Game Recap Alaise’s Afterlife Alaise sees souls all about him. He’s walking through a long, stone bridge over an endless void. Hundreds of thousands of souls are all around him. He’s nude, but in good health. About him are humanoids of all kinds. As he walks endlessly, tirelessly along the bridge he sees many of those around them are spirited away from the bridge into an endless variety of planes above them, or drug off the bridge forcefully by creatures from below. Alaise realizes he, too, is being spirited away. He can see the elven lands of Arvandor stretching on forever. As his soul is about to enter, he hears the voice of Sune booming and is thrown away from the elven paradise, falling into the nothingness where he floats for some time. He floats through various afterlives, always seeing but never getting rest, and after some time ends up in a dark, shadowy domain. Not good, not bad, but just dark is where he remains. Sometimes he must flee from the creatures of death lurking in the dark domain, as Alaise realizes he now has some substance. A rotting, skinner version of himself, he is surrounded by other such creatures. One day he hears a calling to him, and he feels the life magics of the world tugging at his soul. Relenting, the magic tears him from the dark domain, and he is pulled through time and space. He finds himself confronted with hundreds of spiritual, women and creatures of beauty. He recognizes them as the spirits of the keepers, now sent to prevent his return to life. He heard a roar next to him, and he saw a spider with the torso of a drow man, wielding a heavy mace in his right hand called Venomace, and a longsword called Thalack’velve in his left. The warrior yelled “Death to the minions of Sune. Selvetarm protects this savage killer”, he tosses Alaise the longsword and the two rush into meet their would-be killers. The fight against the keepers takes more than minutes, it takes hours, maybe days. In this time Alaise learns various information from Selvetarm, who is the demi-god of drow warriors. His people and pantheon have declared war on Tiamatt, as well as her minions in Corrive. Lady Corrive and her followers enslave and take his grandmother’s children, and Lloth has vowed death upon them. Even as Lloth and Tiamatt fight in the abyss in their respective realms, their followers have begun to fight in open warfare on the prime material plane. Alaise is offered renewed life, and power for joining the fight. After an unknown time, almost an eternity. Alaise kills spirit keeper after keeper, even as their arrows fall into his spirit form, causing him pain time and again. He sees the maddened spider warrior crushing their skulls with his mace, as the sword in Alaise’s arm feels more and more like a friend. He looks about at Selvetarm, who is enjoying this exercise, energized more and more by the slaughter. Alaise looks at his face, and he sees himself. Keepers upon him, Alaise lowers his blade, allowing them to descend upon him. Selvetarm rears up over Alaise’s form, roaring “There is no easy path for the weak, fight or succumb to the weakness forever.” Alaise kneels down as arrows pelt into him. Looking down, he mutters, “Is this what strength yields? What have I done? ” The keepers stop. Their spectral forms halting even as Selvetarm continues to bash through them. He looks back at Alaise, and in his left hand instead of his sword is a noose. The noose, Alaise’s noose, except it is now thick, rough, and coated with thorns dripping with poison. Selvetarm, says “Don’t be weak boy, I can help you fight that war. We can win it.” Alaise looks up and says, “No, I refuse you! Corrive must be stopped but not at this expense. How many Oaths of Vengeance have I inspired?! How many Lorie’s have I slain?!”. Selvetarm looks at Alaise and says, “It shouldn’t matter. Then I guess you aren’t the warrior I thought you were.” Selvetarm growls and sweeps half a dozen spectral keepers into nothing with a broad strike of his mace. “Fine, boy. Then I’m keeping your soul for myself.” The demi-god leaps into the nothing with the noose in his left hand catching Alaise by the neck. Taken quickly, Thalack’velve almost falls from his grasp but with pure grit and determination he keeps it in his right hand. Diving down into the nothing, Alaise thought about the keepers he’d killed, his friends he’d tried to avenge, and his new ally, only thinking why couldn’t I have seen it before. A strong grasp held his left wrist, which he quickly held onto, the thorny noose bit into his neck. Selvetarm was suddenly halted, and looking above a black-skinned elf, with silvery hair shimmering in eternal moonlight was grasping his left hand with her right. In her left hand was a longsword. So blinding was the radiance of her beauty and warmth, he could barely make out the empathy on her face. She was sad, sad for Alaise, and just as strong as her emotion were the strength in her left arm holding that longsword. In the timelessness Alaise spent dead, he locks eyes with Eilistraee for just a second. And that second changes his death. Her eyes go warm and she looks down at Selvetarm. She says “Time to fall alone fiend.” The silver sword in her left hand lashes out meeting the drider’s mace. The two become locked in an epic struggle, with Eilistraee grasping Alaise’s left arm with her right, and Selvetarm pulling down Alaise into the abyss in his left and striking at the silvery-haired drow with the great mace in his right hand. The two fight for minutes, hours, and Alaise feels Thalack’velve pulsing in his hand as the