What is What?

(1) King Raphael Saberstrike needs nothing from the Player Characters: they need everything from him

(2) Sephiroth the Lich will return in one year from his awakening: how long has that been Lord Nightmare?

(3) the vampire/cleric herald of the New Dark God has relocated her holdout back to the Fiendholme on layer 65 of the Abyss

(4) the demi-god known as Deth still waits in Spiritsend for the Adventure there to unfold

(5) Duke Bellamie has solidified his powerbase and is now interested in what his apprentice has been up too

(6) Duke Trogdor grows in strength but lacks fifth column information: foreign consults assail the new ruler; whom should Trogdor choose from to listen to advice?

(7) the wizard Hermedhie will continue the Adventure from the last session through to the next session by having a confrontation with Baba Yaga

(8) Larry Diamond is going to ask the Player Characters once more if they have any new deposits for the BIG firm before he departs to Mieres to negotiate new routes

(9) Count Ghieste is going to summon Lady Alyza to plot about the New Sword Mage

(10) the dragon scion Skiesbane has the fever: the only prescription is tribute

(11) the New Sword Mage? I tried to scry him. Set some demons after me.

(12) the Gorgon is not at war with anyone and that is bad for everyone

the Mask

First Things First (Part Three)

Oh dear reader you have come for part 3 because I have side tracked from the original intent of this story: that of Duke Nightmare visiting Grand Ma-ma after accepting the position of Proxy for the New Dark God. Where our story was last at, Duke Nightmare was in the City of Doors learning of Hiddukel, Jay Oaker, and the Master of the Past and Present. So dear reader, let us along with Duke Nightmare take our leave of Sigil and head for the Court of the Unseelie.

Duke Nightmare rides into the Court of the Unseelie on his namesake steed and is greeted by his Grand Ma-ma. But Grand Ma-ma is taken back by Duke Nightmare’s new pedant: revealing him as agent of the New Dark God. Grand Ma-ma takes her seat on her throne and has Duke Nightmare stand before her. Grand Ma-ma uses dark magic to explore Duke Nightmare’s very soul and finds some interesting things.

Duke Nightmare’s soul has a black spot from where the god Cuiraecen stripped Duke Nightmare of his cleric powers. Duke Nightmare also trace amounts of evil left over from the magical geas placed by the Sword Mage. Grand Ma-ma can also see that an outsider has a claim on Duke Nightmare’s soul (that of the favor Duke Nightmare owes Firebeard Blackaxe). Grand Ma-ma can also point out several unique intersections on Duke Nightmare’s soul: one that goes from the worship of the demi-god known as Deth that flows out into the pure evil of Azari. But the most important change on Duke Nightmare’s soul is that of the investiture into Raphael Saberstrike and how that continues on into the proxy-servitude of the New Dark God.

All this information confuses and angers Duke Nightmare and asks what if anything him or Grand Ma-ma can do to change or improve Duke Nightmare’s situation. Grand Ma-ma tells him that any deal with any devil is dangerous but they must be completed. Duke Nightmare must complete the favor for Firebeard Blackaxe and the seven unnamed vile deeds for Jay Oaker. Duke Nightmare informs Grand Ma-ma that Jay Oaker would like to meet her and Grand Ma-ma is interested to meet the New Dark God as well.

But what else does Duke Nightmare learn, what else does he discuss with Grand Ma-ma, and what about the taint of Azari upon Duke Nightmare’s blood. Well dear reader, those things and much more are still yet to come for Duke Nightmare. A whole new world of evil opportunities and adventures has opened up for Duke Nightmare and what lies ahead is hard to see.

First Things First (Part Two)

Oh dear reader, this is part 2 and you have read part 1, correct? As you remember dear reader, I was soothsaying the story of Alexander Roesone’s rise to the title of Duke Nightmare but I overtook Alexander’s brief but important dabble into worshiping strange powers. Firebeard Blackaxe served as a captain in the guard for a one Malik Deth. What is most unusual about Malik Deth was that he was not an efreet like all other nobility in the City of Brass; no dear reader, Malik Deth was once a mortal from the world of Aebrynis (the same world as our Player Characters).

Alexander Roesone dreamed of the innumerable treasures that awaited him at the Infernal Bazaar in the City of Brass. When Alexander and his compatriots traveled to the Elemental Plane of Fire they were allowed to meet Firebeard Blackaxe’s master: Malik Deth. The evil mortal Player Characters were impressed by the home of Deth and his treasure room; Deth compared weapons with Alexander: Alexander’s blood-silver spear and Deth’s blood-silver two-handed sword.

