SHARK
First Post
Greetings!
The group, known as the Company of The Black Tower, has recently taken up a mission for Axel Daranthus, Governor of Upper Galleran. The province of Upper Galleran is part of the Vallorean Empire, but was formerly part of the Kingdom of Galleran, which has been at war with the Vallorean Empire for some ten years now. The governor has been receiving reports from rangers and scouts that the area north of the Harzan River has experienced raids from monsters, as well as devastating Chaos storms. Some of these devastating raiders have struck border settlements and caravans along the north-western frontier. The Company of The Black Tower agreed to help the governor, and set out on their journey to the ancient forest north of the Harzan River. The governor requisitioned a full issue of supplies and gear for the company, including excellent quality Vallorean warhorses from Haldain, as well as teams of powerful war-dogs from Vallenbark, renowned for their strength, endurance, and ferocity. The governor also equipped them with two dozen scrolls with a broad range of utilitarian spells for the company as a whole, and twelve potions of cure serious wounds for each of them. The governor gave each member of the company a small silver-inlaid chest of black oak, which contained 1500gp. This sum is the equivalent of a year’s pay in wages for a 20th level character. The governor explained that the company may be given other rewards as well, upon their return. Thus equipped, the expedition began.
The company has successfully explored limited areas of the ancient forest, and has fought hordes of mutated beastmen, spiders, trolls, hill giants, ogres, and ferocious, evil dire boars. The players cleaned out various sections of the ruined elven city of Naethar, and have defended their hard-fought gains against vampires, wraiths, bands of powerful Minotaurs, and mysterious groups of elf/half-reptilians, often led by elf/half-dragon fighters, wizards, and clerics. The party discovered that the mysterious forest was heavily enchanted, and in some ways possessed of its own malevolent intelligence and will.
The company rode through the dark, fog-enshrouded forest, and came to the great walls of a dark fortress, high atop a windswept mountain. As the party encamped that night after a long day’s travel, the dying light of day was torn by terrifying howls as a group of werewolves burst through the fog and attacked the party! After a desperate struggle, the werewolves were beaten off and forced to retreat into the night. The arrival of dawn in the morning saw the company grimly scale the mountainside to reach the dark castle by nightfall. The party gathered themselves in an ancient courtyard under the shadow of gargoyle-adorned towers flickering with eldritch light. The sun had not yet plunged beneath the horizon, when a horde of screaming human chaos mutants poured forth from hidden sally ports within the vast courtyard, and ferociously attacked the party! Though the company killed over two hundred screaming warriors, the company mourned the loss of two dwarf fighters, a human barbarian, a human cleric, and a half-elf wizard. The company gathered themselves together, and plunged into the yawning mouth of the great doorway of the castle, swords raised high and holy symbols at the ready.
The company was swallowed up in waves of dark, purple fire, and swarms of vicious, chomping mouths of deadly teeth! Soon, through the shadows, a pack of vampires swept into the room and attacked the party with dread swords, blasphemous spells, and ripping fangs! Three human barbarians died in combat, and a half-elf bard and a human cleric were carried off into the dark labyrinth. Some fourteen vampires, bleeding dreadfully, or smoking from holy fire, turned into gaseous form and escaped. The company healed themselves, and set out in pursuit of the evil vampires. Through the next 36 hours, the company tracked down and slaughtered over two dozen vampires, until reaching a great hall where they encountered the master vampire, who was an ancient wizard. The vampire wizard summoned a horde of demons, and lashed out at the party with blasts of searing lightning and chilling ice. The party charged through the demons, hacking and clawing, until the vampire was deluged with a crossfire of fireballs, flame-strikes, and searing lights, before being assaulted by several of the party’s greatest champions and paladins in hand-to-hand combat! In but a few rounds of deadly combat, the vampire wizard screamed in rage, and retreated through his gaseous form to his hidden lair. Undaunted, the party searched high and low through the castle, killing off surviving minions, desecrating evil shrines, and eventually began ripping up and blasting the very floors and rafters of the castle. The party infiltrated the castle’s sewer system, and eventually discovered the vampire wizard’s inner sanctum in a secret suite of chambers that could only be reached through a small water drainage pipe. Ripping furiously through the walls and ceiling, the party destroyed the vampire wizard as he lay helpless in his sarcophagus, after slaughtering four Nalfeshnee Demons who guarded his inner sanctuary.
