Chronicles of the Damned
#21
Szass Tam threw open the door to the private library in his estate and tossed his shredded and smoking robe to the side as he strode in. His face was a blasted disaster, the white bone of his skull all that remained on his left-hand side.

He had gone directly to the Judge of the Redhall to make his decree known immediately after finding out what had befallen Thay’s greatest temple in Bezantur. Unfortunately, Nevron had arrived at the same time with Nevron blaming him for calling forth the undead Blood Fiends that must have usurped his conjurers hold on their demons in the city, and Tam vehemently denying it but secretly knowing how and why the demons had been ripped from Nevron’s control: Eltab.

Words had escalated to violence, and perhaps things would have gone even worse had Lallara not arrived to try and mediate and in the end provided some protection against the magics hurled. Of course, her protection would probably not have been necessary had Lauzoril and his minions not also arrived to back up Nevron’s entourage and use their powers to cause some of Tam’s Necromancers to attack their associates. By the time they had been subdued or the magic removed by Lallara’s wizards, it had been a full-fledged battle that raged throughout Eltabbar as Abjurers and Necromancers fought Conjurers and Enchanters in the streets.

The fighting in Eltabbar had now died down as Tam’s wizards and undead backed by Lallara’s wizards appeared to have prevailed for the moment. But word would spread quickly throughout Thay: the Red Wizards were at war with each other!

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The Flaming Brazier was nothing more than a pile of ash and rubble that still miraculously burned days later. It had been attacked by almost all of the Demons in Bezantur and slowly overrun despite the large number and powerful defenders of the faith who gathered to it.

Many heeded the call for defenders of the faith. Among them, even the Admiral of the Navy and Tharchion of the Alaor Rand Gallin sailed in from the Alaor to complement the Eternal Flame Rhona and Champion of Kossuth Sevik, and powerful Aze Tam. Joining the Kossuthan priesthood and tharchion were Tribune Azura, Captain of the Amruthar City Guard Mirabela Ebonheart, Malark Greycastle, Taraska Traynor, Larson Osirus, Maliah Sigerman, Khalida Senka, Sirien Ilphukiir, Alice Blackstone, and Calhoun Mahr.

The attack begin with a fient against the defenders with a number of weak demons to draw them out past the temple gates. Anxious and eager, many streamed out of the gates and attacked the weak forces in the city streets. Quickly they realized this was just a deception as powerful Nabassu demons winged in from above and dropped down on the defenders in the courtyard. Casting magical darkness, the fight against them was difficult, long, and fierce. During the mayhem, Blood Fiends slipped through the magical darkness and into the temple, eventually forcing the defenders to go into the Inner Sanctum and deal with them.

As more Nabassu winged past above, the remaining defenders retreated from their tenuous position in the courtyard into the temple. Once the Blood Fiends in the Inner Sanctum had been defeated, the horde of demons outside the temple began tearing at it and collapsed the main entrance, and then moved to breach the smaller entrance, sealing the defenders inside.

After regrouping on the first level of the interior of the temple, the defenders met the demons after they breached the small entrance and fought back ferociously. But the attack was well-planned and executed with the aid of the treacherous ex-General of the Knights of the Drake. He had led another force of demons through the slave mines connected to the temple and into the second level, effectively cutting the temple defenses in two!

Forced to abandon the first level lest they be attacked from two sides, the defenders went to the second level and there, his rage overcoming him when he saw Sevik, the General attacked with his forces and fell to the blades of Sevik and the other defenders. Rhona, now realizing the worst had come to past, ordered all defenders to the final level of the temple and through the bed of fire and lava where she had opened a portal to the Elemental Plane of Fire.

As demons rampaged above, slaughtering anyone still alive and ripping apart all they could, Rhona knelt in the lava bed and prayed to Kossuth.

And Kossuth answered.

Demanding a sacrifice in order to destroy the enemies of the temple through a simple flame flower that sprouted up through the fire, Rhona, Sevik, Aze, Maliah, and Larson all entered the fire and were touched by Kossuth himself - burning with a fire that only awaited Rhona’s command to be unleashed which would burn through the temple and anyone remaining. Moments after the ritual was completed, and after those touched had said their goodbyes to the other defenders, Mari came striding through the smoky haze, with the sounds of demons pouring down the steps behind her.

