Terms (WIP)

The days in Celadore are 24 hour days, made up by 60 minute hours and 60 second minutes.

There are seven days in a week:

Erlsday, Corensday, Thale, Kanaanday, Day of Veneration, Day of Penance, Alsday

There are 13 months:

1- Cial (See-all) - Winter
2- Ehn (E-n) - Winter
3- Braon (Bray-on) -Winter
4- Morovek (More-o-Vek) - End of Winter
5- Mycius (My-see-us) - Spring
6- Mez (Mess) - End of Spring
7- Udez (You-dez) - Summer
8- Cryull (Cre-Yull) - End of summer
9- Oals (Owls) - Fall
10- Cyromen (Key-ro-men) - Fall
11- Irroghal (Ear-Ro-Gal) - Fall
12 - Idogh (Eye-Doe-Gay) - Fall
13 - Wrehl (Real) - Winter

The current Year is 867

The great war happened in Year 522

The beginning of recorded history is Counteryear 1, time proceeds through to Counteryear 1000 and then begins on Year 1 and proceeds to the current day of Year 867.

Day 1

Day 1 - Deaths Final Embrace.

Journal Entry of Tyson Harcord.
Corensday, Morovek 12th - Year 867;

5:45 AM

     My previous team died during our last job. It's unfortunate because I had invested quite a sum of money into their gear, and something tells me that the Gelatinous Ooze that screwed up my prior plans will not be willing to return the equipment.

     They were however, able to retrieve that sphere before dying, so at least that's something. Now I can get that blasted thing working, maybe then I'll actually be able to sustain some long term employees...

7:00 AM

     My day today started off at the Daily Work Boards, there was a decent amount of work available, some jobs even had serious pay. The Adventurers guild had placed another add out looking for people, it's surprising how quickly they found out about the demise of my last team.

     Most of the people at the boards were homeless, poor, or day laborers. I needed warriors, thieves, and adventurers; and it didn't take long to find them. My first member was this monstrosity named Roth, or at least i think that's what his name is, for all I know he blew a snot bubble when I asked him the question, I'm not sure he even speaks common... other than that he's strong, he should be able to carry a lot of junk. Mind you I could have bought a donkey, but I think Roth may listen a tad better; nobody likes a foul tempered donkey.

7:25 AM

     I waited around until most of the people left, nobody even looked twice at the jobs I was interested in. That's good, my last team didn't take too well to driving away the competition last time, and I didn't want to have to deal with the whining again, this time from an entirely new group of barely competent adventurers. What was left was a handful of individuals that looked like they would fit my needs. A little more than normal (My last team was only 4 members big with one Warrior - Desina, Bard - Arredondo, Rogue - Garron, and Paladin - Gwyneth), but this would be ok, it's always good to over compensate, in case any of them die during a mission. What I ended up with was a savage, three thieves, a thug in full plate, a spellcaster of some sort (Like I couldn't tell!), and a ranger who must have gotten lost in the city. I suppose these people will have to work out though I'll need to keep an eye on the spellcaster, as much of an asset as she may turn out to be, she could bring a whole load of dung down upon my head if she crosses the wrong people. We worked out a fair (ish) compensation plan for me to act as their manager. (Note: 25% Finders fee. Also, note to self, find a place that sells cheap horses, in case it comes up), and fulfilled a verbal agreement of services.

     Due to this group of individuals lack of voice I simply resolved to reattempt my prior contract with this new group of explorers, although I do intend to bill the Adventurers guild for the hassle of having to obtain yet another team.


8:25 AM

     After outfitting the team with some basic essentials, I had Awesome Mike retrieve Balarion from storage. 

     It really was a stroke of fortune that we found him deactivated in that Mine. When we first found him I was ready to scrap him for money, but Desina had disagreed with me, and she was able to (temporarily) Bring the thing to life by placing our only magic item (a wand of healing) in his Core Forge. we were able to obtain information from him about who he was and what he could do, but the wand wasn't powerful enough for him to operate for an extended period of time. The party went on to finish the Mission and I was left to take care of "Balarion". (Also, the wand was destroyed in the process, so I didn't even get to sell that.)



