Part One: The Last Home of the Elves
At the end of the previous adventure, the PCs were framed for the murder of Eviana Nirgassan, the actual culprit - a cunning Drow assassin called Arkaxis - escaped. The party were spared execution and instead banished through the corrupt elf gate in Celwynvian, emerging in the Drow capital city of Zirnakaynin (where the most they can realistically hope for is a lifetime of soul-destroying slavery). Without their arms/armour, the heroes are quickly captured by the dark elves on the other side of the portal and dragged off to the prison fortress Vostrac. The Drow hate ALL surface dwelling races, but are particularly cruel to Lyselle, who obviously has elven ancestry. (The start of this module was a bit rail-roady, I had to give each player a benny to make it taste a little better going down).
Conditions within the Vostrac are horrible and the fleshwarped guards beat the prisoners to within an inch of their lives for the slightest provocation. Danforth befriends a halfling called Folg (with whom the party share a cell), the cage's only other occupant is the corpse of dead dwarf that the guards have not bothered to remove. Every day, the slaves are paraded before an audience of Drow nobility, those that are purchased are never seen again....
Several days later, the party spot their old friend Xaxihn (from Children of the Void) perusing the slave market for fleshwarping subjects. Fortunately, he does not pass their cell and leaves with a string of terrified humans shackled together.
Conditions within the Vostrac are horrible and the fleshwarped guards beat the prisoners to within an inch of their lives for the slightest provocation. Danforth befriends a halfling called Folg (with whom the party share a cell), the cage's only other occupant is the corpse of dead dwarf that the guards have not bothered to remove. Every day, the slaves are paraded before an audience of Drow nobility, those that are purchased are never seen again....
Several days later, the party spot their old friend Xaxihn (from Children of the Void) perusing the slave market for fleshwarping subjects. Fortunately, he does not pass their cell and leaves with a string of terrified humans shackled together.
Slavemother Undamesta
Before the party can start to seriously consider breaking out of the Vostrac (such an attempt would have ended badly for them), they are singled out by a potential buyer. Slavemother Undamesta of House Vonnarc questions them to establish if they might make adequate house servants for her matron. After satisfying her curiosity, Undamesta tests the PCs to ensure they will prove obedient servitors, she commands them to kill Folg. Danforth cannot bring himself to commit such an act. Hesker locks eyes with the old halfling and their is a mutual understanding there. In a way, killing Folg would be an act of kindness as it is the only way he will ever escape the cruelty of the Drow. The half-orc grits her teeth and breaks his neck. Satisfied, the slavemother purchases the group and they are herded through the streets of Zirnakaynin to the estate of House Vonnarc.
Each of the heroes is given a ring bearing the sigil of House Vonnarc, slaves caught not wearing their ring (which identifies the house to which they now belong) are flogged, repeat offenders are executed (or fleshwarped into something dreadful).
As a reward for her decisive action back in the Vostrac, Hesker is assigned to the house guards, while the rest of the party are mere servitors. Danforth is assigned to the kitchens, Alesander is found work in the kennels (mucking out the lizard s**t) and Lyselle is made a maid (but warned to avoid Second Son Tiryin Vonnarc, lest he despoil and murder her - not necessarily in that order).
Each of the heroes is given a ring bearing the sigil of House Vonnarc, slaves caught not wearing their ring (which identifies the house to which they now belong) are flogged, repeat offenders are executed (or fleshwarped into something dreadful).
As a reward for her decisive action back in the Vostrac, Hesker is assigned to the house guards, while the rest of the party are mere servitors. Danforth is assigned to the kitchens, Alesander is found work in the kennels (mucking out the lizard s**t) and Lyselle is made a maid (but warned to avoid Second Son Tiryin Vonnarc, lest he despoil and murder her - not necessarily in that order).
