The ancient city of Skyway was built on the banks of the Dagger River.  Originally it was a small village of fishermen, and over time they built a series of dams and levees to raise and lower the water level in order to greatly increase their fishing exports.  Coincidentally, their position along the river made the city the primary spot to ford the river in order to establish trade routes to the towns to the west.  The increased business and the increased merchant traffic allowed the city to prosper dramatically over the last 300 years.
The last war (circa ER 824) all but destroyed the Empire, and allowed several of the southern kingdoms to succeed into quasi-sovereignty.  The people of Daggerford quickly formed a government structure and appointed a city council.  Through the direction of that city council, the city made leaps and bounds towards becoming a serious power within the Sässeriné Province. The council began collecting taxes and launched a series of building projects that expanded the city from its small town status to the booming metropolis that it now is.
They built around the older city, leaving the inner city for the lower classes.  A devastating flood occurred and destroyed many of the mansions and upper class homes surrounding the city.  The event caused many of the nobles to relocate to Kant, the Province capital city, and Daggerford lost a lot of political influence.  A gnome council member, engineer and architect (Nikomachus Glittergleam) revealed to the council a plan to regain the lost influence, and potentially surpass that of Kant.
They changed the name of the city to Skyway City after the completion of the Skyway Project (circa ER 904) which allowed the construction of large platforms and floating towers to make use of the sky above the flood plain.  Exactly how the city’s architects are able to perform such a supernatural feat is kept a closely guarded secret; however it has worked flawlessly for nearly 150 years.
Well, until today…

---

All of you have entered the city and have been staying here for a little while.  You are all going about your businesses, seeking out a wizard contact, seeking the line of an ancient noble house, or simply evading authorities when you all happen upon each other on the street.  A street performer is currently engaged in a show and is performing magic tricks, telling jokes, and getting most of the crowd fully involved.  Roth doesn’t seem to be too impressed with the man’s theatrics; however Abigail, Ilsa, Shirok, Bornegar, Aigol and Stan are genuinely enjoying the show.
During the performance, you are all taken by surprise as a tremendous thunderclap reverberates through the crowded streets!  People begin running around screaming and confusion grips the streets.  You all hear people shouting that a tower as fallen from the sky and that more could fall.  From your positions you are unable to see any destruction, but you all felt the shockwave that followed its apparent collapse.  Pandemonium takes to the streets and people try to flee the platforms and get out from under other towers.
Curiosity gets the better of you, and you all race to see the collapsed tower for yourselves.  You find yourselves alone on a deserted platform overlooking the fallen tower.  From this height you can see many figures running about in the smoke and dust clouds in Godsgate below.

What do you all do now?

Abigail looks down, slightly in shock.  She's seen trees as big around as a house fall over, but nothing quite like this.  Both Abigail, and her eagle, Thorondor stare down at the fallen section with pity, and wonder.  She then turns towards Roth, and asks,

There are going to be many guards soon, aren't there Roth?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:39, Mon 23 Feb 2009.

Roth, a shortish elf with black hair, inconspicuous dress and a green cape, stares dumbfounded at the sight before him.  He steps forward, stands a bit too close to the edge, and looks down at the destruction below--or what he can see of it through the clouds.  He shakes his head in amazement, still trying to suppress the horrible thought of how many people must have died in the collapse as he works up the will to pull himself away from the edge.  Roth looks at the others who have gathered here, but turns to his recent companion and suggests, "Abigail ... maybe we shouldn't be here.  I'm not worried about the guards ... but the structure of this platform with its neighbor gone."

All Ilsa could do was smirk at the wreckage. She snorted and said to her companions, "I hate cities." Looking around, she debated whether or not to start looting, but couldn't think of anything she really needed and pilfering the possessions of the dead wasn't much fun. But she kept heer eye out for any would-be looters--stealing from them would be much more satisfying. "Can't even sack it. This one sacked itself."

While Abigail was no longer looking down at the wreckage below, she could still hear the cries of pain roaring up from the fallen plate.  She gave a slight shudder, and the sound of her hair as it swayed was not unlike the faint rustle of leaves on a tree during a sudden gust of wind.

