Note: Since my old Pool of Radiance characters weren't exactly ideal for Azure Bonds standards, I re-created some of them, retaining only my Cleric Ben and my two Elf Fighter/Mages Leanna and Andrew. The two fighters I originally had (Matthew and Daniel) became a Paladin and a Ranger, and Peter, my Thief, was re-created as a Thief and dual-classed to a Ranger right at the start.
The First Bond — The Fire Knives
We woke up in a small room, with all our equipment from our previous adventures missing. Adding to our annoyance, somebody had decided to place an “interesting” but very eye-catching series of tattoos on our arms. As we left the room, we ran into an Innkeeper — she was not terribly impressed with us. We discovered that the town we were in was the one we had set out for from Hillsfar: we were in Tilverton.
There was a blacksmith across the road where we all purchased Banded Mail (preferred for extra movement over −1 AC), shields, a Flail for Ben, Longswords for Matthew, Daniel, and Peter, Shortswords for Leanna and myself, bows and arrows for those who could use them, and a Staff-sling for Ben. We visited the Temple and asked for Remove Curse, hoping the tattoos were magical in origin — the response from the symbols was interesting but not helpful. The Innkeeper had mentioned a Sage nearby; we paid her a visit, though it was largely a waste of money.
The city gates were closed, so we headed to the Tavern. After a few drinks and a few tales, we left for an “important customer” who had been kidnapped by people bearing daggers similar to the Flaming Knife symbol on our arms. We tried the gates again — a carriage had arrived, but the mysterious bonds forced us to attack it. We were thrown in jail and rescued by a Thief, who led us into the Thieves’ Guild, where we were greeted by the Guild Master. We were ambushed by the Fire Knives assassin guild and the Guild Master was killed. After a battle with Thieves and Assassins, we moved into a room with a table and a message.
Moving south into a long hallway, through the first door on the left, a second hallway, and a Wizard-Locked door opened by Knock, we found the Treasure Room (5,13): a Red Ioun Stone, Banded Mail +1, and a Girdle of the Dwarves. Heading back and following the doors to the right at the end of the passageway, we traced through the halls until we came to the last door on the left, which led to a passage into the Sewers.
The Sewers and the Hideout
(There is a basic map in Journal Entry 4.) The Sewers were nothing more than a walk through slime. Following the map, we found clues to the passage of a purple-clothed person. There were Otyugh with jewellery we bargained with (3rd door from the left in the middle of the map), a secret training hall (behind the “S”), and some Trolls with a treasure hoard to the north of the hall. A friendly Knight along the way offered information on a Cleric who had gone on ahead. At the end of the passage was an exit marked on the map as “Hideout”, which we scrambled into gratefully.
From the entrance, we went into the south room (full of blades), then west, south, and east into a hallway. Heading south, we entered the door to the east at the end of the hall into another hallway. Following it until we could turn south, through a door and into the door to the left, we ransacked the Study, finding some weapons. Further down were a Library and Bedroom with nothing useful. Continuing west down the hallway we reached the Hospital, and a secret door into an Armoury containing two impressive Longswords, Elven Chain, and a Necklace of Missiles.
At the end of the hall we came to the Fire Knives Leader and many guards. He had kidnapped the princess. The Princess knocked him on the head and we fought the guards — two Fireballs nearly decimated their forces, and we cut down the survivors. The Princess “convinced” the Leader to remove the Bond of the Flaming Dagger. The king burst in and banished us from Tilverton. After our departure, we saw the Princess ride off with the Cleric we had rescued. We all shared in a nightmare with our “masters” and unanimously decided that the best idea was to remove all the bonds. Permanently.
The Second Bond — The Red Wizard Dracandros
Being Elves, Leanna and I both had interests in visiting the Standing Stone, a monument near Myth Drannor. An old man there told us our “Red master” was to the south. A Dragon attack near Essembra confirmed he was close. At Hap, we found the city inhabited by Drow. We mercilessly killed any we found in the streets, gathering their equipment — which had vast magical powers (+3 items) when kept out of sunlight — before retreating into a large building that turned out to be the Temple. A mage called Akabar Bel Akash asked to join us; we accepted him, though he was a real nuisance, continually catching us in the area of his Fireball and Stinking Cloud spells. Further exploration north uncovered an Inn. When no more Drow wandered the streets, we entered the large barn in the south, which held an Efreet and the remaining Drow. On the Efreet’s body we found a map leading to some caves nearby.
The Drow Caves
Entering the caves, we were immediately attacked by Drow and Salamanders. To the left of the entrance we found Silk, a fairly cooperative and unusually friendly Drow. She added to Leanna’s tattoos with the Swanmay symbol. Heading back to the right tunnel, we blundered into a barracks filled with male Drow. Fortunately, since the Drow considered females more important than males, none of these knew any magic — but since they were resistant to magic, we had to use swords. Further along, some Salamanders, after a little clever talking, allowed us to help ourselves to their treasure. We suffered some burns, but the treasures compensated.
