The Bhaalspawn Saga: The Later Years

[TheGodThatFailed]

I was planning on writing a story, not of BG trilogy, but the years after. People may not like this, i'm going to bend a few facts, but i think it could work. I intend to use all of my favourite characters that i've used as the party, and a new, great evil has arisen, and is gianing power, gathering a dark army. I'll explain:

Party:
Aramil Bladesinger - Half elven blade.
Ivellios - Elf cleric/mage
Orion the Judge - Half Elven Cleric/Ranger
Karvell Nightblade - Elf Swashbuckler

The Big Baddy:
Shagrath - Elven Fighter/Mage/Theif

You may have noticed the party are all of elf blood. This is for a good reason, after the 4 had ended Bhaal spawn saga (here's where i twist some facts to fit my story) Suldanessalar needed new guardians, people to protect it. The 4 friends were the perfect group, they had stopped 3 of the strongest evils before, so they became 'The High Council of Suldanessalar'. After a few years of being in this position, they started to drift apart. Different ideas on how to rule Suldanessalar, and always competing for the heart of the Queen. In time, they seperated, and went their seperate ways. First to ride off into the night, was Karvell Nightblade. Next to go, Orion. Unlike Karvell, who simply dissapeared, he confronted Aramil, the bhaalspawn, and challenged him to a duel, if Aramil won, Orion would leave, and Sulanessalar would be Aramil and Ivellios' to rule how they will. If Orion won, Aramil would leave, and the city would be Orion's. A long, tiring fight followed, and after many hours of battle, Orion landed a heavy blow to Aramil's face, knocking him off balance. As orion's hammer decened upon him, Aramil could do nothing but submit. He was defeated, and as they had agreed, he left immediatly. Orion was overjoyed, but this didn't last long. He left all the hard work to Ivellios, while Orion just sat around, drinking and gambling away his power. He sank into depression and anger, and when confronted by Ivellios, an argument was inevitable. Ivellios told orion that he was the one doing all the work, and Orion had to help in some way, instead of just drinking away his sorrows, Sending Aramil packing was always on his mind, and he knew it was a mistake. He knew the council was falling from power, and in a drunken rage, he too fled the city, to carry out his last wish, to see his homelands again, to die under the same sky he was born. This left Ivellios alone in the Suldanessalar council hall. He couldn't rule and defend a city by himself, although for a few years he did try. It finally became too much for him, the group he had known all his life were gone, and none of them had been seen for years. Ivellios to faded away into the void, and so ended the mighty reign of the High Council. The next few years were exceptionally hard on Suldanessalar, coping without the council they had grown to rely on, and this year imparticular, could prove fateful. The queen had heard of a drow, going by the name of 'Shagrath'. He had gathered up an army, and had already taken Athkatla by force, and now were heading for Suldanessalar. With the 4 gone, the queen knew the city would be lost. Now, the army approches, getting closer by the day, and the queen was getting desperate for aid. Her few soldiers would be outskilled and outnumbered easyly. A plea for adventurers as sent out, and got many replys, but these were just men, they would be of no help. If you looked out into the horizon, you could see a black mass marching across the hills, into the forest. The council had been forgotten, and were a thing of the past, and it had been said to forget about them, never be mentioned again. The queen broke this law, she had to get them back. She thaught Orion to be dead, in his homeland which had been burned to the ground by Shagrath's men, Aramil had gone to Athkatla to go back to his performing, and assumed him dead, because Athkatla had been overrun. This left Karvell Nightblade and Ivellios, both of which were missing. She sent out a party of elves to seek them out, with the reward of anything they chose from within the city. She hadn't heard from the group in a few weeks, and she could see the black mass drawing ever nearer. Karvell Nightblade, the first to abandon his post, had been hiding out in the lands north of Imnsvale, and word of Shagrath had reached his ear. He packed his armour and weapons onto his horse, and rode to Orion's lands. He was shocked to see the once proud pastures and forests burned to the ground. a pile of bodys in the centre of the burning city was sickening to Karvell's heart. He got off his horse, and slowly walked towards it. As the drew nearer, he saw a cemetery, with a man kneeling at the foot of a grave. he ran over, but stopped when he read the name of the headstone. "Orion the Judge." The kneeling man rose to his feet and said "What are you doing here, Karvell?"
"How did you know who i was without turning to face me?"
"Only you knew were my homelands were, and we both know about the dark army approaching Suldanessalar. You always were noble, i knew you'd come to find me."
"Orion?" Karvell didn't understand. The figure turned, and looked at Karvell through tired, weary eyes. He had long straggly brown hair, and a rugged beard. His clothing was torn, and he had many cuts and bruises, from a fierce battle. "Why are you trying to save them Karvell?" said Orion.
"that's your grave Orion. Usually people who have graves le in them."
"Tis not mine, but my father's. I failed him, i couldn't save my lands, and i deserve to be in there too."
"Orion, you have a chance to redeem yourself. You couldn't save here, but you can save Suldanessalar! Come, we must return, before it's too late and the city falls."
"...No, Karvell, I can't. I swore to protect these lands, i failed. I will die under this sky -"
"Your last wish. I know you well, Orion, and i know you wouldn't want any harm to come to the queen. Don your armour one last time, fight for her in the greatest battle of age!"
"She did nothing to help me, and i shall do nothing to stop her. Your wasting your time, Karvell."
"Fine, you've changed, Orion. What happened to honor? to glory? To the man who was my best friend for a good 200 years? If you're just going to stand around while Suldanessalar falls, then so be it. I'll not just watch, and be it with my life, i'll defend the city. You'll not see me again, Orion, for i will most likley fall amist the battle. Goodbye." Karvell mounted his horse, and sped off into the fog.


