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| Artwork © Zeppin |
You are a young dwarf, one of a large clan that resides in Salamonis. You have
had the best of education, and have been told a most secret tale of your
ancestors; about the hold they lived in far north of the Icefinger Mountains,
and the ritual they performed that blocks the power of chaos from ever entering
this world again. Part of this ritual was the carving of the Pillar of
Stability, which is located in the abandoned hold of your people.
Knowing this tale, you are certain something has gone wrong. Throughout much of
your life you have heard travellers' tales of the spreading of chaos, the growing
boldness of those that worship the chaos gods, and the increasing effectiveness
of their spells. Less than a year ago, Salamonis was threatened itself by a
group of chaos cultists hoping to bring pestilence down upon the city itself.
You reason that the Pillar of Stability must be losing power. None of the
elders or your tutors want to investigate, indeed they just scoff at your
reasoning. So you resolve to make the trek to Grimwoden, the halls of your
ancestors, and find out first hand about the pillars.
You are going alone. The only other dwarf that you feel would have aided you
is one of your old tutors, Diuron. Sadly he was taken prisoner by a band of
goblin mutants many years ago, and is almost certainly dead.
You packed everything that you could afford, given your limited funds, and lack
of aid by your people. Then you set off north through the dwarven town of
Stonebridge, and then the human town of Fang. Although the trip was not without
danger, it pales in comparison to the problem you face now. You're well past
the Icefinger Mountains, far from any habitation. Poor weather has slowed
you considerably and you have only enough food for two more days. You know
you are getting close to Grimwoden, but it could take you weeks yet to locate,
and your path back to civilisation is even longer still. As the wind howls
through the night outside your tent, you reflect grimly that you are almost
certainly doomed. Morning is coming, and with morning, the end stages of your epic
trek.
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