Chronicles of the World of DaoTyr

Mystery at Ulfdin part one

Three wealthy families in Ulfdin: The Alta, Valehart, and Wolfhart family

Ulfdin is a wealthy hamlet of between sixty and one hundred people. In harvest market season, the population can swell to over one thousand. It is known for a sword forge of exceptional fay magic, an apothecary that specializes in botanical healing remedies of great potency, and a cooperage that makes the finest (often enchanted) wine barrels, ubiquitous throughout the regional industry.

Key points of Part One(which takes place over three days from Eleint 17 to Eleint 29 in the year 1510, right before the autumnal equinox.) It has not rained all summer in Ulfdin, and the land is bone dry.

1. Sir Zun Alta, Captain of the Granitehome knights, Sir Zun the One-Handed, returns to his hometown of Ulfdin at the behest of his sister, Zarya, in a letter, saying that the town needs him and there is a lot to discuss.

2. …meets with Ogedron and finds that the town is vulnerable to a fay attack

3. …finds that his mother is strangely and unexpectedly more wealthy than before

4. …discovers that the knight, Sir Coris, may be compromised

5. …learns that his sister is dating the mayor-lord

6. …defends the town from a fire elemental named the Consumer

7. …believes that the new faith of the Eye and the Chalice is evil

8. …starts a flirtatious affair with the druid Aolienne

9. …finds the mage Elyndra murdered

10. …destroys the illithid named Theraktrian

Characters

• Naelthir Osathus, eladrin, most men call him simply Moonshade. Naelthir is considered to be the greatest artificer of our time. He forged Zun Alta’s legendary halberd and, a decade later, constructed Zun’s meticulously rendered, artificial right hand to replace the one that was severed by Loralin Gildiron while the hand was wielding Rendgray, one of the ancient swords of doom. Naelthir is also a prolific swordsmith, making dozens of named, magical blades over his career. Local blades, still in the employ of the Bladesong knights, include Aelvar, the Lantern Blade, and Threnrivar, the Hammering Wind. Zun lived for several years as a young man before he found the knighthood in Silverymoon as the ward of Naelthir. Naelthir is over one thousand years old, and recently married his long-time love, Elyndra Osanthus, another ancient eladrin.

(*) Naelthir always wears a heavy, indigo-colored wool cloak. He has six fingers on his left hand and constantly sips a strong, steaming herbal beverage that drives humans away in disgust at its earthy smell.

• Although Naelthir clearly spent a lot of time in Ulfdin, nobody ever really reported seeing him around. What does he know about the mythal shard, and how could he have let this happen?

• Elyndra Osathus, eladrin, known around Ulfdin, kindly, as the Moonshade witch. She lives in a tall, five-story tower on the east end of town called The Indigo Spindle. Elyndra is the steward of the Mythal shard, a fragment of the Silverymoon Mythal; a deep piece of elven magic. The Mythal shard does many things, including keeping Ogedron, the summer troll, young and vital. On Eleint 18 in the year 1510, three days before the autumnal equinox (by the Silverymoon calendar), Elyndra was found murdered in the Indigo Spindle. It was the assessment of the Bladesong knight, Zun Alta, that the fatal wound was administered by a blade of Drow construction.

(*) Zun remembers Elyndra as the lady in gray. Gray cowl. Gray eyes. Gray frock. He never understood why her home was called the Indigo Spindle. Although the tower itself is an ancient and beautifully crafted piece of architecture, the place seemed to reflect Elyndra’s style: gray and monochromatic.

• Who actually killed her? Theraktrian did not have a drow blade that Zun could find. The mystery of the missing Mythal shard persists.

• Sir Coris Valehart, female human (22 years old), Bladesong knight of Ivorystone Wayhouse in Ulfdin; older sister of Marya Valehart and cousin of Garam Valehart. Coris is the wielder of Aelvar, the Lantern Blade. At some unknown moment, through some unknown ritual, the body of Coris was possessed by glamour by the illithid mind flayer called Theraktrian, the War Mind.

(*) Sir Coris is known as Coris Ebon Eyes. Her dark, mysterious stare, along with her long, curly, raven-colored hair, always exuded an imposing aura.

• If Theraktrian took over the mind and body of Coris and was able to infiltrate the wards of the Indigo Spindle, where is the Mythal shard now? Is Sir Coris dead? If so, where is her body?

• Theraktrian, illithid mind flayer. Called the War Mind. Mace-wielding psionic predator. For an unknown period of time, Sir Coris Valehart was possessed, body and soul, by Theraktrian. He infiltrated Ulfdin for at least several months. When investigating the murder of Elyndra Osathus, Zun Alta uncovered Theraktrian’s disguise. And there, several hundred feet below the Indigo Spindle, Zun Alta and Theraktrian did battle beneath the hull of an enormous, ancient airship called the Kellis Illbyrn, drydocked in a subterranean hangar beneath the Eladrin mage tower. Apparently Naelthir had been restoring the ancient vessel for a very long time. In that quiet and dark place, Zun and Theratrian did mortal battle, and Zun came out the lone victor.

