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Post by Liam Luc Lovell on Jan 18, 2015 23:46:45 GMT -5
EXPERIENCE LOGCHAPTER 3: Flood SeasonSession 1: GULLMASTER STEVE!
Todd: +3 XP
Jack: +3 XP
Ninianne: +2 XP
Kate: +2 XP
Lyric: +2 XP
Session 2: Everybody walk the Deinonychusaur.
August +3 XP
Janus +3 XP
Kahlia: +5 XP
Ninianne: +7 XP LEVEL 2!
Snowy: +7 XP
Session 3: AMC <3's VMLC
Kahlia: +3 LEVEL 2!
Kate: +2
August: +5 LEVEL 2!
Jack: +4
Val: +4
Session 4: Two Monkies, One Plate
Jack: +2 LEVEL 2!
Kate: +5 LEVEL 2!
Kahlia: +4
Todd: +4 LEVEL 2!
Session 5: Striders of Fhahralrallaghrhalahlrhgn
August +3 XP
Kate: +3 XP
Session 6: The Ballroom Blitz
Todd: +4 XP
Jack: +1 XP
Kate: +5 XP
Kahlia: +2 XP
Ninianne: +2 XP
Session 7: Burning Man
Jack: +3 XP
August: +3 XP
Kahlia: +4 XP LEVEL 3!
Kate: +1 XP LEVEL 3!
Session 8: Looting the Power of Friendship
Dicey: +4 XP
Leaf: +3 XP
Rianne: +2 XP
Kate: +2 XP
Session 9: Secret Tunnel
Kate: +6 XP
Kahlia: +6 XP
Dicey: +6 XP LEVEL 2!
Leaf: +5 XP LEVEL 2!
Session 10: SOULCAGE and SHACKLEBORN
Dorian: +4 XP
Hyacinth: +3 XP
Kate: +5 XP LEVEL 4!
Kahlia: +5 XP LEVEL 4!
Rianne: +4 XP
CHAPTER 4: Zenith TrajectorySession 1: Todd Solo
Kate: +5 XP
August: +6 XP LEVEL 3!
Kahlia: +4 XP
Leaf: +4 XP
Session 2: The Incredible Umberhulk
Dicey: +4 XP
Kate: +5 XP
Markus: +6 XP
Kahlia: +3 XP
Grace: +3 XP
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Post by Liam Luc Lovell on Jan 18, 2015 23:47:10 GMT -5
THE STORY SO FARCHAPTER 1: LIFE'S BAZAARc1.1 First contact to the world of Greyhawk where sat the city of Cauldron had not been done by Liam nor the mages of Rhy'din. It was she who had first dragged brave adventurers through the veil from their physical bodies into a world unlike their own. The Lady of gold and silver had filled their mind time and time again; each time forcing them into a deep sleep in order to combat evil within their dreams... Yet, dreams were not all that they were made up to be. Death within the realm of Cauldron remained even when the others awoke.
The first request that had been put before the heroes was quite simple: Save the children. Upon arriving within Cauldron, they had been confronted with an odd sight. A young priest by the name of Rufus Laro was accosted by thieves wearing bisecting white-and-black face paint. Ever the do-gooders, the thieves were chased off with the stern warning for the priest to "stay away from the Orphanage!" Despite the party truly believing the worst, the modern day cynics they were, Rufus took them to the Church of Saint Cuthbert in order to plead his case. It was there that the group was introduced to Jenya Urikas, the acting high-priestess of the Church who had been put in command when the High Priest took a "pilgrimage".
