Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Red Hand of Doom - Completed 8 February 2008: Against Tiamat and Epilogue
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Pedestrian" data-source="post: 4040795" data-attributes="member: 40208"><p><strong>Session 15: Against Tiamat</strong></p><p></p><p>Sol, Xerxes over his shoulder, struggled up out through the roof of the ruined Fane, Andel and Ben just behind him. The miasmic body of the Dragon Queen was fading into the distance, but she left a trail easy to follow. The sky churned at her passing, bloody stained, and the ground below was cracked and scorched.</p><p></p><p>Angry wails echoed off of the mountainside, as Red Hand warriors began to stream up and out of the trembling mountain. Andel reached into his belt, producing a scroll. His troubled face looked about the group.</p><p></p><p>“Immerstal’s spell will only carry three of us.”</p><p></p><p>“Of you go then, boys. I’ll deal with these ‘ere goblins, don’t you worry.” Ben didn’t look at the others as he pulled his twin axes from his back, instead focusing his attention on the horde picking its way from the ruins. They weren’t making a move for them yet, but all of them were battered, Xexes near death. Easy pickings. Andel laid a hand on Sol’s shoulder as he began to chant the words on the scroll.</p><p></p><p>“Here, Ben, you might use these.” Sol unstrapped his old gauntlets, whose spirit uplifting might had borne him through many a battle. The dwarf smiled up at the half-Orc as he accepted the gift. Then they were gone.</p><p></p><p>“Well now lads, I’ve got a bone to pick with you.” Ben smiled as he pulled on the chunky gauntlets, tightening them a little. Then, with a Bereg whoop, he ran headlong at the nearest gang.</p><p></p><p>*</p><p></p><p>The three appeared in the Jarmaath’s hall. The assembled council looked aghast at the bloodied and burnt trio. The Lord of Brindol hurried forward, calling for Templars to attend them.</p><p></p><p>“Jarmaath, there is little time,” Xerxes began, his consciousness briefly returned to him. He did not have opportunity to speak further, as the great ashwood doors of the chamber swung open, an irate Immerstal hurrying forward.</p><p></p><p>“What have you done? What have you dabblers done?” The wizard looked furiously from one haggard face to the other. “My calculations thrown out, the speculum splintered. You’ve forced open a doorway, and neglected to close it!”</p><p></p><p>“Master Immerstal, calm yourself” commanded Jarmaath. “What do you mean?”</p><p></p><p>“During the battle with the High Wyrmlord, a gateway to the hells opened and the Dragon Queen forced herself through, Brindol her destination” Xerxes supplied wearily, continuing despite gasps of shock and horror “I think it was probably the result of Kull’s rite, which we interrupted.”</p><p></p><p>“You have the right of it.” Immerstal nodded, smoothing his long hair with shaking hands. “Fortunate that you interrupted the ritual, then, as likely this is but a fragment of the goddess’ potency, a talon in our world if you will. But she will be able to exert more influence and might if she gains a supply of souls. No doubt why she has cast her hateful gaze on Brindol.”</p><p></p><p>“Can anything be done Immerstal? Magic to banish the fiend?” The Lord of Brindol looked tired, worn down by the past month. His once black hair was now shot through with grey and white, and his leg had not healed well.</p><p></p><p>“With the help of the other powers of the city I might be able to raise some warding around the city… the Autarch of this migrant cult might help, perhaps. I suspect she is the only one left with strength sufficient. Presently, this aspect of the goddess is a ravenous thing, hungry for souls, an elemental creature, easily prodded along a course, though not easily contained” The young wizard regarded the three warriors “Ridding us of this infernal wyrm would fall to you three.”</p><p></p><p>*</p><p></p><p>The next day, having been healed by the Templars at Brindol, Sol, Xexes and Andel waited at the great gate of Brindol, linked through the wards to Immerstal and one another through a telepatchic bond. The walls had suffered a heavy beating during the siege, and repairs had only been started. Ballista still lined the walls, and a pair of defensive trebuchets had been built within the ground. Finally, massive fail-safe props had been put in place during the siege to offer emergency support to the wall. Rigged to fall at the swing of a sword, the props might damage the wall, but also would support crumbling structures.