Our Discord campaign takes place once per week and we're encouraged to write up RP as so inclined. This RP is of diary, flashback, or character thoughts in nature, not taking relevance in the actual story. We thought placing this out in the forums would be fun to see what people think of the tale and the RP that comes with it. Understandably, the main story-line won't be covered in depth. Hope you all enjoy. Any feed back will be nice as well. :)
The Plot
A mysterious evil is released from Abyssal holding and unleashed upon the lands of Tymeria. Death and destruction spread quickly, as the world's kingdoms scramble to find its source and put an end to the plague. These ancient beings take hold over the recently departed, retaining the memories and strengths of their deceased hosts. Aimed at ending all live form on the planet and charring the land, our adventurers must track down the Abyssal gate, suffer an unending plague of the dead, and manage to retain their morality as they encounter a world most unpleasant.
Backgrounds
If you want to learn more about the individual characters click the link below.
Born into poverty and abandoned by his parents at young age, Valens has always had to fight to get by. At the age of 16 while attempting to find valuables on a caravan passing through the city, he happened upon a tome. Bound in old dark tan leather and covered in ancient ruins, Valens was drawn quickly to attempting to understand it. A few months when he attempted to use what he had learned to steal more from the same caravan. Waving his hands in the air and mimicking the shapes he saw, Valens was noticed by a man in long bluish green robes with silver and gold trim. This man approached and pulled back his hood. Revealing a half-elf man in his later years, bald with a long white beard. He smiled at the boy.
"You seem to have learned fast my boy" the stranger spoke as Valens stood there in shock from being caught.
"I wasn't doing anything," Valens said under his breath knowing he had been caught, "I was just batting away some flies that's all."
"My child I have a keen eye for magic when I see it. You see the book that you have in your possession is mine." He grinned as he pointed to the book tucked under Valens cloak.
"I have a knack for noticing those with special abilities and you are by far the most curious, my boy." He spoke with an eye inspecting him.
"You see I am part of a council of magi, ones set to protect this land. We search the lands and cities for young ones like your self to bring into our fold. Ones with the power that they have yet to learn." He leaned down looking Valens directly in the eye.
"Yeah what of it." Valens did not believe him attempting to look for a quick exit.
"Look here child. What you just did is no ordinary spell, many who attempt it can not even comprehend the power needed to complete it." His smile grew as he spoke.
"Finish the spell..." the stranger spoke, waiting patiently for Valens to complete it.
Valens looked at the stranger and then back at the cart. Feeling as though this proof of power may get him a reward, Valens closed his eyes and began to repeat the steps from the book that he had read. Finishing the movements, Valens eyes shot open. His pupils glowed with a bright purplish-blue light. He reached out his arms, as a small purse begun to vibrate an glow upon the carriage many feet away. Disappearing with out a trace, then reappearing in his hands. Looking at the stranger Valens was grinning ear to ear.
"You see Valens, I have been watching you for some time. You have a power within you that I have never seen before." He spoke softly. "That spell that you just cast, after only a short time of learning. That spell can only be cast by a member of the council of magi." The stranger stood back up, looking to the cart. Just as his eye glowed with the same purplish-blue light that Valens had just had. The cart disappeared, revealing a runic circle under it.
Valens was confused. "How do you know my name? For that matter, what is your name?"
"My name?" the stranger whispered " My name is Quinn Pengolodh. And you are now my student Valens. All you need to do is join me in this circle." Quinn pointed to the ground under the cart.
Valens thought for a moment, but it did not take him long to decide. He would join this Quinn. He knew that at least he would have a meal for a few days and a warm place to sleep. Valens looked to Quinn and nodded. "I will go with you. Under one condition..."
"Of course my boy." Quinn said, looking puzzled for a moment.
"You must promise me you will make me strong. You must promise me you will teach me everything there is." Valens spoke with slight tears in his eyes.
Quinn nodded with agreement and ushered the boy to the circle. With a loud bang and flash of grayish blue smoke the to where gone. Leaving nothing behind but a slight puff of dust.
It was only a few years into his training that he bagan to show greater signs of power. Quinn began to fear that Valens would not use his powers to help defend the world but rather use them to control and destroy everything and everyone. On the anniversary night of Valens arriving at the Magi tower, Quinn confronted Valens. Valens took the questions personally as an attack on him. "How could Quinn think this? I see him as a father figure." Valens thought to him self. Valens confessed his feelings to Quinn, but he was unmoved by the boy's words. Quinn lifted his staff and pointed at Valens. Valens, shocked and devastated by the betrayal, unleashed a mighty fireball from his hand. Quinn quickly placed his hands out in front of him cast a shield spell. It impacted Quinn with such force that the explosive wave blew Valens out the window of the keep. Crashing to the ground he came to to see the top of the tower keep where he once was completely engulfed in flames.
Valens knew what he had done. The members of the council would never believe what just happened. Valens fled into the surrounding forest. Disappearing into the night while a fire raged in the town he had once called home.
The weeks following the incident at the Council of Magi, Valens was picked up by a traveling troupe of bards and entertainers. Dr. Dranzels Traveling Troupe was a group of entertainment specialist that also dabbled in a little thievery, just to make endsmeet of course. At least that is what Dranzel always said.
Later that year...
The air was crisp that morning. A light frost had covered the landscape overnight. Valens arose from his tent that morning, flashes of a strange dream had haunted Valens sleep that night. He gathered his things and pushed past the entrance of the tent. Dranzel and the rest of the traveling troupe had already been up for some time. Dranzel, a tall half orc with long black hair tied into a pony tail wore a long purple coat with a tan belt around his waist held on by a rather large gold buckle with the letters “DRA”, was tuning his violin by the fire. “Ah! There’s the party animal!” spoke Dranzel in a rough orcish almost playful growl. Valens shielded his eyes against the morning sun as he looked to see who was already up. “Everyone up already I see? Or did we not sleep last night again?” Valens laughed as he rubbed his eyes. The mead from last night’s concert still pumping through his veins.
Kaylie, Dranzel, Kent and Zedd all laughed as Valens stumbled to the fire. Valens sat next to Kaylie, a younger female human with long brown hair one green and one blue eye. Kaylie giggled, “Still a little tipsy from last night are we?” “I’m still new to this,” Valens said as he grabbed the water canteen from Kaylie, “Endless cantrips to distract your ‘audience’ gets tiring and boring. Drinking gets me through the night.” Wiping his mouth and handing the canteen back to Kaylie as she laughed softly to herself. Kaylie and Valens had grown close in the last few months as they exchanged stories of life on the road and friends past. Valens, a taller human with shoulder length brown hair and green eyes, thought to himself, this was what he had been missing all his life. “It has been quiet a long time since I had a group of friends like this.” Valens mentioned to Kaylie, who was cleaning her flute and making sure all the pads on the keys were still intact. “I agree.” Kaylie spoke with a warm smile. “I can pretty much call everyone here family.” A slight chuckle from the rest of the group as they slightly raised there mugs and plates to the statement in a gesture of agreement. Dranzel spoke while grabbing his large oversized purple hat with a long feather sticking out of the top, “Well if you two,” looking at Kaylie and Valens with a grin on his face, “are done ogling over each other. I think its best time that we break camp and prepare to get to our next score.” Valens, with a slight moment of embarrassment, helped Kaylie to her feet and with the rest of the group began to gather the few belongings that the troupe had with them.
The group was preparing to take on their biggest score yet. A large mansion, called Dragonsblight by the previous owner, was on the outside of Vadon. The sprawling capitol of the content of Rin on its eastern coast. The mansion had once belonged to one of the nobles of the Grand Council that had recently passed on and was up for auction. The troupe had no need to place any bids on the home as they planned to brake in and take the whole place before the next owners would even realize that anything was missing. Dranzel had always found a way to bring large amounts of coin to his troupe and this was Valens’s big chance to prove to Dranzel that he was one of the group and could pull his weight.
“Well then everything gathered?” Spoke Kent. The shorter half-elf, for his race, had a large sack on his back and was helping Zedd, a middle aged Dwarf with a long red braided beard and dark black hair in braids with small dwarvish runes tied into them, get the last of the large items into his pack. Group looked around and with a nod of agreement they set out on their way to Dragonsblight.
Later that evening, after leaving all but the most necessary of items for the job, the group made their way to the back of Dragonsblight manor. The four story tall manor had an appearance of a small castle. Constructed of large stone blocks and even larger timbers. There were balconies at every other window on the top floor window. Dranzel pointed up to the middle window and whispered, “That room there. That is the room that my source has confirmed the vault is located in.” Valens paused for a moment, looking up to the room and then back the group. “Are we sure that we can trust this source?” Valens questioned the group. The rest of the team all glared at Valens, as Dranzel placed a firm hand on his shoulder. “Listen I respect you’re questioning of this matter, but trust me, this guy has yet to fail me.” Kaylie nodded with approval her face stern as she had prepared for the moment and calmed her mind. Zedd proceeded to sneak to the side of the manor, keeping an eye out for guards. As Kent, with a flash of arcane energy appeared on the upper balcony that Dranzel has just pointed to. From a rather small pouch, Zedd removed a rope ladder that seem to have no end, and dropped it to the ground where Dranzel, Valens, and Kaylie where waiting. Placing the small sack on the floor of the balcony, Zedd motioned to the group to start climbing up. Kaylie, with almost no sound shot up the ladder, skipping rungs as she moved. Dranzel then motioned for Valens to go next. Valens with less ease as the rest of the group made his way up the rope ladder. With the ladder swaying in the light wind Valens slipped for a moment, only to quickly regain control. Looking up at Kaylie, who had a wide grin on her face at what had just transpired, Valens focused and with the balcony edge close he let the wind push the rope. Using the momentum, Valens launched himself to the edge of the balcony, landing on both his feet on the ledge in a slight crouch. Kaylie and Zedd both smiled at the display put on by Valens. “Impressive.” Kaylie whispered, as she nudge Valens playfully. “Keep antics to a minimum. We need to be focused to get this done quickly and quietly.” Zedd whispered in an assertive tone. Both Valens and Kaylie smiled but nodded in agreement at the remark. At that moment, Dranzel appeared over the ledge.
