"Works for me, we should probably be off then. The forces of shadow never rest."

----Outside the Seven-Pillared Halls----

With the words of the Mages of Saruun, the decree of the Lord Warden of Fallcrest, you make way out of the Thunderspire mountain, seeing true sunlight for the first time in eons it feels. The sweet scent of the natural flora fill the air, the delicate hues of lands and forest before you.
The road ahead, a common and well used travel route leading past the mountain southward.
While well cleared and easily traversed, the road and lands offer some variety with hills, rivers, and various changes in the ground.

Some time pass and the sun standing high in the sky burns your skin ever so softly. Suddenly you see something up ahead.
You meet heavily laden carts with people sitting on top of the carts. The carts seem to be containing most of their worldly belongings, the pore mules in front of the carts are all but worn out. You meet the peoples eyes and you see the fear hidden away there, deep inside of them. They have been through something that forever is going to put a scar in their souls.
They barely glance at you as you pass them, obviously worn and scared.


----Some time later----
With a calm trip behind you, sore legs and concerned demeanor, you notice a sight ahead.
You clear the last hill and set your eyes upon Fallcrest.
The town stands amid the Moon Hills at the falls of the Nentir River, divided in two by a large cliff that divides the town into Lowtown and Hightown, with the Moonstone Keep overlooking the town.
Here travelers and traders using the old King’s Road that runs north and south, the dwarven Trade Road from the east, and the river all meet.
The surrounding hills shelter several small valleys where farmers and woodsfolk live.

But what catches your eyes are not the town in itself – it is the immense pyramid floating in the air above the town.
Swirling black clouds cover the sky and thunderous lightning can be heard from its core, challenging anybody who dares to enter. The pyramid in itself is utterly black, as if it was sucking in the surrounding light, and casting the town below in shadows.
A huge swarm of black ravens circle silently around the pyramid. The sight is so unnatural so you feel fear fill your bowls at its sight.
What dark purpose can this pyramid of shadows have?
^{(You are free to roll Perception/nature/arcana checks)}

NOTE:
Given your actions and embarks of bravery, you will incure a passive +2 bonus to all diplomacy and charisma based skill checks while in Fallcrest!

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:33, Thu 11 Jan.

Descriptions of locations:

1. Tower of Waiting
This old fortification was built on a small island in the Nentir to guard the city from any waterborne attack from the north. It fell into ruin even before the sack of the old city, and now is little more than an empty shell overrun by mice and birds.

2. UPPER QUAYS
Barstomun Strongbeard - Porter.

3. FIVE-ARCH BRIDGE
There are no guards at the Five-Arch Bridge.

4. NENTIR INN
Tavern.

5. KNIGHT’S GATE
Knight’s Gate guards the northeastern road to Thunderspire Mountain.

6. SILVER UNICORN INN
Tavern.

7. HALFMOON TRADING HOUSE

8. MOONSTONE KEEP
Home of the Lord Warden.

9. The Tombwood

10. HOUSE OF THE SUN
Temple to Pelor.

11. HOUSE AZAER
Trader.

12. The Nentir Falls

13. TEMPLE OF ERATHIS

14. The Bluffs

15. The Catacombs

16. MOONSONG TEMPLE
Temple to Sehanine.

17. FALLCREST STABLES

18. WIZARD’S GATE

19. NAERUMAR’S IMPORTS

20. KAMROTH ESTATE

21. Moonwash Falls

22. SEPTARCH’S TOWER

23. Blue Moon Alehouse
Brewhourse

24. TELDORTHAN’S ARMS

25. KING’S GATE

26. THE MARKET GREEN

27. SANDERCOT PROVISONERS

28. LUCKY GNOME TAPHOUSE

29. LOWER QUAYS

"I take it that that's not usually there."

Grock looks at the pyramid. “No I’m pretty sure it is. They would not have built a town underneath it on purpose in case it fell. There would also be a clear way on how to get up there. Let’s check in with the lord.”

