HT Aliaver/Player DS Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- R1.John Haight.......HY..Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar .. Ma --.Tobie Bonahoom....YY..Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry.. Fe R3.Mark Murtha.......HN..Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human....Ma R1.David Sanders.....HN..Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human ..Ma W4.Wout Broere.......YY..Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human ..Fe ...Julian.Draven.........Zabyra............Dancer..Normal/Human....Hu R4.Alex Koponen......YY..Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human ..Fe -- Npc...............YY..Etain.............Teacher.Normal/Elf......Ma Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Squirt (Ferret) Kell Game Web Site - http:/nrgcomputers.com/pbem/ Public posts/actions to pnpgm@list.powersandperils.org (mailing list) Private emails (not public actions) to pnpgm@comcast.net Game Update #3 in sequence (file #41) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Admin Notes: Editor's Note: This is the Behind the Scenes file. I had originally started this a long time ago when Adventure 6 started. I was doing well and tried to keep things pace wise. But then a distracting thing came out - Diablo 3. I know bad bad! I kind of lost track and so as a result here goes. It may not be perfect and in fact i suspect some may be slightly wrong. I had to go back and redo at least 4 dates. Some conflicts with Ta'lika's journal and the actual dates conflicted. Stuff happens. I hope for adventure 7 this will be better. Plus I lost the file so that did not help. I hope it makes sense. It is meant to fill in the gaps. Keep in mind the dates as years change. So here goes. ---------------------------------------------------------------- [New Stuff] [Present year: 1634TH, Marentia] Winter 538TH - The Wild Forest The region is ancient in the great span of time but for the young humans that are spreading around the world like insects the forest is a young place to explore. To the east in future Donara the land is so young it is only 300 years from now that the Don Host is battered by the armies of Caldo and Salaq. But for now the Elves, Dwarves and Faerry all live in the forest with relative peace. The nation of Caldo is even now expanding its reach and hoping to gain more territory and power. A human named Di'reo was raised by mysterious monks but when he becomes of age he murders the entire monastery by unleashing a horde of Kotothi creatures upon them. He later learns that he alone did this with some innate talent to summoning and control the Kotothi creatures. The young man horrified by this discovery runs to Caldo to seek a priest for help. The priest soon learns he is tainted and tries to kill him. but the young man gifted by Kototh himself turns the tables and kills the priest. The young man enters the wilderness and collects forces around him. By sheer will he learns the ways of Shamanism. Years pass and the Kotothi Shaman forms a large army of human and non-human allies to enter the Wild Forest. Weeks pass before the Elf masters can turn the tide. To do this they create a device called the Zulic, after the Elf Mage who made it. It affects humans mostly but can rarely affect non-humans. The device was used in a great battle turning the tide by forcing the enemy humans to turn on their masters. The Dwarves and Elves then defeated the Kotothi forces and slaughtered the Kotothi Shaman that once left the monastery burning as a young man. It was felt that the device should not be kept. It was debated to destroy it but finally decided that if it happens again that the Wild Forest, as was a quarter of it destroyed by enemy forces, the device may be needed. It was decided to break the device up in three parts separated by magic and stored in a young Donara in three areas. Little did the Sidh know they would be hated by the future province and wars into the Wild Forest would seem a deep betrayal to the Sidh. But it was the Faerry Monarchy that decided to keep the records of the secret location in mind even from the Elves. Centuries would pass and the records forgotten deep in the archives of the Faerry homeland. But a powerful and wise Faerry Scholar would risk his own reputation by making a connection for the device and the Faerry. Using ancient arcane magic so old that not even the gods could recall all the last use of such, he linked the Faerry to the device. Since then a chosen pair would randomly be born with the power to "recall" the information from the past. One of the pair would be counter to the other and would play on each other as a balance if needed. In reality the pair would never gleam the true potential of the device. The history and details were lost so the pairs lived and died without ever knowing the device existed. Though the Monarchs found these pair, though usually separated by family or even distance, to be special if they were found out. For almost a thousand years these Chosen Pair will be born and die without even knowing the device was needed and it was never sought out. Aguado 8, 1606TH - Salaqara, Donara Niv the farmer was tired of smuggling. After his last encounter he was almost killed by the fence that tricked him. After he met his love he felt it was time to retire. Then the stranger came with a deal. The stranger with his strange accent offered him to smuggle a certain item from