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Nightmare Invasion!
Posted: 01 Oct 2006 12:06 AM |
A year after being invaded by nightmare creatures, Brandibuck once more fell prey to the Synspawn and would have been completely overrun if not for the intervention of a handful of travellers.
Fearsome, tentacled horrors—which were overheard to be named "Creepers"—mercilessly slaughtered guards and civilians alike, invading buildings simply by passing through walls like the shadows they were.
It is believed that one of the travellers who saved the town was initially responsible for leading them there in the first place. However, any witnesses who might confirm this have been killed in the attack.
The travellers who saved the town are described as a hooded and veiled woman in black robes, an Elven archer, and a mage named Bereil, who is well-known to the townsfolk of Brandibuck. After eradicating the Creepers, they then tended to the fallen and the wounded. It is also believed they rescued a man from deep within the Bloodwood, who had fallen to the Creepers in their initial advance.
There are unconfirmed rumours that a fourth, anonymous adventurer may have stepped in late to coordinate the actual saving of Brandibuck, but there is no evidence to support this claim. |
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Re: Nightmare Invasion!
Posted: 01 Oct 2006 12:09 AM |
| ((Bump)) |
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Don't Kiss My Fingers.
Posted: 01 Oct 2006 03:07 AM |
The air at Ye Hole in the Ground was celebratory; Winky’s famous tobacco’s smoke hung lazily in the air, and the rustic scents of a variety of local and imported drinks wafted about. There were cheers being cheered, songs being sang – sounding terrible to all but the inebriated, which everyone was at the time.
At one large, wooden table near the bar sat a small crowed of Halflings, a rapt audience for the man at the head of the table. Sitting at the opposite end of the table was Winky himself, proprietor of the inn. His miniature hand held a pipe to his lips capped with his own special tobacco, the bowl was a bright red ember, and the halfling was leaning back in his seat, quite content to puff away quietly. Two of the guards sat on either side of the end of the table, one sporting a tightly wound bandage over his head, and both staring avidly at the speaker, pints barely reaching their mouths.
His beard was thick, and wet. A gush of ale had spilled on it, but he remained ignorant of the liquid, so entertained was he to tell the tale of his heroic deeds again. Long, thin arms waved about in manic gesticulations as he orated, and grossly exaggerated every detail.
“Scores of them writhed about me, their black tentacles waving maniacally. Even as I began my incantations they swarmed! Ethereal shadow tentacles, yet bloody slimy, Synspawn grasped at my legs! I unleashed my spell and a hundred blue missiles fled from my fingertips t’anihilate their number!”
One of his hands picks up the mug of ale, and lifts it to his lips. He takes a long pull, and cracks the mug back onto the table.
“I picked up the lad with one hand, made mighty by my magic, and exited the devil’s pass. With him safe in hand I sent a massive fireball int’ the wall and destroyed it utterly, caving in the entrance from any further incursions. Then I brought him back here,” he pauses to take another slurping sip from the mug, “and the rest, is history.” A wide, victorious grin spreads across his bearded face.
“Wot ‘bout tha warrior that was wit’ ya?” one of the guards asked.
“Aye, the ‘un that black robed gel called Amran?” asked the other guard, the one with the bandaged head.
The mage blinked. He took a final pull from the mug.
“Amaranth. Aye. A summon of mine, temporary I might add. The components are bloody expensive. I thought it prudent at the time cast such a spell.”
A circle of nodding heads. Another tale, another day in Brandibuck. |
CHOO CHOO!
- - - - - -
Bereil Yadashem.
Markus Mortriety, Herald of Novus Aristi. |
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I Know From Where the Creepers Crawled
Posted: 01 Oct 2006 11:59 PM |
((OOC standard disclaimer: All that follows is information that only PC's present would know...therefore please RP accordingly. Those of you who hate spoilers should not read it. Those that do should keep in mind that only those involved know how these events truly played out. Otherwise NPC's are only likely to reiterate Bereil's version as hin tend to have the attention span of goldfish.))
Djinn ran. As swiftly as possible, she ran. It was there, in the gorge, dark tendrils lashing and lacerating everything in their path. She could not see it or hear it, but she knew it was there, behind her. Her destruction. And so she ran. The walls of the gorge pressed in tightly at left and right, magnifying each ragged gasp for breath. Her heart thundered in her ears. Around each twist of the gorge she staggered forward to face another wall and another turn. Determined for freedom, she continued on until she broke from the cliffs into the open space of Bloodwood.
