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The Thorns of Winter -(updated 8/1/2023)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 8500302" data-attributes="member: 6971069"><p><h2 style="text-align: center">Stone and Flame - 1/1/2022</h2><p></p><p>Sage moved to look over the pedestal. “I do not know of a language called ‘Infernal.’ Explain.”</p><p></p><p>I looked at Sage with what I assume was disbelief, “Infernal…is the language spoken by the denizens of Baator, and other places around the lower planes. It’s really a corruption of the celestial tongue.”</p><p></p><p>“Baator? Is that a place?” Adrissa asked looking at me confused.</p><p></p><p>“It’s a…um…realm…a plane where souls go. Evil ones or ones that have sold them or have been corrupted,” I responded.</p><p></p><p>“That doesn’t follow what I know of cosmology here,” Bookshelf said, putting a hand and rubbing their chin, giving off a shrill metal on metal grinding.</p><p></p><p>“By the sovereign STOP that,” Doxx said, her hands flying to her ears.</p><p></p><p>“What? Ah right. Sorry.” The warforged said before continuing, “Souls go to Dollurh, or the Silver Flame based on most Khorvair’s belief systems. Aerenal and the Valenar elves have a different perspective I am told—”</p><p></p><p>“—Ancestry worship or preservation,” The Blade interrupted. “And not relevant here.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes,” Bookshelf agreed. “So…what type of creatures are in this ‘Baator’ then Myrai?”</p><p></p><p>I blinked and stammered, “Well…they’re immortal fiends. All of them. Baatezu are the current rulers, but there are other ones that live there. Night hags, some Yugoloths I suppose, some of the Raksasha—”</p><p></p><p>“Wait…Raksasha?” Sage asked.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know much about them,” I admitted. “I’m familiar with the common fiends. I only know of them by name. Supposedly they have heads of great cats like tigers and are difficult to work magic on. And their hands are backwards!” I remembered at last. But I watched the two warforged look at each other.</p><p></p><p>“The most ancient past of Eberron is called the ‘Age of Demons,’ where the ‘Overlords’ ruled the world. But their servants are…as you describe. Fiends.”</p><p></p><p>“Then…this place—” Rosa said, looking around fearfully.</p><p></p><p>“Predates everyone here,” The Blade noted. “However, that fact is completely useless. What does the pedestal actually say?”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, a moment,” I said, and I started to read the script that was in raised relief, on some type of purple sheened metal. I was strange how while the details of the script were different, the complex order behind the words were still there as much as any Baator contract. “It’s mostly phrases; ‘Seal’,’Unseal’,’Prime’,’Activate,’ and…this,” and I pointed to a cylinder that was spinning slowly, with what was a list of numbers. And there is a phrase here, covered in soot.”</p><p></p><p>I stared to rub away the grime away from the panel and. It wasn’t coming off, so I pulled on a light strand and used it instead to clean away the surface, and I read what I saw as I did. “Full activation will cause backwash of energy. All lessers will be eradicated within the site.”</p><p></p><p>“What’s a ‘lessers’” Doxx asked turning to the door and looking at it apprehensively.</p><p></p><p>“Well…lower orders of fiends…and mortals I suppose.” I ventured.</p><p></p><p>“Mortals?” Adrissa asked her eyes growing wider.</p><p></p><p>“Yes…us and these numbers…are decreasing…fast.” I said after thinking for a moment. We looked at each other, and then in the silence, we were aware that of a humming growing louder. Turning our heads to the door we could see just around the edges where it sat in the rock, a faint light peeking through the seams.</p><p></p><p>“I…I think we should—” Started Doxx.</p><p></p><p>“—RUN!” Rosa said, turning and clutching her hands close to herself. As she did hair fell away and revealed scales and feathers cresting around an elongated neck. Her feet grew claws, with a long central claw that clicked the stone rapidly as it ran, streaking ahead of us.</p><p></p><p>“Sodding—” I said, and I tore after the lizardlike Rosa, as did we all. Behind us the sound of the humming was growing louder, and now I could feel the stone below us shake. Next to me Bookshelf’s metal feet echoed on the stone, while behind both of us, Sage’s heavy feet crushed the stone underfoot. The Blade ran quickly and near silently pulling ahead but trailing the old woman Doxx. Just ahead of me the young girl, Adrissa was running, and I was barely able to keep up with her.