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
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Adventures in the Eastern Provinces
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="the Jester" data-source="post: 7584899" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p>Rualiss leads the party into the forest for several days. As they cross over a trickling creek bed along a well-shaded hillside, the eladrin tells them, “Here. This is the place.”</p><p></p><p>They look around. The brush is thick, there are many flowers blooming, the birds are singing, the trees are large and healthy- but it looks fundamentally like the rest of the surrounding woods.</p><p></p><p>“Is there some kind of portal?” Karl asks.</p><p></p><p>“No. This is a crossing. Once each day, when the sun is halfway past its zenith and the shadows are growing long, if one walks through this area, she can simply walk from the World into the Feywild or back.”</p><p></p><p>Sepia scrambles up a tree to gauge the sun’s position. “So we just have to wait a couple of hours?”</p><p></p><p>Rualiss nods. “And then we can pass through.”</p><p></p><p>The group has a small meal and relaxes while they wait. Shar takes off her boots and Shifty grabs a quick nap. Bradford stays attention, keeping guard. </p><p></p><p>When the time is nigh, the air seems to fill with an almost electric charge. Rualiss leads our heroes through the fey crossing, and they can all feel the moment when, suddenly, they are in another world, for the air seems sweeter, the birdsong more melodic, the scents on the air more primal, verdant and fecund both.</p><p></p><p>For most of them, it is a first visit to the Feywild. As an eladrin himself, Karl has spent some time there, and Shifty had visited the faerie realm a few times as a youth. Still, even for both of them, it has been years. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Moonstair is a small village that straddles the two worlds. When a moon is in the sky- something that happens a few times in a typical human lifetime- it falls back and forth between the two worlds. It is not what it once was; it is home to a meager two hundred people, as the outlying abandoned buildings and overgrown farms attest. </p><p></p><p>This is Rualiss’ home. </p><p></p><p>Here, the party rests a night, put up by fey folk both grateful and hopeful that they might be able to resolve the situation.</p><p></p><p>The next day they make for the Garden of Graves, which is less than a day from Moonstair. They follow a trail through thick woods until it opens on a huge ridge of dark stone that looms over the surrounding area. Based on the directions and descriptions that they were given by Rualiss, they have arrived. </p><p></p><p>Shifty says, “Before we go in there, I’ll check it out.” He activates his <em>armor of rat form</em> and transforms into a fat gray rat, then scampers ahead on the path while the others withdraw into the cover of the trees. </p><p></p><p>The path leads the rodentified gnome to an entrance in the face of the ridge. <em>Maybe it passes all the way through,</em> he thinks. He moves another few steps forward- then freezes. </p><p></p><p>Something is chiseled into the face of the rock beneath him. </p><p></p><p><em>I’m standing on writing,</em> he realizes. </p><p></p><p>He can’t read it, but there is a lot of it. He scuttles back to the party, then returns to his normal form. Patting his comb-over, he tells the others what he saw. </p><p></p><p>“No guards?” Kane asks. </p><p></p><p>“Not that I saw.”</p><p></p><p>“Bah.” </p><p></p><p>Karlinden rubs his hands together. “Let’s check it out.”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>The writing is in the Elvish script, but transliterates Common words. And there is quite a lot of it.</p><p></p><p>It reads:</p><p></p><p><em>Count you the shadows, watch the sun. </em></p><p><em>The wise know where they stand:</em></p><p><em>While knowing not the time to shun, </em></p><p><em>The fools must find themselves undone.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Like lustful swain or panicked child</em></p><p><em>Who beg another’s gentle hand,</em></p><p><em>The fool delves heedless through the wild.</em></p><p><em>The wise are not so soon beguiled. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>When darkness falls and dreams portend</em></p><p><em>The rising of a fearsome foe,</em></p><p><em>The fool, swift-striking, meets his end,</em></p><p><em>The wise know froe from friend.