Mordenthax, once a Minataur of Paladine on the World Krynn found himself torn from his homeland and pulled into the Demi-Plane of Dread known as Ravenloft. Great heroes lead by Mordenthax’s friend Serbian eventually destroyed the Demi-plane. The land mass itself came to rest southwest of Evermeet in the vast oceans of Toril. Mordenthax set fourth into Faerun to seek Lathander’s Glory.
Alstott, once a great warrior in the Dalelands eventually became founder of his own dale, known as Freedale. He ruled with this dale as a tyrant and made many enemies. He was eventually slain and his soul was reforged as an agent of his deity. For a time he fought in the lower planes in the name of Tempus. When he was reborn in Faerun he was a changed man. A shadow of his former self. Through his quest with Mordenthax he has reclaimed his former power but these experiences have forged a different man.
Lo’rath, once a great adventure from a world that fell to demons. His people settled in New Darkisville near the high forest. But he has grown complacent in his retirement and seeks adventure across Faerun. His family allegiances bring him to Cormanthor where he becomes embroiled with the Fellowship of the Righteous and their quest to destroy the Drow of Maermydra.
Oz Mojin, a mysterious Duergar agent. Find himself in Maermydra seeking a Psi-cyrstal taken from his people centuries ago by the first house of Maermydra. His skills and utter disdain for the drow make him a potent ally to the Fellowship.
Fool, a commoner taken from lands he does not remember finds himself prisoner to the Cult of the Dragon in the Ruins of Myth Drannor. He is freed by the Righteous and now serves to aid them in their future adventures.
Dismaul, once a slave to the drow of Maermydra. Taken as a child from the Minataur Labrynth of the Faezeress infused. He joins forces with the Righteous and kinship with fool.
Brom the Gold, once a Barbarian from the planes of Kindar. A righteous berseker who for a time traveled with the fellowship. Rash actions led to his demise in the Ruins of Myth Drannor.
After many days of travel Mordenthax finds his way to Dagger Falls, capitol town of Daggerdale. There at the broken dagger tavern he meets up with Alstott. The two adventurers are regaled by a story told by 2 gnomish brothers (Tarbash and Robiland). They tell of Tarbash’s capture by the mysterious and evil cult of the dragon. They say the cult has business near the ruins of myth Drannor in Cormanthor forest. Tarbash was rescued by 2 heroes named Malastation and Ramius. But these heroes had pressing business and departed. Mordenthax and Alstott agreed that some investigation was required.
Tarbash and Robiland agreed to guide them. They brought them to the so called Tower of Bones where Tarbash had been held captive. Once there they located the journal of cult member. The journal spoke of the cults plans to locate magical items within the Polyandrium. Once found this items would “fuel the pool”. In time the party learned this Polylandrium was a graveyard consisting of crypts located in a clearing directly outside the Ruins of Myth Drannor. The party rested near these ruins and were attacked by 2 strange exotic beasts. They killed them and sought to explore the Polyandrium. They found some cult members guarding the crypts. They killed some and interrogated others but this aided them little.
They began to explore some crypts and found many had been looted. In addition they learned that each crypt was sealed and could only be opened by a rune stone. A magical key that could open a door if used in conjunction with the proper magic word. After exploring many crypts the party rested.
The party arose to find themselves still within the Polylandruim crypts located on the outskirts of the ruins of Myth Drannor. They had not discerned the plots of the cult of the dragon here but they were getting closer. The party soon met up with Brom the gold but the meeting was interrupted by an attacking band of cult members. As the battle progressed a third party entered the fray. It was a squad of drow from house “Jarl”.
After the smoke had cleared only the party stood. They set off to continue their exploration of the crypts. Within the crypt of lyses they were attacked by a platoon of skeleton undead. Through the righteous power of Lathander and Tempus they were destroyed. Sometime later the party was attacked by animated statues which they also destroyed. In the bowels of the tomb they faced 2 enormous clay guardians but they too were brought low. Beyond this they overcame a magically sealed door and located the tomb of Lyssic.
Inside the tomb in the hands of the long dead Lyssic was the rune of stars. Within this chamber the party discovered a secret passage which brought them to the basement to a barracks building. In this basement they found themselves approached by a glowing entity. The entity said he was Molostroi, a Baelnorn. Alstot recalled tales of Baelnorns, they were good undead elves that still stalked the ruins of Myth Drannor. Molostroi informed the party that if they planned to stand against the party they would have to breach the Crypt of Orbakh, back in the Polyandrium.
After this encounter Mordenthax peeked out the door of the barracks building to see exactly were they were. He discovered the secret passage and tunnel they had followed had brought them to a building located in the center of the city of Myth Drannor. Not a good place to be. The party headed back to the Polyandrium only to find an ambush waiting. There were over a dozen Cult members waiting for them. The party defeated them all. They even managed to manage to capture and interrogate one. He told them what they already knew. The cult was gathering magic items from within the ruins for unknown purposes.
After this encounter the party elected to travel north to the city of Hillsfar to rest and recoup. Once there Alstott got in contact with dubious individuals. He hired a dark wizard named Mitrik to identify their items. After this encounter the party once again returned to the Polyandrium. Using the rune of stars the party was next able to enter the Crypt of Rothilion. They found the crypt to be trapped and wicked place. While exploring it they encountered an Illitiad creature who sought only to escape. The party could not stop him.
Within they located a Mahogany box. Inside the box was the Rune of the sun. The rune they would need to finally enter the Crypt of Orbakh.
The party was still within the Polyandrium. An arrangements of crypts which lied outside the ruins of Myth Drannor. They had thus learned that the Cult of the dragon had been stealing magic items from the crypt to feed into a pool for unknown reasons. The party had just reached the Crypt of Orbahk, the largest of the Crypts. Within they faced many traps and defeated many creatures. Undead wights, aquatic ogres, dire apes, and others fell in battle. In the heart of the crypt they came upon a Deepspawn. A large tentacle orb like creature. The creature agreed to let them have Orbahks items from life. The items they were led to believe they would need. In exchange the party agreed to let the deepspawn leave the crypt.
Within the Orbahks tomb they found a magical evil crystal and Orbahks Ivory Septer. Upon touching the scepter the party was once again confronted by Molostroi, the good Elvin lich. A spirit trapped by the magic of Myth Drannor. Molostroi informed the party that the cult of dragon was attempting to feed evil and magic into a Pool of Radiance (liquid magic) within the center of Myth Drannor. The effect was to corrupt the cities Mythal (a physical manifestation the magical weave). Once done the cult planned to submerge the Dracolich Pelendralaar into the Pool. This process would make the Draconic a hundredfold more powerful. Apparently this process had been attempted before. And was even successfully performed by the Black Dracolich Autrilar. But Autrilar perception was increased as well as his power. Upon succession Autrilar left the world of Toril never to be heard from again.
Molostroi told the party that other heroes were questing to stand against Peledralar directly. It would be the parties mission to attempt to infiltrate Cormanthor Castle and destroy the draconic’s Phylactory. The party made their way through a secret tunnel which brought them directly to the center of the city. Once there Molostrio contacted them again. He said the cult was using Cormanthor Castle as their base and that they were employing many Dragonmen. He told the party they should try to sneak in the castle and that they should avoid the dragonmen as they have keen senses. The party went through the front doors under an invisibility sphere. The dragonmen guards immediately detected them. The alarm was raised.
The party charged into the keep. Pandemonium erupted as more and more alarms were raised. The party made a direct charge down into the keep and the underearth chambers below. They had directions from Molostroi. Dozens of cultists and dragonmen and others pursued. In the heart of the underground complex the party entered an enormous chamber where stone platforms were raised above a huge swirling pool of radiance. There in the chamber was kept the Phylactory held safe within a magical cage. It was currently being tended to by A priest, a wizard, 2 dragonmen and a zombie dragon.
