A Few Power Players of Faerun

The Shadow Thieves – one of the largest and most influential thief’s guilds in Faerun

The Kraken Society – a secret society of thieves, mages, and assassins led by the Chosen of Umberlee; Starkrethel a kraken sorcerer

The Black Network – the Agents of Zhentil Keep have eyes and ears everywhere; always plotting war and supporting evil rulers, conducting raids and illicit trade, and supporting cults of evil deities

Bregan D’aerthe – the premiere Drow mercenary company out of Menzoberranzan, known for daring surface raids led by the companies’ leader; Jarlaxle Baenre

The Harpers – an organization believing in the goodness of civil society; originally founded by surviving knights of Myth Drannen and a few trusted human druids and rangers then later infused with the Wanderers of Espar, the Harpers fight evil in all facets and help civilizations work in harmony with nature

Xanathar Thieves’ Guild – the Agents of the Eye are the number one slavers guild along the Sword Coast, operation out of Skullport, selling hundreds if not thousands of souls into slavery into the Underdark, rumored to be controlled by a beholder the expert thieves, warriors, and wizards are extremely loyal to Xanathar; whomever that may be

Cult of the Dragon – this quasi-religious group promotes undead dragon life in the form of dracolich creation, founded by a powerful lich the Cult of the Dragon lives on in various cells each seeking to dominate dragon-kind through undeath

Promenade of the Dark Maiden – this secretive good-aligned Drow society seeks to help liberate those Drow that wish to live life apart from the evil ways of most of the Underdark; the actual Promenade of the Dark Maiden is a very sacred temple to Eilistaree found in a highly protected area of the third level of the Undermountain

A Brief History of the King’s of the Southland

The first King of the Southland started as a baron, the Black Baron, Alexander Roesone formed a confederacy between the free-city of Ilien and the theocracy of Medoere to assault the Duchery of Diemed.  While the combined naval blockade of the confederacy kept Diemed pinned down; the Black Baron would march an army across the lands of Medoere into the heart of Diemed.  But instead of laying a conventional siege to the impressive stronghold of the Duke of Diemed; Alexander Roesone would employ magic assistance to ruin the walls of the Duke’s castle.  In the ensuing retreat of the Duke of Diemed, Alexander Roesone, upon a nightmare mount, would commit bloodtheft.

Thus the Black Baron of Roesone upon claiming investiture of Diemed would elevate himself to the status of the King of the Southlands.  Serving as an agent of change, the High Cleric of the Church of All, Kareem Wali Jabbar would gain sweeping powers, influence, holdings, and followers as the Southlands would grow.  In time the Church of All would grow past the boundaries of the Southlands and into the colonies of Mieres and the Barony of Ghoere.  The King of the Southlands, Alexander Roesone, would outlaw all public religious practice not conducted in Church of All facilities.  Alexander would also decree the faith of Cuiraecen outlawed and all of the land and holdings of the Militant Order of Cuiraecen be handed over to the Church of All.

Alexander Roesone now with ultimate authority as King of the Southlands reorganized many institutions and in different cases would privatize and nationalize different institutions.  The new Kingdom of the Southlands was commissioned a private bank, the Brother’s Investment Groupe, and sought out to regulate and standardize a single unit of currency.  The Brother’s Investment Groupe operated outside of the normal jurisdiction of the Southlands and would raise its own troops, fortify holdings, issue loans and paper scrip, and determine deed of land.  The amount of power the Brother’s Investment Groupe could influence on the economy of the Southlands was staggering.

These new decrees by the King of the Southlands mainly affected the lands of Roesone and Diemed, leaving Medoere and Ilien in a very uncomfortable position.  But as luck would seem to strike; the fabled Sword of Enlien was claimed by of all people the Captain of Abbatour, Count Raphael Saberstrike.  The title Captain of Abbatour is an old hereditary title passed to the Count of Abbatour whom then would serve as naval commander for then the Barony of Roesone.  Upon uniting the Southlands, Alexander Roesone simply transitioned the Captain of Abbatour from commanding the Roesone Navy to the Imperial Navy of the Southlands.  Known as a wise and compassionate fellow, Raphael would gain much fame and be hailed as the People’s Champion upon claiming the Sword of Enlien.

But while it seemed in time that Raphael might be capable of stopping or defeating Alexander, the Militant Order of Cuiraecen did not have time as their very temples where being converted into holy sites for the Church of All.  A select group of paladins, true believers of Cuiraecen’s decided to strike and assassinated the King of the Southlands Alexander Roesone.  But as you and I know, dear reader, that this was just a clone.  A clone created by the Baba Yaga under the guise of the Swamp Mage to gain further influence upon the very lands of the Southlands.  But dear reader, the story of Baba Yaga is for another time.

With the death of Alexander Roesone a new King of the Southlands needed to be appointed and as chance would happen, Alexander left his kingdom to the one and only Raphael Saberstrike.  So now the people rejoiced as the People’s Champion was the King of the Southlands, but that happiness only lasted a few golden years until the legendary dragon Skiesbane heard of this new popular king.  The dragon Skiesbane would ransack the major trade lanes in the Straits of Aerele, demand tribute from the various baronies and kingdoms, and devour whole livestock herds.  When the dragon Skiesbane confronted Raphael, the dragon did find a surprise or two but was able to best Raphael and capture him up.

The dragon Skiesbane came looking for a god-king and found a pretender in Raphael.  The Sword of Enlien that had won the people’s hearts was a forgery.  The surprise trap that Raphael tried to spring on the dragon was the assistance of an evil demi-god, but Skiesbane was able to dispatch that demi-god’s avatar.  Skiesbane took the truly evil Raphael and placed him in front of magic mirror that created a truly good copy of Raphael; Skiesbane then dispatched the evil Raphael and took the good Raphael back to the Southlands.

Now this dear reader is where we reintroduce High Cleric Kareem Wali Jabbar.  This new good version of Raphael Saberstrike as King of the Southlands was set to change the laws and usher in a new prosperous era for the Southlands but that would mean religious freedom and the High Cleric Kareem with the newly powerful Church of All would not stand for that.  So yet another assassin’s blade took yet another King of the Southlands as Kareem would kill the good Raphael.  But dear reader, didn’t Skiesbane really kill the second King of the South?  Now the Southlands would have to decide on a new leader for neither Alexander nor Raphael had left any other heirs.  From amongst the nobility of the Southlands was picked a new King.  But really the Brother’s Investment Groupe and the Church of All would select the new King. 

Once the warrior Trogdor was known as the Spearwielder but that said spear was stolen by none other than the very first King of the Southlands, Alexander Roesone.  That very spear is the weapon that Alexander used to commit bloodtheft of the Duke of Diemed and kick off this whole Kingdom thing in the first place.  Unable to reclaim the spear from Alexander, Trogdor would have to settle in inherit the kingdom that spear created.  One thing Alexander did do for Trogdor was while as King of the Southlands, Alexander appointed Trogdor as the new Duke of Diemed.  Trogdor had already married into one of the largest land holding noble families of Diemed and this helped get the Diemed nobility to support Trogdor as Duke of their land.  Trogdor served the people of Diemed faithfully until called upon to serve all the people as the third King of the Southlands.

The High Cleric Kareem would ordain the ceremony as he had done for the pervious Kings of the Southlands.  Kareem and Trogdor would conspire to pull all of the lands of the south under the sway of both the King of the South and the Church of All.  Kareem would put out a decree that a holy army was to gather to defeat the heathens like the worshipers of Rournil in Medoere, the followers of Nesirie, Haelyn, and Cuiraecen.  While Trogdor gathered the forces of the Southlands and appeared to prepare to invade Medoere, the holy army would begin to muster in Roesone.  But instead of invading Medoere, Trogdor launched in invasion of Aerenwe.  When the forces of Medoere tried to counter assault, the holy army of the Church of All along with hired mercenaries defeated the Medoere forces.  In no time Aerenwe would fall to the Southlands, with the royal family being killed personally by Trogdor.  Another note dear reader, that one of those royal family members was the half-brother of the now infamous first King of the Southlands, Alexander Roesone.

With the conquest of Aerenwe near complete, the main assault forces began the invasion of Medoere and quickly forced the siege of the lands.  When the forces of Medoere refused to surrender, the holy army of the Church of All constructed altars and began sacrificing prisoners in full view of the besieged Medoere forces.  This would lead to the a powerful priest, Rhouber Nichaleir hearing the calling of Rournil and gaining the true Sword of Enlien and standing up to the forces of the Southlands.  In an epic battle, the High Cleric Kareem defeated Rhouber Nichaleir in a mid-air struggle that began with Kareem in shadow dragon form ended with Kareem taking a shadowy-human form and committing bloodtheft of Rhouber.  The act of the bloodtheft of a divine infused being, the forming of a dynasty in the Southlands and the Church of All, and by promoting evil gods; Kareem was elevated to living-saint status and in time would become and evil god of his own.

