Shadows of Aetheris
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Under the fading light of the setting sun, the bustling V’Ral town square was filled with various fantastical races, merchants hawking their wares, and townsfolk going about their business. In this lively atmosphere, a renowned drow named Sorvani approached a gnome named Gorlen, a general store owner of magical reagents, and hard-to-find materials. With a haughty stride, Sorvani approached Gorlen, his eyes fixed on a small, radiant Aetherium Blue Diamond that Gorlen had in his hand, and a scroll in the other.
With a deep sigh, Gorlen rolls his eyes, and thinks to himself “I don’t need this shit, here comes Sorvani and he is going to chew my ass”.
For the better part of the year, I had a line on a supply of Aetherium Blue diamonds, but since war broke out in the Kingdom of Aetheris, my supply line has been disrupted, to say the least. Not to mention the last credible intel I received from my supplier it seems the mines have a bit of a Phaerimm infestation for two valid reasons, I’m betting they were attracted to the aetherium blue diamonds because they enhance a spellcaster’s spell-casting ability. The second is the barrier between the prime material plane and the manaethereal plane is found to be weak in many of the aetherium blue diamond mines within Aetheris.
Gorlen (thinking to himself): “ Here we go”
Sorvani (smirking): “Well, if it isn’t the gnome merchant, Gorlen. I don’t believe you are a gnome by the way, and I’ve heard you may have a line on aetherium blue diamonds, that is very fortunate for me.”
Gorlen (looks up making eye contact with Sorvani): If I’m not a gnome, then what do you imagine me to be? And well good news / bad news situation with the aetherium blue diamonds.”
Gorlen (holding his hand up): “Last aetherium blue diamond for a while, war broke out and it seems an infestation of Phaerimm is complicating resupply.”
Sorvani’s eyes narrowed, his patience already wearing thin at Gorlen: “Gorlen, I suggest you fix your supply issues and fix them immediately otherwise you may be looking for a new home outside the V’Ral shield.”
Gorlen (unimpressed, since Sorvani has made this empty threat to him before): “ I am only a low-level merchant gnome, I don’t know what I can do until the Kingdom of Aetheris sorts itself out. I was going to post to the Adventure Board, before you found me, a call to adventurers to help secure a mine in the Kingdom. “
Sorvani (anger visibily increasing): “You’re a gnome my ass, I want you to have this fixed and fixed now, I will need my next shipment in 20 days. And I am holding you accountable Gnome” as Sorvani scoffs.
Gorlen (rubbing his head collecting his thoughts starting to get visibly irritated by this conversation, re-meets Sorani’s gaze): “Well Sorvani, I don’t know who you think I am but I assure you I am a gnome merchant. As to your aggressive timeline, you may want to engage the God King Dregnoth as he may be available to help you.”
Sorvani (holding back his rage, yelling down at Gorlen): “Dregnoth is not a God King! And I will see Dregnoth leading the Laputan empire before I will ever need his help.”
Gorlen (let a small devilish smirk show): “Hey now no need to shout, maybe some adventurers will take up the quest. I can sweeten the deal to further entice them. After all an adventurer’s greed for treasure is as boundless as doppelgangers for identities – endless and insatiable.”
Sorvani’s patience snapped, his voice rising with anger.
Sorvani: (snarling) “You insolent fool! You know who I am! If you are really a gnome, you would be in fear that I could obliterate you with a flick of my finger! Now, have the remaining blue diamonds sent over to my tower before I decide to show you the consequences of crossing me.”
Gorlen (sighs thinking to himself): [I shouldn’t have poked the bear he is just so easy to bait, I better make nice]
Gorlen: “I will have the rest of the blue diamond’s sent over, you know how this works, 50% up-front and 50% after delivery”
Sorvani (shaking his head): “Fucking Gnome, you will get your gold, by end of day Gorlen!” walking away.
With that, Gorlen turns away posting a Looking for Adventurers notice on the town Bulletin Board, leaving Sorvani seething with rage as he moves on to other business in V’Ral.
Posting on the Bulletin Board:
Shadows of Aetheris (Looking for Adventurers)
In the heart of the mystical Kingdom of Aetheris, the land is abundant with mines containing powerful Aetherium Blue Diamonds, a precious gem that channels raw arcane energy, when used by spellcasters, these gems intensify the power of spells, making them more potent and effective. Casters who channel their magic through Aetherium Blue Diamonds find their spells imbued with unparalleled strength. The kingdom was plunged into a brutal war, waged not by mortal armies, but by an ancient and malevolent force—the Phaerimm, ancient aberrations known for their insatiable hunger for magic.
The Phaerimm, have been drawn by the potent magical resonance of the Aetherium Blue Diamonds and launched a relentless assault on the kingdom. With their vast knowledge of forbidden arcane arts, they infiltrated the kingdom, poisoning minds and corroding the very magic that protected Aetheris. During this chaos, one of the primary Aetherium Blue Diamond mines was overrun. The once-proud miners and craftsmen were forced to abandon their work, leaving the precious gems in the hands of the Phaerimm. With the Aetherium Blue Diamonds under their control, the Phaerimm grew even more formidable, their power enhanced to unseen levels.
Desperation gripped the hearts of the people of Aetheris. Their king, wise but weary, sought aid from brave adventurers and scholars skilled in ancient lore. The fate of the kingdom now seeks an adventuring party to forge an alliance with a group of brave miners and craftsmen, driven from their homes by the Phaerimm, to form a secret resistance. The adventurers must find and unite these scattered pockets of resistance. Establish an alliance with a neighboring Elven Enclave that possesses ancient magical wards that could weaken and slow the Phaerimm’s progress. Find a forgotten library deep within the kingdom said to contain a ritual to imprison the Phaerimm, and finally travel to remote locations to collect the rare components to seal the Phaerimm within an arcane prison.
Adventurers interested can inquire about details at the General Merchant Store, and ask for the gnome merchant Gorlen.
