[Runequestprax] Chapter 25: An Atheist in the Rubble, A Hero in Pavis

[Lev Lafayette]

Chapter 25: An Atheist in the Rubble, A Hero in Pavis

Storyteller, (Lev)
The Fourth, Ignorant Trollkin Shaman (Michael)
Honest John, Pavis Initiate of Eurmal and Zola Fel (Rick)
Praxelites, Sun Duchy Rune Priest of Yelmalio (Jay)
Mountain Strides, Prax Agimori Initiate of Lodril (Karl)
Vergel, Sun Duchy Initiate of Mee Vorala, Dark Elf (George)

Earth Season, 1622

In the name of Yelmalio, Son of the Sun God,

After our return from Skyfall Lake I found myself honoured by continued
work as assistant priest at the Sun Dome Temple in Pavis. One morning,
whilst in the company of my main man, Mountain Strides, the Fourth and
Vergel, and the local Honest John, we encountered two men in very
strange clothes desiring of entrance to the city. They introduced
themselves as Mikos and Artalen and offered a good sum of money to us to
act as guides to the society. Normally my honour would refuse such
menial employ, but the flash of the sun's metal was very strong. He
pretended, for reasons I could not ascertain, that the trollkin and the
dark elf were not actually part of the group, but rather monsters we had
captured. 

When Artalen and Mikos - announced themselves as worshippers of the One
God from 'the West' and refused to swear to the Red Goddess to uphold
the laws of Pavis, I thought there would be trouble; but the Lunar
authorities let them in anyway. There was trouble of course; many of the
Sartarite refugees thought very badly of having what they considered to
by an atheist in the city. A mob formed, rocks and even a Disruption was
thrown. But all to no avail, as the strange defensive magics of the
wizard caused the mob to disperse.

After a few days in some of the finest establishments in Pavis (Mikos
never seemed to even have a speck of dust on him), the wizards told us
that they wished to move to The Arm of Pavis, a tower in the Big Rubble.
The simple task for seasoned adventurers such as ourselves was removing
a gang of bandits who had taken up residence in said location. Following
some weird magics by the wizards - they showed no indication of being
touched by Power. Getting rid of the bandits was a simple excerise. Our
prepared assault, wounded some, and following The Fourth killing one
with a single a jump-kick to the head led to their immediate surrender.
After freeing the slaves of the bandits and cleaning up the old Arm, we
thought that might be the last we would hear of the wizard. But was not
to be.

Tension had been high in the city, with rumours of rebellion; more
serious than usual. Trollkin had came seeking refuge and warning us of a
impending troll attack on the wizard's tower. Many of my colleagues in
the Temple felt uncomfortable with my association with the wizard and
the enlo; I even overheard one initiate refer to me as "Darksoul". Two
of the bandits came to us saying they had been approached by 'darkmen'
seeking knowledge of the tower. After several weeks of this the wizard
approached us again, to assist in protecting his tower. Again, the glint
of the Sun's metal was great. 

The first attack came in the form of Darkness elements, howling in the
night, causing great and dangerous damage to our number. Vergel was
felled by one of these, as was Mikos. We had sufficient funds to
ressurect the Dark Elf, but Artalen was curiously troubled by doing the
same for Mikos, and even quizzed Honest John on his capacity to become
an apprentice wizard. Eventually Artalen agreed to the resurrection,
explaining his disliked using a theist to return the life force to the
body.

In the following days there were even more attacks.  A rolling ball
poisoned our well the following day, putting us on rations. After that a
flying ball full of spiders opened up above the tower, however it had
been previously struck my my Sunspear, praise Yelm, rendering the
inhabitants useless. The day after a number of small fire elementals
arrived, but we were able to chase them away. After that a group of
Orlanthi and Storm Bull arrived, led by a Windlord and a Storm Khan.
They claimed that there was a great rebellion in Pavis, that a Hero had
arrived, and that after the Lunars were overthrown the Yelmalio would be
next. The Orlanthi Windlord named Henrik challenged me to single combat,
as a servant of the Lunars and an associate of atheists. I chose
discretion to valour when the barbarian made his call. 

On the following day a large horde of trolls, led by Zorak Zorani Death
Lords charged the Tower. We defended valiantly but it soon seemed that
the Tower gate may be breached; however at a critical moment the
Trollkin changed sides! After the battle they lavished praise upon our
group and, I should have guessed where this was going, they asked for
refuge at Rabbit Hat farm. The final battle was on Godday, Truth Week,
of Storm Season - the last day of the year. With his far-sighted magics,
Artalen located the 'demons' as he called them - a group of Troll
sorcerers. We made our way to their base as they were engaged in a great
ritual. With the aid of Artalen we were able to make short work of them
quite quickly, although when the Troll converted herself into a giant
spider there was some concern. Within their den we discovered proof of
their troll sorcery cult, based on the 'gift of Arkat', as they called
it. 

When we returned to the city we discovered that the claims of the Storm
Bull and Orlanthi were indeed true. The Lunars were first pushed out
their public space and then into their fortifications at the edges of
the city. I only just made it to my Temple, with the mad Windlord giving
chase. Eventually however a truce was negotiated. Even with the Lunar
Coders present, the Empire had been defeated. A combination of
republican leaders from the original Pavis inhabitants, Orlanthi
refugees led by Orvost Tintalker and a Hero called Argath, once known as
Garreth Sharpsword (who went to Magasta's Pool with the giant baby),
proved to be too much. Governance of the city was negotiated (I believe
Red Mouse played a role), transferred, and both the Lunars and the
Yelamlio were permitted to practise their religion.

With all these changes I started making plans to journey to Snakepipe
Hollow, a den of Chaos, but the location where one of the Torches of
Yelmalio were located. Artalen visited us before my departure, thanking
us - even the 'monsters' - for our assistance and gifted each of us. I
received spirit protection, Strides was provided powerful strikes, and
the others great speed. Artalen also gave me a book which he said would
be very useful if I were travelling to Snakepipe Hollow. Presenting it
in black velvet, I carefully opened the tome and read the title: "The
Book of Drastic Resolutions".

Praise Yelm!

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