Paths of Legend: The Azgundi Tournaments

[bedford]

Rungner wastes no time getting to the closest inn. He then orders a couple of steaks and some tankards of mead.

 

[Scott DeWar]

]Rennaldo: His Lady's Plans

Rennaldo and Dominic are asked to come before their Lady. Nineveh is preparing for a dinner and masquerade ball exclusively for the lords this evening. Her mask currently adorns a mannequin head, the masks green plumes and gem studded tracery offering a less than subtle indication of Anovia's affluence.

Nineveh herself is wearing an elaborate gown of white and silver that accentuates her natural beauty. She smiles as the two swashbucklers enter.

"Gaudy isn't it? Such affectations consume the other lords more so than the governance of their lands. I intend to change that. There will be many who oppose my intentions, some violently.

I have asked the two of you here because you are competing in the tournaments. Be watchful. Listen for my name and pay attention to those uttering it. I will be competing, defending my lordship, in the dueling, jousting, fox hunt, debate and oratory events. Pay close attention to those events and the competitors. Look not only for potential enemies, but allies as well. Now, do you have any questions for me?"

Renaldo is agast at the visage of the mask, but will do his darn best to hide his feelings. at the mention of the events his lady intends to partidipate in, he stands with his mouth slightly agape. Visisons of all that could go wrong flash before his eyes before he speaks. "mi'lady permission to speak freely?"

 

[Helfdan]

Valen: The Serpent's Embrace

Valen finds Aleera at the Adventurer's Guild compound and the two spend a quiet day together. That evening, Aleera takes Valen to the elven embassy, a copse of forest in the middle of the bustling city.

The trees and natural scenery almost blocks out the noise of the city...but not completely. Aleera finds a secluded corner and sits on the ground, looking up at the ranger.

"I feel out of place here...like I don't belong among my own kind...but it was the only place I could think of where we would be safe from prying ears and eyes.

I've heard rumors...rumors that the Dagger has turned up in the city somewhere and...I can feel it. Somehow, I can sense it. I'm frightened, Valen."

Valen's tender expression at her initial statements suddenly turns hard as flint. "The Dagger? Here? Where did you hear this?"

 

[Shayuri]

And this has what, exactly, to do with me? Shayuri wonders, a little irritated, a little worried. I'm not even competing for that province.

Still...hearing about the fate of Silvergard from the mouth of one who'd been there...that would be something worth spending some of her time to hear tell.

She gives Alaric a querulous look and waits for him to start.

 

[Yttermayn]

Aohdan: On the Trail of the Mercenary

In the Repose's common room, Aohdan sees the belligerent mercenary among a group of mixed race and similar accoutrement, lounging around the common room's plush furniture. One, a scarred and aged looking half-orc, is standing and dispensing orders, "At least two of us need to sign up for that Silvergard lordship. We make that our base of operations and..."

The half-orc stops talking as the group notes the arrival of the centaur.

Aohdan pauses near the doorway a moment to scan the room, making no effort to hide what he is doing. He then picks his way up to the barkeep. He asks tiredly "I've been looking all night. Do you have a tankard large enough for me to use as a great helm?"

 

[Arkhandus]

Alaric ponders for a few moments, on what he should tell Lady Dawn. Especially with that foreigner here. What could he say?

Finally, he settles on "Well....myself and a few other folk went to check out the Silvergard plateau some months ago, on behalf of the Adventurers' Guild. Some otherworldly forces seem to be interfering with Silvergard, or trying to, and we had to fight off a few strangers that wanted to stop anyone heading to Silvergard. Or maybe they just wanted t' stop us because of an item we carried, that was supposed to get sealed away in Silvergard. They appeared outta nowhere, fought us, then disappeared after we defeated 'em."

He continues a moment later, "And we faced some undead obstacles along the way, but it turns out that someone or something is raising an undead army to fight the forces what tried t' invade Silvergard. Apparently, the folk of Silvergard gave up their own lives as part o' this, to fight the otherworldly menace or something like that. So now everyone what used t' live in Silvergard is undead now, ghosts I guess, sealing off some powerful enemy."

He lets the ladies digest this for a minute before adding, "Vedlund's stone quarry is another place what went all undead on us, so I guess they might be contributing t' Silvergard somehow, but I dunno. Anyway, we were set up by receivin' that item I mentioned a moment ago, which we were apparently supposed t' seal away among the ghosts o' Silvergard."

"Instead it just brought us trouble, an' corrupted one of our group, who ran off with the item when we reached Silvergard. Now that one's possessed an' running around with a dangerous artifact. The artifact might be needed t' kill what the ghosts are holding back, or it might just need to be sealed away there too." he says.

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

OOC: Lucius is again not included in this week's update.

Alaric and Shayuri: Revelations

Dawn listens patiently and attentively. When Alaric finishes, she ponders for several moments, before asking, "Did you, perchance, encounter someone named Azilyk?"

