[Balanor]

If the demi-lich could have formed a smile, Ythazz Buvaar would have been grinning from undead ear-to-ear. As it were, he had to content himself with an evil chuckle. His departure from Thay had been to do what was necessary for the completion of his ritual. This time there would be no Velsharoon to steal power that rightfully belonged to him.

Over the course of two months, the zulkirs and Eltab had worked to further weaken each other which had culminated in not only Eltab’s destruction or banishment, but the removal of the powerful Nevron and the death of Tharchioness. Now the zulkirs were reduced by half, and the ranks of the Red Wizards who had not fled Thay, been killed, or had no clear leadership were reduced by well more than half.

Of course, the Vengeful had not been without its loses, but he had expected some of his more powerful leaders would fall before the end. After all, allowing his captains to fall helped ensure that his true purpose remained hidden while his enemies worked toward a goal. What could they truly hope to accomplish in two months against plans and contingencies and counter-contingenices he had laid out over the course of centuries?

Klanak had left himself particularly exposed and paid the price. Tsagoth had been expendable from the start, and he had always intended that the blood fiend would perish. It had surprised him that the mighty Victor had fallen, but Malark’s intentions had been known for some time and he had only allied himself with the Vengeful after Buvaar himself had personally explained his greater plan. The result was that Victor’s coven was shattered, however Buvaar had gathered several of the more powerful vampire masters back to the fold before they had escaped Thay. Malark would pay for the extra work he had caused, but not yet...

With Eltab removed and the Red Wizards at the weakest they had been in centuries, it was now time to end this charade. With a thought he ended the magical protection for all of those who had not pledged themselves willingly to him. If they were now not with him, they would only serve as undead - or perish with their convictions.

“Rally the forces,” his terrible voice rasped to the Death Knight Commanders assembled before him “Begin moving them into position. We must give the zulkirs something tangible to fight once again, lest they stumble upon and interfere with my true plan. The attacks will commence now. I want that castle captured with overwhelming force. Show them just how deadly five centuries of planning can be.”

After his army commanders left, he then turned to his remaining captains.

"Send word to our faithful agents to begin the infiltration of the targets. Make sure that all eyes are turned far from Bezantur. Remember that after these two upcoming battles, are the rest are of no consequence. One for my forces to take the castle, and the other for you to deal with the priests. After that, the rest of this war is simply a distraction, no more."

[Balanor]

Ythazz Buvaar studied his newest creation as she attacked her former Red Wizard mistress and took out another Red Wizard and his entourage in Eltabbar without breaking a sweat...well...if she still could have sweat. She truly was wonder to behold. She truly was Death incarnate.

Hezess Nymar had done well in whisking Taraska away in broad daylight within the crowded great market of Tyraturos, without her being able to put up so much as a fight. Hezess, now supposedly a faithful servant of Velsharoon -although Buvaar knew better than to trust the cowardly priest-, had intentionally made sure that one gathered there who witness the abduction -an elf called Melaa who had forsaken the Vengeful and not willingly joined them- knew what had happened and was instructed to go running to the hapless zulkirs about who the Vengeful could strike at anyone, anytime.

Taraska’s transformation had been quick, painful, and quite terrible. Now she towered like an evil undead mountain above her former allies, and would lead the attack on the Keep of Sorrows with three other...companions that Nymar had captured in similar situations throughout the lands the zulkirs still held. Taraska was the finest among them, and one he was sure her appearance and terrible powers would break the spirits of the defenders of the Keep of Sorrows.

He frowned as he thought of the impending attack. Nymar, fool that he was, had then gotten himself captured, tortured, and killed by the elf Sirien and his companion Alice in the Tam estate. Nymar had apparently let it slip that the attack against the Keep of Sorrows was imminent, as Malark Springhill had predicted when he had approached Sirien and Alice about the grisly deed. Unfortunately, Nymar had not been given the chance to switch sides as planned since Sirien’s blade through his skull prevented that. As with all leaders of the Vengeful, Buvaar refused to intervene with their deaths to keep them motivated and Nymar passed on to meet his new and unforgiving master in person: Velsharoon.

