Encounter with Darneska by Aldrich | World Anvil
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Wed 10th Mar 2021 07:59

Encounter with Darneska

by Aldrich Runecarver

We hid behind the counter of the tavern. The cloaked figure moved closer, sensing us. He mentioned something about being there when Zarruk's people died. Zarruk responded that "He needs to die", so we attacked.
 
During the fight, Descartes entered with a half-elf woman and joined the battle. We landed some solid hits, then the enemy's cloak seemed to come to life and attack us. It actually spoke, and called the unknown enemy by the name "Darneska". I managed to cut Darneska's hand off, but before we could kill him he and the cloak teleported away and escaped. As he left he said something about this being the beginning of "his" rule (not clear who he was referring to, will have to investigate).
 
The half-elf woman is a ranger named Mirielle. She was hunting Darneska for years, and during the fight he referred to her as "princess". Haven't had time to ask her about that. Apparently Darneska is a creature called a Darkling and has wrought destruction on the area Mirielle is from.
 
We released Sibil from her bonds, but she was still unconscious and seems to be suffering from some disease. Black veins appeared on her neck; I remember reading about a condition similar to this in a book from about 1200 years ago. Did Darneska cause this or some other infection/curse?
 
Looking around, the bodies on the floor have disappeared. Asking about it, this was apparently an illusion spell used to ward and protect this meeting place. Darneska somehow managed to get past the other wards and protections that have been placed here.
 
The fire in the fireplace is still blue. We could not put it out, and it did not create any warmth. At Zarruk's suggestion I threw Darneska's severed hand into the flames, and it was immediately consumed and destroyed. If we encounter this blue flame in the future, Do Not Touch!!! It is likely a magical fire that will need to be dispelled with magic somehow.
 
We returned to Tabor. He was being tended to, but still seemed in good spirits despite his injuries. He told us that he was part of a group that used to be 11 strong, entrusted to guard something called the Tree of Light and Dark. Of this group, there are only 4 members left (presumably Tabor, Descartes, Mordecai, and Sibil they were forced to go into hiding and have become known as the Splinters. (Pondering: they were tasked with guarding a tree, but also said they released something powerful long ago. Did they fail to guard the tree? Did they know what they released before acting, or was it released in ignorance? Were the other members aware of everything? Could there have been betrayal from within? Must research Tree of Light and Dark and ask one of the Splinters about this history more later...)
 
They need our help, but it is somewhat unclear how we can help them when a being as powerful as Darneska can bypass their defenses.
 
We went to Bevil's house again; he apparently has more direction for us as to how we can help. After we arrived, he gifted us with cold resistant armor. Whatever this blue flame is, it seems to create frigid conditions wherever it appears. On the way to his house we also noticed that the white snow outside has turned to some dark obsidian-like substance. Apparently conditions here are worse than we initially feared.
 

Continue reading...

  1. Entering Wolfrest Keep and Meeting the Splinters
  2. Encounter with Darneska
  3. Leaving Wolfrest
  4. Two Fiends and a Firbolg
  5. Breakfast and Bakeries
  6. To War With Gods
  7. New Toys and Old Lies
    7th Ariel, 1300
  8. The House of Ataraxia (part 1)
    7th Ariel, 1358
  9. Funky Dunky Undead (part 2)
    7th Ariel, 1358
  10. The Cat on the Cold Frosty Lawn
    8th Ariel, 1358
  11. The Fight in Scholar's Square
    8th Ariel, 1358
  12. Into the Depths
    8th Ariel, 1358
  13. A Monster's Kitchen
    8th Ariel, 1358
  14. A Friend In Need
    8th Ariel, 1358
  15. Stabbed in the Back
  16. Gods and Their Priests
  17. A Complicated Errand
  18. The Evermoore Road
  19. Blood Drop Crew
  20. More Talking Trees
    11th Ariel, 1358
  21. Zarruk's Family History
    11th Ariel, 1358
  22. A Sleepless Night
    12th Ariel, 1358
  23. Reciprocity and Conspiracy
    12th Ariel, 1358
  24. Shopping
    12th Ariel, 1358
  25. Dark Revelations
    12th Ariel, 1358
  26. Voices from Beyond the Grave
    12th Ariel, 1358
  27. Midnight Raid
    13th Ariel, 1358
  28. More Questions than Answers
    13th Ariel, 1358
  29. The Jump
    10th Ariel, 1358
  30. The Gap
    Unknown, 1374
  31. Dealing with a Dragon
    Unknown, 1374
  32. On the Road to the University
    Unknown, 1374
  33. Undead and Pirates
    Unknown, 1374
  34. Rock and Roll Comes to Imre
    Unknown, 1374

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