Adventures in Eberron

Triumphant Return Once Again

2006-05-20T15:34:00.000-04:00

For sure this summer, my friends, I will be writing more of the adventures of our dear friends in Eberron.

The second semester at Morgrave turned out to be much more than I expected in January...but I have some down time for the next few months and will certainly be able to update at least once a week, if not more than that.

Thank you for being patient...I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I Have Returned

2006-01-09T14:52:00.000-05:00

After nearly two months, I have returned, my friends.

I have decided that I shall be updating the story once a week on Mondays. I hope that you all can be satisfied by this. Occasionally when time permits, I will write more, but for now, Monday's will be it.

I hope you are all in good health. Enjoy the new chapter below, "A New Job"!

Chapter III Part I: A New Job

2006-01-09T14:14:00.000-05:00

Pushing open the door to the Anvil spreads warm light across Atreyu's soggy face. Letting his eyes adjust, he stands in the door, examining his surrounding. There is a fire lit in the hearth and candles in the chandalier. A barkeep Atreyu does not recognize smiles kindly at him and waves in the direction of the lone customer in the inn.

Wrapped in dripping wet robes, the Lady Elaydren looks horror struck and beckons the four friends hastily over before they can even give a proper greeting.

"My friends! There is no time for pleasentries I'm afraid..." her voice trails off as she fumbles with a backpack for a moment. Setting it quickly on the table, she turns to Coheedior. "You will be the most familiar with this. Take it and go now. There are instructions inside. Great rewards await you at your journey's end, but now, I need your help."

Finishing, Elaydren stands to leave, and Mandrin cuts her off.

"Wait just a minu.."

Before the rougish halfling can even end his sentence, a burst of cracking wood splits the air. A large warforged brandishing a mighty cutlass and four mottled gray kobolds step through the broken doorway.

"Go now!" Elaydren shouts, losing a bolt of energy from her fingers. It slams into the mechanical humanoid, knocking him back a few feet. Elaydren then pulls a small stone from a belt pouch, murmurs a few incoherent words, and vanishes from sight in a puff of acrid smelling smoke.

"Stop those four!" the warforged yells in a metallic tongue. The four kobolds charge the companions.

"You know what to do, Raven," Nox says, urging her large wolf to attack. Leaping into the air, the black-colored wolf grabs onto the left arm of one of the sauren creatures and slams it to the ground.

Another manages to avoid a deft blow from Atreyu's longsword and wounds the shifter with a blow to the side from its crude handaxe. Mandrin seizes the opportunity and jabs a dagger into the creature's lowerback.

Coheedior attempts to cast a spell only to be tackled head on by the third Kobold. After wacking his head on a nearby table, the elven wizard tries to reach for his dagger while trying to prevent the monstrous humanoid from choking him.

The fourth kobold and the warforged manage to surround Nox and quickly force her up against a wall. She is able to parry most of the kobold's feable dagger thrusts, but the warforged's cutlass dances around her staff and lands three slashes to her arms.
Fortunately, Raven jumps on the back of the smaller monster, brings it to the gound, and begins to make a meal out of its face.

Another backstab from Mandrin easily dispatches the Kobold who had attacked Atreyu, allowing the shifter to charge the warforged, axe and longsword blazing. A hard thrust with the sword to the back of the machine's shoulder sends black iquor erupting from the wound. A second hit from the axe to it's side puts the warforged on its knees.

Seeing that his chances for survival are now running slim, the last kobold stands up above Coheedior and makes for the door way, only to be sent sprawling into a wall by a bolt of force from the wizard's finger tips.

"This is only the beginning," the warforged laughs menacingly. A blinding flash of light envelopes the monster. And then, nothing. He's disappeared just as Elaydren had.

"That was...interesting..." Atreyu sighs, breathing heavily and nursing the wound at his side.

Just then, a shout from the bar brings everyone to their feet.

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE! WHAT'S HAPPENED TO MY INN?!" the dwarven female screams at the companions. "You've all got a lot of explaining to do!"

Throwing a small bag of coins at the short woman, Coheedior sighs, "That'll cover anything you need."

Mandrin shakes his head and urges them all to the door.

A Brief Hiatus

2005-11-29T22:03:00.000-05:00

Tis been too long my friends...and I regret to inform you that it will be a little longer until I can continue relating to you our adventurers' tale.

Morgrave's examination period is coming up soon and so various professors have begun assigning ridiculous assignments and papers. Fear not though! Soon enough, the story will continue.

Until then, my friends.

Chapter 2: Shadows of the Last War Part II

2005-11-21T22:14:00.000-05:00

"There's someone here!" Coheedior shouts, kneeling down next to the body of a middle-aged gnome female.

Pouring a vial of clear, sweet-smelling liquid down her throat, the elf craddles the gnome woman's head, hoping it isn't yet too late. Nox appears from behind the bloodied, wooden counter, not a moment later. A look of concern is clearly visible on her face, lit dimly by the single candle that hangs from the middle of the cramped room.

Papers are scattered everywhere across the floor of the message station. The front windows have been shattered and the door of the single entrance way sways on a single hinge. Atreyu sits squat-legged on the floor, examining the muddy footprints that have been splotched onto the layer of paper that now covers the wooden floor.

A painful cough erupts from the diminuitive gnome. Coheedior and Nox help her to her feet. Atreyu looks up and Mandrin, who had been scouring the exterior, looking for any lingering sign of the culprits, appears in the broken doorway.

"My messages!" the gnome shouts. Wide-eyed, she lunges at the counter and immediately begins sorting the torn and crumpled papers, completely ignoring her rescuers.

"Umm...hello? Ma'am?" Coheedior says, lightly tapping her on the shoulder.

Spinning nervously, the gnome looks up at him. "Can I help you?"

Mandrin and Atreyu exchange a glance as Mandrin waves a finger in a circular motion around his head and crosses his eyes. Atreyu's giggles are quickly stiffled by a sharp look from Nox.

"You were attacked?" asks Coheedior with a sigh.

"Oh...yes!" the gnome responds loudly. "But everything's alright now! No harm done! I'm fine!"

"Look lady," Mandrin says, sauntering over. "We're not here to cause trouble or anything. We're glad you're okay...you don't by chance have a message for a Coheedior Cambrian do you?"

She cringes, throwing her arms over her face as if to block some imaginary blow. When nothing happens, she peeks around her forearms.

"You're...not going to hurt me? That means...one of you is Coheedior, yes?"

The elven wizard raises his hand.

"I'm Scribble...Scribble Scribewritter," she finally manages to say. "The monsters that came in here wanted a message for you too...when they didn't have ID papers and I questioned them on it, they ransacked the station and took the note that was for you."

"What did it say?" Nox asks.

"Well...you'd have to show me your ID papers first. But it doesn't matter anyway," Scribble frowns. "We're trained to forget a message as soon as we transcribe it. I'm sorry my lords and lady, but I have no idea what to tell you..."

"Could you at least try to remember who it was from," Nox asks in a very calm, almost soothing tone as Coheedior reaches deep into his robes and retrieves his wooden ID case.

After casting a quick glance at the papers in the wizard's case, Scribble scrunches her nose in thought and then looks up at Coheedior. "A...Lady...E...Elay..."

"Elaydren!" Atreyu finishes.

"Yes!" Scribble shouts in agreement. "That was it! I hope that can be of some help for you. If you don't mind, I need to get this place back in order...No point in calling the Watch, it's not like they'll do much for my small piece of House Sivis anyway...I appreciate your help m'lords, but I can handle everything from here."

Mandrin is the first out the door, followed by Nox and Raven, and then Coheedior. Atreyu takes one last close look at the floor and then walks outside into the rain.

"Guys, it was Kobolds...and a warforged. No dDoubt about it," Atreyu says to his friends. "More metal-breeds. This is getting a little boring."

"Well, it looks like we're out of a job," says Mandrin with a hint of disgust, kicking a loose cobblestone.

"Do you think we ought to head to Elaydren's town house and check on her?" Nox asks.

"That might be a lot of trouble for nothing..." Coheedior responds. "Scribble said they were looking for me, not her...maybe we ought to be concerned about me..."

"Look up," Nox interrupts. She points into the sky as a shadowy figure looms overheard, making it barely visible through the thick rain, even with the light cast by nearby everburning streetlights.

Not a moment later, a small scroll case is dropped at the friends' feet as the screech of an owl shrieks overhead. Nox picks up the fallen case, opens it, and begins reading before the rain can soak the paper housed within.

"My friends," the changeling reads. "It would appear the normal means of communication have been cut off. I trust this note reaches you all in good health. Please meet me at my town house as soon as possible so that we might discuss another matter of business that has recently presented itself. Signed, Lady E."

"Welp, let's get to it," Mandrin smiles, hailing a nearby air taxi.

Chapter 1: Shadows of the Last War Part I

2005-11-18T13:03:00.000-05:00

A small candle casts a dim orange light on the otherwise dark room.

Coheedior sits at his desk, reading over old notes and spells. He had been assigned a class to instruct at the University this semester in the School of Conjuration. The Provost, Lunarin Lightenglade himself, had appointed the young elf to the task. Coheedior had never met the man, but the powerful elven wizard seemed to know a great deal about him. Coheedior was appreciative, but in truth had no desire to teach. "Too much work and too many people," he would say to himself in disgust. "Too many late nights, just like this one..."

