ILLITHID
SLAYER CHRONICLES
Volume VI
A
Goal Achieved
200 More to Go
(Written by Donald Sutcliffe and Vincent Darlage)
The Cast
Zografos, Lord Domnhall of Alisander – Human Penumbral Lord
Cerlyn Ilphu – Drow Assassin (NPC)
Saaden – Drow Illithid-Slayer (NPC)
Varnkesir – Drow Illithid-Hunter (NPC)
Daquinquar – Drow Telepath
Zografos and Daquinquar made it across the
city of
After a brief glance over the graveyard Zografos asked the little
dragon "OK, little one, where to now?"
"To the mausoleum to the left," replied the dragon. It
was a large, foreboding structure made of white marble, and protected by a black,
wrought iron gate. Instead of wasting time with a solidly rusted lock, Zografos
and Daq climbed over the gate. The dragon said, "You
need to go into the tomb and open the central coffin." Zografos entered
the tomb of the family Chramas and removed the stone lid from the center stone
coffin. Within was a wooden coffin with the name Aeryella written on it. Zografos
and Daq removed the coffin to get access to the stone plug underneath. With
a little effort, Daq and Zografos were able to move the plug aside. Underneath
was a stairway leading down into darkness.
Zografos peered down the hole to see what he could and then jumped
in and started down the stairs. Daq followed glad that there was no sunlight
down here. They entered a realm of shadows, which Zografos thought was a good
sign. The stairs spiraled down and a rumble rose up from beneath. A very deep
voice said, "Come no further!" Zografos halted. Zografos looking
into the shadows could only see a large shadowy tail. "Why have you come
down here?" the deep voice boomed.
"I have come to negotiate. I made a deal with the
"Come down, but come down slowly. Have no weapons in your
hands." Zografos and Daq went down the rest of the stairs and was approached
by a very large dragon. Its scales were translucent and shadowy, and rippled
as it moved, as if it were a shadow flitting amongst shades. "You have brought me a child as
a sacrifice?"
Zografos shook his head in the negative. "No, I was not sure
what the temple had offered you. I think what I have to offer would be much
better."
"Excellent. What do you have to offer me?"
"The Book of Tallon, the 6th chapter specifically.
One that is supposed to give great power to dragons who read it."
"I am not sure I want to be a 'mount' for some mortal. You
wouldn't want to be ridden by a smaller creature, would you?"
"You could say, I am already a mount." Zografos moved
aside his cloak to reveal the small dragon that was always with him nowadays.
The large dragon laughed. "HA! If you consent to be a mount
to a dragon, then who am I to refuse to be your mount! I accept your offer."
"Excellent!" Changing the subject now that he had a mount,
Zografos asked, "Were you at the temple when it was burned?"
"No. They were too smart to put us there. They figured that
would be the first place you would look if you chose to double cross them."
"Tonight, we will get some answers about that. Once it turned
dark we will be flying towards Talishar."
"Very well."
"Do you need me to bring anything when I return?"
"No. Well, except for your end of the bargain." Zografos
pulled the book of Talon out of his pack and gave it to the dragon then. The
dragon smiled and took the book.
Zografos was wary of staying with the dragons and didn't want Daq at his residence.
Zografos and Daq sneaked back to the burnt out temple to spend out the rest
of the daylight hours. Zografos was surprised to find Saaden and Varn still
at the temple.
"Were you successful?" asked Saaden. "Will Cerlyn
be raised?"
"I was successful in gaining a dragon mount. He will fly me
to Alexander," responded Zografos.
"Us, too?"
"I did not think you would still be here. I was only negotiating
a mount for myself."
"Where did you expect us to go?"
"I was expecting that you would return to your city like you
were talking about. I will see what I can do." Zografos returned to the
dragon.
The dragon asked, "You are ready now?"
"Not exactly... I have a request," replied Zografos.
"Would three ladies be able to accompany me tonight?"
"Don't treat me like a horse," the dragon warned. "I
am not something for you to show off to impress the ladies."
"They would be willing to pay you for your trouble," countered
Zografos, attempting to soothe the large beast, thinking I don't need a dragon
to impress the ladies.
"Very well, then. When will you have them here?"
