RUMORS, LEGENDS, AND HAPPENINGS IN A'TA
The County of Dunsmore in Ardalon, and the surrounding area, is being ravaged by the Beast of Dunsmore, a huge creature with great protruding teeth that uproots trees, overturns fields, devours livestock, destroys homesteads, massacres men, and is generally a terrible nuisance. Earl Dunsmore is offering a reward for whoever puts an end to the Beast's depredations.Elsdane, the Black Dwarf of the Borders, is a wielder of mighty but subtle magic. Lovely maidens of Cassyon are vanishing in droves near his holdings, and the nobles are seemingly helpless to stop him.
A gathering of the Royal Merchants of the Ligurian League have offered a reward to anyone who can end the depredations of sea giants through their territories. The Sea Giants Stormalong and Rython have banded together, beleaguring and holding hostage a great swath of the Sea of Marmora, at great cost to the Royal Merchants. The Royal Merchants consist of a small group of immensely wealthy merchant families who have amassed such power and wealth by means of their large standing armies and fleets as to be like unto powerful nobles.
The Doge of Galacia offers a great reward for the Ring of Ogier by the Doge of Galacia (a province of the Ligurian League) who suffers from a debilitating and probably fatal disease of unknown origin. The Ring of Ogier is said to cure the wearer of all infirmities and to restore youth to the aged.
In a sign of impeding doom on a grand scale, the Phantom Ship of Carmilhan has been seen along the coasts of Ardalon, Cassyon, Iberus, and the Ligurian League by numerous reliable sources. Thomas the Rhymer relates of the Phantom Ship, "... Or of that phantom ship, whose form - Shoots like a meteor through the storm - When the dark scud comes driving hard - And lowered is every topsail yard ... - And well the doomed spectators know - Tis harbinger of wreck and woe.''
The Brazen Bull of Phalaris is once again in use, having been purchased from an impoverished Ligurian noble by the Vicomte Julian Dysart. A means of execution, this great bronze cast of a bull has a door in the side through which the unfortunate prisoner enters and is then burned alive. The throat of the Bull is so constructed that the moans and cries of the condemned sound like the snorts and roars of an enraged bull.
In the east of Ardalon lie the lost Mines of Mondragon. These were the secret mines wherefrom Julian del Rey, the great swordsmith, drew the metal for his wondrous blades. Julian was of a noble heart, and always inscribed his blades thusly: "Draw me not without reason; sheath me not without honor."
Bamfyld Moore Carew, called King of the Vagabonds by his followers, has been seen in the Ligurian League, causing no end of consternation. In his wake inevitably comes hordes of his secretive and demented followers, bringing the frightening spectacle called the Carnival of the Blessed by Carew and his lunatics. More accurately known as the Carnival of the Damned, such an occurrence surely results in a surge of perversion, thievery, murder, and the like for the unfortunate locale. Many believe Carew and his madmen are followers of Ravanna, and certainly many bear the mark of Belphegor or Kiyo, Ravanna's minions of perversion. Melantius the Punisher was also seen in the eastern reaches of the League, a hope which brings no end of joy to the local inhabitants.
Mokanna, the Veiled Prophet of the Khorassan, was enroute to the court of Zohar, the Caliph of Sind, when nomads attacked his caravan. No one survived the attack for certain, but numerous bodies, including notably Mokanna, remain unaccounted. Mokanna is said to remain covered to conceal his dazzling countenance.
Jaquemar of Nojide, the Lernaen inventor of great reknown, has created a most amazingly life-like mechanical clock consisting of a man and woman who strike the hours. Jaquemar's Clock stands in the castle of Wolfgang Vaucanson of Kempelen.
The Cup of Jamshid, named for the King of the Genii who possessed it since time immemorable, reputedly lies in the terrible Desert of Gedrosa near Sind. Lost in the twin sands of Time and Gedrosa, the Cup is said to be made of solid gold, but more importantly, contains the Elixir of Life.... Part of an ancient rhyme relayed by the great bard Thomas the Rhymer tells: "I know too where the Genii hid, the jewelled cup of their King Jamshid, with Life's Elixir sparkling high, by which mortals might not die...."
Vermandois, a small county in Cassyon, is nearly overrun by humanoids from the Drachenfels. The local lord, Vicomte Julian Dysart, is hiring adventurers to help eliminate the humanoid menace and also to track down his missing niece, kidnapped by raiding humanoids.
A map is offered for sale, cheap, purporting to show the location of the long lost Eye of Menkahor, a star sapphire of matchless quality and reputed magical power. Of course, it requires a long and deadly voyage to Aksum ....
