The following is a story enhancement of the previous session. If any player wants to add on or jump into this in an interactive way they are certainly invited to do so. However, it is not mandatory. In the burned halls of the Emerald King The stench was overwhelming. Burned webbing thick as rope still sizzled about the near-empty chamber. At the throne, the broken body of the Emerald King lay smashed and ruined. At the opposite end of the room, the bloated body of the demonic “toad” creature gave off its own stink. Everyone else the chamber floor was littered with dead spiders, gigantic, near the size of a man, curled in on themselves.
But it was Izzukahl that drew the eye and the nose.
Coryn stood in the center of the chamber in the spot where the cubic gate had sent out its chaotic beams. He stared down at the body of the so-called Lord of Night. Of what remained.
He could still make out the upper portion of a drow mage hidden behind the wrecked features of the drider. The half-drow, half-spider was ugly, a twisted collection of muscle and magic. The druid could only imagine the sheer pain that must have caused, to live in such a mangled state, shifted out of any normal physiology. Most of the drider was ruined, splattered about by the blades and spells which had destroyed him. Coryn’s mind flashed to the combat, to that world of shadow on the other side of the cube.
It was from that world this creature had come.
It was from that world the slaadi and their poison had come. They used Coryn’s presence, his connection to the land, to achieve something they could not have done without it. The druid knew that, in a way, the coming destruction was partially his fault.
“I found something.” Audun's words pulled him from his reverie. He had all but forgotten the newly discovered thief was still in the room. He felt amusement at the thought.
Audun crouched amid the carcass of Izzukahl. He deftly stepped over splattered organs and shadowstuff to poke at an object with his dagger. It was an eye.
“Spiders have many eyes. This one more than most. It might be valuable to the Witcher, if he is cured, but it’s not important to us.” Coryn turned to leave. The stench, both the real and the metaphysical smells, clung to him.
“No, this is something…else.” Coryn looked back as Audun jabbed at the eye again.
It rolled away as if fleeing. It spiraled about, looking for something. Watching.
Coryn smiled inwardly. “The Coven is watching us. Was probably watching that whole time…”
The druid moved quickly to the eye to confirm what he already knew. Audun tried to spear it once more with his dagger, but it was too fast and floated up into the air of its own volition.
“It is an eye of scrying. A gift by this Coven to the dark elf.”
“Is it worth anything?” Audun lifted his boot, but waited.
Coryn watched the eye. It spun to look at the boot, then back at the druid, then at the door as if trying to find a way to flee. “Possibly…”
***** Chicomecoatl (Chi), the Seventh Serpent of the Song (Cleric)
The sound of two blades colliding rang sharply throughout the halls of Yuacta. Agrykos found the swift movements of the two elves difficult to follow, but stayed focused nonetheless. The two were apprentices to Erindira, the First Blade of the Song, and any information on them was valuable, even knowledge of their sparring practices.
Acalan, the younger, chanted between sword strokes and his blade flared to light. His partner, Matlal, laughed and whispered his own chant. In seconds, a booming thunder clamored throughout the converted monastery. Agrykos gave a wary look down the hall which he knew led to the lich, Renwick.
"He will not care." The silky voice and alluring scent was nearly impossible to ignore and Agrykos had not desire to do so in any case. Chicomecoatl, or Chi as she had allowed them to refer to her, was as fine a specimen of feminine beauty as the tiefling had seen. As she postured next to him, standing just a bit too close, chest out and ample bosom on display, the warlock reminded himself that she knew her strengths and would use them.
"The lich does not care what we do as long as we do not disturb." Her lilting voice was exotic and intriguing. Agrykos did a mental check to ensure he was not being charmed. "Besides, he has spells which block out the sound."
"TOO FAST! You are not trying to win the fight in a single stroke, but weave a dance which forces your opponent to drop his guard." The Song's Captain stepped out of the shadow of the hall. Erindira, known as the First Blade, was a remarkable woman as well, but Agrykos could already sense a reason to stay away.
"She is zealous." The warlock whispered.
Chi nodded and sidled up closer. "Our First Blade takes her position seriously. As should all leaders. Tell me, Agrykos, who is your master? Whom do
you follow?"
The warlock smirked as he saw her gaze venture down to the
rod of the pact.
"You should not trust in the whispered words of the Duava Queen. She will lead you astray."
