Fiction | Game | Medium Adventurers League ⚔️

At the Temple of Hyoon

A quest — the spiritual side of The Bastion?

This is part of a story that works as an interactive game. You’ll need to have a notepad and dice at the ready!

Find a reminder of the rules here, click here for the beginning of the game, or head back to the Hearthstone Hideout.

By morning, you set out into the streets of The Bastion for your latest quest. It is a warm, sunny day, and you squint as you look at the instructions you picked up back at Hearthstone Hideout:

A brave and creative hero is needed at the Temple of Hyoon on Sandgate Street. The basement has been infiltrated by creeping vines, and they have attacked and killed several of our worshipers! These pests need to be removed, and the area made safe.

Well, it sounds like a straightforward task, and you’re not yet at the point where you would consider it to be beneath you…

The route to the temple takes you close to The Bastion’s docks. As the largest port on the entire island of Primatria, the docks are bustling already. This might not be as much of a fishing town as Westport, but there are plenty of ships docked, with others heading out on unknown voyages.

You pause to take in the scene. Black seagulls with red beaks circle overhead, shrieking occasionally. Sailors of all sorts can be heard yelling as cargo is transported on or off ships. The sea itself is noisy, waves crashing against the stone wall of the harbour, and the swell causing ropes and wooden piers to creak. There is a strong smell of rotting kelp.

You press on, following the road that runs just behind the harbor towards the city walls, and turn into a large square in the north-east of the city. This is a residential area; there is no market, but rather many tall town houses. Wealthy people live here.

And in the centre of one side of the square lies the Temple of Hyoon. It’s unmistakeable due to the huge stone statue that adorns the outside of the building — a cow-like deity in prayer. Hyoon is worshiped by farmers and hunters, but also by many ordinary city folk. And this is the main temple to the god on the entire island of Primatria. Perhaps in the whole world, for all you know.

You step inside, pausing to take in the cooler air and relative quiet. You’ve not taken much of an interest in religion so far, but you had expected more worshipers.

Or, like… any at all.

But then a halfling in robes hurries over. “Are you one of the adventurers?” she says. “I’m relieved that you’re here”

You nod, patting your sword. “Yes I am. How can I help. Killer vines?”

She leads you to the main gathering area in the center of the building. It is circular, and has a beautiful golden light filtering through glass panels above, and very ornate marble floor with geometric designs. There are cushions and seating mats strewn around — but no people.

“Again, thank you. My name is Charis, and I lead the ceremonies for Hyoon.

“I expected them to be more popular,” you say bluntly.

“Alas, we’d normally be at least half full at this hour. But, uh…”

“People are scared?” you venture.

She nods thoughtfully. “This isn’t a good moment for our temple, certainly. I think we are safe here in the main chamber, and nothing has come to my private chambers. But the storage vaults up above…” She points towards the far end of the room. “And, uh… the crypt as well.”

“Let’s take a look. And let’s decide on a fair fee.”

“Oh, I…” she hangs her head sadly, then pats a coin pouch. “I don’t have much choice in all of this. Let’s just say five silver coins per vine, shall we?”

You nod. “Agreed. Let’s get to it.”

Charis points the way to the storage areas — a series of tiny chambers up a narrow stair, each of which are used for scrolls and books. Almost immediately, you see the vines swarming over the area. They are like thin green snakes, only a couple of feet long… but you can see why they would discourage the worshippers!

As Charis waits below, you step in, laying about yourself with sword and magic, even stamping on them, too. The creatures are easy to kill, but they are numerous, and they try to trap your arms and legs…

(Here is a link to a dice-rolling app!).

Encounter: Vine monster – pest control.
Challenge rating: Easy (roll 11+).
Roll on brawn or magic.

If you succeed, you kill numerous vines. Roll d20 again to find out how many you stomped on, and take a note of it.

If you fail, the vines trap you. See below.

(Repeat this encounter up to five times, including any time you fail. Then read on from 'counting the vines', below).

If you are trapped, see below:

Encounter: Trapped by vine monsters
Challenge rating: Medium (roll 11+).
Roll on brawn.

If you fail, you lose one point of health. Then try again. You can't escape this encounter. If you die, click here.

If you succeed, you break free. You can return to "Vine monster – pest control" if you want to cut more vines and earn more silver.  Otherwise, you can read on to collect your earnings and continue the story.

