Official Lore Chapter 1.3
A Storm in the Vale
As the night went on, the rain from the storm continued to fall at ever increasing rates. As the clouds continued to grow, the tavern became more and more enshrouded in darkness.
Bjorn, still tending to the few patrons still at the bar, thought to himself, "I haven't seen a storm like this in ages. Feels almost as if the storm has a mind of its own." He kept the thought to himself while cleaning a glass. Slightly unnerved, he shook his head bringing his attention back to the bar, and poured a large draft of mead for a new traveler. Aveanth had just arrived to the tavern seeking warmth, a dry bed, and some of the Vale's finest drink. "Glad you came in when you did" Bjorn said, sliding the mead towards Aveanth. "Seems it's something fierce out there. If you're looking for Snorf, the groups over there."
In the room off from the center of the tavern, Sir Snorfkin sat with the rest of the group, continuing to tell them about the composition of the Vale. Aveanth, fresh glass of mead and plate of grub in hand, joined the group to listen to Sir Snorfkin recount his knowledge of the region:
"So, my friends, the Vale of Snorf is a vast area encompassed by two major mountain ranges, one to the North and one to the South." Sir Snorfkin sat on a stool next to the fire, warming his hands.
"What are those mountains called?" Bee asked inquisitively.
"To the South lies the Hawixia Mountain Range, a cold and harsh area. Often covered in snow and ice, it's a treacherous realm. Ice golems and wolves roam the forest at the base of it, while the mountains themselves are too cold, even for those creatures to live there. The Northern mountains are the Nazu Mountain Range. Cloudy and rainy usually, those are much more gloomy, but the climate isn't as inhabitable. It's not pleasant, more of a constant wet drizzle so things are dank and soggy. But even on the worst days, the weather isn't as bad as this", Snorf motioned to the storm outside through the window. Just as he moved his hand, a loud crack erupted from a lightning strike in the near distance.
"Oy Snorf!" a laughing Kira exclaimed, "You have some magic too?"
"Heh, none like that. At least that I'm aware of" a slightly unnerved Snorf answered. Something about the thunder felt ominous.
The wind from the storm picked up, battering the branches outside into the Tavern windows. Anachron and Ulfric looked at the window, back to each other curiously, and took another swig of their ales before listening to Sir Snorfkin continue.
"Those mountain ranges are important to the Vale and are home to many creatures, I have ventured there many times and discovered many great things. But we can't forget, there are also lands beyond the mountain ranges, and also to the east from Sweetwater Plain. To the south one can discover the.........."
At precisely the moment Sir Snorfkin began to speak, an even greater thunderous BANG cracked out, followed by the bright spark of lighting, briefly illuminating the tavern with a bright white light. It was so close the window cracked and a noticeable force could be felt by the group. The stool Sir Snorfkin was sitting on tipped over from the jolt.
"Everyone alright?" Bjorn yelled out from the bar. "That was a close one, but this tavern is built for it." After the group's recovered from the shock, faint shouting could be heard outside.
"Do you hear that? It sounds like someone is outside the tavern." Kira looked around at the group, stood up and went to the window.
"I don't hear anything, perhaps we've all just had one too many ales." stated Ulfric matter-of-factly, letting out a high-pitched burp afterwards.
A great yell from outside pierced through the darkness of the storm which enveloped the tavern. "..................uuuuuuuUUUUUULLLLLFFFRIIIIIIIIC!!!!! I know you are in there, you mangy snorfling's arse!"
The group, who had all now gathered around the window, slowly turned and looked at Ulfric, who was still sitting by the fire. Turning back to the window, the group saw a stocky, short, dark green figure appear in the rain.
" I am going to MAKE YOU PAY, UUULLLFFRIIIC!!" shouted the figure, who was clearly another goblin. "You and your little friends should prepare to be attacked!"
Sir Snorfkin looked at Ulfric, disappointed: "Seems like you have some explaining to do Ulfric."
"I can explain, but first we need to make a plan. That's, Gromprich. He's not the most pleasant goblin, as you can imagine. He must've followed me here on my journey from Poku Bog..."
As the group remained in discussion, Bjorn left the bar and went to the window to see what all the commotion was about. At that moment, a rock crashed through the window, hitting Bjorn straight in the forehead, knocking him to the ground.
Bjorn, getting up with a bloodied head, peered out of the window, still confused as to what was going on. Outside of the tavern stood Gromprich. From the shadows behind him, more dark green figures slowly began to emerge................
