Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Droid101's Story Hour, "Of Gods and Devils" Updated 10/12!
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Droid101" data-source="post: 1992400" data-attributes="member: 942"><p>“What?” Eltharion is perplexed.</p><p></p><p>“Look, you found the Cloak of Alacrity. They own the Oakenshield. You are fast. You are sturdy,” Adlai points to each person as he makes each successive point. “You are <strong>The Two</strong>. It’s so painfully obvious.”</p><p></p><p>“So, what, do we have special-powers now or something?” Eltharion still looks skeptical.</p><p></p><p>“Once you don the Cloak of Alacrity you will. And Ogrim, once you weild The Oakenshield, you will. Go ahead and see,” Adlai puts his hands on his hips.</p><p></p><p>Eltharion reluctantly clasps the cloak on. Instantly his mind is filled with thoughts, memories, and flashes of light. Somehow, he knows what he can now do.</p><p></p><p>“Ogrim, get that shield. If it’s half as amazing at this cloak, you’ll be pleased…” Eltharion closes his eyes and takes in the rush.</p><p></p><p>Strumdar sends his guard to retrieve The Oakenshield from the vault. After a few minutes, they return, bearing the IronOak shield. Ogrim grasps it and instantly feels a similar rush as Eltharion.</p><p></p><p>“You were right,” Ogrim states, nodding as the knowledge pours over him.</p><p></p><p>They take their new items and leave Strumdar’s presence. Adlai takes them back to his research room.</p><p></p><p>“So, now we just need to find where Misani and Senman are being kept,” Eltharion says to Adlai.</p><p></p><p>“Well, in the prophecies, it says that <strong>The Two</strong> venture to some old temple ‘in the center of the Aldor.’ The description of that temple seems to match the location Misani and Senman are tied up. One big pillar. It may be connected. You may be meant to go there,” Adlai says mystically.</p><p></p><p>“Do you know where that is?” Ogrim asks.</p><p></p><p>“I believe so. Get whoever you want to go with you, and I’ll let you know tomorrow,” Adlai says.</p><p></p><p>Viknen’s still tired, Bloodthorne and The Necromancer are nowhere to be found. They find Blaze and Grog, however, and they agree to go with them.</p><p></p><p>“You’re what??” Blaze asks.</p><p></p><p>“We’re some kind of chosen ones. I know it’s pretty crazy,” Eltharion says.</p><p></p><p>“So, you guys supposedly help us defend the land from evil or something?” Blaze chuckles.</p><p></p><p>“Well, Adlai says he can’t see which side we end up fighting for. Which is kind of odd. I mean, why would we ever turn against Baron and our friends here?” Eltharion responds.</p><p></p><p>“Who knows. Those prophecies are pretty cooky anyway. So, we leave tomorrow for this ancient temple? You all ready?” Blaze asks.</p><p></p><p>“Surely!” Ogrim says.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah,” Eltharion nods.</p><p></p><p>Grog merely nods. He was a lot more quiet than he used to be.</p><p></p><p>The next day, Adlai gathers everyone.</p><p></p><p>“Okay, it’s supposed to be somewhere around the Adventurer’s Guildhall. Somewhere out to the east in the nearby forest. You shouldn’t have much trouble locating it,” Adlai says.</p><p></p><p>“Let’s do it!” Blaze exclaims.</p><p></p><p>Adlai <em>teleports</em> everybody to the Adventurer’s Guildhall, then <em>teleports</em> himself back to Baron. Grog, Blaze, Eltharion, and Ogrim head out east into the forest.</p><p></p><p>After about half a day’s walk, they see a stone obelisk-like thing above the trees. They head toward it and see an 80 foot tall granite obelisk, with a stone stairway leading down underground.</p><p></p><p>“I guess this is it. I’ll go first, wouldn’t want our ‘chosen ones’ getting hurt…” Blaze chuckles. He heads down the stairs. A piece of the ceiling breaks off and crashes down in front of him. Part of the stone strikes his gauntleted hand. “Damn, it’s ruined…” Blaze takes off his gauntlet and tosses it back up the stairs.</p><p></p><p>“Be ready, this cavern is old and falling apart,” Ogrim studies the rock.</p><p></p><p>………</p><p></p><p>Adlai pours over his books.</p><p></p><p>The prophecies are slowly becoming more clear.</p><p></p><p>Which side do <strong>The Two</strong> end up fighting for? Why is that the most difficult thing to decipher?