In reply to Toirneach Lann (msg # 790):

Kores nods, satisfied.  He steps back to let the others interact.

Colm rises to his feet, invigorated beyond measure! "You are truly powerful, wise, and generous lord.  I thank you."
Colm gives another bow.

In reply to Toirneach Lann (msg # 790):

Continuing, lann speaks,"Great and mighty lord is there anything we can do for you. I understand that under your command are probably great warriors and wizards but if there's anything we can do to find favor in thy eyes, please let us know and we will do our best."

Lann thinks serving this great lord may bring about much mastery in the companions' skills.

Ooc: when do we get more xp?
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:41, Mon 02 Jan 2017.

In reply to Toirneach Lann (msg # 794):

"I think these ancient places are not yet fully explored.  I do hope to return to them later."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:42, Mon 02 Jan 2017.

The crowned elf raised an eyebrow, " Have the Clans of the Mountains changed so much in the past centuries? You may do as you wish....but my words are said."

The other elves faded away completely into shadow beneath the trees, and the crowned one spoke one final time.

" And here we come to a tale, about which I have requested you say nothing."

" In the days of ancient shadow, when the world was green and red there crept things into the world that should not have dwelt here. In the times that followed a group of learned men came to the great woods from a place beyond the mountains, they followed the urgings of their god. One Mimir, a deity of knowledge and wisdom, in our folly we allowed them a place within the trees to build their stone walls. But within the heart of one of the men dwelled something which should not have been."

" We soon found we could not walk on the places where their stone was built and grew puzzled as we could walk in all places in the before."

" We ensorcelled a child and had it look for us at what was happening in this place and its reports were ones of horror."

" A temple pit had been dug and within it stone was carved and a trap laid and a feast prepared.  We had noted the mortals of the city were slow of foot and clumsy of action but their minds were sharp and they dreamed of wondrous things. We stood at the edge of the city and drank their dreams in the dark....but they would be poison."

" The water of the city well had been steeped in ancient power and we understood why the folk there were how they were.  Minds rich, bodies slow....a temple below....an ancient cancer had taken root in that pit. Through sorceries we learned its name in the ancient tongues of the north was Shader, it was a glutton of thought and learning, all knowledge it sought to drink and take down into oblivion and in the City of Mimir it had made its repast."

" The mortals still worshipped Mimir and when chosen one would descend into the temple, the priests there would place a helm upon their head and their thoughts would be flavoured to Shaders liking.  The doors would be sealed and an avatar of Shader would pull itself from the shadows and take their mind to be regurgitated, much as a bird might do for its young, into the living mouth of Shader below."

" We were wrath but the outer things presence prevented our actions....so we struck a deal with the Fomorach.  They would be allowed passage through our forest to strike at the City and pull it down and they may take all they found."

" The darkling titans destroyed Mimir, some of the people ran into the forest to escape and we gave them shelter there. But the Fomorach could not....or would not enter the temple."

" They left, and the forest crept back to consume the city. But the green could not approach the temple pit, we allowed the surviving mortals to build a small village around the well...for its waters still had their effect upon them and their dreams were so complicated and sweet compared to those of other mortals."

" We found Shader could still call to them in these dreams and we would not have that. We took children and exchanged them for things we had made and over the centuries the people of Mimirs Well carried enough of us within them that Shaders calling could not reach them."

" Now that you have destroyed the avatar of Shader its presence will diminish and fade and the green will be able to return and rightfully expunge our ancient folly."

" This tale you will not tell the people of Mimirs Well, soon the dweomer of Shader will leave the waters of the well and their minds will become as dull and slow as any mortal....but they still carry a part of us within them and we will watch over our distant, fading children until they are gone."

Colm's face is even more ashen than usual.  He takes off the Enchanted Helm.
"I believe this is the Helm of Shader.  I discovered it withing the temple but did not knw what it was?"

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 798):

Lann takes out a parchment and shows the elf lord, "I found this with the helm."

He proceeds to describe how he found the parchment.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:26, Tue 03 Jan 2017.

In reply to Toirneach Lann (msg # 799):

Kores wipes away a tear.  He has just glimpsed into things that happened in ancient times, beyond the lives of mortal men and which remain undocumented.  The best he can do is to leave a message for future generations to ask the Elves to share this knowledge of what has passed...

