Corvis, City of Ghosts (A WitchFire Trilogy Story Hour)

[Vallan Maelstrom]

Vallan's thoughts as he sits on his cot at the church reflecting
on the past days events...

We said goodbye to Mericus, while I admired his knowledge I was weary of his handle on that magic of his -- always expecting to find myself on the receiving end of a stray bolt of lightning.. at the same time we were introduced to the redheaded human Mulholland - I know little so far of his religious aspirations, but so far he carrys himself well and provides much needed aid for those who suffer the nicks and cuts of the blade.

We also met a mysterious stranger on the road to Ft. Ryker, a large masked beast, Ishcram, who battles in a peculiar style - with his hands and feet - but occasionaly he seems to have sense enough to use a hand axe.. poor fellow probably had no one to train him in the proper use of simple and martial weapons, maybe he can learn a bit from watching me and the elf....
His scars, however, attest to the fact that he has been ample enough in battle to survive this long .. that in itself is admirable

The investigation of the Fort proved to be somewhat of a success. We were able to confirm there was in fact an army of bone people being created by that witch Alexia. Unfortunately, we were also able to confirm that Capt. Helstrom's men had met their end as well. We planned to use the powder kegs Helstrom had sent with us, but were undecided if we should lob
them down to where Alexia and her walking dead sisters stood or use them to destroy the bridge making it difficult for the army of bones to cross the ravine. We decided on the latter, but we had to retrieve them from the pack-horse outside the Fort.

Myself and Lincoln volunteered to get the kegs while the others remained in hiding inside the Fort. For a while we traveled unseen in the dark, but to my disdain we were met by a patrol of armored bones 3-1 on each of us.. I called on the dwarven fathers to grant me the power to turn them away ,
but instead the fathers granted me the power to dispatch of them with my newly acquired Battle Axe. In fact, I had to take out the whole patrol - all six of them - because they had gotten the better of Lincoln. Maybe he will learn from this that it is better to be in the gods favor than to continue living in mischief .. I wont get my hopes up though

Ah well, I must rest now .. the Longest Night is approaching and I'm sure I'll need my energy and health. May the Dwarven Fathers bless and watch over me.

 

[A2Z]

The Longest Night - Act Three

I thought this place was deserted…

Leaving the entrance the group continues into the keep. Following the only passage, which goes on for more than one hundred feet, they finale reach a branch in the hallway. To the left the hall ends at a wooden door. Straight ahead the hall continues and there are four doors, two on each side. There are grates set into the four doors and Lincon pears into one of them. Inside is a skeleton; when it notices Lincon it begins clawing at the door. Backing away he checks the others and sees the same thing.

The group begins to ask themselves why they would be locked up. Going to the fifth door at the end of the branch the group notices that there is no grate to look through in this door. Lincon starts to listen at the door, the elf however proceeds to open the door and walk in to the room. Sitting there in the middle of the room is a large skeleton dressed in hides and wielding a large battleaxe. Around his neck is a brass torc. Seeing the door open and the elf walk in he gets up and rushes towards the door!

Ethradan is able to hold off the skeleton while Vallan and Iskrom enter the room. While the skeleton is able to land one or two shots on the attackers it proves too be no match for the five men. With Ethradan, Vallan and Ishkrom attacking it and Mulhulan and Lincon covering them from behind it’s not long before it is lying in pieces on the floor. Vallan’s eye catches the battleaxe. He can tell that it’s well crafted and decides he can make use of it. Ishkrom, who seems to have a fondness for odd items, takes the torc from around the skeleton’s neck.

Finding nothing else of value in the room the group heads back into the hall. Before moving on Vallan opens two of the doors (I’m not sure why) and the party makes short work of the two skeletons that emerge. Deciding that it’s really a waste of time to let the other two out the group moves on. At the end of the hallway they come to another door. Entering the room they are greeted to the site of a half-dozen skeletons chained up to the walls. On a table in the center of the room is a brazier and a pile of notes. The skeletons stare at the heroes but are unable to do anything else. The group notices that the skeletons all have glyphs and sigils marked on their foreheads. These makings are the same as the ones they have seen in the notes they took from the catacombs. Mulhulan looks at the papers on the table. On top of them is an animated skull. Knocking it off the table he looks at the notes.

