In the Broken Arch district, in the Middle Dura section of Sharn, lies a large dark brick three-story home labeled, “Our Lady of the Garden,” with the following verse etched on a wooden slate nailed next to the front door:
“And the desert will become a garden
Green and deep and quiet and full of Light,
Offering rest to those who lost their way
And refuge those who wander in the dust.”
The building, an ancient place perhaps once majestic, now lies cracked and worn from time, with moss hanging on the side where the ocean breeze blows. There remain only two windows not boarded up ; bars on the outside of these front windows slightly obscure the stained glass that depicts a female kalashtar sitting in a lotus position with a prominent white flower on her chest.
Inside the smell of children and old, rotting wood assaults the nose, but an air of calm and serenity lingers like old furniture. Everything is worn and old; nothing presents newness or riches. Although kempt, the corners hold old rat holes and grime that is hard to reach.
In the kitchen on the first floor, an old dwarf named Krovok cooks for twenty some odd children; his skin is cracked and worn like the bricks of the building. A great smell fills the air when he cooks, but when the kitchen is empty some deeply embedded sourness drifts from the walls and floors. The cook lives in a small addition near the kitchen.
Also on the first floor is a Path of Light shrine. On a dais in the middle of the room sits a large white stone, shaped roughly like a triangle. Surrounding the room is a copious amount of plant life, some living, some wilted, sitting on makeshift shelves. The floorboards look worn from years of faithful Lightspeakers sitting up on their knees for hours on end, hoping to distract themselves from the pain by concentrating on the Light.
The second floor holds training and schooling rooms and the room of the proprietor of this orphanage. Mevitari’s room reflects his personality: simple, sad, serene, severe, devoutly scattered with symbols and holy books. He lies on a simple cot in the corner, a cot no different than those his Little Ones sleep in. His bedding is always neat; his few possessions locked in a chest. No orphan has ever attempted to sneak in this room or open this chest, probably accounted for by fear of Mevitari or what he might secretly harbor inside.
The third floor holds the children’s rooms. There are five rooms total, each divided by age. The children are allowed some personal affects inside a chest at the foot of their bed, but all must remain organized and neat. The children live a mostly difficult life: poor and sternly disciplined. For them, Mevitari is more than just their guardian, but an almost divine figure not to be crossed. Yet the children are given some freedoms. At twelve, they are welcome to move their free time to the streets as long as they return by curfew. Once, a boy named Habintos was five minutes late to curfew. He was required to carry a rather heavy backpack of rocks wherever he went for the next month. Instead, after one week of trying, he ran away.
Mevitari rarely smiles, but when he does it brightens a room. He seems to be weighted down by something. Although severe, he is also loving. He cares deeply about his children, which he calls his Little Ones even after they have grown up. Children who are old enough remember when he used to be more lighthearted. However, several years ago, there was a halfling child named Lazam; while Mevitari loves all his children, he had a particular affinity with this child – something deep within their souls connected them. When this child grew up, he joined the Brelish ranks and died five years ago in the Last War. Mevitari has not been the same. Whereas he once knew forgiveness, his punishments have grown severe. Whereas the plants would always be replenished in the shrine, some are allowed to wilt. Whereas the children always felt protected, now they have a newfound sense of freedom that comes with a cost: they could easily be corrupted by many of the city’s foul influences.
And Dura is the place of potential corruption. An old district, the lower wards are places of crime and poverty; the middle wards are only a little better. Luckily, Broken Arch is a relatively quiet place, less prone to violence. Yet, its reputation is tainted. Many consider it the home of betrayal, after the ir’Tyran family that shaped the district attempted to overtake the crown a couple hundred years ago. One always notices more civilized city folk scowl, perhaps unconsciously, whenever they hear the district’s name.
And so it has been. But today is another day and the tragedies of the past should not linger. For today, the 23rd of Lharvion in the year 998 of our Kingdom, is the day of the Race of the Eight Winds, when mounted aerial riders race across the upper wards of Dura for hope of glory and riches. This race in many ways embodies the excitement, the diversity, the strangeness, and the danger of Sharn. Everyone in Dura considers this to be the most important festival of the year. Even Mevitari, ascetic practitioner of the Path of the Light, has been known to shout for his favorite riders as they neared the finish line.
Kyleria, having lived here most of her life, is very aware of the changes. She recalls Lazam as sort of a small older brother and mourns his loss as well.
The changes in Mevitari scare her, and are one of the reasons she spends time in the cogs. If he cracks, she's basically making sure she has another place to go. In the meantime, she tries to help with the smaller children and pick up for some of the things he's not doing as much.
