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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wraithdrit" data-source="post: 999390" data-attributes="member: 10820">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.</blockquote>

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