AD&D Game History

Erain began in another of John's uncle Gerald's games. Four players, 4 Lvl 9 characters, one from each of the four main AD&D classes, with one magic item or +3 weapon of our choice. John played the cleric, of Eldath I believe, or some other good goddess. Kent played a mage with a set of Golden Lion Statues that came to life upon command, and Kim played a thief.

John's cleric was seeking a rumored ruined Temple of his goddess in the area to restore, and we went with him. Erain had just a few weeks before killed her last lover, a paladin, and this cleric fit her tastes to a T. As they travelled to the ruins she kept her feelings hidden, having only just met him. A wall of glossy black stone ringed the temple, who's stone had also turned black and glossy, perfectly smooth. A flesh golem attacked, and Erain held it off solo while the men fled to safety. On her last pass, her horse was a moment too slow and the golem crushed its hind quarters hip with a blow. Erain continued her battle on foot, and destroyed the creature (until the DM realized she was using a bastard sword+3, not a blunt weapon+3).

The construct dead, the party moved inside and began exploring. A tunnel led them downward into a cave, where they met a very oddly dressed man. Mister Rourke from Fantasy Island. (No Herve Villachez)

He announced that each of the 4 had a secret fantasy and he would grant it to them. Erain knew what hers was, but was not interested in fantasy, only reality, so she asked to join the cleric in his instead. The Host was surprised but agreed.

The fantasies began, each quite nice but quickly developed into a lethal nightmare. The thief or mage's involved a horde of skeletons attacking him, family and people he'd known or killed. The cleric's was a whitewater rafting trip, only midway along giants lined the ravine tops throwing boulders down at him/us in the raft. Between the pair of them, they survived to be washed up on shore, but Gerald had rolled a 20 on one of the boulders, at John's cleric and between giant damage and gravity damage, the cleric was going to be paste so Erain dived in between and took the brunt of the boulder onto herself.

Mister Rourke reappeared, and we discovered that he was actually a Lich. A very bored lich. One who lured adventurers to his domain for the fun of toying with them. Erain preferred the lich over the cheery Host illusion. The men, especially the cleric had by now noticed her unexpected love for him and checked her for any sign of having been charmed. Which of course she had not been.

Later that evening dining with the lich he conversed with them and made a remark that what he wished, she would not be willing to do. Erain laughed and asked what it was, as she was a better judge of that. He came round to whisper it to her, that he wanted sex with her. She asked in return for what? And they came to a deal and she went on eating while the men around her took a wild guess and were horrified.

Naturally they attacked the lich, and naturally his illusions ran them ragged and wasted their spells running up and down the corridor and rooms searching for the lich while Erain continued eating. The lich reappeared beside her and directed her to scream, she did and the men returned at a run. Before it had been merely amusing to her, no harm to the lich and none to them, but now it was serious. She tackled the cleric to the floor when he tried to Turn the Lich, a second before the Lich's robes opened to reveal the Symbol upon them, saving him from immediate death but one by one the men died. To lightning or other spells at the lich's disposal, until only Erain was left.

The lich asked if she too was going to attack him, and she came to her senses. With her love interest dead there was certainly no reason to continue with her infatuation. Erain slept with the lich, and received her reward, the agreed upon magical item. The lich asked her why she'd gone through with it and she explained her goals. He offered her a job, bringing him new victims in return for their items and Erain of course agreed.

Erain's back history developed rather esily. She grew up in Calaunt, a guardian in training in the House of the Scarlet Hooks under Whip-Mistress Shaleen "Talonkiss" Oomreen. As such she accompanied followers of Loviatar on their sacred missions now and then and would in time return to her family to take her place and station and marry, and send her children to serve Loviatar as she did.

Erains own goals were more towards amassing political power than children however.