The Sunless Citadel. Tales of this ancient fortress have been growing of late. Rumors of strange happenings nearby have begun to draw adventurers from near and far to the sunken building. You all have different reasons to enter the citadel: one seeks secrets within, one searches for a previous group that entered, one looks for connections to an ancient grudge against the scaled masters of the cult that made the citadel, and finally, one hunts for revenge. The Citadel awaits!
You arrive in the late afternoon in the town of Oakhurst. A small village of mostly humans, you feel them staring at you as you enter the town. To the east you see a narrow ravine that runs near the Old Road. Somewhere in that ravine is the collapsed citadel you seek. From behind you by one of the few multistory buildings in the helmet, you hear a gruff voice call out to you. “Oi! Yeah you. We don’t see many strangers enter town, especially not one like yourself. Come! Come! The shadows lengthen and the evening approaches. Join us inside. There is good food, drink, and company within the Ol’ Boar. I would love to hear what brings you to our humble town.” Turning around, you see a large burly human with a bushy black beard leans against a doorway. Above him is a sign with a large boar’s head with the words, “The Ol’ Boar Inn” that sways in the afternoon breeze.
(Please introduce your characters and give us a quick description)
And finally: WELCOME TO THE SUNLESS CITADEL - WHAT SHALL AWAIT YOU INSIDE?
A woman of regal and graceful bearing enters The Ol´Boar Inn, her hair flowing green, revealing her fey heritage. Her face pale with delicate features and a calm warm smile on her thin lips. She gently brushes some dust from her exquisite green cloak of obvious elven design featuring forest inspired patterns. Beneath, equally delicate clothes and sandals more suited to a court than to traveling. Hanging from her neck, a small green oak leaf shaped crystal in a thin silver chain. A faint forestfresh fragrance surrounds her. She gently drops a lightweight backpack onto the floor, like expecting someone to carry it for her.
Turning to the large burly human, or anyone else who seems to be a person of authority she speaks.
-Greetings, her calm but firm voice like the trickling of water into a forest pond, I am Selene Moonshade, an envoy sent from Silverymoon. On behalf of the Conclave of Silverymoon I am to investigate the rumors of a tree bearing fruits of healing in something called the Sunless citadel. I must say I am in a dire need of a bath and a rest after my arduous journey here and I would most appreciate a guide and some company if negotiations with the goblins supposedly guarding the tree fail.
As she speaks, faint birdsong accompanies her words.
In behind comes a diminutive gnome with a bushy black mustache. His small stature makes the short swords and bow give him an appearance of being armed to the teeth. He’s wearing a set of overalls and a thick leather coat.
He takes in the presentation that just happened before him and looks around for his cue:
”Oh, are we supposed to talk to everybody when we walk in? Alright, ahem: I am Daerryl!” He stands tall as he can as he introduces himself and then sits down, assuming that was enough, before standing back up again. “Oh, and I’m heading into the ruins near here looking for two missin’ brothers!” He sits back down, looking satisfied.
Selene gracefully turns to the mustachioed gnome, kneeling slightly to face him.
- Greetings Daerryl, my name is Selene Moonshade, I am an envoy from The Gem of the North on an important mission to these ruins you talk of. Would you be so brave to escort me there. I would be most appreciative.
Her warm smile would melt the heart of any other patron of the Inn.
Towering over most humans, a bald goliath enters the tavern. Clad in chainmail, with a shield coving his back and a flail hanging from his belt, he approaches the bar "an ale for me, and something to bite too" as he puts a couple silver pieces over the table "Kioiri is my name. I hear that there are dragons nearby, do you know anything about them?"
“I don’t know if I could escort you all by myself Lady Moonshade, but I’m an able scout! You need eyes, and ears, I can provide. But I’m just one small man in a very big world. The ruins are dangerous, and I think it’s unsafe to go in too small a number.”
"Oh you are too modest my small friend, and such a gentleman too, but I agree to your point, there´s safety in numbers, and I think I just heard that goliath over by the bar talking about searching for dragons. Maybe he will join us. However I now have more pressing matters to attend as I desprately need a bath and a rest, but be sure to tell me when you are ready to leave for the ruins."
With that "Lady" Moonshade leaves for the bar to pay for a room with a hot bath and a goblet of wine to go with it.
Kioiri - The bartender looks at you strangely. "No dragons around these parts. Not since Ashardalon went on a rampage and created the Ashen Plain, that desolate lifeless plain to the west on the Old Road. There are however legends about the Sunless Citadel that says it was once the retreat of an ancient dragon cult."
Selene - The bartender shakes his head, "No one in this town is really able to go out and help ye with that. We need all the guards we have protecting the town. Recently there have been new monsters marauding by night. We find the cattle or unfortunately the occasional person the next day bearing dozens of needle-like wounds."
Daerrly - One of the patrons of the bar sitting next to you chuckles, "Ah you are looking for that odd group of adventurers who went into the citadel last month. Shame they never returned. Their paladin... Sir Braford I think... he was a mighty good man. That and his sword was a real beauty. Magical I'd say."
Daerryl tries to keep the bartender’s interest. “I don’t suppose you can tell me a bit more about the ruins or what the brothers were doing there? Sounds like they were strong, well-equipped folks. I don’t want to be unprepared.”
From a niche nearby a tall, elegant elf steps out of the shadows at the mention of 'that odd group of adventurers'. He approaches the group, walking with the swagger of a confident fellow. Dressed from head to toe in wood-elven travelling gear, it's clear to any who have an eye to spot the difference that he is, in fact, a high elf. At his side, he has a short elven blade and a long elven knife. Across his shoulder is slung a satchel. He does not appear to wear armour or have any missile weapons.
"Evening all," he greets the assembled throng. "Raadox the Green, at your service," the elf bows gracefully. "I couldn't help overhearing something about a group of adventurers who got lost in a nearby ruin. They didn't happen to have a huge hulking north-man with them, by any chance, did they?" he asks Daerrly, who seems the local expert on this business.
The bartender shrugs, "Only thing they mentioned was earning some coin. Figure someone important wanted something from that citadel. They did ask a few questions about the fruit though."
When Tarak approaches the bartender replies, "Oh, ye mean the ranger with them? Rough looking sort? Name was something like Arnold? Hm.. what was it.... Ahnold?"
Raadox nods and a slightly unsavoury grin makes its way onto his roguish features. He asks the bar tender for a glass of his best feywine and then turns and approaches the others. "I'm up for a little foray into the depths, if you want another companion", he offers, smiling openly.
Daerryl shrugs. “I was told about a pair of brothers, rich ones by the look of the mother. I don’t know anything about anyone with them. But if you’re interested in coming to look for yourself, it only makes sense to go with the safety of numbers...?” Daerryl let’s the invitation hang.
Raadox nods at the diminutive gnome. "Sounds good. I'm tracking down an old thug who stole something precious of mine. I don't know about brothers, but he seems to be in some sort of adventuring band led by a paladin from what I can understand."
He looks around the taproom, "Who else said they were interested?" he asks the gnome. "The place seems to have claimed at least two groups of adventurers so far. It seems prudent to explore it as a group rather than alone."
”Agreed. There’s that big fella over there, but I’m not going to ask him. He’s asking about dragons, and seems... well, I just don’t want him to get startled and step back onto me. Feet like that, he’d cave in my chest.” Daerryl gestures towards Kioiri
"C'mon," Raadox encourages the little gnome. "Let's go speak to him together. You can hide behind my cloak if you feel safer. He is a bit of a giant though, isn't he?"
Raadox will approach the goliath. "Well met, sir," he greets him warmly with a courtly bow. "I am Raadox the Green. I expect you've heard of me. I understand you might be interested in plundering the local ruins? Something about dragons?"
Kiori turns to the elf "well met, I'm Kioiri Thunulekati, but I don't remember hearing about you before." The goliath takes another sip of his drink "I was looking for dragons, but I hear now that there is only a cult about them. I want to know more about that."
Seeing that a gnome accompanies Raadox he speaks again "you are not alone. And it seems wise to explore in a group. I will join you. When do we start?"
The high elf raises an eyebrow as if to indicate mild disbelief when told he hasn't been heard of but appears to shrug it off. "Wasn't there an elegant woman here a short time ago, mentioning something about the ruins?" ventures Raadox.
“Oh yes, and I’m to be escorting her, although I’m not quite sure how that happened now that I think about it... and she settled in for the night. Perhaps we should start first thing in the morning?”
Kiori nods "tomorrow sounds good. Now sit here and tell me more about the ruins." He points to the seat next to him and turns back to the bartender "a drink for my new friend."
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The Sunless Citadel. Tales of this ancient fortress have been growing of late. Rumors of strange happenings nearby have begun to draw adventurers from near and far to the sunken building. You all have different reasons to enter the citadel: one seeks secrets within, one searches for a previous group that entered, one looks for connections to an ancient grudge against the scaled masters of the cult that made the citadel, and finally, one hunts for revenge. The Citadel awaits!
You arrive in the late afternoon in the town of Oakhurst. A small village of mostly humans, you feel them staring at you as you enter the town. To the east you see a narrow ravine that runs near the Old Road. Somewhere in that ravine is the collapsed citadel you seek. From behind you by one of the few multistory buildings in the helmet, you hear a gruff voice call out to you. “Oi! Yeah you. We don’t see many strangers enter town, especially not one like yourself. Come! Come! The shadows lengthen and the evening approaches. Join us inside. There is good food, drink, and company within the Ol’ Boar. I would love to hear what brings you to our humble town.” Turning around, you see a large burly human with a bushy black beard leans against a doorway. Above him is a sign with a large boar’s head with the words, “The Ol’ Boar Inn” that sways in the afternoon breeze.
(Please introduce your characters and give us a quick description)
And finally: WELCOME TO THE SUNLESS CITADEL - WHAT SHALL AWAIT YOU INSIDE?
In behind comes a diminutive gnome with a bushy black mustache. His small stature makes the short swords and bow give him an appearance of being armed to the teeth. He’s wearing a set of overalls and a thick leather coat.
He takes in the presentation that just happened before him and looks around for his cue:
”Oh, are we supposed to talk to everybody when we walk in? Alright, ahem: I am Daerryl!” He stands tall as he can as he introduces himself and then sits down, assuming that was enough, before standing back up again. “Oh, and I’m heading into the ruins near here looking for two missin’ brothers!” He sits back down, looking satisfied.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Selene gracefully turns to the mustachioed gnome, kneeling slightly to face him.
- Greetings Daerryl, my name is Selene Moonshade, I am an envoy from The Gem of the North on an important mission to these ruins you talk of. Would you be so brave to escort me there. I would be most appreciative.
Her warm smile would melt the heart of any other patron of the Inn.
Towering over most humans, a bald goliath enters the tavern. Clad in chainmail, with a shield coving his back and a flail hanging from his belt, he approaches the bar "an ale for me, and something to bite too" as he puts a couple silver pieces over the table "Kioiri is my name. I hear that there are dragons nearby, do you know anything about them?"
Daerryl looks up at Selene with a bit of awe.
“I don’t know if I could escort you all by myself Lady Moonshade, but I’m an able scout! You need eyes, and ears, I can provide. But I’m just one small man in a very big world. The ruins are dangerous, and I think it’s unsafe to go in too small a number.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Oh you are too modest my small friend, and such a gentleman too, but I agree to your point, there´s safety in numbers, and I think I just heard that goliath over by the bar talking about searching for dragons. Maybe he will join us. However I now have more pressing matters to attend as I desprately need a bath and a rest, but be sure to tell me when you are ready to leave for the ruins."
With that "Lady" Moonshade leaves for the bar to pay for a room with a hot bath and a goblet of wine to go with it.
Kioiri - The bartender looks at you strangely. "No dragons around these parts. Not since Ashardalon went on a rampage and created the Ashen Plain, that desolate lifeless plain to the west on the Old Road. There are however legends about the Sunless Citadel that says it was once the retreat of an ancient dragon cult."
Selene - The bartender shakes his head, "No one in this town is really able to go out and help ye with that. We need all the guards we have protecting the town. Recently there have been new monsters marauding by night. We find the cattle or unfortunately the occasional person the next day bearing dozens of needle-like wounds."
Daerrly - One of the patrons of the bar sitting next to you chuckles, "Ah you are looking for that odd group of adventurers who went into the citadel last month. Shame they never returned. Their paladin... Sir Braford I think... he was a mighty good man. That and his sword was a real beauty. Magical I'd say."
Daerryl tries to keep the bartender’s interest.
“I don’t suppose you can tell me a bit more about the ruins or what the brothers were doing there? Sounds like they were strong, well-equipped folks. I don’t want to be unprepared.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
From a niche nearby a tall, elegant elf steps out of the shadows at the mention of 'that odd group of adventurers'. He approaches the group, walking with the swagger of a confident fellow. Dressed from head to toe in wood-elven travelling gear, it's clear to any who have an eye to spot the difference that he is, in fact, a high elf. At his side, he has a short elven blade and a long elven knife. Across his shoulder is slung a satchel. He does not appear to wear armour or have any missile weapons.
"Evening all," he greets the assembled throng. "Raadox the Green, at your service," the elf bows gracefully. "I couldn't help overhearing something about a group of adventurers who got lost in a nearby ruin. They didn't happen to have a huge hulking north-man with them, by any chance, did they?" he asks Daerrly, who seems the local expert on this business.
My Homebrew World: The World of Rodinia
Novels Published: Reynard's Fate, Kita's Honour and Callindrill
The bartender shrugs, "Only thing they mentioned was earning some coin. Figure someone important wanted something from that citadel. They did ask a few questions about the fruit though."
When Tarak approaches the bartender replies, "Oh, ye mean the ranger with them? Rough looking sort? Name was something like Arnold? Hm.. what was it.... Ahnold?"
Raadox nods and a slightly unsavoury grin makes its way onto his roguish features. He asks the bar tender for a glass of his best feywine and then turns and approaches the others. "I'm up for a little foray into the depths, if you want another companion", he offers, smiling openly.
My Homebrew World: The World of Rodinia
Novels Published: Reynard's Fate, Kita's Honour and Callindrill
Daerryl shrugs. “I was told about a pair of brothers, rich ones by the look of the mother. I don’t know anything about anyone with them. But if you’re interested in coming to look for yourself, it only makes sense to go with the safety of numbers...?”
Daerryl let’s the invitation hang.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Raadox nods at the diminutive gnome. "Sounds good. I'm tracking down an old thug who stole something precious of mine. I don't know about brothers, but he seems to be in some sort of adventuring band led by a paladin from what I can understand."
He looks around the taproom, "Who else said they were interested?" he asks the gnome. "The place seems to have claimed at least two groups of adventurers so far. It seems prudent to explore it as a group rather than alone."
My Homebrew World: The World of Rodinia
Novels Published: Reynard's Fate, Kita's Honour and Callindrill
”Agreed. There’s that big fella over there, but I’m not going to ask him. He’s asking about dragons, and seems... well, I just don’t want him to get startled and step back onto me. Feet like that, he’d cave in my chest.” Daerryl gestures towards Kioiri
Paladin - warforged - orange
"C'mon," Raadox encourages the little gnome. "Let's go speak to him together. You can hide behind my cloak if you feel safer. He is a bit of a giant though, isn't he?"
Raadox will approach the goliath. "Well met, sir," he greets him warmly with a courtly bow. "I am Raadox the Green. I expect you've heard of me. I understand you might be interested in plundering the local ruins? Something about dragons?"
My Homebrew World: The World of Rodinia
Novels Published: Reynard's Fate, Kita's Honour and Callindrill
Kiori turns to the elf "well met, I'm Kioiri Thunulekati, but I don't remember hearing about you before." The goliath takes another sip of his drink "I was looking for dragons, but I hear now that there is only a cult about them. I want to know more about that."
Seeing that a gnome accompanies Raadox he speaks again "you are not alone. And it seems wise to explore in a group. I will join you. When do we start?"
The high elf raises an eyebrow as if to indicate mild disbelief when told he hasn't been heard of but appears to shrug it off. "Wasn't there an elegant woman here a short time ago, mentioning something about the ruins?" ventures Raadox.
My Homebrew World: The World of Rodinia
Novels Published: Reynard's Fate, Kita's Honour and Callindrill
“Oh yes, and I’m to be escorting her, although I’m not quite sure how that happened now that I think about it... and she settled in for the night. Perhaps we should start first thing in the morning?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Kiori nods "tomorrow sounds good. Now sit here and tell me more about the ruins." He points to the seat next to him and turns back to the bartender "a drink for my new friend."