To the Funnels

## Rifts in the Plains

The party regrouped after their venture in the mines, took one last look at the great Dwarven halls, and then headed out to the northeast and out of the mountains. The slopes were steep, and dangerous during their descent into the Athro Valley, but their eyes were fixed upon the red streams in the skies. At least some of the party's eyes. It still appeared that only Freya, Brocktharian and Zak were able to see the streams of red pouring down from the clouds, but the rest of the party had trusted in their friends through many dangerous times already, so the party followed the lead of their friends. The strange red glows also corroborated what Dreamwarden Elyndor Eseyn had indicated had been seen. The party needed to investigate further.

Once on the plains of the Athro Valley, travel was considerably easier. With their target in sight along the distant horizon, the party was able to move much more quickly than in the crags of the Ffydd Mountains. The party was generally unfettered by wildlife or beast on their travels through the valley, yet Freya did notice that there were some tracks of horse folk present along their path. At one point, the tracks of the horse folk seemed to have been joined by some sort of large cat; perhaps a mountain lion, but somehow a bit different. In any event, it seemed that the horse folk and cat were traveling together rather than one being the quarry of the other. These tracks of the horse folk left and rejoined their own trail at times, but a bit later, there were additional tracks observed by Freya that indicated a different group in potentially in pursuit of the horse folk. These tracks were humanoid troops, moving in line akin in manner to Ûr troops from the Mote.

As they progressed through the valley, another glimmer was visible along the horizon line in the distance, not far off of the path on which they and the tracks were heading. As they got closer, everyone in the party could see something strange. It appeared as though there were three different rifts scattered in the plain. All around these rifts, the tracks indicated that this was the battle site between the horse folk and the Ûr. There were tracks heading south from the battle site, but they indicated a smaller horse folk group and the large cat were the only ones present.

A few members of the party approached the rifts a bit closer and now they could see more detail. It appeared that at certain locations on the strange rifts themselves, they could see the symbol of **Ibn-Rex, Suspension**. These strange details increase the party's curiosity, and they moved in closer to set if there was anything else they could espy within the rifts.

As they looked in, they could see images of a battle taking place. The details of the battle weren't incredibly clear, but it appeared that a horse lord was fighting off several of the Ûr . The Ûr were surrounding the horse lord, but the lord was strong, fast and deadly. The battle looked to be mostly in the horse lord's favor, but just as there were only a few of the Ur left, the battle restarted. At the start of each battle, the horse lord would cut off the hand of one of the clerics of the Order and then head away from the rift at great speed, challenging Ûr in the distance. Again and again the party watched the battle, but it would end with nearly the same result, and then restart in the same manner.

## The Inquiry

It was strange for the party to look upon these repeating images. What did they mean? What was going on? Was it past, present or future? Was it something that could happen or did happen? They studied the images in the rifts for a while and determined that nearly the same conclusions were occurring each time, yet why were they different - even if a little? It was bizarre, but then again, so was most anything that was taking place in Eirethune at this time.

Closer observation of these rifts indicated that they were marked with the symbol of **Ibn-Rex, Suspension**. Kazin and Wubba consulted their tomes and determined that this was a common symbol, but not one mentioned in the closing of the Demon Gates hundreds of years ago. Why Ibn-Rex? Another though emerged which indicated how were Ibn-Rex even present on these rifts? In the tomes that Kazin and Wubba had devoured, it seemed that the symbols had been engraved on something around a portal or rift, but in this case, these rifts were floating in the existence of Eirethune. There was something very different here.

Wubba suggested to Zak that he carefully threw something into the rift. Zak did so, but when he did, he was cast immediately into the context of the battle by himself and all of those who were/had been/were to be there. Na'awoorda cut off the hand of a priest of the Order...a priest who seemed familiar to Zak in hindsight. Then the exceedingly quick Na'awoorda moved north, attacking Ur soldier as he went.

Zak attempted to move back through the rift at his back, but it seemed as though the rift was just an image. He moved through as if it wasn't there. He then moved back to attack one of the Ur nearby. Of course, that brought the wrath of some of the Ur near him to him. They attempted to attack while Na'awoorda went north, killing and maiming these Ur as he could. Zak noticed that one of the Ur was singing dirges of horror, which seemed something that he should direct his attention towards, but there was more to be worried about as well.

Next through the portal came Kazin and Freya. As they transitioned, several of the Ur attacked them. Na'awoorda was far to the north fighting even more Ur, yet there was another group, unengaged, who sought both targets north and south. Some went to accost Na'awoorda, while others headed south, including the Dirgein, who sang a song of Dread to shudder Freya to her core.

