The Unusual Heroes Enter The City of the Spider Queen!
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Ziona
First Post
The Inverted Tower
“I’ve got just the thing,” said Gnettles with a snap of his fingers.
“You can revert her back to normal?” asked Avangel.
“I believe I have a scroll…”
Gnettles pulled a scroll case from his pack and unrolled one of the scrolls from within. He began to read the spell from the parchment and Ziona’s stony features began to soften and come to life.
“Thank you, my friend,” sighed Ziona. “How many times has it been now?” she smiled, looking toward Dent.
But Dent looked somber, and did not reply to her jest.
“What has happened?” she asked.
“Haley fell to pieces!” said Lox sadly. “All that’s left is the eye stone.”
Before anyone said any more, Dent held up his hand.
“It’s okay…she was a good companion. Maybe there will be a way to restore her when we leave this wretched place. Until then, we should carry on.”
The companions continued to travel until they came upon a room with a strong, swirling breeze. They noticed that the ceiling, if there was one, couldn’t be seen through the mist that hung in the air.
“Be on your guard,” warned Avangel.
“I see movement above us,” Rossal communicated to the group.
The heroes held their ground, weapons at the ready, as three male drow levitated down into the room.
“I am Susztam Mar-Shinn. I am Head Student of the Inverted Tower, and I challenge your mage to a duel.”
“A challenge? Your kind kills. What would you gain from a challenge?” asked Gnettles.
“If I beat you, I am promised a higher rank within the school.”
“And if you lose?” asked the gnome.
The drow’s lips parted in an evil smirk.
“I do not intend to lose. However, if I did, it would mean my death.”
“Gnettles, you don’t have to accept this ‘challenge,’” said Avangel.
“‘Gnettles.’ Is that the pet name the humans gave you?” asked Susztam. “Why is it your worthless race must always stand behind someone taller than yourselves?”
“I accept your challenge,” said Gnettles levitating to eye level with the drow. “But if your companions try to attack, know that my companions will not hesitate.”
“Very well.”
Gnettles and Susztam stood in the center of the room while their allies turned back to stand against the wall. The gnome and drow stood silent and motionless for a few seconds, just staring at one another. Before Gnettles had a chance to act, sharp words poured from Susztam’s mouth, allowing him to move more quickly. He then thrust out his hand, in which he clasped a small glass cone, and shot forth a blast of extreme cold upon Gnettles. The gnome took the frosty blow, then began chanting in a guttural voice. Susztam stood before Gnettles, unmoving as though he were transfixed, until Gnettles pointed his palm forward and, with the same icy blast, struck his opponent down. Von’Pye hovered in the air above Susztam a moment longer, then levitated down to check his pulse.
“He’s dead,” announced the gnome.
He looked up into the shocked faces of the drow companions. One of them stepped triumphantly forward.
“I am the new Head Student of The Inverted Tower!”
Suddenly, a middle-aged male drow teleported into the room. By the reactions of the other two drow, it was obvious to the heroes that he commanded more respect (or fear) than most. He smelled strongly of incense and sandalwood, and possessed an air of hedonism.
“I am Solom Ned’razak, Archmage of Szith Morcane. Why have you come to The Inverted Tower?”
Avangel stepped forward and announced boldly, “To free the surface world from your raids!”
Solom looked at Avangel as though he were bored.
“Then you attack the wrong drow. The Inverted Tower and it’s inhabitants have nothing to do with the foolish surface raids of the Kiaransalee followers. Perhaps I can offer you a pact…”
“We do not work for evil!” snapped Avangel.
“Hear me out, elf. Kill all of the clerics of Lolth and Kiaransalee, and any other clerics for that matter,” he said glaring at Ziona, “and I will stop the surface raids myself.”
“I am no one’s assassin, drow,” spat Avangel.
Solom frowned, but laughed nonetheless. “You would make a poor assassin, surface-dweller.”
“I have a proposition for you, Solom. Drop your wands and surrender, and…”
“I will not be threatened in my own domain!” bellowed Solom, as he started casting.
Gnettles gasped as he recognized the words to the spell. Before the gnome could explain Time Stop to the rest of the group, it seemed that Solom had simply disappeared. A moment later when he reappeared above them, Ziona found herself trapped within a Wall of Force, while the rest of the heroes noticed two small beads headed in their direction.
