Ebony and Ivory

Disaster / Destruction

Merielle returns after some big life changes.

The party meets up with Lawrence Aarden outside the gates of Bard’s Haven. He leads them to a bar where he informs them that someone has been killing members of Merielle’s dragon cult. The remaining members have been gathering here, and she is expected to make an appearance in the next day to help them, but he doesn’t know when or where. Lawrence points to a table where three cultists are drinking and tells the party that he has a cabin where they can question one.   The party comes up with a plan for Daryl, the fabulous bard that he is, to seduce one of the cultists and lead her to the cabin that Lawrence has provided. He does so, not through his charm but through the promise of a psychedelic pyrotechnics show at his supposed secret concert.   The party readies for the two cultists' imminent arrival, and as soon as they enter the cabin a trap is flawlessly executed, capturing the two cultists in a net. Danger intimidates them into revealing that Merielle is going to arrive at dawn at the northern edge of Bard’s Haven. Danger thanks the captured cultists by slaughtering them.   Dawn arrives, and the party lies in wait for Merielle. Danger and Mirian took the dead cultists' robes for themselves, disguised among the other followers. Indigo hides atop a tree; ready to snipe from above. Daryl stands a short distance away among Bard’s Haven citizens. A fog overtakes the area and Merielle arrives. She’s brought Lizardfolk and Kobolds with her, and together they kill the cultists. She was the one killing her own cult to make way for something bigger. The party attacks and even appears to outmatch Merielle while she’s focusing on keeping some spell running. They hurt her enough to break her concentration. Her spell, become fog, ends. Sable, the Ancient Black Dragon, coalesces and attacks. Merielle, her skin turning black, has formed her own dragon bond. Aarden runs in to attack her, but she easily breaks his father’s sword and leaves him useless. She jumps onto Sable’s back and commands him to destroy Bard’s Haven with acid breath.   Daryl runs into the destruction to save his family. The acid comes their way and, unfortunately, neither of his brothers make it out. Indigo runs directly into Sable’s path and unleashes a well-placed moonbeam. It strikes Merielle and sends both her and Sable falling into the main stage. Seeing an opportunity to finish Merielle once and for all, Mirian runs closer than anyone and fires an arrow right at her. It strikes Merielle in her chest. Sable instinctively covers her with his wing and retaliates by bellowing a wave of acid directly at Mirian…and he isn’t quick enough to dodge it. The sizzling acid eats through the right side of Mirian’s face and upper body, knocking him out due to pain.   Sable takes off with Merielle, leaving it unknown whether or not Mirian’s arrow managed to kill her. Daryl mourns his brothers and his town. Mirian wakes up to half his face forever scarred. He makes a vow to slay the black dragon in the name of vengeance. Danger reaffirms his own vow to kill the woman who killed his son. Indigo feels the rot in the ground here. Pure death. If Merielle survived, they’re all coming for her.