Wizardru's Story Hour (updated 11/21)

[WizarDru]

Quite honestly, I was suprised at how ugly the battle got. The chief determining factor was that Dravot got trapped by the bears, and was unable to draw a line of sight on Taen (who had been hidden initially).

To give you an idea, The Clearcut was a 18th level character, with levels in Druid and Blighter (7/11, I think, sheet isn't in front of me), and a lich to boot. The bears were Legendary Bear Ghouls, though the party is far too powerful for the paralysis to effect anyone except on a '1', generally speaking.

Bolo most likely would have died, as well, but for the dice. When the Clearcut stopped and fought back, she had three attacks available, and Bolo only had a AC 22 and almost no hit points left to speak of. Any successful attack would have resulted in permanent paralysis, most likely, in addition to the not-insignificant damage from an wildshaped undead dire bear wielding an echanted scythe. She rolled 21, 15, 21. Then Aethramyr arrived, and cracked open the Smite can. Dravot got trapped on the ground, and was hard pressed by the bears. The group had spent both of Scorch's mass hastes entering into the battle, and while two characters had haste boots, that only goes so far.

Valanthe got nerfed, and lost an action or two somewhere in the shuffle (perils of gaming when we're all drowsy). While she wouldn't have gotten the clearcut, she most likely would have driven her off sooner, and that horrid wilting really hurt...I mean REALLY HURT.

There was actually an additional trap in there on the way to Sertimo's hideout that val got, althought it as only a Guards and Wards. The Prismatic Spray would have been good clean fun for everyone. Or not. Scorch's invisibility circle saved them resources, and Valanthe's quick location of Taen prevented her from getting her full power-up suite in place. All in all, it was a rough tactical challenge....hence the reason for the dramatic EL upgrade and the double standard treasure awarded from the phylactery.

I messed with Scorch, saying he'd be Boccob's page-turning boy in the after-life....then I gave him his after-death experience. He may end up having preferred the previous. On the other hand, he'll find some interesting fringe benefits. Heh.

 

[Scorch]

An excerpt from Scorch's Journal:

Died today. Would have lived if that tiefling we had picked up had not changed position to throw that spell on the paladin. Well, if he hadn't then the lich may have been able to regroup and come back to kill everyone else. Dodged a Finger of Death and a Horrid Wilting only to be mauled by a bear. Feh.

Saw my body shunted through the Onyx House's astral network and dropped into a vat of acid where it was promptly destroyed. Fortunately my items where not on it. Woke up in a cloned body sealed into a glass vat somewhere back in the Grey Guild on the Prime.

Profion was smiling (gloating? Can never tell with him) outside and he let me out to explain how things stood.

1) I was the new head of the Onyx House. My predecessor appointed me before his untimely ending. An ending much like that which befell the two before him. It seems that leaders of the four houses of the Grey Guild have been changing quite a bit since the dragons started tearing up Greyhawk. A stable peace has been established now that the GreyHawk dragons have come in and kicked out the two opposing factions.

2) As head of the house I now have access to some nice benefits. One of which I just experienced... Well a good wizard always has a backup plan and now I have two...

3) I am to meet with the leaders of the other three houses soon, perhaps after we finished up this business with the trees.

After bullying Profion into giving me my possessions back I took stock of who I could trust. After I realized what line of business I was in and the general dispostion of others in that line I then took stock of who would at least follow my orders without trying to backstab me or forgetting about them a few hours later. Profion will follow my lead if I look what I know what I am doing. He may chew the scenery everytime he enters a room and has pretentions towards villainry but most of his efforts seem to blow up comically in his face (I will have to recount the time he tried to make that rod to control red dragons and accidentally set the Greyhawk River on fire... oh, I guess I just did). That, and he still owes me a cup of mugwort. Dirgah, the giant sorcerer, will go along with me as well thought I cannot make out what he is saying half the time with that accent of his.

While drifting, bodiless, through the Onyx Network I came across several incites into magic that will allow me to finish off my most recent research project. I will now be able to access magic of the highest known circle. I will need a night to recuperate but tomorrow I believe I can shift right to Prosepero's Grove without need of that kludged together gate and rejoin my comrades.

Then we can finish off this business with all the trees in the world dying and I can get on with some real work.

Scorch

 

[Argent Silvermage]

A Halfling's point of view

Blessed Ehlonna!
This was a wonderful day! (barring the loss of Scorch.)
We met up with a Ranger/Druid named Certimo. He is a tiefling. He had lost his mentor to the Orc Hexer. I realised that the best way to gain his confidance was to reincarnate his mentor. I cast the spell and waited as the new forn took shape. I was expecting a badger.... My bad. The mentor turns out to be a centaur in his new life. His name is Ashbridge, he is a druid/mage.
We faced Taen after this, along with Certimo's aid and the (in my own opinion) combination of my ape form and the sences of a bat (from the Embrace the Wild spell). Very little was going to get past me. Taen and her unholy beasts were a difficult fight but we won. I was sure I was going to meet the Goddess again when I ran off after her but I could not let her get away nor harm the tree more. I had cast Sunbeam and expected to use it on her at the first chance but I charged in on her and could only swipe at her. she swung the blade or hers 3 times and only by the luck of my stone did she miss. than like an avenging angel Aethramyr cut her down.
We returned to the blighted area and I decided to see what the sunbeams would do to the black light. Nothing but when I set them into the spike itself I got this rush and just kept pumping the beams into it. Than there was a sound like breaking glass and treasure spilled out from the hole where the spike was. Dravot said I had destroyed the Liches jewel and that I had totaly destroyed her. I sat there while the rest picked though the treasure and prayed to Ehlonna and gave thanks.

