It was a hot early summer afternoon at the Purple Moon. The inn was full of interesting characters. A beautiful and mysterious woman sat at the bar with a huge barbarian. A half-elf and a half-orc sat in strange congress on the other side. And at a table in the corner a party was huddled over cold mugs of ale.
This party was both fair and gruesome. A handsome elven paladin sat at the table. He was obviously unabashed about his race. Next to him sat a demure half-elf cleric with large brown eyes and light brown hair. On the other side of the paladin was a half orc, hulking and fierce, with surprisingly gentle and simple eyes. Between the half-orc and half elf a very slight of build halfling cleric sat with a puzzled expression on his face.
The Half-elf cleric, Artanis, was describing the beauty of her goddess's temple just north of town.
"You should travel to see it. It is an easy 5 mile journey. The priest is very welcoming to all,” she smiled at the half-orc.
“You pretty cleric of Maida, temple must be pretty, too,” said Gorthag.
“The temple of Maida is also near this country inn that makes really good haggus!” said Luken, the halfling.
“It has been long since I have made supplications to Maida. She is a powerful ally of Andro and it would be well to visit her temple,” said Nim 'ohtar, the paladin.
“I must stay here. I am hoping to meet a friend of my fathers,” said Artanis.
“Well, let us go and honor the goddess, Maida!” said Luken.
The Temple and the Dryad
Late in the afternoon, Nim 'ohtar, Luken, and Gorthag arrived at the temple. It was an old and venerable structure full of eroding sculpture and a sulphurous scent, so common in places such as these. They entered the temple. There were a few women and men there who had brought offerings to the goddess.
Nim 'ohtar suddenly heard a strange sound in the shadowy corners: a clopping, like horses hooves hitting the marble. He moved toward the shadows and with great indignation beheld a centaur trying to sell the priests of Maida some Western ceramic figurines. Furious, he starting moving quickly toward the scene and raised his voice, “You there, Centaur. That is sacrilege! Selling wares in the temple of a goddess!”
But just at that moment the doors of the temple burst open and a Ranger strode in carrying a beautiful dryad.
“What is this?” demanded the High Priest of Maida.
“I found her a few miles northwest of the temple. She could hardly walk. I thought you Elf-lovers could help,” he said derisively.
The priest gave the Ranger a cold look. Then he turned a gentle face on the dryad. “What has happened to you, oak daughter?”
The dryad replied weakly, “Dead things attacked my tree! Please help me; they are killing her!”
The priest shook his head and called for water. “I have feared this. There are some ruins to the northwest of here that are the stuff of ghost stories and legend. But lately there has been some reports of strange activity around them. Evil, perhaps. It is a bad time for the protective veil of Maida to be lost to us. Fair paladin from the north, will you and your companions help us?”
Nim 'ohtar answered at once. “Yes. I will go. These others are not beholden to follow.”
“I enjoy fighting,” said the Centaur. “My name is Zagros. I will join you, but I'd like first choice on treasure we might find.” Nim looked at Zagros with a scowl. He was about to say no, but then he considered the barbarian might of the Centaur. Maybe he would be useful. He nodded his head in agreement.
“Gorthag crush tree-killers!” said Gorthag.
“Let us scour this countryside of evil!” piped Luken.
“I will go as well. There may be some giant spiders to kill. Spiders make horrible parents,” said the Ranger earnestly. They all looked quizzically at him.
“What is your name, stranger?” asked the priest.
“Korrigidor, Dread Bane,” he said fiercely. Zagros snickered.
The party set off. It was a short but disconcerting journey. Korrigidor was clearly insane. He rambled on about being raised by Giant Spiders and the abuse he endured as a child. He claimed to be the son of Finley, and Nim 'ohtar had to pray to Andro to stay his hand from running him through with his sword. I should have pity on him. He is a madman.
They found the dryad's tree. There were tracks leading from the tree up to the ruins at the top of the hill. The oak was dead and so the dryad must be as well. Gorthag wiped the tears from his eyes. “Fear not, sensitive creature of Saros,” said Nim 'ohtar, reaching up and placing his hand firmly on Gorthag's shoulder. “We will avenge her death.”
The Ruins
As the daylight dwindled, the party climbed the hill to which their trail had taken them. At the top, they saw a massive stone slab in the center of stone ruins. The stones were surrounded by weeds and covered with a hardy, if spindly, species of vine. Around the stone slab, the ground around appeared disturbed, as if a massive weight had been dragged across it.
Suddenly, the figure of a naked woman on her hands and knees appeared on the slab. She was chained at the neck, wrists, and ankles. Her back was scored with deep wounds. Her eyes were blackened, swollen, and barely open. She drew breath with a deep rattling sound.
She looked up and fixed her gaze on Nim 'ohtar. She said, “Fair one, help me to return to eternal sleep. They are awakening. This place was once theirs, and they are enslaving us again. You must use the key to close the prison door.” She then looked behind herself at the empty air. “There is no time ... below you will find the way.”
Then someone violently jerked the chain around her neck, and a man appeared. On his bare chest was the tattoo of a serpent. For a moment he surveyed the party. Then he grins sadistically as he raises a flail above the woman's back.
Nim 'ohtar let fly with an arrow from his bow. His aim was true, but the arrow passed through the man without leaving a mark. The man laughed, and, as his flail descended, the figures vanished.
"There is great evil here -- below," said Luken.
"Yes. I feel it, too," said Nim 'ohtar.
The party investigated the stone slab. It was plain limestone and about 8 ft log by 4 feet wide.
"The earth around the slab is disturbed. Perhaps from sliding the slab across the grass," observed Luken.
"Let us move it. Zagros, can you help us?" asked Nim 'ohtar.
They tied rope around the corners of each slab and then the Centaur grasped and pulled while the rest of the party pushed. Their efforts revealed a stone staircase going down into the ground.
1 comment:
Ohh, I love the beginning!
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