In the interest of convenience and accuracy, I will try to have more information available on upcoming zones. If you'd prefer not to know until it happens then say so, but for now some information on the surrounding areas from an OOC POV:
- Burnt Path:
A battle has clearly taken place here, and a body has been left plain in the middle of the path. There is a gash in his chest where a sword dealt a fatal blow. His clothes are fine, if dirty, signifying his wealth. Strange dents in the ground and the burnt flora reveals a magical battle took place here to those who know how to look for those signs. The man is Terryn Mericson, the man who originally found the eggs and wrote the unfinished letter in the hut. Loot includes letters to those he's in contact with, which could lead to allies or information about the state of the Empire, as well as some coin, jewelry, and basic traveling supplies. He took Lanarí's rider sword, but it was the only thing looted from his corpse. It is now in the hands of the Empire.
- Mashal:
Because a Rider sword was found on the man, an agent of the Empire's new order (which is in it's infant stages and is a construct of my own built to even the field and thus is unknown to players and characters alike) has been sent to the nearby town to sniff out what happened to the wielder. Because no one knows anything about the sword, the agent has become threatening and is using certain abilities of hers to... do something. :P
Three villagers are dead (nobodies, not anyone related to the characters), and their bodies are being burnt. The village is scared and outraged, and everyone has sealed themselves in their homes for the day, making it apper like a ghost town except for the charred remains in the center of the village. If the characters come back to town, expect them to see this.
- The Egg Cave:
Pretty much all thats been said so far in the ic is all that's needed. It's a big dark tunnel turned into a makeshift hiding place by a clever rider, who then succumbed to grief after the death of her dragon. Eight eggs are spread haphazardly around the room, as well as a satchel off in a corner somewhere containing the rider's supplies; dried ink, more blank paper, some coin, a map of Alagaesia as it was 100 years ago. Some jewelry, most of which is inset with gems. All of her written belongings, including the journal Gale collected, are written in the Ancient Language.
- The Eastern Hills:
This is the flooded location the group traveled through to reach the hut, it is mostly uninhabited in the locations around them. Moving too far north, south, or east however, and you will no doubt run into bandit or slaver camps. Returning back across the Ramr river however is much safer, except for the fact the empire has a stronger presence there.
So these are the primary locations of note in the area, however nothing has to come of them. We could just as easily turn north and spare the complications of goodbyes and explanations to the villagers, which might endanger them further, and simply head to the elves right away.
If we take that option however, we will have to stop at a small noname village for supplies before we get anywhere near anything big. This is what I'm going to call a 'locked event'. We have to stop because it's necessary for the plot that we meet someone there. As for imagery for the town we stop at for this event, just picture what you did for Mashal. Small quiet village, not really on the empire's radar (except for taxes!) simple people working hard to survive. Nothing extraordinary or noteworthy except for who we'll meet there.
