TAVERN
The tavern is built inside the trunk of an enormous tree located in the center of an incredibly dense forest. The structures on and around the tree seem to form a small but efficient compound. Crafting, smithing, trading, and survival are the confident cornerstones of the Creeking Tavern. Inside the tavern the temperature is always comfortable, regardless of racial preference. The pleasant aroma of food and drink is in the air mixed with the aroma of quality tobacco. The fireplace is warm and inviting. The glow that emanates from it is not that of a flame, but of an enormous gemstone that the hearth seems to have been constructed around.
Everything one needs to survive is present there, yet a feeling of dread lingers in the air, the kind of dread found in the eerie calm before a thunderstorm. There's a feeling that something is out there, something evil...and it's winning.
The Forest of Epoh
The Creeking Tavern sits in the center of the Forest of Epoh. The forest protects the tavern and those that bare the ring of the chosen. All others who try to enter the forest are never heard from again. The forest itself is enchanted and has inhabitants of many kinds that help the forest fulfill it's obligation of protecting the Creeking Tavern and the Rings of the Chosen.
Inside the Tavern
"There are many Legends that have been told in this Tavern... most of them are true. I will not repeat those things that I personally cannot corroborate. These are the things that I know to be true. I tell them to you so that those who listen may gain a better understanding of this realm and become more effective and productive regarding our objectives.
"10,000 moons ago, this realm was beautiful and teaming with life and prosperity. The Great Moon Druid King Re'kamoreh was the Master of this realm, and I was his apprentice. I aspired to dedicate my life to learn from him. It was a wondrous time, one that I look fondly upon...”
"But wherever good abounds, evil is not far away, waiting to make its move. There was a Great Evil Warlock named Dra'phues. Sickened with evil intention focused on chaos, his corrupted vision created a devastating plague that he unleashed upon the realm. It became known as “The Blight."
"The Blight was a moving a creeping ash with a ravenous hunger to consume the living. It covered, infected and consumed all simple life such as plants and simple creatures, and once a person or larger creature was infected with it, they would eventually mutate into something hideous and violent. Whole croplands, forest, villages and cities were overtaken. There was chaos.”
"The Warlock Dra'phues' initiatives darkened further as it was soon discovered that he could control the Blight and all those affected by it. He raised such and immense army of Blighted Creatures, that the Great Druid Re'kameroh saw the realm in danger of falling to Dra'phues. A direct and intense engagement of forces ensued, raging for 21 years. This was became known as "The Blight War."
The Warlock's forces attacking and surrounding the realms remaining inhabitants and the Druid's armies infecting and weakening them. Finally, the Druid and his armies were contained inside the capital city of Epoh whose massive Ramparts were the last line of defense. Though things seemed at there darkest, the Druid had been hatching a secret plan for decades. Unbeknownst to the Warlock, The Great Lunar Cycle was fast approaching.”
"The Great Lunar Cycle occurs every 83 years (1000 moons), and it is the year that the Great Druids magical powers are at their highest. His powers are drawn from the Moon, and transferred into life energies. The most powerful focal point of this Moon Energy in this realm is and spectacular artifact known the Hostamir. It is a configuration of sacred elemental gemstones fixed in a god-metal setting. It acts as a lens that focuses the Elemental Powers of the Stone combining them with the Elevated Moon energies becomeing incredibly powerful during the Great Lunar Cycle, and Re'kamoreh is the wielder of this immense power.”
"As the Hostamir’s power built, Re'kamoreh pushed back the Warlock's forces, but time began to run short as the Great Lunar Cycle was peaking and the Battle was not won. There was hesitancy in Re'kamoreh's attacks on the Blight, though he possessed the power to wipe it out in one fatal strike. Re'kamoreh's compassion for those who could still be saved from the infection slowed the progress of the Hostamir's cleansing power.
However, in the final stages of the Moon Cycle, Re'kameroh decided to expose the Hostamire hoping that its raw power would wipe the evil Blight from the land. Dra'phues saw his doom approaching and suddenly surprised the Druid by attacking the Hostamir directly in a powerful and sacrificial moment of desperation.”
"In a flash, the Hostamir shattered, and the resulting explosion killed both the Great Evil Warlock Dra'phues and my Master the Great Moon Druid King Re’kamoreh. How could his be, nothing in the Realm of Epoh can stand up to the power of the Hostamir. The wave of energies that were released across the Realm, wiped the Blight it touched from existence.
Unfortunately the Hostamir had not finished its work before being destroyed, and the Blight remained in the far corners of the Realm. Over time, it has spread and repeated is evil tasking. The only way to stop it is to find the missing components from the Hostamir and reassemble them.
The components are referred to as Hostamir Stones and The Venules. The stones are translucent and each has a unique magical glow. They are the most cherished commodity in this realm. I will go into further detail about the Hostamir Stones and Venules at a later time.”
"I Sakaito am the only surviving Apprentice of Re'kamoreh, and thus have gained the responsibility of restoring the Hostamir and in turn, this realm. If I do not, the Blight will continue its mission, consume all in this realm, and then spread through the portals that you were brought here through, destroying your homes, your families and your world. So you see… we are in this together. We are fighting for one another, for those we love, and for all we have, and will ever hope to have.”
"But fear not, I am confident that most of you will...prove more useful that the last group of ring bearers. Who's ready to get started?"