Dann opens his mouth in awe at the story he just heard. He now knows why entering the deep forest was forbidden to his kin.

" Take it with you, we will not have it here.  As for the...parchment..it is not known to me.", the elf spat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:16, Tue 03 Jan 2017.

" If there is nothing further, mortals. Then you will take your leave and not return here...make it known to the villagers that the ruins are now ours and to send no more men here."

" I wish you health for the short time you may hold it."

Colm throws himself down on his knee again.
"My lord, there may still be creatures down there, servants of Shader.  They may do your people ill should they enter.  Allow us to return there once more to ensure all the evil has been destroyed lord.  Give us till dawn tomorrow.  We will then leave this place and never return.  We will inform the villagers of your will on our way out lord."

Colm slowly draws the Sword of Light, reversing the blade.
"The servants of the Shader are my enemies too.  I have sworn an oath to destroy all the servants of darkness.  I have sworn on Claidheamh Soluis to do this, the ancient symbol of the authority of our clan over mortal men."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:24, Wed 04 Jan 2017.

In reply to GM (msg # 802):

Lann bows, looking at Colm before continuing,"I agree with Colm! We did not finish cleansing the place of evil. Perhaps we can make another trip to flush them out and ensure the safety of your people.'
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Wed 04 Jan 2017.

"With Shader gone I expect his servants have little reason to remain.  Perhaps we can seek out other stories and unearth other legends, bring light to other lost civilizations.  Perhaps we can pursue the Fomorach, find out what happened to them?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:46, Wed 04 Jan 2017.

Dann is not afraid to fight, but he will not argue against the elven king. Chasing treacherous horrors in an underground temple is not at the top of his priorities right now.

In reply to Dann of Clan Valin (msg # 807):

Trivel regards the fae with superstitious hostility: he draws no distinction between these creatures and the demons they have faced below. All are spirits, and not to be trifled with. "We have done enough here." He growls. "And given enough in blood. Only a fool walks back into the lion's jaws, having once escaped them." 

The elf smiled a lions smile, " Servant of Brigantia, take the silver you already have....there will be more along your trail....and great darkness before an uncertain dawn I see."

" As the witch has said, with Shaders power broken most of its servants will be banished from this world. Those that are not gone, we will scour from their holes. It was not fear that kept us from the temple but sorcery...and now it is broken we will take back what is ours."

He stepped back into the trees and vanished into the shadows, moments later the sun broke through and the clouds were chased away once more.

Ahead lay the trail back to the village....

In reply to GM (msg # 809):

"Let's all return to the village and replenish our supplies, rest and heal before we continue with our journey. At the same time we can listen to rumors of war or danger that we can erradicate my friends," Lann says, happy to rest, sharpen his sword and renew his magical prowess.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:40, Sun 08 Jan 2017.

Colm looks at Kores with a dead stare.  "When we get back to the village, NO ONE talks about this.  NO ONE!
Gale, you will convey the Good Folk message to the Elder;  Visiting the Ruins is now forbidden, leaving the path and exploring the forest is still forbidden.  The Good Folk will continue to watch over the villagers but they should enforce these rules."

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 811):

Kores takes on a disinterested look.

"I have nothing I wish to share with these simple folk.  My work is done here.  Perhaps you have ideas on your extensive material ambitions?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:48, Sun 08 Jan 2017.

Trivel nods, coldly. "Such knowledge is not safe for them in any case. The wise amongst them would not want it shared - and the foolish... shouldn't have it shared with them. For myself, I long to fight something more earthly, and will go wherever needed to do that..."

In reply to Trivel (msg # 813):

" I will go where there's power to be attained."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:03, Mon 09 Jan 2017.

"I must say I long for the sea... and I have a number of things to set straight with some people in the reavers world. Maybe now is the time?" says Dann, more to himself than to anyone.

In reply to Dann of Clan Valin (msg # 815):

Leaving the ruins and the dark forest behind the companions retrace the ancient stone path back to Mimirs Well.

The inhabitants are going about their daily lives and look up as the companions approach....a number of them do a head count and seem glad that all made it back safely this time.

Not seeing the Elder the companions head to the Moothall and step inside looking around for him.

He spots them first and comes over, " Are you well? You are safe, this is good."


OOC: Please head over to the Rosmuillean thread.