[OOC: suggested soundtrack: Bees Made Honey in the Vein Tree by Medicine]


The once superb City of Skelo is not lost anymore, at least not to you, but you can see how millennia of decay can crumble also the most beautiful and solid buildings. Only very few areas are left in some shape and are not in small pieces like the others: one of them looks like some kind of thermal bath, another must have been anciently a garden with wooden statues, although now the majestic trees look more like ashen-colored skeletons of what they must have looked eons ago, another looks like an elaborate portal, closed and leading nowhere, as you can walk around it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:20, Thu 06 June 2019.

Garl gazes with wonder at the ancient ruins, wondering about the people who used to inhabit this strange place.  Does he see any signs of life?

Robustous looked for any markings or pictures etc on the ruins that might indicate who lived here as they walk through the site.


-

Storm follows his friends

Unfortunately, there are no more signs of life in Skelo although its undeniable, elegant beauty screams of an era when the souls were able to mould matter in a shape similar to them. This gives you heart crushing feelings.

In the ruins you can find small traces and signs, but they are in general incomplete, due to the injuries of time. You can anyway guess with a high degree of certainty that they are ancient, High Elven craft.

Storm searches the area carefully

After a while wandering around the crumbling ruins, you are convinced that there are three areas that are still reasonably intact: the strange, bath looking building, the ancient garden with wooden statues and the closed portal. Which one do you want to approach first?

"Lets try the garden with the statues ?"

This strange garden is populated by dozens of wooden lay-figures styled in bizarre poses, while the trees that must have been towering over the garden centuries ago are now dead and leafless, a pale reminder of their previous greatness.

Storm searches the area.

Garl examines the statues.  What is so bizarre about the poses they are in?

[OOC: please roll 2d6 as usual :)

As the others go about their business Andor provides a guard should something sneak up on them.


-

Storm rolls a 5

You realise that all statues are made of wood, but one of them has a metal insert on its chest.

Storm opens the chest

On the chest of the wooden statue there is a strange locket with a number dial in a sector. It looks like some kind of enigma that won't open if you don't solve it.

[OOC: sorry, but other options seems not to work, so I'm sharing the link to the image of the locket: https://drive.google.com/file/...89v/view?usp=sharing ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:29, Sat 15 June 2019.

Are there any symbols on any of the statues matching the ones on the locket?

20:38, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 9 using 2d6.  Search.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:38, Sun 16 June 2019.

After a careful search, you are convinced that only one statue has the locket.
The dial seems to allow the selection of a three figures number in the low left part of the locket, where there is no number on the image on the link posted above.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:13, Sun 16 June 2019.

Garl tries ‘666.’

The locket opens with a grinding, metallic noise!
Inside it you can find a small tile representing a thunder. Nothing else, apparently.

"Well done Garl," Storm says. He is impressed by his friend's wisdom. He suggests Garl keeps the locket and tile and move on.

The locket is actually firmly attached to the chest of the statue, but anyway you can now decide if you want to explore another area of the lost city of Skelo.

"Well done indeed. Shall we try the building that looks like a bath next ?"

Storm agrees and leads the way with his swords drawn

This curious structure seems some kind of thermal bath. What remains of its interiors still bears some mosaic portraying images of horses and Elves running together in bucolic woods.
Suddenly one of the figures of the mosaics animates and attacks!
Part man and part horse, it looks more like a creature out of mythology than a real being. It stands on four legs, for it has the body and hindquarters of a horse. Above the waist, though, it appears as a brawny human, with olive skin.

[Private to GM: The SAGITTARIUS is extremely fast, runs circles around the party and may shoot up to two arrows during each combat round. It can be attacked either with ranged weapons and magic, either with melee weapons, but only if the character has the Fleet Footed Talent or if passes a SKILL test to reach within melee distance from the SAGITTARIUS.
Searching the SAGITTARIUS’ body, the adventurers will find:
A small ceramic tile, representing the symbol of an arrow
A golden coronet studded with topaz gems, worth 45 Gold Crowns
A Quicksilver Quiver; it contains 12 special arrows that are so weightless and well-crafted that can be shot twice in the same combat round

Enemy SK ST AT
S A G I T T A R I U S
SKILL 10
STAMINA 18 (8)
ATTACKS 2

Longbow 1 2 2 2 2 3]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:00, Sat 29 June 2019.

