The War Without End – Episode 2.6

This is a shorter account than normal based solely on Colin’s recollection of what happened, as I missed the session and Stu never got around to writing it up or giving me his notes on it.

The day after Ebon and Baratus’s departure, as Elsabeth continues her studies under Legagog’s tutelage, one of Legagog’s daughters arrives with bad tidings. She and her father speak in private for a few moments, and during the course of the conversation Legagog’s demeanour turns grave.

“What is it?” Elsabeth asks, concerned.

“I have received news of your colleagues that will trouble you greatly my dear. I am sorry to say that yesterday, as they departed this place, they were set upon by the dragon Leannapazrak. To my knowledge none of them survived”

Elsabeth is stunned. “No! That can’t be so!” she gasps, a slight tremour in her voice.

She quickly gathers herself. “Where did this happen?” she demands. “I must go there. If there is even the slightest chance …”

She leaves the rest unspoken.

The old Aranea scrutinizes her for a moment.

“Is it hope or vengeance that dictates this course of action?” he asks, appraising her thoughtfully.

“Perhaps both” replies the sorceress soberly.

“Very well” Legagog nods, apparently satisfied. ”Some of my servants will accompany you, for this Leannapazrak has become a most troublesome neighbour who has violated my territory on more than one occasion. Take care though Elsa, the dragon is dangerous, as your friends have learned to their cost. Do not underestimate her, or you will meet the same fate that they did; and I should not like that to happen.”

And so, within the hour, Elsabeth sets out from Legagog’s cave accompanied by a variety of Legagog’s arachnid-hybrid servants; four large multi-armed spider-humanoids called Narleths and some twenty or more eight-eyed spider-goblins. Together this strange company journeys through Lexploor Forest and out into the swamp where Ebon, Baratus and Kellard were ambushed.

After many hours their path leads them to a wide area where, amidst the marshy pools, the grass and scrub are scorched to ash. Nothing stirs and a sense of death lingers in the air.

Offering no comfort to the sorceress the Narleths and Spider-Eye Goblins scuttle between the mounds, watching with alien detachment through their many eyes as she ventures out into the heart of the devastated area. There is no sign of her friends there, either they have been moved or the swamp has claimed what was left of them. Elsabeth shivers. Gazing into the still, dark pools she hopes it is not the latter.

“Take me to the dragon’s lair” she commands the largest of the Narleths. If any hope remains of finding Ebon or Baratus it will be there, and if not she has a score to settle with Leannapazrak. For a moment the Narleth’s cold orbs gaze back at her blankly and it omits a series of strange clicking noises, then it turns and heads back the way they came.

The other hybrids scuttle after it and Elsabeth follows them out of the swamp.

Much later, having met no opposition, they arrive at the large rock outcrop that Elsabeth well remembers from her last visit to Leanapazrak’s lair. Without emotion the Narleths send the Spider-Eye Goblins in first to clear the tunnels of any of the dragon’s remaining kobold servants. A few fall foul of traps and ambushes but most survive. Elsabeth feels slightly uncomfortable at the fact that the smaller arachnid-goblin hybrids are treated as expendable by the Narleth’s but her arachnid companions are so alien that their motives are a mystery to her. She does not try to understand them. Thinking too much about it gives her the jitters.

They cross the chasm and pass through the tunnels to the huge hall with the raised parapet at one end, where Elsabeth, Kai, Baratus, Sa’ara, Growler and Shredda last faced the dragon and defeated her. As Elsabeth recalls that battle she realises that she may well be the only survivor now. The rest are gone; Shredda fell elsewhere in the forest battling the half-fiend troll Thaler Fensdreg and his sons, Sa’ara and Growler died during the Conjunction fighting against the Daelkyr to preserve all reality, Kai’s soul was consumed by the undead army of the Lich Queen Sigora Brern and now it seemed Baratus too had perished. She shuddered. Now was not the time to dwell on such things.

Climbing the stairs to the parapet they penetrate the dragon’s inner sanctum and there a great battle ensues in which, after a titanic struggle, Elsabeth once again dispatches Leannapazrak. Hopefully for good this time.

The sorceress is spent but her foe has been vanquished and the loss of her friends avenged.

In addition to Elsabeth, only two of the Narleths and two Spider-Eye Goblins survive the confrontation.

Notes:

Leannapazrak’s attack on Ebon, Baratus and Kellard occurred in Episode 2.5 – Ashes to Ashes.

The first fight with Leannapazrak occurred in Episode 1.17 – Dragons, Spiders and Trolls (Part Two)