About a year after the party’s encounter with Issus, they were all present at their homes in Darksea (a rare occurrance!). Late one night, Bedevere heard a knock at the door of Edward’s mansion. At the door there appeared a woman, garbed in quality adventurer’s gear and bearing an antique sword of great craftsmanship. The woman asked for Edward. "He’ll know me when he sees me," the woman told Bedevere. "Very well, madam," Bedevere replied, escorting her to the parlor to await Edward.
Edward soon entered the parlor to greet the mysterious visitor. A humanoid female, she seemed vaguely familiar, but Edward couldn’t quite identify her. "Do I know you?" Edward asked. "I was sure you would recognize me after our past adventures, right here in Darksea!" she replied. Edward still drew a blank, at which the woman said, "We’re neighbors, you know." Suddenly, Edward recalled someone who fit the description.
"Amalla?!"
"Yes, it’s me," Amalla replied.
Edward, surprised, asked her how she had been these past few years, since her abrupt departure. "Are any of our other companions still here?" she asked in response. "Yes," Edward replied. "What I have to tell I would like to tell to them as well," said Amalla. Edward immediately ordered Bedevere to muster the party. Half an hour later, Green Arrow, Firiona and Lou arrived, and Amalla began to tell her tale.
Some time prior to her departure from Darksea, Amalla had conceived the desire to become an anointed knight, one of those good fighters who bear an ancestral weapon and use it to fight evil. However, she had received several visions in which she was told that she was not sufficiently pure to become one of the anointed, but was tainted by darkness. If she truly desired to do so, she would have to remove the taint by eliminating its source.
She was informed that the source of the darkness was her true father, who was unknown to her, was a powerful incubus/sorcerer named Red Shroud. Red Shroud had been specially raised by the demon prince Graz’zt, and had very high charisma and powerful enchantments. Amalla’s mother, who had raised her, on the other hand, was a less powerful tulani eladrin named Leila. Due to her dual heritage, she had abilities of both succubi and eladrins. Red Shroud had seduced and impregnated the eladrin, who didn’t realize what had happened until after the birth of the child, in accordance with Graz’zt’s plan. That plan was to create a new weapon, a being that could "redeem" good beings from their goodness and claim them for evil (i.e., the opposite of normal redemption). What Graz’zt didn’t realize is that Amalla, the offspring so begotten, potentially had both powers, good and evil "redemption," and could develop either way.
Red Shroud bore a powerful magic weapon of evil nature, an angelkiller sword, which had the unholy power to strike dead any celestial being it wounded.
To become one of the anointed, Amalla had to undertake a quest which would prove her goodness and lawfulness. She would have to find Red Shroud and either "redeem" him or destroy him, and also redeem the evil weapon as a good weapon. Should she do so, she would be worthy to become an anointed knight. The redeemed sword would be her ancestral weapon, and would become a holy sword that functioned as a fiendkiller.
When she completed the quest and became lawful good in alignment, her succubus powers were limited to non-evil uses only, e.g., her energy drain ability only worked on non-good creatures, she couldn’t summon balors, and her unholy blight power was replaced with holy smite). She changed her faith from that of a druid of Ehlonna to a cleric of Hieroneous (influenced by Edward’s example). She also had to acquire various feats and spells to perform the redemption ritual for the sword. She was then able to become an anointed knight.
To complete the quest, Amalla was forced in the end to slay Red Shroud, who proved irredeemable. However, in doing so, she became the victim of Red Cloud’s dying curse. The curse was as follows: whenever Amalla attempted to make any skill check, use any ability or cast any spell that relied on charisma, her normally high charisma became powerfully negative. Furthermore, all friends, allies and creatures were repulsed by her presence and had an attitude of unfriendly.
The means Red Shroud sets for lifting the curse was that Amalla must find and defeat Quah-Nomag the Skull-King in single combat within one year. Amalla was finally able to defeat Quah-Nomag within the time allotted. However, in doing so, she incurred the wrath of the demon prince Orcus, who was Quah-Nomag’s patron ( and who had been resurrected by Quah-Nomag from his undead personna, Tenebrous). Since slaying Quah-Nomag, Amalla had been relentlessly pursued by minions of Orcus seeking to avenge the death of their master’s favorite.
Now, Amalla was at the end of her resources, having barely escaped with her life from the most recent attack by Orcus’ minions. On her return, she found that only a few of her followers had remained loyal to her, due to her extended absence. Her house in Darksea was still maintained by those loyal followers, but her cohort had long since left to adventure elsewhere.
She needed help, quickly. From her former companions.