Trogdor, the King of the Southlands, would unify the lands of Diemed, Roesone, Medoere, Ilien, and Aerenwe and also gaining the lands of Ghieste and Bhalaene after the fall of the Barony of Ghoere and expanding influence to the colonies of Mieres.  When the Time of Troubles begins in the land of Birthright, the Kingdom of the Southlands is a major player.  With hundreds of thousands of citizens, with some cities as populous as ten thousand people, a vast network of roads and ships to move goods and forces around.  And most importantly to the gods it truly serves, the Kingdom of the Southlands has one unified religion in the Church of All.

The Fallen Lands of Forgotten Realms

The Fallen Lands

Welcome dear reader to the world of Forgotten Realms; and today we will look at a very forgotten realm indeed: that of the Fallen Lands.  Some include the lands I am going to describe as part of the Savage Frontier but the Fallen Lands are aptly named as you will learn dear reader.  The Savage Frontier, what a fierce and foreboding name is it not dear reader?  But is your purpose to brave the unknown or to reclaim lost lands?  You will find that the Fallen Lands contain both.

The Fallen Lands are named for it once was home to a major site of the Netheril Empire.  The Netheril were an ancient human civilization that was known for sorcery they learned from the elves that ended up destroying themselves with.  At the height of the Netheril Empire, Lady Saharel a powerful wizard created an enormous complex.  The once great castle now lies in ruins in the last stretch of inhabitable land before the Great Desert.  Once known as Saharelgard, now known as Spellgard, the location is still sought for various reasons that are known only to those who brave to travel here.

The Fallen Lands can be found almost in the middle of the Triangle of Trees.  The Triangle of Trees refers to the boundaries of the Far Forest, the Southwood, and Weathercote Wood.  These woods are also broken up by the Greypeak Mountains with a new major human trade route passing thru the Dawn Pass in the Greypeaks.

The Fallen Lands experiences raids from the human nomads, the Bedine, and various monstrous attacks out of the Greypeaks.  But the Fallen Lands are home to their own warring and raiding factions; two opposed hobgoblin tribes that have a centuries old blood feud.  Oh dear reader, the Fallen Lands contains many fun and exciting things that you will just have to discover for yourself.

The Fate of Hermedhie

Oh dear reader where last did we see Hermedhie?  Maybe at the wizard's duel against Count Harald Khorien.  Maybe at the great wheel of blood in the Underground Forest.  Maybe with the hoards of the Church of All battling against frost dragons in the Abyss.  Maybe dear reader but the last any normal person saw of Hermedhie was in Taeghas, in the city of Stormpoint, at the Castle Gweledigaeth (ancient Andu for "vision over the waves"). 

Hermedhie had gone to Taeghas to claim the land as her's after defeating Harald Khorien in a wizard's duel.  As Count of Taeghas, Harald's heart was never in it.  Harald spent his time researching the arcane arts (and probably should of spent even more time studying before trying to best a wizard like Hermedhie in a duel).  Harald had been a student of Luclien of the Seven Stars and heir to Luclien's wizard holdings.  When Luclien heard of Harald's gamble of putting his title and holdings on the line, Luclien moved to try and stop the duel.  But Luclien was distracted by his ancient enemy; Seòras of the Crystal Staff.  Luclien, Seòras, and the arch-lich Sephiroth engaged in a three way stand off as a series of wizard duels went down. 

The victors of the duels were (1) the Wizard (Paeghen Aneirin) defeated Mhistecai (Isolde Mierelen), (2) Duke Sedrie Bellamie defated the High Mage Aelies, and of course (3) Hermedhie (Niela Braeloren) defeated Count Harald Khorien.  The winning of the duels gave the Wizard governorship of Mieres and title of Mhistecai, it gave Sedrie the forest of the Erebannien and the title of High Mage, and finally Hermedhie won the lands of Taeghas and the title of Countess to rule them.

So obviously dear reader each member of the Greater Wizard's Cabal (Sedrie, Paeghen, and Niela) all had busy schedules of their own to complete before attempting to take control of their newly acquired territory.  So each member of the Cabal would take different amounts of time, resources, and planning to gaining control of these new areas.  Hermedhie happened to be the first of the Cabal to try and assert control and happened to go alone.  Word came from Castle Gweledigaeth in a series of decrees that Niela Braeloren was the new Countess of Taeghas, another series of decrees changed around some appointmentships of judges, sheriffs, and tax collectors, and another decree marked a day to celebrate the new countess.  All seemed to be going as planned for Hermedhie.

But after less than a week sitting on the Coral Throne in Castle Gweledigaeth; the new Countess had gone missing.  After a few days of frantic searching by the army, the militias, and pretty much every other government offical - Luclien of the Seven Stars appeared and declared Hermedhie dead.  Luclien then called a counsel of the local nobles and began the process to pick a new ruling family of Teaghas.

So what dear reader is the fate of Hermedhie, it is after all the titular reason you are reading this entry.  Simply put Hemedhie was kidnapped by her father, Seòras, and taken to some place in the Faerie Realm of the Seelie.  Unbeknownst, Seòras was creating a powerful weapon to use and destroy the Cold Rider.  When the Cold Rider was defeated by Haelyn, Seòras lost his target and so picked the Court of the Unseelie.  Seòras had hoped to destroy the most powerful evil in the Shadow Realm using a powerful cannon that harness the essence of blood power, the seeming, and arcane might.

Seòras of the Crystal Staff like the dragon Tarazin the Gray had won over the adoration of the goodly faeries had was allowed great access and pleasure in the Faerie Realm.  Seòras created a magical tower in the Faerie Realm and went about research to create a weapon powerful enough to obliterate the Cold Rider.  And thus so did so many years go by that most had forgot about the ancient wizard.  But then dear reader, as you might know, Seòras popped up looking for a prime candidate to power his machine.  And it appears dear reader that the best choice was Seòras own daughter, the wizard known as Hermedhie.

With the kidnapping of Hemedhie, Seòras was in his final process of powering up his machine and that finally caught the attention of both the Seelie and the Unseelie.  Fearing the powerful wizard of the Crystal Staff, Lussia Dark Queen of the Faeries (old Grandma'ma) sent a dragon under her service to find out what was going on.  Tarazin the Gray was sent by the Dark Queen and was able to pierce into the Faerie Realm (being that Tarazin the Gray is well liked by good faeries).  Tarazin confronted Seòras and gave him a good fight but the power of the Crystal Staff was too much for the wyrm.  It is said, dear readers, that the death knell of the dragon was heard throughout the Spirit Realm.

And thus dear reader did the Queen of the Faeries did take notice.  The Queen of the Faeries appered before Seòras and the body of the great wyrm.  The Queen of the Faeries shed tears on the corpse of Tarazin the Gray and said, "Tarazin the Great."  After a few tears fell upon the body of the dragon, the corpse seemed to start to glow with power and break up into small particles of light.  "You are with us now and forever," the Queen of the Faeries said and the particles of light moved in all direction and spread out among the Faerie Realm.  With an evil look, the Queen of the Faeries confronted her old ally; the mortal wizard clutching a potent crystalline magic staff. With a meer look, the Queen of the Faeries shattered the Crystal Staff.  The entropic energy contained within the magical staff broke free and drained all the arcane might from Seòra.  Now more mortal than ever before, Seòras begged on groveled knee for his life, but the words could not come.  Seòras had lived to such an advanced age because of the powers of his Crystal Staff but now with that phylactery gone: Seòra's own body could not withstand the loose of such arcane support that Seòras collapsed under the weight of his own age and mortality.  Seòras would die on the floor of his great lab next to his deus ex machina.

The Queen of the Faeries next turned her attention to the humming machine that Seòras had built.  The grand machine had been a lifetimes work for the mad wizard; finding away to use the powers of arcane magic, the seeming (power over the Shadow/Spirit Realm), and the blood power of mortals.  The battery to power the machine was Seòra's own daughter: Niela Braeloren - the wizard Hermedhie.  The Queen of the Faeries could see the mortal women in the machine and could tell that somehow the power of machine was growing to some kind of maximum potential. The Queen of the Faeries could see Hermedhie and sent a thought of communication to the human wizard, "I cannot stop this machine but I can destroy it but take would destroy you as well."  The last words from Niela Braeloren, the wizard Hemedhie, where to the Queen of the Faeries, "do it."

