Aporeu chronicles Issue 54: Gold tier reward ceremony
Stories from the adventurers
This week
We've all seen that fight at the ceremony, but here is the viewpoints of the ones fighting in it and what they had to do to earn their spot as gold adventurers. Remember these names, as they will be the future of the guild.
I walked down the windy path of bore.
Got to a room without a floor.
The other side I needed to be.
How to get there I had to see.
And see I did.
The bridge they hid.
I lit up that bridge.
And walked safely along that ridge.
Found a pedestal within a new room.
I did not want to go boom.
So I carefully looked around.
But no traps were to be found.
On the pedestal were boots that can fly.
Checked again and nothing was awry.
I took them and did not get chilled.
Which was the test for me to advance in the guild.
One more fight.
To prove I can reach greater height.
Custous
I step in to a windy cavern tunnel that leads me deeper down. As the darkness engulfs me, I unscrew the top of my mace, setting free the cold and grey flame it holds. Just when I wonder when this will end, I’m greeted by the flickering of a reddish light from a room far away. As I walk in, I see a stone pedestal, smooth as marble, evidently placed in the center of the room. A bronze brazier for ritual use is set on top,with charcoal burning red hot inside. Flames dancing and flickering, touched by a nigh imperceptible draft running through the room. The walls vaguely reflect the fire, as they also have been polished down to a smooth marble like texture. There is nothing else I can sense, nothing of imminent danger, no inscriptions, no magic, or any way to continue. Still holding my mace I extinguish the fire, hoping that it may reveal something. Nothing. I activate my wand, and it directs me towards the opposite side from where I came. I carefully investigate and find a groove outlining some sort of doorway, when I push, it slowly moves back and swings open. A new tunnel appears in front of me, and before I continue, I make sure to grab some of the now cooled down coal. I may need it further down the road. Eventually I step into a similar room as the first, but instead of a pedestal with a brazier, a pendant is placed atop. I first make sure it’s safe, and with a simple gesture the amulet starts floating, where it is dropped into my hand. There I hold a pendant with an opaque red gem, cunningly shaped like a heart, cupped within 2 golden hands. Surely this item has some powerful protection magic to it.
~Custous Vita, Servant of Kelemvor Surron
Hearing that I had to go alone in this Gold rank challenge was a little daunting, I’ll be frank. I do better if there are others around that I can worry about. Worrying about myself just bogs me down in insecurity and inaction. Luckily for me, Kali was there for emotional support, so I’m never truly alone if I don’t want to. Stepping through the portcullis, I saw a dark rectangular room, with high, solid walls running down the length of it. On the opposite end was a door. Along the walls were sconces with flickering flames, casting dancing shadows all around me that seemed to dart around like red-eyed squirrels, rear up like massive owlbears and causing metal beams to glisten as if from skittering Ankhegs. The room filled me with dread as I stepped across the threshold and I had to steel my mind to fight off the nerves. On the far end of the room, in front of the door, three black gems lay on the floor, side by side. I could stare into their darkness and see visions of my failures and fears. Ignoring the clawing fear rising within me, I took a deep breath and sat down. I stroked the back of the tome that was hanging from my belt before detaching it, opening it to a page filled with scribbles, drawings and little notes and starting the ritual I needed. I started chanting the words written on the pages in front of me, concentrating on the rush of divination magic coursing through my body. Ten minutes of concentrating on the weaving of this ritual later, I opened my eyes to look around me. Nothing in the room seemed to be magical, other than those 3 jets on the floor. They were infused with Illusory magics, and I was about to get up and get closer to investigate, when Kalista asked me to let her try first. I was hesitant, considering the fact she hadn’t fared too well recently on guild missions, having lost her a couple times. She insisted that we are a team and that we got here together, so she should do her part in this as well. I couldn’t argue with that, so I agreed. She sped towards the gems, and tapped the one on the right with her beak. A shriek rang out, and she sped away from the gems, making for the door behind me. I sent her back to her Nest, letting her rest there for a bit. Upon calling her back into the material plane, she told me that the jets showed her memories of the moment her physical self died, a memory I recall all too well myself. She went out once more, she wanted to know what these stones were, and she touched a different one this time. Another shriek, another short flight away from the gems, and another rest at the Nest. These gems were made to instill fear in anyone coming near or touching them and upon realizing that, I walked