From the locked archives of an Aerdi sage are revealed the fragments of the first of the journals of a madman and prophet who dwelled among the lands of Sheldomar. Contained within are are some of the exploits of a hero far to the west, as well as bits of lore and prophecy the Silent Ones would undoubtably love to see burned.
Author: Sam Weiss
Fragments of the First Journal of Devon Marasheth of Dyvers, HearthTender of Berei, Prophet, Explorer, and Madman
by Sam Weiss (samwise1@email.msn.com)
Used with Permission. Do not repost without obtaining prior permission from the author.
They came again last night. Accursed sending of the Master
of Plagues, Lord of Nightmares riding my sleep. Ever since I
[[a fragment is missing here]]
closed my eyes. I will begin recording some of them in this
journal. At least the thought of doing so eases my mind somewhat.
I was standing alone, watching a village in the Vale although
one I did not recognize from my travels, when huge shapes flew
over my head. I looked up, and saw great winged beasts flapping
down to the village. they had monstrous tails with stingers like
scorpions, and riding them, were great humanoids with the heads
of bulls.
They descended upon the village, and began destroying it, killing
the men that tried resisting. As they did, another beast flew
down, this with a man upon its back. A hateful man, with madness
in his eyes. he directed his servants to capture most of the women
of the village alive, for what purpose I do not know.
As I watched, my eyes moving from place to place, I turned
back, and the man was not a man anymore, but a great bull-headed
humanoid like the others! Yet I knew it was still him. As I watched
him, he seemed to see me, and his gaze turned toward where I was
standing. I felt his eyes bore into my very soul, and as they
did, I felt his soul laid bare to me. What I saw.....
I woke screaming and recorded this here. What does it mean?
Who is the man who becomes beast? What does he portend?
I must consider the stories I know of this place, consult others
who know more. Maybe I can find some answers. If only I could
stop these dreams!
Another dream last night, but different. Stranger. Less violent,
but more disturbing. I was walking, and came across a field. As
I watched, it looked as though of horde of vermin descended upon
the field. At first, I thought they would strip it bare, but then
I saw. They were not. They were cutting great swaths through it,
and leaving behind - words. What they wrote, I'm not sure. It
was...unthinkable. I record it below.
'...and it shall come to pass that the Shadowed One, who is
named Gal'Nyathra, and is also known as the Great Devourer, shall
cause the Dead One, who is the lord of the Horned Ones, to gain
power through his pawns, and to rise once more from the dead,
to walk among the living, and cause That Which Cannot Exist to
become closer to existence...'
This disturbed me more than any of the other dreams I have
yet had. That morning, I heard a rumor among the farmers I passed
among. A tower was discovered by Haven. That, seemed to mean something,
I'm not sure what though. I have resolved to travel there and
speak with Garvin, the Patriarch of the Vale. He is a Shepherd
[[ed. note. A specialty priest of Rao]] and tends the Church
of the Holy Defender there. He will surely know more of this tower,
and likely be able to help me with these dreams I've been having.
I know I must escape them soon, or risk losing my sanity forever."
Another dream, the night before I am to enter Haven. I must
warn the Patriarch before he sends someone to that place!
I was walking, and came upon a farm. As I entered the barn,
there was blood everywhere, and the remains of animals torn to
pieces. As I stared in horror, the blood on the walls took the
shape of words, and I read this written there:
'...within the walls of the place of flayed lambs, the Other
does dwell. It shall first creep forth to feed upon the hoofed
beasts, but it's hunger for death shall not be sated, and it shall
prey upon the minds and souls of men. The Other will walk the
lands of the living, and it shall herald a return to the days
of terror and darkness...'
The horror this portends is unspeakable. I must warn them!
I was too late to warn them, but it appears my warning was
unneeded. A group of heroes led by one Pharos went to the tower,
and destroyed a horrid creature dwelling therein. From the description,
it sounds like one of the flesh eaters sometimes referred to as
ghouls, though other sources I have seen call them ghasts. I do
not know, either way, its destruction is a wonderful thing.
Further, they have brought back texts. Apparently, the tower
housed a scriptorium and library, and Pharos and his group were
able to retrieve some texts from there. The holy Shepherd Garvin
has agreed to let me study them to see if I can find any more
clues within them about what may be happening.
I do this, sharing time on them with both the Holy Shepherd
and this Pharos who seems to be a scholar despite his warrior
ways. Also, one Mitchifer, a Lightbringer [[ed. note specialty
priest of Pelor, dedicated to fighting undead and fiends]].
He seems a good sort, yet something about him concerns me, I don't
know why.
[[a few pages later, past mundane notes on studying]]
I was studying a passage in a book, and I came across something.
I knew I had found a key to what I was looking for, yet when I
went to tell the others, show them what I had found, it was gone!
Yet, I know I saw it, read it. Now I fear it was another dream,
a waking one. This disturbs me more than anything yet. if my dreams
will now come when I am awake, what will be next?
Still, I record what I read below, prophecy, hallucination,
or both. It must mean something!
'...in the valley of the Exiled One, who was driven from his
home, and drawn to the Place of Banishment, the lairs of the Dead
Ones will once more corrupt men, bringing them further into the
grasp of That Which Was Banished, their minds belonging to it,
and their flesh serving it until such time as it shall reenter
the Oerth, and feast upon their flesh and grow stronger...'
I was called away from my studies of the recovered books by
a call to a community having troubles. My duties to Blessed Berei
must take precedence, so I will set that aside for now. Some time
in the sun will do me good anyway.
I am traveling to a small hamlet of hobniz who need some help
with the harvest. My companion and Guide is one Hasuburnipal Hornblower,
commonly called Niles for short.
