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The Cavern of Sorrows
Posted: 30 Jun 2003 12:37 AM |
Thanks for the compliments guys. And Thanks especially to Arathorn for DM'ing this adventure. I had a lot of fun on it
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~Alosynth
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The Cavern of Sorrows
Posted: 30 Jun 2003 12:37 AM |
This is a tale of the Cavern of Sorrows and the land called Elbereth's Tears. Eon's ago, there was a great argument in the Heavens that spilled over onto the land, causing a great cataclysm that killed many of Elbereth's, the Mother of the Elves, and goddess of nature, Children. The war was resolved, but Elbereth found the land to have been ravaged and barren. She wept and wept and continued for centuries and continues still. And those tears formed the waters you see now in the area named Elbereth's Tears. They were a blessing to the land, causing nature to again flourish and restore what the cataclysm had destroyed. The waters continue to flow out of Elbereth's Tears to bless the land to this day, thanks to a shard of Elbereth's spirit that resides within the Cavern of Sorrows and mourns for what has happened, replenishing the enchanted waters of Elbereth's Tears.
The spirit that inhabits the Cavern of Sorrows is in fact a follower of Elbereth, chosen to be imbibed with Elbereth's spirit and spend 1000 years in the Cavern, mourning, until the next successor comes. It is a daunting task that awaits these chosen, but they do it without regret for they know it is their duty. For it is said, that should the waters ever dry up, life in the lands would dry up as well.
This story recounts the tale of the change of mourners and the choosing of the next successor. It began with a group of adventurers relaxing in the grass listening to the mellow sound of the crystal clear waters flowing down the hill's that form Elberth's Tears. There was the half elvin Ellanessë Elvythíen; the elvin Tarawyn Tir'ent and Eagle Eye; the humans Allanon, Walin Bannion, and Lord Al; the halfling Merum Widt; and the civilized goblin, Grizzuk. As they were relaxing, a nymph approached and told them of the story of how the area came to be and of the spirit in the Cavern of Sorrows.
The adventurers, intrigued by the story, went to see the spirit of the Caverns and found her, oblivious to their presence, crying gracefully over a great underground lake that seemed to be the source of all the water. Ellanessë, being a druid, and follower of Elbereth, was entranced by the spirit and reached out to touch her. Her hand slipped right through the spirit, but as she opened her palm she found a single tear. The party was overwhelmed by the sacrifice that the spirit has made and many fell to their knees praying to their gods that they might give strength to the spirit. Ellanessë, overcome by the melancholy, let a single tear roll down her check. As the spirit stirred slightly, Ellanessë touched the tear on her check, allowing it to mix with the one already in her hand.
With that, the spirit turned and looked directly into Ellanessë's eyes and Ellanessë felt suddenly moment of shear joy and at the same time anguish as the spirit made a connection with her mind. The spirit asked Ellanessë to 'find one of my kin. My successor.' Replying out loud Ellanessë asked where. The spirit replied telepathically 'within nature Child.... within nature.' And with that, the connection broke.
Ellanessë relayed what happened to the rest of the party and they decided to seek the nymph out for guidance. It was from her they learned that the spirit had actually been down in the Cavern for many years past her millennia and that they had been searching for her successor to no avail. It seems that she had gone missing shortly before her time and none have been able to find her. Wanting to help, the nymph pointed the adventurers to a near by forest that had yet to be searched and the party set off.
In the forest, a hollowed tree was found with a stair case leading down to an underground building. The foyer was filled with trees and shrubs and seemed almost serene, except for the great sense of foreboding that all could feel. Just past the foyer were a series of cages containing all sorts of animals that seemed to contain a fury beyond all measure. Even Ellanessë could not calm them down. Around the corner from that, more animals, free of cages, but still just as furious were led by a couple of cursed dryads. Unfortunately, all of these animals had to be killed when they attacked the party, leaving brave Allanon mortally wounded. Fortunately, Eagle Eye was able to mend his wounds before it was too late.
The adventurers continued on with their exploration and came across another large room with a grand tree in the centre. From around the tree came a ferocious ancient dire bear. It charged straight into the party, mortally wounding many of them. Seeing no way of controlling the bear, as it appeared to have been driven past any point of sanity, Ellanessë knew that it had to be put out of its misery. The bear turned on her and she felt a sudden burst of strength feeling the same joy and anguish she earlier felt when talking with the spirit of the Cavern, and though the bear landed blow after blow, the claws seemed to glance right off her. Eventually the bear was defeated, but at great cost. The entire party, with the exception of Ellanessë, Merum, and Eagle Eye lay dead on the floor. All seemed lost, until Merum spoke of seeing several scrolls that may aid them behind a locked door. Letting Merum unlock the door, Ellanessë ran into the room and was confronted by more enraged animals and cursed dryads. Feeling the strength and invulnerability beginning to wane, she quickly defeated the opponents in the room. In the corner, they found a pile of scrolls, enchanted with the power to raise fallen comrades, and shortly, the party was at full strength again.
