Dear Jamila,
As the representative of balance, it is right and proper
that you are this mission’s official leader. That does not mean
that it is wise for you to order around your allies—instead,
respect their contributions, seek peace, and encourage
solidarity. The more you can ensure that each element has
its voice and place, the smoother the mission shall be. To
that end, I am providing you with some information I have
discovered in advance about your allies. I hope to be
able to place a few more agents on this mission, but their
identities are still unclear.
Octaris is a water mephit, a skillful wizard, and a master
of arcane lore. I expect that the disturbances you encounter
will be magical in nature, and his expertise should be
invaluable. Do try to look past his arrogance.
Rhyol is a resourceful thoqqua who has developed a brilliant
technique for communicating aloud. Her temper is quick to
rise at times, though she usually channels her fury into battle
against her enemies, making her quite the capable combatant.
Zephyr of the Forgotten Sun speaks to the sky, and the
sky speaks back. I doubt I need to explain how useful his
connection to the Plane of Air and ability to control winds could
be on this mission.
As the leader, it is your responsibility to ensure this mission
is a success. Find the source of the irregularity. If you and
your team can stop it, do so. If you cannot, collect as much
information as possible, then retreat. I will provide further
information in person.
—Ashasar, Liaison to the Seat of Balance
PLAYER HANDOUT #1: RHYOL’S THOUGHTS
Most of the time, I like Armun Kelisk. It is a beautiful city
with many travelers. It also has ground to hold on to, which is
important. Everything changes so fast that it is hard to think
sometimes with the bustle, but it is an exciting place. Sometimes
I get very angry, especially when the people here assume that I
am stupid. Many of them call me a simple worm. I must show
them with my words and not with force that I deserve respect.
I must practice speaking for myself. I’ve heard there’s going to
be a mephit on this journey. Mephits are smart, and good at
understanding talking that isn’t with sound too. Maybe he can
help if I run into trouble.
PLAYER HANDOUT #6: KRAKOS’S JOURNAL
Back to the Plane of Air again. I find the vast expanses of empty space unsettling,
so I do not look forward to this mission. Still, it is better that I am here to provide
a counterweight to the flightier members of the Concordance—and to ensure that
this strange occurrence does not foretell a potential threat to Ayrzul’s interests. In
the interest of continuing this dance of checks and balances, I have procured three
more crystals attuned to the Fossilized King’s divinations, allowing his servants to
gaze upon the Plane of Air from afar as if the gems were eyes. My teammates are
unlikely to watch me with suspicion, so long as I am not blatant about my actions.
Others are unlikely to offer me the same courtesy. I should place these stones in
different places where winds or the unsuspecting might carry them to many places—
or where they might overlook something with more enduring significance.
Notas de Octaris
¿debo estar sorprendido? ¿Orgulloso? Creo que orgulloso está bien. Habían comprado, anzuelo, hilo y plomada! Mi primo Octaris es un miembro de ese grupo extraño llamado la Concordancia de los Elementos. Su fyloso..., filoxo..., sus creencias me intrigan, y ahora es mi oportunidad de verlos de cerca. ¿Por qué? Porque el mensajero que me entregó la invitación a esta aventura estaba contento darlo a cualquier Mephit, así que ahora estoy enmascaramiento..., disfrazado de Octaris!
Necesito recordar algunas cosas, mientras finjo ser mi primo. Primero, es un poderoso mago especializado en la magia de agua y eldirch, místika, tradición mágica. Eso está bien porque mis poderes pueden hacer agua mágica falsa, y tengo un montón de varitas que pueden hacer todo lo demás. Octaris es una especie de presumido, así que cuanto más puedo mostrar mis ... poderes mágicos reales y conocimientos, mejor. Destacar los éxitos, minimizar los fracasos, ese tipo de cosas. Sé que No voy salirme con la mia para siempre, pero incluso si me pillan, apuesto a me dejarán unirme para siempre si pruebo ser lo bastante útil hacer lo que sea para lo que le se contrató a Octaris oh-cierto, que soy yo ahora. ¿Qué es la vida sin un poco de aventura? Ah, ¿y la segunda cosa a tener en mente? Es un idiota pedante. sin embargo, mejor no excederme, o voy a tener menos amigos que él. Sin embargo, un poco de condimento de mal humor debe hacer el disfraz parece más creíble.
¡Ha! ¡va a estar tan enfadado cuando se entere de lo que se perdió! Le está bien empleado.
PLAYER HANDOUT #1: JOURNAL OF “OCTARIS”
Should I be surprised? Proud? I think proud is right. They bought it—hook, line, and
sinker! My cousin Octaris is a member of that weird group called the Concordance
of Elements. Their filosof philosof beliefs intrigue me, and now’s my chance to
see them up close. Why? Because the courier who delivered the invitation for this
adventure was happy to hand it to any mephit, so now I am maskeraiding disguised
as Octaris!
I need to remember a few things while pretending to be my cousin. First, he’s a
powerful wizard who specializes in water magic and eldirch mistikal magic lore.
That’s okay because my powers can fake water magic, and I’ve got a bunch of wands
that can fake everything else. Octaris is a kind of a show-off, so the more I can
display my... completely real magical powers and knowledge, the better. Highlight
the successes, downplay the failures, that sort of thing. I know I won’t get away
with this forever, but even if I get caught, I bet they’ll let me join up forever if I
prove useful enough doing whatever they hired Octaris for—oh right, that’s me
now. What’s life without a little adventure? Oh, and the second thing to keep in
mind? He’s a pompous jerk. Best not overdo it, though, or I’ll have as few friends
as he does. A little bit of grouchy seasoning should make the disguise seem more
believable, though.
Ha! He’s going to be so mad when he finds out what he missed! Serves him right.
PLAYER HANDOUT #5: EMBER’S JOURNAL
What wondrous news! This journey promises to be the most
exciting adventure I have experienced in all my years! I will
savor this experience, but I must not forget to preserve it for
posterity. My tales have grown repetitive of late—lost some of
their inspiring luster. I was starting to worry that I would
have to fall back on secondhand storytelling. Tsk, where’s the
fun in telling stories you didn’t see for yourself?
Why, I shall regale my capable companions with tales of
our deeds so that we might all remember our glorious deeds.
Remember, to compose the tale along the way. Otherwise, the
details will slip away as surely as a cloud on a gale.
PLAYER HANDOUT #4: ZEPHYR OF THE FORGOTTEN SUN’S JOURNAL
The sky is uneasy. It is not enough to simply stop this disturbance. Stopping it
without understanding how it came to be is leaving open the possibility that it
may simply happen again. Is this yet another imbalance in the elements?
Sometimes, I dream of what it would have been like back in the old days,
when elements had balance within themselves, when good and evil alike
reigned over the skies, seas, flames, and stones. In those days, the Concordance
was not necessary, for the balance was not so delicate. We would all be better off
if the four good elemental lords had never been imprisoned, or could some how
be freed again. If only the others in the Concordance saw matters the way I
did. T heir reticence is understandable, however. Speaking ill of the Duchess of
All Winds’s triumph over the now-imprisoned lady of Earth is far from a
safe proposition.
Is the curre nt situation the result of an attack from the forces of another
plane ? T he Plane of Earth, perhaps? I shudder to think that it may be,
but regardless of the cause, we must investigate this situation as thoroughly
as possible.