[Horde] Chapter Three: Session Ten
Appearing Characters: Arthak Saurfang, Azgadaan, Azuka, Gramgun Laughingeye, Halno, Keli'dan the Breaker, Khadgar, Lantresor, Levia Blackflight, Nyxxa, Sadras, Sagaz, Samaara, Throkta
Appearing Enemies: Arcane Wraith, Banshee, Ghost, Living Lightning Bolt
Appearing Locations: Falthrien Academy, Sunstrider Isle
December 3rd
Azgadaan had a few questions for Keli’dan.
As they look on, there appears to be a boundary of thicker energy. Occasionally, some of the creatures make their way toward it, but as soon as they hit the barrier, their bodies vanish and reform further into the property.
Keli’dan smirks.
Azgadaan holds a hand out and magic coalesces and blasts toward one of the creatures. The arcane missiles strike it, and the creature staggers back. Its eyes lock on Azgadaan, its long claws outstretched as it charges, but as soon as it hits the barrier, it vanishes.
The arcane magic seemed to affect it as expected.
However, a thought comes to Halno’s mind. Many undead creatures are immune to necrotic and poison damage, and he recalls the creatures were referred to as “wraiths” but it’s unclear if the creatures are actually undead at all.
Halno approaches the edge of the barrier and attempts toll the dead on one of the creatures. However, it doesn’t seem to affect them. The creature notices Halno and starts to move toward him, and Halno tries chill touch. This spell, however, seems to affect it--though not in the way one would expect it to affect something that was actually undead.
Halno wanders off, muttering about things not being able to die properly.
Seeing he got no real word from Halno, Azgadaan sets off to sell his haste spell scroll. He accompanies Halno so that he can vouch for him, and they are able to find the Shadowmoon clan in force a small distance away. The gloom that covers the isle is not quite as severe, though it’s still present.
Azgadaan is able to sell the scroll for about 500 iron coins. Halno also sells his scrolls of lightning bolt and mirror image for about 750 iron coins.
Periodically, the group as a whole sees a few members of the Twilight’s Hammer staring at them with a thousand mile stare.
Nyxxa hangs back with Samaara and Levia. Nyxxa asks Samaara when she wishes to make a move.
Samaara nods.
Nyxxa then takes a moment to formerly introduce Samaara and Levia. Levia seems to be a bit distracted--she’s looking around the isle and the heavy gloom over it.
Levia gestures at the lighthouse to the northwest, which is a bright beacon of violet energy.
Nyxxa nods along.
Levia smirks.
She reaches up and brushes her hair from the right side of her face, and she reveals a scar from the bridge of her nose down and around her eye and down into her cheek.
There is genuine anger in Levia’s eyes.
Nyxxa gives a small smile.
She fidgets a bit, wanting to offer some physical reassurance, but unsure if she should.
She looks in the same direction Levia is looking.
Levia looks down at her hands and flexes her fingers. A small wreath of black fire materializes and holds it up to her face. She smiles faintly.
She glances in the direction the others had gone.
She gestures to Levia and herself.
Levia laughs and brushes the hair from her face for a moment.
Levia nods, her brow furrowed.
Levia smiles, and Samaara nods.
Levia and Nyxxa head to the shrine, and surprisingly, the shrine is still intact. It’s a tall pillar approximately 25-30 feet tall. It has six protruding arrow-head like stone cutouts, and it shoots up along a marble pillar with a stained glass section at the top. There are trees that have been warped by the magic that frame it, and the sea extends out beyond.
Nyxxa notes that, while the architecture matches what she’s seen from the elves, it’s very old. There are engravings on the shrine, and there are names.
Levia nods.
Nyxxa tries to read the names. The names seem to be fairly typical elven names, but some of them are more akin to what Nyxxa remembers of the names of her own people. In the very center there is a placard of tarnished bronze. Nyxxa tries to read it.
“Here stands the shrine of Dath'Remar Sunstrider, a fitting tribute to a noble elf. Let all who gaze on this monument remember his sacrifices for our people and his dedication to the cause of our continued survival. All who prosper in Quel'Thalas do so thanks to him.”
There is something in the back of Nyxxa’s mind, and as she reads the names and the placard, she realizes the name of Dath’remar is vaguely familiar. She may have seen this person in her life. He was the leader of a group of elves that were exiled.
