Hey, everybody! It looks like we'll be getting started quite soon, but there's still a few more details I'd like to add. I've got some bits of information for each of your characters--check the spolier block next to your character's name below. Here you'll find some subplots, extra character hooks, adventure hints and clues, and little extra bits of flavour. It's best if you only read the information intended for your character.
Barandurr
[SBLOCK]After dinner, as you reflected over the people you had met and the mission you were all about to embark on, you decided to read a little of your father's journal, hoping it would inspire and invigorate you. You opened the book at random to the following passage:
Seventh Day of Water
New Moon
"Even the summers, here, are cold enough to kill. I am glad that I'll never have to deal with the harshness of a Frostfell winter. I still can't believe all that I've uncovered here--all the secrets that I now must protect. I know more, I believe, about the history of the Dwarves than any scholar on Khorvaire, and yet...I cannot tell a single living soul what I have learned. This is the essence of frustration. At least I take some satisfaction in the fact that I am among the first to set foot in these lands in almost 13,000 years.
"The beasts that live here are very hardy. The great cats are surprisingly dangerous, especially the infected ones. Their infection is rare and unsual--no doubt the zealots of the Silver Flame would be caught off guard by their uncanny resistance to silver. Although since silver is rather hard to come by up here, it is fortuitious that these beasts have a different vulnerability than others of their kind, a vulnerability that is much more commonly found in these frozen wastes. The moon-gifted ice may be a terror to the unwary, but it is a boon to those who would stand against the Greattusk clan."[/SBLOCK]
Mong
[SBLOCK]In the middle of the night, you are startled into wakefulness as Rast suddenly tightens herself around your arm. You have the very strong impression--although you're not sure why you feel this so pwerfully--that there is someone standing right outside your room. Rast hisses softly, but surprisingly doesn't seem unduly agitated or nervous.
"Ah. You have awakened. I was told that your senses would be sharp, but...you have surprised me." The man behind the door has a high-pitched voice that changes tone softly as he speaks, almost as though he were singing. The voice sounds Elvish, although the accent is odd. "I must admit that my first impression of you was incorrect."
The Elf's speech is very clear, only slightly muffled by the thick wooden door. "I am here to deliver a brief message. The expedition that you are about to be part of is more important than you can known. Events are being set into motion that may very well change the world. Our leader, the Great Druid Oalian, has asked that I extend the following invitation to you: should you return from World's End with the Mark of the Eye, come immediately to Greenheart, in the Eldeen Reaches. There, Oalian will reveal your destiny to you."
He hesitates, as if unsure whether to continue. "...be careful, ranger. You have attracted the attention of more than our organization. The Emerald Claw has assigned an agent to recruit you--or assassinate you, should she fail in that. And the Order is almost the least of your worries. You will face many trials before you reach World's End. We wish you luck, and I implore you to remember this: when all is at its darkest, look to your faith--there is one who watches over you."
By the time you get to the door, the Elf has vanished.[/SBLOCK]
Toshanharath
[SBLOCK]Last night, your friend Captain Wassen invited you to have dinner on his flagship, to celebrate your upcoming mission. The meal is pleasent and conversation is light (the captain's other guests make very little impression on you). All throughout the night, however, you have the impression that Lord Wassen has an ulterior motive for asking you here. Shortly after the meal is over, Wassen invites you onto the deck to watch the stars.
"Wonderfully bright this evening, wouldn't you say?" Wassen stands at the railing for a few moments, breathing in the fresh night air, before he turns back to face you. "Ah, but I'm sure you've guessed by now that I've not asked you up here just to look at the sky, eh? No, not at all."
Wassen sighs. "The fact of the matter is, well, you see...I need to ask a favour of you, lad." He smiles sheepishly. "You can tell I'm not accustomed to asking for favours, can't you? I prefer to give commands and have my orders obeyed without much question, but you're not one of my men, are you? Keep this in mind, though--if you can help me, I'll do my best to reward you well.
