Not much has changed character-wise, I removed the points and craft and put them into trading since we will need it for some stuff early on. So prepare yourself for art and exposition!
"The world and an empire that once ruled it lie in ruins. Noble Houses that lorded over provinces and commanded vast armies have been reduced to broken city-states. The Imperial Guard, remnants (any guardsmen that were actually part of the army are long dead, it's more of a tradition thing) of the Imperial Army, act as an deterrent to open warfare."
"The knowledge of the old days has been all but forgotten. Hucksters peddle ancient wares of no value to the ignorant, and the Lords seek and hoard artefacts they barely understand. A fanatical mysticism is slowly gaining favor and long held resentments are rising to the surface. Some speculate another war approaches, others actively encourage it."
"Times like these bring nothing but suffering to the common man; however, they offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to those determined to seize the moment and follow it to riches, power, glory, (knowledge!) and, often, an untimely death."
"Your adventure starts in Teron - a small, crumbling town far away from the main tracks of travelers and caravans. Its been dying for the last hundred years or so, kept alive only by the combined efforts of its inhabitants. Broken stonework has been replaced by makeshift wooden construction, creating the impression that a new town is slowly emerging from the ruins of the old one."
"Much like Teron, the Noble House controlling the town has seen better days. Before the war that toppled the Empire and the devastation that ensued, House Daratan was one of the most powerful Houses, but that was then and times have changed. Today, it barely has enough strength to maintain its hold over the local guilds."
And now we enter the part that changes depending on your background.
(also, yes this bit does use the forlorn roman dude art) "As a child, you loved listening to stories about the old days, filled with gods fighting alongside men, power-wielding magi - more demigods then human, and monsters conjured by the cowardly Qantari. So when an opportunity presented itself, you signed up as an apprentice to a local loremaster named Feng."
"Loremasters have always been in demand. While the future offers little, the past is rich and ripe for the taking. You just need to know where to dig and what to do with it, and that's where loremasters came in. To master their craft, they dug through ruins, copied ancient manuscripts, often without understanding them, traded bits and pieces of pre-war knowledge, and appraised anything that looked old. While the magi are long-gone, the machines they built still remain and loremasters are the only ones who may have the knowledge to bring them back."
And so we begin in Feng's shop, and before we see what Feng wants, we stride up to read those documents.
"It's a large, carefully restored document tracing the history of House Daratan throughout the centuries. Turns out the House owes its name to the battle of Dar Attan (not the battle of Dimin Utive) where a certain Legatus managed to defeat an army of 20,000 men with less then a full legion. The scroll doesn't contain anything you don't already know, but you manage to gain a few bits and pieces of knowledge."
We then poke around in Feng's personal archive.
"Feng's personal archive - boxes with scrolls. There doesn't appear to be any filing system, so Feng is probably the only one who can manage to find anything in there. You browse through scrolls and manage to spot a very informative and illustrated treatise on locks. Pictures are definitely worth a thousand words." In gameplay terms we gained a point in lockpick and 5 civil skillpoints.
We look about the room a bit more and investigate Feng's desk.
"Feng's desk. Notes, candles, writing materials. It appears that Feng is interested in General Marcellus Galbo, a famous military tactician and strategist of the Old Empire."
We then investigate some priceless artifacts in-progress.
"A pile of assorted junk of various uselessness. Valuable artifacts in the making?" Who knows game, who knows? Maybe one day people will pay billions of denars for the chance to own a fragment of the glory of Vibius.
Then we investigate Feng's chest.
"The linen chest is old and broken in some places. It's unlocked and, predictably, contains nothing of interest. Not that you would expect Feng to keep anything of valuable out in the open."
Then, in a even more egregious case of ignoring Feng we attempt to climb up the ladder to the roof, however it seems Feng has prepared for this avenue of escape, so we go to see Feng.
"Feng came to Teron with a caravan two decades ago. Nobody knew where the came from or why, but he had the bitterness of a man soured by the memory of a life he lost. He was well versed in languages and the antiquities, but the town already had a loremaster. Fortunately for Feng, the loremaster fell sick and passed away, despite the best efforts of the local alchemist who was quite puzzled by the symptoms. Feng became the new loremaster and even earned the favor of Lord Antidas after discovering several Daratan relics."
