Wait for it...
Mirtul 30, Astral Plane
While the story may now be irrelevant, there is not a lot to do here, so I will write it down anyway. As my friends woke up this morning, we looked around the room we’d spent our “night” in, finding little of interest other than a book on roses. The room beside us, previously known as the living room, was ash. We explored the remainder of the hall beyond, coming to what appeared to be a study, complete with a desk lit by two glowing orbs and an unusual-looking sword hanging on the wall above it. Seren went to inspect it closer and was greeted with “Don’t touch that!” for her trouble.
A lot of arguing with the mysterious (and invisible) voice revealed that we were in the study of one Master Illic, and the unseen guardian was simply following instructions left by his master, oblivious to the obvious long-absence of said master. I did not like talking to a disembodied voice, so I threw some of the ever-present ash on the area I suspected the voice to be coming from— this revealed a pair of humanoid legs, at least. Further discussion revealed that the master was in his “workshop” elsewhere in the tower. There was only one little room we had not visited. Kor’tac negated the need to pick the lock, and we soon stood in front of an opening with stairs leading up. I went up to discover (as we suspected) that the trapdoor to the roof had previously occupied the square hole above the steps. Seren began to climb up the steps as well, but stopped halfway up, saying she sensed a portal in the wall beside her. I couldn’t see it, but that made more sense than a rooftop workshop!
We went back to the study and asked for a way to get to the master’s workshop. The unseen voice (ash coating having disappeared while we were gone) said that the key was in the top drawer of the desk. I went to open the drawer and was reminded not to touch the master’s things. So, I asked if I could use a spell to lift the key; the invisible servant had no problem with that, so using mage hand, I obtained the key and moved it back to where Seren indicated. The key lit up briefly and suddenly there was a glowing door in the wall!
We all scrambled through the opening and found ourselves in a large chamber. There was some sort of iron statue or inactive golem in one corner, and alchemist’s equipment on a large table. There was also a throne, upon which was the withered husk of what looked like a human, it’s skeletal hand resting on a glowing blue orb on a pedestal beside it. Its eyes looked dead and its robes were coated in dust.
Things went downhill from here. The figure (at least, we thought it was the figure) told us to begone, and made some vague threats, though its lips never moved, nor did it stir from the throne. All of a sudden, skeletons were simply appearing in groups around Seren! Kor’tac attempted to attack the figure and the orb, but slumped over as his axe hit the blue globe. It briefly flashed a brighter blue. Mishklo, always stepping in to heal, rushed to the orc’s aid; he too fell lifeless as the orb flashed. Even his wolf followed suit! More skeletons were appearing every few seconds. I attempted what I hoped was a song that would frighten them away, as I feared they would completely fill the room; Windy shot the orb. It did not shatter, and Windy slumped over, apparently lifeless— and the orb flashed brighter again. Seren and I were the only two left standing, and the room was so full of skeletons that I could barely make her out 15’ away! She shouted to smash it, which I tried to do with mage hand, but I met with too much resistance. I did the only thing I could think of— I grabbed the druid’s backpack, tumbled through a horde of skeletons, and tossed the bag over the orb.
Well, the backpack was an inter-dimensional space, and the orb did not react as I had anticipated. There was a flash, I think. I may have blacked out, or just lost track of time, but I found myself floating in apparent nothingness moments later. Seren, thank gods, was alive and nearby. I made my way over to her somehow. The skeletons were disappearing one by one. Kor’tac was nearby; sadly, he is dead. Windy and the druid are just... gone. I saw them both fall, and in my heart I know they are dead too.
Kor’tac was always so concerned about our safety, so it’s ironic that we are now using his tower shield as a makeshift raft— it is the most substantial thing we could find other than the orc himself. I’m not sure how long we’ve been drifting (if we’re even moving), but Seren has a knack for seeing portals, so we hope to eventually find someplace with sky and ground. We seem to be moving towards something large— it looks like a ship!
Rebirth
As I piece together the egg that will bring about my rebirth I meditate on my life, a life that will soon be over with the birth of another.
