THE MACE OF LIGHT

 

Hook: The Mace of Light, a weapon belonging to a priest of Calibor, Eirian, the Blessed, disappeared after the Strixian Apocalypse. It was used to slay the Strixian Witch Lord, Sevoraxis, the Punisher, servant of Strixa. After that, the mace vanished. You've heard the rumours, and know the old tales of Eirian. No one has yet found the weapon. You think of these stories, now, as you stand before a white marble plinth flanked by long dead braziers. There it sits... Resting on its pristine white plinth. You reach out a trembling hand to touch the silver metal that makes up the weapon. Just as your hand closes around the haft, you hear a low grinding sound, as of stone on stone, followed immediately by a hissing sound that is sharp and angry. Turning, you see the cut limestone wall to the northwest is now open, having spun in the centre upon some sort of pin. Lurching from the opening is a skeleton in bright chain mail raiment covered in a golden tabard with the Lady of Light's symbol upon the breast. The skeleton's white bones radiate golden light. A large, wood, triangular heater shield covered in stretched leather painted with the symbol of The Lady of Light is gripped in the undead warrior's left hand. It has no other weapon, its tabard and chain armour hang off the ivory bones. The creature bears down on you with swift and enduring power. You can feel the insistence in its presence, the anger.

Details: The Mace of Light was hidden by Taryŵnish priests of The Lady of Light, Ilumiŵra, in a secret location underground. The only entrance, a narrow natural tunnel, collapsed long ago, and the only real way in is a small sinkhole that will open under one or more characters as they travel across the karst landscape above. The skeleton is Eirian. She was interred on a marble bier in the secret room. She must be defeated to get the mace. She will also do her best to use it. Whatever magic there was on the mace is now gone. The last of its power was used to strike down Sevoraxis. A shallow pool nearby must be refilled using a silver ewer by the pool. Water must be drawn from the watersource outside the complex, and a priest of The Lady of Light must dip the mace in it, totally submerge it, and check against heir faith. If the roll fails, the mace turns to dust. If anyone other than a priest of The Lady of Light tries to recharge the mace, the mace will turn to dust and disintegrate. A neutral character will be cursed until they can find a way to break it. An evil or chaotic person (even a good one) will be stricken blind, and the mace turned to dust. There are directions in mosaic explaining how the mace can be recharged in a time of need, but that there will be a test, before it can be taken, to see if the bearer is worthy of it.