Great Druid's Dream

You are the leader of a druidic circle—a Great Druid—and master of all forests and village fields for hundreds of miles around the new city of Ipsar. As a dedicated servant of nature it is your duty to serve and protect the land and the peasants within this domain.

In recent generations the druid hierarchy has become a part of the Empire that now spans the entire world. But because druids never threatened the Empire's power, they are allowed to continue their expert management of the land. The Grand Druid—your master—has told all Great Druids in all the circles of the Prime World that, so long as the Empire does not interfere with the delicate balance of nature, you are to tolerate this Empire's dominion. Many members of the Empire administration have great respect for the druids' powers, and they would likely listen to your fears and provide aid at the start of this adventure.

Last night you dreamed a vivid and supernatural dream—a sending from Janier, one of the lesser spirits guardians of nature. This dream began in a chariot pulled by two black horses with red eyes and flaming orange nostrils. The smoky wind brought tears to your eyes as the chariot was driven across a lifeless desert of sand and gray stone. The chariot came to a long line of men, women, and children in chains, who were forced across the desert by soldiers with whips. You leaned over to ask, “what are you doing to these people? Where are you taking them?”

The soldier replied, “They are being taken to Temple Keep and, from there, to the land of our masters.”

As your chariot turned to follow these people you noticed that the soldier was not human. His armor concealed demonic features, including claws and horns and scaly red skin. Many other columns of people were visible as your chariot continued ahead to where all the columns converged. At the point of convergence, was a small keep on a hill overlooked a great fiery pit in the sand. The columns of people reached to the edge of this pit, where demonic soldiers pushed the helpless people down into the flames.

The sun set in the East as you and your chariot dove into the fiery pit. But instead of falling, the hot smoky vapors lifted you into the air, high over the desert and into a dark sky. Soon the desert was lost from view, obscured by thick clouds and darkness. Stars filled the sky and an interminable train of wispy clouds passed below. You flew like this, seemingly for many days, before finally being brought back down to earth.

Through a break in the clouds a lush tropical forest was seen. You landed atop a spire of rock rising from the lush foliage, to stand before a large sliver chalice filled with pure cold water. The chalice tipped, and pored some of its contents into you cupped hands, where the water transformed into a double handful of fine brown dust. With this dust held in cupped hands, you rose back into the sky.

The journey back was just as long, but when the clouds finally broke, you descended back toward Temple Keep in the desert. The fiery pit was gone, replaced by a shallow burning hole in front of the keep gates. But the flames were growing rapidly and the pit widening even as you approached. And the sun was just rising in the East, from the same place it set at the start of the journey.

It was as though this day was being given to live over again, but this time with foreknowledge of the terrible dangers soon to come. Shadowy companions, who had somehow accompanied you this entire time, rushed forward to attack the fire and the quickly deepening hole. With their combined might, the fire was extinguished and the gaping hole was capped forever.

Sometime later, the desert was empty; no soldiers or lines of children marred its vast expanse. Standing in solitude, you lifted the brown dust still held in your cupped hands, and let it be taken by the wind. Then, as you returned to the keep and your companions, the desert was transformed. Fields of grain and forests of towering trees grew to fill the empty waste. A new balance was achieved, with life returning to a ravaged landscape.

After last night's dream, you realized that you have been gifted with both a warning and a promise. The dream was a warning, so some terrible tragedy in a far away land may be prevented, the consequences of which could effect the entire world. It was a promise that if the journey shown in this dream is completed, then you will be the one to restore balance and life to a long ravaged land. With this devine knowledge, you and your friends must question the Empire agents in Ipsar to locate this Temple Keep in the desert and find swift passage there.