City of IF

[JezSharp]

Warning! Although this summary gives a pretty accurate narrative of the storyline some Chapters may contain important details not covered in the summary - including information that may be helpful to this dp and future dp's as I like to occasionally drop subtle clues within the sg to help guide the players to the correct course of action! (Subtle enough hopefully though that it is far from guaranteed that even the more dedicated readers will make the right choice :lol: )

However you don’t need to have been reading in depth to comment on and play this SG :). The SG is hopefully beneficial to those who read the story in depth, watching and observing all that goes on and thinking carefully about what to do next - as well as those who just glance over the storyline and wish to comment on where the dp should go. Although I recommend the former as it enables you to form a closer bond with the world that they’re a part of, people who have just skimmed over or read the summary may well come up with the most original and unusual ideas for where the dp can go and so are just as vital in contributing to the sg.

Hope the summary is useful, Chapter 5 Grave Trouble should be released in about a days time.

The story so far...

Prologue

A prisoner ship is blown of course by a freak electric storm on its journey to the outer rim. The captain espies a newly formed galaxy and manages to find a hospitable world upon which to land his ship. Before he does he orders that all the ships power should be directed to ensuring Cell A is kept shut.

Chapter 1: Every Good Story Begins With a First Step

Elvendor, a young male elf, decides to leave his home to seek adventure in the wider world - something that is very uncommon for an elf to do. He sets out West, walking out of the woods, descending the red cliffs that overlook the Eastern Downs and entering Timburton. He finds the place strangely quiet and whilst sitting in the main square discovers a curious device that his father had slipped into his pocket as he left home. Suddenly he is approached by a group of men holding pitchforks who are clearly uneasy at the sight of an elfin stranger in their town. What should he do?

Chapter 2: A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

Elvendor makes signs that he wants food and drink and the men, realising that he doesn't mean any harm back off. The owner of the Inn supplies Elvendor with food and drink. Elvendor discovers a note also left by his father that tells him two things: Firstly - the strange device will allow him to speak and understand countless languages. Secondly - that when he finds a mysterious object alluded to as 'The Jade' he must not let out what lies within it at all costs - he must also never mention 'The Jade' to any other person.

Elvendor activates the strange device and starts to speak in fluent English - rousing the suspicions of the locals, but is saved by the arrival of Alex upon the scene. The two quickly become friends and agree to set out together from Timburton. Heading West they come upon a crossroad and must decide which way to head.

Chapter 3: Kostenton City

The pair decide to head West - to the human capital of Kostenton City, passing through Taloth on the way. They enter Kostenton City safely but attract the unwanted attention of Mayor Constantine who invites them to visit his large Town Hall. The Mayor talks informally with them, asking about how they came together and where they are heading, then allows them to ask one question about the land they are in.

Chapter 4: A Secret Shattered

Elvendor and Alex ask if there are any quests that they can leave on and Mayor Constantine proceeds to tell them of a quest in the Rusheldon Hills - all the parties that have set out Southwards into them have become lost or been scared off by frightening creatures. He asks if they will accept the quest - the pair agree to think it over.

Unbeknown to Elvendor however, the Mayor has had a copy of all the items within Elvendor’s bag copied down whilst they were talking to him - including the note from his father that Elvendor had repeatedly forgotten to destroy. The Mayor translates the note and starts to make plans to obtain 'The Jade' for himself...

During the rest of the day they go shopping, and discover that Elvendor's father and mother almost certainly passed through Kostenton City a little over twenty years past. Elvendor is intensely curious - not least because he has never found out what fate befell his mother. Running low on Goldents the pair are faced with the choice of pursuing the adventures of Elvendor's parents (that seem to point towards the dwarven lands), seeking work in Kostenton or Port Kranthos or topping up their dwindling supplies by accepting the Mayor's quest.

The pair have now decided to take up the Mayor’s quest and are setting out for the Rusheldon Hills (therefore reading the very start of Chapter 4 where the Mayor describes some of the recent happenings in the Rusheldon Hills is probably a good idea ;) ) seeking to discover what exactly is going on in the mysterious Southern Hills.

[JezSharp]

Summary of Chapters 5 - 8

Warning - as usual the summary may well miss out details that could be useful to know later on.

Chapter 5: Grave Trouble

Elvendor and Alex decide to accept the Mayor's quest and set out South for the Rushledon Hills - well equipped for the journey ahead. Behind them the Mayor's spy, Regan, and his black raven, Gail, set out to follow their course in the hope that it will eventually lead to the Jade.

Passing through Haifa they head up into the scenic, rocky hills. Quickly the agricultural land structure gives way to a more wild natural one. Stopping to rest in a valley for the night the pair are woken by thudding noises. They observe coming towards them a vast army of glowing skeletons, all armed and moving steadily towards them. What should they do?

