CHILDREN OF THE WHITE WYRM (published July 12, 2025)

 

The old shaman prodded at the coals of the campfire, the younglings of the tribe gathering close to hear the story of their people. The old medicine man began his oft repeated tale…

“We the People of the White Wyrm have lived in the Galena Mountains for many generations. We have had a complicated relationship with white dragons throughout our history. They are both a threat and servant to our god Heimdall who is also known as Helm in other parts of the Realms.

There are several of the creatures that dwell in the Galenas, but none more powerful or ancient than Nymiir. It was over a century ago that Loddfafnir and his Reaver companions had slain the great wyrm in her lair, but not before she had taken human form and seduced the legendary barbarian who sired her many offspring.

The Reavers were nearly destroyed by the wyrm Nymiir but managed to slay her and her many offspring… save one.

The lone surviving child who had the blood of the wyrm and the blood of the hero found her way to our village and was taken in and accepted as one of our own. In time she grew, married, and had children of her own who, in turn, grew and had children of their own. This is how the blood of Loddfafnir and Nymiir came to run in the veins of the People.

Every several generations a child is born who is strong in the blood and is born with white skin and hair and can call upon its draconic heritage to breath frost and armor itself with the scales of its lineage. Such a child is always sent forth to guard Reaver Hall and the infernal gates to other worlds that lie within ensuring that its horrors do not curse the lands in the name of The Vigilant One.

That is where Ullethane the White now dwells, standing vigilant against the evil that dwells withing those dark halls so the People may live in peace.”

*                                  *                                  *

The People had left young Ullethane with Dragomir, the current Gate Warden tasked with guarding Reaver Hall.

Dragomir was beginning to show his age despite his draconic heritage and his many years spent in isolation hadn’t done much to prepare him for raising and training a boy of only ten winters. He exhaled a burst of frost from his nostrils in resigned frustration and motioned for the boy to follow. There was much for the boy to learn if he was to be the next Gate Warden. He would need to know how to fight the many denizens that dwelt within Reaver Hall, how to speak their languages, how to track, how to skulk, and how to wield both sword and spell.

In addition to these tasks Dragomir had to keep the boy alive long enough for him to learn the responsibilities that would be entrusted to him when Dragomir was gone. There was much work to be done.

WHEN FATES COLLIDE, PART 2 (published June 20, 2025)

 

As great Urd counseled her shieldmaidens in the tomb of the legendary Loddfafnir even her uncanny awareness could not detect the approach of the greatest of all interlopers.

“These new Reavers must not be allowed to enter the tomb and claim Loddfafnir’s treasures, for if they do…” Urd began but was interrupted by the mercurial laugh of the approaching halfling as he stepped from the shadows.

The shieldmaidens looked about confused as did the mighty Urd who stammered, “how did you get in here, where are your companions little one?”

“My companions? Oh, you mean the pawns I’ve assembled to play this little game?” replied Cassim the halfling rogue as he continued laughing, but the laugh gradually shifted from mercurial to sinister as did his shape as the trickster dropped the cunning guise he’d been wearing this whole time and then it was Loki who stood before Urd and her shieldmaiden.

“Sly one, I should have known” said Urd as she took a step back.

“Perhaps if you were your sister Skuld you could’ve foretold my coming, but no you are too busy looking to the past dear Urd and it is there your efforts will remain.” Said the sly one.

“The All Father would not approve of your tampering in this world…” began Urd before being interrupted.

“Silence crone! It is not your place to intervene, but to obey! Now return to beneath the Ash from whence you came and do not interfere with what you do not understand!” snarled Loki.

“Very well Loki. I don’t know what game you play at, but neither do these mortals for they risk freeing an ancient evil, that of which makes even your own treachery pale by comparison…” began Urd.

“Yes, yes, that’s all very interesting now be gone.” Replied Loki as he absent-mindedly examined his fingernails.

