schuetz@via.DEC (DTN 381-2647 or system REGAL, GLIVET, or LAGER) (06/06/85)
{There were several requests for a summary of our war chronicles. The
best I have is my character's report to his superiors.
This report covers in 3 pages, what took 3 years to run and 500+ pages to
write up in the chronicles.
TANNAR is a 7th level cleric, although due to lack of training he only knows
4 spells - BLESS, CHANT, PFE, and Cure Light Wounds (although the DM does allow
him to "push" his cures by up to 6 hit points more - what we call Cure Moderate)
Tannar is a PLESSIAN, a Lawful-GOOD sect, and the major religion in the empire.
PLESSIUS was a humble cleric, more defender than warlord. MICHAELINES are
his paladins. The TAMIR are a druidic sect. The DM was into Zen at the time.
URUK-HAI are high orcs, smarter, more neutral. }
Background: The Chosen One's forces have invaded the Eastern Reach from
across the sea, and have swept the country. Reports are sketchy. Magic
support is suspected. Fearing that his forces would eventually cross the
mountains and invade the Empire, we were supposed to scout out the situation.
Months have 6 weeks of 5 days each. We started out in the summer.
TANNAR's report to the CHANCERY (Bishopric Council)
[Not so much the details, but the topics he would include.]
Tannar would begin by stating whom we went with, Father Marcus the Tamir.
Because of the unknown situation, Father Marcus went disguised as a
merchant. He was attacked by 8 orcs, which he managed to slay by
himself, before we joined up with him.
As we were traveling the pass, we were harrassed by one of the Uruk-hai,
one Ya Parath (we learned later), and his wargs. During the first
"attack", I had a brief vision of the glowing Shield of Plessius being
sorely pressed; by whom or what I could not tell. 17th Arrel
Eventually we were led to the Uruk-hai encampment. There we were charged
with defeating the Chosen One. They hold slaves - "payments" - from
those they have caught in the pass. They seem honorable, on their own
terms. Four half-orcs were sent to accompany us.
Information on the Chosen One was scant, even to the Uruk-hai. We
journeyed on to find out more.
One item that the Uruk-hai had was said to be a religious object. It
seemed very old and we thought to use it as a basis for a counter
revolt. It was revealed to us later to be one of the Nine Doctrines
of Darkness, in goblet form.
[Tannar will omit anything about the Runesingers, or his or O'Ferric's
absence for a while. ]
{ We managed to get teleported away for a while. }
The plan was to set up Marcus as an alternative power in the forest,
to oppose the Chosen One and gather his enemies to us. However, Marcus
became somewhat under the spell of the Goblet, and soon fled from us.
We spent several weeks tracking him down. He laid traps for us to slow
us down and lead us astray, but did not actively oppose us.
While we were searching for Marcus, we came upon a town. Hron, one of the
Uruk-hai got captured and tortured. The mages went in to rescue him,
but his legs were broken and the Uruk-hai mage Andros cast a spell upon
him to be able to be moved. We got away from the town, but someone was
tracking the spell. Andros removed the spell and I tried to cure
his broken legs enought that he could travel. During the cure I had
another stronger vision of the Shield being sorely pressed, but
unblemished and holding. I completely cured his two broken legs.
[vision on 30th Bokesh]
During the rescue, the mages apparently released some ancient evil crea-
ture when they broke the wards. It attacked us one night. Later we met
Joland, [Tannar will not say that we ambushed him] one of the Mages of
the Eastern Reach, and he informed us that it was his Grellik. We helped
him recapture it magically. Met some Easterners, Chugach, Donal, Taryn.
We convinced Joland and the other mages of the East to join forces with
the rebels. While some members went to speak with Marcus, I fasted and
had another vision of the Shield. This time, it was joined by the
Right Hand of Plessius, striking back, but at what I could not see.
Much later, I assumed this to mean that the Michaelines had arrived to
help the rebels. 18th Varr
All of the mages of the East arrived at Alder's keep, and we went off
to find the Hermit. I fasted again, and felt that we were not near
the conflict. 25th Varr. Attempted Augury about opposing Marcus,
on 26th Varr - not conclusive. The mages formed a Web, with Astra.
2 Firrim, attacked by 16 scouts. 4 Uruk-hai managed to kill 12 of them
while 4 scouts almost managed to kill us. Magicked arrows and swords.
3 Firrim, "Risen", flaming sword. I Turned them back into the ground.
5 Firrim, while curing O'Ferric, I felt another vision of the Shield
and Right Hand again. This time I saw the Adversary, robed in white,
before me. I thought to strike him from behind, but as I approached,
he started to turn towards me, and I hurriedly dropped the concentration.
Many others had had visions of the white-robed one at times.