The party was efficient and skilled at dispatching the lesser Ur warriors, but their focus was more on their leaders. Kazin sought out the Order priest and the Dirgein and transmogrified them into whales for a time, to end their ability to disrupt the party. Freya bashed an Ur and then turned her eyes at a floating Ur Hexer who was descending towards them. Every step towards the Hexer caused Freya pain, probably due to a strange, evil, Symbol above the head of the Hexer; yet what had to be done, needed to be done.

The rest of the party ventured in next. They must all help the Horse Lord destroy these foes. Each member of the party was focused, willing, and proficient in their attempts to destroy the Ur and help the Horse Lord out. There were times when Na'awoorda, or Zak, or Kazin were surrounded by foes, but in each case, the party was able to vanquish these adversaries with great skill.

All was going well, and the party would definitely win the day, but....

They were all cast out and the cycle began again.

As the party looked into the Rift, Na'awoorda fought his way through the Ur again - by himself - winning, but not quite winning.

Although the party was refreshed and determined after their venture into the Rifts, what would they do now?

## No One Left Behind

The party regrouped and considered their options. They were going to try and help the Horse Lord out in the Rift, but they would have to be prepared and enter all together to make sure they could act as swiftly as possible. Swords were sharpened, spells bolstered the party, magic items were tapped, creatures were summoned -- the party was ready and promptly entered.

In similar fashion to what had been seen before, Na'awoorda sliced off the hand of the Order Priest, Kwargoth, and then raced away to the far north, piercing and trampling as he did. Wubba was the first to act on the other side and did so by throwing a fireball at the Ûr Dirgein and some of the berserkers that surrounded him to the northwest. Next, Kazin sprang into action, sending a chaos bolt directly towards the Order Priest again, nearly wiping him out completely.

The Ûr reacted, and pushed south against the party entering through the Rift, but it was for naught. Each of the party burst forth, engaging and defeating the Ûr that stood in their way. Aterean sent his polar bear and giant rat, Fivel XXIII, into the fray, engaging and blocking the Ûr advance towards the casters. Kazin had cast a spell of *Haste* on Freya and Zak, so they sped dramatically past the initial Ûr minions and back towards their leaders. Freya dropped Kwargoth once and for all, while Zak was able to reach the Dirgein, Jador, savagely stabbing him with the Twin Knives of Thubrin, the ancient Dwarven weaponsmith.

The Ûr Hexer, Unda'uur, had hexed several people initially, but was now raising the *Symbol of Exsanguination* above his head, tormenting any foe around him with necrotic wasting. Jador, the Dirgein, throated out a *Pregheira of Pain*, causing wounds to fester and bleed for any of his foes that could hear his deathly tones. The Ûr to the far north had surrounded Na'awoorda, but the Horse Lord summoned a Thorn Hide to protect him as he burst away from the small group, piercing more to the south as he charged. As he approached Zak and Freya, the Horse Lord yelled out, "Keep them away from the portal!".

None of that would matter, however, for the party was quickly destroying the Ûr berserkers who faced them. Each member was fighting fiercely, showing the Ûr that they would be no match for them as long as they could defeat them before the Rift began to repeat its sequence. Na'awoorda dropped another Ûr berserker and raced down next to the portal, shouted told the party to stay close to leave when the portal opened, and then the Horse Lord began an incantation. Kazin and Brynda identified the Horse Lord's rite as some sort of disenchantment spell, and the party began their retreat back to the south.

The party destroyed nearly all of the Ûr, while returning to be near the Rift as Na'awoorda suggested. After a few more seconds, Na'awoorda finished his ritual, causing the symbols of *Ibn'Rex, the Suspension,* to vanish, and the Rift itself to become manifest. Na'awoorda waited along side the portal and waved the party members through. "No one left behind", bellowed the Horse Lord. The party carefully made their way through the portal and as the Horse Lord passed through the Rift, he gave once last snort to the lonely Ûr who would be trapped in the pocket dimension forever.

Na'awoorda, friend to the Beasts of the March and Lord of the Athro Valley Horse Folk, was grateful for the bravery and prowess that the party had shown him. His misery of months of repeated combat was finally over, but now they needed to share whatever information either the Horse Lord or the party had to offer. In addition, once returning from the pocket dimension, each member of the party was now able to see the Red Funnels that loomed and darted about fifty miles to the north, along the rim of the valley.

For the time being, the Horse Lord would be pleased to lend his abilities to the party to help them investigate the funnels. He would need to find and rejoin his people after, but for now, they would travel together to investigate this aberration to their shared worlds.

## Barren Biergen Keep

As the party traveled through the Athro Valley, the looming danger of the red funnels in the sky became ever closer. As the skirted the rim of the West Mote Hills, they finally came upon the location where the red funnel was targeting, the ancient Biergen Keep.

The keep had been evacuated centuries ago, decades after the Demon Wars, when the House of Biergen decided it could no longer support its vanguard location, alone in the upper Athro Valley. Now, however, the keep was apparently home to the red funnels which have plagued this portion of Eirethune due to the corrupting work of the Order of the Silent Fist.

