Nyrstran (Prelude)

Players/Characters:

• Thalestris (Heather), an Oeridian "Woman-at-Arms"
• Barracus (Big J), a Touv Weapons Master
• Veraxian Los (Little J), a Suloise Executioner

Date: Starday, The First Day of Planting (Low Summer), known to the Sindolve as Blossom, and to the Nomads as the Month of the Frog, in the Common Year (CY) 581, which is also 1225 OR (Oeridian Record), 6096 SD (Suloise Dating), 5043 OC (Olven Calendar), 3240 BH (Baklunish Hegira), and 2731 FT (Flan Tracking) .

In the port city of Nyrstran, three strangers arrived: Thalestris, an Oeridian mercenary, Barracus, a Touv, former slave and gladiator, and Veraxian Los, a mysterious Suel. Circumstances conspired to bring them together. Thalestris was heading through the waterfront, to meet up with her old friend, Selena, an acolyte of Saint Cuthbert. A surly Half-Orc dock rat, hoping for an easy mark, tried to charge her a toll for travelling down "his" street. She fixed him with an icy stare, which caused him to recant his words, and back up a few steps. Not satisfied, she drew her throwing axe. He then produced his weapon, a mighty battle axe, and charged, catching her axe on the way in. Little did either of them know that Veraxian Los, who had been waiting in town for the arrival of his contact, Ulfgar Bandobrass, was watching from the shadows of a nearby alley. As the melee ensued, Veraxian elected to intervene. Sizing up his opponent, he let a dagger slip into his hand, and let fly. Meanwhile, a lucky blow from the Half-Orc threw Thalestris to the ground, her consciouness fading. The Half-Orc's sudden movement caused the dagger thrown by Veraxian to go wide, and soon the dock rat was upon the surprised Suel. Seeing an opportunity to test his new blades, Barracus strode down the middle of the suddenly clear street. Barracus, having recently won his freedom from slavery by fighting in the arenas, had only two possessions of any value, and he had paid for them dearly. Dressed only in a loincloth, without even a pair of sandals, he hefted two mighty bastard swords off his shoulders, swords which were of a size intended for giants, swords for which he was forced to borrow from an unscrupulous moneylender. After mere moments, Veraxian had caught an axe to the ribs, driving him to his knees. As the Half -Orc returned to the fallen Thalestris, intending to finish the job, Barracus shouted a challenge. The dock rat shouted in return, charging the gargantuan Touv. The Half-Orc received a chop to the hip, staggering him, but just as Barracus came down for a finishing blow, the dock rat swung wildly and hit the gladiator in the head. All faded into darkness.

Some time later, Thalestris awoke in the care of Selena. She was told that the dock rat ran off wounded after Selena and two acolytes confronted him. The acolytes were able to use their healing arts to save the lives of the Touv and the Suel, as well. Barracus was "collected" while still in the infirmary, and sent to work the mines of Diamond Lake to pay off his considerable debt. Veraxian sneaked out some time during the night. Little did any of them know that it would not be long before these strangers would meet again...