Levia looks over at Nyxxa.
Nyxxa shakes her head.
Nyxxa sighs.
Nyxxa nods.
Nyxxa sighs.
Levia gestures for Nyxxa to follow her closer to the cliff side. She sits down, her legs dangling off the edge. The fog over the sea blocks much of the view, but it’s still vast and beautiful in its own way.
Nyxxa puts her hand reassuringly on Levia’s, and there’s a hesitation, and Levia flinches, but her instincts ebb, and she relaxes.
However, Nyxxa can’t help but feel that there’s more that is lost or buried. As they stare over the sea, Nyxxa has a vague sense of familiarity. About this moment. The name. Everything.
Nyxxa can’t help but wonder… who am I?
During that night, Halno sends Sadras, making an impression of Arthak, and she informs him that she will make her way as quickly as she can. Most of her sending was laughter at the impression.
Halno did it directly in front of Arthak, and he just got a deadpan stare the entire time. Halno relays that over half the response was laughter.
Halno immediately sends both of them and asks them for their Arthak impressions.
There’s no response from Gramgun for a moment. Halno waits. It’s almost a suspiciously long pause. Then there’s just a prominent grunt. And that’s it.
Halno starts cackling the entire walk back.
Sadras laughs a couple times via sending, then clears her throat.
Then she cuts off, running out of words. The voice wasn’t bad, but the spirit was on point.
Halno burns more spells just getting Arthak impressions, including Lantresor.
In a shockingly accurate Arthak voice, Lantresor responds with a slight smile in his voice.
Halno does a double-take to make sure he’s sending the right person, which he is.
The group as a whole crosses the bridge heading back to the ship for the night, and the gloom gives way to regular night time. Three orcs approach, each from a different clan. They all appear to be grunts of moderate standing. One has the bone and leather harnesses of the Dragonmaw, another the flowing armor of the Stormreavers, and the last the leather harnesses of the Warsong.
Their weapons are out, and they are looking around, seemingly searching for something.
One of them is calling out.
Azgadaan messages the Stormreaver with magic.
The Stormreaver responds in a language he doesn’t understand. The orc seems to be speaking in Thalassian, and the three orcs look to the group.
Azgadaan repeats what the orcs say for the party’s benefit. Halno is able to piece it together to an extent. Effectively, they said “you’ll never reach her, foul demons, prepare yourselves.”
The orcs draw their weapons and charge forward. As they run forward, from what Nyxxa can tell, is they don’t seem to be under an illusion. However, they don’t seem to be running with the typical overbearing gait of an orc. None of them are.
Nyxxa then runs forward, drawing her weapons, and preparing for the attack.
One of the grunts starts to sprint with full fervor and, in a deep orcish voice, sounds out a Thalassian battle cry. He then hucks a spear at Nyxxa, but it goes wide.
Samaara lines up her bow, readying an action to shoot at the first one that gets into range.
The two other grunts also charge forward, hucking their javelins at Nyxxa. She ducks out of the way and deflects one out of the sky.
Azgadaan also moves to close and fires arcane missiles at one of the grunts. However, the orc doesn’t slow down. Halno reaches out with blight, and his eyes blacken beneath his mask. His target’s veins blacken, and the orc’s body shrivels as its life essences is torn from it.
The orc drops to the ground, and there’s a bright blue aura that blasts out from its chest, materializing into a translucent form of an elf. He appears to be wearing the garb of a Guardian of Eternal Spring.
Halno also sees something hanging off the side of the bridge. It’s a woman’s hand grabbing on the side of the bridge. However, the hand is not corporeal.
The hand seems to lose grip, and falls. The voice continues to cry for help, and it disappears. But a moment later, behind Halno, an ethereal figure floats up through the bridge right behind them. Her features are drowned and wounded.
She screams, levitating about 15-20 feet above their heads. Everyone clamps their hands on their ears, resisting the wail. As soon as she appears, the two remaining orcs and the ghostly night reach for her.
Arthak draws Quel’delar, and he rushes forward to aid Nyxxa. The ghostly guardians see Arthak wielding Quel’delar, and they launch a myriad of curses at him, focusing their attention on him.
