Post by Dungeon Master on Apr 8, 2007 19:01:19 GMT -5
Knight of the Skull
The Valley of Crystals
Southern Expeditionary Force commanded by Skull Knight Lydia Ravenheart
Posted by the DM
Eight months ago . . .
Bitter cold. You are bitter, and it is damned cold here. It is Spring Dawning by Elven records. Here is the foothills of Thoradin, in the Khalkist Mountains, Supporting the High Thane of Thoradin. The High Thane Severus Stonehand has reached a treaty with The Knights of Takhisis a few months ago, to defend Thoradin and the Valley of Crystal, in return for priceless jewels, and military weaponry.
Priceless jewels, and military weaponry. That what it has come to, though, you have to admit the weaponry is especially good. The problem is, the ogres have this range staked out, and are trying to hold the valley, and have taken two wings and a dragon from the forward command.
Those wing commanders were incompetent. Family money bought their positions, and got a lot of good men, and a equal amount of scum, killed by their inability to lead.
Intelligence from a Talon in your Compgroup has returned, and it doesn’t look good.
Ogre forces (400 strong) are moving north from Blode, toward the Crystal valley, and link up with the 100 ogres already in the Valley.
Your group is 350 strong, and 6 Dragons. More can be pulled from Neraka. The full force of your Shield is 1,575.
Sir Velek Gramond, 12th Level Dark Warrior, Knight of the Lilly is your X.O. and your Military Advisor, He is Human, and a decent man, not like these basic mercenaries, that have no concept of honor, and the true vision of the Knighthood. The only problem you have with him is that it is rumored that his grandfather and father were favored of Sargonnas. He has been completely loyal to you, and has proven himself to be one of the greatest warriors you have ever seen in action.
Nightlord Rosalyn Maliki, 14th Level Knight of the Thorn, is the Master Gray Wizard of you Shield. She could have stayed back in Neraka, but insisted on coming here with you. She is a crazed old woman, rumored to be over a hundred years old. It is also rumored that she could have had her pick of assignments, but she chose your wing, fifty years ago, ten years before the chaos war. She has always had wise advice, but never suggests it, unless you ask for it. She lets you lead, make your own choices.
She is revered, and feared by her followers in the gray robe. The other Lord Knights speak under their breathes about her service in your group. Rosalyn should have made Master of the Thorn by now, if not the circle of seven, the Lords of Thorns. There is a conspiracy against her, and it ails your reputation as well. Instead of a Shield force, you should be in charge of a Army group of 44,100 men by your rank, and years of service.
But thru it all, your devotion has not wavered. Your goddess fought to defend this world against the mad Chaos god. The Bards of course, whisper that your Dark goddess left amidst the fighting, when Steel Brightblade led the Knights of Light and Darkness into the Rift, and slew the mortal form of Chaos. They say she abandoned her loyal knights in the end. Many bards have met their end by your command.
The death of Lord Ariakan was a mighty blow to the heart of the Dark Knighthood, and it would not have survived, if not for the sheer determination of one Mirielle Abrena. The current Governor-General of the Knights of Takhisis, based out of Neraka. The Knighthood could have splintered off in a hundred directions, like the Dragonarmies of old. But she not only held the order together, but the order of thrived in these years, denoted by the Aesthetics, to be the Age of Mortals.
The Dark Guideposts still shepherd the Dark Knighthood. The Vision is gone, or rather, The True Vision is gone, gone with our Dark Queen. In the year 15 SC, the trio of knights, sent to be undercover agents, to learn the Mystic Arts from the Citadel of Light on Schallsea Isle. The Art was stolen from the accursed First Master Goldmoon of the Que-Shu, and brought back to the Dark Knights. Abrena had the Skull knights resurrect the Vision, but in a format controlled by your order, the Skull knights. The difference being, man, not the Dark Goddess, would control this vision, and the knights of the 4th age could consult the vision at will, to know his place is the Dark Queen’s grand plan for this world, unlike now, the knight is alone, unable to access the vision at will. It is transmitted when The Lord of Knights deem it necessary.
The Blood Oath, simply, Submit or Die, still stands.