***
Well, i hope you've enjoyed it so far, and i'll continue it, to tell wether Suldanessalar falls, and what of the rest of the council. So, please tell me what you think so far.

[Q'alooaith]

I'd suggest less of an exposition..

You realy want to use all your basic idea's and spread them out, so you tell the story of what they are, where they are and why they are..

Then you do the and then this happened..

Or you can go down the, this happened, and just have little flashbacks every so often..

[TheGodThatFailed]

I'll try out both of your ideas, to be honest, i didn't even plan the story so far, i thaught it up on the spot as something to do. Thanks for the advicve, too.

[TheGodThatFailed]

***

Karvell hadn't managed to get Orion back, thaught Aramil to be dead, and Ivellios missing. It looked like he would have to fight Shagrath's army alone, and sped across the wasteland. A days ride until he made his unexpected return to Suldanessalar. As Karvell travelled across the land, he felt the prescence of another. His horse slowed, and stopped., and turned his steed in a circle. When it was facing forwards again, there was a black-clad pale-faced elf stood there. he had long black hair, black lines on his cheecks, and black pain going from his eyes, all across in a cone shape to his hairline, giving him a cat-like appearance. "You're noble, Karvell Nightblade. Even after what happened at Suldanessalar, you strive to save it. I admire that, but you don't stand a chance alone. Know this; Aramil Bladesinger didn't perish in the slaughter i left in Athkatla, he yet lives. Quite the fight he put up, although in the end he had no choice but to flee from me. Where he ran to, i do not know, but he killed many of my men. Maybe he rides to Suldanessalar, maybe not, but he is alive, and with him, your chances of defeating me are greater. Slim, but greater."
"Why do you tell me this, Shagrath? Surley you would not wish to put yourself in peril, you merely wish bide some time while i ride off on a goose-chase looking for a dead man. I'll not fall for it." Karvell knew it would be stupid to try and kil Shagrath now, he would be easyly defeated. He brushed past him on his horse, then turned and said "I suggest you ready your army, Suldanessalar will not fall easyly, i know of others, they will come to my aid." At that, he raced off once more towards Suldanessalar.

[shamrock_uk]

Good stuff! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] Don't be afraid to hit the 'return' key a couple of times every now and again [img]smile.gif[/img]

[TheGodThatFailed]

Thanks shamrock, and i always forget to set it out so it's more readable, i'll try to remember in the future