I know nothing of structure, or buildings Roth.  If it may be dangerous, than we should leave.

She then leans in close, and whispers,

What does "sacked" mean?

"Not again!," Mouth agape, Stan stared incredulously at the fallen tower. Is destruction going to follow me everywhere I go?, he wondered.


"Aigol, we need to find out what's going on here. Enchantments like this don't usually just fail on their own. If nothing else, the wand should give us some information."

Stan indicated the crystal-tipped wand that he used for detecting magical auras.

"The rest of you, I can't tell you what to do, but personally I'm going to go see if there's anyone alive down there who needs help."

Shirok sighed at the carnage below. There was no honor in such deaths, not even a fighting chance. Nothing but pointless death.

He glanced up at the man's words, shaking his head slightly. "There is nothing we can do for those below that those down there cannot, if they would even accept our help. Nor is there honor in taking from such a place," he said with a meaningful glance at Ilsa. "We should move on, finish our business as quickly as possible. These structures are not natural; it is no wonder they begin to fade, and I do not wish to be caught in such a fall."

Neya whined slightly as she stood at the edge of the drop, the shaggy wolf looking down with sad eyes.

OOC: Edited slightly.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:09, Tue 24 Feb 2009.

Stunned by the horror of what he was seeing Aigol barely heard what Stan was saying.  At hearing the word help though he came back to his senses.

"I'm with you Stan lets go see if we can do any good"

Aigol began looking around trying to figure out the fastest way down
This message was last edited by the player at 04:15, Tue 24 Feb 2009.

Roth eyes the half-orc woman and whispers back to Abigail, "Sacking is to loot, burn, pillage, and destroy someone's home.  Watch your back around a hateful barbarian like that."

He then turns to the mages and asks, "What do you mean 'not again?'  Have you seen this happen before?  Do you know something about the magics keeping these things floating?  Is this platform safe?"

I'll let Thorondor do the watching.

Abigail said as she scratched her eagle affectionately behind the ear.

Ilsa grunted her agreement with Shirok. She clenched her fists and cracked her knuckles. "What say you, singer?" she asked Bornegar. He was all right, as humans go, but she couldn't help but size him up with her blood-filled eye, wondering how good he was with the sword he carried.

Stan wanted to tell the half-orc he was wrong, that there was something the party could do to aid the injured. But his common sense told him that Shirok was right.

"This one is right. There is nothing we can do. I just wish - nevermind."

The apprentice wizard next addressed the young elf-lad. "I can assure you, young master Roth, that I have nowhere near the level of expertise required to evaluate the safety of this platform. All the more reason to vacate it."

As you all stand on the platform overlooking the fallen tower, you all focus on the clamor below.  You can hear the calls for assistance from those helping others; you can hear the shouts from guards demanding discipline and order.  None of this appears to have anything to do with your reasons for being here, but perhaps these events are of no coincidence or happenstance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:23, Tue 24 Feb 2009.

Bornegar stands looking out towards the wreckage of the fallen tower, Hmm... a test of strength, endurance and benevolent character!, concluding his thoughts he turns to his half-orc companion,
"Aye, Ilsa, I'd rather my feet were upon solid ground but I feel we cannot stand idle when we can offer aid those who need it."
Bornegar pauses a moment before turning about, scanning for the fastest route to  the ruined tower.

"I'm with the big guy if I can even do a little I need to try.  If you want to check the stability of other platforms go for it Stan"  Aigol moved a bit closer to the edge and looked down.  Aigol stepped back though apparently deep in thought.  "Wait Stan maybe Kaele knows what is going on If he is powerful as we were led to believe surely he know how the platforms work"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:25, Tue 24 Feb 2009.

Roth looks between the tall human, Abigail, and the mage insistent on helping the survivors.  His mind churning he speaks aloud, "If this person ... Kaele ...  might know what is going on, I'd like to meet him."  He then turns to Abigail and asks, "Do you think you could lend your help to the people down below?  Stick with the big guy and meet back at my place just outside Godsgate when you've done what you can?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:12, Tue 24 Feb 2009.