The Code also still remains unchanged. It is complex, but described as not as the great oak, which does not bend, and often is toppled by its roots. It is not stone, which never yields, but can be broken, and can be worn away by the elements. The Code is not water, which yields too easily, and follows every path. The Code is described as the Iron Wood tree. The strong trunks are impervious to blows, yet the branches sway with the wind. Such trees live forever.
Intelligence also mentioned the presence of blue-skinned giants being among the deployment, heading north from Bloten. That would be the Ogre Titans. General Abrena met them on the field of battle two years ago. They destroyed hundreds of troops, with a blast they emit from their chest, a “Soul blast” as it was described. That could mean major trouble.
DM Note: I am sending you a 4th Age Map. Location of Skull Knight’s forces is just south of Zhakar, near the Hammer Monument.
Diary of Lydia Ravenheart, Knight of the Skull
Posted by Jerry Trapspringer
'It's cold. Damned cold...' I muttered under my breath. Even dressed in a suit of full plate the wind found some way to whistle though the small gaps, almost as if in deliberate insult. My black warhorse, Nightfire, blew fountains of silver vapor, almost as if he were some sort of infernal machine created by gnomes as he strode though the thick banks of snow.
A nod here, a salute there, a showing of the flag to raise morale I thought, at least hopefully something was coming out of exposing myself to a cold that would freeze the tail off a thanoi. The men trudged by, morale as low as the temperature. Most of them weren't very happy about freezing their rears off for a bunch of dwarves. Even the wealth the dwarves were offering was of little inducement when everyone knew most of it was going to the coffers of that greedy fool Targonne.
I felt ashamed when I rounded a nearby row of tents and saw the dragons. A blue dragon is a creature of the desert, heat and sand. To see one curled shivering in the snow is more than enough to remove ones mind from their own plight. We humans (or almost humans) can endure the weather far better than they. I order the mercenaries standing around idle to gather wood to build a bonfire for the dragons. Maybe it could take some of the chill off for them, at least it will keep the men busy and out of trouble. Some of the more foolish trudge off in a surly manner until one of the larger dragons opens her eyes and fixes them in a steely gaze. This seems to put a bit more spring in their step as I rein in Nightfire and head back to the command tent.
One of the guards holds my horse as I dismount and leads him away. I push aside the flaps of the command tent and before I have time to remove my helmet and toss my wet gloves beside the fire my adjutant is there, a bowl of soup so hot I almost burn my fingers on it. I slurp it down in huge grateful slugs, most unladylike I'll admit but it's worth it as the hot liquid warms my mouth, through, and stomach, the warmth spreading outward as the heat of the fire reaches in to meet it. I thank him, and make a sweeping curtsy that belongs more on a ballroom floor than a small rude tent sitting in a bank of snow and ice. He laughs and once again back to business I ask him to have Sir Gramond, Nightlord Maliki, and the two wing commanders to meet me in two hours. Swinging my booted feet close to the fire I sit down to work over the latest intelligence reports. Not good, not good at all...
Meeting
Posted by the DM
2 Hours later, your personal guard, a Bone Acolyte by the name of Sir Cain, advises you that Sir Gramond, Nightlord Maliki, and the Wing Commanders Sir Morelli, and Sir Dwyer, both Lily Knights, are outside your tent.
Council
Posted by Jerry Trapspringer
'Sir Cain,' I replied, 'you know I don't stand on ceremony, please see them in.'
As they entered I salute each in turn and then turn to my adjutant, 'Sir Harker don't we have a large map of the area around here somewhere?'
He brushes aside the pile of maps, letters, and reports I'd allowed piling on the table revealing the map underneath. Sheepishly I thank him and then turn my attention to my officers.
'Gentlemen, Nightlord, we seem to have found ourselves in the position of the proverbial kender that caught the wyvern. After the first superficial pleasantries I state my points.
'First off, assuming that all six dragons are in condition to fly I want them divided into two groups with three shifts each. I want two dragons in the air at all times running in eight-hour shifts per dragon. We need the intelligence and the exercise should help to keep them warm. The idle men should be kept busy gathering firewood to keep the bonfire stroked for the resting dragons.'
'Secondly are there any natives in the area that we can use as scouts? Dwarves not in the mountain, goblin tribes, whatever the case may be.'