 Despite much tension between the group over being beneath a house of a truly lawful deity, Jenya was able to explain the situation: Several children were taken from the Lantern Street Orphanage, run by Headmistress Gretchyn Tashykk. The Church swore they would assist, and so -- despite wishing to do it out of the good of their own heart -- the heroes were contracted. They were given only a single line of clue in which to go by, divined from a magical artifact: "The locks are key to finding them. Look beyond the curtain, below the cauldron. Beware the doors with teeth. Descend into the malachite hold, where precious life is bought with gold. Half a dwarf binds them, but not for long." With this bit of information in mind, they decided to begin their hunt at the Lantern Street Orphanage to seek out any clues to be found. In their hunt, they discovered one fact in particular: all the unbroken locks in the Orphanage were crafted by one man: Keygan Ghelve.c1.2 Ghelve's Locks was a homey affair and, despite the gnome's dour demeanor, he was friendly enough... Until a plan to get him to spill the beans went awry! Combat broke out in the back of the shop as a chameleon-like humanoid attacked the group. After the creature was quickly defeated (with only minor injuries to our heroes!), the gnome's facade that he so hastily constructed was shattered. He divulged everything. The kidnappers had stolen his familiar, a rat named Starbrow, and used the poor creature to manipulate Keygan into doing their bidding. He was forced to give them a pair of skeleton keys -- keys that would open every lock he ever made. Keygan would show them to the opening from whence they came, only begging the group to save his poor familiar. And so, behind the curtain and below the Cauldron they ventured into the gnomish enclave of Jzadirune. c1.3, c1.4 The enclave had been abandoned for hundreds of years, and it showed. Many magical items and huge breakthroughs in spell casting originated there until the occupants were struck by a magical plague known as the Vanishing. After contracting the disease, every gnome man, woman, and child began to fade away until they vanished completely, never to return. They saw tremendous things: talking masks spouted rhyme that made it sound as if life still lingered within the ancient halls, tall pillars that were carved in the shape of the joyful gnomish lifestyle, and firefly lights that danced endlessly under chaotic magical direction. They roamed deep beneath Cauldron, conquering the strange 'doors with teeth', rescuing Starbrow, and finding their way into the realm below, where they finally descended into the Malachite Hold.c1.5 The Malachite Hold was a dwarvish bastion, originally built by a brave warrior named Zenith Splintershield. The fortress was created to be the first and only line of defense for Cauldron against attacks from the Underdark. However, with dwarves being as zealous as they tended to be, this 'sit and defend' mindset did not last long. Zenith led an expedition into the Underdark, never to be seen again. Over time, the Malachite Hold was taken over by a new ruler -- a slaver known as Kazmojen. The group had swindled their way into Kazmojen's good graces... until they received a dire warning from two mysterious half-elves that said that they knew of the Lady that had brought the heroes into this world. Their guise was ruined, and they needed to act now.  c1.6, c1.7 It was to the west that the group headed, carving a swath of destruction through Kazmojen's forces in order to rescue the slaves Krylscar Endercott, a gruff soldier in his mid-30’s that had been injured by repeated torture but had such an indomitable spirit that the first thing he wanted to do upon being freed was "crack Hobgoblin ‘eads"; Deven Myrzal, a youth on the cusp of manhood who had his spirit crushed long ago and had given up on all hope of being rescued; Irruth Mercadi, a forty year old housemaid who, while shaken, still had some spunk in her; Jasper Drundlesput, a gnome whose mathematical genius was obvious by the formulae etched upon his cell walls; and finally Coryston Pike, a skilled magi who had suffered great torture at the hands of the slavemaster.
c1.8 In one final rush, the group pushed into the auction hall of Kazmojen in order to rescue the children that had been taken from the Orphanage. Yet, a man that survived the Underdark to rule over the Malachite Hold was not to be felled so easily. Despite the help of the freed slaves, it looked almost as if Kazmojen would survive long enough to weather the storm until an unlikely hero appeared -- a Beholder, in all of its glory. It spoke through the minds of the heroes, thanking them for their help, and escorting a single boy, Terrem Kharatys, from the slaver's bazaar ahead of the rest before vanishing. With mysteries mounting, the group finally returned to the surface to take their bows. After all, saving the children had been no small feat.
CHAPTER 2: DRAK'THAR'S WAYc2.1 The heroes had deserved a rest after being jaunted through time and space multiple times, and so a rest they did not receive. Keygan Ghelve was arrested for his crimes against the people of Cauldron and the skeleton keys were melted down into scrap. It was right back to work for the group as they were sent to tackle the next problem. Despite the entrance to Jzadirune closed off, there were still creatures coming to the surface. Gone were the chameleon-like Skulks of Jzadirune, but instead it was Goblins that robbed, vandalized, and were a general nuisance. None were killed, but it was feared that it was only a matter of time before violence escalated. Captain Tereson Skellerang, hearing of the group's heroics in the rescue of the children from Jenya Urikas, contracted the heroes in order to put a stop to this infestation. Using remarkable deduction skills, the party headed to the entrance that the goblins had used to access Cauldron; Orak's bathhouse... Where they were quickly assaulted by lycanthropes -- though, so unlike those they had faced before. Instead of wolves, the animal that these men were bound to... had been rats.
