1358 DR 'Year of Shadows'- 1st of Flamerule(Summertide)
The party marches off victorious from the Portal Under the Stars upon the hilltop of Greenest. They report their findings to the local leadership and the portal disappears not to be seen for another 50 years. A mass ceremony is held in the town square for those who passed while those who survive return to their normal lives carrying with them their new found wisdom.
Six months have passed since their first venture into that fated portal. While only a handful lived and a couple new faces have gathered the parties spirits are high as they reconvene at the Leaping Spirits Grogshop itching for new adventure. They gather at a large table just as they had before but instead of scared peasants they return as hardened adventurers, the danger very real in their minds. They discuss the omen they saw in the crystal ball in the portal and the stories they have heard coming from nearby Berdusk. Those in attendance agree they will be the ones to investigate the troubles.
The Following Are Those who were In Attendance as recorded by Grumby the Innkeeper:
- Anmethwen Sahalndaerl Elven Wanderer of the King of Elfland. Hilarious, Strong, & Vibrant Anmethwen still bares the wooden door from the portal under the stars as a shield. In the past six months she has formed a bond with the King of Elfland and shows it proudly with a Prominent Tree Marking of Elfland on her right hand. When not pleasing her patron Anmethwen helps run the local goods shop, never forgetting her trade growing up as a Chandler.
- Burt Luke Clay Dwarven Agent. Liberal & Timid Burt Luke returns to the table of adventurers quietly. His hands are those of a working man because if he's not practicing with his Hand Axe and Shield (A dwarven specialty) he's building the best chests in town. He dons the Black Stone Enameled Scale Mail Armor from their first venture. Don't let his timidness fool you for his acumen in battle is proven.
- Dixie Valenzuela Human Cultist. A timid yet ever dangerous young woman only fourteen seasons old. She was raised on a parsnip farm but has always claimed to talk with dark spirits that granted her blessings. Her emotional teenage attitude has thwarted her attempts to bond with the lord of the swamp Bobugbubilz with the horn from the portal. She has also failed to unlock the secrets of the crystal globe where they first saw the visions of Berdusk. In time if her soul and frail body survive the onslaught her magics may be great indeed.
- Galasdaugion Nabrinmyr Elven Wanderer. He carries an air of respect around him and he demands as much from those he adventures with. He is a very intelligent tactician and is one of the few who trains falcons for use in battle. His personal falcon never leaves his side, though it's name and it's capabilities are unknown and to this point hasn't been seen by the gathered party.
- Lois Bonner Human Zealot of Azi Dahaka. Were it not for Lois's cowardice I think she would be the most feared member of the party. What she loses in her cowardice she gains in the awesome power that she wields. A madwoman who loves destruction but has found a niche where she could careless if that is destruction to good or evil. Lois grew up a trapper, and we should have known she was sick in the head as she was the only kid I knew who got thrills from killing the animals. I pray she isn't the downfall of them all.
- Mevoli Grimoath Dwarf Apprentice. Mevoli is a good sort but very hard to read. He's a by the book kind of dwarf but lords knows what damned book he's following at each moment. That being said i'd take his shield arm by my side any day if I was deep in a dungeon and needed a friend. A fine stonemason during his downtime, so he knows the walls of a dungeon better than most. He bares the Blackened Stone Enameled Scale Mail Armor from the Portal under the stars. Not sure i'd personally wear anything that came from some mystical portal of legend but that's just me.
- Nora Ghoulsmasher Dwarf Apprentice. Nora the Ratcatcher... How that woman hasn't ended up lost in a barrel somewhere i'll never understand. I feel sorry for her, I hear they are making her front of the line, only a dullard like Nora would accept that without at least asking for a larger share. She's rather weak too, it's only the luck of the gods she's survived this long and a rather fun time I must say when the Bard's ask her for a story. Maybe it's all those boogers i've seen her eating, even a goblin wouldn't want a taste of that.
- Octavia Adams Human Wildling. Ah young Octavia, she's the closest thing to nobility this party has. I've heard she's a squire to a well known knight, though if there's any official affiliations she keeps it quiet. She bares the Black Stone Enameled Scale Mail from the Portal and is one of the few who covers her noggin with a nice steel helm.
After gathering their things and enjoying their stories the adventurers leave their sleepy hometown of Greenest to arrive in the bustling town of
Berdusk. The party meets with High Lady Cylyria Dragonbreast and tells her of the vision they saw. She confirms she knows of the ravine and shares the full story of the pit
A great ravine splits the earth here, dividing the fertile northlands
from the wastes of the south. A great blubbery tentacled beast lives
at the bottom of the ravine, and in eons past it would ravage the
land once every generation, rising hundreds of feet above the ravine’s
edges before it shambled forth on slithering appendages to devour all
living things in its path. When a powerful warrior-priest organized
the neighboring villages to offer periodic sacrifices of a dozen virgins
every decade, the pit-beast’s attacks were controlled—but at a cost
civilized man could not stomach. The warrior-priest was dishonored
and his order chased away. The pit-beast retreated to safety within
the ravine itself.
Now a decade has passed since the last sacrifice, and the rumbles
of the pit-beast can once more be heard deep in the pit. This time,
though, there is another factor. People have emerged from the pit,
herding great slithering tentacles before them. These people of the pit
wear gray robes and have no faces. The local peasants have chased the
robed men away on numerous occasions, and now the humble folk
around the ravine fear for their safety. It was enough to fear the beast
of the pit, now must they fear the people of the pit as well? You have
set out to explore the great ravine in search of mystery, adventure,
riches, and fame—and perhaps to aid your neighbors along the way.
Please young adventurers, end this evil so that our young virgin girls can live on untouched. Do this deed and you will all be rewarded handsomely
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:30, Tue 22 Jan 2013.