The Prophecy

## The Seraphic Prophecy

The Seraphic Prophecy is a series of ancient writings recorded over 1300 years ago by a gnome known as 'The Prophet'. The Prophet was one of a group of adventurers and advisors called The Seraphic Mantle, who served as a retinue for Kellos during the Second Darkness.

The PCs encountered the Prophecy when were called upon by Priestess of Kellos, Giana Delakin, to help defend a scholar who was working on a translation of a book by an insane author relating, among other things, details of the Prophecy. Shortly before he was able to finish his translation, the Broken Beacon Inn, where he had been staying, was attacked by cultists of the Silver Crescent (Session 1) only to be driven off by a small group of wandering adventurers. These adventurers were invited by Giana Delakin to serve as guards and accompany them, and the completed translation to the Cathedral of Kellos in Vynelvale. By the time the group reached Vynelvale, Giana had come to believe that they represented five figures described within the Prophecy, identified only as 'The Liar', 'The Deluded', 'The Novelty', 'The Cursed' and 'The Collector'.

The Prophecy itself is of two parts - the first details a variety of events which will precede to the ascension of the arch-lich, Waiqir the Undying, an act which will lead to a Fourth Darkness, while the second details the steps necessary to finding the resting place of Kellos and releasing either him (?) or some manifestation of his power which will hopefully be able to prevent Waiqir's ascension, or drive him back for good.

### Pages from a Translation.

The original notes were a cryptic mixture of history, folklore, frantic warnings and meandering stream-of-consciousness observances. At the crux of these writings were two sections - 'Signs of Waiqir's Return', and 'Finding the Seals'.

#### Signs of Waiqir's Return.

* Once again, Kellos will bring light where there has only been darkness. His newest disciples will carry his words to light the new path.
* The shoat shall kill the Boar. The sow will be hunted, and seek refuge from the first.
* The City of the Dragon King will be devoured, revealing the children best forgotten.

#### Finding the Seals.

* The First Seal -The Circlet of Celenoth. Inside the great vault, it stands unseen. You may see if if you fancy, but not while guarded by Kellos.
* The Second Seal - The Glass Bell of A'tar. At the resting place of Krandwoten the Forgotten, guarded by spirits of the quick, you may find the Second Seal if you take the leap of faith.
* The Third Seal - The Kytheros Instrument. Travel to where souls seldom do, at the crux of the sobbing progeny, you may find the Third Seal. To the Twins you must pay passage, or forever drown your sorrows.

These pages are frequently cryptic, and the languages involved and frequent use of obscure symbolism make a clear translation difficult

### Expedition to the Shadow Peaks.

Later, the party would be invited by two dwarves, Amnir, a scholar and member of the Heirs of Timmoran, and his husband, Dondras, a warrior, to assist with investigating an ancient Water Temple. On their way there, they encountered an isolated monastery of Kellos and were informed that their ally, Giana, had been there earlier (Session 32).

While she had been there, a statue of Kellos had glowed brightly, healing a number of pilgrims who'd been staying there. These pilgrims had joined Giana, and named themselves The Order of Indeteriminate Monks. The party would catch up with them later, but first, onto the Temple. As they explored, it became increasingly obvious that the original Dwarven Temple had passed through several sets of hands. Apparently, a malevolent cult worshipping some kind of Serpent-like Deity had taken it over and later, Kellos had sent members of his Seraphic Mantle to attempt to cleanse it.

They failed, but were able to lay down potent seals to keep the evil energy within suppressed. The party then had an encounter of sorts with the original writer of the Prophecy, as it appears the gnomish oracle known only as The Prophet had elected to remain behind, studying the temple in an effort to seal away the energy within for good (Session 33). During this self-imposed isolation, he wrote a great many works, but alas, many had been damaged by the forces of age and water over the centuries.

