Oreg
04-10-2008, 10:21 AM
It seemed like ages ago when it all began. He, like a handful of others, had answered a summons by the city’s architects to assist in the final preparations to a city like no other had been seen before. The ruling body, The Overlords, had spent vast resources in constructing the various wards and city sections over the existing landscape of graveyards and lands whose displaced inhabitants were less than hospitable.
Eventually the city was deemed to be finished and The Overlords sent out calls wide and far for adventurers to come and seek fame and fortune. Stormreach was ready to be settled and it needed merchants, innkeepers, entertainers and most of all adventurers. That they would be filling the coffers of the city with taxes wouldn’t hurt either.
In those early weeks the city streets teemed with activity. Men and women descended daily to the sewers below Stormreach dispatching undead and a kobold infestation like none ever seen before. Others set out for nearby wilderness areas and sought to tame these denizens as well. Guilds and alliances formed with like minded individuals and thrived on the wealth they obtained. The Overlords had but one rule when it came to exploration. They limited the distance once could travel from Stormreach promising that soon they would send forth expeditions to lands far away and filled with riches. Months and months went on but soon many of the adventurers grumbled that they felt confined and that they had unturned every stone in stormreach. Twice. They wondered aloud why the city did not have sufficient higher level trainers to teach them more skills, spells or combat maneuvers. When their questions went unanswered, frustration grew and the exodus began. The Overlords were quiet and what few rumors of expansion did reach the inns and taverns were soon realized as false as expected deadlines came and went. Men set off by the dozens to explore other lands, both old and new.
The Loyals stayed behind determined to defend Stormreach and pleading with the increasing stream of adventurers leaving, to give it more time. The city hit a low period and for the few that remained it was a constant uphill battle to try and find adventurers willing to ‘explore” areas that had become so familiar.
Finally, The Overlords, recognizing that their coffers were dangerously low, were roused from their lethargy and made sweeping changes over the course of many moons. They brought in higher leveled trainers, sponsored caravans to the Sands of Menechtarun, built flyships and encouraged adventurers to visits the Restless Isles. The response was overwhelming. The city seemed alive again. The Loyals were happy and sent word to many of their fellow adventurers who had left and encouraged them to return. Some did. Still others heard rumors of vast riches and came on their own. During this time the Loyals felt connected to The Overlords and it was not uncommon to see one of the leaders in the crowded inns discussing this point or that.
They followed these successes with expeditions to the Ruins of Gianthold, undead massacre missions in the Orchard of the Macabre and finally to a small Eldarin outpost, in the Vale of Twilight, called Meridia. The city’s population swelled again and men found purpose again in the defense of Stormreach.
Emboldened by their ever increasing wealth and powers, the Loyals and other adventurer’s began questioning The Overlords again. Certain laws seemed not to apply anymore and they had a myriad of new questions about their new found strengths, the new lands and the treasure they had found there. However, The Overlords were emboldened as well. The rumors had circulated far and wide that Stormreach had made a resurgence and was again a land rich with opportunity. The Overlords were mostly silent on some of the key issues and began to look at the crowds from a loftier position.
With their questions unanswered, adventurers soon began to argue with each other and many debates dissipated in a flurry of blows and vicious name calling. The Inquisitors, those tasked with overseeing the day to day questions of the adventurers, soon found themselves unwilling or unable to deal with the ever growing list of concerns posted each day outside the inns. They began to banish those most outspoken and encouraged adventurers to “report” their fellow companions should they speak ill will of The Overlords and their policies. Soon, all out raids on inns and halls where adventurers were discussing policies began to take place. Doors were barred shut and men sent home with official warnings to cease and desist. Men were afraid to discuss anything in fear of banishment or censorship.
Many of the Loyals, those who had been there since the beginning, were the most outspoken. Some were vigorous defenders of The Overlords, while others argued for information and for wrongs to be righted. Even though the city seemed to be thriving, a few recognized that serious issues still went unacknowledged. It was as if a dark cloud hovered over, diminishing the successes of recent expansion.
On this morning, the man awoke just after dawn and gathered his things. He strode towards the main gate and for the tenth time questioned his faith in leaving his most prized possessions in the hands of those greedy Kundarak dwarves. He had not decided if he would be leaving Stormreach’s outlying lands for good, but he knew that he needed to get out of the city. The politics were tearing him up and wearing him down. He approached a city guard whose raised eyebrow indicated that he knew the great warrior approaching him. The man nodded imperceptibly and the guard snapped to salute, stepped aside and opened the gate.