15:19, Today: Grock rolled 33 using 1d20+14 ((19)).

Arcana: 12
Perception: 21
Nature: 13

"That'd be the problem we're here to deal with up there. Here's hoping things aren't to complicated to deal with on the surface beforehand though. If you need to be certain that someone is being honest and they're mostly friendly I can be of some assistance. Wake me if I'm needed, otherwise I'm going to rest up to keep watch overnight tonight." Nezumi shifts into mouse form and curls up on Grock's head playing the role of the harmless pet mouse that nobody who would let it sleep on their head could be particularly dangerous.

Bluff: 27 (Forgot to add the local +2 bonus)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:20, Sat 13 Jan.

"I don't think it is actually there." Rynoth pointed up toward the birds flitting about the structure. "See how the shadow ravens just pass in and out through the walls? It's only half-manifest, which means that Karavakos hasn't broken out yet." He let his hand fall back to his side, although he continued to split his attention between the pyramid and the road ahead. "I went through the mages' archives before we left and learned a few things about him and why he's there."



Legends of old speak about the time before men when eladrins and fomorians battled for supreme ship of the Feywild. One such legend tells the story of the ancient fomorian king Moran, who was known for his pursuit of power and fell magic. He stroke a bargain with a demon lord who transformed his evil eye into a crystal vessel of shadow and fire. Moran later crafted several lesser eyes of similar design, naming them Moran’s Eyes and giving them to powerful monsters in exchange for fealty.

Karavakos had with his demon pact with the Prince of Undeath managed to concur all neighboring lands and form a mighty nation to rival the great human empire of Nerath that held sway over much of the land at this time. It was at winter’s arrival that Vyrellis, the eladrin princess, arrived to Karavakos palace seeking his audience.

Vyrellis was the second daughter of the great Eladrin King Palenthior, Warden of the Silver City of Celduilon, and shared Karavakos ambitions for power. The beautiful eladrin princess filled Karavakos head with dreams of power, proposing that he should extend his rule ship across two worlds and into the Feywild. Against eladrin customs, Karavakos took Vyrellis as his bride without her father’s consent, and they proclaimed that they together would rule the new empire. With spring’s dawning his armies would march into the Feywild.

Vyrellis knew that her father would close the Moon Door’s into the Feywild at the approach of Karavakos demonic and undead armies, so she proposed another alliance, betraying her people, and spoke of another portal to the Feywild, a portal guarded jealously by the troll king Vard, founder of the realm of Vardar which bridged into the Feywild as well as the world of men.

Karavakos went to the troll king’s lair with an offer of alliance, but the troll king of Vardar would not hear of it. He knew the strength of the eladrin forces and did not want to march against them and risk his life. Karavakos had to return empty handed. There the story could have ended if not the Blood Lord had interfered, because Vard wielded one of Moran’s Eyes, using it to dominate his violent subjects. Through it the Blood Lord whispered, sending visions to the troll king of Vardar. Telling him to go back to Karavakos with an ultimatum – If Karavakos could guarantee that the troll king would survive the eladrin battle, he would lend Karavakos his aid and his troll hordes.

Karavakos, who received help from his demonic advisors, started the creation of the Stone Cauldron—a vessel built to contain the waters of life that the troll king guarded, having the power to fuel a ritual capable of returning the dead to life—even those already claimed by the Raven Queen. What Karavakos did not tell Vard, was that those raised returned as shades of their former selves under the control of the one who raised them.

When spring came, the demon hordes marched through the Crystal Throne at the Fortress of Mross-Kagg into the Feywild. In the Feywild, though, the demons and the undead met their match. Invincible on the battlefields of the natural world, the demons had no such protection once they stepped into the Feywild and met the mighty eladrin army. Fey spears and arrows felled the hordes, putting an end to Karavakos’s dreams of conquest—and severing his demonic bargain.