The pages also contain the sigils and glyph the group has noticed on the undead that they’ve been fighting. He decides to cast a ‘detect magic’ spell. The symbols on the paper as well as those on the skeletons begin radiating necromantic magic. Vallan’s new battleaxe, as well as Iskrom’s torc and Lincon’s dagger also prove to be magical. Finding nothing else useful in this room the group dispatches the bound undead and moves on down the hallway.

It’s not long before they come to an intersection. On one side is a door and on the other is an opening in the wall. While Lincon checks out the door, the rest of the party heads through the opening. Inside they find a large room with an earthen floor. A small pit lies in one corner and in the far wall is another large opening. Inside the pit they find the remains of Captain Helstrom’s men. The bodies are a mess. It looks like something was chewing on them.

Meanwhile Lincon is checking out the other room. Having found no traps on the door he enters the room. Inside are rows of shelves with common tools stacked on them. There doesn’t seem to be anything else there, it’s just a storeroom.

Ishkrom decides to look at the second opening. It proves to be a tunnel. Peering in he can’t see anything, however, he does manage to hear something. Calling the others he barely turns around in time to see a large and hairy shape lunging towards him! His reflexes are keen though and he manages to dodge the attack. Ethradan and Vallan run up behind him to help out. At the back of the room Mulhulan struggles to light a lamp so he can see. (The others have lowlight or darkvision but he can’t see anything since Lincon was holding their lamp.) Deciding instead to cast a light spell he rushes into combat with the others.

Hearing the commotion in the other room Lincon rushes over to see his companions engaged with a hulking mass of fur and claws! It strikes viciously at the intruders wounding Ethradan enough to send him rushing for cover. As fierce as it is it soon succumbs to Vallan’s axe and Ishkrom’s fists however. Checking the tunnel for any more surprises the group gathers back in the room for a quick bit of healing.

While this is going on Lincon searches in the pit and manages to find a bit of treasure, some gems and coins. Afterwards the party decides to see were the tunnel leads. Following it to the end they find that it exits outside the keep on the far side of the ravine. Deciding this doesn’t help them right now, but marking it for future use, they head back inside.

Continuing along the hallway they had left earlier they find it ends at a staircase. The stairs wind up and exit on the battlements. Once up there the group pears over the sides into the courtyard below, and find themselves staring at an army of hundreds of undead soldiers!

(To be continued)

 

[Ishkrom]

Ishkrom stands six feet tall and and is nearly 300 pounds. He is very muscular with grey stone skin. His eyes are black, and usualy red. He has a jet black gaotie that is at least seven inches in length and is twisted and tied at the bottom. He has the same jet black hair above his ears( think hollywood hulk hogan) and scars from a dire lion across the top of his head, chest, and back with a heavy scar tissue. Along his arms, chest and back are tatoo's of huge diamonds interlocking with one another colored red running from one arm to the other.
Iskrom prefers to wear a leather mask across his face( think mankind or hannibal lecter). He has two canine teeth showing above his upper lip that show when he talks or smiles.( the others have been knocked out)
Ishkrom wears a black cloak that hide his 2 hand axes that are attached to his belt in the back. He carries a silver dagger in his boot and 5 crossbow bolts around his right theigh. A crossbow is flung around his shoulder. He carries a small backpack and a quarterstaff as a walking stick( he has grown sick of the staff and has gotten rid of it) Actually he prefers to use the axes and dagger as ranged attacks before he gets in close)Ishkrom has recently aquired a necklace that he now wears. ( i don't know how to desribe it, ecxept sort of like a boomerang that conforms around your neck)
In combat Ishkrom is very unorthadox. After throwing a ax, he prefers to to use his "double red diamond attack" (charge),along with his "rolling thunder from the west" (bullrush). Always enters his "mongoose position(dodge) when melee begins, and prefers to attack with his "black lion explosion',(flurry of blows) or to use his smashing lion trust(punch), or his "elf killa sweep", ( circle kick). He has been practicing a new defensive position, and will begin to start using it soon along with some more attacks he favors. His "rushing striped lion guard" will now set up his "torture rack", and shing wizard style attacks.( trip and disarm)

