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League of Assassins - Conclusion
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 786387" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 25, “Legend of the Cloudlands” July 6th, 1019, 6:00 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>While dining on an exquisite meal at the Apples and Hark Tavern, Serita then asks the elvan bard from Greenvale, Deniana Songweaver, about the other pendant that they are most interested in acquiring. She answers “That is the silver pendant, which once belonged to the residents of the Cloudlands. Are you familiar with the Legends of the Cloudlands?” “We know of the group called the Cloudriders,” Serita answers. “Oh. Well those there is a connection between both of those groups, although they lived in different eras. Why don’t I just play you the Ballad of the Cloudlands, that saga will explain a lot." The bard again begins to play a song on her lute, and starts to play and sing. The ballad is long, taking nearly half-an-hour to sing. Deniana possesses a fine singing voice, with a wide tonal range covering many octaves, singing some parts of the ballad slow and deep, while other sections are sung fast and high. The ballad also has a few parts sung in the elvan language rather than in common. </p><p></p><p>The song begins in the days of the First Miraborian Empire. It tells of a country in the clouds, located above the Empire. As to where it was located, there is much speculation. Some place it over the city of Kahakor, now lost deep within Umade's barrens. Others claim that it was located above Melvar's Plains, above the area known as the Boulder Plain. as in modern times, silver dragons, mist dragons, cloud giants, and other beings such as ki-rin have been seen in the area of these plains. It would also offer explanation for the huge stones that are scattered across the Boulder Plain, from which it is named.</p><p></p><p>However, it is also rumored that the ancient capitol of the first Miraborian Empire now lies somewhere deep within the Sunken Lands, and that the Cloudlands were once connected to that capitol. There are also tales of a great mountainous peak, perhaps somewhere in the Westfang Range, where a city on the mountain peak was the closest link between the Cloudlands and Miraboria below. Although the local legends may disagree as to the exact location of this magical area in the clouds, they agree that there was once a powerful magical kingdom that once stretched as far as the edge of the mountainous plateaus, but was kept at least partly secret from those races who dwelt below it on the ground. </p><p></p><p>This kingdom existed over 1500 years ago, during the First Miraborian Empire, which ruled between 2200 and 1500 years ago. It boasted a society comprised of dragons, giants, sylphs, pegasi, asperii, giant eagles, and even some winged, elflike beings whose name is no longer remembered. These races coexisted in peaceful harmony among the clouds, avoiding the decadent human realms of the time. These beings came down to the surface of the Realms only to gather or trade for food and other necessities, and quickly fled back upward to their cloudy haven. The giants, ever industrious, even brought huge stones up with them. They built magnificent fortresses and cities in the sky, hidden by the clouds. </p><p></p><p>It wasn't until the Cloudlands were discovered by the mages of the Empire that disaster struck. The sky-dwelling races had been right to avoid their earthbound neighbors. For a few generations, peaceful relations between the earth-folk and the cloud-dwellers were kept. But in the end, greed won out. The great and powerful human wizards intended to conquer the Cloudlands, for they knew that such a kingdom would contain great wealth and powerful magic, which they were eager to obtain. Indeed, one artifact which the Cloud dwellers were reputed to possess was so powerful it could preserve vast enchantments indefinitely. In the war that ensued, the Cloudlands were destroyed. The fortresses and cities so carefully crafted by giant artisans fell to the earth. </p><p></p><p>Most of the enchanted places in the clouds that once supported solid surfaces are now gone. Supposedly the great spells that were unleashed in this earth/sky war linger on in some places, creating dangerous thunderstorms, and also areas of sky which are risky to penetrate. Mist dragons and other sky-dwelling creatures are occasionally seen on or above the Boulder Plains, gathering food on the surface in the form of wild plants or herd animals, and quickly ascending back into the sky. If the tales of the Cloudlands and its demise are true, perhaps these creatures are relics living among the ruins. Castles on the surface of the earth are rarely so completely ruined by war and time that nothing remains, and so might it be in the air above. Some of the enchanted places in the sky might have escaped the ravages of war, remaining to this day. It is even rumored that the City of the Cloudriders was built upon ruins of part of the Cloudland, with the Wind and Weather God then setting these ruins free of their stationary position above the world, to now travel the skies to wherever the Cloudriders might be needed.” Deniana then stops, that being the conclusion of the ballad. </p><p></p><p>“That was a most impressive piece of music,” Fiona comments. The bard thanks her, and asks “You said you knew of the Cloudriders. What can you share with me about them?” Serita gives an abbreviated version of her knowledge of them, stating: “They first established their cloud city between two and three centuries ago. The Cloudriders are comprised mostly of noble chaotic good warriors, both human and elvan, who seek to occassionally assist those in need on the surface below. The group is comprised of worshippers of Hoturu, the Wind and Weather God, and Huan-Ti, a chaotic good war god. Huan-Ti’s war chariot is pulled by a group of pegasi, which is the mount of choice of the cloudriders. In fact, it was the worship by this group that brought the two same-aligned deities together into an alliance with each other. They are now worshipped on this world as the Twin Gods of Wind, Weather and War.”