I, Vol [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

I, Vol [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bentley Mirrorshade
06-20-07, 08:28 PM I think it’s high time to sort it all out.

What we really know is that the Mark of Death has not manifested for the last 2600 years…or, at least, it appears so. This could be due to three reasons:
1. Erandis is indeed the last survivor of the Vol bloodline.
2. There are simply too few surviving descendants remaining to trace. Or they left the Material plane... Or maybe there's an elf being preserved somewhere in a state of suspended animation waiting to be taken into Vol’s loving care.
3. Something keeps the marks from manifesting.

Of those three, the third explanation intrigues me the most. But what place does The House of Death have at the end of the 10th century? What does the Mark of Death do? What the hell is Vol trying to achieve? And which is cooler, liches or vampires?

These and more questions buzzing in my head, I went for a walk down the streets of Vedykar to catch some fresh air. Accidentally, I stumbled upon a peculiar writing - it looked like some kind of notebook. Being the nosey, curious brat that I am, I picked it up, wiped the cover, and looked at the title:

“My Diary” by Lady Erandis d’Vol.

You can imagine the shock I was in! ‘Is this indeed the personal diary of the infamous dracolich necromancer?’ I questioned myself. Then I thought the notebook belonged to one of the inmates of a nearby Jorasco asylum. But when I started skimming through the pages, I soon realized the horrible, horrible truth (written in red ink).

Let me show you an excerpt:

Vult, 23th
Low on spirits again. Cheered up a little by tortuting captured Lhazaar pirates.

Vult, 24th
Invited to a tea party by the daelkyr Belashyrra. Wrote a polite refusal. I can’t stand that man, his eyes always end up all over me! Besides, I prefer my drink not looking back at it’s drinker.

Vult, 25th
Feeling down. Torturing Lhazaarites not helping one bit.

Zarantyr, 2nd
Been really busy making preparations. I think I finally got it this time. Is it Sar already? Gotta make a plan for the next week:

Things to do:
-take out the garbage
-take out the inhabitants of Stonespur Island and bind their undead bodies to my will
-take over the world and avenge my family
-feed the cat

And so it was. The vile fruit of thousands of years of scheming, the written manifestation of ultimate evil, the most nefarious plan ever conceived laid right there, right before my very eyes! Let me explain the true nature of the horrors I saw in that document, wicked beyond understanding. (A fair warning: it’s dark and completely humorless. It will hound you for the nights to come. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!!)

"How to Avenge One’s Family and Take Over the World in Three Easy Steps" by Lady Erandis d'Vol

STEP ONE - REESTABLISH HOUSE VOL

Let's say that there are too few surviving descendants of House Vol, and the possible manifestations of their marks throughout history simply weren't accounted for and remain a secret to this day. Marks that actually *did* manifest may have been regarded as aberrant dragonmarks. Maybe there is a curse placed upon them, from the times of the House's fall that makes it difficult to manifest their power (maybe some kind of magical counter-measure placed on the House's members by dragons or elves in order to hamper their powers) or keeps them from spreading the seed of Vol among wider populace.

Additionally, any surviving heir is ignorant of his magnificent heritage - a reason that he is still alive (Vol is not the only one searching for her relatives and I believe the Undying Court or the Chamber are capable of pulling off a planet-wide sweep).
Erandis has been manipulating promising elven bloodlines for centuries, quietly pulling strings from the background (do you really believe that the marriage of an elven baron with a lowly maid was a matter of "fate" or "power of love"?), gathering clues, pieces of gossip, obscure arcane writings, ancient artifacts, studies of the draconic Prophesy...

The Church of the Blood of Vol has been instrumental, of course, in this centuries-spanning plan. "Feeling sad and lonely, no place to call your own, no elven lass by your side? The taxes and the Dragonmarked Houses pushing down on you? The inevitability of your demise hanging above you like a dark cloud? Realize your true potential! Turn away from the false gods and embrace your inner power - you have all it takes to achieve immortality! Come to us for guidance (and free cookies!) and we may even take a look at that, ehm, elven lass issue... yes, you will be a lovely couple…"

Somewhere among the hundreds of these potential house descendants, among these people with unknown predecessors or with peculiar events in their family history, there is a living heir. Only when Dolurrh becomes coterminuous and certain aspects of the Prophecy are fulfilled will the draconic curse be lifted, and (s)he will realize his(her) potential and manifest the Thirteenth Dragonmark. Only then will Vol's grand work come to fruition. But that is only the beginning.