</p><p></p><p>As we ran, the noise could be felt as we ran up the sloping passages. The vibration shook dust away from the ceiling at first, but as we ran for our lives, occasional chunks of rock fell from above. I pulled my shield off my arm and used it to cover my head as I held it over my head as I ran. My lungs burned, and my legs were already aching as we continued to run upwards. The father and higher we ran, the worse it was as the tunnels were altered by the magic below us.</p><p></p><p>Rocks fell from shattered parts of the ceiling, smashing into the stone below and cracking the floor. I felt slow as I watched the faster members of our group simply scamper ahead of myself and somehow more fragile compared to the warforged. My arms ached from the impact of rocks bouncing off my shield. The runes on the walls now no longer simply pulsed with light, but now were a solid shine, and they steadily grew brighter as we ran upwards. As they did I could…feel the energy around me, almost as if I had touched them like I had before. As they grew brighter, the energy scraped across me, and my skin felt raw. My mind raced wondering if it would be rock, or the strange eldritch forces that would do me in first.</p><p></p><p>More of the tunnel was falling apart behind us, when a rock fell on my shield, and knocked me off balance. I fell to the ground and my shield skidded across the floor. Then I saw that ray of hope; the sunlight from above lighting the way ahead of me. I heard the sound of stone and metal scraping together, and I felt the cold metallic hand grasp my arm and lifted me as if I weighed nothing. Sage pulled me close, and we ran together with me under his shield. Next to us, Bookshelf ran as well, now holding my shield. I pushed myself harder, wanting to feel the sun on my face, and not the strange warmth coming from the walls.</p><p></p><p>I felt the warm wet air from the mouth of the tunnel first, and then the sun on my skill. My lungs felt on fire, and my legs felt as if the bones had melted, as I collapsed onto the ground my heart feeling like it would burst. Not far from me lay a prostrate Adrissa, who also panted heavily. I closed my eyes and just breathed, not caring about anything else. I felt the thump on the earth of my shield next to me, and I heard Bookshelf say. “That’s a problem.”</p><p></p><p>Next to me I heard Adrissa stir, “Oh crap! Don’t look at them! They’re basilisks!”</p><p></p><p>“Sodding Baator,” I muttered. Pulled myself up on my knees, keeping my eyes shut. I felt next to me and found my shield and pulling it in front of me I opened my eyes, and quickly pulled on the straps, tightening it around my arm.</p><p></p><p>“Why aren’t they coming towards us?” Doxx hissed somewhere to the left of me.</p><p></p><p>“Because, they are eating a kill,” The Blade said as I heard him pull an arrow out of his quiver. “Adrissa, what do you know of these things?”</p><p></p><p>“My dad said to never get close with them, and shoot them,” Adrissa said also making sounds of drawing an arrow from a quiver.</p><p></p><p>“Did he say how far to stay?” Doxx asked between clenched teeth.</p><p></p><p>“No. He did say they are slow though.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, they are blocking the way out so—” Doxx started, when I heard the heavy footsteps of the juggernaut pounded away from the group.</p><p></p><p>“Sage! What are you doing!” Bookshelf said, as I stood up raising my shield to block my view.</p><p></p><p>“Not looking at them!” The warforged thundered. “So, start shooting!”</p><p></p><p>Next to me I could hear Adrissa and the Blade loose shots. Turning my head, I saw the Blade was backing up towards the rocky rubble that now blocked the tunnel leading down. I heard the arrows sink deeply into flesh followed by angry grunts and hisses. It was followed by the sound of something like claws or teeth on metal, and the sounds of a blade swinging and scraping against tough hide. Nearby I heard Rosa’s voice finally, which I assumed meant she wasn’t a lizard anymore. “I can’t fix it if you are petrified!”