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Centuries ago, before the Horrors came and changed the fair face of our land forever, there was a beautiful elven settlement named Andelin deep within the woods of Barsaive north of the Aras Sea. Andelin was formed out of the great trees of the forest and shaped from the natural stone of the cliffs and hills. The buildings were graceful and blended naturally with their surroundings. Even members of the court at Wyrm Wood would go and visit, enjoying the beauty of the city and the hospitality of Redlif, the prince of the lands of Andelin.
Prince Redlif was reknown for his weaponcrafting skill. It was said that he could forge a blade that could pierce the heaviest plate armor just by being allowed to fall upon it. He could craft chain mail that would be light as silk and stronger than the sturdiest dwarven crafted plate armor. Many nobles from Wyrm Wood, Shosara, and the City of Spires would visit the court at Andelin in hope of receiving a weapon or armor as a gift from its Prince. It was said that he had no equal in his craft. Even now, centuries later, a weapon or armor forged in Andelin by Prince Redlif is considered to be without equal.
As the time of the Scourge grew near, Queen Alachia gave her decree that none of the elven set§tlements would follow the Theran rituals to ward against the Horrors. As we all know, many of the elven kingdoms defied her decree, and were cast out from the court. But Prince Redlif remained loyal to his Queen. Though he disagreed with her policy, he followed Queen Alachia's decree and refused any Theran aid, relying on the magical wards provided by Wyrm Wood.
Andelin was soon fortified by using the living magic of elemental wood and earth, and its protections were completed before the first of the Horrors managed to enter the forest. Illusionists and elementalists cast various protective spells, enchantments that would confuse and bewilder anyone who entered the woods. Enchantments that would lead the unwary away from the settlement.
Prince Redlif spent the final decades before the Scourge travelling the lands of Barsaive with his lifemate Larkspur, a warrior adept of great skill. The two wielded the magical swords Twin I and Twin II, blades that allowed communication and the sharing of damage between the two wielders. Redlif and Larkspur used these two swords to battle against the few Horrors that originally made their way to Barsaive, helping many communities while learning about the magical invaders.
As the Scourge grew near, the two brave heroes started to make their way back towards Andelin. It was then that disaster struck. They were almost back to the woods when a Horror known as the Corrupter of Thoughts came upon them. It is said the Horror took control of Larkspur, and used her to fight Redlif. After a long and spectacular battle, Redlif managed to defeat his lifemate, using all of his fighting and magical skills, but he was unable to bring himself to take her life. He took her unconscious body and returned to Andelin.
Once he managed to return to his city, Prince Redlif seemed a different person. He shut himself in the palace and accepted no visitors. He sent for books on magic and nethermancy, convinced that there had to be some way to save his beloved from the Horror's possession. Tales say that he became a powerful nethermancer, and worked many new enchantments into the defenses of Andelin. It is rumored that Redlif created special weapons for the woodsmen, bladedancers, warriors, and scouts that guarded the borders against Horror incursions. Weapons that would kill or banish the invaders. Still, he had no luck in driving the Corruptor of Thoughts from Larkspur's mind. Finally, he decided that the only way to save his lady was to destroy the Horror that possessed her.
To this end Redlif forged a mighty weapon. He destroyed the two twin blades and used their metal to create a sword named Elenorial, taking over a year just to complete the blade. It was rumored to have no equal. He wove into the blade many mighty magics, both elemental and nethermantic. Once he had completed the sword, he forged armor and a shield, making them the most powerful he could, and using his own blood in their making. After another year, he was ready.
In the final year before Andelin was sealed Prince Redlif left his home one last time. He went forth to find and slay the Horror that possessed his beloved Larkspur. He told his court that his armor would allow him to pass through the wards and find Andelin even after it was sealed. He then left the still unconscious form of his lady in a magical sleep deep beneath the palace and went forward on his quest. It is unknown if he ever managed to return.
The Scourge came and many kaers and citadels were breached, regardless of what protections were used. Wyrm Wood eventually fell, much to the dismay of our people, and Queen Alachia enacted the now infamous Ritual of Thorns, corrupting both the woods and the court. Now, we as a people have no true center, no place we can look to for guidance.
The Scourge came to an end little over a century ago. The horror of what happened in Wyrm Wood, now known as the Blood Woods, soon became known by all, much to our people's disgrace. Many other settlements were destroyed or breached. Still, there has been no word from Andelin. It is unknown whether the beautiful settlement survived the Scourge or was destroyed. Three times there have been expeditions sent in search of the lost city, and three times the searchers returned, unable to find any trace of Prince Redlif's people.
Still, hope is alive. Though no trace has been found of the elves of Andelin, there has been no trace of any ruins either. It is hoped that Andelin still exists, unbreached and intact, still protected by the magic and wards that guarded it against the Horrors, unaware that the Scourge is over .
The elves in Barsaive still remember the beautiful city of Andelin, one of the mightiest elven cities within Barsaive before the Scourge (neither Shosara or the City of Spires is located within the lands of Barsaive). Many elven nobles in the Blood Woods and beyond still possess weapons and armor forged by the legendary craftsman Redlif. Many elves still venture into the forest above the Aras Sea in hopes of finding their kinfolk in Andelin.
