Disclaimer: Ken of Melee does not own Dungeons & Dragons, it is property of
The Wizards of the Coast.
This story has been put together with help from the Version 3.5 Player's Handbook/Dungeon Master's Guide/Monster Manual set as well as Savage Species, Psionic Handbook, Deities & Demigods, Guide to the Planes, Monster Manual II, Monsters of Faerun handbooks and the Dungeons & Dragons Website along with a crapload of more handbooks.
-Review Response Corner- Larus: It's great to know you like this. Hopefully, this fic will continue to keep you interested. Jonathan and David: I'm glad you like it! I'll consider smuggling Kyle into the story if the oppurtinity arises. Vixa Ambrodel: Yeah, it's a shame there aren't more like it huh? (==)
Dungeons and Dragons: Fantasy Quest
Session Two: A Legend Reborn?
(==)
"Jason eh? Well, we've introduced ourselves already so there's no need for that." Derrik spoke.
Thamior got up and dusted himself off.
"Well, it would be best to head back the village. The elder will want to know about what happened to the shrine." he stated.
"Shrine?" Jason asked.
"I'll tell you while we're on the road." Garret said pit-patting onto the path.
The other three hurried behind the halfling. As they walked along, Garret started.
"You see, that place is a shrine dedicated to the great hero of the village."
"Great hero?"
"Yes. We were hired by the elder of the village to investigate this shrine and he told us the tale of it. It is a tale passed from generation to generation that tells a story of the hero. The problem is..."
"Is what?"
"Well, it's been almost a day since any of us have had anything to eat, and I can't tell a story on an empty stomach."
Jason sighed.
"Perhaps when we camp for the night kid. I know there's a patch of apple trees along this path." Derrik said.
There was a pause in conversation as the four walked along.
"So... How long before we get where we want to?" Jason asked.
"It'll take until tommarow around noon to arrive at the village." Thamior answered.
Another period of silence.
"You know kid, you have some odd looking cloths. Where do you hail from?" Garret asked.
"Huh? Oh, my town's name is Richland." Jason said a little off-guard.
The walked all afternoon, eventully reaching the small group of apple trees around sunset like Derrik said. Everyone helped themselves to some apples. Eventully, after the sun had passed the horizon and the moon was out, they small party could be seen gathered around a camp fire.
"Well, could you tell the story Garret?" Jason asked, biting into an apple.
"Actually, Thamior probably knows the tale better." Garret said.
Sighing, the half-elf started of the story.
"Well, this is what the elder told us. It is said that three centuries ago the land was prospered by a peaceful people. Everyone lived in harmony. However one day, an evil lich descended on the people. They weren't warriors, and thus were enslaved under the lich and his undead army. After fifty years under the lich's rule, someone appeared. A man, wielding a sword. Using his strength he slew the evil dragon gaurdians of the lich and killed the lich himself. However, the hero had given all his strength to help the poor people. In his last moments, the hero presented his sword as a gift to the people. He said that should the time come, only a man of truly great caliber could wield his sword. So, they built a shrine and laid his sword in a pedastal. Then the room was sealed off by a magical stone door which could only be opened by someone with a soul worthy enough to wield his sword."
"I still can't understand how you've memorized that entire story Thamior." Derrik said in a gruff tone.
"Hey, I am older than you." Thamior responded with a smile.
'This sword... It's the hero's sword?' Jason thought to himself as he looked at the blade which laid beside him.
"Well, let's get some sleep, I'm tired." Garret said nodding off.
Thamior and Derrik fell asleep quickly. As Jason fell asleep, one thought eminated through his mind.
'Will I ever return home?'
The teen shut his eyes, the sword held protectively in his grip.
"Kid. Hey, kid. Wake up."
Jason's eyes fluttered open. Emitting a groan, he slowly got up.
"Well it's time to go. If we leave now, we'll make it back to the village in time for lunch." Garret said picking up his lute.
"You should probably cover up that sword with something." Thamior spoke, "It would be dangerous just to carry that sword around without something to carry it in safely."
"But I don't have a sheath for it or anything..." Jason mumbled in an embaressed tone.
"Well, if it means anything, here's some cloth and a strip of leather. Wrap the cloth around the blade then wrap the leather 'round it so the cloth stays tight." Garret said handing Jason the materials.
"Won't the cloth tear?" Jason asked.
"That ain't reguler cloth lad." Garret said with a wink.
Jason did exactly what he was told. Tugging the cloth a bit, he found that the blade didn't cut it.
'It must be enchanted or something.' Jason thought to himself.
There was plenty leather leftover, so Jason managed to loop some leather across his chest and around his shoulder with enough leather so that the sword hung with hilt close to his hip
"Well, let us be on our way." Thamior urged.
