First part of Story
Prologue
A haggard group of adventurers exited a secret tunnel that led to a dwarven village they used as a refuge between strikes upon an evil temple that lay about a days travel down the tunnel. This temple, known as the Temple of All Consumption, lay deep within what was formerly a dwarven mine, and the dwarves of this particular village were more than happy to help by providing a rallying point for those who would destroy the evil that claimed their former mines.
Many times they had had to return to the dwarven village while they continued their assault. They knew they must not fail to destroy this temple for it was home to a sect of evil priests that threatened to bring a dark evil from another reality into the lands of Faerun, a menace great enough to challenge even the cruel tyranny of Bane or the murderous madness of Cyric. There was no room for failure.
The assault upon the Temple was no small task. A few months had passed since they began the assault, and in that time they had lost friends and comrades to its evil. The forces of this dark temple had proven to be formidable enough to turn them back many times, but their hearts would not rest until either death or victory was theirs to claim. Even now, they were returning to the village with the intent of resurrecting one of their fallen and then continuing the assault.
Helvyn, the scout, had been slain while trying to disarm a magical trap that released powerful divine magic that destroyed life. The loss of the scout made traveling through the Temple even more dangerous. At the request of Dyanna, servant of Kelemvor, who wanted to see no more cruel deaths, the party made their way back to the dwarven village. Now, the party must determine their next course of action.
At the Inn and Beyond…
A human man in well-crafted full plate armor carrying a shield bearing the symbol of Lathander above a lion’s head wreathed in fire was riding a great golden draconic lion next to a tall, beautiful, golden-haired human woman dressed in finely crafted elven chain and carrying a shield bearing the symbol of Kelemvor. Both their faces were worn and tired, yet they trudged along steadily.
Behind them marched a heavily-muscled dwarf dressed in dwarven full plate carrying a finely-made dwarven Urgrosh, a tall, dark-skinned human woman in battle-worn full plate carrying a greatsword and wearing a symbol of Tymora about her neck, a brown-haired bearded human man whose trappings indicated he was clergy of Lathander, a finely-dressed dwarf with a well-groomed beard and exquisitely crafted lute in hand, and a well-groomed human man dressed in fine-clothing whose eyes shown with the intensity of a storm. They all moved along quietly as the silence of the weary overtook them.
As soon as they arrived in the small dwarven village, they went to an inn known as the Stone Quarry. They greeted a few dwarves they knew and then rented rooms and ate a small meal. The draconic lion rested outside, and was brought a roasted ram and a healthy drought of water at the request of Deriven, knight of Lathander.
After the meal, the seven living adventurers begin to plan their next course of action. They put two tables together near the back of the inn and seated themselves around them.
Deriven was the first to speak. “We have been repulsed once again.” He paused to let the reality of this set in. “And now we must decide what to do next. We know that first and foremost, we must call Helvyn back from the dead and hope that he chooses to return, or we will be left to find a new scout. Also, we have obtained the Orb of Silvery Death. Varikon has told us that this orb will help us defeat the priests of the Temple. Dyanna, please, bring forth the Orb.”
Dyanna opened the flap of her magical sack willing the Orb to the top of the many other items contained within. She pulled forth a small skull-shaped object that appeared to be made of pure silver. Around the silver skull were indentations seemingly made to hold something small and gem-like. It gave off an aura of evil that made the good-hearted people present feel uncomfortable.
Dyana set the Orb upon the table. She looked gravely at the others. “I will bear this Orb even though I can feel that I put myself at risk to do so. I only hope that I can control its power well enough to complete our quest. I fear greatly the consequences of our failure.”
Deriven smiled at Dyanna and gave her a warm pat on the shoulder. “I know you will be strong enough to use this evil item for good purpose, Dyanna.”
“Aye, Dyanna, you’ve me full trust in the matter” assured the heavily-muscled dwarf known as Sturb Foereaver.
A chorus of friendly agreement chimed in from all those around the table except for the storm-eyed sorcerer known as Relkordd Greystorm. He alone remained quiet and seemingly unmoved by her statement. In his heart, he worried for her safety. He dearly loved Dyanna and worried that this Orb would put a strain on her that her spirit could not bear. He felt that he should carry the Orb and bear its burden of evil for he had the strongest will, but the others did not see things as he did.
In fact, no one paid Relkordd’s lack of enthusiastic support much attention since the sorcerer did not often show emotion except when engaged in battle. They figured at least he had not gone insane yet, and all the better that he not be angered. The others tired of his arrogant and presumptuous tirades which were often preceded by his angry resistance to rebuke.
Dyanna stood and bowed slightly, “I thank you for your confidence in me.” She sat back down.
“Now” Deriven said “We will decide our next course of action”.