The company thoroughly looted the fortress, and remained there for over a two weeks recuperating. The party was challenged out in the forest in a bold attack by a Red Dragon, who chomped through two of the party’s human fighters, and was arrogantly boasting of its might. The party quickly surrounded the dragon, and closed in and killed the monster in a furious assault that was over in eight rounds of desperate combat. The company proceeded to travel quickly, searching for the dragon’s hidden lair.
The Company of The Black Tower encountered a strange, enchanted castle several days to the west of the city of Naethar. The enchanted castle is ruled by the elf-lord Malendil, who is a powerful wizard from an ancient elven kingdom in the far north. The company was befriended by Malendil’s agent, Zinlar, also a powerful wizard in his own right. The elf wizard Zinlar agreed to help the company, and led them in search of the dragon’s lair, located somewhere within the ruins of the elven city. The Company of The Black Tower then proceeded to crush a subterranean lair of beastmen, vampires, and cultists of Orcus. The company defeated a powerful group of Orcus priests, and destroyed a temple to Orcus. Gallendar, one of the group’s strongest wizards, had been swallowed up in a yawning chasm of searing purple fire. Calaryl, a player character druid, mourned his loss grimly. The party explored a vast cavern complex beneath the great elven city, and discovered a hidden subterranean fortress ruled by a family of Red Dragons. The dragon lair had at last been found!
The company organized their forces carefully, as the group had some 16 player characters, 16 cohorts, about 24 allied characters, and some followers remaining. The company’s assault was led by Khorvus, a rugged and resourceful human fighter 14/Rogue 10, and Hroar, a powerful human Barbarian 20/Dragonslayer 6. The company proceeded to unleash a blitzkrieg of fire and steel upon the 6 red dragons within in an epic struggle! The dragons were of various ages, from roughly mature adult to epic. The party had earlier surmised that the red dragon they had killed in the forest must have been a brash young adult or teenager, as it had died fairly quickly. The party’s suspicions were confirmed, as the remaining dragons howled in rage for the death of their youngest son. The party had made a series of thorough preparations, but though wise, they were still unprepared for the full, unbridled wrath of a family of enraged, veteran red dragons! The opening phases of the desperate struggle seemed to favour the party, as they shrugged off the initial blasts of fire, and swarmed first one dragon, and then another. However, after the first four rounds or so, the dragons counterattacked savagely with a mixture of fire blasts and wicked bites and claw attacks. The sweeping damage started to catch up on the party, with most of the players and cohorts losing fate points, half of the allied characters were chomped and burned to death, and the followers had fled in terror. The company gathered themselves, and counterattacked ferociously. In the ensuing struggle, two more dragons fell to the heroes’ blades, as well as fierce lightning bolts and polar rays. The progress gained was bought with a steep price, though. The players had lost more fate points, some 4 player characters had died, as well as several cohorts, and the remaining allied characters had also lost many fate points. Some of the characters had retreated to the labyrinthine hallways beyond the reach of the dragons’ wrath, trying to heal. Facing the remaining two dragons were a dozen player characters, and about a dozen cohorts and allied characters. The terrible climax unfurled in a storm of spells, steel, and teeth, and the group was severely reduced in fate points and hit points, and all were on the brink of death. The dragons had suffered severely as well, and they were haggard and bleeding from deep, terrible wounds. The dragons left were Arzandethar, the father, and Darthaeden, a younger son and last of his line. The Company of The Black Tower was at their very last. They contemplated retreating, and submitting to their humiliation and defeat. They argued briefly, that indeed, they had lost so much. However, they reasoned, it was precisely the fact that they had suffered and lost so much, that to give up now would have meant that their sacrifices had been in vain. If they retreated now, they would never return, and they would never be stronger, as a company. As DM, I knew that I was facing a TPK, and the campaign would probably end with a glorious bang. So be it. I accepted that I would let the dice fall where they may, and come what may, the company would rise or fall on their own actions, and their own courage.
