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#Post#: 380--------------------------------------------------
423 AC Karnea Master of Black Robe Story Two Consolidation of Po
wer Chapter Eight: Deep Cover
By: Dungeon Master Date: September 1, 2023, 9:05 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Master Karnea: Consolidation of Power
Story Two
Chapter Eight: Deep Cover
[/center]
Eastern Ansalon
Blood Sea
Blood Sea Isle
Blood Sea Tower of High Sorcery
In the dying days of Sirrion (August)
Midday
Master Karnea has been in her study thinking of the many things
that have recently transpired and what she wants to do going
forward. She is of two minds right now about Talron. She does
not completely trust Nalis, the Dark Elf that was until
recently, an apprentice of Dalamar the Dark. Karnea cannot
completely rule out whether Dalamar carries hard feelings
against her, and cannot discount the possibility that Nalis is
to be used as his instrument of revenge. Nalis seems content to
wait until Karnea has a use for him. Something seems off about
it. When Talron comes in, she wants him to keep a close watch on
Nalis. But she also wants him to spy for her in occupied
Silvanesti for her.
She calls Talron to her study and discusses the Nalis situation
with him. Then discusses the parameters of what she wants him to
accomplish in occupied Silvanesti.
Talron asks, “Why don’t you send him to Silvanesti with me and
we can get him out of your hair?”
Karnea is quiet for a moment, thinking, then grins, It’s a great
idea, nice and elegant. Well done. Karnea passes over a money
belt, “For bribes and the such. I will talk to Nalis after the
Draconian.”
Karnea brings Silak into her employ after she explains more
fully why he has come to her island. They discuss the
overcrowding in Teyr. “There are new towns being erected, but I
do not want to be a city father. I have gifts, I want a
challenge.”
They discuss the female Draconians and the challenge of taking a
mate.
Karnea asks How is his “Silvanesti Elf language skills are?”
He admits to being a bit rusty in the High Elven but knows
Kagonesti.
Karnea considers this. May still be able to use you. Brush up on
your Silvanesti, and I want you to join Talron and Nalis in
occupied Silvanesti. Ever mimicked a Minotaur before?”
“No mam, but I look forward to the challenge,” Sirak admits.
Karnea considers this. You will need to assume the forms of a
minotaur and an elf. “I will need you to look in on the Minotaur
mages and Primal Sorcerers. I need to know any plans for future
expansion of the minotaurs. Where will they go first? Anything
you learn, take back to Talron every couple of days.”
Later, she had Nalis brought to her study and asked if Nalis
would go on a sensitive mission for her. “I need you to go with
a couple of my agents into Silvanesti and gather information
about the Minotaur occupation. Of particular interest is the
Minotaur magic-users. I need to know about the Sorcerers and if
any are sympathetic to the Gods of Magic. I sent Rimasalas
Qoutathas, a Dark Silvanesti Elf to the Forest to aid the Rebel
Minotaurs in making a raid for supplies. It's all a means to an
end. The Three of you will meet up with Rimasalas and listen for
any information he has learned during his reconnaissance over
the last couple of days.”
Nalis agrees and thanks her for the opportunity to serve.
Karnea teleports her three agents a distance from Silvanesti
proper. And then she teleports back to the Tower.
#Post#: 383--------------------------------------------------
423 AC Karnea Master of Black Robe Story Two Consolidation of Po
wer Chapter Nine: Plans within Plans
By: Dungeon Master Date: September 2, 2023, 2:05 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Master Karnea: Consolidation of Power
Story Two
Chapter Nine: Plans within Plans
[/center]
Eastern Ansalon
Blood Sea
Blood Sea Isle
Blood Sea Tower of High Sorcery
In the dying days of Sirrion (August)
It is late afternoon.
Karnea is in her bed-chamber, preparing for her visit with Lady
Coryn. Master of the White Robe. She believes she has
everything in order and walks to her study, where Nuitari, the
God of Black Magic, is waiting for her.
” I didn’t expect to see you, let alone being here to see me
off, people are going to talk more than they already do.” Karnea
smiles.
“I wanted to catch you before you left. I have a gift I want you
to present to Master Coryn when you see her.” Nuitari answers.
Not exactly feeling jealous, more curious about the game he is
playing here. “And what is this gift? Karnea asks.
He puts out his arms. Nothing there.
He crosses his hands in front of him, nothing.
He brings his arms apart, and there is a dish, not unlike the
God’s Eye in the Chamber of Eyes at the top of the tower.
He hands it to Karnea. It has a bit of weight for something so
small. She looks to him for explanation.
“This is a step down from what we have. She will not be able to
scry the movements of the Gods, but it will allow her to view
much. This is an Artifact caliber device. She will see far, but
not as far as us.”
“The purpose of this gift of such power to her?”
"It repays the debt outstanding for doing our bidding with few
questions from a week back. I mentioned something about what I
was planning then. Your recent deceleration of the opening of
the Towers will also play into this. I must admit I have more
than angered my Magical Cousins with the building of this tower.
I must go about making some amends to get in a better light with
my cousins. These can’t be hollow gestures. She will not accept
it gladly, and Solinari will wonder at what I am playing at, but
it is clean. No hidden curses are in it. It is a sincere gift to
a promising Young Master. One day, this gift with pay us back
dividends of goodwill.”
“Plans pregnant with more plans,” Karnea says. “Still staying a
step ahead of everyone I see. Okay, you’ve convinced me, I’ll
take it to her.”
‘Lunitari is committed to keeping the Master study closed tight.
One day, I want the magic tomes inside. We will bid our time. I
have a few ideas about that. But for now, I wish you a
productive meeting, and remember, we need her on our side. As
crazy as that sounds, it will behoove us to treat this one well.
Farewell…” He looks into her eyes while he fades from view.
Karnea calls for Willim to join her. Karnea tells Willim she off
to Nightlund. “Defend the Tower for me in my absence.”
Willim nods to her and says, “Safe travels.”
Karnea picks up the silver dish and Teleports from the Tower of
Blood Sea
Central Ansalon
Solamnia
Nightlund
The Nightlund Tower of High Sorcery
Karnea to the Forest in Nightlund. She walks through the cypress
trees that make up the Forest.
Tower of High Sorcery at Nightlund, is one of the five original
Towers of High Sorcery built on Ansalon. When it was originally
built, it was built with white marble walls and crimson
minarets. This changed, though, following the end of the Lost
Battles. The Tower was cursed, and the white and red turned
black.
This tower was considered the greatest of all the Towers and
housed the world's greatest store of arcane lore and artifacts
in its day.
The Tower is a cylinder-shaped tower carved from an enormous
block of white marble streaked with red. Flanking the main tower
were two four-hundred-foot minarets, each capped with a red
crystal dome in its day, but now these all became blackened over
time since the Lost Battles
Karnea recognizes the changes to the landscape. Though the hours
grow late, the cursed perpetual night has been lifted from this
land since the War of Souls. She was here but a week ago, but it
was a fast meeting, with a sense of urgency.
It would seem life has returned to this forest. She can hear an
owl in a tree close by.
Karnea arrives at the Tower.
The Tower stands before her, reaching over six hundred feet in
height.
She did not gauge it before, but the damage to the tower looks
terrible. The tower has huge cracks that can be seen running up
and down the central Tower. One minaret is missing its roof,
the other is blocked by a cave-in. It would be nice to repair
this as the Blood Sea was repaired. She will talk to Nuitari
about it.
The door leading into the Tower is made of polished bloodwood,
covered with arcane glyphs. The Door opens and Coryn appears in
the welcoming Master Karnea across the threshold.
Cpryn Brinefellow is just slightly taller then Karnea, Eighteen
years of age as of this meeting. olive skin, pale blue eyes,
long black hair, a legacy of her aboriginal roots from Icewall.
She is considered exotically attractive in the north. She is
dressed demurely, wearing a plain White Robe and white fur
boots.
Coryn takes Karnea up the spiral staircase and explains that
while she has opened the Tower, it has been slow going in
reclaiming the Tower for habitation. A few steps on the spiral
staircase are missing. Coryn is apologetic that she has not
gotten to everything yet.
Large sections of the Tower remain closed here, including the
Master’s Study that once served Raistlin Majere once he entered
as the Master of the Past and Present. The study was sealed shut
by Arcane runes and curses, and a Litch once served as guardian
to the study, but no longer.
They walk to the Chamber that Coryn has adopted as her Study. It
was once served as Dalamar’s study once he became Master of the
Tower.
It strikes Karnea again how young Coryn is. And it makes Karnea
feel a bit old. Despite her youthful appearance, Karnea is quite
a bit older than Coryn. But she shares a kinship with Coryn.
Karnea talked very young. Made her father question if she was
possessed. Karnea achieved much in her youth. Broke free from
the Devils that held her. She was the prodigy of her day.
Karnea eyes the desk and sees Coryn walking to the chairs by the
fireplace. Very smart Coryn, Karnea concedes, not using the desk
as a power prop, this is a social visit, not a pissing contest.
Before Karnea sits, she presents the Artifact Seeing Eye to
Master Coryn. “I bear gift from my Patron Nuitari as we give our
thanks for your assistance to us in our time of need.”
Unfortunately, Coryn is in a bit of a quandary. She pardons, she
does not mean to offend. She hesitates from taking the dish for
mere moments. Karnea sees her hesitation. And says, “It is not
cursed in any way.”
Receiving an answer from Solinari, Coryn gladly accepts and
looks at it. She wants to cast identity, but instead, she asks
Karnea what it does.
Karnea explains, “It is a Seeing Eye. When filled with liquid,
it will increase your divination abilities, and allow you to
gaze just about everywhere within reason on Krynn. Will allow
you to scry far away, or spy on an incoming army.”
Coryn is overwhelmed. She feels her God’s (Solinari)
uncertainty. He is looking for a catch, something that gives
Nuitari an edge somehow. But he finds nothing nefarious. It
fills him with more questions.
