Underdark Dreams
Plot points/Scenes
After a long day of fighting you finally are able to lay your head down to rest. The echoes of creatures unknown moving around the cavern surround you. They are distant but a constant reminder that you are not alone down here. Eventually your eyelids grow to heavy and you fall asleep.
Orik - You wake up in pitch darkness. The dim glow from the charcoals of your torch being the only source of light around you. You begin to sit up and look around. Tylaetha and Ratok seem to be missing. Their gear seems to be left where it was, but their bodies missing. You stand up and begin looking around, lighting your torch to get a better view. As you move the torch around you see movement near a pile of rubble. As you approach you see the terrified eyes of an elf child. He quivers as you begin to move closer. When you get close enough he whispers "Help!"
What do you do?
He takes you by the hand and leads through hundreds of feet of winding rubble. His pace quickens as you begin to see the familiar site of flames billowing above the debris. As you round a corner you see the mangled corpses of men, women and children along with wooden buildings that are aflame. You look toward the child that led you here, but now all you see is a skeletal arm. You drop the arm and draw your sword. A wooden watchtower collapses in front of you showering you in ash and flame. You draw your sword. From the smoke emerges a creature that brings back horrible memories. It's glowing orange eyes pierce directly into your soul. It reveals sharp black spikes along its back, and finally a scorpion like tail whips around, blowing the smoke away to give you a clear image of the large monstrosity that stands before you.
What do you do? - Go to Ratok and Tylaetha's stories then come back
Run - You turn and flee down the winding passages in the Underdark, hoping that the creature loses you. You try to retrace your steps but end up circling back to face the monster again. In the town square you see you see Tylaetha and Ratok and begin to call out to them when the scorpion tail pierces your armor. Blood spurts out of your mouth as you cough, the deadly stinger protruding from your chest. As the tail begins to lift your limp body off the ground your vision goes blurry and the glowing maw closes itself around your head.
Fight - You let out a yell as you begin to charge the beast, it returning the call with a ominous howl. You begin to fight, putting up an effort you did not think you had in you. You parry it's claws as it swipes at you. You match the creature blow for blow and it appears that you may have a chance at defeating it. Then out of the corner of your eye you see Ratok and Tylaetha. They are both in dire situations. This momentary distraction causes you to lose focus and the tail pierces your chest. Your vision the goes black.
Ratok - You wake to a bright light. The warmth of the sun kissing your skin. You open your eyes and see that the illusion that once covered the hole where you now are is gone. A raven flies overhead and seemingly caws out to you. You look over and see Tylaetha and Orik resting. You stand up to look around, and for the first time since being here you get the full scope of the destruction around you. Skeletal remains litter the rubble, hundreds, even thousands of building lie destroyed at the bottom of this sinkhole. You hear a voice (Pelor), "Good morning my child, it is good to see you awake. I saw your hard fought battles and gave you the light to guide you home." You see a harsh beam of light that seems to indicate what path to follow. You feel an unnatural compulsion to follow this light, like your destiny is at the end of the beam. In almost a trance like state you begin to follow the light. Eventually leading to the remains of whats looks to be a town square. An elf, wearing green leather armor, a crimson cape, and a greatsword walks out from one of the buildings. His long white hair flows in the cave draft. He walks up to you, his sword at his side.
"Who are you?", he asks. "Why are you here?".
How do you respond?
He nods, and looks up, your eyes matching his. The beam of light begins to focus on the building he came from.The building, after a few seconds, bursts into flames. When you look back to where he stood, he is no longer there. You look back to the building and from it emerges a horde of Gnolls. Their snarls and growls aimed directly at you. One wielding a flail, tipped with skulls shoves his way through the horde and begins spinning the flail, it lets out a howl and the horde begins to descend upon you.
What do you do?
Run - Seeing the horde running towards you, you begin to retreat. As you turn the harsh light blocks your way. You hear the voice again "Why do you run Ratok?". The beam becomes a wall. You reach into it and your skin begins to sear with radiant pain. You pull your hand back to see nothing but bone. The light from the sun dissipates, now your surroundings illuminated only by burning buildings. The orange glow as a backdrop to the gnawing maws of the Gnoll horde as it reaches you and begins to tear flesh from bone.
Fight - You prepare to launch a sacred flame at the leader, the holy energy collecting in your hand. The light turns and moves towards the Gnolls. As it reaches them they ignite in the presence of the intense light. Half the horde is immediately cut down. You unleash your spell taking one out. They continue forward, more and more being taken out by the light until only the flail wielding leader remains. You are able to dodge his first few attacks.
After Orik - You see Orik's chest burst with the tail. His death distracts you for a moment and the flail catches you across the head, splitting your skull.
Tylaetha - You wake up to what sounds like chanting. You stand up and look around, you see that Ratok is missing and Orik still asleep. There seems to be a dim light slowly dimming. You can't understand what the chanting is saying but it seems to draw you to it. Your sense focus solely on this sound as you walk towards it. You navigate the winding maze of rubble coming to a fountain in a town square. You begin reading the sign but the letters move and warp. You slowly start reading out them "D...R...A..."
"Demon! What are you doing here?" a voice from behind you calls. You turn around to face them, and you see a human male, dirt covering his face and tattered clothes hang loosely from his emaciated frame. He holds a pitchfork pointed at your face.
How do you respond?
As you speak with the man the chanting grows louder and you begin to see the flickering of torches. A mob of elves and humans turn the corner. They each are holding clubs, torches, and various improvised weapons. They look at you and yell "Kill the demon!" They begin to run towards you.
What do you do?
Run - You see the overwhelming numbers and begin to run. As you do, another mob flanks you from the other side. Nets are tossed over your head. You are then dragged on the ground bouncing of stones and dirt as you are pulled up a short set of stairs to reach gallows. They lower the noose around your neck and you turn to see a devilish smile on one of the villagers as they pull the lever to open the trapdoor below. Your neck does not immediately break so the light the gallows on fire. You struggle to get off the gallows but the flames eventually reach your body, engulfing you in flames.
Fight - You begin to slay the townsfolk as they surround you. Their numbers don't seem to overwhelm you. You begin to feel glee as the blood begins to accumulate around you, the rush of battle makes you elated.
After Orik & Ratok - You see Orik's face turn white and the blood pour from Ratok's head. Your waepon drops for just a moment as a rope is tossed around your head and your arms tied. Your body is then tossed over the side of the cavern as your neck snaps.
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