Journal of Shorast Strangerways the Craterous Comet of Fields
The journey is over, and despite many dangers I've finally reached Doomforests. Rumors of this place spread by travelling merchants told about unthinkable riches, but when I reached the entrance I saw only piles of bodies. What's going on in this place? Is that fiend Dark One responsible for all those deaths? I need to find out.The smell of death gets stronger as Shorast delves deeper into the fortress. Wandering through some parts of it, the adventurer notices different architectural designs, and he clearly sees that some parts are less aged; as if the fortress was built from a few parts united into whole later. Suddenly a group of robed dwarves run towards him shouting:
- CRUNDLES!!!
Shorast quickly draws his silver battle axe and iron shield, and charges into battle shouting:
- I'll stop those beasts! Run for your life!
But the dwarves refuse to run away, they take their equipment and attack. The whole group quickly defeats crundles, but one of them spots another, bigger wave supported by cultists. Only thing they could do was run away and hide somewhere. Shorast and dwarves ran straight the corridor to an dead end, but one of the robed dwarves pushes secret pressure plate and a the wall reveals door leading into dark, long abandoned passage. Stench of decay got much stronger, but this was the only way to save their lives. The robed dwarf conceals the secret passage and leads the way.
After a while of moving through dark, webbed corridors the group enters a big, burnt chamber. Ash covers everything except a rectangle on the floor, suggesting that someone moved an object from this place after the fire set down. Then the dwarf speaks:
- We could take them on our own, but thanks for help human. Who are you, and what's your business in this cultist driven hole?
- I am Shorast Strangerway the Craterous Comet of Fields. This servant of Nifih greets you.
- SERVANT OF NIFIH!!! I WILL SHOW YOU WRATH OF ARMOK! YOUR END IS APPROACHING!!!
The robed dwarf charges with his fists, but is stopped by younger members of the group.
- KULET! LIKOT! GET OFF ME, OR I'LL FEED CRUNDLES WITH YOU!!!
They follow his orders. The he says:
- What do you want here!?
After a while of silence Shorast says:
- All those beasts and cultists have tainted the name of Nifih. My mission is to cleanse the world from beasts, and purge all the heretics, so the name of Nifih shall be glorified again!
- You are here to deal with the vampire! Good luck then. Overseer closed that bloodsucking bastard in walled off cell.
- Actually, I came to Doomforests with different mission, but I'll deal with this problem later. For months I've been tracking a fiend called Dark One. Do you know anything about that?
The dwarf gives Shorast annoyed look. He says:
- Just look around you idiot! We are in his old lair! Bastard moved somewhere later, and now is nowhere to be found. Probably sitting in the caverns. But you can't enter them until we'll deal with those damned cultists! This is my offer: kill them all, and then go for the Dark One.
After a while of consideration... and a bottle of dwarven ale given him by robed dwarves, Shorast agrees. Then they go to inquisitions headquarters.