Eshalar, the Broken Lands - (Adventures Thread)

[Vicu~sama]

"I think I can go on now..." Allianah said to her guardian. "Let us make haste to follow Arkanias into Ghel's resting place."

And with that they headed towards the mausoleum.

[Lozaiah]

Although there were many interesting insights that he had gained, it started to bother him that no news of the mysterious rider could be found.

Elessi decided to have a quick drink before continuing with his "research". Now where would I find a decent glass of milk, I wonder. He thought to himself. Being a devoted follower of his faith, he has taken an oath to remain pure in his body.

He decided to ask the next person he came across for a good place to get a drink and gather information at the same time.

[raistlin101361]

"I see.. it has indeed been a long time."
"Neraka has is now in ruins by the hand of the Lich-Queen." Sylvana recalled. "I am now searching for my fellow Nerakans for any news of my parents who were decided to stay and fight."

"Since you are headed for Ghelspeak as well. I would appreciate the company. I plan to leave at daybreak.'

"By the way, I heard there was something the matter with the Harvest Celebration. They say you could feel the chill in the air."

[thousandmagister]

Rubicandt approached the ghostly visage slowly, trying to discern what forces were at play in the ruined theater.

(Sense Motive check and Knowledge Arcana check) (OOC: whichever does the trick or at least gets some kind of reading)

Rubicandt kept his guard up, ready to cast defensively, if something does go awry.

[Lost]

<Arkanias and Allianah's thread>

   Despite some residual aches, Allianah moved towards where Arkanias had headed two. The two other Griffonguards quickly gathered their gear and flanked Allianah.

   Arkanias and his companion slowly made his way towards the mausoleum. According to the Griffonguard he was with, the place seemed undisturbed since the last few hours. The soldier also explained that the mausoleum was cleaned early in the afternoon in observance of the mass to be held earlier that night.

    The night was deathly silent, that was when Allianah reached Arkanias' spot.

<Arkanias and Allianah continue>


<Jack, Rubicandt and Tulem's thread>

    With everyone tense and the moving slow and tedious due to the darkness. The three men eventually drew near enough to what seems to be a stage to see the ghostly apparition closely enough. It looked to be a middle-aged man busying himself, trying to direct something, pointing to places all over the stage, but in the dark, the three men could see nothing else.
 
     What they did notice was that the man was obviously oblivious of their presence. Or that he was deathly quiet.

<Jack, Rubicandt and Tulem continue>


<Sylvana's thread>

   "Aye." The dwarf said, "I had told the Nerakans about the Lich-Queen when she was still young... maybe about 200 years ago. But they had believed her not to be a threat. And if you plan on taking revenge, you had better think twice about it and not make the same mistake they did."

   "The harvest celebration? Looking at these people, you could say otherwise." Sylvana realized that a dwarf would be less attuned to magic, despite having mages of their own. They are more of an elemental race, they sense elemental magic more than arcanic, or even... intuitive powers.

   "Hmmm, Nerakans in Ghelspeak? I wouldn't be surprised. I would suggest that you try the Church of Boccob, knowledge tends to attract Nerakans like Rust Monsters to Metal." The dwarf laughed.

<Sylvana continue>


<Elessi's thread>

    Deciding better than to stay in one inn for the next four or so hours, Elessi started to move around the inns, milk was easily obtained, Ghelspeak had numerous farms around it, and dairy was easy. Rumors, were harder, as the night deepened, so did the drunkeness of the people.

   In fact one of the patrons had slurred something about a headless horseman on a black horse, throwing a fiery pumpkin. Everyone laughed him off since he's been telling that story almost every time he's drunk.

    Still, there were some rumors abound regarding some disturbances earlier in the night...

<Elessi contiunue>

   

[chaosfang]

This is interesting, Tulem thought to himself.  Dead guy's just going about his business... I wonder...

Approaching Rubicandt, he whispered, "Do you think you could uh, talk to the ghost?"

[thousandmagister]

In his heightened state awareness Rubicandt almost hit the stealthy ranger with his staff. Not bothering to answer, Rubicandt approached the specter to get a proper look at its face.

(OOC: I'll be taking a closer look, maintaining a 5 foot distance)

[Lozaiah]

Well, he wasn't headless but he was a horseman alright. Elessi thought to himself.

He decided, Not much harm to ask. He approached the drunken patron, "Evening good sir, may I bother you for a moment? I would like to hear your story."

[raistlin101361]

Many thanks for your company Master Dwarf. I have to take my leave and rest for the night. I head out for Ghelspeak tomorrow.

Sylvana then leaves a couple of coins for her bill then makes her way to her room.

"It is going to be a a start of a long journey tomorrow." Sylvana tells her herself. " Let us see where this leads me."