"Hey, you wanna head to the message station with me and Mandrin?" Atreyu calls to his friend from across the hallway. After their brief excursion into Xen'drik less than a year ago, the elf had taken them into his house and agreed to rent them each a room for a small monthly fee, as neither had anyplace else to go. Atreyu made money doing manual labor and odd jobs for vendors in the market. Mandrin's source income was assuredly not so noble; Coheedior feels no great desire to hear of it either way. "We're meeting Nox on Selna Bridge in fifteen minutes."

"Tonight? It's so late already..." Coheedior grumbles a response.

"I didn't have time to go today, I had other stuff to take care of," Mandrin interjects. "Get off your lazy, elven ass, get away from those dusty books, and let's go!"

Yeah," the elf lets out a sigh and then lifts himself out of his chair. "I'll be right there."

Quickly throwing on some light robes, Coheedior follows his friends out the door. A light pattering of rain has started to fall.

"Wonderful," Coheedior mumbles, throwing the hood of his robes over his head.

After a quick air-cab ride through dizzying heights of Middle City, the cab comes to a stop not far from Selna Bridge. The light rain had turned into a small deluge. Mandrin jumps out of the car and runs to the nearest overhang. Atreyu follows soon after. Coheedior pays the driver and opens his door. "So that's why they wanted me along," he thinks to himself as he steps out into the downpour.

"Nox!" shouts Atreyu, waving his arms in the air. "Hey Nox, over here!"

The changeling turns to them, milky white hair soaked by the summer rain. She waves back and then leads Raven to her friends. Nox had taken up residency in Skypark, a wildlife district not far from the Broken Anvil. The local druidic sect allowed her to join their coven in exchange for her joining their caretaking of the sparse wildlife in Sharn.

"Good moring everyone," Nox yawns. "Shall we?"

Feigning an air of regality, Atreyu stiffens and takes a deep bow as water drips from his thick, mangy hair, "Indeed we shall."

Coheedior rolls his eyes at the shifter. "What an idiot," he thinks to himself, laughing.

A short walk leads them to a back alley at the end of which the local Sivis Message station is located.

Lightning flashes. The door is off of its hinges and both front windows have been smashed.

"I knew this was going to be a long night," Coheedior sighs, and reaches for a concealed dagger.

Epilogue to "The Forgotten Forge"

2005-11-16T21:57:00.000-05:00

Mandrin opens his eyes. Darkness. "I must be dead," he thinks to himself. "That was a Dolurr of an explosion..."

"I'm lying down. On a comfortable bed," he says to himself. "Must've done something right." The halfling snickers. He sits up.

A sharp pain shoot through his head. "Ouch!" Mandrin cries in pain. "Apparently dead people can still feel pain," he grumbles. "That doesn't seem fair..."

"Or maybe you're not dead, my friend," a familiar voice chuckles.

"Coheedior! Where are you? I can't see!" Mandrin shouts, somewhat relieved.

"That's becuase your head is wrapped up tight," Atreyu responds. "You took quite a few blows to your skull. That was one Dolurr of a stunt you pulled."

"It's probably safe to let him see again," says Nox. Mandrin feels fingers start to unwrap the bandages from his head. Warm light explodes onto his face. He squints, letting his eyes adjust.

Everyone was here, dressed in wrappings and bandages, just like him.

"Welcome to my home, Mandrin Ahrrenj," a soothing voice says. The Lady Elaydren d'Cannith sits not far form Mandrin and his friends, sipping something warm from an exquisite clay cup.

"so somebody want to tell me how we got out of there?" Mandrin asks, letting a hint of a smile touch his face.

"Nox was unable to revive me and between her, Coheedior, and myself, we were able to get you, Raven, and Mord out before the roof came down," Atreyu explains.

"We blew up Dorasharn Tower?!" Mandrin asks wide-eyed.

"No, nothing so drastic," Nox who is now holding the appearance of an elven woman, laughs. "In truth, I doubt anyone even noticed. That pillar hasn't really supported any main structures for centuries. No one'll be able to get back down there though. Rubble closed up the exit pretty well.

"And those stairs led up? I was right?" Mandrin continues questioning.

"Yeah," responds Coheedior. "Led up to the market through a one way door actually.

"And our money?" Mandrin's eyes glint mischieviously.

"Your gold is sitting on the table," Elaydren replies, pointing to four substantially sized sacks stacked on a small table next to an open window. "Now, if you're excuse me, my friends, I have some House business to take care of today."

Holding up the adamantite plate, she continutes. "Me and my family cannot thank you enough. You have done well. My servants will see that you are taken care of as you prepare to return to your homes."

She starts for the door, and then turns her head back to the four friends. "Keep a close eye on the Sivis message station. Should more work present itself, I shall not hesitate to call on you once again."

With that, Elaydren walks out the door.

Chapter 11: The Treasure Within Part II

2005-11-14T17:32:00.000-05:00

"Careful with that, Mandrin!" Coheedior chastizes. The halfling gives the plate a toss , snatches it from the air, and smiles deviously at his elven friend.

"Cmon," he says calmly. "Adamantite. It's not like it's gunna break..."

Mandrin throws it once again, but this time, it doesn't come back down. Looking up, he sees Atreyu dangling the metallic plate over his head. The rogue sneers and then begins polishing the dagger he'd pulled from the chest.

The group had pulled a good number of useful items from the heirloom's room including a set of daggers, a cold iron longsword which Atreyu had taken, and a few sizeable gold ingots.

"So we are done here, yes?" Nox asks looking unusually bored. "I'd rather not spend anytime down here that I don't have to."

"I agree," Coheedior nods and then grins, "Let's pull that leverl, get out of here, and then go spend some money!"

"Amen!" Mandrin shouts in agreement, throwing his hands in the air. Getting up and putting his new dagger away, he runs over to a small rusty, metal rod stuck in the floor not far from the treasure trove. Gripping the lever with both hands, the halfling braces himself and then yanks with all his might. Following a terrible screeching, a billow of steam shoots out of pipes leading to the doors. A loud creak resounds and the enormous adamantite doors slowly open. When the doors reach their limit, the noise quickly falls away, leaving only an uneasy silence.

"Alright, just to be safe, let's scout ahead a bit, Mordichae," Coheedior says, feeding his falcon a small nut. Lifting his arm, Coheedior sends his familiar into the air and out into the cavernous room. "Okay, I'll know if anything startles him, Let's head out."

"Where are we gunna go?" inquires Atreyu, scratching his chin. "I could really breath easier knowing I didn't have to wade through those Traveler-forsaken bugs again..."

"There was a tunnel on the other side of that huge pillar," Mandrin answers. "Some kinda stairs leading up. It's gotta go somewhere."

"Let's go then," Nox says, bringing Raven to her side.

The four walk out of the ancient Cannith workshop and into the bleak darkness of ancient Dorasharn.

A loud squawk of pain resonates from near the pillar and Coheedior's hands fly to his temples. "Mordichae! No!" the elven wizards cries out and then sprints toward the giant column.

A spec of orange light appears from behind the stone pillar and not a second later, flies into Coheedior's shoulder, knocking him to the ground.

Raven begins growling and the fur on the back of her neck visiby stands on end.

Drawing his new longsword and handaxe, Atreyu scrambles to the fallen wizard. Mandrin whips out his short sword and loosens three daggers in his belt, straining his eyes to try and catch a glimpse of his foe.

"Weak flesh!" a metallic voice calls from the stone pillar. A large warforged steps from behind it into the adventurers' line of sight. His face is illuminated by the flame sputtering at the tip of his unloaded crossbow. "You have something that belongs to my lord. He thanks you for locating and obtaining it. Hand it over now and I will let you walk away unharmed. Comply, pinkskins!"

Atreyu helps Coheedior to his feet. The elf spits at his mechanical foe, "Rot in Doluhrr, forged! You won't get your hands anywhere near the plate."

"Have it your way, elf. You've incurred the wrath of Edge, trusted servant to the Lord of the Blades," the warforged responds as he reloads his crossbow.

Coheedior whispers a strange exotic phrase and touches Atreyu's shoulder. A small pulse of light is expelled. The wizard quickly explains, "He'll have a harder time hitting you now. Now go!" Atreyu takes off towards the enemy and Coheedior ducks behind a small piece of stone.

"Attack!" Nox yells and sends Raven into a frenzy. The two berserking attackers charge at the warfoged. Edge looses a bolt. The flaming shaft flies through the air and pierces Atreyu's thigh. It doesn't even phase the crazed shifter. Snorting, Edge quickly lashes his crossbow to his back and braces for the attacks.

Raven is the first to rach him. She leaps at Edge who is more than ready. He slices a battle axe through the air and lands a blow on the wolf's flank, sending a splatter of blood to the ground. Atreyu believes he sees an opening and tries to thrust his longsword into Edge's partially exposed back. Before he can connect, Edge's return swing cuts right the his leather armor covering his chest. Blood spills from the wound all over his left side as the shifter lets out a snarl of pain.

The snear vanishes from the warforged's face as a tiny sword pierces his back. THe rogue had snuck behind the pillar and launched a rear attack on the unsuspecting Edge.

"Your mother was a candle snuffer!" Mandrin shouts out, pulling back his shortsword from the metal body. Black iquor leaks from the puncture wound made by the diminuative sword. Turning quickly to face Mandrin, the huge warforged swipes at him and narrowly misses severing the halfling's legs.

Raven takes the opportunity to bit at Edge's feet in the hopes of tripping him up. This distracts the warforged long enough for Atreyu to plunge the cold iron longsword deep into Edge's stomach, releasing a spray of the black lifesblood. Ignoring the deep wound, Edge takes a double handed swing at the wolf. The axe hits Raven square in her chest and sends her flying into the pillar. She lands on her side and stops moving.