(*) A horrible nightmare creature with oily, black skin and gold, demonic eyes. Four, meter long tentacles hang from ledge like cheek bones on a broad skull under a black cloak that seems to have been woven of shadow. Spindle fingers wrap around a mace of ominous lethality.

• What is Theraktrian’s purpose in Ulfdin? Why infiltrate the hamlet for so long? Did it have something to do with the Mythal shard? The swords of doom? The work of Naelthir and the mysterious underground project-the airship called the Kellis Illbyrn?

• Aolienne Illith, female wood elf, 75 years old; called “the rain seeding wreather”; gardener and power druid. Aolienne is the younger sister of Bessa Illith, the Bard of the Hearth in Port Edderoth. When the fire elemental called The Consumer attempted to destroy Ulfdin on the night of Eleint 19, Aolienne aided Zun Alta in its destruction. Their teamwork saved untold lives. Aolienne and Zun quickly became attracted to each other. Although they had known each other for over a dozen years, Aolienne was stunned at the man Zun had become.

(*) Aolienne is slow to speak, but discerning and serious in her conversation. She does not suffer fools. She wears her father’s armor, a spellguard of Silverymoon, although she is a druid of the Court of the Nine Stars, a Wreather. She likes moon wine and is a vegetarian. She is usually reading when not attending to her gardening duties

• Aldric Wolfhart,  human, 40 years old, male, widow; two daughters: Kaethra (20) and Aelissa (14), and one son: Aeldin (3). Alric is the mayor-lord of Ulfdin and often acts as a judge and a diplomat; Aldric is six years older than Zun, and Zun has always known Aldric to be a bit of a bully, although Aldric is generally respected by the community for his charismatic good humor and his passionate defense of the local population of the hamlet. Currently, Aldric is romantically involved with Zun’s younger sister, Zarya.

(*) Aldric is handsome enough, with short blonde hair, a square jaw, and broad shoulders. He wears only black clothes and usually wears gloves. He never carries a sword on his belt but always wears the same vest, which is rumored to hold Silverymoon wards and protections

• Kaethra Wolfhart, human, 20 years old, female; the beautiful eldest daughter of Aldric Wolfhart, Kaethra is the “dame prima” of the Church of the Eye and Chalice, a religion that worships a saving figure called the Mistress of Light. Sensing a dark edge to the faith, Zun Alta marched into the Temple of the Dawnlight in central Ulfdin on the morning of Sunday, Eleint 19 1510, and destroyed the altar to the shock of the congregants.

(*) Kaethra has silver-black hair and is often described as being beautiful beyond her years. She has a bold, proselytizing voice and a fierce stare.

• What are the origins of the Chalice and Eye religion in Ulfdin and why does this new faith elicit such a zealous response from its practitioners?

• Ogedron, the Summer Troll; Ogedron, although called a troll, is not a troll, but an ancient fay spirit who made a deal with Maeres Alta, the great-grandmother of Zun Alta, to protect Ulfdin from the deeper powers of the forest; powers that use fire. The greatest among them is called Aelgardra, a fay that no man has yet beheld. Upon his return trip to his hometown of Ulfdin, Zun Alta met Ogedron on the morning of Eleint 17. Ogedron confesses that he is dying. The power that kept him alive, the power that Maeres Alta promised to provide forever, was no longer supplied to him. Zun would later learn that the missing Mythal shard was what kept him alive.

(*)Ogedron is twelve feet tall and weighs nearly eight hundred pounds. His massive frame appears to be the leathery husk of some great man draped over a liquid fire of ash and stone. His skull is burnt, and lava drools from between his teeth. His lair is a darkened cave of obsidian and the blackened remnants of years’ worth of meaty, scorched meals.

• Zorel Alta, human, female, matron of House Alta, and mother of Zun-male (33), Galen-male (27), and Zarya-female (24). Zorel is the widow of Zo’an, Zun’s father, who died from a broken heart (they said a ghost of loneliness had possessed him) when he was forty years old. That was twenty years ago. Zun once had an elder brother named Zaer, but Zaer was killed by a draconian five years ago in the first dragon war. They say that the day before Zael’s death was the last day that Zorel smiled. Now, she lives alone in her giant manor with four large, gray-furred and yellow-eyed wolf-hounds. When Zun visited her on the afternoon of Eleint 19, he was stunned to find that the library was filled with platinum coins and ingots. The source of House Alta’s wealth has always been platinum, mined from an ancient family quarry outside of Crystal Bed called the Green Hills Mine, but it hadn’t produced any serious value in decades. Now, a great amount of wealth was evident. When asked by her son about the new fortune, she waved her hand and said that some investments with the merchant coster, House Aelsibyrn, had matured and she had cashed them out. Zun didn’t believe her, though he didn’t press the matter.

