Chapter One, part one
The silence in the chamber is interrupted by the sudden rush of air and the flapping of small leather wings, a gout of flame lights the fitted stone chamber illuminating the small reptilian face for a moment as it looks at the long table that is centered in the room. It sniffs several times and then coos to itself in satisfaction. The flame goes out and the leathery wings flap rapidly then stop. The only thing that betrays that it is even in the chamber now is the slight smell of sulfur.
As soon as the Dragonette settles itself there is a bright flash of light and then the clinking of what sounds like several rings hitting the table. There is a gasp from the shadows but nothing more. The chamber becomes deathly still once again.
What seems like an eternity later there are several bright flashes in the chamber, and several voices calling out the arcane words for light. Twelve globes of light come into existence about the table. Each one a slightly different colors, bathing the room in a rainbow of soft light. Each of the figures are cloaked in the same flowing nondescript robes, with hoods that obscure all the features of the wearer and leave their faces in shadow.
As they sit down they start to talk amongst themselves looking at the rings and then talking some more. The room is assaulted with twelve voices speaking at once vying for superiority and attention, as well as possession of the floor.
A lean figure at the head of the table stands slowly and clears his throat then speaks softly but firmly. "May I have everyone's attention?"
The room falls slowly into silence. The figure sighs to himself then speaks again. "All of us know why we have been summoned here," he looks down at the rings scattered on the table. "The Scarlet Watch has been killed. I'm afraid that they were betrayed from within" There are shocked gasps from around the table, he scowls at them. "Don't play innocent with me I know as well as any of you that all of us have our own agendas, and that some of us", he looks at a couple of the figures sitting at the table, "will stop at nothing to complete those agendas."
He sits and continues to speak, "Now we need to decide what we are going to do about this. I'll open the floor for discussion now."
"Can't we change this?" A feminine voice from the middle of the table asks as the figure looks at the rings scattered on the table.
Softly, almost sadly the speaker replies, "You know as well as any of us what happened the last time we changed events to suit our needs and whims. Need I remind any of us of that tragic event?"
Silence reclaims the chamber as the gathered figures shake their cloaked heads slowly.
"I thought not. So then, what are our other options?"
"We could form another Scarlet Watch, no one but us knows of the fate of the other one correct?" the female voice asks.
"I'm afraid that is not true, the Elven court already knows that the Scarlet Watch is dead and is in grieving. What is worse they know that they were betrayed from within as well, how they know this I am not sure as of yet and I am of the mind that they will not tell either. But if the Elven court knows about the fall of the Watch then soon all of the city will know."
"Who would join the Watch knowing that the last one was betrayed then, " a gruff male voice asks.
"No one from the city," a soft but firm female voice chimes in, "But what about the outlying areas?"
"Or even some of the escaped slaves from the Southern Kingdoms," another male voice chimes in. "I would be willing to wager that there is at least a couple that would love to gain the independence and prestige that that being a Scarlet Watch member would bring."
"Good points all," the speaker says, "So it is decided. We start looking for suitable people and adventures to reform the Scarlet Watch. I charge each of you to look for and bring to my attention, through the usual contacts, any prospective members. I now declare this meeting adjourned."
With that one be one the cloaks figures and their lights vanish from the chamber, some in flashes of light and with great flourish while others just simply fade into the shadows and are no longer there.
A lone figure remains and whispers softly, sadly, "Poof, you still there?"
A flutter of leathery wings answers his simply query as the dragonette comes down from the shadowed ceiling. The figure moves the hood of the cloak from his own face letting it settle on his back. His face is an aged and angular, his eyes sunken and almond shaped, showing very little life. His mouth is set in a slight frown that seems to be permanently there. A long bony hand scratches behind the dragonettes' neck absently.
"I think this is my last Watch old friend."
The dragonette looks at him, understanding in his eyes and coos softly to the man.
"I'm getting too old to do this much longer," the figure pauses and sighs as he looks to the rings scattered on the table, "And I'm tired of seeing those I care for die without being able to help them in their times of need."
The dragonette gives a soft purring sound then nudges the hand again to be scratched some more. The figure sighs "You are right Poof, It's time to go on living and to save the world once again"
With that he too vanishes from the chamber.
