Ebon Skull Archives: The Story of Pwyll

From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki

This is reposted from OES documentation for the pleasure of the Atlantic Community. Story by Pwyll of OES.

My story begins 13 years ago, when I had been in this world for 8 years. My father was a good and kind man. A warrior by occupation, but virtuous and just, not a butcher. I could see that he wished to teach me the ways of the sword, but my mother forbade it until I was older. My mother believed that my mind should be exercised while I was young, and that the time for learning to fight would come when I was older. I recall on occasion hearing arguments over this (though they believed I was asleep and did not hear). My father would frequently go out on hunting trips, returning after several days with fresh food for the table, and gold that my mother locked away in a chest. Then one day, while my father was off on one of these hunting trips, a strange man came to the door. He said something to my mother that seemed to greatly distress her. She said something quietly back to him, which seemed to equally distress him, and then vanished after a short chant. I never saw my father or mother again.

The strange man, whose name was Wilhelm, instructed me to gather my things and go with him. We loaded up those few things I had, and rode outside of town, to a small wooden house. Wilhelm approached the door and spoke to an aging man inside, then aided me in unloading my things and bringing them inside. This was the house of my mothers father, a grandfather I had never met, or heard mention of. For the next 10 years, he raised me like his own son. He was well versed in magery and alchemy, and taught me of these arts. The power to create, and the power to destroy. Which regeants to grind for potions of healing, and those which explode when agitated. It was during this time that I began having visions. The first one came on a dark winters night. I saw the city of Moonglow, near where I was born. The night grew darker and darker, until the darkness seemed to move. Then there was the sound of fluttering wings, and I saw that indeed the darkness was moving. The sky was filled with daemons black as a starless night. I could see around me the people of Moonglow falling dead, helpless in the onslaught. Some warriors stood their ground, while others tried to flee. They were all slain. Walking among the dead were figures dressed in hooded cloaks, as equally black as the daemons that flew overhead. One of the figures reached out to take my hand, and as I took it, I could feel the power being unleashed over the entire world. A smile formed on my lips as I awoke.

When I told my grandfather of the dream, he only smiled, in that sly way he does when he seems to know something I do not. Over the years I have had several other similar dreams. The events are always the same, sometimes the locations change. Sometimes it is a strange city, that I have never seen. Sometimes the city is one that I know, but it is somehow different. Houses stand where none do now, or other things are missing. Each time I related them, my grandfather only smiled, and would not comment further.

Shortly after my 18th year, there came a knock on the door. My grandfather answered to find Wilhelm, who I had learned to be a messenger, and friend of our family. He spoke with my grandfather, and then quickly left. My grandfather looked concerned, and maybe even a little afraid (though his face was always expressionless). He came to me, and leaning in close, he spoke to me:

We have only a short time, so listen carefully. Rumor has spread among the town people that I practicing evil magics here. There is some truth to the rumors, as I have been trying to uncover the secrets of Necromancy. When you were young, your father hit a comrade in battle. All was forgiven, but rumors spread just the same. A group of self virtuous men gathered, sought him out, and murdered him while he hunted. When your mother heard of this, she went mad with rage and hunted down the group. She fell 3 of them, but the group was too large, and she fell to their numbers. When I had heard of these events, it was too late to help her. I arrived at the scene of the battle to find only her lifeless body. During these past years, I have searched for a means to bring life back to her. I have thus far had no success. I have heard rumors of a groups of men gathering to explore the mysteries. You must seek them out, for they may be able to assist you. I wish I had more time, there is so much I should have told you. Find solace in your dreams, for they are a foreshadowing of what is to come for this world. A group of men will soon be coming here to hunt me down as they did your father. I am too old and tired to run from them, but you must leave now, and continue to search for a way to return life to your mother. Her body is hidden in a stone house, located on the Ice Isle."

With this he gave me a key to the house, and beckoned me to leave through the back door. As I left I ran into the forest. I only looked back once, to see the flashes of magics being cast, and the glint of weapons. The house was surrounded by more than 10 men, and several of them carried what I recognized as order shields. The guards of virtue sent to slay an old man. For the next year I lived in the forests of Moonglow, visiting the libraries during the days, which seemed more and more to be empty. Men did not seem to seek knowledge and wisdom any longer. Their thirst had turned to bloodshed and wealth. I studied, and prepared myself for the day I could be reunited with my mother, and together we would unleash a vengeance upon the world unlike it has ever seen.