Ziona activated the ring on her left hand, which teleported the half-drow and her pseudodragon companion to a standing position behind Solom. Meanwhile, Gnettles levitated out of the range of the firebeads and cast Firebrand upon his enemies. Below him Dent was charging Solom with the Masterson Axe in hand. As the ranger finished his fourth blow, the fiery shield that surrounded the Archmage struck Dent, knocking him back a few steps.
Meanwhile, Avangel took flight, and with his spear in hand, swooped down upon Solom. A moment later, he too felt the heat of the drow’s Fire Shield spell. Then suddenly, a double explosion erupted below the celestial elf.
Dent, who had been standing directly in front of Solom, took the brunt of the Delayed Fireballs. His half-elf skin crisped and peeled away as he fell to the ground in a smoldering heap.
“DENT!!” cried Lox. The halfling ran forward, hoping what he had seen had been an illusion. Before he reached his friend, however, Solom spoke the delicate words to a spell, and Lox was turned to glass.
Then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, Solom Ned’razak teleported away.
“He’s gone!” communicated Rossal to Ziona. “I saw him disappear…he’s not invisible.”
Ziona was not concerned with Solom’s whereabouts, however. She was too busy thinking of Dent, wondering if the ranger was dead, or if he were still alive and suffering.
As she reached the half-elf, she knew there was no life left within him. He was burned beyond all recognition.
“There must be something you can do, Ziona,” said Gnettles, turning a sickly shade of green.
Avangel landed beside Ziona, and by the look on his face, was shaken by the sight of his friend.
“I can Resurrect Dent, but only if his soul is willing to return. Our friend has suffered a great deal,” said Ziona holding back tears. “I will do all that I can.”
Holding her hands above the charred remains of their friend, Ziona began to pray. She called out to Eilistraee and prayed for the Resurrection of Dent Masterson, and within moments, the smoking corpse beneath her fingers began to reform and breathe again. She clasped her holy symbol and chanted more quietly and slowly until the prayer was complete and Dent was whole once more.
Again the ranger looked up into the face of the half-drow, but there were no smirks or jests this time. Dent saw the tears on Ziona’s cheeks, and the look of fear on Gnettle’s face. Avangel was covering Dent’s naked body with a blanket when Rossal alerted Ziona.
“He’s returning! Solom is returning!”
“Stand your ground!” shouted Ziona, releasing her holy symbol and reaching for her bastard sword. “Solom returns from above!”
The heroes readied themselves, and watched as Solom Ned’razak slowly levitated into sight. However, the companions felt the pain of the moisture within them leaving their bodies. Gnettles fell to his knees, while Rossal fell from his hovering position to the ground.
Avangel reached over to Gnettles and cast Heal, but when he stood up, the Archmage was upon him. Solom reached out his hand and touched Avangel on the shoulder, and the celestial elf disappeared. Ziona, wielding her bastard sword, charged at the drow. Solom was the quicker, however. The utterance of a few delicate words and the cleric of Eilistraee was turned to glass.
Meanwhile, Dent had gotten to his feet and had tied the blanket Avangel supplied him with securely around his waist. He made his way to the shimmering form of Lox and took the Rod of Wonder off the halfling’s belt. Seeing that his enemy was now upon him, he called out…
“ROD OF WONDER!!”
Dent cursed. It seemed to the ranger that nothing had happened. However, when he looked upon his hands and down at his bare chest, he saw that the rod had turned his skin green!
“Worry not, bastard elf,” smirked Solom. “Green is a suitable color for a ranger.”
At the same moment, Gnettles and Rossal had approached the Archmage. The pseudodragon swooped down for a sting-attack, but the poisonous barb on his tail went unnoticed.
“Do you yield to Solom, Master of The Inverted Tower?” bellowed the drow to the remaining three enemies.
As an answer to the Archmage’s question, Gnettles began to cast. Unfortunately for the gnome, his spell fizzled as he completed the last syllable of the chant.
“So be it…”
Solom pointed to Dent and the ranger disappeared entirely. He turned to Rossal and backhanded him, knocking him from the air and to the ground. He then turned his attention to Gnettles, and with an evil smile said, “Recognize that spell, did you? Perhaps you care to join your friend in the Maze?”