Zak scouted around the keep to see what was going on, and he returned with stories of otherworldly creatures towering on the walls of the keep. It also appeared that these creatures were in direct conflict with the members of the Order and the Ûr who were present at the keep. The party contemplated their options and prepared for an assault. Na'awoorda had learned a ritual of *Haste* which could benefit all who participated. Freya, Kazin, Aterean, Brynda, and Brocktharian all bolstered the party with spells and skills that would benefit their mission. The party then snuck up to the curtain walls near the Main Gate of the Keep and waited for the right moment.

It was Kazin who launched the first blow against the Order and Ûr present at the Gate. He sent out a massive watery sphere, engulfing the foes and sucking them in like some sort of liquid *katamari damacy*. While these foes struggled, it was only too easy for Zak and Na'awoorda to swiftly engage them and end their sorry lives.

The rest of the party followed in suit. Freya, Brocktharian and Hormish quickly advanced and burst into the keep. Aterean had brought out a polar bear and a few giant rats to enter the fray.

Once the party was inside the keep, they could see more of the chaos that was taking place. The Order and Ûr were truly engaged in dire battle with several of the monstrosities that were being summoned in the keep. There were signs of dead everywhere, while the red funnel moved around the keep's towers, causing mayhem and releasing beasts as it moved. A massive, corrupted wooden beast, known as Haroorahk, was destroying all of the Ûr that it faced up on the keep's wall to the east. To the west, a large humanoid beast, the Deedrotch, moved on all fours with webbed claws, manifesting control of magic with every step it took. And straight ahead, a horrifying beast, the Eeklok, used its massive circular mouth of teeth and eight large pseudopods to challenge the several Order and Ûr by the central donjon.

Kazin sent the watery sphere into the ranks of the Order and Ûr who were not yet engaged, out in the center of the front courtyard, restraining them for the present. Brocktharian raced up the stairs to the east, pushing one of the Ûr off the landing in order to engage the massive Haroorahk. Freya engaged the Deedrotch, defeating it in three quick blows. Na'awoorda espied another Eeklok coming around the west side of the central donjon and raced to challenge it. One of the Order monks, Ra'a'need, who had been trapped in the sphere, escaped around the donjon to the east, but before then, she yelled out, *"Get to the Central Keep and destroy the Dreamer's Orb!"*

The party gathered in the front courtyard measuring their options. The Order and Ûr were faltering, the Haroorahk was close to being defeated, but there were still at least five more of these great demonic monstrosities facing them. What was the party to do next?

## Through and Below

These monstrosities were terrifying to all, but it did not stop the party, nor the Ûr, nor Order from forging ahead. These creatures that the funnel was bringing to the Keep served as a focal point between the diverse forces to work at least in part together. Freya surged forth to help Na'awoorda against an Eeklok at the north end of the Keep. There, one of the Ûr Dirgein sang a song of inspiration to help both the Horse Lord and Giantess in their plight against the horrible, multi-clawed, eyeless beast. Along the east of the keep, Hormish, Zak and an Order monk all faced off with the nether plant creature, Hazjareel, who could send its tendrils down into the ground and force them up at long distances away, much to Wubba's surprise! At the southeast end of the keep walls, Brocktharian protected the Order Monk beside him as they both sought to destroy the Uthkarar that advanced on the walls. At the main donjon's courtyard, Ûr berserker, Order monk, Zak and a plethora of Aterean's allies - polar bear, giant rats, satyrs - all converged on the Eeklok guarding the donjon's main doorway. All manner of folk knew that these creatures must be stopped and their differences would be put aside for the present.

After the Eeklok to the northwest was defeated, Freya charged up the wall to assist the Order monks there fighting yet another massive Uthkarar. Unfortunately, the massive beast was able to land a few strong slices into Freya, sending her reeling and forcing her to disengage while treating her wounds. At the southwest, the funnel deposited yet another Eeklok on the walls, and it was Hormish who was pierced and gnawed upon - knocking Eeklok unconscious until Aterean could get the chance to heal him.

Fortunately, however, the battle at the donjon was turning in the party's favor. The satyrs and Zak finished off the Eeklok and moved inside. There wasn't much left to the central keep above the ground, but a spiral staircase led down into unknown darkness. The group moved below to investigate a few rooms that had been used by the Ûr and Order during the occupation of the keep. Zak squeezed through a thin crack in the wall to reveal a kitchen that had been used for those stationed here. Brocktharian followed the group down and began investigating a different section of the donjon's basement. Unfortunately for the paladin, he turned a corner and espied a new monstrous threat, a Hokanahn. The creature turned towards Brocktharian and shot out a necrotic fireball, hitting both the paladin and one of the satyrs.

