Chapter 1
Greetings traveler, and welcome to the chambers of time. from here I the oracle am tasked to document all tales that have, are, and ever will happen. Come let me share with you one of these tales. Since time immemorial, long before the birth of any known mortal race, beings of great strength formed planes of power to support their very existence. Each being formed their own, casting it alongside all others with no concern of its elemental makeup or the make of those around it, primordial power surged as opposites collided and chaos was born, so began the era of the maelstrom. In the millennia that followed Chaos ruled supreme. The spiraling vortex of the astral sea was ravaged with wars raging and immortals slain as others sought their power. These wars brought existence to precipice of destruction. With the threat of their demise looming a council was formed, of those both powerful and willing to work together, those who opposed were cast out, banished to the nine hells and the outer reaches of the abyss. The plains were moved in a way that brought order, separating forces that oppose each other but binding them together in a single astral construct with the new martial plane crafted from all others as the center, and Law was born. The tale I have for you takes place in this era after the birth of Law.
We begin our tale on a lonely road, a single cart full of empty crates and boxes drives slowly Northward, several days travel separate it from the nearest towns. Five strangers adorn the small cart sitting in silence, as they have for the past few days. Not bearing the silence any longer the rotund red bearded dwarven driver sits up to begin a conversation, “So I know each of yu have yer reasons for wantin to go to Onyxrun, but the silence is killen me, so why is it that yu wanted to join me in me travels, I know the coin probably called some of yu, but I doubt twas the only reason.”
A hush returns after the dwarf, Brack Freebeard, finished his inquiry. Making him more uncomfortable than he was just moments before. This only lasted but a moment before another voice made itself heard coming from the Half-elf sitting in the back, “Well, I am headed to Farhelm to attend the Bardic College there.”
The human to his side speaks up, responding, “I am headed there too, not to attend, but they are gatherers of knowledge, something that I am very much interested in.”
The dwarf speaks up again, “So yer couple of Book worms are ye? What about you big man?” This comment directed to the large goliath staring into space.
“Wha-”, he responds almost as though having been woke from a sleep.Brack had set his gaze on the hulking figure that was tilting the cart on its axle, who was staring back with a confused look on his face. These blank stares continued to an uncomfortable length, but just before anyone broke the silence the cart jolted as a large stone sent the front driver side wheel into the air shattering upon contact with the ground. Every passenger yells simultaneously as the cart jars, skidding across the dirt path. The driver, Brack Freebeard, calls back to his passengers, “Is everyone alright?”
A sheepish voice peaks out from beneath the cart, “Yea”, a split second passes as the source of the voice realises that it had been exposed, “oops.”
With a grin on his face Brack looks over the edge of the cart down at a small halfling, “ Well ye were the one I was worried aboot, so I am glad yer alright.” The other passengers look aghast to the Dwarf as he hops off the cart. They share the thought and worry that they all had been so oblivious to their surroundings that an individual was able to join them for their trip and not once be noticed. “If any o’ ya got the ability to magically repair this wheal speak up, otherwise we got at least one night for me to fix ‘er up. … well, guess I’ll get ‘er started. You lot get a camp going.”
The small halfling climbs out from under the cart a small mouse climbing onto its shoulder, sheepishly addressing the others, “He-hello everyone.” A stunned silence sits among the the group of strangers as they sat staring at the diminutive character standing there before them.
Then in a bout of movement the cart bounces as Uthal steps off. Then with his deep cavernous voice Uthal speaks to the others, “Well we best get started. Camp aint gonna make itself.” With that the others promptly exited the cart and began gathering supplies, setting out tents, and building a fire, all while unbeknownst to them they were being watched from the trees by glowing obsidian eyes. The stone that broke their wheel was placed there intentionally. After a few hours of work a comfy campsite had been constructed, and the group began settling in and settling down. “How Long?”
The small halfling looks to Uthal, “hmmm?”
“How long has you been down there,” Uthal reiterates his question.
