After the discussion with the spokesperson for the Reginheraht Tower Team, you return to your own wagon and look over the goblin and bugbear's bodies. You find the following...
• Goblin Witch: 5 ep, a staff that can be used as an arcane focus, and 3 spellscrolls of cure wounds, 1 spellscroll of locate animals or plants. • Brath, the Bugbear: Hide armor, three javelins, one shield, one morningstar, 10 sp, and 12 gp. • Goblin Infiltrators: Each goblin has a scimitar, leather armor, a shortbow with 10 arrows, 4 cp, 7 sp, and 1 ep. (there were two of this type of goblins.)
After taking what you want you are brought to one of the still-intact coaches and continue your ride towards SKYBELL CITY.
SKYBELL CITY Skybell is a large city that faces the Central Sea, a gigantic lake in the middle of the continent. It is almost as big and busy as the Imperial Capital itself, although its large streets and buildings suggest a more peaceful demeanor by making traffic seem smaller. From afar, the city gleams white from its buildings’ stones, smudged with the vivacious green of plentiful gardens and sprinkled with the cerulean blue of the expensive fabrics swaying in the wind that kisses the terraces and balconies by the sea, where the nobility lives. One who climbs the slopes toward the northeastern edge of town and away from the docks finds what is simply called The Cathedral, the administrative and religious center of the Evolutionist Church in Tanares. Its gardens are right by the road when the PCs’ stagecoach arrives. The garden, where various fighters, mages, and Ironhand soldiers now gather, is protected on each side by titanic statues of Bauron and Tamera, each half-dragon, half-human. At the top, inside each dragon’s mouth, thousand-pound bells toll with distinct but complementary tones, representing the differences between the two gods and their creations. Every dawn and twilight—when it is considered to be day and night in equal measure—the bells reverberate throughout Skybell City and can be heard several miles away.
The stagecoach takes an uneventful trip to the north eastern entrance of Skybell City and drops you off in the back gardens of the most important church in Tanares. An Ironhand soldier points at you and says, in an emotionless tone, “Next.”
This soldier stands by a pedestrian wooden door at the back of the cathedral, which he opens as you approach. When you cross the threshold, all of the remaining light and sound disappear.
You are in one of the largest rooms you’ve ever seen. The flickering dots of light from thousands of candles stretch to your right and left as far as the eye can see, barely illuminating imposing stone statues behind them. A thundering choir of many feminine voices reverberates all around you. The melody is at first beautiful and loud, then spooky and whispery. Above the whispers, a deep male voice says: “The Dream is a Team’s pulsating heart. It is the beacon that guides your every move. Here and now, before the gods and saints, declare your final goal— what you hope to accomplish as a Team.” “A strong team finishes what it starts and is never off track. Choose your path, and never look back.”
Corgretor collects the loot from the goblins for later sale before they depart.
Upon arrival at the cathedral, he looks around with equal parts awe and envy. Stepping inside, he turns to his allies, "Seems it's time for us to declare our intent, what do we want as a team?"
Stor stares in open-eyed wonder and amazement as they approach the cathedral. The splendor and magnificence of the city is a far cry from the humble village where he was raised.
As they enter the room, he can tell immediately it is a place of great reverence. Hearing Corgretor's question, he turns to the others. “As I have stated before, I have always thought of myself as a man of the people. My inclination is for a heroic team, protecting others and defending those that cannnot defend themselves, but I would not be opposed to one of discovery to find what is hidden. What do you all think?"
Corgretor hesitates for a moment before responding slowly, "I have a preference for discovery, and recovery, of things once lost in the newly available lands."
The deep voice (that of a cleric) replies, “That is not a true purpose, but a mere quest or action. A Dream requires a long-term goal that assumes an ongoing activity.”
(OOC: this is outside of your team-type, but an overarching dream the team aspires to do as they work to become famous, renown, or simply the best at something.)
Tel'ure paces through the space, hands behind his back respectfully. He was never the religious type, though had no quarrel with those who were.
