The Parting of Ways
Dramatis Personae:
Oryn Talus, the mysterious and ancient "Halfling" who has employed the group; also known as Cinder, the ancient power that is said to destroy every world
Aurora Isilime, the Valley Elf Bard and Bae'qeshel; "The Silver Tongued Siren;" who has more instruments than she can carry, and sings to things she shouldn't
Pharin Braz'Dracon, the Half Brass Dragon, Half Drow Wizard and Priest of Lolth; "The Dark Conjurer;" summoner of demon bunnies, and Andolin's twin
Skye Vindhalle, the Air Genasi Druid and saver of demon bunnies
Dervish, the Kasathe Fighter and Dragon blood Sorcerer
Nanu, the NightmOrc Fighter who is late, slayer of innocent bystanders
Pimbin, the Halfling Shadow Monk of Nerull and Starlock of Y'Chuk
Willow Liadon, the Eladrin Rogue, summoner of elephants
Willow Liadon, the Eladrin Rogue, summoner of elephants
Lan El'Mandragoran, the Human Paladin of Pelor
Lothar, the Sovani Smith and semi-Cleric of Moradin, High Priest of Lolth, Cleric of Istus, forced Cleric of Asmodeus; Kas Reincarnated
Aerathema, the Wood Elf Druid
Ralliakkan, the Drow Rogue
Andolin Braz'Dracon, the Half Brass Dragon, Half Drow Fighter/Ranger, and Pharin's twin
Narg, there's really no way to describe Narg, Narg is just Narg
Haasenpfeffer, the giant positive energy bunny that Pharin regularly tries to summon
Comrades we have lost:
Jayce, the Human Barbarian- killed by Josiah; soul possibly destroyed by Pharin
Jarrid, the Human Barbarian- killed by Pharin, Pimbin, Andolin, and Dervish during Kester Championship
Aeryn and Aerys Shayl, the Human Ranger twins- killed during the Sultan of Kester's assault of House Braz'Dracon
Nanu's Innocent Bystander Slaughtering: 18
Pieces of Vecna Acquired: Hand and Eye
Other Components being kept out of the cult's hands: Book of Vile Darkness. Fang of Kas, the Dagger of Cinder, and the Sword of Kas
NOTE: Things will be mostly from Aurora's perspective. Anything in italics is from a third person, since the bard can't be everywhere at once.
***** Ekbir, the Underbazaar
As we gathered our bearings after the grueling battles over the last twenty-four hours, a crowd of drow began flooding out of their fortresses. I decided to explain to them what exactly had just happened, because it sounded like fun and I like telling stories where I'm the star. Pharin and Pimbin wandered off to try to find where Cinder's weapons had wandered off to; the wizard wanted that staff back. When I was about halfway through my tale, Ralliakkan announced through the rings that around eight thousand thri-kreen were converging on the city. We had to escape, now. Pharin met us at the crater, where I was quickly wrapping up my tale, and teleported us to the one place he thought we'd be safe: the Demonweb Pits, inside Lolth's Tabernacle.
***** Lolth's Tabernacle
I once again found myself in the presence of my new goddess, who was wearing the form of a beautiful drow female with sultry curves and a full, pouty mouth. If I didn't know who she was, I would definitely want to have a night with her. Lolth released Dervish from the flask, and settled in to tell us about Cinder.
Cinder was too powerful, and there was a prophecy that he would destroy not just Oerth, but every world. The realms as a whole would cease to be if Cinder had been permitted to stay as he was. All of the gods came together to bind Cinder into a rather benign form, suppressing the majority of his abilities. They thought a halfling would be an appropriate race for Cinder, since halflings are one of the most harmless races; their cheery demeanor would do well to calm the storm that resides in Cinder. And now, thanks to the cults, this ancient power has been freed. Not good.
After hearing Lolth's tale, Pharin began blaming his prophecy of being the destroyer of Oerth on Oryn. He was doing his usual obnoxious round about laying blame bullshit, but Lolth saw through it and hurled a web at him. I think I'll like my new goddess.
