As they rest Kapek raises objections to heading into Mabar without knowing anything about it and with no protection. Ajax uses his gem and discovers that if the realm has a minor negative aura upon entering they will start to die until there is nothing left of them but dust. If it has a major aura they will die much more quickly before becoming a Shadow.
Taking this into account it is decided they will put off entering the pocket realm and instead go in search of the Drow.
That night the Fists again hear unearthly wails coming from the north.
Mol, 9th Barrakas. 998 Y.K.
In the morning it is decided to have a quick check around the Necromancers tomb, mainly to see what was in the other room with the circle carved into the floor.
They enter the tomb without opposition and make their way to the entrance to the pocket realm of Mabar. There Ajax and Kapek find a fresh set of tracks. They are of a mummified human figure carrying a staff and accompanied by some form of large serpentine creature that, to Ajax's nose, stinks of sulphur.
As an experiment Lorric uses a Wand to summon a bird and then sends the unfortunate thing into the pocket realm. It lasts a few seconds before disintegrating into a pile of dust.
They travel to the right hand side where they again find eight smaller sarcophagi in two lines and one large one on its own. The eight small ones gape open and reveal shattered skeletons within. The large sarcophagus is cracked open to reveal a skeleton in it with an amulet around its neck. Mirra examines the amulet and declares it to be magical, further examination follows and she declares that it creates a field of Positive Energy in a 10 foot radius around it that will protect everyone in the field from the effects of being in a negative energy environment, such as in Mabar. Kapek volunteers to put it on.
Ajax examines the other room. The carvings in the floor form a semi-circle around a set of double-doors through which a red light glows. Mirra examines the runes carved by the circle and translates one of them to be PAZUNIA, one of the layers of the Abyss.
Ajax sniffs a trail of sulphur from the doors to the circle that leads to the pocket realm. It seems the master of the tower has summoned a little infernal help.
The discovery of the amulet changes matters considerably and the debate begins anew. Finally they decide that now they will enter the realm and confront the master of the tower. Together they step through into Mabar.
They find themselves on the edge of a 200 foot wide chasm. On the other side of it some three or four miles away they can see the tower.
They move around to the other side of the portal which is surrounded by six obelisks. They also find the tracks of the mummified humanoid and the large serpentine creature. They also spot a new set of tracks that seems to appear from out of nowhere to follow the other two. They are again of a humanoid creature but with cloth wrapped feet.
The Fists decide not to pursue the tracks but head straight to the tower. Mirra Dimension Door's the group across the chasm and they set off to the tower.
After travelling for about a mile through the dead and depressing terrain of the realm Lorric's trained eye spots two creatures waiting in ambush for them behind two pillars of rock situated in a gorge ahead of them and three more creatures circling high overhead.
The Crimson Fists engage and discover that all but Ajax's claws don't seem to do there full damage. Though Ajax finds this to be a mixed blessing as the Nightstalker's claws cut through his own resistance to damage.
Two of the flying creatures swoop down out of the sky, revealing themselves to be huge shadowy bat like creatures, Nightwings ! They attack Lorric and Kapek.
The Fists are getting battered and four of the creatures are in range so Kapek decides it is time to use his big gun and summons the power of his Dragonmark and........ ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING HAPPENS ! The realm has completely suppressed Kapek's ability.
This puts a very new and terrifying perspective on the battle and even Ajax slaying his Nightstalker doesn't make the Fists feel any better about the way the battle is going.
Noticing the effect Ajax's claws are having Lorric whips out a silver tankard and is gratified to see it strike his Nightwing to full effect.
The remaining Nightstalker unleashes a 'Cone of Cold' on the Fists and then three Shadows spring from it. They rush forward and attack Kapek, leeching his strength from him. Lorric finsihes his opponent in a blur of tankard blows.
One of the Nightwings summons another two Shadows. Another swoops down to attack Mirra but Ajax leaps into its path and rips it to shreds before it can hurt her.
The Nightstalker intones a 'Finger of Death' and inflicts it on Kapek who manfully (halfingfully ?) resists it.
Lorric and Kapek slay the three Shadows attacking them. Another Shadow strikes Ajax draining his strength. Ajax ignores it and charges one of the Nightwings, slaying it and one of the Shadows.
One of the Nightwing disgorges three Shadows. The last Nightstalker tries to cast 'Confusion' on Kapek but he resists.
