5. Sons at the Standing Stones
General Summary
Written by Buffman Beefalot.
After capturing a hooded man during the raid on a burning village, the Company of the Broken Banner wastes no time interrogating their prisoner. The man, Lucian (Surname unknown), turns out to be a relatively new recruit of the The Sons of Avlar, a secretive group of zealots operating in the region. His resolve quickly crumbles under Roknar's brutal methods—nails removed, corkscrews twisted in wrists, and bait-and-switch slap cookies, to name a few. Under duress, Lucian reveals the hideout of the Sons of Avlar of Avlar at the Standing Stones to the East. Despite his initial resistance, Lucian's reluctance to fully commit to the Sons and his potential power catch the eye of Roknar and Buffman. They decide to give him a chance, welcoming him into the Company of the Broken Banner. Over the next two weeks, Lucian integrates with the rest of the group, sharing hearty meals and stoic stories around the campfire, finally meeting Ellri and Aldan.
The journey to the Standing Stones is shrouded in a heavy mist, limiting vision to just 40 feet. The stones are colossal, their surfaces etched with carvings depicting old gods—the The Avanís Pantheon, but depicted with forgotten iconography—whose faces had been worn smooth by time and weather. Arranged in a rough circle, the stones enclose a blood-stained altar and a trap door hidden beneath a layer of moss and dirt. The scene is both eerie and awe-inspiring, the mist swirling around the stones like ghostly shrouds.
Using the mist as cover, the group stealthily takes out two guards, their bodies falling silently to the ground. Disguising themselves in the guards' uniforms, they wait for the change of guard shift, and then take out two more of the robed guards.
Still wearing the robes of their foe, the group descends into the hidden tunnel beneath the altar. The air grows colder and damper, the scent of ancient stone and earth growing stronger with each step. The tunnel leads them to a series of rooms: a kitchen area with a lingering smell of stew, a cluttered study filled with maps and letters, a bunk area lined with rough beds, and an ancient locked door. They discover letters signed by Kian, the local leader of the Sons of Avlar, mentioning Lucian's "failed potential," hinting at a deeper connection.
Roknar’s curiosity leads him to a small shrine behind the ancient doors, where a silver bust of Lady Death rests. The moment he touches it, an apparition materializes, an ethereal figure filled with anger and sorrow. It demands the group cleanse the area of the Avlar’s corruption, glaring directly at Lucian as it speaks. Buffman, acting on blind instinct and faith, tries to grab Lucian, but his clumsy attempt is dodged with ease. Lucian’s sidestep earns him a cautious look from the group, but Buffman Beefalot simply shrugs and returns to munching on his cookies.
Making their way to the huge stone doors they open them, revealing a misty cliffside outcrop. The area is dominated by a clawlike stone outcropping that juts out over the thrashing seas below. In its center is a blood magic circle, pulsing with dark energy. Five Sons of Avlar stand in a trance, chanting as the group prepares for battle. A crossbow bolt fires, and chaos erupts. Shadows twist and dark tendrils lash out, while blood splatters across the jagged rocks. Ellri heroically falls amidst the flurry but is quickly revived by Buffman’s healing touch. Aldan and Roknar charge Kian, the blood-soaked leader with a skull mask, their combined assault driving him back. But Kian retaliates, slamming the ground with a powerful shockwave, nearly sending the two warriors over the cliff. Regaining their footing, Aldan, the Knee-Breaker lets out a battle cry, and with a powerful swing of his axe, Union, cleaves Kian in two.
With the battle over, Roknar drags Kian’s mutilated torso back to the apparition. The figure reveals itself as Turin, the old leader of Clan Farmarshe. Pleased with the group's bravery and victory, Turin rewards them with a coffin containing magical handwraps and a spear.
As the group tends to their wounds, Buffman notices Lucian is missing. Looking towards the open doors to the cliffside, they see Lucian levitating above the blood magic circle. His arm is outstretched, his eyes glowing with a strange ghastly light. A pillar of darkness surrounds him as he reaches out, his hand closing around a small, pulsing viridian jewel. The sight sends a chill down their spines, leaving them with more questions than answers:
What is Lucian’s true purpose? And what power lies within the jewel he now holds?
Report Date
30 Aug 2024
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