DM Myth

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 15:52 on June 06, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Tekhtarast, D'Ellis, Gi'Ames, Taliesin, Vitriol, Isyl, Caleb, Aeron, Angus, Brosk. Missing Gaiden.

Session Length: 4 hours

Game Time: 8/7 through 8/8/727 (Raocark 6th, Autumn)

Location: Beneath Norben (Lunar) Island

Description of the game:
Exploration.

The party travelled deep below the earth of Norben Island, in natural stone tunnels formed from long-ago volcanic activity.

Treasure Found: None.

Evening Highlight: Tekh tripping a clumsy trap and announcing the arrival of the party.

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 15:55 on June 06, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Gaiden, Tekhtarast, Gi'Ames, Taliesin, Vitriol, Isyl, Caleb, Aeron, Angus, Brosk. Missing D'Ellis.

Session Length: 4 hours

Game Time: 8/8 through 8/10/727 (Raocark 10th, Autumn)

Location: Beneath Norben (Lunar) Island

Description of the game:
Delving.

The PCs found an underground saltwater stream, and many bugs and fungus. They also found three coffins, with strange, fungus-covered, moving shapes on the walls above the coffins.

The Duple-Garan with the party was assaulted several times telepathically, and reverted to her natural form.

Treasure Found: None.

Evening Highlight: The party's discussion and argument and final resolution of how to successfully approach and vanquish... a torch.

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 14:27 on June 08, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Gaiden, Tekhtarast, Gi'Ames, Taliesin, Vitriol, Isyl, Caleb, Aeron, Angus, D'Ellis. Missing Brosk.

Session Length: 4 hours

Game Time: 8/10/727 (Raocark 10th, Autumn)

Location: Beneath Norben (Lunar) Island

Summary: The party fell into an ambush by unknown but powerful foes. About half the party will likely die next Session, and the entire party may suffer this fate.

Description of the game:
Tumbling into ambush.

The PCs set off. Angus got some cryptic answers to a pair of Auguries, and the party set off into the Coffin Cave.

After inflicting incredible amounts of damage on an undead, fungus-covered shape embedded in the cavern wall, the PCs discovered to their horror that the shapes were zombies of fallen elves, including two previous companions. (August West and Eleanor.) They hacked the zombies to little squishy bits, one of the clerics said a quick prayer, and they continued onward.

After exploring a side-passage that seems to lead to the east shore of the Island, the party descended into a narrow tunnel, half-filled with water. They attempted to climb over the water, but Angus failed to do so, and his banded-armor clad form plunged into the water.

For several hectic minutes, the party worked to raise the sodden, sputtering dwarf from the salty, swift-moving stream. Attempting to proceed further, they watching in horror as the cold-numbed dwarf slipped yet again, this time vanishing into the water.

As the dwarf was swept down the stream, Tekh and Tali cut their ropes and leapt after him.

All three shot out over a waterfall and tumbled down a steep, rocky slope, 60' to the ground. Tekh was very badly knocked around in the fall, and one leg is either broken or badly sprained. Taliesin was shaken off near the top of the slope, and caught himself before falling the full distance.

Gi'Ames leapt down the cliff after the fallen party members, as did Gaiden (after pausing to Feather Fall his descent). The remaining party members (Taliesin, Aeron, Brosk, Vitriol, and D'Ellis) climbed carefully downward.

Aeron discovered a hidden cave entrance, and was attacked by orcish mercenaries from within. Almost immediately, missile and spellfire from below rained upon the upper group. The whereabouts and fate of the lower group is unknown. (OOC, the lower group is all the party's spellcasters, and they're battered and in melee combat, surrounded by Silence. They will very likely die within a few rounds at the beginning of next Session.)

Treasure Found: None.

Evening Highlight: Aeron's words upon discovery of a cave-full of armed, angry orcs. "Up, up, up!" Also, Gi'Ames' words from the bottom of the cliff, upon discovering half a dozen elven archers, three spellcasters, 30 kobolds, and an Illithid staring at him. "Oh, boy."

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 01:32 on June 14, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Gaiden, Tekhtarast, Taliesin, Vitriol, Isyl, Caleb, Aeron, Angus, D'Ellis, Brosk. Gi'Ames arrived for half the Session, and was Jammed for, prior to this.

Session Length: 4 hours

Game Time: 8/10/727 (Raocark 10th, Autumn)

Location: Beneath Norben (Lunar) Island

Description of the game:
Fierce combat.

The lower group beat back the Kobolds, taking terrible losses. The elven archers did much damage, as did the swarms of kobolds with their stone clubs. Magic missiles ripped into Angus.

The upper group was peppered with arrows, as well as a pair of fireballs and some Magic Missiles. They withdrew into the upper tunnel, after cleaning the Web from it by fire, then leaping into the flaming web to avoid the 2nd fireball.

The party nearly lost several members, and downed a score of kobolds as well as Termin. The remaining forces fled.

The party was approached by two (apparent) Deep Elves, elves with pitch black skin, odd body shapes, and white hair. Tekhtarast spoke to them in Tongues.

Casualties: None, they got lucky, blah-blah-blah. I know it, I'm a softie. I need a Guest DM to kill some pesky PCs for me.

Treasure Found: Deep Elves.

Evening Highlight: The upper group's expletives when the Web appeared, as well as when Brosk fell from the cliff.

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 17:34 on June 22, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Gaiden, Tekhtarast, Vitriol, Aeron, Angus, D'Ellis, Brosk, Gi'Ames. Missing Taliesin.

