This was Ritualist Rallick Dess.

[Sankis]

After over two years it's finally over.

This character was created on Sunday, September 29th, 2013 at 04:42:31 PM.

September 29th, 2013 - January 9th, 2016

I originally made Rallick with the idea to make as straightforward a character as possible. Some friends who were already playing on the server told me that tanks were needed so I eventually opted to make a fighter. My original intent was for the character to join the Watchers and to be the ideal follower. Things didn't quite work out that way, though.

Rallick Dess was born in a small village located between Neverwinter and the Mere of Dead Men. The older of two children he aspired to be more than the farmers that his parents were and at the age of fifteen he struck out on his own. Eventually he enlisted himself in a mercenary company that operated along the Sword Coast. Originally I had been quite inspired by the Malazan Book of the Fallen series to write out and detail in some depth the way the mercenary company worked as well as some of the characters he fought alongside. Ultimately the information was never needed for anything (why would it have been?) and was never used in conversation. As a result, most of it was lost. No big loss, though.

Rallick served with this company for several years before its dissolution when it was hired, and mostly destroyed, in the siege of Murann by the Sothillisian forces. Rallick was one of the lucky few to sneak out of the city before it fell to the besieging force. With the destruction of his company, the mercenary now found himself working solo jobs. He headed back up north and spent the next few years working small protection jobs. At the age of 43 he tired of the mercenary life and, with what he'd saved, purchased a small farm for himself. This was short lived, however, as the Darkening occured soon after and he was forced to abandon his farm and seek refuge from the rampaging forces of the Dread Empire.

It wasn't long after he fled that he came across a band of survivors that would eventually come to include people such as Tolman, Sevrin Obrist, and Drake Ridelle. Eager for some security he joined up with them and was among their number when they came across the surface holdout of Barag Varn.

Barag Varn was a fortified town led by a Lord Kremlar. Just prior to the group's arrival they had noticed that Dread forces were preparing for an assault. The group quickly took arms and armor from the city's temple and went to work on the fort's defenses.

Ultimately, Barag Varn fell to the Dread Forces but it was not without heavy cost. As the thrall forces overtook the outpost Lord Kremlar gave the order to blow a store of alchemist's fire, destroying both the attackers and those who stood in the city's defense. Somehow, though, some of the defenders managed to survive and soon found their way to Sanctuary

Rallick's first month in Sanctuary involved him frequently going between various groups. I had originally intended him to become a Watcher but upon exploring the city and lower I realized that there was a great deal more opportunity.

[hide=Arrival at Sanctuary/2013]

Rallick faces off against some clowns in the old version of the quest. Notable in that it's the only good shot I have of him in his barag varn armor.

Rallick wandered between the various groups pretty freely early on. Here he is helping the Spellguard kill Wundy's slaad for reasons I don't quite remember.

There were a fair few attempts at recruitment, too, as most of the barag varn prelude PCs were being gobbled up by various factions.

He stood as prosecution against Grog Gruggers after he killed a child in the square. Notable in that this is what eventually led me to greatly overcorrecting and adding my level 4 and 8 stat point into charisma.

I decided early on that Rallick had a thing for Drake Ridelle, one of the other survivors of Barag Varn and soldier of Sune.

Rallick's wanderings eventually led him to a one Count Patrice Vermand. He joined the count's faction as a retainer and enjoyed a great many conversations with the man. Unfortunately the player soon disappeared for personal reasons but I greatly enjoyed it early on. It helped form the basis of rallick's attitudes toward the city and briefly had me toy with the idea of being a lowersman.

One of the interesting side effects of Rallick being involved with Patrice's group was that he, by extension, had a bizarre amount of access to the otherwise relatively secretive Cult of Ascension. Here he is watching the induction of Drake Ridelle. This was highly awkward as I'm not sure anyone realized Rallick was there, nor was he ever asked to join.

After Count Vermand disappeared I began to toy with the idea of joining the Society. Halcron Runiec (and, soon after, Blake Kendon) were inducted about a week before Rallick was. Rallick began to gravitate toward them as I knew he'd need recommendations to join. This, as I recall, is very shortly after Halcron was inducted and decided to attack Traensyr to celebrate.

It went great! I learned about Bionists that day.

Soon after, Rallick met a bright eyed halfling paladin of Tyr named Abala Quickfeet. He befriended her and she became his moral compass for awhile.
Here we are heading down the lift at the Mound of Magnatz to follow up on a mission of Abala's.