"You'll be meeting my nephew tomorrow. He's a bright lad, with a good future ahead of him. I'd like you to watch out for him, make sure he stays safe." Wassen looks you in the eye. "I've always held a good deal of respect for you, Tosh. I hope you'll agree to help me.
"This whole expedition is more complicated than it seems. There are quite a few people who don't want to see you succeed, and some of them are willing to go to extreme measures. But the biggest threat to my nephew Karthak may be your captain, Gravan. Be wary of him--he's a former pirate, and he's known to have quite a grudge against me. There's no telling what that black-hearted scoundrel might be up to."
Wassen shakes your hand warmly, thanks you for your time, and leaves you alone on the deck with the stars.[/SBLOCK]
Norderil
[SBLOCK]It's only a couple of days before The Whale's Carcass is due to set sail, and Quentin Voddlegrok has asked you to meet him in order to go over a few last-minute details. He's been working with the Royal Collection of Aundair in order to secure a few helpful reference books to bring along. But just yesterday the Collection suddenly changed their mind and refused to deliver the books. So the two of you have been rushing through the city, searching local booksellers for anything that might prove useful.
After an exhausting day, the two of you are returning to the ship with your hard fought prizes: a couple of interesting books on the etymology of the Dwarven language, some ancient Dwarven history texts, and a huge, comprehensive survival manual discussing the hazzards of particularly cold environments. Voddlegrok, however, is not happy about the meager collection the two of you have managed to assemble. "I must say, really! After, um, months of negotiation, the men of the Royal Collection could not have been ruder, mmm? Although, um, I must admit that we were lucky to find that Alousious book--rather a rare author, wouldn't you say? I do not believe, um, that even the respected Library of Korranberg would have had that text, so that's, um, a point in our favor. Have you, um, by any chance, been privilaged to read any excerpts from Alousious' discussion of the, um, development of the three hundred and fifty-two different Dwarven words for stone? Quite, um, exciting, if I do say so myself!" Suddenly, Voddlegrok comes to a halt and points into the darkness ahead. "Oh, m-m-m-my! Who's there?"
You can just make out the crude shillouette of the ship, sitting alone at the furthest end of the dock. The odor that wafts from it is disturbing and foul. Because your eyes are watering slightly from the stench, you can't quite see what Voddlegrok is pointing at. The excited gnome drops his books as he rushes toward the ship. "W-what are you doing there? Get away from m-my ship!!", he shrieks.
You see a small but stocky figure break away from the shadows at the side of the ship and run, surprisingly swiftly, away from Voddlegrok. In a few moments, the mysterious person is gone. Voddlegrok waves you over. "D-d-did you see him? I believe it was a Dwarven male, um, hard to tell, really, dressed all, um, in black like that. Uncanny how quick he was, don't you think? Oh, um, look at this!" Voddlegrok points out a small set of tools abandoned, scattered, on the dock. As you look over the ship's side (holding your nose to protect you from the stench), you notice that someone had appearantly been trying to cut at the ship's timbers.
"Oh, oh, oh! Sabotage!" Quentin turns pale with horror, and then faints.[/SBLOCK]
Karthak
[SBLOCK]On the day before the expedition is due to set sail, you are called before Esravash d'Lyrandar, matriarch of House Lyrandar. You are brought to one of the highest towers of Stormhome, where the walls have been uniquely carved to channel the wind, creating a constant eerie melody that echoes all around you. Esravash greets you warmly as you enter the highest chamber, although she remains seated behind a long, low wooden table. She motions toward a chair and smiles. "Please, have a seat, honored cousin. I'm sure you are curious as to why you've been asked here today." Her bodyguards are silent and completely unobtrusive, but you remain keenly aware of their presence nevertheless.