“Ok Zedd, keep an eye out. Valens. Kaylie. On me.” Dranzel pointed to the two of them, both with a more serious tone on their faces this time, the three of them entered the room through the large window pushing the large red curtains out of the way. The room has a slight glow from the other covered windows with a small amount of light peeking through the curtains. In the center of the room were stood looks like a large raised stone platform with a small orb. Dranzel, placing his hand out to the group to hold them back speaks quietly, “Hold on a moment. This was not what my contact had said was here.” Valens seemed concerned now, as the memory of last night’s dream came rushing back in a flurry of fear and pain. As Dranzel spoke the orb seemed to shimmer and glow with eldritch energies. As the group looked on the room seemed to take on a dark heavy weight.
Dranzel was motionless with a look of awe as from the within the orb, the image of dark figure appeared. “Run!” Valens yelled grabbing Kaylie and Dranzel by the arms and pulling them in the direction he thought the window was in. As the group ran away from the pedestal the orb hissed and popped as cracks began to form across its surface. From the cracks, thick black smoke billowed out and fell to the floor creating the form of a dark shapeless figure. From the darkness a white mask took form. The group was frozen in place as the gaze of creature fell upon them. Dranzel, arcane energy crackling from his fingertips, pointed at the creature, attempting to cast a quick spell. “HOW DARE YOU!” A voice boomed as if it was speaking from all places and with different tones. Dark purple energy arced from the creatures form as it struck Dranzel in the chest. Dranzel had a look of shock as he hit the floor with a thud. “You will come to me girl!” hissed the creature. “Vesh needs a vessel to walk this plane.” Valens grabbed Kaylie’s arm, her body moving without her control towards the crystal at the base of the shadowy figure. “Valens help me!! I am not in control of my body!” Kaylie screamed unable to control her movements. Valens pointing his hand, palm open, at the creature hurled a large crackling blue arcane lightning bolt. Thunder boomed in his chest as his body recoiled from the energy released. The lightning bolt darted across the room striking the center of the creatures mass. “Take that you son of a *****!” Valens yelled Kaylie’s body no longer moving uncontrollably. She grab Valens body hugging him as a sharp pain pierced his armor and his back. The creature had appeared once more. Looking unfazed from the blast the dark figure leaned in close speaking now in a hushed tone, “Vesh will come to you in time. Until then remember this moment as it will be what makes you stronger.” Valens body fell to the floor as the dark crimson of his blood discolored his shirt and armor. Kaylie screamed as the creature enveloped her, eyes turning bright purple and from her mouth black smoke oozed out. Valens began to lose consciousness as the last thing he hears is a blood curdling scream. A tears falls from his eye and roll down his cheek, pooling on the cold marble of the floor.
Lorana was always the good child, doing what was asked of her. But tribe life was always so boring and being the good child was tiresome.While living in the wilderness with the tribe, she learned to appreciate nature, and how to control the elements. Once she was able, she left the tribe and made her way to the city. There, she discovered all the joys of life outside the tribe. Also, alcohol.
But the beauty of the city was just a mask for the darkness that lay below. She soon saw that there were many people struggling in their day to day lives, hungry or starving, and barely able to scrape together enough gold to feed their families. While she wanted to help each and every single one of them, she discovered city living was difficult, and was finding it very difficult to care for herself, let alone anyone else. She began to adventure out of necessity, hoping to score enough gold for her next meal. Her biggest problem was the addiction to alcohol she had developed.
Her father was a young member of a noble elf family living in Talonwood, he fell in love with a slave girl who then became pregnant with Sylvara. To keep their love a secret so that they wouldn't be banished from the family the mother fled and gave birth to Sylvara in secret. She left Sylvara with a nomadic group of wood elves and returned to the family and her secret lover.
The elves raised Sylvara as one of their own and kept the truth from her until the time came where she was old enough to understand why her parents left her. With her time with the elves she showed a natural talent for archery. When she was told the truth about her family she left the elves and returned her find parents in Talonwood, only to find they and murdered by a horde of bandits. She vowed to rid the world of evil.
She decided that she would bring these bandits to justice and try to bring order to Talonwood on her own. She met a very wealthy bounty hunter, Aazliscaath, that took pride in bringing people to justice and would even pay a good price if she brought them in alive, which is how her career started. He took her under his wing and taught her everything he knew - how to deceive the most cunning and fool even the wisest of elves. But eventually, she grew tired of the corruptible behavior. Oh, the people she killed…leaving many women and children to fend for themselves. So, she did what she thought was best, try to rid Talonwood and her people of this corrupt bounty hunter. At sundown, she challenged Aazliscaath – winner take all. Still too young and naive to take on the power of the bounty hunter, she lost. He spared her life, but only on one condition, to abandon her village and never return. Leaving her bruised and bloodied, she was cast out of her village, never to see her people again. Now, she begins her journey to gain strength so that one day she can come back to defeat Aazliscaath and reclaim her village.
Tanya was raised in the faith of Kelemvor and groomed by her family and the church to become a Paladin. Faithful and devout from and early age, Tanya has begun to doubt the gods, and the beliefs she used to hold, after learning some actions her order had taken in the recent past. These actions included the destruction of many honored Baelnorn from the surrounding elf communities. The sorrow and chaos caused by those deeds and the acts of avarice and greed that Tanya has seen among the church and leaders of her order have forced her to leave, searching for the truth. Even if that means she may have to forsake her vows to the holy order.
As the fierce Autumn storm raged high atop the tallest peak of the smoking mountains, a large goliath woman screams in agony, sheltered from the storm by a large cave. She lays on the skin of the very bear that her husband died protecting her form, the skin is black as night and as large as a mammoth, covering almost the entire cave floor. In life this bear had been the largest the Wild Heart tribe had ever seen, an abomination of nature at least triple in size of even the biggest bear they had seen.
The earth shook as the bear roared in anger, as its hide is pelted with a volley of arrows from Onenia’s Longbow. “This is madness” Tholok screamed to his wife as he got up close and realized just how massive this bear was. “Where did it come from?” “How did it get so ******* big?” He thought. None of it mattered anymore because it was upon him and it was too late to retreat. Plus, winter was just around the corner and a bear this size would provide enough meat to feed the tribe for the entirety of the cold months. Tholok “Strong Dream” was chief of the Wild Heart tribe and it was his duty to make sure they survived the harsh winters up here high in the Smoking Mountains. Tholok raised his mighty great axe and swung with all his might as it landed squarely in the haunch of this gigantic creature. It barely seemed to notice, as it swatted Tholok to the side with a swipe of its claw. It turned its attention to the cliff above where Tholok’s wife Onenia “Dream Weaver” is sending arrow after arrow like a swarm of bees angry the bear stole their honey. The bear began charging up the hill at his wife, and in a panic Tholok goes into a frenzied rage. His strength seems to double and even his size and speed seem to increase as he chases down the bear and tackles it off the cliff just before it reaches his love, Onenia. Tholok has his fall broken as he lands on the massive bear, he grips his great axe and begins swinging recklessly as if his life depends on it, because it does. The bear, having the wind knocked out of it by the fall, finally regains its footing as it realizes this fight has become a lot more even than it had originally been. In the end both the bear and the goliath lay bloodied and dead. Tholok died a hero to his people slaying such a mighty beast and securing food for the cold months, but he left his pregnant wife behind to raise their child without him.
Lightning crashes just outside and another boom echoes through the cave, just as Onenia gives one last scream and a push. A baby boy is born onto the bear skin rug of the very beast that murdered his father. Behind Onenia on the wall hangs the head of the beast and just under it a necklace made from the claws of the bear that will some day belong to this young goliath named Volath. The shaman acting as the midwife has a sad look on her face as she hands Onenia her baby boy. The baby is a runt, and the look is because the shaman knows that in this tribe the runts are cast aside to die.
A young goliath boy of seventeen breathes heavily, sweat drips from his chin as he circles another young goliath almost a full head taller than himself. Each age group has a Champion, it is training and practice for next year when they are finally eighteen and can compete to be the champion of the entire tribe. These games of strength happen every year about this time for the Wild Heart tribe. Volath’s father had been a reigning champion for many years before he relinquished his title to become the tribe leader. Volath and his mother lost their high standing in the tribe when she refused to take the new tribe leader as her husband and then refused to leave her newborn son to die because he was too small and weak. Seventeen years ago, they wanted to leave him for death because he was too small and now at seventeen one more victory in this wrestling match will name him the seventeen and under village champion. An aging goliath woman looks on in awe and laughs to herself. She knows her son hasn’t trained a day in his life for this and is a foot shorter than the rest of the boys, but he has more heart than all of them combined. She thinks fondly of her husband and as she watches her son do battle with a boy much bigger than himself; she can’t help but remember watching Tholok fight the mighty bear and a sense of pride washes over her.
