The guild hall, warehouse, workshop and forge of the West Marian Trading Company that tellingly doubles in part as the Marian Embassy and Ambassador's residence. Located in the nicer part of the docks district of the city of Ecthesis.

This message was last edited by the GM at 12:19, Tue 19 May 2020.

Trivaldi was sent running after the messenger and you returned in due time to your offices in which Dain had been laboring. A day passes quietly enough with Dain in the forge and Drast in the workshop learning from the gem seller. Late in the afternoon there is a smart rapping on the front door and when John opens it the veteran Centurion Ubriculius marches in. He is dressed in a Centurions uniform which is noticeably from the second army and a little worse for age. Traipsing behind him are four men of various degrees of age, build and hygienic level, the only thing universal about them is that they are Marians and their sheepish demeanor as they are prodded into a rough line.

“Tribune!” Ubriculius thumps his chest and salutes in the Marian way “I am sorry to report that the people of Ecthesis have proven slow to take up any Imperial Coin. These sorry excuses for scrawny layabouts are the best I could find from the sailors looking or needing to spend a stint on dry land. How will the Legion survive?” When you look at the four men he has in a line you aren’t quite sure if he is retreating to the standby of all centurions when presented with a fresh batch of recruits or if he is making a genuine and frank assessment of them, either way it would be a marginal case. With a quieter and more nuanced tone you can’t quite read he then says “There is also this gentleman who is apparently willing to negotiate being retained by the company.”

On the que of his gesture a young man walks through the door, fairly tall and of slight build he has dark hair and the complexion of a native of the Twin Empires. If you had to guess from his dress, which is outlandish by Aravigian standards, you would say he comes from the wrong side of the Zhe-Marian border, the particular style of swords on his hip would suggest he has spent at least some time there. There is a slight self-assured smirk on his face and the intensity in his stare that suggests that despite his youth his martial skills have been tested to at least his own satisfaction. Stopping a few paces away from Valerian his expression grows more serious and he places one hand on top of his other fist in front of him to make a short bow.

“Salutations magistrate, I am Sō Cue and I have been led to believe there is an enterprise soon to begin to the benefit of the empires and further that it has need of swords. Could you confirm this for me?”

((A picture of him: https://the-last-watch-of-summ...com/characters/s-cue))
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:45, Thu 21 Apr 2016.

In reply to DM (msg # 1):

In the war-room - on the table with a large map of the Arrivigian Kingdom in the centre.

A sheet of parchment - with the following information:


1. How big is the orc invasion force?
Possible resolution: send scouts - maybe recruit that Zhe guy for it (see main post)

2. If the Arrivigian Realm doesn't unify peacefully - will they be too divided to hold the invasion?
Yes

3. Why would the big orc boss give us warning about the invasion?
Arrogance or honor

4. When is the invasion force due to arrive?
Possible resolution: Again, scouts

5. What were the orcs running from that they are basically planning to flee through us?
From the orcs mouth.

6. How do we amass a fighting force?
Finances, strongly motivated populace, equipment, reinforcements from the Marian Empire, time to train them - conscription, rations,

7. Where do we stop it?
in Numoria?

8. How do we stop it?
Raise an army

One night three weeks to the day from the coronation (21-1-0 NC) of the Ecthesis Queen the very walls of the Marian embassy/office seem to shake as if a few too many beers had been quaffed. A deep, echoing rumble emanates from below making sleep impossible. Outside a fierce storm rages, the wind billowing and churning, shutters slamming, carts are upturned and the creaking of wood cracking under the pressure creates a cacophony of sound, to the extent that one would wonder how Valerian slept at all. The wall of sound from outside is met with a tumult of sound from inside the property. The deep thrum from within can be felt as much as heard, and is accompanied by the sounds of glass smashing, the piercing sounds of metal hitting metal, loud crackling sounds.

As the assorted denizens of the building careful makes their way to the forge, they see the wizard laughing maniacally as spells flow from his hands towards a floating amulet. The amulet is partially obscured by the storm surrounding it, but a bright blue glow illuminates the storm, originating from the amulet's centrepiece. The amulet is at the centre of a mini-storm in the warehouse, throwing equipment across the warehouse in powerful gusts. Drast speaks then, his voice booming, heard clearly "I name thee the Storm's Embrace", and with one final spell, that leaves the wizard gasping from the exertion, the storm inside the warehouse is seemingly sucked into the amulet and abates entirely. As the last of the rushing air hits the amulet it drops, as if it had business floating in the first place. As it reaches waist height, Drast snatches it out of the air by the chain and holds it up for Valerian to see, grinning in triumph.

A beautifully crafted amulet set with a gem that houses a magical storm fueled by a fires heat, pressure and the winds cold. Crafted in an elemental forge using a star sapphire from across the sea cut into a shell it is engraved with draconic words of protection. The facet is a chaotic pattern of white gold encircled by three half-moons in turn bound by a hollow octagon. Between the chain and the jewel drapes red, blue and white filigree. On the clasp is the royal crest of Numoria and when heated or chilled or during a storm the light within seems to swirl with the intensity of the event and a faint thrumming can be heard.

"This, this is real magic" he exclaims, stopping to catch his breath. "I am truly astounding. I have created an amulet to rival the legendary enchanted items of old." He says, marveling at the gleam of the star sapphire sitting in the centre of the amulet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:41, Wed 21 Oct 2015.

Valerian looks at the amulet.

"Congratulations Wizard. What does it do?"

"Magic! It does magic! It can protect it's wearer from certain death, it can summon the eternal power of the moon to reveal and burn enemies, and if the circumstances are right, it has the potential to summon a storm so powerful it could wake slumbering gods!" Drast explains, making vague, expansive, non-committal gestures with his hands.

In reply to Wizard Draft (msg # 6):

Very well. Valerian stretches a little I assume you're giving this to the Queen as soon as you are able? Try to get her to understand the threat of the orcs.