“Lord Kan requests your presence, come with me he has little time” the unspoken “for the likes of you” is just as clear to you all. The man walks away not troubling himself to see if you are following, assuming you would not dare disobey. You review as you follow what you know of the person you go to meet, the persona he cultivates and the rumours which the more intelligent among you realise he cultivates just as carefully, a shadowy saviour of the empire, the last line of defence against hidden forces and a calculating genius for whom no cost is too great to pay to ensure he succeeds.
Down a hallway where the artwork displayed is clearly of both great value and owned by someone who truly appreciates the medium, the night outside is banished by the candles strategically arranged to illuminate each piece more than to light your way. Windows on the eastern wall look out over a garden of delicate and refined taste, a true luxury here in the capital where all land is of great value, especially here in the Valias, the most elite district in the city.
You see two guards, Dzendalin Blades by their uniforms, standing at the doors you are destined to go through, grim and unwavering, spears held at their sides. The seneschal reaches them and the turn opening the doors as one before subjecting you all to stern gazes as you pass behind.
“My Lord, here are those you requested.”He bows, and retreats a few steps to the side, allowing you all to look across the room. The room itself is finer than any you have ever seen, the perfect ratios and the exquisite decorations everywhere you look threaten to overwhelm the senses. There is art here too, glorious pieces, true masterpieces, but the themes here are darker, more aggressive and angry. Candles light the room here as well, in clusters in the corners, and just inside the door. A large desk occupies the central space, gleaming oak, polished to a shine and almost empty. Several letters lay on the desk and a set of scales rests in balance on one side, the other empty. A chair is pulled back a little from the far side, a sign that the occupant has moved himself from his seat. Your eyes move over to the window, again looking out over the gardens to the east. In the light from the candles a person stands leaning against the window frame as if a million miles away, a glass in his hand as he stares out into the night.
“Welcome to this house, grand is it not?” he says, in a voice both quiet and strong. “My name is Kan, Elyas Kan. I am aware that it is a name known to many and that my role in this empire is often speculated on but I will illuminate you on why I have summoned you here. I will be brief, but I’m sure you understand my time here is limited. I am the man trying to keep all the plates spinning in this empire, the Empress herself has tasked me with keeping our way of life safe, and I will not fail her charge. I have been called a spymaster and you may wish to think of me like that, in truth that is but one hat I wear, but it is the one you need to concern yourself with. I could command armies, I could command the best of my men to do this but I will not, I will ask for assistance from a small group of people largely unknown in the world for that very reason. I have need of people that are not associated with me, people who cannot be seen coming.” He beckons to the seneschal “Please fetch these folk a drink, Ameni firewater would be appropriate would it not?” He chuckles at his own presumed joke. “Oh the east, Ameni and Colat, the jewels of our coast, the darkness of our souls. A thriving cosmopolitan riot of wealth and opportunity or dens of schemers and rogues intent on robbing this empire blind. You can hear them called either, and both are correct.”
As the drinks are handed out he raises his glass to you he continues walking back to his desk, his hand running lightly over the wood, brushing over the letters until he comes to the scales “Apt, because this is all about balance, balance and control. We are the Empire and we must be seen to be in control, cracks in the façade are forbidden. The cities in the east are not like Dzendalin, they are vibrant and chaotic, not for them the gleaming towers to Pholtus and his law, for the people there their gods are gold and silver, and the high priests are those with the most of it. The Empire reaches far but in truth it’s grip is not that strong. Especially in Ameni these days, it would seem, there is a new star rising, a man who has proven too capable and has threatened to finally defeat his enemies, a situation we cannot allow. Vais Dambargi, is the head of the Midnight Vipers, a group of thieves and killers who control vast parts of Ameni, far more than any of the other guilds, possibly more than all the others combined. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. Dambargi must be stopped!” The sudden aggression in his voice startles you but it is over in a heartbeat, possibly more troubling is the ease at which it is hidden away so quickly again “Oh yes, I have dark deeds for you all, I need you to cut the head from this snake, bring the house of Dambargi to it’s knees and let the rest pick at the bones spending the next decade trying to divide up all his territory.” He walks from behind the desk looking at you all in detail “I will provide you with some tools to complete your quest, information that you feel you might need, and I will direct you to an agent we have in Ameni, but you will receive nothing from outside once you have gone in. I will not risk compromising other operatives, and their missions, in order to rescue you. I would suggest you treat this as seriously as I do, if you succeed you will be very well rewarded, if you fail you will almost certainly be dead.” You realise that he isn’t human, the slant of his eyes betrays a trace of elven heritage, his ears covered by long black hair do not give him away but you are sure he is half-elven. He is beautiful and stern and has a presence up close that radiates power. He is unarmed and unarmoured but moves like a fighter, full of confidence and purpose.
