While I am not a fan of game fiction I felt that at the start of one of the modules it was a good opportunity to interject some levity into the campaign with a lead in since the campaign had taken some pretty dark and grim overtones. I went for a more humorous outlook, but somehow managed to capture the true essence of the game's players in the fiction.

The Runaway Part I


Robert looked tired as he loaded his pack onto Alexander. The magnificent steed expressed his displeasure at the boredom of the moment. Robert finally noticed his warhorse's expression and compassionately stroked Alexander's head.

"Fear not my noble steed, soon we shall find adventure and right wrongs in the name of Heironeous!" Robert struck a valiant pose and the morning sunlight reflected off his armor and valiant smile. Alexander looked away, waiting for the group to get moving.

From the shadows a familiar voice interrupted Robert's stance. "Don't you ever think of anything besides justice?" Marcus emerged from the back of the stables and dusted off his trousers. He gestured towards Alexander, "Even your horse seems to be bothered with it." A whimsical smile crossed Marcus' elven face.

"Service to Heironeous in the name of justice is a thankless duty, my elven companion. One that I will forever strive for and.." once again Robert stood in his heroic pose. Marcus interjected, "Did your duty to justice recover any leads that would be help to us when we journey South?" A moment passed, and the another and finally Robert sighed and resumed a more normal stance.

"Alas no. I could not find anyone who was a witness to the attacks that could provide us with anything more that rumors or hearsay. Some spoke of vile nonhumans that inhabited the inner areas of the Dim Woods and they emerge at night to raid nearby villages." A familiar look sprang to life on Robert's face, "The fiends probably spirit the innocent people away to toil in some dreadful mine. How dare they! We must save them!"

Marcus just stood and looked at Robert in disbelief. "The conclusions you draw never fail to amaze me." Marcus's gaze drifted to behind Robert and he nodded.

"Nor I" said a loud and gruff voice. Robert turned around to look at what Marcus saw behind him. The rest of the group had arrived and were prepared for the road. "I was more successful that Sir Robert. I had many drinks with a brave warrior last night who told me that orks live in the Rushmoors and that they also raid the nearby villages for slaves. He fought glorious battles with them and gave me directions to the villages most affected by the slavers. In the name of All-Father I must fight against them as should all of you!"

Marcus stood silent in thought, "The Rushmoors would have ample vegetation for my entangle spell to be of use. Thank Ehlonna". A happy smile briefly appeared on his face and then was dashed by the sounds of Perowyn speaking.

"One of the street people told me that he had heard from a friend that there were some sort of warrior queen recruiting warriors in Hochoch. We could go join her and find out what she is planning." Robert had a concerned look on his face.

"What if she is evil? Do you want to take the chance of becoming an unwillingly become part of her wicked plot?" Robert started shaking his head "No, that is too great of risk". Griff snickered and added "Perhaps Perowyn could infiltrate the camp himself and discover what they are planning. He is after all a Rogue." Perowyn thought and then half nodded before Griff continued "Although we do not know if there really is a warrior queen. It could be just be a story told to eager travelers"

Tabitha looked at the group. "Once again we seem to be at an impasse. Without any reliable information I fear we will be wondering through the south with Robert calling out for the evil to show itself. That is not a sight I relish seeing." Her words sunk in and the group looked lost, except for Robert. He looked confused.

A small voice came  from behind the group, "What you need is a guide, someone who is familiar with the merchant routes, rest stops and knows her way around Flanaess" With a huge grin she exclaimed, "Why that sounds an awful lot like me!" Gabriella boldly approached the group dressed like any other traveler. A cloak slightly billowed in the breeze and tuffs of her long red hair poked out from under the hood. There was an eagerness in her eyes.

The group looked at her in anticipation of a longer explanation or perhaps a justification for including someone new to their band.

The young lady began to pace while she addressed the group, "Father says I really shouldn't ease drop but I really did not mean any harm by it. I had the feeling you would need help. None of you seem very good at gathering information...but I am. During my travels I have picked up a lot of useful knowledge, skills and abilities but it is not enough." Gabriella stops pacing and steps towards the group. "I want adventure! The battle against the ogres showed me that I was missing out on something. Twenty years from now I do not want to look back on my life and have any regrets about what might have been."

 
She paused for a moment and then continued, "Besides, I can adventure with this group or find another. I would much prefer this group."