</p><p></p><p>“I guess I don’t need to see them to kill them,” I muttered and keeping the shield in front of me I walked into fray. I reached out with dark strands and felt carefully. The warforged Sage’s life I could tell easily. It was strong, vibrant and, for lack of a better word, ordered. So that meant the rest were fair game. I looped around dark strands around them and set forth a miasma around them. More hissing, and I was then attacked as I saw the lower jaw chew on the bottom of my shield, attempted to wrench it away from my arm. I pushed the shield down so its head couldn’t sneak underneath and backed up a bit, as I heard more arrows whistle by, some of them sinking into the lizards.</p><p></p><p>Nearby I heard another whistle, and I saw a dagger land near my feet. It was followed very quickly by Doxx swearing something I couldn’t quite make out. Then I heard quite clearly Bookshelf shout, “Ground!” I turned to look behind me and I saw streaking from their hand a bead of light. I sank down and hid behind my shield and waited. Soon we were enveloped in flames, but I couldn’t feel the fire around me, as Bookshelf somehow managed to aim the blast so we were on the edges. I could then smell burnt wood, grass and skin as the hissing and growling increased. The one that was gnawing on my shield thrashed back and forth trying to get to the tender morsel beyond it, me. I lashed out with more dark strands, and I could feel the life force of one fade away as the Miasma tore at their bodies. I then heard some more arrows and then the jaw on my shield, released it and fell away with a thump. From behind us I heard Adrissa say, “It should be safe now. Stab them with a sword first though.”</p><p></p><p>“Anyone hurt?” Rosa asked.</p><p></p><p>I raised my hand. “The tunnel tried to kill me, but nothing from these.”</p><p></p><p>“I agree with that. The tunnel was more dangerous.” Doxx said and pointed to collapsed tunnel.</p><p></p><p>“Well, our investigation then is complete.” The Blade said with a note of satisfaction. “We can return with the information about this place and see what they can make of it.”</p><p></p><p>Nodding in agreement, I warily stood up straight and looked at the gore in front of me. Three lizards lay there, each one with scorch marks, arrows lodged deeply into their bodies, and one even had a deep slash from Sage’s armblade. But on the ground were a pair of stone forms, and one form that was half stone and half flesh, which the trio looked to be feeding on. The victims appeared to be humans. I sighed and knelt down by the one that was partially flesh, and was about to start a blessing, when I realized that he was wearing a uniform. Glancing at the other two, who were now stone I realized that they all wore the same type of helm, which had a distinct style. Each helm had a faceplate that covered the right side of their faces, while leaving the left exposed. But I didn’t remember seeing these helms from the town or from the warlords’ troops.</p><p></p><p>“Hey, these seem to be solders,” I said pointing at the corpse in front of me. “But I don’t remember this livery from town.”</p><p></p><p>Sage withdrew is arm blade and turned the man’s head back and forth looking at the helmet. “This would indicate an elite troop of some type. Most of the militaries don’t bother with this distinction on a large scale.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, by the Sovereign, no!” Doxx said as she ran over and looked at the bodies. “Damn it! this is all we need.”</p><p></p><p>Bookshelf walked over and looked down. “That’s a bigger problem,” they said dispassionately.</p><p></p><p>“Bigger than the basilisks?” Rosa said confused. “How?”</p><p></p><p>“I thought…I thought the order was disbanded,” Adrissa said confused.</p><p></p><p>“If only,” Doxx grunted in response. “They went into hiding.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m sorry, who went into hiding?” I asked thoroughly confused.</p><p></p><p>“The Order of the Emerald Claw,” Doxx replied. “They were a knightly order of some renown, but King Kaius III ordered them to disband due to conduct unbefitting Karnnath. They of course refused and tried to tell the commoners that they were crusaders trying to save Karnnath.”</p><p></p><p>“And they go around advertising that with those helms?” I asked. “Doesn’t that put them at risk?”</p><p></p><p>“That’s just it,” Doxx said looking at me with a resigned look. “If they are operating in the open, it means they are around in force and aren’t afraid of being seen.”</p><p></p><p>“Why?” The Blade asked.