"Just after dusk," Zografos returned to the temple and
informed the ladies that they had a ride. They rested until dusk and went to
Kepeskversvesh and his mate, where they promptly mounted the two large dragons
and flew towards Talishar. In a few short hours they caught up to Alexander
and the rest of the group, who had been traveling for 3 days now. The dragons
silently landed a few hundred yards away from where Alexander and the others
were camped.
Zografos chuckled silently. "He would not, if we killed
Varn agreed that such was a good plan.
"We can take this Alexander person with us to our city, and they will torture
him until he does our bidding."
"If he has the power to raise people to life, don't you think
he has the power to resist torture?" asked Zografos. Zografos stepped
out in plain site and began walking towards the campers before the drow actually
tried to act on their suggestions.
"How did you know I was with the drow?" asked Zografos.
"Divination Magic" replied
"The drow are the reason I am here. I need Alexander's help."
"I am sure he will give it. I will wake him." Zografos
was glad that
"What help do you need?" Alexander asked Zografos.
"One of my battle companions fell, while we were attacking
an elder brain. I was wondering if you could raise her."
"Remember, it is not I who has the power to raise the dead.
It is only through the gods that you were raised. I must inquire to Athena if
she is willing to ask her uncle to do such a thing again. Allow me to ask Athena
what is required of us before we can petition such a boon once again."
Zografos crossed his arms, hiding the ring and finger from view, and waited
patiently. He wondered if
Alexander cast Commune and asked Athena, "What must
be done for you and Hades to raise Zografos' ally in the battle against the
illithids?"
Athena replied to Alexander, "Since Zografos is one of my champions,
and doing my design, we will allow the resurrection, however, it will cause
bad blood between our people and the Drow. The Demon Queen of Spiders will
not like this, but I think my Uncle can affect this without her immediate notice.
Sacrifice a goat that has been poisoned by a spider. This should give dark Hades
the path to the Drow underworld so he might command her return for you."
"Where can I find this goat?"
"Be warned that while we may be able to avert the Demon Queen's
attention for you this time, this will likely be the only time. Seek the goat
a half mile to the east. Find a spider twelve feet to the south of you."
Zografos ran off and retrieved the goat and Alexander caught the spider. Zografos
returned with the goat and then retrieved Cerlyn's body from the woods.
"Place her body under the neck of the goat. What is her name?"
asked Alexander. Alexander released the spider on the goat's back and it immediately
bit the goat. The goat stumbled and started to die.
"Cerlyn," answered Zografos.
Alexander slit the animal's neck with his short sword and said "Rise
anew Cerlyn, Illithid hunter, you have been bathed in poisoned blood holy to
the lord of the dead. You have been restored by the power of Hades and you are
to give him a path in return for you life." Cerlyn opened her eyes. "Remember
that Hades be also the lord of oaths and you must swear to him to spend this
second life destroying the Illithids or you will be returned to him."
Cerlyn nodded her head, wondering why so many humans were around
her. Her eyes made Alexander feel uncomfortable as sheer hate seemed to reflect
from them. She stretched out her fingers. She saw Zografos and asked, "Lord
Domnhall, how am I here? Why did we flee from the illithids?" Zografos
began pulling on Cerlyn, trying to escort her into the woods before she could
start attacking the other humans.
"Tell me of your recent victory, Zografos, if you have the
time to take from your holy quest." Said Alexander.
"You were killed. Alexander raised you." Zografos told
Cerlyn, still trying to pull her into the woods to keep her from harming the
other humans.
"Killed? Then we lost? If I am dead, then where are we?"
asked Cerlyn, puzzled at her current situation.
Zografos told Alexander, "We killed an elderbrain and the two
hundred mindflayers with it."
"I am sure Athena is pleased with your victory. May she grant
you wisdom and strength for those that are still ahead."
"Listen, woman." Zografos yelled at Cerlyn. "You
died. We killed the flayers and the brain and then wasted several days traveling
here to bring your ungrateful ass back to life." With her questions answered,
Cerlyn allowed Zografos to lead her into the woods. Soon after they were seen
rising into the sky on the back of shadowy dragons, flying towards Alisander.
Zografos mumbled and cursed about the Drow's inborn hatred of everything and
not having the chance to have tea with the campers and other things such as
that that popped into his mind. He did this in Orcish so that the drow wouldn't
understand what he was saying. Even though he was angry with them at the moment,
he wasn't ready to put a larger rift between himself and the drow, not until
all of the mindflayers were dead at least….