Gnettles, realizing that he was the last one standing against the Archmage, began to cast again. The smooth, delicate words rolled off his gnomish lips and struck Solom. To the gnome’s surprise, the drow did not turn to glass. Instead, the spell’s effect ricocheted, creating a glass statue of Gnettles Von’Pye with a look of confusion upon his face.
Solom turned to Rossal, who was now lifting himself from the ground.
“You can either leave now and return to the surface world, or you can die, dragon.”
Rossal hesitated. He looked to Ziona and saw the Ring of Teleport shining upon her fragile glass finger. He thought about the last time Ziona was taken from him, and how he refused to leave her. He was no help to her that way…perhaps if he returned to the surface he could alert someone…get some help. The pseudodragon sighed heavily and flew off. Further down the corridor he cast Invisibility on himself and flew as fast as he could back to Dagger Dale.
The Adventure Continues…
“I’ve got just the thing,” said Gnettles with a snap of his fingers.
“You can revert her back to normal?” asked Avangel.
“I believe I have a scroll…”
Gnettles pulled a scroll case from his pack and unrolled one of the scrolls from within. He began to read the spell from the parchment and Ziona’s stony features began to soften and come to life.
“Thank you, my friend,” sighed Ziona. “How many times has it been now?” she smiled, looking toward Dent.
But Dent looked somber, and did not reply to her jest.
“What has happened?” she asked.
“Haley fell to pieces!” said Lox sadly. “All that’s left is the eye stone.”
Before anyone said any more, Dent held up his hand.
“It’s okay…she was a good companion. Maybe there will be a way to restore her when we leave this wretched place. Until then, we should carry on.”
The companions continued to travel until they came upon a room with a strong, swirling breeze. They noticed that the ceiling, if there was one, couldn’t be seen through the mist that hung in the air.
“Be on your guard,” warned Avangel.
“I see movement above us,” Rossal communicated to the group.
The heroes held their ground, weapons at the ready, as three male drow levitated down into the room.
“I am Susztam Mar-Shinn. I am Head Student of the Inverted Tower, and I challenge your mage to a duel.”
“A challenge? Your kind kills. What would you gain from a challenge?” asked Gnettles.
“If I beat you, I am promised a higher rank within the school.”
“And if you lose?” asked the gnome.
The drow’s lips parted in an evil smirk.
“I do not intend to lose. However, if I did, it would mean my death.”
“Gnettles, you don’t have to accept this ‘challenge,’” said Avangel.
“‘Gnettles.’ Is that the pet name the humans gave you?” asked Susztam. “Why is it your worthless race must always stand behind someone taller than yourselves?”
“I accept your challenge,” said Gnettles levitating to eye level with the drow. “But if your companions try to attack, know that my companions will not hesitate.”
“Very well.”
Gnettles and Susztam stood in the center of the room while their allies turned back to stand against the wall. The gnome and drow stood silent and motionless for a few seconds, just staring at one another. Before Gnettles had a chance to act, sharp words poured from Susztam’s mouth, allowing him to move more quickly. He then thrust out his hand, in which he clasped a small glass cone, and shot forth a blast of extreme cold upon Gnettles. The gnome took the frosty blow, then began chanting in a guttural voice. Susztam stood before Gnettles, unmoving as though he were transfixed, until Gnettles pointed his palm forward and, with the same icy blast, struck his opponent down. Von’Pye hovered in the air above Susztam a moment longer, then levitated down to check his pulse.
“He’s dead,” announced the gnome.
He looked up into the shocked faces of the drow companions. One of them stepped triumphantly forward.
“I am the new Head Student of The Inverted Tower!”
Suddenly, a middle-aged male drow teleported into the room. By the reactions of the other two drow, it was obvious to the heroes that he commanded more respect (or fear) than most. He smelled strongly of incense and sandalwood, and possessed an air of hedonism.
“I am Solom Ned’razak, Archmage of Szith Morcane. Why have you come to The Inverted Tower?”
Avangel stepped forward and announced boldly, “To free the surface world from your raids!”
Solom looked at Avangel as though he were bored.
“Then you attack the wrong drow. The Inverted Tower and it’s inhabitants have nothing to do with the foolish surface raids of the Kiaransalee followers. Perhaps I can offer you a pact…”
“We do not work for evil!” snapped Avangel.
