Part One: The Path into Peril
The party return to Riddleport following their harrowing experiences on the Devil's Elbow. They are still sulking after Clegg Zincher ripped them off and claimed the lion's share of the skymetal recovered from the island, so rather than all becoming fabulously wealthy, the heroes are merely rich. They do take the opportunity to go shopping, before Kwaya can catapult them into the next part of the Adventure Path.
When the heroes do respond to the elf's summons, he tells them that he has been called back to the elven settlement of Crying Leaf in the Mierani Forest. He asks the party to accompany him as his superiors in the Shin'Rakorath need to know about the Drow's super weapon, like, yesterday.
The party tie up a few loose ends before leaving the city. The players consider buying horses then remember than none of them have the Riding skill. This is deemed unwise, so instead they purchase a wagon and take turns failing to drive it. The area north of Riddleport is populated by a few struggling farmsteads. The road follows the course of the Velashu River until it begins to climb into the Calphiak Mountains. Here, the party must leave the beaten track and head west towards the fringe of the Mierani Forest.
The party make camp for the night beside the road. Danforth and Kwaya are on watch when they spot a solitary traveller shuffling along the road, hooded and carrying a lantern. Danforth challenges the stranger and is surprised as the cloak falls to reveal two leering goblins, one stood upon the other's shoulders. Having distracted the sentries with their (surprisingly clever - for goblins anyway) diversion, the rest of the raiding party attack the sleeping caravan!
When the heroes do respond to the elf's summons, he tells them that he has been called back to the elven settlement of Crying Leaf in the Mierani Forest. He asks the party to accompany him as his superiors in the Shin'Rakorath need to know about the Drow's super weapon, like, yesterday.
The party tie up a few loose ends before leaving the city. The players consider buying horses then remember than none of them have the Riding skill. This is deemed unwise, so instead they purchase a wagon and take turns failing to drive it. The area north of Riddleport is populated by a few struggling farmsteads. The road follows the course of the Velashu River until it begins to climb into the Calphiak Mountains. Here, the party must leave the beaten track and head west towards the fringe of the Mierani Forest.
The party make camp for the night beside the road. Danforth and Kwaya are on watch when they spot a solitary traveller shuffling along the road, hooded and carrying a lantern. Danforth challenges the stranger and is surprised as the cloak falls to reveal two leering goblins, one stood upon the other's shoulders. Having distracted the sentries with their (surprisingly clever - for goblins anyway) diversion, the rest of the raiding party attack the sleeping caravan!
Goblins!!!
Goblins swarm into the circle of firelight from every direction, clubbing the slumbering heroes to wakefulness. Despite having The Drop and the PCs reduced parry (due to being prone), the pathetic goblins fail to do any damage whatsoever. Fortunately, the party slept in their armour, with their weapons close to hand. Goblin boss Chief Pughowl surveys the skirmish from the bristly back of his mount, a formidable dire boar that might even be bigger than Pigsaw had been!
Hesker fells many goblins only to be gored by Chief Pughowl's charging swine. The goblin boss steers the beast out of melee before the half-orc can recover from her shaken condition. Meanwhile, another two goblins creep up on Kwaya and pile on top of the surprised elf, their nasty little daggers rising and falling in the moonlight. Alesander rescues the harried Lanternbearer before the goblins can finish him off. Hesker chops the dire boar in twain, spilling Chief Pughowl from the saddle. The goblin boss pleads for his miserable life. The party are a little irked by how close they came to having their asses kicked by a group of smelly greenskins and decide an example must be made. Hesker cuts of the chieftain's fat, melon-shaped head and mounts it on the front of the wagon. Both Alesander & Lyselle attempt to heal Kwaya, neither are successful so the grievously wounded elf rides in the wagon for the rest of the journey.
Setting out across the plains, the PCs cross paths with a group of Velashu Horselords led by a fearsome barbarian called Windbraid. The mounted warriors are on their way to slaughter a tribe of troublesome goblins that have been harassing travellers on the road and want to know why a group of soft, city dwellers are gallivanting across the grasslands. Windbraid is pleased to hear how the party have already dealt with the goblin menace and examines Chief Pughowl's severed head approvingly. Since the heroes have done their job for them, it is the least the horselords can do to escort the party the rest of the way to the edge of the Mierani Forest. On route, Windbraid warns the heroes that the elves having become insular and hostile of late and do not welcome strangers wandering through their lands.
Gathered around Windbraid's fire, we used the Interlude rules to give the players an opportunity to talk about their character's past & hopes for the future. Hesker (diamonds/desire) mutters about how when the party return to Riddleport she will carve herself a slice of the city to lord over. Danforth (clubs/tragedy) speaks about his beloved sister's long, drawn out sickness and inevitable death, how her medicine costs spiraled until he ended up owing money to some undesirable types. Alesander (clubs/tragedy) turns his gaze from the heavens to talk about his childhood as an orphan in the dusty observatory outside of which he was abandoned as a baby, where there were no other children to play with an only decrepit old stargazers for company. Finally, Lyselle (hearts/love) tells the others how her one true love was killed by orcs in a border skirmish, but rather than call off the planned wedding, her family insisted that she marry her dead lover's older brother. Rather than be wed to a man she had no feelings for, Lyselle fled Kyonin the night before the ceremony.
The party have to abandon their wagon on the outskirts of the dense elven forest. They dismantle the canvas cover to fashion a stretcher upon which Kwaya can be carried. Lyselle scouts ahead of the others, moving stealthily through the foliage. She stumbles across the charred carcass of a stag, a massive bite has been taken out of its flank. Alarmed, the half-elf scans the trees and spots the forest drake lurking there moments before it attacks!
