Welcome to Quest for Gloriana, a Pathfinder adventure set in the world of Quest for Glory, the RPG/adventure game hybrid from Sierra Online.
Current players, please dot in.
The young Silmarian male takes out his whetstone and begins to sharpen his gladius.
Dot
Outside the city walls, desert winds howl while the sun beats down with merciless force. This is Raseir, the second city in the Shapier sultanate. A mere five years ago the city was near ruin, governed by a weak Emir who was in the thrall of the evil wizard Ad Avis, a disciple of the Dark One. Fortunately, came two Katta went out in search of a solution and returned with the Hero of Spielburg, who conquered four elementals, defeated Ad Avis, and restored the mystical fountain in the center of Raseir to bring water and life back to the ancient city.
Today, the city of Raseir still recovers from that horrible legacy. While the fountain has been restored and Zayishah, the niece of the former Emir, rules in the name of the Sultan (long may he reign!), the criminal elements which flourished under Ad Avis continue to plague the city. Signor Ferrari, a native of the city, has returned after being driven from Silmaria by Queen Elsa. He immediately used his cunning and connections to take control of the underground, forging them into a force which threatens the peace of the city and, perhaps, the entire Sultanate.
All is not lost, however. The palace guard does what it can and the local katta form a bulwark against corruption but even they can only do so much. What is needed are heroes! Heroes who can shine the light of justice into the dark cracks of the city.
Perhaps that is the reason why Nawar, the guild master of the Adventurer's Guild in Raseir, has summoned the six of you to meet with her. At first glance, she doesn't seem to be the sort of woman who should be running a guild. Dressed in suggestive silks which somehow do more to reveal than to cover her body, the woman seems more flirt than adventurer. However, those who have spent time in her company know she is deadly with a dagger and has the utmost confident of the Emir.
"Thank you for coming, my friends." Nawar says, as she motions the group of you to sit around her table. It is low to the ground, in the custom of the land, and seats are provided as cushions rather than chairs. This makes it easy for even centaurs to join into the tea ceremony. Nawar carefully brews and pours tea for each of you. "I am thrilled to be in your presence. I'm tingling all over, in fact, at how much skill and beauty and passion wash over me when I'm with each of you."
"My dear Guild Master Nawar, a pleasure to see you, as always. Thrills and tingles seem to be the coin of the day, lately. I am glad to be of assistance."
Hektor unclips the frog of his longsword from his belt before kneeling on the cushions. His helm sits at his side, with well worn and scarred guantlets tossed inside. His pack, shield, and bow stand in the corner near the entrance.
"Is it always this hot around here? I'm starting to realize why everyone prefers to do their business in the early morning or late evening." Hektor grins as he sips the tea.
Felitcia had entered the building with great relief, she found the environment to be a definite change from Mordavi, a good one, even if the heat and light were far too much for her during the day. She'd done several jobs for the guild over the last year or two and made a place for herself here one where she could forget her past and, with a little effort, not be recognized. So far as she knew even the guildmistress was unaware of the truth about Felitcia and the darkly beautiful woman planned to keep it that way, for now at least. Truth be told she found Nawar to be very desirable and intended to one day seduce the woman but for now she was willing to wait and play the long game. The invitation was fortuitous as she'd been looking to draw Mistress Nawar's eye and this seemed the perfect opportunity.
When she had entered the building Felitcia said something and her cloak shifted and blurred to leave her in a more...appealing, outfit, a dark black skirt that reached her knees of a gauzy material and a flowing top that was cinched in the right places to accentuate her form and still cover most of her upper body. The final change was the addition of a veil of the same gauzy fabric across her face starting just below her nose. She looked at the group that were escorted in with her and, like Hektor, she undid her scimtar's sheathe from her waist and set it with her pack along one wall. She curtsied to Nawar when they were welcomed and said, "It's always a delight to be in your radiant presence Guildmistress," Felitcia's voice was low and pleasant on the ears with a dark timbre to it, "if one stared too long they might go blind." With that she sat down, her knees folding so that she sat with her legs folded double and to one side, and then accepted the offered tea.
Jenrick follows the nova roman's example and puts his backpack, and weapons in a nearby corner. As he does, Jenrick ponders his good fortune that his traditional silmarian clothes work well in this Shapeir heat. For the few weeks he's been in this new land, his tan has deepened significantly.
Jenrick then makes his way to the guildmaster's table with the other five adventurers. Those gathered around him are individuals Jenrick knows by reputation alone. The appearance of the nova roman and the mysterious centaur eases his homesickness somewhat. The young silmarian definitely agrees with the thrilling presences of those gathered at the table, being drawn to the seductive beauty of the guildmaster and the pale skinned Modavian to his right, and the ethereal presence of the centaur.