</p><p></p><p>Fiona points out that one of the Silver Moon’s senior clerics is a priest of the Twin Gods. Serita adds that “The Cloudriders maintain a enchanted valley, near mountains along the Jawlt Lordholding border, where their pegasi go to give birth to new foals.” Serita then looks towards Fiona. The wizardess decides not to mention that she has a pegasus which was given to her by the Cloudriders <em>(In Module #47, “Path to the Skies”)</em>. They also decide to keep to themselves the fact that their half-elvan party member Cassie-Andra is the daughter of a Cloudrider <em>(A fact discoved in Module #39, “The Arctic Assault Team”)</em>. </p><p></p><p>Fiona asks, “How exactly does this pendant tie in with the ballad? Is it the powerful artifact that was mentioned?” “Perhaps, but probably not,” Deniana states. “That pendant was once worn by priests and rulers of our land, and is said to have come from the Cloudlands, and was lost in the war with the surface mages. It was originally found on the Boulder Plains, among the ruins of the cloud city. </p><p></p><p>History tells of two incidents where the amulet was used by priests of the Wind and Weather God to call upon the protection of the deities. The first story is of a Greenvale castle that was under siege over 1,000 years ago. The invaders were about to breach the castle’s defenses, and the priest wearing the amulet called upon the power of his gods. The castle separated from its foundation and levitated up in to sky, where it remained until the invading army was defeated. The castle and its occupants then returned. The other tale is more recent, when during a great sea battle around a century ago. A Twin Gods cleric commanding a ship that was nearly defeated was wearing the amulet called to his god, and the ship rose up from the sea, and sailed away to safety through the clouds.” </p><p></p><p>“Should we tell Vincenzo?” asks Fiona. Serita replies “I don’t know. He gets excited enough just owing a pair of Shoes of Levitation. How would he react to an item from his God that can lift larger structures.” Deniana points out that “You never know. The amulet itself may not be anything more than a holy symbol, with no real powers. It could have been the priest’s calling to the deity in time of great need that brought about the miraculous rescues.” </p><p></p><p>The two thank the visitors from Greenvale for their hospitality. Serita and Fiona leave, returning to the auction house. They tell both Vincenzo and Cassie what they learned. Cassie and Vincenzo head up to Kulp’s Comfortable Castle to examine the pendant, but since the Castle has not yet been consecrated for the clerical magic from either of their deities to work, are unable to tell if there is anything special about it. Vincenzo does indeed get the impression that this amulet does have some connection to his church. </p><p></p><p><strong>The following is a picture of the Cloudlands Pendant</strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 786387, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 25, “Legend of the Cloudlands” July 6th, 1019, 6:00 P.M.[/B] While dining on an exquisite meal at the Apples and Hark Tavern, Serita then asks the elvan bard from Greenvale, Deniana Songweaver, about the other pendant that they are most interested in acquiring. She answers “That is the silver pendant, which once belonged to the residents of the Cloudlands. Are you familiar with the Legends of the Cloudlands?” “We know of the group called the Cloudriders,” Serita answers. “Oh. Well those there is a connection between both of those groups, although they lived in different eras. Why don’t I just play you the Ballad of the Cloudlands, that saga will explain a lot." The bard again begins to play a song on her lute, and starts to play and sing. The ballad is long, taking nearly half-an-hour to sing. Deniana possesses a fine singing voice, with a wide tonal range covering many octaves, singing some parts of the ballad slow and deep, while other sections are sung fast and high. The ballad also has a few parts sung in the elvan language rather than in common. The song begins in the days of the First Miraborian Empire. It tells of a country in the clouds, located above the Empire. As to where it was located, there is much speculation. Some place it over the city of Kahakor, now lost deep within Umade's barrens. Others claim that it was located above Melvar's Plains, above the area known as the Boulder Plain. as in modern times, silver dragons, mist dragons, cloud giants, and other beings such as ki-rin have been seen in the area of these plains. It would also offer explanation for the huge stones that are scattered across the Boulder Plain, from which it is named. However, it is also rumored that the ancient capitol of the first Miraborian Empire now lies somewhere deep within the Sunken Lands, and that the Cloudlands were once connected to that capitol. There are also tales of a great mountainous peak, perhaps somewhere in the Westfang Range, where a city on the mountain peak was the closest link between the Cloudlands and Miraboria below. Although the local legends may disagree as to the exact location of this magical area in the clouds, they agree that there was once a powerful magical kingdom that once stretched as far as the edge of the mountainous plateaus, but was kept at least partly secret from those races who dwelt below it on the ground. This kingdom existed over 1500 years ago, during the First Miraborian Empire, which ruled between 2200 and 1500 years ago. It boasted a society comprised of dragons, giants, sylphs, pegasi, asperii, giant eagles, and even some winged, elflike beings whose name is no longer remembered. These races coexisted in peaceful harmony among the clouds, avoiding the decadent human realms of the time. These beings came