Sir Haldern |
"Yes. She seems more down to earth to me, so perhaps somebody else should start. I've found that sometimes people tend to be a bit careful around a paladin"
Daniel Beatty |
Daniel watches Hela finish off her opponent as he had spend a little time looking at her aura. He then says, "I can make first contact if you like."
Detect evil, good, chaos and law while she's in the ring.
He then approaches her, "Good fighting my Lady. My name is Daniel. May I join you for a drink and a chat?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Kenjakana |
Kenjakana nods in agreement and floats silently behind Sir Haldern as Daniel makes first contact.
Ganorok "The Mouse" |
Ganorok, smiling, follows Daniel.
"Nice fighting, by the way!"
Diplomacy Check: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
GM Arkwright |
Daniel spots no aura on the woman.
Hela shoots Daniel a cursory glance then laughs. "I've two hundred people here lookin' to join me for a chat, three hundred for a drink, and maybe twenty-five lookin' for a rut. So; how're you going to interest me enough to stick around?" She shoots a curious glance at Ganorok. "Eh; boxing ain't my thing, but it's always worth a practice should the worst come. Thanks, rat."
Daniel Beatty |
"Buying you a drink certainly isn't going to do it. Only 25? I think you're selling yourself short there. But to my request, we're new in town, like I believe you are and have seen more of the world's dangers than most. We are here for the King's funeral as part of Queen Senna's retinue. Quite frankly, we fell something is rotten here and would like to discuss it with you." Daniel then has a drink and awaits her reply.
GM Arkwright |
She pauses, and shoots Daniel a second glance. "Huh; Senna, you say? You fellows are quick; I reckoned it'd take the Kings at least till tomorrow to get someone here to figure me out... less some of these're doing that." She jersk a thumb at the crowd before pondering, then nodding. "Alright, you've got a minute." She strides over to a small booth, crammed with drinkers. "ALRIGHT you bastards move on out, Hela needs a chair to herself- drinks are over by the bar." With a minimum of fuss, they leave, and she gestures for you to sit down as she grabs a proffered mug of honey mead and takes a long swig.
Her eyes stare piercingly at you as she gazes over her drink. "So... talk."
Sir Haldern |
"My name is Sir Haldern. You sound like somebody who appreciates plain talk over pretty words so I'll just come out and say it. We want to make sure that whoever becomes Monarch here isn't totally unworthy of the post. And by "worthy" I don't just mean "Can kill a Linnorn". And we're a little concerned that Thorbjorn, or his followers, may cheat.
So, to be frank, we're trying to find out if we care enough about who wins to make sure that it is a fair contest."
Ganorok "The Mouse" |
Ganorok winces when he is called "rat".
"Mouse, if it is the same to you."
He joins Haldern.
"Fairness is very important, you know? Also, there is a drug problem on the streets, that we want to solve."
GM Arkwright |
"Hmph. Well, Haldern- I'm calling you Haldern, since we're being plain an'all- I reckon my problem with all those words is that they're based on outsider ideas." She makes a sweeping gesture, taking in the tavern and the country beyond. "This here? This is the Land of the Linnorm Kings. And I say that in this land, all that matters is that the king is strong. The country's set up so that if the leader's strong, everything else flows its way on." She points at the paladin. "Your Senna should know that. Those rumors about her displaced king, Opir Eightfingers? That he didn't actually kill a linnorm, that he wasn't strong? That was what was important in screwing up his city. So." She takes another hefty swig. "Let ME handle Thorbjorn; keep your distance from the fight. A king has to handle a linnorm solo, and anyone nearby is a chance for anyone to steal my right to rule... and that ain't happening. I can handle any cheating; I reckon, like Sveinn, that Thorbjorn's weak."
She shrugs at Ganorok. "Mouse, whatever. Drugs? Ask me when I'm King."
Ganorok "The Mouse" |
Ganorok smiles.
"If you get to be king. I hope we can deal with the problem before that."
Sir Haldern |
"If you think that all that matters in a leader is strength all I can say is that you're very, very wrong. In so many ways.
But it isn't my mission to change the way this land governs itself.
You've convinced me that I don't care very much whether you win or not. As you say, it isn't my concern.