Session Length: 4 hours

Game Time: 8/10/727 (Raocark 10th, Autumn)

Location: Beneath Norben (Lunar) Island, in a huge natural-terraced cavern

Description of the game:
Captives.

The party was asked (firmly) by the deep elves (referred to hereafter as the DE) to submit to being tied and stripped of weaponry. Tekh and Gaiden agreed, and communicated with the DE briefly before Tekh's Tongues spell ran out.

When Tekh began to recast the spell, the DE leader reacted violently, placing his sword at Tekh's throat. Tekh elected to attempt to finish the spell. The leader regretfully, but without hesitation, stabbed. Tekh was rendered unconscious from blood loss.

The DE leader told Gaiden that any further spellcasting would be viewed as an attack, as well. The party was asked/commanded to cooperate and be utterly silent. They were then bound and stripped of weapons, and preparations were begun to travel quickly. When Brosk resisted having his sword taken, he was bludgeoned unconscious. Aeron whistled softly to himself during these preparations, which resulted in his being bludgeoned unconscious, as well.

After three such incidents, the DE apparently decided that the party was not to be trusted to not give away their locations with sound or argument, and ordered that all but Gaiden be knocked out. D'Ellis spoke in High Elven, which the DE leader recognized, though he didn't speak it. D'Ellis and Gaiden were spared from the clubbing, as was Vitriol, due to her willingness to cooperate (and she's a girl, and they get all the breaks.) Plus, one of the DE scouts, a lovely female DE, apparently took a shine to both Gi'Ames and Tekh, so Tekh was surreptitiously allowed to retain consciousness.

Tali, Angus and Gi'Ames were unceremoniously clubbed upside the heads with pommels, and they, Aeron, and Tekh were hauled along with the others.

The DE and their "guests" travelled cautiously, in a zig-zag pattern, taking nearly an hour to traverse several hundred feet. They arrived at the top of a 20-foot, broken, rubble-based cliff.

The DE indicated that they were unwilling to leave the unconscious members behind, and lacking a way to get them down the cliff, they were choosing to kill them, instead. Gaiden convinced them to let him study his spellbook, but they were not willing to allow him the 4+ hours required for this task. As they prepared to kill the sleeping group members, Gaiden intervened by rolling Angus off the cliff.

200 lbs of armor-clad dwarf falling down a 20-foot cliff makes a lot of noise, the party quickly discovered. Their DE hosts didn't seem much pleased with this, and pushed the other sleeping forms over the cliff, as well as the awake ones.

D'Ellis managed to cushion Aeron's fall, while Tekh and Vitriol climbed quickly downward and Gaiden jumped. Brosk and Gi'Ames, sadly, fell to their deaths on the rubble below. Tali fell, but was not killed by the fall.

When the party recovered at the bottom of the cliff, the DE were gone. The party holed up among the rubble, and began to rest. D'Ellis went scouting.

After nearly 2 hours, splashes were heard from the lake to the south. D'Ellis was surrounded, not long after, by the Deep Elves, who were soaking wet. When their attempts to communicate with him were met with loud speech, they quickly fled the area, seemingly very nervous about something lurking in the darkness. D'Ellis returned to the party.

After about 5 hours had passed, the DE leader approached the party, and convinced them to head up the cliffs to the east. This they did, finally arriving at a tunnel exit from the cavern. The DE gave them a simple map of the tunnels, and indicated the path that the group should follow. They then instructed the group to lead, and followed, some distance behind.

The party began to set up camp a few hundred yards into the tunnel, which seemed to upset the DE. The DE leader took point guard, to the obvious anger of his scouts, and the party continues onward...

Casualties: Brosk and Gi'Ames. Incidentally, this is not a personal vendetta against their Players. Sorry, you two.

Treasure Found: Some rocks to use as missile weapons.

Summary: The party was taken captive by Deep Elves, at first willingly. When the party refused to abide by the conditions of the captivity, most of them were knocked out, and all of them dropped down a short cliff. Some time later, they were instructed to enter a tunnel and follow a crude map.

Evening Highlight: There really wasn't one, IC. It was a bleak evening, though there was great RP. I enjoyed immensely Angus' reactions to the suggestions that the party cooperate with the DE. Angus doesn't much care for the deep elves.

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 13:10 on June 29, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Tekhtarast, Aeron, Angus, D'Ellis, Taliesin, Jonas. Gaiden and Vitriol were late.

Session Length: 2.5 hours

Game Time: 8/11/727 (Raocark 11th, Autumn, yeah, we're WAY behind)

Location: entrance to the Deep Dark

Description of the game:
Communication with the deep elves.

The deep elves (referred to hereafter as the DE) brought forth a huge, unfamiliar, human prisoner and offered him to the party, with an obvious question of, "Is he with you, or should we kill him?" The party accepted the huge man, named Jonas, in order to save his life.

The DE advanced, very cautiously, into a smooth-bored tunnel. When the leader returned from scouting, he was obviously no longer as cautious, and seemed much relieved. The party and the DE advanced into a circular room, about 30 feet in diameter. Here they were met by half a dozen scale-clad DE, apparently priests.

One of these was able to cast a totally unfamiliar version of the Tongues spell, in order to communicate with the party. He explained that the Illithid were nearby, but that the DE currently held the "Gate" and that they should quickly pass through it and into the Deep Dark. The party discussed this, and found little choice in the matter. Grudgingly, they decided to accompany the DE. A few minor healing magics were performed by the DE upon the party during this time.

The spell allowing communication ceased, and no others were cast, so the party tagged along as two of the DE clergy chanted at a marble slab coated in cold-burning fire. The flames died down, and the slab faded into translucence, then vanished. The DE moved through, apparently without fear. The party followed.

