Assistance Needed

[Jother]

Greetings, great adventurers! I am Jother, son of Nothus. I post this message here to enlist your assistance in searching for some lost relics. I am only a shoemaker and not a strong warrior, so I am using this means of communication only to hide my identity from any attacks that these actions may bring forth.

I have found some notes and a pair of rods in an old purse in a false bottom of a chest that had been passed down through my father's side of the family. One note implies to me that the story of the City of Cannactum (also known as the City of the Longest Struggle) is true.

---
The story says that city was wedged in a valley between two mountain ranges. The one on the north was inhabited by Baraneth's dragon pride and the southern by Vouhx-t's orc clan. The city was under constant raids by the orcs and dragons and was on the verge of being wiped out until the emergence of King Norythen.

King Norythen had acquired through unknown means (a story for another time) two powerful items that helped keep his enemies at bay. He wielded the Spear of the DragonSlayer (since named Lytharen after his descendent) which can pierce the hardest of dragonscales when wielded with proper technique.

When fighting Orcs and other degenerates, he swung at them with the
hammer orginally named after him and which now bears the name Morylthen. These items not only allowed the town to beat back attacks, but also allowed them to perform raids on the dragon pride and orc clan which weakened them enough to allow the city to flourish. Norythen passed these keys to his kingdom down to his son, Pynarintha as he grew old and too weak to wield them.

This tradition continued for 23 generations, and the city had grown into a small kingdom presided over by King Tanaraythen. He was the only son in a straight line of only-child sons decending direcly from King Norythen. This King was also fortunate to have a son, Lytharen, with his young Queen Mardanya. However, she mysteriously fell ill and quickly died.

For the first time, a young King remarried after falling in love with a maid named Iosanya. There was much resentment harbored between Lytharen and Iosanya when she gave birth to his half-brother Morylthen.

King Tanaraythen, for his part, loved each of his sons equally and gave them each one of his prized weapons as he aged. His sons, however, did not share the same love for each other. During his reign, the Princes fought side-by-side as their father had requested of them, but after his death, they quickly went their own ways.

Lytharen was the first son, so he became King, but Prince Morylthen was not satifisfied with his lot and left Cannactum with his great hammer. He was not heard from again within the city walls and rumors swirl today about what happened to him.

Cannactum was not overrun by the orcs during Lytharen's reign, but without the hammer, the tide slowly turned back to the orcs, whom eventually took Cannactum and possibly possession of Lytharen's spear.

Today, there are no traces of Cannactum, only the story of the longest struggle. But it is believed that the weapons, Lytharen and Morylthen (spear and hammer) exist today, but are well hidden.

--

Though I believe I may be a descendent of Lytahren, I do not wish to cause trouble for my wife and children. The first note says the rod contained within the purse can help leader someone searching on the path to the weapons. I have given it to the great wizard in the ether as I do not wish to show my face directly.

I believe you will need to do some digging to unearth the chests. It may require some tools that are common (typical mining instruments), but you may have as of yet not discovered in your previous adventures.

The rod and digging instruments should help you find some chests along the way. Leave me messages here as you progress and I will attempt to help you further.

Jother

[Krok]

So we figured pretty easily that wizard in Ether was Elementalist, who appeard to have the rod.

You get a rod of divining fortunes from the corpse of The Elementalist that's on the ground.

Ok.
You feel informed:
Object 'rod divining fortunes', Item type: TREASURE
Item is: NOBITS
Weight: 1, Value: 1, Worn in: TAKE

A rod of divining fortunes is in an old iron-bound chest.

So now we are looking for the iron-bound chest to find another rod, hoping it'll show us the right way.

[Jother]

It sounds as if you have made great progress, though I am somewhat fearful of you since you so quickly resorted to such measures with the Elementalist, as you call him.

Please let me know when you have foudn the chest you are seeking.

Jother.

[brady]

The Elementalist says 'I have just received word from Jother, Shallah has acknowledged the existance of a trespasser...'

[Krok]

Orkhis kindly mentioned we should listen to wise traveller Bit, who said that the rods might change the glow when we get closer to what we search.

Normal state of a rod is : A rod of divining fortunes glows softly with a almost unnoticable aura.

[Krok]

So Polk got a big quest group running across the mud searching for the treasures. After Shallah's hint we started checking SS areas with the rods. Suddenly, one of 2 rods spoke to Polk and asked to be give to me, Krok, the silly cleric. So with the rod speaking we started to get closer to the area we needed. Atwell suggested checking maws, which was right - rod started glowing as I was passing the area's rooms. Then rod hinted that Mandiblaton, who attacked me, was the one, who is holding the next rod we need.

A rod of divining fortunes hums with a radiant blue glow that illuminates the area.

Mandiblaton died, and Lis started to dig.

Lis uncovers an old iron-bound chest.
An enormous creature appears and begins to survey the area. .

Karagh the Serpent brutally massacres Atwell with his crush.

Well, the mob died too. We unlocked the chest and found the next rod and the silver steel (20dr for each of the group's members). Now the quest is still going...

[Jother]

Great news! You have found another rod. I believe that the first two that I passed to you may have been damaged with all of the travels that they had gone through in the many years they were stashed in the bottom of that trunk.

