Many hundreds of years ago, the forces of good allied to destroy the main Temple of Orcus in the ancient city of Tsar. With their temple in ruins, the surviving high priests of this accursed demongod fled the city with an army of enemies on their trail—an army of heroic fighters, clerics and paladins—led by Zelkor, a powerful wizard. The exact fate of these evil priests was then unknown, for not only did the remnants of the followers of Orcus disappear from all human reckoning, but so did the army of light that followed after them disappear as well. Some said that in the eternal scales the loss of so many good men was a fair price to pay to rid the world of so much evil.
The evil cult, however, had not been destroyed. The surviving priests and their followers instead settled on a hill near the Forest of Hope, a sylvan woodland near the Coast Road. There they found a vast underground complex of caverns and mazes, carving out a volcanic intrusion beneath the hill. There, the priests of Orcus found the perfect lair to continue their vile rituals. For many years, they carried on in secret, hidden from the light and from the knowledge of men.
Many years later, their underground delving completed, the evil priests erected a hideous mausoleum and a sunken graveyard atop the hill. It is believed that these graves are in fact the final resting place of the pursuing army of heroes that had been destroyed to a man. Soon after the mausoleum was erected the peaceful creatures of the wood began to disappear. Though many rangers and druids investigated these happenings, the cause of the creatures’ disappearance was not immediately determined. Some years later a powerful group of adventurers, led by Bofred, a high priest of Thyr, investigated the evil happenings and found the sunken graveyard leading to a labyrinthine complex. Bofred and his companions found great hordes of evil creatures in the complex. Though some of his companions returned from their expedition, telling tales of fantastic treasure and ferocious monsters, Bofred was never seen again—lost in the catacombs beneath the cursed mausoleum.
For the last one hundred years, ranks of adventurers have ventured to the newfound dungeon. Many fell prey to bandits and monsters in the surrounding wilderness. Rumors suggest that of those who survived to reach the mausoleum and sunken graveyard, most were slain by guardians of green stone or perished on the very first level. Those rare few who return from deeper treks speak of horrible undead and creatures that cannot be slain. All who have explored Rappan Athuk offer this one universal piece of advice: “Don’t go down the Well.”
Solid mithral gates bar the way into a great treasure horde guarded by a lich in the great cavern. If one can access them, they would be richer than an emperor.
The lost army of Tsar is still in the Forest of Hope, somewhere.
The skeletons of Rappan Athuk violently explode when they are brought down. The zombies dissolve into foul greenish goo that will eat your flesh and turn you into one of them!
“Rappan Athuk? Bah! No one ever gets out of that place alive!
A benevolent old wizard lives near the temple of Orcus. He reportedly offers refuge to those who kill the servants of the evil one.
Beware the Forest of Hope, an insane hermit makes his home there and kills any spell casters he comes across.
There is a vast underground cavern system populated by hideous beasts under the Forest of Hope called “The Barrows”.
The caves are safer than the carved passages. The upper levels are also very tough in the carved areas.
After two days travel you reach your destination, Zelkor's Ferry.
The small village is hardly one at all, as a simple Inn, trading post, blacksmith, a stone wall and a few guard towers seems to be all that seperate the encampment from the outside world.
It's just after dusk as you depart from the boat that brought you here. Already though night is fast approaching as the perpetual overcast clouds that seem to linger around this land.
The ships captain calls out to all those who step off the ship, "The next ferry will arrive tomorrow morning. Do not wander outside of Zelkor's Ferry, unless you're some damned fools determined to add to Rappan Athuk's already impressive collective of Graves."
With that, the ship begins to pull away from the shore, leaving you along with the others from the ship in the small hamlet.
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A man with a amazingly large scorpion looks around. His verminous companion staring at other persons with nothing but a predatory emotionless gaze. The man is covered in practical attire though clearly from a far away land.. most likely from where heat is an issue from the cowl. " This land holds zee graves of many, no? I wonder why this iz. " He ponders aloud as he pats the arthropod on the stinger.
A woman stepped off the dock, her dark hood over her head and face mostly hidden behind a black cloth mask. Her amber colored eyes roam skyward and close as she sighs with relief and renewed excitement.
She stood roughly at about 5' 9", her form was slender but her limbs were strong. Her clothes were weather worn, in greys and browns and looked as though they'd seen a lot of travel. The silver sheen of a chain shirt could be seen underneath the first layers. Slung over her shoulders was a long spear, and a backpack in hand.
