Home of the Stormhawks

Ok, the new system works, and it should make posting to the blog a lot easier.

It's been nearly forever since I've updated this blog, but with the hard stop imposed by Steve's semester in London, I felt it would probably be a good idea to get everything that has gone on before in a place that'll be easily reference by the group here in LA, and Steve in London. Now, on to the show.

When last we left the party, they had successfully cleared out the upper portion of the Dordrien Crypts, but had suffered the loss of their Red Knight worshipping companion Priam. After talking amongst themselves, the party exited the Crypts and teleported to the central temple of Tempus in Battledale to confer with the resident High Priest. Once they spoke with him they agreed to donate to the temple all of the money earned in this adventure in exchange for a True Resurrection spell to be cast allowing Priam to return from the presence of the Red Knight with full command of his faculties, not weakened in any way by the experience of death. After an hour of contemplation and prayer to Tempus, Priam was returned alive and well. The group then teleported back to the Crypts and decended once more into the Underdark.

After exploring the upper portions of the Crypts, the party moved deeper into the complex. Where formerly the walls had been worked stone, now they appeared to be naturally hune caves only slightly worked by the hands of mortals. These caverns appeared to be the final resting place of many of the common folk of Dordrien, unworthy of a more formal burial place, with bodies unceremoniously piled within, with little if any adornment.

They moved quickly through these caverns, only pausing briefly to render some Yellow Mold harmless. Further in they encountered a statue of a gaunt, alien-looking creature with bulbous eyes, an insects' mandibles, and an elongated oval head - it could only be a statue deducated to Jergal, Bane of the Undead and Guardian of Tombs. With nothing else of interest the party continued.

Zamiraj was on point when the party was ambushed by a Roper hiding in the floor of the cavern. In a matter of seconds Zamiraj, Xandos, King Titus, and Shaumar were ensnared by the hideous creature. By the time the party killed the Roper, Xandos was severly weakend by the strength draining properties of the creature, but a timely Restoration spell cast by Shaumar brought him back to normal.

Just minutes after fighting the Roper, Xandos detected what he thought was an illusionary wall head. He quickly cast True Seeing and was rewarded with the sight of two Bebliths, hiding in what appeared to be a series of side caverns. Hoping to catch them by suprise, Xandos cast a Wall of Force to seal off the cavern and the party from the Bebliths, cast Blink on himself so he could go through the Wall of Force and prepared a Disintegrate spell to cast at one of the Bebliths. Everything was ready for their attack.

Xandos quickly moved through the Wall of Force and brought the illusionary wall down. He took aim at one of the Bebliths, let loose with his Disintegrate spell.... and missed. Turning to see what the green light was, the Bebliths turned around and moved to attack Xandos. Fearing for his life, Xandos dropped the Wall of Force allowing the rest of the party to attack the Bebliths. Priam moved in first, and with Sentinel his Holy Blade, made short work of the first Beblith after just a few seconds, although his treasured red enameled armor was destroyed by the demon. King Titus and Zamiraj also quickly moved into battle, taking down the final Beblith.

Seeing movement further into the cave, the group began to move down there when they heard the tearful cries of a damsel in distress. Thinking it might be a trap, the group moved into the next cave complex where they encountered a Drow woman claiming to be hurt. Havay began to parlay with her in the tongue of the Dark Elves when he sensed that she was definitely lying to them about something. Fearing an ambush, the group began to prepare themselves when they were attacked from above by an aranea! Melee ensued, and the "Drow" woman revealed herself to also be an aranea. She was quickly killed, and when the male aranea from the ceiling attacked Xandos, Havay, in an attempt to avoid further bloodshed, called for a truce. The aranea agreed and that's when things really started getting ugly.

