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The Rise of Felskein [Completed]
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<blockquote data-quote="Iron Sky" data-source="post: 4470708" data-attributes="member: 60965"><p>Session 10, Part 3</p><p> </p><p>"You're in love?" Suniel said. "That's uh... with who?"</p><p> </p><p>Guntl grinned, turned, and called out. "Shruka, over here. Come meet the boss!"</p><p> </p><p>A moment later, the ugliest orc Suniel had ever seen came around the corner of the carriage. She was smiling in what he thought might be a bashful manner, but he couldn't really tell. It was such an extreme ugliness that his instinct to recoil in disgust shifted to an analytical curiosity about what exactly it was that made her appearance so repellent.</p><p> </p><p>He extended his hand. "Nice to meet you," he said.</p><p> </p><p>She shook it firmly. He noticed the warts and long black-hair on the back of her hand with detachment. "So, Guntl says you'd like to come with us. What are your skills?"</p><p> </p><p>"I used to work at the Harvest temple. I was an acolyte but they said I scared the people who come in," she said, her voice deep and gravelly. "But I have some small useful magics."</p><p> </p><p>"Indeed? Well then, uh, welcome to the Black Carriage, Shruka," Suniel said. He turned, saw someone approaching out of the corner of his eye, and did a double take. "You?" he said, taking half a step back. "How?"</p><p> </p><p>***</p><p> </p><p>They all gathered around the campfire Guntl had made outside Suniel's carriage, half-watching the flames and half-listening to Kezzek.</p><p> </p><p>"The restitution I have collected in the course of perusing my casework covered most of the expense," he said. "My share of what we took from Annandor's ill-gotten gains paid for the rest."</p><p> </p><p>"What was it like?" Grok'nar said, glancing up from prodding the fire with a long stick.</p><p> </p><p>"Being dead?" Kezzek said. He took a deep breath and leaned back, looking up at the stars. "I don't remember very well, it is vague, almost dreamlike. I do remember an army of figures passing in the fog, wielding quor'rels. I knew they were going into battle, against some foe they could never hope to defeat. I couldn't speak, couldn't breathe as they passed. I felt drawn to them but couldn't move to catch their attention and I desperately wanted them to notice me. Then one stopped and took several steps towards me, holding his quor'rel out."</p><p> </p><p>He paused and the only sounds were the faint bustle of the city as it settled down for the night and the snap and pop of the fire. "'Take this to fight them when they return, to find victory where we found defeat,' the figure said, standing still and tall like a statue as he held it out to me. I began to reach for it, but then I heard a voice calling to me from a great distance. I turned towards the sound and saw a silvery light shining in the fog. When I turned back, the figure with the quor'rel was gone as if he had never been and I awoke."</p><p> </p><p>They all stared at the fire for several more minutes in silence until No Tongue came into sight, leaping and giggling and singing "maaaster" as he tried to catch the huge summer moths that were drawn to a nearby street lamp. Suniel smiled at the goblin and saw several of the others doing so as well.</p><p> </p><p>"Do you suppose he was talking about Iron Sky?" Harold said from where he stood apart at the dim, flickering edge of the firelight.</p><p> </p><p>"Who?" Grok'nar said. "No Tongue? I think he was talking about Suniel."</p><p> </p><p>"No, the figure in the death-dream."</p><p> </p><p>Kezzek frowned and tugged on one of his tusks with a glance at where Keeper stood watching No Tongue's antics. "I'm not sure. I don't think so though, somehow."</p><p> </p><p>"Speaking of, what are we going to do about them?" Suniel said. "Keeper says they aren't going to be tracking the Stones anymore, but if Felskein is truly as important to them as he says, they may be back."</p><p> </p><p>"I should have destroyed that Gem Eye that escaped us," Harold muttered. "I had a feeling it would come back to us if we let it go after telling it so much."</p><p> </p><p>Grok'nar nodded. "For once you might be right, archer."</p><p> </p><p>"Well, I'm not one to give into others demands, especially made through threats," Kezzek said. "Our mysterious golden figure didn't even show us her face before making her demands."</p><p> </p><p>"It's still strange to me how none of us got a good look at her, yet all agree it was a <em>she</em>," Suniel said. "I wonder why that is?"</p><p> </p><p>"I don't have enough information to submit to the Greywarden Council on these Iron Sky matters though," Kezzek said, seeming to not have even heard Suniel. "I will wait until we have more information on their terrorist activities to report it. Golden threats be damned."