forward. Passing the gems, my mind got filled with images and sounds of terror in my past. Deaths of friends, my own near-death experiences, the monster in the forest. I strengthened my resolve and walked past the gems, through the door and into a hallway. The corridor opened up into a smaller room. A pedestal stood in the middle. On top of it lay a staff. The staff was of a beautiful greenheart wood, topped with the head of a constrictor snake. I’ve seen what constrictor snakes can do to an animal, so I decided to use the ointment I had bought during my last bronze tier mission. Kalista stared at me weirdly as I undressed myself and applied the stuff all over myself. I must’ve spent a good ten minutes making sure that if that staff was a trap, it wouldn’t be able to grab a hold of me. After this process, I approached the dais and touched the staff with the tip of my bow. Nothing. I lifted it up. Still nothing. Finally, I grabbed it and still nothing came to strangle me. I got dressed again, took the staff, and ran out towards the commotion I could hear ahead of me. I stumbled upon my fellow gold level adventurers in the next room, and they all had gotten some trinket or other at the end of their individual challenge. Luckily for us, Quen was there to help us identify the items. Mine turned out to be a Staff of the Python. The soul of a constrictor snake had been trapped inside the staff and I spent the next hour reaching out to the soul and befriending it. Earning its trust, I learned the snake is called Krato and convinced him to help me help others. It was then time to proceed to the next stage of the ceremony. Noaz
So, the time has come for the ritual. Or, test? I am eligible for the Golden Adventurers Guild Badge, and I’m curious to what the ritual entails. Together with Quen, Jade, Gerolt, Surron and Custous we are welcomed by a dark dwarf when we arrive at the place where the test will be held. Quite frankly, I’m glad I don’t have to do this alone. But, just as this though comforts me, we are each assigned our own portal. So our ways separate almost immediately. So much for not being alone… Nevertheless, I take a deep breath, and step through the portal that carries my name. It leads me to a dark, long winding tunnel that eventually leads to a small room. In this room I see a coffin and two braziers holding torches which light up the room and an eerie feeling washes over me. Not willing to give up yet so soon I first investigate the brazier. Nothing seems too special about them. Then I carefully grab the lid of the coffin and slowly open it... Inside I find a lever. I pull it. A hidden door opens up into the room. Grabbing one of the torches I continue my way forward. After a while I get to another small room. In the center is a pedestal, on which some sort of cloth lays. I grab my sword, and with the blade I gently lift up the piece of cloth. It’s of a beautiful dark blue colour and slowly I reach out to touch it, a bit scared it might be magically altered to in some way or form harm me. But that doesn’t happen. It feels soft, yet inexplicably hard at the same time. I drape it over my shoulders and it fits perfectly.
Gold tier reward ceremony by Gerolt
So the guild tells me I’m ready to be a gold adventurer, which is ‘parently a big deal. They’ve got a whole ceremony lined up for it and everythin’. I don’t really care, but I figure gettin’ a gold badge means you get paid more, and Jade seemed real excited about the whole thing, so we sign up. At the guild hall, we immediately get led downstairs to some dark cave under the buildin’. I thought a ceremony was ‘posed to be a cheerful thing, seemed strange to go underground for it. We meet up with the others that just made it to gold. Quen, sneaky git made it all the way to gold by stayin’ far away from all the danger. Noaz, can’t really call him ‘rookie’ anymore I guess. And Custous, still owe him a big debt, no surprise he made it this far. And then there’s a new face; weird lookin’ guy wearin’ a deer skull on his head and a raven on his shoulder. Name’s Surron, dunno how I managed to avoid runnin’ into him all this time. Downstairs, there’s this small, round room with some metal gates. Standin’ in the middle is a dwarf calls himself Ruzak. Met a dwarf with that name before, but this one had grey skin and white hair. While I wonder if this guy can change like Heubald, he starts talkin’ with one hell of a boomin’ voice. Ruzak tells us we’re ‘posed to do some sort of test, like all those missions we did weren’t ‘nough proof. He also says there’s a special item in it for each of us, supposedly picked by the cave itself somehow. Bunch of kazaht if you ask me. Problem is, we gotta do these tests alone. I work better in a squad, so that’s an issue for me. More importantly, Jade’s still recoverin’ from her leg surgery, and Ruzak says the test can be dangerous. Red light flashes and each of our names appear above the doors leadin’ out. With nothin’ else I can do for her, I pray to Lathander to protect Jade and then go through my door, headin’ further down into the cave. (Editor’s note: The following pieces seem to have been written by the other adventurers partaking in the ceremony.) QuenI walked down the windy path of bore.