Karnea knows it’s a lesser device than the God’s Eye Nuitari,
fashioned in his need and desire to Kind Krynn again after it
was stolen by his mother. It is the most powerful Divination
artifact in existence today on Ansalon. It has spied with
impunity to even Gods when they are caught unaware. Some have
wizened to by now, such as Chemosh. Karnea does not mention its
inferiority to the God’s Eye to Coryn. She does not need to know
everything.
It is still a minor Magical artifact and will allow for some
serious scrying going forward.
Coryn places the dish on her Desk and returns to her chair by
the fireplace. She offers Karnea tea, or bitters, a brew she
brought with her from Icewall.
Karea considers the offer and decides that tea would be nice.
Soon, the tea is soaked in a mug of boiled water.
And the discussions begin in earnest.
Coryn brings up Primal sorcerers first. Karnea hears her out on
the subject. Genuinely interested in her thoughts on the matter.
“My heart bleeds for these sorcerers. They had no other choice
in the Fifth Age. Now there is a choice, but these Sorcerers
have grown proud of their accomplishments without the aid of the
Gods, and now we come in and are enforcing them to make a
choice. I’m given to know that Soiinari agrees with your patron
god that some order must be kept. These sorcerers must join the
order. I’m not truly worried about 70% of the sorcerers. A lot
of them just use their gifts throughout the day to help them
with work, but there is a large percentage that are frightening,
and they are the ones that make me truly afraid that they will
get out of control. I agree that High Sorcery is the practice
of magic, safely. What some of these Sorcerers want is chaos. We
cannot have that. I propose we take several matters into
consideration, and let us leave the low-level sorcerers alone
for now. We send out Wizards into the populace to see who is
abusing their power and who is a threat.
They might allow us to better target our hunters on the trail of
offenders and allow us to prioritize the threats. There are a
lot of people who could be turned against us if we start going
after friends or family of everyday civilians with a hint of
sorcerous ability. Anyone who has crossed the threshold of power
and they need to be brought into the Order. I just fear turning
the people against us if we start killing lots of people.
Karnea can hear some common sense in what Coryn is saying. “I
have told all of my Black Robes that I consider any practicing
Sorcerer, Warlock, or Witch That I consider them all Renegade
Wizards. It is possible I can amend certain allowances for
low-level skill and ability. Perhaps a fuller policy can be made
at the upcoming Conclave. We might do well to have white robe
ambassadors begin an outreach to the sorcerers and maybe even
join the Renegade Hunters on some of their hunts.
Coryn agrees to gather white robes that would be best to serve
as ambassadors for magic.
Karnea brings up her recent announcement at their recent
Gathering at High Sanction for Nuitari. Karnea intends to open
the Tower of Blood Sea to other Rebes, and she intends to bring
this to all the towers as Wayreth does. Coryn wonders if she is
about to be inundated by Black Robes, and Karnea allays her
concerns.
“Just a small number exchange would benefit all the towers, with
an influx of ideas and different positions with benefit all of
us and all of Magic. We are not always going to agree, but in
brotherhood, we might come to a solution that takes everyone's
opinion into account and maybe helps us make better decisions
for all. With the influx of a few Black Robes, they may be able
to help you with your curse and ward problems in parts of your
tower.”
They talk on. About the threat of the Minotaurs. Coryn asks if
what she did helped earlier in the week.
Karnea nods and says, “It did. The army was restored to good
health.”
Coryn asks if they did the right thing in helping these
Minotaurs.
Karnea has to think about that. She has been asking herself the
same question, but Nuitari says that doubt of their superiority
is creeping in. “We have given this Minotaur Leader a lot to
think about. I don’t know if it will be enough to stay their
hand, but I hope it has some effect on him in the future. And if
it doesn’t work, I am going to be putting agents into the Empire
and slow an invasion any way I can.”
"I have an eye towards getting the Knights of Solamnia ready.
From where I live in Palanthas, the rot is apparent and
disheartening. Corrupt lords and dukes and poisoning the honor
system of the Knighthood. The three branches are more separate
than ever in the past. Coryn discloses.
Karnea has not had the same amount of time to diagnose the
Knighthood’s issues of late, but tells her the people of Ansalon
are resilient. They had to deal with much in the four hundred
years, and they have endured. Karnea’s own relationship with
Solamnia and the Knighthood is complicated. But that was another
time, another age entirely.
Karnea tells Coryn that she has received an earring from Master
Jenna. The three of them can now be in contact with each other
should the need arise.
They talk a little more and end their meeting by shaking each
other’s hands and agreeing to meet on a regular basis. They part
ways, both with a better sense of the other.
The beginnings of Respect and trust were built on this day.
#Post#: 506--------------------------------------------------
423 AC Karnea Master of Black Robe Story Two Consolidation of Po
wer Chapter Ten: Thoughts on Coryn the White
By: Adam Date: September 25, 2023, 12:38 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Master Karnea: Consolidation of Power
Story Two
Chapter Ten: Thoughts on Coryn the White
[/center]
Eastern Ansalon
Blood Sea
Blood Sea Isle
Blood Sea Tower of High Sorcery
The air in front of the grand fireplace in Karnea’s personal
study shimmered. If anyone were present to witness it, they
would feel a wave of bone-chilling cold and be briefly struck
with a sense of nauseating dread. Between eye blinks, a hooded,
black-robed figure appears.
The Mistress of the Tower of Blood Sea and current Head of the
Order of Black Robes.
Her robes give her the appearance of being slightly larger than
she really is, but she still appears to be much smaller than her
reputation might cause one to believe. She shrugs out of her
cloak and robes, hanging them on the rack as the candelabra
spontaneously lights, casting a warm glow over the desk. Beneath
the robes is a short, slightly-built woman appearing to be in
her mid-20s. A silver ferroniere with a simple obsidian circle
centered on her forehead holds back a cascade of wispy blonde
hair that trails down her back. She wears a simple, knee-length
black dress with a plunging neckline, giving room for a necklace
of obviously magical purpose. Soft suede boots rise to her
midcalf.
Karnea steps to her desk and sits in her deeply cushioned chair.
A pale hand reaches for a small book in the drawer, her personal
journal. Picking up a quill, she sighs as she collects her
thoughts about her meeting with Coryn.
Coryn the White is as beautiful as she is intelligent. Something
about her calls to me, but I cannot quite place what it is. Her
thoughts about the Primal Sorcerers may be somewhat idealistic,
but I feel like that is simply part of her personality…her
idealism and devotion to her God mirrors my own, it seems. Her
faith and trust in the Solamnic Knights is wholly disappointing,
but again her idealism shows through. I hope for her sake that
it is not too painful for her when the Knights let her down by
not being as noble and forthright as she wishes.
But if it cracks her faith somewhat, perhaps she will need an
older mentor to vent her frustrations to, one who will give her
a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on…or a pillow.
Karnea sprinkles sand on the ink to dry it, and sets the book
aside. Pouring herself a small glass of a vintage Qualinesti
golden wine, she sips at it as she commits every feature of her
White Robed counterpart to her considerable memory.
“I look forward to seeing you again soon, my young friend,” she
mutters to herself as she puts the journal away.
#Post#: 553--------------------------------------------------
423 AC Karnea Master of Black Robe Story Two Consolidation of Po
wer Chapter Eleven: Azura
By: Adam Date: October 7, 2023, 6:40 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Master Karnea: Consolidation of Power
Story Two
Chapter Eleven: Azura[/center]
Eastern Ansalon
Blood Sea
Blood Sea Tower of High Sorcery
Karnea sets down her wine glass and puts away her journal,
sighing wistfully as she recalls her meeting with Coryn. She
brushes a stray lock of pale blond hair from her face and places
the tip of her index finger on her thin lips. Her fingernails
are well manicured and painted after the fashion of the wealthy
women of the Soreelian capital, though Karnea’s fingers
alternate black, red, and white nails in homage to the Krynnish
gods of magic. She resists the urge to bite the nail, an
unfortunate habit from her early youth in Limbo. The Demon Sym
frequently chastised her for the damage she caused her fingers,
one tiny reason why she hated him then as she does to this day.
Leaning back in her chair, she reaches beneath the desk and
pulls a silken cord near her knee, causing a silver bell to ring
two levels down at the door of her newest pupil, a Khurish girl
named Azura. Selene of Tarsis discovered her and began her
tutelage, but Karnea saw something in her that convinced her to
take her on as a full apprentice, something she hadn’t done
since Kalana. Rising from her chair, she picked up her robe from
the hanger and dons it, arranging the folds just so. “Can’t let
the new girl see the Mistress of the Order and the Tower out of
uniform,” she mutters to herself with a sardonic chuckle.
Much more quickly than Karnea expected, a soft knocking comes at
the door to the study. Good, Karnea thinks, this one shows a
sense of urgency.
“Enter,” Karnea calls, just loudly enough to be heard through
the door.
Azura enters. She is a young, olive-skinned, dark-haired girl of
obvious Khurish ancestry, a beauty that Karnea had always been
jealous of. Her robes are plain, as befits a learner of her
station, and she averts her gaze from her superior as is the
custom of her people. She clears her throat briefly and barely
above a whisper says, “I am come, Mistress. What do you require
of me?”
Karnea sits back down in her chair, motioning to the single
chair across the desk from her. “Sit.” When her student has
taken her seat, she continues. “We have not yet had the
opportunity to truly become acquainted. Tell me about yourself.
I wish to know more of your past, so that I may properly direct
your future.”
“Of course, Mistress,” Azura said, shifting uncomfortably in her
chair. No matter how she changes her position, the chair remains
just…wrong. It would be unseemly to criticize her patron’s
furniture so soon, but perhaps later she might mention it. “I
come from a modest family of apothecarists from the Mikku tribe
in the city of Ak-Khurman on Khur coast. I grew up and learned
Sorcery from a school that opened up. I found I had an affinity
for casting it. Malystryx The Red razed our city. We went and
lived in the Desert among the tribes.
