Background story of Kalan Kobra

Kalan started as an outsider living in a small Drow settlement near to the Dwarf Kingdoms. He returned to the Drow City Shanizar in order to claim riches and rewards for himself. With new found power and fame he hoped would satisfy his continuous lust – difficult to do in such a small community without creating dangerous enemies.

For a Drow he is marked as an outsider due to being a head taller than most Drow and broader in shoulder. His additional strength makes him a deadly opponent and good in a fight. He fights with a sword and shield, and a length of fighting chain. But in a city where nobility of birth sets you on a higher level than the rest he quickly realises friends in high places matter more on his path to glory.  He is intelligent and uses this to blend in with the Drow City Shanizar dwellers, and quickly sets out for the various Houses of ill repute. His hunger satisfied he decides to see to his other need - a good access to wealth. He did feel at home in Shanizar.

He attracts the attention of the thieves’ guild, which he joins, then makes his way to the House of clan ... Read more »

The Drow twins’ story

In the early quests where even a pack of dire rats could cause the group serious problems the Despair had Drow twins a female Malag and a male Kell. The twins were noble merchants and trusted by Captain Bâleed – so were sent to keep an eye on the new recruits. They were particularly good at spotting traps and secret doors saving the adventurers on several occasions but the twins only fought to protect each other. Kalan as usual tried his masculine charm on Malag but she replied with a withering stare and a dagger pointed at his vitals. He even saved Kell, and helped the Malag to full health by casting cure light wounds to try an impress her. Instead of this making them more amenable towards Kalan and the group they became more secretive and guarded. This was particularly true as the crew Gul, Birz, and Kalan flourished and grew stronger with each quest and each success.

At one point during a very dangerous encounter Kalan overheard Kell whispering an oath to Eilistraee (a lawful good God) for protection to his twin sister. He now thought he had the power to influence Malag and finally get his evil way with her. On the same day, well outside the Drow City Shanizar, as the whole crew rested in the ships hold and the twins were set on guard.  Kalan curled up in the hold had sweet dreams of what he will do with the noble sister. The twins decided they had enough it was time to make their escape and taking some slaves with t... Read more »

The Ire of Captain Bâleed

Bâleed vented her anger at the disgrace she felt with the twins’ desertion by seeking out dangerous encounters for her crew to undertake. Should they fail then some of the scavenger crew would die, but should they succeed then the fame, wealth and glory would ensure a higher status in clan Kobra. One such was quest Gul, Kalan, Birz, and Zaen (a new crew member from an underworld family) was sent to kill a fully grown creature called a “land shark” or “Bullette”. This heavily armoured creature is sought after for its super strong but lightweight crest, which is fashioned by the Drow into a powerful shield. This was the prize Bâleed coveted.

The Bullette burrows underground to move from one place to another, only coming up to attack unwary prey. Fortunately for Kalan and the others it does not like the smell of Elves or Drow so will normally ignore them. The crew set themselves up near large boulders at the base of a mountain and stomped on the ground to attract the huge creature’s attention. As it charged burrowing underground the crew leapt up to the boulders and prepared their vipers (a bolt pistol that fires poisoned darts used by Drow). The creature’s head appeared and it sniffed the air. Some of the crew fired their bolts but they all bounced harmlessly off the thick armour. The Bullette disappeared underground again and started to head off - apparently uninterested in the smell of the Drow. 

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The babbling head

Another quest soon had Kalan and the crew embarking on another dangerous task. The crew were set on a mission to retrieve a valuable artefact the House Mother had discovered.  The exact nature of what they were looking for was only given to Captain Bâleed. Again the crew were set upon by nasty traps and wandering monsters. Their increased skill and caution allowed them to pass most of these with ease. Even a head to head with a wraith was avoided by Kalan’s skilful picking of a lock and the brightness the lantern keeping it at bay. Their confidence was destroyed though when crossing a particularly wide cavern floor the group were attacked by a huge Hydra. They knew they were out of their depth with this monster and ran towards the doors at the other side. Firing volleys of poisoned darts at the creature as they sped across the floor. As it charged the final distance they were amazed to see the last dart strike it dead, just a few yards from the door they were rushing to get through. What was just as amazing was the dart, fired by the cowardly ex-gunner who spends most of these missions hiding on the ship, had stood firm and took the shot hitting the Hydra deep in its eye socket. As the others moved on Gul and Kalan took out their knives and removed some of the Hydra’s teeth – just in case they were of some value. 

