It was in the filthy caves beneath Mathyln Manor, that Prince Strohm of Leth was dissolved by Co'Nurgul, a foul tentacular debutant recently crawled from the pits of hell. The showdown between Prince Strohm's companions and the Co'Nurgul's entourage took place in a large cavern at the foot of a staircase oozing with slime. It was the humble slime that ultimately and quite literally led to Strohm's downfall. Prince Strohm of Leth The enemy, alerted by the noise of our rear guard, catch our scouts at the foot of the slimy stairs. Old comrades, we thought dead; Erasmus and Qivel and an abomination called Roarch block entry to the cavern. The mutant's radiate a mind-numbing confusion and the slime slick stairs make the conditions difficult. Behind the mutants, a gloating witch beckons something from a foul-smelling pit at the back of the chamber. Queale stops the gloating with some well-placed arrows; the dead witch falls into the pit - bye-bye, Mildwytch, or whatever your name was, thanks for coming; we cheer, but not for long because mutant Erasmus attacks. With blinding speed, the abominable monk stuns Gruff and then pummels Ted into the tunnel wall with a flurry of blows, but the bloodied rogue has the last laugh when he empties six charges of magic missiles killing mutant Erasmus. It is then Prince Strohm of Leth slips; the indomitable warrior backpedals in an attempt to regain his footing, but to no avail, Strohm slides down the steps falling prone in front of Roarch and Quivel. But never fear, Malied is here; the wizard's Fireball engulfs Roarch, Quivel and Strohm with a boom, adding smoke and ash to the fetid features of the cavern. As the smoke clears, a writhing mass of deliquescent tentacles slithers from the pit...the Co'Nurgul. Those that can take cover in the tunnel, confusion reigns as the blasphemous horror undulates toward us. Kevan steps in with some your daddy doesn't love you jokes, which hit the mark because the Co'Nurgul has father issues, never having lived up to the Old-One's expectations. The party launches a volley of missile fire; Goltho enfeebles Roarch with his arrows, Ted puts a bolt right between his eyes, and someone kills Qiviel; was it Queale? But Strohm is still down, and the Co'Nurgul ominously spasms forward. The Co'Nurgle grasps Strohm with wretched tentacles pulling the elven prince into a vile embrace. Mal blasts the horrifc couple with another fireball, the monster shrug's most of the blast-off (with all those tentacles the Co'Nurgul is good at shrugging), Strohm's decomposing body burns brightly. We look on in horror as the Co'Nurgle consumes our friend Strohm. Strohm the brave, Strohm the rampant, our friend, my hero. The Co'Nurgul writhes forward a mass of dark translucent tentacles, spreading horror and confusion in its wake. Kevan succumbs to madness, the Co'Nurguls corrupting aura overwhelms the bard, and to his (and his tailors) horror, his body starts to dissolve. Meryem enters the fray after slipping down the stairs and cleaves the Co'Nurgle to death with her battle axe. Kevan's flesh and bones are melting (Ted mumbles something about not much of a spine to start with) - Rondus frowns, there is magic that could save him, but Kevan would have to die for it to work. Kevan begs Queale to end the misery, and she stabs in the heart before Ted can stab him in the back. Slimy Kevan is deposited into a bucket. Poor Strohm, however, has dissolved into the muck of the cavern floor, which somehow seems a little shinier; perhaps it's the aura from Strohm's magic armaments...the party rests in the filthy cavern. To the north of Co'Nurgul cavern, up a short flight of slippery stairs, lies a chamber with a black guardian obelisk that radiates ominous power. Could this be connected to the obelisk that drove Queale crazy? The filthy pit the witch tumbled into gapes open at the northern end of the cavern. Strohm is no more, he can not be helped, but Eamon and Kevan's cadavers can, so Ted decides it's time to leave. We bring the dead to King Fraener. Fortunately, the King under the Mountain has access to enough revivifyication to restore Kevan and Eamon to life before Rondus' spells wears off. The Poet King Fraener gave some comfort with a Lament for Strohm His helm was tall his fame was high His silver tower it reached the sky Fairest son of the elder race A Prince of Leth who’s handsome face Would cause the lady’s hearts to swoon As honied words his lips did croon For mighty Strohm was great of heart His love for all set him apart Friends will not too soon forget Their hearts weigh heavy with regret
O’ Prince of hearts and bravery This world never again shall see So join with me to sing his praise
Prince Strohm of Leth now in his grave. At Khundrakar, we disband - Ted and Tod take Kevan to the druids of Leth after repatriating Strohms possessions at Solana Bael. Queale takes word of Strohms passing to the elves of Leth, some train, raging Meryem sees to chores. Epilogue. At Druid's Grove in the Rawlinswood, the druids Jaroo Ashstaff and the High Druid of Leth (mates of Ted the pipeweed gourmet) restore Kevan's scrambled brain and can tell us the Stormcallers are fanatical minions of the storm god Talos. The cult is particularly favoured by the mountain dwarves, especially those who see dwarf and giant as the 'primordial' Races of Storm & Stone, in contrast to the weak lowland-dwelling humans and elves, the Races of Leaf & Sun Talos' vassals include the ravening beast lord Malar, patron of evil lycanthropes, and Auril the goddess of winter, The benevolent Archmage Tanwen Whitefire, who dwells in a tower of ice on the western edge of White Worm Glacier and protects the Snow Elves, is said to be a grand-daughter of Auril; it's rumoured possibly Talos is her grandfather; if so she might know more. Tanwen's mother is the Fey Lady Iyraclea, Snow Queen of the Great Glacier. <a href="https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Talos" rel="nofollow">https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Talos</a>