As Lorric and Kapek slay another Shadow the remaining ones meld into the walls of the gorge.
Ajax charges the last Nightstalker in a mad charge that takes him out of the range of the amulet and feels the aura of the realm start to eat into his health. Lorric charges in behind it and together they slay it.
Two of the Shadows flit from one wall straight into the other, both attacking Ajax as they pass. Luckily Kapek was waiting for this and lashes one with boomerangs causing it to miss its attack. The other doesn't.
Ajax whips out his Pincer Staff and attacks the last Nightwing as it floats safely, or so it thought, twenty five feet above them, instantly killing it.
The last Shadows flit from rock wall to rock wall again. Two hitting Ajax and one Kapek although he cuts it down with boomerangs as it flees.
Again the two remaining Shadows try their hit and hide tactic on Ajax but Lorric is ready and slays one. Kapek gets the other.
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief and relaxes and then Ajax collapses under the weight of his gear. Without the boosted strength from his Shifted state and Rage after the Shadows Ajax barely has the strength to lift his head.
A glimpse of a golden gleam in a crevice leads to the creatures treasure cache and it is quickly looted. It is quickly and unanimously decided (for perhaps the first time in their history) that they aren't ready for the challenges of this realm yet.
Ajax transforms into a Dire Tiger (which he hadn't been aware he could do until then) giving him enough strength to get off the floor and Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and takes them back to the portal. They pass quickly through into the Tomb and there Kapek uses his Dragonmark to heal his comrades and, to his immense relief, restore Ajax's strength.
As they recover Kapek hears a voice in his head. It is the Drow Queen. She informs Kapek that she cannot contact her son anymore. Kapek reluctantly tells her that her son is dead. She orders him to return immediately.
Kapek informs the rest of the group of the message he has just received. This is unsurprisingly not a message they are happy to get. The fastest way to get to the Queen is for Mirra to cast 'Shadow Walk' but she cannot cast it again that day and so they settle down to rest until tomorrow when Mirra's magic can transport them. Of course they have yet to decide just where they will actually go.
Lorric believes to go back is almost certain suicide, that the Drow Queen will kill them for allowing her son to die. Kapek agrees its dangerous but feels that they gave their word to the expedition when they signed on and the expedition needs them to get the Drow to work with them. Ajax agrees with Kapek that they gave their word and maintains a belief that if the Drow turn on them they can fight their way out.
The argument goes back and forth but eventually Lorric accepts his two comrades determination to return the corpse of the Drow. He does insist that he be dropped off just short of the Drow hall as a last ditch rescuer if things go very wrong. The decision made the Fists settle down to what some of them believe has a very strong chance of being their last night alive.
Come the dawn the Fists offer up prayers to their deities and then gather up their goods and the corpses of their former comrades and Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk'. In a blur of shadows they are whisked across the countryside, Lorric jumping ship at what he hopes is a good spot, before the rest finish up in some familiar looking jungle.
The group soon bump into a Drow patrol who are clearly expecting them and insist on escorting them to their Queen. Accompanied by the patrol the Fists tread the familiar path to the Drow hall. Waiting for them there are the Queen and surrounding her fifty members of her Royal Gaurd. This does nothing to dent Ajax's (over) confidence and he whispers to Kapek that if he take the twenty five on the right, Kapek can take the twenty-five on the left.
The Queen calmly requests the Fists leave their packs and weapons behind and accompany her to a more 'private' room. The Fists dump their (obvious) weapons and follow the queen down a side passage from the hall to a comfortable room where they are encouraged to sit. When they are settled the Queen begins her questioning.
The Fists calmly, and without lying, inform her of what happened (they take some comfort from the fact she seems mildly pleased by the news of the extermination of The Shunned). Once they've finished the Queen calmly asks her questions. She seems very interested in what they found in the Necromancer's tomb and in the realm it leads to. She also asks if her son ever disapproved of the Fists exploring the ruins or suggested they go elsewhere which the Fists truthfully answer that he didn't.
Having finished her questioning she informs the group that she will now speak with her son and hear what he has to say. She hints that both her son and Oz may be restored if his answers back up the Fists story. Then she leaves.
The second she is out of the room Ajax leaps up and begins to search for the death trap he is certain the room contains. He finds no pit traps or acid chutes but does discover the cracks in the walls are packed with unfamiliar but nasty looking black scorpions.
