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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wraithdrit" data-source="post: 1464018" data-attributes="member: 10820">Latest UpdateUnderdarkRuins of MaerimydraUktar 8th, 1372, ‘Mid-Afternoon’The heroes quickly slipped out of the temple after secure the small amounts of treasure the undead abomination had been guarding. It hardly seemed worth the risk. They had hoped for an alternate entrance to the castle or something, anything that would aid them. None of the treasure was even that useful. On the upside though, they had something to bribe Hamadh and his band of rogues with.They went down into the city, in search of more undead to slay. They made a calculated effort to stay away from the giant’s encampments, knowing that the more giants they killed the more souls would be sucked into the cult’s hands.It did not take too long to find what they were after. But it was not quite what they had hoped for. Will looked up and saw that several figures were watching them from a rooftop, not even attempting to hide. It was obvious to Will that the figures were on the Ethereal Plane, watching them. One of the figures rode a massive horse with flaming hooves. As he glanced up at the figure he was horrified to see that he could see its skull through its face. It was a ghost! The pinprick of energy that served for the undead’s eyes seemed to focus on Will, burrowing into his soul. The mage shuddered, feeling the icey cold gaze flow through him, sapping his strength. He looked away, shuddering from the brush with such a cold gaze. His footsteps were heavier, and he half shuffled his way along. Varick glanced over at him. “You okay?”Will nodded, “I will be… keep moving.” When they had advanced further, Will glanced back. The Ethereal band was moving towards where they had come from, and was not pursueing them. He spoke to the others, “A ghost, and some ethereal companions… I have a few spells that could hurt them, but the rest of you would be hard pressed. I thought it best to let them pass.”The others quickly agreed, and the group head on in search of others. A few minutes later, Varick stopped and looked up. In the fog that swirled overhead he saw movement. Something large and winged, but humanoid flew overhead, swooping past. He quickly told the others. Since whatever it was had flown on, they decided to proceed further.They dropped down into the slums of Maerimydra, and the smashed shantytown that covered that lower level. Delorian reappeared amidst the group. “Ghouls ahead.” This was more like it. Something they could lay their hands on.The plan was quickly set and they executed it quickly and efficiently. Delorian appeared in front of one ghoul, making himself a target. Several more poured from the buildings around him.  Two even charged down the alley toward the others, but they were quickly sent flying into the air by a reverse gravity spell from Will. Delorian was unstoppable with his nunchaku. It was not that he was hitting harder than before, but instead he was keeping his opponents on the ground. Though he was surrounded, the ghouls hardly layed a hand on him. He spun this way and that, smashing kneecaps, breaking shins, and sweeping ghoul legs from the ground. These were not just regular ghouls either. They were the nasty abyssal ghouls that they had run into a bit earlier. All of them were abyssal ghouls, but it mattered little. The rest of the group swept forward around the area of reverse gravity. Arrows and spells peppered the ghouls trying to get at Delorian, and again and again as the ghouls tried to stand back up, Delorian would knock them back down.It was reaching the point of near comedy. The ghouls at this point were clawing at the walls and boxes around them to try and stand up, and Delorian just spun this way and that, smashing their hands, and knocking them back down. Finally a few of the ghouls got the idea to get away from him, then stand up, only to come face to face with Varick and Taran, or to get shot by Will or YaDichi.YaDichi finally decided to check out the ghouls that were floating and squealing up in the fog, caught in the reverse gravity Will had thrown up. She activated his item of flight and flew up into the air. She was shocked to only find one ghoul suspended in the reverse gravity well. She quickly dropped to below it and peppered it with arrows till it stopped twitching. She looked at the others. They had just finished off the last of the ghouls. “We have a problem… one of them is missing.”Will frowned, “What? Its not possible to escape a gravity well unless…”The telltale woosh of something flying low overhead had everyone pointing weapons straight up into the fog. The only response was the soft thunk of a ghoul head being dropped to their midst as whatever it was flew past overhead. The head bounced a few times, then rolled to a stop at Will’s feet. “Lovely…” muttered the mage. The fog swirled as whatever it was came lower. Finally it was visible, its huge bat like wings beating to slow its descent. A massive devil, the one Will had seen with Kurgoth through his scouting eyes that morning. It did not attack right away though. Instead it landed on the corner of one of the shanty