The Creation Schema:THE FINAL BATTLE FOR POSSESSION OF THE SCHEMA

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 242
7/08/06
“Kim Elderich and Friends”

Ippikak squeezes three of the remaining five gems. A strong muscle bound centaur wielding a huge weapon appears. Next to him appears a warforged warrior build for quickness and agility. The final figure to appear is a dwarf dressed in very fine clothes smoking a pipe.

“You have made a decision?” he says without pause.

Cedious notes the phrase then begins his questioning. “Who are you and these guys?”

“I am Kim Elderich and these warriors are in my employment.” He waves his hand at the two new comers, the Golem and Talon and Ippikak are amongst them. “We seek a magical item of great curiosity to myself and thus I wish to know all about.” He takes a few puffs and multi-colored smoke rises. “You are Cedious?”

Refusing to allow the dwarf control of the conversation, the halfling ignores the comment. “I (stressed) want the schema piece which has been stolen by fiendish creatures and taken underground. We need help recovering it from them.”

The dwarf stares at Cedious and then looks over the others. He dabs out the pipe and rubs his hands together. “Well then, we need some rest, healing and time then to plan. Allow me fine person.”

The dwarf reaches into a pocket and pulls out a one-inch wooden statue of a house. Pebbles recalls the dwarf somewhat. He has been described as the richest dwarf within the Mror Holds. She tries to remember anything else but can’t in her befuddled condition. The wooden toy is placed onto the ground and a command word is given. It grows into a small shack. He opens the door and invites all to enter and quickly. Even as they go in he says another command word and the building becomes invisible! Cedious is impressed and tries not to say anything. “To bad it’s a shack. I could…..” He stops in mid sentence. It is much bigger inside than outside. There are 10 rooms around a large central room. One room has medical equipment and some weapons and tools used by adventurers. Nothing special but the statement is clear- Kim Elderich is wealthy and not afraid to show it.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 243
7/08/06
“The Cannith Labs Welcome”

Lady Elaydren was happy to finally arrive at the hidden and secret Cannith base. After the long trip to the island and the attack by the White Dragon, she felt the need to complete this quickly. The ship stopped and let her and her ground crew off then returned to safety of the high skies.

It was very cold and the wind was picking up again. She was uncertain if it was snowing or if this was wind blown snow in the air. Visibility was worsening rapidly.

As she reached the main gate her bodyguard, Strike, a Warforged ranger, suddenly raised a hand for silence and stopping. It peered at the ground and sought clues to what was inside. “What is it Strike?”

“Others are here. Inside the lab.”

Having learned to trust the warforged, She pulls out a wand of detection. Suddenly several spikes strike her and the other Cannith humans. Several of the men rush into the building for cover. Others turn to face their attackers. Red chitin covered insect-like creatures rush them. “&%#@*!!!” Curses Lady Elaydren. Strike moves in and tries to defend her as best as it can.

They hold back one wave then another comes. This one includes several creatures that are 15-feet tall and hovers. They resemble spiky red snakes with giant eyeless heads. Beams of invisible energy rush out from these and wash over Strike and the humans. Most of the Cannith soldiers fall down stunned and unable to defend themselves.

Distracted by the loss of her troops, Elaydren and Strike are overwhelmed and pinned. Acid and poisons drip from the creature’s mouths.

They communicate in fiendish and bludgeon the intruders into oblivion. The people that did not flee into the building are taken back to the Tyranid hive.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 244
7/22/06
“A Poor Plan is Better Than None?”

After taking 24 hours to rest and recover, Pebbles is fully restored as are the others. Both Cedious and Kim are hoping to retrieve the Schema shortly. They step out of the magical building and with a command word it becomes visible and with another word reduces again. Kim pockets the magical item and waits for Cedious’ lead.

Looking at the dwarf Cedious questions his motives. Who is this Kim Elderich and what is his connection to the archer and ½ blood? He found little info looking around the magical home so he rested like the others. He notes that the Golem never leaves his side. Obviously a bodyguard of some sort. Nice. Nice for him anyway.

Cedious listens to Pebbles talk with the Golem. His name is Ore. He was within the Mournlands when he became awakened. Elderich found him and gave him purpose. The golem seems very honor bound. Cedious is becoming wary of him since he sounds much like a Paladin wanna-be. Not good.