"The family has been keeping a careful eye on your for quite some time, Karthak. We're quite proud of your acomplishments." Esravash reaches beneath her table and produces an elegant looking scroll. "And We wanted to let you know just what the entire family thinks of your remarkable abilities. Gallion d'Lyrandar, a professor at the University of Wynarn, has discussed your case with the University's review board, and they have decreed that you are to be this year's recipient of their honorary degree." She passes the scroll to you. It is edged in real gold, making it heavy and cool in your hand. "The University recognizes, in particular, your affinity with storm-based magic. In fact, Professor Gallion has personally requested your assistance with a complex magical weather theory." She smiles at you once more. "I must say that the project certainly seems interesting. Of course, the two of you would need considerable funding from the House..."
She pauses for a moment to allow the impact of this suggestion to settle in. "I do wish that I could authorize this funding, my dear cousin. But other members of the House are against it. Unlike us, they are simply unable to see the benefits of new forms of weather magic." She sighs, obviously frustrated at their lack of imagination. "But an idea did occur to me, cousin, about how the two of us may convince them otherwise." She smiles conspiratorily at you. "You see, it's long been rumored that the Frostfell is home to unusual forms of magical weather that are rarely, if ever, seen here on the mainland. The legendary Blood Snows, for instance, or the mysterious Faerie Ice. If House Lyrandar had exclusive access to some of the rare magic from the Frostfell...well, it would certainly go a long way toward silencing those who question the usefulness of weather magic!" Esravash laughs lightly.
"So here's what I'll need for you to do, cousin. Keep a careful eye out for any unusual or unique magic, and bring back any samples that you can. Don't let anyone else have access to any of this magic--it is to be for House Lyrandar only. Do you understand? Good." She smiles warmly once more, before you are escorted away from her tower, clutching your degree.
Note: I wanted to add one small detail to Karthak's abilities. Karthak, due to his training and his unique talents, gains a +4 bonus to any knowledge (nature) checks involving weather.[/SBLOCK]
Floe
[SBLOCK]It has been eight months since the dwarves came out of World's End, changing your life forever. The Dwarves had always lived apart from your people. They were a stern and quiet folk who preferred to be isolated. The lived in their high, cold towers and only rarely came away from the mountains. But when they were cruelly driven away from their city, the Dwarves came to your people for help.
You helped them build shelters of ice, and fend off frequent attacks from the Greattusk clan. They told you of the Three that came to take their lands from them. First was the ice dragon, who had long dwelt in the mountains, once an ally to the Dwarves. Then there was the dragon's daughter, a princess beautiful and strange. Finally, there was the husband of the dragon's daughter, a wizard who came from fire to rule over lands of ice. The Dwarves felt a very deep sadness at the loss of their city and the treasures it contained. They spent long hours solemnly discussing how to take their home back.
During the long months of the Dwarves' exile, endless chaotic storms blew out of World's End. At times, the sky would grow distant, and strange beasts of ice and magic would appear, as if from out of the snow. Your people and the Dwarves were forced to take shelter together. Eventually, you managed to befriend one of them, a bold Dwarven leader named Thugrun Blackice. Thugrun would spend hours telling you the myths and legends of his people, including the story of the Wandering Ones, the Dwarves who left World's End many thousands of years ago. Eventually, you had an idea: why didn't Thugrum seek out the Wandering Ones and ask them for their help?
It has been nearly two months since Thugrum left, riding a Rimefire raft that your people crafted for him. Conditions have only gotten worse--the Dwarves whisper frightfully about something they call the Heart, and the storms grow steadily more intense. Scouts have reported seeing an odd craft caught in the ice not far from shore. Could it be Thugrun, finally returned? Or is it some new danger set to test the endurance of the Dwarves?
You have agreed to travel with a small group of Dwarves as they investigate this strange vessel...[/SBLOCK]
I've just edited the character sheet, mainly for a few minor miscalculations, and to hand tweak the formating. Rather than adding another skill with the 4 points I gained, I decided to expand my arsenal of languages. Also, one minor equipment purchas I left out, a campaign journal. I just used the price and weight of a blank spellbook, as those are meant to be hardy documents that'll survive rough handling and travel.