Previously she would spend the later hours of the evening watching the night sky and the unveiling of the moon, but Rappan Athuk was close now and dominated her every thought.
She set her sights now on the stone wall, and began to make her way lest she be barred entry. Her eyes fall on the large scorpion as she approaches, keeping a respectful distance from it and its partner as she passes.
The bronzed-skinned man looks up noticing one of persons, a mysterious lady that had traveled with him, began to move. The Blues, Reds and golds of his clothing giving off a similar sound of metal beneath the flare. He was shorter than her, only 5'5" buts had much higher twitch muscles to be sure. Ever wary and jumpy. The other passengers would remember him speaking to the Scorpion and calling it 'Mr. Go' or 'Mr. Legs'
" Ahhh Mizz Moonseer! I zee you are ready to explore already, yes? But we have been warned I believe and it would be a shame to lose one such as yourself, yes? Ah! Don't mind Mr. Go he iz harmless, cannot bite... I promise! maybe we should stick together, no? "
A tall man steps out from the docks. Standing over six feet he weres a full suit of a dark gray plate armor, slung on his back a backpack and a long-sword, which you could tell had some fair amount of use in his past. He was holding in his left hand a shield unlike any most had seen. It was covered in black spikes and in the center was a small glass orb that seemed to hold some type of liquid. The metal of the shield seems to shift slightly as he moved, almost as if it were a living creature. As he lifted his hood from his tattered gray cloak you could see the face of a man that had been in many battles. His hair black and his eyes blacker. He bore many scars on his face and you can clearly see what looks like two tattoos of chains on his cheeks to look like they are coming out of his eyes. But with a closer glance you can see that they are not tattoos at all, but rather brand marks.
"How much am I getting paid for this again?" He spoke firmly, his voice sounding like gravel and thunder.
A man walks from the ship down the docks. He wears a heavy coat and has a somber expression. His oily skin and hair shine from the ambient light.
Well...
The hooded woman merely nods, her attention still on the wall where her mind's eye paints images of the glory she hopes to find within Rappan Athuk.
She shows little to no response to the armored man. A passing glance, assessing, and quiet dismissal as her attention returns to the walls and her fate, whatever that may be that awaits her beyond them.
" Ahh, We are being paid in glory and richez, Yes! We just need to live past those riches. Now that zee beautiful Moonzeer agrees to travel we do so, Yes? Come Come.. Mr Go.. lead on. "
The scorpion' multifaceted eyes glance at Mr. Touch before going back to the Moonseer.
" Chitter Chitter, Click Snap "
Mr Touch Throws his hands up as if in protest, " Ohhh, Mr. Go do not be thiz way. You will get PLENTY of food later I assure you! "
The scorpion snaps it two claws, waits a bit and then moves forward
" Chitter...chitter "
" Ahh, Now you listen to REASON..We are off, no? "
He leans closer to the masked woman and play-whispers " Mr. Go is a bit lazy at times. " As they started walking towards the Thorpe in the distance.
Another woman steps down off of the boat, her expression emotionless as her hazel eyes peer across the scenery. Her attire consist of weather worn traveling clothes, a belt pouch, a long spear fastened to her back as well as a tightly fastened backpack. Anyone watching could easily notice her attention being grabbed as the ship's captain called out Rappan Attuk. Her hair was a flowing reddish with hints of orange highlights. She stood about 5'4", was slenderly built, and gave off a warmth
She wore no armor and as such no clinking sounds were made when she walked. Something seemed... different. The air around her felt like it gave off a warmth, For someone without armor she carried herself in a way that was graceful, yet experienced.
Her gaze reached the walls of the town, eyeing them as if memorizing every detail, before descending to the others,pressing on past them with a nod and a smile, then into the town. Wanting to get a place to sleep and some answers from the locals involving Rappan Attuck as well as surrounding areas.
Entering into the Inn, most of the guests are obviously just either traveling commoners or merchants just passing through Zelkor's Ferry, as most of them check in and immediately head to their rooms.
However some of the more adventuring looking types have entered into the Tavern.
A male and a female in armor have taken place at opposite ends of the bar, each keeping to themselves.
And a group of four have already gathered around a table and are going over a map, pointing to it on occasion and Whispering to each other. At the bar, the barkeep cleans glasses and occasionally looks up at the gathered group and shakes his head at them.
