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Post by Plotter on Aug 21, 2021 7:17:28 GMT -5
Citizens of Suzail gaze up at darkening skies. Thunder booms in the distance, and already they can see the green lightning flashes to the north. The undead in Eveningstar and Immersea keep reanimating, and there are now rumours of the dead rising in graveyards all across the realm. From Arabel to Skull Crag and Espar. Only distant towns like Greatgaunt, Valkur's Roar, Suzail and Marsember, the Hullack forest, and the eastern reaches beyond Hilp remain untouched by the storm. It is said the War Wizards are considering an alternative 'Plan B', but details are scarce.
Meanwhile in at the Wild Wolf Inn in Skull Crag, Fairlys Fenden, retainer of House Silverthorn, awaits the final volunteers for the march to the Unfortunate Orc...
// There is still time to reach the Unfortunate Orc on your own, but you may alternatively join Fairlys Fenden in Skull Crag to directly jump to the Unfortunate Orc when the event begins at 7 PM London time. The level cap is 30.
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miigwech
Proven Member
Imperfectly perfect.
Posts: 191
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Post by miigwech on Aug 21, 2021 10:17:48 GMT -5
//Runa is in the Unfortunate Orc, fussing over her arrow and herb supply.
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Willow
Proven Member
Posts: 113
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Post by Willow on Aug 21, 2021 20:53:34 GMT -5
*Ru postpones her planned vacation and sets out to scour the banks of the Wyvernwater and its tributaries for any signs of wreckage or bodies*
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Post by ShadowCatJen on Aug 21, 2021 21:35:48 GMT -5
A tired, harried and angered Minister gets to the city of Suzail and makes some demands at the War Wizard's tower. Later, it's heard that she left the tower. She stared blankly at the fountain for some long minutes, then headed off, muttering to herself. "They'll find 'im... they'll find 'im... 'e's too stupid ta die..."
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koffie
Old School
discord: Koffie#0545
Posts: 435
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Post by koffie on Aug 22, 2021 0:27:09 GMT -5
*Ru postpones her planned vacation and sets out to scour the banks of the Wyvernwater and its tributaries for any signs of wreckage or bodies* Siphanien joins Ru a few hours later, rested, setting up her camp near the water and brining food supplies, and medication for those who needs. Her intentions are clear: find any body and identify if possible, but she seems to search for Bella and Alamor with great intent...
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Willow
Proven Member
Posts: 113
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Post by Willow on Aug 22, 2021 0:51:03 GMT -5
*Ru postpones her planned vacation and sets out to scour the banks of the Wyvernwater and its tributaries for any signs of wreckage or bodies* Siphanien joins Ru a few hours later, rested, setting up her camp near the water and brining food supplies, and medication for those who needs *Ru would return to the camp only briefly to bring any injured she to Siph, though she seemed intent on her methodical search of the area, staying gone longer each trip out*
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Post by galind88 on Aug 22, 2021 2:25:28 GMT -5
*Dylan heads to Suzail with the Silverthorn Retainers, Joram, Louis and Hallie to meet with Lord Raymond. Amongst their person is carried the body of Fero*.
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Post by Animayhem on Aug 22, 2021 11:02:38 GMT -5
*Marister and Runa left Marsember and headed to Espar to meet up with Kali and others at the Chauntea shrine. They briefed everyone and waited as the survivors cane through the garden portal*
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miigwech
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Imperfectly perfect.
Posts: 191
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Post by miigwech on Aug 22, 2021 11:43:31 GMT -5
*Runa was later seen in The Regal Griffon, then the Tipsy Imp with Nate and Will. She was drinking heavily, clutching a toy panther and a crumpled piece of parchment.*
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Post by Fiddlesticks on Aug 22, 2021 15:40:41 GMT -5
Following the rescue of civilians and arrival from the dark portal, Henrik is frantically busy with survivors but accompanies the body of Alize Fenden to the Hornbow estate and alongside Hallie, talks with Lord Raymond and young lord Wallace as the woman's shrouded remains go to her lord and family.
With that responsibility fulfilled, Henrik returns to the House of Healing at last to take what rest he can. The news he is told distresses him greatly.