     I was able to activate Balarion again with a Sphere of Control that we were able to uncover during the teams last mission (RIP Team!). though I did notice he seemed different this time, more subdued, most likely a side effect of using the Sphere of Control instead of an actual Warforged Core. I wonder what would happen if I used other Magic items instead of the Sphere... 

     I must keep this in mind as we find more and more powerful items. (Just imagine if we found a God touched Artifact!, I could create a God, and then he could make me a God!, nevermind that no one has found one of those things in over 100 years).

     We will just have to see how our fortune plays out...




9:00 AM      

     Anyhow, we were actually on our way to the adventurers guild to renew my contract with updated terms when we came across an undead outbreak in the warehouse district. One of those community homes (where they convert a warehouse into a giant multi family complex) had suffered some type of blight. and my team was more than happy to run (and slip) in and take care of the issue. 

     (NOTE: Address Issue with Balarion, he did not initially assist the team and had to be prompted to act, I think my exact words were "Get your metal ass in there and destroy those undead!",  this is a possible side effect of the sphere.)

     This turned out to be fortuitous because shortly after a "Paladin" (worthless glorified thug) from the Church came by to "handle" the issue (he was ready this light the place on fire, no questions asked!). I was able to explain to the "Paladin" that I had an extraction team inside the building retrieving survivors and dealing with the undead scourge inside. I explained that they were highly train individuals who were specialized for this purpose. I was also able to get him to agree to pay the team for their services (I may have told a small lie when I stated that we were authorized to do the work by several people who, if they knew I name dropped them, probably would have me hanged.) 

     Frankly, I wasn't sure he was buying it (I thought he was still going to set it on fire!) when suddenly a large group of people excited the building in a rush. He seemed to change his mind and upon noticing my team exiting the building he handed me a hefty sack of coins and departed (Most likely to file a report upon the issue). I gave the team their cut of the reward, and took my finders fee. 

Left Handed Lovers

Left Handed Lovers



     "Mr. Kayden, for the crime of Apostasy, for which you have been proven guilty. This court in accordance with the the laws and policies set forth by the Church sentences you to a lifetime of servitude and repentance in the service of the church and the greater good of the land. You are ordered to commence with this sentence immediately."

     The Gavel made a resound clopping sound as it hammered down on the wooden pate.Samuel looked down at his feet, knowing from that moment his hopes and dreams for himself and his family were gone.



Earlier that day-

     Samuel stood near the middle of the his home, it was one room. There was a curtain that split the sleeping area from the rest of the room, a wash basin in the corner filled with dirty water, and a fire pit in the middle the  room. Samuel stood near the fire pit, staring into the flames of the small fire that grasped at the measly pieces of scrap wood at the bottom of the pit while his wife, Andy, patiently sewed the hem of his tunics sleeve. The tunic was decades old, threadbare, and worn, but it was the best he had. When she finished she gave him a kiss and walked with him to the doorway of the home.

     He look into her eyes "I will find work today" He said. "And if I don't I will beg until I have enough to bring home dinner"

     She looked at him and nodded, it had been several days since they had eaten; and while he had brought home food since then it wasn't much, every scrap had been given to their two children Thomas and Cadence.

     He tucked is finger under her chin and lifted her face to his. "Don't worry... today Palor guides me." He said this as he held a small wooden disk that was fastened around his neck with a scrap piece of burlap.

     Andy's eyes darted up as she hastily took the disk out of his hand and tucked it inside his tunic. "Do you have to wear it?" she asked. He had only converted the previous day, baptized in a back alley from a mug of brown water. They both knew the punishment if he was caught practicing an unsanctioned religion.

     "Yes, today our lives change" He whispered to her. She could see the desperation in his eyes, and she could not bring herself to crush small amount of hope he had left. She kissed him good bye and watched him leave down the dilapidated street outside their home. Hoping against hope that he would come home to her.

