Siberys Seven: Heroes of Eberron

[megamania]

SIBERYS SEVEN 003
KUNDARAK
SEGMENT 046
“ASSAULT”

EYRE 27, 999 BEFORE DAY BREAK-



Grug looks up from his pebble that he is inspecting. He collects pebbles. He likes pebbles. Especially the purple ones. They make him safe from the boogie man.

“Doug- you sees somethin’?”

The two Hill giants now peer out into the dense woods looking for something.

“maybe dat yer boogieman.” says Doug with a smile.

“No I knows whatz I saws.” He points out directly to the group whom are about thirty feet away trying to sneak up.

Taking it as being spotted- Leeya stands up and casts her most powerful spell hoping to take both of the Giants out quickly. Thick ice forms on the interior of the ruined tower base and the giants growl from the icy attack. Aura, having fully charged her weapon for the potent attack and damage charges in. The giant is badly cut as it reaches for its huge club. Dura’s spiritual glowing and flying weapon appears above the other giant but does little. Bora charges in growling with a large smile. She wants to howl in joy but holds off knowing it will alert the hobgoblins inside. Vander, also powered up, charges in.

Both giants strike at Vander. The one giants tent posts Vander, dropping him to a knee. His armor clearly has a large dent that pushes painfully on his shoulder. Leeya carefully calculates her spell’s distance and placement and releases her spell. First the giants are frosted now they are fried as a burst from a fireball blows up behind them. Aura barely strikes as she is distracted by the flash of fire. Dura moves up to see what Leeya’s spell has done. Her spell of magical melee weapon misses again. Bora cuts out the legs of one whom goes down in a bloody heap. Inside the ruins, the closest Hobgoblins have heard the burst of fire and the howl of the giants as they were burned. Incarnum and Mania rush the two apparent leaders before they can react. One is armored and the other holds a staff while wearing a robe- a magic user. They team-up on the magic user. Also reacting to the sounds of the hobgoblins inside, Vander rushes to the crumbling doorway.

Leeya moves around the tower to aim spells at anyone coming out of the entrance. With the second giant dropping from his injuries, Aura moves through the tower through a hole in the back that leads directly to the entrance. Several Hobgoblins do exit from the entrance and attack Vander. The spellcaster inside tries to fire off a spell at mania but the damage he takes breaks his concentration and the spell fizzles with a few sparks and a sulfuric smell only. The fighter tries to strike Incarnum but cannot get past his defenses. Incarnum strikes the cleric again hoping to end that threat quickly. Bora forces her way into the entrance.

The hobgoblins try their best but they are outmatched by the five adventurers charges into the front. The cleric drops and instead of the other gobliniods fleeing, they increase their intensity. Bora bursts through the group and zeroes in on the fighter that is holding the warforged and dhampir at bay. He never knew what hit him.

As the group look around for goods of use and the contact that was held. Incarnum looks around and cannot find Mania. He remembers what they overheard- He motions to Bora and Vander. The cave.

Inside the cave, a few minutes before Incarnum realizes someone is missing, Mania pounces on one of the first three hobgoblins he sees. They are guarding a narrow branch within the tunnels. They growl and attack but do little against his supernatural body. He hacks at them over and over. He is uncertain where this intense emotion is coming from. He just knows he is angry.

Incarnum and the others arrive as he finishes off the last of them. As they look around they find a large chest full of gold and silver coins. The money they came for. And inside… there are dirty smelly humans chained. They look in fear as Vander and Aura step up. They must think they are the armored hobgoblins.

“Now what?” asks Leeya to Dura.

Mania, still grim, intense eyes almost glowing in the dim light, “There is more to this than the gold now. I know what I would do…. What I want to do.”

 

[megamania]

SIBERYS SEVEN 003
KUNDARAK
SEGMENT 047
“NEW EVIL”

EYRE 28, EVENING

“I can’t believe this.” Says Leeya to no one in particular.

“That there is slavery? That an evil deranged mage is experimenting and torturing these slaves?” asks Aura.

