The Battle at North Gate ends bittersweet - and a battle in Cormyr begins!

Hammer 8, 1480
Highsun
The Reach, North Gate.

Approaching the Drow fodder with no sign of the Lolth Assassin...

The Drow are attacked by a volley of arrows from the forest (all of which strike just outside the enemy formation) A call from the high elves "Black pigs, lay down your weapons or the next volley will kill you". In High elven with a Myth Drannor Accent.
(They miss on purpose as a warning and in respect for the battle that is THOTS. To say that THOT does NOT need the help but it is here.)

Elminster: a SEND message to Aramis:"It's NOT taint..whatever it is it's not taint. It's the old curse. Szass Tam gets the last blow. Hurry back."

Meanwhile Alak is told by Grid to "Get off the field and into the reach. We don't know where she is. This is an order!" Angus the Titan teleports Alak inside the reach.

Myth Drannor High Elf Archers

 The High Elves parade from the forest with the decapitated corps of their leader. The Assassin killed her right there in their ranks and seems to have slipped away! They take formation at the end of the far end of the bridge and call out to Gridlock to ask if they shoud attack to finish the Drow Fodder. Gridlock orders the volly!! 200 arrows fly the Drow fodder fall.

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The day is finished by the visiting Elves
Alak investigates the elves and is assured that they are indeed Myth Drannor Elves. They all are shuffled into the reach by the teleportation of Angus.


Aramis and THOT discuss Elminsters urgent call and it's critical but somewhat vague overtones. The story of the taint is realized by THOT and what happend with Rorn and the King the Primordial Elixer and Szass Tam and The Old Curse. Including SzTs floating lair...Rorn delivering a spell to confuse the King. Rorn gives in to THOT and tells of the location of the Primordial Elixer. SzT did NOT think this would happen so quickly - so easily. SzT makes this mistake as he is forced to trust others to help him in his desperate struggle to save his ancient failing mind! SzT figured Rorn would tell THOT but did NOT consider how switfly THOT would triumph over Rorn. This is proof that SzTs mind was failing.

Szass Tam in Suzail - moments before he was destroyed

In the end, SzT used himself as a reagent for his final spell - this completed with the item he found at Nethril. It is thougt that perhaps SzT was the one who conceived and released the first spell that that destroyed Nethril and became the Anauroch desert. This spell has become known as The Old Curse.

Szass Tam again finds his end not by casting The Old Curse upon Suzail but by becomeing the very SPELL itself!!!


They Drannor Elves are pleased to have met in battle again with THOT. They speak of how grateful they are for the training that they received from Alak. There is NO bad blood toward the Drow Alak from the elves. His is admired and held in the highest regard with all of THOT.

- Where is the assassin?
- Is Susail or perhaps all of Cormyr in danger?
- Will Zoltesh turn to Ace and ask "What IS that smell??"

Till next we meet
Well met!

My latest D&D Next forum post regarding the latest(and LAST)playtest pack.

Go here to read and come back to comment.

Note: In D&D Next a roll of 1 (one) is an Automatic Miss not a Critical Miss.

Alak, it's for you...

Well met

Hammer 7, 1480

In Hulkars lair. Relviarras room. 

Ace decided he will trap the internal portal just off the dining room. He craft-fully uses some of the parts from the gas-acid trap that was used on the assassins. It takes 6 hours. The trap is set and quite invisible. Ace is pleased with his sneaky and capable little self.

THOT goes back to the Suzail Castle.

 

Obarskyr Castle, Suzail

It is decided that the group will go to The Reach to see about the events that were reported by Mystic Dawn regarding Drow. Most of THOT believe it is a deception by the Drow to lead them in to a trap.

Hammer 8, 1480. 
Obarskyr, Castle
First Light.

THOT is substantial now.
All the advisers are in meeting with THOT as well as Ertai. There is much debate as to what changes will and must occur in Cormyr.

Hours pass. 
Ertai is appointed as Regent while Gridlock is away . They send word to Rego asking him to come to Suzail his help is requested in leadership matters.
THOT teleports to The Reach. 