"I, too, agree that discov-" he starts, but is cut off by the cleric's voice. "Ah. But consider Corgretor's statement. Uncovering things once lost in the toxic fumes. Uncovering their secrets and bringing back the artifacts and knowledge of civilizations lost to time for all to learn from. What a fascinating prospect to work towards. What say all of you...?"
Corgretor frowns as the cleric speaks, then nods as Tel'ure responds, "Yes, my purpose is to reclaim all that was lost. Land for the people, knowledge for the scholars, restitution for myself, and strength for the Empire."
Stor stands in silence, outer garments still bloodstained and singed from the fight at the caravan and contemplates the cleric's words, as well as those of his new companions.
“Yes, to find that which is hidden or lost and use it to the betterment of all. That sounds like a noble and just calling.”
“A Team with no purpose, or with no freedom to pursue it, is but a leaf carried into chaos by the winds of life. Go forth, Team Number 2, for you are free to choose what part you will play in Tanares’s evolution.”
The whispers of the choir increase in volume as the room slowly grows brighter until a loud, high-pitched scream makes the room almost blindingly white and then abruptly ceases, leaving you only with echoes in a long corridor with three carpets. The one on the left is green, the one in the middle is red, and the one to your right is blue. Big plaques lean loosely on easels in front of each carpet, and a horizontal banner hanging above and across all three plaques reads:
“A strong team finishes what it starts and is never off track. Choose your path, and never look back.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Stor blinks at the flash of bright light, clearing the spots from his eyes before taking in the three carpets before them. “I take it this is where our path begins, but which leads where?”
Stor moves forward to the easels before each of the carpets and checks each in turn to see if there are any markings or messages, starting with the blue carpet.
Stor you notice that the plaques are poorly aligned on the easels.
Green Carpet’s Plaque
miles, 180 square miles Primary work: Trade and construction security; general help for the people. A lot of back-and-forth to be expected between Ahimoth City and granted lands. Secondary jobs: Numerous. Variable payment. End-of-year payment: 5,000 gp / Team Headquarters: House in Ahimoth (please consult with our representative) Representative: Master Armur Jasperin
Red Carpet’s Plaque
Your Grace, Edhell Lisprolis, respectfully seeks a Team to honor the legacy of the most ancient lineages north of the Central Sea, and to work to build us a future that is even greater than our past. The Lisprolis provenance goes back centuries; some of the oldest history books in Stravian and Ben’net Provinces tell the tales of the firsts of our name. It was with sorrow that we witnessed the names of similar noble families be forever erased from history in Reginheraht, Yama, and, above all, the Mystical Kingdom, in three consecutive and devastating Malrokian Curses. With Arcana now free from divine punishment, the Addin-Zaiba family can hopefully live on. Protecting their legacy from the hands of thieves and disrespectful treasure hunters can only help our brothers from the east (and Tanares as a whole) in their evolutionary efforts. The buried knowledge must come to light—just not the light of marauders’ torches. Specs Beneficiary: The Noble Skybell House of Edhell Lisprolis Lands granted: 308 square miles, 270 square miles, 200 square miles Primary work: Land and road protection; charting and exploring the granted lands for the best opportunities for regional development. Secondary jobs: Few. High payment. End-of-year payment: 20,000 gp / Team Headquarters: Strongholds under construction; sizes proportionate to the land area. Team may request special rooms and sections. Representative: Your Grace’s niece and advisor, Mariahnnah Lisprolis
Blue Carpet’s Plaque
Your Glorious Empire, keeper of the peace and evolution in Tanares, will position Teams around and on the Turtlepoint Peninsula to stave off pirates and other marauders seeking the dangerous magic and treasure found in the Mystical Province. The tall mountain range at the eastern side of the former Mystical Kingdom serves as welcoming natural protection against trespassers from the west; however, there are weaknesses in gaps at the northwestern section. Despite the overwhelming presence of troops in the region, there are many wide and complex areas of land and sea in the surroundings. The Empire requests experienced and intelligent adventurers to control some of the numerous entry points, thus preventing trespassers from gathering near the gaps. Specs Beneficiary:TheIronhand’sTurtlepointNavySquad Lands granted (including water and mountain zones): 560 square miles, 500 square miles, 460 square miles Primary work: Protection of the coast and seas; tactical support in Ironhand operations. Secondary jobs: Some. Fair payment. End-of-year payment: Payment for outstanding performance is possible in the form of land, property, ships, invaluable prestige within the Empire, or nobility titles. Headquarters: Already built (castles, fortresses, and ships that formerly sheltered Ironhand troops). Representative: From Seashores Province, Ironhand Lieutenant Lik Eirenion
Each carpet continues into a small room at the end of the 500-foot corridor.
