Dungeon of the Doomed King

[Gorbaz]

The land of Crystellia has, for a long time been home to many different races both great and small, who have all shared a peace bought with the lives of generations past. Most nations still have small militaries of their own, but mostly the land it kept safe by the actions of brave adventurers. But, of course, there has been little to keep it safe from, and so technology had advanced unfettered by fear but not guided by war. That is, until recently. Off in a distant land, a darkness has begun to creep over the once-peaceful land, slowly corrupting those that it touched until they have twisted into evil and ravenous beasts. Even some heroes who stepped up to face it went missing, only to reappear years later following the will of the darkness, their bodies changed.

Now, a brave band have assembled in order to charge headlong into the darkness, their goal to find and destroy the source of the darkness and once again return the land to the way it once was. Each one know that, if they fail, not only will it be the land consumed, but their own selves twisted to follow and harm those they once protected.

----

CRYSTALIA CASTLE

It was early in the morning, and King Jasper of Crystalia sat on his ornate throne in the grand entrance hall, his aged features staring out over the number of gathered people of all races. Standing on each side of him were four young women, each younger than the last - his daughters, the princesses of the realm. He stroked his greying beard as he once again took in the crowd around him. They already knew that his youngest had gone missing as news spread quickly, especially in the nearby Clockwork Cove. Finally he stood and held up his hand to silence the crowd.

"Citizens of this fine land. You know by now that my youngest, Princess Amethyst, has gone missing, and the darkness presses us further every day. It is a loss felt no more keenly than by myself and my family than anywhere else, but what you don't know is this - evidence has come to light that the very guardian brought here to safeguard her was the one to spirit her away to the corrupted lands of the West. As such, I am putting out a formal call to all the lands - help me bring her home. As you know our armed forces strive to keep your homes free on a daily basis and, as such, cannot press into the corrupted lands. So I call on those who would call themselves Heroes to strike out, find her, and bring her back. The owners of Moonshade Inn have kindly offered their property as a gathering site where, in three days time, my daughters will meet to outline where we believe the darkness lays thickest, and where our missing princess now lays"

Cheers went up from the crowd - something was finally going to be done about the dark corruption seeping over the land! But Jasper did not hear them, instead slumping back down onto his throne, his eyes going down, thinking once again how a golem, crafted by a Gnome so far from the corruption, could have been the one to carry out the crime. If agents of darkness, living and not, were so deep inside the kingdom, then... who else might be one...?

-----

MOONSHADE INN, THREE DAYS LATER

The inn was a hubbub of noise and excitement, packed as it was by adventurers from all races and walks of life from the old and experienced to the fresh and untried. Priests chatted with barbarians, Dwarves shared drinks with Celestians, and even Demons proclaimed their desire to see the darkness banished. Into this noise stepped two young women - one with flowing green hair and an excited expression, the other dour with cropped silver hair and obvious muscle - the princesses Emerald and Citrine.

"If I can have your attention please" Emerald shouted, Citrine crossing her arms and glaring at the particularly noisy ones until they shut up. "It's good that so many have come here. We have with us the most up-to-date maps of the lands to the West, along with the locations of the places of highest interest. Obviously because you can't all see the maps at once, we would ask you to organise yourselves into groups, and meet us upstairs where we will hand out the maps, and explain anything you need us to"

"And don't think we're not going out there, too. It's our sister on the line" butted in Citrine.

Their speech given, the two princesses made their way through the crowds up upstairs to one of the guest rooms, ready to await the first adventurers...

[Tsai]

Upon seeing the two princesses enter and hearing their proclamation about maps and places of interest, the sprightly young elf jumps on top of one of the tables and shouts from across the crowed common room of the Inn. "What 'ya mean 'Highest' Interest? Think'll be treasure and loot involved?"The elf says with the widest grin on her face. In her many years she rarely teams up with others, but was always willing to put in a little effort if it came to treasure. A gift to bring back to her village on her 100th birthday has always been a tradition of her village.

[Firehead]

Kryth'sas stood at the back of the room as the princesses came in to make their announcement. She wasn't really interested in saving their wayward sister but this was the best chance to find a decent group interested in combing these tainted lands even if they weren't in it exactly for the same reasons she would be. She noted the elf jumping onto a table making a spectacle of herself. This one was also in it for reasons other than some spoiled rich girl who's daddy has enough money to drive half the kingdom into danger for one single person, perhaps she could be goaded into exploring a bit more if the princess is found too quickly.

