Post by Nolwien on May 23, 2020 8:48:52 GMT -5
(alternatively, you can find this release here) www.defendthenightgame.com/2020-q2-newsletter/
The boy lay in the shelter of the great pillars of stone entrance. Beyond, the bodies of his friends were strewn in various areas of the largest cavern he’d ever seen! Tears streaked his face as he relived the visions and his flight to find an exit. He had tried to help, but to no avail. A large shadow covered what light of day was left and he looked up to see a bearded man with large, hulking shoulders over him. He willed himself to be taken into the landscape about him, but instead, he heard a gentle voice speak to him.
“Are ye alright, lad? Here - take some of this and let’s make sure you’re ok!”
After a long drought of liquid life, he looked at the man. “My thanks! Who are you, m’lord?”
The figure gathered himself, putting away the flask, and answered, offering his hand to help the boy rise. “Ver Statera, son. And you?”
“I go by Jonalial. So I was named. Thank you for the drink. I do feel much better, altho I fear my friends might no longer say the same!” And he dropped his head to his chest. “They were trapped inside.”
“Do you know the name of this place?” The boy nodded his head. “And yet you ventured inside. A group of mere boys?”
Ver put his arm about Jonalial’s shoulders and took in a deep breath. “Come. Let us see if we might find your friends.”
“But, SIR!”
“It’s alright. We will be fine. Trust and we will do what we must!”
Seditious Sanctum! One of the most deadly places in Certovia for young ones! The bones of many a-wanderer have been found there by other unsuspecting travelers and explorers.
The caverns had been found by humans who chose to follow the darker path! It was a shelter for those who spoke against the Pius and actually encouraged others to speak and act against the civility that they encouraged. The word “overthrow” was tossed about like a toy and groups would meet in one of the many rooms to discuss the destruction of the great artifacts and cities of those who were followers of Pius.
As they stepped through the archway, Ver Statera cast a spell about them, shrouding them in a mist. They would not be seen by any creature wishing to harm. No more than ten steps in proved, to Jonalial, exactly it’s worth, as a monstrous being stood by the guard tower!
Walking through the entrance, once danger was behind them, they heard sounds of nature. The water that lapped against the pathway and birds chirping. Leaves rustling in the wind. It was actually peaceful! And then they walked into the first chamber.
Sounds of activity increased and people milled about, carrying packs and boxes. Nothing unusual about this place, it would seem. Normal commerce taking place, it. But there is a feeling of being watched, even as the cloaked pair moved through them.
Branching off in two directions, they head to the left.
A thick, musty smell greeted them as they crossed a bridge that actually veered to the right. It was a swamp with all manner of fungi growing. Another turn and they were walking through a maze of headstones. Dark, ominous shapes flew above them causing Jonalial to edge closer to Ver Statera. Ver patted his shoulder and gave him an encouraging wink. Jonalial pointed to another path and they moved on.
A green and purple haze met them as they walked under a beam. Ver stopped and cast another resist spell on them. He knew if they were caught unawares, certain death would befall! And that very thought concerned him. His concern was met with evidence.
Just inside the door, a body lay on the ground. Further in, another.
“Are there others here, boy?” Jonalial shook his head no, so the great man picked both bodies up and took them outside the area, casting a shield over them. He then took out a dark, blue stone and laid it on the chest of the first boy. The stone glowed with purple fire, then red and yellow. Jonalial’s eyes grew large as his friend twitched and caught a deep breath. Ver repeated the process with the next boy and, again, breath entered into him.
“How many more?” Jonalial held up two fingers as he continued to watch his friends recover. “I want you three to leave this place! I will send you to Terra Pax. They will know what to do. Return here only after learning your skills. Do you understand?” The boy nodded and Ver Statera took some powder from a pouch, blowing it over the three, and they vanished.
There was no need for the god to restore the protective shield as he ventured on. He knew the place. He knew the General had watched them from overhead, yet had enough wit to not do anything foolish. And he knew that the rooms Jonalial’s friends had been in meant death to any unprepared and unfortunate enough to fall victim to the noxious and poisonous plants growing. Had he not been there….
And he was pretty sure where the other two might be.
