silentspace
First Post
"As to the staff, yes, I have seen pictures of one like it..."
Storms of Change IC Part 4
- Thread starter silentspace
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Manzanita
First Post
Manzanita Sparrow
"You no nought of the kingdoms of men, but they are there. Thousands, nay, tens of thousands of your kinsfolk live with in those kingdoms, and their lives are at stake in the coming war. There are those who grow food, who build homes, who craft tools and useful items. There are others who know only war. Who take what they can without recompense. There is a war brewing. A war in which the forces of law must triumph. It is for this reason that we are here. We would bring hope to the common folk of the world, who know nothing of war, only of their gardens and smithies. You can help us with this effort. Tell me, what do you know of this staff? Where have you seen its picture?"
"You no nought of the kingdoms of men, but they are there. Thousands, nay, tens of thousands of your kinsfolk live with in those kingdoms, and their lives are at stake in the coming war. There are those who grow food, who build homes, who craft tools and useful items. There are others who know only war. Who take what they can without recompense. There is a war brewing. A war in which the forces of law must triumph. It is for this reason that we are here. We would bring hope to the common folk of the world, who know nothing of war, only of their gardens and smithies. You can help us with this effort. Tell me, what do you know of this staff? Where have you seen its picture?"
silentspace
First Post
Alba listens to Manzanita with wide eyes. When she is done, she takes a moment to let it all sink in.
"I understand," Alba says. "The others, Anosh and Shoduk, they weren't just exploring. They were here to free the demon, and you came to stop them."
Alba looks at each of the group in turn, sighs, takes a seat, and explains.
* * *
There was a great demon lord who held sway in these lands, long before there were kingdoms of men. This demon was called the Lord of Rage. To appease the demon, many began to worship it, and a priesthood was formed, offering up sacrifices of their neighbors, and even their families. The land was filled with sorrow and despair.
Then a powerful group led by a warrior named Redbeard appeared. They struck against the demon's priesthood. This gained them the support of the people, who hid and sheltered them, and even fought alongside them. The demon itself was too powerful to slay, but Redbeard's band developed a plan. With the priesthood destroyed and the support of the people, the adventurers moved against the Lord of Rage, striking at it in its lair, deep in the earth. In an epic battle, Redbeard's band managed to confine the demon with magic wards, trapping it.
They sealed the demon as securely as they could, building a keep above it. They named this Linace Keep, after a priest of Pelor, a member of Redbeard's band, who felt it his duty to guard this spot. But when Redbeard's band left centuries ago to fight a dragon terrorizing the north, they never returned. Over the years the forest has reclaimed the land.
Alba's gnomes are the descendants of followers of Linace, and they are the defenders of the keep. They've built an underground community further beneath the ruins of the keep. Lower still is a network of caves and dungeons linked to the Underdark. There are two groups of note in the deep caverns. One is a group of cultists of the Lord of Rage, keeping their dark faith in the trapped demon. The other is a horde of half-fiends, children of the Lord of Rage. Both groups seek to free the demon, though none have come close to success. The groups are enemies of each other. The cultists feel the half-fiends lack true devotion to their lord. The half-fiends feel the cultists are fit only for being servants, slaves, and sacrifices.
And now, it seems, Goruka has discovered the existence of Linace Keep and the demon, and have sent a scouting party or parties to uncover it.
* * *
The history that Alba relates is not known to anyone in the party. She seems completely sincere, however. Is it possible that history has been rewritten?
* * *
A staff like the one in Manzanita's possession appears in some images of Linace.
"I understand," Alba says. "The others, Anosh and Shoduk, they weren't just exploring. They were here to free the demon, and you came to stop them."
Alba looks at each of the group in turn, sighs, takes a seat, and explains.
* * *
There was a great demon lord who held sway in these lands, long before there were kingdoms of men. This demon was called the Lord of Rage. To appease the demon, many began to worship it, and a priesthood was formed, offering up sacrifices of their neighbors, and even their families. The land was filled with sorrow and despair.
Then a powerful group led by a warrior named Redbeard appeared. They struck against the demon's priesthood. This gained them the support of the people, who hid and sheltered them, and even fought alongside them. The demon itself was too powerful to slay, but Redbeard's band developed a plan. With the priesthood destroyed and the support of the people, the adventurers moved against the Lord of Rage, striking at it in its lair, deep in the earth. In an epic battle, Redbeard's band managed to confine the demon with magic wards, trapping it.
