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.