Day 39: The Spider-Worshipper Atheoryn
Oct 27, 2010 6:20:44 GMT
Post by Vaylon Kenadell on Oct 27, 2010 6:20:44 GMT
Day 39: The Spider-Worshipper Atheoryn
Synopsis: After the apocalypse, the cultists who lived south of Oakmore fought with the bandits over the town's possessions, but the cultists were eventually chased off. When the characters began to interfere, the bandits decided to leave Oakmore, kill the cultists, and lay low for a while.
Full Story:
After a day of rest and after careful questioning by tower mages and priests, they learn that the cultist's name is Atheoryn. She also fills in many blanks of the previous month's events, which the characters come to know through conversation:
For at least a year, the cultists had been living in a series of small houses and caves over a day's travel south of Oakmore. They worshipped the spider-god Ianutani, great Weaver and changer of forms. Some people from Oakmore knew of the cult's existence, but, since the cult avoided contact with outsiders, they were considered to be mostly harmless. Atheoryn herself was among a few relatively new converts from outlying villages and hamlets.
Ianutani's presence shielded the cultists and their fields from the changing nature and horrifying nightmares of the apocalypse. In this manner, Atheoryn and her friends were able to survive the days immediately following the End, though they were all horrified at the deep wounds the world had suffered. Worse, no amount of praying or divination was able to penetrate the veiled cause of the growing darkness.
It was decided by the cult's highest mages that it would be up to them to rebuild society and spread the belief of Ianutani in the hopes of growing the Weaver's power. They sent many groups of proselytes to Oakmore to take supplies and bring people back to their hideout to help them grow food. At first, things seemed to be going relatively well -- but, around a week later, the groups stopped coming back. The leading mages became concerned and decided to gather a large force to see what had happened. Atheoryn was a part of this group.
This war-band marched north to Oakmore and were immediately set upon by wild dogs, which they slew. As they approached the library, they saw a large number of people approaching -- most of them were wearing loose clothing and bandannas and immediately attacked the cultists. There was a horrible fight, and several of her comrades were slain in or near the library. In the end, the remaining cultists managed to get away, fleeing back to their caves. No one knew it at the time, but earlier that day, Liam and Solutare had briefly visited the ground only to discover wild dogs.
A few days later, a smaller war-band of mages returned to Oakmore and were once again set upon by a pack of wild dogs. One of them was killed, and the rest barely managed to escape. After this, it was decided that no more visits to Oakmore would be made. Unfortunately, by this time it was too late: unknown to the cultists, the bandits of Oakmore had already decided to wipe them out. They marched south, towing all of their loot in several carts behind them.
The mages were able to detect the approach of the bandits; there was a brief debate, but in the end, everyone decided they would rather fight and die than negotiate or flee. They set fire to the complex and the woods to delay the bandits -- unintentionally killing all of the people earlier kidnapped from Oakmore in the process.
Atheoryn says she will always remember the screaming.
The cultist isn't quite sure, but she estimates the bandits must have had over five dozen men with them, including several mages. The battle went on for some time, and it seemed as if the bandits were protected by some powerful force that could not be overcome. In the end, Atheoryn and the others were ushered out of a secret exit by a remaining high mage who disappeared back inside. A few moments later, the hillside split apart as the Weaver's avatar emerged and began to destroy the bandits.
Atheoryn, ashamed, admits that she along with three of her comrades, fled toward the north and did not stay to watch the horrible creature's slaughter. It seemed logical to head back to Oakmore since the bandits had come south in force. They managed to hide for only a day before being caught by Alder, Liam, Noelle, and Sian. She begged her fellow cultists to surrender, but they would not hear of it: they wanted vengeance.
Atheoryn believes she is the last of her cult. The guilt of this has obviously taken its toll: after enduring the apocalypse and seeing everyone she had known and loved for the past year brutally killed, she has lost the will to continue living. "There is no happiness left for me in this world," she has said, "nor does any remain for you."
At the time this was written, she is currently still being held in the infirmary.
Synopsis: After the apocalypse, the cultists who lived south of Oakmore fought with the bandits over the town's possessions, but the cultists were eventually chased off. When the characters began to interfere, the bandits decided to leave Oakmore, kill the cultists, and lay low for a while.
Full Story:
After a day of rest and after careful questioning by tower mages and priests, they learn that the cultist's name is Atheoryn. She also fills in many blanks of the previous month's events, which the characters come to know through conversation:
For at least a year, the cultists had been living in a series of small houses and caves over a day's travel south of Oakmore. They worshipped the spider-god Ianutani, great Weaver and changer of forms. Some people from Oakmore knew of the cult's existence, but, since the cult avoided contact with outsiders, they were considered to be mostly harmless. Atheoryn herself was among a few relatively new converts from outlying villages and hamlets.
Ianutani's presence shielded the cultists and their fields from the changing nature and horrifying nightmares of the apocalypse. In this manner, Atheoryn and her friends were able to survive the days immediately following the End, though they were all horrified at the deep wounds the world had suffered. Worse, no amount of praying or divination was able to penetrate the veiled cause of the growing darkness.
It was decided by the cult's highest mages that it would be up to them to rebuild society and spread the belief of Ianutani in the hopes of growing the Weaver's power. They sent many groups of proselytes to Oakmore to take supplies and bring people back to their hideout to help them grow food. At first, things seemed to be going relatively well -- but, around a week later, the groups stopped coming back. The leading mages became concerned and decided to gather a large force to see what had happened. Atheoryn was a part of this group.
This war-band marched north to Oakmore and were immediately set upon by wild dogs, which they slew. As they approached the library, they saw a large number of people approaching -- most of them were wearing loose clothing and bandannas and immediately attacked the cultists. There was a horrible fight, and several of her comrades were slain in or near the library. In the end, the remaining cultists managed to get away, fleeing back to their caves. No one knew it at the time, but earlier that day, Liam and Solutare had briefly visited the ground only to discover wild dogs.
A few days later, a smaller war-band of mages returned to Oakmore and were once again set upon by a pack of wild dogs. One of them was killed, and the rest barely managed to escape. After this, it was decided that no more visits to Oakmore would be made. Unfortunately, by this time it was too late: unknown to the cultists, the bandits of Oakmore had already decided to wipe them out. They marched south, towing all of their loot in several carts behind them.
The mages were able to detect the approach of the bandits; there was a brief debate, but in the end, everyone decided they would rather fight and die than negotiate or flee. They set fire to the complex and the woods to delay the bandits -- unintentionally killing all of the people earlier kidnapped from Oakmore in the process.
Atheoryn says she will always remember the screaming.
The cultist isn't quite sure, but she estimates the bandits must have had over five dozen men with them, including several mages. The battle went on for some time, and it seemed as if the bandits were protected by some powerful force that could not be overcome. In the end, Atheoryn and the others were ushered out of a secret exit by a remaining high mage who disappeared back inside. A few moments later, the hillside split apart as the Weaver's avatar emerged and began to destroy the bandits.
Atheoryn, ashamed, admits that she along with three of her comrades, fled toward the north and did not stay to watch the horrible creature's slaughter. It seemed logical to head back to Oakmore since the bandits had come south in force. They managed to hide for only a day before being caught by Alder, Liam, Noelle, and Sian. She begged her fellow cultists to surrender, but they would not hear of it: they wanted vengeance.
Atheoryn believes she is the last of her cult. The guilt of this has obviously taken its toll: after enduring the apocalypse and seeing everyone she had known and loved for the past year brutally killed, she has lost the will to continue living. "There is no happiness left for me in this world," she has said, "nor does any remain for you."
At the time this was written, she is currently still being held in the infirmary.