Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sniktch" data-source="post: 601482" data-attributes="member: 7704">The assault on Szith Morcane, pt 2Gnish stared dubiously at the halfling, examined the collection of freaks again, and went back to looking worriedly at the halfling.  The scholarly looking gentleman walked closer and said, “Welby, you’re glowing!  How did they see you coming?  And who and what is your friend here?” He smiled down at Gnish as he finished speaking and despite himself, the gnome relaxed.  It didn’t appear he was going to be eaten or torn apart right away; he might as well stay and find out what was going on here.“Stupid spiders, Arty.  He help me,” the halfling pointed at Gnish, “so I tell him follow.”“A deep gnome, if I’m not mistaken.  Natural enemies of the drow,” spoke the winged elf as he hovered near.“Another of the wretched slave races,” came a muffled feminine voice from the cloaked figure.“Well, if he is an enemy of the drow we have much in common already,” Artimas replied, then spoke directly to the svirfneblin.  “We may seem strange, but we mean you no harm.  We have come to level this foul city of dark elves and slay the foul followers of Kiaransalee.  Would you care to join us?  An extra warrior would help our cause greatly.“I am Artimas Sendant, a humble scholar and priest, and my companions are Bruskin, Welby, Higreld Pel, and Tierak.  What do you say, friend, will you join us?”The gnome hesitated then extended a hand gingerly, “Gnish.  The dark elves killed my people – I am here for revenge.  I will come if many dark elves’ blood will be spilled.”“How deep is your hatred of the drow?” the cloaked figure asked again.Something in her voice troubled Gnish.  “Why do you ask?”“Oh, because she is drow,” replied Artimas dismissively.  “Do not worry, her people were also slain by the drow currently living in Szith Morcane – she seeks their blood just as much as you, good Gnish.”Gnish thought about it.  He really didn’t like the thought of working along side a dark elf, but he wasn’t sure he had much of a choice.  He couldn’t possibly defeat the powerful force deployed here, and he doubted they would let him leave now that he’d stumbled upon them.  He answered with a curt nod, “Strange times make for stranger bedfellows.  I will join you.”The drow answered haughtily, “Oh, good.  Just remember to pay proper respect to your betters and I’m sure we’ll get along fine.”The gnome stared venomously at the priestess and for a moment Artimas thought he might launch himself forward to attack.  Then the gnome’s eyes dropped and he retreated to the entrance of the crypts, taking up a silent guard and occasionally glancing over his shoulder at the rest of the party, his expression unreadable.Higreld floated over as the conversation ended.  “Been scried we have.  Know our numbers and presence they do.”The necromancer uttered a foul oath.  “Why do I bother to make plans.  Let’s get on with it – the sooner we get down there the sooner I can crush my enemies.”Tierak gasped, “Surely you do not mean to walk into the teeth of their defenses?”  She waved a hand at the sky, “We have a little time – I assure you my people are not coming after us in this?”“Bah, I weary of this game.  As soon as Welby stops glowing we head underground, and we’ll see how ready for us they really are.”Bruskin nodded, “I have to agree with Artimas – they have no reason to come after us when they can stay safely nestled in their own den.  And I don’t see that we really have a way past the guards without alerting them.  I say we wait an hour or two to increase their tension and then attack.”Higreld cocked his head as if listening and loosed a wheezing laugh.  “A good enough plan I say.  Favor us do the Old Ones; triumph we will.”Not long after, Artimas and Tierak uttered commands and the column of undead warriors marched into the caves.  Welby sent his shadowy companion in the lead, staying mostly in the wall but keeping an eye out for any ambushes.  Next came the train of skeletons and zombies, followed by the halfling and the deep gnome, with the spellcasters bringing up the rear.  They advanced to the point where Welby had been attacked earlier before the first arrows whistled out of the darkness, striking the lead skeletons with little effect.Welby listened to a silent voice in his head and yelled, “They flee!  They fire and run!”“Charge, my soldiers.  Slay anything you meet!” At Artimas’ command the skeletons broke into a run and clanked down the tunnel in pursuit of the fleeing drow sentries.  Another pair of arrows struck the leading undead and one of them collapsed, but the column ignored the falling skeleton and trampled it into the stony floor.Tierak informed the party, “I see them – a pair of archers, retreating and firing.”  She followed with a wave of her hand and a trio of glowing orbs appeared in the tunnel and zoomed down its length, illuminating the enemy.  The dark elves responded with another volley and continued their retreat, reaching the shaft that lead to the entrance of Szith Morcane.“Get away you will not!” cried Higreld and he began to chant a bizarre string of arcane syllables.  As he finished the spell the two drow heard a tearing sound and an ogre stepped into view and bludgeoned one in the shoulder with its club.  Tierak added her own magical might to the attack and launched a glowing beam of dark energy that tore into one of the archers and left it stunned.The other archer grasped its wounded shoulder and jumped down the chute to the city proper, but the other was unable to move and was swarmed by the undead minions of Tierak and Artimas and quickly hacked to pieces.  The ogre bellowed in rage as its prey escaped and followed the dark elf into the hole.  The sounds of furious combat soon issued from the aperture.“Follow and slay all who oppose you!” commanded Artimas and the undead horde quickly poured down the hole after the ogre.  The sounds of combat intensified as the group gathered around the opening and prepared for combat.  Artimas examined the drow his undead had cut down and discovered it still breathed, although barely.  A maniacal grin stretched his pasty white cheeks as he grasped the dying elf and absorbed its soul, strengthening his power for the fight to come.At this point there was nothing left but for them to follow.  One by one the companions dropped through the hole and the battle for Szith Morcane was joined.  Next:  Chaos ensues...</blockquote>

Verification