Part Two: To Serve Evil
House Vonnarc
Hesker is isolated from the others, as she is given a bunk in the guard barracks and the others have to sleep in the servants quarters. Several of the other guards (Covakis, Disakav & Shoyla) are not impressed with their new recruit and decide to express this displeasure physically. Hesker defends herself, killing Disakav in the process. The law dictates that the half-orc be punished - but secretly, Paingiver Drovoanis (captain of the house guard) is impressed with her ferocity and she is soon promoted (which only increases the hostility with which the other guards treat her).
Meanwhile, the others must deal with another house slave called Gadak, who is altogether too curious about the PCs and their past.
Paingiver Drovoanis sends Hesker, Covakis & Shoyla to catch/kill a group of renegade driders that have escaped from the pens beneath House Vonnarc. He tells them to take the new house servants (the rest of the party) with them, in case they need any bait.
The two Drow guards undermine Hesker's authority at every opportunity and there is little the half-orc can do to stop them tormenting the others without breaking character. None of the PCs have the Tracking skill, so Covakis leads the way. The expedition find the driders hiding in a large magma cave deep below Zirnakaynin. Recognizing Hesker's attachment to the house servants as a weakness to be exploited, the dark elves want to send Danforth out alone to lure the fleshwarped horrors out of hiding. Hesker attempts intimidation to no effect, Covakis holds his ground. (It would probably have been easier to just kill the two Drow, but doing so might have aroused Drovoanis' suspicions). The heroes have fought drider before (during the battle for Celwynvian) and know what to expect... or think they do. The creatures that scuttle from the shadows are much bigger and feral looking than the creatures they fought amidst the elven ruins. Covakis and Shoyla poke Danforth into the open, armed with nothing more than a hefty rock he picked up off the ground.
Meanwhile, the others must deal with another house slave called Gadak, who is altogether too curious about the PCs and their past.
Paingiver Drovoanis sends Hesker, Covakis & Shoyla to catch/kill a group of renegade driders that have escaped from the pens beneath House Vonnarc. He tells them to take the new house servants (the rest of the party) with them, in case they need any bait.
The two Drow guards undermine Hesker's authority at every opportunity and there is little the half-orc can do to stop them tormenting the others without breaking character. None of the PCs have the Tracking skill, so Covakis leads the way. The expedition find the driders hiding in a large magma cave deep below Zirnakaynin. Recognizing Hesker's attachment to the house servants as a weakness to be exploited, the dark elves want to send Danforth out alone to lure the fleshwarped horrors out of hiding. Hesker attempts intimidation to no effect, Covakis holds his ground. (It would probably have been easier to just kill the two Drow, but doing so might have aroused Drovoanis' suspicions). The heroes have fought drider before (during the battle for Celwynvian) and know what to expect... or think they do. The creatures that scuttle from the shadows are much bigger and feral looking than the creatures they fought amidst the elven ruins. Covakis and Shoyla poke Danforth into the open, armed with nothing more than a hefty rock he picked up off the ground.
First Daughter Alicavniss Vonnarc
One drider approaches Danforth and tries to communicate. He just wants to be left alone, but will fight if the group insist on trying to take them back to their cruel Drow keepers. The anxious halfling relays this information to the rest of the party. Covakis and Shoyla are unsympathetic to their plight. The heroes attack their dark elf 'allies' and roll the bodies into the lava. The driders thank the PCs for their kindness before scuttling off to begin their new lives far from Zirnakaynin. Paingiver Drovoanis is displeased that his two subordinates were lost, while all of the puny house slaves returned hale and healthy.
Soon after, all of the PCs are summoned into the esteemed presence of First Daughter Alicavniss Vonnarc. Having heard from Gadak and Drovoanis that the new house slaves are more than they seem, the First Daughter did a little scrying and uncovered their true purpose. Rather than kill them out of hand, she has decided to utilize their skills to further her own ends. While all Drow despise the surface dwellers, the great noble families hate each other even more. House Vonnarc has no desire to see House Azrinae succeed in their genocidal ambitions, as it would upset the delicate power balance that is painstakingly maintained between the major Drow bloodlines. In exchange for the information that the heroes need to stop the Azrinae recreating Earthfall, Alicavniss wants the party to bring her the head of Orvignato, an obese Drow crime boss who runs his empire from a den of vice called Venoms Kiss. Hesker feels nostalgic, this mission brings back fond memories of her time in Riddleport.