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Cindra makes my way up to the bar, "Hello? on the barkeep's response or gesture of listening she adds, "Yes, well we just arrived here a short while ago and would like to purchase a room for the night please.
After settling on the room and board for the night Cindra would ask, " Is this town under attack often? I couldn't help but notice the sizable walls for such a small town?Thinking a moment and glancing around, checking to see if anyone else was listening in on her conversation before continuing.It is in my understanding that Rappan Athuk is nearby,... being an outsider I only know of it's horrors through rumors that I'd like to clear up."
"Whatever you heard, it's much worse in truth."
"Rooms are two silver a night. But if you're going to try to enter The Dungeon of Graves, pay me for a week since it's the last of your coin I'm going to see."
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Once inside, she would remove her hood, revealing a long curtain of black hair that fell in waves down her back nearly to her waist. Her lightly tanned skin shone beneath the light of the inn as if reflecting it. The mask was tied at the back of her head, keeping her hair from obstructing her vision yet a short curtain of bangs flitted just above her brow as she removed her pack from her shoulder and instead of taking a seat at the bar or a table, she moved to one of the walls and set down her pack. With care, she removed and leant her spear on the wall next to her before she sat with her knees up, resting her arms on her knees and her chin on her arm, her eyes flickering about the room as she scanned her surroundings like a nervous, wild animal.
She watched as the scorpion-tamer stepped in, and the fiery head of hair of the other woman was easy to follow as she moved to the bar and began to ask questions of Rappan Athuk. She caught the woman's gaze as she looked about during their conversation, unashamed of the fact that she was eavesdropping.
Kyle stepped into the tavern, as he approached the bar, he slightly nudged the redhead to the side.
"Parden me.", he spoke with a powerful whisper.
"Room for the five of us." , He reached into his bag and fetched a gold piece from his bag.
Percival walks into the inn with nervous glances at all the other patrons. Gutter life seemed much more pleasing as the minutes strolled by. He stayed up at the bar. Nervously he ordered a whiskey. Hoping it would bring some comfort.
Mr Touch gives a flourish of arms at the brusque man's insistence on purchasing the room, " You Zee! You zee! This man is most gracious az he buys a room for complete strangers, what a kind and gentle soul yes? Well then, Well then. I think it is time we get acquainted with the local riffraff, yes? Okay, Mr. Go you try the man, I'll speak to the lady! You know how you get around the femalez, no? "
" Chitter clacka clack chitter snap "
" Mr. Go.. Rude, there are god-swearing people here, behave. "
" ..... Clack Clack "
" Alright.. but no drinks after 10 again. "
The two separate.. the Scorpion goes and stares creepily at the man on the outskirts who seemed to keep to himself... it makes no sound.. it simply stares and occasionally waves it's stinger. While Mr. Touch approaches the lone woman. " Oh, What thiz? A wall flower hiding her beautiful self? He radiance so bright it could not detract one so weak willed as I, Mr. Touch. I must ask.. what is this strong lady'z name, yes? "
The bar tender slides a glass of whiskey to Percival.
The woman addressed by Mr. Touch turns her head to him.
Able to see the woman more clearly you can see she is clearly of an Elvish descent.
She wears a chain shirt, and carries a large curved blade on her back. Around her neck hangs the symbol of Pharasma.
She raises a brow to Mr. Touch but quickly regains her manners and extends a hand to shake his own. "Vera, priestess of Pharasma. Nice to meet you, Mr. Touch. You travel in strange company." she says indicating to Mr. Go.
The man across the bar calls out to Mr. Touch, "Hey weirdo, get your freaky pet away from me. Im trying to get drunk over here and I don't need any nightmares."
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Mr. Touch takes her hand into his ow and does a completely unnecessary and elaborate gyration getting on his knee and kissing her hand as if it were a scared object. Rising back halfway and looking up into her eyes. " Oho! The honor iz all mine Mistrezz Vera. I apologize my legs buckled at your immenze aptitude, yes? As for Mr. Go... "
Mr. Touch leans in close as if telling a well known secret, covering one side of his face as his eyes gleam the scorpion, " Yes, Mr. Go has a bit of a drinking problem and he gets, how you say? Riled up from time to time.. and his mannerz are atrocious, yes? "
He backs off and laughs fakely as if to purposely mask what he said as a joke in the direction of Mr. Go. The scorpion turns to him... stares, then turns back to the man.