Dervish decided to bring up the attempted genocide of my people, as well as Pharin's destruction of the Vale, thinking Lolth would serve as a judge or something. The kasathe seems to think he's some sort of constable and actually has power to do things. He demanded I be paid reparations for Pharin's actions, and Lolth produced a beautiful blackened longsword. Not wanting to offend the Spider Queen, I took it. The moment my hand closed over the hilt, I saw the sword's forging; this was Lolth's Moonblade, and she oversaw its forging personally. While I would have liked to see Pharin punished, I couldn't complain about such a wonderful gift. Plus Lolth probably would have taken offense, and I've heard stories of what happens to people who offend her.
Even though I accepted the sword, Dervish continued pressing the issue. The result was a ridiculous circular argument between him, Pharin, and Lolth; it was rather amusing. Eventually Dervish got tired of arguing in circles and dropped his charges against the wizard. It's probably a good thing he did too, I'd hate to think what Lolth would do if she grew bored of the fight before the kasathe gave up.
Once that was settled, the Spider Queen had something to show us. First we saw thri-kreen destroying Ekbir, and Pharin's compound. The Dry Steppes Oasis was aflame, and the Forgotten City was surrounded by about twenty thousand soldiers; they weren't in the city though, probably because of the pillar of light. Absolutely nothing remained of Kester. The cults had swarmed everywhere we had touched and destroyed it. All of the good we had done was just reversed.
Lolth announced that someone was knocking at her door, but she didn't know who. Apparently the goddess couldn't just look through a peep hole or something. Pharin offered to investigate it, and we were suddenly standing outside the Tabernacle, Narg was banging on the gate and Ralliakkan was standing to the side. Narg handed out letters to us, and vanished, leaving Ralliakkan behind.
Dervish's letter was from his mercenary group in the desert. They had escaped the decimation of the Oasis, and were currently hiding in some mountains to the north. Their leader had been lost to them, and they were requesting that Dervish come lead them.
Pharin's letter was from his priestess, who had a theory about the beacons. She thought they could be used as a bridge between worlds. The wizard needed to join his house to assist in this; he also wanted to start his own wizard school.
Nanu's letter was from her tribe, telling her that some of their leaders had signed on with one of the cults. They needed the nightmorc to come home and help them.
I got a letter from Gabrielle's College! The Battle Bard herself had heard of me and wanted to write my story! My idol had noticed me! I knew I was the best bard to leave the Vale! One of my dreams had been accomplished, and I couldn't stop squealing with joy.
Pimbin received a contract from his temple, with the party's names down as the marks. The halfling was being tasked to kill the people he had spent months with. He couldn't tell anyone about the contract because of a geas, and he couldn't just squirm out of it. Pimbin's loyalty was being tested, would he stay loyal to his order, or would he stay loyal to his comrades?
In lieu of a letter for Willow, Ralliakkan recruited her. She offered to take the eladrin with her, on the condition that Willow followed her every instruction. It wouldn't be easy, but the rewards would be plenty. Willow accepted the offer to be Ralliakkan's apprentice.
Ralliakkan decided we needed to blow off some steam before we went our separate ways. She took us to a beautiful bath house filled with pools as far as the eye could see. We spent the next day lounging in Ralliakkan's bath, drinking, and enjoying ourselves. While most of us were still not parting as friends, we were parting under amicable terms, and that was about as good as we could get.
As we gathered our bearings after the grueling battles over the last twenty-four hours, a crowd of drow began flooding out of their fortresses. I decided to explain to them what exactly had just happened, because it sounded like fun and I like telling stories where I'm the star. Pharin and Pimbin wandered off to try to find where Cinder's weapons had wandered off to; the wizard wanted that staff back. When I was about halfway through my tale, Ralliakkan announced through the rings that around eight thousand thri-kreen were converging on the city. We had to escape, now. Pharin met us at the crater, where I was quickly wrapping up my tale, and teleported us to the one place he thought we'd be safe: the Demonweb Pits, inside Lolth's Tabernacle.
***** Lolth's Tabernacle
I once again found myself in the presence of my new goddess, who was wearing the form of a beautiful drow female with sultry curves and a full, pouty mouth. If I didn't know who she was, I would definitely want to have a night with her. Lolth released Dervish from the flask, and settled in to tell us about Cinder.