The battle began. Early on Alstott used the power of Tempus to turn the Zombie dragon. Mordenthax began to battle the endless forces which had pursed the party from the upper levels. Brom tried to push through to the Phylactory. He was continuously bombarded by spells. The battle seemed to go on forever as more and more reinforcements arrived. Alstott fell during the battle. Mordenthax battled his way to his comrade and healed him. Alas Brom made it to the Phylactory. Now surrounded by dozens of opponents hammering away at him. He broke through the cage but in the final moments he was struck down. The cavern was now overrun by the opposition.
Mordenthax and Alstott knew all hope was lost. They fled out the tunnel Molostroi had told could provide escape. The tunnel was occupied by a small red dragon who tried to fly out of the way. The party attacked it as it passed and it returned by pursuing them swell. Hellfire breath reigned down upon the party. The party spun in response and began battling aginst the dragon. Soon after the dragon fell. Alstott summoned a celestial creature to hold up their pursuers. The exodus began anew. The party ran endlessly finally exiting into a basement.
Upstairs they found they were within a mansion near the edge of Myth Drannor. They made b-line to escape. Many creatures took notice and tried to attack. As the party ran they were soon joined by Benguard the adventurer who was fleeing a separate situation. Together they ran to safety. Within the forest they were joined by Mordenthax’s horse and his slave named fool. They had failed their mission and lost their compatriot Brom the Gold. But for now they were safe.
Alstott and Mordenthaxus made it safely into Tesseldale. There they found refuge at The Abbey of the Just Hammer, a large temple to Tyr. The High priest Kalark took them. During their stay there they learned that the danger in Myth Drannor had increased tenfold. Having failed to stop the Red Dragon Dracolich Pelendralar from garnering the power of the Pool of Radiance. The party had failed to stop the cult of the Dragon from procuring immense power. It seemed they would never be able to recover their fallen Companion Brom the Gold.
Mordenthax and Alstott were brought before the High Priest Kalark of the abbey of the Just Hammer. He informed them that their presence was requested in Daggerdale. They had been summoned by Randall Morn, the lord of that Dale. Upon arriving in Dagger Falls the party was brought before Randall. He informed them that he had heard of their heroic deeds and that he was in need of such adventurers to stem a growing problem. Over the past few weeks many of the farming communities in southern dagger dale had been attacked and destroyed. All indications were that the attackers were drow. Morns men were able to track the drow back to the Dordrien Crypts, a burial site of ancient Sembian Nobles long known to be haunted. Due to the increasing threat of the Zhentarium along the borders of Daggerdale and the other numerous threats coming against Daggerdale Morn was hesitant to commit his forces to such a task. Morn did not even have to ask.
Mordenthax and Alstott agreed to help immediately. It had been some time since Mordenthax had slaughtered drow in the under warrens of Ravenloft island. He was looking forward to this. After their talks Morn pulled Alstott aside. He told Alstott he knew he really was. Alstott responded that not even he knew who he really was. Morn would not answer all of Alstott’s questions. Instead he told him to seek his brother Netheril in Freedale. Alstott would take Morn’s advice, When he was ready. For now there was Drow that required dealing with.
Mordenthax made contact with the newly rebuilt temple of Lathander in Dagger Falls. The head Priest Gastian welcomed him and allowed Mordenthax to set up there. Also Morn told the heroes that he would pay for any help they needed from the Temple. The next day Mordenthax and Alstott left accompanied by a scout named Gage. The scout lead them ten miles south into the Dordrien crypts. The party defeated some undead and a Maurezhi, a powerful undead who gains the ability to take on the form of those it digests. In the depths of the crypt the party was nearly slain a powerful roper. After the battle the party headed back to Dagger Falls to reprovision. This task would be more difficult then what they first believed.
After resting in Dagger Falls the party returned to the Dordrien Crypts. They transcended the crypts themselves into tunnels. Tunnels that had been dug from beneath the crypts. After transversing these tunnels into the depths they came upon an outpost. The outpost had been constructed up a huge cavern wall. Along the wall were separate chambers that could be reached by way climbing an enormous web that cascaded the entirety of the wall. A huge spider could be seen at work maintaining the web. The party had found their Drow. The party infiltrated the outpost and taken out drow as they went. Eventually they came upon a more sizeable resistance. A Lieutenant accompanied by a dozen drow and one Minataur slave. The battle did not go initially well for the party but all that changed when The Minataur slave realized what Mordenthax was. He joined the party and together they killed the drow. The party now joined by Dismaul the minataur tried to rest within the outpost. They were discovered and forced to flee. They barely escaped. They had put a nice dent in the outpost however killing at least 2 dozen drow. In addition they had recovered many valuable items, magic and mundane. Amongst the spoils was a letter of correspondence between From a Rhavanz (a priestess?) to a leader of the outpost named Indrizil. The letter told about how the priestesses of Lloth were not powerless and that just recently the city of Maermydra had fallen to a force of Goblins, Ogres, and Giants. The city could have held if not for the house of Chumayh being overthrown from within. The letter also name the outpost as the Szith Morcane and claimed that those who occupied the outpost were now worshippers of Kiaransalee, the drow goddess of Undeath. The party traveled to Shadowdale to reprovision and would soon return to finish the drow.
The Party once again return to the Dordrien Crypts and transcended into Szith Morcane. They slaughtered every living Drow residing within. Within the depths they found a passage leading to the underdark. It seemed this evil now infecting the land was emanated from some turmoil in the Drow City of Maermydra. It was the Drow of this vile city which had occupied Shadowdale so long ago during the time of the Lands under Shadow. The Rightious decided they would push through to the city to find out what they could. They tread deep into the underdark and befriended a group of Stone Giants. Eventually the party was halted at the lake of shadows, A massive underground lake. The party’s underdark incursion would end there but they would later set up an early warning system with the Stone Giants and envoys from Daggerdale.
The party members decided it was time to liquidize some of the magical and other valuable materials they had picked up on their adventures. They hooked up with a Caravan master named Mr. Vaylan. He was a magic item perveyer who worked out a deal with the party. They would travel with his carvan and protect it and in exchange he would sell their magic items. This went on for 3 months giving the party a fantastic tour of the realms. This merry arrangement ended in Battledale as the party would stay at the Abbey of the Sword. Mr. Vaylan would proceed back home to Arabel.
The party remained in Battledale until the Drow activity in Cormanthor had abated. During this time a war was raging in Cormyr. The party might have elected to get involved but Battlemaster Ambrose needed them in Battledale. At long last the party was no longer needed and they would be able to attend the funeral of King Azoun the 4th. The war in Cormyr had ended. The endless armies of goblins had been slain or defeated. The King and Vanderghast had found the goblins master. An ancient Dragon whom had been enemy to Cormyr for centuries. Azoun had slain the creature but he too had been killed.
The ceremony was a who’s who of Faerun. The rule of Cormyr would now fall to the child Azoun the 5th with his aunt as consort. After the services the party received a summons from Lady Kestrel Vaylan of Arabal. The party arrived in the badly damaged city to meet with the widow of the man they had spent the last 3 months with. It seemed Mr. Vaylan had arrived home during a massive battle. He used his magic ladened wagon as a magical suicide bomb which he unleashed at the key moment. The Lady having learned of the party’s kindship with her dead husband now sought them for aid.
It seemed an old friend of her husband had a lead on the location of the lair of the great dragon whom Azoun had slain. The lady proposed to find the lair and the treasure within. It was her hope to use the massive valuables and gold within to fund the rebuilding effort in Arabel. The party would receive a nice percentage of treasure recovered. And so the party departed to Eveningstar to find this man called Gurrand Rannar. After a quick encounter with road bandits (The Freedom fighters) the party proceeded to Eveningstar.
Gurrand proved to be a very old and dying man. Gurrand had apparently come upon a map. The party found Gurrand difficult to deal with until they showed their letter from Lady Kestrel. Gurrand was immediately embarrassed. Apparently another adventuring party led by a man named Doxon had already visited the old man with fake credentials. Gurrand drew another map but this other party had the led on them. While in Eveningstar the party had a courdial meeting with a very young and inexperienced adventuring party.