The centaur, Clorox, is a beast. Even for a centaur it is large. The weapon it carries must weigh as much as any halfling does. A simple brute. The warforged warrior is very slim and appears to be a basic model. No extra armor but very agile and quick. He either stands there like many warforged do or is he meditating? Is this a monk? A monk warforged?!? What is the world coming to?

Cedious leads them back to the exposed lava pit and the cavern entrance to the Tyranid hive. Cedious is counting on the strength and power of the four new companions to take the prize. HE will take it- not Elderich. Simple plan- use them and run. By then the airship will be back and they go. Easy plan.

Cedious doesn’t seem to question the fact there are no tyranids at the entrance. He has the centaur go first with Pebbles and Talon behind him. Cedious (in the middle) travels with Ippikak. The Forgotten with Elderich and the Golem will support them and warn of backup for the creatures. Easy plan- very workable.

DM NOTE [ I am assuming the players are expecting me to go easy on them. I’m not]

Clorox rushes in and crushes the first tyranid gaunts he runs into and over. Pebbles enlarges and calls on Divine Might before also charging in. Talon waits his turn as the bottle necking has begun. Behind them the Forgotten once more plead with Kim Elderich to avoid this. These creatures are too dangerous and numerous to fight this way. Elderich pulls out a clear glass ball and casts a spell onto it. He begins to check out what is in the cave just ahead of the frontline.

Clorox crushes more bugs then moves onward and deeper into the cave. Pebbles gets out of the narrow section and begins to slam creatures with her magical warhammer. Talon picks a foe and attacks. Ippikak begins to fire arrows at targets as he can see them within the dim light. Cedious keeps to his side with a dart readied.

Elderich sees about 15 gaunts rushing the frontline and one larger creature (a Warrior). So far, Cedious’ poor plan seems to be working but he continues to think about other options. The schema MUST be retrieved no matter what. However, he has little to no offensive spells memorized. Elderich is not a warrior this way. Thus his bodyguard and aids he normally has at all times. Speaking of which, he has an important meeting to attend shortly in Mror Holds that includes revelations about Lady Elaydren and her true intentions.

Then he sees them. Dozens more gaunts are rushing to aid the hive guards and six more warriors arrive. These have strange arms built onto their mid-section. Something new and obviously dangerous. Then one of the forgotten (1/2 iron golems) spots gaunts attacks along with a tall floating snake-like creature with a large head.

“Time to go Ore.” And Ore grabs the Forgotten leader and the three teleport away to a preset location of Kim’s design even as waves of psionic energy wash over them.

Cedious hears a warning from the Forgotten but turns only to see Elder become first invisible then for Ore and the leader to disappear. “THE RAT!”

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 245
7/22/06
“Tyranid Warriors”

Clorox, Pebbles and Talon notice the warriors are holding back while the gaunts seem to be creating a funnel to the warriors. Not thinking about it, Clorox continues forward. Suddenly six blasts of fiendish energy are released onto him. The centaur discovers what pain is and forced to reconsider his actions. “Ippikak! A little help please!” calls out Pebbles as she witnesses the firepower released. Meanwhile, the elven arcane archer has already seen the attack. The energy they wield reminds him of a warlock’s elderitch blast. NOT good. He tries to attack them as he can but they are using columns for FULL cover.

“That rat teleported away!” screams out Cedious in near- panic. “And we have company out here!”

DM NOTE [Clinton knew both Ore and Elderich are level 20+ and did assume they would help more.]

Clorox moves to the side of the cavern hoping to use the rock pillars for his own cover and advance onto the warriors up close. Flurry, the warforged monk suddenly leaps into action and attacks the gaunts as they attempt to surround Pebbles. He weaves in and out of the attacks while striking back. His actions catch the attention of the warrior without a ranged weapon. It begins to stalk him now.

Unknown to them, 100+ feet into the darkness, through another bottlenecked section lays a Khyber Pit. Dozens of gaunts rush from pathways around it even as something HUGE begins to climb up through it.

Clorox takes another round of blasts. Pebbles goes to him to heal him but is attacked on the way. Flurry continues to watch her back but suddenly finds a four-clawed warrior before it with spikes protruding from its chest and stomach. These drip in acid. The claws dig into the monk’s back and pull it into the spikes digging into the chest causing acid damage. If a warforged could scream it would now. It rips itself free and stumbles back. The Warrior follows enjoying the hunt.

