Sword of Irgraine

[Dungeon Master]

Sword of Irgraine
26-Jan-04
Pt.1
Posted by the DM

The mangy buccaneer arrives to his boarding house in the port city of Sea Reach. The Inn is the Hag’s Head, and he walks in and quickly scans the room for hostiles, taking their measure. He sits down after a long day out and about the town. He has gathered what information he could about the north seas, and what he has found does not please him. He orders wine, after seeing another few patrons drinking it, and sits back, with his back to the wall, and waits.

Soon a dark skinned man, like those found on Ergoth, swaggers to the bar, looks around, and once he has his drink, he heads over to you. You notice his sword, and you know exactly who it is.

“Greetings Eider, how fare your day?” The Buccaneer asks impassively.

The Ergothian replies, “It fares Rotas, it fares. It is good my friend Magnus will come fetch us, for we would not make it to the Spine without him. Minotaur ships crowd the Blood Sea, priveteering all ships on the northern route. The blasted cows are planning something, at least that’s the feeling around here.”

“I know, I have heard. There are fears that the minotaurs are coming here, but why? There is nothing on Saifhum that isn’t on Kothas or Mithas. It’s something else. Yet you are right, I am glad Magnus is with us. Hear anything else?”

“Nothing that will help us on our way. It is time my friend. We will find your wife and defend your people. We should leave tonight.”

“Something is still bothering me, yet I do not know what.” The Irgraine lord ponders, then adds “Yes, I want to leave tonight. Can you make this happen?”

“I will blow the dragon horn this eve and Magnus will come.” Eider replies, “Come let me buy you diner.”



Something’s Wrong . . .
Pt.2
Posted by David

Something is wrong, he knows. Something.... He sighs in frustration, waiting for the bar-wench to bring their food. It is, at least in part, that his magic has faded. In truth, it is almost gone. He was a warrior long before he began to study the arcane arts, and he takes comfort in the familiar weight of his swords.
"Thank the departed Gods their magic hasn't been drained!" He thinks. But he can barely cast even the most rudimentary of spells. He'd told Eider of his loss, and was not surprised that his friend had been experiencing the same difficulties. "Still, the loss of magic isn't the whole of it...Something else is...wrong."


Flight
Pt. 3
By the DM
14-Feb-04


In the darkness of the north shore, Eider and Rotas stand waiting to be picked up by Magnus. They have quietly checked out of their room’s just hours ago and made their way north from Sea Reach.

The high ogres are on guard and watching for trouble when Magnus drops thru the clouds and flies gracefully over the waves. He lands a short distance from the warriors on the beach and Rotas and Eider make it to the Adult Blue.

“What have you seen on your travels old friend?” Eider asks his mount as they ready to climb on.

“The sea holds many ships of the bull men, they attack any ship that heads north or south into their web. We will be past them in an hour.” The Blue answers.

You both secure yourselves on the Nzunta made riding harness and Eider pats and rubs an affectionate acknowledgement on Magnus’s side to let the dragon know they are ready. The Dragon takes a few steps and turns to be perpendicular to the shore, and the Dragon launches himself into the air and with mighty strokes of his wings, Magnus is carried aloft on the winds.


Rotas you muse as you look out from your rear position, the dark sky above and the black ocean below. Hundreds of feet up in the air, where clouds scrape by once and again, your thoughts drift outward to your wife and son. Will you see them again?


You both see the lights on the dozens upon dozens of ships on the sea. Magnus confirms that this is the Minotaurs that he spoke of earlier, and Magnus adjusts direction to North once you are over the island of Mithas. You are headed up to the spine of Taladas, and to your beloved.


You are jerked awake and the light stings your eyes Rotas. You are jerked again, and again, you lean forward a little to see over Eider’s shoulder and see Magnus taking evasive maneuvers. There is another blue Dragon with riders.

“It is Dagrah of the House Guard!” Magnus yells and he banks down and to the left. Your stomach drops along with the sudden movement.

House Guard?
Pt. 4
Posted by David

"House Guard?" He yells over the buffeting winds "I take it they don't appreciate our presence!" He begins calling to mind the words to cast Magic Missile. As Magnus banks, Rotas has a clear shot "Kalif Karan, Tobanis Kar!" He shouts, not knowing if the magic will come this time, or not.


Scorched
Part 5
Posted by the DM
2/15/2004

The magic swells inside you and you feel it course thru your body to your fingertips. You are overjoyed at the sensation and aim true.

Orange missiles erupt from your fingers and launch toward the riders of the seconded dragon.

The riders are hit and the bold move surprises the Dragon. He turns the other way, not following Magnus.