They soon discovered their prize at t... Read more »

The Well of Life

The following week while hunting through an underground cavern originally inhabited by a Chaos Dwarf sorcerer Vandire they came across what had caused of the loss of the Well of Life in the Elf kingdom. Vandire had sought eternal life and to make himself a demigod. In doing so he had diverted the subterranean river that fed the well back towards his cavern.

Kalan and the crew cleared out the cavern of all valuables then deliberately defaced the murals that detailed exactly how Vandire achieved it and where the river coarse had been diverted from. When they returned to the Drow City Shanizar the Kobra House Mother ordered them to release the river to the original Well of Life and capture the initial more potent flow and return it to her – making the sorceress more powerful. With a powerful earth elemental spell they sought out the obstruction to release the river to its normal route. As this was deep within Elf territory this was a dangerous task set for the Despair crew. Gul was given the honour of casting the spell (well the others did not want to risk it going wrong and facing the wrath of Agna the clan Kobra House Mother). The Drow crew also ensured they had a drink of the magical water themselves. Incredibly something good came about from Evil seeking its own ends.

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Well of Life – Higs McBeer the Dwarf

Additional to this story of the “Well of Life” the crew had to kidnap an aged dwarf Higs from his isolated home in the middle of the night leaving his distraught wife and sister. The Drow needed Higs to remove the devilish traps left by Vandire to stand a chance of getting through the caverns defences. He turned out to be very useful and compliant; disabling traps and even repairing viper bolt pistols.

This compliance of Higs was thanks to the quick thinking of Kalan who stopped the crew from killing the dwarf females. Instead the crew set fire to their home after stealing any valuables they found. Kalan, who speaks dwarf, convinced the captain that Higs would more likely do their biding with his family unharmed and he had the hope of freedom. Kalan, keeping to speaking in Dwarf, had also secretly promised Higs to free him when they were done – well he was so aged he would not make much of a slave for long. The dwarf did not see his freedom straight away but was returned to the City of the Drow as a slave to clan Kobra.  After several weeks of capture Kalan saw to it that Higs disappeared while the city was in upheaval with the followers Lloth ridding the city of Astralla followers. This good deed would not sit well with most Drow but Kalan was a follower of Astralla at this time and was more even handed with others, a trait which would be lost by later quests.

Well of Life – Hero to Cero?

 In amongst the return of the “Well of Life” Kalan and the crew had to go to Tradetown in order to get the earth elemental spell.  On their visit they were under strict instructions bring no attention to themselves and keep out of trouble. The crew made their way to the meeting point the Green Dragon Inn - looked after by Bluedo the barman. Bluedo was quite taken with these Drow who had charmed him on the first visit. Previously Kalan had attracted the attention of the cat woman barmaid Tabatha but had surprisingly snubbed her advances. This time his attention was fixed on the only other patron in the Inn a small Drow female at the bar.