Characters can become involved with this legend in numerous ways. They may decide to try and find the city of Andelin, either in hopes of locating the missing elves and beautiful city, or in hopes of searching the ruins for armor and weapons crafted by the master weaponsmith. Perhaps the characters have found Prince Redlif's resting place, and can reawaken him. Once he is awake, he can them to Andelin. Imagine the reward for the people who manage to awaken the elven prince and escort him back to the legendary city of Andelin.
This is a quest for characters who are already legendary heroes themselves. It is suggested that characters be of at least eighth circle before interacting with this legend as an adventure, though they may hear the tale years before they become involved.
Prince Redlif never returned to Andelin. By the time he managed to catch up to the Corruptor of Thoughts and defeat it, the Scourge had already started and the Horrors roamed the land freely. When it became clear to him that he could not make it back to Andelin, Prince Redlif sealed himself into a cave in the Thunder Mountains using his elementalism and nethermancy. He then forced himself into a magical slumber, triggered to end when the magic level dropped to the level needed to drive the Horrors from the land.
Of course, the magic level of Barsaive stopped declining, and the trigger conditions were never met. Prince Redlif lies in magical slumber to this day, unable to waken on his own. He is guarded by skeleton warriors and an astral horror, located within a Bone Circle. The characters would need a powerful Dispel Magic to awaken the sleeping prince, even if they find him. Once he is awakened, he can lead the characters to Andelin. If they can not awaken him, his armor can be used to lead them to Andelin where the waiting elves can lift the enchantment that keeps him slumbering.
Andelin was never breached by the Horrors. The additional protections and the magical weapons wielded by its protectors proved to be effective. Once the Corruptor of Thoughts was killed, Larkspur awoke from the magical sleep and took over the leadership of the city. She is blood bound to Prince Redlif and can tell he still lives. She believes that if he has not returned, the Scourge must still be preventing him. Because of this, she has yet to end the magical protections that guard Andelin from intruders. Once Redlif approaches within a few miles, Larkspur will become aware of his presence and his condition due to their blood bond.
Prince Redlif is a 15th circle weaponsmith adept and a 10th circle nethermancer. Larkspur is a 14th circle warrior adept. If the characters succeed in reuniting these two lovers, they have added their names to the legend of Prince Redlif and Andelin. They will be rewarded with either armor or weapons. What follows are the statistics for the sword Elenorial, Redlif's armor, and Redlif's shield.
Maximum Threads: 1
Spell Defense: 13
The sword Elenorial is crafted from orichalcum and gives off a soft light. The hilt is crafted in gold and carved to resemble leaves and vines. There is a large emerald in the pommel. The word Elenorial is carved down the blade in Sperethial and the elven R rune is stamped on the crossguard. The sword normally does Strength + 10 damage due to being forged to +5. It is a blade of legend and currently tied to Prince Redlif at Rank 6.
Thread Ranks
Rank 1 Cost: 300
Key Knowledge: What is the name of the sword? It is named Elenorial (Sperethial for Bright Night).
Effect: The sword will give off a soft light equal to torch light when its name is spoken. It does +1 additional step of damage when used against Horrors and their minions.
Rank 2 Cost: 500
Key Knowledge: Who crafted the sword? It was crafted by the legendary elven weaponsmith Redlif.
Effect: The sword does +3 additional steps of damage against Horrors and their minions.
Rank 3 Cost: 800
Key Knowledge: Where was the blade forged? It was forged in the elven city of Andelin.
Effect: The sword will score an armor piercing hit on a Good Success, no longer needing an Excellent Success.
Rank 4 Cost: 1300
Key Knowledge: Why was the blade forged? To slay the Horror that possessed Larkspur, Redlif's lifemate.
Effect: Add +2 to the wielder's Melee Weapon step when using the sword.
Rank 5 Cost: 2100
Effect: The sword gives the wielder 1 extra Recovery Test per day. The blade now allows a second attack at the cost of 1 point of Strain.
Rank 6 Cost: 3400
Key Knowledge: Who was the Horror Redlif was hunting with the sword? The Horror was the Corruptor of Thoughts.
Effect: For 2 points of Strain, the blade will become ethereal, ignoring Physical Armor and becoming solid once it has passed the armor and entered a living target.
Maximum Threads: 1
Spell Defense: 12
The Armor of Redlif is a combination of light chain mail and plate mail. It is a gleaming silvery color and intricately engraved. The elven R rune is stamped on each piece. It normally provides 12 points of Physical Armor and 4 points of Mystic Armor. It has an Initiative Penalty of -4.
Thread Ranks
Rank 1 Cost: 200
Key Knowledge: What is the name of the armor? It is the Armor of Redlif.
Effect: The Initiative Penalty is reduced to -2.
Rank 2 Cost: 300
Key Knowledge: Where was the armor crafted? It was crafted in Andelin.
Effect: There is no longer any Initiative Penalty. Add +1 to the wearer's Physical Defense.
Rank 3 Cost: 500
Effect: Add +1 to the wearer's Spell Defense.
Rank 4 Cost: 800
Key Knowledge: Who was the Horror being hunted by Redlif? He was hunting the Corruptor of Thoughts.
Effect: The armor can only be defeated by an Extraordinary Success.
Rank 5 Cost: 1300
Effect: The wearer's Spell Defense and Physical Defense are raised by +2.
Rank 6 Cost: 2100
Deed: The armor must be blood bound to the wearer at the cost of 3 Blood Points. This earns the wearer 500 Legend Points.
Effect: The wearer gains 2 additional Recovery Tests per day. The wearer can also pass through the wards surrounding Andelin.
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