Hours pass.
Outside Lorric hides in the jungle, watching and listening to the patrols and working on his Drow disguise in case the Hat of Disguise is neutralized. It soon becomes obvious to him that the Drow are on a much higher state of alert than last time and it is not (just) ego that tells him it is him they are looking for. When after the passage of hours he hears guards saying the strangers are almost certainly doomed he decides its time to act.
Carefully he stalks one of the patrols, at an opportune moment a thrown stone attracts the attention of the patrol in the wrong direction and as they look where it fell Lorric leaps on the last man in the patrol, knocks him out and stuffs him into the undergrowth out of sight. Hearing the sound of the body hitting the floor the Drow look round but Lorric is in his place, his 'Hat of Disguise' making him look like the missing Drow. The patrol leader inquires what the noise was and Lorric picks up the unconscious Drow's bow and claims he dropped it when a sudden attack of weakness struck him. The magic of the 'Hat of Disguise' and Lorric's acting skills are perfectly convincing and the patrol accept that Lorric is their comrade.
Sure all is well the patrol, with Lorric in tow, march straight into the Drow halls. However Lorric's plan instantly starts to unravel when the patrol is met by the Queen's Guards and asked if anything strange happened while they were patrolling. The leader mentions one of his patrol sudden attack of weakness and the Guard instantly call for the High Sorcerer. The Sorcerer quickly appears and the situation is explained to him. He casts a spell and then with a sly grin turns to Lorric and compliments him upon his skills to get so far when the Drow were on their highest alert after his exploits penetrating their security last time.
Lorric accepts his capture and tells how he got in and where the unconscious Drow can be found. The Sorcerer assigns some Guards to escort Lorric to his comrades and some to find the missing Drow. Then he sends the patrol off to be punished for their failure.
Lorric joins the rest of the Crimson Fist and they exchange their stories of what has happened since they were parted.
At dusk a Drow appears with food for all of them, even tasting from each plate to show it isn't poisoned. Some of the Fists eat, others refrain.
*Ajax comments
Ajax devours his meal and the meals of the more cautious members of the group. He finds the Drow swamp based cuisine to be very much to his liking, especially the centipede stew and the blood-fed leeches.
Night falls and the Fists settle down to sleep, although they maintain their standard sentry routine. The night passes peacefully.
Zol, 10th Barrakas. 998 Y.K.
A bit after dawn a Drow appears and escorts the Fists to a room they have never seen before. Waiting for them are ten Royal Guard, the High Sorcerer, the Queen and Celadrus. However Celadrus's ears have been crudely cropped of their tips and a ugly purple mark disfigures his forehead. Mirra recognizes this as the result of a 'Mark of the Outcast' being inflicted on him.
The Queen explains that her interrogation has revealed that Celedrus rather than leading the Crimson Fists to the lakes to the north as she had ordered had deliberately lead them to the ruins, seeking power for himself. For this crime he has been exiled but may earn his way back into Drow society if he helps the Fists find her missing people. She further tells the Fists that if they want Celedrus to accompany them he will be utterly under there command. She informs the Fists she is willing to hold with the original deal and if they find her missing people the expedition will be allowed to explore as they will. There is a brief debate and the Fists decide they will keep to the deal and find the missing Drow.
The Queen then informs the Fists that as she promised Oz has been restored and he enters and with many glad cries is reunited with his comrades.
Kapek inquires if it might be possible for them to trade with the Drow, exchanging some of the loot they have picked up for some more useful magical items. The Queen tells them to talk to the High Sorcerer and then sweeps imperiously out of the room.
The Fists turn to the High Sorcerer and a extended period of hard bargaining commences. Finally all the Fists are happy with the items they have traded with the Drow and with a weary and dispirited Celedrus in tow they leave the Drow halls.
*Ajax comments
Ajax secures for himself a Ring of Resistance, a Wilding clasp (which he attaches to his chain shirt) and a Vest of Freedom, the only item he hadn't got from the Array of the Swift Warrior
The Fists wait until they are well away from the Drow before they start to talk to Celedrus. Interestingly he has a different take of events, claiming he wanted to explore the ruins so they could be used by his people and not for his own personal power. When asked about where they are now heading he says that in times past something immensely evil fell from the skies to there. Something called 'The Tear of Death'.