down to the surface of the Realms only to gather or trade for food and other necessities, and quickly fled back upward to their cloudy haven. The giants, ever industrious, even brought huge stones up with them. They built magnificent fortresses and cities in the sky, hidden by the clouds. It wasn't until the Cloudlands were discovered by the mages of the Empire that disaster struck. The sky-dwelling races had been right to avoid their earthbound neighbors. For a few generations, peaceful relations between the earth-folk and the cloud-dwellers were kept. But in the end, greed won out. The great and powerful human wizards intended to conquer the Cloudlands, for they knew that such a kingdom would contain great wealth and powerful magic, which they were eager to obtain. Indeed, one artifact which the Cloud dwellers were reputed to possess was so powerful it could preserve vast enchantments indefinitely. In the war that ensued, the Cloudlands were destroyed. The fortresses and cities so carefully crafted by giant artisans fell to the earth. Most of the enchanted places in the clouds that once supported solid surfaces are now gone. Supposedly the great spells that were unleashed in this earth/sky war linger on in some places, creating dangerous thunderstorms, and also areas of sky which are risky to penetrate. Mist dragons and other sky-dwelling creatures are occasionally seen on or above the Boulder Plains, gathering food on the surface in the form of wild plants or herd animals, and quickly ascending back into the sky. If the tales of the Cloudlands and its demise are true, perhaps these creatures are relics living among the ruins. Castles on the surface of the earth are rarely so completely ruined by war and time that nothing remains, and so might it be in the air above. Some of the enchanted places in the sky might have escaped the ravages of war, remaining to this day. It is even rumored that the City of the Cloudriders was built upon ruins of part of the Cloudland, with the Wind and Weather God then setting these ruins free of their stationary position above the world, to now travel the skies to wherever the Cloudriders might be needed.” Deniana then stops, that being the conclusion of the ballad. “That was a most impressive piece of music,” Fiona comments. The bard thanks her, and asks “You said you knew of the Cloudriders. What can you share with me about them?” Serita gives an abbreviated version of her knowledge of them, stating: “They first established their cloud city between two and three centuries ago. The Cloudriders are comprised mostly of noble chaotic good warriors, both human and elvan, who seek to occassionally assist those in need on the surface below. The group is comprised of worshippers of Hoturu, the Wind and Weather God, and Huan-Ti, a chaotic good war god. Huan-Ti’s war chariot is pulled by a group of pegasi, which is the mount of choice of the cloudriders. In fact, it was the worship by this group that brought the two same-aligned deities together into an alliance with each other. They are now worshipped on this world as the Twin Gods of Wind, Weather and War.” Fiona points out that one of the Silver Moon’s senior clerics is a priest of the Twin Gods. Serita adds that “The Cloudriders maintain a enchanted valley, near mountains along the Jawlt Lordholding border, where their pegasi go to give birth to new foals.” Serita then looks towards Fiona. The wizardess decides not to mention that she has a pegasus which was given to her by the Cloudriders [I](In Module #47, “Path to the Skies”)[/I]. They also decide to keep to themselves the fact that their half-elvan party member Cassie-Andra is the daughter of a Cloudrider [I](A fact discoved in Module #39, “The Arctic Assault Team”)[/I]. Fiona asks, “How exactly does this pendant tie in with the ballad? Is it the powerful artifact that was mentioned?” “Perhaps, but probably not,” Deniana states. “That pendant was once worn by priests and rulers of our land, and is said to have come from the Cloudlands, and was lost in the war with the surface mages. It was originally found on the Boulder Plains, among the ruins of the cloud city. History tells of two incidents where the amulet was used by priests of the Wind and Weather God to call upon the protection of the deities. The first story is of a Greenvale castle that was under siege over 1,000 years ago. The invaders were about to breach the castle’s defenses, and the priest wearing the amulet called upon the power of his gods. The castle separated from its foundation and levitated up in to sky, where it remained until the invading army was defeated. The castle and its occupants then returned. The other tale is more recent, when during a great sea battle around a century ago. A Twin Gods cleric commanding a ship that was nearly defeated was wearing the amulet called to his god, and the ship rose up from the sea, and sailed away to safety through the clouds.” “Should we tell Vincenzo?” asks Fiona. Serita replies “I don’t know. He gets excited enough just owing a pair of Shoes of Levitation. How would he react to an item from his God that can lift larger structures.” Deniana points out that “You never know. The amulet itself may not be anything more than a holy symbol, with no real powers. It could have been the priest’s calling to the deity in time of great need that brought about the miraculous rescues.” The two thank the visitors from Greenvale for their hospitality. Serita and Fiona leave, returning to the auction house. They tell both Vincenzo and Cassie what they learned. Cassie and Vincenzo head up to Kulp’s Comfortable Castle to examine the pendant, but since the Castle has not yet been consecrated for the clerical magic from either of their deities to work, are unable to tell if there is anything special about it. Vincenzo does indeed get the impression that this amulet does have some connection to his church. [B]The following is a picture of the Cloudlands Pendant[/B] [/QUOTE]
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