Chapter #1173

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                       +      THE ADVENTURERS      +
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                           +      Epic VI      +
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+     Many of the locations, non-player characters, spells, and other     +
+   terms used in these stories are the property of Wizards of the Coast  +
+   which has in no way endorsed or authorized their use.  Any such       +
+   property contained within these stories are not representative of     +
+   Wizards of the Coast in any fashion.                                  +
+     The player characters depicted in these stories are copyright       +
+   1991-2024 by Thomas A. Miller.  Any resemblance to any persons        +
+   or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental.       +
+   Copying and/or distribution of these stories is permissible under     +
+   the sole condition that no money is made in the process.  In that     +
+   case, I hope you enjoy them!                                          +
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+                                                                         +
+   THE BRIGHT ALLIANCE                                                   +
+                                                                         +
+   Alindyar       18th level dark elven wizard                           +
+     Lyra         14th level female drow wizard                          +
+   Belphanior     18th/18th/18th level elven fighter/wizard/thief        +
+   Cespedes       19th level human wizard, elementalist                  +
+   Dexitheseus    17th level human wizard, jack of all trades            +
+   Kronos         ancient lich wizard                                    +
+   Pallin         18th level grey elven wizard of Celestian, teleporter  +
+   Parekh         18th level female human wizard, innovator              +
+   Wu             18th level human wizard, transmuter                    +
+                                                                         +
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+   Date:          7/13/586 C.Y. (Common Year)                            +
+   Time:          morning                                                +
+   Place:         the Brass Hills, within the Bright Desert              +
+   Climate:       hot and dry                                            +
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+   "History will be kind to me because I intend to write it."            +
+                  - Winston Churchill                                    +
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                   MCLXXIII.  Drawing Up Plans





  The morning after his second foray into the strange and transient
Tower of Sleep, Kronos now shares the information he gained with the
others...

Kronos:  -and that is where we must go.  The ruins of Sulm's capital city
  Utaa.  (to Belphanior)  Neera was right.  And her work with this was
  excellent.
Belphanior:  She never disappoints.  Parekh trained her well.
Parekh:  For all the polishing that can be done to a quality gemstone...
  in the end, it's still a quality gemstone.
Pallin:  Magic of the mind, the sorceress in the tower said?  (he frowns)
  That reminds me of the one member of the Crimson Blades, when we did
  battle with them at the Center of Time.
Belphanior:  (nodding)  The fellow I pushed into the vortex, where he was
  destroyed.  He had unusual powers, like magic and yet unlike it.
Kronos:  That one was a psionicist, a master of energies controlled only
  by one's mind.  They are rare, especially one of his skill level.
Belphanior:  (flatly)  Even more rare now that he's gone.
Kronos:  And aside from the powers conferred by the crown, he was a mage
  before his transformation.
Lyra:  So to sum it up, we need to venture to those ruins, find a way to
  access the intact areas beneath the sands, go down there and explore,
  overcome untold numbers of scorpions and related monsters - including
  one who likely has immense power - and find the Scorpion Crown.
Wu:  Almost sounds simple.  (he frowns)  But won't be.
Alindyar:  Nay.
Cespedes:  After which, we must take it out of there while resisting its
  vast, grim power...and safely bring it to the Hellfurnaces to destroy
  it once and for all.
Belphanior:  I know all of this sounds challenging, and it is - but it can
  be done.  Collectively, we have the power and the resources.  This isn't
  the time to back down.
Parekh:  No one is backing down.  But even we will need a solid plan if
  we're to succeed here.
Kronos:  Agreed.  We need some sort of ground troops to meet the various
  scorpion-kin in melee battle...since that type of work is not for such
  as us.  (he eyes Belphanior)  Except perhaps for you, but my point
  remains.
Cespedes:  The iron dwarf will be useful in this situation, as it cannot
  be affected by poisons...probably not mental attacks either for that
  matter.  (he pauses)  I could deploy the adamantine golem as well, but
  odds are the passages and chambers of the ruined city and royal palace
  are too small for it to move about.
Alindyar:  What of smaller golems?
Parekh:  I have my mithril golem, but aside from being my personal guard
  it is a singular construct...there are no others.
Wu:  My six ogre magi will not be enough either.
Belphanior:  Same here...I have my team, but I'm not sure if they can hold
  back thousands of scorpions, especially if some of them are larger and
  possibly intelligent.
Lyra:  You should consider augmenting them with the other group led by the
  gnome Peyton.  That lot has accounted themselves well, both in Xusia's
  fortress and in the mines.
Belphanior:  (ponders this)  True.
Dexitheseus:  So most of us have a small number of what could be ground
  forces, but we agree that won't be enough.
Parekh:  (nods)  Options?
Kronos:  (folds his arms, thinking)