A distance from the cliffs, she stopped and turned to look behind her. She was alone. She looked down at herself and saw nothing. Of course, she had enshrouded herself in illusion. Her persuer must have lost her in the maze, but everything was wrong. She was alone. Where was Kalila? She felt naked without the panther at her side. Neither Kalannar nor Isiolia emerged from the opening in the cliffs. If only they had listened....
Less than an hour ago they had stood in this same place, facing the cliffs. She wanted to have a look around. Isiolia could handle the traps. Kalannar had a weapon in each hand. Djinn could protect them with the natural magics.
"We'll jes slip by 'em invisible," said Kalannar.
Before Djinn spoke up, Isiolia nodded and disappeared into the shadows of the gorge. Kalannar cast an illusion about himself. Perhaps he followed.
"Wait," she had said, but they were already gone before she could bless them with the Mother's protection. She blessed both herself and Kalila then rushed to catch up.
From then on it was chaos.
Back in Bloodwood, Djinn bent over catching her breath. She waited for her friends to arrive. She hoped they would come soon. The magical shroud of invisibility unraveled to reveal her. Still she waited.
Movement caught her eye. She looked up. The creeper slid from the gap in the cliffs like a writhing, ragged hole in the firmament of the world. For a moment, it paused, licking out into space with tendrils of nothingness, then moved at her.
No! It was a soundless scream in her mind. She had waited too long.
Syn's creeper closed the space between them. Djinn closed her eyes and channeled the Natural Magics just before its tendrils wrapped about her leg. Like roots they dug into her flesh and syphoned away her life force. She felt Syn itself at the other end like a mouth on a straw, pulling on her energy, hungering for her destruction. But that would not be today. She slipped free with little effort, a spell-sheath of Natural Magics freeing her movements. Nothing could hold her still. Again she ran. The creeper followed.
She tried to confuse it in the forest, but it followed undeterred all the way to the grounds around Swiftfoot Hall. She kept running past the guards.
"Oi!" they shouted, drawing swords.
She called out to them. "Don't fight it."
Heedless of her words the guards charged the creeper with weapons raised. She glanced back as she kept running down the road, her last view that of the hin closing on the creeper like a swarm of angry gardeners hacking and hewing at an unruly plant.
She reached Brandibuck Vale and slowed to a stop.
"Wot is it, bigger?" The hin soldier was sitting on a log with a pipe full of winky's weed. He waved the smoke in her direction with a lazy smile in a vain attempt to calm her down.
"Creeper," she said between breaths.
"Creeper?" he said in confusion. He looked into her face for his answer and saw it. The nightmare had wandered back into their village. Djinn nodded once still breathing hard. His eyes widened and nostrils flared. "Creeper!" he shouted while fumbling for his mace. In moments the whole Vale was swarming with wide eyed hin calling for help.
Amidst the din, Kalila found her. Isiolia arrived shortly after.
"Kalannar fell," Isiolia said. "The creepers. There was nothing I could do. My weapons would not harm the things." She hefted her bow. The elven woman was filled with despair. "How do you kill them?"
"With magic," Djinn replied.
Isiolia looked to her hopefully, but Djinn only shrugged palms facing upward. Her eyes darkened. "Well. This was a disaster," the elf woman said.
"A creeper is attacking Swiftfoot Hall."
Isiolia looked up, the chaos of the Vale registering in her eyes. She gripped her bow, but stood still. "What can we do?"
"We need to get help." But where, Djinn thought. The answer came to her. "Ladriel Tower!"
Given hope by their plan, they charged back up the road to Ladriel. Just before Swiftfoot Hall, a bearded wizard backpedaled across the road in front of them magic missiles darting from his finger tips into a shadowy mass of tendrils.
"Bereil," Isiolia shouted.
The mass of tendrils folded around his magical onslaught and divided. Now rather than one, two more creepers moved at them. They retreated together up the hillside. From the summit, Djinn surveyed the area. The grounds of Swiftfoot Hall were thick with countless creepers, and struggling hin wrapped in their tentacles. Wherever they ran, they would have to fight. For the first time, she turned to face the enemy.
Bereil cast missile after missile into the creepers following them. Djinn threw a wall of fire in their path, and Isiolia's bow rang out with Elvish fury. The creepers seemed beaten back momentarily, but then in place of the two there were four.