The young heir needs a lot of special care and a set of unique circumstances in order to make him manifest the Greater Dragonmark. For now, he is safely confined in the halls of Castle Illmarrow, waiting to realize his(her) grand destiny.

STEP TWO - SET THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT WAR

From the beginning, the Order of the Emerald Claw has had two crucial missions. The first was to cause unrest and hostilities in the Five Nations. Terrorist attacks, assassinations, nationalist propaganda, border clashes and organizing armed mobs can go a long way, and in current political situation even a small sparkle can light the flames of war.

Two years after the Last War, it's finally time for the Order to pull out all the stops. Forge a temporary alliance with the Lord of Blades and help him launch an attack on the decadent humanity. Expose Kaius, and free the legitimate heir from Dreadhold. Help Zorlan unify Cannith to gain his loyalty (see SotLW, pg.2). Kill the Brelish prince at the court of Korth. Give the Aundarian Ministry of War a potent weapon of Erandis’ own design – with it, they will finally be able to wrestle Thaliost out of Thranish hands. And finally, pay visit to the Archdruid of the Children of Winter...

The second purpose of the Order was to gather artifacts from distant corners of Eberron. It took centuries for Vol to locate the final resting places of the ancient Quabalrin of Xen‘drik, and now is the time to send her Claw to retrieve their secrets – open their mausoleums, breach the sarcophagi, and wake the evil entombed within.

Meanwhile, the armies of the Five Nations are marching into their doom. Emerald Claw ousted Kaius in a coup d‘etat and enthroned his weakling-of-a-grandson, a puppet in Vol’s hands. Xenophoby and nationalism run rampant – Thrane and Aundair have already restarted hostilities, others won’t lag far behind.

In Sharn, a strange disease is spreading (see Sharn, pg.175). A horrifying ilness unheard of from the times of the Lady of the Plague. Thousands die, and the city is quarantined, but other great cities suffer similar fate, new epicentres popping up around the nations. A vile virus, architectured by the Children of Winter and spread by the agents of Vol, heralds the downfall of the old world.

Followers of the Blood of Vol seem to be immune to the disease and tens of thousands of new followers flock into Blood’s creed. The fiery priests of Atur preach that the Reckoning draws near, that the disease is a last desperate strike from the impotent Sovereigns, because the Host knows his end is night.

Through the craftsmanship of Zorlan’s Cannith and thanks to the forgotten knowledge of the Quabalrin, masters of necromancy, Vol is able to construct her ultimate doomsday device (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20040618a), „Emerald Reanimator“ (ECS, pg.283), an eldritch machine raising both the countless victims of the Gods‘ Plague and the fallen soldiers on the battlefields of this Next War. Soon, such devices will be established all around the Nations, bringing thousands of undead under HER command.

The Age of Men is over, the Age of Death has finally begun.

STEP THREE – TRANSCEND INTO DIVINITY

The Next War rages on. As the legions of ghouls, wights and zombies march through the land, scions of Galifar fight it out on the ruins of their former countries. When they realize they have been betrayed, it is already too late. The Five Nations crumble into a warring farrago of city states - led by dragonmarked enclaves and Blood of Vol monasteries - warforged dominiums, and stripes of wasteland overrun by deranged cultists and nightmarish creatures.

As the cries of millions echo through the depths, an ancient consciousness stirs beneath the earth. A rakshasa rajah awakens from it‘s slumber, feeding on the continent-wide suffering. It hasn’t yet reached full sentience, it is but a primordial darkness, formless power instinctivelly spreading from it’s prison in Khyber, ignorant of the fact that it’s freedom is to be very brief indeed.

The eldritch machines carefully placed throughout the countryside - which has become one giant manifest zone of Mabar - channel the essence of the waking rajah into one place... An enormous ziggurat of human skulls standing in a bleak landscape, atop the ruined foundations of Thronehold.

High priest of the Blood issues a call: „Lady Vol has answered our prayers and walks the land again to grant us final liberation. She is gathering all faithful to Thronehold and calling them to her side to do battle with the vile gods of Eberron.“ Devotees from all around the continet set up on a long journey...

The faithful gather on the slopes of the Mountain of Skull and watch their goddess ascend the stairs with the dragonmarked heir by her side. Chanting beguns, and when the ritual ends, one hundred thousand men and women commence the ultimate sacrifice – in an ecstasy of death they simultaneously pierce their hearts.The Skull Ziggurat, empowered by the terminal breath of one hundred thousand devotees, triggered by the power of a Greater Dragonmark of Death, channels the power of the rakshasa rajah into Vol, destroying her material husk and sending her off on her way to divinity.