Soon after leaving the party joined up with a half elven lady named Veya. She claimed her party was also seeking the lair but they were killed by Doxon’s party. The party traveled west along the high road as it ascended into the Storm Horn Mountains. They helped out some refugees on their way. As they entered the mountains they began to encounter undead. It seemed as though they were getting closer to something.
Eventually they arrived in the ruins of the town of Tyrluk. Those broken and beaten people who still lived in the ruins were now led by a seemingly capable women named Mahrlee. In Tyr;uk the party tracked down Valan of the peaks. This was the man whom had originated the map. He agreed to lead the party to the lair. The following day the party set out but instead of finding the lair they were led by Valan into an ambush. Apparently a murderous adventuring party had set up a scam where Valan would lead other adventuring parties to them to be slain and looted. The Rightious tore them to pieces and then turned on Valan. Valan explained he only helped cause they threatened his family. He promised he would now lead them to the real lair.
Eventually the party would led Valan go. Many hours later the party was approaching the location of the true lair when they found the slaughtered remains of the young adventuring party they had met in Eveningstar. The murderers could be seen some 200 yards off. It was the sorceress Mahrlee and her adventuring party. A massive battle ensued which ended with the death of the evil adventuring party and Mahrlee revelation that she was actually a Red Dragon. The party fled in terror and regrouped. It seemed they had done more damage to the dragon then they had thought as she also had fled.
They took some rest within the cave they had just entered. They were badly damaged after the battle with the Red Dragon. After fully resting they posted Fool and Dismaul as lookout and tread deeper into the cave which they believed would deliver them to the dragons lair.
After a few hours in these caves the party came to a shimmering field of energy which blocked the cave. The party soon discovered that this was a portal to some other realm or plane. After crossing through they found this other realm to be similar to the one they left. They were still in under caves but the stone was different and strange bacteria grew on everything. The party soon encountered a goblin outpost of which they quickly dismissed the outpost’s sentries.
Further along they came upon the massive underground goblin city of Grodd. This was the source of all those Goblin armies that had seemed to appear out of no where to lay siege to Cormyr. The party set about infiltrating the city. They took a captive named Gomguard who agreed to help them in exchange for his life. They gathered much information as they traveled. It seemed these Goblins were no normal creatures. They lived in this extradimensional realm between planes. They had been the realms only inhabitants until the Great Dragon had been banished to this place long ago. She became their master and they did her bidding. Now that she was slain they sought to wreak no futher havoc on the prime material plane.
Though it could be easy as every single inhabitant of the city now had the ability to transport to the Prime Material Plane at will. Unfortunatly since the death of the dragon a massive power vacuum had opened. Now numerous generals all led factions seeking control of the city. The party infiltrated many of these keeps seeking access to the Dragons lair. After days of searching they eventually learned that the portal lied in the depths of the city’s great lake where the dragon her self had fallen.
The party had finally reached the hoard demiplane of the Great Dragon. They hoped to secure the hoard and eventually help Lady Kestrel of Arabel use the riches to rebuild the city of Arabel. In the depths of lake within the Goblin city of Grodd the party had entered a portal and had now entered a strange demiplane.
The plane itself appeared to be a forested area with surrounding mountains. A misty vale closed off the planes borders. The party was encouraged as they discoved the plane was only a mile wide and long. The plane was still occupied by the wicked elves who had served the Dragon long ago and shared her imprisoned. Now being centuries old these vile elves were very powerful. The party sought out their bases systematically and began to elimate them.
As they reached the next base they found someone had done their job for them. Doxon’s company had also reached this plane and were taking the same approach as the party. The party tracked Doxon’s group and found them embroiled in combat against the same Red Dragon they had faced. The party joined all out battle and madness ensued. During the combat the half elf Veya revealed herself to be Tarran the elf lord, long lost comrade of Alstot. The battle was viscious and unrelenting. Even after Doxon’s company had fell the Dragon persisted in attacking. With Tarran’s help the Righteous were able to bring the beast low.
After the battle the party found that Doxon escaped, though now without his party he posed little threat. With all enemies slain or fled the party was free to locate the lair which they succeeded at. Inside the treasure they encountered a group of battle trolls who were part of a lineage breeded to protect the horde. The trolls almost proved too much but the party had planned well and this brought them success. The party found a massive horde and there was much rejoicing.
They returned through the portal to the city of Grodd. They found an unsettling welcome when they reached the surface of the lake. Doxon had apparently forged a relationship with one of the great general’s of Grodd. After fleeing he went back and prepared this welcome. All the armed forces of the city now said poised (with readed actions) to attack the party with thousands of ranged weapons (Siege and the like) if they so much as moved. A detachment was sent down to take the party prisoner.
One of these Goblins was the one they had befriended. The betrayal of it all seemed to much to bear until the clever goblin grabbed all party members and used his innate power to teleport the party back to the prime material plane. This Goblin named Gomguard had really felt a great attachment when the party had picked him up. In the moment of crisis he made his choice. Alstot took the goblin under his wing. Back in Faerun the party found Fool and Dismaul returning from an adventure. They were wearing furs of some great beast but refused to answer any questions.
The party returned from their quest victorious. They remained in Arabel to champion the rebuilding efforts. Over the next couple months rumors of their exploits had spread. They were hailed as great heroes and granted lordship and title in Arabel. Mordenthax built a school for children that cant read good. Arabel and the Rightious would forever share a great love for one another.
The party had spent an abundant amount of time in Arabel where they were now regarded as great heroes. Alstot found himself a little out of place and missing the Dalelands. He made up his mind to return to Freedale to whatever fate awaited him.
The party traveled to Shadowdale where they were met by friendly faces. Later that day Alstot encountered one of his former subjects. He said that loyalists of Alstot had left Freedale after the new rule had begun. It seemed that a powerful adventuring party known as the Freelancers had become the town’s benefactors. Notable amongst this party was the powerful necromancer Lohgin Foegrim whom Alstot had never met. But there was one member of the party Alstot did know. It was a halfling named Milo T. Mousewise.
This halfling had headed an earlier incarnation of this party in attempting an overthrow of Alstot. It seemed in Alstot’s absence this party had become very powerful and their actions had both destroyed Freedale and rebuilt it. They set up Ronin Tynan, a noble paladin as the dale’s leader. Meanwhile those loyal to Alstot had set up a small village not far from Freedale. Alstot’s glee at hearing his followers still lived died quickly as he heard they had fallen on hard times. It seemed the village was all but destroyed and many of the men kidnapped.
The Rightious immediately left Shadowdale and came to find this Freetown in virtual ruin. Only a handful of men and women remained. The party followed tracks they had located which led them back near Shadowdale to the ruins of Castle Crag. The Castle was a place of great lore in Shadowdale. It was built long ago by the Drow of Maermydra, later it was siesed by the famous adventuring party known as Mace’s Wandering Realmsmen. Finally during the Zhent occupation it was the seat of power for Jyordan, the last of the pretender dictators. After Jyordan’s fall the castle was sieged leaving it in ruins.
It seemed now the castle had a new inhabitant. An entrance near the castle’s subbasement was emitting massive heat. The party left Fool, Dismaul, Gomgard, and the rest of their entourage outside as they headed into the dangers below. Something had carved out massive underground tunnels beneath the Castle and lava flows now filled the area.
Inside the party found some of Alstot’s men chained to a wall. They quickly freed them and headed deeper into to find what evil lurked. The party fought past Barghest’s, Ogre Ravagers, and Chain Devils. Then came the heavy resistance, a particularly powerful chain devil called Zencelda. She possessed the ability to mentally control chains and had arranged her environment to her advantage. Still the fiend could not hold up against the Might of the Righteous.
Further on the party encountered fiendish bats (Vargouilles) and were molested by an imp. Mordenthax delighted at tearing into a vast horde of Lemures. The party followed the underground chambers till they came to the root of this evil. They could see the massive Hellspike. Some ancient altar of evil which could be used to access the nine hells. Now standing before it was Kazarzikal, a particularly powerful Horned Devil (Cornugan).
