The Dawn land Chapter 1. Is this Fate?

The Carriage clattered across the ancient brick that was once laid in this town. This town Is where our story starts.

The City of Freyford was built on the banks of a carefully crafted harbor and is truly an ancient curiosity. Its wonder is matched by the backdrop of rich, luscious fields which have helped shape the city to what it is today.

The trade resources these fields brought were of great importance, but they were also influential when it came to architectural designs as the vast majority of buildings have been built with an abundance of large windows to mimic the openness of fields.

The skyline is sprinkled with towering watch towers and they clearly show what they represent to the city itself. Education is superb in Freyford and it has attracted a lot of attention. Countless cultures have left their mark not just on education, but also upon the city's identity. What was historically a city of few cultures has grown into a new culture of variety and it's this that unites the 12 million people to this day.

It's this multicultural identity that has truly left its mark. Hundreds of taverns, inns and a mercenaries guild that sits near the center of the town. The buildings all build in an old gothic like architecture.

A man at the young age of 18 pushed into the town square… a place he had not set foot  since he was a child. Not out of guilt or shame but out of purpose. His god called on him and he answered even if those tasks took him years. His name is Malcom Ravenwood of the Ravenwood family and even if he is far too charismatic for his own good, he finds himself back home… His leather boots clattered across the stone as he approached the large castle that was once his home. Now a shambled mess of broken walls and collapsed towers. In the one remaining tower, he saw the flicker of a candle that drew him in closer.  He stepped into the throne room where his father once sat… the carpet that lined the hall is now torn and dusty. The deeper he went into his once old home, it blocked out more and more of the midday sun. He ran his leather gloved hand across the remaining stone that held the building up. A flood of memories hit him with each emotion of his childhood. From running around as a child to the difficult drills of arms and armors when he was a tween. And to the powerful call of his goddess. He walked forwards with dedication. As he passed his father's old room, he found it still closed much like it was when he was a child. He climbed the stairs to reach the room of that flickering candle only to find a hanging body that gently swayed in the wind. The candle was a magical flame that burned but was starting to lose its presence. With precision, he quickly pulled the dagger from his hip and cut down the body… his eyes wandered across the room. A stack of letters sat on the mite ridden dresser. With some hesitation he palmed the letter. And the letter read so.

“The Ravenwoods have left this place… once a happy home with My lord and lady. However after her death and his son's birth… the lord fell more and more into his room… he refused to eat or even see the town's men… each time the king called on him he would walk past his son with a simple pat on the head… I feel sorry for Ser Malcom, my lord's son… I hope he does not really… hate his father… It was such a hard change to lose your wife then suddenly have a son to care for without the mother's guidance. My lord tried his best to raise a man. And it seems to be so… Ser Malcolm cares for us. He talked to us for hours and was really a loving boy. But even he has left us… I’ll stay here for as long as I can, just in case they come back… they would not like to see their home in shambles.” - Melisa Marquee

Malcom folded the letter and placed it in his bag in a quick pace as he brought the body out to the back. To the ruins of the once standing pagoda. With some effort and a few hours of his day, he buried the body. With some stone from the crumbled walls, he used it as a head stone. And with an arrow from his quiver he marked the name on the head stone as Melisa Marquee. Malcolm proceeded to go back into town to find a person to assist him in rebuilding his castle. Heading to the local tavern called the Ironside Brewery, he quickly made his way to the closest dwarf upon entering. With some convincing and all of his disposable income, the dwarf named Mittlefink Finewizzle joined him In making Ravenwood Keep into Ravenwood Lounge. With some money worries in mind, he quickly made his way to the nearby mercenaries guild to register as an official member. 

However, near the center of town, enters Tsuke. A rather buff wizard in search of secret spells and knowledge. So he made his way to the local library. With some investigating and a few spells cast, he found a magical book that held a new spell however the librarian stated that it was cursed and under investigation by the local clerics so he developed a plan to steal it for later tonight. So he stood outside of the building in wait.

Entering the town with a random band of people was Catho. A tabaxi in search of treasure and joy. He made his way rather quickly to the local magical shop, Peare’s magical items. Upon entering, he found a rather elderly gentleman named Peare and a small stuffed dragon. It brought extreme intrigue to his mind however the price of this stuffed dragon was far too much for a lone tabaxi to bear. So he offered his help in Peare’s shop in exchange for the doll. With some convincing and sneaking around, Cathro made his way into town stealing whatever he could from the pockets of the town people.

