Chapter
4: "The Standing Stones"
April
12 , 2003
Ramagi, Pedro Gil
Mon Macutay, DM
Dramatis
Personae
Amenrath
Sethnakhtehamen, Jackalwere Psychic Warrior, CG ©
by Myk Roman
Quinntalis "DeadBane" Galendale, Elven
Curst, Ranger, CG © by Jet
Malcolm Silverbrow, Irda Paladin of Bahamut, LG
© by Chris Cruz
Alliana, Gold Elf Wizard, NG © by Prixie Tan
Xian Puremind, Human Psion, © by Oliver Valencia
Tarion Gourn, Aasimar Fighter, NG © by Dindo
Moreno
Jakob Firehand, Human Monk-Wizard, LN © BY
Tony Cruz
*Special
Guest Appearance of Glenn Chua (who played Vy'lareth
the Drow scout)
Ulbrec's Funeral
30TH
of Ches, Claw of Sunsets 1371DR (The Year of the Unstrung
Harp)
|
|
| Xian
Puremind baffled after his chance meeting with 'Bahamut' |
The
battle is over. The humanoid army breaks down and retreat
back to the Spine of the World.
Targos
is safe, for the moment.
The
Psion, Xian Puremind chances an encounter with an old,
male beggar (carrying a cage with 7 canaries). Later,
he realizes that he has met face-to-face with a god! (Bahamut).
Later
that night, Amen and Quin both receive visions. Quin is
visited by 3 mysterious spellcasters (in spirit form)
who tell him that "within the Standing Stones lie
part of his past…". Amen receives a vision of
a "dark, evil force' clutching a Netherese scroll
and guarding a magical portal.
Meanwhile,
the characters realize that war was without its loss.
Targos buries its dead. Among them, Lord Ulbrec. In a
ceremonial funeral, the bodies were placed in barges,
set on fire and floated to the Sea of Moving Ice.
Lady
Elythara and Bednir preside over the funeral ceremonies.
The characters deliver short eulogies for Ulbrec and the
fallen heroes of Targos. Malcolm delivers a Solamnic funeral
poem while the others also deliver solemn remarks. Afterwards,
they swear allegiance to Bednir, Ulbrec's son and now,
newly proclaimed mayor and Lord of Targos.
Rex,
the goblin bard played a moving song with his violin during
the event.
The
Drow Predicament
|
|
|
No
laughing matter: Gjal,
the barbarian leader amused with Malcolm's revelations... |
After
the funeral, the Company is invited to join the Targos
Council meeting over
dinner.
Present during the meeting were: Lady Elythara,
Bednir, Gjal of the Great Worm Tribe barbarians,
Vagrad the dock master, Hedron Kerdos, Garuis
Subeth - Paladin of Torm and representative Istvar
from Bryn Shander.
They
discuss plans for the proposed journey of the Company
to Silverymoon, where they will bring Emma's body for
resurrection. Gjal and the barbarians will guide them
to a Portal which could expedite their travel time.
Meanwhile,
Jakob Firehand brings the council to the scene of the
crime (Palisade Command center) where they conduct investigations
into the double-murders.
After
MUCH deliberation, they come to following conclusions:
·
Ulbrec, Emma and Dereth were alone inside the command
post
· Ulbrec and Emma were shot in close range (bow)
then finished with sword blows
· Emma put up a fight to defend herself
· Dereth could've dropped Emma's moonblade due
to alignment conflicts.
· The assailant was very fast (hasted?) and left
no tracks
Meanwhile,
Ivan (the boy from Bryn Shander) delivers a message
to Malcolm and Amen. A stranger wishes to meet with them
at midnight at the Salty Dog Tavern. He specifically asked
for the "two shapeshifters".
|
|
|
Hesitant:
Vy'lareth still untrusting of the party
|
At
the Salty Dog, the stranger reveals himself to be Nym,
the Vhearunian drow who helped the party safely through
the Underdark tunnels (from the Orc Fortress).
Nym
and his associate, Vy'Lareth (played by guest veteran
Glenn Chua) propose a deal: help the drow locate
the Portal to the High Forest so that they (the drow)
may reunite with their people at Cormanthor. Vy'Lareth
is to accompany the party until the portal is located.
Malcolm
promises to consult the others before giving a final decision.
All
this for "repaying a small debt…" reassures
Nym.
After
a lengthy discussion, Tarion was strongly opposed to the
idea of helping the drow. Insisting that the barbarians
of the Great Worm tribe might hold the place sacred and
could be insulted if the drow are discovered to be among
the party members.
Malcolm
and Tarion consult Gjal, the barbarian leader of the Great
Worm. The barbarians revealed that the portal is not sacred
to their tribe but it IS a closely guarded secret.
Malcolm admits to meeting with the drow seeking passage
through the portal. Gjal, although distressed and mad
a bull, was convinced by the paladin to give the drow
immunity from attack if they encounter them outside Great
Worm territory.
Tarion's
adamant stand about not associating or even considering
the drow's request led the party to decide against Nym's
proposal.
Malcolm
returns to Nym and informs his of the unfortunate turn
of events. Nym and Vy'Lareth are disappointed by the developments.
Nym requests that Malcolm at least send a message to Cormanthor
via a gem. The dorw suggest that they are "even"
and will most likely meet again in different circumstances.
Malcolm's
prayer to Bahamut are answered when a canary appears.
He interprets it as a sign that the drow can be trusted.
To
the Portal
The
Company, accompanied by Gjal and the Great Worm barbarians,
leave Targos and march towards Kelvin's Cairn where the
Portal is located. The barbarians leave our heroes just
beyond the site and head back to their tribe.
The
party then proceed to solve the mystery of how to open
the dragon/standing stones puzzle (which was the
exact dream Amen had). Vy'lareth, the drow scout, reappears
at this time and joins the party. They head underground
and into the dungeons below the Standing Stones.
They
encounter resistance in the form of undead guardians (Banedead).
Dispatching the undead, the Company detours to a corridor
which abrubtly ended with huge metal doors (where they
solve another cryptic clue (The Curse of Iron). Alliana
and Malcolm bypassed the trap and prepare to open the
door…
What
lies beyond the iron doors? Will the path to the portal
be difficult? What is Vy'lareth's true motive? What is
the gem that Malcolm now holds for the drow? And what
about the strange visions Quinn and Amen experienced?
Will
the party survive the perils of the Standing Stones? What
awaits them beyond the portal?
All
this and more as we continue our journey next episode!
Stay tuned…
…
QUOTABLE
QUOTES
Malcolm:
"I am not from this world. In my world, the 'drow'
as you call them are called elves who have been forced
to retreat underground away from surface dwellers…
blah-blah-blah…"
Alliana: "SAME BANANA!!!!!!!!"
==
Malcolm:
"my friends, I am fortunate. This day brings us good
tidings. My god has just confirmed that the drow can be
trusted. He has answered my prayers. He sent a canary
as a symbol. It landed on my palm and gently touched the
gem with its beak… as if enjoying it…"
Allliana: "oh yeah. How can you be sure its
not just some random, ordinary canary that got carried
away?!?"
Malcolm (disturbed): "…….Alliana…"
==
Tarion:
"so, Malcolm, you say that your god has answered
your prayers, correct? Are you sure of this? (laughing)"
Stern faced Malcolm: "be mindful of your words,
Tarion. I am WILLING to DIE for this…"
==
Gjal:
"through the portal?!!! The drow would have an easier
time finding a path UP MY ASS!!!!!!!!