[Grape_Drink]

The Duergar smirked at the thought of a corrupted princess before shaking his head, he'd travel to this Moonshade inn and see what it was all about.

. . .

Arriving at the inn, he couldn't help but notice that for all its moon and shade, it was quite a lively place. Durrel wasn't opposed to fun and games, but these circumstances seemed hardly fitting.

As the princesses showed up, he couldn't help but mumble to himself.

"'That'uns fooked if 'at darkness be as bad as they make'i out t'be methinks, hah!"

He couldn't help but stare at the muscley princess as she went upstairs.

Looking at the woman jumping about on the table, he was glad to see someone else happy about the possibility for treasure, even if they were a a damned elf.

He wasn't the most prone to revealing himself in these sort of places, but he'd need to find the best adventurers and heroes around if he was going to stand a chance against this darkness thing. Placing one foot on a chair to make himself seem more mighty than he was, the Duergar puffed up his chest, letting out a raucous yell as it echoed through the hall.

"Aight! If any of ye' fooks be lookin' to survive t'evenin' out there in that darkness wit'ou' gettin' stabbed in yer feckin' backs, ye' gonna need a scout to pick locks an' keep an eye on things, one'at doesn't have lard-f'eh-brains. Work wit' a seasoned Duergar like me an' ye'll go far, lads and lasses! Follow me if yeh got any stones and an inklin' of talent, and if yeh don't, then kindly sod off back t'yer dainty fruit drinks an' cozy homes yeh bastards!"

The Duergar harumphed, his short speech made as he began to make his way towards the upstairs from the back of the room, his eyes darting around to see if any would follow him.

[MelissaB]

Liel stood against the wall her wings curled around her as she stared around the room her eyes scanning anyone that sticks out to her, spying a lizardman female, the elf and the duergar. Scanning them briefly not paying them much mind over the rest before the princesses come in. Standing straighter her wings pulling away from her front so she can present herself better.

Listening to them she looks around more urgently, now she needs to find a group. Watching the elf dance up on the table listening to her she grumbles before shooting her eyes over to the grey dwarf. Shaking her head she doesn't much care for the gold longing fools. Lifting her greatsword up onto her shoulder she steps forward a little and looks around the room. "Wouldn't follow you but I suppose I can stand working with you if you're as good as you claim to be grey one." Liel brushes her hair away from her face and moves to follow him. "Besides, you'll need me to keep you alive."

[Kankra]

Sheera was sitting at one of the tables, spinning one of her swords verticaly around on its tip, bored out of her mind, until finally the princesses entered and spoke out to the mass of people. The barbarian warrior watched calmy, as the elf jumped up onto the table next to her's and made her remarks about fortune and riches, leaving Sheera rather unimpressed. Silly little elf, only focusing on the material stuff instead of the glory that comes with such a quest.

The silly dwarf just made her raise an eyebrow. How can anybody take that little gnome seriously? she thought to herself, before noticing the celestiel walking forward and shutting the dwarf up perfectly. At least she seemed a promising character for this kind of adventure.

"I'll guess you'll need a partner in that, my Celestian friend. After all...", Sheera said, getting up and simply knocking over the large table she was sitting at with one hand, sending all the beer mugs and food plates on them flying through the air, giving quite an impression of her strength and showing, that she wasn't to be messed with. "Somebody's gotta keep an eye on our little elf here and make sure she doesn't disappear with all the riches in the midst of battle." And with that, she sheathed her two longswords behind her back and moved forward to the staircase to follow the other two.

[HarleyLocal605]

Callista looked up from the back of the room piqued with interest at the grey shouting dwarf. She slid herself out of her booth as her heels clacked against the ground heading toward the group amassing. She took her hood down revealing her red hair and light complexion. "Hope I'm not too late to join this collective," she said, eyeing each of the others up. " The name is Callista."

[Grape_Drink]

"Wouldn't follow you but I suppose I can stand working with you if you're as good as you claim to be grey one. Besides, you'll need me to keep you alive."

"Good? Lass I've prolleh been 'venturin' since before yeh was a dirty thought at the local pub, hah!"

He lets out a deep chuckle, shaking his head.

"But yeh, y'scratch me back, I'll scratch yours, jus' keep'i business-casual when an ogre comes bustin' through the walls, y'know? Hehe."

The Duergar nodded to the heathen, glad to have an additional strong fellow who seemed a little more down to earth (literally and figuratively) before turning to the human in Black robes.