Mr Touch proceeds to rub imaginary sweat from his brow and smiles wide. " So, So! I must ask what you do here all alone? Are you a native.. do you search for adventure maybe, yes? " Mr Touch places his hands under his chin cupping it as if giving full attention to this woman.. much like an adoring fan. He seems not to hear the aspiring drunk.
Mr. Go looks at the man and clacks its claws following his moves, emotionless. It's tail jerking at the pet comment.
The man picks his legs up off the ground and bring them up into his chest as he continues to drink, but keeping his eyes on the scorpion.
Vera answers Mr. Touch, "I've heard stories for years of the horrific undead that inhabit this land. My Order, the Silver Roses, are prolific hunters of the undead. However, despite many of its members accolades they refuse to come to Rappan Athuk and cleanse it's evil."
"I decided to come here to try and lend my talents to help those I can.."
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Mr. Go at this sign.. begins pacing around the table, waving it's tail around rhythmically. Then Suddenly stop... and look at the man.. for a whole minutes.. watching the water slide off the cool, cool drink. Then pacing around him once again.. this time stopping every time the man takes a drink.. and continuing once he places it down. A very light " Skree comes from the scorpion.
Mr Touch seems mystified, " A very noble cause indeed, yes! My own god Erastil iz not one to indulge in the great evils of undead. They do not contribute to a community well. How would you like to know..that I plan on doing so as well! Oh lady of the Pharasma, it seems fate haz brought us together, yes? "
Vera nods to you, "Very well, perhaps you are right Mr. Touch, are these your compatriots that have gathered here around the bar?"
The man on the other side of the bar going to tap on the counter. "Bar keep get me another drink, a strong one."
Once the barkeep brings him the glass, the man sets it on the ground as far away from Mr. Go as possible, then pulls out a longsword and uses it to push the glass towards the scorpion.
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Mr. Go stops moving as the drink slowly get within reach his claws lash out and encompasses it in the scorpion's powerful claws, holding the entirety of the glass. It moves the glass closer to get a taste ts mandibles moving fast. It continues to look at the man but seems.. content or distracted.. its hard to tell.
Mr. Touch continues his pleasant conversation with the Elven priestess. " Oooh, Them, yes? They are, how you say, acquaintances. The trip was quite long I know them about as long as I've know yourself, Mistrezz Vera. I am always looking for friends however. In this time and age with a dungeon as fearsome as Rappan Athuk is said to be, friendship is most important. Capable partners to zee through the darkness of evil, yes? That reminds me Mistrezz Vera, I happened to notice you had no other person, have you no significant other or partner outside of the church order? "
Vera seems about to answer, when one of the figures huddled around the table suddenly stands up and walks over to the bar.
He walks up behind Mr. Go who is rapidly approaching his drink, and kicks him hard, sending him sliding across the floor into the wall, knocking the alcoholic beverage over in the process.
He then storms over to Mr. Touch and shoves him hard, "Keep your damn mouth shut you puny runt. REAL MEN are having a conversation and don't need your weak ass voice interrupting. I hear you say one more word there will be blood. You understand me?"
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Mr. Touch has a look of horror as the offending man shoves him but his look goes past the man, to Mr. Go. Mr. Touch is all but speechless.
The drink goes cascading on the ground the amber fluid running into the cracks beneath the floor and slowly but surely draining away. Mr. Go twitches.. getting on its many legs and slowly.. turns around. The scorpion looks at the ground, the drink and then.. the man who gave him the drink. It's multifaceted eyes look to the man who kicked him. Mr Go twitches.. and with little sound leaps on the man from behind, stinger and claws snapping.
Mr Touch looks at the man his skin gaining a chitinous sheen, " Mr. Go isnt pleased. "
The others at the table begin to shout, "Get em!"
As Vera stands from her stool at the bar, drawing her weapon as she does and swings it at the man who shoved Mr. Touch.
She cuts down the man injured by Mr. Go and the fight begins.
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Percival downs the shot as if he has done it a thousand times before. He then motions the barkeep over for another. When received and the tussle begins, he without looking at the situation. Speaks up. Ya mind keeping your pussy in your pants, some people are trying to enjoy their possibly last drinks...
His nervous attitude now gone as if never there, Percival turns on the man who so rudely interrupted Mr. Touch's conversation and while delivering a cestus to the mans temple, downs his shot.