With few words, she transformed into a huge Blood Fiend and attacked the Kossuth-touched defenders while the remainder made their escape from the temple through the portal of fire or other magical means. When all had escaped, Rhona unleashed the power of Kossuth and a massive fire exploded from the defenders battling the Blood Fiend-Mari just as her demon horde was rushing toward them.

The mile-high pillar of fire could be seen all the way in Eltabbar, originating from the depths of the Flaming Brazier temple and consuming the building and anyone or anything that was inside. The glory and power of Kossuth was on full display - but also his merciless nature as once the pillar died down, his greatest temple in Thay -and perhaps all of Faerûn- lay a burning pile of rubble.

And the few remaining demons in the city who survived simply seemed to disappear overnight.

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Eternal Flame Klanak Famouth stood in the dead of night surveying the ruins of the Flaming Brazier days later, his face pale. He finally had what he wanted. But the cost...the cost...

The vampire lord Victor simply appeared at his side, his black eyes glittering from the fires dancing nearby. But Klanak was no longer surprised by such appearances. Together they stood in silence for awhile simply watching the fires move back and forth across the ruins, until Victor finally broke the silence.

“It would appear you have what you want, Klanak. The Flaming Brazier is gone. But it would also appear your personal feelings blinded you to the reality of how powerful the temple priesthood still was despite losing Mythalanir. There was a reason ‘he’ wanted us to select those individuals to work for the benefit of the Vengeful’s. No doubt Rhona’s plea to Kossuth held more power with you having forsaken him for Velsharoon. Otherwise, he may have remained impartial to our mortal affairs here.

“Now it will be all Tsagoth can do to return alive from meeting Eltab rather than returning with news that Eltab’s demon hordes will assist us further. He’s going to need time to replenish his numbers, but when he does, Eltab will be as big of a threat to us as to the Red Wizards.”

Famouth remained silent and sullen as his stared at the flames.

“I know what you are going through. I too once was blinded by my personal desires. But you should have found another way. Pray that you can convince…him...your ability to convert others to the new faith of Thay will go as you plan. Or we will not meet again.”

Having heard enough of Victor’s preaching, the leader of the Vengeful’s Temple Circle turned abruptly and began making his way to the Bezantur City Tombs. He hoped Victor was right. Their master was not forgiving of mistakes. Especially one of this magnitude.

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Nevron shoved open the gates of north Bezantur and strode in, his face twisted in rage. Three nearby Dread Warriors moved to intercept him no doubt because the month of ‘Red Wizard Exile’ was not up. He casually launched a Fireball in their midst and they went up in flames. But then, abruptly, swirling magic appeared around him and six other undead creatures simply appeared and began attacking him! Upset, but not concerned yet, he raised his defenses and destroyed them one-by-one. But each time he destroyed an undead creature in Bezantur, two more took its place. He was forced to launch his most powerful magic wiping out all undead nearby, then only to by surrounded by dozens more of them.

Now concerned, he summoned planar aid he knew he could trust and, roaring in anger shouted “DAMN YOU TAM!”, but began his reluctant retreat from the city. As he passed back through the city gate his thoughts were dark. The undead rule here now, he thought grimly. What have we done...?
#22
Red Wizards, Red Wizard Apprentices, and Thayan Knights returning to Bezantur from their self-imposed exile discover a disturbing fact. The undead in the city have not left. In fact, it would seem their numbers have only grown somehow. Furthermore, upon sight the undead attack them and any attempt to fight back only ends with more undead appearing and attacking for each one that falls!

Strangely though, the undead patrolling the city streets leave all others alone. But for how long is anyone else’s guess. Citizens of the city refuse to leave their homes or have long since fled, convinced the Red Wizards have lost control of their largest, and perhaps most important city.

