From: Thomas Gottschall (Bloodtooth@gmx.net)
Date: Wed 10 Sep 1997 - 15:36:37 EEST
Hi everyone,
it seems that the digest falls asleep. And since I lately discovered a
nice message by Michael Raaterova (I think) about magical places in my
memory, I started to work. Here is what has come to my mind lately.
I named a forest to the west of Runegate Evergreen Woods since I had no
source with any other name.
The mistery of Mistgrove
Every little child knows the stories of Mistgrove, a part of the
Evergreen Woods which is nearly all the time covered in mist. Many tales
are told of the origin of this magical place near Runegate Fort but none
can truely explain it. And even less is known of what really is inside
of it. Many think that Mistgrove is a holy place for either Iphara or
Huraya but not even the Grey Sages of Jonstown know it. Though some
expeditions dared to enter Mistgrove in order to discover what is
inside, either they didnt return or those who did reported to have seen
nothing but mist. Also many adventurers entered but of those even less
returned and no one was able to recall anything else than mist. And thus
what is inside remains a mistery even today and wild speculations and
rumours are told to everyone who asks. The most popular one says that
inside of it if you follow the right tracks the mist will vanish and you
will be able to visit Iphara, Godess of Fog and Mist. She waits there
inside her illusionary palace for the first mortal to come. And it is
said that the one who succeeds will be rewarded like a king of heroes.
But this is not the only tale of this special place. Many doubt that
anything good might hide there but fear that some unknown evil sleeps
there only to be awaken by careless fools, this could be something from
before time or something which survived the Dragonkill War. And a few,
particulary a Sword of Humakt, even guard Mistgrove thus nobody can
enter it. It is not healthy to argue with them, some even kill those on
the spot who express the wish to enter Mistgrove. Dare your players
enter it nonetheless ? And what will be their fate ?
Mistgrove lies a two days march to the northeast from Runegate Fort.
One will notice it by the fog which penetrates its border. Though
normally mist is nothing unusual in the Evergreen Woods it seldom stays
longer than midday. But the mist of Mistgrove fades only once in many
years. Last time this was when the terrible Crimson Bat devoured all of
Runegate in 1602 at the Battle of Runegate Fort. The mist is so thick
that eyesight is only effective for three meters around. Anything which
is further away can not be seen due to the fog. Also scent and hearing
are not as relieable as in other places. While scent fails because of
the very moist and cool air, hearing is doomed to fail in the mist by
stange echos and damping. It is very hard to hold a certain direction in
the mist because of no natural signs of any direction. It is not
possible to see Yelm in Mistgrove regardless how good ones eyesight
might be. There exist no tracks inside of Mistgrove and the vegetation
is very dense. Only small game can be found inside. Hunting is
impossible due to the needed eyesight. Though one can find wild fruits
and berries in the late fire- and earthseason until early darkseason,
people are doomed to starve if they have no food themselves or escape
Mistgrove in time. To wander through Mistgrove one would need only a day
if there was no fog. The Lhankor Mhy in Jonstown do have access to some
reports of the first setlers of Runegate after the Inhuman Occupation of
DragonPass. There already Mistgrove is mentioned. Older documents might
exist though none are known at this time. It is believed that Mistgrove
is older than Time and that the mist hides an unknown secret, yet to be
uncovered.
So, what is really inside of it ? Chaos, ruins or a holy place ? No
one knows or at least no one tells. Mistgrove is a secret, and probably
it will remain this way until Time ends.
I hope I could add some interesting place to Glorantha and perhaps start
a new adventure for some players out there.
- --
bye, Thomas
Email : Bloodtooth@gmx.net
Homepage Telmori's Forest :
(it hasn't moved, it's just a shortcut)
http://home.pages.de/~Telmori's.Forest/
"And by the seventh day all Telmori knew that they should have no home
in Sartar. Again man betrayed them. Not for the first time and certainly
not for the last time..."
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