thorns in the noose bloody his neck, sending blood trickling down his torso and back. Feeling a calm unlike any other, Alaise’s elvish nature takes control feeling the calm, the life, and chaotic energy of the world growing in his veins, replacing the anger, rage, and hatred, he’d felt for all to long. Gripping Thalack’velve in his right hand, being held on by Elistrae in his left, and being flung about by the neck by Selvetarm, Alaise sets all of his might to set himself free of both deities. He tears free of both with his strength of self, and feels some of his strength sapped as the barbed noose tears deeply into his neck. Selvetarm glowers at him, and says, “So that’s how it is, boy?” His spidery form clacking on the ethereal nothing and preparing his new charge. Eilistraee steps back, with her hands ripped free from Alaise, him having found his own strength. Alaise sets his stance in front of Eilistraee and braces for Selvetarm’s bullrush. With the sword in the right hand, Alaise realises he had his old trusty shield from Sehe in his left. The first blow crashes into Alaise’s shield. The impact sends pain, and then numbness, shooting through his arm. Selvetarm immediately lands a second blow, ripping the shield out of Alaise’s hand, now cracked and broken. Unbalanced, Alaise falls to the ground in front of Eilistraee. Selvetarm draws back his mace to finish Alaise, but the final strike never comes. Alaise looks up just in time to see Eilistraee turn Selvetarm’s blow against him with her own sword, the momentum carrying Selvetarm into the void. Selvetarm goes tumbling into the abyss, the noose still around Alaise’s neck. The silvery dark-elf flies upward grasping Alaise’s left hand again, as if dancing, bringing Alaise back into a glowing moonlight. He is now in Avandor, wreathed in the moonlight of Elistrae’s grace. He sees Sune around him, her form of infinite beauty, that of everything he ever thought was beautiful, now standing before him. Along with her are the keepers who were up until recently exiled, banished and cursed. Through the action of Alaise and his friends they were accepted back into the fold of Sune’s love. Alaise realises he hadn’t destroyed a species, but saved it. Albeit on accident and only through some very callous actions. Sune approaches him, her form beyond description of the mortal word. Only then he realizes that Elistrae is still holding his left hand, and he is gripping Thalack’velve in his right. As he becomes overwhelmed by her presence, Elistrae never ceases holding his hand, even has he grips tighter and tighter, afraid for the coming end. Sune leans over and kisses him on the forehead. The noose around his neck changes into a silver necklace, with an amulet bearing the symbol of the keepers. She says, “Thank you Alaise. Thank you. I have my children home. Should you come across more of them, tell them I have forgiven them, and they have an eternal home in my kingdom. You taught me compassion, and regret, and for that I give you a wish.” Alaise turns to her stammering, “I… I want to undo the harm I’ve caused but how can one wish undo all that? I don’t know. I want to return to the world of the living. To my friends. I want to return to make amends and to balance out my wrongs.” Sune starts to speak but Elistrae is still holding Alaise’s hand, and moves in between Alaise and Sune, facing Alaise. She speaks to Sune, but looks directly into Alaise’s eyes as she says the words. “Sune. My friend.” Still she stares into Alaise’s eyes for an eternity as he feels the anger, hatred, and angst melt away. “Alaise does not need your wish. For he has my favor. I gift unto him Thalack’velve. And another chance because he has a friend who has called upon him to return.” After a moment of silence, Alaise can see nothing but Elistrae’s beautiful eyes, and feel her hand pulsing in his, and his sword. His sword, in his right hand. Sune’s voice says, “So you’ll vouch for his return to life?” Elistrae kisses Alaise on the cheek and says in his ear quite loudly (so much it hurts a little bit) ”Not only that, but he is mine now. I return him to the life as my own child.” She unleashes his hand and turns around to face Sune. That’s where it all gets foggy for Alaise. Alaise’s Reincarnation Alaise body becomes wrapped in vines that spring from the ground, and there is a “munching sound as though they are eating the corpse. Alaise’s armor and equipment fall away and are ejected from the mass of vines and foliage. Baeshra continues the ritual, using various materials consumed by the spell. Some time is spent waiting, as Baeshra explains that Alaise’ soul must find its way back, before the ritual is complete. The ritual takes longer than normal, and Baeshra seems unconcerned, although he lets the party know there might be complications. The mass of vines begin to undulate and writhe, beginning to coalesce and form a humanoid shape. Before them, the party sees the naked form of a male drow. Alaise Wakes Up Alaise wakes up and sees his dark, naked skin. He is laying on top of his armor and equipment, the only thing in his hand is his sword, now a dark crimson color and weeping with some type of liquid. Even as he looks at himself, his form is chiselved, cut. Gorgeous. He feels around his neck the silver necklace, once a noose that Sune bestowed upon him which now bears the symbol of an snake slithering around an arrow. He looks around and sees life, the pulsating nature of everything around him, and a new lease. Whether a dream or unlife, it feels all too real. He spent decades… centuries