|
The
Chronicle of The
Righteous Fist (As set out by Sememach Telmantio, Sage of The Eastern Heartlands) |
Chapter Four
The
continuing discourse is taken from Killian's personal journal.
Just over a tenday has passed
and we have accepted an important undertaking. Randall Morn, rightful leige of
these parts, has disappeared while on a quest to recover the Sword of the
Dales. Forever will men's greed lead to folly.
This sword was created by the
weaponsmith Shraevyn. The mission was granted by Lhaeo, scribe to the archmage
Elminster, who had sketchy information at best.. The sword can part chains and
manacles when the word "Merrydale" is used and also grants the
wielder the ability to breathe liquids. Morn was attacked and brought down by
undead after slaying a Zhent patrol. He is believed to be alive. The hunt is
on.
The trip to the Tomb of Shraevyn
was eventful, with kobolds and skeletons attacking us en-route. Braenard once
again got up to mischief, attempting a feeble joke that he had forgotten the
previous day. He later swore that he had been attacked while rescuing the
halfling Bonzo, which resulted in the memory loss, though it is hard to
understand why he should pursue such a charade.
We shared camp with the Freedom
Riders of Daggerdale that night, along with our new but diminutive ally Bonzo.
Their captain was helpful.
Strange birdlike creatures
attacked us but, by the grace of the Watcher, we prevailed. Our reward was
magical defense and a ring of strange power.
The entrance to the tomb was
befouled by more Zhents, the warriors were soon despatched but the mages
accompanying them evaded our blades and eluded our wrath. Next time!
Shraevyn was indeed cunning and
traps abound. Fantastic decorations line the entry hall to the tomb. A secret
wall released some kind of gas and strange spiders were found in the room
beyond, however we gained some items of potential use after the arachnids were
overcome.
The main chamber presented a
curious and almost fatal puzzle. Pots abound in alcoves, a pattern in the floor
looks like it may prove to be the key to open the door to the rest of the tomb.
Several attempts have so far failed to produce results but further fell action
for the thick skulled fighter and serious injury to the rest of us. We must
needs rest or we will not survive another encounter.
After much needed recuperation,
the bards think they may have a solution to the puzzle. Our priority must be to
retrieve the sword and Morn. I think he lies within, but the Zhents may have
hastened his demise.
Nyota takes up the tale.
We passed several days in the
secret study within the Tomb of Shraevyn, with all but Rufus barely conscious from
our misadventure with the puzzle lock. Others have visited the tomb and our
horses lay slaughtered, Zhents again we think. Rufus kept us hidden and safe
throughout.
Finally we found the solution to
the puzzle, thanks to the sharp intelligence of Cethorlyn and we moved through
the door at last. Beyond we found a statue of a fine female warrior with a
medallion inscribed thus:
"Turn right or left,
front or back.
The is no saving you from your own stare,
whether gold be stacked by bar or sack
There is seldom enough room to snare."
Following a corridor to the
north revealed a body at a door and the room beyond ransacked. An inscribed
medal was found.
To the south is the tomb, where
we were attacked by evil undead, fortunately Braenard struck them down with the
power of his holy words.
At last we discovered the Sword
of the Dales and a clue pointing to Randall within Spiderhaunt wood: "Seek
me in Spiderhaunt. The survival of Daggerdale depends on the return of this
blade to my hand. Send word to my sister, Silver Morn, of whatever should
befall me. RM"
A brief argument followed about
whether to destroy the remaining skeletons, as Braenard insists, or whether to
leave them in deference to respect for the tomb and the urgency of our mission.
Finally we leave, replacing the
puzzles and closing the doors, offering protection from those Zhentish dogs.
The road to Spiderhaunt passed
several days, but without misfortune. At the junction of the Tethyamar trail
and Northride we inspected a shrine, which was strangely warm and refreshing
inside - a good shelter for travellers in need. We cannot dally however, we
must press on to Shadowdale. During our overnight rest we all received vivid
dreams.