“I never have enough time for all the things I want” he says distractedly before continuing “I have rented rooms for you in the Fountain, you will like them, try not to cause trouble, I will be displeased.” He turns from you and moves back to the desk “See them out, have Dejan see them to the Inn and help them settle. Good evening to you all.”
You are ushered out of the room, as you are you realise that at no point did you have a chance to agree to this, or even ask a question. The seneschal escorts you back down the corridor, where he gestures to a man in dark leathers who is waiting at the far end “This is Dejan, he will explain in more detail, and all will become clear, Lord Kan has met you and has deemed you suitable, it will be down to others to prepare you.”
Dejan stands tall and straight, with the bearing of a military man, the leathers look well worn but well cared for, the rapier at his side has a plain and functional hilt and something about his bearing convinces you that he is more than capable in its use. Head shaved on it’s sides and the top portion tied into a topknot creates a distinctive appearance, a pair of small scars under his right eye mar a handsome face a little but the warmth in his smile seems genuine and he puts you all at ease somewhat.
“Well met, please come with me, I have been in that room enough times to know that you will have a host of questions and maybe some concerns, but I have been briefed as to Lord Kan’s orders and will explain them when we are set up in the Fountain, the horses are waiting outside, let us be gone from here.”
The man turns, heading down stone steps towards a small group of horses and several grooms holding them ready.
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Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
"A man must die to preserve the peace," Gryffen Knotwise says as he admires one of the paintings on the hallway wall. "That seems a suitable aim; a plausible reason to to shed one's husk."
The halfling looks to his companions, a motley sort but clearly with experience. "Of course, some of us may die in the endeavor," he says. "And that too might be a worthy reason. Would that they could all be so worthy."
Gryffen descends the stone steps, taking each one with a hop to avoid looking silly stepping down them like a toddler. This small point of pride is bothersome but also trivial. It is in the stable that he must make a more meaningful choice against his pride. There he finds only large-sized horses. Why would such a powerful man keep anything else? His options are to rattle along in the saddle of one of these large beasts or to cling to one of his companions behind them. Neither is an appealing choice. He opts to climb one of the large horses and ride it himself. It requires an awkward boost from Dejan to straddle the beast, however. Once in the saddle, his legs splay almost in splits as he grips the reins. Dejan kindly provides him with a riding whip with which he can spur the horse. Hopefully the beast responds well to verbal commands as well. Gryffen suspects these horses are well-trained.
As he waits for his companions to ready themselves, Gryffen ponders his questions for Dejan at the inn. Many, many questions spring to mind, but not all of them are practical. He will stick to the necessary ones for what the task entails.
"A man must die to preserve the peace," Gryffen Knotwise says as he admires one of the paintings on the hallway wall. "That seems a suitable aim; a plausible reason to to shed one's husk."
"Yes particularly if the ultimate purpose is to maintain balance; control less so. I have often found that Nature has its own way of achieving control but there is nothing wrong with giving it the occasional nudge in the right direction"one of them, a wood elf dressed only in leather with a topknot similar to Dejan's and and whose face and shaved pate is covered in a range of intricate tattoos which stand out clearly against his copperish skin replies as he looks around in wonder at the absolute splendour of the mansion. When they reach the stables he gives the horses a quick look over and goes up to the most nondescript one, which is both slightly smaller than the others and has a shaggy coat. He looks into its eyes and strokes its forehead almost as if he is speaking to it. He then checks all of its hooves before leaping into the saddle as if he was born to it.
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DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond DM - Four bards walk into a bar... Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
The half-elf was silent on the short walk to the horses, primarily due to the Ameni firewater locked in desperate battle with the back of her throat, but also partly because she was still digesting the rather one-sided meeting she had just attended. She had just witnessed real power, she was sure of that, and it called to her like nothing before.
Wearing dark, form-fitting leathers adorned with a couple of daggers at her waist, Ophelia strolls behind the others towards the horses. Her shoulder-length black hair frames a pale, attractive face, eyes cold and unwelcoming, facial expression neutral, a well-practiced mask for business situations. She nods at one of the grooms, before slipping into the saddle of her horse, looking in the direction of Dejan to await departure.
