A Story for the Ages

“Men and women, boys and girls, gather ‘round and hear a story for the ages. Let me tell you of the events that transpired under White Plume Mountain. I shall warn you that this story is not for the faint of heart, for we were in peril at every turn! Hideous monsters, insidious traps, and mind bending riddles awaited us around every bend. So sit down, pay attention, because I assure you that this tale is utterly true!”

It all began with a simple letter, a note even, barely a jot. It was a poem, but so much more…a riddle, it was. Simple, but elegant. Elegant and insidious:

‘Search ye far or search ye near

You’ll find no trace of three

Unless you follow instructions clear

For the weapons abide with me.

South past forest, farm and furrow

You seek the feathered mound.

Then down away from sun you’ll burrow

Forget life, forget light, forget sound.

To rescue Wave you must do battle

With beast in boiling bubble.

Cross cavern vast where chain-links rattle

Lies Whelm, past water spouts double.

The sword Elatus remains yet won

Beneath inverted ziggurat

That garnered, think not that you’re done

For now you’ll find you’re caught.

I care not, former owners brave

What heroes you seek to hire.

Though mighty, I’ll make each my slave

Or send them to the fire.’

Weapons of great power had disappeared from across the land. Missing were Wave, Whelm, and Elatus – a trident, a hammer, and a sword. They are all weapons of great influence that must not fall into the wrong hands. Wise Equis immediately deciphered the first part of said riddle. “White Plume Mountain, it has to be!” said the venerable dwarf. “Me Hammer’s under that blasted mountain and we’re a goin’ after it.” And he was correct on both accounts. But little did we know, at that time, the events that would transpire there.

The first stop on our journey was the nasty little town of Yellow Water. Backwards and run-down, we didn't care to stay here longer than we had to. But we did find the last of the supplies we needed, and managed to stay in comfort at the home of a lovely old woman. That is to say, we managed to stay in comfort once the old woman had been "convinced" to fall asleep and leave us be. One word of warning; should you find yourselves in Yellow Water and think you might try the fish, reconsider your plan.

Our mission started in earnest the next morning, as we set out towards the mountain. We slogged through miles upon miles of treacherous terrain, but finally we reached our destination. Miles tall and cloaked with a thick fog, White Plume Mountain stood glaring down at us, daring us to enter. There, carved into the rock, was a single opening. We braved the hot, wet steam belching out of the opening and entered the caverns within. We navigated the cramped, dark hallways and eventually reached a staircase heading deeper into the gloom. The corridor below was filled with a foot of stagnant, muddy water, making our progress slow and treacherous. Focused on keeping our footing, we were taken almost completely by surprise when a large, green slime descended into the middle of our ranks. It's acidic tendrils grasped at us, and covered Terik and myself with a thick layer of hissing goop. The slime was not hard to dispatch; Kai's bright sword made quick work out of it. But we continued with more caution after that.

Soon after that we encountered our first real test. The illumination from Kai's bright sword revealed a mound of bones, upon which was resting a creature none of us had ever seen before. It had the face of a woman, but the body of a large lion and wings spanning nearly 20 feet. Wotan also noticed a symbol carved into the ceiling ahead of the beast; a symbol of paralyzation that would certainly incapacitate anyone who attempted to pass by it. The beast slowly stood up, stretched and opened its glowing yellow eyes. None of us expected what happened next.