Difference between revisions of "Ust Delmah"

Revision as of 21:25, 16 May 2010

The Game

Here you can find the latest posts in this game.

Current Events

Here is where you'll find the current combat maps, images or documents that relate to this game.

The Story so far and The Story so far 2

Click the links for the story through January 2008, and then intermittently thereafter....

A very brief summary of recent events was passed from Larien to Y'lara when the latter first joined the Shadow Guardians:

"...[T]he Shadow Guardians were instrumental in rediscovering It'lal, clearing out the undead there, and freeing the children of House Mylyl (who were in a type of suspended animation for roughly 2,000 years). After that they hunted for the renegade drow Atrea Bralfah (sister of the Bralfah Matriarch), only to have her discover an evil artifact of some sort and escape. Atrea later attacked It'lal through the Dradah Delmah gate, and when the attack failed, Atrea took the key, rendering the gate useless. On the Council's orders, the Shadow Guardians were instructed to search for potential trade routes and allies in the region, since It'lal was now isolated.

From there, the Guardians traveled into the Crying Woods, discovering a tribe of reptilians -- distant offspring of the old Reptilian Empire (old allies, and later enemies, of the drow). The reptilians were virtual slaves to the Crying Woods, their Awakened, and a family of green dragons referred to as "the Green". The Shadow Guardians agreed to help, and defeated three juvenile green dragons and some Awakened creatures. They then met a reptilian wise-woman, Hoary Belinda, who hinted that events in the Crying Woods (past and present) were coming to a head, and that the drow's return had been foretold. The group then narrowly escaped attack by an adult green dragon, fleeing to the Floating City and securing the aid of The Crimson Shields of Hope adventuring group.

Once at Floating City (the Float), the group learned a few things of note. First, Crying Lake, upon which the Float resides, has been experiencing mysterious intrusions of salt water and deep sea monsters (like Kraken). In addition, the Crying Woods are also home to the Elvenguard -- a community of elves who seem to have avoided the tyranny of the Green. Periodically a member of the Elvenguard is chosen to merge with the Crying Woods, thereafter acting as a controlling/moderating force on the Woods. However, the last "Entwining" was interrupted by a group of Dark Druids, and the Crimson Shield hero Florin merged/sacrificed himself instead. Finally, a messenger from It'lal appeared, carrying news that the city had been attacked by kobolds via one of the teleportation gates. The attack was repulsed, and a counter-attack succeeded in breeching kobold territory. Since then an uneasy truce has been established. But the Shadow Guardian's mission remained unchanged.

After paving the way for Lady Firbral Bralfah to assume the position of It'lal Ambassador to the Float, the Guardians were met by a reptilian and informed that Hoary Belinda's home had been destroyed and that she was missing. With Firbral's blessing to aid the reptilians (within reason), the group chartered a boat and quickly traveled back into the Woods. An investigation of the ruined shack indicated an acid attack (maybe a green dragon), and the words "The Serpent's Maw is Forbidden!" carved into a nearby rock, possibly by a dragon talon. In addition, there were some scraps of paper from a shredded book, including a reference to "Serpent's Maw", and signs that reptilians had searched the area before the Shadow Guardians.

The next day, the Shadow Guardians leave for the village of their reptilian messenger. Along the way, Sesha joins the group, having teleported from It'lal. Close to nightfall, they arrive at the well-hidden village, which includes the reptilian Elder they befriended before, and several other types of reptilians. The Elder takes them to the village leader, Mathir, and they get a general lead on where the Serpent's Maw might be. Sesha attempts to communicate with Hoary Belinda, but Belinda sends a single word, "Danger", in reply, before cutting off the link. Unsure what to do with this vague warning, the group sets a watch for the night, only to be awakened a few hours later with the village under attack by hostile reptilians.

The villagers flee via the escape tunnels and start to collapse them, bringing down the buildings as well. Five attackers are spotted, and the Guardians quickly gain the advantage, but an unknown enemy spellcaster strikes invisibly several times. Just as he's spotted and attacked, an Imp appears holding Gilin's familiar Sonja, threatening to kill her if the reptilian spellcaster isn't freed. The group opts to attack, but somehow their efforts fail, and Sonja is killed. Oddly, the remaining reptilians slump to the ground and one or two inch runners of white plant fibers start to sprout out and crawl around like worms. As more and more little plants crawl out, the bodies collapse in on themselves as if decaying in a matter of seconds. The Guardians are at a loss to explain the reptilian's deaths.

Sesha uses her magic to restore Sonia to life. The group heals up and searches the area, but no reptilians -- either enemies or allies -- can be found. Later, Giovanni thinks he's discovered a description of where the Serpent Maw is in the torn scraps of the book from Hoary Belinda's. Belinda didn't know what was there, only that the Crying Woods keeps it guarded. Deciding to investigate this new lead, the Shadow Guardians head southeast through the forest and into the hills. About six hours into the journey, the group encounters a large magically silenced area. With night approaching, they opt to make camp and venture forth in the morning.

Come dawn, the party heads in and discovers a clearing and a pond more-or-less at the center of the silence. The pond is fed by a stream, but the outlet is a tunnel at the bottom, which somehow feeds back to the stream in an endless loop. A suit of magical armor is stuck to a piece of stone near the underwater tunnel, and magic also radiates from the stone, and inside the tunnel. After further explorations, the group discovers some recent reptilian tracks and a seemingly old firepit. In addition, the area is not only silenced, but protected from the oppressive power of the Woods as well.

Archives

The full past history of game posts can be found here.

Characters

These are the characters, past and present, that have featured in this game.