The Runaway Part II

 

Gabriella looked happy at the group's acceptance of her and almost visibly jumped in enthusiasm. "There is an Inn that I know of which merchants frequently stop in the Barony of Eor. We should be able to find someone there who can provide us with a real lead. It's always busy." With that Gabriella smiled, proving to her new companions and herself that she had value.

 

"Excellent!" exclaimed Robert as he hastily mounted his steed. Alexander snorted and dramatically reared up as Robert pulled back on the reigns. "We shall seek justice, for Heironeous!" With that, Robert galloped off as the rest of the group looked puzzled.

 

Griff grumbled to Tabitha as he watched Robert disappear down the street, "How long do you think it will be before he realizes he went off without us?" Tabitha sighed, "I don't think he will considering he did guard a hole in the rain for the better part of the day. We had better go after him soon before we lose him completely." She turned towards the bright eyed Gabriella and continued "You had better hurry and fetch the rest of your gear."

 

Gabriella turned and whistled and then smiled at the rest of the group as a magnificent horse walked up to her loaded with adventuring gear. "I already acquired a horse and the necessary adventuring gear before father left." With a practiced ease she climbed on to the horse. "The inn is just four days journey from Hook Hill. We can travel close to the Dim Forest on our way if everyone wishes and check out the rumors of the nonhuman slavers."

 

The group's thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of Robert returning. Marcus snickered and called out to him, "What happened? Did you not know which direction to head once you got out of the city?" Robert paused for a moment. "Heironeous teaches us valor, not directions"

 

Tabitha motion for the group to get underway. "Robert is right, time is wasting and there is adventure waiting for us." Perowyn mumbled "I have a bad feeling about this." Marcus responded "Would you stop that!" and they bickered as the group rode off together.

Crodan's Tale

Crodan looked about the weary travelers who called themselves adventurers. The light of the camp fire flickered within the chilly night air. The Bramble woods were not the friendliest place to be at during the night, since all manner of foul beast prowl them. Several of the younger merchants looked to Crodan in hope that he would regale them with one of his stories.

“Come friends and strangers, gather around the fire and I will entertain you with a tale of adventure and mystery.” The old merchant smiled when he said that and watched as the newcomers moved to sit by the fire. There was a gleam in his eye as he began the story.

“In the year 468, a brave adventuring band lead by the aged and wise Rhire set out from Greyhawk on an expedition to discover new lands. There had been countless tales from sailors about seeing a continent beyond the eastern shores of the Solnor Compact. Rhire wanted to be the first to set foot on it”

“Rhire set sail on his ship “Blue Griffon” early one morning. Only a few days into the voyage a fierce storm came upon the ship and blew it hundreds of miles off course. When the storm passed the crew found themselves run aground on a strange land in the middle of the icy sea.”

Crodan took a big swig of ale from his wooden mug and continued, “They disembarked, and expected to find a land of snow and ice but instead found one of metal and stone partially covered in ice. At heart Rhire was an explorer and curiosity got the better of them. With only a short debate, they set out and explored the strange land. Hidden among the snow they found a portal and opened it with a magical spell.”

“Inside the island was a maze of corridors that seemed to stretch for many miles. The air was stale as if the door has not been opened in decades. The corridors had strange designs and symbols carved into the walls. Undead minions protected the rooms and hampered the exploration of the crew.”

“A day passed and Rhire and his crew discovered a large heavy door with more strange symbols on it. Gabashore’, a rogue, was able to bypass the traps and unlock the door. When the room was finally opened the group was stricken by the treasure that was before them. There were piles of coins, bowls of gems and golden statues of animal headed men and women. The crew greedily stuffed their sacks with loose treasure.”

“Just beyond the treasure room was another door. Once that door was opened the crew discovered a stairway that lead deeper underground. At the bottom they found a strange room that had with many unknown arcane magic symbols carved on the walls and a set of levers. Gabashore’ moved one of them and a rumbling was felt throughout the island. Almost at the same time, stronger undead minions arrived from other areas and began attacking the crew.”

“Fearing the worst, Rhire ordered his crew to withdraw to their ship. They fought the whole way there while the island experienced brief and violent quakes. Each quake was stronger than the previous one. The situation on the surface was worse as the island seemed to be breaking up. The ship had been pushed free and the crew managed to make it safely aboard.”