 c2.2, c2.3, c2.4 They defended themselves as valiantly as always, convincing the proprietor of the bath house that they might be able to assist even despite the magical compulsion that drove them. It was there that the group learned that the goblins were led by a creature known as Drak'Thar; a powerful being who was fog, wolf, and giant all at the same time (or so the goblins were led to believe, anyway). The passageway that led all the way down outside of the walls of the city was thus named Drak'thar's Way. The journey through the passages beneath the city was long and arduous, consisting of many goblin threats, purposefully made traps, and natural pitfalls that took its toll upon the heroes time and time again. They faced powerful opponents in those tunnels: Chorlyndyr the Magi and Kallev the Tiefling being the most important to note. In their arguing, they spilled a bit of information: They worked for some higher power. Even Drak'thar was naught but a hiring, much as it seemed Kazmojen had been. They bravely waded into battle with the vampiric Drak'thar who snaked into their minds, contorting them and twisting them to his own desires. He had been so close to breaking many of the heroes, keeping them within that realm in a life of servitude, when one final push led to his defeat. With his destruction in an explosion of necromantic energy, the cave system began to collapse in on itself, giving the group only a small amount of time to get free. It was with a miracle of the moment that the group leapt from the entryway of the cave in the nick of time just as the entrance to Drak'Thar's Way caved in behind them, leaving them in the soft grass of the mountainside, staring up at a blue sky. CHAPTER 3: FLOOD SEASON c3.1 The former connection had vanished. No longer did the Lady tug the heroes into the realm of Cauldron. It took months within Rhy'din before the Phoenix Expeditionary Society was able to finally link back up with the world, and it was far from where they had begun. Flood season was beginning in Cauldron, and an urgent message had finally brought the party back into the realm -- but far from where they could help. Posing once more as slavers, the group linked with the fiery Captain Cassius in order to bring them back over the sea towards the town so that they could continue the work that they started. Despite troubles along the way, notably from a group of pirates flying a black flag, they successfully made landfall in Redgorge eleven days after their departure and immediately left for Cauldron. c3.2 They arrived in Cauldron just as the Flood Festival began where they learned dire news by the acting high priestess of the Church of St. Cuthbert, Jenya Urikas. Jenya informed the group that the current high priest, Sarcem Delasharn, sent a request for help. "At Lucky monkey. Have eight wands. Tavern's been attacked. Bandits led by barbaric apeman. Mortally wounded. Retreated to basement. They knew we're here. Send help!" were the words that were received, and the group immediately set out to provide assistance.They met their first true resistance behind the Lucky Monkey a day later. In searching the area, the group fell under assault by two predators; a pair of Deinonychuses. Facing their first true danger, the group took great damage before finally putting down the beasts and preparing for the assault into the Lucky Monkey. c3.3, c3.4 The assault upon the Lucky Monkey was not for the squeamish. Though the group attempted to be careful and cautious in slipping in through the side entrance, they soon found themselves neck deep in bandits after their lies fell through. The battle was bloody and ended in quite a few of the party injured and quickly gulping down healing potions in order to remain on their feet. With flying daggers, flying plates, and great swipes of blades, the party surged on until they finally came to the kitchen where sat Tongueater. The were ape was by far the most savage creature that the party had ever faced. The half-orc spent the entirey of his time in the hybrid form trapped between ape and man. In that form, his face and snout were baboonish, complete with large, razor-sharp fangs. A large mane of black hair sprouts from his head, and his face was well-decorated with warpaint, body piercings of bone and metal, and scar patterns. Wading into battle with his falchion at the ready, Tongueater proved to be a dangerous foe for the group before he was finally felled.The name of the were ape was well earned, however. Amid the treasure collected sat the head of Sarcem Delasharn, tongue removed from his head. Instead, the tongue was replaced by an odd token sporting the holy symbols of three gods of evil, disaster, and discord: Vecna, Hextor, and Erythnul. The group was not able to discern anything further about the holy symbol, but its presence showed that there was more at work here than just some simple robbery. Heading downstairs into the basement where it was said that Sarcem had been taking refuge, they found a few lingering bandits, the remaining belongings of Sarcem that were repurposed to the party's own uses, and a survivor hidden behind a magicked door. The survivor was frozen and weak, yet she still spoke what she could, sharing all the information she was able. Her name was Shensen Tesseril, and she was the attendant caretaker of the chapel at the Lucky Monkey. Along with the captured bandits, the group found out a horrible truth: the wands of control water were taken by a woman named Triel who seemed to be the mastermind behind the assassination and thievery. Shensen humbly requested they returned to Cauldron so that they could report to her mentor, Meerthan, and inform him of the attack. c3.5 The group returned to Cauldron just as the rain began. It fell in heavy, thick drops over the city streets; already overflowing gutters and running in thick rivulets down alleyways towards the city's center. They made