Moonstars - Лунные Звезды
The Tel'Teukiira will come hidden and in many guises and faces. They dwell in shadow and speak in omens, yet they shall bring about waking dreams and save us from the Three Threats Who Wait in Darkness, the Prefects, and ourselves.Group Colors/Livery: As yet no identifying colors are worn uniformly by all members of the group, and this would be frowned upon by the leader as a breach of secrecy in any case. Более века назад среди Арфистов произошел раскол. Келбен «Чёрный Посох» Арунсан был осужден остальными лидерами Арфистов за увеличение силы и расширение влияния Фзула Чембрила, злого лидера Зентарима, с помощью могущественного артефакта. То, что Келбен сделал это, чтобы Фзул смог уничтожить могущественного лича, большого значения при этом не имело. Келбен и Лаэраль Сильверхэнд, его жена, покинули Арфистов забрав с собой некоторых их агентов и создали новую организацию, над созданием которой Келбен некоторое время тайно работал, зная о древнем пророчестве эльфов Кормантора. Эта группа назвалась Лунными Звёздами, что на эльфийском звучит как Тель’Теукиира. И хотя Арфисты и Лунные Звёзды временами работали в тандеме, их цели бывали противоположными, и кроме того, в Лунных Звёздах состояли такие личности, которых Арфисты посчитали бы слишком злыми, как, например, вампиры. Лунные Звёзды совершили много добрых дел, но их методы зачастую более жестокие и прагматичные, чем позволяют идеалы Арфистов. После смерти Келбена Лунные Звёзды, казалось, развалились, и в течение многих лет организация считалась несуществующей. Тем не менее во время Раскола ждавшие своего часа агенты развернули организацию удивительно большого масштаба, члены которой оказались в Кэндлкипе, Глубоководье и Миф Дранноре. Затем организация вновь ушла в подполье. Отношения организации с нынешними Арфистами (Лаэраль Сильверхэнд и нынешней «Черным Посохом Глубоководья» Важрой) остаются не ясными. Tel Teukiira (Minor, Special): AL NG, LG, LN; 100,000 gp resource limit; Membership 56; Integrated (humans 21, elves 11, half-elves 10, gnomes 3, tiefling 1, vampire 1, others 9). Authority Figures: Laeral Silverhand Arunsun
Group Mark
A rolled-up scroll sealed by a round moon rimmed with a circle of twelve blue-white stars. Moonstars wear this mark as raw mithral badges, the moon set in white enamel with blue stars. (See “Resources” for more on these badges) Group Colors/Livery: As yet no identifying colors are worn uniformly by all members of the group, and this would be frowned upon by the leader as a breach of secrecy in any case.Base of Operations
The Tel Teukiira is headquartered at Blackstaff Tower, but most members live elsewhere in the Realms and rarely, if ever, physically visit. The group's true base of operation is the Silver Safehold, an extraplanar stronghold built by the Sword Heralds of Cormyr and accessible to members of the group by means of their Teukiir badges. The Safehold acts as a central meeting hall for all members, a private meeting chamber for senior agents, a small dormitory for agents hiding out from other forces, and a library for the lore to be collected and shared by the members.Abilities
While no standard abilities and expectations can be found among the membership, it can be assumed that the Moonstars are privy to certain spells (wizard and priest alike) and training far beyond many other secret societies. After all, they do the work of Mystra and Oghma, and that may provide them with lore best kept to themselves. The only true unifying abilities or traits among all the members of the group are shared trust between each member and Khelben the Blackstaff and a desire for justice, unity, or equality among the races of Faerun and beyond. Rumors begin to spread late in 1370 that Khelben and Laeral perform arcane rituals on the members of this group to grant them special magical abilities. While these rumors make some elves sit up and take notice of the hints of elven High Magic in these tales, most attribute these as more slander against the Blackstaff and company.PERKS OF TEL TEUKIIRA
Lore Knowledge
you can add half of proficiency bonus to any ability checks related to Arcana, Knowledge, History or ReligionOGHMA'S INSIGHT (RANK 2)
As masters of obscure lore, Moonstar agents develop a keen interest in many fields. You gain Expertise in one of Arcana, Religion, Nature, HistoryLAERAL'S INTUITION (RANK 3)
you can use detect thoughts, as the spell, three times per long rest.MYSTRA'S BOON (RANK 4)
you gain blessing from Mystra and has bonus +1 on all saving throws vs spellFavored in Guild Fringe
The Moonstars count many skilled magical artisans among their friends. Once per character level you can purchase a single magic item of 50,000 gp or less for 75% of its normal market price.Areas of Operation
There is hardly a major region or city across Faerun that does not have someone working for the Moonstars in it. Look to the lists of NPCs and their locations above for specific areas of operation, though the center of Moonstar activity is con¬sidered either Waterdeep or the Silver Safehold.ALLies and Enemies
For now. the Tel’Teukiira stands relatively alone in regard to allies and enemies, for it has connections to many on both sides of Faerun’s moralistic fence. Of course, that stance alone and the fact that he does not explain himself to the Harpers have set Khelben and his new group at odds with the Harpers for the time being. While the group has few members or active agents, there are a few old notables of the Realms who have contact with members of the Silverstars and who quietly count themselves as allies. Among major political leaders are Lady Hope Alus- triel of Luruar, the Simbul of Aglarond, King Haedrak III of Tethyr, and Jorunhast, Paragon of the Dukar Order of Kupav in Myth Nantar. (While rhe goals of the group are admirable, Amlauril of Evermeet has neither heard of its existence, nor could she support it openly if she had.) Numerous adventur¬ers such as the Knights of Myth Drannor and the Company of Crated Venturers, especially those once linked with Khel- ben, are allies as well. The group also has the full support of many, including Alathae Moonstar (a ghost of the Blushing Mermaid) in Waterdeep. It was she who gave her permission to call the group the Moonstars “in hopes that its members might be more worthy of the name than some relations of mine.”Структура
