The Noble Shadows
by AozThe Beginning
The four wizards in the summer of 1015 AC arrived at the restaurant and are greeted by the owner named Rüdiger, who is a friend and business associate of Master Julian. They are shown to a private and luxurious room, where they order their food and drinks. They start their conversation by catching up on their personal and professional lives, such as their achievements, challenges, goals, and interests. They also talk about some of the recent events and news in Glantri and Mystara, such as the political situation, the magical research, the social issues, and the external threats. They are friendly and respectful to each other, but also show some signs of rivalry and amusement on some topics.
The four wizards receive their food and drinks and continue their conversation. They bring up the topic of the humanoid monsters of the Broken Lands and play their favorite game of What if. The game has made them closer even help make gold for the wizards in the past. They share their opinions and knowledge on the origin, nature, and behavior of the monsters to the humanoids, and how they could be defeated or controlled by magic. They also discuss in theory what their own roles and responsibilities in the defense of Glantri, and how they could use their skills and spells to. They are confident and optimistic about their chances of success, and also show some pride and maybe a bit of arrogance in their abilities and achievements.
The conversation is interrupted by a young girl. Isabella asks who the girl is, and she says that said her name is Oberon and the waitress is her older sister (the waitress's name is Ingrid). Julian asks where Oberon's parents are, and she says they died when Alphatians' Thousand Wizards struck. Everyone got quiet and then Malachi asked did she need something. She tells them she was told by her sister to stay hidden, but she overheard their discussion and wanted to ask: What would have happened if the humanoids attacked during the Week of Dread? The four wizards are shocked and terrified by this revelation, as they realize that they are vulnerable and unprepared for such a scenario. The waitress Ingrid comes in and drags her little sister away. The wizards push the food and wine to the side and focus the topic to: What if...the humanoids Did attack during a Week of Dread? They start to question and doubt their own knowledge and assumptions and began to argue and blame each other for their ignorance and oversight. They also show some fear and anxiety about the future.
The four wizards decide to leave the restaurant and go to a more secure and private place, where they can research and make preparations. They pay the bill and tip the waitress, Ingrid tried to apologize for her little sister's intrusion and asks for their forgiveness. However, Rüdiger was angry and disappointed by the waitress’s behavior, scolds for bringing her sister to work and fires her on the spot. Master Voltaire, who was impressed and intrigued by the waitress’s little sister question and courage, says to the owner, "Thank you." Then looks at the Ingrid and her little sister and offer them jobs in his mansion, with a generous salary and benefits even room for the two of them. The pair accept the offer instantly. After Julian pats Rüdiger back to calm him down, the four wizards and the waitress along with her little sister leave the restaurant, while the owner and the other customers and staff watch confused as what happened.
In the next few months, the Wizards create a secret society:
The Noble Shadows
The Noble Shadows is a secret society of Glantrian wizards who have their sights set on the Radiance and the humanoid races and monsters of the Broken Lands. They believe that by manipulating and provoking these races, they can create chaos and conflict in the region, benefit from the resulting war, and save Glantri from a future invasion. The society has the following goals:
To infiltrate and influence various humanoid tribes and clans in the Broken Lands, using magic, deception, bribery, or intimidation.
To incite and escalate hostilities between different humanoid factions and other monsters, such as giants and dragons, among others.
To observe and analyze the effects of war on the humanoid societies, cultures, and behaviors, and use this knowledge to improve their own magic and tactics.
To exploit the war for their own gain by looting, raiding, sacrificing, and taking their resources.
The Noble Shadows is highly secretive and employs agents to do their bidding, most of whom were unaware that they worked for the Noble Shadows. They chose the name Noble Shadows to reflect their hidden agenda and noble purpose.
The Noble Shadow operates in secret, using various disguises, aliases, and cover stories to conceal their true identities and motives. They have agents and spies in various places, such as the Broken Lands, the Principalities of Glantri, and even a few other kingdoms. They communicate with each other using coded messages, secret signs, and magical black mirrors.
The Noble Shadows has a hierarchical structure, each of the four wizards take on an alter ego as a Shadow Dukes. The Shadow Prince (an unknown member) has final say in all matters and can appoint or dismiss any member at will. The other members are divided into three ranks: Shadow Lords, Shadow Masters, and Shadow Acolytes. Each rank has its own duties and privileges, and members can rise or fall in the hierarchy based on their performance and loyalty.