#23
Szass Tam, perhaps the most powerful zulkir in Thay, decided it was time. His plans had unraveled so completely there was no salvaging them. At least several of the other zulkirs were at open war with him. Not that he was concerned he would not prevail, but with the knowledge he held, perhaps he could manage to unite the warring Red Wizards before it was too late.

Who else had his trusted vampire lord minion Victor turned against him without his knowing so that a would-be god with special pains to annihilate him had almost succeeded? Who had any idea of the power that would take?
Who else had proof that god’s minions meddled in Thay’s affairs and were, at this very moment, working to subvert the faithful of Kossuth?
Who else knew that Maligor had returned and managed to escape once again, no doubt working to undermine the Red Wizard order that had forgotten about him so easily?
Who else knew, beyond secondhand rumors that were spreading, that the archdemon Eltab was truly free and rallying a demon horde to him after those he had taken from Nevron’s wizards in Bezantur had been incinerated?
And above all, who else knew that the undead in Bezantur, like Victor so long ago, had been taken from his control? Who else could imagine that was even possible?!

All this information he held pointed to a greater conspiracy. A powerful conspiracy. One that he had finally concluded had been forming since before even he had been born. And he believed he knew who was behind it all. That information could save Thay.

If only he could get the other zulkirs to listen to him before it was too late….
#24
Yaphyll concentrated again, sending a projection of herself to the last remaining Red Wizard she felt might help her. Tam, Nevron, Lallara, and Lauzoril could fight amongst themselves all they want, but she needed answers. And as Zulkir of Divination, she was going to provide them these answers and make them all look like fools in the process.

Her requests out, she relaxed momentarily, but not enough to lose her concentration on the spell that took a full month to prepare. Fortunately, she had begun her preparations before even the other zulkirs and Red Wizards of the opposing schools had decided to start killing themselves. Now all that remained was those she had tasked with finding 10 parts dragon blood, 10 rakshasa eyes, 10 parts fairy dust, a Gem of Seeing, and the helm of the deceased Thessaloni Canos.

Already her other diviners had informed her of that which she already knew; Canos had indeed died on some nameless island in the Sea of Fallen Stars. But fortunately, adventurers sent to retrieve the helm by one of the Red Wizards helping her had been successful. Small victories, she thought, but victories nonetheless.

She wished there had been someone she could have sent to stop the invasion of Thasselen and Murbant, but then those towns were of little consequence. Whether it was truly Tam directing these undead armies, or something else as she suspected, the leader of these undead obviously did not want any opposing forces remaining in the Priador.

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Captain Sparrow stuck his head out of the Captain’s Pub in Murbant and wished he had not. Undead everywhere, and dead gnoll and human legionnaires littered the street. So the warning from Thasselen had been true...and arrived too late.

As with what he had heard in Bezantur, the undead did not attack unless attacked first, but they had definitely come in with every intention of wiping out the living Priador forces stationed there at the time. He stared into the open eyes of a young man wearing the cloak of the Priador legion who had died right out front of the pub.

He nearly fainted though when the man stood up jerkily, eyes still wide and unseeing. Saying not a word, the now-Dread Warrior halting walked over to a Death Knight standing at the top of the steps of the Council Hall. Sparrow closed his eyes for five seconds and then opened them again, hoping he was just seeing things again because of the splitting hangover he had.

When he opened them and saw he was not dreaming, his first thought was of the drop in adventurers now that would come to Murbant and how many damn seagulls were going to survive because of the undead infestation sweeping across Thay.
#25
Taraska arrived at Thasselen, ready to post the notice for eyes and blood. While the word of the attack the Deathly Knight passed through the Pyarados Legionnaire was some warning, the sight of Thasselen under attack was something to see as she rode in. The undead army was mopping up as she approached the gate. She circled part way around the walls and then back to the gate. It looked like any Legionnaires left when the attack came were corpses. Some of the undead noticed her and shuffled to attack. Dread warriors and others were cut down. These did not create two new undead when they fell, at least. There was no sign of Cedric that she could see from the gate, though from the looks of the corpses, plenty of knuckles to be gathered. And since he wore the robes, she guessed there would not be sight of him, unless as one of the dead. She had hoped to cut in through the small force at the gate and see what was inside. However, the sounds of battle drew attention of greater undead and larger numbers. And then the dead Legionnaires and citizens rose up as undead.