Got to a room without a floor.
The other side I needed to be.
How to get there I had to see.
And see I did.
The bridge they hid.
I lit up that bridge.
And walked safely along that ridge.
Found a pedestal within a new room.
I did not want to go boom.
So I carefully looked around.
But no traps were to be found.
On the pedestal were boots that can fly.
Checked again and nothing was awry.
I took them and did not get chilled.
Which was the test for me to advance in the guild.
One more fight.
To prove I can reach greater height.
Custous
I step in to a windy cavern tunnel that leads me deeper down. As the darkness engulfs me, I unscrew the top of my mace, setting free the cold and grey flame it holds. Just when I wonder when this will end, I’m greeted by the flickering of a reddish light from a room far away. As I walk in, I see a stone pedestal, smooth as marble, evidently placed in the center of the room. A bronze brazier for ritual use is set on top,with charcoal burning red hot inside. Flames dancing and flickering, touched by a nigh imperceptible draft running through the room. The walls vaguely reflect the fire, as they also have been polished down to a smooth marble like texture. There is nothing else I can sense, nothing of imminent danger, no inscriptions, no magic, or any way to continue. Still holding my mace I extinguish the fire, hoping that it may reveal something. Nothing. I activate my wand, and it directs me towards the opposite side from where I came. I carefully investigate and find a groove outlining some sort of doorway, when I push, it slowly moves back and swings open. A new tunnel appears in front of me, and before I continue, I make sure to grab some of the now cooled down coal. I may need it further down the road. Eventually I step into a similar room as the first, but instead of a pedestal with a brazier, a pendant is placed atop. I first make sure it’s safe, and with a simple gesture the amulet starts floating, where it is dropped into my hand. There I hold a pendant with an opaque red gem, cunningly shaped like a heart, cupped within 2 golden hands. Surely this item has some powerful protection magic to it.
~Custous Vita, Servant of Kelemvor Surron
Hearing that I had to go alone in this Gold rank challenge was a little daunting, I’ll be frank. I do better if there are others around that I can worry about. Worrying about myself just bogs me down in insecurity and inaction. Luckily for me, Kali was there for emotional support, so I’m never truly alone if I don’t want to. Stepping through the portcullis, I saw a dark rectangular room, with high, solid walls running down the length of it. On the opposite end was a door. Along the walls were sconces with flickering flames, casting dancing shadows all around me that seemed to dart around like red-eyed squirrels, rear up like massive owlbears and causing metal beams to glisten as if from skittering Ankhegs. The room filled me with dread as I stepped across the threshold and I had to steel my mind to fight off the nerves. On the far end of the room, in front of the door, three black gems lay on the floor, side by side. I could stare into their darkness and see visions of my failures and fears. Ignoring the clawing fear rising within me, I took a deep breath and sat down. I stroked the back of the tome that was hanging from my belt before detaching it, opening it to a page filled with scribbles, drawings and little notes and starting the ritual I needed. I started chanting the words written on the pages in front of me, concentrating on the rush of divination magic coursing through my body. Ten minutes of concentrating on the weaving of this ritual later, I opened my eyes to look around me. Nothing in the room seemed to be magical, other than those 3 jets on the floor. They were infused with Illusory magics, and I was about to get up and get closer to investigate, when Kalista asked me to let her try first. I was hesitant, considering the fact she hadn’t fared too well recently on guild missions, having lost her a couple times. She insisted that we are a team and that we got here together, so she should do her part in this