Volath May have never caught up to the other goliaths in size, but what he lacked in stature he gained in strength and determination. Standing at just under seven feet tall he was by far the smallest male goliath in the tribe, and smaller than most of the women as well. Stature isn’t the only thing that sets Volath apart from the rest of his tribe. At seventeen Volath stood a full head shorter than the other goliaths in the strength games but he still won easily. Then, the next year when it came time to compete to become champion of the entire village, he didn’t. Volath was a fierce hunter and warrior just like his father and mother but he felt no need to impress a tribe that didn’t want him. The only thing keeping Volath here was his mother. You see, most goliaths love the tribe life. They want to stay high in the mountain tops and keep to themselves. Volath on the other hand has an affinity to the villages of humans, dwarves and halflings he found on the lower parts of the Smoking Mountains. He loved to explore the woods and spend time with the woodland creatures that seemed to love this gentle giant for some reason. The rest of the tribe wants to stay high in the mountains and prove to each other how strong they are but Volath wants to use his strength to protect the people and animals that live on his mountain.
Volath has even become a bit of a hero to the people and animals of the mountain. Once, he tackled and killed a large grizzly bear and killed it with his bare hands to save an injured badger. Another time, he fought off an entire horde of bandits that were terrorizing the human farms a ways down the mountain all by himself. And the Dwarves! He became their champion by impressing them with how much he can drink! One night he drank an entire cask of dwarven fire water by himself and then won the dwarf tossing competition!
Then one sad winter his mother fell ill. He cared for her and waited on her hand and foot all winter, this was just one more thing that separated him from other Goliaths. Most view the ill as weak and a burden and cast them aside. Not Volath. He cared for her to the bitter end. She died peacefully with a smile on her face. She had no interest in fighting it, and welcomed death. Onenia knew she was the only reason Volath was still with the tribe. She no longer wanted to hold him back and she couldn’t wait to meet Tholok in the afterlife. Just before she passed she pulled Volath close and whispered in his ear. She told him of a great city at the bottom of the mountain called Khisfire, and that he should go there in search of companionship and adventure. Early the next morning, without saying a word to anyone else, Volath dug his mother a grave and buried her next to his father. He created a gravestone for them both and topped it with the mighty bear head from the wall of his cave. Lastly, he folded up the great bear skin rug and packed it with his meager possessions, put on the bear claw necklace from the wall, grabbed his mighty great axe and began descending from the lofty peak of the smoking mountains.
Volath strolled in to the city of Khisfire when the sun was high overhead a few days later. He had never seen a city like this, it was amazing and a little overwhelming. Volath decided he better find a tavern and get a drink to calm his nerves before setting out to find an inn for the evening. He wandered into the first pub he came across and found a stool next to a dwarf he saw sitting alone. Volath has always liked drinking with dwarves the best, they have the best ale and the best stories. Volath and the dwarf hit it off and one drink turned to two and tow turned to twenty and before Volath knew it the sun had set. He stumbled into the streets and started looking for an inn for the evening. A few minutes down the road Volath turned his head towards some commotion just as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen came crashing into him. She had pale skin and dark black hair with streaks of deep red dye in it. She had several tattoos, one spiraling down her right arm and another going up her left side. Several earrings adorned her ears and two more adorned her lip and her eye brow. She wore tight leather pants with a dagger sheathed on each side, a tight revealing leather topped tied up just barely enough and spiked leather bracers. She had blood splatters across her chest, face and dripping from her hands. Her blood-stained hands clenched two more daggers that had clearly been used very recently and she was being chased by two men. As she ran into him, Volath caught her and stopped her from falling. The two men reached out to grab her, and he instinctively pulled her away and set her down behind him. Volath asked the men what they wanted with her and without response they pulled their own daggers and attacked him. They clearly didn’t realize the mistake they had just made. Volath caught both men by their forearms stopping their attacks, and as he picked them up by their arms and tossed them backwards he saw fear fill their eyes. Lightning fast, Volath reached behind him and pulled his father’s Mighty Great Axe aloft and with a single arc chopped both men in half before they hit the ground. Blood and innards ran everywhere, but luckily it was late, most people were asleep, and it happened so fast that it didn’t draw too much attention.
Volath and the girl fled the city. She smiled and thanked him and introduced herself. Her name was Maven BlackBeak and Volath was immediately smitten with her. As they traveled away from the city Maven began to tell him about herself, but for some reason that she couldn’t quite put her finger on she told him the truth. This was something that surprised her, normally she wouldn’t be so open and honest with almost anyone let alone someone she had just met. But when she looked into the goliath’s face he smiled and something about his big green eyes told her he was honest and kind. The pair traveled away from the city with no real destination in mind. The goliath could see that Maven had lived a hard life and she had told him a few of the things that she had done but he could see the good in her and he began to fall for her. He didn’t care where they were heading as long as they were together, he wanted to protect her, and after a few weeks of traveling he realized that she also didn’t seem to want to leave his side.
Brought together by a tender mix of dreams, broken vows, and personal failures, the stories of Lorana, Sylvara, Tanya, and Volath began in the quiet village of Havehollow. Having heard local folk song of a haunted mansion with great riches within, the tavern patrons-turnd-group followed a whimsical bard to Astabar's Manor. There they rescued a wizard by the name of Valens, who was in search of peculiar, magical items within the manor. After uncovering its secrets and evading its many traps, a final showdown with the undead mage, Astabar, took place after entering a wispy portal gate within his chambers. The group collected their bounty, with Valens taking into his possession a mystic wand of dark energy, and returned to Havehollow to hear that the town of Ravens Rest was under siege by an encroaching group of Orcs.
Dungeon Master:
Astabar enters the front door and flies up the stairs. He was finally ready to perform the dreaded ritual to rid himself of this cursed wand. Astabar wondered how his journey came to this; He had always been so careful with the magical artifacts he collected and stored.
"This damned wand," he mutters, "Thinks it can trap me in my own house, does it? Take your cursed energy with you when you're banished to the Abyss."
The wand, while seemingly ornate at the beginning, has recently crackled to life, tearing apart threads of reality at an increasing rate. Now, Astabar’s life has been threatened by the exponential growth of the wand’s awakening. Smiling, he gathers the wand and necessary reagents required to open a gate to the Abyssal Plane. Astabar places the cursed wand in the center of the ritual circle, as he begins the incantation. The room is shrouded in the light of dancing candles while a darkness grows above the ceremonially decorated desk. Astabar’s eyes close, channeling the magical energies from deep within. He can feel his life force pulse through his fingertips as the words escape his lips. The darkness grows, a smoky, purple oval; The whispers of foreign tongues amidst cries of pain leak out.
Unbeknownst to Astabar, the wand takes on a slight glow, as arcane tendrils search to connect it with his pulse points. It appears to be drawing power from his incantation, a battery soaking in all available current. With a thunderous blast, the wand emits a shock wave of arcana, suffocating the candlelight and leaving the study in darkness.
Astabar blinks rapidly, trying to adjust his eyes to the light. His head is spinning in a daze, “What happened?” He looks around, as he sits up on the floor. He recognizes his study, but everything is washed in a faint, purple tone. Movement catches his eye in the far left corner of the room. “Could it be?!” he whispers. Astabar watches as a spirit passes through the corner of his manor and down into the floor. “What have I done?” The wand continues to crackle upon the desk, as the faded oval dances with dark energy. Four days pass, as Astabar lies on the cold, stone floor, hungry and dehydrated. He struggles to find the strength to move, hearing the muffled sound of footsteps grow louder. His son, Astrid, enters his study, calling for his father, “Are you home? Please, where are you?” Astabar reaches a hand out and rasps, “Here, son, I’m here!” Astrid hears nor sees his father on the floor, who now resides in the Ethereal Plane after the wand’s shockwave cast him out. Instead, Astrid views a glowing wand on his father’s desk, pulsating with arcane energy...
Astrid is drawn to the wand, and slowly creeps over. He can feel himself being called to, beckoned to reach out and grasp it. Trancelike, Astrid approaches the desk and extends a hand. He feels the tingling of arcane tendrils, as they caress the contours of his arm and ride up to his shoulder. Astrid grasps the wand, and immediately seizes up, as lightning current shoots throughout each appendage and organ of his body. Astabar cries out in sorrow, as he watches his son’s body fall limp to the floor, mere feet away from him. The life force drains from Astrid; the arcane tendrils slowly retracting to the wand. Astabar cries as anguish surges through him, but cannot produce the tears. To witness one’s own kin struck dead is more than his tired heart can handle. He lays on the floor, defeated, knowing that his time was soon to follow. Hours drift by; he lays motionless, awaiting death. As despair passes into exhaustion, his eyes begin to close, but movement struck his eye once more. He notices, in the dim light of the new morning, that there was a twitch of energy in Astrid’s fingers. Soon to follow, Astrid manages to pick himself off the floor and stand up once again. Death begins to set in for Astabar. With the final bit of life he has left, he cranes his neck to catch glimpse of his son’s face one last time. Astabar is horrified to see Astrid with a crooked smile and lowered brow, staring right back at him. This was no longer his son. Astrid strides out the room, closing the locked door behind him.
Valens While within Astabar's Manor
Purplish blue arcane energy cracked from Valens’s finger tips as he tried to remember the spell.
"Haiyasse Annon." He whispered as he concentrated on the physical room that he and his companions had been teleported from.
The arcane energy started to swirl around him but fizzled out with a light crackle and buzz.
"Gods be damned!!" Valens yelled as he slammed his spell book against the cold floor of this other worldly plane.
"If only I where a little stronger..." He muttered to himself in frustration.
"The Professor always used this spell to get out of sticky situations. Why can't I remember the incantation?"
Anger and frustration grew as he looked around the room at the traveling companions that were this motley crew. Valens would not let his new-found companions fall this day.