The event took us to Ysinode and into a seemingly abandoned laboratory. The event was quite rough with us running out of supplies midway through and struggling to survive on what was found. Abala ended up needing to slay a halfling who had since been enthralled.

Rallick's actions in the laboratory was deemed worthy of granting him a ring of the Oathsworn. Ananfel handled the ceremony. The work for recommendations now began in earnest.


Not all attempts for the favor of an Ordinant involved grand plans or good ideas.

Eventually two recommendations were earned.

And Rallick acquired the final component necessary to be inducted.

He approached the Crystal and was given a vision.


What he saw there essentially ensured his loyalty to the Society forever.

Needing to lie about the Society was pretty common until close to the end.


Balfour and Paub successfully screw over Rallick and Halcron and, as a side effect, completely derail Liruwen's upcoming defense arguments.Rallick ended up telling Ananfel about the arrangement simply because he thought he needed to know. He did not expect Ananfel to react as he did.



Ananfel fled the Chapterhouse after threatening to reveal Society secrets. He was captured by Zsigmond, a loyal Oathsworn.


Rallick initially didn't take it well.



The resulting riots by the elves planted a seed of elven distrust.

Blake was much closer to Ananfel than Rallick ever was. Here is Rallick showing Blake the final resting place of the traitor elf.



He and several other Ordinants volunteered to help clear Gould's manor from the rebels and elves.




Some interesting scenes of the Underdark.

An elven cultist of Tulathek is caught by Halcron and turned into stone. Morfin remained in the Chapterhouse for as long as Rallick was alive.


Following the Society's aid at the manor, Gould sent gifts. Rallick received a fine blade which he named after the Lord of Barag Varn.

The Society was weird.

Inducting a familiar face.

Miscellaneous:


[/hide]

[Sankis]

The next year of Rallick's life was when he started to become more of a zealot. Originally his zealotry was simply directed toward furthering the crusade but as the Crystal grew and lent its powers to the Society his attentions began to shift. It was around this time that I made the decision that Rallick would rarely ever remove his helmet.

[hide=January through June 2014]

The end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 marked an increased recruitment for the Society. Of those who joined around this time, Aleron Didereaux was the one who had the longest lasting impact on Rallick.




A wounded adventurer had arrived in the city and informed Rallick and Abala that his friends were trapped and required rescue. Unwilling to leave Sanctuary citizens in the hands of thralls they struck out for the fallen Drow city to rescue them.

Though initially successful their flight from the city nearly ended in disaster. Only through Abala's sacrifice and the life of Andrew Shackleton did they make it out relatively unscathed.


Zsigmond Kadar, a stalwart ally of the Society, is put on trial. The Society shows up to support him.


Rallick had decent relationships with the Auxiliaryat this point. While patroling the machine with Dominique he runs into another acquaintance.

The relationship with the Tower was greatly dictated by the current PC agent. Rallick largely trusted and respected Obersvesky though he shouldn't have.







It was around this time that Rallick's focus shifted toward using and empowering the Crystal. Alongside Algarn a ritual was planned. In exchange, the Ordinants and their guest, were granted a series of confusing visions.





Saeros Curufin, an elven ordinant, returned to the Society the day of the Ritual. He was displeased with the state of affairs in the city and "quit" the Society. Quitting wasn't allowed. This, and Narvis' existence, are what finally cemented Rallick's hatred of elves. No elf would be recruited in the Society for another 22 months.



When the Sojourners arrived in Lower, the Society sought to make an arrangement with them. Nothing of note was ever really agreed on though they were all pretty cool NPCs.

Ordinant group shot at the election announcement


Chaathi was a druid who long harassed sanctuary citizens. Zsigmond had enough one day and with a group, hunted her down. Her death reunited me with one of my favorite bits of loot that I had previously given Ceres. The potted plant from EFU:M.

Aleron and Rallick bonding over the Crystal Savior.

During the beginning of the War on the Dark Lake, Rallick had attempted to arrange an alliance with the Drow. Here he is meeting in secret with Rauva.


Despite the dangerous times, Zsigmond and Charlene chose to wed. Rallick got them a snake because he heard Charlene liked snakes.

Saranna and Rallick had a very fun relationship. I'm sad the two didn't interact more.

We got pretty good at this by the end.




The war on the Dark Lake kicks off. Ultimately, no deal was ever made with the Drow as their number were, shockingly, not very trustworthy. When the Drow came ashore in the canal ward, the Ordinants joined the defense of the city and then aided in the counterattack.