“Hear me out, elf. Kill all of the clerics of Lolth and Kiaransalee, and any other clerics for that matter,” he said glaring at Ziona, “and I will stop the surface raids myself.”
“I am no one’s assassin, drow,” spat Avangel.
Solom frowned, but laughed nonetheless. “You would make a poor assassin, surface-dweller.”
“I have a proposition for you, Solom. Drop your wands and surrender, and…”
“I will not be threatened in my own domain!” bellowed Solom, as he started casting.
Gnettles gasped as he recognized the words to the spell. Before the gnome could explain Time Stop to the rest of the group, it seemed that Solom had simply disappeared. A moment later when he reappeared above them, Ziona found herself trapped within a Wall of Force, while the rest of the heroes noticed two small beads headed in their direction.
Ziona activated the ring on her left hand, which teleported the half-drow and her pseudodragon companion to a standing position behind Solom. Meanwhile, Gnettles levitated out of the range of the firebeads and cast Firebrand upon his enemies. Below him Dent was charging Solom with the Masterson Axe in hand. As the ranger finished his fourth blow, the fiery shield that surrounded the Archmage struck Dent, knocking him back a few steps.
Meanwhile, Avangel took flight, and with his spear in hand, swooped down upon Solom. A moment later, he too felt the heat of the drow’s Fire Shield spell. Then suddenly, a double explosion erupted below the celestial elf.
Dent, who had been standing directly in front of Solom, took the brunt of the Delayed Fireballs. His half-elf skin crisped and peeled away as he fell to the ground in a smoldering heap.
“DENT!!” cried Lox. The halfling ran forward, hoping what he had seen had been an illusion. Before he reached his friend, however, Solom spoke the delicate words to a spell, and Lox was turned to glass.
Then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, Solom Ned’razak teleported away.
“He’s gone!” communicated Rossal to Ziona. “I saw him disappear…he’s not invisible.”
Ziona was not concerned with Solom’s whereabouts, however. She was too busy thinking of Dent, wondering if the ranger was dead, or if he were still alive and suffering.
As she reached the half-elf, she knew there was no life left within him. He was burned beyond all recognition.
“There must be something you can do, Ziona,” said Gnettles, turning a sickly shade of green.
Avangel landed beside Ziona, and by the look on his face, was shaken by the sight of his friend.
“I can Resurrect Dent, but only if his soul is willing to return. Our friend has suffered a great deal,” said Ziona holding back tears. “I will do all that I can.”
Holding her hands above the charred remains of their friend, Ziona began to pray. She called out to Eilistraee and prayed for the Resurrection of Dent Masterson, and within moments, the smoking corpse beneath her fingers began to reform and breathe again. She clasped her holy symbol and chanted more quietly and slowly until the prayer was complete and Dent was whole once more.
Again the ranger looked up into the face of the half-drow, but there were no smirks or jests this time. Dent saw the tears on Ziona’s cheeks, and the look of fear on Gnettle’s face. Avangel was covering Dent’s naked body with a blanket when Rossal alerted Ziona.
“He’s returning! Solom is returning!”
“Stand your ground!” shouted Ziona, releasing her holy symbol and reaching for her bastard sword. “Solom returns from above!”
The heroes readied themselves, and watched as Solom Ned’razak slowly levitated into sight. However, the companions felt the pain of the moisture within them leaving their bodies. Gnettles fell to his knees, while Rossal fell from his hovering position to the ground.
Avangel reached over to Gnettles and cast Heal, but when he stood up, the Archmage was upon him. Solom reached out his hand and touched Avangel on the shoulder, and the celestial elf disappeared. Ziona, wielding her bastard sword, charged at the drow. Solom was the quicker, however. The utterance of a few delicate words and the cleric of Eilistraee was turned to glass.
Meanwhile, Dent had gotten to his feet and had tied the blanket Avangel supplied him with securely around his waist. He made his way to the shimmering form of Lox and took the Rod of Wonder off the halfling’s belt. Seeing that his enemy was now upon him, he called out…
“ROD OF WONDER!!”
Dent cursed. It seemed to the ranger that nothing had happened. However, when he looked upon his hands and down at his bare chest, he saw that the rod had turned his skin green!
