A Fallen Angel & the Fellowship returns to Enstad

 

2nd of Reaping High Summer

Tibaltuous raises the drow in the grip of the telekinesis spell. 5' then 10' closer but then a figure looms through the doorway as the purple haze deepens. The figure seems to be to big for the doorway and it the portal seems to bulge apart to let the creature through. Half skeletal and half white skinned with torn and ragged wings, the woman is over 8 feet tall (?) or.. yes. one of the fallen angels from the room with 4 statues, looks up at the drow in fury and then at the party at the top of the stairs. The lips on one side of her face pull back from her sharp teeth in either fury or a grin, it is hard to tell, with the other half of her golden skeletal form.

Tibaltuous calls out as he wiggles his one hand - shaking the drow in mid-air, "Is this yours?"

She grips the hilt of a long sword at her waist. Through clenched teeth, she says, "I am Sariell. Stop! He is mine."

The Fellowship quickly confer on options with their new ally whom was hunting this 'evil' drow necromancer. 

Tibaltuous advises:

Bounty - if returned:

• 4000 gold alive
• 2000 gold dead [able to be raised]
• 1000 gold dead [not able to be raised]

Client: Countess Selirra D'vorass. She or her agent can be reached in either Nulb (tavern: owner Gubinst) or Fax (Candlemaker in Sails district. Only one. Proprietor unknown). The bounty hunter did a little background search. The Countess has a fleet of merchant ships as well as caravan business. 

The bounty has an item which will - if recovered intact - add 2000gp to bounty.

• Item: set of 3 plain green leather bound tomes. Large burn mark on front disfiguring what appears to be a tree icon on 1st, 2nd and 3rd

Part of the discussion is on the fallen angels, but the party cannot recall details. They also after discussion with the Sariell realize they are in a different dimension - it appears also to be under her control.

The bard starts, "I have your smelly drow.. shall we negotiate.." The first part of the bargain was allowing the Fellowship to return to Oerth. 

Crellinos, pleads with the party to take him with them as it appears he was no longer in control.. After further discussion and heavy persuasion [ by Graxxuzazz with inspiration from Tibaltuous ] 

..an accord appears to be reached but at that moment, Crellinos breaks free from the spell. Dropping to the ground the drow starts casting a spell.

"By Orcus' balls!" the fallen angel growls. Taking hold of the drow by his neck, cutting off the spell in progress.

Confirming the drow would NEVER leave this plane of existence, his torture would be eternal, Tibaltuous asks for a small piece of him. Scornfully, Sariell rips off one of the drow's ears as he shrieks in pain. The angel drops a satchel in front of the party. Tossing the bloody ear to the bard, She looks at the party, "You have 10 of your minutes to leave.. or you will stay here.. as well."

"Save me Kiaransalee!" The drow screams as the portal shuts.. leaving the party on the stairs, the purple glow still pulsing around them all..

Kiaransalee the party recalls is a drow demi-goddess. So it appears the drow was not a worshipper of Lolth. The party then quickly head out of the fallen angel's plane, calling the mantra "Praise the Fallen" as they move through the trapped rooms of the temple. 

The room with 4 statues of the fallen angels, Grax is able to magehand the medallion - a black circle of pure black nothingness off one of the statues. The statue that looked like Sariell the fallen angel has what appear to be tears of blood from one eye. Tibaltuous takes a cloth and dabs some taking the blood of a fallen angel.

As the party heads up the ramp, the purple light is starting to fade. The ramp appears to be filling up with old theatrical props and more which is difficult to navigate, they finally make it out into the dark shadowy haze of the undead lands around the city of Enstad.

The group decides to check the satchel and medallion. Graxxuzazz opens the satchel which has clasps of entwined roses. They find three tomes - the 2nd part of Tibaltuous' bounty is.

Striking out towards the BlackRune controlled city, the party make good time. Heading down a wide path with ruined and burnt

trees on both sides, the party hears sounds of talking ahead. Kantif and Gothi stealth up to investigate. What appears to be a burnt out campfire are 2 zombies and a skeleton. 

Moving up the rogue/monk hides behind some old boxes while Gothi spiderclimbs up the side of a building nearby.

The 3 undead are talking about BlackRunes, as the party listens. It appears from the discussion the BlackRunes are trying to take the areas back from the undead.

The skeleton then peers over at Kantif and Gothi saying, "Maybe those persons can tell us more.." 

The three wait, with Kantif and Gothi looking at each other, perplexed, thinking they had hidden VERY successfully. [DM: the two rolled over 35+ for stealth, but still were seen.. strange. DM reminds the party all the party and Tibaltuous as well have a yellow glimmer around them.. the heroes start to ponder this]

"Come over to our campfire, maybe you can tell us the latest news." The skeleton calls out. 