Despite his sordid past with the residents of lower, Rallick somehow maintained relations below and would follow up on what reports he could with the aid of invisibility.


Sru Syishodel was an inductee into the Society that Rallick was initially distrustful of. He'd never seen a Gith before and believed the Society to be inducting a monster. He eventually warmed up to her.












Some duergar are spotted in the badlands and a group is assembled by Zsigmond and some others to take them out.

Offerings to the Crystal continued during this time.



A new threat emerges.









Baelian, Larrak, and Rallick are called to the Crystal. Another gift from the Crystal Savior.


Saying goodbye to a friend.





MISCELLANEOUS






Sword collection
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[Sankis]

The latter half of 2014 was probably the most tumultuous for Rallick. His once strong relationship with Abala soured, Kingsley was no longer Director, He became Withered, he made deals with aberrants, he fully gave himself to the "Crystal Savior" and he suffered moderate to severe brain damage.

[hide=The Journey to Ritualist]

What started as a normal patrol for the Wayfinders and Ordinants took an interesting turn as they approached the badlands. A wave of raw emotion flooded each person present.

Rallick decided to take the time to illustrate proper swordsmanship to a comrade.

The cause of the disturbance was soon apparent. A plan was devised: we were going to charge the Mindflayer.

Somehow it all worked out.


On Hammer 23rd, 1383 withered creatures emerged from a portal in the crossroads. As the future of Sanctuary, and the underdark itself, were at risk a group was hastily assembled. There, at the portal, was a Gnome of the Stewards. He explained that someone on ymph was using the leylines to send the withering into the underdark. The group




At the end of the path they came to another portal. They emerged on the surface Island of Ymph though it was immediately obvious something was wrong. By venturing here they had all become infected.


Eventually the source of the disturbance was found. "The Cousin" was a powerful wizard.


With the cousin slain it was only a matter of time before the leyline closed. Those who were able rushed back across the strange pathway and were met by the gnomish steward.

For the Sanctuary Citizens who ventured beyond the crisis was not yet over. Some of the survivors met in the Director's chambers to discuss the future.


Director Abala Quickfeet and Agent Rufus "Junior Agent" Mackarthur declared that Narvis Naerfaine was to be removed as Director and any who had gone to the surface would be exiled into Lower. Though Rallick knew this was but a political move he was quite displeased with Abala and the relationship never recovered.
Rallick would spend the next few days in the slums before being allowed, once more, into the city.

The Withering did not yet affect his relationship with the Crystal, fortunately. One dark while wandering he feels it calling to him.

Rallick is transported to an ancient, aged outpost deep within the depths.



A place where a battle against the Dread Empire was fought long ago.



Echoes still lingered in this place delivering cryptic messages.



Old notes told of the world that was


At the end of the hall was a powerful, beautiful suit of ancient platemail. Rallick attempted to acquire it.



Suddenly his vision fades out once more. He finds himself on an ancient battleground.



He joins his brother in battle only for the vision to fade away.


A friend is put to rest.


Something of this sort was said to every single person Rallick inducted. Never had anyone turn back or ask questions.


A bit after Jormund is inducted word reaches the Ordinants that there's a facility in Traensyr that needs to be destroyed. We geared up and met our allies at the camp just outside the fallen cities gate. Our recon had arranged a Ghaunadar escort through the sewers.



It was a little bit better than the above route alternative, though the drow did betray us strangely enough.


After we fled the big guy it wasn't far until we found our target. Unfortunately the Pride of Jultar was prowling nearby so we needed to be very quiet.


Inside we fight some drow...


...and find what we're meant to destroy. We fight crazy fleshy versions of ourselves. Jormund is basically the boss fight because he hit like a truck and had a million potions.

With our mission complete, we run back.

With our immediate tasks handled we get some quality exploring in. Rallick never did figure out what was up with that thing.

Rallick answers the call from one of his few friends, Jarik Blake. The Ibrandulite had gotten himself into some trouble. I honestly don't remember all of the details (sorry Tala.) but I believe he had gotten his soul taken or something.

So we attacked the darkness and destroyed an aspect of Dendar.

While exploring with another new ordinant, Gareth Rauviane, we are taken by surprise when an old acquaintance finds us in the lowerdark.

The Flesh Mind was a creature the Society had freed after a successful raid on an illithid outpost some time back.

