Seekers of the Forgotten

Cleo Jr. Malachi

Mithral Tagata

Gilheart the Fallen

Valok Firefiend

Balaras Nighthook

Captain Daniels

Cleo Jr. Malachi

Mithral Tagata

Gilheart the Fallen

Valok Firefiend

Balaras Nighthook

Captain Daniels

Casmus

Kel-Jora

Mushusu

The Barber

Missy Daniels

Tucker

Tyrin Arklight

A Wizard with a Map

The Seekers are a group of adventurers operating out of Goldport. The group consists of Cleo Malachi, Kel-Jora, Cleo Jr. Malachi, Mushusu, Mithral Tagata, Gilheart the Fallen, Valok Firefiend, Balaras Nighthook, Alroy Malachi, Casmus and Captain Daniels. The curious group of very different individuals met when their path diverged in the supposedly 'safe' city of Kilead on a fishing sloop captained by old Captain Daniels himself.

## Seekers' History

### Formation

The Seekers of the Forgotten were formed from a group of survivors who worked on Captain Daniels’ fishing sloop and had made it back to Kilead from an unknown island which housed many dangers.

Called Mushroom Isle by Cleo in notes found from his sack, the Seekers claim the island to have been completely covered in fungal growth - some of which towered as high as trees. The Seekers were sent here by an individual known as The Reaper in order to find some artifact.

The group discovered a rift on the island and ventured within using some sort of mus-infused mushrooms (Which the druid Cleo fanatically collected and sought, even finding a beast resembling a dog covered in horrible fungus, whom he tamed and took off the island with him). There seemed to be some sort of temple to Mitera within, and an odd magical artifact - the same one The Reaper was looking for. They then fought a horrible and terrible beast - a deformed and corrupted woman - Pythia the Corrupted.

 The fight nearly ended the group but thanks to the might of Gilheart, the rest of the unconscious Seekers were saved - no thanks to Alroy who had ran and hid.

After this the Seekers discovered the ship of the infamous pirate lord Captain Abraham, - The Annabel Lee. On it they found a crew of restless spirits who, thanks to the intervention of The Seekers had their souls set free from The Accursed Abraham's ship.

In the process of freeing these spirits The Seekers claim to have done incredible things - drag a sleeping shark up a ladder, fighting an evil Kuo-Toa cult worshipping a giant Octopus they called Dompaklops the Devourer, and even finding a chest buried beneath the waves.

In the end, the Seekers fought the Accursed Abraham, and after a long and difficult duel, emerged victorious from the island. The connection they had made on the island made them all grow quite close, so on their return to Kilead, they remained together and formed the Seekers of the Forgotten. One however, had not returned with them - The boy Alroy had decided to take his chances, sneaking off with a Magic Dark Elf who was trying to buy the boy. After his failure in Pythia's tomb, he had become a joke within the group - and so, spiteful and angry, he left his parents and everything he knew.

### Return to Kilead

Immediately after Alroy's leaving, the Seekers were dumbfounded. Some members of the group cared very little - however Cleo and Dior were both deeply affected by their son's decision. They stopped talking at this point - both of them blaming Cleo.

It wasn't long before they came upon a ship that belonged to a group known as The Righteous Fist. They were taken aboard this vessel, chained up and hounded by a man named Kain for any magic items they may have. After having killed several other people they had taken aboard thier ship, The Fist returned attention to The Seekers who grew uneasy. It was at this point that a dirty and mysterious man named Balaras Nighthook began to unlock Mithral's shackles. During this, Cleo was able to talk his way out of the situation, but halted when Kain and a mysterious wizard threatened to kill the rest of the Seekers.

It was at this point Cleo used magic to make his shackled red hot and burn right through the neck of a guardsman on the ship. A moment later Mithral was free and used his own magic to cause madness in an ogre guardsman, who began to batter Kain. A displacer beast that belonged to the mysterious wizard tried to neutralize the threats by first disabling Cleo then going for Mithral but before long the other Seekers were freed by Balaras and they began to try to defend themselves from the enemy- however they proved too strong. Thankfully, Esmond and the Annabel Lee came to lend aid and carry away the Seekers.

Eventually, the Seekers made it back to Kilead. They were shown around by Captain Daniels and interacted with a few citizens around Kilead before finding room in an inn and registering officially with the Kilead Adventurer League.

### First Mission and Reunion

Since their return to Kilead, Cleo has proved to be in quite a state of turmoil. Since the loss of his son, he had been highly unresponsive and after registering with the league, he even resorted to locking himself within his room to research Musrooms with Cleo Jr. During this time, the rest of the Seekers went on an adventure to [INFORMATION NEEDED]

Meanwhile, Cleo in his in room was just laying down after a day of Musroom research when a portal opened and ripped Cleo from his inn room into a large and bizarre looking room with a large bookcase and a strange dark elf. The Elf was none other than Kenny - the magical being who had taken Alroy not even a week earlier. By Cleo’s side was Mithral, Valok, and surprisingly Alroy. However Alroy was different - he was older. Much older -ten years older. It had turned out that though only a short few days passed in their realm, Kenny and Alroy has been going on adventures across the realms for ten years in their time. As a result, Alroy had grown much more capable and mature. Father and son made amends in the lost realm which held pieces of Kenny’s home and embarked on such a marvelous and extravegent journey along with Mithral and Valok that the very legends of their experience are too bizarre to even have been written by any mortal hand

### Death and Tragedy

After being returned to their own realm, Alroy began regaling some of his fantastical stories to his father and Cleo Jr. It was during this time Balaras stumbled into the inn covered in blood and limping. After the duel with the Ankheg, Balaras was nearly killed. Cleo assisted Balaras by bringing him to The Barber, a person who Cleo had heard performed surgery (and haircuts). The Barber agreed to do both to Balaras in exchange for The Seekers' help with a job.

