Told by ValdaraThere were three air ships in Rancara, rather than the usual two; a (relatively) small flying castle was also present, made from gold and living crystal. I arrived, riding Malaise, my war camel. I saw Elrika, and, amidst a party of road-weary ork mercenaries, there was a striking elven woman on a desert horse, with the banner of a Theran House - specifically the house I served. The guard was giving her difficulty over bringing her entourage into the city, but she seemed to making a fool out of him even as he attempted to stop her. One of the guards approached me and summoned me to approach the noblewoman and she retained my services as a guide for nine silvers a day. Her small band of thirty or so ork mercenaries was allowed into the city, and she and I headed off towards the marketplace. I showed Lady Kerowyn the casban, and purchased various items for her. We encountered my companions in the square, and they were slightly miffed because they had thought that they had retained my services indefinitely. I agreed to meet them later and then escorted Lady Kerowyn to the Theran Quarter.
We found that her mother had cut of her funds, taken her clothes, and given her a stack of notes to deliver to functionaries scattered across half of creation. She was barred from House Zangian's section of the Theran Quarter. I followed her around the city in her distraught state, comforting her and relieving her of her diplomatic packages. I found to my surprise and dismay that she considered me her only friend. After wandering around the city for a while, we found my companions at the docks, and, after introductions, I led them to a most excellent (and expensive) Indresan restaurant. The food seemed to bother Gairten somewhat and Elrika drank great quantities of water, but the rest of us enjoyed it a great deal. During dinner, Lady Kerowyn offered to hire us - pointedly excluding Gairten by not even looking in his direction. Gairten cast a spell, gluing her hand to her fork, and then freed her, although she couldn't be sure that he was the one who cast it. This allowed us to get a discount from the owner, after accusing him of using cursed silverware. She extended her offer, and we agreed that we would, at least as far as Baltazar. Afterwards, we met at the Boar's Head, where I told my companions what I had found out about our new employer, and her mother, one of the Generals who had aided the Therans in conquering the desert.
When we met the next morning, at the North gate, Elrika discovered a whole in her pack, and a trail of scorch marks leading west into the desert. Kerowyn was very confused over some spells which Elrika cast to aid us as well as Gairten's spell which he demonstrated to her, calling it resist fire. Gairten then began to float on the air, smiling all the while at Kerowyn, and swiftly flew forward, performing loops and finally crashing unceremoniously into the ground afterwards. After a day of walking through the desert, we were suddenly surrounded by the Jackalmen, who were interested in their vision of Sanep. My companions and I finally agreed to be tested. A hairless, albino Jackelman, who sent us down into the valley said, "You will walk down into the valley. You will not look back. You will be tested three times… You will see something at the end, and report it to me. If you try to run, we will cut you down." The men started to cast some ritualistic spell by chanting, and then told us to run. As we ran, we became faint and tired. There was a black and red flash, and we heard a woman's crying. We found her - weeping on the ground with blood on her hands. When Kerowyn questioned her, she said, "He has been killed - they killed him. They killed my husband, for his brother, Malik is very jealous. He taught the men to farm, and now the land will starve. To bring him back, you must journey to the west, through the ocean and the wailing souls, through the place where there is nothing, and past the Guardian of the Gate." When we told her we would do this, she smiled and vanished.
We ran on, and came to the ocean. There was a boat there, made of sking and bone. We embarked, and set to rowing across the sea. We heard a faint wailing sound, all whispering in chorus: "Hello…Hello…Strangers…Strangers…" There were faces in the water who told us they would scream if we tried to pass. We each had to offer something to pass. I gave them the last ten years of my life; Tarhoun gave them the spot at the center of his shield, Elrika swore not to enter a building for ten years and a day, but this way rejected - so she swore to hold this oath for one day out of every seven. Instead, they told her she would sleep in view of the stars or she would not sleep at all. Gairten gave them his gift of Air Speaking, and Kerowyn said she would sing their song monthly. They said they would drive her mad if it did not please them. They allowed us to pass.
We came to the shore, and walked until we found the place of nothing - a swamp of blackness. We held hands, and stepped into the darkness, one by one. We encountered five individuals. Among them was my dead sister, who told me I would avenge her. A woman named Rill told Elrika her father was coming, and would be killed if she did not help him. An elven woman told that she regretted not saying goodbye. She told him that he awoke something and that he must find Martek. Kerowyn's father then approached us, but I could not understand him. Last, the boy who Gairten blasted accused Tarhoun of betrayal, and gave us a message, and told us to desist, as he began to burn again, telling us he would destroy us they next time he saw us. Elrika struck at him with her sword and he returned to the void.
We came to the gate, and, as we passed through it, we saw the Guardian, a giant, white, maggot ridden Jackalman. A spirit ran past him, but I stopped him with a spirit-grip and he quickly thanked me for helping, running off again. The Guardian told us that "the Burier", on who is not to be named. He told us to find the Maggot-Burrier, and then bade us go, saying that he would try to stay alive long enough to help us. We entered the kingdom of the dead. Maggots and locusts ate at them. One demanded that I go back to teach our people in the old ways, and to free them from the Therans who brought this upon them.
She then sent us to a pyramid, where Tarn waited. We found two immense figures - Sanep and Tarn, their feet being eaten by maggots, the right side of Sanep being dead. We told Tarn that we would bring the water back to the river. Then Gairten told Sanep that he would put out the fire, and he told us that he could not help us find Martek. A man suddenly ran in, more or less torn to shreds, with a hole where his chest should have been. Sanep ordered him to go immediately, but Tarn told him to speak. He was followed by a pack of flaming jackals, but Sanep caused them to stop. He spoke: "I was Pelzamon, last Pharon, before the Theran emissary came. I was frightened and jealous, and killed him. We fought a war against them, and we lost. As they stormed the city, I tore my heart out, and cursed the land. I abandoned my people, and caused more desolation then the Therans ever could." He plucked out an eye and told Kerowyn that she was to deliver it Shivalahala, the High Priestess, who could tell us where to find Athis. He then told us of four Horrors who plague him: the devil in the fire, the temptress of the air, the plague in the water, and the maggots of the earth.
Then we awoke, and Kerowyn held a beautifully ornate flat jeweled eye in her hand, and we had only run ten yards. She placed it over her head, and the Jackalmen were upset when they saw the eye around Kerowyn's neck. The albino Jackalman told us that he did not know where to find Shivalahala, but told us of towers buried among the sands of the river. He said the Jackalmen would not harm us. The Jackalmen howled, and began to lope off. Finis
Top
What's New Main Page Disciplines Eternal Library Campaign Web Guide Links
Questions? Comments? See something that's missing? Contact the Webmaster.