Kepeskversvesh,
Old Shadow Dragon: CR 17, huge dragon; HD 25d12+125; hp 287; Initiative:
+8 (Imp. Init.); Spd 80 ft, fly 150 ft. (poor); AC 40 (flatfooted 36, touch
12); Attack +31 (2d8+9 bite) and +26/+26 (2d6+4 claw/claw) and +26/+26 (1d8/1d8+4
wing/wing) and +26 (2d6+6 tail slap) and +26 (2d8+6 crush) or Breath Weapon
(50 ft. Cone, 5 negative levels, DC 29); SR 27; Special Qualities: Dragon fear,
Energy drain immunity, Shadow Blend, DR 10/+1, Mirror Image, Dimension door,
Nondetection; AL CE; SV Fort +19, Ref +18, Will +21; Str 28,
Dex 18, Con 21, Int 24, Wis 24, Cha 25.
Skills: Listen +32, Spot +32, Search +32, Bluff +32, Appraise +32, Knowledge
(Arcana) +32, Concentration +30, Diplomacy +30, Escape Artist +29, Scry +32,
Hide +29, Move Silently +29 Jump +34
Feats: Flyby Attack, Hover, Improved Initiative, Clinging Breath, Rend,
Power Attack, Cleave, Quicken spell-like ability
Sjachrenthisj, Young Female Shadow Dragon: CR 5, small dragon; HD 10d12+10;
hp 75; Initiative: +4 (Imp. Init.); Spd 80 ft, fly 150 ft. (average); AC 28
(flatfooted 24, touch 11); Attack +12 (1d6+1 bite) and +7/+7 (1d4 claw/claw)
or Breath Weapon (20 ft. Cone, 1 negative level, DC 18); SR 15; Special Qualities:
Energy drain immunity, Shadow Blend; AL CE; SV Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +10; Str
13, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 16, Wis 16, Cha 17.
Skills: Listen +13, Spot +13, Search +13, Bluff +13, Appraise +13, Knowledge
(Arcana) +13, Concentration +11, Diplomacy +8, Escape Artist +5, Scry +13
Feats: Flyby Attack, Hover, Improved Initiative
Treasure: wand of lightning bolts, 3rd eye of negate, bracers of
armor +4, crystal armor(left at Zografos' residence for her hoard)
Cerlyn Ilphu, Female drow Rog7/Assassin10: CR 18; ECL 19; Medium-size
Humanoid (elf); HD 17d6+34; hp 93; Init +10; Spd 30 ft; AC 19 (+6 Dex, +5 Armor);
Melee rapier +20/15/10 (1d6+3/crit 18-20), or dagger +16/11/6 (1d4+2/crit 19-20);
Ranged dagger +18 (1d4/crit 19-20); SA death attack, sneak attack, spell-like
abilities, spells; SQ +2 Will save vs. spells or spell-like abilities, +5 save
vs. poison, darkvision 120 ft, evasion, light blindness, poison use, SR 28,
uncanny dodge; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +18, Will +10; Str 15, Dex 22, Con 15,
Int 17, Wis 18, Cha 15.
Skills: Balance +26, Move Silently +26, Hide +36, Read Lips
+9, Bluff +22, Disguise +16, Escape Artist +26, Intimidate +12, Jump +12, Open
Locks +16, Spot +24, Tumble +16 (doesn’t include -1 armor check penalty)
Feats: Improved Initiative, Expertise (Rapier), Quick Draw,
Dodge, Mobility, Improved Critical.
SA–Death Attack: If Cerlyn Ilphu makes a successful sneak attack
after observing the victim for 3 rounds, the victim is killed or paralyzed for
1d6+10 rounds (Fort negates DC 23).
SA–Sneak Attack (Ex): Cerlyn Ilphu deals +9d6 damage against
an opponent with a discernible anatomy who is denied a Dex bonus or is flanked.
SQ–Uncanny Dodge: Dex bonus to AC, can't be flanked, +3 vs.
traps.
Assassin Spells Prepared (-/3/3/3/1):
Equipment: +2 Keen Undead Bane Rapier, +2 Keen Aberration Bane
Dagger, +2 Silk Shadow Armor, Z’henra’s tools (torture kit), 5 doses of Chiff,
7 doses of Medusa poison.