Levia also runs forward, casting spiritual weapon near the possessed orcs. It swings at the revealed ghost, and she fires a fire bolt at the banshee, but the attack goes wide.
Nyxxa doubles back and leaps up at the banshee, swiping with one of her warglaives. The attack connects, slashing through the incorporeal form. The banshee screams and staggers, her form flickering.
One of the remaining orcs and the revealed ghost attempts to flank Arthak, but neither are able to land a hit.
Arthak responds with a strike of his own, and he attempts to frighten the ghost, but it is unphased by the condition. However, the ghost is not doing well, ectoplasm oozing from its form.
In the split second that Nyxxa had attacked the banshee, Samaara looses her arrow, and it slices through the banshee. However, it seems the spirit cannot be knocked down. She follows up with two more shots.
Azgadaan leaps up at the banshee, connecting with his pact weapon and an arcane smile.
Levia heals Nyxxa, then has her spiritual weapon swing at the orc. Unfortunately, it is blocked by its greataxe.
Halno uses blight again on another one of the orcs, enhancing the spell to deal more damage.
One of the remaining orcs charges past Halno and Levia to try and save the woman he has been referring to as his lady. Halno pushes another blight, drawing its life force again. However, it ignores him, swinging into Azgadaan, who is currently not wearing his armor. One attack connects, but the other he is able to shield against.
Nyxxa leaps at the banshee again, and her blades carve through her. There’s one more screech before the banshee vanishes. Nyxxa then whirls around on the orc, cutting down on him as she lands on him. The ghost is expelled as the orc dies.
However, upon seeing his lady fallen, the ghost shouts out a series of Thalassian curses, and his form contorts into a horrifying visage. Nyxxa recoils.
Levia starts to turn undead.
The ghost near Arthak is compelled to flee, and the orc that was still being possessed is released from the possession. However, the one on Nyxxa is not phased.
Arthak finishes off one of the ghosts near him, and then he whirls on the other one. However, as the blade connects, the supernatural force compelling him to flee is dispersed. Even so, the ghost disengages, and moves out over the water. It’s watching, and studying, hatred in his eyes.
Halno channels lightning at the ghost over the water, but it appears that it resisted most of the damage.
Azgadaan swings at the ghost nearest him, and he eldritch smites. The ghost disperses with the blow. He then transforms his weapon into a longbow.
The remaining orcish grunt looks at Arthak, confused.
The grunt looks down at his wounds, realizing the beating he took.
He does so willingly.
Nyxxa goes over to Azgadaan and grabs his pact bow, and then fires an arrow at the ghost over the water. She makes a shot with two arrows. The ghost continues to curse at them, threatening to hound them to the ends of the world, and proclaiming that he will bring his lady back. As the arrow connects, the ghost disperses.
They then question the still conscious orc, and Azgadaan asks what he last remembered. He explains they stumbled into a section of a cavern deep underground, and they heard something, and that’s the last thing he remembers. He explains there was a strange building, with some kind of burial chamber. He also introduces himself as Throkta.
Nyxxa asks Levia if she heard of anything like that, and Levia expresses she isn’t sure, but given recent events, many people died with unfinished business. However, she’s pretty sure the woman was… familiar, in some capacity. Like she was alive recently. It was possible she was a victim of the recent attacks, or one of the ones from the ritual that fueled the Dark Portal.
Levia admits she fears this may not be the end of the spirits, but she doesn’t think they’ll come back for them specifically.
Nyxxa isn’t sure about undead herself, but Halno is able to provide that they were likely caused by unfinished business, as Levia had said. They can also not be destroyed permanently until they are put to rest, likely by completing whatever business they were bound to.
As for the banshee, Halno knows that they are endemic to elves, and only elves can become them. They are similar to the spirits of the soldiers, but they likely died a very sorrowful death. The curse that brought them to life is one of endless torment and sorrow. Their wail is also exceptionally deadly.
The party agrees that the burial chamber likely needs to be dealt with at some point. The orc grunt, who was from the Warsong, explains they entered near the Bleeding Hollow lands, and he could likely lead them back to the location underground in the future if they desired.
Arthak expresses he still wants to aid Keli’dan the Breaker as soon as possible, but it may be worth stopping the spirits as well.