 

[Zad]

The Green and the Black Chapter 4

The Green and the Black - Chapter 4

OOC Notes:

Experience this session is 4,616. Levels for most of the party.

Loot

Jewelry totaling 13,000gp
Cash totaling 26,000gp
Gems totaling 10,000gp
+3 leather armor with ghost touch and lightning resistance
Rod of enemy detection (keeping this)
Scroll of wall of ice, level 6 (Scorch)
Wand of charm person, 12 charges
Cape of the mountebank (Aethramyr)

This of course does not account for the loot that Mister-back-from-the-dead destroyed with when he opened up the firey pits of hell.

Close out of books for the Green and the Black yields a share of 50,000 gp per player. (So close that the difference hardly matters.)

We will have some downtime to spend the money.


This Week’s Adventure:

We withdrew to the comparative safety of Certimo’s chambers and recovered. Even though we had already heard from Scorch and he was clearly therefore alive, I was still disturbed by his death. Indeed the mood was quiet in Prospero’s grove that night. We slept a fitful night and prepared for the next day’s battles.

Sure enough, in the morning we heard from Scorch over the scale. He had arrived in the chamber we first appeared in, and we quickly brought him to our location. Almost in celebration, Dravot cast a spell and brought forth a Hero’s Feast and we enjoyed a hearty breakfast and discussed our plans.

Scorch did mention an odd oily black fog that was in the area when he appeared, but he and Bolo avoided it as they returned to us. We shrugged it off and ate.

When I asked him what happened, he waved his hand absently and murmured something about showing back up in the Grey Guild in Greyhawk. He seemed to dismiss the entire matter as just another routine occurrence. I just stared at him for a moment, glad to have the curmudgeon back. He looked back at me for a minute and after a pause barked “What?”

I just smiled and said “Nothing.” I figured he knew what I was thinking, but would just as soon it have remained unsaid. He smiled for the briefest moment, awkwardly as if it were somewhat unfamiliar to him, then went back to his food.

I couldn’t help notice that one of Scorch’s eyes was now steel blue, while the other was jet black. How odd.

Ashbury, the now-centaur, was becoming a big more cognizant of his surroundings and more lucid. He was still having trouble speaking and found it easiest to speak Sylvan for the time being. Fortunately several of us understood him and could translate for the rest. He told us that the orc hexer has terrible powers with his third eye. First he tried to control his mind, then he simply struck him down. Ashbury believed that it is some artifact of great power that he has imbedded in his skull, and because of that he does not have long to live, as the item is killing him.

Scorch had, as requested, tried to gather up information on the Theerparts. Unfortunately his research told us little that we did not already know. The three parts were aligned strongly towards the chaotic, neutral, and law aspects. When transported, it is usually done in a person of the opposite alignment, as they are most resistant to the corruption. The part in Venn was clearly the chaotic one. But there was no information on how to remove it or how we might proceed. If we were to deny the spikes of their source of dark power, we would need to simply remove Venn from the grove.

That would have to wait, as there was still plenty of taint left in the grove. We readied ourselves and moved to the chamber that held a spike and the orcish shaman guarding it.

In the dim chamber was the spike, and the orc and a dire bear guarding it. In the back of his head, through a ripped hood, I could make out a sickly black eye, its gaze darting back and forth.

We descended on him quickly. I began firing arrows but they were not sticking as well as they should. I had altered the spell on the bow to electrify my arrows – it seemed fitting revenge for those lightning bolts all that time ago. However the lightning simply slid off him.

The orc turned and fixed his gaze on me, and I could feel his power bearing down on my mind. I was not going to be so easily controlled however and shook off the effect.

Bolo tried to dominate the bear so that we would not have to harm it but the bear was not so easily controlled either. Valanthe sniped at the orc from the shadows, and just after Scorch dropped the Mass Haste.

Always a party favorite.

Aethramyr and Dravot quickly moved in after the spell landed.

I fired again at the orc as he began making a dash for the treeline, presumably to leave. He cast a Heal on himself and was well again. It looked as though this could be very troublesome if he got away.

I had not, however, counted on what Scorch did next.

Now mind you, I have heard of this spell. Read about it. Been told about it. But never have I actually seen it. And I was glad.