After a few hundred feet, the tunnel opened into a large, fungus-filled cavern, apparently held by the DE forces. The DE hurried along to a side-passage, where a score of DE warriors waited. As the DE entered, it was obvious from body language that they felt safe, finally, and were returning to familiar territory. The party accompanied them.

For hours, the party followed their guides, ever deeper into the water-carved tunnels. Finally they arrived at a side passage, and their scale-clad DE priest guide pointed to it and looked awed, but sad. D'Ellis spoke in High Elven, and the guide apparently thought of something. He indicated for the party to stay there, and ran off.

An hour later, he returned with a black-haired deep elf, a Dark Elf. It was apparent to the party that this was the DE equivalant of a High Elf. This Dark Elf spoke with D'Ellis in a slightly different dialect of High Elven. The party finally found a deep elf that they could communicate with for longer than a few minutes.

The dark elf answered D'Ellis' questions as the party walked with him back the way they'd come, for an hour, to a resting place. The party learned much about the DE society, customs, and the current situation, including a Prophecy that apparently deals with the party's arrival.

Casualties: None.

Treasure Found: A lot of information, and a dark elf that can communicate with D'Ellis.

Summary: The party passed through some sort of Gate with the DE, and travelled deeper into the Deep Dark. There they met a Dark Elf, the deep elf equivalant of a High Elf. They were taken to a resting place, and spoke at some length with the Dark Elf, learning much-needed tips about how to survive amidst the fierce new race they've fallen among.

Evening Highlight: Aeron siezed upon the Slang term for "black-skinned devils," and repeated it whenever the deep elves did something he viewed as particularly asinine.

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 12:53 on July 06, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Tekhtarast, Angus, D'Ellis, Taliesin, Jonas, Gaiden, Renol. Aeron and Vitriol were unable to attend.

Session Length: 4 hours

Game Time: 8/11/727 - 9/15/727 (Getting caught up)

Location: The Deep Dark

Description of the game:
Prison and travel.

The party spent a few days contained in a lightless room. One of the deep elves (DE) attempted to communicate, and Taliesin named him "Smiley." Most of the other DE either ignored the party or seemed vaguely hostile.

Cultural differences emerged that threaten to sabatoge future relations with the DE. The DE seem very xenophobic. They don't worry much about killing non-DE if it seems prudent. They seem easy to offend, and their language is strongly idiom-based and phrase-centered. It is very difficult to communicate with them in anything other than High Elven, and even then, they seem to take offense easily for vague reasons.

The party was introduced to Renol, an elven captive of the DE. As with Jonas, they elected to adopt Renol into their group to avoid having him executed in front of them.

The dark elf (named BloodWeeper by the party) returned, and informed the party that he'd communicated with "The Council" and pleaded for the party to be brought to the Home. He said that it was required to travel quickly, and insisted that the party remove their metallic armors to facilitate this. He also indicated that such armors were not used by the DE, and to wear them into the Home would be considered fairly offensive. The party wasn't pleased with this, and BloodWeeper grew upset at their reluctance to shed their armor. Eventually, however, they removed their "metal skins."

For three weeks, the party marched, ever deeper into the Deep Dark. Finally, well over a mile beneath the surface lands, they arrived at a resting place, where they were asked to remain for at least another week, while BloodWeeper spoke with the Council prior to their meeting with the party.

D'Ellis decided that Jonas' stench was threatening the survival of the party, by offending the DE, so he helped Jonas to wash himself.

Tekh was summoned away for several hours by the DE scout, "SheScout," and was obviously distressed when he returned, but refused to explain the nature of his abscence.

Casualties: Jonas' stench was slain most heroically by D'Ellis.

Treasure Found: Information, D'Ellis traded his dagger for a DE dagger.

Summary: The party spent three days awaiting the return of BloodWeeper, then travelled for weeks into the Deep Dark. Upon arrival, they were placed into a more comfortable keeping-place for another week.

Evening Highlight: Jonas' cursing. "By Praxim's everchanging groin!" was a nice one.

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 14:19 on July 13, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Tekhtarast, Angus, D'Ellis, Taliesin, Jonas, Gaiden, Renol, Aeron, and Vitriol. A full crew. Woohoo!

Session Length: 3.5 hours

Game Time: 9/16/727 - 9/23/727 (Getting caught up)

Location: The Deep Dark

Description of the game:
Travel.

The party spent some time resting and studying and talking. One of the Deep Elves, named "Smiley," showed much interest in learning Common, as well as teaching Deep Elven.

Aeron tried a bit of music, which the DE greeted with appreciation. SheScout danced to it, even dancing close to Aeron, Jonas, Tekhtarast, and most of the party. It was later learned that when she physically touches the party, she is displaying her status as one of the party's captors.

BloodWeeper returned, and the party accompanied him deeper into the Deep Dark. First, however, he gave them each "wet bond," where he sword to treat them as companions rather than captives.

BloodWeeper chastised SheScout for her actions in showing ownership, and she sulked for the entire journey.

Much was learned about DE society, culture, and language. BloodWeeper had apparently heard of the party's musical demonstration, and he requested such a display. Aeron regaled the party with a combination of spellcraft and Bardic talents, accompanied by Vitriol. They performed an ancient elven song concerning the Lunar Trees. All present were moved deeply. BloodWeeper once again wept tears of blood, and all the elves present wept, as well. The humans were deeply affected, as well.

That night, everyone in the sleeping chamber dreamt a similar dream, apparently a prophetic dream. All present were disturbed, especially Renol, who had never really seen any amount of violence in his lifetime of study and seclusion.

