S@squ@tch's Against the Giants - Team Gold

In a dark underground meeting room:

“Dispatch the agents – we must know if it is true.” A heavily robed figure says to the assembled group of shadowy figures.

“At once, master.”

The room quickly empties, leaving the robed figure to ponder their next move.

[D]
aaa[/D]

City of Sharn:



You have received word that House Medani and House Tharashk are seeking volunteers to help them out with a problem that has arisen in Xendrik.

Various leaflets and posters have been posted all through Sharn, and they have attracted your attention.

You are to be at the House Medani enclave in the city of Sharn on the morning of 20 Zarantyr 999 at sunrise.

That was two weeks ago.

[D]aa[/D]

You awaken well before sunrise on the 20th, somewhat excited about the prospect of a new challenge, and also interested to see what the two great houses need from outsiders – for it seemed to be a somewhat uncommon event – first, for Tharashk and Medani to be working together, and second, to want the services of non-house members.

After hurriedly assembling your gear, you depart for the enclave in the heart of the city, bidding adieu to your landlord, as you honestly do not know if you will be back to your room today, or in several months.

The morning fog is thick, and as you ascend higher into the city, it becomes thicker and thicker, reducing your visibility remarkedly. You could have sworn that you saw something small with wings out of the corner of your eyes, but when you stopped and looked, you did not see anything. You begin to think you are lost, when you see the familiar shadow of the building before you.

[D]aa[/D]

The enclave rises out of the mist majestically – the ornately carved features and the gold-inlaid coat of arms of the House Medani comes into view.

Two half-elves, clad in silver chain shirts and holding staves, stand watch at the main gates, and you see 5 others, of all races and sizes, already there before you.

As you arrive, the morning sun peeks out for a split second from behind the mist, before disappearing once again.

The half-elves nod to one another and then motion to you.

“Welcome. We have been expecting you, so please to be following us. Also, be aware that outside magic is not allowed within the doors of our enclave.”

The one on the left beckons for you to follow, and the doors behind him begin to swing open – of their own accord it seems.

You follow the first half-elf, and notice the second fall in behind the last of the group.

[D]aa[/D]

You are lead through the entryway of the outer bailey of the enclave, past a reflecting pond, and into a large meeting room.

In the center of the room is a large wooden table, seemingly crafted out of one large tree – some 6’ across and 20’ long. The natural grain runs the length of the table, two polished tree trunks give support to table.

On a side table, are pitchers of various juices, along with platters filled with various breakfast meats and breads.

“Please have a seat, Bendis will be with your shortly.”

About five minutes elapse, and a young-looking half-elf in robes appears through a door opposite the one you came in. He is followed by a middle-aged human, dressed in a shining breastplate with a cloak, with the coat of arms of House Tharashk emblazoned on the clip, around his neck.



“Good morning, and thank you for coming – My name is Bendis, Bendis Aldarn d’Medani, and this is Darvir, of House Tharashk.”


“You are aware of the information presented on the fliers – we are in need of a group to discover what is happening on the southern continent of Xendrik.”


“The native giants have become aggressive and coordinated war parties of Hill, Frost, and Fire have been spotted together – something that has not occurred in the past, and has put the harvesting of dragonshards well behind schedule for House Tharashk." Bendis traces his fingers through the air, bringing an image of dragonshards into view before you.



He continues, "They have even lost two groups that were dispatched in a search-and-rescue capacity – these groups were among their elite forces.”

He pauses.

"House Tharashk wishes the remains of their fallen found."



“Our seers have been receiving more and more visions of giants as well, of all kinds -- cloud, storm, stone, along with the others, but have been unable to make sense of them at this point. They have also seen scorpions, as well as illithids..."

Void shudders visibly at the thought.




“We have procured an airship, the Precarious Retreat, from House Lyrander, to take you to the southern city of Stormreach – it is the main port of entry into Xendrik. The travel itself should take 3 days. Once in Stormreach, you are to go to the Tharashk enclave, where Darvir's brother, Barvidor, will be waiting for you. He will give you more up to date recon and information about where the groups were when they were attacked and put down. They will be sending along a few support personnel along with you.”

Darvir remains silent next to the Medani wizard, looking over each of you, as if trying to determine if you stand a chance at being successful.

“You will be paid handsomely if you are able to determine what is coordinating the giants attacks, along with letters of credit for House services from Medani and Tharashk.”

“Please keep in mind that our seers have detected the presence of the Emerald Claw in their visions. Be vigilant to their machinations.”

“Now, if you do not have any questions, I will dispatch you to the services of my nephew, Vortan, who will escort you to the airfield.”

"I wish you success and luck."

OOC: Currently Lo-Kag is not with the party, he is in Stormreach, but if Nac Mac Feegle desires, he can be with the party in Sharn. Let me know.

Davan nods and stands, I will assist in any way I can in finding your fallen comrades. He adjusts his rings and falls in behind Vortan.


