The Runelog

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by Christopher Bramley

Edited by Adam Manning

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Chapter 7 - The Slaying of Ol, Priest of Porchango

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The River Voices quickly dispatched the remaining Gorp and began to approach the pool surrounded by the wailing Manlings. They made slow progress, hindered by waves of nausea created by the noise and stench. Eventually they made it to the pool side where they set upon the Manlings. These creatures offered minimal resistance and were quickly exterminated.

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Standing around the now silent chamber, the adventurers pondered their next course of action. Yetharon fired an arrow from her "Water Bow" into the pond. This, at first, seemed to have no effect but slowly they became aware of a singing in their minds more beautiful and melodic than they had ever previously experienced. This music did not appear to have any other side effects.

The music was replaced by chanting emanating from the pool with the words Ol and Porchango predominant. Realising that the enemy was still at large, the adventurers had no choice but to enter the pool and face this unknown foe. Using their water breathing powers, they dived into the pool.

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The weight of their armour pulled them down towards the bottom of the pool. As they neared the bottom they saw their adversary. He was about five times the size of a human and had a yellow hue to his skin. Theseus dealt the beast a massive blow to the arm, making it recoil in agony. Enraged, the Chaos Priest began casting its death magic at its antagonists. However, the full extent of its abilities were not discovered as Aslak ran it through.

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In death the monster floated to the surface. Yetharon despaired as she had not made the killing blow and now a cure to her curse seemed further out of reach. A rumbling deeper in the cavern complex alarmed the River Voices and they fled to the surface.

During this time, Wieldar had concealed himself in the reeds, remaining alert to any potential dangers. After a while, he saw an old man approach the hole and discover the rope. Wieldar called out and the man looking up said that he must block the hole to prevent the geysers from erupting. When Wieldar explained that his comrades were down the hole, the old man scoffed and declared them dead.

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Wieldar, refusing to believe this, grabbed the old man and knocked him unconscious, but not before he had cried out. Two men instantly ran into the clearing and demanded the release of the old man. Wieldar retorted that if they came any closer he would kill the old man. The two men hesitated before steeping forward. Wieldar slit the old man's throat with a flick of his wrist and fled into the reeds towards the river hotly pursued by the men. As he approached the river he cast his spell of river breathing and dived into the water. He swam upstream to the newtling village where he met up with his companions.

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Back in Pavis they were greeted with much rejoicing but the happiness was soured by the famine which had gripped the city. It was decided that Hera, one of the acolytes of Zola Fel, the River God, was to undertake a HeroQuest from the leaping falls to bring fertility to the river. As River Voices, the adventurers were encouraged to attend. The HeroQuest was more successful than anyone could remember and a bountiful harvest was expected.

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Soon after Germanicus made peace with his God and his mind by re-entering the worship of Yelmalio. The party remained in Pavis for one season, benefiting from the teachings given to them from the Zola Fel priests.

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Go back to Chapter 6.

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