Corgretor hesitates looking over the plaques, "The noble house offer looks like the exploration we'd talked about, but I must admit I am very tempted by the potential offer of titles of nobility from the Empire."
“Bah, noble titles can be stripped away and lost, exactly what House Lisprolis talks about. And we would be glorified security guards and reinforcements to the Ironhand.” Stor pauses and considers the options, he eyes moving over to the easel in front of the green one more time. Hard work and low pay, but benefits for the people. They are other ways the people may benefit though.
“House Lisprolis offers the chance to recover and protect lost knowledge that also has benefits for the people. That path leads to our dream of discovery and finding that which is lost. I say we choose the red. What say the rest of you?”
"Agreed. I can't say that I hate the disciplined air of the Ironhand's operation, but I cannot stomach the thought of being assigned to mundane guard duty and military support tasks. House Lisprolis sounds promising." Tel'ure replies.
After the discussion with the spokesperson for the Reginheraht Tower Team, you return to your own wagon and look over the goblin and bugbear's bodies. You find the following...
• Goblin Witch: 5 ep, a staff that can be used as an arcane focus, and 3 spellscrolls of cure wounds, 1 spellscroll of locate animals or plants.
• Brath, the Bugbear: Hide armor, three javelins, one shield, one morningstar, 10 sp, and 12 gp.
• Goblin Infiltrators: Each goblin has a scimitar, leather armor, a shortbow with 10 arrows, 4 cp, 7 sp, and 1 ep. (there were two of this type of goblins.)
After taking what you want you are brought to one of the still-intact coaches and continue your ride towards SKYBELL CITY.
SKYBELL CITY
Skybell is a large city that faces the Central Sea, a gigantic lake in the middle of the continent. It is almost as big and busy as the Imperial Capital itself, although its large streets and buildings suggest a more peaceful demeanor by making traffic seem smaller. From afar, the city gleams white from its buildings’ stones, smudged with the vivacious green of plentiful gardens and sprinkled with the cerulean blue of the expensive fabrics swaying in the wind that kisses the terraces and balconies by the sea, where the nobility lives. One who climbs the slopes toward the northeastern edge of town and away from the docks finds what is simply called The Cathedral, the administrative and religious center of the Evolutionist Church in Tanares. Its gardens are right by the road when the PCs’ stagecoach arrives. The garden, where various fighters, mages, and Ironhand soldiers now gather, is protected on each side by titanic statues of Bauron and Tamera, each half-dragon, half-human. At the top, inside each dragon’s mouth, thousand-pound bells toll with distinct but complementary tones, representing the differences between the two gods and their creations. Every dawn and twilight—when it is considered to be day and night in equal measure—the bells reverberate throughout Skybell City and can be heard several miles away.
The stagecoach takes an uneventful trip to the north eastern entrance of Skybell City and drops you off in the back gardens of the most important church in Tanares. An Ironhand soldier points at you and says, in an emotionless tone, “Next.”
This soldier stands by a pedestrian wooden door at the back of the cathedral, which he opens as you approach. When you cross the threshold, all of the remaining light and sound disappear.
