Ayrond Speaks
I Ayrond, Arch-Mage of Arigol tell ye my tale.
After many months of searching I found the demesne of the Heroes of the Prophecy and, using great power, brought them through the void. Their mode of dress and short hair would have made them conspicuous so I worked a minor magic to make their appearance acceptable in this land. I placed them under a sleep spell but the Halfling Prince broke the enchantment on himself and his liege. He then proceeded to work magic in his own mysterious way convincing me that he and his companions truly were the Heroes foretold in the Prophecy. At first they would not believe in me and the plight of our land but slowly they came to accept it was their destiny to destroy Medrikhor, King of the Netherworld. He whose evil had wreaked destruction on Arigol, tortured and killed too many of our peoples and drained the magic from the land.
The Halfling tested his power: the elven spear Evilsbane did cleave to the Noble King: then we journeyed through the Wood of Wonders to the Library of Learning and there, in a hidden room, saw the Book of Prophecy. It imparted its wisdom to us in cryptic terms but its references to the Seven Heroes were unmistakable.
| Wielder of the destined spear; | Purest Halfling, seeker of lore, |
| kill the Evil Liege. | read the ancient scroll; |
| Rid the land of death and fear, | Find the silent harper's door |
| by combat after siege. | with unicorn and foal. |
| Healer with the hands that cure, | Lo, the Ebon Queen hath sung, |
| seek the forest hag. | a ballad sweet and fair. |
| She grows the healing herbs so pure | She chants it in the bestial tongue |
| and rules the warrior stag. | for those of land and air. |
| Caring Lady wear the stone, | Youth from ancient, noble folk, |
| from the dragon's lair. | find the drinker of blood. |
| It's hidden in a cache of bone | Win from him illusion's cloak |
| from rabbit, sheep and mare | but 'ware the pool of mud |
| The Dashing One must gain a sword | |||
| From Neither god nor man | |||
Guard
it for the sovereign lord
|
We returned through underground tunnels to the Wood and there the Heroes killed many of Evil's minions. The River Goddess Wynonna gifted us with healing water and the Ebon Queen spoke with the animal-kind. The Halfling gained the trust of the Unicorn -Queen who then led us to the hidden glade of Emrys Elf-Prince, he whose tongue had been torn out by Medrikhor, and from there did the Halfling-Prince and Noble-King enter the Pool of Knowledge. I conjured up a mist to encourage the others to go their separate ways and begin their different quests. The Noble King returned distraught and alone, betrayed by Caireeen, Keeper of the Pool of Knowledge. I accompanied him to the Inn of the Crossroads where he rallied the rebel band of Pwyll the Farmer to the cause. When I was attacked by ogres did my liege bravely come to my rescue but was carried away by those minions of Evil.
Through the scrying stone I have determined the fate of the others. The Halfling-Prince was imprisoned by Medrikhor in the Castle of Doom from whence he did escape to an unknown place.
The Ebon-Queen and Healer travelled to the Forest of Fear, Guided by a wolf to the cottage of Modwenna the Hag, they obtained the healing herbs and rescued Gwilym, former prince of Arbara whom the witch had bespelled for four hundred years in the guise of a stag. On their return journey the precious herbs were stolen and the prince abducted.
The Swordsman was guided to the island at the centre of the Lake of Destiny by the nymph, Tegan. There he fought the Guardian of the Sword and won the elven blade Demonstalker. Then he wandered the land and saved the Caring Lady and the Youth from the Drinker of Blood. During the struggle the Youth gained the vampire's cloak of invisibility. On their way to Drachenfell, home of the dragon-kind, the warning in his rhyme came to pass when he was caught in the deadly tendrils of the creature which lurks beneath the pool of mud.
I am weary but determined to discover the fate of the King and once I am rested shall again attempt to use the stone's power. I must help he who bravely saved my life and plead for assistance in this noble venture. The fate of Arigol lies in the balance and we all must play our parts in the great battle which is to come.