Ishkrom didn't remember much before he came to the monestary. A strange man had taken him in as a youngster. But he barley spent a year with the wandering hermit, Ragaii. Ragaii told him if anything ever happened to him, how to get to a special sanctuary where he came from. Tell them Ragaii sent you. And my brothers, your brothers, will take you in. That is how I came to the monestary. the 'Order of the Wailing Soul.
Ragaii was begining to explain and teach so much to me. Opening my eyes to new things and possibilities. And then one day he was gone. I watched him die by the hands of two ogre's. They beat him. Made him bleed. Broke his hands and arms. Smashed his knees. Popped out his eyes. I seen a smile on his face as he left this world. I think Rayaii liked it.
He and I belong to the 'Order of the Wailing Soul. I must admit, I was a little scared and confused at first. But the more I listened, the more we practiced, the more we meditate, it all made sense. It is the one constant that I have found in life. Perfect harmony. Life is worth living. For now anyway.
What is it? Well that is the beauty of it. Thru suffering, pain, and watching one die can the perfect death be reached. In order to make yourself excell, you need to have the anguish of pain and know what it is like to suffer. (Suffering is one of the keys I believe. I am currently researching that aspect the most.) I thrive to make sure sure my brother's come to their ultimate ending. I wish this for myself. I wish this for you.
Pain and suffering come in many sizes and forms. I am on a mission to experience and execute as many of them as I can. I have many things to learn still. Yet, I have many things I can show you. I enjoy experiencing pain. Alot. But more than that, i enjoy hurting others. I have mostly practiced on undead and humanoids. I find that humans, regardless of what some crimes they have done, are not fond of my practices. I still practice with humans. Most are willing participants. But I have not revealed that to my new found "hell raisers". YET.





~i did not proof read, sorry..........

 

[gyn ruhmie]

sadomasichist monk

hand axes and daggers??!?!?!?!? should be carrying whips and chains!!!

for christs sake wheres the red rubber ball he puts in his victims mouth?!?! lmao haha

it will be interesting to see where this charachter goes -- may god spare his party

 

[Desdichado]

Of course you beat Ethradan on asking for healing: Ethradan's regular player wasn't there! You've raised the bar on asking for it, though: we'll have to see who can tough it out the longest this next time.

 

[Ishkrom]

2 hand axes a 1 silver dagger. ( that he has yet to use yet)

The rubber ball is in my backpack, but that is for the witch.
I plan on seeing exactly where I can take this character within the constraints of his alignment( not a problem), and the party.(problem) I am thinking that the dwarf and the red human will have a very limited patience. I have just arrived in a new town that I have not been in. After some rest( 2 days of laying in a pile of hay above the horse stalls) I plan on exploring my options in the city. That will also be the "Longest night" by my calculations.

Don't just sing it elf, bring it.

 

[Ishkrom]

The DM is claiming his cpu crashed. I think he is just being lazy.

I would write more, but the last 2 times I have tried adding to this thread I have lost my post after I hit reply. Let's see.

 

[A2Z]

I know I know! I'm a little behind on the updates. Eventually I will catch up. Anyway, here's the latest.

The odds seem to be against us…

Standing on the battlements they can observe the army without being seen. The group makes a quick count of the mass and realizes there are hundreds of the monsters gathering in the courtyard. While the others discuss what to do Lincon makes his way around the battlements to the back of the keep at the rear. There is a window set in the back wall and from the battlements he can look down into the main hall.

Below he sees Alexia, their quarry, with the four risen conveners that were taken from the witch's tomb. Together the five of them are raising more of the skeletons. In fact as he watches another of the undead rises from the ground, takes up a sword and makes it's way to the courtyard to join its brethren. He quickly makes his way back to the others to inform them of his discovery.

The party then discusses their possible actions. A number of them, thinking about the two kegs of blasting powder given to them by Helstrom, want to use them to try and kill Alexia. Still others argue that doing something like that would pretty much ensure they’re deaths. In the end it’s decided that they’ll use the kegs to destroy the drawbridge and hopefully this will delay or even stop the undead army.

