With the rising sun your mind clings to the fragments of dream that linger from your drunken slumber.
An altogether alien yet strangely familiar voice echoes through long silent chambers, it speaks a tongue that you do not understand, yet your mind fills with words, images and concepts that make perfect sense.
One voice becomes many as you attune your mind to the cacophonous thoughts that fill this ancient and crumbling structure.
“Xhagevoxhab has returned to his prison my lord, the wanderer without aided the prophesised to the Crown of Blibdoolpoolp. Now he must leave them to follow his own path.”
“What of the second hand bathed in blood? Do they exhibit signs or portents that are relevant to the Prophecy's current course?” comes a regal sounding reply.
“Their part is unclear master. Malsheem has sent many forces, it is feared that the cell that landed in Stormreach are employing Yuggoloths to secure their place in the weaving of this vast web.”
“My master,” comes another voice from the mayhem, “We have reports of cysts opening throughout Droaam spilling hordes of Kaorti into the ranks of Jaerdrael Keep. They bring Skybleeders with them and early reports indicate they plan to move east in search of Kra’T Ymraag Draal. Zul has been gifted with the ‘Ebon Seal’ and has begun creating his undead abominations beneath the circle there, yet there are abominations rising from Khyber to battle him even as we speak.”
“Then Zaphkiel is being sought. How do the tides of battle fare on Shavrath?”
“The celestials are still struggling with the Abyss, my Lord. The denizens of Hell are merely fuelling the fire with political interference. There is no sign of the battle turning.” comes the reply. “Kirx Katech is awaiting the arrival of the prophesised and they are moving to protect the Oboxian Tablets."
Silence falls for a few brief moments.
The Lord's voice begins once more.
“333 are the Atropal Lachryma, the Tears of Atropos that fell to Eberron, all have been retrieved by the Ashen Covenant. Shothragot, the Patient One stirs and the Gilded Man has still not been located, his prison of the Sundered Tower lies somewhere within the roiling shadows of Mabar. The first sign of the Restless Dead is manifesting, there is word of the newly dead rising from their graves across Eberron, and Atropals have been seen falling from the World Born Dead, surrounded by clouds of their scions and the surge of negative energy has drawn dark angels from caverns deep beneath the Thunder Sea. Once the sigils burn in the sky we are all but lost. The time nears with increasing rapidity, we are losing the periphery of our realm, the towers are crumbling and still the child is not safe. We must all persevere and guide lest the battle begin without the pieces in place.”
The Crimson Fists awaken with heads throbbing from strange, visionary dreams (and massive hangovers). Over a quiet breakfast Father Jack informs them he feels his destiny takes him elsewhere. He will travel with them as far as the expedition though.
The treasure recovered from the tomb is examined and divided up. Lorric receives an item which increases his Wisdom and a Ring of Freedom of Movement, Oz takes his old Wisdom item, Kapek receives a magical spear and Ajax a strange Kuo-Toa weapon called a Pincer Staff, a staff with a closable collar on the end. Although imbued with mighty magics Ajax has never used such a weapon before and intends to turn it into ready cash at the first opportunity.
With everybody ready the Fists set off into the jungle with the cheers of the town ringing in their ears.
They travel all day through the blistering jungle heat before setting up camp under the beautiful clear sky and watching the showers of shooting stars that illuminate that night.
The second days journey is as uneventful as the first.
Mol 2nd Barrakas, 998 Y.K.
On the third day they come in sight of a camp flying the banner of House Sivis, they have finally reached the expedition they were hired to protect all those weeks ago. The leader of the guard greets them warmly and takes them to a tent in the centre of the camp. There they are introduced to two gnomes; Professor Melurit the head of the expedition and his scribe Abonwick.
Less welcoming are the two carefully wrapped bodies resting inside the tent. The Professor explains these are the bodies of the last two emissaries he sent to negotiate with the local Drow. Melurit wishes for the Fists first task to be to take their place and speak with the Drow.
It is too late for the Fists to set off now and so they settle down for a meal around the camp-fire while Melurit briefs them on the ruins the expedition is here to explore and the rain clouds that eternally hover over them, turning the land around into a treacherous marsh. (The similarity to the clouds plaguing Sharn is lost on no-one). He also informs the groups that the Drow seem to be particularly hostile because of a prophecy of theirs.
