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Message: <blockquote data-quote="green slime" data-source="post: 3663166" data-attributes="member: 1325">Yep. Made for interesting encounters. Once they weren't even aware the dragon was a dragon: they befriended a strange fellow while intrepidly trailing a band of drow that had kidnapped Princess Ehlonna of Celene. Long story cut short, the fellow was a sapphire dragon out to remove the threat of a shadow dragon co-operating with the drow. And enjoy a few tasty drow sandwiches in the process. As they approached the city, it was apparent that entering it unnoticed would be tough; guards and this BIG MF shadow dragon were guarding. The players hadn't encountered a shadow dragon previously, but they were seriously concerned (2e it's BW  halved your levels, IIRC....). This was a BIG MF. The look of shock and awe on the players faces as their peculiar companion changed form and attacked the shadow dragon (enabling them to persue their goal with the backdrop of an epic struggle in the cavern of Erelhei Cinlu (I think that was the name of the Major Drow city in GH, akin to Menzoberanzan in  FR), was amazing. This was like 15 years ago, so I can't remember all the details of which class the dragon was. There was a TPK at the main drow temple fighting Samurai Drow guards, clerics and a massive Cambion drow. It had all been a trap to lure the heroes, and they had fallen for it. The 1e Bard of the group had been carrying a vile semi artifact sword of slaying that grow more powerful the further into the underdark it got. The sentience it possessed was seeking a new vessel, and was slowly transforming the bard into a drow. The bard had, through by way of another artifact of a lost culture superhuman Strength (21, which back in the day, was very respectable), granted as an inheritable change. They had been warned when they defeated the previous owner (an elf of high standing and a famous knight of the High Forest) of the sword and he had "relented" control that it was evil (obviously, when the sentience in the sword recognised an even greater elven fighter, he wanted him)) The spirit of the sword possesses its owner at strange moments, during the hours of darkness, and he would awaken covered in blood. The process of change was accelerated in the magical emanations of Underearth. Akin to Elric of Melnibone, the sword was never completely under the character's control and could lash out against allies, fuelling the owner with vitality. This caused the irredeamable death of at least one treasured NPC during the foray into the underdark.During the final battle, in the temple of Lloth in Erelhei Cinlu, the sword took possession of the bard who fled the battlefield to follow his own agenda, much to the dismay of the rest of the party. Ultimately it came down to a single hit point on each side of the remaining heroes (it was meant to be massacre, but they fought well), but alas, the Ranger/Wizard failed his final attack against the sole remaining demonic foe (who also stood at a single hit point). This was not the end of their adventures, however. The bard was captured, and tortured, but free at last from the corrupting influence of the sword. The drow fatally underestimated the just how strong this bard was, and he managed to effect an escape.The Ranger/Wizard slowly regenerated (ring of regeneration, which actually no one in the party knew he had), and awoke upon a pile of refuse, hastily dumped outside the temple, while general havoc spread through the city as realisation of the massive losses caused to the ruling elite by our daring heroes spread through the opportunistic vultures. I can't remember how the others survived. Perhaps they were ressurected by some MacGuffin?Via the help of an anti-Lolth faction, they managed to purchase their freedom from a mage whose only demand was a body part: the last knuckle of their little finger on left hand. Safely was Other have been Barbarians, Fighters, Rogues (can you say sneak attack?), Clerics, Sorcerers.</blockquote>

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