Soon after, all of the PCs are summoned into the esteemed presence of First Daughter Alicavniss Vonnarc. Having heard from Gadak and Drovoanis that the new house slaves are more than they seem, the First Daughter did a little scrying and uncovered their true purpose. Rather than kill them out of hand, she has decided to utilize their skills to further her own ends. While all Drow despise the surface dwellers, the great noble families hate each other even more. House Vonnarc has no desire to see House Azrinae succeed in their genocidal ambitions, as it would upset the delicate power balance that is painstakingly maintained between the major Drow bloodlines. In exchange for the information that the heroes need to stop the Azrinae recreating Earthfall, Alicavniss wants the party to bring her the head of Orvignato, an obese Drow crime boss who runs his empire from a den of vice called Venoms Kiss. Hesker feels nostalgic, this mission brings back fond memories of her time in Riddleport.
Part Three: Hand of the Drow
Fat Drow Orvignato
The party follow Alicavniss' directions to the Venom's Kiss, hottest nightspot in Zirnakaynin! They don't know the password, so they have to bribe their way inside. Although the interior is crowded and hazy with hallucinogenic smoke, Orvignato is difficult to miss. The great, bloated Drow crimelord is crammed into a private booth with several glassy-eyed pleasure slaves fawning over him. His keen-eyed bodyguards scan the room for potential threats, their gazes lingering on the party.... All of the players pass their Smarts roll to avoid becoming confused/disorientated (gaining a level of Fatigue) from inhaling the narcotic fumes.
Hesker tries to intimidate the mercenaries into letting her see the boss. When this fails, she resorts to violence, lashing out with her meaty fists. The bartender produces a crossbow from beneath the bar and takes aim at the half-orc's back. Lyselle lunges across the bar to disarm the shooter but rolls a CRITICAL FAILURE - the contested crossbow goes off and hits the half-elf in the shoulder! Orvignato struggles to squeeze out of the booth, but is too fat - it looks as though he might be jammed in there.
More guards emerge from an adjacent chamber, but must fight their way against the flow of fleeing patrons to reach the heroes. Danforth still has the hefty rock that he picked up during the previous encounter and uses it to bash in the back of a Drow's head. The bouncer charges down the steps, in one round, Lyselle scoops up a crossbow, loads it and shoots him in the chest! After dealing with all of the mooks, Hesker goes for Orvignato. The obese dark elf is holding a poisoned crossbow beneath the table and shoots the half-orc with The Drop (+4 to attack roll & damage). Alesander purges the venom from her blood and Hesker hacks off the fat bastard's head.
Hesker throws their gristly trophy into the burlap sack that she bought along for this very purpose and the party leave the club amidst all the confusion. Alicavniss is true to her word and tells the PCs that the new matron of House Azrinae (and BBEB of the entire AP; Allevrah Azrinae) has relocated to the Land of Black Blood far, FAR below even Zirnakaynin to work her star-snaring sorcery without interference. Her target: the elven nation of Kyonin! While the First Daughter wants the PCs to thwart House Azrinae's scheme, her role in their downfall can never be known to the other Drow families, so she must maintain the appearance of antagonizing the party as they flee the city. She gives them a new shadow key and grants the party a ten minute head start before she dispatches Paingiver Drovoanis to bring back their heads.
Hesker tries to intimidate the mercenaries into letting her see the boss. When this fails, she resorts to violence, lashing out with her meaty fists. The bartender produces a crossbow from beneath the bar and takes aim at the half-orc's back. Lyselle lunges across the bar to disarm the shooter but rolls a CRITICAL FAILURE - the contested crossbow goes off and hits the half-elf in the shoulder! Orvignato struggles to squeeze out of the booth, but is too fat - it looks as though he might be jammed in there.
