A Chronicle of Alscium:
The Forgotten Halls of the Iron Hold
Prologue - The Siege of Ayrine, Second Era, 220.
The Grand General scratched his chin, peering over the table before him. His scarred, weathered features are lit by the dull glow of a nearby brazier. He wears his usual flat, unornamented armor - a true people's soldier - and the fur cloak he stole from the body of one unfortunate Lion Guard that had tried to face him in single combat. Fool.
Behind him stands an old, wizened looking man. To the untrained eye he would seem a vagrant that wandered into the General's staff meeting uninvited. But you know him to be Bayazar, one of the Great Wizards of men. To his other side is a rotund, short dwarf, muttering into his beard and twirling an overly ornate spyglass in his fingers. You know him to be Magni Redanvil, Chief Engineer of the Vanguard. Around you swarm lieutenants and captains, marshals and sergeants, all arguing and bickering over this thing and that. They stab at points of a city map with their gauntleted fingers, pushing around little tokens that represented the lives of fifty men.
Beyond, the sound of many engines of war can be heard, their cranks and pulleys straining, and the sound of flaming ammunition being hurled into the air. The distant crack and thunder of cannons and flintlock handguns can be heard if one strains their ear. All around you is the bustle of a large siege camp, stretching wide around the Einheldren city of Ayrine. It is the second month of the assault, and you have been here since the beginning. Two attacks have been made on the walls, and both have been repulsed at great loss of life to both sides. Your army, full of men, dwarves, half-elves, halflings, tieflings, and gnomes all chomp at the bit for revenge against their former masters.
You, and your Free Company companions, have been summoned here by the Grand General himself. Why he has taken an interest in your small band, none of you can guess - though it hasn't stopped any of you from trying. Despite the cacophony around you, the General's voice rings clear and true, "Approach, then, Free Company..."
Behind him stands an old, wizened looking man. To the untrained eye he would seem a vagrant that wandered into the General's staff meeting uninvited. But you know him to be Bayazar, one of the Great Wizards of men. To his other side is a rotund, short dwarf, muttering into his beard and twirling an overly ornate spyglass in his fingers. You know him to be Magni Redanvil, Chief Engineer of the Vanguard. Around you swarm lieutenants and captains, marshals and sergeants, all arguing and bickering over this thing and that. They stab at points of a city map with their gauntleted fingers, pushing around little tokens that represented the lives of fifty men.
Beyond, the sound of many engines of war can be heard, their cranks and pulleys straining, and the sound of flaming ammunition being hurled into the air. The distant crack and thunder of cannons and flintlock handguns can be heard if one strains their ear. All around you is the bustle of a large siege camp, stretching wide around the Einheldren city of Ayrine. It is the second month of the assault, and you have been here since the beginning. Two attacks have been made on the walls, and both have been repulsed at great loss of life to both sides. Your army, full of men, dwarves, half-elves, halflings, tieflings, and gnomes all chomp at the bit for revenge against their former masters.
You, and your Free Company companions, have been summoned here by the Grand General himself. Why he has taken an interest in your small band, none of you can guess - though it hasn't stopped any of you from trying. Despite the cacophony around you, the General's voice rings clear and true, "Approach, then, Free Company..."
Act 1: The Besieged City of Ayrine
Breaking and entering... in style.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/7/6/26760581/published/ec2a1db73a4bb995bbac718259e4f611-1.jpg?1490973396)
Thunder split the night air, one full of the steady bombardment that had become usual for the last two months outside the city of Ayrine, as the Free Company gathered at the Grand General's command tent to be briefed on just what it was they were to do in the attempt to bring the siege to a conclusion. The room was abuzz with activity, with influential members of the Vanguard shouting over one another and accusing their compatriots of various levels of incompetence. Two plans were put forward, one of high-flying audacity from Chief Engineer Redanvil, and the other, concocted by High Wizard Bayazar, one of magical infiltration and stealthy murder.