He was one of the people who accompanied Pharos to the Tower
recently. He is a bright, cheerful fellow, well my senior in years,
though of course barely an adult by the standards of his people.
I feel most uncomfortable with him though, as I know of his shame
in the Tower from Pharos. It seems the poor fellow froze twice
upon encountering the unnatural things therein. The first time
was upon meeting three animated skeletons of former scribes. He
fled upon seeing them, and his companions were sore pressed to
defeat the creatures, even though he returned to help. The second
time was the other battle they had, against the ghoul and its
two corpse servants [[ed. note zombies]]. Again he froze
upon seeing them, this time nearly resulting in the death of one
of his companions, Thaddeus, a student of the College of Wizardry
located in the Vale. Niles seems quite eager to prove himself
in battle now, but it is seems he may not be up to facing some
of the horrors my dreams portend.
Having a moment, I would also like to record some of the things
I learned studying.
It seems a human by the name of Alaxus once ruled the Vale,
apparently sometime before the founding of the Kingdom of Aerdy.
He appears to have subjugated the Vale through a humanoid army,
though it was unclear how he raised such an army. There are references
to Alaxus being called the "Minotaur Mage" as well.
Perhaps this a clue to his success. As well, perhaps it is a clue
to my dreams of an army of such creatures overrunning the Vale.
How he may have gained the aid of such creatures I do not know.
Perhaps I will learn more when I return.
Upon conquering the Vale, Alaxus had his hordes begin building
towers at certain points. I am unsure, but it does not seem that
all of these towers were for control. The tower the books I gleaned
this information from being a prime example. Why a library and
scriptorium there? Another mystery I must look into further. I
will write further on this on the return journey.
The trouble at the settlement has proven less serious than
the messengers indicated, giving me the time to finish up some
of my notes.
Alaxus ruled the Vale for something on the order of 100 years,
long for a human indeed. In the end, the few remaining humans
not enslaved received aid from the demihumans now feeling the
weight of Alaxus' armies, and a strike force was sent in to defeat
him. The leader of the force, whose name I have not been able
to recover, bore a sword called the Blade of Runes, specially
forged to defeat mages and their creatures. He was able to slay
Alaxus, but was slain in turn by his bodyguard, who then took
both the body of their master and the sword and disappeared. They
interred both in a tomb that is undiscovered to this day.
Some sense of foreboding tells me this was not the end of the
story of Alaxus however.
I should also record some things concerning Pharos and those
accompanying him.
Pharos himself is human, of mixed Flan and Oeridian heritage,
though I have heard he may have Olven blood in his lineage. He
is bold and well educated fellow, the latter quite unusual in
a warrior. He prefers the spear, something almost unheard of these
days, perhaps lending credence to the stories of his heritage.
Hasuburnipal Hornblower, Niles, is a local hobniz scout and
finder. Likely he could earn quite a living as a thief in some
large city if he desired, but that looks to be quite out of his
nature. Only his unfortunate freezing in the face of horrors that
would torment any normal man causes him trouble with adventuring.
Thaddeus is a young man from the Great Kingdom, come to study
at Mathghamnha, the College of Wizardry. From the little I saw
and have heard of him, he is typical of people from there, being
arrogant and obnoxious, though of course, completely oblivious
of the fact. [[ed. note - Typical of people not from our great
empire. They see our natural superiority, and think it mere arrogance.]]
Elanna, the third person to accompany Pharos to the Ruined
Tower, is a young local woman, of mixed blood like Pharos. She
too prefers a weapon of uncommon type, wielding a two-handed sword
with great ability despite its, and her, size. I do not recall
hearing of a woman berserker in the Vale in many years, but it
appears a new one is about. Niles seems to think she takes up
with both the cults of the Summoner and the Brawler [[ed. note
- Trithereon and Kord]], making me think my estimation is
quite correct.
I wonder what other young people are thinking of following
the path of the hero in the Vale these days. I fear they may only
be finding their deaths if they do, in a most horrific manner.
The horror is back! A nightmare of unspeakable depravity, the
blood was everywhere, and the screams of the dying ripped at my
ears. And at the end, another warning -
'...in the House of the Dead, the Horned King does dwell, dead,
yet not dead. He shall rise again to the lands of the living,
and attempt once more to spread his dominion over the land. He
shall be destroyed once, but not destroyed, and shall continue
to plague the lands of the living...'
Patriarch Garvin must have divined the location of Alaxus'
Tomb from the books, and sent Pharos and some others there. If
this warning is true and Alaxus is within, they must know so they
can ensure his total destruction now.
I am racing back to Haven with Niles. He senses my distress,
and seems to know what is causing it. He is both terrified and
eager to prove himself yet again. Somehow, I hope he does not
have to.
As I feared, I was too late. Pharos had already departed for
the tomb with three companions, the Lightbringer Mitchifer I had
mentioned before, Garvin's great-nephew Peregrine, a Peacekeeper
of Rao [[ed. note: paladin]], and a High Olve calling herself
Sunblayze, a warrior mage who is apparently a distant in-law of
Pharos'.
They were already a day overdue to return when I arrived at
Haven and met with Patriarch Garvin. We discussed what I had been
shown in my dreams, and what it could portend for the Vale as
a whole, and then talked of options in regards to Pharos and his
expedition.
In the end, we agreed there was nothing to do at the moment,
but Patriarch Garvin said he would try to gather some others to
go and search for them if they did not return in two more days.
While waiting, I devoted myself to catching up on those portions
of the texts that led to the locating of the Alaxus' Tomb, and
trying to open myself to more dreams and prophecies, despite the
toll they are taking on me.