While the captain and the rest of the crew got in their drinks Kalan made his way across to try out his charm. She was immediately very ill at ease with Kalan’s advances. Instead of threatening to kill him out right for his “how are you doing” chat up line she stuttered and shyly tried to run away. Kalan responded to this weirdness from a Drow female by grabbing her by the arm, and before she could shout out punched her in the face and knocked her out.  He dragged the Drow female to the captain explaining the weird behaviour and she was unceremoniously bound and gagged and pushed under the table. The captain rolling her eyes back – what is this great lummox thinking had he forgotten they were to keep a low profil... Read more »

Well of life - Cero’s plight

Cero was set up as Kalan’s private mistress under the watchful eye of his henchman. This turned out to be an expensive but highly pleasurable time for Kalan for several weeks to come. Cero never warmed to Kalan and constantly railed against her capture, imprisonment and what she described as torture at Kalan’s hands. Kalan was still a follower of Astralla at this time so did feel a little guilt in his part for what had befallen this girl. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, warred against his constant lust.  He tried for a while to inform and train Cero in the ways of Lloth to protect her and the typical way a true Drow female should act. Cero laughed off his training and insisted he run off with her to Tradetown and meet with other freethinking followers of Eilistraee. Kalan could see that the risk of keeping Cero was being far outweighed by the danger to himself.  He had also become aware that his henchman was making extra money selling off Cero to other Drow. Time was running short for Kalan and Cero.

The final turning point for Kalan was during the cleansing of the city of the followers of Astralla. He and the crew took part in sacking a temple of Astralla killing several female guards and the temple Priestess. The irony was that he, a follower of Astralla, was killing his own kind to protect his own identity, and to take the lives of healthy young female Drow!! What a waste.... Read more »

Well of Life – Captain Bâleed’s revenge

As the aftermath of the cleansing subsided Captain Bâleed was keen to get underway. Her first point of call was Tradetown and the Green Dragon. The Captain kept quiet as to the reason they were at the Inn and told the crew to get food and drinks but be alert. Kalan looked around as he entered Tradetown, could Cero have made it back by now? – he doubted it, the journey would take months. He hoped she had made it out of the City alive. He also hoped she had more sense to stay away from the Green Dragon. The crew waited for most of the day until nearing dusk when ten or so squawking chattering Kenku burst into the Inn. Bâleed watched them enter through narrowed eyes and waited for them get far enough into the room. Just as they turned to sneer at the Drow she yelled “Despair crew show these craven crows the bite of Drow steel!!”  The crew immediately drew swords an attacked. The Kenku were no match for the angered Drow and were quickly dispatched. Bluedo the barman stood holding a shaking Tabatha they were only protected by the bar in front of them as the massacre ensued. The Drow finished with their gory work started searching the Kenku bodies.  They came across a map that suggested possible treasure hoard nearby. Without a second look at the terrified barman or cat girl the Drow disappeared into the night.

The next day after fresh supplies for the Drow City Shanizar the crew with Captain Bâle... Read more »

To protect a merchant

Another change in circumstances for Kalan came when the crew were sent out to protect a clan Kobra merchant in the ghetto section of town. Intelligence had informed them that Velor the merchant was soon to be attacked and killed and his house burned to the ground. The Despair crew were the only ones free at that time as the cleansing still progressed in the city. They were also the only ones that would be quick enough to be dispatched to help the merchant out. The crew arrived just in time. Set up at key points in the house with just a few of Velor’s bodyguards. Then the attack came in from all sides. Many attackers died before reaching the walls of the house but their superior numbers allowed them to breach the house by smashing through the lower windows. A deadly hand to hand melee erupted in the halls and rooms of the ground floor. Here the close fighting suited the Despair crew. They had experience of fighting monsters in dungeons and caverns so what were a few Drow underworld thugs in a house.

As the crew dispatched the thugs the leader John Dow Nightwalker clashed swords with Kalan. John could see his advantage was dwindling as his thugs superior numbers quickly diminished. He tried a reckless parry at Kalan; shoving one of his own thugs in Kalan’s way, then leapt out the window and ran for his life.  Kalan swiftly dealt with thug and ran to the window he could just see John disappear into the shadows. A few of the wounded thugs were tortured to find ... Read more »

Kalan accused of Murder

Things were on the up for the crew and the captain, however Kalan’s world was about to be ripped to pieces. After a particularly successful raid the tired crew returned at dusk to the tower of clan Kobra. As the Despair came in to the final approach the top of the tower the crew noticed it was busier than usual for this time. A Lloth priestess and several House Guards were waiting for the Despair to land and the crew to disembark - they were the Justicars of the Lloth Temple.

