The Brink of Loneliness

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As night falls over Felmore, a palpable tension grips the city as the once-bustling streets are now busy for a different reason. The streets once filled with stalls and hawkers are lined with hastily constructed barricades, and the cityfolk have taken up arms alongside the soldiers and the party. The Red Lord stands at the steps of his temple and his booming voice rallies the defenders to bolster their spirit.

The city walls loom tall and foreboding in the moonlight, casting long shadows over the assembled defenders who stand vigilant over the battlements and beyond. A chill wind sweeps through the streets, carrying with it an eerie whisper of despair – foul mutterings trying to twist and taint the minds of those who defended the city. But the Red Lords booming voice bolsters the mind and spirits of those in the city and his hymns and songs of joy and hope can be heard from all parts of the city. Yet, despite the presence of the Red Lord the distant sound of shuffling feet grows louder, and the party knew that the time has come. The Forgotten One’s cursed army is approaching.

Despite the preparation they had managed to get done over two days the early arrivals of the Forgotten One’s army had rattled the defenders. Their old friends, neighbours and at times family members had stumbled into the barricades and attacked any who tried to help them. By the third morning there was a large force held back by several of the skeletal-ram headed creatures that the party had encountered at the Meldwel Forest.

The air is heavy with anticipation as everyone prepares for the fight to come as the rising of the light seems to signal the creatures and those lost to the curse the creatures carried rushed towards the city. The first orders to let loose fell on deaf ears but by the second call arrows started to fly through the air towards the rushing horde.

The first sign of the attack is a low, mournful wail that echoes through the night. From the darkness, figures emerge – pale, gaunt, and lifeless. Their eyes are hollow and exhausted with their movements plagued by bouts of anguished cries. These are the husks of those who have succumbed to the banishment curse, imagined by the people of Felmore but inflicted by the creatures of the Forgotten One. Both creature and man surge forth, driven by the Forgotten One to serve as instruments of terror.

As the battle rages the party rush to the main gate that they rally towards, the entry point that is closest to the Red Lords church. As they throw themselves against the gate they brace while the defenders ready another deadly payload for the husks that throw themselves at the gate. As the banging stops the party are called to the temple as the Red Lords voice booms out encouraging the defenders and renouncing those that attack the city.

But another voice sings out and catches the parties ear, Elara singing a hymn and it carries down to the party. They look up in time to see a glowing red barrier surround the Red lord and herself, both the Red Lords Candle and her own holy symbol radiating power as the barrier forms moments before one of the curse bearers, the Isolation Wraiths. Rushing to the Red Lords side they witness the city guards fall to their knees and call out in despair as the wraiths power takes hold.

The fight is quick and brutal but the party defend the cleric and her deity with minimal casualties from those who stood with them. As the party’s resources get dangerously low a screeching call that seems to drain the colour form the world resonates from the field beyond the city. The Wraiths and remaining husks turn and rush off to their masters call leaving the party and defenders to look after their injured, the fallen and despatch the mend the battlements.

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The Gatekeeper of the Citadel

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Their journey has been arduous and the party pushes forward with exhausted bodies as they put more distance behind them and the body of Brother Colin. After hours of climbing the steep path they are so close to their destination, the legendary Blank Citadel. The sky begins to darken as the sun begins its descent behind the horizon. As it sets the Darkstone Mountain pass doesn’t look so hostile and unwelcoming as a golden glow washes across the landscape.

As the path they travelled flattens out the sun begins to sink below the horizon, its dying light casts long shadows across the jagged peaks of the Darkstone Mountains. As the temperature drops, and a biting chill settles in clouds of the parties breath swirl around them as travel across the landing looking for the location described by the hidden temple guardians. Ahead, the path stops, and the party find themselves standing before a sheer cliff face covered in ancient ice. Elara walks up to the ice and places a tired and bruised hand against the surface. Nodding she confirms what they all suspected, this is the entrance to the Blank Citadel.

As they look around a blinding flash of light hits them in the eyes from a pillar that is covered in bushes. The party recall the cryptic message about the setting sun and the entrance to the Blank Citadel and examine the pillar and beam of light. Sure enough at the top of the shoulder high pillar is a clear multifaceted gem placed which is sending a refracted beam of light onto the wall opposite it. After a few moments of pondering it is clear that the gem must be rotated just right so that the suns setting light can reveal the hidden entrance.

