Everyone free on the weekend of:
August 25th?
Thursday 5 July 2018
The Longest Brief
Abbot Elphick coughs before introducing the two. Gesturing to the elf, “This is Soffic of the Grey Elves and his gnomish companion is Segassos”...
It the somber voice of Soffic that breaks the uncomfortable silence.
“My friends, we have come far to both warn, advise you and ask for your aid.
Not to be outdone though, the anchient gnome adds a last aside.
It the somber voice of Soffic that breaks the uncomfortable silence.
“My friends, we have come far to both warn, advise you and ask for your aid.
As I have foretold many times over the centuries; disaster is coming.
I have lived countless of your human lifetimes and my diminutive companion here is one of the far-sighted gnomes of Mount Snafang.
We of the Grey, have been watching the unfolding events with an unwavering eye, and have become more and more dismayed.
The despicable Black cloaks are again in ascendance, bolstered this time by the Death worshippers of Nerull and the vile Drow: The shame of the collected elven races.
As you know from your human history, two hundred years ago, the Dragon Thereanthor and the Demon Prince: Zartak, combined their power to tear a rip in the fabric of this reality.
I have lived countless of your human lifetimes and my diminutive companion here is one of the far-sighted gnomes of Mount Snafang.
We of the Grey, have been watching the unfolding events with an unwavering eye, and have become more and more dismayed.
The despicable Black cloaks are again in ascendance, bolstered this time by the Death worshippers of Nerull and the vile Drow: The shame of the collected elven races.
As you know from your human history, two hundred years ago, the Dragon Thereanthor and the Demon Prince: Zartak, combined their power to tear a rip in the fabric of this reality.
A powerful cult of humans were working on their behalf and so my people warned the only other race that had the will to resist: The Orcs.
With our help, they formed a great army and unified many of the great tribes.
Unfortunately, we were too secretive and it cost us our advantage as the other unknowing races, in fear of such a powerful gathering of orcs, rose up against them and killed countless of them in their ignorance.
Finally, when the rift was opened and the Dragon and Demon came though, thousands upon thousands of orc warriors were killed. Perhaps a few thousand more may have turned the tide but we shall never know.
My once proud people were driven back to cower in our high mountain stronghold.”
In the following century, The Demon and the Dragon crushed all beneath their taloned feet, until finally they turned their ambitions upon one another. The battles were terrifying but eventually, and surprisingly, the Dragon won and Zartak was banished back to the hell he came from.”
The gnome: Segassos then takes up the story with his higher pitched but gravelly voice.
“Then, unopposed, Thereanthor ruled the entirety of Fissa with total dominance. She then found another blue Dragon, a male who’d found his way through the dimensional cracks caused by her initial incurrence, and took him as her mate. They only had one clutch of eggs but that resulted in the birth of four wyrmlings.
Of these four, at least three were discovered and killed before Thereanthor herself was killed in the second great orc uprising. No-one knows what happened to the last one. Apparently she had been stolen as a hatchling and probably killed.”
Soffic, the grey elf retakes the tale telling.
“The last orc uprising was successful thanks to our sharp minded, Gnomish friends from Mount Snafang. They gathered and mentored the orcs. They provided thousands of them shelter in various hidden locations until they had the numbers and were ready to act.
The battle was hard won but glorious!
Now despite the Demon and Dragon being defeated, danger looms again.
This trio of depravity have already secured as many artifacts of power than they need. More so even. This is why they were able to so casually use the Shoes of Fharlangne as bait in their unsuccessful trap.”
Segassos quickly interjects
“We have ascertained that they only needed eight of these artifacts for their nefarious plan. They stole many more due to the disparate oganisation of their separate cells.
These powerful items though, are not enough in themselves. They are merely conduits for another power to flow through, and we have found the source of this power…
To breach our dimension again, the Black cloaks, Drow and Death-worshippers need the Skull of Thereanthor itself!
Even now, a century after her demise, its power is tremendous!”
Soffic again takes over the explanation.
“Fortunately for us, the skull is still held in the reclaimed land of the Orcs. Specifically by the Broken Lance tribe in the heart of the Broken lands.
We need to destroy it before the Triad of Destruction get their loathsome hands on it.
With our help, they formed a great army and unified many of the great tribes.
Unfortunately, we were too secretive and it cost us our advantage as the other unknowing races, in fear of such a powerful gathering of orcs, rose up against them and killed countless of them in their ignorance.