And thus dear reader you know the fate of the first wizard you meet known as Hemedhie.

The Fix Is In

Thru various illicit sources, Mr. Fixit was able to find out that the ATF had added Swamp Sloth and the Troll 1%’ers as an official mafia sponsored go-gang to a list of suspects in an ongoing criminal investigation.  Mr. Fixit had also learned that Lone Star is starting a new special task force assigned to stopping the crack-cocaine menace in the city of Everett.  Swamp Sloth and Machine-Head Mac will have to respond to this information and might have to make changes to their criminal enterprise.

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Israel Shazbar’s Lone Star contact informs him that Geraldo Rivera’s special task force is looking into the Tacoma Sniper; knowing that Israel spends time in Tacoma.  At first Israel might think nothing of this tip off but then it accurse to him that the Tacoma Sniper incident has to do with the kidnapping of INN news reporter Maria de Soto Sanchez-Green; a kidnapping in which Israel was the kidnapper.  Geraldo has pieced together that there must be a highly proficient sniper in the region acting without impunity: in one situation killing high profile mob targets, in others popping off defenseless security agents, and in what Rivera must guess is the sane sniper; shooting the camera of the kidnapped reporter.  Israel Shazbar’s image was never recorded during that kidnapping due in part to the Tacoma Sniper; Nigel Finely.  And in second part, dear reader, to a well timed missile from Machine-Head Mac.  But eye witness on the scene might tip Geraldo off to Shazbar and that did make Israel have to make plans for preparedness.

Mr. Good Cats’ judge and district attorney contacts have informed him that Geraldo Rivera has stepped up his efforts with a joint Lone Star task force to find what Geraldo has labeled the Tacoma Sniper.  Mr. Good Cats knows as Nigel Finely, an expatriated former SAS special forces might draw suspicion and it would only be a matter of time before Nigel’s contacts would inform him that Geraldo had acquired a warrant for his home.  That did give Mr. Good Cats an opportunity to lay a trap for the star journalist.

Mr. Good Cats would be able to move his belongings and vehicles from his home in Tacoma and move them across town to his warehouse, which was held under an assumed name.  Mr. Good Cats would set interesting traps for the gumshoe investigator that would be encroaching on his home.  Enough enticing evidence would be left to allure the ancient journalist into a trap.  Nigel Finely was an expert sniper, that is for sure dear reader; but Nigel also had a passion for making things explode.  Shaped charges of military chemical explosives would be left to ensure that Geraldo’s last story would end in a bang.

Looks like dear reader your enemies are Lone Star, the ATF, and the 122 year old Robo-Geraldo

Things Too Do

Things to do dear reader?  Many things indeed!  Let us take one thing Kareem said he was capable of doing and run with that.  Bargain away the young daughter of Kareem’s to the paragon-witch: Baba Yaga.

So let us set a scene: on some distant material plane world, in the foot hills of tall jagged snow topped mountains, in the outskirts of a barbarian encampment is a lone hut; surrounded by a picket line of spears topped with skulls.  While the climate of the region would lead one to believe that the location of the barbarian village should be suffering thru yet another wet and snowy winter, the valley that houses the hut of Baba Yaga seems to have temperature and condition that is unseasonably comfortable.

By some magical assistance or perhaps upon the back of a white dragon; the cursed Kareem did arrive.  Passing bravely past the ring of skulls that encircle the hut, Kareem notices a familiar figure: that of the Elder Sky God.  Kareem remains silent; waiting what he expects to be an aged and frail witch.  The Elder Sky God is the one to break the silence with a snide remark; something along the lines of well if arcane and divine magic can’t help you might as well get a hag: a curse for a curse! Note dear reader this is a take of the soul for a soul theme.

Kareem is invited into the hut by a young and vibrate woman; not the same Baba Yaga Kareem had meet before.  Kareem’s keen mind takes several things into consideration before passing the threshold of Baba Yaga’s hut.  Oh dear reader, let us take note of the Elder Sky God waiting outside and leave other suspicions for a bit longer.

Let us now build up some the paranoia Kareem might have confronting not only Baba Yaga but what might appear to be a more powerful incarnation.  Kareem should be worried about entering the hut while most deals have been done out in the yard.  Kareem should note that Baba Yaga knows the slaadi that once held Kareem’s soul; something that Kareem himself does not know.  Kareem might know that Baba Yaga’s goal was once to regain her youth and vigor; and if it appears Baba Yaga has done that: then what is left for the witch to do herself?

So what is the conversation between Kareem and the youthful Baba Yaga like?  Well dear reader I am sure you would pay a pretty penny to have been a fly on the wall in that room.  But this Baba Yaga controls the walls of her hut; so not even a fly would get by unnoticed.  So maybe dear reader we should just talk key points.

·        Some of the Gods are not as powerful as Kareem thinks and others more so.   One should note that until Kareem does yet another Dark Deal for the God of Locks and Doors; that particular godling is still of Lesser status and not Greater.  Maybe dear reader, Baba Yaga lets Kareem know that the Elder Sky God might be in a transitionary period and not of full power.

·        Oh dear reader, do you think Baba Yaga’s restoration of youth was caused by the Elder Sky God directly or perhaps thru some work around: something that Baba Yaga did not know or could access but the Elder Sky God could.  Baba Yaga was in the Swamp of Spiritsend looking for something.  The Temple of the Elder Goblin God was in the Swamp of Spiritsend.  Somehow thru a work around the Vampire Chick was able to reawaken her sleeping godling master.  Perhaps dear reader Kareem can find a work around the Divine Curse that has stolen Kareem’s divine spark.

·        Wizards and male wizards unparticular would be wise to avoid Baba Yaga: and so most do.  In Baba Yaga’s time in the world of Birthright; Baba Yaga’s actions were focused around the manipulating weak-willed warriors.  The arcane powers of the region did not get caught up in trying to sanction the witch.  The Imperial Chamberlain did nothing to stop Baba Yaga in the guise of the Swamp Mage from deceiving both Kareem and Duke Nightmare in the Imperial City.  The High Mage Aelies got the closest but his scouting party in the swamp was annihilated.  Baba Yaga knows nothing of Seoras or his intentions, but Baba Yaga can let Kareem know that Seoras has done several things.  Seoras was indeed the one that kidnapped his daughter, Hermedhie.  And Hermedhie is being kept in some kind of temporal status in the Court of the Seelie (the good fay creatures of the Spirit Realm).  Seoras is working in the Swamp of Spiritsend, doing something to the ruins of the Temple of the Elder Goblin God.

Oh dear reader do you think Kareem had to give up his second born child, his only daughter, for several useful points of information?  Maybe but probably not.  The Shade Kareem has any items, tokens, pieces of wealth, and the like to deal with the witch to maybe not to have to give up his daughter in a dark pack. 

But dear reader, do you think perhaps Kareem secretly wanted to dump his daughter off in the pursuit of power.  Hermedhie lost in a dark deal to have one of her daughters trained and instead her daughter was turned into a hag.  If Baba Yaga was given the blood, the very soul, of Kareem’s child that it would share the same fate as the Wretched Lady in White?  Then dear reader you need to start expecting the unexpected a little more.

the solo adventures

Once upon a time, dear reader; a small tribe of Kuo-Toa summoned several Rutterkin demons to serve them.  In the chaotic world of the Underdark; the Kuo-Toa and the Rutterkin fought a daily battle for survival.  The bitter grind would eventually claim all but one of the Rutterkin servitors.  And it was at this point dear reader our story gets a bit more interesting.

With but one remaining demon slave; the chief of the Kuo-Toa struck upon the idea to have the sole surviving Rutterkin be trained in magic by the tribe’s witch-doctor.  In time the Rutterkin would gain an understanding of the language of the Underdark but the witch-doctor could not train the Rutterkin in the fine arts of black magic.  It would not be until a fateful encounter till the Rutterkin would gain new magical power.

One day a Kuo-Toa hunting party would come across a lone human: dirty, near starved to death, and mad from being lost in the darkness.  An easy meal.  The Kuo-Toa did not take a live prisoner but rather returned to the tribe with the prized carcass of the hunt.  Before the human would be feasted upon the tribe’s shaman would perform ritual and ceremony.  And it was during this macabre spectacle, dear reader, that the tribe’s shaman would discover that the human had a false and magical tooth.