Nox screams and her hands begin to glow. A large ferocious dire rat is summoned right in front of the warforged. When Mandrin misses a blow with his sword, the rat latches onto Edge's waist and begins tearing at the wood and softer metals holding him together. Edge barely parries a strong swing from Atreyu and then kicks Mandrin in the stomach, doubling the halfling over. A second kick from the steel foot sends him sprawling. Mandrin hits the ground and a trickle of blood runs from his ear.

A streak of force pounds into Edge's back, denting his composite plating. A second missle shoots from Coheedior's extended fingers and looses metal from Edge's legs.

"Atreyu, take care of him! I'm out of spells!," Coheedior shouts to his friend. Nox runs over to Raven and begins chanting a spell.

Edge parries an axe swing from Atreyu that sends the lighter weapon into the air out of the shifter's reach. Seizing the opening, Edge pushes closer to Atreyu, bringing the axe down in a wide arc, meant to sever the ranger in two. Atreyu raises his sword to parry, but can't muster enough strength to stop the blow entirely.

The cold iron sword turns the warforged axe on its side, and the flat of the blade slams into Atreyu's head. The ranger falls to the ground, unconscious.

Edge laughs sinisterly and brings his axe above his head with both hands.

"Time to die, bitch."

Mandrin jumps onto Edge's back, wraps his hand's around the warforged's massive neck, and slams two daggers into his exposed throat.

Edge let's out a blood-curdling shriek and throws the halfling from his back. Dropping his axe, the warforged stumbles around frantically, trying to free the daggers from his neck. Black iquor spews forth from his mouth, spilling down the front of his body. He falls to his knees hext to the giant pillar. A golden ball shoots out of his back, sprouts wings, and flies into the darkness.

All is quiet. Then a click.

An enormous explosion wracks the pillar and chunks of stone rain down into ancient Dorasharn.

Chapter 11: The Treasure Within Part I

2005-11-11T14:21:00.000-05:00

"There!" Coheedior says to his companions. "There's another dog smashed under this rock!"

"Serves him right," Atreyu spits as Nox pours some of the potion they had recovered from the shrine's fountain onto his bleeding calf. "Does he have a rod in his head like the others?"

"Indeed he does," Coheedior smiles. "I can't get to it though. Too much stuff in the way."

After the two metallic monsters has been taken out, the group had the chance to take a better look at the room in which they stood. A still-burning forge gave the chamber a dim-redish ambiance with the occasional pop or crack of flame in the otherwise silent space. The opposite side of the giant adamantite doors were covered with cogs and large wheels of various make and metal. There were various shelves and cabinets all over the room lined with bottles and various instruments.

The only other true point of interest in the room was the solid metal hatch in the wall and the three polygonal niches carved into the wall next to it: A Triangle, a Pentagon, and a Square.

"Do you think you could help me lift this rock off of him for a second, Atreyu? I might be able to pick the rod out," Coheedior asks.

"Sure," the shifter replies, standing and testing his newly-healed leg. he walks over to the broken stone where Coheedior is sitting. Squatting down, he grabs a hold of the rock and grunts. His arm muscles visibly tense up and the edge of the stone comes off of the ground. "Quick, I can't do this for long!"

Coheedior sticks his hands underneath and snatches the rod from the broken metallic dog's head. Atreyu drops the rock back onto the ground.

"Is it a square?" Mandrin asks from across the dimly-lit room. "Cause we might have come all this way for..."

"It's a square," the elf responds. "We're good."

"Excellent," Nox comments and then starts mumbling to herself.

"Hey, none of that now, changeling," Coheedior says, snapping his fingers at her.

Nox just smirks at him.

Looking back at Mandrin, the wizard tosses the rectangular prism-shaped piece of metal. Catching it, Mandrin holds up all three prisms: a pentagon, a triangle, and a square.

"One problem," says the halfling, pointing to the space on the wall where the three niches were located, presumably shaped for the rods. "It's trapped, that much I can tell. There's no way for me to disable it though. We've got no idea, not even a clue which one to put in first."

"Well, take a wild guess, Mandrin," Coheedior says. "You're the fastest and most likely to anticipate what'll come at you."

"Well," Mandrin mocks Coheedior and then appears to lose interest, "...whatever."

He sticks the pentagonal key into the appropriately shaped hole and is rewarded with a clicking sound. Relaxing for a moment, he smirks.

A bolt of blue electricity shoots out of the inserted rod and courses through the rogue's body, sending him crashing to the ground. The rod then pops out of the hole to the sound of another click.

Atreyu is the first to reach his friend's side. Shaking the halfling, Atreyu cries out, "Mandrin! Hey Mandrin! Wake up!"

The rogue moans softly and opens his eyes. He blinks and then sneers painfully,"Yeah, great plan, guys. Get off me!" Tearing his arms away from Atreyu, Mandrin stands up and goes to the fallen rock, sits down and begins polishing a dagger all the while grumbling angrily to himself.

"Well, I suppose I'll try next," Atreyu says, taking the fallen prisms from the ground. "You're call wizard."

"Triangle," Nox says, scratching behind Raven's ears. "It's the simplest. Start there."

"Makes sense," Coheedior agrees, turning to the shifter.

Shrugging, Atreyu looks at the three holes and inserts the triangular shaped rod. It clicks. Atreyu cringes.

Nothing happens.

"Square then pentagon," Nox continues. "That has to be it."

Atreyu nods and does so. Two more clicks. No more electricity.

Then, a loud boom and the steel door next to the three key holes opens slowly. Inside, a small room is lit with strange sconces. There are two large chests, along the right hand side of the small room, but the first thing to catch the explorers' eyes is the small, metallic star that sits upon a stone pedastal in the middle.

"Well, hello there, little one," Atreyu says, smiling.

Chapter 10: Toothy Grin Part II

2005-11-09T22:39:00.000-05:00

"Oh crap," curses Atreyu.

A second appears to his left, emerging from behind a large chunk of the fallen stone.

"Oh gods, those are big metal dogs..." Atreyu thinks to himself. "Alright...maybe they just want to play."

Pulling himself off of the ground, the shifter takes a cautious step towards the strange-looking creatures.

One utters a low growl that grates at his ears like the grinding of the gate cogs in Sharn. The second starts moving toward him and opens its razor-filled mouth.

"So that's how it's gunna be, huh?" Atreyu whispers, drawing his sword and axe.

The approaching dog lunges at Atreyu. He parries its attack with his sword and swipes at the beast's neck. The ringing sound of metal-on-metal resonates through the building.

A sharp pain shoots up Atreyu's leg. The second metallic dog had circled around and bitten deep into his calf. The shifter's blood covers the creature's open maw.

"I could use some help down here," he shouts, stealing a quick glance at the open hole in the ceiling. "Where are you guys?"

No answer.

The first dog leaps at Atreyu, hoping to bite his neck. Ducking down, Atreyu whips his axe upwards and tears a gash into the creature's steel underside. Thick, black ichor spews out of the wound, covering Atreyu. The second dog sees Atreyu down and charges him from behind. Hearing the approaching machine, Atreyu stands up and swings his longsword into its path. The sword dents the dog's forehead square between its glowing red eyes.

"This isn't so bad," Atreyu tells himself. "Just keep on your toes."

Both dogs circle him for a moment and then charge together.

Atreyu directs the first to one side with his sword, but the other jumps at the last second. The shifter ducks, expecting to lose his throat at any moment.

But that doesn't happen.

The next thing he hears is a loud crash as the leaping dog falls on its face, a short sword sticking out of its spine. Atreyu opens his eyes to see Mandrin standing over him, smirking.

"Couldn't handle them both, eh shifter?" the halfling rogue asks.

"Something like that," Atreyu murmurs. He liked Mandrin. There weren't too many people Atreyu didn't like. The halfling did tend to cut things like saving lives a little too close sometimes.

Stepping forward once again, Atreyu readies his weapons. He charges the remaining metallic shifter, releasing his grip of reality; reaching out to his ancestors.

Atreyu did not particularly enjoying shifting. He enjoyed the company of more civilized people. It made him feel smarter and more respectable. Shifting tended to scare those who didn't understand his kind. Fortunately, Mandrin and Coheedior were not those kind of people.

It was over before he realized it. Atreyu pants for a moment and looks down at his clothes. He was covered in the stinking black liquid.

"Impressive as always," Coheedior comments. "I do enjoy watching you work."

Atreyu simply nods, still trying to catch his breathe. Apparently the rest had gotten down now, that was good.

He hears a soft click. Something appears on the dogs forehead, which had landed some ten feet from the shifter. A rod of some sort. Pointing at it, he asks the elven wizard, "What do you think that is?"

Chapter 10: Toothy Grin Part I

2005-11-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

"We could climb up here," Mandrin calls out. "Some sort've big block's fallen over near the wall. We could probably get to the roof from here."

The block Mandrin is referring to is an enormous deteriorating cube of granitethat presumably fell from the ceiling a good number of years ago. It landed on an edge, leaving a slightly-slanted, flat surface exposed on top. The lower corner stands about five feet off the ground. The highest point is about fifteen feet up and leaves a gap of four feet or so to the Cannith building.

"Nice work, shorty," Atreyu says, propping himself up onto the rock. When he reaches the dropoff, the shifter easily vaults the distance and lands on both feet on the rooftop. "Come on, guys!" he shouts to his lagging companions.