While the Silverstars share many similarities to the Harpers, it is not a loosely organized group with much personal auton¬omy. All who take up the scrolled badge of the group know that ultimately, all decisions come from or are approved by Khelben Arunsun. He has built this cabal into a tightly strat¬ified unit that should maintain very thorough and secure lines of communication. It also, through magic shared by all members in their badges, allows the members a greater degree of reliability on their fellows. Still, Khelben’s group has very a specific structure, and there is no doubt among the TelTeukiira’s members that everything begins and ends with this enigmatic wizard. Beneath Khelben are three layers of agents: senior agents, regional agents, and active agents.
this top rank are his wife Laeral and the twelve senior agents of the Tel’Teukiira.
Twelve senior agents exist, among them three representatives each of warriors, wizards, rogues, and priests (one devoted to each of the patron gods of the group). The senior agents meet every eighty days or when summoned to the Silver Safehold hy a peer or the Blackstaff. They have the author¬ity to call in active or regional agents and assign them duties as they see fit (though they rarely do anything without Khel- ben’s approval). While Khelben provides them with direc¬tion within this group’s scope of activity, he also says, “1 feel these people are capable enough that they rarely need me to check up on them." Thus, the senior agents often shepherd the regional and active agents.
Regional agents, while not given as much autonomy and decision-making power as the seniors, are often left alone simply to collect information within their respective regions and filter it back to the closest senior agent and the Silver Safehold. They also support any active agent within their regions, when necessary. Thirty postings currently exist for regional agents, and not all of those posts have been filled. While Khelben does make some exceptions, these posts gen¬erally go to high-level NPCs or people with whom he shares some level of trust (and a ready way to gain broad spectrums of information). DMs can fill this level with campaign NPCs and higher-level PCs, if desired.
As of the start of this year (1370 DR), Khelben only recruits twelve active agents, those Silverstars out in the field acting and influencing and putting the group’s manipu¬lations and philosophy in place. These agents are very close to the Harpers in execution and duties, though they often receive explicit instructions on their missions and what they should and should not do. Too often, Khelben saw incidents with Those Who Harp blow out of control due to a hot¬headed decision, and he’s determined to make sure that his agents understand the consequences of their actions (though he rarely fully explains why he’s asking them to do certain things).
This level of the group is the one expressly meant for PCs. There are six slots left among the initial active agents. The campaign, while leaving much influence with the DM as Khelben or a senior agent, could easily become the PCs indi¬rectly influencing world events and also trying to figure out the mysteries and motivations behind the Blackstaff.
Characters seeking to join the Tel’Teukiira have a diffi¬cult time, since only Khelben Arunsun can extend the offer of membership (though his senior agents can certainly pro¬pose folk for his approval or rejection). Generally, unless Khelben or another senior member has very close ties to another character (the prospective member in this case), this secret society protects itself and its secrets by not opening its doors except to those implicitly trusted upon pain of death and honor.Membership
Membership was less restrictive than the Harpers. One of the senior members was most definitely evil and the organization even listed a vampire amongst its number. To gain entry into the group, one needed the sponsorship of either the "Blackstaff" or his wife, so it was clear that they did not consider these less morally inclined members a threat. Many Harpers defected when Khelben created the Moonstars, including Malchor Harpell and Myrmeen Lhal.
Joining the Tel Teukiira requires the personal invitation of the Blackstaff or Lady Arunsun.
Beneath Laerel are three layers of agents: senior agents (12), regional agents (30), and field agents (12).
Janxar “Sharpaxe” Dhoarn (LN male half-elf FI4): Alaghon’s richest mercenary captain is famous for his rare honesty and integrity, both of which are in short supply in Turmish. This ever-smiling, broad-shouldered hulk easily collects a large amount of troops, if Khelben gives the word. One of his primary responsibilities for the Silverstars is to train any that wish it in fighting techniques.
The Mistmaster (CG male human 1U26/P19 of Leira): Some speculate if one of the first actions of the Moonstars was the destruction of Hellgate Keep by the Gatekeeper’s Crystal, given the cryptic Mistmaster’s presence among the senior TelTeukiira. He spends most of this time in his Citadel of the Mists within the High Forest, keeping an eye on the treants’ slow expansion of the forest.