The magical tooth was extracted and presented to the chief.  The chief would not touch the very foreign tooth and would assign the witch-doctor to investigate.  In time the witch-doctor would come to the conclusion that it once belonged to a human wizard and was fashioned for some magical purpose.  The witch-doctor did not care if the human found was the wizard or another human because at that point the body had been eaten. The witch-doctor did want to figure out the power of the tooth and the witch-doctor happened to have a Rutterkin servitor that was rather lacking in any other purpose.  So the witch-doctor placed the magic tooth in the Rutterkin.

The transformation was gradual: at first the Rutterkin began to study the witch-doctors actions more closely.  Then in time the Rutterkin would begin to look over the written material of the witch-doctor’s spell collection.  And eventually the Rutterkin would gain and understanding of the black magic arts.  And it was at this point, dear reader, that the Rutterkin would attack and slay the witch-doctor.  The Rutterkin gathered up the witch-doctor’s spell collection of books, scrolls, and odd components and fled from the Kuo-Toa.

The Kuo-Toa chief did not liked to be spurred by anyone and sent out hunting parties after the Rutterkin.  The demonic Rutterkin would survive for awhile in the Underdark and at a few points it even looked liked the Rutterkin was going to escape the Kou-Toa and start an out life anew.  But that would not be the Rutterkin’s fate at this point, dear reader.  While escaping the Kuo-Toa; the Rutterkin would encounter a patrol of drow and would be torn down without much of a fight.  The magic tooth forever lost on some alien world.

The Rutterkin would reform in time and in much agony of pain, torment, and anguish on the first layer of the Abyss. And at this point, dear reader, the Rutterkin began to start out life anew.  The Rutterkin would fashion a new focus item, a magical tooth.  The Rutterkin would begin to gather other resources and begin develop personal customs while trying to survive in the Abyss.  The Rutterkin would develop a person code for dealing with demons and mortals.  The Rutterkin would develop combat strategies and acquire a few items and weapons.  Once the Rutterkin had acquired his redemarrant he would be able to resume his operandus modi.

And that dear reader should catch us up to where we are going to start. The Rutterkin has developed a new magic focus item, acquired some items and weapons, and the Rutterkin is eager to advance in magical power. Yes, dear reader: it does appear we are ready for an adventure.

Hotel California

Greetings dear readers and welcome to more writings of dungeon master fiat. I once had a Game Master play the titular song on loop while assaulting my play group with Renraku Red Samurai. So with that spirit of no escapism let us set the stage for the solution to the Duke Nightmare Revenge Squad.

Place: the secret meeting locale of the Duke Nightmare Revenge Squad, the City of Hopeless in the Outlands

List of Characters in no real particular order:

The Second Sword Mage and his wife - This pair would hold up a good fight dear reader. Even without the aid of their summoned demon minions; these two demonologists would fight off all advances until the combined might of the bold and brave pairing of Captain Holocaust and the Shade could confront their accursed foes. The Shade would capture the soul of the Second Sword Mage and I believe dear reader you know what Captain Holocaust would do with the wife of the Second Sword Mage. It should be noted that the Second Sword Mage's wife is a blood relative to the Archduke of Boeruine's wife. Forces like the Lesser Wizard's Cabal, The Monster's Society (of Evil), and members from the Royal Flush Gang: Hearts would assault the demon summoners.

The Lich Zod and the Mind Flayer #2 - Sephiroth would confront the lich and strike a deal. Zod then would go on to murder his mind flayer ally to demonstrate loyalty to the new side he now served.

The Time Bandit - The avatar of the New Dragon God, Duso Lamonte would confront and finally defeat the last foe from the Tower of el-Hadid.

The Shark and the Dwarf (resurrected) - Once upon a time dear reader, Duke Nightmare did defeat a gallant dwarven warrior in combat and then raised that warrior to server as skeleton minion. So now dear reader, in a far off land, did the avatar of the being once known as Duke Nightmare get his chance to fight the gallant dwarven fighter now resurrected. Captain Holocaust would engage and defeat the Shark and the Dwarf and claim finally victory in the name of the Mantipede.

The Dragon Skiesbane - This ancient scion of a wyrm was confronted and defeated by the avatars of the Elder Sky God (note dear reader, I would believe it would take a few).

The coalition of the Dragon Lifesbane, the Dragon Tarazin the Gray, the Eyeless One, the excommunicated member of the Military Order of Cuiraecen, Fhylie the Sword, and the Imperial Chamberlain - In this confrontation the forces from the Greater Wizard's Cabal and the Royal Flush Gang: Spades would engage these foes. The Elder Sky God had called upon the many allies that the Church of All had gathered under one banner. Members of this new pantheon of power would strike at the dragons of birthright seeking what everyone else seeks in the game of dungeons and dragons: loot and experience. Aspects of ancient gods, demon lords, and young godlings were called into this battle. In other words dear reader; aspects of Zaltec, Yeenoghu, and the demi-god known as Deth. With the overt power that only gods can display the dark pantheon of the Church of All crushed the revenge squad before it could even begin to get moving.

Conclusion - Many were to claim trophies from the various dead beings: Lifesbane, Fhylie, and the Chamberlain. Sephiroth claimed all the loot from the Mind Flayer #2 as did the avatars of the Elder Sky God but for the kill of Skiesbane. Duso took all the loot from the Time Bandit. Captain Holocaust and the Shade would divide the loot from between the Second Sword Mage and his wife. Of particular note: Tarazin the Gray was spared his life by Lucyna the Queen of the Dark Faeries (now good old Grand Ma'ma has a dragon and a dracolich at her command). The Lich Zod would go on to serve Sephiroth until such time that the Archlich did allow Zod to depart on his own accord (and that is something dear reader; one should really take note of). So all in all the Duke Nightmare Revenge Squad has been defeated and the story can advance more.

The New Adventures in Dungeon and Dragons

Richards is playing a yet unnamed half-fiend drow. Sean is Rosco and Zach is Xachioplli. So who are these characters and what are their origins? Well dear reader let us find out.

Richards origins are shrouded in mystery; fore Richard's character himself does not know his true heritage. Sometime when Richards was a small child; his mother fled society because her son was starting to develop fiendish characteristics. For the most part of Richards childhood his mother raised him in the caves of the Underdark.

Richards mother would teach him things like laungaue and how to use his drow abilities. Richards mother would hunt and gather food in the Underdark and teach her child how to survive. This would go on until Richard's character was a young adolescent when his mother was slay by good-aligned adventures.

From this point on Richards was by himself in the Underdark. Richards would harvest his hate for surface dwellers and would grow into an adult utterly alone in the Underdark. During this time Richards would develop the skills that would translate into him becoming a rogue. Richards at some point came across and tricked a group of good-aligned adventures too their doom; during which Richards would acquire his magic sword. Richards interest in the arcane arts and developing his weapon style would lead him to the path of a hex blade.

Eventually Richards became confident in his abilities and would challenge more adventures; usually trying to lure individuals off and defeating them in personal combat. In one of these episodes Richards would defeat a young sorcerer who's familiar would turn out to more than it appeared. The dead sorcerer's familiar revealed itself to be a quasit imp and was angry that Richards had defeated the sorcerer in some manor that did not allow the quasit imp to steal the dead sorcerer's soul.

The quasit sees a way to gain some favor and talks Richards into traveling to the Abyss to meet his master Graz'zt. Richards never meets Garz'zt. Instead the quasit tries to trick Richards into being sold into slavery but Richards reacts quickly enough to save his skin and show his physical might. Agents of Graz'zt are impressed and Richards is invited to join the Knights of Graz'zt as an apprentice.

Richards works hard to prove himself a valuable recruit and starts to worship the demonic might of Graz'zt. Eventually Richards would be given a task that would send him out of the Abyss and into other outer realms. And that is where Richards is going to meet up with our other adventures dear reader.

Roscoe the daring halfling grew up in the Outlands traveling around dealing with demons and devils. Roscoe has become a near mater of craft and just needs targets to prove his skill. Xachipolli is a human who grew up knowing something was different about him. Once Xachipollil dwelled on the prime material plane but has since left and began traveling the outer realms studying dragon magic. During these studies Xachipolli has unlocked something hidden inside himself and is slowing developing dragonic traits.

So dear reader where our adventure will start is with Richards recruiting Roscoe and Xachipolli into joining him on his mission for experience and rewards.

