2008-01-06 The Adventurers Meet

When Braeco entered the Wayfarer's Rest Sunday morning, it was deserted but for the Innkeeper, Jovia, and some of the kitchen help. He showed Jovia the scrap of leatherskin, and asked her if anyone else had come through asking about it.

"Correspondence has been left with me regarding these," she told Braeco, "which I may share only when all are present." Mystified, the mage nonetheless settled in and did some Conjuring to pass the time, while keeping his attention on both entrances to the Inn.

Braeco caught the odor before he saw the undead make it's barely held together way into the Inn. Funny how the most substantial part of a female undead's anatomy is the only part that does not appear to decay. For that all should be grateful.

The two eyed each other. After a moment, the undead (a priest, Braeco decided) carefully pulled a scrap of paper from within it's robes. Blood elves are allies of the Forsaken, but not all undead are ready to accept this. Braeco had his own reservations, and was equally careful in revealing his own, identical scrap.

"I'm Philly," said the undead, introducing herself. "My bet is you know no more about this than I, hmm? "

"I believe I have one new thing to add, from Jovia here." Braeco nodded in the direction of the Innkeeper, and told Philly what he had learned.

"So we are two," said Philly as she settled into a nearby chair to take some weight off of her dusty bones.

"Perhaps we are three," said a stranger standing at the entrance to the Inn. Philly stood quickly as Braeco also turned toward the stranger. "I am Arquelion, a paladin and brother blood elf, and I too have come into possession of this interesting note."

"I believe our paths have crossed before, Arquelion," said Braeco.

"Yes, I recall. Something to do with slaying a few distasteful creatures some time back. A familiar face is good to see, when the task is as mysterious as this one." Arquelion nodded to Philly. "May I join you?"

And there were three.

When the blood elf warlock entered the Inn next, there was no question in the mind's of the three already present that she would also carry the scrap of note. The room took on a slight charge from the warlock's tightly controlled power. She smiled and said, "I see I am not the first to arrive. I'm Konpeito," and joined them at the table.

The Innkeeper chose that moment to speak up. "The fifth will arrive shortly. I have been given word of such."

A short time later a troll squeezed through the Inn door and splayed himself in the last chair at the table, his heavy sword and scabbard clanging against the furniture. "It's a long way from Durotar, but no way I wanted to miss this party. Whatever it is." He paused to look at each of the other four in turn. "I'm Huldukrieger. What have I missed?"

Everyone turned to look at the Innkeeper.

Jovia walked over to them and scrutinized the group, as if gauging their worthiness for what was to come. "I am permitted to say this." She paused. "Great tasks are required of this group. Things which you cannot comprehend yet. Things which may be beyond your abilities. "

"You judge us so without knowing us?" Interrupted Arquelion.

"You think you are the first to respond to this call? For a Call it is," said Jovia. Philly looked at the caked blood on her scrap. Others have died before. Others have failed. The same thought was clear in the faces of the others. Philly wondered how they had come into possession of their own scraps.

"These pieces of leatherskin choose who they belong to," continued Jovia, answering the unspoken question. "So you are already more than what you think. But that is not enough. You must prove yourself." Again she paused. "As others before you have not."

"So let's get to the point," said Huldu. "What is this proof we must perform?"

"Very well." Jovia stepped up to each adventurer in turn. "Huldukrieger. Konpeito. Arquelion. Phillyperdue. Braeco. South of here are the Ghostlands. Test the mettle of this group against all that you find there. When you believe you are ready, travel to Orgrimmar. I'm sure Huldu here knows the way." Jovia offered a small smile, her first. "Beneath that city lies Ragefire Chasm, home of a cult known as the Burning Blade. Prepare for that place, and report back to me when you have accomplished all that you must there."

"Are there other groups on this same path?" Braeco asked.

"Until you fail, you are the one true group." So said Jovia. But we all wondered.