The party reached their decision.
They raised their weapons, and prepared for a final, glorious charge into the yawning mouth of teeth and eternal glory that awaited them.
The initiative roll was made, and the remaining two dragons came out on top.
I took a few moments to review my notes, and carefully consider the dragons’ options, their emotions, and goals. Arzandethar had lost his wife, and five of six children. His family’s accumulated treasure from over three thousand years lay sprawled in bloody, shimmering glory all around the vast chamber, testimony to their own vast might and the ruthless subjugation of an ancient elven city. Then, Arzandethar thought of Darthaeden, his only surviving son, and the living hope and legacy of over three thousand years of breeding, struggle, and conquest. If they attacked, they might slaughter the remaining invaders, and thereby win the day. They also might fail, as the body of his dead wife and three powerful children testified to nearby.
Arzandethar took Darthaeden and leaped into a huge pool nearby that fed the cavern with several streams, and led to a secret retreat. The dragons vowed eternal vengeance, and retreated so as to fight another day, and Arzandethar sought to secure his lineage. At the end of the day, he loved his son too much, and the memory of the love he had for his mate of thousands of years echoed in his heart. There would be no legacy, no vengeance, no tomorrow, if the dragons attacked and failed. The price of failure, here at the end in this desolate place, was simply too much.
The party launched a few desultory spells in pursuit, but in reality were deliriously relieved and grateful. They would live after all. Later, as the party recuperated, their delirium and gratitude turned to elation and jubilance as they gazed at the vast dragon horde that lay in huge piles all around them. The great gamble had paid off! The party had conquered!
Arzandethar and Darthaeden have access to a small treasure horde located in a distant, secret vault, and though they are now much reduced in wealth, and the fortunes and power of a powerful dragon family has been broken on the sword and shield of the dreaded invaders, they remain immensely powerful creatures.
Teased and tormented by dreams of savage, terrifying vengeance which whisper to them in the dark night, what form might their vengeance take? How should they set about bringing their dreams into bloody reality?
I shall post more of the party’s progress, as well as some different questions later. For now, though, your thoughts are appreciated!
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK
The group, known as the Company of The Black Tower, has recently taken up a mission for Axel Daranthus, Governor of Upper Galleran. The province of Upper Galleran is part of the Vallorean Empire, but was formerly part of the Kingdom of Galleran, which has been at war with the Vallorean Empire for some ten years now. The governor has been receiving reports from rangers and scouts that the area north of the Harzan River has experienced raids from monsters, as well as devastating Chaos storms. Some of these devastating raiders have struck border settlements and caravans along the north-western frontier. The Company of The Black Tower agreed to help the governor, and set out on their journey to the ancient forest north of the Harzan River. The governor requisitioned a full issue of supplies and gear for the company, including excellent quality Vallorean warhorses from Haldain, as well as teams of powerful war-dogs from Vallenbark, renowned for their strength, endurance, and ferocity. The governor also equipped them with two dozen scrolls with a broad range of utilitarian spells for the company as a whole, and twelve potions of cure serious wounds for each of them. The governor gave each member of the company a small silver-inlaid chest of black oak, which contained 1500gp. This sum is the equivalent of a year’s pay in wages for a 20th level character. The governor explained that the company may be given other rewards as well, upon their return. Thus equipped, the expedition began.
The company has successfully explored limited areas of the ancient forest, and has fought hordes of mutated beastmen, spiders, trolls, hill giants, ogres, and ferocious, evil dire boars. The players cleaned out various sections of the ruined elven city of Naethar, and have defended their hard-fought gains against vampires, wraiths, bands of powerful Minotaurs, and mysterious groups of elf/half-reptilians, often led by elf/half-dragon fighters, wizards, and clerics. The party discovered that the mysterious forest was heavily enchanted, and in some ways possessed of its own malevolent intelligence and will.