[Lost]

<Jack, Rubicandt and Tulem's thread>

   Rubicandt slowly approached the figure, but about 20 feet before he could approach the figure, he was met with a wooden blockade, the stage itself. Rubicandt has the choice to climb up the stage, or just stay on the edge and look. It was slightly more discernable from 20 feet away. The features were of a 40-ish old male, he was wearing robes, Rubicandt couldn't tell which particular fashion it was, but the man seemed quite intensely concentrated on directing people that were not there. It was strange to see the old man doing that, especially since Rubicandt didn't understand what the old man was doing.

   Jack and Tulem pretty much stayed back to let the mage do what he wanted.

<Jack, Tulem and Rubicandt continue>


<Elessi's thread>

   "Well, the story goes like this..." The man started his tale. "An old schoolmaster was in love with a young woman in town, while the love was mutual, it was quite unfortunate that someone else had designs on the young lass." The man started to drone, as his liquor started to take effect.

   "It wasn't much, but one day, this young man decided to take matters into his own hands, and gathered some toughs to deal with the matter. They corner the schoolmaster and have a little chat. Well, one thing led to another, and the young tough got angry and hit the schoolmaster hard on the head. The schoolmaster died on the spot. The young lass was heartborken and decided to visit a diviner, to find out who was the culprit. After days of sacrifice, she found out who the killer was. As she confronted the man, the man professed his love for her. Disgusted by his actions, the girl turned away. Only to be attacked mercilessly by the young man in a fit of jealousy. After having his way with her, he buried her alive with the old schoolmaster in a shallow grave. With her dying breath she cursed the man. 'Let vengeance fall upon you and your family, until they meet justice with wide-eyed fear and death comes swiftly.' The young man was enraged and used the spade to decapitate the lass as she pronounced her curse. And to his surprise, he thought he saw the schoolmasters body move."

   Before the man could continue... he slurred himself to slee because of his drunken state.

<Elessi continue>

<Sylvana's thread>

    "Good even then, lass. I'll stay here in the commons room some more." The dwarf said as he watches Sylvana climb the stairs.

    The room that Sylvana took was quite spartan, she didn't have to pay a lot for the room, however,  so it's quite a lot for her money.

    It was quiet enough for her to stay and rest. If she had nothing else planned for the night.

<Sylvana continue>

[Jack Rifter]

Staying put was a rogue's job, ever the opportunist and always the tactician. For Jack's case though, his patience grew thin. This night held a lot of questions left unanswered and this weary man orchestrating something above the stage didn't help either.

Keeping his cool though, he ascended the stage as stealthilly as he could with his training. He scrambled for a shadow to hide in, while keeping wary that he maintained a visual of what the "old man" was exactly doing in this forsaken place and in this ungodly hour.

His senses relay that these circumstances are far too close to be mere coincidence, in that everything was out of place. Mysterious disappearances, questionable employers and now a dubious maestro above a stage with no performers, all too odd to be just your average happenstance. Although the move he had chosen was risky, he gambled so that at least one of these mysteries finally came to light.

(OOC: Gonna go up the stage, moving silently and then hiding within the shadows, if any, or any thing that can grant me cover above the stage, all the while spotting and listening for what exactly the mysterious man on stage is doing.)

[grafxillusion]

Arkanias now was lost. He actually thought that the enemy was within the tomb. He tried to think what will be his next move. Within the deathly silent of the night, he prayed silently.

"Chroma, guide me. Please light the way in which I must traverse next.

[Vicu~sama]

Allianah was worried because the Paladin was not bravely proceeding forward.
She looked around to see if there were any dangers that might be lurking nearby.

[Lozaiah]

Well, atleast I learned something. Elessi thought to himself. He looked upon the drunken old man, and finally decided that it would probably be best to just let him rest there.

Elessi walked out of the Inn to get some fresh air. He decided to investigate the disturbances he heard about before. He looked for the nearest city gaurd, or official, that would probably have more accurate information.

[Lost]

<Arkanias and Allianah's thread>

     Despite his prayer, Chroma did not seem to answer the Paladin, maybe he was wrong? Maybe he was right but is taking the wrong path, or maybe it might be a test from Chroma?

    The tense stillness made everyone even more agitated,even after several minutes having passed and nothing happening kept everyone on edge.

    Were they missing something important? Or was this already the 1st sign?

<Arkanias and Allianah continue>


<Elessi's thread>

     It wasn't too long before Elessi found a red armored man as he was patrolling the streets. And the fresh air was doing Elessi a lot of good.

<Elessi continue>


<Jack, Tulem and Rubicandt's thread>

    Jack ascended the stage, keeping to the darkness that was all around him, it took a lot of his honed skills to prevent himself from tripping over his own two feet in the total darkness.

    And still the man was just pointing to various points of the amphitheater, ignoring Jack and Rubicandt's presence.

<Jack, Tulem and Rubicandt continue>