It did not take them long to determine what to do next. Their first act must be to bring Helvyn back from the dead. The only spells they had at their command would leave Helvyn a lesser man. For the spells at their command could not fully bring the spirit back unharmed, and some of his life experience would be lost to him. They decided that it would be better to seek a more powerful cleric in Sembia, one who could call Helvyn’s spirit back unharmed.
Thus, it was decided that Relkordd, Durl, and Dyanna would seek aid at the most prominent church of Tymora in Sembia. Tymora’s church was often willing to provide whatever aid an adventuring group could afford, and this would be especially true in the merchant kingdom of Sembia.
Deriven, Owehn, Sturbb and Neshara would all stay in the dwarven village to prepare for a future assault on Hedrack as well as watch over the village. The village would be in danger now that Hedrack was scrying upon them.
After this short meeting, they all rested for a few hours. In the evening, Dyanna awoke to pray for the proper spell for travel. Those who would stay at the village bade them farewell, then her, Relkordd and Durl teleported to Sembia and were soon standing at the city gates of Saerloon, one of Sembia’s great metropolises.
The three adventurer’s made their way through the crowded streets of the city to an Inn Relkordd knew of called the Ruby Rose, well known for opulent suites and potent wine. Relkordd and Dyana had stayed in this inn many times before while Helvyn sold off the spoils of adventuring. They rented a suite and the three of them retired to their room to rest.
Hundreds of miles away deep within the Temple of All Consumption, Hedrack, leader of the Outer Phane, stood gazing into a pool of corrupted water touched by his powerful magic. The magic upon the pool allowed him to watch his enemies no matter how far away they were, and watch he did. He watched as the adventurers who had been bold and arrogant enough to attack him within his own temple sat about a table discussing what to do next, which was exactly the question he was asking himself. What to do next when these interlopers returned?
A robed creature stood a few feet to the left and was also gazing into the pool. The creature was man-shaped, but looked nothing like a man. Its head appeared to be a mauve-colored giant brain with alien white eyes and four octopus-like tentacles framing a round, small fanged mouth. The entire appearance of the creature was revolting, yet Hedrack showed no signs of the discomfort or fear one might normally feel when standing near such a creature.
Hedrack gazed into the pool and listened to the ongoing conversation. Eventually, he spoke to the strange creature next to him “Satau, they have stolen the Orb. I must recover it. I must or I will be shamed. These infidels must be destroyed for their insolence, for their arrogance, for their sins against Tharizdun. You will have to help me destroy them Satau, for the others are no more. You and I are the last defense of the Outer Phane.”
Satau was disturbed by this revelation. He was normally nothing more than a seer, and now he was called to the defense of the Outer Phane. ‘What of Thrommel, Shymon, the drow, or Naquent? Where were all these other defenders?’ Satau thought to himself. Satau decided to probe Hedrack for answers, for he was concerned for his own life. If the others had been destroyed, how could he and Hedrack stand against such might?
The strange creature could communicate telepathically, and normally did so with others, but Hedrack’s madness made Satau fearful of telepathic communication with the human. Hedrack’s thoughts were violent and insane, and often riddled with images that made even Satau uncomfortable.
Satau’s tentacles writhed as he spoke to Hedrack “Master Hedrack, what has become of the others? Did these infidels slay Shymon and Thrommel? What of Naquent? Did the Drow betray us? How have I….”
“They are no more. Their power was not great enough to stand against these interlopers. Only I live….Only I Satau.” Hedrack locked eyes with Satau; his insane gaze was enough to unnerve the strange looking creature. “The others have gone to face the wrath of Tharizdun for failure. A fate you will face as well if you do not prove powerful enough to stand against these infidels. Prepare yourself Satau; prepare yourself, for they will return.” His eyes glinted with madness and fury “I will destroy them this time. I will leave none alive. They will fall to the power of Tharizdun, and I will prove myself champion. Me Satau, I will be champion. Not this other lesser fool whom you have seen in your visions.”
Satau did not speak again. His thoughts he kept to himself. He knew that his end was soon, for he could not flee because Hedrack or another would hunt him down. He knew the intruders must surely be powerful if they could defeat guardians as formidable as an elder elemental of the earth, a powerful red dragon, and a vampire blackguard. Satau knew he must either stand victorious or die with Hedrack, those were his only choices.
Hedrack continued to gaze into the pool of water. “I must recover the Orb or it will be my undoing.” Even in madness, Hedrack possessed a cunning that had earned him the title of Master Hedrack, a title he would not relinquish easily. Quickly he formulated a plan to recover the stolen orb. “These infidels will pay. They think they are beyond my reach, but they are not.” He smiled evilly. “My reach is much longer than they think, much, much longer. And soon, very soon, the Orb will in my possession again.”