"I will not stand idle! I will not let it happen again!" Valens yelled, arcane energy erupting around him in a torrent of blues and purples, his eyes almost aflame in dark red as he screamed.
Sweat dripping from his forehead he collapsed. Images of a town burning. Of a woman being ripped from his hands and a blood curdling screams as a life was extinguished before Valens. His now fainted body lay on the cold floor a single tear rolled down his cheek, pooling on the floor. Snapping awake in a cold sweat, Valens quickly grab his tome and began to write every detail of the dream down.
"One day I will find you..." He whispered to himself.
Their journey continued east on the Kings Road. Entering the city of Ravens Rest, the party made their way to the local Inn, where they met a mapmaker by the name of Franklin. He gave them a tattered map of the region and a lengthy tale of how his wife was mishandled by the local lord, before being interrupted by a male dwarf named Burbreck. Burbreck informed them of the location of local orcs and that these demons had nothing but trouble to cast upon the town. Burbreck was sure to be the one to bring an end to it.
After a heated discussion, the party broke for only a short time while Volath, Sylvara, and Lorana made their way to inquire with the lord of the city, Lord Frandrick, regarding the Orc problem and to see if a bit of coin could be made. The group quickly got in over their head as Volath broke through the door and stormed in looking for the lord. After a brief confrontation between Volath and the guards, Lorana and Sylvara convinced Volath to drop his weapons and subdue. The Guards promptly took him to the dungeon.
Lorana and Sylvara quickly went in search of the rest of group and made their way back to the the lord of Ravens Rest keep, to plead for the freedom of Volath and to attempt to clear their names as well. Lord Frandrick was less than pleased with the group, ultimately demanding an evening spent with Lorana in return for slaying the local orcs and freeing Volath. Lorana was to spend the evening with the lord upon her return, to which she reluctantly agreed. Lord Frandrick reluctantly promised coin for each Orcish head they could return to him from their mission. The only catch was they had to travel with the personal guard of the lord to make sure the groups end of the bargain was upheld.
Once they gathered the last of their possessions and materials needed for their quest, they made their way north into Ravenswood in search of the Orcs and the forces that meant to bring destruction to the city of Ravens Rest. They were caught off-guard when captured by an encampment of druids, who've taken to the solitude of these woods. With a hurried explanation of their recent events, tensions eased and the party learned of the druid's alliance with a group of defected, peaceful Orcs. The leader of this group, Feng, had ventured back to Val'dul Keep in hopes of collecting more Orcish brethren who wished to escape the violence and brutality of the clan. He has not returned.
The adventurers offered their services and set out to find him, leading them through the friendly Orc encampment to the east. Here they encountered Burbreck once more, fiercely engaged in battle with Orcs he so passionately despised. The Goliath, Volath, made quick work of subduing the Dwarf, as they bound him by rope and exchanged pleasantries with the Orcs. With a short rest, they head north to Val'dul in hopes of locating Feng and perhaps even neutralizing a threat to their new friends.
Volath, While within Lord Frandrick's Dungeon
Two guards lead Volath down a dimly lit brick hallway to a cell. As one opens the cell door the other attempts to push Volath in but meets what might as well be an immovable wall. Volath turns and looks down at the small man with a sly grin on his face and peacefully walks into the cell. The guard slams the door behind him in anger and storms away. Volath lets out a deep sigh, he knows how close he came to losing his temper and letting his rage get the best of him. There is too much at stake right now, too many important things to do. The room is barely big enough to hold the Goliath and barren save for a bucket in one corner and a pile of straw in another acting as a bed. He lays down in the straw and his thoughts drift to Maven. “I wish she was here, she would know what to do” Volath thinks. It had been about a week since Maven had taken off in the middle of the night. She had nearly gotten him killed. One of Kethra’s assassins that was after her had poisoned his blade, and while Volath made quick work of him, the poison from the minor wound he inflicted began to wreak its toll on Volath’s body. Maven nursed him back to health and on the very night she was sure the poison had run its course she woke him, kissed him deeply and disappeared into the night leaving the giant barbarian confused and alone. Volath had searched but if Maven doesn’t want to be found she wont be, at least not by the simple Goliath.
Valens, within Ravenswood
Valens awoke in cold sweat, mouth gagged hands tied tightly behind his back. Tugging a little bit at the bindings, he could tell that he was tied to something large and extremely heavy. It was near pitch black as Valens tried to inspect his environment and see where his companions where in relation to his position. As far as he could tell there was nothing close by, no noises or animals. All he could hear is the soft dripping of water, at least he thought it was water. Valens took this moment to close his eyes and focus on the dripping. Concentrating he tried to discern a pattern. With shock, Valens realized it was not water, it was the sound of dripping blood. Panic began to take Valens over as the fear of the unknown grabbed control of his thoughts. “There dead all of them!” Valens screamed in his mind. A dark entity begun to grab at his coat nearly clawing at him. Gritting his teeth he stares right into his eyes and says. "Sh-she's ss-ssiiuz-ulq" Valens could see into the depths of his pupils, something stirring, no swirling violently, spinning in every direction.
Snapping awake this time in the druid camp. Valens quickly looked around finding his new companions asleep, the fire hissing and popping with low light. A faint whisper of the dream still haunting in the wind around him.
Lorana, First Night within Ravenswood
Lorana felt very much at home, here in the druid encampment. As her companions began to sleep around her, she felt a great need to stretch her legs and explore the camp. It had been some time since she'd been around the people of her tribe, and as much as she loved the city and all its splendor, a small part of her longed for her family, and the small village that she once called home. She fished around in her pack, pulling out the bottle of wine, and began to wander around the camp, getting drunk as she did so.
She'd always been bored, staying in one place. She wasn't even lucky enough to be of a nomadic tribe. She'd always longed to travel, to see the city, but once she did, her life took a turn she never could have predicted.
This drink. She held the bottle before her, watching the glimmering firelight dance off it. This drink had a hold on her. She'd tried to stop, if only for a short while, but then the trembles began. She'd managed to hide her shaking hands from her new found companions, but for how long? She always needed more and more to feel... what passed as normal now. Shaking her head, she pushed away the thoughts. Cross that bridge when you get to it.
She spent some time conversing with the other druids, hearing their stories, learning what she could from them. As the drink clouded her brain, mingling with the stories, she wandered back to her companions. Sitting on the ground, hard, she fell into an uneasy trance, forgetting her promise to watch over the group as they slept.
Valens, First Night within Ravenswood
Valens stared up to the night sky, contemplating the dream that had just jerked him out of his sleep."They need to know what is going on", he said to himself while Tanya's snoring seemed to sound off like a wild beast in the cool night air."That demon had me, and then I awake in Haveshallow as though it where a dream?" He questioned him self as he tried to ignore the dwarfs loud trumpeting snores. Valens removed the wand from Astabar's manor, careful not to touch it this time. "Is this the great evil that I am meant to obtain? Or is this something that 'HE' wants me to use?" Valens quickly tucked the wand back into his robs. "Enough Valens, I know what you are thinking... You can not save her with this. You can not bring your former friends back with this. This weapon will lead to only suffering and pain. I need to get this to the council. Maybe they can help me rid this item from my possession." Muttering to himself as he looked out into the woods, the pitch black made his mind race. As a tall dark figured moved quickly behind a tree, Valens blinked quickly trying to see if his mind was playing tricks on him. There was nothing there but trees and the wind. As he closed his eyes and tried to calm himself, a voice began to faintly echo in the back of his mind. "SSssshhhhheees now mine Valens. You can not save her now" The voice spoke with a quiet evil almost demonic nature to it. Valens quickly sat up, looking around again this time the wand of Astabars was in his hand and pointed out in front of him. "What....? What have I done?"
Volath, First Night within the Ravenswood
Volath felt oddly at home in the Druid camp. It reminded him of his village back home. He wasn’t sure why but he trusted these people and felt safe here. The Goliath unpacked his bag and made his bed for the night and soon laid his head down for some much needed rest, but as he closed his eyes sleep did not take him. Instead, his mind began to race and his thoughts kept him from drifting off. Volath knew he had an important part to play in all of this “darkness” and “Evil”, the Shaman had told him he did, but it was all so confusing and he didn’t know what to do or where to go. There were so many things Volath wanted to or thought he should be doing right now, but he was not the leader or decision maker his father had been. How was he to know what the right course of action was? How should he know what to do and who to trust? The Barbarian’s sense of fair play and of right and good made him want to deal with the evil Lord of Ravensrest. His desire to always help those in need, wanted to lead him in search of the orc with the druids. Knowing he has a roll to play in defeating this upcoming evil made him want to find his way into this council meeting and offer his axe in their fight against what is coming. Of course, greater than any other, was his desire to find Maven and protect her. His mother after all had dreams and visions of her own, and her last dream while on her deathbed had lead him straight to Maven. This couldn’t be a coincidence. Two dreams in the same night by two village elders leading him in the same direction, the two had to be connected. As all these thoughts and insecurities swirled through Volath’s head he finally started to drift off to sleep thinking of Maven. He wasn’t sure of much right now, but he was sure that he loved her and that she loved him too. He didn’t know when or how, but he knew he needed to return to Khisfire and destroy Kethra and her thief’s guild so Maven could stop running once and for all.
Dungeon Master, Berbrek's Ending
“Momma, when’s daddy comin’ home?” asks little Melna. “I’m not sure dear. Once he’s finished protectin’ us all, no doubt.” Athla responds. As the covers are tucked cleanly under Melna’s chin, she mutters, “I sure do miss him.”
