Post by Head Moderator on Jan 8, 2015 21:23:52 GMT -5
Several hundred years ago, a paladin of the Order of the Six named Sojer Ustel single-handedly defended the small town of Vailon, in northwestern Sarkotos, from a tribe of werewolves that lived in the forest nearby Vailon. The group of werewolves preyed on the smaller towns in the region because the people could not defend themselves very well. Eventually, Sojer Ustel came to Vailon and rallied the people to make a stand. In the name of the Order of the Six, he attacked the werewolves when they next came to Vailon and drove them off. That started a war between the paladin and the werewolves that lasted for several months -- a war that the werewolves were losing.
At the end, the paladin disappeared without a trace. The worried people faked his presence when the werewolves next came. The tired werewolves, now reduced to only a few, decided that they'd had enough and left the area. The people rejoiced and gave the credit to Sojer for driving them off. They commissioned a statue of Sojer from descriptions of him. The statue was duly erected in the town square, but no trace of the man himself was ever found. He simply disappeared into history. He has served as an inspiration to generations of paladins ever since, and a legend states that he will return when needed.
Recently, a sage and historian named Beral Westerly came through trying to piece together the life of Sojer Ustel. In the course of her investigations she came to the conclusion that Sojer didn't just disappear; he was attacked by a demon and his soul was trapped in the statue in the center of Vailon. This sage wants help finding Sojer's remains and somehow restoring him from the dead.
Ideas for Motivations
Beral really is a historian, but she seeks Sojer's artifact sword rather than the paladin himself.
Beral is sincere in what she tells the PCs.
The descendants of the werewolves that Sojer drove off have returned and seek to stop the PCs from restoring their ancient enemy.
Ideas for Complications
Sojer is indeed needed now, since the descendants of the werewolves he fought have returned to the area. Led by a nearly indestructible half-fiend werewolf, they cannot be stopped without Sojer's artifact holy sword, and that was lost when he disappeared.
A descendant of Sojer is in the town, since Sojer had a liaison with a local woman while there. This descendant wants Sojer restored as well so that the descendant can find and claim the holy sword.
Sojer has been driven mad during his centuries of imprisonment in the statue. If he is restored, he begins a streak of deranged evil acts. He must be stopped so that he can atone for these deeds (and be cured) if anyone is to find the sword.
Sojer's sword is normal. Sojer has the power within him (or did in his old body) to make any weapon he holds into a baneful (shapechangers) weapon. He may or may not realize this. If he does not, then he seeks out his old sword when restored. But he needs his original body.