Post by zipp on Jan 3, 2009 9:51:13 GMT
This is our "PM" thread. Basically, any time you want to do something secret, you can tell me here and I'll post all results here. The reason I'm using this instead of PMs is mostly organizational. I can keep the information better tracked here without reams of easily lost note paper.
We'll start with your history and goals.
During Zagarna's invasion, the border rangers were assigned to the command of general Maximillian, renowned as a brilliant strategist. Though a good 10 years older than you, you became close with the general.
You respected both his quick mind and his loyalty to his troops. He ate with his soldiers, joked with them, had even helped some of them out of tight spots by giving them money and friendship in a high place. His soldiers were his family, and he was always skeptical of any plan which could endanger them. His record over the years was in no small part formed by the survival rate of his troops.
The general is a widower with a young child of ten named Armadalus. When you lost your own husband and children, he was there with all the right words to comfort you, and your relationship grew (note: I'll leave it to you to decide whether or not this became sexual, if not, then consider it to be the familial relationship of a respected and well loved uncle).
When Darklord Xog began moving forces this summer, you were one of the border rangers assigned to join Maximillian's forces at the Durncrag mountains. From the moment you arrived, you received special treatment. The best of these was your own tent to sleep in. Despite these signs of his favour, the general ignored you most of the time. You assumed it was because he didn't want to make other suspicious or jealous of his favour.
Three nights ago, you discovered the real reason.
Awoken at midnight and commanded to the general's tent, you found Maximilian, who usually greeted you with charm and smiles, distraught. His usually bright eyes seemed glazed, and his face showed concern.
He had a mission for you, and it was one he was not eager to give.
The king, he told you, had just ordered an expedition into the merchant city of Oasis, which had been struck by a mysterious plague. Being among the king's most trusted advisor, Maximilian has some detailed information on the outbreak.
The plague seems to strike population centers and then decimate them. Chances are that it dies with its host, and thus isn't transmitted by dead bodies, meaning that live carriers have spread it through the wild lands. If not for the relative halt of trade after the Darklord invasion, it probably would've spread immediately to Holmgard. However, Oasis consolidated its wealth (causing a political schism among the merchant's guilds), and stopped trade.
A fortunate turn of events.
Not so fortunate is the current situation with the Darklords. Xog's army is large. Too large to be repelled by the king's current forces. Sommerlund's armies are not going to win this battle. After a few early skirmishes, no attacks have been made. The enemy sits eerily at the bottom of the crags, growing in strength daily, making no attempt to hide their numbers, as if defying Sommerlund to repel them.
Against these hopeless odds, Maximillian has used what fate has given him and designed a daring plan.
You must bring back an infected person from Oasis. That person will then be sent into the midsts of the Darklord's armies, spreading the plague and destroying them. Since no humans live in the Darklands, there will be only one life lost.
That of the plague carrier.
Of course, the difficulty is getting back without dying, and without infecting the human camps. To this end, Maximillian wants you to employ the Argyle riverway, an underground river that flows towards the falls at the south end of the Durncrag mountains. Oasis is built above the fast flowing river, and their main well at the center of the town provides direct access to it. If you were to utilize this underground waterway, you could reach the Darklands in three days. Then the infected person could make it to the camp of the Darklord's armies. All it would take was a single living person to infect the camp.
It is with solemnity that you accept your orders. It's a desperate plan, but it seems to be Magnamund's last hope. There are tears in Maximilian's eyes as he gives you this mission, most likely to be your last. His usually clever words become muddled. He begs your forgiveness for not having been able to bring you happiness after the loss of your family. He says that it doesn't have to be you that is infected, any one of the party will do, as long as they are brought to the Darklord's camp. He says that this is so that Sommerlund can go on, so that his son can find peace in the next age. He trusts no-one else to perform this mission. This mission... for him, for Sommerlund, for all of Magnamund.
Who knows? Perhaps death will be the calm you've sought for the last two years.
To summarize your goal: either become infected yourself or bring another infected to the camp of Xog's armies at the south border of the Durncrag, where the infection should spread North throughout the five enemy camps.
The Argyle riverway will be the only way you'll reach the infected camps in time. It also represents an escape route from the city, should you require one. It shouldn't be hard to convince other party members in a tight spot to use the waterway, though you'll probably want to keep your true intentions to yourself, lest they mutiny. Besides, this mission is top secret. Were it to become known that plague was being used as a weapon, the honor of Sommerlund could be tainted.
Remember, you hold the fate of all Sommerlund, and probably Magnamund, in your hands. Maximillian isn't sure when the armies will strike, but when they do, he figures Sommerlund has maybe a week before it falls.
We'll start with your history and goals.
During Zagarna's invasion, the border rangers were assigned to the command of general Maximillian, renowned as a brilliant strategist. Though a good 10 years older than you, you became close with the general.
You respected both his quick mind and his loyalty to his troops. He ate with his soldiers, joked with them, had even helped some of them out of tight spots by giving them money and friendship in a high place. His soldiers were his family, and he was always skeptical of any plan which could endanger them. His record over the years was in no small part formed by the survival rate of his troops.
The general is a widower with a young child of ten named Armadalus. When you lost your own husband and children, he was there with all the right words to comfort you, and your relationship grew (note: I'll leave it to you to decide whether or not this became sexual, if not, then consider it to be the familial relationship of a respected and well loved uncle).
When Darklord Xog began moving forces this summer, you were one of the border rangers assigned to join Maximillian's forces at the Durncrag mountains. From the moment you arrived, you received special treatment. The best of these was your own tent to sleep in. Despite these signs of his favour, the general ignored you most of the time. You assumed it was because he didn't want to make other suspicious or jealous of his favour.
Three nights ago, you discovered the real reason.
Awoken at midnight and commanded to the general's tent, you found Maximilian, who usually greeted you with charm and smiles, distraught. His usually bright eyes seemed glazed, and his face showed concern.
He had a mission for you, and it was one he was not eager to give.
The king, he told you, had just ordered an expedition into the merchant city of Oasis, which had been struck by a mysterious plague. Being among the king's most trusted advisor, Maximilian has some detailed information on the outbreak.
The plague seems to strike population centers and then decimate them. Chances are that it dies with its host, and thus isn't transmitted by dead bodies, meaning that live carriers have spread it through the wild lands. If not for the relative halt of trade after the Darklord invasion, it probably would've spread immediately to Holmgard. However, Oasis consolidated its wealth (causing a political schism among the merchant's guilds), and stopped trade.
A fortunate turn of events.
Not so fortunate is the current situation with the Darklords. Xog's army is large. Too large to be repelled by the king's current forces. Sommerlund's armies are not going to win this battle. After a few early skirmishes, no attacks have been made. The enemy sits eerily at the bottom of the crags, growing in strength daily, making no attempt to hide their numbers, as if defying Sommerlund to repel them.
Against these hopeless odds, Maximillian has used what fate has given him and designed a daring plan.
You must bring back an infected person from Oasis. That person will then be sent into the midsts of the Darklord's armies, spreading the plague and destroying them. Since no humans live in the Darklands, there will be only one life lost.
That of the plague carrier.
Of course, the difficulty is getting back without dying, and without infecting the human camps. To this end, Maximillian wants you to employ the Argyle riverway, an underground river that flows towards the falls at the south end of the Durncrag mountains. Oasis is built above the fast flowing river, and their main well at the center of the town provides direct access to it. If you were to utilize this underground waterway, you could reach the Darklands in three days. Then the infected person could make it to the camp of the Darklord's armies. All it would take was a single living person to infect the camp.
It is with solemnity that you accept your orders. It's a desperate plan, but it seems to be Magnamund's last hope. There are tears in Maximilian's eyes as he gives you this mission, most likely to be your last. His usually clever words become muddled. He begs your forgiveness for not having been able to bring you happiness after the loss of your family. He says that it doesn't have to be you that is infected, any one of the party will do, as long as they are brought to the Darklord's camp. He says that this is so that Sommerlund can go on, so that his son can find peace in the next age. He trusts no-one else to perform this mission. This mission... for him, for Sommerlund, for all of Magnamund.
Who knows? Perhaps death will be the calm you've sought for the last two years.
To summarize your goal: either become infected yourself or bring another infected to the camp of Xog's armies at the south border of the Durncrag, where the infection should spread North throughout the five enemy camps.
The Argyle riverway will be the only way you'll reach the infected camps in time. It also represents an escape route from the city, should you require one. It shouldn't be hard to convince other party members in a tight spot to use the waterway, though you'll probably want to keep your true intentions to yourself, lest they mutiny. Besides, this mission is top secret. Were it to become known that plague was being used as a weapon, the honor of Sommerlund could be tainted.
Remember, you hold the fate of all Sommerlund, and probably Magnamund, in your hands. Maximillian isn't sure when the armies will strike, but when they do, he figures Sommerlund has maybe a week before it falls.