Sharpteeth: Search of the Black Blood

The "Year of the Morningstar" Campaign

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DM Boo
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Re: Sharpteeth: Search of the Black Blood

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It was the night of the full moon again. Several adventurers left to fortify against whatever would come out of the portal of Vehlarr. They feared an army coming through, but much to their surprise -- AN ENTIRE CITY CAME THROUGH! Materializing in the rays of Selune's moonlight which shone down on the portal, the form of the once-great city long ago banished onto a separate plane became solid and real about them. Spires and cathedrals replaced the ancient trees of the Sharp Teeth woods. The Selunite leader Ulegrin bid the adventurers to find the missing girl Lenna, and the leader of the Malarite wolves Ragnor. After spending many hours in the night fighting through a city of werewolves to the Tower of Immortality, residence of the city's founder Vehlarr, where the werewolf leader had locked himself for 600 years of solitude, they found themselves invited for an audience with Vehlarr's "associates". After enjoying the fine banquet laid out for them by their werewolf hosts, they prepared to ascended the tower to find Ragnor. They found the mighty werewolf, his lieutenant and Vehlarr himself waiting for them in front of a gem filtering moonlight through a hole in the ceiling. After throwing spells and insults and generally being ungracious guests, the hin Ruby teleported them out before the elf Celasorsan charged the demi-god like Ragnor. Vehlarr's crazed words floated in after them: "Two weeks and the madness stops".
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Canto
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 3:28 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Sharpteeth: Search of the Black Blood

Unread post by Canto »

Elanaele knelt down to inspect the patch of ground more closely. That makes eight, no nine sets of prints. There is a another print with a broken toe underneath. This was a unit moving with like purpose perhaps three nights ago.

She had spent the last four days searching the Wood of Sharp Teeth for signs of the new threat of which she had only just learnt. Deep into the wood she went finding no sign other than the occasional dread wolf or orc. She was beginning to think that the news might have been exaggerated after all. An entire city appearing overnight? It was as if the news was plucked straight from her nightmares.

Only two weeks ago she had been scouting the desolation that had been her former home in Moonwood. She knew it foolish to return there. It was far too dangerous and what did she expect to find? Closure, she told herself. Seeing the forest move on might help her do the same and maybe be rid of these nightmares that plagued her for so many weeks now. The lights of her former village had been reduced to a tangle of dead trees, overgrown vines where mad beasts now roam. The were-beasts of Malar had taken her home. Gone were her people, her family, her father.

Any hope of finding peace shattered on the news she had learnt on her return: bands of werewolves now roam in the Wood of Sharp Teeth. Had she heard it only from the Kor Vain, that dread shell that had once been Kael, she might have thought him simply trying to get under her skin again. But Mendel was there as well and confirmed his words: while she was away an entire city of werewolves had appeared in the wood over night. An entire city! It was happening again. She left for the Wood of Sharp Teeth next morning. She had to see things for herself.

She arose and looked about the grove deciding her next step. This pack had come from somewhere. She would track it to its source. All afternoon the trail pulled her deeper and deeper into wood until she found a deep spring. Here the prints of humans were mixed among beasts in the surrounding mud. Trails led off in several directions from there and it took her a while to find 'Broken-toe' and his band. She followed that trail for several more hours before concluding it was headed towards the outskirts of the forest. This was not the trail she wanted. She started her way back to the spring to pick another track to follow but the light was now growing dim and traveling this wood alone at night was not wise. She found a gap within the roots of a large willow and settled in to await the morning.

She sat within the cleft reliving memories of her former home and lost loved ones filtering together with images of the sad twisted thing that place had become. Tears streaked her face as she stared blindly off into the forest in twilight.

Her reverie was interrupted by a sound in the distance. A rabid tossle of growls and broken branches followed by a moment of silence. A horrifying howl rips through the night air, terrible from even this distance. But she could still hear and recognize the grumbling undertones of a large and mature werewolf. This one had just made a kill, a large one. But it was what she heard next that startled her. Farther in the distance, carried upon the wind and barely audible was a response. Not one or two voices but countless howls rising into the air competing to be heard. This was no simple pack or two.

The next morning she made her way out of the forest as quickly as she could. "Arrows will not be enough.", she thought to herself. They could kill most of the host but they would regain their strength from our own fallen. How many beasts had they slain in those later battles only to discover the next morning that they were once kin? No. These beasts needed to learn fear. These beasts needed a fear of this plane that would haunt them for generations. They would pay for taking her father from her.

She recalled the Kor Vain's flippant comment: "Oh they burn easily enough." Was that the answer?
Elanaele Nightstar / FizzyCatharsis
Canto
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 3:28 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Sharpteeth: Search of the Black Blood

Unread post by Canto »

Statues of werewolves have started appearing in the Wood of Sharp Teeth.
Elanaele Nightstar / FizzyCatharsis
Canto
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 3:28 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Sharpteeth: Search of the Black Blood

Unread post by Canto »

A Glimpse into the Abyss

Elanaele admires her new work. A particularly large werewolf had given her chase and she was surprised at just how fast he could run. She ran back to the heavily used track she had been following, turned, raised her hands and recited the short incantation as it clawed uselessly at her protected form. The spell took hold as the beast had stood erect and reached up for what could have been a killing blow. Now it was a statue.

"Now that is a *much* better place for you.", she says to it. "Who would ever see you at the bottom of that ravine?"

It is one of dozens she had now made. And Kirias, the young elven cleric who could turn werewolves and undead alike, had been invaluable in this project. These beasts will harm no other and the disease they carry will not spread to other creatures of the forest who might feed on their corpses. Even more importantly, they will serve as a warning to the others of their kind. They must know that they people here are not prey hiding behind walls. We will fight back, viscously.

She makes a short incantation and a stream of air and grit blast forth from her hand. She reaches up, creates a smooth spot on the creatures chest and focusing the stream with her finger writes: 'There are worse things than death. Flee while you may.' Satisfied with her work she turns and scans the landscape. There is a rise just off the trail that will give her a good view of the surrounding land. She makes her way up the slope.

As she climbs however she hears a growl from a few feet away and something leaps from the corner of her eye. In her anger and hatred she fires off a spell almost without thinking and a large blast of wind and sand burst from her hand ripping through the flesh of the second werewolf that had stalked her unawares. Recovering she then recites the spell turning it to stone as it recoiled in agony.

She stood a moment in shock staring at what she had done. The creature stood frozen in pure agony with half of her flesh ripped from her exposed bones. If she wanted to send a message this was clearly it.

Shaken, she pulls herself free of her shock and steps back. "Enough hunting for today.", she mutters. She raises her hands and disappears in a flash of white light.
Elanaele Nightstar / FizzyCatharsis
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