Echoes from the Caverns

Hello everyone, this is Asclepius, with a great story from Elgarion, entitled

The Tavern Respite

Background music “Tavern Song” by Ome the Bard.

Chapter 1 – To Paxlair, to Bear Tavern

Elgarion De’Kahli opened the door to his recently acquired room at Bear Tavern. The accommodations looked promising as he cast the brightness of his candle into the dark and quaintly furnished chamber. He spared only moments to prepare for bed. Exhaustion from yet another day of travel plus the Welcome Brew, Balec’s monthly special, had both taken their toll on the middle-aged man, who’s whitened beard was still damp from ale. Laying his journal upon the nightstand beside the candle, Elgarion quickly changed to night clothes, washed his face in the basin, and dropped into the bed as if struck by an arrow.

The old sorceror groaned, face down into his pillow, the muffled words barely audible. “Too old” he complained.

Sighing to himself, he turned to his back, pulled the journal open, and looked over his notes from the evening spent in the main hall of this fine establishment.

A sketch accompanies the entries. Elgarion, quite the artist, depicted the main hall of Bear Tavern in vivid detail–the various patrons as well as the proprietor, Balec deCani. On the side of the sketch, Elgarion drew every crest or symbol he noticed, most with no notes beside them. One symbol was labelled as “Bear Tavern”.

“The one called Gabriel made mention of Outlanders from Earth. Also of the Avatars. We must speak more on this subject. Avatars… I have much to learn about their doings.”

“There is an anti-outlander movement, which seems to trouble many. The people in this establishment do not seem to burden themselves with these prejudices, yet I cannot be certain. I must learn more of the outlanders and of the reasons behind this negative sentiment towards them. It seems several of the patrons were knowledgeable of this movement. The outlanders themselves might harbor much information for my research.”

“Albeit I was only introduced to a few, Balec, Gabriel and Stryker, I took careful note of all names spoken while eavesdropping. Best I can tell, the following individuals were in attendance:

Balec deCani

Royalsexy

Sir EternalKnight

Kazyn Phoenixfire

Aegon Targaryen

Stryker Sparhawk

Winfield

Gabriel Nightshadow

Kazuto Kirigaya

KnoWitts

Wind Silvermoon

Tari Silimsure

GoldenWing Okhan

Shallan Stormblessed

Robert Blackwood

Blake Blackstone.

These people were most welcoming, and I must continue to press them for information about these foreign lands.”

“A nobleman, called Winfield by other patrons, made mention of a Town Crier… in the morn, I will seek out the crier and learn all that he knows of this town and the nearby lands.”

“Murmurs of undead spread from table to table seconds after Gabriel broached the subject. I must learn more of these undead. Are necromancers about, or are these old incantations? Is travel too dangerous?Who can destroy these undead? How long have these brave people endured such hardships? I will take great caution in my travels henceforth. I fear I’ve been far to foolhardy in my wanderings. Fortune had been on my side, it would seem.”

“Balec, Stryker and Gabriel too an interest in the map I carry. They ask, how did I acquire it? How foolish I was to lie. I have lost these good people’s trust, i fear. But if they knew the truth? I wager I would lose much more. Perhaps they can show me the inaccuracies of my map, if they bear the knowledge. I MUST find it. The land is so different,

Hello everyone! Here is the news of the week!

* Isle of Storms Before & After Polish

* Crypt of the Avatar Polish

* Graff Gem Mines New Cavern Area

* The Making of Celestis (update)

* Lord British’s Birthday Bash Telethon – July 6th

* New Free Trial Coming Up! July 3-26

* Successful Reddit AMA with Richard Garriott and the Team

* Richard Garriott at Barcelona Gamelab

* Comic-Con Panels with Richard Garriott and Starr Long

* Community Contest: Rock Me Avatarus! – Party Showcase Contest

* Community Livestream: A New Look to Celestis

* Tech Talk Tuesday: Tech Talk Tuesday #8: Continuation of the AMA

* Weekend Flash Sales: The Lord British Collection

* Make Your SeedInvest Reservation Official!

* Upcoming Events Calendar

* Community Event: Ordinis Mortis Shopping Extravaganza and After Party!

* Community Event: Just 1 Life – 48 Hour Streamathon

* Community Resources: Players Helping Players

* Recommended Project to Back: Crowfall

Hello everyone! Here is the news of the week!

* A New Look to Celestis Scene

* The Making of Arabella NPC

* Upcoming Reddit AMA with Richard Garriott

* SeedInvest Webinar Q&A with Richard Garriott

* Comic-Con Panels with Richard Garriott and Starr Long

* Weekend Flash Sales – Pets & Property

* Upcoming Events Calendar

* Community Event: Prism’s Grandmaster Tutoring Event

* Community Contest: RPOTA Monthly $155 Writing Contest

* Community Resources – Players Helping Players

* Recommended Project to Back: Wing Commander Orchestral Recording Vol. 2

Hello everyone! Here is the news of the week!