As life becomes more organized, the priest heads off to seek out friends and allies, everywhere he goes he offers quiet comfort despite the grief he feels at seeing so many people he has known and treated, suffering and sad all around him. He does what he can to bring them together and mend them.
He looks towards his brethren too with a supportive gaze and joins the search for the missing.
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Willow
Proven Member
Posts: 113
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Post by Willow on Aug 22, 2021 15:46:35 GMT -5
*The little elf makes her way deeper inland, searching the path of the crashing palace before working her way down a list of sites looking for any trace of Bella and Alamor. After a brief stop in Valkur she heads back out, her tears checked only to be replaced by a cold look of resignation as she continues her search*
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koffie
Old School
discord: Koffie#0545
Posts: 435
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Post by koffie on Aug 23, 2021 2:06:57 GMT -5
*The little elf makes her way deeper inland, searching the path of the crashing palace before working her way down a list of sites looking for any trace of Bella and Alamor. After a brief stop in Valkur she heads back out, her tears checked only to be replaced by a cold look of resignation as she continues her search* Siphanien continues to support Ru, now and then even joining her in the search as time progresses....
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koffie
Old School
discord: Koffie#0545
Posts: 435
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Post by koffie on Aug 23, 2021 2:35:37 GMT -5
If time allows, siph would find her way to Suzail to the Hornbow establishment to tend to wallace, lara and anyone else there, to consult them and to give them any aid required...
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Post by oldfog on Aug 23, 2021 2:37:17 GMT -5
•Hadriane was last seen walking out from Espar dressed in plain robes with a hood. She stopped just outside the town, took a long sigh then walked away*
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Post by mustanggt5000 on Aug 23, 2021 7:57:55 GMT -5
Davina would be with Wallace, keeping a protective eye over him. A plate of cookie's sitting on the table as she told him tales of the Dragon Rider Knights of Calimport. Her smile genuine as she looked over at the young Lord. When he was ready she would start his sword play lesson's. Her young dragon named Rover would be sitting beside him, excited to hear the stories too.
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miigwech
Proven Member
Imperfectly perfect.
Posts: 191
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Post by miigwech on Aug 23, 2021 9:47:42 GMT -5
*The last anyone sees of Runa is when she headed north out of Greatgaunt, disappearing among the trees with her panther walking alongside her. No one would be able to track her movements unless they knew the wilds as she did. A toy panther can be found somewhere in the Bramblewood, ripped apart in what could be described of as a fit of anger or deep pain.*
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Post by Plotter on Aug 23, 2021 15:53:39 GMT -5
It rained in Suzail, it rained in Marsember, and it rained in Thunderstone. The storm surrounding Cloudstone had expanded rapidly since Eveningstar and Immersea were evacuated and overrun by undead, and soon it threatened to swallow all of Cormyr. Wherever the rain fell, the dead reigned. The undead giants that had taken Eveningstar lumbered toward Arabel, and the undead horde at Immersea marched on Suzail. In Suzail the dead rose from graves and old catacombs, and in the sky above, masses of air and lightning elementals, and one gigantic air elemental appeared. This Air Colossus had first been summoned by the Cloudstone Mage Guard to battle the Crown’s forces, but now it was under the command of Uldor Stormcrown. It appeared to have been empowered by the storm, as it crackled with lightning, and shot lightning bolts at the city below. The War Wizards launched a desperate counter attack, sending their hippogriff riders to engage it in combat above Castle Obarskyr. Some say that Caladnei herself fought the elemental in the sky, alongside Lady Tessaril Winter of Eveningstar, and the Steel Regent Alusair Obarskyr herself. Outside Suzail and Arabel, the Purple Dragons and War Wizards fought hopeless battles. Any undead they slew soon rose up again, and any defender who fell risked becoming part of Uldor’s army. As the death toll rose, the War Wizards Plan B was considered, a last resort option, that would put a definitive end to Cloudstone. To stop the storm, the Stormward had to be destroyed by destroying Cloudstone itself. Years ago, when the Mad Liches of Esparin first poured out of Cloudstone, the Skyfire Ritual had been considered if Duncan Hornbow’s forces could not take the palace. Now the situation was far worse. As the battles across Cormyr became more desperate, the War Wizards prepared the Skyfire Ritual. The ritual would open gates to the planes of fire and earth above Cloudstone, to bombard the palace until nothing but rubble and ashes remained. It was a desperate measure, where the lives of those in Cloudstone were weighted against the thousands of lives on the ground. As the elementals and Air Colossus began to pummel Castle Obarskyr, pegasi riders from Highcastle joined the battle, carrying powerful mages from around the kingdom, including War Wizard Ayesha from Waymoot, the sage Mellomir from Arabel, and Delthrin Everet, Vindala Chalanther and Filfaeril Stormbillow from Marsember. There are even rumours of an old wizard with a long white beard joining the fight, who some claim to have been the Old Sage of Shadowdale. The battle in the sky above Suzail turned to the defenders favour, and the Air Colossus retreated higher into the thunder clouds above. High Magician Caladnei then gave the order to hold off on the Skyfire Ritual, to regroup their forces, and consider their options. Despite Caladnei’s order, the Skyfire Ritual was completed. Portals to the fire and earth planes opened in the sky above Cloudstone, and the bombardment began. Meanwhile, the rescue party from the Underdark had entered Cloudstone through the Dark Portal. The portal did not take them into the palace as they had thought, but to the Unicorn’s Door Inn, in the valley outside the palace. It is said they fought many risen dead from the Cloudstone crypts in the valley, and most notably the animated corpse of a red dragon that the Cloudstone retainers had killed in the Stonelands only tendays ago. They managed to get most of the civilians out through the portal before the bombardment began, which destroyed the Unicorn’s Door and the portal to the Underdark. Among the rescued were Wallace Hornbow, Lara Copperhearth, and Celine Silverthorn. With the portal to Cloudstone closed, some of the volunteers were unable to rejoin the fight, and returned to the surface along with the civilians through another portal. They emerged in Marsember, and sought shelter in the Alizarin Academy. The remaining volunteers, and a few civilians who were left behind, then entered the palace to seek out the lich Uldor Stormcrown and the ‘Garden Portal’ which would take them to Espar. Details are scarce of what they encountered inside the palace, but it is known they fought their way through the palace and that the Silver Hunter Fero Fenden gave his life to slay Uldor Stormcrown. With Uldor dead, the palace began to sink in the air. In Arabel, people were shocked to see the palace in the sky above them. It had moved from the Stonelands, and now it threatened to fall down upon the city. If no one claimed the throne, it would surely fall, just as it had sunk into the earth whenever a baron had died. It didn’t take long before a voice was heard in the clouds. “I, Alamor, take tha throne ya bloody sprite... now die n' let 'em live!” For a moment the Cloudstone valley seemed to stabilize in the sky, but the bombardment continued, and Cloudstone continued to descend. The towers in Cloudstone that contained air elementals exploded, and debris rained down in the forests outside Arabel. Cloudstone leaned and slowly spun in the air, descending toward the southeast, out over the Wyvernwater lake, perhaps steered there by Alamor. The valley around the palace shattered from the bombardment, the remains falling over the coast southeast of Arabel, or plummeted into the Wyvernwater. As Cloudstone fell, the storm clouds parted, and for a few brief moment, the sun shone upon the palace of stone and wind. As the palace crashed into the lake, it sent massive waves in all directions. Fishing ships were washed up far inland, or crashed into the walls of Immersea. The sound of the impact was heard as far away as Greatgaunt, as a low rumbling roar, easily mistaken for thunder. Some fishermen who watched the terrifying descent of Cloudstone, say they saw a dragon and a flying carpet appear from the underside of the palace only moments before it crashed into the lake. The dragon and carpet carried what they assumed must have been the last volunteers of the rescue team. In Espar, many volunteers and civilians also came through the portal at Chauntea’s Garden, among them Procks, Arianna and Cullen Swyft. With Cloudstone destroyed, and Uldor dead, the storm was over. The undead stopped re-animating, and the Purple Dragons and War Wizards could take back Eveningstar and Immersea. Hippogriff riders and volunteers now search the shorelines and the Wyvernwaters for survivors. The sacrifices of Fero Fenden and Alamor Aldrain’Vendorin shall not soon be forgotten, and already they are called heroes in taverns across the realm. Although victory was achieved, many were not so happy about the cost. While Fero was a Silver Hunter and one among several brave volunteers, Alamor’s death was more unexpected and shocking, as he was a well known figure in the adventuring community. They shall both be greatly missed.
There is peace in the realm again, yet some wounds have yet to heal, and questions remain unanswered. Shortly after the palace had crashed, high ranking War Wizards were summoned to speak with King Azoun V and the Steel Regent. Why had the Skyfire Ritual been completed, even when the order was given to hold off?
Early this morning, there is a sudden commotion outside the War Wizards’ tower in Suzail. According to shocked bystanders, War Wizard Orina Meadows fell from the top of the tower. She flailed madly and wailed in despair before she smashed into the cobblestones, and “cracked like an egg”. At the top of the tower, citizens could see a lone figure lean over the railing. It soon becomes known that War Wizard Berock Vaskander has been arrested for the murder of Orina Meadows, and is now imprisoned in the War Wizards’ Tower. It is said that among the handful of War Wizards who knew how to perform the Skyfire Ritual and had been tasked to prepare it, Orina Meadows had intentionally ignored Caladnei’s order. According to Orina’s colleagues, she had said “For the good of Cormyr,” before she cast the final spell to complete the ritual. Survivors of Cloudstone now return to Suzail from Espar and Marsember. Adelina and Lara Copperhearth, along with merchant Corinna Ebner, return to the Copperhearth house west of the city core. The Hornbows and Silverthorns, Artair ‘Procks’ Silverthorn, and even Arianna Melmane, gather at the Hornbow manor at the Field Gates. They all have a lot to discuss, and funerals to plan. // There will be one more event to wrap up the Cloudstone story, tentatively this Saturday the 28th at about 8 PM London time.
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Post by davenutninja408 on Aug 23, 2021 17:43:00 GMT -5
It was a long night in the Stormhorns, winterlings and frost pixies chattered in the cold evening breeze. Off the trails on a quiet hillside facing the east a man garbed in green, gold and white sets to work digging into the frozen soil. A quiet tune can be heard by the nearby fey, "Raven hair and emerald eyes, she had to be a Stormcrown, oh yes she had to be a Stormcrown." The frost pixie watches on quietly before whispering to the winterling. "That's our Champion." With a snort the winterling pauses chewing on the frozen seed. "I didn't vote for'im." With a grimace the frost pixie zips off on a hummingbird to get a closer look. The man dug throughout the long evening with a steady pace, his gilded spear working into the soil, nearby a body lay wrapped in a green and gold cloak, the man pauses to consider the body a moment before he continues working at the soil. The moon rises and sets as the man toils through the night, he works tirelessly, driven. Nearby the faint beating of wings can be heard before a curious "Hoo-hoohoo." The man again pauses his work to consider the creature. A great Cormyrian Snow Owl, his gaze lingers a moment a single tear dropping from his cheek and freezing in the night breeze. A polite nod to the owl and he continues his working the soil. Finally satisfied with the depth he gently lays the body down. A small smile at the look of restful peace on her face before he brushes a lock of hair over her ear and climbs out of the hole. “Cathryn Stormcrown, you did everything in your power to protect the barony, and the people of Cloudstone. You were the most noble of all the houses and you made your ancestors proud. I chose to serve you, and I would do it all again if I had to. My snow owl. I will carry your name forward for you, I will be Sylus the 'Snow Owl' Stormcrown. And I will keep the name and memory of your house. I likely could revive you but I would not condemn you to the life you clearly didn't want to return to. You resisted proudly and stood for what you believed in. I will honor that. Rest well my snow owl. I will find you again when it is time.” Sylus fills the grave, and packs it well. It is a fine grave for a Witch of the Storm Horns. After he is satisfied with the grave he sits and begins packing snow to form a sculpture, slowly the base forms and as the horizon begins to glow the shape of a pure white owl carved from packed snow now sits over the grave. He sits to watch the sunrise with the scuplture adjusting his Stormcrown signet ring, a beautiful sunrise. "An don't worry about folks getting lost in the mountains and stuff I'll take care of that for ya." Sylus Kelton was dead, his story book closed and a tale begins a new. He marched into the mountains with a purpose, reborn. The Stormcrowns would not be forgotten he'd see to it himself. Sylus 'the Snow Owl' Stormcrown was born from the ashes of a betrayed and destroyed Barony.
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Post by bellamercy on Aug 24, 2021 5:04:43 GMT -5
*Belladonna Mercier has been missing for a few days, she was last seen inside the Cloudstone caste trying a ritual to keep the city at float as the recue team headed for the portal to Espar.
In the days to follow there has been no signs of her, people trying to search or scry would have no luck in tracking her down. *
“as Bella laid her hands on the Nexus crystal in the portal room she felt the connection to the elementals around Cloudstone, they were being torn apart from the crystals they were bound to when heavy rocks fell from the sky and smashed in to them.
She looked around the crystal seeing Sylus to her right with his hand on the Crystal as well and the body of Lady Stormcrown over his shoulder.
As people were leaving for the Espar portal Bella called out for Cooper to come and help, and as he places his hands on the crystal as well Bella in a desperate attempt she tries to perform the song of wind and earth that she knows being part of the ritual to keep the city afloat, but to no help, the elementals was no longer bound to the crystals.
Looking over to the portal Bella watch as a large piece of the roof cave in and destroys the portal leaving them stuck inside the crumpling castle.
Sylus holding Cathryn’s body, Joram holding Fero´s body, Sarina holding Ru´s body followed by Lara, Valkan, Siphanien, Cooper and Bella (please forgive me if I missed someone ) ran back to the treasury and onwards to the bride of death.
Joram looking over the chasm pulls out a magic carpet place himself and Fero on it. Bella takes her place next to him as Sylus and the body of Cathryn takes their place. Joram informs that it can only carry four people.
Bella steps off and looks to Cooper that has transformed himself in to a dragon, he is already struggling hard to hold the rest of the people on his back.
Someone must be left behind; the words echo I her mind! I am not ready to die... I am not ready to die... Bella looks around in panic as she sends a prayer to her deity for any help to let her get out of this alive.
*For a moment time slows around her as she hears the voice of Eni her guardian angel: the lady has already given you a way out if you are truly not ready to part with this life yet*
And as lightning from a clear sky Bella knows what must be done, she yells for Cooper and Joram to take off, and that she will be fine, she turns jump back in to the portal to the treasure room right as a massive piece of the roof collapse behind her cutting her of from the rest.
Standing alone in the dark and dust Bella calms her breath in that moment, she draws wards in the dust on the wall in front of her, and over and over she mutters the words for her ritual, making the last ward the runes glow a burning white hot and slowly but surely a rift forms in the wall to a place not on this plane, as soon at the rift is large enough Bella takes one last look around and then calmly walks through the Gate and vanishes!”
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Post by malclave on Aug 24, 2021 15:51:30 GMT -5
After being rescued from Cloudstone and taken to Marsember, Kimbera goes on a brief retreat to Morningmist Hall. In the days of contemplating the horrors of recent events and her ineptness at standing against them, her thoughts turn to the dreaded "if onlys". If only she had been able to earn the trust of the people around her, she might not have been so ignorant of what was going on around her... If only she hadn't been such a failure as an adventurer, she might have been able to protect the people of Cloudstone, or at least get them to safety... If only, upon finding herself in Cormyr several years ago, she had returned to Ravens Bluff...
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Post by ShadowCatJen on Aug 24, 2021 19:51:30 GMT -5
As the days roll on, slowly but surely, letters begin to fly out more frequently from the Great Hall in Valkur's Roar.
Mynian is seen in Great Gaunt one day, Skull Crag the next, then Shallybrook and Suzail. Visiting here and there.
She looks exhausted, but something keeps her going. Something keeps her driven.
... and she still wears the black.
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Post by Plotter on Aug 25, 2021 9:06:14 GMT -5
*Ru postpones her planned vacation and sets out to scour the banks of the Wyvernwater and its tributaries for any signs of wreckage or bodies* Siphanien joins Ru a few hours later, rested, setting up her camp near the water and brining food supplies, and medication for those who needs. Her intentions are clear: find any body and identify if possible, but she seems to search for Bella and Alamor with great intent... Searching the shores of the Wyvernwater, Ru and Siphanien eventually find a few bodies of Cloudstone and Hornbow guardsmen. Among them are Kassdan Morthir and Fredrick Archibald. Fredrick is unconscious but seems mostly unharmed, and wears the helmet of Alistair Bresk. Kassdan has many broken bones and does not have a pulse.
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koffie
Old School
discord: Koffie#0545
Posts: 435
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Post by koffie on Aug 26, 2021 2:30:54 GMT -5
Siphanien joins Ru a few hours later, rested, setting up her camp near the water and brining food supplies, and medication for those who needs. Her intentions are clear: find any body and identify if possible, but she seems to search for Bella and Alamor with great intent... Searching the shores of the Wyvernwater, Ru and Siphanien eventually find a few bodies of Cloudstone and Hornbow guardsmen. Among them are Kassdan Morthir and Fredrick Archibald. Fredrick is unconscious but seems mostly unharmed, and wears the helmet of Alistair Bresk. Kassdan has many broken bones and does not have a pulse.
Tending to the living first before the dead, siphanien works with Ru to heal and help Fred first. After that, she goes and tends to the dead, attempting to bring them back should their sould be willing. if injured, she would prepare any supplies and diving magicto help them heal after coming back. // Plotter// Feel free to give responses in a PM, here, or tonight / tomorrow if i hap[pen to be ingame.
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Post by Plotter on Aug 26, 2021 8:45:21 GMT -5
Tending to the living first before the dead, siphanien works with Ru to heal and help Fred first. After that, she goes and tends to the dead, attempting to bring them back should their sould be willing. if injured, she would prepare any supplies and diving magicto help them heal after coming back. // Plotter // Feel free to give responses in a PM, here, or tonight / tomorrow if i hap[pen to be ingame. Fredrick splutters out water and takes a few deep breaths. He is grateful, yet exhausted. There are several Hornbow guards among the dead, but they cannot be raised. Only Kassdan Morthir is able to be resurrected. He sits up, grimacing in pain. "I died?" he says, "I died in Cloudstone..."
Sometime later, Fredrick explains that they got trapped in the Hornbow manor by the Skyfire bombardment, and that Alistair saved them from the animated dragon corpse. "Last thing I remember was Alistair putting his helmet on me, and rushing at the dragon", says Fredrick.
Their wounds will need time to heal, and for now they both remain resting at the House of Healing.
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Post by Plotter on Aug 27, 2021 14:46:23 GMT -5
News spread around the realm that Lord Raymond Silverthorn and Lord Wallace Hornbow shall host a funeral and memorial ceremony outside of Suzail, on the northern plains near the Azoun memorial. It was here the Esparin noble families first met to discuss the Mad Liches of Esparin and the Cloudstone Palace, and where the Field Duel to decide which family would lead the assault took place a few years ago. It is said it shall be a Silverthorn funeral, where the bodies of Lord Edmond Silverthorn, his sister Lady Thérèse Silverthorn, their cook Alize Fenden, and the Silverthorn Retainer and Silver Hunter Fero Fenden, shall be cremated on a pyre as was customary among their ancestors of old Esparin. It shall also be a memorial ceremony for the many who fell in Dead Man's Pass when the Stormward was activated, or during the recent assault on Cloudstone, where the famous adventurer Alamor Aldrain'Vendorin sacrificed his life. It is also rumoured that Lord Silverthorn and Lord Hornbow have some announcements to make.
// Tomorrow, Saturday the 28th of August, at 8 PM London time. The event takes place north of Suzail, near the Azoun IV memorial. This will be the final event to wrap up the Cloudstone Saga.
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Post by Warlord on Aug 28, 2021 13:07:41 GMT -5
Arriving early, Helga pays her respect to the dignitaries and the fallen. Taking a private moment to offer a "Thank ju" to Alamor, she has gleaming blue sapphire eyes with a glint of tears among the priestess' great charismatic presence.
"Ah, ower Man-at-Arms ov the clankin, ju alvays chatted vith us and got ower names so ower tavern talks tolt. I vill miss mein accent-buddy..there are so vew ov us around. Alvays day-dreamed having jorself, meinself, and Mynian valking intew a bar..That guy named Joe, tew."
"Maybe someday ve chillaxe and share drinks in Arvandor..Vor now...Resst.."
Helga nods to any others in passing with a proudful grin.
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Post by Kat on Aug 28, 2021 23:30:02 GMT -5
Hallie drops by the Horbow's Suzail residence after the funeral and chats to the guards for a while, listening to their words, sympathising and finally saying her goodbyes. She scoops up Honeyrose and cuddles her in her arms, burying her face in her fur as she walks away. Well this was the hardest day in a long while gorgeous girl. Time for a new adventure!
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Post by Plotter on Aug 30, 2021 11:24:13 GMT -5
Many adventurers, retainers, nobles, and friends, gathered on the plains north of Suzail. A pyre had been built for Lord Edmond, Lady Thérèse, Alize Fenden, and Fero Fenden. After a few words by Lord Raymond, Lady Lord Myrmeen Lhal stepped forward with a torch. She lit the torches of Raymond, Wallace and Fairlys Fenden, the older sister of Fero. Saying their farewells to the dead and thanks to the heroes who had sacrificed themselves, they lit the pyre. They then read the names of those who had fallen in Dead Man’s Pass and the battles since, and for each name, more tears were shed. Many of those gathered then stepped forward to speak. They spoke of Fero, of Alamor, and Alistair. Belladonna sang the Song of Stone and Wind that been found in Cloudstone, and Mynian read the last words of Alamor. Some attendants were given items of the deceased, something to help them remember the dead, and the deeds they had done. Once everyone who wanted to speak had spoken, Lord Raymond and Lord Wallace Hornbow stepped forward again. They had some announcements to make. First, Lord Raymond announced that he and Isolda would travel to Amn, where they would settle down and rebuild Frosino Medini’s vineyard. They would take with them most of the Silverthorn guardsmen, and Joram Brightsby also decided to come with them. Celine Silverthorn however, would travel east in search of adventures of her own. Her retainer Louis-Henri de Loméni would accompany her. Lord Raymond thanked his retainers, and Hallie, Tundor and Cooper were released from their service. Lord Wallace announced that he had spoken with King Azoun, and he had been offered the old keep near Monksblade again. Wallace had accepted, and will soon move there to restore the keep, and watch over the trade route to Sembia. Many were also happy to hear that he was now betrothed to Lara Copperhearth. His retainers seems to have split up, at least for the moment. Custodio was seen travelling toward Espar, and Hadriane is rumoured to have left Cormyr to visit her homeland. While Lord Wallace’s attention will now be on eastern Cormyr, Siphanien and Davina still remain to represent the House in the west for as long as they wish to serve. The stuttering hunchback, Artair ‘Procks’ Silverthorn, also had a few words to say. Since he had been revealed to be a Silverthorn, he too had spoken with the King and Steel Regent. He did not want Battlegate Castle, but he had asked for a small plot of land near the border to Sembia. His wish had been granted, and he will now open a new inn. He did not have a name for this inn, so he asked those gathered for suggestions. Henrik suggested the name Unicorn’s Rest, and Procks seemed to like that name. Arianna, who has now taken her old family name of Melmane, will accompany Procks and help him run the Unicorn’s Rest. She said she was done with her ‘dancing work’, and would settle down to raise her son Matthias. Finally, Lord Raymond turned more serious again as he prepared himself for one last confession. He said that an old journal had been discovered in the mine, which belonged to Artair Hornbow. This journal proved that the mine had not been found by the Silverthorns founder Ethain Thorn, but by Artair Hornbow. The silver mine, which gave the Silverthorns their name and been the source of so much conflict between the families, was supposed to belong to the Hornbows. Raymond said that his father had not wanted to reveal this, since the relation between the families had been poor, and being almost broke they needed the mine more than the wealthy Hornbows. They also needed the mine for the Silver Hunters, though some speculate that Lord Edmond’s reasoning for keeping the secret also had to do with prestige and name of the family. Regardless of the reason, Lord Wallace then announced that henceforth the mine would belong to both families. The two families would now cooperate in the newly founded Silver-Horn Mining Company. Lord Wallace Hornbow and Lord Artair ‘Procks’ Silverthorn will run the company together. Later in the afternoon, Celine and Louis said their farewells on a pier in the Suzail docks. They were to board the Copperhearth merchant ship the Copper Swan, and sail east to Pallagar, and Starmantle, and from there they would see where the road takes them. Two more passengers joined them. First the former Hornbow and Cloudstone guardsman Kassdan Morthir, seeking to start a new life in the east. The second passenger, escorted by purple dragons and Lionar Markus Reinhard, was the former War Wizard Berock Vaskander. As Berock’s hands were unchained, he explained that he had been exiled. Murder was murder, and the law was the law after all. He was travelling east, hoping to find Jorunhast, the former High Wizard of Cormyr who had also been exiled. Berock said that his son Alvin would live with the Hornbows now, and would study at the Alizarin Academy. Once the ship was out at sea, Mynian, Joram, and Lionar Reinhard walked back into the city. It was time for Mynian’s trial regarding the torture accusations of the Medini guardsman Talbot Smithe. When they came to the court house, they were met by two distressed Purple Dragons. Rumours spread of a violent disturbance in the Suzail court house. Talbot’s wife, Sara Smithe, had been revealed as a doppelganger. It is said this doppelganger, who went by many names, such as Loris Jorino and Rislo Rinojo, had been involved in the poison plot at Cloudstone. While the doppelganger had been restrained, the questioning of him was cut short by Talbot Smithe. He had grabbed Loris’ head, and despite the attempts of guards and adventurers to stop him, had pressed his thumbs into the doppelganger’s eyes until it died. The following trial was short. Mynian was found guilty, and sentenced to pay a hefty fine. Some might say that she got away with a “slap on the wrist”. If she had not been a Minister of Valkur’s Roar and had friends in high places, then surely, the punishment would have been more severe. A few days later, the former Cloudstone Mage Guard Mauris Barrowfog was seen travelling west toward the Tunlands. It is said he was going to search for the marsh drovers, and any remains of his ancestors who were exiled there from Esparin. In Greatgaunt, the Helmite Cullen Swyft who guarded Cloudstone’s House of Healing is briefly seen saying farewell to Siphanien and Tess Marbury, before he resumed his journey home to the Sword Coast. Meanwhile at the Alizarin Academy, Laura Goodmane welcomes the new student Alvin Vaskander. Alvin intends to study the dark arts, and aspires to become a War Wizard like his father. “Someone has to know these dark arts” he says, for sooner or later, dark magic will plague Cormyr again. Royal Magician Caladeni has made a public statement, clarifying that the War Wizards are here to protect the realm, but they will not stand idly by when the realm is threatened. Sometimes difficult choices and sacrifices has to be made, for the good of the realm. However, she reaffirms that she ordered the Skyfire ritual to be put on hold, and other War Wizards confirm that the ritual was completed alone by Orina Meadows. There will be a thorough internal investigation, to root out any further unstable wizards. This announcement was met with mixed reactions, and many rolled their eyes and muttered that this is what was said after War Wizard Sheona Hornbows treachery as well. Some are quick to point out the efforts of the War Wizards in Espar where they held the storm at bay. “In Espar, yes…” mutters an old man on the street of Suzail. High in the Storm Horns, a lone man in a green cloak stands upon a cliff. It is rumoured that a Stormcrown retainer buried the remains of Cathryn Stormcrown in a secret location, and just like the Witch of the Storm Horns used to do, now wanders the mountains to keep the paths safe for travellers. Throughout Cormyr, people now speak of the recent battles, of how Cloudstone rose and fell, and the heroes who sacrificed themselves for the realm. The Silver Hunters, Karsk the Slayer of Many, Kassdan Morthir, Markus Reinhard, Aleena El Halid, Hadriane Foya, Custodio, Tundor Grinsmall, and Fero Fenden, along with the Last King of Cloudstone, Alamor Aldrain’Vendorin, shall not soon be forgotten. The Cloudstone Palace may have been consumed by the elements, and once again become the Lost Palace of Esparin, but the stories and memories it left behind will endure for a long time to come. THE END // This concludes Noble Endeavours, a.k.a. the Cloudstone Saga. Some mysteries still remain, and will not be posted on the forums. Much can be learned in-game, but not any one PC holds all the answers.
Thanks to everyone who has participated over the years. Special thanks to the retainers, to those of you who have pushed the plot in unexpected directions, or who pondered puzzles and mysteries, collected books, organized events, pushed NPCs in various directions, joined the council, antagonized, power grabbed, took the initiative, intrigued, schemed, and plotted, or randomly showed up for epic moments. It has been a blast.
- Plotter
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Post by DM Sauron on Sept 21, 2021 14:05:11 GMT -5
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