Chapter one Part two
The light in the ornate throne room fades slightly as a shadow detaches itself from the deeper shadows of the wall. The shadow flows and shifts its way across the throne room, never staying in the same form for but a few breaths, it stops just short of the throne, and hovers there. "Report" a hollow voice echoes from the empty throne as something starts to take shape in the throne. The shadow replies in a cold voice, "The Scarlet Watch has been destroyed, there were no survivors"
"And our spy?"
"He had a rather" pauses as it searches for a word, shifting forms all the while, "unfortunate and unpleasant accident"
"Good, he had become expendable."
The shadow still hovers, constantly changing and shifting but silent as the figure on the throne starts to slowly solidify and take the shape of a middle aged human male of average build, dark and deep set eyes, and graying short cropped hair. He speaks again; this time the voice is not hollow but a rich smooth voice of a person that is accustomed to speaking, "Did you get the rings?"
At this the shapeless shadow recedes slightly into the relative safety of the shadows "No M'lord I..."
"What! Why? I told you to keep them alive until you could get the rings."
"I... I tried M'lord, but, but the rings... they are alive. They knew that the Scarlet Watch was doomed.... They knew the rings knew and the rings left them, and took the souls of the Scarlet Watch with them. "
"You lie, you let them escape, I cared little about the Scarlet Watch it is the rings that I am after, you foolish shadow. Leave me."
The shadow disperses into the deeper shadows of the throne room, leaving the man alone in his thoughts.
The man sits on the throne for a while not saying anything then he speaks softly. "So Silverleaf, you once again slow me down and deny my access to the rings of power. But this will be the last time, I will have them and then I will crush Stone Sentinels under my heel, enslaving all of the northern kingdoms in the process. Go and form your new Scarlet Watch my old foe and bring them on, I'll just add them to the body count."
Chapter one, Part three
The Halfelf paces the small room restlessly, his thin frame taking long strides across the room then back again. “Where are they? I know that they have found something but what, and why did they insist on the meeting” His sunken almond shaped eyes glitter in the light of the small room. “Poof? You still about?”
The Dragonette appears out of nowhere and nods to the man hovering about five inches in front of his face.
Sighing he speaks to the dragonette “Poof I want you to go to the ‘Haunt and check on Tina Allensgate, make sure that she is ok. I have a bad feeling about this meeting.” The dragonette nods and then vanishes once again.
As the dragonette vanishes there is a soft knock at the door, a female voice from the other said. “Silverleaf?”
“Yes,” the halfelf answers, “come in, we have much to talk about and I’m afraid very little time."
A very tall and thin human with flame red hair enters, a very worried look on her young face. “Silverleaf there is something amiss, and it is not just the Scarlet Watch being murdered. I feel that something evil is rising, an evil that this world has not seen in an Elven age. We need to reform the ‘Watch as soon as we can.”
“I am truly reluctant to reform the ‘Watch Callindra, for one we have seen few that are suited for it, for another, I am tired of sending children to their deaths or worse watching friends be killed and being able to do naught about it.”
Louder than she intended. “Then what good are these?” she raises her right hand and a black ring appears on her ring finger. “Just decoration? Or are the fabled powers true, are they as powerful as the legends say? Silverleaf, have you been lying to us all these years?”
Sighing, “Callindra…”
“Don’t take that condescending tone with me old elf, I know better than to simply accept it.”
Looking at her in shock, “You know then don’t you? You know about the powers locked into the rings.”
She simply nods “Why haven’t you used yours Silverleaf? You could have saved the last Scarlet Watch and you know it.”
He sighs softly, tiredly “I could not, they must ask for my help first. None of them did, I am not sure, but I don’t think they had the chance to.”
She looks at him stunned, “So you think they had no idea that they were in danger?”
“No they didn’t and I think one of their own led them to their deaths.”
“I see” she speaks softly now. “So what you said in the council chambers was not a bluff or a bargaining maneuver to get someone to make a mistake.”
“You know that I cannot answer that. Just trust me when I say that this time we must train the Scarlet Watch to trust us at all costs, no matter what they discover about us.”
She looks at him a little shocked, “You mean you want a group of overly loyal followers to do your bidding.”
“No Callindra, I want a group of adventures to help us fight this great evil that is coming, I too feel it and I even know what it is. I only pray that we can get the Scarlet Watch formed and working as a team before they strike.”