Upon waking, the party journeyed a short distance to the shores of the Will O' Wisp sea, where they entered a massive, oblong stone boat. A deep elven spellcaster came forth and called forth magical energies to guide the ship on her journey, and the party settled in to wait for their arrival at "the Home."

Casualties: None.

Treasure Found: Information, a "book" made of thin plates of gold containing the Deep Elven history.

Summary: The party spent a week learning a bit of the Deep Elven tongue, as well as resting, studying, and talking. Then they travelled down to a sleeping place, where Aeron regaled everyone with mixed Bardic and Illusion talents. Everyone present, Deep Elves included, had a disturbing dream. After sleeping, the party and their Deep Elven guides boarded a huge stone ship and set sail for "The Home."

Evening Highlight: Aeron's performance. The combination of Phantasmal Force and a bard's skills with instrument and voice was incredible.

[Scionist]

Jonas Fireforge
Player
 18:59 on July 24, 2000
Session 46
Present : Gaiden, Tali, Angus, D’Ellis, Aeron, Vi, Renol and Jonas
Missing : Tekh
length : 4 hours
description : PARTY!

Summary :

We FINALLY disembarked from our little boat ride and we the first non DE to set foot in the “Home” ever, a momentous event that struck home with many and was lost on a few.

We were greeted by a few other DE, some of which were priests of their dark Gods (Angus made quite an impact on them as well. It seems the cave dwelling elves have a thing for Terrarie. Any enmity they might have held for him was certainly washed away by this realization) and a spell binder who spoke in the common tongue thanks to his mastery of the “Arts.” After some talk and another ground breaking action by BloodWeeper in which we became “Guests” of the city and no longer “Property,” we made our way into the city for a celebration.

We traveled through the caverns, lit in an otherworldly manner by thousands of suspended globes bearing Glowfish. The Party was mesmerized by the gothic beauty of the underground city and were taken through it, and throngs of it citizenry, to a coliseum of sorts, packed to the rafters with DE.

Aeron, the Bard, Renol the spellbinder and Vitriol on guitar all put on a show of the most spectacular proportions for all the assembled DE. Aeron reprised his earlier interpretation of an ancient Elven folk song about the Lunar trees, supplementing it with ethereal images spun from the Illusion magics. The DE were completely taken aback, spellbound by the visions of things which they could not even begin to imagine, concepts like Trees and Sunlight, grass and blue skies danced across their mind’s eye. All assembled were speechless, many driven beyond the point of tears as some deep ancestral longing was awakened in them. In response, the DE offered up a keening and eerie cry of their own that resounded throughout the cavern, single voices standing out and them weaving themselves seamlessly back into the collective, causing the glowfish to wriggle and add an odd, shimmering light to the ceremony and eventually the perception that a shower of light was falling upon those below.

After some mutual thanks for the performances the “Fellowship” was taken to a comfortable conference room where ceremonial food and drink was brought out and shared by all. During this time many thoughts were exchanged on the upcoming campaign and much was learned regarding our role in the conflict and the meanings of the dreams we’d experienced. In all it was a fine evening and a much needed respite from the weariness of confined travel. Soon the “Fellowship” will fight, for now they train and learn and rest their bones in the Home.

Casualties : Some DE prejudices to dwarves and a 2 ft. roasted beetle for dinner.

XP : dunno

[Scionist]

Jonas Fireforge
DM
 14:10 on July 27, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Angus, D'Ellis, Taliesin, Jonas, Gaiden, Renol, Aeron, and Vitriol. Missing Tekhtarast.

Session Length: 4 hours

Game Time: 9/23/727 - 10/23/727

Location: The Deep Dark

Description of the game:
Ambush of the enemy.

Summary :
Trained hard, travelled long, fought well, retrieved the deep elven magical sword.

Long Version :
For what seemed like days we trained, first in the water, learning as much about aquatic battle and the strange tumbling tactics of the DE as we could in the short time before we would meet our apparent destiny.

Scattered intermittently in the training were short rests, enough to keep our travel weary bodies fresh. Finally, Protector and BloodWeeper decided that the time for action was upon us. A few of their clergy offered blessings upon our trip and we climbed aboard the odd stone vessels and set sail for to retrieve the legendary sword that would help deliver the DE to the surface and restore Edilar to glory.

The boat ride seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Teams of three would submerge, affixed to the boat with safety lines, and train in the strange underwater combat tactics to help pass the time and further the chances for success. Sadly, disaster struck as one of the large creatures of the deep, something referred to as an Aboleth by our hosts, snatched one of the training DE and, despite our best efforts made off with him and thus he was lost.

In the wake of this tragedy was one of the most unnerving, exhillirating and frightening ride anyone from the surface had ever experienced. The "Scream" was some sort of wild spellbinding that launched the ship from the water at mindnumbing speeds and no small risk to all aboard. We skipped and skimmed for time without end, some yipping and yapping and enjoying the ride, others climbing inside their heads to locate peace of mind.

With a monumental splash we, thank the Creator, set down once again in the water, quite a bit ahead of schedule, though short one DE who had broken and arm in the impact and Tekh, who had cracked some ribs as well. Slowly we made our way to the arranged point where we would disembark and descend to set our ambush and retrieve the legendary weapon. We were all tense, everyone went over the plan, the participants focussed, making sure all their gear was properly attached and with them. With a groan the DE opened the bottom hatch and we descended to the bottom of the Underdeep Sea, waiting near the mouth of a mammoth cavern for our quarry. Poised to strike at a moments notice.

