Year: 1491, Month: Mirtul, Date:23rd
The airship sails us back into the foothills of the Spine of the World. It is blistering cold, even though the sun is reaching its zenith, as we approach the spot where the Great Worm Cavern is marked on Harshnag's map. We circle slowly looking for the cavern. "Captain Zook", shouts Delsephine, as she points over the side. Zook brings the airship around. The cavern and its entrance seems eerily quiet. Thick ice hangs over the pillared entrance. We wait for a few minutes, but all remains quiet, so we make our way off the airship to the cavern's entrance.
We enter the cavern very carefully, mainly because the floor is so slippery. Sunlight is shining through the ice, and the walls glisten in many shades of blue. The walls are covered with an icy glaze and lined with massive icicles that gleam and glitter in the reflected light. The cavern is deserted. Inside, the cavern is flanked by 70 foot high ledges of rock, atop which stand two totem poles with carvings resembling winged snakes. The walls are dotted with caves, which look like living quarters that have seen use recently. There are natural steam vents in the rock that give the cavern an unexpected warmth. Above the ledges we can see frozen bodies in standing positions. At the back of the cavern is a triangular outcrop of rock which stands about 120 feet above the cavern floor. In it's centre is what must be the altar we are looking for, carved into the shape of a winged serpent.
We make our way slowly and gingerly up to the altar. As we approach, we see there is a large gong towards the back of the outcrop.
Out of the blue, Leo says, "Who are you? How would I help?". We all turn to look at him in confusion. Who is he talking to? Leo ignores us, he looks as though he is listening to someone or something. A few moments later he says, "What does the gong do?", pauses as if listening to an answer, and then asks, "Do you know where Wormblod is?", and after a very short pause, "How long ago did they leave?".
Whilst Leo seems in conversation with some unseen and unheard entity, I use my link to Tyr to sense the presence of any beings I cannot see. The power of Tyr courses through me, momentarily blinding me. I see a brief vision of a beautiful and benevolent winged serpent with brilliant colours before my sight returns. I sense there is a celestial bound inside the altar.
Leo looks towards us, "There is a Guardian here, sworn to watch over the Great Worm Tribe, who needs our help, and offers it's help in return. The Guardian is bound to this altar. The Tribe it must protect has fallen under the sway of an evil chieftain named Wormblod. The Tribe is now small and lives in this cavern, although they regularly leave to go hunting. I had heard rumours of a barbarian chieftain, and wherever he goes it's war. From the conquered he subjagates wives and takes concubines against their will. What the Guardian says confirms those tales. The Guardian says that Wormblod took the tribe away several days ago in search of his favourite concubine who has gone missing. If we bring proof of his death, and place it on the altar, the Guardian will reward us, and the Tribe will be freed of his tyrannical rule. The gong is sounded to alert the Tribe when unwelcome intruders enter the cave uninvited".
We discuss the best way to help the Guardian, and decide against leaving the cavern and searching for them when we do not know where they have gone. Eventually the Tribe will have to return to their cavern, so we decide to wait here.
Once they return, I will challenge Wormblod to a duel. Leo asks the Guardian if Wormblod will accept the challenge. He is full of evil and hate; he will fight any challenger as he thinks he is invincible, but he won't fight fair. Our plan is for Zook to sound the gong as they enter. Leo will cast fly on me, and I will fly up and challenge Wormblod to a duel, one on one.
I know I will prevail, enforcing the justice of Tyr and stop Wormblod's evil rule over the Great Worm Tribe.
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