Greenfield
Adventurer
This adventure picks up right at the end of the Valley of the Sun scenario, and was DM'd by the intrepid Mr. A., who plays Euphemia.
*******
The companions rose to their feet after the glory of the sun god's presence had faded from the room. Marcus was rubbing his eyes a bit, for having looked directly at the sun god he was still a bit dazzled.
"Well, he said we should head out on the south road.", Sylus declared after a long moment's silence. In the aftermath of meeting a deity, the rest of the world's affairs seemed inconsequential, so it took them all a few moments to process everything that had happened.
Slowly they gathered their things and headed out of the temple.
"We should probably spend the night here in the valley before we...". Whatever Sylus was saying trailed off as they emerged from the building. The sun was just clearing the eastern edge of the valley. No matter that they had arrived at noon and spent hours facing the challenges of the temple, it was now just past dawn.
"Of course.", Marcus laughed. "Apollo always arrives at sunrise. Check yourselves. I'll bet your bruises are gone, and your magics refreshed. It's a new day."
"Was that all a dream?", Euphemia asked.
"Well, it seemed real to me.", laughed Penn. "I mean, dreams fade, and I'll never forget him telling me how I'll die."
"I don't remember that.", Cassius said. "But I wonder if what he said about my family is true."
"Your family? He never said anything about your family. He was talking about..."
"It was real.", Imagina declared, holding out her book. The page she presented held a spell, burned into the vellum with the fire of the sun. "I think he gave each of us a vision, or a private prophecy. The future of the world might still be in question, but he can still make personal predictions."
"You don't seem upset, Penn.", Euphemia observed. "I mean, if someone told me how I'm going to die, I wouldn't be laughing."
"Well, it wasn't much, as prophecy's go. Imagina asked something about how long half-Fey like me live, and I joked that it didn't matter, I'd probably be killed by a jealous husband. Apollo corrected me, and said it would be a jealous boyfriend."
"Well, it hardly takes a prophet to see that coming.", Nedel agreed. "Still, we'd best be moving. We're due back in Rome, and we have a long walk ahead of us."
***
The southern route out of the valley resembled a goat path more than any kind of Roman road. It threaded its way through the narrow pass, then hugged a cliff face that only a mountain goat could call home.
"Well, it's okay if you don't look down.", Marcus declared, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on the trail before him.
"Oh lighten up.", Euphemia teased. "You could trundle a cart up and down this trail. The sun is shining and it's wide enough to dance on."
"Well, keep your dancing to a minimum.", Sylus advised, looking at the snow pack above them. "It doesn't take all that much to shake this stuff loose."
"Hey, you're right, the sun is shining. I guess Apollo was right when he said the curse was done."
"It's only shining for a few miles around the valley.", Nedel cautioned, indicating the relatively tight circle of clear sky. "We've scored a small victory, but it will take a lot more, and a lot more time before that reaches the rest of the world."
"Eyes on the trail!", Marcus cautioned once more. "We can enjoy the stars tonight, when we're off the mountain."
Still, Euphemia's enthusiasm was infectious, and they did find a spring in their step as the headed down the cliff face. At least for a while...
***
"Our pursuers are back.", Euphemia warned the group. "I spotted them a little while ago, and then again just now. Half a dozen, heavily armed and very unhappy."
"How far back?"
"One or two cuts of the trail. They're on foot now, so I guess the bridge collapse was a good thing, in a way. Still, this isn't a good place for a fight."
"Maybe there's a way to block the trail, slow them down.", Cassius suggested. "Or maybe an ambush."
"No place to hide on this trail, but I'm sure I could do something with that boulder over there."
"An obstacle, or a deadfall?", Penn asked. Then he saw the devilish look in Euphemia's eye, and wished he hadn't.
"You guys keep moving.", she said as she appraised the stone outcropping in question. "I'll catch up."
"I'm here with you.", Sylus countered in a tone that brooked no argument.
Penn's travel song could be heard starting up as they began their work.
***
The group had been moving for another fifteen minutes or so when Sylus and Euphemia came running down the trail, waving them forward as they came.
"Hurry up, get moving. They're almost to it.", the little Rogue cried, glancing up to the trail above them. "We don't want to be on this side, in case it carries over."
"They might see it, you know.", Cassius warned. "Don't count your chickens just yet."
A scream and a rumble above them put his warning to rest. A body and a boulder crashed into the trail just behind them, then bounded further down the cliff face. But the rumbling didn't stop.
"Run!", Sylus cried. "I told you to be careful!"
And they ran. From above them came a sound so deep it was felt more than heard, and the entire frozen face of the mountain began to slide.
They fled as fast as their feet could carry them, down two more turns of the trail, then out across the flat expanse below. Ahead they could see a walled town. They didn't dare look behind.
The ground was moving, slapping at their feet and threatening to send them sprawling, and each breath came as a frosty gasp down an ice-seared throat, and they kept running. To stop was to die.