The company rode through the dark, fog-enshrouded forest, and came to the great walls of a dark fortress, high atop a windswept mountain. As the party encamped that night after a long day’s travel, the dying light of day was torn by terrifying howls as a group of werewolves burst through the fog and attacked the party! After a desperate struggle, the werewolves were beaten off and forced to retreat into the night. The arrival of dawn in the morning saw the company grimly scale the mountainside to reach the dark castle by nightfall. The party gathered themselves in an ancient courtyard under the shadow of gargoyle-adorned towers flickering with eldritch light. The sun had not yet plunged beneath the horizon, when a horde of screaming human chaos mutants poured forth from hidden sally ports within the vast courtyard, and ferociously attacked the party! Though the company killed over two hundred screaming warriors, the company mourned the loss of two dwarf fighters, a human barbarian, a human cleric, and a half-elf wizard. The company gathered themselves together, and plunged into the yawning mouth of the great doorway of the castle, swords raised high and holy symbols at the ready.
The company was swallowed up in waves of dark, purple fire, and swarms of vicious, chomping mouths of deadly teeth! Soon, through the shadows, a pack of vampires swept into the room and attacked the party with dread swords, blasphemous spells, and ripping fangs! Three human barbarians died in combat, and a half-elf bard and a human cleric were carried off into the dark labyrinth. Some fourteen vampires, bleeding dreadfully, or smoking from holy fire, turned into gaseous form and escaped. The company healed themselves, and set out in pursuit of the evil vampires. Through the next 36 hours, the company tracked down and slaughtered over two dozen vampires, until reaching a great hall where they encountered the master vampire, who was an ancient wizard. The vampire wizard summoned a horde of demons, and lashed out at the party with blasts of searing lightning and chilling ice. The party charged through the demons, hacking and clawing, until the vampire was deluged with a crossfire of fireballs, flame-strikes, and searing lights, before being assaulted by several of the party’s greatest champions and paladins in hand-to-hand combat! In but a few rounds of deadly combat, the vampire wizard screamed in rage, and retreated through his gaseous form to his hidden lair. Undaunted, the party searched high and low through the castle, killing off surviving minions, desecrating evil shrines, and eventually began ripping up and blasting the very floors and rafters of the castle. The party infiltrated the castle’s sewer system, and eventually discovered the vampire wizard’s inner sanctum in a secret suite of chambers that could only be reached through a small water drainage pipe. Ripping furiously through the walls and ceiling, the party destroyed the vampire wizard as he lay helpless in his sarcophagus, after slaughtering four Nalfeshnee Demons who guarded his inner sanctuary.
The company thoroughly looted the fortress, and remained there for over a two weeks recuperating. The party was challenged out in the forest in a bold attack by a Red Dragon, who chomped through two of the party’s human fighters, and was arrogantly boasting of its might. The party quickly surrounded the dragon, and closed in and killed the monster in a furious assault that was over in eight rounds of desperate combat. The company proceeded to travel quickly, searching for the dragon’s hidden lair.
The Company of The Black Tower encountered a strange, enchanted castle several days to the west of the city of Naethar. The enchanted castle is ruled by the elf-lord Malendil, who is a powerful wizard from an ancient elven kingdom in the far north. The company was befriended by Malendil’s agent, Zinlar, also a powerful wizard in his own right. The elf wizard Zinlar agreed to help the company, and led them in search of the dragon’s lair, located somewhere within the ruins of the elven city. The Company of The Black Tower then proceeded to crush a subterranean lair of beastmen, vampires, and cultists of Orcus. The company defeated a powerful group of Orcus priests, and destroyed a temple to Orcus. Gallendar, one of the group’s strongest wizards, had been swallowed up in a yawning chasm of searing purple fire. Calaryl, a player character druid, mourned his loss grimly. The party explored a vast cavern complex beneath the great elven city, and discovered a hidden subterranean fortress ruled by a family of Red Dragons. The dragon lair had at last been found!
