Ok, we have not had a game in a while.....So I had to spill some ideas out of whats happening in the wold, since the heros are not doing anything.
The characters:
Nervier
(Reformed Black Guard/Hound Archon)
High Master of the Laswell Alliance Army
Close friend to Geeneye, Mazrim, Gilip and Deekin. Was the one that got Geeneye and Mazrim to join the Alliance, at that time known as the Tamaril Alliance, in order to fight against the “Tainted Laid.” These creatures from the Far Realm were allowed to bleed into Tamaril through some magic gone awry. The attempt to push them back failed, and the last vestige of uncorrupted life fled Tamaril to a world that these unnatural beings could never follow.
Geeneye
(Sylvanesti Elf/Psionic Warrior)
Shanduriak of the Laswell Alliance Army
Geeneye is a member of the original adventuring band that followed Justice to the outer planes all the way to the city of Tamaril. There, due to a fluke in the currency exchange rate between Krynn and the other material planes, he and Mazrim spread their wealth liberally. Wanting to try their hand at commanding an army they bought a huge mansion and complex on the edge of town to call their own. Soon students and teachers began to fill the halls, and then the Laid appeared and all that changed. Over half of the population of the cities millions of inhabitant was killed in the first year of fighting. The troupes trained at the Plane Strider Academy immediately stood out, and presented a bastion of hope for the people during the war. Eventually when it was determined that victory was impossible against a limitless foe, the heads of the Academy decided to save what they could. They transposed the, yet undamaged parts, city to a new world with the help of a powerful order of nomadic Druids, native to their new home.
Mazrim
(Qualinesti Elf/ Eldritch Knight/Arch Mage)
Alenethiak of the Laswell Alliance
(Currently missing, was deceased but believed to have been brought back into the body of a clone left in the destroyed city of Tamaril)
Back in his home world of Krynn he originally attempted to assist a Cleric, in hopes of finding their path back to the lost gods. This was done mainly as way to show up his brother that he had just as kind of a heart as he. After starting the Academy with Geeneye he came to Krynn to ask his brother to join, which he reluctantly declined. Mazrim never did find out that Ludius, his brother, did eventually travel to Tamaril to assist him in his plans of retreat. Unfortunately, after arriving in Tamaril, with instructions to destroy the gate on the Esperian side; he was assaulted by the Laid. Ludius did eventually make it to Esperian; however the effects of the attack left little of him behind. His mind had been destroyed leaving only the shambled remains of a once great mage. Mazrim was successful in transporting the city safely, but then had to deal with the other creatures that came through. Umbral creatures (Lycanthropes) were amassing in legions at Brand Mountain, the mining complex that was the base of the gargantuan apparatus that powered the transportation. For some yet unknown reason, Malar a charismatic priest from the Umbra had made a powerful alliance with the Tanar’ri. They showed up wanting a piece of this new world that was found for them. That is where the current game started off.
Justice
(Warforged/ Paladin/ Artificer)
Prayer Master of the Wardens of Manifest
Justice was charged with the protection of the daughter to the Archon that governed over the city of Manifest. Manifest is a city not for away from Tamaril that welcomed unbound souls looking for solace between their possible chosen afterlife. A powerful Ogre Mage in the world of Krynn attempted to summon a powerful planar ally, but failed miserably. He instead switched places with himself and the child Archon. Justice swiftly followed and tracked the girl down using an Astral Skiff stolen from a Githyanki hunting party encountered on the lower planes of the Abyss. The ship was badly damaged in the attempt to steal it, and when he attempted to shift to the material plane only part of the ship made it. He was left to crash land on the Material Plane nearly one hundred miles from his intended destination. Along the way he was able to make friends with Mazrim, and Geeneye.
Side Note: The other half of the Skiff was used by a Molydeus named Zuthnagoti to also escape to the Material Plane, after being badly beaten by a group of Miriliths.
Torin Daylen
(Human /Eldritch Knight)
Colonel of the Alliance Army
After initially joining the Alliance two years ago when the Humans of Suladar, and the Orcs and Goblins of Cigak, began a squabble over territory. Torin quickly ascended through the ranks and became a confident soldier. Even though he comes from a very rich and influential house in Suladar he did not let it sway his opinions during the incident, which earned him great respect in the eyes of the Alliance High Master. Eventually was able to convince many of the residents of Cigak to follow a new Spiritual leader, named Zo Emera, who was attempting to sway the opinions of his people toward a more peaceful solution to the conflict. Many did eventually come to this side of the argument, and with the help of Torin, now a Colonel in the Laswell Alliance, they were able hold off the fighting long enough to converse peacefully. This was until the Dwarven clans in the neighboring eastern lands joined in. They proved with documentation that the land did legitimately belong to the Clans instead, and that they too wanted the Orcs out of there. Cigak became more somber than it ever was before. Just when things are starting to go well and they are trying to find a better way they are told to leave there homes. This is when Zo calls all of his people into the towns’ massive meeting hall for a very private gathering. For miles around no one but the Orc and Goblinoid residents of Cigak were allowed into the enormous town hall for the length of one very holy day in worship of there new and mysterious god. Zo had talked for weeks before to arrange this very private day of worship for his people. No one that entered the hall on that day has been seen since.
Part 1
The following takes place at the Laswell Alliance Guild halls earlier in the morning after the squad leaves to chase down Malar, 11 Days before the Lords of Dust are to be released.
The young apprentice mage hurriedly rushes down the halls with a rolled tube of parchment in his hands. “I know I shouldn’t have been there, damnit! Just my luck something like this happens when I try to do something a little sneaky,” the apprentice lowly hisses over his breath as he runs down the halls. I know this message needs to make it to the High Master as fast as possible, but I’m definitely not going to be there when he reads it and starts asking questions. Not to mention all those pointy objects he has displayed on the walls can become descent projectiles, when he undoubtedly becomes angry. What am I going to tell Mehesa when she asks me why I was at the Arch Mages quarters in the first place? All I wanted was to know why they have been acting so strange the last few days, with the meetings and all.
The apprentice abruptly stops in his tracks looking stunned, and attracting even more attention in the halls than when he was at a dead out sprint. Mumbling to himself he asks, “What did they say about Torin?” Why in the Nine Hells would Torin do that, and then resist arrest, it only makes things look even worse for him? Ok, just do this and leave.” He walks down the hall a little further and up to the door of the High Masters office and knocks on the door.
Muffled shout from beyond “It had better be important!”
“It’s Martin, I have a message from the Arch Mages, its urgent! Sir.” shouted unnecessarily loud.
The door slams open and a, short but broad shouldered, dog headed man stands at the door with the napkin of breakfast still tucked in his unkempt uniform. With an expression of anticipation and annoyance Nervier stares Martin down with an undue level of scrutiny. “Well what do they want?”
“Not sure sir, Mehesa said it was above my clearance to know” hoping that did not sound too full B.S. and hands over the letter. With a proper salute Martin proceeds to briskly walk away.
Nervier absent mindedly asks “Wait there is something I need delivered also, can you do that for me?” As Nervier begins to unroll the parchment his attention is drawn completely inward. Scouring over the very few lines of writing again and again, becoming more infuriated with each reading, he begins to wander what the fools think they are doing. “Do you know where Torin is right now?” asked with a level of suspicion.
“When I showed up it appeared as though he was struggling against several guards and Mehesa. They were carrying him away to the prison quarter, sir”
“You may go. Tell the Mages I will be there soon to discuss this” replying with enough bile to make a Mane sick.
Reading over the message:
“High Master Nervier your presence is requested in the Alliance Enforcers hall, in regards to one of your men. Torin Daylen has been charged with releasing a prisoner prematurely without authorization, and assaulting a guard in the process. When he was arrested shortly after, he resisted, killing two Duskling captains and injuring 3 more before he was properly restrained. These charges are severe and out of character for such a upstanding soldier as Colonel Daylen, and this is why we ask for you presence on the matter.”
Nervier hastily dons a clean uniform and gives a remorseful glance back at his morning meal. He heads down the hall and outside to the prison quarters, despite the directions in the letter, he is going to speak to Torin first.
Part 2
As Nervier approaches he sees a few of Torin’s men already standing outside of the Prison quarter. They are doing their best to get past the guards and find out what is going on. “I imagine all of you have better things to be doing right now!” With the shout of their superior from behind the small mob sullenly quiet down and turn toward Nervier.
A young female officer squeezes through two other soldiers, and fiercely stares up at Nervier. In most demanding a voice a woman can muster, and that can be very demanding, she asks “Why do they have Torin in jail, and why are these damn Enforcers so upset with him? What we are hearing can not be true.”
Nervier begrudgingly instructs the officer to “Refer to your commanding officer with his proper title, until it is seen fit to remove it from him.” He stops a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing, the pause did little help, however. “I do not know, but I am about to find out,” Nervier walks through the parting mob to the guards, expecting them to step aside.
One of guards timidly states “Sorry sir, no admittance to the prisoner, by direct decree from the Nine”.
Nervier feeling a little disgruntled, but still under control asks the same guard “Who is your commanding officer?”
“The Warden Master, Sir.”
With a level of sarcasm seen only in someone about to loose it Nervier asks the guard again “Good and his commanding officer?”
“That is the Captain of the Guard, sir.”
“Ok, and who is commanding officer?” finally loosing his temper!
“You sir,” the guard relinquishes.
“Now step aside.”
“I can do that for you sir, but I must warn that you will not like what you see. And the priests recommended that visitors use whatever protections you have at you disposal.”
Nervier gives the guard a curious look then walks past, muttering a few prayers as he goes. When he enters into the Dampening Chamber of the prisons he sees the two priests that watch over the prisoners. The two are on opposite sides of Torin’s cell chanting prayers to restrain Torin should he try to magically flee. The priests give him a passing glance before returning to their work. In the middle of the cell he stares upon the back of Torin, as he stares out the one window of the room at the morning sky. His posture and demeanor gives more the impression of a caged Lion than the helpless prisoner. Coming around to face Torin he is taken aback at the site that he sees before him. The usually regal looking man stands badly beaten with open wounds and a smile that says he knows too much. Now cautiously approaching Torin, Nervier can see that many of these wounds appear self inflicted. From feeble claw marks to chunks of skin ripped from the body, and the stained fingers of the perpetrator.
In a voice not quite belonging to the body it came from “The High Master of all our troubles, it is nice of you to give me a visit. I will be sure to do the same for you in the future.” Torin gives his friend a truly endearing smile that only belies his already inhuman appearance. “Yes it is as bad as you think it is.