Chapter 01: A Strange Summons

From all over the city you converge onto the Menthis Plateau, to the University District in Upper Menthis, where Morgrave University is located. Upon arrival and giving your name, you are escorted through well manicured grounds and hallowed halls to a set of large doors deep inside the University.

As you all are assembled, you are greeted by a gnome with a pointed white beard and twinkling blue eyes. "Hello, hello. I am Lassias Lynn Lanador, Dean of the School of Draconic Prophecy. You all have been summoned because the great Flamewind has seen that you are tied to a piece of the Draconic Prophecy. Please prepare yourselves to be touched by greatness, as very few are called to be part of the Prophecy."

With that the double doors open, and Lassias leads you inside a great hall, at the other end of which is a large dais of polished stone. Sitting on the dais is a sphinx. She has the body of a giant lion, but orange stripes mark her deep black fur, and seem to ripple as she breathes. Her great falcon wings are pure black and folded over her back. Her face is that of a beautiful elf woman with feline features. Her black hair has the same pattern of orange stripes running through it. She gazes upon you, but says nothing.

Then, suddenly, Flamewind speaks! "Kyras Blackthorne, Dane Gareth, Tapu, Lady Kue, and Contemplation. I have brought you here on a matter of grave import. You are brave, and bold, and spoken of in prophecy." Her eyes light with an arcane blue glow, and she speaks again, almost as if in a trance now. "When Madness and Night align, and innocent blood waters the dark tree, the Brave and the Bold must claim the Coat of Eyes, and bear this burden for the good of all."

Her eyes return to their former bronze shade, and she lowers her head. "I have spoken." She then says no more.

Lassias begins to clap and bounce up and down with excitement. "Marvelous! Simply marvelous."

Lassias turns to Tapu. "You're correct, normally the Prophecy is hard to decipher. It can sometimes take years to understand the meaning of a passage. Fortunately in this case we have some advantages. We know that Madness and Night "aligning" likely has to do with the conjunctions of the planes of Xoriat and Mabor, which will happen in about a month's time. And it just so happens that an associate of mine received word about something called the Coat of Eyes just yesterday. I think it's clear that your to seek out this Coat and claim it before something horrible happens during the planar conjunction."

Lassias looks at Kyras with a frown on his face. "Don't you see how momentous this is? You've become a part of history just by being named by the prophecy. Why wouldn't you follow where it leads?"

Lassias' face softens. "Ah yes... yes of course... you'll need to be funded. Well as a dean here at the University of Morgrave I can certainly fund an expedition to retrieve an ancient artifact. Let's see, you'll need to travel to the Shadow Marches where your contact is, so you'll need supplies for the trip. And of course funds for unforeseeable out of pocket expenses. I think I should be able to swing about 2500 galifars for the journey."

Lassias nods. "Your arguments are reasonable. I can get as much as $4000 for you all. But you should leave as soon as possible. It's a long way to the Shadow Marches."