But now the zulkirs were aware of the attack on the Keep of Sorrows after Alice’s message to them. Now it was left to his commanders and Taraska to show them the true fury of the Vengeful.

[Balanor]

The meeting had gone well, thought Samas Kul. The Crossroads Inn of Tyraturos even had decent enough food, which had helped.

He had met with several Red Wizards including Kessa, Ihsahn, and Zulkir Greyhand as well as the Tharchioness Melody Singer who were attended by the Thayan Knight Nikos, Melanna, and Melaa. After some strange happenings, the Thayan Knight Anastahia and the halfling Indy stood guard nearby the Inn and the nearby manor in which the evocation wizards had met.

Throughout the course of his meal, Kul gathered what remaining components had been found -too few to equip everyone he had hoped would be ready for the planned counter attack, unfortunately- and discussed with those gathered a course of action. The wizards there wanted to entreat the Simbul for aid against the Vengeful, while he pressed his idea to retake the city of Bezantur and stronghold of Ythazz Buvaar.

It was decided that the Keep of Sorrows would be only lightly reinforced with key heroes and allies that could easily escape should the worst come to pass. The stronghold was well positioned to defend against an attack or siege, and to avoid any ambush, it was better if the majority of reinforcements were on open ground should a retreat be necessary.

Kul further explained his idea, which he had already convinced virtually all the temple leaders in the city of Bezantur to assist with, to gather at the High Road Escarpment in preparation for an assault against the city of Bezantur. He felt that with his wands and their divine powers, the city could be easily take and held so forays could more easily be made into the City Tombs and maybe even find the demi-lich’s phylactery. However, those at the High Road Escarpment would wait with their counter-attack to coincide with what appeared to be an impending attack on the Keep of Sorrows - and would not commit until the Vengeful’s undead forces were throwing themselves at the walls of the castle. But with each of the High Priests equipped with one of the transmuters bone wands, what could possibly go wrong?

It would be a momentous day. Of that he had no doubt.

[Aurora Silverwolf]

The battle at the Keep had not gone well .. the Legionnaires being dispatched by creatures of the like never encountered .. War, Famine, Pestulliance ravaged the defenders. Eventually the Generals of the Enemy coming .. after a pitched battle and greater losses the defenders were forced to flee to the safety of the Escarpment.

The High Priest and Priestesses ready with the wands that would supposedly turn the tide of the battle in the favor of the defenders.

Samus the leader demonstrating the wands power. Then it was time the undead hoards were upon them ...

At first the battle went well

Anastashia like a true Thayan Knight fought despite the odds .. seeing a glimmer of hope .. till the enemies generals appeared .. Taraska Traynor, The shadow Alice Blackstone, and Others .. The priests/priestesses dead by treachery .. no salvation for the defenders ...

Taraska struck down Anastashia at the start, her comrades healing her and her jumping back into the battle .. only to finally fall for the final time when most were dead .. killed by one of the invincible stone undead ... the other undead taking down defenders one by one .. till the remaining fled in retreat .. Anastashia lay dying on the ground .. left after a failed attempt by Maurin Greyhand to take her failing body from the battle. Succeeding in only saving Malark and Azura. The shadow of Alice Blackstone and Karaz Dragon, former Legionnaire torturing and tormenting the fading Anastashia ..

Her fading form being raked with fire by Karaz, Alice expertly torturing her mind and taunting her telling her she had been abandoned, not worth saving .. tormenting her as she faded her feeling the flames from Karaz. Only human and weakend by the previous battle too weak to long stand against the shadows manipulations .. Alice and Karaz continuing to torment and torture her. Anastashia struggling to continue fighting mind filled with regrets at her failure in protecting Melaa or the Reds .. harshly remembering the words of the Red Wizard Ihsahn calling her useless and blaming her for the disappearance of his slave Melaa. Alice using this against her to break her will and resistance. The pain doubts filling her mind and wondering why she had been left behind, was she truely useless to them, a failure ...as she finally slipped into the fugue .. her mind still filled with the pain of her fading body .. almost mad with the pain Alices work done ..