The party were amazed to hear Amalla’s story. Edward immediately asked, "Let’s see what you’re really like now." Amalla replied, "As you wish." Gradually, her appearance changed from a youngish female humanoid to something new and strange. Edward had been aware of Amalla’s succubus nature. Her present appearance, however, had drastically changed. Her skin-tone, formerly dusky with reddish undertones, had turned to fair with golden highlights. Her wings had changed in color from black to golden (although still bat-like), and her forearm scales had also changed from black to golden, with silvery claws. Her hair color remained red, but with gold highlights.
The party were flabbergasted by the sight. Lou gaped, but quickly announced that he would have to write a song!
After the party recovered their composure, Edward agreed that Amalla should be aided.
Amalla advised the party that she had been targeted by sendings taunting her and warning her that she would be brought down sooner or later. The last time had been a few weeks ago, just prior to her latest encounter, the one she had barely survived. Firiona asked Edward if the Enterprise should be notified. "Perhaps they may not like what they hear," replied Edward. "But we owe it to Amalla to aid her in her need." Firiona then suggested that the party keep their activity covert, at least for the present. All agreed. Edward further proposed keeping Amalla at his mansion for the time being.
Suddenly, the air in the midst of the group shimmered and solidified into an apparition! The figure of a grey haired, dark eyed, gaunt female figure, expensively but darkly dressed, looked directly at Amalla, then at the rest of the party. "Your fate is sealed, Amalla!" hissed the apparition. "You cannot escape us. We will take you, and anyone foolish enough to aid you." The apparition stared at Amalla once more, then quickly disappeared. Firiona immediately recognized that powerful magical forces were at work.
Amalla quickly advised the party that they should leave Darksea immediately and prepare a location far away from innocent bystanders in which to meet their pursuers. Edward ordered preparations to be made, and told Bedevere to secure the mansion in his absence. He then suggested making their stand in an area near Eastgate, but far enough from the town to protect the residents. The party concurred, and all soon departed after making hasty preparations. At Eastgate, Edward advised the guards to stay far away. "This is a situation far beyond your ability to deal with," he told the sergeant. "Keep the town under curfew until our return." The party then headed off into the foothills, making for an open area with a few trees for cover. There they would make their stand.
After making their camp and preparing themselves, physically and magically, the party waited. They would not have long to wait. The next night was dark, moonless. Perfect for an attack by minions of the Prince of the Undead.
The party took up positions around their campfire, in a wide field about a mile from Eastgate and well out of sight, beyond a small ridge. A few trees stood on either side of the field, but otherwise the view of the area was clear in all directions.
A rustling, shuffling sound alerted the party.
Over the ridge from the east came the first wave of attackers, six huge ogre zombies together with four ghouls. Edward quickly activated his boots of speed and cast death ward on himself. Lou began playing harmonic chorus to boost Firiona. Firiona in turn put Lou’s boost to work, casting arc lightning at the oncoming mob of undead. Two zombies and two ghouls were quickly blasted into oblivion. Green Arrow shielded himself and activated his boots as well, while Amalla prepared for battle.
The remaining zombies hurled javelins at the party, to no effect. The ghouls charged the party but were unable to inflict any damage. In the meantime, from the south four human and four wolf skeletons began to approach. Edward cast holy sword, invoking the power of Hieroneous against the evil undead. The wolf skeletons charged at Edward, but their feeble bites could do no harm to the mighty paladin. Firiona promptly cast fireball against the remaining zombies, blasting them nearly into oblivion. Green Arrow unleashed a hail of arrows against the approaching zombies and skeletons, destroying the remaining zombies and the human skeletons. Amalla made quick work of two more wolf skeletons.
While the fighting was going on, Edward noticed that three bats had alighted in three of the trees on either side of the field. The party also saw new horrors enter the fight: five greater shadows. Two of the shadows struck Amalla with their touch attacks, seriously reducing her strength. Edward swung at the shadows, but their incorporeal nature rendered his attacks all but ineffective, with only one of the shadows falling. The wolf skeletons continued snapping ineffectively at Edward, until they were cut down by Amalla’s holy smite.
And still the enemy kept coming. From over the hill a huge cloud giant skeleton strode, ready to enter combat. The shadows attacked both Edward and Firiona, without effect. Edward succeeded in slaying another of the undead, but in turn was stricken by yet another new horror, a dread wraith. Fortunately, his death ward protected his vigor. Suddenly, from one of the trees where a bat had previously been seen, a roguish figure jumped down onto the field, attempting to flank Edward! The attack failed, and in turn Amalla tried to flank the rogue, but she was similarly unsuccessful. Firiona steadied herself enough to dimension door out of combat with the shadows and reappear near the cloud giant skeleton. Meanwhile, Green Arrow fired a greater arrow of slaying at the dread wraith. The arrow found its target, destroying the wraith.