Being cornered by this foreigner, Vibius has no choice but to talk.
"Did you finish translating that scroll? Never mind, I have a better job for you. Someone at the inn has a trinket they want me to look at. Why don't you handle it? Just remember what I taught you: take a good look, show some excitement, then tell them that it's a very valuable artifact that's worth a lot to the right collector, and that they were right to bring it to us to learn its true value. Wait for the words to sink in and then ask for 100 imperials to research it further.
"What if it actually is a valuable artifact?"
"Artefacts? I've been stuck in this shithole (that isn't even that untrue) you call a town for the last twenty years. Year after year, farmers and diggers bring me everything they can find, hoping for a lucky break. They bring me bracelets, cheap pottery, rusty old locks, pipes, chamber pots, even deformed skulls."
"The sad truth is that this town doesn't have anything of value, which is probably the only reason Antidas is still in charge."
"Why did you stay then?"
"Weren't you listening? Every year peasants bring me junk to appraise. Good business."
"You said he had a trinket?"
"I think the word "map" was mentioned. Go and take a look. If it's something good, bring it to me."
"I will go there right away, Master."
So we presumably walk over to the inn, I doubt anything exciting happened besides the usual 9 o'clock murders.
"The inn is full of guests. After spending weeks and sometimes months on the road, they have an unhealthy appetite for cheap wine, stove-cooked meals, and women willing to share their beds for a few coins."
"You navigate through the busy crowd and go upstairs. The trader's room is easy to find. "Are you the loremaster I sent for?" asks Gracius, letting you in."
"I'm Vibius, Master Feng's apprentice. Should my master's attention be required, I'll send for him. Where is the artefact?"
"Right here." Gracius hands you the scroll."
"You open the seal carefully and study it for a few minutes. It looks like an ordinary map depicting a temple. There is an old seal at the bottom. The name on the seal is Thor-Agoth."
*You recieve the map from Gracius*
"It's a very valuable artefact that's worth a lot to the right collector. You were wise to bring it to us to learn its true value."
"And what might this true value be?" Gracius tries to sound indifferent, but it's obvious that Feng's simple formula worked it's magic."
"For someone who's interested in the High Lords' artefacts, it could be worth thousands. I'll have to study the map further, of course, to determine its history and value."
"Please forgive this uneducated trader, master Vibius, but who are the High Lords? I will be presenting this map to Lord Antidas tomorrow, and I'd like to impress His Lordship with some bits of knowledge."
"According to the legends, the High Lords were our allies in the war between our glorious Empire and the ruthless Qantari. While their nature was debatable, most loremasters agree that it was definitely supernatural. This map bears the seal of Thor-Agoth or Toragoth, as he was also known."
"And what is the significance of this seal?"
[
lore success] [
persuasion] "Thor-Agoth's title was the Artificer. He built machines, but most were destroyed during the war or lost after. There are many people who hope that some caches have survived and can be recovered. They collect and study Thor-Agoth's documents, looking for clues. That's why we want to be absolutely certain that the seal that makes this map so valuable isn't fake. It might be very embarrassing for you otherwise. Unless, of course, you insist that..."
[
success] "Of course not, master. Please take the map and study it properly."
"And the money? I'm sure you know what the standard research fee is."
"Gracius gives you a small purse without any enthusiasm. You're about to leave when you notice Gracius' hesitation."
"There is something else I'd like you to look at. You seem very knowledgeable." He pauses and reaches inside his sash. "I found it where I found the map." He gives you a small object. It's a metal sphere with grooves on the surface."
*You got 100 imperials and a sphere from Gracius*
"I don't know what it is. (smooth) I'm not sure it's an artefact. I'll show it to master Feng and let you know what he thinks." Return to master Feng."
"You're about to leave, when the innkeeper stops you."
"Another, um, guest is in need of your services, master. He's a prospector. Would you be kind enough to look?"