haste in collecting what information they could. The body of Sarcem was returned to Jenya Urikas, the now high priest of the church of St. Cuthbert, and several questions were put forth. Through a conversation with her and the guard captain Terseon Skellerang, the group found out some valuable information: Triel Eldurast was a guard nearly a decade ago who escaped a death sentence after the murder of several of her fellow guardsmen before vanishing. The holy symbol that was found in the mouth of Sarcem shows that she was not idle, however. It is the symbol of the Ebon Triad, a group of heretics who seek to combine their three malign deities into one powerful Overdeity of unsurpassed malevolence. With such weighing heavily upon their mind, they returned to speak to Meerthan with Shensen where the most surprising information was gathered.Meerthan was not alone. In the small abode with him stood Fellian and Fario, the two elves that had assisted the party in the Malachite Hold with a suitable plan of escape. It was there that true assistance was finally offered, and purpose was found. After mentioning to his allies about the attack that a group known as the Necrocants had made, he explains to the party that they are the Striders of Fharlanghn; a group of adventurers and explorers who worship the God of Horizons. Their purpose is to spot evil on the horizon and strive to defeat it. With such, he entered an arrangement with the party: He would find Triel and the location of the wands and, in exchange, the group would participate in an event known as the Demonskar Ball where they would rub shoulders with those that ruled over Cauldron.c3.6 Oh, and rub shoulders they did. The group caroused and networked with the most powerful individuals in the city of Cauldron, meeting Lord Vhalantru, the mayor's well-grounded assistant who that seemed to dictate much in the way of policy due to the needs of the realm; Lord Severan, the Lord Mayor himself; Lady Celese, a beautiful woman of a high-class family who stuck her hand into politics by cleverly lingering on the arm of those in power; and the High Priests of the two remaining large churches in the city, Embril Aloustinai of Wee Jas and Asfelkir Hranleurt of Kord. The group danced, sung, and cajoled their way into the minds of those people with power and, though little insight was gained, it was obvious that they had left a mark on the minds of those that would turn to them in the future. With the party over, Fario had returned from the holdings of Cauldron's thief guild with information: The location of Triel's base of operations. c3.7 And so, the party was off; delving down into the depths of the ruins in which the Ebon Triad's fortress was built and overcoming the first of the traps along the way. c3.7, c3.8, c3.9, c3.10 The Kopru Ruins that the party stumbled upon upon was fraught with danger. They battled for what seemed like ages through the halls and caverns of the ruins, stumbling across both new dangers and old enemies that made their life increasingly difficult until the final battle when they charged Triel Eldurast and defeated both her and her subordinate in mortal combat. With Triel defeated and the last of the eight wands collected, the party returned to the city of Cauldron where they would be greeted as heroes. They raced up the mountain and through the western gate of the city just as the gates were about to close tight for the night. Brigades of men carrying large burlap sacks filled with sand raced from the higher ground down to the lower reaches of the city in an attempt to shore up water that continually filled up the basin. Some said that the flood season hadn't been this bad in years. The poor were forced to evacuate to higher ground, causing refugees from the overcrowded sectors near the central lake to venture into the churches for assistance. It was through a crowd of those soaked, shivering peasants that the party pushed as they made way into the church of Saint Cuthbert to turn over the eight wands recovered. Eight. It was not many... But it was enough.For hours into the night, any member who had ever stepped foot into Cauldron with a penchant for magic was seen racing about Cauldron to push back the flood. Euridice and Snowy – despite having been busy at the time – were seen working alongside Willow and Hyacinth, wand in hand to shore the water into gigantic walls, pushing it back into the central lake with wide, sweeping gestures (even if Hyacinth ended up turning much of it to steam in the process). Beside them labored Jenya Urikas, Asfelkir Hranleurt, Embril Aloustinai, and your friend Rufus Laro who you saved ages ago. Long hours passed with those that could labor continuing to do so and those that could work magic sweeping the streets clear of water using the wands so harrowingly recovered. The most brilliant image that followed of the long river of water flowing smoothly through the air guided from the central lake to the mountainside by the eight bearing wands would be something burned into the minds of the adventurers forever.  As the next days passed, the rain had slowed to naught more but passing drizzle, the clouds parting for a time to allow vivid light to shine down and begin to dry out many of the houses. The priests would continue working until the end of the season, but the adventurers had been given a bit of a reprieve to rest and recover from their wounds. This rest was broken after several days with the disappearance of Todd in Rhy'din and the announcement of a powerful guest to Cauldron – and a powerful guest it was indeed! Jenya Urikas once more summoned the party to witness the arrival of Bishop Shebeleth Regidin to Cauldron. Quite a crowd had gathered as the large carriage of white and red marched through the gates, lined with armored paladins of Saint Cuthbert. At the lead was the aging paladin of Saint Cuthbert, Fetor Abradius. The Inquisitors had arrived.
