It is the month of Harvester (the 9th month) of the Common Year 579 in the lands of Oerth. His Grace, Count Delcar, has secured for himself through economy and mighty contribution, his title and the misbegotten and long forgotten lands of the County of Eiberin. In this frontier, Delcar finds himself neighbors to the Shield Landers (to the east) and across the Crystal river to the north lies the accursed lands of the Horned Society and beyond that, the demonic domain called Iuz. On the Furyondi side of the Crystal river, there is a village, but it is comprised of the cast offs of kingdom of Furyondi. Count Delcar has arrived, with entourage and introduced himself. His reception among the locals was tepid at best and challenged immediately by the local preacher an elderly disciple of Cuthbert faith calling himself Rodrick. Normally disciples of Cuthbert are content to live by the rule of law and support their liege openly. What could cause such a man of the cloth to such instant ire? Did I forget to mention that Delcar is a Drow? If I had, it would become obvious, for few are willing to look past that salient detail. Sadly the popular saying, “The only good Drow is a dead Drow, isn’t off the mark. In a short time, his lordship, the Count, has acquired a retinue of youths with which to start a school. Delcar has been the recipient of dark visions, and fears for a violent issue. He has identified about a dozen pupils with incredible potential with which to prepare for the coming storm. But the Count Delcar has not been idol. No, he has also taken himself a bride in the way of a former fellow adventurer, namely the Halfling Neltara. Yes, they seem an unlikely match, she being light of demeanor and coloration, spirited and spry, where he is not. Now with all gathered (mostly) it is time for the County to settle down and get to the grim business at hand. |