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TALES of TALVIEN: The Maddening Mist
CHAPTER ONE - A BAND BORN AMIDST THE FLAMES
"Will we just stand around and wait to succumb to her fire? Or will we stand strong and defiant in it's light?" - OCTAVIUS, PATRON OF LAW
A lone lizard sits on her stool at the center of the tavern's stage. She commands the small space with sharp confidence, her long legs stretched over the threshold and her clawed hands resting lightly on a weathered lute. The warm glow of the lanterns strung above the crowd reflects of her golden scales when the coolest of whistles escapes her lips without an inkling of effort. Heads along the room turn to her as she beckons and only when all eyes have found her does she speak.
Her voice is honey to the ears. It's assured and without stutter.
"Tell me fair people, have you heard the tale of those who saved these very lands oh so many years ago?" The bard pauses as her sharpened gaze reads the reactions across the floor. It is only with the sliest of smiles does she begin speaking once more. "I refer not to the Thirteen and the war they waged against the creator but instead the Heroes of the Mist... the six mortals who, without help from haughty celestial beings, brought the continent of Talvien back from the brink?"
A low laughter rumbled from her as confusion settled within the room. It did not surprise her that these people knew not what prices were paid so they could live and drink as they were. The common folk always forget in the end, the bard knew that far too well. Soon enough the lizard sat a little straighter in her chair and with the curve of a finger she played the very first string.
"Well then... allow me to enlighten you."
Ozztarak Crane truly thought this little trip had potential. I mean not just anyone was given a carriage across the continent without charge after all, but he was more than sure he could happily do away with being chained to the wagon the entire time. Oh and if the maddening fog threatening to swallow Talvien whole could just disappear things would just be downright chappy! Oh how nice and unproblematic that would be, Ozz thought.
And those two descriptors were precisely why it would never happen he also thought.
Talvien was in shambles. Even the half-orc could see that from the sorry excuse of a window the nobles of Dorothea had given him. Almost every village, city, and settlement they passed through on the way to the Kaleshian Empire had the same expression painted on the commonfolk's face. Fear. Inconsolable, inescapable fear. All the races were threatened by the reemergence of The Mist and perhaps that was why Ozztarak was okay shouldering the needless cruelty of his human captors.
They were bringing him to the only person with seemingly enough brain to plan against the Mist instead of fear it--Kirvam Ozirius, a high ranking member of the senate board that ruled only second to the Lizard Empress herself. Even if he was some (literally) coldblooded politician no doubt drenched in silks and golds, Ozz was willing to take him over nothing, and it was that thought that made the trip to Kirvam's luxurious summer estate northwest of the Cadeira bearable.
Ozz watched the world outside the carriage transform from mountains, to plains, and eventually unending vineyards. It had taken nearly two months, but they had arrived, and it was apparent from the moment the doors swung open and Ozz was blinded by the light that this senator had no intention of wasting any more time. The half orc was unchained and soon ushered through the grandest pair of doors he had ever seen. Past the doors he was moved through an entrance corridor and an inner courtyard before finally entering a lavish banquet hall.
Ozz quickly realized that he had kept quite a lot of people waiting. The long table that stretched the distance of the room was cast off to the side to make space for the sheer amount of adventurers that had been gathered by Kirvam. The likes of knights, rogues, and brigands filled the room and the sounds of a hundred different conversations quieted the moment the half orc arrived.
"Oh go on and stare, I know it's hard to resist with a face like this." Ozztarak grinned widely, baring his orc-blooded fangs.
It was Ozz's instinct of course to then bow mockingly at the crowd that had turned to see him, that had turned to see the only man in Talvien capable of moving himself and others through the Fog. The scoff of disapproval that came from Kirvam, who stood opposite to Ozz at the other end of the room, was almost universally heard as with a snap of the senator's talons, Ozztarak Crane was dragged through the crowd and to the stage at the front.
