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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Thanee" data-source="post: 2524491" data-attributes="member: 478">[smallcaps]Setting Sail[/smallcaps] * * * * * [smallcaps]Prologue of the Pool of Radiance campaign[/smallcaps] <img src="http://www.rpg.thanee.net/pool/images/settingsail.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />1348 DR, Day 1 of Mirtul (spring)“I was ten. I still remember the day, as if it was the day before. It was brutal...”The old merchant pauses for a moment to make sure everyone is listening. Leaning back on the railing his eyes looking far into the past, as he continues with his tale.“Mighty proud I was. My father, he was a member of the city watch, had given me a short sword, a real sword, for my birthday. I was running through the streets and alleys, fighting against shadows, pretending they were dangerous monsters. Nothing could defeat me on that day. I was invincible. And then, the dragons came...”Once more, Baran pauses, this time however, he is sure that everyone is paying attention. A knowing smile plays around his lips, but the sadness in his eyes betrays him.“The sky darkened from their mighty wings as they were gliding over the city. Fascinated by their terrifying grace, I stood there, rooted to the spot, but when the fire and acid started to rain down, I dropped my new sword and ran as fast as I could. My mother was crying, I can still see her face sometimes. And my father was donning his leather armor. The battle was lost long before it had even begun, but as they say, hope dies last.”“He sent us away, away from Phlan. To flee with other citizens before it was too late. He should have come with us, but he was a brave man, and this is how I will always remember him. He gave his life, so we could flee... so we could live.”“Nobody had expected the brutality with which the horde would descend upon the city. Of course they knew, that they were coming, when fewer and fewer merchants arrived, and later, when the fugitives came to seek shelter behind Phlan's strong walls. Little did they help them. The rulers were unable to deal with the situation. They sent more and more guards on the walls, but they couldn't prepare against the might of the dragons. The guards were no match for the advancing hordes. The battle didn't last long. Everyone who hadn't fled by then was slain. And this day, Phlan died as well.”“All that was half a century ago. Things have changed. The dragons have left and what they left behind was a place full of desolation and despair, and ruins, which once have been the greatest of all trade cities on the Moonsea. These days they are still inhabited by the creatures they had brought with them, or their descendants.”“But Man isn't stopped this easily. It wasn't the first time, Phlan had been destroyed, and it wasn't the last time when it had blossomed. Wealthy merchants, heirs to the ones that had ruled over the city back then, have struck an alliance and are now rebuilding it stone by stone. A small portion of the city, around the old harbor, has already been liberated and reinforced. Civilized Phlan they call it.”“They have founded a new city council to bring order into the region, some of its members are the children of the former rulers or of the wealthier noble houses, who want to honor all the good men and women who died defending the walls, despite the desperate situation. And others have joined them in their ambitions. This is why I am here as well. I want to help, do whatever lies within my power to help rebuild Phlan. And who knows, maybe I can even spend my retirement within my old home.”After taking a mouthful of water from his skin, the adventuresome merchant looks around those that have gathered to hear his tale. He is an old man of sixty years or more. His grey-white hair is balding and a well-trimmed beard covers his cheeks and chin. Baran is not one to show off his wealth, dressed in simple and practical clothing of green linen, no golden thread or gemstones, but the wagonloads of goods he has brought with him surely must be worth a small fortune, at least they take up a good portion of the cargo space in the ship.His eyes look over his audience, when he speaks again.“And what about you? Why do you travel to Phlan?”Links<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=145717" target="_blank">[IC1] Prologue - Setting Sail</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2661926#post2661926" target="_blank">[IC1] First Chapter - Valhingen Graveyard</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2780357#post2780357" target="_blank">[IC1] Second Chapter - Missing Brother (Kuto's Well)</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2819087#post2819087" target="_blank">[IC1] Third Chapter - Reconquest of Sokol Keep</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2994098#post2994098" target="_blank">[IC1] Fourth Chapter - Temple of Bane</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?p=3395860#post3395860" target="_blank">[IC1] Fifth Chapter - The Rescue of Amber (Podol Plaza)</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?p=4496360#post4496360" target="_blank">[IC1] Sixth Chapter - Mantor's Library</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?p=4622994#post4622994" target="_blank">[IC2] Sixth Chapter - Mantor's Library (continued)</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?p=4946250#post4946250" target="_blank">[IC2] Seventh Chapter - Barren River</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2819030#post2819030" target="_blank">[ARCHIVE]</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=154583" target="_blank">[COMBAT] Combat Declarations</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=145715" target="_blank">[INFO] Campaign Information</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=143785" target="_blank">[OOC] Out of Character[/OOC]</a>[OOC]<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=145716" target="_blank">[RG] Rogues Gallery</a>[/ooc]</blockquote>

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