Counting the vines

You throw the dead vines in a pile at the side of the chamber, then count them.

Add 5 silver pieces per vine to your character sheet.
(Remember, you can repeat the encounter to earn more silver!).

“Those can be put outside onto a trash heap now,” you say. “They’re harmless.”

“Thank you.” Charis makes no move to do so.

“And now, to the crypts?”

She nods, a worried look in her eyes.

You follow Charis to a mighty doorway made of dark oak. It has metal bands across it. You notice that it is designed to keep people out, rather than keep monsters in — but all the same, it looks sturdy enough either way! Perhaps some kind of valuables were stored here once.

“Some kind of nest down there?” you ask.

“I guess so. I’d best let you take it from here, adventurer. Good luck.” With this, she unlocks the door with a large bronze key.

You step inside, and the lock clicks behind you.

Charis sure is nervous!

Soon you are following a broad set of stone steps down… the area looks very old — much older than the temple structure above — and you wonder what might have been here before.

The steps curve around towards a large oval-shaped area, which you realize must be directly below the main worship chamber, although it’s considerably smaller.

It has clearly been used for storage, too, and not very carefully. There are barrels and boxes and shelves along the sides, but everything is in a disordered mess, with empty containers, broken slats from old crates, and sundry other debris. Nothing looks valuable, or recent.

You move cautiously around the area, but so far, you haven’t see any of the famous vines…

Encounter: Searching the crypts
Challenge rating: Medium (roll 15+).
Roll using wits.

If you succeed, roll again to check the outcome of your search:

1–5: You cut yourself on a broken tin. Lose one point of health.
6–10: You find 3 torches. Add them to your inventory.
11-15: You find a bottle of fine wine. Add it to your inventory.
16-20: You find a garnet. Add it to your inventory.

If you fail, your search is mostly fruitless. However...

You also find a letter; at first, you almost ignore it as trash, but then notice that it is addressed to Baron Zolantino VI, which catches your attention. After some generic greetings, it says

…certain adventurers have become meddlesome. You have the names. See to it that something befalls them, and soon. You can find them at a place known as ‘Hearthstone Hideout’ — a real nest of rebellion, and anti-goblin prejudice.

Don’t forget, Baron, that I arranged for the accident that befell your brother. I put you into your position, and I can remove you from it, too.

Regards, R.

You pocket the letter, and have a feeling that you should show it to your fellow adventurers sooner rather than later.

Add 'letter to Baron Zolantino' to your inventory.

So far, in your search, you haven’t seen a single vine. You try the door at the far end, but it is locked. If the creatures are through there, you’ll need a key.

You hurry back up the steps, and knock on the locked door where you entered. “Charis? I’ve had a good look around, and I can’t see anything down here. Can you open the room at the back for me?”

There is no answer, and you knock again. “Charis! Come and open this door, please.”

Still silence. Then you hear a muttering, as if someone is whispering outside.

Or crying?

“Charis? Come on, now. Are you afraid? I can help you. If there’s something wrong, it’s ok. Just open the door.”

“I’m really sorry,” replies Charis in a quiet, wavering voice.

You sigh, sizing up the door. It’s clearly too strong to break down. “What’s going on here, Charis?” you ask, trying to sound patient.

“They told me to lock you in.”

“Who did?” You are immediately thinking of the letter, and the instructions to the Baron.

“You made some enemies,” says Charis in a wavering voice. “People know who you are.”

It is apparent that Charis is working for someone — but who? She’s also frightened. Can you get the information out of her, or persuade her to change her mind?

Encounter: Charming Charis.
Challenge rating: Medium (roll 15+).
Roll using charm.
Roll up to twice as you try different persusasion strategies.

If you fail, click here to find out what happens next.

But if you succeed, read on.

“I can help you, Charis,” you say confidently. “Think about it. If the Baron and his lackeys want to lock me in here, that means they are afraid of me.”

“I guess…”

“Come on, now. I’ll make sure you’re safe, I promise! Just open this door, and we can talk about things.”

“They’ll be coming soon,” she says. “The vines were just a trap.”

“Huh. Well, all the more reason to hurry!”

There is a click, and the door unlocks. Without delay, you push your way through, and into the chamber above. You feel angry, but try not to take it out on Charis, who is staring at you with wild, frightened eyes.

“Please don’t kill me!” she pleads.

“Why would I do that?” you say, trying to sound reassuring. “But we need to be quick. Tell me who’s coming, and what you know about them. Then go hide, and let me deal with them.”

