The Fall of Skelo, Scene 1: A Gathering with the Elves
[OOC: suggested soundtrack: Derelicts by Carbon Based Lifeforms]
The sun is sinking over the Crystal Mountains, and you are riding back to Hellwinter’s Tower after the feast at Tyntern where you have been appointed Knights of the Black Dragon, known to most commoners as Knights of Hellwinter by Baron Bedivere Grayson. The good Baron, after a stream of weird and worrying happenings along his norther border, the one that divides his fief from the lands of his treacherous cousin, the Duke Mornay, decided to revive the ancient and mysterious Order of the Knights of the Black Dragons to have a better sentry on that mountain range, especially during Winter, when an attacking army may be able to sneak across the high and freezing mountain passes, reaching the plains before alarm is raised.
You have the impression that Baron Bedivere was not so worried about his treacherous cousin, as much as about the legends about an ancient and wise race of Elf Lords that once inhabited the mountain region, before disappearing mysteriously, leaving behind all sort of magic, including doors to weird dimensions. Perhaps for this reason he entrusted on your newly reborn order of knights the fabulous Staff of Hamaskar, an artifact that is said to be the only key to the Library of Skelo, where the ancient Elves hid their most secret knowledges. Unfortunately, nobody knows anymore where Skelo is.
Now you’ll have to decide how to organize the Knights of Hellwinter, as you will have more free time at the end of Winter, when it becomes impossible for a full army crossing sneakily the high mountain passes covered by the bad weather as shepherds and flocks go back to the high pastures.
The brisk air of the first days of spring is slowly turning colder as the sunbeams idly retire, dripping away within the mountain gorges. You’ll have to kindle the fireplace with a generous load of oaken logs this night, if you want to banish the chillness from the common room as you will have your first dinner together in the Tower as Knights of Hellwinter. As you approach the Tower, however, you find that a small fellowship is peacefully waiting for you at the watchtower’s entrance. An eerie feel pervades the whole scene, whilst the three strangers manifest themselves. They are Elves, undoubtedly, clad in flowing white robes that dance in the air as if by their own will. Two of them wear an elegant silver chainmail with willowy helms and bear sheathed swords, while the remaining holds a blinding-white banner bearing the blazon of a prancing unicorn as a sign of peace.
When you get near enough, the Elves’ herald will take a step forward and will start to speak: «Hail, brave Knights. My name is Chlandhor, of the House of Faelar, the third Matriarch of the High White Elves of Kiryel Than.
We undertook a long journey to confer with you. We know you wield the Staff of Hamaskar, and we are pleased with that, as you acquired it honorably and not by theft or betrayal. Now we all hope you will make the right move… In the Staff’s heart, as you know, resides the key to unlock an incredible power, for the artefact is the only way to open the doors of the Library of Skelo!
Millennia ago, during the wondrous Age of Dawn, the Elves ruled over a magnificent kingdom. Daring cities spired up to the skies, challenging the Gods themselves with their breathtaking architectures. The most fulgent of all was Skelo, where unimaginable wisdom and knowledge was collected and protected by unworthy people.
Just centuries ago, our kin decided, for many reasons, to have no more connections with Humans and other races. Your heroic and unselfish deeds, however, earnt our respect and the blessing of our gods… Please, noble heroes, you must find the way back to the lost city of Skelo and enter the Library. There you will confront with an Evil so ancient and powerful that… but we will give you our aid and guide. We will give you the means to destroy that Evil, once and forever!»
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:33, Sun 09 Dec 2018.