The dark days are coming quickly. Secret societies devoted to the worship of Ravanna, hives of madness and treachery, are being discovered all across A'ta. These worshipers believe Ravanna will soon return to the world, perhaps in another form as he did with Sutech, and are committing all manner of foul deeds in the Dark One's name.
A massive gathering of nomads of Khur has swept west into the easternmost reaches of the Ligurian League. Terrified refugees speak of victorious barbarians practicing cannibalism and offering human sacrifies to some demonic inspiration. The Ligurian League has sent scouts to spy out the situation, but most failed to return, and the others have not been able to get close enough to determine the truth. Whatever their leadership, the barbarians are causing a great deal of concern within the Ligurian League and Sind. Few doubt that the barbarian threat is real. Some say the culprit behind the uprising is none other than Kansa, the Demon-King of Mathura. Ages past, Mathura was mighty and thoroughly evil rival to Sind, set on the fringe of the Desert of Gedrosa. After long and cataclysmic wars, Sind triumphed, the resulting destruction paving the way for the surging growth of the desert.
A rumor of civil war sweeps Cassyon. Ardenault, Duke of Auban is rumored to be in love with, and in fact having an affair with, the Marquessa Asyl de Ferrand, the lovely wife of his friend the Marquis Sabor de Ferrand. Shahariah, Duchess of Auban (the dusky-skinned daughter of Zohar, Caliph of Sind), has returned to Sind, ostensibly to visit her family. This is a particularly unwelcome development considering the increased threat from the Drachenfels of late.
Refugees report that mechanical soldiers have conquered several Lernaen villages along the fringe of the Drachefels. Wolfgang Vaucanson, the Baron of Kempelen in Lerna, is recruiting adventurers to investigate and (hopefully) to handle the problem.
In Cassyon, along the Drachenfels near Ardalon, stands a fortified monastery of Zurong dedicated to serving and protecting travelers. A madwoman rants that her daughter was taken from her lodgings at the fortress, a tale that the monks deny with a sorrow-filled headshakes, fearing the distraught woman suffers from some dread disease of the Drachenfels. Similar stories have been told in the past, increasingly of late, but the monks claim they have fully investigated all the reports, and can only say that there may be something stalking the land near the monastery, something they have been unable to find more than rumor of, let alone catch.
The journal of Ahuras of the Shining Teeth, last known possessor of the Zodiac Stone, was recently found in Sind. It was subsequently lost to barbarians as it traveled by caravan to Zohar, the Caliph of Sind. Many, including Zohar, believe that Ahuras, a taker of copious notes, may have indicated in his journal the location of the Zodiac Stone. Ahuras was known not only for his gleaming golden teeth and copious note-taking, but also for the deadly scorpion tail that grew from his backside.
The Forest of Arden, situated between Ardalon and Cassyon, stretching from the Drachenfels nearly to the Sea, is growing fouler and darker by the day. Travelers are being slaughtered in alarming numbers, and the locals blame the fell forest-spirits, the blood-drinking Damadagen. Local lords are offering rewards to anyone who will at least investigate and hopefully resolve the problem.
The Serpent's Egg of the Druids, an artifact that is said to give it's possessor the power to prevail in any contest and combat, was seen floating among the Standing Stones in far Saresyn, the southern tip of Ellora. The Druids there are well known for killing any and all who violate their sacred rings, but many still risk all, and many have lost all, in the pursuit of the Serpent's Egg.
Cherry Bloodhawk, the wild, beautiful, and fierce captain of the pirate ship Golden Vanity, has plundered the Iberusian port of Figueroa, carrying off a king's ransom in gold and silver. His Royal Highness, Fanfaron, King of Iberus, is offering a 10% finder's fee and a noble title to whoever brings the Princess of Pirates to justice.
The great explorer and treasure hunter Hunter Quartermaine, currently in the employ of King Aden of Ardalon, is outfitting an expedition into the heart of the great southern continent, south even of Sutech, in search of the fabled City of Gold, the hidden capital of ancient Cush. According to legend the poorest buildings were gilded with gold trim, and the richest entirely sheathed in gold.
Gilderoy, the Prince of Thieves, of late stole the fabled Gold Ring of Gyges from Harpagon, the Miser of Lavarre in Cassyon. Harpagon is frenzied, knowing he must offer a great reward to recover such a thing. It is said that he is considering offering the hand of his daughter Nyse in marriage in exchange for return of the Ring. Gyges' Gold Ring supposedly has the power to render the wearer invisible and prevents him from ever losing his way. On the other hand, Nyse is widely acclaimed the most beautiful woman in Cassyon.
