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<blockquote data-quote="Uller" data-source="post: 244500" data-attributes="member: 413"><p><strong>Session #1 - June 22nd, 2002</strong></p><p></p><p>June 22, 2002 – When Predators become Prey (and the games people play)…</p><p>May 30th, 2472 A.E. - Celegond, King of Kheldralin, has summoned his greatest allies to a council in the hidden city. For the last year, the servants of the great demon, Balefire, have not come out of the Iron Gate in great numbers. The enemy has remained reclusive and secretive, as if he is drawing in his strength for some great effort. Other rumors tell that Balefire has turned his attention elsewhere, perhaps there is a new threat to his domination of Irth, or maybe his master has directed him to forge new and more terrible alliances in order to uncover the secret of Kheldralin’s location.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>In any event, this weighs heavy upon the tired King. His advisors have at their disposal powerful magics, yet they have been unable to penetrate the shroud that conceals the motivations of the Enemy. So he has called the council. Representitives from throughout Irth have arrived in Kheldralin to discuss these events and perhaps reveal their meaning.</p><p></p><p>Among these powerful individuals are the following: </p><p></p><p>Henrich Ireton, the Lord-General of Gen, renowned for his abilities to command and inspire soldiers to heroic deeds.</p><p></p><p>Ilde of Larkspur, famous huntress of demons and dragons.</p><p></p><p>Larkin Blackbow, the half-breed son of the great elven hero Timlaek Blackbow, whose abilities with a bow and natural talent for magic is said to have surpassed the skills of his father.</p><p></p><p>The mysterious wizard known as Majestic, whose deeds of compassion and self sacrifice have exceeded his skills in the mystic arts.</p><p></p><p>During the first day of the council, there were many discussions and fine speeches, but no one had any concrete answers. Then a page entered the hall and whispered into the ear of Celegond. The king looked as if he had seen a ghost. “Now? He wants payment now?” he said, incredulously. The page nodded. “Well bring them in!” </p><p></p><p>The page announced the arrival of Sorvis, Thane of Khrazarim to the council. Into the hall came a troupe of 4 dwarves, all were dressed in the fashion of dwarven nobility – dull grey plate mail armor, encrusted with jewels and inlaid with gold and other prescious metals. Behind them they pulled a small cart, upon which sat a box made of heavy wood and bound by iron bands. The box was finely carved and had upon it the name “Frofnir” in dwarven writing.</p><p></p><p>“You ask repayment now, Sorvis? So many years have passed since our last meeting that I began to think your mind had grown dim and you had forgotten my debt to you.” said the King.</p><p></p><p>“Aye, your highness. I am old, but if there is anything we dwarves are known for, it is our ability to recall that which is owed to us. It is my son, Frofnir,” he said gesturing ot the large box on the cart. “He was known among our people as a great worker of metal, the likes of which have not been seen since the days when Thrum walked among us and taught us the ways of metal, stone and wood. I am growing old and it will not be long before I am called to my master’s mead hall. It is my greatest desire that Frofnir take my place when I am gone.” 01</p><p></p><p>Now the hard façade of the grizzled old dwarf softened. His eyes glistened as painful thoughts invaded his mind. “Three days hence he was murdered in his forge by some unknown beast! We do not know what it was, where it came from, or by what means it entered or departed the forge where he was working. There were no witnesses to the attack, but the creature must have been ferosciously strong…” With that, he revealed a heavy steel sheild, that appeared to have been torn as if it were made from paper. “It tore this in half, and destroyed a number of other items made of steel, stone and heavy wood during the fight.</p><p></p><p>“When I learned of his death, I called upon the king-priest of Thrum to bring him back. He begged Thrum to answer our call, and he did, but Frofnir’s soul could not be retrieved. It was not anywhere on Irth, nor has it arrived in Morviniir. Without his soul, we cannot raise him. So I ask your aid in returning my son to us as payment in full for your debt to me.”</p><p></p><p>So Celegond addressed the council and summoned Majestic to his chamber. Majestic explained that many agents of Kireen are aware that souls of master craftsman have been disappearing lately. It is a mystery as to why or where they may be going. There they discussed the situation with Sorvis and called upon the aid of the Galanshil. They could ask it three questions about the soul of Frofnir…</p><p></p><p>“Where is Frofnir?” </p><p>“He toils in the fires of creation in a fortress hidden on the battle plane.”</p><p>They were not sure if it meant ‘plain’ or ‘plane’ in it’s answer.</p><p></p><p>“Who is the master of the fortress?”</p><p>“The heir of Hregnir and the child of Angwyrm is master of the Fortress of Iron.”</p><p></p><p>“Where is the Iron Fortress?”</p><p>On the Lost Cube of the battle plane.