Now, it was looking for some help.

A mutually beneficial deal was being offered.



Visions of Old Port, of the Dread Empire's activities. Their enthrallment of another flesh mind is made known and we are informed that the Dread prepare their fleet to conquer the rest of the surface. We decide this cannot be passed up.

After being given the vision by the Flesh Mind of the lowerdark the ordinants depart.

A few days later, on the eve of a Sanctuary election, a force of Ordinants and Oathsworn are assembled.

Traensyr is quiet on the lower levels. On the upper level, as we near the slaver's way, is when things become problematic. Ordinants Fairfax and Velterby both fall during the expedition, their lives given so that we may push forward.

Once past the Slaver's way and the creature that blocked the gate above we find ourselves in the sewers of old port. Some strange figures are met.

As soon as we are out of the sewers we immediately made for the Screaming Palace.



We cut through the resistance in the palace largely still tended to by the thralls who, when freed, had sworn to protect it.

The flesh mind of Old Port is found and freed from its prison, but there's a powerful enemy above.

One of the Dread Empire's commanders. The Dread Lord Xo'rox'osiil. He attempts to crush us but the Flesh Mind's protective influences negate it. Weapons are drawn.

And we bring it down.

With the flesh mind freed and the Dread Master destroyed, Ysinode's influence on the fleshlings is gone. They rebel against their masters throwing the thrall forces into chaos. We return home.

A few days later word is given by Ordinant scouts of a passing Hook Horror horde. Rallick joins 'Crow', a friend, in watching it. Unfortunately, as soon as they are all seen the horde decides to go for them.

After dealing with a great many at the gate the group decides to lure them away. They hide in the crossroads bunker until the horde passes. It mostly works.

With himself proven to rallick, he offers a ring of the Oathsworn to Crow. Though this would be later taken away, the two of them were still rather close until Crow's end.


For his part in the old port raid, Rallick received some cool armor. It would be his main armor until the day he died.

Rallick (and myself) always hated beholders but sometimes you had to do something stupid. Here he is invissing behind a beholder so he can drop a darkness potion and hopefully not be instantly killed.

On this trek, a war party of ysinode modified hook horrors are encountered. One of them towers above the rest.


On the big horror's body is an old, worn shield. Intrigued, Rallick takes it.




Rallick's finest moment.


The Shield puzzles Rallick for many days. He talks to probably a half dozen people and tries some stupid things.

Eventually, he does what should have been immediately obvious...

...and realizes this is a sign from the Crystal Savior. The next day, while pretending to talk to Chimaera, he notices something in the Society book.



He races down to return the Shield. It seemed that it belonged to Ordinant Ferdinand Drom. On a trek to the Lowerdark his party had come under assault by the Dread. He bravely defended his brothers, allowing them escape. Unfortunately he was taken by the Dread Empire and implanted. When recovered, surgery was performed to remove the implant. Unfortunately, it left him severely brain damaged.

After the brief reunion, the shield is brought before the Crystal. Rallick had completed his trial of the present with the raid to old port and now his trial of the past was finished as well.

A few days later he feels the call of the Crystal. It was time for a trial of the future.

The Ordinant awakens in a cell of Illithid design. A crystal shard thrummed nearby offering great boons. He donned the armor and weapons. The power of the Crystal dropped the cell's barrier.


Rallick rampaged through the Dread complex.

Soon he reached the complex's end and found before him a great brain of the illithid.

The hammer was brought down upon it. The vision faded.

As he emerged from the vision, Rallick knew that he had been forever changed.

[/hide]

[Sankis]

The latter half of 2014 and the early portion of 2015 involved Rallick delving a lot into Society history and dealing with the Imaskari. Ritualist Rallick Dess's dedication to the Crystal would not waver and only continue to grow.

The Society's relationship with the city during this time was in a rough period and, by the middle of the year, was more or less rock bottom.

[hide=The Imaskari Return (and then leave again)]

In the days following becoming Ritualist I had a lot of fun experimenting with how I wanted to portray Rallick's newly addled mind. I eventually decided on having Rallick seeing and interacting with figures from his past.

I had fun with the powers, too. On a trip to clear out an explorable of ogres, Rallick demonstrated his powers to the others, greatly harming them in the process. Berylla was not pleased...

...and promptly told on him to the nearest authority figure. Aden insisted that Rallick be tested by the spellguard and explain how he acquired his powers.

