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

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 252
8/05/06
“Cedious …being Cedious”

The Zoanthrope is near death but grabs the halfling anyway. It shifts out of one reality and wanders to a spot to reappear within a 15 x 15 cell. Cedious wastes no time and stabs the creature before looking around. It dies and screams in pain and rage.

The walls are earth and stone. The front wall is missing but metallic unfinished metal formed into rods are here. The rogue sees no locks or door. Looking outside, he sees no guards. There is a stream of lava that makes it very hot here and gives a faint light.

With no further hesitation, he cuts the bars with his adamantine rapier and steps out. Nothing. He looks up and down and sees a few dozen similar cells, Some seem to be preoccupied.

He walks to his right and after a few empty cells sees the remains of a Forgotten. It looks quite dead. He passes it with no thought and later finds a man wearing the uniform of the Emerald Claw. “Let me out! Let me out before they return!”

“Who else is here?” says Cedious as he slowly and without any intention of harm looks for his next lethal dart to throw.

“Demise was on with us when we were attacked. I am not certain if she was captured also. Hurry- they occasionally send guards to patrol through here!”

“Do you know the way out?”

“We need to leave and quickly. They do unsavory things to us here.”

“Really? Like what?” he pretends to be looking for his tools.

“They ….”, he speaks softer now, “…they do breeding experiments.”

“Poor bastard.” And he throws his dart and kills the tortured soul in one blow. He uses his rapier to cut through the bars to retrieve his dart and look for anything of use on the soldier. He finds nothing and moves on.

He finds a man with a badly injured arm. He is wearing the colors of House Cannith. “Hey- who are you?”

The man breathes sharply and either ignores him or is so close to death that he doesn’t even know the rogue is there. Cedious pulls out a healing potion and tosses it next to the Cannith man. Nothing. Cedious sighs and cuts his way in. He feeds the potion to the man but it is too late. The wounds are too serious and are beyond what a mere healing potion can do. Cedious ends it for him and looks for new mischief or a means out.

Cedious reaches the end of the cells and finds a bridge here to cross over to the other side where more cells are. He begins to walk up and finds another dead body of a Cannith worker which he ignores. He finds a few skeletons next. "Been here a long time?” he jokes to himself.

The next cell is unexpected. Within the cell is a man with unmarked armor but his eyes reminding him of some mages he has seen. The man looks up but says nothing.

“Who are you?” asks Cedious.

“I am known as Suddz”

“Sounds like a dwarven name. Do you know how to get out?”

“I have some ideas but can not leave this cell Cedious.”

“You know who I am?!?”

“I know of the bounty for your head.”

Cedious smiles. His reputation precedes him- even here. “How much?”

“The Emerald Claw asks for ten thousand. When the first attempts failed, Garrow added some of his own personal money to it. It stands at twenty-five thousand now.”

“Platinum?”

“Gold.”

“How did you get here?”

“I was captured when tall snake like creatures with large heads put me to sleep.”

Cedious remembers the Forgotten. “Who else is here?”

Still having not gotten up or begged to escape the warmage answers. “There are representatives from House Cannith including their leader, The Emerald Claw and the natives.”

“The leader ….?” Cedious’ heart skips a beat. Could it be? Could he finally get his revenge?

“I believe she is referred to with a title.” Says the man with arrogance.

“Elaydren?!?”

“Yes. Can you get me out now? I can aid you.”

“Who are you?”

“Suddz.”

“No- who are you with?”

“Why is it so important to you?”

“Just is.”

Silence.

“See you later then.”

Cedious leaves and the proud mage stays behind and very quiet.

After about ten paces he hears “I am for hire. I am a hired Mercenary.”

Cedious returns and looks at the man whom is now standing and in the middle of the room. “okay.” He cuts the bars with his rapier.

“So that is how you do it.”

“What do you mean?”

“These bars have a strange property to them. They negate magic. Your adamantine is not magical in nature thus it by passes the negation.”

A few more cells down they reach the end once more. Here a loose but heavy slab of stone blocks the way. Cedious pushes on it enough to easily get through. The chainmailed war mage has a much harder time of it. Cedious enjoys watching the arrogant man suffer a bit as he looks around. This series of cells is nearly empty except for a large and hairy man. He grunts and snarls and pounds at the bars.

“What are you?” asks Cedious.

“A native. They live in the hills north of the Cannith site.” Answers the man

“Left in here he will make a lot of noise. It we let him out he draw first attacks or set off traps.” Says Cedious as he swings into the bars.

The creature bounds out and looks around before running to the far end. The warmage is not certain on the wisdom of this but it is done.

The exit here is a large well made locked door. Looking at it, Cedious feels it and the frame around it came from somewhere else. It appears the creatures can not create such things but understand their use. He easily picks it and they move on. Unseen by Cedious, the man has pulled a pinch of sulfur from the ground and holds onto it.

This series of cells are shorter and have an exit leaving from the side about mid way down. Cedious looks in and sees a Cannith man with a serious head wound. Looking closer, the wound looks like it was surgically done- not from an accident or impact. “Ugh!”