The creature was in the process of sacrificing Alstots men to access this power. The party ran in to attack but were immediately met by the Devil’s consort, a Erinyes (Devil Sucubus) archer. She and the imp tried to keep the party busy as Kazarzikal continued to sacrifice the men. The party was only able to save two of the men before driving the Devil to retreat. The consort had been slain but they knew Kazarzikal would soon return. They got the men and exited as quickly as possible.
The party, their entourage, and the men they had saved were only a few hundred yards away before they could see the flame in the night sky. The Devil was coming. The party sent the men on their way while they turned to face the creature. They counted themselves lucky to have suvived the first encounter. They feared they might not be as lucky this time around. The party was nearly slain before they could drive the fiend off. They could not reach Shadowdale fast enough. Upon arriving in Shadowdale the party was immediately met by a wandering Elminster. Seeing the great wizard made them feel safe from the Devil’s further pursuit.
Elminster immediately revealed that one of the saved men was actually the imp in disguise. He chased the thing off just as Mourngrym was arriving. Mourngrym took charge of the situation and had the Old Skull tavern turned into a refugee center. The Righteous had saved Alstott’s men but were fearful of what evil they had just crossed paths with.
The party had rescued Alstot’s men from the caverns beneath Castle Crag. They were now resting in the Old Skull inn. Tarran took his leave of the party and decided to seek out Netheril. It seemed Netheril had sent Tarran to find out if this Alstot was the real Alstot. But now Netheril seemed out of touch. Tarran was not frightened for his powerful friend but his concern led him to at least check on Netheril. He seemed not to want the party’s aid leading Alstot to suspect that he might not have entirely convinced Alstot of his identity. Alstot on the other hand was growing increasingly confident as his power increased. He was growing older at an exponential rate and was now nearly as old as his friends remembered him before death.
This identity crisis was becoming clearer but it would have to wait for further resolution. It had only been a few days since their encounter with the vile Devil Karzarzikal but they had learned much. It seemed the Devil had unearthed the Hellspkie Monolith beneath Castle Crag because the Hellspike could serve as a minor planar breach that allows access to the Nine Hell’s of Baator. In exchange for sacrifices the Hellspike could be used to gate in other Devils. Kazarzikal had his minions kidnapping natives from the surrounding area for exactly this goal. The Devil however was not without care as he had wisely avoided poaching on Shadowdale residents.
During the battle with Kazrzarzikal the Devil had mentioned obtaining the Cacofex Splinter. Lheao’s research into this unveiled much. Apparently the Cacofex Splinter is a fragment of the Hellspike that was split off centuries ago in some ancient conflict. If the Splinter was reforged into the Hellspike the planar breach could be made permanent allowing unlimited emigration by Baatorian residents. That would be bad. Aside from unlocking the Hellspike’s full potential the Cacofex Splinter also held the ability to destroy the Hellspike. If brought before the Hellspike and destroyed the Cacofex Splinter would permanently dispel the Hellspike while simultaneously banishing all it had summoned.
So it seemed events had conspired to force the party and Karzarzikal to seek the same object. To this end even Lheao seemed mystified. His research his divinations had revealed that the Splinter was held in a place known as the Temple of the Prismatic Flame but there was no know way to find this place. Best he could discover was divinations indicating the importance of an artifact known as the Eye of Erramu.
The Righteous would have to travel into the Desertmouth mountains to find a cave where the Eye was thought be. After traveling through the spooky Spiderhaunt woods the party ascended into the mountains filled with trepidation. After a short exploration they located the cave they looking for. The cave led deep into the mountains before opening into a massive mushroom cavern. Within they battled cunning Derro rogues, an Advanced Roper, and a large earth elemental. Finally they came to find the caves master. An ancient Beholder known as Vereorax.
The creatures powers had made it over confident and quickly fell to the onslaught of the Righteous. A magical search revealed a hidden compartment beneath a sheet of mold. Mordenthax attempted a search and lost 2 fingers to this mold. Eventually the party concluded how to get the compartment open and they uncovered a small glass eye. Within it could be seen some unknown location. The party returned to Shadowdale preying this could be of some aid. It was just after arriving back home that they decided to use a spell to communicate with Dismaul whom apparently had something to say.
Dismaul explained that he had seen the Devil Karzarzikal before. Dismaul had been a dorw slave in the city of Maermydra and this Devil was apparently one of the guardians enslaved by the ruling house Chumavh. This connection unsettled the party as they had never dealt with the Drow problem conclusively.
The party was recuperating in Shadowdale. They had recently recovered the Eye of Erramu. Within the eye was an image of The Temple of the Prismatic Flame. With this image the party could teleport to this location. Once there they could recover the Cacofex Splinter. A shard of the Hellspike that had been cut away long ago. The Devil Kazarzakal was still in possession of the Hellspike and he too was seeking the Splinter. If the Devil could recombine the splinter he would make the Hellspike fully functional again. Once this was accomplished the Devil could create a permanent planar rift by which hundreds of Devils could enter the Prime Material Plane.
The party had to get the Splinter first. Not just to prevent Kazarzikal from getting it but also because with the Splinter the Hellspike could be destroyed. The party planned to leave in the morning and decided to enjoy a night of drinks at The Old Skull Inn. Alstott’s men returned from Freetown to rejoin their liege. The party hung out with other adventurers who were passing through town. This included Ravenwood the Fighter, Cassius the Bard, Hellgaunt and Cross (A famous adventuring duo), and another company of young adventurers. (Note: Cassius had escaped Stormrealm and had been traveling the realms in search of other Kender).
Later that night after all had gone to bed Shadowdale came under attack. Every member of the Righteous was awoken and found themselves within magical darkness. Unseen assailants slashing at them. Dismaul yelled out that the attackers were Drow. The party managed to regroup and as they hit the street they saw that Shadowdale was flooded with a Drow invading force. The party joined up with the other adventures and created a fighting unit. Mordenthax linked up with the Followers at the Church of Lathander and did the same. In a short while The Twister Tower was able to respond. Mourngrym's armed guard came out and took the force head on. Shadowdale’s Griffon riders took the skies. Meanwhile Elminsters tower was under a concentrated assault. The arch mage came out to meet his enemies. An unknown Ghastly Wizard attacked Elminster and was able to kill the old wizard. Cassius tried to battle this evil wizard with little success. Soon Storm Silverhand was engaging this enemy. The battle was long and grueling but in the end the Drow tried to retreat.
They had come up from under the lake utilizing a magical wind tunnel to bypass the water. After the battle Mourngrym wept over Elminsters body. As the party approached Mourngrym and Storm revealed that the body was not Elminster but instead was Laow the sage. He said that Elminster had set off into the lower planes some years ago and that Laow had been masquerading as Elminster to maintain a ward of protection of the Dales. Alstott would resurrect Laow and as Mourngrym began to make preparations.
Soon a scout from Dagger Dale had arrived and proclaimed that Dagger Falls had also come under attack. The party asked what they could do as Mourngrym urged them to stay their course. The fact that the Devil Kazarzakal had been summoned by the ruling house of the Drow City of Maermydra made everything seem connected. Mourngrym did not want to fight off the Drow only to have Devil’s sneak in from behind. The party would continue their mission as planned. They would be joined by Cassius the bard. The following morning as the party prepared to teleport to the Temple they were interrupted by Ravenwood. Ravenwood explained that their teleport was unlikely to work. He said that he served a powerful wizard named Andrais Delnivien and that Andrais had detected a divergence of teleportation magic in the Dalelands. Ravenwood had been dispatched to investigate this and find out how large the disturbance was. Ravenwood agreed to take the party outside this area so they could teleport. After a few hours of travel Ravenwood seemed to think they were clear. It was then that Ravenwood discovered that this interruption was spreading. He escorted the party further until they were clear.