Scorch began rattling off arcane words, and one hand stretched out above his head began glowing red with fire. Then his other arm shot out towards the orc, and balls of pure flame burst forth, leaving a trail of heat and sparks behind them. They slammed into the orc one after the next and the explosion knocked me back in the air.

When the wave of heat passed and I could finally look back I saw…

Well… nothing.

There was nothing left except the outline in soot on the treeline.

That, and a sickly eye on a stalk, writhing on the ground. It was covered in ash but it was the only thing that remained of Goshnak.

Dravot waved some of the ash away and a look of horror settled over his face. He muttered a prayer to Pelor with enough fervor that Scorch stopped inspecting his handiwork long enough to look at it. And he too stopped short.

And as they looked, the Eye of Vecna stared back at them, lidless and unwavering.

Scorch cooed with some excitement but even his sensibilities couldn’t ignore the danger that the Eye posed. We put it in a bag and stowed it away.

Bolo managed to beguile the bear who in any case was smart enough not to want to tangle with us further.

[OOC Notes: Well actually, there was quite a bit more loot there.

It’s just that Scorch obliterated it all.

We’ve decided he’s only allowed to use Meteor Swarm against things that don’t carry loot on them.

As Monty would say, “Here’s what you would have won….”

Belt of holy might
+2 leaf armor (causing much amusement for me)
Amulet of proof against location and detection (doh)
Gloves of arrow snaring
Haste potion
Wisdom potion
Boots of speed
Vial of Last Gasp
+3 ring of protection

C’est la vie. Quote from Wizardru: “Apparently you didn’t need to go to Mordor. Just cast it into the firey tubes of MOUNT SCORCH.”]

With the orc dead, we extracted the spike. We then moved back to the World Ash to check the Green Man. He was now pinned only by one leg, and while was closer to consciousness he was still groggy and unresponsive.

This left one remaining guardian – the dragon. I had pondered how it was held here. We were told that the lich and Venn had summoned it and Scorch believed it was from Tarterus. We discussed trying to break whatever bound it here, or perhaps trying to just tell it to leave. If it had been bribed to stay, it wouldn’t be getting paid now, so it had no reason to stay.

Scorch however thought the thing was quite mad, and rational approaches were doomed to fail. So we resolved ourselves to deal with it the old fashioned way.

We approached the chamber with the dragon cautiously. Knowing the way the grass covered the floor, we were better able to prepare, and I put a fly spell on to Aethramyr. Valanthe and I each crept into the chamber and when we were ready, the attack began.

I was ahead of the group just enough that I didn’t want to draw the dragon’s ire until I had more support. So I used my own haste and then fired a shot. Dravot attempted the Destruction of the dragon, but it resisted his spell. We all entered the chamber quickly and got into position.

The dragon spun its head around. It’s eyes were unfocused and looked in different directions. It set an eye on Scorch and suddenly he was gone. I was sure it was a Maze spell, which meant he might be gone but he’d be safe enough and out soon.

I moved in for a better firing position and fired four arrows which hit solid, while Aethramyr and Valanthe circled around the dragon for strikes of their own. The dragon was moderately injured but still had quite a bit of fight left and his maddened gaze convinced me it wouldn’t give up. It tried to catch me in a resilient sphere, but I managed to avoid the bubble of force.

I was in perfect range, and there was no holding back. I fired seven arrows into the dragon. As the shafts pierced his grey hide, he screamed out. Arrows tore into his throat and spine, and he shook with rage. It screeched at me, and suddenly I was trapped in a force cage.

[OOC Note: Hasted, I fired 4 arrows on my full attack, and 3 from manyshot on my partial round. Damage was 164 points, and I was grateful that all it did was force cage me.]

But it was too late really. The damage had been done. Valanthe and Aethramyr pounced from either side and black blood sprayed the grass. They killed it in a few swift strokes and the last threat to the grove was dead.

Scorch reappeared after a few seconds more, and was kind enough to remove the force cage. He absently mentioned that the cage would have lasted many hours otherwise. I shuddered.

We destroyed the final spike, and hastened to the World Ash to check on the Green Man.

He was no longer there. After a moment, that made some sense.

Then there was a thunderous noise, and the ground shook. From overhead, a winged black demon entered the clearing, cresting over the treeline. Just as fast, a thirty foot tree was thrown through the air from behind us. It struck the demon so hard it seemed to smash into a gas. The black cloud thinned out and faded from the plane. As the tree fell to the ground, it suddenly planted one end, and stood upright and began to grow again.

The Green Man stepped out from the trees and thanked us for our assistance. We spoke to him at length about what had happened in the Grove.

Some druids have always been allowed to come here. When some arrived that were not as well known to him, it was of little concern. It was some time before it was noticed that the newcomers had . . . modifications. It was something they had taken pains to conceal. Ashbridge believed the cult of Vecna was responsible. In time these newcomers turned on them. Then Taen and Grosnak arrived. With the help of the shadow demons they ambushed the Green Man. While he was incapacitated, they slew the other druids. But then more betrayal. Some of these druids of Vecna were in fact followers of Therizdun, and they turned on the druids of Venca and killed them. So it seems that the cult of Vecna has been manipulated and filled with betrayers.