Snorflings, it's time to engage! React to this post with a comment telling us how the group should react and take on Gromprich and his goblin horde!
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I think the group should try to figure out what Gromprich is so angry about! What do you think @kira1995 @anachron @forkyishere @oceanbee @fwxiii @saveanth @solymi ?
Anachron gazes out upon the masses of green figures. He does a quick calculation in his head and recognizes how far outnumbered they all are. With a concerned look he asks the others a simple question. “What say you all, do we stand and fight or flee/hide?” A resounding flurry of sentiments “They hurt our friend!” “Fight!” “Defend the tavern” erupts and it is clear that the group has made their decision. From under Anachron’s robes he pulls two powerful looking objects. In one hand he holds a red tome with the words Tome of the Ancient Snorf. In the other he holds an ornate hourglass. Anachron looks at his new friends and down at the book and back to his friends as if weighing a very difficult decision. “I have saved this for a. rainy day, and this is as rainy of a day as ever.” “I am truly sorry for what you all are about to encounter, but I assure you there is no other way that. I can foresee.”
Anachron opens the great book and begins to chant. At first they are but whispers but as the glow around him grows, so too does the volume of his voice until the whole room is a swirl of dancing runes and strange phrases from ancient tongues long lost. The book rises and floats in front of Anachron and with a Pop, it disappears. Ananchron’s eyes glow brightly with new immense power, which for a wizard, you might think would bring a sense of accomplishment to his face, but instead his face appears almost sad, as if he has lost something of great value. You sense that something in Anachron has changed forever.
“There, that should do it. . . .had to charge up a bit for this next one”
Another rock comes hurling through the window, narrowly missing his hat.
“No time to lose and all the time to gain!”
Anachron turns over the hourglass and. . . .nothing. . . .nothing at all seems to happen. He whips out his wand and lets out a battel cry for his fellows and the battle begins.
The tavern is ablaze with fireballs and electricity as the rainy night erupts with a great battle. Each one fought bravely, their skills unmatched and worthy of song, but the hoards of green proved too numerous. One by one, each of those defending the Tavern fell. With each loss, the Tavern grew darker, as if it were a lifeform itself, and now its sustaining patrons were no more. Perhaps others who were present could expound upon the heroic deeds and the glorious deaths of those involved, however, War in any form is an awful evil, and perhaps such things are left in the past and in the shadows away from the limelight and fanfare. . . .
Gromprich, peers into the Tavern a torch in hand but the darkness and death inside the Tavern seems to devour most of it. Bending down he wrenches the shard out of the arm and holds it aloft in triumph. It is the last thing he sees before Anachron breaths his last.
“What say you all, doe we stand and fight or flee/hide?” Wait what… The adventurers look around confused and then look down at themselves as if surprised to find themselves all in one piece.
Anachron has already hurried to the back of the Tavern where he is making a few quick magical looking gestures. “Quickly everyone, no time to explain. . . no time. . . no time” he mutters.
The team turns to follow just in time for a small doorway to form along the back wall near Anachron’s personal bar booth. The members drag their injured friend and soon the entire lot has quickly passed into the narrow space.
Anachron explains briefly about a series of magically hidden rooms he has stashed around the different realms. He tells of the magical tome and its power to expand Anachron’s unique time altering power to encapsulate the entire party rather than just himself in a single time loop.
Quietly the team waits, peering through the shimmer as Gromprich enters the tavern. Looking around head cocked back he sniffs the air warily. “We must have just missed them!” he howls in rage. “This has Anachron’s prints all over it, but no matter we will find them and eh shard.”
As he turns to leave he ushers a series of orders leaving two large guards in the tavern as insurance in case the adventurers return.
One of the team looks warily. “Well we are still stuck here. . .. look, we can’t leave this little room or the guards will sound the alarm and we will be back to square one.”
Anachron smiles and points to another shimmer a the back of the room. A few more magical gestures and it becomes apparent that there is indeed another way out.
These rooms are connected by a network of Natural magics which allow them to remain hidden as well as connected. The nature of the shielding magic and unique connections also avoid the problems of teleportation blocks and other travel nuisances. Anachron gestures to the portal which appears to lead to an unassuming greeting card shop. “This one I believe will do. Are we ready for the next great adventure?”
...
Was this all real or, did that stone actually make contact with Anachron’s head, sending him down this pathway as a dream? Only time will tell, and the next official part of the lore.