Going down a long hall, he turned into an almost magical area! Deadly, but magical. Large mushrooms and plants of various colors, shapes and sizes filled his vision. A place like this could entice anyone with it’s mystery, beauty and splendor, and many had succumbed to its magic in the past. Ever since Skimmer’s Cove had become such a popular place for newcomers, there had been those to went exploring and were never heard from again. If any of them had made it this far back, he was sure to find what remained of them eventually. Perhaps, some even became fodder for the growth here.
He took a vial of liquid, touched it to his tongue, and then stepped in.
There were paths where others had been walking. He followed, marveling at the scene about him. Surely, Sol Sulod had something to do with this. God of illusion and vile, anyone would come in, thinking it a pleasant place to pass the time, but fall victim to its truth. And, indeed, further in, he nearly stumbled over a lump of roots and grasses that had consumed a body. He said a quick prayer to Japetus and walked on.
Not finding any recent sleepers, he moved back out into the halls and continued on. The graveyard wasn’t far, and all manner of evil and spirits inhabited the area. Taking a deep breath, he ventured towards it, hoping to not find anything there.
It was black as pitch! Cold, dark and foreboding, as tho the dead surrounded you with icy fingers reaching out. Ver struck a torch and made his way through the headstones. Above, dark, menacing shapes circled about. Even the trees screamed DEATH, as their bare branches struck fearful shapes in the gloom, but Ver continued his walk.
Reaching, what could have been, the caretaker’s hut, he stopped and looked inside the door. Piercing, red eyes stared back at him, as if daring him to enter. Even a god can shudder when evil defies you, but he knew something else was in there. He knew it! And so, uttering words in a tongue known only to him, he became impervious to incantation and harm from the evil and walked into the shack with determination. The eyes slunk back to a corner and Ver saw them...the boys...laying in a lifeless heap. He picked them up and strode back thru the graveyard, defying the spirits and concentrating on his goal.
Back in the hallway again, he laid the boys down and, one by one laid the blue stone upon them. Once breath was restored, he simply told them they would join Jonalial, and they were gone.
He quickly rushed through the residential district, the Key Master’s quarters, the Oasis, and the other areas before retreating to the Meadow. There, he found a party of four nursing their wounds. He walked over to them and gave aid before telling them to leave quickly. “I will assist. We will all leave together, and if I never come back here, it will be my pleasure!”
And they were gone.
The boy lay in the shelter of the great pillars of stone entrance. Beyond, the bodies of his friends were strewn in various areas of the largest cavern he’d ever seen! Tears streaked his face as he relived the visions and his flight to find an exit. He had tried to help, but to no avail. A large shadow covered what light of day was left and he looked up to see a bearded man with large, hulking shoulders over him. He willed himself to be taken into the landscape about him, but instead, he heard a gentle voice speak to him.
“Are ye alright, lad? Here - take some of this and let’s make sure you’re ok!”
After a long drought of liquid life, he looked at the man. “My thanks! Who are you, m’lord?”
The figure gathered himself, putting away the flask, and answered, offering his hand to help the boy rise. “Ver Statera, son. And you?”
“I go by Jonalial. So I was named. Thank you for the drink. I do feel much better, altho I fear my friends might no longer say the same!” And he dropped his head to his chest. “They were trapped inside.”
“Do you know the name of this place?” The boy nodded his head. “And yet you ventured inside. A group of mere boys?”
Ver put his arm about Jonalial’s shoulders and took in a deep breath. “Come. Let us see if we might find your friends.”
“But, SIR!”
“It’s alright. We will be fine. Trust and we will do what we must!”
Seditious Sanctum! One of the most deadly places in Certovia for young ones! The bones of many a-wanderer have been found there by other unsuspecting travelers and explorers.
The caverns had been found by humans who chose to follow the darker path! It was a shelter for those who spoke against the Pius and actually encouraged others to speak and act against the civility that they encouraged. The word “overthrow” was tossed about like a toy and groups would meet in one of the many rooms to discuss the destruction of the great artifacts and cities of those who were followers of Pius.
As they stepped through the archway, Ver Statera cast a spell about them, shrouding them in a mist. They would not be seen by any creature wishing to harm. No more than ten steps in proved, to Jonalial, exactly it’s worth, as a monstrous being stood by the guard tower!
Walking through the entrance, once danger was behind them, they heard sounds of nature. The water that lapped against the pathway and birds chirping. Leaves rustling in the wind. It was actually peaceful! And then they walked into the first chamber.