“The House Guard that Magnus speaks of is the Nzunta Royal Guard, we are not far from Fedron!!!!” Eider yells.

The dragons complete their turns and are now heading toward one another. Magnus climbs and the other dragon turns to the right. Magnus uses his breath weapon to fire lightning arcs toward the seconded Dragon. It bounces harmlessly off the other blue but it strikes the rider, leaving smoking ruins on it’s back.

The three of you continue on, flying north. The seconded blue cranes its neck around to see that he is rider less now. He is infuriated now and fights to catch up with the renegade murderous dragon.




I think we pissed him off, Magnus
Part 6
Posted by David
2/15/2004

Glancing over his shoulder, he sees the second Blue hesitate a moment, and then come streaking after them.

"I think we pissed him off, Magnus." Rotas yells, "He's coming back, and he doesn't look happy!" He tries to call to mind another spell, but maddeningly, he can think of nothing. "I don't suppose you'd care to try something to dissuade him, would you Eider?"

[Dungeon Master]

Abandon Dragon!!!!
Part 7
Posted by the DM
2/15/2004

Eider moves in his harness to look over his and your shoulder to see what is going on. He turns back around and pats Magnus’s side. “Rotas is right, you have angered him and he is on our tail.”

“I can’t fight him with you on my back, you’ll never survive.” Magnus says without tuning around, “You are going to have to ditch. I’ll come back for you when I can. We are at the southern tip of Fedron. You will have to get yourselves to the port and take a ship to Selasia That Blue is younger and faster and we don’t have much time. I will fly low and let you jump.”

Arcs of lighting fire all around you and Magnus has to do some evasive maneuvering but he heads for the deck and all you can do is hold on.

Eider turns to you the best he can, “I don’t like this any better then you, but it seems we have little choice. Start undoing your straps and buckles . . . we don’t have much time.”

Once your restraints are undone Eider pats Magnus again. “We will make it to the Ports. You will have to make sure you are not attacked when you make it to the Mischta Isle, good luck my friend, and good hunting.”

“And to you as well.” Magnus replies dryly.

Eider stands in his seat holding the harness straps. “I will see you in the water. Get to the shore as fast as possible; for these waters are filled with sharks” And with that, Eider jumps out and is caught by the wind and he falls into the sea below.

This keeps getting better and better

Surfing dragon-back
Part 8
Posted by David

Rotas follows Eider's lead, unbuckling himself from the dragon saddle. "Well, I must admit, this is something I've never done before!" He waits until Magnus is at the lowest point in the arc; nearest the ocean water. Eider leaps from the dragon's back and, as Rotas leaps free, Magnus hears

"Did you say sharks?!"


The Plunge
Part 9
Posted by the DM

You leap out and away from the dragon. The wind immediately grabs on and you fly backwards and fall.

You have enough time to almost turn yourself so you come in feet first, you don’t quite make it, but a better landing then thought possible under the circumstances.

You sink into the water by 10 feet at an angle and shocked by the experience. The water is warm and this suddenly feels like a dream.

You open your eyes and you can’t tell which way is up. You panic for brief moments and then will yourself to the surface.

You break the surface and get friendly air. The night is dark and you have lost sight of the dragons.

You check to make sure you have everything you need and then find Eider.

He is a distance away from you, and he is headed inland.

You float there is the water for a few moments getting your bearings, then head inland too.

You swim for the next 7 minutes and find that you are catching up to Eider. You have tried to be aware of anything near you, but you cannot see in the dark Ocean around you.


Lighting strikes in the heavens above and you are sure it is related to the dragons.

You hear strange sounds every few rounds up there, and you continue swimming.

Ten more minutes and you are closer to shore and you see one. A fin comes up from the sea and circles around Eider and comes between the both of you, and cutting you off from the shore. It swims away and goes under.

You look for any tall tale signs, but continue swimming. After ten more minutes and you pull you yourself onto shore and immediately have to hide in the jungle.


On the Beach
Part 10
By David

Rotas ducks behind a tree and shifts his body to it's true form, knowing his midnight blue skin and black hair will allow him to fade into the night. After the transformation is complete, he scans the surrounding terrain. He looks for Eider, Magnus and the other Blue, and any unfriendlies.


Hostile Territory
Part 11
By the DM
2/22/04


The area is clear; and Eider is not too far away. You sneak down to him on the white sand beach and look to the skies for a hint to where the Dragons are but to no avail. They are gone.

You are both winded and trying to catch your breath, but you see that Novatari is moving out from the clouds and bright moonlight is falling down on you now. The tree line is a few meters away, you must get to it; you help Eider up and you both move to the brush. All is quiet.

