Edgewalkers Campaign Thread

"We discovered that a cult was behind the series of disappearances. They were kidnapping people from around the area and sacrificing them to gain more knowledge about the dark powers in the maze. We were able to stop the cult and destroy the source of the dark powers, but not before they captured Jenna and sacrificed her.

Lady Shiharan bows her head. "I see. She will be mourned." She pokes her head out into the hall for a moment, and then two commoners come in and reverently lift Jenna's body. "We will have her body taken to a hanbanali so the proper rites may be performed." The pair carrying Jenna exit the room quietly.

Lore: Riedran funeral rites are simple. The deceased are interred in a hanbanali until the correct prayers can be said over them during a service. They are then given to the Healing Hand, the healing sector of Riedra, and their bodies are cremated.

Meiara bows before Lady Shiharan. "Thank you. We also found and rescued Ani, another Edgewalker who was captured by the cultists."

"Ah, yes..." Lady Shiharan turns her gaze on Ani. "Ani, you were sent on a scouting mission to the war maze, we grew worried when you did not return. It is good that you are safe." She looks thoughtful. "As this unit is currently missing a member, and you have already proved you can work with them, I believe it is best if you are officially reassigned to them." She smiles. "Now your unit will be at full strength once more."

Ani will bow to Lady Shiharan, "Thank you. I am grateful for my safe return. It wouldn't have been possible without everyone's help." She'd smile. Her smile would fade quickly though. It was bitter sweet. The changeling was excited to be a part of a group again, but sad for the loss of their group member that made it possible. She'd simply nod in thanks to Lady Shiharan for her assignment.

If it wasn't mentioned at some point during the journey or before, Vusgaar's eyes went wide for a second, finally connecting the sacrificed changeling and Jenna together. After quietly watching the proceedings with a newfound look of reverence, the Shifter finally gives Lady Shiharan his full attention, and curtly bows. "You have our thanks as well, Lady Shiharan. Rest assured, we will redouble our efforts so that such a loss will not be suffered again by this unit." He firmly declared, screwing his face up into a more determined one. "Is there yet another mission you would set before us?"

 

Lady Shiharan nods. "Yes. This one is rather urgent, in fact. To the north, the Kalaak barbarians have been growing bolder in their attacks. They're pushing further and further south, and getting dangerously close to our border. Your mission is two part. First, go to Syrkarn and find out why. Our Thousand Eyes agents tell us that there is a woman there who recently left the Kalaak, she may be able to tell you the reason for their increased aggressiveness. Then go north. Find the Kalaak and stop them from pushing south at the least. Don't hesitate to call in reinforcements if it turns out you can't stop them alone, this is a big operation. And be careful. Syrkarn, while technically under our rule, is a dangerous place, and the people there do not respect the Inspired or our agents as they should. And the Tundra is a dangerous place, without even a semblance of civilization. Vusgaar, you in particular should be careful, as the shifters of the Tundra detest their brethren who have found enlightenment. To that effect, we've had a small group of Edgewalkers doing some initial scouting work while you were gone. One of them, an experienced inquisitor by the name of Khern, will meet you in Ardhmen, the Syrk capital. The other two are in training, they're named Aali and Jhalaar, and they will be waiting at the Tashanan border." Her face is serious. "This is big and dangerous. You will need..." Her face twists slightly in disgust. "Money for Syrkarn, to buy drinks and information. We will be giving you a stipend of fifty gold for that. You may also wish to use it to get some items for barter in the Tundra. Distasteful as it is, it may be necessary. You leave the day after tomorrow."

Lore: The Tashana Tundra is to the northwest of Riedra. The most important thing to know about it is the aukraks, or reality storms. These are essentially moving manifest zones, that sweep across the Tundra in destructive waves. There are several groups in the Tundra. The shifters, divided into three tribes by region. The dwarves, divided into two groups, the isolationist Doranns and the traitorous Akiaks who betrayed the Inspired after helping them to build the hanbanali. And the Kalaak barbarians, a new addition to the Tundra that has wreaked destruction across the Tundra and is threatening the Tundra's order.

OOC: Go ahead and ask questions, then give me your activities to prepare for the mission. You may all choose one uncommon magic item to add to your inventory, and pick up any mundane equipment worth under 50 gp. If you want something else, run it by me.

"I must confess that the feeling is somewhat mutual in regards to Tundra shifters. However, it would seem they il-atlas have perhaps provided an in with them through our last mission." Vusgaar then steps up and offers a written and full accounting of the previous for Lady Shiharan's perusal; including a half-remembered imagery of the cults symbols, meeting of the other changeling, Vic, and of the shifter that he at least suspects to be named Lirika.

Before Lady Shiharan became too engrosed in possibly reading the entry, he goes on to say, "Forgive me, but I do also have other inquires in regards to the mission. Is there any more you can provide about this former Kalaak or Khern? Namely in regards to their personalities or what to expect. In addition, is there anything you might recommend we take with us from here for the mission beyond just our faith and cold winter gear, Lady Shiharan, in terms of gear? Items or... a certain..." He frowns ever so slightly. "appearance to preemptively adopt that might incline Syrkarnians to be less distasteful with us?" Once he had his answer, Vusgaar lingers around long enough to at least overhear questions from the others, await dismissal, and then seek out whatever stores of knowledge might be available to study... no, to remind himself about his previous life in in Tashana.

Lady Shiharan scans the entry quickly. "I will fully peruse this after the meeting," she promises before answering Vusgaar's question. "I'm afraid we have little information about the Kalaak, that's what Khern is for. Her name is Laisok, that's all I can tell you. As for Khern...he's an experienced and talented inquisitor. A Chosen who has yet to be fully guided by his il-altas. Serious, loyal, and with a decade of experience in Syrkarn and manifest zones. However, he's not especially socially talented or smooth, which is why he had the job of watching and listening, and you are talking. Finally, I don't know if there's much you can do to keep the Syrks from viewing you unfavorably. They are not particularly welcoming of those whom they consider strangers."