*                                            *                                            *

               “Ha!” Bellowed the thunder god. “Your champion has apparently fled the field in fear for his own life, or perhaps his greedy little heart has been satisfied!”

               “Hmm, it would appear so, but we shall see how my champion fairs in the end, for the game is far from over dear brother.” Replied Loki unconcerned. “Besides, it would seem that your champion has taken up the banner of the Grimjaws.”

               “Bah, she is simply blinded by the beauty of the priest wench she has taken up with, in the end none can resist Thor!” bellowed the thunderer.

               “Perhaps we should raise the stakes of our little wager if you are so sure of yourself?” suggested Loki slyly

               “Have you come to back out of our wager father?” Hela asked with a grim smirk.

               “Back out, whatever for? Things are proceeding swimmingly.” Replied Loki confidently.

               “Your pathetic little halfling has disappeared, your champion is gone you cannot win!” laughed Hela incredulously.

               “I do not recall claiming the halfling as my champion, you merely assumed I had.” Shrugged Loki innocently.

               “But then who….” Stammered Hela.

               “I do not recall anything in our little wager regarding the declaration of champions. The wager was that whomever champion survives the reclamation of Reaver Hall would be the one who would enter the Faerunian pantheon. I never stipulated that anyone had to announce who their champion would be.” Smirked Loki.

               “But how can you claim to win when you have named no champion?” Hela asked in exasperation.

               “Oh, you will know when the time is right dear daughter, all will know.” Promised Loki.

              “You requested my presence oh mighty Prince of Devils?” Loki asked, feigning deference.

               Asmodeus looked down at the god from high upon his iron throne and said, “Here I am no mere devil but a god trickster, you would do well to remember that whilst you play in my garden.”

               “Oh yes, I’d forgotten. You have established yourself as something of a deity here on Toril where you have found a few paltry worshipers. Please forgive my affrontery.” Apologized Loki in a less than convincing tone.

               “I’ve summoned you because you are dabbling in affairs that are of my interest. Reaver Hall remains the home to one of my ‘paltry worshipers’ and I have use of him as a… caretaker. It would be… inconvenient if he were distracted from his duties to me.” Explained Asmodeus.

               “Oh, you mean the archmage Alistayre… yes of course. You have nothing to fear Cloven One, for the pawns I and my kinfolk have sent to Reaver Hall are of no threat to one as mighty as your servant… if they even survive long enough to confront him that is.” Loki ensured. “You see I’m merely playing a bit of a prank on my oafish brother and my dour daughter to teach them a bit of a lesson in humility as I am wont to do.”

               “It is the magic that has sealed the Hall from interlopers this past century that keeps Chernobog from returning to Toril, the same magic that imprisons Alistayre in his tower, for the Reavers knew what would happen if Chernobog were to return.” Asmodeus warned. “If all of the towers are breached…”

               “Chernobog… Chernobog… ah yes, I forgot that is the name he took when he last appeared on Toril, before Heimdall… I mean ‘Helm’ as he prefers to be called on Toril, imprisoned him beneath the Galenas. Then that most foolish band of mercenaries decided to build their silly little keep over his resting place.” Mused Loki. “Well fear not great Archfiend I promise his slumber will not be disturbed by my account… you have my word.”

 *                                                *                                            *

                  Ullethane Dragonsblood ordered his men to hold the pass and slay any monsters that tried to enter or escape from Reaver Hall. This new band of Reavers had been gone too long for his liking and he was going to enter the hall of his legendary ancestor, Loddfafnir, to see what had befallen them. These lands were filled with great treachery, they always had been. After all was it not the treachery of Nymiir the white dragon who had taken a human guise and seduced Loddfafnir all those years ago that drove him and his band to raid her lair? Was it not this same treachery that had spawned his people who now swore to guard the pass to Reaver Hall in the name of Heimdall? It was his sworn duty to contain whatever evil still dwelt within those halls to remain there or be destroyed outright. He drew his sword and donned his shield before making his way towards the foreboding castle.