Storm attack with his twin swords.

OO:14:33, Today: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 17,17,4,5 using 2d6+10,2d6+10,d6,d6 ((2,5,6,1,4,5)).
This message was last edited by the player at 06:34, Fri 21 June 2019.

Garl casts Mirror Selves.  Then he tries to reason with the creature.

“Wait!  We are not your enemies.  Can we cease fighting and reason together?”

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 27):

This creature is extremely fast and you struggle to get to melee distance! [OOC: please take a test of SKILL to get to a shorter distance for your melee weapon to be effective]

Robustous is ready with his axe, he dips slightly as the horseman approaches and then tip the edge of his axe into the beast with all his might.

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 4 using 2d6.  Skill test - success

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 17 using 2d6+10.  Attack.
Robustous Clovetrue rolled 6 using 1d6.  Damage.



-

OOC: rolls 6 for skill test

The strange creature doesn't make any attempt to communicate,but  is so fast that he can attack twice in this round with his arrows! One of them hits one of Garl's mirror images, without causing any damage, while the other hits Storm! [OOC: deduct 3 points of STAMINA, minus the outcome of your armour roll, as usually]
Luckily, all your melee attacks do connect, causing quite some damage!
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:20, Sat 22 June 2019.

Strangely, when you hit with your melee weapons, the noise that you hear is similar to what you would hear when hitting a ceramic beads curtain.
Anyway, your enemy doesn't show any sign of tiredness and keeps galloping around and attacking.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:33, Thu 27 June 2019.

Trying to stay at arms length except for when he attacks.

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 19 using 2d6+10.  Attack.
Robustous Clovetrue rolled 4 using 1d6.  Damage.

Edit:  Robustous Clovetrue rolled 12 using 2d6.  Skill = 7.


-
This message was last edited by the player at 21:30, Fri 28 June 2019.

Storm attacs

OOC:17:15, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 18,14,1,5 using 2d6+10,2d6+10,d6,d6.

[OOC: please remember that you need troll for SKILL to get at melee range from this speedy enemy.]
[Private to GM: 20:05, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 19 using 2d6+10.  sagittarius attack 1.
20:04, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 19 using 2d6+10.  sagittarius attack 1.]

OOC:21:49, Today: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 6 using 2d6 ((2,4)). skill

Storm manages to hit once the strange centaur, that with incredible speed unleashes two arrows, one towards Robustious and the other towards one of the four Garls that you can see. [Private to Robustous Clovetrue: Deduct 3 points of STAMINA due to the arrow, minus of course the armour roll as usual]][Private to Garl Ligoosh: No damage for you.]
The fight is not over!
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:58, Sat 29 June 2019.

Storm attacks

OOC:22:00, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 17,20,5,6 using 2d6+10,2d6+10,d6,d6.
22:01, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 8 using 2d6. skill
This message was last edited by the player at 14:01, Sat 29 June 2019.

Another swing of his axe and a miss.

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 9 using 2d6.  Skill = 7.


-

Garl, after adequate meditation, casts Lightning Blast.

Once again the strange creature, runs rings around you, releasing its arrows. This time Storm and Robustous are both hit![Private to Stormrider Sureheart: Deduct 3 points of STAMINA, unless you can reduce this damage with an Armour roll as usual][Private to Robustous Clovetrue: Deduct 3 points of STAMINA, unless you can reduce this damage with an Armour roll as usual]
Storm manages to hit it, although not causing as much damage as he hoped, but Garl's magic has a much greater effect: the creature literally crumbles in a small, dusty mound of broken mosaic tiles!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:02, Sun 30 June 2019.

Robustous catches his breath and then realises his pipe has gone out, in short order it is lit again and all is good with the world.

-

Garl steps up to the remains of the creature and gingerly probes them with his staff.

Stom searches the tiles and area, using his weapon to probe

Among the broken tiles, you find also:

• a small ceramic tile (similar to the one that you found in the locket early on in shape and size), representing the symbol of an arrow
• a golden coronet studded with topaz gems
• a quiver with 12 arrows that are incredibly weightless and well-crafted. There is no bow, as it broke down together with the creature.

