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In shadowed keep of tumbled stone,
A peril hides, for years unknown,
The Kinslayer's spirit guards it yet,
'Gainst the very child he did beget.
The thing of evil sent dark dreams,
Nightmares wrought of tortured screams,
The vowed defender's sword did rend,
Murder to fate's hand forfend.
Awakened to the awful truth,
Shattered bones of men and youth,
His wife and children, pride and joy,
Seen as demons, he destroyed.
The Kinslayer met his death alone,
For wicked deeds he would atone,
So awaits he for the fated time,
Forgiveness grant for hated crime.
Visions echo through the halls,
Ghostly blood runs 'long the walls,
None can face those cursed remains
Fear like water in their veins.
If seek ye treasure, fame or greed,
Kinslayer's words be wise to heed,
Be ye born of purest light,
None can withstand the endless night.
The cautionary verse at the end was tacked on as part of the general "horror story" feel. I had also written some more specific prophetic verses, that perhaps could be found in Keegan's tomb or told to the characters by Keegan himself.
Sole survivor of that cursed line,
Now wakens the unholy shrine,
Dark power craves as men do thirst,
Confining spells to be reversed.
Trembling on the edge of doom,
Unholy rites beneath my tomb,
Prevent the opening of the gate,
Or embrace a dark and bitter fate.
So in my version of the story, Kalarel is Sir Keegan's son (others have suggested this connection as well, I'm not claiming it as my own). Kalarel is a half-elf, which explains why he's still around all these years later.
What happened is that Orcus and company were whispering evil into Keegan's dreams as the guardian of the portal. One of the most prevalent was that his own child would attempt to open the gate. This was true, and it was this prophecy combined with the rest that caused him to snap, killing his entire family.
Kalarel either was slain and successfully resurrected (as he still had an unfulfilled destiny that the rest of his family lacked), or else was left for dead and saved by the guards. In either case he was raised by friends of the family far from the Keep. Keegan realized what he had done after he was cornered in part of the keep by the remaining guards, and killed himself. They returned to deal with him, and found him along with a note explaining his horror at his own actions, and that no man was strong enough to resist the evil, urging them to abandon the keep. They entombed him there, and left.
Kalarel is a bit off his rocker, having memories of his own father murdering his entire family and leaving him for dead. He has sought for years to discover the true history of what occurred at the Keep, and once he knew of the portal, determined to open the gate. He is convinced that the power of Orcus over the undead will make it possible for his family to return to him somehow.
The rest is more or less as written, playing up the horror elements a bit. Eerie child voices crying "Daddy, no!" and that kind of thing. Not often - just enough to put the players on edge.
A peril hides, for years unknown,
The Kinslayer's spirit guards it yet,
'Gainst the very child he did beget.
The thing of evil sent dark dreams,
Nightmares wrought of tortured screams,
The vowed defender's sword did rend,
Murder to fate's hand forfend.
Awakened to the awful truth,
Shattered bones of men and youth,
His wife and children, pride and joy,
Seen as demons, he destroyed.
The Kinslayer met his death alone,
For wicked deeds he would atone,
So awaits he for the fated time,
Forgiveness grant for hated crime.
Visions echo through the halls,
Ghostly blood runs 'long the walls,
None can face those cursed remains
Fear like water in their veins.
If seek ye treasure, fame or greed,
Kinslayer's words be wise to heed,
Be ye born of purest light,
None can withstand the endless night.
The cautionary verse at the end was tacked on as part of the general "horror story" feel. I had also written some more specific prophetic verses, that perhaps could be found in Keegan's tomb or told to the characters by Keegan himself.
Sole survivor of that cursed line,
Now wakens the unholy shrine,
Dark power craves as men do thirst,
Confining spells to be reversed.
Trembling on the edge of doom,
Unholy rites beneath my tomb,
Prevent the opening of the gate,
Or embrace a dark and bitter fate.
