The Fallen Prince

2nd Day of Coldeven, CY 592

Turn of the Tide
Victor closed with Hedrack, but an abjuration ward prevented him from getting close enough to attack.  The silence kept Hedrack from being able to stay in one place.  So a series of movements between the two combatants ensued, where Hedrack would move out of the silence and assault Victor with deadly spells.  It was beginning to wear on the Kordite priest, and he was forced to withdraw and heal.  

Safadin turned the course of this battle with a very successful targeted dispel on Hedrack.  It brought down a number of powerful wards including the one that kept Victor beyond arm’s reach.  Victor and Hedrack continued their move and close tactics, but now Victor could deliver a series of punishing body blows as part of the movement.  The tide was turning against Hedrack.

Creden and Uthgar had intended to gang up on the vampire Thrommel, but Hedrack hit Uthgar with a debilitating spell which forced him to move directly into the path of Infinitus.  Infinitus and the Khannenhelm Defender began attacking one another, but the grappling ability of the glabrezu made it difficult for Uthgar.

Creden was left to go up against Thrommel alone.  They traded blows back and forth.  It would come down to their weapon prowess and a bit of luck (or divine intervention if you did not believe in luck).  Whichever one it was, Creden had it this time.  Thrommel missed three times in a row, and Creden did not.  The power of the Cudgel brought the fallen prince down.  He turned gaseous and fled to his coffin in the Outer Fane.

Hedrack was forced to alternate between attacking Victor with spells and putting up defenses against the rest of the party, who now were moving in to help Victor.  Vannay’s enchantment wore off, and he attempted to bring down more of Hedrack’s defenses.  It was countered by Hedrack, and he put up a blade barrier blocking everyone but Victor.  Vannay cast a dimension door moving everyone to the other side of the barrier.  Victor continued his attacks, and Hedrack knew that the end was near.  It may have been madness or a clever stratagem (the former is likely), but Hedrack tried to move through the blade barrier.  For a man who worshipped destruction, he had a fitting end.  The wall of whirling blades cut him into pieces.  Hedrack, Master of the Outer Fane, was dead.  Infinitus decided to terms of his bargain with Hedrack were complete, and he teleported away.

A Moment of Clarity
We spent some time healing, but it was clear that we needed to find Thrommel before he could rest again.  A trip into unexplored areas of the Outer Fane was dangerous, but the risk was worth it.  We crossed the Fire Bridge and made our way around the complex to the Air Door.   Vannay attempted a clairaudience on Thrommel’s room, but it was unnaturally silent.  Varachan’s password in the tentacle room worked, and we were able to bypass the trap.

Thrommel’s room was cloaked in silence, and it was apparently empty.  Again Vannay used a divination to attempt to locate Thrommel’s coffin.  It was under the floor of the room.  We searched for a bit, and we found a secret button which opened the floor.  The coffin was removed to a nearby hallway, and we gathered around it.  The tension mounted as we waited for Thrommel to awaken, so we could attempt to lift the curse of dark feeding.

Fragarach spoke, “Prince Avras Thrommel, son of Belvor, son of Avras.  I am Fragarach, the Answerer, of the ancient House of Nax.  I was entrusted to serve the royal house of Furyondy, and through them safeguard the kingdom.  Fallen though you may be, you are all that remains of the line.  I can sing out the names of your ancestors.  I can give epic poems about your deeds in battle.  But I cannot save you from this curse.  You must make that decision alone.  Under this curse, it is not a choice you can make.  So we will bring entreaty before the celestial hosts.  They will grant you a moment of clarity.  They will grant you one chance to have this curse lifted.  Do not forget the faces of your fathers.  Do not forget the people of Furyondy.  Do not forget the Lady Jolene, who to this day waits on your return.  Look upon the men here today.  They have risked everything including their own families to be standing before you.  In the name of Thrommel, the true King of Furyondy, I ask you to choose.”

Victor read the words of the scroll.  As he finished the request for divine intervention, a blazing light filled the hallway.  In the midst of the light, a being appeared.  The being was very muscular and wore a red girdle.  Victor recognizing the form of his god, bowed immediately.  Kord spoke, “The request has been made, Thrommel.  You now have the ability to choose.  Do you choose an eternity of undeath, or a return to the living?”  A look of understanding came upon Thrommel, and he said, “Though I am not worthy.  Though I have sinned against god and man.  I ask that this curse of dark feeding be lifted.”  The feral features slowly lifted, and his blood red eyes turned blue.  

Thrommel was restored.