Athla kisses her daughter on the forehead and blows out the bedside candles. She doesn’t voice her concerns, but shares the same fears as Melna. What if he never comes back? What if this journey was his last? What if their daughter has to grow up without her father? Athla closes the door to Melna’s room and pours a small cup of wine.
It has been three weeks since her husband left for the hills. He always spoke of such grand events on his travels, singing songs and telling tales of excitement by the fire. Melna was always brought home an exotic gift from afar, relishing her father’s return.
Unfortunately for this small, mountainside family, things will never return to normal. Athla will soon become forced to provide for Melna and herself as head of household. Her best hope will be that another dwarvin male takes her hand and provides for them in return. Melna will learn to endure the biased eyes of her peers and fend for herself while struggling to learn the lessons of life.
Together they must grieve quickly and rebuild their lives, as their beloved husband/father, Berbrek, will not be coming home this winter.
Sylvara, Entrance into Val'dul Keep
As Sylvara waited to enter into the next treacherous room, she couldn't help to stop and think about the things that had just happened over the past 24 hours. "Keep it together", she thought to herself. Memories from her past that she had tried to push down so deep were finally starting to bubble up again. She wants to be able to trust these other companions she's following beside, but she can't decide to what extent. If she reveals her past, would these "friends" eventually use this information against her? What would prevent them from killing her too if she disagreed with anything they said? They killed the dwarf. What use is she to them besides another body to help kill other beings? She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
The image of Tanya hacking at the dwarf's neck was all she could see. Blood soaking into the soft wet grass. She could hear an all too familiar laugh in the back of her mind. Was it the one she feared most? She could hear the deep, booming laughter in her ears now. The image of the dwarf disappeared, and a far worse image crossed her mind. It was a young male wood elf, just a few moons younger than she. He was pleading to her, "Please don't hurt me or my family. I promise I will pay." But the pleading was quickly muted underneath the deep, booming voice. "He didn't pay me what he owes. You must kill him", the voice demanded. "You must kill him now. KILL HIM NOW!!!" As she drew her bow, the voice of Volath suddenly woke her from her half dream. Except it wasn't a dream, it was a memory - a nightmare. Volath yelled to Sylvara, "What are you doing? Are you coming?" "Coming", she yelled back. She pushed the memory from her mind as she did with most others. But how long would she be able to keep this from her companions?
Lorana, Resting Overnight in Chorun
Staring into the fire of the burning corpses, Lorana released a heavy sigh. Why didn’t I bring more wine, she thought. Or something stronger? She rummaged through her pack, coming up empty. Shit, I’m not going to make it. Her hand trembled and she clenched it into a fist. ******* Volath. Why did he have to bring up those humans? She closed her eyes, and attempted to rest, but images of Berbrek being killed, and those humans exploding kept replying in her mind. Why had she attacked them? Had she murdered them like Tanya had murdered Berbrek? No, she told herself. That was different. Wasn’t it? She replayed the events back in her mind. Surely they were advancing to attack them, right?
She buried her face in her hands, and quietly sobbed. Maybe these orcs had something to help her get back to her normal self. Just gotta keep it together. Don’t let the others see.
Valens, Resting Overnight in Chorun
"Why did you abandon us?" Lorana's words where ringing through his mind like a temple bell in the early morning. "I guess the mirror image spelled work." Valens chuckled to himself as he dwelled on the thoughts of what Lorana and Volath had said to him this night. Every time he heard word of 'her', Valens would rush off to investigate. Leaving behind anyone that was with him. This time was different from the last. The information provided was nothing more than a twisted whisper of what had reached him. A soft aura of arcane blue energy was surrounding Valens as he sat by the camp fire. His companions all peacefully asleep. Anger was filling him, as this was the last time he would chase a ghost from his past.
Taking out a small pouch from his jacket, and without inspecting its contents, Valens tossed it into the fire before him. The pouched opened slightly to reveal a scroll as the fire engulfed it. This "great evil" to the north was more pressing on his mind now. Could his new companions approach this challenge or would it be the end of everything? Valens had prepared himself long ago for death, but the tactics of the fight raced through his mind like a mouse through a field. How would he be able to pull together all these random people. Valens then turned his thoughts to himself. Could he even manage to control his own powers, as the arcane torrent that was gently surrounding him was now violently whipping and rushing with vibrant blue and purplish haze that then dispersed in a soft breeze of energy out over the fire. "Do I have what it takes to do what is needed in the end?" Valens whispered softly to himself as the sun began to arise of the orc camp before him.
Volath, Resting Overnight in Chorun
Volath awoke from his fitful rest drenched in sweat. The stench of death and battle still hung in the air as the bodies of the fallen orcs turned to embers. The bloody image of Brebrek still lingering in his mind, haunting him. Memories from the night before slowly came back as his head cleared of sleepiness, but last night’s events remained foggy as they often do when the bloodlust of battle consumes Volath. In his dreams Volath had been the one to wield the blade that ended Brebrek, but now to his relief he remembered this not to be true. But what is the difference? It could have just as easily been him. Hell, it might have been if things would have played out differently. Maybe it should have been. The others seem to lack the fortitude to do what needs to be done, Tanya hasn’t been the same since it happened. What other option did they have? Berbrek was going to get them killed. Even the mighty StormBorn wouldn’t have been able to take on the entire camp of Vaduul all at once, and with the way the Dwarf was screaming it wouldn’t have been long before they all entered the fray. Volath did regret how it happened though. It was his decision to take Berbrek captive that lead to this entire situation spiraling out of control. Where was Valens? He always knows what to do. Things would have turned out differently with his guidance. If Berbrek had been defeated back in Cho Run at least he would have died a warrior in battle and not with his hands tied. Volath had good intentions though. He wanted Berbrek to see the error of his ways, to see that his new allies were different from the war mongering orcs of the Vaduul tribe. Sadly, it became abundantly clear that Berbrek was entirely too stubborn and ignorant to embrace change. Volath was not going to let this little hate filled dwarf free to once again attack these innocent orcs. He took no pleasure in it, but it had to be done. He wished Lorana could see that.
As the previous night’s events continued to dance and twirl through Volath’s head like the smoke from the remaining embers of last night’s fire, he pulled out his flask of water and a tattered rag and began to wash the blood and dirt from his wounds. He had taken quite a beating last night. His muscles ached as he leaned towards the fire and sunk his dagger into the burning coals until his blade was also glowed red. Volath pulled a leather strap from his pack and bit down on it as he began to cauterize his numerous wounds. His entire body tensed with each touch of the blade to his skin, his head swam with pain as he tried not to wake his companions. Soon the job was done and Volath crawled back to his bed and exhaustion and sleep once again took him.
Sylvara, Resting Overnight in Chorun
Sylvara curled up by the rubble and tried to create a pillow out of a small pile of leaves. While everyone else was sleeping, her mind began to race. "What just happened? There's so much fighting amongst our company. Which side do I pick? Do I stay neutral? I really don't agree with the way we handled Berbrek, but I can't say anything. I need these people to help me." She closed her eyes and thought of her village - the place she so longed to go back to. "I need their help to go back, but I can't think about that right now." Pictures of her friends flooded her memory. The people who raised her were so kind to her. There must be something she can do. She could see people she loved and cared for begging for scraps. She didn't want that life for them. She must go back...eventually. "Damn you Aazliscaath! I will kill you. Mark my words." A deep, booming laugh was all she could hear again. "Stop it! STOP IT!!!" She woke suddenly. Looking down at her hands, she realized she had four small crescent shapes carved into the palm of each hand - raw and bloodied. Her hands had been gripping so hard, nails digging into her palms. "I must deal with this first. Vengeance will come for him soon enough."
Tanya, Resting Overnight in Chorun
Laying down weary from all that has happened, sleep falls over Tanya quickly but not restfully.
A sense of dread, of being watched….and judged. A flash of movement and sound, the cold slice of a blade followed by the parting of flesh and a gurgle of bloody breath. Guilt, sorrow, anger, fear…. Another flash, a defiant face covered in blood and dirt. Laughing, blood pouring from the mouth. A scream of terror and a searing pain.
Tanya suddenly in a darkened wood on a dusty overgrown path. She looks around seeing only dense forest and a murky glow as if seeing smoke at dusk. She walks down the path, feeling unseen eyes on her, sizing her up, the dread building in her. Ahead the path splits into two, one well trod and lit by lanterns softly glowing a pale white like mining lanterns. The other dark and rocky, rusted metal that looks almost like blades and shields strewn across it. The soil stained in blood.
What path should she take? Hesitating the unseen eyes burning into her waiting to see what she does.
“Quit yer dalying child and walk the path, ye didn’t balk at taking my head!” Tanya looks down and sees the severed head of Berbrek glaring at her with dead eyes. “You choose to slay an unarmed, bound dwarf rather then fight damn orcs you motherless waste of flesh” the head visibly rotting, the sallow flesh peeling away to yellowed bone. “You killed me in cold blood and for WHAT? To save those scumm!” The skull slowly lifts into the air on a growing mass of rotting flesh. “Have you no honor HAVE YOU NO SHAME!” A monster of twisted flesh and bone, many faces, all burbrak all talking at once but all saying different things.
“Betrayer” “Heathen” “Forsaken” “Murderer”
Tanya backs away face pale, undeniable fear and guilt swelling, threatening to take over.
“Kelemvore guide me what should I do, what should i have done!” she howls into the sky that grows darker around her.
The many faced thing before her shouts her down” Your god will not answer you, faithless lost soul!” the faces twist into grins “ You choose your path now you must walk it, there is no forgiveness, no guidance, you are alone with me forever!”