“It’s the Baron’s lieutenant, a corrupt and violent elf by the name of Lash Larkspur. They say that she has cells beneath her chambers where she tortures any city folk that displease her.”

“And she’ll come here alone?”

Charis shakes her head. “Usually she’s with a few ordinary city guards.”

“Got it,” you say. “Now hurry.”

Charis now lets herself into the crypt, and locks the door behind her, and you move to the front of the temple, and peek outside. Sure enough, you can see city guards out there, on their way.

Just as Charis warned you, several ordinary guards flank the Baron’s lieutenant — four in all. The officer herself is a muscular elf with a mean face — you think you’ve seen her around somewhere, perhaps as part of one of the various gangs of thuggish guards around The Bastion. She is waiting in the nearby square; the four guards come to the entrance to the temple building first.

You sink back into the shadows. This is going to be a tough fight, but now you have the element of surprise…

Encounter: Guard surprise.
Challenge rating: Easy (roll 12+).
Roll using brawn if you have a bow, or magic.
Roll four times, as you try to shoot the four guards before they reach you.

Each success downs one of the guards. Take a note of how many you take out. Then read on.

Perhaps hearing the sounds of a fight, Lash Larkspur charges into the main temple area, and joins the surviving guard(s).

You square off, circling one another in the great cushioned area of the temple.

“Surrender,” calls out Lash sharply. She has the voice of someone who is used to getting her way.

“Never!” you reply. “You’ve failed, Larkspur, and now I know that you and the corrupt Baron are working for Lord Rotter and his goblins. You are all traitors to the people of The Bastion.”

“You know far too much, then,” she replies, drawing a sword, ice in her eyes.

And battle is joined.

Encounter: Lash and the Lackeys.
Challenge rating: Medium (roll 15+).
Roll using brawn or magic.

If you fail, the guards hit you. Remove one point from health.

If you succeed, you kill one of the surviving guards, until there are none left. At that point, increase the challenge rating to 18 as you take on Lash Larkspur one-to-one. She is harder to hit.

Again, if you fail, she hits you and you lose a point of health. You must hit her twice to win the fight.

IF you are killed, click here. Otherwise, read on.

At last, you strike down Lash Larkspur, and she falls to the ground, clutching a wound. It doesn’t look fatal, and you decide that it would be best to take her to headquarters for questioning. However, she passes out, bleeding heavily. Her wounds will need to be treated soon.

You hurry to the crypt, knocking hard on the door and calling for Charis. After a minute or so, she opens it.

“Do you have healing supplies? And perhaps something to tie up a prisoner?”

“You defeated them all?” she says, surprised.

You nod, and smile, trying to look suitably heroic despite feeling tired, sweaty, and in pain.

Charis leads you back down to the crypts, and this time, the door at the back of the area stands open. She leads you through to an office, with various valuables stacked on shelves on both sides; food, medical equipment, and lots and lots of wine.

“Temple’s well stocked,” you comment, raising an eyebrow.

She nods, grabbing a medical kit, and together, you make your way back upstairs. But now Lash Larkspur — who was unconscious when you left her just a couple of minutes ago — is gone!

“Shit,” you mutter. “The lieutenant must have recovered and made a run for it.”

“Then you’d best get out of here, and quick!” says Charis urgently.

“So should you,” you say. “That Lash Larkspur seems vindictive. If she figures out that you helped me…”

Charis hesitates, looking around, and then nods.

Together, the two of you remove the bodies of the slain guards, and then Charis locks the temple behind her.

“I know it must be tough to leave,” you say. “But the time will come when things improve in this city. The worshippers will get over their fear, and return.”

She smiles sadly. “It’s not just the vines. The city guards have been stopping people coming here,” she says. “Beating and intimidating our regulars. They’re real bullies. They promised me that if I just did this one thing…” She falls silent.

“I understand.”

Having learned who the true evil power behind the Baron actually is, it’s time for you to head back to Hearthstone Hideout.

Soon, Charis has been introduced to some of the regular adventurers, and the news of the Baron’s devious plan has been shared with them. The other adventurers are outraged, and everyone promises to keep Charis safe at the hideout until the time is right.

Add +2 to your reputation.

Now, perhaps it’s time for a rest, or another challenge…it’s up to you.

Continue.

Thanks for reading — and playing! ⚔️

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