I was born Soveliss Siannodel, an elf, to a merchant family. We sold many valuable things: jewelry, clothing, even some types of rare and expensive armor. Sometimes my father would go on trips to uncover a hidden stash of treasure. When I was around my 98th year, I went on my first trip with him. It was great and I learned a lot from one of the other elves that came with us. Himo Liadon was rather skilled at getting us past different traps and unlocking doors. I was so impressed I decided I wanted to learn how he did it. With my father’s blessing I studied under him for several years.
It was during this time I meet Anastrinna Xiloscient. She was the most beautiful elven woman I have ever and probably will ever meet. We spent a lot of time together, I got to know her family and she became familiar with mine. I’d have done anything for her.
I was 125 when I decided I would get her parents’ blessing to ask for her hand in marriage, but first I had to establish myself, so I went on an expedition to explore some ruins. It took almost two months to get there. It was a successful trip and I knew I was ready to go ahead with my plans, but when I got home I discovered Anastrinna had gone off on her own adventure and hadn’t returned. Three months went by before we got any word at all. One of the group she went out with had returned half dead, dehydrated and starved. The clerics helped him and we heard a chilling tale.
Not two weeks out they were attacked by some dragon-like creatures. They seemed to be a mixture if dragons and wolves. The group was scattered. He claimed to have been wandering aimlessly for the past several months. Three others and I went on what we called a rescue mission to find the remains of the party, but we all knew that they were probably already dead.
After a month of searching we found the den of these beasts, It was extremely difficult, but we were able to defeat the abominations. We found the remains of several humanoid bones, and enough gear to determine that these were the missing party. There was a funeral, and after everyone else went home I sat alone at her grave, wishing I had the strength to change what had happened, wishing I could destroy all these vile abominations. As the sun rose over the trees, I heard a voice in my head, “It was the spawn of Tiamat.”
“Who’s there?” I answered aloud, thinking someone had come to check up on me.
“There are more of her spawn in this world and others.” The voice replied. Looking around I couldn’t see anyone, and it didn’t so much as speak but place these thought into my head.
“How do you know this.” I said aloud again, part of me thinking I was going insane.
“I am Bahamut, if you will join my cause and be reborn as my child, I will give you the strength to fight her spawn.”
Looking at the grave and feeling rage at what had happened I asked, “What do I have to do?”
I was given a list of instructions, and was told I could have a week to decide, it wasn’t to be taken lightly. Leaving behind your family, friends, and all you worked for to become the child of a god for the purpose of destroying the evil spawn Tiamat creates. I took most of the week to think about it, I then sold everything I didn’t need, gathered the ingredients for the rebirth and headed out to a quiet and serene place.
As I place the last piece of the shell together from the inside, I can feel the changes start to take place. My old self is slowly fading away, My hair has completely fallen out. In the utter darkness I can begin to see. I’ve never been able to see in complete dark before. I feel Bahamut close to me and I embrace him and his family.
“Please give me guidance as I embrace my new life.” I say as I hatch from my shell and am reborn. I can see the sun rising on a new day. Fitting for a rebirth, I think as I clean myself and don my armor.
“I an now Soveliss Tibur Vaecaesin, for I was born an elf and am now reborn a child of Bahamut.”
I go north. Not fully knowing why, but it seems to be the direction I should go. So I gather my things, and start walking.
Character sheet: Soveliss Tibur Vaecaesin [Dragonborn Rogue]
My name is Flin, do not forget it.
I am a man of few words, so listen to what I say for it will not be repeated. The place I call home is the Chondalwood. It is a place most sentient creatures would avoid for it is filled with death and danger. In this place I was raised by my Hin family, I call them my family even though I have no blood tie to any of them. If you ever cross one of them, I will hunt you to the day you die.
My job, well lets just say I work with a team that removes threats from our homeland. Sometimes threats can be redirected, sometimes pushed back, and sometimes …. they must be removed. It was on one of these such occasions that led me to where I am today. I would tell you how long it has been, but in this infernal place there is not time. Instead I will tell you of the events that lead to me being trapped in this void.