Nothing happened. Some more nothing happened. A bit more nothing happened and then SheScout appeared with a glowing orb of some kind. Shortly thereafter an Illithid, an Aboleth and 3 Beholderkin emerged from the murky depths of the cave to meet her approaching form.

We waited, the Illithid passed our advance scouts and, with a flourish, the battle was on. DLS struck first from behind, slicing into the Illithid with a ferocity that belied the pain and agression of one who's country has been torn asunder with the help of these foul fiends.

Vit struck next, missing despite her advantage. Meanwhile the DE attacked from above and below, engaging the Aboleth and the Beholderkin in an epic battle. Jonas, sensing the time was right, forgot his mind and remembered his training and instinct, striking the Illithid as well and cutting deep into it's side, spewing ichor into the waters around them. Gaiden encountered problems while casting aquatically, Aeron missed the beast and Angus offered a prayer of glory to Terrarie, booning us in battle and filling us with the might of the Uncarved Block. Renol, moving with grace and ease that did little to reflect his earlier unease, cast some sort of shrinking spell, binding the Illithid in it's own robes, essentially signing it's death warrant. Swiftly Vitriol recovered from her earlier failed attack and split the squidheaded monstrosity open. Aeron, not wanting to take any chances, removed the foul fiend's tentacled head soon after.

Above the DE battled the Aboleth, SheScout was taking much damage from the beast and a poisonous damage it was, causing her skin to liquify upon contact with it's deathly scales.

The Beholderkin, no longer under the control of the Illithid and left to their own machinations turned on one another, removing that threat quite effectively. We swam towards the remaining battle, but as we neared Protector struck the death blow and the battle was won. Protector the sliced the belly of this deepsea leviathan wide open and reached in, pulling forth a wrapped bundle out of which came the most glorious weapon this group had ever beheld. The sword was not unlike an epee or a longsword, only made of a shimmering clear substance akin to the substance that the DE weapons were fashioned from. We marvelled, but danger was still nigh and so without ceremony we made haste to the boat. Before we ascended we were urged to drink from an odd silver flask. Whatever it was that this flask contained, it was like liquid lightening. It made the mind vibrate and you could see it take hold in each person as they sipped it.

With the aid of this and the guidance of Protector our ascent was swift and secure. Much to our chagrin, SheScout is in critical condition, riddled with poison and suffering from multiple wounds. Angus will need the full blessing of Terrarie to help her pull through most certainly.

Now, we set off for the voyage back to the Home and pray that it is a safe one.

Casualties : A broken arm, some cracked ribs, an Illithid, an Aboleth, and a deep elven warrior.

Treasure : Pride in a job well done. Oh, and a killer legendary sword of the DE.

Session Highlights : Jonas finds his happy place in times of trouble, chanting "puppy, sun, beer, women" to himself.

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 13:01 on Aug 08, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Angus, D'Ellis, Taliesin, Jonas, Gaiden, Renol, Aeron, and Vitriol. Missing Tekhtarast.

Session Length: 3 hours

Game Time: 10/24/727 - 6/3/728

Location: The Deep Dark, Deep Elven Home

Description of the game:
Ceremony and preparation.

Summary :
D'Ellis was given the Peaceblade, a relic blade of the Deep Elven people. He was also given a strange translation device called the Urim. The Deep Elves prepared an army to follow the Fellowship to the surface and free Edilar.

Long Version :
The ship was ambushed by Illithid. The first to enter was cut to hamburger, despite his control of SheScout, and then Protector. Aeron chased the second Illithid from the boat, and was promptly controlled mentally. He was knocked out by deep elven blades.

Angus summoned the protection of Terrarrie, and held the mental attacks at bay. All speed was made toward the Home, and a roving patrol arrived before Angus' spell duration ended. The patrol escorted the ship to the Home.

There, the party participated in a huge ceremony of Gifting. The Peaceblade is a Truesilver longsword, apparently a legendary relic of the Deep Elves. It was Gifted to D'Ellis, along with the Urim, an ancient translation device. D'Ellis was commanded through the Urim, by Kaldinsky, to deliver a speech.

The Deep Elves were commanded by their Council to follow D'Ellis to the surface and overthrow Morlan's control of Edilar, after which they will return to the Deep Dark.

Aeron traded for a long-since captured Sythian journal, and he and Gaiden vie for the trade rights to a Sythian spellbook.

The Deep Elves began to assemble an army, calling many of their citizenry out of "retirement" and into service. Thousands of Deep Elves prepare to ascend, following the Fellowship, and free Edilar of Morlan's influence, in response to an ancient Deep Elven prophecy.

Casualties : None; Softy-ism struck again.

Treasure : The Peaceblade and the Urim, Kas weapons, a Sythian Journal

Session Highlights : D'Ellis speaking in tongues, with Kaldinsky's words, but no knowledge of what he said.

[Scionist]

The Rebel Bard
Player
 10:11 on Aug 10, 2000
For months we stayed within The Home while the Deep Elves mustered an army the likes of which would be feared for generations to come. Finally the time came to leave and the scouts were sent out. Eventually reports filtered back that only the minor Akolonommus (magi) of the Deep Elves could pass through the Seal. Briefly, I worried about my own ability but the thought quickly passed from my mind.

We set out for the surface after meeting with the High Council. Protector, however much I dislike him, I must say is quite good at his job. The plan that he has just shown us uses all the strengths of the Deep Elves to their highest possible advantage despite the foreign land they are going into. With all preparations set we made for the surface.

