The ghost in the Fountain

PAXLAIR - August 6, 1998 - by Winfield
(copied from http://www.paxlair.com on July 30, 2010)

A moongate opened near the fountain and a young woman stumbled out, deadly wounded. She reached the fountain and collapsed. After she died, a second moongate opend at the exact same spot, releasing The Lady M.. She looked around, then noticed the body of the young woman and starts to scream for help: "Oh no! My sweetheart, my daugther...wake up. Please help me, oh mighty wizards...help my child...although i am merely her step-mother, i love her from the bottom of my heart!" Nobody is able to resurrect the spirit, and with time, it vanishes near the fountain. Some time later, the ghost of the poor maiden appeared inside the fountain! It seems that her soul was trapped by the vile powers of the corrupted well. And thus she spoke:"...i am lost... the Evil that is has doomed my soul... i cannot resist the power... you must hear me... hear my warnings... the Evil that is has spawned the Evil that will be... the earth shakes... only the new way can save you... wait for the shrines to call... i am but one of many... doomed souls... the new Temple will restore us... it will restore all..." *fades*

The gathered people wanted to try to resurrect her anyways, so they were asked to seek out Lady Winmere. After some research, the party found her waiting in Shame. After the party reached him, she went with them to PaxLair and inspected the Shade in the fountain: "Hmmmm....this soul is lost beyond our reach. A powerful, evil spell has ripped her from her body, keeping her from rejoining it. The fountain is just a substitute, drawing her back into our world." "Can you res her?"-" I am not sure, the bond is too powerful...who or what could weave such spells? Well, we will need very strong reagents, and i doubt we can do anything without divine intervention. Hmmmm. Ah, yes, maybe the waters from the fountain can be purified. Take these pitchers to each shrine in Despise and enchant it with the words:"In Uus Vas Ort!" three times. And bring me what i listed in this book. Then return it here. *shakes head* I still doubt it will work.."

The party traveled into the depth of the dungeon Despise, fighting it's way through the poisonous vermin there. Upon reaching each shrine, they invoked its powers upon the waters. The shrines were guarded by hordes of monsters: Lich Lords and demons! But the party was victorious, performing the last rite against all odds.

With the enhanced power of the water, the wise woman started a ceremony to invoke the Shade. As she started to resurrect her, she was struck by a bolt of lightning, and the Shade spoke:"Ahhhh, the pain! Stop it! The time is not right... the second column has too much power yet. You need to break the spell... wait for the shrines to call... wait for the next conjunction... only the Temple will free me... and he may free you too..."

So, after all the trouble the party went through, it was all in vain, as the powers of evil were to strong to overcome. But, alas, there seems to be hope, as the shade too spoke of the Temple, that might resolve all problems, and the shrines calling again.

Atlan Receives Visions

PAXLAIR - August 4, 1998 - by Winfield

Since the defeat of Mondain, the borders between our world and the etheral Void has been profoundly weakend. Most magical researchers agree on the fact, that our world is a mere picture imprisoned in the shards of the shattered Gem of Immortality, thus explaining our worlds affinity to the Ether. Sensitive persons, and i might humbly count myself amongst them, have always had the tendency to recieve visions at locations where the Void penetrates the mundane time and space of mortal men. I can only asume that the spoiled Fountain of Knowledge in our fair city of PaxLair is such a spot.

For some days ago, i felt the strong urge to gather the present citizens of PaxLair, including some visitors (such as Obsidian, dedicated to revive the town of Slateholm or Rage, eager to explore new lands and planning to found an outpost in the expected new world) around the Fountain and hold a kind of seance. Until now, i am unsure why i might have choosen this expression, as it indicates to get contact to a being from the Void; but i had the intention to resolve the mysteries surrounding the Fountain. Alas, my intuition in the naming of the coming was quite right, for as i closed my eyes and focused on the Fountain i immediatly felt the power of another being probing my mind. It was no intrusion, but a delicate touch, asking me to let it in. I surrendered myself to the feeling and soon the beeing used my body and voice to speak to the gathered people. As it was quite an exhausting experience, i am not able to recall every single word i have spoken in this state. But from what people have told me afterwards, i was host to three beings, after i voiced my own impressions.

This is what i pieced together from the storys my audience told me.

Atlan:*focuses on Fountain*
Atlan:...i see...
Atlan:I see!
Atlan:...i see three columns of Evil...
Atlan:...one is fallen but will be restored...
Atlan:...i see...withering forms...
Atlan:...they want to warn us...
Atlan:...i see...
Atlan:Citys, a temple!
Atlan:Snakes! I see snakes!
Atlan:*convulses*
Atlan:*Hail...my children...* Note: a tranquil, deep voice
Atlan:*You will have to choose.*
Atlan:*I will guide you through this Age of Darkness*
Atlan:*You need to learn new ways.*
Atlan:*changes voice* Note: voice pitches over to a cold controlled speech
Atlan:*You need to obey rules!*
Atlan:*You must follow orders!*
Atlan:*You will only survive if you follow my lead!*
Atlan:*changes voice again* Note: new voice is powerful and emotional
Atlan:*Strike them down!*
Atlan:*Shatter you enemys!*
Atlan:*I will unleash your powers!*
Atlan:*Follow me and we will smithe thine enemys!*
Atlan:*voice trailes back to the beginning* Note: First voice again.
Atlan:*Choose wisely, my children...*
Atlan:*Unity is your only chance...*
Atlan:*Farewell for now...learn th new ways.*
Atlan:*stumbles*
Atlan:I see no more...
Atlan:*collapses*

NOTE: This is part of a continuing PaxLair Player Quest, not a Seer Quest.