The Land of the Seven Realms: Opening Moves

[Morwyld]

The Temple of the Fallen Sun, in Teladae, is widely believed to be one of the Wonders of the Known World. It's massive walls of alabaster marble gleam in the sunlight, the dome of its' central chapel glinting gold fire. Choirs of priests, trained from childhood, sing the hours in solemn praise to Solarus the Fallen, and Pelor, the Lord of the Sun.

The Temple is as much fortress and treasure house as place of worship, and a legion of guards, breastplates embossed with the Sun Eagle of Solarus, patrol it's halls and grounds. It is, in short, one of the most beautiful, awe inspiring sights the Known World offers.

The man walking down the corridor, deep within the Temple, seemed rather out of place amongst such splendor. His clothing wasn't the white robe of a priest or the gleaming armor of a Solarian Guard, but instead the simple clothing one might expect of a merchant of moderate means.

Despite his seeming plainness, he walked freely here, in the Inner Sanctum, guards and high functionaries nodding politely, warded doors opening at his approach. Soon enough, he came to a short hallway guarded by a dozen holy paladins of the Temple, all dressed in gleaming plate. A rather portly man in the white robes of a priest looked up at his approach. "Ah, Master Crowder. Excellent. The Inner Council is ready for you. I believe they wish an accounting of the chapel candle stores and incense stocks."

Crowder nodded politely. "Of course, I will be delighted to give the Council the accounting it requires." He gave the priest a faint smile. "May I enter then?"

The priest nodded, and the door at the end of the short hallway, it's bronze panels emblazoned with the Sun Eagle, was opened by a pair of the paladins. Crowder nodded again, and moved down the corridor, passing swiftly through the portals, which were closed and sealed behind him.

Within was silence. The hymns of the choirs were cut off, as no sound from the outside could reach into this room. Nor could any mortal divination pierce the layers of magical protection around it. No guards, no functionaries entered this chamber, even to clean it. It was cleaned magically periodically.

Sitting at a long table, facing him, were five men, ranging from middle aged, to ancient. All wore the white robes of the priesthood, though two wore gleaming armor over those robes, as befitted members of the Orders Militant.

Crowder's eyes went to the old, old man who sat in the center seat. The seat was a simple wooden chair. Within this chamber, all was plain, little ostentation. Under other Hands of the Sun, it may have been different, but Elias, the current head of the Church, had little patience for needless ostentation. His old eyes were on Crowder as he said, "Master Crowder, thank you for coming. I know that you prefer to keep your visits to the Temple rare. And for good reason, given the nature of your service to us. However, unsettling rumors have come to our ears, and we would have a report from you regarding matters in Tredeshan."

Crowder nodded. "I understand, Holiness. I have little good news to report. As you already know, I dispatched Joakim, one of my more promising operatives, to the city. With him was one Gwynnwr, a contracted adventurer who has proven useful from time to time. They were to meet with Bladrun Kell, the chief of our operations in Tredeshan, to coordinate with him. Apparently the meeting, at a tavern in the Lower City, was the scene of an ambush by unknown parties. The tavern was burned to the ground, and according to the report I received, nearly all the personnel in place in Tredeshan were killed. The fates of Joakim and Gwynnwr are unknown. Kell escaped with severe injuries, but managed to reach a private safehouse, and get a message off to me through the usual methods."

Elias nodded at that, ignoring the muttering of the other four men seated with him. "And what of the Brothers of the Serpent? Were they involved in this attack? What steps have you taken? Do we know what their aims are in Tredeshan?"

Crowder began to answer, when a broadshoulder man, dressed in the breastplate of the Solarian Guard, spoke gruffly. "I can have a Cohort of the Guard mounted and moving by sunrise tomorrow, Holiness. They'll root out those Serpent loving bastards, and no mistake."

Elias shook his head minutely. "No, Brother Arad...the Satrap would likely be offended if five hundred soldiers appeared at his gates, armed and looking for trouble. We will leave this matter in Master Crowder's capable hands...for the moment."

"Thank you Holiness. To answer your questions, I do not yet know what is behind the recent increase in the Serpent activity in Tredeshan. The attack on the tavern, if it was them, as seems likely, indicates a willingness to take open action against any interference. I have dispatched another team of operatives, to find out what happened to Joakim and Gwynnwr, and to take up their mission. My fear is that our local security was compromised in some fashion, so I have not informed Kell of the new group of my people. They left two days ago, and should arrive in Tredeshan, if all goes well, within five days, travelling by horseback."

The old man nodded slowly, and said, "Very well, Master Crowder. We will expect a report from you, on this matter, within ten days. We depend upon you to resolve it. You may go."

