The Saga of Annon...

A Campaign of love and rebirth in Talislanta

Plot Intro:

When the old and widowed Cymrilian third mage of the Cabal of Deren, Teralz, who grew lonely and withdrew from all his duties, decides to find companionship again, his former apprentice Tobril, is in for some adventures. His simple journey to deliver a message response and a package challenges him to acquire a windship crew, a larger vessel, and prepare for a voyage to the wilds of Werewood to obtain a made to order bride for his master Teralz.

The PCs:

• Tobril is the Cymrilian Warrior-Mage the initial plot revolves around. His master/teacher is Teralz. He's now a Journeyman wizard by necessity, not experience. Loaded with tons of "gifts" from Teralz' vaults, and his master's windskiff (the Shard of Annon), his first "quest" will lead him far beyond the safety of Zandu. Tobril's troubles are just beginning. This has all gotten MUCH BIGGER than a simple package delivery to Zir for his master Teralz.
  
  
• Deorig is a displaced Kang Bladesmith (custom template) who's survived capture by the Sauran during a border skirmish. He's worked his way free of indentured service to the Zandir captain, who "bought" him off a Sauran chieftain, because of his fine weapons crafting. With but his Falchion and rags for garb, he's a stranger in a strange land indeed: Zandu. His crafting of Red Iron and Kang-style blades is his ticket to survival, but he owes a life-debt Mya, the Ariane, as she was a friend of his former windship captain, Volunelle. When the windship crashed – just 5 days prior – Mya saved both his life and the captain's. Volunelle, knowing it would be many months before her ship would be airworthy gave Deorig over as an indentured servant to Mya. Suffice to say, that had not Mya saved him as well, he'd have killed Volunelle for the insult. However, seeing as it would be but 2 more months before his debt would be paid, and he'd be friend, he grudgingly agreed to the terms.
  
  
• Mya is an Ariane Druas doing what seekers do best... experiencing the world as it exists at this moment. She's been away from Altan for some 2 years, mostly exploring the major cities of the Seven Kingdoms & Zandu. She yearns to see some of the wilds of the continent now, but knows that's foolish to do alone. Despite her voluptuous frame and reserved demeanor, Mya is known to hasten peoples' next incarnation if they become violent toward her... you wouldn't like her when she's angry. Mya, despite no desire to have one, has been coerced – in friendly ways – to have Deorig, the Kang, as her indentured servant for his two remain months of servitude. Despite the arrangement, she treats him as a free creature, but Deorig is determined to satisfy his debt.
  
  
• Chiang Quang-Di (pronounced 'Chin-cher-hu-awn-di') is a member of the Nizrini Guard (custom template) – the "winged" division of the Phantasian Guardians that has taken to riding a unique form of winged beast, the Nizrini, as part of the sky guarding duties (Chiang riding his Nizrini – by unknown Japanese artist). While many are attached to a given patrolling windship, most roam quite independently, scouting in places too far or too dangerous to take Phantas' aging windships. The Nizrini is both a flying and land creature, making it quite versatile. Many breeders and naturalists have longed to see/own one of these rare creatures, whose origins are a well kept Phantasian secret – any Phantasian selling their secret will be subjected to the Endless Scream – a permanent infusion of a person's worst nightmare. Chiang is on his way to the office of the Phantasian Ambassador of Zir, Aratus, for some info and new orders.
  
  
• Zarafa is a Sarista Fortune Teller with a flare for the dramatic, enticing, and mysterious. She rarely stays more than a week with any given Sarista band (she seems to be looking for someone), and most Sarista know not of her, or her powers, but all agree she's powerful. Many Sarista men have fallen for her only to be ignored... but in Zandu she's finding their endless, yet humorous advances wearing thin. Before she goes insane from the incessant offers, she wants to get out of Zandu. Rumors at the bizarre in Zir indicated a woman matching her mother's name and description "may" be Yrmania – like that's convenient. She also knows Izolde, the Zandir, by way of a robbery she "accidentally" aided. The Highwaymen Izolde ran with decided that as a Sarista she could be trusted not to squeal, and as incentive gave her a cut of the robbed goods – Izolde's idea.
  
  
• Izolde Farrukh (pronounced 'ez-ole-day' 'far-uke') is a Zandir Duelist. Despite that smooth talking Zandir exterior, she's obviously pissed off the wrong person; she seems to constantly be looking over her shoulder. It's obvious, she's not suffering from a shortage of coin, as she wears some of the finest armor and wields some equally fine weapons: incl. a blue iron bastard sword. Rumors have it that a group of very successful highwaymen used blue iron weapons in northern Zandu, but they've all been brought to justice (hmmmm?). Obviously eager to get out of Zir, maybe all of Zandu, Izolde's ready to hire her sword off to anyone. In a fluke of fate, the Sarista she and her band met many moons ago, aids her in selling some "acquired" goods to a Sarista merchant. The chance meeting may work out to the best.

Some of the Initial NPCs:

• Teralz is an aging, but respected member of the Cabal of Deren – a powerful group in Cymril. He's now retired from the affairs of Cymril. His wife 'was' Annon.
  
  
• Annon was the wife of Teralz, and a powerful political figure in Cymril, until her assassination. Her grace and presence were the talk of Cymril; Teralz never recovered from her death.
  
  
• Aratus is an old Phantasian merchant and friend of Teralz, who's found a way for Teralz to regain his beloved Annon, but at a price. Tobril is sent to acquire this new Annon with Aratas working as the middleman.
  
  
• Samara is a Jaka Manhunter who's been rescued from a 'frame-up' by a benefactor, Aratus, who's hired her to guard a young Cymrilian and his soon-to-be companion. Unfortunately, upon their first meeting, she and Tobril can see problems. Samara and Tobril part ways amicably.

Teralz' Background...

The Teralz of today is brooding and somber – opposite of his former self. When his wife Annon, a willful and controversial politician in Cymril, was gruesomely murdered three years ago (and her killer never found), Teralz withdrew from everything. After a year without her, he couldn't stand living in Cymril anymore, for it reminded him constantly of his life without her. He, along with a minimum of his servants and students, moved from their estate in Cymril, to the tradeport of Zantium, in Zandu.