The spear and the sword were both made by the same blacksmith; both were of an elite lot that most thought were lost in time. Deth asked if Alexander would serve him as an Agent of Deth and Alexander agreed and would spend a great deal of time before the Infernal Bazaar learning and adventuring for the Agent’s of Deth. What was most important for Alexander at this time was gaining levels as a cleric: max level of five for demi-gods. But Alexander leveled to seven before departing for the Forest of Poisoned Dreams and his chance encounter with Kareem Wali-Jabar.

It was only after the “Quest for the new #10” that Duke Nightmare meets Grand Ma-ma. Alexander accepted the fate of being Prince of the Fairies and sought tutelage from Grand Ma-ma. Lussina loved her time with her grandson, teaching him how to ride his namesake nightmare steed with supreme skill. Grand Ma-ma regaled Duke Nightmare with stories of the Unseelie history and teaching him the language of the dark fairies.

So dear reader, after being locked in a padded cell in the Fiendholme on level 65 of the Abyss for an indiscernible amount of time Duke Nightmare would seek out his beloved Grand Ma-ma to seek council. For Duke Nightmare had made a new deal: a deal signed in blood. Duke Nightmare agreed to act as “the New Dark God’s” proxy for the opportunity to be given consideration for promotion to serve in a new evil pantheon of gods over Aebrynis. The New Dark God demanded seven unnamed evil deeds to be preformed whenever desired.

It was one of Alexander’s oldest and most trusted colleagues, Raphael Saberstrike, which brokered the final deal and let Duke Nightmare (with all his equipment) out of the padded cell in the asylum wing of the dungeon in the Fiendholme. Duke Nightmare left the dungeon level and proceeded through the main level with Raphael giving some parting instructions and a pendent bearing the symbol of the New Dark God.

Duke Nightmare had choices on how he could travel to visit his Grand Ma-ma so in typical fashion Duke Nightmare choose the easiest choice. With a necklace purchase from the Infernal Bazaar, Duke Nightmare activates a magical gate and steps through. Guards of The Lady’s Ward like usual were surprised anyone would come through the special gate they were assigned to guard. Duke Nightmare stands in full force awaiting what comes next; the usual treatment for arriving unannounced in the City of Doors.

Squads of guards surround Duke Nightmare and eventually an emissary for The Lady of Pain will request that Duke Nightmare meet The Lady in the room that had been previously assigned in the accompanying palace for the special gate. Duke Nightmare struts out of the courtyard were the special gate rests and heads for his room. In the guest room Duke Nightmare discovers The Lady of Pain in a form that Duke Nightmare had not seen before: that of a female humanoid with a porcelain mask and of course accompanied by another emissary.

Duke Nightmare’s conversation is relatively short and to the point. The Lady of Pain requested that Duke Nightmare meet her in private; that was to save face for Duke Nightmare. The Lady of Pain reveals that the necklace Duke Nightmare has in his possession belonged to someone once important to The Lady of Pain and demands it’s return immediately. Duke Nightmare will comply but be insistent that he still be given royal treatment.

The Lady of Pain makes a special deal for Duke Nightmare: (1) in exchange for the necklace, Duke Nightmare is given a special writ that will enable him to negotiate with the Master of the Portals, (2) Duke Nightmare can never return to the palace that has the special gate and cannot investigate about it’s history, (3) normally The Lady of Pain does not allow avatar-level creatures in her realm but as Duke Nightmare is operating on proxy-level he is given the warning that her realm is for mortals; not powers, (4) Duke Nightmare will be allowed in Sigil as per standard treatment in most cases, (5) The Lady of Pain instructs Duke Nightmare to consult the priests of Zivilyn about the dead god Hiddukel.

Duke Nightmare leaves the guest room and the palace of the special gate altogether and heads into Sigil, the City of Doors. Now dear reader, Duke Nightmare is a stranger in a strange land and in past occasions either traveled discretely or with a retinue of guards assigned to him from the palace, so Duke Nightmare had to dig down real deep in his dark soul and pull up some gold and silver to pay for a mob of guards (go big). So dear reader, here we have Duke Nightmare decked out in near full majesty (no nightmare fore when he tried to summon it there was no response) parading through the city with a dozen guards marching there way to one of the most magnificent temples in The Lady’s Ward; that of Zivilyn the Tree of Life.

The temple to the Tree of Life of course would look like a giant-ass tree but all decked out with inner workings of a hive of temple-bees. So when Duke Nightmare and his procession neared, they are of course an intimidating sight, and only one brave priest ventured out to seek audience with Duke Nightmare.

