As preparation for taking the Stone Beast of Elkoi, Korlmhy decided that the Reaching Storm would perform the Sandals of Darkness heroquest on One Day. The Sandals of Darkness is one of the Four Magic Weapons of Orlanth and was taken from Deloradella the Dark Woman by Orlanth and Yinkin. Korlmhy obtained the support of Lightbringers of Trilus for the ritual and was ceremonially armed as Orlanth.
Upon crossing over to Orlanth's Hall, Korlmhy and his companions went
to Ernalda's Loom House where Ernalda's handmaidens were conversing
about Ernalda's wishes. Korlmhy tried to question Kev as to her
Queen's desires, but she gave a frustratingly enigmatic answer.[1]
Korlmhy requested aid from Yinkin who agreed to accompany Korlmy into
the Underworld and lent him his Keen Smell and Darkeye to guide him.
[2]
Thus prepared, Korlmhy set off for the Spike and entered the staircase that led down to Hell. He descended into the Underworld and through the Waters, smelling the cold vapors and must odors that drifted up from below. He was plagued by insects and had to summon a mighty wind to blow them away. He reached the bottom of the staircase where the gate was guarded by two Face Guards - in this case, winged monsters with the bodies of six-legged dogs with the faces of bearded men.[3] Herger and Nisk issued a challenge to the Face Guards and charged them, killing one and chasing off the other.
For a long time they wandered through the great darkness that preceded creation and lurks under the earth and the seas. They evaded the monsters, ghosts and demons that dwell in the Underworld until they saw two trolls sitting and talking, gesturing to a far away mountain. Korlmhy used the winds to bring their words to him and overheard them talking about Deloradella who lived in the Dark Mountain.
Armed with what they overheard, Dorasa tracked the unmistakable stench of Deloradella and found her deep, dark cavern. Orlanth descended deeper and deeper, guided by the strong scent until he found himself in a foetid dark cavern shrouded by darkness in the center. Orlanth made his way to the dark form and found the feet of the darkness. Holding her breath, Dorasa called upon the Reaching Storm and the prayers of the Lightbringers in Trilus and unlaced the sandals and removed them one by one.[4] As he removed the second sandal, the form of the Dark Women became recognizable. The sandal cried out and the Dark Woman awoke with terrible fury. Orlanth sped out of the cavern, but suffered many wounds from the horde of hungry demons, ghosts and monsters that chased after him and pursued him across the plains of Hell.
Escaping from the Underworld, Orlanth returned to Ernalda's Loom House. Korlmhy presented the sandals to Queen Ernalda. Smiling gently, Ernalda said "We thank you for the kind gift and we bid you to wear them for us and, when you wear them, to think of us." In that way, she declined the gift without offending Orlanth and hinted that she would like to see him again.
Korlmhy thanked Yinkin for his help, offering to repay him some day.
[1] The players tried to stack the odds in their favor by "casting"
one of their kinswoman - a Kev devotee - as Ernalda's handmaiden.
They still screwed it up and got a marginal failure.
[2] The players again stacked the odds in their favor and cast
Dorasa as Yinkin. This time they got a major success.
[3]The players were surprised by the Face Guardians since they are
not in their version of the myth.
[4] The players figured that removing the sandals was the Heroquest
moment and gave all their community support for a single dice role
when they try to remove the sandals. A wise tactical move because
they got a major success at this stage.
Enjoy -
Jeff
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