Adrian: Baldur's Gate

The wizards were somber and brooding as they approached Ulcaster. The entrance to the old school cellars was atop a tall plateau, rising from the almost desert-like scrub surrounding it. A heavy grey mist had fallen as they neared, blotting out the sun.

Xzar was keeping his mouth shut, but his eyes were wide. Edwin walked slowly, hood shadowing his face.

"Is this a magical mist, Edwin?" Adrian asked.

"Not in the way you mean," Edwin responded, looking up just enough for his grim expression to be seen. "It is not a curse, or spell. It is...a kind of residue."

Viconia gasped. "Of course," she said.

Adrian stopped the party and looked between them. "Either of you two care to explain?"

"Many powerful mages died here in spell battle," said Edwin. "Thay and Halruaa, and others, felt threatened by Ulcaster's school, and destroyed it. Many mages died on both sides, and the land was blasted by much magic. Plus the magic that had already been part of the school. This place with not lose it's residual magical energy for centuries. It affects the land in strange ways."

"I have seen similar things in the Underdark," added Viconia. "Mage towers of those males who pursue that profession often have such mist around them, the legacy of centuries of apprenti killing their masters when they reached the peak of their power--and of masters killing those appenti that made their move too soon."

"There's more," said Xzar, suddenly.

"More?" Adrian asked him.

"The dead do not rest easy here. I can feel it in my bones." He looked to Viconia, who closed her eyes a moment, considering, and nodded.

"Undead. Great." Snorted Kagain.

Safana said nothing, staying near Adrian and looking around nervously. She was not afraid, exactly, but she was more wary than she had ever been since she joined the group.

They climed up to the plateau, and were immediately confronted by a Skeleton with glowing eyes. A veritable army of undead shambled around behind him.

Sarevok and Semaj stood in one of the deepest chambers of his underground complex, facing the monk and his most unusual companion. The breath of the men was misted with cold, but not of the creature.

Sarevok eyed the lizard creature with real interest. It was not a Lizard Man, or at least not the sort he was familiar with. It was a Draconian, from another plane of reality called Krynn, which was like and yet unlike the realms of Faerun. It was a powerful and capable warrior in it's own right. It's companion was an evil monk who had been raised by the surviving members of his father's cult, and drafted into Sarevok's service. They had been training together for several months now; not to hone their skills, which were already devastating, but learning to coordinate their attacks effectively.

"The time is now," said Semaj.

"Go and destroy Adrian," said Sarevok, "And his allies."

The monk nodded, the Draconian hissed, and they moved to leave the chamber....