She withdrew, and headed to Murbant. The stench from there could be smelled a league away. And even just a look from the outside as she got closer, at the smoke and some corpses of Legionnaires at the outskirts there let her know for certain that it too had fallen. Time to report this. At least she could post the list of components in Nethjet as well.
#26
After having rested after the attack on the Flaming Brazier and leaving a note for the Hierarch, Azura planned to return to Thasselen to await a response. The master sergeant apporached her with a sealed letter. Upon opening it she found that she can stay and her status as a legionnaire and her rank were upheld. Her new duty was to keep the current legionnaires alert and in line and also to seek new recruits as those like Taraska and Ardin had been assigned tasks.

Legionnaire Kayle was still around as was a male orc interested in joining.
He joined and Kayle was tasked to getting him to speed. She was saddened at what Bezantur had become and was determined if she could not get more, to make the current ranks battle ready. Ineed another was on the horizon, but what shape this one would take was yet unknown.
Caramiriel:Retired
Garbage:Retired
Rimeth: Merchant of Bezantur
Marister (dead) -Ranger -Robin Hood of Thay (death marked for pissing off a Daeron.)
Vil'a'w'en Mel'for'm - Blighter of Moander
#27
Taraska revisted Thasselen to scout. Carefully. The other job she had to do there was incidental. The town was indeed guarded by the undead, but they did not attack her on sight. She was not wearing red, so that may have helped in being able to move about the town. The sight of Cedric should have provided some reassurance that things were mostly as they once were, even with the undead guards. However, given Cedric's current appearance, it did not. Yes, he still paced about as he normally did. But hearing others address him as Hierarch of Thasselen, and his wizardly skeletal appearance, was unexpected. Time to report this to someone.
#28
This first section is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for all players to read. I will also include it in a new in-game journal entry. PCs have until 5th level or December 15 to decide if they are going to align themselves with Ythazz Buvaar and openly serve the Vengeful. Any PCs greater than 5th level who do not align themselves with the Vengeful face the threat of permadeath after that time because the mysterious allies (the Vengeful) will no longer provide free respawns.

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Finally! The unknowing agents of the Vengeful, the Red Wizards, and the people of Thay have many answers to the problems that plagued them, at long last. But not all answers. However, those that were found reveal Thay is on the brink of destruction by an ancient, powerful, and vengeful undead threat: the great Ythazz Buvaar, first zulkir of Necromancy and leader of the rebellion against Mulhorand centuries ago that resulted in the creation of the realm of Thay, and leader of the Vengeful!

His agents had served him well. Now all that remained was to take his vengeance against the ungrateful realm that had failed to remember its founder. But he had time. More than four centuries he had watched, waited, and plotted. He would give two more months ((up until December 15)), and until his new agents to reach their 5th season ((new PCs have until 5th level)) to willingly continue serving him, or forsake the Vengeful and join the rest of Thay in its Deserved Damnation.

To all agents Ythazz Buvaar sends a mental summons to pledge their allegiance to him and the Vengeful at his massive sarcophagus now placed just within the entrance of the Bezantur City Tombs. The pledge is to serve him as long as necessary and into eternity if needed. In return, those who do so receive his protection from death. Faithful agents will continue being whisked to the entrance of his tombs when facing death, just as he had always done, and improved protection will be given against slavers and assassins.

Furthermore, Velsharoon has sent his powerful and feared Seneschal of the Vaunted into the Fugue Plane where she defeated the Spectral Wizard there. She will be offering no return from the afterlife unless the spirit swears an oath to Ythazz Buvarr and Velsharoon. But she is either unable, or unwilling, to restore spirits completely like the Spectral Wizard, and only returns them as a randomly selected undead creature selected by her to serve Buvarr and her god...

Regardless of the method allegiance is given, spirits returning as undead, or mortals swearing allegiance to Buvaar voluntarily undergo a type of magical geas. They are utterly unable to resist the commands of Buvaar or any Priest of Velsharoon ((this will need to be roleplayed)).