"Yeh one'a 'em dead raisin' folks or somethin' lass? Y'look'ike yeh haven't seen the light'o day in a while. Durrel o'clan Urvir at yeh service, lassies."

The Duergar spits in his oil-stained hand, offering to shake it with the three buxom women standing before him (as well as the elf on the table nearby). You all note that he seems to eye you up and down, but more in a gauging your strengths/gathering information sort of way than anything lewd (you think).

[MelissaB]

Giving the grey dwarf a disdainful look at his vulgar manner she shakes her head. "I was not conceived in a pub unlikely yourself short one. My kind don't generally find and spend their time wondering what they'll find at the bottom of a mug of ale." She frowns and glances at the warrior looking human and gives her a short nod following quickly by nodding at the other to introduce herself. "Knight Liel." She nods to each before glancing back at the duergar and his spit covered hand. "I'll refrain from shaking your hand until you find a proper way to clean it if you don't mind." She states calmly before glancing over at the elf and lizardfolk woman. "You two care to join us?"

[Gorbaz]

Having led the way, and somehow dragged a number of other assorted adventurers with him, Durrel (and the assorted party) find themselves at the front of the line to get their information from the princesses. Or, rather, they were the line since most of the others were still in the process of figuring out who to follow. The door was open as the group nattered outside, raising a polite cough from Emerald and a glare from Citrine. "So are you lot together, or just here to make noise?" she asked, powerful arms crossed over her chest. Emerald, for her part, sat quietly at the single desk in the room, a supply of papers on hand.

[spitfyre]

Kairon was sitting at the bar, nursing a drink when the princesses came in talking about treasure and rescuing damsels in distress. Smiling to himself he thinks, "This would be great. A treasure hunt to distract me and give me a job to do." He then added with an afterthought, " and if I rescue the damsel in distress, I might just be able to play my cards right and have a foursome. heh." Widening his eyes he shook his head, trying to clear the perverse thoughts running through them. "Where the hell did that come from. Whatever." With that he downed his drink and headed up the stairs. Bowing to the princesses, he says to them, "I will help you on your noble quest fair princesses."

[Grape_Drink]

He shrugged at the Celestial's response as the party formed, keeping an eye on the others shuffling in to join them as they made their way upstairs.

"Perhaps both? Hehehe..."

The dwarf ahems, straightening his slack posture as he speaks.

"T'would be an honor for our party to serve yeh, m'ladies. The playin' cards of debauchery, the misfits of a firebombin' good time, the assorted lot'a crazies this side o'the flyin' pig peaks...! At yeh service."

He adds in a small flair and pause at his rather over-the-top performance, waiting for one of the others to step in and comment on the silly titles as he gives a deep bow with a grin, slyly trying to catch a glimpse under their attire. It would be best to lighten the mood while finding out more about the situation anyways.

"Yeh mentioned places o'interest fer us t'investigate?"

[Firehead]

Kryth'sas moved to join the first group on the way up. Entering the room as Emerald bade them to she stood off to the side. Glancing briefly in confusion at the dwarf's choice of titles she clears her throat

Now that our 'introduction' is out of the way perhaps we could get started on whatever recon has already been gathered for this mission.

She takes a look at the other assembled individuals trying to gauge them as best she can, best to get an idea of who they are now, they'll be traveling together for a while.

[Tsai]

Once the rather aloof elf sees the first group of adventurers forming up she jumps off her table and moves to talk to the leader looking dwarf of the group. Sneaking up behind the group so that she can inconspicuously join this gathering as well as be at the front of the line

"I'm with them, M'ladies!" She says as she pokes her head out from the side. Then looks at the various members of the group, seeing a celestian, lizardman, a rather large tough looking woman, and a demon?

"What seems to be the problem Ms. Princesses. Other than your sister bein' up and gone and all."

[HarleyLocal605]

At first a little repulsed by the grey dwarf's tact of spitting into his hand, she politely smiles, and shakes his hand. "Not the only one looking a little off color atleast, dwarf," she teases, as she wipes the slickness of the dwarfs spit off on a table.

"What is in store for us as a reward when we bring your sister back?" she inquired, her hazel eyes locking directly with Citrine.