Gozer the Gozerian

The agents of Uranus had infiltrated the prime material world to prepare the coming of the Elder Sky God. Titans once that had fought the oppression of Uranus now serve has trusted allies; two elder Titans; children of Uranus himself: Themis and Mnemosyne. Both of these daughters of Uranus were once allies to the Olympian powers and one-time lovers of the God of Gods, Zeus. But Zeus eventually spurned both of the Titans and cursed them down to Tartarus to dwell with the other Titans.

Over time Themis and Mnemosyne would find that buried under Mount Othrys was the Elder Sky God. After being defeated by his son Cronus, Uranus would fall into the bowels of hell. Uranus dwelt for such a long time in Tartarus that mountains formed on top of him and eventually the Titans forgot all about him. Mnemsyne, the Titan with the domain over memory guided by Themis, who’s domain is justice. These Titans sought out the Elder Sky God for vengeance upon both the other Titans and the Olympian gods. But it took the whimsical nature of a mortal to help bring about the resurrection of the Master of the Sky.

While Duke Nightmare was considered a mortal by most; the Duke saw himself as a minor godling that if given the opportunity to acquire more bloodpower thru bloodtheft could rise to the state of a bloodmonster. But why such talk of blood dear reader? Well you know the answer of course; the blood of the old gods flowed thru the veins of Duke Nightmare granting him evil and divine power. But it was not these powers that were needed to help give rise to the Elder Sky God. What was most important was Duke Nightmare’s ability to travel thru dimensions and planes of existence.

With the aide of Duke Nightmare, Themis and Mnemosyne where able to move a black stone acropolis to the prime material world. The black acropolis had been mined and constructed by cyclope slaves digging out the body of Uranus from underneath Mount Othrys. Once the black acropolis arrived on the prime material world, Uranus was able to reconstruct himself into the form we are now familiar with. Uranus would appear as a man-like being over a hundred foot tall, all back but covered in dot-like decorations that appeared to be celestial bodies, stars, and other stellar phenomenon.

Since that time Duke Nightmare has given rise to both Captain Holocaust and the Mantaipede. Mnemosyne would be tasked with finding out the history of Gozer, the Gozerian. Themis would be tasked with finding an appropriate way to lure Zeus out for defeat. Uranus would spread his avatars around the cosmos seeking allies and looking to gain power.

To test his, well god-like power, Uranus chose several targets to steel prowess. The odd creature calling itself a god on layer 222 of the Abyss, the Ichor Entity. The undead god that plagues the Shadow Realm, the Cold Rider. And an abnormal creature seeking to destroy the entire material world, Gozer the Gozerian. Each of these targets would test Uranus in different ways and prepare him for the confrontation with Gods and Titans.

So after all that dear reader are you ready to learn about Gozer the Gozerian? I am sure you are. Mnemosyne can find stories about the Gozer dating back to three thousand years. In that time Gozer had spread like a cancer thru the lands of the Hittites, Mesopotamia, and Sumeria. Given enough time Gozer would have spread to the Egypt. The various gods in the regions being over taken by Gozer are weak and unable to directly confront the Gozerian. In classic Gozer style; the Gozerian has unleashed demi-god like creatures that bring promises of power and wealth. But most understand that the Gozerian is going to destroy them one way or another so better to serve instead of being devoured.

If things like satellite photography were available; one could see that Gozer the Gozerian appears to be a pimple on the face of the Earth. A ghastly cancer growing and given enough time might consume the entire world. Mnemosyne learns the awful truth that the Gozerian had done this before too worlds and has proper defenses. So much like the Ichor Entity and the Cold Rider, the Gozerian has the ability to project itself into other creatures possession their bodies and infusing them with power. But unlike the Ichor Entity who helped creatures in a symbiotic relationship, merging itself and the host creature into a new super combination or the Cold Rider who could provide the benefits that unlife can bring; Gozer the Gozerian filled the possessed creatures with such power that they would either burn themselves out or be eventually consumed by the godling. Fore Gozer the Gozerian was a hungry god and ate any and everything.

Entire villages in the Sumeria region would begin to worship Gozer. They would perform strange ceremonies all day and night until the Gozerian would grow like a cancer and move to consume that village. The villagers would welcome the Gozerian and embrace the greasy-fatty lump that was the godling. Gozer would absorb these followers alive with the promise they would be a part of the Gozerian for eternity. And what of those that would not follow the Gozerian? Well the lumpy fatty body of the godling would move across the land: swallowing up all the fertile land, drinking up streams and lakes, and consuming anything that got in its way. There would be an exodus of people from the region.

Given enough time Gozer would spread into Egypt Gozer would come into competition with an old god seeking a new power base. But dear reader Uranus would assault the Gozerian before that conflict would arise so it is better for everyone to keep the mystery foe in Egypt a secret. Maybe in another life we will travel to Egypt dear reader.

So would there be a grand raid against the Gozerian? Calling upon the allied armies of Uranus? The demons, gnolls, dragons, and undead minions of dozen of other powers united under the banner of the Elder Sky God? No, for this battle Uranus is going to have to bring out a DragonBall tactic and defeat Gozer the Gozerian down the last cell of its being. So you might be asking yourself dear reader; why is Uranus not planning on absorbing the Gozerian?

Imagine that the Ichor Entity was pure chaos taken form, but breed in a world of fungus, slime, and ooze the Ichor Entity simply took on the form of what it was around. Quite possibly if the Ichor Entity had taken refuge in the Iron Waste of the Abyss; the Ichor Entity might have taken the form of a living blizzard, an ice dragon, or any number of other possibilities. Imagine that the all-knowing Uranus got into a fight with the Cold Rider knowing that it would take Haelyn’s intervention to win. Now Imagine that Uranus might not want to absorb some awful creature that debases itself by crawling around on the Earth consuming petty mortals. I imagine dear reader, that Uranus as Master of the Sky does not like that the horrific Gozer has grown so large as to be an actual landmark. Gozer is taking up reality in Uranus’ eye sight and that is enough of an offense as any for the Elder Sky God to strike down vengeful wrath.

So what more needs to be said about Gozer the Gozerian? What kind of description of the conflict between Uranus and Gozer is needed? Maybe Uranus made it rain fire for seven days and seven nights turning the area into a vast desert. Maybe Uranus caught a solar flare off the sun and used it as a whip to lance Gozer off of the map. Maybe the oldest of olds simply desired for Gozer to be gone and Gozer was gone. Nah, it was the raining fire. Seven days and nights of hell fire did destroy the Gozerian and purge the taint of the godling from the lands. The cleansing nature of fire in action; raining from the sky.

Next: the enemy of my enemy is my enemy too

Or

Maybe: no rival for my rival’s rival

The Tangle with the Cold Rider or the Second All Saints War

An Avatar of Uranus had been in the Unseelie Court helping the Dark Queen Lussina expand her portfolio. Uranus delighted at the Dark Queen’s Wild Hunt: a group of several hundred Unseelie both live and undead that stalk the mortal world and in particular the Unseelie’s hatred of the immortal elves. Uranus has helped expand Lussina’s goal from simply killing her mother to complete control of the Shadow Realm.

After the defeat of the Ichor Entity; Uranus projects himself to the Shadow Realm. Now dominating the landscape are two huge figures. One the most common sight, the Cold Rider, stands one hundred feet high and looks to be a statue carved of pure ivory or alabaster. The Cold Rider appears to be cloaked in a veil of mist but closer inspection will reveal that the Cold Rider is surrounded by shadow spirits and demons that move over him in a blanket of shrieking souls wailing in lament. The second figure is that of Uranus; standing one hundred feet tall and appearing all black with dot-like decorations that appear to be stars, galaxies, and other stellar phenomenon.

Several other figures would appear on the horizon; the young wizard Ruornil, the noble knights Haelyn and Cuiraecen, and the druid Erik. They would watch the conflicts first blows and witness the strength of the Cold Rider. Uranus struggles under the undead might of the Cold Rider, fore curse of Azari that gave rise to the Shadow Realm gave rise to the power of the Cold Rider. If not for Uranus incredible power, the Cold Rider might be able to defeat the Elder Sky God but it stands in a stalemate. The gods of the mortals watch on.

Now dear reader this is when you say, well something must be done. But whom dear reader could intervene? Could it be that Uranus is struck in such a struggle that he cannot call out for aid? This is when perhaps the greatest aid to our story advancement Sephiroth, the Arch Lich helps move the story along. The Master of the Past and Present, Sephiroth, tries to approach the gods in the Shadow Realm. But that dear reader is when Sephiroth is besieged by perhaps the greatest story line derailed; Seoras of the Crystal Staff interrupts.

