Charles Plemons' Blog

Game summary for November 6, 2008; present characters included Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Mael Gabrian (human cleric), Ranulph Wathbater (human berserker/fighter/hellreaver/paladin of freedom/rogue), Saedd West (human fighter/pious templar/wormhunter), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer), and Taravin Truesilver (human divine crusader/gray guard/paladin of honor/pious templar).

With the sound of Kyuss’ prison cracking and the maniacal laughter of the triumphant Wormgod echoing about the chamber, the Mercenaries enhanced their might with spell and potion and rushed to meet the rising lord of the Age. The team found Kyuss forming from a pile of worms spilling forth from the monolith. Tentatively at first, the team launched some spells and arrows at the rising mass. In moments, the Wormgod stood before them, towering twenty feet in the air, a mass of worms held into a man-like form. His black cowl glowed from the red pits of his eyes, and a massive black executioner’s mace stood out at his side.

Wasting no time, Kyuss enacted his first miraculous event as a god by reinstating the Unlife Vortex! Unholy energy surged into the Wormgod giving him power beyond belief. The team took several more shots, some more telling than others, and Lyrin unleashed the secret weapon: the sphere of annihilation. Kyuss remained far from the group and used harm to recover from the blows that did get through to him. Knowing the threat posed by the sphere, Kyuss locked onto its controller. In a booming voice, dripping with evil, Kyuss commanded Lyrin, “Don’t exist!” Lyrin obeyed and disappeared in a puff of scattered particles, his equipment landing in a clatter.

The Mercenaries continued a steady barrage of spell and blade against the ever-strengthening deity, but it was Taravin who struck the first truly telling shot. Using a wish, Taravin deactivated the Unlife Vortex, greatly weakening Kyuss once again. He then followed it with another wish to bring Lyrin back into existance! Enraged, Kyuss stopped time and enhanced his magical protections and then moved into the midst of the party. The Wormgod unleashed a powerful wail of the banshee, which stopped Eolas’ heart cold. Mael attempted to utter a prayer, and Kyuss casually flicked his blade at the cleric, separating his head from his shoulders.

The newly risen Lyrin slammed the sphere of annihilation into Kyuss, greatly harming him, while the team fell in around him to hedge him in. The resourceful deity discorporated into a mound of writhing worms and rolled right over Ranulph to escape the sphere. The whole time, the party continued with their unrelenting barrage of spell, blade, and arrow, with each nick and cut wearing him down a little more.

Taravin used another wish to restore Mael, and a cloak of the phoenix revitalized Eolas. Frustrated, Kyuss continued to harm himself to recover from the attacks and created a wall of stone to hold the team off. Lyrin carved a large enough hole in it using the sphere. Taravin spent yet another wish to try and imprison Kyuss in a barred forcecage, but the Wormgod flowed through it in worm form. Saedd stayed on Kyuss the whole time, whacking away at the writhing deity, much to Kyuss’ consternation. Arrow and spell continued to batter away, and Ranulph, winged boots flapping, flew up to the god and delivered a mighty blow, striking Kyuss dead. The deity melted away into a puddle of ooze, and the party emerged from the Spire victorious.

As the undead Kyuss-spawn began dying in the streets, people emerged to see the valorous heroes. Soon, an army of survivors trailed the group chanting their names and praising them, hailing them as the new leaders of Mintarn! With the Age of Worms averted and an island city under their control, the Mercenaries have fulfilled their destiny. They will take their place among the legendary names of the Realms. Where their paths may lead is unknown, except for one Ranulph Godslayer; he returned to the Wormcrawl Fissure and married Zulshyn the lillend, making an honest snake… er, woman out of her!

Game summary for October 30, 2008; present characters included Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Ranulph Wathbater (human berserker/fighter/hellreaver/paladin of freedom/rogue), Saedd West (human fighter/pious templar/wormhunter), and Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer).

Ascending another level, the Mercenaries discovered a room filled with Kyuss high-knights. One, a female, provoked a severe response from Balakarde’s spirit. The apparition manifested and howled in rage as he recognized her as Maralee, his sister!

