GM Lugos |
The ground is hard and cold, sweeps of snow still clinging on in the more shadowy parts of Restov.
The city of the first and greatest Swordlord Sirian Aldori, free from much of the politics of it's fellows in the greater Brevoy, teems with life even during these harsher months. Even at this early time of day, warriors begin their instructions, and those sorry few who fail to make it into any of the schools in the city vent their anger through duels.
Lord Mayor Sellemius looks out his window at the Free City, proud of it, but even those who know little of the man can tell his mind wanders.
He turns and looks at his desk. Four small scrolls are in their simple leather cases, each sealed with wax and a stamp of his authority. He raises one off his desk and inspects it again. He was a generally simple man, and kept his office fairly devoid of anything that wasn't on the agenda, but when official business does cross his desk, he takes it as seriously as any noble lord.
Content that his inspection once again proves that it remains sealed, he lowers it back to the desk. This has to work. The sooner these folks get to securing the border, the sooner I can sleep a full night again.
The thought no sooner crosses his mind and his thoughts turn to the four groups he had chosen. Each had their purpose: go into the Stolen Lands, map it, and kill as many bandits and foul creatures as possible. Each team had been given effectively the same order, though slightly different in additional duties.
A shout catches his attention, and he once more looks out the window. Some damn fool just lost a duel right outside the building. Sellemius squints trying to see if he could recognize the man, but something else draws his gaze. Going into the Seven Keg tavern was one of the adventurers he'd just hired. A small smile crossed his face. A tavern, huh? Seems downright iconic...
~~~
The Seven Keg tavern was fairly quiet at this time of day. Ol' Markin the barkeep is reviewing earnings from the previous night, and his son Harl puts the finishing touches on one of the recently broken tables. Harl leans on it to make sure it won't break from too much stress, and contented that it will hold, looks up in time to see some people step in, a cold blast of air accompanying them.
"Welcome to the Seven Keg tavern, finest drink house this side of Lake Reykal! It's a little early for ale and mead, but if you give me a bit, I can whip up some eggs and cheese for ya!"
And the scene opens with the all-too stereotypical tavern scene! This will be just a "get to know one another" scene for now, the game and your characters future truly begin this coming Wednesday. And due to a strong headache (I really shouldn't drink as much as I did), I'm gonna go crash! Have fun chit-chatting and dreaming of future glories!
Bexer |
Bexer looked up at the newcomer, and waved a greeting.
This had better work, he looked down at the meal that represented the last of his coin, or I'm going to have to see if the local guard is recruiting.
"Good morning. We didn't get much of a chance to talk in the Mayor's office. I'm Bexer."
Tessandriel Mithlynnta |
Tessandriel rides over to the tavern, stops and dismounts.
"You stay here Cochise. I'll be back shortly." she says affectionately while petting him.
Tying him up, she goes inside. As she enters, she looks around. Finding what she is looking for, she heads to a chair in the corner where her back is to the wall and sits down. "A body can't be too careful these days."
GM Lugos |
Harl looks at the young woman cautiously. He's seen plenty of unique folk before, but never one quite like her. Ol' Markin doesn't even bat an eye at her.
Harl, hoping his father would at least look up from the coins, sighs deeply, and takes one last look at the people in the room. That serious looking fellow is eating slowly and acting like he's trying to savor every bite.
"Hello, lil' miss! Welcome to the Seven Keg tavern, finest drinks this side of the lake. Traveller headed north, or are you here for other business? Oh! and would ya like some eggs and cheese?"
GM Lugos |
"Fine, privacy is something people want from time to time, I guess. Meal offer is the same foryou, sir, as the ladies."
After several minutes, Harl comes back with the meal. A cursory glance at the dark skinned woman and the serious man, then placing the meal down, he turns and walks over to Ol' Markin. "Add another silver, father." Markin grunts, adding a tick to the small paper. Harl returns to the kitchens, and Markin finally scoops the coins up and tosses them into a small safe, retreating to some back room.
Several moments pass in silence, only to be broken by that all to familiar ring of dueling swords crossing, and shouts erupting with them.