Hesker fells many goblins only to be gored by Chief Pughowl's charging swine. The goblin boss steers the beast out of melee before the half-orc can recover from her shaken condition. Meanwhile, another two goblins creep up on Kwaya and pile on top of the surprised elf, their nasty little daggers rising and falling in the moonlight. Alesander rescues the harried Lanternbearer before the goblins can finish him off. Hesker chops the dire boar in twain, spilling Chief Pughowl from the saddle. The goblin boss pleads for his miserable life. The party are a little irked by how close they came to having their asses kicked by a group of smelly greenskins and decide an example must be made. Hesker cuts of the chieftain's fat, melon-shaped head and mounts it on the front of the wagon. Both Alesander & Lyselle attempt to heal Kwaya, neither are successful so the grievously wounded elf rides in the wagon for the rest of the journey.
Setting out across the plains, the PCs cross paths with a group of Velashu Horselords led by a fearsome barbarian called Windbraid. The mounted warriors are on their way to slaughter a tribe of troublesome goblins that have been harassing travellers on the road and want to know why a group of soft, city dwellers are gallivanting across the grasslands. Windbraid is pleased to hear how the party have already dealt with the goblin menace and examines Chief Pughowl's severed head approvingly. Since the heroes have done their job for them, it is the least the horselords can do to escort the party the rest of the way to the edge of the Mierani Forest. On route, Windbraid warns the heroes that the elves having become insular and hostile of late and do not welcome strangers wandering through their lands.
Gathered around Windbraid's fire, we used the Interlude rules to give the players an opportunity to talk about their character's past & hopes for the future. Hesker (diamonds/desire) mutters about how when the party return to Riddleport she will carve herself a slice of the city to lord over. Danforth (clubs/tragedy) speaks about his beloved sister's long, drawn out sickness and inevitable death, how her medicine costs spiraled until he ended up owing money to some undesirable types. Alesander (clubs/tragedy) turns his gaze from the heavens to talk about his childhood as an orphan in the dusty observatory outside of which he was abandoned as a baby, where there were no other children to play with an only decrepit old stargazers for company. Finally, Lyselle (hearts/love) tells the others how her one true love was killed by orcs in a border skirmish, but rather than call off the planned wedding, her family insisted that she marry her dead lover's older brother. Rather than be wed to a man she had no feelings for, Lyselle fled Kyonin the night before the ceremony.
The party have to abandon their wagon on the outskirts of the dense elven forest. They dismantle the canvas cover to fashion a stretcher upon which Kwaya can be carried. Lyselle scouts ahead of the others, moving stealthily through the foliage. She stumbles across the charred carcass of a stag, a massive bite has been taken out of its flank. Alarmed, the half-elf scans the trees and spots the forest drake lurking there moments before it attacks!
Lyselle plays the 'Flesh Wound' Adventure Card to get Kwaya back on his feet and into the fight. Hesker drops the stretcher to draw her weapon, tipping the wounded elf onto the ground. She charges at the nearest drake and swings her flail at its head, hard enough to leave a visible dent in its skull. Another drake breaths fire over Alesander, Lyselle and Kwaya, they all dive out of the way. Danforth boosts everyone's agility. A third lizard lumbers out of the forest and rakes the halfling wizard with its claws (4+ wounds, soaked down to 1 and shaken). Alesander and Lyselle open fire on the creatures, but can't quite beat their toughness of 17.
Danforth leaps onto the drake's muzzle and clings on for dear life, the creature goes a bit cross-eyed trying to keep him in focus. It shakes him off and the wailing halfling lands in a tree. Danforth plucks an apple from a nearby branch and slings it at the drake's head. Irritated by the little fellow's dogged tenacity, it rears up and breath fire at him. The halfling leaps out of the tree to avoid being engulfed in flame. but is still wounded as he bounces off several branches on his way to the ground.
Danforth stumbles off, made sluggish by his injuries. Lyselle puts an arrow through the first drake's eye and it dies, knocking over several trees in its violent death throes. Enraged by the death of its mate, the drake fighting Hesker claws the half-orc for massive damage (most of which she soaks). The final creature breaths fire over Danforth and Kwaya. The elf is only lightly toasted, but Danforth is roasted alive (incapacitated - again).
Danforth leaps onto the drake's muzzle and clings on for dear life, the creature goes a bit cross-eyed trying to keep him in focus. It shakes him off and the wailing halfling lands in a tree. Danforth plucks an apple from a nearby branch and slings it at the drake's head. Irritated by the little fellow's dogged tenacity, it rears up and breath fire at him. The halfling leaps out of the tree to avoid being engulfed in flame. but is still wounded as he bounces off several branches on his way to the ground.
Danforth stumbles off, made sluggish by his injuries. Lyselle puts an arrow through the first drake's eye and it dies, knocking over several trees in its violent death throes. Enraged by the death of its mate, the drake fighting Hesker claws the half-orc for massive damage (most of which she soaks). The final creature breaths fire over Danforth and Kwaya. The elf is only lightly toasted, but Danforth is roasted alive (incapacitated - again).
Kaerishiel Neirenar
Suddenly, a volley of arrows shoot out of the trees, the elves have come to the rescue! Alesander rushes to cast Healing on Danforth's smoking husk. One drake breaths fire into the woods the elves are hiding in, the other has had enough and crashes off through the forest. Hesker lays into the final lizard, it smacks her with its tail and sends the half-orc sailing across the (somewhat scorched) clearing. The elves continue to bombard the creature with arrows until it too is driven off.
