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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quasqueton" data-source="post: 833517" data-attributes="member: 3854">They awakened from a deep sleep feeling invigorated and immediately alert. As they sat up from where they were lying on the ground, three things surprised and confused them: the sky was a deep and unnatural crimson; all around them were the remains of some recent great battle; and they were sure they were dead just a moment ago. The four men looked at each other curiously: two humans, one in leather armor, the other in chainmail; a halfling in studded leather; and a robed dwarf. They were all dirty and bloody -- signs of having fallen in a violent struggle -- and all wore a similar device on their clothing. A four-pointed star surrounded by a horizontal crescent moon in each quadrant. As they stood up with their weapons cautiously held ready, nearby vultures took an interest in them.Two carrion eaters stopped feeding on a corpse to stare at the group, and three dove down from the sky. The black-feathered birds were as big as the halfling, and very aggressive. After the initial attack from above, the two others took wing to join the fight. The leather-clad human fought with longsword and short sword, the chain-clad human fought with bastard sword and spiked shield, the halfling flicked a whip, and the dwarf cast a defensive spell then worked with his quarterstaff. The vultures nipped with their beaks and tried to scratch with their clawed feet, but only the dwarf was injured before the creatures were dropped.Once the birds stopped flapping and twitching on the ground, and the four men took stock of themselves after the exertion of battle, each realized how he felt stronger, faster, and more mentally awake than he remembered himself as. It was an amazing feeling, both invigorating and startling at the same time.The group then took a closer examination of their surroundings. The halfling estimated the dead to total in the many hundreds. Some dead were humans and elves, some were orcs and gnolls, and some were bestial and twisted humanoids, unidentifiable. All looked to be dead only less than a day. In the distance, in most directions, they could see some movement on the field, and in one direction was sign of habitation. Scattered and distant fires sent black smoke into the sky. There was no sun, but a few clouds of a lighter red floated above the smoke. The air felt oppressive, and the foursome felt the 'wrongness' of the world to their very bones.They cautiously gave themselves a minimal introduction to each other: Simon, a ranger; Cedrin, a fighter; Salem, a cleric of Fharlanghn; and Lorgard, a wizard.They then examined and searched the dead about them for extra equipment and valuables. They found no coins or valuables, but Cedrin, chain-clad fighter, collected a crossbow and bolts, and Salem, the halfling, collected a couple halfspears. They then noticed that their own bodies had apparently been looted of their personal coins. About this time they noticed a group of creatures coming towards them from across the corpse-strewn field.At first the foursome could make out only that the three approaching creatures were tall humanoids, but as they came closer it became apparent they were hairy, dog-faced men -- gnolls armored in scalemail and shields, with evil cackles and ready battleaxes. When both sides were near enough to identify each other as enemies in the recent battle, the gnolls charged.A fired crossbow bolt whizzed past one dog-man, but a thrown spear cut across the exposed leg of another. Then hand-to-hand battle was joined. The gnolls were taken down fairly quick, one by the dwarf's quarterstaff alone. Then the dwarf searched the defeated creatures for valuables. He found only a small amount of coins, which he offered to split with the others.Upon closer examination of the gnolls, the foursome saw that these creatures were different than what they remembered of the race. These creatures had deep-black fur, streaked with a bit of red, and sharp facial features. One gnoll even had small horns sprouting from its forehead.Then the group noticed their own differences from what they remember of themselves. They all had gold-tinged skin, silver hair (and beard on the dwarf), and pale blue eyes. They had no memories of the battle or of anything since heading, alone, towards a city for a 'special mission'. Their only memories at all revolved around personal feelings and circumstances. No one knew where they were or why they were there.Upon mentioning their lack of memory, only the dwarf mage could remember the name of the city: Veluna. This named was familiar to the halfling cleric, and he said it is the holy city for the deity Rao, in the Archclericy of Veluna. But they still didn't know why they were going there, how long ago that was, or why they were now in the middle of a battlefield.They decided to stick together, and head towards the buildings in the distance.To be continued . . .</blockquote>

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