The world goes dark save for a fierce red glow behind the creature. “You are mine now little fleshling, mine and mine alone” It leaps forward the faces melting away and a vast black toothed maw opens seemingly wide enough to consume the world.
Tanya jolts into wakefulness as those black teeth close around her, shaking, covered in a cold sweat, and unterly filled with guilt and dread.
“Have I realy fallen so far? All I wanted was the truth, answers about what I should be doing with my life……..” she whispers to herself as she rolls over. “I took the life of a man that I judged but did I do the right thing.” Hugging herself tightly “Did I judge wisely and justly or did i murder an innocent helpless dwarf….” sobbing so quietly that others likely wouldn't notice she falls asleep….****y for the nightmares to return over and over again.
Dungeon Master, Story of Marl and Karl
Marl and Karl, two friends founded by the likeness of their name, have set out to avenge the loss incurred at the Hillcrest family farm. These old mates have captured the eyes of the Hillcrest sisters, who are as beautiful as they are resourceful. They are hoping to plan a joint wedding ceremony coinciding with next year’s harvest moon.
During the previous night, an Orc raid had drove through the Hillcrest farm, killing their livestock and ruining much of their crops. Pickings will be slim going into year’s end; the family likely having to rely on debts and goodwill to make it through the coldest months. Marl and Karl can’t stand to leave their beloved living in such stature, especially after the hard work and preparation they’ve witnessed.
In efforts to impress the Hillcrest sisters, as well as gain favor with Mr. Hillcrest himself, the boys have determined themselves to deliver revenge upon the Orcs and collect what is owed to the family. They donned dark wool attire, sharpened their daggers, and set out unto the night. If all went to plan, these Orcs would not know what hit them as Marl and Karl slinked through the night!
“Great job picking apart this wall, Marl. I’m surprised this place is even standing with such shoddy masonry.” pointed Karl. “Shh!” Marl scowled, “Tighten your lips, as you know not who may be listening for us!”
The two began picking through barrels in what was certainly a dimly lit storage room, but are not satisfied with their findings.
“Damn, nothing but blasting powder,” Karl relays with disappointment, “We’re going to have to head in if we want to bring back anything of value.” Marl turns to nod, immediately noticing a large figure approaching.
“Hello friends! We mean you no harm. Sheathe your weapons. We’re simply lost adventurers. Can you tell us where we’ve stumbled?” speaks this foreign giant. The two immediately feel their stomach rising into their throat, as they have been discovered. Being captured here would almost certainly mean death.
“NOWHERE! LEAVE!” Marl hurriedly stammers, as he tries to remember where he left his coin purse. He contemplates the probability of them leaving if he offers up all his gold.
“What are you looking for, friend?” the mountain of a man calls into the darkness. If they weren’t heard by now, surely this newfound guest would bring the entire keep upon them. Marl and Karl glance at each other, remaining silent.
The giant follows up again, “Would you tell us the name of this place that we’ve come to?” “We don’t know what this place is! Just leave!” Karl begs. Of the two, he is handling this fate-sealing situation much worse for wear. The man outside turns around and heads away.
“Marl, this was a bad idea. We shouldn’t even be here! We should have stayed home and found another way to help out the girls. Who were we kidding to sneak into an Orc keep?!” cries Karl. A faint light slowly grows brighter as an orb of fire comes racing into the room, exploding into a barrel of beans. “...and now they’re launching fire at us!”
“...Karl,” Marl whispers, “We’re standing in a room full of blasting powder…” The pair rush to the edges of the deteriorated wall just in time to see another streak of fire come blasting past, showering rice all over the room. “We need to get out of here or we’re going to die!” From out in the night, the two friends can hear a woman scream, “DINNERTIME, *****ES!” The familiar fiery glow begins illuminating the room for a third time, as another firebolt approaches. The two friends lock on to each other’s gaze, as fate breathes down upon them. Marl forms a half-smile and crosses his heart with his forearm, while Karl grasps at Julia’s pendant hanging from his neck.
The room ignites into a blinding flash of white.
Valens, Resting Overnight in Chorun
“To My Beloved Valens, I know what you've been doing these past few months Valens. I gave you my heart and have been prepared to give all that I am and you threw it into the gutter.
I have loved you for over seventeen years and I thought that you felt the same for me. But it seems that I was mistaken and played for a fool. I know that Dranzel gave you a piece of his mind when he saw you there and for that I'm grateful to him.
I wish to talk this over with you when we had finished this last heist. For the time being, I'm sending you my former engagement ring for safe keeping until I return. We will have much to discuss and my family will have much to say on the matter once they receive my other letter. My heart is throbbing with so much pain, my legs and arms feel like they're being held down by heavy weights. My hands won't stop shaking, the tears haven't stopped pouring out, and I can barely see through them.
Do you have any idea how much you've meant to me all these years? I am in so much pain right now, Valens, and I can't stand it. It hurts more than any wound that I've ever received in battle because it isn't a physical wound but a wound to my heart. The very heart that you have had all this time.
Your beloved, Kaylie E. G. Galahad”
He could see where the paper had once been wet, the small dried spots evidence of her tears that had fallen as she wrote. It hurt to imagine her writing this letter every time he read it. Her body sitting up straight like a perfect lady as she began her letter, but as she continued to write her body would start to hunch over the desk that she was at. The quill in her hand gripped tight in between her fingers, her knuckles turning white as she ground her teeth together. Her eyes blinking rapidly as she'd try to stop the tears from falling, wanting to be strong. But they fell and he was the cause of her tears and pain.
He folded the letter in held it in his hands, leaning forward and covering his eyes with his hand as tears rolled down his cheeks. Where did it all go wrong? Why did he continue to go back? These were the questions that he asked himself every time he read that letter. After he had first received it and as the pain and guilt began to set in, he had thought of burning the letter to try and rid himself of what he was feeling. Tossing it into the fire in the orc camp Valens wiped the tears from his eyes and cheeks, he stared up at the night sky and tried to remember how this whole mess started.
Dungeon Master, Letter to the King
A LETTER OF WARNING TO KING [REDACTED] THE 25TH DAY OF [REDACTED], YEAR [REDACTED]
MY LORD, KING OF [REDACTED],
IT COMES WITH GREAT SORROW AND CONCERN THAT I MUST WARN YOU OF AN EVENT OBSERVED OVER THE PREVIOUS TENDAY IN THE REALM OF [REDACTED]. AS WE PURGED [REDACTED] FROM YOUR MAJESTY’S LANDS, THE DEAD BEGAN TO RISE BEHIND US! THESE WERE NO DEAD OF THE LIKES I’VE SEEN BEFORE - THEY WERE ABLE TO THINK, TO SPEAK!
MY KING, YOU MUST PREPARE TO COUNTER THIS THREAT. OUR NUMBERS DWINDLE AS THEY JOIN THE ENEMY RANKS. YOUR [REDACTED], [REDACTED] HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO THIS CURSE. PLEASE SEND HELP AS WILLING, THOUGH [REDACTED] IS SURELY IMMINENT!
YOUR FAITHFUL SERVANT, [REDACTED] LORD OF [REDACTED]
Dungeon Master, Finn's Journel
“I have spent many lifetimes facing the horrors of demons and their ill-will. My mind has been twisted around the evil they spew, molded as the torture endured had become "normal" living. Alas, I have recovered from this purgatory and with newly acclaimed power. For years I hated what I had become and how I had developed into such a monster, but with the help of 3 brothers lost, I have found these druids and begun healing the cosmic and demonic wounds that ache me so.
To have one’s brain wiped clean while enduring centuries of emptiness... To be but one brain-cell in the mind of an infinite giant... To stare pure insanity in its depth and have it pierce your atoms... I cannot find words to describe that which has tainted my soul.”
-Finn's Journal page 11
Valens, Last night in Ravenswood
Valens mind felt clear for the first time in ages. His feeling of loss was lifted like a weight off his chest. With the wand out of his position he could feel is strength return. The thoughts of death and suffering lifted from his mind.
"Where do you keep going? Why do you keep leaving when we need you most?" Lorana's and Volath's words still in his mind from earlier that day. Valens looked across the camp fire with his companions sleeping. Now that he was clear of the evil magic from within he wanted to let them know what he had been doing where he had been going. He would start with informing only one of them. Test the waters so to speak. He didn't want any overreaction or aggression from his companions.
"If I tell them, I tell them the truth!" Valens whispered to himself while thumbing through some pages in his spell book.
"They will know that I have done some terrible things in the past and have had daemons take all that I love." Valens was beginning to let emotion roll over him, when he felt eyes looking upon him. Looking around, Valens could not see anyone looking at him at that moment.
Looking back down at the book, Valens removed a small piece of paper that was placed in the pages before him. He closed his eyes and slightly whispered a spell. The paper glowed with a light purplish-blue energy. He then tossed it in the air and with a slight flash and a fizz it disappeared.
“Tomorrow, she will be the first one to know what has happened and what I am capable off. If she can handle it the group can handle it.” Valens had a slight smile of hope for the first time in months. As far away, in a distant continent, the letter appeared with a fizz and a pop. Resting gently next to a head stone.
Lorana, Last night in Ravenswood
Lorana sat on the side of the path, bottle of wine in hand, staring into the darkness, in the direction the two centaur had gone. I could just leave, she thought. *Just go and help them like I promised. * Then she glanced over where the light of the campfire flickered through the trees, knowing that was where her companions would be. We made a promise. I don't understand why nobody else is bothered by this. She turned back to the darkness. Yes, there are horrible things coming. The fate of the world is in our hands. Why does that give us the right to break our promises and decide who lives or dies?