Perspective

PERSPECTIVE


"Svardson! Stop fucking daydreaming!"

     William Svardson looked up at the source of the barked command. It was Micheal Jorgenson, another guard, about 15 years his senior. The two of them were paired up on the west wall lookout for the evening to early morning shift. During their shift they were to patrol the top of the wall overlooking the Sea of Reeds to the west.

     William had recently joined the city guard, and after a brief training session they had given him some old armor, a crossbow, short sword and post. He had spent most of his first week at his post cleaning an polishing his gear. It was a better job then most, if you didn't have merchant contacts you usually ended up as a laborer, either for one of the various entrepreneurs around the city or for the Church; neither of which was an attractive perspective.

     He had originally applied for guardship shortly before asking Margaret to marry him. With a steady income, guaranteed growth, and opportunities to live in the barracks district neither she, nor her father had turned him down. They had gotten a nice apartment in the district and they could even afford for her to stay at home. Life was good, and it was just going to go up from here.

     William looked back down, over the edge or the parapet. He could see them milling around near the base of the 40 foot outer city wall. The Undead they were called, the reanimated bodies of people long since passed away forever doomed to mindlessly roam the world until their bodies rotted away.

     Looking at them his hand unconsciously moved up to his chest, just under the layers of  cloth and chain-mail was his Hearts Chest; a plain brass tubular container with a glass port hole on the front that contained his Smithed Heart. While he was reluctant to have had to undergone the procedure, because of the vile magicks required for it's creation, it would be solely responsible for ensuring that he would not end up like one of them. It was a recent operation for him, as he had never been privileged enough to have a family that could afford being Heart Smithed, nor was he Lucky enough to have even been included in any of the Church's vast inoculation campaigns.

     "Damnit, Svardson! Move your ass!" Called Jorgenson from further down the wall "If we don't check in on time they dock our pay, if they dock my pay, i'm going to take it out of your hide Boy!"

     William hesitantly turned away from the edge, hand rubbing the soreness in his chest as he started to make his way toward Jorgenson.

     "Boooohhhyyyyyy" came the a whisper upon the wind. William stopped dead in his tracks, he turned and looked at the edge of the wall.

     "Jo- Jorgenson... d-did you hear that?" said William, weakly over his shoulder.

     "What?" Called Jorgenson "Will you hurry the fuck up already!"

     William walked slowly back over the the edge of the wall and looked over. Can the Undead speak?, he wondered. There they were, shambling around, groaning, shuffling, smelling... but not talking. Maybe it was not what he heard, or an echo, or his mind playing tricks on him, he wasn't really sure. He was about to turn away again when he saw it. A darkness deep within the tall grass of the Sea of Reeds, it was different from the fading twilight of the evening, it was dark, cold, foreboding. Just looking at the darkness William got chills, deep inside his body, in a place he couldn't quite get rid of them.

     "Boooooooohhhhhyyyyy" Wheezed the voice. This time William was certain that the voice came out of the darkness.

     "J- Jorgenson, I think there's somebody down there, they keep calling to me..." William leaned further, squinting at the darkness, trying to get a glimpse of what was within that darkness so far below.

     He couldn't quite see the darkness from his point of view behind the parapets as it was directly beneath the edge of the wall. Frustrated, scared, and curious William placed his crossbow and pack down on the ground and pulled himself up on the parapet trying to get a better look. Holding on to the cold stone of the wall and he leaned over straining his neck to look down.

     Deep inside the darkness came a low growl, guttural, and hungering. At the sound William startled, losing his grip on the wall his foot slide out from under him. In his panic he flung his hands out, grasping at the stone parapets of the wall.

     He was able to catch himself, but just in time. William pulled himself back up on the parapet, and back onto the wall. Breathing hard William turned back to the edge to gaze back down at the darkness, Search as he might for that spot he had spied previously he was unable to find it again. As the seconds ticked by William's interest in the dark spot faded away.