“That it was Mania… a bloodsucker… whom thinks only of himself…. Came up with this. He is so adamant about it. “

“He has a heart- a good heart. It is just buried under his grief and whatever happened to him growing up. Perhaps this is a turning point for him.”

Leeya smiles and looks at her. “I hope you are right.”

Nearby Dura and Bora are having a similar conversation. It was his idea to use the teleporting magic on the seven slaves. They are free now. One of them knew of their contact. A hermit. He was “sold” a few days ago. The gold went with them to Kundaraks base along with a note. The Elderich home is safe. The slavers are dead. The slaves are safe and have a possible better start. ….and now- they await the real evil here- the slaver’s clients whom use the slaves to experiment on.

The heavy hitters wait at the main entrance with mania, Dura and Leeya holding back for support and cheap shots. Unknown to them, the incoming forces have Bugbears trained as rangers. They note the traffic and find the bodies. They have warned the incoming clerics and their guards. The three of them spread out and begin to sneak up on the ruins.

Despite their carefulness and training, they are expected. Vander spots the light colored fur of the one bugbear as it circles around the tower’s ruined base. Bora hears him as he begins a charge. No one hears the other two take the long way around the ruin to sneak in through the side.

The one trying the front door attacks Vander but misses. Bora strikes him as does Aura and mania whom quickly rushes up. Bora slices and dices him up as he weakens from the multiple strikes prior. Leeya calls out a warning to Incarnum as the other two leap out of the dark shadows. He receives little damage but is surprised none the less.

As the team surrounds them and begins to take them down two more forces run up unnoticed. Mutated Hill Giants (Beast of Chaos template) come in and attack before anyone knows they are there. Vander takes another powerful blow denting the other side of his cherished armor. Leeya’s magic missile attack strikes the rampaging giant in the neck (maxed out damage  ).

Aura is struck several times. Her multiple layers of protection falter under the incredible force of the mutated giants. Bora gets too close and has a black eye. Incarnum is dented and damaged by several blows. Bora guts one and it goes down with its guts spilling out onto the bodies of the bugbear.

Aura takes more damage and Vander, coughing up blood, will not back down. He moves up to confront the last one. Little by little they take it down. Leeya’s magic missile finishes it off.

Unknown to them, this is witnessed by two cloaked clerics of evil whom decide this is not happening and turn to run.

 

[megamania]

SIBERYS SEVEN 003
KUNDARAK
SEGMENT 048
“TO CATCH THE BAD GUYS”

EYRE 28, NIGHT

Strange.

It feels so good.

This feels so natural.

Incarnum moves through the brush with a great deal of stealth. He is hunting the clerics of evil. The humans of evil.

“Any signs of them?” whispers the rogue.

“Yes.”

Short silence. “And?”

“Two of them. They travel this way.” The warforged ranger / soul born points into the brush.

Moving along, knowing the others are not far away, the two of them continue to follow. Mania is becoming very aware of the rising sun. He will not die, bursting into hot ash as many think of it, but he will become weak…. Mortal. But these… slave traders……

“They are running. Easier to follow.”

“Do you think they are heading to the town? The docks?” asks Mania.

“Maybe.”

“Stop.”

Mania stops and places his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“New prints.”

Mania waits. There are days he hates trying to communicate with warforged in general.

“Gobliniods. Came through the brush,” he motions into the brush, “based on the prints, they stood still. Either talking or maybe magically held. Then the humans moved on. The gobliniods went back into the brush.”

“Could mean trouble. We better tell the others.” Replies Mania as he begins to turn.

Not even five steps into the return trip they hear Leeya call out in pain. Mania picks it up a notch.

Six seconds ago- Vander and aura bring up the back. Bora leads them. The spell casters remain in the middle. Leeya and Dura thought themselves safe here but their hunters know to take out the spell casters first. Four javelins streak out of the forest. One strikes Dura with a grazing shot but Leeya is struck solidly and drops to a knee. The others look to her then to the brush. Leeya casts out a fire ball before them that strikes the ambushers. . With no hesitation, Bora blasts into the brush and strikes a Bugbear still switching to his sword. Dura and Aura strike a bugbear still trying to pat out the flames on his legs. Vander finishes him off.

