Book II - A Requiem of Heroes
Chapter 3-From The Ashes
With the deaths of their comrades, the group begins to splinter. Brondel begins to rest from his previous fight with the skeleton, and Alania goes to the bar to learn more about the city and the land they are in. Winter shaved his head and beard in mourning of his friends. Distraught of his failure, Winter hoped for a clue as to what to do next, when suddenly he was greeted by an older man dressed in a knights garb. The man was Sir Urik, a Knight of the Raven, and his protege, Tyrian Leonald. The discuss with Winter about how Ravenloft was a world outside the normal world, as it transcends planes, and randomly jumps into a different world and place, but for some places it is always there, like the way they came to Ravenloft is always in that spot. Those who enter the mists are from random times and planes. Winter also learned that Sir Urik and his squire fight against the Master, and that four other warriors from a land call Hyboria had come and they too seeked to stop the Master. The warriors were Gyro the Brythunnian Brawler, Sangol Naza the Hyrkanian Horse Archer, Sonain Stonehelm the Bossonian Soldier, and Jezheb Yar the Turanian Pirate/Ranger. Sir Urik suggested that they speak with Madam Eva the Fortune Teller, for some help. Madam Eva drew her cards and revealed what the heroes needed to know. "He who dwells in Castle Ravenloft is a powerful man whose enemy is light and whose powers are beyond mrtality. You will seek him in the castle, and though he will find you many times, you will find him only once." Card of the Red Dragon: You will find him in the heart of darkness, his home, his source. This place is his center and his life, the one place to which he must return. "Out of the darkness and chaos, this card finds its reason and foundation. It shows the purpose of all things-the key to life and death and else beyond" Card of the Red Dragon: The darkness desires a light; death seeks warmth from the living. Yet the darkness fears a greater dark, and strikes out against those who would replace him. ___________________________________________________ "What you seek is ablade of light, a weapon of vengenance." Card of the Brass Dragon: Seek it where paths cross and the damned lie buried. "The swords light sleeps" Card of the Gold Dragon: To wake it, bring it to where the light lies dead, slain by the darkness that shrouds the castle. ____________________________________________________ "This symbol is a powerful force for good and protection against the forces of darkness." Card of the Gold Dragon: "Seek it in a place where wanderers rest." (this was revealed to be her camp, and she had it, and it was later given to Winter) "The holiness in this item waits for the hands of holiness to touch it once more, but that is not enough to bring its power back to life" Card of the White Dragon: You must reunite it with the one who carried its name. ______________________________________________________ "The tome you seek holds knowledge of the ancient and knowledge of the land." Card of the Blue Dragon: Seek a place of blashphemy, where humans plumb their darkest nature. "If you find the tome and delve into its secrets, you will discover the source of the lord's strength. If you read it carefully, you may also discover how to rob him of that strength." As she flipped over the last card, she began to laugh: Your quest is doomed! You must find the three defiled places described in the tome. At each fane, you must kill its dread guardian and place the guardians body inside. At this you will never succeed. With that she motioned for your gypsy men to get ready, Winter say this, and questioned her, she laughed and revealed herself as one of the guardians, and grow to twice her normal size, revealing herslef as some kind of giant hag monster. The battle was swift as the Hyborians took care of the Vistani, while Sir Urik, Tyrian and Winter took care of the Eva. Soon the hag was on the floor dead, and the heroes decided to split up. The Hyborians went to look for the Tome, while the knights looked for the sword. Winter and the two knights continued up till they were near the castle, when they came to the old crossroads. It was here that Tyrian discovered the sword buried in the crux of the road, but as he laid his hands on the blade, many skeletons and ghosts were summoned to destroy him. With the protection of their gods on their sides, the heroes battled away the evil spirits, but they continued to come, until Tyrian dropped the sword. But, as Winter picked it up, the blade began to glow and accept him, thus planting the seeds of jealousy in Tyrian. Now the heroes are waiting in the Tavern, with their new prize, for the others to arrive.