It seemed to be that The Barber was the father of The Reaper - or Nathaniel - and needed help to rescue his son. Nathaniel, during The Seekers absence, had been arrested and sentenced to hang for his research. The Barber offered his own hired hand, Markos Vesovis, to help The Seekers and helped plan their saving of Nathaniel. The group decided that they would use the sewer system to travel direclty beneath the gallows, obscure everything with magical fog clouds, and take Nathaniel when no one was looking. In order for the plan to be a success, The Seekers had to go to the sewers the day prior to clear them of any threats.

Cleo, Alroy, Cleo Jr., Markos, Mithral, Markos, and Balaras descended into the sewers to find the man named Kain, from the Righteous Fist ship, with a druid from that very organization. What's more, Markos accidentally started a subterfuge which set forth a snake like sea monster that along with Kain and the druid tried to kill the Seekers. The battle was intense, with Markos and Cleo (in gator form) trying to attack the sea creature, and Mithral, Balaras, and Alroy fighting Kain and the Druid. At one point, however, Balaras was pushed into the subterfuge and began sinking quickly to the bottom amidst chaos and turbulence from the sea fight. Cleo was able to bring Balaras to saftey while Markos used his immense power and fighting skill to force the creature into the Subterfuge. Meanwhile, Alroy and Mithral finished off the druid and nearly killed Kain. Kain, sensing his own doom, began to run for the exit but soon became surrounded by Mithral, Cleo, Markos, and Balaras while Alroy lie on his back fighting off death.

Kain knew the only way to get all the heat off his back was to do something drastic. He saw Alroy laying down, struggling through labored breaths and reached for a razor sharp dagger. In one smooth motion the dagger slid from Kain's bandolier to his hand and flew from his hand straight, square into Alroy's head -as Alroy breathed his last breath. Then Cleo's eyes went pitch black and he fell to the floor, with his long sage robes covering his body and face.

A moments later, Cleo ripped his robes apart in an insane fervor and stood befoer his friends, however he appeared differently. He seemed corrupted by some dark force - a moment later Alroy awoke. Cleo had sold his soul and his very sanity for his son, knowing that for once, he had to be a good father.

### The Fall of Kilead

After meeting with the rest of The Seekers back at the inn and filling them in, The Seekers had little time to deal with the major events that had recently shaken their little group to it's core. The next day, the group headed out to the hanging to try and enact their plan. Things started well enough, but before long the guards realized that someone was going for Nathaniel. They treid to fight back when suddenly Righteous Fist members and Kain himself appeared and entered the fray, attacking The Seekers to get both Nathaniel and their magical artifact, The Obelisk.

After a grueling fight, the ground began to shake, and water began to rush past the ankles of the fighters as a giant kraken, Storm-Caller, raised from the sea and brought an army of triton with him. Quickly overwhelmed by enemies, Alroy ran with the now freed Nathaniel into the sewers. Mithral, who had just escaped Kain's clutches with a misty step, also retreated followed by Valok, Balaras, and The Malachi Parents. Gilheart tried to make his way to the sewers but became overrun by enemies and soon fell unconscious. A wizard with a mystical map took the obelisk from Gilheart's body and left him to drown in the raising waters.

Meanwhile Markos looked around him as he stood before the gallows, The Seekers having fled and enemoes rushing onto the land from every direction there was little Markos could do save for take in the madness around him in breathless awe. It was then he heard the splashing of foot steps behind him. Kain, holding out two daggers - ready to strike at Markos. Markos, unafraid pulled his mighty trident off his back and prepared to duel. Once again Kain knew when he was outmatched, and he cast aside his daggers - pulling a rapier from his side as the daggers landed with a splash.

"Come on then fish, a proper duel. On my honor" Kain said as he pointed out his rapier in one hand, and put the other behind his back. Markos, being a man of honor and great skill said nothing. He nodded, sheathed his trident, and pulled a sword from his own side. A moment later steel met aquatic metal as Kain jabbed forward and Markos blocked skillfully. The two took turns attacking and blocking, and eventually the fight moved onto the gallows themselves, as water rushed by underneath.

The dueling men both managed to get a few good shots on each other, but it was all but over when Markos used his military training and expert maneuvering to disarm Kain and nearly kill him. Kain kneeled before the hulking Triton and spat out harsh words through blood stained teeth - "Do it then! Finish it!"

