Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wicht" data-source="post: 273615" data-attributes="member: 221">Thanks for the kind words Joshua - I don't know whether its my skills as a DM or the players or Kalamar itself, but I am pretty pleased with how the first two gaming sessions have gone.And now another brief interlude -again a character handout disguised as a bit of the story.Visions    Alairic settled himself down before the altar to Naemae and opened “To Serve.”  It was the fourth watch of the night and Alairic had guard duty.  Though they expected no trouble while in Taesoo, one never knew.  Froima had seemed anxious about the crew of the ship in the harbor and a little caution would not hurt.  But the night was quiet and the shrine felt peaceful.  It seemed a good opportunity for religious meditation.  Behind the altar the statue of Naemae watched over the paladin as he began to slowly read.          “There was a demon in the village of Delik, a black rat that ate children and raped the women.  The men of the village could do nothing to stop it and night after night all trembled in fear.  Having no other options, they sent for servants of the swift sword.  Two men, both valiant priests, heard the call and decided to do battle for the village.  They were named Nok and Rimon.      Nok arrived first.  A strong man of action, equipped with a stout heart, he wasted no time but valiantly stormed the lair of the demon.  The demon dwelt in an abondened temple north of the village and was guarded by many fell beasts.  The guardians of the lair Nok dispatched with speed.  But when in a battle with the rat demon itself, the brave priest was slain.    Rimon was slower to arrive for he had first traveled to visit with a wise woman and learned all he could of the rat demon.  It was an ancient creature of evil and stories told of it said that it was invulnerable to steel, but certain tales of lore suggested that weapons of wood would hurt it.  Armed with this knowledge Rimon traveled to the village of Delik and fought the black rat.  Like Nok, he dispatched the guardians of the demon with ease, but when he met the demon itself in battle he did not fight it with a sword as Nok had done.  Instead he fought with a stout branch of oak, one which he had cut himself and blessed with many prayers and rituals.  With this staff he slew the demon and freed the village.”       As Alairic read, the walls of the shrine faded away around him and the light grew brighter and the words flowed easier.  As he finished the account, Alairic looked up and saw that he knelt before the altar of Naemae upon a great field below a blue sky.  Globes of light danced freely around him, the altar and the statue of Naemae.  As the paladin gazed at the scene before him a voice spoke from behind.    “Do you understand what you have read?”    Alairic turned and beheld a figure, dressed in armor, a greatsword strapped on its back.  Though it stood like a man, its face was like that of some great dog and it looked to be covered with golden fur.  But though its visage was strange, Alairic felt confident that it was a creature of good.    “I do,” said Alairic humbly.    “Which of the two priests was braver?”    “Both fought the demon,” said Alairic remembering this lesson and the answers.    “Which of the two priests was wiser?”    “Rimon, for he studied his enemy beforehand and entered into battle prepared.”    “And which was the greater servant of good?”    “The one who defeated the evil.”    “You answer well,” said the being, “I am Rowlandigo, one who fights besides the Knight of the Gods, and it falls to me to give you this message for Naemae is concerned lest evil should win a battle.  Beware the snake that bites from the darkness and the vulture that feeds on lies.  The tomb of the demon should remain sealed lest darkness grow stronger.  Now be brave and may the sword of Naemae slay all evil in your path.  But heed my words and learn well from the lessons of the past.”    As Alairic watched, the scene changed and the light faded.  Gone was Rowlandigo and the many globes of light that flitted gaily across the grass.  Once more Alairic sat alone in a small shrine.  But the hours had passed swiftly and as Alairic gazed out the open door of the shrine he saw that the sun was already beginning to rise in the sky and that the night was past.</blockquote>

Verification