I believe that we must continue looking for more chests and the location of the first is also somehow a clue to the location of the second. I shall ponder this some in context of the notes I have in front of me. It will likely take me 8-10 hours to contemplate fully. I shall communicate with you then. If you are not able to continue your journey at that time, please leave the rods with other adventurers who can.

Jother

[Jother]

After much consideration and deliberation, I'm no longer certain that the location of the chests are correlated. In fact, I believe they are meant to be unrelated. Another chest is not likely near Mandiblaton.

I think your search must begin again with only the information that the next chest is also well hidden underground.

Jother

[Vixn]

[quote="Krok":lda8idxu]Suddenly, one of 2 rods spoke to Polk and asked to be give to me, Krok, the silly cleric.[/quote:lda8idxu]

So rod was talking to you? Or maybe that was jus bad mushrooms?

[12345]

The rod only glows in the exact room of the item you're searching for. SS is a smaller continent, but searching every possible room with 2 rods was a bit daunting. So after a while, the rod got frustrated with our progress and decided to give us more blatant hints.

We were hoping that the staff had a few more settings than barely glowing and second sun... we were wrong.

[Jother]

The information being passed below is grossly incorrect! The rod has several settings, if I remember correctly(which I believe I do). This item has a tendency to become irritated, one might say moody. Simply running to the first rooms of an area may not work!

Jother

[Krok]

The brave travellers followed Polk again! We had 3 rods so far, and people started checking the "underground" areas. We spent some time on it, few of us died, desperately trying to find the desired chest. Finally, Lis noticed his rod changed the glow in the Emerald Mines, at the room with the scaled worm. He used to be a smallish creature, but now it took us a very long fight to kill him. Like yesterday, after the mob died, we did some digging and a cute puppy, err, a massive black dog rushed to protect the chest. We needed some regen, because the lovely pet wasn't too happy to welcome the new owners of the treasure.

A massive black dog is dead! R.I.P.
Clue gets gold coins from the corpse of a massive black dog that's on the ground.
Clue gets a centurian key from the corpse of a massive black dog that's on the ground.
Clue gets a glinting shield of silver from the corpse of a massive black dog that's on the ground.

Adagio gets a rod of divining fortunes from an old iron-bound chest that's on the ground.
Adagio gets a rod of divining fortunes from an old iron-bound chest that's on the ground.
Adagio gets a rod of divining fortunes from an old iron-bound chest that's on the ground.
Adagio gets a rod of divining fortunes from an old iron-bound chest that's on the ground.
Adagio gets a rod of divining fortunes from an old iron-bound chest that's on the ground.
Adagio gets a glowing sliver of steel from an old iron-bound chest that's on the ground.

A glowing sliver of steel explodes in a blinding red light, scattering shards of steel about the room.
The hot shards of steel slice through your skin. It burns!
You have gained 20 drachma.

So, Jother, we have 5 (sorry, 3 old ones disappeared) rods now, and we are ready to continue the journey!

[Jother]

Great work on finding those chests so far. It is a shame that
Morylthen and Lytharen were not in them. Perhaps we will have better
luck soon!

There is a cypher on the third note which I have translated to be
literally: "not in the light."

Jother

[Krok]

"Not in the light" was obviously "in the shadows". Lis quickly found the area, Shadow Realm. The rods started to change their glows as we wandered. After we killed the wrong monster, we finally got to kill Rystoniden.

Rystoniden has been banished to the ethereal plane!
You receive 1540365 experience points as your share.

Lis uncovers an old iron-bound chest.
An enormous creature appears and begins to survey the area. .

the guardian of the chest : immediately to the east

He stand nearly one hundred feet tall and looks to weigh about one thousand
pounds. He has two beady little eyes that peer from side to side watching
over his master's pile of riches. His main weapon is his fists of rock,
and he strikes with the force of lightning. He stands guard over all the
rich items placed within this chamber.
The guardian of the chest has some small wounds and bruises.

You attempt to peek at the inventory:
a glinting shield of silver..It emits a faint humming sound!

The guardian of the chest is dead! R.I.P.
You receive 11216137 experience points as your share.
Your blood freezes as you hear the guardian of the chest's death cry.
Hakon gets gold coins from the corpse of the guardian of the chest that's on the ground.
Hakon splits 150000 coins. Your share is 5000 coins.
Hakon gets a glinting shield of silver from the corpse of the guardian of the chest that's on the ground.

Lis gets Morylthen from an old iron-bound chest that's on the ground.
Lis gets a glowing sliver of steel from an old iron-bound chest that's on the ground.

You feel informed:
Object 'Morylthen hammer', Item type: WEAPON
Item is: GLOW
Weight: 0, Value: 0, Worn in: TAKE WIELD
Damage Dice is '1D1'

A glowing sliver of steel explodes in a blinding red light, scattering shards of steel about the room.
Cicada slowly fades into existence.
Trupik slowly fades into existence.
The hot shards of steel slice through your skin. It burns!
You have gained 20 drachma.
Jacinda slowly fades into existence.

So far we finally found Morylthen, Jother! :)

[Jother]

Again, spectacular work finding and opening the chests. Congratulations on finding Morylthen! I fear it is in dire need these days.

I believe this is where the jouney becomes significantly more perilous. I believe the next chest may well contain Lytharen! However, the only decryption I can make of the notes is that it's likely hidden among the polar opposite of the dragon pride.

Good luck and keep me informed!

Jother