You are in one of the largest rooms you’ve ever seen. The flickering dots of light from thousands of candles stretch to your right and left as far as the eye can see, barely illuminating imposing stone statues behind them. A thundering choir of many feminine voices reverberates all around you. The melody is at first beautiful and loud, then spooky and whispery. Above the whispers, a deep male voice says: “The Dream is a Team’s pulsating heart. It is the beacon that guides your every move. Here and now, before the gods and saints, declare your final goal— what you hope to accomplish as a Team.”
“A strong team finishes what it starts and is never off track. Choose your path, and never look back.”
Corgretor collects the loot from the goblins for later sale before they depart.
Upon arrival at the cathedral, he looks around with equal parts awe and envy. Stepping inside, he turns to his allies, "Seems it's time for us to declare our intent, what do we want as a team?"
Stor stares in open-eyed wonder and amazement as they approach the cathedral. The splendor and magnificence of the city is a far cry from the humble village where he was raised.
As they enter the room, he can tell immediately it is a place of great reverence. Hearing Corgretor's question, he turns to the others. “As I have stated before, I have always thought of myself as a man of the people. My inclination is for a heroic team, protecting others and defending those that cannnot defend themselves, but I would not be opposed to one of discovery to find what is hidden. What do you all think?"
Corgretor hesitates for a moment before responding slowly, "I have a preference for discovery, and recovery, of things once lost in the newly available lands."
The deep voice (that of a cleric) replies, “That is not a true purpose, but a mere quest or action. A Dream requires a long-term goal that assumes an ongoing activity.”
(OOC: this is outside of your team-type, but an overarching dream the team aspires to do as they work to become famous, renown, or simply the best at something.)
Tel'ure paces through the space, hands behind his back respectfully. He was never the religious type, though had no quarrel with those who were.
"I, too, agree that discov-" he starts, but is cut off by the cleric's voice. "Ah. But consider Corgretor's statement. Uncovering things once lost in the toxic fumes. Uncovering their secrets and bringing back the artifacts and knowledge of civilizations lost to time for all to learn from. What a fascinating prospect to work towards. What say all of you...?"
Aruzhal - Lv 1 Tempest Cleric - Planescape: Lost
Corgretor frowns as the cleric speaks, then nods as Tel'ure responds, "Yes, my purpose is to reclaim all that was lost. Land for the people, knowledge for the scholars, restitution for myself, and strength for the Empire."
Stor stands in silence, outer garments still bloodstained and singed from the fight at the caravan and contemplates the cleric's words, as well as those of his new companions.
“Yes, to find that which is hidden or lost and use it to the betterment of all. That sounds like a noble and just calling.”
“A Team with no purpose, or with no freedom to pursue it, is but a leaf carried into chaos by the winds of life. Go forth, Team Number 2, for you are free to choose what part you will play in Tanares’s evolution.”
The whispers of the choir increase in volume as the room slowly grows brighter until a loud, high-pitched scream makes the room almost blindingly white and then abruptly ceases, leaving you only with echoes in a long corridor with three carpets. The one on the left is green, the one in the middle is red, and the one to your right is blue. Big plaques lean loosely on easels in front of each carpet, and a horizontal banner hanging above and across all three plaques reads:
“A strong team finishes what it starts and is never off track. Choose your path, and never look back.”
Stor blinks at the flash of bright light, clearing the spots from his eyes before taking in the three carpets before them. “I take it this is where our path begins, but which leads where?”
Stor moves forward to the easels before each of the carpets and checks each in turn to see if there are any markings or messages, starting with the blue carpet.
Perception: 24.
Stor you notice that the plaques are poorly aligned on the easels.
Green Carpet’s Plaque
miles, 180 square miles
Primary work: Trade and construction security; general help for the people. A lot of back-and-forth to be expected between Ahimoth City and granted lands.
Secondary jobs: Numerous. Variable payment.