  Before his conversation with Shemeya yesterday, the lich had come up
with the basic outline of a very good idea, a strategy for acquiring the
sheer numbers of troops needed to deal with the thousands of guardians in
the ruined city and its royal palace.  He had asked Shemeya what she knew
of the Necropolis of Unaagh, three days' ride to the north and east, and
what lay within.  His thought had been to gather and take control of any
undead within those dusty, buried crypts...and lead them into the ruins
of Utaa.  Bolstered by such forces, the wizards would have an easier time
getting through the countless scorpions and other inhabitants of Utaa.
  With this general tactic in mind, he had simply asked Shemeya what she
knew of the Necropolis and its inhabitants.  Unfortunately, her answers
had rendered Kronos' plan unworkable:  while the place was indeed filled
with the buried remains of Sulm's past kings, nobles, wizards, and high
priests...and while hundreds if not thousands of them were now reanimated
as undead...the dark power that fueled them only held sway within the
shadowy reaches of the sunken necropolis itself.  That power had a name:
Drokkas, formerly the royal court wizard and Shattados' primary rival for
rulership of the kingdom.  He had been assassinated (and buried) well
before the king's use of the Scorpion Crown and the resultant curse, but
he had lived on as a lich afterward, driven by his magical power as well
as his utter hatred of Shattados.  In an ideal world, Drokkas and all the
denizens of the necropolis could be pitted against Shattados and all of
his scorpion-beasts, and the two sides would battle and wear each other
down...making the work of the Bright Alliance much easier.  But it was
not destined to be, for Drokkas' power - while great - was tied to the
evil energies within the necropolis.  Neither he nor any of the other
undead under his control could ever set foot outside the crypts; doing
so would sunder them into bones and dust, never to walk or act again.
  Of course, Kronos knew that it would be folly to mention the failed
stratagem to the others; aside from the fact that some of them might not
have liked it or agreed with it, there was no reason to let them know of
his potential capabilities to control large numbers of undead.

