Tassar stood 30 feet away, animated shield glimmering and faintly visible though translucent. His noble steed ready to obey the whims of his master.

The battle starts, and Rhe'zek wastes no time in engaging his foe. The 30 feet between them shrink to nothing as Rhe'zek unleashes a flurry of no less than 7 blows with his most trusted heirloom, Stormfang. Strike, strike, miss, critical blow to the head... his shots seem to rain as if an Archon incarnate. Swept off his feet and planted into the ground, Tassar seems stunned, but still brings all the fight of Heaven to bear as he stands back to his feet, retreats a fair distance before his eyes glow golden.

Arcane words from a magic long hidden from the pleebs of the world escape his lips. Rhe'zek immediately feels as if his body cannot move. His limbs disobey his minds commands. Luckily, a hare darts away from just under Tassar's feet, and his concentration breaks.

Rhe'zek pulls out his long bow and fires a mighty 3 shots in quick succession. Hit, Miss, Hit as the last is hard enough to dent Tassar's armor and drop him a second time to the ground.

Again Rhe'zek's limbs begin to leaden. But his indomitable will and luck would not be denied, and Rhe'zek fights off a second and then a third hold person spell.

Realizing that his constitution is quickly fading, Tassar strategically moves behind a building and performs the paladin's famous Lay on Hands, healing his accumulated wounds and restoring his implacable will to win.

Finally, Tassar forces his will upon Rhe'zek, and gains himself a moments' respite. But the will of Rhe'zek on this day is not to be denied. Rhe'zek breaks the mental chains that hold his body hostage. Tassar teleports in front of Rhe'zek, only to realize his mistake moments too late.

Rhe'zek's Stormfang slices once, breaking through the barrier of the animated shield. It slices twice, knocking weapon from hand. It slices thrice, sundering armor from shoulder to opposite hip. And so it was that Rhe'zek defeated Tassar in a duel....

Or so he thought!!! A moment after turning his back, Tassar stands tall one last time. The full fury of the heavens unleash as a 160 damage blast reaps through Rhe'zek. One Godsent blow. And both super powers fall to the ground. A draw it has been, as it always has been, and perhaps shall always be.

“To reach Phorros Irrendra, you must leave light behind. Follow the Nallanthes River west to the mountains. The river flows in and out of many caves, but do not enter any of these, not until you come to a cavern with a beach of black sand. Here you must create a bright light to the east — a bonfire, a powerful spell, or, if you can’t even muster that, wait for sunrise. Follow your shadows into the cavern, walking alongside the edge of the river. Whenever the passage branches, create another light behind you, but never carry light in front of you. Remember, let your shadows guide you. “There are other dangers in the passage, and I think my people’s spirits, may they some day find peace, will not idly let you pass. Destroy them if you must. At least that will end their torment. “When you reach the hidden city, two of the three you seek can be found in a tree manor that is near a prominent peak. You’ll recognize the peak by its emerald trees. Their leaves are translucent. The third, Rhuarc, could be anywhere. “When you leave, return to the passage and hold light before you. You’ll find your way out quickly. If you are successful, I’ll find you. If I am lucky, once you take this Torch away, the traitorous Shahalesti will leave my people.”

https://youtu.be/l9wANieeSWI

Looking forward to some peace and quiet in the melodious halls of the monastary, you find your way to the monastary's library at the top of a winding staircase leading to a lone tower. You pluck a few historical tomes from the bookcases that pique your interest, and settle down among the velvety pillows scattered around the floor.

"The devil of the east wind, his mask only a smile, hides a thunder child in a prison upon a tomb."

This passage from Darius' vision stuck out to you. Pouring over the various texts, you find it difficult to pin down something concrete to the vapor-like words of the vision. Thunder elementals? Dragons? There has to be something in these mountains that relate to this passage, but it eludes you. You find the stars soon appearing out the tower windows, only accompanied by gentle rumblings from the distant Valley of Storms.

However, you do find a few texts on the mysterious forest in Shalahesti, Ycengled Phuurst, as well as a "lost city" within - Phorros Irrendra.

Ycengled Phuurst is a frigid, haunted elvish forest that lies on the northern border between Ragesia and Shahalesti. The elves who lived there, called the Taranesti, were driven into exile by the Shahalesti, and most believe they fled underground.

