The Swordlands - updated 28th May; The Hanged Man

[Mathew_Freeman]

What levels are the party members at now?

As of the current moment in the Story Hour, they're third level (hence the first use of Colour Spray!).

crater, who is running the game, is offering us quick advancement for the moment so that we can level quickly and start to deal with some heavy-duty threats. As such, we're getting 800xp per session regardless of what happens, which means that in the real world we've just levelled up to 4th. We've also gained another player, who will be introduced shortly...

And thanks for reading! And commenting! I really appreciate it.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

A Fighting Retreat

Iben was facing three or four bog trogs when the Sigurd's Color Spray went off next to him. Taking full advantage of the distraction of his foes, he killed one and charged into the space it left, crashing his axe into the skull of another. A few Knights attempted to follow him but couldn’t make it, and whilst Iben’s courage was unbowed, a small nagging voice in the back of his head suggested that this might not have been such a good idea.

As the bog trogs recovered, they began to try and surround him and cut him off from the others. Several blows got past Iben’s armour, and despite his rage and fighting mettle, he could feel his lifeblood beginning to pool at his feet.

Grasping her Holy Symbol of Melora, Sigurd spotted the danger Iben was in. Focusing her thoughts, she prayed swiftly to her Goddess for the wounds to heal and Iben felt the gash along his arm close up by itself.

I have falled in with powerful allies,” he thought to himself. A second later the ground just to his right appeared to freeze, ice forming in seconds and growing and stabbing upwards into his foes. Twisting his head, he saw Sigurd lower her hand, a pleased smile upon her face. Withdrawing from the frontline, she began to make her way towards the tower.

Aengus, too, was beginning to retreat. However, before he did so he launched a green-tinged Eldritch Spear[1] into the melee, his magical sword flaring in his hand. One bog trog was punched bodily off it’s feet, it’s head a smoking ruin. On the front line, a crack of thunder sounded as the Warforged used his own powers to try and turn the tide.

Serkeljof had been fighting one of the huge trollkin, man-to-beast. It had flailed about itself, smashing parts of the rock to pieces, but so far it’s opponent had proved too elusive. Seeing an opening, the beast smashed both arms down – only to find that Serkleljof had slipped to one side. Leaping upwards, his rapier flashed through the eye of the beast, and it staggered back and collapsed off the bridge, dead.

Catching the eye of the Knight Commander, Thunder called for a retreat. There were simply too many enemies to hold them at this position, and with more trollkin coming and the horned humans yet to join the fray, the situation looked difficult. Defending the tower doors would make things easier.

“Back to the tower! Back to the tower, all of you!” he called. Despite his rage and bloodlust, Iben heard the words and managed to pull himself back from the combat.

As the Knights and the group pulled back slowly, Aengus teleported between them and the bog trogs. Freezing the air and the ground around him with a magical word of power, he stopped their movement and was able to teleport back out within seconds. This opened a gap between the Knights and the trogs, even as they advanced.

Pulling back, the group, led by Karl, entered the tower as the Knights get a careful eye on the now slowly-oncoming horde of monsters. A watchful silence fell for a second.

A silence that was broken with an echoing boom, as the stone doors of the tower shut with an utter finality. Karl, Aengus, Iben, Sigurd and Thunder were locked inside – whilst the Knights, the bog trogs and the trollkin eyed each other with mutual loathing on the outside.

[1] Critical hit! There were others in the fight, but this one came just at the right time. It's also notable that in this fight Iben pulled off a magnificent triple attack - something along the lines of a charge, that allowed him to make another basic attack if he dropped his foe, which then criticalled, allowing him to use a class feature to charge again! Awesome stuff, and really hammered home the point about how he can really dish out the damage.

Next time - The Tower of Glorium!

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Whispers In The Dark

Iben stared around him at the inside of the great tower of Glorium. Rubble lay across the floor, from the upper storeys and from now-ruined columns. The only light came from shafts of sunlight, breaking through old walls higher up. The dim light only emphasised the shadows.

A shiver passed through the young Kindraeder, swiftly supressed. Thousands of tiny spaces honeycombed the walls, and from each one Iben could see the remnants of a buried king or warrior. Lifting his eyes up through the tower, past the ruined floor of the next level that stood thirty feet over their heads, he could see the tower roof was more than a hundred feet up.

