There is a legend that among the stony marshes of the Blightwood there is a ring of hills. In the centre of the ring, there rises an ancient, unadorned stone, towering high. Carved in stones there are blessings and curses, by oracles who long dwell within the land, according to the ancient lore of Ereworn. Years ago, the last keeper of the site craved her prophecy upon the stone, before invoking the elemental power of water and earth to rise up the Blightwood Marshes.
- A series of plagues, droughts and earthquakes have swept across the land for months. According to ancient text, it seems that the prophecy of the stone is coming to pass. Tradition has that if an oracle is scratched off the standing stone, or if a counter-spell is craved unto it, it will undo the curse. A group of adventurers must make it deep into the desolate land of Ereworn, past the Blightwood Marshes, to find the stone. But upon reaching the site, there is nothing carved into the surface of rock. It is, in fact, a gateway to the Shades of the World, where the Keeper would descend to consult with the spirits. And the last Keeper never returned…and from that gate comes all the current woe.
- Bards and Minstrels remember a tale of Ereworn that is handed down orally for generations. One day the Old King of Yore will return, driving out the invaders that had taken the land away from the people of Ereworn. The current throne of the small, struggling kingdom is vacant, and Duke Darian, believing in the power of the Oracle Stone, is using all means to locate it so that he may craved his prophecy upon it to make himself sovereign of the kingdom.
- A knight who once sought to uphold the rules of chivalry and honour was thrice betrayed; by his liege-lord, his closest friend and his love. In bitterness and despair, an agent of the Evil One led the Knight to the Oracle Ring, where he craved three dire prophecies. Upon his death bed, the knight repented and seek adventurers who would find the Stone, eradicate the curses which he had wrote and prevent his revenge from coming to pass.
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February 26th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Crave: to long for.
Carve: to cut so as to form something.
You used the wrong word.
However, this could produce an interesting adventure seed. “Nothing craved in stone” could refer to beings who seek to fulfil all of their desires by craving nothing, and they think this will be achieved once they are turned to stone. Or, it could refer to a maddened earth elemental who cannot be appeased.
February 27th, 2009 at 5:35 am
Thanks for the nice spot, and the neat idea. Maybe I try to put that in.