“Is the situation that bad, Silverleaf?”
“Sadly it is. Do you know how many of the others are going to be here today?”
Shaking her head slightly, “No I’m not sure. I know of two but I'm not sure of the rest.”
"I see, and do you have any good news for me, or do you just have the same complaints that the rest of the council have already voiced?”
She smiles, “Yes I have good news for you, I have found two possible members for the Watch, a warrior and a cleric. They work as a team and by all appearances do so very well. The only drawback is that they both have a very strong spell cast over them. I don’t think that they are aware of it but it prevents any snooping into their past.”
Frowning, “What about alignment check?”
Laughing at him, “You are bound and determined to make this one work aren’t you old Elf? They check out as basically good, very independent but basically good.”
"Good, send them to the captain of the guard, he usually has something for fledging adventures to do and it will test their meddle for me as well.”
“What about your suspicions about the captain of the guard?”
"Well if they are true I have a feeling that these two just might be able to shed some light on my suspicions as well.”
She smiles, “Well I see that you are still working behind the scenes.”
Laughing, “Well no one really needs to know that I’m behind as much as I am now do they?”
They both laugh at this as two more people enter the room, one a hard eyed female of slight build and shoulder length brown hair, the other a stocky dwarf with an easy smile and gray eyes that sparkle with mischief.
“Tina, Durham, glad that the two of you could make it.”
The one that Silverleaf addresses as Tina replies, her voice soft as velvet and as deadly as a snakes venom. “You didn’t need to send Poof out after me… I was going to make it, I was just sidetracked by our ‘friend’ in city hall.”
Silverleaf scowls, “You mean that he has yet to learn that he cannot prove that you did any of the things he as accused you of doing?”
Shaking her head as the Dwarf chuckles, “No he hasn’t, but I’m beginning to think that there just might be hope for him yet, he actually understood that he had on right to hold me without proof according to city laws that is.”
Laughing out right now the Dwarf speaks up, his voice like gravel rolling over stone, “Nah, him learn ‘is ‘ead is thicker than stone. ‘E still thinks that she’s jus a thief, not a proper business lady.”
Callindra rolls her eyes, “Oh proper all right, and just how do you explain the warehouse on the north docks ‘Lady Allensgate’?”
Tina gives Callindra a very innocent look, “What warehouse? I do not own any warehouse on the north docks. I think that the warehouse that you are speaking of belongs to one Allen Coral, but I’m not sure as proper ladies do not dabble in another’s affairs.”
She turns to Silverleaf, “speaking of the northern river docks, do you have any plans to look into the murders of the vagrants and ladies of the evening that live and frequent there?”
Silverleaf frowns for a brief instant then nods, “Yes I am, well actually the council will have the city watch contract out the job, right Callindra?” he winks at Callindra.
Callindra smiles as Tina and Durham give Silverleaf an odd look, “What the old elf speaks of is the two fledglings that are staying at the “Haunt Tina.”
Tina’s eyes light up, “Oh those two. Strange couple, well not a couple really, more like brother and sister.”
Silverleaf looks to Callindra, “You didn’t tell me that they were staying at the ‘Haunt.”
Laughing, “You didn’t ask oh all seeing old one…” with that all four of them break up laughing.
After a few minutes of laughter Silverleaf calms himself down, “So Tina, Durham, what was so important that we needed to call this meeting?”
Tina’s voice grows somber and serious, “The gates beneath the ‘Haunt and the Towers are active again.”
Both Silverleaf and Callindra grow very pale. Softly Silverleaf asks “Are you sure Tina?”
She nods slightly, “Yes I am, just came from double checking the towers myself, that’s where the guard captain found me, he said I was poking about where no proper citizen should be.”
Silverleaf chuckles then grows very serious again, “Have you told her yet?”
All of them pale a little, then Callindra answers, “I’m sure that she knows already, and properly knew before we knew about it.”
“But it is still common courtesy to tell her, do any of you want to?” Silence is his answer and he sighs softly, “So once again it’s me that must deliver the bad news.”
Durham chuckles, “That’s why we named you head of council, she doesn’t seem to affect you the way she does the rest of us.”
The two ladies laugh slightly “Ah Durham what’s the matter, don’t you want to visit her?”
