Arandor
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Chapter 5. "The Last Asylum"
…It is good here. I do not like running much in plate armor – I tire easily. Not even a litany of endurance helps. But it is pleasant here; despite the ruins and the strange smell, I do not have to walk far.
…Yesterday evening we approached these ruins, which the head of Kuldahar told us about in his final breaths. I did not have time to heal him, and the temple refused to resurrect him. One would think – Ilmater. But despite all their softness and kindness, one needs something to live on. Perhaps the Lord Archdruid charged them a high rent? Now we will never know.
…Who set the traps in this Fortress? Another arrow has left a very unpleasant gouge in my breastplate. Can a trap really stand for so many years without falling apart? Our scout excuses herself, saying that her difficult childhood predisposed her more to pickpocketing than to searching for and disarming tripwires. Stealing... That was a long time ago; I am sure Tyr has already punished her for such a sin.
…Our enemies are ephemeral, though the striking blows of their blades are quite tangible and painful. I cannot detect the rot in their souls. Perhaps these ghosts act not of their own will.
…Finally, we met someone who did not seek to slit our throats. They are spirits too, and since the fortress is elven… Correct. They are elves. I believe they do not understand what happened. They do not know they have died. They say we can find the spellcaster in one of the Towers. Well, let us go. Perhaps, among other things, he will tell us what strange device our ranger found in one of the chests.
…Not everyone here has gone mad, thank Tyr. One of the phantoms told us that during the attack of fierce enemies on the fortress, their mage grew desperate and took an extreme measure. He wanted to surround the Haven with protective magic, but overestimated his strength. One glitch, and now – they are all eternally imprisoned here. Well, it will be interesting to hear the story firsthand.
…And here he is. Vile spawn. An elf-lich – what could be more horrific? Both undead and non-human. He does not look dangerous, but I see no medallion with a phylactery around his neck. Which means he cannot be destroyed so easily. It seems he has gone mad. He spouts some incoherent nonsense. But the machine on the other side of the platform is interesting. There is another spirit beside it. He says it is very unpleasant – being unable to repair the machine or even simply leave the room for many years. Perhaps this is what we need. The parts we found in different corners of the fortress look very similar to it. I am no dwarf, of course, but I am sure they belong to it.
…Of course they fit. The lich's aimless muttering gained meaning. He told us the already known sad story of the siege, adding a narrative full of gall and malice about the treacherous dwarves who were the cause of all this. It is good that our brother-cleric is calm; I saw how he frowned and tightened his grip on the handle of his hammer, but he did not give in to anger.
I didn't listen to the story closely; it all smelled foully of mercantilism and trade. But finally, he performed the necessary ritual and saw through to the source of evil. I heard, to my astonishment, notes of bitter triumph in his lifeless voice when he pointed to the source of evil spreading across the North. The dwarven Stronghold, Dorn's Deep. I no longer trust anyone but my companions, and I do not believe at all that their nemesis is our goal. But there are no more clues, so… we are heading there.
from the head of Horus, paladin of Lokenus.
So yes, upon arriving at the elven fortress (which became a prison for them (screen #1)), we discovered that all its Havens had become ghosts or turned into mindless undead. On the first floors, we encountered orcs and goblins (screens #2, 3, 4); apparently, they were the ones besieging the elves. The second floor was also packed with them, as well as a pack of wolves (screen #5). On the third floor, undead awaited us, the defiled bodies of those who fell in that battle (screens #6, 7). Climbing higher (or maybe that was downstairs), we found a ghost who told us about what happened. He recounted how the elven ruler and wizards wanted to save the fortress with a powerful spell, but nothing worked; instead, they became what they are to this day. He also said that he sacrificed himself, descending and wanting to blow something up so that the enemies would not enter the tower (idk, I don't remember exactly). On the fourth floor, there were five halls and no aggressive ghosts. In the first room, there were many beds, probably a bedroom (screen #8). There we met a little girl waiting for her mother, but she does not return. The girl was kind (like everyone on this floor), so she allowed us to rest in this room. The second room was something like a bar or tavern, with many round tables where ghosts of drunkards sat (screen #9). The third room was a dining room, but with a stage. In it, we met a minstrel who gladly sang us two songs (screen #10). In the 4th room, we encountered a merchant to whom we sold some items gathered on the lower floors (screen #11). The fifth room was also a place for feasting (no screen :P).
In screen #12, you can see the mage's inventory, and in #13, I am summoning a spirit who can tell us about the future.