He accepted though honestly I wasn't entirely sure how the thrall test would come out. He was clean but the spellguard demanded to know how he attained his powers. I believe it was Szul who posited that Sru could have taught Rallick. Rallick agreed and went with that.

Rituals and offerings to the Crystal continued. Algarn and Rallick gathered what aberrant artifacts, lightstones and baublium possible and offered it to the Crystal. Though not Rituals all offered much...

...some gave unexpected results.

Some time later Rallick was approached while patrolling in the low road. He was informed that Ethard, an ordinant, and some others had been captured by Orogs. Furious that an Ordinant was taken he attempted to take on the orog by himself.

It did not go as hoped. His utter failure at a rescue led to the death of Ksenia Foltyn and earned him the distrust of many when he stated that all who were captured were replacable, that there would always be soldiers.

In November of 2014 after inducting some new Ordinants into the Society's ranks, Ritualist Katahk makes it known that the Crystal wishes to show us something. Those present gather around the Crystal and soon find themselves somewhere else.

Zdravko Serovsk, Torrick Candelau, Rallick Dess, Algarn Granitesoul and Dassem Rinada. Saul Faerstine joins later.

Unlike Crystal induced visions in the past there is a realness to this one. A feeling of actually being there.
Some statues catch the attention of the group of Societymen. Their resemblence to Ordinants are uncanny.

Further on we come across a scene of ancient murder. Skeletons lay strewn about the room clad in aged, rusty armor.

An abomination lingers in the timeworn halls. We are repeatedly attacked by a shapeshifting creature taking on our own forms as well as that of various creatures. Unable to deal a killing blow we flee to the chambers below.

A collection of mirrors, a shadowed door, a light emitter and receptical adorn the following rooms. It is quickly realized that by moving the mirrors it is possible to have the light reach the receptical at the end. Before we are able to solve the puzzle, we are ambushed by the abomination once more. It is destroyed and the mirrors are aligned.

We found ourselves before a host of shadowed figures. Another stood before them. We fell in line.


The imposing figure before us gave a rousing speech. The enemy was about to arrive and these men were the final line of defense.

Aberrants swarmed through the gate and we joined our ancient, shadowed brothers in their battle...



...but even with our help the deep city fell. The vision fadedand we found ourselves back before the Crystal, the words"Hope remains below." lingering in our minds.

The vision led to renewed interest in scouring the lowerdark. Even now we were encountering new beasts and variants. Word soon came from Society scouts of a pale skinned people that had recently been encountered in the lowerdark. The Imaskari had returned.

Diplomatic relations were quickly established.

Knowledge was shared.

As our relationship with the Imaskari grew, our relationship with the Spellguard degraded.

To help our new allies we delved into the tomb of Zeraphrax the First in search of one of the artifacts that they sought. We were beaten to it.

Though we needed what Malark took we dared not raise arms against our wayward brother.


Our continuing hunt for the lost city of Imarak took us into the deepest depths of the Lowerdark.


A living beholder returned to the Hive Queen's side. Rallick was turned to stone and the others bargained for his life.

When the beholder was dealt with our search would continue. Through Chabzash we saw a strange sight.

A portal took us to a shadowy realm. Ill prepared, we decided to return another day.



Return we did. Though the place was not the clue we'd hoped it to be...


...an interesting artifacts was found.

The Ordinants debated what to do with the hammer.

Between the Society and the Imaskari an alliance was made.


Information was exchanged. The secrecy of the Crystal was sealed by geas.

Rallick and Algarn had decided that the Light of the Way was best returned to the ascension. The hammer was traded away for a promise of soldiers and equipment.

The equipment was delivered to the Ordinants in their chapterhouse.

A few short days later the Ascension's aid was called upon.

A group of lowersmen and Ordinants, led by the Imaskari, marched upon the Silver Brands.




The Imaskari's goal was to take down Alberto Viggilioni who had one of the keys they required.


Alberto Viggilioni had been being used by a shade known as "The Walker". It made its presence known and was quickly attacked. Though struck down it was not defeated.

In the chaos Alberto had fled. He was found at the canal docks attempting to secure his escape. He was killed and the key retrieved by the Imaskari alongside other treasures he sought to secret away.

Expeditions into the lowerdark continued in the following days, often alongside the Imaskari. The Wayward Ordinant Malark was encountered on one of these.

We informed him of what had transpired and what was intended. He was not pleased at our meddling and made his intent to intercede known.

