Renfield: Of Children and Lost Souls: Oblivion comes to Green (UPDATED)

[Renfield]

Greetings, welcome to my very first campaign post, this is a home brewed setting using primarily 3.5 rules with the slight addition of my Golden House Rule of Divinity: If it was better in 3.0, it stays. To explain needlessly: I didn't view a single thing in 3.0 as overpowered, I won't go overboard on this however anyway I *Renfields conscience and this point stands up, walks the short distance up his shoulder to his head and promptly smacks him giving him a not so subtle message to get on with the program* ah right, well anyway, on with the first install ment of "Of Children and Lost Souls."

Heroes:

Nym the Perceptor: Druid of the Cursewood Forest with the gift of percieving the Green.

Kerowyn aka: Amarbie: Odd True Elf Amazon warrior. Normally quite timid (odd for both race and clan) until angered. A deadly shot with the bow and able to wield a large club with surprising strength.

Delver: Odd Darkelven Necromancer from the Shadewood Forest with shriveled hands that are deadly to the touch.

If anyone is curious about some of the odd abilities that people have and some of the things we do that just don't seem right here's a small explanation: We are using a whole truckload of stuff from Mongoose Punlishing, primarily their magic sourcebooks and their Quinisential books (sp). So, yeah, just letting you know.

(this will only be a short post as it is 4:00am right now and I'm tired)

Erias Strongoak stood atop Watchers Lookout, a tall hill with a grand old oak tree upon it's crown. he stood and he listened. The man wasn't tall compaired to most men, a modest height of 5'6" with a wirey frame, not the most imposing of physical specimens though he had cowed creatures many times bigger than he. His green eyes stared ahead, seemingly at nothing with a saddened look in their core, but his focus wasn't upon his visual sense, no he was listening, to the wind in particular.

The wind had some disturbing things to say, all had gone silent in the Shorntooth mountains to the west, dangerously close to the small town of green, his home and domain. The wind loathed what it felt in the mountains, what little Erias could sense caused him to ferally snort like a wolf sniffing something foul. What disturbed him more was what Rock and Earth told him, they cried out for Gaia's preservation, they called out for aid, however not to him.

"Something is wrong isn't it?" a voice said apparently out of nowhere, it would have startled most men though the owner of the calm peaceful voice as well as Erias, were well adept at such meetings.

"The Wind speaks of trouble from the mountains my friend, and the Earth cries out for aid. Though who the Earth is calling I know not..." Erias said in a passive tone, both men were worried, though both men were also experts o keeping that worry from their faces.

"Perhaps it is Gaia who is calling out..." the younger man said. This elicited a look from Erias.

"Perhaps Loren, perhaps, are you sure you went down the right path when you chose Solar?" he asked after turning to face the sandy hared plain looking young priest. His crimson robes with the bright sunburst emblazoned on it's back clashed with the Druids green and brown garb. "sometimes I could almost swear you were a student of gaia." he said with a laugh that quickly died away.

A pause followed for a moment before Loren finally spoke "I followed my heart Erias, just as you did, and I am glad fate was kind enough to put us in the one kingdom where our faiths aren't at eachothers throats." the crimson clad priest sad in the calm peaceful voice, Erias knew him to be right, as he too was thankful for such a kind hand.

"Well." said Erias looking down the path he had walked many many times before looking up at the sky, it was overcast. He paused a moment and his saddened green eyes flashed for a moment "I think I must be going on my afternoon walk."

**

Somewhere, in a room lit by the flames of a thousand black candles, at the foot of a blood stained alter in the center of a blasphemous circle of dark runes a figure knelt. And Prayed. The sound of a door opening echoed through the unholy chamber the echo sealed by the sound of the same door shutting. The clinking sound of a man in plate and mail accompanied the footsteps that approached the darkly clad figure until they came to a halt at a respective... and safe distance.

"MiLord," a deep voice that radiated discipline and duty "Sorith bade me to inform you that the preperation for the ritual is nearing completion."

The figure smiled mirthlessly, not that the human could see, and a sinister rasping voice spoke "Sorith should know that I would have preffered news of it's completion *not* it's nearing such." the man shifted, being near this one was always a discomfort, though duty was duty. "Send out Marcurian and his Black Fists, have them camp at the circle and await my next orders."

Another metalic sound of armor shifting as the man saluted. "Very well MiLord." and the figure stood and left the room. The mirthless smile upon the darkly clad figures face broke into a grin, a grin of razor sharp teeth.

 

[Black_Kaioshin]

Yay!! Good job, Zach. Nice beginning.

 

[Renfield]

First player introduction...

Amarbie swung her club in a savage overhead arch, something the brigand did not suspect from such a sleight woman wielding such a big club, and with the agility of the like he'd never seen. But the brigand had never encountered a True Elf before, not had he encountered an Amazon either, and the combination proved to be too much as his neck snapped and he lost all feeling in his body. He crumpled to the grass covered ground, he did still feel the excruciating pain in his skull, however that ended when the last sight he saw in his mortal life was that of a beautiful angry looking large eyed fey, this before the rune covered club savagely crushed his skull in a finishing blow.

Amarbies work wasn't finished yet however, she let the huge club drop to her ground as her wry form lifted an exotically carved bow, pulling an arrow from her quiver she drew the arrow back and released hitting a fleeing brigand and dropping him dead. "Pathetic men," she muttered as she scanned the area looking for any more of the would be assailants, nothing but grass and trees, though she and her mistress did stray far from the caravan... "none of you would have been worthy to be the slave of even the weakest and most skilless of my tribe." she finished and spat, the man did get a lucky shot in, that gash in her thigh wasn't pretty. She tore cloth from her tunic and tied it around the wound before turning back to Athena.

Athena was Amarbies mistress, another strange quality of the Elf, she was a slave, though under the service of her mistress it had not seemed as such. They looked upon one another as equals, even if Athena wouldn't last a day alone in a jungle she was a good woman with a fierce spirit none would suspect in such a normally demure beauty. They had become as close to friends as an Empire woman and a slave could be. Now the raven haired beauty look at the wild elf that had been selected to be her bodyguard under oath of life and soul and tears filled the womans eyes.

"This is your chance Amarbie." she said her voice almost breaking "No others are around to see you run."

Amarbie was speechless, this was the last thing she expected. Her large icy blue orbs scanned the area and confirmed her mistresses words, they had unintentionally gotten far away from the Ambassador's (her Husbands) Caravan and there was not another guard in sight. "But mistress, I can't leave you."

Athena shook her head "Go, now, I'll tell them you were killed protecting me."

Amarbie looked at her for a long moment letting her eyes express her thanks, gratitude, and sadness in a way that words could never do justice. "Thank you Athena." she said softly yet audibly and turned and started to run. Should Senator, and now Ambasador, Karsus see through his wifes lie then he would send some men after her. Not too many and not too far but still it was best to be far away. She ran until her lungs burned with fire, she once again felt the thrill of running through a forest, something she had only been away from for a couple years, though those years felt like an eternity.

When she was made body guard to the Senators wife they had given her her old items back as well as a nice suit of studded leather and plenty of potions of healing to keep her up in any long drawn out battles. She also kept them because she refused the services of the priests of Solar, she had tribesmates that worshiped the sun god as well as ones that worshiped the earth mother Gaia but the priests of the Empire were different somehow... It didn't matter now though, she was free, with the wind in her hair and green trees around her. She continued to run stopping only once to rest before continuing on and stopping again only when it started getting dark and she finally felt the need to rest.

Amarbie winced as she looked at her wound, it had bled quite profusely and the rag was soaked through, she frowned for she knew nothing of the local flora and fauna or had any idea of what might help the wound. This land had trees with needles, some with small leaves unlike the great leaves of the trees of her jungle home. As she drifted off to a fitful sleep she hoped she could find something to help it. She had consumed one of her numerous potions to seal it but the damage had already been done and she had nothing to clense it with.

When the True Elf awoke, her wild hair was damp with sweat, her skin was covered with a sheen and her body felt inflamed. reluctantly she stood and moved to a nearby stream and tried to clean the wound. She new the water wouldn't really help, simply sooth the burning pain of the infection a fraction, she had to find help for this one or she could very well die. Amarbie stood and started walking knowing running would only wear her out faster. She continued like that for two days exiting the forest to a hilly region lightly dotted with trees. She sensed peace here, a balance, as though two forces normally at war with one another hunted and lived side by side in harmony. Such was this balance that she almost didn't realize she was on a road until she had begun walking up the opposite bank.