WHEN FATES COLLIDE PART 1 (published May 5, 2014)

“My Lady, the interlopers draw closer.  They have defeated your Einherji and the mithral giant.  Shall we join the battle?”  asked the heavily armed shield maiden.

“No Hildr, the battle will come to us.  Where are your sisters?”

“Gondul, Reginleif, and Skogul are in the antechamber my Lady.” Replied Hildr.

“Very well, go to your sisters shield maiden of Odin and let no one enter the tomb of Loddfafnir.”

“And if we fail my Lady, what will befall this land?”

“My name means Fate in the tongue of these interlopers.  The past is my purview so even I cannot say what the future holds.”

Hildr dropped to one knee in deference to her Mistress and said, “None but the gods are powerful enough to stand against you great Urd.”

“I was present at the birth of these interlopers as well as their forbearers and I have spun the golden thread that ties their destinies to my own.  I was tasked with guarding this tomb and guard it I shall.  If the interlopers are worthy they shall defeat me and I will return to my sisters beneath the Ash, if not I will kill them and guard this tomb for another century.  Now go and prepare your sisters for the test that approaches.”



Hildr grinned, eager for battle, and sprinted from the chamber.

A BRIEF INTERLUDE PART 3 (published 04/11/2014)

The heroes return after their successful mission to intercept Shemeshka’s wine shipment only to be confronted by none other than Duke Rowan Darkwood and his retinue.  If that weren’t enough Shemeshka arrives soon after demanding restitution in the form of a soul.  She looks at the assembled Reavers and says that Killara the tiefling is of the “right breeding” and will do nicely.  Killara reluctantly agrees to go with Shemeshka and serve as her newest retainer in order to spare her mistress Aunrae.

Rowan Darkwood says that he still has an interest in his former home world of Faerun and is willing to help the Reavers in any way that they need if they agree to keep him abreast of their progress in Reaver Hall and join the his faction the Fated whom he says shares the same principles as the original Reavers.  The Reavers agree to the terms and agree to meet Darkwood for dinner that evening to tour the Hall of Records and be indoctrinated into the faction as full ranking Factotum.  Darkwood offers further support in the form of Azanthus, a Ifrit warrior with the ability to take the form of a giant red mantis.

The heroes are on their way to meet the Duke for dinner when they are ambushed by Shi'ndiira the dark elven priestess of Kiaransalee, her hired assassin Aioka, and a trio of dark elf vampires!  Shi’ndiira channels a wave of negative energy though the heroes as the vampires move with supernatural speed to engage in melee.  Callista draws her celestial holy sword and cleaves the first vampire in twain while Azanthus, Aunrae, and Amalielle engage the other two.  Cassim quietly maneuvers into a more advantageous position when Aioka issues a challenge to Callista while wielding the stolen Armageddon Githyanki Silver Sword!  Callista realizes that Aioka has also been transformed into a vampire making the assassin even more dangerous!

Azanthus and Aunrae are both drained of life energy by the vampires but continue to fight.  Amalielle uses her supernatural abilities and spells to inspire her companions and Cassim manages to harass their enemies with magic missile volleys.  In the midst of their duel Aioka leaps away from Callista and cocks her arm back with dagger in hand preparing to throw, but realigns the attack at the last moment sending the magical dagger into the leg of Shi’ndirra then dissipates into a gaseous cloud making her escape.  “Traitorous bitch” screamed the drow priestess just before Azanthus, now in giant Mantis form, grabs the priestess in his formidable fore claws and holds her fast.  Callista taking her cue rushes in and cleaves Shi’ndiira in half ending the threat once and for all.

A BRIEF INTERLUDE PART 2 (published 03/27/2014)

Shemeshka shifted anxiously in her chair eying the powerful Factol seated across from her.  The blood wine should have been here by now!  What could be holding it up?  No one in Sigil would dare molest one of her shipments!  The piscodaemon guards would pay dearly for this delay.

