Enemy Revealed


Wandan stands by the raft and waits for everyone to gets ready

Atheina faces Wandan as he exit from the tower. "What does that ring that you found seem to do?"

Thaddeus looks up at the tower as he gets on to the raft.

[Calthos]: "What happened to you, Thad. You disappered. You are ok?"

[Thaddeus]: "I guess I'm alright. It was rather devastating. Nothing I really want to talk to you about."

Wandan looks at Atheina and smiles "I don't know really. Maybe someone can help me to identify it."

Calthos nods at Thaddeus and says "Ok, and now you should get new clothes again".

There is a puff of black,choking smoke beside the tower.After a few coughs,a familiar voice rings out,"Of course he is okay.What a stupid question.Really,how do you people remember to breathe,being so dull witted?".The voice sounds like Weavebane,but when the smoke clears it comes from a small devilish looking,two foot tall 'thing' with batlike wings.

Atheina nods and jumps onto the raft, letting the wind blows upon her fair face.

Wandan looks at the creature and says "Who are You?"

Thaddeus looks upon it, confused. "Weavebane?"

[Atheina]: "A foul creature of the abyss." saying non chalently as she slides her hand to the pommel of her sword.

Calthos looks at the creature and says "The better question is WHAT it is"

The creature flitters over towards Wandan."My name is Weavebane,dullard.You can call me Master,if you like.".With that,Weavebane does a barrel roll into the ground,laughing too hard."Ouch!Damnable wings will take some getting used to.Forgot to flap." Weavebane sits on the ground with his legs crossed,and assumes a mock face of enlightenment."I am a guide,travellers,one who is charged with showing you the Light." With that said,the thing laughs again,and falls backwards into the grass."Oh,you people are rich!"

Wandan looks at Thaddeus "Is this Your "friend"?"

[]: "She says 'foul' as if it were a bad thing."

[Thaddeus]: "Weavebane! Where were you?" Thaddeus ignores Wandan.

[]: "Same place you were.I got a new lease on life.Not too mention a sweet new chassis." Weavebane wiggles his hindquarters at Thaddeus to accentuate his pointed tail."Now,are you folk going to get over your wonderment at seeing such a magnificent creature as I,so that I may impart some wisdom?Or shall we yak like old wives about nothing until the crazy mage comes home?"

Atheina shakes her head at the impish creature. Turning, she returns to her own thoughts.

[Calthos]: "Lets get on the raft and continue our journey."

Thaddeus puts his face in his hands, "I should never have touched that rock."

Calthos gets on the raft and takes a paddle.

[]: "Fine,I can talk whilst you paddle,elfling."

Wandan takes the paddle and waits for others to get in

[Calthos]: "Can you be quite while I paddle? I would prefer that".

Weavebane strikes a pose on the raft,one foot on a low log,and the other on a high one."Right maties,here's the deal.You are working to break the power of this Black Dragonarmy,correct?"

Wandan looks up "Yes."

Calthos looks doubtfull at Weavebane and says "What could you offer as help?"

[]: "Lucky day for you then!I am also working to break those dirty bastages!Well,I am concerned with their leader,Solomon.That one sticks his grubby hands where my Master does not want them.What can I offer?Power,plain and simple.My job is to make sure you weaklings are up to the task of ridding us of this upstart Mage."

[Calthos]: "Who is your master?"

Atheina listens silently to Weavebane and motions him to continue.

[]: "I have learned a few things in my millenia of existance,albeit as a talking dagger.I know the location of old dwarven halls filled with coins.Not too mention a few dragon hoards.Who doesn't like a good dragon hoard,eh?"

[Atheina]: "And which dragon's hoard is not guarded by a dragon?"

Wandan laughs "Well we'll try to end this threat. And problem with the dragon hoards is because there is always a dragon near"

[]: "Who my Master is does not matter,your goals and his coincide in this regard.The enemy of my enemy is my friend,and all that." Weavebane turns to Atheina."What fun would there be if the hoard was unguarded?"

Atheina finally gives Weavebane a smile. "Yes and a battle is what I long for."

