Last night I answered the call from an Emmisary of Veeshan concerning Giants. I was going to slay three, but I spent a complete evening in Velketor’s Labyrinth only to come up empty. I’m sure I could have taken him, but here’s the gallery from the others I easily dispatched.
Tag: Okosar
City of Mist: Shortcut
As we lounged in the splendor of our Guild Hall and caught up with each other’s latest adventures, my good friend Halmar, the Erudite wizard, suddenly turned to a matter that he had been working on. His eyes twinkled as he recounted a quest he had undertaken, and how he had already completed the initial phases; some by himself and some partnered with Amphar, our Froglok cleric guildmate. These initial steps were both great adventures in their own right, and may possibly be chronicled in this collection as well.
Halmar leaned over the table toward me and described a powerful scroll that holds the secrets of using a magical mental “burst” to confuse enraged foes and lower their rage. “What can I do to help?” I grinned. Continue reading “City of Mist: Shortcut”
Steamfont: An End, And A Beginning?
To: Investigator Geo Friinok, Gem Choppers
From: Reconnoiterer Okosar
Re: Final Report
An End, And A Beginning?
As I’m sure you heard, Meldrath’s fortress has been repelled for the time being, and Gnomes all over Faydwer are starting to resume their normal lives again. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to have contributed, even in a small way, to the defense of our people, our city, and our culture.
As I roam the mountains of Steamfont and watch her residents pick themselves back up and put together their old lives, I am struck by the resilient nature of us Gnomes. I know your investigation will officially close soon, if it has not already done so, but I wanted to share with you something a terrified Brownie was trying to tell me, what seems like so long ago.
Sages and Seers will tell you that every time a door closes, another one opens. They are talking about opportunity. I recently took the opportunity to look around at the mangled landscape of the construction site and launchpad of Fortress Mechanotus.
The fortress is gone, but it left behind an avenue to lands we could not previously reach. As I close this final report, I leave to you and to our people, this opportunity for further exploration and adventure. Many safe travels!
Dutifully yours, Okosar
Steamfont: The Threat Revealed
To: Investigator Geo Friinok, Gem Choppers
From: Reconnoiterer Okosar
Re: Sixth Report: The Threat Revealed!
I awoke in my bed in Ak’Anon to a thundering sound, louder than the rumbles that had until this point been coming from the mining caves. As I gathered my gear, I came up with a score of questions for Commander Gearswitch. On my way out, I decided to inspect the old defenses inside the city itself. I thought to myself the giant crossbow that had saved the city in the past was looking a little antiquated in light of this new danger.
I patted the clockwork soldiers manning the bow on the back and gave told them to stay sharp. Of course, they were already designed to do that. As I rushed out the final tunnel to the surface, I bid farewell to Emissary Delbin. His demeanor was night and day from that of the clockwork defenders. “The sky! The sky! Is this a sign of our lord’s displeasure? What have we done to alienate ourselves from him? Surely this means dire consequences for the world of Norrath. Without the sun we shall all perish! Repent! Repent! The end is nigh!”
Sensing I had no time to calm him down, I immediately ascended to Steamfont. Though I could not see it at the moment, I gathered by talking to Gnomes on the way out to Commander Gearswitch’s command post that Meldrath had launched a giant fortress into the sky and was periodically bombarding the lands! Everyone was tense: I asked one of the Gnomes watching the entrance to Ak’Anon if he needed anything. Bigilam Wantilans snapped, “This matter is far too advanced for you to handle..come back after you’ve killed a few more large rats.”
I have been adventuring long enough to accumulate every last Veteran Reward the Pantheon of Masters has to offer, and as I considered Bigilam himself, it was very possible I could take him in a fair fight. However, pride is a sin, and these are desperate times. I wished him well and made my way to Commander Gearswitch who confirmed the stories about Meldrath’s fortress. “We appreciate your help with the ground forces lately, but it appears things have only gotten worse. We’ve been attacking his fortress as best we can, but his steamworks keep destroying our catapults. It’s bad enough that we’re running out of materials to keep them operational.” Continue reading “Steamfont: The Threat Revealed”
Steamfont: Escalation in Steamfont
To: Investigator Geo Friinok, Gem Choppers
From: Intelligencer Okosar
Re: Fifth Report, Escalation in Steamfont
Based upon my recommendations as garrison commander at the gates of Ak’Anon, the King has decided to dramatically increase our defensive presence in Steamfont Mountains. My recent discovery of a new kind of steamwork in the mining valley helped make the decision easy.
The King also freed me from the responsibility of commanding the defense force in order that I continue to pursue my investigation of the growing chaos in Steamfont. Our tactical victories allowed me to venture into the wilderness early in order to get a jump on the investigation.
On my way out, I found what looked to be a small abandoned enemy camp. The only remaining occupant was too weak to flee.
Even injured and completely helpless against me, he would not divulge any information on the Minotaurs, their plans, Meldrath, or the steamworks. I did not take pleasure in what I had to do. If word got out, though, that Minotaurs who didn’t give up valuable intelligence may still be spared, our efforts at unraveling this mystery would be seriously handicapped. Continue reading “Steamfont: Escalation in Steamfont”
Steamfont: Urgent Communiqué
To: Investigator Geo Friinok, Gem Choppers
From: Freelance Investigator Okosar
Re: Third Report on Steamfront happenings.