As they talk Melurit spots Kapek's Dragonmark, he calls over the expeditions House Jorasco healer who examines it with great interest. It seems to be a Mark of some power.
Zol 3rd Barrakas, 998 Y.K.
The next morning the Fists set forth to talk to the Drow. Jack is first bid farewell with fond wishes by the group and with his tiger in tow he sets off on his own journey.
To reach the Drow the Fists must descend a cliff, this almost immediately leads to violence as Reaver is set against the idea and prepared to maul anyone who attempts to force him. This requires some persuasion on Kapeks part before Reaver is convinced to allow himself to be secured and lowered down the cliff. Eventually though the group reach the bottom intact. Lorric notices a Drow observing them from concealment and so he sneaks off and creeps up behind the Drow before introducing himself to the startled elf. Pleasantly the Drow is not overtly hostile merely saying if the Fists can reach the leaders of his people they will be allowed to speak to them. The Drow will not interfere, they will just watch.
The group make their slow way through the swamp without incident. Stopping at nightfall to make camp. At 10 o'clock as those on watch are enjoying the sight of another shower of shooting stars, Lorric notices dark shapes rising against the night sky to meet the falling stars.
At 2.00 Oz and Lorric hear wing-beats approaching from the East and feel a strange chill in the night air. Quickly they wake their comrades and as the Crimson Fist arm themselves they see strange spectral figures sheathed in darkness, approaching them. Remembering they are about to give battle in a swamp Ajax uses his sandals to cast Water Walk on everyone.
As the creatures close in a tightening ring on the Fists Lorric simply charges them and slays one. Suddenly a feeling of death and corruption washes over the group, birds drop from the air killed instantly. Heads snap up to see a horrid creature hovering above the group, an Atropal Scion. Before they can react the Fists are blasted with a Cone of Cold by it.
The creatures on the ground are now close enough to be identified as Wraiths, though two appear larger and more impressive and are probably Dread Wraiths. Like a noose the seven creatures move in on the Fists from all sides, while above the wing-beats circle the group.
As the Wraiths reach striking range Kapek unleashes the full power of his Dragonmark and a Mass Heal spell bursts from him. No match for this power the five lesser Wraiths evaporate into nothingness and the two Dread Wraiths stagger under this assault of positive energy. Off balance they are soon finished off by Ajax and Lorric. (While Oz curses the fact they are, yet again, fighting undead).
A second Atropal Scion swoops in from behind and unleashes another Cone of Cold. The first hovers 50 feet above the group letting his aura spread fear and despair into their hearts. The wing-beats descend and at the edge of their vision a strange, rotting creature appears and shuffles towards them.
The second Atropal Scion is hovering 20 feet above the ground, no doubt feeling safe at that height but Ajax is suddenly struck by an idea (a good one for once). Whipping out the Pincer Staff he charges the creature, the Staff is ten feet long and with the arts of the Warshaper Ajax's arms grow longer and suddenly twenty feet is within range. Ajax slams the creature with the Staff twice and then snaps the collar shut around its neck and with a heave of his arms, slams it into the ground. Lorric is on it like a shot and the last thing to go through the creature's mind is Lorric's tankard.
The first Atropal Scion sweeps in and blasts the group with yet another Cone of Cold. As does a third one, this final blast is too much for poor Reaver and it topples to the ground its mighty heart stopped forever.
*Kapek comments
Kapek is consumed by grief and rage, as if a part of his soul has been ripped away. But he feels guilt as well; it took a lot of persuasion to get his agitated mount down the cliff and Kapek now fears that Reaver could sense his coming doom.
The rotting creature continues its ominous advance, the ground and vegetation around it rotting into corruption.
With a scream of rage Kapek unleashes a swarm of Force Boomerangs at Reaver's killer. Ajax charges the first Atropal Scion and again strikes it twice before ensnaring it with the Pincer Staff and slamming it into the ground where Lorric leaps on it and makes short work of it.
*Ajax comments
And to think Ajax was planning to sell this wonderful weapon. If it continues to be this useful he may even learn how to fight with it.
The Rotting creature fixes Ajax and Lorric with its gaze. To his horror Ajax feels his skin start to rot. The creature follows this up with a storm of claw attack and buffets from its wings.Oz runs over to the sorely wounded Kapek and heals him with his 'Healing Belt' while Kapek continues to pummel Reavers slayer with Force Boomerangs. While Ajax engages the Rotting creature Lorric leaps up and strikes the last Atropal Scion, this and more boomerangs finish the creature.
