Disclaimer:
Basic deal. these are my own characters, but everything in the story is based off of the information contained in v. 3.5 of the Core Rule Books (Player's Guide, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master's Guide) all published by Wizards of the Coast, etc. I also use the Epic Level Handbook.
PROLOGUE:
The bent iron gate swung on a single rusty hinge, the once silver metal twisted and discolored by an unusual magic that she could not recognize. Beyond the gate, the once beautiful alder trees that had majestically shadowed the long climb to the tower beyond were gone. Cinder and ash lay in motionless heaps alongside the winding path, moving slightly when the mournful wind lifted up the remnants of the beautiful trees and scattered them along the once pleasant grounds.
Nothing stirred on the grounds of the Tower of Arcane Magic in the land of Erasdaen. Nothing was left to stir.
Adrianna Miskëalo blinked back the tears that threatened to come, pushing her Elven heritage behind her calm control, back into the shadows of her subconscious. She was a half elf, born to parents she didn't know or remember. All of her memories were of the Tower, the wizards who studied there, and those who visited them. Being an elf had no meaning to her, it was just another foreign influence trying to manipulate her, trying to deceive her.
She knew that he had to be safe; she could feel it: the Master of the Tower was still alive, the power of the magic still surged through his veins and his mind. He had been a father when she needed discipline and guidance, a friend when she needed companionship and a safe harbor when terror gripped her soul. He was everything to her. She was not complete without him.
She began climbing up the steep track, ignoring the devastation that was on either side of the path that she had trodden so many times. The only sound that existed in the new reality was that of the wind, calling for a long lost love, never hearing an answer. The wind blew her thick black hair away from her back, pushing the loose curls over her shoulders, to the left.
She pushed her way through the storm of ash and cinder, heading towards the Tower with a determination not found among many. She had to find the Master. She had to make sure that he was still alive, regardless of what her senses told her. When she reached the top of the hill that stood before the Tower, she gasped.
The grounds around the tower were a nightmare. Craters marred what once was a beautiful meadow. The small lake that she had sat by so many times in her youth had been replaced by boiling acid. The corpses of the wizard students she had grown to know and love littered the grounds, a testament to the vile destruction that had occurred, their blood staining the now barren ground.
Adrianna knew that she could not waste time on frivolous emotions; she had one duty above all else: get to the Master and ensure that he was safe, and then ring the Bell of Alarm. The Bell was created along with the Tower and the society of wizards who maintained it. The society had a purpose beyond learning and mastering magic, although none but the master knew what it was. It was to protect this purpose that the tower's location was kept secret.
The Tower of Arcane Magic was surrounded by a deep forest, filled with enchanted beasts and magical traps to prevent those who did not know of the tower from finding it. Should an invader come, the instructions were to defend the tower at all costs, and if need be, ring the Bell of Alarm. The Bell of Alarm had never been rung; no one knew what would happen when it was struck.
Adrianna raced down the hill, fearing that a dark sorcerer of some kind would appear and throw out a magnificent fireball her way, trying to cover as much ground as quickly as possible. Although she had lived among wizards for her entire life, she didn't have the ability nor the knowledge to comprehend the magical combinations needed to truly unleash potent spells.
When she looked up at the tower that loomed above her, the obsidian reflecting the bright rays of the sun, she knew that she was too late to make any difference. The once beautiful doors, sporting carvings of the nobility of the races, were shattered, the shards blown inwards, into the grand entryway. The once beautiful tapestries were shredded rags. Something horrible had happened.
Adrianna felt the familiar warmth of the magic return to the brass scarab amulet she always wore. The amulet was once again drawing its energy from the tower. Although the building itself had been defiled, the ancient magic that surged through the walls was as strong as it had always been.
Adrianna flew into action, ripping the scarab off of its chain. She raced across the octagonal chamber to the far wall, where a series of magical runes were carved into the marble. The runes glowed with a strange light, each with the intensity of the sun. She let the scarab drop from her hand, and land on a rune she had learned to recognize, but not understand.
The instant the scarab became enveloped in the light, a similar light crept up Adrianna's arms, illuminating her through the grim smoke that steamed in from outside. The euphoria of the magic surged through her, lifting her into the heavens, to a different plane. The world grew to a bright white, blinding, comforting.
All too soon, the real world faded back into existence as the magic left her standing in the Study of the Master, the room forbidden to all except the Master of the Tower and her. Adrenaline and fear pumped through her veins as she quickly scanned the room, hoping to find her mentor in better health than when she had left that morning.
What she saw stopped her heart.
Master Ublenick lay upon the cold stone floor, his body scarred beyond recognition by some magical flame. The old, decrepit man tried to move when he felt her come in, but he couldn't bring himself to make any motion.
He breathed out hoarsely through the pain of the burns, calling her.
"Adrianna, you are the only one who I can trust."