[]: "I like her.Full of spunk.Quick with the letting of blood.Almost makes me want to be mortal."

Wandan smiles "So would You tell us a little more about that?"

[]: "As a token of my Master's regard for your abilities,I am authorized to offer this token of information.The happennings on Thorn Island are the doing of a black dragon,one Scathach the Dreamshadow to be exact.Nasty bugger he is,a dragon-mage.He uses a crystal ball to spread his mind-influencing spells to the inhabitants.This dragon does not deal with folk such as yourself,but instead sends wave upon wave of underlings to dispose of you.Once you have slain all his 'troops',he will retreat,rather than dirty his own claws."

Wandan nods "And we have to deal with him, right? Does he have a weakness?"

[Atheina]: "That or influence us with his mind spell."

[]: "He already sent his first force to dispatch you,their bloated corpses now clog up the river downstream a ways.Poor buggers ran afoul of some barbazu."

[Atheina]: "How can we be sure we will not be made slaves as all others before us?"

[]: "He is a master of illusion and enchantments.Not everything will be as it seems on the island.You must guard against anything that rings the least untrue,or you will be caught in his web."

[Calthos]: "Once we have slain all his troops...do you know any numbers? I guess he got quite alot".

Wandan smiles again "Thanks for the information. And tell us one more thing, are You going with us on that island?"

Weavebane steps off the raft as it lands on the riverbank."He controls the inmates,and many of the guards.I made a quick count at around forty,many have been slain with incursions by the Tempuran church."

Atheina grins with a hint of bloodlust in her eyes "Numbers matters not. The more foes the better to serve my lord."

Wandan laughs "And little of luck goes along the way."

Weavebane points at Atheina,then says to Calthos."Like I said,the Tempurans took out quite a few.Gotta love the followers of Tempus.I will be nearby,though my presence must be kept secret.Were our adversaries to learn of my Master's connection with you,then your lives would be all but forfeit."

[Calthos]: "Ok, sounds good. Lets start then."

Wandan nods "All right, thats good for now. I hope we won't have any more troubles getting on that island."

Atheina nods at Weavebane. Flexing her swordarm, giving herself a moment to say a prayer to Tempus, she steps off the raft. "Lets get going."

Wandan follows Atheina and gets off the raft quickly

Weavebane disappears in a flash of foul smoke,and you begin the journey back to Phlan.You arrive as the sun is setting.The guards at the gates let you in upon identification,and suggest you find a safe place to spend the night.

Wandan greets the guards and and prays to Tymora for his Companions

[Atheina]: "Lets take refuge this night at my lord's temple. We will be safe and welcomed there."

Calthos nods at Atheina and says "Sounds good, please lead us to there then."

Atheina gives a nod at the guards and heads towards the temple of Tempus.

Wandan follows Atheina to the temple

Atheina leasds the way to the Temple of Tempus.You are greeted at the doors to such by two full plate armoured warriors."Good evening,Battleguard."

[Atheina]: "Good evening fellow priests. My companions and I seeks refuge this night in the house of our lords, if we may do thus."

[]: "Tempus' arms are always welcome to his children." The speaking guard opens the temple door for you all to enter."Sargeant Masif is just inside,and will accomodate your wishes."

Atheina gives her thanks and enters the temple.

Wandan follows Atheina and bows slightly to the guard.

You step through the doors,and find that Sargeant Masif is truly just inside.He is a large man,wearing full plate,bearing a bastard sword,and sporting a ridiculously long black beard."Good eve,Battleguard.You wish quarters,prayer,or guidance?

[Atheina]: "Evening Sargeant Masif. We be grateful if quarters and guidance may be provided."

Wandan smiles and looks around in amazement than says a little prayer for himself and his company to the Tempus

The man nods,and leads you to what could only be called cells.Each room is six feet wide,eight feet long,with a ceiling of ten feet.There is a cot,and a simple desk in each.A suit of full plate armour stands outside of each cell door."Breakfast is served in the mess at dawn.Prayers are held in the Armoury.May your blade stay sharp,and your arm true." The Sargeant then leaves you to settle in.

