Emerald Kingdoms (Inactive)

Game Master Kevin O'Rourke 440

The statue looks as her impassively once more... once of the cracks along its neck drawing up towards it's jaw. Behind it comes a clacking sound like a pebble falling on the stone floor.

"I don't think these things will be giving us any trouble." says Impasha. "Come on, let's keep looking."

The paladin moves along to the next room.

Ani follows cautiously.

D14
The west wall of this corridor features three narrow windows overlooking an enormous chamber below. An elaborate rack against the east wall contains several vertical slots stuffed with scroll tubes.

The scroll rack holds three scrolls of summon monster IV, two scrolls of tongues and summon monster III, and a scroll of wall of stone.

From the previous room you hear the occasional clattering sound of the statues slowly crumble onto the ground.

Looking back toward the statues. "Perhaps that change we witnessed in the other room is impacting a larger area. It's almost like those statues aged to the point of falling apart."

"I worry then, about the structural integrity of this place. If we see evidence of the walls likewise collapsing, then we should leave with all possible haste."

"Good point. Let's get this done as quickly as we can. Eluvias, if you want to gather up those scrolls, I'll check the next door."

Impasha then moves to check the next door.

The sweeping ceiling of this spacious gallery allows for a huge display of framed paintings upon the south wall, each of which sports a different monster looking down on the raised platform at the center of the room.The platform supports a simple table covered with an open book and numerous burning candles of various colours and lengths... the paintings unlike the book are not decaying.

Numbered amongst the figures in the paintings are an Ice troll, Manticore, Babau, Girallon, Allosaurus, Chimera, Efreeti and a Frost giant. One of these images-a rearing behirlies broken and torn upon the ground.

Impasha surveys the paintings suspiciously, distaste evident in her frown.

"I suspect these paintings aren't on the wall because someone is interested in monster depictions. Given that they haven't decayed, I'm guessing they are magical. They might perhaps be worth something. If someone were inclined to drag them out of here."

She moves to look at the book, peering down at its dusty yellowed pages. She is careful not to touch it.

Impasha can the pages are covered in what she presumes is Azlanti but even someone who read the language would have issues reading it now and the problem is not improving with each heartbeat.

She does see a drawing of what is clearly the Emerald Spire though the Azlanti ruins on the surface in their full splendour in this depiction.

"The books too.. something is happening."

"Do any of you know any spells that can restore a book that's turning to dust?" asks Impasha. "I bet this text would have many fascinating tales to tell."

"As for rest of this place, the halls of the complex beyond this time trap have survived the ages fine so far, I don't think we're in any immediate danger of the walls giving away about us."

Impasha moves on to check the doorway to her left.

Eluvias shook his head. "Sadly, my arcane knowledge is almost completely destructive in nature." He looked around and then slowly nodded. "Indeed, you appear to be correct. But even if you are not, I doubt that we could flee in time anyways. Let us continue." He finished, impassively. He understood their wonder at the knowledge being revealed, but found it difficult to share in. Even the prospect of being buried alive by crumbling masonry felt mundane. With a slight sigh he continued, resolving to continue his efforts on overcoming that problem.

Ani nods in agreement, "My abilities align with my focus upward she glances at the ceiling above which I'm afraid isn't going to do much good here."

D16
Belled glass jars clutter every available surface in this roomy bedchamber. These jars contain miniaturized creatures pinned by needles to cushions, like a twisted insect collection.

K History: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

”A most strange collection. Not my field of study.” Eluvias said as he regarded the many oddities. ”Perhaps an addition to our museum?”

Impasha looks from one specimen to the other, her brow knit with confusion.

"I don't even know what some of these things are." she admits. "And the others I'd only be guessing at."

The paladin removes her helmet and wipes her brow with the back of her hand, then turns to face her companions.

"I think we've explored everything now. Let's get out of this gruesome place. And if you want to save these... whatever they are, I guess I can help you carry them."

"I might be able to meditate.for insight, but I'm afraid I cannot immediately lend much about the nature of the materials."

"Thank you. They may be valuable. And even if not, they offer further evidence of our continued efforts to safeguard these lands. I believe that the museum does wonders for the townspeople's morale." Eluvias replied to Impasha. Then, to Ani he said "All the more reason to take them."

As you head out of the area and back safely into the more mundane hallways you notice a doorway where once there was none. Behind it is steps that lead downwards.

"I'd like to investigate this new door, but we should get Ani back to town, along with all the things we've collected here. Do any of you have a spell for locking a door, just to keep others out until we can return? I suspect there are likely more nasty Azlanti surprises down there which might endanger hapless travelers."

Eluvias flipped through his Spellbook and then shook his head. ”No. Not that I worry anyways. Anyone who makes it this far can see to themselves and will be able to unlock the door regardless of what we do.” He did, however, make an arcane mark on the door. l”That is for when we return, so we know that this is where to explore next.”

"Eluvias has done better than I could. Ani looks around the enclosed space. It would be good to see some sky."

Impasha returns to the surface, carrying armfuls of specimen jars cradled in her arms. Once there, she puts down the jars, removes her helmet and takes a moment to breathe the fresh air and turns her face to the sun like a tall blonde sunflower. She stands like this for about 10 seconds, her hair fluttering in the breeze, then she brushes her hair back and whistles. Her horse appears moments later, trotting over to her from around beyond the corner of the structure.

"A nice day you've had for lazing about out here." she says to the animal, relief evident in her voice and cheery smile. She cradles an arm under the horse's jaw and hugs it briefly to her own cheek, then moves to remove its saddle and bridle.

"I'll need a few minutes to rub him down and give him some proper fodder." she explains. "Then we can begin heading back to town. Ani, would you like to ride with me? He can easily take us both."

Ani looks around, attempting to both see if she has any idea where she is and look for a good place to do some stargazing after sunset.

Ani's certainly not familiar with this particular location...

Ani is at a loss, "This is quite unsettling. I'm no where near where I was. I'll have to take a closer look at the sky tonight to see what I can learn."

Impasha can sense Ani's bewilderment. "We have maps back in town." she offers gently. "I'm sure we can help you get your bearings."

"That would be helpful. And honestly, I was exploring to see what I could find. Just didn't anticipate finding a different place."

Impasha smiles and gives an encouraging pat on the back. "A true explorer usually ends up finding something they didn't expect. Perhaps you'll decide you like it here. The town and the kingdom are growing and prosperous, and the people are friendly. Queen Amadeen is a good and just ruler."

Ani nods hopefully.

The journey home is peaceful and you do eventually arrive in your own lands. Farmers and travellers give the occasional wave at your passing, even a few bows!

As you enter Thorneholme Ani can see a castle looming towards the back of the settlement. The road you enter through leads between a museum and a town hall. The others know that this road will soon take them towards the military and magical academies though a brooding tower to match it's master Eluvias casts shadows from the east.

Ani looks around, taking it all in. You all seem quite well-known here. Tell me, what has passed to earn the admiration of these folks?

"Well, we did mention that Amadeen was the Queen, didn't we?" answers Impasha, smiling. "But beyond that... I haven't lived here as long as Amadeen and Eluvias, but from the time I've been here I've spoken with a lot of people. And without fail, they are grateful for a haven from the chaos of these lands, and a place that doesn't view them as mere villeins here to serve a lord. They're proud of this place. They talk about the museum and the library with real pride."

She scans about the town thoughtfully.

"Most people just want a place to live where they can be left alone to live their lives. Thorneholme gives them that."

A dwarven figure in full plate comes towards the group. His armour has heraldry of Gorum. Those who have spent time in Thorneholme would recognise the High Priest Brother Eldrast who is a Cleric of Gorum."You're battles in those dungeons have rounded up another stray then I see."

He nods at Ani "I'm Brother Eldrast, a pleasure to meet you. If you're in the company of this lot then you're a welcome addition."

Ani smiles, "Well met. I am Ani. Another stray? There have been others? She turns to the group to ask this question, shifting back towards the cleric as she realizes now may not be the time. I imagine that's another story."

"Well, myself for one." says Impasha with a bit of discomfort. She avoids the gaze of the Gorumite priest. "Some cultists of Norgorber had captured me and were preparing me for some sort of dark end when the queen and her companions rescued me. And recently we rescued a boy who'd been captured by a malevolent forest spirit."

"They've a habbit of bringing interesting people home. I met them long before they'd earned any titles back in Thornkeep. Buildings spring up like weeds around here and this lot sally forth to do battle often enough rescuing children and such."

"The Lost Lands do tend to attract people like us." Eluvias said, matter of factly. "What news, Brother Eldrast? Where does Gorum cast his gaze this season?"

"Well things are looking promising to the west, Pitax and the Barony of Brelev are sizing each other up but no arrows have been loosed yet. Just diplomacy for now. To the east things are quieter but Varnhold has had a few skirmishes with the centaur tribes in the plains... but thats on the other side of Varnhold from us so nothing to get worked up about, Varn's lot are seasoned adventurers and have as much experience as the Queen at running a country." The dwarven man runs his fingers through his beard considering where to mention next and where to leave out for brevities sake.