### The Observations of Friar Gladwyn of the Order of Indeteriminate Monks.

Following the resolution of events at the Water Temple, the party were able to meet up with Giana once again at Greyhaven. There, they were introduced to her followers, including a young lady named Agatha, and Friar Gladwyn who had, at Giana's request, compiled a number of different information sources about the Prophecy into a single document.

#### Warnings

The prophecy warns of a time when Waiqar will escape the Mournlands and once more return to Terrinoth. His return shall be the 4th darkness as once again he brings his darkness and corruption to the kingdom. It gives Three signs of his impending return, and I believe all three of these have come to pass.

*1. “Once again, Kellos will bring light where there has only been darkness. His newest disciples will carry his words to light the new path.”*

This is a reference to The Order of Indiscriminate Monks - my order. A statue of Kellos shone brightly and cured us of our muteness, deafness and blindness, which inspired us to sing his praise and guide - Giana to the Free City of Greyhaven.

*2. “The Shoat shall kill the Boar. The Sow will be hunted, and seek refuge from the first.”*

While I don’t have proof, we believe Valcum Sephone assassinated his mother, Baroness Katrin Sephone, and laid the blame on his step mother and step brother. The Boar is the symbol of the Sephone house, and the ‘sow’ would be Lady Bellia Sephone - the accused. We believe he may be somehow connected to Waiqar and has done this to seize power.

*3. “The City of the Dragon King will be devoured, revealing the children best forgotten.”*

The Fracture, a chasm within the Tanglewood Forest, was discovered by the Champions of the Prophecy to be the home of hundreds of thousands of dormant Dragon-hybrid eggs. A magical ritual to awaken these eggs was thwarted, causing the ‘city of the Dragons’ to collapse in on itself. While the Dragon hybrids were thwarted, their ancient secret ‘city’ was revealed, as per the prophecy.

Since these events have come to pass I believe we are living within years of Waiqar’s return. In fact, a further line of prophecy, provided by a book from Greyhaven University, may give us an indication that we only have weeks remaining.

*4. “‘Waiqar shall Shatter the Council of Barons at their Conclave.’*

Although there is no time mentioned in this short prophecy, it seems to line up with the Boar and Shoat prophecy - which would mean this next conclave (which as I write is only 6 weeks away) may well be the time of this ‘Shattering’.

#### The Time Bomb:

Terrinoth has 13 baronies, 12 effectively.  Used to be ruled by a king, the king died suddenly a long time ago. In his absence, Terrinoth has continued with 12 baronies.  They come together once per year in Archaut, to the NW of dawnsmoor.  This is where the King used to have his Seat.  One month out of the year, everyone goes to the city to set up markets, shops, festivals etc and the barons come and figure out all laws, taxes, disputes, political stuff for that month. This coming Baron meeting is going to have a cataclysmic effect on the future of Terrinoth.  The barons are going to go to war, and during that case Waiquir will rise again.

*"Waiquir shall shatter the council of barons at their conclave."*

Needless to say, these observations have lit something of a fire beneath the heroes, who have ventured to Archaut and are currently in the throes of attempting to discern the details of Waiqir's plan, and discover how they can prevent it from coming to fruition.

### The Chamber of Seraphim.

The next piece of the puzzle fell into place as the heroes were exploring the corridors beneath the Cathedral of Kellos in Archaut. They encountered a hidden door, unlocked by an ancient Kellosian Symbol. Inside, they found a small treasure chamber in which five arcane objects - The Seraphic Regalia - were displayed on the walls. But between the heroes and the treasures stood an Ancient Stone Guardian.
As the door opened, the Guardian, who identified itself as 'Seraphim', spoke, telling the heroes the items can only be removed by those who were prophesied - but that each must step forward and declare who they are first. Forced to finally declare, the heroes each took on their identity within the Prophecy.

Now, equipped with their foretold weaponry, in the city where the Prophecy is destined to come to pass, it falls upon our heroes to decide the outcome... if they can.