Forty days have passed since the Orc Hoard was repelled by Prince Soreil’s troops. He has forced the Baron to swear fealty to him directy instead of the King of the North. This is in a violation with the Accords of Rule as established by Singe the Clever in the Year of the Yellow Mouse. How the King will take this affront to his rule will be seen.
Tash is beset by plague. The orc filth has been piled and burned but a good portion of the people have succumbed. And unnoticed by many, but not Brac, many Halflings are missing.
Van Huger assumed the place of the former court magician Dimault. He set up the lab and began working on formula for his own spells. One night, he was attacked by a burned, but powerful looking Dimault. Van Huger responded by throwing a bean in the evil wizard’s mouth. Dimault sprouted limbs, leaves and bark.
Dimault the Dunce was gone. Long live Dimault the deciduous.
Winston reorganized the City Watch putting Joe as quartermaster. Brack took a leave to train his Halfling Henchmen. Luna was busy with her sisters of Selanae, along with the brothers of Megaster, in healing the sick. The priests of Krydhal were the busiest of all…
In the Opal City of Berryl, Ryiah the young elf mage was sent on a jet black Hurar, all the way to Tash. The Gray Elves had learned that fleeing Orcs have disturbed the lair of a chaos dragon. The awakened beast would be ravenous and nothing would be safe. Now true, elves have no love for the filthy humans, but a nomadic herd of chaos afflicted humans would spread their germs all over Arcadia. The humans had to be warned.
Ryiah was given a wand and a kettle. She was warned about the ways of humans. She would cover her mouth and nose with linens.
She was met at the city was by Joe, Winston and Drac. Drac confirmed Ryiah’s story about the Chaos Dragon. Drac came back from his forest to warn his reluctant allies about the dangers of Chaos affliction. As a Harper, it’s his sword duty to stop Arcadia from succumbing to chaos.
Ryiah ordered everyone to meet in the morning. She had heard tales of the Loaf and Onion and the famous Onion bread and Dwarven ales even as far away as her hometown. It was true. Even though the tavern was empty, she enjoyed her meal.
Alas, Dwarven ales are made for hearty constitution then the slender Elf Maiden. She passed out. Thorn was content to let her lay in her own sick, if not for some opportunists. He leapt from the shadows and beat them off. One tried to kick the downed elf, another steal her wand. Thorn took Ryiah to his apartment and let her sleep it off. He even prepared a lovely mushroom breakfast as he thought the lovely elf would like.
The group met at the gate. They saddled horses. Winston marveled at the beauty of the jet black Hurar. He had heard tales of the majestic elven horse, and hoped to see one.
They followed the main rode south and west. Once they crossed the river, they would be in the Land of Fae, governed directly by Titania and Oberon. Since they were now technically under the rule of Prince Soreil, this should not be a violation of the Accords.
They found their first waystation. Thorn left a coin to the humble priests and they pressed on. Drac spotted something in the Wheatfield. The wheat was odd. First it was winter, second, it seemed off…
Thorn when to investigate. He saw a lone farmer smiling. He turned to face Thorn and his smile wrapped around his head and his skin fell off. His insides erupted into tendrils and lashed out.
He stabbed at the chaos afflicted farmer. Joe ran up and impaled two spears in the things body. Drac, as accurate as the winter is cold, hit the beast time and time again.
Ryiah cast a fireball with such grace and elegance it dodge Winston, and Thorn and burned the creature. Van Huger cast his new spell and pushed the thing to its side.
Ryiah then tried to cast a web, but miscast, and coated herself in her own spell. Luna had to cut her free. The things tendrils whipped and slapped the party. Winston’s hammer, Thorn’s sword, and Joe’s spears finally did it in. They burnt the body, along with the afflicted wheat.
They continued on the road until they found six crying children. Thorn’s weakness is children and he and Luna offered them protection. They brought them back to the waystation and offered more coins to the priest, who they didn’t seem to find attending the shrine.
Drac spotted three adults calling for the kids. They were…odd.
One was rubbery, one was hard like stone. The other covered in acidic mucous.
Arrows didn’t seem to hurt them. Fire, and hammers, well they smashed the flint being good. And the acidic being was burnt by fire. Van Huger tossed another bean which caused an earthquake.
A narrow mountain grew, and on top was a castle. Van Huger, being Van Huger, climbed to the top. He saw painted on the door was a silver double sided axe. He wondered if this could be the lost castle of the Labyrandos, the legendary Silver Axe of Tor.
HE knocked on the door was greeted by a warm, friendly face. A seven foot tall hulk of man with a large red beard, ring mail armor and loud friendly voice invited him in.
He offered everyone food and drink, and rest. HE said no one would be harmed here. Luna confirmed he was not evil and let the children enter. Everyone ate. The food healed all wounds and restored all vim and vigor.
ALL but the elves entered the castle.
He announced himself as Landro Lach Lass and it was his glorious duty to greet all supplicants and honor their them with glorious combat. And if they be worthy they could have the axe. It was then that everyone noticed a huge double sided silver glowing axe. Drac asked if it could harm a chaos dragon. Landro replied, “There is naught this axe cannot cleave.”
Van Huger filled Landro’s cup with his vial of Yondalla’s Tears. Landro saw that the wizard put poison in his cup and kicked the wizard toward the door.
Luna than slashed the giant with her rapier. Landro laughed and hit Winston who was charging at him. Thorn slammed him with his shield and then stabbed him. Van Huger cast a fireball and Landro caught it and extinguished it. Ryiah tried to make him sleep but he was too resilient.
Landro punched and laughed at Joe who was knocked unconscious. Luna went to revive her friend. Van Huger cast a spell of protection on himself and dodged the giant’s blows.
Drack hit Landro with some arrows. And Ryiah cast a web but the large man proved too nimble.
Winston tried to seize the axe and did not die.
Van Huger levitated the demi god up but he then flew at the wizard. Again Van Huger’s spell protected him and the guardian of the Keep crashed into the wall and out. Van Huger fired a fireball at him but he proved immune to fire.
He flew in and all at once, at Joe’s command, everyone attacked. Drac;s arrows, Joe’s axe, Thorn’s sword, Winston’s hammer, Van Hugur’s fozare, and Luna’s foil, at hit at once.
A gaping wound was opened in his throat and chest. He struck out at Joe but Van Huger pushed him out of the way and used his magic shield to protect them.
Landro seemed gone.
Thorn tried to grab the axe and did not die.
Drac spotted the Demigod flying back. Again, everyone concentrated their attack. Van Hugur’s spell, Riah’s blast, Drack’s arrows, Joe’s axe, Winston’s hammer, and Thorn’s sword all but vaporized the man.
When the blood stopped spraying on everyone, Joe took the axe off the wall.
A voice in her head told her, “My glorious duty is over. For now you hold the axe. You have been warned.”
The mountain then began to crumble. They all made it down. Two horses had to be put down. The children were safe, and the party tried to sort things out.
In the distance they could see a purple and yellow storm with odd shaped clouds. The Chaos Dragon was on the move.
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