The team quickly engaged the undead knights in pitched melee. Saedd and Ranulph took the front line while the knights closed in. Saedd laid into Maralee with several vicious swipes, but she quickly retaliated and slaughtered him in his stride. Ranulph faired somewhat better, able to slip into the back of the room to nurse the horrendous wounds the knights dealt him. Meanwhile, a hail of arrows filled the air, and bursts of arcane and divine fire rained down on the knights. The undead pressed their advantage and rocked the Mercenaries back on their heels, but through fearsome swordplay and an unending ranged assault of fire and bow, the undead began to fall.

Lyrin staggered the creatures with a blast on arcane sunlight, rendering a couple blind and enraging the others. Eolas channeled arcane fire through his blade and turned knight after knight into a ash-filled tin can. Syvarius slew one of the creatures on the stairs, and Morak firmly planted his dwarven self in front of Lyrin to protect the caster. After a pitched battle, the undead were all defeated and Saedd returned from the grave.

Ahead lies a massive pair of silver doors writhing with metallic worms. From this height, only the roof could lie beyond. Are the Mercenaries ready to engage the Wormgod in a fight to save the very Realms?

Game summary for September 18, 2008; present characters included Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Ranulph Wathbater (human berserker/fighter/hellreaver/paladin of freedom/rogue), Saedd West (human fighter/pious templar/wormhunter), and Taravin Truesilver (human divine crusader/gray guard/paladin of honor/pious templar).

The Mercenaries proceeded up another level of Kyuss’ new spire and found a large shrine. Within stood a massive silver dragon with elongated fangs and a trio of Blessed Angels. Battle was quickly joined. The dragon utilized its fear aura and paralyzing gas breath weapon to good effect, terrifying several party casters so badly they could not use their magic. Saedd and Ranulph brought the fight to the enemy, but Saedd was soon driven back due to terrible injuries. Ranulph was not as fortunate; a Blessed Angel’s vorpal strike decapitated the warrior.

Taravin, bringing up the rear, joined the fray and used the power of Baalphegor’s Grace to wrack one of the Blessed Angels with pain and turn another upon the dragon. Meanwhile, Morak shook loose of the dragon’s fear and banished one of the Angels. Melee was fully joined, and several injuries were inflicted on both sides. Before long, Morak succeeded in banishing another Angel. Then, in a fortuitous turn of events, the turned Angel struck down the vampiric silver dragon! She then fled the scene to parts unknown.

After the battle, the team gathered the spoils of their conquest and felt renewed in their drive to defeat Kyuss and keenly honed in their skills. Only a few levels of the tower remain, will the team succeed in defeating the Wormgod at the top?

Game summary for September 11, 2008; present characters included Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Ranulph Wathbater (human berserker/fighter/hellreaver/paladin of freedom/rogue), Saedd West (human fighter/pious templar/wormhunter), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer), and Taravin Truesilver (human divine crusader/gray guard/paladin of honor/pious templar).

Taravin braved the risks and consumed Baalphegor’s Grace and established a connection with the Blessed Angels. The Mercenaries then took up arms and headed toward the rebuilt Spire to confront the emerging Kyuss. They found most of Mintarn in ruins and no signs of life, although wormspawn were everywhere. In a short time, the team made its way to the Spire.

Traveling up the stairs, the group was attacked by a pair of vampire Kyuss monks and two Kyuss high-knights. Soon thereafter, a pair of horned devils materialized and attacked. The party fought fiercely, banishing the devils and slaughtering the undead. With the way clear, the team prepares to move within the tower. Kyuss awaits.

Game summary for August 14, 2008; present characters included Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer), and Taravin Truesilver (human divine crusader/gray guard/paladin of honor/pious templar).

After retrieving the sphere of annihilation, the team decided to make one more concerted effort to raise morale in the burning city of Mintarn. The Mercenaries warded themselves with spells and headed into the city. It did not take long to encounter a Kyuss archer, a vampire Kyuss monk, and a quad of Kyuss high-knights. Eolas, Lyrin, and Morak unleashed a barrage of flame strikes, sunbeams, and scorching rays. Meanwhile, Taravin engaged toe-to-toe and Syvarius set about with devastating effect with his bow. Soon, the team was victorious, and twelve more citizens were rescued.

The Mercenaries took the survivors to the safety of Kelemvor’s temple and set out again. This time, they encountered a mix of Kyuss archers and high-knights led by a lich archmage. The lich did its best to batter the party with magic, but their protections and evasiveness limited his effectiveness. The archers and high-knights began falling under blade, spell, and arrow, and soon the Mercenaries slaughtered the pack. Twenty citizens were saved, and a roar of rage erupted from the pinnacle of the spire, shaking the city.