"A balance must be kept if those who wield power destabilise it" Gideon said softly almost to himself as he walked to his horse by the others. Running a hand through his untidy beard he cursed inwardly for letting himself appear before such a man in anything other than immaculate condition. His hair long, his boots dirty it was no way for a knight to be presented before anybody, but when did that bother him anymore. Mounting his horse now he fixed his attire, a deep red cloak trimmed in black, the colours of his order wrapped about him concealed his armour and leathers. He eyed the others curiously, to be the only human in any travelling party in Dzenda was a rarity indeed.
Jewels of the coast indeed he chuckled to himself as they waited to set off, Colat was a home he had many fond memories of however Ameni, its sister, he had heard only stories.
As Dejan helps Gryffen into the saddle he whispers "My apologies, if I'd had been informed I would have ensured a pony was available to you, it is something I will correct."
As the last of the group mount the man does likewise, looking like he has spent a lifetime in the saddle. "We are not going far, ten minutes ride will see us to the Fountain where we can get to know each other better, and start this endeavour over a warm meal and a good glass of wine."
True to his word Dejan leads you through the well-lit and beautifully maintained streets of the Valias District, you all get an appreciation for how the "haves" live in the capital. Your journey takes you to the edge of the district, where a selection of expensive looking taverns and inns are clustered together. The Watch are out, the uniforms of the officers far better kept than anywhere else in the city the pairs of Watchmen moving with purpose, but being respectful towards the people they see, unlike the heavy handed approach they are known to have throughout the majority of the city.
As you stop outside an Inn with a finely crafted marble fountain just outside, a pair of grooms rush out, Dejan palms them each a coin and beckons to you to dismount, allowing the boys to take the horses into the adjoining stables.
You all enter behind Dejan, the wide oak door swinging easily on well-oiled hinges, and the sound of a lute greets you alongside the smell of roast meats and delicious spices.
A young half-elven woman greets you near the door, Dejan mentions having booked a private room, she looks over the group, their slightly unkempt appearance jarring with the aesthetics of the place but to her credit she doesn't show any sign of discomfort. She leads then briskly through a main room, fairly full of folk drinking and eating in a very civilised way to a smaller room, with a private self service bar, a table to the side with a generous selection of hot and cold food, stews, roast meats, cheeses and breads as well as a selection of fruits and vegetables from all over Dzenda, the cost of which must be substantial.
A large table occupies the centre, with half a dozen upholstered chairs arrayed around it, a small fire provides warmth and light and candles.
Dejan looks at you "welcome, please eat and drink and then feel free to ask your questions".
Gryffen takes in the feast but does not immediately partake. It is not out of suspicion but out of habit. He has learned to suppress hunger, to resist food as a course of survival. While he waits for others to fill their plates, the halfling wanders the room, taking in the high class. He starts with an easy question.
"How would you like to travel? You can ride, you could join a caravan, walk cross country if you desire to for some reason." Dejan smiles as he answers "I do not mean to mock, I just wish you to know we can arrange what you wish."
"Thank your master" Gideon says with a nod of the head and a short bow. Adorning a hook with his travelling cloak the ravenous knight heads straight for the food and wine, grabbing a healthy selection of both before sitting down and listening to the others.
"I assume being carried on a litter by a dozen well-oiled slaves is out of the question?" Ophelia flashes a mischievous smile at Dejan as she joins the others at the table, a modest selection of food on the plate in her hand. She sits and picks at her food with the fine cutlery provided, her dining etiquette not dissimilar to the more well-to-do patrons in the main room. "I won't object if you must flog a few of them to keep up a good pace", she adds, affecting the haughty tone of a noble matriarch displeased with everyone and everything.
Rolling her eyes at Kai's attempt at humour, Ophelia responds with a patronising stare. "My darling elf, how else would I derive entertainment from them?"
Pushing her plate away from her, the half-elf eyes the wine, but thinks better of it, not wishing to embarrass herself in front of strangers.
She turns to their host with a more business-like look on her face. "Dejan my dear, I would add to the halfling's questions, by also enquiring as to the nature of the help that was alluded to by your superior."
Looking round the room at the others, she adds "We would appear to be working together for the foreseeable future, so I would prefer to know your names sooner rather than later, and what skills you bring to this venture."
Realising from Ophelia's response that he really doesn't understand city dwellers, Kai decides to hold his counsel and wait until the other party members respond before describing himself in more detail.