Redanvil believed that the walls could be brought down with dwarven ingenuity... and a lot of gunpowder... while the wizard believed the magical wards protecting the city to be the greatest source of frustration for the Vanguard. After - somewhat tense - negotiations, the Company helped inspire the creation of a new plan; one that combined the best aspects of both commanders' respective ideas. The Free Company would infiltrate the Citadel of the City via magical means while the dwarven Miners Guild tore through the dam-gate that forded the Whiteflow river on the city's eastern edge. The distraction, and subsequent flooding of the Lower City, would draw the attention of the Einheldren away from the Upper City, and the Citadel, so the Free Company could slip inside, kill the mages keeping the wards in operation, and allowing the Vanguard to rush into the city through new breaches in the now-unprotected stone walls. This would in turn drain the Lower City, and allow the surviving Free Peoples to escape as the Vanguard pushed through Ayrine. A risky plan, and one that entailed the possibility for great loss of innocent life, but the Low Peoples would be put to death anyway should the Einheldren feel their situation growing ever more unstable... and so the decision was made.
Redanvil believed that the walls could be brought down with dwarven ingenuity... and a lot of gunpowder... while the wizard believed the magical wards protecting the city to be the greatest source of frustration for the Vanguard. After - somewhat tense - negotiations, the Company helped inspire the creation of a new plan; one that combined the best aspects of both commanders' respective ideas. The Free Company would infiltrate the Citadel of the City via magical means while the dwarven Miners Guild tore through the dam-gate that forded the Whiteflow river on the city's eastern edge. The distraction, and subsequent flooding of the Lower City, would draw the attention of the Einheldren away from the Upper City, and the Citadel, so the Free Company could slip inside, kill the mages keeping the wards in operation, and allowing the Vanguard to rush into the city through new breaches in the now-unprotected stone walls. This would in turn drain the Lower City, and allow the surviving Free Peoples to escape as the Vanguard pushed through Ayrine. A risky plan, and one that entailed the possibility for great loss of innocent life, but the Low Peoples would be put to death anyway should the Einheldren feel their situation growing ever more unstable... and so the decision was made.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/7/6/26760581/published/pathfinder-1-by-yamao-d5q9sbz.jpg?1490973403)
As the Company left the command tent with their assignment, they trudged through the rain and mud to the quartermastery, where they acquired a few items that may prove to be particularly useful in their ensuing mission... and the dwarf Blünt acquired a pocket pigeon. Despite being told they need not pay for the services of the quartermaster, Aedwen and Vital both showed the rather helpful man a spot of charity, tossing him some coin. Perhaps it was this shared moment of mutual understanding for the plight of the poor quartermaster, or perhaps simply because she was the closest one around, Vital inquired about Aedwen's true feelings on their Einheldren foe. After this brief conversation, the party went their separate ways... mostly.
In a moment of inspired practical jokery, Sylben crept up on the meditating Syd, and impressive feat considering the ranger's Sylvan ancestry, and painted a particularly penile symbol upon his face, before making his way sneakily back to the main camp. It proved to be little more than an annoyance for the Wood Elf, though, as his morning ritual of washing his face in a forest stream took care of the source of potential humiliation. Soon, though, dawn was breaking over the siege camp outside the city of Ayrine, and the party made their way to the parade grounds outside the camp proper to await the creation of the High Wizard's infiltration portal.
It all happened quickly, in truth. The moment evidence of the dwarves' success was clear, the crumbling of the two guardtowers that flanked the dam-gate being sign enough, Bayazar tore open a large portal, bellowing, an odd thing for one with such an small, worn voice, "GO!"
And the Free Company went.
With Blünt diving head-first and taking the shape of the bear with the rest of the Company following with their characteristic flair, and with the unpleasant stomach-turning feeling of portal travel washing over all of them, they found themselves in the hay-loft of an Einheldren stables, within the walls that surrounded the Citadel. Just as the wizard had promised.
