THE LAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF SAGES 1: URONOS'S LAIR

Hook: Bridge Town has grown in prominance on the frontier of Calibor next to The Wilderness. The Erämi, though they are reluctant to claim full alliance with anyone, have honoured the agreement put forth in The League of Four Crowns, which includes the Caliphate of Asham, Calibor, the tribal lands of Antŵra, and the wild Erämi. The elves stayed away from any agreements, remaining in the depths of their wild forests, but, it was guaranteed, if the need were great enough, the elves would emerge to defend the lands from aggression. They needed no binding terms to know what was right, much as the Erämi claim. The mountain gnomes also remain hidden away, save for rare instances when they emerge to travel the lands to gather greater knowledge of the world to use in their making. The League agreement has proven to be a good failsafe against the forces of evil, as Xoár and the Strixians have continued to prove troublesome, but, manageable. Enough of a threat to remain watchful... The Marcher Lords, Taryŵnish purists responsible for watching the thin western border of Calibor, have been left to their own wild devices building fortified villages along the frontier to keep watch on any invading forces and to indulge their own civil strife between clans. The Crown simply requires them to assemble and answer its call, during times of war and great need. The northern clans living in the Marcher Wolds and southern Hundred-Headed Mountains, are lesser royalty, marcher lords, knights, lesser chieftains and governors, in charge of fortified villages on the frontier. The southern clans, two larger political entities, The March of Tŵrk, and the March of Mabinŵg, are ruled by marks, a title equivalent to Lumenorian princes (minor nobles and military commanders), or Caliborian lords, or chieftains. The Lumenorian purists rule militarised mercenary units as tacticians and mercenary princes, who make their money as guards and leaders hired to lead as generals, specialised foot soldiers, and elite cavalry in times of war. It is by this uncertain backdrop that the Mark of Mabinŵg, Bryŵn, has grown increasingly suspicious of one of the local wizards, Lŵgon, upon hearing rumours of his gathering forces in The Wilderness, and finding evidence of those same forces ambushing caravans on the roads. It may be that he is planning a coup. The Mark has sent word throughout town that he desires a group of individuals go to Lŵgon's lair, find him, and bring him back to Bridge Town for questioning, and, if he does not wish to return, they are permitted to deal with him, as they please. Any goods stolen from local craftsmen are to be returned, should anything be found.

Details: The Council of Sages is a group of powerful wizards trained and led by the master wizard, Uronos (oo-ROH-nos), a Lumenorian. He has trained many wizards, over the years, always in groups of 2-3. Uronos is an aggrandising sort, but, understated, intelligent, and tactical, though he often overlooks minor details and inconveniences, whenever he thinks he is right or speaking to those he considers inferiors. Over the years, his greatest apprentices he hand-picked for a small, elite group of magicians, The Council of Sages, he wished to see act as neutral guides and councillors in times of need. However, Uronos grew even more aggrandising, as he grew frustrated with the politics of the goodly, simple folk of the Taryŵnish Marches of Calibor. He began to desire a foothold and to rule, himself, and put his sages in positions of power to rule the lands, themselves, instead of guiding fools who never listen. Uronos gathered to himself his council, excluding only one of his sages, Lŵgon, whom he intended to make a scapegoat for his plan. In the shadows, the wizard Mydron was approached to take Lŵgon's place on the Council, but, he was too enrapt in his own ambitions to fool with Uronos and his great plan. Uronos and the others began to move armies of mercenaries, goblins, and evil men through the Northeastern Wilderness, amassing both wealth and power, guiding local officials in the Marcher Lands into places of convenience so that, when the time came, a coup would be seamless among the Marcher Lords. Lŵgon would act as a distraction while the rest moved in the shadows. 'Let Lŵgon look like the only real threat, so the fools may feel secure enough to underestimate their safety and need for more warriors. If we can capture the Marches, we can hold them against the forces of Calibor, and stage a war against the Crown, and take the land for ourselves... The Taryŵnish are foolish enough to believe we wish to return them to their glory days before the Lumenorian refugees arrived from Strixia. They will gladly join an effort to reclaim the lands they once called home, ancestral lands they long to return to.' They have gathered money and gifts for their services, storing them in their secret vaults where there is very little magic kept. The vaults are war chests to pay for support and arm the forces they will lead...