Malchor Harpell (NG male human M18): From his Tower of Twilight in Neverwinter Wood, Khelben’s great¬est student (before his wife, that is) grudgingly works with the TelTeukiira due to some unspoken favors owed between teacher and pupil. Of all the senior agents, Malchor most openly questions Khelben’s decisions, seek¬ing to discover his secrets and be assured of the rightness of the decisions before agreeing to carry them out.
Phaerl Hawksong (CG female elf PI5 of Sehanine): A senior priestess at the Tower of the Moon’s Magic in Evereska, this moon elf has shared Khelben’s dream of uniting the elves and humans for more than five hundred years, ever since he saved her life in Anauroch. She joined at his request, glad that she could finally repay him for saving her life nearly at the cost of his own.
Kiinna Blackmane (LE female half-elf M12/T13): This half-elf is among the more controversial choices by Khelben among the senior agents. This former apprentice is now the shadowmaster of Riatavin’s well-hidden under¬world, ruling all criminal activities within that city in Tethyr. While she divulges what is necessary of Shadow Thief activities to the group, she does not leak news of the TelTeukiira to the Shade Council.
Jhuvik of the Seven Gems (N male elf T12/P10 of Mystra): This pious thief of Milvarune in Thesk gained his name by stealing seven great gems from a zulkir’s head¬dress while the Thayan still wore it. Jhuvik seems to wor¬ship the Blackstaff and his wife due to their connections to his goddess, but he rarely gives voice to this. He recon¬ciles his odd choice of skills and professions by stealing magic (in item, spell, or mere knowledge) from those who abuse Mystra’s Art to return it to Mystra’s faithful.
SENIOR AGENTS
Twelve senior agents exist, among them three representatives each of warriors, wizards, rogues, and priests (one devoted to each of the patron gods of the group). The senior agents meet every eighty days or when summoned to the Silver Safehold by a peer or the Blackstaff. They have the authority to call in active or regional agents and assign them duties as they see fit (though they rarely do anything without Khet- ben’s approval). While Khelben provides them with direction within this group’s scope of activity, he also says, “ feel these people are capable enough that they rarely need me to check up on them." THus, the senIior agents often shepherd the regional and active agents.WARRIORS
MAGES
PRIESTS
THIEFS
REGIONAL AGENTS
Regional agents, while not given as much autonomy and decision-making power as the seniors, are often left alone simply to collect information within their respective regions and filter it back to the closest senior agent and the Silver Safehold. They also support any active agent within their regions, when necessary. Thirty postings currently exist for regional agents, and not all of those posts have been filled. At the middle levels of this group are the regional agents, those members who travel rarely from their homes or centers of operation, and are thus capable eyes and ears for Khelben’s information gathering in those locales. They are not limited to a particular number of character classes, though wizards tend to dominate this midlevel rank. All of the regional agents monitor events and news within the broad area noted first below. The location in brackets is the home or standard location of the regional agent, followed by the agent there, if known, and any other details about the agent or the area. 1. Spine of the World/Mirabar/Ten Towns - Luskan 2. Dessarin Vale/Sword Cities – Triboar - 3. Luruar/Giantmoors – Silverymoon: Boesild Aerasume (NG male half-elf FI 2/M11) - Alustriel’s eighth son, he is among the more pragmatic of his brethren. He alone of Alustriel's brood likes Khelben despite his dark moods, while the others barely tolerate the Blackstaff for their mother’s sake. 4. High Forest – Loudwater - 5. Greypeaks/Fallen Lands - Scshrcntor (a tower high in peaks forty miles north-northeast of Llorkh) - 6. the Elflands of Evermeet and Evereska – Evereska - 7. Central Sword Coast (Delimbiyr Vale and High Moor to Winding Water and Greypeaks) - Parnast, a village on the Dawn Pass Trail by Weathercote and Greypeaks - 8. Caravan Cities (Winding Water to Cloud Peaks to Sunset Mts.) – Scomubel – 9. Island Realms (Moonshaes, Lantan, Ruathym) - 10. Cormyr - Arabel - 11. Tunlands - Eagle Peak – 12. Sembia – Selgaunt – 13. Cormanthyr - Elven Court: Luvon Greencloak (CG male elf M14): This former emissary of the Elven Court is an old associate of Khelben's and believes in the Tel’Teukiira's dream of unity with the elves despite his gold-elf heritage. 14. Dalelands – Ashabenford: Nethmurta (CG female half-elf 0-level): The tavemkeeper of the Blinking Owl is owner and proprietor of more than four warehouses in Ashabenford. Her caravan masters provide her with any news her regulars do not provide her in tavern talk. 15. Moonsea/the Vast - 16. Anuroch/Tortured Lands/ Frozen Forest - Whitehorn 17. Bloodstone Lands/Great Glacier - Heliogabalus 18. The Demonlands (Impiitur, Narfell, Great Dale, Thesk) - Telflamm - Wyrekka Kusell (NG female half-elf B9): A famed bard in the eastern Inner Sea lands, she calls Telflamm home, she wanders the environs of Thesk, the Great Dale, and Impiitur all equally. 19. Seros (The Sea of Fallen Stars aquatic realms) [Myth Nantar] The former Harper Alyn Telarson (NG male half-elf F6): Alyn has lived in Myth Nantar since the lakhovan Invasion in late 1369 DR. (The Sea of Fallen Stars supplement (TSR -11393) dutifully records his report on those events.) The former native of Essembra has acclimated well here, though most of his friends are former surface-dwellers like himself who adapted to undersea life via the mythal at Myth Nantar. 20. Thay/Aglarond/Rashemen [Eltabbar]. 21. Old Empires of Mulhorand, Unther, Chessenta, and Threskel [Skuld]. 22. The Dragon Coast [Teziir] 23. Vilhon Reach/Shining Plains [Rucien Xan, in the Chondahvood] Nuvian Eyes-Ashen (NG male elf P9 (Crusader) of Sehanine). 24. Tethyr [Shildamere in County Spellshire, Tethyr] 25. Amn/”Monsterlands of Murann” - Wealdath (Forest of Tethir): Arellaxerrontoal the Widowed is a bronze dragon whose thirst for revenge against Iryklagathra “Sharpfangs” is tempered by her work with the Silverstars. One of her prime motivations is to unite the elves and humans so they can work toward hunting down the evil dragons such as the scourge that killed her mate. 26. Calimshan - Calimport: While little or nothing is known about the regional agent in Calimport, Khelben has warned a few agents who have traveled the Southlands that he is a vampire and thusly to be careful when hunting undead in the City of Glory. 27. Lake of Steam/Border Kingdoms - Ankhapur - 28. The Shaar/Great Rift - Sebben - 29. The Shining South - Halagard, Halruaa 30. Non-Faerun Locations (Kara-Tur, Zakhara, Maztica, other continents) - Waterdeep: Winter Zulth (LN male half-elf M16): From the offices of The Horizon’s Sails with their many magical logbooks and maps, Winter aids Khelben’s cause. Raised in Waterdeep, he helped create ships gaining fame toward year's end. Winter provides maps that are not available anywhere else, as Horizon’s Sails ships have sailed around Maztica and die Anchorome Archipelago to the waters beyond, and those magical charts are worth their weight in mithral. He has also set aside a ship for the group's exclusive use when needed. Winter (LN male half-moon-elf wizard 16) works in The Horizon's Sails as a mapmaker, creating the magic logbooks and maps for which the shop is famed. Winter has been actively involved in advocating a broad expansion of overseas trade for the city.FIELD AGENTS
These are the “agents in the field” upon whom Khelben relies heavily to be on the forefront of the group’s activities. Only six are noted, but twelve active agents exist, The North – Selkar Antiness (N male fey’ri bladesinger 17 eldritch knight 3) is trisoaitor of House Dlardargeth and skilled swordmage who prefer to live in his tower in Silver Marches but has teleportation circle coordinates for Waterdeep, Triboar, Everlund, Neverwinter, Mirabar, Loudwater (some of them belongs to Harpers). The Vilhon Reach- Asraf yn Malik el Kahaman yi Manshaka (LE male human F9 vampire) is a former deep- cover Harper and Blood Warrior of Manshaka, he died from the bite of a vampire and now wanders the Vilhon Reach, still committed to Khelben and his cause for reasons unknown. Cormanthyr - Esalor Harumaar “The Blood Owl" (NG male half-elf R12) is a half-sylvan elf of Semberholme. The Demonlands - Khala of Peltarch (LN tiefling female F8/M7; alu-fiend). Waterdeep (and Dessarin Cities) - Western Heartlands - Chvar Eldenbow “the Loreseeker” (CG male half-elf R10/P11 of Oghma; moon elf parent): wanders the many Western Heartlands woods finding much hidden lore among the wilder sites of the Sword Coast that he alone has recorded in Oghma's name. Kylia Although Kylia, (CG female rock gnome illusionist 12/Moonstar agent 1) looks like a fragile doll of unassuming demeanor, with immaculate auburn hair and red robes, she is one of the Lords' most effective agents, having proved her skill by deducing the identities of nearly all the Lords simply through observation and then confronting Khelben with the fact. Her penchant for dramatics when using magic and need for attention have led her to work far more closely with Laeral than with Khelben. Kylia plays the role of "Liak," a male half-elf apprentice of "Irusyl Eraneth," during forays into the Port of Shadow. The gnome illusionist rooms at Madam Garah's boarding house and The Deepfires in Skullport. Sememmon - Ashemmi -RANKS OF TEL TEUKIIRA
RANK 1 – Raven - Renown 3 RANK 2 - Falcon -Renown 5, RANK 3 – Shard - Renown 10, 1 important faction mission RANK 4 – Shield - Renown 25, 3 important faction missions RANK 5 - Silverstar - Renown 50, 10 important faction missions,Moonstar Agents at New Olamn
Boondor Evenmist - (NG male Illuskan human Brd10). Lord Evenmist is a minor noble from the Moonshaes who took his bardic training from a succession of private tutors, a path commonly employed after the closing of the old barding colleges. Despite his rank, knowledge, and age - more than forty winters - he enrolled as a student at New Olamn in order to gain the traditional title of Magnus Alumnae. He is extremely well versed in the lore of his native islands, and is a teacher in this specialty as well as a Full Fellow in pursuit of the title Master Bard. His knowledge of ancient cultures and languages drew him into sympathy with the Moonstars' goals. He has taken to wearing no other color than pale gray, a visible tribute to the nearly invisible silver-moon-and-star device tattooed above a pair of remarkably red and bushy eyebrows. Khelben is grooming Lord Evenmist for a high position in the Moonstars, in hope that he will gather the Harpers of the Moonshaes under this new banner. Taeros Hawkwinter - (NG male Tethyrian human Brd3). Young Lord Hawkwinter has a passionate fondness for old tales, an extensive personal library, and, I might add, admirable fashion sense. He has not yet allied himself with the Moonstars, but Khelben has privately expressed interest in recruiting this young nobleman. Taeros is not a Full Fellow, but he is keenly interested in the lore taught at the college, spending many hours at New Olamn and in the library of the new church of Oghma. Taeros is something of a scribbler and his satirical commentaries on all things pertaining to Waterdeep are circulated on broadsheets and posted in popular taverns. Rumor credits him to be the author of Deep Waters, a popular collection of Waterdeep tales dedicated to the young King Azoun V of Cormyr. He is also notable for his close friendship with a certain rising young politician, and for his remarkable cloak woven from threads magically spun of amber and gold. He has been entrusted with a slipshield, a rare elven magic item that allows him to trade shapes with any sentient being. This magic item is nearly impossible to detect or trace. Created to protect the royal family of Evermeet, several came to Waterdeep after the sahuagin attack, a gift from the elven queen to Piergeiron. They add yet another layer of secrecy as to the identity of the city's hidden rulers. No more than a dozen people in Waterdeep know of their existence, so Taeros's possession of a slipshield marks him as someone the hidden powers of Waterdeep consider worthy of trust and destined for greater things. Xingrum Swampswallow - (N male half-orc Rog5). Xingrum is, depending upon one's point of view, a stunningly handsome orc or a "ruggedly attractive" human. He has a fine baritone voice, but is better known for his athletic ability and enjoyment of an invigorating brawl. Tall and muscular, he is surprisingly light on his feet and is particularly at home in and around water. An expert swimmer, he's also an odds-on favorite in hippogriff water polo - one of the exotic spectator sports currently fashionable among coin-heavy Waterdeep gamblers. His chiseled features and lantern jaw have aged well and still catch many a feminine eye, and he has perfected the art of closing the deal by flashing just a hint of tusk in a bad-boy smile a vampire might envy - always delivered with a bard's flawless timing. His minor fame makes him a sought-after drinking companion to wealthy young Waterdhavians and something of a hero to the city's orc-blooded sell-swords and ruffians, so he's able to insinuate himself into nearly any bit of ongoing mischief. Vanista Valebright - (NE female gnome Rog4). One so seldom encounters an evil gnome that Vanista would be remarkable for that fact alone, She is known for her performances on complicated and occasionally eccentric musical instruments of gnomish design, and is a virtuoso hurdy-gurdy performer. Her primary claim to fame is the acerbic wit that has made her a popular guest at festhalls and private parties. Engaging her in conversation is like dancing on the edge of a volcano - no one knows when the lava will spew forth or whom it might scald next - but people take great delight in her biting comments. She is adept at gathering information as many Waterdhavians whisper secrets about their rivals in her ear, hoping she'll make bitter use of them, Vanista is so small and slender she is frequently mistaken for a halfling, but woe betides anyone who voices this observation in her hearing. With her fresh-faced beauty, apple cheeks, and glossy, nut-brown hair, Vanistra has the appearance of a miniature milkmaid, Her dainty appearance and amusing conversation are misleading, for her small hands have been bloody more than once. Despite the cruel streak that emerges through her witticisms, only paladins and the very perceptive are likely to perceive her dark nature. Vanista is a passionate advocate for her fellow gnomes, and she supports the Moonstars because she considers them to be far more aware of and responsive to the needs of Small Folk than any other society or government. Her evil nature is a detriment to her becoming a Moonstar, but she could become a valuable contact.Публичное заявление
Methods and Activities
There is very little difference between how Harpers and Moonstars perform their missions, save that there is a variety of skills among the latter group. While members are urged to limit any local lawbreaking, their primary responsibility is not to be caught while performing whatever activity Khel¬ben demands of them. Most people had other positions before they joined the Silverstars, and they retain those and their inherent loyalties. Khelben chose good people in good positions to help the group achieve its goals, and he only demands that members not compromise the Moonstars. More than half of what the Moonstars do is simple reconnaissance of chosen targets, doing so without being noticed (or at least, not noticed as someone keeping a close eye on things). Some agents can and do abduct or slay targeted individuals, though the majority of targets destroyed by the Silverstars are greater dopplegangers or disguised tanar’ri and baatezu hiding out in Faerun. Unfortunately, some of them impersonated powerful political figures, making things difficult for the Tel’Teukiira. Other questionable missions involve stealing (or planting) relics, artifacts, and items to reapportion them to whom Khelben deems appropriate (sometimes the agent herself. Items hunted and recovered (or released) by the Moonstars include two of the Seven Swords of the Shoon, the Tapestry of Saint Alaric, the Grand Staff of Hilather, and the Black Gauntlet of Bane’s Vengeance. The senior and regional agents of the group spend much of their time keeping themselves, Khelben, and the active agents apprised of what’s going on. They are also ultimately responsible for recording much of what goes on among the group’s members and activities, storing them in the library at the Silver Safehold. The Blackstaff's first rule for any Moonstars agent is this: Don't get caught while performing Moonstars-related activities. He cares not how an agent spends her days or nights, just as long as she doesn't compromise the carefully constructed secrecy that remains to this day to be the Moonstars' greatest weapon. All Moonstars agents are prompted to accomplish their missions, but not to risk certain capture. Aborting a mission due to that possibility is never frowned upon. Overt actions that would require such decisions remain relatively rare for the small group at this point, however. The majority of Moonstars "missions" are nothing more than reconnaissance of targets chosen by the Blackstaff or Laeral. Agents surreptitiously observe their targets and report their findings, nothing more. At times, however, action is called for and the Moonstars do not hesitate on such occasions. If the Moonstars discover a doppelganger, fiend, or other creature using magical abilities to infiltrate civilized society, the Moonstars act to kill or drive off the monster. Other Moonstars activities that some might view as questionable include the following:Ресурсы
Portals of the Moonstars
The Mulmaster Portal
The Mulmaster portal exists in a dark corner of the Scarlet Hippogriff Trading Concern's main warehouse, near the road that leads south out of the city into the Vast. A prearranged stack of crates forms an 8-foot-high by 4-foot-wide doorway that frames the portal. Though the stack looks like a pile of loose crates, they have been permanently nailed into this configuration. This portal is part of the circuit that includes all the portals detailed in this series and, likely, several more that are unknown as of this writing. As with all the portals in this circuit (and all Moonstars portals of "standard security," not counting those known only to the Blackstaff, his wife Laeral, and perhaps a few others), the portal is activated with a particular Elven phrase that includes the destination the traveler seeks. The owner of the Scarlet Griffin Trading Concern does not actually belong to the Moonstars, but he is friendly both to the group's founder and its goals. Should the portal or its users ever be discovered, both Temblar's coster and his life would be forfeit.The Ankhapur Portal
One place that has seen Moonstars activity recently is the city of Ankhapur, which is on the northern shore of the Lake of Steam. The Ankhapuran Moonstars portal lies in a disused portion of the city's sewers, not far from the docks. The sewers in this part of the city are home to many creatures, but one pays particular attention to the part of the sewers containing the portal. An unusually large and intelligent grick claims as part of it hunting ground the area of the sewers containing the portal, and it knows that any beings coming from what is otherwise a dead-end portion of the sewer tunnels are not to be attacked; they are "not food." Agents who are to use this portal are warned not to attack the grick, which bears an odd, bright green beak. The grick does not provide any assistance or aid to portal users; it simply allows them passage out (and back into) its territory.The Luskan Portal
The local Moonstars portal is located in an archway between the workroom and the storage room of a wheelwright's shop called Wiley's Wheels. The owner of the shop is a Moonstars agent the Luskan locals know as Maxxil (LG male dwarf Ftr 8). He's a semiretired adventurer who now lives here permanently and uses his business and other contacts to keep apprised of the situations regarding the Brotherhood and its new, fiendish allies. To preserve his nondescript appearance, Maxxil doesn't initiate official Moonstars activity in the city; he observes and reports. If the Blackstaff or Laeral believes a report warrants action, an agent or agents are sent through the portal.The Lightsinger Theater Portal
Those belonging to the Moonstars who need to travel to any of the portals described in the earlier installments in this series are often sent to the Lightsinger Theater, which is a small theater in an older building located just off the Market in Waterdeep. The theater itself is little more than a large room with room enough to seat thirty people, a stage with curtains, an entry foyer, and a backstage area with a couple of rooms. Most of the plays performed here are done either by seven actors, who are all Moonstars, or by itinerant acting troupes. The plays themselves are performed each morning and afternoon, though, for a price, special private performances can be requested for the evening and at other times of the day. Shows aren't limited to plays and can include dancing, puppet shows, musical acts, and more. Admission to the theater is only 1 sp per person. In the prop room, a rack of costumes runs along one wall. Behind the costumes is a bricked-in 8-foot-high by 4-foot-wide doorway. The theory the actors will spout out is that it used to lead to the cellar. In fact, it did, but it now also serves as a portal entry. By pushing in two points on the older brick archway, the newer bricked portion as a whole moves back and to the side. The threshold area thus revealed holds one of the portals available to Moonstars in Waterdeep. As with the others, the portal is activated with a particular Elven phrase that includes the destination the traveler seeks. Since this particular portal is within Waterdeep itself, the Moonstars do a few things to ensure that nobody discovers it. First of all, someone is always on the premises. To the general public the reason for this is to protect the costumes and props used by the actors in their performances. Second, one of the actors, Alendra Tomas (NG female elf Wiz 7) also has some knowledge of wizardry and usually sets her familiar to guard the door. (She put her familiar's sleeping spot in the prop room under the rack of costumes but away from the longer costumes so that fur wouldn't get all over the garb.)Resources
Khelben placed resources in reserve decades, if not centuries, ago. There are quite likely many more resources available through each of the senior members, but these are the most broadly available to all Moonstars (pending approval by Laerel).Magic Items
One of the prime reasons Khelben gathered the greatest conglomeration of magic items across the planes was to arm his Silverstars when the time came to use that firepower. Thus, nearly any magic item within the Player's Handbook or various FR sources could be found in the hands of a Moonstar agent. In fact, items common among the Moonstars that are not widely available to others in the Realms (due to lost knowledge) are gauntlets of weaponry arcane (which add magical +1 bonuses to attack rolls to any weapon in hand).The Teukiir Badge
Like the Harper’s pin, there are equally many mysteries and falsehoods woven about these symbols of Those Who Seek Unity. These marks are found only as the heavy, raw mithral badges described under the Group Mark. However, they seem to be able to be disguised with a touch to an image within the mind of the wearer— the only person who can disguise it thus. In this way, the badges are worn as brooches, cloak clasps, and belt buckles without revealing the group’s existence. They also signal with a minor tremble when another Teukiir badge comes within 100 feet. Finally, the badges act as keys to allow access to the greatest resource of the Moonstars.Gauntlets Of Weaponry Arcane
These long, leather gauntlets extend far up the forearm. Silver stitching covers much of the leather, forming complex arcane runes. OR Heavy leather-and-silver gauntlets that cover the wearer's hands and lower forearms. Ornate silver stitching decorates the leather armguards and fingers, and each link of the silver chainmail that reinforces the palms is etched with intricate runes. You gain bonus +1 to any weapon attacks with weapon you are wielding. Also your attacks are counting as magical for purpose of overcoming of damage resistances. NOTE: These gauntlets were crafted from dragonhide and decorated with runes of silver threadThe Silver Safehold
Little is known about this place other than it does not exist on Faerun, since the Storm Her¬alds and Khelben built it in an extradimensional pocket. Any Moonstar can grip his badge and say a hidden command word to step directly into the Safehold from anywhere on Toril. The Safehold acts as a central meeting hall for all members, a private meeting chamber for the senior agents, a small dormitory for agents hiding out from other forces, and a library for the lore to be collected and shared by the mem¬bers.История
History and Motivations
in the past. Only Khelben, Laeral, Elminster, and apparently Alaundo were privy to this prehistory, but it serves to show that Khelben undertakes nothing easily, lightly, or haphaz¬ardly. Khelben has talked for decades with some close associ¬ates (all of whom now work within this group) about ominous things afoot and what he and others of like mind should do. He made clear that his goals ranged far beyond
While the group only became active in the current Year of the Tankard (1370), the TePTeukiira has its true origins far the scope of Harper activities.
Few realized that he’s been obsessed with some great threats since the Year of the Laughing Swan (816 DR). While under an assumed name and in his seventh year as a cloistered monk at Candlekeep, Khelben discovered some dire threat within Alaundo’s Prophecies and began planning contingencies to thwart it. (Laeral sometimes wonders if he did not have some prophetic flashes himself, for she has read the Prophecies as well, and does not see what Khelben says he saw.) Among the contingencies are his and Elminster's constant shepherding of the Harpers as a group to combat the threat, but over time, this group slipped out of Khelben’s control, and he had yer to build the group he felt he needed.
By the Year of the Spawning (1070 DR), Khelben (again under an assumed name) worked with new allies on another (and fictional though believable) treatise on ancient magic gained some notoriety among sagely and wizardly circles. Khelben discreetly spread rumors about Paalar’s Artbook over the years among curious apprentices and colleagues, hinting that it contained secrets about how the ancient Art could be tapped by wizards and priests alike. Despite no one ever having laid eyes on it, Paalar’s Artbook became a famous and much-sought treasure.
On Midwinter in the Year of the Prince (1357 DR), Khel¬ben removed the Scepter of the Sorcerer Kings from its hidden Harper vault deep beneath the Catacombs of Ordulin. He left behind an illusory duplicate of it to deter pursuit. While leaving Sembia with it, Khelben came under attack by Red Wizard raiders against whom he wielded the Scepter but did not unleash all of its terrible powers. After the skirmish, Khelben hid the Scepter high in the mountains north of Whitehorn. He drew a map showing its location, and hid this within the back cover of Paalar’s Artbook.
Khelben finally saw the need to step up his plans in the Year of the Banner (1368 DR). Disguised as the blind and heavily pox-scarred Aldhan, Khelben traveled to Beregost, where he owned property under that alias. There, on the 14th day of Kythom, he put Paalar’s Artbook into the hands of Ryssik Fharval, a wandering sage with interests in things Semphari. Unknown to some but not Khelben or the Harpers, Ryssik was also a known agent for Fzoul Chembryl. As he traveled across Faerun toward the Moonsea, Ryssik found the map hidden in the book. With hopes of using the item to gain enough power to join the Zhentarim’s Inner Circle, Ryssik and company feverishly sought out the Scepter of the Sorcerer Kings.
The Scepter’s discovery, Khelben’s actions during this time, and the repercussions of those events fill the “Current Clack” chapter, though this too leaves many details on the TePTeukiira vague or unknown. More details on this group may come to light soon, but all that is left to share are names of its members and their connections to Khelben, if not their personal motivations for joining the TePTeukiira.Unlike most if not all the other groups in the Realms, only its own members currently know of this group’s existence and its activities. DMs choosing to use this group within their campaigns can make its existence a mystery for the PCs to solve (as these enigmatic people continue to cross their paths for various reasons).
Alternatively, openings for the PCs exist within the group, though their likelihood of being recruited depends on any previous renown of the PCs and any relations they may have had with Khelben. In any case, DMs (and any players who read this material) should realize that many secrets within this section (and, in a larger sense, this book) should remain secrets to the Realms at large for a number of years. These secrets shall also remain hidden from the renowned information-gathering networks of the Harpers and the Zhentarim, since they have their own problems at the moment.
The TelTeukiira is a group of individuals formed so well in secret by Khelben Amnsun that the whole of the Realms Though hidden, the group’s purpose is true: Bring the humans and the other races, most notably the elves, together to present a unified front against the many dangers lurking in the shadows of Faerun. From a day-to-day aspect, most mem¬bers see little difference from being Harpers or Moonstars, other than the amount of control kept by the Blackstaff over his agents. In truth, Harpers share most of the ideals of the group, but the Moonstars hold to some of the more archaic codes of the Harpers in Twilight. Moonstar members do not work to preserve political nations or bodies, but people and life. They stringently look to the elven model of balancing nature and civilization. They also work to preserve lore and history (and they also study and use it far more than either the Heralds or Harpers). They embrace the tenets of three churches to help them build their moral base, and the gods they chose have been Khelben’s patrons and saviors over the centuries—Mystra, Oghma, and Sehanine Moonbow of the Seldarine. Their major goal, to unite the races of Faerun into a family against which no threat is too great, they approach slowly but surely.
TelTeukiira is an elven word few have yet heard, at least in its newest context. Among those recruited to its cause, the name conjures up numerous images and translations. The name can translate as the Moonstars or the Silverstars. At least one sagely member identified an ancient prophecy in Amagal’s Tome, an ancient elven text of early Cormanthor, as noting that the Tel’Teukiira “will come hidden and in many guises and faces. They dwell in shadow and speak in omens, yet they shall bring about waking dreams and save us from the Three Threats Who Wait in Darkness, the Prefects, and ourselves.” None of the Tel’Teukiira can say what all this means, though many suspect Khelben knows and simply does not say.
Khelben’s Goals: While Khelben, as the group’s founder, holds to all the goals of his new secret society, he does have his own hidden motives. The group’s similarities to the Harpers both help it hide in plain sight and provide good and true day-to-day goals. Khelben still believes that the Harpers’ goals are right and tme. However, he always felt the need for more control over his agents, and he felt personally slighted by the Twilight Trio after all he’d sacrificed for the Harpers. The Blackstaff needs to be certain that every action taken to counter a threat is the right one—in other words, the one he would choose. The only way to achieve that was to build his own trusted cadre of agents willing to work with and for him. Only time will tell if this approach benefits the Realms.
DC 15: Ever since he resigned from the Lords, the Blackstaff has been assembling a private army of meddlers even worse than Those Who Harp.
DC 25: The Tel Teukiira are behind the fall-off in Zhentarim activity in western Faerûn. The Blackstaff and his agents made some deal with the tyrant of the Moonsea to divide control of the Realms.
Characters who learn the name "Tel Teukiira" and succeed on a Knowledge (history) check can learn the following information.
DC 25: Amagal's Tome, an ancient Elven text of early Cormanthor, notes that the Tel Teukiira "will come hidden and in many guises and faces. They dwell in shadow and speak in omens, yet they shall bring about waking dreams and save us from the Three Threats Who Wait in Darkness, the Prefects, and ourselves."
Even members of the Tel Teukiira are uncertain as to what this means, although most suspect that Khelben knows and does not say.
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Основание
1370
Тип
Secret, Military
Другие названия
The Moonstars, the Silverstars, the Twelvestars, “Those Hidden among Omens," “Those Who Seek Unity.”
Уровень подготовки
Elite
Уровень ветеранства
Veteran
Головная организация
Место
Известные участники
Комментарии