He glares at them in return then turns to Silverleaf again, “I’m afraid that I must be the bearer of more bad news. All the old Dwarves from the Dwarven quarter of the city are gone. They left sometime last week, no one knows for sure when.”
At this news Callindra pales, her normally fair skin turning a ghastly white, “Are you sure Durham? They all are gone?”
“Yes, milady keeper, all of them are gone, well all except me, and you know full well why I am still here.”
She nods then turns to Silverleaf who also is very pale “You were right old elf, we need a new Scarlet Watch as soon as we can form one. How long do you think it will take?”
Softly, his voice showing none of the merriment it did brief moments ago. “Too long no matter how we look at it, I just hope the ones we find learn quick to work as a team.”
They all nod then Silverleaf turns to both Durham and Tina, “Get those two set up with the city guard as soon as possible, we need to see if they will do and if they are willing to work with others.”
They nod and leave the way they came. After they have gone Silverleaf turns to Callindra, “It’s coming isn’t it?”
She nods slightly, “I think so, I’m not sure I’ll have to do some research to be sure.”
He nods, “Please do so, but I think both of us know what is coming and what the books will tell us.”
She tries to smile then heads out, leaving the halfelf alone once more.
Chapter one, Part four
The elf makes his way through the crowed streets, pausing only from time to time to wait for the wagons and carts of the street peddlers to pass. The sun is starting to set in the West, giving the city a golden-reddish glow. A frigid breeze is blowing from the North; Even though he wears a light cloak the breeze doesn't seem to bother him, he looks at the drab two-story brown-on-brown building and shakes his head. Putting his back to the breeze, he pulls a well-creased piece of parchment out of a ragged pouch hanging from his belt. Opening it carefully, he squints to read the faded fine script on the page that reads:
“Meet me at the Shadow’s Haunt and all will be revealed.” The scrawled, spidery signature is that of a Tina Allensgate.
He shakes his head and looks back at the sign swinging in the increasingly chill wind. He carefully refolds the sheet and walk up to the double doors.
He enters the common room and a rush of warm air whistles around him, blowing the hood of the cloak off to reveal long light brown hair and almond shaped eyes that betray his heritage as Elven. A rushed but happy voice calls out from the crowd to him. ”Good Eve, and welcome to the ‘Haunt. Please close the doors, I don’t need the heat escaping on me again” He blushes and closes the doors, as he does so he notices for the first time the elegant carvings on the smooth, thick oak doors. A lord and lady in all of their finery are carved on the door. When the doors are closed the couple appear to be holding hands lovingly. Turning back around, he looks for the voice that greeted him in such a cheery manner. He hears it again in the form of a merry laugh. It is then that he realizes that the greeting came from the barmaid, who is not much more than a merry blur as she moves through the crowded taproom.
She is a comely lass that has a ready smile on her lips and a quick, playful slap for the rowdy patrons. Dancing through the crowded taproom with a laden tray in her hands, she stops again and shares a private joke with a patron. Both laughing, they go their separate ways.
His blue eyes follow the patron as he makes his way to the fireplace. It is made of fitted slabs of stone. From where he is standing, he cannot tell if any mortar was used at all. The mantel is made of what looks like polished gray marble fitted together. The hearth is a stout gray rock, sandy and smooth in texture. Hearing a gravely voice call the patron “Tom”, he knows for sure this is not the person he seeks.
He glances over to the four-and-a-half-foot tall bar and then approaches it, hoping someone there will know who this mysterious Allensgate person is. The bar is made of the same stout oak that the doors are. The counter is smooth and polished to a mirror quality. There are places where a cool drink has set too long and left ringlets on the counter. They look like lost links to a giant’s set of chain mail. Looking down the bar, he sees a place where it looks like that very same giant took a bite out of this bar. It is a jagged scar about five feet long and two feet deep where a chunk is missing. He sits down stares at it, wondering what could have caused such damage to the bar. It is then that the barmaid softly informs the man that the owner did that when a customer got too rowdy and wouldn't leave. He pales at this, and she laughs at him merrily. “No silly, the owner did it with the Bouncer,” she nods her head to the wall behind the bar where a well kept but used double-bladed-two-handed battle axe is mounted in loose brackets. The handle has two groves on it where powerful hands have worn it with use. The blade has a chip in that makes it look as if it has a lost tooth.