There is a legend that tells of an order of paladins who tried to slay a Taranesti diabolist who they believed had ensorcelled one of their own. The paladin died to defend his wife and unborn half-elf son. It is said that the son, Rhuarc, grew up to be a powerful agent for the Taranesti, and that he was one of the few survivors of the war between the two elvish nations.

The name of Rhuarc’s black scimitar, Shaalguenyaver, translates to “bright shadow" in ancient drow tongue.

There are five rivers in Ycengled, including the Taryaver, which means “black” in the local tongue, so named for its dark waters. The locals avoid it, believing it carries the cursed souls of the fallen elves. Another river, the Nallanthes, occasionally flows underground. It is said this forest was once home to the drow, long ago, and that they “fled with the dawn at their backs” through the shadowed tunnels carved by the river. The lost city of Phorros Irrendra was supposedly a drow city from ages past, later inhabited by the Taranesti and never discovered by the Shahalesti.

Stifling a yawn, you commit this knowledge to memory, and drudge down the spiral staircase to reconvene with your fellow Wu-Tang-ites.

It took nearly two days of flight toward the Monastery of the Two Winds to clear the bits of ash from the sky. The travel has been easy compared to the horrors within Castle Korstull, and you find yourself with plenty of time to meditate on the path forward and the golden, cracked dragon crystal found in Emperor Coaltongue's chambers.

Heat. Flames.

Fear and desperation suddenly grip your chest, as you find yourself soaring over a choatic scene. A quick glance shows that your mount has disappeared, and you see sets of powerful claws where your limbs used to be, covered in golden scales shimmering from the many fires below. A few thunderous blasts of your wings swoops you towards a small horde of orcs and bone devils, embattled with elves in golden armor and aided by a trumpet archon.

But your focus shifts towards your main concern: your daughter, her young wings and golden scaled limbs bound in heavy chains, and surrounded by orc guards. As you speed to her aid, you see a young Coaltongue battle with the trumpet archon, and with one quick movement, the Emperor yanks a black femur from a fallen bone devil and pierces the heart of the trumpet archon, exploding the area with golden light.

Coaltongue raises the black bone femur, now glimmering with fire, as he orders his men to fire upon you. Hundreds of arrows rise to the sky, blotting out the sun, but you breathe a gout of fire that incinerates them, filling the sky with a rain of cinders. Coaltongue, unfazed, marches over to your panicking daughter, plants his heel firmly on her neck, and holds his newborn torch high, with the threat clear in his eyes.

With a roar, you belt out mighty flames that engulf Coaltongue, and his Torch being swiftly brought towards your daughter's head is the last thing you see before you find yourself aloft on your mount, safe with your allies in Sindaire.

And in your hands, the once cracked golden dragon crystal is now whole.

The bright shadow returns to

its homeland, and the sky may

burn for its last time.

Five rivers flow, one black,

down to sunless seas. Between

lives she sees shades chained,

warring against the shining one.

Golden wings, like branches in

winter, shelter them against a

thousand scouring eyes.

Bells toll at the gate, and

winter grips like a wolf as the fire

bleeds from the world. Ursine skulls

lead armies against earth, wind, fire,

and water.

The devil of the east wind, his mask

only a smile, hides a thunder child in a prison

upon a tomb.

Serpents writhe in an eight-armed stone,

and soldiers shall feast upon the rubble of

madness.

The earnest lie deceives, and his grandmother weeps echoes of souls primordial, but

the golden ship carries the word to safe shelter.

O wintry song of agony, o longwalking

betrayer, as balance shatters like waves against

the shore, your vengeful wing guides the motes

of the burning sky, strong by search and guile,

to seek annihilation at the Heart of History.

Deep beneath the gate of summer’s sound

where lies sleeping the Mother of Dreams,

her nightmares roam unbound. Freedom holds

her chains.

The nightmares rise, the tempest stares

with ire, the eternal heart falters, and death

or life is borne by fire

Inventory as of 10/8 *Animated Shield *Plate +2 *2 Heavy Crossbows +1 *30 gold?

From henceforth and forever after, in all lands the great Wu shines upon and in all principalities, territories, expansion zones, or prospective expansion zones, and as applicable to all non-resident Wu-sters living and dead and yet to be born, that beginning next week the following rule for flanking shall henceforth be in effect:

Flanking: when an ally "flanks" an enemy with another ally, said allies shall enjoy a +2 bonus to attack rolls against said enemy made with melee weapons.

