The Wizard

[elraith]

leaving the Shepherd's Inn, Elraith once again finds himself looking up, wondering what will come to pass. trying with all his might to do what he knows he must do, all the while fighting the urge to break down and cry over everything that has happened since he returned from school.

On arrival at the Hanging Goblin, Elraith clears his throat and pulls his hood up, letting it hang low so he can just barely see below the rim.

Finding a seat across from Tarax, Elraith sips his wine and looks around. New sights and smells and sounds excite his senses but his features remain cold and calm..

Looking around, he notices Tarax look at him and look away, and says "Does something trouble you, Tarax? If so, please, feel free to speak your mind. I consider everyone i call 'freind' an equal, and i do call you freind." Smiling underneath his hood, he holds up his wine glass to Tarax, and says "To all of us, and our journey.. May it bring us wisdom, knowledge, and freindship, to guide us in forging the path to the future."

[Dungeon Master]

Tarax Stonebreaker
By the DM

Tarax smiles and takes a drink of ale. He looks as if he is contemplating the tankard for moments after he takes his drink then he sits it down.

“I am sorry young Magius of my quiet nature of late. I am not normally like this, though Staunch talks enough for the both of us. It is Young Mage that I am not entirely comfortable with this whole affair. I keep asking, no offense meant, but, I ask, why me Forger? I don’t see what part I am to play in all of this except protect you. I do not understand your significance to my God, again, no disrespect meant; just we dwarves don’t like magic. I don’t see what is going to happen to you and me that we should be paired together.”

Tarax takes another drink from his Tankard. What may be the 15th drink you have seen him take from this afternoon to now, even though you were in your room for several hours so you don’t know where he is at now. You are not sure what the capacity a dwarf could take as they are shorter then humans obviously, but you have seen Palaines put them down before.


Staunch starts to walk to the Table again.

[elraith]

Elraith looks at Tarax, a knowing smile creeps across his face and just as slowly dissapears as he says, "No offense taken, by any means.. But perhaps i can offer a different view on this situation, a view that i have begun to see things from... I try not to wonder why things happen unless the answer will move me forward in some way. So instead of focusing on why we are brought together, just simply know that our paths have crossed because our gods have crossed them. That is enough for me, until the situation requires me to know more... We must keep our minds firmly on the present task, and as much of the future that we can accurately predict, and that is all we can do. The gods hold the rest in their hands. "

[Dungeon Master]

Tarn Bellowgranite
By the DM


“Well then my friend, you have more faith then I do.” Tarax then tips his mug and drains the remains of his drink.


Staunch arrives “Tarn will see you for a few minutes Master Mage, He has to get home to his family soon.”

The three of you go over to Tarn’s table where he is joined by General Otaxx Shortbeard, the Military Commander of Pax Tharkus and Major Mason Axeblade.

“Greetings Red Mage, I have been told that my best Cleric of Reorx is going with you, ain’t that just a bitch?

He smiles. The former king has aged, but this smile is welcoming if not disquieting.

“See that you bring him back in one piece. Don’t give me another reason to dislike magic-users.” He winks to you, then starts to get up.

[elraith]

Elraith smiles and kneels before tarn, respectfully Bowing his head. "I would not dream of Displeasing the true king of thorbardin, majesty. I offer you my thanks for your assistance, as well as Staunch and Tarax.. I wish only happiness to you and to your people, and i pray that Lunitari lights your path as she does mine."

[Dungeon Master]

Suddenly
By the DM

Tarn Bellowgranite finishes off his drink and heads out the door with his Neidar protective detail.

Staunch has to go take a piss, at least which is what he decided to share with you.

Eight minutes later, Staunch comes out of the John and the three of you walk to the door when a dwarf with red hair and beard runs in, running into Tarax. He says the King has been shot, they tried killing Bellowgranite.

[elraith]

Elraith stands and rushes out to the fray.. confusion streaked across his face...

