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Message: <blockquote data-quote="xnosipjpqmhd" data-source="post: 2807891">Tales of the Bloody HellBook Two: The Tree of Life Session 1 (from 28 Nov 2003)A gloom hung about the crew of the Bloody Hell. Of late they had foiled a plot by a long-dead Phaedran wizard to engulf the Western Lands with an army of mutated submen. But for all their troubles, they ended up as unwelcome guests in Werewood, lying bloody and penniless among the grim Dhuna.To raise spirits, Vidian proposed a return to civilisation, perhaps to be followed by some profitable mercenary work. So the heroes set out for the Seven Kingdoms. Motar requested a layover in his hometown of Shattra, where his family lived. Vidian agreed.Within a few hours, the windskiff approached the valley where Shattra lay nestled near … The Bloody Hell hovered a few feet off the ground while the heroes descended the starboard ladder. Dar elected to remain aboard to guard the ship.Perhaps the fact that no villagers could be seen should have been the first clue of trouble. All of the residents were gathered in a large communal hall in the centre of the cluster of ramshackle huts that made up Shattra. Determined to find out more, the heroes entered the building.“You!” shouted an old crone. “You are bewitched!” She pointed a crooked finger at Motar. “And the sorcerous ones around you are to blame!”“Mother, you are—” Motar began, but before he could protest, a gap-toothed old man spoke in a deep, booming voice. He described three omens which had befallen the town before Motar’s return. In each case, a single eye was seen as having evil significance. Motar’s return to Shattra bearing only one good eye seemed to be the final piece of evidence needed to brand his compatriots as witches. When the old man’s accusations were finished, the mob forced the heroes out of the hall and into the muddy street.“If anyone lays a hand on me,” muttered Gann, “they lose it.” Gann placed his hand on his broadsword, but a look from Vidian urged caution.“Lock them up with the other one!” shouted the gap-toothed man. Younger Arimites bristling with knives approached the heroes and herded them backwards toward a trapdoor set into a paved section off of a winding mountain road. Vidian reassured the others that they should appease the mob for now; escape was still possible. Beyond the trapdoor, they descended a wide stone stairway into a common cellar packed with barrels of chakos and crates of hard bread and dried meats.Yet the heroes were not the only witches sent to that dark place. A Zandir swordsmage was seated on a barrel in the corner. He told, after greetings and introductions were completed, of his capture the day before on charges of witchery. His name was Phantarl.Before the conversation in the dark cellar could turn into an uneasy silence, the angry Arimites returned and threw open the trapdoor. The early evening light was just beginning to create shadows of the great mountains all around the town as the heroes emerged.“Motar, we have reached a decision,” said the old man. "You must be freed from your bewitchment. To do this, we must kill those around you.” The younger Arimites approached with drawn weapons.Battle commenced. The heroes cut down their foes. As more Arimites entered the fray, the crew beat a hasty retreat to the Bloody Hell. Phantarl followed.The windskiff was still hovering right where it had been parked. Luckily the Arimites had not been able to board the ship while the heroes had been imprisoned. When he saw the rest of the crew approaching, Dar lowered the ship’s ladder and ran to the fight.The heroes spent a night hovering over Viridia. The following day, they docked in Cymril, and the young clerk recommended an inn called the Crystal Stroke. Then he handed a note to Vidian from Boldtooth, indicating that he had found something dangerous and Vidian should visit him first thing. Yet Vidian delayed, and this was to have dire consequences.The heroes checked into the Crystal Stroke and received some much-needed R&R. The innkeeper, named Dravin Har, treated them well, and they heard many things. One rumour that came to their ears was that the Phantasians have been riding aerial beasts called nizrini lately.Late at night, Vidian, Gann, and Motar visited the Lyceum Arcanum but were turned away by guards.The next morning, the heroes went to the Lyceum again to visit Boldtooth. His apprentice, an adept named Otep, said he may be found in his tower.The heroes found Boldtooth dead in his chair on the second floor of his tower, killed by an assassin. A note marked in the dead man’s palm read, “My key unlocks the mystery in my hard heads.”The heroes searched the tower and located a secret staircase to the third floor.Inside they found many unusual items, translations from Phaedran, and some magic equipment. Among the items found were a small silver gong, a ceramic jar full of amber beads, a jar with a severed paw in it, an old silver armband with red iron filigree of dragons, 800-year old Arduan scale mail and helm fashioned of bronze in the late Phaedran style, an exomorph hide, and a magical red leather robe. One of the translations was found sitting alone on the table. It is transcribed here in full: ---top of page---From the Chronicles of Ar’tec the Father……..Through time forgotten we have bloomed from this that men and those beasts that walk on two legs believe as legend.It’s roots run deep through all of us, it’s fruit nourishes our world and is the well spring of the gods.Yet a dangerous thing, this Tree of Life which can bestow many gifts. For some it brings enlightenment, for others the portal to thrust their evil back onto the world once more.I dream of rain that washes away the sand of time and runs into my single silver eye. The eye which guides my way to many doors in the slumbering hall of the sad children of Talislanta and their watch.But my eye is closed and hidden from viewa mere seed in the great fruit of Viridian where bridges spanto the Archaens that see allL’raat and his truthP’tog and his bloodSl’zan and his beautyFor their souls were lostThey were men and fragile in their gracethe chords of their life dangle from pale limbs stillsupporting the shardawaiting the darknessBut the torturous sweetness that is the Tree of Life endures---bottom of page---While leaving the tower, the heroes were attacked by Vird and a powerful female warrior. The attackers were defeated, and a large bug was found on the back of the female’s neck. Guards arrived and placed everyone under arrest.In a guardroom somewhere in the city, a captain of the guards presented the heroes with an ultimatum. They must clean up the mess at the tower and leave the city forever.Vidian protested, but the heroes finally agreed. They put all of the dead bodies into carts, along with everything from the third floor of the tower. They loaded these onto the Bloody Hell, then departed for Sindar, hoping that Dar may have some contacts there who could help decipher the mystery.TO BE CONTINUED</blockquote>

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