Would there ever be an end to any of these monstrosities?

## Destruction of the Orb

Outside on the keep walls, the party continued the fight against the otherworldly monstrosities being brought down in the mouth of the funnel. Kazin whisked his liquid sphere past a **Uthkarar** towards another of the Ûr combatants, with one still engulfed inside the watery cage. After Freya recovered a bit, she and Hrongmar leaped into combat, crushing the horrible beast with a flurry of blows from *Hrongmar*, knocking the towering creature off of the wall and ending the life of the Ûr priest who had been trapped in the sphere.

Meanwhile, Hormish and Brynda stood at the ready next to the funnel awaiting what would emerge next. Wubba was near the towers on the east side of the keep attempting to disrupt some of the intact tripods which sat along the top of the tower. As Wubba struck and disrupted one of them with a *Magic Missile*, the funnel shifted to that location, revealing a **Hazjareel** where the funnel had been, right in front of Hormish.

Down below, Brocktharian closed in on the **Hokanahn** in the basement. As it turned out, the Hokanahn was positioned right next to another Orb with corruption around it, quite similar to what they had experienced in the **Blending Circle**. Brocktharian slashed at the horrible creature, even though a *Sickening Radiance* emanated from the Hokanahn causing more problems for the paladin. Zak charged in to attack the Hokanahn as well, attempting to survive the necrotic horror that surrounded the Hokanahn and the orb. Aterean was able to reach the bottom of the stairs and send the Satyr allies into the fray, but unfortunately the Hokanahn responded with another *Necrotic Fireball*, damaging all around him with fire and destruction, wiping the fey from the field of battle.

Above, Kazin sent the watery sphere into another of the Ûr, tumbling it off the walls of the keep while clearing a way for Freya to advance to attack the Hazjareel. Hormish pounded Hazjareel, Brynda sent her spiritual weapon against it as well, and Freya descended with swing after swing. The thorns surrounding the hideous beast rose up to smite the allies, and its great branches reached out to try and tear Freya and Hormish limb from limb, but it would not be enough. Na'awoorda healed Freya's wounds, as the party was ready to end these creatures once and for all.

Aterean healed Brocktharian and Zak as the Hokanahn continued to use its terrible powers against them. It would not be enough as this horror would also succumb to the greater fortitude of the party. With a couple more swings of sword and dagger, Brocktharian and Zak would also destroy the Orb as well. Similar to the Orb in the Blending Circle, there was a faint image of a humanoid reclining, but unlike the previous orb, when this one was destroyed something strange occurred.

First off, the funnel completely dissolved, ending the threat of more new monstrosities on the keep above. However, in addition, Aterean, Zak, Tindora and Brocktharian were whisked into another dimension, or vision, or dream for a brief time. It seemed like minutes to the four, but in reality only a couple seconds transpired.

The four were transported to an image of a library tower, perhaps in Balmorian, to witness four people attempting a ritual. The half-elf leader, **Gaiddidian**, had been referencing an arcane tome on the table nearby - *Voyaging the Spirit Membranes* by Atronen Gŵl.

> Ordahn asks, “So we’re really going to do this?”
>
>

> Mydroth wryly responds, “We’re here, aren’t we? It’d be a shame to come up to this tower and do nothing. I mean, I think most of these books on this floor are boring, right? No one comes up here for the exciting prose.”
>
>

> Llyddyryan smiles. “I did see someone up here a few months ago. Perhaps it’s time they returned the book they were reading.”
>
>

> Gaiddidian comes forward and addresses the group. “Thank you all for assisting. I’ve been able to keep a subliminal trance state all day, so I’m ready. I have also improved my incantation to try and leverage the powers in the location I’ve been seeking and focusing upon.”
>
>

> Mydroth jokes, “I don’t know about subliminal, but I gain a pretty severe trance state after a couple meads.”
>
>

> Gaiddidian chuckles. “I have one more concept to check in Gŵl’s Membranes. Mydroth, since you’re not in trance state yet, could you set the appropriate symbol on the floor?”
>
>

> Mydroth walks over and kneels on the floor, murmuring an incantation briefly.
>
>

> Ordahn says, “You remember which one it was, right, Mydroth?”
>
>

> Llyddyryan says, “It starts with S.”
>
>

> Mydroth says, “I haven’t started drinking yet, so yes, I know which symbol we’re planning on doing, and I surprisingly remember how to draw it. Unless you want me to draw something else?”
>
>

> The others laugh. Gaiddidian looks up from his tome, “No, I don’t think we need a repeat performance of last Wednesday.”
>
>

Mydroth finishes writing **Styree the Passage** on the floor. He gets up and moves back, away from the symbol.
Gaiddidian leaves the tome on the table and moves in front of the symbol. For the next several minutes, he varies between moments of complete motionlessness, and then minor somatic and verbal incantations.
As Zak had been engraving several symbols recently on various items for the party, he perceives that the somatic motions of Gaiddidian are mimicking a couple of the common magic symbols, namely **Styree - the Passage, Hwyveen - the Dreamer, and Florgahn - the Emancipator**.