[MelissaB]

Listening to everyone greet the princesses and how the princesses greeted them made Liel frown. "Ignore the grey dwarf he's a buffoon. I'm hoping his skill counter balances it. I am Knight Liel and for ones asking for aid you are exceptionally rude princess Citrine." She stares at her a moment before stepping past her companions and the disgruntled princess to stand before Emerald. "So we are here to observe maps so we might better track down your sister yes? lets get started I'm sure you wish to hurry this along as swift as I do." She lets her greatsword rest against the table while placing her hands on the table and leaning over it and the papers the princess is holding.

[Kankra]

Sheera also passed on shaking the dwarf's hand, but at least gave him an acknowledging look. "The name's Sheera. I hope you all prove to be just as honorable of a companion as I aim to be -in battle as in fellowship." the barbarian said, beating her fist against her bulked chest, directly above her heart, before following the princess up to the room. There, she rested against the wall, pulling one of her swords and checking the blade for any flaws, while always keeping an eye on the map on the table and listening to the words of her client.

[soulbound]

Mazarus was one of the latest to arrive as he headed into the tavern upon learning of the....issue of the missing princess, mostly concerned with the wealth involved he also however was curious about what magical taints may be present, and there overall effects. Keeping his face covered behind a mask and making certain to not looking towards anyone to no show his red eyes to the locals he climbed up the stairs, helmet in hand while the rest of his armor covered and adorned his humanisc body and the black cloak over it, giving him the appearance of just some other merc or knight.

After entering the room of which he was to meet concerning the job relaxed his focus from hiding his eyes as he looked about those there using his free hand to make certain the mask covered his face though for unknown reasons to those there.
"this is the room for the missing princess correct?"

[Gorbaz]

Princess Citrine gives a hurrumph at Liel's comment, turning her head to one side as the group converges on Princess Emerald, who gives an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, but Citrine would much rather be charging in and proving her might rather than organising all this". Citrine gave a snort in reply.

Leaning forward in her chair, Emerald took out one of a bundle of bound parchment from an over-stuffed sack and spread it out on the table. The image presented was very stylised with various places larger than others depending on their importance to the realm. "I'm sorry about the quality" she said, smoothing out the paper and weighting down the corners. "It's not perfect, but at least it gives us something to go on. Now, as for the places of interest that we have identified..."

Her hand flew over the map, pointing out four points of interest, all to the west.

"First, we have the lands of Von Drak, here". Her finger rests on an image of a mansion nestled in the south-western forests. "We had a hard time getting close, as the biggest town in the area, Silt-Town, has been over-run with the dead. Being so close to the Von Drak manor, we can only assume that it too has been touched by undeath"

"Second is Firespine mountain". Her finger moved from the mansion to a volcano at the far north-west. "It has been acting strangely of late. Lots of heat coming out of there, but no other sign of it potentially erupting. I expect it is why it is home to the Drake called Starfire, and her brood of dragonlings. Also a group of Turtlekin have been sighted using the cave system and, most importantly, not clashing with the dragons. It is heavily defended, so a likely location just from all the numbers"

Finally her finger moved to an area showing floating islands towards the middle of the continent that Liel recognised as being part of the Celestian home that had fallen to earth long ago. "Last is this area. The islands still hover close to the ground, but are separated from each other. I myself climbed up and scouted the landscape and I must say it is a picture of wild paradise. Everywhere there are trees, vines, plants and flowers and they look more like a giant garden than what it once was. I did find, almost to the cost of becoming trapped there, that the locals are not friendly and are empowered by the dark forces of the land. Giant rabbits and ducks are the least of the creatures there - the very vegetation itself can come alive! It would be easy to hide someone there"

Emerald leaned back in her chair and gave each and every one assembled a glace before looking back down at the map. "Just... stay away from the black shard to the north. The only intel we could get on it is that every scout who goes there does not come back. As for a reward, that is not for us to decide, but our father. As it stands, whoever finds and brings back our sister will be given a title, land, and enough wealth do do with it what you will. Or.. very nearly, anyway"

---

Arriving at the in, Mazarus was quickly shown upstairs, the first meeting already started but managed to catch the end of what the young princess with green eyes was saying to the others. The sudden press of bodies from behind give indication that the next group was ready and waiting for their turn to hear what was going on

[Firehead]

Listening intently to the Princess Kryth'sas grimacing at the mention of undead, when she finishes she waits for anyone to ask any questions they may have before speaking up.

Thank you for the information you've given us much to think about, for now we'll go discuss our first move so you can get on speaking to the next group.

She then begins to make her way out of the room looking for an out of the way place where they can privately begin making their plans.