Highsun.
The Reach
The Tower.
They introduce Vos to Canderak.

Canderak

It is a cautious meeting at first but they warm to each eventually welcoming some time to get acquainted as THOT will go to the site of the breach. Canderak explains to THOT that he was told to stay in the tower by Halisaha to be hidden from the Drow. This would keep him from being made target - a prize!. It was not time for that Halisha told him.
THOT then leaves to go with Unda and Kata, the dragon helpers, to meet with Halishia and Mystic Dawn at the mine where the Dwarves uncovered the Drow worship area...and destroyed it.


North West Quarter Gold Mine.
They meet Halisha and Mystic Dawn at the mine where the breach into the Drow temple happened.
Halishia was cool to Zoltesh as she complained of her pregnant burden with a wink.
Halisha tells about the elves outside the north gate.
The Titan, Angus, determined that the Female leader was Unaligned. They were asked to wait outside untill Halishia decided what she wanted to do with them. There are 40 elves plus one leader.

THOT goes to the North gate.
North Gate, The Reach
Afternoon

Angus, Titan Guardian of The North Gate, The Reach

The mighty Titan, Angus (Guardian of The North Gate), greets THOT with great enthusiasm! The water is flowing under the bridges! However, the great magical fish have not returned - yet. The bridges are not magical yet...
Angus says the elf leader, YaNira Fo' Ti and her group are camped 1500 feet out. Just inside the woods line. The Titan mentions that she is charismatic and very beautiful.


 Angus calls YaNira by order of Gridlock.
After a short while the elves emerge from the wood and approach North Gate. There are at least 40 here.




There is some tense banter regarding the collection of weapons from the elves before entering The Reach. Then Alak, as the elves reach half way across the great bridge(still in possession of their weapons), detects that the female leader is DROW! Before he could fully articulate his thought to words YaNira Fo' Ti VANISHES!!

Shadows of Esteren

Just wanted to get feedback on Shadows of Esteren. Even the poor person did well.There have been some inquiries about the group made around Bregan. When asked, people just say a well to do person in very good clothes was doing the asking. There has been a glow from that old factory sometimes visible at night indicating Magient activity. Well thats it but know that I did enjoy myself and look forward to next meeting when possible.

The Dragonborn Child Chapter 6 ***Warning Graphic and not for Kids**** That means you Eric!

NOW on The Dragonborn Child pages!!

Here come the Drow!

Hammer, 7 1480
2 Locations:
Ace, Alak, Aramis, Gridlock and Zoey (as THOT) - The Lair of The Fat Thief (Hulkar)
Zoltesh (as Z) - The Royal Castle prison
Suzail, Cormyr


Zoltesh at The Royal Prison:

Zoltesh is approached by a City Guard (unnamed for now) who asked for the Regent but found only Z.
( [text]is from blog entry which was posted BEFORE it was played in game)

 ["Since the Regent is not here I will tell you that there is a woman who claims to be the Aunt of Gridlock - Sister of his father and Daughter of Midnight and Elminster! She is waiting in the foyer under heavy guard. She asked for the Regent. She calls herself Mystic Dawn. She speaks of urgent news..." ]

Z goes to see the woman who turns out to be just who she says. She is in her 50s. She is human. Black hair streaked with grey. She is dark from the sun and fit for battle. She wears leather armor but was relieved of her short sword by the guards.

A Young Portrait of Mystic Dawn

She tells Z that The dwarves in The Reach had found a gold vein like no other and were at work in it non stop when the hit a cave far below. It turned out to be some sort of Drow worship area. Inside they found statues of the Drow god Lolth and other things of this nature. The dwarves destroyed all of these things and retreated back to the dig. Sealing the opening. This is what they had to do they told the Mystic who told the Regent, Halisha. (no information was given by MD on the Regents reaction).