Brack Freebeard breaks in responding, “Oh they’ve been down there since we left Ravenmoore.” Having broke into the conversation, Brack’s words prompt Reed to freeze in place. With a snap Reed consumes a scrap of trail ration with a deep swallow glancing to Brack, mouth ajaw as though to ask, how? “I have been running this route for decades you don’t think I would not inspect my cart before setting off?”
The small visage of Reed near trembles in fear, responds softly, “S-sorry…”
“For what?”
“I should have asked to join on the journey... I-I just can’t afford to pay you.”
“You don’t need to pay me. I was making this trip with or without companions, but these lot were looking to leave so better to travel in numbers was my thought. So feel free to join us up top for the rest of the Journey.”
“Th-thank you.”
“What should we call you by the way?”
“Reed and this is Chuck,” Reed proudly holds forward a small rodent seeking the acknowledgement of the group.
The half-elf, Nicolea, is the first to respond, “Well it is a pleasure to meet you both.”
The human, nose deep in a book, looks up adding in, “Greetings Mister Reed,” a slight hesitation of silence tolls over the group as he debates even recognizing the mouse before finishing, “Chuck.”
With a bow Reed let’s Chuck scurry back into its spot in their bag, “So what should I call all of you?”
“I am Victor,” beacons from within the cover of his book.
Nicolea sits up while listening intently, and responds, “Nicolea over here.”
Several seconds of uncomfortable silence again befalls the group, once again is broken by Reed’s voice directed to the Goliath, Uthal, who was staring into space, “what about you Big guy?”
“Wha-?”
“What should I call you?”
“Uthal.”
“Nice to meet you Uthal! And you?”
Reed was now looking to the Dragonborn, and while this transpires both Victor and Nicolea also stop eating and looked over to the armored figure intently. Several more seconds of silence were only broken by Nicolea’s voice, “Don’t worry about that one, he hasn’t spoken this entire journey.”
Suddenly the black scaled, heavily armored figure snaps out, “It’s Denak.”
In shock Nicolea, eyes flickering, sputters out, “What?”
“The names Denak!”, the scratching deep voice tares out of the hunched dragonborns maw. A stunned look befalls group as these words are spoken by their Dragonborn Companion. With the group now knowing each other’s names they finish their meals and begin a rotational watch for the night. Their camp was just off the road a little way past the tree line with a small fire designating the center. The watch order went through Uthal, Denak, Reed, Nicolea, and finished with Victor as the sun rose over the Horizon. As the group roused they gathered around the cart to the scream of the dwarf.
“Where are they?!”
Reed scrambles over to the source of the scream, “where are who?”
“Not who, what. The boxes aren’t in the wagon,” Viktor points out approaching stokely.
Brack Freebeard turns to the approaching group, “me crates are missing! I need those when we get to Onyxrun! First the wheel, now this…? Say I have to fix the wheel, could you lot find me crates.”
Reed looks to Brack and with a halfling smile responds, “Sure!”
“Of course,” Nicolea agrees. Uthal grunts to the group, which they assume is him agreeing as well.
Looking over the thin frames of those who had already agreed to aid in finding the crates, “you’ll need our muscle,” Denak adds.
“I am not doing anything right now, I guess,” Viktor shrugs.
The silence is broken as Uthal calls out his deep mountainous voice echoes out, “Hey!” It wasn’t until now that the group look over to Uthal who was standing over a trail of straw that leads deeper into the forest pointing the way it goes. Denak steps past Uthal nodding to him as he does.
“Good eye,” Denak says to Uthal as he enters the forest, which Uthal responds to with an acknowledging grunt.
The Dwarf is left to craft a new wheel and attach it to the fractured chassis as the group streams through the tree line to begin following the path of straw left behind by whomever stole the crates. The trail leads deep into the forest, to the point where the large ancient trees fold together forming an unsurpassably thick canopy. The few beams of light that peer sheepishly in through the thick ceiling of leaves are only accented by the thick suffocating shadows of the forest below. Beedy eyes gleam down to the bizarre clutch trailing straw, as though waiting to pounce on anyone who misses a step. After nearly an hour of tracking the thin scraps of straw, the path breaks into a clearing with a large stone structure looming in the center, partially collapsed under its own weight and the ever pressing force of ages of abandonment, sits silently, awaiting discovery. The remains of the crates in a mound of fragments, and splinters, sit beckoning investigation on the structures steps. Viktor steps forward studying the scene, “That is very strange. Who or what did this? And more importantly what were they looking for?”