And so the three fates were intertwined and bound. Catho stole from Tsuke. In the process, Malcome saw this and thought of the opportunity. Gaining a few allies. With some convincing, complications and some money exchanged, the three made a plan to steal Tsuke’s book. With the failed attempts of picking the lock, they managed to break in using the softer wall of the library. A few spells were cast, and they found that there was no real way to get the book without breaking the rather thick glass that covered it. With some investigation from Tsuke, he found that the glass can’t be broken by magic alone. So Catho and Tsuke made their way to the local inn as Malcolm went back home to assist in the rebuilding process.

The next morning of a new day, Cathro and Tsuke were awoken by the sound of marching. 

The ground trembles as an army of 70,000 strides onwards. A barrage of noise from thousands of individual steps. It would take a brave or stupid soul to not be intimidated by this army.

Up close, it's the rustling of chainmail and leather which overpowers all other sounds. The creaking of wood and metal of the siege engines can be heard only faintly and the growls and grunts of the war animals are all but drowned out completely.

The noise is too overwhelming to allow any conversation to take place but the soldiers are far too focused on the battle ahead anyway. The entire army is as one. Everybody has the same mindset and the same goal in mind: crush the enemy and enjoy it while it lasts.

The front is led by eager charge units armed with swords and shields. They're followed by foot soldiers armed with huge maces and axes who in turn are followed by elite foot soldiers armed with pikes.

The ranks are filled with many other regiments, including allied soldiers, as well as slave soldiers, including stealth units, various charging units, various flanking units and different types of archery units.

A woman in golden armor with trims of silver sat atop a white stallion. Her blondish red hair flew in the wind as the Men marched forwards. The banner they held was white with a golden rose in the center.  Soon they pass through the town and Tsuke and Catho leave the inn. Catho spent his morning at the shop whileTsuke spent some time looking around in the local shops. A group of 5 men marched into town. Along with them is a female slave. Tsuke brought this to Catho’s attention as the two quickly broke out the woman and brought her back to the inn. With some questioning and some figuring, the woman did not know why she was chained up. The tattoos on her arms, neck and eye were clear indicators of her slave status. With a pause, the two made the choice to assist her. They name her Lucy. The two humbly requested to stay in Mr. Peare’s shop as there were many open rooms and Mr Peare gladly agreed. For the first time since they had seen Mr Peare, he was smiling. The 4, Lucy, Catho, Tsuke and Mr, all enjoyed a night’s dinner. 

In the dead of the night, Catho And Tsuke attempted to sneak out to attempt another move on the book. However with Lucy in the kitchen as she was cleaning dishes, they were forced to bring her along. Due to the previous attempt of stealing the book, the library was under guard. With a sleeping spell cast and a punch across the face was set on the guards on duty. Stealing the Book with the major assistance of Lucy, they went back to Peare’s shop and bedded down for the night.

The next morning Malcom woke up to a knock at his door. A woman. The leader of the Golden Roses. They needed a place to stay. In exchange for allowing the Golden Roses to hold the area, Malcolm gained coin and another connection In the Shrouded Vale’s military. Malcom made arrangements for the Golden Roses. 

Mr. Peare woke the three with good news. He explained that he would be moving his shop into Ravenwood Longue. Catho, Lucy and Tsuke assisted him in this process. Malcom, desperate for staff, hired Catho And Tsuke as staff and to assist him with the unending requests of the General Commander of the Golden Roses.

A few weeks passed, Catho, Tsuke and Lucy were in a nearby guest house. The wall burst open and goblins ran in, taking food and drink. A few spells were cast, some arrows fired and blades swung, Tsuke, Catho and Lucy were able to stop the random goblin attack. Cathro, being knocked down in combat, was quickly brought back to the castle to rest. Tsuke noticed the off behavior with Lucy. Failing to understand or comprehend the nature of her magic,Tsuke could only offer to help. During that night, Malcom had a dream of his goddess and the nearby god tree. With a word of warning and caution, the goddess left him.

On the last day of the Golden Roses, they paid well and marched north to meet the king's court. Malcome and Tsuke fell into discussion. With Tsuke’s worry about Lucy’s powers and the cautionary dreams of Malcom, the two choose to visit the nearby god tree with Lucy along the way. The 3 spend 8 days walking their way to the tree. Halfway there, they encountered two large spiders. Thankfully, no one was harmed in the process. The large tree sat on a large tomb. And ancient ruins. The 3 chose not to explore this. However, the answers they were expecting to gain were not here. After taking a night’s rest by the tree, they took the coast to head back to Freyford. To the south of them is the empire of the Fractioned Vale. A trade ship sailed alongside them a few hundred feet away. With some shifting and movement, they were able to return to Freyford in a quick 8 days. As they returned, the 4 gathered together. Malcom, Lucy, Tsuke and Catho. Headed towards the Harsh Isle, SouthWest from Frayford. After a 13 day travel, avoiding a young red dragon and a chance encounter with a pair of tigers, they were able to enter the small town of Dawnburgh.

