Role

Chapter 1

"...Son? My son? How is it that you have found me? ...Ahhh yes, I
remember...you found what I left behind. I hoped you would," the
voice spoke as if from a great distance. "Time is short...we have
mere moments. All of your questions must wait until we meet in the
Abyss, child. Hear me now...the lich killed me. But, I had the last
reagent. Yes, I was on the path of greatness and he stole my chance.
You...you who are so strong, can get it. I suspect the elixir will
work for you, but you are no necromancer...its effects will be
unpredictable, but with the possibility of bestowing great power."
Ikanu felt anger at first, at his mother's audacity, but a surge
of pride came as he realized how strong-willed she was...how smart,
and how devious to think of using her own son like this. Surely he
was his mother's son, and gained all of his might from her.

"Destroy Xoltrindar, and take from him his dagger, Ikanu. Within
its hilt is a phylactery containing the essence of a virgin, but
no one else knows. We are the same, you and I. I know it will work!
My son...my Ikanu...will rise from the shadow of Barovia and make
the pillars of heaven quake and tremble! GO! GOOOOO!!!!"

As the green flames died down to crimson, Ikanu was startled to see
the eyes still ablaze, hovering not more than ten feet away. In his
mind he heard the soul-shattering voice of the Ill Omen speak, "She
is of a special breed, and has a place of power, Scion. Prevail where
she did not, and your own fate may be less grim than most who are
Damned." With that, the spectral gaze vanished into the blackness of
Barovia.

Ikanu did not delay long, and before the week was out he had gathered
a host of powerful wizards and defeated Xoltrindar. With his dagger
and the other reagents he sought the council of Dhunelz on how to
combine them properly into an elixir that would work. That is where
we find ourselves now...Dhunelz has the reagents and is formulating
a ritual, and Ikanu waits to find out what his fate may be. He
expects death, but rather looks forward to seeing his mother face-to
face if that's the case. If not, he may be crippled in ways to terrible
to define. But, that slim, almost imperceptible chance at power and
greatness is enough.