The Drow War Book Two. The Dying Of - RoseRed

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Non-Player Character Group: The High
Council of Xoth Sarandi
The High Council is a group of nine elders, led by a
silver-haired spokesman garbed in a white robe with
blue silk edging and wearing a golden laurel crown of
authority. This is Ashellus of the Tree.
All the Council members are titled after images from
ancient, almost forgotten elven tales. Other members
are Vandil of the Seven Stars, Maradith of the Pool,
Luceni of the Scroll, Tamberlin of the High Peak,
Scarulan of the First Flint, Jaspel of the Lute, Haveranti
of the Laughing Sun and Corcoram of the Ashes.
The meeting place of the Council is in the centre of the
dome, on simple wooden benches under the shade of a
single silver tree.
Plot Event: Meet the Council
Nimian Archimandrus urges the Player Characters to
meet with the Council as soon as they have had a chance
to rest from their journey. It is up to them when they
choose to do this. So long as they are in his company
or Azbeth’s, the sentries in the Inner City allow them to
pass and enter the Council dome. The Games Master
should read or paraphrase the following when the Player
Characters encounter the Council:
The air within the dome is still and silent. The nine
figures seated before you, beneath the shade of a tree
that seems to be wrought from fine silver, do not move
at all. Their gaze is fixed upon you as you approach.
Although you have never been here before, the place
feels weirdly familiar, as if you had seen it in a dream
or when you were very young.
‘We bid you welcome, Starborn,’ says the aged elf at
the centre. ‘Sit and rest in this place of sanctuary. No
doubt you have many questions.’
The Player Characters are now free to ask the Council
any questions they see fit. The following are their
responses to likely subjects:
Who are the Starborn? Why were they created?
The events you see unfolding before you now, the conflict
men are calling the Drow War, is no mere bid for power.
It is the most recent stage in a cycle many thousands
of years old. There is a power that we call the Dark, a
terrible, devouring force that has been excluded from
the balanced universe since the Creation. It works
through agents… it favours the drow and their hideous
goddess, and her sorcerous counsellor.
The machinery of the cosmos tilts the balance now to
this side, now to that. At certain times, which we call
the Equinoxes, the forces of life and the forces of the
Dark come into conflict. The Dark becomes able to
manifest itself within the world. At these times, it sets
about destroying all variety, all semblance of liberty…
everything that is different from itself. We do not truly
understand what it wants, but our greatest sages believe
that we cause it agony simply by being alive. Our
existence disrupts the continuity of the Dark, like stars
in the night.
The first time when we were able to prepare for the rising
Dark was three thousand years ago, as men reckon
time. The Dark had champions, avatars infused with
its power, who could not be slain by ordinary means.
We petitioned the goddess Nuith, Our Lady of the Stars,
to aid us in creating champions of our own, who would
lead the fight against the Dark and its agents. The souls
of the stars were channelled into mortal bodies. Thus
were the Starborn created. That is who you are.
Are we reincarnations of former heroes?
Yes and no. Your hearts and minds are as lanterns,
within which an undying flame burns. The flame is
continual. The lantern breaks and is replaced.
Do we have no choice in this? Why should we fight
this war? What about free will?
You have a choice. You will always have a choice.
Remember this: although you have powers that others
do not and they were given to you for a reason, we
cannot make you use them. You are champions, not
mere tools in the hands of the gods. It is not for the
powers above to write your lives for you. To you alone
belongs the responsibility – and the glory.
What help can you give us?
We are no longer a part of this war. Our influence is
gone from the world. We cannot involve ourselves in the
battles of younger races. It is enough that we caused
you to be created, as champions against the Dark. We
forged unique artefacts of power, which you bear now
and which your predecessors bore before you. And you
ask more of us than this?
If Nimian Archimandrus is with the Player Characters at
this point, a Sense Motive check (DC 15) reveals that he
is furious but doing his best to keep it from showing.
So long as the Player Characters remain courteous, they
can continue to talk to the High Council. If they lose
their tempers, the Council glares, makes comments
about the folly of youth and has them thrown out of the
Council chamber.
Ibon Presno Gonzalez (order #73006) 8