Suddenly, the symbol on the floor glows blue, green and black. A strange four sided gate arises from the symbol and a swirl of white, blue, and black begins spinning like a vortex inside the gate. After a moment, a humanoid figure appears in the vortex and moves towards the gate. The apprentices back off, while Gaiddidian stares deeply at the changing forms within, wondering how far he should take this.

> Mydroth says, “Who could that be, master?”
>
>

> Ordahn says, “Shall we bring him to use, master?”
>
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> Llyddyryan says, “Perhaps he can teach us something, master.”
>
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> Gaiddidian responds to his staff, “I have not seen this one before.  There are many who we have seen in the past, but this one is new. Perhaps he is looking for us, rather than us looking for them.”  Gaiddidian turns to his pupils.  Each of them is transfixed, eyes black, but otherwise not different than before.
>
>

The man in the gate reaches forward, the hand coming outside the gate with a length much greater than a man’s.  His hand touches Gaiddidian’s head and all goes black.

Zak, Brocktharian, Tindora and Aterean return to the empty basement, wondering what they had just experienced.

## The Ûr Returns

In the following moments afterwards, it was difficult to ascertain exactly what had happened, regardless of the fact that the party had been fighting creatures from other worlds, dimensions, somewhere, while tacitly allying with beings they truly had known were their enemy from this world. It was peaceful now, and it was time to reconsider the situation.

There would be investigation of what was left in the Keep, and there was acquisition of elements from these outsiders that could prove useful in alchemy, but nonetheless, this was a moment different than most that the party had faced. Aterean and Freya did focus their attentions on what they could gain from the bizarre creatures from other planes, and Kazin and Wubba did investigate the tomes, documents and maps that were present in the keep, but the understanding of what all had taken place was not easily forthcoming. This was a moment for all to reconsider.

Wubba and a few of the party members did consume some food that was hard to digest in hopes of contacting the distant Dreamwarden Elyndor Eseyn. Perhaps he would have more information for the party to go on, perhaps he would have answers as to what they had faced and what they had seen in the vision of the library tower.

The Dreamwarden was useful, in the sense that he could relate the conditions of the world, but not quite as useful in determining who these people were who were in the vision that they had witnessed. Gaiddidian, Mydroth, Ordahn and Llyddyryan were unknown to him, although the book at which they were looking in the vision, *Voyaging the Spirit Membranes* by Atronen Gŵl, was not. The latter was not a staple for all studious mages, per se, but it was something that was nearly required reading for those interested in conjuration and teleportation. Atronen worked with the great Arddig Mardwm, the creator of the Gate Artifices that gave the Houses of Raj Gohn their power of transport. Yet, Atronen was more of a dream voyager, and could perceive conditions, worlds, and possibilities that were beyond Eirethune and beyond what even Arddig could be concerned with.

Regardless, that was not the concern of the party at the moment. They had arrived at the barren Biergen Keep at twilight and now it was time to rest after a hard battle.

The night was quiet for the most part...at least until the very early morning. At the southwestern corner of the Keep walls, Freya peered through the umbral morn to see six humanoids moving towards the entrance to the keep. Zak and Na'awoorda were on watch with her and Freya let them know of her observation. Na'awoorda quickly peered out along the circumference, while Zak closed in to confirm Freya's findings. There was definitely someone out there approaching. When Na'awoorda returned, it seemed that there were others cordoning the perimeter of the keep as well. Who knew how many exactly were out there at this time in the morning?

They ran forth to wake the rest of the party and get them to the ready. The front gates would remain open, but now the forward ballista on the ramparts might be of use. As Zak, Freya and Na'awoorda ran the perimeter pickets, it was obvious to them that there were more than fifty new visitors to their keep...probably Ûr or worse...it was hard to tell.

Quickly the party prepared and when the small group of Ûr came close enough, Kazin cast a hypnotic pattern to lock them down to grant the party more time. Alas, it was only seconds longer because Wubba felt that this imposing danger was too much for him to set aside and it required direct and fiery conclusion...by means of a fireball.

Aterean had brought forth a polar bear and some giant rats to his aid, while Brocktharian and Zak ventured forth to engage those approaching.

Another fireball rang out and the Ûr thugs accompanying the vanguard were dispatched. Kazin blinded their leader to further dispose of the threat to the main gate, but it now became obvious to those watching the walls that there were many others to contend with. Many....many....others.