The story they had heard before leaving that day was that a young Lloth priestess had been killed and a scarf of hers had been taken. Kalan’s heart sank as soon as his foot hit the solid ground of the tower. The eyes of the Guard and the priestess had remained fixed on him – a ladies scarf was being held by the priestess. He knew that he was innocent but someone had set him up. He scanned the crew around him – could it be one of the Rievers? Who would be so jealous or see him as an enemy? The original gunner? Captain Bâleed? Gul? Birz? He had only a few seconds as the priestess pointed at him and commanded “You Kalan Kobra relinquish your arms and fall in. You have to be questioned and tried for the murder of priestess Shirz”.  With a heavy heart he handed over his treasured weapons and pack to the only Drow he felt he could trust the most, or would gain the least from his possessions was Gul. The other treasures he kept hidden on himself he only hoped he would return with int... Read more »

Attack on Dwarf Kingdom – who’s the funny guy in the red suit

On their way out on a quest the Despair tried raiding on the edge of the Dwarf Kingdom.  It was winter at this time and the ground was thick with snow. On a clear night the Drow were on the look out for food and planned to raid the sheep kept by the Dwarves for the winter. The cleansing had left everything in short supply as the daily business of the City was sorely disrupted.

As they journeyed in the Despair they flew across a good sized Dwarf settlement.  Their attention was fixed on a red clad dwarf scrambling over the roofs and hedges carrying a large sack. Intrigued the Drow moved the ship down and Zaen, Kalan, Birz and Gul jumped out and moved to intercept the red Dwarf.

The dwarf was taken by surprise and quickly overpowered by the Drow. They then hauled him up to the ship and threw him into the hold in a small caged pen used to keep dangerous but live animals. Birz took a fancy to the gold rope tied around the sack and discovered that it was magical. The golden rope could be directed to go to anywhere and stretched up to 50 feet in length.

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The Babbling head – gets muted

As the death of Captain Bâleed sank in and the crew waited to hear who would be appointed their new captain the clan House Kobra was in for another surprise.  Kalan had sought quieter pursuits he had found a book on improving your charm and was reading it thoroughly. With the loss of Cero, and his recent interrogation he had thought about trying to use his seductions on the Priestess Sultanya who had been with them on the last couple of quests. He thought to use his Outsider rural charm (this did not go down well with the Drow females of the City) to ask for help in the Lloth texts and prayers in case he was doing it wrong.  Just to try and ingratiate himself with Priestess Sultanya. She was often too busy and regarded Kalan with much suspicion.  He decided it might be better to keep a low profile instead. On a whim he went off to the library to see the weird construct Defect and spend time with the Babbling head.

To his surprise he found Birz avidly scribbling notes as the babbling head spoke of “poisoned gas”, ”the King of the Undead”, “great peril”, “great wealth”, “watch for the moor”. Kalan was above intelligence for a Drow and did enjoy puzzling things out. He offered his help asking Birz “what was that about? Have you managed to piece anything together?” He was also wondering to himself what have you been up to sneaking about around the babbling head witho... Read more »

The Dungeon Map from the Kenku lair

The next big adventure took the crew to the magical door shown by a map they found in the Kenku lair. The door required opening by the use of a Knock spell. This took a significant amount of energy from the caster so would diminish the ability to use other spells. Each Drow was reluctant to be the one to cast but someone had to and Gul step forward this time. After the door was opened the crew sent to investigate carefully walked in Gul, Kalan, Birz, Zaen, the priestess Sultanya and a new crewmates Kargoth and Goraz. Just behind them scrabbled Grinn the head goblin of the Despair (a half breed Drow and Goblin – best not dwell on it).  They could tell that the cavern was massive and ancient so was likely to have untold riches and of course wandering monsters.