Within days  there were reports of Livestock being found dead, fields ruined and even some small buildings burnt out. Then one night Mystic was ambushed by Drow while she was sleeping in her tent outside of the Tower. The Drow said that there would be a terrible war in revenge for the devastation of the Lolth images and worship place. The only way to avoid this was to exchange the betrayer called Alak Barrison'del Armgo as sacrifice. If this does NOT happen in 30 days there will be war.

Ertai

After Ertai verified that indeed this is Mystic Dawn (Ertai knew her), Zoltesh then allowed her to return to The Reach (her request) but via the portal at the castle not on mount as she had planned. Zoltesh went directly to where he knew THOT was. The lair of the FAT thief.

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THOT (before Zolteshs' arrival) is at the lair of the FAT thief (They are still ethereal but for Ace):

The fat thief was eating and eating as THOT watched from the comfort of their eternal roost (halfway through the wall and unseen). It was then that another person entered the hall. A leather clad Githyanki wizard female who FAT averse as Relviara. She was harsh and aggressive to FAT who she then called by name - Hulkar. He is intimidated, somewhat, but continues to eat and watch her. (He is initially irritated that she entered without a sound from behind him. she emerged through an illusionary wall in the south of the room).

She rants for a while on how she was picked as an ally of the DROW of  Mulmaster (perhaps the Council of Blades but this was not verified to THOT as they eavesdropped) to lead the elimination of the current guild of thieves and implanting the Drow influence and power. It was her mission. After a while of brow beating Hulkar she retreated the way she entered. Hulkar then changed his seating to face the south. He is slow and easy to get behind. He does NOT seem to like his back at the weak point.

Hulkar

 Alak, after listening to this rant about Drow, decided that since he is ethereal he will attempt to frighten Hulkar by posing as a Drow spirit and give the louse different orders - or else!

Relviara

When Alak appears as a "ghost" Hulkar is frightened but not to the degree Alak had expected. The ruse went on as Alak passed THROUGH Hulkar (which creates an awful feeling - being passed through by an ethereal being) and now Hulkar was afraid and was listening! And Alak pressed on using his powerful voice and intimidation made even more rousing with his current transparent state! Alak continued to inform the now terrified Hulkar that she (Relviara) did not know what the Drow want and the He must NOT follow her but turn away...Eventually the large thief fall over from fear and was compelled to consider this and as he did he called out in desperation "RELVIARRRRAAA!!!

The perspiring and now exhausted Hulkar attempted to raise his bulk from the floor as he waited for Relviara and his reclaiming. It took about as much time as Ace takes to liberate a good trapped lock from a treasure chest for the Gith matron to reenter the room. She was somewhat calm but carful. Alak continued to harass the two of them. The wizard searched the area and nearby rooms. She was puzzled but not so sure this was a haunting.

Relviara then abruptly ordered the lair to be evacuated. Not in a panic but indeed at this moment. The halfling first. She helped him through the illsuion wall. Then after a short check of the area again she vacated back the way she came in with Hulkar at her side.

After a minute or two THOT decided to enter the room (Ace as well who was fully corporal). The short version is that eventually Zoltesh arrived there after speaking with Mystic Dawn(Ace wouldn't open the secret door for Z...) and after a search of the place THOT discovered a portal that led to another room where a portal leading out was found. This last room was the workshop of Relviara.  Was this the trappings of one as seemingly powerful as her?

Relviara's "Room"

As THOT was searching the lurking Relviara revealed herself floating near the ceiling (she was invisible till then). Proclaiming that "I knew you were intruders and not a haunting!" (the exact words I do not recall - GMB) then she plunged headfirst into the large portal on the floor and vanished!


As THOT gathered up their sense of this encounter and their discoveries, Zoltesh informed Gridlock of the happenings at The Reach. The Lord and Master of The Reach was silent for a minute without interruption before he spoke. He said to Alak to "Write what I say, on Royal Parchment, in Drow and then re-write in common, a reply to the Drow at The Reach".

Below is Gridlocks' words in the common version Alak had completed on Royal Parchment.