Coheedior send Mordichai into the air and then proceeds to climb up onto the block. Turning to Raven, he brushes the dust off of his robes and speaks in a condescending tone, "Well, dog, look's as if you'll be sitting this one out."

Smirking, Nox points at the rock, looks at Raven, and commands, "Up."

The wolf immediately reacts.

Bounding forward, it takes a tremendous leap onto the block. Coheedior trips up and falls onto his rear end. Raven walks over to the fallen elf and sniffs him.

Everyone bursts out laughing. "Well changeling, you may fit in yet," Mandrin comments as he pulls himself onto the granite.

Nox, who is still in her natural form, simply runs her fingers through her stark-white hair and yawns.

"Well, I guess I asked for that one," Coheedior says, patting the wolf on the head. He extends his hand to the halfling, hoping to get help to stand up. Mandrin either doesn't notice or chooses to ignore his friend. Taking a small running start, the small adventurer leaps the gap and lands safely on the other side.

"Here," Nox says giving Coheedior her arm.

The elf takes it, giving but a hint of a nervous smile. The two proceed to the roof.

By this time, Atreyu is standing at the edge of the hole. "Pretty dark down there. Can't see much."

"Drop the last of your torch down," Nox suggests.

The shifter does so.

It becomes instantly apparents why there is a giant hole in the roof. Another enormous block of granite, similar to the one outside the buildinghad smashed through the roof and was now sitting on the floor of the Cannith building, mostly in pieces.

"I think I can jump down safely onto one of those bigger pieces," notes Atreyu. "I'll let you know if it's safe to come down once I get a look around."

"Sounds like as good a plan as any," offers Coheedior. Everyone nods in agreement.

"Here goes," Atreyu says as he drops down into the hole.

The shifter does not find as pleasant a landing spot as he would have liked. The rock rolls under his feet and sends him crashing face first into the floor and then out of the view of his companions.

"Atreyu! Are you okay?" Nox's shout of concern is almost drowned out by Mandrin's laughter.

"I'm fine, nothing brok...What in the name of the Traveler?" Atreyu shouts. "I've never seen dogs look like that before...oh crap"

Taken Ill

2005-11-07T23:09:00.000-05:00

I apologize for my absense, dear friends...I appear to have contracted a terrible illness, and it has kept me from writing for a day or two. Fear not, for I hope to mend enough on the morrow to put up at least one chapter.

Chapter 9: New Discoveries Part II

2005-11-03T00:16:00.000-05:00

"What is it?" Atreyu asks, looking up.

"Some giant building with an anvil on its doors," Mandrin says, waving his torch excitedly. "You gotta see it! The doors are..."

"Hang on," interrupts Coheedior. "In case you've all forgotten, this woman here deceived us! For gods' sake she just went crazy and punched you in the face!" Gesturing at the halfling.

Shrugging, Mandrin explains, "Yeah, but I've been punched in the face by men a lot stronger than her...and lying? I can respect that," he says with a grin.

"Well, I didn't exactly lie..." Nox retorts quietly.

"It doesn't matter now," Mandrin says, rolling his eyes. "Come on, follow me!"

Picking up their gear, Atreyu, Coheedior, Nox, and Raven follow their short companion through a debris field and over the ruins of a small building. Upon scaling a short fallen wall, the explorers are greeted by a giant stone column.

At least 20 feet in diameter and tall enough to be lost in the darkness of the ceiling, the pillar is certainly a sight to behold. It obviously once held man carvings and decorations, but any ornamentations that might have been found have long since worn away. Piles of rubble and dust sit at the base of the column, making it appear even wider.

"Impressive," Atreyu whistles. "I wonder what its holding up?"

Coheedior snorts to himself, "Look out! Nobody knock it over or the whole tower'll come down on us!"

Atreyu laughs nervously, "Seriously...isn't it a little bigger than what Elaydren told us we're supposed to bring back?"

"No stupid!" Mandrin scoffs. "There!"

The halfling points in the direction of a large building not too far from the pillar. It has massive, metallic double doors standing about fifteen feet high. Embossed across their front is an anvil and hammer, an ancient symbol of House Cannith. There are no apparent handles. The walls are made of slick-marble and the roof appears to be made of overlapping clay shingles.

"That has to be it," Nox murmurs, scratching Raven's head idly.

Coheedior nods in agreement, "Yep...now all we have to do is get inside."

The group heads to the doors of the old Cannith building. "Adamantite," Coheedior says, placing his hands on the doors almost lovingly.

Glancing slyly at Mandrin, he laughs, "Can we keep them?"

"I found a way in!" Atreyu shouts from around the corner. Looking over at the shifter, the others follow his pointing finger to a gaping hole in the roof barely visible over the edge of the clay shingles.

Chapter 9: New Discoveries Part I

2005-11-01T22:02:00.000-05:00

"I was born in the Eldeen Reaches," Nox begins.

Coheedior and Atreyu sit at her feet next to her wolf. Mandrin is still wanderinng around, most likely still nursing a blow to the head he had received while trying to wake Nox in a rare moment of concern.

"I was born on Darkfell...darkest night of the year," she continues.

"Nox is Draconic for 'night,'" Coheedior whispers to Atreyu who nods in understanding.

"I was a sickly child and so was kept under house arrest for most of my youngest years. As I got older, I became curious about the world around me. Forests, rivers, the sky; I wanted to explore it all. My parents, worried that my wild endeavors might get me killed, they had me look after my aunt. She had been bed-ridden for many years, though stories told of how she once had been a sorcerous of some repute.

"At first, I hated my aunt. She never talked; she never did anything. Some mental illness had taken her wits from her. The old woman did enjoy walks in the woods though. That's where I found my common ground. The forest was the only place where she wouldn't ramble to herself. She'd just sit there, smiling.

"On one chance day in my 13th year, while pushing my aunt's cart through the woods, I came across a fairly trapped in a cage. I freed the fey, only to find out it was my family that had put him there. The sprite explained to me, once he had finished berating me that my family were traders in exotic and magical creatures. All my life I had believed I was not allowed into the woods because of my childhood sickness.

"I returned home and scolded my family. They ignored me at first...then hated me. I was the voice of morality and they would have none of it. They continued to poach. I vowed that someday I would set things right.

"As fate would have it, I had nothing to do with the end of my family's business. Our village was attacked by a band of ithillids. Most of my immediate family was slaughtered, though my father survived. After the attack was over, I spent hours trying to find my aunt, to no avail. I tried to get my house to help locate her, but they wrote her off as dead or captured. That was the last day I ever saw my family. I wandered into the forest for days, but never saw a sign of my aunt. I did however encounter a party of Gatekeeper druids. After traveling with them for a time, I decided to join the Order.

"I trained as an adept for a long time; my goal was to be involved in a raiding party to Khyber so that I might have a chance to exact my revenge on the ithillid race. Alas, in my first chance to do so, my party was ambushed before we even reached our destination. The group was killed, and I was taken as a thrall to Khyber to serve an Elder Brain.

"I don't remember much...outside of the torcher.

Pausing to compose herself, Nox then continues, "I was a prisoner for three years...

"On a chance raid by the Gatekeepers, my captors were slain and I was freed. I couldn't go back to the Reaches. Too many memories.

She stops again.

"The torture destroyed parts of my mind. The ithillids are fascinated with changelings. THey try to allign certain personalities with a specific forms. Like, a human with multiple personalities can receive treatment because their appearence is always the same. A changeling with multiple personalities is an entirely different story..."

Lowering her head a bit and parting her silky white heair, Nox reveals thick scars that run from the top of her scalp down the back of her neck.

"Psionic scars," her voice fades. "Whatever they did, it causes me to see things. The visions sometimes are flashbacks, sometimes fantasies, but they're always real to me..."

"How often do they come?" ask Coheedior showing a small amount of concern.

"Not terribly often," Nox answers. "But completely unpredictable and erractic."

"Why didn't you just tell us you were a changeling from the beginning?" Atreyu asks.

"It's like I mentioned before. Sometimes, I get confused about who I am," sighs Nox. "It usually doesn't last long, but if I spend too much time as anyone type of creature, I sometimes believe I am that creature. I just get confu..."

Nox appears to lose her train of thought as her voice fades into the darkness surrounding them.

"Hey, can we worry about this later?" Mandrin calls as he appears out of no where. "I think I found where we're supposed to be heading!"

Chapter 8: A Sudden Change Part II

2005-10-31T13:06:00.000-05:00

They were talking to her.

What are they saying? Where's Raven?

She had to warn them. The Ithillids were here! She wasn't going to let them take her friends. No more torture.

Nox was not going back to Khyber.

She wanted to scream out to her friends, but something was in her throat. No, there was nothing in her throat. No air.

The convulsions started. Breathe. Stop shaking and breathe!

Then, a moment of clarity.

It isn't real. None of this is real. No mindflayers. Your friends are safe. Don't be afraid.

But what if all of it is real? Are you willing to bet your new friends' lives on that? Aren't you scared?

Shut up. No more fear. You're in my head, nothing more.

RIght in front of her, an ithillid appears. He looks real enough. Slimy, tentacle-covered mouth, and slick, gray skin.

A voice booms in her head, "We're here for you, Nox. Come back to us."

Finding the air, Nox screams. "No! I won't go back! Leave me alone! You aren't real!"

Lashing out, her flailing arms connect with the aberration's face, knocking him backwards.

"Son of a bitch!" the mindflayer shouts.

No, not a mindflayer. Mandrin! He's here! She had to save him from the evil one.