Parekh:  Ideas, anyone?
Alindyar:  What of other allies...Mongo, or Yod Ironbeard?  Heroes such
  as those could lead large forces of armored warriors into the palace
  ruins.
Belphanior:  Mongo's fully engaged in the campaign to liberate the Lost
  Lands right now.  In fact, as soon as the effort we're now discussing
  is complete, I need to go back and help him with the push northward,
  into Geoff.
Dexitheseus:  (shakes his head)  The current availability of Lord Marcus
  is similarly constrained...he is working to build a permanent military
  force for us, in these lands.  He can't do that and help us assault the
  buried city.  And my other past companions - Yod Ironbeard, the priest
  Relmar, and the rest - are all busy with their own problems right now.
  Not to mention that finding and destroying the crown is a Bright Desert
  problem, of little concern to those outside this region.
Parekh:  Bright Lands.
Lyra:  Eh?
Parekh:  I think one day we will be able to call it the Bright Lands.
  (she frowns)  After the crown is gone, and the desert is a safer place.
Pallin:  Which brings us back to the challenge at hand:  we need troops.
  I think that if we assault the buried city and palace in waves, each of
  different type and capability, we can succeed against the mass numbers
  of monstrous foes.
Belphanior:  (nods)  I think I see where you're going with this, but
  please explain further.
Pallin:  The first rank will be foot soldiers, someone armed and armored,
  ready and able to withstand the foes' stingers while gradually wearing
  them down.  The second rank would march behind the first, augmenting
  its efforts with magic, those wizards well-protected by elite warriors
  who can effectively deal with any of the enemy who break through the
  front rank.  (he pauses)  And the third rank is, of course, us...using
  our own magic to attack distant knots of enemies, shore up sudden gaps
  in the assault force, and also deal with any enemy leaders or powerful
  spellcasters who might appear.
Belphanior:  And the second rank is my team, and Peyton's team, and Drak
  and Wu's elite ogre magi and others of superior skill and power.
Dexitheseus:  But who, then, is the first rank, those in front?
Cespedes:  I have an idea about that.  (he pauses to gather his words)
  Earlier, the question came up...what of smaller golems?
Alindyar:  Aye, that was me.  Go on...
Cespedes:  A decade ago, I perfected a template for the construction and
  animation of - for lack of a better term - stone warriors.  These are
  basically stone golems of smaller size, weight, and strength.  At seven
  feet in height, they weigh about five times as much as a stout warrior
  of flesh and blood.  They aren't as fast in combat, but they are still
  quicker to strike and react than the typical stone golem.  They can be
  equipped with standard weapons, or magical ones if desired; once their
  stony grip closes around their weapon, they will not drop it unless
  destroyed.  (he beams with pride, undoubtedly the most emotion he has
  ever displayed to any of those present)  These stone warriors are also
  exceedingly resistant to damage, they don't tire or need food, and they
  can't be poisoned or paralyzed or affected by mental magicks.
Kronos:  (nods)  Impressive.  Most impressive.
Cespedes:  (nonchalantly)  This is the sort of thing I tend to work on
  during my spare time.  Just in case anyone was wondering.
Lyra:  (ESPing to Alindyar)  This is amazing.
Alindyar:  (ESPing to Lyra)  Indeed.  The question now is...how many of
  the constructs does he have?
Parekh:  These stone warriors could be of great help.  (to Cespedes)  How
  many can you assemble?
Cespedes:  I only have two score fully animated and ready for orders...I
  realize that is no great number, but-
Parekh:  We'll take it.  (she glances to Belphanior with a "see-this-is-
  why-I-recruited-him" look)  Forty such warriors is equivalent to a few
  hundred of flesh-and-blood.  They will make a fine front line.
Kronos:  Agreed.
Belphanior:  (nods, as do the others around the table)
Cespedes:  I was about to say, I could build more, but it would take some
  time...probably a week for every three or four.
Pallin:  Hmm.  Technically, we have the time.  It's not as if Shattados
  has anywhere to go, or even knows we are coming.
Kronos:  This is true.  But how long can we wait?  We need to make our
  move at some point.
Belphanior:  How about a halfway solution...we wait two weeks, Cespedes
  works as fast as he can and gets that number closer to fifty, and then
  we strike?
Cespedes:  That seems reasonable.  I will have to divert my efforts from
  the ongoing construction of our fortress -city...but things are well
  underway at this point, and I think the others can handle it.
Alindyar:  What of the possibility of some of us helping you with the
  construction of further stone warriors?  Would that save time, or allow
  you to create more?
Lyra:  (ESPing to Alindyar)  That's generous of you.
Alindyar:  (ESPing to Lyra)  We are not occupied at the moment...and
  besides, I want to see what he is doing and how he is doing it.  Such
  knowledge may serve us well if a day ever comes when Cespedes is gone.
Cespedes:  I appreciate the offer, but teaching others would only slow
  me down at this point.  I have all the material and facilities I need,
  albeit not here.  Perhaps in the future, I can shift those resources
  to this place, after we have built our towers and common workspaces.
Kronos:  So...one week, then we attack with whatever force of your stone
  warriors you have ready.
Cespedes:  Very well.  (he looks around, hands flat on the table)  I have
  been building this force for years, waiting for the day when it would
  be needed.  That day never came before Xusia and his Nine, and it never
  came during that time...but I believe that now is the time.

  There was a general agreement around the table, for none of the wizards
could deny the sheer might and usefulness of fifty such mighty warriors.

Kronos:  So that's settled.  Each of us will gather whatever companions,
  henchpeople, or minions we wish to bring.  Cespedes will lend his force
  of stone warriors to the effort.  And seven days from now, we assemble
  and venture to the ruins of Utaa.  (he watches as the others all nod in
  assent)
Parekh:  While that was the primary and most important topic of discussion
  today...I'd like to briefly review our other collective accomplishments
  over the five weeks since we last met as a group.

  Cespedes and Pallin discussed the progress on construction of the basic
foundation for the city-fortress from which the group would one day work
to change and improve the region.  Dexitheseus noted the more than one
thousand temporary new residents who were also the core of the workforce
as construction and building continued.  He also noted the need, after the
more pressing matters were dealt with, to send scouts into the desert with
the purpose of identifying specific locations for the three new forts that
needed to be built and manned.  Alindyar and Lyra summarized events in the
mines, namely that they had taken control of the area, incapacitated the
beholder who controlled it, and ensorcelled his giants and trolls to help
excavate vast amounts of gold and silver to bolster the wizards' coffers.
Belphanior told the tale of how me, Parekh, and Wu helped with the effort
to liberate Sterich's capital of Istivin...which would be the first step
toward reclaiming that kingdom (and Geoff) from giants and their allies.
Parekh reviewed the visit from two members of the Circle of Eight, their
questions, and the answers that were given.