The party makes their way back through the gatehouse to the entry hall. Once there they split up. Vallan and Lincon will go for the horses and the kegs, left behind earlier, while the others will stay and keep watch in the hall.

It’s not long before a wagon, drawn by an undead horse and accompanied by a couple workers and three armored skeletons enters the hall. Ishkrom, Mulhulan and Ethradan all take cover in the abandoned stalls and try to wait out the skeletons. Unfortunately one of them starts making a round of the hall. It’s only a matter of time before he finds the hidden heroes. Not wanting to wait and be discovered, Ishkrom leaps from hiding and attacks the nearest skeleton! His blow sends it staggering back and his companions rush from they’re hiding places to join him in combat. As the other two undead hurry to attack the intruders the three companions make short work of the first skeleton. A couple of rounds later the other two are laying on the ground next to the first one. While Ethradan and Ishkrom engage in some friendly boasting Mulhulan settles in to wait for the others.

While their companions are waiting in the gatehouse Lincon and Vallan are quietly making their way across the fields towards the horses. They’ve seen a couple patrols in the distance but have managed to stay hidden so far. Topping a rise their luck suddenly runs out. They come face to face with a heavily armed patrol of undead. Instead if running the two decide to attack! While Lincon draws his bow, Vallan rushes towards the nearest skeleton and, drawing on his divine power attempts to turn them. Unfortunately this doesn't work and soon enough the heroes are surrounded.

Vallan manages to hold his own fairly well, Lincon however takes a few serious hits and decides to withdraw. He manages to stay ahead of the skeleton until he stops to attack with his bow. The undead quickly rush him! Overwhelmed by their attacks Lincon falls!

Seeing his companion down Vallan attempts to turn the undead again to no avail. He's trouble now though. The undead that were previously attacking Lincon are now moving towards him! Hefting his new axe Vallan begins laying about with a holy fervor. One, two skeletons fall before the reinforcements arrive! Now there are four attackers and Vallan is starting to take some serious wounds. Undaunted he continues the fight. Pretty soon there are only two of the skeletons left and Vallan, still standing prepares to end the fight.

The skeletons manage to deliver a couple of serious hit's to Vallan before he kills one of them. Bruised and bleeding he raises his axe to finish off the last of the patrol. (Actually they both got criticals! I had to fudge the dice though because if Vallan had died Lincon would have bled to death as well. I didn't have the heart to kill them on a random encounter.) The battle over finally Vallan looks over the piles of yellowed bones and rushes to his fallen comrade.

Unconscious and bleeding Lincon doesn't look too good. Vallan cures what he can with his holy power and bandages the cuts that haven't closed. His eyes opening Lincon looks around in surprise at the fallen skeletons scattered around the ground. There's no time for congratulations however, there are still patrols around and it is unlikely Vallan could repeat his previous deed if another should find them.

Moving cautiously the two make they're way back to the copse were they left the horses. Gathering the animals and the two kegs of blasting powder they head back to the keep. This time they manage to avoid anymore patrols and pretty soon they're back with their friends. While Lincon receives healing from Mulhulan the others quickly set about arranging the kegs on the drawbridge.

Once everything's in place they decide who will stay behind to light the fuses; surprisingly, Ishkrom volunteers. He's the quickest and besides, he seems to have some sort of fascination with pain. All is set, while the others wait in the courtyard Ishkrom lights the blasting powder and makes a dash for the exit. Rushing into the courtyard he leaps on the back of Ethradan's horse and the five heroes gallop through the gates as the kegs go off! A cloud of smoke and flame rises from the back of the gatehouse as the group rushes through the fields.

A number of patrols, alerted by the commotion run towards the party but with the group on horseback they have no chance of stopping them. The moon is high as the five companions ride towards Corvis to alert Helstrom of their findings.

(To be continued)

 

[Ishkrom]

The powdered kegs were a good idea as far as lighting up the witch. I was all for it and was willing to not only roll down the window with them but light them up as well. We (I)were at second level at the time, if the the DM wasn't holding back on XP,holding us from advancing a level,I would have done it.
He also strongly hinted not to as we would all surely die. It wasn't till after we were back in town did he change his tune.
All in all, it was fun. Wait until the festival. A certain elf becomes a local wrestling hero. Almost a legend....