Asides

Quastarte has been sacked, and all the Ice Vis is ostensibly loaded into tankers for a long overland trip to the Fire Peaks, the home of Brother Im and his Fire Monks.  Along the way, they learn that Tophe, scion of Poeht and Tharizdun will destroy all of them if they do not hand over the Vis.

Upon learning this, the Caravan leadership decides two things.  First, there is a traitor in their midst, and second, they need a new plan, as the enemy seems well aware of where they are and what they are carrying.  After ferreting out the traitors Hans and Armin from Foxtrot Company, and securing three ancient airships, it is decided to introduce the party to Quietreach, a magical land tucked neatly away between planes.  For more fun reading about Quietreach’s odd location, see the tale “Rodoolph and the Hall of Doors“.

In addition to learning about Quietreach, the parties are also (re)introduced to the Opeth, Poeht’s opposite in the battle for the Vis.  There are many prophecies that the Opeth has delivered over the years, but it is its final prophecy that interests us most.  In the final vision, the Opeth describes a device or item that resembles an upside-down triangle, and is apparently made up of three pieces.  The top two are blueish-white and fiery red, and the bottom piece is gold, all surrounding an orange center.  In the vision, liquid matching the colors of the pieces can be seen streaming out from the three points of the triangle.  Finally, the item is shattered into three pieces, and ends ominously with the word “APPOTHROMAX”.  This leads us to the conclusion that the dragon Appothromax broke the device, and is in possession of at least one of the pieces.

At this point, both the main leadership for Quastarte and Brother Im disappear, and have not been seen since.  We are able to learn much more about Appothromax from a group of Dragon Cultists kind enough to write everything down.  We learned that in order to find Appothromax, the cultists believed we needed something they referred to an an “Astral Throne”.  This mechanism is apparently made up of

• A Dragon Compass
• An Astral Gem
• An “Astral Throne” that houses both the compass and the gem

The parties have managed to track down all three items, and turned them over to Quietreach for investigation and potential integration into one (or more) of the airships recovered from the desert.  The only remaining piece before entering the astral plane is to secure a Khyber Dragonshard to focus the power of a fire or air elemental, in order to power the elemental airship.

Winter Watch – The Caravan

Alpha Company (Level 6):

• S – Nala Myastan – Dragonborn Fighter / Champion
• P – Snory Pimplebottom – Humanish Cleric (Death)
• J – Scram! – Kenku Wizard (Evocation)
• M – Tango – Human Rogue / Swashbuckler
• C – Malcolm Moth – Dwarf Monk
• D – Ssatschia – Lizardman Cleric (War)

Charlie Company (Level 11):

• S – Sqyylarr – Human Fighter / Brute
• P – Wizard’s Assistant Third Class (Watc) – Warforged Wizard (Evocation)
• J – Ander Brightiron – Human Artificer / Artillerist
• M – Tenebrous Shae (Ten) – Human Twilight Cleric
• C – Barika Yarkin – Dragonborn Barbarian
• D – Ash (Morsandoriash Siannodel) – Wood Elf Ranger

Delta Company (Level 6):

• S – Tanagra Schmeck – Human Fighter / Champion
• P – Maximilian Heap Madeuppington IV – Human Paladin of Pelor
• J – Ivor Starag – Human Forge Cleric of Gond
• M – Gamble Watt – Human Bard
• C – Tambourine – Sprite Fighter
• D – Andrakis – Tiefling Wild Magic Sorcerer
• DM – Reyrie – High Elf Wizard (Evocation)

Foxtrot Company (Level 5):

• S – Wall(dorf) Boulderbreaker – Mountain Dwarf Fighter / Champion
• P – Urim Lazenby – Human Cleric (Life)
• J – Bramrigg Stonewander – Hill Dwarf Druid (Land)
• M – Armin Ormanheit – Variant Human Ranger – Traitor
• M – Hansel Ormanheit – Variant Human Ranger – Traitor
• C – Toffee – Half Elf Rogue
• D – Gohiru Khalang – Hobgoblin Wizard (Divination)

Caravan Strategy (All Companies):

• DM – Briar Quicksilver – Beasthide Shifter Paladin (Oath of the Ancients)

While the caravan empties into Mithral Hall, Hops gathers the party, who can now add the name “Defenders of the Hall” to their growing accolades, into a private chamber and asks Ander,

“Manling, now is the time to tell us all you know of Cohoreth the Herald, and what Dragonmarks are, especially what an Aberrant Dragonmark is?!!!”

“Ah, yes master dwarf! I have to warn you though, some things you cannot unlearn.

“I hate to tell you this, but we are in some serious trouble. There is a lot to cover, so I will try to be brief. It all started in Eberron, the other World I am from. I travelled from Eberron to Faerun via a portal at Quastarte.

“In Eberron there are twelve remaining dragonmarked houses, I will not list them all here, but they are a big deal. A dragonmark enhances one’s ability to do something, and may even give the user certain spells. However, when two houses produce an offspring together, the marks don’t quite mix. This union produces an aberrant dragonmark. These marks are considered extremely dangerous. 