[Dungeon Master]

The Journey nears its End
By the DM

You have left Pax Tharkus behind and all the happenings there. The Plight of Nailo, Malice and Vic, well, that is a tale for another time. But they and you have separated, but you are not alone. The Cleric of Reorx Tarax Stonebreaker and the Warrior Staunch Hammerfell have joined you on your journey south to Wayreth. Your horse Onyx is in good spirits to match your own. The journey is better then the last several months of your life. Though you and the dwarves talk, you are also left alone to study amd mentally prepare yourself for the trials ahead.

Three days later, there has been nothing amiss, your travels safe, and the conversation stimulating. You never knew that the Dwarven Nation had fallen so low. Fire Dragons sundered the mountain Kingdom during the Summer of Chaos, years before you even born, The Dwarves had to leave the Mountain that had shielded them since 2150-2000 PC, during the Time of Light. They returned in the Age of Mortals and reclaimed their mountain home, but within 40 years, a coup led by a devious and power mad Hylar Thane named Jungor Slingstone. Tarn Bellowgranite, The Rightful King ousted, and living in Pax Tharkus with his followers was saved from a near assassination and is on the mend.



You, Tarn and Staunch have camped out the last 3 nights bit here you have come to the Village called the Eye of Elar, the last stop for the Dwarves, before you travel on alone. You have all agreed to meet them back here within a fortnight or they will move on to whatever plans Tarax’s God has for them.

Staunch tells you the Eye of Elar is a secret Legion of Steel outpost, and that they will be welcome. The Wayfarers Inn is a welcoming sight. It is clean, the volume is at a level you can handle, and there look of the folk is not roguish in any sense of the word. You are brought your drinks, and in the case of the dwarves, a Pitcher of Ale and glasses. Though your conversation with the dwarves is good, you find you kind of miss your recent traveling companions, Nailo and Malice, and you wish them well. There was some kind of kinship building, but then, that may be just what the road does to you. Maybe they don’t really think of you, so . . . maybe it was nothing, who knows?

Your food arrives in the form of bowls of stew with hard bread.

[elraith]

Shaking his head slightly to clear out all the thoughts that will distract him, Elraith grabs a chunk of bread and dips it into his stew. He eats in silence, contemplating the trials ahead.

[Dungeon Master]

The Next Chapter
By the DM

You get a full nights rest and meet your companions for breakfast in the form of grits and fruit and hot tea. The dwarves tell you that they will check back at this inn in a fortnight to see if there is word on you. They will check again in two months time. After that, they will have no choice but to continue on their mission.

You say your goodbyes and then you mount Onyx and are off, south thru the Hills of Blood, toward the Plains of Dergoth on the path called the Way of the Warrior.

After the second day of travel thru the hills, you reach the “Plains” which is named wrong, or maybe that’s what they called a thousand years ago, but now the “plains” is a bog, and a great one at that. It stretches on to the horizon.

There is at least a steady path that Onyx can follow. Giant dragonflies fly over your head, large black flies nip at any exposed part of your body, to say nothing of the mosquitoes that constantly buzz you, looking for fresh blood.

You find a decent place to set up camp as night approaches and for the first time notice something on the horizon besides the eternal bog. You can’t decide whether it is a structure or a small mountain, but indeed, it is there, maybe a half a day’s travel, but you won’t chance it tonight, not when Onyx could step astray, and land in quicksand or worse.

After setting afire some dry wood that you find and seeing to taking care of your steed, you roll out your bedroll on a dry patch of soil, under a weeping willow. A gentle breeze blows thru the lumbering limbs of the tree, creating a creaking sound that you actually find soothing. You observe a small bog turtle crawling along nearby and you try to ignore the smell of your surroundings.

You burn some wet grass to create smoke to keep the bugs at bay, but it only kind of works. You rest your eyes, your thought drifting on.

[Dungeon Master]

Sentinels of Wayreth Forest
By the DM

You awake from a restful sleep, and get up to head to the nearest tree to relieve yourself when you stop dead in your tracks. Trees, mostly dead, stand side by side, lined up evenly, row after row.

This wasn’t here last night; no, this was a bog . . . not a tree for miles. Onyx is gone and then you know for sure, you are where you are supposed to be.

[elraith]

Destiney
By Mabius Majere

Elraith notices the trees that weren’t there last night, and tries to peer deep into the forest. Unable to see much he shrugs to himself and does his business. Afterward, he pulls his robes closer around him and silently praying to Lunitari asking for guidance and strength along the way. Feeling he is indeed ready for the test and satisfied with his prayer, he gives a bow and walks right up to the wall of trees.

[Dungeon Master]

By the DM

The trees break ranks, and part and you enter the wood.

Here and there, deeper into the forest, a living tree might be seen, watching over the silent ranks of his troops. No sun shines in this forest. A thick, noxious mist flows out of the trees, obscuring the light. The tree themselves are hideous to look upon, twisted and deformed, their limbs like great claws dragging the ground. Their branches do not move, no wind stirs their dead leaves. But most horrible things within the Forest moves. Shadows flit among the trunks, skulking among the thorny underbrush.

You travel on foot for what seems to be hours, but you have no bearing without the sun to guide you, and then you arrive.



Most Visitors are surprised that the Tower of Wayreth is not a single tower at all, but a complex of seven spires, surrounded by a protective wall.

The three outer towers at the points of the complex’s triangular surrounding wall are mostly stone.

A gate in the center of the east wall provides the only ground-level entrance into the complex. The gate itself is made of silver and gold, and is as thin as spider webbing.

The Master of the Tower expects visitors to enter his domain through the four-story Foretower, just beyond the main gate. The equally tall rear tower contains a back door leads into the Tower’s small grove, and herb garden. Upper floors contain the Tower’s Kitchen facilities and Scriptorium. Resident Sorcerers keep these two towers spotless.

[elraith]

Elraith approaches the gate marvelling at the sight of the monolithic towers, slightly smiling to himself at the culmination of his journey. All the troubles he's gone through just to get here, and the anxiety boiling within him. Taking a deep breath he pushes the gate open and heads for the looming tower in front of him, heart pounding, mind racing.

[Dungeon Master]

The Foretower
By the DM

The plain wooden door leading into the Tower’s front entry opens by itself when someone approaches. Inside the foretower, a visitor finds a windowless room with a door leading out to each of great Towers. Smokeless torches provide flickering light enough to reveal a row of a row of hard, straight-backed chairs standing opposite the entry. A look around reveals only a fifteen-foot ceiling, and a wooden stand bearing a well-thumbed book.
The torches look like fresh pine branches in bronze holders set into the wall. In reality, the torches and holders are one-piece bronze castings; the torches have been enameled to look like pine. They burn with a flame that gives off no smoke and never goes out As the Torches are apart of the Tower, visitors cannot remove or destroy them. The heatless flame cannot harm, or set fire to anything.

At least one Tower resident remains on duty here at all hours.
At the Moment it is a Red Robe, with Hood pulled up.


The Guest Book

The Book mentioned above is a magical device that the wizards that built the tower created to facilitate communications inside. This guest book magically records the full name of anyone entering the Tower, showing the day and time of arrival.

[Dungeon Master]

Entry is granted
By the DM

You are allowed to pass into the South Tower.

Walking thru the doors, you enter a narrow, slanted hallway leading into a waiting room.

The room can hold perhaps thirty people, though you are the only one in the room.

Perception inside the Tower of Wayreth

The Tower’s ability top distort special perceptions can produce some strange results for guests. Walking down a straight hallway within the tower does not necessarily take visitors in a straight line. Walking up a north staircase does not necessarily take them up, or even north. It does not make sense, but that‘s just the nature of the Tower’s reality.

Despite this unique reality imposed by the Transdimensional field, the tower maintains its proper orientation. The Tower cannot change its floor plans or physically shift the location of any rooms within it. All it can do is confuse people by altering their perceptions. Visitors may lose track of direction, but north is always north-no matter how things may seem to have moved!


South Tower

Visitors find the Hall of Mages, on the South Tower’s Ground floor, absolutely awe-inspiring.


It is further noted according to rumor, the south Tower houses an extensive, five-level library is the envy of Sorcerers throughout the land.

[Dungeon Master]

The Test
Part 1
By the DM


You are led into the Hall of Mages, With a diameter of forty-five feet and a domed ceiling even higher, the Hall of Mages is the largest chamber of the central Towers.

Mistress Jenna of the Red Robe is the Head Mage of the Conclave. She is the daughter of Jutarius, also a Head Mage and Red Robe Master.

“Initiate Elraith Uth Nosten, you have arrived at High Sanction at the appointed time on the designated day to take the Test of High Sorcery and then to declare what robe you will take in honor of your chosen god.”

“You have probably already learned this in Schooling, but I will repeat it now so that you can never say you never learned it.”

“The Laws of Magic

1.All wizards are brothers in their Order and all Orders are brothers in power.

2.The Towers of High Sorcery are held in common amongst the orders and no sorcery shall be used there in anger against other wizards.

3.The world may bring brother against brother and Order against Order, but such is the way of the universe.

“Now, by study and will, mortals could learn to access the very fabric of creation through the gods of magic, who made their homes upon Krynn's three moons. In honor of the moons that were their benefactors' homes, the mortal magic-users took on robes of three colors. Those sworn to Good wore the White Robes of Solinari, those pledged to Neutrality wore the Red Robes of Lunitari, and those drawn to Evil wore the Black Robes of Nuitari. To distinguish their wizardry from the primal magic known by dragons and other creatures, they named their art High Sorcery, the essence of will and thought as power. The followers were returned to Krynn where they founded the Orders of High Sorcery.

And so the Wizards of High Sorcery were born.

The Evolution of the Order

The organizational aspects of the modern order were not present in the beginning. The Wizards of High Sorcery were originally loose cabals of practitioners who exchanged ideas and aided each other when necessary. They had only three rules, given them by their three gods but honored equally by all Wizards of High Sorcery:

Solinari's Law: All wizards are brothers in their order. All orders are brothers in the power.

Lunitari's Law: The places of High Wizardry are held in common among all the orders and no sorcery is to be used there in anger against fellow wizards.

Nuitari's Law: The world beyond the walls of the towers may bring brother against brother and order against order, but such is the way of the universe.”


“And now good luck and we hope to talk to you after the Test.”


You enter the Red Door at the far end of the room.


Back in Palanthus, you find yourself outside, at night, with a robe on, and slippers.

You are the port, and find as you go around a corner, there is man, sneaking toward the docks.

You recognize him immediately as your father.

You don’t remember this experience at all from your youth.

You witness your father meeting a Grey Robed Man, surrounded by Dark Knights with Swords at their sides. You hear him extort your father, and demand more ships to carry out loot from Palanthus before they depart fully from the Crown Jewel of Solamnia.

Your father has been robed of half of what should be the inheritance that you will gain when he leaves this plane.

You are seen by a patrol of Knights and brought forward. Your father protects you with his life, begging for your life. You had to been what, 8?

They wiped your mind and beat up your father for good measure.


You find yourself standing behind the Warehouse, shaking with rage, You see you have Red Robe sleeves, and you look down and see you are wearing a robe. You have moved forward in time to this spot. You see the face of your enemy, that one, the murderer that he is.

The man is average looking wearing masterwork leather armor, and wears a black cloak. He has Black Hair that is slicked back and charming enough to make you sick.

He is on the docks. It is night and the area is abandoned.

[elraith]

calming his rage as best he can, Elraith walks over to the man and presents himself. "I believe you know who I am,
dark one.. What brings you out to the docks this night?"

[Dungeon Master]

The Dark Knight
By the DM

“Well, you of course, the last of the Uth Nosten line from this city. I wonder, how is it that the Dark Knights let your family prosper in a time when so many other old money families had to live in the New City, because they lost their House in the Old City, why is it that you never lost your home?”

What is that? Have you become aware enough to see the answers that were before your eyes all along, that you father furthered our wealth and his own at the same time. Ask yourself, why are you here? Tonight, you might very well have made your last fatal mistake . . . ever.”

[elraith]

Elraith stands a bit distressed, coming to a realization that his father may not be the victim here after all. confusion, and the new realization cause Elraith to speak.."Well to be honest, if my father worked to aid the dark knights, then why shouldnt I? And why should i not work to repay what harm he has caused the knights? true he is dead, but as i understand from the facts presented to me, He had done the knights wrong, and recieved his just rewards for betrayal. As you may or may not know, i was not very close to either of my parents, so their deaths may have hurt me, but no more so than seeing a dying critter along a wooded trail. So in all honesty, i come to you bearing no ill will, and i offer to make a life under the loyal service of your ranks, to make up for what my father did."

[Dungeon Master]

Dark Heart
By the DM

“Is that what the Red Robes stand for these days? Flowing Family Blood, so easily discarded and after they gave you so much? An ungrateful cur stands before me, is that what I am to understand of you?

Am I to believe that your robes will turn black all-their-own or must you go to the Mage Shop, and buy a new set of Black Robes to go with your black heart?

I remember you now, it was Vaughn that went after your family, then missed you, and you actually offered to turn over the Nostern deeds to him, he was going to let you live, but you got away anyway and now you are a Red Robe Wizard, my time has flown hasn’t it? So you want to join with us, you would hand over the fleet of ships to us, you would spit on the grave of your mother and father for us? Is this right?”

[elraith]

Elraith, looking thoughtful for a moment, speaks "Dont get me wrong, I am not ungrateful for what they have given me, but most of what they ever gave me was material things, which as a mage i know have little value in the grand scheme of things. Besides, my father, regardless of my love for him, was cheating the knights he had made a deal with, so no i dont see this as spitting on their grave, but honoring the debts he incurred, and doing him justice by repaying what he cost the knights.. Dont forget the red robes are not good or evil. If anything they are a bit of both, and in my neutral view of this situation, taking all things into consideration, not just my own selfish feelings, I feel it is my duty to right my fathers wrongs, sir. "

[Dungeon Master]

Choices
By the DM

The Knight looks at you, “If you truly feel this way, then come to the Blue Rose Inn this night and the papers will be drawn up for you to sign the fleet that your father owned over to us and then you will meet Thorn Knight Kalen, he will best know how you can help us so you can repay you’re debt to us.”


He retrieves his horse and climbs on. He looks at you, trying to judge your intentions.

[elraith]

Elraith folds his arms, secretly grabbing some rose petals out from a hidden sleeve pocket, remembering the words to his sleep spell.. "Fine then, I'll be on my way there in just a moment, i seem to have misplaced my staff.." With rose petals in hand, Elraith looks behind, pretending to look for his staff, hiding his mouth from the knight, so that he may begin whispering the spidery words without alerting him. As the magic flows through him, he turns back to the knight as the words are almost finished and he sprinkles the petals out before the knight and his mount hoping to catch him off guard, and send them both into a deep slumber.

[Dungeon Master]

Slumber
By the DM

The Horse and the Knight drop to sleep within seconds. The Knight seemed so infuriated before the joys of slumber grabbed hold.

They clang down onto the dock, leaving you alone, except for some dock workers on up ahead.

Where to now?

[Dungeon Master]

The Test
By the DM

You are near the downed horse and knight, and realize you should not be here when they awake. But what will you do next? Who were your allies in Palanthas? How can they help you, and what will you do about the villains in the Inn of the Blue Rose.

You are thinking all of this as you exist the area. You can tell someone is in the shadows and starts to run away.

[elraith]

Upon setting sights on the figure in the shadows, Elraith lunges in an attempt to grab them, to determine their identity

[Dungeon Master]

Unmasked
By The DM


You pull the cloak down and see that it is a cowering girl with red hair. She is maybe 5’2”, 100 lbs, if that. You have scared the shit out her.

“I have no money sir, please don’t hurt me.”

[elraith]

Elraith looks a bit surprised at not seeing a threatening figure.. "I am sorry to have frightened you, young miss.. You have no money you say? Let me see if i can fix that situation." Elraith searches his robes for a few coins, and(if i have coins with me now) hands them to the small one. "Perhaps if you have nothing else to do at the moment, you wouldnt mind travelling with me for a bit. I have some things to take care of and i may be able to use your assistance.. if you are interested of course." Elraith looks around warily and awaits her reply.

[Dungeon Master]

She looks at you, trying to see if you are a danger.
Where … do you want to . . . go? She asks.