Her only too human will broken finally by the torment and pain caused by Alices expert manipulations knowing just how to attack her mind and weaken it. Ana still new as a Knight .. Her broken finally as she in her torment disobeyed the orders of the Red Ihsahn .. numbly taking the offer for the pain to be taken away by accepting undeath and returning to serve Buvaar and Velsharoon .. So maddened with pain and the feeling of abandonment and failure she accepted .. her being transformed into a horrific Doom Knight.

Upon her return to the realm as undead she was met by Mirbela one of Buvaars generals, welcoming her to the ranks.

(( This was a fantastic event well enjoyed ... and it is noted that was unable to actually speak while dead so this would have been RPed as she was taunted and tormented by them :) ))

Thanks again Thayan and all the other DMs for a fantastic event tonight was outstanding

[Balanor]

There was only one word she could think of.

Disaster.

From the plains below the Keep of Sorrows, and then from the top of the High Road Escarpment, the Simbul had watched as the remaining zulkirs of Thay and their seemingly-immortal enemies tore themselves apart.

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The zulkirs and selected heroes and mercenaries gathered at the Keep of Sorrows in an effort to defend it. They were led by and included Zulkir Maurin Greyhand, Sabel Aerlian, Ihsahn, Melaa ShadowRaven, Elliana Sendry, Melanna Jindaern, Anastashia Shadoe, Calhoun Mahr, Kalis Kurm, Malark Greycastle, and Ardin Riley. While the defense of the Keep was being organized, zulkirs Samas Kul and Lauzoril along with virtually all the High Priests of ‘The City of a Thousand Temples’, prepared a counterattack to be launched from the High Road Escarpment.

However, the Vengeful also sent some of their strongest agents to assault the Keep, led by the now-undead general Taraska Traynor, Karaz Dragonheart, Alice Blackstone, Mirabela Ebonheart, and Red Wizard-turned-Vengeful Sargatha.

The battle at the Keep went well for the defenders to start with as Taraska ordered her lesser undead to attack in an attempt to wear down the defenders of spells, ammunition, and maybe get lucky enough to bring down a couple legionnaires. Eventually dispatched, she continually began launching more powerful undead at the Keep until finally unleashing some of the Vengeful most powerful undead: Pestilence, War, and Famine. The gate was breached and utter chaos ensued as the powerful agents of the Vengeful poured forth to battle the forces of the zulkirs. The zulkirs held firm and even dispatched the agents several times - but they were all to arise shortly thereafter and resume the attack!

Having watched the battle from afar and realizing that the Keep was lost, yet realizing the heroes there could be useful to augment the assault from the High Road Escarpment, the zulkir Lauzoril ported into the Keep and opened a portal for the defenders to escape to the High Road marshalling point. Despite the fact that Alice slipped through the portal as well and caused some problems, the zulkirs and their allies were able to regroup.

While back at the Keep of Sorrows, the Vengeful undead and Sargatha had captured Melaa - who then escaped through the use of a recall stone. In a fury befitting the name they held, the Vengeful proceeded to wipe out any other living combatants, taking no prisoners, and took control of the fortress. Drawn by the power of their master, the leaders of the force were then transported to a smaller battalion of undead just north of Bezantur in preparation to lead a pre-emptive strike against the zulkirs and their allies gathering to the north of their position.

Taraska, leading the forces, charged forward to encounter Samas Kul and others at the southern edge of the zulkir force. Using one of his transmuters bone wands, he simply pointed it at the ferocious Taraska and with a command word she disintegrated to nothingness! Buoyed by the apparent success of the wands, the zulkirs tried leading the undead into the jaws of the assembled priestly army. Very quickly, the undead were turned to statues or simply disintegrated and disappeared as the wands were used on them.

However, it was only when the forces were fully engaged with each other that Samas Kul revealed his ultimate treachery. With a command word, apparently spoken overeagerly and before he intended to, the bone wands in the possession of all the priests exploded with tremendous force, reducing each of them to ash - including those given to the faithful priests Elliana and Ardin! But quick to react, Lauzoril called for aid and sought to bring down Kul for his treachery. In the following mayhem, Mirabela strode up and calling forth with the power of her new god simply struck Lauzoril dead!

Samas Kul continued to fight for his life, but his impatience had cost him what advantage he had. And under a storm of magic and blows by the remaining defenders around him, he was literally torn apart!