Kantif walks over to the three around the non-existent campfire.

"How's your guys day going?" Graxxuzazz calls out walking up.

The skeleton calls back, "It's going pretty good, how about you?" 

The sorcerer keeps talking easily to the three, asking about taverns and inns nearby.

"Uhh.. lot of burnt buildings around.. but maybe an intact one..' the skeleton ponders, "the OakSong Tavern is still there.. maybe that will suit you.. but no one lives there like you all." He motions to the NOT undead heroes.

Doc Holliday walks up, one hand at his holstered pistol. "No offense, Mister," the gunslinger/paladin addresses the skeleton, "But you seem mighty well put together for a skeleton."

The skeleton replies, "Well thank you!"

Doc asks, "Any idea that might be?"

The skeleton nods, "Yes, ever since we saw the Light!" 

The heroes are unsure if he is joking or serious with the lipless teeth smiling(?) back.

Graxx asks about a former party member - Robin Hood the Aarakocra. [DM: blog entry], if any one had heard of him.

The skeleton replied, "Very well!"

It appears that Robin Hood now ruled over the undead surrounding the city of Enstad! A warlock follower of Orcus, Robin had the undead at war with the BlackRunes, but recently an uneasy truce was in place that seems to be broken on both sides at times.. 

"Do you want to meet him?" the skeleton asks, then, "what's yer name."

Graxxuzazz goes through his LONG list of titles.

The skeleton looks at the 2 zombies and back at the portly - but athletic lizardfolk. The skeleton appears to be laughing.

The sorcerer tries to persuade the skeleton to divulge where Robin is located but it appears there is some mental block to allow only say or do some things. 

Do you know where he is maybe.. generally?" The sorcerer asks.

The skeleton looks up into the gloom.. in the trees or.. higher...?

Doc looks to be holding back, barely, to not kill the undead. The sorcerer meantime asking one more time how to meet or speak with Robin, the skeleton responds, "Come out to our area West of the GoldRiver Inn. Call out to Lieutenant Channg - a former BlackRune commander."

Gothi asks about the yellow glimmer around the party but not around the undead. The three don't know about the glimmer, except it makes not undead easy to see.. hence noting Kantif and Gothi earlier.

 The skeleton is asked about his profession and if he would like to do more. "I used to be a smith. Now.. I am just a skeleton. The before the Light, was I only had urges to kill.. you. Now I have no urge to kill you, it is as if you are like me."

Doc still is very troubled, it appears the paladin is torn between killing the three undead or not.

"Do you enjoy being undead?" Graxx asks

Pondering... "I enjoy being.. not dead!" The skeleton replies.

"Maybe an archer. zombie archer or skeleton archer. 

The skeleton replies, "Maybe but Robin is the best archer ever!" 

At this point tramping boots can be heard coming down a side road. The party says their goodbyes and head up the side street towards the sounds of boots. Gothi lights up the campfire with flaming arrows from her bow. This surprise the 3 undead but they are happy to have a lit campfire! Graxx gives them a tinderbox.

Two hooded figures come into the light of Tibaltuous' flaming sword. Two dwarves - BlackRunes. They are not glowing like the party.

Speaking to the two Doc and Tibaltuous intimidate the two asking about why they are not glowing. Gun ready and flaming sword aloft.

One BlackRune says, "Whoa hey.. all good here.. don't drink the water."

"I only drink ale, no water in ale." The other says with a grin.

Tibaltuous chuckles at the comment.

The first dwarf then says "We've got the Blessing of the BlackRunes."

The one advises he is, Sergeant Wymind, as the party tells him the names of each as he writes them down. They ask about the Blessing of the BlackRunes but the dwarves decline to answer with a grin.

The party make it to the still intact tavern. Resting and recuperating, the party secure the tavern finding some supplies, searching the cellar some fine wine and ales are found. 

The three books are examined, the first two appears to be a history of Orcus, which Tibaltuous reads OUT loud to the group as they rest in the tavern. All try to ignore this!

Drow demi-goddess and prime enemy of Orcus: Kiaransalee. 

However, shortly after his divine ascension, Orcus was slain by the drow demi-goddess Kiaransalee, who took over rulership of Orcus' layer of the Abyss and locked his wand away in the last layer of Pandemonium. Kiaransalee decreed that Orcus's name be erased from all existence.

Orcus was able to escape when a group of treasure hunting adventurous heroes broke the seal holding him.

8 of the 13 fallen angels were captured right away and doubtless endure eternal torment under Orcus except 4....