Met squad of Michaelines in woods. Pursuaded them to help stop Marcus.
We met him and tried to convince him to give us the Goblet. He refused
and fought us. We managed to defeat him and the mages disposed of the
Goblet. [will not mention fall and resurrection of O'Ferric.]
It was not as completely successful a banishment as they had hoped, but
no one knew any more details. Perhaps the Chosen One interferred.
We followed the Michaelines to the rebel camp. There were 1500 rebels,
opposed by 6000 men of the Chosen One. One tribe of dwarves fought on
the side of the rebel, along with 5 dragons from the South.
[I will describe the dragons in some detail.] The dragons unfortunately
disappeared during the final battle, due to arcane forces, we presume.
We learned a little more history of the Chosen One's arrival in the East,
and his current position and forces. We decided to attack his supply
lines, but before we could implement anything, our mages discovered that
He would probably attack that night - 15 Firrim. I rode a Brown up to
the caves where the dwarves were digging for Firestone for the dragons.
They apparently really can breathe fire, although we did not observe it
firsthand. I rode the Gold as well.
That night, we awaited the enemy. Two great siege engines approached.
I started Chanting, and Revel Fireballed the engines. Nothing happened
for a while, then Shangmar fell while dispelling the Illusion of nothing
that hid the approach of the first wave of attack. Revel and I continued
to Chant and Fireball the enemy.
The mages of the East fought the Chosen One's lieutenants on some other
plane. Joland's Grellik was also involved. They were ultimately
successful, and the first wave of attack broke off. By some arcane
means, Rowan and O'Ferric found themselves in the center of the enemy
camp, and fought the Chosen One directly. The Foehammer outdid itself,
and defeated Him and his Lieutenants. [I will not mention the boy.]
The word carried swiftly, and we at the wall could see confusion and
breaking of the enemy's ranks. Paleric transported Revel and me to
where O'Ferric lay dying, for the Lieutenants had dealt him a mortal
wound, which was infected with great evil, and I could not cure. I
could only barely sustain him. We hid, and the Michaelines found us
and brought us back to camp. The enemy forces held a truce, and
sued for peace.
While they were still in confusion, Revel and I and two squads of
Michaelines went to their base camp, to try to recover the chests of
great evil which others had discovered there. The entire camp had
been leveled and burned, but the chests were whole.
Revel found and touched
a crystal ball, which had been used for scrying, and felt a jolt.
Grayton detected great evil, and I started to cleans the arm with
triple Blessings and Holy Water. Grayton started a Chant beside me,
and I suddenly saw another being staring back at me through Revel's
eyes. I was under attack by a great, dark, manevolent demon.
I raised the Shield of Plessius, and fought him off at first. Then
I found in my hand a golden glowing sword !?! and fought back. The
battle went on forever, it seemed. [Lots of details.] Finally I
managed 5 unanswered attacks and it vanished.
I recovered my senses on the ground on my back. Grayton confirmed
that the posession of Revel's arm seemed to be fading. We packed up
12 crates, and the crystal carefully and returned to the rebel camp.
The mages tried to identify the evil in one of the chests. They said
that it was Prime, whatever that means. During the investigation,
Alder was burned by the concentration of the evil. I could do very
little for him either. The Michaelines put the chests under guard,
and the mages put them under wards as well.
{Kaius was the mundane general of the Chosen One's forces. }
The surrender was worked out, and Kaius agreed to have the remaining
priests of their religion attempt to banish the spell of forgetfulness.
I had been unable to make any progress with O'Ferric, and none of the
mages could help him either. Kaius agreed to have the priests try to
heal him, since it was said that only they could reverse the evil
inflicted upon him. They first sent teachers, instead of themselves,
but Kaius got very angry and they quickly showed up to banish the spell
of forgetfulness. Its effects were tenuous at best.
Later they returned to help O'Ferric, or so they said. After more than
an hour of chants, we discovered that instead, they were raising wards
and performing a summoning! We could not penetrate the wards nor
interrupt their summoning. A blue glow surrounded them and above their
outstretched arm, the crystal appeared. Suddenly the demon appeared
in their midst! [9' tall, etc.] It slew them, and our dwarves in their
midst in a great fire that it raised. I tried to Turn it, but I don't
think that it even noticed me. The mages and the Foehammer managed to
fight it, and it vanished, but promised to return. [ Tannar will not
mention the demon's name, but will write it down - Dalrecna! ]
We honored and buried our fallen comrades, and returned to Garahni Sichi.
At the pass, we satisfied the Uruk-hai that the Chosen One and his army
were defeated. The Michaelines were left in charge of the evil chests.
If anyone wants the full 500 pages, or just Tannar's notes along the way,
send me mail directly. I will not post it to the net. }