Chapter
6: "Red Wizards"
May
17, 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
Xion Puremind, Human Psion, CG © by Oliver
Valencia
Endrath Windhunter, Avariel Fighter , NG ©
by Erwin Nanez
*Also
Starring (as NPCs)
Alliana,
Gold Elf Wizard, NG © by Prixie Tan
Jakob Firehand, Human Monk-Wizard, LN © BY
Tony Cruz
Co-Starring:
Gulen
- Leader of the Red Wizards (Invoker)
Alius of Figwallow - Ghostwise Halfling Fighter/Wizard
(Enchanter)
Work - Tiefling Rouge-Wizard (Illusionist)
Dereth the Clone
The REAL Dereth
Emma Moonblade
Alavi'Yar - aide of the High Lady
Preparations
16th
of Tarsakh of the Storms, 1371DR (The Year of the Unstrung
Harp)
 |
|
Gulen,
The Red Wizard Leader
|
Jakob
Firehand finalizes his spells and prepares for the assault.
The others purchase magic items and supplies before the
planned attack.
Jakob,
using the crystal ball Nataz gave him, magically scryes
for the Red Wizards. He spots them hours away from an
ancient dwarven stone-bridge within the outskirts of the
Ascore. The Red Wizard entourage consisted of a four-horse-drawn
carriage, a "demonic-looking" driver, 'Dereth'
on horseback and 2 additional mounted mercenaries.
Jakob's
attempts at spying are discovered and the Red Wizards
pick up the pace.
Meanwhile,
Emma informs the Company of the rumored disappearance
of a powerful mage (from Jalanthar) and mysterious Shade
activity within Ascore.
Soon
after, a magical Quall Bird appears and delivers a message
to Malcolm. The letter is from Nym, thanking them for
their help and apologizing for Vy'lareth's actions. Nym
reveals that they have successfully parleyed with the
elves and the Tree Ghost tribe and are making good progress
towards Cormanthor.
Assault
 |
|
Wokr,
the Tiefling Illusionist
|
The
great dwarven stone-bridge is a massive edifice depicting
a dwarven warrior wielding an axe. The axe is the length
of the bridge, which spans two mountains 500 feet across
and over 300 feet high.
Jakob
"Gates" the Company to the battlement (the other
end of the bridge which forms the head of the 'axe').
They take up ambush positions.
The
Red Wizard carriage approached with caution and stopped
midpoint of the bridge. Emma draws first blood and rushes
the Dereth-Clone!
All
hell broke loose as the others join the fray! Jakob hurls
his lighting bolt at the carriage, utterly destroying
it. The true-Dereth (bound) scampers out, wounded. The
tiefling carriage driver unleashes his illusions while
their leader, the Red Wizard Gulen, magically flies out
of the carriage, turns invisible and rains doom (Fireball
and Ice Storm) upon the Company. The feral halfling, Alius,
also evades the lightning bolt and rushes nearby Quinntalis.
Emma
makes short work of the bodyguards and continues her deadly
swordfight with the Dereth-Clone.
Malcolm
and Amen stand their ground and flank the tiefling.
Meanwhile,
Alliana makes a fatal discovery. The "Dereth"
she presumed to be the real one turned out to be the Clone!
She is felled by a traitorous sword thrust to the back!
|
|
|
Spot
the Difference:
Who is the real Dereth?
|
Jakob
grapples the REAL Clone. Emma is surprised to discover
that she was fighting the charmed, REAL Dereth (This is
confusing!!! -DM). Dereth breaks from the Charm spell
and fires his bow at the grappled clone. Emma delivers
the fatal blow to the Clone.
As
the battle waged, Puremind is felled by a magical attack.
The tiefling instinctively hurls the Psion's body over
the ledge!
Jakob
successfully dispels the magical protections and enchantments
upon the Red Wizard leader (using Nataz's scroll).
Endarth
races to save Puremind! Calling forth "isaw",
the magical Troll Gut Rope, the avariel gracefully dives
to catch the freefalling Psion. Just before the Troll
Gut Rope latches unto Puremind, Gulen, the Red Wizard,
appears out of nowhere and grabs it.
|
|
|
Now
or never:
Endarth prepares to dive and save Puremind
|
Endarth
orders "isaw" to wrap itself onto the Red Wizard
and grabs Puremind inches before hitting the ground.
Defeated
(and after the compulsory "Some other day…"
villain monologue), The Red Wizard and Alius, the halfling,
teleport out.
This
happens at about the same time Malcolm and Amen finally
decapitate the Tiefling!
Aftermath
The
Red Wizards have been defeated. Dereth and Emma are reunited
and the clone finally destroyed.
Yet,
there is the matter of Ascore.
Ascore,
now in ruins, was once the dwarven gateway to the realms
of Delzoun. Recent reports indicate Shade activity within
the ruins and Dereth confirms the Red Wizards' itinerary.
The Company also discover a cache of weapons, armor and
magic items seemingly intended for the Shade.
Jakob
and Malcolm (using the crystal ball) consult with Alivi'Yar,
one of the High Lady's aides. Alivi'yar suggests that
they investigate the area. They are free to resupply at
Silverymoon before the slated mission. Emma and Dereth
pledge their support for the group and promise to aid
them in whatever way they can.
The
Company gates to Silverymoon and prepare to assault the
ruins of Ascore.
What
secrets does Ascore have in store for our adventurers?
What is the connection between the Shade and the Red Wizards?
Is this in conjunction with the prophecies as revealed
in the Nether scroll?
Answers
next episode. Stay tuned for the conclusion of Book 1
of Winter's Twilight.
…
QUOTABLE
QUOTES
Jakob:
"This lightning bolt should fry that Red Wizard"
(bolt fizzles…)
Malcolm: "Jakob, what happened!?!"
Jakob: (in shock) "M-M-Minor G-Globe of Invulnerability…"
==
Endarth:
"Isaw, to arms!!!!!!!!"
(calling the Troll Gut Rope to aid him catch the falling
Puremind)
==
Dereth-Clone
(to Alliana): "It seems you've got the wrong
person, missy…" (slash!)