As the parlay began, Havay was questioning the aranea in Underdark, when it suddenly began to speak in Common. Not one to pass up an opportunity, Shaumar began to pepper it with questions. When the aranea wouldn't answer him, Shaumar began to order the men to gather the equipment of the fallen aranea, to be put into the common pool for the group. The aranea took offense to this, and asked Shaumar if it was part of Tempus' faith to kill creatures and then take their stuff. Shaumar was insulted by this comment and demanded that the aranea apologize. The aranea didn't. Shaumar then told the aranea that it had 10 seconds to apologize, or he would be attacked. The aranea said nothing. Shaumar counted down. 10... 9.... 5....3....2....1.... Still the aranea said nothing. Shaumar drew his sword but before he could attack, the aranea jumped to the ceiling and began to escape.

Shaumar called for him to be stop but the aranea kept running. First along the ceiling, then along the floor after he was knocked down from the ceiling by Faurgar. Running at full speed he escaped. Faurgar summoned his Obsideon Steed and gave chase, only pausing when the aranea went through an opening, which was then quickly filled by the bulk of some sort of undead giant spider. After being ordered to surrender, Faurgar quickly retreated, the sound of crossbow bolts striking the cave behind him.

When Faurgar returned he found the party nearly to blows. Havay was ready to leave, and Zamiraj was nowhere to be found. Both had shown disgust at the actions of the cleric of Tempus. Shaumar refused to see the error of his ways, insisting that the aranea was a captured combatant and that his equipment, as well as the equipment of his mate were fair game. After all, the Stormhawks were the victors were they not? It took words of diplomacy from Xandos, Priam, and King Titus to get the cleric to see the error of his ways, even then, he only recanted his actions when taken to task by Faurgar. Havay was entreated to continue with the Stormhawks, and Zamiraj came out of the shadows once she had seen the actions of her comrades. Not knowing what to do next, the Stormhawks decided to exit the complex and enter again the following day.

At dawn of the following day, the Stormhawks once again entered the complex, intent upon finding the cause of the Drow raids on Dagger Dale. Arriving at the cave complex they had been at the previous day, they entered the room where the aranea had fled, only to find it empty except for the mortaly wounded aranea from the day before. Feeling sorry for their actions of the previous day, the party healed the injured aranea and learned that it had been attacked and left for dead by a group of Drow sentries, who after attacking him had fled to the city of Szith Morcane to warn their comrades. The group decided to press forward, hoping to quickly put an end to their mission.

They found the entrance to the city, a hole in the cave complex, with a Rope of Climbing as the main way up and down. Hoping to do some exploring, Zamiraj quickly climbed down the hole to see where it led. Once down, she began to explore when suddenly she was ambush by two Drow warriors, a Drow mage, a Drow cleric of Kiransalee, and two creatures she had never seen before. They appeared to be Drow, but Drow who had been flayed, leaving just muscle over bone, with some sort of acidic blood oozing from its body.

Knowing she was outnumbered, Zamiraj called for help. King Titus was the first to act, and jumped straight down the hole! Suffering blast of fire and ice, the 2 heroes, along with the help of Priam, managed to make short work of their Drow ambushers. Now entertaining the thoughts of an entire Drow city warned of their arrival, the Stormhawks again left the crypts to plan. They decided to leave the men outside the complex, while Havay diguised the PCs as half-orc slaves, brought to Szith Morcane to be sold. Havay would lead the caravan, with Zamiraj the Tiefling, as his assistent.

The group then made their way into Szith Morcane where they quickly found themselves stumped. Havay had informed the Stormhawks of the giant web that connected the city together, and of its hidden ways of traversal. But it appeared that since he'd been gone, the new Kiransalee rulers had changed the route used. One false move would cause the webing to stick, and summon the monstrous spider that guarded the web.

After discussing what to do, the party decided to embue Zamiraj with as many protection spells as possible, hoping that she wouldn't stick to the web, and that the new route could be found. Zammy quickly moved about the web, and discovered the route to the barracks, inverted mage tower, and the bazar. Hoping to find an old friend, Havay led the group to the bazar.