</p><p></p><p>Sorvis was visibly taken aback by the name Hregnir. The name was not known to the others. Sorvis explained that in the early days of the Titan War (and even before) there were many clans of dwarves who remembered that Kireen had originally sent Maikshial to destroy the entire race so they had no love for her or the Solars. They credit the Titans and Valthorm with the creation of the world and serve them. Hregnir was the chief on one such clan, and he made some dark deal with the Dragon Queen Angwyrm for her aid in fighting the dwarves who still held their love for Thrum. The dark dwarves were defeated and have since been driven deep under ground. Angwyrm abandoned them (probably because they fulfilled her purposes). Hregnir was believed to have died without an heir and it is said his clan wanders the dark places of the world without a leader…apparently that is not entirely true…</p><p></p><p>So Celegond asked for volunteers to seek out this Iron Fortress, retrieve the soul of Frofnir, discover who this “heir of Hregnir” is and find out what he is doing.</p><p></p><p>Henrich, Ilde, Larkin and Majestic all volunteered to go (as good PCs should). Majestic consulted with some other wise men and determined that the location of the Fortress could only be Acheron, the plane of battle. The best way to Acheron is through the city of Rigus, which lies outside of Irth in a place called the Domain of the Outlands. There are many portals to other worlds in the Outlands. The one to Acheron is in Rigus. So the heroes girded themselves for battle and Majestic transported them to Rigus using his powerful magics.</p><p></p><p>Rigus they found to be a city of law and order. The city was laid out in concentric cirlces with each circle being a grid of streets and alleys. The heroes found themselves in a marketplace. All manner of creatures were there buying, selling and trading strange wares and using a dozen different languages to communicate.</p><p></p><p>The party was approached by a group of 5 soldiers. The officer in charge introduced himself as Lieutenant Andrezhej of the Mercykillers. He said his task is to record the names and business of visitors to the city and give them passes that can be used to get around without further harrassment. The situation was uneasy. Between Henrich’s haughtiness and Majestic casting a spell to determine the nature of the passes, there was very nearly a fight. But the party eventually submitted to the laws of the city and accepted the passes. Andrezhej detected the chaotic leanings of Ilde and announced that she’d be watched…</p><p></p><p>So the party moved on in search of the gate (perhaps if they’d been nicer to the Mercykillers, they could have just asked them where it was…). After an hour or so, Ilde spotted a great cat like beast prowling down a side alley away from them. The creature was probably 5 feet tall at the shoulders and about 17 feet from nose to tip of tail and appeared to be covered completely in solid steel plates (or even made out of steel or some other metal). It seemed unaware of the party so they decided to follow.</p><p></p><p>They had just entered the alley about 60’ behind the thing when Majestic’s familiar (name?) spotted a second creature perched on a roof top above them. Majestic tried to warn the others, but too late. The beast let out a mighty roar that shook the foundations of the buildings around them and wracked their bodies with pain. Majestic called upon a powerful spell that stunned the creature on the roof. Henrich and Ilde charged the one in the alley, but were unable to injure it with their weapons. Now the one in the alley let loose a blast of sound that sent Henrich and Ilde reeling. Ilde covered her head to defend herself and when she looked again, the aging Henrich lay motionless upon the ground. </p><p></p><p>Larkin began firing madly at the beast in the alley (the one on the roof was still reeling from Majestic’s spell) and struck it with several arrows whose magic allowed them to pierce its metallic hide. But the thing was undaunted. Now it leapt at Ilde. She deftly stepped aside of several blows that would have crushed a lesser warrior, but she was quickly wearing down. Majestic filled the space between her and the beast with an invisible barrier. So Ilde turned to fire arrows at the one on the roof,which was now shaking off whatever it was that Majestic did to it. But only Larkin’s arrows seemed able to harm it. </p><p></p><p>With an angry growl, the thing leapt down upon Larkin, but to the half-elf’s surprise, it attacked not him, but his bow! The thing’s jaw was built like a great steel trap lined with row upon row of rusty teeth. It clamped mightily upon Larkin’s ebony bow and the ground rocked at the shock of the assault. But the ancient magic in the bow was to strong for the creature and the weapon was unharmed. </p><p></p><p>At this point, the creature that had felled Henrich had lept upon the roof to get around Majestic’s invisible wall. Majestic filled the air with bolts of electrical energy, but to no avail. He called a storm of fire on one beast, and again, nothing. They just seemed unstoppable. The first beast lept down from the roof upon Ilde. This time, it grabbed the Ranger with its front claws and raked her body over and over with its hind claws. The young woman crumpled in a heap, her blood splashed over the alley walls and ran in a stream into a nearby drain.