• Naird, the One-Eyed Goliath – Goliath Barbarian
• Ysolde Gravestone – Half-Elf (Human) Sorcerer
• Thraxus Stoneveil – Dwarf Cleric
• Gaelsera Owlleaf, Wayfinder of the Wood Elves – Wood Elf Druid

Listen to the Youtube video for the complete notes – the below is my notes that I read – then allowed the players to influence scenes, which the Youtube video shows…

The world has changed.

Twenty five years ago, a battle in the heavens fractured and forever changed the way magic intertwines with the world of Kne’Urth. There are stories and legends as to what this event was; ranging from war among the gods, as several clerics reported their gods had gone silent; to the rumors and legends of some form of mortal being attempting to ascend to godhood and slew the gods that stood in their way.

The day of the event is known as “The Sky of A Thousand Falling Stars” – for when this event happened, and several gods had gone silent, the skies turned black – and thousands, if not millions, of stars could be seen streaking through the heavens.
In that time, the world has seen much change. With several gods having gone silent and magic forever changed in how it weaves itself through the world, there is panic, even all these years later – what if it happens again? What were the falling stars? The giants, in that time, have raged war against the dragons, changing the face of the world as well; once an uncommon sight, now dragons and giants freely roam the face of Kne’Urth.

Trust is a thing that is hard to come by, among strangers; it is not something freely given any longer, it is something that must be earned. A shadow seems to linger over the spirits of the common people; mistrust flickers in their eyes in the presence of strangers.

We move our camera to the continent of Vareen – meaning “the new land” in the Ancient Tongue of Elves) – but this land is no longer new. This was the continent many from Tawaim sailed to when riches were uncovered. But in the twenty five years since that first discovery, the lands have been plundered by treasure seekers.

The camera now moves to several months ago, north of the mountain range known as Pern’s Rest, just south of the Frostmane – a village of goliaths, and one such goliath named Naird, is returning from a hunting trip when he hears the sounds of battle coming from the direction of his village…

Tells us a little bit about Naird – how tall is he? What color is his hair? His eyes? What does he wear for clothing?

Naird, as you drop the deer you’d hunted for tonight’s festivities, you arrive upon a scene of total carnage… frost giants are attacking your village.

What does that look like? How does the scene play out?

As Naird, your victory seemingly at hand, exhaustion takes you, and you collapse… your blood seeping into the snow, now stained crimson…

The camera pans south east to the rolling hills just past Spire’s Edge, home of the Hill Dwarves of Viscondido… we turn time back several years, where a familiar scene plays out…

Only we move back in time, several years, a hill dwarf by the name of Thraxus, who at a young age, felt the pull of the cloth, answering the call of Jaris, the World Forger…

What does Thraxus look like? His beard? Is it braided a specific way? The color of it? His eyes?

The abbot had often told Thraxus, who yearned to become like the faithful warriors of Jaris, “The Forgefather shapes peace as much as he does steel. Your place is here.”
But fate, or perhaps, destiny, had other plans.

Thraxus, inside the Church of Jaris, which is a simple abode built into the hillside, as you are there, with the children, speaking and teaching the words of the World Forge, the alarms sound, and as you rush out, telling the children to remain in the Church, in the safety of the stone, you see Frost Giants raiding your village.

How does that look? How does the scene play out?

As you heave, your breath rattling your lungs, we return to the present and the camera moves south to Spire’s Edge. Spire’s Edge has seen much in terms of danger, and seems to be an epicenter of ill fortunate and ill luck. At one time, the human mayor, Barus Gravestone did his best to run Spire’s Edge, but when old age claimed him, that duty fell upon his sister, a holy woman by the name of Avalyn Gravestone. Through the years, Avalyn seemed to be a beacon of hope for Spire’s Edge, the ill fortune that often found Spire’s Edge seemed to decrease at long last, and many believed it was because she was a cleric and at long last the gods had their eyes on Spire’s Edge.

Avalyn would eventually fall in love with an Elven Knight by the name of Disnarium, and together they had one daughter. He had remained in Spire’s Edge for several years, until duty called him away – whatever that duty was, remains unknown, for he never returned home.

Their daughter, Ysolde Gravestone, grew up in Spire’s Edge, leading a normal life. But she always wondered what had come of her father – someone who was a Knight, with magical abilities – and even her own mother had shared how one time, she’d been abducted, but aided a Dwarf Cleric, a High Elf Cleric, an Aasimar Warlock, and a Half-Elf Ranger defeat an evil half-ogre. She also spoke to a man, well beyond his years for a human, named Tarn Bladesinger, who claimed to have forged a very special weapon, during the “Night of Shadows” when demons came… but can not remember the person’s name… he swears he is cursed to live for all eternity until that person’s name is remembered…

What does Ysolde look like? How and when did her powers as a sorcerer manifest themselves? What it a natural event or did something happen to awaken those powers?

Our camera now pans west – from Spire’s Edge, across Ridgecrest, through the Greenhaven and Ebonwild, to the lust forest of the Ferndale…

The home of the Wood Elves, those Elves who have remained true to their purpose and belief, that the land is sacred. But the Ferndale is not without great loss. Twenty seven years ago, a green dragon had come through the Ferndale, breathing its vile breath on the Elves of the Ferndale, killing many. Behind the Green Dragon, an army of Hobgoblins, who slew many of those still coughing and choking who had survived the attack. The Wood Elves of the Ferndale were decimated, their population greatly reduced.

The story of old, is that the Elves of the Ferndale are the sole surviving Elves that once inhabited the lush forest that had become the Broken Lands, after Nifika’s fury.
The camera pans down to Gaelsera, a Wood Elf strolling through the Ferndale. Life has almost returned to normal, but Elves with their long lives, have long memories, and recall the horror that happened, for many of them, only “the blink of an eye” ago.

What is Gaelsera doing in the Ferndale? What does she look like? What is she wearing?

You rush to attend, yet another speaking by Sephrenia, one of the Champions, as she has been called. She shares stories of how, she along with her companions – a half-elf Ranger named Don Kanin, an Air Genasi named Korra – with the aid of such people, as the Tiefling Kraun, the Earth Genasi sisters, Moonstone and Terra, and even a Drow by the name of Ferin Unthall, who stands at her side, that she and her allies were able to stop a Beholder known as As’zar’vari’tium – also known as Nine Tails – from ascending.

Upon seeing Gaelsera, Sephrenia approaches her and says, “I have frequently seen you when I speak. We must work together to heal the land and allow our people to see beyond their bigotry. This staff,” she holds out a beautiful staff, “was once charged with powerful healing abilities. Now, after the world changed, it no longer heals, but it is still magical. Perhaps, in your hands, it will find new ways to awaken once again.”

And that is how, we meet our heroes… their paths, not yet connected… but whether fate or destiny… will soon change that.