"Yet, you yourself have already said that you do not remember all of your history. Perhaps you remember the way the world was differently than others." To his surprise, Agrykos saw the cleric nod sagely.
"The possibility exists. I see you as her follower and know that you are not an evil being. Not good, but not evil. And your allies came here for noble purpose. We hope to trade information. To learn from you. But know this," the Seventh Serpent took the final step and pressed the warmth of her soft body against his side. She leaned in to whisper in his ear and the syllables called up a tingling in his spine. "Though we are young, we are not fools. We will be watching you."
*****
"Higher! Lift your blade!" Erindira's demanding voice was that of a warrior used to being heard. Used to being listened to. Even as Orion felt a tension between he and the First Blade, he had to admire her ability to command.
"Let me show you." Orion observed as the lithe woman's agile movements made the practice into a dance. Almost like a ritual in and of itself.
Ritual, yes. Enact the ritual.
The paladin's hand gripped tight at the basket hilt of the sword, Aurelia'Kae, the Silver Thorn. He was still getting used to the idea that it was speaking in and of itself. "What ritual?"
"The Ritual of the Five." Orion snapped back to attention. Erindira stood in front of him as if she had appeared out of thin air. Magic? Perhaps, but...no. He looked about and realized that the two apprentices were drenched. The sun had traveled noticeably across the sky. He had fallen into the sword's spell, enraptured.
When he looked back up he noted Erindira's stare. Hard and unforgiving, her eyes pierced any deception and unveiled the common illusions of social nicety. She was beautiful in that moment, her features slackened as she gazed in awe, pure reverence for the blade and what it represented clear on her features.
Then she looked back up at the wielder and her stern countenance returned.
"You spoke of a ritual. The blade, which should have killed you the instant you picked it up, cannot reveal to you all its secrets without you undergoing a Ritual of the Five."
The paladin nodded and regained himself. "You mentioned the Five before. Who are they?"
The First Blade smiled, a genuine gesture. "They were the Prime Houses of the Sylvar'rhem. They led all the rest." The captain began to walk, a path leading outside Yuacta. Orion followed.
"Your blade is Aurelia'Kae, the Silver Thorn. I recognized it from the vines that make up the basket hilt." Orion felt the cold anger behind her words. She was using the history lesson to gather her thoughts and bind her emotions. Her jealousy.
"You said before that you do not remember all of the history of your People," Orion probed.
Erindira nodded, lips pursed. "That is true. But we know some of it. Your blade belonged to House Tlazolotl, Third of the Five, House of Purity and Sin. Its founder was Vernestrakahl, the Lady of Filth and Sin, though we do not remember the words of their house."
"Their words?"
"Yes," Erindira pushed open the huge front doors of the converted temple and stepped out into the fading sunlight. "Their...house motto. For example, we know the words of the First House, though their name is lost to us.
'Ours From Earth to Stars.'" She sighed heavily and closed her eyes.
"You should not be here."
Orion looked up, then deep into the jungle. "Maybe so. But here I am."
Erindira turned and regarded him with a long, slow gaze. Just that moment a small howler monkey leapt onto her shoulder from the trees. Her familiar, Rostahd.
"You should not even be in the jungle, much less at Yuacta. It is our purpose to stop you. People like you. From harming these places."
Orion held his hands out wide. "We mean no harm. We came to rescue someone and we did that. If you don't want us here, we are happy to leave."
The First Blade narrowed her eyes. "You would leave, if we asked?"
Orion bowed. "I would do my best to convince hte others, but I would not stay if it was against the will of descendants of the Sylvar'rhem."
Her eyes narrowed further, distrusting. "You are...odd."
"Maybe so." Orion shrugged. "Do you know of the Ritual of the Five? How to perform it?"
Erindira sneered in the fashion of a teenager. "Of course we do. We may have forgotten some things, but to lose that knowledge would be gross negligence. We were taught the Ritual of the Five on the chance that one of us discovered and wielded one of the Five House Blades."
Her words lost some of their confidence as she considered her statement.
"But you have it. One of them. It should have chosen one of us. You even travel with that..." she waved her hands in the direction of Agrykos. "...demonspawn? Chi says that he might be touched by the Dark Queen. That you might be as well."