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DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond DM - Four bards walk into a bar... Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
As the conversation starts up Dejan stands and serves himself a plate full of meats and vegetables, also fetching a glass of wine from the bar. Before sitting down he looks at Ophelia smiling at her suggestion "Well I don't have any in stock right now, but it's probably better you maintain some sort of lower profile." Eating a little he sits and continues to speak "Precisely what you have to do is carry out Lord Kan's orders. What this actually entails may be up to you. One of the important things you must understand is that we do not know enough about is how Dambargi operates, we think he is the dominant voice, possibly the only one but his rise has been noteworthy, two years ago he was a small fish in a large and deadly pond, he is now a man to be of concern to Kan and that means he is powerful. We suspect he controls two thirds of the underworld activity in one way or another, maybe half of that directly, the rest being smaller guilds he has forced into his own organisation. What is more concerning is his attempts to legitimatise his standing with genuine businesses and the influence he seems to have over the ruling council, which should be responsible only to the Empress herself."
Drinking from his wine glass he looks about the room "One way to resolve this might be to end Dambargi, but it may not be possible or it may not be the only way. The downfall of the Midnight Vipers and their power in Ameni is key, were Dambargi to die we believe his organisation would collapse, at least they wil represent less of a threat, but there may be more that we are missing. We need operatives capable of finding out the details we are missing, deciding on which route will lead to ultimate success and having the abilities to ensure that plan comes to fruition. I sincerely hope you are those people".
Staring down into his wine glass he pauses, before visibly making a decision. "I should tell you that you are not the first, we sent a pair of operatives and they disappeared within hours, the next pair lasted a week, we stopped sending people associated with Kan and our work then and turned to you."
Gryffenfinally picks up a plate, walking along the display of food Dejan talks. He stops before touching any food, cocking an eyebrow in surprise. "This is more open-ended than I believed. It is safe to say that we know almost nothing about what we will face. So a large part of our task will be in gathering information. Do you require reports on what we find...perhaps for the next group you rope into this endeavor?"
Ignoring the fact Ophelia's question went unanswered Gideon stifled his annoyance, sat back from his food and answered. "My name is Gideon Bytan i am pleased to meet all of you, my reasons for being here in the capital are my own, for now. I travelled from Colat in the east some time ago and have only limited knowledge of the Ameni region, i regret it is a city i have never had the need or want to visit." Taking a sip of the wine in front of him he continues "if and i stress if we as a party decide to undertake this task we must investigate all avenues thoroughly before acting, removing this man from power will only create a vacuum and could cause further harm to the city and its people"
"I think it will be a city you wil have seen more than enough of soon. But I have left a significant question unanswered and must remedy that. I will do so but Sir Bytan, let me just say that the vacuum you speak of will be of little real danger to the people if we act quickly, but if we let Dambargi take much more power everything you fear will come to pass."
He stands glass still in hand as he takes a moment to answer Ophelia's question. "Help, well you will have great resources available to you, but the more you take in the greater the likelihood that you may be discovered I fear. Whatever equipment you need you will have, weapons, tools, documents, horses, if you need more exotic things such as drugs or poisons we could provide those too." seating himself back in his chair as he stares at the wine in his glass again. "Tell me what you would like, we will do our best to get it for you. You will need to think through the things you could want."
Turning to Gryffen he shakes his head "Not entirely master Gryffen, we know lots about Ameni, lots about Dambargi and lots about the Midnight Vipers. It will take some time to relay it all, but if I were to boil it down I would say if you plan to assassinate Dambargi catching him out in the open will be very difficult, he is unpredictable, deliberately so it would seem and you might wait months for a single opportunity. If you try and assault his home you will be trying to invade a small castle. We have every reason to believe there is at least one capable magic user in the ranks, which does complicate matters. Another option is to infiltrate the Vipers and gain access to him that way. You may have other ideas but without planning they are all extremely risky. Ha, to be honest even with planning they are still highly risky. " He looks over the group, wondering what they make of his words.
"My name is Kaitiaki tiaki ngahere, but please call me Kai"the Wood Elf says. "I come from a small valley that abuts both the Northern and Western Lands. It would appear that a power is once again stirring in the Cities of Dust and the leader of my clan sent me to Shamet to let the powers that be know what we had observed. To cut a long story short, I was passed on up the ranks and eventually found myself relating to me story to a senior officer in Dzendalin Blades. Not long after that I found myself invited to Lord Kan's residence. Whilst I find large cities such as this completely foreign they are fascinating and my skills may be of use. I would however agree with our colleague here" pointing to Gideon"that 'we must investigate all avenues thoroughly before acting, removing this man from power will only create a vacuum and could cause further harm to the city and its people' because as I said earlier nature has its own way of re-balancing things if we are not careful”he finishes with.