Talon suddenly has eight of the gaunts on him. Few get through to him with their attacks but these few are beginning to add up.

Only Cedious and Ippikak are immune to the blood bath as they are holding back and shooting from the safety of the narrow entrance. Then waves of psionic energy strike them.

Cedious swears he will kill Kim Elderich the next time he sees that damned dwarf.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 246
7/22/06
“Can it Get any Worse?!?”

Staggered but other wise okay, Cedious and Ippikak push away the first wave of psionic energy but now ten gaunts rush at them. Clorox and the others will have to deal with the energy-wielding creatures themselves. A second large headed snake floats into view.

Inside, Clorox has managed to corner two warriors and begins to hack into them with his very Huge weapon and cuts them down. He takes another round of firepower and staggers. He snarls in anger and pain. Pebbles cures more damage even as the gaunt soldiers try to separate the two. Talon takes down a few gaunts and begins to get some breathing room. That is when a blocked off warrior shots him instead.

OOC “Hey- NOT ME! SHOOT THE HORSEY-MAN!” Thus begins the new nickname for the Centaur Titan.

The monk is once more caught and spiked. It becomes inert and the warrior begins to drag his body away to the darkness. Pebbles calls for help but everyone is very busy saving themselves. She uses Command to have the warrior walk to her instead. Soon it and six others walk to her instead.

A psionic tyranid arrives and begins to hunt also. The whole time a HUGE crab-like tyranid (ol’ one eye for you 40K players) watches everything and studies the events. It studies the tactics and powers of these intruders. Retreat may be required but they will rue the day if they inter the Pit itself.

Suddenly Cedious spots something through the cave entrance.

“THIS CAN”T BE HAPPENING! THE HUGE FIRE ELEMENTAL IS BACK!”

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 247
7/22/06
“The Parting Shots”

Clorox and the others do not hear Cedious’ warning over the noise of battle. They continue to beat at the Warriors. Once these are gone they hope the smaller gaunts will retreat. Talon and Pebbles attack the snake-like creature after it attempts to stun them and Clorox. It goes down quickly since it lacks the usual protection it had.

The crab -like creature sinks back down into the Khyber Pit. It has learned much today and will prepare better. These creatures were more powerful than the others caught. But they are much more powerful still.

Clorox and Pebbles concentrate next on the Warriors and destroy them. They expected the gaunts to leave but they do not. Most all of them attack still. This delaying tactic makes them question going in any further.

The Fire Elemental has wandered past the action. It doesn’t care about the creatures here. It is just happy to have a warmer place to hang out at.

The monk is inert and Pebbles has no repair/mend spells saved. Not good. Nearly everyone is beaten and bloodied. Cedious is only slightly hurt and he expected to receive no damage. Ippikak needs some healing but again, he did not expect to get this close to melee combat.


DM NOTES This was by far the longest battle we have ever had. 3 ½ hours to complete. I gave out lots of XP which had to be adjusted as the gaunts were plenty but did little more than rush the ranged attackers and slowdown the frontline. 4000 XP went to all. Pebbles and Cedious went up in level only.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 248
7/22/06
“And The Sides Begin to Gather”

=wake up Queen Elaydren=

several seconds go by.

=wake up Queen Elaydren=

several seconds go by.

=wake up Queen Elaydren=

several seconds go by.

“hurmmm?” says a sleepy Elaydren. “Where …where am I?”

She tries to sit up but her head spins from the attempt. “What ..is that smell?” She rolls her head to side and sees bars and beyond that a river of glowing molten lava. Occationally a red armored creature skitters by.

“Strike?” she calls out softly. “Where are you?” nothing.

=you are awake. That is good=

“Xulo? Where are we?”

= I can speak but a moment more. You are close to the schema. Find it and I will call.=

“Find it? How? Xulo?”

= find it and you will become a queen =

Lady Elaydren clears her head and sits up slowly. The cell she is in is rough rock and warm to the touch. Worked bars hold her inside. She searches for her wands but they have been taken. The bars were “molded” into the rock so her lock picks will not help her. The damned creatures even took her Cannith ring.

Then she hears a scratching sound. She looks and sees a bit of earth and stone crumble in the corner of her cell. A stick appears then retreats. Something is on the other side. Preparing for anything she stands up and faces it.