A grand wizard’s duel begins between Sephiroth and Seoras. Most of gods do not pay attention; the struggle between Uranus and the Cold Rider compels their attention. But the wizard Ruornil spies the conflict between the wizards and believes correctly that the agent of his daughters is probably more of a bane than a benefit. The god of arcane magic Ruornil interrupts the wizards and demands answers to his questions. While Seoras tries to waste Ruornil’s time; Sephiroth merely pleads that this is best chance to slay the Cold Rider.

Eventually Ruornil would accept Sephiroth’s plea and try to persuade the gods of the mortals to intervene and attack the Cold Rider. Cuiraecen would not budge to aid anyone associated with his enemies in the mortal world. The same goes to the druidic god Erik whom had recently lost control of a major portion of groves on the mortal world. Haelyn stood silently and stoically.

Any chance for intervention seemed lost and Ruornil contemplated unleashing vast magic energies directly at the Cold Rider when a ray of hope began to shine. Appearing on the horizon, the rising sun seemed to shine light into the Shadow Realm. But really it was the coming of Avani, god of the sun. The grand goddess moved close to the conflict between Uranus and the Cold Rider and began to funnel energy into Uranus. With the increase in strength the tides seemed to turn.

The Cold Rider seemed to shudder under the strain of Uranus. The pure alabaster form of the Cold Rider began to crack and some chips fell off. While this might have signaled the end of the Cold Rider it was the beginning of something very worse. The destructive energies between Uranus and the Cold Rider eventually would explode and the ivory body of the Cold Rider would give way. Underneath the white marble exterior the Cold Rider hide the true form of Azari.

In the wake of the explosion Uranus and Avani stood motionless waiting what would come next. The new form of Azari was that of a hundred foot tall demon, of the purest black, brimming with spikes, with leathery wings, and a massive tail. The reborn Azari would hold out two clawed hands and then open them palm ward toward Uranus and Avani. The pair of gods seemed to be caught in some horrible crippling energy beam that was sucking the essence of their very begin from them.

Something had to be done and Haelyn would act. The noble god of war would move to charge Azari, sinking his sword deep into the beast. The reborn Azari would wheel back, with the sword still stuck in the foul demon, and begin a death wail. All the dark energies of Azari began to flow into Haelyn, First it seemed as if the could of evil spirits that once surrounded the Cold Rider begin to be drawn into Haelyn’s mouth. Then the very body of the reborn Azari begins to turn into a black miasma and that too is drawn into Haelyn’s mouth. Then it seems as if the shadows that make up the bleak landscape of the Shadow Realm begin to flow into Haelyn’s mouth as well.

It seems that Haelyn ate up all the evil in the Shadow Realm and has given rise to a rebirth of the Spirit Realm. Gone are the loaming shadows and horrid landscape. Now replacing it is a beautiful world of grass and tress, pure lakes and skies. But Haelyn is changed as well. Maybe the curse of Azari still lingers in the bloodtheft that had just occurred on the cosmic scale. Haelyn’s eyes filled with rage and if it not for the aid of Uranus, Haelyn would have struck down Avani for her bloodpower. And in that very uncharacteristically chival move Uranus inspires something deep within Haelyn and there is no better way to explain it then; in a fit of rage Haelyn teleports away to brood over what has happened.

Uranus will explain to Avani that he was tasked by the mortals of this realm to defeat the Cold Rider and is glad the task is accomplished. Appearing to be the most noble and just of the gods Uranus appeals to Avani to protect this new Spirit Realm as well as the realm of the mortals. But if only Avani would know what evils Uranus had helped sow in both the Spirit Realm and the mortal realms before departing. Uranus makes it appear that he departs after the defeat of the reborn Azari but the Elder Sky God will not let any corner of the universe slip past his grasp.

So what happens next dear reader? What of the agents of Azari on the mortal world like the Gorgon? Well those are excellent questions for another time. But what is next for Uranus is to travel back to his home realm to defeat yet another would be godling.

The Raid on the Ichordeep

The Elder Sky God dispatched an avatar to the insane city of Xhubhullosk located on layer 222 of the Infinite Abyss known as Shedaklah to move the acquired demon Yibyiru closer to the area known as Ichordeep where the Ichor Entity dwells. The old man avatar of Uranus would travel across the ghastly landscape with his demon hostage in tow. Eventually the Avatar would stop and begin to summon his newly acquired allies. And thus dear reader did the evil armies of many realms did combine to take the field under the name of Uranus.

The Grand Sultan of the Effert would send an army under the command of Firebeard Blackaxe consisting of two dozen Efferti lancers riding nightmares and one hundred janni pikemen lead by a dozen Efferti crossbowmen. The Dark God Zaltec sent a company of several hundred jaguarmen; mortals elevated to an immortal status that look more beast then man now. Captain Holocaust, atop his nightmare mount, led a clutch of dracolichs. The New Dragon God would go all out and summon all the Dragon Highlords* for the battle. Yeenoghu sends an army of hundreds of gnolls and demons; such things as goristro siege towers, gnoll marauders, bulezau berserkers, and maybe some giant slaves tossed in for good measure. Yeenoghu also dispatches his vassal Doresain, the King of the Ghouls who brings several hundred simple ghouls and ghasts lead by true ghouls (some with priestly and arcane magic). And thus did the armies of Uranus did begin to clash with the creatures and followers of the Ichor Entity.

Now this is where the action is for everyone save a few. The dracolichs, dragons, efferti lancers, and whatever else take to the air. The gnolls and the demons begin the general land invasion with the jaguarmen and ghouls being used as elite forces. The Avatar would lead a special strike force into the heart of the Ichordeep to slay the Ichor Entity.

What kind of things did the raid fight you might ask dear reader? Things like the Fungus Knights, creatures created by the Ichor Entity. Man like creatures would be grown in cocoon like structures found in the Ichordeep. Eventually they would sprout forth and grow more, eventually growing wings and develop sharp claws, talons, and beaks. There were also the Ichor Guardians; again man like creatures that grow four limbs. The Guardians almost attack like a gorilla, running using all four limbs then pouncing to hold down their victim. The Ichor Guardians have beak like heads that they use to pierce into their victims that are pinned downed. Now dear reader I have describe just two of the creatures the Ichor Entity has spawned to protect itself**.

The Ichor Entity also acquired followers and gave power to other creatures in return for favors, tribute, and service. Of course dear reader any power in the Abyss can attract demons who do not wish to serve in the Blood War and the Ichor Entity has gathered quite a nice collection of demons and augmented their power considerably. A few mortal followers have joined the side of the Ichor Entity. Some were the insane mortals stuck on layer 222 who sought refuge in the Ichordeep and have since come to worship the Ichor Entity as a god. Others might have been draw from other planes to the Ichordeep for the offer of power from the Ichor Entity.

Now dear reader you might be asking what are these other creatures getting from the Ichor Entity. And that is a good question. Some of the demons are given the raw power of the Abyss in the form of items crafted from the very Ichor Entity. Think of swords or magic items that the Entity would project out of itself creating powerful tools that demons or mortals to could use but under the control of the Entity. While others dear reader where infused with the Ichor Entity itself; an almost merging of the Entity with the creature***.

While the crazy battle ensued the Avatar of Uranus and his company would battle their way thru the Ichordeep and search out the heart of the Ichor Entity. Now what happened next would be epic indeed dear reader. And don’t you wish you could have been there yourself? Well let us ask one that did witness the event: a one Captain Holocaust. CH, “well, I am not sure but some how the Old Man gained control of everything and made it all go away.” Thanks Captain Holocaust. Well can we at least find out who else witnessed the event? CH, “yeah, some hot chick showed up.”

The Avatar of Uranus led the demon Yibyiru to the heart of the Ichor Entity. The Avatar chose only Captain Holocaust to act as his guard while escorting the demon. But when the trio found the heart of the Ichor Entity, the Avatar summoned a very attractive young woman who would assist in performing some dark ceremony. It was as if they where channeling the ancient power of Uranus and Yibyiru (who might have been the first ruler of layer 222) to gain control of the entire layer of the Abyss. Now dear reader you might be asking about the other demon powers on layer 222; then dear reader you did not take into count the power of the Elder Sky God.

Nevertheless Uranus needs the now young Baba Yaga’s help to focus his power thru Yibyiru to gain complete control of the layer and thus be able to simply absorb all of the Ichor Entity’s power. And that dear reader is exactly what Uranus does. All the Ichor Entity magic weapons and items, the Fungus Knights and Ichor Guardians, and the infused creatures all become gooey, slimy, and ooze like. These piles of ooze and slime would then begin to move towards the Avatar who would begin to collect the power of the Ichor Entity. As the Avatar began to collect power; his form would change. The Avatar would give way to the rise of the Elder Sky God’s true form; that of a hundred foot tall man-like creature of all black but with dots-like decorations that appear to be stars and galaxies.

