Episode Seventy-four - Victims of Hate

General Summary

Prologue

It was a short but deadly journey that rendered the Champions of Destiny through the Forest Rend. On that journey one of their company had fallen and it would be a long time, at least to them, before their companion would be replaced. It was a moment to dwell on, the brutalization of their companion. One moment Kelaryn was on her feet, ready to face the challenges to come, likely head on as was her fashion, and then in the next moment she was battered into the ground by the ironboots of a redcap. Those small Fey surrounded her with menace and began cleaving at your flesh. As blood curdling screams of anguish and deep fear mixed with helplessness filled the ears of her friends, she had heard nothing as the blood filled her ears. She had felt every blade at first. The sharp pain sinking deep within her body and the warmth of blood that followed but as helpless became her watchword, she'd hoped desperately that her friends would save her. As you lashed out with Siem's blessings she watched their feet shuffle in battle but spared herself nothing more then time to fear the outcome of her wounds. As the attacks fell to the numb pushing and pulling of her flesh, she fell into a catatonic state, wholly aware of her situation but powerless to it. Wanting desperately to vomit a shrill death scream, she felt her lungs fill with blood as a tug took your ankle. Drowning, she was ripped to face Arion by her hair and her death grunts filled her companion's ears as she was left as but a witness to her companions' concern, then certainty. Hope filled her heart then, as she watched Arion strengthen in resolve. Then, in a swift moment, she felt a tugging and pulling at her neck and then freedom. The pain of her body had fallen entirely numb and as shock beset her, then she was set into a wild spin. She rolled for a moment and then stared into the dirt as her eyes shut. With a gasp, Kelaryn awoke from her headless body and blasted up to behold the battlefield. Stood still in time, there was only blood rage from either side excluding one soul. The shock and sadness present on Annabelle's face was palpable, like a vice grip around the heart, as Kelaryn watched old friend Death stroll up along side her new friend Annabelle. "Well then, we meet again on this horrendous occasion." With somber tone, Death of the Endless continued, "it is not often that I get to meet those I've traveled with a second time, though I cannot say I am happy to see you." "We are bound for a place I imagine will be none to kind. In his dealings, your god has tied you to this plane and in this, there is an outcome. Having failed him, your god does not offer to endanger himself for your return and thus he gives his claim, in accordance to his trade for your life, to the gods of that realm. By them you will be judged in their City of Judgement. We shall go there now, walk with me." "Very well," Kelaryn replied with true knowing. The fallen champion then walked with Death of the Endless, to a grey place void of happiness or peace, a death plane frighteningly void of life. Motioned forward by Death, Death faded and Kelaryn was left to wander forward, alone. Aimlessly she travel for what felt likes a tenday before, finally, Kelaryn arrived somewhat unexpectedly at the steps of a crystal spire. Aloft the steps she met a man in a robe who's face was shrouded in a hood. He beckoned her forth and judged her thusly: "Kelaryn of the taken name Stonehammer, born of no man nor woman, lost to your people and Champion of Destiny of the Endless; you stand before Kelemvor in the City of Judgement and already I have judged you and taken action. The powerful are aware of you and your companions in life but I have vied for your soul alone. None wish you a servant, not demon nor angel, none wish you life, not even your god. Thus no god has hold nor claim over you and you stand before them in all places as a betrayer of the natural order between mortal and immortal. For your crime you will join The False and serve me for all time as a guide for you have found your way forward despite having lost your way. From this point on you will now and forever lead others who have become lost." He looked to his book for a moment, behind his stone podium and then continued. "In a moment you will go forward, False One, and serve as my guide. I have sown your mouth and will cleave your personality but I give you a moment, have your last thought." Kelaryn then imagined, in her last moment as a creature of free thought, her father taking his place where he belonged, as the leader of all the DeWarfolk under a mountain in his own realm. Transformed, Kelaryn's soul was left to watch as her body toiled, forever to lead lost souls to final judgement.

