Campaign1/session-1
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Introductions
Session Date: May 11,1999
Assynt 17, 1022
The characters first meet each other in a modestly appointed conference room in the evening of the 17th of Assynt. Each of them is there at the behest of the Regent, who has need of their unique talents and services. The Regent is a human male in his mid-40's, dressed in the current court fashion (which includes a dark blue coat with short tails and silver buttons, and a high collar). He is mostly bald, with the exception of an arch of thick, close-cropped grey hair which spans the back of his head. His face bears the marks of age with dignity and nobility, and his dark brown eyes are bright, with a hint of shrewdness about them.
The Regent invites the guests to be seated, and the introductions are made. The Regent starts with Max, a human male in his mid-20's with an athletic build and dark somewhat unkempt hair. Max's rough appearance is accentuated by a scar through his left ear-lobe and a slightly crooked nose. The Regent explains that Max, just a few hours earlier, witnessed the brutal murder of an associate who was selling an item to a woman in a back alley. At the Regent's request, Max sparsely lays out the details of the affair, how his friend (named Garrin) came by this black stone with some elvish writing on it, and was going to sell it to this contact that he had arranged to meet. Max went with Garrin to the sale, which took place in a back alley, and when the woman showed up, she cast some magic spell which confined Max. While Max struggled to get free, the woman cut open Garrin's throat and began chewing the cut area. She pulled out some sort of bauble, and held it in one hand while biting the neck, and over about a minute, the bauble began to fill with a dim light. When she was finished, she dropped Garrin's lifeless body to the ground and recovered the stone that he was going to sell her. The she disappeared down a dark alley, which Max discovered was a dead-end when he broke free of the spell.
The Regent informs the others that the stone she took was probably the elven 'linking stone', which was stolen from a Royal Mage corps workshop two days earlier. The Regent warns that what is spoken of this affair is secret and should not be shared, or there will be dire consequences for the country, and for the individual who betrays that secrecy.
"The linking stone is an elven magical creation, and it is used to combine the magical strength of many mages for use by a single mage. The use of linking stones made the trap at Deansburgh 17 years ago possible. Without them, the Elven, Humans and Nilhen mages would not have been able to banish the Demarian horde to oblivion. Only the elves know how to make these stones, or even how to cast the underlying magic on which they are based. We paid handsomely to have a linking stone smuggled out of the Eloshai Republic, and it would be a great embarrassment if the elves found out that we stole the stone and then allowed it to fall into the hands of the Demarians!"
A goblin in his late 30's, introduced as Mazériyan, asks why the Regent believes the Demarians are involved. The Regent indicates that the ritual of drinking blood from humans and other sentient races is a practice that has been attributed to the She-ar'tyl cult of Demaria.
"The brutality and method of the killing suggest that the woman was Demarian. And I am sure that they would like to understand the linking stone as much as we do, perhaps as a means of retrieving their army that was banished 17 years ago."
The Regent explains that he would like each of them to work together to retrieve the stone (if possible) and determine who is responsible for the theft and collaboration with the Demarian. Mazériyan is introduced as a member of the Royal Mage corps who will assist in locating the stone, since he knows the most about it (he was studying it when it was stolen).
Charlis Quick, an human male actor in his mid-30's, is introduced as someone who is familiar with the nobility of the town, and whose reputation might be useful in gaining access to certain folks without arousing suspicion. When asked why nobility might be involved, the Regent explains:
"One does not simply 'walk' into the Mage corps workshops, locate such an object which is under lock and key, and walk out undetected. At least, not without help. For two days we have used our standard techniques of inquisition to generate leads and find the stone, to no avail. We believe that there may even be collaborators within the guard or Royal services. Nobles are capable of wielding such power, so they are the most likely place to start."
The Regent turns to the last person sitting at (on) the table, an Ellyl named Rheanon, and indicates that she is a member of the Royal court and will act as a liaison between the group and the Regent.
Rising from his seat at the end of the table, the Regent asks if anyone has any questions. Charlis asks if there have been other attacks or sightings of the the Demarian, and is told that an Ellyl briefly spotted a Dargai entering the tunnels which weave beneath Kalen. Charlis looks a bit confused at the mention of the tunnels, but lets it pass without further question.
