Tuesday, March 9, 2010

The Shadow Rift of Umbraforge - Night 1

----------------------------

Active members of the "Deathbringers" adventuring party:

Lucas - Goliath Barbarian
Untiln Ow - Kalashtar Cleric
Zah'rie - Human Warlock
Zephel - Shadar-kai Swordmage


Guest members:

Harann - Dragonborn Fighter

----------------------------

Active Quests:

None at the moment.

----------------------------

The Deathbringers enjoyed no more than a week's rest before returning to adventuring. It was the presence of a dark creeper in The Nexus complex that was most troubling. Left behind when the dark creeper was killed was a magical brass key, disguised to appear mundane, it's purpose unknown. Found nearby clenched tightly in the hand of Jen, the Farstriders' warlock, was a sending stone; it appeared to be magically restricted from functioning normally.

The party first tried the priests of Moradin who suggested it be destroyed. A few mages in Overlook expressed disinterest in bothering with a simple sending stone. After asking around a little, the adventurers were directed to one Rufus Crumley, who lived in a small tower of grey and black stone located in the Shantytown district. It was commonly believed that Rufus dabbled in magics that few others in Overlook would dare to; it was even believed by some that he was a powerful necromancer and that his tower was guarded by undead horrors.

Though only tall by comparison to the other buildings in Shantytown, Rufus Crumley's Grey Redoubt had an eerie air about it. One knock, two moments, and the sound of some shuffling feet later, the door opened revealing a disheveled, middle-aged man.

"What do you want?" said the man. Zephel replied, "We're looking for Rufus Crumley; we have a peculiar enchantment we were told would he would be interested to inspect." The man's brows furrowed as he opened his mouth to reply, "I'm Rufus - what do you have for me th...?". Zah'rie interjected, "A sending stone that appears to have been rendered inoperable by a magic that none of the priests can identify". Rufus held out his hand into which the party deposited the sending stone; Rufus' gruff expression immediately softened. "Interesting", said Rufus, "it'll take me a few hours; can you return in the morning?"

The party hesitated a moment but agreed to check back with Rufus about the sending stone. Both Zah'rie and Zephel (2 Z names? seriously, guys...) expressed interest in waiting and attending to the investigation. Rufus allowed Zah'rie to join him inside due to their "compatible moral flexibilities"; Zephel chose to wait outside in case anything were to arise. The rest of the party went off to where every party should go when it's getting dark: the tavern.

The next morning, Untiln, Harann, and Lucas made their way back toward Shantytown and the Grey Redoubt. About halfway through Shantytown, a mage and some thugs ambushed them. Confident they could not fail, these thugs immediately identified themselves as having come to avenge their fallen comrades of the Lost Ones gang. Blood was spilled, but again it was mostly that of the Lost Ones; the mage, who identified himself two times in the third person as Szagyn, fled the scene shouting promises to have his revenge on the Deathbringers.

Having successfully thwarted the Lost Ones once again, the party was reunited at Rufus' tower. Thoroughly satisfied at his investigation of the hexed sending stone, Rufus did not charge for his services in restoring it to full functionality. Zephel took the stone in his hand and willed it to activate; the stone began to hum in his hand. "Hello, is there anyone there?", he spoke to the stone. After a moment of silence, the voice of a woman replied saying "Yes, there is; who is this?". The sending stone had been restored and the adventure could now continue.

----------------------------

Can we do it in two or three more nights?
Officially sanctioned private D&D games, I hope you guys are ready!

No comments:

Post a Comment