“And did they find it?” Denak adds as a dark possibility.
Nicolea looks to the group and then to the building that stands before them, “I’m interested in that building. What’s it doing here?”
To which Viktor quickly responds, “Well many years ago, most humanoids roamed as tribal people. If I were to guess this is probably one of the early bastions of civilization, now abandoned for who knows how many years.”
The small voice of Reed pipes out asking, “Well should we check it out?”
“We should get back to the cart,” Denak quickly refutes.
Nicolea though feels differently saying, “I doubt that old dwarf is expecting us back yet. Why be so hasty with bad news?”
Viktor quickly agrees with the half-elf, Nicolea, “It would interesting to see what relics were left behind by the people who occupied this building.”
Uthal: Did Someone say something, about something in the crates?
Victor: True, we might be able to find information on who took the crates, or even the perpetrator themselves.
Narrator: Unbeknownst to the others, the Halfling had slinked away from the group and into the consuming maw of the Broken Ruins. (Character Dialogue IBG to catch up to Reed) Stepping through the decrepted Archway, the fragmented beams of sunlight light the inner sanctum, a hall thrice the width of the door stretched deeply leading into an atrium like chamber seemingly empty with exception of two old braziers simmering with recently extinguished flames, two side rooms lead from the chamber towards the wall that held the entrance both empty, minus the stones that had collapsed in from the crumbling foundations.
(IBG Approaching)
Denak: Where did the halfling go?
Uthal: That way.
Victor: What is he doing?
Nicolea: I don’t know, but I am not letting him have all the fun, come on.
(IBG end)
Reed: Oh sorry guys you were arguing and I didn’t want to interrupt you but check this place out it is so old and look someone was here recently.
Victor: Yes this is quite intriguing what do think they were doing here?
Narrator: The Group funneled into the the main chamber while a black feathered avian esk humanoid crouches, watching from above, unseen, hidden behind a pile of stone. As the group files through the short passage they each go about exploring different aspects of the chamber. Victor ever observant steps to the braziers in hopes of determining how long it had been since they had burned out. Nicolea scanned the walls taking in the story that was told by the large plaster mosaics, an ancient tongue having been used to inscribe some phrase repeatedly in the molding nearest the ceiling. Reed went about watching Chuck scurry around the room burrowing into small piles of debris and paying little attention to the activities of their companions. Uthal stared blankly out the entrance to insure no one was coming, completely oblivious to what was hiding above him. As all of this was happening Denak looked about uneasy as though he was being watched.
Nicolea: Hey guys check this out! The walls!
Reed: what? Oh , wow, pretty, what does that writing say?
Nicolea: Looks like an odd form of Celestial.
Victor: It is but it looks like who ever wrote this was very learned they have intertwined Celestial Abyssal and Infernal into a single phrase.
Nicolea: What does it say?
Victor: I am unsure. I do not know how to speak any of those languages but from what I remember seeing back in my family’s libraries I think it says something along the lines of “beyond the blaze and eternal gaze, sits a piece of all destruction, only innocence may go further, but a plea to not enter.”