Ticasi city to the stranger in Salaqara. The item would already have been obtained and only a simple smuggle would be needed. The stranger was in fact sent by the High Elder. The old wizard may be a hermit in his own land but he has tentacles all over the world. This is not only to protect the Lands but to find special people who may be recruited. The Elder's personal Diviner that saw the future and saw the outcome found the item of use to him. It was a stolen talisman that was once used by the great Wizard Tometh. It had power to bring life back but without the drawbacks of the normal magic. It could only be used for one person only but multiple uses for others. The Ticasi had obtained it in their research and to hide the world's magic for their own purpose. The stranger hired a thief to steal the item and only the best in Donara was hired. Ozon the thief quickly obtained the item with little difficulty other than 3 dead guards. Then Niv had to smuggle the item back to Salaqara by horse. After several days of hard travel the smuggler was attacked by bandits. The stranger though gave him a item a simple hand held rock solid sphere. This item when thrown to the ground would stun all around within 50 feet. This saved the farmer from certain death. The farmer was able to escape and after 4 more miles run in with patrols and guards he was able to get the item back to Salaqara with a nice profit to buy himself a farm. Up to this point Niv was a tenant farmer not a owner. Julis 12, 1607TH - Elysium, Elf Homeland A young apprentice Elf is learning the arts of stone work and painting as he had wished to learn. But the Elf apprentice is called to the council chambers. "We understand your duties at the artist shop are coming along. But we regret to inform your duties will need to end there. We seek a person of your vocal and diplomatic skills. With your father being the diplomat to the Dwarves and the human cultures, he trained you in such early on." The Elf council leader speaks. The Elf nods but not knowing where this is going. "Our current diplomat in Avalon found himself stricken by a illness and on the trip home he died before he could be treated. We wish to appoint you to his position. Keep in mind this should be a short term assingment until we find another replacement then you can return to your artist work." The Elf nods as it sounds reasonable to him. "Then go Etain and we will assign a scholar to go over your duties and protocols." Etain leaves the chamber knowing this to be a great honor. He has heard stories from his father even working with Alfar in the past. A Elf might live and die never seeing an Alfar much less a Faerry so this should be a honor. How long can it last? Shouldn't be that long. Elves live long compared to humans so a short period he is sure. Apris 23, 1611TH - Avalon - Faerry Homeland It is a normal day when a Faerry mother gives birth to a girl. She would be named Fremea. The father notices a mark on the girl that seems unusual and is soon forgotten. Julis 12, 1611TH - Avalon - Faerry Homeland Fremea's father is talking to some other Fae who boast about their own offspring. But soon word gets out of the odd mark. A Elf named Etain who is a young envoy in Avalon learns of this. Etain has some power here being a link to the Elves so as to prevent problems and issues. Etain was assigned very recently to Avalon to help out and to be the go between the two Sidh groups. He finds the mark interesting but has no idea on what it means. Apris 12, 1626TH - Avalon At 15 Fremea is taught starting now by Varange on some things like Alchemy and minor fighting skills. Febris 14, 1632TH - Samma, Donara 9999 Fremea has been on several missions for the Royals up to this point. But this one takes her to Donara. To deal with a merchant who has been double dealing the Fae and Donara with goods and weapons. The Royals recently learned he is helping both sides. Plus the merchant may have his hands in the slave trade. She is sent to find proof and if he can't be swayed to work with the Fae only then deal with him. But all goes bad. As she has been watching his house for 2 days to learn his pattern she is seen by someone. That person is part of the slave trade. People who are specialized in finding and capturing Faerry. They have been working on this technique for a long time. To capture creatures who can use magic and fly takes skill. She is watching across the street on the roof hiding but this guy was also alerted by magic detection items that showed them Fae. To find one free and this deep in the city? He gathered his friends and set a ambush. They assumed she was curious about the merchant's place or casing it for a job. So they let her break in. But as she entered the study of the home the magical stun balls exploded. Knocking her to the ground stunned. They then ran in and captured her by magical energy net. Not wanting to have her do magic they used a hand held magical device to knock her out. Fremea would wake up later in a magical purified cage. She might have a chance to cast some magic but it might backfire badly for her. Then she met the disgusting human Grosis who would say he now owns her and would work for him. Apris 22, 1633TH - Wild Forest Weeks have passed and Fremea did not return from her simple mission to Samma. Now Etain stands at the edge of the forest watching the river. The Royals Blame him for not controlling her and possibly getting her killed. If he was to stay there