as well. I couldn’t argue with that, so I agreed. She sped towards the gems, and tapped the one on the right with her beak. A shriek rang out, and she sped away from the gems, making for the door behind me. I sent her back to her Nest, letting her rest there for a bit. Upon calling her back into the material plane, she told me that the jets showed her memories of the moment her physical self died, a memory I recall all too well myself. She went out once more, she wanted to know what these stones were, and she touched a different one this time. Another shriek, another short flight away from the gems, and another rest at the Nest. These gems were made to instill fear in anyone coming near or touching them and upon realizing that, I walked forward. Passing the gems, my mind got filled with images and sounds of terror in my past. Deaths of friends, my own near-death experiences, the monster in the forest. I strengthened my resolve and walked past the gems, through the door and into a hallway. The corridor opened up into a smaller room. A pedestal stood in the middle. On top of it lay a staff. The staff was of a beautiful greenheart wood, topped with the head of a constrictor snake. I’ve seen what constrictor snakes can do to an animal, so I decided to use the ointment I had bought during my last bronze tier mission. Kalista stared at me weirdly as I undressed myself and applied the stuff all over myself. I must’ve spent a good ten minutes making sure that if that staff was a trap, it wouldn’t be able to grab a hold of me. After this process, I approached the dais and touched the staff with the tip of my bow. Nothing. I lifted it up. Still nothing. Finally, I grabbed it and still nothing came to strangle me. I got dressed again, took the staff, and ran out towards the commotion I could hear ahead of me. I stumbled upon my fellow gold level adventurers in the next room, and they all had gotten some trinket or other at the end of their individual challenge. Luckily for us, Quen was there to help us identify the items. Mine turned out to be a Staff of the Python. The soul of a constrictor snake had been trapped inside the staff and I spent the next hour reaching out to the soul and befriending it. Earning its trust, I learned the snake is called Krato and convinced him to help me help others. It was then time to proceed to the next stage of the ceremony. Noaz
So, the time has come for the ritual. Or, test? I am eligible for the Golden Adventurers Guild Badge, and I’m curious to what the ritual entails. Together with Quen, Jade, Gerolt, Surron and Custous we are welcomed by a dark dwarf when we arrive at the place where the test will be held. Quite frankly, I’m glad I don’t have to do this alone. But, just as this though comforts me, we are each assigned our own portal. So our ways separate almost immediately. So much for not being alone… Nevertheless, I take a deep breath, and step through the portal that carries my name. It leads me to a dark, long winding tunnel that eventually leads to a small room. In this room I see a coffin and two braziers holding torches which light up the room and an eerie feeling washes over me. Not willing to give up yet so soon I first investigate the brazier. Nothing seems too special about them. Then I carefully grab the lid of the coffin and slowly open it... Inside I find a lever. I pull it. A hidden door opens up into the room. Grabbing one of the torches I continue my way forward. After a while I get to another small room. In the center is a pedestal, on which some sort of cloth lays. I grab my sword, and with the blade I gently lift up the piece of cloth. It’s of a beautiful dark blue colour and slowly I reach out to touch it, a bit scared it might be magically altered to in some way or form harm me. But that doesn’t happen. It feels soft, yet inexplicably hard at the same time. I drape it over my shoulders and it fits perfectly.
Happily I make we way further through the tunnels with my new cape. And there’s where I meet up with Jade, Surron, Gerolt, Custous and Quen once again.
We have stumbled in some kind of arena. This is where we’ll face our last test.
