Well, son, most of the information on the arcane age has been lost through time. Time is the eroder of history and the arcane age is a long long time ago.
Your characters start in a throne room, after the time of troubles. Standing on the thick red carpets, everything ready for the quest, bowing before your king, to whose summons you have responded. As you look at the rest of the party you see the other the king have sommoned.
The first is a small frail and old looking human, dressed in a silver white cloak, white shirt, brown breeches. The back of the cloak is the symbol of sylune, eyes surrounded by 7 stars. Strangely he has got two pigeons, one on each shoulder, with a backpack over the left shoulder. In his right hand he holds a quarter staff and a knife can be seen on his belt. The cloak shroud face in darkness, so his face remains unseen.
The second is a tall human male in his late 20's. Dark brown eyes show a deep wisdom and intellect, somewhat beyond his years. He has a full head of red hair, combed, well kept, and falling past his shoulders. His muscular body is well formed, with broad shoulders, and thickly muscled legs. Around his neck is a golden chain with a disk of rosy pink, a symbol of his faith, and devotion to Lathander. He normally wears a set of elaborate Sun Robes. The robes are Yellow in the main body, with a swirling disk of pink on the chest, and rays of red stretching out from the pink sun to the arms and legs. Hanging from a thick belt at his waist is a flail and the leather wrapped grip show years of use. When traveling he wears a sturdy looking helm on his head and a shield on his left arm.
The third is a weard looking elven female of about 5ft5 in height with pitch black hair. A line of white hair seperate the blackness. A blue white cloak with stars and white leather boots cover her frail body. Her skin is white and is cold and clammy to the touch. Her eyes is iceblue with a tatoo of tear under left eye. Twin matching daggers and three wands is stuck into a ringed mithril girdle, with a white leather backpack finishing the outfit.
The next one looks like a scaled-up human, but on closer inspection, certain differences are noticeable. He has a pink skin, with flame-red beard and hair. His clothes is completely white, and looks to be in place in the Arctic circle, fur-lined cloak, fur-lined boots, although his clothes are not as thick as you might expect of a Northerner. He wears neither armor nor a shield. He is standing a bit bent, as the ceiling here is only about 8 feet tall.
A yellow human of oriental descent is the next, as is evidenced by the shape of his eyes, his facial features, his smaller build and his accent. His hair is coloured silver, and hangs at chest level. He prefers to keep it neatly braided in either one or two braids. His eyes are slanted up at the outer ends, and coloured a dark brown. His complexion is deeply tanned, and it is obvious that he has spent much time outdoors. He prefers to wear loose-fitting clothing, and whilst travelling will keep to full-length flowing cloaks. He keeps to dark colours whenever he can, preferring brown over other colours.
Even though he is built smaller than most, he has kept himself in good shape, nontheless.
The next one is a large human although even stronger than he looks. His sandy brown hair and light brown skin defy his dark tan, which only exists due to his time spent working in the sun. His hands are obviously well used from his days as a laborer. He usually wears a huge sheet of chain mail over which he has a dark blue hooded tunic with a red dragon on the front. If the adventure requires, he wears a dented set of plate-mail armor. On his back he has a huge two-handed platinum sword with a dragon's head on the pommel. He wears two throwing axes, one on his back and one on the right side of his belt. A large pouch his belt (left side) contains all his possessions. One look at him and it is obvious that he is of low birth. His boots are well worn as are the rest of his cloths.
A minataur also a bit bent over is next. Easily towers over most races. He wears chain mail over his torso and legs. The chain only goes on his right arm. On the left fore arm a shield is strapped to his arm. On each of his hands are spike studded gauntlets. In the palm of each gauntlet is a ruby. He also wears a helm that seems to be made to fit his head perfectly. It has holes that fit his horns, the back of his head and his nose. He only has one visible weapon, a small axe. It is made of the same metal his gauntlets. On the handle of the axe are rubies the same size and design of the rubies on the gauntlets.
Another human is also huge (6ft4, over 300 lbs) in his late twenties now. A fairly dark complication allows the white scar running from his right eye to the corner of his mouth to dominate his face. His hair is a dark brown and his eyes a hazel that changes colour with his moods. He currently carries the battleaxe he picked up in his first battle as his primary weapon. He wears brigantine armor over old clothes.
The last one is by far the talles human you have ever seen and appear to be in his middle 30's.He wears brown camoflarged leather and soft leather boots. His eyes seem the be a bright green. He carries a backpack and a large broadsword. A blowgun complete his armoury.
The old king sit on the throne, crown a bit skew on his head, his white beard and hair ruffled. Worry lines, like erosion crease his face and it is apparent that he hasn't slept in days. He opens his mouth and as his voice rasp with fatigue, he adress you:
" You are the best in the kingdom. I have sommoned you for a specific reason. Six weeks ago I have received this parchment." He taps a very old parchment on a table next to the throne. " A lichlord has moved a tower into the holy hills of the spine world mountains, and the the country is seriously deteriorating in that area. I can't seem to scry upon him or find out what his purpose is. He has to be removed and I hope that you can help me with this quest. Aroun, my court wizard, will teleport you to the area close to the tower."
The king nods of for a minute, while you stand waiting. The wizard move over and tap him lightly on the shoulder:" Sire, they are here."
The king open his eyes once again, scratching his head:" Well, where was I. Ohh yes, as payment for your services, I will pay you 60,000gp. You will receive 10,000 now and the remainder once you have taken care of the problem. So, would you accepth the quest for your Liege." The king look up, awaiting an answer.
Feeling dury to the king, who has done you all favours in the past, you agree. The wizard add the last few things to your equipment and teleport you away.