The city of Dawnburgh was built amidst the green grasses of a gentle field and is truly a leading-edge marvel. Its allure is matched by the backdrop of a dormant volcano which has helped shape the city to what it is today.

The riches this volcano brought were of great importance but they were also influential when it came to architectural designs as the vast majority of buildings have been built with volcanic rocks and similar looking materials.

The skyline is packed with luxurious towers and more seem to be on their way. Recreation is impeccable in Dawnburgh and it has attracted a lot of attention. Many new cultures have left their mark not just on education, but also upon the city's identity. What historically was a city of predictability has grown into a multicultural hub and it's this that unites the 9 million people to this day.

The 4 entered the volcanic brick gate as they walked down the road of the same kind of brick. The 4 saw a group of children playing in the street. With a yell, one kid said “Can you kick us back our ball?”. Tsuke step forwards. With a little bit of run up, he pushed forwards and kicked the ball with all his might. However, the ball did not shift. Tsuke’s foot crushed against the hard ball. Tsuke fell to the ground clutching his foot. From the shadows, a child ran up and took Tsuke’s money pouch. With a flick of his hand, Tsuke cast a spell on Catho as he chased down the kid. Dodging a few traps and well placed distractions, Catho stole back the money from the kid. As Tsuke attempted to stand, Lucy’s arm darted down as she grabbed another child's hand. As she attempted to take Malcom’s money pouch. Tsuke is finally fed up with the games of these children. He casts a spell, pulling on the fabric of reality to hold the child in place. With a frustrated grab, he brings the little girl to the nearby guards asking for punishment for the little girl. Catho then rejoins the party as they wander around town. Tsuske went to the library with Lucy as Catho walked around the shopping district. While in the Library, Tsuke got abducted by a random hooded figure. Lucy, in search of Tsuke, found catho around the shopping district. The 4 agreed to meet back at the Stone Ironbrew Inn so they went there to wait for Tsuke. they entered the Stone Ironbrew Inn.

From the outside, it looks clean, cheerful and well maintained. Bricks and stone beams make up most of the building's outer structure.

It's tough to see through the closed windows but the entertainment from within can be felt outside.

As they enter the tavern through the old wooden door, they are welcomed by a sense of home and a feeling of comfort.

The bartender is quite busy, but still manages to welcome them with a friendly nod.

It's as lovely inside as it is on the outside. Marble pillars support the upper floor and the torches attached to them. The walls are covered in photographs of personal achievements, all related to the nearby mountain. Some of the people who reached the summit and others are simply of happy people..

The tavern itself is packed. Travelers seem to be the primary clientele here, which often means great company. Several long tables are occupied by what must be separate groups who have bonded over great food and conversation. The other, smaller tables are also occupied by people who are singing and dancing, occasionally pulling an unsuspecting waitress amidst their dancing group. Even most of the stools at the bar are occupied though nobody seems to mind more company.

They did hear rumors about this tavern. Supposedly, it's famous for something but they can't remember what for. Though judging by the smells of grilled and cooked food coming from the kitchen, it must be the food. They manage to find a seat and prepare for what will undoubtedly be a great evening. 

They sat around in wait for tsuke… After a few hours passed, Tsuke finally entered with magical shackles around his arms. They brought him up to their room as they tried to devise a plan to remove these shackles. Catho went out to employ the help of a smith he met along his walk. Hylia Deforge, a drow elf smith. They went back to the inn and with a quick spell cast and a quick lock pick, Tsuke was free. They paid Hylia and the party went to sleep.  Malcom, after a few hours of rolling around in bed, he found himself waking up… The sound of screaming in the street made Malcolm hop out of bed. Putting on his boots, he ran downstairs. Seeing a man on his back as he’s crawling away from a figure. A figure in a bone white deer head mask. A large staff with dangling chains and charms. Malcom steps in between the two. “What do you want?” Malcolm said as he held out his hand to push against this figure. With a voice of a hundred people speaking at one, it says one word. The man behind Malcolm starts convulsing as he starts to rot before Malcome’s eyes. Then in a gut reaction, he takes a step back. The figure picks up a bone finger from the body as it hangs it on the staff. And the figure continues to walk down the street. Malcolm tried to keep pace. Asking questions. The figure stops to look at the gallows. Malcolms eyes track the figure. But as he turns his head, he sees a child's body hanging. With a step back, he pauses…His heart races… The Child that Tsuke turned in… Hung there… He turned to look at the figure but it was already gone. With a hundred things on his mind, he heads to the back to the inn.. As he approaches the room, he notices the door slightly ajar. With his hand on his goddesses symbol, he slowly enters the door. A force spell charged in between his fingers. A Figure stands over Tsuke’s book. With a quick snap of her fingers, the forces of reality bend. As Malcom is held in place by thin strings of reality. The thick white mask hid the face. A thick leather with a light robe.

