A Shadow Underfoot

Prelude

The Confederation of Kingdoms is a yearly summit amongst the nation's of The Hundred Kingdoms. All Kingdoms are invited and only officially recognized Kingdoms may attend. The summit is held at a different Kingdom each year until all Kingdoms have played host. While the main purpose is to improve diplomatic relations amongst nations and strategize for the best of The Region as a whole, it is also accompanied by an Olympic style games competition and festival of culture.

In reality the top 20 most influential Kingdoms attend every year, and another 1-3 dozen more regional Kingdoms make an appearance, resulting in approximately one-third to half the Kingdoms being represented at a given summit. The more influential the host nation, generally the better the turnout.

This year the Kingdom of Nechara is hosting for the first time in one hundred years...

Everyone in The Hundred Kingdoms knows of Nechara, The Battle and Treaty which carry it's name are the single most important moment in history and document of The Hundred Kingdoms. Yet, Nechara has waned from influence in the four centuries since it became the historic landmark of The Hundred Kingdoms. When Nechara became the turning point in The Great Invasion of The Arczeckhi Horde it's peasants fled west for safety and it's soldiers died on the battlefield. Even in the wake of victory, most did not return. Nechara is a place where people come to remember the past, but it's future rarely comes to mind. It is a relic and a memorial, except for those who remain behind it's walls, ever vigilant guardians who remember not only the events but the reasons Nechara is a historic place.

We begin with the arrival of The Kingdoms and our heroes to Nechara at the start of The Confederation of Kingdoms...

Part 1

Veil travels by boat from Nathir to Nechara to attend the Confederation of Kingdoms with Nathir’s leaders at the behest of The Guild to investigate The Five Score Fellowship disrupting trade in the East of The Hundred Kingdoms. Simon travels to The Confederation Kingdoms in Nechara on his own and sets up his tea shop to gather information on the summit’s events. Romael and Cetus travel with Orissa’s official delegation which is led by Princess Nimue, with a mission to increase Orissa’s influence and standing in The Hundred Kingdoms by attending the Confederation of Kingdoms. Along the way Romael and Princess Nimue engage in some small courtship, spurred on by The Princess. Sour travels with Laurelin the Golden’s retinue to The Confederation of Kingdoms, to discover what forces are disrupting the surrounding lands. Sour’s attempts to impress Laurelin mostly go unnoticed. Maiden travels with Nod’s delegation including Sultan Balin, but his followers stay behind in Nod. She remains in statue-esque silence for a duration of the trip, despite the Sultans' attempts to get more information out of her. Nechara sets up each delegation along a strip of inn’s, restaurants, and festival carts giving the city a party-like atmosphere in the streets. However, inside the Palace the delegations get down to business and the summit begins with the host Regent Kaskos of Nechara gives a moving speech promoting camaraderie and togetherness within all of The Hundred Kingdoms.

In the first day of meetings Veil is able to attend a trade meeting and successfully negotiate to improve The Guild’s position in trade talks in the area. Meanwhile, Princess Nimue of Orissa and Laurelin the Golden of Teleperion both display fierce negotiation tactics on behalf of their Kingdoms but are somewhat stonewalled as outsiders amongst the more established Kingdoms. Regent Kaskos calls for a meeting of the Delegation Leaders, which Sour, Romael, and Cetus are also able to attend. In this private meeting Regent Kaskos tells the leaders that a Necharan Military Outpost, Fog Scream Redoubt was overrun and destroyed several weeks ago. There were no survivors to recount the events but scouts discovered the aftermath and sent word back to Nechara. He assumes it is a reassurance of The Arczeckhi Horde, and if the Horde grows so bold it is a concern of all Kingdoms, and he requests they band together to send a team to investigate. Meanwhile, Veil and Maiden do not attend the private event but come across one another, and Veil’s desire for knowledge about The First Age brings them together, and Veil agrees to help Maiden investigate the dark threats in the mountains in exchange for lore and knowledge.