Orsino Fjordson |
Orsino examined the dark skinned woman before him and he considered whether or not the question of her intellect. Time to ask the questions that would reveal whether or not if he traveled with an idiot. a prodigy or something in between.
In a sharp if moderated tone Orsino spoke to the dark skinned lady. Greetings lady, I am Orsino Fjordson you are?
Orsino Fjordson |
Don't be so sure on that point Mithlynnta, the battlefield has a rather annoying tendency of not being suitable for long ranged archery. Especially in the greenbelt from what I hear the place is so thickly forested that a giant has problems walking around. A question of note concerning your preferences, do you have any problem with the use of poison?
Orsino Fjordson |
I speak not of it's use for hunting animals for food, I speak of it's use against the more monstrous denizens of the world. In the greenbelt one might encounter say an owlbear or some other creature that cannot be brought down with mere arrows, swords or hammers. In that scenario is it truly wrong to use poison to bring it down?
GM Lugos |
Sorry, had work and a benefit auction to get to...
A few moments after the word "drow" is uttered, Ol' Markin returns with a small ale in hand. "Greenbelt? As in them Stolen Lands? You lot ain't the ones the good mayor is sending, are ya? I hear tell ya need a small army just to make it proper there! 'Cept some them fur hunters, but they just ain't right, ya ask me" Placing the small ale before our good von Lebeda, he returns his attention to the conversation at hand. "Now I think about it some, there is that fool, what his name? Oleg, that's right! Mad man dragged his wife down them parts a few months back and I ain't heard of him since! Poor man probably is dead now." Nodding in agreement to himself, he seems to give off the airs of someone who feels like they know much more than they actually do.
Orsino Fjordson |
The greenbelt may be an untamed region infested with owlbears, fey and hags but it is by no means untamable. We Lotusmaster's over the thousands of years that our order has existed have faced much worse, think daemonic hordes let by a deacon of the four Horsemen. Where an army of swordlords will fail a Lotusmaster will succeed...
Tessandriel Mithlynnta |
"Hunting is not limited to just animals. If you require everything to be explained you are not going to do well at all. Do your own thinking and with less arrogance please."
I am loving this roleplay. Definitely a highlight. I hope it is appealing to everyone so far.
Orsino Fjordson |
Ah yes but let us remember that poison does not just kill, it can also safe life. Witness Ricene orbs a remarkably useful item that can save the ones you love. Take this scenario for instance, a man has a loved one by the neck with a knife. You can't risk using an arrow to kill him because by then your loved one is dead, however with Ricene orbs you can save your love one from death and it is a poison. For what a Riceneorb does is simple, the orb itself is made of a clear, colorless substance that breaks easily when "flicked" to the ground. Inside the orb is Ricene an invisible powder that will flood out upon contact with the ground under the target's feet. Ricene itself is odorless, tasteless and goes to work immediately. The target it upon inhalation immediately paralyzed, no chance to use the knife at your loved one. Ricenehas no other effect upon the body and will not harm your loved one at all. As for arrogance you need only look outside to find it in abundance, the Swordlords of this land believe that the sword is the only weapon they need. They would never even consider an old, thin Tian man the most dangerous person in the room. My teacher did prove to be the most dangerous man in the room or for that matter in the entire village we once stayed at. We had been at the village for two days when the place was besieged by a force of eighty bandits led by bugbear called Grindlemesnch. They gave the village one day to surrender or be destroyed, that night I and my master snuck into the bandit camp. We found the barrels of ale that the bandits drank from each and every night. My master opened each barrel and put into it the contents of a vial, then we left the camp and told the villagers to sleep soundly. Come morning my master cheerfully led the villagers into the bandit camp, every bandit including their bugbear captain was dead. So tell me what Swordlord of Brevoy could do what my master could?
Komana Medvyed |
A young woman about five feets tall enters in the tavern, to anyone more observer, obviously she is an aspiring swordlord.
The smiling face of Komana is what stands out when she comes on Seven Keg tavern. Her happiness is obvious in the environment.
"Morning Ol 'Markin! Good morning everyone!”