The trip upwards was thankfully more pleasant and less eventful than our passage down, except when as I neared the Seal my mind suddenly began to throb painfully. Stopping to look around I noticed none of the others having troubles and tried to push it out of my mind as we continued on. As I passed through the Seal I felt the pain leave my mind, unfortunately as I searched my mind I found that the spells I had previously memorized had also gone. As we rose up through the earth I examined the weapons that were forged for us. This crystal that they call Kas is incredible. Stronger than steel yet it seems to be light as tin. Oh how I shall enjoy using these to cleave one of those squid faced monstrosities down!

After months of preparation and travel we finally reached the cavern where the ambush took place and started this whole adventure. The Deep Elves gathered as D'Ellis unsheathed the Peaceblade before them then took hold of the Urim. Kalidinsky began to speak through him to put fire into the hearts of the Deep Elves, and what a fire it was. As the speech ended the Deep Elves charged through the tunnels towards the surface and the night sky as their blood burned with rage. With D'Ellis wielding their symbol we too were swept along and out into the open air of the surface finally.

Just as we were about to leave Gaiden was possessed by one of the blasted Illithids again. Gods, for the days of goblin raiders… After taking a swing at D'Ellis, Gaiden declared his taint and we attempted to stop him only to have D'Ellis retaliate, hitting him on the head with the flat of his blade. Strangely enough Gaiden seemed to once again regain his senses and we rushed out into the unknown.

As soon we breached the surface I was nearly knocked off of my feet by a crushing blow from the side. After regaining my senses I looked around as my companions rushed from the hole as well. All around I could hear battles waging and flashes of light lit the night sky as well as fires from things burning, but before us was a terrible sight. Directly in our path was one of the biggest giants I had ever seen, with two Ogres flanking him. This would not have been so bad but not only could I see two Illithid floating in the background, but there, just as it had been summoned from a tale of horror, was a Magebane itself, a Beholder.

To our credit we didn't think to pause or flee, instead we rushed into the midst of our foes. After yelling for Vitriol and Gaiden to take out the Illithids with their bows I used the knowledge that the Deep Elves had taught me and rolled between the legs of the Ogre in front of me, only to pop back up and slash at the back of his legs in hopes of severing his hamstring. I not only severed it but I nearly took his leg off (gotta love natural 20's don't you?) As the beast toppled to ground flailing madly I jumped out of the way to see Jonas the warrior fall the other Ogre in only a few mighty swings from his massive sword, and some spellcrafted help from Renol. Vitriol and Gaiden also were driving the squids back with well aimed shots from their Lunar Bows and Renol and D'Ellis were harrying the Giant quite well. Had it not been for the Beholder that was quickly picking off the nearby Deep Elves I would have had no worries, but then reinforcements arrived. Swarms of Deep Elves exited the ground invigorated by the sight of D'Ellis fighting an opponent 3 times his size with the Peaceblade the combined forces made short work of the opponents.

All night the battle raged as we continued to push on against the monstrous forces of Morlan and his Syth-blasted allies. As the night began to wane and the dawn began to come the retreat was sounded only to have the dawn not rise. When we should have seen the sun on the horizon we saw nothing but the emptiness of the night. The clerics began to call out that the Dark Gods had blessed them and it was a sign to battle onward, so we did. Through the day and the following night the battle raged. We surely would have fallen from loss of blood and exhaustion had it not been for the roving bands of clerics infusing the troops with holy energy.

If I had not been to the Abyss the sights I saw that day and night would have scarred me for life. Magebanes cut vicious swaths of death through the Deep Elven ranks. Hordes of Kobolds literally swarmed over units of fighting Deep Elves, weighing them down so they could not fight. Deep Elves under the control of the Illithid attacked their brethren while announcing their taint. Great explosions could be heard over the battlefield as Beholders imploded upon themselves after absorbing enough blows. The stacks of dead Kobold bodies were incredible, and there were Illithid parts scattered about as the Deep Elves not only killed them but tore them apart with an unholy glee.

Through it all D'Ellis kept the Peaceblade aloft, inspiring those allies near and striking fear into our enemies. All through this I stayed by his side using the new tactics I had learned from the Deep Elves to dance in and out of my opponents while cutting them to ribbons. I did what I could with my voice to inspire those of our allies but I know not how much good it did.

Finally the retreat was sounded as the dawn of the next day approached. Back into the earth we went, to hide in the tunnels and surge forth the next night to bring death and destruction to Morlan's forces.

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 08:07 on Aug 21, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Angus, D'Ellis, Taliesin, Jonas, Gaiden, Renol, and Vitriol. Missing Tekhtarast, and Aeron had ISP problems all night.

Session Length: 3 hours

Game Time: 6/5/728 - 6/6/728

Location: Norben Island in Edilar

Description of the game:
Battle.

Summary :
The Deep Elves, loosely guided by the Fellowship of the Hawk, fought another night of bloodshed and death, and broke the back of King Morlan's army. D'Ellis was disintegrated by a Beholder.

Long Version :
The party prepared, along with a section of the Deep Elven forces. At dusk, the Deep Elven wizards used magic to dig entrances to the surface, and the Deep Elven forces and the party rushed forth into a fierce rainstorm to do battle.

The party was near a small east-shore town, with docks. They quickly engaged a giant, an ogre, and a beholder that floated 20 feet above them. There were apparently illithid present, but the squid-headed monstrosities remained hidden in the pouring rain.

The beholder bathed the party in sickly-greenish light, ruining their spellcrafting abilities. The group's archers began an assault on the Beholder, while the melee combatants engaged the giant and ogre. After several flights of arrows, the Beholder's main eye was extinguished, and it descended from above so that it could use its other eyestalks, and its powerful mouth.