End-of-year payment: 5,000 gp / Team
Headquarters: House in Ahimoth (please consult with our representative)
Representative: Master Armur Jasperin
Red Carpet’s Plaque
Your Grace, Edhell Lisprolis, respectfully seeks a Team to honor the legacy of the most ancient lineages north of the Central Sea, and to work to build us a future that is even greater than our past. The Lisprolis provenance goes back centuries; some of the oldest history books in Stravian and Ben’net Provinces tell the tales of the firsts of our name. It was with sorrow that we witnessed the names of similar noble families be forever erased from history in Reginheraht, Yama, and, above all, the Mystical Kingdom, in three consecutive and devastating Malrokian Curses.
With Arcana now free from divine punishment, the Addin-Zaiba family can hopefully live on. Protecting their legacy from the hands of thieves and disrespectful treasure hunters can only help our brothers from the east (and Tanares as a whole) in their evolutionary efforts. The buried knowledge must come to light—just not the light of marauders’ torches.
Specs
Beneficiary: The Noble Skybell House of Edhell Lisprolis
Lands granted: 308 square miles, 270 square miles, 200 square miles
Primary work: Land and road protection; charting and exploring the granted lands for the best opportunities for regional development.
Secondary jobs: Few. High payment.
End-of-year payment: 20,000 gp / Team
Headquarters: Strongholds under construction; sizes proportionate to the land area. Team may request special rooms and sections.
Representative: Your Grace’s niece and advisor, Mariahnnah Lisprolis
Blue Carpet’s Plaque
Your Glorious Empire, keeper of the peace and evolution in Tanares, will position Teams around and on the Turtlepoint Peninsula to stave off pirates and other marauders seeking the dangerous magic and treasure found in the Mystical Province.
The tall mountain range at the eastern side of the former Mystical Kingdom serves as welcoming natural protection against trespassers from the west; however, there are weaknesses in gaps at the northwestern section. Despite the overwhelming presence of troops in the region, there are many wide and complex areas of land and sea in the surroundings. The Empire requests experienced and intelligent adventurers to control some of the numerous entry points, thus preventing trespassers from gathering near the gaps.
Specs
Beneficiary:TheIronhand’sTurtlepointNavySquad
Lands granted (including water and mountain zones): 560 square miles, 500 square miles, 460 square miles
Primary work: Protection of the coast and seas; tactical support in Ironhand operations.
Secondary jobs: Some. Fair payment.
End-of-year payment: Payment for outstanding performance is possible in the form of land, property, ships, invaluable prestige within the Empire,
or nobility titles. Headquarters: Already built (castles, fortresses, and ships that formerly sheltered Ironhand troops).
Representative: From Seashores Province, Ironhand Lieutenant Lik Eirenion
Each carpet continues into a small room at the end of the 500-foot corridor.
Corgretor hesitates looking over the plaques, "The noble house offer looks like the exploration we'd talked about, but I must admit I am very tempted by the potential offer of titles of nobility from the Empire."
“Bah, noble titles can be stripped away and lost, exactly what House Lisprolis talks about. And we would be glorified security guards and reinforcements to the Ironhand.” Stor pauses and considers the options, he eyes moving over to the easel in front of the green one more time. Hard work and low pay, but benefits for the people. They are other ways the people may benefit though.
“House Lisprolis offers the chance to recover and protect lost knowledge that also has benefits for the people. That path leads to our dream of discovery and finding that which is lost. I say we choose the red. What say the rest of you?”
Corgretor gives the blue carpet's plaque one last longing look then nods, "Agreed, House Lisprolis is the best bet for us."
"Agreed. I can't say that I hate the disciplined air of the Ironhand's operation, but I cannot stomach the thought of being assigned to mundane guard duty and military support tasks. House Lisprolis sounds promising." Tel'ure replies.
Aruzhal - Lv 1 Tempest Cleric - Planescape: Lost
So which carpet do you follow?
Tel'ure starts walking down the red carpet.
Aruzhal - Lv 1 Tempest Cleric - Planescape: Lost
Corgretor confidently follows.