Ixiole's VI

Servants of evil move to further the schemes of their masters.

Beckoned in the Shadows
The Gaelnor and Baelnor, the duergar twins, were traveling in the depths far below the abandoned tunnels of their kin's territory and deep beneath where the City of Ulderic stood on the surface of the overland. There, deep in caverns long left untouched, they discovered a body clad in black iron was laying with its back over a rock, and a black steel greatesword pierced through his heart.

As they looked on this dead creature and the sword piercing it in wonder, they heard something coming from behind, and quickly hid away. Another creature, who looked like the creature who was dead, and was wearing furs rather the blackened armor, came crawling into the cavern and began examining and chanting a black tongue over the corpse. As he weaved his enchantment over the dead creature, the corpse's arm quickly lashed out and grasped the other by the neck, choking him. The corpse's head moved up, speaking now as he held the other creature in his grip, "You... betrayed me," he spoke vehementely, "You said I would have power, that there would be no equal to my might."

The other creature, the one being choked, laid his hands on the wrist that was gripping him, and suddenly the entire arm began to decay and wither away. "You we never worthy of the power of the Lion, you were not meant to wield its strength." With that the other creature pulled the greatsword from the dead creature's belly, and hid it inside his cloak. By now the corpse fell back into death's slumber.

Watching all of this Baelnor and Gaelnor were beffuddled. Baelnor called out in his confusion, but at the same time his brother emerged from his hiding spot. The living creature, the sorcerer who had reanimated the slain one, looked up, and since he did not yet know which duergar was which, only saw Gaelnor reveal himself by his brother's same voice. At that time the creature's form began to shift, and it's once pale and greasy skin was replaced by black and red scales, and horns grew out from his skull, revealing a tall and dark devil. Gaelnor tried to inquire the sorcerer on what it was doing, while his brother Baelnor remained hidden in the shadows. Gaelnor learned that the creature now dead was once the champion of the Lion of Ixiole, the god that Gaelnor himself had worshipped.

As Gaelnor questioned the sorcerer, his brother loosed one arrow, but his aim was as foul as the cavern's air. With the missed bolt the sorcerer turned around, and with one gesture he blasted a rock that stood between him and the hidden archer. Gaelnor quickly distracted the sorcerer, asking him more questions about the sword. The devil was turned, and left Baelnor to hide himself once more. It was then that the devil revealed to them that he was the Deceiver, on of the Five Curses of Fengorath, and worshipped by Baelnor. The twin duergar fell to their faces, and began revering the dark prince. The devil tasked the two duergar to find him a new champion for the Lion, one who was more worthy than the last. The devil sent them to seek out the priest Prismius, who served the Fellwind, that he would aid them on this task.

So the two brothers set out, and found Primius, who had been living in seclusion in the deep places of the earth. Because of Primius's isolation, he knew too little of the happenings in the world, but knew of a man called Malekir they could trust to inform him of what was going on. Prismius had felt the presence of the Fellwind revive that morning, and knew that his master must've returned to the mortal realm, perhaps the days were the Five could be restored were coming, and so he would join these two duergar in finding a new champion for the Lion.

They set out to leave the deep places of the north, to the surface of the overland. They were met by a fierce snowstorm, which they waited out before heading to the home of Malekir.

Lost in that very same storm was a young woodelf (whose name escapes me as I right this synopsis), banished from her homeland and exiled from her kin because of the nature of her birth. Born as a bastard, the young druid fled her home, and found herself lost in the deep reaches of the Northlands. Caught in the fierce storm, she sought a shelter, and stayed there hoping to make it through the night. Halfway through the storm, a northerner stumbled upon her shelter, and helped her up and lead her back to his home, where she would be kept safe and warm from the weather.

It just so happened that this northerner was Malekir himself, and shortly after the storm died out the three others (the duegar and the Tiefling priest) showed up at his doorstep. He welcomed them in, and told them about the events going on and what was becoming of the Five. The Slaver of Souls was already restored, and the Demon King was sitting on his new throne in the Barren Fells, the land of the orcs. The Fellwind himself was restored only a day before, and it was in fact he who had caused this storm. Malekir said that the Slaver of Souls and the Fellwind had both gone from the City of Ulderic, and that that the Slaver of Souls (whose name was indeed Ulderic, actually) had lead an army south to invade the kingdoms of men there.

Thus the party decided to head out to the city itself, seeing that it may be the best action to take. The bastard elf girl decided the join them, claiming that her skills in the wilds would be helpful on their journey. And so four set out to the City of Ulderic, thus beginning their journey to find a new champion for the Lion of Ixiole.