Cinder was too powerful, and there was a prophecy that he would destroy not just Oerth, but every world. The realms as a whole would cease to be if Cinder had been permitted to stay as he was. All of the gods came together to bind Cinder into a rather benign form, suppressing the majority of his abilities. They thought a halfling would be an appropriate race for Cinder, since halflings are one of the most harmless races; their cheery demeanor would do well to calm the storm that resides in Cinder. And now, thanks to the cults, this ancient power has been freed. Not good.
After hearing Lolth's tale, Pharin began blaming his prophecy of being the destroyer of Oerth on Oryn. He was doing his usual obnoxious round about laying blame bullshit, but Lolth saw through it and hurled a web at him. I think I'll like my new goddess.
Dervish decided to bring up the attempted genocide of my people, as well as Pharin's destruction of the Vale, thinking Lolth would serve as a judge or something. The kasathe seems to think he's some sort of constable and actually has power to do things. He demanded I be paid reparations for Pharin's actions, and Lolth produced a beautiful blackened longsword. Not wanting to offend the Spider Queen, I took it. The moment my hand closed over the hilt, I saw the sword's forging; this was Lolth's Moonblade, and she oversaw its forging personally. While I would have liked to see Pharin punished, I couldn't complain about such a wonderful gift. Plus Lolth probably would have taken offense, and I've heard stories of what happens to people who offend her.
Even though I accepted the sword, Dervish continued pressing the issue. The result was a ridiculous circular argument between him, Pharin, and Lolth; it was rather amusing. Eventually Dervish got tired of arguing in circles and dropped his charges against the wizard. It's probably a good thing he did too, I'd hate to think what Lolth would do if she grew bored of the fight before the kasathe gave up.
Once that was settled, the Spider Queen had something to show us. First we saw thri-kreen destroying Ekbir, and Pharin's compound. The Dry Steppes Oasis was aflame, and the Forgotten City was surrounded by about twenty thousand soldiers; they weren't in the city though, probably because of the pillar of light. Absolutely nothing remained of Kester. The cults had swarmed everywhere we had touched and destroyed it. All of the good we had done was just reversed.
Lolth announced that someone was knocking at her door, but she didn't know who. Apparently the goddess couldn't just look through a peep hole or something. Pharin offered to investigate it, and we were suddenly standing outside the Tabernacle, Narg was banging on the gate and Ralliakkan was standing to the side. Narg handed out letters to us, and vanished, leaving Ralliakkan behind.
Dervish's letter was from his mercenary group in the desert. They had escaped the decimation of the Oasis, and were currently hiding in some mountains to the north. Their leader had been lost to them, and they were requesting that Dervish come lead them.
Pharin's letter was from his priestess, who had a theory about the beacons. She thought they could be used as a bridge between worlds. The wizard needed to join his house to assist in this; he also wanted to start his own wizard school.
Nanu's letter was from her tribe, telling her that some of their leaders had signed on with one of the cults. They needed the nightmorc to come home and help them.
I got a letter from Gabrielle's College! The Battle Bard herself had heard of me and wanted to write my story! My idol had noticed me! I knew I was the best bard to leave the Vale! One of my dreams had been accomplished, and I couldn't stop squealing with joy.
Pimbin received a contract from his temple, with the party's names down as the marks. The halfling was being tasked to kill the people he had spent months with. He couldn't tell anyone about the contract because of a geas, and he couldn't just squirm out of it. Pimbin's loyalty was being tested, would he stay loyal to his order, or would he stay loyal to his comrades?
In lieu of a letter for Willow, Ralliakkan recruited her. She offered to take the eladrin with her, on the condition that Willow followed her every instruction. It wouldn't be easy, but the rewards would be plenty. Willow accepted the offer to be Ralliakkan's apprentice.
Ralliakkan decided we needed to blow off some steam before we went our separate ways. She took us to a beautiful bath house filled with pools as far as the eye could see. We spent the next day lounging in Ralliakkan's bath, drinking, and enjoying ourselves. While most of us were still not parting as friends, we were parting under amicable terms, and that was about as good as we could get.
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