Unexpected assistance materialized from the Lunar branches above, as NightWolf and a few guerrilla elves literally dropped in on the combat. As the ogre was felled, the new arrivals leapt into combat with the Beholder and Giant, with NightWolf actually leaping onto the Beholder from above and burying his sword in its tough hide.

Jonas was captured by an invisible illithid, and attacked both Taliesin and D'Ellis. Having heard the Deep Elven cry of "Morgoloth," meaning "I am tainted," Jonas horribly mispronounced his tainted status, screaming, "Morbid Sloth! Morbid Sloth! Morbid Sloth!"

Angus quickly erected a shield of faith, and Jonas regained what few senses he'd possessed before the possession.

As D'Ellis carved huge pieces out of the giant's side, the Beholder drew a bead on him with one of the eyestalks, and bathed him in pale blue light. D'Ellis succumbed to the light's power, and began to move as if he were encased in water. Moments later, a second beam of light shot forth, and played around the heroic elf. For a moment, it looked as if nothing had happened... and then D'Ellis vanished into sparkling motes of light.

A few of the Fellowship witnessed this, but most were engaged in fierce combat. Gaiden leapt forward to hold the Peaceblade aloft, and maintain the battle frenzy of the Deep Elves. Vitriol leapt forward to keen a dirge of deep pain and loss, and had to be dragged forcefully from the spot of D'Ellis' demise.

Renol found the Urim lying where D'Ellis had been, and attempted some sort of communication with the Gods. It was apparently unsuccessful, for he became withdrawn and bleak after the attempt.

The giant and the Beholder fell quickly to the rage of the party. The rest of the night passed in a haze of depression and apathy, as the battle continued.

The docks were taken, and a single Raker was captured and manned with guerilla elves; then sent to Navelorn to inform them of the happenings on the Island. The other Rakers, sadly, were burned to prevent their use by Morlan's forces when the Deep Elves were forced below ground at dawn.

Casualties : D'Ellis of Navelorn, as well as much of his inventory.

Treasure : Horrible casualties inflicted on Morlan's forces.

Session Highlights : Some heroic combat strikes, and great RP of pre-battle jitters as well as post-battle trauma. My favorite Highlight to-date, however, occurred with Jonas screaming, "Morbid Sloth!"

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 15:21 on Aug 25, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Angus, Jonas, Renol, Vitriol, Tekhtarast, Aeron, and Aram. Missing Taliesin and Gaiden.

Session Length: 4 hours

Game Time: 6/7/728 - 8/5/728

Location: Norben Island, Navelorn

Description of the game:
Battle, boat trip, celebration.

Summary :
Despite the apparent disfavor of the Gods of Battle, the battle was finally won. Morlan was slain, and his troops driven into the waters of Blood Lake, where they were slaughtered. The group travelled to Navelorn, and informed them that Norben Island was freed of Morlan's tyranny.

Long Version :
The forces assembled in the tunnels beneath Edilar to prepare for yet another night of violence and death. Gaiden was gone, much earlier, to seek his Giant Hawk familiar.

All of the Deep Elves that the party has befriended have fallen in battle or vanished. The party was draw together by familiarity, despite their differences, and prepared for the coming assault. Tekhtarast took the Peaceblade, and led the preparations.

The hour of the final attack crept forward, and the deep elven forces rushed forth to spread death across the face of Norben Island. But the enemy had fallen back to Serreningtown, and the horde of bloodthirsty deep elves pushed quickly southward to the edges of the city.

Here there were hobgoblins and orcs, staked out by chain to the earth. It seems that they were left as a delaying tactic, while Morlan's forces mounted a final desparate assault on Navelorn. Led by Tekhtarast, the deep elves cut the enemy to ribbons, and advanced upon the city in the Lunar trees.

It quickly became apparent that the favor of the Gods of Battle was not cast upon the deep elven army. Their blows seemed weaker, misjudged, and ineffective. The enemy seemed bolstered with supernatural courage and strength, and ill luck plagued the heroes and their army.

Despite this, the sheer numbers, skill, and ferocity of the Deep Elven forces could not be resisted. At a high cost in blood and life, the enemy were killed throughout Serreningtown. The Lunar city was shattered by the warfare; trees were burned to the ground, and destruction capered across the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the party was summoned to greet the arrival of half a dozen Ruch fishing boats. It was unknown who the passengers of these boats supported, until they disgorged their contents onto Edilar's shores. The newcomers were mostly Orcs, with a smattering of goblins and humans (and a single nauseas dwarf). They quickly assured the party that they came to fight against Morlan.

As the party returned to the war, the skies over the Island began to roar with violence of their own. Massive bolts of lightning smashed down into the assembled combatants, hurling bodies like driftwood before the waves. No rain fell to accompany the strikes of flashing death from above.

After hours of struggle and slaughter on both sides, the party staggered onto the Docks of Serreningtown. Numb and drained, they watched as the deep elven warriors cut apart the last of Morlan's forces on the Island. Hundreds of terrified enemies leapt into the waters of the Blood Lake. Those who were too slow to swim to their deaths by drowning, suffered butchery in the waters by deep elven blades. As during the Mage Wars, the waters ran red.

Morlan Barden, captured and clubbed nearly senseless, was dragged to the party's attention. During an angry beating by various members of the group, he rambled incoherently. As Angus knelt to heal the previous king, there was a flash of dark motion from beneath the docks.

A single illithid, hiding beneath the docks, leapt upward to desparately attack Morlan. It clamped its foul face onto his head, even as the blades of everyone assembled plunged into it. First to land was the Peaceblade, and the foul creature died almost immediately, spraying its ichor across the Docks.