"Sure"
"The innkeeper sends one of the slaves to get the prospector. It's a man with a sun-darkened skin, unkempt hair and a heavy beard. His faded, worn-out clothes are still covered with road dust. He opens his bag, takes out a dozen of carefully wrapped items of various sizes, and slowly removes the dirty rags protecting them."
"You browse through his treasures: gears, pottery, half-burned scrolls with faded, no longer decipherable letters, glass jars with strange liquids. "Anything you want to buy?" asks the prospector anxiously. "I'm embarrassed to admit, but I find myself without sufficient funds to pay for a comfortable stay, although I'm sure that some of these artefacts are bound to fetch a high price. I mean, just look at this beauty," he picks up a rusted cylinder with a spiral groove. "The very definition of a mysterious device. From a wondrous artefact, no doubt! What do you think, loremaster?"
[
lore] "It's called a worm and it's missing a gear that goes with it. It was a common device."
"The prospector sighs and unwraps yet another "artefact", revealing a charred skull."
"The skull of the magi! The Power still burns through him, much like it did when he was alive, walking the earth and battling demons. When nights are dark, it glows softly, keeping the demons away."
[
lore success] "It does have magic, but it's dangerous and will kill you if you keep it. Stay away from anything that glows in the dark."
"Why?"
"The old magic is like fire. Fire can keep you warm, cook your food, and help you forge weapons and tools, but it can also burn down your house or a forest, the moment you lose control, which we don't have to begin with. Not anymore."
"I have a special charm that keeps me safe." The prospector shows you a strange amulet, his face lit with eagerness and greed."
We take a look.
"You turn it over in your hands thoughtfully. Adorned with beads and engraved with runes, it appears to be a ceremonial bowl of some sort. Strangely warped, but that isn't unusual for artefacts of the Old Empire - who knows what arcane forces had been unleashed on it? Two small, metal drums are affixed to the underside, too awkwardly angled to be supports for the bowl. You rap one with a knuckle and listen. Hollow. Reservoirs, perhaps, containers of sacred liquid for the bowl? You are unsure, but you keep your expression carefully neutral, it wouldn't do for the punters to see your uncertainty. Unprofessional."
[
streetwise] "Junk. Worthless Junk"
[
success] "Are you sure?" asks the prospector. "Do you know what it is?"
[
streetwise] "It's a ceremonial bowl for burning incense."
[
success]"Well don't I feel foolish now... Still, the jewels alone have gotta be worth a few hundred. What do you think I can get for it?"
[
trading] "I can get it off your hands for two hundred imperials."
[
success] "Alright. Two hundred. Just for you."
Sadly we only have 196 imperials so we have to say "I'll think about it."
"You do have the money, don't you?" asks the innkeeper watching the exchange with interest. "The only reason I'm letting him stay on credit is because you promised to buy that junk. I better see some money soon or I'm kicking him out."
We return and get to see the 7 PM murders on the way back.
"How did it go?"
"It went well. I got a map, a sphere, and 100 imperials." We hand everything to Feng.
"A map and a sphere!" Oh, what a glorious day." Feng looks at the map. "The seal looks real. I'll take a better look tonight and let you know in the morning. As for the sphere, it's just a bead from some necklace." He counts 50 imperials and gives them to you along with the sphere."
*You receive the sphere and 50 imperials*
*You receive a new insight, which can be used to increase your skills - 13 skill points gained.*
"Thank you, master." We rest for the night.
There is a short fade to black and we are greeted with Feng's face.
"The map is ordinary. No "X marks the spot" there. The seal is interesting and well preserved, but it's worth no more than a hundred imperials. Maybe Antidas will buy it. Go see him when you have a chance." He gives you the map."
"Buy it? What about the trader, Gracius?"
"Almost forgot. He's dead, so you can keep the map. Apparently, he wasn't welcome in this town, and with the assassins' guild almost out of work... I'm surprised he made it as far as the inn." Feng chuckles."
"Is there anything else you want me to do, master?"
