The Misty Isles Adventures Formerly Known As Love Goes Horribly Wrong.

[Sir Kendrik]

Once Callin had finished searching the first body he decided to move over to the second, this time it was a priestess. All of a sudden a noise came from a corridor that opened up behind Callin, to the left-hand side of the entrance the heroes had used.

Swiftly, as if it had lay in wait, the ‘Ancient One’ the lizard man had spoke of, appeared. An adult black dragon, its shiny black scales glistening in the light from outside. Before any of the heroes could react the dragon rose onto its huge legs, breathing in deeply and in one fluid motion crouched down spewing forth an acrid, steaming stream of acid directly at Callin. The rogue tried to avoid the stream, but was caught in mid leap and was forced across the room, slamming against an altar, his armour and flesh burning from the sticky acid. Callin cried out in horrendous agony.

Fr Arton clutched his holy symbol and prayed for strength as he felt Pelor’s just and good force run through him, but the divine energy failed as it approached the beast, causing it no harm.

The fearsome presence of the black dragon froze Friar Leo in his place and forced the normally fearless barbarian Marban to cower in fear, hiding behind his shield.

Sir Kendrik was shocked at what he had seen, but righteous anger filled his heart at what had happened to his best friend. Brandishing his keen longsword, Sir Kendrik charged in, shield up and his trusty longsword flailing, intent on dispatching this vile beast for possibly killing Callin. In his haste to act, Sir Kendrik was unaware of the dragon’s flexibility and reach, and the dragon attacked the gallant knight, firstly biting his shoulder and raking its long black claws across his chest. The ferocity of the attack distracted the brave knight, and his attacks did nothing but bounce off the hide of the dragon.

Again the dragon snapped at Sir Kendrik, biting into the knight’s arm deeply, causing blood to gush forth. Another raking claw attack struck the knight in the chest, forcing him back a little by the strength the behemoth possessed.

Fr Arton once more drew upon Pelor’s strength. Holding his holy symbol in one hand, he raised the other as his robes began to billow, tongues of flame licked down his arm as a ball of blindingly bright fire gathered in his outstretched hand. With a roar, a bolt of pure light launched at the dragon, striking it square in the face and making it rear back and roar.

Marban had now composed himself enough, drew upon the anger within him as he charged, wielding his longsword, which duly bounced off the tough hide of the dragon.

Friar Leo, knowing that he had little to offer in a physical fight, moved to where Callin had been flung and to prepared himself with protective spells.

Callin, still in great discomfort, also composed himself and scrambled behind the altar, drawing his sword. In an act of amazing agility, Callin tumbled his way beside the dragon and drove his sword into the base of its spine.

Sir Kendrik, resolute in his quest to vanquish the dragon stepped forward once more and attempted unsuccessfully to drive his longsword into the beast. Both blows failing to puncture the creature’s hide.

The dragon, now with three foes to choose from, decided to firstly bite at Marban, snapping the barbarian’s right arm and damaging it badly. The dragon turned its sharp claws to rake Sir Kendrik, whose armour was now smeared with his own blood. Finally, with a swish of its huge tail, it struck the young rogue, but Callin was able to stay on his feet.

Fr Arton realised that his divine attacks were truly hurting the dragon, called upon Pelor to grant him the same blessing again. Once more a ball of pure light developed and shot from his hand, which angered the dragon as Pelor’s divine energy burned at its black heart.

Marban continued to attack the dragon with his longsword, his weakened state and furious rage making it hard for him to connect.

Fr Leo weaved his hand in front of him, a manna knot appeared in his hand, and then faded, but seemed to have no effect. Quickly he muttered some more and pointed words as three magical missiles appeared in front of him and shot at the dragon, striking the dragon on its head.

Callin manoeuvred himself behind the dragon, found a soft spot and drove his shortsword into the beast deeply.

Sir Kendrik, fearing that he would never penetrate the evil dragon’s natural defences, steeled himself and struck the dragon with two telling blows which gave the valiant knight confidence that he would finally prevail.

The dragon, incensed at the harm that Fr Arton in particular was doing to it, reared back and unfurled its huge shiny black wings in an attempt to look more fearful. Suddenly the dragon took another deep breath and contracted its stomach as its chest swelled. Dropping low right in front of Sir Kendrik, the dragon belched forth another stream of acid, coating firstly the unfortunate knight, and then Fr Arton who was still standing some thirty feet back at the entrance to the hall. The force of the steam knocked the knight back a step as the acid to burnt at Kendrik, burning away at his skin and body hair, making him cry out in pain. Fr Arton too felt the full extent of this fiendish creatures breath.

Fr Arton, irate at the acid attack grabbed his holy symbol, raised his hand and called out “Pelor, give me strength!” Holy force burst forth from him directly at the dragon who cried out and writhed in agony.

Marban again took a few wild swings at the dragon, but in his rage the barbarian could not connect with his target.

Friar Leo attempted to once more call forth the magical missiles that had previously hurt the dragon, but this time the manner knots unwove as they struck the dragon, inflicting no harm.

Callin once more drove his sword into the soft spot he had found, driving the sword up as high as the hide would let him.

Sir Kendrik was feeling as though he was succeeding and attacked the dragon with a flurry of blows.

The dragon, feeling cornered attempted to make some room, unfortunately for the beast; the heroes would not cut it any slack whatsoever. Instead, it continued its attacks on Sir Kendrik, Marban and Callin. This time the only attacks to connect were a bite at Sir Kendrik and a claw that landed on Marban’s upper body.

Fr Arton once unleashed the wrath of Pelor upon the beast, causing it once more to cry out in anger and pain..

Marban now gravely wounded began to beat a retreat, hiding behind his shield and trying to desperately grab at a potion on his belt.

Friar Leo pulled a scroll from his backpack and began to read it. When he had finished reading, the scroll just crumbled away to dust and another three missiles headed straight for the dragons head, hitting their target straight and true.