As the Company gathered their wits, Aedwen had the foresight to peer out of one of the cracks between the wooden slats, and spotted a quartet of Einheldren knights making their way towards the stable! Alerting the Company, they quickly sprang into action. Vital stayed in the hay loft, preparing to rain Eldritch fire down upon his poor foes. Aedwen hopped upon Blünt's back, as the bear-knight and mount crouched low in one of the horse stalls. Casting a simple illusion, Sylben disguised himself as one of the knights, with the full resplendent armor and weapons of that station, in order to close the doors behind the approaching knights without raising too many questions. Meanwhile, Klaus and Syd took their place in the rafters of the stable, perched and ready to leap down onto the unsuspecting cavaliers.
In a moment of inspired practical jokery, Sylben crept up on the meditating Syd, and impressive feat considering the ranger's Sylvan ancestry, and painted a particularly penile symbol upon his face, before making his way sneakily back to the main camp. It proved to be little more than an annoyance for the Wood Elf, though, as his morning ritual of washing his face in a forest stream took care of the source of potential humiliation. Soon, though, dawn was breaking over the siege camp outside the city of Ayrine, and the party made their way to the parade grounds outside the camp proper to await the creation of the High Wizard's infiltration portal.
It all happened quickly, in truth. The moment evidence of the dwarves' success was clear, the crumbling of the two guardtowers that flanked the dam-gate being sign enough, Bayazar tore open a large portal, bellowing, an odd thing for one with such an small, worn voice, "GO!"
And the Free Company went.
With Blünt diving head-first and taking the shape of the bear with the rest of the Company following with their characteristic flair, and with the unpleasant stomach-turning feeling of portal travel washing over all of them, they found themselves in the hay-loft of an Einheldren stables, within the walls that surrounded the Citadel. Just as the wizard had promised.
As the Company gathered their wits, Aedwen had the foresight to peer out of one of the cracks between the wooden slats, and spotted a quartet of Einheldren knights making their way towards the stable! Alerting the Company, they quickly sprang into action. Vital stayed in the hay loft, preparing to rain Eldritch fire down upon his poor foes. Aedwen hopped upon Blünt's back, as the bear-knight and mount crouched low in one of the horse stalls. Casting a simple illusion, Sylben disguised himself as one of the knights, with the full resplendent armor and weapons of that station, in order to close the doors behind the approaching knights without raising too many questions. Meanwhile, Klaus and Syd took their place in the rafters of the stable, perched and ready to leap down onto the unsuspecting cavaliers.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/7/6/26760581/published/69932.jpg?1490973409)
Combat was vicious, brutal, and frenetic, as it always is in the world of Alscium. Once the doors were shut behind the elves, Vital whirled from the shadows, a sickening bolt of Eldritch power arcing through the air and slamming into the shoulder of one of the knights, blowing a massive hole in his body. Sylben's blade darted into the new cavity in the elf's chest, his rapier ending the unfortunate knight's life. Roaring out from where they had been waiting, Blünt and Aedwen bore down upon the closest foe, with the bear's mighty jaws snapping around his leg and holding him place for Aedwen to bring her blade down, splitting the right side of his face open.
Just then, an arrow sliced through the air, straight down from the rafters of the large building, as Syd joined in the face-splitting fun. His arrow tore the knight beneath him's face open, blood spilling across his polished armor, before the elf whirled in anger, reaching up and grabbing his Sylheldren cousin by the ankle, dragging him to the dirt with a heavy thud before attempting to skewer him through the chest. Klaus took advantage of the chaos of this moment to leap behind the last of the bewildered knights, the one that the Free Company intended to take captive, and attempted to cut his knees out from behind. Through he managed to drive his marlinspike through the tendons in the elf's right leg, the Paladin's adversary managed to stay on his feet, hobbling away from the human that intended to take him prisoner.
Combat roared throughout the stable, with Blünt's ursine snout being bashed in by the sword-pommel of the knight whose thigh around which he had wrapped his jaws. In retaliation, the bear reared up, and tore out the elf's throat... then ate it.
Naturally.