By this point though, the escarpment was overrun by undead. The statues of undead created by the wands still moved - and were now indestructible! Undead poured up the escarpment without even any regular priestly power to help stop them. One-by-one the zulkir’s allies fell: Malark, Azura, Anastashia, Melanna, and even the enigmatic Calhoun. Shattered and demoralized, the defenders ran or teleported from the battle in a rout as the Vengeful agents and their undead allies wiped out any remaining survivors that lingered.

Were it not for the heroism of Zulkir Greyhand - Azura, Malark, and Melanna all would have passed on in death or joined the Vengeful that day. As it were, he was unable to save Calhoun and Anastashia - and both rose from the dead to join and augment the forces of the Vengeful undead, as did countless other legionnaires in the Keep of Sorrows.

It was an unprecedented disaster for the Zulkirs of Thay.

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For a moment the Simbul almost felt sorry for the zulkirs and their allies with the terrible losses they had suffered. They had at least rooted out perhaps the worst traitor in their midst with the death of Samas Kul. But his actions, and that of the other Vengeful, that day had lost them the Keep of Sorrows, the High Road Escarpment, Zulkir Lauzoril, almost all the High Priests of Bezantur including the priests Elliana and Ardin, and battalions of legionnaires including Calhoun and Anastashia who all rose as undead. But her sympathy only lasted until she remembered the very wickedness at their core. How many who had fought and died, or who fought and survived, had enslaved others? How many had killed another for gold, or just because they could for no good reason? How many actually cared about anyone other than themselves and the power they thought they wielded? How many had just stood by watching and growing jaded to all the evil in this land without doing anything to change it?

They deserve this, she thought grimly. They deserve all of this for what they are, all the evil they have caused, and all they represent. They deserve this eternal damnation.

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An aspect of the god Mask lay as a shadow on the edge of Dweomerheart, the domain of Mystra. He had watched and waited for some time after accepting the challenge from the goddess Shar. It was almost time. He now knew what was needed to succeed.

Curiously, the prayer from a priestess of moderate power reached this aspect of him despite the fact he had others dealing with prayers from his faithful. Ira Ravenheart of his temple in some minor kingdom in Toril was offering up a solemn prayer to him since all the other priests of her insignificant city had been destroyed and his temple there now stood supreme. For the briefest of moments he thought to acknowledge he had heard her through a sign or even some shadowy magic to aid her, but then the moment passed as he closed out her voice and all other distractions from his mind.

He had a goddess to kill.

[Pluto]

“You are all DAMNED!”

Those were the words the Master Sergeant had said to her after she had declared herself the new Tribune of the Priador and sent him packing with that declaration to Ihsahn. She smiled at his defiance. She would keep him around long enough to see that there would be no salvation for himself or his city of Bezantur. And then, when it was all done and the opposition destroyed, she would see to it personally that he be remade into one of the undead of the growing legion of her Lord.

Mirabela came here often now, to the High Road Escarpment, to watch the crows feast on the bodies of her foes from the back of her nightmare steed. Following the battle, she had instructed her trusted Shadow to a twofold task of delivering the body of Zulkir Lauzoril to Ihsahn’s doorstep and to see to it that the bodies –those that were not turned to ash by their tainted wands— were all impaled on spears along the High Road from here to Tyraturos to serve as reminder that death comes for them all.

She laughed wickedly. Ihsahn must be beside himself with rage.

She had begged her Lord for permission to seek the Red Wizard and his allies out and speak His terrible name to them all, to watch the darkness grow around their bodies until the light of their lives was no more!

But, He had caressed her cheek with His skeletal hand and soothingly told her to have patience. That it was not their time, but soon. Her Vaunted Lord was wise in all things, His whispers of power most seductive. She was a fool to deny Him for as long as she had and forever gracious that He was forgiving of her slight.

The battle had seen many join her Lord’s cause. The Shadow was once Alice Blackstone, a trusted spy of Ihsahn’s. Now she served the Vengeful willingly, perhaps she as well had some grudge to settle with the Red Wizard, something that transcended even death that she felt had to be done, a score to be settled.