They sealed the demon as securely as they could, building a keep above it. They named this Linace Keep, after a priest of Pelor, a member of Redbeard's band, who felt it his duty to guard this spot. But when Redbeard's band left centuries ago to fight a dragon terrorizing the north, they never returned. Over the years the forest has reclaimed the land.
Alba's gnomes are the descendants of followers of Linace, and they are the defenders of the keep. They've built an underground community further beneath the ruins of the keep. Lower still is a network of caves and dungeons linked to the Underdark. There are two groups of note in the deep caverns. One is a group of cultists of the Lord of Rage, keeping their dark faith in the trapped demon. The other is a horde of half-fiends, children of the Lord of Rage. Both groups seek to free the demon, though none have come close to success. The groups are enemies of each other. The cultists feel the half-fiends lack true devotion to their lord. The half-fiends feel the cultists are fit only for being servants, slaves, and sacrifices.
And now, it seems, Goruka has discovered the existence of Linace Keep and the demon, and have sent a scouting party or parties to uncover it.
* * *
The history that Alba relates is not known to anyone in the party. She seems completely sincere, however. Is it possible that history has been rewritten?
* * *
A staff like the one in Manzanita's possession appears in some images of Linace.
doghead
thotd
Lucan, human male.
A low rumble emerges from Lucan barrel chest.
A deamon, it cult followers and half-fiend progeny. What a tangled *and* thorny thicket we discover ourselves in. The only good news is that the cultists and fiends seem to hate each other to much to work together.
"And the staff? Please tell me that it does not have the power to break those wards."
A low rumble emerges from Lucan barrel chest.
A deamon, it cult followers and half-fiend progeny. What a tangled *and* thorny thicket we discover ourselves in. The only good news is that the cultists and fiends seem to hate each other to much to work together.
"And the staff? Please tell me that it does not have the power to break those wards."
Manzanita
First Post
Manzanita Sparrow
Manzanita sighs. "This is grave news indeed. And not very promising. I doubt anyone actually wants to free the demon. But various forces yearn for power. And they have heard that there is power here."
"Our mission was to find and explore this keep. It might be useful as a military base for Shillen. But more importantly, we were to learn about the former rulers, who, after they left, were said to walk the earth like gods. It's interesting that they didn't return after their war with the dragon, since they were said to survive."
"In any case, we must not leave yet. Since we're here, we would be well to continue to search for useful items of power. But we must be wary not to dismantle the defenses that keep the demon in check."
"Can you show us other places you have seen images of this staff. That might give us a clue where else to search or how to activate its powers."
Manzanita sighs. "This is grave news indeed. And not very promising. I doubt anyone actually wants to free the demon. But various forces yearn for power. And they have heard that there is power here."
"Our mission was to find and explore this keep. It might be useful as a military base for Shillen. But more importantly, we were to learn about the former rulers, who, after they left, were said to walk the earth like gods. It's interesting that they didn't return after their war with the dragon, since they were said to survive."
"In any case, we must not leave yet. Since we're here, we would be well to continue to search for useful items of power. But we must be wary not to dismantle the defenses that keep the demon in check."
"Can you show us other places you have seen images of this staff. That might give us a clue where else to search or how to activate its powers."
silentspace
First Post
Alba looks at Manzanita quizzically. "They survived? It's strange that they did not return..."
Then, after a moment's pause, "'This' staff? You are holding Linace's staff?" A gasp goes through the crowd. "Please, follow me."
The gnomes take the group down some steep stairs to their lair. This level, lower than the keep's dungeons, has different stonework. It is gnomish stonework, and is newer, though still many centuries old. There are maybe a dozen brightly lit galleries connected by hallways. Most of the doors are sized for smallish-small persons. You realize there are many more smaller chambers beyond, that would be difficult for medium-sized persons to go through (Zook can go into these chambers, though he feels quite large in them). Several of the large galleries hold murals of Redbeard's band performing heroic deeds against cultists and demons. Linace is seen in some of the murals, though never with the staff. Alba points out one image of Linace holding the staff as he is conducting some sort of ceremony.
"I don't believe Linace used the staff against the demons, only for religious ceremonies. The levels below are extremely dangerous. I would advise against going below. We believe the demon is still safely locked away.
