GLRP Player Books:GLHNA:TST:The Serpent's Tongue Archives, Vol III
Title: The Serpent's Tongue Archives, Vol III
Author: Desdemona
Sept 27, '99
A strange pentagram hath appeared on the floor of Kazola's this eve. And with it, the apparent imprisonment of DaKaren's spirit. Dire forces may be at work in Arcodia... Thought now turn to communicating with the spirit, and attempting to free him..
Sept 30, '99
Kazola's was invaded tonight by a talking giant serpent and a horde of poisonous snakes! Redlowwinski reported that the serpent entered the tavern and said: “Sspirit… youzz neverz leavez zis prissson.. Neverz to helpz Zhem againsst my childrenss.. Zhey sshall notz prevailz!” which was apparently directed at DaKaren’s spirit who had been appearing quite agitated. The serpent then vanished and was replaced by dozens of smaller snakes.
After the patrons had ridded themselves of the nuisance, the serpent again appeared to speak: “Hu-menzz be warned… Releaze zis sspirit and fase yourz doom!” It then proceeded to attack the patrons and was slain. Upon its cooling corpse, a tome of unknown origin was found. (see book entitled Offeringzz to S'kh'zz)
Dot and Andrew, another OEA member, were summoned shortly after the attack. They determined the best course of action would be to conduct a seance in the hopes of learning more about DaKaren's predicament. Andrew went off in search of a travelling gypsy medium named Evralia.
Oct, 9 '99
Tonight the Mayor Warner and the Order of the Etheral Ankh went to secure the services of Evralia, a gypsy medium that Andrew had located in a camp south of Minoc. As the tale is strange enough in its own right, I present a transcript of the night's events with minimal descriptive prose.
Around the fire at the camp were several gypsy elders busy cooking, playing music, and telling animated stories to wide eyed youths. A young boy led the group of O.E.A. and tavern denizens to Evralia's tent where her guard Arturo stopped us briefly. Mayor Warner, Andrew, Kazola, and Elwynn were ushered into the tent to speak with the medium.
Dot: "I..We..seeketh thy help in contacting a wayward spirit in our fair city... He hath been haunting the city tavern for several months now... He.. He is dear to me.. DaKaren.."
Evralia: "Ye seeketh my aid in contacting the netherworld? Hmmm.. Tis a very costly endeavour..."
Dot: "Costly for whome, Madame?"
Evralia: "Why for all concerned, deary... It takes a quite a bit on mine energy, it does..."
Dot: "Alright... I shall pay thee.. How much?"
Evralia: "A few thousand coin should help to build my strength.."
Dot: "Here thou art.. Wilt thou please come with us?"
Evralia: "Aye.. Take me to this spirit.. Arturo, gather my things..."
Arturo: "Aye, mystic.."
A gate to the Tavern was swiftly cast, and the large party stepped through. A simple wooden table was set up in the center of the pentagram in the tavern, ringed by three wooden stools and one high backed padded chair. Dot, Andrew and Kazola sat on the stools while Evralia occupied the throne. Arturo produced a crystal ball for the table, then set out to keep the gathered crowd quiet.
Evralia: "All is set... Let us begin... If everyone would remain silent and motionless. I must concentrate! Forces of the netherworld hear me.. Bring to me the spirit of the one who haunts this place.. The one named DaKaren.."
Evralia's eyes appeared to glaze over as she began to hum softly. The spirit of DaKaren appeared in the air above her briefly before it seemed to rain down around her. Evralia stiffened visible, as her gray-streaked raven hair turned a silvery-white. A black staff seemed to grow from her right hand as her eyes shown with an unnatural light.
Evralia: "Pain... Pain... Who's there? No... Illusion.."
Dot: "DaKaren?! Speak to me! What has happened to you?!"
Evralia: "D..Dot? No.. So far away...vile tricks...won't fool me.."
Dot: "DaKaren, it is Dot.. No tricks.. Speak to me.. What’s happened to you?"
Evralia: "Could it be? Tavern.. Kazola's? So long ago.... Pain..so much pain.. "
Andrew: "Pain? How canst a spirit feel pain?"
Dot: "DaKaren.. Why are you in pain? What happened to you?"
Evralia: "They.. have me.. They need me.. The Sword... A war.. I cannot.. Must not.. Stop them.. The time draws neigh.. sacrifice.. The sword.. me for it.."
Andrew: "Sword? Hmm.. I remember mention of a sword in the ancient texts of the Order.. "
Dot: "Aye.. It was lost, I remember.. Mondain was involved somehow.."
Evralia: "Mondain..yes.. So long ago.. Dot.. My kin... As alien to this world as I.."
Dot: "Wha? Alien? DaKaren what is happening?"
Evralia: *trembling* "Dot..not all..is as it seems...pain...must destroy penta..gram.. Protect sword.. They are pawns.. His plot.." *moans in pain*
Dot: "She's weakening.. we must awaken her... DaKaren, we will free your spirit, this I swear.."
Andrew gently shook Evralia's shoulder to rouse her. A brief flash of light obscured her from view, returning her visage to what it had been before the séance albeit tired.
Evralia: "That was.. unusual.. DaKaren is no ghost..."
Andrew: "Not a ghost? But....what then?"
Evralia: "Psychic projection... very powerful.. Yet strangely incoherent... He's nay all there.."
Dot: "So he lives?!"
Evralia: "Aye.. But 'tis far away... Under extreme physical...distress...."
Andrew: "You mean torture..."
Dot: "Oh my..."
Evralia: "His spirit is strong, but the link to his body grows weak... This pentagram, ‘tis evil.. Will eventually drain him away to nonexistence...then consume this tavern." *SCREAMS* "A face! I see the face of a daemon.. NAY! Something worse.. It hungers.." *faints*
Arturo "Evralia! I must return her to our camp at once!"
Dot: "Aye.. Take her.. With our thanks.. I have much to consider.."
Andrew: "Dot.. The Journals.. Mayhap its time..
Dot: "Hmm.. I don't know.. They've been kept hidden for centuries... Nay... you're right..."
Andrew: "To the tower then..."
Andrew and Dot gated to San Faelor, the Order's tower near Vesper. Here the story grows confused, and the end lost to time due to the War that swept Felucca when Minax's forces caused Lord British and his people to flee to Trammel. DaKaren was freed, and is again amongst the living. Why don't you ask him yourself?
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