paradox26
Here is the IC thread for the game. The first post shall be going up shortly.

Recruitment Thread:  https://forums.giantitp.com/showthre...gh-level-game) 

OOC Thread:  https://forums.giantitp.com/showthre...-Beloved-(OOC) 
paradox26
The party gathers at the castle keep owned by the King on the borderlands. He has offered you its use as a means of calming tensions on the border. You have been gathered at the keep for a few days.

As the festivities threaten to get out of hand, two strangers make their way to the castle.
The two figures are dressed in drab cloaks, and their faces are half hidden by cowls. Each of them carries a longbow and enough gear to suggest they are either travellers or adventurers. One of them holds up a slender hand and says,  "We are messengers sent by Zetch'r'r of Tu'narath, warlord of the silver void. Our lord asks to speak with you in person about an urgent matter threatening all the planes of existence." 

You realise quickly that the names are probably of either Githzerai or Githyanki providence, though with their faces hidden it is hard to determine which.
Yas392
Louise looks at the messengers with a stern face.

  "Threatening all the planes of existence. It seems dire. We need more information you are willing to provide before we decide whether to meet your lord or not. This also begs the question. Why us?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 Knowledge (Planes) on Zetch'r'r of Tu'narath:   (1d20+21)[ 40 ] 
 Knowledge (Planes) on Silver Void:   (1d20+21)[ 38 ] 
 Diplomacy:   (1d20+14)[ 28 ] 
 
samduke
 did he say, Threatening all the planes of existence , looking at the others,   Louise is correct more information is needed so that we can prepare appropriately. 

after any explanation's, details and so forth

 well seems you will need us right away then my good sirs . Collecting her things and then waiting for the others
Olive_Sophia
 

Morgan had very much been throwing herself into the festivities at the castle. She thrived in chaotic, bombastic scenes like this one. In the last few days there had been a lot of dancing and drinking and tomfoolery. All those antics ended up drawing a lot of attention to the strange, dark-haired woman. She celebrated with unreserved delight, and never really seemed to tire. She invited everyone to join in the reveling, but those who tried to keep up with her were eventually driven into something of a frenzy. Morgan didn't let them off easy - not until they dropped from exhaustion - and she would laugh all the while.

So it wasn't with the utmost enthusiasm that she answered the summons to meet their new visitors, but she did arrive promptly. Despite the apparent abandon she'd been displaying, she did remember the mission that her master had given her. She had been placed here for a reason.

Morgan joined the others in the meeting hall. She was a tall, pale figure, wearing a luxurious gala dress and all the accompanying jewelry. But the demonic horns upon her head and the unnatural glow of her red eyes made it obvious that she was no ordinary woman. Those eyes had been granted to her by a demon lord, and they could not be deceived by darkness or magic of any kind. So she scanned over the newcomers with a keen gaze, searching for anything out of the ordinary. From the sound of their names, they were Gith. That was good - that meant there was a fair chance that one way or another, these two were relevant to her mission. So naturally she expressed her interest.

  "Perhaps we  should  hear him out. A threat like that isn't likely to wait until we're good and ready."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 


Morgan has true seeing, so she can see the true form of any magically transformed/disguised beings, as well as invisible or ethereal things.

Spot Check on the two newcomers - to notice anything interesting or potentially see through a mundane disguise:

 (1d20+16)[ 33 ] 
 
Infernally Clay
      
  Hamza Fjalldóttir 
  Goliath Ruby Knight Vindicator 15 
 AC:  20  | HP:  151/151
 Fort:  +18  | Ref:  +10  | Will:  +16
 Spell Slots:   1st:  6/6  | 2nd:  5/5  | 3rd:  5/5  | 4th:  4/4  | 5th:  4/4  | 6th:  3/3
 Turn Undead:  8/8

 Stance:  None
 Active Effects:  None
 Concentrating:  None
 Conditions:  None  
 
  

"We need a little more to go on than vaguely dire warnings," Hamza sighs, "Do you know how many apocalypses we've already prevented?"

Hamza stands up, all nine feet of her, towering over everyone as she usually does, and picks up her sword. "Well, I guess it  is  Tuesday..."
Aegis013
Lunara, astounded by the comforts that could be provided when an entire keep was available to you had been participating in the revelry and merrymaking with the reckless abandon of youth. However, noticing the rather serious tone as other chosen champions confronted the curious commuters she wondered over to investigate it herself, but not before collecting two cups of the fine spirits available.

  "Oh!"   she says, still abuzz from the delights available to them in the keep   "Where is your sense of hospitality?"   she says to the others with a playful but chiding tone.

  "Come inside and take off your cloaks, rest your feet and fill your bellies. You can tell us the details of your news and the stories of your travels amidst the welcoming warmth from our hearth here."   She offers the two strangers the cups with a vibrant smile.

 
 Spoiler: Sense Motive 
Despite presenting herself as overly friendly, the two hooded figures are still strangers. And the warning they have provided is a bit much to easily believe. Perhaps they have some ulterior motive?

 (1d20+20)[ 21 ]  her slightly inebriated state does her no favors in this consideration.
 
Annoying Imp
      
  Adelia Quicksaber 
  Human General 
 HP:  158/158   | NLD:  0
 AC:  15  | FF:  10  | T:  15
 Fort:  +22  | Ref:  +22  | Will:  +21
 Initiative:  12

 Auras:  Senses
 Offencive Auras:  Aura of Despair
 Effects &amp; Conditions:  See Invisibility, Darkvision
  
 
  

Attracted by a celebration, Adelia enjoyed her time in the town for some time already, before she met those now involved in a conversation. With her interest for extraplanar campaign, she couldn't skip an opportunity to join a group with a person like Morgan. She is circumspect enough, though, to not directly show her interest yet, discerning what she may discern from a joint pastime with the group.