Mr. Touch sighs and looks solemnly at Vera, " Mistrezz Vera, excuse my current behavior, I shall not be as.. appealing. Your swing was a work of art however, yes? "
The colorful man looks to Mr. Go and nods slowly, " Mr. Go.. I guess its time they paid for that drink, yes? "
The scorpion gives a split second snap before leaping on another man while Mr. Touch fired on a different target with his bow.
" Bartender, I apologize for the inconvenience Yes? "
Mr. Go tears into a robed man who screams in pain.
Mr. Touch catches another man in the chest with an arrow, sending him to the ground.
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The robed man attempts to cast a spell.
But he seems distracted by the scorpions claws inside his body.
The other man remaining shoots with his bow at Vera.
But both miss.
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Kyle grins as he turns around while drawing his longsword. Gripping it tightly he goes to swing at the closest foe.
"I was hoping to end my day in blood!" You could see it in his eyes, the hunger for killing.
Percival jumps onto the caster, putting him down and Kyle cuts deeply into the Archer.
Vera joins Kyle in his attack.
She finishes cutting him down, leaving the room awash in blood and the sounds of moaning.
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Cindra hums a happy tune while sitting at the bar, "could I get a drink? just surprise me" lifting her finger like a baton waving it through the air as if conducting a melody. Calmly she looks over at Kyle,..."arent you a wishful thinker?" her eyes glow red with excitement.
The fight over, Vera kicks the Archer to expose more of his cloak, which she reaches down and cleans her blade with.
After sheathing it, she brings her hands together in apparent prayer.
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Afterwards Vera pulls out a wand and swings it through the air, but nothing happens.
She looks it over, and taps it on boot a few times, before it sparks and she swings it through the air, cleaning all the blood in the room.
Then goes to the robed man and taps him away with her foot, "I'm taking your map now. Payment for sparing your life."
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Mr. Touch finally raises his hands in a disarmed fashion. " Well Well, maybe I should have warned zee man to never Agitate Mr. Go, no? "
Mr. Touch gave a curt smile. " I guess the net few drinks will be on them, yes? " As the scorpion systematically goes around.. checking if a person is breathing.. before stabbing them with his stinger... the first man who kicked him.. multiple times... to death.
Mr. Touch shakes a finger, " No no no, Mr. Go. You do that AFTER we clean up! Standard procedure, yes. Take them outside while we apologize to zee bartender. "
The dark-skinned man makes a bow to Vera and to the two other persons for their assistance. " It seemz there was a.. disagreement, yes? I hope it is fine.. "
The Scorpion moves over to the man who previously ordered the drink... and looks at him.. covered in blood.
Observing the carnage just moments before, the man at the end if the bar who chose not to get involved speaks to the bartender.
"Mmmmm....Two more drinks for Mr. Go please bartender."
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Vera is suddenly Stern as she shouts out.
"Mr. Go!"
"That is quite enough. Behavior such as that is unbecoming to your lordly scorpion self. These men were as children before your impressive might."
"See here, the kind man at the end of the bar has replaced your drink two fold. The men you defeated now know the error of their ways. To continue to harm them would be an insult to your majesty."
Fallong to her knees in supplication, the woman bows all the way to the ground.
"Please spare them Mr. Go."
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"The name's Kyle by the way."
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Mr. Touch sees the display of Vera and sees the determination of Mr. Go and steps in, his understanding of his many-legged companion a notable effect as such creatures are fierce.
He also prostrates himself, mimicking Vera. The woman knew how to placate. " Yes yes, Mr. Go it iz beneath you.. plus you have TWO drinkz, yes? much more than one! Go, let them be it is not even good tasting no? " Mr. Touch leans up and opens an eye to see the Scorpion's reaction.
Mr. Go stops.... then looks to Vera... in her eyes... and walks over to the bar this time.. awaiting its well deserved drink.
Mr Touch get's up relieved that Mr. Go had conceded to deferment in his punishment and looks to Vera " You seem to have zee way with words, no? "
He looks to the man who Identified himself as Kyle and gives a thumbs up. " Ahh This man iz both kind of heart to pay for the room.. as well as defend Mr. Go's honor! I am blessed! Mr. Kyle you are zee Guardian's Blade. What of you man who orders drinks for Mr. Go.. What be your name? And You the one who punched the robed man, what be yours? " Gesturing to them both.