Wraith's Whispers - CoSQ (Update: 4/5/04)

[Wraithdrit]

Drena and Navarr strode calmly toward the small group of dwarven workers. One of the dwarves noticed the pair and called a warning to the others. They quickly switched from construction equipment to crossbows and fanned out to watch the two approach. Finally one dwarf stepped ahead of the rest. “What ye’ be doin’ here?”

Drena stepped ahead of Navarr and said, “We are looking for a Red Wizard of Thay.”

The dwarves turned to one another. “Mutter, mutter, whisper, whisper, mutter, wizard, mutter, grumble, whisper, mutter, Thay, mutter, whisper.” Finally the leader turned back toward the pair, “Sorry. No Red Wizards here.”

Drena sighed slightly, “We tracked him to here. We know this was the last place he was.”

The dwarves muttered amongst themselves again. “Mutter, mutter, whisper, grumble, grumble, tracked, mutter, mutter, whisper.” The leader turned back again, “Well he is not here now. Tethyamar has been freed from tyranny. You go away.”

Drena shook her head, “No, we aren’t going away. I need to find the wizard or at least where he went. Can you get me someone in charge.”

The leader of the small group of dwarves nodded, “Aye. This we can do. You stay here.” He turned back to the others who argued a few moments about who should go. Finally one dwarf was volunteered. He ran off to get King Gregor or whomever else important he could find.

Near the gates he ran into Tanerus and Amador. “Someone is here!” The dwarf pointed to the middle of the city. “Huge human with scars all over and short little human girl wearing big scary mask. Gotta go get the King.”

Tanerus shook his head, some of the dwarf miners had definitely hit their heads a few too many times. “Alright, you go get the King, we’ll check this out.”

When the pair arrived Amador greeted the two, “Can we help you with something?”

Drena sighed, “Yes. Please. I am looking for a Red Wizard of Thay. I tracked him here. The dwarves do not seem to have any idea where he is.”

Tanerus narrowed his eyes, studying the two. “He’s gone. What do you want him for?”

Drena was flabbergasted, “I’m from Rashemen… I was sent here to find this wizard and stop him from completing whatever it is he is trying to do!”

Amador shrugged, “Well you came a long way for nothing.”

Tanerus nodded, “Aye… he’s dead.”

Drena blinked and Navarr took a half step forward. Drena spoke first, “Dead? Did you burn the body?”

Tanerus and Amador exchanged glances. Amador shook his head, “Actually no, they are probably nothing but carrion food now. We can take you to where they were.”

Drena nodded, “Please.” The small group wandered north toward the old Temple of Moradin. A good ways to the east of the opening there was a large pile of debris. The faint order of rot could be smelled coming from the pile.

Tanerus and Amador stopped away from the pile. The halfling pointed, “Its in there.”

Navarr looked to Drena who looked back at him. “After you.” The berserker sighed and moved toward the pile. Drena stepped up to beside him and the two started digging through the trash. Eventually they came upon the stack of dead in the center of the pile. Navarr tossed each corpse out onto the ground. When they were done they looked down at them a bit more closely. “He’s not here.”

Tanerus frowned, “What do you mean?”

“I mean he is not here. None of these men are of Mulan decent. Hell, none of them are even Rashemi. This one…” She nudged the corpse of Lurkhaus’ apprentice. “… is dressed and shaved like a Mulani, but she is definitely not of Mulan blood. There is no Red Wizard in this pile.”

Amador shrugged, “Well we certainly haven’t seen him wandering around here… and he was most definitely dead. I put my sword through his heart myself. Even checked them all for signs of life after the fight. He was dead.”

Navarr asked Drena hopefully, “Maybe wolves took off with his body.”

Drena shook her head, “And none of the others. I think not.” She turned towards the others and opened her mouth to talk when a small falcon landed on her shoulder and let out a screech. Something flies this way, m’lady. Drena looked around and saw an armored form swooping down from the west.

Mytrym’s massive twenty-foot wings folded in as he landed just to south of the group on a half crumbled wall. “Something is coming. Four massive bats fly this way from the southeast. Prepare yourselves.” He thrust a couple of arrows between pieces of rubble so that he could at them quicker and knocked another arrow into his bow.

Theyall turned to look that direction. The sun had set but ambient light still made it easy enough to pick out the four massive bats flying low in over the ruins.

Tanerus looked to Drena, “Friends of yours?”

Drena shook her head, “I have no idea who they are.” She pulled a wand out and began waving it toward each of the heroes standing about. Each in turn felt their feet lift from the ground. “Would not want them to be the only ones that can fly… just in case they are hostile.”

The heroes fanned out, each finding a spot in the rubble to watch the four winged forms fly toward them. Amador and Drena cast preparatory spells.

Tanerus looked back from his small bit of rubble he hid within, his thoughts flashed in each of the hero’s minds one by one. They are dressed like Shades, and they have lances out. They don’t look like they are planning on slowing, and they fly low like they are preparing to fight. I don’t like the look of this at all. The halfling glanced back toward the masked witch that had joined them just in time to see folds of shadow rippling up from the woman’s shadow. They formed a figure behind Drena, a shade with a short sword in its hand, a short sword that was thrusting at the base of Drena’s skull.

 

[Yakdog]

POW! Right to the moon!

Well, this could be an amusing piece of character development. Heh.

About the teleportation: no doubt! "Teleport over here! No, teleport over THERE! Oh, come on...you *probably* won't be torn into itty bitty pieces and scattered across the multiverse..." *sigh*

 

[Wraithdrit]

Big Fight Log 1

Tanerus screamed into Niame’s head, “Look out!” The witch started at the loud cry in her head, just enough to shift to one side. The sword skipped off her enchantments, but the shade was not done with her yet. The shade brought the sword back slicing along Drena’s neck. The blade cut deep, slicing through skin and muscle, but Drena twisted away, cursing in her native tongue, still very much alive.

One of the figures on the larger bats pulled his bat up early, while the other three lowered lances and swooped down towards the heroes. The one that had paused did not have a lance. He threw up his hands cast some sort of protective spell upon himself. His image seemed to blur, shifting this way and that making it hard to place his actual location.

Mytrym wasted no time. He loosed two arrows at one of the smaller bats. Its rider yanked on its reigns, pulling the bat over the second arrow. The first arrow sank into its feathers in the bat’s chest.

Bleeding badly from her shoulder, Drena stepped away from her assailant, grabbed Navarr and cast a quick spell. A bubble of energy rippled up around the two. When it drew back in on itself the pair were transported across the battlefield. They appeared behind the shade wizard. Drena growled at Navarr, “Kill him.”

The massive berserker lunged forward, the spell of flying sending him hurtling at his target. He slashed twice at the mage, catching him off guard from behind. The blade failed to cut the shade though, instead it just sliced through his robes and bounced off a tough enchantment on his skin.

Leaping up in the air, Tanerus zipped up across the battlefield, leading with his short sword. He whipped around behind one of the shades and slashed at him, cutting open a sizeable wound.

Back on the ground, Amador called upon the light of Corellon and sent it flying forward in a seering shaft at the shade that had attack Drena. The shade screamed, revealing that in all that darkness, a female shade was hidden. She twisted away from the strike and grabbed at a strand of shadow beneath her. Yanking it up over her head she stepped through, disappearing from her current location and appearing behind the elven cleric.

As she stepped out of the shadow, the shade assassin lashed out with her short sword, sinking into Amador’s back. He cried out and spun on her, blood spraying on the ruins around him.