One day a scout returned to us with a sighting of red clothed wizards and a band of warriors near our home. As usual, the first thing we did was to trick the elves into getting red of the threat, but the wizards proved too powerful. A messenger was sent to find some of the wild druids, but the events happened to quick for us to wait for their intervention.
The red wizards seemed guided by some device that lead them directly towards our home, and an assault was ordered. Unlike the elves, we understand the ability to fight a slow battle. First we waited in thickly covered area, as the intruders passed we broke from the underbrush and cut down the fighters in one quick attack, then retreated to the shadows. This made the wizards pause, but soon they gathered the nerve to continue, only after creating a huge creature to protect them first. I still do not know what this beast was, but it had to go next. Sadly it took two of my Hin brothers with it.
This made the wizards think about how they would protect themselves in this place, but once again they gained their courage. They tried to continue only to find a note pinned to a tree explaining that we have been very gentle this far, and if they did not leave now, they would be killed. In truth they where only a stones throw from our home. It appears this really made them angry, they began burning everything with great fireballs. We could not let this continue, our party attacked. What happened next is a fever pitched battle that was to horrible to describe with any accuracy. Six wizards versus our party of nine (One had left to find the druids), two wizards dropped quickly as did five or my brothers.
Seems these wizards are willing to drop fireballs on themselves, they are beyond reason. I will not describe the next few minutes of blood and screams, I will just say I found myself face to face with two wizards. We where all that survived, and it was a miracle even to call us alive at that point.
I launched what I knew would be my final attack when a druid attacked from behind my foe. Again, the violence and speed of this part is indescribable. At the end, I found myself laying on the body of one of the red figures, my blade deeply imbedded and having done its duty. I was nearly unconscious, but I did see the druid fall with my Hin brother that had brought him. The last standing wizard was badly beaten but still standing, he looked at me with a look of disgust. Then he walked over to me and knelt down to my side to look in my eyes. He then rubbed the top of my head and said he would let me live to know that he would return with ten fold his original party. He told me to tell the others to stay out of his way when he returned.
Then he opened a great portal and walked through. I took a potion of healing and followed him through. My plan was to find some shadows to hide in and kill this man when I the chance. But only after finding out what brought him to my home. There was a strange feeling as I passed through the portal, and now I am here. In this lost place of nothing.
Character sheet: Flin [Halfling Rogue/Sorcerer]
Companion sheet: Totem [Mouse Familiar of Flin]
If you ask an orc, dwarf, or even most humans how to win a war and they will tell it is through strength in arms. However anyone in my trade will tell you differently, I am a scout and I can be the difference between your victory and defeat. I can determine the strengths and weaknesses of a force. I can determine the best location to fight your army and what troops would be most effective to use against you. I can make your army think that mine is just around the bend or miles and miles away. I can cause great fear in your ranks or make them feel calm when they are about to be ambushed.
I wasn’t always like this. My name is Noath and I was born long ago in a small village. I had had no real talent for performance and went into an art that truly seemed like my calling. I had an almost unnatural sense for all aspects of scouting. As a whisper gnome I had natural talents for stealth and quietness. But when I was very young, a mere 19, I joined my first human army; a small force tasked with defending a village from band of orcs. We prepared and ambush and I pretended that a small group of us saw the orcs and fled. The orcs pursued and were crushed utterly in the well laid out attack. From that point on I knew that was my calling in life. Or at least that was what I thought; I have helped armies destroy others for 70 years and have nothing to show for it. Sure I have gained some things and some new skills. However I have no place to call mine, I haven’t found love and I have lost all taste for battle.
So now I have taken a different path, I set out to find a new life. I am out for myself now. I would like to find friends; I would like to find love. Most of all I would like to find a place to call my own. And hey if I can make a fortune along the way that would be nice too.
Character sheet: Noath Falath [Whisper Gnome Rogue]
Cause of death: big-ass githyanki sword.