(At the end of the combat, Hesker has two wounds and Danforth is once again teetering on the brink of character death. The halfling survives, but has been horribly burnt and suffers an additional -2 charisma (new hindrance: Really Ugly) in addition to the existing -2 penalty for his missing jaw).
The elves emerge, their bows trained on the heroes and their expressions hostile. They blame the party for riling up the forest drakes by trespassing in the forest. Lyselle is mortified when she recognises the leader of the patrol is none other than Kaerishiel Neirenar, the man she abandoned at the altar when she fled her arranged marriage. Their reunion is not a happy one. Kaerishiel announces that the party are now his prisoners and will be held at Crying Leaf until an appropriate sentence can be decided upon. Kwaya speaks up in defence of the PCs, Kaerishiel accuses him of being corrupted by the decadent lifestyle of the stone-dwellers whom he has been spending altogether too much time in the company of. Gingerly placing Danforth onto the stretcher, the party follow their elven captors deeper into the forest.
(At the end of the combat, Hesker has two wounds and Danforth is once again teetering on the brink of character death. The halfling survives, but has been horribly burnt and suffers an additional -2 charisma (new hindrance: Really Ugly) in addition to the existing -2 penalty for his missing jaw).
The elves emerge, their bows trained on the heroes and their expressions hostile. They blame the party for riling up the forest drakes by trespassing in the forest. Lyselle is mortified when she recognises the leader of the patrol is none other than Kaerishiel Neirenar, the man she abandoned at the altar when she fled her arranged marriage. Their reunion is not a happy one. Kaerishiel announces that the party are now his prisoners and will be held at Crying Leaf until an appropriate sentence can be decided upon. Kwaya speaks up in defence of the PCs, Kaerishiel accuses him of being corrupted by the decadent lifestyle of the stone-dwellers whom he has been spending altogether too much time in the company of. Gingerly placing Danforth onto the stretcher, the party follow their elven captors deeper into the forest.
Eviana Nirgassan
The group are led to a seemingly impassable wall of thorny vines. Kaerishiel toots on a magic, silver whistle and the vegetation moves to create an opening, through which the prisoners are led. The elven settlement of Crying Leaf must have been beautiful once, but it has obviously seen battle of late and some buildings are still smoldering. The heroes are taken before Eviana Nirgassan, so that she may pass judgement upon them. Fortunately, she is not so blinded by prejudice as some of her subordinates and is at least prepared to listen to what the party have to say before condemning them to death. She asks to see the evidence the PCs have collected, re: the Armageddon Echo. She will need time to consider these troubling developments and assigns the party an empty building in which to stay. Kaerishiel is disappointed they are not being slung in jail. Eviana also arranges for elven clerics (who can cast Greater Healing) to visit the group and tend to their injuries.
The heroes spend a week in Crying Leaf awaiting Eviana's decision. They are permitted to wander around, but whenever they do leave their house, their steps are dogged by a scowling Kaerishiel, watching like a hawk for that moment when they place a foot out of line. It's pretty clear that the elves are gearing up for something big.
When the party are summoned by Eviana, she declares that the information captured by the PCs (from the two Drow journals) has forced the elves to bring their own plans forward. With first light, the elves will march on the ruined city of Celwynvian and drive the dark elves out. The heroes are invited to march alongside the elf host, much to Kaerishiel's chagrin and disgust.
The heroes spend a week in Crying Leaf awaiting Eviana's decision. They are permitted to wander around, but whenever they do leave their house, their steps are dogged by a scowling Kaerishiel, watching like a hawk for that moment when they place a foot out of line. It's pretty clear that the elves are gearing up for something big.
When the party are summoned by Eviana, she declares that the information captured by the PCs (from the two Drow journals) has forced the elves to bring their own plans forward. With first light, the elves will march on the ruined city of Celwynvian and drive the dark elves out. The heroes are invited to march alongside the elf host, much to Kaerishiel's chagrin and disgust.
Part Two: The Battle for Celwynvian
The party attend the elves' council of war, also present are Eviana, Kaerishiel and Shalelu Andosana, the ranger charged with guarding the borders of Celwynvian and preventing the Drow pushing any further into the Mierani Forest. She knows the ruined city like the back of her hand and is helping coordinate the battle plans. The main approach into Celwynvian is overlooked by an ancient library. Shalelu knows their are Drow snipers hiding there, ready to raise the alarm should the elves mount an assault along the road. Eviana charges the heroes with silencing these sentinels, they have until one hour after dawn to complete their mission, as this is when the elves march (fighting during the day puts the Drow at a disadvantage due to their sensitivity to light).
The party reach the ruined library undetected, but cannot get inside. The doors aren't locked, but something springy (yet surprisingly durable) is obstructing the other side. Working together (cooperative strength roll), they force entry and learn that the foyer beyond is choked with thick, sticky webs. As one, the players declare that they ready their weapons (in no RPG ever written has an area description mentioned webs without an encounter with spiders being far behind).
Venturing into the dusty archives, Lyselle is almost crushed beneath a mountain of books as a giant spider scrambles over a bookcase to attack with its venomous bite. Another spider (creeping along the ceiling) shoots sticky webbing at the group, Hesker, Danforth and Alesander struggle to free themselves from the adhesive, white goo. More of the huge arachnids scuttle down the central aisle.
Several of the spiders are deaded, but Hesker is bitten and fails her Vigor roll to resist poison. Without healing, the half-orc has eight minutes to live! As if the heroes didn't have enough problems, the Drow snipers appear to investigate what has riled up the spiders and open fire on the PCs. Hesker is hit by a crossbolt, its point glistening with Drow poison. Her players suggests that the two toxins in her system cancel each other out. Alas, they do not.