Markos, with a mighty cry, went to plunge his sword square into Kain's chest - however at the last second Kain rolled to the side and shot behind Markos, impaling him with a dagger he had hidden in the hand behind his back. Spitting out a final taunt towards the Triton, "I have no honor!" As Markos choked up the blood that began filling his lungs, Kain pushed Markos back and fit a noose around his neck. Markos struggled to form any sort of coherent message but before he even could Kain with a sinister smirk pulled a lever which caused the floor beneath Markos to open up and hang him. Kain quickly escaped after having hung Markos.

Meanwhile, Cleo Jr., who had been left behind due to Cleo's insanity, began pulling at Gilheart, trying to save him from the sea invaders and drowning. While this was happening, Gilheart had a vision of his homeland, The Celestial Plane, in complete ruin. The most traumatic thing Gileart saw was the corpse of the God of Law and Order, Bahamut, who is the patron of Gilheart's ancestors. Gilheart awoke from this vision thanks to Cleo Jr.'s help, and went into a blind killing rage slaying every evil creature he saw. During this blind rage he found Tucker, who thought it would be smartest to hide behind Gilheart as he slew entire hordes of enemies.

At the same time, Cleo, Alroy, Dior, Mithral, Valok, Balaras, Captain Daniels and his wife Missy Daniels, Nathaniel, and The Barber all fled the city. As they did they realized that the attack on Kilead was more than just Fist and Triton attackers, but Bloodwater gang led Mures on leashes through the city; and a nearby gnoll pack saw the chaos that had erupted in Kilead and saw it as the perfect time to join in. Kilead was in dire straits, and after the group was a safe distance from the city they watched in tearful horror as the mighty walls of Kilead collapsed, and the city burned. Shortly thereafter, The Seekers split and wnet their seperate ways in Grazoth.

### The Seekers Split

The Seekers of the Forgotten, after having split up due to the traumatic events that encompassed the Fall of Kilead, were seperated for about a total of two months. In this time, each made valuble use of their time - Valok thrived as a monster hunter, even taking down a mighty manticore. Balaras spent his time drinking and telling old stories from sea adventures to any Kilead refugees who would listen, after nearly dying in The Fall Balaras also decided he should try to become more skilled in the art of disguise and blending in. Mithral expanded his knowledge and acquired a quite mysterious locked book. Cleo learned a great deal of information about Grazoth and the movements of it's people after The Fall from snakes, spiders, and rats, as well as acquired not only a magical staff but also a new friend and ally - Kel-Jora the illiusionist. Kel-Jora was an illusion scholar who studied in the now destroyed Hidden Tree school for magic. An orphan named for two soldiers

who died protecting his infant life, he came to eventually study in an Arcanum - which Cleo took great interest in. The two formed a close friendship surviving in the wilds of Grazoth, and as such Kel-Jora joined Cleo upon his departure from the damned isle of Grazoth and met him in Goldport on the 5th of Highsun. Alroy had started a ring of young thieves and pickpockets to gather news and gossip from around Grazoth, as well as make some coin.

The family, spread out across Grazoth, eventually were able to meet again. Both Cleo and Alroy had heard news and rumors about the great big Aasimar that had been seen with dwarves and heading for Goldport, on the island of Merim. As a result, the remaining Seekers decided they should travel to Goldport.

### Goldport and The Burrows

Once in Goldport, The Seekers began searching for Gilheart. Their search led them to a place called The Sidewinder, a tavern and fighting pit owned by the Zmeyavich Crime Family, where Goldport's many thieves and pirates would come to gamble on fights. The Seekers sought to gain information about Gilheart, but to be accepted by the people of The Sidewinder they had to submit one of their group into gladiatorial combat.

The group elected to send in Valok, their strongest. Meanwhile Balaras tried to blend in with the crowd and gain information on who Valok might be fighting. The denizens only hinted at the great champion that seemed to have been the greatest fighter in the Burrows, the blood pits beneath the Sidewinder.

As The Seekers watched from the audience, Valok entered the small pit, sword in hand. On the opposite side of the arena stomped forward a large and looming figure - that of Gilheart the Fallen. He did not look well however, as his skin began to grow gray and he seemed like a much darker version of himself. Gilheart stepped forward and his eyes widened - he exhaled deeply and said somberly - "Valok. You should not have come here."

The crowd cheered and hollered at Gilheart to attack, and Gilheart - knowing the rules of The Burrows - did as the crowd demanded. Valok did all he could to defend himself from the raw power that Gilheart had, and Gilheart did as much as he could to hold his punches but still appeared to be giving it his all.

Balaras quickly learned how the place operated - by crowd demand - and decided to try and sway the crowd. He proposed that since they were both great fighters, the guards should throw some wild beasts in for them to team up against. The crowd quite liked this idea, and soon wild feral gnolls were thrown into the pit, and a large and intimidating Ettin. Together Valok and Gilheart emerged victorious.

