Men'Thar-The Lost Patriarch

"In the Endless City,
Where the minstrels sing,
A hero will bring forth,
A Once Forgotten King.

In numbers they will travel
Totaling just Five
Through war they will bring proof,
That he is still alive.

The blade shall be redone,
The warrior will soon see,
His past is now his present,
No longer History…”

201 Years ago, the Golden Prophecy


Is is a warm, bright day in the city of Skyrium. The endless river of towers and citadel's overwhelm your eyes, color bursting everywhere. It is a happy day today, the birthday of Arch-Mage Brima, a national Holiday. But rather than celebrate, here you find yourselves, alone in a silent plaza, waiting for someone, or something that summoned you here.

Around you are tall statues of ancient mages, the greatest wizards in the history of Men'Thar. And before you sits the fabled golden Citadel of Chazrael, the most prestigous study of magic in the world, and also the home of the most comprehensive record of the world of Men'Thar, with ancient manuscripts in the highest shelfs that date thousands of years back. You were all sent here by the same method, a dark, cloaked messenger told you that it was urgent you come to Skyrium immediatly. But why?

(Please describe what your characters are doing)

Roadweary and confused, Thromgril arrives at the square. He takes a few moments to inspect the statues and their inscriptions, trying to find some clue to his mysterious summoning. Finding few answers, he tears off the last remaining chunk off of the turkey leg that he had purchased from a streetside vendor on his way from the city gates. He then proceeds to flop down in front of the most interesting statue that strikes him, and passes out. Waiting.

"Zervakdras moi pa tal!" The thin sea elf curses in his native language at one of the statues rising up before him. Jealousy rages inside of him as his eyes take in the surrounding area. "Obviously, some cruel hoax brings me here!" Zar-Vroxiar thinks to himself sourly as he looks up at the citadel and the wealth of knowlege and magic held within. 20 years ago, he might have defaced one or all of these statues with some spell, but today, a calmer elf stands scowling at the magnificent statues. "No, who would know of my past here?" He mutters to himself.

A loud, rumbling snore interupts Zar's moment of humiliation. The dwarf rolls over and settles into another, more comfortable possition that doesn't have a large axe under him. Zar considers wiping his boots off on the dwarf but decides it's not worth the effort, considering his boots are not really dusty or dirty.

Zar turns again to face the Citadel as hatefilled thoughts turn to "what could have been" had he not been forced to leave his own school of magic.

Ackalon enters the plaza, amazed at the quietness of the area compared to the rest of the crowded city. Drinking from the fine brandy he had purchased with the taverns owners own money brought a smile to his face,along with the warm sensation down his throat. He looks at the elf, hmm a sea elf...looks a little upset...interesting... and the sleeping dwarf typical...if there isn't blood to be spilt or ale to be drunk asleep is were you'll find a dwarf.. He wanders the plaza a bit lifting the small bottle in salute to the elf as he passes by to find a little shade while waiting for the reason he was summoned here...It'd better be good...there's lots of rich houses cryin' out for a little explorin...

Zar hadn't noticed the half elf arriving at first but now that he did, he could feel his temper rising again. "Damn half breed. He thought to himself, noticing the distinctly elven and human features on the newest arrival. "The Dwarf, now a half elf... I'm guessing these fellows also received a missive similar to the one I have. What sort of gathering is this?

The sea elf thinks to himself, not staring at the half elf. He'd only just arrived at this city after losing his last group and already he'd been contacted by some mysterious means. What was going on? He'd been in enough adventuring parties around the face of Man'Thar to stop him from asking too many questions. But he'd never been "summoned" in quite a fashion as this.

As his thoughts churned, his eyes drifted again to the citadel. "Of course! Wizards there are bringing us together for some reason, some mission of the most 'dire importance'. The importance is, of course, relative. But... if wizards be behind this, what need of me? Perhaps this is too dangerous for me. Maybe I should walk away now.

Zar thought some more. How could he walk away now. If he were right, then here would be an opportunity to get in the good graces of an excellent haven of magical learning... no matter what, he could not turn down that chance.

...now, if he could just figure out what purpose the two fools with him would serve...

The messanger had not come to Skarsus directly, instead addressing the lad's Sergeant who all too swiftly ordered that Skarsus do as he was bade and leave immediately (Strangers were usually not trusted on the Borderlands.).

A little confused and all too eager to see new lands, Skarsus saddled up Palientha and rode off onto Skyrium following the directions given on the message.

