Chamberlain Cyrese Embree

Name: Chamberlain Cyrese Embree

Race: Human

Gender: Female

Bestows Quest(s): Tempest's Spine

Affiliation(s): The Twelve

Location: House Jorasco Enclave, in the extreme north end

Description: She gives you a brief history lesson about the Stormreaver (among other topics) and asks you to stop present-day Storm Giant Sor'jek Incanni from raising an army against the rest of the world.

Notes: The Chamberlain is a member of The Twelve; nevertheless, by completing the Tempest's Spine raid you gain favor with House Jorasco.

House Jorasco Enclave

If you try to talk to her while at level 7 or lower, she will reply:

• Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: Chamberlain Cyrese's voice is cool and detached. I am waiting to meet with a representative of House Jorasco. Since you are not that representative, I respectfully ask you to leave me to my business.

If you are at level 8 or higher, however, she will reply:

• Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: Chamberlain Cyrese of the Twelve studies your face for a moment. I came to House Jorasco seeking counsel, but perhaps I have found more than that. You have the look of a seasoned adventurer. Are you willing to fight for the future of Stormreach?
  • You: Why? Is the city's future in doubt?
    • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: Of course. The future is always in doubt—only the past is certain. Indeed, to preserve the future, you must often look into the past. The continent of Xen'drik was once home to a mighty civilization of giants. It was shattered by disaster forty thousand years ago. The memory of that disaster, and of the slow decline of the giants into barbarism, haunts Xen'drik to this day.
      • You: How does this pose a threat to Stormreach (You can skip anytime to the other option during the next lines)
        • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: The ancient giants were wise and powerful, but they faced an enemy beyond their strength in the quori of the Plane of Dreams. The quori invasion of Xen'drik caught the giants by surprise, and many were slaughtered before they grasped the nature of the foe. In those days, the last great hero of the giants arose. We know him only as The Stormreaver.
        • You: Tell me more about the Stormreaver.
        • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: Despite the legends, we know very little about the Stormreaver. We are not even sure whether 'Stormreaver' is a name or a title. But it seems that this hero was instrumental in the destruction of the planar gate that led to Dal Quor. Although he vanished in the cataclysm that destroyed the gate, the giants prophesied that he would return and lead them to glory—and this prophecy is still remembered by today's brutal tribes.
        • You: Why should I care about the tall tales of savages?
        • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: The legend of the Stormreaver has become a religion to the giants of Xen'drik. Some tribes revere him as an ascended god. Others say he was half-dragon or half-demon. But all the tribes fervently believe that the Stormreaver will return in their darkest hour, and none would refuse to follow him to victory. Worse, the Twelve have begun to hear rumors that this is no longer a legend—that the Stormreaver once again walks Xen'drik!
        • You: Can it be true? Has the Stormreaver returned?
        • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: Cyrese snorts. After forty thousand years? It is impossible. The Stormreaver's bones have turned to dust. Nevertheless, the giants have roused themselves. They are fighting in armies instead of ragged packs. They have even forced some of the drow to serve under their banners. The Twelve suspect that someone is using the legend of the Stormreaver to forge the giants into a conquering army—and they must be stopped!
        • You: But how can we fight against a legend?
        • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: By assassinating those who manipulate the legend for power. The Twelve have tracked down a giant of immense cunning, one of the most potent giant mages to appear in the past hundred years. We first encountered him when he led a company of warriors against our researchers in a distant ruin. After slaughtering our people, he stole many artifacts and historical tablets that belonged to the ancients.
        • You: And you bear a grudge against this giant for his thievery?
        • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: Of course the Twelve despise monsters who murder our agents! However, this is not our primary concern. The giant stole a crown which we had only begun to study—a crown with strange and fearsome properties. Soon afterwards, we noticed large numbers of drow fighters and mages fighting alongside his troops. This is strange, since the drow hate and despise the giants. We fear that the mage has found one of the tools with which his ancestors commanded their elven slaves.
        • You: And you want this crown taken from the giant sorcerer?
        • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: We do not desire the giant's crown—we desire his death! His power over the drow is disturbing, but his mastery of summoning and evocation is equally troublesome. The giants are dangerous enough as barbaric thugs—we need no brilliant sorcerers driving their armies towards Stormreach Crown or no crown, pawn of the Stormreaver or clever liar, Sor'jek Incanni must be destroyed.
        • You: How can this be done? (See below)
      • You: I am interested in battle and glory, not in history lessons. Where's the action?
        • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: I can show you the way to the mountain that serves as Sor'jek Incanni's fortress. It is called Tempest's Spine, after the ring of clouds and lightning storms that shroud its highest peak. The mountain's base, which is ringed by searing lava, contains a network of tunnels that lead up through the mountain to the summoner's lair.
        • You: Go on.
        • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: If you are strong enough, you can fight your way through the tunnels beneath the mountain. These will deposit you on ledges that lead to higher caverns and, ultimately, the peak. Along the way, you will face the slaves, warriors and summoned minions of Sor'jek. It is likely that Sor'jek has imbued his minions with aspects of his power, or he may have entrusted them with ritual devices that enhance his abilities. In either case, you must defeat these minions and make every possible effort to weaken Sor'jek before you confront him.
        • You: Do you have any other advice?
        • Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: When you confront Sor'jek at the peak of Tempest's Spine, remember that he is a master of tactics as well as sorcery. He may seek to use the environment to his advantage. Do not allow the summoner to hurl you from his mountaintop, either with spells or strength; otherwise, you will find yourself in a brief and losing battle with gravity.
        • You: Your point is well-taken. I accept your quest. Send me to Sor'jek Incanni's lair! (Bestow quest)
  • You: No, not particularly. (Walk away)

Talking to her after acquiring the quest, but before completion, will make she say:

• Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: Sor'jek Incanni is still secure in the highest reaches of Tempest's Spine, and his power over the drow can only be growing. Are you ready to assault his fortress?
• You: I am ready. Send me to Tempest's Spine.

On completion of quest, she will congratulate you with the following:

• Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: Chamberlain Cyrese smiles warmly as you approach. The Twelve witnessed Sor'jek Incanni's death at the moment of his execution. Your reputation is well-deserved, <name>, as is the reward you have earned. Perhaps the destruction of such a champion will demoralize the giants and blunt the rumors of the Stormreaver's return....
• You: Perhaps so. Now let us speak in greater detail of that reward.

After completing the quest and take the reward, if you talk to her again, she will reply:

• Chamberlain Cyrese Embree: The Twelve continue to gather reports from our sources among the giants. Sor'jek Incanni's death has instilled great fear in the giant tribes, yet they continue to gather, and they continue to speak of the Stormreaver. Our efforts to eliminate this threat seem not to have met with total success.