Opening Scenes Episode One

Zirkin, Thondar, and an NPC named Rody, a cavalier: The smell of tobacco, roasted chicken, and ale fill your noses. The raucous roar of the Shieldmeet feast rumbles in your ears; after two days of merriment the town is awash with madness. Your mugs have been emptied for some time, perhaps the bar wench has stolen away with the captain, you haven’t seen either in some time. The traveler you were playing dice with finishes his mead; wincing at the glass with plain disapproval, his young face looks sour. “Well, as I said, I’m off to find wisdom, nice meeting you.” He stands and heads for the door. Irritated, you all weave your way to the bar top looking for more ale. Zirkin squeezes in next to a strange fellow. He is visibly nervous and agitated...he is out of place in the tavern: he is the only one not having fun. Your curiosity peaked in the man, you begin to sense an enormous amount of magic emanating from him. He looks around nervously, and impatiently looks back to the bar. Suddenly he slumps to the ground, leaning your leg...you reach down to help him up and see he is holding his hand over a fresh wound, sticky with poison. He is dying, and struggling for breath. He reaches up, grasping your forearm hard, and says “don’t do it…go to the cavern, he is there....” losing his life force, he slides to the ground, “the gods.... they are in chaos...our worlds…” His eyes blacken; he is gone. As this happens, the arm he is grasping sears with pain, as a burning light crackles your skin, slowly leaving behind a symbol. You see the same light blazing simultaneously on the dead man’s arm, you see the same symbol vanish from his arm.
Gorgar and Limp D: (Gorgar is watching this from the edge of the crowd, Limp D is the prisoner): The smell of death weighs heavy this hot summer evening, cut only by the burning pitch of torches. “'Urry up man, the feast will be over before we are done!” Shouts the sergeant at arms. The line ahead of you grows smaller by the minute. It won’t be much longer before it’s your turn on the gallows. Your wrists blister from the sharp ropes tied to your wrists. Your feet burn with disease, standing in the filth of the Prisoner’s Carnival. A small crowd, mad with drink, are throwing insults and decayed fish remains at you and your fellow prisoners. The man in front of you turns, a dirty cloth wrapped over one eye. “Your short friend will not make it...”
Rapid Shadow: "What is that?" Moth points into the air, towards the horizon. The pale blue twilight of summer sky doesn’t hold a single cloud...but off to the southern horizon you look up to see a thin white line slowly increasing in length, slicing across the sky. Nervous and breathing heavily, you see the South Gate ahead. With a sudden thunk, a black feathered arrow lands in Moth’s back. She crumbles down awkwardly, dying instantly. Without warning you are suddenly tackled from behind, as a full volley of arrows whistles just above you. You struggle to break free, but cannot.... suddenly the thunder of a hundred horses rumble all around you...Somehow you are unharmed. The thunder subsides as you realize you are no longer pinned down, the person who saved you now gone. Screams begin to overcome the thunderous roar, death has come: the town is under attack.
Noah von Till: The quiet wind blows softly in the trees around your meditation circle. The small pool of water at your knees begins to glow with magic as you are about to reach the culmination of your spell. Almost two hours of ritual now complete, your concentration is suddenly shattered. With a booming crack of thunder, the wind suddenly swirls around you unnaturally. The squawking of ravens suddenly crow into the dark, cloudy sky. A tall figure, male, approaches without sound, a dark patch covering one eye. He remains silent as he approaches. You feel a strange instinctive reaction to the figure, but cannot explain it...a mix of anxiety, awe and confusion. You are no longer aware of your surroundings, your gaze fixated upon the man as he approaches. Without a word, he reaches for your wrist. As he takes hold you feel a terrible burning pain; a tattoo suddenly appears inside your forearm. A booming voice enters your mind. His face is stone, the voice seems to come from the clouds, or… “Do not lose your necklace Noah von Till.” His lips slowly begin to move, and are at normal speed by the end of his sentence. Instantly he is gone, the sky is blue and the gentle breeze is blowing again. You feel dizzy; the last thing you hear are the summer birds chirping as you fall unconscious.

Parent Plot

Master Plot