Horror From The Crypt
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Horror From the Crypt
Author: Krythan
The story I am about to relate to ye happened not long ago, in the Yew Crypts that lie along Yew's eastern forests.
I was out hunting one day in an area frequented by evil monsters, when I heard a strange howling in the distance. I figured it to be a wolf or some other creature and paid it no attention. After about an hour of searching for monsters, I noticed that all of the animals had either become silent, or had left the area. I thought it odd also that I had not seen the first monster since I had arrived. I heard the howling noise again, but this time it was closer. I decided to sneak in the direction of the noise and find its source, so, after checking my reagent supply, and making sure my legs were ready for a possible retreat, I headed out towards the east.
About ten minutes later I heard the sound again, and even closer, so I knew I was near the source. I stopped a moment to check my location on my map : I was about one hundred yards from the entrance to the Yew Crypts. The noise echoed though the woods again, sending a chill down my spine. I repacked my map and continued slowly towards the crypts, careful not to make a sound.
Twenty minutes later I was halfway to my destination. Now I could see something going on in the front entrance to the crypts, and the howling noise was twice as loud, although this time I noticed that it wasn't one, but several voices in unison making the sound.
As I neared the entrance building from behind, I noticed a purplish glow emanating from the front. I made it to the back wall and peered around the side, hoping to get a better view of what was happening. Nothing, all I could see was the glow. I moved back out into the woods and around to the eastern side, using the trees and brush as cover.
By not it was almost dark, and the glow seemed even brighter. Creeping through the trees I finally found a vantage point from where I could view the amazing scene. Dozens and dozens of monsters-from headless to orcs, to harpies- were standing silent and motionless, all staring towards a crude altar at the crypt entrance. At the altar were four wraiths, one at each corner of the structure. The purple glow I had seen was coming from the wraiths. Each one held it's arms outstretched toward the center of the altar, and a purple beam of light was being emitted from each of them, forming into a floating ball of energy that pulsed and grew as I watched. Below the ball of energy was a skull, to which a small stream of the energy ball was being funneled. The skull seemed to be gaining flesh and skin as it drew in more of the energy.
Every so often, the wraiths would let out a blood curdling wail, and the mass of monsters would sway in response. Leaning in to get a closer look at the spectacle, the low hanging limb I was propped on snapped, sending me crashing to the ground. All at once the wraiths turned and spotted me. One let out a low moan, and the horde of monsters turned and began towards me.
They all moved as if they were tired and drained of energy, and I used this to my advantage.
As I recited a spell from my book, my hand began to glow with electrical energy, and as the spell chant concluded, a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, splitting into several more bolts which rained down upon the legion and stunned each monster momentarily.
Another chain lightning spell concentrated on the wraiths was powerful enough to kill two of them, and severly injure the remaining two. The ball of energy then exploded in a cloud of purple smoke, finishing off what my spell and started. The skull then began to lose its flesh as streams of purple energy shot forth from it and into the congregation of dazed monsters. As this was happening, the monsters began to regain their strength and I figured it was time for me to get the hell out of there. In a flash I had recalled to Empath Abbey, where I spoke with a few of the monks about what I had witnessed. Every one I spoke to said that the wraiths had been performing some kind of summoning ritual, but I couldn't give them enough details for them to know what it was that was being summoned.
We all agreed, though, that whatever was going on out in those woods was best left alone. And with that, I proceeded home to get some much needed rest.