* New Libris Ruins Screenshots & Video!

* New Boreas Colossus Screenshots

* Story: What “Colossus” and “Titan” Terms Mean

* In the News: Massively Overpowered Interview with Richard Garriott

* Make Your SeedInvest Reservation Official!

* Community Spotlight: Kahli – Player Owned Town

* Summer Telethon Recording Now on YouTube

* Weekend Flash Sales – Emotes!

* Upcoming Events Calendar

* Community Event: Boat Emote Party

* Community Contest: RPOTA Monthly $155 Writing Contest

* Community Resources – Players Helping Players

* Recommended Project to Back: SotA Con – Austin 2017

Hello everyone! Here is the news of the week!

* Boreas Colossus Scene (Unclone)

* Libris Ruins Scene Update

* Announcing Equity Crowdfunding Campaign

* Summer Telethon Success! Thank You Community!

* Weekend Flash Sales – Telethon Favorites! Moondials & Statues

* Community Livestream – Oracle Colossus

* Trophy Room Contest Winners Announced!

* Tech Talk Tuesday #6 – Decoding the Oracle

* Upcoming Events Calendar

* Community Event: A Fishing Derby for the Trevor Project

* Community Cause: AERIE Fund – Just 1 Life Community Cause

* Community Resources – Players Helping Players

* Recommended Project to Back: SotA Con – Austin 2017

Hello everyone, this is Asclepius, with a wonderful story from Blaquerogue, entitled

“Warsworn”

This is a multi-voice production, and features the talents of

Blaquerogue, as Torniquet

Lord Baldrith, as Farmer Johnson and the Orc

Solstar, as Father Desmond

Gabriel Nightshadow, as Scout #1 and the mercenary

Sol Stormlin, as Jason and Billy

Asclepius as the narrator and the voice of God

Background music by Smartsound

Chapter 1 – Torniquet – a Twist of Faith

“My name is Torniquet – I was born a “Warsworn”. My father was one of the greatest of his time. We come in many forms, and I happen to be a “Warsworn Hospitlar”, a Cleric of the highest degree. The king would always call upon my Father to lead his battles for most were won with him in the lead. My mother passed away at a young age, so my father decided decided that it would be best for me, to be put into the local Monastery St. Agnes, since he was rarely home, and always out fighting the battles that raged around our kingdom during the Orc wars. I would be well taken care of by the monks and priests and educated in our religion, and the monastery would get a fine donation from time to time.

I’d love it when my father would come to visit he would teach me how to speak Orcish and how to speak Drow, those two languages in particular he insisted I learn. He also taught me the art of combat, and would tell me stories of the wars he’d been in! Tactic after tactic! Sometimes he would bring me special items from across the land. One day he brought me a war hammer and a golden broach with a rubies in them, telling me that there was something special about both (I wouldn’t find out until just recently how special the war hammer was!) but it was the finest craftsmanship I had ever seen. Definitely made by the high dwarves far to the North. They crafted the finest of wares there! Hence the name High Dwarves.

That very day Father Desmond tried to take it from me after my father left! I swung that hammer out of anger and shattered his leg! Needless to say, I spent a few days in the lower cells, I didn’t understand because I didn’t really hit him that hard with it? The next time my father came to town, of course the priests pulled me out of the cell a day before and did healing rituals on my arms and legs to make the bruises disappear that they had given me over the weeks prior, but they never tried to take that hammer again!

Money has a way of forgiving wrongdoings I suppose? They were happy to take the large donation from my father and forgive me. As I grew older I decided I wanted to become a cleric so I studied more often always making the highest scores on our tests, I’d pray to St. Cuthbert every night that my father would be spared in war. Upon one of his visits at age 16 he arrived with a small army of Warsworn and told me today would be the day I become “Warsworn Hospitlar” They took me to a secluded area far from the monastery where there was a small army of Warsworn already there waiting. They put me through many rigorous tests of strength, intelligence and faith; I was finally branded “Warsworn Hospitlar!” Unfortunately, that would be the last time I saw my father! for he he did not show up on our regular weekly visit, instead a “War Sworn” Messenger and Priest of the king showed up. That is when I heard the news my father would not be coming to visit me anymore, he had been slain in battle. Now an orphan, the door slammed shut, I was stripped of my robes and put into the servant quarters, destined to serve the priests for the rest of my life (or so I thought at the time).

Over my years of servitude I learned that money is what made the difference here, no matter how dirty or bloody it may have been. I watched the priests cast spells on people that didn’t need them,

Hello everyone! Here is the news of the week! Hoping you are enjoying Release 42!

* Play Release 42 Now!

* New Mail System and Player Town Teleporter Signposts!

* Libris Ruins Scene First Look

* Final Free Trial Weekend!

* R41 Lot Deed Raffle Winners

* Summer Telethon is Nearly Here!