…It is good here. I do not like running much in plate armor – I tire easily. Not even a litany of endurance helps. But it is pleasant here; despite the ruins and the strange smell, I do not have to walk far.
…Yesterday evening we approached these ruins, which the head of Kuldahar told us about in his final breaths. I did not have time to heal him, and the temple refused to resurrect him. One would think – Ilmater. But despite all their softness and kindness, one needs something to live on. Perhaps the Lord Archdruid charged them a high rent? Now we will never know.
…Who set the traps in this Fortress? Another arrow has left a very unpleasant gouge in my breastplate. Can a trap really stand for so many years without falling apart? Our scout excuses herself, saying that her difficult childhood predisposed her more to pickpocketing than to searching for and disarming tripwires. Stealing... That was a long time ago; I am sure Tyr has already punished her for such a sin.
…Our enemies are ephemeral, though the striking blows of their blades are quite tangible and painful. I cannot detect the rot in their souls. Perhaps these ghosts act not of their own will.
…Finally, we met someone who did not seek to slit our throats. They are spirits too, and since the fortress is elven… Correct. They are elves. I believe they do not understand what happened. They do not know they have died. They say we can find the spellcaster in one of the Towers. Well, let us go. Perhaps, among other things, he will tell us what strange device our ranger found in one of the chests.
…Not everyone here has gone mad, thank Tyr. One of the phantoms told us that during the attack of fierce enemies on the fortress, their mage grew desperate and took an extreme measure. He wanted to surround the Haven with protective magic, but overestimated his strength. One glitch, and now – they are all eternally imprisoned here. Well, it will be interesting to hear the story firsthand.
…And here he is. Vile spawn. An elf-lich – what could be more horrific? Both undead and non-human. He does not look dangerous, but I see no medallion with a phylactery around his neck. Which means he cannot be destroyed so easily. It seems he has gone mad. He spouts some incoherent nonsense. But the machine on the other side of the platform is interesting. There is another spirit beside it. He says it is very unpleasant – being unable to repair the machine or even simply leave the room for many years. Perhaps this is what we need. The parts we found in different corners of the fortress look very similar to it. I am no dwarf, of course, but I am sure they belong to it.
…Of course they fit. The lich's aimless muttering gained meaning. He told us the already known sad story of the siege, adding a narrative full of gall and malice about the treacherous dwarves who were the cause of all this. It is good that our brother-cleric is calm; I saw how he frowned and tightened his grip on the handle of his hammer, but he did not give in to anger.
I didn't listen to the story closely; it all smelled foully of mercantilism and trade. But finally, he performed the necessary ritual and saw through to the source of evil. I heard, to my astonishment, notes of bitter triumph in his lifeless voice when he pointed to the source of evil spreading across the North. The dwarven Stronghold, Dorn's Deep. I no longer trust anyone but my companions, and I do not believe at all that their nemesis is our goal. But there are no more clues, so… we are heading there.
from the head of Horus, paladin of Lokenus.
So yes, upon arriving at the elven fortress (which became a prison for them (screen #1)), we discovered that all its Havens had become ghosts or turned into mindless undead. On the first floors, we encountered orcs and goblins (screens #2, 3, 4); apparently, they were the ones besieging the elves. The second floor was also packed with them, as well as a pack of wolves (screen #5). On the third floor, undead awaited us, the defiled bodies of those who fell in that battle (screens #6, 7). Climbing higher (or maybe that was downstairs), we found a ghost who told us about what happened. He recounted how the elven ruler and wizards wanted to save the fortress with a powerful spell, but nothing worked; instead, they became what they are to this day. He also said that he sacrificed himself, descending and wanting to blow something up so that the enemies would not enter the tower (idk, I don't remember exactly). On the fourth floor, there were five halls and no aggressive ghosts. In the first room, there were many beds, probably a bedroom (screen #8). There we met a little girl waiting for her mother, but she does not return. The girl was kind (like everyone on this floor), so she allowed us to rest in this room. The second room was something like a bar or tavern, with many round tables where ghosts of drunkards sat (screen #9). The third room was a dining room, but with a stage. In it, we met a minstrel who gladly sang us two songs (screen #10). In the 4th room, we encountered a merchant to whom we sold some items gathered on the lower floors (screen #11). The fifth room was also a place for feasting (no screen :P).
In screen #12, you can see the mage's inventory, and in #13, I am summoning a spirit who can tell us about the future.
Be strong. Believe