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DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond DM - Four bards walk into a bar... Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
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Chapter 1 - Head of the Snake
“Lord Kan requests your presence, come with me he has little time” the unspoken “for the likes of you” is just as clear to you all. The man walks away not troubling himself to see if you are following, assuming you would not dare disobey. You review as you follow what you know of the person you go to meet, the persona he cultivates and the rumours which the more intelligent among you realise he cultivates just as carefully, a shadowy saviour of the empire, the last line of defence against hidden forces and a calculating genius for whom no cost is too great to pay to ensure he succeeds.
Down a hallway where the artwork displayed is clearly of both great value and owned by someone who truly appreciates the medium, the night outside is banished by the candles strategically arranged to illuminate each piece more than to light your way. Windows on the eastern wall look out over a garden of delicate and refined taste, a true luxury here in the capital where all land is of great value, especially here in the Valias, the most elite district in the city.
You see two guards, Dzendalin Blades by their uniforms, standing at the doors you are destined to go through, grim and unwavering, spears held at their sides. The seneschal reaches them and the turn opening the doors as one before subjecting you all to stern gazes as you pass behind.
“My Lord, here are those you requested.” He bows, and retreats a few steps to the side, allowing you all to look across the room. The room itself is finer than any you have ever seen, the perfect ratios and the exquisite decorations everywhere you look threaten to overwhelm the senses. There is art here too, glorious pieces, true masterpieces, but the themes here are darker, more aggressive and angry. Candles light the room here as well, in clusters in the corners, and just inside the door. A large desk occupies the central space, gleaming oak, polished to a shine and almost empty. Several letters lay on the desk and a set of scales rests in balance on one side, the other empty. A chair is pulled back a little from the far side, a sign that the occupant has moved himself from his seat. Your eyes move over to the window, again looking out over the gardens to the east. In the light from the candles a person stands leaning against the window frame as if a million miles away, a glass in his hand as he stares out into the night.
“Welcome to this house, grand is it not?” he says, in a voice both quiet and strong. “My name is Kan, Elyas Kan. I am aware that it is a name known to many and that my role in this empire is often speculated on but I will illuminate you on why I have summoned you here. I will be brief, but I’m sure you understand my time here is limited. I am the man trying to keep all the plates spinning in this empire, the Empress herself has tasked me with keeping our way of life safe, and I will not fail her charge. I have been called a spymaster and you may wish to think of me like that, in truth that is but one hat I wear, but it is the one you need to concern yourself with. I could command armies, I could command the best of my men to do this but I will not, I will ask for assistance from a small group of people largely unknown in the world for that very reason. I have need of people that are not associated with me, people who cannot be seen coming.” He beckons to the seneschal “Please fetch these folk a drink, Ameni firewater would be appropriate would it not?” He chuckles at his own presumed joke. “Oh the east, Ameni and Colat, the jewels of our coast, the darkness of our souls. A thriving cosmopolitan riot of wealth and opportunity or dens of schemers and rogues intent on robbing this empire blind. You can hear them called either, and both are correct.”
As the drinks are handed out he raises his glass to you he continues walking back to his desk, his hand running lightly over the wood, brushing over the letters until he comes to the scales “Apt, because this is all about balance, balance and control. We are the Empire and we must be seen to be in control, cracks in the façade are forbidden. The cities in the east are not like Dzendalin, they are vibrant and chaotic, not for them the gleaming towers to Pholtus and his law, for the people there their gods are gold and silver, and the high priests are those with the most of it. The Empire reaches far but in truth it’s grip is not that strong. Especially in Ameni these days, it would seem, there is a new star rising, a man who has proven too capable and has threatened to finally defeat his enemies, a situation we cannot allow. Vais Dambargi, is the head of the Midnight Vipers, a group of thieves and killers who control vast parts of Ameni, far more than any of the other guilds, possibly more than all the others combined. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. Dambargi must be stopped!” The sudden aggression in his voice startles you but it is over in a heartbeat, possibly more troubling is the ease at which it is hidden away so quickly again “Oh yes, I have dark deeds for you all, I need you to cut the head from this snake, bring the house of Dambargi to it’s knees and let the rest pick at the bones spending the next decade trying to divide up all his territory.” He walks from behind the desk looking at you all in detail “I will provide you with some tools to complete your quest, information that you feel you might need, and I will direct you to an agent we have in Ameni, but you will receive nothing from outside once you have gone in. I will not risk compromising other operatives, and their missions, in order to rescue you. I would suggest you treat this as seriously as I do, if you succeed you will be very well rewarded, if you fail you will almost certainly be dead.” You realise that he isn’t human, the slant of his eyes betrays a trace of elven heritage, his ears covered by long black hair do not give him away but you are sure he is half-elven. He is beautiful and stern and has a presence up close that radiates power. He is unarmed and unarmoured but moves like a fighter, full of confidence and purpose.