After, she speaking closely to Ol 'Markin.
“I am very happy today, so I´ll start the day with a full meal!"
Komana puts two pieces of silver over the counter. By placing her backpack on one of the chairs she pulls out a sheet of paper, pen and ink, and begins to write.
I really need to prepare a list of goods for a trip, I´m gonna leave this place anyway
Bexer |
"Five. Though it may be that Orsino here doesn't need the rest of us. He can concoct an instant airborne paralytic out of common local plant life, it seems."
Have we met? Do we have any way to identify each other as those who are going to the greenbelt?
Orsino Fjordson |
I am not stupid enough to create an airborne disease, first it would spread like wildfire. Then I being one of the view beings thought capable of creating it would be targeted by the local torch wielding mob. Now though a more pressing concern though comes to my mind, does anyone here have or know of maps that chart the greenbelt? As one of my primary reasons for going to the place is to see how the heavy fey influence has effected any of the Lotus plants or if it has given birth to entirely new Lotus flowers...
GM Lugos |
I wonder where Mikhaela is? Oh well, the show must go on!
Markin sweeps up the two silver from Komana, and yells for Harl to bring out a full order of breakfast. He drops the coins into the small safe, and turns back towards his interesting customers.
"By Desna's wings, you lot are the ones going down south! Fools, the lot of ya"
Harl, hearing his father talk nonsense to their customers brings the meal out sans the honeyed bread. "Fools or not, father, they've at least got some excitement in store for them. And silver to boot! You want to run off our customers?" Markin grunts, and looks at his son. Determining this is a fight best left when there are fewer customers, he nabs his small safe and goes to the back room.
His father gone, Harl turns to the party. "Pay him no mind. I reckon he's just half jealous that he's about to miss out on something. Now I think one of you folks said something of maps in the Stolen Lands? Doubt there are many. Oleg was the only one I knew who might have any, but as my father said, man took his beaut of a wife South a few months back and that's last we've heard of him. Supposed to restore some fort or some such job."
Orsino Fjordson |
The Lotus flower in all of it's varieties is a worthy objective, take the Grave Lotus for example. The Grave Lotus when properly prepared can either act as a poison so horrific that it turns the target into a zombie or it can act as a universal plague cure. That is just one Lotus Flower. As such finding new Lotus flowers could be critical to our survival, I can make many useful substances derived from the Lotus. Potions of healing that would humiliate the best "alchemists" of this continent, extracts that will enhance your body and powerful poisons that can subdue even trolls. We can't pacify the greenbelt if we don't have the tools we will need, even if half the rumors about the belt hold true we will need tool we can scrounge up.
Komana Medvyed |
When Komana realizes that this discussion is about the Greenbelt travel, she looks back to the others and gives them a smile. Then she starts to talk to them in a friendly way.
Hi everyone, I´m Komana Medvyed, partner of you in this trip. I hope we can solve all the trouble, catch all the robbers, and I´m sure we´re gonna have a lot of good time together!! I´m come from the Soneclimb, dammed city. Although Restov is not any good as well. I´m fed up of this place. Over here there are a lot of combat training, boring classes, anyway, I already had enough of this!! Ups, I guess you already have noticed that I´m such a “swordlord”. Well, I try.
And you guys, let me know more about you, you seem to me interesting people…
While Komana continues talking and talking, she pays attention on all the minimal details of each one, and she uses that information to sound a nice person to everyone. Seeking for make new friends with this strangers.
Orsino Fjordson |
Ah warrior please do remember that all Lotusmasters study the body and it's workings. Where as a normal healer might have to amputate your hand if it got badly mangled I can preserve your hand and it will in a month or two be usable. Alas my supply of the substance that allows me to do it, bloodblock is rather small only three vials. And while I can go off and harvest the Lotus Flowers required to make it by myself the more eyes and hands that help me the more that there will. It would be a shame Ranzo if your hand could be saved by a vial of bloodblock that I didn't have...
Bexer |
Bexer lets the speech roll over him, then puts down his spoon and stands, "Seems to me that this Oleg is the best source of information available, assuming he has survived."
