<br/>Beyond the Faded Lands - OOC thread located here (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=180897.0)<br/><br/><hr/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span class="bbc_u"><em><strong>Beyond</strong></em></span></span><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/nclpBry.jpg)</div><br/><hr/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/jki1Vbg.jpg)</div><br/>The city of Laelith sat upon the water like a hunched jungle cat, taut and ready to spring.  The early summer temperatures on the continent of Mara meant that the weather had started getting quite hot.  And around Laelith, that meant damn hot.  Inside the tropical region of the world's southern hemisphere, A tropical jungle sat not far from the cities borders.  Laelith sat along the coast, the entire city being built upon a slope that rose upwards to the west, leaving the small bay at the east busy with the hustle and bustle of several ships.   Most of the ships in the port were docked and busy.  Countless men, women, and neutral warforged, or 'forged' as some of them prefered to be called, swarmed up and down the docks and over the ships.  They loaded precious gems, antiques, or cargo, bound for a return to the Faded lands and the eager buyers there who clamored for the treasures of this lost land.<br/><br/>Some small flat boats made their way west, up Laelith river.  The river wound up stream to the west, between an increasingly higher and higher set of canyon walls, taking explorers deeper into the jungle wilds beyond Laelith's small claim of civilization.  They would stop at the hilarious, and yet appropriately titled outpost at the very edge of the jungle named 'Fort Last Chance.'  The small outpost was last place for adventurers to prepare before heading out into the wilds of Mara.<br/><br/>Other boats in Laelith's docks were floating calmly anchored however, and showed no signs of moving.  At least one powerful figure made his home on such a floating pleasure palace, enjoying the benefits of the cities protection as well as the independance of a floating home.  In fact one such boat, with a semi permanant dock, was the sound of much laughter and racousness; Big Bronau’s Boat, the title of a riverboat casino at permanent anchor.<br/><br/>Around the city sat ancient walls, older than anyone could guess, but at least a thousand years old or more.  From the south walls one could, if one had a powerful spyglass, make out on the horizon the dead grey mists that marked the borders of the faded lands.  There beyond the mists lay an entire nation, no, several nations, of relative peace and stability.  But here, on this side of the mists, where Laelith lay, sat wild jungles, a savage group of pioneers eager to make their fortunes, and find the thing in this ancient wild world that would bring them whatever it was they were seeking.<br/><br/>This world was wild, there was no doubt of that.  Magic had s sometimes unforeseen consequences, and everyone who lived in Laelith for more than a few days found out about the travelers curse.  Some warping of reality caused the world to behave... strangely... at least in this area that people had explored.  Sometimes a path would travel a relatively straight line, and yet, other times it would twist and loop about, doubling back on itself.  A traveler who didn't know their way around could get lost, quickly and easily.  While the city of Laelith had seemed to be mostly immune to such strange magics, not a week went by when a traveler, new to the city didn't complain of it taking him half a day to walk around the block to the market or some other such odd tale.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/iqWFmYI.jpg)</div>Since Laelith was built on a hill, the town rose upwards, and the alleys and streets did too.  Space was at a premium as it was being reclaimed from the ruins of the ancient city, and people often build upwards, higher and higher, to find the space they wanted for their shops, businesses, or homes.  But one thing was certain, Laelith was a crowded city.  With travelers who came and went constantly, it's streets were packed and often alive with the feel of life.<br/><br/>Laelith's homes were often built right into the ruined walls of the cities ancient structures.  It wasn't uncommon to see a mix of architecture either.  Dwarven squat foundations sat below sturdy houses made in a human style.  Those homes sharing an ancient wall with an elven temple, graceful and curving where the home was blocky and firm.  Often too the homes had no distinct style, as people shored up the ruins and reclaimed more and more of the city with no feel for aesthetics.  Who had time to worry what the apartment house you were living in looked like, when there was ancient riches and ruins to explore beyond the cities walls?<br/><br/>Despite the cramped nature of the city, it actually remained fairly clean.  The tropical climate meant that there was at least one rain storm once a day, sometimes lasting only minutes, other times an hour or more.  The rain constantly washed any filth and dirt down into the ancient sewers of Laelith.  Sewers that the protectors of the city swore were finally secure.<br/><br/>But the rain never dampened anyone for too long.  It was too hot to stay too wet for long.  The brutal summer sun baked away moisture from the surfaces it touched after too long, leaving the humid heat of a city surrounded by jungle.<br/><br/>Every type of people were present in the city of Laelith.  The red skinned, horned demon people known as teiflings.  The metal and wooden people known as the forged.  The black skinned and white haired elves known as the drow.  Squat dwarves and tall humans, cunning halflings and wily goblins.  The angelic looking eldarin who shared blood with the earthy elven people.  There were gleaming scaled men and women known as dragonborn, and the sometimes feral, sometimes sensual animal people known as shifters.   