I was rewarded by my efforts with this:
'...He Who Served the Mage will fall prey to the Shadowed One,
his will bent to the service of the Other, and he shall seek to
once more reopen the gateway between Oerth and the Outside, and
he shall corrupt another of his kind. Together, they will weaken
the bonds of the fabric of this world, and Those Which Should
Not Be Here shall reenter the world...'
A horrifying prophecy whose full scope I can not fathom as
of yet, in a horrifying dream of shapeless things feasting upon
men. In the midst of such, a sheltered home provided sanctuary
for me, and while resting there, I discovered that amongst some
of the household papers.
This whole thing disturbs me more each time I seek to rest.
But the noon brought good news! Pharos and his band have been
sighted by the lookouts. I will write of what they discovered
next.
Yesterday I heard the story of the Tomb of Alaxus from Pharos
and his companions.
At the back of a cave long used as a goat pen by herders, they
located a secret door with a bull's head carved into it. By pressing
the eyes, they were able to open it, and enter the tomb itself.
Inside, they walked down a corridor to a chamber with three other
passages leading out. In the chamber itself, they discovered a
monolith carved with a tribute to Alaxus, as well as a mural on
the ceiling depicting a scene from his life.
Down the corridor leading deeper in, they found it had collapsed
from water damage. Heading one direction, they discovered mounds
of bones, the unfortunate remains of the slaves who built the
place likely, and among them, the animated remains of three of
the perverse beasts known as minotaurs. Fortunately, they were
able to slay them without loss. Heading down the last passage
available, they found another bone room, and prepared to face
more minotaur skeletons. Instead, they found something worse.
From their description, it seems to have been some sort of ambulatory
jelly of massive size. It sent out tendrils that stuck with great
power, and which paralyzed Pharos for a time. Some sort of poison
I suspect. Once they defeated it however, they discovered not
only had it put paid to the skeletons that had been here, but
that it also had hidden a small tunnel in the earth leading deeper
in.
Pharos led the way on hand and knees, and the group passed
through the tunnel, emerging in a room of unknown purpose that
held a band of the sniveling beasts known as kobolds. Fortunately
for the party, they were surprised, obviously having expected
the jelly had dispatched them. With this opportunity, Pharos was
able to force entry into the room, and provide space for the others
to follow. Three kobolds were slain, and one was taken prisoner.
This last upon being questioned, lied repeatedly about the Tomb's
other inhabitants. It seems Pharos himself is honest to a fault,
and took the vile creature at its word. this nearly proved their
undoing, as the very next "empty" room they entered
contained a further dozen of the foul things!
Despite this, they triumphed, but were forced to return to
the first chamber to rest. this caused part of their delay in
returning.
The next day they continued on, discovering a treasure room
with chests they bypassed lacking Niles to open them, a room converted
to raising centipedes the kobolds used as food, and finally the
lair of the kobold leader, his guards and his pet weasels. Another
fierce battle ensued which forced them to delay their final assault
yet another day. However, they had recovered several items of
import. Firstly, the Blade of Runes that had slain Alaxus the
first time which the kobold chief had taken for himself. Peregrine
was awarded this and used it to great effect the next day. Second,
the key to the Tomb which enabled them to enter it easily. Third,
a wand firing the magical force bolts mages seem to love so much,
and which Sunblayze put to excellent use the next day. Finally,
just outside in a third chamber devoted to Alaxus' life, the found
the remains of a noble warrior of Rao who had obviously discovered
the place accidentally years before and been slain. They returned
him with his armor and shield, Patriarch Garvin later awarding
both to Pharos for his services.
Having rested another day, they opened the Tomb and entered.
They discovered four minotaurs that were merely animated corpses,
zombies as some term them. And they discovered a minotaur, seemingly
alive, clad in ancient clothes. Engaging them, Mitchifer called
upon the Power of the Sun and managed to send all four zombies
shuffling off, saving everyone's lives. With no guards, Peregrine
and Pharos were able to engage who I believe was a restored Alaxus
directly. With Sunblayze adding bolts from her wand, the beast
fell in short order. Though it never used magic, Sunblayze asserts
it was trying to do so at least twice before combat damage disrupted
its castings. After that, the zombies were dispatched with ease,
and a rich treasure taken from the place by the heroes.
But my dream still haunts me. Was that Alaxus? Is he really
dead? And what will come next for these heroes?
I am currently alone.
Pharos and those who were with him have gone their separate
ways for now, Pharos seeking out another Olven relative of his,
a mysterious warrior known to be a master of the spear. Why such
a one has chosen to train a barely blooded relative is beyond
me. I wonder if some future vision will provide me some clue as
to why.
The others have likewise dispersed for now.
As for myself, despite this victory, I fear the whole thing
is far from over. My dreams continue to be riddled with horror,
and I have received one more prophecy as well which I shall record
at the end of this entry. I continue to pore over the books recovered
from the Library, as well as new ones from the Tomb of Alaxus,
searching for anything that may help. I have learned a few things,
but they disturb more than inform me it feels.
It seems Alaxus built more sites than we previously suspected.
Further, it seems more than one of them was built on a previous
site, left by some older person or group, the references are unclear.
These Elder Ones were from Beyond or Outside, I cannot be sure,
the language is so old and stilted. They had come to the Vale
because it was a place of Power, as did those who first built
Mathghamnha. Alaxus knew of that place, but was unable to broach
it as did the aptly named Japheth Arcane some years back. That
seems the only good thing I have learned so far.
Alaxus studied what he could find of these Elder Ones, and
eventually began looking Outside or Beyond where they had come
from. What he learned there, gave him his great powers it seems,
though it could not prevent his death.
