DeathOfAMailman
2013-12-01, 04:30 AM
The majority of the City of Wellden is nestled in between a single mountain on its Western side, and a bustling port on its East. A large portion of the city is built into the side of the mountain, with the palace/fortress that you are escorted to being just below the summit. The city is not walled, but because of the geography of the mountain, the only approach to the palace is through the main city, or via flight--a route that might appear less than ideal in consideration of the massive defensive fortifications found on the mountain.
Your journey to the mountain from the port is guided by emissaries of the King, the same that delivered his message to you in the first place. You are guided discreetly through the edges of the city, which is populated by luxurious manses on wide avenues. Most of the other travelers on those streets are humans or dwarves, dressed in finely crafted clothing, although elves and orcs in similar finery can be spotted as well.
From the base of the mountain, a path zig zags up to the summit, clearly designed with defensibility in mind. You are taken up this path to the gate of the palace, which are tended by stout dwarves in ornate armor. The gate is carved into the stone of the mountain itself, and leads to a great entrance hall of glistening green and white marble. There is little natural lighting, with only a few high windows in the entrance hall. Everything else is magically lit from the high, vaulted ceilings. As soon as you enter the palace, you are taken by gnome attendants to a small, individual waiting chamber, where your needs are attended to until everyone has gathered.
A voice booms in your chamber. "Your audience with the King Adwaef, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Adwaef, Divine Chosen of Thenest, has begun." Before you materializes a shimmering portal, leading to an impressive hall, composed of green and white marble, decorated with gilded leaf and impressive statuary. Waiting for you is a contingent of armed guards, humans with shining helmets and dark cloaks. You yourselves seem a motley crew--a threadbare but content monk, a bright-haired drow, a red skinned swordsman, a horned, burly human and a yellow-scaled lizardfolk with an intense look in his eye.
Your contingent marches in oppressive silence to the end of the hallway, an unexpected seriousness pervading the atmosphere accompanied by the sound of metal boots on hard stone. You approach yet another doorway, massive oaken doors that open by themselves into the King's audience chamber.
In the middle of a raised dais is a stone throne, upon which sits a rotund dwarf clad in fine silks and sporting a ringlet of onyx and ruby. This is, you assume the King Adwaef.
Gentlemen, the King intones, I am glad you have chosen to accept my invitation. There were many who did not respond--or who were lost on their way here.
He steps off of his throne, revealing a stature larger than any other dwarf you have ever seen. He strokes one of the many ornate rings on his fingers as he speaks. As you may know, the Kingdom of Adwaef has only recently acquired its wealth and influence, but it has done so quite explosively. We were a small mining city not thirty years ago. This is all due to a rather ... aggressive expansion policy. We have colonized and purchased and conquered at a rate that no other kingdom has achieved. Through these policies, we have extended our influence quite far indeed. But we have come up on a bit of a snag. We have had setbacks in the past, of course. Battles not won, hard bargainers ... it is all par for the course. At this point, the king begins to pace the dais, a troubled look furrowing his brow. But this ... this has never happened before. We have lost contact with a colony. Two and a half months, this colony has been running. Constant contact, as mandated. Then, two weeks ago, nothing. Not a sending, no requests for supplies. Not even their emergency communication measures were activated. This is ... troubling, to say the least.
At this point he steps off the dais, and dismisses the armed guards, who exit into the hallway, the heavy oaken doors closing with a groan and a slam. This colony's success was vital to the momentum of our growth. I do not think this can be understated. But it is equally vital that its importance is kept a secret from our people. I need to know what, exactly, happened to the colony on Isla Sorna. Your accomplishments have brought you to my attention as capable agents, should you choose to aid us. You have come this far, and now you know all I do. What say you, then?
Your journey to the mountain from the port is guided by emissaries of the King, the same that delivered his message to you in the first place. You are guided discreetly through the edges of the city, which is populated by luxurious manses on wide avenues. Most of the other travelers on those streets are humans or dwarves, dressed in finely crafted clothing, although elves and orcs in similar finery can be spotted as well.
From the base of the mountain, a path zig zags up to the summit, clearly designed with defensibility in mind. You are taken up this path to the gate of the palace, which are tended by stout dwarves in ornate armor. The gate is carved into the stone of the mountain itself, and leads to a great entrance hall of glistening green and white marble. There is little natural lighting, with only a few high windows in the entrance hall. Everything else is magically lit from the high, vaulted ceilings. As soon as you enter the palace, you are taken by gnome attendants to a small, individual waiting chamber, where your needs are attended to until everyone has gathered.
A voice booms in your chamber. "Your audience with the King Adwaef, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Adwaef, Divine Chosen of Thenest, has begun." Before you materializes a shimmering portal, leading to an impressive hall, composed of green and white marble, decorated with gilded leaf and impressive statuary. Waiting for you is a contingent of armed guards, humans with shining helmets and dark cloaks. You yourselves seem a motley crew--a threadbare but content monk, a bright-haired drow, a red skinned swordsman, a horned, burly human and a yellow-scaled lizardfolk with an intense look in his eye.
Your contingent marches in oppressive silence to the end of the hallway, an unexpected seriousness pervading the atmosphere accompanied by the sound of metal boots on hard stone. You approach yet another doorway, massive oaken doors that open by themselves into the King's audience chamber.
In the middle of a raised dais is a stone throne, upon which sits a rotund dwarf clad in fine silks and sporting a ringlet of onyx and ruby. This is, you assume the King Adwaef.
Gentlemen, the King intones, I am glad you have chosen to accept my invitation. There were many who did not respond--or who were lost on their way here.
He steps off of his throne, revealing a stature larger than any other dwarf you have ever seen. He strokes one of the many ornate rings on his fingers as he speaks. As you may know, the Kingdom of Adwaef has only recently acquired its wealth and influence, but it has done so quite explosively. We were a small mining city not thirty years ago. This is all due to a rather ... aggressive expansion policy. We have colonized and purchased and conquered at a rate that no other kingdom has achieved. Through these policies, we have extended our influence quite far indeed. But we have come up on a bit of a snag. We have had setbacks in the past, of course. Battles not won, hard bargainers ... it is all par for the course. At this point, the king begins to pace the dais, a troubled look furrowing his brow. But this ... this has never happened before. We have lost contact with a colony. Two and a half months, this colony has been running. Constant contact, as mandated. Then, two weeks ago, nothing. Not a sending, no requests for supplies. Not even their emergency communication measures were activated. This is ... troubling, to say the least.
At this point he steps off the dais, and dismisses the armed guards, who exit into the hallway, the heavy oaken doors closing with a groan and a slam. This colony's success was vital to the momentum of our growth. I do not think this can be understated. But it is equally vital that its importance is kept a secret from our people. I need to know what, exactly, happened to the colony on Isla Sorna. Your accomplishments have brought you to my attention as capable agents, should you choose to aid us. You have come this far, and now you know all I do. What say you, then?