</p><p></p><p>Larkin was still pummelling the second beast with arrows and wearing it down, when it lept at him. This time forgetting his bow and going for the half-elf’s body, it did the same as the first did to Ilde, felling the archer. Now both beasts peered up a Majestic (who had wisely gotten himself airbourne with his winged boots). They circled about the alley and roared at him impotently, but could not reach him while he hovered overhead launching every spell at the creatures he could think of to drive them away from his fallen comrads. Shortly the beasts tired of their game and went back to their errend, leaving Majestic to tend to Larkin’s wounds (and to mop up the remains of Ilde and Henrich). Our heroes had been humbled…</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Uller, post: 244500, member: 413"] [b]Session #1 - June 22nd, 2002[/b] June 22, 2002 – When Predators become Prey (and the games people play)… May 30th, 2472 A.E. - Celegond, King of Kheldralin, has summoned his greatest allies to a council in the hidden city. For the last year, the servants of the great demon, Balefire, have not come out of the Iron Gate in great numbers. The enemy has remained reclusive and secretive, as if he is drawing in his strength for some great effort. Other rumors tell that Balefire has turned his attention elsewhere, perhaps there is a new threat to his domination of Irth, or maybe his master has directed him to forge new and more terrible alliances in order to uncover the secret of Kheldralin’s location. In any event, this weighs heavy upon the tired King. His advisors have at their disposal powerful magics, yet they have been unable to penetrate the shroud that conceals the motivations of the Enemy. So he has called the council. Representitives from throughout Irth have arrived in Kheldralin to discuss these events and perhaps reveal their meaning. Among these powerful individuals are the following: Henrich Ireton, the Lord-General of Gen, renowned for his abilities to command and inspire soldiers to heroic deeds. Ilde of Larkspur, famous huntress of demons and dragons. Larkin Blackbow, the half-breed son of the great elven hero Timlaek Blackbow, whose abilities with a bow and natural talent for magic is said to have surpassed the skills of his father. The mysterious wizard known as Majestic, whose deeds of compassion and self sacrifice have exceeded his skills in the mystic arts. During the first day of the council, there were many discussions and fine speeches, but no one had any concrete answers. Then a page entered the hall and whispered into the ear of Celegond. The king looked as if he had seen a ghost. “Now? He wants payment now?” he said, incredulously. The page nodded. “Well bring them in!” The page announced the arrival of Sorvis, Thane of Khrazarim to the council. Into the hall came a troupe of 4 dwarves, all were dressed in the fashion of dwarven nobility – dull grey plate mail armor, encrusted with jewels and inlaid with gold and other prescious metals. Behind them they pulled a small cart, upon which sat a box made of heavy wood and bound by iron bands. The box was finely carved and had upon it the name “Frofnir” in dwarven writing. “You ask repayment now, Sorvis? So many years have passed since our last meeting that I began to think your mind had grown dim and you had forgotten my debt to you.” said the King. “Aye, your highness. I am old, but if there is anything we dwarves are known for, it is our ability to recall that which is owed to us. It is my son, Frofnir,” he said gesturing ot the large box on the cart. “He was known among our people as a great worker of metal, the likes of which have not been seen since the days when Thrum walked among us and taught us the ways of metal, stone and wood. I am growing old and it will not be long before I am called to my master’s mead hall. It is my greatest desire that Frofnir take my place when I am gone.” 01 Now the hard façade of the grizzled old dwarf softened. His eyes glistened as painful thoughts invaded his mind. “Three days hence he was murdered in his forge by some unknown beast! We do not know what it was, where it came from, or by what means it entered or departed the forge where he was working. There were no witnesses to the attack, but the creature must have been ferosciously strong…” With that, he revealed a heavy steel sheild, that appeared to have been torn as if it were made from paper. “It tore this in half, and destroyed a number of other items made of steel, stone and heavy wood during the fight. “When I learned of his death, I called upon the king-priest of Thrum to bring him back. He begged Thrum to answer our call, and he did, but Frofnir’s soul could not be retrieved. It was not anywhere on Irth, nor has it arrived in Morviniir. Without his soul, we cannot raise him. So I ask your aid in returning my son to us as payment in full for your debt to me.” So Celegond addressed the council and summoned Majestic to his chamber. Majestic explained that many agents of Kireen are aware that souls of master craftsman have been disappearing lately. It is a mystery as to why or where they may be going. There they discussed the situation with Sorvis and called upon the aid of the Galanshil. They could ask it three questions about the soul of Frofnir… “Where is Frofnir?” “He toils in the fires of creation in a fortress hidden on the battle plane.” They were not sure if it meant ‘plain’ or ‘plane’ in it’s answer. “Who is the master of the fortress?” “The heir of Hregnir and the child of Angwyrm is master of the Fortress of Iron.” “Where is the Iron Fortress?” On the Lost Cube of the battle plane. Sorvis was visibly taken aback by the name Hregnir. The name was not known to the others. Sorvis explained that in the early days of the Titan War (and even before) there were many clans of dwarves who remembered that Kireen had originally sent Maikshial to destroy the entire race so they had no love for her or the Solars. They credit the Titans and Valthorm with the creation of the world and serve them. Hregnir was the chief on one such clan, and he made some dark deal with