Callin continued to attack the dragon from behind working, on the nasty wound that he had started earlier.

Sir Kendrik, feeling tired and nauseous, raised his trusty long sword, Razor’s Edge, and with the last bit of strength the young knight could muster planted the sword deep into the dragon’s chest. An explosion of vile smelly, sticky black blood burst from the wound, coating the knight. In what almost appeared to be time slowing down the dragon fell like to the ground, its head striking last in a resounding crash.

The heroes all stopped staring in disbelief at the toppled dragon. Sir Kendrik, however, wanted to make sure that the beast was truly dead, and drove his sword between the malevolent eyes of the creature to dispatch it once and for all. To the heroes, dismay the dragon continued to breath, but lay motionless. As Sir Kendrik readied to slice open the dragon’s throat the beast drew its last breath. Sir Kendrik, still fearful that the threat had not ended, took his sword to the beast’s neck, hacking until it was almost severed from its body.

As soon as the heroes felt safe to relax both Callin and Sir Kendrik slumped to their knees where they stood. Callin attempted to remove the sword from his right hand but was unable to, his acid burned flesh fused to the weapon.

Fr Arton rushed to the aid of Callin.

“Callin, I suggest you take a deep breath and clench your teeth. This is going to hurt,” exclaimed the priest as he pulled the sword away from the young rogue’s hand. As soon as he had done this, he called upon the grace of Pelor, and healed the shocking wounds Callin received as much as he could. Unfortunately the damage was beyond full healing but Callin was looking much better.

Fr Arton next turned his attentions to Marban who was looking quite ill. Fr Arton just placed his hands on the barbarian and a cool bluish glow washed over Marban, his wounds knitting and healing on the spot.

Sir Kendrik had not moved from the place he slumped in front of the deceased dragon, a pool of corrosive black blood oozing around him. The young knight was breathing deeply, glad to be alive and able to keep his promise to his wife by not making her a widow. Fr Arton pulled the young knight out of the blood that was slowly eating away at the stone floor. Kendrik was badly wounded and it took Fr Arton several requests for Pelor’s divine aid to bring the knight back to his health.

Marban came over to his lord and knelt before him, head bowed,

“My Lord, please forgive my actions,” pleaded Marban “I was scared”

“Marban, don’t worry” replied Sir Kendrik breaking out a smile “I was a little worried myself”

Callin proceeded to do a thorough search of the dead clerics bodies. The male cleric, after a search of the sack he had, was carrying a ceremonial mask, which resembled the symbol of Virakus (a distorted, grimacing male face). Callin then checked the priestess who was wearing robes of red and silver; her unholy symbol was of a different design to the cleric (a grinning demonic female face). Her lifeless body also showed signs of having been feasted upon, her robes in tatters.

Friar Leo, realising that the dragons’ blood would be much sort after by his holy order for spell components, asked Fr Arton for some glass vials to fill it with the black liquid. Leo also stopped to concentrate, muttering arcane words and focusing on the location of gnolls in the area. Leo was able to point out that there were gnolls almost directly below them in the basement and another group further to the east.

TO BE CONTINUED.......................

 

[Sir Kendrik]

“My lord, Sir Kendrik, what should we do next?” asked Callin

“We should investigate this floor first for whatever we can find,” replied the knight “We must find the mace and deal with any other threats. Callin, you take the lead keeping an eye out for traps”

“Yes, Sir Kendrik”

The heroes, carefully on the lookout for another dragon or cleric, systematically worked their way from room to room. The only room to the west of the hall of was of note. A disused library in which Sir Kendrik found three bone scroll cases. Fr Arton bundled them in his backpack and the heroes moved over to the east side of the hall. Along the way they discovered a set of stairs going down to where Friar Leo had sensed one of the groups of gnolls, the heroes decided that discovering what lay on this level was more important than attacking the gnolls, lest the heroes become boxed in, or ambushed.

Callin checked out a room just to the north of the altar in the monastery hall, after checking for traps he searched the whole room. In the middle of this room was a magnificent statue, depicting a cleric in a hooded cassock; he had his right fist just over a symbol of some order, his other hand resting on the hilt of a mace, an exact replica of Perdita Mortua. Fr Arton, who had busily researched the mace in the past several months, recognised the statue as St Darius, the first Consecrated Slayer of the undead and the creator of Perdita Mortua, whom with several of his followers disappeared in the Misty Isles nearly a millennia ago. The heroes discussed this remarkable find with the consensus being that they had discovered the location of the monastery that St Darius had founded in his hermitage. Callin also stumbled across a secret door. It appeared the evil clerics were unaware of this room, especially the secret door as no sign of recent use could be found.

“What if this has something to do with the prophecy?” Sir Kendrik observed. “Maybe the fist it refers to is St Darius’ fist?”

“If this is St Darius’ monastery then maybe he is buried here and that is why the clerics of Virakus are here?” added Fr Arton.

“In that case,” said Sir Kendrik, “We had best try and find St Darius before the clerics do.”

Sir Kendrik ordered Callin to investigate the secret door and what lay behind it, thinking that it might be the where the body of St Darius might have been. Callin checked the door for traps and carefully activated the opening device. The Door opened up to a set of stairs leading down to the basement. Callin moved silently down to see where these stairs led. After a short journey downward, the stairs opened to a landing that had a door to the north and a door to the south. Callin searched the south door for traps and opened it. The old stone door slid noisily which the other heroes easily heard upstairs. Callin cursed his luck and decided to check the other one door.

Callin listened up against the northern door and to his surprise heard voices speaking a foreign tongue. Callin realised they must have heard the other door open and quickly jammed a piton in the space between the secret door and the wall, jamming it and beat a retreat to the others. Callin told them of the group down in the other room and it was surmised that the voices were from the second group of gnolls.