**Edit**
[sblock]

Orisons:
Detect Magic
Resistance
Purify Food and Drink
Create Water (3)

1st Level: Domain:
Comprehend Languages
Divine Favor 1~ Enlarge Person
Sanctuary 2~ Bulls Strength
Omen of Peril 3~ Magic Vestment
Protection from Evil 4~Spell Immunity

2nd Level:
Augury
Calm Emotions
Delay Poison
Make Whole

3rd Level:
Daylight
Vigor
Furnace Within
Lesser Humanoid Essence

4th Level:
Imbue with Special Ability
Restoration
Divine Power

[/sblock]

Void - Githzerai Sleeping Tiger Monk 5 / Rogue 1

You are to report to Sharn Void, in house Medani's enclave, we heard some disturbing news and I choose you above all to verify it.
The Sensai walks back and forth, Void have never seen him so troubled.
Illithids
The Sensai sums all in one word.
Yes Sensai, I'll do my best.
With that he departs.

*********************************

Shivering to the noting the hateful race, the hooded Githzerai moves nervously. He stands in the corner, leather straps cover his body, and several tattoos can be seen, he wears no armor, but a single "Night-black" cloak, held around his neck with an impressive periapt. His hands are covered with gloves and he wears black boots. When he moves you can swear that he makes no sound at all.

Morph

After leaving the Cannith House, Morph took his way slowly through the fog. He had trouble seeing in the haze, and also took his time to identify the magical gifts the House had given him for his journey. They spoke little to him during his upgrade, and that is how he preferred it. All they had said was that the monocle would identify items for him if he used it and used a cantrip to see their auras. Minutes later, with his new equipment's power now known, Morph redoubles his efforts at finding House Medani.

When coming to the House and seeing the half-elven guards outside, he merely nods to them, more than a response than he gave most others. He had discovered half-breeds like the elves and orcs, were given little respect for their parentage. The only respect they had earned was because of the gifts bestowed opon them, dragonmarks, and the power that the marks gave them.

Upon seeing others, more than likely answering the call to help as well, he quickly scans them as threats to his person. As a warforged, he was seen a little more than a weapon. He dutifully shakes his head as another warforged, undoubtingly a warrior, better serving the stereotype of his races purpose, comes out of the fog.

He takes a seat at the table, merely looking at the prooffered food and drink. His race had no need of nourishment. He wonder briefly what it would be like to need to replenish oneself during the day. Ultimately he decides, it must be similar to what it feels like when he prepares his spells in the morning every day. Magic was his nourishment.

As the human and half-elf speak, their request, Morph begins shifting uncomfortably in his chair. As the human's gaze settles on Morph, Morph matches his gaze. Do not underestimate me. Doing his best to hold still, Morph speaks in the hollow sounding voice of warforged. "Are we expected to lethally deal with hostiles or would you like to speak with them in person? What of Letters of Marquee? If we are to battle the giants, ancient relics may be found in their possession. I would like to keep what we find."

There's no disguising Dreadnought's heavy, clomping footsteps. He almost sounds like an approaching giant himself. Nearly seven feet tall and clad entirely in a burnished dark layer of adamantine, his approach was slow but seemingly inexorable.

He listened stoically to the briefing, then said in a flat, hollow tone that reverberated slightly in his armored hide, "I am interested. The questions asked are good, and the details will need to be defined, but I do wish to perform this task."

Darv clears his throat, a little tentatively. "And for my part, I would like to pen a monograph that records the details of our -- no doubt fully successful, considering the look of my new companions -- endeavor. Or are these matters to be kept secret? If so, I can certainly change whatever names need change, and obscure the details somewhat...."

Asenfel merely shrugs and smiles. "You're paying me to kill giants. That's good enough for me. I just hope the rest of these fellows can keep up."

Darv raises an eyebrow. "My legs may be short," he objects, "But I can walk as speedily as the next man. Or run, should matters come to that, which I am certain that they shan't."

EvolutionKB said:

"Are we expected to lethally deal with hostiles or would you like to speak with them in person? What of Letters of Marquee? If we are to battle the giants, ancient relics may be found in their possession. I would like to keep what we find."

Click to expand...

Bendis appraises the warforged,"You are free to keep anything you find in the southern continent. And you do not have to show any mercy to these giants, for they will obviously show none to you. But we do ask, that you find out what is motivating these giants."

Rolzup said:

Darv clears his throat, a little tentatively. "And for my part, I would like to pen a monograph that records the details of our -- no doubt fully successful, considering the look of my new companions -- endeavor. Or are these matters to be kept secret? If so, I can certainly change whatever names need change, and obscure the details somewhat...."

Click to expand...

"You are more than welcome to record the events of the expedition for posterity."

Bendis brings his fingers together and places them below his chin,"If there are no more questions, Vortran will take you to the air dock."

"I have a question," comes the large warrior warforged's booming voice.

"You mentioned seers. Did we appear in any of their visions?"