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
Heritage of Dragonsreach (UPDATED September 4, 2007)
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="sniffles" data-source="post: 2781803" data-attributes="member: 30035"><p>Our visitation with the Silver Lady took only a few moments, but when I became aware of the ordinary world again I realized that it had taken no time at all! The priest who was with us was rather confused when Roland grasped him by the elbow and began urgently requesting all the curatives the temple could spare. Roland hustled him toward the temple stores while I persuaded him that he needn't seek the chief priest's approval in advance. Latan, Hedrin and Percy raced off to get horses for us, while young Troy hurried back to Silver Cottage to gather our personal possessions on our behalf. </p><p></p><p>Once mounted, we set out rapidly for the docks and Master Whitetree's ship. It was late afternoon and the streets of Milvarune were full of revelers. Our horses did not so much increase our speed as make it easier for us to push through the crowd. As I've mentioned before, Hedrin does not get on well with animals of any kind, and he soon became frustrated with trying to control his mount and ran off on foot. </p><p></p><p>We all managed to arrive at Master Whitetree's vessel at once despite having gotten separated in the crowd. It was a relief to find that he was expecting us and was prepared for immediate departure. Troy turned up only a few moments later with a carriage full of our belongings and two servants to unload them. Not that we had brought so much with us, but it did make boarding the ship much quicker. Troy had forgotten Latan's courtier's attire, which did not disappoint her in the least. I think she's taken to wearing more clothing only because it gives the rest of us comfort. Roland gave the boy a substantial reward for his faithful service and told the servants to enjoy the run of the cottage for another day.</p><p></p><p>As the ship drew away from the docks, I caught site of some of my new admirers waving farewell. I suspect it will be a long while before I can enjoy that kind of appreciation again. I doubt there will soon be many opportunities to give a recitation or tell stories to anyone other than my friends and the sailors. Roland's lady friend had also turned up to say goodbye, but he sadly had no time to spend with her. </p><p></p><p>Our great hurry to depart at first seemed all for naught, as we had no idea how to find the woman Rinda. We only knew that she was somewhere outside of Milvarune and near water. </p><p>I suppose someone must have been watching her in order to gather this much information, as we were told that even the gods cannot scry her location. We weren't told who had been spying on her. Or perhaps it was Cyric's followers who spied on her and followers of some other deity spied on them. No matter; we would proceed with what few clues we had been given. We didn't even know what she looked like.</p><p></p><p>We hadn't gone far from Milvarune when Hedrin, who had climbed up in the rigging, caught sight of a small boat on the shore. Hedrin, Roland and myself joined some of the sailors in a longboat and rowed to the spot to investigate. There was no one in the boat, which had been drawn up on a tiny bit of rock. Hedrin could find no tracks on the stones and the odor of the sea confused his sense of smell. Then we realized that the tide was coming in. We began shouting urgently for the boat's passenger to come out. </p><p></p><p>Hedrin sensed her first; she'd hidden among the rocks. She came out warily, which I suppose I can understand, as no one could warn her that we were coming to her aid. She clutched a parcel tightly, just as I imagine I would clutch such an object were I to be given charge of it. We were able to convince her to go with us, though she was reluctant since her companion was still missing. I think only the encroaching tide really made up her mind.</p><p></p><p>Once Rinda was settled aboard the ship with every amenity Master Whitetree could provide, we set watches outside her cabin door. Near dawn, another vessel was spotted, and Latan, who had spent much of her time in the crow's nest, noted that it appeared to be on a course to intercept us. Master Whitetree ordered his ship to turn away, but the second vessel moved with amazing speed and in no time it had drawn alongside. Its deck was swarming with men, whose insignia I recognized as representing an organization called the Whisper Knives. I'll never comprehend why such groups choose to identify themselves to others. </p><p></p><p>The Whisper Knives began boarding our vessel as fast as they could. I had taken out my bow and fired on them as soon as they were within range, but in the pre-dawn gloom it was difficult to aim. When they began to board I drew my blade and whispered a quick prayer to the Lady, feeling myself filled with her grace. I had an alacrity that is not ordinarily mine, but it did not make me a better swordswoman, only a quicker one. I was sorely wounded, as I had only my leathers and my dueling cloak to protect me.</p><p></p><p>I was on the forecastle and had my back to the rest of the ship, so I didn't see much of what my friends did in the struggle. Roland was in the stern with Captain Whitetree, shouting exhortations to inspire our courage. Latan fired spells from the crow's nest, and Hedrin attacked with claws, blade and eldritch energy amidships. Even Percy appeared and began pummeling Whisper Knives with his stool. But we were sorely outnumbered.</p><p></p><p>The affair went from bad to worse when a second ship appeared to port! Even more distressing, Latan shouted out that Diceros was aboard that vessel. My blood ran as chill as a mountain stream. I had a brief respite and managed to turn to look - just to see that Diceros was not alone. Lerner Provol stood on the deck of that other ship, preparing to leap across onto the deck of our vessel while jovially remarking, "Well, you've got yourselves in a bit of a pickle!".