Ajax meanwhile is in dire trouble, under the rotting creature's relentless assault he is taking wound after wound until only the temporary vitality of his Shifted state is keeping him alive. Just in time Lorric charges the Rotting creature from behind and it diverts its attention to him. Trapped between Lorric and Ajax, it soon falls.
Mirra quickly applies healing magic to the group as all are sorely wounded. All are also aware of the sound of wing-beats receding into the distance.
Healing done all that is left to do is build a pyre for Reaver and send him on his final journey in a suitable manner.
Far 6th Barrakas, 998 Y.K.
Far 6th Barrakas, 998 Y.K.
The sun rises on another hot and humid day and after prayers the Crimson Fist press on through the swamp. Lorric scouts ahead of the group, using his skills to pass silently and unseen through the undergrowth.
As the journey takes you further east and deeper into the swamp you judge that you have travelled some 70 miles or so and are nearing the centre of the vast and fetid basin. Above and ahead you can see the solitary swirling cloud that perpetually rains, its distance is unperceivable as no other clouds offer any source of perspective. As the sun passes its zenith the jungle around you deepens, shadows grow deeper as the canopy overhead becomes a heavy tangled mass of mosses and lichens. The occasional shaft of light illuminates a struggling patch of ferns here and there offering a faint green luminescence as the light bounces from the fronds.
From somewhere ahead you hear sounds of movement, and catch faint glimpses of the shadows moving. The hot, humid air seems to thicken and every breath has to be forced, your lungs finding little sustenance beneath the dark canopy. Motion crawls over almost every surface that you can see, seemingly a thick carpet in some places merely a few lone scorpions in others, their black chitinous shells shining like gems
Words are uttered from the darkness ahead; although you do not recognise them you are more than aware of the power that they carry.
Ahead you see the shafts of light grow fewer in number and less intense, without the eyes of the drow the darkness grow all but impenetrable smothering you in a veil of utter blackness. The air seems to grow thin as the humidity rises and your head swims as your lungs pant for oxygen.
After travelling for a good portion of the afternoon you see the canopy begin to thin ever so slightly, the light becomes like that of early twilight and you see a dark rocky outcrop ahead. A stream runs from a tunnel at the base of the cliff, and to the left an almost imperceptible set of steps are carved into the rock face where they meet a door some fifty feet above the waters. Perched upon platforms to either side of the door and crouched around the lip of the rock-face you see dark-skinned figures, flashes of white paint adorning their midnight faces.
You soon feel firm ground underfoot and the familiar sound of boots upon rock resounds in your ears as you are led up the stairs.
The door opens and you are led into a natural rock hallway, steps lead up on either side and ahead you can hear the sound of rushing water. The walls are decorated with rough tribal depictions of scorpions and what seem to be large portions of insect carapace, claws and stingers are placed with seemingly religious reverence. In fact as you watch you see several smaller specimens crawl from cracks in the walls.
A pair of imposing figures blocks the way ahead, each bears a chain with dagger-like blades at each end poised and readied to strike.
Spoken in elven.
“At ease”, comes a soft voice from behind them, “Let us listen to what the light-dwellers have to say this time.”
“Yes Mistress” they reply in unison before dropping to one knee to either side of the strikingly beautiful and regal drow.
“Fall before Matron Shi’Na” demands one of you captors in the common tongue, before you are forcefully shoved to the ground.
“Let them speak” come the soft voice from the Matron, “Let the pale ones inform us of why they continue to pollute our lands with their presence, let them tell us why they continue to bring death.”
Turning to facethe group she speaks, this time in common.
“Welcome to the fallen empire of Kerrick Mal’irak, the dead temple-city dedicated to Ouralon, purged by the might of Vulkoor. Speak your purpose.”
Around noon movement is spotted ahead of the group and muttered words of power are heard. The Fists, apart from the hidden Lorric, feel their limbs stiffen into immobility as they are paralyzed where they stand.
Invisible creatures splash through the water towards the Fists and as they strip them of their weapons and gear the magic cloaking them fades and they are revealed as Drow warriors. The Fists are then bound with rope and only then does the Drow leader appear. She instantly recognizes the group is down a member and loudly demands Lorric show himself, unsurprisingly Lorric declines the offer.