Still, all this "Outside" material seems to resonate
with some of the prophecies I have received, I simply have to
put them all together. Like this most recent one:
'...in the domain of He Who Was Not Fallen, the Mouth of the
Gods will fall from grace, and will whisper in the ear of the
line of He Who Was Not Fallen, and shall spread a rot of death
and blood into the land. The line of He Who Was Not Fallen will
be dispersed, and the Mouth of the Gods will rise in power, until
one who can stop him shall rise to glory...'
I must continue to study this all.
The dreams and prophecies continue.
This time, I saw a strange beast, like a centaur, but with
the body of a bull and with horns upon its head. Somehow, I knew
it to be connected with Alaxus, but I do not know how. A terrifying
thought crossed my mind as I watched it, for the thought of the
poor women stolen from the village in my first dream resurfaced.
Nothing more was revealed to me of that, but I saw this beast
running through tangled paths and coming to a group of huts. there,
it shrieked commands to some unseen beings before racing off into
the woods once again. As I watched the paths seemed to take the
form of words, and more was revealed to me.
'...beneath the Sanctuary, a road is being made by those who
seek the fall of men. The furred beasts will enter the place by
stealth, and will seek to slaughter and enslave those found within...'
This was a warning I could finally act upon as Pharos returned
the morning after I had that dream. I quickly consulted with Patriach
Garvin as to where this could be occurring. As we did, Falgur
Ironstone, a dwur who is both the smith of Haven as well as its
militia leader came with news. Something had slain the guards
in the watchtower!
The Patriarch and I exchanged a look, and together we gathered
with the other Elders to discuss the matter. He said nothing about
my dreams to them, and I kept silent allowing him to lead. They
quickly and easily decided to commission Pharos to investigate,
with Falgur's nephew Thordar to accompany him. Niles was still
in town, and after being told of the mission, he quickly asked
to join as well, obviously seeking to redeem himself. Lastly,
a Flan warrior calling himself the Darkblade was asked to join
in, despite his reputation as a bandit in other areas.
The four of them proceeded to the tower, with myself and Falgur
observing, where a quick investigation revealed a flagstone that
had been tunneled up to from below. I was sent to inform the Elders,
while they entered and Falgur kept a watch.
In the tunnels, which Thordar reported were quite old, they
discovered signs of recent efforts to dig upwards. As they explored,
they came across some bugbears who they slew with great courage
and no loss. In another place, more bugbears, with some of those
nasty creatures called xvarts as slaves. Again slaying the bugbears,
Pharos chose to talk with the xvarts rather than slay them as
Thordar suggested. One of their number then led the group to a
lair of the small menaces, where Pharos oddly accepted an offer
to enter unarmed and talk with their leader, their guide serving
as a hostage. Fate must be with him, as the leader said little
more than the bugbears threatened both the xvarts and Haven, and
that it would be good if Pharos were to defeat them and free the
xvarts they were forcing to dig access tunnels to the surface.
how the xvarts got there, or what they intended were not revealed,
but Pharos saw the obvious need and agreed to do what their leader
asked.
A few more chambers, and more dead bugbears and freed xvarts,
the group returned to the entrance tunnel, and asked for healing,
showing many wounds and saying the job was not yet finished. As
Haven obviously came first, both the Patriarch and myself worked
to cure them and send them back quickly.
Returning to what was the last room in the place, they discovered
more bugbears, two large guards, and what was obviously a shaman.
Worse though, the shaman commanded two animated skeletons. Thordar
and Darkblade both froze momentarily upon seeing them, but Niles
did not, and with Pharos held the line. As the others joined battle
with the bugbears however, the shaman unleashed a wave of magical
fear that sent Pharos fleeing for a moment, and almost overwhelmed
the defenders. He rallied quickly though, and together they managed
to put paid to the skeletons, whereupon the shaman tried to flee
while the bugbears held them back. Niles slipped past those two
and managed to wound the shaman, who hesitated momentarily to
stab at him. One bugbear fell, and Pharos rushed to aid Niles.
The shaman tried fleeing, but collided with Pharos, who stabbed
him with his short sword through the heart as Thordar and Darkblade
finished the last bugbear.
No treasure was found, but a scrap of parchment confirming
a plan to dig under the town and slay its people was. The tunnel
connecting this set of caves to the bugbears lair was collapsed,
and so it seems that threat is ended for a time at least.
Perhaps my dreams will not prove to be so bad after all.
One thing though, these caves. What are they? How did they
get here? And no one ever knew of them? Are they connected to
Alaxus? Or something older and worse? I must investigate further
when I get the chance.
As I have mentioned, it has been peaceful the last week, and
my studies of the recovered books continue apace as do my nightmares.
No new prophecies have been given to me, nor have I discovered
anything more of significance in the books.
As I suspected, it could not continue. Last night, my dreams
were filled with horrifying winged monsters, swooping down to
devour the people of Haven as I stood by helplessly. Finally departing,
I was left to wander amongst the torn corpses they had left, and
in the spreading pools of blood I read the following:
'...the Winged Beast's Orb which was given to the Horned King
will be reclaimed, and its taint shall be unleashed upon the world
once more, spreading the corruption of the Other...'
Upon awakening, I turned to the books looking for anything
relating to this, and in one I thought I had been over a dozen
times already, I found mention of something called 'The Eye of
the Wyvern'. The text seemed to suggest that this item was how
Alaxus called his wyverns to him. Indeed, if one were to stretch
the point and take it that it was actually penned by the hand
of Alaxus, it might be assumed that this item was how all wyverns
actually came to plague the Flanaess, putting forth that they
are actually winged servitors of some Outer being as they keep
being referred to.