“I never have enough time for all the things I want” he says distractedly before continuing “I have rented rooms for you in the Fountain, you will like them, try not to cause trouble, I will be displeased.” He turns from you and moves back to the desk “See them out, have Dejan see them to the Inn and help them settle. Good evening to you all.”
You are ushered out of the room, as you are you realise that at no point did you have a chance to agree to this, or even ask a question. The seneschal escorts you back down the corridor, where he gestures to a man in dark leathers who is waiting at the far end “This is Dejan, he will explain in more detail, and all will become clear, Lord Kan has met you and has deemed you suitable, it will be down to others to prepare you.”
Dejan stands tall and straight, with the bearing of a military man, the leathers look well worn but well cared for, the rapier at his side has a plain and functional hilt and something about his bearing convinces you that he is more than capable in its use. Head shaved on it’s sides and the top portion tied into a topknot creates a distinctive appearance, a pair of small scars under his right eye mar a handsome face a little but the warmth in his smile seems genuine and he puts you all at ease somewhat.
“Well met, please come with me, I have been in that room enough times to know that you will have a host of questions and maybe some concerns, but I have been briefed as to Lord Kan’s orders and will explain them when we are set up in the Fountain, the horses are waiting outside, let us be gone from here.”
The man turns, heading down stone steps towards a small group of horses and several grooms holding them ready.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
"A man must die to preserve the peace," Gryffen Knotwise says as he admires one of the paintings on the hallway wall. "That seems a suitable aim; a plausible reason to to shed one's husk."
The halfling looks to his companions, a motley sort but clearly with experience. "Of course, some of us may die in the endeavor," he says. "And that too might be a worthy reason. Would that they could all be so worthy."
Gryffen descends the stone steps, taking each one with a hop to avoid looking silly stepping down them like a toddler. This small point of pride is bothersome but also trivial. It is in the stable that he must make a more meaningful choice against his pride. There he finds only large-sized horses. Why would such a powerful man keep anything else? His options are to rattle along in the saddle of one of these large beasts or to cling to one of his companions behind them. Neither is an appealing choice. He opts to climb one of the large horses and ride it himself. It requires an awkward boost from Dejan to straddle the beast, however. Once in the saddle, his legs splay almost in splits as he grips the reins. Dejan kindly provides him with a riding whip with which he can spur the horse. Hopefully the beast responds well to verbal commands as well. Gryffen suspects these horses are well-trained.
As he waits for his companions to ready themselves, Gryffen ponders his questions for Dejan at the inn. Many, many questions spring to mind, but not all of them are practical. He will stick to the necessary ones for what the task entails.
"Yes particularly if the ultimate purpose is to maintain balance; control less so. I have often found that Nature has its own way of achieving control but there is nothing wrong with giving it the occasional nudge in the right direction" one of them, a wood elf dressed only in leather with a topknot similar to Dejan's and and whose face and shaved pate is covered in a range of intricate tattoos which stand out clearly against his copperish skin replies as he looks around in wonder at the absolute splendour of the mansion. When they reach the stables he gives the horses a quick look over and goes up to the most nondescript one, which is both slightly smaller than the others and has a shaggy coat. He looks into its eyes and strokes its forehead almost as if he is speaking to it. He then checks all of its hooves before leaping into the saddle as if he was born to it.
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
Ophelia
The half-elf was silent on the short walk to the horses, primarily due to the Ameni firewater locked in desperate battle with the back of her throat, but also partly because she was still digesting the rather one-sided meeting she had just attended. She had just witnessed real power, she was sure of that, and it called to her like nothing before.
Wearing dark, form-fitting leathers adorned with a couple of daggers at her waist, Ophelia strolls behind the others towards the horses. Her shoulder-length black hair frames a pale, attractive face, eyes cold and unwelcoming, facial expression neutral, a well-practiced mask for business situations. She nods at one of the grooms, before slipping into the saddle of her horse, looking in the direction of Dejan to await departure.
"A balance must be kept if those who wield power destabilise it" Gideon said softly almost to himself as he walked to his horse by the others. Running a hand through his untidy beard he cursed inwardly for letting himself appear before such a man in anything other than immaculate condition. His hair long, his boots dirty it was no way for a knight to be presented before anybody, but when did that bother him anymore. Mounting his horse now he fixed his attire, a deep red cloak trimmed in black, the colours of his order wrapped about him concealed his armour and leathers. He eyed the others curiously, to be the only human in any travelling party in Dzenda was a rarity indeed.