With a concerted effort, the gemstone turns, refracting the sunlight into a focused beam that strikes the ice wall. The ice begins to melt and crack, revealing a hidden doorway etched with ancient runes. The entrance to the Blank Citadel stands before those before it, foreboding, ancient and cold and yet it beckons the party inside.

As the party step into the Blank Citadel, the air grows colder, and an eerie silence envelops you. The walls are lined with ancient inscriptions and artifacts with a warning to not touch or linger too long on the cursed items forsaken by the gods. A breath of frigid air washes out from the chasm and along with it a foreboding presence whispering of a time and a think long forgotten. The path leads to a grand chamber, its centrepiece a pedestal upon which rests a candle of vibrant red – the Sacred Red Candle.

As Elara walks towards the candle transfixed on the artefact of her deity that stands on the pedestal before her a dark toned creature with inhumanly long arms and legs watches the party closely and the cleric, Elara, most intently, its eyes filled with a deep sense of regret.

‘Welcome, travellers. I am the Oracle, guardian of this sacred place. Long have I watched over the cursed items that have been sent to me and now this, the sacred Red Candle,’ it took a deep breath to steady itself as if not used to talking, ‘ensuring it none of them fall into the wrong hands. But I fear I have been deceived as the Red Candle is not unholy nor cursed nor a threat to any who know what it is.’ it paused as is moved closer to the party and Elara its long arms unfurling more like an arachnid than humanoid. ‘The one who came before you… his intentions were dark and twisted and when he left the candle and declared the oath be fulfilled I felt the authority of a god in his command and obeyed. But he was no god.’

‘The Sacred Red Candle was meant to be a beacon of mercy and hope, but it has been tainted by deceit. I entrust it to you now, for I sense your hearts are true and do reek of vengeance less than the one that brought it here. But be warned, the candle will only burn for those who are true to its teachings. The path ahead is fraught with peril and darkness is closing in as that which was forgotten comes front of mind for the first time in an existing.’

The Oracle gestures towards the candle, its flame barely flickering as the party contemplate their next steps. With the candle found and still alight, barely so, then the Red Lord must be alive. Elara’s elation could be seen as she tentatively walked forward to pluck the candle from the pedestal, the Oracle watching intently.

The oracle spoke breaking the tense moment with is pained voice ‘The Red Lord is held within a place of darkness, where despair and isolation are his sole companions. Seek the ruined fortress within the Meldwel forest to the east of the Darkstone Mountains, beyond the reach of mortal light. There, you will find the answers you seek and the means to restore the Red Lord.’

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Lorkan’s Shop

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Armed with the information that they had liberated from the Temple of Tyr the party travels to Felmore determining that investigating their previous employer as a source of information. With Brother Colin completely disappearing they had to chase up their next lead and starting withy Lorkan, their previous employer where they left on unfavourable turns.

Felmore was a bustling trade city known for its merchants and craftsmen in addition to the main temple to the Red Lord. The parties primary goal was to uncover more evidence of Brother Colin’s manipulations and beging to get enough information to clear their names.

As they enter Felmore the vibrant city with crowded streets, noisy markets, and a mix of cultures and races. The air is filled with the sounds of hawkers, blacksmiths, and street performers. The party must navigate through the city’s maze-like alleys and busy squares to reach their former employer’s place of business.

Investigating the Lorkan’s Shop:

The employer, a wealthy merchant named Lorkan, operates out of a large, building in the heart of the city. The exterior is adorned with banners and signs, dedications to his self envisioned prosperity and influence. However despite how he see’s himself not many people were keen to do business with Lorkan as he had a bad reputation for cheap goods and worse manners.

The party knew from their dealings with Lorkan that he kept a chest in his office where he stored his important business dealings. If they could get into his office and into that chest they were sure they’d be able to get some information that would aid them in their quest. However the first problem that they faced was the thugs and experienced mercenaries that the paranoid merchant had hired to keep his business safe.

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