Vol the Lich is dead. Vol the Goddess has been born. All bow before the Queen of the Dead.

CONCLUSION

The very soul of the elven nation of Aerenal is facing obliteration, as the Undying Court is being besieged. Power of the Silver Flame vaned with the destruction of Flamekeep and the deaths of it’s followers, so many of the Overlords are free once more. Dragons of Argonnessen, facing divine judgement, fight for their very survival. Common races of Khorvaire revert into primitive states, forming tribal societies. The remaining bits of civilization are governed by the House of Death and a young nation of the warforged strives to build a bright future of it’s own.

Alright. Any comments? Have you found any loopholes in Erandis‘ plan? Do you think it’s inspiring/stupid? Ways to improve or make it more detailed? What does it take to stop her? Any interesting adventures you can think of? Make it into a campaign? What are *your* plans and experiences with Lady Vol? And what about the Dreaming Dark?
DragoonDarkfire
06-20-07, 08:51 PM AND NOW FOR A PEEK INTO THE SECRET LIFE OF THE LORD OF BLADES!

Lharvion 17th

Dear Diary. I hope none of my subordinates realize I have a diary where I write down my inner thoughts. It's hard being a tyrannical mastermind when I come in and catch a general of mine peeking into my personal life. I had to kill almost five generals and ten underlings in a single month just to keep you secret.

Lharvion 19th

Recently got off a speaking stone with Dyyrn. The guy's nice but a bit kooky, of course him being a daelkyr may have something to do with that. Funny how I'm friends with a shaper of flesh when I hate all flesh beings. I guess that's one of those ironies of life.

Lharvion 24th

Sorry I haven't written anything in a while. I was busy planning an attack against a pathetic Brelish tower near the Mournland but then I heard the good news. King Boranel is single again... sigh. King Boranel is so HOT.

Barrakas 1st

Bad news today. My cat fluffy died. :(

He was so healthy... but then I hugged him and my armor swords kinda punctured him like a pin cushion. I feel sad now. Some days ya know?
Revvecor
06-20-07, 08:54 PM Lharvion 24th

Sorry I haven't written anything in a while. I was busy planning an attack against a pathetic Brelish tower near the Mournland but then I heard the good news. King Boranel is single again... sigh. King Boranel is so HOT.

Barrakas 1st

Bad news today. My cat fluffy died. :(

He was so healthy... but then I hugged him and my armor swords kinda punctured him like a pin cushion. I feel sad now. Some days ya know?[/I]

:rofl::bow::rofl:
Rechan
06-20-07, 09:04 PM A few thoughts.

1) Initially I read the thread title as iVol, which brings up a WHOLE new mental image. ;)

2) What, the second step is NOT ??? and the third step is not "Profit"?

3) Through the craftsmanship of Zorlan’s Cannith and thanks to the forgotten knowledge of the Quabalrin, masters of necromancy, Vol is able to construct her ultimate doomsday device, „Emerald Reanimator“ (ECS, pg.283), an eldritch machine raising both the countless victims of the Gods‘ Plague and the fallen soldiers on the battlefields of this Next War. Soon, such devices will be established all around the Nations, bringing thousands of undead under HER command.

The link in this passage? I do not see the significance.

4) This gives my brain some shivers of epic proportions. I would run this. Oh yes I would. Because I would only reveal Vol's presence as the spider at teh center of a web at the very end.

I would expect the Dreaming Dark to be the one true opposition to this. Because this buggers their plans completely.
Bentley Mirrorshade
06-21-07, 10:36 AM The link in this passage? I do not see the significance.
Well, the thing the heroes are dealing with in the beginning of the dragonshard is certainly an Emerald Reanimator. I tried to tie Vol's plot into the existing canon, thus giving it more credibility, make it more Eberronesque. Besides, I like Easter eggs and similar things...

This gives my brain some shivers of epic proportions. I would run this. Oh yes I would. Because I would only reveal Vol's presence as the spider at teh center of a web at the very end.

Yes, that's the exact reason for using LoB, CoW, OotEC, MoW (okay, not fun anymore), Aurala's brother and Cannith east. Who's really behind it, and how does it all come together? It's like one giant jigsaw puzzle.

