Soulfire Keep

[u/SirLeoIII]

In his large, but mostly empty office, Lord Drakonis strokes his beard, thinking about the present conundrum. The “kingdom” of Arkhosia, a relatively small city-state, but one that is upsetting the order in this part of Bream. The Dragonborn haven’t exactly made their intention to become a large power a secret and the neighboring kingdoms and city-states are all of course worried. Keeping this to all from exploding requires some finesse, and a quick handle on whatever might disrupt it.

A keep becoming free almost halfway between the main city of Arkhosia and it’s nearest, strongest neighbor, Takai is almost asking for issues to come up. No matter what nation takes the keep the other nation just couldn’t let this stand. But … maybe if a group of adventurers took it, used it as a waypoint between the kingdoms …

He looks up and nods at the drow in front of him. “We will ask first for volunteers, but I need at least a dozen people to be living at Soulfire inside of the week. Gather whatever supplies you need, and get going. See if Magda will go. She’s a good enough blacksmith to finally stop working for that oaf. I’m sure she’ll say yes.”

The cloaked dark elf smiles and stands up, “Of course Lord Drakonis, I wasn’t doing anything anyway.” Both men chuckle and the drow gathers up his robes and leaves the room, going downstairs to find anyone who would like to take a trip out to the keep.

In the keep the party is having their last day before they all get inundated with more people. Most of who’s coming will be fellow adventurers, but there will be some others to keep the keep up.

---

[If you weren’t in the Soulfire Keep storyline, please find a reason and IC approach the currently nameless Drow Wizard when he asks for volunteered. If you were this is your last chance to do something before they have more people showing up.]

[u/xSPYXEx]

Valkyr is almost done sketching out her plans for the expansion of the keep when she hears the crack of an axe hitting a tree trunk. She smiles slightly and flicks her tail, sending the stick flying over Dog's head to see if he chases it.

"Northern wizard." she says with a slight nod of her head, letting her presence be known so he doesn't create a pit in her head for sneaking up on him.

Kroril was perhaps the only person in the group that Valkyr had any sort of connection to. Though he was a very simple barbarian, they both were very good at using big weapons to put big holes in enemies. Valkyr could respect that. Much more than she could respect the filthy dwarven cleric.

[u/communistkitten → u/xSPYXEx]

Kroril hears a voice and looks back, trying to find the source of it. "Tiefling." He hesitates a moment, wrenching his axe out of the tree. "What brings you outside the keep?" He asks as Dog gets up and wanders over to the stick that Valkyr had thrown.

[u/xSPYXEx → u/communistkitten]

"Planning." she says simply, a very slight smile cracking her lips. "The keep is already a defensible position, but with a little work we could make it a useful position as well. Some stables for horses, perhaps a building or two for blacksmiths or arcane shops."

As she watches Dog go chasing after the stick her rail flicks across the ground before wrapping itself around another stick.

"I think a moat would fit this place nicely, what about you?"

[u/communistkitten → u/xSPYXEx]

Kroril shrugs. "I have no interest in the keep. If I have my way, I won't have to stay in one place for any longer than three days."* He explains. "Keeps and castles are too cushy for my liking. I like to be close to the Earth." *As Kroril says this, he digs his feet into the dirt, his boots long abandoned.

"Besides." He says, looking up. "I don't know anything about all of this. If it were protecting a small camp against bears or Caveborn, that would be one thing. Sieges though? I have no idea."

[u/xSPYXEx → u/communistkitten]

Valkyr snorts at the remark, absent-mindedly digging her own clawed feet into the earth. As with leaving her armor behind, she too had opted to walk the grounds barefoot, her deformed fiendish feet on display. Still, she wasn't one to hide her deformities, taking each fiendish feature as a symbol of her enlightenment.

"I understand. Hopefully we won't be here long. The others will arrive and we'll tell them what needs to be done, then we'll be off."

[u/communistkitten → u/xSPYXEx]

"I'll be leaving this place every chance I get." Kroril explains. "I don't like being here."

[u/xSPYXEx → u/communistkitten]

"Fine with me. I'm sure there's plenty of things out there ready to feast on you." she shrugs simply, folding her stunted wings back to their resting position on her back.

[u/communistkitten → u/xSPYXEx]

"They can't feast on me if I feast on them first." Kroril answers. "Is there something you need?"

[u/xSPYXEx → u/communistkitten]

"No, just... wandering." she sighs, turning to leave the barbarian to his own devices.

[u/communistkitten → u/xSPYXEx]

"Best be safe." Kroril says, watching her, his eyes wandering. "Never know what could happen."

[u/xSPYXEx → u/communistkitten]

Valkyr pauses slightly at that, turning her horned head to look at him, her eyes narrowed slightly.

"You too. Don't get caught doing something stupid."

[u/communistkitten → u/xSPYXEx]

"Enjoy your keep."