</p><p></p><p>“Overconfidence? Bravado? Who kno—” Doxx said before she was cut off.</p><p></p><p>The Blade expanded on his question “No. Why are they here? Why would they come to this location now?”</p><p></p><p>“And where did they come from?” Rosa asked aloud.</p><p></p><p>Adrissa looked at the ground a moment, moving away from us while staying in sight. After looking at the ground for a while, she then ran back with a frown on her face. “Well, the basilisks came from the north hills. Probably hungry, and these guys were just dinner. But looking at tracks from this group, it’s clear why they are here. They were following tracks.”</p><p></p><p>“Whose?” Doxx asked, although I was personally sure of the answer.</p><p></p><p>“Ours. They were following us.”</p><p></p><p>“Not the druids?” Rosa asked.</p><p></p><p>“No,” Adrissa confirmed. “We never followed their tracks, as we never found their trail. Their tracks are in line with our’s.”</p><p></p><p>“Alright. So why are they following us?” I asked.</p><p></p><p>“I was told that they were operating in the area,” Doxx said slowly. “And specifically, I was to watch out for them trying to manipulate a group being sent here.” She looked at us and sighed. “Us in other words.”</p><p></p><p>“For a gold mine?” I said even more confused. “That makes no sense.”</p><p></p><p>“Not at face value. But what if we were sent under false pretenses?” Doxx posited. “Melisandre has been manipulative at the least. I bet Taryn believes what she has sold him. But that’s not why we are here.”</p><p></p><p>“Are you saying that Melisandre is a part of the Emerald Claw? I find that unlikely.” Sage said shaking his head.</p><p></p><p>“No…but perhaps they know more about why we are here and were told to follow us.” Doxx explained.</p><p></p><p>“We should follow their tracks back and see if we can ask a living person about that.” The Blade said.</p><p></p><p>Adrissa smirked. “That should be easy enough.”</p><p></p><p>Adrissa then led us at a swift pace out of the forest. Not having to looking around randomly, made our progress out of the wooded hills faster than our way in. And true to our expectations, the Emerald Claw solders followed ours. It was almost evening when we crested a hill and looked down upon the town of Denning once again. But what we saw was not a welcome site.</p><p></p><p>Denning was burning.</p><p></p><p><strong>Session Notes:</strong></p><p>So did you like complication with your complication. Myrai got to ask the dumb questions, so everyone (who most of which were very new to the setting) could get an idea of what power groups were relevant. Because while Eberron is a cool setting, it has a lot of moving / shaking parts that can be daunting for unfamilar folks to play in. </p><p></p><p>But everyone at this table loves intrigue and puzzles as a side to their violence and stories.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nthal, post: 8500302, member: 6971069"] [HEADING=1][CENTER]Stone and Flame - 1/1/2022[/CENTER][/HEADING] Sage moved to look over the pedestal. “I do not know of a language called ‘Infernal.’ Explain.” I looked at Sage with what I assume was disbelief, “Infernal…is the language spoken by the denizens of Baator, and other places around the lower planes. It’s really a corruption of the celestial tongue.” “Baator? Is that a place?” Adrissa asked looking at me confused. “It’s a…um…realm…a plane where souls go. Evil ones or ones that have sold them or have been corrupted,” I responded. “That doesn’t follow what I know of cosmology here,” Bookshelf said, putting a hand and rubbing their chin, giving off a shrill metal on metal grinding. “By the sovereign STOP that,” Doxx said, her hands flying to her ears. “What? Ah right. Sorry.” The warforged said before continuing, “Souls go to Dollurh, or the Silver Flame based on most Khorvair’s belief systems. Aerenal and the Valenar elves have a different perspective I am told—” “—Ancestry worship or preservation,” The Blade interrupted. “And not relevant here.” “Yes,” Bookshelf agreed. “So…what type of creatures are in this ‘Baator’ then Myrai?” I blinked and stammered, “Well…they’re immortal fiends. All of them. Baatezu are the current rulers, but there are other ones that live there. Night hags, some Yugoloths I suppose, some of the Raksasha—” “Wait…Raksasha?” Sage asked. “I don’t know much about them,” I admitted. “I’m familiar with the common fiends. I only know of them by name. Supposedly