Medriev's FR Keep on the Shadowfell - Concluded Nov 7

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - The End of the Beginning (Part 2)

When they opened the southern doors, the smell of rotting meat poured from the chamber beyond. Gnawed, partially eaten humanoid corpses were strewn everywhere. Shambling undead figures moved towards the doors as soon as they saw the light from Litiraan’s wand but Telkya moved to meet them. She held her holy symbol before her in one hand and her sword in the other. From the amulet, light seared forth and tore through the two zombies nearest the door. From the shadows beyond the doorway came another figure, one that filled Dulvarna’s heart with horror.

“A ghoul leads them,” she said, naming the creature. “Surely we have nearly reached the heart of the evil here.” Ghouls were terrible undead formed either from the twisted souls of cannibals who had died or in dark rituals. However they were formed, they lived only to sate the ravenous hunger that filled their dark souls and to placate their deity Doresain, the King of the Ghouls and servant of the Demon Lord of Undead, Orcus. Dulvarna roared her hatred for the terrible creature and charged at it with her blade held high.

Dulvarna slashed her sword into the ghoul’s side and it staggered for a moment just as Erlmoor reached it. The paladin prayed to Lathander for the Morninglord’s power to strike down the undead monstrosity and, as his sword glowed bright with divine radiance, he plunged it into the ghoul’s chest. At the same time, he breathed acid upon the creature and drove it back another step.

Behind them, Enlishia burst into the room and loosed an arrow into the next undead creature as it shambled from the shadows to her right. More poured forward and above them hovered a small humanoid figure with bat-like wings. Lavren met them with his sword held high and kept them from Telkya and Litiraan. The wizard slew one with a silver bolt but still more came, in seemingly limitless numbers. One shambled towards Lavren, lashing out with the back of a fist and sending the elf reeling. Another swung at Litiraan and yet another struck Dulvarna while the ghoul hissed its hatred at all and leapt at Erlmoor, tearing at his flesh. Dulvarna twisted on the spot and slashed her blade in low at back of the ghoul’s legs. The steel swept through both limbs, severing muscle, tearing flesh and blasting through bone. The ghoul fell back from Erlmoor and collapsed on the floor, its severed legs beside it. Dulvarna plunged her blade through its face and it lay still. Erlmoor staggered and then lashed out with his blade beheading the nearest zombie to him.

Telkya drove her blade into the belly of one zombie as Litiraan retreated before it while Enlishia loosed an arrow into another, felling it beside its companion. More still came forward, though, to replace the fallen, one grasping at Erlmoor and clawing at his arms. The flying creature swooped at Litiraan but the wizard ducked under its assault while reaching for the blade at his belt. He drew his sword and lashed out at the creature, forcing it to turn away from him to evade his steel. More zombies surged forward, one slamming a shoulder into Dulvarna and knocking her back. She raised her gore-stained blade and lashed out left and right to cut down her foes.

The zombie before Lavren darted forward with unusual speed then and seized the elf in its rotten arms. It tried to drag the elf away into the midst of those that came behind it but Lavren resisted, his feet finding any purchase on the floor to hold his place. He ducked as another zombie swung at him, pulling his opponent downwards as well. He twisted to his left and saw that Dulvarna was desperately trying to reach him. Two zombies fell as her blade swept from left to right and back again but more blocked her path to the elf. Erlmoor cut down another beyond the warrior woman but still Lavren struggled alone. Another zombie fell to an arrow through the throat and for a moment, the zombie seemed to react. Lavren took his chance, ducking low and wriggling out of the zombie’s arms. He turned, cursing the zombie and drove his sword into the undead creature’s hip. It staggered back and Lavren made to retreat out of its reach. Again the zombie was quick and this time a flailing fist struck the side of the elf’s head and sent him reeling away.

Telkya slashed out at the flying creature and nicked one of its arms as it darted backwards. She looked left and saw Dulvarna cut down another two zombies with a single blow. The warrior woman turned and winked at the elf maid before turning her attention back to the last foe she and Erlmoor faced. Even as she did so, the dragonborn plunged his blade into the chest of the zombie and it fell at his feet. Both turned to aid their companions and Enlishia darted across between them, loosing an arrow into the zombie before Lavren as she crossed.