Narrator: As Victor goes about translating a script as alien to him as to rest his party Chuck scurries out of view of Reed, who gives chase as to not lose sight of the friendly rodent. The two run in and out of the side rooms, paying less regard for their surroundings with each pass. As Denak steps into the center of the chamber Reed trips over Denak’s large tail tumbling forwards, grabbing the edge of one of the braziers, only for it to flip over spraying hot coals across the center of the room burning both Reed and Denak. As the coals scatter across the broken marble floor, the temple shakes and the floor beneath Reed and Denak sinks into a steep staircase leading down into a hidden basement. Through the rumbling, the old temple begins to collapse, only to remain standing after the stairs were found to be complete. A silent moment passes when the central ceiling caves in stones harmlessly fall around Reed and Denak, pattering down stairs as a monstrous six foot long centipede falls atop the unwary dragonborn. In a surge of energy Denak hurls the chittering mass of legs down the stairs. Impacting hard and sliding across the marble floor the hundreds of spined legs find purchase in the breaks and cracks across the ground as the giant centipede reverses its momentum and barrels up the stairs. Instinctively, Reed steps to the side drawing a rapier and stabs as the centipede lunges at Denak. Reeds blade finds purchase between the citanis plates of the carapace into the centipede. The monstrous insect goes limp its body falling to the floor, with it Reed is pulled forward from the creatures mass. Denak reaches for one of the handaxes on his hip as two more centipedes of similar size clamor forth from a nest in the ceiling making way to the door. As they immerge Denak turns quickly launching the hand axe towards one of the centipedes crushing the carapace and killing it as it falls to the ground. Uthal, who had been staring out the doorway and had braced himself in it when the ruins shook, turns to see the remaining centipede launching itself from the ceiling in his general direction. Quickly drawing his great axe from his back he swings it down in an arch slaying the centipede in a spray of insect visceral as it splatters onto the marble floor.
Nicolea: Who let the bugs out?
Uthal: I think it was the Quaking…
Nicolea: Not what I was going for big guy.
Uthal: I don’t understand, What else could have caused it?
Victor: I believe he was attempting to make a joke.
Nicolea: Just drop it, please.
Reed: Hey Guys not to be rude…
Denak: Shut Up!!
Reed: s-sorry
Denak: Not you, you were going to mention the staircase weren’t you?
Reed: Y-yea… Guys I think I .. Did something?
Victor: Oh my, what have we here? A hidden basement? Should we check it out?
Uthal: Are you not the one to say that the temple itself was pleading us not to enter?
Victor: But think of the ancient knowledge that could await discovery below?
Nicolea: Maybe a good tale or two
Uthal: I only mention the walls say “No”.
Nicolea: Then we move downward, Denak, Uthal if you would.
Reed: Who has the torch it is pretty dark down there?
Victor: Allow me. Uthal if I could see your axe.
Uthal: no!
Victor: I merely wish to unlock the radiant potential hidden within it.
Uthal: You aren’t gonna touch my axe!
Denak: Could you use my sword?
Victor: Certainly. I apologize, Uthal, if I overstepped a boundary.
Narrator: Stepping over to Denak, Victor reaches out a hand and with his thumb rubs a glyph onto the base of the blade, as soon as he finishes, it erupts in a radiant light, but a light that does not exube heat from it. While this happens Denak grabs his shield from his back strapping it to his arm. Now with a torch like source of light, the group gathers behind Denak, heading into the darkness they step slow down each step, the ping of Denak’s heavy chainmail armor echoing cacophonously through whatever chamber lies in wait. The stairs break quickly leading down both to their right and left and the down again into the chamber below. The marble floor only continues but a few yards before coming to an underground lake. The glow of Denak’s sword reflects off the surface revealing nothing of the depth or what lies beneath but reveals a small Island some ways off rising from the depths holding aloft a pedestal on which is sat a small metallic object in the shape of a horn. The group steps to the water’s edge. Thick and opaque the water seems more like a sludge than actual water.
Reed: So what do you think that is?
Narrator: Reed says pointing across the cavernous lake.
Victor: Well if we are to trust the script above, which admittedly I may have mistranslated, I would assume that, that would be a piece of all destruction.
Reed: What do you mean?
Narrator: Before Victor could respond to the halfling’s question, a deep slurping could be heard from his other side, as Nicolea takes several steps in the thick, murky waters.
Nicolea: Does it matter? Let’s get a closer look.
Uthal: Wait stop!
Nicolea: Why? AAAHHH!