they have heads of great cats like tigers and are difficult to work magic on. And their hands are backwards!” I remembered at last. But I watched the two warforged look at each other. “The most ancient past of Eberron is called the ‘Age of Demons,’ where the ‘Overlords’ ruled the world. But their servants are…as you describe. Fiends.” “Then…this place—” Rosa said, looking around fearfully. “Predates everyone here,” The Blade noted. “However, that fact is completely useless. What does the pedestal actually say?” “Oh, a moment,” I said, and I started to read the script that was in raised relief, on some type of purple sheened metal. I was strange how while the details of the script were different, the complex order behind the words were still there as much as any Baator contract. “It’s mostly phrases; ‘Seal’,’Unseal’,’Prime’,’Activate,’ and…this,” and I pointed to a cylinder that was spinning slowly, with what was a list of numbers. And there is a phrase here, covered in soot.” I stared to rub away the grime away from the panel and. It wasn’t coming off, so I pulled on a light strand and used it instead to clean away the surface, and I read what I saw as I did. “Full activation will cause backwash of energy. All lessers will be eradicated within the site.” “What’s a ‘lessers’” Doxx asked turning to the door and looking at it apprehensively. “Well…lower orders of fiends…and mortals I suppose.” I ventured. “Mortals?” Adrissa asked her eyes growing wider. “Yes…us and these numbers…are decreasing…fast.” I said after thinking for a moment. We looked at each other, and then in the silence, we were aware that of a humming growing louder. Turning our heads to the door we could see just around the edges where it sat in the rock, a faint light peeking through the seams. “I…I think we should—” Started Doxx. “—RUN!” Rosa said, turning and clutching her hands close to herself. As she did hair fell away and revealed scales and feathers cresting around an elongated neck. Her feet grew claws, with a long central claw that clicked the stone rapidly as it ran, streaking ahead of us. “Sodding—” I said, and I tore after the lizardlike Rosa, as did we all. Behind us the sound of the humming was growing louder, and now I could feel the stone below us shake. Next to me Bookshelf’s metal feet echoed on the stone, while behind both of us, Sage’s heavy feet crushed the stone underfoot. The Blade ran quickly and near silently pulling ahead but trailing the old woman Doxx. Just ahead of me the young girl, Adrissa was running, and I was barely able to keep up with her. As we ran, the noise could be felt as we ran up the sloping passages. The vibration shook dust away from the ceiling at first, but as we ran for our lives, occasional chunks of rock fell from above. I pulled my shield off my arm and used it to cover my head as I held it over my head as I ran. My lungs burned, and my legs were already aching as we continued to run upwards. The father and higher we ran, the worse it was as the tunnels were altered by the magic below us. Rocks fell from shattered parts of the ceiling, smashing into the stone below and cracking the floor. I felt slow as I watched the faster members of our group simply scamper ahead of myself and somehow more fragile compared to the warforged. My arms ached from the impact of rocks bouncing off my shield. The runes on the walls now no longer simply pulsed with light, but now were a solid shine, and they steadily grew brighter as we ran upwards. As they did I could…feel the energy around me, almost as if I had touched them like I had before. As they grew brighter, the energy scraped across me, and my skin felt raw. My mind raced wondering if it would be rock, or the strange eldritch forces that would do me in first. More of the tunnel was falling apart behind us, when a rock fell on my shield, and knocked me off balance. I fell to the ground and my shield skidded across the floor. Then I saw that ray of hope; the sunlight from above lighting the way ahead of me. I heard the sound of stone and metal scraping together, and I felt the cold metallic hand grasp my arm and lifted me as if I weighed nothing. Sage pulled me close, and we ran together with me under his shield. Next to us, Bookshelf ran as well, now holding my shield. I pushed myself harder, wanting to feel the sun on my face, and not the strange warmth coming from the walls. I felt the warm wet air from the mouth of the tunnel