Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Delemental" data-source="post: 1333965" data-attributes="member: 5203">Obelisk in the WoodsThe city of Suzail was abuzz with activity.  Citizens of all manner went about their business as usual, but there was an air of anticipation in the streets and alleys of Cormyr’s capital.  Greengrass Festival was only a few days away, and the preparations were getting underway as city workers moved through the streets cleaning up refuse and hanging banners.  In the midst of the city, at a small inn called the Boar and Griffon, a small group of out-of-town guests were making preparations of their own.   “I’ve spoken with the caravan master this morning,” said a large, bald man in loose, flowing clothing, who sat at a table with three others.  “He is still on schedule to leave on the 30th.  With luck and good weather, he says we’ll reach Waterdeep by late summer.”   The large man leaned back slightly.  His features were dark, and his heavily accented Common speech gave witness to his Mulhorandi heritage.  Yet his eyes shone with a golden light, At his waist hung a strange sword, almost a cross between a normal blade and a sickle.  Hanging from his neck was an ankh.   Across the table, a middle-aged, cheerful gnome wearing bright clothing looked up from his ale.  “The 30th, is it, Ehput-Ki?  That gives us only six more days.  Is the work you’re having done going to be ready by then?”   “My armor should be finished by daybreak tomorrow, Niles.  There will be no delay.”   “I still fail to see,” said another of the four gathered at the table, “why we are in such a hurry to be off to Waterdeep.  There is much I could learn here.”  The man who spoke was bald like Ehput-Ki, though much smaller in stature, and paler.  Both he and the Mulhorandi shared a similar noble bearing, but while Ehput-Ki seemed to hold it with a certain comfort, the other appeared to be doing his best to hide his almost otherworldly appearance.  He straightened out a fold in his pale, bone-colored robes as he waited for an answer.   “There are many places to see in Faerun, Myoo,” replied Ehput-Ki.  “And I would like to see as many of them as I can.  Kiy, here, has also expressed an interest in seeing the City of Splendors.  Is that not so, Kiy?”   Ehput-Ki nodded toward their fourth companion, a wild elf who was busying himself adding fletching to an arrow.  He nodded his head without looking up.  Vines of ivy-like growth that grew around his body rustled with the slight movement.   “Hardly an enthusiastic endorsement,” Myoo sighed, “but then again, in the brief time I’ve known the elf I’ve perhaps heard him speak five words.”   “Well,” ventured Niles, “I know I have a few items of unfinished business we could look into in that area.  And I think Alia’s eager to get out of the Heartlands herself.”   “Yes, and where exactly is our agile companion?” Myoo asked, as a sardonic smile spread across his face.  “As if I had to ask, seeing as how our Tyrian priest is also absent.”  The gnome giggled slightly at the comment, which seemed odd since Myoo’s comment had not been that humorous.   “Perhaps you should ask, instead of just guessing,” said a feminine voice behind them.  Two figures came and sat at empty chairs around the table.  The woman was young, with long red hair cascading across her shoulders and down her back.  She wore dark clothing that, while not exactly skin-tight, was close enough that the curves of her form were easily noticed.  A man who had red hair similar to hers, but much darker skin, accompanied her.  He was clad in fine chain mail, and the hammer and scale symbol of Tyr rested around his neck.   “Sorry we’re late,” said the man, “we were at the library, reading poetry.”   “Poetry, Tantu?” echoed Myoo to the young priest. “Was it the kind that are in the books they won’t let young children read?”   Alia’s eyes narrowed slightly at the comment, but she said nothing.  Instead, she turned to Niles.  “So, what’s the story?”   “We leave on the 30th,” he replied.   “Damn!  That means we miss Greengrass by one day!”   “I think that’s the point,” said Ehput-Ki.  “The caravan masters wish to get out of the city before the festival, so that their workers are not caught up in the celebration. As I understand it, a few of them tend to go missing after festivals.”   “So there’s no way we can leave later?” Alia asked.   Ehput-Ki shook his head.  “The next caravan bound for Waterdeep won’t leave until early summer.  And it’s unwise to travel without the safety of numbers.”   “And if we don’t leave with the caravan, we won’t get paid,” added Niles.   Alia sighed.  “All right, fine.  But we’d better make an effort to be in a town somewhere for Midsummer, and I’ll be damned if we miss Shieldmeet.”   Myoo rolled his eyes, not caring if Alia saw him or not.  The girl’s endless pursuit of ‘fun’ was wearing thin.  “So, did the two of you manage to waste the entire morning with your poems?”   “No,” said Tantu firmly, “we also spent some time talking to a few men who’ve just come from Waterdeep.”   “Any news?” asked Niles.   Alia shrugged.  “The usual.  Red Wizards plotting, the end of the Realms is nigh, the things you usually hear.  