The Story Thus Far...

The Dragon's Keep. A fictitious place in myths and legends. A fable, from long ago that fathers told their sons, as their fathers had told them, as their fathers had before, and so on, for centuries past. A story told in dark corners with hushed voices, about the evil "Ancient One" and his second coming.But is The Dragon's Keep really just a cautionary tale, told to children by their elders, to frighten them into submission, or is it something more? Something far worse... Why is it forbidden to speak the real name of the "Ancient One"? Why do virginal maidens pray to the goddess Alina, to protect them from this menacing foe and to give them the strength to resist its tantalizing allure? Why does a religious order called "The Cult of the Serpent" pay homage to this sinister force? Before you dismiss this tale as nothing more than another bedtime story, just remember this: all myths were once based on fact...

The Great Lady of the Eldritch Woods was tricked into placing her power into five Runes in an effort to protect the balance of the realm. Knowing that if these magical stones were to fall into the wrong hands chaos would consume the world of Decada, she entrusted their safety to Ezelle, a pure-hearted mortal. But, as even the best laid plans can fall to pieces, Ezelle was deceived and the Eldrich Runes were stolen by the Dark Chosen.

Now she quests to retrieve what has been lost and protect the balance between good and evil. With two of the five Runes in her possession, young Ezelle receives a letter from an old friend. Duke Leander, appointed ruler of Spinegate, has recently found one of the mystical stones and bids her to come at once. Spinegate, resting on the eastern border of the Eldrich, is more of a fortress then a city. Its main function is to protect the land from the marauding dwaven hordes of the neighboring Hinterlands. The Duke's men discovered the Rune amongst the bounty of a returning dwarven raiding party and Leander sent for Ezelle immediately. Without haste she packed and was on her way towards Spinegate.