</p><p> </p><p>"Thanks for doing that for us," Grok'nar said dryly. He turned to Suniel. "What do you suppose is in it for her? Why shouldn't we tell everyone about Iron Sky?"</p><p> </p><p>The elf shrugged. "I have no idea."</p><p> </p><p>There was another long silence.</p><p> </p><p>"Well," Grok'nar said, standing and stretching. "I'm going to go visit the outpost and see how our buddy Chief Shro'kar is doing. Maybe gather some more information for Northmand."</p><p> </p><p>Harold quirked an eyebrow. "Really? I didn't realize you had such an interest in Northmand's well-being."</p><p> </p><p>Grok'nar pressed his hand to his chest melodramatically. "Why, my dear friend Harold, I'm hurt. You know nothing is more important to me than the welfare of my human allies."</p><p> </p><p>"More like <em>your</em> welfare if you don't keep the humans <em>as</em> allies," Kezzek said with a grunt.</p><p> </p><p>"Sharp. I see why they made you a Greywarden. Those keen powers of perception," Grok'nar said with a wink. "Anyway, I should be back in a week or so. Don't do anything rash without me!"</p><p> </p><p>They waved as the hobgoblin sauntered off into the night.</p><p> </p><p>"Well, I heard the Investigators talking about an Agony ring not long after I... woke up," Kezzek said, standing as well. "My other cases seem to be on hold for a while, so I thought I'd see what I could dig up."</p><p></p><p>"Agony, the drug?" Suniel said. "Nasty stuff. Be careful, I've heard some things about the people who distribute it."</p><p> </p><p>"Well, good luck with that," Harold said. "Since everyone else seems to have other engagements, I guess I'll report back to duty for the Ambassador."</p><p> </p><p>Suniel stood as well and nodded to them both. "Well, I need to get my growing band of merry misfits organized and I'm way behind on my research. Shall we all meet up here in a week's time?"</p><p> </p><p>The archer and the Greywarden nodded. "A week's time then," Suniel said, waving to the others as they walked out of the ring of firelight. He turned to Keeper.</p><p> </p><p>"All right, now that we have some time, let's see what all you can do with these stones..."</p><p> </p><p>***</p><p> </p><p>Harold stood straight, head held high as the Northmand Council as Marshal Spartus pinned two new medals onto his uniform. The others stood next to him; the Greywarden clean, shaven, gauntlet shining, Suniel in his usual nondescript robes, the hobgoblin still covered in dust from the road.</p><p> </p><p>"We present these medals as thanks for your actions against the Iron Tribes and the Assassins that have disrupted our peace this last month," the Marshal said. He turned and collected a long, narrow polished box from the crescent table that the rest of the Council sat behind. When he opened it, Harold saw four sealed scrolls, carefully placed in red velvet. "As further signs of our gratitude, take these writs and visit the armory and the treasury, to take what rewards they entitle you to."</p><p> </p><p>Harold saluted smartly when he was presented his writ and was pleased when the Marshal returned his salute. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ambassador Stevens smile slightly and nod.</p><p> </p><p>"It was the pleasure of the Crystal Towers that we could serve our new allies," Harold said, ignoring Grok'nar's mock-sighing and eye-rolling. "I only hope that in the future that our ties of loyalty grow even stronger."</p><p> </p><p>The Marshal returned to his seat and nodded. "Yes, about that. There is a Gnomish Steamship leaving for the Crystal Towers by way of Steamport. Our own ambassador, Roderic, would like to visit our new allies to make the alliance official. His protection is of much importance to our new-fledged pact and so we will gladly pay the way of any who wish to accompany Honor Guard Harold and the two Ambassadors on their journey."</p><p> </p><p>The others exchanged a few glances and Suniel nodded. "Thank you. We will speak on it."</p><p> </p><p>"Very well," the Marshal said. "Now, if you will excuse us, we have many urgent matters to attend to."</p><p> </p><p>"Yes, of course," Harold said, saluting a final time before turning and marching crisply out of the Council Chamber. He glanced back at the others and saw them mulling the Marshal's offer over as they followed him out.</p><p> </p><p><em>None of these three have any real roots here, it will not be hard to convince them to come along,</em> he thought. <em>One short journey south and we will complete my mission, we will bring the Crystal Towers hope.</em></p><p> </p><p>His thoughts turned to the Ashen Tower and his mood darkened. <em>Hope. How sorely we need it.