Lam was worried over Lazam's death and the changes in Mevitari at the time, but he has come to accept it. After all, one must always embrace change, even when it isn't for the better.
Still, today Lamander is helping Kyleria tend the children. his green eyes glittering. "Got your nose! What, of course I did. It's right here." Lam points to his face, changing his nose back to the usual form once the child humors him and laughs.
"Say, Ky, how about we go get some good seats for the race before they all fill up?"
Tulgeikh couldn't care less about Lazam's death and has been enjoying the freedom that has come from Mevitari's change in mood. He knows that his place lies outside of the home and has begun chafing at the harsher punishments he always gets for his misbehavior.
Tulgeikh rushes through his extra chores planing to sneak out to see the races eventhough Mevitari has forbidden him from attending as a punishment for 'sass'.
Cogmin fought beside Lazam in the Last War - it was from Lazam that he first heard of the orphanage. A place for lost people.
After the war there was nothing for Cogmin, so he made for Sharn, made for the orphanage as that a place for the lost seemed like the most appropriate place for him.
Mevitari has been kind to allow Cogmin to stay, now Cogmin does all he can to protect and help the orphanage.
Cogmin twists a screw on one of his many broken clocks and watches Lamander from the stoop of the orphanage as the young changeling plays with the children. The Race of the Eight Winds interests him, but he has no coin and too many children to keep safe.
Lazam's death was particularly hard on Ostran as they were best friends. Always getting into trouble together but now he just spends his time earning money to fund the orphanage.
"Come on Cogmin, let's go to the Race. I will cover you. I have just enough for us?"
On the day of the races, the sky is mostly clear with a few scattered clouds. Dark clouds seem to be gathering in the southwest, but the main race should be over before the rain hits. The orphanage is all abuzz, which is a rare moment. Even Mevitari seems to be in a light mood; when he smiles, his peace radiates outward.
The orphanage plan to go together to the race, with Cogmin overlooking the smaller children. The older children (15 and up) will tag along, but will be allowed to wander once the orphans have established their place. Only two remain: Tulgeikh, who is being punished, and cook Krovok, a Cyran refuge who has “no interest in spectacle.” Krovok is set to keep track of Tulgeikh why the rest of the house is away.
The orphans hold hands as they cross the many bridges and walk up the many stairs to reach the Clifftop district in Upper Dura. The place is bustling with a great deal of variety. Vendors of all kinds (some inappropriate for children), species of all kinds, people dressed as various types of flying animals, and so on all crowd the streets and paths making travel difficult. Many people have been drinking since the beginning of the week and the streets smell of spicy foods, ale, and urine. When the many people notice the different races of children being led by a kalashtar, they laugh incredulously for a moment and then continue their own revelries.
Mevitari worries over the children, constantly counting to make sure all are accounted for. At last, the group reaches their destination: right on the border of Clifftop in Hope’s Peak, the temple district, is a stone temple dedicated to the Enlightened Havvakhad, a living kalashtar who is said to be at one with the Light. The priests of the temple exchange a few words with Mevitari before the children are ushered in. The kalashtar look down at the orphans with conceited pity and shake their heads. However, their generosity has allowed the orphans an excellent spot for the races – the roof of the temple. From here, one can see throughout Dura’s many rising spires, and have a distant but clear view of the beginning and end of the race. Leaning over the railing, one almost can get a straight view toward Lower Dura, hundreds of feet below.
The races are set to begin in an hour and already the orphans witness pegusi flying by wearing the green and gold insignia of House Vadalis. They are incredibly beautiful white creatures, rumored to be touched by the divine. Those on the roof see their exquisite muscles move under their unblemished fur. A single feather falls off of one of them and make its way to the room of Shrine of the Enlightened One. The orphans immediately begin clambering for the feather. Jolin, a frail human boy of about five, watches on, too overwhelmed by all the activity to compete for the feather with the older boys and girls.
Kyleria does not go for the feather herself, and she's been glaring at the kalashtar for the way they show that pity. The pegasi do draw her eyes, though. "Maybe I'll work for House Vadalis, someday, and ride in the race."
Lamander, wearing a holy symbol of the Path of Light on his chest, is outwardly serene, happy to be at a true temple to the Path of Light. Still, he glares at the priests' backs once their backs are turned.
"Did you hear, Petralis is supposed to be riding on a wyvern in the race today. He's racing to win a fair lady's hand, if I heard right."
Map of the Upper Ward. Upper Dura includes:
Clifftop - Lower class disctrict filled with travelers, adventurers, guilds and shops.
Daggerwatch - Holds the city's largest garrison of the City Watch. The City Watch is particularly busy and spread throughout the district on this day.
Highhold - Dwarven neighborhood.
Highwater - A decent middle class neighborhood. The head of House Vadalis lives in Pegasus Spire.
Hope's Peak - Includes many of the temples and churches of the major religions and a few others.
Overlook - Lower class townhouses with a significant kalashtar population. The biggest Path of Light shrine of the city exists in this district, tended by Havvakhad, the Enlightened one (the shrine in Hope's Peak is an offshoot).
Redstone - Lots and lots of tradesmen and shops.
Streetwise 1d20(6)+4=10
Perception 1d20(20)+1=21
Ostran knows that Cogmin is watching over the children but keeps a close eye on Jolin. As for the kalashtar, he knows that Mevitari can handle himself (and the monks would never do anything with such a huge croud around). As he is looking around for Petralis, Ostran thinks he spots a young woman from his past (see flashback) by the vendors.
"Anyone wanna check out the booths?", he asks just before heading off to find her.
I'm staying on the roof and rooting for the House Lyrandar pegasus as well as keeping an eye on the smaller kids.
"Anyone wanna check out the booths?", he asks just before heading off to find her.
Lam smiles, his eyes a blank gray. "Sure, sounds like fun."
*watches Ostran and Lam as they leave for the booths*
To Kyleria in the same soft voice that Cogmin always speaks with: "What is it about House Lyrandar that makes you cheer, Kyleria?"
*Cogmin moves quickly to divert a small child back into the pack*
{OUT OF CHARACTER - I forget how to make rolls on here - or are we just using the honor system and rolling in realspace?}
*watches Ostran and Lam as they leave for the booths*
To Kyleria in the same soft voice that Cogmin always speaks with: "What is it about House Lyrandar that makes you cheer, Kyleria?"
*Cogmin moves quickly to divert a small child back into the pack*
"The pegasus is the prettiest of the racers, that's why I root for them." Kyleria explains to the warforged. "It's a petty reason, maybe, but it's mine anyway."
Keeps an eye out for anything that emanates Storm magic.
Arcane 1d20(15)+5=20
*Cogmin quietly watches the sky and the distant pegasi.
"No," he says as he hoists a child up onto his shoulders. "That's not petty. Would it be alright if I cheered for House Lyrander with you?"
{OUT OF CHARACTER - I forget how to make rolls on here - or are we just using the honor system and rolling in realspace?}
Tulgeikh will sneak out and head to Redstone district so he cam loose himself in the crowds.
Stealth check to sneak out =
Streetwise =
Pererception =
Ostran and Lam find themselves walking slowly through the multitudes, people yelling, laughing, fighting and passing out. Several vendors try to hock their wares to the two as they pass and Ostran looks for the girl. One bald, tattooed man with tanned skin and a couple gold teeth fiercely, almost belligerently, attempts to sell you several crystals, claiming them to be small dragonshards. Another man lands a solid belch into Lam's face.
Kyleria and Cogmin wait on the roof with the other orphans. Mevitari has finished his conversation with the other kalashtar monks and no longer seems to have the jovial spirit of the morning. Something heavy weighs on him and he snaps at a couple of the children. Immediately the fun of catching the feather disappears. The mood remains happy for the children, but now it's diluted with the fear of discipline. Yolistan, a shifter close to the age of 13, manages to get the feather, but immediately hides it under his shirt.
Kyleria looks over at Mevitari and the other Kalashtar and frowns at the snapping. She doesn't say anything, however, at least not yet. She points to the sky.
"Keep your eyes on the race." she says, trying to get distract the younger kids.
Pererception =
Pererception = 16
Lam makes his way through the crowd happily. "So, are you looking for something or just felt like wandering for a bit?"
I am looking for a couple of things; a young half-elven female and objects useful to someone with abilities like mine.
1d20 + 1
I am looking for a couple of things; a young half-elven female and objects useful to someone with abilities like mine.
You think you spot the girl's silver streaked red hair, but because of the business of the crowd she quickly disappears.
You do find, however, a vendor called "Nick's and Nack's" and quickly learn that is the name of the twin human proprietors. They seem to be selling all kinds of odds and ends featured haphazardly on tables. On one of their tables sits a magically enhanced item.
1d20 + 1
I am looking for a couple of things; a young half-elven female and objects useful to someone with abilities like mine.
You think you spot the girl's silver streaked red hair, but because of the business of the crowd she quickly disappears.
You do find, however, a vendor called "Nick's and Nack's" and quickly learn that is the name of the twin human proprietors. They seem to be selling all kinds of odds and ends featured haphazardly on tables. On one of their tables sits a magically enhanced item.
1d20 + 4
Ostran tries to convince the vendors that he just wants the shiny globe, and he doesn't understand why it's so expensive. Nick says that it's magical. Ostran asks what it does, with a rather convincing skeptical scowl. Nick mutters that he doesn't know, but probably something fantastic. Ostran laughs sardonically. Nack notices this and tells his brother, "Ahhh...we never did find out what the thing does. Give it to him for the 80 gold. By the way, how did a raggedy youngster such as yourself get all that gold?"
Meanwhile, on the roof, the orphans notice more competitors soaring through the air toward the starting landing to the north. Griffons and hippogriffs fly by, as do a group of halflings covered in furs and leather on top of reptilian creatures with small crests and bright colored feathers.
I used to run messages for House Sivis.
1d20+9
I used to run messages for House Sivis.
As he tucks away the globe, he shivers at the sight of the glidewings.
nature check
Cogmin points to the flying reptiles and stoops down next to one of the children holding onto his woolen robe.
"Those are called Glidewings. Look at how fast they are!"
Cogmin puts the child down off his shoulders and approaches Mevitari.
Quietly, to Mevitari: "Is there a problem? Am I needed?"
Hey Lam, was there anything you wanted to look for?
"Glidewings? That's not fair. Booo!" calls out Kyleria.
If anyone has the 'unfair' advantage, it's that Petralis.
A medium sized minotaur with only a single horn comes racing through the crowd to the viewing area out of breath. "What have I missed? Are the races over yet?" Balgron was out running the morning's errands for Mevitari and got side tracked as usual on a side mission of his own. "Mevitari, I purchased the foodstuffs and cleaning supplies, and they are already in the pantry back at the orphanage." Balgron exhales as he hopes Mevitari will forgive him for not helping escort the young ones to the races. In actuality Balgron was running wagering money around town for some recently acquired "friends" outside the orphanage.
Perception =
"What you talking about Deneith? I have no debts with you and the debts I do own are too small to intrest mercanaries."
"Several years ago, your parents were hired by us to fight in the Last War. However, they had a child. According to their contract, in the event that both should die, our house would take over the rearing of the child. They died and we have raised you, Tulgeikh. We gave you to the orphanage and provided a yearly sum to that crazy kalashtar.
"We planned to begin your mercenary training when you were thirteen, but soon learned that you were gaining another kind of, shall we say, street training down in the Cogs. Such knowledge may come in handy for us.
"Now it is time to make up for all that we provided for your childhood. Let me just say, if you refuse us, then we will take certain measures. I'm sure you don't want to see your childhood home razed to the ground, the corpses of burnt children on your conscience. Even an orc couldn't be too happy with that result, I would imagine.
"Do you understand me? Would you like to hear about your first, well, let's call it a 'mission', shall we? Oh, and feel free to call me Shawnis." He finishes with another smile.
Mevitari looks up at Cogmin without emotion and says, "No, Cogmin. No one can help me with my troubles but me. However, I will be taking a small day trip later this week and I will need someone to look after the orphanage. Can you do that for me?"
Soon after, Balgron arrives, having just secured the supplies for the orphanage. He seems to be hoping for forgiveness for arriving late, but Mevitari seems too internally distracted to react to Balgron at all.
The orphans on the rooftop continue to watch the amazing sites and wonders of the streets and air, not allowing Mevitari's gloomy air to affect them. Some time passes, and you begin to notice, first as a speck in the air, then as a man riding what appears to be a brown and white pegusus. However, he moves erratically through the air, as if he doesn't quite have control of his steed. You watch him as he struggles and moves closer and closer. As he gets closer, you hear him yelling and swearing at the horse; the battle between the two is almost comical. Eventually, the two are directly over your roof and the pegusus manages to buck the man off the horse. He comes tumbling down onto your roof. Luckily, he doesn't hit anybody. He groans as he struggles to get up. He is actually young, a teenage human, who surveys the situation. His eyes set on Kyleria, and he appears embarrassed. He calls for his stead, "Falafax!" who swoops down and the young man manages to grab a hold and mount. "Pretty feet," he says to Kyleria, and looks to be about to fly away.
Down in street, Ostran and Lamander continue to look for the half-elf girl. After a little bit of time passes, they suddenly hear a voice behind them, "Ah, if it isn't the little orphans." When you turn around you see it is Bandatiq, a redheaded, ugly, freckled boy you immediately recognize. A bully, Bandatiq and his gang of low level aristocrats from Stormhold think they own the streets of Middle Dura. You've had run ins with them before. "What are you looking for, little orphans? Your dead parents?" His gang laughs. The whole gang, about a dozen, must be present. "Saw you buy that shiny little globe from the vendors, little Ostran. Must of cost you a pretty copper. Now give it here!" The entire gang looks menacing for a fight.