The lone priest of Zivilyn recognized a twisted mockery of Hiddukel in the pendant that Duke Nightmare wore and invited Duke Nightmare to have a conversation in the shade of a sprouting branch of the tree shaped temple of Zivilyn. Duke Nightmare learned many interesting things from this priest, things that Duke Nightmare would have to investigate later. Duke Nightmare gained information on: (1) the world of Krynn and the mega-continent of Ansalon (2) some of the names and alliances of the gods of Krynn (3) the stories about Hiddukel before his death, and most importantly, (4) the gods of Krynn fear Jay Oaker.

The story that Duke Nightmare could learn a lot from was about the death of Hiddukel. The Wizards of High Sorcery gave a young mage named Sephiroth the Staff of Magus because while take The Test, the masters discovered that these foreign born adventures could lead to the death of a god of evil if given the opportunity. So the Masters of High Sorcery gave the Staff of Magus to Sephiroth and allowed the mage to gain the title of Master of the Past and Present.

Sephiroth completed The Test along with his trusted accomplice, Jay Oaker, and took the Staff of Magus and the power that came along with it. Sephiroth and Jay Oaker, along with their other sinister friends, Deth and Pestilence, sat about to change the world of Krynn forever. But not in the way that the powers could ever see coming.

Jay Oaker had his crew thieves would wreck the economy of Ansalon with the aid of Sephiroth transporting into Krynn very valuable steel and taking out of Krynn gold and silver. The powerful warrior Deth would strike a blow to Ansalon by killing one of it’s greatest defenders, while the fiend known as Pestilence would strike at the very core of one of the greatest knightly organizations by defiling a sacred abbey.

All these activities began to attract the attention of Hiddukel the god of lies and deceit. Hiddukel believed, and rightfully so, that these foreign born invaders were pests and needed to die. But the combined might of Sephiroth, Jay Oaker, Deth, and Pestilence would defeat Hiddukel time and time again until they attracted the attention of the Dark Queen Takhisis.

Takhisis was impressed by the evil that four mortals could wreck and laughed at Hiddukel’s constant failures. Sephiroth used his access to the Dragon Portal in the Tower of High Sorcery to travel to Takhisis realm were Jay Oaker made the Dragon Queen a sweet deal. If Jay Oaker could defeat Hiddukel in a fight (legitimately or otherwise) then Takhisis would elevate Jay Oaker to the position of God of Deceit.

So Takhisis summoned her alley Hiddukel to her realm in the first layer of Baator and made Hiddukel do battle with Jay Oaker. Hiddukel brought the pain to Jay Oaker but through sneaky actions, Jay Oaker was able to suck Hiddukel up in a Sphere of Annihilation and win the duel. So as the Master of the Past and the Present, Sephiroth was able to help in the death of a god and the rise of a new god but as his namesake goes, Jay Oaker would have the last laugh. Because for all the power and might that was given Jay Oaker; all was used to gain personal power for himself and his friends. Jay Oaker cared not for the world of Krynn and would slowly let it fall more and more into chaos.

Eventually Takhisis could not form an alliance amongst the evil gods so Takhisis took the guise of Mina a new god and plotted a new war on Krynn. But without proper balance in Krynn and without the Master of the Past and Present, Takhisis’ plans almost came to full fruition. Takhisis positioned herself as Mina the new god and began to form new cults all over Krynn; some doing good, most doing evil. Paladine saw how much effort and engery Takhisis was putting forth this time and how it reminded him of when they first built the world. So to save the world, Paladine offered Takhisis a second chance, a chance to start over new: the two elder dragons would leave Krynn and form a new world and a new pantheon.

Thus the Age of Mortals began on Krynn, the elder gods of Paladine and Takhisis left the world they created to their children and companions. The stars that made up the constellations of Paladine and Takhisis left the night sky along with Mishakal. Some say that Mishakal left over a broken heart, others point out that the constellation for Branchala has shifted a bit as to represent that Branchala’s harp is playing a different tune: maybe trying to lure Mishakal back to the people she once ruled over.

First Things First (Part One)

Duke Nightmare was infused with new evil power but at a price unknown to Duke Nightmare. Duke Nightmare had started his life as Alexander Roesone; second in line to the throne of Roesone. Alexander plotted with Traese Noelon, castellan of castle Black Tower, to kill both Alexander’s older sister (Marlae Roesoene) and her Seneschal, Gaered Biersen. With Alexander as the new Black Baron of Roesone, Traese Noelon turned the position of castellan into more of a position of chamberlain or prime minister.

But ruler ship of a domain was not really Alexander’s calling; oh, but he did dear reader enjoy taxation and war. Alexander Roesone invested his lands into Raphael Saberstrike. But the something in the ceremony must have done something, for when Alexander gave power of the land over to Raphael; Alexander got a little something in return. What exactly happened is a mystery but during the investiture ceremony Duke Nightmare came into contact with the inner power of the Red Hood.

