Session 1: The Tusktrade Caravan Report

General Summary

The heavy double door swung open without making a sound. The fact that a single person could push open the great stonework portal without any effort was a testament to the craftsmanship of those that had designed and built the magnificent palace of Zolo Vim.   Of course, the mighty general of Amon, third in status and power within the fiendish city, expected the highest quality in everything he owned and the greatest effort of all those that worked for him. Success was expected, not celebrated, and failure punished. This was one of the foremost thoughts on the mind of Zelia as she made her way into the impressive throne room. Even though the failure was not hers, the general had taken out his anger on innocent messengers before. She hoped her role at his court would protect her from such unwitting reprisals.   At the back of the hall a stone dais rose 15 feet high. Elegant stairs led up to the platform and their white marble contrasted beautifully against the blackness of the dais’ stone. Two thrones adorned the large platform, a huge bronze monstrosity adorned with images of screaming humans falling into a pit of roaring fire and a smaller golden seat covered in arcane runes. The smaller throne stood a few feet higher than the larger bronze one, and both were empty.   Zelia paused as she reached the marble stairs. She had expected the general to be present. His personal guards stood watch at the entrance after all. She recovered from her confusion fast enough though. This was no doubt another one of Vim’s games. She had served under him long enough to recognize his tricks and traps. Refusing to break protocol, Zelia sank to her knees and prostrated herself in front of the empty dais. As her head touched the cold stone floor, she repeated the ritual greeting she had spoken so many times already. Despite this, the words still made her as nauseous as they did all those years ago.
“Great Lord, I have come to serve. I bow to you now, as the world will one day soon.”   Her voice echoed among the pillars of the hall for a moment before being joined by the sounds of footsteps. From behind a pillar to the left of the dais a tall man strode forward. He wore a sculpted breastplate, displaying muscles she knew were no exaggeration of his true body. A long grey cloak hung across his back and the hood he normally wore during audiences was put down, revealing a face much younger than any human of his age had any right of having.
“Welcome back Zelia, I take it you had a nice rest?”   Zelia kept her forehead pressed against the tiles. She would not be baited into making a mistake.
“I wish all my servants learned as easily as you. You may look upon me, my dear. And feel free to answer my questions.”   The young woman raised her head but kept herself kneeling before the dais. Vim walked past her, ascended the stairs and sat down on the smaller of the two thrones. As soon as he was seated Zelia spoke.
“Yes, my lord, my rest was uninterrupted.”   “Good. And your travels, were they successful? Do you have any news?’   “Yes. Amamastors’ rod has been used. Braska has found slaves worthy of your attention and they have been marked.”   A grin of satisfaction flashed across Vim’s face as she mentioned the demon and the general glanced at the empty bronze throne.
“Good. Have they left Den? When will they arrive here?”   Zelia calmed the nerves that threatened to grow into panic. This is the moment she had dreaded ever since she had awoken an hour ago.
“They left Den, but there was an attack on the caravan. Undead from de Deep Dark assaulted it, and the prisoners made use of the distraction to escape.”   Zelia knew the prisoners had escaped before the attack had begun, but maybe this excused some of Braska’s failure. Maybe it could save his life. She braced herself for her lord’s anger, but there was none.
“They must truly be exceptional. Braska has never failed me before.”   The kneeling woman was perplexed. She did not know how to react. This was so unlike Vim. He must have noticed her confusion and mistaken it for concern.
“Do not worry, my dear. The mark of Amamastor will ensure they will serve their purpose. Try to keep up with them and inform me of their actions.”   He ended the sentence with a dismissive wave of his hand and Zelia quickly got up and began moving backwards to the exit. Just as she reached the door and was about to turn around to once again open it, her lord raised his voice once more.
“Alert the guards to keep an eye out for Braska. Have them send him to me as soon as he arrives. He has to account for his failure.”