<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">GM Notes</div><div class="spoiler_body">Anything bought can be had here at 50% of normal prices marked (with note to the 500 sm limit for this community), for those who are intending to do shopping.</div></div><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k581/Am_Dreams/Al_C.jpg)</div><em><strong>Without the usual chores that occupy you, the day goes surprisingly quickly and it is not long before the pale disc of Emaeril's silvery Ellistrae is becoming visible in the sky and cool night air descends upon the sanctuary.  Torches flare and the busy pace of life slowly comes to a relaxed hubbub as everyone comes to let out the stresses of the day and sink in at their favourite watering-holes.<br/><br/>When the time comes, an eerie whisper, without doubt Cornellius' magic, directs you to one of the towers on the north-west side of the fortress.  Though kept tidy, it is obviously a little visited corner of the sanctuary and beyond the door near the top it is evident that this place was once a study, but now converted into small gathering point.  Though Cornellius had promised a feast, it is more of a hearty repast, but there are drinks aplenty to compensate for the lesser quantity of food than you expected.<br/><br/>Only Cornellius is there to greet you, but the old dodger has clearly started before you, unceremoniously gnawing on a beef joint, before espying you and raising it, as if toasting you with a mug of ale - unseemly behaviour for a wizard to say the least - and it looks as if he means to finish the meal without you if you don't get started!<br/><br/>The old man's table manners and uproarious attitude would non-the-less make any dwarf, or soldier, proud; reaching for a fresh cut of meat before he is done with his own and slamming his mug down whilst blowing foamy froth from his silver beard, laughing loudly.  Indeed the entire night is more that of a festivity.</strong></em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Cornellius' Feast</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Those who choose to join the old frothblower and revel to the fullest gain the following benefits for 48 hrs:</strong> +1 morale bonus to <span class="bbc_u">attack rolls</span> and +2 morale bonus <span class="bbc_u">Fortitude</span> saves.<br/><br/><strong>Those who choose to be more modest in their intake gain the following benefits for 48 hrs:</strong> +1 morale bonus to <span class="bbc_u">Will</span> saves and +2 morale bonus to <span class="bbc_u">Initiative</span> rolls and <span class="bbc_u">Perception</span> checks.</div></div><br/>Some time later, you're not sure when, but it can't be too late at night, old Cornellius takes his last mug before setting down with an audible sigh.  With an unsteady gait, he hobbles to the window overlooking the entirety of the sanctuary, where the ocean breeze of the night gently stirs his beard and hair.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k581/Am_Dreams/human_wizard_by_saturnoarg-d3kpdus.jpg)</div><strong>"You will remember earlier today that I mentioned the Order of Saeropane,"</strong>he begins abruptly.<strong>"As I said it may possibly be an unrelated matter, or perhaps I am simply thinking too much, but for whatever reason, some of you may know that within the Elven Territories, there exists the last relics of an ancient civilisation that dwelt on Emaeril 'ere the elves set foot on it.  That is not entirely true however - 'twould be more accurate to say that the Elven Territories holds the most plentiful number of such relics on Emaeril."</strong><br/><br/>Pacing up and down as if some inner fire will not let him sit, he continues:<strong>"Even here at Al-Cairsinal, such has been found.  More specifically, deep beneath our very feet right now.  The council here keeps things quiet as best they can, but any person with some free time on their hands will hear about it eventually, so it's not like I'm revealing 'state secrets' in case you're wondering.  Nay, friends.  This old man has a worry on his mind.  Very recently, a particularly large relic has been unearthed and has lit the proverbial fire in council's underwear.  Now normally even something like this would not even concern me... what has been my concern however is that there are those who are my friends who helped to dig it up.  And now they are missing."</strong><br/><br/>Finally he returns to the window where he visibly calms himself, tapping his gnarled fingers on the windowsill.<strong>"Something is bothering me - the council has never refused information before, especially when a comrades life may be at risk, and yet now they give me some silly good-for-nothing excuse that my friends have left the sanctuary on some errand for the council.  Old and addled as my wits may be, I know well enough when someone is feeding me a falsehood - the council is comprised of kindly scholars, men and women who care dearly for those under their watch - lying is not one of their skills and it shows when they try."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"I'm hoping that the Saeropaneans are not involved in this matter or it will put us all in deadly peril.  However, I want to know what it is that they dug up that is so damn important that it has become the first of their relics to have a guard placed on it, where formerly they left them lying about for any one who could be bothered to look at them.  I have attempted to scry upon it magically, but some blasted and clever fool must have placed some contingency against that, and my efforts were for naught."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"I think most of you should know where I'm going with this.  I just need someone to take a peek inside to see what all the fuss is about - the guards who watch it are poorly trained, or more accurately have never been trained, and I'm sure if some of us distracted them with flamboyant behaviour, others could take a look inside - the place is just an adjusted storehouse and it should be easy to get into.  You need not spend more than a few heartbeats to see what is inside."</strong>