Something shakes Nox; then total darkness.

"Nox! Open your eyes!" a familiar voice calls out. It was Atreyu! He must have slayed the ithillid. Everything was okay now.

More darkness.

Where am I?

Slowly, Nox opens her eyes. She's laying on the ground. Atreyu kneels next to her, and Raven, who had probably been lying at her feet is now sitting back on her haunches, looking down at her master, tongue lapping at the air.

Nox glances at her hands. Blue-gray skin. She had reverted back to her natural form. Coming to the realization of what had transpired, she wobbles to her feet, with Atreyu's help. Still slightly disoriented, Nox brushes herself off and looks around the dimly-lit area. Coheedior was sitting on a large rock not too far away with a torch, reading his spell book. Mandrin was no where in sight.

"I probably have a little explaining to do," Nox sighs.

"More like a lot of explaining," says Coheedior, closing his book abruptly and glancing menacingly in her direction.

Service Announcement

2005-10-27T10:54:00.000-04:00

It has come to my attention, my friends, that I failed to include a description of how Nox's wolf companion, Raven, was able to make it down the shaft and through the tunnel. Let me simply state that it involved lowering the poor beast onto Atreyu shoulders. I apologize for any confusing this may have caused.

Also, I will be taking a short vacation to Aundair for a few days. I shall return to continue telling the tale on Mol, the 2nd of Aryth!

Chapter 8: A Sudden Change Part I

2005-10-27T10:30:00.000-04:00

The group had been wandering for about an hour. The room was at least 100 feet wide. It was filled with the remnants of fallen buildings, walls, and other various ancient structures.

A couple of dire rats took interest in Mandrin while he was off on his own and tried to make a meal out of him. His injured hand had made it difficult for him to handle oth, but the roguish halfling did manage to dispatch one before Atreyu rushed to his side and separated the second rat's head from it's body.

Nox and Coheedior had come across an abandoned shrine to Onatar, god of Creation, deep in the giant room in one of the still-mostly standing buildings. Inside, they were pleasantly suprised to find a fountain filled with a sweet-smelling liquid which Nox quickly identified as a curative potion. They easily filled three bottles before exhausting the source.

Eventually, the Atreyu and Mandrin found their way to the shrine to join their friends.

"Mandrin, what in Dolurr happened to you?" Coheedior asks as the halfling and Atreyu hobble into the room.

"He had a run-in with a couple of big rats," Atreyu answers candidly for his injured companion.

The halfling shakes his head in anger, "I could've taken them! I already had one down when you showed up..."

"You couldn't even use your sword arm!" laughs Atreyu heartily. "That bug bite's got it swelled up something awful still."

Mandrin grumbles and then sits on the ground to pout. Nox moves over to his side and examines the bandaged hand.

Raven, taking advantage of the down time, decides that she's hungry enough to sneak up behind the hawk perched on the wizard's shoulder and try devour him again. She knew she wasn't supposed to, but Raven was awfully hungry.

The large wolf pounces, knocking Coheedior flat on his face. Raven misses her quarry and Mordichai flies high up into the remaining rafters of the church.

Cursing heavily in elven, Coheedior begins shouting at Nox. "Damn your wolf, woman! Keep that furball away from my familiar!"

But Nox doesn't appear to hear him.

She is on the floor, hands at her temples, writhing in pain. Her facial features rapidly morph from elven to a number of different races; human, orcish, some even unrecognizable.

Eventually, she stops thrashing and falls unconscious, her features settling not on elven, human, or even dwarven.

Her pupiless eyes and hair become a milky white; her skin, a light hue of bluish-gray.

Nox is a changeling.

Chapter 7: A Bug Problem Solved Part II

2005-10-26T22:21:00.000-04:00

"What do you mean, 'thicker'? " Atreyu asks through his teeth.

"You know, like the bugs are higher off the ground now than they were a few minutes ago..." Mandrin says in a matter-of-fact fashion.

"He's right," agrees Nox. "Take a look at the walls."

Indeed, thick layers of centipedes were building up along the walls.

"So, as we walk forward, we must be pushing them up against something," Coheedior ponders aloud.

"But there's an opening up there...?" Atreyu says. "Why don't you think they're leaving?"

"It's the same reason they didn't all jump out when we opened the hatch. It's got to be part of the spell," Nox comments.

The group pushes forward in silence for a few moments. The layers of bugs was nearly a foot deep now.

"We're never going to get through there," Atreyu moans. "The opening's almost disappeared!"

"What if we let them go?" Coheedior asks.

"Umm, we'd get eaten," Mandrin laughs nervously.

"Well, if Atreyu moves his torch so it's with Mandrins on the ground, and Nox and I keep ours out near the walls, the centipedes should run over top of us. Assuming they don't fall onto our heads and devour us, we ought to be able to get through them without anymore problems."

"You mean I can put my torch down?" Atreyu perks up. "Great!"

Without waiting for any group consent, the shifter let's his torch arm fall to his side.

"Oh crap," utters the halfling to himself.

Millions of centipedes immediately rush straight over top of the four dungeon delvers' heads. Nox, Coheedior, and Atreyu all duck just as the bugs zip past their heads.

None of the bugs fall from the ceiling.

"It's working," whispers Nox.

"So it is," Coheedior breathes a sigh of relief and then proceeds to begin elbowing his shifter companion in the ribs violently.

"Hey hey! They're coming back!" Mandrin shouts.

The other three look back down the tunnel. Insects corkscrewing around the walls rush toward them. Atreyu lowers is torch next to Mandrins in the knick of time.

The wall of centipedes hit the barrier of fire and are redirected down the tunnel.

Everyone breathes easy.

They continue their trek down the man-made cavern. After another ten minutes or so, they reach the ledge.

Placing two torches on the ground and two on the lip of the ledge, which stands about four feet off the ground. After climbing out, they find themselves standing in a cavernous chamber filled with ruins of ancient buildings.

Atreyu lifts one of the torches off the ground and holds it up in the air.

"Can't even see the ceiling..." he says, staring up into the blackness.

Chapter 7: A Bug Problem Solved Part I

2005-10-24T22:05:00.000-04:00

After an hour or so, the torch-bearers were constructed and the plans finalized.

Nox and Coheedior were to lower the torches and Atreyu was to lower Mandrin. If all went according to plan, the torches would keep the centipedes from munching on the halfling's toes. Eventually, Mandrin should be able to stand when the tunnel starts to level out. He can then direct one of the torch rods to the "ceiling" of the tunnel to keep the bugs from escaping through the top. Then, when the the ropes have been tied off, Atreyu, Nox, and Coheedior can shimmy down. From there, the group hoped to wing it.

"Ready!" the four shout in succession. The longswords lashed with torches slowly begin to lower the plane of fire into the hole. Sure enough, the centipedes move down the wall, away from the heat.

Mandrin, peering over the edge, gives a shout of joy.

Soon after the torches get a few feet into the hole, exposing the carved stone of its walls, Mandrin begins his descent.

Minutes seem like hours as the halfling is lowered over the burning contraption.

Fortunately, everything goes exactly as planned and after nearly ten minutes, Mandrin's feet touch the slanted floor of the tunnel near the first "fire pole". After untying the rope from his own waist, he grabs the second sword above his head and holds it steady, shouting, "I'm down!"

Soon, Nox shimmies down followed closely by Coheedior and Atreyu.

Torches in hand, they continue forward. Atreyu, holding a torch above his head, Nox and Coheedior with torches to either side of the tunnel, and Mandrin dragging one at his feet, maintaining the plane of fire and heat.

After 20 minutes or so, the tunnel levels off completely, allowing the group to walk normally.

"Hey, look up ahead!" Atreyu shouts. "There! An opening off the ground...I see light!"

Mandrin clears his throat and says, "Umm, not to be a downer, but I think these bugs are getting higher off the ground..."

Chapter 6: Problem Solving Part II

2005-10-21T12:54:00.000-04:00

"How can we best use this to our advantage?" Coheedior ponders. "They run around the fire, but if we drop a torch...thank you Atreyu...all the centipedes avoid it."

Looking hurt, Atreyu responds, "It was an accide.."

"What if we lowered one slowly?" Nox asks.

"I don't think it'd give us enough space to climb or stand. Especially when it levels out down there," Coheedior says, pointing to where Atreyu's fallen torch had landed and promptly gone out.

The group sits in thought for another few minutes. Then, Mandrin shouts, "Ah-ha! I got it!"

The other three turn to him.

"Well, look at this," he says and beings drawing with his finger on the dusty marble.

First, a large circle containing a smaller circle that barely touch eachother's arcs. "Here's the hole and one torch down inside."

Continuing to draw, he adds 3 more small circles. All four smaller circles touch eachother and graze the arc of the larger. "If we use four, that's 'cover' the hole and give them no where to go but down."

Atreyu scratches his head, trying to comprehend the geometrical concepts, but Nox and Coheedior both slwoly nod in rough agreement.

"That just might work," Coheedior muses. "How many torches do we have on hand?"

The four examine their individual packs for a few minutes. Six torches including the two currently burning are counted in all.

"My only concern is how to keep them separated," Coheedior thinks aloud. "How are we going to keep the torches equidistant from eachother?"

"Maybe we can use the longswords from those thugs that attacked us back in the sewer. I have some rope too," says Mandrin, now getting a little worked up. "I'll be right back," dashing off down the corridor.

