Random Bits of Information

After the wizard Vecna, the next great wizard to rise to power was Zagig, whom then would be passed by Mordenkainen.

It is not know how but at some point the witch Iggwilv had Graz'zt under her control for awhile.

Lloth the Spider Queen always keeps an emissary in the court of the Dark Prince Graz'zt and the court of Iuz the Evil and in open trade cities like Sigil and Skullport.

The witch known as Baga Yaga raised two adopted daughters who turned out very different from one another: Elena the Fair and Natasha the Dark.

While the City of Greyhawk is a center of economic activity; the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk are a center of adventuring activity. Hundreds if not thousands have came over the years to seek their treasure in the ruins and few have come back. But those that do come back usually have enough treasure to keep inspiring more to make the pilgrimage.

Zagig was once mayor of Greyhawk; a position now held by the wizard Mordenkainen.

It is know that at some point Zagig was betrayed by his apprentice, a female sorcerers known as Tasha. (as in Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter)

The Dark Prince Graz'zt had two children with a witch known as Iggwilv: Iuz the Evil and a vampire known as Drelzna. While Iuz the Evil is a demi-god with an empire, Drelzna was slain by good aligned adventures.

In Zagig's quest for ultimate magical power, Zagig would create a means to capture nine demi-gods. If not for Iuz the Evil's undying rage; the demi-gods might have been held by Zagig forever.

At one point Zagig had his apprentice summoned and bound an Abyssal Lord.

Iuz the Evil has seems to have an odd alliance with the Drow of the Underdark.

The witch Iggwilv can be found in her private manor somewhere in Gray Wastes of Hades.

The Company of Seven was Zagig's personal adventuring party. The other six where: Keoghtom, Murlynd, Nolzur, Heward, Tasha, and Quaal.

It is believed that Zagig lives on as a servant to Boccob, the Lord of All Magic.

Maps For Fun

This map is after the rise of Ghiere

This map I have been reffering to as the Kingdom of Trogdor

This Map might be called, "the Romance of the Four Kingdoms." With Boeruine, Mhoried, Elinie, and the Southlands as the Four Kingdoms. I guess that means Aerenwe is the odd man out. This Map might also be called the Empire of Duke Nightmare in some possible futures.

Journal Entries: Salim the Sailor 2045 M.A.

Day 15 I arrived in Albiele Town to find the Grand Casino closed by Raphael Sabersrike. How many times must I build up this guild? I will build it even stronger this time.

Day 27 Larry Diamond has been arrested along with Trogdor and Hermedhie, word has arrived from the Herald of the New Dark God that Kareem and Duke Nightmare where solving the problem. I will bide my time and see what happens.

Day 42 Raphael Saberstrike has started a great purge moving lots of soldiers and political positions around. With my forces secured in the Mieres, I think it is time for the Jack and Jill to branch out to every port city along the Straits of Aerele.

Day 65 Word from Kareem that Raphael Saberstrike is dead; Sedrie Bellamie will be running the Southlands, and the dragon Skiesbane has relocated. I will call for the Jack and Jill to have as many members of their clan join the Southland government in any fashion possible along with a handful of my own sailors who will join the Southland Navy.

Day 72 Under magical ruse, a false Raphael Saberstrike would surrender the Sword of Enlien back to Ruornil’s Celestial Spell for safe keeping as the Southlands where now protected. What a joke, the Southlands belongs to us and anyone not wanting to work for the Southlands wants to work for the Royal Flush Gang. The number of new recruits is massive everyday, I must secure more ships.

Day 77 I struck upon a brilliant idea; I must secure the other pirates and fight a false war with the Southlands but only pirate ships from other nations. Word is that pirates have turned the isle of Caelcorwynn into a safe haven, it its time to show the rabble how safe it really is.

Day 85 I will strike upon Caelcorwynn tomorrow, my spies have told me that four pirates lay in port. Word has also come that a terrible monster of death must dwell in the forests of Caelcorwynn; fore the people cling to the rocks and do not venture into the woods.