Jade
Hello fellow adventurers, this is going to be my favorite story by far! And you’re probably all thinking, it’s because the ceremony was super amazing, which it was, or because we accomplished something impossible. Both are wrong. This is my favorite because I get to write this story together with Gerolt and everyone else! Which to me, is the most important thing of all. Experiencing adventurers together, to then tell the stories about it together! So I won’t keep you any longer, and tell what happened to me. Oh and the Gold Ceremony was the first place I met Surron and Kalista, as well that I finally got to thank Noaz for rescuing me! After we get some explaining about the caves, we are supposed to split up and go each into our own tunnel. Gerolt really didn’t like this idea, so I had to reassure him that I would be fine. To make sure I was double fine, he did some Lathander blessing on me although it felt different from the one he used to do. Anyway, I thanked him with a hug and got into my tunnel. There was this really long boring tunnel that you had to walk through, and then I got into quite a weird room. I think it was about 50 feet long and 20 feet wide, and it was pitch black. So with some efforts by carefully walking around, I found a small pillar with on top a small candle, tinderbox and a piece of paper. So I light the candle, and also notice a large stone slab on the wall across from the doorway that I came in from. I pick up the piece of paper and try to read it. I tell you, try because this was some weird mumbo jumbo symbols that don’t look like any language I know, and I know a lot of them. When I lift the candle to look around, there are some engravings visible on the small pillar. It says The Fire will guide the way. So I walk around with the candle alongside the walls and slab, to check for any gaps or clues. I find nothing. I put the candle back on the small pillar and hold the piece of parchment up against the light, it was only half written with ink so I expected to have some words appear on the empty spot. Nope. Nothing. Frustrated with myself, I check the slab again, and inspect if there is anything more to see on the pillar but I come up empty. With one last idea, I now hold the written part of the parchment above the flame hoping that something would show up. But instead of something showing up, ink disappeared! That is a nifty trick I have to say! Slowly when the parchment heated up, parts of the weird symbols would disappear, leaving normal words left in another clue. I really have to say that whoever came up with this, is amazing at creating clues! It was so much fun to figure out. The words revealed on the parchment, stated the following. To continue on, the path to clear
one must look back to the past so dear
the target small, you must strike true
for you to find the straight way through
With the words revealed, a click behind me alerts me so I turn around. Looking above the door I came through, that has been closed this whole way, there is a tiny tiny slot visible. It doesn’t even take me a second to grab an arrow and shoot it straight in. Another click is heard, and now the stone slab that I had seen across, starts to open up. Taking the note with me, as well as the candle I walk through the second tunnel. The second tunnel brings me to a cave with another pillar. But this time there isn’t any parchment, it has a box on it. I put the candle down, and open up the box, to find a very pretty medallion in there. It reminds me of something I had seen in stories back home. There was this really cool story about- well maybe that’s for another time. Anyway, it reminds me of an item that was mentioned in a story, it would help you see if people are telling the truth or lies. So without any hesitation, I put it on, put the box into my pouch and run through the next door. This third tunnel finally brings me back to Gerolt and the rest. Good luck with writing the rest Gerolt! Don’t forget that Quen was only being rude to you that you didn’t get an item because he cares for you. Love you! (Editor’s note: The main author’s story continues from here.) Downstairs, I find a small, square room made of brick with a locked door at the other end. Light appears above it, nearly blindin’ me. When the light’s gone, there’s some damn riddle written on the wall, somethin’ ‘bout a hidden key and faith. I’m reminded of that infernal puzzle mission I went on and decide to just start feelin’ around, lookin’ like a damn fool pattin’ down the walls. It takes forever, but eventually I feel somethin’ hangin’ on the wall. Holdin’ this invisible key, I feel somethin’s wrong with it, like the thing’s tainted somehow. With no other idea what to do, I unlock the door with it and move on. Was expectin’ somethin’ real bad to go down when I did, but nothin’ happened. Bit further ahead, there’s another room with an empty pedestal. Thought maybe I had to look for more invisible stuff, but the door out was unlocked, so I just left. Further