You walk for a little ways to a stagnant pond and drink. You move a short distance way and find a good hiding spot in some hills surrounded by dense jungle.

“The port is up the east coast a ways. Unfortunately, that is where most of the activity of the island will be. Just darken your skin, and make your eyes black. We will say we are from the Roam Clan in the southwest, less of a chance that we will interact with them. The ones we have to weary of are the Deathmark and the Fall clans. The Magius Clan will have lost its powers along with us so at least it will be even in that respect. I suggest we travel at night, that will get us there tomorrow night.”

A Dark Night
Post 12
By David

"Very well," Rotas replies "Let us sleep while we can, and be ready to move when the sun first meets the horizon. I'll wake you in three hours. We'll do three and three." So saying, he moves to the edge of the screening brush and settles into a crouch, watching for any signs of activity."

[Dungeon Master]

Feast of the Orughi
Post 13
By the DM
2/26/04


The pair set off that later in the night. They travel northeast until that come across a clearing and sounds.

It is a crudely constructed village of the Orughi; degenerate ogre descendents that have come to be slaves of the Nzunta.

After a little while of spying, Eider says,

“I want to have a closer look and find out what is happening. They look like they are readying to leave.” Eider steps back, and transforms into a short fat ogre with webbed hands and feet, with a modest kilt. “Be back in a little bit.”

He walks down to the village and you hunker down and take watch.

He joins them for dinner, and your stomach growls. But then you are sickened as they eat the sickest things you have ever seen. You pride you’re self on being a strong will person, but you start to gag and look somewhere off and get up and walk away.

ORUGHI
Medium-size Giant (ogre)
Hit Dice: 4d8+12 (30 hp)
Initiative: +2 (Dex)
Speed: 30 ft., Swim 20 ft.
AC: 15 (+2 Dex, +3 natural)
Attacks: Axe +5 melee; or tonkk +5 ranged
Damage: Axe 1d6+3; tonkk entangles
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft.
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +0
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 5
Skills: Listen +2, Move Silently +3, Spot +3
Feats: Endurance, Point-Blank Shot
Climate/Terrain: Tropical aquatic and marsh
Organisation: Pack (5–20)
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class

The orughi are an ogre race dwelling on remote tropical islands. They are shorter, fatter, and duller than most ogres, but no less aggressive. Orughi have stringy golden hair, oily gray skin, and webbed hands and feet.

COMBAT
Though good fighters, orughi are not as strong as other ogres and are prone to panic. When possible, orughi try to lure their opponents into the sea.
Tonkk (Ex): Orughi use special weapons called tonkks, resembling iron boomerangs connected to long metallic cords; they are especially useful for capturing sea birds. A tonkk inflicts no damage but can be thrown to entangle victims as a ranged attack (range increment 20 feet). An entangled creature suffers –2 on attacks and a –4 penalty on effective Dexterity. It can escape with an Escape Artist check (DC 15) that is a full–round action. The tonkk has 5 hit points and can be burst with a Strength check (DC 20, also a full–round action).
Tonkks cannot be used in the water.

ORUGHI SOCIETY
Orughi live in crude wooden shacks on the shore of their islands, and build elaborate shrines to the Sea Mother near the water’s edge. These cylindrical towers of stone can be seen from miles away; experienced sailors recognize them as a sign of orughi settlement.
The orughi have no formal government. The eldest males of each family collectively rule the tribe. Disagreements are settled by combat.

ORUGHI CHARACTERS
The favoured class of orughi is barbarian. Orughi clerics are rare, and worship the Sea Mother (Zeboim). They have access to the domains Animal, Chaos, and Water. Most orughi shamans are adepts (see page 37 of the DUNGEON MASTER’S Guide).

Waiting
Part 14
By David

Moving partially behind a bush, to screen the cook pots, Rotas remains watchful for Eider's return.


Insanity
Part 15
By DM


Eider comes back much later and goes and pukes in the jungle.

He comes back as himself, albeit out of sorts. “It is as Magnus said. Doom has returned from the stars. He readies the people to war, the last war, the war when the seed of Irgraine is no more.

“They out number the Mischta by hundreds now. These Orughi are insane, they serve the Nzunta again, and my name is never mentioned or known among the younger ones. Whomever says my name is subject to death on the spot.”

“Lets get to the port now The invasion will happen any time, we have to leave.”







Flight
Part 16
By David

Rotas and Eider move quickly, silently through the night. Causiously they make their way to the Port of Fedron. Rotas lets Eider make the arrangements for a ship to take them to Selasia. He doesn't breathe a sigh of relief until the ship is underway.



