Blackstone Fortress - 2nd Expedition

Rogue Trader Janus Draik, Imperial Navigator Espern Locarno, Eldar ranger Amallyn Shadowguide, and Kroot tracker Dahyak Grekh unite to once again enter the Blackstone Fortress. They are optimistic as they enter the Stygian Aperture, after their first expedition into the fortress had proved quite lucrative, both in archeotech and, perhaps even more valuable, information. There is, however, a nagging feeling, to a greater or lesser degree in each of them, that their initial success might have been a fluke, and that their adventures might prove more dangerous than their previous expedition had led them to believe.

Blackstone Fortress - 1st Expedition

Janus Draik is a Rogue Trader – one of the bold pioneers tasked with expanding the borders of the Imperium. The Blackstone Fortress is one in a long line of claims this explorer has made for the Imperium – and a source of invaluable archeotech and artefacts for future ventures.

The Blackstone Fortress is filled with treasures of ages past – and the Navigator Houses are interested in getting ahold of some of these. Espern Locarno is a sanctioned mutant tasked with rediscovering cargos which belong to his house by ancient right – as well as technologies to refine the ill-understood processes of warp travel.

Hailing originally from the now-shattered Craftworld of Biel-Tan, Amallyn Shadowguide has travelled the webway for centuries. For her, the Blackstone Fortress represents a possible way to save her dying home and to make Biel-Tan whole again through the strange technologies within.

Like many Kroot, Dahyak Grekh is a mercenary, working for the highest bidder. The Kroot mercenary code of honour is key to him – for it is through loyal service that the Kroot may consume new genetic material. Through eating many unfortunate inhabitants of the fortress and thus assuming their memories, Grekh has learned much of the mysteries within…

On Precipice the four explorers find each other and band together, their common cause to explore and plunder the Blackstone Fortress, each for their own reasons. They quickly determine that none of their reasons conflict with each other, and can see that their abilities could complement each other well. Together than plan their first tentative foray into the fortress. Entering through the renowned Stygian Aperture, they disembark their small transport craft and search for one of the maglev transport chambers that run through the fortress.

Warhammer Quest Silver Tower - Final Trial Conclusion

After defeating a magically empowered Ogroid Thaumaturge, Byron Manfred and his wight king companion charge headlong into a pulsing portal of flame that appears before them. The champions hasten towards what they can only hope will be their final confrontation with the Gaunt Summoner who rules the Silver Tower.

Warhammer Quest Silver Tower - Final Trial Part 2

The champions find themselves within a chamber dotted with amethyst crystals. Streams of howling ghosts pour from the cyrstals, distracting the champions with their maddening lamentations. Before the warriors stands the Gaunt Summoner, lord of the Silver Tower, who after several previous confrontations is now beginning to look somewhat pained and fatigued. Surrounding the daemon are more of his kairic acolytes, and the adventurers steel themselves to continue the grueling gauntlet prepared for them by the master of the Silver Tower.

Warhammer Quest Silver Tower - Final Trial Part 1

Byron Manfred opens his eyes to see the wight king standing guard over him. The necromancer can remember feeling the wight king's massive axe cutting into him, though his wounds have now disappeared, undone over time by the mysterious magic of the Silver Tower. Byron also vaguely remembers the now absent bestial fury that had overcome him, and obviously the wight king as well, which made them fight each other for possession of the fragment of Ghur. Suddenly Byron realizes that between them, they now possess all eight fragments of the Gaunt Summoner's amulet!

Long had the champions wandered the twisting ways of the Silver Tower. Many and great were the dangers they had faced. Now, at last, they held in their hands enough fragments of the sacred amulet that they could conjure the Gaunt Summoner to them. With power and freedom beckoning, the champions deemed the hour was nigh, and with that resolution they began a mighty ritual. The amulet fragments flared with light as Byron and the wight king chanted, the words of the ritual coming unbidden to their minds and spilling from their mouths like a river of power. 

As the final syllables were uttered, the light flared bright, and from it stepped the Gaunt Summoner. No illusion was this, no simulacra or trick. The Summoner had himself been summoned, and he stood before the champions in all his infernal might. Yet the creature was not angry. Instead a shark-like grin split his hideous features, and a malevolent chuckle shook his narrow shoulders. Very good, spoke the Summoner, very good. The champions had brought him forth to battle. But were they ready? And if they were, which one of them would claim his boon? Vital questions, sneered the Gaunt Summoner, but ones that would only see an answer if the champions could keep up! With this, the daemon swept his staff in a great arc and with it tore reality aside like a curtain. A glowing rent was left behind, and through this the Gaunt Summoner leapt. The champions exchanged swift and telling looks, then plunged into the rift in pursuit of their tormentor. 

Warhammer Quest Silver Tower - Trial of Ghur Part 2

Continued from Part 1

In our last episode, Byron Manfred, his wight king companion, and a darkoath chieftain hunted some of the strange beasts of the silver tower, following the currents of the winds of Ghur. After being consumed by a massive wolf made of pure amber, they found themselves facing another of the Gaunt Summoner's trials. After being surrounded by enemies in a passageway, the darkoath chieftain was taken out of action. Byron and the wight king fought on and, after a long struggle, defeated all of the adversaries facing them. After taking a short respite to recover the grievously wounded darkoath chieftain, the adventurers now prepare to continue their trial.

Warhammer Quest Silver Tower - Trial of Ghur Part 1

Byron and the wight king have just one more fragment to acquire in order to complete the gaunt summoner's amulet and reveal its true name. The wight king holds four of the fragments, while Byron has only three, making it vitally important that he be the one to lay his hands on the final fragment. They know the last fragment is the one associated with the wind of Ghur, and so they follow the trail of any dangerous beasts they encounter as they explore the constantly shifting silver tower, hoping this will lead to an area steeped in the magic of Ghur.

They soon encounter a barbarian fighting his way through the various wandering beasts of the tower. The fierce looking warrior calls himself a darkoath chieftain, though he looks like a savage marauder of the northern wastes. The chieftain appears to only desire to hunt down the strongest adversaries he can find in the tower to prove his worth to his nefarious gods. Thinking that he will not only be helpful in a fight but also likely to lead them to areas of the tower strong with the magic of beasts, Byron arranges to explore with the darkoath chieftain to help each other find strong enemies to vanquish.

After following the darkoath chieftain's lead for a while, the champions find themselves in a vast and echoing gallery from whose vaulted ceiling hangs the dusty skeletons of mythical beasts. Beneath those skeletal curios stands a vast statue, a monstrous wolf graven from a single immense block of purest amber. The champions gasp in horror as that lupine behemoth stirs, its eyes opening to spill wintry light throughout the chamber. Blades are drawn and incantations readied, yet it is all for naught.

With a single great drawing-in of breath the giant wolf sucks the champions from their feet and into its yawning jaws. Through a terrible void they tumble, surrounded by the howls and roars of bestial things, before at last plunging down upon a hard stone floor. As the champions rise shakily to their feet, there can be no doubt in their minds that another trial has begun.