Karrnath is a nation of grim weather and grimmer people, and home to the maltheistic religion of the Blood of Vol. The Blood of Vol, a religion that believes the gods are cruel who created death to stymie the potential of all beings to become divine, made an alliance with Karrnath during the Last War, a war for succession that consumed the entire continent of Khorvaire. Thanks to this alliance, Karrnath fielded massive legions of undead soldiers powered by the plane of Mabar, the Endless Night. With the signing of the Treaty of Thronehold, the Last War came to an end. Just before the Treaty was signed, the young king of Karrnath, Kaius III, ended the alliance with the BoV, and the undead armies were placed into storage.
Now, 2 years after the signing of the Treaty, Karrnath rumbles with unrest. The warlords call Kaius III weak for his pursuit of peace, the Seekers of the Divinity Within (followers of the BoV) have an uneasy tension with other Karrns, the Bloodsail pirates target Karrnathi shipping, and the Order of the Emerald Claw, an ex-Seeker terrorist group, perpetrate horrors across the continent. Karrnath seethes with secrets and tension, as alliances are built and destroyed, and a few heroes could make all the difference...
Project Point will be a high roleplay campaign with the signature Eberron turn on good, bad, and tropes. Be ready to ally with undead and question generalizations, for in 998 YK Karrnath, little is wholly as it seems...

You have been called to the town of Teryk by the Warlord Geron Karlach, who is battling a terrible blight that nothing has been able to slow. Perhaps you were dispatched here by the Karrnathi crown, or came of your own accord, or maybe the warlord himself is an old friend. Regardless, you are now only half a mile from Teryk, and not alone on the road...

Opening post coming once we're ready to start!

The Shadowmount road is right in the middle of Karrnath, a ribbon of Cannith-paved stone stretching from the middle of the eastern lightning rail to the the town of Atur. Every mile, a small post carved in the shape of a spiraling unicorn horn declares House Orien's stamp of approval, that this road is considered well-kept and used by Orien coaches on their travels across Khorvaire. The unicorn post also indicates that the road is considered safe...well, under usual circumstances, at least.
Because this is Karrnath, there's a heavy drizzle coming down, and the sky is grim and gray. The town of Teryk is visible as a smudged blur perhaps a mile down the road, the rain and distance preventing you from seeing any details. The edges of the fields are visible far closer, the crops yellower and sparser than they should be, signs of the blight that called you here.
Looking around, you see you aren't alone on the road, either. Three others are walking down the same section of the road.
OOC: Alright, let's get an introduction post up from each person! Once your assigned person has put their intro up, you can give me the rumor you come up with for them, and then I'll distribute rumors while you rp. Here are who you'll be creating rumors for!
Gmoat will be creating a rumor for Sassy
Sassy will be creating a rumor for Argent.
Argent will be creating a rumor for Bluw
Blue will be creating a rumor for Gmoat

"Stick close to me, Citron. There are some shadowy figures ahead and not all of them are as excepting as I am," She smiles down at the small fairy, trying to stick as close to him as she can. This was a stranger land than she imagined. Where she came from, nature and magic were so intertwined that it was easy to take it all for granted. Sharn was a sight to see, but everything after has seemed lacking in wonder and beauty. These people used magic as a service, they were not in service to it. 

Serandis Mandaen was an Aereni elf, one who up until a couple of months ago left the sanctuary of her island home. With her father gone, and this land's war now over, it was up to her to make sure that her family kept their business with these outsiders in proper order. Now, she was more than ready to get back home. Just one last piece of business had to be dealt with first. 

Truth be told, there was nothing for her in these lands. No destiny that he spoke of, though she did make a friend in Citron. Weird as the small fae creature was, he was kind to her and made her less homesick. She wishes he would believe her that she isn't of Thelanis like he was, but it was also kind of cute how he was so sure of himself about the things he knew nothing about. 

Her long body made a small silhouette in the downpour, making it hard to see that her face is tattooed white and black, the face of the true believers of the Undying Court. Her skull-like tattoo was more than a symbol of her loyalty to her ancestors, it was a way to remember her father who was lost at sea years ago. She wore brass and gold bangles on her arms, ones that you would expect to clink as she moved but they were mostly silent. Her clothing was close to her skin, the rain has made sure to make the light silk stick closely to her body. Elven boots, though used to rainy weather, were now caked with mud from the road. Around the back of her neck was a wooden and leather mask. This she wore when entering cities and towns, to cover her markings that honor her father but also to show respect to those in the area she was coming into. These northerners do not seem to understand this custom of respect, she could always tell from their long gazes as she did her dealings with them. 