first, and then the sun on my skill. My lungs felt on fire, and my legs felt as if the bones had melted, as I collapsed onto the ground my heart feeling like it would burst. Not far from me lay a prostrate Adrissa, who also panted heavily. I closed my eyes and just breathed, not caring about anything else. I felt the thump on the earth of my shield next to me, and I heard Bookshelf say. “That’s a problem.” Next to me I heard Adrissa stir, “Oh crap! Don’t look at them! They’re basilisks!” “Sodding Baator,” I muttered. Pulled myself up on my knees, keeping my eyes shut. I felt next to me and found my shield and pulling it in front of me I opened my eyes, and quickly pulled on the straps, tightening it around my arm. “Why aren’t they coming towards us?” Doxx hissed somewhere to the left of me. “Because, they are eating a kill,” The Blade said as I heard him pull an arrow out of his quiver. “Adrissa, what do you know of these things?” “My dad said to never get close with them, and shoot them,” Adrissa said also making sounds of drawing an arrow from a quiver. “Did he say how far to stay?” Doxx asked between clenched teeth. “No. He did say they are slow though.” “Well, they are blocking the way out so—” Doxx started, when I heard the heavy footsteps of the juggernaut pounded away from the group. “Sage! What are you doing!” Bookshelf said, as I stood up raising my shield to block my view. “Not looking at them!” The warforged thundered. “So, start shooting!” Next to me I could hear Adrissa and the Blade loose shots. Turning my head, I saw the Blade was backing up towards the rocky rubble that now blocked the tunnel leading down. I heard the arrows sink deeply into flesh followed by angry grunts and hisses. It was followed by the sound of something like claws or teeth on metal, and the sounds of a blade swinging and scraping against tough hide. Nearby I heard Rosa’s voice finally, which I assumed meant she wasn’t a lizard anymore. “I can’t fix it if you are petrified!” “I guess I don’t need to see them to kill them,” I muttered and keeping the shield in front of me I walked into fray. I reached out with dark strands and felt carefully. The warforged Sage’s life I could tell easily. It was strong, vibrant and, for lack of a better word, ordered. So that meant the rest were fair game. I looped around dark strands around them and set forth a miasma around them. More hissing, and I was then attacked as I saw the lower jaw chew on the bottom of my shield, attempted to wrench it away from my arm. I pushed the shield down so its head couldn’t sneak underneath and backed up a bit, as I heard more arrows whistle by, some of them sinking into the lizards. Nearby I heard another whistle, and I saw a dagger land near my feet. It was followed very quickly by Doxx swearing something I couldn’t quite make out. Then I heard quite clearly Bookshelf shout, “Ground!” I turned to look behind me and I saw streaking from their hand a bead of light. I sank down and hid behind my shield and waited. Soon we were enveloped in flames, but I couldn’t feel the fire around me, as Bookshelf somehow managed to aim the blast so we were on the edges. I could then smell burnt wood, grass and skin as the hissing and growling increased. The one that was gnawing on my shield thrashed back and forth trying to get to the tender morsel beyond it, me. I lashed out with more dark strands, and I could feel the life force of one fade away as the Miasma tore at their bodies. I then heard some more arrows and then the jaw on my shield, released it and fell away with a thump. From behind us I heard Adrissa say, “It should be safe now. Stab them with a sword first though.” “Anyone hurt?” Rosa asked. I raised my hand. “The tunnel tried to kill me, but nothing from these.” “I agree with that. The tunnel was more dangerous.” Doxx said and pointed to collapsed tunnel. “Well, our investigation then is complete.” The Blade said with a note of satisfaction. “We can return with the information about this place and see what they can make of it.” Nodding in agreement, I warily stood up straight and looked at the gore in front of me. Three lizards lay there, each one with scorch marks, arrows lodged deeply into their bodies, and one even had a deep slash from Sage’s armblade. But on the ground were a pair of stone forms, and one form that was half stone and half flesh, which the trio looked to be feeding on. The victims appeared to be humans. I sighed