Dark Messiah
Part 17
By DM


The pair makes it to the port of Fedron. The military is here, getting ready for the invasion. The Merchant ships has been made the Emperor’s property, and made to ferry Orughi battle groups.

A man walks onto the balcony overlooking the port. He is tall, dark blue skin, shaved head and a long braided beard.

All of the port drops to their knee and bow their heads.

“Hear me my children, you know I left you these thousands of years, but Doom has returned. I have returned with a message. A New Power is rising, and you have always been faithful and therefore will be rewarded.


The Mischta Irda left the true ways and either they will join us or they will join with the cosmos to t be punished for an eternity, this much I have been promised. You are favored over all others save Brother Dragon. Now we ride the waves forth to minister to our cousins, to make them see the light, or see will see their own blood.”

The Nzunta are inspired, but somewhat confused, but they prepare for battle anyway, as they have always done.

Tall, Bald, and Ugly
Part 18
By David

Rotas turns to Eider "Okay...Who the Abyss is that!?"

[Dungeon Master]

Lord Doom
Part 19
By the DM

“The legends were true then. The archives tell of the mighty Lord Doom, founder of the Nzunta ways. It is said he led the Nzunta to follow the Irda and hunt them down and slay them. Because of his actions, he and his people were not cursed, as are our cousins. It is also said that when we took the Spine of Taladas from the Minotaurs, he came across an ancient Spelljammer and took 200 of his closet and pure lieutenants to the stars promising one day to return, and lead the Nzunta to victory over the Irda.”

“This isn’t good, Doom has returned and taken over leadership from my family.”



"Damn, this just made our job that much harder."
Part 20
By David

"Lord Doom?" Rotas says, incredulous "The Irdanith mentions him, mostly about how blood-thirsty and relentless he...was." Rotas lets out a long, low breath "Great. Just fucking great."

Rotas turns to Eider "Well, this settles it. We have to get to Zeva and the remaining Irda. As soon as at all possible. Until now we were just dealing with an army. Now, we're dealing with a Nzunta legend come to life. With a Legend, men fight harder, they're more willing to die for his cause..." He shakes his head. "Damn, this just made our job that much harder."


Escape from Fedron
Part 21
By DM
4/25/04

The Duo makes it past the military and to the docks. Eider finds a small scout watercraft, and signals to Rotas to join him. The two set out from the Port and into open water. The craft is magical, so it speeds toward the destination you marked-Selasia.

An hour later, you look behind you and see a ship on an intercept course with your vessel. You tap Eider on the shoulder and point at the ship. As it gets closer, Eider confirms it is Nzunta.


Nzunta Navy
Part 23
By the DM


The Ship closes on your raft without slowing. A beam of light is fixed upon your craft, blinding you for a few moments.

“Forget what I said earlier, they will want to question us, and take us prisoner, even if we are Nzunta. We should wait until they are upon us for you to attack.”


Damn the Torpedoes
Part 24
By David

"You know," Rotas says, squinting against the light to look back at the ship "I do believe you are right, old friend." He waits a moment more, gauging the distance between the two boats. "All right Eider, here we go".

He raises the battered Wand of Fireball, and utters the command word. The fireball shoots from the tip of the wand, and streaks across the air to the intercepting ship.



Full Speed Ahead
Part 25
By the DM

The Fireball consumes the Nzunta Warship, with Nzunta sailors jumping into the sea while on fire. The sight in one to behold and cringe at the same time, as the flaming Warship continues on its intercept course and you have just enough time to abandon ship before the larger craft slices thru yours.

Into the dark water, and you realize you have been here just recently when you had to abandoned Magnus in the fight against the Blues Dragons. You come up from being underwater to see the fiery Warship be capsized by something huge. You don’t get a look at the organic creature as it dips under the water again.







Into the Drink
Part 26
By David

"Sea monsters...Why did it have to be sea monsters?!"


Going Home
Part 27
By The DM


You are left there in the dark water to contemplate what is going to happen next. You look over at Eider to see him dispatch the last Nzunta still on fire that is also in the drink.

Minutes pass over nothing but wind and waves, as you swim in place trying to figure out what to do next.

Eider swims toward you.

You kick something, and then you check with your other leg to see what it was you just kicked. It is hard, and it is rising as now you are on your knees. It’s a huge Sea Turtle, that turns and heads what you think is the right direction you were going in the first place.

The pull in your heartstrings tells you it is the right way to Selasia.



On the turtle’s back
Part 28
By David

"Don't look now, Eider, but I think that maybe, just maybe, something's going right for a change."



This Is the End of this part of the Story.
Look to the Battle of Selasia
Coming Soon