And as has been all too common it seems, confirmation came
by noon. A delegation of traders recently arrived from Kleine
sought an audience with Patriarch Garvin. They reported that the
farmers of Kleine have recently been plagued by flights of small
winged beasts slaying their cattle and once attacking and killing
a farmer who tried stopping them. Though the description does
not match that of wyverns, it might refer to their young, though
so many would be most peculiar. Unless of course this 'Eye' does
exist.
Still, they brought a sum of money the farmers had pooled to
pay for help, and Patriarch Garvin promptly summoned Pharos. After
a brief interview, it was decided that he would ask Peregrine,
Mitchifer and Niles to accompany him, and that the four would
see what they could do to help. Again Patriarch Garvin advised
me to hold back on revealing my dream, and again I concurred.
He feels these warnings are not meant for any but the hero seemingly
foretold, and he wishes to see if Pharos can accomplish these
tasks with no warning as a test to see if he is the one. While
I am unsure, I continue to defer to him and his great wisdom.
The four set out, and I waited nervously for their return,
knowing it would be a week or more before I saw any of them again.
I have been waiting anxiously for the return of Pharos and
his companions, but there is still no word of them. I have had
continued to have disturbing dreams since their departure.
This current quest of theirs seems connected to the wyverns
Alaxus was known for. My current dreams...
I have had further visions of women being taken from villages.
I see them dragged off screaming by hordes of bugbears and gnolls,
with cackling orcs and goblins watching and assisting. The women
seem to know what is waiting for them, by my dreams have not yet
revealed this to me.
Still, I am filled with a deep sense of despair when contemplating
their fate. What unnatural horror awaits them in their captivity
in the pits of Alaxus? Why do I sense it is related yet not related
to this Eye of the Wyvern?
My concerns about my recent dreams were forgotten briefly,
as Pharos returned, and we heard the story of the quest for the
Eye of the Wyvern. The bad news was apparent immediately, as three
walked in, a body tied over a horse. With heavy hearts we sat
and listened.
The four had headed up towards Kleine, passing the days calmly
until they met one Murri Thistletoes, a hobniz merchant heading
towards Kleine as well. talking with him, they learned some more
of the wyvernlings that had been menacing the area. Apparently
the beasts stingers swept over their heads like scorpions tails,
indicating a definite connection to true wyverns of some sort.
Setting camp with Murri, he produced a fine meal for them, and
they set a watch for the night. This proved fortunate, as 3 wyvernlings
attacked just around midnight. Niles was on watch, and alerted
the others who quickly acted and managed to defeat the foul beasts
with little damage.
The next day they entered Kleine, and meeting with the group
of farmers who had sent for them, learned that the beasts were
believed to come from above the Falls. As the meeting was ending
and turning to dinner prior to a night's rest for a morning departure
to put and end to the menace, a child ran in from an outlying
farm. More beasts were attacking that very moment! Racing out,
they found the farmer already injured from trying to stop them,
and then two of the beasts menacing the livestock within the barn.
Racing to confront them, two more wyvernlings leaped down from
the loft, and they were suddenly hard pressed to survive. Still,
they managed to prevail, despite suffering severe injuries, and
the poisoning of Niles. Murri volunteered a magical elixir he
had been hoping to sell as gratitude for the group saving him
the other night, and through dint of both Mitchifer's magic as
granted by his Lord Pelor, and Peregrine's healing touch as a
Paladin of Rao, they were ready for the trek into the mountains
the next day.
Here we broke off to let them rest and catch their breaths
for a moment.
Picking up their story again, Pharos told of us their day long
trek into the mountains, up and beyond the Falls. Past there,
they found a trail parallel to the stream feeding the Falls. Following
this only way upland, they walked until dusk was upon them, when
they spotted the leaping flames of a bonfire, and heard harsh
chanting. proceeding forward, they saw the collapsed walls of
some ancient building, with a bonfire within, and apparently a
cage containing some wyvernlings, and a few goblins, chanting.
Moving closer, they noticed a larger wyvernling on a chain, apparently
the lead goblin's pet or mascot.
They approached openly, despite some half murmured cautions,
and were sighted by the goblin leader who immediately ordered
his followers to attack, as well as releasing his pet. Despite
this, a quick volley of missiles, produced two superior hits on
the goblin leader who promptly fell. As well, Mitchifer struck
and killed one of the charging goblins, who immediately attempted
to break off battle. This allowed the entire group to concentrate
on the large wyvernling which quickly fell to their efforts, though
again Niles was poisoned.
Looking around, the group found three wyvernlings in the cage
and dispatched them to prevent them doing any harm to the Vale.
Looking through the belongings of the dead goblin leader, they
discovered evidence he was a shaman, as well as a map of some
place further along the trail into the mountains. As well, they
found a satchel containing two elixirs like the one Murri had
produced earlier, as well as two scrolls that would protect one
individual from poison for a short time. Taking counsel, they
decided that as the wyvernlings poison in Niles seemed likely
to pass in a very short time, they would wait until he healed
and then head out. The two scrolls would serve to protect half
the party, while the two elixirs would serve for the other two
for whatever might await them at the place indicated on the map.
The poisoning indeed faded after a nights rest, and they headed
out with the dawn. A half day's journey this time led to a rockfall,
at the top of which, a large red stone glinted in the sunlight.
