THE HISTORY OF THE COUATL

GUARDIANS OF THE SILVER TREE

ADVENTURE THIRTY ONE

“Return to Kharzho”

Characters:

Amren : Prophet of the Silver Tree; Couatl; Guardian.

Toki: Warrior, Psionicist, Couatl, Guardian.

Dovinyae: Paladin, Former Druid, Couatl, Guardian.

Ragnar Silverbeard : Rune Caster, Couatl, Guardian.

Pogo: A jester with a monkey

Neb Rekhis: Priest of the Silver Tree

The Time : 8th Age, 6th Year, 21st through 24th of Ankou (summer)

The Places: Atman Tor (Lamapacher), Kharzho (Drychtnoth)

Notes on Kharzho:

The capital city of Althenratok is Kharzho. Kharzho, with the Kharzhon Palace, is one of the magical foci of the world. Magic here is cast as if the caster is two levels higher and magic resistance is lowered by 20%. The only exception is Divination magic. It is cast as if 5 levels higher and magic resistance is 50%. This is similar to the other magical foci in the world of Inzeladun (Atman Tor [enchantment/charm or song]; The Tower Site [Evocation]; Golgaryllgar [Necromancy]; Hrothton [conjuration/summoning]; Latipac City [Alteration]; Catemar [Illusion]; and the Mountain of the God Men [Abjuration]).

In Kharzho, one can buy the rare Blue Lotus drug. This is a Dream drug that allows the mind to fully enter Dream World. Also there is another dream drug, more potent than the lotus, it can bring one bodily into dreamworld. This is the bark of the dreamwillow tree. There is only one dream willow tree left in the world and it is protected by Kharzho Palace.

The Guardians went to Atman Tor and sought an audience with Isaxar the Vile. The Black Pyramid was partially constructed, but no more work seemed to be done on it. The Guardians, after spending five days in dreamland, arrived at Atman Tor and appeared in the river and put in. They were given audience. Isaxar, dressed in white, gave them permission to attack Kharzho and restore it. Isaxar introduced them to an Elven emmissary from Neria. The Elf agreed to accompany the Guardians. Toki was chosen to join Isaxar’s new advisory Council and the Guardians agreed to rule Kharzho as part of the Drychtnothian Empire. Ragnar used a lore rune and found out a lot about the Pyramid and that Isaxar might be planning to become a dragon king. Isaxar said he was becoming Avangion now. The Guardians talked with Isaxar about the idea of the Silver Robes. Isaxar liked the ideas put forth.

The Guardians went to Atman Tor and scouted it out. Pogo went into the palace at Kharzho and saw Thosan talking to some of the ranking slaves. Pogo, of course, went completely undetected. Everytime the Elf or one of the Guardians attempted to enter the city, the demonic guardians would attack them.

The city was a nightmare town, black, broken and evil. Dovinyae went to the black obsidian pyramid that was being constructed and attempted to break the spell that was enchanting the slaves. Dovinyae was attacked by most of the town’s guardians.

The rest of the Couatl went into the city and battled the remaining. Dovinyae figured out the true use of the Dreamslayer and defeated his foes, and sent a golden dragon to slay the evil dream dragons that Thosan sent after the Couatl. Ragnar found Thosan and threw his Hammer’s of Thunderbolts and slew the oineromancer.

The Guardians of the Silver Tree freed the slaves and the town of Kharzho began to rebuild itself. The beautiful spires and the crystiline structures were recreated. The town was renewed under the leadership of the Guardians.

On the gate, once again, was a greeting to all newcomers.

Welcome to Kharzho

We’ll show you things

That in your life

You’d never thought you’d know.

So now, before the ghosts arrive,

It’s welcome to Kharzho.

Minstrels, kings, explorers

Fantasies on order

Ghosts and dreams awakened

Stories long forsakened

The minstrel and the sorcerer

Are switching their disguise

The jester drinks and starts to think

That he alone is wise.

The warlord and psionicist

Exchange a lover’s kiss

And now, before the tale is done,

The plot begins to twist.

Ghosts and lost explorers

Fate with all her daughters

Saints and helpless sinners

Wise men in their winters

Know

Welcome to Kharzho

The Characters were awarded 10,000 exp.

Current Events :

Thosan: The most powerful oineromancer in the known world. Thosan is a member of the Council of Warlords. As an archmage, his powers are formidable. Generally he disagrees with Isaxar, the head of the Council, on most matters of method, but he does respect his leader’s results. Thosan reintroduced oineromancy to the world, discovering it among ancient Angustian writings hidden deep in a Sprakxorclerat library of antiquities during his days as a student at the Imperial School of War. He was born in 7 VI (seventh year, sixth age), which makes him 58 years old as of this date (6 VIII).

Thosan served King Mykez for six months after he left the school. Thosan then served King Kethigan II of Althenratok for seventeen years (29 VI through 46 VI). Thosan discovered the dream willow trees growing there amidst the well-known, but rare, blue lotus. He used the armies of Kharzho, Althenratok’s capital, to create a larger, more lucrative, kingdom out of the little thing he was in charge of, conquering eleven baronies, enslaving thousands to build Kharzho to a city of great defensive strength. Grindill, still wanting to destroy the Red Robes, managed to destroy the dream willow groves. Thosan saved one tree and built the new Kharzhon Palace around it. Thosan used his considerable powers to directly threaten the archmage demigod in an attempt to stop Grindill from further attempts to destroy the dream willow. Grindill wisely heeded the threat and never again tried to gain access to the last dream willow tree.

After seventeen years of loyal service, Thosan achieved Arch-Mage status and was offered a position on the Council of Warlords by Isaxar in 46 VI (19 years ago). Thosan accepted the offer and left Kharzho. He first served High King Andoriax VI, then the Council ruled Drychtnoth for 11 years. Then he served High King Fraz Urb Luu for three years, Emperor Grimhelm for a year, and then the Council ruled alone again for the past two years, per Grimhelm’s command.

When Sprakxorclerat was destroyed by Thigru and Yam ibn Saud, Thosan left with the remaining ten Council members, headed for the Outer Planes of Existence. Led by Isaxar the Vile, they began new metaphysical training. They were aided considerably by the Lord of Magic, Hitenno Tomodachi.

Thosan has recently returned to Inzeladun, hoping to have a shot at forever ending the magical tyranny of Grindill. He has begun building an onyx pyramid in his old home of Kharzho. He is not pleased with the development of Kharzho since he left it years ago.

Notes on Isaxar: