Prologue
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[edit] Prologue
[edit] New Lands, New Friends
When she first heard that there was a distant, wild, unlawful land to the north, Edeya imagined a verdant landscape with not a road in site on the frontier. It sounded like a good place for her to continue her ongoing growth in life. Having recently left the town of Harkenwold, which was one of the most stifling communities she’s been in, she quickly realized that she was misinformed and that the Nentir Vale may merely be a civilization in decline.
Travelling north along the King’s Road, seeing the third ruinous farmstead in the distance since her arrival, she wonders what caused the once flourishing Nerath Empire to decline. The minstrel in that filthy tavern in Harkenwold sang of what sounded like a golden age, of the ancient hero Vendar the Dragonslayer, and the heroine Aranda Markelhay of Fallcrest.
Civilized or not, she thoroughly enjoyed a meditative moment gazing downstream along the flow of the White River, standing on a bridge that felt centuries old. She remembers the fearful faces of the passerbys, clutching their children closer as they hurried past. She had briefly thought that the young man she asked about which way to travel towards Fallcrest would wet his pants. Her kind must not be common around here, she concluded. After that, she decided to walk through the edge of the Harken Forest north of the river instead of along the road, in order to enjoy the peacefulness of the wilds.
Coming out of her pensiveness, she begins feeling her stomach rumble in admonition and reaches for her pouch. Frowning slightly at seeing only some dried bread left, she decides to search the area for something tasty. Not too long later, her eyes open in delight at seeing a clearing with some delicious looking berry bushes. Stepping out into the large clearing, she begins plucking some of the dark bluish fruits and popping them into her mouth. She grins to herself contentedly at the juicy sweetness. Just as she is about to sit down by the bushes and fill her tummy to her mouth, her keen ears perceive a worried sounding woman’s cry coming from the opposite end of the clearing. Unfortunately, there appears to be a large willow tree blocking her sight. She looks down longingly at the pile of yummy berries in her hand and spends a second wondering what she should do.
And thus it was that Edeya, Githzerai monk following the PinYin philosophy, proceeded to hide underneath the willow tree and spotted a young woman dressed in white being harassed by some kobolds and a large goblin. They were apparently trying to capture her. Edeya weaved and whirled among her foes, kicking and pummeling them unconscious. The goblin in command decided to flee instead of face the “green skinned tree spirit”. Afterwards, Edeya and the woman, whose name is Daria, traveled together towards Fallcrest. Daria is a priestess of Erathis and both women discovered that the PinYin way and the tenants of Erathis are not too different from each other. Arriving in Fallcrest, having become good friends, both women were questioned about the attack. They could not give a reason for the attempted kidnapping though or who might be behind it. Edeya decided to spend some at the Temple of Erathis, reading some interesting books in their library.
[edit] Till Death Do Us Part
Something did not feel quite right. Normally, Demuriath would never think twice about the commands given by his order, but travelling for months and then to be expected to prowl a strange wood for…what? He had no idea what he was doing here, nor why he was expected to stalk the Cloak Woods of this quaint Nentir Vale. This was the sixth day since he traversed the Witchlight Fen upon entering this temperate valley for a land so far north.
And something just didn’t feel right in these woods. Although his danger sense was overactive in the fens due to all the dangerous animals within, he somehow felt even less safe in this eerily quiet little forest. Almost too quiet at times.
His vision had been very clear however. It showed him a bird’s eye view, probably that of a raven no doubt, of the Nentir Vale, the surrounding lands and even dropped down into this wood. The intense urge to travel here was so overpowering for the first few days that he dared not stop to eat or sleep. Thankfully, he still remembered a lot of his githzerai training and meditative techniques to help curb the pangs of hunger and fatigue.
That was another strange thing. Although many years had passed since he was more or less exiled from the Astral Plane and he hardly thought of his home anymore, the last five days he almost couldn’t stop himself from recalling near forgotten memories. As always when thinking of his past, his only real regret was that he could not be there for his sister while she was growing up. If he tried hard enough, he could almost hear little Edeya’s peals of laughter, which always brought a smile to his face.
The sound of snapping wood rips him out of his reverie and back to the present. Without realizing it, he took a completely different route through the wood today and didn’t recognize any of his surroundings. Demuriath instantly adjusts his breathing and becomes as silent as a corpse, a technique taught to him by the order, and ponders what to do next.
He decides to remain very silent and observe, but doesn't quite manage to reach the necessary calm for deathly silence. Demuriath's slight breathing is luckily masked by the sounds of a nearby brook. He must have truly been caught up entirely in his thoughts, for very near him a man in chainmail is getting a drink and watering his horse.
Despite the thick underbrush and fallen tree, the githzerai is also able to make out the color of blood red robes from between the branches of a fallen oak. His breath catches at the sight of the being's face and before he can do or say anything, the creature raises a fist towards the unsuspecting man, who suddenly cries out in pain and spins around to see what hit him. His face blanches in utter horror at the sight of the robed being, recognition clearly visible on his face. "NO! No...please...it cannot be!" The horse next to him whinnies in alarm and looks up.
What followed was a nightmarish battle between Demuriath and the Robed Being whoe sole intent seemed to be killing the human rider. The undead creature summoned several zombies to help him, but the avenger and the rider were able to survive up until the end. Just as Demuriath was going to bring his Queen's wrath to bear, the horrid undead literally ripped the human rider to shreds. Seconds later, it was sent to eternal rest by Demuriath, but not before it, or something, spoke that the avenger's actions today would be remembered. After the battle, Demuriath searched the dead rider and his horse and found an intricately carved wooden box and letter. The letter was from First Priestess Marla of the Great Church of Bahamut, addressed to High Priest Grundelmar in Fallcrest, and discussed a growing threat in the Nentir Vale and the need to secure something called the desideratum. It also contained a bloodied map of the Nentir Vale with various points of interest. The box was protected by a powerful radiant prayer that left the living unharmed. Just before Demuriath opened the box, a sliver of something cold bore itself into his skin. Inside the box, he could see an ornate symbol of Bahamut and vials with clear liquid. Deciding that this encounter must have been the reason he was sent to the Cloak Woods, Demuriath proceeded to deliver the box and letter to High Priest Grundelmar in Fallcrest. Once there, he awaited his opportunity to do so.
[edit] Moonshadow Rendezvous
She always did love the night, the stars, and the sense of being able to float up into the endless night sky. Even now, walking alone amidst the Moon Hills of the far-off Nentir Vale, Azad finds solace underneath the sparkling night.
She thinks back to why she decided to travel all this way north, as far away from Bael Turath as she's ever been. For some time now, her nerves have been itching to leave her past behind and challenge herself in new ways and...to fill a longing within that she can't quite explain.
Cresting the tallest hill before having to descend down to Fallcrest, the tiefling woman can see the distant lights of lanterns and torches from the city. So engrossed is she by the twinkling stars above and twinkling lights below that she starts in surprise when a man nearby coughs to get her attention. She whips her head and tail around apprehensively, already reaching for her sword and shield. Blade half-way out of it's sheathe, she pauses as she now sees herself surrounded by three human men and three goblins whose gender isn't quite clear. Two of them have nets, while the other four carry spears. She decides that she would have a better chance talking her way out of this situation than fighting.
"Well, well, well, what have we here. A stray woman ripe for the taking!" says one of them and the others laugh and grunt in agreement. "You'll fetch a nice price, with those beautifully curved horns and shining tail. Let's try not to cut her up too much!"
Azad barely registers the man's final words as she imagines what these filthy people intend to do with her. She can't believe they plan to capture and sell her! Although she intended not to fight a moment ago, hopeless as it seemed, her infernal fury builds up and with a loud cry of challenge, she draws her longsword and holds it up high towards the starry sky.
Just then, a bank of clouds opens up to reveal the luminescent orb of Sehanine. Multiple shafts of moonlight converge upon Azad's blade and bathe her in bright radiance. The fear she was feeling a moment ago disappears entirely, replaced by a loving presence caressing her soul and causing every nerve in her body to tingle with deep, ecstatic pleasure. Her tail quivering slightly, Azad opens her eyes with a defiant, condemning look at the humans and goblins around her. All six of them begin trembling visibly in fear, sweat beading their brows. Some of them take an involuntary step backward. As Azad levels her sword at them, still glowing brilliantly, the fear appears to be too much for the lot. Dropping their weapons, they run down the Moon Hills and away as fast as they can.
Once the sound of their departure dissipates completely, Azad's sword begins losing it's glow. Still shaken and touched by the awesome presence and love within her, the tiefling looks towards Fallcrest and sees a bright shaft of moonlight piercing the night sky and pointing directely towards a spot in the city. She senses more than thinks of what must have just happened and knows that her life has been given a new purpose, for she can feel within her that an emptiness has been filled. Not pausing to stow her weapons, she makes her way down the hills towards Fallcrest.
