Post by Aeter on Jun 7, 2012 14:23:34 GMT -6
“But that’s not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have just landed in them, usually - their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn’t. And if they had, we shouldn’t know, because they’d have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on - and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end”
- J.R.R. Tolkien
The following works are compiled from Professor Wikkit Scrumbottom as per the events of the previous era telling the story of the men and women that came to decide the fate of our world. They are considered incomplete and will be compiled as time progresses.
Chapter I: Life's Bazaar
"It's difficult to tell exactly how the fabled adventurers met. Some say they were thrown together by the eddies of fate that knew that the appointed time was coming. Some say it was the celestial scales of balance and neutrality that deemed it time to bring forth a force of great good to combat the great evil rising in the world. It was only their first appearance sighted by Cleric Ruphus Laro that we can go by as a time when these then-unknown members assembled within Cauldron."
The PCs -- Belach, Elizabetha, Zanorin, Naralon, and Shona -- heard a scuffle within a nearby alleyway. Within was a man being beaten and abused by two thugs with painted faces, the cross symbol of St. Cuthbert clearly visible around the neck of the victim. After scaring the thugs off and Shona utterly failing at climbing the nearby building, the party is thanked profusely by the injured cleric and asked to join him in returning to the Church of St.Cuthbert. The party obliged, if reluctantly, and came to the church where they met the acting high cleric, Jenya Urikas. Tea and warmth was had, before Jenya came to the party with a plea for help. The following information was obtained:
- Four children were kidnapped from the local orphanage three nights ago. Their names were Deakon, Evelyn, Lucinda, and Terrem. The children are the most recent victims in a series of strange disappearances and robberies.
- The orphanage has two common bedchambers on the second floor -- one for girls, the other for boys. Two children were taken from each room. None of the resident staff heard or saw anything.
- The orphanage has barred windows and excellent locks protecting its doors. The children are locked into their rooms at night to prevent any midnight mischief.
- In the wake of the kidnappings, the Church of St. Cuthbert has publicly vowed to locate the missing children and bring the kidnappers to justice.
- To locate the children, Jenya borrowed an item from the church's vault called the Star of Justice; an artifact of great power in divination. Only the church's high priest is supposed to use it, but in his absence, Jenya felt justified calling on the mace's great power.
- Jenya used the mae to ask the question, "Where are the children who were abducted from the Lantern Street Orphanage?". The response she received was a cryptic riddle. She wrote the riddle down and handed them the note:
"The locks are key to finding them. Look beyond the curtain, below the cauldron. Beware the doors with teeth. Descend into the malachite hold where precious life is bought with gold. Half a dwarf binds them, but not for long."
The PCs each received one cure moderate wounds potion with the crest of St. Cuthbert on it in return for their aid with the promise of a lump sum of 2,500 gold if they return with the children.
The party then turned to the Lantern Street Orphanage where they learned several key pieces of knowledge but none so important as discovering that all the locks originated from the locksmith, Keygan Ghelve. The other bit of information they received that two half-elves named Fario Ellegoth and Fellian Shard were also seeking the children and had come to the same conclusions.
With the departure of Belach, two new members joined the party: Ivanika and Victor. Relatively unknown but pointed in the direction of the locksmith by those two half-elves, the two easily melded into the party where, after a short bout with the proprietor of Ghelve's Locks named Keygan Ghelve, learned several key points of information.
- The kidnappers took his rat familiar, Starbrow. His rat familiar is located in a dark place within one mile and, through his empathic link, he can sense the rat's hunger and fright.
- The kidnappers include two types of creatures: 'tall ones' and 'short ones'. The tall ones resemble naked, hairless, genderless humans with blue pupilless eyes and gray skin that change color, allowing them to blend perfectly with their surroundings. They are usually encountered in pairs or threes and often leave the shop wearing cloaks. The 'short ones' are sinister, gnomelike creatures with pallid skin, large noses, and soft black hooves for feet. They wear black cloaks and cowls that help them hide in shadows.
- The kidnappers share a common language (The party learned this to be Undercommon)
- If the kidnappers have a leader, Keygan hasn't seen one.
- Keygan gave the kidnappers three different-sized skeleton keys that can open most of the town's locks. One of the 'tall ones' carries the keys on a silver ring.
- Jzadirune was a small enclave inhabited by gnome spellcasters. The enclave was abandoned 75 years ago after a magical plague called the Vanishing swept through it. THe disease caused several of Jzadirune's residents to slowly fade away into nothingness. Keygan doesn't know whether the plague still poses a threat.
- Jzadirune's doors are gear-shaped and designed to roll to one side or the other. Many of them bore traps that only the gnomes could safely bypass
And, so, down into Jzadirune the party ventured. Several doors were passed, each one holding the gnomish runes of the enclave's name. As the party found their way through the halls of Jzadirune, they heard the callings of a dwarf whom was also drawn into the enclave in search of the missing children under the guide of those same half-elves from earlier. Bruetus made the last member of the party as they ventured through to seek out the meaning of the riddle and find the children.
... Of course, until Victor began to fade away.