Watching, they saw the ghostly form of a wyvernling take shape
within it. Watching, they decided to attempt missile fire to interfere
with this process. While they missed the stone, they did succeed
in flushing a true wyvern from it's lair in a cave up from the
rockslide. Pharos and Mitchifer quickly read the scrolls while
Niles and Peregrine fired at the approaching beast, scoring hits
but not stopping it. It charged Peregrine but missed. Mitchifer
and Pharos then joined the melee against it, while Niles continued
to ply his bow, now against the wyvernling that had formed from
the Eye. A hit by Pharos diverted the attention of the wyvern,
which almost slew him with a bite and its stinger, despite the
poison being ineffective. Only quick action from Mitchifer kept
him alive by way of healing spells. Unfortunately, this left Peregrine
to attack the beast alone, and while he injured it severely, two
bites from it brought him to the brink of death. Its tail then
delivered the final blow, slaying the noble warrior. His heroism
was enough that one more thrust from Pharos put it down, Niles
having finished off the wyvernling before.
Afterwards, they recovered the Eye of the Wyvern which seemed
to have been exposed by a recent rockfall. As well, the cave proved
to be some lost storeroom of Alaxus, as within were chests packed
with coins bearing his minotaur head symbol.
Gathering up Peregrine, they returned here.
Patriarch Garvin is obviously devastated by the death of his
great-nephew, but he is concealing because of the obvious threat
to the Vale we now face.
I am not sure what we will do.
I dreamed of the women again.
They were being held in cells under the ground. From time to
time, gnolls or bugbears would come to drag one away screaming.
Something struck me as odd about this series of dreams that
I finally placed. No minotaurs. It makes me wonder. I had been
shown the source of the Wyverns Alaxus used, will I now be shown
the source of the minotaurs? And what is horrifying about it that
I am being tormented by seeing it revealed slowly?
We buried Peregrine in a simple ceremony in the Churchyard.
The Blade of Runes has been placed in a secure storage until
someone can be chosen to wield it.
I am afraid.
I dreamed again. Another warning from Berei it would seem.
Another prophecy.
'...from the times of antiquity, the lair of the Exiled One
shall be found within the circle, and in his lair, the miasma
of the Other does pool. It's servants lie within, serving their
hideous lords, brought into the lands of the living by one who
is no more. In the days to come, the bonds holding them within
the lair, and they shall slowly creep forth into the lands of
men, causing death and corruption...'
Word arrived that one of the stones of Cahervaniel had fallen,
and a shepherd named Kurt had disappeared within. this is the
only circle in the Vale that I or Garvin can think of. We shall
send for Pharos tomorrow.
I am so tired.
We talked with Pharos, and he agreed immediately to investigate
the fallen stone at Cahervaniel. We also revealed my dreams and
the prophecies I’ve recieved have been given to him. He still
did not hesitate.
Mitchifer and Niles will accompany him again. His kin Sunblayze
has returned from a trip and will go with him also, likewise Thordar,
Falgur's kinsdwur. Finally, the Flan Darkblade will replace Peregrine.
An exceptionally ominous choice I fear.
They gathered their equipment and left with little fanfare.
I noticed Pharos had some new equipment. He was finally wearing
the plate mail they had recovered from the Tomb of Alaxus. He
has a split minotaurs skull enameled on the breastplate. As well,
two mighty rubies set in the wyvern's skull now graced his helm.
With my own sanity so fragile I dare not question his, yet...
That night I learned where the minotaurs of Alaxus came from.
It is calling the Breeding Yoke. A woman was dragged in and secured
within, then a bull led in by cackling gnolls. I can't say more
on that.
I then saw a cow braced within and a minotaur brought forward.
Later, the centaur-like abominations called manotaurs by some
appeared in the forces of Alaxus I saw arrayed throughout the
dream visions.
What was Alaxus? What madness led him to embrace such abominations
and perversions of nature? And what unholy force gave him these
things, this Eye of the Wyvern and Yoke of Breeding?
And now I must wait for the news of Pharos and his party.
They are back. two days late, and one member short.
Passing down into the hole exposed by the fallen dolmen, they
found ancient stairs leading down. Thordar declared the place
older than anything he have ever heard tell of. A thick blue mist
greeted them at the bottom of the stairs. Wending their way through
it, Pharos proceeded to fall into a pit, being slightly wounded
by his encounter. As they sought to pull him out, something pushed
Thordar in after him. The others turned and found themselves facing
an abomination. Part arachnid, part human, it wore armor of hardened
webs and bore a dagger later shown to be a tooth of some great
wyrm. Fortunately, despite its horrific appearance, to proved
unable to stand up to the blades of the party. They continued
about the chamber, finding three doors, and two more pits, one
of which contained the unfortunate shepherd Kurt. Later, they
brought his body out and restored it to his grieving family. They
also discovered a sculpture of a dragon about one of the doors,
the smoke issuing forth from its nostrils. They stoppered it up
and managed to clear the room of its pervasive mists.
Investigating one door showed thick webs beyond. They proved
oddly impervious to fire, so they abandoned hat passage for the
moment to check the others. A second door lead to a waiting room
and armory, which despite the obvious passage of time contained
a few still intact weapons. Each of these weapons bore the imprint
of a skull on hilt or shaft. As well, they found ancient coins
with he skull and infinity motif.
Another door led to hallway, and the party headed out to investigate.
Down one way, a chamber still held some plaster from ancient times,
said plaster showing a painting of a grinning skull biting infinity.
A comparison with the weapons found showed those too bore tiny
symbols clenched between the teeth of the skulls found upon them.
A clue, but to what?
Empty chambers filled with little more than dust alternated
with rooms containing oddly glowing webs of a luminescent green.
Finally, two statues of unicorns were found. One was missing both
horn and front leg, the other intact. A twist of the horn one
way gave forth a viscous mist and the first delay, as the whole
party save Niles fell into nightmare haunted sleep. The dauntless
hobniz managed to drag them into a nearby chamber and spike the
door shut then keep a sleepless watch for a full day until they
awoke from their enchanted rest. they all reported sharing the
same nightmare - a unicorn confronting a sculpture of the infinity
consuming skull, a burst of power and unnatural screams, and the
unicorn stricken by bizarre beasts before falling to a blast of
unholy energy striking its horn.
