Brademante: Update 35

We decided to head directly to where our map showed the ruined temple near Imnesvale. Bypassing the town for now. It was obvious as we approached the old temple site that something was wrong. Everything seemed dark and shady in spite of being mid-day. And the foliage had a dark and twisted aspect to it.

We encountered a werewolf, a she-wolf that was willing to talk. No doubt she was evil, but she was also distraught.

*She was Anath and reported the local wolves were no longer hers. A powerful force of shadow had taken her pack.*

The nearby temple, that had once been a place of light, was now in the grip of a malevolent shadow. She had decided to die there fighting what had taken her family.

*Evil shadows and shadows of wolves were thick closer to the old temple. We found one crystal of light that could be positioned in an old stained glass window that weakened the shadows.*

We most have battled 30 or more of them. Anath fell in the fighting. Then we found an ancient staircase heading down into the ruins.

There was an old guardroom right near the entrance, and after fighting a few more shadows we found a single living prisoner in a cell.

*This was Mazzy, she had led a band of adventurers here a couple weeks ago.*

She believed only one other member of her crew survived, Patrick had been taken, or possessed somehow by a shade lord.
Mazzy was hurt, so we left her with a magic blade and light source. Hold tight, we’ll be back.

This had once been a temple to the ancient god Amaunator, Keeper of the Sun and Law. We battled shadows throughout, and found much of the temple had been desecrated. We cleaned what we could.

*The first dire threat we faced was a lich, with a troop of powerful undead.*

This was the first really full powered lich we’d faced (there was the dwarf lich on the road to Dragonspear, but he was a rookie. And one we somehow freed in the Underdark, but he was addled and confused.) A lich combines the most powerful traits of an arch-mage with undeath. They can never be under-rated.
And worse, we encountered another not ten minutes later! That was couple of hard fights that really tested our abilities and resources. Keldorn is well trained in battling evil magic and is an invaluable ally for such things. We are also well kitted for fighting undead, so these fights were not nearly as bad as they could have been.

We had cleared the whole underground as best we could. Shadows are tricky, they can emerge from seeming nothing. But we had cleared the biggest threats, restored a couple of idols and brought some light back into the place. We had found a staircase heading back up, a back way we had not seen on the surface.
We came up to a sort of old amphitheater. There was light above, but the floor was dark.

This was an intense fight for a few minutes. No doubt any dragon is a terrible foe. But they mostly fight alone, and present a single target. So in spite of their great power, they seem vulnerable to a team that can spread out and gang up.

A path leading from here took us to a small clearing were the temple’s main idol once stood.

*It had been wholly corrupted by shadow. We battled a Shade Lord, and the possessed remains of Patrick.*

*Once the Shade Lord was defeated, the sun broke through and Amaunator shone brightly.*

Its a rare and beautiful thing to see a victory immediately bear fruit. Sadly, we found the remians of Imnesvale’s former Ranger protector Merella had been the host for the Shade Lord. So our victory came with a cost.

We escorted Mazzy back to town and found Mayor Lloyd to let him know all the news. He begged us to assume the role of local defenders, but we are truly stretched too thin. I told him he had Madulf and his ogres, and we would talk to Valygar about looking out for them. Further, Jaheira and her Druid Grove is right near by, Trademeet is not too far. And in a true emergency we are available at De’Arnisse.
There is getting to be a good number of allies in this area.

We explored some of the wilderness to the south on our way back to De’Arnisse. We found a dangerous crew of hostile adventurers, and the usual assortment of wilderness trouble. But then we came to a surprise. Coran! We’d met him a few times around Baldur’s Gate.

“Amyntor my man, I see you’re still with that spicy redhead!”
“You mean my wife? Yeah, I’m still with her.”

“As it happens I could use your help. You remember my true love Safana? She’s been taken prisoner by a pack of werewolves!”

Swell, I’m sure Amyntor knows how fond I am of Safana. Well, I wouldn’t wish it on her to be eaten, so we will help.
Coran knew where the werewolves were camped. This was not what we expected!

“No, take her Lanfear! Brademante is worth a lot of money!”
“I don’t take orders from you Safana.”

Huh. I felt bad for Coran. But he was fool for falling for Safana. We still had to clear the area of werewolves. “Lanfear” was a tough customer, the rest of them not so much.

Coran seemed legitimately deflated. He apparently plans on drowning his sorrows in Athkatla. Well, we’ll leave him to his quest for rock bottom. Sorry. Honestly I hope that lost soul finds some peace.

The rest of us returned to De’Arnisse to check in on things, and get a little rest. We talked, and our next destination is the Wailing Dwarf, to see whatever became of Bryam Lancameth.

*****

I haven’t done a rundown of the team for a little bit. This is the team in its final form now. I still have much to do before the end game against Irenicus. But this team is aleady what I would call powerful. Every character has at least one High Level Ability.