Taking another large drink, she looked back at the campfire. But... I can't just abandon them. They're the closest to friends I've had since I left the tribe. We keep getting into trouble every time Valens disappears. If I go off by myself... who knows what will happen. Lorana stood, wobbling a little as the world tilted around her. Stumbling toward the camp where her companions slept, she collapsed against some rocks, where she eventually passed out.
Dungeon Master, Haemus Leafgren, Druid Protector of Ravenswood
Haemus Leafgren, Druid Protector of Ravenswood, rushes through the trees as he makes his way to the camp. "Priestess! Priestess!" he pants. "By the stars, they have found him! Feng is alive!"
Wynthe, Druid Priestess of Ravenswood, responds, "This cannot be! I thought he had been lost to the cause. Please tell me, Haemus, how you've come to discover this!"
Haemus catches his breath and reaches for his flagon of water, "During our scouting patrol, we noticed the Orcs to be unusually active - causing commotion near their outer gate. One of our brothers was able to swoop down and perch under an awning to observe. He stated that Feng was being challenged by the Vahl'dul Chieftain himself; Threatened with death to deliver the location of our camp!
Feng appeared sick or malnourished, his voice could not be heard over the riled Orc crowd. I know not whether he gave direction.”
Wynthe's gaze drops to her feet, as a feeling of dread takes hold of her, "My heart cannot accept that Feng would be swayed into giving up the camp. ...but we must take precaution nonetheless and assume their Chieftain has been made aware of our location. Go now. Prepare our defenses and warn the people."
Sylvara, Last Night in Ravenswood
As Sylvara curls up next to a fox's tail, her eyes close, but all she can do is toss and turn as her thoughts begin to race. "What am I going to do? How do I even begin to tell my tale to these people I'm starting to become so familiar with." Her eyes shoot open and she stares into the blackness of the sky. "Why are there no stars tonight? Does this imply my impending doom?" Her stomach began to turn - she might get sick. "I can't go back to Talonwood right now! I can't face him yet. But, I can't turn our path into another direction. Maybe these people can help me though.... That booming voice. Where is it coming from?" She hears it from a distance. Again, becoming louder and louder as if he was right behind her. "This has to be in my head. Aazliscaath, you turned me into a monster! But I have since learned of your terrible ways. All of the innocent people you made me murder....you told me they deserved it! Just because they can't pay a debt, doesn't mean they deserve to die - but you do! I tried to take you down once and failed in front of the entire town. Now, I'm sure, you have gained complete control of the town my father once loved so much and the town full of so many innocent people." The booming voice whispers, "You are weak. You are nothing. You can't save this town. Be gone with you!" She looks down at the scar on her abdomen, long since healed from that terrible evening. She can almost taste copper as the images of blood flowing from her nose and mouth floods her memory. She shakes her head, trying to make the memories go away. "The path heading north, will take us to Talonwood. How do I bring this up with my new friends? Would they even except me for what happened in the past? Or should I just allow my new found friends to walk into this town completely blind? I can't do that. I must tell them. But, how?"
Volath, Last Night in Ravenswood
As Volath walks away from Gwenth and Feng he finds a quiet spot next to the fire by himself. The raucous noises of the Druid camp, still in full elation from the return of Feng, fade away into the background as his mind begins to race. He stares deeply into the fire almost searching as if it holds the answers he so desperately needs. As the flames dance and twirl he becomes entranced by their methodical motions. The fire snaps, crackles, and with a loud pop from an ember Volath snaps back to reality and along with it the insecurities about the decisions he just made that are currently twisting his stomach into knots. “Had he just doomed the centaur’s village? No matter what his ulterior motives may be, the lives of many surely outweigh the lives of a few. Right?” Like clockwork, every night as he lays his head down, his thoughts once again turn to Maven and as he finally fell asleep, he dreamt. Volath bumped into the doorframe of the pub as he stumbled out into the streets of Khisfire, and the whole building shook for a moment like thunder shaking the earth. He clapped his new Dwarven drinking buddy on the back and they parted ways. A few steps down the street Volath turned his head towards a loud commotion just as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen came crashing into him. She had pale skin, dark black hair with streaks of deep red dye and piercing brown eyes. A tattoo of a red and black snake twisted around her right arm, slid down her back and wrapped onto the left side of her stomach. Several black metal hoops adorned her ears and three more pierced her lip, eye brow, and nose. She wore tight leather pants that hung low on her hips, with a dagger sheathed on either side. Her tight leather corset rose high enough in the midsection to show the snake’s tail peaking around her side and another piece of jewelry through her naval, and it tied just high enough to push up her ample breasts so no man could ignore her. A thorned piece of hemp encircled her neck several times before hanging down into her cleavage, and spiked leather bracers were fitted to her forearms. Blood was splattered across her chest and dripped from her face and finger tips. Her blood stained hands clenched two more razor sharp daggers that had clearly been used very recently. The silver blades were wavy like the movement of a serpent and similarly dripping with blood, the ornate body of a snake wrapped each handle with two small red jewels for eyes. She was being chased by two men, and as she turned to see how close they had gotten, she ran face first into the giant chest of a Goliath. Volath caught the beautiful woman and stopped her from falling. She stood in front of him with her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath, and for a brief moment as they stared into each others eyes time stood still. The moment came to an end as the two thugs approached, and Volath protectively stepped in front of her. In gruff angry voices the men shouted and demanded that the giant hand over the woman. When he did not comply, the men drew their daggers and attacked, it didn’t take long for them to realize the mistake they had just made. Volath caught both men by their forearms as they attempted their strike. As he picked them off the ground like small children their feet flailed trying to reach for solid ground and as he tossed them backwards he saw terror fill their eyes. Quick as lightning, he reached behind him and pulled his father’s mighty great axe aloft, and with a single arc chopped both men in half before they could even hit the ground. The woman quickly grabbed Volath by his massive hand and together the two blood splattered figures ran off into the night, fleeing the city.
Volath stirred from his slumber and turned over, as he realized he was in the druid camp a sadness washed over him and he yearned to be back in his dream with Maven. He steadied his doubts and assured himself that fate was taking him back to Khisfire. He needed to warn his companions of the added danger he was bringing upon them. He needed to tell them the truth. The archmagi was not the only reason he was leading them to Khisfire, maybe not even the main reason. He honestly wasn’t sure at this point. All he knows is he must dismantle the thief’s guild from the top down. Kethra must die so Maven can stop running.
Dungeon Master, Later Events from Ravenswood
It was a long and somber walk.
Images flooded his mind; images he couldn’t shake off or bear to escape. Through the woods he heard the screams of anguish from the women. He could see the bones of the elderly broken and flesh pierced. He envisioned his neighbor’s boy, only but 5 years old, stoned and thrown into the fire. Footstep after footstep, he trudged onward, picturing every scenario he might find.
Each night ended with a collapse of his body as his muscles could not endure. Only luck brought water at the brink of existence, but he had not much cared. His life, his people, his home… all were surely snuffed out by this point. What purpose did he have to continue? Why had he placed any trust in those strangers? Kovol glanced over at Jigit, who hadn’t looked up from the ground once during their journey. Jigit’s father was dying when he was captured seasons ago, likely having passed by now.. Every so often, he would be able to catch Jigit mumbling and sobbing quietly while sleeping in the keep.
They neared the end of their trek as they approached their birth village, in the upper forests of Tiregal. Dehydrated, dirty, and lacking food/sleep, the pair of Centaurs stumbled closer with blurred vision. Smoke rose from their village; the smell of roasted deer filled the air.
Kovol’s eyes fell shut as he braced himself for whatever terrible fate awaited him. Several heartbeats passed, and all he heard were heavy boots pressing into the dirt, mingled with the ambiance of the night forest. He shivered as the wind grew colder, tossing strands of hair against his face. The footsteps halted. He tensed, screwing his eyes shut even tighter.
~THOCK~
A sharp pain in his neck began to radiate outwards to the rest of his body. His chest grew warm and his mind faint. Kovol could make out the sound of muffled yelling and steel scaping, but it faded quickly. He fell to his knees before fully collapsing, his life force draining from the arrow wound in his neck. “Perhaps it is better this way,” he thought, “I won’t have to suffer the fate of my tribe.” His vision blackens.
"Tombel, could you keep it down a bit? It's bad enough that we've pulled watch twice over this week," whines Leary.
The two guards sit posted above the main gates of the city. Night had fallen hours prior, and Leary is preparing to doze off once again. The nights have been quiet of late, with a decrease in the travelers and merchants heading in from the south. Tombel was one to enjoy the night, with such livery as dancing and drink. He often tried to take advantage of his position and reputation with the women of the town, promising reward and adventure in reward for their company and favor. Leary was much the opposite, finding it distasteful to engage the townsfolk in such a manner. He'd much rather enlist watch with anyone else, especially someone much quieter.
"Oh Leary, wake up and live a little," retorts Tombel, "Such a fine night we have here, and I even managed to tote along a bit of wine!"
Tombel pulls out a leather flagon and pops the cork, sloppily allowing wine to dribble down his chin. Leary glances over to witness the fool drowning himself in drink yet once again. He turns his gaze back to the kingsroad and remains silent. After a few minutes, Leary feels his eyelids become heavy and prepares to rest his head back on his shield. As his head tilts to one side and his sight reduces to a squint, he catches movement in the moonlight. His eyes open fully, remaining motionless... Leary spies a lone figure approaching the city in the moonlight.
"Hey Tombel, look, somebody is coming." warns Leary.