He was so healthy... but then I hugged him and my armor swords kinda punctured him like a pin cushion. I feel sad now. Some days ya know?
:bigeyes:oh poor kitty! :D lol
Edymnion
06-21-07, 12:56 PM *looks back and forth to make sure there aren't any crazy player type people around*

Okay, keep this under your hat, but by the flavor of the campaign, the dragonmarks only appear to the family lines *IN KHOVAIRE*. No one outside of Khovaire seems to manifest a mark. Its possible that the Vol line did survive, only it's descendants are on one of the other continents, even Aerenal, and since they don't manifest dragonmarks there, they might not even know they *ARE* descendants of Vol. If you want a good hook, you could always have the child of Arenal immigrants manifest the Mark of Death. The parents couldn't, since they weren't born in Khovaire, but their offspring might.

You didn't hear any of that from me, however.
Rekko
06-21-07, 01:26 PM This is awsome stuff. You have a good imagination.

The only thing I feel is missing is an opposition to Vol's schemes. It seems like no one tried to stop her. There are enough people on Eberron that wouldn't want the ruling of the world slip through their fingers: Dreaming Dark, Lords of Dust, Daelkyrs, Dragons. And there is alot more people that simply do not want their world destroyed: lesser races, monstrous races, etc. Moreover, she's a lich, she has a philactery that can be destroyed.

So, if you really want my adoration :P you'll need to write up a post that details what would give a hard time to Vol.
Rekko
06-21-07, 01:29 PM Edy, where does it say that dragonmarks only appeared on Khorvaire. I thought that the Mark of Shadow and Death appeared on Aerenal.
lukelightning
06-21-07, 01:52 PM For the palindrome lovers:

Love E. Vol
Edymnion
06-21-07, 04:50 PM Edy, where does it say that dragonmarks only appeared on Khorvaire. I thought that the Mark of Shadow and Death appeared on Aerenal.Nope, those marks did not appear until they came to Khovaire. As to where it says it, I can't remember specifically. Try the dragonshard for dragonmarks, as that sounds like a good starting place.
AntiSean
06-21-07, 06:41 PM Nope, those marks did not appear until they came to Khovaire. As to where it says it, I can't remember specifically. Try the dragonshard for dragonmarks, as that sounds like a good starting place.

Actually, the Marks of Shadow and Death appeared in Aerenal circa -3200 YK according to the 'History of the World' timeline in the ECS (pg 224); information in the Phiarlan entry in Dragonmarked backs that up as well.

ISTR that one of the theories regarding the manifestation of dragonmarks among the races of Khorvaire and Aerenal was somehow tied to the abundance of Eberron dragonshards on both continents; Siberys dragonshards are mainly found in Xen'Drik, which may have suppressed the development of elven marks while they lived there, while the ancestral human home of Sarlona has few to no Eberron or Siberys shards. The Mark of Hospitality appeared around the same time as the elven marks, so that lends more credence to the positive influence of Eberron dragonshards than it does to the negative influence of Siberys dragonshards. If you buy into this theory, naturally. (I can't place the source of this theory at the moment, though - sorry)
DragoonDarkfire
06-21-07, 09:59 PM One thing that Vol may want to realize is that the Mark of Death is a piece of the prophecy (literally).

If anything is going to speak of the Prophecy about the Mark of Death then that will be it. As an interesting hook you could have your PC's investigate the side of a mountain where unexplained avalanches have been occurring constantly. The source of the avalanches can be whatever you want but in the end the PC's discover a huge cavern inside the mountain where a dragonmark hangs about the wall.

Now if one of these PC's is an elf and he were to say, take a photograph of this wall via some form of magic (or perhaps he could have his mind read) and he reveals this mark to an old deathless ancestor of his who just happened to live during a time when House Vol was alive and he were to recognize the mark on the wall...
Rekko
06-21-07, 10:09 PM This last theory about the Eberron dragonshard is what I have heard of before.

Both theories, however, could prove very fun plots to play with.

However, as AntiSean said, the book says the Mark of Shadow and Death appeared on Aerenal.

I think that this whole discussion on dragonmarks' origins is a bit off topic. And hop, a new thread for the discussion.

Rekko
Revvecor
06-21-07, 10:13 PM Now if one of these PC's is an elf and he were to say, take a photograph of this wall via some form of magic (or perhaps he could have his mind read) and he reveals this mark to an old deathless ancestor of his who just happened to live during a time when House Vol was alive and he were to recognize the mark on the wall...

