Night in the Cathedral of Feathers

posted by Kaurophon

Pain. Searing pain, centered in my chest. Looking down, I see a six-fingered hand erupt through my chest holding a bright sphere of white light.

 

 

Gasping, I awake and look around the safe hemisphere Myntilly cast before we went to sleep. Indira, Myntilly, Sadi, all asleep. Alek on watch outside, Acgar heading to bed after her watch, Cinder wrapping her listening coin in layers of cloth and burying it in her pack. Rolling over, I try again to sleep.

Kaurophon the Believer

Posted by Kaurophon

I am surrounded by angels. Their white wings are difficult to see against the white walls of the cathedral. Colored light streams in through the giant stained glass windows. More angels stand in front of me. They part and a shining angel passes through them. Her eyes are fixed upon me as she begins to speak.

Your Enemy’s Enemy

Posted by Kaurophon

Again, the dream…
My mother screaming, pulling her hair, and scratching at her face. My father, holding her shoulders, earnestly speaking. Me, screaming nonsense, hoping the madness will stop. My mother taking a burning log from the fire, screaming at my father, using the log as a mace to hit him again and again, as she curses him.

Light flaring to show the puddle of blood around my father’s feet, my mother engulfed in flame. Heat, smoke surrounding me, blinding me to the scene. Cool fresh air and feeling a hand touch mine. Grasping I am lifted up and up and up. Looking up I see the angel rescuing me, and the angel smiles. The angel’s smile spreading wider, showing teeth as the angel is turning to a demon and I am screaming and falling and falling down down down…

Written here are words of the Prophet, a portion of those collected by Kaurophon, The Believer.
When the Marked Ones are Shackled, the Great One will Rise.
The Great One is known by many names.
Many are the Tribes who worship him.
The Tribes work separately together to bring the Great One to us.
The Great One is twofold, separate and complete.

The Savior is one and many, and can bring prosperity and unity.
The Savior will be known by the challenges overcome.
Here are the ways to know The Savior: The Savior will twice free the Prophet from his captors. The Savior will travel in Reflected Stars. The Savior will gain control of the Wastes of the Smoking Eye. The Savior will save the City of the Eye, and create the City of Flames.

I’ve studied the words of the Prophet for 50 years. I’ve studied the works of others who study the works of the Prophet. There are many interpretations, and The Tribes often argue as they try to work together. The largest conflict is whether The Savior and The Great One are references to the same being. Once I worked with those who believe The Savior was another name for the Great One. But they were corrupted and evil. Now I understand The Savior is the one to follow. So now I seek the Savior.

 

Dyskko Reports to the Mayor

To: Lord Mayor Severen Navalant of Cauldron
From: Your Trusted Envoy Dyskko
Re: Dungeon Divas

My Dear Lord Mayor, I write you from the wilderness beyond Cauldron. Traveling with the Dungeon Divas has been full of adventure. We have recently heard tell of an area known as The Pit of Seven Jaws where we will head tomorrow morning. My excitement to actually see this legendary place led me to great storytelling earlier this evening, and I will relate some of the myths about this place to you now.

Different stories include different details. The Pit of Seven Jaws is told to house a great creature seen by very few who have survived to tell the tale. Survivors speak of a large beast with multiple toothy maws extended on long necks. This is not unreasonable, since multi-headed creatures are known to exist — usually reptiles.

So the beast in the Pit of Seven Jaws is rumored to be a large reptilian creature with seven heads. Whether it is actually one creature or a few creatures banded together is unclear. One or many, it hides in the darkness of the pit striking at adventurers with fire. Or a cloud of icy fog. Or an acid-laced breath.

Few descriptions of it can be told. Reptilian definitely. Some stories tell that when one head is severed, two grow in its place. One gone, two return until people run screaming. The methods to kill one of these creatures is unclear. Legends abound of all the things that haven’t worked: swords, fire, acid, rocks, spears, magic…

Of course, the legends can’t all be true. Not all of them. Every creature has its vulnerabilities. But then, even if we cannot kill this creature, confirming its existence would be treasure enough.

Signed,

Dyskko

PostScript – It appears I can hand-deliver this to you soon. Indira woke and insisted that we couldn’t fight the thing alone. We need to return to Cauldron for supplies. As a channel for the God Pelor, we trust her wisdom and advice. Apparently she had a dream of us fighting the creature and losing against it. I must be a better storyteller than I thought, to inspire such visions. Of course in my dream, I won…