The Adventures of the Knights of Spellforge Keep

[Dr Midnight]

They found Dartan in the common room, sharpening his sword. He looked up at them as they entered.

“You tried to kill me,” Jamison said.

“What?”

“You tried to kill me. You hired an assassin to murder me.”

“No I didn’t. You’re crazy.” He paused, then shrugged his shoulders carelessly. “Yeah, I had you killed.”

Jamison shivered with fury, but to his credit, he kept his head level. “Why, Dartan? Why? I called you friend!”

Dartan gave him a cold glare. “I didn’t, the day you murdered mine. I told you I’d kill you if you stepped out of line. You did. When you banged that gong, I decided I’d had enough of Jamison Crow ruining the world.”

“Why hire an assassin, coward? Why not do it yourself?”

Dartan had stopped sharpening his blade, but didn’t put his sword back into its sheath. He stood up. “I could do it myself right now.”

Vek stepped into the space between the two and locked eyes with Dartan. “Well, Jamison,” the lich said. “We have the traitor here. He’s admitted to the crime. What would you have as his punishment?” The implication was clear. Shall I kill him?

Dartan sneered and flexed his fingers about the sword’s haft, readying his grip. The tension in the room bristled to a fever pitch and stayed there. The two well-matched warriors stared each other down. Who could win, if it came to a fight? Could Dartan manage to land a blow against Death’s chosen warrior? Could Vek succeed where countless enemies and monsters had failed?

“Enough!” Jamison yelled. “I will travel with you no longer.”

“Good,” Dartan said, never taking his eyes from Vek. “We don’t need you. Walk away before you get hurt… again.”

Vek spoke. “Is this your will, Jamison? You would cast him out and let him live?”

“Yes.”

“You’re leaving the group, not me,” Dartan said. “I’m the only undefeated member of the original Knights. This is MY group.

Vek laughed. “I believe the group are the ‘Knights of Spellforge Keep’. If any of us truly lead the group, it’s Kizzlorn Spellforge. You are just one of us. All FRIENDS are welcome at Spellforge Keep. I think that as you’ve deigned to have one of your own murdered, you’re perfectly fit to be cut from our ranks.”

Dartan looked at the others. Vek and Jamison were obviously against him. Orthos and Lem stood in the doorway, having heard most of the conversation from the next room. The look on Orthos’ face told that he was sickened by Dartan’s actions. Lem’s face was considerably harder to read, as he was cowled and took matters of life and death less seriously. It was still clear, though, that he sided with the majority.

“Fine,” Dartan said. His face reddened, and his bared teeth gleamed white like a hungry wolf’s. “I don’t need any of you. I’ll form my own group, and do what none of you could. Watch yourself, Jamison. If I have reason to kill you again, no black arts will save you, I promise.” He walked away angrily and wrapped his bedroll, then spat on the floor and left the inn.

The remainder of the party watched him leave through the upstairs window. Jamison especially seemed saddened by the events of the day. He’d thought he’d at least eventually win Dartan back over with his boyish charm and friendly manner, but it was not to be.

His last friend from Poddleton, Dartan the Godless, walked away from the Knights of Spellforge Keep as an enemy.

More to come...

 

[Hammerhead]

Jamison brutally murdered several of Dartan's companions years ago...under magical compulsion. He has made every effort of redeeming himself.

Jamison, a liability? He has quirks, certainly, but ringing the gong allowed the KoSFK to drain the XP glands of the Titan, and take any treasure it may have had. Looking at it this way, he did them a favor. And a powerful, clever, magic user is in NO WAY a liability. Most of Jamison's antics in the Temple of Elemental Evil endangered only himself.

Nor would I call violent threats and/or actions to be the appropiate response of any sane human being-which Dartan is not.

And it IS reasonable for Vek to hire an assassin. He may not expect the assassin to succeed, and it could be part of a long-term plot so insidious only an immortal lich could dream up.