Finally, when the rift was opened and the Dragon and Demon came though, thousands upon thousands of orc warriors were killed. Perhaps a few thousand more may have turned the tide but we shall never know.
My once proud people were driven back to cower in our high mountain stronghold.”
In the following century, The Demon and the Dragon crushed all beneath their taloned feet, until finally they turned their ambitions upon one another. The battles were terrifying but eventually, and surprisingly, the Dragon won and Zartak was banished back to the hell he came from.”
The gnome: Segassos then takes up the story with his higher pitched but gravelly voice.
“Then, unopposed, Thereanthor ruled the entirety of Fissa with total dominance. She then found another blue Dragon, a male who’d found his way through the dimensional cracks caused by her initial incurrence, and took him as her mate. They only had one clutch of eggs but that resulted in the birth of four wyrmlings.
Of these four, at least three were discovered and killed before Thereanthor herself was killed in the second great orc uprising. No-one knows what happened to the last one. Apparently she had been stolen as a hatchling and probably killed.”
Soffic, the grey elf retakes the tale telling.
“The last orc uprising was successful thanks to our sharp minded, Gnomish friends from Mount Snafang. They gathered and mentored the orcs. They provided thousands of them shelter in various hidden locations until they had the numbers and were ready to act.
The battle was hard won but glorious!
Now despite the Demon and Dragon being defeated, danger looms again.
This trio of depravity have already secured as many artifacts of power than they need. More so even. This is why they were able to so casually use the Shoes of Fharlangne as bait in their unsuccessful trap.”
Segassos quickly interjects
“We have ascertained that they only needed eight of these artifacts for their nefarious plan. They stole many more due to the disparate oganisation of their separate cells.
These powerful items though, are not enough in themselves. They are merely conduits for another power to flow through, and we have found the source of this power…
To breach our dimension again, the Black cloaks, Drow and Death-worshippers need the Skull of Thereanthor itself!
Even now, a century after her demise, its power is tremendous!”
Soffic again takes over the explanation.
“Fortunately for us, the skull is still held in the reclaimed land of the Orcs. Specifically by the Broken Lance tribe in the heart of the Broken lands.
We need to destroy it before the Triad of Destruction get their loathsome hands on it.
We are fortunate in one way though. Because of the religious demands made by the drow and the death-whorshippers, we've learned that the skull can't be used until the rising of the 'Blood moon'.
This gives you twenty eight days until they strike!
Unfortunately, The dragon skull represents a great victory to the orcs and they consider it as an important talisman of prestige and dominance. The Broken Lancers may resist this slight.”
Segassos interrupts again.
“We need you to travel across the broken lands, find the mountain stronghold of the Broken lance tribe and persuade the current tribe leader: Obdurate to allow you to destroy the skull.
Failing that, you’ll have to sneak into the grand chamber of the unified tribes and destroy the giant dragon skull yourselves.
Being candid, the second option is the more likely one.”
Finally, with the end in sight, Soffic sums up.
“We know it will be difficult but Segassos here will show you a secret entrance that even the orcs aren’t aware of.
There will be Gnomish tricks and traps through this path but Segassos will also give you his guidance on how to circumvent the ones he still has records of…
We know that this is a great ask but fate has tied the six of you to this path and I’ve lived long enough to know that you can’t battle against destiny.
...
Unfortunately, The dragon skull represents a great victory to the orcs and they consider it as an important talisman of prestige and dominance. The Broken Lancers may resist this slight.”
Segassos interrupts again.
“We need you to travel across the broken lands, find the mountain stronghold of the Broken lance tribe and persuade the current tribe leader: Obdurate to allow you to destroy the skull.
Failing that, you’ll have to sneak into the grand chamber of the unified tribes and destroy the giant dragon skull yourselves.
Being candid, the second option is the more likely one.”
Finally, with the end in sight, Soffic sums up.
“We know it will be difficult but Segassos here will show you a secret entrance that even the orcs aren’t aware of.
There will be Gnomish tricks and traps through this path but Segassos will also give you his guidance on how to circumvent the ones he still has records of…
We know that this is a great ask but fate has tied the six of you to this path and I’ve lived long enough to know that you can’t battle against destiny.
...
Also, rest assured, you will be generously compensated for you heroism."
Not to be outdone though, the anchient gnome adds a last aside.
"You must hurry though. Other factions, both good and evil have begun formulating their own plans…”
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