Quietdoom

Just a story I shared with my guild. Hope you like it.
Quietdoom is not just a surname. And though the family has made no real noticeable mark in the history of Norrath, you have definitely been in their presence whether you know it or not. Very few people can say that they have a personal friendship with the family...or should I say order. Not all who are apart of the order bear the name Quietdoom. There are no racial or professional boundaries that hinder one from being affiliated. The means however by which one is accepted is left up to providence itself.

The story goes back over 1000 years ago in Paineel with an erudite shadowknight named Cromwulf Quietdoom. He was not your average shadow knight. He befriended many and aided all. He used the power of darkness and fear to bring light to the land. Many of his journeys were simply exploratory. And in that exploration he found many adventures. Whether it was sneaking through the mines of Nurga to find treasure or attempting to find his way through the plane of time, Cromwulf saw many wonders in his time. In his last days he ventured to the planes with a band known as the Guardians of the Wayfarers. When many of the lost dungeons were rediscovered by Morden Rasp and his band of Wayfarers the rewards granted him a chance to finally make it.
Among the many tales and rumors that went around camp about Drunder. Deep within the fortress of Zek there was told a be weapon chisled from the hardest stone. This was to be known as Drunder's wind staff. It was to be a gift for some deserving general in the service of Rallos Zek. It was forgotten deep in the depth of the fortress and never thought of again. It was found by an old froglok warrior and rumored to be taken to the Temple of Solusek Ro. Cromwulf would risk life and limb to find this weapon. One stormy night while trying to rest in the Plane of Nightmare, Cromwulf nearly went mad when he was visited by Terris Thule where he was trapped in a deep sleep for nearly one month. A kind echantress found his drooling, emaciated body.
Quellious had been watching Cromwulf's good works and took pity on . She translated him to the Plane of Tranquility where he was given a chance to find peace of mind and given an endless access to various proving grounds that he could utilize and grow stronger. He met a fisher woman named Jazmine and married her. She bore him five Children. He spent his days training and questing in an effort to support his sons desire for knowledge. He became somewhat of a dark hero in the name of tranquility. This was almost unheard of. Those who knew him understood why Cromwulf received such an honor He was slain in the War of the Fay while aiding the Champions of Faydark fight off a battalion of Dragoon in Kelethin. His sons would never be allowed to forget the exploits of their father. As they traveled to the Plane of Knowledge for their lessons in various professions, many adventurers would share many tales of Cromwulf's exploits and how they were affected. These stories would act a catalyst for many adventure to come. Norrath had not heard the last of the name Quietdoom.

Quellious must have had a plan for this family all along. The tales of thier father inspired the five brothers to obtain all the knowledge they could hone thier skills in thier chosen professions and set out to adventure. They paths they chose were as follows.

Keyrakou - Necromancer. He though that if his Father had that much power as a Shadowknight then as a necromancer he would be able to rip the soul from any being who contested his advancement through any land he set foot upon. Cazic Thule stokes the fires in this fear invoking soul.

Cromwulf- Wizard- Named after his father. Cromwulf felt that he would dedicate his life and energy to becoming a living weapon in the name of tranquility. He aspires to master all aspects of wizardry hoping to discover the ultimate elemental assault. He has even attempted to alter time and space to achieve his goal. Quellious favors this one greatly.

Malakoo- Monk - Malakoo chose to hone his mind and body to become hard as stone. As a young boy he studied the exploits of an old monk known as Fuquan the Hidden Death. He was also regailed by the stories his father told him of the Iksar Monks of Cabilis. He looks to Quellious for guidance as he follows the path of the Monkey Guru.

Ufumdisi- Brigand- Tales of Erudin and Paineel intrigued this young erudite to take up his path on the high seas. An avid scholar, Ufumdisi followed every lead he could find on these forgotten lands. However life on the high seas is very treacherous. Ufumdisi has taken up dark and dirty tactics in order to meet his goals. Bristlebane guides his course

Baltishazar- Illusionist- Always the quiet one. However dont stare too long into his eyes you may find yourself doing something or going somewhere you never imagined you ever would be. A very ruthless advisary. The Enchantress who saved his father just happens to be one of his teachers. Quellious has designated him as one of her vessels to aid those are in need of a beacon of light when all seems lost.

