Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Maidhc O Casain" data-source="post: 5128075" data-attributes="member: 29558">[sblock=Abraxis]None of them are evil.[/sblock]Yargos' eyes fasten on Abraxis; he's plainly decided that the handsome Aasimar is the safest target for his gaze amongst the unusual group. "Well, now, that's a tale in itself . . . would you mind too awfully if we took my friends back to the Soggy Piper as I relate it? There's really no time to waste if we're to set things right . . . and once that's done I'll willingly turn over the codebook to the Society."As you gather your new charges and begin the damp trek back to the Piper, the drizzle starts again and the wind picks up somewhat. Yargos launches into the following tale; his innate passion for the subject is clear in his voice as he picks up momentum."Eight hundred years ago, a hidden armada of ships from Taldor floated off the coast of the Isle of Kortos like a thousand locusts, waiting for the signal to invade Absalom. The plan was simple, but deadly: When the misty weather of Desnus (May) took hold, a fifth column of infiltrators known as Black Echelon would weaken strategic defense points and destroy Absalom’s warning system from within. Once their bloody mayhem was complete, the hidden saboteurs planned to signal the fleet, welcoming them to lay siege to a city now brought to its knees.Prearranged signal lights were prepared for each phase of the offensive. A red flashing light was the sign for Black Echelon to poison Absalom’s granary. A violet light with three pulses was the signal for a prearranged team to destroy the city’s bell towers, and so on. But when the mists of Desnus descended, the prearranged signal lights never appeared. Unbeknownst to the hidden strike teams, the leaders of the Black Echelon infiltration cell were discovered and assassinated by brave heroes of Absalom. The signal lanterns lay dark, and the rest of Black Echelon sat idle. Several hours later, the fleet’s hiding place was discovered. A quick counterattack by Absalom’s navy ambushed the would-be invasion force and Taldor’s armada was destroyed to the last mast. In the coming weeks, Absalom’s constabulary rooted out the remaining hidden members of Black Echelon and put every last one to the sword.The failed invasion mission, called the Silent Tide, would have amounted to little more than a cautionary footnote in a textbook of naval battles save for one crucial detail: Prior to entering Absalom, each member of the Black Echelon cell swore an ancient oath, known as the Binding Word. Black Echelon pledged to fulfill their duties, no matter the barrier, no matter the cost. And when I replicated some of the signals . . . well, I was just fiddling around, but the consequences were disastrous! The Binding Word has woken the Black Echelon - they have resumed their work to set the invasion in motion. And I greatly fear that the sailors in the Armada swore the same oath; if the Black Echelon succeeds, Absalom could well be invaded by a host of sailors from beyond the pale!"</blockquote>

Verification