Mytrym continued to loose arrows at the circling bats, but the riders were expecting it now and easily jockeyed mounts out of the way.

Behind the shade mage Drena unleashed a powerful spell. She screamed out, her falcon joining in her cry. The cry rippled forth then exploded in a sonic boom between the mage and one of his minions that had circled too close. Both bats and both shades were knocked around by the empowered spell, but none of them fell from it.

From the depths of the sonic boom streaked one of the two bats. Its rider leveled its lance on Mytrym at him. The paladin discarded his bow and drew his bastard sword. At the last moment he knocked the lance away, and as the shadovar warrior flew past Mytrym leveled the bastard sword and slashed it across the shade’s chest. As the blade flew at the shade, Mytrym summoned the power of his Mistress. The blade glowed brightly and the rippling image of the Lady Eilistraee seemed to superimpose over her paladin. The shades chest nearly exploded from the force of the attack. The momentum of the charge carried the horribly wounded soldier past his foe, red blood spraying back. The bat floundered from the shock of the strike then righted and began to fly back up and away. Mytrym glanced back as his foe flew on. He bled red. It was not a shade but a human. The shades had humans working for them. The paladin made a mental note to bring this up later.

Meanwhile the shade monk known as Delorian had been watching the battle from the back, having shadowstepped in, and waiting for his opportunity. He saw it when Captain Ferinal flew over his position. Pulling the shadows up, he stepped in, reappearing behind the captain on the bat. He reached for the release of Ferinal’s saddle tie-ins, but could not find them. Ferinal, feeling the arrival turned and growled, “Get down there and fight, damn it!”

Delorian finally wrapped his fingers on the cord and pulled, “You first!” He shoved the captain to the side, sending him crashing to the ground below.

Tanerus saw another opening as the shade mage turned on Navarr and Drena. He flew at the mage, blade first, sinking the blade into the dark mage’s flank. The blade did not sink nearly as far as Tanerus had hoped for, but it had hurt the mage. Black blood flowed down the blade.

The unengaged warrior spun his bat toward the flying halfling and charged. The bat whipped past, the lance smashing into Tanerus’ thigh. The point dug deep, ripping a nasty wound. To add insult to injury, the bat lashed out as it flew by and bit the small halfling in the shoulder. The bite was not severe, but the two attacks definitely shook the small battle-hardened adventurer.

Seeing that the new threat behind him was covered by one of his men, the shade wizard spun on Navarr and cast a spell at him. Drena recognized the spell as one that caused debilitating pain in its subject. While the flesh was never actually hurt, the pain was enough to render many incapable of moving for a time. The berserker felt pain shoot through him, but he shook the crippling spell off, ignoring it.

Back-peddling, Amador lashed out with his most damaging spell. A massive column of flame ripped up around the assassin. At the last second the assassin flipped backwards and took cover, the flames missed her completely. She quickly grabbed a strand of shadow from the wall and pulled it across her, disappearing completely from sight.

The bat and warrior that had wounded him was circling around for another strike, so Tanerus took the opportunity to turn back on the shade mage. Again he stabbed the mage in the back, his short sword penetrating past the mages protections.

Drena watched the battle unfold. She saw an opportunity, but knew that to make it work she would have to be very accurate. She cast a quick spell on her self to ensure her next strike would go true.

Navarr continued to try and kill the mage, but his protections were too much for the barbarian. To make matters worse, one of the shade’s minions flew in from the side, trying to pull Navarr off.

The shadow mage took the opportunity to spin on Tanerus. He narrowed his eyes on the halfling and growled out a spell. He pointed at Tanerus and called out, “Away with you, insect!” Tanerus cocked his head to one side, not really sure what to make of the shadow mage and his seemingly ineffectual spell. The he felt the cold form of his own shadow wrapping up around him. The last thing he saw before darkness completely enveloped him was the assassin once again appearing behind Drena, this time the assassin landed on the flying mage’s back, grabbing at her arms.

The shade captain stood and shook himself off. He whipped out a sword and wand and charged toward Amador. The elven cleric was not about to stick around and fight. He leapt up into the air, flying backwards and up away from the shade below him. Amador slipped his bow out and took a single ineffective shot at the captain.

The shade that Mytrym had wounded tried to recover. He grabbed a potion from his belt and downed it quickly. Mytrym was determined to finish him off though, his massive wings flipped out and he flew after the wounded warrior. He gained on the slower bat and slashed the warrior in the back. The warrior cried out, dropping his lance. He grabbed out his sword and tried to slash back at his assailant, but the monk Delorian appeared in front of him and smashed his fist into his sword hand. As the warrior cried out in pain and dropped the sword, Mytrym put his bastard sword through his back. The tip pushed through the front of his breastplate, and the warrior slumped over dead.

Mytrym spun back to see how the rest of the group was doing. His smile of triumph disappeared as he surveyed the fight. The witch was entangled with the shade assassin, her bodyguard was fighting the shade mage and one of his warriors, Tanerus was no were to be seen, and Amador was running from the last shade. Mytrym frowned and looked back at the mysterious shade that had just helped him dispatch his opponent. He did not know why the shade was helping them, but by the looks of things, they were going to need it.

 

[Wraithdrit]

The shade captain that Delorian had dumped on the ground watched in anger as his prey fled up into the air. He did not have to follow to attack though. Instead he pulled a wand from his belt and unleashed a ball of dark red fire into the air. It exploded around Amador, showering the ground below with bits of burning debris. The fiery explosion rocked Amador but with the aid of Drena’s flight spell dodged the majority of the blast.

Tanerus shifted his gaze around, trying to figure out what had happened to him. Everything around him was dark, like he was looking through some sort of dark smoke. The world around him continued to move, and the battle was raging on outside his shadowy little realm, but he knew that he was disconnected from the reality he normally lived in. He twisted around to glance behind him, only to see a dark shape zip to one side, ducking behind him.

The halfling spun back around, again he saw a dark shape behind him, but lost it when it spun as he did. It was quick, but he was smart, so he just looked over his shoulder without turning around. There standing behind was his own shadow, connected at his feet. Unlike his shadow in the real world, this one had teeth, and blazing red eyes. It lashed out at him, leaping forward. Tanerus screamed, ducking under the attack. The shadow flew over him, but when Tanerus turned to see where it was, there was nothing.

The halfling spun around several times, seeing nothing around but shadowy fog and the filmy vision of the battle long forgotten in the real world. Just as he began to relax an explosion rocked the real world and the light from it cast new shadows throughout the shadow realm around him. Tanerus bolted away from the creatures that formed in each shadow. He could tell that they sensed him. They sensed the light in him. They hated his light. They hated him and they wanted him dead.

Meanwhile, Drena was wrestling in midair with the assassin that had literally appeared on her back. She twisted this way and that, screaming for Navarr. The barbarian looked back, and growled in frustration. He did not want to leave the mage in front of him, but Drena was in trouble. The berserker flew toward his companion, but the two were fighting so close he could not get in but one good hit.

Sensing that she was going to have to get out of this herself, Drena decided to unleash her spell that would allow her to hit well. It cost her a good opportunity, but she had to stay alive to be of any help. The spell guided her hands and she easily twisted out from beneath the assassin and sent her sailing towards the ground below.

As one of his minions circled closer to protect him, the shade mage used the opportunity to summon a spectral hand, then turned to see who his next target would be. His thoughts were interrupted when the air around him and the other shadovar was ripped open in a vortex of holy energy. The mage shook his head, and turned to where the spell had come from, only to see Amador flying back behind some rubble.

