The Gauntlet

For Ash Quest-Jam.

The Next quest in the chain will be released in the future HeroQuest Jams.

I ran out of space for the quest description, so I will write here the full description. (The PDF have the short version in it.)

FULL QUEST DESCRIPTION :

Mysterious illness has gripped the land, claiming lives in the streets. This plague threatens all unless decisive action is taken. Ancient legends speak of an urn containing sacred ashes, purported to cure all ailments. To reach this urn, one must journey to the temple of the old gods, situated in a desolate wasteland far to the north, beyond the forgotten woods.

Four heroes, chosen by the king, embark on a quest to retrieve the urn from the temple ruins. However, before their departure, an elderly sage appears, warning them with solemn wisdom: "I have overheard your intention to seek the urn. You are fools. No living soul has beheld the temple in centuries."

The Sage continues : "The road to the temple lies obstructed by a formidable black dragon, slumbering above the ruined city. some say the dragon was sent by an evil sorcerer known to some by the name of "Zargon" to burn the city." Recalling his youth, the sage recounts tales of brave rangers who ventured there, discovering a passage beneath the dragon. This treacherous tunnel, extending through the city's depths, provides the only means to bypass the dragon. Yet, it is fraught with peril; the rangers met their demise within its confines, save for a lone survivor who fled in terror.

Presenting the barbarian with a sealed scroll, the sage imparts a final warning: "Open this when you reach the tunnels.. and tread carefully to avoid rousing the dragon."

The only passage to the temple lies through the ruins of the city. Upon traversing the forgotten woods, the heroes indeed discover the passage, guarded by the sleeping dragon. It becomes evident that they cannot cross the ruins without awakening the beast. Determined, the barbarian decides it is time to unseal the sage's letter.

In the scroll, the sage divulges his history as one of the ill-fated rangers who braved the tunnels, propelled by ambition. He urges the heroes to muster courage, detailing the horrors he witnessed and stressing the profound transformation awaiting those who dare to enter the tunnels. His final admonition underscores the importance of unity for survival, stating that the initial hero to traverse a doorway should possess a means—whether mundane or magical—to return.

Agreeing that their only option is to pass beneath the dragon through the tunnel, the companions brace themselves for the harrowing ordeal ahead. They must survive this perilous gauntlet to reach the other side of the ruins and secure the urn, the sole hope for salvation.