Day 87 What a fierce battle that was, we had to sink a ship and catch another on fire. One ship escaped us, Faelen’s Pride of the Gods Blood Clan. The ships that were sank were from the Sea Wraiths, I am sure they will come seeking revenge. One ship did join, Wild Owen with his ship the Sea Horse where useful but not well trained. I will maneuver around the island and lay in wait for the pirate clans to come to me.

Day 93 Larry Diamond has helped acquire four new ships and equip them with sailors and marines. These new recruits will be moved to the site of the future Naval Academy. I need to assign someone to survey the land and draft up building proposals. A new wave of initiations are required for the Royal Flush Gang to prosper: I am thinking of adding hundreds of new pawns, this reminds me of a plan that Kareem had for laying out a spy network with theme names based on the pieces of a chessboard. I need the Mystery Man to scour out the ranks looking for spies and lose ends but the Mystery Man is still abroad in Brechtur. With the aid of the New Dark God I will call upon the Church of All to supply me with several hundred loyal followers and place them around my units until such time that I can establish my own secret service.

Day 107 In the last few weeks several rogue pirates have aligned with my cause: Wild Owen has proved useful, Ibrahim the Bold and his old dhoua “My Lady’s Favor” have joined my forces in Caelcorwynn, and the pirate clan the Sea Wraiths have decided to join and not fight. The independent pirates are small fish but must not be overlooked as to not create a weakness. The pirate clans are another story; they do not know the extent of my power. The two remaining pirate clans, God’s Blood and Storm’s Heart, are the targets now and it will be do or die against them. I will tap my contacts with the Wizard’s Cabal to secure massive spells and wizards for individual ships.

Day 124 The pirate clans are massing in the harbors of Baerghos Isles now that everyone knows that the Seadrake has killed by Skiesbane. (But what of the loot, dear reader, you might ask? Well dear reader; the answer the most simple is usually the most accurate: Atriums Thief of Tartarus.) Soon all of the Straits of Aerele will belong to us. The rulers of the west coast do not want to participate in any pirate conflict, but what of Prince Avanil? I think the prince will not want to weaken any part of the Avanil military fore that would give the advantage to Duke Trogdor. What I worry about is someone thinking they can wipeout all the pirates at one time, the intervention by a major power.

Day 133 I have lost my victory, I might as take my loot and retire. What am I saying? What do I have to complain about? I needed a win, I got a win. A big win. Right when I had the captains picked, marines trained, and a target ready for a whopping the Lich steps in and says that the New Dark God commands that I follow the Lich’s orders. Word came that I am to take my fleet and sail for the Baerghos Isles. I am told that the pirate clans are defeated and their ships will be sitting empty of their crew. I am to order my men to not set foot on the land and wait for the clerics of the Church of All to bless the pirate clan ships before boarding.

Day 136 It is hard to believe, I play it up for the troops. The loot we get is incredible, thousands of pieces of gold, sliver, and gems. Treasures from a dozen cultures. And best of all, twenty ships. The breakdown is thus: four galleons, one zebec, one roundship, two knars, two dhoua, six caravels, and four tiny coasters. I can only imagine that the Berghaus Isles are now home to roughly two thousand undead pirates. What horror did the Lich unleash upon the pirate clans to wipe them out but keep the ships and the loot intact? Some might lose sleep over it and I expect dozens of my men to go mad. I must change some of my tactics to match with the power I am dealing with. I must enact a plan like I did before in Mieres, a plan that will deprive a powerful person of their station, treasure, and blood.

Day 158 Construction of the Naval Academy is coming along nicely and plans to expand from four buildings into six are underway as well. A few skirmishes have not gone well clashing with the Prince of Avanil. I have to concede a few of the shipping lanes to allow for the natural flow of traffic but all the short routes belong to me and along with all the ports now having their own branch of the Royal Flush Gang I have great position to start several ventures. The Brothers Investment Groupe has expanded to Mieres and is experiencing a boom in trade despite operating in pirate invested waters. I am working with Larry Diamond to secure even more ways to make profit and expand the Royal Flush Gang’s influence in the government of the Southlands. I will take loyal members with the cleanest records and have them enter the Southlands Navy and Army. I have heard that Church of All members have been encouraged to enter into civil service for the Southlands.