More guards emerge from an adjacent chamber, but must fight their way against the flow of fleeing patrons to reach the heroes. Danforth still has the hefty rock that he picked up during the previous encounter and uses it to bash in the back of a Drow's head. The bouncer charges down the steps, in one round, Lyselle scoops up a crossbow, loads it and shoots him in the chest! After dealing with all of the mooks, Hesker goes for Orvignato. The obese dark elf is holding a poisoned crossbow beneath the table and shoots the half-orc with The Drop (+4 to attack roll & damage). Alesander purges the venom from her blood and Hesker hacks off the fat bastard's head.
Hesker throws their gristly trophy into the burlap sack that she bought along for this very purpose and the party leave the club amidst all the confusion. Alicavniss is true to her word and tells the PCs that the new matron of House Azrinae (and BBEB of the entire AP; Allevrah Azrinae) has relocated to the Land of Black Blood far, FAR below even Zirnakaynin to work her star-snaring sorcery without interference. Her target: the elven nation of Kyonin! While the First Daughter wants the PCs to thwart House Azrinae's scheme, her role in their downfall can never be known to the other Drow families, so she must maintain the appearance of antagonizing the party as they flee the city. She gives them a new shadow key and grants the party a ten minute head start before she dispatches Paingiver Drovoanis to bring back their heads.
Part Four: Flight from the Darklands
The party hijack a pair of riding lizards from the kennels and flee (upside down) across the walls/roof of the enormous cavern, the rooftops of Zirnakaynin spread out below them. Before long, they notice that they are being pursued by many dark elves on their own reptilian mounts - and Paingiver Drovoanis astride a giant bat!
Hesker & Danforth are on the first lizard, Alesander & Lyselle ride the second. The heroes stay low as the Drow open fire. Drovoanis swoops below the speeding lizards and shoots Hesker (she soaks the damage). Danforth wastes his action casting Blind on the Paingiver's bat (they navigate with sonar, silly halfling). Rather than target the riders, Lyselle shoots at the lizards - when they fall, they take their passengers with them. The half-elf is hit by several poisoned crossbolts, inflicting +4 wounds (she is incapacitated).
Agggghh! It's a Deepcrow!!!!
After the fifth round of the chase, the dark elves turn back, they seem unwilling to pursue the heroes any further. They players soon learn why. Apparently, Alicavniss neglected to mention that the reason this particular elf gate has been abandoned is that the area is occupied by a terrifying Deepcrow!
It will take five rounds for the portal to activate, the heroes just have to stay alive that long!
The Deepcrow produces a a fearful cry that shakes the PCs. Their riding lizards flee. Recovering, Alesander casts Bolt, the spell fails to do any damage, but the Deepcrow is driven back by the dazzling flashes of magical illumination (it dislikes both spellcasters and bright light).
The Deepcrow swoops down to snatch up Hesker in its talons, she rolls out of harms way and fires her crossbow for 30+ damage (!!!). The Deepcrow had already exhausted all of its bennies and crashes into the ground!
Throwing Lyselle over her shoulder, Hesker leads the party through the elf gate - they reappear in the heart of Kyonin, surrounded by two dozen surprised looking elves, who quickly bring the bows to bear on the intruders...!
It will take five rounds for the portal to activate, the heroes just have to stay alive that long!
The Deepcrow produces a a fearful cry that shakes the PCs. Their riding lizards flee. Recovering, Alesander casts Bolt, the spell fails to do any damage, but the Deepcrow is driven back by the dazzling flashes of magical illumination (it dislikes both spellcasters and bright light).
The Deepcrow swoops down to snatch up Hesker in its talons, she rolls out of harms way and fires her crossbow for 30+ damage (!!!). The Deepcrow had already exhausted all of its bennies and crashes into the ground!
Throwing Lyselle over her shoulder, Hesker leads the party through the elf gate - they reappear in the heart of Kyonin, surrounded by two dozen surprised looking elves, who quickly bring the bows to bear on the intruders...!