Kronos:  That won't satisfy them for long.  I'd imagine that even now,
  they are working to insert spies into the Bright Desert to keep an eye
  on us and what we're doing.
Belphanior:  It would behoove us to insert our own spies in the Free City
  as well.  Although I'm not sure who would side with us, or can be fully
  trusted with such a task.  (he thinks of Peldor, but says nothing)
Parekh:  That will likely have to wait until after events unfold in Utaa.
Dexitheseus:  There is one more thing...well, actually two.  First, and
  thanks to Cespedes for saying it out loud, we should consider offering
  Lord Marcus the permanent position of general of our armies, once they
  are formed and ready.  Aside from the fact that he's already basically
  doing the job, there is great value in a consistent leader over time.
  I took the liberty of broaching the idea with him, to which he said it
  would have both advantages and challenges.  He also suggested that this
  entire group should discuss it before he was asked to make a decision.
Belphanior:  I for one would be in favor of this idea.  Having personally
  watched the man lead, and grow his forces, and parley with former foes
  before convincing them to join his side...I believe he has he capability
  to do this job and do it well.
Alindyar:  Lyra and I lack direct experience with Lord Marcus' abilities
  in these areas.
Lyra:  But we trust Belphanior's judgment.
Parekh:  I'm inclined to agree, myself.  But if he commits to our cause
  and to the Bright Lands, will he remain committed over time?  (she nods
  to Dexitheseus)  Can you vouch for his loyalty and his integrity?
Dexitheseus:  I have known him for more than twenty years, every since
  he was a brash young warrior who was fast with a sword but short on
  experience.  In that time, both in my presence and on his own, he has
  become a leader of men, someone who can inspire and bring out the best
  in them.  He has also raised multiple forces, from small companies to
  proper armies, and led them into battle.  Aside from all that, he has
  done his share of dungeon-delving, mostly back in the old days.  Lord
  Marcus' deeds and reputation are known across the Flanaess.  (he folds
  his robed arms)  So my answer is yes.  I truly believe we can count on
  him to help usher this region into a bold - dare I say brighter - new
  era.  He has my full trust and confidence.
Wu:  Having served with him at Greyspire, I will merely add my agreement.
Kronos:  (nods)  It seems this matter is settled, then.  Dexitheseus, once
  the business at Utaa is done, we will need an audience with Lord Marcus
  to formally discuss this role.
Dexitheseus:  Excellent.  As for the second matter, it involves our need
  to grow crops here, and be self-sufficient.
Lyra:  Do you mean right now, or years from now?
Dexitheseus:  Both.  The efforts will be similar, and I have sought the
  counsel of the Great Druid of all these lands...Oakly Greenleaf, who
  you all fought with in the assault on Rary's stronghold two months ago.
  He will help us - both soon, to grow what we can now, and in the long
  term, to try and make this region more fertile after the curse of the
  Scorpion Crown is over.  The price of that druidic assistance is simply
  that we allow the presence of a temple to his deity, Obad-Hai.
Kronos:  Interesting.  And yet a small price to pay.
Parekh:  (sighs)  We were going to have to deal with religion sooner or
  later.  I am not sure what the best overall answer is...temples of only
  one deity, or temples of several, or temples of any who want to build
  them.
Lyra:  It seems obvious that we should prevent temples of evil deities
  from existing here.
Cespedes:  But how can we define "evil" ?
Belphanior:  Damn good question.  Offhand, I'd suggest we determine which
  gods and goddesses are most useful and relatable to the most people,
  and then encourage those to flourish in the area.
Wu:  Indeed.
Parekh:  I don't know that we can make such decisions this early in the
  timeframe of our overall efforts, but one day we will have to.  Can I
  suggest that we table this matter until we're further along?
Kronos:  I concur.  We must focus on the matter next at hand, one week
  hence:  the quest into buried Utaa, the defeat of Shattados, and the
  recovery of the Scorpion Crown!





next:        to the ruins of Utaa, a week hence
map:         http://www.peldor.com/world/atlas/bright_desert_1156.jpg
www:         http://www.peldor.com/download.html
homepage:    http://www.peldor.com/
email:       tmiller@peldor.com
released:    10/25/2024
notes:       And again I'm diverging from published/canon material, which
  has Shattados possessing inherent psionic powers, zero mention of his
  magic-user capabilities, and the crown as essentially granting no extra
  powers (but rather just disadvantages.)  I'm changing things up...in my
  world, Shattados will still be a powerful wizard (albeit one who's half
  giant scorpion) and his psionic powers will stem from the crown.  Which
  by the way I keep typing as "Scorpion King" when I write these, so then
  I keep having to go back and correct it.  Though I suppose Shattados is
  worthy of being called the Scorpion King.  That was a good movie.
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