"Welcome brave adventurers to my humble home!" Kirvam roared with the confidence and practice expected of a Kaleshian elite as he took center stage. The politician spoke with his chin high, the deep red tint of his scales a sign of nobility and elegance to his fellow lizards. "The day we have all been awaiting for has finally come. We finally have an answer to the damnable Mist that has terrified Talvien all these years."
With a single gesture to Ozz the crowd of fighters and rogues roar, the senator waiting with a smile for the sound to die down before continuing.
"I will not bore you here with an impassioned speech. We all know what is at stake here. Together with the help of this crossbreed, we will travel deep into lost halfling territory and destroy whatever has brought this cursed fog to our lands. Those of you who survive will be rich, those of you who rise to become leaders will be acknowledged and most importantly..."
"Talvien will be saved!"
Everything that followed the roar of approval from Kirvam's words happened impossibly quick. Young human servants appeared from seemingly nowhere and with the help of the senator's lizard vanguard, the adventurers were moved and the table, as well as a serious bounty of food, were brought back to the center. With a roaring laugh and the rise of a goblet of wine, Kirvam declared that the night before a large journey would be done as lizards have always seen fit--a grand feast.
The night soon descended into such a frivolous event that any outsider would look on and not know these people were on a mission to save the continent. To many it must have seemed foolish to take things so lightly, but it made sense considering The Kaleshian Empire was the one nation that has always sat furthest from the fog and it's danger. The celebrations and feasting extended late into the night, all the adventurers that had gathered eventually given guest rooms in Kirvam's sprawling mansion.
Come morning, Ozztarak, the senator and three dozens brave souls would be setting off. Or so that was the plan... because as soon as every full stomach hit their plush silk bed, the forces that worked against them began their work. It only took one spark to set the land surrounding the estate aflame and only a couple of fireballs to fill Kirvam's halls with choking smoke and the undeniable smell of burning flesh.
It was an attack and one without mercy. As helpless adventurers burned alive those who had been lucky enough to not be caught in the initial strike suddenly found themselves with just one goal.
Get out alive.
Hey guys! Welcome to the IC thread for Talvien--it's happening! Woot. This tab will always be at the end of story progressing posts to let you guys know the different objectives I have for each character. We'll be starting off with a round of collab posts where our characters will try to not to burn alive while they escape! By the end of this round I need every character to meet up at the courtyard--how you get there and what injuries you sustain are completely up to you and your collab partner(s). Just know that the unknown attackers are pumping fireballs round after round trying to bring the entire estate down.
So without further ado here are the specific situations of each of our characters.
@PoetLore & @Moonstone Jarek is the guard assigned outside Ozztarak's bedroom door, Dusk's room is right across the hall. I'll be writing with both of you as our trio gets a hold of themselves, fights off knife-y assassins that have come to finish off those who haven't fallen to the flames, and find themselves in the courtyard.
@Kuno & @Applo Reva and Silph were assigned the same room. However the night had went, now they must focus on relying on a stranger to get themselves through the attack alive. I'll also be collaborating with you guys as Reva and Silph will be the ones to run into our scaly senator Kirvam who is essential not only to our survival but the expedition! Our two badass ladies will be travelling from their room through the banquet hall (that is receiving a lot of fiery attention) in order to get to the armory where most adventurers had their weapons taken to for safekeeping. That's where Kirvam will be (and when I come in).
So without further ado here are the specific situations of each of our characters.
@PoetLore & @Moonstone Jarek is the guard assigned outside Ozztarak's bedroom door, Dusk's room is right across the hall. I'll be writing with both of you as our trio gets a hold of themselves, fights off knife-y assassins that have come to finish off those who haven't fallen to the flames, and find themselves in the courtyard.
@Kuno & @Applo Reva and Silph were assigned the same room. However the night had went, now they must focus on relying on a stranger to get themselves through the attack alive. I'll also be collaborating with you guys as Reva and Silph will be the ones to run into our scaly senator Kirvam who is essential not only to our survival but the expedition! Our two badass ladies will be travelling from their room through the banquet hall (that is receiving a lot of fiery attention) in order to get to the armory where most adventurers had their weapons taken to for safekeeping. That's where Kirvam will be (and when I come in).
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