The flying creature swooped down and bit at Litiraan’s cheek before taking to the air once more but it was too slow this time and the elf lashed out with his blade, gouging a deep wound across the creature’s belly. It faltered in flight and Telkya took her chance, plunging her own sword through the creature’s throat. It dropped to the gore-soaked stone floor of the chamber. Both turned to aid Lavren just as the elf ducked another swing from the zombie he faced and then plunged his blade into the creature’s belly. It staggered and then collapsed at his feet, its terrible existence over at last.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - The End of the Beginning (Part 3)

From a side chamber, through a narrow crawl tunnel, Dulvarna brought forth a magical bag filled with gold that they divided amongst them and then they turned eastward, where stairs descended to double doors. Each of the six companions held weapon or wand ready as Dulvarna pushed the doors open and then all stood aghast as they beheld the terrible sight within the wide chamber beyond the portals. Crimson streams trailed across the floor and terminated at a grate surrounding a hole in the floor of what seemed to be a shadowy cathedral. Blue-green light emanated from crystal columns while a dais along the eastern wall appeared to be the source of the blood streams. A man in dark robes stood there, knife raised high, singing the praises of Shar! A tattoo of a black disk covered the man’s face. Enlishia looked to the hole in the floor and realised that chains allowed access to the pit.
“Something else is down there,” she called to the others.

They nodded to her but had no time to investigate the pit for from the left came a pale humanoid creature with glowing red eyes, elongated canine teeth and claws that tore at flesh. It seized Dulvarna’s arm and tore at her, desperately trying to bite her flesh. She twisted free of the creature’s grasp and slashed out with her blade, cutting the creature in half with one blow. Dulvarna darted left into a side chamber with a doorway that seemed to lead into the heart of the cathedral. As she reached the portal another creature appeared on the other side of it, a dark creeper, a humanoid, much like a man but a creature that clung to shadow. It saw her and hissed its contempt for it knew her to be a creature of the light. Another of the pale-skinned, red eyed creatures leapt at Dulvarna then and she fell back a step as her enemies came at her.

Behind Dulvarna, Telkya darted right, seeking another way into the centre of the cathedral and Lavren rushed after her. Erlmoor, meanwhile, rushed straight ahead into the main chamber. At the edge of the pit stood a man with the look of a mercenary, holding a huge axe in both his hands. The dragonborn roared and rushed at the man, spewing acid from his mouth as he went. Enlishia followed the paladin into the cathedral, turning to the right and loosing an arrow at another mercenary axeman who stood close to one of the glowing pillars. The missile drove into the man’s shoulder but he seemed to pay it no mind, merely yanking the shaft free and growling towards the ranger. Raising his axe, he rushed forward. Enlishia panicked for a moment but then she sensed movement behind her. Darting left, she dodged the leap of another pale-skinned humanoid. Vampires! The realisation struck her like a physical blow. Surely they were close to the heart of the Keep’s evil if such creatures came forth to fight them. An axe bit into her right shoulder then and spun her round to face the Axeman. Desperately, Enlishia threw down her bow and reached for the sword strapped to her back.

Dulvarna slashed out with her blade and cut open both of the vampires before her. They fell in a bloody mess to the stone before her, adding their own blood to the steady flow that fed the pit in the centre of the floor. The dark creeper darted in at her from the left and drove its dagger painfully into her leg. She staggered and felt her own warm blood flowing down her leg to join the torrent bound for the halls below. Dulvarna cursed and raised her blade to face this new foe.

Telkya rushed through the wide hallway and emerged into the cathedral from the south. Enlishia was already surrounded, battling a man and a vampire while Erlmoor faught a man and the tattooed priest made his way forward to aid his allies. Telkya prayed more fervently than she had ever done before and as she watched, a column of light descended on the priest and seared him with Corellon’s divine flame. He cursed and looked around for the source of his pain. His eyes fixed on Telkya but even as they did so, Lavren reached the priestess’ side. He leveled his wand and as he cursed the dark priest in elven, he loosed a black, crackling bolt of energy that struck the priest in the chest and drove him backwards. The priest recovered quickly and with a muttered curse, he started towards Telkya and Lavren, splashing through the blood that flowed into the pit.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - The End of the Beginning (Part 4)

