Teresyum Herald - Issue IV

Another Round

Has Hope Returned To Teresyum?

Following various reports amongst regulars of the Wandering Fox and other sources, it seems that an individual referring to himself as “The Guardian of Hope” is currently making the rounds in Teresyum. The impression set of the individual has adventurers in a frenzy, as some report a shining knight acting as a saviour, while others report being left trembling in awe of his offensive actions.

   Investigating things further, the individual refers to himself as Charis, a name when looked up in Guild records lead us to nothing but a file containing a note “file is with me, anything needed regarding it goes through me.” Signed, Guild leader Eiden. Guild staff however do recall an individual recently claiming to be the individual and leaving with a adamantine plate, given by the Guild leader himself in his office. These reports describe him as young looking, incredibly attractive and to be quite the charmer.

   Eye witness reports show the first sighting of this “Hope” being a merciless beating of an adventurer know as Hybrid outside of the Wandering Fox. Reports indicate an altercation taking place with another patron leading to issues outside and Hybrid firing his bow at the fleeing patron. Before anyone could even blink or react to the situation, the one calling himself Charis came out of seemingly nowhere, and in a flash of light was see blinking around and even through Hybrid as he attacked an impossible amount of times. Not stopping there, Hybrid was finished where he lay. Witnesses appealed for mercy, however despite it being too late, the attacker turned and bizarrely revived his victim, stripping him of his arms and raising Hybrid from the ground by the neck, shouting “DO NO EVIL” before retreating and teleporting off with a suspected accomplice who was hidden in the shadows, Hybrid left crumbled on the ground with patrons of the tavern scrambling to help.

   Local authorities claim the incident to be under guild investigation, with Davin the bar tender charged with assisting aggregated assault and transferred to an unknown location, and Hybrid later confirmed to be serving time in prison. No official records of punishment for Charis were available, however tavern regulars report him facing punishment from an incredibly powerful individual, known for crippling adventurers with her blows, yet unbelievably even she was unable to even touch this so called Guardian of Hope.

   In direct contrast to this, reports of this Charis came in about him passionately informing people in the Tavern of events that for a publication like this to even attempt to confirm as true is impossible. If what he says is true however, fate of adventurers seems to be a precious thing, and somehow in their own hands? Charis and an attractive female companion also came and overstocked the Wandering Fox with a range of alcoholic beverages bigger than ever before, traveling four taverns around Teresyum after adventurers somehow falsely reported the establishment was out of alcohol. It is thought Davin returned for some of his more personal possessions, which somehow got blown out of proportion into him apparently taking all the alcohol.

   Finally, and possibly most impressively, reports recently flooded in from adventurers claiming a severely injured adventurer appeared inside the tavern from seemingly nowhere crying for help, begging for a healer. Witnesses report Charis moving swiftly down to where the commotion was, and apparently bringing an adventurer laid dead back from the dead via touch alone. Seconds later Charis interrogated the person asking for help, swiftly finding the party they left in trouble and instantly vanishing. Other adventurers later confirm reports, matching the event timing perfectly, that Charis teleported to the downed party, and in a flash of light similar to the one he attacked Hybrid with, he felled the three monsters before they could kill the adventurers on the floor, who once again report being healed and brought back by touch alone. Charis then evacuated the group by a portal summoned out of nowhere. To put the speed of these actions into context, Charis was talking and drinking in the Tavern, his female companion being an inhuman drinker, yet by the time the above incidents were concluded, she had barely finished two pints, one in each hand, before he appeared once again at the Taverns front door, nodding and motioning to her to leave.

   So who is this Guardian of Hope, an individual shrouded in mystery. Even his appearance leaves people confused and torn between opinions. A very unique tattoo is on the right side of his face, with some claiming a youth, possibly young adult, adorned in a white robe with wooden armour that spreads over his body in an instant. Some report him wielding a rapier made of the same wood, others report him using a silver blade cased in a black scabbard with a pulsing red gem on the hilt – some report both.

   Rest assured, some of the above information is based on eye witness testimony, so may be inaccurate. Despite this, it appears we can all safely agree that someone, or something, has returned to Teresyum and is making an impression among local adventurers. Has Hope returned to us all? Was it ever gone? Does he come in peace? Whoever and whatever it is, certainly has been making an impression.

Adventurer's Confessions

Warm and Fuzzy

    Not everything in an adventurer's life is about danger and sacrifice. Sometimes, good things do happen, and it's important to remind ourselves of that every now and then. I spoke to a Tabaxi named Zera, who shared with me a heartwarming story of how he found a new friend.

   “It was a gloomy night. I was sitting in the tavern lonely and bored wondering what to do. I don’t know why but I decided to go for a walk that night. I was walking around the city enjoying the moonlight when I met up with a rather tall elf who was searching for a pet store. Bored I decided to go with her to find this pet store, and thus we began walking and talking. Eventually I spotted a pet store and we went in to browse."

   Inside was a sweet old tiefling lady sitting at the counter. She had a large selection of pets, toys and food. Naturally I was drawn to the cats so I went over to simply look and that’s where I saw him. A tiny ball of black and white fluff. His tongue was poking out as his grey eyes were peering into my soul. The moment I picked him up, the kitten began licking my face and I immediately knew, I had to bring him home. I took him up to the counter and purchased him along with some toys, a cat tower, and a lot of food.

