((game mechanics note: I've decided that warlock characters are a no-go. As much as I wish I'd considered them while coming up with this campaign I'd rather keep it the way it is for now. It's still possible to add in another, non-warlock character.
LordBucket has some good ideas but I'm a little too tired for followup at this moment.))
The twenty-third day of the month of August comes to an end in the four-hundred and forty seventh year of the Age of Resortation. The world gets by as it always does in fitful mixture of peace and choas. On a distant shore the men of the west kingdoms and the elves of the empire spill each others blood. In a land across the seas and mountains the dwarven clans morn the death of a great king and sharpen their blades for the conflict that is sure to follow. But for the moment the eastern kingdoms of men have been granted a respite from war. For now the kingdoms do no war with each other, the orcs along the frontier have been subdued and the deamons of the wastelands are pleased to scheme rather then wage open war upon their mortal neighbors. It is a year of relief when wise men count their blessings and stash away much of the harvest for hard years to come.
But amidst the relative tranquility in the kingdom of Nosarri one corner of the realm is being torn apart by strife. The town of Narseus has been decending into strife as it's trusted Marshal Lorsen has become like a man possessed. Just one year ago Marshal Lorsen was a pillar of the town and a symbol of justice. Five years back he was the hero of the town for leading it's men to glory in the kingdoms war against the invading orcish tribes. But today...
Screams ring out through the plaza as the galloping horsemen pursue their targets without regard to the swath of destruction they leave in their wake. Shopkeepers stalls are smashed by the charging horses, children wail out in terror and a pair of halflings lay in the street. One writhes and calls out in pain while the other lies bleeding and still. The citizens of Narseus might be shocked by this violence but are not confused by it, Lorsen's men have especially little sympathy for halflings of late. Leading the trio of horsemen is the Marshal's most feared deputy, Sargeant Regdar. Regdar has always been cruel but it is only of late that he has been let loose like this.
The men's targets a halfling merchant and his human companion frantically run for the town's western gate as the crowd melts away around him. They look to have time to make it to the exit but will surely be caught in the clearing outside of town. With little chance of escape their destiny lies in the tender mercies of their sadistic pursuers.
As the crowd flees three very different onlookers watch, by chance all spectators to the chaotic event.
Near the gate stands the bard Entren Armeni, returned just this day from his travels. He had been talking with an old friend about the troubles plaguing the town of late. Their conversation was interrupted by a demonstration of what the city had in store.
Twenty yards from the gate stands the mercenary Aldun Sharp, returned to town last night thanks to a lucrative but dangerous job escorting a carvan of unidentified cargo. His face still bears the ghost of a bruise he sustained on that mission but it seemed worth the trouble at the tiem. Never before had he had a job which paid two silvers up front and another five promised on arrival. But now it appears that what seemed to good to be true was too good to be true. As the pursued pair flees Aldun recognizes the halfling. It is his recent employer, Orsi Stoutfoot, who still owes him the five silvers that were to be paid upon the sale of the cargo.
Another thirty yards down the street the noblewoman Aduial is pressed up against the wall by the throng as the horsemen approach. Her companion, Erwin curses the peasant rabble around them and tries to clear space for her but does little but obstruct her view of the action.
Aduial had nominally come to Narseus on behalf of Erwin's patron, the Baron Radhan who's family claimed unlawful imprisonment. She could chose to reveal, or not, her compelte mission at a time of her chosing. When Aduial had found the Baron's right hand man, Erwin, at the town hall he insisted that she escort him to the Radhan estate. He claimed the town was too dangerous for her until he explained the situation. They had scarcely walked for five minutes however before their trip was interrupted by the choatic chase.
((And the opening scene begins. Don't feel like the fact that I'm putting you guys all at the same scene means you are obliged to meet up, strangers at a bar style. You'll run into each other again soon enough
You can intervene in the chase scene before you. You can also feel free to have your character stay out of it to watch and/or head somewhere else. I don't have a list of locations written up yet but feel free to go anywhere that should plausibly exist, i.e. the prison where the fugitives will go if arrested, the bar where Aldun got hired, the home of a halfling elder that Entren would know from his time in the city, the city guard barracks etc.))
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Topic: Schemes and Shadows (Read 22741 times)