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Let art and image point the way,</em></p><p><em>Abandon all you think you know.</em></p><p><em>For common sense leads fools astray. </em></p><p><em>The key is simply this: Obey.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The wise must ever strategize;</em></p><p><em>They never play, unless to win.</em></p><p><em>They see the harm in comfort’s lies, </em></p><p><em>And seek to open weary eyes.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>You’ve fought your way, you’ve risked demise,</em></p><p><em>To view the ivy heart within.</em></p><p><em>Now as the soul within you dies,</em></p><p><em>This knowledge is your only prize:</em></p><p><em>You’d never have come, were you truly wise.</em></p><p></p><p>“Huh,” says Shar.</p><p></p><p>Karl studies the text. “That’s… something, that’s for sure.”</p><p></p><p>“Come on,” Sepia urges, “let’s go inside.”</p><p></p><p>“Wait a minute.” Shifty unslings his backpack. “I’m going to copy this down first. It sounds like a bunch of hints.”</p><p></p><p>“Who did this, though?” PHUQ-69 wonders. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>The cave has a trio of statues in it, blocking off access to the far side, where a tunnel leads out. The three statues depict a maiden, a mother, and a crone, each with a hand out. Shifty immediately pulls out his copy of the doggerel. “Here,” he says, jabbing a finger at the second stanza. “The crone’s the one we want. The lustful swain is the mother, and the panicked child is the maiden.” He tries putting a coin in the crone statue’s hand.</p><p></p><p>It grinds into motion, stepping out of the party’s way.</p><p></p><p>“That wasn’t so hard,” the gnome declares. </p><p></p><p>Beyond the cave, the path emerges on the far side of the stone ridge. A cliff rises above the party; from here, they can’t see what’s atop it. Not far to their left, the ridge cuts off further passage; to their right, trails wind along through the trees below the cliff face. Some distance that way is a building on stilts, perched about 50’ above a rushing river. Rope bridges connect it with the top of the cliff face, and a spiral staircase ascends from the river’s bank to the building.</p><p></p><p>P-69 gestures. “I think we should go that way.”</p><p></p><p>The party starts down a trail leading toward the building. It winds through the woods, then abruptly opens on a clearing containing an abandoned-looking camp. Two tents, tattered and collapsed, lie among scattered firewood and old rusted tools. </p><p></p><p>“What’s that?” Sepia indicates a strange dark stone obelisk. Atop it is a globe of iron.</p><p></p><p>“It looks kind of like a weary eye,” Shifty says.</p><p></p><p>The party starts to move over to it. </p><p></p><p>And the whole campsite comes to life and attacks.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> Our heroes move into the Garden of Graves proper!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 7584899, member: 1210"] Rualiss leads the party into the forest for several days. As they cross over a trickling creek bed along a well-shaded hillside, the eladrin tells them, “Here. This is the place.” They look around. The brush is thick, there are many flowers blooming, the birds are singing, the trees are large and healthy- but it looks fundamentally like the rest of the surrounding woods. “Is there some kind of portal?” Karl asks. “No. This is a crossing. Once each day, when the sun is halfway past its zenith and the shadows are growing long, if one walks through this area, she can simply walk from the World into the Feywild or back.” Sepia scrambles up a tree to gauge the sun’s position. “So we just have to wait a couple of hours?” Rualiss nods. “And then we can pass through.” The group has a small meal and relaxes while they wait. Shar takes off her boots and Shifty grabs a quick nap. Bradford stays attention, keeping guard. When the time is nigh, the air seems to fill with an almost electric charge. Rualiss leads our heroes through the fey crossing, and they can all feel the moment when, suddenly, they are in another world, for the air seems sweeter, the birdsong more melodic, the scents on the air more primal, verdant and fecund both. For most of them, it is a first visit to the Feywild. As an eladrin himself, Karl has spent some time there, and Shifty had visited the faerie realm a few times as a youth. Still, even for both of them, it has been years. *** Moonstair is a small village that straddles the two worlds. When a moon