   Ever since I brought him home that little kitten has made many strange and varied friends. He has licked many hands and faces and played with many people, from a music playing kenku to a couple of pseudo dragons. At one point he even experienced flight (which scared the hell out of me). I didn’t realize when I brought him, but every morning after that, I would awake to that tiny little ball of fluff sitting at the side of my bed, looking up at me with those grey eyes and licking my face when I picked him up.

   He has brought me so much happiness that I didn’t think was possible. He helped me when I was alone or lost. He is my most prized possession. That little ball of black and white fluff now spends his time in the tavern, looking extremely adorable and dapper in his tiny suit and making many new friends. His name is Sir Chronos, and this is his story.”

   In a world filled with tragedy and hardship, stories like that of Zera and Sir Chronos can help us remember that even the darkest of nights has its dawn eventually.

- written by Kenneth Oberon

When Death Gives You Lemons

   Something incredible and unprecedented has occurred this week. Three adventurers have returned, alive and well, after having been dead for several months. Their names are Jarvis NuJabes, Zielaph, and Ze’Nethra Dracos, and they are the first individuals in recorded history to achieve such a resurrection.

   The power to return a person to life is understood by a precious few, and fewer still are actually able to exercise it. It has been described as extremely costly and difficult for all parties involved, and they say that those who return aren't quite the same upon returning. However, these three seem to be curiously unscathed by their ordeal. Fortunately, they were willing to speak to me about their legendary achievement and shed some light on the true nature of death.

   I spoke with Jarvis first. Over a cup of tea, he shared with me his tale of the other side.

“I sat at the river of styx waiting for my turn for a long time. It wasn’t too bad, but I was eager to move on and return to life. Then when it seemed like the waiting would never end it was my turn to cross. I never knew that the test would not only challenge me, push me further than I’ve ever been but also it showed me who I was.

   Death told us we would need to complete three trials to earn our lives back. The first test was a battle with myself. The self that I lost when I became warforged. He had a lot of father issues. He had a lot holding him back, weighing him down. We exchanged spells back and forth. Close, very close I came to never being able to return. In the end I trapped him in a illusion and in his frustration, his fear he started slinging spells haphazardly attempts to destroy me brought ruin to him. I never knew my mother or father, but he did. He had what I lost and it blinded him. It consumed him and I hope that one day I can find the answers needed to lay the past to rest.”

   Jarvis then stood, showing me the many gears that made you his left arm, the storm raging on his right arm, and the sleeping dragon in his chest.

   “These gears are for Turloch, he gave a year of his life to help me return. The storm is Spark, for a warforged who claims to feel nothing he moves through life like a storm. Akenir [Pointing to chest]. The second trial I was told to visit those who I was close to as they slept. Ask them to pray and give up a year of their life for me. I crawled out of the afterlife thanks to them. The last trial… Well, just know this. When death offers you lemons, you make tea.”

   Next, I spoke with Ze'Nethra Dracos, who treated me to a dramatic recounting of the circumstances leading to the deaths of herself and the others.

   “Jarvis was the first to go down. Then the bastard focused on Zielaph. After knocking Zielaph unconscious several times I guess the thing got pissed and went to kill him. This is where the heroism of Graum will forever be engraved in my mind.

   As this vile bastard went to finish off Zielaph, Graum jumped before the strike and sacrificed a valuable asset. As Graum was hit his armor burst apart completely destroyed. Graum still fought... unarmored, he still fought on. It was an amazing sight, seeing him standing over Zielaph trying to protect him from death as I tried to heal him with everything I had. In the end it was not enough.

   Graum fell... and I was alone trapped in the pocket plane with these monstrosities. They turned on me and rushed as they reached me I swung my sword at the Lord of the Dead, and somehow I found a weakness left from Graum’s attacks and was able to strike a critical blow and finish killing this hellspawn. As it fell, I turned and focused everything I had on the guardian and hit the damn thing 5 more times bloodying it in my first sequence of attacks. But my fate was already decided. It hit me once more and I fell.”

   Upon meeting Death, Mrs Dracos was subjected to the same three trials as Jarvis.

   “I knew what to expect on the trials but facing them was something completely different. The desolation and dread of whats to come is nearly unbearable knowing that if you fail any part of the trials you will never be able to return… and none of the trials are easy by any stretch of your imagination. First you have to prove you have the will to fight for return, then you must show that you are wanted by others, and last you must show the devotion to return… If you find yourself in this I pray you have the will to fight, the love of those who wish you back, and the devotion to walk the path to get back. If you don’t then I pray for your soul for I fear we will never see it again…”

   After speaking with Mrs Dracos, I sought out the third individual, Zeilaph. However, this fabled herald of death and life had nothing to say to me. He seems to think that Death’s secrets are far too powerful to be shared with the ordinary person. I suppose that he would know better than anyone else. As for the fourth person mentioned, the warrior Graum, I have yet to receive word of his reappearance. Still, his compatriots seem optimistic that he will emerge from his own trials soon.

- written by Kenneth Oberon