Azgadaan and Halno examine what remains of the ghosts, and Halno is unfortunately unable to recover anything, but Azgadaan gains some phantom dust and a small amount of shimmering, translucent cloth.
Nyxxa uses detect evil and good, and she can feel herself at the threshold of her corruption. However, she sees that what they harvested from the ghosts is teeming with undead energy, and she advises them to be cautious with it. Arthak also gathers up the Stormreaver grunt, as he appears to still be alive.
Azgadaan suggests that they perhaps stock up on healing supplies.
Halno mentions that he knows how to make potions, and Azgadaan is surprised, and offers to provide him with some coin to make some. Halno agrees.
They head back to the ship, and Azgadaan turns over some money to Halno. He says that he can make one in about 8 hours.
That night, Azgadaan gathers Nyxxa, Samaara, and Levia, and asks if they are going to go in the cave tomorrow. They are unsure if they are going to the academy or the ghost cave.
Azgadaan asks them to accept a spell, just in case, and he casts water breathing on them. They have no idea if it’s useful, but it’s something.
Later on, Khadgar messages Nyxxa, and she informs him that they are now on the mainland, and she has Samaara with her. Khadgar is pleased, and he expresses he is looking forward to meeting her contact. He tells Nyxxa that she just has to give the word, and they can arrange a meeting. Nyxxa thanks him for his flexibility.
Nyxxa then asks Samaara if she wants to take the risk tonight, and Samaara agrees that if they are quick, they could do it, but she sounds unsure.
Nyxxa nods, and she sets something up with Khadgar two days from then.
December 4th
Around noon, Sadras arrives aboard one of the rylaks with one of the rylak riders. Sadras hugs Arthak.
Sadras punches her palm with her fist.
Azuka looks at Arthak, and then to Sagaz.
Halno does the “I’m watching you” gesture to Sagaz.
The group gathers their things and heads back in the direction of the Falthrien Academy. It’s a slightly cooler day than it’s been. They don’t get attacked again, but the gloom of the island begins to settle in.
As the group makes their way to the outside barrier, they see the clusters of connected buildings, and the warped nature of the magics that know cover them. What was once a garden is now perverse and twisted. Water is now flowing backwards out of it. The entry of the academy, the long sloping stonework, ramps up and heads to a large, central atrium. Some of the stone is uprooted slightly up and off the ground.
Some of the specters are floating through the air, and mana wyrms are also wriggling through the air. Two mana wyrms leap on one of them, and tear it apart, the magical energy showering from above.
Sadras looks in amazement.
Azgadaan asks Sadras if her weapon was magic, and she confirms it’s not, but Azgadaan said he can do something about it if they get into a fight. Sadras expresses she would be lying if she said she wasn’t excited for what was going to come.
Azgadaan dumps his armor from the bag of holding and puts it on.
They step past the threshold. Halno lets others go first.
Anyone that has any sort of spellcasting feels very tingly. It’s simultaneously invigorating, terrifying, and wonderful. Halno can pick up that any magic cast in here can become more than it is.
Anyone that casts a spell can do a number of things--there’s no limit to how many times you can push a spell in here. You can also push a spell to increase the level of a spell, which uses the normal pushes a caster has access to. Additionally, you can enhance any spell once a turn with no limit. However, everything is still intrinsically corrupting.
However, Azgadaan feels a sense of familiarity, and also alien. It’s a similar feeling to the Twisting Nether, but it’s also different. The arcane, chaotic energies are present here, and he has a feeling that will have interesting ramifications on spells.
Mechanically, there’s at least a 5% chance of any spell cast here triggering a wild magic surge.
Meanwhile, Halno is already examining a plant, and touching it. However, he is very familiar with this school. In fact, he [Sylvos] attended this academy, and he graduated from it. As he looks up, though the buildings are alien and twisted, he realizes he knows the general layout of this place.
Or at least, a list of locations he can get to.
Entrance Hall
Living Quarters
Sanctum of Dynamics
Sanctum of Statics
Sanctum of Synergetics
Officiate
Halno expresses as much.