</p><p></p><p>Even that shock was eclipsed a moment later. Rinda had come up onto the sterncastle when the first approaching ship was spotted. Now she decided to retreat below decks, but she stumbled on the steps and dropped the casket that held the Book. It burst open and the Book tumbled out upon the deck.</p><p></p><p>I have always felt compelled to look at books, but never has the compulsion been so irresistible as when I saw that foul Book lying on the boards. I think I would have gone for it even had it been surrounded by demons. Then in my mind I heard the words Percy had spoken when he was possessed with the gift of prophecy: <em>"Some books are not meant to be read"</em>. The desire to look at the Book was snuffed out like a candle flame. </p><p></p><p>Unfortunately my friends did not have benefit of that thought. Hedrin sprang across the deck like a cat Then the Book lifted up off the deck and began to float out over the waves like a leaf in a breeze. I realized that Latan must have sent Isaura to fetch it. As the air elemental flew away with the Book in her grasp, I saw a woman lift off the deck of Lerner Provol's vessel. She had been standing behind him, a dark woman with two black wolves at her side. She did not suit the description of any of his companions from Dragonsreach. As she flew out toward the hovering tome, Hedrin leapt across onto Provol's ship and then vaulted out toward the Book.</p><p></p><p>Lerner Provol shouted "Get back!" at the flying woman. The woman fired a blast of dark energy that resembled what Hedrin can produce, and the Book began to tumble toward the water. Latan screamed in anguish as Isaura fell, her form so insubstantial that she could not penetrate the water. Hedrin caught hold of the falling Book and began to plunge toward the sea with it clutched to his breast.</p><p></p><p>The dark woman swooped down and caught him like a huge raven swooping for its prey. Latan began trying to attack her with spells, then turned her fury toward the woman's wolf companions in revenge for her attack on Isaura. The woman deposited Hedrin on the deck of our vessel without relieving him of the Book. It had been my greatest fear that Lerner would get his hands on that terrible volume. Roland shouted out to him that the Lady had tasked us with protecting it, and demanded to know if Lerner still claimed to serve her. He did, though I'm not sure I believe him. But he seemed to know what the Book was and to have no interest in it. </p><p></p><p>In the meantime the Whisper Knives had evidently decided that this was too much for them, as Lerner's companions were much more formidable than we were. They retreated to their ship and departed. Lerner announced quite casually that he meant to slay us, but that he would let us be while we protected the Book. He called the wolf woman back to his side and his vessel drew away. Hedrin was staring at her with a foolish expression on his face and they waved to one another in just the way that Roland's lady friend waved goodbye to him when we left Milvarune.</p><p></p><p>Now I suppose that we truly must stay with Rinda and the Book as long as we can, until we find some way of protecting ourselves against Lerner and his friends. Lady be with us. We will need your aid.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sniffles, post: 2781803, member: 30035"] Our visitation with the Silver Lady took only a few moments, but when I became aware of the ordinary world again I realized that it had taken no time at all! The priest who was with us was rather confused when Roland grasped him by the elbow and began urgently requesting all the curatives the temple could spare. Roland hustled him toward the temple stores while I persuaded him that he needn't seek the chief priest's approval in advance. Latan, Hedrin and Percy raced off to get horses for us, while young Troy hurried back to Silver Cottage to gather our personal possessions on our behalf. Once mounted, we set out rapidly for the docks and Master Whitetree's ship. It was late afternoon and the streets of Milvarune were full of revelers. Our horses did not so much increase our speed as make it easier for us to push through the crowd. As I've mentioned before, Hedrin does not get on well with animals of any kind, and he soon became frustrated with trying to control his mount and ran off on foot. We all managed to arrive at Master Whitetree's vessel at once despite having gotten separated in the crowd. It was a relief to find that he was expecting us and was prepared for immediate departure. Troy turned up only a few moments later with a carriage full of our belongings and two servants to unload them. Not that we had brought so much with us, but it did make boarding the ship much quicker. Troy had forgotten Latan's courtier's attire, which did not disappoint her in the least. I think she's taken to wearing more clothing only because it gives the rest of us comfort. Roland gave the boy a substantial reward for his faithful service and told the servants to enjoy the run of the cottage for another day. As the ship drew away from the docks, I caught site of some of my new admirers waving farewell. I suspect it will be a long while before I can enjoy that kind of appreciation again. I doubt there will soon be many opportunities to give a recitation or tell stories to anyone other than my friends and the sailors. Roland's lady friend had also turned up to say goodbye, but he sadly had no time to spend with her. Our great hurry to depart at first seemed all for naught, as we had no idea how to find the woman Rinda. We only knew that she was somewhere outside of Milvarune and near water. I suppose someone must have been watching her in order to gather this much information, as we were told that even the gods cannot scry her location. We weren't told who had been spying on her. Or perhaps it was Cyric's followers who spied on her and followers of some other deity spied on them. No matter; we would proceed with what few clues we had been given. We didn't even know what she looked like. We hadn't gone far from Milvarune when Hedrin, who had climbed up in the rigging, caught sight of a small boat on the shore. Hedrin, Roland