</p><p></p><p>And the timelines… the timelines are so vague. Either the good or the evil side wins, then later on, a third side wins. How much later on?</p><p></p><p>Hm. This part is peculiar. Didn’t notice it before. A detailed description of what happens in the temple? Pertaining to <strong>The Two</strong>?</p><p></p><p>Oh no.</p><p></p><p>Oh no…</p><p></p><p>Gotta warn them!</p><p></p><p>………</p><p></p><p>The Heroes ready their weapons as they decend the dilapidated stairs. Deeper and deeper.</p><p></p><p>“We’re down almost 800 feet,” Ogrim says, paying close attention to their decent.</p><p></p><p>They finally reach a room. Over 100 feet across. In the center is a huge pillar. At the base, they see Misani and Senman, tightly bound and gagged.</p><p></p><p>“That’s the only support for the room. It must weigh 24,000 pounds…” Ogrim mutters under his breath, slightly amazed at the workmanship.</p><p></p><p>“So, another good deed by the goody goodys…” a high-pitched, evil voice can be heard. Though, they can’t tell where it is coming from.</p><p></p><p>“We’re here to rescue our friends. Care to stop us?” Eltharion brandishes his fine blades.</p><p></p><p>“Then what? You’ll save someone else’s life? Stop some other evil-genius’ plans from coming to fruition? What next?” the voice continues. “Your lives are meaningless. You go from place to place, doing good deeds. You haven’t ever stopped to think about what it’s all for. You haven’t had one moment’s peace since you left Drelk in Baron. Since you left to find the cure for your beloved White. Then to Canticus. Then to find White. Then to the north, after Gryrtag the devil. The politics of the north. Back to Canticus, to stop Xvim. Then the dwarves. The underdark. The teleportation machine. Back in time. Have you ever stopped to think about what you’ve done!? Never!”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, we help people. We do good. Show yourself!” Ogrim yells.</p><p></p><p>“You’re pathetic. You never do anything to better yourself. Always for others. You will never get anywhere like that,” the voice is snide.</p><p></p><p>“You’re pathetic. Show yourself,” Ogrim retorts. “You get joy in the suffering of others. You bring us here just to lecture us? YOU’RE pathetic.”</p><p></p><p>“I suppose here is where I give you a choice,” the voice says, and just as it does, a thundering crack can be heard from the central pillar. “You can run for your lives, and barely make it out of the cavern alive. Or… you can try to save your friends. Doing so will mean certain death of course. You can live, knowing you are responsible for your friends’ deaths, or you can try to save them, know full well that you’ll die in the process. Choose wisely…”</p><p></p><p>The entire cavern starts to shake as the huge pillar begins to tip.</p><p></p><p>The Heroes look at each other frantically, not sure what to do. Eltharion takes a step toward the stairs, Ogrim takes a step toward Misani and Senman.</p><p></p><p>“Get them out, I’ll hold the pillar,” Blaze says. They all run up to the pillar. Eltharion, Grog and Ogrim undo the bonds holding Senman and Misani. </p><p></p><p>“TEMPUS!!!!!!!”</p><p></p><p>Blaze bellows louder than he ever has before. His muscles expand exponentially. His armor is nearly rended from his body, he grows so strong. He plants his hands firmly into the pillar, and it stops falling.</p><p></p><p>“RUN!”</p><p></p><p>“We’ll get you out… we’ll get you out!!” Eltharion says, as he takes off up the stairs. Ogrim, Grog, Senman, and Misani follow. They run as fast as they can. They can hear the ceiling collapsing behind them. Rock and dust shoots out of the passage as they run as fast as they can up the stairs.</p><p></p><p>They reach daylight, and escape just before the ceiling on the staircase collapses entirely. The granite obelisk falls as well. Only a pile of rubble remains where the entrance once was.</p><p></p><p><em>Don’t go into the temple!! </em> A <em>sending</em> message from Adlai arrives in Ogrim’s head.</p><p></p><p><em>Too late.</em> Ogrim sends back a simple response.</p><p></p><p>The Heroes collapse, panting heavily from the run. Grog bends over and picks up Blaze’s dented gauntlet that he left behind. He puts it on, even though it’s far larger than his hand, being a mere goblin.