the Dragon Queen Angwyrm for her aid in fighting the dwarves who still held their love for Thrum. The dark dwarves were defeated and have since been driven deep under ground. Angwyrm abandoned them (probably because they fulfilled her purposes). Hregnir was believed to have died without an heir and it is said his clan wanders the dark places of the world without a leader…apparently that is not entirely true… So Celegond asked for volunteers to seek out this Iron Fortress, retrieve the soul of Frofnir, discover who this “heir of Hregnir” is and find out what he is doing. Henrich, Ilde, Larkin and Majestic all volunteered to go (as good PCs should). Majestic consulted with some other wise men and determined that the location of the Fortress could only be Acheron, the plane of battle. The best way to Acheron is through the city of Rigus, which lies outside of Irth in a place called the Domain of the Outlands. There are many portals to other worlds in the Outlands. The one to Acheron is in Rigus. So the heroes girded themselves for battle and Majestic transported them to Rigus using his powerful magics. Rigus they found to be a city of law and order. The city was laid out in concentric cirlces with each circle being a grid of streets and alleys. The heroes found themselves in a marketplace. All manner of creatures were there buying, selling and trading strange wares and using a dozen different languages to communicate. The party was approached by a group of 5 soldiers. The officer in charge introduced himself as Lieutenant Andrezhej of the Mercykillers. He said his task is to record the names and business of visitors to the city and give them passes that can be used to get around without further harrassment. The situation was uneasy. Between Henrich’s haughtiness and Majestic casting a spell to determine the nature of the passes, there was very nearly a fight. But the party eventually submitted to the laws of the city and accepted the passes. Andrezhej detected the chaotic leanings of Ilde and announced that she’d be watched… So the party moved on in search of the gate (perhaps if they’d been nicer to the Mercykillers, they could have just asked them where it was…). After an hour or so, Ilde spotted a great cat like beast prowling down a side alley away from them. The creature was probably 5 feet tall at the shoulders and about 17 feet from nose to tip of tail and appeared to be covered completely in solid steel plates (or even made out of steel or some other metal). It seemed unaware of the party so they decided to follow. They had just entered the alley about 60’ behind the thing when Majestic’s familiar (name?) spotted a second creature perched on a roof top above them. Majestic tried to warn the others, but too late. The beast let out a mighty roar that shook the foundations of the buildings around them and wracked their bodies with pain. Majestic called upon a powerful spell that stunned the creature on the roof. Henrich and Ilde charged the one in the alley, but were unable to injure it with their weapons. Now the one in the alley let loose a blast of sound that sent Henrich and Ilde reeling. Ilde covered her head to defend herself and when she looked again, the aging Henrich lay motionless upon the ground. Larkin began firing madly at the beast in the alley (the one on the roof was still reeling from Majestic’s spell) and struck it with several arrows whose magic allowed them to pierce its metallic hide. But the thing was undaunted. Now it leapt at Ilde. She deftly stepped aside of several blows that would have crushed a lesser warrior, but she was quickly wearing down. Majestic filled the space between her and the beast with an invisible barrier. So Ilde turned to fire arrows at the one on the roof,which was now shaking off whatever it was that Majestic did to it. But only Larkin’s arrows seemed able to harm it. With an angry growl, the thing leapt down upon Larkin, but to the half-elf’s surprise, it attacked not him, but his bow! The thing’s jaw was built like a great steel trap lined with row upon row of rusty teeth. It clamped mightily upon Larkin’s ebony bow and the ground rocked at the shock of the assault. But the ancient magic in the bow was to strong for the creature and the weapon was unharmed. At this point, the creature that had felled Henrich had lept upon the roof to get around Majestic’s invisible wall. Majestic filled the air with bolts of electrical energy, but to no avail. He called a storm of fire on one beast, and again, nothing. They just seemed unstoppable. The first beast lept down from the roof upon Ilde. This time, it grabbed the Ranger with its front claws and raked her body over and over with its hind claws. The young woman crumpled in a heap, her blood splashed over the alley walls and ran in a stream into a nearby drain. Larkin was still pummelling the second beast with arrows and wearing it down, when it lept at him. This time forgetting his bow and going for the half-elf’s body, it did the same as the first did to Ilde, felling the archer. Now both beasts peered up a Majestic (who had wisely gotten himself airbourne with his winged boots). They circled about the alley and roared at him impotently, but could not reach him while he hovered overhead launching every spell at the creatures he could think of to drive them away from his fallen comrads. Shortly the beasts tired of their game and went back to their errend, leaving Majestic to tend to Larkin’s wounds (and to mop up the remains of Ilde and Henrich). Our heroes had been humbled… [/QUOTE]
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