Sigurd whispered a quiet word, and from her hand a golden radiance spread, illuminating the space around her. It revealed, on the far side of the room, a ruined staircase winding around the edge of the tower.

“With your permission, my Lord?” asked Karl, and at a nod from Aengus he started forwards. “I shall scout ahead,” he continued. “Don’t get too close – this staircase doesn’t look too safe.”

With Karl going first, and Aengus in the middle, the group began a slow and careful ascent of the stairs, mindful of the crumbling stonework. The staircase hugged the wall, but had no railing or other method of support, leaving a yawning gap to the group’s left.

After a short climb, Karl came to a gap. The staircase ahead had crumbled away, leaving a five or six foot space before it continued. Peering over the edge, he could see that the drop was somewhere in the range of fifteen feet to a hard stone floor – the sort of distance that could easily break a leg.

After a short discussion, Thunder wrapped a length of rope around himself, with the other end attached to Karl. After a short run up and jump, Karl easily cleared the gap. With a little more work, everyone got across safely – Thunder himself landing with a loud thud on the upwards stairs.

Karl continued his slow ascent, keeping a careful eye on the tombs embedded in the walls. As he climbed, he could see that the bodies within were becoming less well-preserved. In some cases, only the skeletal remains of the inhabitant could be seen.

Iben suddenly became aware of a whispering – a quiet chorus of voices lingering in the air. Straining his ears a little more, he could hear a word, seemlingly being passed back and forth around the inside of the tower.

Kindrader…

Glancing around, he could see that the others could hear it, too. Thunder heard an ancient name for his kind, Sigurd a quiet moan of Ausssssslander… Weapons were loosened in their sheaths, spells and prayers brought to mind.

As he rounded the final corner to arrive at the upper level, he could see ahead of him the remains of the floor of the second level of the tower. Upon that floor, kneeling quietly, was a single figure. Bone white in colour, skin stretched tightly over it’s frame, Karl could see it’s hands ended in viscious claws. It seemed unaware of him for now.

Using the mage hand power of his gloves, Karl sent a tiny handwritten note back along the stairway, keeping half an eye on it as it floated gently along in the air.

...and as such, he saw a white blur of motion come down the wall, leap, grab the paper and disappear into the darkness below.

The whispers got louder.

Note: This was a very creepy moment for me, playing Thunder. We had no real idea what was going on, or what sort of threat we were going to face. Having something just leap out of the darkness was a horrible reminder that we might be in well over our heads!

Next session: We gain a new player, as randomling joins the group! Enter the Dragonborn!

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Enter the Dragonborn!

Aldis Salsgard raised her head painfully from the cold stone floor and cautiously tasted the air as her eyes adjusted to the dim light.

Cold, she thought to herself. Stone, dust… and living creatures! Her head ached, and she could almost feel the shackles that had bound her. Blinking slowly, she looked around. There was a peculiar whispering in the air.

She could see that she was on a small stone platform in some sort of tower. Around her, there were gaps in the floor and she could see down a thirty foot drop to a lower level. There was light coming from shafts of sunlight breaking through gaps in the wall higher up the tower.

Another source of light caught her attention. Across from her, a group of humanoid creatures were climbing the stairs. Two humans, a gnome, an Eladrin, and I don’t recognise the other, she considered. The human is some sort of mage, with a light spell active. I wonder what they’re doing here? Have they been captured too?

Closer to her, Aldis suddenly spotted another figure. Bone white, skin stretched tightly over it’s frame. The gnome saw it at the same time and froze, before writing a short note and sending it floating back to the others. The whispering increased, and Aldis briefly heard the word Wyrmling… in her ears.

Then things began to move very fast.

In a blur of motion, something, skittered down the tower wall, leapt off, and snatched the note out of the air before grabbing the edge of the stairs and swinging around under them. The gnome reacted by drawing weapons and shouting a warning, as his companions did the same. The mage brightened her light trying to see where the creature had gone.

All around, the whispering got louder before a swarm of creatures descended from the walls. Glancing around, Aldis saw one run up and over the edge of the platform she was standing on, claws extended.

Reflex and training overrode thought. In one fluid motion Aldis stood to her full seven-foot height, reached over her shoulder to her greatsword – Thank Bahamut it’s still there! she thought – and parried the attack. The creature hissed at her and lunged again, twisting past her sword and lunging for her midsection. This time, her platemail took the blow but the creature didn’t break through. However, a second, and then a third creature joined her on the platform.

