The Odhirann Adventures
Tale 7
“The Chapel Bridge”
Written by Chris
Bradley and Vincent Darlage
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Zethar: A Druid
Bwlch: A Ranger
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The Time: Spring, 19 Xaul, 7 VIII
The Place: Odhirran, Dun Luzern (small town; monstrous; AL LG/CE;
50 gp limit (usually 3,000); Assets 20,000; population
1,500 (usually 2,500); authority figures: Lady Gudrun
Talluth, Baroness of Dun Luzern, female human Paladin
2; The Wraith King, male wraith Necromancer 10; Important Characters: Druid
Farold, male human Druid 6, assorted undead, town
watch (missing)).
Zethar, Bwlch and Willem spent the night taking turns keeping watch
and resting after barricading themselves in Tollerath’s
bedroom. Upon the arrival of morning, Zethar found his powers rejuvenated and
channeled the healing power of nature into his injured friend, Bwlch.
Zethar asked, "Well, shall we go to the Lady Stones this day?"
Bwlch rose and said, "Sounds good."
Zethar continued, "I feel we have scouted this keep as much
as possible. I feel the key to this mystery lies at the Lady Stones. Will
you be accompanying us, Willem? We would appreciate your continued company
and assistance."
Willem thought to himself, “Finally! I can leave this accursed
place!” He said to Zethar, “I will accompany you out of this tower. Then I
must make my own way to home. Thank you for your company thus far, however."
"Very well." Zethar shakes Willem's
hand hardily. "Good look on your journeys."
"Come, Bwlch, we have much to do." Zethar and Bwlch returned
to the road to Dun Luzern and Willem went his own way.
Zethar spoke on the way back to Dun Luzern, "Well, Yuvihiun
said that they worship at the Lady Stones. It stands to reason that there would
be a well worn path to such a place. Let us see if we can find it. I doubt
there is anyone else left in town."
They came upon
"Hmmm. What have we here?"
Zethar grabbed the book out of the secret niche in the chapel and examined the
cover. The book was titled, "The Book of the Dancing Dead."
"Sounds like this could prove useful." Zethar stated
as he began perusing the book.
Bwlch said, "Hmmm. Like the poem we read in the wizard's keep."
"Very good, Bwlch! 'Behind the stone anointed, you will find
the work you need'."
"Perhaps there is more to the poem that will help us?"
Zethar recalled what he had read previously, "This bridge must
also be the 'Hall of the Lady Blessed' since
it is covered. Do you see a nymph pointing anywhere around here?" Zethar
began looking around.
"Maybe the Hall of the Lady Blessed
refers to the Lady Stones. Weren't we told something about a nymph the other
day? Something about a statue."
"According to the plaque on the statue of 'Rochad the Lion'
it says he saved a nymph and she gave him permission to build this bridge.
It is all starting to make sense. I just hope you or I are 'worthy' enough
to use this book."
"Me too."
"Let us stay here for a bit while I peruse this book. Keep
an eye out for me." Zethar sat down and began to read the book for pertinent
information.
The book detailed something called the Deathdance
Gate, how it operated, and that the gate was utterly evil and perverted the
natural cycle of life and death. Zethar wondered if the book revealed the location
of the gate and how to destroy it. He also wondered if the gate claimed living
victims and turned them into skeletons. Unfortunately, the book had no information
on his first query and his worst fears were confirmed when he read that the
gate permanently claimed the victims and they remained skeletons until destroyed.
Zethar relayed the information to Bwlch, "This MUST
be stopped. We need to find that gate and destroy it!" As Zethar read
a little further, more questions popping into his head.
He found a related passage. He read it aloud to Bwlch could hear.
“‘The Gate is a powerful device of evil constructed hundreds of years ago by
members of death cult loosely tied to Wemusa. Standing seven feet high and
three feet wide, the gate roughly resembles a doorway, however, the doorframe
(there isn’t actually a door or gate) is constructed entirely of the bones of
humanoids, animals, and other critters. Once active, the gate can be used to
create skeletons. The skeletons retain an imprint of their former life, and
are compelled to resume as best they can. Any who touch the gate are likely
to become skeletons on contact with the vile structure.’”
Zethar said, "I have heard of this Wemusa before and supposedly
he is the god of life and death. These cultists seem to have been one sided.
I think we still need to check out the standing stones and be on the lookout
for the gate. It has to be in or around Dun Luzern somewhere. I also wonder
if this Gundrun is still around somewhere?"
"Probably. I am not sure the whole
poem refers to this bridge though."
"Most likely. We still need to find
the 'Place of rest under that which never lied'. Also, 'The storm will wash
away the lie', but this book does not detail a storm. Let us continue on to
the Lady Stones."
"Very well."
Zethar and Bwlch finally arrived back at Dun Luzern. They came
to a place near the walls of town that was a large stone circle. They immediately
noticed a small house nearby that was chained shut.
"How odd. There are the stones I
hope. We had better check that house out, Bwlch."
Zethar knocked on the door of the chained house. He heard a shuffling
from inside the hut, but no voices or other sounds.
"There is someone in there, Bwlch. We need to find something
to break these chains."
Bwlch, without blinking, whacked at the door with his weapon and
broke it in. He held up the chains for Zethar to walk under.
Zethar smiled, "Or, we could just break the door. Thank you,
Bwlch." He headed into the building to investigate.
Before he could reach the door, dead things lunged out from the
darkness!
To be continued in "Tale 8 - The Lady Stones".
Current Adventures in Inzeladun
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