Friar Leo mentioned that he had a magical spell that enabled him to see in a room without actually being there. Friar Leo closed his eyes and quietly chanted an arcane spell. The young halfling started to recount what was on the other side of the second door. He could see a priestess yelling at two gnolls who were following her shouted orders. One of the gnolls left the room heading in towards the other group of gnolls.

Sir Kendrik and Callin decided that it would be a good idea to attack the other gnolls now, stopping them from combining forces with the others. The others agreed and they rushed to the other stairs with Sir Kendrik in the lead, Callin not far behind, Fr Arton and Marban bringing up the rear. Friar Leo chose to remain at the top of the stairs while magically observing the priestess in the room below.

The steepness of the stairs slowed Sir Kendrik in his heavy armour as he climbed down the staircase, he was slowed so much that Callin and Marban were able to get past the young knight.

Callin tumbled around the corner at the bottom of the stairs and positioned himself behind a gnoll, driving his shortsword up the length of his spine, killing it instantly.

Marban was next to rush past Sir Kendrik, brandishing his longsword he attacked one of the gnolls near the foot of the stairs, slicing at its torso.

Fr Arton squeezed past the knight and slammed his mace into the skull of the nearest gnoll.

Sir Kendrik finally entered the fray and with a powerful swing of his longsword dispatched one of the gnolls and without even breaking stride finished off the one Fr Arton had just attacked.

The gnolls attacked the heroes, but only Marban was struck on the side by a battleaxe. The gnoll that had run from the other room charged into the room and attacked Fr Arton and Sir Kendrik. Flanking the young knight, the gnoll behind him crashed his battleaxe into Kendrik’s back.

Callin leapt over the body of the gnoll he had just dispatched and came in behind the one that Marban had attacked. Once more the rogue drove his shortsword into his foes back pushing upward. Callin expected the gnoll to drop like the other but it remained standing, just.

Marban slashed down with his longsword at the now staggered gnoll, dispatching it and moving next to Arton.

Fr Arton was swinging his mace as he spun around to hit the gnoll behind him, connecting it on its chest.

Sir Kendrik, incensed at the cowardly attack on him, swung around and drove his longsword deep into the gnoll, slashing at it again teaching it a lesson for choosing to backstab a Penlysh knight. The cowardly cur dropped at his feet.

The last remaining gnoll understood that the odds were against him and backed away, turned and ran into the darkness.

At the top of the stairs, Friar Leo continued to magically spy on the priestess. As he watched, she moved to a closed door and threw it open, savagely pointing her finger into the main room and screaming something. Through his spell, Leo watched as a horde of undead creatures he had never seen before entered the room and positioned themselves throughout. The remaining gnoll backed into a corner, obviously uncomfortable with its new companions. The priestess then cast a spell, reached to her waist and pulled forth a vial, which she proceeded to drink from. The priestess then faded from sight. Leo passed this information on to Fr Arton and Sir Kendrik. Sir Kendrik placed his hand on Fr Arton’s shoulder told the priest that the undead should pose no trouble to a priest of the One, True God. Fr Arton smiled and the heroes headed for the room to deal with the undead. Friar Leo had never seen such undead before but they were more than a recognizable foe to Fr Arton, Callin and Sir Kendrik. The undead were 13 hollow men (undead foot soldiers used by the legion). A dozen of the undead appeared human while one was much larger. The hollowmen appear as warriors, floating in the air, their lower spine exposed, as the creatures have no hips or legs, wispy mist floating around them. Their upper bodies appear translucent and red embers glow malevolently were their eyes should be.

Callin returned the way the heroes came, using the secret passage to position himself behind the undead in the secret room, ready to attack if needed, while Fr Arton led the frontal attack through the door. Friar Leo cleverly decided to fight fire with fire and after muttering an arcane incantation disappeared from view.

With Callin in position, Fr Arton stepped into the room, holding his holy symbol of Pelor out stretched in front of him. The two closest hollowmen reached back and in a fluid movement grabbed a javelin from behind them, pulling it through their bodies before letting it fly at the priest. Fortunately for Fr Arton, the hollow men’s aim was off and the javelins bounced off the wall beside him. Fr Arton felt the mighty power of Pelor build in him, working its way down his arm bursting outward from the holy symbol, burning the hollowmen were they stood till they disappeared, released from their pathetic existence, acting on orders without freewill. They now would find release from the urthly realm.

At the back of the room was the remaining gnoll. Marban and Sir Kendrik charged in and the gnoll quickly dropped his weapons, knowing he was defeated. Sir Kendrik demanded the gnoll drop to its knees but the gnoll stood looking at the demanding young knight, unable to understand his orders. Callin seeing this came over and repeated Sir Kendrik’s order in Legionnaire, the young rogue having taught himself the language. The gnoll, like a submissive dog dropped to Sir Kendrik’s feet. Kendrik ordered Marban to manacle the gnoll, an order Marban duly followed.

Once the undead menace was taken care of, the heroes moved into the room and searched for signs of where the priestess. Friar Leo, still invisible, searched the room carefully using his arcane skills by weaving an arcane spell to see what was unseen and worked his way around the pillars making sure she wasn’t hiding behind one of them. No sign of her was found in the room, so Friar Leo thought he would try his luck trying to find her in behind the door through which the undead had entered.