The party then teleported to The Temple of the Prismatic Flame. The party appeared in an underground structure. They were ambushed by Fire Salamanders who Alstott quickly dismissed. They battled past Advanced Stone Golems until they reached the Prismatic Flame. Apparently the Prismatic Flame was a magic location of great power. Some dwarves had sealed the Cacofex Splinter within the Flame to keep it safe. The party had to locate and empower certain altars to make the flame dissipate. At one point the whole party was drawn into the flame by Compulsatory magic. The flame killed Cassius and nearly did the same to the rest of the party. Alstott raised Cassius and the party was after some searching able to recover the Cacofex Splinter.
With this item in hand the party now had all the tools they needed to destroy the Hellspike. They returned to Shadowdale to make their next move.
3-27-07
The Party was still somewhat stranded on the island of Calandia on the other side of the world from the Dalelands. They had just assisted Mergin the Mad on a quest of vital personal importance. They took some rest in the City of Briarwood before getting a visit from a mysterious woman. Time froze as she entered the bar and introduced herself as Alias, a servant of Finder Wyvernspur. She explained that Mergin had once performed a great service on Finder’s behalf. As a result Finder sort of meddled with Mordenthax and Alstott so that they would be in the appropriate place and time to aid Mergin on his important mission. She explained that if they were in trouble they could remember the name of Finder Wyvernspur. With that she teleported the party back to Shadowdale.
The party arrived in Shadowdale to find Mourngrym amassing soldiers. The Drow attack was part of a larger invasion across the Dalelands. The bulk of the Drow forces were in Archendale. Shadowdale and the other dales would come to the fight. Before the party could help with this they had to first finish a quest they had been trying to complete for some time. In the ruins of Castle Crag the Devil Kazarzikal still had control of the Hellspike Monolith. A gateway to hell that he was using to summon more fiends. The party had quested and recovered the Cacophex Splinter which was the key to the Hellspike’s destruction. With this in hand it was time to finish the job. The party descended on Castle Crag battling past numerous Lemures and a chain devil. Before the Hellspike the party battled Kazarzikal once more. They defeated him and destroyed the Hellspike once and for all. Kazarzikal did however manage to escape.
When the party returned to Shadowdale they were asked to help amass forces to aid against the Drow. Mordenthax road to Arabel where Lord Myrmeen was happy to provide him with 50 Purple Dragons. Meanwhile Alstott for the first time returned to Freedale. Freedale too had been attacked by the Drow. The people of Freedale met Alstott’s return with mixed blessings. Many remembered his tyrannical ways but some too remember the security those ways provided. As Alstott arrived he found the dead being collected. Among them were the City’s Mayor Ronin Tynan (Dave Buckley’s character from Freedale). Alstott quickly resurrected Ronin at a huge personal expense. Ronin explained that he was a Paladin and that the adventuring party of Freedale had simply appointed him Mayor. Alstott asked for Ronin’s help in amassing some forces from Freedale. Ronin promptly agreed. This effort rendered the most assistance possible. Some 80 men took armies and road out with Alstott and Ronin. Terran the Elf Lord remained to guard Freedale.
The party returned to Shadowdale with their forces whilst Mourngrym was preparing to ride out. Even Thorndale had sent a detachment of Halfling Warriors. Mourngrym explained that his and Randall Morn’s forces would attack the main force of Drow in Archendale. He wanted the party to take their forces to The Abbey of the Sword in Battledale. The Abbey had been under siege for many days and would not last long. As the party arrived they were met by some 200 Drow warriors. Another 100 continued to lay siege to the Abbey of the sword. Alstott infantry charged in with his Battle Clerics in support. Mordenthax’s Purple Dragons outflanked the drow and charged from the side. The Drow infantry was slowly crushed by the Purple Dragon Cavalry on their flank. Meanwhile Alstott’s war training paid off as his infantries formation slowly ate away at the center. Finally the center was broken as the Battle Cleric began turning the undead drow forces. Once the center was gone the Calvalry was able to take out the archers and the entire right flank leaving the drow army completely compromised. Alstott’s command unit took heavy casualties causing Alstott to flee the battle. The drow fought on much longer then any living army would have but even they eventually retreated. The Righteous got their forces back into formation and descended upon the other drow force still laying siege upon the Abbey of the Sword. These forces too sounded retreat but many were too injured to get out from the oncoming army. They were smashed between the armies of the Righteous and the immovable fortress. Lord Ambrose greeted the party and declared them heroes.
There was little time to rest however as the Righteous and the forces of the Abbey of the Sword were called upon via magic mirror by Mourngrym. Mourngryms forces has shattered the main force in Archendale but they were not retreating south. He needed the party to form a line that could not be crossed. Tempus’s men were up to the task. Meanwhile Mordenthax’s calvalry shadowed to the south whilst Randall Morn’s mounted forces shadowed them to the west. With Mourngrym in the north this maneuver corralled the retreating drow leaving them only one route of retreat. Cormanthor and the ruins of Myth Drannor. The Rangers of the Elven court picked at the forces badly leaving them nothing but the ruins as refuge. What drow did survive ended up in the most dangerous place in all the Dalelands.
-7-8-2010-
The party returned to Shadowdale after their great victory defending the dales against the drow armies. The party was greeted by Dawnlord Ethan Mannallin. The founder of the Church of Lathander. He had returned after a long exodus. This engagement was interrupted as the Devil Karzarzikal entered the town very near death. His insides were turned inside out. The party put him out of his misery. That night the same thing happened to Mordenthax. Mourngrym had him taken to Montarn the Master of the Shadowdale Druidic Circle. They were able to heal him but warned that no one should teleport. The party later learned that what was occurring in Maermydra was causing the Faerzeress to expand onto the surface thus motivating a weave corruption.
The following day Mourngrym chaired a Dales Compact with all the leaders of the Dales present along with many other prominent figures from the area. Among these dignitaries was the Lord of the Last Citadel of Cormanthor Elthatis Bladehymm and his Bladesinger brother Lo’rath. Lo’rath had left his home of Darkisville in search of adventure and had been staying with Brother in Cormanthor for many months. As the meeting progressed Morungrym brought in Jezz the Lame. The leader of the Drow forces residing near Myth Drannor. Jezz was an enemy to be certain but his devotion to the God Vhaerun and enmity with Kiaransalee made him an ally. Mourngrym made a payment to Jezz in exchange for information. Jezz went into detail explaining that the Goddess Lolth had vanished causing a cycle of destruction in all the Drow Cities. Chad Nessad had been destroyed. Menzoberranzan had been virtually destroyed. Maermydra too had met with devastation. In the wake of Maermydra’s ruin the followers of Kiaransalee (Drow Goddess of Undeath) had taken control of Castle Maermydra and bonded the castle with Kiaransalee’s undying temple in the outer planes. Led by Irae Tsarran these death worshippers had raised an army from the dead drow of Maermydra. These were the armies that had marched on the Dales. Jezz knew little more as his spies there had all been killed. He did however say that the armies that destroyed Maermydra, the armies of Kurgoth Hellspawn still resided in the ruins of the city.
The council decided they would need to send a force into the Underdark to attempt to eliminate Irae Tsarran. Mordenthax and Alstott stepped forward. So too did the mysterious Bladesinger Lo’rath Bladehymm. The Lords of the Dales stood stunned as the magnificent valor of these heroes. After much preparation the part set fourth along the same course they had once taken into the depths of the Utter dark.
They traveled north toward Daggerdale and entered the Doridien Crypts easily bypassing some Goblin squatters. They descended through the abandoned Drow outpost of Szith Morcane. They battled a pair of Dracolisks before reaching their Stone Giant friends near the Lake of Shadows. While with the Stone Giants the party spoke with one of their Elders, a Galeb Duhr. The old one warned of the Wyrmshadow Drow of the Shadow banished Drow city of Chausin. These drow were followers of the Drow God Vhaerun and had been behind the plots to destroy both Chad Nessad and Menzoberranzan. It seemed likely they would also make a bid for Maermydra.