There was another long walk as the four went on. Small bouts of small talk ensued between Thamior, Derrik and Garret while Jason dug through his pockets, trying to see if he had anything on him.
'Let's see... Two dollars, like those are going to be useful. A wad of tissues... Hey, I forgot I had these Tic-tacs!'
Hearing the rattling of the tic-tacs, the other three turned around.
"What's that you got there?" Derrik asked.
"Just some Tic-tacs." Jason said pocketing them.
"Tic-tacs?" Garret inquired.
"It's a kind of mint-flavored candy."
"Can I have some?"
"No." 'Okay let's see, pocket knife...'
"...So, I take it you guys are traveling mercenaries?" Jason asked later.
"You could say that." Garret said.
"We met a year or so ago in a tavern. From that point on we formed our little group. We do all sorts of jobs to roll in the gold. We always take on dangerous jobs since we get paid huge for them." Derrik smiled.
"But we usually end up spending it all on ale." Thamior spoke.
"We should be there soon." Derrik said after a long while.
"Good thing too. I'm starving" Garret spoke as his stomach rumbled.
"Your always hungry Garret." Thamior commented.
As the group kept walking, Jason thought he noticed something, but he couldn't place it. Looking around, he was trying to find what made him so edgey. When he finally looked to sky, he saw what was worrying him.
"Uh, should there be that much smoke?" Jason worried, pointing at a huge plume of black smoke ahead in the sky.
"What are you talking about?" Garret asked.
Jason pointed at his subject of observation. The rest of the group stopped, staring at the large plume.
"That can not be good..." Thamior spoke lightly.
"Let's go! Something might be wrong at the village!" Derrik urged.
The group's pace quickened. After about fifteen minutes, they reached the village. However, it wasen't in the best condition.
'Oh my god...' Jason thought as he gaped at the sight before him.
Through the great fires and smoke, a large ghost was wrecking havoc on the village. The ghost of a black dragon.
All of the villagers were trying to escape from the destruction that was caused by the ghost. The black dragon ghost blew a stream of greyish translucent acid onto a group of homesteads and smoldered to ground, burning. As Jason saw this, he realized something was completely wrong. The teenager knew all the D&D manuals from cover to back
'That can't be right! A ghost's attacks don't work on non-ethereal targets if they rely on physical contact!'
But as he saw more houses go up in flames, he realized that the rule didn't seem to apply to this ghost.
"Come on kid, we need to get out of here before it notices us!" Derrik shouted as a wave of villagers came their way.
As Derrik went to grab Jason, the teenager moved forward just a step.
"Go if you want. I'm going to fight." Jason spoke in a bolder tone.
The three were surprised at Jason's sudden change in attitude.
'I remember him acting like this when we escaped the shrine' Thamior realized. The half-elf looked over Jason. His body language had changed from quivering to a more commanding stance.
"Are you alright?" Thamior asked as he stepped forward.
Jason's eyes had once again gained a sharp, piercing glare. Thamior stepped back, feeling fearful of this sudden change in the teen.
Jason found the hilt of the sword by his side and drew it, sunlight glistening on the blade. The very air around Jason itself seemed to take on a different, ancient feeling.
'There's soemthing about that kid, I can't place it!' Derrik wondered.
Jason held the sword in his hands and charged down the hill to the village, giving a throaty battlecry.
"HRUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
As Jason ran down the hill, the many villagers who were escaping from the havoc dodged the speeding teenager. Jason's battlecry also seemed to have attracted of the black dragon ghost as well, it's transluscent eyes leering.
As Jason came into a range of the dragon ghost, it blew a line of ghastly acid at the teen. He stopped as he saw the acid blasted forth at him.
Up on the hill, Garret, Derrik and Thamior along with several villagers gasped as the line of acid blew through Jason. However, once the dragon ghost stopped, everyone was shocked to see that the teenager was unscathed. He was pointing the sword he held straight towards the dragon ghost, some sort of holy aura surrounding him.
"Amazing!" Garret exclaimed.
Jason lowered his sword, the aura disapearing.
"THIS ENDS HERE!!!" he shouted.
The teen charged forward, slashing at the incorperal beast. Then, crouching low, he jumped impossibly high into the air, cutting the dragon ghost upward in half.
Jason landed on the ground with small effort, a small smile of triumph on his face. Then, as the ethereal dragon began to dissipate into nothingness, his sight grew darker, and darker. Finally, Jason collapsed, completely tired out.
--
End Session-
Bastard sword appraised as possible 'Hero's Sword'.
(==)
Thank you to everyone who reads this and especially those who review! I hope you continue to stay on. Remember, Reviews=Motivation.