"Feng gives you an appraising look. "As a matter of fact... You see, Vibius, being a loremaster isn't just about dealing with rarities. Knowing how to deal with people is equally important. I believe I've neglected this part of your education, but fortunately it should be easy to fix."
Lord Antidas has invited another loremaster to Teron. Needless to say, I don't share his opinion that two heads are better then one, and I'll be grateful if you can find a way to get rid of the new loremaster. You'll secure your future and learn a valuable lesson at the same time."
"His name is Cassius. He's probably at the inn already, so don't waste any time."
"Are you asking me to kill him?"
"Do I detect some qualms? You have so much to learn, Vibius. (I think his all 4 combat stats say otherwise) When you have a thorn in your side, do you not remove it? Ah, perhaps you think that a man isn't a thorn, that a man's life, unlike that of an insect, has some value? It doesn't."
"Truly, I should be charging you for these lessons. Take this dagger, Vibius and go. Prove that my faith in you wasn't misplaced."
"What did you mean with secure my future?" Weird sentence structure, but okay.
"You don't think the new loremaster would need your services and look after you the way I do, do you? Don't be foolish."
So, after Feng's murder encouraging speech it looks like we are finally free from the introduction sequence.
We walk outside and give a wave to Gaius the Guard. Then investigate a nearby house.
"A front door eaten nearly through by dry rot can barely conceal the bare and musty interior. There's clearly nothing to gain from invading what little privacy the inhabitants have left."
Well that was certainly worth the effort, I'm sure we got 3 types of tetanus from that.
We walk towards the inn to find Cassius, and get a message.
"You see the local inn. It's a large, old building in the middle of the town. The sign in front of it welcomes weary travelers and offers an impressive variety of services at reasonable rates."
That and we see a merchant and a mercenary. I smell opportunity.
"You look like you're in the market for some fine clothing and armor! Am I right? Step right up and look."
He doesn't really have anything we want and we have no skill in impersonate so trying to scam him is a failure from the get-go, and we definitely can't steal.
So we just go into the inn. And upon entering we see Cassius right next to the entrance, however something else gets our attention.
"You see the inn's patrons begin to gather around a strangely garbed man, who paces in circles, muttering. A murmur of expectation runs through the room and sure enough, the man stops his pacing, turns, and with a dramatic flourish cries out "A tale!" All are quiet now, but the man's rich, deep voice rolls out to fill the silence. "A tale for tonight's entertainment! And what a tale! History itself will unfold before your very eyes, a tale of mystery and wonder! Come one, come all, and listen!"
We, of course, stay and listen.
"The smile drops from the storyteller's face, his brow gathers into a frown and he begins to speak in a low, sombre tone."
"The Great War raged across the Empire, the frenzied Qantari burning and looting their way across the land, our brave Legions fighting to stem the tide. But, though they could hold the Qantari themselves, even they were no match for the terrible demons the Qantari had brought with them from their homeland. Our loyal soldiers were slaughtered by the thousands. The Emperor's Magi sought to counter the terrible might of the Demons with their magics, but even though they worked feverishly to devise new spells, it was of no use; the Demons shrugged off every incantation the Magi hurled at them.
"Desperate for a solution, the Emperor summoned Abu Hassan Ibn Hadad al-Sarabi, the First of the Magi, to his side in the Holiest of Chambers, deep under the palace.
"Oh Learned One, tell me," said the Emperor. "Tell me that you have found a solution, o wisest of my servants. Tell me that you have discovered some weakness in the accursed Qantari demons. Tell me how we can destroy these monsters, who feel no pain, no fear, who never tire or rest."
"And Abu Hassan Ibn Hadad did stroke his beard gravely..."
The storyteller stops to mime Ibn Hadad's gesture, folding his arms, looking thoughful and stroking an imaginary beard to the chuckles of the audience, before continuing.
"...and said to his Emperor, "We must seek allies!"
"The Emperor looked at Ibn Hadad in bewilderment. "Allies? What allies can we call upon? The Empire stretches from coast to coast, all men except the steppe nomads rally to fight under my banner. There are no more allies to call on!"
