Noir’s Lair and the Hunt for the Dark Centaurs

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In the Berenian Year 515, reports reached the Centaur Council  of a jet black centaur terrorising smallholdings and villages in the region of Crownheart, the Kingdom’s capital city. Eyewitnesses told of a spectral creature with blazing red eyes and carrying a strange shimmering blade of magical power. The creature had become known as ‘Noir’. Other Dark Centaurs were reported attacking travellers and traders on the road between Crownheart and Lionel. The Berenian Government sent two militia units to investigate, but they never returned. Their last report was from the edge of a stretch of forest SE of Crownheart, where they had apparently discovered some kind of underground lair and were about to enter.

The Royal Courts then approached the Centaur Council and suggested that, given that an evil, possibly undead, centaur seemed to be at the heart of this, we might wish to investigate. The Council leadership regarded the threat of this undead Centaur very seriously and called for volunteers to seek out its lair. This was not the first time that the Council has heard of these so-called ‘Dark Centaurs’, and this time the Council was determined to put an end to this menace.

Location of Noir’s Lair relative to Crownheart. Noirs Lair is located close to Bastya Szabadka, the estate of Baron Varga Toth, and the Centaur Council is grateful to the Baron for his support of our mission.

Our force, comprising both centaurs and a number of friends and allies from other races, entered the Lair and encountered a number of foes:

Dark Centaurs: The rank-and-file evil centaurs. Armed with centaur broadbows , and present in large numbers.

Dark Centaur Champions: Noir's elite troops - very tough and equipped with magical centaur broadbows.

Black Mare Champions: Another group of elite dark centaurs, often encountered in the company of Witchmares and equipped with the powerful centaur crossbow.

Lord Crazy Horse: A Champion of the Dark Centaurs. Wielding the magical centaur broadbow ‘Wildstorm’, Lord Crazy Horse unleashed a hail of arrows that slew several of our comrades. He was finally killed by a necromancer, Malcolm Finch, who was not associated with our mission but who entered Noir’s Lair for reasons of his own.

Witchmares:  These look like powerful oversized dark brown or black horses, but are actually extra-dimensional beings from a strange other realm who seem to have some kinship with equine races. Although they appear to be horses they have bizarre powers and a fiendish intelligence. Wherever Witchmares are the air seems colder and when close to them you can literally feel the chill emanating from their dark bodies. They can attack with the power of their minds, or can breath out a debilitating ‘Crimson mist’ that inflicts Lethargy upon its victims. And they have substantial defence against normal and magical attack (and possibly others too). A dangerous foe. Despite the name not all Witchmares are female.

Equine Stone Guardian: These appear to be a huge stone horse head mounted on a stone dais. These massive statues are enchanted and able to float off the ground and attack intruders using their massive weight. Possessed of a large amount of damage resistance against normal weapons.

Equus: A race of humanoids with the body of a man and the head of a horses. According to Centaur legend, in the past when they were more numerous, they often allied with the good

races. But the Equus fell on dark times when they abandoned the worship of the Gods of Light in favour of the dark goddess Jibu Ramess, the Black Mare. The Equus were virtually wiped out in a war with the elves and some believe the curse which is on elven males may have been sponsored by them, although this is not known as absolute.  Equus gladiators and Equus stickfighters were among those encountered.

Skeletal Centaurs: Animated undead dark centaurs, with all the immunities associated with undead.

So, it would appear that we were up against the equine minions of one of the Dark Gods.

Having faced Lord Crazy Horse, and fought our way past the Witchmares, our lead scouts found themselves confronted by Noir himself. He was shot down by bowshots from our scouting force with our allied Enchantress Sera Nade getting in the final blow. But when he fell the body simply disappeared, so we were not certain that he was truly destroyed.

And so it proved, for when at last we fought our way into Noir’s throne room, he was there again waiting for us with his personal guard of Dark Centaur Champions. This time there was no mistake, and Noir was slain in hand-to-hand combat on the steps of his throne by Chaldan Ironhoof himself.  

And so the mission is complete, though we mourn for the loss of our comrades who fell on it:

- Osseiyus and Daedilla, Centaur jesters, at the hands of Lord Crazy Horse.

- Kronos Longbrewer, Glacier Barbarian and Bear rider, also by Lord Crazy Horse.

- Ximines, Enchanter of the Assembly, by a Witchmare.

Centaurs may still wish to visit Noir’s Lair to seek out the Equus Skill House, where the spirits of dead equine masters are willing to impart the knowledge of the ages through magical means to others of their persuasion. But if you do seek it, then be cautious, for though Noir may be dead some of his lesser minions still roam the tunnels of his Lair.

Inside Noir’s Lair:

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