After situating his broad frame at the low table, Jenrick respectfully nods to the guildmaster.
"Greetings to you, guildmaster. And to you all", as Jenrick looks around the table.
Seeing the others begin to arrive the half-fae places the book, he had been reading, back upon the shelf where it belongs. Seeing the others depositing their gear the tall pale skinned man takes off his buckler and sickle setting them down upon the floor next to his pack and crossbow. Trathing gracefully takes his place at the table with the others.
Greetings and Salutations, I don't think I've had the chance to make my acquaintance with most of you.... Though I have read your entries in the Adventurers Book. I go by the name of Trathing Nightcloak.
Trathing makes no effort to disguise the accent that anyone familiar with Mordavia would recognize as that of a gypsy. He wears the light colored silks that are so common to those who walk through the streets of Rasier. Almost as if the clothes were chosen to help him quickly blend into a crowd.
As the bright morning sunshine spills into the room from the open windows you notice that there is a shadow missing upon the wall. It takes you a moment to confirm it but the Half-fae seems to cast no shadow, almost as if the light passes through his body.
"I'm Hektor Sextus. Pleased to meet you."
Hektor offers his hand in greeting to the strange-looking creature.
"Too bad mine are all so mundane. Got paid to kill goblins, got paid to run off some bandits, ho hum stuff really."
When looking at the half-fae, Jenrick's attention is drawn to the lack of Trathing's lack of shadow.
"My name is Jenrick Ioannou. From Silmaria. I am pleased to meet you all", said the godling distractedly.
Felitcia watched each person as they introduced themselves and made sure to note their names as it was obvious they were going to be offered a job as a group. When it came around to her she said, "I'm Felitcia, a pleasure to meet you all. I hail from Modavia originally but here in the city of Rasier for the last year or two." She took another sip of her tea, lifting the veil enough to do so without getting it wet. While some might have noticed something odd about Trathing Felitcia did not, whether she was too distracted by the Guildmistress or being careful of these new people was unclear.
Stowing her spear and javelin where the others had left their weapons, Rhiastra carefully lowers herself to be seated on the ample cushions provided. It was a pleasure to be somewhere that accommodated her and it was indeed an honor to be among those of notable accomplishment.
Taking in the sight of those present she smiles, a warm radiant expression full of welcome as she tucks a lock of her wild hair behind an ear. It is an honor Guildmistress, and an honor to meet you all as well. I am Rhiastra, also from Silmaria," she says with a smile. The heat of Raseir made her glad tht she didn't have to deal with large amounts of clothing like some of her companions.
Behind her veil, Nawar's berry stained lips curl into a sly smile.
"Your words make me blush, Anissa Felitcia. Many is the night I have curled into my lonely bed and read through the exploits you have recorded in the Adventurer's Log and sighed with admiration at your... abilities"
Nawar carefully refills the cups as they empty. To share tea in Shapeir and Raseir is one of the most important of ceremonies. Tea, after all, is water and water in a land such of this is life.
"You have all inspired my imaginations, in fact, and word of your exploits has reached the ears of our glorious Emir (long may her beauty shine). She has asked me to personally reach out to you. Hektor Sextus, the lost soldier. Jenrick Ioannou, child of the skies. Felitcia, sword mistress of the night. Trathing Nightcloak, walker in shadows. Rhiastra, lover of dryads. And Marche Novak, the quietest of you."
Nawar slips her tea cup under her veil and takes the most dainty of sips.
"Will you serve Raseir in her time of need?"
Trathing sets down his cup and turns his full attention to Anissa, placing a charming smile upon his face.
I am ... Humbled that a woman so full of beauty and grace such as yourself would pronounce these kind and eloquent words of some one as plain and simple as myself. I would consider it both an honor and a privilege to lend my assistance in whatever fashion you would request of me. No matter how feeble my attempts may be, compared to the heroic actions of my illustrious companions.
"Sorry."
Rhiastra smiles at the name she is given. [b]"I would be very happy to serve Raseir my lady."/b] she says taking a sip of her tea, [b]"This is wonderful."/b]
"Lost Soldier, eh? Seems an apt description, as close to the truth as any, I suppose."
Hektor finishes his tea and looks as Nawar straight on.
"Not sure exactly what's needed, or what's going on, but I'll lend my skills and strength if you need it." the scarred man laughs deeply and claps a hand on the table with a bang.
"Beats collecting dust overy sweat dealing with brigands or monsters any day!"
"Of course. What does Rasier need from us", questions Jenrick.
Felitcia's bearing became a bit tense as she soaked up the praise and replied, "If I knew you were so lonely I would have come to entertain you myself Guildmistress Nawar." Her voice became huskier as she took another sip of her tea. As the Guildmistress moved on to the reason they were called Felitcia listened intently and finally said, "Of course, it would be an honor to do so."
Nawar glances at Felitcia sidelong.
"I brought you here together for that reason." Her eyes shift and her lips curl into a rich smile under her veil.
"If I were alone with you, how could I possibly resist your charms? And then I would be so distracted by your prowess I would forget to relay the Emir's request."
Nawar punctuates her statement with a slow sip of tea and then sets her cup down.
"You know of the giant scorpions which live in the desert? Each the size of a saurus and capable of killing a man with a single thrust of its tail." she punctuates the word thrust with a shimmy of her body which makes the little bells in her silks chime. "Normally, caravan guards can handle such beasts but an even larger scorpion, easily twice the size of a centaur has begun attacking. We have lost three caravans from our sister city of Shapeir. The last was carrying an official proclamation from our Sultan (may the stars shine upon him forever!). The scorpion must be dispatched and the proclamation retrieved. The Emir offers a reward of six golden yellow topaz stones when you succeed in this task."
Damn, woman!
These three caravan attacks", questions Jenrick. "Do we know if they have happened around the same place in the trade route, or have they happened all along the desert trail?"
A giant Scorpion that attacks Caravan's and takes Proclamation's... Seems to me there is more at work here than a wild creature... I suppose that is why we have all been summoned to deal with this single threat. Are there any witnesses or survivors from the attacks we can question about the creature?
"One survivor." Nawar says, her tone growing more businesslike. "A caravan guard currently staying at the Blue Parrot Inn. He staggered past the city gates three nights ago."
Some members of the party are likely stating at the Blue Parrot, the only Inn in Raseir. They might remember a nervous man, heavily bandaged and drinking himself to sleep last night.
"Based on what has been said, we believe the attack took place four skareens northwest of the city, just past the griffon rock."
"A giant scorpion of such size could completely unbalance the area with it's depredations,knowing no natural predator. The way would not be safe for anyone until it was dealt with." Rhiastra says, thinking aloud.
Damn, I forget! What distance is a skareens? Is that in miles or kilometers?!
"A giant scorpion of such size could completely unbalance the area with it's depredations,knowing no natural predator. The way would not be safe for anyone until it was dealt with." Rhiastra says, thinking aloud.
"I agree, Rhiastra. Something that size needs to be taken care before it becomes too bold, and attacks the twin cities", said Jenrick, urgently.
kn (local)
"So close to the city, this thing must be under the thrall of something or someone powerful. I'd wager there's a villain behind the snatching of this proclamation."
Hektor grabs his scabbarded sword and makes to stand.
"Any restrictions or rules of engagement? Do we need to worry about innocents in the area?"
"Any restrictions or rules of engagement? Do we need to worry about innocents in the area?"
Wow! I wouldn't have thought of that. Hektor really knows his stuff! I've got a lot to learn from these warriors.
Nawar laughs as Hektor is ever the soldier.
"I would never tell a warrior how he should handle his sword. There should be nothing but sand in that location. Do as what seems best, my heroes."
Felitcia smiled behind her veil as she realized that the Guildmistress was quite serious about her suggestive words and knew that she would likely take Nawar up on her implied offer very soon. She listened to the details, the payment was acceptable she felt, and the job seemed straight forward.
As she sipper her tea some more Felitcia considered what she knew of these giant scorpions, if there were weaknesses that could be exploited then it would do them well to know about them.
The lovely woman also tried to identify that area.
She nodded in agreement as she sipped some more of her tea and said, "That is fairly close, and it could be a threat to the city directly. I think that speaking to the survivor would be our first step certainly."
The silmarian human looks to the dhampir. "I disagree. It sounds like Guildmistress Nawar was able to get all the information we are going to get from the survivor. It doesn't sound like he would have anything more to offer. I say we all go now, find it, kill it, and find that proclamation!" To finish his point, Jenrick lightly bangs his fist on the table.
"A wise hunter learns everything there is to know about his prey before charging into a battle that could be their death." Rhiastra says calmly to Jenrick."I am sure once we are there there will be plenty of opportunity do display your might."
It would seem that her countryman was one of those who saw strength of arms as the solution to every problem.
