Category: background

As Below, So Above — Xen’drik is Dangerous

The next day was going smoothly until the late afternoon. I was enjoying the scenery with Gwen and Jerrold and the skies were just opening up from the daily rain shower. That’s when we hear a shout from the crow’s nest “Sun-side attack! Looks to be two wyverns!” Oh boy. I run over to that side and can just make them out as one crashes into the crow’s nest and quickly sends the watchman flying out with a slash of its claws. The crew quickly takes up arms and begins to defend the ship as best they can, but the…

I’m Flying! Well, I’m Riding in Something that’s Flying

Aryth, 993 YK True to his word, the Professor’s airship was there waiting. Not that I’d really know, but The Wind’s Pleasure (the airship in question) was a beautiful-looking craft. Prof. Ren greeted the captain, Captain Sora’vel, as an old friend and introduced each of us in a way that was actually respectful (not that it should be anything else after our time, but I sometimes wonder about how the rich and powerful may act when around others of their status). Obviously, I had no reason to worry about Professor Ren’dall (and I’m a little sorry about calling him an…

An End to the Darkness, and Our Time with the Umbragen

Not long after that invasion our time with the Umbragen comes to an end. We take the days long trip out of the underground and see true sunlight for the first time in almost a year. It’s so bright it hurts the eyes, but I can’t help but stare around at the giant trees and ferns until my eyes water. The sound of the birds and wind are a blessing you never even think about. The underground world of the Umbragen is fascinating but I will forever prefer the aboveground world of sunlight and wind, moonlight and rain. Shortly before…

We Prove that We are Not Completely Pitiful

We were into month eleven and there had been Daelkyr incursions getting closer to the area where we were housed. One night (yes, they do have reference to night and day and it actually corresponds to time above ground at the Ring of Storms) one of the incursions broke through the sanctuary lines and we became involved. As it turns out, Prof. Ren is quite good at spell-slinging and even the Umbragen were impressed with his skill. Jerrold is good at what he does, but he’s not heavy on the combat-oriented spells. He did have a nice little cantrip he’d…

So, this is Khyber

Nymm – Aryth, 993 YK Finally, about six months in, we are transported deeper into their holdings. We enter Khyber proper and this gives all of us the chills to a degree. Being underground all the time is bad enough, but once you pass whatever serves as the border to Khyber things get oppressive. The screams of Daelkyr can be heard sometimes (at least that’s what they said it was) and there is a pervasive sense of dread that permeates everything. They take us all the way to the Sanctuary of the Qabalrin and here the sense of dread recedes…

I Befriend a Lyrandar Bigwig

Vult, 992 – Nymm, 993 YK So, we “inferiors” are initially allowed very little space to roam around but it’s new and different so I’m okay with it. For a while. It does start to wear on me. We were underground and there were not a whole lot of people other than us. It did mean I got to know Professor Ren’dall, Jerrold, and Gwen fairly well. However, the information exchange with the Umbragen was mostly one-way initially. Usually, they would show up to our living area, ask a bunch of questions, pull Prof. Ren’dall and Jerrold away and then…

Getting into College Isn’t That Difficult

Aryth, 991 YK After learning and helping in the library, gramps helps me branch out some by introducing me to other scholars in Stormreach. Along with his work for the Lassites, it seems that Sandal is also a research asset and adjunct professor at Morgrave University’s satellite campus in Stormreach. This when I meet Gwendolyn Nephret, the professor from Sharn I mentioned previously. This intro, and my ability to impress Professor Gwen with info on the goblins, etc. is also how I became a student at Morgrave University (MU). This began with a two-year study program at the Xen’drik campus…

Gramps Lights My Path to Cultural Exploration

Lharvion, 991 – Eyre, 992 YK Grandpa Broken Sandal (Sandal) is a retired bard and the current sage/head Librarian of the Lassites library in Stormreach. The Lassites are one the Storm Lord families and they oversee diplomacy and commerce within the city. The family’s current head is Varen Lassite. Of all the Storm Lords, Lord Varen is the only one who is beloved by his subjects. He has a reputation for generosity, and he will buy a drink for anyone who suffers misfortune in the Marketplace. He is the epitome of the dashing swashbuckler—clever, witty, with a fine eye for…

The Tabaxi and the Goblins – My Time in Yellyark

Rhaan, 990 – Eyre, 991 YK So, the Helm of Volaar will be handed over after lot of gems and various metal weapons and shields are handed over. Done. Plus, Jhazaali, Duusha, Valii, and I have to stay with the village for a period of approximately seven months to teach the Biting Ants about battle (more the Dhakaani’s job), Xen’drik outside of the general area of the village (my job), and whatever they may ask about. I’ll get to some of that a little later. But first, some general info on living in Yellyark. Though we’d been wandering the jungle…

Sidenote on Honor and Duty, Atcha and Muut Amongst the Dhakaani

I do want to talk briefly about Jhazaali’s comment to me at this point, “Paatcha!” See, muut and atcha are key concepts in Dhakaani culture. It used to be for all goblinoids, but the loss of this during the Daelkyr corruption millennia ago is why the Heirs of Dhakaan locked themselves away for so long. Dhakaani culture revolves around the concepts of muut and atcha. Muut is essentially about the honor of the Empire and can be roughly translated as duty; atcha is personal honor. The most common form of thanks is ta muut, essentially “You do your duty.” Meanwhile…

I Become an Integral Part of a Negotiation Between Goblins

Those of us that were to appear before the Queen are told… asked to remove all weapons. They even want Vanii’s component pouch, which he is not happy about at all. We give everything to our companions who will be staying outside and then proceed in. The hut is filled with about a dozen goblin warriors wearing painted masks resembling ants. Cool! And there at the other end is an intricately carved wooden throne. Upon the throne sat Queen Grabstab. She was larger than any of the other goblins we’d seen here. Larger in every way. I’m pretty sure the…