They also spoke about infilitrating a “brotherhood” as well. We believe it would be the Scarlet Brotherhood.

It occurs to me that we should inform the cult of Venca and the Scarlet Brotherhood of these activities. It would cause considerable disruption for them while they rooted out the traitors.

The Green Man believed that the vampire thing (Gulthias) served with the Therizdun followers. The one he served (Ashardalon) was also a servant of Therizdun.

Unfortunately the Green Man had little knowledge of the Theerpart or what to do with it. But once we removed Venn from the grove, the healing here could truly begin.

We took the day to rest up. We wanted to be ready in case someone tried to take the Theerpart from us. The Green Man offered to send us anywhere that there were trees, and with some hesitation we returned to Ruun Khazai. We hesitated to draw attention to our new sanctuary but it was one place we knew we could shelter Venn from prying eyes.

We immediately contacted the Silverring. My mind went flying over the ocean and came to rest in Veluna near sandy colored buildings. It all seemed oddly familiar somehow but I couldn’t place where I had seen it. By the water’s edge was the Silverring, in his elven form.

I related the details of our journey. The two key elements were of course the Eye of Vecna, and the Theerpart. He would send an emmisary, the Platinar, for the Eye and would see to its safe keeping. We arranged to meet him in the abandoned city in the Shield Lands to avoid any undue attention. This was a great relief of course. As for the Theerpart, he had little insight. I suggested that since Mordenkainen had dealt with them before, perhaps we should enlist his aid now. After some discussion, he instead suggested we approach the Circle of Eight via Drawmij who is more sympathetic. He would contact them and arrange something.

The Silverring also brought me up to date. Some of us are not welcome in Greyhawk – authorities there seek Dravot and Aethramyr, but he knows of no interest in the rest of us, although Scorch’s name has come up in the council.

Also, Chavram and his gnoll army have disappeared. They have sent out scouts but it appears that Chavram has somehow moved the entire army to places unknown. This was of course of some concern.

After catching up on other details, we broke the contact. I immediately turned my mind inward again, as there was someone else to whom I needed to report.

I focused on my mark, and was quickly answered by the Queen. I can only assume she was expecting me to contact her. She said “The trees are healing. You were successful in your mission We take it. We are glad.”

I informed her that we were indeed successful, and things should be returned to normal soon. Rather than spend time on the details, I simply said I would relate the details of the matter soon.

She said with slight exasperation “Yes, I’m sure Onselven will want to know of the whole affair in every detail.”

I thought to myself “Yes, of course. I’ll give Onselven all the gory details…when I’m good and ready.”

The Queen then said “When communicating this way, you have no inner voice, child.” In the image in my mind, she gave a slight smile.

Ah well. She went on “You have done well. Your country is proud of you. We are proud of you.”

I quietly beamed, overwhelmed at the praise from my Queen. It was as great a reward as I had ever received.

I asked about the Gulthias horrors, and she told me that many have withered and died or collapsed. Those that survived retreated south.

She then said “I am glad these matters are resolved, as other things stir in the world. An army of gnolls has appeared out of nowhere and is marching towards Geoff. Who and what purpose they serve, we do not know.”

I replied quickly “It is Chavram’s army. They were marching towards the Shield Lands and Iuz, and then disappeared some days ago. It seems he has magically transported the entire army, though to what end I do not know.”

The Queen was slightly taken aback at my immediate knowledge of the situation. I seem to be a source of distinct information that she receives from nowhere else. She expressed concern that they may be attempting to form some kind of alliance with the giants.

I told her I would attempt to learn more and would visit home soon for a full discussion. She again thanked me and withdrew.

I wasted no time in contacting the Silverring again.

“Chavram’s army is in Geoff. They may be attempting to make an alliance with the giants.”

The Silverring was concerned. He said he would send scouts immediately and thanked me.

I leaned against a tree for a moment and took a breath. This was a delicate game.

The Queen clearly knew I had contacts deep within the dragons, and that I was privy to much information because of that. While she has always accepted this information, she has never asked me how I came by it.

The dragons on the other hand certainly know my first loyalty must be to my Queen. They too have accepted information from those sources without questioning it. In the end, both parties have benefited and the overall good has been served.

The trick in these matters is not in preserving secrets, but in knowing when to share them. At least the dragons and the Queen had one thing in common – they both trusted me to do what I thought best.

I believe I will advise the Queen to pursue the horrors if she can do so without compromising the safety of the kingdom. They are weakened and vulnerable.

There were still several hours before we would meet the Platinar and deliver the Eye. We quickly secured away the various things we had returned with, and that left several hours to unwind before the meeting.

Just enough time for a bath.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

A Halfling's point of veiw...