Bora strikes again at her chosen foe that goes down. The others find themselves fighting the brush as much as the hobgoblins. Another goblin drops between Dura and Vander. Aura dispatches another leaving only the last one whom is fighting to save his life from the angered barbarian. Mania and Incarnum burst into the brush and take him down even as Bora turns to strike him down.

“I hate it when I’m right.” Says Mania looking at Incarnum.

They continue to pursue them. Incarnum loses the trail twice but base their actions on the trail and sure enough find them again. They then turn to the right on an animal trail. Nearing Dusk, Mania feels his supernatural strength return and just in time. The trail exists into a short field of tall grass next to the river. They can see several Hobgoblins near the boat guarding. Several robed figures are on deck calling demands to the possible captain of the ship.

“What next?” Dura asks Mania.

“Me?”

“It’s your mission… on your suggestion.”

“I don’t know… I’m making this up as I go.”

 

[megamania]

SIBERYS SEVEN 003
KUNDARAK
SEGMENT 049
“LAIR OF EVIL”

DRAVAGO 2, 999 DUSK

The team of seven adventurers has been shadowing the ship for the past day. The ship guards are very much on alert and wield bows that always have arrows readied. There is no way to approach, much less attack the ship safely.

Two cloaked figures guarded by two bugbears leave the ship. They seem very nervous and remain very alert.

Carefully, Mania and Incarnum track them. They pass three hobgoblins that are near a stone wall. They speak then pass. The Hobgoblins become extremely alert and ready their weapons. As planned, mania returns to the group, alerts them to the situation then creeps back into the night. Ten minutes later, the archers move slowly up. Aura, Bora and Vander release the first volley. One hobgoblin is badly hurt but one escapes any injury at all. As predicted, their attention is entirely on the path so when Incarnum and the rogue strike from behind they are unprepared until the very last moment.

The battle is slow and ugly (rolled 3s and 4s only… ?!?) but just a minute the threat is subdued. Moving up they spot what looks like a small stone house. There are three hobgoblins once more guarding the entrance. They repeat the prior attack method (goes better for them this time).

Inside the stone house are signs of melee including blood. Searching the area better, they find a secret door leading down. It is locked. Finding nothing inside, they go back to the hidden bodies and find a key. It fits and they go down.

Mania notes the scuff marks and claw marks on the walls and ceiling that is eight feet high. Thoughts of the mutated hill giants come to Leeya’s mind but she says nothing. It is too bizarre to consider.


At the bottom of the stairs is a door that is slightly ajar. Gently opening it in case of rusty hinges, Mania opens it a few inches more. He peers in and sees a long hallway that ends in another door. This one is wide open. They more on slowly and as quietly as possible.

Nearing the door he climbs to the walls. Incarnum takes it all in stride but the others are either startled or taken back. His supernatural talents have not completely sunk in with some of the Seven. Peering into the dark he sees movement and can hear it. Bugbears.

He crawls back quietly and far enough away that they can safely whisper. He has a plan and seeing at how his plans have gotten this far they all agree on it.

He crawls carefully through the door again and onto the wall and ceiling. The whole time he is counting to 100 in his mind. At 97 he is going to attack and at 100 they are coming in with a light spell to better see what is happening and attack.

He picks his target and drops behind him and stabs for a vital. The bugbear howls at the attack. The other two turn and begin to attack the supernatural rogue. Little of their attacks get through his supernatural defenses. At hoped, their attention is on him and the others charge in. Bora makes the distance easily. Her ½ orc blood allows her to see in the dark and her barbarian speed takes her across the length of the room. She strikes the same Bugbear that Mania has. The other combatants cross most of the room while Leeya casts out three small orbs that strike perfectly on a bugbear. Dura calls up her Spiritual warhammer and attempts to attack.

