Orien Medici

Biography

Name: Orien Medici

Age: 30

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 150 lbs

Race: Tindremic

Military Profession or Civilian Occupation: Paladino of the Order d'Argento

Social Status: Nobilita

Notable Knowledge/Skills: Well versed in ancient languages; Greater Healing

Upbringing: Raised in a monastery

Religious beliefs: Prays to Requesta

Equipment: Wears light banded mail under a set of robes. Wields a one/two handed bastard sword with a dagger in a sheath on his back. Rides a pack horse laden with climbing supplies, a rounded metal religious symbol, various books/manuscripts, flint/steel, rations and some flasks of various liquids.

Additional Description: Orien Medici was appointed by the Order d'Argento to lead a caravan into a set of mysterious ruins outside of Meduli in the middle of the surrounding deserts. He generally keeps to himself, but speaks up when he has something to contribute in a group setting. Often times he can be found distanced from the party pouring over manuscripts and recording his thoughts in his many different journals.

Day One

I gathered up the caravan at a local tavern to discuss our business. I am surprised to see the variety of members we have gathered. I had hoped for more Tindremenes, but we will have to make due with what we have. I am heartened by the presence of the scholar seeing as this is a journey into the past of our people and we should benefit from his knowledge and motivations. There are two other Tindremenes present with one having the look of a soldier; the other appears to be ... a bit destitute. Perhaps he will find himself during this expedition and take advantage of the opportunities.

I am apprehensive of the Sheevra. Despite the shady mannerisms I am sure there will be a use for her ... talents ... I have half a mind to lend her one of my robes to cover up that awful visage and grossly emphasized cleavage. Requesta help us if this one turns out to be the savior of our group.

I began the meeting by explaining our mission. We are to cut across the desert from Meduli south towards a gathering of ruins that had been until recently buried beneath the sands. I expect there to be many dangers more specifically agents of the Tindremic Empire to stop us from reaching our goal. I do not feel the need to share much more information at this time because I can not yet trust any of them. I wished more of my brother from the Order were here with me to aid our efforts, but this is a perilous time and we must not operate in the open while the Emperor watches us so very closely.

We will depart in the morning. I only hope all of them don't do anything too foolish tonight. Perhaps it would have been better to stay in one of the monasteries than this tavern.

Day Two

I'll never get used to this sand. Sand gets everywhere from my boots to my books everything in between, but my patrons of the House Medici and the Ordo have bid me to lead this caravan so I shall do it with a glad heart; a sandy heart, but glad nonetheless. Meduli is a despicable place and I swear there are more thieves than there are grains of sand in the middle of this accursed desert. I will have to forgo the heavier plates of my armor for a lighter solution. I know the Lady Requesta will provide for my defense in the absence of the hardened steel. I must guard myself mentally as well for this journey as the unknowns far outweigh anything else.

The Khurite mentioned a bandit by the name of Tod the Red this morning who was known to be in full force this time of the season. I was hoping to avoid any confrontations especially since our party seems so meagerly equipped. The Sheevra survived the night somehow and the rest appear to be all in one piece so I suppose I should count this as a blessing and perhaps a sign that we may make it after all.

I finished up my morning prayers and met with the expedition downstairs in a corner furthest from the entrance to the inn. The journey isn't exactly secret, but we don't need to be picking up any extra members. I explained to them all that we would be heading south along the cost to a small set of ruins that had recently been uncovered by unusually strong winds. Not many outsider are aware of the ruins and I'd prefer to keep it that way.

I was relieved to have received a letter from the Grandmaster of the Order Father Rohaan McDougal. I have copied it into this journal to ensure I don't lose its contents. It essentially sums up what I shared with the rest of the expedition.

"Brother Orien,

Greetings to you in your most important journey. Know that you have the full support of the Order and the Houses of McDougal and of course your own, Medici. I have recently spoken with your Patriarch, Brandor and he spoke well of you stating that he had great trust in your abilities and character to accomplish this mission. We have agents in Meduli, namely Brother Radison if you should require any assistance. House Medici also has Demiwar stationed there if the need should arise.

You are to proceed south along the coast to a set of ruins that were recently uncovered after many years of being lost to the Arcanum in Tindrem. I advise great caution as we work against the clock before the agents of the Arcanum begin making their way there as well. Thankfully we do not have to deal with the bureaucratic hurdles they do, which has given us a considerable head start. One of our agents has invoked some archaic law that will have them tied up for days before their own expedition can be assembled. Use this time to speed your way to the ruins and uncover what you can.

The messenger has been dispatched with a runestone containing several glyphs of what appears to be an ancient language of sorts based upon pictographs in place of letters. Our scholars have failed to decipher it in time and I feel it may be of more use to you on your journey. Please make haste and be safe. Report any findings to myself at our headquarters in the colony of Aquileia.

May Requesta watch over you and bring you the peace you seek,

Grandmaster Rohaan McDougal"

I am hesitant to show everyone the glyph, but perhaps the mage may be able to assist me in deciphering it. Who knows, maybe even the Sheevra may surprise me and possess a sliver of intelligence.

After the morning meal we set out for the south clinging along the coast as the cool sea breeze brought relief to this scorching sun. I can only hope the ruins contain a giant sign pointing me to exactly where we need to go. I'm not sure I can stand all of this sand for much longer.

Runestone with Glyphs on Day Two

http://www.silversunrepublic.com/images/expedition/glyphs_day2.gif

Day Three

The consensus appears to be that the glyph serves as a sort of map and I tend to agree wholeheartedly. There are of course several elements that are not geographic in nature, however, they may point us to other elements as directions of a less physical sort. Only time will tell which theories are correct and which ones are false. I have recorded the images in my personal sketches in case the glyphs suddenly disappear. I have my eye on the Sheevra of course, but I haven't come to fully trust any of my newly found comrades.

We traveled for most of the day heading South along the coast until the ground began to rise at a steady rate. It was a mostly uneventful day save for the walking dead we encountered and were forced to travel further inland than I had hoped. After we circled around the undead we made our way back towards the coast. By this point we had risen quite a bit up from sea level and hugged the tops of the cliffs above the ocean. I sent the Sergeant up ahead to scout what lies before us as the mountains begin to take shape in front of us. To the West is the ocean; in the South looms the mountains and to our East the desert continues on into what seems like infinity.

The scout has just returned and informs me of dire wolves ahead. It appears we cannot go around them and will have to fight out way through them. I figured we'd have to engage in some sort of combat sooner or later. I suppose this is as good as any other way to engage our party in a trial by fire.

The rest of the page is stained with what appears to be dried blood smearing several of the pages beyond this one

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