After leaving The Burrows and regrouping, The Seekers learnt exactly what had happened to Gilheart during their separation. In the wake of Kilead's fall, Gilheart was broken, beaten, and enraged at what he had seen in his vision. He took to the wild, slaying bandits and gnolls on sight, with only Tucker and Cleo jr. to accompany him. Eventually the group met some Dwarven men wearing fancy mercenary's armor, and they chatted for a bit. However it seems they were only trying to distract Gilheart as they took him by surprise and were able to enchain him - as well as Tucker and Jr. The dwarves, as it had turned out, were no good slavers. It was at this point that all seemed hopless for old Gilheart, when he overheard the dwarves talking about the fortune they'd make selling Gilheart. According to them there had been tell of another group of slavers who had made a fortune selling a female aasimar. Hearing this, Gilheart immediately found hope in the idea that his people may not be extinct after all.

At this point Gilheart and Tucker were able to get Jr.'s attention, who was the only one they did not lock up,and convey to him they needed the keys. Miraculously, Jr. was able to find and bring the keys to Gilheart and Tucker and free them. Immediately following this, Gilheart slaughtered all the slavers without even using a weapon. His celestial radiance and overpowering physical strength alone were enough to triumph.

After reuniting with Gilheart, Kel-Jora came from Grazoth and joined the rest of The Seekers. They explored Goldport for a bit before coming across The Order of the Brass Chain, who were rumored to have an extravagant library. The Seekers tried to gain access but were denied, as the Chain did not yet trust them. They were told that The Chain was trying to figure out if the nearby orc movements of The Khaggath Zha were any threat to Merim, and if they would assist in this matter they would be better received by The Chain. Further, they were advised to keep on the look out for two Brass Chain scouts who had not been heard from in some time.

So with that, The Seekers prepared to journey through the Darkwood to reach the other side of Merim, where Orcs were rumored to be prevalent. They bought rations, health potions, weapon enhancements, and even attempted to arrange a carriage - which unfortunately they were unable to do; however Cleo did adopt a new pet - a riding lizard he named Mushusu, and Casmus purchased a horse. With that, the group decided they were fit to travel into The Darkwood and proceeded towards their quest.

### The Darkwood

The journey through the darkwood was long and treacherous. Luckily, The Seekers had Tyrin to lead them and so they did not find themselves lost. In fact, they made decently good time traveling through the wood. However, they would've made better time if it were not for all the distractions the group encountered.

On the first day of their journey the Seekers came across a clearing with multiple satyrs. They were dancing about some mushrooms. Upone being talked to, they told The Seekers that their mushrooms were dying, and Cleo could discern that the mushrooms drew on a power that came from below. Though Mithral and Balaras protested, Cleo was able to convince a majority of The Seekers to explore a nearby cave that spiders had been emerging from.

The Seekers traveled to the depths of the cave and found a drider as well as a huge spider as well as a few drow elves. Every single one of them was hostile and a fight broke out. During the battle The Seekers noticed a satyr body on an altar, with a pan flute in her hand. Remembering the Satyr's word about music causing the mushrooms to grow, GIlheart grabbed the flute before retreating with the rest of The Seekers from the evil spiders. The Seekers emerged and warned the satyrs, who all left the area but gave The Seekers a "Blessing of the Forest" before they did.

When night fell, Mithral summoned for the group a small hut. Using his pocketwatch he created a dome of numbers with a ticking floor for The Seekers to sleep in. However Casmus, due to his devilish dealings, had no need to sleep. For that reason, Casmus hid in a tree outside the hut and kept watch for anything out of the ordinary. During the night, a goblin passed by the area but was stopped and interrogated by Casmus. The goblin divulged certain secrets about the Khaggoth Zha, including where they were located.

The following day The Seekers continued on through the wood but came upon a most curious burnt tower. All around the tower the ground was burned and charred. Cleo, Alroy, and Kel-Jora even found the top floor of the tower about forty feet away from the tower itself - seemingly having been blasted off and landing here. Inside Kel-Jora was able to identify a transportation rune. Upon exploring the tower, the group found it belonged to a cult of fire - The Conflagration.

They had a number of traps and deterrents in the building but The Seekers were able to best every one. Then while Gilheart, Valok, and Cleo led the group up the tower they happened to stop at a rather inconspicuous floor which held in it a wicker basket. Cleo, out of sheer curiosity, opened the basket. Then, Cleo was gone - at least in his mind. The Snake brought him to a great void - he brought him... to the conflagration. During this the giant snake slowly began to rise from the basket inch by inch, foot by foot, until it was evident there was no way such a large being could fit into such a small basket.

When Kel-Jora attempted to speak out to the snake, the snake turned his attention to Kel-Jora, who also was suddenly gone. However Kel was not brought to the conflagration, he was brought to a stronghold and shown a vision. Kel saw the orc strongold burning to ash, he saw women and children running back and forth looking for safety to no avail, he saw everything be consumed by fire.

Kel and Cleo became hypnotized by the snake and were ready to vow allegiance. Seeing this giant snake twist his father's warped mind, Alroy stepped forward and began talking to the beast, who with his human mouth had told his name was Reteth the Returned. Alroy asked about his past, about his goals. Reteth attempted to charm Alroy as he has Cleo and Kel-Jora, but the boy found his will strengthened by the threat to his father. Alroy's will was so great, that Reteth found himself unable to penetrate his mind, and so Reteth slowly began to sink back into the basket until he was finally gone.

After he had fully retreated into the basket, Valok swung his sword down onto it and though the basket was decimated - there was no sign of Reteth. Kel and Cleo both still charmed, the rest of the group was wary. Afraid of their intentions, Gilheart and Valok approached Cleo to try and enchain him. Cleo, not being in his right mind began to struggle as the two large intimidating men approached. As Valok locked the manacles onto Cleo, his wrists began to shrink and Valok had trouble tightening them enough. Then, they were far too small to be enchained by manacles for Cleo had taken the from of an Ursalot and began to run away.

The rest of The Seekers had no chance but to continue to the top floor of the tower. They found a charred study which was inhabited by fire elementals. The group began to fight but the elementals were strong, and The Seekers were down by two, as Cleo had run off to some unknown place and Mithral was in the forest watching the pets.

However, as Cleo in his fear began to run, he found himself again in the charred darkwood. Slowly his brain cleared and he remembered why he was there. Suddenly a loud explosion of light and a yell from above him shook him from his train of thought. He looked to the top of the tower to see bursts of flame and light. Cleo's resolve hardened, and he ran back towards the tower, using the dexterity of his ursalot form to climb up the side of the tower.

Meanwhile The Seekers did everything they could against the flame elementals, but they were weakened and lacked the healing of their druid. The elemental approached Kel and Valok, and raised an arm to strike. At that moment, Cleo climbed over the edge of the building and returned to his mortal form. With an apology to his group, he thrust out his hands and created a wall of water around the elemental, trapping him and separating the elemental from Kel and Valok.

With Cleo in the fight, The Seekers had regained the upper hand and fought bravely. However Cleo's joining the fray was not enough alone to save the Seekers. The Elemental jumped through the water into a trough of fire, then jumped out but when he did - he was five times larger. The Elemental towered over the building, attacking the adventurers. One by one the Seekers fell, receiving critical wounds and clinging onto life. All that was left was Cleo and Kel-Jora. As Cleo desperately flung ice knives, and spirits rose from his knives, Kel ran up to the elemental. Cleo had just missed a knife attack and the creature was getting ready to let forth some blast of unimaginable power. However Kel took his diamond ball and held it in his hands - as he did it grew cold and crystals of ice began to form on it. Then he threw the ball with all his might into the center of the creature. As he did, the creature slowly turned to ice and then burst into a thousand tiny pieces. Cleo then helped the rest of the party up while Kel held out his hand and the diamond ball magically reappeared back in his palm.

The group took notes and evidence of what they had seen and eventually continue again on their path to the Khaggoth. They traveled for just about half of a day and finally were able to make it out of the Darkwood and into the giant swampy marshlands of Merim, a place referred to as The Bowels.

### Meeting with Orcs and the Roc Attack

The Seekers for the most part had a rather unpleasent trip through the Bowels, seeing little of note and collecting much dirt and muck. Mithral and Alroy were particularly upset about traveling here, however they had no choice but to deal with it as The Seekers forged onward.

The only peculiar thing The Seekers found in The Bowels was a strange hut belonging to a number of magi hags. They agreed to give The Seekers the answer to any question they had about thier fate in return for an item of sentimental value. Their messages were overall frightening, and the heavily alluded that one amongst them would die very soon.

With these grim warnings, The Seekers departed- however they first grabbed a few items that he hags agreed to let them have. Alroy got a dwarf head with a braided beard that when pulled, allows him to see through the eyes of the dwarf. Gilheart got a chest in which was a beating heart (which was subsequently fed to Lizzie). Perhaps it was Valok who got the best gift though, for he received big, spiky, bone-forged armor.

With these gifts, The Seekers continued on until they finally made it out of The Bowels and made it to the Orc Stronghold. With some debate on how to approach, the group decided to go with Kel-Jora's plan of trying diplomacy. Kel suggested they show the orcs the vision they received and warn them of the conflagration in return for The Brass Chain Monks, whom Kel was willing to bet had become slaves. Having no better option, The Seekers went along with it.

Alroy and Kel led the Seekers and tried to make contact with a guard. However, as they approached the guard threw his axes at their feet and began chanting in orcish while doing some war-dance. While Cleo, Kel, and Valok found themselves extraordinarily afraid; Alroy was not. Without thinking, Alroy did the first thing that his instincts told him - that was to copy the orc. So, Alroy took out his daggers and threw them at the ground in front of the orc and copied perfectly the shouts and dance of the orc. The orc was visibly shocked.

Commending Alroy's bravery and power, he agreed to listen to what The Seekers had to say. From there, Kel Jora used his illusion magic to create an illusion of what he had seen in Reteth's vision for the guard. Shocked and horrified, the guard agreed to let the Seekers see a more important Orc in the chain of command. The Orc gatesmen bagged their heads and led them through the camp. They would not know what direction they had gone in if it were not for Alroy and his dwarf head. The Orcs, amused by the decapitated dwarf, requested he take it out of his bag and give them a good look. They laughed joyfully and proceeded to bag his head. However, Alroy grabbed the beard of the dwarf and saw perfectly.

They were led to what The Seekers could only assume was the leader of the orcs, and she herself asked The Seekers what their buisness in Camp Khaggoth was. They answered in reagards to the conflagration and Reteth, a name the decadent female orc seemed to recognize. The Seekers inquired about The Chain Scouts, but were told that they first ahd to prove they were trustworthy. They were sent to clear an iron mine of giant-kin so that the orcs may gain control of it.

A Blood-Runner named Krekurx led The Seekers at night, after they had met several orcs and Valok had lost a drinking competition to an orc clan called 'The Blazedrinkers.' Leading on a warg, Krekurx brought The Seekers to the base of the mountain where the iron mine was. They fed themselves and then began up the mountain. To get as many up as safely as possible, Cleo took the form of a riding lizard and took Kel-Jora and Casmus up on his back while Mushusu carried Alroy and Balaras up. Halway during their ascent there was a loud and spine-shivering cry of terror from above.

The Seekers looked up to see what appeared to be a giant eagle gliding past the moon. Then the eagle turned, and headed straight for the mountain. With all it's fury it slammed into the mountain, nearly causing Cleo and Shusu to fall down with their riders. Cleo looked to see that it was no giant eagle attacking them but a stunted Roc. The thing was massive and The Seekers quickly began to descend down the mountain. However, Mushu began to attack the Roc and so Balaras and Alroy began climbing down.

Luckily Cleo, Casmus, and Kel made it down, but Mushu was still trying to fight and Alroy was struggling down the side of the mountain due to a poison he had contracted while trying to fight Krekurx. The Roc used his mighty talons to grab Mushusu, and as he struggled a strange calm washed over Cleo's mind. For a second he looked up and saw his son - then he saw his son get grabbed by the talons of The Roc. Cleo began to thrash his lizard body and was ready to climb the mountain again when Valok spoke up.

"Old man. Wait." He said sternly, "I have a plan to save him." Valok told Cleo that he had the jump spell, and he could cast it not only on Cleo in lizard form, but Gilheart. That way, Cleo could jump to the side of the mountain, and while doing so, Gilheart could jump from Cleo's back to the Roc. Both Cleo and GIlheart agreed and soon Valok was casting on them.

Cleo did his part, jumping up to the side of the sheer mountain cliff, while Gilheart attempted to jump off Cleo. Gilheart tried his best but his jump was just short of the Roc's feet. Gilheart swung his spear in desperation, trying to latch onto the Roc any way possible, but his weapon did not meet the Roc's flesh. For a moment Gilheart was suspended in their air, reaching the top of his trajectory. Then the giant angel began falling doen the side of the mountain at a deadly speed. Using reflexes as quick as a whip, Mithral cast a spell on Gilheart, slowing his falling speed to that of a gently floating feather.

Meanwhile, Cleo stood on the side of the mountain debating what to do. He had a feeling that he was about to go on a suicide mission, but he had no choice. With that grim realization, Cleo jumped from the cliff side straight to the back of the Roc, who began trying to bite at Cleo with its humongous beak. Cleo for a split second turned back into his mortal form and summoned two giant eagles. The eagles were able to wrestle Mushu and Alroy from the Roc's grasp and carry them to safety. As they did, Cleo called out to his son - "Alroy! Get back to the others and tell them to run! I'll hold it off for as long as I can!" So, with that, Alroy was and Mushu were returned to the rest of The Seekers. Alroy pleaded with them to take chase but the party, though sad, believed that there was nothing that they could do for him. It was out of their hands. Meanwhile, The Roc ascended to the top of the mountain and dropped Cleo, who had once again become a lizard, into it's nest and stood over him. Watching. Waiting. It was then that Cleo thought he may have reached the end of his road.

### The Giants of Shawskull

Cleo looked up at the massive bird, who looked curiously at Cleo. Panicking, Cleo retunred to his human from and summoned four giant riding lizards to attack the birds eggs. Enraged, the roc began picking up the creatures and dropping them over the side of the mountain. She attempted to do the same to Cleo, but luckily Cleo was able to grab onto the bird's mighty talon and hold on in just the nick of time. The bird, trying to shake Cleo off, returned to the walls of her nest. Cleo jumped from the side of the nest to the top of mountain and began rushing down the mountain while using magic to try and conceal himself.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Seekers continued up the mountain to finish the job and keep an eye out for Cleo. They began to climb up the side of the mountain when they heard the cries of the roc, signalling that it was still alive. WOrried for Cleo's fate, they carried onwards, up the mountain towards the dangerous beast.

Cleo was fumbling and clambering down the mountain, just narrowly dodging the rocs blows. Luckily, the roc was unable to get a good blow in and Cleo was able to avoid damage - however the roc was powerful. The few blows it did land were enough to send Cleo reeling, and as he fell down the last fifteen feet of the mountain peak from the Rocs' vicous blow, he sustained a head injury. He hit the front of his hand against the side of the mountain as he rolled down, and his right horn snapped off - dangling by just a thread on his forehead.

## Seekers

### Cleo Malachi the Crazed

Cleo is the group's Druid, and the group's most elderly. He had lived a long and impressive life in his home of Old Vassos - learning druidic arts, reforming a council of wisemen that oversaw the running of the tribe, and being the first to descend deep into a storehouse of great knowledge, magic, and art called The Great Arcanum. However none of these events were as momentous as only two short years ago when he received his Spirit Eye.

