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Post by Randal Sarryn on Aug 31, 2008 9:58:42 GMT
"The knight has a point," says Randal. "Would it not make more sense to raise an army against this threat instead of gathering some group of total strangers? Why us, anyway?"
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Post by Lukav Nourabi on Aug 31, 2008 11:43:36 GMT
At first unable to contain a smirk, within moments Lukav is unable to contain a sharp snort of laughter and is quickly sniffing and rubbing his knuckles under his nose in an attempt to cover it.
The old man's words are truly hilarious, partly due to his comparing these 'Dragonlords' with the Darklords whose legend the passage of time has surely massively enhanced, and partly because the notion that anyone would choose the likes of Lukav to help defeat some continent-wide threat is quite ridiculous.
Lukav sits back in his seat and tries to think of banal things like the overly-earnest words to The Long Road to Lujar, or wheeling his uncle's stall home after a long day's trading when he was younger: anything to stem further laughter.
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Post by Coll Ewen on Sept 1, 2008 2:59:08 GMT
After glancing at the others, Coll lets forth a low whistle while reaching towards a tankard. 'Sir Knight speaks wisdom. If your tale is the truth, we should be warning our homelands.'
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Post by Dirk Hellhammer on Sept 1, 2008 6:30:54 GMT
Dirk takes another long draught from his spirit bottle.
"Dragons, you say? My old man used to tell me tales of the Dragons of old. Now there are DragonLORDS?! Haha! Either you've got your head on backwards stranger, or you think we're the biggest fools this side of the Tentaries!"
Dirk takes another swig and slams the bottle down on the table, peering hard at the stranger.
"I take it you can fulfill the Knights request and prove such an outlandish claim...."
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Post by crymson on Sept 1, 2008 10:37:10 GMT
The old man sits upright, straightening himself up. He suddenly looks much younger and more intimidating.
"You question my word?" he explodes. "You have all had the dreams, of fire, war and destruction, and you question my word?" He glares at you all with steely eyes. "Who are you to do such a thing?"
He sits back in his chair, his eyes and manner softening. "You, Sommlending Knight, do you not recognize my holy symbol?" He points to the golden sun symbol around his neck. "Surely that is enough to tell you I speak only the truth?"
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Post by Callum Darmoon on Sept 1, 2008 17:33:28 GMT
The knight had risen to his feet in anger to match that of his host.
"Joined dreams mean only that someone placed them in our minds. That person could mean ill, and could be in this room!"
Sir Callum nods to the amulet. "Your symbol marks you as a follower of Kai - if you wear it in true faith. Yet if that is true, why has Kai not revealed himself directly to his chosen champions? Why do I receive the visions alone of my people, and why am I lured away from my land to have them revealed in the presence of others?"
The knight slowly sits down, and folds his arms. "If you are fair, you will understand our questions and explain yourself - if evil is afoot then this distrust must end. I do not imagine Kai would have instructed you to bully those who have acted with blind faith to tormented visions of horror."
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Post by Randal Sarryn on Sept 1, 2008 17:45:21 GMT
"Kai already has champions in his monastery," says Randal. "What does he want with us? Not all of us even worship him." With that, he falls silent and takes another sip of ale.
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Post by Lukav Nourabi on Sept 1, 2008 17:47:39 GMT
Lukav is surprised - shocked, almost - at the sudden loss of tempers at the table. He was simply finding the situation amusing, but clearly others were looking at it differently.
"Maybe you could explain things in a little more detail," he suggests calmly to the old man, hoping to avoid seeming patronising. "I for one don't really grasp the situation you've described, and why we are supposed to be here because of it."
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Post by Dirk Hellhammer on Sept 2, 2008 7:46:15 GMT
Dirk strokes his beard thoughtfuly
"A Kai, eh? We dont know much about your kind in Bor. Sure, you've helped us before and it's all been good. Im willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, stranger. If you say who you are, thats good enough for me!"
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Post by Coll Ewen on Sept 2, 2008 14:01:19 GMT
'Indeed. I think we'd all enjoy a further explanation.'
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Post by crymson on Sept 3, 2008 11:28:03 GMT
The priest of Kai sits back in his chair, again looking like an old, frail man.
"You are right, you deserve an explination. I will tell you all I know, gleaned from what I believe to be divine visions and dreams much like you have had.
"A little over two years ago the Dragonlords appeared in the northern Darklands. They quickly asserted their might with the spawn of that infernal region and set about rebuilding Helgedad. This they have now done, using millions and millions of slaves.
"The Dragonlord armies then set about attacking the villages and towns that had sprung up in the reclaimed wastelands. I had received dreams about this, dreams telling me to warn the nations of Magnamund. This I did, starting with Sommerlund, my home. But I found the rulers of these realms to be reluctant to hear me."
He sighs heavily. "I do not know if it was years of peace and no threats that have lulled them into a sense of security, or whether they are under the thrall of some dark sorcery. Whatever the case, none of them took my warnings seriously, even in the face of rumours coming out of the reclaimed Darklands. 'Just rogue giaks', they put it down to.
"I prayed for guidance on the matter and recieved new visions. Those visions were of each of you and of this city. I was told that if the authorities would not act, then you five would have the skills, courage and willpower to do what was needed."
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Post by Randal Sarryn on Sept 3, 2008 15:28:25 GMT
Randal feels conflicted after hearing the old man's words. Try as he might, he can't convince himself that the yellow-robed priest is a raving lunatic. The dreams, for one thing, definitely happened. And, Randal thinks, what would happen if he refused to co-operate? With a chill, Randal imagines Kai's vengeance if he spurned this divine calling. The angry god would probably afflict him with nightmares every night for the rest of his life, driving him insane. "Needed to do what?" says Randal. "I hope you have a plan that goes beyond just walking up to these Dragonlords and punching them on the nose. "Who exactly are you, anyway? If you expect us to follow you on some suicide mission it would only be polite to give us your name."
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Post by Callum Darmoon on Sept 3, 2008 16:38:00 GMT
Callum tries to see fault in the man's words, but tries to think of his own reaction were the man to have appeared at Callum's door.
"Sommerlund has endured much over the generations," he says at large, "you yourself can understand the reluctance to see Naar move so soon. Yet the dreams are compelling."
Sir Callum beats his fist on the desk again, but this time in obvious emotion about the sleight to his country. Reluctantly, he seems to side on the words of the priest. "I shall not fail to uphold the duty of Sommerlund, if that is our role!" he says. "But I warn you, I may needs take my leave to speak to my Baron if I find enough evidence to convince our country to act."
Satisfied his duty to his leige will be honoured, and yet the duty to do right on behalf of his country is satisfied in his current actions, Sir Callum sits back to hear what is required of those gathered together.
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Post by Coll Ewen on Sept 3, 2008 17:39:30 GMT
Turning towards the elder, Coll begins to speak softly. 'It is my sworn duty to protect my homeland's borders, but unless the threat is at our doorstep, I fear my voice would be less compelling than yours, Servant of Kai, at least without evidence as Sir Knight says.'
'In the interest of investigation, to see these dreams through true or false, my sword and senses are yours.'
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Post by crymson on Sept 5, 2008 11:11:21 GMT
"My name is Drayden," he says in answer to Randal's question. "I am a priest of Kai, and I am from Sommerlund."
He looks at each of you in turn. "I do not expect you to walk into the Darklands and confront the Dragonlords. Not yet, anyway.
"I trust you all know the story of Sun Eagle and the founding of the Kai? Well, when Sun Eagle found the Lorestones of Nyxator, he recorded the secrets of the powers he found within them in the fabled Book of the Magnakai. But this is not the only book Sun Eagle penned.
"In addition to the powers of the Magnakai, Sun Eagle discovered wisdom and lore from the ages and recorded it in a second book, the Tome of Nyxator. Amongst this lore was the knowledge of dragons from the time of Nyxator, of whom the Dragonlords are descendants. This was of secondary importance to the Book of the Magnakai and was lost soon after Sun Eagles death. Nevertheless, I know where it is, and it is this artefact I need you to recover if we are to stop the Dragonlords."
He waves off any comments you may have at this point: "I know, why should you believe me, and how do I know this? Again, it is through the visions we have all recieved.
"The reason you were all called to Cloeasia is because the Tome of Nyxator is close by. Indeed, it lies to the west of here, within the Maakenmire; specifically, within V'Ka.
"Will you undertake the mission to retrive the Tome?"
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