Level 114 cont.

She remembers her grandfather spoke of the All-crushing Hammer once, “it’s supposed to be extremely powerful.  He said that during an attack on the Castle, our Champion struck the ground just once, and the might of the blow caused the enemy to flee in terror.  Though, the force of the strike destroyed the Hammer.”

Dolores theorizes the parts could be anywhere and maybe some of them have been found already.  “Each of the individual parts would still be priceless and indestructible – quite a gift to stumble across!”  It’s possible those lucky souls possessing a piece might not even know the power of that piece.  “Imagine a piece of the Hammer used as a paperweight!”

Dolores’ skills apparently go beyond mere blacksmithing.  “My hammer can do more than just form metal – it can detect the presence of legendary artifacts.  If I focus deeply enough, I can sense artifacts nearby – watch out, my hammer’s been known to fly from my hand!”  Surprised for a second it actually worked, Dolores says her “hammer feels the artifact’s energy, but the answer is…odd.”  Apparently, the artifact piece isn’t far at all.  “But this can’t be right.  If my intuition is correct, you and Ronan will have a puzzle to solve.  Go to Ronan – tell him the location of the Hammer part is closer than he thinks, and he can find it without anyone’s help.”

Level 114 cont.

Ronan wonders if the All-crushing Hammer will break the chain and swears he “never sought immortality, only to help my dearest friend.”  Confused that Dolores insists he must find the Hammer on his own, Ronan says “With what at my disposal?  Let’s see…the only things I possess now are my memories.  Can those save me?”  Riddles rarely bring Ronan any comfort, but Dolores insisting that he’s missing something hiding in plain sight is one riddle he’d like to solve.  “What treasures could a prisoner like me possibly have?  Do I have any prized possessions, you ask?  Well, yes, but they are mostly useless.  I doubt the answer lies there.  I do have the remains of my axe…it’s been in my family for ages.  But how will that help me?”

There may be some unexpected value in that axe.  “The Prince broke my axe before binding us, so all I have is the pommel.  My grandfather found it long ago after some great battle.  I guess we can take a closer look.”

Bound Ronan exclaims, “You’re saying I’ve had a piece of the Hammer all long?  What luck!  My pain feels suddenly bearable, if only for now.  May good fortune lead you – I’ll be here waiting, as if I have a choice…”  (You are rewarded with the Spiked Pommel.)

Han, the Sage at Mountain Foot knows about Ronan and the unsuccessful attempts of many who have tried to help him.  Nevertheless, he wants to help.  “First, we must understand what lies at the heart of Ronan’s plight – broken trust.  No, Ronan did not betray his master.  Prince Stronghold falsely believed that Ronan stripped him of immortality not to save him, but for personal gain.” 

Han understands there are many kinds of suffering, including spiritual suffering.  “Do you know the level of grief that Prince Stronghold endured?  The damage to his soul was immense.  He thought his only friend had betrayed him, and it fractured his spirit – it was beyond any physical pain.”

Level 115

Han feels Prince Stronghold’s spirit is nearby on the mountain and calming it will restore balance to the world.  Luckily, Han knows a simple pacifying ritual and begins verifying the rites and steps that must be taken.  “First, I must cleanse the Prince’s spirit of all negative energy.”  Once all the negativity has been dispersed, “positive energy must replace it.”

With Prince Stronghold’s spirit brimming with positivity, the waiting begins.  Finally, Han exclaims “Great fortune!  Stronghold’s spirit now understands the truth – Ronan was trying to save him.  He says he knows of a lost item that may interest us.” 

Han says “Do you know the tale of the Blessed Champion?  Long ago he defended the Castle from a great enemy.  In the battle, he used the All-crushing Hammer and all fled before its might.  The Hammer was destroyed, but he retained a piece for himself.  The Champion realized that the only way to keep the Hammer part safe was to go into hiding.  Of course, the Champion knew the part would survive longer than he would – before he died, he must have hidden it.”

Level 115 cont.

Han believes the Champion was a master of magic as well as a great warrior.  “He cast a powerful concealing enchantment.  Great magic inevitably leaves a trace.  The Champion’s spirit has in some way marked the artifact.  Most likely, what was left behind was a trace of his greatness.  If so, I should be able to locate it with little trouble.”

The part, while easily found, was magically sealed.  To open it, Han must be found trustworthy.  “Spirits be blessed!  I focused on the object, and the seal simply vanished.  The magic must have deemed me worthy.  Well done, friend.  Here you are, and may this help bring balance to all.  (You are rewarded with the Unifying Grip.)

To learn about protection – who better than a people who have been living in secrecy for ages?  Olympe, the Harpy, in Mountain Ledge, poses a question.  “I know you’re one for perilous adventures, so I must ask…are we in trouble again?  It’s not that I don’t like adventures, but safety is my priority.”

Olympe knows of Ronan and isn’t so sure it’s wise to free him.  “The length of his captivity…who knows how it has warped his mind.  What if he’s dangerous?  It’s imperative we discover why Ronan’s chains can’t be broken by any other tool.”

Level 115 cont.

Aware of Dolores’ belief the chain is composed of a rare metal, Olympe nonetheless feels that can’t be the only reason for its strength.  “Yes, there’s something else…a mysterious seal on the chain.  Where did it come from?  It’s a unique alloy of metal and magic.  What mind came up with this?  Only the coven of mages could have conceived of such a thing.”

While Olympe understands why the mages used spectral protection, the technique has its flaws.  “Mainly, spectral protection cannot be undone – only broken by a powerful artifact.”  Probing further, Olympe says “we’re lost in the mist of the known.  The magic we speak of is ancient – far too old for any human hand.”

As luck would have it, harpies live far longer than humans; the lives of some harpies span millennia.  Olympe discusses this type of protective magic with the elder and shares, “The elder spoke about the ancient battle in which the All-crushing Hammer was used, and revealed a surprising secret.  The Hammer’s power lies not in its strength, but in its effect on others – the hearts of foes turn cold with fear, and magic from any other source is silenced.  With the flick of the wrist, you can make enemies flee and render powerful magic meaningless – it seems best that you can only do this once.”

The elder revealed the last item needed is a leather strap.  But not even the finest leather can endure the ruin of time.  “On that note, I have some good news…harpies excel at leather craft, among other things.  As long as we can find suitable materials, creating a new strap should be a snap.”

*** THE ADVENTURE WILL CONTINUE IN A FUTURE UPDATE