“As the ship pulled away from the strange land they saw the island rise from the water and float up in the air. Free of the ice and snow it looked like an ancient castle fortress. Another violent storm was heading the direction of the floating island and the Blue Griffon” and both were scattered in the winds. Rhire and his crew were shaken by the experience and returned to port. None would forget that day.”

The youth red head looked up from her journal and inquisitively asked, “Did Rhire ever find the eastern continent?” Crodan took another big swing of his ale and responded.

“No, Rhire never did discover the eastern continent. It was said that he searched the sea for signs of the mysterious floating island. His crew stood beside him during his repeated voyages out to sea and together they faced pirates and all manner of sea monstrosities, but never did they find the floating island.”

The Circle

Robert surveyed the stone circle intent on finding the source of the voice he had just heard. The torch he carried barely illuminated the stones, and the thick brambles in the center were dark and large enough to conceal a man or perhaps a beast.

Robert called out to the circle, “Are you an evil or good spirit?” The soft voice answered, “There is neither good nor evil in this sacred circle, only tranquility. Both are dispositions of men.”

Robert was visibly puzzled by the remark. Gabriella observed from a distance and slowly shook her head, “Poor Robert, Perowyn finally drove him to speaking to rocks. It was bound to happen sooner or later.” Quietly she went back to writing on parchment.

“Do you have a name spirit?” inquired Robert. The voice replied gently “I am called Elvindra and I am the guardian of this sacred place.”

Robert noticed the rest of the group staring at him from camp with that friendly look of concern on their face. He turned back to the circle, “Spirit can you show yourself?”

The mound of brambles shifted and slowly transformed into a mighty unicorn that stood proudly in the center of the circle. The unicorn looked at Robert and replied “Is this form more suiting?” Robert could only nod, startled by the transformation. The rest of the party gathered around the circle and watched.  

The unicorn looked up at them, “The circle is safe and the companions of Robert may enter. Perhaps you can tell me why you are so far off the road. The bramblewoods is not safe for travelers.”

Robert exclaimed “We quest for the source of the disappearances in the forest, a dark spire!”

The magical beast shook its head slowly and replied “The dark spire is not the source of the disappearances on man’s road. It is a dark stain left on the heart of the forest from a great war long ago. The spire existed before I was born.” 

The nimble Gabriela inquisitively asked, “What do you know of the spire?” She watched the unicorn and prepared to write what it replied on her parchment. The unicorn began the tale.

“Long, long ago there lived a powerful sorcerer named Gle’mir. His only desire was to perfect his magical skills in secret. He constructed a tower that reached to the sky and was as made of crystal. At midnight, when the moon was full there would be a flash of light that could be seen for miles. Many years passed and the tower stood in the forest, silent.”

“Then came the darkness from beyond the realm. The crystal tower turned black and spewed forth a stream of iron and stone constructs that ravaged the peaceful inhabitants of the forest. They were driven out by the dark creations. They lumbered on to other parts of Flanaess, fighting along the side of darkness.”

“After years of battle, the darkness was banished from Flanaess. The spire’s forges went silent and it stood alone in the forest as a reminder of the dark times that once were. Many a hero tried and failed to discover what secrets the spire guarded. Eventually it was forgotten.”

“Then, just over 500 years ago, the forges once again churned out iron constructs and a new battle erupted. The constructs destroyed anything in their path. It was said they were looking for something, a tome of magic rituals or perhaps an artifact. Many mage guilds fell to the constructs.”

“Then came the band of heroes lead by Ardiwin, a champion of Heronious. He wielded a great sword of righteous fury, the last of the great relics that were forged by the gods and given to heroes in their darkest hour to drive back the darkness. They entered the tower and slew the sorcerer who dwelled within. Afterwards they looted the spire and as soon as the last of the heroes exited the spire, it disappeared. All that remained was a dead spot within the heart of the forest where dreadful creatures roam to this day.”

“The valorous dead was soon forgotten, as was the spire. At least until one night 100 years ago when the moon became as blood and the tower appeared. Now each full moon it appears and then vanishes again before dawn. It stands silent, but I can sense the dark forces are growing within.”

Ardol scratched his chin as if in contemplative thought and looked about the gathered group of elves and humans. “That is a most disconcerting tale.”