This message was last edited by the GM at 10:20, Sun 30 June 2019.

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 46):

You can't find anything else in the area, that is for sure of great interest, but for an acheologist or a scholar, rather than for an adventurer.

Garl carefully examines the three objects, trying to understand what they may be, according to his magic lore.

20:01, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Garl Ligoosh, rolled 4 using 2d6.  Magic Lore roll.

The 12 arrows in the quiver, incredibly lightless and well crafted, are the same arrows that the centaur construct  was letting lose at you during the fight. They are so light and balanced that you can use them to attack twice in a round, like your opponent did. You just need a bow.

The golden coronet with topaz gems is an ancient Elven craft, but you can't find any magic characteristic in it.

The small tile with arrow is clearly somehow associated with the other tile with a lightning bolt that you collected early on. Same material, same smooth surface, similar dimension, same thickness, same drawing hand.

The dwarf places the coronet on his head "Do I look jonty ?"


-

Storm tries to fit the two tiles together

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 54):

The two tiles don't seem to join perfectly in any way even if you try a lot.

In reply to Robustous Clovetrue (msg # 53):

The coronet is a bit small for Robustious big head, but, apart from this detail, nothing unexpected happens.

“Do either of you use a bow?  These arrows look quite promising.”

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 57):

Neither of your companions has a bow as part of their current equipment, as far as you can see.

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 57):

"Just my axe, close and personnel that way. Lets keep looking."


-

The only other standing thing in the ruined city is the white stone portal, closed. You can walk around it and both faces look the same. It looks like a bizarre monument gate leading to nowhere.
Garl eventually walks closer to examine it in detail and touches it. Suddenly, a secret compartment opens in the portal, revealing a socket. You immediately think that its dimension would fit nicely one of the tiles that you found before.

“Shall we try putting in one of the tiles?”

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 61):

"Looks like our only option."


-

"Yes let's do it! " Storm says.
He also says they should keep the arrows for future use

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 61):

Now you have to chose which one of them you want to slot in.

Garl tries the lightning tile.

The portal releases a storm of lightning all around! You are all hit! [OOC: deduct 6 points of STAMINA each. On this occasion no LUCK roll can reduce it]
[Private to Garl Ligoosh: It comes up into your mind that you may have given the wrong answer when you got the tile]
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:36, Sun 07 July 2019.

What next?

Storm eats some rations first.

What other options are there? As in the tiles

Garl also wants to rest and eat rations.  He tells his companions that he suspects he gave the wrong answer before receiving that tile...

The place is very quiet and nothing happens while you eat.

[OOC: all of you having one ration recover 4 points of STAMINA]

Storm offers to try a tile.

OOC: What other tiles can i use?

You have also the arrow tile.

Storm tells the others to stay back and he slots the arrow tile in

This time the portal opens with a grating sound, but on the other side of the threshold you see the inside of a building that didn't exist when the gate was closed!

Garl sighs with relief.  He felt certain they would be attacked with a volley of arrows!

Storm looks inside the building.

Robustous follows the others as they enter the building.


-

You realise that you are now in the fabled Library of Skelo!
All around you are ancient books and scrolls of all kind! you feel the urge to dive immediately into some of them!

Storm searches the library, paying attention to any signages that may catalogue the items.

He will try to find items that teach magic or improve his stats and skills.

So far you can find only few documents written in a language that you can read, but they seem awesome and you can only imagine what great power can be unleashed by the knowledge in this library:
• A Scroll containing the Teleport (6) spell. A Wizard needs to read it just once to be immediately able to cast the spell.
• A Scroll containing the Wall of Power (6) spell. A Wizard needs to read it just once to be immediately able to cast the spell.
• The Book of the Ancient Hero which adds 2 points to initial and current STAMINA score of the reader (only once in life, of course).
• The Romance of Lethe: a collection of ancient poetry which grants the reader a +2 bonus on every Social Action roll which implies storytelling or poems recitation (only once in life, of course).
• The Art of Carnage dictated to the Scribes of Pentergan by the legendary Human Warlord Huriah. Once read (only once in life, of course) it bestows a +2 bonus when rolling for strategical or tactical matters associated to warfare.
• A Cornucopia: a magic object that produces fresh food and drink (for the tastes of a traditionalist Elf) to the rate of a meal every turn (if removed from the Cornucopia to be replaced by a new meal).