The following day the party crossed the Lake of Shadows avoiding the likes of the Shadow Kraken. Eventually they came to the Wailing Cliff where they would enter into an epic battle. The Cliff had long been home to the Shadow Dragon Glouroth and his Kir-lanan minions. The Kir-lanan was a Gargoyle like race that appeared during the Time of Troubles. Sages belief the very race was born out of the residual energies left by the slain evil gods. As a result the Kir-lanan hated the good gods of Toril. A fact that immediately provoked an attack upon seeing the party members and their holy symbols. Alstott quickly paralyzed the first group while the other party members set about dispatching the helpless fiends. The next wave began to reign down draining magics on the party. Just as the party was dealing with this group the Shadow Dragon came upon them. The battle was long and terrible. The Dragon was both cunning and powerful. But the Righteous were more and in the end they prevailed. They claimed the Dragon’s horde and his lair for a well deserved reprieve.
-7-15-2010-
The party was still in the depths of the Underdark trekking to reach the fallen Drow city of Maermydra. They had just killed the Shadow Dragon Glauroth and were resting in his lair. Among the possessions in the hoard was a letter. The letter was a writ of passage for a group that had recently passed this way. The group consisted of Wyrmshadow drow from the ancient drow city of Chausslin. The letter made reference to their leader, one named Arcalex said to be the perfect genetic union between Drow, Demon, and Dragon. The party was considering the implications of this when they were encountered by a group of Svrifneblen. The group was led by Callum Stonebender and their mission was to escort their Sage (Dommer Dank) back to the city of Shanagloom. The two parties made friends and decided to travel to together until their courses diverged.
Later that day this new super party came face to face with a raiding party. The raiding party consisted of Fire Giants, Ogres, and Goblins. They each wore a common insignia. There was little discussion before battle ensued. The raw stopping power of the raiding band was impressive but one by one they fell to the Righteous. Even the Svirfneblen proved competent combatants. After the battle the party proceeded on and soon crossed into the Middledark. Now they were fully in the heart of the Under-realms and the evidence was all around them. Towards the end of this day the party entered into a region affected a singularity of the physical world. An area of spatial incontinuity. This had a dizzying effect on everyone within the party but did something more to the Minataurs. The party soon came upon a strange looking passage. Though only the Minataurs could detect it. Dommer the sage explained that something in the anatomy of the Minatar brain allowed them to detect spatial features that others could not. As a result Minataurs often built their strongholds (Labyrinths) within these areas. This cave proved to be an entrance to one of these Labyrinths. Within the party found dead Minataurs and some slain Drow. They soon came upon the surviving Minataurs. These Minataurs pulsed with powerful magical energy auras. The sage would later explain that the energy was indicative of a Faezeress infused creature. The Faezeress was the magical energy that existed within the Underdark. In some areas this energy was more concentrated and creatures born within these areas were sometimes infused with it giving them extraordinary abilities. The leader of these Minataurs was Orthax and he told the party how Arcalex and his minions had slaughtered his people. Mordenthax swore to avenge them. Orthax thanked the party and told them they would always be welcome. Orthax then set about searching the remainder of his Labyrinth for survivors. The party departed and continued on their journey.
That night the two parties rested in a cavern that the Svirfneblens had magically sealed off. During Lo’rath’s watch he was met by a tiny dragon. Communication was difficult but eventually Lo’rath learned the tiny dragon was obsessed with divinations and teleportations. The small creature would later join the party in continuance exchange for Lo’rath’s help.
The following morning Svirfneblen bid farewell to the Righteous and set about their. Some hours later the party came in a series of caverns from which battle could be heard. As they proceeded they found a Minotaur Wizard and his Wyrmshadow Drow allies attacking a Beholder. Mordenthax charged the Beholder killing the creature instantly. The Drow remained on the defensive while the Minotaur Wizard conversed with Mordenthax. The wizard was named Athone and explained he was helping the Drow because they had some arrangement. This conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Arcalex and some more Wyrmshadow Drow. Lo’rath engaged Arcalex and purposely went on in detail explaining to Arcalex why his group had come. The Drow were stunned how Lo’rath had put all this together and their reaction confirmed to Lo’rath much of what suspected.
These were agents of the Jaezred Chauslin. The remnants of the fallen ancient drow city. A city that had been conquered by Shadow Dragons and subsequently had their progeny become instilled with Shadow Dragon blood. Eventually the Wyrmshadow Drow overthrew their Shadow Dragon masters but the city of Chauslin was lost to the shadow plane. Now the survivors of that city acted as an organization that worked throughout the Drow regions slowly accruing power. With the death of Lolth they had been taken advantage of the situation. One such member (Nimor Imphrazel) had masterminded the attacks that devastated Menzoberranzan. A similar group had destroyed Chad Nessad. Now yet another group of these Wyrmshadow Drow led by Arcalex was headed to Maermydra. Presumable to see what further damage they could reap. But of course Maermydra had already met with devastation. This left it unclear as to their purpose. From Lo’rath’s exchange it seemed this group was to appraise the situation and plot from there.
The two groups involved here had similar goals and ones that did not measure up adversely to one another. The wiser men on each side noted that conflict was unnecessary. This point would soon become mute as Mordenthax began to feel the obligation of his vow to the Minataurs. Thus combat ensued. In the opening moments Alstott called down a Firestorm that killed all but Arcalex, the Drow wizard, and the Minotaur Wizard. The Minotaur Wizard quickly teleported away. The Drow wizard called up a Wall of Force. As the wall separated them both groups began to power up for the imminent combat. When the wall finally did come down a series of powerful exchanges took place. Arcalex drew three swords of energy and began using Bladesong style. Interlacing spells with a furious array of attacks. Mordenthax was taking the greatest onslaught he had ever seen. Alstott and Lo’rath called down powerful evocations that soon killed the Wizard. As a result Arcalex targeted Alstott for his next assault. Killing the cleric in seconds saving a few extra strikes to pour on Mordenthax.
Mordenthax and Arcalex continued to make massive exchanges. Lo’rath charged into this vortex of dueling insanity and managed to Teleport Alstott’s unconscious body out of the danger. Just as Alstott was healed it seemed Mordenthax was on the verge of being killed. From his slumped position on the ground Alstott called up Bigby’s Crushing hand to hold the monster at bay. This allowed Mordenthax to narrowly escape. The party was furious regrouping. Both Mordenthax and Alstott near death. Arcalex praised the party for their performance declaring that they had “Fought Magnificently.” With that he Dimension Doored to safety. The party had just barely survived an encounter with the most powerful adversary they had ever faced. With the battle over the party took rest and on the following day reassumed their quest. The next three days travel brought them deeper into the Underdark. One the morning of the 4th day they arrived at the gates to the city of Maermydra. Their trek had reached its terminus.
7-22-2010
The party had finally reached the war seiged Drow city of Maermydra. The whole cavern was filled with drafting smoke and the stench of ruin. Dozens and dozens of massive fires marked areas of the invading army’s encampments. These encampments were centralized around two locales. The first was castle Maermydra wherein dwelt Irae T’sarran, the Albino Drow Priestess whom had sent the drow armies to the Dalelands. The other locale was the former drow Coliseum, the head quarters of the invading army’s leader. The Half Fiend Fire Giant Kurgoth Hellspawn.
The party barely had time to assess this scene before they were attacked by Kurgoth’s gate guards. A group of Fire Giants quickly attacked. The party defeated the monsters but were once again reminded of the raw blunt force trauma that Giants were capable of delivering. The party set fourth exploring the city. During this exploration Lo’rath received a sending spell from Tandrin. It seemed that allies to Arcalex had scryed on Montro Grumbler and Tandrin had since divined the source. The party found it likely that those drow had mistaken Mordenthax for Montro and tried to scry but at this point had learned their error. Soon after this the party came upon the ruins of the Temple of Lolth. The great death and destruction that had occurred there had enticed a vast powerful being to reside within the ruins. It was a Nightwalker, a Huge Extraplanar undead shadow like fiend. The creature wielded great sorcery and sinister tactics. The party was eventually able to defeat the creature forcing it to Planeshift away.