_________ Finding a Purpose

The time had come for the brothers to leave the solace that was the Plane of Tranquility and step foot on a gods forsaken Norrath. They all had embraced a path they felt would bring them the most fortune. As they made they're way to the Book of Knowledge they were approached by a robed froglok with what appeared to be a man sized golem that followed behind him with each step he took. He raised his hand and gestured to the being whom he refered to as "Ishsmael" to be still. He introduced himself as Mauldu Marrsgrace. He also was a servant of the tranquil and knew thier father. Mauldu did his best to warn the brothers that even though they felt the tranquil ones presence in the plane that they were currently in, once they used the book of knowledge they would not be able to return. for the influence of the gods had left Norrath and in thier departure the landscape was devestated. Baltishazar simply turned around and walked back towards the library. He knew that there were a few more things that he wanted to be sure of if he was to be seperated from all his knowledge.
Ufumdisi couldnt wait anymore and embarked upon his journey armed only with the tools of a rougue, he would soon wish he had stayed around for more of the froglok's warning. Mauldu continued his exhortation on the state of Norrath. He informed them that many of the lands they learned about were changed. The nexus was no more, The Plane of Knowledge had become a myth and the continent of Odus had undergone a change due to some suspicious occurences. He then gave the brothers advice on where to go when they arrived on Norrath as not to bring too much attention to themselves. And his utmost advice, "Absorb all knowlege and be wary of to whom information is leaked." He emphazized that the brothers had to keep thier bond strong if they were to be successful in their adventures. Keyrakou put his hand to the book and thanked the froglok for his advice. He assured Cromwulf that he would get things started and that he would be in contact when the time was right.
And with that only the froglok and the wizard remained. Mauldu smiled at Cromwulf and beckoned him to follow. The pair ventured deep into the gate that led to the Plane of Time. Mauldu kneeled down and picked up some dirt off of the ground. He then began to cast a spell. A doorway opened and through it an emaculate palace could be seen. This had to be the city of Erudin that he had heard so much about. Cromwulf reached out to touch the image but before he could Mauldu grabbed his hand and warned him that what he saw was not what Mauldu had in store for him to attain. The image changed to Toxxulia Forest. Mauldu beckoned to the young wizard to follow and they stepped through. As they stepped out of the portal and through to the other side, Cromwulf noticed that it was dark and a fouls stench filled his nostrils. They heard what sounded like a stampede.
It seems that Mauldu's portal had opened up near what was known as the Warrens. This was home to a pack of scavenging Kobolds. They were quite the annoyance to the residents of Paineel and Erudin. The pair quickly cast thier respective spells to remain unseen by the approaching menace. As they got closer they seemed to be running from something. Fast approaching was an armored figure on a horse and running close behind him as a skeleton. Immediately Cromwulf recognized the figure as the shadowknight he had come to know as his father. When the kobold menace seemed to be out of range the mounted figure pointed at one of the beast that appeared to be carrying a small bundle. Upon closer observation, the wizard saw that it was a kerran cub. Suddenly the kobold's stride began to slow drastically. It began to clutch at its chest and started to choke and cough. Mauldu began to tell a story of a shadowknight who grew weary of the way things were and the constraints that limited his acquisition of power. This shadowknight decided that race of belief would not keep him from helping others and in the end gaining adventure. The heretic sect known in Paineel know as "Thule's Blood" had contracted the kobolds to kidnap what kerra they could and as payment the kobolds of the Warrens were spared from many horrid experiments. The Kobolds eyes turned bright red and eventually began to leak blood. The Kobold fell to his knees. The shadowknight sent his minion to retrieve the child before any more harm was done. The shadowknight then took the child from the skeleton and the rode deeper into the forest. This was an important point in the Quietdoom saga. This was the day a shadowknight went against his teachings and aided the side of good.
It was this day that Quellious noticed the shadowknight and decided to keep an eye on him throughout his adventures. Mauldu conlcluded the tale stating that to present day, around many kerran campfires from Kerra Isle to the Stonebrunt Mountains, the story is told of a brave knight who defied Thule himself to aid the race that his people so wished to erradicate. The area seemed clear and the pair shrugged off the shroud of invisibility and Mauldu began to prepare a way back to thier own time. As they began to step through the portal a spider approached and cast a web at Cromwulf and hit him in the hand. He made short work of the spider and continued on through back to the Plane of Tranquility by way of Mauldu's portal. As they stepped through to the outside of the doorway to the Plane of Time, Cromwulf noticed his skin began to turn pale and the place where the spiders web had struck him began to glow bright red. It took the shape of what Mauldu recognized as the "Mark of Fear". It would seem that the spider was sent to eliminate one Quietdoom. Instead of the shadowknight they inadvertantly targeted his son. Perhaps this was the price that had to be payed. Cromwulf doubled over in pain and began to cough up a thick, dark blue liquid.
Mauldu showed no sign of sympathy. Did he know something about Cromwulf's condition? He told Cromwulf that the potential cure for his ailment could be found once he was strong enough to venture to the shores Odus. Until then he would be forced to walk a thin line between Tranquility and Fear. With that realization, Mauldu and Cromwulf moved toward the book thus begining a new age of Quietdoom adventurers. There was much to be done in order to prepare for what was to come.