Algarn dueled Malark on the terms that if he won, Malark would cease his actions. Algarn narrowly lost and we said our farewells to our lost brother.

Despite the events that would soon transpire we were intent on taking care of our own. Here we are taking Drom for a walk.


The Imaskari's plan is put into action and the location of the city of Imarak is narrowed down.


At the site, Malark awaits us. He declares that he will not let us pass and that he cannot entrust the legacy of Vorthuurm to the Imaskari. His displeasure with the Ordinants present was made known. Izaleph Mazikiri, leader of the Imaskari, faces off against Malark while the Imaskari and allies flee into the portal.

We find ourselves in ruins. Abominations and other horrors lingered in the halls.

llpherez Ophelius, Last of the True Scions of Vorthuurm and Chief Chronomancer of Imarak, was discovered hunching over an orb. In his maddness, believing the travelers to be figments of his imagination, he spoke of how Vorthuurm founded the city nearly a thousand years ago. He spoke of the War of the Cloven Crest where Vothuurm's people held off the tide of the illithid and Vorthuurm himself struck at the blackened illithid architect. He spoke of their march and the settlement of Imarak, which Vorthuurm ruled over benevolently for many years and of its eventual civil war between those who sought to renew the war effort and those who wished to hide away. He spoke of the ritual to freeze the city in time so that the chaos wrought within could not escape.



To continue, we needed to handle various issues throughout the fallen city.

With the upper areas of the city swallowed by the great rifts, we needed venture into the flooded lower levels to find Vorthuurm's Sanctum.



Within the sanctum we were greeted by Malark, who had slain Mazikiri, and gained entry into Imarak. The Imaskari were displeased to see him. Using his key and the three in possession of the Imaskari we unlock the secrets of the Sanctum and learn that all along Vorthuurm's legacy was locked away within the Crystal in the chapterhouse.






Rallick, clad in Vorthuurm's equipment, and the others make for the portal out of Imarak as the city crumbles around them.

Back at the chapterhouse, the Imaskari perform a ritual to show what Vorthuurm had left for us.




The Legacy of Vorthuurm is Wisdom. The Crystal is, in this, merely the messenger and naught else. This wisdom will be forgotten when the Society most needs it.

With their task complete, the Imaskari say their farewells as they go off to find Ilpherez and venture to parts unknown.
[/hide]

[Sankis]

[hide=The Crystal's Unveiling and the Crystal War]

Thados Vetinari, the "Brain Thief" is captured after a daring attack on Rallick and his party. He and his partner are taken to the

His partner is drowned in the Society's pool.



Thados gets his transcendence.



The Crystal is empowered and, finally, allowed to grow.

Rallick hatches a plan to return to Old Port and see what chaos their last visit wrought. A sizable party assaults the front gates. It ends in failure.

A second attack on the lower gate succeeds and the Ordinant's party pushes toward Slaver's Way. The Pride of Jultar successfully halts passage though not before many are wounded, a Drow commander is slain, and a host of slaves are liberated.

The group marches back to the city in greater numbers. Unfortunately, the slaves were enthralled to a man. They were all put down.

Following the raid strange observers begin to appear. Their presence tends to herald the arrival of a Dread war party.

A new election is called. Rallick, for the second time, joins the red team in the Great Games. They are victorious.

Meanwhile, Dorissa Sennesse is put on trial for capital crimes. Though largely valid this is viewed as an attack on the Society by the involved prosecution. She is ultimately let off.

Agent Pierre Du'Ponte finally gets his testing of Rallick, though on the condition that Rallick is able to bring someone along. The test proves, or at least is unable to deny, what he had been saying the entire time: That he is not a thrall.

Markem grows increasingly disappointed in the direction of the Crystal's adherents.


Rallick befriends Eileen and walks the machine with her on occasion. The place is deeply unsettling to him.

Rallick never got tired of tanking behemoths.

Rallick's longtime comrade, "Crow", meets a newly Oathsworn Hubert Cline. It is decided that Crow will be tested for enthrallment. Curiously, something strange is found embedded in his head.

Rallick orders him knocked out and taken to the chapterhouse for inspection.


Grogenstern is unsure of the implant's origin but Rallick decides it needs to be removed regardless.


Rallick looked really cool heavily withered.