And still the enemy kept coming! To the north, three vampire spawn appeared from behind the trees. To the south, two mummies shambled into view, one of the apparently a royal mummy, bedecked in heavy gold jewelry and precious stones. The three remaining shadows attacked Green Arrow, all missing. Edward engaged the giant skeleton, dealing heavy damage but not destroying the animated monster. Firiona, however, cast disintegrate on the skeleton, reducing it to dust. Meanwhile, the rogue stabbed Amalla with his dagger. To the north, from another of the trees in which a bat had been spotted, a huge half-orc fighter leaped to attack Edward, but in his haste, the fighter missed the paladin!
But suddenly, from a third tree, a ray struck out, hitting Green Arrow. The elven archer promptly froze in place, turned to stone! And from some unknown site to the south, Amalla was suddenly struck and surrounded by a greenish glow!
Edward struck two mightly blows at the half-orc fighter, dealing incredible damage. Unexpectedly, the fighter assumed gaseous form and fled the field! Lou began to sing song of freedom, hoping to restore Green Arrow. Firiona cast her favorite spell, striking the oncoming vampire spawn with her prismatic spray. One of the spawn was destroyed by fire, a second suddenly disappeared as if torn out of existence, while the third took sufficient damage to force it to become gaseous and flee. For good measure, Firiona directed her spray at the tree where, she suspected, another vampire was hiding, but apparently missed any being hiding within. To the south side of the field, the rogue (referred to as "Keys" by the now-departed half-orc) hit Amalla yet again, dealing heavy damage to her. The two mummies continued to approach the combat. Suddenly, a black cloud filled with incandescent motes appeared, burning Edward and Firiona in fiery darkness! Most disturbingly of all, from the tree at which Firiona had directed her spell another figure leaped down. The male figure appeared to be vampiric at the very least. And then, he pointed a finger at Lou, and a blob of black and sickly green shot forth to strike the halfling bard! Lou doubled up, wracked with nausea, and his stomach immediately began to bloat rapidly.
And still another horror entered the battle. From over the ridge a towering black figure of darkness strode rapidly forward. A nightwalker! Next to it, a gaunt male figure wearing the garb of an evil cleric. And to the south from behind the tree from which Keys had sprung, a female figure, equally gaunt, grey-haired, dark-eyed and of the most evil appearance.
The figure next to the nightwalker pointed a finger at Amalla, and she shrieked in pain. Edward moved toward Amalla and, calling on Hieroneous, drove Keys and one of the advancing mummies from the battle! But the nightwalker fixed Firiona in its evil gaze, and she froze, suddenly paralyzed! The royal mummy, meanwhile, slammed Amalla, dealing heavy damage to her. The shadows circled, looking for a new target. And from the south, the female figure pointed a finger at Edward, and he suffered tremendous pain, as if someone were trying to draw the very life from him!
The male cleric spoke, and Amalla was struck yet again, although Edward, also targeted, escaped damage. Edward, impelled by the urgings of his intelligent sword Sharkbite, and driven by zeal to destroy undead in the name of Hieroneous, furiously attacked the nightwalker and damaged it severely. In response, the nightwalker disarmed the paladin and attempted to destroy the sword! Fortunately for Edward, he managed to prevent the destruction of the sword, although it remained on the ground, ripped from his hands. Firiona, wisely, had prepared a still, silent version of dimension door, and now put that spell to use, transporting her paralyzed self a thousand feet away from the monstrous undead being. Lou continued to crawl around, nauseated. The royal mummy attempted to touch Amalla, but failed. Amalla then teleported herself behind the shadows, hoping to destroy or at least turn the undead foes. The vampiric spellcaster, referred to as "Arvid" by his allies, pointed a finger at Edward, and the paladin suddenly felt his magical protection against death effects vanish. The female caster hurried toward Amalla. Meanwhile, a raven flew above the battlefield, circling over Edward.
The cleric, called "Oconee", ran toward Amalla, hoping to reinforce the female caster against the anointed knight. The shadows now saw Edward as vulnerable, and one of them struck the paladin, draining more of his strength. Edward decided that a strategic withdrawal was called for, and recovering his fallen sword, ran from the nightwalker and shadows as fast as he could. Lou’s nausea and stomach bloating continued unabated. Amalla was stricken again, and this time she fell, mortally wounded! Arvid then cast fireball at Edward, who managed to avoid half of the damage from the spell. The female caster, called "Khadija" by her minions, advanced toward the fallen Amalla, while the raven again flew over Edward’s head. Edward noticed that his magical defenses and paladin’s powers seemed to have vanished!
The situation looked bleak indeed for the party. Green Arrow was turned to stone, Firiona had fled, Lou was incapacitated, Amalla lay unconscious, and Edward was beset by undead horrors and had lost many of his abilities.
Then, to his dismay, Edward saw a new force advancing on the party from the west! A band of fighters, rogues, several apparent spellcasters, and worse yet, a pair of demons including a terrifying marilith demon! Was this to be the end for the party?
