Waiting for the "Out-of-Towners"
- Location: Ephyra (The Bronze Cradle Shipyards)
Is this thing on? Right. Ink’s wet. I’m sitting in the hold of the Talaria, and the air is so thick with the smell of cedar pitch and salt you could chew on it. Outside, the shipyard is a cacophony (the rhythmic thwack of hammers against bronze and the shouting of guards).
On the 'Guests'
I’m told a portal is going to open right here in the middle of my cargo deck. They say you’re coming from a place called Sigil. I’ve never been (too many doors for my taste) but I’ve been briefed. You’re the 'specialists' brought in to handle the mess the Cult of Typhon is stirring up. I’m just the guy who keeps the ship floating and the wine cold. Don't expect me to jump into the fray; my job is to get you there and write down what happens so the next group of heroes knows which end of the spear to hold.
On the Bronze Cradle
We’re docked in the Bronze Cradle, otherwise known as Ephyra. It’s a city that breathes smoke and speaks in the language of industry. It’s also crawling with the Cult of Typhon. You can tell who they are by the way the air gets heavy and smells like a lightning strike whenever they’re near. They’ve got their eyes on this ship, which is why we need to move fast once you step through that portal.
On the Rules of the Realm
Listen, this isn't the Multiverse. We have a little thing called the Lethe Effect. If you step off this ship looking like a six-foot lizard or a guy with glowing horns, the locals will lose their minds. I need you to focus your intent. Think 'Human Hero.' If you act like you belong here, the veil will do the rest. If you start acting like a 'Monster from Beyond,' well... I hope you like being chased by angry mobs with pitchforks.
On the Mission & The Prophecy
There’s a rumor (a Prophecy, if you want to be dramatic) that the lock on Tartarus is thinning. The 'Titan’s Wake' is coming, and it’s gonna pull everything into the dark unless we reinforce the seal. I found a scrap of paper in the galley that basically says you guys are the only ones crazy enough to try and stop it.
I’m making this Journal available for all you 'future travelers.' If you’re a team player, you’ll write down what you find. This is an Open Series, and your story starts the second that portal glows.
Check your Xiphos, adjust your Chiton, and try not to break anything expensive on your way in.
Ready when you are.