Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
View
01.07.20

What Ends & What Begins

by Steel Claw

Andre and Hannibal asked us to take Arghia, an old mercenary friend of theirs, a dragonborn, and spread his ashes in Bezia. He had died in the Bladelands, and as an adherent of Bahamut we accompanied them to the silver dragon's temple in Bezia's high district.
 
Along the way I caught sight of General Sapphire talking to two black-armored military types. After asking Master Theo, the two were identified as the twin heirs to the Ducati family. Known for their horse-breeding and for having a seat on the Arcadian council. Theo mentioned that they are known behind closed doors as the "Shadow Brothers", because security generally increases wherever they show up; the family has an "old-school approach" to criminal justice.
 

Bahamut's Temple


 
A golden-towered temple to the [golden] platinum dragon in the middle of the high district of Bezia, fronted by a magical door of white marble.
 
A golden dragonborn cleric presided over the final rites, and Bahamut (it seems) has seen Arghia's goodness in life.
 

Lower Bezia


 
To look for Murg's love interest Nagala, Andre & Hannibal brought the group to a bar connected to their mercenary guild. The tavern, the Yawning Portal, is members-only and the two get the group inside (minus Theo and Steel waiting outside). Upon dropping her name, the mercenary bar and everyone inside went dead silent. It was "deliberated" between drinkers at the bar who would fetch Nagala, and two whelps were left to fetch the absolutely-blitzed and drunk Nagala. After a dramatic conversation Murg convinced her to get their family in Arcadia and move them to Bezia (and in general take care of them).
 
Master Theo convinced us to chase down a bookstore; it took several hours but we were able to help him buy several foreign language books he was looking for. One was on tabaxi - "No offense, Steel" - which the arbalest skimed for inconsistencies (it's consistent).
 
Father Murg in turn found a real estate agency, and purchased a house outright for Nagala (and his family by extension)
 

Arcadia's Teleport


 
The Arcadian shrine of sorts appears as a Greek-style open temple
 
We were met at the entrance by a hollyphant, a magical creature the determined we had permission to use the teleportation area. Master Theo stepped forward and presented himself: "Theobold Hornraven".
 
The inside of the temple seems to be held in a purple-hued space. As we stepped into the chamber, arcane stones materialized out of nothingness to support us underfoot. A voice echoed out to confirm our destination as Excelion; in fear Steel hung onto Theo for dear life. Thankfully, Steel blinked and missed the moment of inter-dimensional teleportation.
 
"Did I miss it?"


 

Welcome to Excellion


 
The seat of the Accord and the largest city in the realms, Arcadia sits at the convergence of eight rivers. It's very Saudi Arabian; if you can afford to live here the government provides for everything.


Above hangs the Golden Tower, the very center of Arcadia that protects the city
 
Due to magics of the city, the air smells faintly of the endless, grassy plains - a magic strong enough to unsettle Steel. The streets here are inset with previous gems; everything is gold-plated and arco-mechanical.
 
Theo called a warforged-captained taxi boat to bring the party to Castle Hornraven. Steel hated every minute of the water travel.
 

Castle Hornraven


 
A five-story castle of paradise, with (nonpredatory) birds of every kind floating through the air. The castle sits on several acres of land, with fields upon fields surrounding it
 
Steel was most awestruck (as you can imagine [see Ghengis Khan when he took a castle]). Upon entry, a strange and brief feeling of arcane judgement swept over the group. Nothing malicious, but worth noting.
 

Cassandra Hornraven


 
High General Cassandra is the commander and chief strategist of the Arcadian forces. She is also Master Theo's mother, and had previous showed up in Veradin after the defeat of Orvid Hornrim (where we first met her). Thought she is leaving the castle soon (work), Gaiton and Norman are home: Gaiton is family (dad's brother) and a troublemaker, and Norman is Master Theo's mentor who taught him "how to wizard".

Continue reading...

  1. To Bezia: Dangerous & Familiar
    10.22.19
  2. To Waylay Arcadia
    10.29.19
  3. As the Gods Watch
    11.12.19
  4. Recap: Riding the River to Bezia
    12.03.19
  5. Honor Returns to the Redtails
    12.03.19
  6. Honor and Innocence
    12.10.19
  7. What Ends & What Begins
    01.07.20
  8. Night Before the Report
    01.14.20
  9. Adrenaline
    01.28.20
  10. Fairytale's End
    02.11.20
  11. CSI: Abominable Charges
    02.25.20
  12. Stones in the Basement
    03.03.20
  13. Saviors
    03.17.20
  14. A Night To Remember
    03.24.20
  15. The End Draws Near
    03.31.20
  16. Black Reckoning
    04.07.20
  17. Argyle's End
    04.10.20
  18. Two and Two
    04.14.20
  19. Concentration
    04.21.20
  20. The Magic in Winter
    04.28.20
  21. Real, Under, Dark: Indrada
    05.12.20
  22. Puzzling the Way Forward
    05.19.20
  23. The Cold Cases
    05.26.20
  24. Band through the Woods
    06.02.20
  25. Cold Claws of Death
    06.09.20
  26. Another Shot in the Dark
    06.16.20
  27. More To Learn
    06.30.20
  28. The Heart of Varunmund
    07.10.20
  29. Arcane Mishap
    07.14.20
  30. The Treasure of Weave-Steel
    07.21.20
  31. Rolling Bones
    07.28.20
  32. A New Land
    08.04.20
  33. Ice and Storm
    08.11.20
  34. Up Rocks
    08.18.20
  35. At the Top of the World
    09.01.20
  36. Beware the Depths
    09.08.20
  37. Granting Repose
    09.15.20
  38. Trial by Crystal
    09.22.20
  39. Cries of the Pained
    09.29.20
  40. Old Friends
    10.06.20
  41. Watch and Tower
    10.13.20
  42. The Death of a Gate and an Alhoon
    10.20.20
  43. Joy in Many a Reunion
    10.27.20
  44. A New Line of Questioning
    01.05.20
  45. Renewing the Offense
    6th of February, 2022
  46. The Last Vanguard
    02.13.22
  47. Portals
    02.20.22
  48. Heed the Changing Winds
    03.13.22
  49. Champions of the Winds
    03.27.22
  50. The Epicenter of Truth
    04.03.22
  51. It Begins Again
    04.10.22
  52. Stratagem to the Winds
    04.24.22
  53. Wet Cat
    05.01.22
  54. Another Hot Time
    05.15.22
  55. The Aegon Assault
    07.31.22
  56. Unfavorably Familiar
    08.07.22
  57. Cloaked in Red
    09.11.22
  58. Forged After War
    09.18.22
  59. Truthseeking
    10.02.22
  60. Two-Parters
    11.12.22
  61. Blade & Bow, Hammer & Axe
    11.20.22
  62. Faith, Truth, and Peace
    11.27.22
  63. Act as you know, and you will never shame me
    12.04.22
  64. The Stringing of the Bow
    01.08.23
  65. A Clashing of Fangs
    01.15.23
  66. Nleyke [v. To Wish]
    01.29.23

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Listen to our Podcast

Our Allies

Dungeon Fog
Gold Ennie 2019 for Best Digital Aid
by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 15:04, Nov 8 2024