Kaer Ungada welcomes their newest defenders when something horrendous happens
Score: 318 | 5/18/18 |
14-20 Strassa 1517
The newly initiated Adepts gathered in the training yard in front of the Adept's Hall. There they met the newest member of the Stalwart Stones, Valteri Tomser. As well, Sheyloon comes out to greet them as Adepts and give them their monthly stipend. She then informs them that they have a week off from duty to celebrate, but at the end of the week is the Festival of Kar'lien.
This "Festival of Light" is a yearly celebration, but any new adepts to the Stalwart Stones have a special place of honor in the opening procession through the Kaer. The adepts must perform an exhibition of their talents for the citizens to see and admire. The week passes by as the heroes take care of minor business, like a loan between the newly met Valteri and Sean Shamsara so Sean can finally purchase the physician's kit of his dreams. They all decide to stay away from Adepts' Hall for the week, not the least reason being Vyktor Wyvernjack's crotchety trainer, Ygdrask.
When the week ends and all are gathered back in the Training Yard, Elder Meshra approaches the group, coughing and as sick as the rest of the Kaer appears to be. She greets them and expressions surprise and relief at Sean finally becoming a Stalwart Stone. Everyone then forms up, with the three elders of the Kaer, Elder Meshra, Elder Vashram, and Elder Terrox, leading. Entertainers follow the elders and the Stalwart Stones bring up the rear.
Crowds cheer the procession, a time to celebrate amidst the darker sickness. When the group finally approaches the market, a wide open space has been made for their exhibitions.
First is Sean, who fires an arrow high up and then looses a second arrow after it. The first arrow strikes a nearby box while the second arrow splits the first. Vyktor then steps into the center, raises his hands and the box bursts into flames. Before he can even finish stepping away, Boris Hillmens leaps forward lighting fast and smashes his axe into the box sending splinters everywhere. He then swings again and destroys a wheel on a cart. And, finally, Valteri flutters out and begins to tell a tale of heroism in the various tongues of the different races, finishing by showing he bears the very scars of that hero. The crowd cheers and applauds after each spectacle.
They all then continue on to the Hall of the Elders where Elder Meshra will officially welcome adepts as the newest Stalwart Stones. Elder Meshra's speech begins by introducing each one in turn. She then moves on to the monthly lesson from the Book of Tomorrow. Despite coughs interrupting her throughout, she makes it to the end of her short reading, and she shows the apparatus designed to determine the ending of the Scourge.
A small crystal sphere, about 6 inches across, set atop a small stone stand. The bottom of the sphere holds half an inch of the purest water imaginable. Floating an inch above this this is a perfectly formed ball of dirt, black and fertile. True Earth suspended above True Water and in tune with the magic levels of the world. When the True Earth finally touches and mixes with the True Water, then the magic levels will have receded enough to force the Horrors back into the Astral plane, and the Scourge will be over. But the True Earth stopped moving a century ago.
After Meshra uncovers the apparatus, she is overtaken by racking coughs and pain. Doubled over, she spits up blood and vomits a mass of maggots and rotten flesh that writhes and extends tentacles, scurrying away as fast as it can. The older Stalwart Stones immediately leap forward and take Meshra in hand while some people flee or scream out that Meshra must be Horror-marked. Sheyloon commands the new members to kill the maggoty beast and then fetch Ghehennis Jakreen while she and the others take Elder Meshra inside the Hall of Elders.
The heroes quickly make short work of the creature with Boris's axe cleaving it in two. Worried for his cousin, Sean heads inside after Meshra. The others follow, but not until after enlisting a guard, Veran, to stand watch over the dead thing.
The group ascends the stairs inside the Hall to where everyone is huddled. Sheyloon is unhappy to see them, scolding them for not doing as she said to do. She reminds them to go get Ghehennis the Nethermancer. They promptly exit the room and head outside where it has suddenly gotten dark, darker than it's ever been. The Giant Quartz are finally failing.
Gathering up the dead maggoty creature in the same cloth that covered the apparatus, the group heads to the graveyard where Ghehennis lives. In the darkness, Vyktor trips on a grave marker. As they stand, an undead figure shambles out of the darkness and raises its claws ready to attack.
Legend Point Awards:
- Exhibitions - 25
- Patiently listening through all the cutscenes - 25
- Killing the maggoty creature - 50
- Total: 100