Session 1: Shadows in the Night

Walking thru the strange city of Urigen Lythar and Vulnar made an unusal pair, human ulfen and elven warrior stopped at some ropes at the center of town, where a huge empty grassy field was roped off for blocks.

Surmising the strange area must be a place of combat or some other event about to happen they moved on to the 'Pixie Mix' a decent enough establishment for a warm meal and sweet mead.

***

Sweat built on Kyle's brow from cording wood for the cooking fires, his moment of respite, a cool taste of ale broken by a glass breaking shrill voice and a small feminine gnome head poking out the back door.

"I don't pay you to drink! Get in here we have lots of customers tonight, I need your help", Kyle looked shocked at the accusation but shrugged it off, thanking Cayden for the drink and heading inside to help the frantic Nika.


***


After kicking him in the ankle for some torrid remark, the she directed him to take some drinks and food out to the new patrons. Kyle liked new people, they always had stories and it was a new opportunity for adventure.

He passed over strangely a dressed gnome and his raptor lizard companion, due to his lack of vision while trying to balance trays of food and drinks.

After plying the usual crowds with ale and drink, he stopped short, at the unusual pair by the hearth. An north man by his looks and smell, although not uncommon around Urigen. the man was huge even by their standards. The blond human nodded and grunted a thanks and began digging in to his food like a half starved wild beast. Smacking and licking his fingers.

Sitting next to him with an annoyed look was an elf, a strange companion for the Ulfen, at first he took his full blooded kin as one from Kyonin but soon realized that his clothing seemed off and demeanor more military than traveler. A cool look in his eyes suggested conversation was not in order and Kyle thought the better of it.

Sighing to himself in resignation, he cheered up thinking that after a few drinks perhaps they might be more talkative and decided to wait.

***

That's when the candles flickered out and the room became cold, all but Kyle and Lythar where blinded. Soon several patrons and even the tavern workers, either went rigid or fell over completely.

Smokey shadows began to move thru the darkened tap room, which was soon brightened to dim light by, Thistlebark, a gnome who called upon nature to light his staff, as it flared brightly then dimmed as if some magical means prevented its glow.

Grey and obsidian skinned creatures, white manes of hair, and eyes red as blood reflexively hissed recoiling from the vile brilliance emanating from Thistlebarks' minor orision.

'DARK ELVES!' Lythar, Kyle and even the dull Vognar recognized them immediately through clenched teeth.

Lythar was the first to react as his dark skinned cousins recognized him moving up to engage the outraged surface elf, fortunately he dark attacker was quickly dispatched by Lythars deadly blade.

"Do something you big lout! These are drow they almost killed Lady Elordria remember"? The mentioning of his one true love nearly being killed by dark elves, brought a wave of rage filled emotions.

Vognars eyes narrowed and he let out a chesty roar and drawing his weapon. As his arms swelled with inhuman strength.

The dark elves lead by a powerful priestess, recognizing the imminent violence of such an unpredictable human. Whispered enchanted honeyed words to Vognar, in common

"Please don't hurt me or my men we are friends".

His rage still effecting him, his companion fighting for his life next to him yet the enchantment took hold and his rage subsided.

"Don't hurt my friend and I won't hurt you or your friends". he said with a complacent smile lowering his weapon.

The dark elf female smiled, condescendingly, at the elf who just realized his companion had been ensorcelled, cut down yet another dark elf, and cursed.

The remaining drow searched a man who had been struck and left quickly as they came. Avoiding Vognar as best as they could. Smacking Vognar, Lythar and the Ulfen gave chase after he shook free of the charm.

***

Kyle and Thistlebark began assessing what had transpired and who was injured. The man who had been robbed by the drow lay dead everyone else had fallen to the tell-tale dark elf poison and recovered in time.

Unfortunately Lythar and Vognar where unable to catch the dark elven raiders before they could egress the city. Returning tired and frustrated the warriors met with the gaurd.

Kyle and the others had gathered some evidence off the drow Lythar had killed. Vognar put drow heads on a pike as warning and stripped the bodies. They had coins from Katapesh far to the south.

As some of the guard stayed and questioned witnesses, one gaurd, Kyle, Lythar and Vognar begain looking for people who might need help. Passing by the roped off part of the city that was in phase they saw a shadow moving in the distance.

Vognar, angry, frustrated and wanting to prove his worth after being duped earlier by drow enchantments ran out to met out some vengeance. Lythar called after the enraged fool, and fired at the dog faced creature, his arrow seeming to make its mark but pass harmlessly through it.

Charging in his blade first, Vognar carved thru smoke and shadow, the red hazed eyes of the dog creature, blazed in anger, nearly a foot taller than he.

"Em nue set NA!" the creature hissed with a gravely echoing voice of a grave.

The creatures eyes promised an eternity of death and pain, for the first time Vognar felt shaken in his resolve, as his blood froze, the creature grabbed him by the face its vapid breath like a tomb next to him.

Lythar, and the captain where next to him now attempting to cut the creature as well but nothing affected it. Even Kyle attempted an attack which seemed to do nothing to it.

"Perhaps I should go get some help, or perhaps a retreat is in order"? Kyle nervously suggested.

Doom, death and fear exuding from the creature soon overtook them all, as Vognar, Kyle and even the guardsmen ran from he tall creatures presence.

All but Lythar, who faced the strange being alone. It grasped him, its cold hands promising the grave. Lythar drew a gold coin and showed it to the creature who smiled evilly at the sight of the coin.

Taking the coin, "Khaldun Set khalfani", it stated flatly, letting go of the elf, the creature walked back into the dark shadows and Lythar followed his friends breathlessly back to the Tap room.

***

The discussions back at the tavern turned to the dark elves, the strange creature they could not effect and a missing tavern worker found dead. A mystery is a foot and drow are involved..

What will they find next.