Friar Leo entered the small room and was pleased to find the evil priestess. He stepped back into the main room and whispered in Fr Arton’s ear, telling him where the priestess was located and then returned to the small room with Arton moving in behind the halfling and blocking the door. Leo moved around to get right beside the priestess. Hearing the movement beside her, but unable to see the small friar, the priestess moved herself to a far corner, away from the door which was blocked by Father Arton. Unfortunately for the priestess, Father Arton noticed her movement, but he was unable to discern if the movement was from Friar Leo, or the priestess. Frustrated at his inability to act, Fr Arton decided to call on Pelor to remove any dweomers in the room. Meanwhile, Kendrik, Callin and Marban also began to move into the room, forcing the priestess to action. Quickly, she reached to her side and drew her ornate dagger and in one fluid motion drove the dagger into her stomach drawing the blade up her body, spilling her entrails outwards. This action revealed the dying priestess to all in the room. Sir Kendrik yelled at Fr Arton to stop her from killing herself, just as the young priest moved in to stop the priestess doing just that. Fr Arton placed his hand on the priestess’ stomach, the holy blue light of Pelor glowing as the priestess’s wounds instantly healed, which caused her to gasp for breath looking at the good priest with malevolent eyes.

Father Arton immediately started to ask the priestess questions, Callin acting as an interpreter. Fr Arton wanted to know why the clerics of Virakus were here in the ruins of St Darius’ monastery. The priestess who told the heroes that her name was Grenen was cagey in her responses, not wanting to divulge anything that would help the heroes stop the legion’s plans. Little did she know that Friar Leo, who was still invisible, had said some arcane words and was able to read her thoughts. He was able to divulge the number of remaining clerics in the ruins and some of what the legion was planning. Sir Kendrik took off his cloak and wrapped it around the indecently dressed priestess, which caused Grenen to shoot a steely gaze at the knight. Sir Kendrik told Callin to inform Grenen that he would give his word as a Penlysh noble that she would be treated well and justly. Grenen stared at Sir Kendrik in disgust before turning back to Callin snarling why should she trust the word of an uncouth barbarian savage. She refused to give any more information. Sir Kendrik offered a drink of water to Grenen who pushed it back at him. The knight rose to his feet and stepped out of the room. Grenen was then tied up and placed next to her gnoll accomplice with Marban placed to stand guard.

The heroes finally had time to explore the room properly and noticed craved into the wall an exact replica of the statue of St Darius in the room upstairs. Callin searched around the relief to see if it hid something and he found an opening device. Callin pressed it and the wall canted and opened. The heroes moved in carefully. In the middle of the room lay the mummified remains of the long lost cleric of Pelor, St Darius. Under his clasped hands was a sheath of scrolls, with his hands clutching the chain of his holy symbol just above the simple, yet truly beautiful sunburst cross symbol of Pelor.

The heroes were in awe of what lay in front of them almost unable to speak. The heroes were almost afraid to disturb the last resting place of such a pious man. Fr Arton did not want to remove the items the saint protected on this chest.

“Father, surely we should return these holy relics to the church,” mentioned Sir Kendrik to Fr Arton. “These sacred relics need to be in safe hands. What if these evil clerics are after these very items?”

“Sir Kendrik you are right” replied Fr Arton, who proceeded to carefully remove the scrolls from the dead saints clutches. Briefly looking at the scrolls, Arton discovered that they were written in Legionnaire, and asked Br Leo to ascertain the meaning of the words. To their surprise and joy the scrolls that the saint had been guarding were an ancient copy of the ‘Books of Light’, hand written in legionnaire, possibly by the saint himself. This was truly an amazing find by the heroes. The heroes returned to the main room. Friar Leo began to place the scrolls into his backpack, when a piece of parchment fell to the floor. Callin quickly reached down catching it before it hit the ground. The rogue past the parchment to Leo who began to read what it was. Stopping after a sentence or two, Friar Leo turned to Fr Arton and with a concerned look in his face informed Arton that it appeared to be a confession from St Darius. Fr Arton motioned to Friar Leo to return to the crypt where Leo continued to read out the confession to Fr Arton. The confession detailed St Darius begging for forgiveness for the evil he had unwittingly unleashed on Urth. The confession further detailed how the saint had discovered an ancient pagan relic known as Altus’ Weapon, and how, in his pride, used the weapon to create Perdita Mortua to hide it from the clutches of any who sought he weapon. The confession begged for forgiveness, and for those reading the confession to pray for his lost soul.

“Let us pray for St Darius Friar Leo,” suggested Fr Arton motioning for them to drop to their knees as Friar Leo nodded

As soon and Fr Arton closed his eyes to pray to Pelor, he was engulfed by a wondrous vision. Arton found himself on his knees under the open sky. The clouds rushed across the overcast sky at a fearful pace, the seasons appearing to pass as if it were the blink of an eye. Suddenly, in front of the priest stood St Darius, standing posed like the statue in the ruins, the deanimated bodies of hollow men and other undead surrounding him. The figure of St Darius, covered in the ichor of the undead, clutched the equally gore covered Perdita Mortua in his left hand. Looking directly at Fr Arton, the vision of St Darius brought his right fist to his chest, uttering.

“In the fist of true death”

Fr Arton found himself ripped from the vision as quickly as it had come causing him to fall back onto the crypt floor, panting and disoriented.

“Father Arton, Are you alright?” exclaimed Friar Leo

“Yes Friar, I am,” reassured Fr Arton. “I think I just had a vision.” The priest recounted what he had seen.

“What does it all mean, Leo?”

“I do not know Father. At this time, all I can offer is speculation.”

End Session

What do you think everyone?

We killed a dragon! I still can’t believe it.

What are your thoughts and comments on the events of this session, as always these views are greatly appreciated by myself, and my DM, Mancerbear.

I was sure Sir Kendrik was a goner; he was taking such amounts of damage that the next attack by the dragon would have finished him off.

 

[Sir Kendrik]

Here is the first actually new post in the new format (new for me anyway)

When we last visited the heroes they had just slain an adult dragon after an epic battle. The heroes had also battled a group of gnolls in the employ of the evil clerics of Virakus, one of which, a priestess, had been captured by the heroes, little did she know that she had told Friar Leo about much of the clerics plans.