That night the party needed a safe place to rest. Alstott utilized his most powerful spell. He called fourth a miracle asking Tempus to give them a refuge similar to a Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion. A doorway soon appeared and within the party saw the symbol of Tempus and were quickly tended to by armored dwarves made of force magic. In the kitchen they were surprised to find another adventuring party. The two parties nearly clashed out of sheer reactionary surprise. That was until they had discerned what had occurred. The Miracle spell much like the Wish spell is one the greatest incantations calling its design more from the casters intention then from a finite effect. As a result both spells often will provide a result consistent with the casters intention but with unpredictable variables. In this instance Tempus had granted Alstott's request for safe rest by providing a portal to another one of his followers’ already existing magnificent mansion. In the end both party’s were able to rest in greater strength and numbers. The other party was the Company of the Crimson Cauldron. They were questing through Undermountain on behest of Khelben Blackstaff in pursuit of a renegade clone of Manshoon. The Company’s wizard was a follower of Tempus known as Altarian Mageblade. The following morning the two parties enjoyed a breakfast then went about their separate quests.
The party had all bout explored the uninhabited portions of the city when they came upon a ruined building occupied now by two Undead Silverwraiths. Alstott quickly turned the creatures and the party proceeded on. They were soon surrounded by a group of drow known as the Hidden. The Hidden appeared to be the only surviving original inhabitants of the city. Their number was but a handful. Their nature as rogues had allowed them to survive. They appeared to be followers of Lolth and Vhaerun. Not particularly religious but simply drow rogues. Still they remained loyal to their city and sought to cast out both Irae T’sarran and Kurgoth Hellspawn. A seemingly impossible goal. The party and the Hidden made an alliance. Both groups disclosed all that they knew. Eventually they agreed that the Hidden would provide the party with the magical password to get them inside Castle Maermydra. Meanwhile the Hidden would create a distraction. In just a few hours the party would enter the den of their enemy. Beyond the undead ridden ruins and smoke choked air stood the forlorn towers of Castle Maermydra.
-8-4-2010-
The party had fought their way through the Underdark and finally arrived within the ruined Drow city of Maermydra. Their enemy, the Drow Priestess of Undeath, Irae T’sarran and her forces were refuged behind the walls of Castle Maermydra. Kurgoth Hellspawn and his armies had been sieging the castle for month but had yet to breach its magical defenses. The party had joined up with a group of Lolth devoted Drow resistance fighters known as the Hidden. The hidden had through tortured discovered the password to bypass the magical barrier around castle Maermydra. Now the party would use this password to infiltrate the caste and enter the heart of darkness.
During their time with the Hidden the party came into contact with an Underdark traveler who would soon joined their ranks. This was Oz Mojin, a Duergar psionic rogue and Cloaker companion Shadow. Oz displayed a deep disdain for the entire drow race. A point that was underscored when he remote detonated an explosion on the Hidden whom had just assisted the party.
Once within the magical protections of the castle’s outer region the party turned invisible and flew to an open bridgeway connecting two of the castles towers. A short time later they were within the castle battling drow guards. Most of these guards were undead but some were still living worshippers of Kianransalee. Some had advanced arcane abilities. One these undead sorcerers escaped the party via a dimension door and prepared his master for the party’s arrival.
Beyond the next door the party came face to face with Duneth Whaeril. The once high wizard of the first house Chumavh. The wizard whom had betrayed Maermydra and allowed Kurgoth’s forces to invade the city. Out of sheer dominion Irae had eventually found and killed Duneth. Now Duneth served Irae as an undead revenant. An undead possessing virtually all the powers he had in life as the party would soon discover. As soon as the door opened Duneth smashed the party with a Horrid Wilting spell as his servant hit the party with an Ice Storm. In the subsequent battle the arch wizard killed Lo’rath with the Finger of Death. Fortunately Alstott was quickly able to rectify this with a revivify spell. Eventually the party overcame the wizard but they were beginning to understand the level of peril within Castle Maermydra.
The party continued to explore the castle eventually wandering into a room occupied by two draconic undead. One, the reanimated corpse of an Aspect of Tiamat. The other a White Dragon Dracolich named Ice. While the Aspect of Tiamat was intimidating it was merely more then a Huge Zombie. The Dracolich however was very dangerous. The battle had barely begun by the time the Dracolich had paralyzed the entire party. Oz managed to use a psionic Timehop on Alstott casting him into the near future but it mattered little as it appeared many of the party members were about to die. Just as the last moment a mysterious Drow Bard Blade appeared. He conjured a Wall of Force to hold back the Dracolich and dispelled the party’s paralysis.
This bard was Queven Devir, a powerful interplanar hero. He now operated in the city of Skullport beneath Waterdeep. As a follower of the good drow goddess Elistraee he used his temple as a kind of underground railroad for good drow to escape to the surface. But then just weeks ago he had mysteriously found himself near Maermydra. He had been exploring the city in shadows. The party had even heard mention of him. His strange appearance had led him right up to the very moment he had saved the party. The party thanked him for his efforts and not long after another being appeared. Through a portal came Alias, servant the wandering god Finder Wyvernspur. Alias had not along met with the party after they had been sequestered in a similar way as Queven. Finder had used the party to help Mergin the mad complete his ultimate quest. After this Finder’s agent Alias had promised that this debt would be repaid. Now that promise had come full circle. With this revelation Alias took Queven away.
Time of the Wall of Force was fading and the party was preparing again to face the Dracolich. The prospect of another stand off unsettled the party. Ice could sense the party’s hesitance and offered them an alternative. It seemed that the Dracolich had been trapped here by Dunneth and sought most to be freed. If the party could recover his Phylactery he would simply leave without any further conflict. As luck would have the party had found the Phylactery (a perfect pearl) in the room of the now twice slain Duneth. This exchange resulted In further negotiations. Eventually the party gave Ice her Phylactery and turned her Ethereal so that she could leave. In exchange Ice agreed to get the magical password to Kurgoth so that the Fire Giant warlord could breach the Castle’s defenses. The party hoped this would create a diversion that would aid them.
After Ice left the party took stock of their current status. They were much depleted in resources and needed to rest. They elected to block the doors and call fourth Lo’raths Instant Fortress. They rested within and on the following day they set fourth into the castle once more. Before Ice left she had told the party the rough whereabouts within the castle of Irae. The party began to navigate through the castle trying to reach the third inverted tower. They fell victim to some powerful magical Symbol traps but did claim a nice treasure horde.
Upon entering the third tower the party was attacked by a gang of Abyssal Ghouls. The creatures proved to be far more powerful then expected. Mordenthax was nearly slain. After defeating these monsters the party regrouped. They were deep into Castle Maermydra now and the time of reckoning would soon be upon them.
-8-12-2010-
The party was still within Castle Maermydra. Stalking their way through the minions of Irae T’sarran, The Drow Priestess of Kiansalee whom had sent her under armies into the Dalelands. Having fought their way through the Underdark and the ruined Drow city of Maermydra, the party drew ever closer to the heart of darkness. The party fought their way past a massive Jade Spider Construct and yet another Drow Revenant Wizard before coming upon one of the Castle’s most powerful inhabitants.
As they descended into the tower they soon came to the chamber of Khumar, Melee Master of the castle. Lo’rath had gathered some Intel on Khumar that indicated that he was a low born drow that had to fight for every station he had acquired. As such he resented the noble families. Within Khumar’s chambers the party could see their friends Fool and Dismaul held prisoner. The party exchanged words with Khumar who seemed to appreciate the party’s bravery. Inevitably battle erupted. Khumar was aided by 3 Abyssal Ghouls. The party members battled the Ghouls while Khumar dueled with Alstott. Eventually Alstott could not take any more and so surrounded himself with a Blade Barrier. Khumar was intent on finishing the job and launched a series of arrow that took Alstott down. Alstott lay dying behind his blade barrier. Mordenthax could see his friend perishing and so in motion he cleaved his way through 3 Ghouls slaying them instantaneously. He followed this motion with a destined charge forcing his way through the swirling blades of force ending within the barrier and healing his comrade. Meanwhile Oz Mojin was going head to head with Khumar and not faring well. Soon the party was coming at the Drow warrior all at once and even the great Melee Master could not stand against such an onslaught.
