Prologue
Rodi swallowed hard as he gazed upon the cavern entrance. His people needed him to succeed and so he would, he hadn’t traveled this far or fought this hard to give up right on the doorstep of his people’s salvation With a torch in one hand and his bastard sword in the other the leather clad barbarian started forward into the darkness. He picked his way through a winding tunnel for the better part of an hour, fighting to control his anxiety step by step until he stood in a vast chamber which was bisected by a seemingly bottomless trench.
“Who are you?” A sleepy voice asked from somewhere in the dark, its sonorous tone echoing weirdly throughout the chamber.
Rodi nearly jumped out of his skin and spun in a circle, raising his torch to inspect every stalagmite and stalactite as quickly as possible to find the source of the voice. His manic search came up empty so he slowed his spin, trying not to appear frightened.
“Rodi Dagen, Brave of the Storm Crows Clan.” He announced, succeeding in keeping his voice strong and his tone level. When no acknowledgement was immediately forthcoming he asked a question of his own. “Who am I speaking to? Are you the one the Shifters call the Knowing Man?”
“Perhaps.” The voice mused. “I have been dreaming for a long time and I’m not entirely clear about what’s going on in the world outside. Tell me; what year is it?”
“The Year of the Seventh Star, fourth cycle.” Rodi answered hesitantly.
“Which would make it what? Year thirteen hundred and thirty-three on the Galifar Calendar or there about.” The voice was sounding more wakeful and cogent. “Interesting… our rebirth is nearly at hand. Why did I let time slip away from me so?”
“I…what?” Rodi responded, trying to process the mysterious voice’s words.
“I was there you know.” The voice continued. “I saw it all. The Last War they called it, the conflict to end all conflicts, what a joke! Compared to what followed it was the gentle breeze before the hurricane.”
Completely confused about what the voice was referring to and almost intoxicated with fear over this sinister, perhaps mad voice’s rambling Rodi decided to present his case in as clear a way as he could manage and then, if the situation called for it, flee.
“Powerful one!” He shouted, getting down on both knees and bowing to the darkness. “The Daelkyr armies are marching into the lands of my people, we are helpless against them but an ancient legend tells of a powerful Scourge that is buried in this cavern that may-“
“Be silent.” The voice commanded in an offhanded manner, shutting Rodi up instantly. “Perhaps my fellow ‘Scourge’ and I would be interested in helping you, but it will take us some time to awaken. In the mean time it behooves me to tell you our tale so that at least one mortal in this world knows the full truth of why the darkness is now so all consuming. History must not be forgotten you know. Sit a while and relax your shivering body, for this is a bit of a long story. It all began in the year nine hundred and ninety eight....”
998 YK
Sharn, The City of Towers
Midas the Greedlord glares at you from across his vast, hedonistically indulgent belly. He drums his pudgy fingers with their oh-so-many jewel encrusted rings in irritation on his luxuriously appointed desk.
“What about this is so hard to understand?” He demands. “You find the item for me, I pay you. What are you, stupid?”
“Um… sir… If I may…” Begins Midas’ horsefaced butler, who stands to your left. “You haven’t actually told them about the job yet, just now you were complaining about your nine wives and their propensity for-”
“Bah!” Midas declares, waving a dismissive hand. “They knew I was just kidding. As I was saying the item I wish you find is an ancient artifact, lost somewhere within the Mournland. It’s called the Egg of Miracles. A pearl the size of a child’s fist with the magic power to grant anyone with a pure heart their fondest desires!” Midas claps his hands with an almost child-like glee at the delicious thought of having access to his fondest desires, whatever those might be.
The butler simply rolls his eyes. Even the twelve plate armored ogre bodyguards Midas has surrounding you at equidistant points around the room look bemused.
“As my agent offered when he first… ‘approached’ you: Five thousand gold for each of you upon successfully completing this task, what do you say?” Midas asks, looking to you expectantly. His expression darkens a bit and he adds before you can answer. “Remember now I am not the kind of man who takes no for an answer…”
"The corpse of Cyre?" Liriel asked. "That's a big chunk of real estate, dead, poisoned, real estate. Outside of legend and myth, and the occaisional mutterings of a raving lunatic or three, do you have anything to narrow down the area we would be searching?"
"The corpse of Cyre?" Liriel asked. "That's a big chunk of real estate, dead, poisoned, real estate. Outside of legend and myth, and the occaisional mutterings of a raving lunatic or three, do you have anything to narrow down the area we would be searching?"
Midas looks pleased by your response, perhaps taking it as a sideways agreement to his offer.
"Yes, yes of course. You see the Miracle Egg was a strange and wondrous artifact discovered in the ruins of Xen'Drik by an adventuring band from Cyre. When it's strange powers were revealed the government tried to use it to end the battles plaguing Cyre and it was lost in the final cataclysm that consumed that poor place. According to my sources it was on its way to the battlefield now known as the Field of Ruins to end the conflict there, so I would begin my search there if I was you..."
Lyre restrains a snarl at the mans offer the still aching bruise on the back of her head being a reminder of how he doesn't take no for an answer.
Deciding that for now at least it would be better to play along than risk everything by attempting to disembowel the man especially with so many unknowns in the room besides if she wanted to get it she needed all the help she could get.
"Sounds good to me" Lyre finally replies "Is there anyone else likely to be looking for this thing?" Any left over guards or wards protecting it?."
"Sounds good to me" Lyre finally replies "Is there anyone else likely to be looking for this thing?" Any left over guards or wards protecting it?."
"As to the location and condition of the artifact's resting place, I cannot speak." Midas says, then his expression darkens. "However the informant who sold me the knowledge of the artifact's existence had loose lips and while he will now never speak again other agencies in Sharn may have knowledge of it, including that insufferable Merrix D'Cannith." Midas snorts. "I just can't stand grasping, greedy fools like him who have no respect for other people's autonomy, can you?" Midas asks dramatically, with apparently no sense of irony.
"Cant stand them either" Lyre responds
"Cant stand them either" Lyre responds
"I know, right?" Midas declares. "Now is there anything else you need to know before you can do my bidding?"
"Nothing comes to mind at the moment" Lyre responds
"Nothing comes to mind at the moment" Lyre responds
"Mmmmm." Midas replys, leaning back on his throne-like lounge chair and steepling his fingers. "And from the rest of you? Any questions? You seem a rather taciturn crowd..."
"Nothing comes to mind at the moment" Lyre responds"Mmmmm." Midas replys, leaning back on his throne-like lounge chair and steepling his fingers. "And from the rest of you? Any questions? You seem a rather taciturn crowd..."
Elvom slowly and obviously takes measure of the room in a way that seems to ignore all of the current occupants. He speaks only under his breath and his fingers seem to enumerate things.
Conventional and unconventional exits; doors, windows, and any holes in the ceiling or floor.
The number of large objects that might become obstacles if pushed/kicked over.
The number of small objects that might become improvised projectiles.
Finally, as if seeing them for the first time, he takes stock of the living occupants of the room.
First the "recruits".
Then the ogre guards...
the butler...
and finally the gentleman who made the job offer.
He points a single finger at the base of Midas' chair and begins counting the number of strides directly between that chair and himself. His voice rises to bare audibility as his finger meters the distance...
Elvom then puts on his nicest, most innocent, I-didn't-just-case-your-room-for-a-dirty-street-fight smile and looks Midas directly in the eyes.
"Salutations and most esteemed greetings, Your Corpulance," says Elvom, before giving a gracious bow. "Before we shall endeavor a journey to retrieve your magnificent prize, it occurs to your humble servant," Elvom pauses to give another gracious bow, "that the circumstances surrounding our imminent success should be made significantly more favorable if your greatness would offer small pearls of wisdom regarding three small queries. Might I ask them of thee now?"
Elvom slowly and obviously takes measure of the room in a way that seems to ignore all of the current occupants. He speaks only under his breath and his fingers seem to enumerate things.
Conventional and unconventional exits; doors, windows, and any holes in the ceiling or floor.
The number of large objects that might become obstacles if pushed/kicked over.
The number of small objects that might become improvised projectiles.
Finally, as if seeing them for the first time, he takes stock of the living occupants of the room.
First the "recruits".
Then the ogre guards...
the butler...
and finally the gentleman who made the job offer.
He points a single finger at the base of Midas' chair and begins counting the number of strides directly between that chair and himself. His voice rises to bare audibility as his finger meters the distance...
The room is windowless, the only obvious exits are a pair of heavy wooden doors behind you from which you entered and a hallway behind Midas partway covered by a dark drape.
There is a bookshelf to your left with a number of large, thick tomes and a pair of golden bookends shaped like angels on it.
Midas' over sized desk has a silver letter opener, a box of cigars and a snowglobe holding down a stack of papers on it.
The Ogre bodyguards look like average representatives of their grotesque species but are armored in plate and lean on great axes.
The butler is well dressed and stands at attention with his hands folded and his shoulders slumped in a typical servile posture. Yet despite his advanced age and whip cord thin frame something about the way he moves clues you in that he is more than a simple house servant. The butler shows no obvious weapons but has a large number of pockets which contain lumpy objects.
Midas himself wears many necklaces made from valuable metals and gems. A tent-like silk suit covered in sweat stains and food blotches attempts to rein in his massive frame but largely fails. He appears unarmed.
You are ten feet away from Midas.
Elvom then puts on his nicest, most innocent, I-didn't-just-case-your-room-for-a-dirty-street-fight smile and looks Midas directly in the eyes.
"Salutations and most esteemed greetings, Your Corpulance," says Elvom, before giving a gracious bow. "Before we shall endeavor a journey to retrieve your magnificent prize, it occurs to your humble servant," Elvom pauses to give another gracious bow, "that the circumstances surrounding our imminent success should be made significantly more favorable if your greatness would offer small pearls of wisdom regarding three small queries. Might I ask them of thee now?"
Midas smiles widely, looking satisfied. "Indubitably my fine fellow. Ask away."
Midas smiles widely, looking satisfied. "Indubitably my fine fellow. Ask away."
"Very good sir." Elvom pauses for a moment to consider the best phrasing for his first question.
"A journey so long and dangerous will require many preparations and purchases. An advance of 750 gold each should be all that is required."
Elvom notices Midas' eyes narrow at the thought of a money advance, and quickly adds,
"We could make it work on 500 gold, if we took fewer provisions and traveled more slowly. It would only add another six to nine months at the most."
Elvom notices Midas' eyes widen at the thought of an extra year without his prize, and finally adds,
"However, you do not strike me as the kind of man who likes to wait. 750 gold then, sir?"
"However, you do not strike me as the kind of man who likes to wait. 750 gold then, sir?"
After a moment of consideration Midas nods agreeably. "A small advance seems perfectly reasonably, it will be a long and involved trip after all. I'll have my butler fetch it for you before you leave. What is your next question?"
"I'd like to look over the accumulated lore and research that you've collected on the item if any. A professional arcanist might spot something that others would miss."
After a moment of consideration Midas nods agreeably. "A small advance seems perfectly reasonably, it will be a long and involved trip after all. I'll have my butler fetch it for you before you leave. What is your next question?"
"My second question is about a scenario. Should we find that your magnificent prize is already in the possession of another, how much should we tell them that you are willing to pay for it?"
"I'd like to look over the accumulated lore and research that you've collected on the item if any. A professional arcanist might spot something that others would miss."
"Unfortunately the only real research done on the artifact was taken into the hands of Cyre's government before the fall and is now lost. All I have is rumors, but if those rumors prove true...It is a chance at power I cannot pass up." Midas informs you with a greedy gleam in his eyes.
"My second question is about a scenario. Should we find that your magnificent prize is already in the possession of another, how much should we tell them that you are willing to pay for it?"
"I recommend you slay that individual! I doubt there will be negotiations, I cannot foresee any sane being giving up such a prize for mere gold." Midas narrows his eyes. "Except for you all of course..."
"I recommend you slay that individual! I doubt there will be negotiations, I cannot foresee any sane being giving up such a prize for mere gold." Midas narrows his eyes. "Except for you all of course..."
"My second question is about a scenario. Should we find that your magnificent prize is already in the possession of another, how much should we tell them that you are willing to pay for it?"
"Yes of course" Lyre agrees
Knowledge (Arcana) +13:
Knowledge arcana
"I recommend you slay that individual! I doubt there will be negotiations, I cannot foresee any sane being giving up such a prize for mere gold." Midas narrows his eyes. "Except for you all of course..."
"I am neither thief nor murderer. Should another be possessed of your prize, I would provide you with a name and a location. You would, of course, not be obligated to pay me beyond your initial investment."
"I am neither thief nor murderer. Should another be possessed of your prize, I would provide you with a name and a location. You would, of course, not be obligated to pay me beyond your initial investment."
Midas chews his tongue in agitation at your response. “I assure you anything you meet in the Mournland isn’t likely to be nice or particularly worthy of life. Besides, I’m commanding you to fetch me the Egg by any means necessary. If that’s a problem I can have my Ogres escort you off a cliff face into the Hilt.”
Midas chews his tongue in agitation at your response. “I assure you anything you meet in the Mournland isn’t likely to be nice or particularly worthy of life. Besides, I’m commanding you to fetch me the Egg by any means necessary. If that’s a problem I can have my Ogres escort you off a cliff face into the Hilt.”
"Not all of us are wise enough to judge the worth of life. My apologies; as you command." Elvom gives another graceful bow.
"My final question concerns any other wealth discovered during the expedition. Are we free to keep it?"
"Not all of us are wise enough to judge the worth of life. My apologies; as you command." Elvom gives another graceful bow.
"My final question concerns any other wealth discovered during the expedition. Are we free to keep it?"
Midas waves a dismissive hand. "Yes, yes, all I am interested in is the Egg, anything else you discover on your journey is yours to keep."
Midas waves a dismissive hand. "Yes, yes, all I am interested in is the Egg, anything else you discover on your journey is yours to keep."
Elvom turns to the other "recruits".
"Greetings." Elvom gives them a graceful bow.
"I am Elvombor Isebring. Perhaps I assume too much, but I believe that I speak for everyone in the room..."
"...the sooner we obtain this mysterious egg and give it to Lord Midas, the better everyone will feel. Correct?"
Midas waves a dismissive hand. "Yes, yes, all I am interested in is the Egg, anything else you discover on your journey is yours to keep."Elvom turns to the other "recruits".
"Greetings." Elvom gives them a graceful bow.
"I am Elvombor Isebring. Perhaps I assume too much, but I believe that I speak for everyone in the room..."
"...the sooner we obtain this mysterious egg and give it to Lord Midas, the better everyone will feel. Correct?"
Liriel rolls her eyes and barely restrains herself from the sarcastic response that should follow. "Perhaps we should remove ourselves elsewhere and start planning the details of our trip? Perhaps we can go by lightning rail to a stop close to a chosen point of entry and secure mounts there?"
"Yes sooner we start the better"
"Perhaps we should remove ourselves elsewhere and start planning the details of our trip? Perhaps we can go by lightning rail to a stop close to a chosen point of entry and secure mounts there?"
"Indeed."
Elvom turns to Midas.
"By your leave, sir..."
Elvom gives Midas another graceful bow.
Elvom turns to Midas.
"By your leave, sir..."
Elvom gives Midas another graceful bow.
“Be on your way then.” Midas acknowledges with a grin. “I need to start planning out which of my fondest desires I want granted first!”
With a long suffering sigh the butler leads you back out through the double doors and through the serpentine passageways leading to the streets. “Good luck.” He says sardonically before slamming the door on you.
Sharn: Skyscrapers, scammers and scents, there is nothing quite like it. You find yourself in a dirty back ally in an uncomfortably shady neighborhood. Oh well all great adventures have to start somewhere right? At least the smell of refuse is slightly better than Midas’ body odor.
Sharn: Skyscrapers, scammers and scents, there is nothing quite like it. You find yourself in a dirty back ally in an uncomfortably shady neighborhood. Oh well all great adventures have to start somewhere right? At least the smell of refuse is slightly better than Midas’ body odor.
"Let's find our way out of this dreadful neighborhood and toward a map." Elvom turns to Liriel to ask, "Are you familiar with the places of this city?" It seems that he is not.
Sharn: Skyscrapers, scammers and scents, there is nothing quite like it. You find yourself in a dirty back ally in an uncomfortably shady neighborhood. Oh well all great adventures have to start somewhere right? At least the smell of refuse is slightly better than Midas’ body odor.
"Let's find our way out of this dreadful neighborhood and toward a map." Elvom turns to Liriel to ask, "Are you familiar with the places of this city?" It seems that he is not.
"I've spent some time here. But now that we have some funds it hardly matters. Once you know where you want to go, then it's just a matter of a bit of coin to hire a skycoach to take you there." She holds out a few coins from her advance and clinks them together. "And now that we've got some coin, I suggest our first stop to be the library at Margrave University, where we can do some tracing of a map of the Field of Ruins. Then settle any affairs, secure lodgings for the night and get ready to secure rail passage in the morning. The maps there should give us a clue which rail station we should purchase tickets for."
"Very well" Lyre responds to the suggestion "Tell me though what do yo two intend to do with the egg when we retrieve it?"
"And now that we've got some coin, I suggest our first stop to be the library at Margrave University, where we can do some tracing of a map of the Field of Ruins. Then settle any affairs, secure lodgings for the night and get ready to secure rail passage in the morning. The maps there should give us a clue which rail station we should purchase tickets for."
