The Trial

[Squikker2001]

I was in the camp of the Amazons, when I heard a shout that crossed the realm that there was to be a public execution WITHIN the walls of Avendell. Rushing back to see what was going on, through hill and vale, to the lowland coast, to the Hallowtop, into the eastern fronteir of the Northern Coalition, into Beryn, and onto Avendell by way of dragon flight I sped.

When I reached the town, I was horrified to see "Commander" Leona, a drow in jet black armor, surrounded by shining lights, executing the citizens of Avendell while they were caged in the center of the town. When the spectators there, including myself, began to protest these executions, citing that there was no trial, judge, jury, or even charges, she simply spouted some nonsense about being the absolute law within Avendell. One dead, two dead, each gone in a flash of red and black. Screams of death and pleas for mercy resounded through the land. Three dead, and I thought to myself, "this has to stop NOW!" Outraged, one of the onlookers attacked Leona and was summarily executed on the spot, and promptly resurrected by a sympathetic cleric. Then a though occured to me, "Leona is dependant on others percieving her as a legitimate authority!" So I shouted above the dinn of screams of protest and said, "Leona, I hereby formally charge you with murder, coercion, treason, kidnapping, and unjust execution withought a trial by a judge or jury."

Thus challenged, Leona kept saying she was the final law in Avendell, but her position was weakened, and others joined me in accusing her of murder and other heinous crimes. She finally relented and agreed to meet us in the arena complex near Avendell to be tried.

(30 minutes pass)

The trial is set, all who accused Leona, Leona herself, some of the Avendell watch, and other various spectators were gathered in the arena. Leona, saying this was to be a trial, and not a fight, insisted that everyone put away their weapons. But being the coward she was, she resisted sheathing her own weapon, and only put it away after much urging on the part of the others gathered there.

Then, before a judge or jury was even appointed, there was a flash of light, and Leona was gone, and surrounding the edge of the arena, were dozens of golems, exactly the same kinds that Heirarch sent to attack the major cities of Aetheria.

Thus interrupted, chaos ensued, with everyone drawing their weapons at once. Several minutes and a few dozen golems later, a second wave of golems appeared, then a third, a fourth, a fifth. Some champions fell in the melee, and were promply revived by the clerics that were present. Six waves, seven waves, will this tide of iron and clockwork ever cease?

Then the golems started to subside, and I ran towards the exit, and saw Commander Leona fighting some of the Avendell watch. I joined the melee while the others who came were still confused below and wondering what happened.

Spotted! Leona runs for the exit, and I chase her. I continue to run after her into Terrace Mettle, then there is another flash, and she is gone.

I rush back into Avendell, and with the help of the few guards that stayed behind from the trial, destroyed the attrocious cage that held the fair citizens.

Be it known to all that Commander Leona is allied with Heirarch Primus! These fiends need to be brought to justice before they are allowed to kill more innocents...

[Mentarch]

She stood at complete attention before Hierarch Primus, fighting hard the cold fear that was hitting her.

It did not help her at all to maintain control of her primal emotions with the two dracoliches present at each side of Primus, boring into her with their lifeless stares.

"I am thoroughly disappointed and displeased, Commander." The otherwordly being intoned. She knew that his seeming calm and composure meant in no way that she was safe.

"Bad enough Mistress Ataxia proved to be careless in her operations, thus shortening significantly my objectives concerning her and her rebels, but now you yourself have demonstrated the same capacity for such carelessness." Primus went on, his voice deathly cold and unforgiving. "You should have never fallen for their transparent baiting. As long as you remained in Avendell, you were immune to them. My plans concerning you and your corrupted watchmen remained pristine, especially by exploiting the Laws of those accursed Gods who oversee this wretched, war-torn world ... but then you put all of this in jeopardy with your childish decision of letting your ego get the better of you."

Leona wanted very much to protest in her defense - but she wisely decided otherwise. At least for the moment.

"Such stupidity on the part of Ataxia was not surprising - in fact, I rather expected as much from her." Primus continued, piercing her with his alien eyes. "But you - you I expected better. Much better."

Lowering her head in shame, she began to feel the need to tremble and shake with terror. Fortunately for her, she managed to impose her will on her body.

"I - ... I am most sorry, my Lord." Leona muttered with much regret.

"Fortunately for you," Primus mused with a snarl, "that irritating Herald of the Gods was quite right. For indeed, all roads of Aetheria lead to Avendell. It is the trading center of this world. It is also the hub of activity for all those foolish adventurers and champions of Aetheria. Not just all physical roads lead to this city, but so do metaphysical, 'life' roads as well."

With a swift gesture of one of Primus' hands, Commander Leona began to lift from the ground, finding herself surrounded in a field of sparking and stinging electricity, multiple tiny arcs striking at her from all sides.

To her credit, she did not scream from the torture she was enduring.

A mere moment later, she was released, falling on the ground to her knees, panting and hurting all over her body.

Once again, she proved quite wise by not raising her eyes full of outrage and hatred to meet those of her Lord.

"Let this be a gentle reminder to you, my dear Leona, that amongst all of my slaves, pawns and agents, you stand to be a general. Failure and carelesness are not options for you. Ataxia paid the ultimate price for her stupidity and, contrary in your case, I did not lift a finger to help her. You can be most thankful for my decision to send all those war machines to your help when you made that ludicrous decision to stand before those bumbling fools in that arena. The machines proved the correct distraction to afford you a most opportune window of escape."

"I - ... I am grateful, my Lord." The Commander mutered softly, still kneeling with her head remaining bowed before the Hierarch.

"Glad that we understand each other, Commander Leona." Primus responded, with a cruel smile. "Now, return to Avendell undercover. You must maintain your hold on those watchmen you have corrupted and continue on with completing your hold on all of the Avendell Watch. Once we put the choke-hold on Avendell, the rest of Aetheria will unravel that much the quicker."

Getting her cue that the chastisement was done and her presence no longer required, she slowly rose to her feet at attention.

"Your will be done, my Lord." Leona intoned, having regained a measure of her usual confidence and determination.


And without further due, she slowly but steadily walked out of the anteroom of Hierarch Primus ...


... vowing with each step she took that she would never, ever, make the same mistake again.

[Kirg]

The first picture with names, the second without. You note the looming dreadness. The desperate cries and sniffs of the innocent people in the cage, you can imagine. A intense moment, from which the lawful good Dwarven Defender had to turn away because he was needed at home. Always heed the call of your superiors. But he left with a bleeding heart.




Some days later, Commander Leona tried to sneak into Avendell again. Or just happened to be nearby. At once some champions decided to hunt her down. The Avendell Guards were helping at first too. But as the Commanderess tried to evade through Falme they remained behind.

Some pictures of the unsuccessful chase. Although Commander Leona enlisted some mercenaries from Sunken, Earth and Fire Plane she couldn't get rid of the hunters. At last she disappeared for good.

Winterhawk was the chosen to fight her on even terms. It was a close fight, which Leona won at last with unfair means.

Some of the moments of this hunt below:





Some of the hunters, but there were many more. Ie. Lady Barrimtor and Brethren Titus. Please speak up, if you want to be mentioned .




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As always a handful of thanks to the DMs and enjoyment for both players and DMs I hope. Lately we were really spoiled with events.