As the creatures attacked all around them, Thunder charged forwards, heading up the stairs to the larger platform, knowing that fighting on the staircase itself was a very poor decision. He heard Sigurd curse behind him, readying a Thunderwave if the creatures behind them attempted to jump the gap, with Aengus settling in to blast anyone that got too close.

Gaining the platform alongside Karl and Iben, a furious melee began. The bone creatures were fast and tenacious, dodging and striking hard where they could. Iben struck out with his axe, the runes glowing softly, but taking injuries in return. As he fought, keeping his shield high and his stance defensive, Thunder looked across at the figure on the other platform. Suddenly he recognised the insignia on her golden armour.

“That’s a Paladin of Bahamut!” he cried out. “She needs our help – push through these monsters and help me get to her!” Focusing the power of his own god at the undead creatures around him, Thunder issued a proclamation as he attempted to Turn Undead – “In the name of Kord, back!”

One creature was reduced to dust instantly by the wave of radiant power that issued forth, but the others dodged over or under it. Thunder could see that the Paladin was using radiant powers of her own to strike out, scoring terrific wounds on her opponents.

Back down the stairs, Sigurd blasted two attackers to dust using a Thunderwave as they attempted to jump across. Together with an Eldritch Spear from Aengus, the third figure was also knocked back off the ledge and smashed onto the floor below.

Iben, Karl and Thunder fought back and forth across the platform, struggling to reach the Paladin. As several of their foes fell, and the Dragonborn’s greatsword neatly took out a couple more, the creatures suddenly backed away and disappeared over the edge of the platform, disappearing back into the darkness from which they had come.

A sudden silence fell.

“Hail and well met,” called Thunder to the Dragonborn. “Let me introduce myself…”

Note: Please welcome randomling's character to the game! A Dragonborn Paladin was something we badly needed, as we'd had no Defender in the party. Lots of damage and healing potential, but little in terms of high AC blockers!

That said, Thunder didn't take a single hit in this encounter, despite lunging into melee. He's built exclusively as a melee Cleric, though, so it's no surprise. With a Wizard and a Warlock, it didn't make sense to make him ranged-focussed, and it's great fun mixing it up and smashing some foes about.

Next time: Introductions, and the second wave arrives.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

The Second Wave

Once introductions were completed, Thunder checked again at the insignia on the Dragonborn’s muscular chest.

“That is a symbol of Bahamut, correct?” he queried.

“Yes,” she replied simply. “The Platinum Dragon is both my patron and my ideal. I strive each day to live up to the standards Bahamut sets for me – to battle against evil, to prevail, and to help others do the same.”

“Then truly we two are well met,” smiled Thunder. “I follow Kord, God of Strength in battle and, if I recall, long-time ally of Bahamut. I pledge my shield with yours – together we shall work to drive evil from the land!”

“If I may,” interrupted Karl. “My Lord Aengus, we must keep moving. Outside, the Knights of Glorium are still surely engaged with their foes. Time is of the essence.”

Swiftly now, the group continued to round the edge of the tower, jumping across gaps in the stonework. A second large platform gave them a second to pause and gather themselves, and to see ahead.

The whispers had started again. Murmurs of “Auslander”, “Wyrm”, “Kindraeder” and “Einherjar” echoed down from the walls.

In the far corner of the tower, a faint light glowed. The largest platform seen yet stood there, and in it’s centre a magical light illuminated the surrounding stone. Straining his eyes, Iben reported that it appeared to be some sort of mechanical construction that stood on the platform, an intricate web of metal extending upwards. Sigurd offered that it must be the key to the tower – the location they were searching for within the grim stonework.

Between them and this construction was a larger gap. Karl, again, volunteered to be first to take the jump, with Thunder again acting as a counterweight should he fail to make it. With the ropes tied, Karl took a short run-up and launched himself into space, arms reaching out.

As he landed, he had but a short second to brace himself as three of the creatures sprang out of the darkness, crashed into him and sent him back over the edge and out of sight with a sharp yelp as he dropped. More creatures poured down the walls and up over the edge of the platform, screeching their rage at the interlopers.

A moment later, the rope around Thunder’s waist went slack.