'Thirdly, the Zhakkar. Get with their liaison and tell them we'll need help with the earthworks and fortifications. If they want us to defend them by the Abyss they can at least help with the digging. I'll hand it to the dwarves any day they do damn fine engineering, one of them is worth any three of us when it comes to digging in.'
'Concentrate on finding a good solid position for defense. I'll like a small valley if we can find it. Funnel the bastards into a tight little kill zone with archers and mages on the valley walls firing down into them.'
Plans
Posted by the DM
Sir Gramond looks over the map. "I will have the men begin on the defenses, but, this will only slow the ogres my Lord, when the Ogres come, they will stop at noting to get thru to us. Your plan is a sound one. This area right here," -He points and circles a area on the map, denoted as Ri'Ruk valley, -"The mountain passes from three trails lead into the valley from the southwest, The way we think they are coming. The Wings will confirm that as soon as possible."
The Wing Commanders nod their heads in agreement.
Nightlord Maliki looks at the map, then finally says, "My Thorn Knights will provide a mild cataclysm to get their attention once they enter the valley, but be aware, When the Titans come, They will be the most major threat. They will lead their troops with cunning, inspire them with battle cries of past Ogre glory, and bring magic that has not been witnessed on the field of battle in 10, 000 years. We are, at a disadvantage, even with Dwarven engineering, Goblin scouts, and yes, our Dragon Wings. I know you will use our Dragon friends wisely Lord.
Your assembled Knights give a shudder, as they always do when the Nightlord speaks. But they inwardly scoff at being at the disadvantage.
We lost some of the Story
DM Post
Flash Forwarding ahead past what we have already did.
Thane Stonehand has agreed that the threat is great, and he fields an Army, unlike any has seen since the Dwarfgate War. 2000 Engineers and regular army swell into the ranks of the Dark Knights. It is reported to you, that 3000 more Dwarven troops now are traveling under the ground in ancient tunnels, which lead to the Crystal Valley.
On the 2nd night, the Army makes camp at the northern crest of Ri’Ruk Valley. The Dark Knights gain rest, and the Dwarves take a short rest, then move into the Valley to Build the fortifications and traps. Their Darkvision makes this division a good one. Scouts have been sent out, and a perimeter is set and guarded by a rotating schedule of Dark Knight and Dwarven warriors.
The Valley of Crystals
Southern Expeditionary Force commanded by Skull Knight Lydia Ravenheart
Posted by the DM
Eight months ago . . .
Bitter cold. You are bitter, and it is damned cold here. It is Spring Dawning by Elven records. Here is the foothills of Thoradin, in the Khalkist Mountains, Supporting the High Thane of Thoradin. The High Thane Severus Stonehand has reached a treaty with The Knights of Takhisis a few months ago, to defend Thoradin and the Valley of Crystal, in return for priceless jewels, and military weaponry.
Priceless jewels, and military weaponry. That what it has come to, though, you have to admit the weaponry is especially good. The problem is, the ogres have this range staked out, and are trying to hold the valley, and have taken two wings and a dragon from the forward command.
Those wing commanders were incompetent. Family money bought their positions, and got a lot of good men, and a equal amount of scum, killed by their inability to lead.
Intelligence from a Talon in your Compgroup has returned, and it doesn’t look good.
Ogre forces (400 strong) are moving north from Blode, toward the Crystal valley, and link up with the 100 ogres already in the Valley.
Your group is 350 strong, and 6 Dragons. More can be pulled from Neraka. The full force of your Shield is 1,575.
Sir Velek Gramond, 12th Level Dark Warrior, Knight of the Lilly is your X.O. and your Military Advisor, He is Human, and a decent man, not like these basic mercenaries, that have no concept of honor, and the true vision of the Knighthood. The only problem you have with him is that it is rumored that his grandfather and father were favored of Sargonnas. He has been completely loyal to you, and has proven himself to be one of the greatest warriors you have ever seen in action.
Nightlord Rosalyn Maliki, 14th Level Knight of the Thorn, is the Master Gray Wizard of you Shield. She could have stayed back in Neraka, but insisted on coming here with you. She is a crazed old woman, rumored to be over a hundred years old. It is also rumored that she could have had her pick of assignments, but she chose your wing, fifty years ago, ten years before the chaos war. She has always had wise advice, but never suggests it, unless you ask for it. She lets you lead, make your own choices.