Ahead they could see the heavy town gates had been closed all but a crack, and two men in heavy dark robes stood outside, their hands weaving in a synchronized dance of magical gestures. None in the group wasted a thought trying to identify the spell, they just gave thanks that they were holding the gate open, instead of casting from the safety of the wall.
They stumbled past the waiting priests and staggered to a gasping halt as the gates were closed behind them.
"You were lucky.", the first of the men said, signaling for assistance. Men came out with warm blankets, and quickly bundled the companions into the waiting chapel.
"We get avalanches like that a couple of times a season, but it's rare to have anyone race in ahead of it."
"True.", agreed the second Cleric. "Few people travel that trail in the winter, and if they do we usually find their remains sometime after the spring thaw."
"Well, we appreciate the welcome.", said Cassius, careful to stomp the snow from his boots before stepping any further into the holy place.
"We are of the Order of the Winged Sandal", the first one said as he doffed his outer wrappings. "My name is Hector, and I'm the head priest here. This is my assistant, Arturios, and as any travelers, you're most welcome here."
He tilted his head, eying the heavy sword Cassius carried across his back, and the general martial bearing of the group, then spoke again. "You've arrived just in time for the midwinter feast. The first of three days, to celebrate the return of the sun. You're welcome to join us, of course, but you'd probably be more comfortable without all those weapons. We can keep them safe for you here, at least until you make some other arrangements."
Marcus coughed and choked himself into a near hysterical fit of laughter as the whole situation became clear. Hector looked at him oddly, but helped him to a bench before his convulsions sent him sprawling. "What's wrong, my son?", he asked.
Marcus' face was contorted with mirth as he waved away the man's obvious concern. Finally, regaining some control, he removed some of his own outer garb and revealed the lightning bolt that marked his own order.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't laughing at you. Just the comedy and tragedy of the gods.", he explained, still struggling for breath. "I'm Marcus, of the Jovian order, and these are my companions. We've just finished a pilgrimage, I suppose you could call it. We were tasked with a mission to the Valley of the Sun, and told that it had to be completed before the night of the new moon. I'd forgotten that, this cycle, that coincided with the Solstice, and the midwinter feast."
"And the return of the sun.", Penn finished for him in slight awe. "Of course, it makes sense now."
Hector looked confused, but smiled none the less. "I'm glad you were in time then, and I'm sure it is a good sign that the sun has in fact returned, if only a bit. But here, let's get those heavy packs put away, and I'm sure you'll have a tale worth hearing."
"Runner", Penn said, using the proper title for the Mercurian priest, "A good tale is the least I owe you. Let me buy you a drink to go with it, and all will be revealed."
*******
The companions rose to their feet after the glory of the sun god's presence had faded from the room. Marcus was rubbing his eyes a bit, for having looked directly at the sun god he was still a bit dazzled.
"Well, he said we should head out on the south road.", Sylus declared after a long moment's silence. In the aftermath of meeting a deity, the rest of the world's affairs seemed inconsequential, so it took them all a few moments to process everything that had happened.
Slowly they gathered their things and headed out of the temple.
"We should probably spend the night here in the valley before we...". Whatever Sylus was saying trailed off as they emerged from the building. The sun was just clearing the eastern edge of the valley. No matter that they had arrived at noon and spent hours facing the challenges of the temple, it was now just past dawn.
"Of course.", Marcus laughed. "Apollo always arrives at sunrise. Check yourselves. I'll bet your bruises are gone, and your magics refreshed. It's a new day."
"Was that all a dream?", Euphemia asked.
"Well, it seemed real to me.", laughed Penn. "I mean, dreams fade, and I'll never forget him telling me how I'll die."
"I don't remember that.", Cassius said. "But I wonder if what he said about my family is true."
"Your family? He never said anything about your family. He was talking about..."
"It was real.", Imagina declared, holding out her book. The page she presented held a spell, burned into the vellum with the fire of the sun. "I think he gave each of us a vision, or a private prophecy. The future of the world might still be in question, but he can still make personal predictions."
"You don't seem upset, Penn.", Euphemia observed. "I mean, if someone told me how I'm going to die, I wouldn't be laughing."
"Well, it wasn't much, as prophecy's go. Imagina asked something about how long half-Fey like me live, and I joked that it didn't matter, I'd probably be killed by a jealous husband. Apollo corrected me, and said it would be a jealous boyfriend."
"Well, it hardly takes a prophet to see that coming.", Nedel agreed. "Still, we'd best be moving. We're due back in Rome, and we have a long walk ahead of us."
***
The southern route out of the valley resembled a goat path more than any kind of Roman road. It threaded its way through the narrow pass, then hugged a cliff face that only a mountain goat could call home.
"Well, it's okay if you don't look down.", Marcus declared, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on the trail before him.
"Oh lighten up.", Euphemia teased. "You could trundle a cart up and down this trail. The sun is shining and it's wide enough to dance on."
"Well, keep your dancing to a minimum.", Sylus advised, looking at the snow pack above them. "It doesn't take all that much to shake this stuff loose."