Crowder bowed low. "My thanks to you, Holiness."

A moment later, he was gone.

 

[Morwyld]

Smiles and Gwynwwr: Laying Low

Three days of rest, and recovery. Three days since your mission to Tredeshan came to a firey end.

The orders you received were clear enough. You were to travel to Tredeshan, meet with the local contact from the Gentle Dreams, and find out what the Brothers of the Serpent were up to.

So you travelled, in a commercial coach, eastward from Taladae, following the tradeways. You crossed the Sabre Hills without too much trouble, the goblin tribes rarely attack an escorted coach, since they've learned it can be costly.

Then, across the Crystal River, was Tredeshan, westernmost city of Al-Kar, the Gate of the South. Or the City on the Swamp, for those less high minded.

At the Coach House, you were met by Bladrun Kell, your local contact. He suggested beginning by meeting with local operatives at the Sulkhir's Folly, a tavern in the Lower City, beneath the Great Falls.

That night, you arrived, noting that the usual lookouts were in place. Moving inside, you went to the back room of the tavern, where half a dozen people awaited, including Kell.

Introductions took place, the usual array of false names being exchanged. Then you got down to business, learning from the locals a couple of things.

1) There was a large Brothers of the Serpent presence in the city. Maybe fifty or more of them, with significant magical assistance.

2) They were working fast to infiltrate the power structure of the city, using a combination of magical influence, and more direct methods.

That was disturbing enough, of course, but that was all the information that you had received, when all hell broke loose.

The heavy wooden shutters of the room's single window smashed in, and a fireball erupted in the center of the room.

Gwynwwr was burned badly by the blast, though Smiles managed to dive under the heavy oaken table and avoid injury.

As you recovered from your initial surprise, a dark shape leapt through the window, snarling.

It was a rat, the size of a man, with glowing red eyes, and a flickering snake's tongue.

It was followed by many others, and the tavern became a swirling melee of fell creatures and desperate men and women.

You were able to kill two of the beasts, and made your escape out the broken window, leaving the burning tavern behind you.

The last thing you saw, before escaping, was Bladrun Kell falling under a black tide of rats, the corpses of his operatives scattered about the floor like burnt bundles of rags.

By the time you had won free of the ambush, both of you had serious injuries, from fire, rat fang, and a barrage of poisoned crossbow bolts that met you as you ran from the tavern. Someone didn't want any to escape.

Yet you did, and made your way to the Upper City, and beyond, to an Inn a few miles north of of the city, on the Kythraen road.

There, you finally rested, and healed your wounds, and are now pondering your next moves.

 

[Morwyld]

Taem, Kintys, Sparrow, Lasimar, Tragus

Travel is broadening, they say. And indeed the five of you have traveled.

Your journey began at Caer Alean, a grim fortress built overlooking the Crystal River. Built as a bulwark against Araestan expansiveness, the Caer marks the southern end of Kythraen law and sovereignty. It is also the base for the Border Regiment that watches the Araestans, and the goblins of the Sabre Hills.

The border with Mordwyr, to the north and west, has been quiet of late, and the company of troops that the five of you had been aiding had just completed a ride to Alean, having been escorting a large shipment of weapons, armor, and other supplies to the fortress.

A routine assignment, indeed.

However, the routine ended when you arrived. Captain Harris, who commanded your company of borderers, came to you with a request from the Caer's commander.

In due course you were taken to meet with Bokar Irongrinder, a stout dwarf soldier, who commands the stronghold.

He told you, in his gruff manner, that he'd received a message from Ian Taelmaron, the Kythraen trade legate at Tredeshan, downriver.

Ian has grown concerned about activities in the city, and in the Satrap's court. Concerned enough, in fact, to want assistance. He didn't put details in the letter, but he asked that Bokar find some skilled adventurers, and send them immediately, or that "all would be lost."

He also asked that the adventurers sent not identify themselves as being associated with Kythraen, or come to the legation. Instead, they should come to the Inn of the Pink Heron, north of the city, and take rooms. He would contact them there.

Bokar gave you all a crooked grin, and said, "Enjoy your time in Tredeshan."

Since none of you are officially members of the military, he couldn't order you to go. But the Crown would be appreciative, and the tone of Ian's letter was frankly a cause for concern.

You were each offered 200 gp just for taking the trip to Tredeshan, with more to be offered if the situation warranted.

Being paid per mission was nothing new to any of you, and so you set out on the thirty league journey downriver.

You had little trouble travelling, other then a few minor brushes with goblins from the Hills. But a few encounters with fireballs, entangles, and all the other misfortune your band can deliver upon them soon dissuaded any further attacks.