Basic deal. these are my own characters, but everything in the story is based off of the information contained in v. 3.5 of the Core Rule Books (Player's Guide, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master's Guide) all published by Wizards of the Coast, etc. I also use the Epic Level Handbook.
PROLOGUE:
The bent iron gate swung on a single rusty hinge, the once silver metal twisted and discolored by an unusual magic that she could not recognize. Beyond the gate, the once beautiful alder trees that had majestically shadowed the long climb to the tower beyond were gone. Cinder and ash lay in motionless heaps alongside the winding path, moving slightly when the mournful wind lifted up the remnants of the beautiful trees and scattered them along the once pleasant grounds.
Nothing stirred on the grounds of the Tower of Arcane Magic in the land of Erasdaen. Nothing was left to stir.
Adrianna Miskëalo blinked back the tears that threatened to come, pushing her Elven heritage behind her calm control, back into the shadows of her subconscious. She was a half elf, born to parents she didn't know or remember. All of her memories were of the Tower, the wizards who studied there, and those who visited them. Being an elf had no meaning to her, it was just another foreign influence trying to manipulate her, trying to deceive her.
She knew that he had to be safe; she could feel it: the Master of the Tower was still alive, the power of the magic still surged through his veins and his mind. He had been a father when she needed discipline and guidance, a friend when she needed companionship and a safe harbor when terror gripped her soul. He was everything to her. She was not complete without him.
She began climbing up the steep track, ignoring the devastation that was on either side of the path that she had trodden so many times. The only sound that existed in the new reality was that of the wind, calling for a long lost love, never hearing an answer. The wind blew her thick black hair away from her back, pushing the loose curls over her shoulders, to the left.
She pushed her way through the storm of ash and cinder, heading towards the Tower with a determination not found among many. She had to find the Master. She had to make sure that he was still alive, regardless of what her senses told her. When she reached the top of the hill that stood before the Tower, she gasped.
The grounds around the tower were a nightmare. Craters marred what once was a beautiful meadow. The small lake that she had sat by so many times in her youth had been replaced by boiling acid. The corpses of the wizard students she had grown to know and love littered the grounds, a testament to the vile destruction that had occurred, their blood staining the now barren ground.
Adrianna knew that she could not waste time on frivolous emotions; she had one duty above all else: get to the Master and ensure that he was safe, and then ring the Bell of Alarm. The Bell was created along with the Tower and the society of wizards who maintained it. The society had a purpose beyond learning and mastering magic, although none but the master knew what it was. It was to protect this purpose that the tower's location was kept secret.
The Tower of Arcane Magic was surrounded by a deep forest, filled with enchanted beasts and magical traps to prevent those who did not know of the tower from finding it. Should an invader come, the instructions were to defend the tower at all costs, and if need be, ring the Bell of Alarm. The Bell of Alarm had never been rung; no one knew what would happen when it was struck.
Adrianna raced down the hill, fearing that a dark sorcerer of some kind would appear and throw out a magnificent fireball her way, trying to cover as much ground as quickly as possible. Although she had lived among wizards for her entire life, she didn't have the ability nor the knowledge to comprehend the magical combinations needed to truly unleash potent spells.
When she looked up at the tower that loomed above her, the obsidian reflecting the bright rays of the sun, she knew that she was too late to make any difference. The once beautiful doors, sporting carvings of the nobility of the races, were shattered, the shards blown inwards, into the grand entryway. The once beautiful tapestries were shredded rags. Something horrible had happened.
Adrianna felt the familiar warmth of the magic return to the brass scarab amulet she always wore. The amulet was once again drawing its energy from the tower. Although the building itself had been defiled, the ancient magic that surged through the walls was as strong as it had always been.
Adrianna flew into action, ripping the scarab off of its chain. She raced across the octagonal chamber to the far wall, where a series of magical runes were carved into the marble. The runes glowed with a strange light, each with the intensity of the sun. She let the scarab drop from her hand, and land on a rune she had learned to recognize, but not understand.
The instant the scarab became enveloped in the light, a similar light crept up Adrianna's arms, illuminating her through the grim smoke that steamed in from outside. The euphoria of the magic surged through her, lifting her into the heavens, to a different plane. The world grew to a bright white, blinding, comforting.
All too soon, the real world faded back into existence as the magic left her standing in the Study of the Master, the room forbidden to all except the Master of the Tower and her. Adrenaline and fear pumped through her veins as she quickly scanned the room, hoping to find her mentor in better health than when she had left that morning.
What she saw stopped her heart.
Master Ublenick lay upon the cold stone floor, his body scarred beyond recognition by some magical flame. The old, decrepit man tried to move when he felt her come in, but he couldn't bring himself to make any motion.
He breathed out hoarsely through the pain of the burns, calling her.
"Adrianna, you are the only one who I can trust."