Saaden, Female drow Psychic Warrior 7/Slayer 10: CR 17; ECL 18; Medium-size
Humanoid (elf); HD 17d10+51; hp 155; Init +6; Spd 40 ft; AC 24 (+2 Dex, +7 Armor,
+5 Shield)(28 when hasted); Melee longsword(add an additional +2 vs. aberrations)
+22/17/12 (1d8+12/crit 15-20); SA Favored Enemy (Mind Flayer), Mind Flayer Sense,
Brain Nausea, Lucid Buffer, Cerebral Blind, Breach Power Resistance, Blast Feedback,
Psionic Powers, spell-like abilities; SQ +2 Will save vs. spells or spell-like
abilities, darkvision 120 ft, light blindness, SR 28; AL NE; SV Fort +11, Ref
+8, Will +12; Str 18, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 11.
Skills: Autohypnosis +7, Balance +6, Bluff +7, Climb +8, Concentration
+16, Jump +8, Knowledge (Illithids) +12, Listen +10, Psicraft +9, Sense Motive
+10, Spot +10, Stabilize Self +9, Swim +8, Tumble +8, Use Psionic Device +4,
Wilderness Lore +10 (doesn’t include -1 armor check penalty)
Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (Longsword), Weapon Specialization
(Longsword), Quick Draw, Dodge, Mobility, Improved Critical (Longsword), Power
Attack, Psionic Weapon, Deep Impact, Cleave, Great Cleave, Combat Manifestation,
Speed of Thought
Power Points: 47
Free Level 0 Manifestations Per Day: 14
Psionic Combat Modes: Empty Mind, Thought Shield, Mental Barrier,
Tower of Iron Will
Psionic Powers Discovered (3/3/3/3/2): Burst, Catfall, Detect Psionics,
Biofeedback, Hear Light, Hustle, Body Equilibrium, Levitate, Vigilance, Danger
Sense, Displacement, Improved Biofeedback, Dissolving Touch, Haste
Equipment: +2 Keen Aberration Bane Longsword, +2 Phasing Chainmail
Armor, +2 Large Metal Shield.
Varnkesir, Female drow MCRanger 7/Illithid Hunter 10: CR 18; ECL 19;
Medium-size Humanoid (elf); HD 7d8+10d10+51; hp 158; Init +9; Spd 30 ft; AC
20 (+5 Dex, +5 Armor); Melee longbow (Only BAB and ability modifier, no bonuses
for weapons were added) +22/+17/+12 (1d8+4+1d6 fire) < 30’, Melee longbow
+20/+15/+10/+20 (same dmg – Rapid Shot) < 30’, Ranged longbow +22/+17/+12
(1d8+2+1d6 fire) > 30’, Ranged +20/+15/+10/+20 (same dmg – Rapid Shot) >
30’; SA Rancor +5d6, spells, spell-like abilities; SQ +2 Will save vs. spells
or spell-like abilities, darkvision 120 ft, light blindness, SR 28(53 against
illithids or illithid-kin), Hated Enemy +3 (Illithid), Favored Enemy +2 (Aberrations),
Favored Enemy +1 (Undead), Hated Enemy Damage Reduction 11/- Death Attack; AL
NE; SV Fort +14, Ref +16, Will +10; Str 15, Dex 27, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 16,
Cha 15.
Skills: Climb +6, Concentration +16, Heal +13, Hide +34, Intimidate
+18, Intuit Direction +13, Knowledge (Nature) +14, Listen +23, Move Silently
+34, Search +23, Spot +23, Wilderness Lore +23 (doesn’t include -1 armor check
penalty) (Bonus to Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot and Wilderness Lore – Illithids
+3, Aberrations (minus Illithids) +2, Undead +1)
Feats: Track, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (Longbow), Point
Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Favored Enemy Strike, Favored Enemy Critical Strike,
Greater Resiliency, Rapid Shot, Iron Will.
Ranger Spells (2/1): Alarm, Pass without Trace, Blight Enemies
Equipment: +2 Mighty (15 STR) Composite Longbow of Hunting (+6 vs.
Illithid, +4 vs. Aberrations, +2 vs. Undead within 30’), 30 +2 Flaming Aberration
Bane Arrows, +2 Silent Shadow Studded Leather Armor, Necklace of Favored Enemy
Detection, gloves of dexterity +6