The Drow snipers are using deadly alchemical weapons, Danforth is hit by an acid bolt that reduces the effectiveness of his armour. Several wayward fire arrows set the library ablaze. The party finish off the last few Drow.
Alesander and Lyselle try to heal Hesker, both fail (-4 penalty due to the strength of the venom). This would normally have resulted in character death - instead, Hesker survives with two minor hindrances; Anemic and Phobia [spiders]. A group of elves turn up to hold the library, the PCs report back to Eviana. She tells them that the Drow have armed themselves with deadly alchemical weapons ("yeah, we know"), she needs the party to raid the laboratory where these weapons are being manufactured and put a stop to their production.
On route, a vast shadow passes over the party, they glance skyward in time to spot a huge, green dragon (Razorhorn) soaring over the battlefield.
The Drow's alchemy lab turns out to be a huge, domed structure with caustic, green smoke billowing from a hole in the roof. The area surrounding the dome is puddled with pools of bubbling alchemical waste. The PCs roll Vigor to resist being sickened by the noxious fumes, Lyselle rolls a CRITICAL FAILURE and is fatigued. The entrance is guarded by a group of sinister looking drider wearing crude gas masks and brandishing spears dripping with acid!
The drider scuttle forward alarmingly fast and yet more swarm over the exterior of the huge dome. The heroes beat off the first wave and advance, careful not to step in the acidic puddles. Hesker picks up a barrel of alchemical waste to hurl at the drider (Donkey Kong style!), but the lid is loose and she inadvertently douses herself in acid (she soaks the damage, but her armour value is reduced by one point). The party finish of the guardians and storm the laboratory!
The party reach the ruined library undetected, but cannot get inside. The doors aren't locked, but something springy (yet surprisingly durable) is obstructing the other side. Working together (cooperative strength roll), they force entry and learn that the foyer beyond is choked with thick, sticky webs. As one, the players declare that they ready their weapons (in no RPG ever written has an area description mentioned webs without an encounter with spiders being far behind).
Venturing into the dusty archives, Lyselle is almost crushed beneath a mountain of books as a giant spider scrambles over a bookcase to attack with its venomous bite. Another spider (creeping along the ceiling) shoots sticky webbing at the group, Hesker, Danforth and Alesander struggle to free themselves from the adhesive, white goo. More of the huge arachnids scuttle down the central aisle.
Several of the spiders are deaded, but Hesker is bitten and fails her Vigor roll to resist poison. Without healing, the half-orc has eight minutes to live! As if the heroes didn't have enough problems, the Drow snipers appear to investigate what has riled up the spiders and open fire on the PCs. Hesker is hit by a crossbolt, its point glistening with Drow poison. Her players suggests that the two toxins in her system cancel each other out. Alas, they do not.
The Drow snipers are using deadly alchemical weapons, Danforth is hit by an acid bolt that reduces the effectiveness of his armour. Several wayward fire arrows set the library ablaze. The party finish off the last few Drow.
Alesander and Lyselle try to heal Hesker, both fail (-4 penalty due to the strength of the venom). This would normally have resulted in character death - instead, Hesker survives with two minor hindrances; Anemic and Phobia [spiders]. A group of elves turn up to hold the library, the PCs report back to Eviana. She tells them that the Drow have armed themselves with deadly alchemical weapons ("yeah, we know"), she needs the party to raid the laboratory where these weapons are being manufactured and put a stop to their production.
On route, a vast shadow passes over the party, they glance skyward in time to spot a huge, green dragon (Razorhorn) soaring over the battlefield.
The Drow's alchemy lab turns out to be a huge, domed structure with caustic, green smoke billowing from a hole in the roof. The area surrounding the dome is puddled with pools of bubbling alchemical waste. The PCs roll Vigor to resist being sickened by the noxious fumes, Lyselle rolls a CRITICAL FAILURE and is fatigued. The entrance is guarded by a group of sinister looking drider wearing crude gas masks and brandishing spears dripping with acid!
The drider scuttle forward alarmingly fast and yet more swarm over the exterior of the huge dome. The heroes beat off the first wave and advance, careful not to step in the acidic puddles. Hesker picks up a barrel of alchemical waste to hurl at the drider (Donkey Kong style!), but the lid is loose and she inadvertently douses herself in acid (she soaks the damage, but her armour value is reduced by one point). The party finish of the guardians and storm the laboratory!
The unnecessary treant :(
Inside, Ilverae Parastric and her troglodyte assistants are readying yet more alchemical weapons for the Drow to turn against their hated elven foes. Several trogs are perched on the edges of huge, steaming cauldrons, Alesander's first volley of Bolts dislodges one unlucky fellow who falls into the pot he had been stirring. All of his little friends pile on top of the murderous astrologer. Ilverae begins throwing seemingly random flasks into the melee. Alesander is struck by a bottle of (the Drow equivalent to) liquid nitrogen and is frozen (as per the Entangle power). He recovers just in time for the next flask to set him on fire. He stops, drops and rolls. The trogs don't hesitate to kick him while he's down. The next flask hits Hesker, who barely seems to notice that she's on fire. She certainly registers Ilverae's next attack, she hurls a bottle of acid that utterly ruins the half-orc's brand new suit of chainmail. Lyselle puts the irritating Drow alchemist down with an arrow through her knee.