“When the gods returned, one of the three sisters of the sky,
Nuira (Nuitari) visited me and showed me what power really was.
The dark wizard Selene found me and took me to the Tower of High
Sorcery. She was my patron and prepared me for the Test of High
Sorcery. I took the Test; I then took of the Black Robe and
Selene took me to her school in Tarsis, for about six months,
until she brought here."
Karnea notes with interest Azura’s family background as
apothecarists. Herbalism and potion brewing were always a keen
interest of the Mistress, and having a student with a similar
background would make it easier to relate to one another. The
fact that she was chosen by Nuitari played greatly in her favor
as well. Karnea’s right eyebrow arched slightly as she pursed
her lips. This one will do for now at least.
“Very well, parmo-wen*. For the time being, you will remain in
the quarters you have been given. When you are not studying, you
will be responsible for ensuring that the common spell
components in the storerooms are fresh and regularly
replenished. Additionally, you will begin to organize the scroll
shelves in the main library. I’m afraid that they are quite
chaotically stored, and this makes finding the proper scroll
difficult. While you are doing this, you will bring to my
attention any scrolls you find pertaining to the removal of
curses. I have a…friend…in need of assistance in such matters."
“You will find that I am perhaps a different kind of teacher
than those you are accustomed to. I do not consider you my
personal servant; you won’t be responsible for fetching my tea,
or laundering my smallclothes. Tasks such as these have no
bearing on your magical aptitude. I do, however, expect you to
learn. The Art may be power, but knowledge itself brings another
kind of power, and if you are to be successful, you must learn
to wield both. I do not take students lightly, and those I have
instructed have become quite powerful. I have very high
expectations for you, parmo-wen, and I do hope that you will
live up to them.”
Azura’s heart pounds in her chest. The Head of the Black Robes
has taken her on as an apprentice and has already entrusted an
important task to her. She shifts in her seat uncomfortably once
again and says, “It will be always as you desire, Mistress. I
shall not fail you.”
“You may go to your tasks now. I will summon you at my need.”
Karnea waved her hand in dismissal, and Azura stood to leave. As
she approaches the door, Karnea calls after her. “From now on,
you needn’t knock at my door before entering. I will always know
that it is you when you come to me. We will meet every other
evening for dinner, for now, to discuss your studies and your
adjustment to your new surroundings, starting two evenings from
now.”
parmo-wen* elven word for little-one
#Post#: 597--------------------------------------------------
423 AC Karnea Master of Black Robe Story Two Consolidation of Po
wer Chapter Twelve: The Artificer
By: Dungeon Master Date: October 20, 2023, 4:07 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]
Master Karnea: Consolidation of Power
Story Two
Chapter Twelve: The Artificer
by Adam and James[/center]
Eastern Ansalon
Blood Sea
Blood Sea Tower of High Sorcery
Twelve days later, Karnea is meeting with Sarus, the new
Grandmaster of the Renegade Hunters. He comments on the Khurish
girl downstairs in the Black Robe. He is from Khur as well. He
is just surprised to see her here.
Karnea confirms the girl’s origin and simply tells the
Grandmaster, “Azura has performed the assigned tasks I assigned
her to my satisfaction thus far, but it is too early to be sure
of anything. She has promise, therefore I have decided to take
to take her on as my new apprentice. In the interim we shall see
if she can survive the experience.”
The conversation turns to Sarus explaining his progress in
expanding the makeup of the hunting teams to include bounty
hunters, scouts, and spies. “However, there is a shortfall of
new applicants to become hunters. I have a recruiter in place
intending to find those who might be well-suited, but he is
coming up empty-handed. This apathy may become a danger. “I
bring this matter to you in the hope of seeking your counsel on
the matter. I know the Conclave is coming up. I would be willing
to advocate for more resources and manpower if you think that is
what it will take.”
The Renegade Hunter has brought gifts in the form of magical
items he acquired from civilians who were misusing them and
newly procured recruits. Three former sorcerers have recently
taken the Test of High Sorcery at Wayreth and have all taken the
black. He left them downstairs with Willim. Two males and a
woman. Sarus tells Karnea he found the males near the Northern
Wastes of Solamnia, and the woman was found in Volger. That
interests the Grandmaster, as Volger is also in the Northern
Wastes Region.
Karnea considers this possibility. Karnea stood up and went to
her Bookshelf of map scrolls and searched for the right one. She
realizes she does not have a current map of Northern Solamnia,
but one dated from after the Blue Lady’s War, after 357 AC. She
opened the case and spread the Map out, moving paperweights, a
silver candlestick holding a tall black candle, a wineglass, a
book discussing the history of the Tower of Palanthus, and the
case the map was in to keep the corners in place.
Their eyes scan the map. Desolate and forbidding, Karnea recalls
moving through the region when she was but a teenage renegade
witch. Dangerous scorpions, poisonous snakes, and stalking
leopards all pose a threat to travel here. It was the domain of
the Blue Dragon Overlord Khellendros, the Storm over Krynn
during the first part of the Fifth Age, until his demise after
the War of Souls.
Grandmaster Sarus reached out and pointed to the two locations
where the Sorcerers were found. Volger is here, near the
Hinterland region on the Vingaard (River), bordering the
Northern Wastes. The males were found near the Deepdrought,
North of Volger.
Karnea does see the potential for a connection. She tells the
Grandmaster, “I will scry on the region and see if I can gain
any insight on the potential of evidence of gathering renegades
in the Northern Wastes.” Karnea thanks Sarus for his report and
his gifts. Karnea agrees to help advocate for the Hunters and
then he is off on another hunt. He leaves the Blood Sea Tower
and teleports away.
[center]--[/center]
Once Sarus had left, Karnea moved her journal containing her
observations on the Planar realm known as the Gray, then picked
up a book from a corner of her desk and opened it to a
bookmarked page. It is a tome recovered from Sigil, the City of
Doors, discussing various means of traveling from the Prime
Material Plane to the Outer Planes.
Another book is open nearby, this one is a journal of one of the
Archmages who created the Portal to the Abyss located in the
laboratory of what is now the Tower of Nightlund. She is trying
to discover whether a permanent doorway can be created to Sigil,
a doorway that she alone holds the key to.
Such a door would drastically reduce the number of times she
would need to use the Worldwalk spell, which is expensive and
requires some sample material of the place being traveled to.
She writes her notes in a fresh journal, writing right-to-left
as is her habit to deter those who would try to snoop on her
research.
Karnea rises and puts on a tea kettle with water to make herself
some spiced tea before getting back to work.
Partway into her cup of tea, Nuitari comes through the wall and
asks, “Have I caught you at a bad time?”
[center]--[/center]
“No, my Lord, it is never a bad time for you to come to me,”
Karnea replies. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company
this evening?”
Nuitari hands her a golden ring and bids her to join him on a
short quest to retrieve the services of an old artificer and his
grandson. He drifts out of the Tower and waits for her to
follow.
Karnea eyes the ring somewhat skeptically and decides that a
quick identity spell is in order. The spell reveals that the
ring carries an enchantment that allows the wearer to assume a
ghost-like form with intangibility properties. Much like an
ethereal spell.
He assures her they won’t be gone long.
Drifting out into the sky, under the stars. The moons make their
trek across the sky. They fly with all three moons. Nuitari
relates that he had agents terrorizing the family for a few
months, and they have finally agreed to come to the island for
security.
“You will actually be seeing two men. Clive the Elder, A very
old man in his Eighties and an expert in the fabrication of
magical items, and his grandson Asher has taken the Black Robe,
much to the dismay of the family. Not since the old man’s
grandfather has there been a black robe in the family. Our
lucky break. This will give us the access we need to build the
future.”
“You will bring them back to the Island and set him up with
anything he (they) will need. We are not doing this to propagate
and flood the market with magical items. We are doing this to
make the trinkets the order gives out to the new order members
upon completion of their test of High Sorcery. The Supply of
magical items was nearly fully depleted during the Fifth Age in
the cannibalization of the magical power contained within the
shell of the magical item.”
Karnea remembers well the stack of magical items she had to
pilfer the magic she needed to fuel her escape from Krynn and
its one Moon sky. It was as dangerous as a personal Armageddon,
but she survived. She can well imagine the losses of magical
items over the years, all drained and destroyed for their power
inside. What a nightmare of an era. She doesn’t know what she
would have done if she could not escape. She risked everything
to find Nuitari.
Nuitari continues, “Not only trinkets, but to build back the
arsenal and tools of our craft and combine efforts to create
items of lasting power for our kind to survive the coming wars.
Karnea nods. “I have several ideas for items of power, but my
research time has been limited by my other duties. Perhaps this
artificer will be able to produce the items I have in mind.” She
noted they had crossed the Blood Sea, and were now crossing
Ansalon, heading west, by northwest.
On the way Nuitari discusses with Karnea about recent
developments she should be aware of. He asks her what she knows
about the other illegitimate children of the Dragon Queen and
the other so-called demi-gods of Krynn
-What Karnea knows about the demigods- Karnea knows of Artha as
she was involved in a plot on Aravis before the Summer of Flame.
It was Karnea’s understanding that Artha was dead. Karnea thinks
back. Yes, there was another. She recalls this one also had
designs on Aravis. His name was Malfesus. Nothing came of the
plot, and this one slinked back into the shadows.
Nuitari tells her, “There were more of course, Sargonnas killed
most of them, but some managed to slip his blade. Long did
Takhisis try to mate with Chemosh the God of Death. Thwarted in
her many attempts, for nobody wanted to see what those two would
produce, least of all Chemosh, and who could blame him.”
Her thoughts are troubled, whenever the subject came up, it
always meant something bad. Karnea asks, “why are we talking
about demigods all of a sudden?”
“You know why already; you just need me to give you the details
on the plots involved.” Nuitari answers.