Green bless me it's over. I am running with a powerful crowd. My companions continue to amaze me. Finding out that Scorch was still alive was a wonderous thing but to see him now, come back with even more power.... Frightening.
I didn't even get to so much as give the Orc a come hither glance before he was a pile of ash. I was shocked, and then to find the Eye of Vecna in the ashes.... (not that Scorch and I hadn't thought of that. But we still weren't expecting it.) The Orcs companion bear was not really anything but aiding it's friend an so I let it run free in the grove with the knowledge that Certimo and Ashbridge would deal with it if it stayed a problem.
The Dragon was even more of a problem. No sooner were we all back together, we loose Scorch again to a Maze spell. (Who knew corn could be so powerful!) And than Kayleigh goes and makes me look like I was not needed at all. I have always been impressed by our Champion but I have never seen her shoot like that before. Yet she wonders why Ehlonna considers her a champion of the Green!
Once all the spikes were disposed of we were able to relax with the Green Man and he taught me many secrets of the green. I now can gain nourishment from the sun directly and He showed me the secrets to the last level of Druidic prayers and spells (Bolo leveled to Druid 15/Verdant Lord 2 and now has 9th level spells). He mentioned that there is a great ash tree on the Prime that is directly connected to the World Ash. I immediatly wanted to go there but I think I had better not. There are prying eyes and I do not want to jeopardize the safety of our world.
As a token of his favor, He granted me 5 new additions to my growing Grove at Ruun-Khazai. I now have 5 Awakened Trees and 5 Treants guarding Ruun-Khazai, and my personal grove there.
Valenthe and the others are talking about going to Sigil again. Well they are doing it with out me. I will never step back on that shore unless I can save lives. I still remember the look of the fallen Solar that I met... If there was only some way I could help.
Well, she has my shopping list and while they are away I will tend to my growing gardens and my special project. I'm creating a Bogun. I think I'll name him Chia. (and stop Zad from saying it first! LOL)
I must get word to the Druidic council about what I now know. I just hope that our next mission is to rescue Lord Gelbane. He is in a miserable spot.

 

[Valanthe the Sleepless]

Val's journal - Bastion of broken souls, part 1

I swear, as much as I like Bolo, someone needs to put leash on him. At least he hasn't run gleefully into the gaping maws of an astral devourer… again.


...the rest of this story has been erased from time itself (pending futher explanation from Wizardru

 

[Zad]

Rather than back up and re-edit the other posts, I'll pick up here.

We had an unhappy incident occur in our last game. It was the kind of thing that got everyone upset, and had the potential for some bad consequences.

And it's at times like that you have to remember that you're all friends, and all just want to have some fun together and hang out.

And so with that in mind, the entire episode was erased from existance. Wizardru has waved his hand, and it all just didn't happen. The fourth wall has been broken and we're all good with that.

I'm going to tack on an epilogue with some of the fluff, and we'll resume normally soon.

 

[Zad]

The Green and the Black: Epilogue

Epilogue

We had little time at the fortress before we had to depart to dispose of the Eye. In due order we prepared and departed, appearing at our old camp site in the ruined city. The vines covering the building had nearly tripled in length since we were last here. However everything was covered with a fine white ash that had been here for some months. A quick reconnoiter showed that we were alone in the area, save for a lone human on a hill a half mile away. It was a hill that had not been there before. He bore the arms of a paladin of the Theocracy of the Pale. But more unusual was what lay beyond the hill.

Nothing. No mountain, no trees, nothing at all. The area beyond was blasted into a plain, and covered in volcanic ash. We slowly realized that the blast likely centered on Nightfang Spire, and that the wretched place had been dealt with in a most satisfactory manner.

Since he was the only one around, we assumed that this paladin was a dragon in disguise and began to approach him. However I received a sending as we got closer warning me that our contact would be arriving soon and to stay out of sight from the sentry.

Suddenly there was a presence in the area, and I could see on the ethereal a silver dragon of fantastic proportions and age. He winked into existence from the ethereal and turned his gaze on us.

No mean dragon this – it was a great wurm. I had originally thought that some caution was warranted to be sure this was the true messenger, but seeing him quickly dismissed that idea. We exchanged the barest pleasantries, and handed him an iron box which contained the Eye. With the box under a massive claw, each finger with jeweled golden rings, he turned his stare on each of us. His eyes blazed white, and the rings glowed, and he studied each of us intently.

“You. Priest of Pelor. You have a taint upon you. You should see to that.” We asked further but he revealed little. Dravot thought he might be tainted from the Theerpart, but later it seems that he had some kind of taint in him from a fog in Rauxes. It was easily removed once he was aware of it however.

The Platinar told us that the Theocracy has made attempts to stab into the Shield Lands, perhaps to drive Iuz further back in his time of weakness. But most of the Flaness is no longer under their protection and chaos soon will rule. He repeated the warning that some cities were not safe for us, as our enemies and the dragons seek us out.

We returned to Ruun Khazai and each tended to our separate interests.