“Before the Last War, there were many more aberrant dragonmarks. Some decided to use this terrible power for evil. One man could produce powerful earthquakes, and the Lady of the Plague could control diseases and vermin. There was a great inquisition, the War of the Mark, which killed many of those with aberrant marks. However, the marks continue to manifest today, less common, and regardless of bloodline. There is but one organization that I know of that uses these marks, and it’s not a good one. I believe that I mentioned it earlier, but House Tarkanan, which is not a real dragonmarked house, has been using these marks for as long as anyone, except maybe those elves over in Valenar, can remember. Tarkanan is secretive in most operations, but back in Eberron, we have men and women dedicated to the truth. These people write day and night in many papers, and publish them for everyone to see. My personal favorite is the “Voice of Beland,” they had a marvelous article on these people. Anyways, Tarkanan is made up of magic-using assassins. I may or may not have had a running in with one back in Sharn. I barely escaped with my life. If it is Tarkanan though, they seem to be using new creatures, perhaps from the Mournland or the Demon Wastes. If not, then maybe, just maybe, it could be a biological weapon from House Jorasco. There were some rumors about that back in Eberron. Though, there were rumors of many things. I truly do not know these are just speculation, but maybe I can study the remains of these “soldiers” and “hounds”. I believe that this is all that I can think of to share, but if you have questions, feel free to ask them.”

“Thank you, Ander Brightiron, for being open and forthcoming with us all. I fear, at this time, you have created more questions than answers for us,” grumbles Hops. 

As you may recall, the construction of the Villa is such that it spans the narrow valley between two mountain peaks. The back curtain wall of the Villa then opens to the valley that ultimately leads back into the mine.

The visitors, who have colloquially been referred to as the “rag men” behind their backs, have remained at the Villa, and since their arrival, a new project has begun. In the guarded valley leading to the mine, construction of several very unique wagons has begun, and the rag men have been seen working side by side with Master Brand in the construction of these wagons. Some of the finest artificers and gnomish engineers have also been seen crawling about these wagons, and it is clear that layers of enchantment are being placed upon them.

An announcement was also made that Portent Order (a tiefling, Portent is his Rank), a seasoned Spellguard logistician, has been designated Caravan Master for an expedition headed east with the goals of establishing a new network of elf-gates from Quastarte to points along the route, and securing another “embassy” like the Villa east of Thay. Applications for multiple positions within the caravan are being accepted. A contingent of Spellguard will be accompanying the caravan to provide security, but every other conceivable position from scout, to animal handlers, to cooks are also needed. Cadres from each of the colleges will also be accompanying the caravan, to provide needed insight along the way, and to simply exploit the opportunity to explore and study areas along the way.

Applications (or interviews for those who cannot write) are being accepted at Portent Order’s tent in the Spellguard encampment outside the Villa walls.

Whoever you are, whether you are stationed at the Villa or a local hireling, all of the scuttlebutt is about the visitors that arrived two days ago.

Three figures on some of the most gorgeous horses you have ever seen arrived escorted by a contingent of spellguard. The horses bore metallic golden reins, and other ornaments in their manes and tails. They wore winter barding from Quastarte, but such animals were clearly not from the university, the barding a temporary gift for animals not accustomed to such cold.

Their riders were equally strange and for lack of a better description, they were clothed in rags. These “rags” however seemed to be made from the finest textiles, and occupied every shade of yellow and orange. They formed multi-layered saffron colored cloaks around their riders, and covered them from head to foot. The rags flowing from around a flat, eyeless bronze mask, and then down their backs, and ultimately covered their legs and feet. Their hands and forearms were also wrapped in the same fabric, but in a tight fashion, so as not to encumber their dexterity. No flesh was visible, and two of the riders each bore three slender swords, each a different length and arranged on their hip in decreasing size. The armed figures garments contained only yellows and light orange, while the third figure had bits of material in deep orange and even red, and had no weapons evident.

All three arrived at the gate and dismounted, revealing that they stood five foot tall. While their rags were bulky, they still seemed to evince the posture of one who was slender underneath. Master Brand stepped forth to greet the unarmed figure and they clasped forearms in a friendly embrace, while the two armed figures removed a chest from a fourth riderless horse and brought it to the gate. After a few more apparent pleasantries, the visitors and Master Brand entered the Villa carrying their chest and have not been seen since. Their horses are being kept in the stable and being maintained by Spellguard grooms.

The Spellguard have remained tight lipped regarding the visitors, and have referred to them only as the regent’s honored guests, and then instruct those nosy enough to keep asking questions to go mind their own business.

Six months have elapsed since your interaction with the Queens of Faerie.  You are stationed at Villa Glamhoth dal e’ Anto or are a local who lives nearby and provides services to the Villa.  In the last month much has changed.  You have noticed an increasing number of residents at the Villa.  What’s more strange is that most of these arrived by wagon and on foot rather than through the gate.  A sizeable contingent of Spellguard are bivouacked outside the walls of the Villa and maintain both physical and magical palisades beyond the ring of tents as extra layers of defense.  What’s even more unusual is that the Arcane Regent, Master Brand, and the Spellguard Regent, General Wallis, are both currently in residence at the Villa.