The Release of the Dragon

June 26, 2007

The two groups of Arabel meet to finalize their plans. It's quite a group. Lisha, Aurora, Azle, Malcolm, Tequesta, Deuce, Marcus and Reece start planning how they will do the assault. After getting things ready, they start.

Deuce leads them out of the Inn and into a nearby alley. Then, he calls upon the shadows and puts all of them in the border Shadow plane to start traveling. They leave Suzail and head toward the marsh where the temple is located, traveling quickly due to the Shadow Travel spell. Deuce is amazed at how easy the travel is. He hasn't used it a lot but it seems really easy and they don't see any obstacles that they have to go around. They travel so quickly that instead of having to travel more the next day to make it to the temple, the spell gets them to the temple in one day.

They come out at the edge of the marsh, looking at the temple. With a silent nod, they all quaff their potions and enter the ethereal plane. Stepping forward, they walk into the temple. The ethereal plane is also silent and easily traveled. They bypass the upper level of the temple, seeing the barracks and warriors, and get to the door of the summoning room. However, it is locked and solid to them, even ethereal as they are. They start discussing some options when two acolytes come down the hall and open the door. The group slips in and watches as the acolytes help the priestess who is doing the ritual on a dais. They bathe her, give her something to eat and change her robes. During this, the priestess keeps chanting the entire time. Marcus' skin crawls at the feeling of the dark goddess' prescience in the room.

They position themselves according to their plan. The spellcasters are going to hit the priestess with most types of energy while the paladin and dwarven warrior will be ready to attack physically. Deuce is going to lead it all with a magical fire arrow from his gem bow.

The energy summoned and channeled at the priestess would have easily gone through the stone walls had they not been enchanted to resist that in this room. The energy slams into the priestess so hard and fast, that she had no time to react to protect herself. There isn't much left of her for the warriors to attack and the dwarf is disgusted at no combat but happy it is over.

Marcus and Deuce sense that the interrupted ritual has created a lot of energy which is not being contained. Deuce is just starting to figure the energy out when a large portal to the Shadow Plane is opened and out steps the Shadow Dragon. The group is very wary but he merely nods to them and say, "Thanks for freeing me." Then he goes to the runed doors and by sheer bulk, pushes them open.

The party stands in shock as the dragon leaves the area. They aren't sure what to say to each other as they hear fighting. They finally step forward to the door and see the two acolytes that had come earlier are dead in the hallway. There is more fighting from above. The party figures they need to get out of there. As they pass the barracks, though, neither Marcus or Azle can resist helping the wounded and dying. They are Shar worshippers but they deserve a chance to live and see what has happened. The others keep moving as the other two help as best they can. Soon, the group is again gathered outside of the temple in the Marsh.

Deuce thinks he has enough energy to get them to the town of Daerlun to the south. The group agrees to that and they manage to make it, although it is quite late when they arrive. They get rooms and fall asleep very quickly.

Notes

• I almost had to give a drama point to make sure the ritual happened as I needed but it worked out.
• When the dragon thanked them and left them, the players weren't too happy! At the same time, they also knew that attacking the dragon would be suicide, so they just stood there. It fit, really.
• I have gotten much better at playing NPCs and the players really liked having them there. So, that worked out nicely. I didn't play Azle or Aurora as well as I could, but the others I think I did well.