The company organized their forces carefully, as the group had some 16 player characters, 16 cohorts, about 24 allied characters, and some followers remaining. The company’s assault was led by Khorvus, a rugged and resourceful human fighter 14/Rogue 10, and Hroar, a powerful human Barbarian 20/Dragonslayer 6. The company proceeded to unleash a blitzkrieg of fire and steel upon the 6 red dragons within in an epic struggle! The dragons were of various ages, from roughly mature adult to epic. The party had earlier surmised that the red dragon they had killed in the forest must have been a brash young adult or teenager, as it had died fairly quickly. The party’s suspicions were confirmed, as the remaining dragons howled in rage for the death of their youngest son. The party had made a series of thorough preparations, but though wise, they were still unprepared for the full, unbridled wrath of a family of enraged, veteran red dragons! The opening phases of the desperate struggle seemed to favour the party, as they shrugged off the initial blasts of fire, and swarmed first one dragon, and then another. However, after the first four rounds or so, the dragons counterattacked savagely with a mixture of fire blasts and wicked bites and claw attacks. The sweeping damage started to catch up on the party, with most of the players and cohorts losing fate points, half of the allied characters were chomped and burned to death, and the followers had fled in terror. The company gathered themselves, and counterattacked ferociously. In the ensuing struggle, two more dragons fell to the heroes’ blades, as well as fierce lightning bolts and polar rays. The progress gained was bought with a steep price, though. The players had lost more fate points, some 4 player characters had died, as well as several cohorts, and the remaining allied characters had also lost many fate points. Some of the characters had retreated to the labyrinthine hallways beyond the reach of the dragons’ wrath, trying to heal. Facing the remaining two dragons were a dozen player characters, and about a dozen cohorts and allied characters. The terrible climax unfurled in a storm of spells, steel, and teeth, and the group was severely reduced in fate points and hit points, and all were on the brink of death. The dragons had suffered severely as well, and they were haggard and bleeding from deep, terrible wounds. The dragons left were Arzandethar, the father, and Darthaeden, a younger son and last of his line. The Company of The Black Tower was at their very last. They contemplated retreating, and submitting to their humiliation and defeat. They argued briefly, that indeed, they had lost so much. However, they reasoned, it was precisely the fact that they had suffered and lost so much, that to give up now would have meant that their sacrifices had been in vain. If they retreated now, they would never return, and they would never be stronger, as a company. As DM, I knew that I was facing a TPK, and the campaign would probably end with a glorious bang. So be it. I accepted that I would let the dice fall where they may, and come what may, the company would rise or fall on their own actions, and their own courage.
The party reached their decision.
They raised their weapons, and prepared for a final, glorious charge into the yawning mouth of teeth and eternal glory that awaited them.
The initiative roll was made, and the remaining two dragons came out on top.
I took a few moments to review my notes, and carefully consider the dragons’ options, their emotions, and goals. Arzandethar had lost his wife, and five of six children. His family’s accumulated treasure from over three thousand years lay sprawled in bloody, shimmering glory all around the vast chamber, testimony to their own vast might and the ruthless subjugation of an ancient elven city. Then, Arzandethar thought of Darthaeden, his only surviving son, and the living hope and legacy of over three thousand years of breeding, struggle, and conquest. If they attacked, they might slaughter the remaining invaders, and thereby win the day. They also might fail, as the body of his dead wife and three powerful children testified to nearby.
Arzandethar took Darthaeden and leaped into a huge pool nearby that fed the cavern with several streams, and led to a secret retreat. The dragons vowed eternal vengeance, and retreated so as to fight another day, and Arzandethar sought to secure his lineage. At the end of the day, he loved his son too much, and the memory of the love he had for his mate of thousands of years echoed in his heart. There would be no legacy, no vengeance, no tomorrow, if the dragons attacked and failed. The price of failure, here at the end in this desolate place, was simply too much.
The party launched a few desultory spells in pursuit, but in reality were deliriously relieved and grateful. They would live after all. Later, as the party recuperated, their delirium and gratitude turned to elation and jubilance as they gazed at the vast dragon horde that lay in huge piles all around them. The great gamble had paid off! The party had conquered!
Arzandethar and Darthaeden have access to a small treasure horde located in a distant, secret vault, and though they are now much reduced in wealth, and the fortunes and power of a powerful dragon family has been broken on the sword and shield of the dreaded invaders, they remain immensely powerful creatures.
Teased and tormented by dreams of savage, terrifying vengeance which whisper to them in the dark night, what form might their vengeance take? How should they set about bringing their dreams into bloody reality?
I shall post more of the party’s progress, as well as some different questions later. For now, though, your thoughts are appreciated!
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK
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