Next time: The fate of Karl!

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Leap of Faith

The skeletal creatures were just as fast and as deadly as before, but this time the group were ready for them.

Staying tightly bunched together, they worked hard to protect each other and guard each other’s flanks. Karl’s possible loss had dimmed their spirits a little, but the pressing concerns of staying alive made their hearts sing with the joy of battle.

Ducking beneath the claw-slash of one creature, Thunder drove his spear into it’s shoulder, hearing it hiss in pain as the magical weapon struck home. He punched forwards with his shield, wrenching back with the spear at the same time and pulling it clear. To his left, he could see Aldis swinging her greatsword in clear, bright arcs, her scales glowing gold in the dim light.

An echoing boom rang through the chamber, and two skeletons were blasted backwards off the ledge, their bones splintering in the air as they fell. A cry of “Melora!” came from Sigurd as she celebrated the success of her magic.

Aengus had worked a bit more space for himself. Teleporting to an adjacent ledge, he began peppering the attacking skeletons with Eldritch Spears, the emerald blasts of arcane power slamming into each foe in turn. Thunder himself used his power to Turn Undead to crush another skeleton to powder. The tide began to turn.

Just then, climbing into view, came Karl, blooded but undefeated. Of the three skeletons that had taken him over the edge there was no sign. Attacking from the side, his return threw the skeletons in chaos and within a few seconds more they had once more fled from whence they came, their whispers their only presence amongst the group.

Aengus’ face broke into a wide grin as he saw the diminutive gnome stand panting, keeping a careful eye out for any further foes. “How did you manage that?” he called. “We thought you were lost to us!”

Grinning in return, Karl told his story. “Well, my Lord,” he began. “They took me over the edge and were clawing away. I didn’t want to drag our esteemed Warforged friend over the edge with me, so I cut the rope and took the drop. Managed to twist around on the way down and land on one of them, so that left two more. Got the drop on one nice and swiftly, and then one-on-one it turned out my fighting skills were better than his. His head is down there somewhere. Body too – nearby. Then a short climb back up and back into the fray.”

“Oh, incidentally, my Lord – thank you for the Eldritch Spears. Most, uh, illuminating when you need a little light to climb by.”

Now able to cross safely to the larger platform, the group swiftly moved across to examine this strange machinery. After some examination of the device, built into the actual stonework of the tower, Aengus and Sigurd were together able to offer some ideas as to what it actually does.

Sigurd’s quietly assured voice gave the news. “It appears to be a magical device that requires a power source. And by that, it requires some sort of captured spirit in order to function. It strikes me that in order to get this to work, one of us will have to sacrifce ourselves.”

Thunder knew in his heart that this was the moment he had been brought back for. He was the obvious choice, surely, being a spirit within an artifical form, rather than flesh-and-blood like the others? But before he could voice this thought, Aengus made a surprising suggestion.

“Bully!” he said. “How about our minotaur friend?”

Opening the box, he swiftly coversed with the minotaur spirit, offering it peace away from the demands of the group. With some persuasion, the minotaur spirit agreed to inhabit the machine and power it – floating gently through the air and sinking into the metallic construction.

Within seconds, a faint portal had appeared, which swiftly grew strong and whole. Exchanging looks, the group headed through to see what features they could discover in this strange place.

They emerged into a smaller room in better repair. Around the walls was a huge mural telling the history of the Swordlands region. For full details, see the Glorium page of the wiki.

Note: Having a Paladin in the party made a notable difference in this fight, with the undead hordes going down much more quickly with her radiant powers!

Next time: The room beyond the portal is revealed!

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Moving On

“Fascinating though these murals are,” said Thunder, “We need to find a way out of this room before we, excuse me, you, starve to death.” He grinned, wryly.

Aengus sighed quietly. “Of course,” he replied. “Not all of us have the benefit of your Warforged constitution, and there is a pressing need to get out of here and attempt to help the Knights of Himimborg from dying in combat agains the raiders.”