Beyond the priest, Erlmoor’s blade flared brightly as he struck at the warrior before him and drove him back. Enlishia spun on the spot and moved towards the dragonborn, drawing her enemies with her. Litiraan loosed a silver bolt of energy into the chest of the mercenary and then retreated himself, circling around to the south, the way that Lavren and Telkya had gone. The vampire and the Axeman leapt forward at the same time in response, both attacking Enlishia. Claws tore at the ranger’s right arm and an axe blade tore down the side of her right arm. She cried out and retreated another step, all the while glancing back nervously at the pit behind her. The fierce warrior raged forward at Enlishia now while behind her, the other mercenary rushed at Erlmoor, his axe cutting into the dragonborn’s hip from the left.

Lavren ducked to his right as a coiling bolt of shadow lanced out from the dark priest’s hand towards the elf. Telkya loosed golden light from her holy symbol and then charged the priest with her sword in her hand. Lavren called flame from within the priest, setting his robes aflame and then drew his blade with his free hand and charged the priest.

Erlmoor roared and sprayed acid before slashing his blade across his enemy’s shoulder. The berserker mercenary roared in reply but Erlmoor danced back out of his reach to join Enlishia in her battle against the vampire and the second warrior. The ranger and the paladin fought back to back then, keeping three foes at bay with sheer determination and fury. Lavren and Telkya looked up from their battle with the priest and wondered at the skill of their two companions. Then the dark priest lashed out with the last of his fury and sent Telkya reeling.

Dulvarna staggered as she forced the vampire back from her once more. The creature had weakened her with repeated assaults and though the claw wounds it inflicted were small, each sapped a little more of her strength. With a feral roar, Dulvarna surged forward, lashing out with her blade and cutting across the chest of the dark creeper before plunging the blade into the side of the vampire. The creature collapsed before her, spilling its blood into the ever-growing flow. She swatted the dark creeper’s dagger aside and rounded on it fiercely. For the first time, she saw fear in the eyes of the shadow creature as she advance don it without relenting.

Telkya darted in at the priest from his right with her blade and he turned to parry her sword with his mace. He drove the blade down into the floor and began to smile but as he did so, his mouth filled with blood. He looked down and saw Lavren’s sword protruding from her belly, having been driven in through his kidney as he turned to parry. Desperately, the priest lashed out, roaring his defiance as he did so but Telkya and Lavren leapt back. Lifestealer tore through the priest’s side and he collapsed in the torrent of blood beside the dark pit, his own blood and entrails merging with those of his sacrifices. The priest smiled at the grim irony and then collapsed in the crimson stream.

Erlmoor drove his blade in low and stabbed its point into the hip of the berserker mercenary before him. The warrior roared in response and lashed out with his axe, slashing the blade in under the dragonborn’s arm and driving the plate of his armour there painfully into his ribs. Behind the paladin, a silver bolt struck the other mercenary as Litiraan entered the cathedral again from the south but it was not enough to save Enlishia. The last vampire leapt upon her again, tearing at her throat with claws and teeth, desperately seeking her lifeblood. Desperately, the ranger tried to shake off the creature but then pain exploded at the bottom of her back and she knew that her mercenary foe had struck her again. She cried out as she felt warm blood flow down from the wound and then dizziness assailed her. Dizziness became blackness and she fell to the stone floor beside the blood stream. Erlmoor turned as Enlishia cried out but then realised that he had made a terrible mistake. The axe of his own foe drove into his thigh and he all but fell as he twisted around to face his enemy again. Erlmoor roared his defiance to all three enemies he faced. And then they came for him.

Dulvarna saw Enlishia fall and gave her own guttural cry of defiance before slashing her blade in low at the dark creeper’s leg. It screeched as her blade cut into the side of its knee and as it staggered, the warrior woman raised her blade, looped it around and swept it in at the shadow creature’s throat. The blade swept through the dark creeper’s neck and beheaded it before it ever had chance to raise its knife. Dulvarna charged at the last vampire with her blade held high as Telkya and Dulvarna charged into battle from the other side. Erlmoor roared again and then began to pray loudly to Lathander as he struck at the mercenary before him, drawing more blood and driving the warrior back a step. On the floor, Enlishia’s eyes flicked open as she heard Erlmoor’s prayer and knew that it was fore her as well as for him. She looked around without moving her head and surveyed the scene as she focused on gathering enough strength to rejoin the battle. Grasping her sword firmly, Enlishia waited for her moment.

