The group heads down the hall of the crypt after watching the princes corpse disintegrate in the acid. They come face to face with and undead doom guard or death knight, they can't tell, kind of a mix of both. This animated suit of armor proves to be quite a challenging opponent. They barely are able to slay this thing. at the end, they are left with a suit of armor and its weaponry. Then from the end of the hall a light shines bright revealing a drider (1/2 elf 1/2 spider) lich, He laughs loudly. The group runs out back towards town to go rest. Nyrissa remarks that the necklace the lich was wearing looks very much like what was described as the Sunshade diamond the church of Noram commissioned the group to quest for.
They head to the church of Ion and asked to be healed up. they rest here and also ask if there is anything they could spare to help them defeat the lich. They give a few of the adventurers some temporary items that to help them defeat the Lich.
Marcus heads over to the church of Koanatee. After his meeting with his superiors he comes to inform the group that his god also has interest in the Diamond. The group discusses what to do. and decides to first get the diamond from the lich and then figure out which church should get it.
The group heads back to the crypt. They are attacked with multiple fireballs from a distant by this lich. Almost needing to surrender, the group manages to parlay with the lich. He agrees to move his operation out of the cemetery and hand over the diamond if the group stops killing all of his undead. they all agree. The diamond is floated towards the group. Konrad grabs it and heads outside wanted to return it to the church of Noram as originally planned. Graz'nuk has plans for the diamond himself and starts to chase him. before long the whole group is chasing him. a battle between the part ensues. Rollin attacks Konrad but Nyrissa jumps to his aid. Then attacks and kills Rollin's cat. Rollin then attacks Nyrissa. Graz'nuk uses a grease spell to drop Konrad and tries to steal the diamond from him. Meanwhile, Marcus comes to Konrad's aid. Just then, the lich comes out of the crypt and casts a spell and both Marcus & Konrad disapear. The lich waives to Nyrissa and heads back inside the crypt.
Rollin then has a change of heart and helps Nyrissa up....
Graz'Nuks Point of View:
ReplyDeleteOur intrepid group of tenuously held together individuals find that the lich holds the Sun Diamond. Nyrissa and Konrad decide to plan on playing one group of clerics against the other, selling the diamond to the highest bidder. The group reaches an impasse, despite Graz'Nuk saying since we heard about this item that he would be significantly more powerful with such an item. Apparently these words were forgotten and the alternate plan, without the consent of the others was continued to be pushed forward. Along with the constant belittling after saving the inept pink-skins several times from creatures I am not really equipped to fight, it seems as if my words fall on deaf ears. The decision is made to discuss this again after the diamond is in our possession.
The Lich gives up, and gives us the Sun Diamond and says he will leave. Konrad takes the diamond and says that we are doing it their way. This is not good, the filthy pink-skin is selfish and cannot see that the diamond could be used to gain more wealth and power if we keep it. I must stop him from... RUNNING. Deceiving fool! I must stop this madness and keep the diamond!
*insert intra-party combat*
That lich helped them?! Why?! Now they have fled. Rollin shows he is good people and knows the truth of the situation. He tells me that I have saved them so many times that I am worthy of following. Graz'nuk likes this. Nyrissa bows to my power as well. Graz'nuk likes this as well, I will watch her closely for signs of betrayal. Tracking down the diamond and MARCUS! will be a challenge. What deal that cleric made with a lich is beyond comprehension.
I have seen this before; the struggle for power.
ReplyDeleteThe draw for power can turn one against another as this is a natural want for all beings. The weak wish to become more powerful and for those of power will never stop their quest to become superior.
In battles past when I was consigned as a soldier I have had need to fight against friends as one general sought domination over another.
It is the way of things... I typically side with the weak who wish to better their station as it befits the rules of Gearth that the weak become powerful and the strong are pulled down to equalize their strengths.
However in this case I was only attempting to avoid the dissention within the party. Konrad was one against many which does not sit well with me and if it needed to go down this way then so be it. I only wished to defend myself and Konrad from the aggressive actions of Rollin and his wraith-cat, but when this beast drained me of my constitution I reacted as another attack from this creature would have weakened me to a point of death.
I can understand that Rollin attacked me after I slew his beast; however I hope he sees that he drew first blood and I was forced to defend myself. I have put it aside, people have tried to kill me my entire life as a soldier, it is a trifle as I still draw breath, but I will react in kind if he shows any aggressive action.
As for the rest of the group... I don't agree that Grasnuk should get the diamond although I understand his reasons for wanting its power. He has been useful in his own right and he did not take any aggressive actions towards me other than his harmless grease spell, so he can go on living.
I feel if a decision needs to be made about who should obtain the diamond my vote is for Marcus who brokered the deal with the drider for we were surely no match for this creature.
If not for the grace of Konatee go i........
