D A R K D A G G E R
"A dagger has only a single point, but a traitor cuts from anywhere"
PLOT
Eastormel Castle is home to the great kings and queens of Ovyadell. Its ancient stone halls whisper secrets and hidden treasures that are buried beneath earth and mortar, kept safe from those who would wish to take them. The walls were thought to be impenetrable, the might of Ovyadell's army and that of the Royal Guard unmatched, and yet someone got through unheard and unseen.
It started small. A silver candelabra, an old necklace, a crystal decanter - nothing too grand or important. People brushed it off, convinced that a maid had simply misplaced it and no one had bothered to look too closely for it. Then the armory grew thinner and thinner. No one could deny that there was a thief in their midst. The King ordered the barracks and servants' quarters be searched. He had them tear Eastormel Castle apart. They found nothing.
The King was outraged but unable to find the culprit. And so, the thief grew more bold. The Dark Dagger, the King's most prized possession and family heirloom went missing. That blade had felled many foes and was a symbol for Ovyadell, one born of blood and death. He would not let it fall into the hands of a thief, left to be bartered for the prettiest penny.
The King had no where else to turn. His own people had failed miserably in catching whoever had been slipping unnoticed through Eastormel. So, he sent word out to surrounding inns and taverns, offering a job for any willing, able-bodied men and women. He would meet them in Eastormel's great throne room to discuss their rewards should they be successful.
SETTINGS
Eastormel Castle is home to the King and Queen of Ovyadell. The castle is as worn as it is old. Years of harsh winds and heavy rains have taken their toll, yet it still stands proud and sure in the city of Ironkeep.
Ironkeep is the capital city of Ovyadell. Situated so close to the Ashen Sea, it is constantly battered by rain and wind. Because of this, the homes are sturdy, made of strong stone and brick. Eastormel Castle lies on the outskirts of the city, its eastern walls looking out over the roiling waves of the sea.
Ovyadell was once a solely elven kingdom, but as the weather grew harsher and the land harder they moved farther inland and left Ovyadell to the race of men. On the outskirts, near the borders of neighboring kingdoms, the elves still live and thrive.
The Underground is the dark underbelly and sits in the barren wasteland that remains unclaimed by any kingdom, though everyone silently agrees that it is part of Ovyadell. It is where the scum of the earth come to roost - thieves, bandits, and murderers alike.