Jewels of the coast indeed he chuckled to himself as they waited to set off, Colat was a home he had many fond memories of however Ameni, its sister, he had heard only stories.
As Dejan helps Gryffen into the saddle he whispers "My apologies, if I'd had been informed I would have ensured a pony was available to you, it is something I will correct."
As the last of the group mount the man does likewise, looking like he has spent a lifetime in the saddle. "We are not going far, ten minutes ride will see us to the Fountain where we can get to know each other better, and start this endeavour over a warm meal and a good glass of wine."
True to his word Dejan leads you through the well-lit and beautifully maintained streets of the Valias District, you all get an appreciation for how the "haves" live in the capital. Your journey takes you to the edge of the district, where a selection of expensive looking taverns and inns are clustered together. The Watch are out, the uniforms of the officers far better kept than anywhere else in the city the pairs of Watchmen moving with purpose, but being respectful towards the people they see, unlike the heavy handed approach they are known to have throughout the majority of the city.
As you stop outside an Inn with a finely crafted marble fountain just outside, a pair of grooms rush out, Dejan palms them each a coin and beckons to you to dismount, allowing the boys to take the horses into the adjoining stables.
You all enter behind Dejan, the wide oak door swinging easily on well-oiled hinges, and the sound of a lute greets you alongside the smell of roast meats and delicious spices.
A young half-elven woman greets you near the door, Dejan mentions having booked a private room, she looks over the group, their slightly unkempt appearance jarring with the aesthetics of the place but to her credit she doesn't show any sign of discomfort. She leads then briskly through a main room, fairly full of folk drinking and eating in a very civilised way to a smaller room, with a private self service bar, a table to the side with a generous selection of hot and cold food, stews, roast meats, cheeses and breads as well as a selection of fruits and vegetables from all over Dzenda, the cost of which must be substantial.
A large table occupies the centre, with half a dozen upholstered chairs arrayed around it, a small fire provides warmth and light and candles.
Dejan looks at you "welcome, please eat and drink and then feel free to ask your questions".
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Gryffen takes in the feast but does not immediately partake. It is not out of suspicion but out of habit. He has learned to suppress hunger, to resist food as a course of survival. While he waits for others to fill their plates, the halfling wanders the room, taking in the high class. He starts with an easy question.
"How are we to get to Ameni?" he says.
"How would you like to travel? You can ride, you could join a caravan, walk cross country if you desire to for some reason." Dejan smiles as he answers "I do not mean to mock, I just wish you to know we can arrange what you wish."
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Kai collects some fruit, nuts, bread and cheese from the platters and sits down.
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
"Thank your master" Gideon says with a nod of the head and a short bow. Adorning a hook with his travelling cloak the ravenous knight heads straight for the food and wine, grabbing a healthy selection of both before sitting down and listening to the others.
Gryffen finds his eyes straying towards the food but speaks his next question instead. "What precisely is the....request...being made of us?"
Ophelia
"I assume being carried on a litter by a dozen well-oiled slaves is out of the question?" Ophelia flashes a mischievous smile at Dejan as she joins the others at the table, a modest selection of food on the plate in her hand. She sits and picks at her food with the fine cutlery provided, her dining etiquette not dissimilar to the more well-to-do patrons in the main room. "I won't object if you must flog a few of them to keep up a good pace", she adds, affecting the haughty tone of a noble matriarch displeased with everyone and everything.
Kai looks at Ophelia with a grin and says "why do you need to flog them, wont the oil make the slaves go faster anyway?"
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
Ophelia
Rolling her eyes at Kai's attempt at humour, Ophelia responds with a patronising stare. "My darling elf, how else would I derive entertainment from them?"
Pushing her plate away from her, the half-elf eyes the wine, but thinks better of it, not wishing to embarrass herself in front of strangers.
She turns to their host with a more business-like look on her face. "Dejan my dear, I would add to the halfling's questions, by also enquiring as to the nature of the help that was alluded to by your superior."
Looking round the room at the others, she adds "We would appear to be working together for the foreseeable future, so I would prefer to know your names sooner rather than later, and what skills you bring to this venture."
Realising from Ophelia's response that he really doesn't understand city dwellers, Kai decides to hold his counsel and wait until the other party members respond before describing himself in more detail.