“Worry not, bastard elf,” smirked Solom. “Green is a suitable color for a ranger.”
At the same moment, Gnettles and Rossal had approached the Archmage. The pseudodragon swooped down for a sting-attack, but the poisonous barb on his tail went unnoticed.
“Do you yield to Solom, Master of The Inverted Tower?” bellowed the drow to the remaining three enemies.
As an answer to the Archmage’s question, Gnettles began to cast. Unfortunately for the gnome, his spell fizzled as he completed the last syllable of the chant.
“So be it…”
Solom pointed to Dent and the ranger disappeared entirely. He turned to Rossal and backhanded him, knocking him from the air and to the ground. He then turned his attention to Gnettles, and with an evil smile said, “Recognize that spell, did you? Perhaps you care to join your friend in the Maze?”
Gnettles, realizing that he was the last one standing against the Archmage, began to cast again. The smooth, delicate words rolled off his gnomish lips and struck Solom. To the gnome’s surprise, the drow did not turn to glass. Instead, the spell’s effect ricocheted, creating a glass statue of Gnettles Von’Pye with a look of confusion upon his face.
Solom turned to Rossal, who was now lifting himself from the ground.
“You can either leave now and return to the surface world, or you can die, dragon.”
Rossal hesitated. He looked to Ziona and saw the Ring of Teleport shining upon her fragile glass finger. He thought about the last time Ziona was taken from him, and how he refused to leave her. He was no help to her that way…perhaps if he returned to the surface he could alert someone…get some help. The pseudodragon sighed heavily and flew off. Further down the corridor he cast Invisibility on himself and flew as fast as he could back to Dagger Dale.
The Adventure Continues…
Last edited:
Yeah.. that was bad. As a note I handed Gnettles Lathander's Testament of Jade. I was hoping they would escape with it while I tried to "hold off" the mage. Unfortunately I didn't "hold him off" long enough and they thought we could "Take him".
Ha! Great fight! Great Write up!
Ha! Great fight! Great Write up!
Re
Holy &@#*!!!
That archmage is tough, especially considering the scaling to face the Unusual Heroes. Even though, I can't believe he defeated everyone. That is harsh.
Now we get to see a bunch of new characters in the next write up and probably some from the previous adventure. Time for a fantasy rescue operation.
Very nasty battle. At least no one died permanently...yet.
I liked the write up. I could see this battle happening. Very nasty.
Holy &@#*!!!
That archmage is tough, especially considering the scaling to face the Unusual Heroes. Even though, I can't believe he defeated everyone. That is harsh.
Now we get to see a bunch of new characters in the next write up and probably some from the previous adventure. Time for a fantasy rescue operation.
Very nasty battle. At least no one died permanently...yet.
I liked the write up. I could see this battle happening. Very nasty.
Last edited:
Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
Wow. Niiiice picture.
Ziona
First Post
Re: Re
Well, Doc decided to bow out of the current mission, so we probably won't see him until we're out of the Spider Queen's city. The heroes had gone to Daggerdale for the mission, so Rossal would have to have flown back to Waterdeep to alert Doc, or at least have someone contact him. It was do-able, but Doc the player isn't currently available, so we couldn't bring Doc the pc in.
However, I believe you will recognize some of the heroes that answer Rossal's call to enter The City of the Spider Queen to rescue The Unusual Heroes!
Celtavian said:
Well, Doc decided to bow out of the current mission, so we probably won't see him until we're out of the Spider Queen's city. The heroes had gone to Daggerdale for the mission, so Rossal would have to have flown back to Waterdeep to alert Doc, or at least have someone contact him. It was do-able, but Doc the player isn't currently available, so we couldn't bring Doc the pc in.
However, I believe you will recognize some of the heroes that answer Rossal's call to enter The City of the Spider Queen to rescue The Unusual Heroes!
PaynAndispare
First Post
To add insult to injury, Solom teleported with a whopping 4 hitpoints left.
And to have an Enhanced Dhulark's Glasstrike turned back my way, well that just sucked!
Was quite a night, and the rescue should prove to be a fun adventure in itself.
And to have an Enhanced Dhulark's Glasstrike turned back my way, well that just sucked!
Was quite a night, and the rescue should prove to be a fun adventure in itself.
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