Narrator: A chain covered, decaying hand, bursts forth from the murky shallows grabbing hold of Nicolea’s leg and in a single instant throws him off balance causing him to fall splashing under the surface. Emerging from below, three zombified forms, draped with the remains of chainmail on which a strange golden symbol is emblazoned, moan loudly and begins to shuffle, through the thigh high water, menacingly toward the party on the shore. In a fit of adrenalin, and without a second thought, Reed fires an arrow, that finds its way under the shoulder blade of the being that assaulted Nicolea. Lurching forward from the impact the rotting figure snaps its head around to glare at Reed. Just then Reed realizes the consequences of shooting first, and in a panic darts to hide behind Uthal. Just as the zombified figure turns around to face Reed, Nicolea bounds to his feet, and oddly begins singing, not accompanied by music, or a chorus of voices, just his own voice, singing as though directing some energy with his voice first looking at his assailant, whose decaying brow twitches, and whose sinews holding it together begin to flex. Nicolea’s look then switches to Uthal. A grin forms on Uthal’s face, as he closes his eyes and reaches for his axe. With a deep breath Uthal begins to heft his axe. A glow emanates from Victor, who clutching his book like holy symbol asks for a blessing from the pantheon of knowledge, which with a flash of radiance on the hands and feet of Reed, Denak, and Uthal is granted. With a deep exhale Uthal’s eyes flash open, and he leaps forward between the two zombified figures that have yet to be engaged, striking hard into one of their sides, finding a resistance in the flesh he did not expect. Denak simultaneously raises his sword, and with two heavy steps into the murky water swings into the initial zombie, only to have his blow glance off the chains draped over the decayed form. In retaliation the zombie goes to strike Denak but finds its mind unable to fully commit to the strike, allowing just enough time for Denak to raise his shield in defence. Two attackers on him, Uthal utilizes his axe’s shaft to block the slamming fists from hitting him, and with a heavy shove pushes the two a step away from him.
As Uthal leaps forward removing himself as cover, Reed darts over ducking behind Victor simultaneously firing off another arrow. An arrow which strikes the eye socket throwing the zombie back and into the water where it bobs lifeless in the water. As the arrow strikes down the zombie nearest him, Nicolea changes his focus to one of the zombies striking Uthal, who with the words Nicolea sings, begins to stiffen as though it’s motter skills have been assaulted in some form. A grin similar to that of Uthal’s forms on Denak with the words of Nicolea’s continued song. As Reed’s arrow flies past Victor’s gaze he comes out of his state of prayer, pulling a light crossbow out from beneath his outer cloak revealing a glimpse of his scale armor. Firing off a bolt Victor strikes through the chain of the now stiffening zombie, Nicolea’s quarry. Axe raised Uthal brings it again into the side of his initial target, once again finding purchase but resistance that stops his blow part way, the other zombie near to him stumbling forward from an impact in its back. As Reed’s arrow strikes down the zombie with which Denak is engaged, he hefts his sword and shield and with heavy steps, resisted by the water he is in, charges over to Uthal’s conflict. With a heavy lunge, a strike that would have normally have missed, finds purchase. With the aid of Victor’s blessing and Nicolea’s song, the blade sinks through the ribs of the decomposing foe. Alone, remaining Zombie desperately swings at Uthal in an attempt to do something, anything, to the intruders, with no avail, being easily blocked.
Emboldened by the fall of 2 of their foes, Reed steps out loosing an arrow in the direction of the remaining zombie, and even with divine aid the shot flies wide splashing somewhere in the darkness. Nicolea, seeing only one enemy standing, begins to find an end to his song, the last zombie still twitching from every word. Victor, proud of his last shot hastily reloads, and accidentally fires off before aiming, the bolt driving into the ground at the edge of the water. A twang, as the bolt sinks into the dirt between the marble tiles, dirt and mud explode outward from the impact. Uthal, looking to end this encounter, swings his axe overhead, driving down into the collarbone of the remaining Zombie, causing it to slump under the force and fall lifeless into the water. The air about the cavern settles. A slow clapping befalls the group not from any of them but a new individual vested in heavy purple and black robes. Wearing a hood and alabaster mask, hiding all features, the humanoid vissage steps from the darkness menacingly.
Datul: Heh. I have waited quite some time now for a group innocent, foolhardy, and stupid enough to open this vault. The Piece of Orcus is very valuable, and … very powerful. I see you already dispatched of its guardians for me, who would have thought the guardians protecting the key to freeing a Demon lord, would put up such little of a fight.