buildings. The corner collapsed into a small pile of rubble, but the devil easily perched on the pile of rocks, its wings slowly folding into its sides. “Well, well, well… what have we here?”Taran gripped his sword and narrowed his eyes. His hatred of the creature was almost as plain as that of Brother Varick. Varick had his morningstar ready and his shield up. His face was a sneer of contempt for the abomination.Will held up his hands. The mage was within arms reach of the massive devil. “We have no fight with you. We are here to stop the cult.”The devil chuckled, “Then it seems we have the same enemy, for now. I’ll let you live to see the morrow then.”Delorian spoke from one side, “You serve the giants?”The devil whipped its massive head around to glare at him, “I serve no one!” It seemed to get its composure after a moment. “I work with Kurgoth, not for him. His purpose suits me for now.”Varick growled, “And that purpose is?”The devil grinned, “To destroy the last of the drow of this city… the cult of Kiriansalee.”Will quickly cut back into the conversation. “Then we have no quarrel with you… for now.”The devil grinned and snapped his wings out. He looked Will up and down, then chuckled. “Indeed.” With one powerful snap of his wings he was airborne again. “We will meet again, I’m sure.”As he rose into the fog, both Varick and Taran considered launching attacks. The heroes were not ready for such a fight though, and the two holy warriors decided to hold that fight for another day.The group went back to scouring the city for undead, but eventually found themselves a spot to hole up and wait till the morning. With Will’s health restored from his encounter with the ghost, the party was ready to meet back up with Hamadh. They found the rogue leader waiting for them patiently, right where they had left him. It took a bit of bargaining, but once the goods they had gotten from the ruined temple were given over to Hamadh he was forthcoming with the means to enter Castle Maerimydra. The giant blockade was only around most of the castle, so they could sneak in, or teleport up close to the back of the castle, or one of its parapets. From there, they could gain access to the interior using a password that the drow caster of the forbiddance spell keeping people outside had set up to allow entry to members of the cult. The password was in a drow elven dialect, but was the nonsense phrase “Isztava morthaum”. The non elven-speaking members of the group spent time practicing the password so as not to get it wrong.Hamadh assured them that this was a one shot deal. Once they had been discovered inside, the password would be changed with the next casting, so they had to get in and do what they needed to inside in one day, or rest within the castle. If they left the castle, the barrier spell would be recast.The heroes thanked Hamadh for his assistance, then teleported to parapet of the castle. Stairs led up to a higher entrance. The level they were on was actually the same level as the main stairs entered. The back entrance entered a level beneath them. They decided to enter on the floor they were on, rather than leave so much unexplored beneath them.Varick made quick easy work of the door with a stone shape spell. The group filed into a balcony over looking the bottom floor of the smaller of the two towers. The tower extended above them, but the entrance to that level was not here, the floor was closed off above. They found a pair of double doors that obviously led to the rest of the castle. They were about to open them when something stirred in the air behind them. From the dark corner of the room a silvery glowing ghostly form of a hezrou demon appeared. It floated 80 feet off the ground at the top of the chamber. With a howl it unleashed a wave of chaotic energy that ripped through the group. The fight was quick. YaDichi spun and put two arrows through the demon. Her third arrow seemed to pass harmlessly through the thing. Varick threw up the focus for his spiritual weapon, and it sprang to life flying forward to smash into the undead demon. It disappeared in an unearthly howl, destroyed.The fighting had already begun, so the heroes figured it was time to cast their high offense preparatory spells. The two casters quickly cast spells of strength, defense, and telepathic communication. Taran had already summoned Gundra while they were outside the forbiddance. They discussed a few moments then finally decided they were ready and turned toward the double doors. Taran kicked them open, only to find that the drow cults forces were waiting on the other side. Hand crossbow bolts flew toward the party, spellcasting could be heard from behind massive fire giant zombies. The fight for Castle Maerimydra was on. Perhaps even, the fight for all of Faerun’s salvation from the cold grip of Kiriansalee…UnderdarkInside the Maerimydra ArenaUktar 9th, 1372, ‘Morning’A fire giant strode past the guards, carrying a drow prisoner. The prisoner was one of Hamadh’s band, the hot headed younger drow whose face was covered in scars. Hamadh had called him Karas. His hands were bound and he was pretty badly beaten. He was practically unconscious, his head lulling from side to side.The giant tossed him down at Kurgoth’s feet, then dropped down to a knee. “M’lord.” Kurgoth waved the giant up, “Why have you brought me this … thing?” Kurgoth’s contempt for the drow was obvious. The half-fiend obviously did not like the dark elves as a people, probably the root of his attack on the city.