In the shadows a lone Inquisitor, her eyes hidden by her cowl, watched with interest. With the man gone and the gates closed firmly behind him, she allowed herself a small smile. This was going to be a quieter day.
Eventually the city was deemed to be finished and The Overlords sent out calls wide and far for adventurers to come and seek fame and fortune. Stormreach was ready to be settled and it needed merchants, innkeepers, entertainers and most of all adventurers. That they would be filling the coffers of the city with taxes wouldn’t hurt either.
In those early weeks the city streets teemed with activity. Men and women descended daily to the sewers below Stormreach dispatching undead and a kobold infestation like none ever seen before. Others set out for nearby wilderness areas and sought to tame these denizens as well. Guilds and alliances formed with like minded individuals and thrived on the wealth they obtained. The Overlords had but one rule when it came to exploration. They limited the distance once could travel from Stormreach promising that soon they would send forth expeditions to lands far away and filled with riches. Months and months went on but soon many of the adventurers grumbled that they felt confined and that they had unturned every stone in stormreach. Twice. They wondered aloud why the city did not have sufficient higher level trainers to teach them more skills, spells or combat maneuvers. When their questions went unanswered, frustration grew and the exodus began. The Overlords were quiet and what few rumors of expansion did reach the inns and taverns were soon realized as false as expected deadlines came and went. Men set off by the dozens to explore other lands, both old and new.
The Loyals stayed behind determined to defend Stormreach and pleading with the increasing stream of adventurers leaving, to give it more time. The city hit a low period and for the few that remained it was a constant uphill battle to try and find adventurers willing to ‘explore” areas that had become so familiar.
Finally, The Overlords, recognizing that their coffers were dangerously low, were roused from their lethargy and made sweeping changes over the course of many moons. They brought in higher leveled trainers, sponsored caravans to the Sands of Menechtarun, built flyships and encouraged adventurers to visits the Restless Isles. The response was overwhelming. The city seemed alive again. The Loyals were happy and sent word to many of their fellow adventurers who had left and encouraged them to return. Some did. Still others heard rumors of vast riches and came on their own. During this time the Loyals felt connected to The Overlords and it was not uncommon to see one of the leaders in the crowded inns discussing this point or that.
They followed these successes with expeditions to the Ruins of Gianthold, undead massacre missions in the Orchard of the Macabre and finally to a small Eldarin outpost, in the Vale of Twilight, called Meridia. The city’s population swelled again and men found purpose again in the defense of Stormreach.
Emboldened by their ever increasing wealth and powers, the Loyals and other adventurer’s began questioning The Overlords again. Certain laws seemed not to apply anymore and they had a myriad of new questions about their new found strengths, the new lands and the treasure they had found there. However, The Overlords were emboldened as well. The rumors had circulated far and wide that Stormreach had made a resurgence and was again a land rich with opportunity. The Overlords were mostly silent on some of the key issues and began to look at the crowds from a loftier position.
With their questions unanswered, adventurers soon began to argue with each other and many debates dissipated in a flurry of blows and vicious name calling. The Inquisitors, those tasked with overseeing the day to day questions of the adventurers, soon found themselves unwilling or unable to deal with the ever growing list of concerns posted each day outside the inns. They began to banish those most outspoken and encouraged adventurers to “report” their fellow companions should they speak ill will of The Overlords and their policies. Soon, all out raids on inns and halls where adventurers were discussing policies began to take place. Doors were barred shut and men sent home with official warnings to cease and desist. Men were afraid to discuss anything in fear of banishment or censorship.
Many of the Loyals, those who had been there since the beginning, were the most outspoken. Some were vigorous defenders of The Overlords, while others argued for information and for wrongs to be righted. Even though the city seemed to be thriving, a few recognized that serious issues still went unacknowledged. It was as if a dark cloud hovered over, diminishing the successes of recent expansion.
On this morning, the man awoke just after dawn and gathered his things. He strode towards the main gate and for the tenth time questioned his faith in leaving his most prized possessions in the hands of those greedy Kundarak dwarves. He had not decided if he would be leaving Stormreach’s outlying lands for good, but he knew that he needed to get out of the city. The politics were tearing him up and wearing him down. He approached a city guard whose raised eyebrow indicated that he knew the great warrior approaching him. The man nodded imperceptibly and the guard snapped to salute, stepped aside and opened the gate.
In the shadows a lone Inquisitor, her eyes hidden by her cowl, watched with interest. With the man gone and the gates closed firmly behind him, she allowed herself a small smile. This was going to be a quieter day.