</p><p></p><p>“In your honor…” Grog says quietly.</p><p></p><p>“We’ll get him out…” Eltharion says, unable to comprehend what just happened.</p><p></p><p>“What a noble sacrifice…” Ogrim says, speaking a quiet prayer to Moradin.</p><p></p><p>“I didn’t even know him that well… and he did that for me…” Senman shakes his head slowly.</p><p></p><p>“Let’s go home…” Eltharion turns away from the ruined temple, and begins to walk back toward the Adventurer’s Guildhall, and then on to Baron.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Droid101, post: 1992400, member: 942"] “What?” Eltharion is perplexed. “Look, you found the Cloak of Alacrity. They own the Oakenshield. You are fast. You are sturdy,” Adlai points to each person as he makes each successive point. “You are [B]The Two[/B]. It’s so painfully obvious.” “So, what, do we have special-powers now or something?” Eltharion still looks skeptical. “Once you don the Cloak of Alacrity you will. And Ogrim, once you weild The Oakenshield, you will. Go ahead and see,” Adlai puts his hands on his hips. Eltharion reluctantly clasps the cloak on. Instantly his mind is filled with thoughts, memories, and flashes of light. Somehow, he knows what he can now do. “Ogrim, get that shield. If it’s half as amazing at this cloak, you’ll be pleased…” Eltharion closes his eyes and takes in the rush. Strumdar sends his guard to retrieve The Oakenshield from the vault. After a few minutes, they return, bearing the IronOak shield. Ogrim grasps it and instantly feels a similar rush as Eltharion. “You were right,” Ogrim states, nodding as the knowledge pours over him. They take their new items and leave Strumdar’s presence. Adlai takes them back to his research room. “So, now we just need to find where Misani and Senman are being kept,” Eltharion says to Adlai. “Well, in the prophecies, it says that [B]The Two[/B] venture to some old temple ‘in the center of the Aldor.’ The description of that temple seems to match the location Misani and Senman are tied up. One big pillar. It may be connected. You may be meant to go there,” Adlai says mystically. “Do you know where that is?” Ogrim asks. “I believe so. Get whoever you want to go with you, and I’ll let you know tomorrow,” Adlai says. Viknen’s still tired, Bloodthorne and The Necromancer are nowhere to be found. They find Blaze and Grog, however, and they agree to go with them. “You’re what??” Blaze asks. “We’re some kind of chosen ones. I know it’s pretty crazy,” Eltharion says. “So, you guys supposedly help us defend the land from evil or something?” Blaze chuckles. “Well, Adlai says he can’t see which side we end up fighting for. Which is kind of odd. I mean, why would we ever turn against Baron and our friends here?” Eltharion responds. “Who knows. Those prophecies are pretty cooky anyway. So, we leave tomorrow for this ancient temple? You all ready?” Blaze asks. “Surely!” Ogrim says. “Yeah,” Eltharion nods. Grog merely nods. He was a lot more quiet than he used to be. The next day, Adlai gathers everyone. “Okay, it’s supposed to be somewhere around the Adventurer’s Guildhall. Somewhere out to the east in the nearby forest. You shouldn’t have much trouble locating it,” Adlai says. “Let’s do it!” Blaze exclaims. Adlai [I]teleports[/I] everybody to the Adventurer’s Guildhall, then [I]teleports[/I] himself back to Baron. Grog, Blaze, Eltharion, and Ogrim head out east into the forest. After about half a day’s walk, they see a stone obelisk-like thing above the trees. They head toward it and see an 80 foot tall granite obelisk, with a stone stairway leading down underground. “I guess this is it. I’ll go first, wouldn’t want our ‘chosen ones’ getting hurt…” Blaze chuckles. He heads down the stairs. A piece of the ceiling breaks off and crashes down in front of him. Part of the stone strikes his gauntleted hand. “Damn, it’s ruined…” Blaze takes off his gauntlet and tosses it back up the stairs. “Be ready, this cavern is old and falling apart,” Ogrim studies the rock. ……… Adlai pours over his books. The prophecies are slowly becoming more clear. Which side do [B]The Two[/B] end up fighting for? Why is that the most difficult thing to decipher? And the timelines… the timelines are so vague. Either the good or the evil side wins, then later on, a third side