A few minutes later, the halfling returns. "Lash a torch on the fletching side and jam another on the tip," he says, handing Coheedior and Nox each a sword. "Then, the two of youuse lengths of rope to lower the sword-torches down from either side of the hole. Atreyu, you can lower me after the fire. When I can stand, I'll call out. Use the hatch or something to tie off one of the ropes. Climb down while I hold the swords in place above my head and at my feet to keep the buggers at bay, and we'll continue through the tunnel with one torch each in hand."

The others stand for a second, dumbfounded. Atreyu, tired of all the thinking in silence, finally shouts, "Alright! Let's do it."

Chapter 6: Problem Solving Part I

2005-10-20T10:13:00.000-04:00

"How long do you think we'll have to wait?" a nervous Coheedior asks.

"If he survived the initial venom shock, he should come around any minute." Nox calmly replies. "Otherwise, well...he's already dead." She proceeds to mumble to herself eerily.

Turning to the elven woman, Coheedior spits, "Why do you do that? What the Dohlurr are you saying?"

"Calm down," Atreyu pleads. "Don't be mad at Nox. She saved Mandrin, assuming he's still alive. It was his own stupid fault anyway."

"Yes, wizard...you best mind yourself," adds Nox in a very strange tone. Atreyu swears he sees her eyes flash blood red for but a split second. He attributes it to the dim torch light and exhaustion.

The damp air was getting to him. Between that, the smell of the dried sewage stuck to his thick hair, and the mixed background noise of flowing water and millions crawling insects, Atreyu thought he might go mad.

Mandrin coughs.

"Mandrin!" calls Coheedior, jumping to his friend's side. "You're alive! How do you feel?"

"Oh, fantastic," Mandrin moans, rolling to one side. "Except for the pain everywhere."

"What did you think would happen, halfling?" asks Nox calmly. "It was a centipede afterall, and centipedes are poisonous..."

"Yeah, I got that part now," Mandrin interrupts, groaning slightly. "My hand feels like it's on fire."

"The bite was pretty bad," replies Atreyu. "Nox used a cure spell to help with the antivenom she gave you. I wrapped your hand wth a pultice to help with the swelling, but it'll be a day or two before you get full use of it."

"We should go back," Coheedior shakes his head. "We're down a man, and we have no idea how to get around these things," pointing to the millions of insects crawling clockwise around the walls of the deep pit.

"No, I'll be fine!" Mandrin says, trying to get to his feet. "Think about the money! We'll figure out something. I didn't just get bitten by some godsdamned magic bug and almost die for nothing!"

"Well, what do you propose we do?" Nox scoffs.

"Hey guys! Look at this!" Atreyu calls suprisingly merrily.

The other three walk over to the shifter who has a torch dipped into the hole against the edge. The multitudes of centipedes are still moving in their clockwise parttern around the cylindrical walls of the tunnel. However, those nearest torch's lit end round their paths to avoid getting too near the heat of the fire.

"Now, isn't that something?" Atreyu laughs.

Chapter 5: No Other Way Part II

2005-10-19T22:06:00.000-04:00

The sound of the crawling vermin catches Raven's attention. The wolf saunters cautiously over to the side of the hole in the marble floor where her master and the two men stand.

Mortichai, drawn to the sound of a potential meal, flies from his perch in a dark corner of the room, far from the dreadful beast, to Coheedior's shoulder.

"That is a lot of centipedes," comments a very suprised Atreyu. "Why do you think they're staying in there, going all in circles like that?"

"Some sort of summoning or binding spell," Nox responds, "Though it's well beyond my skill for sure."

"Same goes for me," Coheedior adds. "Powerful magic means more danger. It's not going to be easy or safe to get through there."

Atreyu lights a second torch and sets it on the ground to help shed better light on the situation. "Probably not safe to just drop down, huh?"

"Bugs, guys...bugs," scoffs a sneering Mandrin as he walks past the group to the edge of the pit. "Sure there's a lot of them, but they're bugs! I swear, you sometimes can be the biggest pixie in all of Eberron, elf."

Laughing at the wizard, Mandrin reaches into the hole and removes a long, squirming centipede.

"No! Mandrin!" shouts Coheedior.

"Relax, look at...son of a bitch!" cries the halfling, flinging the centipede aside and clutching his left hand.

The others run up to him, but it is too late. Mandrin wobbles on his feet for a second and collapses in a heap next to the dissolved carcass of the guilty centipede.

Chapter 5: No Other Way Part I

2005-10-18T21:28:00.000-04:00

"So it looks like this is it," Atreyu thinks aloud. "But how in the name of the Traveler are we gunna get it opened up?"

"No handles? No levers of any kind?" inquires Nox who had taken a seat to wipe the now crusted slime from Raven's coat.

"There is definitely something not right about it. Trapped for sure," Mandrin adds, with his face nearly touching the cold metal hatch the group had found stuck on the floor. The room in which they were standing is located around an odd bend in the sewage line. It seemed very much out of place, with a marble floor and carved-granite walls.

"And just that old House Cannith symbol on top..." Coheedior idly strokes Mortichai's feathers. "Wait! That's the same one from Bonal's journal! Mandrin, give it here."

Mandrin turns to the elf, scowls, and then returns to his examination of the hatch.

"Come on, Mandrin!" Atreyu pleads. "Give it to him; maybe he's onto something."

"I can do this," Mandrin grunts.

"How about a trade, halfling?" says Nox, smiling deviously. "This beautiful priceless gem for the journal?"

Mandrin's eyes immediately perk up. "Yeah! Let's see th...HEY! Give me that back!"

The expression of delight falls from his face the moment Mandrin's eyes gaze upon the gem. Nox was holding his ruby.
"That was a gift from my mother, bitch! I swear to the Keeper I'll cut it from your hands," he spits, drawing his shortsword.

Without hesitation, Raven jumps in front of her master, growling fiercly at the halfling, who instantly backs down. "Fine, here!" Mandrin removes the journal from a hidden pocket and throws it at Coheedior. Nox drops the gem into his palms.

Cursing in his native tongue, Mandrin skulks back into the hallway.

"Good idea, Nox," Atreyu says, considerably suprised. "How dd you know about the ruby?"

"I didn't," replies Nox. "I just went through his pack and picked the first valuable thing I found. What was that all about?"

"Ask him later," Coheedior interrupts. "Come take a look at this..."

Nox and Atreyu go to Coheedior's side. The wizard is standing over the hatch. THe emblem on the top is glowing faintly as is the symbol on the journal. A loud click resounds and the hatch begins to slide in a clockwise motion. The distinct sound of crawling insects is heard resonating from underneath...

Chapter 4: Where are We Going Again? Part II

2005-10-17T21:18:00.000-04:00

Slash had been waiting for hours. His hired shifter mercenaries had started whining about the smell, not that they had any room to complain. If this is what it took to better his standing in the eyes of his lord, then he would gladly sit in the grime and filth for weeks. Anything to rid Eberron of these weak-fleshed interlopers. Who were they to interfere with His plan? Nothing but House pawns along for a bumpy ride. Too bad for them.

Lifting his head, earnodes to the air, Slash hears finally catches the sound of his quarry approaching. He raises his left hand to silence his bittering companions down the sewer tunnel and orders them to put out their small torch. These four had a torch of their own and were making more than enough noise to be caught in the dark anyway.

Slash notches a flaming bolt into his crossbow and puts his back to the wall, waiting for one of the four to step around the corner.

Suddenly, a foot emerges followed closely by a leg. Stepping out from his hiding space, Slash looses an arrow straight at the unsuspecting shifter.

...

"Atreyu!" Nox screams as the bolt slams into the shifter's right shoulder, knocking him to the wet ground.

Instinctively, Mandrin slinks around another corner, out of the attacker's assumed line of sight. Coheedior drops his supply pack and reaches into his spell component pouch to ready a spell.

Nox, holding her torch aloft to light the battle field, orders Raven to stand guard next to Atreyu. However, the shifter pushes the wolf aside and lunges at his attacker, longsword and axe flailing. Allowing his lycanthrope ancestory to grip a hold of him, he appears more lythe and quick and immediately scores a series of hits on his unsuspecting assailent.

"Now!" Slash yells.

Two arrows fly across the sewer channel. One logges itself into Raven's hind quarters, and the wolf yelps in pain. The second arrow barely misses Atreyu as he continues to overpower the warforged.

A magic missile screams out of Coheediors outstretched index fingers and slams into one of the shifters who is barely visible in the dim torch light.

Nox finishes a simple incantation and a large rat appears next to the warforged and nearly manages to knock him into the sluggy, flowing water.

A second volley of arrows jet past Coheedior as he moves past the battle at the base of the stairs and onto the catwalk. Unfortunately, the warforged seizes the opportunity and kicks Raven into the elven wizard's feet, causing him to trip up and fall into the water.

Atreyu, seeing an opening, brings his longsword down hard into the assassin's chest plate and kicks his metal body into the sewer water. Not three seconds later a giant explosion emmanating from the water covers the sewer tunnel in sludge.

As the water dies down, the group sees that Mandrin has gotten to the other side of the water and slain one of the shifters. The other was soon taken down by another magic missile from Coheedior.

"Well, that was interesting," Coheedior says, wiping the sewage from his hair.

Atreyu breathes heavily, "Yeah. Wonder what that was all about."

"Who cares," Mandrin answers. "Now where are we going again?"

