Getting together - openers
Note:
- - the Current monarch is HRH Matilda Cuthbert
- - The current Patriarch is Clement XVII
- - The current year 232 Kings Year
Relsyn (for Reslyn's eyes only)
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Coldeven 8--
While in the library late one night in St. Macedone’s Library in Arras, concentrating on the tome before you, the heavy wooden door at the back of the room opened quietly, but bumped the book cart with a soft thump that distracts you.
Since none but you are ever here this late, and the door was locked, you are suspicious and a bit spooked. It is very dark except for the yellow glow around the candle you are using to read by.
A minute passes nervously.
You call out a wary "heigh ho" and slide into the darkness a bit.
From behind you, a soft tug on your hair and a quiet "hello" stands the hair on your neck on end. Suddenly, you recognize a low soft chuckle as coming from Garret.
Suddenly relieved, you ask "why have you made the trip here from Antioch, especially in your frail condition?"
Garret: "The order has urgent need of someone who knows a bit about investigation and is young enough to travel a bit in search of knowledge. I immediately thought of my friend and favorite student... you"
Garret: "I also thought a bit of adventure might do you some good to clear your mind of the worries at home. Perhaps make a name for yourself, even? Can you spare some time - perhaps quite a bit of it - for an adventure?"
Garret: "If you agree, you need to meet with a small group back in Antioch. I would like a companion for my trip home, too." he says with a smile.
Do you Accept his offer?
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Inwe (For her eyes only)
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Coldeven 5--
Inwe crouched low in the shrubs, watching a fawn nurse from his mother.
"Nothing is more pure than new life, and the natural order of life" he mentors always said. Nodding at the thought, she stood and walked back toward the village without disturbing the deer.
When she returned, the wise one Elvólad Amanodel was watching for her from his chair under the sassafras tree. He was tall among elves, and also most wise. His white hair was spider web fine, and the wrinkles sprouting from the corners of his eyes betrayed his long life. He had traveled much in his youth, but now preferred to sit quietly among his friends. He beckoned her over.
"I have received a message from the human lands," he said while apparently pondering the message more than the one before him.
When prompted again, Elvólad focused on you and told you the tale:
"The human lands often argue over the smallest items. I have seen wars between cities over the price of grain. I have witnessed a single man rise over his peers and dominate them for greed. It is not natural for one to be over another without the good of all before all.
For the last little while, especially since the end of the Great Snake War, Human Kings have fought with the Pontiff and the church of Eli for control of the people. While we do not intervene in their affairs, the message I received makes me pause.
Something that may change the balance of nature and man, something hidden for some time, is being sought. We know not if the church or King would have restraint with this item of power, but we have cast our lot with the church.
I tell you this because I have chosen you to be a representative of our people in this quest. I trust your sense of balance and order, and I believe that you can judge if either party is worthy of this item, or none.
If I tell you more, I will thus influence your decision.
I ask that you travel to Antioch with a trading party, and meet your party at the Mitre Inn on KY 232, Coldeven 25 at dinnertime."
"Do you accept this quest?"
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Airith (for his eyes only)
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Fireseek 27--
The Black Dragon Pub is a greasy quiet place just a little bit upscale from the usual bawdy joints by the Upper Docks. The room is dark,but has small brass oil lamps burning on a few tables, and the room is free of the "companion" women and more sinister characters of the busier halls two blocks over. Sitting at your usual table with Smoke licking the beef juice from your fingers, a group of noisy ruffians storm in and fall into a tumble of arms and legs.
As they untangle themselves, they immediately look around and sober up. There are four of them, and not of the nicer sort. They are dressed in the rough cloth of the dock workers and general laborers of the area - dark brown pantaloons, loose whitish shirts, and colorful sashes around their waists. They are kind of out of place here, but none of the other patrons notice their presence after the initial tumble and guffaw.
For Airith, these are not strangers at all. You know them as the "Stilettos," a small party you used to associate with. They are careful, professional, and certainly not prone to tumble and fall unless they planned it that way.
Rodney, Carolina, Taryn, and Malik note you as they walk up to the bar and order the best ale. Malik flips the hand sign "we need to talk" to you as they quietly banter at the counter. With drinks in hand, and an extra for you apparently, they move to the table next to you and talk quietly about the news of their guild.
As the next move is yours, you turn your chair around and are sitting at their table and listen and drink. They are talking about the rash of thefts around the Hill District. Takes the cunning of a fox to do that, you think. Taryn is the first to speak to you as she scratches the dog Smoke's, ears and covers the usual pleasantries. (how's business? doin ok?")
"Heya. We have heard about a job that is… well…ah" she scratches her head.
Malik intervenes with "it's a bit unusual, odd. The strange thing is, the client is…"
They all pause to casually glance around the room. After signaling "clear" Malik continues.
"the client is a church. And they want absolute secrecy and anonymity. We are too well known around Malta, and no one is to know who we select for the job, save our contact. We were paid well just to pass this on to you and never speak of it again."
They all smiled. It must have been easy money. And, you believe they are trustworthy to keep their word. No one would use them again if they had no honor.
"This is a search and retrieve mission. It may take some time, but they said the payoff would be good. Believe you me, it will be if our part was a sign. If you accept, all you have to do is tell us, and we tell our contact. He says he will get you some information before you have to leave, for Antioch I think. Whatdaya say?"
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