They were expected to return within four hours if they found nothing otherwise the Despair would return within a day. The first encounter was with a mob of 4 ogres. The fight was lengthy and the crew luckily managed to dispatch them with only a few wounds to themselves. They were fortunate to meet them while they were still fresh.

As a group they decided to go around the eastern side of the cavern and investigate down those corridors. They were attacked by rats, bats and other smal... Read more »

The Demons Bowl

The Despair were challenged to head out to the demon kingdom to seek out a scrying bowl the House Mother Agna desired.  The crew were quickly provisioned and headed out. They were also sent our with an emissary who set all of the Drows teeth on edge. On the way their Joruus proved himself in practice as decent gunner and under Vixia’s orders was to relieve Kalan. Unfortunately they were attacked by giant eagles and in a panic Joruus managed to shoot the bolt through the side of the ship and damage the bolt thrower. Henkle the Duergar dwarf engineer fumed at Joruus shouting about the expense and time it would take to repair the bolt thrower. Joruus was immediately demoted and Kalan restored to gunner, but without a bolt thrower at his point. The rest of the crew killed several eagles and saw off the rest and the journey commenced.

At one part a strange magic washed over the crew and the ship it was emanating from the emissary. As the pilot and most of the crew succumbed to its influence the Despair increased its speed and dived towards the canyon floor heavily populated by giant evergreens. Kalan himself was taken over by the thrill feeling and was unaware of the danger.  The emissary threw off his long coat revealing himself to be a demon. He unfurled his wings and loped to the bow of the ship cackling with laughter and evil delight. He had the pilot completely under his control so he sought the fastest speed as the shi... Read more »

The Drow meet the Red Orc Army

The crew made their way to the headquarters of the Red Orc army. The emissary asked Vixia to land the Despair outside of the armies billeted tents and for some of the crew to follow him in.  Needless to say Birz, Gul and Kalan were volunteered by Vixia for this mission. The emissary pulled his female Drow slave behind him beaming at the orcs as he and the Drow passed. The orc soldiers spoke in their guttural orcish language to the emissary as they passed – most glared at the Drow in a none to kindly manner.

The Drow were then introduced to the Red Orc Commander in Chief Chairman Naskhund who immediately set them two challenges to prove the Drow’s sincerity in joining their cause. They were first to prevent a White Orc emissary from contacting “X the Unknown” a very powerful Chaos sorcerer who inhabits an island fortress in the Demon Kingdoms. With his aid the White Orcs could turn any battle to their advantage and win the war. Then he wanted an assassination of a powerful White Orc General who had been too successful against the Red Orc army.

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The Red Orcs – Capture the White Orc Emissary

They spotted the 4 warg riders and the emissary who could be clearly made out. They were in time - the wargs were just a few miles short of their destination.  The Despair went ahead of the wargs in the direct path of their journey and dropped the volunteer crewmen off Birz, Gul, Kalan, Dreggs, and Joruus. 

They were left in open ground facing 5 charging wargs. The Drow prepared their spells a mix of magic missiles and sleep spells – would these work on a warg? If not, they were in for a tough fight - taking on charging cavalry in the open were not good odds. As the wargs charged towards the Drow the spells were released and two wargs went down taking the riders with them – the orcs never got up again. The emissary’s warg kept coming but she fell off it. The remaining two wargs with riders charged on and the melee began, the rider less warg also joined in the fray. The fighting was intense but the Drow numbers and skill soon overcame the orcs and the wargs. As the Drow moved through the dead orcs Kalan and Gul reached the emissary who it turns out was just knocked out – she was no other than Princess Teh. Realising the boon Gul and Kalan quickly bound a... Read more »

The Red Orcs – Assassination of the White Orc General

The crew decided to attempt a sneak attack directly on the generals headquarters. The White orc general had taken over a shack on a low hill and had his army billeted a quarter mile around it. They decided on feather fall and invisibility. Kalan was the only one with the invisibility spell learned so had to use up most of his magic reserve to cast it on himself and the 3 other crewmen chosen for this suicidal quest Gul, Birz and Dreggs. The tactic worked well as the Despair flew over the shack the assassins held together by the magical rope descended to a few feet outside the open door. The Despair headed north and was watched closely by the orc night watchmen who had been about to shout the alert and ready their weapons – Drow moving at night were not to be trusted. Vixia had been told to return at a signal or when the shack went on fire.

