Ust Delmah
Contents
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 other reptilians had searched the area before the Shadow Guardians.
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
T'Shalla Sunwatcher, Drow Monk
Larien Bancurpi, Drow Cleric/Wizard
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)
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.