“Is that someone? Is that someone human?” is said in common.

“Yes. Who are you?”

“I am known as Cider.”

“I am Dessa Freeman.” She lies.

Maybe there is a way out afterall.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 249
7/22/06
“Vol Speaks”

Garrow has seen many things in his three lives that were disturbing but none will ever unnerve him like when his lord is before him. Vol.

Her undead and textured skin was stretched over her thin and gaunt elven frame. Scars on her bare shoulders reveal where a magical tattoo called a dragon mark once held power. She remained tied to death. Her dragon mark was related to necromancy until she became an undead lich. Most believe she was the last to hold the mark. Others believe there are new descendants unknown to most of the world that have the mark.

However, it is not her dragon mark or even her being a lich that unsettles the Changeling. It is her cool and alluring personality that frightens him. Hearing her voice makes him want to follow any command or word given by her. He prides himself for being a self-made person but she can unravel him and his self-control with but a word.

“Garrow, dear sweet Garrow. What am I to do with you? Until this Creation Schema campaign you had never failed me or the Claw. Never. But this halfling seems to have gotten the better of you on several occasions.” She purrrs. A glint of malice shines from the darkness of one dark eye socket. She steps forward out of the deep shadows to within an arm’s reach of Garrow.

“My deepest shame and regret malady.” And he bows deeply as he steps back.

“Rise.”

He rises waiting for some new pain or punishment.

“The dwarf known as Elderich seems to be winning the race to collect the pieces of the schema but for them to function, he will need to reach Xen’drik. I want… I wish you to go before him and take the prize from him. He will not expect you there.”

“I would be most pleased to make you happy and go to Xen’drik and take the prize from the dead dwarf’s hands.”

“I sense uncertainty in your voice Garrow. Do you not wish to please me?”

“I do! I do wish to please you. But the land … the land itself is said to attack those not native of the land.”

“Yes and so much more I have been told. Take ANY resources you wish. Bring any allies you wish. Bring me the Schema and do not fail.”

“Yes malady.”

Garrow begins to step backwards to leave when the Lich speaks once more. “And Garrow- if the halfling gets in your way- kill it.”

A vicious smile curls on his changeling face. That command he would be MOST pleased to fulfill.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 250
8/05/06
“Tempting Fate … again”

“Heal us Pebbles and then I want to go in.” says the over impulsive halfling rogue.

“?!?” Pebbles is less than certain about this. To heal the group leaves her without any spells.

“The hell with that. Let’s locate the dragon horde. It MUST be safer than these tunnels.” Adds Talon.

Cedious walks deeper into the tunnel and spots the Khyber pit. “NOW we HAVE to return.”

“What about the airship?” asks Ippikak. “Even if we locate the schema or a dragon’s horde- how do we leave this cursed cold land? We have not seen the ship in days.”

“Its there. Lets find somewhere safer to rest then return and get the schema and any other goodies these things have. We must have killed most of them.” Suggests Cedious still thinking about the Pit.

As luck continues for them, they find shelter nearby and rest there. All are healed and new spells memorized / prayed for. Ippikak begins to worry more about the lack of contact with the airship. The weather seems calm and almost warm as they leave the tunnels. Flurry, the warforged monk, has been worked on and repaired. Unseen crafter, a specific spell for a warforged is caste on it. Hopefully he will survive better this time.

They reenter the tunnel 12 hours later and find no resistance. “Maybe we killed all of them.” Happily suggests Cedious to the group. Clorox had hoped for more creatures to combat but this works. Besides, there must be more of these creatures. No one would send his or her entire force to guard the front door leaving the complex empty.

Cedious climbs into the pit and slides down to the darkness below. Clorox surprises everyone by leaping in and by dragging his four hooves on the walls drops with great control into the pit and below. Only Talon has any problems and even he avoids any injury.

They look around and find more open cavern space that is loosely lit by the glow of two lava streams. One is complete with a lava-fall. Four tunnels exit from the space. Three at the one end and a lone tunnel near the falls.

“So this is a Khyber Pit. I’m not impressed.” Says Cedious looking around. He can see only so far as he lacks the darkvision most of the party has. However, their vision for underground darkness is hampered by the glow of the molten lava.

“Where to?” asks Flurry looking around with his normal vision.