And that dear reader is how Uranus would test his power and come to destroy a creature that would dare to be a god. With the infused since of power both physically and spiritually Uranus begins his next move toward reclaiming his birthright. And could you guess what might be next dear reader? How about a battle with the Cold Rider?

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* At the time of this writing there are five Dragon Highlords but with Captain Holocaust leading the dracolichs that comprises the faction of the Red Army. The Black Army would be lead by Dragon Highlord Deth, the Green Army by Rhoube Manslayer, the Blue Army by Stiele Ghieste, and the White Army by the High Cleric Kareem.

** and *** these both remind me of the AI Deus from the Shadowrun game. Both could creature whatever fantastic creature they wanted. The Deus was using things like drones and cyber-creatures with humans being controlled thru datawear. The Ichor Entity was growing his own troopers and infusing himself directly into other creatures. And I am sure dear reader you would have loved to fought both of these creatures in each respected game.

Ten Footsteps Taken At the Same Time

The First stands and rises from a throne not his own, but where he had been ruling a kingdom of monsters for one that had awakened him from eons of sleep. The First moves to the center of the throne room and looks around for the returned duke. But the duke is in a new form, twisted by the dark curse of the gods, the duke is now truly a blood-monster. The First greets the returning duke and has him reclaim his throne. Maybe it was the First or the duke himself; but either way the creature once known as Duke Nightmare is now the Mantaipede; blood-monster, King of the Underground Forest, Dragon High Lord of the Red Army, Prince of the Unseelie, and bane to all that is good. The First solidifies his alliance with the Mantaipede; making sure that the Mantaipede and his armies will be there when the Master of the Sky calls for them.

The Second takes heavy steps thru a murky swamp. The Second could easily walk above the thick terrain or even pass thru it magically, but the Second almost enjoys the awkward and treacherous travel. The Second would finally make his way to a clearing where a lone hut sits surrounded by a perimeter lined with sticks each capped with a skull. The magical protection of the skulls cannot keep the Second out and the old man passes by the skulls and up to the door of the hut. No secret can be kept for long from the Master of the Sky and the Second uses a series of hand gestures, knocking on the door in a particular pattern. The Second would make his way thru the hut, passing many strange and extraordinary sights to find the old woman of the hut. The Second wasted no time in simply parley with the old woman, instead of the normal pleasantries that might go with a negotiation the Second simply granted the old woman’s deepest desire. And this is how it came that the wicked which Baba Yaga was given her youth back and came to server the Master of the Sky.

The Third had been standing on the elegant and elaborate bridge the crossed over a very special lake. The lake drew its water from a spring but this spring was pure energy itself. Fore this lake and spring sit in the Court of the Unseelie, the dark fairies of the Shadow World. The Third had been staying in the Court as guest to the Queen of the Unseelie herself. The Queen had asked for the aid of the Master of the Sky to defeat the Unseelie’s greatest enemy; that of the good-aligned Seelie. The Third had not given the Dark Queen an answer yet and stood gazing at the waters in the lake for sometime. In a place where time is not of great importance, the Queen of the Unseelie grows impatient and summons the Third and demands an answer. And this dear reader would lead to a confrontation on the cosmic scale. The Third asked what some could call a simple question and what others might call a threat. The Queen had to remember who she was dealing with but would not back down. A clash of the titans almost occurred but the Dark Queen remembered who her true enemy was, what her true goal was, and that there would be no easy means to accomplish it. And thus from this confrontation an odd alliance would grow, the Master of the Sky would help the Dark Queen grow in power.

The Fourth would step into an alien and hostile environment. The sky was red in chaos and the ground black as charcoal. Ahead of the Fourth lies a tangled forested, wicked in appearance the trees appear possessed by the wind swaying with almost lifelike horror. In the far landscape one can see a huge castle thru the wicked woods but that is not the destination of the Fourth. The Fourth moves thru the evil forest on a mission so bound in evil that any horrible creature in the foul woods does not dare cross the Fourth’s path. The Fourth makes his way to a magnificent mansion appearing almost out of nowhere in the middle of the wicked woods. The Fourth finds the front door ajar and enters. The Fourth is greeted by a creature of the night and led to a study room. The Fourth declines entrance to the study and insists on seeing the lord of the house. The creature of the night is unprepared for this and calls upon a minor demi-god and an ancient lich to occupy the Fourth. The Fourth wastes no time in telling the evil trio that they serve the evil will of the Master of the Sky and the time draws near for the great confrontations.

The Fifth walks up the hundreds of steps leading to a place called the Palace of Skulls. And when the Fifth reaches the top it becomes obvious why this place has such a name. The Dark God Zaltec had his mansion built from the very skulls of his followers. Millions of skulls comprise the walls, columns, and other architectural features of the Palace of Skulls. The Fifth is greeted as an honored guest and brought into the main audience chamber. There the Fifth spots the master of this land and sees the bounty and merriment of his court. The Fifth humbles himself before the Dark God Zaltec and offers many fine treasures: jewels, jewelry, weapons, and works of art. Zaltec is pleased but is apprehensive as why the Master of the Sky would send an agent to his court after all this time. The Fifth agrees that they were once enemies and probably would have remained so but mortal agents of a young godling and sought out both these ancient gods for further power. The Fifth conjunctures that there would be plenty of room for everyone when he returns to high power and that the affairs of mortals are the least of his concerns. And thus once great rivals from eons past now stand as allies and all the realms of man and god should quiver with that information but it is a dark secret known only by few.

The Sixth stood in an alien and hostile environment. The sky a bleak yellow and the terrain that of a sandy desert for all that could be seen. No one would willingly come to this horrid place out of freewill and that is something the slave drivers with their whips where good at destroying; freewill. Thousands of slaves toiled under the hot sun of this oppressing landscape, pulling a castle on rollers. Slaves were dropping dead by the dozen each hour but demons would magically appear, creating gates to summon in more slaves and removing the dead for whatever horrible purpose. Some of the demons eventually noticed the Sixth and went to investigate. These demons being incredible young and dumb thought they could intimidate the Sixth and bind him into slavery. Those demons did not last long and in a display of power the Sixth caused the destruction with great effect. More demons where dispatch from the crawling castle but instead of engaging the Sixth they approached with offers of entertainment. The Sixth would be brought instead of the crawling castle and shown the wonders of the main hall. There were slave girls from a hundred worlds dancing, food enough to feed an army open to banquet, drink in plenty and strong in vigor. The crawling castle excess in indulgencies is matched in its cruelty to its servants. The Demon Lord to whom this horrible mobile oppression palace calls home is known as the Prince of the Gnolls. The Sixth congratulates the Demon Prince on his many accomplishes and triumphs. The Demon Prince becomes very worried that all his power is about to come to an end but the Sixth informs him that he did not come here to kill him but to offer him alliance. And thus did the Demon Prince of the Gnolls come to serve the Master of the Sky; pledging his armies of demons, gnolls, and ghouls to whatever cause the Master of the Sky saw fit to fight.

The Seventh strolled into the Greek city of Thebes. The Greek Empire is basically at its height, heroes like Hercules are out right wrongs and defeating powerful monsters. The Seven Seas are flush with merchants. The Seventh arrives at what some might call the pinnacle of mortal achievement. The Seventh moved thru the city streets unmolested, just another old man out for a walk. The Seventh would make his way to a temple to the Greek pantheon. And in this temple to the Greek gods; ancient powers could conspire to bring about the end to the Gods Reign. The Seventh greeted his titan agents and found out that their plans where already in motion. These titans that the Master of the Sky has allied himself to have begun to seek their vengeance on the God of Gods by bring some of his powerful children down. The God of Gods is known to have a wavering eye and has bedded many beautiful mortal women. And it is the children of these unions that the titans are working on wrecking. The Seventh learns how his titan agents are moving to bring down the rulers of Thebes; children of the God of Gods. The Seventh is happy with this news and orders the lesser titans to remain in the realm of mortals while the spirit of memory will be sent to the Mantaipede to help his transformation. The spirit of justice is to accompany the Master of the Sky himself while he seeks his vengeance.