As Drena arced around to one side, the assassin beneath her pulled a curtain of shadow over her, hiding from the witch’s view. Drena looked this way and that, frowning when she couldn’t see the assassin anymore. Her displeasure was interrupted when a dark ball of fire erupted around her. She spun to see the grounded shade captain, his wand still out, looking for more targets.

Tanerus never saw the assassin appear in the same realm as him. He was too busy fighting of the shadows. They seemed to be ripping at him, toying with him, tormenting him. He knew that light would not save him, light would only create more shadows. He had to find a place with no shadows. He had to get away from the shadows somehow. He screamed yet again. He never saw the small doorway that Delorian opened up in the shadowstuff. He never saw Delorain step through it, taking to two quick steps to propel himself through the shadows in a flash to a location in front of the shade captain. He did catch a glimpse of Delorian. He saw him rip open the shadow realm and step back into the real world. He could escape the shadows, but only if he mastered them first.

The shade captain fought off the monk as he appeared, but the monk was fast and was all over him. The captain had help still though, his shadow steed flew in behind Delorian and raked at the monk’s back, biting deep into him.

Navarr had followed Drena, but saw that the shadow mage was about to act again. He was not going to let that happen. He flew at him again, again his short sword bounced off the hardened magical protections the shade mage had enveloped himself in.

Drena saw the last bat rider angling toward Navarr. For a moment he and the captain would be lined up. She summoned the most powerful of her sonic explosions and screamed the spell at the two. It erupted, bleeding harmlessly of the resistances of the mage. His protector was not so lucky. The last bat rider disintegrated in the sound blast. He and his bat steed fell to the ground in a mangled hunk of bat and human flesh.

The shade mage spun on the berserker as the spell failed to harm him. He cast his hands toward the hulking human and tried to call forth the human’s shadow just as he had done to the halfling. Nothing happened, the berserker’s will too strong to succumb to such enchantments.

Amador surveyed the battlefield. The only thing he saw still standing was the shade mage that was fighting the barbarian and a pair of shades on the ground. The two shades were fighting, but they had arrived together. The elf was burnt, scraped, cut, and generally upset at the intrusion into Tethyamar so he unleashed on the two, not really seeming to care that one might be on his side. Blades streamed from his hands, slicing through the air, cutting deep through the two shades.

Mytrym landed and looked at the fight between the two shades. He was not sure what to do about them. His decision was made for him when a sharp blade stuck in his back. He spun to see the assassin dancing back, her blade dripping with his blood. He growled out a prayer to Eilistraee and stepped up. Slicing downward with his bastard sword he cut through the shades thick flowing robes. The light of his blade seemed to banish the darkness she embodied. With a scream the assassin fell dead at his feet.

Tanerus continued to fight to save himself and his sanity. The shadows would not let him be. They continued to harass and attack him. He knew for sure at any moment they would stop toying with him and destroy him. He had to find a way out. He just had to. He flew frantically about, hoping that one of the shades might open another doorway to the real world.

Delorian slammed his fist into the shade captain’s nose. The captain’s head whipped back and blood sprayed down. But the monk knew he would return the favor and was not about to stick around to fight the captain and his trained war steed on open ground. He leapt up and away, landing yards away, crouched with his cloak whipping around him.

Navarr continued to rain ineffective attacks on the mage. Though he was mostly unhurt, the mage was annoyed by the constant attacks, and knew his protections would eventually fail. Again his hands came up, and again the spell bled ineffectively off the berserkers intense willpower.

Drena had seen the shades bouncing around the battlefield. She was not going to let them all get away. Knowing the mage would probably resist such attempts, she turned and cast an anchoring spell on the grounded captain. Mystic chains grew from the ground, wrapping around the captain’s legs.

Mytrym spun from the dead assassin and flew up into the air. The shade mage was distracted. He never saw the paladin, nor his glowing blade. The blade sliced through the last of the mage’s protections, penetrated his heart, killing him instantly.

The shade captain looked down at the glowing chains that connected him to this plane of reality. He leapt up onto his mount and pulled up into the air. It was time to flee the battlefield and report the loss to his master.

Too bad Drena had other ideas. She focused her attention on the bat, its blood was obviously mixed with that of a fiend. She pulled open a small rift between planes beneath the bat and sent it back to its home realm. The dimensional anchor prevented the captain from going with his mount. Gravity took over from there. He plunged to the ground, landing for the second time atop rubble.

The heroes all converged on the downed captain. As he stood up, Delorian could see that he had ripped off his bracer. A tattoo, much like the one that Delorian had only with a different symbol on it, was glowing on the captain’s arm. He had contacted Hadrhune! All would be lost if Hadrhune’s reinforcements arrived before he could conceal what happened. He fled behind a wall and ripped off his own bracer, activating the call to his master, Clariburnus. “Fight going well, but one of them has called in reinforcements.”

The tattoo glowed, indicating the message had been sent. When there was no reply Delorian leapt back over the wall to join in the battle against the lone shade. He never made it into the fight.

A small shadow hole opened up over the battlefield. Tanerus fell from it, the spell keeping him in shadow finally having run its course. The halfling fled into a small pile of rubble, disappearing into his cloak to hide.

The heroes unleashed their abilities on the shade captain. Drena threw spells, Mytrym attacked, Delorian lashed out, but none of it was enough to take back the call the shade had already made.

Ripples of darkness spread from the air above and behind the captain. A shade appeared that darkened the very sky with his presence. He carried a massive carved staff in his hand. He waved the staff toward the fight and bellowed out, “Cease!”

Drena was suitable impressed with the appearance and decided staying around was not in her best interest. She cast a spell that created a small pocket dimension to hide in. She scampered up into it, grabbing the shade mage’s body as she disappeared. Navarr followed her.

The shade laughed out loud and looked around. The captain called to his master, “Master Hadrhune, Delorian has betrayed us!” The new arrival narrowed his eyes and looked for the traitor.

Amador saw his chance. The things were from another plane, so why not send them back. He held a hand out at the new arrival, “Back where you came from!” He flew back as the spell flew out towards the shade. It bled harmlessly off around the shade, causing a soft curse to come from the elf.

The shade did not seem amused. He turned one hand toward Amador and spoke the ancient Netherese word for ‘Stun’. Amador’s muscles locked and he noise-dived into the rubble below.

The air once again rippled with darkness as another shade stepped into view. Clariburnus had his long guisarme in his hands, his robes flowing back behind him. “Cease Chamberlain!”

Hadrhune was not happy. “You are out of line, young prince. This is Empire business! Your father will not be happy.”

“We can take that up with him. These people are none of our concern, recall your troops, or what is left of them.” Clariburnus looked over as Delorian appeared from within the shadows beside him. “This one is only following my orders.”

“He raised his hand against the Empire,” bellowed the chamberlain. “He is banished from the realm!”

Delorian gasped and fell to his knees. “No!”

Clariburnus put one hand on the monk’s shoulder, “Easy lad. We will sort this out.” He turned back to Hadrhune. “Very well. Since you order it, it is done, for now. We will discuss this with my father. This was my concern, and my endeavor. You should have stayed out of it.”

Hadrhune threw his head back and laughed. “You are out of your league. Your father will have your head for this.”

Clariburnus growled, “We shall see. Return to the Empire. NOW!”

Hadrhune bowed, “Yes, my Prince.” The sarcasm in the chamberlain’s voice was obvious, but Clariburnus ignored it. Hadrhune easily dispelled the chains binding the captain to this realm, grabbed up the man, and teleported away.