He knows that many of the academies are powered by crystals which are tapped into powerful extradimensional magics, which suspend them in the air. He knows that Falthrien Academy is powered by a singular arcane crystal, which is found in the Officiate, in a chamber beyond the principal’s office. However, that’s at the very top of the building.
Halno points straight to the top spire.
Then he stops.
He looks very intrigued, though he knows Sylvos does not know much about it.
They start to head forward, and the arcane wraiths that are around pick up on their approach. There is a group that has started to move closer--drawn by the magic that makes up the group as a whole.
Azgadaan casts his font of magic ability on them.
The wraiths drift closer, and closer, and closer, and soon enough, there’s a cluster of them.
Arthak says that they shouldn’t, as it’s likely they could outpace most of them, and it’s also possible they may run into another group.
Azgadaan casts protection from evil and good on Samaara and Sadras, and the wraiths’ eyes alight with hunger, and they run forward. Nyxxa runs to meet them, and both her blows connect.
She then readies herself for the onslaught.
Wraiths converge on Nyxxa, and there’s a scraping of arcane energy across her. Then there’s another peel of lightning. It arcs off in their direction, exploding with a crack of electricity.
A lightning bolt remains, crackling and sparking, hovering about 5 feet above the ground.
Nyxxa slays one of the wraiths as it floats by her.
Arthak swings with Champion’s Forge as an arcane wraith passes, and the creature disappears and reappears--its body glitching as it is stunned. Arthak swings at another, blasting it into arcane dust, and then moves to one more, killing it instantly.
Levia draws her sword and draws it in a circle, then holds it before her. Her eyes flare a bright white, and she casts spirit guardians. Vaguely elf-like figures materialize around her, rather in-distinctive, lithe, and wielding swords.
Samaara takes some shots at the arcane wraiths, but it misses. More arcane wraiths start to converge.
Sadras rages and starts to swing at one of the ones Arthak went for, and slams into it with her club.
Halno uses shockwave, pushing the spell, and three of the arcane wraiths crumble.
There’s another peel of lightning, and it blasts at Levia. She raises her shield to try and deflect, but the electricity crackles around her.
Azgadaan slams into another wraith with his weapon.
One of the wraiths turns and runs at the living lightning bolt, drawn by the raw arcane energy. Samaara then fires at the living lightning herself.
A wraith runs for Levia, but it takes damage from her spirit guardians, and it promptly dies. However, a second one goes for her, but she is able to deflect the blow with her shield.
Azgadaan releases a barrage of arcane missiles, killing a wraith, and then blasting into one of the living lightnings.
Halno unleashes a second shockwave, and the stone crunches the living lightning bolt and the arcane wraith both. However, Halno feels himself at the breaking point of his corruption.
Arthak eviscerates another arcane wraith, as does Nyxxa, who quickly kills a third.
The remaining living lightning bolt crackles and strikes through both Halno and Arthak. Arthak is able to shrug it off, but Halno zaps and sizzles a bit.
Levia blasts the living lightning bolt with a fire bolt, but the spell misses. Sadras beats down another arcane wraith, leaving it barely hanging on.
As they finish off the enemies, Levia triggers a wild magic affect, and her form flickers, seemingly stepping in and out of reality in a sense. Halno also triggers one with chill touch, and a spectral shield with a skull on it attaches to his forearm.
Levia tries to use toll the dead again, and she triggers another surge, immediately getting the benefits of a short rest.
All that remains is a living lightning bolt that is flickering through the sky. Arthak throws a javelin at it, but it misses. He hurls a second one, but this one hits. However, it’s still moving.
But Arthak activates one of his new runes, specifically the fire rune. As the javelin starts passing through the living lightning bolt, the rune starts to glow beneath his armor, and fiery chains link to the javelin, and crush the crackling living magic, lightning arcing off before it explodes.
There are still arcane wraiths in the distance, but there is a moment of respite.
Levia is looking at herself, her body still almost glitching.
As she says that, her body solidifies. The shield on Halno’s arm also fades.
The party agrees to head inside to recoup for a moment.
The entrance hall is tall with sigils of various houses that have contributed long ago, but the building is very damage. Pillars are uprooted, and even the rug is torn and piled to the side.=, warped by the supernatural energy. There are trophy cases of awards, some of them warped, others suspended upside down.
They look on cautiously, planning their next move.