What do you want to try first?
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:31, Fri 12 July 2019.

Garl wishes to try the Cornucopia... although he has some misgivings about this situation...

The food that you pull from it is fantastic and you recover 4 points of STAMINA.

Garl offers to share the magical food with the rest of the party.

Storm reads the books of ancient heroes.

Ooc:, can everyone read the same book or each book is but one use?

[OOC: you have to try it to know it!]

Storm reads the book and both his initial and his current STAMINA increase! The book does not disappear or self incinerate, grits words fade etc. how he was worried.

This can be done only on next turn.

Storm reads the art of carnage

This can be done only on next turn. I'm still waiting for Rob's decision ;)

As soon as he can, Garl offers to share the magical food.

Robustous reads the Art of Carnage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:22, Sat 20 July 2019.

[OOC: Robustous gets a permanent +2 bonus when rolling for strategical or tactical matters associated to warfare]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:46, Thu 18 July 2019.

As soon as you complete your action, you hear a dark chanting from the main library’s hall. The unholy song comes from a cloaked and hooded figure and the ground opens up to let emerge from the depths of the Netherworld a creature of nightmare that you know only from scary legends and fables: the Darkness Reaper!
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:18, Fri 19 July 2019.

Robustous aims and throws the Zilath Spear at the cloaked figure.

[OOC: 21:19, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Robustous Clovetrue, rolled 13 using 2d6+7.  Zilath Spear.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:21, Fri 19 July 2019.

Storm advances and attacks with his twin blades.

oOc: please help me roll gm
Also it's time to throw the sun globe

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 95):

[OOC: you have to decide if you want to use the globe or if you want to attack with your swords. Can't do both during the same round.]

Ooc use sun globe if within 10m

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 97):

[OOC: OK, so anyway you will use the Globe first, as you will be within 10 m before getting within sword length. Is it correct?]

Ooc: yes it's undead right? I will make sure withint the range of the globe

[OOC: OK, clear]

Ooc: ok use

[OOC: let's see how Garl wants to approach fight...]

Garl casts Mirror Selves.  Then he closely observes how this round plays out.

Garl casts his spell, but the cloaked figure casts another spell and Garl's spell fizzles out without any effect! Garl looks particularly confused!
Rob's magic spear misses the cloaked figure and falls on the ground. The aim wasn't good enough.
Storm's Seized Sunbeam explodes in a ray of light from his hands to the nightmarish Darkness Reaper, and it consumes the ungodly creature until there is nothing left of it.
The cloaked figure shouts his rage and prepares to cast some other magic.

Storm charges at the cloaked figure and attacks with his blades.

12:28, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Stormrider Sureheart, rolled 1 using 1d6.  damage 2.
12:28, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Stormrider Sureheart, rolled 6 using 1d6.  damage 1.
12:28, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Stormrider Sureheart, rolled 21 using 2d6+10.  attack 2.
12:28, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Stormrider Sureheart, rolled 13 using 2d6+10.  attack 1.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:29, Wed 24 July 2019.

Robustous also charges the cloaked figure, axe held high.

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 19 using 2d6+10.  Attack.
Robustous Clovetrue rolled 3 using 1d6.  Damage.



-

Since turnabout is fair play, Garl casts Counterspell.

The magic battle fills the air with sparks!
[OOC: the spell that you are trying to counter is of level (6) - please roll to see if the spell is countered or not]

Garl swoons as he expends immense energy... the spell he seeks to counter is strong!

17:03, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 11 using 2d6+4.  Counterspell w/ -6 modifier.

The cloaked figure opens his arms and grins as casting a powerful spel, but only spaks are projected from the tip of his fingers! In the meanwhile, Garl feels his magic power being depleted, but he's satisfied he just managed to stand up to the big challenge... by a whisker!
Storm and Rob take the chance and bit the enemy very badly!