Something about a new line of shops opening up along the Sword Coast.  The only interesting thing I heard had nothing to do with Waterdeep; it was a local rumor.”   “Go on,” said Ehput-Ki.   “Well, it seems there’s tales floating around that some sort of obelisk has popped up in the King’s Forest.  They say that people in the area have been disappearing.  There was a group sent out to investigate, but none of them returned.  That was yesterday.”   “What kind of obelisk?” asked Niles.   “Nobody knew for sure,” replied Tantu.  “The tales say it lies on the edge of the wood, about five hours outside the city.”   “Likely another old wives’ tale,” scoffed Myoo.   “Well, it seems to have some people nervous, that’s for sure,” replied Alia.   Ehput-Ki lowered his head in thought.  “Should we investigate?”   “Why?” Myoo asked.  “Let the locals deal with it.  May I remind you that you’re all gung-ho to leave in six days?”   “It’s only a few hours outside town, Myoo.  But perhaps you’re right.  Jumping headfirst into this without checking the facts seems ill advised.  Let’s see if we can confirm any of these stories of people disappearing before we go further.  Let’s meet back here at sunset.”  Ehput-Ki rose and made his way to the door, followed by Niles a few minutes later.   “Who said the Mulhorandi paladin was in charge?” asked Myoo to no one in particular.   “No one,” said Alia, “he just said what we were all thinking.  Well,” she added, looking directly at the sorcerer, “maybe not all of us.” *    *    *   Lamplight illuminated six faces that evening, gathered around a table much like the one they’d shared earlier that day.  They each shared what they’d learned through the course of the day.  Tantu sighed and leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.   “So there have been a handful of disappearances,” he said, “all with one thing in common; they were last seen heading for the King’s Forest.”   “And we have a local adventuring group going out yesterday to investigate strange rumors from the woods, that has not returned.”  Niles also leaned forward, his elbows supporting his weight as he clasped his hands in front of him.  For a moment, he looked as if he were in prayer.  “It seems that Alia’s rumors have some substance to them.”   “Well, then,” piped in Myoo, “perhaps we should bring this to the attention of the local authorities.  I’m certain the Purple Dragons could plan some sort of excursion to investigate…” he trailed off as his eyes caught those of the paladin, who sat stoically regarding the rest of the group.  “Oh, no,” Myoo groaned.  “You didn’t.”   “The old woman was looking for her daughter,” replied Ehput-Ki.  “She’d gone to the forest two days ago to gather mushrooms.  Her daughter is her only source of income.  She asked me to help find her daughter.”   “Typical.”   “I have only promised that I would aid her,” said Ehput-Ki.  “None of the rest of you are obligated.”   “But you could need help,” said Alia.  “And four eyes will search faster than two.”   “Make that six eyes,” added Tantu.   “Eight,” chimed in Niles.   Kiy’s head turned toward Ehput-Ki slightly.  “Ten,” he said quietly.   Their gazes all fell on Myoo.  The sorcerer grimaced as he drained his wineglass, then looked around.   “Very well,” he said.  “Perhaps there will be something interesting about this obelisk worth my attention.” *    *    *   They set out early the next morning, riding northwest toward the King’s Forest, stopping only long enough for Ehput-Ki to obtain his new armor from the armorer’s shop.  Fewer came this way than in years past, with rumors of goblinoids hiding in the woods rampant among the cityfolk.  But the edges of the wood closest to Suzail were still considered safe enough, and attracted those looking to gather a few wild plants or catch some small game.  Though they arrived at the forest’s edge before noon, it was almost sunset before they managed to find their objective.   They approached the obelisk carefully.  Standing twice as tall as a human, the rectangular slab was made of a rough grayish-black stone.  Near the top of the stone were carved letters.   “Can anyone read those markings?” asked Ehput-Ki, looking up at the slab.   Alia squinted at the writing.  “No,” she replied, “but I think it’s magical writing.”   “Allow me,” said Myoo, stepping up before the obelisk.  A few words of arcane power slipped from his lips, and his already golden-hued eyes began to sparkle.  Glancing up at the carvings, he frowned.   “It’s written in a strange syntax,” he commented, more to himself than anyone else.  “But it’s not an incantation or ward.  It’s just a message.  ‘By the… time… you finish this… you will be… completely… surroun…”   “Drop your weapons!”   The six companions whirled around, weapons drawn, as in a large circle around them several figures stepped out of hiding.  There were at least fifteen of them, mostly human, armed with a variety of weapons.  They were a motley assortment of men and women; some wearing armor, others dressed in normal clothing.   “Stupid,” Alia muttered to herself, as she put her back to the obelisk.  “Stupid, amateur mistake…”</blockquote>

Verification