The group quickly noted the room had a portal shaped gap in it’s decorations, in the area of the World-Tree mural. Closer examination revealed that one gemstone in this area was missing, and Aengus realised that it would be possible for the group to replicate it’s shape through magic and thusly open the portal. He also noted, however, that arcane magic was not what was powering the portal. Thunder examined the portal and the missing keystone space as well, but also concluded that it was somewhat of a mystery to him.[1]

A dank water stain dripped along the wall by the portal, with algae growing at the bottom of the edge of the room. With help & guidance fromm Aengus and Karl, Sigurd carefully aimed a Ray of Frost into the space. Her magic shone and with precision the gem-shaped hole was filled with ice. The surrounding stones began to glow, with tracks of colour arching through the walls. The portal seemed to pulse for a second before flaring into life, glowing brightly.

“Right,” commented Aengus. “Let’s see what’s on the other side.” Carefully, the Eladrin pushed his head through the portal, seeing what appeared to be an empty room full of debris. Signalling the all-clear, the party moved warily into this next room, Aengus noting that the teleportation effect didn’t seem to be taking them very far.

Entering this new room, lit only by Sigurd’s light and the small glow of Thunder’s blue eyes, they could see a room filled with metal junk. A second later, and there was a sharp intake of breath from Iben.

“These are pieces of Warforged…” he said quietly. It was true, scattered around the room and covering the floor were arms, legs, torso’s, gauntlets and even some heads. Most were intact, but some had rents and other damage in them. Four pillars held up the ceiling, ten feet up, and on the far side on a raised plinth were three stone statues.

The middle statue was instantly recognisable to Thunder as a statue of Kord – wearing a horned helmet and holding a massive sword in one hand. The other hand was raised in a clenched fist. The statue was expertly carved, and Kord’s expression was clear in it’s power and fury.

On his left was a slightly larger statue of a Giant. Each character recognised it as that of Surtur, the lord of the Fire Giants. Carved into the wall next to him, leading all the way around, were scenes of fiery destruction being wrought upon human settlements. The sea was being boiled into steam, a city stood ablaze, a mighty forest became nothing but ash.

On Kord’s right was another statue, this one of Thyrmm, the lord of the Frost Giants. The carvings on his side of the room showed more scenes of devastation as storms covered the land in ice, glaciers replaced rivers and forests turned into petrified wastelands.

As Karl began to softly tread his way through the piles of Warforged components, Thunder began to test the ground ahead of him. Despite picking up a longspear, he was unable to locate the actual floor under the accumulated stacks of metal. Aengus looks ahead at the raised dais on the far side of the room, and spotted several pieces of alchemical apparatus and some books and tools. He also spots that the tools were sized and shaped to work on Warforged.

Thunder, moving carefully and wary of sinking into the mass of metalwork, reached the dais. Kneeling at the statue of Kord and bowing his head, he prayed.

“My Lord Kord, grant me the wisdom to see the path I must take. Lead me onwards to your enemies, that I might destroy them in your name and discover the truth of my existence. Guide me towards the battles I am destined to fight.”

In answer, the room began to shake and rock. In the middle of the room, a great disturbrance started, pieces of metalwork sliding together, before a mound of metal rose upwards. As the collected items fell away, a gigantic Warforged, fully twelve feet tall, stood revealed, it’s eyes glowing red.

Staring at the party, it’s mouth opened.

“Designate: Enemy!” it cried out.

[1]Consecutive natural 20's on our skill checks on those two queries! Our DM was not impressed.

Next time: The battle in the junk! Things are broken! Warforged vs. Warforged!

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Warforged vs. Warforged

The huge warforged reared up out of the surrounding parts and plucked a spear from it’s back. With a tremendous throw, the spear sliced into Sigurd’s leg and carried her backwards, sending her spinning into the alchemical materials. As she lay, several spilled alchemical reagants began to merge together, hissing and spluttering as they did so.

Yelling in anger, Karl leapt forwards off the dais and attacked. His first strike clanged off his opponents armour, but, nimble and swift he twister and struck again, penetrating it’s skin and damaging it. Thunder also ran forwards to engage it with the Legionspear, but as he closed the monster drew two bastard swords and parried his attack, striking in return. Thunder managed to get his own shield in the way, but felt the force of the blow ring through his arm.

Iben then joined the fray, howling in battle-fury. His enchanted axe sheared through the armour of the Warforged, dislodging a chunk of it.

Sigurd, regaining her feet amidst the wreckage, created a zone of Icy Terrain, freezing the metal around the party’s opponent. Unable to keep it’s footing, it fell prone. In a moment, the area was blanketed in darkness as the fey spirits allied to Aengus did their own work. With the creature down, Karl moved in again, stabbing ferociously.