The question now remains of each individual: will you seek to prevent, or strive to hasten, Thay's Deserved Damnation?


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Yaphyll had summoned the few Red Wizards willing to help her to the Palace of Crystals in Eltabbar, along with their Knights and other trustworthy individuals who would need to protect their mortal forms while the divination took place. These individuals included Zulkir Maurin Greyhand of Evocation, Red Wizards Ihsahn, Kessa Sepret, Sabel Aerlian, Heirarch Maegor Umrathos, and the Thayan Knight Nikos Galambos. The divination was extremely dangerous and opened up the caster and her circle of Red Wizards to premonitions and powers of those they were scrying on. As a result, protectors were needed to defend the helpless circle. This important duty was fulfilled by Tribune Azura, the Thayan Knight Anastashia Shadoe, Taraska Traynor, Malark Greycastle, Kalis Kurm, Alice Blackstone, Pedron Niall II, and Calhoun Mahr.

Yaphyll began the divination and the circle was drawn into the spell. Within the spell, the casters were assaulted on many occasions by Shadows of the Past, Echoes of the Present, and Visions of the Future. As with their attackers, in some cases what they saw was unknown as to whether it was a shadow of the past, an echo of the present, or a vision of the future... Regardless though, they were able to gather much information about the greater evil plaguing Thay.

First, those within the spell worked to find a vision of the Eternal Flame Klanak Flamouth speaking to Brianna Fraser, Seneschal of the Vaunted. The casters discovered he had converted to the worship of Velsharoon and was subtly converting a large number of his priests to Velsharoon’s worship as well. Very soon he would announce the conversion of the Burning House in Tyraturos to the worship of Velsharoon, and it was he who had orchestrated the death of Mythalanir to blame on Mari Agneh and it had been his disastrous plan to use the demons of Bezantur to assault the temple in force.

As those within the divination spell saw the encounter with Klanak and Brianna occur, the circle and its defenders were attacked by spirit-like Priests of Velsharoon.

Next, those within the spell worked to find the vampire lord Victor speaking a man who appeared to be a spymaster himself. It was noticeable the man had a small wine-red birthmark on his chin. The man’s distain for Victor and for all undead was quite apparent, yet it seemed he willingly served Victor since he actions were bringing about ‘the Great Death’. The man spoke about how Shaballa had facilitated the ‘rescue’ of Mari Agneh. And then Shaballa, together with his aid, had facilitated the attack and destruction on temples with priests who had been close associates of Mari’s tormenter; the late zulkir Aznar Thrul. All was done in an attempt to drive dissention among the leaders of Thay. The vision ended with Victor stating he had to visit Serene in the Temple of Mask and inform her it was time to replace Shaballa.

As those within the divination spell saw the encounter with Victor and the man with the birthmark occur, the circle and its defenders were attacked by spirit-like vampire Shadow Agents of the Vengeful.

After this, those within the spell worked to find an Old Man speaking to a number of others - all indistinct visions none could make out as the power of Yaphyll’s spell was fading. He expressed remorse that his actions and manipulations of those he had helped bring to Thay had resulted in the freedom of the great archdemon Eltab from the powerful ritual Szass Tam had almost completed which would have bound the demon to his control. While the demon was now no longer a threat, he knew it was time to pay for the decades he had aligned himself with the evil of the Vengeful. He begged the visions to listen to him, for though he knew it would mean his death, he knew of how to defeat his master.

As those within the divination spell saw the encounter with the Old Man occur, the circle and its defenders were attacked by spirit-like Harper Agents.