This story has been put together with help from the Version 3.5 Player's Handbook/Dungeon Master's Guide/Monster Manual set as well as Savage Species, Psionic Handbook, Deities & Demigods, Guide to the Planes, Monster Manual II, Monsters of Faerun handbooks and the Dungeons & Dragons Website along with a crapload of more handbooks.
-Review Response Corner- Larus: It's great to know you like this. Hopefully, this fic will continue to keep you interested. Jonathan and David: I'm glad you like it! I'll consider smuggling Kyle into the story if the oppurtinity arises. Vixa Ambrodel: Yeah, it's a shame there aren't more like it huh? (==)
Dungeons and Dragons: Fantasy Quest
Session Two: A Legend Reborn?
(==)
"Jason eh? Well, we've introduced ourselves already so there's no need for that." Derrik spoke.
Thamior got up and dusted himself off.
"Well, it would be best to head back the village. The elder will want to know about what happened to the shrine." he stated.
"Shrine?" Jason asked.
"I'll tell you while we're on the road." Garret said pit-patting onto the path.
The other three hurried behind the halfling. As they walked along, Garret started.
"You see, that place is a shrine dedicated to the great hero of the village."
"Great hero?"
"Yes. We were hired by the elder of the village to investigate this shrine and he told us the tale of it. It is a tale passed from generation to generation that tells a story of the hero. The problem is..."
"Is what?"
"Well, it's been almost a day since any of us have had anything to eat, and I can't tell a story on an empty stomach."
Jason sighed.
"Perhaps when we camp for the night kid. I know there's a patch of apple trees along this path." Derrik said.
There was a pause in conversation as the four walked along.
"So... How long before we get where we want to?" Jason asked.
"It'll take until tommarow around noon to arrive at the village." Thamior answered.
Another period of silence.
"You know kid, you have some odd looking cloths. Where do you hail from?" Garret asked.
"Huh? Oh, my town's name is Richland." Jason said a little off-guard.
The walked all afternoon, eventully reaching the small group of apple trees around sunset like Derrik said. Everyone helped themselves to some apples. Eventully, after the sun had passed the horizon and the moon was out, they small party could be seen gathered around a camp fire.
"Well, could you tell the story Garret?" Jason asked, biting into an apple.
"Actually, Thamior probably knows the tale better." Garret said.
Sighing, the half-elf started of the story.
"Well, this is what the elder told us. It is said that three centuries ago the land was prospered by a peaceful people. Everyone lived in harmony. However one day, an evil lich descended on the people. They weren't warriors, and thus were enslaved under the lich and his undead army. After fifty years under the lich's rule, someone appeared. A man, wielding a sword. Using his strength he slew the evil dragon gaurdians of the lich and killed the lich himself. However, the hero had given all his strength to help the poor people. In his last moments, the hero presented his sword as a gift to the people. He said that should the time come, only a man of truly great caliber could wield his sword. So, they built a shrine and laid his sword in a pedastal. Then the room was sealed off by a magical stone door which could only be opened by someone with a soul worthy enough to wield his sword."
"I still can't understand how you've memorized that entire story Thamior." Derrik said in a gruff tone.
"Hey, I am older than you." Thamior responded with a smile.
'This sword... It's the hero's sword?' Jason thought to himself as he looked at the blade which laid beside him.
"Well, let's get some sleep, I'm tired." Garret said nodding off.
Thamior and Derrik fell asleep quickly. As Jason fell asleep, one thought eminated through his mind.
'Will I ever return home?'
The teen shut his eyes, the sword held protectively in his grip.
"Kid. Hey, kid. Wake up."
Jason's eyes fluttered open. Emitting a groan, he slowly got up.
"Well it's time to go. If we leave now, we'll make it back to the village in time for lunch." Garret said picking up his lute.
"You should probably cover up that sword with something." Thamior spoke, "It would be dangerous just to carry that sword around without something to carry it in safely."
"But I don't have a sheath for it or anything..." Jason mumbled in an embaressed tone.
"Well, if it means anything, here's some cloth and a strip of leather. Wrap the cloth around the blade then wrap the leather 'round it so the cloth stays tight." Garret said handing Jason the materials.
"Won't the cloth tear?" Jason asked.
"That ain't reguler cloth lad." Garret said with a wink.
Jason did exactly what he was told. Tugging the cloth a bit, he found that the blade didn't cut it.
'It must be enchanted or something.' Jason thought to himself.
There was plenty leather leftover, so Jason managed to loop some leather across his chest and around his shoulder with enough leather so that the sword hung with hilt close to his hip
"Well, let us be on our way." Thamior urged.