Two weeks later and a little travel worn and dusty, the young horseman arrived at the largest gathering of people he had ever seen. Quite overcome by the immensity of the city, Skarsus lost himself along it's streets more than twice before he finally began to make a concerted effort to get to his destination without any more mishaps.

Eventually the golden citedal was before him and he dismounted and tied Palientha off at a convenient statue "leg". Compared to the rest of the city, This area was not so full of the hussle and bustle of merchants and common folk going about their daily business. Here, there were fewer folks going to and from the Citadel, mostly well-to-do types and scholars. Except that is, for the scattered few just standing about at the foot of the stairs. The snoring dwarf caused a small smile to alight upon his features, the swarthy looking man-elf seemed..... And the other! He had never seen the like. An elf he seemed, but, different. (And a little angry looking too.)

Skarsus decided it best to just stand with Palientha and see what unfolded from all this. He hoped whoever he was to meet would turn up soon, he was rather hungry and was tired of eating rations.

The clatter of hooved feet and the rattle of wheels draws your attention towards a wagon, a dwarf sitting at the reins, pulled by two stout mules. Slowing to a stop before one of the great statues, the dwarf shuffles down from the front of the wagon.

Looking like someone just out of the forge, the dwarf takes a look around the plaza, patting one of the mules on the head, he takes a moment to inspect a few of the large statues, giving a nod of proper craftsmanship, and then looks about to the collection of others gathered there. What do we 'ave here then? Let's see a half-elf, one of the horsemen of mier, a sea elf, 'aven't seen one of them in years, and over there, by me beard, it's another dwarf, but he doesn't be seemin' so keen on his own beard. What'n's the reason we all been brought here, guess we'll be findin' out soon enough.

As the 5 men stand there, all with their various looks, the massive arched doors of the Golden Citadel slowly open, a loud crackling sound emitting through the silent plaza as a small figure, small compared to the door at least emerges, slowly crossing the long marble bridge towards you.

About 2 minutes later, he comes fully into view. A medium sized man, a Human from the looks, garbed in a pure purple robe with a large red cross emblazoned on his chest. Long blonde hair flows down his shoulders, with a golden ring on his left hand. As he enters the Plaza, he stands in the center, about an equal distance from all of you as he slowly glances around, his blue eyes sharply examining each man. As he lays eyes on the sleeping dwarf, he softly chuckles and begins speaking.

"Greetings all! You have come from far and wide, from various races and walks of life. Two Dwarves, a Human, a Half-Elf, and even a legendary Sea-Elf, all gather together in the mighty realm of Skyrium. You may have your diffrences now, but I tell you, eventually you will come to respect one another, that I can assure you. Now if you will follow me inside, I shall explain everything to you."

With that, the Wizard turns and begins to hastily walk back across the bridge towards the massive citadel.

Zar-Vroxia eyes the wizard as he walks across the bridge from the citadel. His keen eyes take in every aspect of the man from the kind of footwear he has to the lay of his hair. What secrets did this man know? What powers of magic were at his command?

Zar also eyed his “companions” suspiciously as the wizard spoke of them. “Respect” the man had said. Zar doubted it. How could he respect a Dwarf? Some Dwarven structures, sure. They were masters at working stone. But Dwarves were crude, uncouth, stubborn, and grouchy. And those were their good qualities. From the Dwarves that he had known, it seemed that flatulence was among one of their most respected traits, falling just behind drunkenness and just before other kinds of debaucheries.

Worse than a Dwarf, there was a human. Why a human? Why, even the Gods did not deem humans worthy creatures, granting them such short life spans. What contribution could any being make in just thirty or so adult years?

At least the half-breed had Elven blood, redeeming him some. But, this particular human-elf looked a shady sort, not to be trusted.

“Oh, Zar, do not condemn them who were not gifted enough to be born as you, with full Elvish blood in their veins. They may yet prove to be worthy in their own way.” He thought to himself as the wizard finished up his speech. Without waiting for the others, Zar walked boldly after the wizard and into the citadel.

Finishing off his brandy, and looking at the new ones gathered in the square, Ackalon thought to himself Well quite a merry gathering, a grumpy elf, horseman, smith and a dirty dwarf..guess I'll be finding out some answers soon.Knowing wizards he'll have come up with some "destiny" that we have...Hells destiny better pay well. Shaking the dust from his cloak he stands and walks to the bridge where the wizard is quickly moving across. Along the way if the dwarf is asleep, he prods him with his foot to awaken him.