Chapter Ten: Seeking out Power (death touch)

May 11, 998 CE

Newly armed with information from Severil Blackthorn, the Ragged Man, the Starborn set out to return to Crescent City and seek out their birthright . . . their Starborn items of power.

There is some discussion as to what exactly they should do first. Some seem intent on seeking out the haunted plantation, others want to go to the bank in Crescent City to make a withdrawal, one wishes to go immediately into the Rogue's Maze and still others think they should investigate the crimes and goings on in Crescent City. All of these arguments are tossed aside when Casey is struck down in battle . . .

After having left the Temple of Kharad the Starborn spent a couple of days by boat getting back to Father Abstinence's mission. They stayed a night or two there and rested up and then moved on. Still without a clear idea of the next step, they knew they must go west. Either they would travel straight on to Crescent City or they might move north to the plantation.

About two out from the mission and still some hours east of Greenroot's village several of the sharper-eyed Starborn spotted a drow in the weeds ahead. The drow quickly ducked out of sight and attempted to make an escape. The heroes peppered the drow with arrow and magical fire, but he did not die and was lost in the swamp. Neil cast fly and heads up to find the drow. He sees a dozen or so setting an ambush.

Neil makes back to the party and advises them of the situation. The heroes decide to move into combat. Neil flies up for a closer look and sees that the drow are making an escape into the thicker parts of the swamp to the south. Seebo tracks the drow while the rest of the heroes follow along about half a mile behind.

Seebo finds the drow making camp and returns to his compatriots. The Starborn gear up, buff up and move in for the kill. Unfortunately, the drow seemed to be ready for the heroes. Several of them vanish under cover of invisibility and archers takes shots at the approaching heroes.

As the heroes break into tactical groups an enlarged Duergar with a massive dwarven warpike makes an appearance as his pike pierces through Casey's gut. She is near death and backs away while Neil heals her. Rygorh and Seebo manage to cut down several of the drow soldiers, while Tilk and Dinah charge about the place doing what they do best . . . decapitating enemies with their massives swords. Even Kettle gets into the action with a nice feint and quick kill shot on one of the drow archers.

The massive Duergar takes a few more staps with his pike and nearly kills Neil. The heroes fear that the tide may be turning for the worse. Suddenly, Alev unleashses a massive burst of fire on the dwarf and he falls dead. The day is saved . . . almost.

The drow who have shed their flesh and their skeletons rise to fight again! A priest must be here . . . but where? The question is answered when three heretofore unseen drow appear. One is a whirling mass of steel and death . . . she slices Casey quite badly. Another is a wizard who drops a massive fireball within the group burning several of the Starborn, but none significantly. The worst of the foes is a priestess of She who appears next to Casey, mutters some foul words to her diety and lays her hand on Casey. Casey falls dead in an instant as the foul power of death flows through the priestess's hands.

Seeing one of their comrades falls instills a fire in the rest of the Starborn. They make quick work of dispatching the rest of the drow. Neil uses healing magic to keep the enemy wizard and cleric from dying . . . they have prisoners and a fallen comrade.

All of the arguments end . . . for now. They must make for Crescent City to find the Starborn node and raise their fallen friend.

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