Clariburnus turned toward Delorian, “This changes nothing. I will convince my father to lift the banishment, don’t worry. Continue your mission and I will be in touch soon.”

Delorian nodded, still stunned from the events, “Yes, my Prince.” He swallowed looked off to the west. He could not see the city he had been born in, the city that floated above the desert sands. He knew it was there though, and he knew that he would very much like to return to his home one day. He also knew that the only way for that to happen would be for him to succeed in the quest Clariburnus had set out for him. Only then could he prove his worth to the Empire of Shadows.

 

[Gilgalad]

Of the birth of Delorian

I have to say that Delorian is shaping up to be THE most fun character I’ve ever run. I’m just now starting to get into the character’s persona I guess you’d say, and I’m sure it will take me a few sessions to find his true personality, but good lord what potential. There is so much depth in this character, so many possibilities for background information and development, that I’m almost overwhelmed with where to start and in what direction I want to take him.

First things first. I see Delorian as a being totally faithful to the City of Shade and to Clariburnss, and doing what he’s been asked to do because he truly sees it in the best interest of his homeland. I see him viewing the party as a means of bolstering his own homelands defensive capabilities, either through trade and allegiance or perhaps simply through the wonton use and abuse of the party and dwarves of Tethyamar to serve whatever need may be, as long as it serves the Empire. As for his support of the party and their tasks, I see him as truly wanting them to succeed in their venture, and I see him being willing to take great risks on their behalf, again, because he believes their success to be directly tied to the well being of his own homeland.

Anyway, I only hope I can do this character justice, and make him read as well and as fun as he is to play. Monks are already known for their incredible mobility and versatility. Add to that the abilities of a Shade, and you have perhaps the most mobile character that can be developed. I won’t go into details here, but if interested, read up on the Shade, and then fold into it a Monk. Good lord ! A true Deep Strike Specialist is borne.

 

[Wraithdrit]

Delorian looked at the sand blowing around his knees. He was kneeling on the hard packed dirt of the ruins of Tethyamar. The battle was over, and so was his life as he knew it. Perhaps Clariburnus could make things right. Perhaps.

A thump sounded beside him as a winged man landed a few feet away. The man was dressed in plate armor. As he reached up and pulled his helmet off, the wings slowly folded back against his back and turned into a long flowing cloak. When he pulled the helmet off long silvery white hair spilled out of the helmet, framing a dusky colored face with bizarre features. His eyes, eyebrows and ears hinted at elven heritage and his skin color hinted at perhaps drow heritage. What was most striking was the golden glowing color of his eyes. Was this man an Aasimar? Delorian had heard of them, but never seen one. “What’s your name?” asked the armored figure, tucking his helmet under one arm. His thick-bladed sword was still out, gleaming with an almost imperceptible light that traveled up and down an obviously enchanted blade.

Delorian swallowed and stood. He bowed his head then straightened, “Delorian.” The monk glanced around. From a pile of rubble to one side the halfling Clariburnus had told him was called Tanerus poked his head out of a hiding spot. The halfling glanced this way and that, making sure everything was finally safe. He turned his gaze back to the unknown armored man in front of him, “And you?”

“I am called Mytrym. Thanks for your aid, though I don’t quite know why you were fighting your own kind.” He stopped speaking when Tanerus walked up.

The halfling looked Delorian up and down and said, “Why did you help us? No… wait. Why did they attack us? We had a deal with Clariburnus.”

Delorian nodded, “Aye, a deal not shared by all within the Empire.” Delorian was not sure how much these people knew and he was not about to give away too much. From above the battlefield a rope appeared, dangling from a small glowing portal. The witch and her barbarian bodyguard slid down the rope and landed amongst the rubble. They began piling up the corpses of the fallen enemies.

Mytrym turned and walked over to check on the elven cleric that Delorian knew was called Amador. The elf sat up and shook his head, bits of rock and dust shaking from his hair. “Damn, that hurt.” The elf allowed Mytrym to help him up then the two turned and walked back to the conversation.

With a woosh the witch lit the pile of corpses afire. Delorian frowned, “Strange custom.”

The witch held up a finger. Delorian recognized the color of the skin. It must have been from one of his ‘companions’. The witch sounded like she was smiling behind the mask, “It only takes this much to bring one back, I like to make sure my enemies don’t take revenge on me.”

Tanerus piped up, “So why did you help us then?” He was fidgeting, hopping from one leg to another, finding it hard to stay still.

Delorian sighed, “Clariburnus knew that there would those that wanted to make sure you failed in your tasks, so he sent me to aid you. And now it seems that I am stuck out here.”

The witch sighed, “What task?” Everyone turned to her and she explained, “Look, I’m looking for Lurkhaus. You people claim you killed him, but there is no body. Now something is going on here. Something Lurkhaus was connected to. I want to know what it is.”

Delorian frowned, “Who are you?” He pointed to the halfling and the elf, “These two Clariburnus told me about, but not you,” he pointed at the witch and her companion, “or you,” he pointed at Mytrym.

Mytrym frowned, “I told you who I am. I’m with them.” He pointed at Tanerus and Amador.

The witch sighed, “I’m Drena, and this is Navarr. We are looking for a Red Wizard of Thay. Look, I know that Lurkhaus had some sort of deal going with someone, but I don’t know what, and its my task to stop it from happening.”

Delorian nodded, “Well I can not go back, so if you would have me I would venture into the Underdark with you.”

That comment got Amador’s attention, “You know much of our quest then.”

Drena shook her head, “Wait a minute, the Underdark, what is point you toward the Underdark?”

Tanerus grinned, “Well we found this big door, and well on the otherside, Underdark… so you know.” He shrugged a bit.

Drena looked shocked, “So you just plan on wandering around the Underdark. Are you looking for something in particular? Or just wanting to run into drow for fun?”

Navarr looked around the ruins, eyes narrowed, as if drow would materialize around them at any minute. He growled low, “Drow.”

Tanerus shook his head at Navarr, “Not here, five thousand meters underground.” Delorian assumed the halfling was known for exaggerations.

Navarr looked at the ground beneath his feet then looked at Amador and whispered, “Is five thousand meters far?”

Amador smirked and nodded, “Yeah, don’t worry about it.” The barbarian nodded and seemed to relax.

Tanerus chuckled, “Of course we have a reason to go down there. We are looking for something.”

Drena sighed, “Something? Care to be more specific?”

Tanerus shook his head, “No. Why should I? We don’t know you?”

Navarr shrugged, “We helped you in the fight. Besides if this thing is magic it could be what the Red Wizard seeks.”

Drena nodded, “Look, I know that Lurkhaus had some sort of deal going with drow. Maybe I can go with you, will probably lead me to the Red Wizard.”

Tanerus frowned, “Perhaps… we should go talk to Gregor and Will.”

The group started walking toward the fortress. After a few steps the halfling’s voice interrupted his thoughts. Somehow the halfling was speaking telepathically to him. “Clariburnus and I had a deal… I have information for him...” The halfling filled Delorian in on the groups progress then added, “Now I have given you what Clariburnus asked for… I want what is mine.”

Delorian answered back in his mind, “I have what you need, but we should wait till we are in private. And you need to make sure the group allows me to travel along.”

Amador looked over at the pair. Delorian thought he saw a look of suspicion as the elf glanced between him and Tanerus. “So, uh… who was that big shade that showed up anyways?” asked Amador.

Tanerus frowned. “I don’t know, I missed most of the fight.” He quickly added, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Delorian sighed softly, “That was the High Prince’s chamberlain.”

