HML members arrive at Yallum's Tower. As they stepped inside, however, they were met with only silence. Where was the skull that they sought?
The Battle for Mondain's Skull: Part I
[Note: to read the stories that set up this scenario first, click here]
When Yallum appeared at Newcastle Keep several days past and alerted the residents that he had Mondain's skull and had used it to bring the banished Merick, Queen Ruby's father, back from the Ether, forces for the Queen began to make plans. That is how it came to be that forces of Her Majesty's Legion [HML] gathered to storm Yallum's Tower upon the Ice Isle. Unfortunately for them, Yallum appears to have anticipated their eventual attempt to reclaim the skull; several traps, as well as Yallum's minions, the Legion of Yallum [LoY] were waiting for them....
HML members arrive at Yallum's Tower. As they
stepped inside, however, they were met with only silence. Where was the skull
that they sought?
Yallum, however, had protected his Tower and the skull with several traps. Upon reaching the first landing, the troops of HML were met by an invisible barrier. Suddenly a creature appeared: Fae, known to be Yallum's pet. "My Master has placed a Ward here," she hissed. "Answer my Riddles to pass." HML troops were not expecting this, but they were game. "Very well, ask away."
Fae grinned and recited the first riddle:
A lonely wanderer, wounded with iron, I am smitten with war-blades, sated with strife,
Worn with the sword-edge; I have seen many battles, Much hazardous fighting, oft without hope
Of comforts or help in the carnage of war Ere I perish and fall in the fighting of men. The leavings of hammers, the handiwork of smiths, Batter and bite me, hard-eged and sharp; The brunt of the battle I am doomed to endure. In all the folk-stead no leech could I find With wort or simple to heal my wounds; But day and night with the deadly blows The marks of the war-blades double and deepen. What am I?
"A Shield," Vox Draconis answered immediately. Fae grinned. "Thou have guessed correctly," she said, somehow removing the barrier. "Thou may pass."
At that, the HML forces charged upstairs, only to be met with another invisible barrier upon the second landing. Fae laughed at their frustration, appearing beside them, and again repeated the warning: "My Master has placed a Ward here. Answer my Riddles to pass."
A strange thing hangs by a mans thigh, hidden by a garment. It has a hole in its head. It is stiff and strong and its firm bearing reaps a reward. When the man hitches his clothing high above his knee, he wants the head of that hanging thing to poke the old hole (of fitting length) it has often filled before. What am I?
"A sheath," someone answered. But this time Fae only grinned and shook her head, her eyes wild with amusement. "Nay, not a Sheath." Others pondered and answered in turn: "A pocket"; "a Sword"...but to these and many others, Fae merely shook her head and smiled..."Nay..." Thinking perhaps that they were being tricked, the forces threatened to loot the Tower in search of what they were looking for if Fae did not let them pass. But to every threat Fae would only reply, "Thou mayest search wherever Thee choose; but what Thee seek lies above."
Finally, when hope that they should solve the riddle was beginning to dim, Victoria, who had been pondering the riddle very carefully, suddenly smiled and said, "Let me pass, for I have the key." Fae looked disappointed that her riddle had failed to stump the embattled troops, but she merely smiled and said, "Thou art correct. Thy troops may pass..." And removing the last ward, Fae disappeared, letting HML pass through to the roof of the Tower....
Upon arriving at the roof, Her Majesty's Legion
was set to search for the Skull of Mondain when sudden shouts and the clang of
weapons met their ears, as members of the Legion of Yallum emerged from the
Shadows to defend their Master's home. Although seemingly outnumbered at first,
as one LoY fell, more of Yallum's minions kept emerging from the shadows to take
on the Queen's soldiers.
The battle raged on. Both sides fought well, but
slowly, inexorably, the tide turned in Yallum's favor as more and more of the
Queen's troops fell.
Eventually only Vendora remained to battle for
any hope of claiming Mondain's Skull. She fought long and hard, several times
managing to stumble out of the way long enough to tend her wounds, but
eventually she grew too weak and could resist no longer. With a final cry, the
Queen's troops were defeated, and although the Legion of Yallum had suffered
many casualties the Skull of Mondain remains in Yallum's evil hands.
It is unknown at this time whether Her Majesty's Legion plans to regroup and attempt a second try to wrest the Skull of Mondain from Yallum's grasp....