Day 165 Looking over my vast loot I noticed the ring I acquired from defeating the Rake: a ring bearing the state seal of Brosengae. The ruler is Eriene Mierelen, a half elf of questionable background. Eriene came to the throne after her grandfather died two hundred years ago. Now traditionally the family Mierelen carried a taint of elvish blood past down when the Brosengae tribe first settled the region before the times of the Empire. The story goes that the ancient king of Brosengae married an elven madden signifying their claim to the land. Now anyone who has ever set foot in Brosengae will tell you that no elf would ever claim rain-swept hilly region as theirs. So the rumor goes is that Eriene has a true elf as one of her parents and the rumor goes further that her parent elf is related to Rhoubehe Manslayer or even the Elf himself. The Brosengae Royal Guild controls a sizable portion of the market and her merchant fleets are well protected. What I notice is that in the two hundred years of rulership; Eriene has never sired an heir. Now the rumors go that Eriene has had so many lovers that some think she must be a vampire and is feeding going through so many lovers so quickly. But I believe that Eriene would not want to be bogged down by the problems that motherhood brings: mainly the time it would take to even birth a child. I will have to look into this more.

Day 207 So it must be soul for a soul! Every agent that was sent into Brosengae has died. I issued an order to terminate any and all Brosengae agents abroad.

Day 211 More deaths than would be considered tolerable have occurred in Mieres but so far there has been no overt response from Mhistecai government; She must understand who is being killed.

Day 256 The contest of power between me and Eriene has reached a high water mark, the first report from a field agent about the holdings of the Brosengae Royal Guild. I have dried up the labor force by hiring away all the dockworkers, miners, foresters, and mercenaries. I have planted my own people in Brosengae and where quickly hired by the government. The Church of All has also been busy influencing the local population.

Day 288 Things turned out more disastrous than could have been anticipated. I was summoned to the Underground Forest by Duke Nightmare, and that is never good. When I arrived it was to odd company. The Lich was in court sitting on Duke Nightmare’s thrown, Duke Nightmare himself was with Eriene Mierelen. Now what came next I could not anticipate. Eriene had figured out the connections between the Royal Flush Gang, the Church of All, and the Kingdom of the Southlands and came to strike a deal. And the deal we all struck was odd indeed. I seem to keeping getting windfalls when in the presence of the Lich. I wanted to control myself but the deals seemed so good that I was caught up in the furor that I did not even care that I lost hundreds of men and thousands of pieces of gold in a war with Eriene. Eriene has ruled Brosengae for hundreds of years and wants to keep it that way but must have an heir to keep the family line going. Who would think that Salim Shpaga Karamazov would rise from a mere bandit along the Zhange River would father the heir to one of the Twelve Duchies of Anuire?

The Church of All would be allowed entry into Brosengae. Eriene would be given the honorary title of Queen of Diamonds and her spy network would be shuffled into the Royal Flush Gang. The Royal Brosengae Guild was a tricky spot but of course the offer from Duke Nightmare was too good to refuse. Eriene’s guild interests will be incorporated into the Brother’s Investment Groupe with Eriene getting a share.

Day 315 el-Hadid remains one of the few sore spots in the Straits. Every major port but a few along the strait are in my hands: the Imperial City, Ilien, and Sonwyn. I should put more focus on the assets in Stormpoint. One of Prince Avanil’s allies has changed sides; the Royal Flush Gang should lay the ground work for the New Dark God to challenge another.

Day 327 Word has come that a pirate fleet from the Great North is waging a war in the Bay of Tael Firth. I have sent orders to assemble a strike force and within a week I will set sail for the Sea of Storms. I sent word to the Underground Forest and I see this as another possible great victory.

Day 331 In no subtle display, Duke Nightmare arrived amongst my armada to communicate with me. The crews of a dozen ships went into war-mode at the sight of a flying horse of death. Duke Nightmare just played it off saying what is the good of having a pirate fleet if one cannot display one’s true power. Duke Nightmare seemed bitter about the situation and left me with an odd warning. I estimate that in another three days we should enter the Bay of Tael Firth.