As he is lost in thought at looking at “The Bouncer “a roar of laughter makes him jump turn completely around and look behind him, his hand goes by reflex to the sword riding easily on his hip. Sittings at a long table are a group of stout, blocky folk. Their laughter is loud and infectious. The barmaid slaps playfully at one, then continues to weave her dance around and through the patrons, making sure that every one is satisfied. The table that the Stout folk are sitting at bounces as they slam down yet another “Dwarven Boilermaker” He shakes his head knowing what they are made of and is completely amazed that they are sill sitting up, never the less joking about and carrying on like they are. The table jumps and rocks under the sudden strain and pressure, but its worn top and stout legs do not even hint at giving.
He chuckles at the sight, knowing that each and very one of them will have a rather nasty hangover in the morning. It is then that the soft strands-of-music catches his attention. He looks over toward the hearth to see a halfelf with long silver hair and deep brown eyes starting to strum out a tune on a lute.
The bard sits on a high backed stool and smiles at the patrons as he starts to pluck out a tune. The crowd cheers as he starts to sing, apparently it is a local favorite.. “Ohhh I’m a Paladin and I’m ok… I sleep all night and I work all day…”
A soft tap touches his shoulder as the bard sings, the elf turns to see a human woman of slight build, shoulder length plain brown hair and green eyes that seem to be alight with an inner fire, “You must be Kaparu, sorry I was so cryptic in my summons but it was needed. I’m Tina Allensgate.”
The elf smiles at her and nods. “And what is of such importance to send for me and not one of the more experienced in my trade?”
“I sent for you simply because I know that you have yet to be given a chance to prove yourself and I am willing to give you that chance. Care to sit down and I can tell you more, or you can leave and take you luck elsewhere.” She waits as the elf makes up his mind, he simple nods to her, “Lets’ go sit then.”
She leads the elf to one of the three curtained booths built in the far wall of the Tavern and pulls back the curtain. Sitting in the booth are two people, a human female that must be over six feet tall, well muscled arms, fair skin, short brown hair that is cut in a no nonsense close crop cut and eyes of a fierce blue. Hanging about her neck is a charm for the goddess of magic.. shown very promently, that and the large mace sitting comfortably at her side marked her a cleric to the elf. She smiles and speaks in a pleasant but slightly forceful manner and voice “Good eve.”
Kaparu nods to the and then looks to the other person in the booth, this one a halfelf male, again at least six feet tall.. gods, are they all tall up here? The thought runs through the elf’s mind quickly then vanishes as he looks over this one as well. He wasn’t especially big, just tall… and armored to the gills. He was a definite contrast to the woman, his hair was black and shoulder length, tied back with a piece of leather, his eyes were hazel and alight with mirth at some unspoken joke or unvoiced knowledge. All he does is nod to the Elf.
Tina makes quick introductions, “Kaparu this is Charity Chastity and Christopher Jal. They are new to the area and will be working with you.”
Kaparu nods to the two in greeting “Nice to meet you, ‘he speaks softly, his speech heavily accented with the Elven tongue. He sits opposite the two adventures and slides all the way to the wall of the booth, letting Tina sit and pull the curtain so they are not disturbed or interrupted.
Once seated Tina smiles at the unlikely looking trio, “The three of you will be sent to the captain of the guard in the morning for a little job that he needs done. As long as you work for him I can give you a break on the cost of room and board. One silver per person per night and that includes two meals a day and a room. In return I want you to report to me anything unusual you see or hear.”
“What do you consider unusual?” the warrior asks, his voice very soft, and it strikes Kaparu as unusual in itself but he says nothing.
“Anything that seems out of place or out of the oranidary. I know that the three of you are not from the area and have not lived in Stone Sentinels very long, but that is the exact reason I need you. You have not grown used to the city and the odd things that seem to happen here and will see more then someone that has lived her for a while.”
The three of them nod, Charity getting the feeling that there is more going on than they have been told about. There seems to be an underlying tension in the city that is building by the day. Something akin to the calm quiet in the middle of a blizzard.
“The three of you had better get some sleep, the captain of the guard assigns work details at first light and I need you there.” She hands each of then a letter of introduction and a key to a room upstairs. The letters are all sealed with silver wax. Pressed into the wax is the shape of a leaf. “Go get some sleep.” With that she gets up and leaves the trio to their own motives.
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