In the next two weeks, I did some shopping in Sigil, then returned home for a few days to visit. Onselven and a senior druid listened intently to my report on Prospero’s Grove. The druid, Sandyar, was most grateful for our efforts in protecting the Green, and as a token gave me a beautiful midnight blossom, somehow still alive despite being separated from the tree. I promptly pinned it in my hair and he just smiled approvingly.

I even managed to interrupt a formal diplomatic reception in the throne room. Onselven suggested the Queen would certainly wish to see me since I was in the palace, neglecting to tell me that the Ambassador from one of the Ulek’s was being received with his entourage. It at least explained his smirk.

The guards were at stiffer attention than usual as I approached the chamber, but I didn’t pay it much mind unfortunately. They didn’t question my purpose or warn me of the reception or even think twice about allowing a fully armed elf girl with her cat walking along side into the throne room during a diplomatic audience. They just opened the doors and I didn’t even break stride as I entered.

Well seeing the full spectacle laid out, I immediately stopped short. The doors swung quietly shut behind me and if I was careful I could avoid being a disruption. I even caught the herald’s staff before it hit the ground when he tried to announce me, and shushed him. At the far end I could hear a human voice, likely the ambassador, droning on at length about something or other.

Unfortunately I did not escape notice entirely and a small whisper started up. Some in the court knew me, and others just were in shock. I hadn’t expected this and while nicely dressed, was still fully armed and that was causing some stir among the humans. The Queen had that look on her face that I’ve come to realize means boredom, but looked up to see what was going on. I briefly debated hiding, but figured that would not be productive.

She squinted to see who had entered and recognized me. She wasted no time interrupting the Ambassador by loudly declaring “Kayleigh!” and standing up. This of course got everyone to bowing as she strode down from the Sylvan Throne, waving me up impatiently.

I came down the center asile and curtsied low. She accepted this as her due, and bid me rise. We had come together nearly in front of the ambassador, who was somewhat flushed and beginning to harumph a bit.

At this point I had one thought in my mind: “Onselven, I’m going to get you for this.”

To the Queen I said “I must beg you forgiveness Your Majesty, and yours, sir.” I icily added “Onselven neglected to inform me that you were receiving guests.”

The Queen flashed an impish smile for the briefest moment, then resumed her more diplomatic face. “Did he? That was absent minded of him. However We are glad for your presence nonetheless.” She turned to the ambassador saying “Ambassador Senton, this is the High Lady Kayleigh.” I raised an eyebrow at the title but the Queen just went on. “You were asking what knowledge Celene could offer about the tree blight in your lands. We can tell you that the trees of your lands should now be recovering, and that Lady Kayleigh was instrumental in this.” She looked at me saying “She is favored by Us, and We would thank her for this.”

I blushed deeply at this, unsure what to say. Fortunately the Senton spoke up. “If this is the case, then I welcome the interruption as well. You have our thanks My Lady.” He bowed and I curtsied back, setting off a fresh uproar of whispering in the hall. The ambassador studied me carefully, taking my measure no doubt. I wonder what he concluded.

The Queen asked that I attend her while the discussions continued. I quickly realized how bored she was and why she welcomed me as a distraction. But I did attend her for the afternoon, and at her request stayed for the reception that evening. Fortunately I’ve gotten in the habit of keeping my wardrobe in my haversack.

The reception was enjoyable – it’s been too long since I got to dance. The humans were somewhat clumsy but I’ve gotten used to that. I overheard the ambassador speaking to his advisors at a few points – apparently I left an impression.

After a few days in Celene, I caught up with Aran’gel. He was still down at the southern border dealing with the troops. I spent a few days in the camp just enjoying the camaraderie of the troops, even if some of them were a little over-awed. The time I spent alone with Aran’gel was quite pleasant. It was dominated more by training than courtship but I welcomed both. I had learned so much and needed time with my mentor to help bring it all into focus.

There were times he looked at me with a warmth in his eyes that made me blush. And there were other times, usually when we were “working”, that he looked at me more in awe than anything. I asked him why, and he just said “You have come so far.”

After being here and there, I was back at the fortress puttering around. I was a bit concerned that we hadn’t heard from the Silverring yet. It had been two weeks and we were still sitting on the Theerpart. We were tending Venn as best we could, but this was a bad thing to have laying about the house.

I sit here after much thought, and I’m still not sure how to put any of it into words. I’m writing in the hopes that it all might become clear as I do. The past few hours are a muddled blur, and I can’t say for sure what truly happened and what was just a maddened dream.

There was an attack of some kind. Bolo was kidnapped by a many-armed demon. I remember that he was taken quickly and we followed by teleportation to the demon’s lair. The lair was filled with chains. Ringing, lashing, relentless chains, writhing in her presence, tearing at us. The battle was fierce. I remember fighting her, and some balors that were in her lair.

We could not prevail though. The balors were destroyed, but my companions were falling one by one. The stinging chains ultimately overcame me, and weak from the many slashes, I passed out as well.