On pg156 of the ECS the seven caves are similar to what you are talking about.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bentley Mirrorshade 06-20-07, 08:28 PM	I think it’s high time to sort it all out. What we really know is that the Mark of Death has not manifested for the last 2600 years…or, at least, it appears so. This could be due to three reasons: 1. Erandis is indeed the last survivor of the Vol bloodline. 2. There are simply too few surviving descendants remaining to trace. Or they left the Material plane... Or maybe there's an elf being preserved somewhere in a state of suspended animation waiting to be taken into Vol’s loving care. 3. Something keeps the marks from manifesting. Of those three, the third explanation intrigues me the most. But what place does The House of Death have at the end of the 10th century? What does the Mark of Death do? What the hell is Vol trying to achieve? And which is cooler, liches or vampires? These and more questions buzzing in my head, I went for a walk down the streets of Vedykar to catch some fresh air. Accidentally, I stumbled upon a peculiar writing - it looked like some kind of notebook. Being the nosey, curious brat that I am, I picked it up, wiped the cover, and looked at the title: “My Diary” by Lady Erandis d’Vol. You can imagine the shock I was in! ‘Is this indeed the personal diary of the infamous dracolich necromancer?’ I questioned myself. Then I thought the notebook belonged to one of the inmates of a nearby Jorasco asylum. But when I started skimming through the pages, I soon realized the horrible, horrible truth (written in red ink). Let me show you an excerpt: Vult, 23th Low on spirits again. Cheered up a little by tortuting captured Lhazaar pirates. Vult, 24th Invited to a tea party by the daelkyr Belashyrra. Wrote a polite refusal. I can’t stand that man, his eyes always end up all over me! Besides, I prefer my drink not looking back at it’s drinker. Vult, 25th Feeling down. Torturing Lhazaarites not helping one bit. Zarantyr, 2nd Been really busy making preparations. I think I finally got it this time. Is it Sar already? Gotta make a plan for the next week: Things to do: -take out the garbage -take out the inhabitants of Stonespur Island and bind their undead bodies to my will -take over the world and avenge my family -feed the cat And so it was. The vile fruit of thousands of years of scheming, the written manifestation of ultimate evil, the most nefarious plan ever conceived laid right there, right before my very eyes! Let me explain the true nature of the horrors I saw in that document, wicked beyond understanding. (A fair warning: it’s dark and completely humorless. It will hound you for the nights to come. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!!) "How to Avenge One’s Family and Take Over the World in Three Easy Steps" by Lady Erandis d'Vol STEP ONE - REESTABLISH HOUSE VOL Let's say that there are too few surviving descendants of House Vol, and the possible manifestations of their marks throughout history simply weren't accounted for and remain a secret to this day. Marks that actually did manifest may have been regarded as aberrant dragonmarks. Maybe there is a curse placed upon them, from the times of the House's fall that makes it difficult to manifest their power (maybe some kind of magical counter-measure placed on the House's members by dragons or elves in order to hamper their powers) or keeps them from spreading the seed of Vol among wider populace. Additionally, any surviving heir is ignorant of his magnificent heritage - a reason that he is still alive (Vol is not the only one searching for her relatives and I believe the Undying Court or the Chamber are capable of pulling off a planet-wide sweep). Erandis has been manipulating promising elven bloodlines for centuries, quietly pulling strings from the background (do you really believe that the marriage of an elven baron with a lowly maid was a matter of "fate" or "power of love"?), gathering clues, pieces of gossip, obscure arcane writings, ancient artifacts, studies of the draconic Prophesy... The Church of the Blood of Vol has been instrumental, of course, in this centuries-spanning plan. "Feeling sad and lonely, no place to call your own, no elven lass by your side? The taxes and the Dragonmarked Houses pushing down on you? The inevitability of your demise hanging above you like a dark cloud? Realize your true potential! Turn away from the false gods and embrace your inner power - you have all it takes to achieve immortality! Come to us for guidance (and free cookies!) and we may even take a look at that, ehm, elven lass issue... yes, you will be a lovely couple…" Somewhere among the hundreds of these potential house descendants, among these people with unknown predecessors or with peculiar events in their family history, there is a living heir. Only when Dolurrh becomes coterminuous and certain aspects of the Prophecy