Also, perhaps Vek phrased his question incorrectly. He never specified WHICH assassination, and he never asked a direct question of Dartan's involvement in the assassination.

There's more to this than meets the eye.

Remember,

 

[Breakstone]

Wow!

Oh man!

Awesome!

Holy cow!

...

(did you see the Woah?)

Is Dartan truly leaving the group?

 

[Hammerhead]

I stand by my original opinion; there's more to this than meets the eye.

Still, I think Vek should have gone mano-a-mano with Dartan. He's just gonna cause trouble later.

 

[Metus]

Hm. Jamison was always a bumbling fool who enraged me (and he killed Hannah). I think he should've been executed. On the other hand, I always thought of Dartan as a grouch and a meanie. Even then, he's a more valuable asset then Jamison. Honestly, I think they should both be kicked out of the party. C'est la vie.

I am liking the new characters, though. I'm quickly growing fond of Kizz, Orthos and Lem. So here's hoping they don't go all freaky like the veterans have.

Oh, and Dartan wanted to kick Jamison out.... but wasn't his purpose in being with the group to watch Jamison anyways? That seemed kind of weird.

 

[Victim]

Jamison, a liability? He has quirks, certainly, but ringing the gong allowed the KoSFK to drain the XP glands of the Titan, and take any treasure it may have had. Looking at it this way, he did them a favor. And a powerful, clever, magic user is in NO WAY a liability. Most of Jamison's antics in the Temple of Elemental Evil endangered only himself.

Nor would I call violent threats and/or actions to be the appropiate response of any sane human being-which Dartan is not.

And it IS reasonable for Vek to hire an assassin. He may not expect the assassin to succeed, and it could be part of a long-term plot so insidious only an immortal lich could dream up.

Also, perhaps Vek phrased his question incorrectly. He never specified WHICH assassination, and he never asked a direct question of Dartan's involvement in the assassination.

There's more to this than meets the eye.

Remember,

First of all, I wouldn't consider the Titan necessary challenge the group needed to face. When you go far, far out of your way to inflict trouble on yourself, you are not facing a challenge to overcome a goal. Therefore, the Titan probably isn't worth full XP.

And Jamison does endanger everyone - since he recklessly messes with things he doesn't understand - he could easily be endangering everyone. Just because most of the time, bad stuff only happens to him, doesn't mean that it couldn't be a fireball that hits the group, or something that unleases effects elsewhere. The fact that he "experiments" anyway shows a casual disregard for the lives of his companions.

And the group is brimming with arcane spellcasters. One fighter and 3 spellcasters? I'd rather lose one of the redudant wizards than the only tank.

And I don't think the phrasing is that important. It's not as if the favored cleric's god is trying to screw them on wording. Well, depending on the diety.

 

[Breakstone]

Oh, bah humbug.

It's a story. Enjoy it, don't bicker over it.

 

[Immort]

Whut the heck? Dartan killin' via assasin? What the freakin' hell is up with that? Dartan speak up here big guy, tell us why ya didn't just wax him personal. Are ya switchin' characters on us or sumtin'?

-Immort

 

[Blood Jester]

Jamison brutally murdered several of Dartan's companions years ago...under magical compulsion. He has made every effort of redeeming himself.

Jamison, a liability? He has quirks, certainly, but ringing the gong allowed the KoSFK to drain the XP glands of the Titan, and take any treasure it may have had. Looking at it this way, he did them a favor. And a powerful, clever, magic user is in NO WAY a liability. Most of Jamison's antics in the Temple of Elemental Evil endangered only himself...

But his 'self-endangering' antics are what caused his possesion/alignment-shift which is what caused him to kill his companions and steal Hannah's(?) body. So, it's not 'no harm no foul'.

Dartan said flat-out, 'Step out of line, and I'll kill you.' it seems to be the method that most upset people.

 

[Horacio]

I still don't understand why/if Dartan hired an assasain...