Heading deeper into the tunnels, we avoided a room where female Drow were gathering, passed a mage coven and several patrols (some of which let us pass, thanks to Silk). We eventually came to a large room with Salamanders, and were about to proceed further when a voice in Ben’s mind warned of great danger. Sure enough, there was a huge Dracolich in the next room, which knocked many of us unconscious before we could finish it off with Magic Missiles. Up the stairs we met Dracandros, who paralyzed us and forced us to attack an illusionary dragon. The dragons forced him to remove our bonds, and we repaid them by killing them — after all, Silk had wanted some dragon parts, and these dragons were evil. Dracandros fled.
We rested on the roof and went downstairs. A Drow Noble (probably a Weapon Master) waited at the stairs. He resisted our Magic Missiles, Lightning, Stinking Clouds, and Slay Living, defeating our three warriors. In desperation, Ben used his last spell: Poison. It worked, and the Drow collapsed dead. He carried some very nice armour and weapons, which we took.
Dracandros’ Tower
After resting, we came to the test of the Sphere of Annihilation. I insisted that Matthew, Daniel, or Peter should do it rather than one of our Mages. Peter finally agreed. The sphere refused to move toward him after the controlling mage faltered, and sped into the mage instead — exploding when he attempted to use a Rod of Cancellation on it. There were some nice items in the chests. We descended to the next level, passing an illusion of another Drow Noble cloaking the stairs, and a patrol of Drow and Owlbears. The following level held a trap right at the stairs. Passing through the first room to the south and following the doors, we found an object in a pool which we took, then a bedroom with loot at the end of a hallway. The last level had an annoying pit. Passing through several rooms, we were attacked by Wyvern. The door south of them led us to Dracandros, who was fleeing. We killed him and claimed all his possessions, including the Helm of Dragons. Silk, down in the caves, paid us for the Dragon heart and the “Thing” we had carried down.
Two bonds down. Three to go.
The Third Bond — Mogion, High Priestess of Moander
On our way back from Dracandros’ Tower, the man at the Standing Stones was waiting again. He told us to “seek Green to the north.” We travelled to Hillsfar, but the Zhentarim bond made us unwelcome there. Moander’s original centre of worship had been in Yulash, so the “green master” likely awaited us there. Along the way, we encountered Clerics following the “Chosen ones” to Yulash.
At Yulash, we sought permission from the Commander at the recently established Red Plume outpost. We met Princess Nacacia again — she and the rescued Cleric nearly ran us over with a horse. While waiting, a group of Zhentarim warriors ran out of the Commander’s office; we were asked to stop them, and did. The Commander commented on the symbol Leanna had received from Silk, noting that the Swanmay symbol is not unique to the Drow but also used in the Realms. We were allowed to explore the city.
Exploring Yulash
(Map of Yulash: Journal Entry 52.) Heading far south, we passed a Red Plume checkpoint and found several pits showing that the city had not stood the test of time very well. Heading a long distance east, then north, we encountered many bands in the ruins: Fire Knife looters, Moander Cultists, Shambling Mounds, and Zhentarim Soldiers, Clerics, and Mages (who carried a nice array of magic items including Cleric’s Splint Mail and a Mage’s Dart). We also found several Shambling Mounds near a dead cleric, who carried a Wand of Defoliation that either cast Magic Missile at any plant it targeted or simply fizzled. Finally we came to the Pit and entered.
The Pit of Moander
(Semi-complete map: Journal Entry 20.) As soon as we entered, a dying Cultist sealed the entrance. Following a peculiar smell of baked bread, we came upon two warriors: Alias and Dragonbait, who joined us. We wandered through the halls and down the stairs, going as far as possible in one direction through several doors. The mark Leanna had acquired from Silk proved of interest to Alias, who mentioned an adventuring group sharing the same name as Silk’s warriors. Turning right repeatedly, we found ourselves in a large hall, turned left, and walked straight into the shrine and altar.
Mogion was waiting for us and began summoning Moander through a dimensional rift, our bond being removed in the process. On Alias’s advice, we attacked the Cultists. The battle was fierce, requiring frequent use of the Wand of Defoliation and four Ice Storm spells. Mogion carried nice equipment: an Ioun Stone, a Mace, and Plate Mail. Moander wasn’t happy — his body didn’t make it through the rift. All that arrived were three large “Bits.” After exhausting our Magic Missiles (including extras from Dracandros’ Ring of Wizardry) on the Bits and killing only one, we resorted to swords. Fortunately, after several attempts at casting Stinking Cloud, both remaining Bits became nauseated and we cut them down. In the remains we found the Gauntlets of Moander. The altar also yielded Gloves of Thievery.
