The Anointed Order of Ezzoh
(WRITTEN BY JOHN O'BYRNE)
In the heart of a realm veiled in shadows, where intrigue and treachery danced like phantoms in the night, the Red Jackal summoned three disparate souls to his grand hall. . Gaerwynn, Frightal-lok, and Elrgol, a hardy dwarven warrior, stood before their enigmatic patron, their fates entwined in the looming darkness that threatened the kingdom.
The Red Jackal, his hooded visage concealing his true identity, spoke with urgency. "Listen well, for our kingdom is beset by a hidden threat, a venomous serpent coiled within our very midst. The Anointed Order of Ezzoh, a secret society, has taken root in our realm. They sow the seeds of unrest, and their origins are shrouded in shadows."
The three figures exchanged glances, their faces etched with grim resolve.
The Red Jackal continued, "What is more, my trusted spies have unearthed a disturbing truth. The Anointed Order of Ezzoh is supported by our supposed ally to the west, one who seeks to weaken our rule. Their dark influence has reached even into my own ranks." Desperation had driven the Red Jackal to dispatch his armies who easily overwhelmed the Order's members. Amidst the ancient religious artifacts within the Order's treasure hoard, they had uncovered a cache of gold coins, an enigma with a dark secret.
Gaerwynn's eyes narrowed as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. "What would you have us do?" he asked.
The Red Jackal's voice lowered to a grave whisper. "You are to deliver these cursed coins to the Almoner, who will distribute the wealth among the people to quell the unrest. It is vital that the populace remains placated."
The trio set out to fulfill the Red Jackal's command. Yet, when the Almoner, a wise and compassionate soul, examined the coins closely. His eyes widened with recognition, and he uttered a single word, "Iwnus."
These coins, it seemed, were tokens from the Sanctuary of Iwnus, a place steeped in ancient magic and darkness. They were cursed, vessels of malevolence that would infest the minds of those who possessed them with visions of death and destruction. It would drive them to madness, and they would resist any order or law, becoming agents of chaos.
The Irregulars realized the grim truth - the Anointed Order of Ezzoh had intended for these coins to spread discord and chaos within the kingdom, and the Red Jackal's plan would unwittingly further their cause.
Swiftly, they sent word to the Red Jackal, revealing the coins' curse and their intentions to return them to the Sanctuary of Iwnus, nestled deep within snow-capped mountains to the west. Their journey was fraught with peril, for the Red Jackal's enemies lurked in every shadow, seeking to deter them from their mission. Months passed as they ventured deeper into the treacherous terrain, their determination unwavering.
At last, they arrived at the accursed sanctuary, a place tainted by darkness and forgotten by time. Within its unholy depths, they faced a guardian unlike any other. Ariûk, a fallen angel twisted by malevolence, stood before them, wielding a mighty blade wreathed in dark energy.
The battle that ensued was fierce, and the Irregulars fought valiantly. Yet, Ariûk possessed a power that none could resist. With a wicked incantation, he seized Gaerwynn's mind, turning him against his companions. In the midst of the chaos, Elrgol fell to Gaerwynn's necrotic assault, his life force drained by the very ally he had sworn to protect.
Frightal-lok and Gaerwynn clashed with an intensity born of desperation, their blows echoing through the accursed temple. But Ariûk, driven by his malevolent desires, intervened, his taloned hand closing around Frightal-lok's throat.
As the fallen angel raised his longsword to deliver a killing blow, Gaerwynn, with a surge of inner strength, broke free from Ariûk's control. He lunged at the malevolent creature, grasping his shadowy wings and unleashing a radiant torrent of energy. The dark angel howled in agony as he was banished from the mortal plane, his presence extinguished like a wretched ember.
The blade clattered to the temple's cold stone floor, bereft of its master's malevolence. Remarkably, Gaerwynn found he could touch the cursed weapon without harm. He and Frightal-lok placed the accursed coins upon the temple's ancient altar, where their malevolence could harm no one. The curse was lifted, and the sanctuary's darkness receded, leaving only an eerie stillness in its wake.
With their mission accomplished and the curse broken, Gaerwynn and Frightal-lok departed the sinister temple. They had averted disaster and foiled the Anointed Order of Ezzoh's sinister plot, their bonds forged stronger through the trials they had endured. In the shadows, the Red Jackal awaited their return, a master of secrets who trusted these unlikely heroes to safeguard his realm.
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Lamentation, Ariûk’s Blade
Weapon (longsword), rare
• +1 Longsword.
• When you damage a creature with an attack using this blade, the target can’t regain hit points until the start of your next turn.