</p><p></p><p>The plan was simple. Immerstal and the Autarch would use the powerfulold Tiamat at the gate for as long as they could, battering away at the infernal energy that shielded her. Those protections prevented harm from reaching her body, but also acted as a ravenous extension of her will, tearing and rending any who tried to close.</p><p></p><p>The scarring sky heralded her arrival. The movement of her choking, smouldering wings snapped across the still dawn with a thunderclap. The vile vapours clinging to her buzzed and hissed, sweeping the ground beneath, polluting land and water beneath her shadow. At moments, a coil of energy might extend from the centre of her, gaining coherent form and draconic semblance for a moment before retreating into the rotten-wound coloured mists that sheltered her.</p><p></p><p>A whirling chunk of masonry flew up in greeting to the queen, but flew too high. Xexes and Sol rushed to the battlement to fire bolts at the Fivefold, as Andel hurried to set props into readiness to support the damaged wall.</p><p></p><p>Choking flame, a vortex of heat and ash, washed over the wall, blackening the gate and filling the air. Xerxes tried a bolt of lightning, only to see it absorbed in a flash of lightning. Sol ran to another ballista, sending a bolt into the poisonous mist. Silver sword slashed taut rope, and Andel sent a prop to support the weakened wall.</p><p></p><p>More of Tiamat’s elemental fury was unleashed, but Sol and Xerxes did not relent in their assault. Every bolt fired seemed to reduce the clawing mists, and soon the deeper darkness, the god herself, was revealed. Andel kept at the props, dropping them when needed, keeping well back of the tearing, terrible darkness.</p><p></p><p>Not a moment too soon, as a massive crack of lightning split the doors wide open. Tiamat swept through, into the city. Through the link, they could hear a wail of pain from Immerstal as the strength of the wards was tested fiercely. The devil queen surged ahead, unerring in her pursuit of mortal flesh. Any poor soul that was devoured by her would be utterly consumed to bolster her might.</p><p></p><p>A running battle through the streets. Xerxes teleported ahead, Sol at his side. Together, they hacked and slashed at the swift, low-flying dragon queen. Andel tarried, unsure, bolstering himself with invocation and enchantment. Meanwhile, the many headed monster darted those maws not ravaging the flesh of her assailants into windows and doors, vainly trying to sniff out humans who had fled. Still, the slow and the fearful fed her terrible hunger.</p><p></p><p>Now she rose, up and up into the sky, spreading her wings broad to darken the sky over all Brindol. Sol and Xerxes, badly hurt, cursed vainly. Andel attempted to strike the monster with bolts of viridian fire, but she was now out of reach. The coiling, crackling, elemental faces of the queen stretched forth from the tenebrous center, raining ruin down on the city.</p><p></p><p>The warding is rent Immerstal’s voice echoed through their minds but the strains of magic remains. I may be able to help you. The three felt their feet lift off of the ground ever so slightly.</p><p></p><p>Sol wasted no time, racing up into the heavens in pursuit of the dragon-queen. His sword, gleaming in the rising rays of the sun, slashed thrice across Tiamat. There was an explosion of fire and ice, ashes and water rained down across Brindol as the heads Terror and Savagery were rent from the dragon queen. Tyranny, Cunning and Cruelty remained, and sank their fangs deep into the half-orc, ripping his flesh and flinging him through the sky. Xerxes teleported into the air beside Sol, channelling the healing energy of his relic belt to bolster his old friend’s faltering might, returning him to consciousness. Andel distracted Tiamat, blasting her with his eldritch born might, keeping her from the others as he zipped around.</p><p></p><p>Sol and Xerxes flew in together, flanking the dragon. Sol’s armband flashed red, warding off a brutal snapping bite from the black Queen, Cruelty. Xerxes attempted to slam his spiked fist into the acid visage of Cunning, but the crackling form of Tyranny bellowed an intercession, sending him spinning through the air.</p><p></p><p>More sword strokes from, and the acidic heads were cut into oily smoke and slime, falling away from the dragon queen. Tyranny roared in defiance, but the Dragon Queen was overmatched, defeated. A laden silence filled the air, and then a massive explosion roared out from the failing god. Crimson electricity rippled through all three of them, out through the sky. Andel and Xerxes, each in their own way attuned to the dance of worlds, felt something pulse behind unseen doorways. Sol, iron and blood, endured the worst of the searing pain and confused images.