Sounds of activity increased and people milled about, carrying packs and boxes. Nothing unusual about this place, it would seem. Normal commerce taking place, it. But there is a feeling of being watched, even as the cloaked pair moved through them.
Branching off in two directions, they head to the left.
A thick, musty smell greeted them as they crossed a bridge that actually veered to the right. It was a swamp with all manner of fungi growing. Another turn and they were walking through a maze of headstones. Dark, ominous shapes flew above them causing Jonalial to edge closer to Ver Statera. Ver patted his shoulder and gave him an encouraging wink. Jonalial pointed to another path and they moved on.
A green and purple haze met them as they walked under a beam. Ver stopped and cast another resist spell on them. He knew if they were caught unawares, certain death would befall! And that very thought concerned him. His concern was met with evidence.
Just inside the door, a body lay on the ground. Further in, another.
“Are there others here, boy?” Jonalial shook his head no, so the great man picked both bodies up and took them outside the area, casting a shield over them. He then took out a dark, blue stone and laid it on the chest of the first boy. The stone glowed with purple fire, then red and yellow. Jonalial’s eyes grew large as his friend twitched and caught a deep breath. Ver repeated the process with the next boy and, again, breath entered into him.
“How many more?” Jonalial held up two fingers as he continued to watch his friends recover. “I want you three to leave this place! I will send you to Terra Pax. They will know what to do. Return here only after learning your skills. Do you understand?” The boy nodded and Ver Statera took some powder from a pouch, blowing it over the three, and they vanished.
There was no need for the god to restore the protective shield as he ventured on. He knew the place. He knew the General had watched them from overhead, yet had enough wit to not do anything foolish. And he knew that the rooms Jonalial’s friends had been in meant death to any unprepared and unfortunate enough to fall victim to the noxious and poisonous plants growing. Had he not been there….
And he was pretty sure where the other two might be.
Going down a long hall, he turned into an almost magical area! Deadly, but magical. Large mushrooms and plants of various colors, shapes and sizes filled his vision. A place like this could entice anyone with it’s mystery, beauty and splendor, and many had succumbed to its magic in the past. Ever since Skimmer’s Cove had become such a popular place for newcomers, there had been those to went exploring and were never heard from again. If any of them had made it this far back, he was sure to find what remained of them eventually. Perhaps, some even became fodder for the growth here.
He took a vial of liquid, touched it to his tongue, and then stepped in.
There were paths where others had been walking. He followed, marveling at the scene about him. Surely, Sol Sulod had something to do with this. God of illusion and vile, anyone would come in, thinking it a pleasant place to pass the time, but fall victim to its truth. And, indeed, further in, he nearly stumbled over a lump of roots and grasses that had consumed a body. He said a quick prayer to Japetus and walked on.
Not finding any recent sleepers, he moved back out into the halls and continued on. The graveyard wasn’t far, and all manner of evil and spirits inhabited the area. Taking a deep breath, he ventured towards it, hoping to not find anything there.
It was black as pitch! Cold, dark and foreboding, as tho the dead surrounded you with icy fingers reaching out. Ver struck a torch and made his way through the headstones. Above, dark, menacing shapes circled about. Even the trees screamed DEATH, as their bare branches struck fearful shapes in the gloom, but Ver continued his walk.
Reaching, what could have been, the caretaker’s hut, he stopped and looked inside the door. Piercing, red eyes stared back at him, as if daring him to enter. Even a god can shudder when evil defies you, but he knew something else was in there. He knew it! And so, uttering words in a tongue known only to him, he became impervious to incantation and harm from the evil and walked into the shack with determination. The eyes slunk back to a corner and Ver saw them...the boys...laying in a lifeless heap. He picked them up and strode back thru the graveyard, defying the spirits and concentrating on his goal.
Back in the hallway again, he laid the boys down and, one by one laid the blue stone upon them. Once breath was restored, he simply told them they would join Jonalial, and they were gone.
He quickly rushed through the residential district, the Key Master’s quarters, the Oasis, and the other areas before retreating to the Meadow. There, he found a party of four nursing their wounds. He walked over to them and gave aid before telling them to leave quickly. “I will assist. We will all leave together, and if I never come back here, it will be my pleasure!”
And they were gone.