and knelt down by the one that was partially flesh, and was about to start a blessing, when I realized that he was wearing a uniform. Glancing at the other two, who were now stone I realized that they all wore the same type of helm, which had a distinct style. Each helm had a faceplate that covered the right side of their faces, while leaving the left exposed. But I didn’t remember seeing these helms from the town or from the warlords’ troops. “Hey, these seem to be solders,” I said pointing at the corpse in front of me. “But I don’t remember this livery from town.” Sage withdrew is arm blade and turned the man’s head back and forth looking at the helmet. “This would indicate an elite troop of some type. Most of the militaries don’t bother with this distinction on a large scale.” “Oh, by the Sovereign, no!” Doxx said as she ran over and looked at the bodies. “Damn it! this is all we need.” Bookshelf walked over and looked down. “That’s a bigger problem,” they said dispassionately. “Bigger than the basilisks?” Rosa said confused. “How?” “I thought…I thought the order was disbanded,” Adrissa said confused. “If only,” Doxx grunted in response. “They went into hiding.” “I’m sorry, who went into hiding?” I asked thoroughly confused. “The Order of the Emerald Claw,” Doxx replied. “They were a knightly order of some renown, but King Kaius III ordered them to disband due to conduct unbefitting Karnnath. They of course refused and tried to tell the commoners that they were crusaders trying to save Karnnath.” “And they go around advertising that with those helms?” I asked. “Doesn’t that put them at risk?” “That’s just it,” Doxx said looking at me with a resigned look. “If they are operating in the open, it means they are around in force and aren’t afraid of being seen.” “Why?” The Blade asked. “Overconfidence? Bravado? Who kno—” Doxx said before she was cut off. The Blade expanded on his question “No. Why are they here? Why would they come to this location now?” “And where did they come from?” Rosa asked aloud. Adrissa looked at the ground a moment, moving away from us while staying in sight. After looking at the ground for a while, she then ran back with a frown on her face. “Well, the basilisks came from the north hills. Probably hungry, and these guys were just dinner. But looking at tracks from this group, it’s clear why they are here. They were following tracks.” “Whose?” Doxx asked, although I was personally sure of the answer. “Ours. They were following us.” “Not the druids?” Rosa asked. “No,” Adrissa confirmed. “We never followed their tracks, as we never found their trail. Their tracks are in line with our’s.” “Alright. So why are they following us?” I asked. “I was told that they were operating in the area,” Doxx said slowly. “And specifically, I was to watch out for them trying to manipulate a group being sent here.” She looked at us and sighed. “Us in other words.” “For a gold mine?” I said even more confused. “That makes no sense.” “Not at face value. But what if we were sent under false pretenses?” Doxx posited. “Melisandre has been manipulative at the least. I bet Taryn believes what she has sold him. But that’s not why we are here.” “Are you saying that Melisandre is a part of the Emerald Claw? I find that unlikely.” Sage said shaking his head. “No…but perhaps they know more about why we are here and were told to follow us.” Doxx explained. “We should follow their tracks back and see if we can ask a living person about that.” The Blade said. Adrissa smirked. “That should be easy enough.” Adrissa then led us at a swift pace out of the forest. Not having to looking around randomly, made our progress out of the wooded hills faster than our way in. And true to our expectations, the Emerald Claw solders followed ours. It was almost evening when we crested a hill and looked down upon the town of Denning once again. But what we saw was not a welcome site. Denning was burning. [B]Session Notes:[/B] So did you like complication with your complication. Myrai got to ask the dumb questions, so everyone (who most of which were very new to the setting) could get an idea of what power groups were relevant. Because while Eberron is a cool setting, it has a lot of moving / shaking parts that can be daunting for unfamilar folks to play in. But everyone at this table loves intrigue and puzzles as a side to their violence and stories. [/QUOTE]
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