The subject of compensation comes up, and the Regent indicates that the Kingdom will pay each of them one gold Sovereign (200 pence) for the stone's recovery, or tangible information on the conspiracy which stole it. Charlis adds that they are all motivated by a sense of duty to the country, though nobody turns down the reward outright.
The Regent departs, leaving the group to converse amongst themselves in the conference room. The late hour (roughly 9 - 10 pm) inspires the suggestion that they re-convene at The Iron Horn nearby, in roughly 20 minutes. After tending to separate affairs, the group gathers at the Iron Horn for food, drink and further conversation.
While exchanging information, the Second Circle mage Seoras arrives and greets Mazériyan, and is introduced to his companions. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Seoras departs for another party, and Mazériyan explains that Seoras brought the linking stone to him to be examined a few days ago.
The group discusses who knew about the stone and how they may have gained access to it. The discussion is interrupted when Tynam Montbegon greets Charlis and asks about Faegan Islay (another noble of the city, and a strong patron of the arts). Charlis has not seen him for quite some time, and Tynam laments that he has been unable to speak with Faegan for over two weeks. He assumes that everything is fine, since he received a reminder regarding the party at Islay House tomorrow night the day before. Charlis also confirms that the party is still on, since he will be in the Royal Players troupe that will be performing "Magerfontein" as entertainment. Tynam departs and joins a small crowd on the far side of the room (which includes Seoras).
Evening wears on, and the group decides to re-convene at the Iron Horn tomorrow at mid-day to examine the place where Garrin died, and perhaps look at the underground tunnels. Rheanon agrees to try to arrange invitations for the group to Islay's party through the Regent, and also to make inquiries about the Dargai that was spotted by an Ellyl. Before departing, Seoras briefly returns and has a hushed conversation with Mazériyan.
Assynt 18, 1022
With morning errands taken care of, the group meets at the Iron Horn. While eating lunch, they discuss what little more has been learned since last evening. Rheanon forgot to get invitations to the party, but did remember to send word to meet the Ellyl (named Annan) that spotted the Dargai roughly 2 weeks ago.
Annan arrived as the group was leaving and talks to Rheanon about the Dargai. The Ellyl seems a bit reluctant to carry on the conversation with strangers, so they fly off to have a private discussion. After a few moments, Rheanon returns and relays that the Dargai was a dark haired woman in a dark cloak, and a dark purple blouse. While Annan did not get a long look at her, it was apparent that she was well-to-do, which is a bit unusual for that part of town. She had a rather ornate ring, with an opalescent stone in its center. The entrance to the tunnels was down near The Split Pig, which Max indicates is near where Garrin was killed.
The group departs, and Max leads them through several 'shortcuts' that thread through many back alleys, side-streets and closes, finally emerging across the street from The Split Pig. Unlike the Iron Horn and its environs, the Split Pig is strictly 'working class'. As they pass the entrance, a man is kneeling in front of the stoop, scrubbing some dried vomit from the doorway, the reek of stale beer and sweat wafting out of the darkened room beyond.
After a few short twists through more back alleys, they arrive at a small intersection of narrow alleys, the spot of Garrin's death marked by a dark blotch of blood soaked ground. Max shows them where the woman emerged from the darkness, and where she went after the attack. They follow him back to a dead end, with no obvious means of escape. Mazériyan spends a few minutes performing an elaborate magical ritual, which allows him to see through the wall, and to some depth through the ground. On the other side of the wall (which is independently confirmed by Rheanon) is an empty store. A thorough examination of the wall reveals no hidden door mechanism which might allow the woman to escape. Mazériyan is not surprised, and suggests that she probably flew up the wall, and then escaped over the rooftops.
Next, Max guides the others to the nearest tunnel entrance that he is familiar with. When they arrive, the entrance is found capped by a plain concrete disk. While Mazériyan and Charlis debate over who is least able to assist in moving the cap, Max manages to drag it aside and sticks his head into the hole. Finding only a round tunnel leading in each direction, he stands up and allows the others to peer inside. Without attracting too much attention, the party enters the tunnel, noting the wall's unusual rippled texture.
Followed by: Some Enchanted Evening...
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