New: Shadowstairs (free, open-ended, email, human, fantasy, rpg) From: lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl) Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2001 08:13:48 +0000 Name: Shadowstairs Email: Shadowstairs-owner@yahoogroups.com Frequency: Once a week or so Type: Fantasy RPG URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shadowstairs Contact: Shadowstairs-owner@yahoogroups.com Costs: FREE FREE EEmail: Shadowstairs-owner@yahoogroups.com Last-Update: 2001Oct20 Keywords: free, open-ended, email, human, fantasy, rpg Description: The Story In the dark days before the fall of the Kingdom of Bann, Surful the Wise stood before his king and claimed that he was on the verge of creating a new magic that would stop the armies of ice. None in the court doubted Surful, for he had created many items of power and new spells that had stopped for a time the armies of the Winter Witch. But this time the war against evil was not going well. The lands had been under her icy fingers for far to long. The realm once prosperous was now covered in snow through out the year. Only the prayers of Banns clerics kept most of the population alive but all knew that it would not last unless something was done and soon. That evening as the King and his counselors lie asleep a great light covered the land turning night into day. A man at arms at his post on the western tower , who was himself blinded by the bright light, said it came from the direction of Surfuls manor. The light soon faded leaving only the cold dark night. The king called for his knights and a small band of road off to investigate the source of the light, and to see if that was the magic that his Court Mage had created to fight the Winter Witch. The knights road all night and as day broke they came upon a circle of destruction. For as far as the eye could see the land was destroyed but there was no flame. It seemed that some great hand smashed everything for miles around. Thinking the worst the knights road towards Surfuls manor only to find it missing. No ruins, no hole, it was like the manor never existed. The knights did not have time to wonder what happened to the manor. The Winter Witches armies were on the move and they all though that without the powerful magic of Surful they were surely doomed. The land was soon covered in darkness and the Kingdom of Bann fell. The wonders of a age ground into dust by the marauding armies of the Winter Witch. But all know her fate. Winter soon turned into Spring and people began to rebuild on the ruins of another age. But that is not the end of this story. Fifty years later a great light was seen on top of Archmages hill. A old man, a survivor of the sack of Bann, claimed when he was young he saw that light and he knew the Kings Mage had returned. The local Warlord sent a band of his warriors to investigate. With the help of a local guide the band moved through the thick woods of the Mekiekii forest , coming into a large clearing. In the center of this clearing was Archmages Hill, so called by the local hunters. On top the hill was a sight none expected. A manor that had not existed in half a century stood like it was always there. Four of the warriors, braver then the rest, ventured forth into the structure to look for answers or the interrogate the owners of the manor. As the warriors entered the structure it exploded in a bright light and faded from view. The others thinking that the warriors who had entered the manor were dead, fled in fear. Back at the Warlords stockade the survivors went to report what they had discovered only to be shocked and surprised to find two of the warriors standing there talking to the Warlord. The warriors clothes were torn, and their armor damaged and although their injuries were healed they looked exhausted. They told a strange tale of entering the manor only to be confronted by strange beasts and magical traps. They had in fact only entered the castle when they fought a great battle of creatures in white armor. The Wise Women on the camp questioned them further on the descriptions of these creatures only to proclaim them liars as those were the descriptions of the White Witches minions. The two men knowing looked at each other and from a pack put down a evil looking helm. The other warrior, who had lost most of an arm, let slip a bag containing several books. A strange old man gave us those books they claimed. When they turned back to question him further he had disappeared. Their story continued as the warriors were assaulted by another force and two of their number were slain quickly. Knowing that this was an enemy they could not stand against they fled, fighting across the courtyard and through the metal gates. As they crossed the threshold the world changed around them. The men in their haste did not notice that the land beyond the gate was different from where they had left. In fact they had appeared on the High Kings Carn. The Warlords stockade was only an hour walk and they soon found themselves back in camp. The manor was not seen again , but a seer claimed it would return again on the anniversary of its disappearance. A new Warlord , more powerful then the last who had used the magic in those books to expand his control, send a vast host towards Archmages Hill. He would take the manor by force and claim the magic as his own, It did not appear. Rumor had it that it appeared in the desert of Salah., another rumor said it appeared right outside the Iron Gates of the Dwarvish Kingdom. The legend has grown, past down these four hundred years since the fall of the mighty Kingdom of Bann. The survivors of the manor has gived it many names from Surful Manor, to the Shadowkeep but many call it Shadowstairs. All across the land mercenary companies search the realm looking for clues of its next appearance. All of dream of treasure and glory. - Charles the Boastful [ This is a new entry for the PBM List. You can find the list itself, and instructions for adding games or comments, at http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/pbm_list/ -- greg ] Up