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
As the conversation starts up Dejan stands and serves himself a plate full of meats and vegetables, also fetching a glass of wine from the bar. Before sitting down he looks at Ophelia smiling at her suggestion "Well I don't have any in stock right now, but it's probably better you maintain some sort of lower profile." Eating a little he sits and continues to speak "Precisely what you have to do is carry out Lord Kan's orders. What this actually entails may be up to you. One of the important things you must understand is that we do not know enough about is how Dambargi operates, we think he is the dominant voice, possibly the only one but his rise has been noteworthy, two years ago he was a small fish in a large and deadly pond, he is now a man to be of concern to Kan and that means he is powerful. We suspect he controls two thirds of the underworld activity in one way or another, maybe half of that directly, the rest being smaller guilds he has forced into his own organisation. What is more concerning is his attempts to legitimatise his standing with genuine businesses and the influence he seems to have over the ruling council, which should be responsible only to the Empress herself."
Drinking from his wine glass he looks about the room "One way to resolve this might be to end Dambargi, but it may not be possible or it may not be the only way. The downfall of the Midnight Vipers and their power in Ameni is key, were Dambargi to die we believe his organisation would collapse, at least they wil represent less of a threat, but there may be more that we are missing. We need operatives capable of finding out the details we are missing, deciding on which route will lead to ultimate success and having the abilities to ensure that plan comes to fruition. I sincerely hope you are those people".
Staring down into his wine glass he pauses, before visibly making a decision. "I should tell you that you are not the first, we sent a pair of operatives and they disappeared within hours, the next pair lasted a week, we stopped sending people associated with Kan and our work then and turned to you."
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Gryffen finally picks up a plate, walking along the display of food Dejan talks. He stops before touching any food, cocking an eyebrow in surprise. "This is more open-ended than I believed. It is safe to say that we know almost nothing about what we will face. So a large part of our task will be in gathering information. Do you require reports on what we find...perhaps for the next group you rope into this endeavor?"
Ignoring the fact Ophelia's question went unanswered Gideon stifled his annoyance, sat back from his food and answered. "My name is Gideon Bytan i am pleased to meet all of you, my reasons for being here in the capital are my own, for now. I travelled from Colat in the east some time ago and have only limited knowledge of the Ameni region, i regret it is a city i have never had the need or want to visit." Taking a sip of the wine in front of him he continues "if and i stress if we as a party decide to undertake this task we must investigate all avenues thoroughly before acting, removing this man from power will only create a vacuum and could cause further harm to the city and its people"
"I think it will be a city you wil have seen more than enough of soon. But I have left a significant question unanswered and must remedy that. I will do so but Sir Bytan, let me just say that the vacuum you speak of will be of little real danger to the people if we act quickly, but if we let Dambargi take much more power everything you fear will come to pass."
He stands glass still in hand as he takes a moment to answer Ophelia's question. "Help, well you will have great resources available to you, but the more you take in the greater the likelihood that you may be discovered I fear. Whatever equipment you need you will have, weapons, tools, documents, horses, if you need more exotic things such as drugs or poisons we could provide those too." seating himself back in his chair as he stares at the wine in his glass again. "Tell me what you would like, we will do our best to get it for you. You will need to think through the things you could want."
Turning to Gryffen he shakes his head "Not entirely master Gryffen, we know lots about Ameni, lots about Dambargi and lots about the Midnight Vipers. It will take some time to relay it all, but if I were to boil it down I would say if you plan to assassinate Dambargi catching him out in the open will be very difficult, he is unpredictable, deliberately so it would seem and you might wait months for a single opportunity. If you try and assault his home you will be trying to invade a small castle. We have every reason to believe there is at least one capable magic user in the ranks, which does complicate matters. Another option is to infiltrate the Vipers and gain access to him that way. You may have other ideas but without planning they are all extremely risky. Ha, to be honest even with planning they are still highly risky. " He looks over the group, wondering what they make of his words.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
"My name is Kaitiaki tiaki ngahere, but please call me Kai" the Wood Elf says. "I come from a small valley that abuts both the Northern and Western Lands. It would appear that a power is once again stirring in the Cities of Dust and the leader of my clan sent me to Shamet to let the powers that be know what we had observed. To cut a long story short, I was passed on up the ranks and eventually found myself relating to me story to a senior officer in Dzendalin Blades. Not long after that I found myself invited to Lord Kan's residence. Whilst I find large cities such as this completely foreign they are fascinating and my skills may be of use. I would however agree with our colleague here" pointing to Gideon "that 'we must investigate all avenues thoroughly before acting, removing this man from power will only create a vacuum and could cause further harm to the city and its people' because as I said earlier nature has its own way of re-balancing things if we are not careful” he finishes with.
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]