## The Keep Surrounded

With the onslaught of many Ûr around the castle, there was no time to waste. Zak and the polar bear rushed forward to take out the blinded Order cleric by the front gate. Hormish loaded the ballista on the front tower, and Freya launched a heavy bolt into on of the Ûr who had just climbed up a slope to the southeast. Kazin charged up the ramparts and cast a *Hypnotic Pattern* into a group of the Ûr, delaying them for at least a little, while the rest of the group prepared themselves for battle.

With another known group to the northwest, Freya left the firing of the ballista to Brynda, and then she charged northwest along the parapets to find this group preparing their ladders for an assault. Hopefully, Freya and her traps would delay their advance while the bulk of the party took care of the group near the front gates.

As Aterean ran up the walls, he was met by Na'awoorda, who exclaimed that yet another group had been seen to the northeast. The horse lord turned and ran back towards them, hoping, like Freya, to delay the group enough until more help could arrive.

Meanwhile, Brocktharian ran out across the gate courtyard, jumped over the curtain wall, and down into the Ûr group below. He immediately challenged them all, and then brought out the *Black Opal Necklace of Akakruhn* to create a **Circle of Shadows** which tore down the Ûr in their place around him, making them easy pickings for the group.

The pack of giant rats and the polar bear raced around the curtain wall and began to assault the flanks of the Ûr group. An Order monk attempted to *Silence* Aterean and Wubba, but Wubba was able to *Counterspell* them to keep their advantageous position clear of bother. Now that the Ûr were no longer entranced, Kazin cast forth a *Watery Sphere* to grab the Ûr Dirgein, Fire Knight and several of their minions. Next, Wubba cast a *Fireball* down into the group of hapless Ûr, wiping out many of them as they writhed in fire and the Circle of Shadows.

More ballista bolts shot through the pack of Ûr, and Kazin's Watery Sphere continued to grab what it could. The great polar bear continued to fight hard against the Ûr, with their brutal slashes responding. The fight near the gate was harsh, but the party had gained the upper hand.

Zak then looked to the southeast, and he saw yet another group of Ûr approaching. They were still a minute or two away, but it appeared they were bringing a battering ram. Time would be of the essence to take care of the remaining Ûr close at hand. Quickly, almost all of the rest were dispatched, except for a couple and the strange Fire Knight, again finding himself stuck inside the Watery Sphere.

To the northeast, Freya was able to repel at least one of the ladders, but an Ûr had finally gotten to the parapets. Fortunately, Freya's preparation had paid off because the Ûr found himself stuck in one of her traps.

To the northwest, Na'awoorda repelled one of the ladders, but the Eagle Totem Ûr were quick to respond. He would need help soon, or a flood of them would reach the top.

In the past 24 hours, the battle to keep the Outsiders had been won, the visions of a ritual gone wrong had been seen, and now the onslaught of Ûr had barely begun. What would the next 24 hours bring?

## Showers of Ice

Around the keep, the Ûr continued to swarm. The group to the southeast was nearly gone, but Cooper, Kazin and Zak had alerted the group that more were coming - and this time with a battering ram. The Ûr Fire Knight was still stuck in Kazin's *Watery Sphere* with the Zak, Brocktharian and the Polar Bear willing to do him in, but now the eyes of the party turned to the north.

Na'awoorda had been able to barely keep the ladders from gaining ground to the north east, but it would not be for long. To the northwest, Freya had set up traps and kept the attackers from gaining ground, except for one Ûr berserker, on top of the crenellations, yet stuck in Freya's carefully placed trap.

Meanwhile, Aterean and the rat pack were heading to engage the northern foes. Wubba readied a fireball and wiped out at least half of the Ûr minions who were scaling the northeast walls. Brynda and Hormish ran furiously to the northwest to help Freya, but were still quite a ways from helping her fend off the terrors she face.

When Aterean finally got to the edge of the northeastern walls, he cast out a *Sleet Storm* to disrupt the invaders' attempts to scale there. Only the shifty Order monks were able to fine footing on the walls of the keep to ascend, while the rest scattered and made new plans.

The *Doom Knight* that was at the northeast now headed south to engage Brocktharian, while the *Dirgein* that was inspiring his compatriots now moved to the north of the keep to attempt an ascent there.

To the northwest, a strange mystical *Darkness* appeared all around Freya, which disturbed her plans, forcing her to seek the light just to the south of the opaque sphere. Na'awoorda charged to the northern tower to assist Freya, trying to keep the Ûr gaining ground there at bay. Aterean charged up with Na'awoorda to help out as well.

Wubba had been safe at the tower to the northwest, but one of the devious Order Monks scaled the tower and lunged at the nearly defenseless gnome, causing great damage. Aterian's rats swarmed the monk and kept it at bay, and Wubba used one of the Order's scrolls to cast a *Nether Pillar* against them, obscuring the monk's sight on the gnomish Wizard.