May the best person win"
Kenjakana |
"To be fair, Sir Haldern, strength can also be used to describe as person's character as a whole. This tradition does have a tendency to produce capable rulers if it happens properly. Some measure of intelligence, cunning, and iron will is required to best a Linnorm in single combat," remarks Kenjakana. She looks at Hela and says, "As we said, best be on your guard. From what I've learned over the years, some people are apt at faking strength through deception. Where Thorbjorn truly stands in the regard remains to be seen I suppose."
Daniel Beatty |
Daniel looks Hela in the eyes and says, "I'm not entirely certain Thorbjorn is behind anything, but I feel he is a part of it. If that's the case there is someone more canny to worry about. This contest isn't over until you are seen with the linnorms head by those in the city. You'll be at your most vulnerable right after you kill the beast. Don't forget that."
Sir Haldern |
I think back to Senna it is
Kenjakana |
Sounds good to me.
Daniel Beatty |
As Hela leaves he says, "That didn't help much but at least we put the bug in her ear and maybe she'll have the sense to listen and not get herself killed. Why don't we head back to the fort and turn in for the night?"
GM Arkwright |
Turning, you leave the throng and head out into the Kalsgard night. Following well-lit streets under the eye of wolfskin-coated guardsmen, you make your way back to Senna's fort. Her banner flies and her guards man the walls, allowing you through after a cursory cry of 'friend or foe?'
A great fire blazes, filling the hall with warmth as two of Senna's servants finish filling shelves with her books and belongings and arranging pillows on beds and couches. Haldern's wife Sylvanta sits, stitching a holy symbol of Iomedae onto a warm woolen cloth, as his children play with toys on a huge mammothskin rug. Senna frowns her way through several scrolls on a desk, looking up with a concerned smile to greet you. "Good to see you again, my friends. Have you had an.. interesting... day's exploration? I've found at least one odd matter, concerning those massive marks we saw on the city walls..."
Daniel Beatty |
Daniel bows to Senna and answers her, "We have indeed had an interesting day. We found highly addictive drugs running rampant in the Jade quarter and their trail led up up into city government. At your request we attended the announcement of the contest for king and spoke to Hela. Not who I would want on the throne but she may be the lesser of two evils I'm afraid, that is if her overconfidence doesn't get her killed."
Kenjakana |
"It seems that Thorbjorn is at least partially responsible for the drug epidemic; we learned that he could be stopping the authorities from acting," Kenjakana adds grimly. "We also know that a drug dealer named Black Tom is the main supplier in the Jade Quarter; I think it's currently in our plans to hand him over to the authorities."
She contemplates the matter further.
"I just hope it sticks. Hela seemed... somewhat sympathetic to dealing with the drug issue; I could be wrong, but I don't expect much progress if Thorbjorn becomes King."
GM Arkwright |
She frowns. "I can't say I've heard better from my discussions about him. He's an expansionist, with eyes set on a few choice neighbouring countries; at least two of which are better off left alone."
"The walls... apparently they're a new, Varisian artifact of all things. It's a system called the Runewall, and is ancient Thassilonian, brought over on Sveinn's orders by a mage and his stone giant comrade. Harnessing immense magics, it prevents teleportation out of the city. Apparently the king felt it would provide more security, come his death."
"Hela... I've heard little; I'm grateful for your impressions. And I, and the city, might need your help. Would you be willing to secretly follow Hela and Thorbjorn when they depart for their hunts tomorrow, and ensure no foul business is plotted or planned? I know... quite well... what a compromised beginning can do to a reign; for it to happen here, in a great city after a great leader..." she shakes her head sorrowfully.
Ganorok "The Mouse" |
Ganorok lets the other speak while he plays with Haldern's kids, offering them some cheese, playing "hide and seek" (and letting them win, letting his tail show from behind a couch) and teaching them some old folk child songs.
After they sleep he goes to Senna.
"Varisian? Interesting... Wonder how they get hold of it, and where."
Sir Haldern |
"I'd certainly b ewilling to watvch quietly. Althoughj I'll definitely need magical assistance to do so. Stealth is not my steong point :-)
Stop people teleporting OUT of the city? I'd have thought it better to stop them teleporting into it"
Kenjakana |
"I can make us all look, feel, and smell like any other living creature. I've never had the chance to use this spell, but my tentative plan for first deployment was to resemble a small local insect for an extra lair of stealth. Given that we will be traveling as a group and will thus want to know where the everyone is, I suggest a creature big enough to easily see but not standout in the Linnorm Kingdom wilderness. Maybe wolves? The spell won't break easily either; it requires physical interaction or powerful divination such as True Seeing."