“It claims to have means to get inside the castle.” The fire giant reached down and wrenched the elf’s head up. “Spit it out, elf! Or I’ll roast your eyes out and feed them to Lord Kurgoth’s pet!”The elephant trumpeted loudly, stomping around beside its half-fiend master. Kurgoth chuckled and leaned in to hear what the drow had to say. “Password… to get into castle… past … spell defense…”Kurgoth leaned closer. “Yes, yes, go on… what is it?”The drow swallowed and licked his lips, “Promise to let me live.”Kurgoth narrowed his eyes. He sniffed, and clamped his mouth shut. The other giants in the room just knew that their lord was going to smash the elf apart for his insolence. He surprised them all. “Done! Now… the password!”The elf slumped and muttered, “Isztava morthaum.” Kurgoth flew to his feet. The giants thought he was going to kill the elf now that he had the information needed.“Throw that peace of trash into the street, let the undead have him!” He turned to his commanders, “Mobilize the army! Prepare the horde! We have a castle to take!”The fire giant that had captured the elf, scooped up the betrayer and tossed him over a shoulder and walked toward the door. He found his way blocked by Kurgoth’s massive winged devil.The devil looked the giant up and down, narrowing his eyes a bit. The giant bowed its head, and then looked back into the devil’s gaze, matching its stare. The devil grinned and then broke out into a laugh and turned to join the others in preparing for the castle assault, shaking its head in disbelief.The giant strode out into the city. Eventually he set Karas down. Karas was quickly out of his ropes and casting a small cure spell to get rid of the superficial self inflicted wounds. The giant shuddered and shrunk till he was in the form of the older drow that was Karas’ companion in Hamadh’s little band, the one known as Chiirikk. Chiirikk spoke first, “The devil knows.”“Impossible. He would have slain us.”Chiirikk shook his head, “He knows, but he doesn’t care. I think he only cares about the cult, and now wiping out the city like Kurgoth.”Karas considered a moment then shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Between the surface dwellers, the giants, and the cult, the castle will be lucky to be standing in the morning.”Hamadh stepped out of the shadows, “Indeed, and when the dust settles, we will snatch control of the city.” The three shared a laugh, then went to find a spot they could watch the castle from safely. They wanted to be there when the giants broke down the front door.UnderdarkRuins of Maerimydra, a block from Castle MaerimydraUktar 9th, 1372, ‘Morning’Tursa glanced at her companion. She smiled and glanced over at Telinal. “Your aid in getting here is much appreciated.”The dark elf shrugged, and looked back from his perch. “I still don’t understand why you want to be so close when this all goes down. If they fail… well, I’d rather be on the far side of Toril if that happens.”Tursa shrugged, “Everything is going as planned.”Telinal frowned, “Planned? You make it sound like the Oracle is guiding all this, not seeing it from visions.”Tursa chuckled, “Oh Telinal, you know what I meant.” Her laughter was musical to the dark elf, and he quickly forgot his concern for whatever it was she had just said. The fey’ri woman slipped closer to him, wrapping her arms around gently around him, sliding her hands across the fabric of his shirt. “Isn’t this exciting?” she purred.Telinal sighed and leaned back into her. It was exciting alright, but it had nothing to do with the coming battle that the Oracle had forseen. He closed his eyes and swallowed gently, if only she were a drow and not a fey’ri he would…His thoughts were cut short when he felt her grip his hair. He had never felt her pull his own dagger from his belt, but when the blade stabbed into his neck the shock and pain jolted him from surprise into fear. It was too late though. With a single beat of her wings Tursa pulled back, ripping the dagger completely through his throat. Her free hand shoved him forward. He fell to the rubble, grabbing at his severed throat. Blood gushed through his hands.He rolled over and stared at her in shock, and surprise. His lips moved but the wound prevented him from speaking. One hand went down to fumble with his sword, but his eyes closed before the blade was even out. He fell forward, and a pool of blood soaked the stones around him.Tursa walked forward and stabbed the dagger into his back, through his spine and into his heart. “Sorry Telinal, but things are getting so close to the end. I’ve got to start wrapping up my loose ends. You know how it is…” She turned and crouched beside the body, watching the castle, unconcerned that his blood pooled around her feet, staining her clothes and her drooped wings. By the time the events that were unfolding would be over, there would be a lot more blood spilled.</blockquote>

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