"Brevoy to the north is always three months away from civil war but it's been that way for over a decade so I doubt it warrants more than a glance but if it does get heated it'll be hard for us not to be drawn in so it's good we've got the military and magical academies."

"I'm a patient man, sooner or later trouble of a greater sort will come our way and I just advocate that we are prepared for when it does. I do have some ideas for low risk ways to test our forces I'd like to discuss with the rest of the leadership at some point but there's plenty of land to be tamed and claimed around us yet."

Eluvias raised an eyebrow at the last remark. "You have my attention." He said, crossing his arms. The dwarf was on to something on testing their forces. It had been nagging Eluvias that it was their band which seemed to perform most of the tasks for the kingdom's safety, because they wouldn't always be around. And there was the possibility of all of them dying at once. If the kingdom was going to stand, then it would have to be able to stand on it's own. The only way that was going to happen is if the defense forces had experience doing so.

"I hope the military academy is helping us prepare officers for our men at arms. We should employ them to patrol the roads and gathering places, like fairs and markets."

She turns back to the others. "We don't have a standing army, do we? I assume our citizens are employed with their livelihoods and are only soldiers in cases of state emergency. Or do we have a permanent guard of some sort to protect the kingdom? Forgive me for asking an obvious question, but I've busied myself with personal matters since coming to the town."

Ani listens in, unfamiliar with such administration tasks of a budding settlement.

"Well not yet but it's be discussed for some time. The Military Academy is a significant step towards this, and the barracks has seen limited use in the over year it's been there. We've got people traveling the road and dealing with bandits but for larger scale things, for real war we haven't put things in place. It can take time to round up, train, equip and deploy anything you could call a real army."

"It's an investment but one you'd rather have sorted before you need it. With the graduates of the military academy I think we can have a well disciplined elite fighting force in no time. The question is when to raise such a force, resources are not infinite after all."

Thinking on the other question he pauses before running his fingers through his beard and shaking his head. "Ah it's no big secret but as I was resident in Thornkeep for some time I'm aware of the finer points of the transition of power, succession they have their. To put it bluntly it's through well established tradition that it's dead man's boots. I myself was considered a Blade by the local parlance, basically a serious contender for taking over but the Baron Tervin is not a complete pushover."

"He's lost his mettle though, with each passing season The Three Daggers faction under Guildmaster Yunar Barask grows. The Baron has gotten too comfortable and cowardly to root out the corruption. If the Queen or one of her trusted allies were to follow tradition and become the new baron those thugs could be driven out of town and the whole place annexed."

Impasha's face darkens. "A thieves guild? In Thorneholm?" she says incredulously. "I see no reason to respect their vile traditions. They should be rooted out like the rats they are."

Eluvias shrugged. ”Could be worthwhile.” He said. ”It would send a message that the laws are to be followed. Could also send daggers in the dark. But our town isn’t big enough for that powerful a guild. I don’t think so, at least.”

Brother Eldrast laughs heartily "No, though I imagine there's a few small time thieves with delusions of grandeur in Thorneholm I'm talking about Thornkeep far to the west. It's a small enough settlement near the Emerald Spire where they first met you as I understand it."

"Far smaller but with a longer and grimier history. Now as a righteous follower of Iomedae would you really run rough shod over an established areas laws- such as they are- to satiate your own sense of justice? Breaking the law of the land? But like I said Thornkeep has a way to change things at the top, to seize control. Politically speaking the situations kind of an autocracy after that. If someone loyal to us became the Baron and accepted becoming annexed or becoming a vassal state we could have a few troops give the underbelly a good scouring"

Eldrast looks off to the west "Then again you'd want to consider how to deal with the other significant factions like the Golden Order of Wizards or the so called tribe of goblins that lives at the fringes of town. Treacherous little blighters but they're willing to do a lot of jobs that others aren't willing to do. As long as their numbers don't get too big they're manageable and a minor asset!"

"Thornkeep? Those are likely the same villains who worship Norgorber and who captured me!" says Impasha, an edge of vengeance in her voice.

She turns to Brother Eldrast and sizes him up, trying to gauge if he is mocking her.

"Your sense of justice no doubt differs from mine, Gorumite." she says cooly. "But laws that serve only to protects thieves and assassins who prey upon the innocent have no claim to justice in my mind."

She looks like she could go on, but she glances about at the others and seems to decide she's said enough for now.

"But I am no vigilante. I serve the queen and will go where she tells me." she says, finishing stiffly.

“So do you all anticipate taking a look after these thieves?”

Eluvias shrugged. "If the Queen wills it. Expanding our territory is a worthwhile endeavor, even if we wouuld be inheriting the mess left behind by others."