An unfortunate squad of Brandibuck's finest charged down the road right into the mass. Beriel advanced to save the soldiers, throwing spells before him as if there was no end to his power. Isiolia took the opportunity to reach higher ground from which to take aim. Djinn drew a wand with which she cast her own missiles into the fray. Together they renewed their assault. The creepers beset upon on all sides were distracted enough to allow most of the hin to fight free of their tentacles. Yet just as the battle seemed won, Bereil retreated toward the hill. Djinn cast another barrage of missiles to finally finish off what she thought was the last creeper. Apparently there was a limit to how many times they could divide.
"Might I suggest a tactical retreat," he said running past. Isiolia ran with him from her perch. Djinn looked back through the pall of smoke over the battlefield. Wriggling through the haze another mass of tentacles tore through the ground right at her. Was there no end to this? Isiolia and Bereil were out of sight. Djinn and Kalila fled into the Hall.
She slammed the door behind her. At first it seemed Swiftfoot Hall's endless party was still going, but the shouts were terribly wrong. Rather than glee the air was filled with terror and cries of pain. Creepers dominated the hall, catching up hin party goers and spinning them about like tops across the dance floor to volley them back and forth between them.
"Don't fight them! Run," Djinn yelled.
"Help," a young hin cried, her party dress slashed to ribbons, her cheek oozing blood through a long cut. A creeper convulsed behind her in pursuit.
"Come," Djinn said.
They charged across the hall away from it. Kalila turned growling, back arched broadside, every black hair bristling outward. Djinn and the girl reached the door near the bar. The panther pounced and tangled with the creeper, all four clawed limbs ripping downward. Strengthened with a mantle of spells, Kalila cut the creeper to pieces. She drew herself up haughtily, pausing to lick a paw, but the pieces of her defeated foe lashed out, two creepers severed from the one. Surprised and horribly embarrassed she leapt clear to bound back to Djinn, paws skittering across the slick dance floor. Djinn opened the door and ushered them quickly outside. Kalila dared a baleful glance back before slipping out. The creepers followed.
The path from the Hall's doors ended at a garden gate before the road. A steel clad woman stood there sword held smartly at her side. Everything within her reach was returned to order. Not a tentacle stirred in the road behind her. The desert witch, the hin, and the cat ran past. The creepers surged after, but the woman stood her ground.
Djinn stopped in the road to watch. The girl kept running back to the Vale. Kalila took a moment to bring order to her disheveled fur. The creepers were unable to advance past the woman at the gate. She held her ground swinging her blade. The creepers were divided by her cuts into a wicked garden of numerous seething vines, but she kept cutting until nothing remained.
Djinn remembered the woman. They were saved. She turned around to face them and removed her helm, a shock of brilliant, red hair fell over the shoulder plates of her armor. Yes, Djinn thought, it was her. Amaranth.
"Are there any more?"
"Yes," Djinn replied. "In the Hall!"
The woman replaced her helm, and purposefully strode into Swiftfall Hall her blade leading. Zubeida and Kalila followed in her wake.
"Get the civilians out!" the woman commanded before the creepers engulfed them. The knight cut to left and right with her sword, dividing them into smaller and smaller pieces. Tentacles pounded a frenetic beat against her armor like hail stones against a bucket.
Djinn and Kalila were for the moment on their own. Fortunately her spells still held and they slipped free from the lash of tendrils. She drew her wand and cast missiles into their midst. Kalila swatted them from her side. Isiolia reappeared to fire arrows into the enemy from the balcony. But were it not for the knight they would have been overwhelmed.
Having fought free to a moment of respite, the knight resumed her commands. "Round up the civilians, take them to Ladriel. Bring a mage or a few if you can. One of you, head to Faloman's Retreat - he's a priest."
"I am a healer," said Djinn.
"Good," were the knights words, and she strode out.
She looked around the Hall. She had her work cut out for her. With the knight gone to clear the road once more, Djinn tended to the wounded. There were too many to see to by herself. She did her best to stabilize the dying. With that completed, she stepped outside seeking whoever remained in Brandibuck strong enough to carry the wounded.
A few soldiers slumped against a tree dazed and winded, but still strong. This is it, she thought inspired by the knight's orderly command of the situation. "You, you, and you," she began in her most commanding, witchy voice.