Day 335 The ship that we spotted yesterday that got away must have given warning to the Boeruine Navy because we have been trying to out maneuver seven ships for the better part of the day.

Day 336 The Anuirean style ships are out of sight but we have been drive West and North, I will have to wait for night to calculate our position. I do not want to drift to West and end up near Dantier Island. The men are on edge, they understand that everyone is out to get us and we are the strangers in the strange land. The warning from Duke Nightmare keeps ringing in my ear, “You have nothing to fear from the other pirates but everything to fear from everything else.”

Day 337 Now that is how it should be done, Duke Nightmare might have an elaborate entrance, the Mystery Man reappeared in an elegant manor. I called for my cabin boy to bring hot water and I did not even notice who handed me the pail. The cabin boy asked if I needed anything else, I said no but the cabin boy asked if I wanted information about the other pirates. And that is when I noticed the cabin boy was the Ace of Spades. The Mystery Man had obtained the title of Master Thief in Brechtur and then stole a whole fleet and sailed it half way around the continent. Our fleets will merge and sail for the Southlands.

Day 339 The celebration was glorious, Pirates from Bechtur drinking with Anuireans. The Mystery Man had hired every Rjurik mercenary, marine, and sailor and bought anything that could float. The Mystery Man had even befriended a band of goblin thieves that had build an improvised flotilla and have kept adding to it to keep it afloat. Men from many races drank for a day and a night. I think the sound of their singing kept the Boeruine Navy away. The Royal Flush Gang now has a fleet of ships to be feared.

Day 345 I was not sure what to do with the goblins. I did not think it fair to the creatures to turn them over to Duke Nightmare but I did not want goblins amongst the navy. I can use the better thieves in the spy network but the flotilla is laterally their whole clan. So with that in mind I have ordered the goblin clan to seize the Baerghos Island. I am going to make sure the flotilla makes land and leave them with a sizable amount of food, lumber, and other supplies. I will also give the goblins all prisoners of war and any men under discipline as slaves.

Day 351 The combined fleet of the Royal Flush Gang has surely sent shockwaves up and down Anuire and now I will sit back and watch what happens. With the return of the Mystery Man I now have nothing to worry about and soon all my enemies will either be dead or bent to the will of the New Dark God.

Day 377 Nothing really went the way I planned it this year but everything turned out in my favor. Maybe the joke was on me the whole time.

A Monsters Ball

Oh dear reader the story must be quick to get it in on Halloween: that of the Duchess Alyza’s Monsters Ball. A grand and elaborate event: the castle in Caerlinlien was adorned with pavilions and gardens attended by servants, musicians, and artisans. Guests came from far and wide to attend Alyza’s costume party fore the event coincided with a popular day of the Eloele. But unbeknownst to the guests, Alyza arraigned the event to mock Eloele and give honor the New Dark God.

Oh dear reader, if you could see it. The guests spent fortunes on their costumes to win the prize for best dressed. The guests all brought gifts that would equal a commoners lifetime wealth hundreds of times over. But what did the guests get in return dear reader? A very wicked treat indeed, Alyza arraigned the gift exchange to net her all profit and give out next to nothing but a curse of the New Dark God. The party was marred by bad music and food, foul pictures and odd entertainment. A wicked joke to the usual festivities of Eloele.

But Alzya did more than through a bad party to make gold and spread curses; well she just spread more curses for some of the notable guests. One in particular was a gift given to Gunther Brandt of the Oaken Grove of Aeric: that of the necklace belonging to the hierophant of the heartland region (the area including the Riverport Marsh system). The necklace was given back by Alyza to Gunther but it carried a curse that would corrupt the next druid who wore it.

As time drew ever close to the change of the day, the costume winner was announced and that too carried a cruel joke. The pumpkin headed man’s costume was a little to real and when the pumpkin headed man removed the pumpkin head; several guests died of fright on the spot. And those souls would go to the New Dark God. All in all a good party.