After the battle the party freed Dismaul and Fool. The party members at first gave Khumar an honorary rest but were later forced to completely destroy him as his body was becoming a Revenant. The party proceeded further through the tower before reaching a vile temple dedicated to vile gods and rituals. Within this room they were attacked by Bloodfiend Demons. Demons that feed and recreated using other demons, the way vampires do with Humanoids. Like Vampires, the Bloodfiends had the ability to glamour and mentally dominate their prey. All of the party members fell victim to this save for Alstott. The situation appeared grim before Alstott released a series of Power Word incantations destroying the remaining fiends.
Beyond the vile demonic room the party ascended to a similar area, a shrine dedicated to Kiaransalee. Within they encountered Cabrath, a High Priestess of the Drow Goddess and her Vampiric Monk minion. Cabrath unloaded powerful magics on the party but the Righteous again fought their way through. Killing her minion first and then cutting down the drow bitch. At this point the party was vastly depleted and on the verge of crossing into yet another tower area. It was time to take rest. Alstott again utilized a Miracle spell to achieve an effect similar to a Modenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion. Again the spell replication had an effect not exactly as expected. The Party found themselves within Mordenkainen’s actual citadel on the World of Oerth (Greyhawk). They had a momentary encounter Regdar before they took rest. The following morning they exited this refuge and set fourth back into Castle Maermydra.
Beyond the Shrine of Kiansalee was another bridge leading to another hanging Stalagmite. The corridor was blocked by a Mighty Iron Golem standing within a permanent Wall of Fire (Fire heals Iron Golems). The party prepared to face the Golem but were quickly deducing that the Golem would be immune to virtually all the party’s offensive capabilities. They were committing to a plan that would have Morndethax face the Golem with his magical Scarab. That was when Lo’rath hit the ground beneath the Golem with Disintegration. This created a 10 foot hold beneath the Golem. The Creature tried to grasp the walls but it was simply too heavy. The Golem fell from the tower bridge down into the city below. It impacted on wall and came down on the wrong side. As the Golem hit the ground the numerous forces of Kurgoth’s armies were already gathering to confront it. The party enjoyed this spectacle for a few moments before proceeding onward.
As the party was about to leave the corridor they heard something land behind them and could feel powerful evil energy washing over them. They turned slowly to see the Balor whom they had been warned about. The creature introduced itself as Ter-Soth, vassal of Orcus. Orcus had been the original possessor of the Godly Portfolio of Undeath before it was wrestled from him by Kiaransalee. When Orcus eventually returned from his entombment on the Astral Plane reclaiming his title as Lord of the Undead but his enmity with Kiansalee remained. Ter-Soth had allied with Kurgoth to oppose Irae and her minions. The party and the demon shared a common enemy but neither side could come to terms with an alliance. This encounter ended with the party and Ter-Soth going their separate ways within the Castle to smite the drow forces.
Beyond the door at the end of the hall the party came to a large cavern hollowed out of the Stalagmite. Within the Cavern stood a massive contorted tower with an enormous negative energy sphere pulsing at its heart. The party had finally reached the Undying Temple and they began to anticipate the final confrontation.
-8-18-10-
(Campaign Notes: The Balor Ter-Soth is one of the 6 most ancient Balor’s named in the first edition DMG. He also appears in H4 Throne of Bloodstone as vassal of Orcus. Orcus’s death and return is detailed in Monte Cook’s Planescape accessory “Dead Gods”.)
The party had fought their way into the Underdark, beyond the ruined city of Maermydra and infiltrated inside the first house of Chumavh. Now they had finally reached their ultimate destination. The Undying Temple of Kiaransalee, the sanctum of Irae T’sarran. The Temple stood as two towers. One standing straight up on the Prime Material Plane. The other was an inverted tower that resided within the Ethereal Plane. The towers were connected by an orb of negative energy that served as a gateway from one plane to the other.
The party gained access to the tower via the Negative Energy Orb. They were soon seized upon by a Ghostlord Champion riding a Nightmare and a group of Kiaransalee Clerics. They continued to explore the temple and soon came into combat with a Greater Draegaloth Demon. They defeated the beast and proceeded on. Eventually they came upon the chamber of Khumarr. The Weapons Master of Maermydra. Though evil he seemed to be an honorable warrior. He fought bravely and was defeated by the party.
As the party continued to explore they were slowly figuring out the nature of the Temple. Oz discovered that the whole structure was a living construct. The tower had a sentience and would monitor the party’s movements and try to prevent them from achieving their objective. Because of this Oz would have to disarm the Towers magical circuitry in every room similar to the way he would disarm a magical trap. This method made rendered the sentient tower inert to the party.
The party next encountered and defeated Yashar, a half medusa drow sorcerer. As they ascended the tower they were chased by an Orb Wraith that dwelt within the Negative Energy Sphere. They soon came upon Umaerh, a Drow lich of great power. The party had been vastly depleted and could not stand against the Lich. Alstott was slain and the party was forced to make an ill conceived escape. They teleported out into the open void of the Ethereal Plane. Once there they set up a Daerns instant fortress and took rest. They had been repelled from the Temple and their mission’s success was being doubted.
8-25-10
The party had taken refuge in a Daerns instant fortress. Lo’rath had used a Limited Wish to revive Alstott. Then they had slept. But as time passes strangely in the Etherial plane the party awoke with fragmented and distant memories of what had happened only a day before. Still their goal was in the minds. They had to reenter the Undying Temple of Kiansalee and slay Irae T’sarran.
As they were transversing the Etherial void they soon came to spy a secret meeting. The participants were Ter-soth the ancient Balor they had encountered within the Castle and an Arcanoloth named Maru. Ter-Soth was angered having been summoned as he claimed that he had breached the tower and was closing in on destroying Irae. Ter-soth was a vassal of Orcus whom Kiaransalee was a great enemy of. The Arcanoloth went on to explain that there was a more important matter at hand. The lost Wand of Orcus had been located. Ter-soth would be dispatched to reclaim it. Its location was described as being within a dwarven stronghold on the world of Oerth, one hundred miles beneath the surface. The party rejoiced at this as they had not wanted to contend with another unpredictable faction.
The party once again gained entrance into the tower and began with great haste making their way to the towers pinnacle. They defeated the Lich whom had fought them off before. A resounding victory that gave them momentum to proceed. They battled past some Tower Guards and bypassed many magical traps before finally reaching the final sanctum.
Within the inner sanctum the party came upon Irae T’sarran at long last. The Albino priestess was in the middle of performing the great revenance ritual to expand the Undying realm of her goddess further into the Prime Material Plane. The party would face many undead guards, A demonic Bebelith and the awesome power of the High Priestess Irae T’sarran. The battle waged on with both sides gaining the upper hand at different points. But the party was winning by attrition. Oz was killed but so too were all of Irae’s minions. Eventually she was forced to take on Mordenthax, Alstott, and Lorath all at once. Even invested with the divine power of her vile goddess, Irae T’sarran, the architect of so much evil could not stand against the party’s righteous might. As she fell the party could immediately feel the presence of a force far more powerful. But as this power began to intrude into our realm the party could feel themselves becoming invested with the power of their own deities. Moments later the presence of these powers faded.
The party exited the Undying temple to find that Kurgoth the Fire Giant warlord had taken control of the city. It mattered little. The vile power of Kiaransalee had been dismissed. Things had immediately returned to normal on the surface. The party returned home to be celebrated throughout the Dales and beyond.
-2-25-11?
