Hero Quest, episode twenty-one

The Quest Completed

Character Sheet

Race: elf

Class: bard

Background: scholar/street urchin

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Previously on Hero Quest:

• Episode one

• Episode two

• Episode three

• Episode four

• Episode five

• Episode six

• Episode seven

• Episode eight

• Episode nine

• Episode ten

• Episode eleven

• Episode twelve

• Episode thirteen

• Episode fourteen

• Episode fifteen

• Episode sixteen

• Episode seventeen

• Episode eighteen

• Episode nineteen

• Episode twenty

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You linger a moment. The lute and crown would make such a fine prize after so much struggle. Think what music you might make. What power you might wield. It could all be yours, this subterranean kingdom. Yours to rule over as you see fit. All you have to do is reach out and—

You blink. Your brother’s hand is on your shoulder. His face is heavy with concern. “Brother?” He says uncertainly.

You take one last look at the lute, then shake yourself and nod. “Okay,” you say. “Let’s go.”

Your brother smiles and you smile back. Then the two of you board the boat and sing a soft duet as the ferryman ferries you across the lake.

“Farewell,” the ferryman says as you step off the boat on the lake’s far shore. “If ever you wish to return, I would gladly hear another of your songs.”

You hesitate a moment, and exchange a look with your brother. “You could come with us,” you say. “The king is defeated. You’re free.”

But the ferryman only shakes his head. “No. My face is gone. Lost when the throne room collapsed. Masterless I may be, but I’m still bound here, and so it seems I will be for all time.”

“I’m sorry.”

The ferryman nods. “As am I, but there is nothing to be done for it now.” Then he turns to your brother. “I’m glad you’ve escaped, at least.”

“Thank you,” your brother says.

You and your brother bid the ferryman a final, solemn farewell before moving on. Up and out, through the golden gate into the chamber with the now silent well. The floor is littered with the dusty remnants of the skeletal army and piles of treasure are still heaped against the walls.

You and your brother pause here a moment, resting and filling your pockets with as many golden coins and jewels as you can carry. Once you return to the surface, the two of you will be rich indeed.

Then you carry on, out the entry gallery, up the stairs, and then blinking into the radiant sunlight of the world above.

You turn to your brother and exchange a smile. You cannot wait to return with him to your village in the depths of the northern forest. Your mother and father will be overjoyed.

“Thank you, brother,” he says.

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And that’s the end.

Thank you so much to everyone who’s come along with me on this adventure. It’s been a lot of fun and none of this would’ve been possible without your engagement and comments. I truly do appreciate it.

Hero Quest, or something like it, will return in about a month or so. In the meantime, I’ve got something a little bit different planned.

Next week I’ll be posting a Hero Quest retrospective, where I’ll be talking about how I think Hero Quest went, things I’ve learnt, and what I’ll be looking at doing differently in the next adventure. I’ll also be asking for feedback and suggestions from the community.

Then over the following four to five weeks, my friend

Melkazar the Mythweaver

will be posting a short sword and planet serial called The Secrets of Zothara. During this time there will be a few bonus posts where you’ll get to help me plan the next Hero Quest adventure.

Once The Secrets of Zothara is finished, we’ll be starting the next Hero Quest adventure and things here at Mythscape will probably sink back into the same rhythm they’ve been in over the last couple of months.

Thank you for your time and attention. Your support truly is appreciated.

I hope you’ll join me for the next adventure.

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