The Extra-planer Adventures of Duke Nightmare

With the rise of the New Dark God, Duke Nightmare had to sacrifice many personal freedoms for power. But Duke Nightmare was always instilled with a few key goals that would not stand in the way of any god. First: Duke Nightmare sought blood power. Second: Duke Nightmare wanted to breed a whole generation of evil children that one day would be pitted against one another until only one true scion of Duke Nightmare survived. Third: Duke Nightmare sought a stronghold for protection.

One of the Dracolichs was dispatched to the surface world to terrorize the population and the Dracolich’s lair would serve as another safe house for Duke Nightmare. The Dwarf was made a captain of the Monster Society of Evil, an elite group dedicated to Duke Nightmare, and the Dwarf would serve as an ambassador of sorts for Duke Nightmare. But Duke Nightmare sought to expand his power past the material world and stretch his hand into the extra-planer.

Oh dear reader, once Duke Nightmare had in his possession a lovely necklace that would allow him to travel to the City of Doors. But dear reader, like most things, Duke Nightmare squandered the power and lost the item to the Lady of Pain. But Duke Nightmare did retain a few things: Duke Nightmare was still considered noble. Though Duke Nightmare never could plea for favor from the Lady of Pain a new opportunity awaits.

But dear reader the City of Doors is not where Duke Nightmare starts his extra-planer adventure. No dear reader for that we need yet another story. A story of love maybe?

///

The Bedazzlement of a Beast

Place: the throne room of Duke Nightmare’s castle

Characters: DN-Duke Nightmare, K-Kareem, O-Otto the Rake

ACT 1

DN: Ah my former master, Otto, how I do hear about your exploits!

O: Lord Nightmare, you do favor me, but least you forget my brother Salim

DN: No, no. I mean no jest against you or your kin. So where is your other brother? Word came that he intends to fulfill a promise of old

O: That is up to you, I can deliver my brother whenever you would like and where ever you would like. Are you not master of your house? You pick and we will deliver as promised

DN: You make it out like you are brining me something dangerous. What did you do? Capture one in the wild? Have it bound in chains? Think I am going to do the old in-out and be done?

O: No insult to you, I am just keenly aware of your discretion

DN: Hardly master thief, hardly. But be it as it is, just summon your brother and let us be done with this

K: I am here Lord Nightmare and I brining your newest concubine

Succubus: Hail Lord Nightmare

DN: Good, good. Now leave. Escort them to the surface personally

Dwarf: Yes sir

K: That will not be necessary

DN: Oh but it is. One does not just appear in my court. And Otto one does not come with to court without a present

O: I mean no offense…

DN: The next time I will see you, I will have a present for you. One that you will like. Think about that for our next encounter

Dwarf: Come on you two, we got a ways to go

DN: Now what do I have here?

Succubus: I am here to serve. I will provide you a child and your “friend” their has paid me very handsomely

DN: Never talk like that in my presence. You do not know who I am. Yet

Succubus: Yes, of course, but I just saw how you treated them…

DN: Exactly. You do not know me; those two mortals have saved me in several tight spots and always come out on top. And I know this; like I know that they must have given you something real good do come here

Succubus: Yes and now lets get on to the good stuff

DN: Settle yourself; fore I have one question I want to ask you. Do you think you will get out of this alive?

Succubus: What ever do you mean?

DN: After all the dust settles and you think you fulfill your promise. Do you think you will get out of this alive?

Succubus: Do you?

DN: I know I will survive whatever challenge I face: I am immortal. Now I ask you again: do you think you will get out of this alive?

Succubus: I want to

DN: That is the right answer. Now, how do you work for?

Succubus: Red Shroud

DN: Good, that should make this easy on all of us. I am familiar with your master, now will you serve me in guiding me to her court?

Succubus: It would seem I have no choice

DN: Good, I think you are beginning to understand me. How much do you think you can carry?

Succubus: What do you mean?

DN: Think you could carry a tun of grain or wine?

Succubus: I suppose I could carry a tun of wine if it was in a cask

DN: Come, we will carry material supplies for profit along our journey

ACT 2 - Place: the fortress of Broken Reach

DN: Come Succubus, which of these merchants should we deal with?

Succubus: There, that one flies the flag of Lolth

Dark Elf: eh, what do we have here?