As the party paused here, we also paused to allow us all a
break from this tale of horror.
Mustering themselves after their nightmarish interlude, they
returned to the unicorn, determined to gain something from it.
A twist in the opposite direction revealed a secret door this
time, a last pit trap before a door, and within, a wine storage
and three intact casks containing a magnificent vintage. They
took this with them and continued.
More empty rooms and a corridor, they turned back and found
a room with inhabitants. Freakish creatures, neither bird nor
insect. Despite there being a dozen of them, and their webs entangling
both Darkblade and Mitchifer, the party slew them with little
damage and found an ancient scroll before continuing.
Another door leading to a connecting chamber, through a door
within they found a room past a room with two bizarre birdlike
creatures. Feathered yet flightless, they attacked viscously to
protect what proved to be a nest. They were not much threat, but
at the same time, two persons, later proved to be olve bounty
hunters attacked from the rear. They had poisoned darts fired
from had held crossbows which felled Sunblayze. this forced the
party to split to face both threats. As a result, Darkblade was
severely injured, and only saved by quick action from Mitchifer.
Heading through the only other exit resulted in Pharos plunging
into another pit, where he appears to have found four enchanted
arrows for his trouble. This proved fortunate later on. Three
empty rooms lay beyond, as well as a spiraling stair down. But
also, a wraithlike spider that proved resistant to normal weapons.
Still, the group had enough to enable them to defeat it with no
damage. Later, they would find and slay two others like it, though
still not suffering much in the process.
Down another corridor, they discovered some ancient caryatids
whose worn surfaces gave hints of tentacles instead of hair, as
well as a chamber with odd runes that we are sending to Mathghamnha
to be translated. Indeed, several other runic inscriptions were
found, and all sent on to be translated by one of the sage-wizards
therein. They had a choice then, between an earthen floored chamber
with a ceiling barely high enough for Niles or a door to an unknown
room. A faint glow in the earth floored chamber chose that to
be investigated first, the glow proving to come from a harp. Pharos
took it, only to find it was attached to a zombie that nearly
tore his throat out. Fortunately, his skill with a spear is becoming
so great he was victorious despite the cramped conditions.
With harp in hand, the group headed for the door, only to find
another dirt floored chamber that promptly teleported them to
an isolated room containing only a skull. here they learned of
the power of the harp Euphonious. It enabled the dead to speak
through its strings. Forthwith, the skull challenged them to a
test of wits or might to prove their right to leave the place
alive. Choosing might, the party fought and defeated four more
zombies, receiving for their trouble a bag with some minor treasures.
A little more exploring revealed another stair down. Not wishing
to head down just yet, they returned to the dragon door. It proved
impervious to tampering, producing an acidic mist that blew out
the cloth stoppers they had used to prevent the blue mists from
taking over the entry chamber. deciding to look elsewhere, they
chose the webbed passages above the stairs, and as they cut their
way through, two more man-like spiders creatures waited to attack
them. The magic arrows Pharos discovered earlier enabled Darkblade
to slay them both immediately before they could issue a warning
cry for help. Exploring the now revealed passage, they went ahead,
discovering what seemed to be a wrecked magical laboratory. Thordar
found a shifting wall hiding a secret door, and within, Pharos
found another pit, and Niles opened an iron chest containing some
potions and other magic materials. Down another way available
past the webs, they discovered a barracks with a full decade of
the vile abominations. Fortunately, they were able to put them
to the sword with no great effort, the leader being taken prisoner.
The leader upon questioning proved totally hostile, a spell
was used to determine his totally corrupt and Evil nature. The
decision was made to slay him then and there to prevent him from
escaping and warning others of his kind that might lurk, or worse,
him escaping outside to threaten nearby communities. A second
room held a higher leader of these creatures, with pet spiders
that obeyed it. This one was an exceptional fighter, bringing
both Darkblade and Pharos to unconsciousness before being slain.
Healing spells were used, and the group pressed on to the last
room in the area despite their injuries, hoping it would not present
too great a threat. It didn't, holding four weaker specimens of
the freakish creatures that tried fighting and died, and a score
more that simply cowered. Not being able to bring themselves to
slay creatures that had never offered them harm, the decision
was made to seal them in with iron spikes under the door until
the party left the area. A merciful decision that was carried
out before the party retired victorious a few days later. At that
point however, another day of rest was mandated, and another break
for us was as well.
Rested and restored, the group sallied forth again, taking
the spiraling stair down. This led to some natural caves below
the earth. A short exploration found an underground pond with
an island in its center and a skiff waiting to take the group
to it. On the island, they discovered a being claiming to be a
noniz, though unlike any that anyone had every seen before. Paler,
nearly hairless, and speaking a dialect nearly impossible to understand,
the group was still able to learn that he was called Clinker,
and was a bounty hunter looking to claim a bounty that some group
had placed on the spider abominations. He had been captured and
placed on the island pending a decision as to his fate, likely
death, and he was glad to offer to assist the party in return
for his rescue. He told them of the large community web they had
nearby, as well as a drop off leading somewhere else that seemed
to be important but was avoided by nearly all of them. Heading
there, a lone spider-thing was discovered that spoke our tongue.
it claimed its leader Callum had gone below, and none were to
follow. Pharos forthrightly asked about a key to the dragon door
above, and was told simply it would not be yielded peacefully.
And so, they took it violently.