When the troll nation of Vardar was sacked, Vard was killed in battle at Kadorhak, his body vanishing in a sheet of orange flame. The forces of good assumed he had been incinerated, but the power of Moran’s Eye carried his body back to the Great Warren. Troll shamans later interred Vard’s remains and the Eye in a great barrow hidden in the Trollhaunt, waiting for his return. But as ages past he was soon forgotten in the mists of time.

The pyramid was constructed from green feystone, so it would last forever. The Tower was the foci used in the complex ritual to bend the dimensions for the creation of the demiplane needed for the prison.

And so one witness remained – Karavakos – imprisoned for eternity in the Pyramid of Shadows by the eladrin king Palenthior, together with princess Vyrellis for her betrayal.

For reference, you all across the board learn this(already partially summarized by Rynoth:
----
Perception Check
You notice that the ravens seem unnaturally silent, and a trail of shadows follows its wake.
You spot that some birds fly into the surface of the pyramid, just to disappear into its black surface as if it was not there.

Nature Check
Those ravens are not normal birds, but something else – darker and filled with shadow stuff.

Arcana Check
You sense that this pyramid is created with very strong magic and somehow extra-dimensional, not a true building per see.
You can notice the presence of both shadow stuff and fey magic in its magical bindings.
----

Your arrival is quaint - few guards if any are visible and there is a lul or calm to the town that is unexpected to say the least.
You know that two things must happen here. Be prepared for anything - find the Lord Warden and learn of the pyramid and a way in if needed.
How, for now is uncertain..
You do notice in the distance, a few men and women wandering from house to house, but little more.

Note: You are at the knights gate(number 5 on the map, north).

Grock keeps moving seeing that there aren’t any guards to stop them or ask why they are here. Going through the gates, he heads east going up the path straight to the Lord Warden’s house. “Let’s go straight to the big man and get the rundown on what has been going on in town.”

Rynoth agreed with that plan and likewise continued apace, although his long glance down the street was followed by a quiet, "Stay vigilant. That may be trouble coming, and I'm even more concerned by what we don't see."

As you pass through the gate you see a higher ranked soldier, the sergeant of the militia along with his three men guarding near the gate.
He is is visibly shaken and distraught and as he sees you he nods carefully.
Calmly he halts you.
"Are you by chance here to aid? You certainly look the part. But one can never know these days. We could use any help."
He turns to the others to keep calm and watchful before continuing.
He sighs and states, merely to himself but also at you.
"One day it was just there – floating in the air and with a crown of dark clouds over it.
Got everybody kind of jumpy. We had a couple of days of riots, as people tried to flee from the city.
Now we keep the gates open, so people can leave if they want to.
A couple of days later those bloody shadowravens started to appear in the sky, like a cloud of shadows circling the town.
We have tried to shoot them down – but it is useless, the swarm just keeps growing.
Now we even don’t keep guards at the Five-Arch Bridge due to the shadowravens.
Too many guards killed – no cover from them there. But I don’t leave my post. They will have to bury me here."

He eyes you and nods to himself.
“You are the first people who willingly set foot here in Fallcrest since the appearance of the pyramid, or wait – there was some strange dark clad people a couple of days back. Didn’t really say what they were up to. Under normal circumstances I would not have let them into the city. Anyways, I am rambling. Can I aid you travelers?”

"Yes, I rather think we may be able to help you. I humbly ask that you tell us where we can find these newcomers, and anyone who might know more about the situation. And please keep your own noble personage safe."

---

Never hurts to be polite to the people lower on the ladder.

Rynoth had a followup, delivered as an equally-polite inquiry. "Did those dark-clad people have any other distinguishing features?"

Grock walks up and holds out the letter from the Lord Warden. “We’re here to help. That other group may be here to prevent our progress on your issue. Any further information on them would be most helpful. It would also be wise to keep an eye on them if at all possible. I do understand that you are short handed due to recent events.”