“There is a plot afoot by my dark brethren, I may be jumping to
conclusions quickly myself. I have sent agents to monitor
Aravis. But the surviving demigods are being hunted. It may no
longer be prudent to keep her abroad in these times. The Dark
Gods are desperate to find their place and position in the new
order. It’s been suggested, they seek to acquire the divinity
back from the vessel. I think the idea is preposterous, but it
matters little what I think where they are concerned. They will
plod along heedless of my warnings.”
“I believe there are still a few places that I could send Aravis
which would be quite difficult, if not impossible, for even a
god of Krynn to find,” Karnea states. “Perhaps even you, my
Lord, would not be able to find her. Though I am certain that
she would chafe at the idea of being hidden away like some piece
of treasure.”
“Let us not jump to that option as of yet and let us bring her
back under our watchful eye, at least for the time being. It is
impossible for any God or outsider to enter the Tower of Blood
Sea, save for those outsiders that can bound within the
conjuring chamber. The Goddess that possesses the greatest
threat to the Tower is my dear sister Zebolim. A Tidal wave or
Sea creature attack could pose risks; However, the enchantment
is solidified, You and the Tower of Blood Sea are linked. You
empower each other while you remain Master of the Tower. There
are doorways I have secured within the tower for you to make
your exit if need be. I can create doorways wherever you need to
go. There is still much information I have yet to impart to you.
I could not help but notice the book titles on your desk before
we left.”
Nuitari tells Karnea of the Doorway in Flotsam that leads to
Sigil, the City of Doors. He imparts to her a key ring of Black
Keys and tells her where to go to find the Door.
[center]--[/center]
He takes her hand, and the Dark Wizards descended in the
southern Dargaard Mountains, near the Dark Woods. To the north
and beyond lie the Solamnian Plains. They are in the mountain
abode of Mageholm. A very old collective of Wizard families has
lived here off and on, going back to the time before the
Cataclysm. Many Black Robes are said to live here, along with
Red Robes and that of the White Robes. They arrive at the
homestead of Oisin Crane, with his grandson, whose name is
Asher. Nuitari kisses the back of her hand and disappears.
Karnea knocks on the door of the old house. A youngish-looking
man with round-rimmed spectacles, short black hair, and green
eyes opens the door.
"Uh, hello?" the man asks.
"Mr Asher Crane? I've come to take you and your grandfather into
my protection."
The Scene Ends.
#Post#: 697--------------------------------------------------
423 AC Karnea Master of Black Robe Story Two Consolidation of Po
wer Chapter Thirteen: Conclave Part One Preperations
By: Dungeon Master Date: December 31, 2023, 3:07 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Master Karnea: Consolidation of Power
Story Two
Chapter Thirteen: Conclave Part One Preparations [/center]
Eastern Ansalon
Isle of the Blood Sea Tower of High Sorcery
It is early morning, and Karnea has accomplished her task from
the God of Dark Magic, having retrieved the Artificer and his
grandson from Mageholm in the Qwermish region of the lower
Daragaard Mountains and have put them up at the Three Moons Inn.
They have agreed to settle in until Karnea returns from the
coming Conclave. She knows already where she wants to place
them, though, she will take their desires into account. As
Nuitari told her, she must make sure they are happy wherever
they end up. She bids them both good evening after she sees that
the Innkeeper knows how important they are to her.
Returning to the Blood Sea Tower, Karnea calls for Cael to
attend her. Once the dark elf arrives, he walks down from his
Room. Uninterested in providing much in the way of detail, she
assigns Cael to watch over her guests to make sure they are
satisfied and secure. Karnea is sure to impress Cael with the
guest’s importance to Nuitari and herself and he to watch over
them until she returns. He takes in his charge, nods to Karnea,
and departs the Tower.
During Karnea’s tenure as the head of the Black Robes, this will
be Karnea’s third Conclave session while being the head of the
Black Robes. The first session was the night of the Battle of
Wayreth. The trio cast the spell from atop the crest of the
Worldsmont, the crown of the High Kharolis, to call the Wizard
of High Sorcery forward to protect Wayreth earlier this spring.
The most recent session was one of emergency during the summer
months, called by the Highmage pertaining to the subject of the
growing epidemic known as the Beloved of Chemosh after Jenna
encountered the creatures in the port city of New Ports.
Karnea climbed the steps of the Tower and stopped at her
bedchamber to change robes and clean up before continuing with
the day. Her hand reaches into her Robe pockets, and her fingers
brush the black keys. She retrieved them from her pocket and
placed them on the table before her.
Later that afternoon,
Karnea puts on a kettle of water and moves the kettle over the
fire in the fireplace. She stokes the fire a few times and
proceeds to her Vallenwood desk. She begins moving books into
stacks and moving the placeholders away and rolls up the map of
Northern Solamnia but puts it to the side instead of returning
it with the other maps. No, she will keep this map on her desk
for a little while longer; she needs to reacquaint herself with
the area again.
The kettle begins to whistle, and Karnea moves to take the pot
away from the fire before readying the herbal mixture she had
prepared in a sealed can at the ready. She sits down with her
tea and lets it steep before drinking. Karnea writes down a
to-do list before electing to remain up for a while before
finding some rest. She decided to go a day early to Wayreth and
take advantage of some library time at the Tower's Library.
There are a few areas of interest she wants to take advantage of
on this trip since she is heading that way anyway.
In her conversations with Selene, Karnea has become more
convinced she needs to enlist the Potions Master at the School
of the Dark Arts in Tarsis before one of the other Masters grabs
him up for their own purposes. A race for the limited resources
of what is left in the Age of Mortals. Karnea walks down to the
Tower’s Library and tells Azura to come and see her on the
morrow, in the late afternoon, to which her student assures her
she will be ready at the appointed time.
Karnea returns to her study and delves back into her current
research before climbing into bed and pulling her covers over
her, and falling asleep.
The Next Day,
Karnea finishes the section she was reading in the journal of a
long-dead necromancer from Faerun, concerning his experiments in
cloning.
“I suppose he was not terribly successful if he is now known to
be dead…” she mused to herself as she put a marker on the page
and placed the book on her desk. She takes a sweet from the dish
in her left hand and pops it into her mouth, savoring the
sweetness.
The door to her study opened silently, and the small figure of
Azura was silhouetted in the light from the corridor.
“Mistress?” Azura called. “I understand that there was something
you wished to speak to me about.”
Beckoning to her apprentice, Karnea says, “Yes, parmo-wen, come
have a seat.”
Azura takes her accustomed place across from her Mistress and is
offered the customary glass of wine from the carafe that Karnea
pours from, but it never seems to be empty. Karnea sits back in
her chair and sips at her glass before beginning.
“As you may be aware, the Conclave is meeting soon at Wayreth.
There is sure to be a lively discussion as to how the Orders are
to reorganize and become relevant again after so many years of
disarray. It is an ancient custom that an apprentice may attend
the members of the Conclave. If you do not think that it will
negatively impact your studies, you may accompany me.”
Azura shifts in the uncomfortable chair, stunned. She had been
studying under Karnea for only a few weeks and had already been
assigned the task of organizing the library of the tower, a
Tower of High Sorcery. And now she is being asked to attend the
Mistress of said Tower, and the Head of her Order besides, to a
Conclave. A meeting of the highest wizards in all the land.
Realizing that she was expected to answer, she stammers,
“Y- yes, Mistress, of course I will accompany you.” Composing
herself, she continues. “The library project continues apace so
far, there are many, many scrolls that are organized by subject.
I am sure that I will be able to complete this in another week,
after we return.”
Karnea leans forward slightly. “Excellent. Your progress has
been noted, and your studies are on pace with my expectations
thus far. You will attend me at Wayreth. There is likely to be
any number of other wizards of all the Orders at the Tower that
you may wish to treat with and become known to. Use this as an
opportunity to learn about potential allies and enemies, and we
will discuss what you have learned upon our return, as for the
Conclave session itself, you must find room in the viewing area,
you are to pay strict attention to the proceedings,” Karnea
drains her wineglass and sets it on the desk.
“Now, I believe that you will have some packing to do before we
leave, the day after tomorrow. I expect to stay at Wayreth for a
few days. Make sure that you are ready.”
Azura stands at Karnea’s dismissal. “Thank you, Mistress. I will
be ready at your call.”
“Remember, parmo-wen, you are a reflection on me, as my
apprentice. It would behoove you to consider this as you
interact with our associates at Wayreth, Karnea reminds her
student.
“I understand, Master.” Azura nodded and departed the study
while Karnea pulled a sheet of parchment closer to her and wrote
instructions for her staff. She talks to Willim personally. She
confirms with him that she will be leaving tomorrow for Wayreth.
Willim is a member of the Conclave, so he will see her in the
Hall of Mages.
The Next Day,
Basalt Dead-Eye, one of her Caretakers of the Tower that Nuitati
assigned arrives to see Master Karnea.
Karnea explained to the Caretaker, “As Selene will be traveling
to Wayreth as well, on a recruiting mission for potential
students, and on an informal information gathering mission for
the Order. Karnea tells Basalt he is to watch over the Tower of
Blood Sea while she is away.”
Of the two caretakers, Basalt is the most competent and loyal.
So Karnea rewards him with her trust to protect the tower, to
which he readily agrees.
Karnea has already readied a traveling bag, She picks up the
black keys from the desk and places them in the inside pocket of
her Robe securely. Karnea tells her apprentice she is ready to
come upstairs to the roof.
Karnea climbs to the roof of the Tower. Her traveling robe sways
with the shifting wind currents. A distant bolt of lightning
streaks off in the distance. Looks like a storm in the east.
Her apprentice climbs the top steps to the roof. She has a
traveling pack on, a satchel bag over her shoulder, containing
some of her spell components, the rest are in pouches on her
pack straps, and a belt is around her slim waist. She is dressed
in a traveling cloak. With her straight black hair and exotic
features, she looks up to her Master and nods her head as if to
say she is here and ready.