Simon does not attend the summit, but plants seeds amongst the delegations in attendance so that each will pass along intelligence to him through his tea shop, discovers that most delegations believe Nechara is exaggerating the threats in the mountains to relive their glory days. As the Factor’s roll into the tea shop after the first day’s conference a familiar face from Vitalis with a hawk companion on his shoulder tells Simon of Regent Kaskos’ call for help and the other Kingdom’s deep skepticism, though Simon has reason to believe the Regent he doesn’t let on.

On the second day, Sour and Cetus enter the Olympic style wrestling competition amongst The Kingdom, and both win their first two matches, in Sour’s case by embarrassing his opponent and drawing lots of attention to himself and his nipples. Meanwhile, the others perform recon amongst the crowd and meetings to get more information on the players in the region. Simon plants a seed with the guard captains while Veil discovers that The Five Score Fellowship is a known crime syndicate in the region that seems to raid in the Eastern Mountains, and isn’t known to be affiliated with The Arczeckhi Horde. That evening Simon approaches both Rangor Brothers and convinces them to join him at his tea shop to discuss the future safety of The Hundred Kingdoms. In the tea shop Simon displays intimate knowledge about the supposedly confidential attack on Fog Scream Redoubt, and convinces the skeptical brothers that helping Nechara will help all The Hundred Kingdoms and bring great renown and respect to Orissa. When the brothers return they report their encounter to Princess Nimue, they all agree that Nimue will appeal to the other nations to send Champions of their own in support of Orissa and The Ranger Brothers leadership.

On the third day of the Summit Cetus loses his wrestling match in the semi-finals, but Sour wins twice including a brutal and public display of his Exalted dominance in the championship with most of the rest of the party watching. Meanwhile, Veil and Maiden attend summit meetings and find the miners in the area are familiar with The Five Score Fellowship but not always cooperative, so they decide to go directly to the source. The duo heads to the shady part of time and finds the first guy who looks like he’s looking for trouble, when Veil throws money at him for info on The Five Score Fellowship he attempts to flee with her jade by Maiden swoops in to tackle him. Pinned by an Alchemical Exalt and questioned by a Solar, he gives up the location of The Five Score Fellowship’s local hangout and the name Boss Gazar. Veil bribes her way inside, then uses her air elemental to deliver a message to the crime boss and arrange a meeting. Veil’s jade and her metaphysical backup are a powerful combination that convinces Boss Gazar that she’s someone worth doing business with, and he refers her to a mercenary company, The Ghastly Hawks, whom offer protection services to travelers and business people alike, but a truly in league with The Five Score Fellowship. With the recommendation of Boss Gazar, Veil is easily able to obtain a guide and protection from The Ghastly Hawks for her expedition into the mountains, under the guise of a legit business venture.

Simon meets with Necharan Captain Agora of the East Gate to discuss the situation, gather information, and establish and inside contact. All of which he does, as Agora warns that Necharan Rangers have long warned of the Arczeckhi Horde’s strength and that the Regent is keeping the news of Fog Scream Redoubt quiet because he fears a panic among the people. Nechara isn’t strong enough to hold back an invasion as it once did, and happy to find someone interested in helping Captain Agora agrees to a bribe to leave information in a drop box for Simon. During one of her patrols of the city, Maiden notices and over hears this bribing of the guard but decides against intervening.