Snarling at Bora, the bugbear is easily finished off by Mania. The other two attack at him again but do no damage. Bora takes off an arm with a vicious strike with her great falchion. In the imperfect light, the other melee combatants struggle for positioning but get in a few attacks. Mania and Bora with Leeya’s spells take down another while Aura, Vander and Incarnum finish off the final guard.

“See… no problem.”

“Then what is that growling and howling sound I hear in the hallway?” Asks Vander, half smiling to himself.

They peer down the long hallway. As they slowly walk down the hallway they hear a surprising thump next to them. There is a magical force field that is clear unless struck that contains large furry creatures that are now charging the wall repeatedly. After a few moments they stop striking the wall and merely growl and give threatening motions.

“What are those?”

“When in Sharn a few years ago, I went to an animal show …. They had Dire Apes… these resemble that which I saw.” Comments Dura.

“Diseased?” suggests Bora.

“Changed…. Their aura is… tainted… evil….” Adds Aura.

“Great. House Vadalis is in town.” Quips Bora.

“No. Worse……. And this is what was to become of the slaves we saved….” Answers Leeya in shook.

“Those $#@&* Bastards.” Snarls Mania under his breath as he turns to the end of the hallway. The door is closed but there is light on the other side.

 

[megamania]

SIBERYS SEVEN 003
KUNDARAK
SEGMENT 050
“MISTRESS MUY MONSTROUS”

DRAVAGO 3, 999 after midnight-

Events leading up to the heroes’ final charge-

A woman with a crazed and feral smile on her face looks at a glowing and shivering cocoon. It is purple and black and pulses with alien energies. Two of her aids arrive… empty handed.

“Where are my new test pieces?” she asks with her smile disappearing.

“There were… others…” begins one of the cloaked individuals.

“They defeated the Hobgoblins and waited for us. They killed our bugbears.”

“AND MY PETS? My beautiful dark hill giants?” Her voice becoming manic and extremely unsettling. The clerics take a step back as she takes a step towards them.

“Defeated.” Answers the two men weakly.

“Defeated?” She pauses as if to allow the thought to sink in. “As in killed?” An evil glare shines from her eyes. The cleric aids back up further until they reach a wall.

“What am I to do without more specimens to PLAY with? I need more! Besides the apes and giants everything else has broken.” She turns in thought then stops. Slowly she turns her head to look at the men over her shoulder. An evil smile filled with madness is once more on her face.

One of the men tries to run but she reaches out and makes a fist. The man finds himself magically held. “Don’t go anywhere- you can be next” The other man numbly nods his head in great fear and deep down- curiosity of what will become of his soon to be former ally.

She returns back to the strange alien cocoon like device. She purrs to it like a lover. She gently touches various blackened nods and bumps on the outside. She has learned much about how this Xoriat created artifact works. The creatures of nightmares created mind flayers, beholders and other wonderful aberrations with this. What ever could she create? Her eyes become bright thinking about it. A slight murmur can be heard as she works. Then a glow and more pulsing from the Husk of Infinite Worlds. The murmur becomes a confusing buzz then a moan. Energy begins to leak from the Husk. It swirls like a thing alive…. Seeking…. Hunting…..

Now beginning to whistle softly to herself she walks over to the held man. Sweat pours down his face and neck. He has seen this used before. Most living things placed within die horribly becoming nothing but a blob of protoplasm…. Those are the lucky ones. Now he will experience it….. The honor… the Horror….

Placing special goggles and headpiece on, she becomes immune to the artifact’s residual effects and leans close to the held man.

“I Love you.” She leans back and laughs like a crazy person consumed by their own madness and finding something very funny…. Something secret. She drags the man using magic to the husk. The swirling energy concentrates on the two. The second, luckier man, can only watch- both in horror and awe.

The husk opens up like a morning flower welcoming the first rays of sunlight. She pushes the man in and the vapors pull him in. The spell suddenly breaks and the man tries to escape and screams. Screams for his soul.

On the other side of the closed door, Mania hears the screams and reacts thinking an innocent person is being killed.