Rather than see the laboratory and all her research fall into elven hands, Ilverae activates a series of alchemical devices set up to destroy the whole facility! The party flee as the dome is blown apart! Hesker carries the wounded astrologer over her shoulder. Massive fragments of smoldering rubble fall all around them, yet the whole party escape the blast radius in (relatively) one piece. The Drow's alchemy lab lies in smoking ruin. Mission complete, yay!
(I had planned for the party to encounter a maddened treant on their way back to the elven command post, but they were in no condition to face such a powerful adversary).
The injured heroes are given time to recuperate and are attended by foxy elven nurses. A messenger rushes in - Kaerishiel pushed too far beyond the Drow lines and has been completely cut off from the rest of the elf host. The enemy have him (and his men) surrounded in a ruined tower and are bombarding their position with a catapult! Eviana commands the party to rescue Kaerishiel's squad before they are destroyed!
The heroes approach the tower through a field of rubble. They can see Drow engineers busy on the roof, preparing the siege weapon to lob another boulder at Kaerishiel's position. The two Drow sentries at the door are taken down silently and simultaneously by ranged fire. Alesander bursts into the tower, a group of four boggle-eyed dark elves look up from their card game in surprise. The young astrologer casts Bolt, then is shoved rudely out of the way as Hesker barges passed, swinging her flail around her head. Danforth pauses to reload his crossbow with another alchemical bolt. Lyselle bursts in after Hesker and double-shots some poor bastard in the chest. Above them, the catapult fires, shaking the entire tower. The party hear the crash of rubble and distant screams.
The Drow captain (wild card) joins the fray, clashing with Alesander on the spiral stair winding around the interior of the building. Danforth fires at the dark elf officer, rolls a one on his Shooting die and hits Alesander instead (oops). Alesander's player considers his situation and decides he would rather leap off the stairs (2D6 falling damage), rather than be hit by his opponent again (STR [D8] + D8 - plus, it would give Hesker an opportunity to attack). Unfortunately, his metagaming backfires and the falling damage aces, he takes +4 wounds and is incapacitated. He lands badly and breaks one of his legs (when he recovers, he will have the Lame hindrance). Hesker kills the Drow officer and clambers up onto the roof to kill the engineers. Danforth pops his head through the trapdoor and unloads his crossbow into a Drow's chest from point blank range. Lyselle tries to splint Alesander's shattered limb. The final dark elf surrenders, Hesker pushes him onto the catapult and fires it (signalling to Kaerishiel that the enemy artillery has been captured).
Rather than see the laboratory and all her research fall into elven hands, Ilverae activates a series of alchemical devices set up to destroy the whole facility! The party flee as the dome is blown apart! Hesker carries the wounded astrologer over her shoulder. Massive fragments of smoldering rubble fall all around them, yet the whole party escape the blast radius in (relatively) one piece. The Drow's alchemy lab lies in smoking ruin. Mission complete, yay!
(I had planned for the party to encounter a maddened treant on their way back to the elven command post, but they were in no condition to face such a powerful adversary).
The injured heroes are given time to recuperate and are attended by foxy elven nurses. A messenger rushes in - Kaerishiel pushed too far beyond the Drow lines and has been completely cut off from the rest of the elf host. The enemy have him (and his men) surrounded in a ruined tower and are bombarding their position with a catapult! Eviana commands the party to rescue Kaerishiel's squad before they are destroyed!
The heroes approach the tower through a field of rubble. They can see Drow engineers busy on the roof, preparing the siege weapon to lob another boulder at Kaerishiel's position. The two Drow sentries at the door are taken down silently and simultaneously by ranged fire. Alesander bursts into the tower, a group of four boggle-eyed dark elves look up from their card game in surprise. The young astrologer casts Bolt, then is shoved rudely out of the way as Hesker barges passed, swinging her flail around her head. Danforth pauses to reload his crossbow with another alchemical bolt. Lyselle bursts in after Hesker and double-shots some poor bastard in the chest. Above them, the catapult fires, shaking the entire tower. The party hear the crash of rubble and distant screams.
The Drow captain (wild card) joins the fray, clashing with Alesander on the spiral stair winding around the interior of the building. Danforth fires at the dark elf officer, rolls a one on his Shooting die and hits Alesander instead (oops). Alesander's player considers his situation and decides he would rather leap off the stairs (2D6 falling damage), rather than be hit by his opponent again (STR [D8] + D8 - plus, it would give Hesker an opportunity to attack). Unfortunately, his metagaming backfires and the falling damage aces, he takes +4 wounds and is incapacitated. He lands badly and breaks one of his legs (when he recovers, he will have the Lame hindrance). Hesker kills the Drow officer and clambers up onto the roof to kill the engineers. Danforth pops his head through the trapdoor and unloads his crossbow into a Drow's chest from point blank range. Lyselle tries to splint Alesander's shattered limb. The final dark elf surrenders, Hesker pushes him onto the catapult and fires it (signalling to Kaerishiel that the enemy artillery has been captured).
The Green Dragon, Razorhorn
As the bloodied elves emerge, they cry out in fear and alarm. The PC's follow their gaze and see A BLOODY DRAGON (!) diving towards them (Razorhorn again - used the adult dragon stats from the Hellfrost bestiary). Gave the players elven allies for this fight, since Alesander was out of action, his player assumed control of Kaerishiel.
Razorhorn flaps passed the tower, using his wind buffet attack to knock the PCs on their backsides as he mocks how puny they all are. On the dragon's next pass, Hesker leaps off the crenulations and lands on the beast's back
(+1 benny for suicidal bravery). Danforth rolls another one on his Shooting die and hits the half-orc (somehow missing the great, big flying lizard). Hesker is not amused and roars at the hideous little halfling to stop shooting at people until he puts more than D4 into the skill. Danforth ignores her mewling and mulishly begins reloading the weapon.