Calhoun Maher, upon his transformation, was only concerned with the need to hunt. She had given him direction to hunt the Red Wizards and their allies now and find good sport in it. His eagerness to perform this task was evident, as he immediately set out to do so.

Karaz Dragonheart seemed to be adapting to his transformation, even though at times she did note some remorse over his choice. This will have to be addressed, she reminded herself, like she did with the last recruit.

Anastashia Shadoe was horribly conflicted over her transformation; she was concerned about the safety of her children and about her status as a Thayan Knight. Of the first, she was informed that she can never die and will now always be there to protect her children. Of the last, she was informed that she now served Ythazz Buvaar, the one true Zulkir and founder of Thay and that no other knight could boast such a claim. Furthermore, she was told that meant any other Knight that did not serve the Vengeful was a false one and should be put to the sword for their arrogance. Mirabela tasked her with doing so and she eagerly accepted the order.

Mirabela reflected and smirked; she honestly did not care for any of them. As far as she could tell they only joined the Vengeful in undeath out of a fear of being forever dead. How little esteem they must have held for their false gods to chose such an existence. They were not true believers of her Lord like she was, but they would be useful tools to deliver His Name nonetheless. The only one she held in regard was Sargatha, who --like herself—had made the decision of servitude before the embarrassment of death.

Mirabela gazed upon the Escarpment battlefield, the putrid sight and smell of death pleasant to her senses, and sighed. She nudged her steed and rode back to Bezantur slowly. There was much work to be done.

“You are all DAMNED!”

Why did the words of the Master Sergeant keep coming back to her now?

[Aurora Silverwolf]

Anastashia met MIrabela in the crypts before the coffin of Buvaar .. her confused perhaps hesitant over what had happened to her ... fallen in battle, her body prevented from being recovered .. She spoke of the torment and torture Alice had done to her almost regretful of what she had become ..

In the end falling to the darkness having lost hope them using her greatest fear upon her ... that of being abandoned and left to die alone by her comrades as her parents had abandoned her so long ago .. it being her greatest and only weakness next to her children. It finally breaking her will to fight anymore.

Part of her old self still surviving within the hulking Doom Knight fighting against the growing darkness within her as the Geas of Buvaar took hold of her .. She was hesitant of telling Mirabela of her children .. hidden away. She listened to the general ... as Mirabela told her she was first among Knights in service to Buvaar.

Though part of her still survived she could do little else than nod and obey as the orders were given for her to find and slay any Knights having not sworn to Buvaar. Placing their heads upon the pikes outside the city .. as stark warning to all . Though perhaps a spark of hope remained in her mind in that small part of her that survived the change a small glimmer of hope that she could resist the Geas upon her soul... perhaps somehow help her comrades. She had after all been convincing when telling the General she knew nothing of Ihsahn or Maurin ...

[Hawke]

As Malark walks the Fugue, staring around he sees Brianna smiling sweetly. He takes a moment to cuss as loud as he can before thinking to himself. "I can already hear Hoar laughing at me.."

This is where he will wait, and eventually become part of the Wall of the Faithless.

[zDarkShadowz]

Karaz, or whatever is left of him, sits tinkering in Nethjet, managing to forge his blade so that, not only does it pulse vibrations upon contact, he can slash it through the air once per day, unleashing a sonic burst into the nearby crates with a resounding crack. He looks over the blade, before feeling a prickling sensation, as if he's being watched. Thinking nothing of it, he refines his shield a little more, before turning to the sound of a door closing...

...Battered and bloodied in a matter of moments, the doom knight manages to fumble and crush a Stone of Recall, sending him pivoting through a vortex to his escape. He then quickly finds the nearest caravan, dumping the required fat sum of gold into the Caravan Master's hands as she sends him on his way to Bezantur...

... and then the voices came. Ihsahn, taunting him with scrying magic and sending spells... and so the doom knight ran. All the way to Thalgard Keep, and when he found his way was blocked, to Tyraturos... and stops. He flicks his worn-out, decay-smelling pack in front of himself, and pulls out a small, white rock he had picked up from the fallen corpse of Greycastle.
"Yes... I can get 'some' revenge, at least..."
He dashes forth towards Ihsahns manor, and using the gem, unlocks the door easily, and begins pillaging everything not nailed down. Breaking doors in, the wood splintering under his heels, he manages to find a few minor artifacts, although the merchant nearby stubbornly holds on to whatever Ihsahn entrusted him with.

