Eberron One

After a wait of about 10 - 15 minutes, the man pictured below opens one side of the far doors and walks briskly toward you.


Another man, much older, with a bald pate and a ring of grey hair, follows after him, apparently having some difficulty keeping up. The first man introduces himself as he's walking toward you. "I am Lord Vom, and this is my assitant, Lerin Ziv. I apologise for the wait, and I am delighted to meet you." He gives each of you a short but smoothly relaxed bow as he shakes each of your hands, bowing deeply to kiss Caby's hand.

"It's not often I'm able to greet representatives of two houses at once. Have you already secured lodgings in Vulyar?"

"Ah, I see. Well, very good. My lands and town lie a full day's journey east on the Orien Trade Road. Two nights on the road by foot, at least. There is a waysign then for an unpaved road north to the hamlet of Vom. There have been several disappearances there among my families to the north of the hamlet, but my steward there has too much work on his hands and has been unable to divine the nature of the threat." He gets a very serious look about him. "I must tell you, I feel certain that occult forces are at work here. If you are ill-prepared to deal with such things, I am not disposed to send you to your doom. But know this also, that I would have any who would bring harm to my families be dealt with in the most severe fashion."

Ducats scratches the back of his head under his wig in thought, then says,

"What do you mean by "certain occult forces?" "

"We should speak about this in greater detail. Please, come with me." Lord Vom and Lerin Ziv then lead you through the doors at the end of the hall. They take you around a couple of corners in a richly appointed hallway, and then up a narrow stairway letting off from the side. You eventually come out onto the gallery you saw from below, in the entry hall. You are led along the wide rear gallery to one of the doors you saw from below. Entering it, you find yourselves in a 15'x20' sitting room with an ornately carved wooden table, high-backed chairs with carved arms and velvet seats, and curiosities and books on walls and a couple smaller tables. A silver tea service is already set out on the table, with a number of cups matching your group, and a large silver platter of kolatchies and kifli bread.

Lord Vom motions to the table "please, be seated. Lerin, old friend, would you do the honours?" His assistant pours tea for all of you.

He then proceeds to tell a lengthy tale regarding the Claw Pit. During the early days of the Last War, The Emerald Claw constructed secluded bases all over Karrnath. It became clear, over time, that many of them had to do with developing the undead troops which the kingdom came to rely upon during the war. Much like any research, it was never seen as complete. It is believed that many of the bases involved in undead research continued trying to improve and expand upon their successes.

The purpose behind the station in the edge of the hills north of Vom, which came to be known locally as the Claw Pit due to it being constructed in a ravine, was never known for sure outside of the Emerald Claw. However, beginning a few years after its construction, disturbing dreams plagued the farmers living closest to it, leading to an eerie reputation. After the Emerald Claw were outlawed as traitors, and the army cleared out the base, the disturbing dreams did not stop. Over the years since, there have been isolated disappearances, but in the last several weeks it has become an epidemic.

Lord Vom has seen disconnected references before to 'the mass,' and important warnings that members of the Emerald Claw must "attend the mass." He believes this means the cultists who once lived in and conducted research at 'the pit' somehow unleashed a dark elder being through the combined influence of their necromantic research and twisted religion.

"Your lordnees, we have seen a lot of goblins in that area too, behaving real weird, for goblins, even. Perhaps even some of them have turned to cancelabism, not like the civilized ones."

Ducats pauses for a moment, regarding his own, puzzled reflection in the surface of his cup of tea.

"I thought them Claws, actually, were known for being all racial against various people. Is it odd for them to be employing goblins?"

Cole wrote:

[OOC : Mike, how widely known is the Emerald Claw / Blood of Vol alliance in your version of Eberron?]

A total mystery to all but the Illuminati themselves. The EC is basically now seen as a fringe 'terrorist' group of very small numbers. The BoV is outlawed as well, but rumors abound that underground worshipers can be found throughout the kingdom, though it would be a potentially dangerous social gaffe to ask the wrong person for their whereabouts. The deeper nature of both these sects is unknown to even their low-level members.

Lord Vom rises from his chair and bows to you. "My dear lady, I am overwhelmed. If this is the case, I owe you all a great debt of gratitude. Which of my families contacted you?" He sits again. "Please, all of you, take your time and retell to me this adventure."

"If you are able to run across this so-called adventurer who swindled young Karl, you have my permission to deal with him as you will." He reaffirms his appreciation for your heroic efforts, and insists that the four of you accept the gift of 2 riding horses and 2 ponies, as well as 50 gold for each of you.