Razorhorn breaths fire over the elves. Hesker stands up unsteadily and clobbers the dragon with her flail. The beast rolls in the air to dislodge her, Hesker rolls along his scaly back and ends up clinging to the tippy tip of Razorhorn's tail. She loses hold of her flail, which falls towards the distant ground.
The dragon lands on the tower and claws Lyselle savagely. Hesker takes this opportunity to disembark. Danforth casts Blind on the dragon. Everyone piles on top of the blinded creature, forcing it to retreat to its lair deeper in the ruins of Celwynvian.
The heroes escort the surviving elves back to Eviana Nirgassan. Kaerishiel is a little less snarky with the party now that he owes them his life. The battle for Celwynvian rages on for the next few days, the elves of the Mierani Forest gradually pushing the Drow back. Eviana summons the PCs and tells them that they have advanced far enough that they have a shot at the Drow commander, Nolveniss Azrinae. With both Nolveniss and Razorhorn defeated, the rest of the dark elves will certainly rout. Knowing that this task represents the greatest challenge the party have yet faced, she has had her elven armourers prepare mithril armour for the whole group. After all, they have to look fabulous now that they're fighting for Team Elf!
Razorhorn flaps passed the tower, using his wind buffet attack to knock the PCs on their backsides as he mocks how puny they all are. On the dragon's next pass, Hesker leaps off the crenulations and lands on the beast's back
(+1 benny for suicidal bravery). Danforth rolls another one on his Shooting die and hits the half-orc (somehow missing the great, big flying lizard). Hesker is not amused and roars at the hideous little halfling to stop shooting at people until he puts more than D4 into the skill. Danforth ignores her mewling and mulishly begins reloading the weapon.
Razorhorn breaths fire over the elves. Hesker stands up unsteadily and clobbers the dragon with her flail. The beast rolls in the air to dislodge her, Hesker rolls along his scaly back and ends up clinging to the tippy tip of Razorhorn's tail. She loses hold of her flail, which falls towards the distant ground.
The dragon lands on the tower and claws Lyselle savagely. Hesker takes this opportunity to disembark. Danforth casts Blind on the dragon. Everyone piles on top of the blinded creature, forcing it to retreat to its lair deeper in the ruins of Celwynvian.
The heroes escort the surviving elves back to Eviana Nirgassan. Kaerishiel is a little less snarky with the party now that he owes them his life. The battle for Celwynvian rages on for the next few days, the elves of the Mierani Forest gradually pushing the Drow back. Eviana summons the PCs and tells them that they have advanced far enough that they have a shot at the Drow commander, Nolveniss Azrinae. With both Nolveniss and Razorhorn defeated, the rest of the dark elves will certainly rout. Knowing that this task represents the greatest challenge the party have yet faced, she has had her elven armourers prepare mithril armour for the whole group. After all, they have to look fabulous now that they're fighting for Team Elf!
Paintaster Kardrogas
In the rubble strewn courtyard outside the ruined Academy of Arts, the party catch up with Nolveniss Azrinae, who is busy activating a corrupt elf gate to facilitate his retreat from lost Celwynvian. His hulking bodyguard (the paintaster Kardrogas) drags a hostage along by her hair - it is Shalelu Andosana! The party and their elven allies attack! Nolveniss escapes through the elf gate, ordering Kardrogas to hold the heroes here until the portal deactivates. The paintaster bundles Shalelu through the gate before turning to confront the party. He fights to the death!
The corrupted elf gate flickers and begins to close, although they have no idea what lies on the opposite side of the portal, the heroes immediately pursue their fleeing antagonist. After a somewhat disorientating journey through time and space, the party emerge from the other end. Dusting themselves off, they realise that they have been transported into a shadowy version of Celwynvian, before it was obliterated by the Earthfall. The shadow city is populated by shades/memories of the elves that dwelt here before that ancient catastrophe. Of Nolveniss Azrinae or Shalelu Andosana, there is no sign....
The corrupted elf gate flickers and begins to close, although they have no idea what lies on the opposite side of the portal, the heroes immediately pursue their fleeing antagonist. After a somewhat disorientating journey through time and space, the party emerge from the other end. Dusting themselves off, they realise that they have been transported into a shadowy version of Celwynvian, before it was obliterated by the Earthfall. The shadow city is populated by shades/memories of the elves that dwelt here before that ancient catastrophe. Of Nolveniss Azrinae or Shalelu Andosana, there is no sign....
Part Three: In Armageddon's Shadow
Hanging over the city of Shadow-Celwynvian is the enormous, flaming asteroid that blasted the landscape of the Inner Sea region 10,000 years ago. Alesander is more than slightly concerned by its proximity, if they haven't defeated Nolveniss and escaped the past before arrives, they'll likely be flattened with the rest of the the shadow city. The semi-transparent figures wandering the streets of Shadow-Celwynvian do not acknowledge the presence of the time travellers in their midst, the PCs do catch ghostly snatches of conversation as the ancient, long dead elves bemoan their imminent destruction. Lyselle spots a a more substantial figure amongst the miserable shades - a lone Drow scout has spotted the party milling about and is rushing off to warn his dusky-skinned fellows. The heroes give chase! When the dark elf pauses to fire his crossbow at his pursuers, Danforth casts Blind on him. As he staggers around, bumping into things, Alesander limps up and finishes him off with Bolt.
The BBEB, Nolveniss Azrinae
Although they killed the fleeing Drow before he reached his destination, it seemed likely he was making for the observatory towering over the northern side of the city. This makes sense, considering the Drow's sudden interest in dropping stars on top of their enemies.
The party confront Nolveniss Azrinae on the top floor of the observatory, a huge domed chamber dominated by a huge, expensive looking telescope. Nolveniss scorns the party for following him (...to their doom!), they will be destroyed when Earthfall occurs, while his shadow key will teleport him to safety at the last possible moment! The PCs argue that that problem is easily resolved by kicking his ass and taking his stuff. Beside Nolveniss, a Drow paintaster presses a wicked dagger to Shalelu's throat, Nolveniss orders him to kill her if the heroes move.
At the start of the fight, Nolveniss has already cast and is maintaining Fly and Armour and has summoned two giant shadow spiders. Everyone gets a 'last boss benny'. Lyselle shoots a dark elf then fends off a second, deflecting his sword with her bow. Alesander smacks a Drow paintaster upside the head with his staff, taking him out of the fight with a single blow. Nolveniss targets Hesker with darkfire (which bypasses her armour), she soaks the damage.
Suddenly, Razorhorn smashes a hole in the side of the dome and pokes his great, scaly head through to see what's going on. Fortunately, he is on the opposite side of the observatory to the PC's and cannot reach them (yet). (Every round after a joker is drawn, the dragon appears for one round to make a nuisance of himself, jokers were drawn in both the first AND second round of combat). The paintaster restraining Shalelu opens her throat, then lunges over the body to attack with the bloody blade. Nolveniss rolls a CRITICAL FAILURE - Razorhorn knocks the huge telescope, which spins on its axis and hits the flying Drow magician, causing him to be shaken. The giant shadow spiders scuttle forth, Lyselle is bitten but is saved by her sparkly elven armour.
Razorhorn smashes another hole in the dome (right on top of the heroes) and breaths fire over the whole party, the Drow paintaster and the two shadow spiders. Lyselle shoots Nolveniss, who is shaken again but still manages to maintain his powers.
The party confront Nolveniss Azrinae on the top floor of the observatory, a huge domed chamber dominated by a huge, expensive looking telescope. Nolveniss scorns the party for following him (...to their doom!), they will be destroyed when Earthfall occurs, while his shadow key will teleport him to safety at the last possible moment! The PCs argue that that problem is easily resolved by kicking his ass and taking his stuff. Beside Nolveniss, a Drow paintaster presses a wicked dagger to Shalelu's throat, Nolveniss orders him to kill her if the heroes move.
At the start of the fight, Nolveniss has already cast and is maintaining Fly and Armour and has summoned two giant shadow spiders. Everyone gets a 'last boss benny'. Lyselle shoots a dark elf then fends off a second, deflecting his sword with her bow. Alesander smacks a Drow paintaster upside the head with his staff, taking him out of the fight with a single blow. Nolveniss targets Hesker with darkfire (which bypasses her armour), she soaks the damage.
Suddenly, Razorhorn smashes a hole in the side of the dome and pokes his great, scaly head through to see what's going on. Fortunately, he is on the opposite side of the observatory to the PC's and cannot reach them (yet). (Every round after a joker is drawn, the dragon appears for one round to make a nuisance of himself, jokers were drawn in both the first AND second round of combat). The paintaster restraining Shalelu opens her throat, then lunges over the body to attack with the bloody blade. Nolveniss rolls a CRITICAL FAILURE - Razorhorn knocks the huge telescope, which spins on its axis and hits the flying Drow magician, causing him to be shaken. The giant shadow spiders scuttle forth, Lyselle is bitten but is saved by her sparkly elven armour.
Razorhorn smashes another hole in the dome (right on top of the heroes) and breaths fire over the whole party, the Drow paintaster and the two shadow spiders. Lyselle shoots Nolveniss, who is shaken again but still manages to maintain his powers.
The dragon flaps off, circling the tower (until another joker is drawn). Through the hole he has created, the comet can be seen, looking a lot bigger/closer than it did 20 minutes ago.... Nolveniss unshakes and casts a barrage of darkfire Bolts at the party.
The Drow wizard tries to conjure up some more shadow creatures to back him up, he rolls another CRITICAL FAILURE and inadvertently opens a portal into the Shadow Plane, through which something awful begins to escape.... Realizing that they will be trapped in Shadow-Celwynvian if Nolveniss is eaten/dragged through the portal with the shadow key still in his possession, Hesker grabs his legs and drags him away from the groping tentacles spilling out of that yawning rift in existence. Before he can even think to thank her, Hesker caves his skull in with her flail and starts going through his pockets. With the wizard's death, the portal closes, severing several questing tentacles that writhe pitifully before melting into a puddle of foul black slime. Alesander rushes to Shalelu's side and casts Healing. He fails, but at least they can return the body with them so that her sacrifice can be honored by her kin.
Before the party can activate the shadow key, Razorhorn returns. The PCs spend a moment mocking the young dragon before teleporting back to the present day, leaving the great, scaly bastard to be destroyed by the Earthfall. (Danforth makes a mental note to scour Celwynvian for the dragon's treasure when he gets a few hours to himself).
The Drow wizard tries to conjure up some more shadow creatures to back him up, he rolls another CRITICAL FAILURE and inadvertently opens a portal into the Shadow Plane, through which something awful begins to escape.... Realizing that they will be trapped in Shadow-Celwynvian if Nolveniss is eaten/dragged through the portal with the shadow key still in his possession, Hesker grabs his legs and drags him away from the groping tentacles spilling out of that yawning rift in existence. Before he can even think to thank her, Hesker caves his skull in with her flail and starts going through his pockets. With the wizard's death, the portal closes, severing several questing tentacles that writhe pitifully before melting into a puddle of foul black slime. Alesander rushes to Shalelu's side and casts Healing. He fails, but at least they can return the body with them so that her sacrifice can be honored by her kin.
