Editing Doom of Daruma (section)

==Episode 1: Under the Shadow of Myrdon’s Temple==

'''The Setup'''

The '''oracle''' has given a rare public prognostication for those gathered among the broken streets at the foot of the '''Seer’s Cliffs''' in '''Khem-Akka, the City of Soothsayers'''. This town exists atop an ancient ruin and is known as the habitation of the secretive but disorganized '''Seekers'''. Among the oracle’s cryptic rantings was mention of the ''“Last word of Orseez upon the sunken throne under the shadow of Myrdon’s Temple.”''

Most of the Seekers know '''King Orseez''' as an ancient disciple of the demiurges and hero. Bits of copied writings have always pointed to some of the old artifacts that still remain undiscovered. Such items were hidden and scattered from his enemies. Legend has maintained that a map to a great number of these fell with Orseez during the '''War of Splintered Bone''' at the end of the last age. However, the location of the final battle has always been debated and any exploration of its proposed site never yielded evidence of his presence.

'''Myrdon’s Temple''' is the name given to a lone mountain at the center of the mysterious '''Lumewood'''. The primordial forest is perilous and known to be home of a reclusive but ill-natured folk. Honest people give its eaves wide berth. If it is the site of the final battle of the legendary king, it has remained unexplored for an age.

This gives the Seekers a new direction in their search for ancient wisdom and salvation. The beleaguered organization has been stymied by not only outside influences — the fall of many of its hereos, incursions by warlords, tyrants and usurpers who destroy or grasp antiquities from '''Seeker Temples''' for their own evil uses — but also from within. Spies from despotic realms undermine their efforts. The Seekers have dwindled to a miserable fraction of its once esteemed membership. The group now dances on the margin of oblivion. Furthermore, even the Seekers themselves sabotage one another’s efforts arising from a dissonance between a growing number of doctrines.

A talented and charismatic Seeker, '''Kelorn Tusk''' has for years now been chief among the heroes’ dissenters and saboteurs. Kelorn’s expedition set out yesterday. No doubt they are anticipating the heroes’ next move. The protagonists can expect not only dangers from crossing an expansive uncharted forest through hostile territory, but Kelorn’s own tricks.