Meanwhile, Shayuri hears Dawn's voice in her thoughts, "I must apologize for the intrusion. I am not sure, yet, that I can fully trust those who journeyed to Silvergard. Not because they are untrustworthy but because they may have come under the influence of a terrible evil known as Azilyk. I asked you here to ask a favor of you. Watch them. Find out what Alaric is hiding and why. Will you do this?"

Aohdan: Recruitment

The barkeep looks at Aohdan quizzically and is about to respond when the belligerent mercenary from the line speaks up, "Hey! You're the horse's ass from the line."

The old half-orc shushes him and stands, his bones creaking, "Ain't never seen a centaur before. We could use someone like you."

The belligerent mercenary growls and turns on the half-orc, "What? He's one of the freaks that got me booted from the line!"

The half-orc snarls back, "Ye got yourself booted, Jeb, now sit yer arse down before I carve it off of you." He turns to Aohdan, a hideous smile revealing missing teeth, with those that are present cracked and blackened, "Don't mind Jeb. So, what do you think? You interested in joining a mercenary company. I swear there's plenty of riches in it for you."

Valen: Revealed

Aleera looks around quickly to make sure no one is nearby, then pulls Valen close and speaks in a barely audible whisper, her breath tickling the ranger's ear, "The dragon, Shraezek, is at the new Arcane Academy. One of the group I was with when you met me is here and told me that the wizard Entan is researching a cure for the dragon's illness. He also mentioned that the shadow knights are worried that the dagger is here."

Renaldo: Relunctance

Lady Nineveh is quiet a moment then nods, "Of course."

Dominic shifts uncomfortably and looks at Renaldo as if to say, "What are you doing?"

Rungner: Rending

As the half-ogre enjoys his meal, the other patrons give him a wide berth, intimidating by his sheer physical presence. All but one. A halfling, nervous and gaunt, hasn't noticed the giant in the room. Instead, he is focused on an object in his lap, though Rungner can't see what it might be.

Johen: Repercussions

Shokar stands and bows to the druid, "You honor me with your presence, druid of Turen."

He offers Johen a seat and then sits himself, "Yes, it is true, I intend to wipe the orcs off the map. I will chase them into the warrens where they breed and utterly destory the entire vile race. Worry not about how I will achieve such a goal for I intend to move my entire tribe to the plateau when I win the lordship. The redaxe tribe will stand strong with me as its new chief."

Muzdum: Release

The man is taken off guard and squirms in the dwarf's grip as he pleads, "I don't know, I don't know! We never saw them up close. Just hoods and shadows. Said they worked for the Serpent! That's all I know, I swear!"

The guards bang on the bars at that moment, "Hey! Break it up or you'll spend another day in here. Get your things and get out." The guard unlocks the cell door and opens it up.

 

[Yttermayn]

Aohdan turns his torso to look at the mercenary. He slaps himself on the rump and quips "That's smart ass to you, buddy!" He clucks his cheek like a cowboy and winks.
Aohdan turns back to the barkeep and mimes turning over a giant tankard above his head and donning it like a helmet. After a moment it is clear the barkeep can't help and he shrugs and walks over toward the old orc. "I can always use more coin. What do you have in mind?"

 

[Scott DeWar]

Renaldo: Relunctance

Lady Nineveh is quiet a moment then nods, "Of course."

Dominic shifts uncomfortably and looks at Renaldo as if to say, "What are you doing?"

Renaldo gives dominic a reassuring smile, then turns to Lady Nineveh and (since he has never asked to speak freely with her: ) *gulp*

"Mi' Lady, you know i have nothing but the greatest respect for your honor, wisdom and forsight. However, how do we know that the tournament weapons have not been tampered with. I am sure i would not be able to get to you in the middle of a fencing duel if i suspect that your life is in immediate peril. How do we know the judges have not been coerced, guards bribed. what intellegence has been gatherd about the possible opponants to the house and do we have measures against snipers?"

The sweat beads on his forhead shows he is obviously nervous about how he is being forward in his questions, but this is the the life of his charge, and he will not be accused of not caring for the life of another ... ever.

 

[Amaury]

OOC: the 7 "R".. is it a mystery game?


Johen listens to the barbarian and nods before saying: "I understand. This would indeed be a powerful backing. A whole tribe.. The Plateau would be a better place indeed.
But, let's assume a remote possibility, the one that sees someone else succeed in winning the Lordship of Silvergard... That could happen. What would you then do?
Would you be interested in pursuing the same goal with your tribe and ally with that Lord?"

Once he gets his answer, Johen recommands to Shokar to stay on his guard and gives him his blessings. He makes sure to know where the barbarian stays for the duration of the tournament.

He then leaves Shokar's group and try to find information about the Redaxe tribe somewhere within the Adventurers Guild premises.