Thunder paused for a second. Before it had vanished into the darkness, he realised that he had recognised the face of this creature. But there was something odd, something wrong about it.

“In the name of Kord, may his holy fire burn my enemies!” he cried, stabbing down with the Legionspear. The speartip ignited as he struck, and the divine fire spread quickly across the enemy, burning it. The creature writhed in the blackness, visible to all. However, the fire also weakened the ice encasing it somewhat, and it stood and struck back at Karl, driving him back a step and trying to make some space in the cramped room. Turning to Thunder, it met his gaze and said “I hoped you would come!”

Thunder stopped for a second, before parrying another sword strike. That voice, he thought to himself. It can only be him. General Requiem of the Legion! As he struggled with the knowledge that his foe was a former commanding officer, Iben roared again.

Drawing the primal spirits to him, Iben’s face took on, for a second, the aspect of a Frostwolf, one of the most feared predators of the Swordlands. In a savage fury, he chopped and hacked at his enemy in front of him[1]. Bolts of radiant power arched out from Aldis, exploding against the wall as another Ray of Frost shot forth from Sigurd.

Behind Sigurd and Aldis, and as yet unseen, rat forms the size of small dogs began to emerge from the alchemical spillage. In scant seconds, the two adventurers found themselves beset from behind!

[1] This is, of course, the Frostwolf Rage daily power from the Barbarian playtest. Iben can certainly dish out plenty of damage, and with him hitting 5th level and gaining a second Rage power, we noticed a jump in power in this session.

Next time: The Battle Continues! The secret of this Warforged is revealed!

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Requiem And Revelation

Aengus, Aldis and Sigurd spun swiftly at the sound of movement behind them. Congealing out of the alchemical spillage behind them came several rat-shaped forms the size of small dogs, baring their teeth and snapping at the adventurers. Aldis moved to defend her Wizard companion swiftly, her golden armour shining brightly in the dim light.

The Eladrin Warlock took a different approach. Taking a swift step through the fey world, he moved to Requiem’s side, before teleporting back and leaving a freezing cloud behind him. The ice spread through the metalwork around the Warforged’s legs, locking him in place and preventing him from escaping the foes surrounding him. As he returned to the dais, safely out of reach of Requiem’s swords, several rats bit at him, one drawing a little blood from his leg. Sigurd was similarly bitten, and could feel the strange toxins that formed the rat begin to sap at her strength.

Karl, still dodging and moving as best he could on the slippery surface, struck upwards once more at General Requiem. In return, the large Warforged smashed a sword into Karl’s side, injuring him again. Thunder spoke a Healing Word to repair the damage and followed it with a furious strike into Requiem’s side, shouting at his opponent, “How did you know to expect me?” he cried.

His eyes glowing brighter in battle lust, the form of the Warforged turned ponderously towards Thunder. “I don’t know how long I can hold this back,” he roared, striking out again. Before the blow could land, Iben’s axe blocked it as the Kindraeder attacked again. This blow landed across Requiem’s side, denting it and causing a cry of pain from the Warforged.

Sigurd had collected her wits and threw off the effects of the bite, concentrating her mind. A familiar incantation crossed her lips, and two rats were Thunderwaved off the dais. Turning, she also threw out a Colour Spray in the direction of Requiem, but the magical attack bounced off him without effect.

Examining the situation, Aengus found himself beset by rats. Using the power of his armour, he summoned forth the Armour of Agathis to protect himself. The zone of darkness he had conjured earlier faded away, revealing the full extent of the damage done to General Requiem.

Thunder stared again at the giant figure fighting him. There’s something wrong, he thought. That isn’t what he looked like. It’s as if he’s been augmented somehow. Grimly he blocked another blow. Or corrupted might be a better word. And wait – his Ghulra is missing!

Karl shouted up at the Warforged figure, “I’m going to use that helmet as a chamber pot when I’m done with you!”, stabbing again at the leg of his opponent. Thunder also struck home, opening a gap in Requiem’s defences as his holy fire continued to ravage the creature’s body. Requiem’s body burned, but through the fire his eyes met with Thunder’s again. “There is something you must know!” he shouted, even as he once more hacked at Karl.

