BLOOD AND SOULS FOR MY LORD ARIOCH : ELRIC OF MELNIBONE
WAYNE'S
WORLD
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BLOOD AND SOULS FOR MY LORD ARIOCH : ELRIC OF MELNIBONE WAYNE'S
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The Wandering Trees Where an ancient temple complex is found, a holy tree - "the Great Oak" is met, Pharin loses his faith and the party is geased Spring 2,303 Meldigian Reckoning After finding a map outlining the location of a temple of some cult called the Dridanis in the treasure hoard of Chlorinda the Green Dragon, the party sought out information on these Dridanis. This is what was discovered. Long ago, so far back that even the elves are not sure when, the Termlaine Forest was the home of a tribe of tree-worshipping men. These men built a great temple at the heart of The Forest, where they worshipped their mysterious tree-gods. The priests of this cult were known as the Dridanis, meaning "men of the forest", and, indeed their religion was very similar to the usual form of Druidical worship. As the years passed, the fame of the Dridanis temple grew, and many pilgrims came to The Forest, seeking to gain the good-will of the tree-gods. After many years the temple swelled with riches, yet the Dridanis remained as strong and uncorrupted as the woods in which they prayed. Unfortunately, rumours of the priests’ wealth reached the ears of Bargol the Wicked, a barbarian lord, who, though strong, was definitely not uncorrupted. Bargol led a band of his men into The Forest and attacked the temple, killing the Dridanis and their followers mercilessly. However, Bargol fared no better, for the secret of the location of the Dridanis wealth (if indeed the rumours were true) had died with the priests. Though they searched everywhere they could think of in the entire temple area, the thieves found little of value. Cursing his ill luck, Bargol departed the ravaged home of the Dridanis. But as he and his men marched through The Forest, the path disappeared from around them, and the trees slowly closed in. One of Bargol’s men, quite insane, was found days later at the edge of The Forest, and from his ravings the locals were able to piece together some of what happened. Of the others, nothing was ever heard, and their bodies never found. The party travels deep within the boundaries of the massive and ancient Termlaine Forest. Despite the roads that have been pushed through this wooded expanse most of the forest remains wilderness. Merchant caravans always traverse these roads swiftly and well guarded for fear of what menaces may lurk below or above it’s shadowed canopy. Despite the strong Druidic community in the Realm of Stonefist only the border regions of the forest are tended by civilised Druids. Wild and sometimes dark druids tend to be the only, if any, caretakers of the deeper reaches of the forest. The party spends many days roaming along the shifting paths of the Termlaine Forest and exploring some minor ruins. After communing with nature the party believes they have finally found a path that will lead them to the Dridanis temple. Here should lie the untouched treasures of the Driadanis which were never recovered by Bargol the Wicked many centuries earlier when the temple was sacked. But who knows what guardians may have protected such wealth for such a long time ? Already you know that the shifting paths of The Forest seem to steer looters away from the location of the temple and indeed these trees serve some entity known only as the forest lord. The motives and nature of this "forest lord" remain unknown. Further you know that in the area which you believe the temple to be is inhabited by foul undead - perhaps the lair of the ghoul pack already destroyed by the party or maybe other creatures altogether. Also in the nearby swamp and in the surrounding forest you have encountered powerful monsters. Perhaps even worse creatures lair within the temple. Nevertheless the party continues on, unafraid of unknown perils, with the promise of treasure as a most enticing lure.
On route to the temple the path shifted again; perhaps to stop intruders finding the temple?. The ever resourceful adventurers however followed a stream which they had discovered led to the temple after some aerial recognisance. Along route they had some trouble with some woodland creatures called Phooka which degenerated into some viscousness. The bloodshed certainly didn’t concern the Druid who was happy to see a tree destroyed by fire in an attempt to slay the woodland creatures. Some giant crawfish were encountered crossing the stream ford into the main temple complex. Within the temple complex you found mostly deserted ruins with many showing signs of fierce fighting centuries earlier. The undead left to haunt this place eagerly attacked the party hungry to feed on there life force. One wraith had a nice entree courtesy of the Druid before been destroyed by some hasty bowwork by Swiftsword. No doubt if this hadn’t worked it would have fled anyway after seeing the back of the ever trusty and brave Cleric making a quick getaway. Luckily the Cleric found his holy testicles later on or else the party would certainly have been the main course when a large band of hungry wights attacked. In a poison trapped hidden basement the party found a treasure room - is this the untouched treasures of the Driadanis which were never recovered by Bargol the Wicked many centuries earlier when the temple was sacked?. Later another chest was ransacked by Swiftsword, but alas in a rare moment of carelessness, a hiltless swordblade mounted on a heavy spring within the chest was released as the chest was opened and Swiftsword is now Slowfoot with half of one leg useful now only as a club. (It was later realised that this blade was a hiltless Sword of Sharpness however the powerful weapon had been left behind) Later an Owlbears nest was encountered and the fearsome beasts slain after a nasty fight. The party then explores a walled garden area in which are four structures and a massive oak tree surrounded by a hedge of thorns. Within the garden a sense of serenity pervades. The party explores the four structures which appear to be seasonal shrines. Within these are found various treasures that the party loots and some dangerous encounters including a water weird and some hostile air elementals accidentally summoned from a magical brazier. The party narrowly survives this and then decides to explore the wall of thorns and the great oak tree growing within. Using a magical wand an entrance in the thorns appears and the party stands before the tree. The tree communicates telepathically with the party and they a re severely chastised for their treatment of the surrounding forest and woodland creatures. None are chastised worse than Pharin who earns the displeasure of his god and has his powers diminished for a year. The entire party is geased by the tree to return in a years time to perform a service of atonement and in the case of Pharin to refind and prove his faith and worth or else to suffer the ultimate humiliation and the be cast aside by his god.
Credit : This adventure was based on "The Wandering Trees" by Michael Malone that appeared in Dragon Magazine #57 1982. |