You are all dismissed from the room to perform your preparations. That evening, there is a quiet service for Jenna in the fortress's monolith before her body is given over to the Healing Hand for cremation. The preparations are easy, and when you leave on the second day, Lady Shiharan gives one of you a pouch of fifty gold coins for negotiations.

The part of your journey through Riedra is quiet and easy, with no danger or worry. However, when you cross into Syrkarn, the change is almost tangible. Here, there is no Soothing Voice, no shared dream. You are outsiders here, and you know the tribes are fiercely protective of their precious "freedom" and hate the Inspired. Here, you are not wanted.

OOC: If anyone thinks of another question they wanted to ask Lady Shiharan, you can ask me in the server. Also, if you are doing anything differently in Syrkarn (e.g. setting watches, changing clothes, etc.) put it in a post here. Finally, Syrkarn is a vitally different place, most evident in its lack of dream monoliths and thus absence of a Soothing Voice or shared dream, something your characters have likely grown up all their lives with. Keep that in mind while you are here. It is a two day journey from the Syrk border to Ardhmen, where Khern is meeting you all.

When otherwise with either the nightly service for Jenna or other duties, Vusgaar stayed in his room in deep meditation. Even the usual temptation to pursue knowledge in anticipation of the next mission could not draw him away from it. Eventually, if not that eve, then the morning after, he performs the ritual to remold the Batican's body into that of a Tressym. Though knowing how all tend to feel about such creatures, Gaarus is left tucked away in a pocket dimension.

Later on, once the group crosses into Syrkarn, Vusgaar suggests taking watch, taking 1st for himself, and changing into any winter clothing if none hadn't by then. He also, without intitially explaining it to the group, began rolling around in the soil and various plant life deemed safe along the way.

The trip through the Syrkarn plains is quiet, if strange. Your dreams each of the two nights to Ardhmen are strange and turbulent, rather than the peaceful shared dream you're used to. And the absence of any Soothing Voice in your head is jarring.

Two days later, you arrive at Ardhmen, the capital of Syrkarn. Full of Syrks from shifters to eneko, the port city even has the occasional Khorvairan. You know Khern will be waiting for you at an ustah tavern on the west side of the city called the Ragged Sheaf. As you move through the city, anyone still wearing Riedran symbols draw suspicious or even outright hostile looks from the Syrks on the streets.

Lore: Eneko, or mongrel ogres, are descended from humans, ogres, and giants. They are native solely to Syrkarn, although a very few are present as part of Riedra's Savage Legion. Eneko are fiercely proud and independent (part of why there are so few in Riedra), and disdain all forms of control.

Ustah is a a Syrk alcoholic drink. Ustah taverns are the primary gathering places in Syrkarn.

With every day that passes, Vusgaar awakens more haggered than the last. Those on watch may even hear him mutter in his sleep at times. Above all that gets said, the words that gets repeated most are "Lies" and "Focus". By the time the group reach Ardhmen, the Ursine Shifter has not even the mental focus to wear any of the usual symbols of Rediran outside of national colors, and even they appear muted from dust and grime. "We need... should press on through. No engagements. No... side business. Not until we... finish our talks." Vusgaar spoke of in between yawns or simple pause in thought. Despite it all, he still reflexively tries to avoid passing to close to any shifters, or meeting anyones gaze save the party.

Meiara doesn't enjoy being separated from her fellow Edgewalkers, even if it's simply during the night hours. She looks slightly shaken when she wakes up each morning. Her meditations are longer and in them she can be heard muttering in Sylvan, but when they're over, she's back to her mellow self. She keeps her sandals tucked away in her back the entire time, opting to walk barefoot on the ground, except on occasions where that's clearly not doable. When they get to Ardhmen, Meiara suggests that they go in the tavern, but she of course does not partake in any alcoholic beverages.

Demetrios' gaze was as hardened as ever after the few nights they spent travelling. There were clear bags under his eyes and his normally slick back hair would now be unkempt with a five o'clock shadow also apparent on his normally clean shaven face. He looked worse for wear (though truthfully they all did) and he looked less than pleased being in Syrkarn where they were not welcome. To save himself some trouble (although it displeased him greatly to even do so), he would wear a cloak to cover over his armor, especially over the crest of the Inspired. He agreed with Meiara in going to the tavern and also with Vusgaar as he didn't want to be here longer than they already had been.

Talaak hides his Riedran symbols under a cloak with disgruntlement. As they leave the safety of the Soothing Voice, Talaak's hair begins growing at a much faster rate, to the point where he has to shave multiple times a day, though he always makes an effort do so where he cannot be seen by his fellow Edgewalkers. As they walk in the city, he keeps his eyes looking straight ahead, refusing to respond to any provocations, no matter how much he wants to.

Making your way through the city, you manage to make it to the west side of the city without outright provoking anyone. Arriving at the Ragged Sheaf, the eneko bartender takes one look at your clothes and motions you towards a curtained alcove with a grunt.

Talaak pulls the curtain aside to move inside the alcove, keeping his free hand on his mace as he does so. He takes a careful look inside before saying anything, making sure that there's no one waiting to ambush them.

When Talaak moves the curtain to the side, he sees a man with brown hair and a beard sitting at the table with a mug, sharpening a dagger. A bow lies on the table as well, and two swords are across his back. As you open the curtain, he glances up silently and raises an inquiring eyebrow.

Talaak locks eyes with the man, moving his hand from his mace to his cloak, pushing it aside to reveal his Riedran symbols.