wins. How much later on? Hm. This part is peculiar. Didn’t notice it before. A detailed description of what happens in the temple? Pertaining to [B]The Two[/B]? Oh no. Oh no… Gotta warn them! ……… The Heroes ready their weapons as they decend the dilapidated stairs. Deeper and deeper. “We’re down almost 800 feet,” Ogrim says, paying close attention to their decent. They finally reach a room. Over 100 feet across. In the center is a huge pillar. At the base, they see Misani and Senman, tightly bound and gagged. “That’s the only support for the room. It must weigh 24,000 pounds…” Ogrim mutters under his breath, slightly amazed at the workmanship. “So, another good deed by the goody goodys…” a high-pitched, evil voice can be heard. Though, they can’t tell where it is coming from. “We’re here to rescue our friends. Care to stop us?” Eltharion brandishes his fine blades. “Then what? You’ll save someone else’s life? Stop some other evil-genius’ plans from coming to fruition? What next?” the voice continues. “Your lives are meaningless. You go from place to place, doing good deeds. You haven’t ever stopped to think about what it’s all for. You haven’t had one moment’s peace since you left Drelk in Baron. Since you left to find the cure for your beloved White. Then to Canticus. Then to find White. Then to the north, after Gryrtag the devil. The politics of the north. Back to Canticus, to stop Xvim. Then the dwarves. The underdark. The teleportation machine. Back in time. Have you ever stopped to think about what you’ve done!? Never!” “Yes, we help people. We do good. Show yourself!” Ogrim yells. “You’re pathetic. You never do anything to better yourself. Always for others. You will never get anywhere like that,” the voice is snide. “You’re pathetic. Show yourself,” Ogrim retorts. “You get joy in the suffering of others. You bring us here just to lecture us? YOU’RE pathetic.” “I suppose here is where I give you a choice,” the voice says, and just as it does, a thundering crack can be heard from the central pillar. “You can run for your lives, and barely make it out of the cavern alive. Or… you can try to save your friends. Doing so will mean certain death of course. You can live, knowing you are responsible for your friends’ deaths, or you can try to save them, know full well that you’ll die in the process. Choose wisely…” The entire cavern starts to shake as the huge pillar begins to tip. The Heroes look at each other frantically, not sure what to do. Eltharion takes a step toward the stairs, Ogrim takes a step toward Misani and Senman. “Get them out, I’ll hold the pillar,” Blaze says. They all run up to the pillar. Eltharion, Grog and Ogrim undo the bonds holding Senman and Misani. “TEMPUS!!!!!!!” Blaze bellows louder than he ever has before. His muscles expand exponentially. His armor is nearly rended from his body, he grows so strong. He plants his hands firmly into the pillar, and it stops falling. “RUN!” “We’ll get you out… we’ll get you out!!” Eltharion says, as he takes off up the stairs. Ogrim, Grog, Senman, and Misani follow. They run as fast as they can. They can hear the ceiling collapsing behind them. Rock and dust shoots out of the passage as they run as fast as they can up the stairs. They reach daylight, and escape just before the ceiling on the staircase collapses entirely. The granite obelisk falls as well. Only a pile of rubble remains where the entrance once was. [I]Don’t go into the temple!! [/I] A [I]sending[/I] message from Adlai arrives in Ogrim’s head. [I]Too late.[/I] Ogrim sends back a simple response. The Heroes collapse, panting heavily from the run. Grog bends over and picks up Blaze’s dented gauntlet that he left behind. He puts it on, even though it’s far larger than his hand, being a mere goblin. “In your honor…” Grog says quietly. “We’ll get him out…” Eltharion says, unable to comprehend what just happened. “What a noble sacrifice…” Ogrim says, speaking a quiet prayer to Moradin. “I didn’t even know him that well… and he did that for me…” Senman shakes his head slowly. “Let’s go home…” Eltharion turns away from the ruined temple, and begins to walk back toward the Adventurer’s Guildhall, and then on to Baron. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Droid101's Story Hour, "Of Gods and Devils" Updated 10/12!
Top