CHAPTER 4: ZENITH TRAJECTORYc4.1 The recent developments of Saint Cuthbert, however, did not prevent an assault from being led upon the party. Todd Moon was stolen from his bed in the middle of the night and dragged into the Shackled City where he was accosted at length by a group known as the Necrocants and turned over to the Last Laugh thieves' guild. There, several faces returned to prominence. Jil took Todd into possession, claiming that he held a mark of some significance that set him apart from the rest of the Striders. In his capture, Todd was turned over to the massive Beholder that appeared before the party only a single time in the past: During the assault on the Malachite Hold. The Beholder, now named Orbius, approved of the capture and promised to pass a good word onto Jil's Master, known as the Jester before turning Todd to stone with a single glance from one of his many eyestalks. Fortunately, arrogance was once more the Beholder's downfall. Todd was left in the care of several of the Last Laugh's members before delivery to Orbius, and it was from there that the party rescued him so that Meerthan could once more return him from his petrification.
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Post by Liam Luc Lovell on Jan 19, 2015 0:10:16 GMT -5
IMPORTANT NPCsThe following are important people known about Cauldron as well as all information that was learned about them. This will be updated whenever something new is learned about that person or when the party meets a new important NPC. These are in order of appearance.220x220
The Lady: The golden-faced woman who reached out across the realms and first brought the group to Cauldron. Little is known about her and, after her recent disappearance forcing the members of PES to reach Cauldron by portal, her fate is unknown. | Jenya Urikas: The recently promoted High Priestess of St Cuthbert and the primary patron for the PES members. Jenya is a remarkably temperate woman. While she has a strong love for law and justice, she is also highly tempered with mercy and kindness. Despite her free range of emotions, she is remarkably strong willed and stubborn. | Severan Navalant:The current Lord Mayor of Cauldron and the noble in the highest position within the city. The group met him briefly at the Demonskar ball, and it was shown he holds great disdain for the party, even going so far as to mention hoping that they would be moving on to another city soon and dropping Kahlia flat on her rear end during the dance. | Zenith Splintershield: The dwarvish paragon that founded the Malachite Hold. The heroes found his statue during the attack. He was last heard of leading an expedition into the Underdark. His fate is unknown. | Fellian Shard / Fario Ellegoth: These two elves had found their way into Kazmojen's bazaar behind the party. Seeming to have interest in assisting the Heroes, they assisted in freeing slaves separately during the attack on the Malachite Hold. Little is known about them, though it is shown they know the Lady. Later, it was discovered that they are members of the Striders of Fharlanghn along with Meerthan and Shensen. | Terrem Kharatys: Terrem was one of the boys who was kidnapped from the Lantern Street Orphanage. Though he was returned to the orphanage with the rest of the children, a beholder took special attention to Terrem; collecting Terrem personally from Kazmojen. Ninianne had considered adopting the child but events had kept her from completing such an action. | UPDATED! Orbius: The monstrous beast confronted the party as friends, taking Terrem away from the group back in the Malachite Hold some time previous. Despite having so long away, the Beholder recently reappeared during the capture of Todd Moon by Jil and the Last Laugh. He decided that Todd was indeed 'marked' and that he would be added to his 'collection'. | Terseon Skellerang: The captain of the town guard. A thin, grey man who was logical but considerably more kind and tolerant than many of his comrades. A down-to-earth man who butted heads with Janus Cockrum briefly. Knows of the adventuring group due to their defeat of Drek'thar and with the work they did in implicating Keygan Ghelve. | Captain Cassius: A beautiful-if-fiery redheaded woman that the group had hitched a ride with across