(*) Zorel loves to wear fur. Her favorite is a mantle of red sable that contrasts with her short white hair. Her eyes are electric blue. She is tall and thin and wears silver rings on all her fingers.

• What is the financial relationship between House Alta and the Alesibryn costar? Does it have anything to do with the Mythal shard?

• Sir Taerion Givena, male, human, 70 years old, Bladesong knight of Ivorystone at Ulfdin. Sir Taerion is the father of Kelli Givena, who is the wine steward at the Hearth in Port Edderoth. Sir Taerion has been loyal to Zun since Zun was a young knight. Although nearly forty years his elder, Sir Taerion has always referred to Zun as “master Alta,” as befitting Zun’s rank and birthright. When the Consumer came to destroy Ulfdin on the night of Eleint 19, Taerion fought the creature beside Zun and helped rescue many small children. Sir Taerion wields the ancient blade Threnivar, the Hammering Wind.

(*) Sir Taerion is strong despite his advanced age. Tall with a pointed silver beard. He has tattoos all over his body. He wears a long red cape.

• The Consumer: agent of Aelgadra, the Consumer is a sentient fire-elemental, an assassin of a fay lord who can’t be killed, only dispatched for a time. The Consumer’s wrath is held at bay by the combined power of the Mythal shard and Ogedron, the summer troll. On the night of Eleint 19, with the summer troll dying and the Mythal fragment missing, the Consumer walked into Ulfdin, burning the town. Sir Zun Alta was able to destroy the form of ash and fire and banish him away for a time. There was only one fatality that night, an elderly man named Turketh Murre, who could not escape his home.

(*) Ten feet tall, walking flame inside a humanoid skeleton made of black glass

• Zarya Alta, female, human, 24 years old; youngest of the House Alta; Zarya is shrewd and charismatic. Zun always teased her younger sister that she was too smart for her own good. She is a talented scribe who has written novels of fae love and romances of magic and mystery. She is also a talented seamstress and designer of fine gowns. She is now romantically involved with Aldric, the mayor-lord of Ulfdin. Zarya is beloved by everyone in town, and her fashions are renowned throughout Gildensong.

(*) Red hair with green eyes. She is tall and graceful, and her nails are always painted and immaculately kept. Zarya exudes competence and grace along with a slightly sly smile.

• Kole Embra, human, male, 16 years old; squire-knight of Granitehome, sworn to Sir Zun Alta; originally from Elk Grove Fields, Kole is the third of five brothers, all sons of lord Kylen Embra, who, a widower himself, now lives in a stone mansion on the riverbanks at Port Edderoth. Kole and his trusty pack mule, named Turnip, are known for carrying around “one of everything you could ever need.” Kole has a talent for organizing that surpasses his talent for swordplay.

(*) Handsome, young, strong, if not a bit clumsy. Thin fingers. Excellent penmanship. Quick wit. Careful and courteous.

• Garam Valehart, human, 33 years old, alchemist and pharmacist. Garam is the cousin of two sisters who also live in Ulfdin: Sir Coris Valehart of Ivorystone and Marya Valehart of the Deserrin Hold costar. Garam is Zun Alta’s oldest friend. They grew up together. Garam now owns and operates the ancient laboratory called Thalara’s Laboratory. Thalara was a dear friend of Elyndra and Naelthir Osathus and was also eladrin. Thalara died two years ago; they said she died from dragon sickness, a dreaming disease of fire that afflicts many ancient eladrin, and a disease for which there is no cure.

(*) A bit frail of constitution. Almost blind without his glasses; has arthritis in his hands; the smartest guy in any room but usually too shy to demonstrate it.

• What does he know about the drow blade that apparently killed Elyndra?

• Aeffre of Teltherion, drow, 10 years old, Garam’s apprentice; Aeffre has no memory of the dark elf city where she was born; she was found after the burning of the Elfheim Keep in a fayhold near Crystal Bed during the last Dragon War. She is talented and remarkably intelligent. Garam protects her as if she were his own daughter.

(*)With her dark gray skin and deep, black eyes, she stands out in Ulfdin, although she usually does not realize it. She is kind and quick to laugh.

• Galen Crowhurst, human, 27 years old; Zun’s younger brother, although Galen has disavowed the Alta surname. Galen owns a successful cooperage, a business that makes oaken wine barrels for all of Gildensong. He is wealthy in his own right. He claims that the reason he no longer thinks of himself as an heir to the Alta name is purely due to the ethics of self-righteous work. He claims Alta money is dirty money and wants nothing to do with it. He still works in town, across the street from Alta Manor, and although he sees his mother regularly, they rarely speak. His business is one of the most costar-free business is the county.

(*) Galen has red-brown hair that he usually keeps short, with a pointed beard and mustache. He dresses smart, and his hands look like those of a man who works with them for a living. He has no stomach for violence, but he has a temper and will defend those he cares for from injury or insult. He also distills Ulfdin whiskey, which he partakes of regularly.