Retreating back to they foyer, they rested and ate to regain strength. As they were resting, they were joined by another compatriot, the half-orc Erig, whom had stumbled upon the hollow tree on his way to the town of Paws. With greater strength, the party continued on past the room with the bear. There, in the hallway, they encountered a huge Iron golem, which they were able to defeat by working together.
The golem, it seemed, had been created to guard and evil wizard from intruders, for beyond the hallway, the party found him in a room in the back. It seemed that the wizard had been experimenting with all forms of nature in his perverted attempts to conquer it. In a fit of rage, the normally placid Erig, dispatched the wizard with a single swipe of his scythe before they could question him further. Upon the body, the adventurers found a set of keys and set out to find the door that matched them in hopes of finding the successor that Ellanessë knew had to be there.
A brief search yielded the door, and small cell beyond was found to contain a very weak Li'ilowein, the successor. Elated at their success, the party helped Li'ilowein to freedom and back to the Cavern of Sorrows. There, Li'ilowein asked that Ellanessë accompany her into the Cavern. Together they entered and stopped by the current spirit. Here Li'ilowein turned to Ellanessë with tears welling and spoke her final words before her duty would commence. This is what was said.
Li'ilowein: here our destiny awaits Ellenesse
Li'ilowein: for me a certainty now
Li'ilowein: for you..........
Li'ilowein: a possiblility
Li'ilowein: Elbereth has blessed us
Ellanessë: I will accept it when it comes.
Li'ilowein: with a wondrous task
Li'ilowein: for through us she channels her powers
Li'ilowein: her tears and sorrow flow through our beings
Li'ilowein: bringing life to the lands
Li'ilowein: and to nature itself
Li'ilowein: for without her spirit.........
Li'ilowein: I fear the lands die
Li'ilowein: and so......
Li'ilowein: the ones most in touch with nature and the earth
Li'ilowein: will be deemed to become the successors to what I become now
Li'ilowein: Elbereth's powers flow in you
Li'ilowein: I see it now
Ellanessë: I am begingin to feel them
Li'ilowein: protect what is most precious
Li'ilowein: protect nature
Ellanessë: I will.
Ellanessë: With all my life.
Li'ilowein: from those who abuse her for her powers
Li'ilowein: Now I must take leave of you
Li'ilowein: to free this most valiant spirit
Li'ilowein: and take her place
Ellanessë: Thank you,.. for what you will do.
Li'ilowein: as you might one day
Li'ilowein: I give no reward
Li'ilowein: but perhaps some knowledge
*Li'ilowein touches Ellanessë's forehead and chants softly*
Li'ilowein: leave me know Ellanesse
Li'ilowein: for now it is my time
Ellanessë: Thank you... and good luck
Li'ilowein: and this is not for mortal eyes.
Ellanessë left the cavern, taking one last glance back at Li'ilowein, feeling inside her the power of Elbereth grow stronger, knowing that in 1000 years it will be her turn to take Li'ilowein's place and that, until then, she would not age a day. She recounting what she could to the rest of the adventurers, feeling both joy and sorrow at what has happened, and what will come to be in time. |
~Alosynth
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[No Subject]
Posted: 30 Jun 2003 12:37 AM |
| Great story I liked it |
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[No Subject]
Posted: 30 Jun 2003 12:37 AM |
| [i:70514980ff][color=olive:70514980ff]Thanks Shadoah... how could I have missed a great session! :([/i:70514980ff][/color:70514980ff] |
Aria
So talented, so troubled. |
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[No Subject]
Posted: 30 Jun 2003 12:37 AM |
WOW! Nice job indeed...I leave for a weekend and Alo puts a great story up...well versed and well done Alo, I liked it alot :D
~Fenarisk |
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Parts Missed
Posted: 30 Jun 2003 12:37 AM |
Any post that inflates my ego rocks. Ctrl f rocks. I was mentioned twice. I had fun, it was a cool quest, but you left out the part where the iron golem respawned and killed Grizzuk Twice, Twice!
With a passion, Sion.
[size=9:3832c00b1d][i:3832c00b1d][color=olive:3832c00b1d]Edited by Aria: Translated the leetspeak. Future leetspeak imbued posts will be deleted automatically.[/color:3832c00b1d][/i:3832c00b1d][/size:3832c00b1d] |
When in doubt, mumble. When in trouble, delegate. |
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Re: Parts Missed
Posted: 01 Oct 2003 02:33 PM |
| A most enjoyable read! Well done! |
I'm The Cult of Personality. |
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