Duke Nightmare, under the advice of Kareem, negotiated with an evil wizard going by the name of the Swamp Mage. Duke Nightmare traded a king’s ransom in gold for a magic lamb that would summon an efreet who would grant Duke Nightmare three wishes. The efreet named Firebeard Blackaxe would grant Duke Nightmare his wishes and would forever change Duke Nightmare’s life.

Duke Nightmare, along with Sedrie Bellamie, summoned a nightmare steed from the lower planes. Duke Nightmare feed the dark stallion flakes of platinum in the shape of oats and grains. While the nightmare steed accepted the gift and would allow Duke Nightmare to use the dark stallion for one mission of evil. Duke Nightmare then wished that the steed would serve Duke Nightmare for as many evil missions as Duke Nightmare needed and the efreet, Firebeard Blackaxe made his wish come true.

The second wish from the genie was something out of a Disney movie: Duke Nightmare wished to be a prince. Firebeard Blackaxe told Duke Nightmare that the wish was granted but it would be up to Duke Nightmare to figure out what he became the prince of. And finally for the third and final wish, Duke Nightmare wished that Firebeard Blackaxe would not hold any animosity for the forced servitude. Firebeard Blackaxe enjoyed Duke Nightmare’s bold assertiveness when it came to the first two wishes that the third wish almost made Firebeard Blackaxe laugh out loud. With the last wish, Firebeard Blackaxe would destroy the magic genie lamp and not hold any ill-will against Duke Nightmare.

While the wishes for power and the magical steed really did transform Alexander Roesone into Duke Nightmare, it was the blood-silver spear that helps lead Alexander down a dark path. It was the blood-silver spear that cost Alexander his place in the Church of Cuiraecen, it was the blood-silver spear that kept allies like Trogdor and Bossen-Kessen away, it was the blood-silver spear that gave Duke Nightmare dreams of power and conquest. While Duke Nightmare would only get one real juicy kill from the blood-sliver spear (the Duke of Diemed) until it was stole from him. But even having the spear stolen was not so bad as it lead Duke Nightmare on an adventure that would net him the Dark Cauldron, the Eye of the Warlock, and a vast treasury of gold, weapons and armor, and most importantly: information.

When Duke Nightmare learned of the completion of the second wish whilst traveling through dimensions, trying to return from the Astral back to the Prime Material. In-between the planes of existence the Shadow World looms and blocks the direct path between planes: one has to cross the Shadow World to gain access between the Astral and the Prime Material Planes. When confronted by the shadow barrier, Duke Nightmare was greeted by liaisons from the Unseelie, the court of the dark fairies. When brought to the court of Lussina, the Dark Queen of the Unseelie, Duke Nightmare was greeted and treated as a prince of the fairies.

And that is exactly what Lussina told Duke Nightmare; that Alexander Roesone’s mother was a fairie that had traveled to the Prime and mated with a mortal. Lussina told Duke Nightmare that his mother was locked up in one of three towers were Lussina kept all three of her evil daughters. Lussina could not move to kill her daughters for betraying her so they were forever condemned to languish in solitary confinement. Lussina instead that Duke Nightmare was her grandson and that Alexander should show her the same respect (it was after this that we started referring to Lussina as “Grand Mama”).

the Baron of Ghoere

Isaac Tael (3^rd son of Gavin Tael) waits, pacing, brooding in the moment that was a year in the making, he was coming and all Issac could do was wait for him; the return of the Sword Mage.

Let us dear reader backtrack for a second and tell the story of Issac Tael and his ominous rise to the throne of Baron of Ghoere. The story always starts with Gavin Tael, Ghoere was a Barony that rose up in power through war and conquest and Gavin Tael excelled at both in spades. But at the peak of Gavin’s power an assassination plot succeeded in fatally poisoning the Baron and left in a catatonic state the Sword Mage acted with power of attorney. Isaac Tael’s older brothers were eliminated and with promises of power Isaac was appointed the new Baron of Ghoere.

But there was already trouble for poor Isaac; with word of the death of Gavin Tael all his old enemies came to wreck havoc. With reduced number troops on the border the Spider harassed manors and villages. The once neutral Southlands launched invasions, lead by then Count Sedrie Bellamie. Prince Avanil launched an invasion across the river Maesil while the King of Elinie moved across the border to the east. William Moergen reclaimed the title of Duke of Osoerde; he sought to reclaim lands lost to Ghoere.