You've just arrived at the Pink Heron, and gotten your rooms. Aside from a merchant and his bodyguard, and a few local farmers, the only other guests seem to be a pair of adventurers who seem more intent on keeping to themselves, then making any sort of mischief.

And so it begins....

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

"Gwyn, the way I see it, it's too dangerous to go back to Teledae just yet, we don't know where the information leak is, or if this is part of something deeper. I don't like it, but we need to stay in Tredeshan and try to find out what's going on. But it's too dangerous for just the two of us, we need to find some allies, or some patsies, somewhere."

Later that day, Smiles eyes the new arrivals as they enter the common room of the Inn.

Smiles leans close to Gwyn and whispers, "Get a gander of that motley group of five - the ones in the far corner. Don't turn around just yet Gwyn, they're looking in this direction. Casually, casually..."

"I guarantee you they aren't tourists. The confidence with which they carry themselves and the way they scoped out the room gives that away. They could be the reinforcements we need. I'm going to find out what I can about them first. Why don't you watch them and see if you can gather any clues to who they are."

Smiles goes to ask the innkeeper or any other likely sources of information what they know about these new guests, and from which direction they arrived (meaning to find out if they are arriving from the city or from directions outside the city).

 

[Morwyld]

Cordo:

The barmaid gives you a shrug and a saucy smile, but innkeeper, a slightly portly, friendly man, shrugs, and says, "I don't know anything about them, master, but they paid in Kythraen gold, and they rode down from the north. Can I bring you and your lady friend a bottle of wine? I have a bit of Torbarin Sweet hidden away, and it's a very good year."

 

[Badger]

A bar by any other name... - Tragus

While Tragus would never admit it to the others he traveled with, he was more than slightly disappointed that Commander Irongrinder had pulled him from the front lines. Although he would never question a fellow dwarf on his decisions, especially not when others were about, he wondered what could be so important that he make this request of him.

~By Moradin's will all will be made clear...~

Looking around the bar, Tragus doubted that he would find any firewine in stock, but prayed to the All Father that the ale would be passable at least. Walking towards the bar, Tragus waited until the innkeeper was done with his customer, and smiled as the portly man approached.

"Good eve t' ye sir, and I'm t' be prayin' that the ale ye have in stock is as cold and strong as me Pappy made."

 

[Morwyld]

Tragus:

The innkeep looks at you, and smiles. "Well now, that I don't know, dwarven ale has more of a kick then most of my customers prefer...." He produces a pint of dark ale, and slides it over the bar to you. "Well now, master, what brings a son of Moradin to the Plains of the Ancestors?"

 

[Badger]

Taking a drink of the dark ale, Tragus was pleased that while it was not as strong as the ales of his clan, it wasn't as bad as he had feared.

Taking another long pull from the ale, Tragus smiled easily as he answered.

"I'm following the All Father's will, and for the moment, he has seen t' guide me me here. While he's not told me what his plan be, he'll show me in time."

Looking down into his mug, Tragus paused and raised his eyes back to the innkeeper's own.

"Ye ale's not bad sir, not bad at all. Now if there be food t' match the ale, then I'm t' be thinkin' both the All Father and meself will be in ye debt."

 

[Thordain]

I agree Smiles, that group isn't from around here. I don't trust anyone now, not after what happened at the Sulkhir's Folly.

That dwarf from their party over there seems to be drinking a few ales. You want to talk to him and see what they are up to while his guard is down? I'll have your back covered in case things turn ugly.


ooc: Can we have a thread with just the characters' stats and equipment for easy reference?

 

[Uriel]

Dressed in the russets and earthy yellows of Autumn, Sparrow presented a look far from his usual dress. His pale green eyes scanning the common room of the Inn, the elf nodded in satisfaction at his findings.
This place seemed too at ease. Tension was palpable in the air to the Elf, having lived long enough amongst Man and his sprawling cities. Whatever Evil had gone to seed here would be rooted out, of that he was sure.
Leaning over slightly, Sparrow whispers to Tragus. 'Here's to finishing this business soon and getting back to the front lines and an enemy that we can see.' The elf raises his cup, sipping ale from it's rim. Eyeing the Dwarf for a moment, Sparrow thought of the many missions and adventures that they had shared alongthe Border, ever vigilant against the Vile beasts living just out of their Land.Unlike many of his folk, Sparrow valued Dwarves and what Wisdom they shared, rare though that was. Setting down his mug, Sparrow idly toyed with his necklace, a common mannerism. A close look would show the observer that the Pendant was in actuality a very large tooth,taken from the first Giant that Sparrow had killed. This little bird had a sharp beak indeed.