* Community Livestream – Magic Movers!

* Tech Talk Tuesday #5

* Localization Progress Update

* Upcoming Events Calendar

* Community Event: R42 Welcome Quest

* Community Cause: AERIE Fund – Just 1 Life – Artwork Contest

* Trophy Room Contest Ending Next Week!

* Community Resources – Players Helping Players

* Recommended Project to Back: SotA Con – Austin 2017

Hello everyone! Here is the news of the week!

* Moondial Effects First Look Video

* The Making of Sequanna Colossus (Unclone)

* Blood Bay Puzzles & Treasure

* Article: A Community Like No Other

* Free Trial Test 3 Continues!

* Summer Telethon is Nearly Here!

* Localization Progress Update

* Weapons, Shields, & Helmets Weekend Flash Sale

* Upcoming Events Calendar

* Trophy Room Contest Nearly Over!

* Community Event: Prism Presents a Grandmaster Tutoring Event

* Community Resources – Players Helping Players

* Recommended Project to Back – Crowfall

Hello everyone, this is Asclepius, with the conclusion of this wonderful story from Andartianna, entitled

Odd Tidings From The Bear Tavern: A Court House

Background music by Smartsound

 

Chapter 6, “Cats, Clues, Corp Por”

Upon entering K’rul, Sara and Dr. Zazeriz began quickly preparing themselves for battle. The Kobolds within are highly aggressive and ready for attack. Sara quickly moved to the front to defend Dr. Zazeriz, and they slowly moved into the caverns. Upon entering, they travelled to the left and found mechanized cats and Kobolds, which fiercely attacked them. They quickly opened up a hatch to a lower level, and found themselves in a deeper level of K’rul. Sara swung her sword at some watchers, which seemed to be ignoring commands from the Oracle, and dispatched them. The next room was filled with a purple mist that confused anyone that walked through it. Moving to the next room, they were met with a torrent of steam which burned through layers of their clothing.

Dr. Zazeriz quickly cast heal spells as they made their way to the right. Inside the next room, an electrical machine targeted people giving damage and focus loss per second. Moving on, Sara and Dr. Zazeriz found themselves in a hall with poisonous gas, which choked anyone who walked through it. Sara quickly leveled an automated assassin and a kobold brawler who were blocking their path.

Dr. Zazeriz quickly looked around the tunnels for any clues that might lead them to the location of the factories of the clockwork dragon. Upon entering the next room, they discovered it was a giant electrical room that blocked focus and tried to block their path. They turned left and then left again and entered a large room of very hot steam, which once again burned their clothing. Sara quickly dispatched the mechanical ravens which were hiding in the room. Another turn to the right brought them in a red mist room, the gas of which seemed to be poisonous. Each of the gasses, they figured out, could be turned off with valves scattered throughout the K’rul hallways.

They turned right and then right again, and entered a hall filled with Kobold Grenadiers and Kobold Brawlers. After dispatching them, they came up to a higher level and found a mine cart track which the Kobolds were probably using for transporting mining equipment and other supplies. As they made their way into an open space, they found beta monkeys standing around. After the last one died, they stood still for a moment to look around. Sara and Dr. Zazeriz could hear odd machine sounds coming from the left. They turned to the left to see what it was. There was a wide hallway and door with blood all over the floor and walls. It was apparent that something had died repeatedly trying to get out of the room.

Inside, the room was filled with spikes that would go up and down, which were triggered randomly by Kobolds who were in the room above. As they entered the room, they spotted a mage standing over a pile of dead Shock Monkey Gold bodies. Shock Monkey Gold are fearsome mechanical monsters that stun anyone who comes near them.

Sara waved at the mage standing in the center of the room. “Hail, Corp Por. How fare thee this fine day?” Sara asked.

“I am very well, thank you. These Kobolds continuously send Shock Monkey Gold constructs at me to test their machines.” Corp Por said.

“Have you seen if they construct clockwork dragons here?” Sara asked.

“I believe they do. I have seen a room with a clockwork dragon deep in the bowels of K’rul. If you go back and take a right and head deeper into the mines, you’ll be able to see the room below the clockwork construction zone.” Corp Por said.

“Thanks, Corp Por. We’ll see you around.” Sara said.

Chapter 7  “Scouting, Sara, Selected.”

Sara and Dr. Zazeriz began scouting the rest of K’rul.

Hello everyone! Here is the news of the week!

* The Making of Oracle Colossus

* Moondial Madness (updates)

* R41 Postmortem Recap

* Free Trial Test 3 Live Now!

* Partnership with Black Sun Game Publishing

* Localization Progress Update

* Public Stats API

* Furniture, Statues, & Pets Weekend Flash Sale

* Upcoming Events Calendar

* Trophy Room Contest Continues!

* Community Project: AERIE Fund is Ready to Serve

* Community Resources – Players Helping Players

* Recommended Project to Back – Star Citizen (Offers Bundle)