Black Hart

To Kill A King

DM's Notes: Chapter 9 - A Stranger Visits

As I said before, the encounter with the orc patrol led by minotaurs was to give the party a fright, make them think about what they were doing and realise that, as a DM, I was willing to let their charcacters die if they were stupid enough to get into such a situation. Aranon was close to death, and Tharhymm's death was meant as a warning, and also to shame Aranon for his poor decision. I am not sure that it had the desired effect.

I tried to bring Don Raziano into the party here, but soon decided he had no place. I no longer have a 'feel' for this character, so this will likely be his final appearance, unless I find another use for him later.

Berran and Lareng have another two companions - Skulldike, a dwarven artificer from Veluna city, and a mysterious overseer whom they know only as the Beholder. Together they are known as 'the Witnesses', for they watch over hte events unfolding in the world, intervening as they deem fit. I have to say I initially based these NPC's on the 'Lone Gunmen' from the X-Files, being Byers, Langly and Frohike respectively. I cannot remember the name of the guy the Beholder is based on, but he was the secret fourth member of that group. The Beholder makes an appearance in 'Gradsul By Twilight', and unknown to anyone is actually based in Gradsul.

Colin was quite surprised that Eloi bettered him in a fight, but he did not realise Eloi is a dual-class fighter-thief. I have no idea if he is aware of this even to this day.

Garthanyel is there right in the party's face again - of course, Bermen recognises him from Oakhart Keep, not by features but hte way he moves, but he does not realise this. And the noise upstairs is Alepp Giltholian - or more accurately his surname, as is Garthanyel's, is Darnakurian. Alepp is the son of Darnakurian from Ivid the Undying - I had done an entire history of the family, but I seem to have destroyed the file in one of my many hard-drive changeovers. I will get around to this again some time.

This is where we start to get onto the main plot, and the next chapter sees the real action!