He turns to Harl, "Can you give me directions to the fort that Oleg went to, sir? I think it best if we start on our way."
GM Lugos |
"Last I heard, Oleg left for a small border fort south on the South Rostland Road. Sad little place, I hear. Sacked a couple years back, or something. About two days away in good weather."
Harl begins to turn, but stops, returning his gaze to the group of adventurers still in the tavern.
"And may Desna guide you, even if my father doesn't believe in you!"
Mikhaela Greenhilt |
A woman of normal height but blue hair peels herself off of a seat. She had been having an intense discussion with a tinker. As she draws nearer, it is patently obvious that either she is devoted to Erastil or is a cleric of his.
"The blessings of the lord of the harvest be upon this venture, may its seeds sprout and grow to bear the proper fruit."
"Mikhaela, priest of Erastil at your service."
Ranzo vonLebeda |
"It would be a shame Ranzo if your hand could be saved by a vial of bloodblock that I didn't have...
"And it would be a shame that we lose our warrant or someone dies because your off chasing flowers, I don't mean to be a A$$h*le but I understand about magic and the good it can do. A good friend of mine was saved because of it when I was young."
Ranzos eyes lose focus for a moment.
"I'm good with you looking for your Lotus Flower, just like I am good with the mages studying spells or clerics listening to the deities whisper in their ears, and its great your excited. But I would rather lose a hand than lose this warrant or someone die.
Ranzo stands up walks to Orsino and puts his hand on his shoulder, then turns and looks at his pack.
"Does everyone have food and water for themselves and horses for 5 days?"
Komana Medvyed |
"Does everyone have food and water for themselves and horses for 5 days?"
Very well said Ranzo. That's what I think is the most important to talk about. We should take this day to collect usefull information about Greenbelt and also to buy items needed to make our trip.
Grinning Komana continuesSo, I love animals, especially horses. Unfortunately It´s a pity do not have one, what are our options to get there?
And looking at Mikhaela she says
May Old Deadeye bless us!
Bexer |
Bexer shrugs, "My mount will be fed, but I'll have to rely somewhat on foraging or Mithlynnta's hunting skills. Short of taking on employment here, however, I am as ready as I ever will be."
"As to what I bring to this venture..I have some minor magical skills, and I am a professional soldier, in possession of a magical suit of armor that enhances my capability in a fight."
Ranzo vonLebeda |
Ranzo reaches into his belt pouch and drops one on the table, coins clink inside.
"Harl, where around here can I get travel food for a month cheaply and . . "
Ranzo turns to the group.
"How many horses? Five day of fodder each."
Ranzo rubs his dark hair back.
"We have enough to worry enough to get down there without putting time aside to hunt and such...
And Bexter, I want to talk to . . . hhmm I want to talk to each of you about your abilities on the road to Oleg's."
GM Lugos |
Animal feed is 5cp/day, and rations are 5sp/day or you can get Wandermeal for 1cp/serving (but you won't want to eat it for more than four days...)
Harl laughs at the adventurers sudden decision to hit the road, but smiles warmly at them. "Head over to Oksana the Outfitter, she can supply you lot with what you need."
Orsino Fjordson |
I don't have much gold alas, my efforts for this great venture have been focused on acquiring the necessary Lotus flowers for this venture. Also I won't go off into the wilderness alone to get these Lotus Flowers, however if we encounter a substantial amount of them on say the road or after a battle with some creature or other I will insist that we stop briefly to harvest them. Don't worry about time though, I can easily harvest a hundred Lotus Flowers in twenty minutes.
Komana Medvyed |
"Im so grateful to you, Ranzo, but I just need someone to ride me from here when we get to the road, then, I will accompany you to the outfitters, I need to buy some things too. while we are on our way we can also try to find out some clues of what is waiting for us in this venture.
Harl, please, give me rations for 6 days."
Komana pays 3 gold coins to Harl.
Komana will use diplomacy to Gather Information about rumors of dangers and monsters that roam the Greenbelt. Lugos, do you prefer realize the dice rolls or we can do that?