Tombel pulls the flagon away from his mouth and glances over, unable to pinpoint anyone. He takes another gulp of wine. As the figure reaches the firelight of the front gates, Leary stands up, now earning Tombel's attention.
"Who art thou?" yells Leary. "Answer me, what business does thee have here in this hour of late?"
The figure below, a man, collapses into the mud. The two guards race down the gate steps to investigate. They open the front gates and approach the figure, a younger man with light brown hair and slender figure. Tombel reaches down and grabs his shoulder.
"Hey, are you OK? Wake up!"
"Stop it," commands Leary. "He's unconscious. Let's get him inside and have him looked at."
From the darkness, a horde of figures now make their way towards the front gates from along the city walls. Silently they march, out of sight of Leary and Tombel. Many of these figures suffer ghastly wounds - arms hanging by tendons, intestines dragging through the dirt, broken bones which now protrude through skin. They shamble closer, without word, without rest.
Leary wraps his arms around the strangers chest, pulling his shoulders through the front gates. Tombel makes an effort to carry the man's legs, but shows no real interest in hauling the weight. The drink is finally catching up with him.
"Pick him up and let's go!" yells Leary, "You've done nothing but drink all night and now I have to carry this guy in? The captain will surely hear about this one."
"I'm.. -hiccup- ..trying, Leary!" Tombel mutters as he stumbles over his own feet, falling into the mud. Leary bends over to lend him a hand back up, when the stranger's eyes shoot wide open.
"Why hello, meat!" Astrid smirks as he strikes Leary in the face.
Leary falls to the ground, wincing in pain, as he vaguely recognizes dozens of figures approaching the light of the front gates.
"Oh shit..." mutters Leary.
Dungeon Master, First Night in Khisfire
The cold air crept through the gaps in the exterior planks, dragging a shiver to the already poorly heated room. The breeze was much more crisp up here, closer to the mountains. Sylvara tightened the blankets she had entangled herself in, still glowing from the large bed she had procured. Near the foot, Valens and Volath lay - snuggling closer than they’d ever have admitted aloud.
Hours drifted away as the tavern grew quiet, the rowdy regulars stumbling home for the night. The activity on the town streets dwindled and the songs of the night creatures set in full bloom. If one were listening, they’d have been able to hear the faint sound of metal scraping metal from the bedroom’s locked door. A small pin slowly sneaks its way past the lock and maneuvers just right to only produce a light ‘click’, releasing the door.
Shadowed footsteps enter the room, softly stepping towards the bed. Faces masked and hands full, the looming bodies hover above an unconscious Sylvara. A wisp of color seeps from fingertips held inches from her scalp. She is gently lifted and walked out of the room as gingerly as they walked in.
After the door has been closed, a message was passed and the shadows faded back into the night.
Volath, First Night in Khisfire
Frustrated and annoyed, Volath grabbed a mug of water from the bar and poured it onto a drunk elf, passed out on the dirty bar room floor. “We don’t have time for this shit” Volath grumbled to himself, as he ignored Lorana’s protests. He had awoken to a sore neck and an aching body from sleeping on the hard wood floor and with it came a foul mood that was soured even further by the note they found stabbed to the door. “We need to go. Some shit has happened.” Volath’s voice was short, stern and all business. “Where is the dwarf? We have a big problem.” That seemed to be all they had these days. Problem after problem. Before they could ever solve one, another one, or even two, showed up in que. Sylvara was a strange little Elf, that was for sure. Quiet and shifty, with horrible personal hygiene. She had issues, and many dark secrets that she kept close, but she was coming around. She had begun to open up and was starting to trust. For all her flaws Sylvara had become a friend and above that she was somehow tied into all of this “end of the world” business that we needed to stop. “Time is crucial” he thought, “There are too many pressing matters. We need to solve this quickly.”
Volath had grown impatient with all the “planning”. He could feel his blood boiling, and his mind was beginning to cloud with fury. As Valens put his blade to the throat of the mouthy whore, an excitement and sadistic joy arose inside of him. Volath didn’t consider himself a bad person, in fact, for the most part he was quite jovial and kind hearted, but he had a dark side. There was an anger deep inside of him, an animosity towards evil and wrong doers, and towards the corrupt who take advantage of the poor, weak and helpless. Volath reserved his rage and violence for these nefarious individuals, and it was yearning to be released upon them. With Murder in his eyes, Volath put a mighty boot to the door and as it began to swing open, he hoped to find the theif’s guild waiting on the other side. His massive body shook with anticipation of the ensuing battle and the thought that maybe this was his chance to paint his blade and the walls with Kethra’s blood.
The entirety of the crowded bar turned and stared with shock on their faces as the door forcefully slammed against the wall with a loud crash. The doorway disappeared as a Goliath stepped into the bar, chest heaving, eyes glowing red and a maniacal grin on his face. Volath’s foul mood was furthered as the pungent mixture of sweat, dirt and stale cheap ale reached his nose. As he scanned the room, searching for his first thug to tear apart, a large group of town guards stood up from their tables and began to approach. Volath’s anger and rage melted away with the realization that there was no fight for him here, and was quickly replaced by confusion and regret. “A trap?” “A set up?” “What was going on?” As the guards began to close in, Volath shot Valens a concerned glance , looking for answers and what to do next.
*** Game Suspended ***
Our Discord campaign takes place once per week and we're encouraged to write up RP as so inclined. This RP is of diary, flashback, or character thoughts in nature, not taking relevance in the actual story. We thought placing this out in the forums would be fun to see what people think of the tale and the RP that comes with it. Understandably, the main story-line won't be covered in depth. Hope you all enjoy. Any feed back will be nice as well. :)
The Plot
A mysterious evil is released from Abyssal holding and unleashed upon the lands of Tymeria. Death and destruction spread quickly, as the world's kingdoms scramble to find its source and put an end to the plague. These ancient beings take hold over the recently departed, retaining the memories and strengths of their deceased hosts. Aimed at ending all live form on the planet and charring the land, our adventurers must track down the Abyssal gate, suffer an unending plague of the dead, and manage to retain their morality as they encounter a world most unpleasant.
Backgrounds
If you want to learn more about the individual characters click the link below.
Valens Gorgaer Lorana Nailo Sylvara Tirendil Tanya Desjani Volath "StormBorn" Wildhear
Story Arcs and PC RP Monologues
See a summary of the story arc with RP listed below, in monologue format, from our discord channel.
Chapter 1: Astabar's Manor
Chapter 2: Ravenswood
Chapter 3: Khisfire
Astabars Manor Arc:
Brought together by a tender mix of dreams, broken vows, and personal failures, the stories of Lorana, Sylvara, Tanya, and Volath began in the quiet village of Havehollow. Having heard local folk song of a haunted mansion with great riches within, the tavern patrons-turnd-group followed a whimsical bard to Astabar's Manor. There they rescued a wizard by the name of Valens, who was in search of peculiar, magical items within the manor. After uncovering its secrets and evading its many traps, a final showdown with the undead mage, Astabar, took place after entering a wispy portal gate within his chambers. The group collected their bounty, with Valens taking into his possession a mystic wand of dark energy, and returned to Havehollow to hear that the town of Ravens Rest was under siege by an encroaching group of Orcs.
Ravenswood Arc
Their journey continued east on the Kings Road. Entering the city of Ravens Rest, the party made their way to the local Inn, where they met a mapmaker by the name of Franklin. He gave them a tattered map of the region and a lengthy tale of how his wife was mishandled by the local lord, before being interrupted by a male dwarf named Burbreck. Burbreck informed them of the location of local orcs and that these demons had nothing but trouble to cast upon the town. Burbreck was sure to be the one to bring an end to it.
After a heated discussion, the party broke for only a short time while Volath, Sylvara, and Lorana made their way to inquire with the lord of the city, Lord Frandrick, regarding the Orc problem and to see if a bit of coin could be made. The group quickly got in over their head as Volath broke through the door and stormed in looking for the lord. After a brief confrontation between Volath and the guards, Lorana and Sylvara convinced Volath to drop his weapons and subdue. The Guards promptly took him to the dungeon.
Lorana and Sylvara quickly went in search of the rest of group and made their way back to the the lord of Ravens Rest keep, to plead for the freedom of Volath and to attempt to clear their names as well. Lord Frandrick was less than pleased with the group, ultimately demanding an evening spent with Lorana in return for slaying the local orcs and freeing Volath. Lorana was to spend the evening with the lord upon her return, to which she reluctantly agreed. Lord Frandrick reluctantly promised coin for each Orcish head they could return to him from their mission. The only catch was they had to travel with the personal guard of the lord to make sure the groups end of the bargain was upheld.
Once they gathered the last of their possessions and materials needed for their quest, they made their way north into Ravenswood in search of the Orcs and the forces that meant to bring destruction to the city of Ravens Rest. They were caught off-guard when captured by an encampment of druids, who've taken to the solitude of these woods. With a hurried explanation of their recent events, tensions eased and the party learned of the druid's alliance with a group of defected, peaceful Orcs. The leader of this group, Feng, had ventured back to Val'dul Keep in hopes of collecting more Orcish brethren who wished to escape the violence and brutality of the clan. He has not returned.
The adventurers offered their services and set out to find him, leading them through the friendly Orc encampment to the east. Here they encountered Burbreck once more, fiercely engaged in battle with Orcs he so passionately despised. The Goliath, Volath, made quick work of subduing the Dwarf, as they bound him by rope and exchanged pleasantries with the Orcs. With a short rest, they head north to Val'dul in hopes of locating Feng and perhaps even neutralizing a threat to their new friends.
Khisfire
travels!
Reserved
Names borrowed from Critical Role of course. They get all the credit on that one. :)