Ganorok "The Mouse" |
"I can always go as, well, myself. I am very stealthy when I need to."
Daniel Beatty |
"We can certainly do as you wish. Who should we follow? We've warned Hela and I think if she discovers us she might be a bit upset with us. I'm not sure how Thorbjorn would react if we are discovered. Might be best to follow him and if he dispatches trouble we could take care of it. What do you guys think?" Daniel says while he plays in the fire with a stick.
GM Arkwright |
"It works both ways, my apologies."
"I'm not sure who I can advise you to follow. Clearly we are concerned that Hela is in the most danger; yet treachery may come in the fight between the linnorm and Thorbjorn. Perhaps... enter the tundra, and go to wherever a noise is heard?"
"From what I have gathered; Thorbjorn is some manner of mage."
Ganorok "The Mouse" |
"I guess there is no rule against travelling the lands while the hunt is ongoing. As long as we don't interfere, or help them against the linnorm, I don't think anyone would complain. We can ask around for specifics, in any case."
Kenjakana |
Next morning.
Sir Haldern |
This morning (well, I posted a day later so it must be this morning now, right?
GM Arkwright |
The night passes; you've had few hours to sleep. With what feels like half the city, you find yourself standing along the northern piers and docks as a warm golden blast of dawn washes across the grassy landscape. The The crowd waver between buzzing with excitement and falling quiet to listen to the infinite silence echoing across from the north beyond.
When the sunlight reaches the most western corner of Kalsgard, two boats push out from shore, crossing to the northern bank, each separated by a hundred feet of river; Hela and Thorbjorn.
Upon landinghey turn to the city, raising a fist to the sky each; the wall goes wild with applause and excitement. They turn to the north, and from the palace, a deep, booming horn resounds, shaking icicles from the wall, echoing out across the city.
Thorbjorn rises from the ground; with a imperious posture he takes off through the hair, heading north.
Hela sets into a fast, ground-pounding pace, heading north but dog-legging towards a clump of forest ahead.
Senna's carriage pulls up behind you, and she opens the door to wave you over. "I can arrange a boat to take you across the river if you can't do so yourselves discreetly. Otherwise... what's left is for you. The sages predict the linnorm is around four days' walk north, hiding below a frozen waterfall, atop a frozen lake."
Ganorok "The Mouse" |
Ganorok, sleepy-eyed, nods.
"Sounds prudent. We would welcome the boat, mylady." - He answers Daniel and Senna.
He lets out a big yawn.
Sir Haldern |
I hate it when a post goes missing :-(
"I'll leave it up to you how we proceed. You're all better at the subterfuge thing than I am. But Jensal can easily carry us across the river if we don't want to take a boat"
Kenjakana |
FL Temp HP: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Before the group departs, Kenjakana casts all of her long term buffs (Overland Flight, Life Bubble, Nondetection, False Life).
When they arrive in the northern wastes, she casts Heroism on herself and Tears to Wine on the contents of her canteen, of which she promptly takes a swig.
"Alright, time for me to track down this Linnorm."
Survival (Buffs): 1d20 + 15 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 15 + 12 = 46
Sir Haldern |
I cast a vote for heading straight there
Kenjakana |
Thirded.
GM Arkwright |
Alrighty. Forgive me if things get a little confused from this point on.
The next two days are spent crossing the increasingly ice taiga of the Land of the Linnorm Kings; the first day is spent keeping off established tracks and roads, and avoiding any possibility of Thorbjorn or Helka spotting you. If it's known another force is in the region, then either the contest is void, or the contestants might feel obliged to get to their linnorm straight through you. The second day is mostly blizzard as a harsh winter wind goes up, destroying all vision beyond ten feet.
When the blizzard calms it's late evening, and a thousand stars shine above on the frozen land below.
Daniel 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (14) + 23 = 37
Kenja 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (12) + 23 = 35
Ganorok 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (10) + 30 = 40
Crossing a snowdrift, Ganorok suddenly spots Thorbjorn a few hundred feet away; the little mouse hits the ground, and watches. The blizzard seems to have shredded a tall hill of its snow, revealing a stony ledge with a rude passage and a strange bright blue glow inside. Thorbjorn stands in front of it, still, before raising a hand and slowly stumbling inside, out of sight.
What do?
Ganorok "The Mouse" |
Ganorok points at the place, and smile at the others.
"Want to take a peek?"