So in my version of the story, Kalarel is Sir Keegan's son (others have suggested this connection as well, I'm not claiming it as my own). Kalarel is a half-elf, which explains why he's still around all these years later.
What happened is that Orcus and company were whispering evil into Keegan's dreams as the guardian of the portal. One of the most prevalent was that his own child would attempt to open the gate. This was true, and it was this prophecy combined with the rest that caused him to snap, killing his entire family.
Kalarel either was slain and successfully resurrected (as he still had an unfulfilled destiny that the rest of his family lacked), or else was left for dead and saved by the guards. In either case he was raised by friends of the family far from the Keep. Keegan realized what he had done after he was cornered in part of the keep by the remaining guards, and killed himself. They returned to deal with him, and found him along with a note explaining his horror at his own actions, and that no man was strong enough to resist the evil, urging them to abandon the keep. They entombed him there, and left.
Kalarel is a bit off his rocker, having memories of his own father murdering his entire family and leaving him for dead. He has sought for years to discover the true history of what occurred at the Keep, and once he knew of the portal, determined to open the gate. He is convinced that the power of Orcus over the undead will make it possible for his family to return to him somehow.
The rest is more or less as written, playing up the horror elements a bit. Eerie child voices crying "Daddy, no!" and that kind of thing. Not often - just enough to put the players on edge.
So in my version of the story, Kalarel is Sir Keegan's son (others have suggested this connection as well, I'm not claiming it as my own). Kalarel is a half-elf, which explains why he's still around all these years later.
What happened is that Orcus and company were whispering evil into Keegan's dreams as the guardian of the portal. One of the most prevalent was that his own child would attempt to open the gate. This was true, and it was this prophecy combined with the rest that caused him to snap, killing his entire family.
Kalarel either was slain and successfully resurrected (as he still had an unfulfilled destiny that the rest of his family lacked), or else was left for dead and saved by the guards. In either case he was raised by friends of the family far from the Keep. Keegan realized what he had done after he was cornered in part of the keep by the remaining guards, and killed himself. They returned to deal with him, and found him along with a note explaining his horror at his own actions, and that no man was strong enough to resist the evil, urging them to abandon the keep. They entombed him there, and left.
Kalarel is a bit off his rocker, having memories of his own father murdering his entire family and leaving him for dead. He has sought for years to discover the true history of what occurred at the Keep, and once he knew of the portal, determined to open the gate. He is convinced that the power of Orcus over the undead will make it possible for his family to return to him somehow.
The rest is more or less as written, playing up the horror elements a bit. Eerie child voices crying "Daddy, no!" and that kind of thing. Not often - just enough to put the players on edge.
[/sblock]
Sorry, i really must steal this idea. *YOINK!*
A couple people on ENWorld liked it, so I figured I'd cross-post. As part of fleshing out KotS, I decided to throw in a poem to be used as either some sort of prophecy or perhaps as a song of unknown origin that the locals all know. I will present it first, then add some info on assumed changes to the plot that go along with it.
I really liked your poem and the modifications added by SgtPeppar76. I hope it is ok if I add it to my H1: Demon Prince of Undeath Conversion Guide. I put you in the credits for it.
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PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS IN HERE - DO NOT READ IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY PLAYING THE ADVENTURES
H1 Conversion Guide:
http://web.comhem.se/mwester/Shadowfell/Documents/H1-H3_Orcus_Conversion.pdf
H2 Conversion Guide:
http://web.comhem.se/mwester/Shadowfell/Documents/H2_Orcus_Conversion.pdf
I you want to read our game chronicles you may find them at:
http://web.comhem.se/mwester/Shadowfell/index.htm
H1 Conversion Guide:
http://web.comhem.se/mwester/Shadowfell/Documents/H1-H3_Orcus_Conversion.pdf
H2 Conversion Guide:
http://web.comhem.se/mwester/Shadowfell/Documents/H2_Orcus_Conversion.pdf
I you want to read our game chronicles you may find them at:
http://web.comhem.se/mwester/Shadowfell/index.htm