Seeing the the fight just turned a melee, your enemy unsheathes a sword from a fold of his robes and prepares to fight for his life, his grin completely faded.

With another swing Robustous looks to cut the magic user in twain.

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 16 using 2d6+10.  Attack.
Robustous Clovetrue rolled 2 using 1d6.  Damage.


-

Storm attacks

Ooc: rolls 19,19,1,1

Garl casts Ironhand on Robustous.

Once again you hit your enemy, causing much damage! However, he's not done yet and keeps fighting with his sword!

Storm strikes furiously.

OOC:08:40, Today: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 19,17,5,1 using 2d6+11,2d6+10,d6,d6 ((3,5,1,6,5,1)).

With a quick sweep of his axe Robustous connect heavily with his target.

<orange>Robustous Clovetrue rolled 22 using 2d6+10.  Attack.
Robustous Clovetrue rolled 3 using 1d6.  Damage.<orange>


-

Garl casts a Lightning Blast on the dark enemy.

At last, your enemy falls!

When your enemy falls, his physical body turns suddenly into char as a devilish scream of rage forces everybody on the floor, clutching their hands on the ears, then a dark fog materializes from the charred body and condenses in a diaphanous, ungodly figure in mid air. The nethershadow figure extends its arms and a sudden earthquake shakes the earth! As the earthquake rages and the library is severely shaken, strong lightning can be heard from outside. However, the shadow is getting thinner and thinner: it spent all its energy on releasing its rage through natural disaster and it is now weak, too weak… and it finally dissolves in a gust of wind.
The battle is over.

With the knowledge of the Library of Skelo you realize that you have a huge power in your hands and it is now up to you to decide how you want to use it.
You can take over the continent and turn everybody into your slaves or you can initiate a new era of civilization. What used to look impossible to you, now seems easy: take your time to study as much as you can and then you will be able to realize your wildest dreams!

Stormmsearches what remains of the man to see if he can find loot
He will search the library for more knowledge useful to him

Ooc: do get xp dm?

Among the charred remains you find some magic objects and in the library you find plenty of knowledge that will give you the keys to the power.
[Private to Garl Ligoosh: 100 XPs for you][Private to Robustous Clovetrue: 100 XPs for you][Private to Stormrider Sureheart: 100 XPs for you]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:48, Thu 25 July 2019.

This is the end of the Hellwinter Saga.

U mean end off this episode or game? What items do we get

It is the end of the campaign, my friend! Congratulations!

You got everything!

“Let us use our knowledge and power wisely.”

Oh dear that's sad
Means no more game here ?

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 128):

Unless you want to become the GM and run the game here for some other player :)

You already found these items:

Of course now you have time to read all that is relevant for you.

Among the charred remains of your ultimate enemy, you find:

Snakesword 2 3 3 3 3 5 5
When hit by the Snakesword, test for LUCK or become immediately paralyzed.

Ring of the Arcanum which rises his Initial MAGIC by 5 points. The magic ring’s drawback is that no other magical trinket may be worn by the Wizard who uses this wonderful source of magical power.

Ritual of the Darkness Reaper
Magic-Conjuration: 6
Type: Summoning
Components: five blood red candles, the freah heart of an innocent
Time taken: 1d6 turns
Rarity: Legendary
Description: Summons a Darkness Reaper for 1d6 turns. During this time the Darkness Reaper will follow the orders of the conjurer, needs to take (or attempt to take at least one life from a living creature, or it will turn on its conjurer.
DARKNESS REAPER
SKILL 11
STAMINA 20
LUCK 12
ATTACKS 2
Fists 3 4 4 4 5 5
The fiendish DARKNESS REAPER may be wounded only by magic or magical weapons. It regenerates 1 stamina point per combat round and is immune to cold-based attacks.



Having a more in depth look at the library, you find a book that, although its language sounds quite antiquate, you can still understand: The Art of Weapons. Reading it lleads to a +2 on a Weapon Special Skill at character's choice. This benefit can be accrued only once in life and the Weapon Special Skill chosen can not go over (6).

Other souces of knowledge in the library will require more time to get the benefits, as you will need to learn the ancient language and translate them first.

Storm would like to take some time to learn ancient langagges and read the books to see if he can learn basic magic.