DN: I have a tun of wine and sacks of grain

Dark Elf: eh, the wine? That is good! But grain! That is bad!

DN: You must eat it or do I need to talk to another merchant?

Dark Elf: eh, no wait, I will buy both! Give you gold!

DN: Good, I brought scales

Succubus: Now that you made your gold, can we leave?

DN: Do not be in a rush. Broken Reach is known as the place to get any kind of poison to be found on any layer of the infinite abyss

Succubus: Fine, I know someone who you want to talk to

///

Succubus #2: What present surprise did you bring me? What do you want do double up on him? Oh, he looks so strong, this should be fun

Succubus: He is not under my control, I am under his and all we can for was poison

Succubus #2: oh rats, but you could always stay for more

DN: I will take as much poison as this amount of gold will buy

Succubus #2: Aren’t you worried that I could rip you off?

DN: No, I have her

Succubus #2: Good point, what do you want?

DN: Give me a good mix, just tell me how each is used

Succubus #2: Dealers choice? Nice Call, I have few treats for you then

///

DN: Hail Red Shroud. I am the glorious king, Duke Nightmare

Red Shroud: Well meet, Duke Nightmare. What brings you to my humble court?

DN: Humble indeed, to have such luxury in the midst of the Abyss!

Red Shroud: You flattery me, Pazunia is hardly the most treacherous parts of the Abyss

DN: Still, you should let the compliment stand for commanding such a handsome fortress

Red Shroud: Well meet again, Lord Nightmare, your flattery has won me over. What can I do for you?

DN: Very good, but first I want to let you know about the traitor in your midst. The very succubus that brought me hence

Succubus: I do not…

Red Shroud: Silence! Continue

DN: This succubus entered into a deal with a very good friend of mine for this succubus to give me a child. Now do not go blaming my friend, fore it was in their best intentions and my instruction that they sought out such a deal to begin with. But my dear lady, this succubus knew what she could gain and I bet she did not tell you a thing?

Red Shroud: This is true, I was not aware of any deal. But if I could dare my dear Lord Nightmare, what makes this succubus a traitor?

DN: This succubus knew of my heritage and was eager to gain that power and would keep it secret.

Succubus: I honestly do not know of what he speaks!

Red Shroud: I said silence, be you quite or I will have crows eat your tongue out of your very head! Continue

DN: You asked me what you could do for me? Trap this succubus soul in a gem and give it to me

Succubus: No! Listen to me...

Red Shroud: There, take her. Now what do you have to offer me?

DN: I am a personal friend of Firebeard Blackaxe, Malik of the Efferti. I have bested Graz’zt and the witch Baba Yaga in deals. I have slain lichs and dragons. I have the blood of gods running in my veins. Not just one, but several. I serve the Master of the Past and Present. I am a herald to the New Dark God. I am a destroyer of worlds

Red Shroud: I see

DN: I appreciate the gift.

DN (aside): Did you think you would get out of this alive? I think not!

DN: I look forward to your offer

Red Shroud: My offer?

DN: My stud services. I have an Infernal Attorney in the City of Doors. I look forward to your offer

Underling #1: Boss, he is leaving

Underling #2: I do not think the Boss cares

Underling #1: Why you say that?

Underling #2: Boss doing something I have never seen Boss do

Underling #1: Yeah, what that? What you doing Boss?

Underling #3: She is smiling

Underling #2: Smiling, what is that?

Underling #1: Remember when you broke that vase last week? And Tim got blamed? Smiling is what you did when Tim got whipped

Underling #2: Oh that, I have never seen Boss like that

Underling #3: It has been a long time

Red Shroud: You broke my vase!

Underling #2: oh no!

Underling #3: oh, that did not last long

///

Oh dear reader, what did I promise? The adventures, as in plural. Oh dear reader do you have the constitution do deal with another story of Duke Nightmare in different dimensions? Let us make it a quick one.

Duke Nightmare travels from the Pazunia, through a portal in the fortress of Broken Reach. The portal takes Duke Nightmare to the Outlands, the gate-city of Plague-mort. Duke Nightmare hires a guide and travels to the City of Doors. In the City of Doors, Duke Nightmare secures a rental property and hires a lawyer to represent his business interests.