"Mortal allies, yes! But there are other worlds than this one, my Emperor. Higher than the eye can see and further then any man can travel, there are strange and bewildering realms, realms for which the rigid laws of our reality are merely...suggestions. If we could persuade the beings who reside in those realms to come to our aid..."
"The Emperor sat for a moment, considering. But always he returned to that inescapable truth, that the Empire was dying around him. "How many of these beings would answer our call? And would they be enough? The Demons are terrible in their power."
"I have stridden paths of the future in my dreams and I have seen three who would come to our aid. Together, their might is a match for the Demons," answered Ibn Hadad confidently."
"The Emperor cast his hands in the air, hope alight in his face for the first time. "Truly the world is wondrous! You have my blessing, Magus, go forth and call up these allies. All the resources of the Empire are at your disposal!"
"Ibn Hadad returned to his tower and once again traveled the paths of the future. For three days and three nights he quested. When at last he emerged, he summoned a great conclave of his brothers. There, he ordered them to build a great doorway, a path into the realm that can't be reached by land or sea. Working together, the Magi built the doorway that would have taken mortal men months in mere weeks, though many died of the exertion. When it was done, Ibn Hadad blessed the doorway himself and ordered one of the brothers through, as an emissary to the other realms. Patiently they waited for their emissary to return, and return he did a day later. But when they attempted to talk to him he seemed unable to recognize anyone, and had lost the power of speech itself!"
"Undeterred, Ibn Hadad sent forth another emissary, and then a third when the same fate befell that one, but it was no use, none could speak of what they had seen through the doorway."
"At last Ibn Hadad sent them away and returned to his tower, to travel the paths of the future one last time. When he returned to his brothers he appeared visibly aged, bent and leaning on his staff of office. But he had an answer. He had his brothers forge him a helmet of the finest crystal, weaving potent magic through and around it. Then Ibn Hadad did take the helmet and place it upon his head, and though his brothers begged him not to, did stride through the gate himself."
"The storyteller stops for a moment, surveying his audience. All eyes are on him, the audience is held rapt by his story. He smiles slightly, then continues."
"For seven days and seven nights hiss brethren held vigil before the doorway. But on the eighth day, as most had given him up for lost, Ibn Hadad returned. When his brothers questioned him as to why he had been gone so long, he seemed shocked that so much time had passed. But thoughts of the Demons weighed heavily on him, he brushed aside their questions and announced that he had made a deal with those who dwell in the darkness on the other side of the doorway."
"The Lords of that place had agreed to send three of their number to aid the Empire, in exchange seven times seven men would go through the doorway to honor the Lords in their realm. Seven time seven were chosen to follow Ibn Hadad back through the doorway to otherworldly realms, and true to their word, a week later he returned with three of the Lords accompanying him. Of the other men who accompanied him, there was no sign.
"The storyteller stops talking and bows, looking expectantly at the audience.
"The War!" yells one of the guests. "Tell us about the War! Tell us how the Lords of the Other Realms cast down the Qantari Demons!"
"The storyteller straightens again and raises an eyebrow at the man, smiling like a benevolent uncle teaching lessons to a favored nephew."
"A hundred tales I could tell you of the Great War and still we would have but scratched the surface! Some sages will tell you that the Old Empire was destined to fall from the day it was born, that the very moment of its ending was written in the stars themselves. That Empires and Kingdoms, like mortal men, grow tall and enjoy their time in the sun for but a brief moment before they too must pass, to make way for those that follow. Thus, sages will tell you that the Qantari kingdom was born for but a single purpose - to be the instrument of fate and bring about the destruction of the Old Empire when the time was right. That by growing stronger, so did we force the Qantari themselves to grow stronger."
"For it was their destiny to bring us down, you see, and fate ensured that they were strong enough to do so. That is why the Demons came. Our Legions could hold the savage Qantari at bay but even they couldn't fight fate, couldn't fight the Demons who shrugged of blade and arrow, who slaughtered all that were sent against them, countless lives."
"That is why, though Ibn Hadad and his allies came and defeated the demons, the Old Empire could not be saved. The Old Empire had already fallen, for that was always her fate, to die there that day, in blood and fire."