For months him and his group of sages had been unlocking a door sealed by hundreds of runes, and when they finally made it in they found a wonderous cache of golden-age artifacts as well as a scroll case locked by a Golden-age era rune placed next to a blue sapphire which suddenly jumped to life, and after some struggle with the room's defenses the eye rested in Cleo's head - replacing his eye.

The eye gave Cleo a horrible vision of his home being destroyed so in the night he awoke and took his family and his research away, they ran through the forest searching shelter until they came across a cabin inhabited by a previous sage of Old Vassos. Inside he found, along with the sages' decaying body, a map with a city circled and marked as the safest city in the isles - it appeared the sage was searching for something or someone at Kilead.

Cleo set off with his family towards Kilead, where upon arrival they were all questioned, interrogated, and examined. Cleo was most annoyed at these foolish and unceasing questions after the long journey but before long he found himself on Captain Daniel's ship.

### Alroy Malachi

Born Cleo Malachi Jr., Alroy is the son of Cleo Malachi, an elderly druid and a member of the council of sages. From a young age Alroy's parents called him Junior for short. Growing up in a small settlement within ruins, Alroy found life rather boring. From a young age Alroy was in formal education, his first teacher was Chilon Atrapus. Alroy enjoyed learning but not the style that was imposed upon him.

    One day at the ripe age of eleven years old, Alroy ventured into the forest. After traveling for some time he came upon a vibrant Congerian city. Being used to life in the drab ruinous remain of Old Vassos, Alroy was naturally drawn in by the city's splendor.

 Alroy saw all these people who lived better lives, having quick access to necessities and luxuries. He found himself jealous, wishing he could be as extravagently dressed as the others in the city. It was after a negative interaction with a tailor Jr. realized the filth that covered him.

Alroy washed away the muck and grime, creating for himself a new identity to be known as around these elegant city-folk; he stole clothes finer than the scraps of cloth he wore previously and began calling himself Alroy Malachi instead of Jr. It was after this Alroy got involved with the towns Theives guild; however the guild ended up conning him out of all the money he should have made. It was after that Jr. was awoken one night by his father and escorted away from his home.

Alroy was confused and scared, but he had little choice. He followed his father through the forests to an abandoned shack inside which was a dead sage. Alroy was shocked and frightened. After this the Malachi family set off on the long journey to Kilead.

After being embarrassed and made a laughing-stock by the group due to certain failures, Alroy ran off with the Drow elf Kenny for the equivalent of ten years in his time. In this time, Alroy learned and developed many new skills, abilities, and tactics. After the tenth year, Kenny reunited Alroy with the Seekers and it became Alroy's goal to show the rest of the Seekers that he was no longer a useless kid.

### Mithral Tagata

Mithral is the son of a high elf couple from the Elven city of Shal'ron. He was taken from his family at a young age due to them being behind on their inequitable taxes. The King's head wizard, Eldar Yeloris, saw potential in him and decided to take him as his apprentice instead of leaving him to rot in the fields. Many decades were spent under his apprenticeship where he learned the values of knowledge and power. He enjoyed lavish banquets, fine clothes and jewelry, and an opulent lifestyle.

When the king, Sarathal Corinth, fell ill he, he chose to pass the throne off to his son Itham instead of Eldar. When the king finally passed, Itham decided to lower the taxes on the residents and give away much of his father's fortune. Eldar Yeloris grew weary of his spendthrift rule and his "champion of the people" attitude and attempted to overthrow him.

When he failed, he was put to death and Mithral was cast out. With his teacher put to death in front of his very eyes, Mithral now traverses the Malachite Isles in search of knowledge and power so that he may avenge his master.

### Gilheart the Fallen

Gilheart comes from Termina, an outlying group of small islands where the Aasimar came and went from this world to the gods. Termina had been one of the last remaining connections to the gods leading up to the day the Gods' Malice, as the race that created it called the device.

The family Gilheart came from the lineage of Phanuel, who was the Angel of Judgement who served and worshiped Bahamut, the God of Law and War. The men were all vigorously trained as warriors to serve under Bahamut.

Gilheart was not even a twinkle in his fathers eye when the Mallus was set off, but the effects had harsh effects on his life still. During the time when the bomb was set off most of the Aasimar were in the heavens so when the world and the heavens were severed from each other, Families were forever separated, which is what happened to Gilheart's father, Samkiel.

His mother was not so lucky in that she was stuck on the mortal realm with a small group of Aasimar. Together they struggled to survive the harsh new world that was created from the remains of the old. Gilheart was born one dark day day and was brought up as a warrior full of hate for the enlightened ones who did this to him and his people.

### Valok Firefiend

Valok is a goliath, born under a dark star on a long forgotten mountaintop. Abandoned by his clan, who feared his pale complexion, for he lacked the usual markings of the goliaths. He was left in the wilderness, at the mercy of the beasts that roamed at night.