"It is said that after he was trapped, but before he was fully entombed, the demon swore that he would serve whoever could free him for a year and a day. It is said that many came to free the demon and gain it's services, but none could get past Redbeard's Band. With the aid of many bards, Redbeard began to spread rumors far and wide, rumors that the demon didn't exist and was just a myth. There were quite a few funny songs made, poking fun at evil, gullible people who went searching for the demon only to find nothing and look foolish. They even created new history books, erasing any mention of the demon. After Redbeard's band left, our ancestors did what we could to continue that tale. Over time, those who had actually lived under the demon's rule passed away.
"Now that you know about the demon, what will you do?"
Then, after a moment's pause, "'This' staff? You are holding Linace's staff?" A gasp goes through the crowd. "Please, follow me."
The gnomes take the group down some steep stairs to their lair. This level, lower than the keep's dungeons, has different stonework. It is gnomish stonework, and is newer, though still many centuries old. There are maybe a dozen brightly lit galleries connected by hallways. Most of the doors are sized for smallish-small persons. You realize there are many more smaller chambers beyond, that would be difficult for medium-sized persons to go through (Zook can go into these chambers, though he feels quite large in them). Several of the large galleries hold murals of Redbeard's band performing heroic deeds against cultists and demons. Linace is seen in some of the murals, though never with the staff. Alba points out one image of Linace holding the staff as he is conducting some sort of ceremony.
"I don't believe Linace used the staff against the demons, only for religious ceremonies. The levels below are extremely dangerous. I would advise against going below. We believe the demon is still safely locked away.
"It is said that after he was trapped, but before he was fully entombed, the demon swore that he would serve whoever could free him for a year and a day. It is said that many came to free the demon and gain it's services, but none could get past Redbeard's Band. With the aid of many bards, Redbeard began to spread rumors far and wide, rumors that the demon didn't exist and was just a myth. There were quite a few funny songs made, poking fun at evil, gullible people who went searching for the demon only to find nothing and look foolish. They even created new history books, erasing any mention of the demon. After Redbeard's band left, our ancestors did what we could to continue that tale. Over time, those who had actually lived under the demon's rule passed away.
"Now that you know about the demon, what will you do?"
silentspace
First Post
"Our intelligence of the cultists and half-fiends is not exact, but we will tell you what we know. The cultists are mostly priests. They have a great temple many hundred feet below. We're not sure how many priests there are, but we guess around 50. They have a large number of undead servants, mostly skeletons and zombies, and some ogres and trolls, maybe 10 total."
"The half-fiends are further still below the earth, in vast caverns with underground lakes. Their numbers are far greater, at least several hundred, and they have many warriors and mages in addition to priests. Unlike the cultists, the half-fiends have dealings with other underworlders, though the extent of these relations is unknown to us."
"The half-fiends are further still below the earth, in vast caverns with underground lakes. Their numbers are far greater, at least several hundred, and they have many warriors and mages in addition to priests. Unlike the cultists, the half-fiends have dealings with other underworlders, though the extent of these relations is unknown to us."
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Manzanita
First Post
Manzanita
"Oh. So there are some who would try to free the demon. This is bad news. But probably beyone the scope of our mission. The crux of the matter is how we can save Shillen. Or if we can save Shillen. It seems now that the rumors the Dharmans heard relate to the demon and Redbeard. When they left to fight the dragon, it's unlikely they left powerful magic items sitting around. If they did, they probably relate to keeping the demon warded up. So I would be reluctant to tamper with them."
She sighs and bows her head briefly.
"Well, good Alba. Do you know this area well? Do you, perchance, know about a well we passed on the way in. It radiated magic. We would also be interested in more history of Redbeard and his team. Are there books or tapestries that tell more of them that we could see?"
"Oh. So there are some who would try to free the demon. This is bad news. But probably beyone the scope of our mission. The crux of the matter is how we can save Shillen. Or if we can save Shillen. It seems now that the rumors the Dharmans heard relate to the demon and Redbeard. When they left to fight the dragon, it's unlikely they left powerful magic items sitting around. If they did, they probably relate to keeping the demon warded up. So I would be reluctant to tamper with them."
She sighs and bows her head briefly.
"Well, good Alba. Do you know this area well? Do you, perchance, know about a well we passed on the way in. It radiated magic. We would also be interested in more history of Redbeard and his team. Are there books or tapestries that tell more of them that we could see?"
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