Amarbie paused and tiredly and in pain, her fever aflame throughout her body, started walking down the road. She was unable to get in touch with her fey brethren as she was raised in a human society and left out of touch with them. She continued down the road for what appeared to be hours, but in fact was barely one. when her vision blurred and she saw the grass and dirt of the road come up to meet her, then all went black.

 

[Renfield]

A rattle from a small worn leather pouch, the pouch is opened and numerous small bones scatter upon the ground in a pattern that only the figure who cast them can read, the figure being a necromancer afterall. The figure is of moderate height and slender as is the want of his race. His ears slightly pointed and his skin the darkened brown of his race, the Dark Elves, the fallen, the shamed. His cloak covered in leaves from the various trees of the surrounding forest. On the backside of his cloak scraps of cloth hung loosely. The elf crouches down upon rune covered boots to stare carefully at the bones sniffing them and muttering softly to himself. He was Delver, a servant of Gaia's death and spiritual aspects, and his experiences left him not quite all there...

Delver pauses in his sniffing and looks up, his dark piercing eyes seeing something only they can see. A boy stands before him, thre wicked claw marks having shredded half the childs face and his body looked as though it had been gnawed upon by some beast of the forest, the thing was, it had.

"Hello there." Delver says as he stands up, his bone necklace rattling "do you know anything to do with that?" he points a finger to the pattern of bones. This particular pattern speaking of dire portents.

The boy nods "You've gotta help us." he says, his erie voice sounding as though comming from afar and carried upon the wind. "Children are dying."

"Children die all the time," Delver said casually "It is the natural way of life, death." He crouches down to begin scooping up his bones.

"But these children wont be able to play with me." the boy says on the verge of crying ethereal tears. Delver lifts a brow as a little girl appears next to him her head bloody and her neck twisted at a wrong angle, Delver had spoken to her before, she had fallen out of a tree while playing in the woods. "We wont have any friends, they'll all be gone!" she half moans half sobs.

Delver thinks a moment before he looks to the girl again "Their spirits and souls are probably moving on little one, to the next life and to their god." he said softly

Both the girl and the boy shake their heads insistantly as another boy appears, this ones leg was had vicious marks in them, like some monsters maw had bitten down hard. The same marks were on his arms. This boy had fallen into a next of bear traps and bled to death, his name was Thomas. All three speak in unison "There is nothing natural about oblivion," Delvers eyes widen ever so slightly "The soul and the spirit cease to exist and might as well never have been." the dead children continued. "You must help us."

"Allright then," Delver says turning to pick up a long sword and a crossbow as well as various pouches. He also picks up one sack with numerous oddly shaped buldges within. "Where to." He knows better than to get more specific in his inquiries, spirits being cryptic at best, often more than he.

"The village of Green." the children spoke pointing towards the mountains. Delver nods and double checks to make sure he has everything before the scraps of cloth upon his back stretch out into odd looking skeletal wings, they begin to flap lifting him from the ground with their enchantments of flight. He looks back at his hut and the surrounding forest without worry for leaving it alone, the spirits will keep it safe, they always have after all; he thinks smiling to himself.

 

[Renfield]

Nym looked around, this was a pleasant land, peaceful, pretty, and good. Both Gaia and Solar were strong here, and cooperative, whereas in other lands their worshipers seemed nigh at each others throats. He smiled and looked over at his companion, the large Timberwolf looked back at him with piercing ice blue eyes, the top of the large animals head reaching Nym's shoulders easily. "Well shall we then Nanaki?" he said as they continued down the road that was more of a hard to find path. Few traveled it as this was a particularly out of the way corner of Alagor.

The two walked for most of the day, large wolf beside a man of about 5'8", a pair that seemed quite... natural. Nym was a lean man, with a smooth bald head and skin the color of chocolate. He wore forest green open robes with a long leather vest and leather breeches that were far more protective than they appeared. Around his neck was a necklace of wooden beads made from an apple tree and topped off with a bear fang in the middle. Upon the bridge of his nose rested a silver bead and further up in the middle of his forhead was a larger golden ones. At his hip was a curved blade while hanging from his pack was a darkwood shield. A tatoo stretched from his wrist to his shoulder a flowing druidic script.

Nanaki sniffed and stopped, the huge Timberwolf turned it's gaze upon Nym, Nym had stopped as well and met Nanaki's ice blue eyes with his own smokey gray orbs, they had come to a crossroads and both companions had felt the pull to the west, to the hills and the mountains beyond. Nym nodded to the wolf and instead of heading eastward, which would have lead them to the beuatiful forest in the distance, he headed west into the peaceful hilly region dotted with small clusters of trees. Gaia's children were calling to him, and who was he to deny such a call, a call for help.

***

The afternoon was approaching evening and Nym and Nanaki had been walking on the road for only a few hours. Once again the pair stopped, Nanaki sniffed the air, for a moment the wolf was tense as it smelled the passing of another, he sniffed again and relaxed visibily. As they crested the top of the hill they looked down the path and noticed a figure walking at a slow pace. The figure carried a wooden staff and and was adorned in brown hooded robes. Nym paused for only a moment before nodding to himself and continuing onward, at the pairs casual pace they'd catch up on the man and his leisurly step easily, the young druid simply didn't know if that would be a good or bad thing.

They continued walking until they were nigh but 20 yards from the figure when they heard a mans voice call out. "Greetings." the figure and the apparent owner of the voice stopped. "I have been waiting for you to catch up, please, come walk beside me."

Nym quickened his stride only slightly and caught up to the man who turned to face him. The man was only a couple inches shorter than him and had a lightly tanned skin and a wirey build. He pulled his hood back revealing sharp green eyes and simple brown hair. "So you've been expecting me?" he asked unphased at the mans knowledge of his comming. "Who are you?" the three continued walking again.

"I am Erias Stongoak." He said nodding in greeting "Servant of Gaia, preserver of balance, and guardian of this particular patch of land. Am I correct to assume that you are the one the land itself has been calling to?" he asked his green eyes noting the beads. "A Seeker from the forbidden forest? How fitting then."

Nym nodded "Nym the Perceptor." he said returning the nod. "I have indeed been called here Erias, is there trouble in this land?"

Erias sighed and shook his head. "Not that it would seem on the surface." the druid said before looking around then looking back at the younger Nym "However the mountains have gone silent and the wind is worried and fearful."

Nym nodded gravely before Erias spoke again "You are welcome to return with me to the Village of Green, perhaps you could stay for a time until we figure out what is going on, it has been awhile before I've had the company of another Druid."

To this Nym nodded again. "I should like that." he said, for it had been awhile since he too had seen a fellow Druid. "Tell me Erias, are you the ony-" both stopped, the three had crested another hill and down in the small valley of the hill a sleight form lay prone. A form with long pointed ears and large eyes, a form with wild hair and a bloodsoaked makeshift bandage!

***

 

[Renfield]

***

Jonovan ran after his sister laughing with joy, they were playing a simple game, chasing eachother down pretending to be a monster then catching the other and pretending to eat it. The Roles would shift and one would be the adventurer chasing the monster for eating the person, the adventurer would catch the monster and slay it (with wooden toy swords) and the cycle would start over. His sister, Trissy (a shortened version of Tristandra) was currently the monster running from the adventurer.

It was evening, the sun had set though the sky was still lit with crimson and orange, as though aflame. Jonovan rounded the corner of a building and pushed aside his unruly brown bangs and noticed Trissy had stopped running. He laughed and ran forward and pretended to stab her "GOTCHA!" he cried and laughed for a moment. His laughter died as he noticed his sister was staring at something quite intently. His own brown eyes followed her gaze to a man holding something, something shiny and very pretty, he found himself fascinated with the object. His fascination was interrupted when he saw another figure pick up his sister and begin running off with the dazed girl. "TRISSA!" He yelled.

"Dammit Geran, you took her before the boy was fully under!" the figure holding the shiny said as he threw something at Jonovan.

Whatever it was it had hurt, he looked down at a dart like the type his father threw at the tavern, sticking out of his arm. His vision began to blur and he felt himself being picked up. Summoning all of his energy he screamed and bit down on the hand about to cover his mouth and got a satisfied grunt as he was forced into silence. As the boy began to drift into unconciousness he heard a shout, it was Daven, one of the Guardians of Fire, Jonovan smiled as he passed out knowing with the faith of a child that he'd be safe. The badguys always lost right?