Hassan-Ben-Sabbah, known as the Old Man of the Mountains or the Grandfather of the Hawkubites (a guild of assassins), has struck again. Foedera, the son of Fierebras, Merchant Prince of Remer of the Ligurian League, was found dead in his bed. The Council of the Ligurian League has offered a reward for the head of Hassan-Ben-Sabbah. The reward currently consists of: Anerin's Mare, one of the finest and most advanced ships on the seas; 10,000 florins; and the legendary sword Corrougue, last born by the Cassyonian hero Celestin the Fearless, great nephew of a past king of Cassyon. Corrougue was forged by Galas, the great smith who was apprenticed to Weyland himself. Of course, everyone knows that the Kingdom of Cassyon is in a continual state of war with the Ligurian League, partly because of the sword, which Cassyon claims was stolen by agents of the Ligurian League. They have sworn to slay anyone who claims the sword as his own.
Long ago, a strait separated Sind and Thalan, joining the Sea of Marmora to the Green Sea. The upheavals that occurred when Ravanna's power was destroyed closed the strait, but before that it was the road to war. Warships streamed through the strait at the beck of Silos Apocalypse to fight the great evil of Sutech. Along the coast, many strong forts were built, stopping points for the armies of the north. During the Dark Years, when Ravanna first lent his personal power to Sutech, the evil armies swept away many of the forts. The armies of the north began to retreat, moving mountains of riches north along the coast. A fleet of merchantmen and warships had just put into the great, fortified port of Memnos (south of the Gate of Tears) when the fort was beseiged by land and sea. Finally, Memnos was taken, but of the massive wealth there was no sign. It simply vanished, and Sutech gnashed his teeth at the incredible loss of soldiers and the vast treasure. No one ever discovered what happened to it, but it must lie there still, somewhere in or near the ruined fort or its catacombs, waiting to found.
The humanoid tribes of the Drachenfels are organizing, and their strength is seeping into the Forest of Arden. This has resulted in a great increase in attacks on settlers and travelers between Cassyon and Ardalon, and is threatening to sever the land ties between the two countries. King Aden of Ardalon and King Raimond II of Cassyon are seeking adventurers to find out who is directing the humanoids and to put an end to the menace.
A pit of unknown but incredible depth has been discovered in Lerna, and Wolfgang Vaucanson, the Baron of Kempelen, is looking for someone to plumb its unfathomable depths and determine if it poses any danger to his barony or Lerna as a whole.
Thomas the Rhymer has disappeared in Thuringen. Rumors have been circulating that the great bard had found the lost Lenses of Time, which allow the wearer to see into the past. His apartments in the Lord�s palace were untouched; according to reports official and unofficial, the only things missing were Thomas and the Lenses.
An island off the southern coast of Ellora, known as Llyn Dinas, is the site of an ancient monastery. It is said that over 20,000 monks of Zurong are buried on this holy island, and that the shades of the monks wander the shores when shipwrecks are imminent. Sailors in the area tell of apparitions appearing to warn them of danger, and of ships inexplicably changing course. In any case, there is no record of the ghostly figures doing any harm, and some stories relate that the shades are oracles of remarkable ability and veracity.
Legend says that somewhere in Ardalon there stands a hill known as Crag Ferohers, and beneath this hill sleeps the great knight Ferohers the Everbright and his 12 mighty fellows, waiting to be awakened to fight evil. Ferohers was a comrade of Silos Apocalypse, and if the rumor was true and he could be found and awakened, he would surely know the true fate of Silos Apocalypse, wouldn�t he?
Beneath the Sea of Marmora, somewhere near the now closed Gate of Tears, lies the sunken city of Carillon. Carillon was the home of Ione, the most powerful white sorceress of ancient days. When she vanished just before the death of Sutech, supposedly trapped in a magical prison, her staff appeared in her home in Castle Carillon. A great voice warned of the impending doom of the city, and just as the inhabitants reached safety, it indeed sank beneath the waves. The last words of the booming voice echoed that the city would rise from the waves in certain years at the stroke of midnight on Midsummer's Night, and that the Staff of Ione could then be recovered. While the city has reportedly risen, no one has entered and returned before the city sinks back into the depths. It is said that anyone wielding the Staff would be able to wield mighty magics, and many have perished attempting to retrieve it.