The sergeant nodded and smiled.
"“You should talk to the Lord Warden, Faren Markelhay, we need all the help we can get.
He is up at the Moonstone Keep, straight up to the left. Tell the guards that sergeant Nereth sent you!”
He pointed up and felt calm based on his relaxed posture given your remarks.
He turns to the group again on the subject of the group.
"Can't say much. Looked like mercenaries, granted in robes, but the weather was dreadful so it made sense at the time. Spoke barely, needed to go to the tower they said. Not very talkative, but the light skinned man ensured their assistance to current events and we are in a spot where we need all hands we can..."
He halted and continued.
"Oh yes, the leader has a curious weapon within his cloak. A mace, but the head looked like...an animal...let me think..a ram maybe? Properly nothing.."
He points south, circling left further into town(mark 22).

Grock thanks the guard and heads to Moonstone Keep. Once he reaches the outer gates where some guards would be, he held up the letter from the Lord Warden and let them know that sergeant Nereth sent them.

Rynoth took a moment to clarify things for the sergeant before they left. "You wouldn't have had cause to know this, but a ram's head sign is the symbol of the cult of Orcus. That bunch have been behind a number of troubles of late, and they have good reason to be interested in that." He stabbed a finger up at the floating pyramid. "Nevertheless, be careful about confronting them. Bludgeons are likely to be the least of their threats in a scuffle."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Sat 20 Jan.

Khalid follows Grock, alert for trouble.

As you walk past the HALFMOON TRADING HOUSE you notice a small man peek out, nodding calmly.
The road up is well kept and easily traversed with a slight incline.
The keep itself is an older castlelike structure and beside the keep itself holds barracks, a stable, an armory, a chapel, a smithy, and several storehouses.
Inside you notice a balding, middle-aged man, with refined clothing and a downed demeanor pacing.
You are stopped briefly by the two guards out front, but open voice of being sent by the Sergeant, permitted inside without much fuss.

The interior is as expected upper class, but nothing exceedingly outrageous or staggeringly costly. It is well kept and refined.
A servant arrives leading you into a delicate and heavy set office with dark oak furniture and paintings.
The man turns.
"So, I hear you are here, not as vultures but as true champions and with intent to stop this horrid thing above us yes?
If this is right I beg you, from the bottom of my heart to aid me and everyone here restore Fallcrest to its glory, and aid us.
Kill that swarm of hell spawn black ravens and find a way to get rid of that damn pyramid over my city before every merchant have left the town, I beg you."
He turns and points at a chest and a locked door.
"If you can, and you succeed, I will offer you a reward of no less than 3000 gold pieces and a selection of high end items, weapons from our secure storage....we are in desperate times, and all this have no value if we are asphyxiated and driven away by that shadowy complex."
He eyes up and sighs.
"Where is the issue. We have several people left, I hope but I urge you to ask around or seek out those still here. One place could be at Nimozaran in the tower south of here. He is wise, but hates company so whether he is of use I dare not say."

Grock took note of the scenery as they passed through the hallways. When conversation turned to asking others in town about the pyramid, he made an inquiry. “There was a group that entered the town before us that we suspect is up to no good. They mentioned wanting to know where a tower was. Do you know about such a tower or what it’s significance would be?”

"That would probably be Nimozaran's tower," Rynoth replied slowly, clearly not liking the implications. "Whether he's somehow involved or just another target."

"Lord Warden, I'm not concerned about the gold, but if you have powerful weapons on hand then those would be more use to us now rather than later. As you just said, they won't do you any good, but they might well make a difference in dealing with the that and its occupant." He pointed up in the direction of the pyramid for emphasis, keep wall and roof in the way notwithstanding.

The Lord Warden eyed Rynoth.
"If you can get a way in, and advise so, we have a deal on the access - shy of that I can not dispose up ahead of time."
He pointed south.
"The tower holds the High Septarch of Fallcrest, Master of the Fallcrest Mages’ Guild - Nimozaran the Green. If anyone around here knows the arcane and otherworldly, it is him.”