***
Amarbie opened her eyes slowly, she looked around the immediate area without moving her head and knew she was in a cottage, she heard the crackle of a fire. She finally turned her head slightly and looked to see a man! She sat bolt upright and glared daggers at the dark skinned bald man who sat in a chair near the bed. "What am I doing in a *mans* bed!" she growled and the man lifted an eyebrow.

"You are in the home of Erias Strongoak, a guest of his however temporary just as I am," the man said in a calm voice not taken aback in the slightest by her outburst "it would be considered polite if you were a tad more polite to your rescuers and your host."

Amarbie continued to glare but in a softer growl she asked "Who are you?"

"I am Nym the Perceptor," the man said "A druid as is your host."

Amarbie heard a far more feral growl than her own and turned her head, her already large eyes widened upon seeing the huge timberwolf sleeping next to a fireplace obviously ready should she attack his companions. She nodded to herself and turned back to face Nym, "I see..."

"We came upon you lying unconcious and near death with fever," Nym said "That was a nasty cut you had, apparently healed a little too late. Erias and myself took you back here and proceeded to tend to you, he had to depart to help one of the other villagers today but said you'd likely awaken around this time."

The true elf thought on this for a moment and softened her gaze towards the human. Even if he was a man he did save her life, and in a strange land such as this she could use any allies she could get, she glanced at the wolf again before looking back to the man. "I am Kerowyn." The elf said simply. "Where are we?"

"We are in the Village of Green, it is evening, you've been here for about a week." he stopped and handed Amarbie her belongings which had been sitting in a pile beside him he glanced at Nanaki who had long since relaxed sensing no threat to his companion "That is Nanaki by the way." Nym paused for a moment and looked at Amarbie for a long moment "You are definitely not like most True Elves I've seen..." he said letting the question hang unasked in the air should Kerowyn choose to answer.

"When I was but a babe I was somehow abandoned," Amarbie began as she started putting on her armour, she set her weapons aside out of politeness for her absent host "I don't know how I was abandoned but the Jungle is a dangerous place so any number of dangers could have killed my parents." Nym nodded for her to continue "I was eventually taken in by a tribe of humans who raised me as one of their own, as an Amazon warrior."

At this Nym let out a groan that he couldn't stifle "I see, well, it explains your animosity towards males." he said with a sigh.

"You're familiar with Amazons?" Amarbie asked her curiosity piqued.

"Yes I'm afraid, I had a run in with them some time back, they had-" at this point they both turned their heads as screams and sounds of fighting broke out and the village warning bell was rung. Wasting no time They both snatched up their weapons, Amarbie her huge greatclub and her shortbow while Nym grabbed his quarterstaff and his sling and both rushed out the door.

***

The village was aflame, numerous housed along the outskirts and even in the center of town had been set to the torch. Men in black armor ran about cutting down villagers and engaging the town militia as well as the Elite Guardians of Fire. Nym and Amarbie came running out of Erias' hut and into the town square. They saw three groups of black armour setting houses aflame with torches, looking across the square they saw three Guardians of Fire rush to engage the assailants.

As the Crimson clad elite warriors of Alagor met two of the groups Nym and Amarbie noticed that had left one more, the one torching the inn, open. Wasting no time Nym hurriedly called upon gaia and summoned the roots and plants of the land to push up through the earth and entangle the men, there were five, four soldiers and one larger man clad in full plate, obviously a leader. Curses arose from the sounds of battle as many of the soldiers were quickly caught in the vines but the larger figure tore free and stalked towards the True Elf and the Druid.

Delver saw the village below and frowned as he noticed the telltale signs of battle, screams, burning houses, the clang of blade on blade. It had been a day since he set off for the village at the spirits plea and already it appeared he might be too late. He swooped down and landed on the roof of a building noticing the dark armored soldiers conveniently entangled below and quickly determining them to be the opposition he began the workings of a spell. A moment later one of the soldiers noticed an odd bead fly down and land in the middle of his struggling companions, he didn't have much time to ponder the bead before his world exploded in fire, pain, and death.

Amarbie met the Captains longsword with her club, the hardened wood batting the blade aside as she swung and bashed the mans armored leg. He growled and deftly returned and attack feinting low only to slash a wicked gash across the True Elfs left arm. She growled in pain and attacked again. The man skillfully parried the blow before letting out a grunt of pain as a staff swung into his arm and a wickedly clawed paw slashed at his backside. Turning to face the new assailants he lashed out with two well places jabs of his sword, he smiled to himself beneath his helm as he heard the satisfying grunt of pain from the dark skinned man and the whimper from the huge wolf.

Nym growled in pain, this guy was good, "Nanaki, retreat." he called out to his wounded companion and the wolf reluctantly obeyed snapping at the man one last time. Nym heard another howl of pain as Amarbie was hit again by the deadly blade, this howl was followed by a scream of rage and he lifted his brow as he saw the slight elf's tight corded and streamline muscles buldge in her rage. She lunged forward at the man with newfound strength and vigor causing the Captain to begin fighting on the defensive as he parried blow after vicious blow of that great club. Nym took the opportunity to disengage and concentrated, he focused his thoughts onto the spirit of the bear and began evoking one of the Druids famed abilities. Shifting and morphing he soon found himself in the form of a black bear, seeing Amarbie still in trouble despite her rage he moved forward again to attack the Captain.

Delver smiled at the charred corpses, his tattered bone wings spread out again and he flew to the ground, he reached into his pouch and touched one of the bones within. Nodding he looked at one of the better preserved corpses and touched it infusing it with the spirit from within his pouch. The corpse slowly and stiffly stood up and Delver pointed towards one group of enemy soldiers, two of their number had been cut down but the other three were slowly overpowering the other, the corpses began to stagger over to give his former allies a little surprise.

At the far end of the village square the two other Guardians were having a hard time as well, they had easily felled half of the large group one taking down three while the other took down two, but the remaining four were pressing the now wounded soldiers hard. Finally one of the enemies got lucky and with a wicked laugh his blade lashed out catching one Guardian in the throat.The other Guardian snarled in rage and plunged his sword through the killers armor and straight through his heart dropping the man dead. He felt a blade bite deeply into his shoulder as he tried to wrench his own sword free of the corpse and turned to see one of the men about to strike a killing blow. Just then a loud snap, like a large icecicle breaking, echoed through the square and a flash of cold blue light struck the would be killer. The Guardian smiled in grim satisfaction as the mans armor became covered in a layer of frost and he let out a pained scream as even the blood in his veins began freezing before falling over dead. The Guardian had little time to see, let alone thank his rescuer, before he found himself fending off the violent attacks of the remaining two enemies.

Nym clawed and bit at the Captain but to little avail, the man's armor deflected his jaws while the claws merely scratched him. He focused on the wild and raging elf woman cutting into her again with his blade while recieving a rather painful slam to his shield arm. Nym attacked again managing to slash the man twice with his claws and was rewarded with a blade buried deep into his shoulder. He let out a growl of pain and backed away from the man. If a bear could smile Nym would have fore the man, distracted only slightly by the bear, fell for Amarbies feint, which was almost a perfect image of the one he used on her, she went low and struck high, only insted of hitting his arm her size assisted her in that her club slamed into his ribcage with great force, crushing armor and bone alike. The captain dropped.

The battle wasn't over however, the animated corpse of the soldier staggered over to his companions and swung at one with the sword he carried in life still in his hands. "Gerwyn what are yo-!" was all his former ally could say before she blade took his head. The Guardian, on his last legs as it was, was finally cut down and the two remaining engaged the zombie that had been Gerwyn.

Amarbie lifted her club and charged towards the two enemies as they laid into the remamining Guardian with vicious attacks. One of them grinned and seeing an opening on the Guardian moved to attack not expecting something quite solid and quite heavy to crush his skull and break his neck before he could lunge forward. His remaining companion, distracted by his comrades violent death at the end of a great club, was also killed as the Guardian of Fire took the Opportunity to plunge his blade through the mans gut and jerked it up into his ribcage.

The Zombie had taken down another of the black armored soldiers, the man was already wounded and when the clumsily swung sword cut down at the base of the neck where it met the shoulder he dropped in time for the last enemy standing to lay into the zombie removing it's head and kicking it down. The man took a look at the situation, he was the last of the soldiers fighting in the square standing and knew that fleeing would be a wise choice. Turning to run he felt a sharp pain in the center of his back and reached back as though to scratch at an itch he couldn't reach before he too dropped a crossbow bolt sticking out of him.