She is revered, and feared by her followers in the gray robe. The other Lord Knights speak under their breathes about her service in your group. Rosalyn should have made Master of the Thorn by now, if not the circle of seven, the Lords of Thorns. There is a conspiracy against her, and it ails your reputation as well. Instead of a Shield force, you should be in charge of a Army group of 44,100 men by your rank, and years of service.
But thru it all, your devotion has not wavered. Your goddess fought to defend this world against the mad Chaos god. The Bards of course, whisper that your Dark goddess left amidst the fighting, when Steel Brightblade led the Knights of Light and Darkness into the Rift, and slew the mortal form of Chaos. They say she abandoned her loyal knights in the end. Many bards have met their end by your command.
The death of Lord Ariakan was a mighty blow to the heart of the Dark Knighthood, and it would not have survived, if not for the sheer determination of one Mirielle Abrena. The current Governor-General of the Knights of Takhisis, based out of Neraka. The Knighthood could have splintered off in a hundred directions, like the Dragonarmies of old. But she not only held the order together, but the order of thrived in these years, denoted by the Aesthetics, to be the Age of Mortals.
The Dark Guideposts still shepherd the Dark Knighthood. The Vision is gone, or rather, The True Vision is gone, gone with our Dark Queen. In the year 15 SC, the trio of knights, sent to be undercover agents, to learn the Mystic Arts from the Citadel of Light on Schallsea Isle. The Art was stolen from the accursed First Master Goldmoon of the Que-Shu, and brought back to the Dark Knights. Abrena had the Skull knights resurrect the Vision, but in a format controlled by your order, the Skull knights. The difference being, man, not the Dark Goddess, would control this vision, and the knights of the 4th age could consult the vision at will, to know his place is the Dark Queen’s grand plan for this world, unlike now, the knight is alone, unable to access the vision at will. It is transmitted when The Lord of Knights deem it necessary.
The Blood Oath, simply, Submit or Die, still stands.
The Code also still remains unchanged. It is complex, but described as not as the great oak, which does not bend, and often is toppled by its roots. It is not stone, which never yields, but can be broken, and can be worn away by the elements. The Code is not water, which yields too easily, and follows every path. The Code is described as the Iron Wood tree. The strong trunks are impervious to blows, yet the branches sway with the wind. Such trees live forever.
Intelligence also mentioned the presence of blue-skinned giants being among the deployment, heading north from Bloten. That would be the Ogre Titans. General Abrena met them on the field of battle two years ago. They destroyed hundreds of troops, with a blast they emit from their chest, a “Soul blast” as it was described. That could mean major trouble.
DM Note: I am sending you a 4th Age Map. Location of Skull Knight’s forces is just south of Zhakar, near the Hammer Monument.
Diary of Lydia Ravenheart, Knight of the Skull
Posted by Jerry Trapspringer
'It's cold. Damned cold...' I muttered under my breath. Even dressed in a suit of full plate the wind found some way to whistle though the small gaps, almost as if in deliberate insult. My black warhorse, Nightfire, blew fountains of silver vapor, almost as if he were some sort of infernal machine created by gnomes as he strode though the thick banks of snow.
A nod here, a salute there, a showing of the flag to raise morale I thought, at least hopefully something was coming out of exposing myself to a cold that would freeze the tail off a thanoi. The men trudged by, morale as low as the temperature. Most of them weren't very happy about freezing their rears off for a bunch of dwarves. Even the wealth the dwarves were offering was of little inducement when everyone knew most of it was going to the coffers of that greedy fool Targonne.
I felt ashamed when I rounded a nearby row of tents and saw the dragons. A blue dragon is a creature of the desert, heat and sand. To see one curled shivering in the snow is more than enough to remove ones mind from their own plight. We humans (or almost humans) can endure the weather far better than they. I order the mercenaries standing around idle to gather wood to build a bonfire for the dragons. Maybe it could take some of the chill off for them, at least it will keep the men busy and out of trouble. Some of the more foolish trudge off in a surly manner until one of the larger dragons opens her eyes and fixes them in a steely gaze. This seems to put a bit more spring in their step as I rein in Nightfire and head back to the command tent.