Cleldrus confirms he is under their command and inquires what spells he should learn for the 'morrow. The Fists try to cheer him up, suggesting he may start a new life away from the jungles of Xendrik. Ajax points out that in the outside world woman are generally not in charge but Celedrus finds this hard to believe, claiming only women are cruel enough to rule.
Having got what info they can from Celedrus Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and they travel to the lake. Which turns out to have no water in it. Around the empty lake the land is barren of all life, above them an evil moon leers down indicating that once again they are in the area where the influence of Mabar leaks in.
Circling high in the sky above them are two Atrophal Psions and one Dark Angel. Although they pay the Fists no attention. Strange howls and moans echoes on the winds from the North. Here they find two dead trees and around dance two strange, transparent figures. They appear to be Dryads but immaterial.
Ajax approaches and instantly the two figures charge towards him, screaming their hatred to the turbulent skies...............
Kapek informs the rest of the group of the message he has just received. This is unsurprisingly not a message they are happy to get. The fastest way to get to the Queen is for Mirra to cast 'Shadow Walk' but she cannot cast it again that day and so they settle down to rest until tomorrow when Mirra's magic can transport them. Of course they have yet to decide just where they will actually go.
Lorric believes to go back is almost certain suicide, that the Drow Queen will kill them for allowing her son to die. Kapek agrees its dangerous but feels that they gave their word to the expedition when they signed on and the expedition needs them to get the Drow to work with them. Ajax agrees with Kapek that they gave their word and maintains a belief that if the Drow turn on them they can fight their way out.
The argument goes back and forth but eventually Lorric accepts his two comrades determination to return the corpse of the Drow. He does insist that he be dropped off just short of the Drow hall as a last ditch rescuer if things go very wrong. The decision made the Fists settle down to what some of them believe has a very strong chance of being their last night alive.
Come the dawn the Fists offer up prayers to their deities and then gather up their goods and the corpses of their former comrades and Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk'. In a blur of shadows they are whisked across the countryside, Lorric jumping ship at what he hopes is a good spot, before the rest finish up in some familiar looking jungle.
The group soon bump into a Drow patrol who are clearly expecting them and insist on escorting them to their Queen. Accompanied by the patrol the Fists tread the familiar path to the Drow hall. Waiting for them there are the Queen and surrounding her fifty members of her Royal Gaurd. This does nothing to dent Ajax's (over) confidence and he whispers to Kapek that if he take the twenty five on the right, Kapek can take the twenty-five on the left.
The Queen calmly requests the Fists leave their packs and weapons behind and accompany her to a more 'private' room. The Fists dump their (obvious) weapons and follow the queen down a side passage from the hall to a comfortable room where they are encouraged to sit. When they are settled the Queen begins her questioning.
The Fists calmly, and without lying, inform her of what happened (they take some comfort from the fact she seems mildly pleased by the news of the extermination of The Shunned). Once they've finished the Queen calmly asks her questions. She seems very interested in what they found in the Necromancer's tomb and in the realm it leads to. She also asks if her son ever disapproved of the Fists exploring the ruins or suggested they go elsewhere which the Fists truthfully answer that he didn't.
Having finished her questioning she informs the group that she will now speak with her son and hear what he has to say. She hints that both her son and Oz may be restored if his answers back up the Fists story. Then she leaves.
The second she is out of the room Ajax leaps up and begins to search for the death trap he is certain the room contains. He finds no pit traps or acid chutes but does discover the cracks in the walls are packed with unfamiliar but nasty looking black scorpions.
Hours pass.
Outside Lorric hides in the jungle, watching and listening to the patrols and working on his Drow disguise in case the Hat of Disguise is neutralized. It soon becomes obvious to him that the Drow are on a much higher state of alert than last time and it is not (just) ego that tells him it is him they are looking for. When after the passage of hours he hears guards saying the strangers are almost certainly doomed he decides its time to act.
Carefully he stalks one of the patrols, at an opportune moment a thrown stone attracts the attention of the patrol in the wrong direction and as they look where it fell Lorric leaps on the last man in the patrol, knocks him out and stuffs him into the undergrowth out of sight. Hearing the sound of the body hitting the floor the Drow look round but Lorric is in his place, his 'Hat of Disguise' making him look like the missing Drow. The patrol leader inquires what the noise was and Lorric picks up the unconscious Drow's bow and claims he dropped it when a sudden attack of weakness struck him. The magic of the 'Hat of Disguise' and Lorric's acting skills are perfectly convincing and the patrol accept that Lorric is their comrade.