on is a bigger room where I meet the others. I’m glad to see Jade made it, but then I notice everyone’s got some new gear, which they bring to Quen so he can check what it all is with his magic. I remember Ruzak sayin’ we were all supposed to get somethin’ and wonder if I missed mine somehow. Quen says me not gettin’ one means I’m “unworthy”, which doesn’t help my mood. Jade asks Surron if his fancy new staff is a weapon, and this dukhal decides to test it by whackin’ her on the head with it. My annoyance boils into fury, and I draw my blade, just ‘bout ready to run this guy through. Good thing Jade stopped me, or I’d’ve gotten myself kicked out of the guild right there. The weird-lookin’ dwarf shows up again to tell us we’re gonna be fightin’ something together as a final test, finally some good news. While the others spend way too long fiddlin’ around with their new toys, I start hearin’ the sounds of a crowd beyond the big double doors leadin’ out. Guess we’ll be makin’ a show of it. After waitin’ way too long, the others are ready and the doors open, takin’ us into a big indoor arena. There’s sand on the floor, five suspicious lookin’ pillars around, and a massive crowd eager to watch us bleed for their entertainment. A platform gets lowered from the ceilin’ with Ruzak standin’ on it. He introduces us to the crowd and pulls a lever, which closes the doors behind us and opens another set on the other side. Walkin’ out are two strange-lookin’ guys in spiked armor tied together with a chain. I was just wonderin’ if they were usin’ us to execute prisoners or somethin’ when the middle pillar shoots a damn lightnin’ bolt at me and Jade. My shield takes the worst of it, but Jade gets shocked pretty bad. I heal her quick and tell her to dodge next time. Wasn’t fair of me, but I was still pretty pissed from before. I go toward the enemies with Noaz while Quen hangs back to taunt me. Custous starts slingin’ his grim lookin’ magic while Jade shoots some arrows and hits one of the enemies, which seems to hurt them both somehow. I hear a weird sound comin’ from behind, followed by coughing. Lookin’ back I see Surron stumble out of a nasty-lookin’ green cloud. Jade stays close to me and takes out her whip. Quen yells somethin’ about the enemies not bein’ humanoid. Now that I’m close to ‘em, I can see what he means, not sure these things are even alive. Surron does some druid stuff and some sort of ghost bear shows up. The bear don’t seem to do much fightin’, but I do feel stronger somehow bein’ close to it. Then, he throws his new staff in the sand and says “slither”. Suddenly, the staff turns into a big duzsad snake. For a moment, I think Surron’s tryin’ to get rid of me, but the snake goes for the enemies. I hear Quen curse behind me and see him and his flyin’ cat get burned by some sorta lava that came out of one of the pillars. Then, that damn lightnin’ pillar in the center goes off again, zappin’ everyone around it. Quen tries to use his purple light trick, but messes it up, probably still thrown off from bein’ hurt for once. I channel Lathander’s light into my blade and hit one of the things between the gaps of its armor. Seems to hurt it pretty good, but doesn’t stop the thing from knockin’ Noaz’ lights out. While I distract the enemies, Jade slips in close to feed Noaz a potion and get him back on his feet. I call to him to form a shield wall and he gets next to me. Custous patches Noaz up some more with a prayer to his god Kelemvor, and then Quen finally gets his mojo back, makin’ it easier for us to land some hits. Behind me, I hear Surron mutter some stuff and suddenly there’s four more of these overgrown serpents slitherin’ around. Damn snakes, why did it have to be snakes? The shieldwall seems to be workin’ and we’re gettin’ hits in, but then the last pillar belches a thick cloud of smoke at us and I can’t see roch anymore. Some flashes of green flame in the blackness tell me that Noaz is doing some magic stuff, while Custous does somethin’ to help our blades find the enemies in the dark. The rest of the fight is just blind chaos, but eventually we manage to take the enemies down. When the smoke clears, Surron’s snakes are gone, replaced by two massive cats. Of course Jade immediately starts cuddlin’ the beasts like they aren’t vicious predators with teeth and claws that could rip a man in half. After that, we get some applause and congratulations. Gotta admit, feels good. Almost as good as noticin’ that mister big celebrity Quen got hit with a rotten tomato from the crowd durin’ the fight. Ruzak gives us our badges and we head back to the guild hall to celebrate. Not to get sappy, but it was good to fight and feast alongside these people I’ve come to trust durin’ my time at the guild. Not sure ‘bout this Surron guy yet though, seems like kind of a weirdo, but Jade likes him so I guess he can’t be all bad. As expected, Jade drinks too much, but it’s nice to see her having a good time again after everythin’ that happened.