Following this, those within the spell worked to find the former zulkir of Transmutation Maligor - alive! He too was speaking to two indistinct visions, large and menacing, the other more human-sized but larger as well. Maligor spoke to the bigger vision telling him that the pawn Mari Agneh had served her purpose and awaited him in the Thasselen Central Citadel. He was to give her the power necessary to end her madness and the anger necessary to lead the demons Eltab had taken control of in the assault on the Flaming Brazier. The images shimmered and almost went out, but then Maligor was speaking to the human-sized vision chuckling about how ‘he had been imprisoned in his own damn chair’ with a simple kick by ‘the spymaster’ and Maligor casting the first Rune of Chaos. If they can’t destroy ‘him’ because his phylactery could not be found, Maligor stated succinctly that ‘he’ would sit by helplessly watching the destruction of the land he wanted to rule. The vision ended with Maligor smugly thanked both the indistinct visions for the job they did to trap and kill what must have been Aznar Thrul and getting his tower back under his control.

As those within the divination spell saw the encounter with Maligor occur, the circle and its defenders were attacked by spirit-like Arcane Circle Wizards, and nearly wiped out. Fortunately though, they were able to rally and defeat the wizards.

Finally, those within the spell worked to find the source and came across a vision of Szass Tam sitting in an elaborate throne while the spell began to disintegrate around them. Strangely, unlike the other visions Tam seemed to recognize there were others watching him. While they were unable to interact with him directly, he nevertheless explained out loud that he had lost control of the undead horde in Bezantur and been deftly tricked and was imprisoned in Thaksoril’s Throne, but it had been moved from the bowels of the Citadel to a location he was not aware. He calmly stated he was not their enemy, and urged the destruction of any in the visions they may have seen. Finally, he explained it was the ancient zulkir Ythazz Buvaar who was behind all the trouble that was befalling Thay! But just as he uttered the demi-lich’s name, the vision exploded in flames and the casters of the spell found themselves back in the Palace of Crystals with the defenders.

As those within the divination spell saw the encounter with Szass Tam occur, the defenders of the circle were attacked by Vengeful spirit-like versions of themselves!

Now with the circle casters and their defenders reunited, they turned to Yaphyll who was wreathed in blue flame and with flames from her eyes stated in a monotone voice “The white queen is troubled but can't say why. The black queen hates the white and gives the assassin a black coat. The assassin steals upon the white queen. She can't see him gliding through the shadows. The sword screams. The white queen falls. Her city falls. Stones fall in the cavern to crush the soothsayer. The tree burns and thrashes in agony. Branches break. Branches twist and grow together...”

The she stiffened and screamed “The master comes! But he has not seen the blue flame and does not know the future it holds. He does not know you and it may defeat him. THE MASTER IS HERE!”

With those final words, the blaze around Yaphyll went out and her skull exploded from her head revealing the demi-lich Ythazz Buvaar, one-time zulkir of Necromancy, founder of Thay, and leader of the Vengeful! Floating like a nightmare in front of those gathered, he graciously thanked those gathered for freeing him, laid his terrible ultimatum before them, and simply left them to decide their doom.
#29
Alice Blackstone got back to Bezantur using a recall-stone after the whole ordeal to report to her superiors as fast as she could, inside the Temple of Mask. Shortly after she had to rid of two assassins and two undead creatures that took their place.
Tiredly she went up the stairs to one of the temple's many rooms to rest. Looking at herself in the mirror, she sighed tiredly thinking back at how they fought and how she fought herself.
She had survived this, she had always survived everything, why would this be any different? After all - she has a promise to keep.
#30
Klanak Famouth, treacherous priest who had betrayed the faithful of Kossuth, had been slain, during a battle with demons in the Burning House of Kossuth.

Tsagoth, the blood fiend had been slain, during a battle in Thasselen Dungeons.

Maurin defeated Malythist in a battle in the grand Arena.

Eltab rampaged through Eltabbbar, sending Thayans scurrying for cover. A few brave (or is it foolish? ;)) souls stood up to the attack. Eltab eventually flew off.

Victor, the master vampire, was destroyed.

Eltab was summoned by Nevron. Eltab turned Nevron into a Dretch and banished him away. Eltab was defeated in the field of battle by the combined efforts of wizard, legionnaires and other heroes of Thay, but in the end Hierarch Maegor sent the fiend packing. Maegor gave his life for this effort. Afterward, the Tharchioness was slain by Malark (the monk not the legionnaire) Springhill.


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