Before the party can activate the shadow key, Razorhorn returns. The PCs spend a moment mocking the young dragon before teleporting back to the present day, leaving the great, scaly bastard to be destroyed by the Earthfall. (Danforth makes a mental note to scour Celwynvian for the dragon's treasure when he gets a few hours to himself).
Part Four: Back to the Future
Having defeated the Drow commander and their dragon mascot, the rest of the dark elves flee into the depths of the Mierani Forest, where the elves will spend the next few months hunting them down like the animals they are. There is a great feast held to celebrate victory! Following the festivities, Eviana Nirgassan calls the heroes to her tent to discuss the next stage in their ongoing efforts to prevent the Drow from unleashing the Armageddon Echo on the surface world. The shadow key that the PCs took from Nolveniss can be used to open a portal to the Drow city of Zirnakaynin via the corrupt elf gate. Before she can elaborate, Kaerishiel bursts in with an urgent message for the leader of Crying Leaf. Each of the PCs fail their Notice rolls, so it comes as a complete surprise when he buries a poisoned dagger in her neck...!
Hesker is the first to recover her wits, scattering maps/candles as she clambers up onto the table and plants a hobnailed boot in Kaerishiel's face. The murderous elf flickers as his Disguise spell is disrupted - it is not Kaerishiel at all, but a deadly Drow assassin called Arkaxis! Since Hesker is standing on the table, Danforth drops onto his belly and fires his crossbow under the table, targeting the murderer's legs. Their is the sound of tearing fabric as several members of Eviana's honour guard cut through the sides of the tent - and attack the heroes!
Arkaxis leaves his dagger in his victim's throat and quick-draws a shortsword coated in (only marginally) less deadly poison. After wounding Hesker, the assassin tries to retreat, the half-orc lashes out, wrapping her flail around his leg to trip him over. Danforth rolls onto his back and shoots the 'elf' standing over him, sword raised. His target does not change back into a Drow, he stares at the bolt sticking out of his chest, then up at Danforth with a look of confusion on his face as the life fades from his eyes. (The players thought they were dealing with a group of dark elves in disguise, in fact, everyone except Arkaxis was just under the effects of the Puppet power).
The actual assassin crawls away from Hesker (the poison on his blade has blurred her vision, causing her last few Fighting rolls to fail), slashes a hole in the tent and disappears into the darkness beyond. Danforth throws down his crossbow, he has a sinking feeling that the party has just been stitched up good and proper.
And he's right! Drawn by the sound of combat, the real Kaerishiel appears with a squad of Lanternbearers at his back. He sees the PCs attacking Eviana's bodyguards and Eviana herself bleeding out on the floor with a Drow knife sticking out of her neck. Blood bubbles on her pale lips. He immediately accuses the heroes of having been sleeper agents for the Drow all along and pretending to support the elven war effort, up until the point that they had a chance to betray them! They are arrested, disarmed and detained. Kwaya tries to convince Kaerishiel not to execute the heroes until their guilt can be proven, this only gives the Shin'Rakorath man a better idea, rather than killing the heroes, he will exile them to Zirnakaynin! Without further adieu, the heroes are dragged from their cells and thrown through the corrupt elf gate - into the heart of the dark elf capital...!
Hesker is the first to recover her wits, scattering maps/candles as she clambers up onto the table and plants a hobnailed boot in Kaerishiel's face. The murderous elf flickers as his Disguise spell is disrupted - it is not Kaerishiel at all, but a deadly Drow assassin called Arkaxis! Since Hesker is standing on the table, Danforth drops onto his belly and fires his crossbow under the table, targeting the murderer's legs. Their is the sound of tearing fabric as several members of Eviana's honour guard cut through the sides of the tent - and attack the heroes!
Arkaxis leaves his dagger in his victim's throat and quick-draws a shortsword coated in (only marginally) less deadly poison. After wounding Hesker, the assassin tries to retreat, the half-orc lashes out, wrapping her flail around his leg to trip him over. Danforth rolls onto his back and shoots the 'elf' standing over him, sword raised. His target does not change back into a Drow, he stares at the bolt sticking out of his chest, then up at Danforth with a look of confusion on his face as the life fades from his eyes. (The players thought they were dealing with a group of dark elves in disguise, in fact, everyone except Arkaxis was just under the effects of the Puppet power).
The actual assassin crawls away from Hesker (the poison on his blade has blurred her vision, causing her last few Fighting rolls to fail), slashes a hole in the tent and disappears into the darkness beyond. Danforth throws down his crossbow, he has a sinking feeling that the party has just been stitched up good and proper.
And he's right! Drawn by the sound of combat, the real Kaerishiel appears with a squad of Lanternbearers at his back. He sees the PCs attacking Eviana's bodyguards and Eviana herself bleeding out on the floor with a Drow knife sticking out of her neck. Blood bubbles on her pale lips. He immediately accuses the heroes of having been sleeper agents for the Drow all along and pretending to support the elven war effort, up until the point that they had a chance to betray them! They are arrested, disarmed and detained. Kwaya tries to convince Kaerishiel not to execute the heroes until their guilt can be proven, this only gives the Shin'Rakorath man a better idea, rather than killing the heroes, he will exile them to Zirnakaynin! Without further adieu, the heroes are dragged from their cells and thrown through the corrupt elf gate - into the heart of the dark elf capital...!