Hello fellow adventurers, this is going to be my favorite story by far! And you’re probably all thinking, it’s because the ceremony was super amazing, which it was, or because we accomplished something impossible. Both are wrong. This is my favorite because I get to write this story together with Gerolt and everyone else! Which to me, is the most important thing of all. Experiencing adventurers together, to then tell the stories about it together! So I won’t keep you any longer, and tell what happened to me. Oh and the Gold Ceremony was the first place I met Surron and Kalista, as well that I finally got to thank Noaz for rescuing me! After we get some explaining about the caves, we are supposed to split up and go each into our own tunnel. Gerolt really didn’t like this idea, so I had to reassure him that I would be fine. To make sure I was double fine, he did some Lathander blessing on me although it felt different from the one he used to do. Anyway, I thanked him with a hug and got into my tunnel. There was this really long boring tunnel that you had to walk through, and then I got into quite a weird room. I think it was about 50 feet long and 20 feet wide, and it was pitch black. So with some efforts by carefully walking around, I found a small pillar with on top a small candle, tinderbox and a piece of paper. So I light the candle, and also notice a large stone slab on the wall across from the doorway that I came in from. I pick up the piece of paper and try to read it. I tell you, try because this was some weird mumbo jumbo symbols that don’t look like any language I know, and I know a lot of them. When I lift the candle to look around, there are some engravings visible on the small pillar. It says The Fire will guide the way. So I walk around with the candle alongside the walls and slab, to check for any gaps or clues. I find nothing. I put the candle back on the small pillar and hold the piece of parchment up against the light, it was only half written with ink so I expected to have some words appear on the empty spot. Nope. Nothing. Frustrated with myself, I check the slab again, and inspect if there is anything more to see on the pillar but I come up empty. With one last idea, I now hold the written part of the parchment above the flame hoping that something would show up. But instead of something showing up, ink disappeared! That is a nifty trick I have to say! Slowly when the parchment heated up, parts of the weird symbols would disappear, leaving normal words left in another clue. I really have to say that whoever came up with this, is amazing at creating clues! It was so much fun to figure out. The words revealed on the parchment, stated the following. To continue on, the path to clear
one must look back to the past so dear
the target small, you must strike true
for you to find the straight way through
With the words revealed, a click behind me alerts me so I turn around. Looking above the door I came through, that has been closed this whole way, there is a tiny tiny slot visible. It doesn’t even take me a second to grab an arrow and shoot it straight in. Another click is heard, and now the stone slab that I had seen across, starts to open up. Taking the note with me, as well as the candle I walk through the second tunnel. The second tunnel brings me to a cave with another pillar. But this time there isn’t any parchment, it has a box on it. I put the candle down, and open up the box, to find a very pretty medallion in there. It reminds me of something I had seen in stories back home. There was this really cool story about- well maybe that’s for another time. Anyway, it reminds me of an item that was mentioned in a story, it would help you see if people are telling the truth or lies. So without any hesitation, I put it on, put the box into my pouch and run through the next door. This third tunnel finally brings me back to Gerolt and the rest. Good luck with writing the rest Gerolt! Don’t forget that Quen was only being rude to you that you didn’t get an item because he cares for you. Love you! (Editor’s note: The main author’s story continues from here.) Downstairs, I find a small, square room made of brick with a locked door at the other end. Light appears above it, nearly blindin’ me. When the light’s gone, there’s some damn riddle written on the wall, somethin’ ‘bout a hidden key and faith. I’m reminded of that infernal puzzle mission I went on and decide to just start feelin’ around, lookin’ like a damn fool pattin’ down the walls. It takes forever, but eventually I feel somethin’ hangin’ on the wall. Holdin’ this invisible key, I feel somethin’s wrong with it, like the thing’s tainted somehow. With no other idea what to do, I unlock the door with it and move on. Was expectin’ somethin’ real bad to go down when I did, but nothin’ happened. Bit further ahead, there’s another room with an empty pedestal. Thought maybe I had to look for more invisible stuff, but the door out was unlocked, so I just left. Further on