Star of Khar'ta (storyline)/Teaser (vignette)

3/20/2012 by GM Kenstrom:

In roughly five weeks, I will be kicking off my next storyline, "The Star of Khar'ta." In theory, it should last 3 months, give or take a week or two, allowing for real life issues, player twists, etc.

In the meantime, here's a little "teaser".

Worthless, he thought as he observed the courtyard below.

The young lord leaned casually on the stone railing of his balcony, rolling his eyes more than once as his guards dragged their prisoner towards the gates. The garden below was flawlessly kept and the cobblestones of the courtyard immaculately clean. He would have had it no other way. But as his sentries hauled the dirty pirate across the lawn, he covered his nose, more out of show than necessity. He was utterly worthless to him now. Just another bad investment.

He remained there, long after the brigand's taint left his manor. He watched the sun dip over the water, the sky melting from reddish-gold to black. Stars broke through the veil of darkness above, their brightness reflecting on the waves beneath. He counted the ships, each bearing the banner of Brisker's Cove, as they pulled into harbor. He knew his wealth expanded with each one. That alone was enough to make him smile.

It was then an emerald flash caught his eye.

He turned to face the stars and glimpsed a speck of blue-green light, twinkling against the blanket of night. His smile grew, almost stretching from ear to ear as the light above blinked away.

The young elf knelt carefully in the rooftop garden, pinching soil between two of his fingers. The graceful buildings of Ta'Nalfein rose up to the west of him, while the ocean's waters stretched to the east, their surface shimmering beneath the moonlight. He brushed his hands free of dirt before unclasping his onyx rose cloak pin, dropping the shroud to his feet. He moved to the edge of the roof where he perched, his eyes watching the silhouette of the navy's ships as they weaved through the waters.

His keen hearing picked up the sounds of dockworkers shouting as they unloaded their wares, unaffected by the arrival of night. He craned slightly, looking back to the city behind him. Hanging from rooftops, or burning in windows, hundreds of lanterns glowed throughout the area, making the city look like dark stone castles covered in fireflies. He sighed then, staring down at one of his rings. He lightly traced the ring's signet, a faded aquamarine wavecrest.

It was then an emerald flash caught his eye.

He looked up just in time to see a speck of green-blue light in the sky. The outline of a veniom-plated airship passed overhead, blocking the light from his view as it traveled out over the city. Once the airship had gone, the green-blue light had disappeared. Frantically, the elf rushed over to the rooftop ladder and climbed down, leaving his cloak and clasp behind.

Chains drag through white sands as rows of humans stagger forward.

The slaves shamble along, their frail bodies covered in heavy wrappings as they press on against the icy cold wind. The rocky cliffs of Glaoveln climb to their west, and krolvin warships approach the arctic beach. The line of prisoners continues along the shore, finally reaching a gangplank leading up to a massive black galleon.

Watchtowers dot the landscape of the frozen cliffs and krolvin soldiers laugh to each other, their gruff voices muffled slightly by the wind. They mock the slaves being boarded onto the ship below.

Taking a respite from the scorn, one krolvin sentry climbs to the roof of the watchtower, exhaling as the arctic breeze runs like icy fingers through his thick bone white hair. His eyes turn to the dark sky above, their blackness squinting as the wind dashes across his face. He opens his eyes just in time to see a peculiar light appear high above.

The krolvin soldier then barks loudly, alerting all who could hear.

Upon the deck of the black galleon, a large krolvin captain stands, an azure cape flapping out behind him. He hears the sentry's bark faintly on the wind and sees him point to the sky. The krolvin captain tilts his head up, scanning the backdrop of night.

It was then an emerald flash caught his eye.