Pointing his weapon in the direction of the nearest tunnel Clorox answers. “Allow me to beat it out of them.” Coming down a tunnel are at least 8 four armed tyranids similar to one seen within the facility. They have claws versus talons and seem to sneak around much more effectively than the long taloned ones.

Clorox rushes off to bottleneck the creatures coming to them. This is when Talon spots several Tyranid warriors, two with ranged blasters and one with wicked claws approaching from another tunnel. He hurries in their direction to stop them.

The others spot more warriors and two of the floating snake-like creatures coming from across the lava stream.

“Here we go again” says Cedious figuring this will be no problem at all.

DM NOTES [Tyranid Zoanthropes are now completed and their powers done. I warned players they had more abilities to them than shown before but had fewer HP. They still attacked them anyway.]

The two snake creatures got very close until they polymorphed from being smaller creatures to themselves. They then take possession of Clorox and have him turn on the group!

Pebbles calls up a new spell- Wall of Blades even as Ippikak discovers the Zoanthropes have a Wall of Wind set up to protect themselves from his arrows. The six warriors begin to rush to the adventurers now.

Meanwhile, unknown to them, a very huge tyranid (Ol’ One Eye) and dozens of gaunts move in closer from above. Darkness is caste there to hide their presence from any looking up or climbing up. Clorox breaks free of the mind control even as Pebbles then commands several warriors to walk forward (into the magical wall) Two obey and are heavily damaged as they walk through a five foot wide wall of force energy swirling and slashing blades. They walk directly up to Pebbles and Talon.

Cedious moves up to wall to attack the Zoanthropes with his darts. Ippikak continues to attack with mixed success. Flurry sees bad things coming and tries to escape through the Pit entrance. At this moment the Zoanthropes PLANE SHIFT through the wall and attack the party! Flurry questions the odd darkness then is crushed and bitten. He goes from perfect health to inert already.

Cedious kills one Zoanthrope even as Clorox rushes to his aid. Ippikak also aids him but fails to stop the creature. It wraps its tail around the halfling and Plane Shifts away!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pebbles decides to leave next and finds a very tough guard above. She is dealt a great deal of damage and finds herself easily grappled by the creature. Crystallized nodes are encrusted on the huge crab-like claws (Khyber crystals used to power its spell-like abilities!) but fails to note the use and type of crystal. The huge creature turns and begins to carry the two away when tries to Poison it. Fails. She then tries to weaken it which helps but does little to its awesome size and strength.

Tyranid Gaunts meanwhile now rain onto the party from above. Cedious, Pebbles and Flurry have been captured and removed from the battle. Clorox, Ippikak and Talon remain. Another (3 total) Zoanthropes appear. It was polymorphed as a rock just outside the wall. It reappears inside the wall through Plane Shift also and attacks Talon. One of the warriors breaks free of Pebbles command and attacks Talon. It has four large falchion-like blades and acidic spear tips that grow from its stomach. Most of these attack and strike him causing Talon a great deal of damage before he can destroy it. The one Tyranid warrior, as commanded, walks back through the wall tearing up its armor even more.

They fight off the gaunts and finish off the last of the Zoanthropes leaving the warriors. Even these begin to fall once Ippikak has a chance to concentrate on them as they stand before the wind wall instead of behind it.

“We need to leave and now!” yells Clorox and Talon. The thought that there were few of these creatures left to destroy has now long left their minds. They climb up or leap through the pit entrance and head for the exit.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 251
8/05/06
“Pebbles and Flurry”

She can not break free and Flurry is either dead or inert once more. She has tried to weaken the creature with a poisonous touch but there was no effect. The creature seems completely unconcerned with her as it carries her deeper down a tunnel that leads deeper into the earth.

She tries a new tactic. She magically siphons strength from the creature. She then kicks and squirms to break free of its hold and does so. It stops and turns to grapple with her again. She avoids the grapple and grabs Flurry.

A tug of war begins with Flurry being the rope. Deep gouges are made in its leg as it pops free from the creature’s grasp. Magically enlarged she grabs the warforged and runs up the tunnel leaving the much slower creature behind her.

Eventually she reaches the pit and spots the others whom are fleeing the area themselves. “Wait up! I have Flurry!”

In the darkness, eyes watch them leave. Hate filled eyes.