Meanwhile, Zak and Brocktharian dispatched the *Fire Knight* once and for all, but now were left with the choice of either heading to the gate to beat the oncoming Ûr from the south, or engaging the Doom Knight and the remnants of the northeast group. Brocktharian headed north to face the *Doom Knight*, while Zak answered Kazin's pleas to attempt to close the front gate as soon as possible.

As the slightly larger group of Ûr came forth, Kazin responded with a *Sleet Storm* against them. Until the storm was over, that battering ram would be useless. There were several Ûr sliding about in the storm, but at least one of the Eagle Clan Ûr was able to engage Zak at the gate's main door switch.

The northeast was mostly safe at this point, with the last of the Order monks there now dispatched by Wubba, the rats and Aterean. The northwest, however, was in grave peril. Freya was completely surrounded, with Order Monks and Ûr keeping her tasked at all times. What more was that the *Shadow Knight* had now reached the top of the walls, and who knows what terrors Freya would face now.

Na'awoorda was keeping himself between Aterean and the Ûr foes' weapons, yet the *Dirgein* was able to send out his dreadful *Pregheira of Pain*, causing any who could hear to make their pain worsen even more. One of the Order Vicars had summoned a *Ghast* to their cause, but Brynda would have no problem turning the creature away, while she sent her *Spiritual Weapon* bashing against the foes around her, Hormish and Freya.

The battle was raging still, but Cooper's eye spotted yet more horsemen coming. What more could the party face in this keep full of violence and terror?

## A Bloody Engagement

The storm of ice and nether pillars to the northeast of the keep, and the maelstrom of sleet near the main gate had kept the Ûr from advancing too quickly, which allowed the party a bit more time to manage what they were facing. Still, there were areas of concern which required some additional help. Freya was surrounded on the northwest ramparts, Na'awoorda and Aterean were holding off a group at the far north, and Brocktharian had found himself face to face with the Doom Knight.

Freya's position seem most precarious, as several more Ûr climbed the walls to support the Shadow Knight who had emerged from the sphere of Darkness. For a moment, Freya contemplated leaping off of the walls, but instead, downed some potions, activated a healing necklace and held her ground against the foes that now surrounded her. Hormish and Brynda were doing what they could to help Freya, and perhaps Freya would be able to withstand for another minute.

To the north, Na'awoorda pressed against the berserkers and the Dirgein. Although the *Pregheira of Pain* that the Dirgein bellowed out direly affected the party over a great distance, Aterean kept Na'awoorda healed and in the fight to keep the Ûr from gaining any further ground.

At the main gate, the battering ram was incapacitated by the sleet, but several of the quicker Ûr raced to keep the gate open. With great alacrity, Zak had reached the gate lever first and began the closing of the main doors. Thinking quickly, Kazin created an illusion of the gate's lever having broken off, so the Ûr berserker who had attempted to reach the lever fell back to attempt to hold the gate open for a brief moment. Zak quickly stabbed at him and the gate closed without allowing another foe to pass through. The rest of the Ûr from the southwest were now making their way around the sleet storm to get to the gate and see what could be done.

To the southeast, it was time for the Doom Knight and Paladin to cross swords. Both armored and strong, bastions of their own forces, they clashed enchanted steel attempted to best each other. Yet Brocktharian had no help at this point, whereas the Doom Knight was gaining support from some berserkers and now a Visage of Uthargot that had entered the field of battle. Brocktharian took out his *sonic horn* and sent a blast against those who would surround him, stunning one of the berserkers descending the slope from the keep.

With Brynda and Hormish's help taking on some of the Ûr that surrounded Freya to the south, the half-giantess from Eastern Bavarin slammed Hrongmar again and again against her adversaries until she was finally able to directly engage the Shadow Knight. The Shadow Knight had been sending out Necrotic beams and cones at Freya, Hormish and Brynda, but it was time for that paragon of darkness to meet Freya and her great, spiked hammer, Hrongmar. Again and again the giantess landed hits until the Shadow Knight finally fought no more. As soon as the darkness lifted upon the death of the Shadow Knight, Wubba sent a *Fireball* across the keep's northern courtyard and directly into the faces of the other Ûr and Order that surrounded Freya. Soon after, Na'awoorda thrust his lightning pike into the Dirgein and that miserable bard's song of pain would be heard no longer. The tide had turned in the party's favor at the north of the keep.

At the main gate, however, the Ûr were scaling the walls, about to engage Kazin on his own, still trying to keep the sleet storm upon their equipment and the approach of the main group. Hormish raced down to engage the *Eagle Totem* berserkers directly, putting himself in between the foes and the sorcerer who had helped keep the surge from entering the main gate. Alas, however, just below the ramparts, the *Ûr Fire Knight* saw the fight on the wall and sent up his own *Fireball* to support the Ûr attack. Surviving the blast, Kazin made sure the storm of ice was all around the main gate. None of these foes should be permitted easy entrance to the keep.