</p><p></p><p>The poisoned light faded, and the three hung over Brindol, finally victorious.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Pedestrian, post: 4040795, member: 40208"] [b]Session 15: Against Tiamat[/b] Sol, Xerxes over his shoulder, struggled up out through the roof of the ruined Fane, Andel and Ben just behind him. The miasmic body of the Dragon Queen was fading into the distance, but she left a trail easy to follow. The sky churned at her passing, bloody stained, and the ground below was cracked and scorched. Angry wails echoed off of the mountainside, as Red Hand warriors began to stream up and out of the trembling mountain. Andel reached into his belt, producing a scroll. His troubled face looked about the group. “Immerstal’s spell will only carry three of us.” “Of you go then, boys. I’ll deal with these ‘ere goblins, don’t you worry.” Ben didn’t look at the others as he pulled his twin axes from his back, instead focusing his attention on the horde picking its way from the ruins. They weren’t making a move for them yet, but all of them were battered, Xexes near death. Easy pickings. Andel laid a hand on Sol’s shoulder as he began to chant the words on the scroll. “Here, Ben, you might use these.” Sol unstrapped his old gauntlets, whose spirit uplifting might had borne him through many a battle. The dwarf smiled up at the half-Orc as he accepted the gift. Then they were gone. “Well now lads, I’ve got a bone to pick with you.” Ben smiled as he pulled on the chunky gauntlets, tightening them a little. Then, with a Bereg whoop, he ran headlong at the nearest gang. * The three appeared in the Jarmaath’s hall. The assembled council looked aghast at the bloodied and burnt trio. The Lord of Brindol hurried forward, calling for Templars to attend them. “Jarmaath, there is little time,” Xerxes began, his consciousness briefly returned to him. He did not have opportunity to speak further, as the great ashwood doors of the chamber swung open, an irate Immerstal hurrying forward. “What have you done? What have you dabblers done?” The wizard looked furiously from one haggard face to the other. “My calculations thrown out, the speculum splintered. You’ve forced open a doorway, and neglected to close it!” “Master Immerstal, calm yourself” commanded Jarmaath. “What do you mean?” “During the battle with the High Wyrmlord, a gateway to the hells opened and the Dragon Queen forced herself through, Brindol her destination” Xerxes supplied wearily, continuing despite gasps of shock and horror “I think it was probably the result of Kull’s rite, which we interrupted.” “You have the right of it.” Immerstal nodded, smoothing his long hair with shaking hands. “Fortunate that you interrupted the ritual, then, as likely this is but a fragment of the goddess’ potency, a talon in our world if you will. But she will be able to exert more influence and might if she gains a supply of souls. No doubt why she has cast her hateful gaze on Brindol.” “Can anything be done Immerstal? Magic to banish the fiend?” The Lord of Brindol looked tired, worn down by the past month. His once black hair was now shot through with grey and white, and his leg had not healed well. “With the help of the other powers of the city I might be able to raise some warding around the city… the Autarch of this migrant cult might help, perhaps. I suspect she is the only one left with strength sufficient. Presently, this aspect of the goddess is a ravenous thing, hungry for souls, an elemental creature, easily prodded along a course, though not easily contained” The young wizard regarded the three warriors “Ridding us of this infernal wyrm would fall to you three.” * The next day, having been healed by the Templars at Brindol, Sol, Xexes and Andel waited at the great gate of Brindol, linked through the wards to Immerstal and one another through a telepatchic bond. The walls had suffered a heavy beating during the siege, and repairs had only been started. Ballista still lined the walls, and a pair of defensive trebuchets had been built within the ground. Finally, massive fail-safe props had been put in place during the siege to offer emergency support to the wall. Rigged to fall at the swing of a sword, the props might damage the wall, but also would support crumbling structures. The plan was simple. Immerstal and the Autarch would use the powerfulold Tiamat at the gate for as long as they could, battering away at the infernal energy that shielded her. Those protections prevented harm from reaching her