As discussed with The Rangor Brothers, Princess Nimue of Orissa calls for an emergency meeting of all nations to address Nechara’s call for champions. Through various circumstances all of The Circle finds themselves invited or present for the emergency meeting. Princess Nimue who called the meeting is supported by host nation Regent Kaskos of Nechara and opens with an impassioned speech about the history of The Hundred Kingdoms, and declares that Orissa has tasked The Ranger Brothers with leading the expedition. The impassioned speech is only mildly successful, as many of the nations are skeptical of Nechara and expending resources, but Veil, Maiden, Simon - in the Resplendent Destiny of Hiro, and Sour all step forward for their respective nations to join. The circle convenes and decides to depart the next morning, and Regent Kaskos tells them that they can first travel to Moss-Spire Outpost only a days ride East of the city to meet up with the Necharan Rangers who discovered the massacre at Fog Scream Redoubt before continuing their journey. The next morning the circle departs the East gate of Nechara headed for Moss-Spire outpost, with all except for Sour and Maiden on horseback.

Part 2

Summary Coming Soon...

The Finale

Summary Coming Soon...

Lexicon

Important Characters

The Alabaster-Faced Moon Veiled in Violet Shadows and Crimson Blossoms - AKA Veil - A Solar Exalt from The Kingdom of Nathir who joins The Circle.
The Arczeckhi Horde - A famous horde of barbarians who were driven out of The Hundred Kingdoms to The East hundreds of years ago. Small raiding parties still attack the Eastern Kingdoms, but some in The East fear their power is growing and another invasion is coming.
Boss Gazar - A crime lord in Necharra with affiliations to The Five Score Fellowship who Veil and Maiden did business with to investigate the happenings in the region.
Captain Agora - A Necharan City Guard Captain whom Simon made acquaintance and established a discreet information exchange with as an interested party from Sendai.
Captain Eros - A Necharan Ranger Captain who leads The Necharan defense of The Bridge of Nechara and is the safe keeper of the Hearth Stone that powers it's magical defenses. Captain Eros as injured and poisoned by Quicksilver Maiden when she stole The Hearth Stone, but his life and the Hearth Stone were saved by The Circle.
Captain Jessimond - A Necharan Ranger Captain who leads the forces at Moss-Spire Outpost and discovered the massacre at Fog Scream Redoubt.
Cetus Rangor - A Dragon-Blooded Exalt from The Kingdom of Orissa who leads The Circle along with his brother Romael.
Chancellor Callisto Rhea Damaris - The leader of The Kingdom of Vitalis who attends The Confederation of Kingdoms in Nechara.
The Celestials of Hell - An Infernal Demon Cult made up of at least 12 Red Skinned Shaman operating in and around The Hundred Kingdoms. The Circle encountered Deimos at Fog Scream Redoubt, and Okubo at The Bridge of Nechara.
Daimyo Satou Koga - The leader of The Kingdom of Sendai who attends The Confederation of Kingdoms in Nechara.
Deimos - A human necromancer and member of the Infernal Cult called The Celestials of Hell who the group killed at Fog Scream Redoubt while investigating the massacre that took place there.
Entropy Devouring Maiden - An Alchemical Exalt from The Kingdom of Nod who joins The Circle.
The Five Score Fellowship - A crime syndicate known to operate heavily in The Eastern Region of The Hundred Kingdoms, led by The Dragon-Blooded Exalt Quicksilver Maiden of the Sunless Horizon before she was killed at The Bridge of Nechara. Their connection to The Celestials of Hell remains unknown.
Grand Elder Phineas Luther Hedersett - The leader of The Kingdom of Nathir who attends The Confederation of Kingdoms in Nechara.
King Vortimer Meliodas - The ruler of The Kingdom of Orissa who does not attend The Confederation, but sends his daughter and The Rangor Brothers in his stead.
Laurelin the Golden - The ruler of The Kingdom of Telperion who attends The Confederation of Kingdoms in Nechara and brings Sour Buckthorn as her honored guest.
Okubo - A human necromancer and member of the Infernal Cult called The Celestials of Hell who the group encountered at The Bridge of Nechara. He escaped with what remained of the retreating Arczeckhi after their defeat by the combined might of The Circle and The Seventh Legion.
Princess Nimue Meliodas - The Princess and Heir to the throne of Orissa who attends The Confederation of Kingdoms in Nechara.
Quicksilver Maiden of the Sunless Horizon - A Dragon-Blooded Exalt, leader of the Crime Syndicate The Five Score Fellowship, who led the attack on Fog Scream Redoubt and The Bridge of Nechara. She was killed by Entropy Devouring Maiden while trying to escape with the stolen Hearth Stone that powers The Bridge's First Age Defenses.
Rampaging Harbinger of Unfettered Annihilation - An Exigent Exalt, Chosen of Calamities, who led an army of Arczeckhi Horde barbarians across The Bridge of Nechara atop a massive Hellboar, but was defeated by The Circle and The Seventh Legion.
Regent Kaskos - The leader of The Kingdom of Nechara who hosts The Confederation of Kingdoms and implores his fellow Kingdoms to help Nechara.
Romael Rangor - A Dragon-Blooded Exalt from The Kingdom of Orissa who lead The Circle along with his brother Cetus.
Saishu Arashi and Saishu Konuma - The Sisters are the leaders of The Emishi Kingdom and attend The Confederation of Kingdoms in Nechara.
The Most Parsimonious Observer of Sacred Topologies - AKA Simon - A Sidereal Exalt who overseas The Hundred Kingdoms who joins The Circle.
Sour Buckthorn - A Lunar Exalt from nearby The Kingdom of Telperion, invited by Laurelin the Golden, who joins The Circle.
Sultan Balin Asadhi - The ruler of The Kingdom of Nod who attends The Confederation of Kingdoms in Nechara.
Talonlord Anju - A Dragon-Blood Exalt who leads The Seventh Legion's mercenary forces at The Bridge of Nechara.
Wendigo - A breed of First Circle Demons who feast on souls, living or dead, to grow in size and power.