He is concerned, deeply, about the barred door in the old Emerald Claw laboratory. He asks Lerin Ziv to do a reading, in answer to which Ziv produces a deck of ivory cards, richly illuminated. Lerin lays the cards in a pattern on the table, slowly reading them as the pattern develops over about ten minutes. Finally, he advises Lord Vom that a threat indeed broods within The Pit, but now is not the time to face it. Your party must progress through other dangers first, before the universe will grant the knowledge which will allow you to bring down this threat. He is quite clear, though, that it is indeed your party which is meant to defeat it.

Lord Vom is apparently reassured by this information, and also pleased about your continued involvement.

He now goes on to say that his gracious host here at Castle Bors, the Countess Xeria ir'Borutau, may have several difficulties and intrigues to which your demonstrated talents might prove equal. She is quite busy today, and is taking no audiences, however. On the other hand, he lets you know that you would be suitably rewarded for handling other such goblin incursions in the area, or indeed for assisting his steward in Vom with other difficulties, should you find yourselves out in the area of his own lands again. He looks forward to being able to rebuild the manor house of the Berg family.

"I will make sure the Countess knows of your desire to speak with her, and to offer her your assistance. A page will be sent to you at the Blacktree with word of an audience. I will likewise send word to you should I have need of your talents.

"Ah, the Blacktree.. a fine old inn. There was a time, years ago, in the days of my grandfathers, when it sat at the edge of the town."

He rises, as does Lerin, wrapping up the meeting. "Let us retire to the stables. Please, follow me."

He leads you back down and out through the main entrance, by which you entered. Walking around the back of the castle you eventually arrive at the stables and have the assistance of the ostler in selecting your mounts. They are fully equipped with saddle and tack, as well as saddlebags, before you leave.

As you are choosing horses and talking with the ostler, Lord Vom mentions that tomorrow you should also stop by The Swan Inn downtown and speak with his secretary there. He thanks you again and bids you farewell as you ride off.

Jaral takes his mind off of matters at his own inn back in Gatherhold by busying himself with the intricacies of brewing. He stirs his brew, listens to the gentle fizzing as his yeast do their work, smells the wort, and gives it a quick taste before covering the barrel. While doing this he chats with Adolf, asking how long he's been an innkeeper, asking for stories of his worst guests, if there is anything he would change in his inn, etc. Nothing probing, just polite talk between innkeepers.

In the morning he heads back to the bank to check on a return message from Grabe.

Llama wrote:

Jaral takes his mind off of matters at his own inn back in Gatherhold by busying himself with the intricacies of brewing. He stirs his brew, listens to the gentle fizzing as his yeast do their work, smells the wort, and gives it a quick taste before covering the barrel. While doing this he chats with Adolf, asking how long he's been an innkeeper, asking for stories of his worst guests, if there is anything he would change in his inn, etc. Nothing probing, just polite talk between innkeepers.

In the morning he heads back to the bank to check on a return message from Grabe.

He is very glad to chat with another innkeeper, particularly one he isn't in competition with! He trades stories about guests, employees, and his favourite food and drink. He clues you in to many of the preferences of the locals. His father was a brewer, and many liked Blacktree Beer, but there was little time for such things during the war and he died before teaching Adolf. One thing that becomes abundantly clear, though he never addresses it directly, is that Vulyar suffered badly during the war.

It becomes clear that he holds all his staff in high esteem, and feels they are honest and hard working, as well as being good friends.

Push, the warforged tavernmaid, is often at the front of his thoughts. There are those who pass through, and those in Vulyar as well, who look down on all warforged. There are those warforged who have little mind or will of their own, being only a bit brighter than zombies or such. These are the majority. But then there are those warforged who are more. These were the ones who shined in the Great War, of course, earning commissions and even medals when it was allowed. It is such as these who are the traveling companion of the King of Brelend, or the captain of The Unquenchable, that great flying battleship of Thrane.

He doesn't know what Push did during the war, but he's seen her fight four highwaymen, all with swords, and her with nothing. "And she put zem all out de door, you see! All de jaws in the Blacktree were gaping that night, I can tell you. But the moment she turns back round, you see, they all shut up and go back to dere beers!" He lowers his voice a bit "some there are who might call it blasphemy, but I know.. she has a soul, you see. Just like you und me."

Jaral leans in close to softly reply, "I'm not one to worry about blasphemy, and it is not my place to say who the gods have given a soul and who they have not." He straightens up and loudly announces to the crowd inside the inn, "You are fortunate to have such greatness in your employ! A round on me!", in hopes the staff overhears the compliment. He is certain to give each employee a generous tip

ooc - Had to do some background reading on the Eberron setting; I really don't know much about the social status of Warforged.