Ramshaw

There is Eldro and there is Andro, two Gods birthed in the fires of Saros but born to different ways of thought and action. Eldro dwelt in palatial majesty in a great city in the east. Andro dwelt in solitude by the Nivece Lake. Eldro took no council from any god or man; Andro sought the council of god and man alike. Where Eldro had no compassion, Andro had love and generosity that knew no bounds. Yet, due to the nature of their birth, it was difficult to tell the two gods apart. A veil of fire concealed their features from gods and men alike, and only the very wise could tell them apart.

Ramshaw looked about nervously. He didn't like the Purple Moon and its clientèle, but his purpose required such a place and such people.

Ramshaw's employer wanted to find out what was going on at the Piatt Castles. The village had not heard from the castles in several days. Farmers fleeing from the area reported marauding militia from the East, but the area near the village had been quiet.

Some twelve miles away from the village, the Piatt Castles were imposing structures built by the Piatt brothers, a pair of mages who made their fortunes in the south, reportedly from trafficking in contraband. Although they didn't directly govern the area, the Piatt lieutenants worked with the village to maintain peace in the area (the Piatt brothers themselves were allegedly too occupied with their arcane research to have more than a passing interest in the village). The village also took interest in the castles because several village members worked as servants and groundskeepers at the castles.

Ramshaw was made more nervous by the gold he carried. The gold would pay for a party to investigate the castles and report back. Ramshaw would give part up front and the rest upon return. The party would have to bring proof from the castles: a sealed letter from one of the wizards or their lieutenants. If the wizards were gone or dead, the party should bring a stone from the patio of one of the castles (one of the castles had a fantastic patio mosaic made of thousands of stones).