As she nears the city gates, the clouds obscure the moon momentarily and she is able to move past the guards without them noticing her in the darkness. A minute later, the moonshaft reappears to guide her to her destination. Thinking that it may lead her to some sort o temple, Azad is surprsed when she comes out of a cobblestone path and sees a small park with a lake in the middle. The shaft of moonlight appears to be alighting on a bench at the far end of the lake, upon which is sitting a human man. Too far away to discern any details, she thinks that what he is holding in his hand might be a book. How strange. Why would she be guided to this spot? Is she to meet this man?
Just as Azad began approaching the beautiful man reading on the bench underneath the moonlight, she spotted three assassins trying to sneak up to kill him. Crying out a warning, she launched herself at the nearest one and kept them occupied long enough for the man, who turned out to be a wizard, to notice the danger. Fighting shoulder to shoulder, the two of them fended off the repeated, single-minded attempts on the man's life. With Azad selflessly using her own body as a shield, she managed to defeat the assassins and keep the man, Elend, alive at the same time. She was glad to have saved him, for he seemed like a romantic man, even if he was a bit mysterious about who his father is. Having knocked the last assassin unconscious just as he was trying to commit suicide by poison ingestion, Azad urged Elend to lead them to the nearest temple to save the killer for questioning. Arriving at the Moonsong Temple, Elend went inside to explain the situation. Shortly after, a priestess and guards came out to take the dying assassin and offer Azad to remain at the temple. Looking around for Elend, whom she had taken somewhat of a liking to, the priestess noticed and handed her Elend's copy of "A Tale of Two Empires". Written within was message from Elend, thanking her, that was also suggestive of his taking a liking towards her.
[edit] The Tinkerer and the Dragon
Nobody warned me about toe blisters! I can't believe there aren't any mechanized methods of transportation in this backwood part of the world. Haven't they ever heard of teleportation circles?!
Such are the thoughts coursing around in Corydimbiddle's head as he finally reaches his destination. A few months ago he woke up as usual one morning to the versimilitude of ticking, tocking, and clanking sounds in his workshop, but something felt different. Maybe it was the hair left on his pillow or maybe it was the slight ache in his shoulders that seemed to be ever present of late. More likely though, it was the strange dream he had of himself as a strapping, vibrant youth hiking along fields and climbing mountains. He thought that dream was banished for good when he had installed a wave machine next to his bed in order to soothe his nerves.
He had gotten up with the usual cracking noises in his bones, put on his slippers, and gone to his kitchen. It wasn't until after activating his "teater", which always heated his tea just right, that he noticed an envelope wedged under his front door. Retrieving and opening it, he was most surprised to find a letter from an old acquaintance, dated some time ago. Good old Douven Stahl, what an inventive dabbler, albeit quite eccentric. The letter was an invitation of sorts, asking if Corydimbiddle would like to join him on an expedition to the far northern Nentir Vale. Never heard of the place!
Reading on, he realized that this was a long-delayed invitation, for Douven must have left some months ago, judging by the date. Ah well, why would I want to go traipsing off to some unknown place when I've got all these projects to complete? He had put the letter aside and forgotten it in minutes. However, from that day on he kept on having the same dream of trekking around as a youth and he became increasingly irritated. One day, after his "firestarter" contraption blew up in his face for the third time, he caught sight of the letter again, this time with multiple mug ring stains on it. Reading it over once more, some switch turned itself on inside Corydimbiddle. Rather, some long extinguished flame was rekindled. Now wouldn't that be something, he mused.
Mere days later, he had taken care of his most urgent affairs, found someone to watch his workshop, and was off. Just like that!
Corydimbiddle sighs to himself at the memory, wondering why he let his foolish fancies of long past youthfulness get the better of him. Nothing to do about it now, he thinks, as he finally climbs up the Fallcrest bluffs to the upper city, out of breath. Hasn't anyone invented the pulley yet in this horrid place, he wonders to himself as he sees groups of men transporting cargo up and down the bluffs and loading it onto river boats.
