Then you snap back to reality...to find yourselves standing on a busy city street. You hear the UFO fwooshing off into the heavens above.
You look about you. It is mild and raining. You are standing outside of an inn, named The Hardby House.
That rings a bell...for both of you know that Hardby is a powerful city-state located on Woolly Bay, near the mouth of the River Selintan. You realise that you have been mysteriously transported several hundred miles south of Castle Greyhawk.
Oh well. Time for a beer, so you go in.
At the entrance to the common room, a lady greets you.
"Ah...you're here at last! Come, his lordship awaits you!"
The lady - the innkeeper, apparently - leads you over to a table where four people sit, over the remains of a large meal. They look up as you approach.
The eldest is a man, wearing bronze plate mail. There is a human female, wearing the robes of a magic user. Also here is a man, wearing the robes of a cleric, though you do not recognise the holy symbol (which is that of a hammer). The final person is a dwarf...and a sturdy one at that.
Lore strides forward, smile on his face, hand extended in greeting. "Hello, my name is Lore." Lore then gesters to his companion..."and this is Darian".
The man in the bronze plate mail stands. He is of noble countenance, though he also looks trailworn.
"I am Malbar of Furyondy," he says, taking Lore's proffered hand and shaking it firmly. "These quiet people are Polymer3, a magic user; Tekrem, a cleric of Thor; and Unwer, a dwarf from the Lortmil Mountains. We have just been transported here from the Hommlet area, if you know where that is, and are preparing to journey to the east."
Darian raises a hand in greeting. He wears a grey cloak with the hood pulled up. Light brown hair peaks out from the hood and plain brown eyes. His face is not remarkable and is easily forgotten. He is short for a man. However something about his face tells you that he is not human, but an elf, even though you cannot see his ears.
You can see the chainmail on his arms and you note that his shield bears an emblem of a fighting hawk. He carries a bow and quiver on his back along with a backpack.
Darian speaks to Esmeralda, the innkeeper.
"I have a question, lady. How did you know to expect us? We were grabbed by some horrible flying monsters that examined us quite throroughly before dropping us here. How could anyone know we were coming unless you were in league with them?"
She looks at him in surprise.
"But - but you had a reservation! Is not your name Underhill?" she looks to Malbar. "Perhaps these are not the right people after all, m'lord."
"No, lady, I am Darian Trist, a fighter and a magic-user. I don't know anyone named Underhill."
"Well, ain't that strange," Esmeralda replies.
"No matter," says Malbar. "We are looking for a few more people to accompany us into the desert regions east of here. I have heard legends and rumours of a great lost city...brimming with gold, gems, jewelry and magic...and we thought that we would investigate them. I have this scrap of a map..."
He pulls out a tattered piece of parchment and shows you. It depicts a desert coastline with hills inland. A faint trail is marked...and at one point is an "X".
Tekrem speaks.
"Glad to meet you. I think that we will need all of the help that we can get our hands on. We are still a little unsettled ourselves. Please sit and we can begin this adventure Lord Malbar has presented us.
"By the way, my name is Tekrem and I am a cleric of Thor. This is Polymer3," Tekrem is pointing at the other female in robes. "She is a dabbler in the magic arts. Finally the dwarf to my right is Unwer the fighter, standard issue."
Unwer says "Standard issue!! You owe me a pint of the best ale for that comment Tekrem."
Polymer3 gets up and examines the new arrivals and asks " You look like you have been through something alright. Please sit down and tell us more of your travel here".
"Well, Lore and I will were investigating the dungeon of Castle Greyhawk with others when some strange creatures in metal flying bowls grabbed the two of us. After some painful examinations, they dropped us here. I don't know why nor was I ever successful in conversing with them."
"The whole thing was quite terrifying.", says Lore in a whisper.
Malbar nods.
"I have heard legends of beings which travel around in such vehicles...but I thought that it was ancient history at best," he smiles and sips at his after dinner liqueur. "In fact, the party that we were with just finished exploring such a ship...though it had not flown in a very long time. That was in the Barrier Peaks...just west of the Duchy of Geoff.
"Anyway, you are welcome to join us on out trek if you wish, I suppose," he continues, with a glance at Tekrem, Polymer3 and Unwer. "Have you eaten? Could you be ready to depart tomorrow?"
Lore smiles pleasantly, "Yes, it would be great if we could join your party. Thank you. I think if once we grab a bite to eat and check our supplies we could depart at anytime." Lore turns and looks at Darian, "What do you think?"
Darian shrugs. "One adventure is good as another, I suppose. Equal shares of any treasure found, I presume? If so, then we can depart tomorrow morning. And, yes, I'd like a bit to eat. I'm not sure who long it's been since we have supped."
Polymer3 says "Metal bowls? Sounds like icky technology to me. Sorry to hear you had to endure that. I hope we fare better in the desert. Equitable division of treasure is always ok with us."
Darian looks at Polymer3. "Icky technology? What is icky technology? Is that what the monsters were?"
Malbar calls for more food, which is quickly brought. The food at the Hardby House is first-rate.
Afterwards you all retire for the night...Darian and Lore feeling particularily worn out.