 

[Renfield]

Aftermath

Many of the fires had been, for the most part, extinguished, Loren stood up from tending to a wounded soldier and moved over to where the three odd newcomers were standing conversing. "Does any of you need healing?" he asked his eyes darting over their wounds, even the Dark elf on the roof recieved a look over, he had assisted, it mattered not that he was one of The Shunned. The Druid looked as though he had already tended to himself, the odd Dark Elf looked unscathed, though the warrior True Elf looked rather wounded. She glanced at his crimson robes and the sunburst upon them and glared daggers as he opened his mouth to offer assistance.

"I can take care of myself thankyou very much." she said tartly and threw off her pack to begin the process of downing three potions. Her wounds rapidly began to knit.

"So I see." Loren responded and gave a farewell nod and moved on to assist other wounded. The girl had a personal grudge against Solarans, a common occurance to the south and a few other kingdoms where the church was less... pure.

Kerowyn finished guzzling the last potion and stood up to see a man in brown robes with a walking stick arrive. He was a short man, though he towered over her nonetheless, with a kindly demeanor and an face that needed a shave.

"Good to see you on your feet again my dear." the man said to her before turning towards Nym and kicked over one of the black armored corpses to reveal a black gauntlet clenched into a fist. "Mercenaries."

Nym lifted a brow "Mercenaries?" he said then glanced west. "From the mountains I imagine." to this Erias nodded.

"I have no idea what they came here for, but they struck after one of the guards called out about something," the druid said before glancing at Amarbie once more "Oh, do forgive me, I am Erias, Nym here and I found you unconscious on the road, though I'm sure you've been briefed already." he said to Amarbie who glared sullenly at the man who had saved her life yet put her in his bed.

Nym looked up to the Dark Elf and called out "You there, who are you?"

Delver's tattered skeletal wings spread out and he jumped off the roof and slowly glided to the ground. "Who am I? Who are you?" he asked cocking his head to the side.

"I asked first." Nym said finding the man to be, at the least, odd.

"Asking first matters not, who are you?" the man asked again.

"Enough games, tell us your name." Nym said his voice showing his irritation.

"I am called Delver by the Spirits, and as that is the name that suits me most, it is my name." He said again.

"You commune with the spirits?" Erias said curiously.

Delver nodded and smiled "That I do, and they told me to come here, for Oblivion will come here soon." he pointed westward "From the mountains."

"Oblivion?" Amarbie asked curiousy when a cry rose up from around the village.

"Where's my baby!"
"My boy, where's my little boy!?"
"Jonovaaaaaam, Trisaaaaaaaaa..."
"The children! Where are the children!"

Erias furrowed his brow his eyes widening in anger "They took the children." he said softly and cursed under his breath. "Why would they take the children?"

"Well, I could ask him." Delver said and pointed towards the corpse of the mercenary captain. Though he pointed a little bit above as though the captain was standing right there as opposed to laying down on the ground dead.

Nym nodded along with Erias as though there was nothing out of the ordinary about that, Amarbie was unphased either, there had been a witch doctor in her old village and she communicated with the dead as well. Delver began to make his way over to the corpse for the interrogation.

"Who are these Mercenaries?" Nym asked and was answered not by Erias but one of the Guardians of Fire who had happened by when the question was asked.

"Black Fists," he said spitting "Nasty bunch, they do the dirty work that most mercenaries wouldn't want to dirty their gauntlets in." He spat at one corpse. "Blackest of the black, saying suits 'em too." with that the man moved on making sure the corpses were indeed corpses.

"Well, that answers my question, but why come here, why steal children..." heasked, himself as much as Erias.

"Well, Delver there mentioned Oblivion..." at this Nym nodded and slowly his eyes widened.

"Oblivion?" Amarbie asked once again her own brow furrowed in puzzlement.

"Nonexistance." Erias said solemnly. "When one dies ones soul and spirit move on in one form or the other. They may go to Solar, become one with Gaia, return in another form or even be tortured for all eternity by Talishar." He frowned "However Oblivion is the utter anihilation of the soul and by connection the spirit... or vise versa depending on the terminology of choice, but the effect is the same."

Nym nodded "There are very few things that can utterly destroy a soul." he said "Not difficult things, just few things, one of these are ritualistic sacrifices."

Amarbie gasped and Erias shook his head "And the energy of a child is far greater for such purposes." the druid said and turned to Nym. "I'm beginning to see why you three were called here." he looked at Nanaki for a moment before returning his gaze to Nym "You by Gaia." he said looking over at the Dark Elf who seemed to be conversing with someone "Him by the spirits." then turned to Amarbie "And you by coincidence."

"I don't believe in coincidence." Amarbie said her tone grim.

"Fate then." Erias said as Delver finally returned.

"His name is Marcurian." the odd Elf said as he arrived "He was sent by some Talisharans to kidnap the children."

"That confirms our fears of sacrificing," Nym said "Where did they come from?"

"An old Temple in the Shorntooth mountains, couple days travel from here." he said after listening to a pouch. "Aparently it was a site of great power."

Erias nodded once again "Yes, that was a temple to an old cult that worshipped Gaia and Solar as a divine couple." he said, Nym lifted a brow at that "It's been abandoned for ages, I've been there a time or two..."

"So that's where we must go then?" Amarbie said and Erias nodded.

"If they have the children they'll be taking the main path, and there will be many of them." Erias said than thought a moment "I have a map depicting a rather complicated path to a side entrance of the temple I used. It's a longer trip, but if you hurry you might make it in time..."

Amarbie shook her head. "No, they have an hours head start and they have horses," she said frustration creeping into her voice "By the time we get there the children will be sacrificed."

Delver shook his head "No, they will not." he said simply, everyone looked at him curiously. He pointed to the sky "In four days there will be a blood moon." he said bringing his arm down and looking as though those words explained everything... they practically did.

Realization dawned on the other threes faces, the full moon was a prime time for a sacrifice, but a blood moon was a crimson full moon, even the most skeptical person staid indoors on the night or nights of a bloodmoon for strange and horrid things were known to occur. Sacrificial energies were increased many fold during these unholy nights.

"We must hurry." Nym spoke as Erias left to retrieve the map. "While we have four days I have a plan that may allow us to stop them before they even get to the temple."

*End of Session One*

 

[Renfield]

Session Two

Session: Two

Nym soared above the train of mercenaries in the form of one of the larger species of owl. The night sky was clear for the most part, though is things went right that would change. Roughly thirty mercenaries were killed in all, and the spirit that Delver supposedly spoke with said that fifty had come, which meant roughly twenty soldiers to deal with. His sharp owl eyes looked down upon the group and counted... twelve of the soldiers were simple troops, there seemed to be one at the head of the column with full plate and helm that was likely the leader, two others in full plate as well, though their armor wasn't as well made, lieutenants of higher underlings of a sort. The column was staggered, not a straight line, the soldiers were watchful and had the look of seasoned veterans. They were expecting a rescue, from militia and Guardians of Fire, not from three individuals who possed a little more than a good sword arm.

Nym noticed another thing, the prisoners consisted of six children and four adults, likely people were more in shock of the missing children that they assumed four missing adults were among the dead. The column looked like easy pickings in the hilly region, with the proper plan of attack. He turned on a convenient air current and before heading back noticed another owl curiously watching the marching column. He decided to make a quick detour and landed in the tree next to the owl. "Hello." he greeted the owl with a hoot.

"Hello." it responded back

"Good eating?" Nym responded.

"Yes" the owl hooted and looked to the ground where the remains of it's recent meal lay on the earth.

"What about mountains?" Nym asked hoping to glean a bit of information.

"Mountains are bad, no food there, just bad." the owl hooted, looking at the soldiers riding at a reasonable place "Walkers on walkers and walkers are the only things going to mountains and from mountains and to mountains, they bad too."

Nym hooted and wished the owl happy hunting and flew off figuring the creature couldn't tell him much more than that. He flew around the area and concentrated calling upon the forces of The Green and ever so slowly clouds began to gather in the distance, they'd gather relatively fast, he had less than an hour before the spell would be gone and he didn't want to rouse too much suspicion too fast. If his calculations were correct by the time things were ready the group would be right where he wanted them.