There was even the odd person who defied any of these racial groupings, but suffice it to say that all had their place in Laelith, no matter what they looked like... of course... Laelith was a city of constant change and while one might find a home there for a time, caution was advised, lest it also be your grave.<br/><br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/uIFfAta.jpg)</div>Our tale starts with one such woman.  Alana'sorel Sunsorrow sat inside the shop, Sunsorrow Acquisitions and Services, listening to the low ranking mage speaking to her.  While some may have seen Alana'sorel's true form, she currently wore a disguise that was comfortable to her.  Her peach flesh was tanned and glowed from exposure to the sun of this place.  Her hair, orange and red in a way that could only be described as 'flaming' fell in perfectly styled waves about her thin elfen face.  Long graceful ears tapered up away from her flawless face, a beauty that caught many a passing eye.  A graceful neck, containing a heavenly voice, with an ample and attractive bust below.   She listened as the messenger spoke to her.<br/><br/>"So you see Ms. Sunsorrow," the young man repeated for the third time, stammering under the gaze of the sensual elven woman, "It's just as the letter says.  The Mages guild is looking for some talented and capable people to help find a missing item.  I can't give you any more information then what I've given you.  I don't know what the item is or who it belongs too.  Just that Senior conjurer Feizein is going to be conducting interviews tomorrow for anyone who thinks they would be interested in the job."<br/><br/>The young man, almost a boy really, certainly no older then twenty, held the paper out to Alana'sorel.  His frame was thin for a human, but if he was an apprentice mage, it was no surprise; the mages guild worked their junior members nearly to the bone.  All of this Alana'sorel knew of course as she considered her other options as well.  A job for the mages guild would have certain, magical rewards no doubt.  But there was also this cleric who was seeking a scholar and someone versed in magic to help with a problem of a delicate nature.  Both jobs seemed like they might be up her alley, and both were frustratingly vague.<br/><br/>Little did she know that she was about to have another opportunity dropped in her lap.<br/><br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center">(http://i.imgur.com/zpktZ1C.png)</div><div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/2asHtfP.png)</div>Jian Amara wound her way through the crowded streets of Laelith, one hand clutching the strap that she'd attached to her bag of holding as it was slung cross wise over her body, the other holding her magical spear.  The tip gleamed in the early afternoon light as if it were made of a shard of ice, or some sort of crystal.  It was only as high as her graceful shoulder, though the truth of the artifact was much deeper than it's somewhat simple appearance.  Jian used it as a walking stick as she climbed through the winding alleys and streets of Laelith.  She was just world wise enough to know enough not to engage the various merchants who shouted their wares at her from shops built into their homes, and to be watchful of any children who ran towards her, though there was little they could snatch off her easily, she noticed one or two grubby hands reaching for her pockets before she slapped them away.<br/><br/>Whores, both male and female, and even a warforged or two, called out from windows and balconies as she passed, and it was no surprise.  Jian was without a doubt gorgeous.  Her light blue eyes were crisp and alert, and looked out from a porcelain fine skin, face that could only be described as sensual, and a thick mop of black hair.  Currently done up in a knot at the back of her head, exposing her neck and the barest hint of clevage protruding from her adventuring clothing.  Clothing she'd have to rethink if she was going to spend any time here in Laelith.  A full set of traveling clothes with heavy broadcloth and leather reinforced patches might be all well and good in the Faded Lands, but here in Laelith, she'd be sweating through them before day's end and she'd only arrived in port an hour ago.<br/><br/>Unconsciously, she took her hand from her bag's strap to pat at her clothing.  Yes, the papers were still there in the inside pocket of her jacket.  Both receipts and declarations she'd received from the Mages collective and the explorers guild stating that upon entering the city she'd officially filled out the correct paperwork, paid the proper dues, and joined both of those guilds.  But more importantly than that was the sealed letter.<br/><br/>It was the very last thing her former mentor had given her before she'd left the Faded Lands to come here to Laelith.  The old master had written a note and sealed it, both with wax and with magic, and on the outside he'd written a single name;  Alana'sorel Sunsorrow.  He'd suggested, quite heavily, that Jian find this woman.  That this woman would be able to help her on her quest for a greater discovery of magic.  Of course, Jian also held the hopes for a greater goal as well... but what wizard didn't dream of immortality at some point?<br/><br/>Then finally, Jian stood before the glass window that read in large bold letters, "Sunsorrow Acquisitions and Services."   Inside she saw the dim outline of a young man in a robe speaking with someone... though that shape was obscured by the dim light in the shop and the bright afternoon sun outside.  It wasn't too late of course... she could always turn back.  She didn't know who this Sunsorrow was, or why her master thought she should trust the woman.  There was a large posting of jobs down at the explorers guild after all, and she still needed to find a place to live since she'd just arrived.  Maybe she should wait and come back tomorrow.  Not for the first time she thought about breaking the seal on the letter and reading what her mentor had written as well, though such a breach would be obvious and there'd be no turning back from that.<br/><br/>Jian sighed, a choice must be made.