"Wind whips the misty
white vapours swirling around our bodies. We see black feathers covering our
arms and we realise we are flying high above the earth. Then we drop through
the clouds and dive into the forest below.
The trees seem close and
oppressive and a narrow trail winds its way beneath hanging, web-filled
branches. Numerous points of crimson light stare from beneath the leaves of
trees. In the distance the trail widens into a large clearing that contains the
ruins of a large stone tower. Before our winged form takes us closer to it we
hear a voice cry out into the night, "Help me," the ghostly voice wails
from within the woods, "lest your own soul be lost among the pathways of
unworthiness"
At the end of the dream each of
us is jarred awake, in a cold sweat.
Tired, we reach the edge of
Spiderhaunt woods, Dense, Dark, Forbidding. Eyes, watching, waiting, all
around.
Rufus struck out, his blade
clearing our path until we find a track, the going gets easier. Suddenly we
came upon a clearing and soldiers, our Zhentish enemy with their two tame
wizards. As we jump into action we are assaulted from above by flying beasts,
poor Shere Khan receiving vicious claw slashes, though Killian seems safe in
the sunlight. Though a magic missile assault severely threatens Rufus, he
slashes his way through the soldiers. We kill the wizards and search their
bodies - they carry much magic but lamentably not their spell books.
Fortune smiles on us as we
discover the horses and within the saddle bags two spell books. We split up our
booty - a wand for Ceth, a stave for Braenard and magical daggers for me.
As we press on through the woods
our way became blocked by thick spider webs. The horse we sent forward cleared
a path for us, but was captured by the spiders. As we carefully continued we
could discern a voice, Rufus' investigations revealed a gnome catching spiders
in a trap. He welcomed us and led us on to his village. The village elder was
surprisingly knowledgeable about our dreams and invited us to remain overnight
to try to solve the puzzle. Tha night we were attacked by an undead band,
presumably formed from those humans we had fought the previous day. Our
overnight dreams told us of more suffering being endured by the prisoner - we
must hurry we thought.
Madden guided us to the tower of
our dreams, deep in the woods - cautiously we entered.
As we passed the outer portal a
skeleton carved in the stonework came to life - we turned to put it out of its
torment only to find that it was more interested in engaging the Zhents who had
suddenly appeared behind us. We hurried in side along a finely painted hallway.
At the end there is much decay, passages blocked by rubble. As we passed
through a broken secret door Killian fell through a hole. The Zhents began to
press us again but further skeletons move to our aid. Killian called up and
beckoned us to follow him, we are a little more circumspect in our descent. We
find ourselves caged, but with an open door. Beyond the cage is rubble and, in
the corner is a hunched figure in an eerie circle of verdant light. As we step
closer an apparition appears - the spirit of the Sword of the Dales it seems.
To free Morn she directs us to touch each of the skulls in the room beyond,
reciting a brief mantra. As we comply many of the party succumb to a possession
by the spirits within., only Rufus and Braenard are unaffected. Braenard rushes
to touch all the skulls, succeeding then moving on to destroying each skull.
Tragically Shere Khan and Killian never returned from the enchantment which
trapped them in the skulls, their souls lost forever. We can only hope that
they have found their way to be with their gods in the afterlife. Their
possessed bodies continued to fight anyone who approached them, the Zhents who
finally entered the room falling easily to their physical skill. With no more
Zhent to engage the two soulless bodies turned on Rufus, leaving him with no
choice but to defend himself in the most deadly manner. As their bodies finally
succumb, a wizard appeared. His attempt to relieve us of the Sword failed, but
he was able to snatch Randall Morn.
We are heartbroken, defeated,
traumatised and ridden with guilt. Silently, we strip Killian and Shere Khan of
their valuables. Shere Khan we buried where she fell. Rufus carried Killian to
Shadowdale. Madden met us outside the tower and showed us a short cut through
the woods, we soon arrived back at Shadowdale. Rufus buried Killian at their
shrine to Helm.