Karnea takes her apprentice’s hand and turns them southwest.
Karnea tells Azura to hold on tight, and Karnea looks out
distantly over the rolling sea and pictures in her mind her
destination and they teleport away.
End of Part One of Four 1 of 4
#Post#: 698--------------------------------------------------
423 AC Karnea Master of Black Robe Story Two Consolidation of Po
wer Chapter Thirteen: Conclave Part Two Wayreth
By: Dungeon Master Date: December 31, 2023, 3:09 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Master Karnea: Consolidation of Power
Story Two
Chapter Thirteen: Conclave Part Two Wayreth[/center]
Southern Ansalon
Plains of Dust
Karnea and Azura appear elsewhere on the continent, specifically
in southwest Ansalon, to the Lord City of Tarsis.
It is here her head student Selene opened a school of the dark
arts. While Selene has given up her headmistress position at the
school, another one of Karnea’s students from Schallsea, Raina
has taken over the position in Selene’s absence. Karnea’s
“girls” are the young girls who came to the Schallsea Tower
under the guidance of Selene and Karnea in the years before the
Summer of Flame. Karnea visits Raina the Headmistress for a
time. Though she is interested in the school’s operations, her
chief item of discussion is, as Karnea explains it, she wants
the Potion Master to move to Blood Sea before another master
comes and grabs him up.
It is a heavy blow, as he is a renowned teacher, author, and
purveyor of the nearly lost art of potion making. She laments
that he will be hard to replace, but she accepts the directive
all the same.
Raina, Karnea, and Azura tour the school. It is like a
homecoming for Azura, as this is where she first came to learn,
under the direction of Selene, when she was still headmaster
here. After a walk through the living spaces and upstairs
Classrooms, they come to the greenhouse on the roof. Karnea is
instantly jealous of some of the rare herbs that she sees. Some
of these she has only been able to get in the Outlands, at the
great marketplace. Around her are plants she would like
clippings of growing in her 17th-floor garden at Blood Sea.
The trio departs the roof and goes to the Potions Laboratory.
Azura stays back as the Headmistress and the Head of the Black
Order explain to the Potions Master, that he is needed at Blood
Sea Tower at the glowing recommendation of Lady Selene.
Orin Shaw is a thin man, standing at 5’11” greying thin black
hair. Clean shaved face with afternoon stubble. He is a step
above eccentric.
“Selene is the headmaster of the school at the Tower of High
Sorcery of Blood Sea. I would like you to take charge of the
Tower’s apothecary storeroom and become the tower’s Potion
Master. Selene would very much like to bring your teaching
expertise to her school, and I would like to bring your valued
talents to the Tower.”
Orin Shaw has waited for a moment such as this, though he is sad
to leave what has become his home here in Tarsis, He can feel
that this is right. He had toyed with the invitation from
Highmage Jenna. But this, this is what he wants. One of his few
caveats, he is permitted to bring his assistant, he just trained
this one up, and he is loath to again from scratch.
Karnea agrees to such an understandable request. His stipend is
agreed to, and Karnea and Orin Shaw shake hands, he then sets
about tendering his resignation to the school and writing down a
list of names the Headmistress will want to investigate that may
be a suitable replacement in his stead.
Karnea tells Orin that someone will be along to pick him up in
the coming days.
Before departing Tarsis, Azura follows Karnea through the
winding streets and takes in the atmosphere.
Their stroll takes them past the Library of Khrystan. Karnea
remembers the tale Raina told at the dinner party the evening
before the gathering. The basement is full of undead and has
been for years.
Karnea does not have time now but decides she is going to clean
this place up and give it back to the Aesthetics of Gilean after
she has scrutinized the place for herself. She files away a
vague note to herself about the idea of hiring some professional
undead slayers to assist her in the endeavor.
Karnea came here as opposed to somewhere closer to Wayreth as
she had seen firsthand the banditry and goblins clogging trade
routes of lower Abanasinia. During the weeks she spent looking
for the tower the previous year, Karnea could see that this
banditry and goblin annoyance has gotten nearly out of control,
there was even talk of slavery going on in the Qualinesti forest
now.
Master and apprentice walk towards the western side of the city
and see a vast forest that was not there before according to the
maps. Then she realizes this is the extent to which Beryl’s
expansion and terraforming reached. She walks north along the
tree line until this unnatural forest ends, but it goes on and
on. She wonders where the best direction is to find the Forest
of Wayreth.
As she is about to walk forward, a Forest appears before her. It
appears as if all the trees are dead. A noxious mist hazes in
the dark wood, and no light enters the forest. Shadows flit
among the trunks, skulking among the thorny underbrush. Azura is
amazed at the phenomenon. The pair enters the forest of Wayreth.
With their steps inside, the sun comes out and filters down
sol’s rays down into the woods as the forest comes alive with
the trees coming into bloom, maples, oaks, and vallenwoods
appear instantaneously around them around a path as the trees
break ranks, and part for them. They walk down the path into the
forest a ways.
Suddenly the pair stops. It had been a long time since Karnea
had seen a fox that she could remember. For Azura, she had never
seen a western fox before. In her native Khur, a creature
similar to this, but is brown colored, has taller ears, and is
thinner, and thrives in her homeland. It is a magical moment
before it scurries off.
Continuing through the forest, on the lookout for any more signs
of life. They see birds of different sorts; they can hear an owl
in the distance.
Karnea and Azura come through the forest and then they see the
two main towers loom above them. The Wayreth complex is made of
Seven spires, enclosed by an indestructible wall, with the
Central two Towers being the most prominent in size and
importance. The Two main towers are each seventeen stories tall.
The South Tower has the Hall of Mages and above it the Library
of Wayreth. The North Tower holds laboratories and living space
for the Wizards of High Sorcery.
Karnea and Azura approach the gate in the center of the east
wall that provides the only ground-level entrance to the
complex. The dual gate swings outward, each standing almost
twenty feet tall - just a little shorter than the wall itself.
The gate itself appears as delicate as a great spider web spun
from silver and gold. Nevertheless, they share the Tower’s
invulnerability and can withstand endless pounding from the
greatest battering ram. The gates swing open as they approach as
if to invite them inside.
Beyond the gate, Karnea and Azura come to the front courtyard, a
vast, empty space paved with pale gray stone. In years past,
before anyone entering the courtyard saw fleeting glimpses of
other visitors hurrying about their business, the Tower's
distorted space rendered them all but invisible, whereas today,
the courtyard stands silent, and the lone visitors crossing the
flagstones have only the echoes of their own footfalls for
company.
The entrance to the Towers proper lies in the foretower directly
opposite the gate, Karnea and Azura walk to and enter the
foretower.
The windowless room is lit by pine wood smokeless torches held
in bronze brackets along the walls, the flickering light reveals
several straight-backed wooden chairs against the far wall, and
to the right a wooden stand holding a well-thumbed book that is
open with a placeholder ribbon along the inner spine of the
body. Karnea, and then Azura sign their names in the guestbook
before entering the door on the right.
The door leads into the north tower. Karnea knows once she has
signed the book, the Master of Wayreth will be appraised and
alerted that she has arrived.
Karnea and Azura enter the North Tower ahead of them is the Hall
of Records, to their left is the first flight of stairs and they
begin the track along the winding staircase along the wall.
observing the Bronze Golem Masters of Wayreth Tower through the
ages located on each level. Able to come to life at a moment’s
activation to defend the Tower.
The pair reach the fourth floor and Karnea and Azura reach the
entryway of Karnea’s old room at Wayreth, given to Karnea, so
long ago now, the memory comes fresh to Karnea’s mind as she
opens the door.
It appears as it was. A bit more dust in places that were not
covered. The Two wizards begin using cantrips to clean up the
room and light a fire in the long-dormant fireplace, after
opening the flue. Life comes back into the small chamber.
Moments later, a presence at the door, a young male wizard of
the Red Robes has been sent to serve the Master of the Black
Robe while she is at Wayreth. An adjunct or sorts, a personal
aide, should you accept. It is unexpected, thoughtful, if a bit
patronizing, not that Jenna would see that way.
Karnea tells the young mage, “Very well, I would like to be
appraised when Master Coryn arrives at the Tower.
Azura is given Karnea's old room at the Tower, while Karnea is
shown her new accommodations, as befitting her increase in
station, though Karnea did not ask for or expect, but will go
along with the orchestration.
Karnea is taken to her new quarters at Wayreth on the Ninth
Floor It is a much larger space than her old room, and this time
she has a window, facing southwest. Azura helps Karnea move her
things to her new accommodations, it is not much, but a few
stacks of books, and several sets of robes to be hung up in the
small closet space.
The Master of the Black Robe decides she cannot put it off any
longer and gives Highmage Jenna a visit at her second-story
study that has long been the traditional room set aside for the
Highmage of High Sorcery.
Karnea and Jenna exchange warm greetings and tidings. Jenna
provides Karnea with refreshments in the form of a Vingaard red
wine vintage 382 AC served in a fine wine glass from Palanthas.
Karnea goes through the process of letting it breathe, she takes
in its surprising boutique, and sips, swishes, savors, and
spits. It is earthy and has an intriguing hint of a spiced
taste.
Jenna gives updates to her counterpart on the progress of Lady
Coryn in Solamnia. “They freed Palanthas in a day and the rest
of Solamnia has followed suit in quiet and quick revolutions
across the countryside. The Dark Knights have been pushed out of
Solamnia for the first time since 382 AC, hence my choice of
vintage for the occasion. Enlistment numbers at Mage schools
have soared across Solamnia. Not to say they will all make it to
the Testing phase, but they are welcome numbers all the same. We
need more schools in the north, we need to capitalize on this
phenomenon while we can and try to get some in a place and build
a tradition.”
Karnea agrees that this development has been surprising and
welcomed. She will agree to support more funds to open new
schools.
Jenna says that she has been preparing several projects that are
all geared toward assisting the Master of Blood Sea.
Item 1. Crates and boxes that the Master of the Tower and I
uncovered in the archives of the Tower, those that was not
damaged and were unaffected by the recent Battle of Wayreth. The
Crates are from the Tower of High Sorcery of Losarcum, now known
as the Ruins in Balifor. It is known to be even in the days of
the Kingpriests as a Tower of the Black Robe, until Lost Battles
and the end. These were crates shipped to Wayreth before they
destroyed the Tower, and the crates should be turned over to the
Master of the Black Robe.
Item 2 A Trio of Dreamshapers have been chosen to accompany you
back to Blood Sea if you are ready to open your Tower to Testing
for High Sorcery.
Karnea is happy to open the eastern theatre to Testing for High
Sorcery. It was a goal of her since she opened the Tower. Karnea
agrees to take the Dreamshapers to Blood Sea and open the Tower
for Testing.
Item 3 Jenna says she has had scores of scribes preparing copies
of grade school basic magic guides for your distribution at
Blood Sea. These are general and specialist spell volumes. “Any
book in the library can be copied to be put in Blood Sea’s
Library. It is not much, but it’s a foundation to get you on
your way. For the future. She plans to do the same for Coryn
when she gets The Tower of Nightlund up and running.”
Item 4 “In the spirit of your recent correspondence with me
about opening the Towers to all as it should be, as it was in
times of old. Understanding that it is still the home base of
the Black Order, the way Jenna explains “I have put together a
list of some candidates to become representatives of their
Orders to the Tower of Blood Sea. One from each order of Wizards
of High Sorcery will be voted from a small list of
consideration, chosen to join Master Karnea at the Tower of
Blood Sea to act as in the times of old as your advisors,
confidants, allies in the defense of the Tower, they will put
forth their views to give you advice in matters that are being
discussed at large, but as you the Master of the Tower of Blood
Sea, your mastery stands law, such is our way.”
“The Names have been vetted as upstanding order members, they
are wise, to match skill and temperance. Jenna shares with
Karnea their names and tells her a little bit about the
candidates.”
Karnea does not know any of these Wizards. She is at first
resistant to what seems on its face, like an invasive overreach
into your affairs, but with some reflection, she sees past
Jenna’s maneuvering and recognizes the structure from her
readings of Towers of the Past.
This was the structure of the Ergoth Tower and for a time in
Istar. This trio structure worked for years in synergy and
balance. Karnea wonders if this is still possible in this day in
age. She is tempted to go forward and see if this experiment has
a hope of working. Who knows, it might work.
Karnea's eyes ran down the list, and two potential candidates
stood out and were of great interest to Karnea. Vayla the White
and Madon of the Red Moon.
It says here that Vayla is of the Thay Vagros people. Karnea is
unclear on the term; it evokes a stray memory, nothing more, and
this Madon seems a gifted Wizard in the art of Transmutation.
Karnea’s eyes passed over the words that he is the most likely
to succeed Jenna as Master of Red Robe. Karnea inquires to hear
more about these two wizards.
Jenna answers “The Thay Vagros are a human migratory people that
commonly travel in clan caravans, a practice that has continued
since the first cataclysm. She also explains that these
candidates are among the best and brightest of the orders. Vayla
is noted for her mastery of divination. Madron is a trusted
friend who I think would be a worthy successor to lead the Red
Robe when the day comes one of these days.
Karnea is interested in these two wizards. Karnea agrees if you
give these two candidates your endorsement to take the posts at
Blood Sea.
Jenna considers the arrangement and figures this will be the
only way to move this idea forward and agrees with the Black
Robe Master.
Karnea leaves the meeting with the Highmage, goes back to her
room and unwinds a bit before changing out of her traveling Robe
to her Black Robes.
Later, in the Hall of Mages
Karnea saw the Red Robe Minotaur Rikar towering above the other
Wizards that had gathered into circles and have entered
discussions, some about recent happenings, the goblins and
bandits in Abanasinia, some are talking about new spells about
which they have learned. Karnea and Azura make their way around
the circles with controlled measures, selective and discerning.
Eventually, Karnea is in the group with Rikar, they discuss the
geopolitical situation in the Minotaur Isles. As Mistress Jenna
said, He is well-versed on the recent goings on in the Minotaur
Isles. he must have some network in place, as Karnea finds what
he is saying to be fascinating and incredibly insightful.
Karnea asks Rikar if she may call on him and his insights in the
future, and the Minotaur wizard agrees.
Karnea comes face to face with Dagamier. Their paths crossed
only a couple of times in the past, but they did hold a mutual
respect within the Order of Black Robes through the years until
383 AC. Dagamier is an old woman now, and Karnea looks to be the
same as when they met. Dagamier presents herself as one of the
Conclave Members for the Black Order.
Dagamier goes way back, she was an apprentice of Ladonna before
the War of the Lance and even rumored to be Ladonna’s daughter,
but she always denied it. She is wily just as her mentor was,
sardonic and sly. She was not able to take the ship ride to
Blood Sea for the Gathering, for which she begs your
forgiveness. She did not want to be on the ship with all the
people she could not stand. Except for Darius, or a couple of
others, but of the rest of others, they are mostly a detestable
lot to spend weeks with. I shall Teleport to Blood Sea with
someone who has been there for the next Gathering if she may.
Darius Desaad, who is nearby, tells Dagamier that he will be
happy to take her to Blood Sea Isle whenever she wants.
Karnea invites Dagamier for the Solstice gathering she has been
thinking of putting together at the Tower, nothing big, but a
small intimate gathering.
Dagamier agrees but tells Karnea she detests the cold. Karnea
assures her it is a tropical Island.
Karnea talks with Darius Desaad for a time. Karnea asks him if
he can ship important order cargo to the Island for her. Karnea
gives him the particulars of what he is carrying and its
importance to the order.
Darius agrees to carry out the charter, telling Master Karnea,
“It will be done.”
Karnea formerly invites Desaad to her Solstice Gathering and
reminds him he is to pick up Dagamier before he comes to the
Tower.
With all of that out of the way, Karnea headed to the Library of
Wayreth.
The South Tower Library of Wayreth
The fourth floor Library of Wayreth consists of the next five
levels of the Magical Tomes and spell books of Ansalon and
Krynn.
Karnea enters the library, She has doubts about any references
to spellwork pertaining to her recent research; it is possible
Dalamar came across the spell in his travels in the Realms, but
unlikely. Even so, the Library of Wayreth stands as one of
Karnea’s favorite places in the Multiverse. She gets lost for
the next few hours, searching for tomes she would like to see
copied and brought to the library of Blood Sea.
She looked up and saw Dalamar across the way. before Karnea can
lower her eyes away, he looks up and sees her. It was inevitable
their paths would cross once again. Karnea just forgot Dalamar
would be, of course, haunting the Library of Wayreth since his
exile from Nightlund.
Karnea knew it was Nuitari’s ultimate desire to bring Dalamar
back into the fold one day, but perhaps it would be better to
bring him in from the cold sooner than later. Something to think
about anyway. Who knows what he is getting up to here? Karnea
sees the Dark elf's nod as a sign of respect to her, to which
she respectfully returns the sign of respect and inclines her
head to show she acknowledges him. It’s not very much, but it is
progress.
After a couple of hours, Karnea returns to her room to host her
former students, now Conclave Members in her room, Inari
Westbrook and Hestia Nightlock. Willim the Black joins the
small gathering for a nightcap before he turns in. They discuss
Karnea's wishes for the next day.
Before the Master of the Black Robe retires for the evening,
Karnea meets again with Highmage Jenna, and they get down to
business on the decisions that are coming to a head tomorrow.
Master Coryn comes in late and joins them in Jenna’s study.
The Three Wizards discuss Coryn’s intentions with Nightlund.
End of Conclave Part Two of Four 2 of 4
#Post#: 699--------------------------------------------------
423 AC Karnea Master of Black Robe Story Two Consolidation of Po
wer Chapter Thirteen Conclave (Interlude One) The Hit
By: Dungeon Master Date: December 31, 2023, 3:12 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Karnea Master of Black Robe
Story Two: Consolidation of Power
Chapter Thirteen: Conclave (Interlude One) The Hit
[/center]
Soreel
Marika,
Soreel Imperial Capital at Tarish
Tarish, The Imperial Capital and seat of Empress Zeva Lisset
d'Janikar; The Greysword, General of the Wolverines;
Blood-Sister to the Clans; Star-Child, bringer of change;
Nachish, Holder of the Oasis; Var'I'Ali'aie, Protector of the
Currents Deep; Yu'en'ak'yun, First among the Firstborn; Mate of
Rotas; Mother to Lucius; and Defender of all Peoples.
53 ST by the current calendar of Soreel. (ST for Seija no Tochi,
Seija no Tochi translates to "Reign of the Saint")
The scene opens at dusk at a theatre production in the imperial
city, seeing a play, based on a myth of the early prehistoric
tale of Sun Fire Goddess Akuma.
Aravis, daughter of Karnea, is taking in a play at the ancient
Ishma hillside theatre, just outside the Imperial District.
Aravis came with a few acquaintances she had made since coming
to live here on Soreel.
Her on-again-off-again relationship with Lucius occurred without
acrimony or remorse, and over time, she looked back and wondered
about her place here. She is treated like a Princess consort in
waiting behind the scenes, and outwardly as just a friend and
longtime acquaintance. But the cold, hard truth is she has begun
to feel aimless and unsure if she wants to continue with the
current state of her tidal engagement.
She has been coming to this decision for an age. His dedication
to the shadow world of espionage has left gulfs of time that
have left her unfulfilled. Her breakfasts with the Empress are
painful reminders every morning. The extended period of neglect
has left her wondering what she is still doing here. It has not
been something she has felt she could speak with Zeva about,
even with the friends she made, Aravis still feels alone. True,
she has tried to make the most of things, and that has worked
for a time, but it has become years. A decade later, nothing has
changed.
Until a couple of days ago, life had been predictably the same.
But now something was different. A darkness she could not
define. It is not ever-present, and it is not hounding her per
se. But there is also the case that on a couple of occasions,
she has felt like she is being followed in public, though she
has no visual confirmation of anything.
Aravis is always followed by a security detail by pretorian
guards, so she is used to that so this was something else
shadowing her footsteps. She is in a quandary if she tells her
guards about these feelings, which she might normally do, but
she has become apathetic with boredom, and with all its
sameness, she has become willing to take more risks of late. It
has been years since she has left the planet, but even that has
just lost its charm.
She needs something different. The play progresses into its
climactic climax, and she stands and joins the others in
clapping for a fantastic performance. The fire dancing was a
highlight.
The friends make their way on the cobblestone streets under the
lamplights to a local café for espresso and enjoy musing on what
they just saw. After thirty minutes, the friends separate, and
Aravis heads back to her apartments, shadowed discreetly by the
Praetorian detail. She walks with her head high, full of
assurance learned from her lineage as the daughter of one of the
most powerful wizards in the known Planes, as well as the
betrothed of the heir to the Soreelian Empire.
Appearing to be in her early 20s, she is stylishly dressed in
the fashion of the local youth of the aristocratic class,
wearing a flowing, translucent, silken, brilliant emerald green
dress with gilded seams and jeweled details, over a sheer slip
that clings to her body underneath the dress. At 5’6”, she is
taller than her mother but still slightly shorter than the
average human female. Her figure is fuller than her mother’s as
well, with a graceful curve at the hips that has attracted the
eye of more than one would-be paramour.
She wears her strawberry-blonde hair parted in the middle, with
two long braids down her back ending at the shoulder blades. Her
striking blue eyes and her pale complexion are both features
inherited from her mother, with a scattering of freckles on her
cheeks that are more prominent in the summertime.
Long, delicate fingers are adorned by several rings: a magical
ring of protection in the form of a simple golden band given to
her by her mother, a large black diamond in a platinum setting
given to her by Lucius, and a small silver ring with a flat
circle of obsidian, representing her connection to Nuitari. Her
nails are painted in the fashion of the ladies of the court,
Aravis’ being a deep, glossy black. Her lips are similarly
painted black, with the waxy pigments favored by the
aristocratic class of Marika. A simple silver chain necklace
hangs from her neck, with a large obsidian circle set in a
platinum pendant suspended at the top of the plunging neckline
of her dress.
Tied at her belt are a few pouches of spell components and an
ornate dagger, but she otherwise carries no weapons or obvious
magical items.
Aravis crosses the wide avenue and walks past government
buildings and the giant Ferris wheel, a leftover remnant of last
year's World’s Fair. She walks to the Gate of the compound to
enter the Imperial Campus. She is cleared with no muss to go
through, and she walks to her entrance and up the back steps.
She nearly trips and almost dies avoiding stepping on the mouser
cat. She catches her breath and curses the cat long after it has
scattered off.
She walks into her expansive apartment. She knows it so well
that she makes it to the kitchenette before lighting her
candles.
She turns and takes in how huge the sitting room is. Aravis
walked through her private apartment, taking off some of her
different magical items to place in special boxes. To specific
keepsake boxes, gifts from her mother and father, and some she
made herself. She walks past her collection of lifelike dolls
into her bedroom.
A shrine to Nuitari, the God of Dark Magic, Lunitari, and
Solinari are represented as well, informing us the occupant is a
child of Krynn, or at least one who has some ties there.
After she divests herself of all but her small clothes and slips
into a silk robe that she pulls around her as she fills her
bathwater and prepares to soak some of her troubles away. She
lit a wooden lighting stick and set about lighting more candles,
a soft, warm glow filling the domicile in a pleasant atmosphere.
She ignites a few more aromatic candles, then moves the skull
over and places candles on the fireplace mantle and lights them.
Shadows flicker on the walls and set the ceiling dancing with
light.
Aravis walked past the full-body mirror to find her hairbrush.
What will she do tomorrow? She could go for a short cruise out
to the Islands and get some swimming in before the season
changes. Monsoon season will be upon us before we know it.
She continues brushing her hair on the way past the dolls to
check on the bath water. She decides that is enough and walks to
the hallway mirror to finish brushing her hair.
Something is not right. Aravis stopped brushing for a moment
when she realized something strange about her reflection; her
reflection stopped brushing her hair before Aravis did. The
reflected Aravis takes on a haggard and deathly pale visage of
Aravis. They lock eyes, and the reflection smiles a scary smile
of intent.
Aravis takes two steps backward into the wall and screams.
But the reflected evil-looking Aravis reaches through the mirror
and grabs Aravis about the neck. Aravis looks, but she does not
see the arm, and the hand is choking her out. She can see the
creature in the reflection of the mirror, but not in our plane.
The door to her apartment bursts open, and pretorian guards
enter to see Aravis looking like she is being lifted and choked
against the wall, but they see nothing being the cause of the
attack.
The Pretorians attack, giving Aravis the ability to get away
from the outsider creature. She grabbed her belt from the rack
and pulled forth her magic dagger. She cannot see her attacker,
except through reflective surfaces, for which there are a few in
the apartment. The dolls bear silent witness to the
assassination attempt. Aravis runs through the options available
to her. She is attacked, and a strike gets through and drains
away levels, rending her soul. Fetch are known as harbingers of
death. Existing on the fringes of the Abyss, these creatures can
only reach into the Prime Material plane through reflective
surfaces. Their goal is to take Aravis to the edge of life and
drag her through the Mirror he entered the material plane, and
turn her into a minion like him.
HTML https://www.completecompendium.com/catalog/dl/2105/fetch/
Aravis must end this quickly, or she is done for; her list of
options begins to dwindle. Trueseeing requires too much
preparation time, and she begins to see only one option: The
Pretorians are ineffective in this situation. She considers the
risks to herself and the room, and with one last look around,
she casts Firestorm on the creature in front of her.
The resulting Firestorm in the royal apartments is tremendous
and devastating. The spell was centered on the creature in front
of Aravis. Her Demigod status brings her through mostly
unscathed, but the beast is still moving. It is picking itself
up off the floor, the flames are dying out on the surface of its
black body. It looks up at Aravis, and she sees its hideously
twisted face break into a terrifying grin as it comes again at
Aravis.
Aravis casts Magic Missile, and the missiles finally end the
creature as it dissipates into nothingness. The apartment is
engulfed in destructive flames as Aravis is grabbed by burnt and
smoking Pretorian Guards and pulled from the burning building
while the Tower Wizards arrive and begin putting out the fires.
A blanket is wrapped around Aravis as she is lowered to the
ground in shock. Watching the fires blaze over the apartments
she has known as home for decades burns. The wizards produce
great spouts of water that fall on the flames. Soon, just grey
smoke rises from what was once her home.
End of Interlude One
#Post#: 701--------------------------------------------------
423 AC Karnea Master of Black Robe Story Two Consolidation of Po
wer : Conclave Part Three
By: Dungeon Master Date: January 1, 2024, 4:04 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Master Karnea: Consolidation of Power
Story Two
Chapter Thirteen: Conclave Part Three
CONCLAVE
[/center]
Krynn
Ansalon
Wayreth Tower of High Sorcery
South Tower
Hall of Mages
“They were in a vast chamber carved of obsidian. It was so wide
that its perimeter was lost in shadow, so high that its ceiling
was obscured in shadow. No pillars supported it, no lights lit
it. Yet light there was, though none could name its source. It
was a pale light, white — not yellow. Cold and cheerless, it
gave no warmth.”
[right]—Time of the Twins by Margaret Weis & Tracy
Hickman[/right]
The central meeting place for the Conclave, the Hall of Mages,
has been witness to some of the most important deliberations to
affect the history of Ansalon, though it is also used for
regular meetings, audiences, and other functions. Visitors to
the Tower of Wayreth always remember the Hall of Mages as a
vast, intimidating chamber that exudes the authority of the
powerful wizards who meet within its walls. The hall is a black
obsidian chamber in the south tower with a 45-foot diameter and
a 60-foot domed ceiling.
A permanent image (caster level 20) casts a light that is white
and cold in the chamber. The light has no identifiable source
and leaves the black ceiling and thick walls lost in shadow. The
chamber is empty except for twenty-one chairs reserved for
members of the Conclave. All of the chairs, save one, form a
semicircle facing the northern end of the room. The large, gray
marble chair, located in the exact center of the Hall of Mages,
is reserved for the Head of the Conclave, known as the Highmage.
Each wizard of the conclave enters and takes their place, the
Masters coming in last and taking their places in the
semicircle.
The Six Conclave members of the White Order of Solinari
Suwannis
Adramis
Selowen
Bram DiThon
Borlos
Reann
The Six Conclave members of the Red Order Lunitari
Rasilyss (Jena’s mentor)
Fabian Hess
Seraphema
Saul of Kharolis
Corinne Highgrove
Javier Pell
The Six Conclave Order Members of Nuitari
Inari Westbrook
Willim the Black
Dagamier
Darius Desaad
Hestia Nightlock
Dalamar Argent
The Three Masters
Master Coryn, Master of the White Robe
Highmage Jenna, Master of the Red Robe
Master Karnea, Master of the Black Robe
The opening invocations signal the beginning of the session of
the Conclave of High Sorcery
Itinerary
Petitions
Inari Westbrook of the Black Robe puts forth a petition to
insist the Highmage put forth a plan to reduce the threat to
travel to and from the Tower of Wayreth from the banditry and
goblin infestation that has only gotten worse in the last year.
There is a murmur of agreement from the Conclave.
Highmage Jenna knows where this is coming from, it’s a
diplomatic notice and a reminder for the Highmage to take care
of her yard before casting stones.
Karnea inwardly smiles; she arranged this to be brought forth.
it is then that Karnea feels a maternal pang for some reason she
cannot readily explain. Her mind races. There is only one thing
it could be. She would know for sure if the Tower was being
threatened. Karnea maintains her in her place and stays in the
present and ignores the signs for now as by the laws of magic,
Karnea must get through the session.
Jenna replies, “I am aware things have only gotten worse, The
void left behind by the exiled Qualinesti Elves and political
strife in Thorbardin has allowed free rein in lower Abanasinia.
I am considering hiring bounties on the goblins and bandits, but
I am also considering that that may make things worse. We will
address the issue, but for now.” Jenna tables the petition.
Another petition is raised by Master Karnea herself. "It has
been expressed to her by her Renegade Hunter Grandmaster that
the numbers are extremely low among the Hunters. he wished for
me to bring this to the floor of the Conclave. Perhaps this will
have to become a civic matter in the future if we don't see a
turnaround. I realize we are still in the early days of
operation, but this matter should be addressed now instead of
being kicked down the road."
There is a lively debate, the orders are so ordered to put forth
the best candidates and put forth a set number of enforcers for
a set amount of time, and then another group will be committed
to enforcement. The detractors say that experience is losing out
in the long run, but it is argued that service and retention are
better in the short term. In the end, Jenna says a plan will be
hatched out in the time before the next conclave, but it will be
a priority.
That satisfies Karnea well enough and signals to Jenna, she can
move on.
Recent Events
-Minotaurs and High Sorcery
The debate is talked down by Master Karnea. Nuitari has directed
her to bring Minotaurs into the orders of High Sorcery, to
better control the invading legions that will come one day. Her
spirited defense of the proposition sways Master Coryn, and with
her, the White Robe follows. There are reservations, but
Headmaster Jenna says that she sees the wisdom in this venture,
but is afraid it will not stem the tide once it comes. She asks
to discuss countermeasures with the Black Robe Master, should
things happen; things need to be in place to make them pull
back.
Dark, even for Jenna, Karnea muses to herself. Karnea says she
would be happy to discuss the issue with the Highmage in
confidence.
With that assurance, Jenna allows the vote to proceed with her
endorsement.
The vote is held, and the ayes have it; the proposition is
passed by a wide margin.
Karnea knows Nuitari is pleased with the outcome. Pleased may be
a strong word. More like a necessary recognition of the cold
hard reality that we are facing down the horns.
-New Wizard Schools
The subject of allocating the funds necessary to open more
Schools of Wizardry across Ansalon to accommodate the increased
interest by the populace.
The Conclave hears from the proponents of the measure and the
detractors. All agree this must be done, but how to pay for it
is the sticking point.
The Conclave argues how best to use the limited funds from the
budget. Darius Desaad of the Black Robe suggests an elegant way
to amass funds in a drive to collect from the most affluent
among the orders to collect enough for the opening of the
schools, whereby the Conclave would take on the operating costs
out of the Annual budget.
The measure is agreed upon and the Conclave votes to support the
opening of Schools and to go with Darius’s plan to finance their
openings.
-Representatives to the Blood Sea Tower
Two Wizards of High Sorcery are chosen after careful
consideration to represent their orders and join Master Karnea
at the Tower of Blood Sea to act as in the times of old as your
advisors, confidants, ally in the defense of the Tower, they
will put forth their views to give you advice in matters that
are being discussed at large, but as you the Master of the Tower
of Blood Sea, your mastery stands law, as such it is our way.
The two representatives are Vayla of the White and Madon of the
Red Order.
Hold a Vote for the representatives from the Orders to the Tower
of Blood Sea.
Everyone gasps as soon as the Conclave is announced when the
names are read. These were indeed among the best and brightest
of the orders. Vayla is a noted once-in-a-seventh-generation
master of divination, while Madon is talked about as Jenna’s
successor.
-Primal sorcery and their Messiah
Jenna gives an intelligence report that reveals a large
congregation is gathering in Northern Solamnia, in the North
Hinterland region, out in the Northern Wastes. Karnea remembered
that her Renegade Hunter was headed that way the last time she
saw Sarus.
The Conclave discusses the subject of Primal Sorcery.
Coryn’s position is that the Conclave’s attention should be
focused on the troublemakers and abusers of the Power of Sorcery
and not target the lower-level dabblers of Sorcery below the
level of ability of those we would consider ready to take the
Test of High Sorcery. Anyone above should be open to recruitment
if possible. But if they still reject Moons, then they should
receive a more targeted response to insist that they be tested.
If the Sorcerers still hunger for magic they should not have,
something will have to be done by the order of the Black Robes.
Coryn asks for sensible rules of engagement according to the
power of the Wizard or Sorcerer.
Karnea agrees with this sensible approach and expresses the
position of the Black Robe on the matter of Sorcerers or any
Renegade Wizard.
The subject turns to the apparent leadership of a growing
faction that is running counter to the conclave. In the past,
that has been viewed as a red line. There cannot be a
counter-organization to the Conclave. This counter-organization
must be eliminated.
A magical conflict between High Sorcery and these Primal
Sorcerers could be detrimental to the populace of Ansalon and
the trust that has been building across the continent. It will
also turn the rest of the Primal Sorcerers against us,
multiplying our troubles.
It is the main reason the Highmage Jenna was seeking Karnea’s
intervention in reaching out to her former student, the powerful
Wild Mage Analis.
In retrospect, Karnea's decision to put Analis at the bottom of
her list of concerns may have been a misstep. In actuality, it
is the last thing Karnea wanted to face. Karnea has been
hesitant to confront her first pupil, as she has had some
concerns it might end up with a confrontation to the death. That
is not what she wants for Analis. Now, it would seem she is
being forced to face such a scenario.
She has held out hope that her former student will see reason,
but she has a bad feeling about where things might end up. That
will be of no help to the Conclave. Instead of a messiah, we
would just give them a martyr to rally around.
Jenna sees some of this play out on Karnea's face, being she is
the one that sent the letter to Karnea with the ask. Seeing this
is a charged and loaded decision, Highmage Jenna tables the
discussion until the Three Masters can talk further on the
subject. The Conclave goes into a recess to give the Masters
time to talk.
End of Conclave Part Three of Four 3 of 4
#Post#: 704--------------------------------------------------
423 AC Karnea Master of Black Robe Story Two Consolidation Chapt
er Thirteen: Interlude Two The Hunters Become the Hunted
By: Dungeon Master Date: January 4, 2024, 9:54 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Master Karnea: Consolidation of Power
Story Two
Chapter Thirteen: Conclave Interlude Two- The Hunters Become the
Hunted[/center]
Northern Ansalon
Northern Provinces of Solamnia
Northern Wastes
Temperature 119°
The Northern lands of Solamnia are quite different from those in
the south. These are the Hinterlands, a harsh and rough land to
eke out a living. Beyond this are the Northern wastes, a desert
that has always existed here, helped along in the early 5th Age
by Khellendros the Blue, the Storm over Krynn himself, with his
Overlord terraforming abilities. The Topography of the Northern
Wastes reveals an intricate canyon system where one is always in
danger of being caught in a flash flood for the unaware. There
are more poisonous snakes and lizards per area than anywhere
else on Ansalon, save perhaps for the dying Great Swamp.
Black Robe Renegade Hunters and their allies move deeper into
the Wastes, having collected information from the surrounding
towns and villages in the Hinterlands. They have determined
their queries are headed into the interior of the Wastes,
towards some central point.
The Barbarian soundlessly points the way as the Hunters move up.
The landscape is daunting; there is hardly any cover.
Soon, their Barbarian tracker investigates footprints and the
remnants of a cookfire. From the previous night. He signals they
are close.
The maps show there is nothing out here. There is no discernible
destination they are moving towards.
The Chief Renegade Hunter’s party is made up of four others,
skilled in various disciplines, which makes for an eclectic
group of Hunters.
Sarus The Chief Renegade Hunter
Mari, A Bounty Hunter from the Plains of Dust
Ennio, A Dark Warrior from Sanction
Ommi Barbarian Tracker from Khur
Zaz Rogue Thief/Scout
The Hunt continues over the dunes, and across canyons, avoiding
the poisonous insects, vipers, and lizards as they deeper into
the forbidding terrain. It seems like they are on the subjects’
tails, but they are staying ahead.
Baking under the unforgiving sun, the party moves forward on the
footpath. The scout realizes too late, they are in a trap.
The Ambush is unleashed
The group is hit with an earthquake that throws everyone off
balance, by the geomancer
Hydromancer freezes the blood of Mari
Ennio's head comes off when a Sorcerer with Aeromancer kills one
with an Air blade
The scout slips away, but not unnoticed.
The Barbarian Ommi is nearly alone; he is raging, and his heart
explodes from the manipulation of another Sorcerer.
The illusions come down, and there are more Sorcerers that were
hidden.
Chief Sarus is taken for questioning. Watching his team get
killed one after another almost leads him to run and fight
another day, but he sees a young woman, and he is enthralled by
her presence. Her striking beauty is otherworldly. Her aura is
almost pure chaos. He must know more about this unknown entity.
Morgan sees this Black Robe Hunter look at her with awe.
One of the Primal Sorcerers just kills Sarus by stabbing him in
the back.
Morgan is in shock and runs to the falling wizard as he drops to
his knees when Morgan catches him and lays him back. She gently
soothes the dying man. He looks up to see her serenely peaceful
face as he expires. Morgan sets the man’s head to the ground.
She stands up and says, “You have killed us all.”
Jora's hackles go up, ” What are you talking about, we were
going to kill him anyways, we couldn’t let him live, are you
crazy?”
Morgan Blasts the geomancer Apart with a haunting scream of
unbridled vehemence.
The others back up away from her.
Morgan looks around at the evidence and tells them to head back
to the city, "You know she will want to know what happened. They
will be coming now."
The group disappears into the Northern Wastes.
[center]
End of Interlude Two[/center]
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