"His death will probably signal Ihsahn as to my location, anyway..." Karaz ponders, and leaves the merchant alone, progressing through kitchens, alchemy labs, and raiding Ihsahn's stash of wine.

"This will teach you for sending assassins, and then being foolish enough to reveal your identity..." Muttering to himself.

His pack full of spoils, he departs as soon as he can, still no further signs of the assassins. Heading east, he makes his way through to Pyarados, and, still feeling that uncanny prickling sensation, dives into the Tymoran Temple, dashing into the portal to a location even he knows not where...

[Aurora Silverwolf]

The Doom Knight Anastashia Shadoe hunted the crypts with a hunger to kill the undead there quelling her rage by doing so ... she felt the prickling at the back of her neck and returned to hunting ...

Snarling and looking around as she heard the voice of Ihsahn in her mind .. tormenting her .. telling her that her betrayal would never be forgiven.

Suddenly her name rang out behind her it was Admiral Rand Gallin ... and his wife Kalinda .. It was an ambush the voice of her former mentor meant to occupy her till they pinpointed her location and teleported to her attacking her ...

Though she was undead and the geas upon her from buvaar and velsharoon made her burn with hatred and rage of the living ... the part of ana that survived managed to force the great hulk of a doom knight she had become to remain still ... to not fight her former comarade and friend. Instead taking a near to death beating .. The small spark of her soul remaining in her taking great solice in overcoming the geas upon her soul enough to keep from hurting anyone ..

In fact reports would have been passed around that a hulking Doom Knight had been aided newcommers .. her giving them gold and treasure from the crypts to aid them warning the away from the city.

One such she helped was a small hin named Craft giving him gold to take the caravan and leave the city.

Yet the beating did take it's toll on her soul weakening it ... yet she survived still ... fighting still .. a small glimmer of hope within the seething mass of undead flesh

---

---

Anastashia hunting the crypts of benthezur as usual was suddenly pulled away to find herself within murbant .. an old man claiming to be with Velsharoon giving she and Karaz orders to delay the coming force as long as possible.

She tool her orders in stride the geas forcing her to do so .. her taking her post on East Road awaiting the coming army.

Suddenly they attacked ... the undead fell in droves ... Ana herself as well as the General Mirabela and Karaz .. her awakening within a cell when she came back.

The old man had betrayed them! How was it possible for him to have overcome the Geas of Velsharoon? Interest piqued she listened ...

As the old man told his tale her interest grew ... then suddenly the wizards there performed a spell ... releasing the old man temporarily from the evil Geas ... The spell had unforseen effects in that it temporarily took off the geas from Anastashia as well ...

She bided her time waiting for the chance as she listened to the old mans tale then when least expected she turned singing out *FOR THAY* striking at velsharoons general Mirabela .. turning against all the undead of velsharoon .. saying she would not live like this and her showing her Thayan loyalty in one last sacrifice ... Knowing that no matter what she would never be forgiven for falling and rising as undead in the eyes of Ishahn ... forever damned still she had to try. Her knowing that she could not overcome Mirabela and that when she fell this time it would be final ... She knew from the moment the Geas was lifted that she would die the final death and be granted oblivion.

As she fell .. she smiled to herself .. *free at last she thought as darkness and mask finally welcomed her. Her final sacrifice not grand or glorious, perhaps she thought not even noticed having already been damned .. and unforgiven by the ones she called friends .. Her having saved at least her soul from Velsharoon and perhaps she thought smiling as she faded into oblivion .. perhaps given hope that the evil that was Velsharoon and Buvaar could be overcome and defeated and Thay saved as she went to her final rest in oblivion.

((OOC)) As always was a blast Thayan and all the other DMs involved .. thanks for letting me have Ana go out as a Good Guy fighting the good fight and renewing her gods faith in her ... Perhaps she will reappear for the final battle for thay if Mask Allows hehe aka if thayan wishes to revive her for one final fight for the fate of thay XD .. *chuckles* regardless was fun thank you all .