 

[megamania]

SIBERYS SEVEN 003
KUNDARAK
SEGMENT 051
“PURE EVIL CHAOS”

DRAVAGO 3, 999 after midnight-

Mania bursts through the door. The one cleric doesn’t see him but the crazed woman sees him. She then ignores him. She wants to enjoy the transformation of the man inside the arcane-planar cocoon. Leeya, having readied her wand fires a magic missile. It strikes the woman but it doesn’t little to her enchanted body. Seeing the magic attack, the cleric immediately goes to protect his master. A spiritual weapon appears between the team and her. Aura sees the swirling magical energy but when she spots the crazed mage her reads her aura as pure chaotic evil and charges to remove her. As she steps into the swirling energy she is assaulted mentally and becomes confused and goes to attack something moving behind her. Bora rushes past Aura and attacks the cleric hoping to remove his magical club quickly. She guts him and prepares for the finishing strike when someone steps up quickly behind her and strikes at her. Mania rushes the woman thinking his supernatural body will repel anything caste at him. His mind becomes fuzzy for a moment then he reconnects with reality and attacks her going little damage. She laughs at him and seems to appraise him. Incarnum steps up but senses something is strange and magical about the mist. Uncertain about it he advances and tries to reach the crazed woman but can’t reach her. Vander notices Aura’s sudden change in direction but ignores it and moves after the woman hoping to take her down quickly. As he reaches the magical swirling mists he tries not to breathe it in but finds his mind goes numb anyway. He slows down then stops as he watching the swirls become various flying creatures and he looks at them blankly and lets his sword fall to his side. Dah-dah…… Dura tries to strike at a distance with her own spiritual weapon. She misses the woman. “So many pretty playthings. Perhaps I was hasty to be mad at you. You brought others with you. The warforged…. I’ve never had one of those before.” She mentally releases a spell preset down the hallway. One of the mutated Dire Apes leaps at the magical wall and tumbles out onto the floor and against the far wall. They all stop in stunned confusion then begin to growl, howl and hop about in sheer furious joy. Freedom!

Leeya calls out to everyone not to enter the mist (mostly too late- Know: Arc just missed before). One cleric tries to strike Bora but misses. The other one is still screaming. His one arm hanging outside of the cocoon thrashing about. Suddenly the screaming ends. The arm twitches violently several times then drops. With a sickly sucking sound, the arm is drawn slowly into the cocoon. Mania is so distracted by it he nearly stops everything his now crazed mind was doing. Aura, not of her own mind attacks whatever moved the closest to her. Caught unaware, Bora takes a savage strike to her back from the paladin. Bora screams out profanities and tries to move in such a way as to finish off the cleric and also stay away from Aura. “WHY? Why Aura?!?” Incarnum has also seen the grisly spectacle of the arm being sucked in. It doesn’t bother his warforged mind and he attacks the woman. He does little damage to her. However, she sees this is not going well for her and her minions and pets. Vander is still drooling and babbling while reaching for imaginary creatures in the mist when she calls up a spell. She disappears.

Dura has seen the man go inside also and calls out in horror for someone to save him. She starts into the room but Leeya stops her and calls out for everyone to stop and leave the room. Dura struggles free and is about to reattempt to run in when she hears the first howl.

“I am going to need a really strong drink after this.”

 

[megamania]

SIBERYS SEVEN 003
KUNDARAK
SEGMENT 052
“PURE CHAOS”

Dura directs Leeya’s attention to behind them. Six of the mutated dire apes are in the hallway. One begins to growl and threaten the spell casters so Leeya sends a fireball down at them. Dura tries to follow with a beam of magical energy but misses the charging creature. Three others smell the blood of the just recently killed bugbears and go for easier food. The other two seem uncertain but sneer at the spellcasters.