The leader turns to the now unparalyzed Fists and informs them they will be taken to the leader of the Drow. The Fists are not pleased by their treatment but decide to co-operate and set off with the Drow and with Lorric trailing them.
*Ajax comments
Ajax knows if he Shifts he could then use his War-Shaper talents to make his arms so thin the ropes would simply fall off. And though the Drow had taken his weapons he would still have his claws, which he prefered anyway. Ajax's aggressive spirit longed to fight back but they were there to negotiate with the Drow not fight them and the Drow seemed to want to take them to their leader. With great effort Ajax muzzled his bloodthirsty nature and accepts he will have to remain bound......... for now.
After some time the Fists and their escort arrive at a hall guarded by more Drow and taken inside. Lorric uses his 'Hat of Disguise' and disguises himself as a Drow and follows his comrades into the building. Inside the hall is decorated with murals depicting scorpions and the stingers and claws of giant scorpions decorate the hall. The Fists are guided to stand before a throne upon which resides the Matron of the Drow of this area.
She is unamused by the fact that one of the Crimson Fists is missing and calls for Celedrus, declaring he will use his True Sight spell to discern if the missing Fist is present.
Celedrus arrives and is set to the task of searching the hall as she interrogates the Fists. The Matron demands to know why the expedition is here and the Fists explain that their goal is to uncover new knowledge. The Matron is suspicious that the troubles that have plagued her realm are the fault of the newly arrived expedition. The Fists declare that they are innocent of this and that the whole world is beset by strange events and the rise of ancient powers. The Matron is convinced enough to propose an accord, she will allow the expedition access to the ruins (under supervision) if the Fists search for a group of her people who have gone missing. Remembering the fate of the previous ambassadors the Fists readily agree.
Then to the Matron's surprise one of her Drow steps forward and joins the Fists in front of the throne. It is Lorric, who has been cunningly keeping other Drow between himself and Celedrus while this was going on, and now a deal is made rejoins the group (to the muttered comment 'show-off' from Ajax). Luckily the Matron seems both impressed and amused by this.
The Matron insists that the Fists find her people before the expedition will be allowed entry and that Celedrus will accompany them as her liaison to the expedition. The Fists find this agreeable and a deal is reached.
Celedrus introduces himself to the Crimson Fists explaining he is a Mystic Theurge and capable of casting both Divine and Arcane spells. He also explains that his background is mostly scholarly and he will require protecting in battle. To drive this point home he also points out he is the Matron's son !
The new group head off discussing their various cultures and the differences inherent in them. They travel for a few hours before stopping for the night.
In the morning Celedrus casts Shadow Walk to transport them more quickly to the area where the Drow went missing. The Fists are plunged into a mysterious realm of whirling shadow in which they travel at breath-taking speed for an hour before plunging with a burst of light into the Material Plane, right into the middle of a lake ! The Fists plunge into the water, only to be instantly shot back to the surface as Ajax uses his sandals to cast Water Walking on the group.
A quick scan of the area reveals they are in a large lake with several islands in it. It also reveals a nearby, yet dilapidated, boat into which some of the Fists climb and which the rest then push to the largest island.
On the shore of the island they find the ground littered with bones. With their senses straining for the signs of danger the group carefully move to search the island. They soon come to a gouge in the earth which ends at a tree, which suddenly lashes out to attack Kapek. It is an Ironmaw, a predatory plant creature that eats anything it can get its vines on.
The creature's vines grab Kapek but then loose when Lorric leaps behind and strikes it a blow that stuns it. The Fists scan the area and see a second, third and fourth Iron Maw approaching. Mira casts Haste and Celedrus casts Fly and heads straight up and out of danger. Ajax leaps on the first Maw and slays it with a storm of blows.
The second creature attacks Ajax, grabbing him with its vines but the hearty Shifter throws off its grip. The other two creatures approach ponderously coming under fire from Kapek's boomerangs as they do. Lorric attacks the second Maw and again stuns it, after which he and Ajax quickly finish it.
Lorric fails to stun the third and fourth Maw but they still fall under the combined assault of the Crimson Fist.
The bones, with Celedrus's permission, are searched for loot then Lorric climbs one of the dead Maws to check the area. He spots some ruins to the north and the Fists decide to investigate there. And so discussing exactly how you stun a plant anyway they move on.