There's some shenanigans with Dorissa and Sybelle in the 'Djinn and Tonic' tavern. Hubert, now an Ordinant, decides we should teach her a lesson. Rallick sees nothing wrong with this. Hubert, Rallick and an Oathsworn Ordvuul head to the canals and burn the place to the ground. Unfortunately, they are seen by one of Sybelle's employees while doing this and city officials arrive at the Chapterhouse demanding answers. Nothing really comes of it.


While chatting in the Grotto, Rallick and Szul are approached by a strange calishite man. He offers them a wish each for the price of one soul. Szul goes first and wishes for the betterment of the city and himself. Rallick decides to put what information he thought he had about Szul into play. He does so poorly.

Rallick's wish is made: "I am RALLICK DESS, I like to SHOUT MY OWN NAME for reasons unknowable to those without my prescience. I would like to reiterate that Szul is suffering from combustion of the crotch due to being a LIAR LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE, he went and consorted with Intryzz and other horrible monsters, also, I like to wear womens clothes..."


The Crystal calls for Rallick. Visions are shown.










Rallick is shown what needs to be done. He is made known of the Crystal's hunger for Baublium. He is rewritten.

The Crystal hungered and Rallick searched. The Machine was scoured and, eventually, a hint was found. Ancient mention of an untapped baublium mine.

An attempt to keep an artifact from the Spellguard made known a new restriction placed by the growing Crystal Mind. It would tolerate no lies by those who served it.


Rallick's relationship with Eileen is used to his advantage as he continues searching for clues relating to the mine.

The Crystal's hunger seemed insatiable, though such did not keep it from growing.

Dorissa is put on trial once more. She is given the option of trial by combat and, incredibly, she succeeds against the Spellguard's champion and chooses to end him.

The tension between the Spellguard and the Society is at its highest ever. Both sides continue to harass the other and allegiances are formed.

Information is shared through back channels.

Paranoia grows.

With much of Upper against them, Allies are sought below. The Church of Ibrandul was the on again, off again friend of the Society for much of the early days of the conflcit. It was thanks to them that the Society was able to discover the baublium's location.

Ordinant Onyx seems guidance for a ritual to Grumbar. The purpose of which is to acquire baublium from the newly discovered.

With what help they are able to gather the Ordinants make their way to the Ruby Grotto.

A great offering is made to Grumbar.



Onyx's ritual begins. The response is not good. The priest is crushed beneath the foot of a newly risen Baublium Elemental. The creature flees soon after. Onyx's body is stripped of belongings that would betray his allegiance to the Society and the remaining Ordinants set off for the city.

Despite assuming the Baublium was far away, it is quickly learned that it instead headed toward Sanctuary where the elemental began to rampage. After destroying what artifacts and followers of Grumbar it could find in the city it is soon realized by Rallick that it is seeking out and destroying those worshipping the earthlord. Rallick begins shouting the god's praises.


There is a great back and forth but the Society manages to draw the elemental to the Crystal. It is absorbed.


Greatly displeased by the turn of events and what he saw as Treason to mankind, Commander Markem ttook his belongings and those who still followed him and left the chapterhouse for the last time.

The Crystal Grew, though, and that was all that mattered.

The Society is cast out of the city and the chapterhouse is surrounded by the Spellguard in both the illusion and within the city proper. As a result, entry into the chapterhouse is done by portal.

Rallick met a number of interesting creatures in the days to come.

The Directorate offers the Society a chance to redeem itself. It is to lead an expedition into Traensyr and destroy the navy that the Dread had been building.

The plan was to have two forces: One smaller, covert squad and another larger assault squad. The covert group goes within the city to place explosives while the assault group clears what opposition there is.

Wolfgang Kreutzhof turned out to be an enemy spy and led the assault team directly into a trap. Commander Kingsley of the Society is taken and the rest of the assault group is forced to flee.

Ritualist Katahk is able to open a rift that brings a fortunate few to the safety of a dark void. There, each of those rescued is granted a vision of the past or present. Meanwhile, the covert group is forced to flee as well. Ordinant Morthos Vasyr pushes forward and heroically destroyed four of the ships though at the cost of his own life.

The Crystal releases those rescued back into the Chapterhouse. A vision of Morthos sacrifice is shown.

Later that day, word reaches Rallick that Wolfgang has been caught by the city. Unwilling to let the city dance around what need be done, Rallick ambushes the thrall's captors.

Wolfgang, now Iphraen, is taken and brought to the Chapterhouse.

The Ordered Mind projects Rallick and Iphraen onto the Society's bridge in the city.