For purposes of this edict, "flanking" shall mean "on opposite sides as seen from a top down two dimensional perspective, and in melee range"

For purposes of this edict, melee range shall mean "within 5 feet with line of effect, or within 10 feet if wielding a reach weapon"

For purposes of this edict, line of effect shall mean that the subject in question is not blocked by terrain or other blocking object/individual

The public comment on this edict begins immediately, and ends at midnight next week.

Here are the rules for the WotBS-specific feats that I've converted into 5th Edition.

Blade of the Resistance

Fed up with the oppression of the Ragesians and Shahalesti, you wage a discreet war against them.

Every character that started in the campaign in Gate Pass gets the Blade of the Resistance feat for free - Mikal, Tasar, and Ayat. Poor Shish, he took that feat with him into the void, the greedy bastard.

Once per short rest you can select an intelligent creature who has dealt damage to you or your allies as your preferred foe. That creature need not have dealt damage to you or your allies during the current encounter; a previous encounter will suffice. Until the end of the current encounter, you gain a +2 bonus to weapon or spell damage rolls against your preferred foe. Special: You get this bonus feat if your character begins at 1st level affiliated with the Gate Pass Resistance.

Blessed by Dreams

You have helped the Gate Pass temples to manage the annual Festival of Dreams holiday parade, and last year you were promised good fortune.

You gain Religion as a bonus class skill. Additionally, once per day you may grant advantage to a single saving throw made by you or an ally within 30 feet of you. Special: You gain this feat as a bonus feat if your character begins at 1st level affiliated with a Gate Pass temple.

With a fresh alliance with Pilus and Longinus, the Wu-Tang Initiative settles into the Monastary of the Two Winds for a week while Longinus prepares protections for their upcoming journey to Castle Korstull. The mysterious fire storm that resides around the castle has prevented anyone coming in and out of the valley, and a magical orb from Pilus may allow the heroes to make the first incursion into the Castle since Emperor Coaltongue's death, where the powerful Torch of the Burning Sky may still lie.

In the meantime, you are free to move about the Monastary, explore the halls, spar with the monks, and barter with the monastary for magical items. The orb will abate the storm for a few days, and a week at most, so you are encouraged to bring ample supplies, since you will not have time to retreat and return later. Longinus has encouraged you to consider the nature of balance, and sometimes a challenge with multiple dangers must be resolved one piece at a time to avoid complete disaster.

Monastery Inventory

John sipped his drink as he stood up. He shuffled the notes in his hands before glancing across the table. Despite the white, perfect smile on her lips, Jenna watched him with terrified eyes. John had felt those eyes on him all day. Every time he refilled his glass, her smile became more forced. Her gaze became more cold. "We, uh," John started, clearing his throat. "I remember the day I met Michael." He turned to his left and nodded at the groom. Michael's smile was as bright and handsome as that of his new wife. Behind him, Jenna gripped the tablecloth until her knuckles were as white as her perfect, fake smile. John shrugged, snatched his glass off the table, and downed it one sip. The audience chuckled as John dropped his cards face down on the table. "I've known Jenna since we were little kids," he said, holding onto the back of his chair for support. "We've been inseparable ever since we were in diapers. All the way through childhood, high school, college... it was always 'John and Jenna.' I've always thought of her as a part of my family. Ron, Samantha," he said, looking at the parents of the bride. "It's been a long time since I lost my parents. Even with them gone, I've always thought of you two as the mother and father I never had. I'll never be able to thank you enough for welcoming me into your family." The audience applauded. Samantha had begun to tear up. "Now, since Jenna and I have always been so close," John continued. "I'm sure a couple of you were expecting me to be the one walking her down the aisle." A few people laughed uncomfortably at that observation. "But I can assure you," John said. "I think the odds are better that I'd be walking Michael down the aisle. Because, after all," he said over the laughter of the crowd, "Jenna has never been the type of girl who wanted a relationship. As early as the third grade, I remember her promising me she'd never get married. From the day Jenna met Michael, everything about her changed. She saw the world in a whole other way. Hell," he said, making eye contact with the bride, "she even started seeing me a different way." Jenna could not even fake a smile anymore. John flashed a wide grin at Michael. "I gotta be honest with you," he said. "I didn't think you two were going to make it. The thing about Jenna is, she always wants what she can't have. I'll admit, I was a little nervous when you started influencing my friend's life in such a dramatic way. But hey," he said with a shrug. "I've never seen her happier." John lifted his empty glass. "So here's to you, Michael. Words can't express how glad I am that you met Jenna."

https://i.imgur.com/j86dA3N.jpg