Several of the newly-arrived fighters and rogues ran toward Amalla, while others headed in Edward’s direction. Suddenly, Lou screamed in agony, and his bloated stomach burst open! Out clawed a small, bloody figure that appeared to be a miniature version of Lou himself, but twisted and evil! Lou was dead, replaced by an evil offspring!
Edward abandoned use of the sword and drew his rifle, then shot at the raven hovering above him, severely wounding it. Yet still his powers did not return to him. The shadows again pursued him. Oconee attempted to cast a spell. Then, one of the casters from the newly-arrived force pointed her finger-at Khadija and Oconee! Suddenly, huge black tentacles sprang from the ground, entangling both Khadija and Oconee, although failing to hinder the nearby nightwalker. Oconee’s spell was ruined. The other demon, a comely succubus, began singing a song, also directed to Khadija and Oconee. The nightwalker, however, seeing the marilith demon approaching, immediately charged the demon and grappled it!
Meanwhile, Arvid turned his attention to the newly-arrived fighters, casters and rogues, and suddenly four of them were engulfed in a cloud of vermin, and were retching, gagging and vomiting worms, spiders and leeches!
The battle continued. Edward was still beset by shadows, but suffered no apparent harm. In turn, he shot again at the circling raven, hitting it and severely wounding it. The injured bird then flew away to circle over Khadija and Oconee. Immediately the black tentacles grappling them disappeared, and the two moved out of the area in which they had been entangled. The nightwalker and the marilith still grappled each other, trying to damage each other if they could. Meanwhile, Firiona suddenly threw off the paralysis that had gripped her, hasted herself, and ran back to the battlefield as fast as she could. One of the vomiting casters, Zinna, recovered her composure and ran to Amalla. Her three companions did not fare as well, continuing to writhe in agony as leeches, spiders and other vermin consumed them from within. One died outright, exploding into another cloud of vermin, while the other two kept weakening and bleeding. The comely succubus, referred to as "Sesta" by the others of her group, managed to kill the monstrous duplicate of Lou that had emerged from the real Lou's entrails, then followed Zinna.
Again invoking Hieroneous, Edward finally drove off the remaining shadows, then turned invisible and headed toward the nightwalker, which was still grappling with the marilith. One of the rogues hit Arvid with a poisoned, returning shuriken! Arvid attempted to flee from the combat at that point. Zinna, in the meantime, healed Amalla enough for her to get back on her feet and rejoin the fight--just in time for the royal mummy to slam her for heavy new damage. Edward then had a brilliant idea: he proceeded to channel positive energy into the nightwalker! Ordinarily this would have healed the target, but, being undead, the nightwalker took as much damage from Edward's healing power! The monster shrieked in agony before falling to the ground, destroyed.
Zinna cast flamestrike against Khadija and the royal mummy, but no ordinary flamestrike--this one was streaked with black. The targets of the flames screamed, visibly damaged beyond what an ordinary flame attack would inflict.
Seeing the nightwalker's downfall and the column of vile flame descend on Khadija and the royal mummy, both Arvid and Oconee decided it was time to flee the battlefield. Edward flanked the now-abandoned royal mummy and unleashed a furious attack on the undead noble. The mummy seemed dismayed at being abandoned by its allies, before it collapsed into a moldering pile of cloth strips and royal jewelry. Khadija, realizing the battle was lost, gave Amalla an evil look, then looked at the others still standing on the battlefield. "This isn't over yet, Amalla! I'll be back for you!" screamed Khadija, who then became gaseous and sped away.
Edward took this opportunity to gather Green Arrow's stoned form and deposit him in the portable hole. Firiona gathered Lou's remains as well. The surviving fighters, rogues and demons looked to Zinna for orders and guidance. Zinna, however, turned her attention to Amalla.
"It is fortunate we arrived when we did," said Zinna. Amalla nodded. "We were aware that Orcus's scum were still pursuing you." Amalla thanked Zinna for her assistance, but Zinna then changed tack. "Come back to us, Amalla! You know that is where you belong! You were born to use your powers. We can help you do it! Come back to your people, Amalla!" Zinna spoke silkily, persuasively.
"You must know I cannot," answered Amalla. "Or better, I will not."
Edward asked Amalla who the newcomers were. "Agents of Graz'zt, come to reclaim me." "You don't want to go with them, do you?" asked Edward. "Certainly not, Hieroneous knows!" she replied.
Edward went to Zinna and boldly asked her to restore Green Arrow. Zinna looked condescendingly at Edward and told him, "You don't really expect me to do any such thing, do you?"
Zinna continued her attempt at persuasion, if not coercion. "We could take you with us by force, you know," Zinna threatened. "Do what you must. I will do what I must," replied Amalla. But then, Amalla grabbed Edward's and Firiona's hands, and suddenly teleported away, leaving the minions of Graz'zt to contemplate their next move.
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