Aedwen launched herself in the defense of her wood elven companion, slicing clean through the ankle-grabbing knight's hip, mortally wounding him. Bitter hatred for the low peoples was just as intense in the throes of death as it was in life, and the Einheldren, with his dying act, hurled a vial of Eldrichtfire powder at the trio, burning Syd and Sylben's eyes and throats and sending them into violent coughing fits. The last knight, before he could be tackled by Klaus and taken prisoner, drove his dagger into his skull through his chin to avoid the shame of being captured by the low breeds that had ambushed him and his compatriots.
And with that taken care of, the Free Company prepared to enter the Citadel proper...
Just then, an arrow sliced through the air, straight down from the rafters of the large building, as Syd joined in the face-splitting fun. His arrow tore the knight beneath him's face open, blood spilling across his polished armor, before the elf whirled in anger, reaching up and grabbing his Sylheldren cousin by the ankle, dragging him to the dirt with a heavy thud before attempting to skewer him through the chest. Klaus took advantage of the chaos of this moment to leap behind the last of the bewildered knights, the one that the Free Company intended to take captive, and attempted to cut his knees out from behind. Through he managed to drive his marlinspike through the tendons in the elf's right leg, the Paladin's adversary managed to stay on his feet, hobbling away from the human that intended to take him prisoner.
Combat roared throughout the stable, with Blünt's ursine snout being bashed in by the sword-pommel of the knight whose thigh around which he had wrapped his jaws. In retaliation, the bear reared up, and tore out the elf's throat... then ate it.
Naturally.
Aedwen launched herself in the defense of her wood elven companion, slicing clean through the ankle-grabbing knight's hip, mortally wounding him. Bitter hatred for the low peoples was just as intense in the throes of death as it was in life, and the Einheldren, with his dying act, hurled a vial of Eldrichtfire powder at the trio, burning Syd and Sylben's eyes and throats and sending them into violent coughing fits. The last knight, before he could be tackled by Klaus and taken prisoner, drove his dagger into his skull through his chin to avoid the shame of being captured by the low breeds that had ambushed him and his compatriots.
And with that taken care of, the Free Company prepared to enter the Citadel proper...
Act 2: The Citadel of Ayrine
Dark things are afoot... whispers in the dark.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/7/6/26760581/published/77b9cb4962e2cfaa07b668f18e56708f.jpeg?1492009381)
The stables fell silent, save for the labored breathing of the Free Company members as they set to work healing their injuries with a bit of magical aid. Blood began to mix with the hay, and the horses that surrounded our heroes began to whine and stamp, but the commotion in the city beyond seemed to drown out the noise well enough. After the rather messy encounter with the Einheldren knights, the Free Company turned their attention to infiltrating the Citadel keep proper. Some members of the party, whilst the debate over the best course of action raged hot, scouted the surrounding area through the gaps between the wooden slats that made up the stable’s walls, with Syd cathing a glimpse of Einheldren soldiers rushing to the barracks to arm themselves and Aedwen discovering an odd magical aura above the second story of the keep.
After much debate, the Company decided that it was unlikely, in all the commotion about the Citadel, that the eldar-born members of their party would be noticed, and it was decided that Vital and Sylben, with the small mage Ronoros hidden under Sylben's cloak for for back-up, would dart across the courtyard that separated the buildings in order to scout the smithy, and perhaps find much needed allies in the form of the possible slave-laboring dwarves and humans that often operated these everyday, non-magical Einheldren forges. And so the three made a quick dash to the forge, but the moment they burst into the forge, they found that the bellows stood quiet and coals did not burn, and the two elves were immediately accosted by a pair of dwarves and a human, each brandishing crude iron weapons. It seemed that this was to be the end for the infamous Vital and beloved Sylben, but the appearance of the gnome, at the last possible second it should be noted, from under Sylben's cloak caused the Free Peoples to stay their blades.
Years of mistreatment by Einhledren masters had clearly made these three ready for war, because a simple explanation of their purpose in the Citadel and their allegiance to the Scarlet Vanguard convinced the trio to aid their help to the Free Company. They agree they would, to the best of their ability, clear the watchmen from the walls that surrounded the Citadel, hopefully buying the Free Company the ability to make their move to the Keep. They also revealed that the servants use a secret tunnel from the kitchens in the Keep to the servant's quarters to steal food and other goods from the Einheldren to feed their families. Thanking their new allies for their assistance, the Company members returned to the stables, but not before Ronoros and Sylben broke into the Einheldren armory and stole several vials of amagerium oil from a large chest. Sneak-thieves will be sneak-thieves.