Litiraan splashed into the blood stream to where the priest lay and then leveled his wand at Erlmoor’s enemy. A silver bolt lanced out and struck the berserker in the side. The warrior staggered and then lashed out wildly at Erlmoor. The dragonborn roared his defiance and made to lash out at his enemy but as he did so, Lavren drove his blade into the side of the warrior. Turning, the elf pitched the warrior over the side into the black pit. Elf and dragonborn turned to see that Telkya stood over the other warrior, now slain before her and Dulvarna stood over the last decapitated vampire.
“Might as well have announced us as guests,” said Enlishia to Lavren as she rose unsteadily from the floor.
“Always good to make an entrance,” answered Lavren with a smile. He looked over to the chains and realised their next course. He was not looking forward to it.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 22 - The Last Enemy (Part 1)

They descended into a nightmare. Crimson streams spilled from above and formed a pool of blood in the center of the chamber while a foreboding purple light illuminated the room. A yawning, black portal dominated the northern wall of the chamber and huge talon-like shapes strained against the portal, as if the darkness were a thin film restraining some beast. A set of blazing runes had been inscribed on the floor before the portal and opposite the portal stood a massive black statue of a beautiful woman clad in robes. The statue’s form seemed as dark as midnight on a starless night. To the east, steps led to a platform where a small pit was flanked by two small demon statues. To the west, another set of steps ascended to an altar of bone flanked by wide pillars. A human clad in heavy armor and carrying a skull-capped rod stood behind the altar. His eyes were closed, and a book rested open before him. He chanted a low, droning prayer to Shar, the Mistress of Night.

Dulvarna charged towards the priest, rushing up the steps with her sword in her hands. The priest seemed to sense her presence and opened his eyes. He leveled his rod at her and loosed a black bolt at the her but she ducked to one side and evaded the spell. He gestured with his left hand and from flanking positions in the shadow of two pillars at the bottom of the stairs, two skeletons clacked forward, swords in their hands. Telkya leapt from her chain and rushed at them, brandishing her holy symbol. Searing light lanced out at the two undead and drove them back and away from Dulvarna, towards the pool of blood and waiting blades and spells of her companions.

Enlishia leapt into the pool of blood with her bow at the ready. She loosed an arrow into the nearest skeleton and drove it back another jerking step. Lavren landed behind her and loosed two purple bolts from his wand that flew wildly at the skeletons and missed both. A blue bolt flew past the elf then and he turned to see a gaunt creature with pallid, leathery skin stretched taut over its bones. Black claws tipped its fingers and toes while its nose was sunken and its lips were pulled back in a death grimace.
“A wight,” he announced. “You remember them from the Ashen Tower.”
“Of course,” answered Erlmoor as he dropped into the blood. “Always a pleasure.” The paladin charged towards the wight while Litiraan turned his wand on one of the skeletons and loosed a blue bolt into the creature.

Dulvarna reached the top of the steps and slashed her blade across the leg of the Sharess priest. The priest’s rod came up in response, striking Dulvarna under the chin and sending her reeling back down the first of the stairs.

“You’ll have to do better than that,” he taunted. “I am Kalarel, Lord of Shadowfell Keep. And I had expected so much more of you.” A bolt of flame struck the stone above the priest’s head then and he flinched. Dulvarna looked back to Telkya, who now stood off to one side but also at the top of the steps. She smiled and raised her blade.
“I’m just getting started,” she said to the priest and then she came at him in a flurry of steel.

