The Wayfarers Brotherhood

Three exiles

This story is chapter 7 of Prima’s 2003 strategy guide for Lost Dungeons of Norrath, told before any adventure begins. It opens in The Overthere on Kunark: "The filthy waters lap rhythmically at the shores of The Overthere." A Barbarian steps off his boat, the "Thorn of the White Rose": "With that landing, Morden Rasp took another step on the path of a rumor — one that set him upon the waves and one that he intends to follow to its end. He has heard of trouble amongst the Sarnak." (p.144) Source [1]

With him came Nedaria, an Erudite: "They are age-old companions, moved by loyalty to one another and adventure ... anywhere." At the outpost a Dark Elf, Tondal Di`Xevar, had served "his master, Vaean the Night" until he found "an open tome in Vaean's study, one that made clear that he was ripening Tondal for a vile necromantic ritual. Vaean planned to have Tondal become one of his many mindless minions." Nedaria "sensed no ill-will from the Dark Elf" and told Morden: "He is much like us, Morden ... I feel he may have some part to play here." The three "shared their lives and dreams until the glow of Drinal gave way to the rays of Ro. Morden and Nedaria felt tied to this Dark Elf who shared their adventurous spirits and lives as exiles." (pp.145–146) Source [1]

Chardok and a name

Morden was buying more than secrets: "As Morden bought pieces of information about Chardok, he also appeared to purchase a loyal following of like-minded adventurers." Most of that following waited in Freeport. The rumors were grim: "A shapeshifter was at work; there were traitors within the highest ranks of the Brood; high-ranking Sarnak citizens had disappeared inexplicably." Nedaria read letters "from hired spies" and taught Tondal the languages of the Gnomes and High Elves. (p.146) Source [1]

Inside Chardok, "the Overking Bathezid Di'Zok" called a secret council, because Korucust "had been rampantly making accusations of treachery within the Brood." Its scrying spell showed "Korucust torture Gimliox Ran'Ti, one of the palace's master healers." Released, the healer muttered: "I am Shai'Din. The Brood of Di'Zok is my enemy. I am Shai'Din. I am Shai'Din. Enemies are close." (p.147) Source [1]

Morden broke out of a wall with bags of "treasures he lifted from the deepest halls of Chardok." Then a note came from an oasis in Ro: "The Solusek Mining Company has sent word that the Kobold tribes are more active than usual." In the Lavastorm Mountains he named the band: "I think we ought to call ourselves the 'Wayfarers Brotherhood.'" Tondal answered: "A fine name indeed. A real family." Recruits had come from Burning Wood, and Nedaria built "the camp in the Lavastorm Mountains with all the new adventurers that had followed from the Burning Woods" while Morden tried to find a way past "that mess o' Goblins and bloody clockworks" in the Solusek mines under Solusek’s Eye. (pp.148–149) Source [1]

Nedaria and the Shadowed man

Nedaria’s past lay in Erudin, where she found "an innate power to see into people's minds" and the future. After she dreamed of a noble's murder plot, her mother, Tilisea Nebeian, sent her running into the Toxxulia Forest: "The nobles will learn of your gift and rob you of all you hold dear". Nedaria was left alone: she "never heard from her mother again." (p.150) Source [1]

A "Shadowed man" came to the Lavastorm camp and told her: "We seek the same enemy. The servants of Solusek Ro need to be cast out." His tale: Heili Erat, "a noble of the Solusek Kobold clan", charmed a slave to scout Lord Nagafen’s den and saw "a cavern filled with enormous heaps of riches belonging to Lord Nagafen." Morden found the crate of gold in Heili's room and said: "I've found a way for us to enter the hold." The 2003 chapters end before the Shadowed man or that plan comes back. (pp.151–152) Source [1]

Calliav and the five visions

Calliav Giniuar was a wizard who wandered the Plane of Knowledge crying "Time! My lord in Time." Since boyhood he had hoped "the demigod Zebuxoruk could be contacted and freed from his imprisonment in the Plane of Time". "Zebuxoruk had felt Calliav's spirit some time ago and believed he might make an acceptable repository for some of his knowledge." The flood of it left Calliav's "mind blinded" in his room in West Karana. He had seen a glowing stone and "believed it to be that magical stone that was stolen from the Trolls — the Grozmok Stone." He had heard the Wayfarers Brotherhood was "well respected for its success in finding information and exploring." (pp.152–153) Source [1]

By then "Morden's team of outcasts and shunned travelers rivaled any powerful group of explorers on Norrath". Nedaria kept the Lavastorm camp while Morden and Tondal went through Nektulos and the Commonlands to the Freeport sewers, where Calliav appeared in "a crimson glow". The brotherhood regrouped in "The tunnel between the Commonlands and the deserts of Ro". Nedaria steadied Calliav's mind, and he asked: "You must help me find the Grozmok Stone. Agree to surrender the stone to me when it is found and I promise to offer you what information I can." (pp.154–156) Source [1]

His visions, in order: "snow, ice, and a great magic with no face"; walking dead under "a castle"; walls collapsing as "sand is rushing in"; "the Frogloks blessed by Mithaniel Marr are transformed"; and "The Orcs have risen. Goblins have been overrun and enslaved." Nedaria: "These visions he is sharing are not fantasy. They are real." Morden split the band: Nedaria "will lead a camp to the Frigid Planes and Northlands on Antonica", Tondal goes "across the Ocean of Tears to the Butcherblock Mountains on Faydwer", and Morden stays with Calliav. (p.157) Source [1]

Set beside the five adventure themes, from Deepest Guk to Takish-Hiz, the five visions match the five themes. At those camps, players took adventures by the 2003 rules. Calliav comes back in Gates of Discord, whose later visions led the brotherhood to Taelosia.