In this particular conversation, she stayed quiet besides greetings. Enough words were told, enough questions were asked. Now it's giths' turn to talk. Young women, natural in her fine noble outfit, Adelia sit near a castle window, now looking at visitors with a slight charming smile. She is indeed interested.
paradox26
The two figures draw their hoods back and reveal their natures. One says,  "I am known as Kel'l'Lec."  that one you can recognise as a githyanki, a very distinctive race indeed.

The other stranger looks similar but subtly different.  "Greetings to you all. My name is Saarys,"  she says. You realise, with some surprise, that this one is a githzerai.

The two races hold to ancient hatreds for each other, and the fact that one of each has come says something profound, but which you may not yet understand.

Kel'I'Lec speaks up once more.  "Hatred is a powerful force. Long ago, the Gith used hatred to overcome the tyranny of the illithids. In the eons since, we have allowed hatred to rule and weaken us. If the Gith are to survive, we must focus our hatred on the ones who shackled us, repair the damage that war has brought, and reunite our people. This is the way of the Sha'Sal Khou. We are not alone in our beliefs, but we are few in number,"  she says.

 "Zetch'r'r has a stranglehold on the city of Tu'narath, on what you call the Astral Plane. There he plots to usurp Vlaakith, our demented lich-queen, and lead the Githyanki down a different path - one not built on the extermination of the Githzerai, but the destruction of the illithids and their tyranny. Vlaakith has chosen a darker path for her subjects - a path that sees Githyanki blood mixed with that of red dragons. She corrupts the eggs of unborn Githyanki to create the Duthka'giths - half dragon abominations. Unless she is stopped, the day will come when all Githyanki are born as Duthka'Giths. Were this to happen, the gith people could never be reunited,"  she says.

 "Only you can destroy the lich-queen, and Zetch'r'r can provide you with the answers to your many questions. Will you accompany us to his stronghold,"  she asks, sketching a shallow bow of respect to mighty heroes.
Lioslaith
A small, unnervingly quiet figure pipes up in a subtle voice.  Possibly startling some folks whom had forgotten he was there.    "Well den dis be not whot I 'ad in mind fer da goins on here.  Sounds like it could be a hoot."  
samduke
 So we are to travel to the astral plan and meet with this Zetch'r'r, to see if there is a way to eliminate Vlaakith.

I am wondering have you been sent with any offer of compensation or is this something that this Zetch'r'r is to discuss?

How soon so we need to leave? 
Aegis013
Lunara doesn't seem to consider it but simply answers   "I'll help. I'd be interested in going to a city on the Astral Plane. Surely you have time to partake in the festivities before we go though, right?"  

She almost seems more concerned with leaving the plentiful comforts currently available than the plight of the travelers.
Yas392
Louise's eyes soften, yet they still have some hard edge on them.

  "Please give us a moment."  

The devoted of Lathander whispers the knowledge she recalled about the Gith ruler to her companions before walking back to face the Gith with her expression unchanged as her first.

  "Kel'l'Lec, Saarys, as much as we appreciate the overview of interracial disputes, you have not answered our question as to why Vlaakith will threaten all planes and why us when there are many other heroes that are on the same level as us. The information you granted us is like my friend pointed out to your introduction, vague. The answer does not have to be deep and can be simplistic. We just need a clear answer."  
Infernally Clay
      
  Hamza Fjalldóttir 
  Goliath Ruby Knight Vindicator 15 
 AC:  20  | HP:  151/151
 Fort:  +18  | Ref:  +10  | Will:  +16
 Spell Slots:   1st:  6/6  | 2nd:  5/5  | 3rd:  5/5  | 4th:  4/4  | 5th:  4/4  | 6th:  3/3
 Turn Undead:  8/8

 Stance:  None
 Active Effects:  None
 Concentrating:  None
 Conditions:  None  
 
  

"Maybe they have a big undead problem," Hamza muses to her scowling compatriot, "I'd come to me too if I had a big undead problem."
Annoying Imp
      
  Adelia Quicksaber 
  Human General 
 HP:  158/158   | NLD:  0
 AC:  15  | FF:  10  | T:  15
 Fort:  +22  | Ref:  +22  | Will:  +21
 Initiative:  12

 Auras:  Senses
 Offencive Auras:  Aura of Despair
 Effects &amp; Conditions:  See Invisibility, Darkvision
  
 
  

It seems those giths are in a rush. Not seasoned negotiators sort of people, or do they stand on a ground too thin to tell tricky tales? At least, they seem to be honest. And involved. Well, if what they say is true, whole their kind is involved, more or less so.

  - To be fair, it is pretty challenging undertaking, to find a conglomeration of people, every of which is exemplary at either might, drive, being enlightened, or shares several of those qualities... -   Adelia says, looking at Louise,   - like the one we have here. There are several individuals of great renown all across the continent, more across the world. But they mostly are what I said before - individuals. Not sayng there may be no other reason, but I bet we are just first ones who came to hand.  
Lioslaith
  "I'll be a goin.  Wot da wot, got nuttin better ta do wit me time."  
Olive_Sophia
 
  "I'll be going as well."   Morgan said suddenly. Perhaps the others didn't know of her commitments, but furthering her master's plans was her only real objective. She was after the gith one way or the other, and these two were her best lead. Those Duthkagith sounded particularly concerning.   "I'd rather hear it from the horse's mouth. I don't mind a little journey. Besides, these two would be  mad  to cross me - just mad I tell you."   She encouraged the others, but with a twitchy smile that might not have had the right effect.

  "I'll gather my things right away."   It was more of a formality. It only took Morgan a few minutes to get ready. She liked to travel light, and was never far from her valuables.