Pontius MkKlain XVII
Pontius MkKlain XVII, 9th level LN(G) fallen paladin of Vastuvian
Title: Earl Marshal of the Klain, Knight Commander of the Order of the Ebon Chalice
Method of Address: "your Grace", or "Lord Sir Pontius Mkklain XVII"
The Undeath of Pontius
Draft Summary
The Burning of the Lab, the Lich's Silence, Ktandeo the Undying, and the Lich's Vengeance
Locked in his inner sanctum and unable to escape, it was many days before Pontius MkKlain and his companions in captivity were at last defeated by the lich. Unable to find the lich's inner sanctum or confront him in combat, they ravaged the mysterious lich's dungeon and laboratory, freeing many of his monsters, despoiling his wondrous treasures, and setting fire to his vast library. Amidst the ruins of the once fabulous sanctum, the various heroes at last freed the agent of their initial redemption, the mighty warrior Ktandeo,
Set upon a great hook held aloft by a great iron pole, Ktandeo inexplicably lived despite days of hunger and thirst as well as incredible and unending pain. At last satisfied that the lich was either destroyed in their fires or otherwise unable to harm them, Pontius, having recovered his magical ancestral sword, cut down Ktandeo, and relieved his pains and woes as best he could. Ktandeo, thankful of the aid given, told the scattered heroes his tale, such as it was, and after recovering some of his strength, aided MkKlain and the other heroes in how they might best escape the lich's sanctum, examining the Great Machine to see if they could master its use. In one occasion, they succeeded in this, and caused the great system of globes and domes to spin and swirl until one of their party disappeared, to planes unknown. Although unsure of his fate, the heroes agreed that such a fate was better than starvation in the lich's dungeon, and prepared to use the Machine again so that each of them could make their escape. Ktandeo volunteered to remain, announcing that he would not flee the ruin until he discovered the answer to the riddle of the lich's location, and destroy him.
While on guard during their party's rest, MkKlain was approached by one of their recent companions freed from the dungeon, and now amongst their number. A half-angelic being of great grace and beauty named the same as Pontius' deceased wife Anastasia, she comforted Pontius. However, admidst her carcasses and sweet smelling embrace, an evil and subtle poison was imperceptibly introduced over MkKlain's skin. Saying that the others meant to abandon Pontius, and that Ktandeo would betray his word to use the Machine first, MkKlain grew unbalanced and wroth, and left to an evil poison-induced stupor, slew his resting companions as they slept, with Ktandeo alone escaping, yet even he received a mortal wound from Pontius' black blade. Soon after the black rage, the poison wore off, yet in vengeance, when her answers to his questions did not suffice, in the last stages of the poison's swoon, MkKlain still slew Anastasia, although the soul of the lich that had possessed her had just left to manifest into a previously invisible body. Examining her body, MkKlain soon found the unhallowed bottle of black glass which had a sweet yet subtle smell, and quickly surmised the truth, especially as he heard the cackle of the invisible lich which had been looking on.
Pontius rushed to destroy the long-absent undead sorcerer, but with a wave of his hand the enchantments woven over his armor by the soft hand of Anastasia were activated, and his armor fell off in a wave, including his magical heume, which protected his mind. Nonetheless Pontius charged, but with a flash the lich's naked bones became golden, and even the slashes of the black sword could do him little harm. Next, in desperation, Pontius wrestled-down the lich, but the touch was so chill and enervating that it sapped MkKlain's will, and although he prevented the lich's spells, he could not destroy him. However, in the struggle, MkKlain dislodged a magic stone set into the corpse's eye, and smashed it, to the great anger of the lich. At last, incapable of bearing the unfathomable cold any longer, Pontius released, and the wrathful lich, in a victorious stance, threw a spell upon his mind, sending him into a spin from which he would not return alive.
