NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="darkbard" data-source="post: 9232028" data-attributes="member: 1282">Abaddon's brow furrows as it considers Jendi's request. "The tale of Gulthias is a dark one, and one I do not share lightly."Centuries ago, Gulthias was a respected ambassador between the Guardians of the Ruby Spire and his people, an Elvish tribe once known as the Dusk Elves in the Common Tongue of Humanity, now the Stygian Elves, from which your companion hails. The Dusk Elves served the Matron of Death from time immemorial, and Gulthias was no different. The charismatic Elf was a champion Hexblade in his youth, but as he aged, his interest in that object you call the Ruby Spire grew, and he took the oath as Guardian, sworn to keep the secrets of the Eternal Glade and protect it from intruders."Yet this was all a deceit. Gulthias had become corrupted by his ambition and lured by dark promises whispered by servants to a Demon Lord. His purpose in joining the Guardians of the Ruby Spire was to have unfettered, unquestioned access to this part of the great wood, for beneath an ancient temple on this very location was an even older site, a site dedicated to fell sacrifices and abominable transformations. It is to this place that Gulthias sought access."The rest of the tale is even grimmer. A century ago, Gulthias enacted some necromantic rite, transforming himself into a vampire. But the very earth around him rejected this unholy act. This temple was swallowed by the earth, and Gulthias was bound by strong primal magicks. Recently, the undead Elf freed itself from its bondage and began recruiting followers in the name of its Dark Lord. The blood of my sacrifice was one instrumental factor in this, warping the fey creatures of the land into twisted beings of evil, and lending the transformative power of undeath to Orcus's most willing devotees. But Gulthias undertakes other rituals of power in service to the Demon."In your hands, you hold a possible means of this foul creature's destruction. For, like all vampires, Gulthias can transform itself into a cloud of mist to enact its escape. In fact, that blade is the ritual blade it used to complete the ritual from life to undeath. Should it be applied to the vampire when in mist form, it can force the creature back into its corporeal incarnation to be well and truly slain."Now, I depart you, for the Queen beckons. Good luck to you! May the Duskmaiden's wings shelter you." And with that, Abaddon beats his great wings, lofting into the air, up and away.Your success vs Hard DC on the Religion check means that the ceremonial blade (a dagger) can be used to nullify Gulthias's Mist Form Encounter power if he is successfully struck with it while in Mist Form.GM note: I asked [USER=20459]@Nephis[/USER] which of these three options she would prefer in my drafting the Fallen Champion's tale: (1) former Guardian of the Ruby Spire, (2) former Wizard of the Ebony Tower, or (3) an influential guildmember/master of Ravenswood. She chose the former.I'll add the combat encounter to a new post, and then we'll smash cut to the opening of that scene.</blockquote>

Verification