are fulfilled will the draconic curse be lifted, and (s)he will realize his(her) potential and manifest the Thirteenth Dragonmark. Only then will Vol's grand work come to fruition. But that is only the beginning. The young heir needs a lot of special care and a set of unique circumstances in order to make him manifest the Greater Dragonmark. For now, he is safely confined in the halls of Castle Illmarrow, waiting to realize his(her) grand destiny. STEP TWO - SET THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT WAR From the beginning, the Order of the Emerald Claw has had two crucial missions. The first was to cause unrest and hostilities in the Five Nations. Terrorist attacks, assassinations, nationalist propaganda, border clashes and organizing armed mobs can go a long way, and in current political situation even a small sparkle can light the flames of war. Two years after the Last War, it's finally time for the Order to pull out all the stops. Forge a temporary alliance with the Lord of Blades and help him launch an attack on the decadent humanity. Expose Kaius, and free the legitimate heir from Dreadhold. Help Zorlan unify Cannith to gain his loyalty (see SotLW, pg.2). Kill the Brelish prince at the court of Korth. Give the Aundarian Ministry of War a potent weapon of Erandis’ own design – with it, they will finally be able to wrestle Thaliost out of Thranish hands. And finally, pay visit to the Archdruid of the Children of Winter... The second purpose of the Order was to gather artifacts from distant corners of Eberron. It took centuries for Vol to locate the final resting places of the ancient Quabalrin of Xen‘drik, and now is the time to send her Claw to retrieve their secrets – open their mausoleums, breach the sarcophagi, and wake the evil entombed within. Meanwhile, the armies of the Five Nations are marching into their doom. Emerald Claw ousted Kaius in a coup d‘etat and enthroned his weakling-of-a-grandson, a puppet in Vol’s hands. Xenophoby and nationalism run rampant – Thrane and Aundair have already restarted hostilities, others won’t lag far behind. In Sharn, a strange disease is spreading (see Sharn, pg.175). A horrifying ilness unheard of from the times of the Lady of the Plague. Thousands die, and the city is quarantined, but other great cities suffer similar fate, new epicentres popping up around the nations. A vile virus, architectured by the Children of Winter and spread by the agents of Vol, heralds the downfall of the old world. Followers of the Blood of Vol seem to be immune to the disease and tens of thousands of new followers flock into Blood’s creed. The fiery priests of Atur preach that the Reckoning draws near, that the disease is a last desperate strike from the impotent Sovereigns, because the Host knows his end is night. Through the craftsmanship of Zorlan’s Cannith and thanks to the forgotten knowledge of the Quabalrin, masters of necromancy, Vol is able to construct her ultimate doomsday device (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20040618a), „Emerald Reanimator“ (ECS, pg.283), an eldritch machine raising both the countless victims of the Gods‘ Plague and the fallen soldiers on the battlefields of this Next War. Soon, such devices will be established all around the Nations, bringing thousands of undead under HER command. The Age of Men is over, the Age of Death has finally begun. STEP THREE – TRANSCEND INTO DIVINITY The Next War rages on. As the legions of ghouls, wights and zombies march through the land, scions of Galifar fight it out on the ruins of their former countries. When they realize they have been betrayed, it is already too late. The Five Nations crumble into a warring farrago of city states - led by dragonmarked enclaves and Blood of Vol monasteries - warforged dominiums, and stripes of wasteland overrun by deranged cultists and nightmarish creatures. As the cries of millions echo through the depths, an ancient consciousness stirs beneath the earth. A rakshasa rajah awakens from it‘s slumber, feeding on the continent-wide suffering. It hasn’t yet reached full sentience, it is but a primordial darkness, formless power instinctivelly spreading from it’s prison in Khyber, ignorant of the fact that it’s freedom is to be very brief indeed. The eldritch machines carefully placed throughout the countryside - which has become one giant manifest zone of Mabar - channel the essence of the waking rajah into one place... An enormous ziggurat of human skulls standing in a bleak landscape, atop the ruined foundations of Thronehold. High priest of the Blood issues a call: „Lady Vol has answered our prayers and walks the land again to grant us final liberation. She is gathering all faithful to Thronehold and calling them to her side to do battle with the vile gods of Eberron.