Thy Quests Begin

E1Q1 

The Lost Sprite 

A Meeting of Strangers

A day has passed since the blizzard forced you and your fellow adventurers to take refuge inside the Goat Inn, high in the Azalei Mountains of Elda Island. You and Talik appreciated the chance to get warm, she was much less adapted to the cold than you. As natives of Karaz the Elda climate was hard to adjust to. Haden, a young but hardened warrior from Morian had volunteered to come with you and she was starting to regret it due to the biting cold and the scant trimmings on the Goat specials we had just ordered.  Haden look outside the frosted glass window into the Azalei range and declared, "looks like the worst of that storm has passed." You're eager to reach the tower and prove to your elders that your were indeed an accomplished mage. If you could get to the tower and discover what secrets the Ancients — the Voek — have left behind you would build a name for yourself. You are young to be on a quest such as this and the elders have taken a risk in allowing you to choose your own party so you have much to prove. 

The door of the Goat Inn slams open. A man stumbles in, mustache and clothes caked with snow. He looks frozen through to his bones, like he's been wandering outside for hours.

You guide him to the fireplace, where Richalt introduces himself and tells you he's a nomadic Healer studying rare mountain flora.

"I was exploring when a tower appeared out of nowhere," he says. "My sprite companion rushed toward the door. It's locked, but I can't get her to leave. I don't know what to do."

Haden, is already strapping on her gauntlets. "It sounds like your sprite needs help, we're headed for this tower. If you can show us the way, maybe we can help you figure out what's bothering your sprite." You like this young warrior, she is brave and quick to act. 

Richalt's eyes flicker with a mixture of hope and dread. "The way there is treacherous," he warns. "The blizzard has left the path unstable. Avalanches are common, and the wildlife has been stirred up by the storm. It could be a harrowing journey that might take quite an effort."

You feel a shiver run down your spine, not from the cold but from the weight of his words. The journey ahead promises not only physical challenges but unknown dangers lurking in the shadows of the mountains. The Voek were known for their cunning and their secrets, and from the description this is a Voek tower, now awakened and it likely holds trials that only the bravest—or the most foolhardy—would dare face.

Yet, the spark of adventure ignites in your heart. You look around at your new companions, each one reflecting your own determination and readiness for the challenges ahead. Alster, the only native Eldonian,  is packing his herbal pouch and checking he has what he will need on this additional quest, Talik is saying a mage incantation to protect you all on this journey and you, who just met them a short while ago while on a study mission in the Library of the Arcanum, have somehow been included in this exciting opportunity. The tower's mysteries beckon, promising answers and perhaps even powers forgotten by time.

Richalt gathers his gear, his hands trembling slightly. "I'll guide you," he says, "but be prepared for the unexpected." "How we gonna do that?" You mumble under your breath. He continues "The Voek's magic is ancient and unpredictable. We'll need all our wits about us to make it through." "And some snowdrops," adds Haden aware of the biting cold as the wind comes through the door, you got any of those Alster?" He taps his pouch as if ready and with a nod and a smile you know he does. 

With that, you all step out into the crisp, clear air. The path to this tower looms ahead, winding through snow-laden forests and over perilous cliffs. As the sun sets behind the peaks, casting long shadows across the land, you can't shake the feeling that this journey will test you in ways you never imagined. The tower stands as both a beacon and a warning, its dark silhouette a constant reminder of the trials to come.

Together, with Richalt at your side, you begin the long trek. The road is uncertain, the dangers manifold, but the promise of discovery and the call of adventure drive you forward. The year ahead may be filled with peril, but it also holds the potential for greatness, if only you can survive what lies in wait.

What mixture of emotions does Richalt experience when Haden offers to help him, and how does he describe the journey to the tower? Add your answer in Thy Quests below to move forward. And remember if you ever need help on your journey you carry with you the Tome of Knowledge which holds the answers to great reams of information.