Urgent Communiqué
I have some very grave news to relay to you. I will make it brief. I was awakened this morning by a violent rumble accompanied by the sounds of explosions that could be heard in the mountains to the northeast of Steamfont. The severity of the tremor hastened me to break camp and investigate.
On my way toward the Minotaur mining caves, I discovered some unsettling news. The steamworks had increased their range, and were now free of the confines of the mining valley.
I continued on to the valley only to find it peppered with Minotaur soldiers! These soldiers seemed to be organizing to launch some kind of assault. As soon as they detected my presence, they attacked. My trusty animated swords lunged to my defence and between the two of us, we were able to inflict enough losses that the Minotaurs needed to regroup.
I immediately took the opportunity to retreat to Ak’Anon, post haste, where my report was heard by King Ak’Anon himself. The king, though completely mechanized for many centuries now, seemed pensive. “I have been expecting this, Okosar. Will you take command of our defenses in Steamfont? I will put in your charge an elite squad of defenders to be positioned just outside our city’s gates.
I could not refuse the King. There have been a few skirmishes outside the gates as the Minotaurs try to organize an assault, but they are cut down easily by the defenders. “The might of Ak’Anon cannot be defeated by the likes of you!” they cry before the vile beasts fall under their swords. Still, the Minotaur captain prods on his troops, “Alright you lazy cows, get your hooves moving and attack!”
So for the time being, I am sending this via Bard to you from the battlefront. I know I must begin scouting about more when I’m convinced the Minotaurs are at bay. The best way to defeat this threat to our city is to gather as much intelligence as possible so we won’t have to simply respond to their moves. If I can only unravel this plot, I know we can take the initiative and put a quick end to this shadow that is spreading over our lands.
Steamfont: Ominous Rumble
After camping in the Steamfont Mountains, I settled in for a night’s sleep. At about 3:00 in the morning, I was awakened by an ominous rumble from the mountains to the northeast. I broke camp, activated my roboboar, and rushed back to the mine area where I reckoned the sound had come from.
What I found was chaos! Startled and unnerved, Minotaur workers were scattering across the valley in panic. What had happened? Their panic made them no more talkative to me, that is for certain. Even my keen skill of mystical collaboration could not bring them to trust me. Their fear of crossing Meldrath must be absolute
I decided to go back into the caves where I found my old friend, the Brownie I had reported about previously. Still seemingly guarding the mysterious door, he looked off into space, as if in deep thought. “Can you remember anything about the Minotaurs, my friend?” I asked.
“When they got really mad at us they would lock us up in a dark place, like one of their empty tool kits. Sometimes the Minotaurs would come along and play kick the toolbox for a few hours. Those sadistic monsters never get tired of it. Never! And don’t think that just because you won’t fit into a tool box that you’re safe. You’re not. You’ll fit just fine into an oil drum. They like kicking those, too.” Continue reading “Steamfont: Ominous Rumble”
Steamfont: An Eccentric Brownie
To: Investigator Geo Friinok, Gem Choppers
From: Freelance Investigator Okosar
Re: First Report on Steamfront happenings.
An Eccentric Brownie
In doing some legwork to uncover the information you requested about Meldrath’s activities, I came across a rather eccentric Brownie. Normally, I avoid their type after some nasty run-ins with their Lesser Faydark brethren, but this little fellow seemed rather lost. He was looking off into space. Then, he suddenly turned to me and my patience was rewarded.
“Hey! Okosar! Wait for me! Have you heard about what Meldrath is up to? It’s terrible. . .”
Perhaps he had some information that would be valuable to your investigation. Just as quickly, though, he shook his whole body suddenly and said, ‘How’s the weather up there?” I had never been asked that, before. Then he cocked his head, “Good, I hope, because the end is near! Run for your life!”
I tried to engage him in conversation, but he did not respond. I asked him about Meldrath. I asked him about the end. This was not going to be an easy interview.
“Did I tell you about the smell? It’s horrible! All soot and grease with a tint of rust, or maybe blood, I could never tell. I’ll never forget that smell.”
I asked him about the smell, the grease, the rust and blood. The Brownie simply said, ‘If he catches you, you’ll be sorry.”
A to Z Raconteur
The Calling
Written by Community Member Amphar in honor of Okosar the Raconteur
In the beginning, before my home of Ak’Anon was threatened by the shadow of the Bloodmoon, I was a simple clockwork engineer, fresh out of the Academy. It was only a decade after Ak’Anon was opened up to the world, and all I knew was my peaceful life of gears, machinations, and books. The books were what my father objected to.
It is not the norm for a Gnome to dream about faraway adventures. Conventional wisdom is that the Creator, Brell Serilis, frowned on that kind of a life for us. Tinkering is a noble profession, and it should fulfill any reckless desires that might creep into one’s consciousness.
It was a time when a steady stream of great tales started to flood in. There were tales of Steamfont and the Dragonscale Hills, of course. But there were even more faraway places, places that sparked my imagination. I couldn’t get enough of these books.
Everything changed for me one night when I had the most disturbing of dreams. I dreamt the clockworks I spent all day servicing started to crawl on me, to cover me, to dig into my skin, creating an exoskeleton that was slowly choking the life from me. Unlike our beloved King Ak’Anon, however, these machines started to take over my being, and I started to fade away. With a desperate cry, I exploded to cast away the machines, waking up in a cold sweat. The dream troubled me for days before I decided to seek out help from a most wise counselor, an Academy instructor of mine named Julene Urncaller. Continue reading “A to Z Raconteur”