“Halibert, Harfinar… or something. It started with an ‘H’,” added Tanerus.

Delorian smirked, “Hadrhune.” He glanced up when he saw the fortress they had finally arrived at. As the portcullis lifted they walked through into the caverns beyond.


Inside Will, Gregor, and Serin met the group. Introductions and explanations were made, and soon the group got down to business. Will started, “Serin has brought us some important news.”

The woman stepped forward and nodded, “The militia managed to track the drow that attacked the city back to a set of ancient crypts south of town. Its an area that is supposedly haunted.”

Will nodded, “This means there are multiple entrances to the Underdark in the area. Whats more, we know that the drow are coming west from the east. All the information we have points to a drow city somewhere off to the east in the Underdark. That means this crypt entrance is closer to the final destination of the raiding parties and thus the collector.”

Gregor nodded, “Will and I talked. We decided that the drow threat is far more important than finishing clearing the Aerie.”

“So the plan is for me to use teleport spells I have scribed onto scroll to get you guys close to the crypts. Then you can hit the Underdark and keep after the collector. Hopefully you can catch whomever it is off guard.” Will tapped a pair of scrolls tucked into his belt. “Just let me know when you want to go.”

Tanerus looked to everyone else, then over to Delorian. “How about tomorrow?” Everyone agreed and the group retired for the night.

***

Tanerus looked at the small vial in his hands. Delorian had delivered it just as he had promised, but had also warned Tanerus to be sure he knew what he was getting into. Tanerus frowned and shook his head. He knew what he wanted. Perhaps Delorian did not like the idea of another person able to manipulate shadows around.

When he popped the cork, Tanerus was surprised to see the liquid inside flow up out of the vial as if now more of a gas than a liquid. The glow red eyes that appeared in the middle of the inky darkness startled the halfling. It was a shadow, just like the ones that had tormented him on the Plane of Shadow. The halfling scrambled back, but the shadow followed, flowing up to in front of him.

“Well, well, a halfling, how interesting.” The shadow grinned, its sharp teeth gleamed in the relative darkness of the small room. “I’m going to enjoy this.” The shadow slid to one side and looked Tanerus up and down.

“Lets get this over with.” Tanerus licked his suddenly try lips.

“Over with? Why, we have only just begun… you and I will get to know each other real well, little halfling. After all, I go wherever you go.” The shadow’s smile made Tanerus’ heart nearly skip a beat.

The halfling whispered softly, “What do you mean, you go where I go?” He was afraid he already knew the answer.

The shadow cackled, “I’m your shadow!” With that it threw itself at Tanerus. The halfling screamed and threw up his arms, trying to protect himself. The shadow passed straight through him. The cold that flowed through Tanerus reminded him of the chills that sickness brought on. It numbed him to the very bone.

He whimpered and looked back. The shadow was behind him. It slid up along his own shadow and then flowed over it, becoming one with his own shadow. The darkness slid down his own shadow till he felt the cold of the shadow’s touch joining at his feet. He started when the shadow’s eyes snapped back open, staring at him.

“I’ll be here forever. Someday I’ll let you see into the shadow realm, the true realm. But till then I’ll watch you, be with you, and show you what it will be like for you in shadows.”

The halfling threw himself into bed and yanked the covers over his head. “Oh gods, this isn’t happening.”

“Oh yes… yes it is…”

***

The teleportation made Amador sick to his stomach. He shook it off fairly quickly though. The entire group was soon assembled and moving toward the hill that hid the ancient crypts they were going to check out. The holy symbol he wore about his neck felt heavier and heavier, the closer they got to the crypts. Finally they rounded a bend and the elf reached up and touched the holy symbol gently, muttering a soft prayer of thanks to his god. He was one step closer to the vengeance he sought.

The crypts were nothing more than a single pair of standing mausoleums right in front of a door built into the hillside. On the either side of the hill door stood two columns depicting armored skeletal warriors. Myrtym knelt near the ground and frowned. “Tracks lead in and out of the hill door.”

Navarr growled, “Then we go there.”

Mytrym looked up at the headstrong berserker, “Not so fast. There are more tracks, coming in and out of there.” He pointed at one of the two mausoleums.

Amador turned to where Mytrym was pointing and frowned. The doors had a thick seal of plaster around them. “Mytrym, that’s impossible. Those doors are sealed. That plaster is ancient.”

Mytrym nodded, “I know. The tracks start right outside the door. As if something appears and then walks away.”

Amador looked back at the door still frowning, “Appears?” He did not like the sound of that. He could feel the taint of death, or perhaps undeath, that hung in the area. He only knew of one type of undead that walked on the ground but also could disappear. Vampires. Wraiths and ghosts never walked, just floated. Ghasts, ghouls and other sorts of corporeal undead all lacked the ability to fly or disappear like this.

Navarr growled, “The way ahead is clear. These ancient crypts are not our concern.” The group generally agreed and the moved toward the large door into the hillside. Tanerus kneeled down began to examine the door. Finally he stood and pulled on the handles, certain the door was not trapped.

Nothing happened. Or more accurately, the halfling pulled and the doors held tight. A soft rattle could be heard. The doors were chained on the other side. Everyone turned to look at Delorian.

The shade frowned. “We have no idea what is in there…”

Myrtrym strode up and smiled, “Here, allow me.” He took hold of the doors and pulled hard. The chain held. The paladin braced himself and pulled even harder. The ancient metal handle snapped from the moorings in the door, sending the paladin sprawling backwards. Amador shook his head and chuckled gently.

Delorian shrugged, “I guess I have no choice.” He reached down and pulled either side of his shadow up, just like he was pulling a dark cloth over his head. It enveloped him then fluttered to the ground before disappearing completely.

Amador looked at the others in the group. They all waited patiently. Tanerus got that far off look in his eyes. He must be talking telepathically to Delorian, Amador thought. His suspicions were confirmed momentarily.

“He says that the chain has a lock… by the sounds of it a fairly sturdy one.” Tanerus talked in a detached tone.

Drena frowned, “How are you talking to him?”

Tanerus looked up and her, “I’m a ghostwise.”

“This means nothing to me,” growled the witch.

“Telepathy.”

“Oh, well then… have him return.” The witch pulled a small gem from one pouch. “He can open the lock with this.”

Tanerus frowned, “How?”

“Just tell him to come back.” Amador smirked. Drena never seemed to like to explain herself.

When Delorian reappeared he turned to Drena and held out a hand. “How will this help?” He examined the gem after she passed it to him.

Drena sighed and said, “It enchanted. You set it on the ground and it will shatter and open the nearest lock.”

The shade nodded sagely, “I see… alright then.” He then shadow-stepped back through the doorway. A few moments later the doors swung open. Amador was surprised to see that laying in the hallway beyond the door was a group of dead drow. They all wore black tabards, but had otherwise been stripped of arms and armor.

As the group fanned out forward along the hall and into a side crypt by the bodies, Amador kneeled down to check the bodies. Mytrym knelt down beside him. The paladin looked to Amador and noted, “Looks like quite a fight… blade wounds, scorch marks, claw marks… what didn’t they fight?”

Amador smirked, “Us. Beyond that, I couldn’t begin to tell.” He stood and wiped his hands on top of his pants. “We should move on. There may be more were these came from.” Amador sure hoped so. He gripped the hilt of his sword tight. Soon he would get to strike back at his hated enemy.

