The Seer awoke from a terrible dream. He knew he must move quickly, or the time for a good reading would pass.
From a metal case under his cot, he grabbed a wax candle. He dashed out of his wigwam to the pit where last night's fire had burned down to embers.
He scooped some still warm ashes from the edge of the fire to form a small pile.
With a quick incantation the candle was lit. He held it upright and steady, so the wax would pool at the top, instead of running down the edges.
When there was enough, he carefully poured a drop of wax onto the mound of ash.
The wax and ash merged, and as it began to cool, the Seer comtemplated the shape that it had formed. a small bump at the top, an elongated snout to the right.
This is a dragon he thought. He searched his long memory for all the things that a dragon symbol might mean. A storm? An actual dragon? No. None of those this time. Ah, he thought, a villain, or the return of an old enemy.
By this time, enough wax had formed on the candle for the second reading. This time, the wax formed into a thin line, with a point at the bottom. Clearly, this was the dagger. No guessing required. Clearly the symbol of revenge.
An old enemy seeking revenge? Revenge on the Malathil? But for what? Who could this old enemy be?
"Tell me where" he said aloud. He poured the wax for the third and final reading into the ash. The cooling wax formed the shape of a pyramid before his eyes.
He put his finger to his lips and paused. Was he reading this correctly? Was he jumping to the wrong conclusion? He concentrated. He hoped that he was wrong, but the reading was clear enough to call for swift action. He would awake the elder, and tell him that they must send out a party of scouts to investigate. They must go to the pyramid tomb to the west, and learn if Trakas Wingsong has truly returned to seek his revenge.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
The Ash Valley, The Malathil, and Wingsong's defeat
Before I tell this tale, a word on 4th edition cosmology. The material plane consists of not one, but three worlds, parallel to each other. The "natural world" is the one that your characters spend most of their time in. A magical reflection of that world, known as the Feywild exists alongside it. Eladrin came to the natural world from the Feywild in very ancient times. The third world is the Shadowfell, a dark shadow of the natural world.
To the south-east of the Achauk capital lies a large area called the Ash Valley. Though this part of Terra Malatia is relatively flat, the Ash Valley is known for its hills and valleys. The high points are densely wooded. The low points often expose caves that descend into dark realms beneath the ground. The Ash Valley is a place where the natural world and the Feywild are quite close to each other. Fey creatures are common here.
The people of this valley are humans called the Malathil, a name given to them by the Eladrin. They are simple and primative people. Perhaps an effect of their Fey surroundings, some Malathil inherit animal-like characteristics. Individuals with these features often feel a calling to dedicate their lives to defending the valley. (In game terms, these special Malathil are the PHB2 race "Shifters'.)
A millennia ago, when Trakas Wingsong was at the height of his power, he had driven out or enslaved all of his neighbors. But he had left the Valley alone - fearing the magic that might defend it. Refugees from his defeated enemies had been given shelter by the Malathil. Some were attempting to lead a resistance. So Trakas decided to send his army into the Valley.
By some accident, some of Trakas's forces crossed into the Feywild. There they stumbled upon an Eladrin city. Not knowing what they had found, they looted this city, and burned it to the ground. This same band of marauders discovered a vast cave occupied by Drow. They massacred that as well.
In response to this attack, the Drow and Eladrin of Ash Valley struck a pact. The Malathil persuaded them to put aside their ancient differences and unite to push Trakas Wingsong and the Bahumati out of the Valley. They succeeded in doing this. This would be the greatest defeat of Wingsong’s life, signaling the beginning of his eventual downfall.
The fey alliance of Drow and Eladrin did not press their advantage to destroy Wingsong's empire. They stopped at the edge of the Valley. But they pledged to each other if Trakas Wingsong ever rose to threaten them again, they would unite to destroy him once and for all.
Soon after, the effects of the plague began to weaken the Empire. Trakas went willingly into un-death, in hopes to rise again at some future time. The Drow/Eladrin alliance is long forgotten by most.
Only the Malathil remember. And as the Auchauk kingdom begins to re-form, they wonder if it poses a threat to The Ash Valley. Perhaps they'll need to find a way to unite their neighbors against a common enemy once again.
To the south-east of the Achauk capital lies a large area called the Ash Valley. Though this part of Terra Malatia is relatively flat, the Ash Valley is known for its hills and valleys. The high points are densely wooded. The low points often expose caves that descend into dark realms beneath the ground. The Ash Valley is a place where the natural world and the Feywild are quite close to each other. Fey creatures are common here.
The people of this valley are humans called the Malathil, a name given to them by the Eladrin. They are simple and primative people. Perhaps an effect of their Fey surroundings, some Malathil inherit animal-like characteristics. Individuals with these features often feel a calling to dedicate their lives to defending the valley. (In game terms, these special Malathil are the PHB2 race "Shifters'.)
A millennia ago, when Trakas Wingsong was at the height of his power, he had driven out or enslaved all of his neighbors. But he had left the Valley alone - fearing the magic that might defend it. Refugees from his defeated enemies had been given shelter by the Malathil. Some were attempting to lead a resistance. So Trakas decided to send his army into the Valley.
By some accident, some of Trakas's forces crossed into the Feywild. There they stumbled upon an Eladrin city. Not knowing what they had found, they looted this city, and burned it to the ground. This same band of marauders discovered a vast cave occupied by Drow. They massacred that as well.
In response to this attack, the Drow and Eladrin of Ash Valley struck a pact. The Malathil persuaded them to put aside their ancient differences and unite to push Trakas Wingsong and the Bahumati out of the Valley. They succeeded in doing this. This would be the greatest defeat of Wingsong’s life, signaling the beginning of his eventual downfall.
The fey alliance of Drow and Eladrin did not press their advantage to destroy Wingsong's empire. They stopped at the edge of the Valley. But they pledged to each other if Trakas Wingsong ever rose to threaten them again, they would unite to destroy him once and for all.
Soon after, the effects of the plague began to weaken the Empire. Trakas went willingly into un-death, in hopes to rise again at some future time. The Drow/Eladrin alliance is long forgotten by most.
Only the Malathil remember. And as the Auchauk kingdom begins to re-form, they wonder if it poses a threat to The Ash Valley. Perhaps they'll need to find a way to unite their neighbors against a common enemy once again.
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