“What troubles you my dear Shemeshka?” asked the powerful man seated across from her.

He was not a young man and despite his graying hair and beard and the terrible scar that creased his face he was not unpleasant to look at.  Perhaps it was the power this mortal exuded.  Shemeshka new well the legends that surrounded this man.  Her agents had reported that he hailed form a small prime world called Oerth where he battled giants, drow, demons, and worse.  He had reportedly brought down the resurrected Temple of Elemental Evil, defeating the servants of Tharizdun.  He then survived nearly ten years of infernal torture until the devil Amaggel became so frustrated that he could not break this mortal simply released him.  This surprising human then traveled back to his home world to find his kingdom had been overrun by the machinations of Grazz’t ‘s welp Iuz.  After inciting his countrymen to war and defeating the demigod’s forces he simply left to travel the planes, ending up in another small prime world called Faerun where he did nothing less than help some backwater paladin and his friends slay the powerful lich Zhengyi then travel to the abyss and destroy the very wand of Orcus!  No this mortal was not to be taken lightly.

“Oh it is nothing Factol Darkwood, I had hoped to surprise you with a gift of fine Damaran Blood wine, but it has not yet arrived.  I’m sure it will be here any minute.”  Replied Shemeshka, the last part through her clenched canine snout.

“There is no need for such formalities, please call me Duke Rowan.”

“Of course my Duke.”  This mortal has such nerve to speak to me this way!  I don’t care how many fiends he’s killed or artifacts he’s destroyed I am Shemeshka the Marauder, thought the daemon seething under her guise of tranquility.

Shemeshka tapped her clawed finger impatiently and contemplated the eternal tortures she would inflict upon whoever was responsible for this delay.

********************************************************************************

News of the ambush travelled fast.  Few would ever knowingly position themselves against the powerful Arcanadaemon known as Shemeshka the Marauder, though apparently some clueless primes had done just that.

Word had spread about a group calling themselves the Reavers.  One alleged member of this band apparently bragged openly in a particularly seedy watering hole that her mistress was a drow priestess of death and she had brought death to Sigil!

Many witnesses of the event spoke in hushed awe of a half-orc warrior woman who slew a daemon with a single blow and launched arrows with the force of a ballista!  Others say they thought they saw a shadowy imp leaping from roof to roof, but quickly dismissed it as a trick of the strange Sigil lights.

In any case, all were sure that such audacity would be paid back in kind when the Marauder found these upstarts!

********************************************************************************

The Reavers were concluding their business with Estavan at his warehouse the day after the ambush when a large graying man flanked by nearly a dozen well-armed attendants entered the Planar Trade Consortium.  The graying man looked around the room until his eyes settled on the heroes.



“You must be these Reavers I’ve been hearing so much about.  I understand you owe me some Damaran Blood wine” Said Duke Rowan Darkwood.

A BRIEF INTERLUDE (published 03/27/2014

After battling through giants, winter wolves, and undead ice maidens the young Reavers enter the dungeon level to Loddfafnir’s keep.  They are immediately confronted by three Einherjar.  Battle ensues and our heroes are hard pressed against the eternal warriors who move with startling speed and ferocity!  Eventually the battle is won but the heroes decide that they will require an upgrade in weapons and equipment before delving any deeper.  Gathering up the treasures they have pillaged thus far they ask Amalielle to plane shift them to her home city of Sigil in order to buy and trade equipment.