in unlife and now looks at his friends in a familiar looking cave from a familiar looking time with his familiar looking equipment from what seems all so long ago. Baeshra described a monastery less than a day’s travel to the east. After wishing the party well, Baeshra turned into a giant toad, scooped up his eggs in his mouth and jumped into the mountain lake. The party decided to head there, gathering up their treasure they set off. They noticed some of the lizardfolk watching them leave, Bardman approached and told them if they rebuilt the dam or attack townsfolk, then they would return to deal with them. The lizardfolk seemed fine with this agreement. By the evening, the party approached the monastery. Order of the Phoenix Monastery, St. Diandra’s On the side of the mountain is an old manor made of wood and stone, it looks like it has been here for ages. Out of the roof it looks like there is a more recent structure made of wood which makes a bell tower. The manor itself sits on a 50 foot precipice over the nearby swamps. There is a path leading to it. It looks like they inhabitants have been trying to farm the swamp-lands. In the nearby areas you see a terraforming, turning the rolling hillside into less elevated lands with gardens. The path you are on has flat rocks tossed onto it to help stabilize the path. As older stones sink into the earth, newer ones have been tossed on top over time forming a natural stone path that is a bit muddy, but traversable and elevated above the nearby ground. Approaching you see people scurrying about, knowledgeable of your presence. Up in the air you see four flying creatures, difficult to distinguish who see you and dive behind down behind your sightline as you approach. As you approach, a dwarf is walking out in full plate carrying a greataxe, he looks uncomfortable and irritable. On his breastplate is the symbol of Kiernard, an old kingdom from Shrave. The dwarf looks uncomfortable and irritated, behind him his a human man dressed in muddy-red robes who has a symbol of Kossuth around his neck, a woman in gray trousers and tunic, and two elves who you recognize as Lyklor and Cori. A good 80 feet away, you make out Lyklor yelling, “No seriously, they’ll kill the dragon. I’ve seen what they can do.” Cori is muttering something to the woman in gray trousers. The dwarf sees all of you approaching and stops. He looks at all of you intensely for a moment, then turns back and looks at Lyklor. Lyklor waves his hand extravengly in your direction, then crosses his arms across his chest and smiles in a smug manner. The dwarf looks at all of you, smiles and waves uncomfortable, then walks back inside, pushing his way past anyone who gets in his way. As you walk closer, Lyklor runs up to greet you. “You didn’t die. Nice” He says “You owe me five gold.” to Cori as him and the party walk to the monastery. Someone mentioned, “And we destroyed the dam.” Lyklor said to Cori, “You owe me ten gold.” Inside the monastery the party caught Cori and Lyklor up on what happened. They said the nearby elves were on their way and would deal with the remaining lizardfolk, for whatever that means. After dinner, the party went up to meet with the Right Reverand Father Weratun Forgefury, Abbess Shesmesmal Shokhir, and Abbot Grievus Risquolur. Meeting with the Right Reverand Father Weratun Forgefury On Nikon The party asked about Nikon, and Weratun told them that the situation might not be as dire as they think from a global perspective. In fact, it was entirely possible Nikon had already attacked Corrive and was starting to lose. The party asked about what they might be able to do. Weratun said that their northwest monastery, St. Theodrick’s was recently attacked by Yuan-Ti. Going there, killing the Yuan-Ti and returning with stolen relics would be a way for the party to both help the order out and get access to some helpful objects for their quest. He told them to save a dozen phoenix eggs that were there. He showed them one and it looked like a hunk of charcoal. He said finding the ice giant responsible would be the next step, as he might have knowledge or be in possession of the lore necessary to reverse the ritual. He had broken off from the ice giant kingdom, and has taken his follower’s into the white dragon’s realm to the southeast. On Phoenix Powers Weratun said there were a handful of people across the realms with such known powers, and that only a certain amount were active at any given time. Other than that, he didn’t know much other than that the powers came from a phoenix. When Helios asked “Why?” he got the powers. Weratun encouraged him to forget the “Why?”, and think more about the “What now?”, that is what he should be doing with his powers. He related that Kossuth could be a fickle god, and carried more about balance than good or evil, life or death. Phoenix, however, was a source for good and rebirth in the world. He then strongly suggested Helios go retrieve the artifacts from the Yuan-Ti layer, and recover the phoenix eggs as perhaps that could help him find what he was looking for. On Rebirth The Abbess inspected Alaise and some of the others. She asked some questions to Gillia who described how she got the powers and how her abilities seem “locked up”, possibly because of everything they’d been through. Abbess Shes recommended she go through the “rebirthing” ritual and Abbot Grievus made a comment to Bardman about the rebirthing ritual of Bahamut. Bardman was interested, and Weratun gave him some books to read about the subject. Helios likewise read some books.