Kyuss’ rebirth is at hand. The Wormgod will soon emerge at the apex of his spire, and the Mercenaries must be there to slay him. However, they must first traverse the heights of the spire, wiping out his minions on the way; otherwise, the same minions will stand with their god and prevent the team from winning the day. Can the Mercenaries press on and halt the Age of Worms?

Game summary for August 5, 2008; present characters included Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Ranulph Wathbater (human berserker/fighter/hellreaver/paladin of freedom/rogue), Saedd West (human fighter/pious templar/wormhunter), and Taravin Truesilver (human divine crusader/gray guard/paladin of honor/pious templar).

After a respite within the sound walls of Kelemvor’s temple, the Mercenaries moved back out into the streets of Mintarn to fight the minions of Kyuss. In short order, the group encountered a pack of Kyuss’ spawn. A Kyuss high-knight, Kyuss archer, lich archmage of Kyuss, and vampire Kyuss monk engaged the team in fierce combat. The vampire, all but floating across the ground, sprang through the front lines and beleaguered Lyrin immediately. The archer began a barrage upon Ranulph that he would maintain throughout most of the fight. The archmage quickly rendered himself invisible, and the high-knight moved to block any Mercenary advances. Fierce but short-lived chaos ensued, as Saedd drove the vampire back on her heels, Ranulph engaged the high-knight, Lyrin blasted with spells, and Morak’s prayers kept the party in strong condition. Soon, the four minions of the Wormgod were defeated. Another eighteen citizens of Mintarn were safely escorted to the Kelemvor temple.

The group returned to the hunt and found another pack of Kyuss minions: a vampire Kyuss monk, a lich archmage of Kyuss, a lich cardinal of Kyuss, a warlock lich of Kyuss, and a monstrous broodfiend! This battle went poorly for the Mercenaries, with the archmage getting in some early area of effect blasts that hit both Lyrin and Morak. The lich also slaughtered Saedd in a hail of arrow storm magic. Taravin bravely advanced upon the cardinal while the broodfiend dealt nearly lethal injuries upon Morak and Lyrin. Lyrin drove the warlock lich away with his deadly sun magic, but Morak found himself mortally injured. With two companions dead on the ground, the team fell back into a full retreat, using their skeleton keys.

After licking their wounds, the team decided they needed the sphere of annihilation sooner rather than later and recovered it via magic from the Tomb of Horrors. Now, armed with the sphere, the team must decide its next course of action against the wicked Kyuss.

Game summary for July 29, 2008; present characters included Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Ranulph Wathbater (human berserker/fighter/hellreaver/paladin of freedom/rogue), Saedd West (human fighter/pious templar/wormhunter), and Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer).

The team found an exit from the Unlife Vortex chamber leading to the surface. It was trapped, but the group was able to disarm the magic and emerge from a mausoleum in the Mintarn boneyard. They quickly headed back into the town where they encountered a house full of people under attack from Kyuss minions. The Mercenaries wasted no time engaging.

They found themselves up against another colossal overworm, a pair of Kyuss high-knights, and two strange new enemies. These lightly armored Kyuss spawn carried bows made of human bones with an open skull that the arrow passed through. Instead of arrows, the Kyuss archers plucked worms from their form, which elongated and fired through the bows like projectiles. The worm-arrows attempted to burrow into the team members as they hit, reverting back into Kyuss worms.

Ranulph and Saedd brought the fight to the Kyuss minions, but they seemed more interested in sweeping past the frontline and going after the casters in the rear. Eolas began ray spells such as disintegrate and scorching ray to bring down his foes. Syvarius found himself in a brutal exchange of arrows between himself and the archers. Morak held the middle with healing magic and flame strikes. Lyrin unleashed area blasts and plucked worms off his allies with magic missile. The team brought the Kyuss minions down fairly quickly. The worst injuries were sustained when Saedd took a crippling bite from an overworm and then bravely positioned himself between two Kyuss high-knights and Morak. Beardfist was able to restore him to health as he withstood the assault.

Afterward, the group escorted eighteen Mintarn citizens to the temple of Kelemvor. As the survivors entered, the team could see the fainted glimmer of hope in the eyes of the people. Depleted of mana and resources, the Mercenaries decide to rest within the temple.