Amalielle has the companions join hands and enacts a powerful spell that transports them to the bizarre and fantastic city of Sigil.  They find themselves standing in an alley with a massive disorienting city wrapping up over itself in a donut-like shape.  Amalielle suggests that they visit an ogre mage named Estavan who is the master of the Planar Trade Consortium as she prefers him to most of the usual characters that deal in large scale purchase and sale of magical items.  The Reavers go to a section of the city consisting primarily of warehouses and finds the large Planar Trade Consortium headquarters.  Entering, they are greeted by a friendly gnome who tells them to wait for Estavan.  Estavan appears and despite cutting an imposing figure is quite friendly and amiable.  Estavan says that he typically only does business with shops and resellers, but the appearance of such obviously capable adventurers who are unknown to the major players of Sigil presents a unique opportunity.  Estavan proposes that if the Reavers agree to disrupt a shipment of rare Blood Wine from Damara that is being delivered to a meeting between Shemeshka the Marauder, a powerful business rival, and Duke Rowan Darkwood, Factol of the most powerful faction in the city, he would be willing to offer very favorable trade rates to them.  Reluctantly the Reavers agree.

The Reavers prepare an ambush for the Blood Wine shipment and find that it is guarded by three piscodaemons!  Aunrae summons a powerful column of fire directly onto the surprised piscodaemons and their precious cargo, thinking to destroy the wine and be done with this business.  Despite being protected by powerful magics the wagon and wine casks are all but destroyed, save a single cask.  One daemon immediately charges the drow priestess while the other two try to salvage what they can of the wine, lest their mistress Shemeshka flay them alive for their failure!  Killara runs to join the fight and assist her mistress Aunrae while Callista engages the two daemons struggling to salvage the wine.  Callista draws her mighty holy sword and eviscerates one daemon with a single swing spraying bystanders with a spray of gore and ichor!  The other daemon wisely snatches up the remaining cask and takes flight in the direction of the approaching Harmonium guard contingent that is quickly approaching.

The battle continues between Aunrae, Killara, and the enraged daemon.  Both Aunrae and Killara take savage wounds from the daemon’s razor sharp pincers and suffer the effects of the creature’s powerful poison.  Meanwhile Cassim watches from a perch high atop an adjacent building and casts a volley of magic missiles at the fleeing daemon.  The daemon flies over the buildings, but Callista gives chase on foot firing a desperate shot on the run as the daemon passes between two buildings.  Callista’s arrow shatters the remaining cask spraying Blood Wine over onlookers.  The now enraged daemon decides to take his fury out on his nearest target, the Halfling Cassim.  The piscodaemon lands on the roof and savagely attacks the little Halfling thief, but Cassim is fiercer that he appears.  Drawing his dagger Cassim calls on his Mythic heritage as his dagger dances to and fro slipping between the chitonous plates covering the daemon.  Despite the halfling’s vicious attach the daemon uses his pincers to horrible effect on the little thief.  Amalielle commands her summoned hound archons to assist her Halfling companion.  The celestials fly to the roof and soon dispatch the daemon.  Meanwhile Callista has gone to help Aunrae and Killara with the remaining daemon who is soon dispatched as well.



The Reavers flee the scene just before the Harmonium patrol arrives and return back to a very pleased Estavan to conclude their business.

LODDFAFNIR'S HALL, PART 2 (03/04/2014)

After clearing the ground level of Loddfafnir's hall the heroes decide to check the upper levels.  Cassim scouts ahead and is ambushed by Icy Hoar Spirits who can apparently see his heat signature despite his ring of invisibility!

Cassim calls out for help and his companions rush to his aid.  The battle is fierce and the Hoar Spirits are mighty foes.  The heroes use every spell and arcane trick at their disposal but are still unable to take the advantage.

Cassim uses his agility to evade the icy claws of the Hoar Spirits and climbs to a parapet where he drops fireball after fireball in hopes of destroying these powerful adversaries.

Amalielle falls paralyzed under the icy grip of the Hoar spirits and Aunrae falls as well, slain were it not for her mythical heritage.  Callista makes good use of her mighty holy sword while Killara bends misfortune to her favor.  Cassim, nearly out of spells continues his arcane onslaught with the last remanents of magical strength he can muster.

Finally the last Hoar Spirit falls and the heroes collapse in exhaustion.  The upper levels of Loddfafnir's Hall is secured, but what lies beneath, and where is the fabled Hall of Heroes that is said to hold the treasures of previous fallen Reavers?