Ardanath Cross

Adarnath Cross was once one of our greatest warriors. One of the twelve paladins each pledged to a god in a name of protecting the lands from The Void beasts that the Genai has allowed on the plain. Some, of course, fell to darkness as quickly as their gods, corrupted with their own delusions of true godhood. Adarnath was unlike the others. Adarnath was a pure man, devoted to his god, Silma.

As was the demand of his faith, Adarnath showed compassion, forgiveness and love to all who needed it. Love to the weak, compassion to the hungry and even forgiveness to his enemies. Were it not for Susnos, who knows what he might have achieved.

From the moment Adarnath saw Susnos worshipping at the Church of Alaie he was in love with her. Duty was second to his new-found feelings, he petitioned Silma to allow him to cast aside his wife, a request that Silma denied. In a rage he rode home that night. No one truly knows what happened, save that his wife and child were found dead the next morning.

Aghast at the actions of her foremost warrior, Silma found Susnos and drained her of her life force, leaving her withered shell of a body for Adarnath to find as a punishment for his crime.

Upon finding the body Adarnath took his own life. If he could not be with her here, he would be with her in the realm of Garr. But Silma had trapped the soul of Susnos so Adarnath could not be reunited with her. Adarnath fought his way from the realm of the dead, some say killing one hundred Reapers to find his way back to the world of the living. He rose again as a Knight of Death, eternally searching for Susnos and prepared to slay any who stood in his way. It was another 10 years before he was defeated. He was interred in the Tower of Dariss, sealed in a casket and watched over by the ten warriors of Dariss who finally imprisoned him.

Many years later, the adventurers of Myste-Hass accidentally released Ardanath from his imprisonment at the Tower of Dariss. Berticus faced the paladin of Silma, but was forced to run due to the power of the man.

The Myste-Hass Calender

One of Twelve

19/03/19

Travelling into the North Woods, the adventuring party visit the Logging Camp and meet a human guard called Wilxes who they convince to join them on their quest. Following a woodland creature, the group are guided to a bridge that approaches a grand building that looked similar to a church. A spirit identifies himself as a Paladin of Silma and informs the party of a legendary paladin called Ardanath Cross, his love - Sussnos, the twelve gods and void beasts which had been released after use of the Genai Stones. The party is then informed that this is where the trials of Silma take place. However, a demon appeared, and the group were forced to return to town.

Two-Headed Monster

22/03/19

A group heads out to clear the Tower of Dariss and another heads into the swamp, meeting the White Skull Tribe. Those who venture towards the tower take on the wyvern. Whilst delving into the Tower of Dariss, a Paladin of terrible strength is realised – surrounded by ten coffins of knights of Dariss, Ardanath Cross lies protected until the party accidentally release him and are forced to run. In the swamp, the heroes fight some lizard men who are later identified as the Blue Claw Tribe. Surprisingly, the White Skull Tribe are very friendly with the adventurers, particularly with C'anis who they worship as a dragon.

Ardanath

02/04/19

A party travels to the Tower of Dariss to face Ardanath Cross. Whilst seeking the undead paladin, it becomes clear that touching the symbol of Dariss allows communication with some divine entity - possibly Dariss himself. A cultist, seen running through the chambers, is captured by the party and explains that a prophecy has been discovered at the Great Library of Kahzara stating the God of Prophecy will reawaken The Twelve of Old. Deeper within the corridors the party face a mage, cult leader and undead cyclops. The group continue on to finally encounter Ardanath and begin a very tough fight. Sadly, Varius is killed.

Unfinished Business

09/07/19

The travelling adventurers finally reach the coastal keep and rescue Sten. However, whilst exploring the keep, a gateway into the void is discovered, and the adventurers meet with Ardanath Cross again. The party is forced to flee.

Loose Ends

07/04/20

After their recent encounter with Ardanath and Susnos, the adventurers head to the sea caves where Susnos is buried in an attempt to lay her to rest. Berticus, Maolmhuire and Mehklan head out with the adventurers in order to perform this ritual. On their journey to the tomb, the group are assaulted by giant crabs. Once defeated, the heroes make their way inside and decide to collect up Susnos’s bones so that she can be laid to rest at the Temple of Garr.