23 Storing 1353

The heroes gathered outside the crypt of St Darius to discuss what to do next. After some discussion, they decided to go after the gnoll that had run off into the darkness from the previous battle. Sir Kendrik agreed that it might have been heading to warn the others of the heroes’ presence. The young knight sent Callin to see if he can find the gnoll, utilizing his unique talents to remain undetected.

After working his way along the main passageway, Callin discovered what appeared to be a crypt complex or catacombs for the long deceased monks that inhabited the monastery with St Darius. Callin was aghast to see a ghast enter the corridor from one of the single crypts. Callin quickly hid himself, realising that he didn’t have the skills to defeat an undead creature on his own. The clever rogue moved silently till he was safely away from the ghast’s sight, but stumbled, causing the ghast to turn its head in Callin’s direction. Freezing where he stood, Callin waited until the ghast continued on it’s way before returning to the party to report his findings.

It was quickly determined that Fr Arton, Kendrik and Marban would head to the crypts to dispatch the ghast and hopefully defeat the gnoll as well. Callin and the still invisible Friar Leo remained behind in the storeroom to guard the prisoners.

The three heroes turned into the entrance of the passageway that had the crypts when they stumbled on the ghast that had startled Callin. The ghast saw the three guardians of good and proceeded to charge at them, screaming like a fiend from the Abyss. Fr Arton quickly grabbed his holy symbol and drew on the power of Pelor. A bright light built in the priest’s hand and burst out at the ghast as it charged, it’s dried flesh burning away followed by its bones till it had disappeared, releasing it from its torment. To both Arton and Kendrik’s consternation they realised that the undead was a monk of Pelor. The stench from the undead was overpowering for Marban, who began to feel his stomach turn. Sir Kendrik made a sign against evil, shocked that such a good man in life could be so despoiled in death by the evil that had infested this holy place.

Another ghast came into view and charged Sir Kendrik, it too screaming like a hellion. Launching itself at the knight, the creature took a bite from the knight’s chest. The knight responded with a blow from his longsword, not feeling any ill effects from the undead bite.

Suddenly the sound of what seemed to be crazed, mewling cats was heard and getting closer. From an archway leading into the darkness a group of six undead monks charged in, intent on killing the heroes and eating them.

Fr Arton stepped back to prepare to release these unfortunate monks from their dreadful fate. Sir Kendrik stepped into Fr Arton’s vacated place knowing that he would be able to attack the ghouls better from that position. The ghast that had taken a bite at Sir Kendrik attempted to run past the young lord but he cut it down with a slice of his dependable keen blade.

Fr Arton was now ready and drew once more on the gift of turning granted by Pelor to all his clerics, and dispatched three of the remaining ghouls with a blast of Pelor’s wondrous light. Each of the ghouls writhed in agony until a look of peace smoothed their faces before they disappeared in a gust of dust. Sir Kendrik and Marban however continued to attack the remaining three ghouls by conventional means. The two heroes did well in their attempts to dispatch the ghouls with Marban having more luck with his shield that his sword, still gasping as his stomach threatened to release all it held. Sir Kendrik was too busy battling his antagonists to notice.

Fr Arton, knowing that the best way to defeat the undead was to use his gift of turning, dispatched the remaining three ghouls allowing the unfortunate monks to once more find rest.

The heroes proceeded to investigate the crypt complex hoping to find the gnoll. When the heroes found the common crypt, Fr Arton and Marban searched the individual niches in the wall. Sir Kendrik was about to join them when he spied a symbol of Virakus that had been tossed to the floor in the corner. Sir Kendrik was checking the symbol out when Marban made the grisly find of the remains of the gnoll, stuffed into one of the wall crypts, obviously having been a meal for the ghouls that had dispatched by the heroes.

The three heroes stopped to discuss their next step when a chilling event happened. An Urth-shaking boom came from below them that was followed by a wave of negative energy that washed over the heroes in the crypt and continued to those who had remained with the prisoners, passing through walls and floor as if it posed no hindrance at all.

****************************

Come back soon to see how the heroes handle the ghast in the crypts

To be continued..............

 

[Sir Kendrik]

Here is the next chapter

Fr Arton, the most highly tuned adventurer to the presence of evil, felt a stomach churning sense of evil run through his body as the wave shimmered by. The others only felt a bone chilling coldness run up their spines. As the wave dissipated, the heroes heard what sounded like a heartbeat, loudly at first, but rapidly diminishing until it could be neither heard nor felt no longer. Callin looked at the evil priestess Grenen, her defeated stature changing to one of someone who felt somehow victorious.

Without warning more ghouls began to rise from their resting places, scrabbling and mewling for the flesh of the living. Fr Arton, quick to act, channelled the power of Pelor to release these poor souls, allowing them to join Joshua and Pelor in paradise. The crypts fell silent once more.

Making a fateful decision, Fr Arton asked Sir Kendrik to behead the remaining monks and to separate the heads from the bodies. The thought of this horrified the young knight, but did as he was told. Father Arton then asked Marban to return to Callin and Leo and asked the rogue to go back to the crypt to help search the area more thoroughly. Fr Arton knew that if there were any secret areas in the crypts, Callin with his excellent, though not altogether savoury skills, would be able to find them. After a thorough search of the main crypt, a secret door was found in one of the pillars. Once finding the opening mechanism, Callin activated it and the pillar opened revealing a hole with metal rungs leading down some 60 feet. Fr Arton and Callin decided to close the pillar and investigate it later, once the evil residing on the rest of this level had been eradicated. With Sir Kendrik’s unpleasant task completed, the three heroes returned to Marban and Leo.

The heroes spent some time discussing what to do next. Callin preferred to move on and investigate the lower levels of the monastery to defeat the remaining evil priests. Sir Kendrik and Fr Arton wanted to check out the statue of St Darius. Sir Kendrik in particular was keen to follow his hunch that the key was in the fist of the statue. Understanding that his best friend was resolute in his plans, Callin agreed to go check out the statue.