He heard Mytrym say, “Take this Tanerus, wear it. I will be able to better protect you.” The paladin said a prayer over a pair of rings, handing one to the halfling. Amador recognizes the prayer as one that would cause the paladin to share in the wounds that Tanerus might receive. Certainly the paladin good weather the damage better than the small halfling.

The group came around a corner, to find a door on one side of the hall. The corridor continued past another door on the other side of the hall, then eventually down a pair of steps. By the time Amador rounded the corner and took everything in, Tanerus was already kneeling at the first door. He stood up after a few moments of examining the door. “Looks safe to me.” He tugged on the door and it opened easily.

A flash of bright light illuminated the halfling’s features. They turned from resolution to fear and the halfling scrambled back. Amador released the hilt of his still sheathed sword and quickly pulled his bow up. A massive golden glowing lion, at least ten feet long, sprang out at Tanerus, ripping at the small halfling. Amador heard Mytrym grunt in pain, but the paladin seemed unhindered by the wounds that ripped open along his chest.

Amador loosed two arrows at the massive lion, but both of the arrows barely managed to pierce the glowing hide of the mystical lions. The cleric cursed softly. A second lion burst from the room, turned the corner and raced at the rest of the party. Mytrym stepped up to intercept the large cat. It flung itself at him, but its claws raked harmlessly against his armor.

Tanerus managed to scramble out from beneath the lion that had pinned him down. Once free the halfling vaulted into the air, landed in a roll and slid easily past the second lion to the relative safety of the back of the group. Amador had seen elven acrobats that could not move like that halfling managed to move.

Mytrym shoved the lion on him back with his shield and lashed out with his sword. The blade cut deep, into the joint of the lions left forward shoulder. It severed muscle and cut into bone, crippling the mighty beast.

Delorian appeared beside the lion that had attacked Tanerus. He slammed his fist into the beast’s flank. The beast’s hide was tough, but he could tell that he was hurting it some, for the beast howled and turned toward him.

Navarr stepped in beside Delorian. He was holding a long sword that glowed with a soft bluish light. He stabbed the sword into the beast, slicing through its hide as if it were not even there. The beast howled and tried to lash out at the barbarian, raking its claws across Navarr’s shoulders.

Drena stepped to behind Navarr and muttered a soft spell. Energy coursed through Navarr’s form, giving him a burst of extra speed and agility.

Amador realized that these beasts were magically summoned by whatever that flash he had seen was. He knew then he could send them back to wherever they had come from. He focused on the closest lion and muttered his prayers. A golden sparkle of energy arced toward the lion, but its natural resistances to magic shattered the arcing beam into a million minor harmless rays.

The lion on Navarr continued to tear into him. It grabbed a hold of him and raked again and again with its claws, cutting huge rips out the barbarian’s muscular chest. Its companion was attempting to do the same to Mytrym with only mild success.

Flipping back to between the lions, Tanerus barely avoided the swipe of one of the lion’s claws while he was distracted. He regained his footing and struck back, leaping on the back of the lion on Mytrym. His blade sunk deep between the wounded lion’s shoulder blades.

Myrtym and Delorian continued to slice and pummel beasts as well, weakening them further. Finally a flurry of small glowing orbs flew past Amador. He watched them slam into one lion. The beast disappeared in a flash of magical light.

Navarr still struggled with the beast he faced. Amador saw Tanerus slide in and knew the fight would soon be over. Tanerus did not disappoint. He slid up under the beast, stabbing deep into its chest and ripping backwards. As he rolled away, the cut grew even deeper, till the best also disappeared in a shower of light.

 

[Wraithdrit]

The group quickly collected together and assessed the damage the celestial dire lions had caused. The beast were amazingly tough, and had done considerable damage, but it was nothing that few potions, cure spells, and laying on of hands could not patch up. The room beyond the glyph was a tomb, holding several sarcophagi.

Drena started to step into the room. “Should we see whats in them?”

Amador shook his head, “No. Do not disturb the rest of the dead.”

Drena seemed taken aback. “These are not elves…” The elven cleric did not seem phased by the revelation. “Look, the glyph was to guard something. We don’t know who is buried here, why, or who put the glyph there.”

Amador seemed unwilling to budge, “We shall not disturb the dead.” He dropped one hand to the hilt of his sword. “I will have words with any who would.”

Navarr was quick to step in front of Drena. He frowned, thrusting one hand out toward Amador. “This is no reason to fight.” The barbarian looked back at Drena. The witch sighed behind her mask.

“Fine. We move on.” She stomped past muttering under breath about wanting to get answers, not disturb the dead.


Tanerus watched the exchange, shaking his head. He slipped into the room and search around to make sure there were no secret exits. Careful not to touch the sarcophagi, he soon emerged. “Nothing in there but the dead. The sarcophagi all look sealed up.”

The group passed the second door after Tanerus declared that it was still sealed as well. As the halfling proceeded past the group, his shadow shifted to whisper in his ear, “See, here we go again, to the front. You do all the work around here, and for what? A cut of nonexistent treasure? Gratitude? Ha. Pathetic. They use you Tanerus. They use your talents and could care less about you.”

The halfling hissed, “Shut up.”

Mytrym looked over as Tanerus passed. “Hmm?”

Tanerus stopped and looked over at the paladin and swallowed, “Uh, I said ‘Step up.’ It’s the ghostwise term for taking the lead.” He turned and walked off.

Mytrym watched him go, frowning. He was starting to sense something wrong with the halfling, but he could not really place it.

The passage soon led them down a staircase and into a natural cavern. The worked portion of the crypts behind them, the graves here were more carved niches in the wall that the ancient builders of this crypt had just set bodies in. In the middle of the first cavern stood a large alien looking statue. Amador looked at the statue and concluded, “It’s a deity depiction, but I can’t tell you which one. None that I have ever heard of.”

Tanerus searched the statue, found it to be harmless and useless, so the group moved on. The cavern narrowed and turned a sharp corner. As Tanerus rounded the corner, his thoughts wandered over the past few days. How the group had changed. Not that the group had been all that long in traveling together to begin with.

He glanced around to make sure that there were no hidden traps to impede their progress. When the sticky tendrils erupted from the shadows ahead of him, the halfling screamed and threw himself to one side. He had not been fast enough to get out of the reach of the tentacles, and two slapped against his arm, wrapping around him and yanking him forward. The mere touch of the slime covered tentacles stung like mad.

The halfling shuddered and felt his muscles go slack as the tentacle wielding chunk of rock pulled him in. He saw the rock split, revealing a mouth of sharp teeth. Luckily it turned him as it pulled him to bite him. He really did not want to watch himself being devoured.

From place within the writhing tentacles, the creature biting into his thigh he could see the others racing around the corner to aid him. Mytrym led the charge, of course, his sword charged with the glowing energy of the paladin’s holy might. Drena stepped in next, stopping to conjure a bolt of acid that slammed into the creature well above where Tanerus was being mauled. Delorian rolled in next, kicking up to vault from wall and slam into the creature with one foot. Navarr followed the monk in, the sword he had used in the last encounter out, glowing bright, slicing upward at the roper. Amador brought up the rear, stopping next to Drena to cast a bolt of searing light at the beast. The ray sliced through the air, but went wide to one side of the creature.

The roper was not unprepared for the onslaught. All but the two tentacles that held Tanerus lashed out as the group charged forward. Two whipped into Mytrym, but the paladin seemed unphased. Navarr was not so lucky. A tentacle slammed into him and the barbarian growled in pain, his strength sapping away.