Three giant brothers named Camboglanna, Cartimandus, and Crannogarumm, are known as the Giant Kings. They live on a hill in the Drachenfels called the Mound of Frogs, and those who know of the place will speak of it only in whispers, saying that it is a fell place indeed.
Somewhere deep in the Drachenfels is the Chorea Gigantus, the Ring of Giants, arranged standing stones of terrific and ancient religious significance with the power to restore life to the dead. According to legend, the body of the slain is laid upon the stones at sunset. Dew collects on the monolithic stones during the night, and in the morning when the first rays of sun strike the monoliths, turning the drops of water to silver and gold fire, the person is brought back to life. Ages past, when men and giants were friends, these stones were used for the weal of all, but now, if they exist at all, they certainly fiercely guarded.
In the forested Drachenfels lies a mound called the Giant's Grave, a 25' long mound topped with an obelisk covered in undecipherable runes. Some say it is the grave of the last good giant, Anthemius, who was slain many years ago. Whatever it is, the Giants and their minions give it a wide berth. It is said that no evil creature will set foot on the Giant's Grave.
There is another area deep in the Drachenfels where dozens of weathered stones stand in a tumbled ruin that is now little more than weathered stones itself. It once was the throne room of an evil king against whom a terrible vengeance was taken. In retribution for an awful, forgotten betrayal, the king and all his courtiers were turned to stone, and all that remains of them are weathered, featureless lumps of rock. Supposedly the king's treasure chamber lies somewhere nearby, waiting to be discovered, though probably still subject to the great curse.
A demonic hound, the Black Hound of Sutech, also called the Barghest or Death Dog, wanders the moors and bogs of Sutech on dark nights. Preceded by howls that can stop a beating heart, the Hound mercilessly runs down his prey and devours it with his huge red teeth. The green fires of Hell burn in the monster's eyes and breath, his poisonous saliva burns like fire, and his hide turns weapons aside harmlessly. The Dog is most frequently said to stalk the site of an ancient battle, known as the Battle of the Mists, which is the site of the titanic battle that resulted in the downfall of the southern civilizations. The Sword of Sunset, the mighty blade borne by Silos Apocalypse himself, supposedly vanished somewhere in these moors since it was near here that Silos slew Sutech, and was himself slain (though many do not believe that the great Silos did in fact die).
Woodsmen near the intersecting borders of Ardalon, Cassyon, and the Drachenfels say they have killed man-eating beasts only to see the creatures turn into men, humanoids, and even normal animals when they die. They say some of the animals have acted strangely, but the give few specifics. The animals always seem to come from the west and southwest, and the people speak in whispers of the evil god Ravanna and his servants, the Rakshasas, and terrible magical experiments.
In the southern land of Sutech is a great and dark city, now largely overgrown by the jungle. It was the site chosen by Ravanna for his physical incarnation, and from there he sent his minions, including the evil priest Sutech, to wage war against Silos Apocalypse and his realm of Thalan. Sutech, Ravanna's earthly body, was destroyed, but unclean things still stream from the land, particularly from the direction of the ruin known as the City of Souls, the lost capital of evil Sutech. Some say Sutech's shade wanders the land still.
On the nothern edge of the southern continent is the Land of Fire, where flames and blazing ash belch from the earth and the air itself can be deadly. All kinds of dangerous creatures roam the Land of Fire, but tremendous treasures entail tremendous risks. It is said that the Land of Fire, due to its violent nature, is strewn with gems like pebbles in a brook, and many are the puddles of molten gold and silver.
Somewhere in the Drachenfels is the Lost Vale of Eildon. Within the Vale is the Pillar of Eilseg, standing atop Llangollen Tor, also known as the Hill of Lost Souls, overlooking the Lake of Golden Leaves. The Pillar is covered with ancient, largely unreadable runes, supposedly telling the tale of an ancient hero, Eilseg, who lived in the area long ago. Eilseg destroyed a marauding, sorcerous giant and wicked serpent that lived on and within the hill, but was unable to escape their enchanted stronghold. On nights when the moon is full and low in the sky, tricks of moonlight turn the hill's features into a phantom labyrinth, allowing the brave to enter the heart of Llangollen Tor. On some nights, doleful moans and cries can be heard on the Tor, but no one is ever seen.
The pirate Spriggs LeBarre, known as the Reaper, and his ally Klinsor the Warrior-Wizard, are loose in the Sea of Marmora. Travelers are warned to stay away, but there is the consideration of the tremendous reward on the heads of these villains.
Back to the Solar or the Atlas of A'ta.