The Eighth steps out of a burst of volcanic activity and stands, feet burning, on the flow of lava down the volcanic mountain. The mountain itself is thousands of feet high and the Eight rides the lava down to the base. The lava pools into a vast river that would flow to a sea of lava, a veritable ocean of fire. Fore this dear reader is the harsh landscape that comprises the Elemental Plane of Fire. And in this burnt landscape of fire there sits a plateau of obsidian. Almost an island of rock in a sea of fire. And on this rock gives rise to the City of Brass, home to the eternal effertis. The Eight slowly but surely makes his way to the obsidian stone foundations of the City of Brass and steadily makes his way to one of the giant entrances to the walled town. Each step across the stone ground, the Eighth leaves a smoldering foot print, as if the hot lava of the very Elemental Plane could not melt the rock but the slightest foot step of the Eighth burns the very rock. The Eighth would have been denied entrance but the guards valued their lives more than their duty. The Eighth stoically makes his way to the grandest spire in the city, that of the chief sultan. The Eighth works his way up the spire, past hundreds of guards, viziers, and other palace staff to approach the doors to the grand chamber of the chief sultan. Before the grand doors awaiting the Eighth is a small army of the chief sultan’s personal advisors, mystics, and sages. The Eighth makes the claim that he would blow out all the flames in existence if they would continue to stand in his way. And thus did the Eighth gain admittance to an audience wit the chief sultan of the efferti. But the Eighth did not try to strong-arm the chief sultan; no dear reader the agent of the Master of the Sky charmed the chief sultan to his cause with the promise of even more power when the Master of the Sky reclaimed his throne.

The Ninth would step out onto yet another abyssal landscape but instead of stepping on dirt or rock, the Ninth steps onto a terrain composed of organic mater. This entire layer of the Abyss seems to be alive; an evil mold encompassing the land. But a new ooze or fungus has sprung up, the Ichor Entity, and has grown in power, worshipers, and followers. Maybe the Abyss gave birth to the Ichor Entity, maybe the god-monster was given rise after the many clashes between Zuggtmoy and Juiblex and their attempts at breaching into the mortal world or maybe the Ichor Entity arrived from somewhere else and the conditions where just right in the fetid layer of Shedaklah to give rise to this monster. But whatever the case, the Master of the Sky was going to use the Ichor Entity as a testing ground for his awesome power. The Ninth took almost bouncy steps as he crossed the ghastly landscape of Shedaklah seeking out its one mortal city. Xhubhullosk is a city full of madmen; fore that is what this alien world does to mortal men: drives them insane. So naturally the Church of All has established a worship sight to the “Ever Insane Dragon God.” And it is at this temple holding where the Ninth is headed. The Ninth has kept the demon known as Yibyiru, the Rancid Lady, studying her as the most ancient creature found in Shedaklah. Here the Ninth will take Yibyiru and proceed with her to the Ichordeep and meet with his other allies for the assault on the Ichor Entity. And thus dear reader has the Master of the Sky begun his reascension to the top.

What about the Tenth? Well dear reader maybe our illustrious writer is at a loss for more things to do? But the most important thing is keeping the identity of the Master of the Sky a secret from ancient enemies. And dear reader you might not have put all the pieces together but one of the Avatars of the Elder Sky God did kill an agent of one of his greatest enemies in a pervious blog entry. And that ancient foe would dispatch one of the guardians of his infernal prison to search out the agent that was lost. And that dear reader is how the Tenth Avatar of the Elder Sky God would defeat Gyges, one of the Hekatonkheires. Now while none would find out for a while who killed the legendary Gyges; just the fact that such an ancient and powerful creature could be slain is going to send a ripple of fear up both Mount Olympus and Mount Othrys alike. Soon the Master of the Sky would bring low those who had sought to see him dead once. Soon all would know of the return of the Elder Sky God: Uranus.

Hopeless: the Duke Nightmare Revenge Squad

Place: nondescript locale along the only road in the outer-plane gate-town of Hopeless

Principle Characters: The Second Sword Mage (SM) and his wife, The Lich Zod and the Mind Flayer (#2), the Time Bandit (TB), [the guy we got the #10 from] (#10), the Shark and the Dwarf (but resurrected instead of being undead), Dragon Scion Skiesbane (SB), the Dragon Lifesbane (LB), the Dragon Tarazin the Gray (TG), The Eyeless One (EO), Fhylie the Sword, and the Imperial Chamberlain (IC)

IC: I am so glad that we all could meet like this and I am especially grateful that the great Skiesbane would grace us with his presence

SB: if not for the presence of the others of my kind I would hardly waste a second in this foul land, but if those mortals think they could simply distract my attention and steal the very sky from me I will let all know why I am the Terror of a Thousand Tornadoes

IC: I hate to disagree but if this was simply a mortal matter I would have no need to form a dark alliance. No, they might have been mortal once but through the power of Azari they have become something dark

TZ: if Azari continues to grow in power nothing will stop the compete transformation of the Shadow World over the Waking World and it will all be death

IC: indeed and maybe we all could pool our hatred for the likes of the so called High Cleric Kareem and the self appointed Duke Nightmare. All signs point that Duke Nightmare’s power is at its weakest and that if it where to grow again it would lead to the destruction of the Empire

LB: I care nothing for your human Empire but I can sense the coming of great evil from the Gorgon and if the Gorgon harvests the blood-power of these mortals you are so scared of it would be grave indeed

EO: but it is more than that. Visions of the future show great destruction in the South.

IC: Thanks to an unlikely ally (the Shark) I have learned much about the dealings of these dark figures and hoped they would either die during their grand adventures or slay each other themselves but the time is right. But it seems like all these dark figures will not destroy each other but plot to destroy all of us and for that reason alone we should band together to strike our common enemies.

Shark: I once thought Duke Nightmare and the High Cleric Kareem dead; but they returned to kill the Sword Mage and probably kill the rightful ruler of the Southland; Raphael Saberstrike.

TB: Under the coliseum in Fairfield is a secret passage to an underground lair. It is in this lair that Duke Nightmare is breeding a monstrous army and has a portal to Sigil, the City of Doors. I say we use the portal to Sigil to sneak into their realm and cause mayhem.

#10: Then, thief, you do not know what you are up against. Several years ago I traded one of my many automatons and used it as a scrying device to watch their comings and goings. I was able to learn many things about their organizations, allies, and the places they have visited. But recently I have lost the ability to detect through my steel-machine. I do not believe they detected it, or otherwise I might be dead now. No, I believe they have done something to my metal-man and I must find out what.

EO: What I see is they Duke Nightmare and the High Cleric Kareem have made alliances with a plethora of dark powers from beyond our world. And these dark powers will be the undoing of the world.

TG: The coming of Azari is the real concern, if that is to pass then nothing can save us.

IC: Indeed there are many troubles concerning us here today and we can all agree that the death of Duke Nightmare and the High Cleric Kareem are of the utmost importance. Now we have been talking for a bit but we have not introduced ourselves. Again, I want to acknowledge the great dragons that have graced us with their presence: Skiesbane, Lifesbane, and Tarazin the Gray. Most of you know who I am; the Imperial Chamberlain. We are lucky to have the Shark and the Dwarf who were once an ally and once an enemy of Duke Nightmare. The wizards (#10) and the Eyeless One are both very skilled and knowledgeable but in very different subjects: mechanizations and natural occurrences. Zod, the Lich, and his friend the Mind Flayer (#2) were routed from their dungeon by those that we seek to kill. I would like to thank the Time Bandit for bringing us news about the secret portal in the underground lair of our enemy and for informing me that the Rogr of Illien is dead. And last, but not least, Fhylie the Sword: one time leader of a Militant Order who was disgraced by Kareem, now seeks revenge.

SM: Do you forget about me and my wife? It was I who summoned the demon army that about ripped apart your world (a slight overstatement of the facts).

IC: Yes, I am sorry. Sitting here to my right is the diabolists, the sorcerer, the warlock known as the Sword Mage and his apprentice wife.

SM: Thank you, was that so hard to admit my magnificence.

IC: and now that the introductions are out of the way; we can get down to business…

Old Man: What about me? You forgot to introduce me!

IC: I am so sorry, let us see here, you are who? Are you another that has been slighted by Duke Nightmare or seek revenge against the vile Kareem?

Old Man: Kareem? Vile? From my dealings with the olive-skinned Kareem have only been the most pleasant and beneficial to my side. And slighted by Duke Nightmare? He should think that I slighted him for all that he has done for me. But I come here today to payback Duke Nightmare in kind.

IC: Who are you?

SB: do you think you can kill me? I am like a god in the sky!

Old Man: I am in the god in your sky and you are all now dead!