Walking through the nicer, temple district of Fallcrest, he passes what must be a temple of Sehanine judging by the decor and makes his way to his destination. The Septarch's Tower was immediately obvious upon entering Fallcrest, for it stands at the eastern edge of the bluffs, overlooking the city. He doesn't completely understand why Douven would be there, but that sorry excuse for a magic guild in Harkenwold assured him that "The great Dragonologist Douven Stahl" was intent to meet with Nimozaran the Green in Fallcrest, who resides in the Septarch's Tower. Eccentricity must be easily confused with greatness by some people, thinks Corydimbiddle as he proceeds to cross over the bridges to the tower. Then again, his memory of Douven was that the man was quite the genius when it came to alchemical applications. What a waste for a man to go exploring, when he's got enough potential to make Leonardus look like a schoolboy and nab the Annual Alchemist's Award three years running. Since Douven left, everyone only talks about how great Leonardus is.
Coming out of his musings and looking straight ahead, Corydimbiddle frowns at the last bridge he needs to cross before reaching the tower. Now if I was a wizard and had a magnificent tower like that, I wouldn't leave it unprotected. Why haven't I been skewered by some hidden darts or blasted by a fire cannon yet? Maybe this wizard isn't very good. Or maybe he's so good that he doesn't need any defenses. Or maybe he's so sneaky that he likes to lure peaceful, unsuspecting gnomes like himself very close before blighting them. What should I do?
Seconds later, he had an answer to his question, when a large dragon by the name of Teldoran and six smaller dragonlings flew up from beneath the bridge and blocked his passage. And so began a half-bantering, half-cajoling conversation between Corydimbiddle and what turned out to be an iron dragon. The gnome who had hardly ever left his workshop, surprised himself by his skillful fencing with words and reasoning. The dragon also seem surprised and impressed, although it's patience didn't last forever. Something seemed very odd about the dragon, but the gnome artificer just couldn't see it or gain insight into the creature's behavior or motivations. Having exhausted all diplomatic options, and being given an ultimatum to cross the bridge unharmed, Corydimbiddle activated his obedient servant and proceeded to cautiously force his way past the dragonlings. After methodically defeating almost all the creatures, the gnome eventually takes a hit and vanishes, only to reappear right next to Teldoran. It's then, that he notices that the dragon is an illusion covering a mechanical, furnace-like contraption. Just as he is about to be roasted by a stream of fire, hands grab him and pull him through a dimensional portal to safety. Nimozaran the Green furiously reprimands his apprentice Teldoran and apologizes to Corydimbiddle. It turns out Douven Stahl indeed visited the wizard and may be connected to something dire.
[edit] Dark Foreboding
Edeya, Demuriath, Azad, and Corydimbiddle are each brought to the Moonstone Keep and meet for the first time while the Council of Fallcrest holds a meeting to discuss recent events. It turns out the two githzerai, Edeya and Demuriath, are long-lost siblings. Their reunion was not a pleasant one though, and almost came to blows. After some refreshments, High Priest Grundelmar from the House of the Sun came back with Daria and explained the need for the desideratum to be retrieved and brought to Fallcrest. After the group assured him of their trust, he revealed the location of the desideratum in the long-abandoned Gardmore Abbey, which used to be a bastion of the Chuch of Bahamut in times past. Along with Daria, who would perform a ritual of retrieval at the Abbey, the group traveled forth, fighting some skin kites along the way. Once at the Abbey, they were accosted by the risen dead both outside and inside the building. After defeateing five recently deceases and now undead Bahamutian priests, the group disrupted a mass raise undead ritual and faced their final foe. He was a seemingly maniacal spellcaster with almost black skin, glowing eyes, and several tattoos. Already weakened, the spellcaster tried to escape but was easily overwhelmed by Demuriath's powerful atack. Upon questioning, the man, who had no name, revealed that someone named Lightshade had taken a relic away from the Abbey and that a ritual of mass raise dead was supposed to be left at the abbey for any visitors. The spellcaster also had a sealed envelope on his body, with a bloodied letter inside. The adressee could not be read and it was signed 'Your Master'. It was supposed to be delivered to the house of a Bairwin in Winterhaven. Having failed in their task to retrieve the desideratum, the adventurers decided to follow the trail to Winterhaven after parting company with Daria who will report to the Council of Fallcrest. While traveling on the King's Road, just past the Gardbury Downs, they come across a disheveled and somewhat illiterate dwarf. They manage to find out that his name is Harkin, when a pack of kobolds attack them from all sides. The adventurers, along with Harkin, fight valiantly and once again seize the day. Aferwards, the group, now five in number, proceed on to Winterhaven.
