Category:Those Aren't Tears

Those Aren't Tears was a storyline by GameMaster Quilic set in Mist Harbor that ran from from August through December, 2018. Characters from this story previously showed up in the 2018 River's Rest storyline The Green Lady. Some later showed up in The Nazhor Chronicles in 2019.

Summary

8/21/2018: Cendadric is visited by Penre, who suggests that his friend Nazhor is interested in buying his shop, Cendadric's Collectibles.

8/27/2018: Penre offers merchant work in Mist Harbor while also discussing recent events.

• Penre was in Mist Harbor to do advertised merchant services.
• Penre mentioned that Mazorn had warned him about Darcena and that he's still dredging the bay (for the chest)
• Penre says Nazhor would love to meet Darcena and that he's the new owner of Cendadric's

9/27/2018: A former Imperial Drake and her husband travel to Mist Harbor for her long-awaited retirement.

11/1/2018: Elspie and Brannough arrive at Mist Harbor after a long journey.

11/23/2018: Brannough mingles with others in Gardenia Commons and is suddenly attacked.

• Brannogh arrives at Gardenia Commons and shortly after starting a conversation:
• A shrill whistle sounds over the raucous noises of the storm. The air seems to buzz with the sound, and a slight metallic tinge is felt at the back of your lower jaw, vibrating in time with the pulse of the whistle. When it ceases, the storm grows noticeably quieter, and the air around you lightens slightly.
• From the corner of your eye, you notice a flash of movement. Before you can identify the source, Brannogh screeches in pain and clutches his shoulder! From between his clenched fingers, rivulets of red form and mix with the rain, running down his tunic. Brannogh's jaw is clenched tight in pain, and he looks around wildly for some sign of his attacker.
• A brilliant white bolt of lightning flashes overhead, and the ground beneath your feet shakes violently at nearly the same instant as a harsh thunderclap fills the area. When the sight and sound fade slightly, the sound of Brannogh screaming become audible. You note that he is on his knees, clenching what appears to be a crossbow bolt protruding from his stomach.
• A dark shape steps out from the shadows and points a small crossbow directly at Brannogh. The injured man notices the shadowy figure and glares his defiance as the figure's finger squeezes the trigger and lets his bolt fly. Brannogh's expression changes from one of defiance to one of pain and fear as the bolt takes him in his right cheek! He crumples, shrieking in pain, and draws himself into a defensive curl.
• Roblar tells him to stop screaming and bite down on his blade, muttering "hoomans."
• Elspie arrives: Elspie rushes to Brannogh's side, crying out in alarm. She notes the crossbow bolts protruding from her husband's body, and turns a suddenly stony expression to the surrounding area. She surveys each shadow with barely suppressed rage, the whole while keeping one hand on Brannogh's shoulder. Her focused perusal of the area halts at one shadow in particular and her eyes narrow. She flings a hand in that direction, and a cloaked figure stumbles into view, dragged by an unseen hand despite his best efforts. When he is fully in view, Elspie clenches a fist and grates out a guttural phrase. When she finishes, the man crumples in on himself, shrieking in pain. He folds inwards again and again, until there is nothing left but the echoes of his last scream.
• A loud cry is heard from nearby, "It's not here! Plan B!" The sudden sound of movement seems to emanate from every shadow around you, rapidly fading away. Elspie looks around in confusion momentarily, glancing from face to face with an expression equal parts murderous rage and desperate panic. She slides her arms underneath Brannogh and lurches to her feet with a grunt. A young man makes to assist her, but she growls in his direction and he takes a careful step backward, holding his hands up in placation.
• A low, pulsing whistle fills the night air. The air regains its metallic tinge, and you note that with each pulse of the whistle, the night grows progressively darker. When the sound finally ceases, a massive bolt of lightning splits the night sky, and a roaring BOOM accompanies it! The rain redoubles its efforts, coming down once more in thick sheets.
• Staggering under Brannogh's weight, Elspie shrieks at the night sky in defiance, then stumbles east, glaring at any who dare to meet her eye.

11/25/2018: Elspie bids a tearful farewell to Brannogh as he succumbs to his injuries.

11/28/2018: Elspie holds a public memorial for Brannogh before events suddenly elscalate.