Atheina eye the cells then turns to her companions. " Be safer if we rest in the same room as small as it seems. "

Wandan follows Atheina And sargent Masif to the rooms and nods at Atheina instructions about the rooms.

[Atheina]: "Best we stay alert at all times from now on. We do not know the extend of which this Black Dragon might have control upon." and enters the room.

Calthos nods at Atheina."We should do a watch as well, who knows if he doesnt have followers here as well."

Wandan nods "Maybe You right. I'll take the first watch then."

[Atheina]: "I will take first watch. One of you may sleep on the cot and the other on the floor. I will take watch at the doorway."

Wandan nods "All right. Then it's second for me"

[Calthos]: "Just wake me up when it is time for my watch. Second or third, both is fine with me." Calthos makes his bed for the night on the floor.

As Calthos and Wandan sleep,Atheina is visited with a waking dream.She sees Tempus bound in chains upon a bloody field strewn with bodies of men,elves,dwarves and draconians.He lies on his back as a massive black dragon claw pins him to the ground.The chains are held by a man sized figure in black silk robes,embroidered with silver runic symbols.

[Atheina]: "Awake my friends. The temple is no longer safe as I had feared. Its been disecrated. We have to get out now!"

Calthos wakes up and and takes his hand instincivly to his sword and looks at Atheina "What happened?"

Wandan wakes up and stands up quickly.

[Atheina]: "Ask not what happen, but what will happen soon. I had a vision enough said." as she draws her sword and walk briskly towards the temple's exit.

Wandan looks at Atheina "What happened. Is everything ok?"

Calthos looks around but cant see any foes, so he puts away his sword and gets together his belongings.

Wandan get his thing quickly and follows Atheina to the outside.

Calthos follows Atheina "Ok, lets go, but where is it safe during night."

Your exit is halted at the temple doors by the two guards from outside,and Sargeant Masif."Where are you about at this time?" Sargeant Masif asks.

Atheina grips her sword grimply. "Let us pass fellow priests, for we have a matter of utmost urgency to attend to."

[]: "Matter of urgency?Well,we can't be letting you run around in matters of urgency.Why don't you go back to your little cell,Battleguard."

[Atheina]: "When has it been last since A follower of Tempus has been stopped from leaving the lord's house?"

Wandan looks at Masif "But we need to get out. Please!"

[]: "Since the follower's of Tempus hold no more power here.Sivaks,dispose of the fools." Sargeant Masif walks out the door,as the two guards close behind him and advance upon Atheina.

Atheina licks her lips as she jumps at the Sivaks.

Atheina misses the closest Sivak with her attack.

Wandan takes out his sword quickly and attacks the closest enemy with a scream "For Tymora!" Wandan misses his opponent

Calthos charges a Sivak and slices his leg.

The two guards take two swings at Atheina with their two handed swords,missing the lithe elf each time.

Atheina aims for the injured Sivak's other leg. Atheina lets out a cry of frustration as she misses again.

Calthos attacks the Sivak with an intense battlecry and his blade cuts deep inside the torso of his enemy as he falls dead to the floor.

The guard shifts shape upon death to a silver scaled draconian of huge proportions(9' tall).

Wandan attacks quickly and prays to Tymora for a hit.Wandan hits the guard and smiles

The surviving guard brings his two handed sword down on Calthos' left leg with a vengeance.

Calthos attacks the Sivak with rage in his eyes, but misses his enemy.

Atheina attacks the Sivak but it dodges out of the way.

Wandan cries again "Tymora" and attacks the guard who is attacking Calthos,missing his enemy.

The guard swings his massive sword around to bear on Atheina,leaving a nasty gash along her left flank.

Atheina mutters some words as quickly as her wounds allows her and lays a hand upon Calthos, bathing him in a pale blue light.

Calthos swings his sword into the draconians right leg.

The guard takes Calthos wounding wuith a grunt,then begins to shake.White foam froths at his mouth as he falls to the floor twitching.In a few moments the guard's form shifts to that of a silver scaled draconian,as it lies dead.