Angelic Allies
The High Priest of Lathander returned to the sword known as First Light after spending long hours in prayer. He knew, after researching, that the holy sword of Lathander had not originally been imbued with intelligence, and yet there seemed to be a presence within the sword now. He contacted a wizard who worked for the church, and after casting a Legend Lore spell, the mage revealed information on the sword’s properties. The wizard explained that after performing a particular ritual, which the mage went into great detail about, the presence within the sword would be set free.
The High Priest went to work preparing for the ritual. Several days later, the ritual was complete, and the priest called out…
“Lathander has need of you, Avangel. Come forth and return to this world, my son.”
First Light began to shimmer, and an angelic form began to take place outside of the sword. The High Priest was in awe over the elf that was emerging from the sword, for he was unlike any elf the priest had ever seen. It seemed that First Light had changed Avangel, the elf who had been imprisoned within the sword for hundreds of years. Standing as though he were a tall, alabaster statue of an elf, Avangel had golden hair and feathered wings sprouted from his back. He wore golden full plate armor and held in his hand a shield in the shape of a golden sun.
The priest looked aglow with happiness and he handed Avangel First Light and a Jade Tome. He tried quickly to explain to Avangel the happenings in the world around them, and how the forces of darkness were gathering. He told him of The Unusual Heroes, and how they had returned First Light and the Jade Tome to the church after they had discovered them in a tomb nearly a year ago in Myth Drannor, and how they were in need of his assistance now in combating the dark forces.
The High Priest called upon the wizard once again, who had been using a scrying pool to locate the heroes. Seeing that Avangel was ready, the mage teleported the celestial elf into the Underdark to find the Unusual Heroes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As the heroes finished concealing Gideon’s body from possible danger, Lox noticed there was something hiding in the corner near the bodies of the desmodu. Weapons ready, the party approached the creature, who appeared to be a lizard man.
“Don’t hurt me,” it hissed, “I’m merely a ssssslave.”
The lizard man was unarmed and looked to be badly beaten.
“What should we do?” asked Gnettles.
“Well, it’s obvious the creature has been tortured,” said Dent.
An odd whooooshing sound came from behind the heroes, and a voice rang clear through the air.
“That creature radiates evil.”
The group turned to look upon a tall, shining elf with beautiful feathery wings.
“Wow, you’re shiny!” cried Lox.
Avangel stood with his wings folded and his sword pointed at the lizard man. Groveling, the creature begged for it’s life.
“Who are you?” asked Arden.
“I am Avangel, Chosen of Lathander, and I have come to assist you in eliminating the legion of darkness.”
“How did you get here? Did you fly in on your wings? What kind of elf has wings…” Lox rambled on, until hushed by Gnettles.
“I have been sent by the Church of Lathander,” stated Avangel. “You and your companions returned First Light to the church, who has freed me from my glorious prison within the sword.”
“Wow!” cried Lox. “That’s why you’re so beautiful.”
“You let me livvvvvve?” groveled the lizard man.
“You must be brought to justice,” said Avangel matter-of-factly. “Bind his hands.”
Inmir took out some rope, and as he reached for the lizard man’s hands, he realized they did not feel the way they looked. What he saw was scaly, dry, claw-like hands, and what he felt was wet and soft like a tentacle.
“Yikes,” he gasped in surprise.
“What is it?” asked Arden.
“Not a lizard man, that’s for sure,” said Inmir.
“Drop your illusion so that we may see your true face,” demanded Avangel.
The lizard man stepped back, and as it’s illusion disappeared, the companions stood staring at an illithid! The creature let out a gurgling sort of laugh as it disappeared from sight.
“What was that thing?” asked Inmir.
“I’ve read about them,” said Arden. “They are called Illithids, and they are very dangerous foes.”
“Well, it’s gone now, so let’s keep moving so we can find the key,” said Dent.
Haley sniffed at Avangel with curiosity, then made her way back to Dent. On the way down the winding staircase, the heroes introduced themselves to Avangel, and explained to him what happened to the original heroes, who he said returned the sword almost a year ago.
As they reached the bottom of the staircase, a room opened before them. A gnome with a repeating crossbow and many odd-looking gadgets sat atop a large pile of rubble. Behind him was another winding staircase leading down.
“Hey Gnettles,” called the gnome. “Remember me, Gristle Gearhammer?”
Gnettles looked confused as the gnome addressed him.
“Aw, c’mon buddy…I went to the academy with ya,” called Gristle. “I would give you a poundin’ when you didn’t do my assignments, remember?”
Suddenly Gnettles recalled the threats and taunts of the gnome and frowned.
“As a matter of fact I do remember you. What brings you here, Gristle? It can’t be good.”
“Ah, I was sent here to tell the beholders to kill Gideon Xol for Zygamor.”
“Zygamor the Hunter?” bellowed Avangel.
“Yeah, you know him?”
“If you are following orders from Zygamor to kill members of the Unusual Heroes, then you best prepare for battle!” cried Avangel.
“I’m just a messenger,” said Gristle, still sitting on the rubble. “You wouldn’t kill the a messenger owl, or a messenger pigeon would ya?”
“You are no owl or pigeon,” said Avangel.
“You’re more like a turkey!” yelled Lox.
Gnettles began casting, and suddenly, Gristle was a pigeon.
“Looks like you really are a pigeon, eh, Gristle?” taunted Gnettles.
The pigeon let out angry, squawking calls and relieved himself on the rubble below him, while Dent, Haley, Avangel and Gnettles began approaching the bird.
Suddenly, a female assassin, who had been studying Dent, jumped up from behind the rubble with a dagger in each hand. She lashed out at the ranger, but missed him. He noticed she had only one eye, which had a look of crazed derangement in it.
She leapt from her spot behind the rubble and struck out at dent twice more, scoring two nasty hits. Inmir took out his bow and shot an arrow, which lodged deeply into the assassin’s chest. Avangel, who had lifted into the air when she sprung out the first time, swooped down with First Light and struck her down.
Dent snatched the bird from it’s perch on the rubble and began demanding information on the key. The pigeon cooed and squawked, which Dent translated.
“He says if we turn him back into a gnome, he’ll tell us where he put the key.”
Gnettles cast Dispel Magic and suddenly the pigeon became a gnome.
“I had the key,” said Gristle smiling evilly, “But I threw it down the stairs and into the water, where the kraken is.”
“You shall pay for your crimes,” said Avangel. “You must be brought to justice.”
Inmir bound the gnome’s hands and feet, then took off the Winged Boots that Gristle wore. Without a single word to the rest of the group, Inmir destroyed the magical boots.
“What is wrong with you?” shouted Arden.
“Why have you destroyed such an item?” asked Avangel.
“As I said before, I get part of the treasure we find, and it is up to me what I do with my share,” he said flatly.
“I did not see anyone divvy up treasure,” said Avangel scolding Inmir. “Your treasure is yours to do with as you wish, but do not destroy items that are not rightfully yours.”
Dent grimaced at Inmir, then picked up the gnome and set him on the ground.
“I’ll teleport him back to town,” said Gnettles. “Would you like me to say hello to Sally, Lox?”
Lox frowned.
“Yeah…tell her I’m dead.”
The group was shocked by the halfling’s cold-hearted comment.
“Lying is not a good thing to do,” said Avangel.
“Who said I’m lying? You don’t know anything about me and Sally!”
“Well,” scolded Avangel, “I know you’re not dead, Lox Lumley, so I know that it is not good.”
Lox crossed his hands over his chest in protest.
“And I was gonna invite you to the wedding…”
The Adventure Continues…