Mytrym sliced one of the two tentacles on him away with a quick slice of his blade, but it was not enough to keep the creature from yanking him in. It pulled Tanerus aside, dangling the helpless halfling off to one side so it could chew on the armor-encased paladin. A tentacle lashed out at Delorian, but the monk was far too fast, the tentacle slammed into the rock behind him. The monk spun and slammed his fist into the creature’s side, feeling the rocky hide buckle beneath his blow. Amador pulled up his bow and fired off a pair of arrows, but they too sailed wide of the creature.

Mytrym again sliced with his sword, this time slicing clean the other tentacle. Freed he backed a step or two from the mouth and prepared to reengage the creature.

All the while the acid from Drena’s spell burned into the creature. It was not long before the combined attacks of the heroes made the creature release Tanerus. Delorian slammed his fist into the creature twice more and finally the beast breathed out a sigh and collapsed, dead.

Tanerus moaned softly as Amador rolled him to laying face up. He prayed to his elven god and layed his hands on the halfling. Color returned to Tanerus’ face and the halfling sat up. Navarr also looked bad. His sword was only barely clasped in his hands. Amador whispered another prayer and it eased the pain enough that Navarr was able to walk. The barbarian was no where near his full strength, but at least he was able to get around and would not be useless in a fight.

“Those are all the restorative spells I have… I can fully cure your strengths in the morning.” The elf looked a bit worried, but Tanerus waved him off.

“I’ll be fine, lets keep going.” Tanerus picked up his short sword and stepped back to the lead of the party.

The light from the party cast the halfling’s shadow ahead of him. The shadow grinned and whispered, “See, even drained of your strength, they expect you to lead. They use you Tanerus, get used to it.”

The halfling smirked and pointed his hooded lantern at the shadow. “Shut up.” He opened the shutter and light poured out of the lamp, forcing the shadow to behind the halfling. Chuckling, Tanerus continued forward.

 

[Wraithdrit]

Forgotten Post

Hey all. I wanted to correct an error that somehow occured in not this last post but the one before it. Somehow I managed to get only the second half of the post originally. I edited the beginning half into place.

There was some significant stuff going on between the end of the fight and when Tanerus opens the vial and I don't know how it got missed. If you follow my website, you got it all in the right order.

Now this site should be correct as well. Sorry for the mistake and thanks to Tanerus' player for letting me know about the error.

- Wraith

 

[Wraithdrit]

Mytrym smiled as he watched the little halfling move forward into the darkness. He admired the bravery the little scout had. Sure his motives seemed suspect now and then, but in general the little guy was all right, and he was one heck of a scout.

The paladin glanced over the rest of the party. Amador he knew well enough, but the rest he just was not very sure about. The witch and her berserker companion seemed only interested in the Red Wizard named Lurkhaus. That left the shade Delorian. Mytrym watched the shade pick his way slowly and deliberately along the cavern. He seemed to almost disappear amongst the shadows, something that was certainly not outside his realm of capability. But each time he thought the shade had stepped back to his home plane the monk would appear again and slip into the next shady bit of darkness he found.

Even the drow that Mytrym grew up with did not use darkness the way the shade did. The paladin wondered for a moment whether the shade was truly on their side, or was the whole battle before just some sort of ruse to gain their trust. The thought amused Mytrym, that was drow thinking. In the drow cities everything was a conspiracy intended to better only those directly involved in the hatching of the plan.

Tanerus called softly back, “Something up here.” The group gathered and the halfling showed them how his hand could pass directly through the wall. He slipped through the illusion and quickly called back, “On me! To arms!”

Mytrym already had his sword out and was plunging through the illusion the moment Tanerus cried out. He saw that there was a pair of massive spider like creatures in the cavern beyond. As he entered he saw Tanerus tumble up beneath of the creatures. He slammed his small sword up into the creatures soft underside, but his sword was turned by the thick hide that protected the beast.

Realizing that this fight would probably not be easy, the paladin quickly quaffed a healing potion. He would be no use to anyone dead.

The berserker, Navarr, ran out past Mytrym and sliced at the first of the spider creatures. His sword bounced harmlessly off a piece of armored chitin. Behind the first spider creature, the second spider like beast reared up onto its hind pairs of legs and spat forth webbing. The thicky substance laced across the entrance of the cavern, covering it in sticky strands. Navarr cried out as the strands laced over him as well. He was stuck tight. Mytrym managed duck down and to one side, the webbing surrounded him, but did not catch him.

Amador moved in through the illusion and into the back of the webbing. Frowning he tried to see through the web. Delorian stepped up beside the cleric, nodded then pulled his shadow up across him, stepping through the dark doorway it created.

Ahead Mytrym could hear the creatures closing on the web. Navarr screamed out in pain, then a massive column of holy fire that cascaded over the two creatures lit the entire cavern. Mytrym looked back to see Amador lowering his hands, satisfied with his spell’s results.

Drena stepped up beside the cleric and lowered one hand and pointed to the back of the cavern. Ignoring Delorian’s presence in the area, Drena released a scream and a small pulse of sound arced forward to explode in the cavern. The roar of sound was incredible. The creatures screamed and scittered about in pain. Drena frowned, “Bebilith demons… spider like demons, very hard to hurt and very dangerous.”

Tanerus backed toward the web and away from demons. He pulled out his wand, fumbled with it, but could not get the magic item to do anything.

Mytrym knew he could not get out of the webs, so he pulled his bow out and loosed a pair of arrows toward the closest demon. The arrows caught in the web halfway there.

Amador nodded to Drena’s description then commented, “They did not seem to like the flames the first time, so…” He called forth to Corellian and once again flames erupted in a column around the demons. They cried out again, writhing in pain.

Mytrym could not see the fight well from within the webs, but he heard Navarr cry out in pain again. Another ball of sound rippled forth and exploded around the demons. The webs whipped about in the explosion, then settled again. The demons did not get back. Bits of their hard-shelled bodies was stuck the web here and there. Mytrym looked back and nodded, “Good work.”

Navarr coughed up ahead. Good, Mytrym thought, he made it. The paladin was able to push backwards through the web and pull back to the corridor. Delorian stepped out of a shadow and joined Drena, Amador and Mytrym there. Delorian frowned, “I couldn’t hurt them, the shells were too hard.”

Mytrym shook his head, “I couldn’t get to them, much less see them. If it hadn’t been for these too being able to lob spells from back here, that could have gone very badly.”

Amador smiled and shrugged, “We try.”

Drena shook her head smirking. “Bebilith’s are large, but minor demons in the grand scheme of things. They are not even considered Tanari.”

Mytrym nodded, he knew a bit about the outer planes, and her explanation made sense. “Well do you think we should just rest till the webbing fails or try to rip through it.”

From the other side of the web Tanerus called, “Uh, guys?”

Mytrym called back, “Yeah Tanerus?”

“Navarr doesn’t look so good.” Mytrym looked to Delorian, who nodded and stepped through a shadow to the other side. Mytrym, Amador and Drena began to try and rip through the webbing. Tanerus continued, a bit more frantic, “He’s going into convulsions.”

Amador cursed in elven and added, “Poison.”

Mytrym was making a quick swathe through the tough webbing, the other two behind him. When he finally broke loose to the other side he saw that Delorian and Tanerus had freed Navarr of the webbing and laid him on the ground. Blood had run from his ears, mouth, nose and eyes. His bloodshot eyes stared at the ceiling of the cavern.

Tanerus sniffed and wiped the back of his arm across his nose. He muttered, “Nothing we could do.”