The guards stood upright, but their eyes were haunted by the waking nightmare around them. At their feet a fourth of their number lay bleeding in the grass. Without another word she stooped over the wounded soldier, and healed him with the Mother's blessing. White fire sealed his wounds and he was as good as new. The now conscious hin blinked in surprise.
She spoke matter of factly to the three soldiers, "Gather up the wounded and bring them to the Hall so I can tend to them." They complied. "Can you walk?" she asked gently of the soldier she had healed.
"Roit!" he said and sat up with a lopsided smile. He was clearly still dazed. "So thas tha then, eh?"
"I need you to go to Drugo and bring me twenty bandages." She helped him to his feet, and he scampered about in a circle.
"Roit as rain! Roit!" he exclaimed then stopped scampering to ask, "Wot wer tha, missus?"
She pressed a pouch full of coins into his hands. "Go to Drugo, and bring me back twenty bandages."
He looked down at the pouch, and laughed as if she was a fool for giving it to him.
"Or I will turn you into a slug!"
"Ay'll return 'rectly wifs tha bandages, miss." And he ran dutifully off.
Amaranth returned with Bereil to find Djinn wrapping a woman's headwound. The surviving soldiers continued to bring the wounded into Swiftfoot Hall. She waited patiently until Djinn was finished.
"Are there any more in the surrounds?' she asked.
"No." Djinn replied.
"Lets ensure that we've gathered all of the wounded then. Also gather up the guards, I need to question them about where they came from."
Djinn felt the weight of her shame bearing down upon her. This had all been her fault. "Amaranth, I know where the creepers came from."
"My, these robes' colors have become rather sullied by this encounter," remarked Bereil in the background with Isiolia.
"Alright, tell me," she said.
Then Bereil spoke up. "I believe there is one person lost in the woods. According to the word of this lass." He gestured to Isiolia. Isiolia nodded.
"Lost as in...?"
"Dead most likely. Although his corpse will not have been consumed by owlbears just yet."
"We had to flee. I'm not sure what happened," said Isiolia.
Djinn flushed with relief. "Right. Isiolia has the story covered. I'll get back to tending the wounded." She turned from them to hide herself in her work.
After she got the story from Isiolia, Amaranth came to speak with Djinn. "We're going to see about this friend of yours. If you don't see either of us in half a day, assume the worst, alert the Rangers."
"Bring him here. I can raise him. I am promissed to do so."
Djinn meant those words only for Amaranth, but Isiolia was within earshot. She turned to Djinn surprise on her face. "You can?"
The knight nodded once, sending a ripple through her scarlet hair.
"I can not let him fall or the lord of undeath will gain his soul. Hurry before he is found by worse fiends than the creepers."
Amaranth placed the helm back on her head. "We'll see you in a short while, hopefully."
"Wait. Allow me to bless you with protection." She wove every remaining spell she had about the knight. Every spell but the one she saved for Kalannar. When she finished, Amaranth thanked her and left.
They were gone for a few hours. Djinn and Isiolia continued to treated the wounded into the evening. By the time the rescue party returned, they were worn out. Nevertheless Djinn answered the knock at the door. Amaranth entered with Kalannar over her shoulder. Bereil followed her in and closed the door.
She gave her report, "All the wounded are comfortable." She pointed to all the resting hin at the peripheries of the Hall.
The woman nodded. "Let's see what we can do for your friend here."
Djinn could by no means restore Kal to life in front of these hin who had lost so many friends today. "Let us treat him outside under a tree."
Bereil could not believe it. "A tree?"
They made their way back outside.
"Any ... particular tree?" the knight asked.
"In Faloman's retreat. There is a good tree."
"I must say," said Bereil, "That is a singularily odd request."
Djinn would have none of this tripe. "You've done your part. Let me do mine."
"Whatever works," replied Amaranth and dutifully followed Djinn to the sheltered glade.
When they arrived, Djinn lead them to the oldest tree amidst a bed of wild flowers. She pointed to a soft spot of ground nestled amongst the roots.
Bereil babbled in the background, "What a fantastic location. Completely enunerates a need t'sit, relax, and perhaps read a scroll or fifteen."
When Amaranth laid Kalannar where requested, Djinn turned to the two of them. "Could you both leave me to treat him?"
Amaranth inclined her head. "As you wish," she said, turning to leave.
"Of course, I wouldn't dream of watching a woman handle a corpse as ye will be," quipped Bereil.