The Noble Shadows has a special interest in the Broken Lands, as they see it as a cancer growing underground. They have established a few bases and outposts in the region, hidden from the eyes of the humanoids and other monsters. They use these bases to store their supplies, equipment, and servants, as well as to conduct their research and training.
The Noble Shadow uses a variety of methods to manipulate and provoke the humanoid races of the Broken Lands. Some of these methods are:
Casting spells or using magic items to alter the weather, the terrain, or the behavior of the monsters creates natural disasters, environmental hazards, or unnatural phenomena that affect the humanoids.
Spreading rumors, lies, or propaganda among the humanoids, sowing distrust, fear, or hatred between different tribes or factions.
Offering bribes, gifts, or promises to some of the humanoid leaders, convincing them to ally with the Noble Shadow or to attack their rivals or enemies.
Sending assassins, saboteurs, or infiltrators to kill, kidnap, or sabotage some of the humanoid leaders, warriors, or resources, creating chaos, confusion, or panic among the humanoids.
Staging false flag attacks, raids, or ambushes, making it seem like one of the humanoid factions or one of the other monsters is responsible, sparking retaliation, revenge, or war.
The Noble Shadows observe and analyze the effects of war on the humanoid races of the Broken Lands, using various tools and techniques, such as:
Scrying, divination, or espionage is used to monitor the movements, actions, and reactions of the humanoids and the other monsters, as well as the casualties, losses, and gains of each side.
Experimentation, dissection, or interrogation is used to study the anatomy, physiology, psychology, and magic of the humanoids as well as other monsters, along with using them as components in inventing new spells.
Comparison, evaluation, or simulation, to test the strengths, weaknesses, and potential of the humanoids and monsters, as well as their strategies, tactics, and weapons.
Improvement, enhancement, or modification, to apply the knowledge and insights gained from the observation and analysis to their own magic and tactics, as well as to their own monsters or servants.
The Noble Shadow exploits the war for their own gain by looting, raiding, experimenting, and even sacrificing many humanoids and their resources. Some of the ways they do this are:
Looting (animating) corpses, camps, or settlements of the humanoids and the other monsters, taking their valuables, artifacts, or magic items, as well as their food, water, or materials.
Raiding the caravans, convoys, or supply lines of the humanoids and the other monsters, stealing their goods, weapons, or equipment, as well as their animals, vehicles, or transport.
Animating the bodies of the humanoids and the other monsters, forcing them to work, fight, or serve for the Noble Shadows, as well as to provide information and cheap labor.
1020 AC: Joint Darokinian and Thyatian operations to protect their interests. All-out war pits humans vs. orcs.
This will give the Shadow Nobles the perfect opportunity for them to play both sides.
The Shadow Prince is slowly teaching the other members of the Noble Shadows the secrets of the Radiance.
The Noble Shadows
Core Members:
The Shadow Prince, unknown
Lord Voltaire, from the House of Markov. He is ambitious, cunning, and has a grand vision for the future of Glantri and the Noble Shadows.
Lord Voltaire, level 12 level and 3rd circle of Illusion.
Has a mansion, the Shadow Prince pays him 6000 gold pieces per month, and makes animated armor to modified unseen warriors.
Ring of permanency once per day (A gift for Aoz)
Bulter (Ingrid): 5th level fighter hp.35 (female) 100 dc per month
Bulter's sister (Oberon): 2nd level wizard hp 10 (makes 200+ dc per month with scribing scrolls along with tuition)
Lord Malachi, from the House of Sylaire. He is a master of necromancy, and the chief researcher of the society. He is a genius, eccentric, and obsessed with the secrets of life and death.
Lord Malachi, level 11 and 3rd circle of necromancer.
The Shadow Prince pays him 6000 gold pieces per month.
Lady Isabella, from the Clan of Ellerovyn. Transplant from Alfheim. She lost everything except the cloths on her back when she fled Alfheim. She remains aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance but certain things like death and losing one's home will bring out her soft side.
Lady Isabella, level 10 elf
The Shadow Prince pays her 6000 gold pieces per month.
Lord Julian, from the House of Ritterbeg. He is a battle junkie. He is a distant relative to Jaggar von Drachenfels and even owns a small arena where he hosts wizard, gladiator, and monster battles.
Lord Julian, level 12 magic user
The Shadow Prince pays him 6000 gold pieces per month.
Interesting note the four wizards will create a Grand Wizard Tower away from Glantri just encase if something bad happens and they will have a safe place to retreat to.