There was another long walk as the four went on. Small bouts of small talk ensued between Thamior, Derrik and Garret while Jason dug through his pockets, trying to see if he had anything on him.
'Let's see... Two dollars, like those are going to be useful. A wad of tissues... Hey, I forgot I had these Tic-tacs!'
Hearing the rattling of the tic-tacs, the other three turned around.
"What's that you got there?" Derrik asked.
"Just some Tic-tacs." Jason said pocketing them.
"Tic-tacs?" Garret inquired.
"It's a kind of mint-flavored candy."
"Can I have some?"
"No." 'Okay let's see, pocket knife...'
"...So, I take it you guys are traveling mercenaries?" Jason asked later.
"You could say that." Garret said.
"We met a year or so ago in a tavern. From that point on we formed our little group. We do all sorts of jobs to roll in the gold. We always take on dangerous jobs since we get paid huge for them." Derrik smiled.
"But we usually end up spending it all on ale." Thamior spoke.
"We should be there soon." Derrik said after a long while.
"Good thing too. I'm starving" Garret spoke as his stomach rumbled.
"Your always hungry Garret." Thamior commented.
As the group kept walking, Jason thought he noticed something, but he couldn't place it. Looking around, he was trying to find what made him so edgey. When he finally looked to sky, he saw what was worrying him.
"Uh, should there be that much smoke?" Jason worried, pointing at a huge plume of black smoke ahead in the sky.
"What are you talking about?" Garret asked.
Jason pointed at his subject of observation. The rest of the group stopped, staring at the large plume.
"That can not be good..." Thamior spoke lightly.
"Let's go! Something might be wrong at the village!" Derrik urged.
The group's pace quickened. After about fifteen minutes, they reached the village. However, it wasen't in the best condition.
'Oh my god...' Jason thought as he gaped at the sight before him.
Through the great fires and smoke, a large ghost was wrecking havoc on the village. The ghost of a black dragon.
All of the villagers were trying to escape from the destruction that was caused by the ghost. The black dragon ghost blew a stream of greyish translucent acid onto a group of homesteads and smoldered to ground, burning. As Jason saw this, he realized something was completely wrong. The teenager knew all the D&D manuals from cover to back
'That can't be right! A ghost's attacks don't work on non-ethereal targets if they rely on physical contact!'
But as he saw more houses go up in flames, he realized that the rule didn't seem to apply to this ghost.
"Come on kid, we need to get out of here before it notices us!" Derrik shouted as a wave of villagers came their way.
As Derrik went to grab Jason, the teenager moved forward just a step.
"Go if you want. I'm going to fight." Jason spoke in a bolder tone.
The three were surprised at Jason's sudden change in attitude.
'I remember him acting like this when we escaped the shrine' Thamior realized. The half-elf looked over Jason. His body language had changed from quivering to a more commanding stance.
"Are you alright?" Thamior asked as he stepped forward.
Jason's eyes had once again gained a sharp, piercing glare. Thamior stepped back, feeling fearful of this sudden change in the teen.
Jason found the hilt of the sword by his side and drew it, sunlight glistening on the blade. The very air around Jason itself seemed to take on a different, ancient feeling.
'There's soemthing about that kid, I can't place it!' Derrik wondered.
Jason held the sword in his hands and charged down the hill to the village, giving a throaty battlecry.
"HRUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
As Jason ran down the hill, the many villagers who were escaping from the havoc dodged the speeding teenager. Jason's battlecry also seemed to have attracted of the black dragon ghost as well, it's transluscent eyes leering.
As Jason came into a range of the dragon ghost, it blew a line of ghastly acid at the teen. He stopped as he saw the acid blasted forth at him.
Up on the hill, Garret, Derrik and Thamior along with several villagers gasped as the line of acid blew through Jason. However, once the dragon ghost stopped, everyone was shocked to see that the teenager was unscathed. He was pointing the sword he held straight towards the dragon ghost, some sort of holy aura surrounding him.
"Amazing!" Garret exclaimed.
Jason lowered his sword, the aura disapearing.
"THIS ENDS HERE!!!" he shouted.
The teen charged forward, slashing at the incorperal beast. Then, crouching low, he jumped impossibly high into the air, cutting the dragon ghost upward in half.
Jason landed on the ground with small effort, a small smile of triumph on his face. Then, as the ethereal dragon began to dissipate into nothingness, his sight grew darker, and darker. Finally, Jason collapsed, completely tired out.
--
End Session-
Bastard sword appraised as possible 'Hero's Sword'.
(==)
Thank you to everyone who reads this and especially those who review! I hope you continue to stay on. Remember, Reviews=Motivation.