Karl took the blow and executed a perfect riposte, striking home and then following it by using the backswing of his weapon to spin and strike again. As Karl's blade sliced across Requiem’s leg, his eyes changed to blue for a second, piercing in the gloom. He called across to Thunder.

“In the last days of man, when Surtur and Thrymm attack, when all that is falls to dust in the wind – these are the last orders of the Legion That Waits. Hold the Bridge, for the Bridge must hold!” Thunder nodded in return, fixing the memory in his mind.

Requiem then roared with great force, red light shining out from his joints. He lashed out in all directions, sending Karl sliding backwards over a pile of metal junk. Iben lashed out in return, his blade going wildly askew.

Sigurd and Aengus fought the rats, the sound of another Thunderwave mixing with the clash of steel from Aengus’ sword. His strike hit home, and the ichor that made up one of the rats splashed across the dais and the statues on it.

Requiem was beginning to weaken under the relentless onslaught he was subject to. Karl on one side, Thunder on the other with the power of Iben in between, all striking as best they could. A Flaming Sphere from Sigurd began to burn in the room as well, adding to the holy fire conjured by Thunder. As Requiem roared in pain again, Karl seized his moment.

Taking a breath, he scrambled forwards and climbed the side of the giant Warforged, using his natural agility and small size to dodge it’s blows. Reaching the head, he struck hard, jamming his sword into Requiem’s open mouth. The light flared once more, and then, with a screech of metal, the Warforged crashed to the ground and was still.

Note: Well, our DM turned out to be a little disappointed with that fight. He'd created Requiem's stats when we were all about third level and just wasn't prepared for the amount of damage we could now dish out. He said it was sad to watch as his prized creation was ripped to shreds. Hah.

Next session: The looting! And another portal.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

An Urn Full of Questions

As the raging light from Requiem died, all that was left was Sigurd’s magelight spell to illuminate the room. Looking down at the fallen Warforged at his feet, Thunder felt a deep sense of sadness.

He was one of us once, he thought. Now he attacks, raging and confused. What if this is what has happened to all the Legion? What if I am the only one left?

He knelt and examined the form more closely. Now that it had stopped moving, Thunder was able to get a much better idea of what had happened to the General. He could see that in addition to his Ghulra being removed, many modifications had been made. The body had been augmented and corrupted, growing in size and strength but losing the fluid grace that made members of the Legion so human-like.

Sigurd and the others had also been examining the other items on the dais. They found a book of star-charts, detailing formations in both the real world and that of the Feywild. Inside this book was a collection of other pages showing examples of Ghulra. On some pages, the Ghulra were combined like a jigsaw, as if an attempt was being made to turn them into one form, but each attempt was incomplete.

Several other items were also located, including a human toe preserved and mounted on a chain, a whistle, a box of white powder (Sigurd thought this might be a component in creating more of the rat-creatures) and a large urn. Aengus and Sigurd both could sense powerful magic within the urn, and after a short discussion agreed to open it.

Aengus’ gasp of shock sent Thunder moving quickly over them. Mutely, Sigurd turned the urn so that he could see inside it. Collected inside were several hundred Ghulra, and Thunder could feel his comrades spirits looking down on him as he stared at it.

“You know what this means?” he asked, sifting through the small discs. “I’d estimate that there are nearly 500 Ghulra in here – that was the full membership of the Legion. I think I may be the only one left.”

A short while later Karl came over to Thunder where he knelt praying to Kord. “We’ve counted the Ghulra,” he said. “Four-hundred and ninety-seven. Including you and the Warforged that was destroyed at the mountain, there is still one missing. Unfortunately, unless you can remember the names of every member of the Legion, we’re not going to know who it is.”

Thunder searched through the pile, a query in his mind. Locating a partcular Ghulra, he held it up. “I am almost glad to see this here, even though it may mean we will face him in combat one day. This is the Ghulra of The Strength of Steel, the first and greatest member of the Legion. At least he is not the one that is missing. I hope to meet him again one day.”

As they had talked, Iben had been prowling the room looking for another exit. “All of you, look!” he exclaimed, suddenly. “The portal has changed – we can leave.”

Gathering around it and taking their new items with them, including the two bastard swords that General Requiem had been using, the group stepped through.

Note: One more update and we're up to date, just ahead of next Monday's game. Also - more than 1,000 views, huzzah! Thank you.

Next time: Through the portal, and a very important birthday.