He headed back and landed where he had left the others. Nanaki had ran with Kerowyn on his back, the small elf amazon had to be helped onto the large wolfs back, but she stayed on and steady despite the wolfs quickened pace. Delver and Nym had flow, Nym as an owl, Delver with those enchanted skeletal wings. Landing silently he hooted to them to get their attention and quickly morphed back into his normal form. "Allright, here's the plan..." he said drawing in the dirt. The three offered their insights and ideas, and both Nym and Amarbie shuddered as Delver made the comment of "The beginnings of a little army." and emphasized the point by petting a skeletal rat he had pulled out of that buldging sack (the buldges having been of the gruesome sort: Skulls). By the time they were ready to head off to their positions of attack the mercenaries doom was practically sealed.

****

Kerowyn felt the wind on her face as Delver glided down towards a specific tree that had a tactical hilltop advantage over the soldiers. Her aggitation having worn off she had returned to her normal, and oddly, demure mood. The odd elf was carrying her, ever full of surprises he had cast a spell that had made the two invisible. His timing was impecible as he released her into the tree. Twisting her body, the True Elf Amazon used all of her considerable agility to her advantage taking hold of a decent sized branch and nimbly flipping around to land atop the brach, all without making a sound. The elf couldn't help but admire how smoothly she had made that flip and could only regret (and be thankful for at the same time) that no one had been around or able to see. She was at home in the wilds, even if the trees were different the laws were the same, and woe to the *man* that underestimated her for such.

***

Nym wacthed and waited in his owl form and from a safe distance. The clouds had gathered and thickened and the rumble of thunder had been heard, the soldiers were nervous, and while some had theior supersticious insights none expected any for of ill magic about them, let alone druidic magic that allows one to call lighting down upon their foes by summoning the very clouds. Anyone watching would have noticed a disturbingly feral gleam in the owls eye, one that if seen on Nym human face would have been more disturbing with the addition of a feral smile, that of a predator about to strike at it's prey.

****

Kel looked around the surrounding area, it was ripe for ambush, though even if rescuers from the village rode hard, new exactly where they were, and somehow managed to place themselves without being seen of heard, the soldiers of the Black Fist would be ready for them. They had gotten out of tough scrapes, bad situations, even fought undead, the few remaining of the village militia even with the backing of what remained of the Guardians of Fire would pose little trouble to prepared and experienced Black Fist veterans. His thoughts were interrupted by a childs whine from the cage in the cart. The lietenant guiding the cage shouted for the child to be silent for a good minute before the brat finally shut up. The mercenary sighed, this was going to be a boring journey if rescuers didn't arrive, then chaos struck.

Vines and roots grew from the earth along with large bushes and plants entangling the horses legs and stopping the cart at the wheels. Branches of nearby trees grew out and became entangled and soon the whole area was overgrown with all sorts of plantlife. Horses whinied, children whines, guards shouted in confusion, that was when Kel's life erupted in fire and became death.

****

This was bad, not only was this ambush cleverly prepared, but it had already wiped out the six soldiers at the head of the column. Breck knew they were in for it. And arrow shot out from somewhere in the night and took Keth in the shoulder, the guard cried out as he tried to hack at vines with his sword, he'd be dead in but a few seconds the mercenary lieutenant was certain. A huge form had rushed out, a large wolf, it lept up and snapped at Geralds head clamping it's massive jaws over his face. Gerald, ever the responsive soldier, slapped at it with his sword, the blade had some effect as the wolf let go with a snarl and Gerald whipped around to defend himself.

"Guard the prisoners, circle formation!" Breck called out, some of the soldiers tried to move to comply but could only hack their was a little ways closer to the cage and cart. Another arrow hit Keth and this one took the man in the shoulder. There was a flash and the mercenary noticed a lighning strike and a roar of rage emit near where the head of the column had been. Captain Draneck was still alive and kicking then, but for how long... some of the vines had grown even more though this time to wrap around the soldiers at the rear of the column, four of them, being of the less agile sort while wearing banded mail, were quickly entangled. Breck had seen that sort of spell in action, but what came after surprised him, something that didn't happen too often. Thorns, sharp thorns, grew out of the vines and roots piercing armor and flesh alike as though it were naught but butter. Screams of the wounded were heard, these men were as doomed as Keth was and in a farm more unpleasant fashion.

Looking around for any sign of their assailants Breck spotted him, a humanoid figure, possibly a slight man or an elf, flying about on skeletal wings. Well, that would be dealt with. He drew a bow and grinned as two arrows shot from where he figured Captain Draneck to be, one of them hitting the man. He launched his own arrow and cursed as it missed. The wolf tried snapping at Gerald again, the lieutenant was a little more on guard and managed to evade the vicious jaws... barely, his own counter-attack was half hearted at best.

A snap, like a large icecicle breaking, and a flash of ice blue light flickered in the corner of Brecks vision. Followed by another burst of thunder and lighting. The scream killed Brecks hope even more as it was definitely from Captain Draneck, the man was likely dead. His grim thoughts were rewarded as two more arrows shot at the flying man, yet again only one hitting, but it seemed to do some good, the man's flying had faltered there. Breck took aim and fired again then cursed, damnable updrafts. Another of those arrows shot out apparently not hitting anyone. Another ball of flame, this one far too close for Becks comfort and four more mercenaries screamed their death screams. Breck saw that large wolf take Gerald by the head again, his cry was cut silent as the beast shook it's head violently tossing the soldiers body around at the neck and an audable snap somehow carried over the din of battle. The wolf moved away thrashing the body like a ragdoll. Damn thing got went behind the hill and out of bowshot.

Breck cursed again as another flash of lighting struck nearby and a helmet shot into the air, Breck winced, he was glad he didn't see what else happened to his captains body after the third bolt of lightning had struck him. Feran was the only one left to his knowledge, he waved the man over and he cut his way through the brush to his leading officer. Both had managed to survive unscathed, they knew that wouldn't last.

Standing back to back Breck with his bow out and readied took aim for the flying man but saw that he was gone. Likely too wounded or hiding to cast another spell to make the soldiers doom even worse. An arrow found Fell piercing through his shoulder. Breck cursed and grabbed the mans other shoulder pulling him down into a croutching position. "Get down when arrows are being fired, don't you remember any-" he was cut off as another arrow took the man in the face. Another curse.

There was thunder overhead and the lieutenant leaped aside just as a bolt of lightning struck. He still got quite the jolt despite not being struck full on, his body spasming in pure pain for a brief instant, he gasped and managed to recover enough sense about him to reach for a potion. He downed the potion, issued when those cultists hired the men, too bad none of the others had the chance to use theirs. He looked up and saw the wiry figure of the winged man swooping down to land before him and he had the dreadful fealing his death wouldn't be as merciful as his comrades. He swung his fist at the Dark elf, for it was indeed a Dark elf, for lack of anything better to do and snarled as it was caught by the man.

"Did I mention to you I've always wanted my own seasoned mercenary warrior zombie?" the man asked in a soft voice and Brecks world exploded in pain as surge after surge of negative energy flowed through his body.

****

Nym and Kerowyn stared in horror as they saw the mercenary lieutenant's face shrivil up, his armor began to sag on what was fast becomming a shriviled corpse, soon the mans death scream began to turn into a moan as the slumping corpse slowly stood up and stepped back from Delver. Both druid and True Elf barely caught the words "Destroy yourself." and no sooner than when the dark elf was clear did an arrow strike the abomination followe quickly by an anihilating blast of lightning.

Nym flew over turning into his human form and banished the overgrowth as he stalked towards Delver. Amarbie, meanwhile, hopped down from her tree and proceeded to try and calm the frightened children.

"What was that?!" Nym said in anguished looking at the vanquished undead.

"He was under my control." Delver replied in his calm voice.

"That doesn't matter, that was... was... unnatural!" Nym said the frustration quite evident on his normally passive face.

Delver looked taken aback by the comment. "But it is perfectly natural."

"Not it's not! Spirits should not be made to stay on this plane!" Nym responed.

"But they do, I merely provide them guidance, an outlet for their anguish." Delver responded, still in that calm voice.

Nym sighed and shook his head "Just don't do that... too often." he said finally before proceeding to cut the prisoners free with his Falcatta.

