What I really need is something for the first 15 minutes.
Four blank slates stand in the middle of a dusty town with noting but the shirts on their back and the blades at their sides.
What now?
"Acolyte of Darkness"
Adomthra Gaus, the treacherous captain of the guard was as good as his word, apart from a few dozen screaming and fleeing peasants he has guided your small group safely and swiftly through Zhul-Bazzir's maze of back-alleys all the way to the tower of Abon-Tha.
Now you face the high outer wall of the tower's grounds. A single stroke of the captain's sabre slices a binding and brings down a concealed rope ladder.
"I care not for the awful necromancer's treasures, all I ask in payment is that you end Abon-Tha's life, all the spoils you find within shall be yours."
Adomthra shakes out the ladder and turns to you, the light of the fires burning through the city play across his helmet in a show of golden liquid light.
"Be swift, the city defences will not last the hour, and then your own army will be upon you. May the gods forgive my connivance this night"
With that he turns, reaches up to his dromedary mount, and rides into the night.
The PCs
Deserters from the invading army of Xylac, the PCs paid guard captain Admonthra Gaus to guide them to the tower of Abon-Tha.
Valthos
Once "Prince" Valthos, it is over thirty years since he has been called that. At least now he has a chance to reclaim his crown, the badge of office to a vanished kingdom. Abon-Tha was his father's vizier before he betrayed him and stole royal treasury.
Lunili
A sorcerer herself, Lunili has heard Abon-Tha keeps a hoard of grimoires in his tower apartments. She has not been able to get the thought of the promise of knowledge and power out of her head since learning of the spells contained within the arcane codices.
Melua
Driven by revenge, Melua's village was ransacked by mercenaries, almost all the adults were taken captive. Melua has found out Abon-Tha hired the mercenaries to provide him with sacrifices.
Sabuk
Years of travelling and months of planning have brought Sabuk to this place on this night. He knows that Abon-Tha holds a smoking mirror somewhere in the tower, a gateway back to his own world. Perhaps his new friends will follow him through.