At the exit, the Cultists made a last stand — their ranks were torn apart by Fireballs and Ice Storms. As we left the pit, Alias and Dragonbait said their goodbyes, and many Zhentarim troops attacked Yulash. We rested in Dagger Falls, where we found a small magic shop. The owner mentioned Mulmaster’s Beholder Corps, but we had other plans.
The Fourth Bond — Zhentil Lord Fzoul Chembryl
The obvious place to remove the Zhentarim bond was, naturally, Zhentil Keep. The guards at the gate were clearly watching for us, and the shops inside all operated at outrageous prices. Deep in the streets, Ben’s warning voice triggered again, right before we ran into Olive Ruskettle, a Halfling Bard. I vaguely remembered seeing her in the Tilverton Thieves’ Guild, and had heard mention of a Halfling in Zhentil Keep. She led us into the Temple, where we found Dimswart the Sage locked up. We released him and explored the Temple, finding some items at the altar (along with a gas trap). A hooded woman in the Temple led us out, and there was also a “Mirror room” somewhere within.
Dexam’s Caves
(Partial map of Dexam’s caves: Journal Entry 59.) Fzoul was not happy with the woman, and neither were we when she led us to Dexam, a large Beholder. He cockily announced his plans, then disintegrated Fzoul Chembryl when he burst in — which removed our bond. At least Dexam helped us, partly. He ordered his troops to kill us, but they got occupied with Fzoul’s men, and we slipped out through the north door.
We came across another Drow Noble, similar to the one in Dracandros’ Tower but carrying Drow Weapons. His Longsword worked very well in Matthew’s hands. Following the passages, we met a Gas Spore — unfortunate enough to attack it, causing it to explode. We finally found Dexam in the room marked “Minotaurs”, where the hooded woman revealed herself to be a Medusa. Haste, Mirror Image, and Fire Shield were invaluable — move away from a Minotaur to trigger the shield, keep clearing a path to the Beholder, resetting movement as needed. Matthew eventually skewered Dexam with the Drow sword, and we claimed the Amulet of Lathander from his body. We quickly left the caves, bid farewell to Dimswart, and set off to remove our final bond.
The Fifth Bond — Tyranthraxus the Flamed One
At our return to the Standing Stones, the old man revealed himself to be our fifth master and ordered us to meet him at Myth Drannor, the ancient Elven City long hidden in the centre of the Elven Court. Time, habitation by monsters, and wars had done little to destroy Myth Drannor’s splendour. The city had been overrun by Thri-kreen, Rakshasa, and Insects. The Thri-kreen left us alone when we said “Tyranthraxus” was our master; the Rakshasa left us alone when we spoke haughtily to them.
Myth Drannor
From the entrance, heading north, a spirit gave us gifts to combat the evil inhabiting Myth Drannor. We cleared Insects from many fine marble buildings and a Rakshasa posing as a Myth Drannan spirit. In the North Eastern Graveyard, a Rakshasa posing as a Red Plume soldier ambushed us; after defeating him, we found a finely crafted Elven Bow. Heading east into the Rakshasa-inhabited areas, a Rakshasa named Tyresha took us to the storeroom of his clan and let us plunder it in exchange for our help. Among the half-broken walls was a room in the north-east with a Cache of weapons — a single Electrum Piece, an ancient Longsword +5, and a Girdle of Giant Strength, all crafted by Elves in ages long past. We also made a deal with another Rakshasa who agreed to assist us in the battle against Tyranthraxus.
The Temple and Final Battle
As soon as we entered the Temple to the north, Tyranthraxus appeared and forced us to “dispose of” the artifacts that would harm him. Nameless intervened and tried to help us, but was killed in the attempt and still failed to remove the bonds. Tyranthraxus teleported away, but using the Helm of Dragons, we managed to locate him.
The bonds prevented long periods of rest, but we could still commit a spell to memory before they jarred our concentration — get every spellcaster to memorise one spell each and use Fix to recover. We met Tyranthraxus after a long trek through the rooms to the west and up a staircase. He had many Gargoyles and High Priests guarding him and was nearly immune to all our magic. Fireballs handled his guards well; Haste gave us extra speed to combat those we couldn’t reach; Minor Globe of Invulnerability resisted his Lightning and the Cleric’s Hold Person; Fire Shield protected us from his blows; and Prayer gave us a little extra help. We finally defeated him, many of us knocked unconscious in the battle.
He tried to escape into the Pool of Radiance, but the Gauntlets of Moander we had recovered from Moander’s remains shattered the Pool on contact, and Tyranthraxus disintegrated into nothingness — the final bond disappearing from our arms. We travelled to Shadowdale, where we watched a tremendous firework display before settling down in the Inn for a well-deserved rest.