As the Drow advanced to eliminate the two orc guards, at the front of the shack, their clever plan fell into pieces. Inside the shack a low growl was heard and a small dog leapt out of the door barking and snapping in the direction of the invisible Drow. Dreggs and Birz immediately reacted and fired into the shack towards the General and three of his staff he was in a meeting with. Gul, Birz charged into the shack as Kalan and Dreggs dealt with the sentries they were now all visible. Kalan kill... Read more »

The Ransom of Princess Teh

Kalan arrived at the new Kobra laboratory he was fully healed but felt completely different. He had an urge to speak to Dreggs and felt a need to explain a weird dream that kept creeping to the surface of his mind. He found a spot in the lab after looking around then sat down and read through a book of How to be more charming he had.

Captain Vixia arrived with two newbie’s Nsaar a tattooed city underworld type and Balrog a young weakling merchant from the city. They were being introduced and having a chat when all of a sudden Gul was fending off one of the Drow female slaves. She had a poisoned dart hidden under a tray and was trying to strike Gul with it. Kalan shot up and struck the slave a weapon was pulled and she was killed. It turns out she was one of the gang thugs they had captured when the crew were out with the Red Orc emissary.  Nsaar stated he recognised her gang tattoos and knew the gang she came from.

After the body of the Drow slave was removed the crew began to get to know their new crewmates. Kalan and Nsaar got talking as soon as Nsaar mentioned he was interested in getting into some of the better Pleasure Houses – a Drow after Kalan’s heart.  Captain Vixia moved the group along and ... Read more »

The Ransom of Princess Teh – A giant in the clouds

The Despair left Shandizar and headed towards the White Orc land. As they flew one of the crew noticed a stationary cloud above them. Vixia shouted to the crew to get ready and made for the cloud. As the ship came above the cloud the crew saw a large keep sitting on it. The keep was owned by a giant and looked like the centre of it was covered by a roof. There was only one entrance to the keep - two large doors with a bank of flattened cloud in front of it. Vixia picked her scavengers to tackle this problem Gul, Kalan, Zaen, Joruus, Nsaar, and Balrog.  Birz was to stay on board for this one.

As the crew left the ship Kalan and the rest looked nervously at the cloud under their feet. The ship had bumped into something but they were all expecting to step down and disappear through the cloud. Instead the cloud lay thick around them and came up to their knees, their feet were on something solid. They carefully made their way towards the doors – keeping feather fall on the tip of their tongues. They turned to see the Despair pull away from the cloud.

The crew realised that the doors were locked and barred from the inside and would need a knock spell to open it. Kalan took out his rope and grappling hook and climbed up to the ... Read more »

The Ransom of Princess Teh – How much?

The next day the Drow planned on finding a White Orc outpost and ambushing a patrol. Then they would send back word to the White Orc King Csar Krawn. They quickly completed this part of the mission and set the ransom 20,000 gold pieces and they were to meet two mile south west of the fort on open moorland within a day – only the cart driver to be seen. A herald was quickly dispatched from the White Orcs to say the ransom would be paid but that three days would be required to collect that sum of gold. The Drow agreed and set off for some plunder and raiding.

On the required day the Despair arrived a few hours early to see a cart laden with three boxes and pulled by oxen. An orc mage sat at the front of the cart. The Despair circled round but nothing could be seen for miles in any direction. Kalan considered the possibility of a trap – and even wanted to consider levitating the treasure up then dropping the Princess with a feather fall from the ship. Then something inside him wanted to go down – he wanted it to be a trap and most of all he wanted to kill some orcs.

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