After much debate, the Company decided that it was unlikely, in all the commotion about the Citadel, that the eldar-born members of their party would be noticed, and it was decided that Vital and Sylben, with the small mage Ronoros hidden under Sylben's cloak for for back-up, would dart across the courtyard that separated the buildings in order to scout the smithy, and perhaps find much needed allies in the form of the possible slave-laboring dwarves and humans that often operated these everyday, non-magical Einheldren forges. And so the three made a quick dash to the forge, but the moment they burst into the forge, they found that the bellows stood quiet and coals did not burn, and the two elves were immediately accosted by a pair of dwarves and a human, each brandishing crude iron weapons. It seemed that this was to be the end for the infamous Vital and beloved Sylben, but the appearance of the gnome, at the last possible second it should be noted, from under Sylben's cloak caused the Free Peoples to stay their blades.
Years of mistreatment by Einhledren masters had clearly made these three ready for war, because a simple explanation of their purpose in the Citadel and their allegiance to the Scarlet Vanguard convinced the trio to aid their help to the Free Company. They agree they would, to the best of their ability, clear the watchmen from the walls that surrounded the Citadel, hopefully buying the Free Company the ability to make their move to the Keep. They also revealed that the servants use a secret tunnel from the kitchens in the Keep to the servant's quarters to steal food and other goods from the Einheldren to feed their families. Thanking their new allies for their assistance, the Company members returned to the stables, but not before Ronoros and Sylben broke into the Einheldren armory and stole several vials of amagerium oil from a large chest. Sneak-thieves will be sneak-thieves.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/7/6/26760581/editor/picture25-3-2.png?1492009525)
There was no time to waste, and the Company was swift to action. The moment they made their move to the servants' quarters, their allies burst from cover and made their way onto the eastern wall of the Citadel, neatly dispatching the two Einheldren archers that patrolled its cobbled stone parapets. They moved to the north wall, easily dispatching yet more elven watchmen, before they were struck down in their attempt to clear the western wall, the three falling to their deaths, riddled with finely-fletched arrows. Their sacrifice was not in vain, though, as it allowed the Free Company to reach the servants' quarters without incident, and they set about trying to find the entrance to this rumored tunnel.
Aedwen and Vital stumbled upon a pair of Einheldren guardsmen, standing over the bodies of a paired of slaughtered halflings, grumbling to one another about them "having to have come from somewhere." In a flash of violence, the two members of the Company struck the High Elves down, leaving them crumpled over the bodies of their last murders. Assuming that the house that they had entered had to be the source of the tunnel's entrance, Aedwen scoured the fireplace with her magical monocle, and discovered an enchanted lever in the form of a fire iron. Once pulled, the floor of the fireplace slid backwards, revealing that the tunnel did, in fact, exist. The Company dropped down into its dark, earthy depths, and made their way at a half-crawl towards the Citadel keep.