One of the skeletons turned and darted back up the steps to aid its master while the other hesitated, still reeling form Telkya’s divine power. Enlishia loosed an arrow into the creature’s shoulder, shattering more bone but then she turned away to aid Erlmoor against the wight. The wight howled and leered at them and Enlishia was stopped in her tracks. She staggered back as the sheer power of the wight’s fearful visage assailed her. Erlmoor, though, battled on despite the wight’s power. Erlmoor reached the top of the steps and with a roar, he showered the thing in acid. His blade sang out and clove into the wight’s side. It screeched its anger and eternal pain and then came at the dragonborn again.

Litiraan blasted the remaining skeleton with a silver bolt but still it turned away and rushed back up the steps to aid its master. At the top of the steps, Dulvarna slashed aside Kalarel’s stave and cut a wound across the man’s chest, just under his arm. Still he smiled at the woman and finally, Dulvarna knew why. She heard the clack of the skeleton behind her and twisted on the top of the steps to keep both her enemies in view. Behind her, Dulvarna saw Telkya draw her sword to fight the other skeleton which had also returned to the dais to defend its master. Dulvarna ducked the swing of the skeleton she faced and retreated along the dais towards Telkya, hoping to join forces with the priestess. It was a desperate hope, she knew, and the gloating smile of the priest only confirmed this.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 22 - The Last Enemy (Part 2)

At the other end of the chamber, Enlishia darted forward and loosed an arrow into the wight that drove through its throat. The wight lashed out at Erlmoor with a claw but the paladin ducked under the blow and then drove his blade into the belly of the creature. It burst into dust and bones and collapsed on the dais between the two statues. Erlmoor turned away and rushed to join his companions.

Lavren rushed towards the western stairs, leveling his wand and uttering a curse at the skeleton that Telkya fought as he went. With a word, he loosed black, crackling energy at the skeleton and blasted it apart in a shower of bones and shards. Litiraan came up beside the warlock and loosed his own blue bolt towards the other skeleton but the magic missile flew high and wide and seared into the stone wall above the dais.

Kalarel’s rod struck Dulvarna again and sent her reeling down the first few steps. She shook her head to clear the dizziness and was not surprised to see the priest leering over her.
“I had expected so much more,” Kalarel said. “From all of you.” He raised his voice as he said the last so that all in the wide chamber might here. “You cannot stop me. No one can.”
“I beg to differ,” said Telkya from his left and as she brandished her holy symbol, a searing light burst forth from it and burned the skin of the dark priest. He began to laugh and waved his hand once more. The remaining skeleton rushed at Dulvarna and the warrior woman was forced to turn away down the stairs.

Enlishia rushed to the bottom of the western stairs and loosed an arrow that drove into the base of the spine of the remaining skeleton. A black bolt from Lavren’s wand seared over the creature’s head and then a silver bolt struck the skeleton, driving it to its knees on the steps. Dulvarna spun on the spot, trying to behead the skeleton but as it sank to its knees, she missed and Kalarel took his chance. The priest raised his rod and then brought it down fiercely on the back of the warrior woman’s head. In a shower of blood, Dulvarna tumbled forward down the steps. Kalarel laughed and turned his rod towards Telkya. With a word, he unleashed a black bolt that struck the priestess in the chest. She staggered back and fell to her knees as a terrible cold seeped through her.

“Fools,” sneered Kalarel. “How could you presume to be able to defeat me.”
“We fear you not,” answered Telkya, loosing fiery light from her holy symbol. “Nor do we fear death.”
“There are fates far worse than death,” Kalarel responded with a glance towards the portal as Telkya’s light blasted into the stone behind him. He waved his hand again and the last skeleton charged at Telkya, driving its blade into her side as she turned to face it. She gasped and prayed to Corellon that the dark priest was not right.

Enlishia loosed an arrow into the last skeleton and sent it tumbling down the stairs as a disjointed pile of bones. Beside her, Lavren cursed the priest in elven and then loosed a black bolt towards him. This one struck home and sent the priest reeling back against the altar. Litiraan was chanting furiously beside the warlock while on the left, Erlmoor started up the steps, unseen by Kalarel.

Another black ray struck Telkya and sent her rolling down the steps as her strength was taken from her with each strike. She rose, drew her sword and charged at the dark priest, knowing it would likely be the last thing she would ever do. Kalarel laughed at her and raised his rod, parrying her sword thrust with ease. Enlishia cried out and rushed across the bottom of the steps, nocking two arrows to her bow as she ran. She loosed both arrows at the priest and watched as they both drove into his right shoulder. He reached up and broke both shafts free from his flesh.