The native rushes ahead then stops at a cell that is the closest to the exit. It grunts at the cell. Cedious goes on to check it out. Suddz holds back.

He stops and looks in. Someone has tunneled through a corner!

“LEAVE HER ALONE RETCHED HALFLING!”

Cedious sees a glow of energy rushing at him. crap is all he thinks as he moves.
 

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THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 253
8/05/06
“Sick Freaks”

The fireball misses Cedious but nearly reduces the native to ashes. He stops rolling and stands up to attack. Suddenly a dagger strikes him in the back. Surprised and in pain he turns and sees Cider. Behind him is another person. A female form in a cloak. “Figures- I’ll be back for you guys.”

The mage surrounds himself with swirling blades as Cedious marches right up to him. He curses the whole time at the man.

Now a sickly milky dark cloud spreads out from the mage. It makes Cedious sick but he continues on. Black tentacles sprout out of the ground and try to ensnare the halfling but these fail also. His first dart hits home but the mage remains upright. Next he gets a potion to drink. Cedious doesn’t allow the potion’s full effect to kick in.

At this point he realizes he is not alone still. A Tyranid Warrior and three Tyranid Gaunts arrive.

DM NOTE- I have plans for Elaydren. Cedious / Clinton will kill her and chop her up to little bits if the guards didn’t arrive quickly. Sucks but required.

He is forced to run and hide. The creatures take time to look at the dead mage and the others within the cells. With not knowing what has happened, they call for Zoanthropes. These creatures force EVERYONE in this cellblock to sleep. Lady Elaydren, Cider and two Cannith and two Claw soldiers are taken away.

Being careful not to be seen, Cedious follows and discovers the tunnels have a slight pattern to them. They are like cogs spokes of a wheel. A large center room with areas of importance. The means to reach each level are located on the ends of the spokes. He is watching for a possible vault or treasure room as well as anything of use.

Eventually the prisoners are brought to a huge room. There are vats here filled with green fluid. Bodies are within the vats. Tubes lead from the vats to a central throne. Here a very Huge Tyranid sits. The tubes pulse or twitch once in a while. Cedious watches, as the six prisoners are each placed within the fluid.

Repulsed, he leaves the room. Too many guards to “speak” to Elaydren. Besides, she is asleep. He looks around a bit and gets a better feel for the complex. He is VERY careful to avoid the creatures and even rolls in sulfur to cover his scent. He knows these creatures can smell him otherwise.

Finally ticked off enough about the situation he is in, he decides to do something.

DM NOTE Tick off the DM whom is purposely keeping him away from Elaydren

He recalls how he is carrying the vials and powders used on Starvos Island. He sneaks up to a vat with a human within it and pours the contents out of each vial along with potions he has. (some include poisons, fly spells, curing and detection spells unknown by him). He watches the tube pulse once or twice then leaves very proud of himself.

DM NOTE Gotta love Clinton and his chaotic and unpredictable nature
 


I had planned that Lord Tyranid was to play a part in the next campaign (The Chaos Effect) but the recent events that Cedious (Clinton) has done may change things a bit. This demon may now have a REASON to truely hate civilized humanoids (assuming halflings count as such).


Next segment begins to get into the fiend's thoughts and motivations.
 

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 254
8/05/06
“Lord Tyranid”

DM NOTES

Fiends.

Everyone thinks of the word comes up with aquick image of their favorite nasty creature. I never did fiends because one: the public mentality behind them and two: they bored me. Eberron however gives me ideas. They have a role to play other than just to cause mischief or invade. They are looking to free their leaders and retake a world that was once THEIRS.

Theirs. Curious when one thinks of it that way.

Lord Tyranid is my first true use of the fiends and is in many ways very different from the normal fiend. These creatures x-breed to create their different versions and they are looking to explore the world first. Now they are exploring by means of gathering information.

What kind of information and what they will do with it are uncertain and thus fun to explore. This said- I present Lord Tyranid and his Tyranid Horde.





The Huge creature sat on its stone throne. Khyber shards both decorate and empower the throne for the fiend’s use. Dozens of tubes rise to the back of the throne. These tubes spread out and reach to vats of glowing green fluid. Within each vat is a thinking subject. The Tyranid master feeds. It feeds on their thoughts, memories and sometimes emotions.

It has been very hungry and for a long time. A hundred years ago, humans came here in crafts that floated on the cold waters that surround their island home. No longer did the hive need to feed on the primiative humanoids that hid in the hills miles away from them.

However, these humans created warriors. Strong and tough. Digesting these creations was not pleasant. But it was done. (1/2 golems / the Forgotten)

Eventually the humans left but not before showing the horde leader something about the world. It had slept too long. These humanoids thrived and covered the surface. They used magic of many types and created powerful items and tools to protect themselves.

Recently though new humanoids came. Some were short, some squat and others tall but all still just humanoids. They came on flying ships. These were shot down and the insects captured for study. More came and more still. They all sought something within the shelter they built on the surface. The very place their protectors stayed.

These were captured also and studied. New breeding tests are being done. Some of these creatures show such control over magic that they could be a threat to the coming CHAOS. What EFFECT they had for her plans was uncertain.