Chapter 4: Where are We Going Again? Part I

2005-10-14T18:30:00.000-04:00

Elaydren's briefing had been short and sweet once the group had agreed to take her job. They were to travel to Dorasharn Tower and find valve cluster E-23. From there, Elaydren directed them to go down into the ancient depths of the tower. The heirloom, described as a metallic plate the size of a human's palm in the shape of a diamond, is supposedly located in an ancient workshop deep within Dorasharn. Atreyu, who'sinitial scepticism wore away at the potential of leaving the crowded streets of Sharn, felt within element. He led the group, his abilities as a tracker translating very well to subterranean movement.

Finding the valve cluster has been their most difficult task. Upon entering Dorasharn, they were barraded with valve clusters of all numbers in what appeared to be in a nonsensical fashion. It had taken the expertise of a shady merchant goblin of the Rat's Market named Shakaan to guide them to the correct cluster. Mandrin occasionally sniffed the stick of boiled rat meat he had purchased at an incredibly inflated price in order to convince Shakaan to help them.

Nox and Coheedior each had brought a companion with them and already there was some trouble. Raven, Nox's wolf, believed Coheedior's hawk Mortichae to be a tasty snack. Unfortunately for Raven, familiars tend to be slightly more intelligent than the average beast, and so no matter how she begged and wimpered, Raven's stomach would remain empty for the time being.

THe occasional innane conversation between Coheedior and Mandrin is quickly silenced by Nox's mumbling. She appears much more paranoid than earlier, though the group mentally attributes it to the surroundings and circumstances.

After a long while, the sound of rushing water is clearly audible. "I bet that's the sewer," Atreyu comments, sniffing the air. "Definitely."

"Great...Let's get this over with so we can get that money," Mandrin's hands muffling most of his words as he tries to cover his nose.

Nox shrieks and out of no where, a flash of fire streaks toward's Atreyu's wide-eyed face.

Chapter 3: A Mysterious Encounter Part II

2005-10-13T10:25:00.000-04:00

Atreyu lets out a massive yawn as he and his three companions saunter into the Broken Anvil. They are greeted by the inn's halfling keeper who introduces herself with a smile, "G'day me fine sirs and madam. I'm Nalla Bitterale, a servant of House Ghallada. Not many folks be comin' this early to the Anvil, which means ye be lookin' for m'lady."

"Yes, we're supposed to meet with a woman from House Cannith," Coheedior replies, "A Lady El...Elan..."

"Elaydren," Nox finishes abruptly.

"That would be me," a soft-spoken voice echoes from a dark-robed woman through the nearly empty room. "I am Lady Elaydren d'Cannith. I am the one who contacted you about Bonal Geldem's unfortunate end. Please, have a seat."

"Don't mind if I do!" Mandrin exclaims running up to the corner table where the long woman sits.

The human woman, smiling at the halfling's eagerness, pulls back her hood to reveal a set of deep green eyes and dark brown hair. "Welcome my friends. I'm so glad you've come."

"It was mostly out of curiousity," Nox whispers. "Why are we so important that you would get us out of the Watchtower? In fact, how would you even go about doing something like that?"

"Well, my superior has some friends in high places," Elaydren explains, "I work for the Aundair faction of House Cannith and I'm working to further her efforts in Sharn. And it's not so much that you all are important persay. I just believe you deserved to know. Since you've all become inadvertently involved, I should at least give you an explanation.

"Bonal, as you discovered, was a professor at Morgrave here in Sharn before his untimey demise last night. He specialized in history, specifically that revolving around the Dragonmarked Houses. A number of months ago, I went to Bonal asking for his aid in helping me locate an ancient family heirloom. Apparently his research attracted the attention of some people I had not expected."

Pulling the mythril-laced embossed book from his pocket, Mandrin inquires, "So what's with this book?"

Facing the halfling, Elaydren politely responds, "That is a journal of one of my ancestors. Bonal had been transcribing maps and text from it for months. Its discovery is what initially sparked my interest in recovering the heirloom."

"I looked at it," Mandrin says, a look of bewilderment on his face. "All the pages are blank and no ink would hold to it."

Elaydren simply holds out her left hand in which Mandrin reluctantly places the journal. She then flips to a random page and pulls back her right sleeve to reveal a dragonmark on the underside of her wrist.

Placing the journal near the mark, the mythril on the journal begins to shimmer. Strange markings in a stranger language appear on the pages.

"Huh..." Atreyu sniffs suprisingly, "Now isn't that something?"

"It will only respond to a Mark of Making," Elaydren explains.

"So, exactly how much is this thing worth to you," Mandrin asks, waving the journal at Elaydren.

"You're very quick," Elaydren says smiling at the halfling after she realizes the book is no longer in her hands. "I can pay you a small fee for it's return if you like."

Grinning mischieviously, Mandrin hands the book back to the human woman. "However, if you would like to know more about the situation and earn a much larger sum, perhaps you would like to hear my proposition...?"

Nox

2005-10-08T11:28:00.000-04:00

Nox claims to be a druid of the Gatekeepers, which would most likely place her origin somewhere in the Eldeen Reaches. She doesn't speak much, but when she does, her words are mostly to the point. She's very beautiful, but only those who look hard enough would even notice, as the dark hood she wheres covers a great deal of her face at all times.

She appears friendly enough and has shown her worth by helping the wounded Coheedior during the battle on the bridge with the Warforged assassin. She does not, however seem to like Mandrin at all; her no-no-nonsense attitude clashes something awful with Mandrin's overly-free spirit.

We know nothing about this girl other than what we've observed about her so far. ...well, that is a lie, as I happen to know a great deal about this special girl. But you, my friends, will have to wait. There is much more to this young woman than meets the eyes, I can assure you of that.

Coheedior Cambrian

2005-10-07T11:04:00.000-04:00

Coheedior Cambrian is not your typical Valenar elf. He doesn't ride a horse into battle brandishing a sword spouting battle cries and death threats. Coheedior is much more interested in the studies of the arcane.

He grew up in a military family. His father was an officer in the 32 cavalry division of the Valenar army and his mother was a master swordswoman. Coheedior rarely left the confines of his room, intent on studying books upon books of arcane rituals and rights. This left his parents confused and slightly jaded as they could not understand his interest in such pursuits.

Eventually, Coheedior's interests led him away from his homeland to Sharn and Morgrave University. As a student, Coheedior showed a great talent in a number of fields. After his formal graduation, the University's School of Conjuration offered him a part time professorship.

In addition to his job at the University, Coheedior adventures and treasure hunts to supplement his income. Mandrin Arrhnj and Atreyu are two of his adventuring partners and possibly two of his best friends.

Mandrin Ahhrenj

2005-10-06T23:21:00.000-04:00

I have a real treat for you today. A guest writter, much more familiar with the life of Mandrin than myself, has offered his own material in place of my usual drivel. The original piece is far too long for here, so what you will read is a shortened version of Divad Retlat's original piece...

Nothing about Mandrin is normal. Born a halfling in the Talenta Plains, he never accepted the nomadic lifestyle of his people. He felt as if they were not keeping up with the pace of the world.

Mandrin was the only child in his family. His father died in a hunting accident while he was still very young, and so Mandrin naturally developed a strong bond with him mother. Mandrin tended to hide his feelings and developed an aura of arrogance and feigned infallibility. Despite all this, his wit and charisma made it very easy for him to manipulate and influence others. To entertain himself, Mandrin used to pick the pockets of his friends just to see if he could.

As the war ravaged Khorvaire, Mandrin wished to see it, and so left his tribe for Sharn, in the hopes of seeing more of the chaos of the world. The city life captivated the young halfling. On his first night in Sharn, he met a man named Tuka who, after an incident in the streets, offered him a low-level position in his "business." Mandrin gladly accepted having only a family ruby in his possession that his heartbroken mother gave him when he left.

Over the course of the next few months, Mandrin would climb the thieves' ladder fairly quickly. Unfortunately, Tuka was killed by goblins during a heist in the lower city on one of their outings. Unsure of what to do, Mandrin turned to ale.

One night, while he was out drinking, he met a man by the name of Coheedior Cambrian who would change his life. The two got in a scuffle over an elven female in whom they were both interested. Eventually, she turned down both of them and the two became fast friends.

Coheedior took Mandrin under his proverbial wing. The two would eventually travel to Xen'drik together along with Atreyu the shifter to find a precious gem for a local druid in Sharn...and that brings us to where we are today.

Atreyu

2005-10-06T18:18:00.000-04:00

At this time, my dear readers, I believe it is appropriate to formally introduce the characters you've met thus far in our little story.

Atreyu is a shifter orginally from the Eldeen Reaches. The progeny of tribal leaders, as a young boy, Atreyu was trained in swordplay and tracking. He was raised to be a devote follower of the Traveler. For a shifter, he seemed to have a bright future. Sadly, that was not meant to be.

Not long after his sixteenth birthday, Atreyu's tribal home was attacked by a raiding party of aberrations led by an escaped rahkasha demon.

Living for many years, wandering the world on his own, Atreyu became quite the adventurer. He eventually found his way to Sharn and went on an expedition to Xen'drik to retrieve a valuable gem for a rich patron with Coheedior Cambrian of Morgrave University and Mandrin Ahrnj, a former resident of Talenta Plains.

Chapter 3: A Mysterious Encounter Part I

2005-10-05T18:21:00.000-04:00

"I'm glad that's over," Atreyu sighs as the group walks out of the Watch Tower's interrogation wing. "It's so late. I just want to get home."

"If those bastards had just listened to us in the first place, we wouldn't have had to go through all this crap," Mandrin says in disgust. "What a waste of time! All over some old, dusty prof and a little hole in a bridge."