• Lady Elspie held a Memorial Service for her deceased husband Brannogh in the Garden of Sunset Cay where she said a few words about her beloved husband.
• Beginning with Sothog, adventurers noticed movement near the door to the house, interrupting the service, and asked if they could go in.
• Elspie and the adventurers go in and notice that her house is ransacked. Elysia asks Elspie about Elspie's hidden gift. Elspie reacts by running off to the bedroom.
• Elspie states her retirement gift from the Imperial Drakes was in the safe and it is missing.
• Elspie decides to talk to the Mist Harbor First Sergeant about the missing gift and her ransacked home.
• Anti-Imperialist Duvainiel arrives and begins mocking Elspie: "Speaking flatly to Elspie, Duvainiel accuses, 'Kint save 'er 'usband... kint save my 'ome... kint save no one... What use 'ave we fer ya?'"
• Nazhor is brought up. Elspie and the adventurers go to the pawnshop to speak with him.
• Nazhor arrives and Elspie flies at him in a rage: "her fists balled into glowing blue orbs! Nazhor steps backward and gestures lazily, and Elspie is thrown back against the far wall!"
• Elspie is arrested and in reply, "Nazhor happily says, 'I love it when things come together.'" Adventurers remark on how the First Sergeant and pawnshop owner seem to be in Nazhor's pocket.
• Nazhor indicates he's interested in Sunset Cay
• Duvainiel explains, "Nazhor ent got nuddin' on meh... 'e saved meh... Mebbe ya too dense ta recall what went down in ma home."
• Duvainiel receives a message and grins wickedly and then leaves.
• Adventurers search for Elspie at the First Sergeant's office and lockup. They cannot find her.
• Strange occurrences happen at Sunset Cay such as creaking noises and large handprints.

12/03/2018: Town Administrator Ilsola posts a public request, calling for an informational meeting about events leading up to Elspie's arrest.

12/06/2018: Town Administrator Ilsola holds a public meeting as she previously announced.

• Darcena hears "A quiet, feminine whisper reaches your ear, almost washed out by the night breeze. "-can hear this... must find out wha-... Nazh-...," then is lost completely."
• Khaell and Darcena have a conversation with the First Sergeant where he seems to forget that he had just said something with a notable demeanor change. He also claims he hasn't arrested anyone in a long time and doesn't know who Elspie is.
• Ilsola arrives and states she doesn't know what's going on and she hasn't been getting the reports she expects to get. She questions the First Sergeant about his role in Elspie's disappearance. The First Sergeant doesn't seem to remember Elspie coming to him to report the crimes against her and tells the sequence of events from a skewed perspective. "The First Sergeant cocks his head to one side, his gaze drifting to the horizon for a moment, then stands a bit straighter." He states he's drifting off.
• Adventurers fill in the gaps of what has happened from their perspectives. Duvainiel continues to claim that Elspie was trying to kill Nazhor. The First Sergeant continues to state he didn't arrest Elspie. Ilsola dismisses him. The First Sergeant states Ilsola can expect his resignation within the hour.
• Duvainiel states that Nazhor is her boss and she helps him in his shop.
• Darcena hears, "A whisper reaches your ear, tenuous on the night breeze, "They have put me here, believing it would contain my magic, but they are mistaken, at least for now. I regret asking you this, for we are yet strangers, but someone must find out what Nazhor is up to. Please, friend, find out his plan and stop him!"
• Ilsola and adventurers go to question Cendadric. Cendadric claims he doesn't know who Nazhor is, seems confused about the arrest, states he doesn't know who Elspie is, states "I would never sell my shop," then, "Cendadric blinks his eyes rapidly, cocking his head to one side, then opens them again with a wide smile." He then has a completely different demeanor.
• Ilsola summarizes the evening by telling adventurers that nothing can be done until they find Nazhor, that she will handle the changeover of the First Sergeant, that she will tell the town to watch for Nazhor and Elspie and contact her immediately if they're found, and that she would like everyone else to search and let her know.

12/08/2018: A brief vignette focuses on several prominent NPCs in the storyline. Elspie manages to get a discreet message out from where she is being held captive. Ilsola, haggard from constant work, hears it and immediately calls for a crier. The crier announces an urgent public meeting later that evening.

That evening, at the public meeting, Elspie's whispered voice can be heard by those gathered.