So for now the Lord Tyranid drinks, thinks and plans. Soon she will spread her touch. Soon her horde will leave the island and find these creature’s home and destroy them and their brood. Soon.
 

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 255
8/05/06
“Poisonous Thoughts”

Lord Tyranid was curious about the attempt to escape made by these creatures. Their memories suggest they are known as Cider and Elaydren. Images swirl and become chaotic. The fiend concentrates to sort out the images of the dozen or so creatures she feeds on currently.

Cider.

This creature is a very deluded form of fiend. Breeding has robbed it of its true nature. It is a hunter and slayer. It seeks comforts and power. It traveled the world of man. The images seen show a war of humanoids. It ended in a disaster that molded a country into something unsuitable for them. Could it be the new home for the Horde?

This creature joined a brood of various humanoids to seek something. Something old and magical. A piece of a magical puzzle known as a Schema. It was believed to be at the shelter here.

The Tyranid Lord considers this. Many powerful things have been taken from there to be studied. Could she have it? Could she already have the item they all seek. Could it be that powerful?

The female known as Elaydren is harder to sort. She lies too many groups to get the power she seeks. She seeks the piece also. For a mortal, she has great plans. She wants to be a Lord herself. She has mastered the use of magical sticks called wands. Another shields her mind from further investigation.

Greed.

Greed seems to power these humanoids now just as legends say it did thousands of years ago. Greed will be the weapon …. my mind …..my body……..

WHAT IS HAPPENING >>>> TO ME?!?

The fiendish creature known only as Lord Tyranid jerks and thrashes within her memory throne. She begins to float (Fly Potion) and her scales thicken and strengthen (Bull’s Strength potion). Mild sickness comes over her (Healing potions bought at discount that heal but leave one sick feeling).

In fiendish she begins to call out. Her attendants begins to pull tubes out of her throne to spare her the pain and displeasure of Cedious’ ill cocktail of potions and brews. Then the black icor hits her. Her mind reels at the affront. Her immortal life essence wants to leave her but as a fiend it is well anchored to her. Her red eyes flash yellow and her scales begin to rot slightly then she slumps and lies still within her throne.

Many of the creatures hesitate. No direction … no orders are given. Their minds are empty of ideas, thoughts and orders. Only the free-willed generals act on her behalf. Poisonous and acidic spittle spills from her mouth as her head falls forward.

Rational thought begins to escape her. CHAOS only reigns within her mind. Her hate and evil grows of the humanoids. She has new ideas and thoughts. All Chaotic but to her perfect and very orderly.



A new engine of CHAOS and destruction has been borne from the poisonous and mutative icor found on Starvos Isle. Let the world shake in fear.
 

Civilized halflings? Ha! Cedious is anything but... not that it should matter. :]

I wonder how many people our 'protaganist' ticks off before he steps on one too many toes? :)
 

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 256
8/05/06
“Reunion”


It was dark and very calm within Korth’s secret Emerald Claw safe house. The woman looked in all directions before proceeding any further into the stairway. She knew the dangers of trespassing onto Claw lands.

As she reached the top of the stairs she could hear the crackle of a slow burning fire. It was magical or an illusion. She saw no smoke and felt no heat. It did give off light and a sense of mystery. She moved onward into the room. “Keltis- are you here?”

Suddenly the darkness takes shape and several shadows swirl around her. They threaten to touch her and drain her precious life energies. “Garrow?”

The woman looks to the darkest corner of the room and sees a large barrel chested man in blackened armor. His reddish-orange beard remains as unkempt as it was months ago. Behind him stands a woman. Though beautiful, the menace she holds is clear. She is dangerous and enjoys it.

“Kold I presume. Welcome and thankyou for coming.” The woman says. She turns a chair around to face the two. Her features melt and change into a featureless image. Blue eyes and a mouth remain only. A horrible scar runs down his cheek in his natural form.

“Mistress Vol has a mission for us. We are to go to Stormreach and wait for the Schema to come to us. Either the cursed dwarf will have it, his b**** Elaydren or possibly Demise will have the pieces. Either way the six pieces are coming to Xen’drik. Vol has foreseen it.”

“Will the halfling be there?” asks the necromancer with great hatred. It cost her much in magic, gold and favors to repair her face and body from the burns she received fighting him and the druid.

“He is expected to be there.” His features shift to match a guard he had once seen three years ago in Wroat that he killed. “And as such I … we will want to plan a welcoming party for him.”

“Perhaps a wake….” Karrion Kold and the two men laugh. Dark days are ahead for Cedious and the carriers of the Creation Schema.
 

Well lets see- toes stepped on thus far that he KNOWS about-


Emerald Claw
Garrow
Keltis
Karrion Kold
The Turbulant (professional assassins)

Lord Tyranid

Boddynok Grinkle (destroyed or still undead?)

unknown includes:
Dark Lanterns
The Trust



That is the SHORT list and it includes several groups that you don't want angry with you.....
 

Sorry for the delay. I had typed up the entire last session and when I went to help my kids with something we lost power. Lost 3 1/2 hours of work. Erked me so much I have not retyped it and have yet to begin typing this weeks stuff. sigh.....
 

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