The heroes barred the door to the storeroom to make sure the prisoners would not escape, with Sir Kendrik reassuring the priestess that she would be treated well if she cooperated.

The heroes headed up stairs to the Shrine of St Darius to see if Sir Kendrik was right in his reasoning. When they got there the heroes started to discuss how they would be able to smash open solid marble, doubting that anything could be placed in solid marble. Even with these doubting words ringing in his ears, Sir Kendrik would not be swayed in his resolve to check to fist. Some of the party were a little unsure as to whether it was disrespectful to damage the statue in this manner. Fr Arton reassured the group by saying it was only a statue not a true manifestation of St Darius.

Sir Kendrik, with Fr Arton’s mace in his hand, raised his right arm and slammed the mace into the fist of the statue. To everyone’s surprise and Sir Kendrik’s relief, the fist easily broke in two and fell to the floor. Sticking out of the stump of the statue’s wrist was a bone scroll case. Immediately Sir Kendrik dropped to one knee, hands resting on top of the mace and prayed for forgiveness from St Darius and Pelor for damaging such a wonderful relic of the young knight’s religion.

Fr Arton removed the beautifully craved scroll case, took a few steps backward and looked at the case when the statue lurched forward, moving toward the unaware priest and drawing it’s mace back in preparation to strike.

Stay tuned to see if the heroes can defeat the animated statue...................TO BE CONTINUED

 

[Sir Kendrik]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick post to ask for feedback on the new format.

Is it easier to read and less daunting?

How are you finding the story lines?

 

[Sir Kendrik]

Here is the next thrilling instalment in the adventure

Callin fearing that the statue would easily kill Fr Arton charged in, and launched himself in a flying tackle, taking himself and Fr Arton away from his pursuer.

Marban, moving quickly, tried to trip the statue but was not able to topple the heavy animated object. The statue swept the barbarian aside, forcing Marban to take a step back as it continued moving toward Fr Arton.

The statue moved into the space that Arton stood, and brought its mace down hard, smashing into the ground where the priest once stood.

Sir Kendrik stepped forward, raised Arton’s mace in his hand and struck at the statue, the mace bouncing off the stone jarringly, almost shaking the knights arm out of its socket.

Callin regained his feet and drew his magical short sword, attempting to stab at the statue, connecting with stone and causing chips to fly off the statue.

Marban attempted to trip the statue but was again unsuccessful in his attempt.

Friar Leo, invisible to all moved quickly to Fr Arton and asked him to pass the scroll to him. Fr Arton, seeing the wisdom in the request, passed the scroll to the Friar. To all involved, it appeared as if the scroll seemed to be floating in thin air.

The statue stopped in its progress toward Fr Arton and turned its attention to the floating scroll.

Fr Arton, seeing his chance to escape, rose quickly and moved away to safety, as he had no weapon to join the battle.

Sir Kendrik realising that the mace was not working, threw it away toward Fr Arton’s direction and attacked the statue with his keen sword, his blade chipping bits off of marble.

Callin again drove his sword into the side of the statue, his sword not penetrating as it had previously.

Marban once more attempted to trip the statue and again he was unsuccessful, the statue continuing as if he was not there.

Leo moved further away from the statue hiding in the opposite corner to where the combat was taking place.

The statue turned and headed as fast as it could toward the scroll case. As it past Sir Kendrik the young knight struck at the statue, connecting it solidly.

Fr Arton now behind the statue stepped in and lodged his mace securely between the statues legs, causing it to topple and Sir Kendrik moved in striking the statue with his longsword.

Callin stabbed at the statue with his short sword, chips flying up from the prone statue.

Marban took a slash at the statue with his longsword but his blade just bounced off it.

Friar Leo decided that the statue must have been after the scroll and not the case, so he removed the scroll from the case and hid it in his magic bag.

The statue arose looking for the scroll, not seeing it anywhere it went berserk, flailing its arms about forcing the heroes surrounding it to dodge the wildly swinging arms.

Sir Kendrik, refusing to attack the statue from behind moved to ensure he fought with honour, slashing at the statue from a more frontal position. The blows the knight landed taking more chunks from the statue.

Fr Arton, pleased at his previous trip attack, struck again with the same tactics. Again, to the astonishment of his companions and himself, the young priest tripped the statue.

Callin made another attack at the now horizontal statue, his sword’s blade biting into the stone. Marban bashed at the statue with his shield, to his dismay even this attack made no impression.

The statue once more rose to attack the heroes, but in its berserk state failed to connect with any of its blows.

Sir Kendrik slashed away at the statue with another series of blows, but only connected once with his mighty blows from his sword. Fr Arton continued his tactics and tripped the statue a third time, the young priest proud at his prowess at bringing the statue down.

Callin drove his sword in, a chunk of marble rolling off the statue onto the floor. Marban attacked with sword and shield but his normal weapons had no effect on the effigy of St Darius.

The statue climbed back to it feet, swinging its arms around in a forlorn attempt to beat the heroes. Sir Kendrik raised his trusty sword, Razor’s Edge, and slashed down, the sword biting deep into the torso of the statue. The statue froze mid move and toppled over, crashing to the floor as minute fractures rippled along its surface, and finally lay still.

Marban continued to strike at the now de-animated statue as the other heroes composed themselves and opened the scroll. Friar Leo ascertained that the scroll was written in legionnaire, and relayed to the group that the scroll contained the instructions on how to make Perdita Mortua. Arton explained that with this knowledge, they should now be able to repair any damage done to Perdita Mortua by the priests of Virakus. Pleased with the knowledge that they had found this scroll first, the heroes decided to go and investigate the lower level of the monastery, even though they were tired, and in much need for rest.

