The Thalais Chronicles

The Rose & Thistle Signage On the evening of October 1st the mead was flowing endlessly from the casks stacked behind the bar. Barmaids gripping 6 mugs per hand, effortlessly weaved through the rowdy tavern making frothy deliveries.  The fiddlers strum madly with an upbeat and cheerful melody, while the ambient noise seems to raise in volume proportional to the number of empty mugs on the tables. There is no reserved seating here at the Rose & Thistle, with most nights you are lucky to find an empty chair.  Tonight was different however, only those who were summoned were allowed through the doors of the tavern, and there looked to be enough tables set up to accommodate everyone. Seated randomly at one sticky table near the bar were 7 strangers. A full round of Rose Hip Mead slams down at the table, as the wench disappearing into the crowd. Abruptly the music ceases, as Vyksyl Valsung and Thornguard General Grevator take the main stage. Everyone rushes to a table like

Thornguard Emblem A brisk wind swept through the sleepy streets of Briarwood as stars twinkled in the cloudless night sky above. Clutching his thick cloak closer to fend off the chill, the Elven Ranger Aeristel strolled home from a late night at the Rose & Thistle. The berry harvest festival was winding down, and last year's barrels needed to be emptied for the fresh harvest. Even through the haze of exhaustion and mead, Aeristel's keen hunting perception caught glimpses of tree squirrels and mice scampering in the moonlight. Rounding the last corner to his dwelling, Aeristel finds himself face to face with Vyksyl Valsung and two Elven members of the Thornguard. Vyksyl was dressed in his typical long linen robe dyed a deep green, with bright yellow Briarwood runes of different sizes embroidered seemingly at random along the length. The two Thornguards wore basic recruit padded armor, one carrying a crude quarterstaff and the other a small dirk and wooden shield.

Briarwood Rune Growing up in the world of Thalais, every child was regaled with ancient stories of heroic champions, dangerous beasts, dusty dungeons, and mythical dragons around bedsides and campfires alike. Some seem rooted in historical records while others too outlandish to believe. Thalais is a fantastically magical world, brimming with innovation and wondrous constructs. Fusing magic and machine is in its infancy, what new creations might lie ahead? Your story begins in the bustling forest City of Briarwood, in the Davish province. While you may or may not have grown up here, you registered as a citizen to take part in the upcoming Mayoral elections after the passing of the beloved Mayor Rufen Dollos. While Briarwood began as an Elvan village, it has erupted into a multicultural trading centre. Rufen was proof of this, being a Dwarf himself, and holding office for over 22 years. Under his watch the City's exports grew; primarily wood products, textiles, medicines and o