</em></p><p> </p><p>---</p><p> </p><p><em>Here ends Act I of the Rise of Felskein. The party readies to set forth from now-familiar Northmand and take the journey south into the larger and more treacherous world: down the Greenpath to the Crystal Deep, to the wondrous Gnomish capital of Steamport, to the Landspear - the mountain that pierces the sky - and across the ever-feuding Freeholds to the ancient Span that connects the Crystal Towers to the mainland, and hopefully, to finally reach the gleaming spires of the Crystal Towers.</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Iron Sky, post: 4470708, member: 60965"] Session 10, Part 3 "You're in love?" Suniel said. "That's uh... with who?" Guntl grinned, turned, and called out. "Shruka, over here. Come meet the boss!" A moment later, the ugliest orc Suniel had ever seen came around the corner of the carriage. She was smiling in what he thought might be a bashful manner, but he couldn't really tell. It was such an extreme ugliness that his instinct to recoil in disgust shifted to an analytical curiosity about what exactly it was that made her appearance so repellent. He extended his hand. "Nice to meet you," he said. She shook it firmly. He noticed the warts and long black-hair on the back of her hand with detachment. "So, Guntl says you'd like to come with us. What are your skills?" "I used to work at the Harvest temple. I was an acolyte but they said I scared the people who come in," she said, her voice deep and gravelly. "But I have some small useful magics." "Indeed? Well then, uh, welcome to the Black Carriage, Shruka," Suniel said. He turned, saw someone approaching out of the corner of his eye, and did a double take. "You?" he said, taking half a step back. "How?" *** They all gathered around the campfire Guntl had made outside Suniel's carriage, half-watching the flames and half-listening to Kezzek. "The restitution I have collected in the course of perusing my casework covered most of the expense," he said. "My share of what we took from Annandor's ill-gotten gains paid for the rest." "What was it like?" Grok'nar said, glancing up from prodding the fire with a long stick. "Being dead?" Kezzek said. He took a deep breath and leaned back, looking up at the stars. "I don't remember very well, it is vague, almost dreamlike. I do remember an army of figures passing in the fog, wielding quor'rels. I knew they were going into battle, against some foe they could never hope to defeat. I couldn't speak, couldn't breathe as they passed. I felt drawn to them but couldn't move to catch their attention and I desperately wanted them to notice me. Then one stopped and took several steps towards me, holding his quor'rel out." He paused and the only sounds were the faint bustle of the city as it settled down for the night and the snap and pop of the fire. "'Take this to fight them when they return, to find victory where we found defeat,' the figure said, standing still and tall like a statue as he held it out to me. I began to reach for it, but then I heard a voice calling to me from a great distance. I turned towards the sound and saw a silvery light shining in the fog. When I turned back, the figure with the quor'rel was gone as if he had never been and I awoke." They all stared at the fire for several more minutes in silence until No Tongue came into sight, leaping and giggling and singing "maaaster" as he tried to catch the huge summer moths that were drawn to a nearby street lamp. Suniel smiled at the goblin and saw several of the others doing so as well. "Do you suppose he was talking about Iron Sky?" Harold said from where he stood apart at the dim, flickering edge of the firelight. "Who?" Grok'nar said. "No Tongue? I think he was talking about Suniel." "No, the figure in the death-dream." Kezzek frowned and tugged on one of his tusks with a glance at where Keeper stood watching No Tongue's antics. "I'm not sure. I don't think so though, somehow." "Speaking of, what are we going to do about them?" Suniel said. "Keeper says they aren't going to be tracking the Stones anymore, but if Felskein is truly as important to them as he says, they may be back." "I should have destroyed that Gem Eye that escaped us," Harold muttered. "I had a feeling it would come back to us if we let it go after telling it so much." Grok'nar nodded. "For once you might be right, archer." "Well, I'm not one to give into others demands, especially made through threats," Kezzek said. "Our mysterious golden figure didn't even show us her face before making her demands." "It's still strange to me how none of us got a good look at her, yet all agree it was a [I]she[/I]," Suniel said. "I wonder why that is?" "I don't have enough information to submit to the Greywarden Council on these Iron Sky matters though," Kezzek said, seeming to not have even heard Suniel. "I will wait until we have more information on their terrorist activities to report it. Golden threats be damned." "Thanks for doing