool. Examining two doors on one side of the room the companions found a kitchen and a dining room that were empty except for the furniture, which Bootsy set on fire just for spite. Celtir opened the only door on the opposite wall where they found things a little more interesting. The walls of the small rectangular chamber were covered in carvings. What first seemed to be a group of serpentine figures, revealed itself to be a single impossibly long snake with numerous heads along the length of its body. Near the west wall stood an altar slab of black marble atop an iron stand in the shape of a coiled cobra. Standing behind the altar was a tall, broad-shouldered lizardman clad in green leather. His dusky scales were almost black and he stared at the companions with an unblinking eye. His clawed talons clenched the hilt of a spear, but he made no move to attack. Tristan stole a quick glance over Celtir’s shoulder and whispered “Evil.” Before he could say anything more, the remaining companions stormed the room. Wencis’ hammer pummeled the lizardman even as it was pierced by an arrow from Celtir. A bolt ticked off the wall next to the creature’s head as Moro leapt forward and tore out its throat. Tristan stood silent for a moment. “Is it just me, or did it seem as though he had something he wanted to say to us?” As he stepped over to inspect the body Bootsy just shrugged. “Guess we’ll never know.” Gathering up what they found on his body they turned to the other door in the room. Opening it, they found a large open chamber that appeared to be an audience hall. A raised dais sat against the east wall, complete with a stone podium adorned with serpentine carvings. Celtir started to move across the floor to inspect the podium when he disappeared through the floor. A pit had swung open, dropping him through the floor, and then the doors of the pit quickly closed once again. Once again, after a moment staring at where Celtir had been just a moment ago, the companion s burst into a flurry of activity. As Wencis and Tristan found the edges of the trap door, Bootsy summoned a Celestial dog. Tying a rope around the animal, Wencis and Tristan held tight to the rope as Bootsy led the dog over the trap. As the animal fell through, they kept the line tight so the dog fell only a few feet and kept the trap door open. “You ok down there!” Bootsy called. About thirty feet down they could see Celtir standing in a small room. “Yeah, the stone floor broke my fall!” He called back. Bootsy quickly lowered the end of the rope that was not tied to the dog and helped Tristan and Wencis hold the rope as Celtir climbed out. Once he was out, Bootsy dismissed the dog and the trap door swung shut. A quick search revealed nothing of interest within the chamber. They opened the double doors at the northern end of the chamber. Beyond the doors they found a chamber of horrors. A rack and an iron maiden stood next to terrible contraptions of cables, needles and cuffs whose purpose the companions chose not to guess at. The floor was stained with dried blood. A red-black pool was spread around a rusty grate in the center of the floor. Tied to the rack was a man, obviously one of the abducted slaves. His tormenters were one of the Yuan-Ti Abominations and a Halfblood female. As Tristan and his mount charged into the chamber, the Abomination cast and this time it was Tristan that was turned into a small snake. Angered by the loss of his friend, Moro charged forward and tore into the Abomination. Wencis also charged forward, hammering the creature with his electrically charged hammer. Bootsy cast and tried to strike the female with a Shocking Grasp, but the charge seemed to dissipate harmlessly as he touched her. The female Halfblood’s skin seemed to ooze as her distended jaws bit Bootsy on the shoulder and he cried out in anger as he felt acid burn his flesh. Then the air around them came alive as Celtir prayed to Solonor and a storm of flashing energy appeared around both Yuan-Ti, burning them with its energy. The abomination was quickly killed by the combination of attacks from Wencis and Moro and the effects of the storm. With nothing else distracting them, the Halfblood soon followed. As the others searched the room and released the prisoner, Celtir caught Tristan and gathered up his things. Questioning the prisoner, they found out there were more prisoners held below, but they were guarded by a ghostly Yuan-Ti that enjoyed tormenting them. “Well, we’re in no shape to help them at the moment,” observed Bootsy. “We’ll have to rest up. Back to the top of the tower has my vote.” The others agreed and after showing the prisoner out the front door, they climbed back out and up to the top of the tower to rest. End of Session Thirteen. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Barrow of the Forgotten Story Hour - Complete! 8/13/08
Top