ReplyDeleteit's been a while now i've been with this ragtag group of adventurers and i think i may finally have found a worthy creature to convert.
i can't quite understand what motivates them all.
the paladin almost dies to rescue a man, and then acts as executioner when he learns of his treason. (not that i care, he admitted his crime). he is not really noble, or really evil. just mad with his own search for power and chaos.
the mindless dog sprays his slippery grease all over the battlefield (and saves our arses many times in the process. it must be the hand of Konatee guiding this moron). i cannot understand how he thought he was entitled to the diamond or what he would even be capable of doing with it. it would be like a baby with a rod that shoots fireballs.
the strange couple almost kill each other trying to save Konrad (or maybe just to take the diamond). i can't understand the mechanics of them together but he is so obviously fond of her (though i guess she really didn't care for his cat).
it has been tiring keeping them all alive to be cannon fodder, waiting for a sign from almighty Konatee. it is this most recent set of circumstances that can only be the almighty telling me that it is Konrad who must be brought into the flock, to revel in the joy that is worshiping the god of gods.
that is as soon as we get out of this mess.................
Not caring really, which hands this Sun-something diamond ends up, I slowly follow a now running Konrad. When I catch up I witness a fight between Konrod and Kraz'Nuk "THE Slippery". Knowing the might of Konrod this didn't look good for Kraz'nuk, so I lent alil hand, to stop any further attacks to the slipster. It was unfortunate that Nyrissa was harmed at all in the battle. Some details of that day elude me. As if the "experiences" of the day are whiped from my mind. I can not seem to find "whiskers"
ReplyDeleteWhen I began this campaign for the Sunshade stone, it was to build a reputation and the showering of riches that come with it... nothing more! Narissa was encouraging me to push my life forward since my leaving of the prison camp. Catching the attention of Noram, at the beginning, seemed most desirable. An opportunity for a rebirth. He is a god to be feared and respected; the respect a warrior incurs from slaying his enemies and the fear of war crushing the skulls of the weak!
ReplyDeleteWhen Narissa and I made it apparent to Noram's flock that the stone was within reach, only a bribe was offered: a token mace for destroying undead. A gift I MAY even get to keep, the high cleric told me! The gift of the lazy who bid others for the master's instruction is more like it. And a fine bribe at that.
As our group finally cornered the lich and Noram's prize lay within reach, Marcus confided in me that Koanatee herself charged him also with retrieving the Sunshade Stone! Complicating my agenda, I had an realization: in all my battles, never a blessing or a heal, or a whimper from Noram. However, Marcus and Narissa have nursed my wounds and encouraged my resurrection into the civilized world!
I told Marcus I would consider his request, but I would need thorough compensation for crossing Noram's fellowship. He assured me that wouldn't be a problem.
Our approach to the lich was petty and our preparation was useless since we couldn't reach him. I yelled at what a coward the lich was and this seemed to get his attention. After a brief parlay, the lich actually threw the stone, claiming that he would leave and have no such troubles with it! Puzzling! As the gem tumbled through the air, the whole group scrambled like a stampeding herd of wild animals.
Narissa wanted it to complete our promise to Noram, but she seemed neutral on which god should get it in the end.
Marcus obviously tried to catch it, but had no chance of seeing it. His intentions were obvious.
I'm guessing Rollins just wanted it because everybody else wanted it.
Lap dog Kraz'Nuk voice earlier that he wanted the stone for his own personal entertainment and enjoyment. THE TOYS OF THE GODS THAT CAUSE WAR are no trinkets for rainbow midget hyenas! Plus, I'm not gonna trade the admiration of any god for sheer enjoyment of another mortal who offers me nothing in return! No profit in that and I expressed my extreme disapproval to his request at claw-point.
If the half Orc Paladin was there, she probably would of just tossed it into the acid pool or maybe given it to Krosis!
BUT I CAUGHT IT and the gods smiled on me. Not even a minute passed before the group chorused their desire for me to relinquish the Sunshade stone. I could smell battle creeping through the tension and decided to run! I needed to know whop would follow and who would betray me: anyone who attacked me would have confirmed my suspicions of who I could trust, and whom I must crush!
My legs carried me like the wind and then out of nowhere, Kraz popped out of thin air and cursed me, several times. As I gagged with his sickening curse in my veins, Rollins commanded his wraith to slay me. Then Narissa and Marcus came to my aid. Truth comes at great expense to all!
Even my own tribe left me to rot in a prison camp, until an orc freed me. We all shed blood together and even almost died a few times. Narissa and Marcus have healed and ecouraged me, but I never thought lap dog and Rollins would betray my trust. Too bad... I actually liked them.
At least I don't feel bad about wanting to make soup out of their hearts and serve it in their skulls. Delectable! I haven't eaten hearts since prison. You can take the criminal out of prison, but not the animal out of the cannibal!
Then, during the melee, Marcus whispered in my ear to have faith in Koanatee... and then poof!
Gone!