the sea. They survived combat with her, defending the ship and bringing them safely into port. Because of this, Cassius calls them all friends and says that, if they are ever in need of a ship, she is at their call. | Sarcem Delasharn: The powerful high priest of the Church of St Cuthbert. After the other three churches refused or were unable to assist in creating the wands of control water for this year's flood festival, he traveled to Sasserine in order to purchase them. When returning with the eight wands, he was assaulted and trapped in the Lucky Monkey. He was found dead by the group after defeating Tongueater. His belongings are now in possession of the group, except for the mace which was returned to the Church of St Cuthbert. | Alek Tercival: A mid-level Paladin of St. Cuthbert. This well-meaning man seemed very intent on his business. He was met briefly by Janus who spoke to him about picking up women during the Flood Festival. After returning to Cauldron after his mission to Redgorge, he has been acting a bit odd -- even going so far as to be blunt and aggressive towards the nobility in the Demonskar Ball | Shensen Tesseril : The monk/druid found was recently rescued from the Lucky Monkey by the party. An explorer and wandering storyteller that combines the social graces of a minstrel with a reverence for nature, Shensen shows a connection to many of the party's past dealings. Her most recent position was that of the caretaker of the chapel of Fharlanghn within the Lucky Monkey. It was later found that she is one of the four Striders of Fharlanghn within Cauldron. | Meerthan: Little is known about this man, though he explained that he was the leader of the Striders of Fharlanghn within Cauldron -- a group dedicated to spotting great evil on the horizon and preserving balance. He is the mentor of Fario, Fellian, and Shensen. | Vhalantru: The assistant to the Lord Mayor, Vhalantru was remarkably kind towards the party during the Demonskar Ball. He played the roll of Surabar Spellmason, and mentioned much about the slow draining of Cauldron's coffers. A kind man, he seems to do much of the policy making beneath Lord Severen's rule. | Celeste: A beautiful woman who seems to be an ally of Lord Vhalantru. The former Angel of the Demonskar Ball who was dethroned by Ninianne. | Embril Aloustinai: The High Priestess of the Church of Wee Jas; a religions organization centered around secrets, magic, and the afterlife. Embril is a cool, calculating woman who seemed to only really enjoy Todd out of all of the group members. | Asfelkir Hranleurt: The High Priest of Kord, a god that respects strength and sportsmanship above all else. The half-orc is a gruff man who takes action and strength above any words spoken and, thus, tends to be very curt and blunt to everyone he meets. | UPDATED! Shebeleth Regidin and Fetor Abradius: Two high-ranking members of the Church of Saint Cuthbert who came to Cauldron in 'its time of need'. Jenya refers to them as inquisitors, and it seems they desire seeking out just why evil has spread wide and taken hold in both the governments and the different churches of the city. | UPDATED! Jil, Jester, and the Last Laugh: The Last Laugh is the thieves' guild currently in power in Cauldron. Characterized by their 'carnival' attire, the Last Laugh has recently been dealing in things far worse than typical petty theft. The second in command of the Last Laugh is known as Jil, with Jester being her only superior. It seems as if Orbius holds some sort of mutual command over her as an 'apprentice' |
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Post by Liam Luc Lovell on Jan 19, 2015 10:36:53 GMT -5
ADDITIONAL WRITINGThe Fate of Todd
Todd did not make it through the night, as his wife found out early the next morning. Darkness had crept from that world to this one; splitting a rift through the fabric of reality through vile magics that caused the separation between Rhy'din and the world that Cauldron inhabited to be far less defined than it had been during the times they visited in their dreams or even through the portal housed still in the basement of the Nexus's administration building. A dark hand had clawed through that opening, pulling the sleeping Todd through to a world that was so very unlike his own.