"Do you really believe in demons? Do you believe they are the reasons the Empire fell?"
"The storyteller smiles at your question, turning to accept a drink the innkeeper brings him. Raising the flagon in salute of his host, he throws his head back and drinks deeply. After a long moment he stops, sighs contentedly, then turns his attention back to you, wiping the foam from his mouth."
"Ah, thirsty work, this. Now, what was it you were asking? Do I believe in the demons that they say the Qantari unleashed on the Old Empire? Well, look around you, my friend!" He waves his hand in a circle, but you sense he isn't simply talking about the inn, that his gesture encompasses the entirety of the fallen Empire."
"What do you see, friend? Ruins! Destruction! The rotting carcass of the greatest Empire ever to grace this world! What mere mortal force could have brought that down? No, the stories must be true, only Demons could have done such a thing!"
"But surely there is more to the story? What about the Qantari themselves? Were they really bloodthirsty savages as the stories say?"
"Well...all I can tell you is what those stories say, my friend. That they were savages from across the sea, jealous and obsessed with destroying our glorious civilization. What more could you expect from a race that worshiped Demons? Some say that they made pacts with demons to grant their warriors greater strength in battle, breeding them with beasts of the forest to create half-men, half-animals! I shudder to imagine it!"
"And shudder he does, shaking himself with an expression of horror on his face. It's convincing enough that you almost believe it wasn't rehearsed. Almost."
"So, these savages and animal-men, they defeated the might of the Old Empire?"
"Do not dismiss them, my friend! They numbered in the tens of thousands, for all their lack of sophistication, and they brought their Magi and their Demons with them!"
"As I said, it was their destiny to destroy the Empire, and our destiny to fall. You cannot fight your fate."
[
intelligence success] "Fate usually works in subtler ways then sending a fleet of savages, magi, and demons to your shores, does it not?
"Well...I suppose, yes, you are right. But then again, how often does fate bring to a close the story of an Empire such as ours was, unmatched in all the world!"
"He raises his voice and flings out his arms at this, looking around to see if anyone appreciates the gesture. But the inn's patrons have gone back to their tables and pay him no more attention. He drops his arms, disappointed, then turns back to you."
"Look, I will give you that the story has some small flaws in it. I recall a most unusual drawing in Lord Gaelius' library, for example. It showed a town being built by slaves. The strange thing about it was, in one corner it showed our builders and architects directing them, holding plans and measuring instruments. But in the other corner...well, there appeared to be Qantari. Builders, like our own, if you can believe that!"
"Are you sure it was the Qantari?"
"I am no expert on what the Qantari looked like, certainly, I doubt anyone still living is. But, they certainly matched the stories. Feathers, pelts, the sort of thing you would expect on savages."
"What does it mean, this drawing?"
"How would I know? I'm but a storyteller, my friend. Perhaps it was just some artist's flight of fancy. You know how artists can be. Still, it does make on wonder, doesn't it?"
"What can you tell me about these Lords that came with Ibn Hadad?"
"Much has been written on the subject of the High Lords. Too much, I'd say. The accounts contradict each other, the High Lords were here, no they were there, no they did this and that. One even begins to suspect that many of the authors weren't actually present at the events they speak of with such authority! Hah!"
"So, how did they defeat the Qantari then, surely there must be some agreement on that? What did they do that our legions and magi couldn't?"
"On that, the stories are silent. They talk at length on the powers of the High Lords, that Gla'ath the Dreamer could shape reality as easily as you or I run our hands through water, that wherever Bar-Hathor the Flamewalker went, the ground itself burned in his wake and flowed like water. And that Thor-Agoth was know as the Artificer, and he constructed devices such as we can but dream of, terrible engines and alien machines beyond the understanding of mere men."
"The stories are unanimous on these details, yes. But of how the High Lords actually defeated the Qantari Demons, I am afraid they are silent. Perhaps only Ibn Hadad, First of the Magi, knew that."
We leave the inn and look at our map in contemplation.
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Topic: Let's Play The Age of Decadence Part Holiday Spirit: Christmas Special (Read 50582 times)