Yesterday, a small band gathered to go to the Terathan Keep, led by Devante. Stewan, Kendra, Jessica, Gwen, Mordred and myself were all there. However, just as we were about to leave, a message came from the healers saying we were required there as a dying woman who had been attacked by demons needed help. Sadly, when we reached the place we were too late and she was dead. Fortunately, she had had some foresight of this, and a notebook was found among her belongings:
Quote:
In Terra Sanctum, the ankh sings. I travelled there, hearing of it. And what words it sang to me! Strange and mysterious, from beyond the grave. Or perhaps not. If he can be freed. Can I find the way?
He told me, seek and you shall find. I have sought and found. In Moonglow, in Empath Abbey, in Serpents Hold, book, candle, bell. And the words of ancient far off magic shall free him. I write them here, as if in my own blood:
***************
Kur therras, pergjigjmu,
o Virti i drejtesise sime;
kur isha ne fatkeqesi,
ti me ke ndihmuar.
***************
On my journeying I was observed, followed. Now I know the fate of Magincia shall surely be ours if I fail. Perhaps he knows the way of escape.
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We made our way to Terra Sanctum and found the ankh. When Jessica read out the words, a strange ghostly form appeared and told us that Ilshenar is in danger from the daemons. They seek to corrupt the Virtues through the moongates to cut Ilshenar off and turn it into a daemon land. Humility was the weakest Virtue because of Magincia's lack of support, so that was where the first attack took place. (Extrapolating from this, it seems that the strength of each Virtue depends on support from the people living in the place linked to that Virtue. Therefore the daemons' reasoning may be that by destroying the people, the Virtue is weakened, and the corruption can continue.)
The ghost told us that before he was imprisoned in the ankh, he had hidden information on the way to stop this in various places. He named them as:
- the place where the image of the dragon sleeps
- the cave where the true dragons walk
- the jungle where the serpents roam
and said that we would need to speak the same words that freed him to reveal the information.
After some discussion, we went first to the Honour Shrine, but speaking the words had no effect. Mordred had suggested that the cave where dragons walk was Destard, and this was generally agreed. I considered that the first place might be the Paladin Shrine in Trinsic, and that we should try visiting the places in the order spoken by the ghost. So we returned to Trinsic, and Jessica again spoke the words at the ankh, whereupon a blue bag appeared containing a pair of dice and a book:
Quote:
This is the first part, representing the Principle of Truth.
Dhembje vdekjeje me kishin pushtuar dhe
Each moongate in Ilshenar will know what is required to cleanse itself.
Take the dice, stand at the gate and roll it.
Whatever number is chosen, that evil must be gathered and returned there.
2. the mask of a savage
3. the poison of an elemental
4. the scrolls of a bone mage
5. the staff of a lich
6. the bandages of a mummy
7. the reagents of an Ophidian shaman
8. the binding of a solen warrior
9. the fetish of a troglodyte
10. the spear of a Terathan avenger
11. the robe of an evil mage
12. the arcane gem of a controller
When you have gathered one evil for each Principle, place all three at the moongate in Ilshenar.
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Artemis joined us at this point and we then went into Destard. We fought our way through dragons and to the ankh there, where the words revealed a yellow bag, again with a pair of dice and a book:
Quote:
This is the second part, representing the Principle of Love.
perrenj njerezish te kobshem me kishin tmerruar,
Each moongate in Ilshenar will know what is required to cleanse itself.
Take the dice, stand at the gate and roll it.
Whatever number is chosen, that evil must be gathered and returned there.
2. the heart of a serpent
3. the blood of an elemental
4. the feathers of a harpy
5. the ash of a fire elemental
6. the hide of a hellcat
7. the jewels of a crystal elemental
8. the gland of a plague beast
9. the wood of a reaper
10. the dust of an earth elemental
11. the entrails of a ghoul
12. the bones of a dark wisp
When you have placed the evils at the moongate, say all three parts of the words in order.
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Finally we returned to the Honour Shrine and tried again, and this time received a red bag with the dice and a book:
Quote:
This is the third and final part, representing the Principle of Courage.
dhe me nxori jashte, larg; me cliroi sepse me do.
Each moongate in Ilshenar will know what is required to cleanse itself.
Take the dice, stand at the gate and roll it.
Whatever number is chosen, that thing must be gathered and returned there.
2. the scales of a dragon
3. the power of a golem
4. the helm of an orc lord
5. the ribs of a titan
6. the silk of a dread spider
7. the bow of a Juka lord
8. the hammer of a cyclops
9. the club of an ogre lord
10. the seed of a bogling
11. the axe of an executioner
12. the skin of a wyvern
When you have placed the evils at the moongate, and said all three parts of the words, if all is well, the evil will take the corruption of the moongate into itself and will cancel it out.
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From these it appears that all the moongates in Ilshenar need cleansing of corruption. Gwen counselled caution, saying that we do not know whether the books are genuine, and that it might in fact add corruption to the gates. Stewan suggested that perhaps we should test it on the Chaos gate, which, if damaged, will not harm the Virtues. Therefore it is decided that next week, we will venture to the Chaos gate in Ilshenar, then gather whatever the dice thrown at the gate tell us to gather, and return to Chaos and speak the words to see what happens.
The books are on display in the Elven library, north from the Rose.
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Dukes don't cheat, they adapt to circumstances.
(Slightly amended quote from "The Slipper and the Rose")
01-02-08, 08:47 AM
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