Orion frowned, but she talked over him. "I don't believe it, of course. The House Blade of one of the Five could never choose someone touched by the Queen of Air and Darkness."
Uncertain what to say, Orion kept his mouth shut.
"We know the ritual," she continued, naively unaware that she was spewing forth more knowledge than she should be offering. Orion was reminded yet again of how young they all were. "They are tests of the mind. Of honor. And," she grinned widely, her hand unconsciously going to her blade. "Tests of skill."
The Song Between the LeavesErindira, First Blade of the Song Between the Leaves (Captain)
*****In the chamber of the Spellforge “It’s hard to look at straight on,” Creegan said, holding up the hammer to shield his eyes. The column of viridian light fluctuated in is intensity, yet even in flux the light was unforgiving.
“The trick is seeing without looking," Doake smiled. The nimble gnome maneuvered about the chamber, around the column of mystic fire. He used the light and shadows to guide his way, head turned so as not to stare head on.
“You think he’ll come back?” Creegan rumbled.
Doake paused just within reach of the column, fingers splayed out and ready to cast. He dared a brief look.
“He’s already here.”
Creegan felt the hammer’s weight grow, the insistent voice inside and its call to war dimmed. The jade light faded from the column and a figure could be seen within its depths.
“You destroyed my chieftain. The Emerald King has fallen.” The voice lacked emotion, flat and empty. Merely factual. But the implied threat was still there.
Grissa Stoneseer stepped forward. “We released him from a prison. We want to release you as well.”
Momex the Artificer, Master of the Spellforge, came fully into view. Even in death he wore the trappings of a wizard and the gaudy, golden belt with his name writ upon it large. The ghost considered Grissa’s words, eyed the hammer, and glanced at Doake.
“Terrifying monstrosities came from that distant world. The stars vomited forth upon this world the drek of chaos and madness. The elves’ war destroyed us and sent the deep gnomes into hiding. We were abandoned. When the madness of the Far Realm came to the Hall of the Emerald King, we did not stand a chance.”
Momex’s voice echoed off the chamber walls and his eyes seemed to look at everyone at once.
“You carry the hammer of the Emerald King, and his curse. Will you destroy all you hold dear, as once he did?” Creegan felt the harsh staccato of the drums of war pounding.
“I recognize your blood, Grissa Stoneseer, and that of your brother. I recognize your distant relation.” Momex reached out a hand, but as soon as it passed from the light, it vanished. “You are the new King of this hall.”
Grissa shook his head immediately. “I am not a king. I did not rescue this place,” he gestured to Creegan and Doake. “They and their allies have that honor.”
Momex regarded the two for a long moment, a decision being made.
“Very well, then. A steward. You will hold this place until a king may be crowned, Stoneseer. As for the others,” the green light flared brightly, “bathe in the light of the diminish Spellforge. Take up your reward.”
*****
The Future of Wave Echo Cave and YuactaGrissa speaks with Doake about the Radiant Accords. His desire is to have the party allow him to control the Hall of the Emerald King and to send him dwarven (and other) skilled refugees to help rebuild the dwarven home. Grissa hopes to become a member of the Radiant Accords.
Grissa plans to send for the rest of the Mithral Clan and knows that he will have to deal with their current greedy leader once he arrives.
The First Blade of the Song Between the Leaves informs the party and Grissa that she and her people have their own hidden home within the Qezcahal (Wild Growth). However, she desires to see Yuacta returned to glory. She agrees to stay for a time with her “Spear” until it can be properly protected.
- Spear: A band of Five, a sacred number. This Spear includes the First Blade, the Seventh Serpent, the two apprentice bladeisngers and a scout hidden in the jungle (tasked to flee with word if the others fall).
Grissa offers free reign to Doake and the party to the Spellforge. He hopes that they can help return it one day to its fabled prowess.
- Bathing any weapon or armor in the light for an hour grants it a magical +1 bonus for a full 24 hours. While it is magical, it glows with the radiant green energy of the forge.
- Using the Spellforge and Momex’s library to create a magic item reduces the gold cost of any Uncommon or Rare item by 25%
Grissa offers the party a cut of the profits of the mine, once it is up and running. It is rich in iron, silver, and mithral as well as a hoard of gems. While the party has access to this wealth, all costs for them are reduced by 10% (this does not stack with the Spellforge cost for uncommon and rare items, but can be used otherwise).