Important Places

The Kingdom of Nathir - One of the largest and most metropolitan Kingdoms of The Hundred Kingdoms on the Western edge of the region.
The Kingdom of Nechara -A small Kingdom at the Eastern edge of The Hundred Kingdoms with a rich history where our campaign begins.
- Moss-Spire Outpost - A small military outpost a day by horse to the east of the Capital City of Nechara, manned by approximately a dozen Necharan Rangers and led by Captain Jessimond.
- Fog Scream Redoubt - A military fortress of ancient construction 3 days to the east by horse of the Capital City of Nechara, manned by two dozen Necharan Rangers who were slaughtered by an attack led by an Infernal Cult, The Celestials of Hell and the crime syndicate, The Five Score Fellowship.
- The Bridge of Nechara - An ancient First Age marvel of a bridge that spans the mountains and The Rock River, providing the largest and easiest crossing into the Eastern border of The Hundred Kingdoms. It is defended by two dozen Necharan Rangers and a Talon of Seventh Legion soldiers, as well as whatever First Age magic that still lingers there. A battle between The Circle of Exalts from The Hundred Kingdoms and a talon of Seventh Legion troops was fought against an Arczeckhi Barbarian Horde led by Rampaging Harbinger of Unfettered Annihilation an Exigent Exalted, Chosen of Calamities and The Celestials of Hell Shaman Okubo. The Arczeckhi Horde was repelled by the combined forces of The Hundred Kingdoms.
The Kingdom of Nod - A smaller Kingdom in the middle of The Hundred Kingdoms with isolationist tendencies due to a desire to protect their hidden First age treasures.
The Kingdom of Orissa - A mining Kingdom in The Eastern Province of The Hundred Kingdoms that is rich in resources but has been ravaged by war and raids until two powerful Exalted brothers changed its fortune.
The Kingdom of Sendai - A small Kingdom in the Northeast with close ties to Lookshy and a reputation for having the most expansive spy network in the region.
The Kingdom of Telperion - A relatively new Kingdom in The Eastern Mountains, that broke away from The Kingdom of Vitalis after coming under the leadership of a powerful new ruler who has led it to independence and prosperity.