Aedwen and Vital stumbled upon a pair of Einheldren guardsmen, standing over the bodies of a paired of slaughtered halflings, grumbling to one another about them "having to have come from somewhere." In a flash of violence, the two members of the Company struck the High Elves down, leaving them crumpled over the bodies of their last murders. Assuming that the house that they had entered had to be the source of the tunnel's entrance, Aedwen scoured the fireplace with her magical monocle, and discovered an enchanted lever in the form of a fire iron. Once pulled, the floor of the fireplace slid backwards, revealing that the tunnel did, in fact, exist. The Company dropped down into its dark, earthy depths, and made their way at a half-crawl towards the Citadel keep.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/7/6/26760581/published/illusion-of-mist-hellscape-by-nathanmarciniak.jpg?1492015006)
With Blünt blowing any chance at the element of surprise by bursting through the lid of the crate that covered the exit to the tunnel, the Company luckily discovered that the kitchens was empty... save for a gnome that had her blunderbuss squarely aimed at Blünt's face. Luckily, Luci Fitzbolt did not pull the trigger, and revealed that she had been sent into Ayrine in secret by Magni Redanvil in order to steal a text from the library of the keep. She explained that she had dispatched the two guardsmen that she had found on the first floor, and seen at least ten others rush upstairs. Suddenly, a cacophony of violence echoed out from the second floor, and the Party quickly made their way to the grand staircase to see what had occurred. They burst onto the lavish sitting room of the second floor landing, seeing the ballroom door sealed with a magical sigil. While Luci raided the library for the tome she was sent to find, Syd and Vital crept into the Magistrate's Offices, discovering a rather shocking sight. The Magistrate lay dead, slumped in the corner of the room, and when Syd rolled the body over, he discovered that the elf had been stabbed in the heart with a Dreiheldren dagger, which Aedwen slid into her belt for safekeeping. After this, the Company turned their attention to the great doors that led to the ballroom, and the moment that Blünt touched them, they began to crack and splinter with lines of blood-red magical energy. Suddenly, they burst apart, and the party was transported in a whirlwind of light to the fabled plane of the Hell after Death, the Underworld... the Abyss.
Volcanoes of blood and fire erupted in the distance, ever reshaping the plane as cyclones of fire and streaks of purple-red lightning split the sky. The bodies of ten dead Einheldren lay before them, in the sigil of the Mother of Night, and the infamous and renowned warlock Eisha Salivar stood on a small hill of bones, with the three Mages the Company had been sent to eliminate suspended behind her. She killed each in turn, with every execution being more brutal than the last, all the while mocking the cause for which the Company fought and the struggle between Einheldren and the Free Peoples at large. With a whispered "Not yet... not yet.." echoing from everywhere and nowhere all at once, the party was swallowed by the sea of bones they stood upon, and woke up in the ballroom of the keep. The structure seemed to be caught in a mighty earthquake as great cracks appeared in the columns that supported the ceiling and chairs and tables toppled over, with the crashing of glass filling the Company's ears. As they rushed to escape the crumbling keep, they heard the sound of thundering cannons; the dwarven riverships had breached the city and were sailing up the Great Canal!
The Vanguard had finally breached Ayrine, and Free Peoples, now liberated, streamed out of the Lower City and towards the siege camp as the Company ran for the nearest ship. Sylben cleared the path with a supersonic blast of sound from his enchanted instrument, slaying a host of Einheldren guardsmen before the party leapt onto the leadmost rivership, and steamed away from the smoking remains of the Ayrine Citadel...
Volcanoes of blood and fire erupted in the distance, ever reshaping the plane as cyclones of fire and streaks of purple-red lightning split the sky. The bodies of ten dead Einheldren lay before them, in the sigil of the Mother of Night, and the infamous and renowned warlock Eisha Salivar stood on a small hill of bones, with the three Mages the Company had been sent to eliminate suspended behind her. She killed each in turn, with every execution being more brutal than the last, all the while mocking the cause for which the Company fought and the struggle between Einheldren and the Free Peoples at large. With a whispered "Not yet... not yet.." echoing from everywhere and nowhere all at once, the party was swallowed by the sea of bones they stood upon, and woke up in the ballroom of the keep. The structure seemed to be caught in a mighty earthquake as great cracks appeared in the columns that supported the ceiling and chairs and tables toppled over, with the crashing of glass filling the Company's ears. As they rushed to escape the crumbling keep, they heard the sound of thundering cannons; the dwarven riverships had breached the city and were sailing up the Great Canal!
The Vanguard had finally breached Ayrine, and Free Peoples, now liberated, streamed out of the Lower City and towards the siege camp as the Company ran for the nearest ship. Sylben cleared the path with a supersonic blast of sound from his enchanted instrument, slaying a host of Einheldren guardsmen before the party leapt onto the leadmost rivership, and steamed away from the smoking remains of the Ayrine Citadel...