Session 0 (Pt.2) A butterfly flaps it’s wings
ON A HILL IN THE SOUTHERN BORDERLANDS, a hermit lives in seclusion from the world. Haunted by memories of warfare and lost friends, he fears the dangers of connection. However, after years of such isolation, Taerus Galva is visited by a mysterious hawk-spirit that's apparently been watching him. The hawk warned Taerus of an approaching conflict, and that his leadership would soon be needed to save lives. Unable to ignore this calling, he heads north to the lands of Virpresque.
After securing passage on a cargo ship to Goldsands Harbour, Taerus ventures into the wilds, where the hawk's instructions cease. Uncertain of where to go, Taerus spends several weeks in a small farming village, where he works odd-jobs to help out. He quickly gains their respect as he helps assemble a new meeting hall, though he must often gently decline the pining of one youthful village girl, Winnowa.
One morning, Taerus awoke to the smell of burning. He rushed to the village center to find the meeting hall in flames, with red-robed figures chanting outside. With a blast of thunderous energy, he blew past the strangers to save those trapped inside. As he prepared to fight off the robed ones, they instead sacrificed themselves to add to the flames. Taerus is able to rescue the villagers inside, though he couldn't help but notice that Winnowa was not present amongst the survivors.
...
OUTSIDE THE RECTORY OF GOLDSANDS HARBOUR, a hooded figure knocks on the gate. A halfling watchman questions the visitor, who produces a note from a scholarly master granting him access. Watchman Eracik the watchman then welcomes the fiery-hued male into the fortified Rectory. Shakan Bake is led to the library, the largest in the region, and spends several hours scouring writings of ancient lore and legend. However, he grows frustrated as he begins to suspect what he seeks cannot be found in books.
Eracik, flattered by the genasi, offers one of the Rectories meager dormitory rooms in the levels below. It is getting late and close to the changing of the guards, however, and so the watchman quickly shuttles the visitor to his quarters, locking the door behind him. A sense of discomfort keeps Shakan awake, and he eventually uses his daggers to pick the lock after hearing some activity outside.
Sneaking into the shadowy hall, Shakan finds two thugs whispering anxiously. They finally notice him and move to attack. The genasi is able to hold them off with his whirling blades and tries to escape back into his room. When they break their way in, however, the tables are quickly turned as Shakan unleashes a torrent of flame that fills the small space. While his attackers burn alive, a glowing Shakan sends another pair of goons running with a fierce warning.
As the fire starts to spread, Shakan makes a quick exit, stopping to grab some tomes from the library on the way out. Seeing how once again attention only leads to trouble, the genasi cools his flames and sets out again, looking for the answers he fears are already lost.
...
IN A BACK ALLEY OF FORT INDOMINUS, two figures wishing to avoid attention meet. A figured in veiled purple robes greets Vax Shadowsworn, as he is in need of someone with skills many consider unseemly. The half-elf is intrigued, especially when they offer a "hall pass" for any future legal entanglements. Vax agrees to steal a holy relic from an upstart priest whose faith to the old ways troubles his new client, who implies he serves the ruler of Virpresque, Duchess Üllans.
That night, Vax is casing the church where he notices two armed guards at the entrance. He makes his way to a nearby tavern, the Leaning Fountain, where he hopes to learn more about his target. He gathers that many seem to admire the cleric's work, as he is a symbol of hope in an increasingly fearful world.
Vax uses his illusionist skills to cover his entrance into the church, where he encounters the cleric himself, Olibod. The dwarf is welcoming at the late hour, but is not fooled by the thief's misdirections. Vax seemingly agrees to leave, but suddenly launches at the altar with three illusory mimcs in tow. In a final desperate maneuver, Olibod erects a wall of fire to stop the half-drow but fails. With the cleric begging him to stop, Vax teleports into the night with the church's holy relic in hand.
The client is thrilled not only with the theft but also the news the church has burned down. He offers Vax a signet bearing the mark of Duchess Üllans and the promise of a larger job at Timberfall Outpost.