The next thing I knew I was back at Ruun Khazai. The others were all there as well. We each seemed uninjured but each shuddered as we thought of the chains. Did we share a dream? Time seemed disjointed and everything was out of place. Several of us distinctly recalled Dravot communing with Pelor, but we could not understand when or why. We couldn’t remember all of the questions, but between us we did piece together a few:

Is the Silverring in enemy hands?
No

Is Chavram still in Geoff?
No

Is Chavram back in Rauxes?
No

Is the Red Lord in Rauxes?
No

We felt some of the other questions had to do with Bolo but none of us could remember it clearly enough to know more than that.

As we all sat around a table, trying to understand what happened, Dravot was gazing into space in silent horror, trying to understand what happened. He seemed even more disturbed than the rest of us, which is surely saying a great deal.

I very much wanted to believe it was all a dream. Indeed I would probably be able to convince myself, if it weren’t for Aethramyr’s assurances that it wasn’t. His Lady walked in the dreams, and surely he would know this for a dream if it were one.

Why then do I still want to believe it was just a dream?

 

[WizarDru]

[WizarDru looks around...makes sure coast is clear]

Psst! Hey you! Yeah, you...come here for a second.

[sneaks down alleyway, looking over his shoulder the whole time]

Cut to: DM's Secret Lair and Coffee House, dimly lit. WizarDru grabs a cup of coffee, points to large, overstuffed chair, indicating you to take a seat.

Takes a big swig of coffee, and collapses into a beanbag chair, after moving a wavebird controller off of it.


Ahem.


Howdy. Thought I'd take a moment to address you, the humble reader. You've probably been wondering what's been going on, and what's the deal with Bastion of Broken Souls, anyway? I'm sure it appears a tad confusing, so I thought we'd take a minute to chat, you and I.

First off, let me make one thing clear. I like Bruce Cordell as a writer. He is responsible for some of the best source material available for D&D, as well as a very creative, engaging writer. He's swell. But his adventures SUCK. He's currently 2 out of 3 for me, and WOTC overall is currently 2 for 8. Not good odds, my friend, not good at all.

Now, let me be clear here: the modules themselves aren't entirely to blame. Part of it has to do with the attitude that backs them, and the incompatability of that mindset with my campaign. At higher level play (post 10th, say), death is assumed to happen with some degree of frequency. With access to Raise Dead and Ressurection, modules like 'Heart of Nightfang Spire' set up circumstances where death is almost assured. My players don't like that casual attitude towards character death, and neither do I. A module like 'Bastion', where a CR22 creature ambushes a 18th level party repeatedly, seems arbitrary and not fun. Having a creature that teleport without error to a party member, reduces him to -6 hit points in one turn and then departs...didn't exactly make me feel like a good DM.

More specifically, Bastion created an element of frustration amongst the players when it was clear that they were being put in a meat-grinder (and I'll be honest, here...I pulled punches. I had to. I could've had a TPK on my hands, as it was. I rapdily realized, as the encounter progressed, that I the Cathezar was too big a gun, unless you use the thunder-stealing Deus ex Machina NPC, who I almost did use....but that had other problems with it, as well). The frustration led to angry feelings amongst players as well as characters during both sessions of BoBS...and that's NOT why we play the game.

Further, BoBS makes the same assumption that both HoNS and 'Lord of the Iron Fortress' make...which is that some half-assed reason (usually a kidnapping or some sort of NPC imperilment) will keep the PCs committed to finishing the module, regardless of all other factors. In other words, you should want to finish the module because it's a module, and how could you possibly not want to finish it? My main game, which this is, doesn't support such a lack of verisimilitude. This is the debate we had during Nighfang Spire...namely, "If the Circle of Eight is so darned powerful and concerned, why don't they come here and solve the problem themselves? Why the hell should we flunkies be down here getting killed, when someone more powerful could actually finish the job?" You can find an illustration of this principle no further than Wulf Ratbane's Story Hour where, for the third time in the campaign whlie slogging through the core modules, one of the characters asks "Why are we doing this, again?" It's a very metagame mentality, and it takes away from our enjoyment. My players have Everquest, Baldur's Gate or Golden Sun for that kind of systematic "loot-the-monster and explore every room" play...they expect more from a pen-and-paper game, and frankly, so do I.

Would leaving the module intact have created irreprable harm to game? It might not have. But it would have required weeks of work for me to do so, to little benefit. Instead, I chalked it up to a mistake, rewrote history using a Deus ex Machnia that makes sense in the context of the game (and had been kept in the closet for this very reason). Everyone agreed that the module hadn't really played out the way we'd wanted it to, and decided to move on.

I apologize for the potential confusion such a breach of the 'fourth wall' may cause. Believe me, it's as confusing to play it as it is to read it. But my paramount goal is that everyone enjoys the game and has fun, not argue over what we dub (thanks to Wulf Ratbane) as "torch issues", accidental spell misfires, melting magic items or pissing off elven queens by at first making her think you're sexing up her little boy, and then NOT sexing up her little boy when you seem like an attractive mate, which may be worse. That sort of thing.