That was pretty quick dear reader. But I wonder what kind of lawyer Duke Nightmare hired? Duke Nightmare did refer to an Infernal Attorney. One would need a good consul when dealing with demons. Duke Nightmare has money to burn and abolitions abound, so Duke Nightmare will probably hire a lawyer like in Scarface or Carlito’s Way and the craziness will ensue.

Master of the Past and the Presen

Duke Nightmare was holding court in the throne room of his castle in the Underground Forest when a familiar figure appeared in the room: that of the Lich, master of the past and present. The Lich ordered Duke Nightmare to bow before him and of course dear reader; Duke Nightmare did not comply. The Lich would cast a spell that in game terms would reduce Duke Nightmare’s hit points in half so Duke Nightmare would bow. The Lich would sit in Duke Nightmare’s throne and start to conduct business as the new master of the house. Duke Nightmare would watch as the Lich would summon all his servants and soldiers and some how scared them even more. Which dear reader is quite a feat in and of itself: fore Duke Nightmare kept all below him in a constant state of terror. The Lich routed out spies and weaklings, promoted the bold and reckless, and to take command of the undead like never before.

Duke Nightmare would have to accept the presence of the Lich and benefit from it. The Knights of the Underground Forest would be equipped with the best equipment, accommodations, flying mounts, and privilege. The Wizard’s Cabal would benefit from the instruction of the ancient mage and begin to conduct even darker experiments. The undead under the control of the dracolich would begin to organize and assist in the purges in the Underground Forest. The monstrous city in the valley of the Underground Forest would benefit by the spread of the new religion to the New Dark God. The above ground coliseum would benefit greatly from the ability of the Lich to summon outrageous monsters to fight in spectacular battles. The coliseum would also begin to function as the junction to the shanty town district. The shanty town district reputation as a thief’s hideout would begin to spread and all sorts of ill-types both benign and hostile. All and all dear reader the holdings of Duke Nightmare would begin to grow, under the title of Duke Nightmare but by the hand of the Lich.

The Lich would also have a great impact in the life of Kareem. Over the course of the last several years Kareem has watched the church’s he founded grow in power and influence. Using cunning and intrigue, Kareem got his church legalized in the Imperial City and got the Militant Order to back down on their threats of war. Kareem also grew his own political power by marring into a prestigious family and placing others in key positions in various governments. It all seemed to be going Kareem’s way and with plans for ultimate power over four worlds: Kareem life plan would seem to be narrowing down.

The vampire cleric of the New Dark God and the Lich would present Kareem with an offer he could not refuse. Fore Kareem to retain his life, Kareem would have to pledge to build the religion in to a furor and war against the enemies of the New Dark God. And in return for this service: Kareem would be allowed to grow his family and after Kareem’s physical life ends the Lich would raise Kareem up as undead. Kareem had no real choice in the matter: fore that dear reader if the price you pay when dealing with gods.

Messages from the Second Sword Mage

A sealed letter is delivered to Duke Nightmare at his castle in the Underground Forest. The herald of the letter is reveled to be a demonic rutterkin; which Duke Nightmare had the demon promptly captured and snap-tong weapon seized. The rutterkin would suffer many fates: death in the gladiatorial arena, autopsy research, and finally components in dark rituals or foul concoctions.

A sealed letter is delivered to Duchess Alyza of Cariele: the rutterkin was disposed of by the golem guardians.

A sealed letter is delivered to Count Stiele Ghieste: word was that the messenger was allowed to depart unobstructed.

A sealed letter is delivered to Assan ibn Daouta, King of Elinie. The rutterkin messenger was dispatched by the scion of Elinie in one fell sword strike. The King would order paladins of the Life and Order of Avanalae to investigate the new Sword Mage and the region of Ghoere in general.

Oh dear reader was that all the letters that the Sword Mage would send out? Defiantly not less; probably maybe. What bitter fruits will the Second Sword Mage reap from sowing in fields populate by friends and foes alike? Some would say: only the Shadow knows.