"That was uncalled for," the knight said, and the two left the glade.
Djinn bent over the body seeking for the sign of spreading taint amongst Kalannar's wounds. The lacerations covered him from head to foot oozing a viscous black liquid. She checked the place where the ghoul had taken his flesh in the desert. Though ill used he did not yet seem within the grasp of the lord of undeath. She knelt over him in prayer, speaking the secret language of her order.
"Mother.... I can not let this one go yet. He is tainted. Should he receive your grace he will fall into undeath. I must raise him Mother."
At this Isiolia and Bereil wandered back into the glade. "Kalannar?" she asked. Unimpressed by the display, Bereil wandered into Faloman's abode.
Djinn was too deep in meditation to notice them. Her heart has sinking deep into the Mother's. She could sense Kalannar returning to The Mother's bosom. She felt as if she had intruded upon something she should not have.
Nevertheless she spoke again. "Mother, please grace him with another chance to free him from the taint before he receives your gift."
As Djinn prayed, Isiolia could feel a swelling of peace in the forest emanating from her. The Mother relinquished Kalannar's life, and sent it back to his body once more. A streak of green fire fell from the heavens to strike his chest. They were surrounded by light. Kalannar's chest rose. His wounds closed. He coughed once, breathed in, and then the light was gone.
Before standing, Djinn finished her prayer. "Thank you, Mother."
Isiolia's eyes were wide as she stared at the desert woman cowled in black robes, hood and veil. Djinn looked up at the elf, embarrassed by what she had done. She looked away to Kal again. Her hands clenched awkwardly at her sides fingers twining in the fabric of her robes. She had broken the Cycle. Though the Mother allowed it, she was ashamed of what she had done. She returned her attention to Kal.
"Kalannar?" she asked kneeling again.
"Ungh... Wha? who?" he asked looking into Djinn's eyes. "You?"
He groaned. "I fought the nightmares... and I heard your voice in my mind. Then they retreated and Dethsades could come no closer...."
"Kalannar. You have been given another chance to right your soul, before He can take you. Do not speak of it again." She looked up at Isiolia, "Nor you."
Isiolia stuttered staring at her, "I ... I ..." And struggled to stop herself from speaking.
Bereil however newly returned to the scene had no difficulty in finding words. "Yer a bloody fortune touched, lad."
Djinn ignored him. "Amaranth brought you here."
"...who's? ... ... Ama...ra....," his voice trailed off.
"She is a great warrior. She brought you from the nightmares. As did Bereil." Djinn stood and gestured to the wizard.
"Ne'er met.... Thank...," Kalannar closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep.
The three of them stood over him. Grass whisked at the sides of his face. He looked perfectly at peace as if he had fallen asleep at a picnic. It was hard to believe that the same person laid at death's bosom just moments before.
Isiolia spoke up. "You have a strong belief, Djinn. And a kind goddess...."
"It is nothing," Djinn responded with a dismissive gesture. "He was not truly dead."
"Simply mostly dead," quipped Bereil. "The worst of it will be the mental trauma."
Kalannar was left to rest beneath the tree as the rest of them retired around the fire with each other's company to keep the nightmares away. |
Famous last words:
Mykal> it's my new wireless router.
* > Mykal has quit (Ping timeout)
Vulpina> Hey!! IRC didn't boot m.....
* > Vulpina has quit (Exit: DarkMyst WebChat) |
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Re: I Know From Where the Creepers Crawled
Posted: 02 Oct 2006 05:08 AM |
Movement caught her eye. She looked up. The creeper slid from the gap in the cliffs like a writhing, ragged hole in the firmament of the world. For a moment, it paused, licking out into space with tendrils of nothingness, then moved at her.
[snip]
Syn's creeper closed the space between them. Djinn closed her eyes and channeled the Natural Magics just before its tendrils wrapped about her leg. Like roots they dug into her flesh and syphoned away her life force. She felt Syn itself at the
((best and most accurate description yet. Well described. You've not been reading our notes on the sly now have you?)) |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
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"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
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<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: I Know From Where the Creepers Crawled
Posted: 02 Oct 2006 10:08 AM |
| ((Nope. I haven't. Just chalk it up to the great job the builders and DM's have been doing.)) |
Famous last words:
Mykal> it's my new wireless router.
* > Mykal has quit (Ping timeout)
Vulpina> Hey!! IRC didn't boot m.....