Aura strikes Bora again. Bora tries to plead with the paladin, her friend. Finally she merely grunts and murmurs a barbarian (non-paladin Grandma friendly) comment and bolts at her while dropping her sword. Aura gets in a slight nick as she is tackled full force (nat 20) and sent hard to the ground with the big ½ orc woman on her. Mania continues to try to strike the nearest target which is Incarnum. The warforged has come to understand somewhat what is happening. He could easily move away from the rogue but fears the defenseless Vander would become the next target. He cannot allow that. He concentrates on being defensive against Mania. Unseen by anyone he begins to glow softly as he reaches deep inside to the strange Incarnum energies that powers him. He becomes harder to strike.

Vander continues to reach into the air to grasp and pat unseen friendly animals. His childish and goofy smile is the only clue to whatever he is seeing.

Dura is struck hard by the charging ape. To protect her, Leeya castes a fireball into the hallway. This discourages the two other apes from also charging and gets the leading ape in the back. It howls at Dura and Leeya in pain and anger.

Suddenly the ape stops howling and has a pained look on its face. Then the others hear it. A loud ear-piercing screech from the cocoon. It pulses and lights strike out in beams of color. The mists suddenly retract through a lit crack of the entrance where the man was sucked in. Vander stops babbling and grasps at the air once more then looks around. He is confused and embarrassed. Mania and Aura continue to attack and thrash about. (allowed a second save due to retraction of mists). Leeya and Dura are freed up as the dangerous ape decides to leave rather than fight whatever is happening. It’s dull and angry mind still remembers the cocoon it would seem. Vander stumbles back trying to understand what is happening. Leeya steps up- whatever is happening it’s because of this cocoon and needs to stop.

The cocoon groans once more and a mutated man stumbles out and falls to his (its) knees. He throws up them swipes his mouth. He sits upright and pulls back his cowl. His two eyes have fused into one and seven tentacles with eyes on them wriggle free of his wet hair. Taking no chances, Leeya unleashes her most powerful spell at him and freezes him there killing him instantly.

Vander helps Incarnum hold Mania back. It is not easy. In another minute or so the effects finally wear off. Aura breaks down crying and both Leeya and Bora hold her. She doesn’t want it at first but accepts it after a few moments. Mania sits in a corner and seems shocked and in deep thought.

“Can we destroy it?” asks Dura.

“I don’t want to get near it. I don’t know.” Answers Leeya.

“We can’t just leave it can we?” wonders Vander, still trying to understand what has happened to both himself and the others.

“Can we?” echoes the warforged.

“What concerns me the most is I recognized her.” Bora brings up.

“The party in Sharn,” Mania says with little emotion, “Muy I think was her name.”

“Gods of the Sovereign Host….” Whispers Leeya.

“Now what?” asks Bora.

 

[megamania]

SIBERYS SEVEN 004
SEAWALL MOUNTAINS
SEGMENT 053
“THE LONG HAUL”

DRAVAGO 5, 999

“Keep running guys! Keep running!” Exclaims Dura in a huff.

“Whose idea was it to tell Geth about the insane center anyway?!?” yells out Bora looking over her shoulder.

“I didn’t know there was a damned coupe of ruler ship here!” Pants out Leeya, nearly out of breath.

“Damned Hobgoblins… think this means they can… do whatever they want! Even hunt us!” Bora blusters.

“These are some of the blasted gobliniods that were a part of human slave trafficking. So get real.” Spits out Mania in frustration.

They have been on the run for the past two hours. A large faction of hobgoblins is hunting them for sport. They know the land and are using archers. They are traveling deeper into the Kraal Jungle. Rumor has it that even the locals avoid this area. It is full of the supernatural and haunted ruins. Better dealing with rumors while thinning out the archers than face the archers head-on.

As they come onto a stonewall made from stacked loose rocks two arrows glance off of Incarnum’s shoulder. “Cover!” yells Bora. All seven leap behind the wall for cover. Mania is looking at a tall tree to climb and attack from above but the others locate where the archers are.

They are in cover behind trees and large moss covered rocks. Leeya sees that two of them are side-by-side and casts a web spell onto them while Bora takes a chance and stands up with her own bow. She hits before the hobgoblin can re-acquire her location.

“Now what?” asks Leeya.