This went on for several years but the Sword Mage kept things interesting and help Ghoere prevail in several key battles. But then one year ago, some intruders disturbed a trap that called for the Sword Mage’s attention. The Sword Mage traveled with a small army to the swamp of Spiritsend and checked on a favorite captive: the Swamp Mage. But by the time the Sword Mage could get to the Swamp Mage’s tower, the Player Character Duke Nightmare had killed the Swamp Mage, looted the tower, and then destroyed said tower. So when the Sword Mage arrived all seemed lost but the Sword Mage tracked the Player Characters to their destination in the swamp: the Hut of Baba Yaga.

The Player Characters arrived in several squads before starting to endeavor near the hut. The Sword Mage kept magically concealed along with the accompanying army but when a juicy target appeared the Sword Mage had to act. Raphael Sabersrike, Count of Abbatour, the People’s Champion, Wielder of Enlien’s Sword, the King of the Southlands how could the Sword Mage but not attack a regent of another nation on the spot. But it was all for naught as it was the Mystery Man my dear reader and not Raphael.

But then Raphael appeared and with a word of magic teleported the Shade right alongside the Sword Mage. The Shade used a vial of green acid and it splashed all over the Sword Mage’s armor. The Sword Mage laughed and asked if there was anything else the Shade wished to do but the acid worked quickly and soon the Sword Mage was left a pile of goo.

The army that the Sword Mage brought panicked and the Player Characters took advantage and fought the army as they routed. Duke Nightmare struck a victory by capturing one of the seven daughters of the Sword Mage: a half-dragon. Soon word would spread of the Sword Mage’s death and Isaac Teal would be left with even more of a mess to clean up.

And that is the pickle Isaac has been in for over a year: no Sword Mage. Elinie, Avanil, Osoerde, and the Southlands had all taken land from Ghoere and the province of Ghiere declared it’s self a free city. For one year it all looked bleak for Isaac but word came that the Sword Mage is back from the dead.

Usually when the Sword Mage would travel to the castle of Rock Roost a large procession would accompany the appearance, so when the New Sword Mage appeared from out of the shadows it was quite a surprise to all in the Baron’s grand hall. Isaac greeted the New Sword Mage, stopped pacing, and took a seat on the throne of the Baron of Ghoere. The two would talk but briefly but word of the meeting between the Baron and the New Sword Mage would spread.

Word would spread of the New Sword Mage’s appearance: that of a tall muscular man, wearing fashionable clothing, with a while hood bearing a sword embroidered in blue (the typical mask of one of the Seven Daughter’s of the Sword Mage), and most distinctively difference about the New Sword Mage is a quasit imp familiar. Before one never could tell the appearance of the Sword Mage but one was sure to notice the overlapping sword coat but this is all gone now and the New Sword Mage appears to be a male wizard, perhaps warlock. Regents work quick so the New Sword Mage is going to have to conquer source holdings from rival mages.

What does the Pope Do?

“I do not even know what the Pope really does,” this was confessed by a doctorate level theologian after a colligate debate round. Who are the heads of church in Anuire?

1) The Church of All (J’oker) [N(E)] – The High Cleric Kareem – head temple in Abbatour (Southlands)

2) The Orthodox Imperial Temple (Haelyn) [LN] – Archbishop Lavalan Briesen, head temple in Aerele (Diemed)

3) The Western Imperial Temple (Haelyn) [LN] – Archprelate Rhobher Nichaleir (the Anvail Region)

4) The Northern Imperial Temple (Haelyn) [LG] – Supreme Hierarch, Thane Thuriene Donalls, capital Nowelton (Talinie)

5) The Holy Order of Haelyn’s Aegis [LG] – Grandmaster Antia Maricoere (Heartlands)

6) The Oaken Grove of Erik [NG] – Archdruid Gunther Brandt (Mhoried)

7) The Northern Reformed Church of Sarimie [NE] – Most Sacred Minister Larra Nielems (Cariele)

8) The Life and Protection of Avanalae (Avani) [LG] – Hierophant Medhlorie Haensen (Elinie)

9) The Peaceful Seas of Nesirie [N] – Daffyd Tamaere (Taeghas)

10) The Militant Order of Cuiraecen [CG] – Grand Master Fhylie the Sword, head temple in Bhalaene (Ghoere)

11) The Eastern Temples of Nesirie [NG] – High Priestess Marie Cwllmie, head temple in Serien (Mieres)

12) Ruornil’s Celestial Spell [N] – the Sacred Voice of Ruornil Suris Enlien, head temple in Braeme (Southlands)

13)The Celestial Jewel of Sarimie [CN(CE)] - the Sacred Broker Tomias Coumain (Avanil)