Once there they began to explore, but no sign of Havay's friend could be found. But before they could escape, an Illithid confronted the group and demanded that the brain of Priam be handed over, or he would alert the guards to the presence of surface dwellers. Hoping not to cause a scene, Havay began to parlay with the Mind Flayer, in an attempt to disuade it. After many sweet words, and an equal amont of veiled threats, the Mind Flayer agreed to let the party pass, but only for a few hours. Again at a loss of what to do next, the Stormhawks left the city to rest for the night.

Instead of leaving the complex completely, the group decided to rest in one of the caves near the city entrance. Guards were posted, and watches assigned before the group rested. While Priam and Zamiraj were on watch, the Stormhawks were ambushed by Drow. Although there were only 4 of them, they proved to be almost enough to overcome the group. Before Priam or Zamiraj could act, the Drow began their attack. Faced against both arcane and divine spell casters, another of the flayed undead, as well as a Blackguard of Kiransalee, the Stormhawks fought for their lives. While the battle was hard fought, and the Stormhawks victorious, the Drow priestess managed to call upon Kiransalee and cast Slay Living upon Priam. Although the avatar of the Red Knight should have succeeded, his time must have come, because after being struck by the Drow cleric, he fell to his feet - dead.

Angered at the death of their long-time companion, the group doubled their efforts and killed the Drow ambushers. Respecting the wishes of their dead friend, they did not attempt to raise him, and Priam Hakkon Warrior, Avatar, and Champion of the Red Knight was buried outside the Dordrien Crypts.

Again the group rested outside the Crypts, planning their attack on the complex. Deciding that allies might be important, the Stormhawks prayed to Tempus for divine guidence. Guided by the wisdom of their god, the group decided to again enter the city disguised, where they would then attempt to speak with the Archmage of Szith Morcane, in an attempt to garner his aid. Havay led all of the group to the inverted tower, where, after many magical tricks he met with Solom Ned'razak, the Archmage of Szith Morcane. Solom, not entirely pleased with the rulership of the Kiransalee worshippers agreed to assist the Stormhawks in their endevor to oust them, in exchange for their help in placing him in charge of the city. They party agreed, and were rewarded with a map of the city, including a floorplan for the House Morcane level, as well as various arcane scrolls that would aid them. Map in hand, the group prepared to storm the level.

After learning that a Forbiddence spell surrounded the level, Xandos used a scroll of Greater Dispel Magic to bring it down. Focusing all of his might he succeeded and the raid was on!

The Stormhawks quickly enacted their plan, which called for a surgical strike to an altar room, where they would then disintegrate sections of the wall until they entered the throne room of Dorina T'sarran, a vampire priestess of Kiransalee, and ruler of the city. After fighting numerous Vampire servents, as well as a couple of Vampire Driders, the Stormhawks reached the room. Using the scrolls provided, Prismatic Walls were placed on one of the doors leading out of the room, and on the door leading further into the complex. Xandos then used another scroll to cast a Wall of Stone on the double doors leading out of the altar room. Safe for the moment, they group then disintegrated the walls leading to the throne room, only to find a hidden room, complete with a copper banded coffin. They had found the resting place of the Vampire! King Titus rushed into the room and swung Thunder Cleaver at the coffin, hoping to break open the copper bands.

With his first strike a deadly Blade Barrier was released, and only his preternatural barbarian instincts save him from being seriously injured. But now their way was blocked. Summoning his magical might, Xandos attempted to dispel this magical trap and succeeded! The way was clear! Faurgar and Shaumar then called upon Tempus and cast many spells of protection upon the group, knowing that only with the help of Tempus would they succeed.

Opening the secret door on the other side of the room, the group prepared to storm the throne room. As they entered, they saw a large pillar, topped by a throne of bone, which was occupied by an incredibly beautiful Drow woman. It could only be Dorrina! Before they could react however, Xandos informed the group that the pillar, woman, and throne were illusions, and that the room was empty. Frustrated, but knowing that their quarry was near, the Stormhawks continued to search for Dorrina.

As they left the throne room, they activated another magical trap, which brought a Flame Strike spell upon the heads of King Titus, Zammy, Faurgar and Xandos. If not for the protections of Tempus, the group would have been seriously hurt. Xandos led the way, and after finding the room of the Black Guard they had killed earlier empty, they group continued. But the room wasn't empty, and a fiendish displacer beast attacked the party as they left the room. The creature proved no match for the Stormhawks however, and was quickly dispatched.