Narrator: Not wanting to hear another insidious word from the pompous, arrogant, stranger, Uthal grips his axe and goes to charge but as he takes a step, the figure brandishes a wand, capped with a clenched fist, passing it over each individual of the party, black ethereal chains spring forth binding each of them rendering them paralyzed. Holding up a single finger on the other hand, and waving it, the figure steps forward into Uthal’s face. The alabaster masked face, appearing to have deep sockets where eyes should be, stares uncomfortably long at the large frozen Uthal before stepping onto, and then across the surface of the water, to the small island. With its free hand the stranger picks up, what is now known to the group as a relic, placing it into a strange bag hidden beneath a layer of robes, holding firm on the fisted wand. With the relic stowed, the figure produces a dagger from beneath another fold of robes, and with a flick of the wrist ignites an obsidian blade, dragging it slowly through the air, the smell of sulfur emanating from what becomes a rip in the fabric of reality. When the portal becomes large enough to, the hooded figure steps through. Once safely on the other side the figure looks back to the party for just a split second before the rip closes with a thunderous clap. The black chains shatter, the group regains control of their bodies, but are left baffled and confused.
Uthal: What was that!?!
Victor: Honesty, Uthal, I do not know. I didn’t recognize any symbol that would depict them a worshiper of any known deity. He mentioned that horn being an artifact related to Orcus. If that is true we may have just witnessed the beginning of something terrible.
Reed: I-I am so sorry.
Victor: Why?
Reed: If I had not knocked over those coals, we wouldn’t have come down here.
Nicolea: We all decided to come down together, none of the blame lies on you.
Denak: No small one the blame falls on the one who strode so quickly into unknown territory.
Nicolea: Hey, you can’t tell me that you didn’t want to get a closer look?!
Denak: But precautions could have been taking!
Uthal: Stop!
Victor: Fighting amongst ourselves won’t do anything! I suggest we continue our journey as planned but from this point we are bound together and must find a way to stop whoever that was. Do you all agree?
Nicolea: Count me in!
Uthal: Yes
Reed: I mean, sure.
Narrator: Several uncomfortable moments pass as the group stands staring silently at Denak.
Denak: I don’t have a choice, do I?
Reed: I don’t think so.
Denak: Fine, I’m in.
Reed: Yay! So should we head back to Mister Freebeard?
Victor: Indeed.
Narrator: Reinvigorated with a newfound purpose Reed bounds up the stairs, slowly followed by the other’s. When Victor, Denak, Nicolea, and Uthal fully emerge on the ground floor they become worried as Reed is nowhere to be seen. The group immediately begins searching calling out for Reed. A moment passes, Nicolea steps out next to the pile of crates. Calling out into the woods, Nicolea is unaware as Reed emerges from underneath the pile of wood and straw. Sneaking up behind Nicolea, gathering the silent attention of the others, Reed yells out sending a panicked Nicolea seemingly feet into the air. The rest laugh hysterically, as Nicolea grasping his chest begins catching his breath, lets out a chuckle of his own. Spirits slightly elevated, the group begins their trek back in the direction from which they came, with as much of the splintered crate remains as they can hold, in hand. The journey back is nearly silent, accented only by the soft sounds of the wilderness. Upon reaching the road, the group emerges from the bushes and are quickly greeted by the sound of their Dwarven companion.
Brack Freebeard: Hello, there! Took ye long enough I got the Wheel fixed and had a good lot of spare time waiting on ye. So, did ye find me Crates?
Uthal: Yea about that…
Narrator: Uthal steps forward crate carcass in hand. A single tear forms at the edge of Brack’s eye.
Brack Freebeard: Well we best be goin then shouldn’t we?
Narrator to Oracle: With that Brack climbs into the driver’s seat, giving the oxen a light whip, and the group somberly and silently begins to continue their journey down the road. A journey for them which will lead to much more than they could have ever imagined.
Oracle: That my friend is where we must end for the time being, I have spent my energy, but have enjoyed every moment of it. Please, if you wish to hear more of this story return when I have had a chance to rest. I would be glad to continue to share with you this tale. For now though I bid you, farewell…