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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Archon Basileus" data-source="post: 7278533" data-attributes="member: 6855545">EVERYONE"Well, if they wanted the Tideruler, they'd come for the dagger, wouldn't they?" - Arvana says, considering the recent discoveries. "And people feel the dagger's presence... So, as long as we hold it, we're living targets, for those who want the blade or the Tideruler. If I wanted either of them, I'd look for someone that had been linked to it in the past, at the very least..." - she continues. "Which reminds me that a fixed target is, as the saying goes, an easy one. We really should get going."Common knowledge about Adalous Dram is scarce. Even those closely related to him have difficulty deciding what to make of him. His appearances are so vague that most people don't even know how he looks like. Some things are sure, though. As the old lords of Laholt once did, he hires mercenaries to protect his hold and do his dirty work - Hagadark and his group being the living proof of it. In ancient times, men like these were considered masters of dungeons and mazes, holding power too terrible to behold. They were attracted to the eastern parts of Laholt - and many other areas of Gaelia - under the promise of riches and power. As the story goes, these ancient lords sought out demonic secrets and powerful magics. Generally, they used the power of orc troops to aid them - scattered as they were, it was a lot easier to have them employed. Their pacts and experiments are the stuff of legend, and many of them grew to build entire bloodlines, forcefully accepted under more civilized governments nowadays. Dram's profile fits the description. A man living in an isolated hill and resorting to orcs could only mean trouble. At least, as far as midwives tales could confirm...SHAYURIShayuri, though remembers his name. Dram became notorious among less talented spell-casting circles as a relentless pursuer of knowledge, being able to yield a few unique spell, suposedly of his own making. But what made him known to her is his thirst for draconic knowledge, similar to her own. More often than not she heard about him among sailors and travelers, librarians and sages alike. His renown as a collector and a wise man went far, and many a caravan left the western lands to deliver him pieces of unusual rarity. Thieves and explorers weren't far from his payroll as well, adding a heavier charge to his name, as it might be expected. MARIUSAs for Marius, the name only came under scrutiny during his present exploits. He hopes, though, that his suspicions aren't to be confirmed. Word of mercenaries and plunderers is common around these deserts, and someone like Dram might be turning in a profit from such actions. After all, how could someone maintain a bunch of rabid orcs under command without resorting to less-than-reputable ways to pay and satisfy them?Either way, he heard descriptions that might apply to Dram. A couple of wandering monks, upon returning to the Temple with amassed donations - told a story about a mysterious sorcerer, lodged in a manor at the center of a hill-hold. Locals said he commanded great power, having first settled in the area a long time ago - around a century, to be more precise. He would be described as somewhat stern, but fair, and the population was quick to defend him - at least, at the local taverns. It might be only fear of the many orcs that served him, or gratitude for the healing salves and the field blessings he assumedly bestowed upon the region. Than, they said, they left through the road that led to the manor, expecting to benefit from the lord's generosity, but were quickly dissuaded as they met around forty men hung by the side of the path. They left the desert soon after that.HAGADARKThe one closest to Dram, Hagadark knows of his collecting habits and understands the myth even further. He is an alchemist, and a good one. His impressive results are constantly confused with magic, and he seems to feed the rumors. He demands secrecy, as it goes, since much that occurs within his manor wouldn't be quite understood by most commoners. He designed a peculiar protective web around himself. He serves as a prince of sorts for the villages around the hill, providing for them and helping sustain a huge oasis through secret concoctions - this Hagadark uncovered by pretending drunkenness while he overheard some of his few, selected apprentices talking to each other. Aside from that, the tribes under his banner are grateful for his payment - and for letting them sack the surrounding areas at will, as long as they haven't sworn him loyalty. Hagadark's alliance with him holds several points of interest: the knowledge he promises is rare - and won't be as demanding as that of the Book, for sure - and he might be able to aid the shaman in his search for stronger blood, in the future. He wonders what this man might do, if holding this dagger in hand...MORGRYMThe druid holds little contact with the desert people, but little's enough when a man can rise an oasis down the hills of the driest desert of Gaelia. He doesn't know how it was done, but he met many a druid - and many a warrior - seeking aid in the valleys from the mass of orcs that now crowded the feet of the northern hills. For a while, he considered why Maran stood silent as the green menace gathered under its beard - and now he realizes that Grontar had an alliance with Dram. Probably, both leaders reached an understanding. Perhaps they'd end up using the orcs against the odrosan, a common enemy, surely. But how could a dwarf accept such insidious plans to develop - provided, of course, that Morgrym's suspicions are true...[You can keep the information given to each of you in secret, if you so choose. The rest of it is known by everyone. Summing it all, mostly you have rumors, as you can see. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Again, as in the other threads, trying to get into each character set of details, skills and backstory. Shay would obviously know arcane and draconian lore the most, while Marius might have heard many rumors from the road; Morgrym hails from a close area, so some geopolitical concern would be more common, I think... And Hagadark has an alliance with the man, giving him sensitive info, but also putting him in an inconvenient spot. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Please, let me know if I'm on the right path, as usual! I'm also trying to focus a bit more on the mood of the campaigns, as you might notice - that is, if I did it correctly, hehe. Hope you'll enjoy!] [MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION] [MENTION=6801311]KahlessNestor[/MENTION] [MENTION=87106]MetaVoid[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION]</blockquote>

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