Despite the death of the foul creature, its mission was accomplished. One of the disgusting tentacles had penetrated Morlan's skull, and churned into his brain, killing him instantly. (OOC: This wasn't scripted. The Illithid got one attack, and one chance to accomplish its assassination. Had it failed, Morlan would not have been killed.

The party quickly discussed their options, and decided to lead the ships from Ruch, to Navelorn. A few of the greedier group members ran ahead to loot the remains of the once-proud Elven homeland. The deep elves were also seen combing the ruins for things of value.

There commenced a maddeningly slow boat trip to the Mainland of Edilar. The party watched the sun rise for the first time in months, during the two-day journey. Finally, they arrived at shore, and rushed to Navelorn.

After a long hike, they saw a plume of smoke on the horizon... a dread warning of the destruction they expected.

To their elated surprise, they discovered that the smoke was from a cookfire, and Navelorn was unassaulted. They were escorted into the Military Encampment by elven guards, and met by Kral Elkrane. After a washing and a short rest, they were asked to join in a feast, and explain what was occurring in Edilar.

The feast was attended by Dylsara, the elven princess, as well as Kral Elkrane and many other elves. Very few male elven faces were present; Edilar has lost nearly all of her warriors to the fight against Morlan.

During the dinner, the party told what had been occurring, and learned that Navelorn's siege had lifted a few days before, when blackness consumed the day. Since then, no sign of the enemy had been seen.

Dylsara also requested the party to accompany her back to Coopersville, again. She announced that the few remaining High Elves had revealed the future of the elven people, and that she must travel to CoopersvilleForge to secure that future.

The whereabouts of the last few hundreds? thousands? of Morlan's foul army are unknown. Many escaped on Rakers, but none have since been seen.

Casualties : All of Morlan's forces that had not yet managed to board Rakers and flee. Many Deep Elves, as well.

Treasure : Some looting by the less scrupulous group members after the battle. Also, the deep appreciation of what remains of Edilar.

Session Highlights : Great RP by the whole group, although this isn't a Highlight; it's standard. My personal favorite was an OOC question from Aram after his 2nd violent indigestion incident: "Do I get 10 XP every time I puke?"

[Scionist]

Myth
DM
 09:46 on Sept 05, 2000
DM name: Myth, "The Butcher of Tharderr"

Group - Wednesday night "The Fellowship of the Hawk"

Players Present: Angus, Renol, Aeron, Taliesin, and Aram. Missing Tekhtarast (leaving for RL), Vitriol (Missing IC) and Gaiden (AFK for a few weeks).

Session Length: 4 hours

Game Time: 8/10/728 - 8/11/728

Location: Navelorn, and lands nearby

Description of the game:
Search for Vitriol.

Summary :
Vitriol vanished during the night. The party searched for her, travelling first to her old home, and then finding her tracks and following them into the northeast woods, toward the Horde Lands. Aeron accused Kral of being a vampire.

Long Version :
The party awoke one morning to find that Vitriol was missing. Her old mentor, Lorde, was frantic with worry. Her pendant had been found outside Navelorn on the path. The party immediately set off to find her.

They first travelled half a day west to the treetop home that she'd once lived in, with her alleged husband. Within was discovered a comfortably furnished cell, and clothes of Vitriol's, decades old. Also discovered was a laboratory, and a comfortable living space.

When Renol and Aeron helped themselves to some spell inks, Angus put his foot down and gave a "No Theft" speech. (This speech may have been partially prompted by Angus' inability to successfully gather information from Augury while his party was looting an elven treehouse.)

In the resulting argument, Aeron's dislike of elven haughtiness was confirmed as he and the elven ranger guide nearly came to blows. In the course of the argument, Aeron cursed the very Gods for their interference in the Realms... just as Renol attempted to contact those Gods via the Urim. Renol blew up at Aeron. (OOC: After discovering that his direct line to the Big Guys was getting a busy signal due to sacreligious interference. Renol apparently can't afford the 'roaming fee,' since he's not a cleric.

The party shouted accusations, philosophized, and bickered for several minutes. (OOC: The RP was excellent.)

Finally, the party decided to head back to Navelorn, and seek tracks from there. They travelled through a misting rainfall back to the keep, and returned just before dark.

At Navelorn, Aeron decided to confront Kral about his suspicions concerning Kral's recent behaviors. He found Kral in a library, and scried the elderly elf with spells. Apparently, a disagreement erupted, and Aeron fled the library, shouting loudly and conjuring magical light. He took refuge in the Shrine of Aerie, and refused to be dislodged, claiming that Kral was a NightWalker. Renol, Aram, Angus, and Taliesin went to meet with Kral to investigate these claims.

The four found no evidence to support Aeron's claims. Kral showed them a book he'd found, showing a picture of Vitriol when she was much younger. He seemed polite and charming, much like his old self, before the last year of tragedies. Taliesin was unconvinced that Kral wasn't a vampire, but the others didn't feel that the old elf was dangerous in any way, and left him in peace.

The next morning, Renol sallied forth to return the Urim to the Deep Elven nation, since its purpose above was completed. Angus, Aeron, Tali, and Aram left with three (fresh) elven rangers, and headed off to track Vitriol.

The band found her tracks to the northeast, leading down a steep path in the cliffside. The descent took nearly a full day. When they reached the woodlands at the bottom, they set up camp, and Aeron played soothing music at the elven ranger's request.

Casualties : None.

Treasure : Some looting of spell ink by Aeron.

Session Highlights : The argument under the tree... great RP.