Brocktharian faced off against the Doom Knight and his companions; the party raced to the south to help keep the Ûr from entering the keep, yet Cooper was keeping a keen eye on the armored horsemen who were arriving from the west. What would happen next in the epic battles of the Barren Biergen Keep?

## The Siege is Ended

The riders from the west could now be seen to be armored and emblazoned with the sigils of Angleside and Kreenan - a patrol of cavalry with a few strong champions to lead them into battle to help relieve the siege. Orankor Harbeen, a cleric from Kreenan had helped Baronet Realnore, liege of Grey Horn, and his good friend Horvin Dour, to gain more support from the Court of Kreenan. Several patrols had been issued to the Baronet for use, but this patrol, lead by the Baronet himself, was to clear out the hamlet of South Gate in the Western Mote Hills and then investigate the Funnel in the northern Athro Valley. Fortunately, they would come at an auspicious moment to assist in ending the Ûr assault of the keep.

The party had almost completely eradicated the Ûr from the north end of the keep. Only a cleric and a single berserker were left, and their morale was now quite shaken. The main gate, however, was a different story. The Doom Knight, along with berserkers and a Visage, now surrounded Brocktharian in the open field to the east. On the ramparts, berserkers and a Dirgein had just knocked Hormish down and were eyeing Brynda and Kazin next. Kazin's sleet storm still disrupted the Ûr below the front gate, giving the party members at the north end of the keep some time to get to the gate and help out.

Several of the Ûr, who had escaped the sleet storm, now moved around it to either support the Doom Knight or prepare for engagement from some of the Kreenan patrol who were charging into battle from the west. The Ûr were not done yet, however, and they gravely inflicted damage on some of the patrol. Fortunately, Orankor was able to keep them all fighting, slowly wearing the Ûr down.

To the north, the spirit of the cleric of the Order finally broke and he chose to leap off of the tower and face whatever lay below; in this case, it would be the savage rapier of the Baronet. Now free from engagement, Aterean, Freya, Tindora and Wubba all ran south to the gate as fast as they could, with the Horse Lord leading the way to quickly engage atop the front gate and help with Brynda's plight. Zak engaged the Dirgein, but alas, the evil bard sang a *Dirge of Despair* into the mind of the rogue, causing his abilities to wilt as the horrible tune rang through his head.

The next few moments did not bode well for Brocktharian, however. Trying as he could to remain strong in the face of the numerous enemies, the Doom Knight would prevail and drop Brocktharian to the ground, motionless and cold. Now the Doom Knight turned his eye towards the front gate and ascended the slope, dispelling the sleet storm as he arrived. It would not be the last we would see of the paladin, as Zak swiftly moved in *Mist Form* to get to the fallen hero with some potions of relief, and Brynda leaned out over the wall to barely be able to reach him with a healing word.

The clear sky now gave the Ûr Fire Knight the time to not only bolster himself, but throw a large wall of fire up on the ramparts where Hormish, Freya and Kazin were fighting both Ûr and undead. The wall divided the group on the ramparts with Hormish dropping again, singed by the fire. With good fortune, Kazin was there to pour a healing potion down Hormish's throat, allowing the warrior to rise again. On the other side of the wall of fire, Freya jumped off the ramparts, with more intent of purpose than grace, and engaged the Doom Knight directly. The Fire Knight and several Ûr berserkers bolstered the Doom Knight, but Zak and the newly refreshed Brocktharian charged into battle to join Freya. The armor of the Doom Knight was thick, and his ability to protect his comrades kept many of the blows and jabs of the party from landing successfully on the Fire Knight or any of the Ûr. As the Kreenan patrol continued to fight with the Ûr off to the southwest of the keep, Horvin Dour left that battle, and flew up to help out the party with their battle with the Doom Knight. A *cone of cold* would silence several berserkers, but it would be up to the valiant party members to end the terrifying battle with the Fire Knight and Doom Knight.

Up on the ramparts, Wubba silenced the area with the heinous Dirgein, keeping his *Pregheira of Pain* from ringing out to those around. When the bard attempted to escape the silence, Na'awoorda plunged his pike deep into the Ûr foe, sending him off the wall and to the ground below. Now those on the ramparts could focus their attention on the fight in front of the gate.

With the aura of protection that the Doom Knight sent out to his allies, the party was determined to take him down so they had a chance of relieving the siege. Rapier and hammer, sword and magic missile, all came down upon the Doom Knight. As hard as he was to damage, the concentrated effort of the party was finally succeeding. With a few great blows, the Doom Knight finally fell, and with it, the protection the Fire Knight had so relied upon. In a few more seconds, the courtyard would be silent and the siege was relieved. The party had won.

## Links

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Next, Scouting Shazendrar