Sure all is well the patrol, with Lorric in tow, march straight into the Drow halls. However Lorric's plan instantly starts to unravel when the patrol is met by the Queen's Guards and asked if anything strange happened while they were patrolling. The leader mentions one of his patrol sudden attack of weakness and the Guard instantly call for the High Sorcerer. The Sorcerer quickly appears and the situation is explained to him. He casts a spell and then with a sly grin turns to Lorric and compliments him upon his skills to get so far when the Drow were on their highest alert after his exploits penetrating their security last time.
Lorric accepts his capture and tells how he got in and where the unconscious Drow can be found. The Sorcerer assigns some Guards to escort Lorric to his comrades and some to find the missing Drow. Then he sends the patrol off to be punished for their failure.
Lorric joins the rest of the Crimson Fist and they exchange their stories of what has happened since they were parted.
At dusk a Drow appears with food for all of them, even tasting from each plate to show it isn't poisoned. Some of the Fists eat, others refrain.
*Ajax comments
Ajax devours his meal and the meals of the more cautious members of the group. He finds the Drow swamp based cuisine to be very much to his liking, especially the centipede stew and the blood-fed leeches.
Night falls and the Fists settle down to sleep, although they maintain their standard sentry routine. The night passes peacefully.
Zol, 10th Barrakas. 998 Y.K.
A bit after dawn a Drow appears and escorts the Fists to a room they have never seen before. Waiting for them are ten Royal Guard, the High Sorcerer, the Queen and Celadrus. However Celadrus's ears have been crudely cropped of their tips and a ugly purple mark disfigures his forehead. Mirra recognizes this as the result of a 'Mark of the Outcast' being inflicted on him.
The Queen explains that her interrogation has revealed that Celedrus rather than leading the Crimson Fists to the lakes to the north as she had ordered had deliberately lead them to the ruins, seeking power for himself. For this crime he has been exiled but may earn his way back into Drow society if he helps the Fists find her missing people. She further tells the Fists that if they want Celedrus to accompany them he will be utterly under there command. She informs the Fists she is willing to hold with the original deal and if they find her missing people the expedition will be allowed to explore as they will. There is a brief debate and the Fists decide they will keep to the deal and find the missing Drow.
The Queen then informs the Fists that as she promised Oz has been restored and he enters and with many glad cries is reunited with his comrades.
Kapek inquires if it might be possible for them to trade with the Drow, exchanging some of the loot they have picked up for some more useful magical items. The Queen tells them to talk to the High Sorcerer and then sweeps imperiously out of the room.
The Fists turn to the High Sorcerer and a extended period of hard bargaining commences. Finally all the Fists are happy with the items they have traded with the Drow and with a weary and dispirited Celedrus in tow they leave the Drow halls.
*Ajax comments
Ajax secures for himself a Ring of Resistance, a Wilding clasp (which he attaches to his chain shirt) and a Vest of Freedom, the only item he hadn't got from the Array of the Swift Warrior
The Fists wait until they are well away from the Drow before they start to talk to Celedrus. Interestingly he has a different take of events, claiming he wanted to explore the ruins so they could be used by his people and not for his own personal power. When asked about where they are now heading he says that in times past something immensely evil fell from the skies to there. Something called 'The Tear of Death'.
Cleldrus confirms he is under their command and inquires what spells he should learn for the 'morrow. The Fists try to cheer him up, suggesting he may start a new life away from the jungles of Xendrik. Ajax points out that in the outside world woman are generally not in charge but Celedrus finds this hard to believe, claiming only women are cruel enough to rule.
Having got what info they can from Celedrus Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and they travel to the lake. Which turns out to have no water in it. Around the empty lake the land is barren of all life, above them an evil moon leers down indicating that once again they are in the area where the influence of Mabar leaks in.
Circling high in the sky above them are two Atrophal Psions and one Dark Angel. Although they pay the Fists no attention. Strange howls and moans echoes on the winds from the North. Here they find two dead trees and around dance two strange, transparent figures. They appear to be Dryads but immaterial.
Ajax approaches and instantly the two figures charge towards him, screaming their hatred to the turbulent skies...............