Gothi heads out and retraces her steps to where the 3 undead and 2 BlackRunes were left. 1 dwarf - not the sergeant is sitting with 1 zombie. The ranger goes up, and asks the two where the others are. Following their tracks, she comes to a partially burnt oak tree. A building about 30 feet up still looks to be intact. Using her tracking she confirms the 3 went up here. Gothi then hears some voices arguing. It appears it was a small shop. 

As Gothi spiderclimbs up the side of the tree and as she is doing this the zombie is pushed through a broken window and a long blade then is shoved into its body and it falls passed her to crash into the ground - at first not moving then slowly stirs. Still undead!

A scuffle is heard continuing inside! The ranger kicks in the 1/2 broken door to see the skeleton battling Sergeant Wymind.

The sergeant calls out to Gothi, "They attacked me! Get 'em!"

Gothi not believing "What's going on in here!" Hefting a dagger in one hand.

"None of yer business. Leave now!" the dwarf growls.

The dwarf holds up his sword and says again, "Nothing to do with you, I got some side business." 

The skeleton is on the other side of a table, where sits a scroll and bag, he slowly moves back and then turns and runs, Gothi backs up and that point the dwarf goes to close the door. Gothi throws a dagger but it goes over the dwarf's shoulder. as the door is slammed shut.

Gothi then jumps through a broken window and looses an arrow at the Sergeant, catching him in one shoulder as the dwarf is lunging forward the 2nd arrow catches him in the neck, falling dead.

Gothi searches quickly acquiring some gold and gems.

It appears the skeleton has taken the scroll and bag.

Using her excellent tracking skills she is able to track and catch up to the skeleton. The skeleton is facing a group of fives skeletons. All five are armed with swords. As Gothi moves up all 6 turn and say go away. 

"What you are doing is breaking the law." Gothi calls out.

"What law is out here? The skeleton asks defiantly.

Gothi.. pauses holds up her bow and says, "ME." Casting Conjure Barrage. Needless to say, all the skeletons are killed except one which flees into the gloom. 

Gothi recovers the bag and then returns to the tavern, Inside the bag are three vials and a scroll tube with the wax seal of the BlackRunes.

It reads - in dwarvish: 

Overlord Robin,

The agreement is that you will have the city. Hold your forces. 

X..

The party confer and talk about ways to re-write a new letter, cut out different letter modifications and use mending spell. The 3 vials are potions of Cause Serious Wounds. [one has to ingest them to have an effect]. Trying to decide if to do nothing, betray, assist or attack Robin, and even backstab the BlackRunes.. 

Kantif uses his Golden Scarab - finds treasure - which finds a very old but expensive bottle of wine - worth 100GP.

Grax tries to use Teleportation circle to reach the portal located in Enstad at the former palace, now the BlackRunes HQ. It appears there is a block on both the circle here as well as the one in Greyhawk. Seemingly as the two factions are at war, neither not want units coming through each! Perhaps if they are at the actual gate in the HQ..

Finishing their rest the party then treks to the walls of the city still controlled by the BlackRunes. A heavily guarded gate is passed through, the party some with BlackRune passes while Tibaltuous and Gothi decline to pay gold and get bounties of undead instead!

Now finally back in Enstad, the Fellowship look around. The former jewel of the Elvish lands is now mostly a black and charred dead zone of towering burnt trees. Swirling clouds and whirlwinds of the black caustic soot  funnel down former once majestic lanes and roads. Where once musical birds and the sounds of nature were prevalent, now only the forlorn echoes of death, moaning or the cries or calls of a murder of crows are heard. 

The river of Enstad once splendid canals that were filled with fish and a large variety of aquatic life is now empty except for what appears to be a  black sludge flow that slowly oozes its way down the canals bottom riverbed into the wilds around the charred and destroyed city. bones and 1/2 eaten corpses of animals ad humanoids periodically burble up to the top of the slow river of muck. 

Some areas still bustle with life, mainly units of BlackRunes and some refugees and and mercenaries are seen as well.

Making their way to the BlackRunes headquarters - [DM: #9], the BlackRune pass once again allows the Fellowship to pass, except for Gothi and Tibaltuous whom do not have valuable credential. Meanwhile, Gothi and Tibaltuous find a small tavern - The Red Pumpkin - nearby that the bard had performed about a week past. find a table that can see the bridge over to the HQ, the ranger and bard relax.

Making it into the headquarters, the other 3 party members are led by heavily armed BlackRune guards to a waiting room where a young dark skinned human male in fitted red leathers sits bored feet crossed. He looks up expectantly for a moment as Grax, Doc and Kantif enter, then realizing they are not whom he is waiting for, sits back sighing.

The windowless room has a number of uncomfortable chairs, all along one wall facing a 2nd door flanked by two motionless BlackRune guards. 

There.. the party waits.. and waits......

Until next time.