“We can just talk,” Malcolm said as he drew in the spell he was about to cast.
“It seems my cover has been blown… I should have known a Ravenwood would have gotten me in trouble once again.”
“Okay, you know me, but I do not know you..” Malcolm replied as the figure sat on the table crossing her legs.
“Yes, I do know who you and your party are. And I must tell you now that you should stop your quest.”
“What Quest?”
“If I’d tell you… you would only look into it more.”

With her hand on Tsuke’s book, she tore a page. And proceeded to walk out of the room. As the spell dropped, Lucy walked out of the room she was staying in to talk to Malcom. The worry in Lucy’s and Malcom's head stayed for some time however they soon found sleep once again. 

The next day, Malcom was up early. In search of coins and some form of a distraction. He went off and picked up a few assignments from the nearby quest board. Despite the quest board being full of missing people. Malcom took up a quest about a band of bandits that were causing problems nearby. Along the way, Malcolm came across Lucy. Some conversation was held with the two as Malcolm and Lucy find the bandits. A few hours later and after an extremely intense negotiation, Malcolm was able to talk the bandits into going to Frayford to work under him. The bandits turned out to be soldiers who stayed from the ongoing war in search of healing items. And this is where Malcom enlists the help of a tiefling ranger named Ashvale Asani. The 2 and the bandits head into town and celebrate their new purpose in life. Tsuke now wakes up and brings Catho along with him as the party sits at the table to discuss what they should do next.  Tsuke, still interested in his books, takes Malcom and Ash along to the library. Catho and Lucy head to the nearby volcano to inspect it

Malcom, Ash and Tsuke found themselves at the library. With some investigation, they found the magical books and spells. Tsuke being a wizard but an unlicensed one was not allowed entry. They attempt to gain access to the books by bribing the librarian. But as Malcom slid the coin towards the librarian, a full plate gauntlet slammed down on his hand. As he turned to look, they saw a knight templar looking at them… His voice low and deep. “Bribing a city official… I’ll be taking you two in.” He proceeded to shackle Tsuke and Malcom. And walked towards the town square.

Catho and Lucy walked their way to the once active volcano. They had a soft and decent conversation. But was cut off as they found a nearby quarry. After asking some questions and finding some odd things about the volcano, the two went back. As they entered the town, they saw Malcom and Tsuke being dragged around by a templar. Catho sent Lucy off as he chose to follow Malcom and Tsuke. Catho followed them as they entered the town hall. As Catho tried to sneak past the guards he was quickly stopped.

“Sorry… I just want to see what happened to my friends” Catho said as he gestured at Tsuke and Malcom. 

They guards looked at each other and they reached out to shackle Catho. But with one shackle on his arm, he bolted and the guards gave chase.

Malcom and Tsuke, after some tense negotiations, were able to explain the situation. With some time in the stockades and a fine, Malcolm and Tsuke were set free. Catho met up with them, followed by Lucy then Ash. As they went out to find a way to replace the coin that they had just lost, Malcom spotted that white figure from last night. She sat on roof tops and watched the party from a distance. With a deep breath, he brought the party out of town. 

Explaining to the party about what had happened the night before, it sends chills down everyone's spine… They agree to escape town… but have not yet replenished their rations for the travel. So they sent Catho back into town… It’s the middle of the night and most shops are closing down. With no rations in sight, Catho returned to the party. And informed them of the situation. The party headed back into town. Staying in the inn, they chose to take rotational watches throughout the night. But it was Tsuke that caught something with the help of his spell to sense the amount of magic in the area. He woke the party as they went to investigate the large amount of magic in the area. With a quick walk about, they found the same white masked woman in the area. And so they brought out their weapons. But as they were about to confront her, she summoned a demon. 

The fight was intense and happened in a matter of seconds. Ash went down. Followed by Lucy.  Malcom was near death. The demon realized he can’t take the party so he tried to escape. With Malcoms last amount of energy in his system, he fired off a hail mary that hit the demon in the back. The demon came tumbling down to the stone floor. As the party stood over the demon, it reached out and grab Malcom’s boot and solely said

“BRAZAG”. Malcolm shook his foot loose as the corpse of the demon slowly withered away. 

With a quick conversation with the templar captain, they were given a week’s free stay at the inn. In return, they needed to figure out what happened to all the missing people in town.

With that in my the party took a breather before their next day of adventure