Coheedior nods in agreement, "They should have congratulated us and thanked us for doing their job for them. We risked our own lives and killed a would-be terrorist! Two hours in a jail cell and another hour of questioning...unbelieveable!"

After a long silence, Nox speaks, "If you're done complaining, maybe we can start to figure this out. You said it yourself, they drilled us for an hour and then, in the middle of a line of interrogation, we're released! No apologies, no reasoning, nothing. Just a simple, 'Get out of here.' Something else is going on here."

"Yeah whatever, Lady," Mandrin scoffs, turning to leave, "I'll tell you what. You can go back in their and asks some of your own questions and I'll go home to bed. Nice to meet you, have a nice life."

"Wait, maybe she's got a point...but, who know enough and care enough to save us from the happenings of the Watch Tower?"

"My Lady cares," chimes a man passing them on the bridge. His dark green cloak billows as he quickly turns and hands a folded slip of paper to Coheedior before continuing on his way without another word.

"Well, just when I though the night couldn't get any stranger..."

"Shut up, Mandrin!" Atreyu spits before nudging Coheedior to read it aloud.

"If you want to know the truth about what happened to Bonal Geldem, come to the Broken Anvil Inn at 9:00 tomorrow morning. Bring the journal."

"Journal, What're they talking about?" Atreyu asks, looking perplexed.

Then the halfling clears his throat, and everyone looks at him.

"They might be referring to this..." Mandrin says quietly, pulling a small book from his belt pouch. It has a blue leather covering with a mithral-laced emblem of a hammer and anvil stitched to the front.

"Mandrin, where did you get that?" Coheedior scolds.

"Hey! He didn't need it anymore!" responds Mandrin with a terrible feign of innocence. "This mithral might fetch it a decent price."

"It's a lot like the mark on the letter," interrupts Nox. "Looks like House Cannith."

Taking a closer look a the paper, Coheedior nods in agreement, "Cannith for sure."

"Well then, let's go! Just think what kind of reqard we could get for bringing this back," Mandrin exclaims.

Once again, Coheedior nods,"I agree, but..."

"Then it's settled! Come on, boys. Let's head home. Early morning tomorrow. You coming, elf?" he smiles devilishly at Nox, "I'll show you a better time then any ree can..."

Rolling her eyes, Nox answers," Thank you but I'm headed for Skysedge..."

"Alrighty, your loss" Mandrin yells as he sprints down the skyway.

Chapter 2: The Watch Part II

2005-10-04T14:42:00.000-04:00

"Olladra's bloody nose! What the demon happened here?"

Sergeant Dollom, a middle-aged dwarf of some repute within the Watch stands before Atreyu, Mox, and Coheedior staring at noth the gaping hole in the skybridge and the battered, bloody body of Professor Bonal.

"You three, drop your weapons, put your hands above your head, and start explaining now!"

Four Watchmen lower their loaded crossbows in the group's direction.

Setting his hand axe and longsword on the ground, Atreyu fumbles with a response, "Well, uh...we were..."

"Sir, if I may," Coheedior interjects, "My friend Atreyu here and I were walking along towards Dolannan when we came across this girl," motioning to Nox, "standing over the body over there."

"And what's your story, girl? Anything to say for yourself?"

"I was on my way to Kelsaspire when I saw this man lying here. I thought I might be able to help, so I tried to heal him...but he was long dead by the time I started. The halfling said he saw someone go over the..."

"Wait, a halfling? I see no.."

As if right on cue, a Watchman emerges from behind a pile of rubble carrying the struggling, cursing Mandrin over his shoulder.

Turning to the group, Dollom simply says, "I think you all had better come with us to the Watch Tower."

Chapter 2: The Watch Part I

2005-10-03T14:48:00.000-04:00

"Mandrin!" Atreyu's booming voice echoes off the stone towers, "Mandrin, where are you?"

His cry is answered by a small cough as the halfling emerges from a pile of rubble near the craterous hole that the explosive warforged had blown into the skybridge.

Nox tends to Coheedior who had received quite a blow to the head from a flying chunk of stone during the explosion.

"What the Doluhrr was that?" Mandrin asks, trying to remove the dust from his dark clothing. "Do they all do that? And who is this dead guy?"

Atreyu simply shrugs turning to Coheedior. Afterall, what did he know about constructs? Unnatural contraptions like the forged only brough trouble.

Looking to Mandrin, Coheedior says, "No, I've never seen one like that and from his identification papers it appears 'that dead guy' is Professor Bonal of Morgrave University. I've heard of him around the school, but I've never met him, dammit woman! What are you doing?" he winces as Nox applies a poultice to his lacerated forhead.

"I don't have any spells left today so this will have to do for now," Nox responds candidly before mumbling inaudibly to herself.

"Well, at least it stopped raining," Atreyu tries to break the awkward silence.

"Don't look now, but we're going to have company very soon," says Mandrin with a bit of haste.

Glancing down the remains of the bridge, the other three see crowds gathering at either end of the structure, banners of the Watch clearly approaching their positions.

Scratching his chin, Atreyu suddenly looks up. "Where'd Mandrin go?"

Chapter 1: The Bloody Bridge Part II

2005-10-02T10:26:00.000-04:00

"Coheedior!" Atreyu shouts, charging the mysterious assassin, longsword and hand axe blazing.

Backing away slightly, Nox murmuring in a strange language as her hands begin to glow faintly.

Mandrin moves around to the back of the figure, hoping his small stature and dark clothes have kept him hidden from the cloaked figure.

Loosing a battlecry, Atreyu leaps just as the figure removes its cloak to reveal a large, metallic body. "A warforged! Well, this ought to be interesting," Mandrin mumbles to himself, readying his shortsword his hiding spot among the shadows.

A large clang of metal-on-metal resounds as Atreyu slams his axe into the warforged's chest. Slightly taken aback, the assassin barely has time to pary the enraged shifter's longsword with its own. Now free from the blade, Coheedior falls to the ground, his left sholder bleeding profusely.

Seizing the moment, Nox runs up to the fallen elven wizard and places her shining hands on the wound. It instantly closes up, stopping the flow of blood. Looking up into the woman's eyes, Coheedior barely gives her a sigh of thanks, before he rises to his feet to engage in the fight.

After a few exchanges of blows, the warforged manages to get the upperhand on Atreyu who now fights for his life.

Suddenly releasing a cry of pain, the warforged turns slightly to see Mandrin's short blade sticking into it's lower back. "You like that, you metallic son-of-a-bitch?!" Mandrin taunts.

Whirling it's sword around, the warforged slaps Atreyu in the side of the head with the flat of the blade, knocking him to the ground. It then grabs the halfling by his waist and holds him above its head. "Die weakflesh..." it hisses at Mandrin before walking over to the edge of the walkway.

"Put him down!"
A missile of force flies from Coheedior's index finger and drills straight through the warforged's chest. The construct drops Mandrin, who manages to grab a hold of the edge of the railing and avoid plummeting to his doom.

Falling to his knees, the warforged gasps in pain.

But then suddenly, it starts to laugh menacingly. "There will be more of us, weakflesh. Someday we will rule this forsaken land. He has seen it."

Then, a bright flash of light and a great gout of flame erupts from the warforged's mouth as a huge explosion wracks the bridge.

Chapter 1: The Bloody Bridge Part I

2005-09-30T17:28:00.000-04:00

The rain falls in sheets as three friends cross the skybridge between Dolannan Tower and Kelsa Spire. Mandrin, a halfling, curses as a particularly large drop of water hits him square in the eye. His shifter companion Atreyu barely notices, slightly uncomfortable standing among the towers that stretch for untold miles in all directions. Coheedior doesn't mind the rain, having had a particularly long and stuffy day of teaching at the University, the cool deluge is welcome.

"What was that?" Mandrin shouts, running to the bridgewall and scrambling to try to see over the top. "I swear I saw someone just take a fall!"

"How can you see anything in this crap? Let's just get home already," Atreyu responds with a hint of uneasiness.

"But..." Mandrin trails off as something new catches his attention, "Hey! What in Dolurrh are you doing?"

Both Coheedior and Atreyu look up to see an elven woman stooped over what appears to be the body of a human. She offers no response to Mandrin's call and simply continues to examine the body. Finally, when the three friends begin to approach, she murmurs quietly, "...he was a professor. Look a this robes."

Instantly intrieged, Coheedior pushes to the front to look.
"I don't recognize him," he says after a few seconds, "But his face his pretty badly bloodied. Maybe we ought to report this..."

"Not a chance," Mandrin interjects, but then thinking for a minute, turns to the elven female, "Though turning in a murderer would probably fetch us a quick bit of gold."

Atreyu responds before the elf even has a chance, "Now just a minute. Don't you think she deserves a second to explain herself?"

"I'm Nox. I'm a Druid of the Gatekeepers and..."

Her explaination is suddenly cut short by a sharp cry of pain from Coheedior. Nox, Atreyu, and Mandrin all turn to see a cloaked humanoid sticking a longsword into the wizard's back.

A Short Introduction

2005-09-30T14:09:00.000-04:00

I, Lycian d'Phiarlan of Sharn, have taken it upon myself to record the accounts of Nox, Mandrin, Atreyu, and Coheedior as they adventure through our great world, Eberron.

In their exhaustive travels, these four unlikely adventurers will fly through the skies on Lyrander airships, delve through the deepest reaches of ancient Sharn, and even explore strange lands well beyond the borders of Khorvaire.

It is my hope that you, dear reader, will enjoy my writings and learn from them, not making the same mistakes of our dear adventurers. Now, let us begin...