The villagers offered many praises of thanks and all filed out of the cage, they made a clear point to avoid Delver with a fearful look in their eye as they had all seen the Necromancer apply his 'Death Touch.' Two of the older and more bolder children moved to their rescuers after awhile looking at them in awe. A little girl, amazed that one just a bit taller than her, could do all that with her bow found Amarbie to be the object of her idolitry. A young boy found Nym just as fascinating. the three noticed another boy, shorter with black hair and the look of intelligence in his young eyes, watching Delver from a distance. Both Kerowyn and Nym shuddered inwardly.

****

The return home was without incident, the villagers were still skiddish around the dark elven necromancer save for the little boy who had gotten bold enough to follow a short distance behind him staring at the skeletal rat that stared back with eerie crimson glowing eyes. When they returned the next afternoon, ey recieved a warm welcome to say the least. A cry went up as the first villagers who saw them began to alert the town, soon nearly the entire population of Green had emerged from their homes and took up a cheer.

The cheer, however, was not joined in by everyone. A few hopeful parents and friends scanned the ten prisoners carefully while both Erias and Loren were looking at the group with puzzlement. Children ran to their parents and the adults to their families, the adults being a tad shaken as they had learned they were to have been sacrificed, and while they knew not the fate of oblivion the though alone was enough to send shivers down their spine.

Kerowyn turned to Nym ad whispered to him "Why are Erias and the other looking confused." she asked.

"I'm not sure," Nym said "but I intend to find out." With that he strode over to stand at the side of Erias. "<Why the puzzled look?>" he asked in the flowing tongue of the Druids.

Erias looked over the children again, counting yet again "<There are only six children.>" Nym nodded and urged him to go on. "<Eighteen were taken, twelve are still missing." At this Nyms eyes widened slightly and he let out a soft curse before turning to his companions and relaying the news to them.

"I'll see what I can find out from the spirit of Breck..." Delver said. The Lieutenant had eagerly accepted Delvers offer to stay with him as opposed to being dragged down to the pits of the hells or to one of the layers of the Abyss. He had introduced himself as Breck and seemed to take his being dead quite well. A mercenaries life was a dangerous one afterall.

Delver opened his little pouch and pulled out a small finger bone that the spirit was attatched to and soon the shriviled, unshaven, armored spirit stood before only Delvers eyes. Delver began to speak when the b;ack haired boy gasped "Wow, he was the one who kept telling us to shut up." he said pointing nothing... nothing that is unless he too saw the spirit. At this the Necromancer lifted his brow and smiled, this child had some potential, he'd have to keep an eye on that one.

"Was there more than your group?" the dark elf asked Brecks spirit.

The spirit smirked "I was wondering when you'd get to asking that particular question." he said with a chuckle that might have just been a mocking grunt. "You think the cultists would leave a job like this to just us mercenaries?"

Delver pondered this for an instant before shaking his head in agreement and understanding then. "Then who else joined in the assault?" he asked.

"Some of the cultists." the merc responded. "Ones more adept at stealth and speed. They took the other twelve. We were to bring back those six seeing as it was unlikely that any rescue attempt would get both groups... and all they need is six children."

"You've been to their temple?" Delver asked.

"Of course, we're stationed there." was all the spirit said.

"Hmm I see..." Delver said and thought for a moment. "Allright, go back in." he opened the pouch and motioned. The guard sighed but began to comply. "Maybe I can get you a cultists spirit to vent your rage on?" Delver offered.

The spirit winced "Please, anything but that, they're bad enough alive, if they weren't paying so well we'd have tried killing them long ago out of mere principle." at this Delver grinned and the spirit met the grin before going back into the bag.

****

Meanwhile Nym was looking into the matter in his own way. Kerowyn had gone off to talk to the young child that had become fascinated in the True Elf as Nym conversed with Erias. "This is most troubling." he said.

"Indeed it is." Erias responded, Loren had gone off to assist any of the rescued villagers not being needed by any of the group.

Nym thought a moment. "I shall consult with The Green Reality." he said. This place seemed to have a strong tie, and had called to him personally, so it seemed only fitting. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment, then when he opened them, his vision changed. Before him was the village and the hills and mountains in the distance as he saw them on the prime material plane. However he saw them in another existance as well, the Green Reality, the spirit realm in a sense. With that vision everything seemed lush and beautiful, as though enhanced full score again it's natural beauty, no wonder the land itself and the village were called Green.

All was not perfect however, for in the distance, the mountains were covered in the darkness of corruption. It radiated from a heart somewhere, likely the temple, Nym thought. After awhile a breeze picked up that only he felt and the wind took a form of a small tornado with glowing blue eyes. "You are the one who we called." it asked "What do you wish to know?"

Nym pointed to the taint "How long has that been there?"

The spirit turned and looked to the mountains, it's wind like voice took on a mournful sound as it responded "That has slowly grown over the last season. it took root and, silently and unnoticed, until it blossomed into the corruption you see."

Nym furrowed his brow, that was definitely a disturbing thought "What can you tell me of the children?"

The spirit floated there a moment before speaking once again "Their energies were felt by us in passing, you must rescue them or this land is lost." Nym frowned deeply at this.

"You know they are to be sacrificed on the night of the Blood Moon." Nym nodded. "You must free them before this, if you fail to do so the corruption will spread and envelope the land for miles around." the spirit said making a motion to the surrounding area and Nym saw the darkness spread out to all visible corners, most disturbing indeed. The spirit motioned again and the vision returned to normal.

"Why the sacrifice, what ritual are they trying that requires such a horrific thing?"

"They seek something they cannot find, something hidden ages ago by powerful creatures, they were mortal however powerful they were, and thus, were fallable."the spirit whispered. "There are ways around such protective spells, and ways to break through, their ritual will break through and they will find what they are looking for should the children be sacrificed."

Nym frowned once again "And what might that be?" he asked, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

"One of the stones of the black tower opened by foolishness so long ago. One of the Runestones." Nym didn't know anything about Runestones, or a black tower, but he didn't need to know that it would be bad if the cultists got ahold of such an item.

"I see..." he said, this had just gotten quite a bit bigger than oblivion.

"Seek out the children, save them, or all is lost." the spirit said before fading away slowly on another breeze. Nym pulled himself out of the Green Reality and moved over to where Delver was conversing with the boy. Despite the disturbing revelations Nym couldn't help but shudder as he noticed Delver had given the boy his skeletal rat as a pet and the boy was actually petting the thing.

****

"So you saw the spirit boy?" Delver said to the black haird child. The boy nodded eagerly though his dark eyes were focused on the undead rat adorning the necromancers shoulder. This did not escape the Low Elf's notice. He casually plucked the animated rotting corpse of the rat and plucked a claw bone from his little pouch, the claw bone was originally from the rat and held it's spirit. Touching it to the rats skull the thing had a new energy as though it were in fact a living rat. He nodded to himself in satisfaction and handed it to the boy who took it eagerly looking up and thanking Delver.

"A gift." the dark elf said pulling out a piece of parchment and scrawling something on it. "Directions to my hut, go there when you are older if you want to learn how to do that.." he said handing the parchment which was quickly snatched up by the boy who simply nodded in agreement. "If I'm not there then read and you should learn well enough that way."

The child looked up and smiled broadly "Thank you Delver sir!" he said before quickly running off to his home "Mommy Mommy look what the nice elf gave to me!" he said, Nym winced at the following scream and widened his eyes in surprice at the proceeding yelling to 'be sure to keep that thing in your room!"

"Well," the druid said "naturally this is far more than we originally expected." he paused and made sure he had Delver's attention, Amarbie was busy conversing with a little girl and Nym's ears picked up various tips on Amazonian ways. He sighed remembering his unpleasant experience with some Amazon's in his travels to the jungles across the sea and frowned before remembering he was talking to the Dark Elf. "Have you ever heard anything of Rune Stones?"

Delver thought for a moment, thought long and hard, then finally shook his head and shrugged. "I can't say that I have."

Nyms face took on a concerned look "Hmm, most puzzling, some powerful item that the Touched know of, something hidden and unknown to any of us..." he paused in thought still muttering alloud to himself "and a black tower... know anything about a black tower?" he asked. Again, Delver shook his head. "Then this is something big indeed. We must keep the children from being sacrificed, period, and something tells me this wont be as easy as our last encounter with the Black Fists."

End of Session 2

 

[Renfield]

Victory comes at a price...

They had defeated their enemies, for now, but that was only one battle and there was still much at stake. In three nights the Bloodmoon would rise and a sacrifice of dire proportions would take place, and three adventurous souls were all that was stopping a tide of darkness from sweeping over the purity that was The Green.