and myself joined some of the sailors in a longboat and rowed to the spot to investigate. There was no one in the boat, which had been drawn up on a tiny bit of rock. Hedrin could find no tracks on the stones and the odor of the sea confused his sense of smell. Then we realized that the tide was coming in. We began shouting urgently for the boat's passenger to come out. Hedrin sensed her first; she'd hidden among the rocks. She came out warily, which I suppose I can understand, as no one could warn her that we were coming to her aid. She clutched a parcel tightly, just as I imagine I would clutch such an object were I to be given charge of it. We were able to convince her to go with us, though she was reluctant since her companion was still missing. I think only the encroaching tide really made up her mind. Once Rinda was settled aboard the ship with every amenity Master Whitetree could provide, we set watches outside her cabin door. Near dawn, another vessel was spotted, and Latan, who had spent much of her time in the crow's nest, noted that it appeared to be on a course to intercept us. Master Whitetree ordered his ship to turn away, but the second vessel moved with amazing speed and in no time it had drawn alongside. Its deck was swarming with men, whose insignia I recognized as representing an organization called the Whisper Knives. I'll never comprehend why such groups choose to identify themselves to others. The Whisper Knives began boarding our vessel as fast as they could. I had taken out my bow and fired on them as soon as they were within range, but in the pre-dawn gloom it was difficult to aim. When they began to board I drew my blade and whispered a quick prayer to the Lady, feeling myself filled with her grace. I had an alacrity that is not ordinarily mine, but it did not make me a better swordswoman, only a quicker one. I was sorely wounded, as I had only my leathers and my dueling cloak to protect me. I was on the forecastle and had my back to the rest of the ship, so I didn't see much of what my friends did in the struggle. Roland was in the stern with Captain Whitetree, shouting exhortations to inspire our courage. Latan fired spells from the crow's nest, and Hedrin attacked with claws, blade and eldritch energy amidships. Even Percy appeared and began pummeling Whisper Knives with his stool. But we were sorely outnumbered. The affair went from bad to worse when a second ship appeared to port! Even more distressing, Latan shouted out that Diceros was aboard that vessel. My blood ran as chill as a mountain stream. I had a brief respite and managed to turn to look - just to see that Diceros was not alone. Lerner Provol stood on the deck of that other ship, preparing to leap across onto the deck of our vessel while jovially remarking, "Well, you've got yourselves in a bit of a pickle!". Even that shock was eclipsed a moment later. Rinda had come up onto the sterncastle when the first approaching ship was spotted. Now she decided to retreat below decks, but she stumbled on the steps and dropped the casket that held the Book. It burst open and the Book tumbled out upon the deck. I have always felt compelled to look at books, but never has the compulsion been so irresistible as when I saw that foul Book lying on the boards. I think I would have gone for it even had it been surrounded by demons. Then in my mind I heard the words Percy had spoken when he was possessed with the gift of prophecy: [i]"Some books are not meant to be read"[/i]. The desire to look at the Book was snuffed out like a candle flame. Unfortunately my friends did not have benefit of that thought. Hedrin sprang across the deck like a cat Then the Book lifted up off the deck and began to float out over the waves like a leaf in a breeze. I realized that Latan must have sent Isaura to fetch it. As the air elemental flew away with the Book in her grasp, I saw a woman lift off the deck of Lerner Provol's vessel. She had been standing behind him, a dark woman with two black wolves at her side. She did not suit the description of any of his companions from Dragonsreach. As she flew out toward the hovering tome, Hedrin leapt across onto Provol's ship and then vaulted out toward the Book. Lerner Provol shouted "Get back!" at the flying woman. The woman fired a blast of dark energy that resembled what Hedrin can produce, and the Book began to tumble toward the water. Latan screamed in anguish as Isaura fell, her form so insubstantial that she could not penetrate the water. Hedrin caught hold of the falling Book and began to plunge toward the sea with it clutched to his breast. The dark woman swooped down and caught him like a huge raven swooping for its prey. Latan began trying to attack her with spells, then turned her fury toward the woman's wolf companions in revenge for her attack on Isaura. The woman deposited Hedrin on the deck of our vessel without relieving him of the Book. It had been my greatest fear that Lerner would get his hands on that terrible volume. Roland shouted out to him that the Lady had tasked us with protecting it, and demanded to know if Lerner still claimed to serve her. He did, though I'm not sure I believe him. But he seemed to know what the Book was and to have no interest in it. In the meantime the Whisper Knives had evidently decided that this was too much for them, as Lerner's companions were much more formidable than we were. They retreated to their ship and departed. Lerner announced quite casually that he meant to slay us, but that he would let us be while we protected the Book. He called the wolf woman back to his side and his vessel drew away. Hedrin was staring at her with a foolish expression on his face and they waved to one another in just the way that Roland's lady friend waved goodbye to him when we left Milvarune. Now I suppose that we truly must stay with Rinda and the Book as long as we can, until we find some way of protecting ourselves against Lerner and his friends. Lady be with us. We will need your aid. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Heritage of Dragonsreach (UPDATED September 4, 2007)
Top