Grock understood the Warden’s apprehension to give items and them skip town. “We understand and accept your deal. We need to head to that tower immediately before something happens to him. He might be our only way up into the pyramid to take it out from the inside.”Grock gave a quick bow and made his way out to get to the tower quickly.

The road southwards traverse past further empty buildings or closed shops, albeit a few appear opened but enclosed and safeguarded.
The Lord Wardens word of concern was evident to everyone as you traverse along the ridge southwards.
With the stables behind you, the eastern gate, where a single dwarf stands with a stern look, you close in, on the heightened and solitary tower, with one way in and one out.

As you close in, you notice something.
You see the green Septarch’s Tower rise from the lonely cliff across the chasm ahead, a narrow stone bridge spanning the gorge.
Suddenly, from the surrounding forest, a number of humans step out to greet you. A gaunt man with an ashen face and ramskull-headed mace address you.
“The Ashen Covenant does not tolerate failure, Paldemar got what he deserved. However, our Master can not accept your meddling.
You have been sentenced to the lowest form of undeath – and we are the tools of our Master to carry it through. Prepare to die and become zombies in our Master’s service!”
Five pale and black clad figures closes in on you, one being a desiccated corpse with dark nails, shriveled features, and evil gleaming in its eyes. The creature’s flesh is paler than that of the other, and it is blotched with black, diseased patches.
A finger is pointed, as three rotten fleshlike zombies rise from the ground up.

---

Enemy	HP	Location	AC	F	R	W	Current conditions:	Effects/ongoing:
Deathpriest of Orcus	96/96	G11	23	21	19	21	Dark blessing; 1/enc. +2 AC
Ashgaunt	82/82	O13	25	24	20	20	Immune disease, poison; Resist 15 necrotic; Vulnerability 5 radiant; Grave Master Aura: Aura 5, +2 atk/defense(+4(, Minor: Wake the dead - 0-4 targets. Rise as free action.
Crimson Acolytes	76/76	G11	21	18	19	19	Crimson Path
Crimson Acolytes	76/76	Q13	21	18	19	19	Crimson Path
Crimson Acolytes	76/76	U7	21	18	19	19	Crimson Path
Zombie minions	1/1	J11	15	16	13	13	Immune disease, poison - Deathless Hunger(if reduced to 0 hp, if not crit, roll = 15+, remain at 1 hp
Zombie minions	1/1	K12	15	16	13	13	Immune disease, poison - Deathless Hunger(if reduced to 0 hp, if not crit, roll = 15+, remain at 1 hp
Zombie minions	1/1	L13	15	16	13	13	Immune disease, poison - Deathless Hunger(if reduced to 0 hp, if not crit, roll = 15+, remain at 1 hp

---

Please update to correctly reflect where you are start of combat!

Player	HP	Location	AC	F	R	W	Current conditions:	Effects/ongoing:	AP/Surges
Khalid	50/64	F14?	23(24)	18	18	18			AP: 1, Surges:4/9 SV: 16
Rynoth	49/59	E12	21	22	21	20			AP: 0, Surges:7/9 SV: 14
Grock	45/55	E13	24	22	23	21		Resist 5 Necrotic	AP: 1, Surges:9/9, SV: 13;
Nezumi	59+17/59	B10	23(27)	20(22)	17(19)	21			AP: 1, Surges:6/9, SV: 14, 0/5 glove charges
Jhaartael	55/55	B11	20	16	20	21			AP: 1, Surges:7/8, SV: 14

MAP: https://docs.google.com/drawin...Y6wdaYoFbJU6VCQ/edit
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:30, Wed 31 Jan.

...and here they were. At least this bunch had the courtesy to openly announce themselves.

* * *

Since there were character reworks, one more reminder: everyone has a +2 power bonus to Endurance!

Also, it's now: Whenever one of Rynoth's allies uses a magic item's daily power, that ally gains 9 temporary hit points.

Initiative 15.


This message was last edited by the player at 02:01, Sun 04 Feb.