Chapter 6: Mind Games

Elvendor moves towards the group, convinced that they can't be real. Throwing a rock at a lead skeleton he observes it pass through. Boldly he allows himself to be surrounded and 'threatened' by the skeletons before all the skeletons disintergrate to form a white wall of powder. This re-formed as a giant skeleton that bent down and screamed at the qualms that they had been riding - scaring them away - then it vanished into a bright flash of light.

Elvendor and Alex continue South, somewhat dejected, and come across the old abbey - ignoring various voices and visions that try to scare and confuse them on the way. They move on past the abbey and discover the graves of several beings who had been killed by a 'red winged beast'.

As they journey through the highest points of the hills such a beast appears pursuing a man who stumbles against them claiming he is the last of a group who had journeyed South. as he runs fire swallows him up , then the dragon turns its attention upon Elvendor and Alex...

Chapter 7: The Mage Uncovered

After unleashing arrows into its weakened body Elvendor notices that the arrows seem to shiver and move mid - flight. Suddenly he realises the dragon might not be real, in which case the old man must have been the mage behind the illusions. Running over to where the man disappeared he finds footprints leading away from the spot where he vanished, the dragon exploding overhead.

They follow the footprints to a pine strewn valley where they start to vanish. They deicide to rest overnight and follow the fottprints in a straight line from where they began to disappear. When they wake the next morning a mist has sprung up within the valley but they are still able to find their way through the valley to the other side where Alex discovers a secret enterence into the hillside.

Following it into the hill they finally discover Simeon, the mage behind the many various tricks played upon them, however he seems to be hiding something. As they sit there a knock is heard echoing through the room, Elvendor discovers that it is coming from a trapdoor in the corner of the room and opens it to see a strange creature known as a leprechaun standing on a ladder carrying a basket. It drops this onto the floor of the room and disappears down the ladder.

Chapter 8: Captives

Shutting the door Elvendor demands an explanation from Simeon. Reluctantly he agrees to tell all, revealing that there is in fact a hidden city that he and his ancestors have taken upon themselves to protect using their special talents with 'heavy energy'. As he is explaining this the trapdoor flings open and Elvendor and Alex are held at gun point by a group of leprechauns. They are taken captive and drugged.

Later they are brought into the throne room of Queen Remera who disguises herself in order to frighten the pair into telling the truth before revealing her true nature. She does however have bad news to give them, that they cannot just go free from the hidden city as the Council are unsure as to whether they can be trusted. She invited them to think of a way to get round this...

[JezSharp]

Author's Note: A big thanks to all who have voted, supported, and commented on Elvendor, I should have the next Chapter out v.shortly, until then here's a summary of 9 - 12 for those who wish to catch up to the present Chapter, however as per usual I must post a warning that by reading the summary you may miss small details that could well affect the sg later on.


Chapter 9: The Caves of the Krantle

Elvendor and Alex accept to undertake a task for the leprechauns to prove their loyalty and ensure their freedom. Whilst waiting for the elders to decide if this should be allowed, and what the task should be, they wander around the concealed City of Haven. They meet a young leprechaun named Strit who shows them the central building filled with curious artefacts that are kept on display - that have not been seen outside of the hidden city. They go back to his parents for lunch, then are called to the Council for their decision.

It is decided that they should try to broker a peace deal with the leprechauns enemies the Krantle, something the leprechauns have been unable to do themselves because of the animosity that exists between the two races. They accept and so both of them, with Simeon (the ‘mage’) and Mike (leprechaun guard) travel into the tunnels that wind south east and under the red cliffs upon which the elfin lands sit. Eventually they hear a lone Krantle approach from a side corridor, another appears to lead to escape and freedom, what should they do?

Chapter 10: Sacrifice

Elvendor decides to continue with the mission and approach the creature. After a brief ‘talk’ the group are surrounded and Elvendor escorted to the Queen of the Krantle’s where he opens negotiations. The result is that they are left with a dilemma.

The Queen can only accept peace if a leprechaun takes the place of the Krantle that died in the initial skirmish which led to the hostility, they can return and consult Remera but by doing so the sacrifice would become four, the Queen evidently wary of trickery. Mike agrees to be the sacrifice, Elvendor desperately tries to find a way to avoid it being the case.

Chapter 11: Freedom Comes At a Price

Mike dies, as a sacrifice to bring the two races together as friends. Remera (the leprechaun Queen) is at first deeply unhappy, but comes to see that it had to be the case and grants them their freedom. In addition Simeon asks to join the group and so all three set off from the City of Haven, but are unsure which way to head.

Chapter 12: Ambush

They head south west, following the route that Elvendor’s parents took over twenty years previously, entering upon a wood. There they meet a beautiful elfin women who is acting a s a scout for her group. Whilst they talk though they are set upon by an army of goblin raiders from the mountains who surround them before they can escape – with only seconds to make a decision what should they do?