“ Devotees from all around the continet set up on a long journey... The faithful gather on the slopes of the Mountain of Skull and watch their goddess ascend the stairs with the dragonmarked heir by her side. Chanting beguns, and when the ritual ends, one hundred thousand men and women commence the ultimate sacrifice – in an ecstasy of death they simultaneously pierce their hearts.The Skull Ziggurat, empowered by the terminal breath of one hundred thousand devotees, triggered by the power of a Greater Dragonmark of Death, channels the power of the rakshasa rajah into Vol, destroying her material husk and sending her off on her way to divinity. Vol the Lich is dead. Vol the Goddess has been born. All bow before the Queen of the Dead. CONCLUSION The very soul of the elven nation of Aerenal is facing obliteration, as the Undying Court is being besieged. Power of the Silver Flame vaned with the destruction of Flamekeep and the deaths of it’s followers, so many of the Overlords are free once more. Dragons of Argonnessen, facing divine judgement, fight for their very survival. Common races of Khorvaire revert into primitive states, forming tribal societies. The remaining bits of civilization are governed by the House of Death and a young nation of the warforged strives to build a bright future of it’s own. Alright. Any comments? Have you found any loopholes in Erandis‘ plan? Do you think it’s inspiring/stupid? Ways to improve or make it more detailed? What does it take to stop her? Any interesting adventures you can think of? Make it into a campaign? What are your plans and experiences with Lady Vol? And what about the Dreaming Dark?
DragoonDarkfire 06-20-07, 08:51 PM	AND NOW FOR A PEEK INTO THE SECRET LIFE OF THE LORD OF BLADES! Lharvion 17th Dear Diary. I hope none of my subordinates realize I have a diary where I write down my inner thoughts. It's hard being a tyrannical mastermind when I come in and catch a general of mine peeking into my personal life. I had to kill almost five generals and ten underlings in a single month just to keep you secret. Lharvion 19th Recently got off a speaking stone with Dyyrn. The guy's nice but a bit kooky, of course him being a daelkyr may have something to do with that. Funny how I'm friends with a shaper of flesh when I hate all flesh beings. I guess that's one of those ironies of life. Lharvion 24th Sorry I haven't written anything in a while. I was busy planning an attack against a pathetic Brelish tower near the Mournland but then I heard the good news. King Boranel is single again... sigh. King Boranel is so HOT. Barrakas 1st Bad news today. My cat fluffy died. :( He was so healthy... but then I hugged him and my armor swords kinda punctured him like a pin cushion. I feel sad now. Some days ya know?
Revvecor 06-20-07, 08:54 PM	Lharvion 24th Sorry I haven't written anything in a while. I was busy planning an attack against a pathetic Brelish tower near the Mournland but then I heard the good news. King Boranel is single again... sigh. King Boranel is so HOT. Barrakas 1st Bad news today. My cat fluffy died. :( He was so healthy... but then I hugged him and my armor swords kinda punctured him like a pin cushion. I feel sad now. Some days ya know?[/I] :rofl::bow::rofl:
Rechan 06-20-07, 09:04 PM	A few thoughts. 1) Initially I read the thread title as iVol, which brings up a WHOLE new mental image. ;) 2) What, the second step is NOT ??? and the third step is not "Profit"? 3) Through the craftsmanship of Zorlan’s Cannith and thanks to the forgotten knowledge of the Quabalrin, masters of necromancy, Vol is able to construct her ultimate doomsday device, „Emerald Reanimator“ (ECS, pg.283), an eldritch machine raising both the countless victims of the Gods‘ Plague and the fallen soldiers on the battlefields of this Next War. Soon, such devices will be established all around the Nations, bringing thousands of undead under HER command. The link in this passage? I do not see the significance. 4) This gives my brain some shivers of epic proportions. I would run this. Oh yes I would. Because I would only reveal Vol's presence as the spider at teh center of a web at the very end. I would expect the Dreaming Dark to be the one true opposition to this. Because this buggers their plans completely.
Bentley Mirrorshade 06-21-07, 10:36 AM	The link in this passage? I do not see the significance. Well, the thing the heroes are dealing with in the beginning of the dragonshard is certainly an Emerald Reanimator. I tried to tie Vol's plot into the existing canon, thus giving it more credibility, make it more Eberronesque. Besides, I like Easter eggs and similar things... This gives my brain some shivers of epic proportions. I would run this. Oh yes I would. Because I would only reveal Vol's presence as the spider at teh center of a web at the very end. Yes, that's the exact reason for using LoB, CoW, OotEC, MoW (okay, not fun anymore), Aurala's brother and Cannith east. Who's really behind it, and how does it all come together? It's like one giant jigsaw puzzle. He was so healthy... but then I hugged him and my armor swords kinda punctured him like a pin cushion. I feel sad now. Some days ya know? :bigeyes:oh poor kitty! :D lol