One of the guards holds my horse as I dismount and leads him away. I push aside the flaps of the command tent and before I have time to remove my helmet and toss my wet gloves beside the fire my adjutant is there, a bowl of soup so hot I almost burn my fingers on it. I slurp it down in huge grateful slugs, most unladylike I'll admit but it's worth it as the hot liquid warms my mouth, through, and stomach, the warmth spreading outward as the heat of the fire reaches in to meet it. I thank him, and make a sweeping curtsy that belongs more on a ballroom floor than a small rude tent sitting in a bank of snow and ice. He laughs and once again back to business I ask him to have Sir Gramond, Nightlord Maliki, and the two wing commanders to meet me in two hours. Swinging my booted feet close to the fire I sit down to work over the latest intelligence reports. Not good, not good at all...
Meeting
Posted by the DM
2 Hours later, your personal guard, a Bone Acolyte by the name of Sir Cain, advises you that Sir Gramond, Nightlord Maliki, and the Wing Commanders Sir Morelli, and Sir Dwyer, both Lily Knights, are outside your tent.
Council
Posted by Jerry Trapspringer
'Sir Cain,' I replied, 'you know I don't stand on ceremony, please see them in.'
As they entered I salute each in turn and then turn to my adjutant, 'Sir Harker don't we have a large map of the area around here somewhere?'
He brushes aside the pile of maps, letters, and reports I'd allowed piling on the table revealing the map underneath. Sheepishly I thank him and then turn my attention to my officers.
'Gentlemen, Nightlord, we seem to have found ourselves in the position of the proverbial kender that caught the wyvern. After the first superficial pleasantries I state my points.
'First off, assuming that all six dragons are in condition to fly I want them divided into two groups with three shifts each. I want two dragons in the air at all times running in eight-hour shifts per dragon. We need the intelligence and the exercise should help to keep them warm. The idle men should be kept busy gathering firewood to keep the bonfire stroked for the resting dragons.'
'Secondly are there any natives in the area that we can use as scouts? Dwarves not in the mountain, goblin tribes, whatever the case may be.'
'Thirdly, the Zhakkar. Get with their liaison and tell them we'll need help with the earthworks and fortifications. If they want us to defend them by the Abyss they can at least help with the digging. I'll hand it to the dwarves any day they do damn fine engineering, one of them is worth any three of us when it comes to digging in.'
'Concentrate on finding a good solid position for defense. I'll like a small valley if we can find it. Funnel the bastards into a tight little kill zone with archers and mages on the valley walls firing down into them.'
Plans
Posted by the DM
Sir Gramond looks over the map. "I will have the men begin on the defenses, but, this will only slow the ogres my Lord, when the Ogres come, they will stop at noting to get thru to us. Your plan is a sound one. This area right here," -He points and circles a area on the map, denoted as Ri'Ruk valley, -"The mountain passes from three trails lead into the valley from the southwest, The way we think they are coming. The Wings will confirm that as soon as possible."
The Wing Commanders nod their heads in agreement.
Nightlord Maliki looks at the map, then finally says, "My Thorn Knights will provide a mild cataclysm to get their attention once they enter the valley, but be aware, When the Titans come, They will be the most major threat. They will lead their troops with cunning, inspire them with battle cries of past Ogre glory, and bring magic that has not been witnessed on the field of battle in 10, 000 years. We are, at a disadvantage, even with Dwarven engineering, Goblin scouts, and yes, our Dragon Wings. I know you will use our Dragon friends wisely Lord.
Your assembled Knights give a shudder, as they always do when the Nightlord speaks. But they inwardly scoff at being at the disadvantage.
We lost some of the Story
DM Post
Flash Forwarding ahead past what we have already did.
Thane Stonehand has agreed that the threat is great, and he fields an Army, unlike any has seen since the Dwarfgate War. 2000 Engineers and regular army swell into the ranks of the Dark Knights. It is reported to you, that 3000 more Dwarven troops now are traveling under the ground in ancient tunnels, which lead to the Crystal Valley.
On the 2nd night, the Army makes camp at the northern crest of Ri’Ruk Valley. The Dark Knights gain rest, and the Dwarves take a short rest, then move into the Valley to Build the fortifications and traps. Their Darkvision makes this division a good one. Scouts have been sent out, and a perimeter is set and guarded by a rotating schedule of Dark Knight and Dwarven warriors.