Lest I forget, my thanks to my players for the mad propz.

It IS appreciated.

So, what with that out of the way: Kick back and relax.

Enjoy your particular holiday of choice, and feel free to ask questions.

When next we resume, which may be this very weekend, we will begin anew with the start of our next adventure, "The Shadow of Winter", in which the nature of the true enemies of all that lives reveals itself, and the world may be ripped asunder.

 

[dravot]

Dravot's Journal - Bastion of Broken Souls (Revised)

Dravot’s Journal - Bastion of Broken Souls (Revised)

Something happened in the lair of the foul demoness, and I do not like it. I do not pretend to understand what it portends, but it cannot be good.

When I found Scorch, he said that some fiend had attacked Bolo and made off with his unconscious body. We scried his location and found him in a coma on the floor of a horrible room that can only be described as an abbatoir. Chains hung from the ceiling; blood was everywhere. We prepared as best we could and teleported in ready for vengeance.

We showed up, only to find party members shunted to another room in this blood soaked suite. I healed Bolo as the demoness (someone called her The Cathezar) teleported into the room and brought the chains to life. They struck at us with hell force, cutting at us while the Cathezar used various spells against us, but we managed to stay on our feet and press the attack. She was mostly immune to our spells, but not to our weapons, and so we tried to use it to our advantage.

Kayleigh and Valanthe however, found themselves in a different room than the rest of us. Valanthe set off and then disabled a couple of magic traps, and then they tried to find us. They knew that we weren’t too far off, given the sounds of combat in the distance.

A few seconds later, they opened a door and entered the fight with us. So intent were they that they didn’t notice the bright light that flared up behind them, but as I had a clear view, I couldn’t help but notice. Balors. Two of them. Terrifying for their evil and for their raw power.

I cried for Valanthe and Kayleigh to enter the room, as it would be relatively safer, and if nothing else, we needed to all be together to teleport out.

Then Bolo collapsed from the wounds that the chains had inflicted upon him, alive but unconscious yet again. Scorch and Aethramyr and I were all hit with some fire spell, and Scorch was the next to drop. Aethramyr managed to stay alive by the use of his Lay on Hands, and I moved then moved up to heal him. Kayleigh and Valanthe set up to attack the Cathezar, and managed to do a lot of damage to her. Unfortunately, this only drew her attention and wrath upon them, and the Balors moved in as well. I wished I could have added to the melee damage, but it was all I could do to keep everyone on their feet. I tried to go and revive Scorch, but was prevented from doing so by the Balors, and the need to keep Kayleigh in the fight.

Nonetheless, it wasn’t enough, and Kayleigh fell to the Balor onslaught. Valanthe danced with the Balors for quite a while, but she was brought down as well, but Aethramyr had done a good job of keeping the Cathezar injured and away from our friends, but he had paid a heavy price as well. I dropped my last cure spell on Aethramyr, knowing that it would be but a drop in the ocean, yet hopeful that it would buy me enough time to get Aethramyr and some of my compatriots out, and then I tried to keep the Balors from getting to Aethramyr. I planned on grabbing him, Scorch, Valanthe and Kayleigh and teleporting the five of us out. I did not want to abandon Bolo, yet I didn’t see how we could get to him before we all died. We would have to nurse our wounds and try again on the morrow. One of the Balors stepped up to me and prepared to chop at me with his daemon blade.

That was when I heard the voice. Chavram’s voice. A loud metallic sound, like rings spinning on a table filled my ears, making it impossible for me to hear what he said, but clearly it was a spell of some kind. The Balors froze in position, the one with his blade only inches from my shield as I struggled to bring it to my defense.

The Cathezar turned her head to regard the new entrant upon the field of battle, but before she could react, Chavram banished her and the Balors from the Prime. My grandfather bore a bladed staff, and behind him I saw my father, looking thin and gaunt and tall, as if he had been stretched like so much taffy. Chavram ignored me, walked over to the desk and grabbed a book and left with my father. He paused to look at me before he teleported out, and I tried to fathom what was in his soul and I wondered what it was he was looking for in me.

At that point I revived Scorch and all of us went back to Ruun Khazai.

Only Aethramyr was left standing at that point, and he doesn’t recall anything about Chavram. I have patiently explained what I saw had happened, and have answered their questions as best I can. We do not know who this demoness is, nor why she wanted Bolo (alive or dead), but clearly she had something of interest to Chavram.

The very idea of Chavram sparing the lives of my friends and myself is as puzzling as it is vexing. I find myself growing most irritable as I ponder it’s meaning. I suppose that he still has plans for me, but this…patronizing attitude angers me deeply. It’s about time I started becoming a thorn in his side. I have one more item to make, a Bead of Karma, while I am making it, I will use my off time to meditate on what to do about this.

It is late, and I must rest now. I hope to head to Brindinford tomorrow and pick someone up.