“Where’s Mania?” asks Vander.

They hear a startled scream then nothing. The Hobgoblins are no longer a threat and Mania can heal himself again.

Continuing on, hoping to distance themselves further from the hunters, they follow the stone wall to what Incarnum believes is due west. Based on the moisture of the ground he believes they are traveling towards a river or water source.

Unwittingly, they are following a game trail, and where there is game there are often predators. In this case, after about an hour of traveling they spot two Dire Tigers that are waiting to ambush them. Mania, with his supernatural nature and Aura with her defenses take point hoping the others can take the creatures down before they advance onto them.

Leeya does her best but the boney large cats leap from the tree even as the spell is caste. Bora misses with her bow. Dura tries to get them also but misses completely with a spell. The large cats charge and pounce on both of them. Sparks are flying as one tries to rip up and gut Aura. Most of Mania’s injuries seal up but some are just too deep. He and the cat are becoming a bloody mess.

Most of the team tries to help him first but little is done to the cats with their tough hides. Aura howls in pain as a rear foot gets in-between separate plates of armor and rakes her badly. In desperation, mania begins to rip into the cat’s foot with his fangs creating a truly bloody mess. Dura bolsters Bora’s strength and the barbarian begins to hack the cats up with deep and mighty blows. Finally the cats are killed.

Aura requires magical aid and the others are uncertain at what to do with Mania. “Point me… to the… nearest… hobgoblin……” he says with a faint smile.

 

[megamania]

SIBERYS SEVEN 004
SEAWALL MOUNTAINS
SEGMENT 053
“WHEN THE HUNTER BECOMES THE HUNTED”

DRAVAGO 5, 999

“WARLORD BRAAK- the scouts are no longer reporting in.”

“We hunt a worthy foe General Lortaal. It is a glorious night. Our gods approve of us and bless us. Select new scouts.”

“Yes.”

“You, you and you- scout ahead. NOW!” snarls General Lortaal after walking to a small grouping of archers.

The three frown but do as commanded. They go ahead of the front line. Though not the best of trackers they can easily follow the trail. A warforged and two full plate targets leave easy to follow trails. They reach a small still stream with steep tall banks surrounded by trees and brush. One bends down to see which way they went and freezes in horror. Reflecting in the water are eyes in the darkness. Dozens. The three have almost no time to even scream. High above them, clinging to a tree is the team’s rogue and resident Dhampir. He has decided to use his supernatural powers over the creatures of the night. Something he hates doing but must for the others to survive.

He never once asks himself when did he start to care about others.

Wolves rush and overwhelm the awaiting ambushers. It is not pretty but at least it is short.

Lortaal and his personal guards last only slightly longer. But those are taken down by the other six traveling companions.

“The sooner we get to civilization the better. I need a long hot soaking bath.” Comments Dura as she discovers a leech has attempted to attach to her forearm.

“Before then we have to still cross the dangerous mountains that are loaded with eager to fight gobliniods.”

“For a bath- I’ll take them ALL down.”

 

[megamania]

SIBERYS SEVEN 004
SEAWALL MOUNTAINS
SEGMENT 055
“SEAWALL MOUNTAINS”

DRAVAGO 15, 999

The group has been walking through lightly forested areas of Darguun for ten days now. They have faced several creatures they did not expect to run into. They have avoided two groups of hobgoblins marching.

On a clear day they can see what they believe are the Seawall Mountains.

At another 10 days of travel they can clearly see the very tops of the mountains. They begin to follow a river system (Torlaac River) which helps them in some ways but hinders them in others. They are trying to avoid possible hostile groups but the river attracts everyone with many settlements.

NYMM 3, 999

The group reaches a larger settlement known as Grellreach. They continue to try to be evasive around people though they see several none gobliniods farming land. But as freemen or slaves? They pass it up hoping the best for the farmers.

NYMM 8, 999

The flat lands of fields and batches of forest give way to foothills.

NYMM 10, 999

They are clearly within the mountains. Fallen rough stone liter the grass and forests as they climb steep areas of land.