The Green was a stretch of land that was rich with the energies of nature, it was said Gaia herself had walked the land in ages past, and it held an odd balance between nature and civilization in that hilly wooded expanse between the Blackwood Forest and the Shorntooth mountains. The Shorntooth mountains were the home of the force that threatened The Green and the inhabitants of the village Green. This lush landscape was being covered in a shadow, a shadow cast by the one known as Talisar, the embodiment of evil. Even now, as the heroes of Green decided their next move, the Talisaran cultists were preparing to sacrifice twelve children for there own diabolical purposes.

*****

In a room of ghastly decor, of skulls and vicious instruments of sacrifice, a child sat weeping. In front of the child, in a high backed chair carved in the likeness of a demon from some unknown stone, sat a man. He had
long whispy black hair and thick yet sharply trimmed eyebrows, his features were long as though his head had been repetitively stretched over his lifetime. His eyes were dark coals of hate and loathing for anything living while his beard jutted out like a dagger, but what frightened the child more was that smile. A smile of a man who knew he was about to sacrifice the child and enjoyed the thought, enjoyed the thought so much he wanted to make the child aware of the dark fate that awaited.

"Do not weep child." Sorith said to the boy in a sickeningly sweet voice "You have nothing to fear for the next three days, we must keep you healthy for whats in store." he added a knowiing laugh to that sentance.

The child wiped his tears away, Jonovan had been stolen from his home, separated from his sister, and now this man was going to sacrifice him, oh he smothered his tears for one simple reason:rage and rage alone. The man leaned closer his face so close to the angry frightened child "You see my boy, a childs soul is often quite pure" he said apparently feeling the need to explain something to young Jonovon. "This purity can take the form of immense energy when applied in the right manner." he smiled a sickly sweet smile.

That's when Jonovon bit him, clamped his teeth right around Soriths long pointy nose, the child growled as the man reared back a hand and smacked the young boy sending him sprawling to the floor. The priest of Talisar covered his bleeding nose with his robes and glared daggers at the lad before muttering a minor healing spell before casting yet another to hold the boy aloft in the air.

Pulling the robe away from his nose to reveal the fact that it no longer bled Sorith laughed. "Brave you are boy." he said pulling a long wicked looking hooked dagger from his robes "And stupid..." he said pointing it at the boys stomach.

"You need me don't you?" the boy spat "To sacrifice!" the boy was smart, but illinformed. That illicited another laugh from Sorith.

"My dear Jonovan." Sorith said running the point of the blade across the lads neck, it bit into his flesh but didn't draw blood "You are mistaken, for I only need six, six children boy, which means six of you are expendable." he smirked at the boys horrified look. However the lad was frightened for his sister, Trissa, not for himself like the priest assumed.

"Are you... going to kill me?" Jonovan asked, the fear evident in his voice, if he died who'd protect Trissa. Alas, the sinister sould who held the boy was an expert at fear and suffering and shook his head, again with that smile.

"No," he said then paused and corrected himself "Well, yes actually, but not right now." he smirked again, that sinister curling of the corner of his lips "No, I've got a better idea for you m'boy, you're a noble spirit..." he pressed the dagger into the boys shoulder drawing a bead of blood "There's nothing I despise more than a noble soul!" the man hissed. "So I've decided it would only be appropriate to sacrifice you last, to let you float before your friends, watch each and every one of their souls be consumed by Talisar... including your sister Trissa." the reaction illicited by this went beyond even Soriths expectations, burning hatred and rage were abalze in the boys eyes as his body thrashed and spasmed against his magical bonds, it was a full five minutes before he ran out of energy or strained a muscle making it too painful to move.

After Sorith recovered from the laugh he muttered another spell calling on his god to give him the small blessing of rendering the upstart child unconscious. He walked over to the door of his chamber and rapped on it twice, a slit opened revealing one of the face of one of the senior acolytes. "Yes miLord?" a deep voice asked.

"Take the boy back to his cell immediately, then feed the brats." he said and the door opened and two men came in can carried the boy away without a word. Sorith turned and went over to his desk taking a seat and picking up a gem encrusted goblet filled with a dark elixer. He smiled, his spell had worked potently, either that or the boys emotions were stronger than he expected. Either way he sipped from the glass and savored the sweet taste of fear, rage, and sorrow. It was divine.


*****

 

[Renfield]

Victory Comes at a Price

Session: Three

They planned as best they could, but their lack of knowledge of the inner layout of the temple was scarce, the fact that they had been provided with information on a secret entrance was the best they could have hoped for. They leftmid-day, the sun was high in the sky though everything about the land seemed muted, The Green that had once seemed lush and fertile seemed but a husk of it's former self. Amarbie had tried hunting earlier that morning and discovered that not even small game was to be found. The animals new that something dark was paying close attention to this part of the land and it frightened them.

Once more Nym and Delver flew through the air towards their destination as Amarbie rode Nanaki along the winding trail, they made good time even keeping to a speed that allowed them to keep up with the True Elf and her ride. Then, peaking through the treetops around a large hill Delver then Nym saw two large stones, even at the distance they were they could make out the ghastly semblance of skulls.

Nym swooped down and ot Amarbie to stop long enough for him to turn into a human and direct her towards the odd stones, shifting back into an eagle he spread his wings and took back to the air. Eventually the three arrived at the odd stones.

They were odd indeed, both atop small hills on opposite sides of a path, about fifty yards from one another, and both facing the other. The one on the left side of the rode held a more skull-like appearance whereas the one off the right seemed more like a dried husk of a persons head than an outright skull. These stones stood about twently feet high and had room enough at the top to hold a small group of men should they stick close.

The trio inspected the skulls but found nothing amiss about them, though Delver sensed some odd form of magic about them, finally they decided they had wasted enough of their time and began to move off again. Nym, in an odd mood and in his dire eagle form, decided to target the skull on the left and relieved himself. To his shock his droppings simply faded from view and he let out a screach and circled back to the stone shifting back to normal his dark puzzled face looking over the stone.

"What is it?" Amarbie asked as she returned leaping off Nanaki with an agile spring.

"The stone... Somethings odd..." he said and spit at the smooth black surface and they all watched as the spit faded away.

They all shared puzzled looks and renewed their investigation of the stone eventually Amarbie got up the nerve to cut her finger and touched the crimson droplets of blood to the surface and noticed the life liquid sizziled away instead of simply fading. They continued their investigation but when they could only determine that blood sizziled and any other liquid faded away they decided to continue on with their mission.

*****

There was the waterfall, tall and majestic as it poured over the mountain side, however somehow even that powerful beauty seemed muted by the supressing evil of Talisar's gaze. The cave behind the waterfall would hold the secret entrance into the prison that held the children... well... the secret entrance to the temple that held that prison.

Amarbie easily skirted the edge of the cliff leading to the landing behind the waterfall, the spray soaking the clothing over her lithe body as the water roared overhead, she finally made it and awaited Nym and Delver. As they arrived they surveyed the cave they were in, a tunnel went off to the left and there were some dried old bones scattered around the area. Some animal... some obviously humanoid. There was an odd noise on the edge of her hearing, a melodic noise, but the roar of the waterfall drowned it out.

"Down that tunnel!" Nym shouted to be heard over the din. Amarbie nodded and moved with her two odd companions. Whoever thought she'd be travelling with a Dark Elf and a human Druid... both males at that. Regardless the children had to be saved and such missions made for the strangest of bedfellows... granted should either of them try to share her bed she'd castrate them.

They moved down the tunner and the melodic noise became much more clear, it was a haunting and beautiful melody, it was so beautiful, unlike anything any of her tribeswomen sang... She had to find the source of this melody! She started down the tunnel, around a bend came an orange light, she knew the owners of the beautiful voices she heard were at the source of the light! She moved forward and felt something odd grip her wrist. She looked to see a skeletal hand holding her wrist... when did Delver raise a skeleton... It didn't matter though, it was keeping her from reaching the voices! She pulled away and struggled against his grip. She saw Nym rush ahead and continued to struggle "Let me go this instant!" she cried. But it was to no avail. Then... the music stopped.