Though much of the area was tossed in darkness, the Vampire likely had no issue in seeing just what had assaulted him: A large man – absolutely monstrous in size and in disposition who was no doubt part giant. “Good work, Renita,” he crooned in a voice that sounded like bones scraping together. “They will be pleased that we captured this one.”
The woman that he spoke with wove magic with wide, sweeping motions of her hand; closing the rift that formed between the worlds and leaving the last vestiges of Kate's presence nothing more than a dream in the back of Todd's mind. Oh, the Vampire could struggle – as he likely did, pulling at the powerful arms that held him, but it mattered naught. Even a bite with those vampiric fangs would find that this creature that hold him was not of the living, but part of the supernatural undead. She turned her attention to the third figure in the room, who was by far the most imposing one. “As they would, Khyron. The Necrocants victorious once more, mm?”
The man was sheathed in dark armor; a verifiable blackguard to evil. Emblazened upon his breastplate was the skull and scythe of the death god, Nerull. The eyes that looked down upon Todd were not undead, but so devoted to the lord of undeath that necromancy damn near dripped from his gaze. “... Indeed, but it is not our Master who desires this one. Deliver him to the thieves. Orbius will take him, if he truly is Shackleborn. If not...” The man cast a wicked grin towards his ally, “The Striders will suffer the loss of one of their own, and the angered gaze of the Eye will instead be cast upon the thieves who dare step out of line.”
Renita nodded as she stepped to where Todd hung within the monster's redoubtable grasp. Her hand lifted, sweeping it over his cheek with a caress that bordered upon affection. “Rest for now, little one. We will delve to the core of the matter soon.”
It was still some hours before morn when Todd's mind would coax from the darkness that the witch had pushed upon him. A spell of some sort had put him in a dreamless slumber, but it did not seem to last long as the sudden slamming of a wooden door began to rouse him. He was not bound in any way within what appeared to be the high loft of a stable, though faces surrounded him. Against the walls were black-cloaked figures with faces painted in halves or check marks; one half always white, one half always black. The woman that strode in was no exception.
Something about the woman's bearing told Todd that she had been seen before. Like a figure in the corner of an eye, she was always there. When the party first rescued Rufus the Cleric in the alleyway, she had been watching from above. When the party had moved into Keygan Ghelve's shop to descend into Jzadirune, she had watched. When the party departed for the Lucky Monkey, she had marked its departure... and when they finally returned, she had found her target. “Leave us. He comes,” she demanded to her associates as she stepped aside. Quickly, the men with the painted faces departed. Todd had but a moment's reprieve to move before Orbius made his presence known.
The light cast from lanterns upon the walls seemed to bend and twist in an area towards the center of the chamber, stilling Todd's movements with the spherical creature's sudden appearance. The beast was gigantic, seeming formed of a single great eye that stared about. Ten further eyestalks snake about the head, its great maw parting to speak as that great eye darted about and finally landed upon Todd. “I do not suffer fools lightly, Jil. If this is not worth my time, your Master will be seeking a new apprentice before the night is out.”
The woman seemed to cower back, bowing her head as she stammered out a response. “I am, ah... sorry to d-disturb you, Master Orbius. We have captured him – the thieves and I. He b-bears the mark of--”
“I will be the judge of that, pitiful human!” The beholder roared out, those further eyestalks threatening to open. Yet, Orbius did not strike out yet. Instead, it turned towards Todd and steadily floated towards him. The blood-shot gaze of the beholder was nearly tangible as it washed over the vampiric man, disregarding any words said in his defense. The great eye ventured forward until it was barely inches from his face, warm air washing over his body with each putrid breath before Orbius finally moved back.
“You have done well, Apprentice. I will tell your Master of your success... You may even live long enough to become a Master yourself one day,” Orbius snickered.
“It is my greatest hope, Master,” Jill bowed, her relief obvious in her voice.
“Now, take this creature back to your guild house where I will arrange to retrieve him in two days' time. He will make a wonderful addition to my collection.” A wicked laugh echoed through the stable as one of those eye stalks turned down towards Todd, the heavy lid opening to expose the orb within. The unblinking hue with an iris a shade of sickening green stared firmly down at Todd, magic washing over him from the gaze. Slowly, his body grew more firm as if rigor mortis cast over the remnants of his undying body. His flesh itself hardened and became naught more than a matte grey, the influence spreading until it completely overwhelmed his body and turned him into a true statue of stone.
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