Blue Claw Hunt

17/08/21 - 14/09/21 - 23/09/21 - 30/09/21 - 07/10/21

Much discussion occurs about how to proceed with the lizardmen. Then the horn blows as a large flying creature is sighted far in the west, circling the tower. The rider is Maolmhuire and the dragon is his undead creature. A wyvern is chasing him, and Rasvyn flies out to speak with the man. However, he attacks Rasvyn when he learns who the magic user is. Rasvyn disintegrates the wyvern and the man drops to the ground, then activates something which allows him to teleport out. Later, the group moves out east toward the swamps. They meet with the lizardfolk and deliver steel weapons, then move north. Whilst traversing the forest, the party is ambushed by a number of large wolves. Pursuing one of the wolves that the group can’t kill, the group emerges into a clearing with statues, one of which moves in to attack the party. The group attacks and breaks open the stone exterior, revealing a radiant woman within who continues to move between statues, animating them. The radiant woman is killed, but the large wolf-like creature runs off into the forest. Up ahead is a cave entrance, with a number of petrified individuals scattered inside the entrance and out. The gorgon who once occupied this cave appears to be dead, but her blind aid still lives. The party takes a number of items from her cave and then heads north towards the pyramid. On the way, they lay an ambush for the wolfman who is following them, but he gets away. 'Til falls into the river, Gartok and Corym enter the water to find him. Moving on, the group find the pyramid they’ve been searching and take note of the Yuan-Ti guard pattern. Rasvyn casts invisibility on Dramos, Ulborin and himself in order to scout the perimeter of the pyramid. Two Yuan-Ti approach the party and invite them to a meeting, which the party agrees to at first light. Entering the pyramid, the group are guided in front of the King of snakes. ‘Til hears the voice of someone who claims to be Imogen, and the cradle calls to him. Combat arises, the snakes taking down a number of the party with their attacks. Dramos opens his Iron Flask, releasing a lizardine creature with intelligent eyes - a green slaad. Rasvyn casts Wall of Force which allows the adventurers to regain themselves from a losing battle, whilst the statue on the altar continues to target ‘Til. The naga disintegrates on the wall and then the statue leaves its cradle, flying toward Dramos and killing him in one swipe. Then it flies to Rasvyn, knocking him unconscious. Corym runs to Dramos and revifies him, leaving a white scar on his chest. The slaad disappears from sight. 'Til throws a bead of force which captures the avatar statue and then the rest set upon destroying the throne. Gartok hits the throne with the God-Killer Mace, leaving the symbol of Dariss in the crack. However, on the second swing, Gartok disappears from sight. He finds himself with the stag avatar and mother. Rasvyn casts dispel magic on the chair, destroying the statue, bringing Gartok back and summoning Imogen from the dust. She grants ‘Til a gift, a young woman with a longsword within the sarcophagus, sent with purpose. The woman is Susnos. The slaad turns into an imitation of Dramos and leaves. Trekking out into the now snow-covered forest, the party makes camp in the woods. A group of yetis stumble upon the party whilst they are resting, and it becomes apparent that they are being chased by two remoras which attack, consuming Harbinger and Gartok. Saving them becomes a commotion, but the voice of Mother forces them on. ‘Til falls in the river again, looking for the magical weapon. Moving on, the ghost has returned to the statues at the cave. Exhausted, the party arrives at the lizardman camp and delivers the heads of the naga. The Lizardmen agree to the alliance. We return to the Tower of Dariss with 50 lizard warriors.

Tower Patrol

26/10/21

A group of refugees at the Tower of Dariss gather near the post. Kellen speaks again with Bern, then seeks out Harbinger who warns him about the hag’s power and tells him to seek out a powerful cleric or mage. They then move out towards the Northern Pass in search of Helvettian stocks of arrows, but the garrison has been attacked by the dragon. Owlbears are feasting on the Helvettian corpses, and those inside are dead or undead. A cave in has also revealed a large cavern with inscriptions marking a grand entrance, celestial writing stating the Halls of Resurrection. The group decided to do a preliminary investigation of the entrance corridor. Someone has been in there recently clearing the space out, but there are dozens of sarcophagus in here all with the lids off. Tremors gently rock the ground. A voice screams ‘where is she?’

Knightfall: Ardanath Cross

16/11/21

The adventurers gather their horses and prepare to leave town when the bells are rung. The city is surrounded by undead. The Helvettian forces fight off the undead as the party departs, accompanied by the second Harbinger of Fate. The group heads out to a northern location which Rasvyn has previously located via scrying. Making their way through tombs filled with sarcophaguses and undead, they meet Ardanath Cross. It is clear he is attempting some ritual with red Genai Stones in order to resurrect Susnos. Both Susnos and Ardanath are killed.

The Temple of Resurrection

25/11/21

A party heads out to the Temple of Resurrection again and are attacked by some ghoul-like fiend. Deeper within the complex, they discover Ardanath Cross and Susnos held within a triangular ritual circle. In the room, just to the side, is a throne - a cradle for Mordon. It appears that Ardanath and his love are being resurrected yet again. Discussion with Susnos unveils that Ardanath’s obsession with her is unwanted and uncontrollable. Dramos attempts to use fire on Ardanath which releases him from his bonds. Corym banishes Susnos in order to protect her from the undead paladin. Meanwhile, the rest of the party face off against Ardanath, this time destroying his body to ash. Corym releases the spell and Susnos returns and flees.