Before commencing our journey I, in what Phobos chided was out of malice more than anything else, announced that I transfer leadership (was it ever mine to own) to none other than the mage. Like typical adventurers they accepted this as if it were nothing important. (Phobos made the point that all parties were a democratic one)
Palos wanted to buy some alchemist fire but had only a few gold to do it. As usual my talents were forgotten. I reminded him that I could do the very same but at only the cost of making them. So instead of one, for 10 extra he got many. As we left I was trying to name my enchanted X-bow. I thought of just referring to it as “my little friend” but after almost bursting from laughter Phobos made a rude inference at this being taken and suggested Spite and to name my alchemical bolts as malice missiles. Somehow this felt right so collecting Spite and more malice missiles we journeyed to the Shadow Fell.
Following the river we traveled to the swamplands and headed south, our leader suggested that we tie ropes around his “chariot” and like good little soldiers the others did.
We came upon a building covered in weeds and moss indicating we had arrived at our destination. But we were not alone here. For before we could react a dragon as black as the night sky burst from the nearby pool, surged forward and reared up in a ferocious display that froze all but Guy and Talos in their tracks in awe and fear.
Guy sent a beacon of hope at the Dragon but was deflected off its black scales. Torin spat a glop of fire and a shocking spear at it, both scorching it and electrifying it respectively. Not to be out done by an upstart cousin it breathed in deep and bellowed out a stream of acid that burned our flesh and seared our lungs, Rhodes activated his amulet to shield himself so was less effected. Phobos and I cut right. I turned and promptly missed with Spite but had the foresight to tell the others to spread out and hit it with ranged. Guy cast a daunting light that pierced its hide. Torin maneuvered and let loose a chilling strike that caused its skin to flake off and chip from the cold. Berrien’s and Rhode’s ranged attacks bounced off its amour and only one of Palos’ shots hit.
Still apparently “upset” with Torin the Dragon gave chase, biting a chunk of flesh from him for hurting him so. I also noticed it spit, melting Talos’ flesh. Covering my maneuver to the dragon’s pool Phobos flew at the Dragon, striking two savage blows. Thus I set up an ambush. Guy’s attack glanced off its thick scales, his follow up attack struck home wounding it deeply. Torin, trying to avoid further punishment, maneuvered away joining up with Guy and Rhodes. Berrien’s first shot went wide but readjusting the second struck a penetrating blow.
Enraged, the Dragons fury was loosed as a stream of acid at Guy and the others near him scorching them as the acid ate flesh. Rhodes chased down the Dragon and while his first blow was deflected his second was a painful one. The beast now turned his fury on Rhodes and Berrien both who dodged, then his claws reached for Rhodes. One missed, the other scratched him. Sensing an opportunity I arose from my watery cover and sent a powerful shot that bit deep into its scaly hide then I sank beneath the waves again leaving barely a ripple. Guy sent a beam of light that struck home and burned the beast and Rhodes was blessed with healing. Torin’s attack missed as Palos and Rhodes moved in tandem to flank the Dragon. Palos’s attack may have missed but it gave Rhodes the opening he needed to cave in the skull of the creature.
Looting the now dead Dragons nest gained us a fair amount of coinage and enough magical items. I must make it clear that while I did nothing to stop or dissuade them from their barbarism I found it interesting that they seemed to relish skinning other sentient creatures for future profit and if I did that to one of their kin I’d be branded a monster.
Before us the temple stood in ruin and a quick search led to nothing. The mage began his works. A shimmering portal that looked like water appeared before us and the others went through in ways that made them comfortable. (Torin surfing) It was at this point Phobos and I discussed the parties’ actions. We agreed that, as is typical of so called adventurers, they would justify their actions by stating that their morals inhabited the gray areas of the spectrum. We occupied the more darker region and thus need not explain our actions to any of them (to wit I AM EVIL) holding Phobos close to me we entered the portal and immediately it felt and looked as if we were racing through a winding tunnel shifting directions and at odd intervals and the only noise reminded me of a pig squealing but soon we found ourselves in the Shadow Fell.
I remarked “Welcome to the Shadow Fell and the dark aspect of your soul.” Phobos asked about being surrounded by darkness. Again I replied “Its like a second home to me” The Dwarf chided me on THAT remark declaring that could easily guide them to our friends but ignored a slight slip of the tongue by one of the others.
Then I focused on the paladin and the amulet gave me a north east feeling. We decided to travel along the road to this Guy quipped “I like roads.” I, without missing a beat, joked “I Know.”
Soon a boat appeared. Its passengers, one fore, one aft and five in the middle, sailed down the river in the opposite direction. I did have an odd feeling that the gods of this realm had placed our paths to intersect as if to deliberately cause a fight but focused on our goal we ignored them entirely.
We seemed to be traveling back to kobold hall by the direction we were going with the obvious difference that the plant life was shriveled and blackened versions of what was there. No sooner had the thought crossed our minds then we were beset by twisted versions of what were once people-undead-
Palos fired twice at a zombie both shots hit. Phobos lunged at an undead, striking a mighty blow, then retreated to join me in the shadows beneath a tree. Berrien loosed an arrow but it went astray. A death lock wright hurled an orb charged with foul necromancy at Rhodes but the warrior batted it away, and in reply charged the creature and dealt it a crushing blow sending bits flying. His second strike dealt a near mortal blow. Torin spat his breath at a group of them killing several and wounding another. Then killing it and causing another to be wounded. The zombie charged at Rhodes and Palos missing Rhodes and barely scratching Palos those that could not strike at us moved ever closer. Guy held aloft his symbol of his god and turned them bathing the abominations in his gods light, annihilating all but two. (The death lock ceased to become a lock)
Palos and I missed our targets and in doing so left ourselves open to attack. Berrien shot an electrically charged arrow at one of the creatures sending waves of energy through it and another. Rhodes struck a zombie but left him open to attack and got a nasty cut for the effort. Torin let loose a blast of thunder striking both creatures near me. Guy sent a divine glow at his targets turning one to ash and scorching another.
Palos crushed his opponent and teleported behind another, moving deftly Phobos and I moved into flaking position with Palos and cut the creature in half. Rhodes appeared to await something as Talos’ chill strike wounded the last zombie and caused it to try to escape. This would prove to be an exercise in futility as Rhodes sprang into action and ended its unlife smashing it into fine powder.
We are here in the darkness. The others can’t see it but I can feel it as can Phobos. It hungers and we will feed it with those who stand between us and our mission. I have only asked Phobos a simple question. Will the “he/its evil so it doesn’t count” excuse work when we please our god while feeding the dark? Zhihir only knows.