Edymnion 06-21-07, 12:56 PM	looks back and forth to make sure there aren't any crazy player type people around Okay, keep this under your hat, but by the flavor of the campaign, the dragonmarks only appear to the family lines IN KHOVAIRE. No one outside of Khovaire seems to manifest a mark. Its possible that the Vol line did survive, only it's descendants are on one of the other continents, even Aerenal, and since they don't manifest dragonmarks there, they might not even know they ARE descendants of Vol. If you want a good hook, you could always have the child of Arenal immigrants manifest the Mark of Death. The parents couldn't, since they weren't born in Khovaire, but their offspring might. You didn't hear any of that from me, however.
Rekko 06-21-07, 01:26 PM	This is awsome stuff. You have a good imagination. The only thing I feel is missing is an opposition to Vol's schemes. It seems like no one tried to stop her. There are enough people on Eberron that wouldn't want the ruling of the world slip through their fingers: Dreaming Dark, Lords of Dust, Daelkyrs, Dragons. And there is alot more people that simply do not want their world destroyed: lesser races, monstrous races, etc. Moreover, she's a lich, she has a philactery that can be destroyed. So, if you really want my adoration :P you'll need to write up a post that details what would give a hard time to Vol.
Rekko 06-21-07, 01:29 PM	Edy, where does it say that dragonmarks only appeared on Khorvaire. I thought that the Mark of Shadow and Death appeared on Aerenal.
lukelightning 06-21-07, 01:52 PM	For the palindrome lovers: Love E. Vol
Edymnion 06-21-07, 04:50 PM	Edy, where does it say that dragonmarks only appeared on Khorvaire. I thought that the Mark of Shadow and Death appeared on Aerenal.Nope, those marks did not appear until they came to Khovaire. As to where it says it, I can't remember specifically. Try the dragonshard for dragonmarks, as that sounds like a good starting place.
AntiSean 06-21-07, 06:41 PM	Nope, those marks did not appear until they came to Khovaire. As to where it says it, I can't remember specifically. Try the dragonshard for dragonmarks, as that sounds like a good starting place. Actually, the Marks of Shadow and Death appeared in Aerenal circa -3200 YK according to the 'History of the World' timeline in the ECS (pg 224); information in the Phiarlan entry in Dragonmarked backs that up as well. ISTR that one of the theories regarding the manifestation of dragonmarks among the races of Khorvaire and Aerenal was somehow tied to the abundance of Eberron dragonshards on both continents; Siberys dragonshards are mainly found in Xen'Drik, which may have suppressed the development of elven marks while they lived there, while the ancestral human home of Sarlona has few to no Eberron or Siberys shards. The Mark of Hospitality appeared around the same time as the elven marks, so that lends more credence to the positive influence of Eberron dragonshards than it does to the negative influence of Siberys dragonshards. If you buy into this theory, naturally. (I can't place the source of this theory at the moment, though - sorry)
DragoonDarkfire 06-21-07, 09:59 PM	One thing that Vol may want to realize is that the Mark of Death is a piece of the prophecy (literally). If anything is going to speak of the Prophecy about the Mark of Death then that will be it. As an interesting hook you could have your PC's investigate the side of a mountain where unexplained avalanches have been occurring constantly. The source of the avalanches can be whatever you want but in the end the PC's discover a huge cavern inside the mountain where a dragonmark hangs about the wall. Now if one of these PC's is an elf and he were to say, take a photograph of this wall via some form of magic (or perhaps he could have his mind read) and he reveals this mark to an old deathless ancestor of his who just happened to live during a time when House Vol was alive and he were to recognize the mark on the wall...
Rekko 06-21-07, 10:09 PM	This last theory about the Eberron dragonshard is what I have heard of before. Both theories, however, could prove very fun plots to play with. However, as AntiSean said, the book says the Mark of Shadow and Death appeared on Aerenal. I think that this whole discussion on dragonmarks' origins is a bit off topic. And hop, a new thread for the discussion. Rekko
Revvecor 06-21-07, 10:13 PM	Now if one of these PC's is an elf and he were to say, take a photograph of this wall via some form of magic (or perhaps he could have his mind read) and he reveals this mark to an old deathless ancestor of his who just happened to live during a time when House Vol was alive and he were to recognize the mark on the wall... On pg156 of the ECS the seven caves are similar to what you are talking about.