body, but also acted as a ravenous extension of her will, tearing and rending any who tried to close. The scarring sky heralded her arrival. The movement of her choking, smouldering wings snapped across the still dawn with a thunderclap. The vile vapours clinging to her buzzed and hissed, sweeping the ground beneath, polluting land and water beneath her shadow. At moments, a coil of energy might extend from the centre of her, gaining coherent form and draconic semblance for a moment before retreating into the rotten-wound coloured mists that sheltered her. A whirling chunk of masonry flew up in greeting to the queen, but flew too high. Xexes and Sol rushed to the battlement to fire bolts at the Fivefold, as Andel hurried to set props into readiness to support the damaged wall. Choking flame, a vortex of heat and ash, washed over the wall, blackening the gate and filling the air. Xerxes tried a bolt of lightning, only to see it absorbed in a flash of lightning. Sol ran to another ballista, sending a bolt into the poisonous mist. Silver sword slashed taut rope, and Andel sent a prop to support the weakened wall. More of Tiamat’s elemental fury was unleashed, but Sol and Xerxes did not relent in their assault. Every bolt fired seemed to reduce the clawing mists, and soon the deeper darkness, the god herself, was revealed. Andel kept at the props, dropping them when needed, keeping well back of the tearing, terrible darkness. Not a moment too soon, as a massive crack of lightning split the doors wide open. Tiamat swept through, into the city. Through the link, they could hear a wail of pain from Immerstal as the strength of the wards was tested fiercely. The devil queen surged ahead, unerring in her pursuit of mortal flesh. Any poor soul that was devoured by her would be utterly consumed to bolster her might. A running battle through the streets. Xerxes teleported ahead, Sol at his side. Together, they hacked and slashed at the swift, low-flying dragon queen. Andel tarried, unsure, bolstering himself with invocation and enchantment. Meanwhile, the many headed monster darted those maws not ravaging the flesh of her assailants into windows and doors, vainly trying to sniff out humans who had fled. Still, the slow and the fearful fed her terrible hunger. Now she rose, up and up into the sky, spreading her wings broad to darken the sky over all Brindol. Sol and Xerxes, badly hurt, cursed vainly. Andel attempted to strike the monster with bolts of viridian fire, but she was now out of reach. The coiling, crackling, elemental faces of the queen stretched forth from the tenebrous center, raining ruin down on the city. The warding is rent Immerstal’s voice echoed through their minds but the strains of magic remains. I may be able to help you. The three felt their feet lift off of the ground ever so slightly. Sol wasted no time, racing up into the heavens in pursuit of the dragon-queen. His sword, gleaming in the rising rays of the sun, slashed thrice across Tiamat. There was an explosion of fire and ice, ashes and water rained down across Brindol as the heads Terror and Savagery were rent from the dragon queen. Tyranny, Cunning and Cruelty remained, and sank their fangs deep into the half-orc, ripping his flesh and flinging him through the sky. Xerxes teleported into the air beside Sol, channelling the healing energy of his relic belt to bolster his old friend’s faltering might, returning him to consciousness. Andel distracted Tiamat, blasting her with his eldritch born might, keeping her from the others as he zipped around. Sol and Xerxes flew in together, flanking the dragon. Sol’s armband flashed red, warding off a brutal snapping bite from the black Queen, Cruelty. Xerxes attempted to slam his spiked fist into the acid visage of Cunning, but the crackling form of Tyranny bellowed an intercession, sending him spinning through the air. More sword strokes from, and the acidic heads were cut into oily smoke and slime, falling away from the dragon queen. Tyranny roared in defiance, but the Dragon Queen was overmatched, defeated. A laden silence filled the air, and then a massive explosion roared out from the failing god. Crimson electricity rippled through all three of them, out through the sky. Andel and Xerxes, each in their own way attuned to the dance of worlds, felt something pulse behind unseen doorways. Sol, iron and blood, endured the worst of the searing pain and confused images. The poisoned light faded, and the three hung over Brindol, finally victorious. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Red Hand of Doom - Completed 8 February 2008: Against Tiamat and Epilogue
Top