Story

The heroes stepped forth toward an exit to the Forest Rend as a distant flute gave then unto silence. The untamed wilderness behind them and an orc and two dire wolves around them, the Champions of Destiny came to witness an ancient fortress battered and fallen through the brush. The trees and tall grass ended and the forest opened to a large clearing dominated by a ruined stone castle. Lost to history like the death in their wake, that place was once the proud stronghold of Castle Rend. A fortified wall stood before them. That wall once surrounded the place long ago, but as Arion saw from above the forest's canopy, only the eastern and western sections remained intact. Above the wall ahead stood the heart of the stronghold, the entire upper level of which had collapsed. Two towers, one in the northwest, the other in the southeast, acted as lookouts once; as the heroes approached only the northwest tower remained intact and it loomed over them boding ill. Time had ravaged the place, and as they watched the moss growth reach for the crenellations of the wall ahead, they caught sight of the orcs stood above. The blue horrors watched all around and surveyed the tall grass all about them with keen eyes. They watched the land where the underbrush was clear for sixty feet surrounding the ruin and likely they did so at night given unlit torches placed every forty to fifty feet. The occupation became even more apparent when their eyes were dragged back toward the keep. The walls of the keep were as bare of forest growth as the ground, not over-grown with choking vines. Such work at a forgotten fortress could only have been achieved by the hands of effort. The only masters of that hard work, however, were those that were seen on the walls above. Their menace stalked with them as they lurched forward. Deviance beset those large, blue orcs and a spittle drooled from around their tusks, salivating at the visage of the heroes, as the orcs stepped forth from cover for combat. A wild eyed warrior was then revealed in a collapsed section of wall, he and his companion nearest the heroes all exchange a glance as they readied. As the wild warrior's club lifted, none of the heroes were surprise by the arrow that landed at their feet from the tower above. Vicious battle ensued. Arrows reigned down from the tower as Arion slew dire wolves and Aldrich bathed in orc blood. The light of spells gloriously decorated the battlefield as Annabelle and Sol cast from the cover of the forest. A giant orc was slain, a shapeshifting shaman, and a war caster as well as several orcs and two dire wolves. In the end, the heroes had to leave their companion and the captured redcap as Arion stormed the castle in a bloodlust. Angered by a betrayed parley, Arion desperately searched for a way inside as Aldrich used his summoned earth elemental to battered a way in. As Aldrich fought the tower host, Annabelle, Arion, and Sol found a victim of the castle's defenses. Dead in a pit trap, Annabelle graciously used the party's resources to revive the fallen soul and for it she received the direct blessings of her goddess. With her faith confirmed, the heroes and their potential ally stormed the castle. Inside, they found two more large orcs, two dire wolves, a sorcerer orc, their chieftess, and a few common orcs. Their battle was vicious and came to include Aldrich. In the end through peril, the downfall of their potential ally, and Arion's bloodlust driving him to chase down their chieftess as she fled; they Champions of Destiny came out the victors. With the orc woman bound, they collected their dead and wounded and gathered in a sparring chamber. There, they learned that not all was as it appeared. Aldrich and Annabelle had saved Pinna but she was preoccupied with a young boy there. Likewise, the orc chieftess made claim that she was and enemy of Saxton and had ordered her men to attack his on sight. With uncertainty abound, and Arion's blood hot from a broken parlay; the party took a knee to gather themselves after the conclusion of a two minute long battle, that felt as if it had lasted a lifetime.

Rewards Granted

3230xp

Missions/Quests Completed

Quest of Fate Continued, Subquest Forging Fate Continued, Sidequest The Siege of Castle Rend Continued

Notes

Notable Party Damage:

Aldrich has a horrible burn scar on the left side of his neck in front of the ear from an azure fire elemental summoned by Seldra Tylmarande. His armor and shield are extremely claw marked from many Lizardfolk. His shield has a large fist shaped dent in it from when he was crushed by a Sacred Statue.
Noted Effects: Horrible Scar (Neck). You are disfigured to the extent that the wound can't be easily concealed. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks and advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar.
Annabelle has a noticeable bend in her scale armor about the stomach where she was crushed by a Sacred Statue.
Noted Effects: None
Arion came from Arda with a scar that won't seem to heal.
Noted Effects: Minor Scar (Head). The scar doesn't have any adverse effect. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar.
Sol has tear marks across the back and chest of his shirt, as well as down the sleeve, from the claws of lizardfolk. He has a burn mark on his cheek where a water droplet seared his flesh.
Noted Effects: Minor Scar (Left Cheek). The scar doesn't have any adverse effect. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar.