Adventurers (Book I – Issue #0)

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The issue begins with a scene showing the City of Liam, in Anora. Within the city’s walls, Tarrus One-Eyed angrily explains to his Imp that he will not accept failure. Tarrus One-Eyed continues by explaining that he sent over one hundred mercenaries and spent over a thousand gold and he doesn’t have the “second key.”

The Imp then tells Tarrus One-Eyed that perhaps where strength had failed, stealth may succeed instead. Tarrus One-Eyed seems skeptical, explaining that the slaughter at Tecumeth, where the second key is located, had undoubtedly spread throughout the City of Liam.

Weeks pass and as Tarrus One-Eyed sits on his throne, feeling defeated, after realizing his plans of Grandeur must be abandoned. However, a errand servant reports that someone by the name of Nightwind wishes to speak

Tarrus One-Eyed recognizes her as one of the members of the Amita Kun, explaining he thought she – along with the rest of her clan – were all deceased. Much to his surprise, he finds that this is not the case.

Nightwind is brought forward, and Tarrus One-Eyed asks about Master Sun. Nightwind explains that he, along with the rest of her Clan had been killed, and she was the sole survivor of the Massacre of House Dracus.

Nightwind goes on to explain without a Master, she is lost – and that she had worked for Tarrus One-Eyed before and sought to work for him again and call him Master. Tarrus One-Eyed suddenly sees that his plans of grandeur may not need to be abandoned after all. He forces Nightwind to serve him faithfully, and accepts her request to call him Master. Tarrus One-Eyed explains that the second key he desires is in the Ruins of Tecumeth; once inhabited by the Necromancers and their slaves. He goes on to explain that he had hired Marcellus and Dramek, both who had come highly recommended, to recruit an army.

Six hundred men had followed Marcellus. He had sent scouts into the city to look for the Grogs he knew that dwelled there – but the scouts never saw anything. They had heard things, but never saw anything that seemed to pose a threat. But the grogs were there, waiting for their master, Delgar the Beast, to give the command.

Of the six hundred that marched to Tecumeth, less than a score of them returned back to the City of Liam; the lucky ones were slaughtered then and there, others – their fates are better left in the shadows of nightmares.

Tarrus One-Eyed explains that where strength had failed, stealth may succeed. He tells Nightwind to recruit a handful of others, and that he would pay them seven hundred gold each, should they succeed.

The first one Nightwind recruits is a barbarian by the name of Tirian. Initially Tirian had refused her offer, telling her that he was getting too old and that he was going to retire. However, at the mention of seven hundred gold, Tirian could hardly turn that down.

The next person she recruits is Shadolok who is showing off his archery skills; an archery contest he is able to win, literally, with his eyes closed. Shadolok doesn’t initially believe that Nightwind has that kind of money; but she explains that it is coming from Tarrus One-Eyed, and shows him a pouch full of gold. Like Tirian before him, she tells Shadolok to meet her at the Boar’s Head the following day.

The scene shifts to Sultar who has just gotten home and is surprised by Nightwind. She offers the same deal to Sultar, who declines and says that it’s a suicide mission – and that perhaps for seven thousand he would do it. Nightwind explains which is worse – the walls of Tecumeth, or the two men who had been looking for Sultar, to collect a heavy debt that was long over due. She slips out the door, saying that if he should change his mind now, to meet at the Boar’s Head the following day.

The scene shifts to the Library of Erikor, who is said to be second in the powers of sorcery, surpassed only by Tarrus One-Eyed. Nightwind tries to convince Erikor to be a part of the journey to Tecumeth, but Erikor declines – even the money, for money is useless to a man too old to enjoy it, or a man who is dead. Instead, Erikor offers the position to go to his top apprentice, Argent.

The scene shifts again to the Foreign Quarter, where Bladehelm is outraged and attempting to start a fight with the honorable Dhakab. Nightwind breaks up the fight saying that she is looking for Bladehelm. She offers the quest to Bladehelm who accepts; Dhakab, who overhears her, offers his services to go along with them. Nightwind accepts his offer.

She’s unaware that Coron also overhears her and invites himself to the Boar’s Head. At the Boar’s Head, Nightwind explains that they will enter the Ruins of Tecumeth and seek out Rhannon’s Treasure. Coron appears saying that his fate is tied with theirs and that he must go as well. Nightwind initially declines – claiming she did not want a fanatic of Accuris traveling with them.

However, she eventually agrees, and the Adventure begins…