The group continued, knowing that there was just one final place that Dorrina could be hiding. This time King Titus led the way and he quickly moved to the final door and opened it.

Inside was Dorrina herself clad in full armor, and wreathed in flames! Seeing the barbarian king, she called upon Kiransalee and filled the corridor with another Blade Barrier. King Titus lept through the barrier, landing inside the room, where he faced Dorrina alone. But the Stormhawks were never one to abandon a comrade and Zamiraj used her nearly miraculous skills and dove through the barrier, taking no damage from the whirling blades. Faurgar trusted to his armor and just walked through, suffering some injury, but nothing serious. Xandos was the last to pass through, where he too was slightly damaged.

As the Stormhawks faced off against Dorrina, twin clerics of Kiransalee entered the melee, intent upon destroying the intruders.

A fierce battle ensued, with spells being cast back and forth. Faurgar was laid low by the incredible might of the Vampire Priestess, while the twin clerics rained Flame Strikes upon the heads of the Stormhawks. Xandos faced off against Dorrina and managed to severely hurt her, his spells not subject to her innate vampire toughness. But finally he too was brought down, and only his spell of Contingency saved him from certain death. With Xandos safe in Battledale, and Faurgar down, it was left to Zamiraj and King Titus to defeat their enemies. Finally Dorrina was brought down, at which point Shaumar, still outside the room, ordered the men to run to her coffin so they could permanantly destroy her.

As the men ran to the secret room with the coffin they were surprised to find it occupied by 4 quth-maren's, the flayed undead creatures. How had they entered? Looking past them, they noticed that a hole had been created through the Wall of Stone. To make matters worse, the aranea revealed himself to be a Maurezhi, a demon from the pits of hell that fed on the corpses of sentient beings and could assume the shape of other creatures. The men were no match for these foes, and many of them were quickly laid low. As Lieutenant Madislak ran to their rescue, he saw all of the men dead, and a live Seargeant Halomain being carried off by the Maurezhi. Before he could react, the quth-marens charged, intent on feeding upon him.

Fighting a rearguard action, Lt. Madislak and Shaumar confronted the undead creatures, and King Titus and Zamiraj battled the still living clerics of Kiransalee inside the room.

Near the limit of his barbarian rage, King Titus finally killed one of the clerics, but he too fell, exhausted by the battle and the wounds he had received. Zamiraj was alone as she prevented the priestess of even getting off of the floor, until finally, the last remaining cleric died.

Rushing to give aid to King Titus, Zamiraj could hear outside the doomed fight of Shaumar and Lt. Madislak. "For the glory of Tempus!", and "Long live King Titus!" were shouted as first Shaumar, and then finally, after acquitting himself quite well, Lt. Madislak fell to the undead horde.

Safe, for the time being, Zamiraj and King Titus searched the rooms before being teleported back to Battledale by Xandos, who used his Friendship Bracelet to rescue his friends. All they took with them were some gold, a map, and a letter addressed to Dorrina from her Mother, speaking of some great plan that would lay waste to the surface world.

In the end they had defeated Dorrina and her allies, but at great cost. Faurgar lay slain at their feet, and who knew what was happening to the bodies of the Shaumar, Lt. Madislak, Boldivar, Dexim, Axl, Shadowmar, Reth, Seth, Perith, Hobovol, Croaker, and One-Eye? And what fate lay in store for Halomain, carted off by the demon?

For now the Stormhawks would rest and recover, while they gathered new allies in their fight against the Drow. Many questions were still unanswered. Would the raids now stop that Dorrina was dead? What was this plan mentioned in the letter? And who had helped the quth-marens enter through the Wall of Stone? Soon answers would be found, and soon the Stormhawks would visit retribution upon the Kiransalee worshipping Drow. Soon.

This is a test, a test of the emergency broadcast system.