is in the sky- something that happens a few times in a typical human lifetime- it falls back and forth between the two worlds. It is not what it once was; it is home to a meager two hundred people, as the outlying abandoned buildings and overgrown farms attest. This is Rualiss’ home. Here, the party rests a night, put up by fey folk both grateful and hopeful that they might be able to resolve the situation. The next day they make for the Garden of Graves, which is less than a day from Moonstair. They follow a trail through thick woods until it opens on a huge ridge of dark stone that looms over the surrounding area. Based on the directions and descriptions that they were given by Rualiss, they have arrived. Shifty says, “Before we go in there, I’ll check it out.” He activates his [i]armor of rat form[/i] and transforms into a fat gray rat, then scampers ahead on the path while the others withdraw into the cover of the trees. The path leads the rodentified gnome to an entrance in the face of the ridge. [i]Maybe it passes all the way through,[/i] he thinks. He moves another few steps forward- then freezes. Something is chiseled into the face of the rock beneath him. [i]I’m standing on writing,[/i] he realizes. He can’t read it, but there is a lot of it. He scuttles back to the party, then returns to his normal form. Patting his comb-over, he tells the others what he saw. “No guards?” Kane asks. “Not that I saw.” “Bah.” Karlinden rubs his hands together. “Let’s check it out.” *** The writing is in the Elvish script, but transliterates Common words. And there is quite a lot of it. It reads: [i]Count you the shadows, watch the sun. The wise know where they stand: While knowing not the time to shun, The fools must find themselves undone. Like lustful swain or panicked child Who beg another’s gentle hand, The fool delves heedless through the wild. The wise are not so soon beguiled. When darkness falls and dreams portend The rising of a fearsome foe, The fool, swift-striking, meets his end, The wise know froe from friend. Let art and image point the way, Abandon all you think you know. For common sense leads fools astray. The key is simply this: Obey. The wise must ever strategize; They never play, unless to win. They see the harm in comfort’s lies, And seek to open weary eyes. You’ve fought your way, you’ve risked demise, To view the ivy heart within. Now as the soul within you dies, This knowledge is your only prize: You’d never have come, were you truly wise.[/i] “Huh,” says Shar. Karl studies the text. “That’s… something, that’s for sure.” “Come on,” Sepia urges, “let’s go inside.” “Wait a minute.” Shifty unslings his backpack. “I’m going to copy this down first. It sounds like a bunch of hints.” “Who did this, though?” PHUQ-69 wonders. *** The cave has a trio of statues in it, blocking off access to the far side, where a tunnel leads out. The three statues depict a maiden, a mother, and a crone, each with a hand out. Shifty immediately pulls out his copy of the doggerel. “Here,” he says, jabbing a finger at the second stanza. “The crone’s the one we want. The lustful swain is the mother, and the panicked child is the maiden.” He tries putting a coin in the crone statue’s hand. It grinds into motion, stepping out of the party’s way. “That wasn’t so hard,” the gnome declares. Beyond the cave, the path emerges on the far side of the stone ridge. A cliff rises above the party; from here, they can’t see what’s atop it. Not far to their left, the ridge cuts off further passage; to their right, trails wind along through the trees below the cliff face. Some distance that way is a building on stilts, perched about 50’ above a rushing river. Rope bridges connect it with the top of the cliff face, and a spiral staircase ascends from the river’s bank to the building. P-69 gestures. “I think we should go that way.” The party starts down a trail leading toward the building. It winds through the woods, then abruptly opens on a clearing containing an abandoned-looking camp. Two tents, tattered and collapsed, lie among scattered firewood and old rusted tools. “What’s that?” Sepia indicates a strange dark stone obelisk. Atop it is a globe of iron. “It looks kind of like a weary eye,” Shifty says. The party starts to move over to it. And the whole campsite comes to life and attacks. [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] Our heroes move into the Garden of Graves proper! [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Adventures in the Eastern Provinces
Top