The final test, the past
Subject The final test
Harp hears Lothnar final test. Material goods versus the gem. This did not seem like much of a test to Harp. They had been given the mission to get the gem. It was not like they had been adventuring and looking for loot. They had been given a task, and by the gods, they would finish this task.
"I was appointed leader of this group, and the mission to retreive the gem was placed in my hands. This was not about gold, or jewels, or magical items. It was about retreiving one of the gems from the Crown, as the prophecy foretold. We will leave here as we came and with what we came with, the jewel the only exception. Any who wish more can make their demands of me and the Order when we return to Schon."
From: Porter
Subject The final test
"Not so fast, orc-boy. You ain't my leader. Hell -- you ain't a real leader of anybody -- you were appointed," Mund says with derision on the last word.
"A real leader takes leadership or is given it by those who follow. I sure ain't given you no leadership, and," Mund's hand rests on his axe, "you ain't orc enough to take it from me."
From: Josh
Subject The final test
Kal moves toward Harp's side, hand off the hilt of his rapier, but watching Mund closely.
"Don't be a fool Mund."
From: Kevin
Subject The final test
"Peace, Kal. We will not draw any more blood in this place, much less that of one of our party.
Mund, you were "hired" by Quarion Smith to guide us here, and to help up accomplish this quest. You've signed your contract with hiim and you will be paid accordingly. And I don't think you want to return to him with a bag of gold and a new axe and not have the gem as well. The rest of us joined up for this journey of our own free will, and I think they will, to a man, elf, half elf and dwarf, agree with my decision in this case. (Harp gestures to the rest of the group, hoping to get agreement from them.) Don't get the wrong idea. I would love to have some of those items over there. I am sure your brother would love to get his hands on some of those scrolls. Hell, we all would love to get some of that stuff. But we're not going to do it this trip. And none of us are going to ask Lothnar to send us back we have accomplished our mission."
From: Mark
Subject The past
Lothnar stares at the party as they are eating, eying each one in turn. "Yes" he says, "I think you all need to know what you are up against." He then chants a few words and makes a few gestures. The party members find themselves find themselves unable to move, as their minds flow out of their bodies. They seem to be flying skyward and as they go they hear Lothnar's voice "Here are things as they were 3000 years ago."
Their vision blurs and there is a sense of movement, not just in space but in time. Somehow they all know that they are now in the past. The motion stops and they are high over a mountainous land. Mund's voice reaches all of them, but they do not hear him speak. "The Wildlands. There is Mount Fang" he says, naming one of the major peaks of the Wildlands. Visions of dark emissaries meeting with Hetman's and Shamen of the Tribes of the North. The Bear Clan, The Ram Clan, The Wolf Clan. Tribe after tribe being recruited for war with promises of wealth and plunder. The tribes flowing out of the mountains, assaulting the lands south and east. The tribes being used as cannon fodder when promised aid fails to show up. The few stragglers making it to home only to find that their old folk and young ones are gone. Tracking them. Finding their bodies, desecrated in unholy rituals. The few survivors being eaten by the creatures summoned with the deaths of their young.
The vision blurs again. This time it is Salix's voice. "The Great North Woods." He recognizes Peak Lake, a large fresh water lake at the foot of the Eagle's Crag Mountains. Visions of armies of trolls and goblins and orcs invading the northern edge, burning and destroying trees as they go. Wide swaths of the forest burning. Druids trying to save the forest but being cut down by creatures from the outer planes. Hundreds of orcs and goblins die for every druid, but the foe has numbers without seeming end. Animals butchered, sacred groves torn up and burned. Rivers and streams rerouted and befouled.
The vision shifts again. Kal's voice speaks in their minds. "Elfhome." A large city in the great trees of the Great Wood. Elves fighting, dying. Trees burning all around. Again orc, goblin, troll and barbarian armies flowing out of the mountains to the west, destroying all as they go. At their head, dark figures. Tribes betrayed. Dark rituals performed. Undead monsters called forth.
Again and again scenes unfold. Some of the place certain people recognize. Harp and Ranthir recognize the rape of Schon. Ragnar watches as liquid fire is poured down dwarf tunnels and lit, drawing all the air from them. Whole clans suffocated. Surin watches as whole villages of halfling are run to ground for sport, the children mounted on poles as warning to others who do now wish to take sides.
The vision blurs again. "The planes of Alakay" comes Lothnar's voice. The legions of the evil one advance on the last strong hold of good in the land. A desperate sally from the city, lead by a man with a glowing shield and a crown on his head. His knights ride with him, protecting him, giving him time to get where he has to go. They charge into the center of the opposing army, dealing death as they go, but outnumbered, 1000 to one. But they accomplish their goal. The knight gets to where the leader of the army is. The dark form rises from his throne made of skulls and unleashes his most potent magics. They flare to nothingness as they strike the knight, one gem after another flaring as the spells fade.
The knight uses this second of confusion to charge the mage. Fear shows on the magic user's face as he attempts to chant the spell that will remove him from the battle and it fails. One of the gems flares. The mage attempts another spell, a different gem flares and that spells fails. Now the knight is with in striking distance and strike he does. He cuts the dark one down.
The vision pulls back. The invading army starts to fall apart as the creatures from the outer planes are freed of their bondage. They start rampaging through their former allies. The invading army flees.
The party feel themselves rush back into their bodies. They are back around the table. Lothnar speaks again. "That is what you are up against. Except this time he knows the crown exists. You will not have the element of surprise, like we did."
OODM: Any comments.
From: Kevin
Subject The final test
RETCON: Add halfling in my list of races. Sorry Surin.