* > Vulpina has quit (Exit: DarkMyst WebChat) |
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A near miss...
Posted: 02 Oct 2006 02:28 PM |
((All info in this post is confidential and only known by players that were present, otherwise you may hear it from a player IG... please respect that and don't "know" about it unless told. If you don't like spoilers, please read no further.))
As Kalannar made his way back toward Mirghul to hide near the Mirghul Ranger's lodge he contemplated the last days events. Had it only been a day? How long had he lay unconscious beneath the cliffs? When one enters the dream world between life and death time seems to stand still. He had heard Djinn's voice there, and seen the ominous glowing skull seeking him there... calling him. Had it been only a few minutes? Hours? Days?
His mind wandered as he ran, as it often did, rembering the recent events: Djinn had sent Sacrabout with a message to meet Kalannar by Sable lake, and once there had said his staying in Mirghul for a short time would not be too dangerous for the forest; until the sunbringers could try to remove his curse, if possible. The forest has power untapped: Dethsdes would be foolish to try to enter into her realm and do harm, Djinn had said. This comforted Kalannar. Kal thought of the tree folk that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, much like dryads these bipedals could enter trees and leave them. How many of these sort did Mirghul forest hide in her woody population? the cursed Dryads could be seen near Paws, irritated by past events with a mage, with Tarikians, perhaps with other causes. But the peaceful dryads had never been seen. They are reclusive and even Kal had heard no stories of anybody who had seen one. How many of those did the forest also hide?
"P'haps there's an entire army watching o'er me righ' now," Kal thought to himself as he passed the sheepherders outside Swiftdale, looking for Wolves as he passed by, and letting his imagination get away with him. He was comforted by the thought that the forest had such unreleased power, and that Djinn could feel it. The sunbringers likely knew of this power too. How he hoped that they really could do something for this curse still inside him.
Then his mind wandered to how their meeting had gone astray...
Djinn had asked if Kal knew of the nightmares near Brandibuck. At first he hadn't remembered, but then as she'd mentioned the cliffs he remembered the cave. With many traps and with the dark tendrils of the void even outside the cave entrance this place showed signs of previous struggle and an attempt by SOMEBODY to keep SOMETHING in. Or did someone want to keep others out? A gharish hound of the void guarded the area, and Kal hated to go there since he had often been seriously wounded and had had to flee the place.
But Djinn had been saying now that she wanted to see what was behind the barricades and the traps, and once again Kal's worst enemy --his own curiosity-- had gotten the better of him.
Kalannar snuck past the black bears, and sighed remembering how he had foolishly agreed, once again, to a foolhardy plan. He had sworn to himself after the events with the blue dragons and his drunken depression later, --which lead to is missing finger and indirectly to his curse-- that he would be more careful NOT to run into any foolhardy quests. He already had a debts to the Master of Magic, and the wanna-be Lord of Death.
As he ran on his thoughts ran over how the quest had began...
They harvested wood near the lake and rested, Djinn preparing the spells necessary for the expedition, and were off toward Brandibuck. They went by foot under the cover of the forest. Neither spoke much and Kal took comfort in being with the mysterious woman who had seemed to enter his life at about the time he had been infected with this disease, this plague. Ironic that a woman of the desert, who undoubtably knew personally the damage that Dethsdes could do, would appear at just that moment into his life. Appear in his life and prove to be his angel: helping him in sickness, counselling him in how to avoid the bite of the curse, seeking information of Kal's enemy, giving him herbs and healing to lessen the pain and sickness, seeking allies... He had only seen her once before, but at the moment he most needed her, she entered into his life, and preserved it. Much as she would do this very day... but once again: was it today?
--- --- ---
They slew the ettins, trying to lower their destructively increasing ranks before taming the Owlbear pack leader and bringing him along. The other owlbears didn't bother Kal, as they had long ago learned that he didn't provoke aggression if they didn't. Often a new leader would rise in their ranks and challenge him. Every time it would be tamed and fight at his side. He had begun to feel a sort of affection for them; which was why it bothered him so much when they attacked Djinn and he was forced to defend, slaying quite a few. More than he approved of. They would feel the poss in their community. And besides: they were needed to keep the Ettin population in check. Everything in balance in the forest, as he had learned long ago.