Current Characters

Eclip Bralfah, Drow Druid

T'Shalla Sunwatcher, Drow Monk

Larien Bancurpi, Drow Cleric/Wizard

Pathos, Drow Bard/Fighter

Giovanni Thornhill, Halfling Bard

Gilin Underhill, Half Drow/Half Human Sorcerer

Sesha Cha'Kwaina (Say-sha Cha-Kwai-Eena), Drow Witch

Y'lara Bancurpi, Drow Ranger/Sharpshooter

A list of group items can be found here

Character Summary Stats & Character Languages

Sub-pages with Characters Stats and Languages.

Standard Operating Procedure & Marching order

Sub-Page with marching order and Party SOP.

Past Characters

Corwin, Dane Bralfah, E'lonika (Nika) Bralfah, Loreel Solar'An, Talzar, Xiean, and Yersinia Bralfah.

Gaerin Bralfah, Drow Rogue/Fighter/Barbarian (Dead)

Isilme Bralfah, Drow Fighter/Cleric (Missing)

Kaido, Drow Rogue

Xesor Bralfah, Drow Wizard (brother of Fintarian)

Fintarian Bralfah, Drow Ranger (brother of Xesor) (old sheet is here) (Fint's group crystal is being studied by the It'lal Council)

Airin Moondancer Turnbell, Halfling Druid/Rogue/Shadow Dancer and Yarasa (Arirn has a group crystal which shields the wearer from the Crying Woods' oppressive magic)

NPCs

Lady Larvanya Bralfah - Matriarch of House Bralfah.

Lady Athena Bancurpi - Matriarch and priestess of House Bancurpi; aunt to Larien Bancurpi.

Lady Yasume Mylyl - Matriarch of House Mylyl. All members of Mylyl are drow youths from before the fall of It'lal.

Lady Firbral Bralfah - Younger sister and heir apparent to Matriarch Larvanya. Ambassador to Floating City.

Puff - Curious and treasure happy Pseudodragon that can be found about It'lal.

Atrea Bralfah - Older sister and traitor to Matriarch Larvanya.

Dis'ulder, Drow Wizard or Sorcerer (or possibly a variant such as Weapon Mage / Blade Singer).

Geography

(See "Forest home of Hoary Belinda" post, 11/20/09, for more details.)

Continent of Yrth

Dradah Delmah, It-lal, the Crying Woods, and Floating City are all located in the southeast corner of the Yrth (northern) continent.

Dradah Delmah

Dradah Delmah is the former home of House Bralfah, a tribe of Surface Drow. It is located in the Blackheart Woods, part of the Monster Preserve on the Second Plateau in New Elenna.

It-lal

It-lal is the Surface Drow "first home". It sits on the peak of a mountain, near the westernmost edge of a range of mountains. The exact location of It'lal on the Yrth continent is a bit unclear, but it likely lies east of the Cruesa Sea and northeast of the New Elennian Peninsula.

Crying Woods

The Crying Woods is a sentient magical forest that lies west of It'lal at the base of a mountain range. Via the main trade road from It'lal, it's about a days journey to the edge of the Crying Woods. Between the eastern edge of the Woods and Floating City are a number of Reptilian tribes, remnants of the Reptilian Empire of the Second Age (called "the Al Mathir"). These tribes have been subjugated for many centuries by a large family of Green Dragons (the Green), who enforce order and bleed the tribes of food and valuables with the assistance of the awakened animals of the Woods. In the distant past, there were swamps to the north, but whether this is still true is unknown. Also in the Crying Woods are the Elvenguard -- a community of elves who seem to have avoided the tyranny of the Green. Periodically a member of the Elvenguard is chosen to merge with the Crying Woods, thereafter acting as a controlling/moderating force on the Woods. However, the last "Entwining" was interrupted by Dark Druids, and the Crimson Shield hero Florin sacrificed himself instead.

Floating City

Floating City (The Float) lies west of It'lal, floating on a very large lake surrounded by the Crying Woods. It is roughly a five day hike to the lake from It'lal, plus several more hours (at least) by boat. The Float used to reside on Turtle Lake in the New Elennian Peninsula until it was mysteriously transported to its new location several years ago. Confusingly, the new lake is still sometimes referred to as "Turtle Lake", but it's proper name is Crying Lake. The lake is near the Creusa Sea, probably 350 to 400 miles northeast of the New Elennian Peninsula as the crow flies. The lake's waters are known to harbor some very dangerous creatures, including Kraken. "The Float has a shortage of fishermen as few boats were at dock when the Float moved to this location. A couple of rivers to the north are the only passage into the lake via water, so some of the foreign vessels must have come through one of those passages. It is assumed that these rivers connect to some larger body of water, even an ocean perhaps." At least one ships captain (Tender Farfoot of Dirt City) has apparently found a navigable river from Crying Lake to either the Creusa Sea or the Lotophagi Ocean (probably the latter). The Float is home to The Crimson Shields of Hope adventuring group.
(See "The Calm before the Storm...", Monday January 25th, 2010 10:30:04 PM, on the Ust Delmah list.)

History

House Bralfah: The Surface Drow

House Bralfah is a drow family with deep roots and average standing. While pretty much intact from when the drow’s underground city was destroyed, even house Bralfah, who remained neutral during the power struggles was fairly significantly damaged. Prior to the fall of the city, Bralfah was a fairly insignificant house. Now that the mighty have fallen, House Bralfah has become the pre-eminent house, if not the only remaining one, of the drow.

Surface Drow

This group of Drow has fought their way upward away from their subterranean cousins and into the light. They have broken with tradition and been blessed by Alemi. These Drow have broken with the Matriarchal traditions and now worship any god they wish.

Origins of the Drow

The tale of how the dark elves came to be.

DM Pages

Here are all the resources a DM will need to run this game.