Back upstairs, the door opened to the key, an archway led to
a chamber holding a freezing sphere set in an iron tripod. Thordar
went to it, and revealed the trap likely cautioned of in the runic
warning the party could not translate as a scything blade went
over his head. Seeing this, the rest entered on their hands and
knees safely. Determined to free the sphere, they pulled and pried
it loose from the iron grip, but not before receiving a message
from inadvertent contact with it. The message, a name. Pyorrhea.
Upon liberating the sphere, a creature that sounds identical to
descriptions of certain elementals connected to cold and ice appeared,
and issued a simple warning to flee the place before the party
lost their souls before itself leaving the place through some
inherent power.
They did not, returning to the now unguarded door below and
speaking the name "Pyorrhea" to it. It opened, and they
passed into a nightmare.
The room beyond the passage the door opened into contained
three savage reptiles, larger than men and equipped with viscous
claws and a savage bite. The party was able to defeat them though
with great effort. Three exits led from the room, each with a
pit that Pharos fell into [[ed. note: one would think they’d
learn to check for pits before doors by now]]. One led to
a flooded chamber they would brave last of all. A second, to a
chamber containing a number of ambulatory polyps that proceeded
to attack the group wholesale. At the time, it seemed they were
all slain. Since the return of the group to Haven it seems a number
hid themselves in bags and packs instead. It seems certain that
one or more have escaped and will now plague the countryside.
A chamber beyond this one showed an arch to yet another. A
trapped arch that collapsed a stone upon Pharos. Inside, they
found a butchers shop with meat smoking over a fire. Past this,
a converted room serving as a bedchamber for a viscous subterranean
humanoid Clinker later called a meazel. This meazel nearly garroted
poor Clinker, but quick action by the others resulted in its death
at their hands. A last door in this room led to a large iron portal
with three skulls and a button below them. The button, when pushed,
lit the eyes of the middle skull. More was needed.
Out the third way, an earth floored chamber held ghouls which
attacked but were swiftly turned by Mitchifer. The ghouls retreated
into the earth and the party headed on out the opposite door.
Twisting corridors revealed an ancient work chamber, with four
shards of stone and three piles of dust from the last project
ever undertaken therein. Beyond this, more passages led to a long
corridor with two urns. Each urn when overturned proved to hold
undead spirits of some power which promptly attacked the party.
through luck, they slew them without loss and discovered each
urn also held an enchanted ring. At the end of the corridor, a
door leading to a chamber with a second iron door and skulls above
a button. This time the left most skull lit up.
They turned back, ready to deal with the flooded passage, but
stepped to check out one other area they had bypassed. It seemed
to have been a prison once, but now held a family of the reptiles
that had attacked the group when they entered. Thordar fell to
them. Worse, one picked up his body and tossed to another room.
Despite wanting to do something, the battle was too fierce. Indeed,
Clinker nearly joined him before the last of the four beasts was
slain. In the other room, a dozen hatchlings were found. They
had been feasting on the body of Thordar that their parent had
tossed to them. They were slain, but it was too late. A second
had fallen.
The night was spent nearby prior to a final assault on the
place.
We had to take some time recalling the fall of Thordar for
his uncle Falgur. At the end, he seemed content that his nephew
died as a warrior. Further, Pharos' heartfelt offer to spend any
money to try and have him brought back impressed the stolid smith
greatly, despite it having to be rejected. Thordar was gone, and
nothing could change that.
Two doors led from the ghoul room that had not been explored
the day before. The group decided to check them out just in case.
A set of unicorn statues, glowing with some odd light let loose
a weird strobing effect in the chamber beyond and the stairway
down from it. Halfway down the stair, amidst the lights, a creature
appeared. Seeming to change from unicorn to centaur with each
flash of light, it attacked the party, doing minor damage before
being slain. Beyond a statue on the landing where it was fought,
a door to a hidden chamber was found. Inside that chamber, a small
figurine of a unicorn, impregnated with some foul black rhizomes
was found in a niche. They took it with them. More on it later.
At the bottom of the stairs, a blasted chamber was found with
a skeleton in one corner. They used Euphonious to speak with it.
What it told them is unthinkable. And yet... [[ed. note: this
seems to refer to the Fragment entitled “Pyorrhea’s
Lament”]]. I have recorded that after the finish of the
story of this quest, as it requires separate and special consideration.
Going to the flooded passages, the group paused to leave behind
equipment that would be vulnerable to the waters then headed in.
This nearly proved fatal, as five amphibious humanoids with frog
like features attacked them with disease ridden claws. A hard
fight that nearly used all the healing spells of Mitchifer ensued,
but they were slain, and a passage beyond was sought.
A chamber lay ahead, filled with rotting bodies of the reptiles
fought the day before, as well as two doors. the one chosen led
up to a last iron door with skulls and button. they pushed it,
the last skull lit, and the door was unlocked.
They raced back to their shed equipment, rearmed, and headed
into the last chamber through the meazel's lair. Inside, they
found a great stone, carved in the shape of the skull biting infinity.
As well, the spider creature calling itself Callum was there,
armed with a blade of ice. It spoke to the party, asking them
to join the service of the Master of the Stone, obviously itself,
and live.
They refused.
The creature turned into a hideous spider-centaur and attacked.
It suffered massive damage and returned massive damage nearly
slaying Darkblade, Mitchifer and Clinker, before being struck
down. However, some unnatural power sustained it even then, causing
its pieces to regenerate. Finally, Pharos thought to cover the
stone skull, and some quick effort did so, whereupon a palpable
force left the place, and the body stopped trying to regenerate
and swiftly decayed. The creature’s sword was taken, as was
some minor loot uncovered while digging to bury the skull, and
the party gathered up the body of Thordar and headed home.
I will save my comments on the whole matter for another time.
Note: Bissel, CthulhuHawk, Thunder Vale