"Do you know how giant scorpions fight? Where the attack on the caravan came from? Did it attack in broad daylight or at night while they camped?" the centaur asks the warrior.
"Do you know how giant scorpions fight? Where the attack on the caravan came from? Did it attack in broad daylight or at night while they camped?" the centaur asks the warrior.
The silmarian male crosses his arms in frustration. "No, I've never fought giant scorpions before, but I imagine it's just stay-away-from stinger, don't-get-snapped-by-claws, and thrust-sword-inbetween-armor-segments", said Jenrrick, nonchalantly, then sighs.
Looking to the centaur, Jenrick continues, in a more respectful tone. "Clearly, you radiate the Wisdom of Gaea. I will default to that wisdom."
"I suppose you might be right about the survivor Jenrick." She collected her thoughts then and said, "As for the scorpions, the giant scorpions in Shapeir are normally roughly the size of a Mordavian wolfhound. They burrow, as one might imagine, and their tail holds enough venom to kill the average man. They have a nasty tendency to grab hold of a victim with one of their claws and lift them up, positioning them for a claw strike. They cannot be affected by mental powers or magic and, thus, are useless minions to most mages. Anti-toxins are advised to deal with the poison in their tails. As for the area, its mostly desert. If one were to continue traveling north from that point one would reach an oasis from which grows a palm tree, around which is wrapped the beard of a Dervish, a wise man who sits halfway between the two cities. South from that point are cliffs which hem in the desert and serve as a home to griffins. There's little else. Bring water." She paused as if reviewing what she'd said, for errors, "I don't think there's anything else I can come up with."
"Water, food, and desert clothes. Got it. Do they sell antioxin vials here in the city?"
"Well, sitting around jawing and drinking won't get us to the spot. I'm heading out to the apothecary for some anti-poison stuff, then out to grab a fee extra waterskins. Anyone coming with?"
Hektor returns his sword to his belt, bows to the guild mistress, and grabs his hear before heading out.
"Oh, right. Any chance of some expense money? I doubt the lass will just hand over vials for us on account of my winning smile."
"I have worked with her in the past, gathering rare plants. Perhaps she may accept an offer to bring her back the stinger, or as much of the scorpion's venom as we can. She could definitely make good use of it." Rhiastra offers."Though I would still prefer to speak to the survivor first."
Nawar's laugh is rich as she draws forth from somewhere beneath her silks a small leather pouch.
"One hundred dinars." she says, laying it on the table. "A reward for being beautiful in my presence."
Jenrick rises from the table to retrieve his weapons and backpack. As the silmarian reequips himself, he addresses the room.
"I will escort Rhiastra to the survivor at the Blue parrot, where she can make her inquiries."
Smiling, Rhiasta stand up slowly. "Thank you Jenrick." she says gathering her staff and other gear.
Trathing stands and snatches up the bag of coins. He tosses it to Hektor.
I will travel with Jenrick and Rhiastra. If the rest of you want to head to the Apothecary, we can reconvene at the Main gate.
"Sounds good. Meet you there."
Hektor heads to the apothecary.
Smiling through her veil again she nodded in appreciation of the money as she said, "Thank you oh Beauteous One." As her hair shifted this time a slight point could be seen to Felitcia's ears though it was hidden again just as quickly. Rising, Felitcia touched her sleeves and her clothing rippled and changed turning back into what seemed to be travel clothing with a very deeply hooded cloak and moving to gather her things.
Rhiastra leads the way to the Blue Parrot to seek the caravan's lone survivor.
The Gate Plaza, smallest of the four major plazas in Raseir, has but three sights worth noticing. The first is the gate which stands to the north and leads out of the city. The second is a merchant's stall where a man in a fez, wearing glasses and a bushy mustache hawks his wares. Finally, there is the Blue Parrot Inn itself.
During the dark days when Ad Avis ruled the city, the Blue Parrot Inn was a wretched hive of misery and scum. Today, it remains a somber place where many go to drink away their troubles. It isn't hard to spot the caravan guard, bandaged as he is. One hand is missing and the other trembles as he draws a drink to his lips.
The Apothecary is run by an woman named Yasamin who covers herself from head to toe in dark robes. Even her face is covered by lace which makes it impossible to tell just what her features might be. The smell of herbs is powerful as one walks in, so intense it might well cause some to swoon.
"Good afternoon, ma'am. I am here to procure some protective tinctures against poison. I have been told you might have some in stock, and also been told you might be interested in the stinger of a giant scorpion."
Hektor flashes his most winning smile at the veiled woman, inhaling the strong smells in her shop.