Friar Leo, having thought about what had happened in the shrine, relayed to the other heroes that the prophecy they in their possession described the statue, not Virakus, and that removing the key, the scroll, in its fist would awake the “sleeping god”, the statue. The young halfling friar postulated that the person who wrote the prophecy believed in many gods and saw St Darius as one of those gods. The line that referred to being in “his prison of frozen reflections” didn’t mean trapped in frozen ice, but the statue was a reflection of the saint’s life work. “The blood soaked god” referred to St Darius in his guise as a slayer. “Through darkness crawling” referred to the slaying of the black dragon and “The children of the martyred god’ referred to St Darius’ disciples.

Where to next for our intrepid adventurers? TO BE CONTINUED

 

[Sir Kendrik]

The heroes made their way to the crypt where the secret passageway in the pillar was. Callin activated the opening mechanism again and the pillar opened. Taking the Helm of Vision, Callin proceeded down the tunnel to scout ahead. Returning shortly, Callin advised the group that the tunnel continued downwards until it cam to a level surface and a small tunnel, perhaps 3 feet by 3 feet continued on into the darkness. Friar Leo volunteered to continue scouting, as he was the smallest of the heroes and able to traverse the tunnel easily. Callin voiced his concern that the halfling friar would make too much noise, but Leo replied that if he flew, he should make little to no noise at all. Agreeing with the plan, the party watched as Friar Leo muttered quietly and wove his hands intricately in the air. His robes fluttered about him and the halfling rose into the air and proceeded down the hole flying.

When Leo reached the bottom of the vertical shaft he found the roughly hewn passageway carved from the soft urth. He moved along the passageway some ways before reaching a dead end. He carefully returned back to the others and informed them of what he saw.

Callin once more headed down the hole and worked his way through the passageway slowly, as it was a very tight squeeze for the young rogue. After some time he made it to the dead-end and used his rogue skills to find a secret door and the opening mechanism which locked it. Holding his breath, Callin activated it the door and the wall moved slowly, as if it had not been opened for some time, making some noise as it did. Once it had finished opening, Callin saw that it led to another crypt. Callin also saw a gaunt almost skeletal figure in red and black robes appearing to be standing guard just beyond the secret door. What alarmed Callin most was that one of the creature’s hands was disfigured into a large claw. Callin hid in the shadows, watching the undead creature before beating a retreat to his friends. After what seemed like an eternity he crawled back to the shaft. Once he had returned to the others he told them of the guard in the corridor. Callin warned that if the heroes used this route the first person to exit into the larger passageway would more than likely be slaughtered by the guard with the huge claw before any of his friends could come to his aid.

Fr Arton and Sir Kendrik looked at their options and decided that they had only one option left; they had to go through the main entrance in the antechamber to St Darius’ crypt to the lower level.

The heroes made their way to the secret doorway Callin had previously found and went down the stairs that led to the two doors. Callin opened the second secret doorway and the heroes followed him down the dark corridor, the rogue leading the way with Marban, trying to follow tracks. The tracks were too many to make out how long ago the last tracks were made but Marban was stunned to find that hooved creatures, that appeared to be two legged, made some of the tracks in the area. The barbarian told the others, and a look of concern was etched now on their faces.

The heroes continued along the passageway till they reached a sight that brought a chill to Fr Arton and Sir Kendrik. The heroes had come across a huge symbol of Virakus made of bronze on the floor, stretching from wall to wall. The cleric and knight had confronted one of these symbols before, under the burnt out Cathedral of St Bethesda in Clyster. The two heroes retold how it was at the entrance to an underground temple to Virakus that had appeared to be spontaneously creating undead from an ancient altar. Fr Arton told the others that he would be seriously affected by the evil force that was beyond the symbol, that his ability to turn undead would be seriously effected, and all magical light would be dispelled, leaving only their natural light sources. Sir Kendrik confirmed this and added that they had to face a powerful undead creature protecting the altar.

Marban asked if they could dispel the evil magic somehow. Fr Arton and Sir Kendrik told the other heroes that it could be, but only by destroying the symbol on the floor. They continued to recount that the last time they faced this situation they had to use grey ooze to which had been led to the previous symbol with silver coins, to eat through the symbol. This had resulted in the symbol exploding in a conflagration of magical energy, killing the ooze but dispelling the evil magic beyond it. Callin suggested that the heroes use the ooze upstairs to do the same thing. Both Fr Arton and Sir Kendrik were adamant that they would not use such a method, as the ooze was an innocent creature, not to be used in such a base manner.

Sir Kendrik and Fr Arton decided to return to the antechamber of the crypt of St Darius to rest. The heroes hoped that after the rest they would be able to tackle whatever lay beyond the symbol more effectively. The heroes ate a cold meal and set up watch. The person on watch would wear the helm of vision so that they could remain in darkness.

As the party settled down to sleep, and Callin sat to sit his watch, a blood-curling scream of a young woman in agonizing pain tore through the complex and just as suddenly stopped.

End Session.

So what do you think guys? You reckon we’re doing the right thing, or should we have not rested and continued on? And what’s with the wave of negative energy, and the blood-curdling scream? We have the “key”, so what are the priests of Virakus up to in their temple? Is it too late for the heroes to stop the bad guys from what they are up to?

Your comments and suggestions on anything regarding the adventure is as always greatly appreciated.

 

[Sir Kendrik]

Here is the next exciting instalment in the adventures of the righteous Sir Kendrik, the clever Callin, the pious Fr Arton, the studious Friar Leo and the brave Marban.

Lets join them where we left off, a distant but definitely bloodcurdling scream could be heard from below.

Will they stop what evil is happening below?

23 Storing 1353

“I have gone against my better judgement for too long this day,” roared Sir Kendrik, jumping out of his bedroll and grabbing his breastplate to put it on, “Marban! Callin! Go to look for the ooze and lead it to the symbol of Virakus”. Marban, who was on watch, firstly helped the young knight put his armour back on as the other heroes started to get up. Friar Leo and Fr Arton jumped out of their beds at the sound of the scream and the young lord’s bellows.