that for us," Grok'nar said dryly. He turned to Suniel. "What do you suppose is in it for her? Why shouldn't we tell everyone about Iron Sky?" The elf shrugged. "I have no idea." There was another long silence. "Well," Grok'nar said, standing and stretching. "I'm going to go visit the outpost and see how our buddy Chief Shro'kar is doing. Maybe gather some more information for Northmand." Harold quirked an eyebrow. "Really? I didn't realize you had such an interest in Northmand's well-being." Grok'nar pressed his hand to his chest melodramatically. "Why, my dear friend Harold, I'm hurt. You know nothing is more important to me than the welfare of my human allies." "More like [I]your[/I] welfare if you don't keep the humans [I]as[/I] allies," Kezzek said with a grunt. "Sharp. I see why they made you a Greywarden. Those keen powers of perception," Grok'nar said with a wink. "Anyway, I should be back in a week or so. Don't do anything rash without me!" They waved as the hobgoblin sauntered off into the night. "Well, I heard the Investigators talking about an Agony ring not long after I... woke up," Kezzek said, standing as well. "My other cases seem to be on hold for a while, so I thought I'd see what I could dig up." "Agony, the drug?" Suniel said. "Nasty stuff. Be careful, I've heard some things about the people who distribute it." "Well, good luck with that," Harold said. "Since everyone else seems to have other engagements, I guess I'll report back to duty for the Ambassador." Suniel stood as well and nodded to them both. "Well, I need to get my growing band of merry misfits organized and I'm way behind on my research. Shall we all meet up here in a week's time?" The archer and the Greywarden nodded. "A week's time then," Suniel said, waving to the others as they walked out of the ring of firelight. He turned to Keeper. "All right, now that we have some time, let's see what all you can do with these stones..." *** Harold stood straight, head held high as the Northmand Council as Marshal Spartus pinned two new medals onto his uniform. The others stood next to him; the Greywarden clean, shaven, gauntlet shining, Suniel in his usual nondescript robes, the hobgoblin still covered in dust from the road. "We present these medals as thanks for your actions against the Iron Tribes and the Assassins that have disrupted our peace this last month," the Marshal said. He turned and collected a long, narrow polished box from the crescent table that the rest of the Council sat behind. When he opened it, Harold saw four sealed scrolls, carefully placed in red velvet. "As further signs of our gratitude, take these writs and visit the armory and the treasury, to take what rewards they entitle you to." Harold saluted smartly when he was presented his writ and was pleased when the Marshal returned his salute. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ambassador Stevens smile slightly and nod. "It was the pleasure of the Crystal Towers that we could serve our new allies," Harold said, ignoring Grok'nar's mock-sighing and eye-rolling. "I only hope that in the future that our ties of loyalty grow even stronger." The Marshal returned to his seat and nodded. "Yes, about that. There is a Gnomish Steamship leaving for the Crystal Towers by way of Steamport. Our own ambassador, Roderic, would like to visit our new allies to make the alliance official. His protection is of much importance to our new-fledged pact and so we will gladly pay the way of any who wish to accompany Honor Guard Harold and the two Ambassadors on their journey." The others exchanged a few glances and Suniel nodded. "Thank you. We will speak on it." "Very well," the Marshal said. "Now, if you will excuse us, we have many urgent matters to attend to." "Yes, of course," Harold said, saluting a final time before turning and marching crisply out of the Council Chamber. He glanced back at the others and saw them mulling the Marshal's offer over as they followed him out. [I]None of these three have any real roots here, it will not be hard to convince them to come along,[/I] he thought. [I]One short journey south and we will complete my mission, we will bring the Crystal Towers hope.[/I] His thoughts turned to the Ashen Tower and his mood darkened. [I]Hope. How sorely we need it.[/I] --- [I]Here ends Act I of the Rise of Felskein. The party readies to set forth from now-familiar Northmand and take the journey south into the larger and more treacherous world: down the Greenpath to the Crystal Deep, to the wondrous Gnomish capital of Steamport, to the Landspear - the mountain that pierces the sky - and across the ever-feuding Freeholds to the ancient Span that connects the Crystal Towers to the mainland, and hopefully, to finally reach the gleaming spires of the Crystal Towers.[/I] [/QUOTE]
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