NPC - Arrington Fizzlebrow's page

Arrington takes the sealed letter from Marcusic and thanks the skald. "I shall bear this message personally to the Hazard upon my return from the Great Southern Gate," he says nodding formally to Marcusic. "Murrubelle," he continues calling the dwarf back. "Please request a ride from Grimclaw for our guests. Let him know that I will personally thank him for the task upon my return."

Turning back to the group, Arrington explains that their ride will meet them on the entrance to the bridge. He excuses himself and departs, flying quickly to the south. The group leaves their horses with another of the initiatives and makes their way back to the bridge. After a few minutes, a loud screech announces the presence of a flying creature above you. Looking into the black night, nothing can be seen or heard again until a rush of wind and feathers descends upon you in a flurry. Landing on the bridge in front of you, three large griffons stand regally. They glare at you as if expecting something.

Arrington turns to Denenor, ”You asked where the shadow has passed over the world. I’m sorry to say that the Deathbringer’s shadow has consumed the entire world as we know it. We float aimlessly in the void now. The sun and the moons are gone. The bleak and cold vastness of the void will one day overtake all of us if we cannot find away to save our world.”

Arrington forces a smile at Thomas, “The Chosen are doing what we can to support the Hazard, but there are only three of us remaining. Four, if... no, when Gunther returns. Several neophytes have also survived survived. Perhaps, we can use them as messengers to the entrances to the Vale.”

Just then, the matronly looking dwarf runs back into the main audience chamber and informs Arrington that she has found a small crate full of the oils. ”Very good! I’ll take it to Katadante and see about setting up some communication regularly with him. How do you plan to get to the Temples? I might be able to provide some assistance if you would like a ride? Although your horses would need to remain here in that event.”

"Um... er..." stumbling over his tongue, Arrington looks a little overwhelmed by Thomas' line of questions. "Well, the Hazard has secured the vortex that has opened to the ethereal plane. He is keeping it bound in place by a convergence of every power he has. He continually slips into a more catatonic state while his power is dwindling. He can sustain that for some time, but what it will do to him is anyone's guess," he continues looking quite concerned for his master.

"As for the other Hazards, none have arrived as of yet. Bærwynnd sent a group of survivors after the Hazard of Pyrae. He is the Necromancer and will certain be of great help. Just yesterday, I received word from a trusted companion of mine that they were spotted along the King's Road not far from Pyrae. I would think that they should have arrived there by now... if they are alive still." Little did the gnome know that the group he referred to had arrived in the great city and at this very moment were deep beneath the Tower of Necromancy in search of an ancient relic at Sivantanpisil's request.

"We know that many dwarves of Eastgate have survived as I have visited it once. And the gnome caretakers of Kaladrym are largely intact, albeit quite frightened. I have yet to visit the Great Southern Gate. In fact, I was headed there now before I saw you approach our door. We have found few survivors, maybe less than two hundred. They have taken refuge, here, in our tower.... and yes, yes. More communication with Eastgate is warranted, but we have had our handful with the thousands of undead that have besieged the Bright Tower since the Shaping. However, they all seemed to have left... or retreated. It was not long after I sensed the evil thoughts within the Vale that the undead seemed to be better organized, as if controlled by an outside consciousness."

The Temple district is at 12 o'clock on the map. The tower is in the center, but the bridge drops you in The Points which is about 3 o'clock. If you take the bridge, you'd have to traverse The Estates, The Peaks, Scholar's Cape, a farmland section, North Bay and the then you'd make the Temples. Alternatively, you could try to traverse the lake bed due north to Dasyra's Landing, which leads directly to the Temples. Or any other options you can come up with.

"The world has been thrown into chaos by the intervening hand of Kiravor. Much has been destroyed and lost to the Void, yet there is still hope. We are trying to summon the Hazards for a Gathering. Perhaps together, they can save us all!" Arrington says hopefully.

"Gunther was quite well when I last saw him. Determined to check the Temples... he asked for the assignment. He believed a friend may have been there... a priest, I believe... oh dear, I wonder if he was looking for you?"

"From the Hazard of Haemil... and Katadante... oh, and looking for Gunther... oh, my. That's a lot of questions that need answering, I suppose," the voice stutters although it is much closer this time and from behind you. Turning about, the travelers see a venerable gnome looking down at them from above. Floating precariously above them in mid-air, the gnome points to the tower and flies forward.

"It's best we speak in doors. There is no telling when more of those zombies and such willl come running out of the shadows.". He drops down between the horses and points a small staff at the doors. With quick utterance in draconic, the lock opens with an audible click. Swinging outward, the doors open and the gnome leads you inside.

The entrance to the Tower is a short hallway that ends at a set of beautifully carved, wooden doors. Side passages lead in either direction. Arrington points to the hallway to the right. "This leads to the stables and servants quarters. Please leave you horses here," he says patting an iron handrail.

Opening the double doors, he steps into an exquisite audience chamber. The black onyx floor and walls are sparkling with wisps of silver light that illuminate the entire room. Over one hundred feet in diameter, the round room echoes with your footsteps. Half way around either side of the room two spiral staircases ascend upon either outer walls, meeting at a balcony thirty-foot above you. Toppled chairs are all about the room and in the center a grand, round table stands. A dwarf and a human dressed in robes are straightening up the stairs and cleaning up other small debris about the room.

"I am Arrington, 1st Apprentice of the Proven. I serve Bærwynnd as his Pro-Hazard of Talanor. The Hazard is indisposed at the present, but I can accept his message in his stead," he says nodding to Marcusic. "As for the Oil of Vra'lithe... I'll see what we have in stock but our supplies have run low as well.... but what ever he have, the Protector of Eastgate may very well need more than us... so, it shall be his."

The gnome calls out, "Murrubelle, please come here." The dwarf looks up and scrambles across the room to Arrington. "Please see to their horses and then check our supplies of alchemist's fire and the Oil of Vra'lithe. It seems Eastgate needs a delivery service."

As the female dwarf gathers up the horses, Arrington turns to Thomas. His mood changes and a concerned look falls upon his face. "Gunther isn't here. I haven't seen him for several days, since the master sent us out to see who among the Vale's inhabitants had survived the Shaping. Gunther went to the north, towards the Temple district. He was to search for any clergymen that may be able to help with this infernal undead swarm that has been loosened upon the city."

After Garidan has completed his sketch of the map, Arrington retrieves the crystal and places it safely back in his pocket. "Unless there is anything else, I think it's best that I show you the way to the Underbridge."

I'll move us along. We can retcon if there are other actions or dialogue you want with Alaquendai.

Arrington leads the group back through the library and into the underbelly of the Tower once again. Before the final staircase to the forges, he turns eastward and approaches a large portcullis. With a wave of his hand, the lever on the walls moves into the up position and the iron gate slowly ascends into the ceiling.

"Take caution, my friends. Much of the world has changed as you, no doubt, have surmised. The mindless dead won't be able to penetrate this Tower, but I fear more evil will arrive soon enough. We'll look for your return, along with Sivantanpisil."

"Yes, yes... of course," remarks the gnome. "Here is my map. I've been working on it for years, but it isn't quite finished." Arrington pulls a large crystal from a pocket and places it on the floor. He takes a step back and produces a wand with a flick of his wrist. Muttering a few words, a light begins to glow in the crystal and a miniature, translucent image of the city expands out on the floor around you.

"This is the east bridge," he says pointing at one of the five bridges leading out of the tower in the center of the map. "You'll be leaving by the Underbridge... that is, well, under that bridge. It will drop you off here... under the watch tower," Arrington continues as he points to a small tower that sits upon the bridge just as it connects to the lake shore. The gregarious old gnome then lays out several potential stops that might be of interest to you along the route from the watch tower to the East Gate, being mindful to describe in detail the relative value and quality of the merchants and their wares. His descriptions include a weaponsmith, an armorer, several clothing shops, a general store, a furrier, a slaver, three kitchens and an alchemist.

His eyes turned to the apprentice. "How did you come to know the hazard? It seems like this type of problem is common; you have a plan and are not upset by this death god or the horde of undead."

"I was brought to the Tower by Alaquendai, himself, many years ago to study under his tutelage. I have seen him handle many problems brought upon us by the world, but an event such as this??? Never. Am I afraid? Certainly, but I have faith in my master and know that if I am to perish, then I would rather be here... by his side... holding on to hope that we may yet live and see the world made whole."

"Do you have maps of the region we can take with us? It's possible we might need to seek another route."

Arrington gives you a hand-drawn map of the world as it has been reshaped from the rift and ensuing calamity. He points out that Pyrae is now located on the arm extending east just north of the mountains as the arm extends from the center section of the world.

"If you don't take the East Pass... assumming that it even comes out of the mountain range on the far side... you would have to climb and traverse the mountains themselves! By the look of it, if the East Pass isn't caved in, you should exit very close to Pyrae."

You can reference the image that I posted in the recruitment thread. I'll try to update it and put it in the header tonight."

As the group arrives back in the Grand Chamber, Arrington is speaking with Alaquendai. When he hears them approaching, he turns and walks toward them with his hands raised above his head.

"I found him! Sivantanpisil is indeed in Pyrae. Not in his tower, however. He seems to be in the forest nearyby. If you take the east gate through the mountain pass, Pyrae... or what's left of Pyrae, appears to be about a five or six days journey by foot."

Talanor rises up out of a lake in the center of a valley where several mountain ranges converge. There are six different mountain passes leaving the valley. The 'East Gate' was constructed by the dwarves of Arc Heil and exits the valley from the valley in the southeast corner and travels under the mountains..

"Come, follow me," the gnome shouts as he scuffles off to the south and the spiral staircase that leads downward. The beautiful, hand carved stairs are lit by Ioun torches every quarter turn. As you head down the stairs, you can't help but look over the inner rail to the seemingly endless descent.

After bypassing several floors, Arrington leads you through an archway and into a vast library. The bookcases have been toppled and papers are scattered about. Clearly, the whirlwind you encountered earlier has affected the Tower. "We will cut through to the private stairs," your guide states as he shakes his head looking at all the destruction. "This will take me years to straighten up..."

Heading down the interior stairwell, Arrington stops you on the next level. "Down that hallway is the residents' kitchen... and the storeroom beyond that. You should find plenty of supplies there... if weren't destroyed." He continues to lead you down the stairs.

After more flights than you care to count, the stairs change. Gone is the white marble, only to be replaced by common stone. Several small chambers can be seen leading off this main room. A large exit to the north is blocked by a portcullis. "This is the stables... but the horses seem to be gone... ummm..." In the center of the room, a long, straight staircase leads down worn, stone stairs. Arrington points to the staircase. "Down there, you will find the forges. It is unlikely they are lit, but you can take a torch." He motions to an unlit torch mounted on the wall that immediately bursts into flame.

"After you are finished here and gathered some supplies, meet me back in the Grand Chamber. I will see if I can locate the whereabouts of Sivantanpisil!" After a few short steps, Arrington turns back to the group, "You can find the way back, can't you?" Without waiting for an answer, he bustles up the stairs.

"Yes, Alaquendai. At once!"

Any other questions or comments before I move us along?

"And should he send his priests here, with this horde of undead... The portal to Midian may be taken." The gnome looks to the southwestern corner of the room.

" Um... sir, there appears to be an undead army outside... well, not an army. I didn't see anyone commanding it. I guess horde may be more accurate description."

"Wait!" the gnome shouts at the impetuous boy. "You cannot blame the Hazard! Archeabus must have laid in wait for him... the Bringer of Death has done this... he has destroyed the world... and besides..."

"No, no, no... It is not the Hazard's fault," a spirited gnome responds as he runs into the chamber carrying a wide variety of books, tomes, manuscripts and several scrolls. As he reaches Alaquendai, he drops the libraby at the Hazard's feet, then points at Malthazir. "The elf knows! To create magic, one must tap the ether. You find the reality that contains the essence of that thing you wish to create and draw it forth. Am I right?" he once again looks to Malthazir.

Without waiting for an answer, he continues, "We diviners ride the harmonic wave within the ethereal realm and see all possible realities. We look. We learn. We foresee. But when Alaquendai looked upon the strands of reality, he found Archeabus there. The vile god is the cause of this calamity. He tried to escape Midian by travelling through the ethereal realm... and back to the physical realm by way of Alaquendai's opening!"

Here is Rgulbux, a pahmet dwarven ranger (corpse hunter/divine tracker). He has been sent to Wati by his spiritual leaders to join a group of explorers as a watchdog and destroyer of undead. The pahmet dwarves are keeping a watchful eye on Sothis and the young Pharoah and regard the opening of the deserts to be a bold, yet very dangerous move. Rgulbux is to report on the situation, protect the innocent, and destroy the accursed.