• Elspie whispers to the adventurers gathered at her dock.
• Elspie's voice drifts in on the breeze, her tone whispered but clear. "I'm reasonably certain this is working... the spells they wove into the cell aren't as strong as they seem to believe, and I've managed to find a way to get messages out... at least when Nazhor isn't nearby. Ilsola, hopefully you're there, and that you were able to get others as well."
• Elspie whispers, "Nazhor, Duvainiel, and at least two others are frequently here in this place with me, and believe me incapacitated inside this magical room. As a result, they haven't been particularly careful about discussing their plans, and I've managed to learn some things."
• Elspie whispers, "Nazhor has my necklace, and is using its power as part of some scheme. He doesn't have everything he needs, though. He's looking for... something else. Some source of power that he needs to complete whatever it is he's working on. He's got Duvainiel looking for it, but it's apparently well hidden. He's given her some sort of a token, and he's cast a spell on it to allow her to find this hidden item."
• Elspie whispers, "Unfortunately for him, I'm not incapacitated at all, and was able to both decipher his spells and emulate them after he left. I've managed to cast similar spells onto some of the coins that Bran-... That Brannogh used to give me every year. These spells are different from the ones that Nazhor laid upon Duvainiel's token... they will locate the item, but blanket it in an extra layer of concealment, keeping it from being located by Duvainiel."
• Elspie whispers, "From what I've been able to gather, none of the tokens will work if the individual charged with keeping the item safe is nearby, as they will simply reinforce the magics keeping it hidden if they witness any interference. Once you have located the item, you must ensure that its protector is not in the same room in order for the spells laid upon the coins to function properly."
• Elspie whispers, "The only clue I have is that Duvainiel has been instructed to focus her search on the docks of various cities. I'd suggest that you look there as well, and simply strive to beat Duvainiel to the target."
• Elspie whispers, "Please, take these coins and distribute them to any who are willing to help. Time is of the essence. Whatever Nazhor is after, he must not be allowed to gain control of it! His plans are... From what I have been able to ascertain, he seeks the complete destruction of Mist Harbor, and does not intend to stop there. Please, find this item, and protect it. This must be the first priority. Once he has been thwarted I shall put my efforts towards my own freedom. The spells they have used to bind me are not nearly strong enough to hold me for long, once I put my will towards escape!"
• Several delicate brass coins appear that have "All My Love" written on them
• Adventurers recall that Nazhor has been seen pestering Mazorn in River's Rest at his dock-side warehouse and that Mazorn had a chest at one point of which he was very protective; they leave for River's Rest
• Mazorn reluctantly allows adventurers inside the warehouse but refuses to tell them anything about the chest or where it is
• Adventurers convince Mazorn to leave the warehouse; upon raising the coins Elspie gave them, it pulses once with a bright, cerulean light. The light suffuses the area, highlighting the lines of every surface for a heartbeat, before slowly dissipating. Off to one side, however, a rectangular area retains a small portion of the cerulean glow.
• Duvainiel arrives and raises her iron spike high, and brings it down hard against her palm, piercing it! She gasps as blood flows from the wound, twining up the spike before dispersing into a very fine red mist. The mist sweeps around the room in a circular pattern before coalescing onto the cerulean-outlined space. As the mist gathers around it, the color shifts from a deep red to a pitch black. Once the last bit of blue is covered, there is an almighty *CRACK*, and the shape is gone.
• Duvainiel tells the adventurers that the boss thanks them for their help
• Mazorn is livid; Ilsola doesn't know what to do next, but eventually decides she is going to requisition more soldiers, double the watch, keep an ear out for Elspie, request Elspie's supervisor from the Drakes to see what he can tell them, and leaves

12/09/2018: Saved posts#Those Aren't Tears - Our Story So Far|A brief recap of the story is shared for those who are trying to catch up on recent events.

12/12/2018: Drehod helps to interrogate Penre before events abruptly escalate.

• Ilsola contacted Drehod, Elspie's commander at the Demonwall, to come and provide information about Elspie and help find her
• Drehod confirmed that Elspie is "one of the finest soldiers," a fighter, and "something else." He said her specialty was water mage of all sorts and the necklace that was stolen from the cottage has "a ridiculous level of power" and "water-life affinity"
• Drehod did some telepathic or mental magic that forced Penre to answer questions. Read the interrogation to see all that was learned
• Duvainiel killed Drehod and ran to the pawnshop where Nazhor was also located; they both leave with nothing resolved
• Ilsola expresses frustration that she doesn't know what to do
• Nazhor muzzles Darcena and many low-level water-based creatures show up and attack
• Adventurers hear ripples and unbalance whispered to them.

12/16/2018: Elspie is finally located and rescued in a daring group effort.

12/18/2018: A series of vignettes shows insight into the NPCs at the storyline's conclusion. Among those featured are Penre, Duvainiel, Mazorn, Elspie, Ilsola, Nazhor, and a young man at the Demonwall who finds an unsent letter left behind by Drehod.

Cast of Characters

• Brannogh - Elspie's husband
• Cendadric - a wealthy merchant and proprietor of Cendadric's Collectibles
• Drehod - Elspie's former commander at the Demonwall
• Duvainiel - a human from Talador and known associate of Nazhor
• Elspie - former Imperial Drake who retired in Mist Harbor
• Ilsola Tuulikki - the Town Administrator of Mist Harbor
• Mazorn - a wealthy human trader who spends most of his time at sea
• Mist Harbor's First Sergeant
• Nazhor - a shady figure recently arrived in Mist Harbor
• Penre - human merchant who came to Mist Harbor on the pretense of helping his friend, Nazhor

Official Vignettes

• Cendadric's Troubling Morning - 8/21/2018
• A Lady Drake in Transit - 9/27/2018
• Homecoming, for the first time - 11/1/2018
• Farewell. A Solitary Drake. Ever Onward. - 11/25/2018
• A Request, From Mist Harbor Town Administrator Ilsola Tuulikki - 12/03/2018
• A Cry for Help. A Window. A Dockside Meeting - 12/08/2018
• Those Aren't Tears - Finit - 12/18/2018

Logs

• Penre Peddles - 8/27/2018
• Brannough is Attacked - 11/23/2018
• Brannogh's Memorial and Elspie's Arrest - 11/28/2018
• A Meeting with Ilsola - 12/06/2018
• Elspie Gives a Mission - 12/08/2018
• Penre's Interrogation and Drehod's Death - 12/12/2018
• Elspie is Found - 12/16/2018

Additional Information

• Saved posts
• 2019 Premium OOC Meeting
• The Green Lady 2018 River's Rest storyline