--- --- ---
A Desert Woman, A woodsman-bard, her cat, his wolf, a summoned bear, and a huge owlbear of impressive size all entered through the cave and slew the nightmare with surprising ease. It was then that Kal went to work on the traps. It seemed like hours but he was able to crack through one or two... at least one more remained and then the barricade.
"pull tha an'mals back, I'll 'ave ta do this one tha ol' fashioned way," he had said to quietly completely unaware that he was beeing watched... or smelled... who could know how they sense you, but this one waited. Stalking behind a barricade. Kal still hadn't known.
He had tripped the trap and poisonous gas filled the area before the chasm leading along the cliffs. He could see rows of barricades beyond, into the distance, but still hadn't seen the creeping void of impending death. Waiting, it'd stalked behind the barricade, it's tentacles camoflauged amidst the barbs of the barricade and hidden benath the shadows of the darkened passage. Unknowing of this stalking predator from the void Kal had laid into the barricade bashing it with the flaming hammer he had traded from Bereil in the frozen realm of the Winter Witch and the Acidic blade he had bought from Daimon.
The barricade had broken with ease and kal had prepared to pass through it... when it had come... he hadn't seen it in the mist, but he felt it's bitter sting. Sucking his lifeforce and paralyzing him for a moment he wasn't even able to cry out to his companions to run. Fortunately he had blocked passage and it was unable to get through the barricade, yet... besides it had intentions for this one first; it's insatiable hunger for life desiring anything within reach upon which it could feed. It than had lashed out and trid to feed on Kal as he stood there motionless.
He had felt panic and fear as he saw it trying to whip it's way through his armour seeking any chink or hole where it could enter and feed. But it didn't find a gap. He had had enough time to recover as the shock from the first prick had worn off.
"RUN! CREEPERS!" He'd screamed, in shrill panic and darted away from the thing that could almost gave the impression it were some sort of plant. Anyone who has met one of Syn's Creepers knows better to believe such a fallacy. And at that point they had ran. As the the man and woman made escape for the cave entrance to Bloodwood they could hear as their animal friends tried to hold the thing at bay. Cala had been heard yelping in the distance and Kalila could be heard rowling and hissing as she tore into the tendrils. The Owlbear had fallen quickly.
--- --- ---
Back in Winky's, the two had gone over the fault in their plan. They hadn't know there were Creepers there. The halflings of the Shire didn't speak much of this tale, perhaps since it would scare the children seeing their parents fearful as they told the tale. Perhaps not since many were surely wounded or lost in the attack and it's bad luck to glorify stories glorifying the death of friends and family. Either way, Kal and Djinn had unlocked one of the lesser known secrets of Bloodwood and now the barricade had been broken open.
They had plotted for what seemed like hours, and Kal even seemed to have a pretty wise and experienced plan... experienced for creatures that do not come from the void which can sense life as if through extra sensory perception. Wise and experienced seeming as many of Kal's plans often were. He had made it pretty clear that he still didn't know if this was a good idea, but still his curiosity --as always-- had been almost as strong as his fear, and even if the plan didn't work, they could run... He thought: hadn't he seen Lucius sneak past creepers before?
As they had planned a familiar face appeared: Isiolia, the forest woman. Kal had met her a while back, and really liked travelling with her. She too was a tamer and although a Ranger like himself, she was a bit more into the stealth arts. Kal had thought: "Perhaps she could break through the traps?" Djinn apparently thought the same thing since she had whispered to him asking if they should invite her, and Kal had quickly agreed. After briefing her on the situation, she had been curious to come along too. Kal had, however, forgotten about his comfotable boots (as one often does with comfortable shoes: you can really feel them when they hurt or don't bend right, but when they fit like aglove for your feet...) and the fact that they were so quiet made them easier to forget. Isiolia likely didn't have boots like his, and this later would prove folly. He had an extra pair... why hadn't he thought to give them to her? Or even trade or sell them?
So again, a small party of humanoids and animals had made their way though the woods lowering the Ettin population. Then there had been a failed attempt at training the Owlbear leader. Kal though he had let it get too close close. He wasn't aware that this one was one of the survivors of the previous attack and remembered the events earlier. Unfortunately, the resuts were that the entire pack on this side of the woods had been decimated. Kalannar was sickened at the aggression necesary to defend himself and his friends... he had decided not to come back for a time and let them cool down and recover... it hadn't occured to him that he might not be given the opportunity to make that decision, anyways.
