The Last Ring
cy 4109 Jun 21st - Jun 24th
Kareel stares at the menacing faces around her, only Ilkien showing any hint
of protection. The Eldrych king, Mynan, is at his most menacing, demanding an
explanation for her behaviour. Kareel sighs, revealing to them that she is a
thief - an extremely talented thief trained in the Academy of the Arts by
surreptitious guildmasters. As she confesses to them her exploits it becomes
clear that the seeress has led a very fruitful life, her thievery masked by
her natural gift of true sight. She tells them that under instruction from her
masters (probably hired by Kulg or Sarrek Talvor - the guardians of the
prophecy) she was to steal from both the Eldrych king and the demon queen
herself.
The Ring of Souls she took from Mynan and the Ring of Spirits
she took from Sithlaen. Both chased her frantically, Sithlaen summoning a
demon to retrieve the ring and destroy the girl. The demon, however, was
Beremoth and he took her to safety. Kareel tells them of how the demon lord
instructed her in the ways of the prophecy, telling her that the Gathering was
not a geographical occurrence but instead one of simply ensuring that the nine
instruments found separate wielders. This, effectively, was what she
was bringing into being - accelerating the Gathering to it's ultimate
conclusion.
The company consider the young woman's words and the tension eases. Kareel
informs them that she has the last instrument - the Ring of Souls - but
was told by Beremoth that the wielder of this most dangerous artefact must be
pure of heart and free of evil. She points to Ilkien, the minstrel, as the
only possible candidate for such a powerful sorcerous item. After a brief
discussion the party agree to her request and she tells them that Beremoth is
the keeper of the last ring. Moshan, the Eldrych spy, constructs a pentacle of
summoning and the powerful Eldrych king, Mynan, intones the words of a spell.
Beremoth appears into their rooms at the tavern with a broad grin and holds
out a ring of pure black metal. It's presence is overwhelming and they all
gasp as Ilkien takes it. Mynan dismisses Beremoth with a casual wave of his
hand and all eyes turn to the minstrel, his fingers trembling around the ring.
As he slips it onto his finger there is a resounding clap of thunder and they
all feel the release of an ancient, profound magic.
The three guardians of the prophecy - Voltiar, Kulg and Sarrek Talvor -
suddenly appear in the room dressed in white robes. Their faces are stern and
when they speak they do so with one voice:
"Greetings and salutations, Elements of the Prophecy. Yours has
been the hardest quest but there is much still to do. Gone now are the safe
havens which you have come to know, gone now is the order with which you have
grown and gone are the days of peace and light.
"Forever the company gathered before us will live in the songs and
hearts of men. Forever will this day be heralded as a beginning. Forever will
this day last in your minds.
"Our time as Guardians of the Prophecy is almost at an end. We have
little now to offer but words which will shape your destinies and propel you
into the final struggle. The Last Battle.
"Go then company of Ring, Sword & Tome, enter the Paths of your
Fate and search for the ways into Fire. Use well those instruments which you
have gained, for they are the keys and the despair - they are the hope and the
nightmare which forces you into danger.
"All the terrors of this world and worlds past will strive to halt
your progress. Beware the Rising Moon and the Serpent's poison - go quietly
into the Halls of Knights past and strive for the final phase of Promethian
Destiny - The Battle."
As the last word is spoken the three disappear forever. Their departure is
greeted with an almighty explosion. Such is the force that the buildings of
Myst itself shake on their foundations. Rushing to a nearby balcony the
company cast their eyes north where a pall of thick black smoke rises high
into the sky. It is distant but it's force can be felt even in the citadel.
Screams follow as the city of Myst begins to fall apart. Towers topple over,
crushing the inhabitants below. Huge cracks appear in the streets and great
tidal waves batter the harbour. Amidst the chaos and devastation Mynan urges
the company to leave the citadel as quickly as possible. The streets are
deadly as rock, stone and water threaten to overcome them. Mynan wields his
sorcery upon the falling citadel, ensuring that no buildings or debris fall
onto them. Jeran joins him, his powerful mind throwing a protective blanket
over them which deflects rocks and other dangers away to safety.
Moshan manages to find a breech in the colossal walls and they rush through it
and onto the relative safety of open grassland. They decide to head to the
north - to Tylaq, another Eldrych port. Their ultimate destination being the
smouldering mountain in Asharok that presently spews smoke and fire into the
afternoon sun. All the while the destruction all around them continues
unabated. Great waves engulf whole villages on the coast and they move closer
inland, where the signs of destruction are somewhat less obvious.
They come upon a small village before nightfall. It has no signs of life and
the farm animals and herds have been torn to pieces by some hideous creature.
Their remains lie scattered over a wide area. Anandar pulls out the great
black blade and moves silently into the village to investigate. He discover a
hulking, monstrous creature. It moves like an ape and stands twelve foot tall.
Whilst it is not demonic it possesses the same evil intensity as it scours the
village for something else to rend. Anandar moves quietly behind it and rams
the sword into the creature's back.
To his astonishment, however, the monster howls in pain and spins rapidly.
It's huge taloned hand rips through the assassin's armour and gouges a large
hole in his chest. Hurled back twenty feet by the force of the creature
Anandar lies heavily on the ground, blood gushing from the terrible wound.
Mynan urges them forward, going swiftly to the aid of the fallen killer. Karim,
Jorkan and Moshan rush onto the creature quickly with swords drawn. Jeran
draws his darkbow and looses arrows swiftly, one following another in the
blink of an eye. Ilkien grips the hand of Kareel tightly leading her out of
harms way as they watch the frantic battle unfold.
Jeran's arrows thunder into the creature powerfully. It howls in pain under
the rain of shafts. Karim, Jorkan and Moshan cut deep wounds into the tough
creature, making sure that they avoid it's dangerously flailing talons. Under
the heavy firepower of the darkbow the three swordsmen are able to wear it
down until, finally, it collapses, dead, under the weight of blows.
All eyes turn to Anandar. The awful ripped chest would have killed many lesser
men but he gurgles blood and moans in the throes of death. Mynan, however,
focuses his awesome sorcery upon the wound and as his hand moves over the
damage it vanishes, leaving only the faintest hint of a scar. Anandar stands
up and grins at the dead beast.
Next morning the air is filled with a dense volcanic dust that is like a dread
grey snow. Visibilty shrinks to several feet and they move slowly, cautiously
northward - aware that there have been many profound changes around them, not
least the sudden proliferation of monsters. Soon Moshan, who scouts ahead,
comes upon a wolf trapped beneath a small boulder. Anandar moves up behind it
and they are both aware of great sorcery around. Suddenly, without warning,
the wolf transforms itself into a tall humanoid with gangly legs and arms.
It's eyes are intense and it unleashes a swift sorcerous attack upon the
assassin. Anandar falls to his knees under the attack which drained him of
much magic. Moshan is joined by Karim who hack at the creature quickly. Green
ooze emanates from the many wounds they inflict - it has a strange magical
presence. Finally Jeran launches a single arrow and the creature falls. Once
more Mynan tends the damaged Anandar, but this time his healing powers have
little effect.
Moshan and Anandar exchange words. Their conversation leads to them passing
their swords (the sword of spirits and the sword of souls) to each
other. Anandar falls to the ground in pain, not realising that relinquishing
the demonic sword that had fed him energy and life was something he could not
live without. Moshan, however, accepts the great black blade with the
arrogance and confidence of an Eldrych sorcerer. The blade snarls audibly and
the company stare in disbelief at the two men....