“You’re next, archer woman,” said the priest, fixing Enlishia with a terrible gaze.
“I think not,” said Lavren and with a gesture of his wand and an uttered spell, he afflicted the dark priest with his worst nightmares. Kalarel staggered and reeled, moving down the steps towards Erlmoor’s waiting blade.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 22 - The Last Enemy (Part 3)

Litiraan rushed up the steps on the right to flank the reeling priest. He uttered an incantation and called forth flame from his wand that engulfed Kalarel. Erlmoor prayed as he slashed out with his blade and a burst of white light exploded from the weapon as it drove into Kalarel’s shoulder. The dark priest cried out then and knew fear once again. Erlmoor drew his blade back and drove it into his belly, barely piercing the priest’s armour but driving him back and hurting him nonetheless. The priest roared in pain and anger, lashing out with his rod and striking the dragonborn on the side of the head. The paladin twisted left but drew himself back up to his full height despite the coldness around the place where the rod had struck him. He saw Telkya kneel beside Dulvarna and realised that the warrior woman yet lived and would soon rejoin the battle. He smiled, showing his sharp teeth.
“Do you yield yet priest?” he asked.
“I should ask you the same thing,” Kalarel sneered back though there was less conviction than there had been.

Two arrows flew past Kalarel’s head followed by a silver bolt of magical energy and again the priest flinched visibly. Erlmoor darted forward and slashed his sword across the priest’s arm while Dulvarna, having risen to her feet unseen behind the priest, rushed at Kalarel’s back. The priest turned at the last moment but the warrior woman’s blade still drove into the priest’s side. The priest rounded on Dulvarna in anger and lashed out with his rod, striking her hard in the face. As she reeled back, he brought the weapon down hard on the top of her head. Dulvarna crumpled for the second time on the steps that led to the dark altar.

Telkya cried out and rushed at the priest only for her sword to be arrogantly swatted aside by the priest’s rod. He began to laugh but as he did so, an arrow zipped past his head. The second shaft drove into his chest and Kalarel staggered. He looked around at his enemies and knew that his end had come.
“Curse you all,” he called out. “Curse you all!”

A heartbeat later, a black bolt from Lavren’s wand seared through the priest’s chest and pitched him backwards off the side of the steps. He landed with a heavy thump on the floor below and lay there, unmoving. From the portal there was terrible, draconic screech as two claws reached out into the room one last time and then were drawn back. The portal faded away to black and then disappeared, leaving only circular stone portal where once claws tried desperately to enter the Realms. Erlmoor and Enlishia rushed to Dulvarna’s side while the others moved around the room, trying to take in the magnitude of their victory. They had done a great good here, all knew, but it was yet to truly hit home.

 

[Medriev]

Epilogue - Leaving Winterhaven

Lavren looked back towards Winterhaven as they wound their way down the track to the East Way. The spring sunshine was bright and warm but there was still a bite in the cold mountain air and as he shivered he decided the cold was making his mood dark. The small town had become home for them all over the last few rides and it was a shame to be leaving. Lord Padraig had honoured them with a feast when they had brought news of the Keep’s defeat to the village but for Lavren it had seemed empty. He wondered if it was because Thira lay buried behind them, lying beneath a cairn on the edge of the Keep’s ruins but he could not understand the sense in that. She had been a lover and there had been several before her. He had not one as he missed her for many years. Not since Sumith, who had been called Waterchild. She had been so beautiful, until…..

The elf banished thoughts of Sumith and Thira and looked around at his companions. These were his only allies now and so far, their adventures had proved profitable. Perhaps Thunderspire would offer yet more gold and more chances to build his power and prestige. He needed both is he was ever to return home. He looked over at Telkya and she smiled at him. Her beauty was undeniable, her appeal less brazen than Thira’s. If only he could discern her relationship with Litiraan then he would consider trying to take his admiration of her beauty further. He could wait. And besides, Thunderspire Mountain lay ahead of them. There would be time enough for other diversions later.

Coming soon..... Thunderspire Labyrinth