is a bigger room where I meet the others. I’m glad to see Jade made it, but then I notice everyone’s got some new gear, which they bring to Quen so he can check what it all is with his magic. I remember Ruzak sayin’ we were all supposed to get somethin’ and wonder if I missed mine somehow. Quen says me not gettin’ one means I’m “unworthy”, which doesn’t help my mood. Jade asks Surron if his fancy new staff is a weapon, and this dukhal decides to test it by whackin’ her on the head with it. My annoyance boils into fury, and I draw my blade, just ‘bout ready to run this guy through. Good thing Jade stopped me, or I’d’ve gotten myself kicked out of the guild right there. The weird-lookin’ dwarf shows up again to tell us we’re gonna be fightin’ something together as a final test, finally some good news. While the others spend way too long fiddlin’ around with their new toys, I start hearin’ the sounds of a crowd beyond the big double doors leadin’ out. Guess we’ll be makin’ a show of it. After waitin’ way too long, the others are ready and the doors open, takin’ us into a big indoor arena. There’s sand on the floor, five suspicious lookin’ pillars around, and a massive crowd eager to watch us bleed for their entertainment. A platform gets lowered from the ceilin’ with Ruzak standin’ on it. He introduces us to the crowd and pulls a lever, which closes the doors behind us and opens another set on the other side. Walkin’ out are two strange-lookin’ guys in spiked armor tied together with a chain. I was just wonderin’ if they were usin’ us to execute prisoners or somethin’ when the middle pillar shoots a damn lightnin’ bolt at me and Jade. My shield takes the worst of it, but Jade gets shocked pretty bad. I heal her quick and tell her to dodge next time. Wasn’t fair of me, but I was still pretty pissed from before. I go toward the enemies with Noaz while Quen hangs back to taunt me. Custous starts slingin’ his grim lookin’ magic while Jade shoots some arrows and hits one of the enemies, which seems to hurt them both somehow. I hear a weird sound comin’ from behind, followed by coughing. Lookin’ back I see Surron stumble out of a nasty-lookin’ green cloud. Jade stays close to me and takes out her whip. Quen yells somethin’ about the enemies not bein’ humanoid. Now that I’m close to ‘em, I can see what he means, not sure these things are even alive. Surron does some druid stuff and some sort of ghost bear shows up. The bear don’t seem to do much fightin’, but I do feel stronger somehow bein’ close to it. Then, he throws his new staff in the sand and says “slither”. Suddenly, the staff turns into a big duzsad snake. For a moment, I think Surron’s tryin’ to get rid of me, but the snake goes for the enemies. I hear Quen curse behind me and see him and his flyin’ cat get burned by some sorta lava that came out of one of the pillars. Then, that damn lightnin’ pillar in the center goes off again, zappin’ everyone around it. Quen tries to use his purple light trick, but messes it up, probably still thrown off from bein’ hurt for once. I channel Lathander’s light into my blade and hit one of the things between the gaps of its armor. Seems to hurt it pretty good, but doesn’t stop the thing from knockin’ Noaz’ lights out. While I distract the enemies, Jade slips in close to feed Noaz a potion and get him back on his feet. I call to him to form a shield wall and he gets next to me. Custous patches Noaz up some more with a prayer to his god Kelemvor, and then Quen finally gets his mojo back, makin’ it easier for us to land some hits. Behind me, I hear Surron mutter some stuff and suddenly there’s four more of these overgrown serpents slitherin’ around. Damn snakes, why did it have to be snakes? The shieldwall seems to be workin’ and we’re gettin’ hits in, but then the last pillar belches a thick cloud of smoke at us and I can’t see roch anymore. Some flashes of green flame in the blackness tell me that Noaz is doing some magic stuff, while Custous does somethin’ to help our blades find the enemies in the dark. The rest of the fight is just blind chaos, but eventually we manage to take the enemies down. When the smoke clears, Surron’s snakes are gone, replaced by two massive cats. Of course Jade immediately starts cuddlin’ the beasts like they aren’t vicious predators with teeth and claws that could rip a man in half. After that, we get some applause and congratulations. Gotta admit, feels good. Almost as good as noticin’ that mister big celebrity Quen got hit with a rotten tomato from the crowd durin’ the fight. Ruzak gives us our badges and we head back to the guild hall to celebrate. Not to get sappy, but it was good to fight and feast alongside these people I’ve come to trust durin’ my time at the guild. Not sure ‘bout this Surron guy yet though, seems like kind of a weirdo, but Jade likes him so I guess he can’t be all bad. As expected, Jade drinks too much, but it’s nice to see her having a good time again after everythin’ that happened.
Comments