This time, since had they suspected that the creeper would be stalking near the cave entrance, they had taken precautions to make all humanoids invisible. Kalannar had told them all to move silently, and that should have been enough. It wasn't.
As they'd passed though the cave, mixed amongst the normally harmless tendrils which waited behind the barricades, the aggresive stalking patch that had followed them to the entrance had waited, once again expertly camoflauged. Another Nightmare Hound had appeared, and it saw them... likely all of them, but the animals had all ran for it and attacked it immediately. Kal had continued to stealth by the Hound of the abyss and made his way through the traps tripping them once again before he had made his way through the barricade this time. He could hear the sounds of battle behind the wall of stone in front of him and had seen the tendrils attacking Isiolia. He had told them not to attack! Maybe they had been attacked first? He would have noticed when things got quiet over there as they fled, but he had been nearly deafened by the howling of ANOTHER nightmare hound. This one had been waiting at the end of the small passage leading along the cliff. It had charged him, and the other hound from in front had come back answering the other's call. Kalannar had turned to run, thinking he could simply make his way through the barricade and flee, but something had blocked his path: an unseen presence or something seemed to hold him in place... after the surprise of his inability to continue on, it had then hit him: The sting in his legs as more tendrils had risen up out of the ground right beneath him and in front of him. They had filled the gap he had opened in the barricade and blocked his exit. The hounds closed in on the other side behind him and he there he had stood pinned. He could neither fall to the ground to escape, nor run, nor even dodge to block as they had him pinned in an upright position. And the tendrils had continued to lacerate his legs, perforating them, sucking his lifeforce, paralyzing him. All he had been able to do was stand there helpless as the hounds had dug their shadowy teeth into his flesh and the tendrils opened holes in him sucking away at his lifeforce.
He had had no escape, no defense, no ability to attack, no chance. The darkness of the void had seemed to close in on him... and then it had consumed him.
Kal shuddered at the thought as he continued past the brown bears in the Mirghul forest near the divider chain. They didn't disturb him anymore either. It seemed all the forest was his friend and didn't even notice his own perterbation at the memory of those recent events.
He had been unaware that one had one creeper had followed the other two into town, that it had nearly decimated the town as it had done a year before. He wasn't even aware that it had happened a year before. And it wasn't likely that he'd be telling this tale, out of embarrassment and shame, and pity for the wounded and lost.
((Narrative))When he had awoken in Faloman's retreat, he had been dazed and cunfused. He had dreamt of Djinn, calling to him, telling him not to give into the shadow that was Dethsdes. He hadn't even been aware that a black ooze had seeped out of his lacerated flesh: the same death-stinking ooze that had clogged his lungs and attempted to enter his mind and consume him. He wasn't even aware that the curse still had such a hold on him that it still coursed through his veins. He hadn't seen the power of Djinn's healing, he only was told that she had healed him; although later he would kiss her hands and kneel before her in deep gratitude for all the kindness she had shown him. He hadn't seen Bereil blasting the creepers with his magics and later sealing the cave leading to the cliffs. He hadn't seen Amaranth in her amazing fighting prowess, nor met her, and he didn't know that she WASN'T actually one of his summons. Although later he would try to Kiss Bereils hands and thank him and his summon for saving him, even giving the preferred customer discount to him for such a heroic act, Kalannar really didn't know what had actually happened...
And he didn't realize that nearly an entire day had passed as he had wandered very close to the mother's bosom.((END NARRATIVE))
Kalannar approached the Mirghul ranger's lodge and looked at it's impressive structure built on stilts and platforms off of the cliffside. He stayed on the solid land and didn't get any closer. He had turned in his key weeks ago to protect the innocent there: he didn't want the Emmesary of Death seeking him there and hurting innocents or destroying this amazing strategical construction, very useful against the wilds of the forest, but not so against an undead horde that would send Dracoliches and surely raze it to the bottom of the cliffs. He sat in cover under a nearby tree and waited.
((Bravo Henesua for a wonderfully accurate description of Syn's Creepers! Great insight! Thank you again Fictrix for stepping in, even after another DM event had just finished. Thank you Bereil for stepping in too, your firepower was awesome to watch betwixt Amaranth's swirling blades! RP was awesome, and I'm both humbled and challenged by seeing such excellent storytelling by all players involved in this small group mission gone awry!)) ;) |
"Life is a short trip... travel light"
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