Callin, wondering why the change of heart, asked Sir Kendrik just how they would carry the ooze back with them. Sir Kendrik retold how they were able to lead the ooze to the symbol under Clyster by laying a trail of coins. Sir Kendrik justified this course of action by stating that sacrificing the ooze to stop the evil that may have been being unleashed in the lower level of the monastery would be for the greater good.

Fr Arton added that maybe Pelor had provided the means to destroy the symbol just like in Clyster. The party considered how they would lead the ooze down to the symbol and Marban headed for the symbol to lead a trail up from the symbol and Callin and Leo would lead the ooze from upstairs.

Callin and Leo headed up toward the area where the heroes last saw the ooze, in a passageway to the side of the great hallway. When the two heroes reached the great hall, they entered and attempted to pass one of the slain priests. Callin, always wary of the unexpected, was proceeding cautiously. What the cautious rogue saw stopped him in his tracks. The black dragon that the heroes had slain earlier in the day turned its head slightly, its malevolent eyes rolled back in its head and its tail swishing spasmodically. The dragon had been re-animated as a zombie! Callin instinctively grabbed Friar Leo, who was oblivious to what was around him, and dragged him out of the hallway back through the door they had entered by.

Callin and Leo decided that they had no choice but to return to the others and report the disturbing developments upstairs.

Deciding that the heroes had no time to attack the dragon zombie just to get to the ooze, Sir Kendrik proposed that the heroes must risk the curse of the symbol to defeat the evil clerics and whatever evil they may have unleashed. The other members of the party agreed, some maybe a bit reluctantly.

Fr Arton reminded the heroes that all magical light sources would be extinguished and that Fr Arton’s ability to turn undead would be seriously affected. The heroes took off their magical lanterns and Marban took off one of his rings. He stated the ring was a family heirloom and didn’t want the villains to claim it if the heroes did not return from their expedition alive.

Sir Kendrik suggested placing the scrolls that described how to enchant Perdita Mortua under the remains of St Darius. Once this was done Callin carefully jammed the door to the crypt.

Next time we will see what happens in the evil dungeon.........TO BE CONTINUED

 

[Sir Kendrik]

The saga continues................

With their normal lanterns providing light, the heroes proceeded down the stairs. Callin opened the secret door to the concealed passageway and the heroes continued to the unholy symbol of Virakus. Before crossing the symbol, Fr Arton called upon his gift of being able to detect evil. As he crossed the symbol this divine power granted by Pelor faded immediately as if it had been snuffed out, Arton only feeling as if he had never possessed the divine ability in the first place.

Callin, as usual, moved ahead some forty feet, keeping a wary eye open for trouble until he arrived at a fork in the passageway. He waited there for the rest of the heroes to arrive before proceeding on.

The heroes glanced briefly down both new passageways. Each passage was decorated with elaborate mosaics, not dissimilar to the ones the heroes had seen before in other temples dedicated to Virakus.

Callin was sent ahead by Sir Kendrik to investigate the passageway that led to the left. The wily rogue worked his way along a series of zigzagging passages. The mosaics on the walls depicted scenes presumably from the myth-cycle of Virakus, including a great slaughter that Callin hadn’t seen before. Finally, Callin approached an open doorway from which the flickering light of torches emanated. Moving quietly and keeping hidden, Callin moved forward until he could see into the room. Directly opposite him, across the open room, Callin noted a closed door decorated with the symbol of Virakus. To either side of that door were other passageways, one to the north, and another to the south. The floor of this room was laid in smooth black stone, blood red veins marbling its surface. Callin could clearly hear the sound of chanting coming from the north. Unfortunately his investigation was cut short when he saw four bi-ped creatures, the like he had never seen before, guarding the passageway the chanting was emanating from. These large, brutish and furry beasts had cloven hooves, large bull like horns and bovine faces.

Wary not to alert these creatures to his presence, Callin carefully backed away as quietly as he could. Callin returned quickly and reported his findings to the others, pointing out that the creatures were wearing bandoliers across their chests and bore great axes in their hands.

Hoping to find another way into the room where the chanting was coming from, therefore avoiding an encounter with the large bovine creatures, little Friar Leo suggested that he try and find another route rather than the obvious one. With the party in agreement, he grabbed a scroll from his bag and read it out loud. Suddenly he could sense that there was a secret door nearby, just up from the intersection. Callin used his unorthodox; some would say questionable, skills to open the door. The air that escaped caught in the young rogue’s throat. Clearly this room had not been opened in many years. Callin searched it fully but found nothing but white, chalky mould on the walls. To Friar Leo’s disappointment, no other doorways were found. The heroes had no choice but to confront the creatures directly.

Two battle plans were thought of. Callin suggested that he draw the beasts’ attention, drawing them to where the heroes currently were, where an ambush could be laid. Once in sight the heroes would let loose a ranged attack before entering into personal combat. Friar Leo alternatively suggested taking the battle to the strange horned creatures after he had used a blindness spell to render them less effective.

“My Lord,” Callin asked, turning to Sir Kendrik questioningly “What course of action to you suggest?

“Callin,” replied Sir Kendrik “Your suggestion appears to be our best course of action. Scout ahead and draw the creatures toward us. We will position ourselves to attack when you pass us by.”

As Callin disappeared back up the corridor the other heroes positioned themselves for the attack. Sir Kendrik made sure he was in position to be at his most effective in the upcoming battle with Fr Arton by his side. Marban took his position in the doorway to the secret room while Friar Leo stood behind the front line, ready to use his magical abilities if they were needed.

TO BE CONTINUED.......................................... Comments on the story are most welcome, indeed greatly sought after.

 

[Sir Kendrik]

Is anyone out there actually reading this???