On her back was the last shipment of covadish, the whole reason why she was in these lands. The plant that she loathed having to sell to these Karranthi's. But, with the war over they seemed to be the only nation wanting to pay the price for this rare plant that her family was one of the main exporters of. With great shame, she did this for her family, but it was approved by the Court. And Mazareth did say her destiny laid in these lands. 

"Hail there, travelers. Are you too, making your way to Teryk?" She asked intrepidly to the figures in the rain. 

Bobbing up and down in the rain as if he was standing upon the deck of a ship, a small orangish person floats several feet off the ground next to Serandis.  The most striking feature in the dim light is the bright green hair atop his head and cheeks.  Large ears, a large nose adorned with metal rings, and what appears to be a spectral horn in the center of their forehead, makes this person seem more out of place on the road to Teryk than the figure next to him.  Occasionally he takes a swig from a tankard in his hand and looks around.

"I d'nno Serandis, perhaps dey are just villagers, out for a midnight stroll through undead lands.....in a rainstorm....."  He looks up at the sky "like us." and he squints through the darkness towards nothing in particular or perhaps the others standing out in the rain.  It's hard to tell and he can't see in the dark.

"or perhaps dey are vagrants set to waylay travelers....dey are after me gold!" and he'll buzz around agitatedly and end up facing the wrong direction, his small fists raised.

One of the shadowy figures looked up at the sound of the human voice. No, not human, elven... And ... for a good moment, the girl on the road looked at a small floating orange person with a childish curiosity, then blinked and smiled. Even in the deepening twilight, it is clear she is not from around these parts: too thin, too pale, white hair, and yet eyes the color of a burned caramel - not a single feature of the human of the north. The thick dark cloak was already wet from the drizzle, but the girl did not look annoyed or worn down by the hard road.

"Teryk, yes". She shifted the backpack from one shoulder to another and smiled again - friendly a bit shy, but not scared or too cautious smile. "But I do not think we have much choice anyway, it's the only big stop on the road. Unless you are visiting a farm nearby?" The last sentence was a half-question/half-statement. Should travellers want to keep the conversation on to make the road shorter, that was as good as a remark about the weather. On the other hand... "Not the best weather for either, though."

In response to the voice, a tall, olive-skinned woman turns towards the speaker. She's wearing a gilded breastplate with a tunic underneath that shows off a pair muscular, scarred arms, gilded greaves that cover her shins, and ankle-length sandals. On her back is a pike that's almost as tall as she is. "My name is Petra." She says in an obviously foreign accent. "I don't think that too many commoners have armor and pikes. But I am headed to Teryk.

"No, not the best weather for it at all. I'm Serandis, this fellow at my side is my traveling companion, CItron. We are making our way towards that town as well. I have business with Warlord Karlach," She will say to the two new faces on the road. "No, I should not have mistaken you for a commoner. Very imposing figure you cut in this dim light."

She smiles through the rain, not wiping it away from her face. The rain was one of the only natural things in this land that she found comforting. Even if it brought with it a chill she never knew rain could have until a couple of months ago. Not as refreshing, but still comforting. 

"You are more than welcome to walk with us, we have been on own our own since leaving Atur." Her accent broke slightly, showing that she was not using her native tongue when speaking this common language. "How long will you be in Teryk? We shouldn't be there longer than a day or two, I imagine. Just have some dealings with the Warlord then hopefully we'll be heading back south. Citron, it's alright, you don't need to be on your guard anymore, my friend. At least, not at the moment."

The cold wind picked up and for the first time, Erandis showed that the elements affected her as she visibly shivered. 

"I am Adaliza." The girl glanced at Serandis's tattooed face and immediately shifted the gaze to her companion, and then to Petra. "Nice to meet you all." Despite her obviously not local look, she spoke with the pure Aturian prononsation. "And what an interesting coincidence - I am too going to meet the Warlord Karlach. He sent a word to Atur about the blight. I take it, you too are here to offer help? If so, you might get stuck here a bit longer. Whatever causes the disaster, it is unlikely to pass in two days."

She looked at Citron again thoughtfully. "Your companion is right, waylay bandits would not appear that obviously and in such a small number. Besides - you see those unicorn posts? It means the road was inspected recently enough and found to be safe from unsavory elements. Not to mention, we are so close to the town it would be foolish to make an ambush here." Adaliza paused as if contemplating whether or not she mentioned all possible reasons to relax and added. "Do we ..." she glanced at heavy armed and armored Petra, smiled softly, and continued fast keeping Citron's attention on her clearly harmless self, "really look that dangerous?" 

Citron bobs and weaves through the rain towards Adaliza, which in and of itself is strange, people just don't float in the air,. The other strange thing you notice as he approaches, he is bone dry despite the rain falling down.  When he gets close enough he squints his eyes and gives you a good looking over stem to stern and then bobs over to Petra and does the same.  When he returns back in front of Adaliza he says

"Looks can be deceiving, however that one..." indicating Petra "...is either over compensating for something or really IS dangerous."

"You however...." he leans in and takes a big sniff of Adaliza "....smell dangerous, though I am not sure why yet." 

Then his demeanor changes as he takes a swig from his tankard  "Well met Adaliza and Petra, I am sometimes known as Citron Pumpkinfoam.." and he bows gracefully "we are strangers no more, and Serandis could use some friends besides this old soul."

 

"Well said, Adaliza." Serandis smiles at the newcomer, "You have such a beautiful name. I am not familiar with a lot of the naming conventions in Khorvaire, but that is a fierce name. I would have to agree with Citron, you don't look dangerous but looks are deceiving." She continues walking down the road towards the town. 

"I have no plans of staying for longer than I have to. I have not heard of this blight you spoke of. What about you, Petra? Is this the reason you are coming to Teryk? Blighted land is something I do happen to be familiar with. Growing up in the shadow of Shae Deseir we had to be ever vigilant. But the ancestors guided us well, this Warlord should call upon his."

"Thank you. It is not exactly Khorvairian name, more like adapted to the style, my family came here from another country. But I was born here, consider myself northener," there was a hint of quiet pride in her voice, " and can assure you, the Warlord does what's best for his people - calls to the neighbors in time of need. People here look out for each other and rely on themselves and their neighbors. I might not be as strong as Petra here but will do my part in stopping the disaster". She did not comment much about her being dangerous, but a girl traveling alone to answer the call of a Warlord had to possess some useful skills, obviously.

"The warlord needed help dealing with this blight and he offered 100 Galifars for it, so I've come to help deal with this problem and I'll stay as long as I'm needed."

The four of you start walking again, conversing quietly in the rain as Teryk grows closer. As the town nears, you begin to be able to make out additional details of it. The town is built in the heavy Karrnathi style, the buildings solid and interspersed with statues of warriors and elaborate sculptures. The fields around the town are composed of sickly looking crops, no doubt thanks to the blight you are here to solve, which is also causing even the weeds in the road to wither. However, before you can see much more of the town, you are interrupted by clacking noises as four skeletons emerge from a withered tree grove beside the road ahead of you and charge!

OOC: Alright--time for the first initiative rolls of the campaign! This should be niiiice and easy, a good warm-up fight :D

Skeletons: 13

[Initiative: 5]

Petra:3

Adaliza Initiative: 12

"And here is our answer about the nature of the blight!" Adaliza narrowed her eyes at the skeletons and grasped a crystal on the long silver chain around her neck - a deep red tear.

Serandis Initiative: 11

"Vile forces of darkness, your negative powers hold nothing to the light of the Deathless!"

And despite all of your very brave and lovely sentiments, which do earn everybody inspiration, the skellies win initiative. They each run in and make a shortsword attack on one person.

Adaliza: 9 Damage: 3

Citron: 22 Damage: 3

Serandis: 23 Damage: 5

Petra: 12 Damage: 3

All PCs are up! As long as you're not down :D

"Hey you almost spilled me drink!" and he'll punch at the skeleton that attacked him with his empty hand.as he takes a drink.

[Unarmed strike: 10 Damage: 5 bludgeoning]

Citron's skelly has been strucketh and rattles loudly as the tiny monk's hand goes straight through three ribs, wavering on its feet.

(For targeting purposes, we will call Adaliza's skelly S1, Citron's S2, Serandis's S3, and Petra's S4)