     Like snapping out of a spell William roused and realized that he was late for checking in. He quickly retrieved his things and turned around eyes looking for Jorgenson, Why hadn't Jorgenson yelled at me again wondered William We wouldn't be late if he would have had said something. William spotted Jorgenson sitting down on a crate about 20 feet away waiting for him. Shouldering his crossbow William hustled over to Jorgenson.

     "It sure did get dark quickly didn't it Mike?" called William, trying to get Jorgenson's attention, hoping the senior office wouldn't cuff him when he caught up. Jorgenson stood up suddenly, slightly leaning to one side, his head cocked as if listening to something. Awkwardly Jorgenson turned towards William, what William saw made him stop abruptly.

     "Mike, are you Okay?" called William, in a half whisper, half shout that made his voice choke and cut off. Jorgenson's face was pale white, and his eyes trailed off, un-focusing.

     Jorgenson's eyes snapped to attention and glared directly into William's eye. "Why did you kill me boy...whhhhyyyyy Boooohhhhyyyyyy?" he said, with a hiss.

     "What!?!" cried William as his bladder voided into his leather breeches. Jorgenson lunged towards William, hands hooked and clawing towards his face.

     William stumbled back "W-What!?!" he sputtered, spittle spilling out onto his chin. William fell, smacking his head on the stone wall. Stars burst forth in his vision, his head swimming. He struggled to rise but try as he might his body wouldn't respond to his will. His vision was fading out as Jorgenson stumbled into his field of view, teeth gnashing hungrily.

     "w- what..." said William weakly. As everything faded into darkness he heard the voice call out one more time, as if far away... "boooohhhhyyyyyy" it said.

The Lay of the Land

Alaspar - Capitol City - Est Pop. = 56k
             This city is land locked and does not have any water based ports. The Cities water sources come from a central reservoir of water that is continuously filled from shipments of water that is brought in from other citys/towns, Arguela being the primary source of fresh potable water.
             Alaspar serves as a primary trading hub and the center for transport regulations, freight inspection, and taxing. The Church mandates that all freight shipments be brought through Alaspar  while en route to their destination. To facilitate this the city operates a huge dry dock port, An above ground harbor that facilitates the multitude of Zepplins and Land Ships that visit Alaspar on a daily basis.

• Zepplin: An air based Ship that is supported by a massive balloon filled with hot air. These are typically slow and have very limited cargo/passenger space. Although they have the benefit of being able to travel directly to their destination, and at higher altitudes.
• Land Ship: These ships are very similar to water based ships with the exception that they have very large, sturdy wheels. They navigate the Sea of Reeds, a massive expanse of sickly green and black tall grass and brush that surrounds the city of Alaspar that is home to an unnumbered amount of undead.

             Alternative methods of travel to and from Alaspar include travel among one of the two walled travel routes the feed foot traffic into and out of the city.

             To the east of Alaspar you will inevitably come upon Kanaan on the boarder of the Darkening Wood. It is reachable via either Zepplin, Land Ship, Foot (Via Church endorsed and enforced roads), or Canal. The Canal that connects to Kanaan Travel North to Arguela located at the base of the Triptoli Mountains, and South around the bottom of the Darkening Wood to Shorewatch. 

             To the West of Alaspar you will come across the three cities Thelenfall, Karenfall, and Sworn that line the boarder of the Dead Lands. Interspersed around these cities are a number of smaller towns ,villages, and camps. The Church operates, Work camps in and near all of the major cities in it's domain.

             Directly South of Alaspar off the coast of the southern sea you will find a series of Islands that make up the lands of Telmar, the home of the Telmarines (Half-elves). The land of Telmar is the only occupied land not directly under the rule of the Church, although they are bound by various trade treaties.

             There are no other "known" civilized lands in the world, although rumors speak of prospering lands on the other side of the Dead Lands, a hidden Elven City deep within the Darkening Wood, and a vast underground Kingdom under the Triptoli Mountains.