he had to find her. So he left Avalon and went here and ready to board a borrowed raft to the other side. Then sneak into Samma and try to find her. The Royals embarrassed by the Fae being taken refuses to make it public. Only a few know like Varange. But Etain is not part of that loop. So he has no clue to look for possible Fae enslavers. How do you ask humans for finding a Fae? They might string him up for just asking. He knows this will be foolish and risky. But he has to if not for himself but for her. He makes his way to the raft. Julis 9, 1633TH - Salaqara, Donara Today Niv is in town gathering supplies at the local markets. As he passes down packed and quiet streets he plans his agenda at the market. But as he turns one street and passes a alley he hears noise. Looking down the alley he notices three youth punching and hitting some man. Niv was born a simple man but his smuggling ways help to train him as a decent fighter. But even taking on 3 could be risky. At the end of the alley he shouts, "guards over here!" Waving his hands. The youth who are gang members scramble away like roaches in the light of day. The bluff works and Niv rushes to help the man. But when he gets there he finds this one has strange ears. Niv half walk-carries the man away and into a blacksmith porch to sit at a chair. Niv can smell the rank of body odor and ale all over the man. The man is helped and treated and Niv learns this man is named Etain a Elf of all people. This odd relationship would last for at least another year as the two got closer and helped each other in their own personal struggles. Febris 2, 1634TH - Wild Forest Ta'lika the Faerry hovers at the edge of the Wild Forest staring at the evil Samma city. Her nerves get the better of her for days as she watches boats pass. She has heard of her king bind taken more and more. So now her and her brother Gat intend to free them. She has tried to get help from her people and even the Elves. Now she only gets "we'll see" and "if we can get enough people" answers to help her. All stalling. Why are the Fae so weak outside their forest? She even asked Elves but get the same useless answers. So even lacking skills she decides to help her kind. She flies toward the city. Febris 10, 1634TH - Wild Forest Varange stands over a defeated Kotothi Shaman with sword to his throat ready for the final cut All around him creatures of Kotothi madness are dead. It has been a fierce battle with two of his fellow Fae dead and at least 5 humans dead and too many creatures to count. To think he shouldn't even be here now. He should be off west looking for the Viax. But he was distracted in his journey when one of his fellow warriors went missing. He had to investigate since the Viax were fierce and he needed all the reinforcements he could muster. Soon he found this Kotothi enclave deep in the south forest. Varange may not care for most people in the Wild Forest but any Kotothi is pure fun to slaughter. Now after 3 days of battle he has won. Varange raises the sword for the strike. "Kill me and you will never understand that mark." The Shaman spits out blood and smiles. Having torn Varange's tunic to reveal a odd shaped mark on his chest. Varange hesitates and considers this a trick. "You are destined for more than killing your enemies." "Speak fast before I lost my will over my sword hand." The Shaman smiles and goes over a long story. A story passed generation by generation by Shamans. He does not go into detail how the Kotothi were defeated. Then ends, "so this relic is out there somewhere. I can help you find it. It will give you great power. Kill me and you will never find it." Varange considers this for a long time. After the Monarchs treated his forces after they defeated the Climan flying ships - no need to mention it was helped by humans - he was upset. They should be treated as heroes and that should be proof that forces out there are against them. That the Fae are doomed if they fall behind. Varange lowers his arm and steps back to let the Shaman to smile and stand. This would lead to a very odd relationship for several more long months. But as soon as he finds this relic he will surely kill the Shaman. At that time in Samma Ta'lika and Gat has finally found the slaves. After little over a week she has skulked at night and hid by day. She finds the warehouse where the slavers have them. But as she tries a foolish escape she gets Gat killed. Desperate and ashamed she flees and hides. She can't go back to the forest now. The shame would be too bad. But maybe she can help free others here? Redeem herself a bit? Apris 11, 1634TH - Salaqara Admiral Martin Gorlic of Salaqara purchases a nice odd painting and places it in his home. In some ways it is a very stupid piece but the dreams seem to direct him to buy this piece. He can always give it to his son if it annoys him too much hanging in his study. Augado 10, 1634TH - Rising Mountain, Katai, Pamau province The party escapes with the villagers. Some 30 odd villagers out of 512 who were executed for the Vong rituals to their gods. But one of the Villagers who was rescued was not what he seemed. No one checked his person or his nose. The Executor felt relieved but sick that the teleport was going on. The vile magic. The Oglith Masquer disguising his features. He had to abandon his personal amphistaff. But at least he has his armor and coufee. With no way to get home the Executer vows to find a new way to return. He knows there are Shapers around this vile world. If he can locate them then with his hidden cache of Vong devices in Pamau he can once again grow in strength but it may time a long time. For now the Executor walks with humans back to town. Glad that he was given a wyzn worm for language translation. He was due to be sent to a land called Marentia and Bhamotin. To start strife and recruit. But now if he can find the Brigade before they are slaughtered by the Katai he can seek revenge. There is that one who seemed to be related to the female with the dagger. Maybe through him he can learn where this female and her friends are. Maybe one day he will seek the vengeance for Shimara and his people. When he heard the group talking about what may have survived he recoils. Not only do they use the word Executor wrong almost calling him a exeuctioner but at least they do not know the exact details of their locations. To say one is a executioner is a common thug who knows how to kill. No. A executor is higher in caste and rank. They are personal aides, they are leaders of warriors and they command even Shapers. To demean one to call oneself a common thug is disgusting as magic itself. At least he has a goal to teach these people the true meaning of Executor! Junaq 24, 1634TH - Salaqara, Donara Ta'lika is chased further and further into the province. She is chased toward Salaqara. But today she happens upon a scroll at a empty warehouse talking about a thief's fence? Together with the other evidence she may see hope. She may not be able to free her people but maybe others can. She hears of him in Sivas. She has no clue where that is. But she breaks into a map shop and after 4 hours of confusing reading finds the word that seems to match the word - Sivas to her lips. That is more than a thousand miles away. Her hopes are dashed away. But if the hope for the Fae is in this one called Fremea based on what she has heard and read. Then she has to find this missing Sidh. She considers her options. She could fly be there maybe in a month. But that could leave to problems. She could stowaway on a ship to Marentia but again problems. She has no choice but to fly. Along the way she can steal food and hope she lives long enough. Julis 9, 1634TH - Sivas, Marentia Ta'lika finally arrived in Sivas and has no clue where to find this Kaylle person she has heard about. She knows he is a scholar or so they say. So maybe a school or library? With luck she does find him and they meet. Kaylle tells her of where Fremea is located. Hope ebbs as she hears she is in a land called Pavassa. Yet another thousand mile trip. She could wait but what if Fremea never returns or it could take years? She gathers food and info, especially maps, from Kaylle. Then sets off north to some land. She realizes her chances are low to find it as she fly by the human roads toward Sivas. But to this place there are no roads in the plains. Augado 9, 1634TH - Sivas, Marentia Exhausted Ta'lika is sleeping in a very thin tree on the plains The sun is up but she is suddenly aware of noises. She looks down to see a dog - no a creature with six legs? A gray skull like face looking up from a man or thing. It points some thing up at her and suddenly she is pelted by flying round objects. She wakes up later hanging upside down and tied being carried by 2 of those creatures. She would later learn them to be called Vong. She would be taken by Coralskipper to a mountain where she feared she would never escape. Sepes 4, 1634TH - Salaqara, Donara Vobal, leader of the Sea Star Society - rebels fighting the evil Donarans in Salaara - enters his hidden office. He paces back and forth. The previous night he had yet another restless night of bad dreams. They started months ago after they defeated a Donaran patrol near their city which was carrying a large cache of weapons. The dreams were relentless. He even saw the need to see the local hag of a witch for advice but she was useless and had to be dealt with. The dreams outlined something called the Qat Manu or something like that. A device separated by 3 pieces by elves long ago. The dream promised if he could piece it together then he could take control over Donara and win this war. He set out to seek allies like Ozon the Thief to find more information. He even paid some Donaran high spies much gold on information they claimed they had but never did. Then a dream told about this odd painting that had a link to the device. Just few months ago Ozon found the painting in the hands of Admiral Gorlic. It would be easy to steal but to steal from one of his own main allies? That could lead to a powerful enemy and that would be bad. Instead Ozon did not steal the art per se but duplicated. Using a magic item to make a full illusion of it. Now Vobal stares at the illusion and finds nothing to give him clues. He slams his hands across the desk sending vase and papers to the floor in anger. Why would he be so close but so far? Sepes 28, 1634TH - Salaqara, Donara [Time: 1:16pm] Niv rides his tired horse to the tavern in the north east margins of Salaqara. He quickly enters to find a half drunk Elf there at a table nursing a mug. "Etain!" He sits down to get the Elf's attention. "I just had a odd visit from some strangers. They included a Elf and a Faerry." This perks up the half drunk Elf. "The Faerry was after something in the area. I find this a bit strange as most of the Sidh are not even in this area except for you." "I shouldn't be here as well. But I'm not welcome much anywhere else. Did the Elf give a name?" Etain asks wiping his chin of ale. "No...I don't recall now...But the Fae was Famera or Frama or something like that." "Fremea?" Etain sits tall in his chair. "That's it." Could it be true? He has spent 5 months searching for her. Almost being killed 4 times in doing so. Barely living through beatings. Now this silly farmer bring her here? Some say Fate is fickle but this is just odd. "I must find her. Where did she go?" "Heading to town but I think they are after a few things." He begins to recite the events at the farm. Octagi 5, 1634TH - Mordara Iron Fields, Donara City, Donara Varange sits high in a tree watching the Elves flee the human mine. By now they found their vault empty and are upset. He doesn't know their original number but looks like they are carrying 3 dead out. Guess the guardian was not so friendly to them either. He takes off to his original teleport spot. Soon Fremea will find the coin he dropped. He actually considered seriously not doing so. But it is one thing to kill Elves but another to kill his own kind. Plus he may need her and her friends. Friends who was once his. Now he knows he is probably hated. He finds the Fae parents there a bit confused. He never had parents or at least does not recall them. Some say he just came to be. Being a drop off in a basket on the edge of Avalon. He trusts that like he trusts a demon. Everyone has parents. As he watches the two talk about Fremea he decides that Fremea will be a better ally than an enemy. That Alfar could be a challenge. Maybe he will have to deal with him if he is to team up again. If he is to do what he has planned the Alfar could spoil everything. That full honor and duty. He lands on a branch and begins to write a quick note. Maybe Fremea will understand. He then lands on the ground and drops his spare bag and note to the ground. If the Elves get here to retrieve all pieces it could be disaster. He scans the forest all around but those snaky elves can hide so well. Fremea should be here soon. If the Elves got out she had to have gotten out and looking for this spot. So he flies away without another word. Time to lead the Elves away from here and those back in the city away from the party. Octagi 6, 1634TH - Donara City, Donara The Elves gather as the sun starts to rise. "We have a home we acquired to secure us for now. Our dead is there." "How many?" "Four from the guardian." "We were just too slow. Our order has had the warning beacon set in place for centuries. We were just too slow. We figured we had more time." "Do we know the others?" "We could scour the cave for clues using magic. There is evidence of four that were there -" "Four? But our team at the tavern counted....they had more people around?" "No. We guess 2 entered and four left. We are not sure exactly what has gone down here tonight." "This makes no sense. " "We saw at least 4 sets of boots and shoes. Something odd happened in there and we are blind to it We must find out." "If the Council finds out we lost the relic our order will be crushed." "So we say nothing until we learn more on what happened. We know at least they were Marked. We know of one Marked One and the other we have to find out as well." "This is bad. If we don't even know a second Marked we are getting lazy. I want answers and soon." Octagi 6, 1634TH - Somewhere in Wild Forest The young Elf covers the old Elf woman up to cover her dead form. The door bursts open and a young male Elf breathes hard. "I'm too late?" "Yes. She died moments ago. But she ...was confused." "She is a Niy'ri they are confusing. I'm sorry." "No. She was saying all night that the pieces are placed back together. Just rambled on and on about it. I figure it was just her age." "Pieces? What does that mean?" "Who knows." "Sadly when one of her kind dies we have to advise the Council. But they are not assembled so may take some time." *No Known Date associated to human terms* - Upper World A lone being enters a dark court room. It was cleared of an audience in a rush. The being a thin of a stalk kneels when it gets to the gray throne. "It is done. The item was reassembled. As to it being safe is relative to you speak to. As directed we have taken steps to hopefully distract the others. But it may not be long before they find out it is back together." From the throne, the other being taps his fingers in annoyance or glee. It is unclear. "As you predicted. The Sidh are harder to predict than the humans. Keep the observation to a minimal as not to draw attention. This must not leave our court." "As you command." Actions? Comments? Next Update....Friday?? GM: I think this is about 70% of what I originally had hoped to post for these scenes. I do a outline at start but those dates do get fouled due to things. In this case I had to go back from a year before and edit some scenes. Like the Gat stuff. The journal was not matching up so I had to reset it a bit. Now it should flow more logically. I hope. But if you see holes blame the dwarves! Keep in mind this is not known to any player. So this is for gee whiz fun purposes only. Fill in the gaps and as possible hooks for way later adventures or red herrings. Hope you enjoyed it. For old/new players if you do not recognize any of the people or events consult the PBEM Adventure Summary and Characters of the Campaign Links. Even I have to use this as after 16 years you may forget details.