Fortunately found by a two-man hunting party, Valok was carted off to an orphanage where he spent four years being cared for the kindly Matron Adelaide. Though he spent much time in the orphanage, Valok finally found a new home when farmers with two children Valoks' age came in and found a certain charm in the boy.

Valok fit in nicely with his new family, and grew quite attached to them. Valok enjoyed life on the farm - he was well suited to do the laborious and exhausting tasks around the farm. It was one day when Valok helped his brothers in a small street-side scrap that his brothers realized their brothers' potential and trained him to fight to protect himself and the farm.

At the age of sixteen, Valok's adopted mother passed and twelve years later father followed suit. With their ties to the farm gone, the three brothers decided to strike out on their own to discover the world they never could before. While his brothers were interested in becoming a sea captain and a merchant, Valok's journey was one of self-knowledge - he sought the truth him and his nature.

After donating his portion of the money made from selling the farm to the orphanage, Valok struck out on his own. He went from city to city, helping those who didn't shun him in return for food or knowledge. He learned of the dead pantheon and about his peoples' culture. An elderly wizard was even able to inform him that he was indeed plagued by a curse.

It was after this Valok met an old grizzled man who offered him a rusted sword and an opportunity to train; Valok took a year to think it over but ultimately accepted the man's offer and began training. After only a year of traingin howver, the man mysteriously disappeared leaving a note that pointed Valok in one direction: Kilead.

### Balaras Nighthook

Balaras was a man born for adventure, the half-elf child of a wandering adventurer and a treasure hunting sailor, he was destined to live a life full of danger, excitement, and grandeur. Captain of the Red Grail Pirates, Balaras took what he wanted and nobody could stop him. Until, at the top of his career, a cursed amulet put a stop to his adventures, and his crew was disbanded. Now cursed and unable to posses his once vast wealth, Balaras is searching for answers to the origins of his amulet, and a way to lift his curse.

### Captain Daniels

Daniels is ex-iron legionnaire sergeant and sea captain that was met by the rest of The Seekers when they came to work on his fishing sloop. Daniels looks rather unthreatening, appearing olld and out-of-shape, however his extensive knowledge of Kilead and the lands around have helped The Seekers many times.
During The Fall of Kilead, Daniels was with The Barber with his wife, waiting for The Seekers to return so he could escape with them, his wife, and The Barber and Reaper. They fled the city before it was flooded by Storm-Caller and just as it was being invaded by gnolls. Now Captain Daniels lives in the wilderness around Kilead with Mithral, Alroy, Valok, Balaras, The Reaper, The Barber, and his wife; Missy.

### Cleo Jr. Malachi

Cleo Malachi Jr. is the blighted animal that Cleobulus Malachi discovered on Mushroom Island. Cleo was able to tame Jr., and he has since proved himself as a valuable member of The Seekers. His most notable moments include him saving Cleo after a displacer beast nearly killed him, getting Gilheart away from the fighting during The Fall of Kilead, and just being a good boy in general. Cleo Jr. also has become the unofficial mascot of The Seekers.

Casmus

Devil.

## Previous Members

### Dior Malachi

#### History

Dior originally hails from a nomadic tribe which wandered the wilderness of Congeria. She was a fighter in the tribe, one designated to protect the clan - however she showed a deep understanding of magical arts - a very impressive feat for the nomad tribe 'Family.' It was bizarre for a tribe-mate to posses such skill as to be able to fulfill two roles within the tribe.

Dior quickly rose in rank until she was well known throughout all the tribe as an amazing fighter and healer. It was then, one day after they had been wandering for days that they came across a holy temple. The Temple was devoted to Vasilias, as determined by the Elder Mage Pyramus. One by one, the members of the tribe entered, and each took an artifact with them, so they might remember the past.

It was when Dior found a strange glowing bone-looking stick.

## Accomplishments

The following is list of accomplishments made by The Seekers:

* Made it into the city of Kilead, past the rigorous examination process
* Made a few silver fishing
* Found the reaper and solved his puzzle
	+ Took a job from the reaper to acquire a mysterious artifact

* Discovered the secret to entering the Monolith and defeated Pythia the Corrupted
* Discovered the lair of a murderous cult of Koa-Toa worshipping a giant squid named Dompaklops the Devourer.
	+ Defeated the cult's archpriest Gulfnin and the mighty Dompaklops

* Found the wreckage of the infamous Annabel Lee
	+ Assisted all of the ghostly crew members left on the Annabel Lee
	+ Defeated the Revenant of the evil Abraham the Accursed and succeeded in starting a true mutiny, makinf Esmond captain

* Returned to Kilead after having been trapped on an island for months
	+ With a dog

* Registered to be an official Adventuring Group in the Kilead Adventurers Guild
* Saved some kid
* Defied death a few times
* Saved the Reaper
* Made it through the Siege of Kilead fractured but alive
* Reunited and journeyed to the coty of Goldport
* Found Gilheart and got him back in the party
* Saved Tyrin Arklight from certain death
* Helped satyrs in the woods regain their magical pan flute and gain the blessing of the forest
* Stopped a giant fire elemental in the tower of the Conflagration
* Befriended the Khaggoth Zha
* Assisted the giants in Merim by retrieving their dead from haunted crypts