Rallick interrogates the thrall before putting an end to him once and for all.

A few days later the Spellguard grow emboldened and lay siege to the chapterhouse. Algarn, Rallick and Wren Cucera breach the illusion into the city in an attempt to put an end to it. Thanks to Ritualist Algarn Granitesoul they are able to stop the beam cannons but a hole in the entry still persists.
A small group of uppersmen gain entry and Agent Gedreghost begins performing a curious ritual. The defending Ordinants and allies lay in wait, unsure what is ocurring outside.

The door is opened and a variety of things are thrown into the lobby. The Ordinants charge and manage to take out the Agent and some others while the rest are forced to flee.

The bodies are brought to the Crystal to be absorbed.

The next day, the Ordinants lay siege to the illusion and begin their month long occupation.

A small strikeforce attempts to destabilize the crystal pylons in the following hours but to no avail. Rallick engages in combat with Gaius Calvo but is forced to flee. Gaius gives chase and follows Rallick into the Chapterhouse. It is there that they begin to speak and, soon, Gaius is turned.

A few days later an expedition into the lowerdark is met with resistance. Though almost killed Rallick is rescued by Wren Cucera as she dispatches the last of the forces. Hector Thorn of the Spellguard Auxiliary, a longtime vocal enemy of the Society, is captured and offered a chance to die with a sword in his hand. He opts for a death of his own choosing.

On the return trek the Society's group is stopped by Magnatz. He demands tribute if we are to take 'slaves' through his land. Unwilling to pay, we leave the captured to Magnatz to deal with.

In the time since its discovery, the Spellguard had managed to occupy the Grotto. A Society strike force is organized to take it back.

It succeeded but at a great cost.

The Crystal opens itself to the victors and shows us the futures that may be.

It is decided that the Society will now occupy the mine. A decision that was later regretted.

The Ordered Mind attempted to reach out to those of the city by offering a glimpse inside the Directorate's minds. Despite decent attendance few are swayed.


A search for allies persists for the Society. Deep within an old imaskari ruin the 'Guardian of Friendship' is found. It had been waiting for a freed mind to come claim its boons. The Society decided to do so.

Another vault is found a few days later. This Guardian of Joy offered us the chance to open its prison. Foolishly, we did so...

...and would have released horrors into the world had we not been ready to bring them down.



A few days before the meeting of the minds, Rallick and his traveling companions are met on Magnatz's lift. An envoy from the enthralled Rhiannon Kingsley, now General of the Dread Armies. The Illithid offers a chance to join her. I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a tempting offer.

On the day of the Meeting of the Minds the Society's allies gather.

The Society's other allies prepare as well.

The two sides meet in the middle of the strange battlefield. Once Katahk and Barkley are done conversing the two factions finally meet in combat. Though the Society manages to kill a good deal of people they ultimately lose. Rallick is felled by the magics of Addai Hadaan. A true believer until the end, Rallick died shouting and screaming "YOU FOOLS! YOU KNOW NOT WHAT YOU DO.".

The End.
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[Sankis]

LOOT

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[VanillaPudding]

Nice work man! :) Fantastic dedication to a PC

[Ironside]

Very cool shots man, it's been fun

[Pigadig]

You are a crazy man for how many screenies you took. RIP.

[Tala]

Rallick was great, both as an ally and as someone to try and go against. I know you probably had some times you wanted to retire him, but it's super impressive you kept on for such a long time, especially when withered.

This is an excellent thread, full of memories for many of us, and also it's a joy seeing all the things he did and accomplished, as well as his journey.

I'll summarize it with truly a superb PC, Sankis.

[Pentaxius]

Carrying the memories of two years of EFU, thank you for those amazing screenshots, and what an incredible journey!

Now you must upload the rest of them...

[Ryan]

AT LAST.

Christ, never thought I'd be reading this obituary, but here we are. Kudos for sticking to Rallick - I know you sometimes felt the need to move on, but I'm glad you didn't - and I say this despite my long remove from Rallick since my own Ordinant's demise. It was great to watch him persist even from afar. Long standing PCs like this can act as anchors for other players, as stones that mark the passage of eras - and one has definitely come to a close now.

Awesome work :-)

[Vagrant Savant]

Batmanning done right.

[Halfbrood]

Great screenshots, impressive feat with the character.

[CondorHero]

This is on the scale of major novel series character man, Rallick went through so many major and minor plots and it all ends in a big epic battle too. Pretty cool.