"Hey, you're right, the sun is shining. I guess Apollo was right when he said the curse was done."
"It's only shining for a few miles around the valley.", Nedel cautioned, indicating the relatively tight circle of clear sky. "We've scored a small victory, but it will take a lot more, and a lot more time before that reaches the rest of the world."
"Eyes on the trail!", Marcus cautioned once more. "We can enjoy the stars tonight, when we're off the mountain."
Still, Euphemia's enthusiasm was infectious, and they did find a spring in their step as the headed down the cliff face. At least for a while...
***
"Our pursuers are back.", Euphemia warned the group. "I spotted them a little while ago, and then again just now. Half a dozen, heavily armed and very unhappy."
"How far back?"
"One or two cuts of the trail. They're on foot now, so I guess the bridge collapse was a good thing, in a way. Still, this isn't a good place for a fight."
"Maybe there's a way to block the trail, slow them down.", Cassius suggested. "Or maybe an ambush."
"No place to hide on this trail, but I'm sure I could do something with that boulder over there."
"An obstacle, or a deadfall?", Penn asked. Then he saw the devilish look in Euphemia's eye, and wished he hadn't.
"You guys keep moving.", she said as she appraised the stone outcropping in question. "I'll catch up."
"I'm here with you.", Sylus countered in a tone that brooked no argument.
Penn's travel song could be heard starting up as they began their work.
***
The group had been moving for another fifteen minutes or so when Sylus and Euphemia came running down the trail, waving them forward as they came.
"Hurry up, get moving. They're almost to it.", the little Rogue cried, glancing up to the trail above them. "We don't want to be on this side, in case it carries over."
"They might see it, you know.", Cassius warned. "Don't count your chickens just yet."
A scream and a rumble above them put his warning to rest. A body and a boulder crashed into the trail just behind them, then bounded further down the cliff face. But the rumbling didn't stop.
"Run!", Sylus cried. "I told you to be careful!"
And they ran. From above them came a sound so deep it was felt more than heard, and the entire frozen face of the mountain began to slide.
They fled as fast as their feet could carry them, down two more turns of the trail, then out across the flat expanse below. Ahead they could see a walled town. They didn't dare look behind.
The ground was moving, slapping at their feet and threatening to send them sprawling, and each breath came as a frosty gasp down an ice-seared throat, and they kept running. To stop was to die.
Ahead they could see the heavy town gates had been closed all but a crack, and two men in heavy dark robes stood outside, their hands weaving in a synchronized dance of magical gestures. None in the group wasted a thought trying to identify the spell, they just gave thanks that they were holding the gate open, instead of casting from the safety of the wall.
They stumbled past the waiting priests and staggered to a gasping halt as the gates were closed behind them.
"You were lucky.", the first of the men said, signaling for assistance. Men came out with warm blankets, and quickly bundled the companions into the waiting chapel.
"We get avalanches like that a couple of times a season, but it's rare to have anyone race in ahead of it."
"True.", agreed the second Cleric. "Few people travel that trail in the winter, and if they do we usually find their remains sometime after the spring thaw."
"Well, we appreciate the welcome.", said Cassius, careful to stomp the snow from his boots before stepping any further into the holy place.
"We are of the Order of the Winged Sandal", the first one said as he doffed his outer wrappings. "My name is Hector, and I'm the head priest here. This is my assistant, Arturios, and as any travelers, you're most welcome here."
He tilted his head, eying the heavy sword Cassius carried across his back, and the general martial bearing of the group, then spoke again. "You've arrived just in time for the midwinter feast. The first of three days, to celebrate the return of the sun. You're welcome to join us, of course, but you'd probably be more comfortable without all those weapons. We can keep them safe for you here, at least until you make some other arrangements."
Marcus coughed and choked himself into a near hysterical fit of laughter as the whole situation became clear. Hector looked at him oddly, but helped him to a bench before his convulsions sent him sprawling. "What's wrong, my son?", he asked.
Marcus' face was contorted with mirth as he waved away the man's obvious concern. Finally, regaining some control, he removed some of his own outer garb and revealed the lightning bolt that marked his own order.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't laughing at you. Just the comedy and tragedy of the gods.", he explained, still struggling for breath. "I'm Marcus, of the Jovian order, and these are my companions. We've just finished a pilgrimage, I suppose you could call it. We were tasked with a mission to the Valley of the Sun, and told that it had to be completed before the night of the new moon. I'd forgotten that, this cycle, that coincided with the Solstice, and the midwinter feast."
"And the return of the sun.", Penn finished for him in slight awe. "Of course, it makes sense now."
Hector looked confused, but smiled none the less. "I'm glad you were in time then, and I'm sure it is a good sign that the sun has in fact returned, if only a bit. But here, let's get those heavy packs put away, and I'm sure you'll have a tale worth hearing."
"Runner", Penn said, using the proper title for the Mercurian priest, "A good tale is the least I owe you. Let me buy you a drink to go with it, and all will be revealed."