A Bard's Tale: The Lich's Fear

Told by a bard visiting the Sleeping Dragon:

Gather round, folks! I've got a story for you that you may not have heard before. This is one that has been passed down for generations in my family, and I'm going to pass it along to you for the price of a single mug of ale.

Ah, look! Someone has been kind enough to provide some of that fine ale to help wet my throat. Very well, I shall give to you the Tale of the Fearful Lich...

Many years ago, in a land now conquered by orcs, there resided a powerful lich. For those not well-travelled, a lich is a dead wizard that has given up his life in order to continue on in his wizarding as a foul undead creature. This particular lich, known to most as "Willy the Wizard", was feared by all within days of travel from his lands. He was particularly cruel, even for a lich. Perhaps he had been teased because of his name. No one really knows anymore.

In his studies, the fearsome Willy stumbled across mention of a legendary weapon, given by Zolaras herself to those that could bear it. This weapon had the power to destroy undead creatures and send their souls racing to the Great Hall.

Not one to sit by and let a threat to his power remain in the world, the lich was able to discover how to find that weapon. It seems that certain signs or symbols had to be brought together at a particular place where many pray to Zolaras. The lich was able to find all of the symbols.

In order to ensure that the legendary weapon could never be given to anyone, the lich took the symbols and magically hurled them into hidden places around the lands. To this day, nobody has recovered any of the lost symbols.

I am sure that if someone were to find those symbols and be given the weapon by Zolaras, the vile undead across our lands would no longer be a danger to the people.

My throat sure is dry. Does anyone have another mug of ale?

**Angelica slams down a huge mug of ale in front of the bard, and gazes at him intently. A few moments pass before she speaks

You have an audience... talk, sing, whichever you prefer.

**Angelica smiles, the tips of her fangs clearly visble

Jay Braysin has brought over every type of ale he can find and placed them carefully on the table. It took the bards slightly drunker eyes a while to focus completely on Jay,

"Continue with your story, bard. I'm all ears..."

After eight more mugs of ale, the bard's throat and liver are well moistened. He continues.

Uh...the lich...um...

Oh, ya. Willy! Scary Willy. He was bad.

Ah...signs. Or symbols. They was somethin' ya could hold. Uh...three of 'em. Or four. I member there wadn't five. Musta been four. Hidden.

Why dey hidden? Beats me. Part o' da story. Gotta good searcher to find 'em. I know that.

Why the floor flyin' up to...

With a dull thud, the bard passes out, face first on the floor.

Dead Jane strolls over and pipes up.

"Uh, hello everyone. Why'd you clobber the bard?"

We just wanted to get his tongue waggling over something that sounded rather interesting. I think we got him a little too drunk. I'm going to head out and see what else I can dig up about this. I might have some references in my library. If I can't find any information, oh well. Plenty of more fish in the sea.

**Aszhad Rashidh rises to his feet a few tables away, and for a man wearing full plate, rather gracefully strides to the door and exits the inn without a word...**

*Kicked back in a chair, Gloigan listens to the Bard, lifting his ale when the Bard falls to the floor*

Aye. A fine story too. Think I even found me a couple a these things. But the lad says four or five, hm? Got to get ta me adventurin a bit more then, don't I?

*Drinks until he turns the mug upside down, then slams it on the table in front of him*

And I'll offer a pretty penny ta anyone that'll pass these things along ta me, fer sure. Or items in trade, if I got em to give. I'm around enough, I shouldn't be that hard ta find.