Nym grinned, a feral glint in his eye as his falcatta took the head of one of the wretched Harpies. The other two moved in to engage him and he fended their claws and clubs easily enough getting a small scratch for his efforts. He parried a few more blows with his blade striking at one of them and cutting them hearing their screech interrupt their song. He growled and wished Nanaki hadn't been to big to follow after, however the small ledge they had to skirt would have been too much for the wolf and the angle of the mountain would have made jumping far to risky. He got scratched again before seeing a skeleton barrel into one of the harpies. Distracting it long enough for him to finish the one he had started cutting open the hagish birds belly. He frowned and moved towards the last one as another skeleton moved in to engage it. He went in and swung at the wounded thing covered in scratch marks from the two bags of bones. Another harpy head hit the ground.

Amarbie came in soon after however seeing the battle was over she frowned. They had toyed with her mind and she wanted to make them pay personally. "Let's get a move on... we can't waste our time here." Nym said rather annoyed. He cast a look to Amarbie before stalking out of the small cave and continued back down the tunnel.

"Wait." Delver said causing Nym to halt. "Let me send one of these down to scout... I can see through their eyes." he said motioning to one of his skeletons. Nym nodded and one of the grinning minions headed down the stone tunnel at it's masters bidding. The other he released his control of, it was missing a leg which would prove to be useless.

They continued down sending the skeleton out ahead of them, they pasued when they arrived at a fork in the tunnel and waited as Delver sent it down the left fork. After a few minutes he paused "A dead end, the tunnel seemed to collapse here." he said and Nym and Amarbie sighed as they waited for the skeleton to move back down the tunnel to take the right fork. Delver paused and lifted a brow. "A cave... there's something in-" he was cut off and his eyes went wide for a moment and he frowned.

"What is it?" Nym asked.

"Stirges..." he said.

Nym cursed "How many bloodsuckers are there?" he said referring to bat winged pirds with long thin beaks that fed off blood. No hard in a few, but a big enough swarm could drain an elephant in minutes.

"About 30... I think." Delver responded.

Nym let out a sigh "Anything you can do or will we have to fight them?" he asked.

Delver smiled and nodded. The thought of losing a skeleton wasn't something that appealed to him but it was for the best... besides, if things went well enoug in the temple he'd have many more skeletons soon enough. He began the mutterings and motions of a spell, Nym nodded as he noticed what the spell was and smiled grimly at the resounding blast as a fireball exploded in the cavern immolating Delver's skeleton along with the numerous stirges that had been swarming the thing.

"Let's move on." he said and the group did.

*****

Horien paused and nodded as his fellow Son of Talisar approached him. "Good eve brother." he said nodding to the man as he approached. "Heading to eveningfeast?" he asked. The hour was late but Talisarans tended to start late in the day and work til early morning. Horien had just exited his bedchambers after some meditation and was heading towards the messhall when he saw his brother heading towards him.

The other robed figure nodded "Aye that I am... let us hope those Black Fist bastards haven't consumed everything." the other man said with a laugh. The brothers had had to share the dormitories with the Blackfists who had become an integral part of Temple operations since the Talisarans had inhabited the abandoned temple. Then a slam echoed through the hall. Both brethren paused and looked towards the door at the far end of the hall curiously as that had been the one slammed. They both began the castings of a defensive spell just in case when the door flew open and a dark robed man with an odd staff stepped through muttering something. Just then another robed figure, this one in green to the others black, along with a sleight framed female in studded leathers rushed forward. The Dark Elf in the black robes cursed as the to quickly dispatched Horians friend. His eyes went wide as he brandished his mace in what would be a foolish attempt to defend himself. He didn't know what killed him... the Falcatta, the great club... or the spell that sent the chill of death through his body cast by the Dark Elf.

*****

Jonovon sat ther in his cell, he had long ago drained his eyes of tears and the clean streaks down his otherwise dirty cheeks showed that, he sat there with many things on his mind. Hatred of the horrid man whose nose he bit, fear for his sister who the man said he'd watch be killed, and this thing, this thing called oblivion that seemed to hold a ominous portent to his young mind. All these worries and more were rushing through his head until he heard the shouting. There was something going on outside his small ten by ten cell, he tried to stand on the cot and see what was going on but he couldn't tell, lot's of shouting and metal clanging against metal. Eventually he heard a blast and flinched as the bright light of fire flashed through the small window in his cell. He saw smoke rise from the door for a moment before he sat down upon the cot in the room.

All he could do was wait, and that's what he did, there were more shouts and more odd sounds of energy and the familiar clang of blade against blade. He waited still, finally the last scream died away and he heard the sounds of metal rattling and a door being unlocked. The sound of a weeping child half crying half laughing as they were rescued. This is when he smiled slowly to himself. They were actually being rescued. The voice he heard soothing the crying child was a females voice, he had heard very few females amongst his captors and none of them soothed like this woman did. He smiled tightly and waited some more... his turn would come.

Soon the door open, the torch light his his eyes and caused him to squint. The other children had had light but they removed the torch from his room after he had set alight an acolytes robes around feeding time. He smiled at the memory as he was herded towards the other children then looked up and gasped. The men surrounding them were Black Fists! The children all whimpered and shied away from an odd dark skinned elf with long black hair. Then he noticed that the Black Fists stared into nothingness... they stood there stiffly and didn't have the rythmic movement of a living breathing human. He frowned for a moment wondering if the new protectors were perhaps something worse than the previous ones.

*****

Nym looked back at the children and nodded, Amarbie was now comforting after their scare of being surrounded by numerous Black Fist zombies, he shook his head and continued down the hall. Their battle with the Black Fists and the acolytes had been easy to say the least but that didn't mean getting out of the temple would be. He advanced slowly down the hall as the scout zombie turned the corner. He paused and waited for Delver to give the okay when the Zombie flew back against the wall as shimmering bursts of energy slammed into it's chest.

The druid moved forward preparing to engage the caster of the spell when bursts of the energy slammed into him as well. He snarled and turned the corner to see a robed man frantically casting another spell. Nym lashed out at the man with his Falcatta, and noticed Delvers Zombies comming down the hall to his aid. He lashed out at the man again interrupting a spell as he dodged aside and began the intricate weaving of yet another arcane spell. That's when he was hit.

Not from the mage, there had been a door behind him and on his left that he hadn't taken much notice of when he had moved to engage the mage, not that he could have at any rate. He had missed the warning cry from Amarbie as he felt the blade plunge into his side. He let out a primal scream of pain and turned to lash at his assailant as the man jerked the blade out of his gut. That was when the Black Fist zombies Delver had summoned swarmed the man. Nym turned and focused on his original assailant hoping he could heal his own wound after the battle.

The mage was frantically casting yet another spell and had taken advantage of Nyms distraction to get it off. Seeing the numerous zombies packing in behind the enraged dark skinned druid had been too much and he cast a spell well known to Nym now, a fireball.

The blast was point blank, Nym smelled the stench of burning flesh as it roasted the zombie and the backstabbing rogue alike, and he grinned in satisfaction as it roasted it's caster even as he felt the heat and flames wash over him. He roared in pain for the moment that the flames filled the hallway then lunged for the smoldering mage... only to be shocked to find he wasn't holding his Falcatta anymore!

Nym's eyes widened as his fist swung right through the mage though noted with a subconcious level of satisfaction that the man slumped to the floor in a charred heap. That was when he noticed another form laying prone upon the floor... a form in smoldering green robes, with a horribly burned face, clutching a falcatta. He stepped back, shocked at seeing his own body laying there and looked down the hall to Delver who's eyes widened and even though the Dark Elven mage muttered the words Nym knew what he said "Oh no."

*****

Nym was dead, and his spirit had lingered behind for some reason, he didn't know why but the fact remained he was dead. Nym made use of this though for Delver could see him and now that physical things like walls now didn't really offer any sort of barrier to him he decided to make use of his incorporeal state and scout for an exit. They were two levels below the main temple level and they needed to find the way out. The stairs in the room that the mage had come from were locked behind an old chain which was little trouble to the ghostly druid. He floated through the door and up the stairs and through another door and laughed inwardly as he noticed they were indeed right back where they had started when they had entered the temple. An abdandoned storage room with the secret door leading to the waterfall tunnel.

Quickly he floated back and relayed the information to Delver who made short work of the chain with a nice spell and the assistance of Amarbies club and the True Elf and the Dark Elf began leading the children up the stairs and out the tunnel. Eventually they heard the roar of the waterfalls and knew they had made it out of the Temple however they knew their escape wasn't over yet, they still had to make it to the village in safety....

End of Session #3