Amador dropped down to beside the dead berserker. “I … I couldn’t have stopped the poison had been here.” He looked back at Drena, “I don’t have that spell ready…” He swallowed and looked back at the berserker’s corpse. “I can raise him tomorrow…”

Drena stepped forward quickly, “No! I will return him to his homeland.”

Tanerus blinked, “What? What about the wizard? What about helping us?”

Drena narrowed her eyes, and spoke softly through the mask. “To Hades with the damn wizard.”

 

[Wraithdrit]

Above the Crypts, South of Dagger Falls
Marpenoth 3, 1372
Just Before Dawn

Mytrym walked slowly around, mainly keeping an eye on the crypts in the distance. He scanned the edge of the woods nearby not and then, but somehow never saw the strange looking creature till it was nearly twenty feet from him. He started and drew his sword calling out, “Arise!”

His companions began springing up from their bedrolls, most slept with a weapon either in hand or at least very close. They all turned to look at the strange being that had walked into their camp.

A small mangy wolf like dog crouched beside his leg, the creature looked like a hairless humanoid. Its head was large; its eyes large even for its head, and its limps where longer than normal. It wore serviceable outdoor clothes, a strange harness of daggers, and had a massive cloak draped over its shoulders. “Put-ck away your weapons. I mean you no harm-ck.”

Mytrym took a couple steps closer, “Who are you?”

Amador frowned from behind the paladin and muttered to the others, “Or what?”

The creature nodded its head, “I am tck-called Plickit. Plickit Ka. I wish you no ham-ck. I have been sent-ck by Randal Morn.” Every now and then its speech seemed to be interrupted by a weird clicking noise in the creatures throat. It drew forth a small bound note and tossed it forward toward the party. Tanerus caught the note, opened it and read it.

“Its true. Morn sent him to aid us against the drow. Why were you asked to help us?” The halfling eyed the strange creature.

“You fight-ck the elves of the dar-tck-kness. I am good at-ck hunt-ck-ing elveses.” The creature cocked its head to the side at a weird angle. “Where is your friend-ck?”

The heroes looked around and realized that Delorian had shadow stepped to behind the creature. Amador nodded over the creatures shoulder, “Behind you.” Plickit’s head rotate all the way around on its shoulders, looking straight back at the shade.

Delorian frowned, “Move into the fire’s light.” As the two stepped further into the light Delorian asked Tanerus, “Why should we trust this Morn?”

Tanerus frowned, “Morn is our ally. I trust him.”

Amador nodded, “More than we trust you…”

Tanerus looked at Amador and shook his head, “Delorian has Clariburnus’ backing. That’s good enough for me.” The shade and the halfling exchanged a look, then everyone turned back to Plickit.

Amador asked louder, “What are you?”

Plickit cocked its head at Amador then began to shift in form. The whole group tensed, what they saw when the shift ended did not really allow for much of a relaxing of their guard. In the place of a strange looking humanoid stood a six foot tall mantis. Four arms ended in hands, the clothing mostly disappeared, replaced with hide like armor and a large bandoleer of strange wedge shaped weapons.

Delorian growled, “A thri-kreen… your friend Morn has sent you a slave.”

Plickit turned to look at Delorian and corrected him after a loud click, “The shades may enslave my people, but I am not-ck a slave.”

Amador was not much happier, “Thri-kreen eat elves.”

Plickit turned to the elf, “I will not-ck eat-ck you. I am sent-ck to help you.”

Tanerus grinned, “The drow?”

Plickit shrugged, “Them I will eat-ck.”

Mytrym shook his head, “I’m not to sure about this… but if you guys say you trust this Morn fellow, then I’ll give him the chance to prove it.”

Delorian remained quiet, but was obviously not happy with the situation.

It was soon time to break camp, and the group of five entered back into the crypts. Tanerus lead the way, followed shortly by the Thri-kreen. Mytrym was a ways behind Plickit and was followed shortly thereafter by Amador and Delorian. On the way into the crypt, Plickit moved up to Mytrym his animal companion with him. Plickit pointed at the paladin and clicked out several strange noises.

The desert jackal seemed to understand, and fell into step beside Mytrym. Plickit looked at the paladin. “You are tck-guarded-ck.”

Myrytrm cocked an eyebrow then shrugged and watched the mantis warrior follow Tanerus into the crypts.

Eventually the group returned to where they had fought the demonic spider creatures. They quickly found the next illusionary wall and Tanerus glanced through. He pulled back after a few seconds and reported, “A drow woman, weeping on the other side of the room. I don’t trust it at all.” He pulled his hood and melded with the stone behind him. Plickit moved to the opposite wall, his shell and armor seemed to begin to take on the hue of the wall behind him.

The two slipped through the opening and were quickly followed by the others. Mytrym stepped through and raised one hand, “She is evil.”

The cavern exploded in action. The drow woman pulled a hidden wand and rapier from behind her. She leveled the wand and several small globes of energy ripped forth and plunged at Myrtym. The brooch he wore on his left breast glowed bright and the globes were sucked within it, causing no harm.

The paladin hefted his bastard sword in one hand and growled, “You have to do better than that.” As he started to step forward, a thick mass of webbing dropped on all but Tanerus and Plickit.

Amador managed to turn such that the web did not stick to him in most places, but he was trapped near the center of the sticky strands. He pulled his bowstring back and shot at the drow woman. One of the arrows sunk deep into her shoulder, but his second shot sailed wide to one side.

Delorian also managed to twist amongst the strands of webbing to not be stuck fast. He pulled at the shadows beside him on the wall and stepped through. He stepped out beside the drow woman and lifted a knee up to slam into her gut. She doubled over in pain, but was obviously not out of the fight yet.

From his hidden position, Tanerus dropped to one knee, aimed his crossbow and let loose at the woman. The bolt sank deep into her side. So ganged up on, the woman was going down quickly. Still she was alive and fighting.

Mytrym growled at being caught in webbing yet again. He yanked at the sticky strands and plowed forward, easily ripping the sticky strands that clung to his armor.

Plickit was nowhere to be seen. He seemed to be trying to move into a better position.

Above the group, the second assailant that had dropped the web, muttered some strange arcane words. A small force shield appeared in front the strange spider like creature.

The drow woman stepped back from Delorian and underwent a strange shift. Her lower jaw shifted and split, becoming mandibles. Her eyes became multifaceted and hair grew along the back of her arms and legs, which seemed to thin to unnatural proportions.

Amador tried to move forward, but the web stuck tight to him. Mytrym continued to rip through the webbing, stepping out into the open finally. Tanerus dropped his crossbow and rolled forward behind the spiderwoman. Delorian tried to finish her off. He connected with a vicious punch to her temple. Somehow she still survived. She spun away after the first hit though, and managed to block his other two blows.

Tanerus slipped up behind her. His sword slashed out, and bit deep. Gore flowed freely from her back, and the woman collapsed to the cavern floor.

The second spider woman dropped from the ceiling. As she fell, six of her eight legs melded with her body. When she landed beside Mytrym she was like her fallen companion, some strange hybrid of woman and spider.

Mytrym shook his head, “Bad landing spot.” He pulled his sword back in a long arc.

Delorian rolled in behind the creature and leapt up and kicked her in the side of the head. As she stumbled Mytrym moved to strike. His sword flashed forward, the blade lit brightly. A prayer to his goddess flowing from his lips, the paladin sank the weapon deep into the woman chest, killing her.

As the woman fell at his feet Mytrym growled, “If there is one thing I can’t stand, its spider worshippers.”