"The library; excellent." Elvom ponders what other knowledge might be available in the stacks.
"Very well" Lyre responds to the suggestion "Tell me though what do yo two intend to do with the egg when we retrieve it?"
Elvom looks at Lyre with an expression of confusion.
"We will deliver it to Midas?" Elvom ponders Lyre's question and expounds, "Midas no more deserves that egg than a spoiled child deserves a fruit treat. And if I were to gamble on it, Midas' fondest desire is to eat an entire hog roast served by a beautiful prostitute with two large ..." Elvom glances from Lyre to Liriel and back to Lyre, and then reconsiders his choice of words for a moment. "... bags of gold."
Elvom continues with a hint of regret in his voice, "It is my experience that those who endeavor to use things they do not understand meet with unfortunate consequences."
"For my part, I will deliver the egg to Midas, as I am being paid to do. It will be up to the gods to decide if Midas is wise enough to possess a thing as terrible as an egg that can grant a wish."
"Very well" Lyre responds to the suggestion "Tell me though what do yo two intend to do with the egg when we retrieve it?"
"We've already accepted his money. As I see it we have two choices, barring unforseen developments. We either fulfill our contract or we flee to distant reaches of Khorvaire, never to show our faces in Sharn or any of the other places where he'd send bounty hunters after our worthless hides.
Whether he deserves the Egg or not is irrelevant. By taking his money we've already signed up for the job. And who knows what we might pick up along the way?"
"We've already accepted his money. As I see it we have two choices, barring unforseen developments. We either fulfill our contract or we flee to distant reaches of Khorvaire, never to show our faces in Sharn or any of the other places where he'd send bounty hunters after our worthless hides.Whether he deserves the Egg or not is irrelevant. By taking his money we've already signed up for the job. And who knows what we might pick up along the way?"
"A deal made under threat is hardly a deal at all." Lyre decides to be honest with the two. "Frankly the only reason I am going along with this is because I need use of the egg myself."
"A deal made under threat is hardly a deal at all." Lyre decides to be honest with the two. "Frankly the only reason I am going along with this is because I need use of the egg myself."
Elvom shakes his head in disbelief.
"If you are willing to pay its terrible price, I see no reason to deny you the egg."
"I desire only your solemn promise that you will surrender the egg to me after you have concluded your business with it, or if you should perish." Elvom glances at Liriel. "We shall deliver it to Midas after that time."
"Very well." Lyre responds to Elvorn's offer.
"Very well." Lyre responds to Elvom's offer.
"Does anyone know that Merrix D'Cannith that Midas mentioned?" Elvom asks.
"It was perhaps an oversight not to inquire further with Midas about this person." Elvom ponders for a moment. "On the other hand, given Midas' emotional instability, we may yet obtain more information by our own investigation."
"Very well." Lyre responds to Elvom's offer."Does anyone know that Merrix D'Cannith that Midas mentioned?" Elvom asks.
"It was perhaps an oversight not to inquire further with Midas about this person." Elvom ponders for a moment. "On the other hand, given Midas' emotional instability, we may yet obtain more information by our own investigation."
"Never heard of him before but then I'm not from around here."
"Does anyone know that Merrix D'Cannith that Midas mentioned?" Elvom asks.
Knowledge (Local):
"Merrix ... Merrix ... Wait, is that the halfing who consumed 50 sausages before any other contestant at the last festival?"
"Does anyone know that Merrix D'Cannith that Midas mentioned?" Elvom asks.
Know of him? If it wasn't for his family, we wouldn't be graced with the company of Smiley here." Liriel pipes in, pointing to Harbinger. Word is he's one of the top figures of the family, perhaps aiming to be the top figure. It's said that he has a shop here in Sharn, but considering that he might up to the rather illegal buisness of making more warforged, it's probably not wise to inquire too closely about his activities. But ooh that would be something to see."
Know of him? If it wasn't for his family, we wouldn't be graced with the company of Smiley here." Liriel pipes in, pointing to Harbinger. "Word is he's one of the top figures of the family, perhaps aiming to be the top figure. It's said that he has a shop here in Sharn, but considering that he might up to the rather illegal buisness of making more warforged, it's probably not wise to inquire too closely about his activities. But ooh that would be something to see."
"I see. I agree with your sentiments. We are best served to keep a low profile; our skies already contain the cloud of one crime-lord."
"Is that the library building over there?"