Anders Buckman |
I assume Anders was passed the stone as he headed outside. He is currently just outside the door, waiting on the others to join him. Knowing what he knows, there is no need to converse further with this guy.
Galenus |
Yeah; the idea was to give it to Anders as he walked out, so he could take it outside.
Anders, think you can grab the priest? I think this is one of the spies who was spying on him; and he's going to be pissed when this charm runs out. We're going to have to subdue him in some way, and I think the priest should make the call. If we let him go, there will be more of these zent people coming.
Varus Arminius |
Varus looks up from his cup as Anders beckons him. "Hm? Ah yes! Well, of course, we must needs be about, eh? Come, Himalt, promises to keep and all that."
Varus drains the last of his tea. "Excellent to see you, Martin. I'd say that we should do this again, but, since that may not happen, I simply wish you honor on your journey."
Varus follows Anders out, wondering the barbarian will recall that, according to Lathander, one normally wishes someone simply to have a good journey.
Wishing honor on a journey means you don't expect them to survive it.
GM Grey |
At a brisk pace, it takes Anders several minutes to navigate the town to get to Brayjio's home. (Assume he's home. What are you saying to him?)
Varus, I'm a bit confused with your post. I don't see where anders beckoned you, is that a ruse? Are you following Anders to the priests? If so, see above.
As Anders takes his stone and heads off after a short comment about the Zhents, Martin looks to Galenus. He nods at the door, indicating those that just left. "I'll need that stone back, you know. If I don't return it to its pair, it's my purse they'll be asking to be paid back from. What's up with that one, does he not know who you really work for?"
He says this last in a whisper to the warlock, hoping the disguise Sharla is a Zhent but expecting Galenus may be the only real brother of the black network in the party.
Anders Buckman |
Assuming he is home...
Brayjio, Martin, and who we thought was his dead brother, are not really brothers. They are hired by the Zhentarim to infiltrate your town and Galenus has him charmed fer now. We think he may be one of the spies who's been watching ya. Dow ya want to return with me to question him?
Brayjio Springhand |
After inviting Anders and Varus inside, the priest listens to their comments.
"What?! The Zhentarim..? Can you bring him here? Maybe not to my home directly, just near enough that Dazey can tell if he is the one she felt before. I can't take Dazey to you to identify if that is our telepathic spy or not."
Brayjio Springhand |
Brayjio looks a bit shocked at the suggestion of murder. "killing shouldn't be necessary! Besides, once dead, I don't think dazey will be able to sense his mind. I'll follow you just in case, but see if you can walk him down the street past my place. If you walk him to the cup, you could you right by my place. Sounds like a plan? "
Galenus |
We just use the priest as a cover story, Galenus explains. And the muscle man will be right back. Smarter than he looks, that one. But then, everything is about deception, ain't it? he finishes with a half smile.
Anders Buckman |
Anders shrugs.
Ok, I will bring him by fer a drink. That usually works. You with me Varus, or would ya like to meet us at The Cup? It could be a good reason fer headin' back there.
He turns back before leaving, and he holds out the stone to Brayjio.
Oh, Brayjio, what do ya make of this stone that he gave us? Apparently, it was supposed to be delivered to their boss, the Zhents, with a paired half, or somethin' like that.
Varus Arminius |
Whoops. I was in a rush, so when I read something about Anders doing something to a priest, I assumed he was talking about me. One of these days I swear I'll remember that priest and cleric are different words. ^_^
"Oh, aye, 'tis a fine idea. I'll meet ya at the Cup, an' you may conjure any contrivance you may wish."
Galenus |
Mostly just chit chat with him to bide our time. I've been hoping Sharla would jump in to help. Galenus' plan would be to stick around until Anders got back, but if he's told it's better to leave and them come back, he would.
Sharla Glasob |
Sharla will wait, but she will also try to stay concealed, just in case the charm wears off or things go south.
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Sorry, I had a really busy weekend and Monday.
Sharla Glasob |
It's Springhand's house, right? Or am I getting that entirely wrong? I was just planning to hide under the bed, or the table and throw a blanket or tablecloth over it.
GM Grey |
I think you got that wrong, or I missed a whole post of yours.
Everyone (including your new party mule) piled into Martin's house. After some tense moments, he got charmed and Anders left to go to get Brayjio to see if he is the spy Brayjio had reported lurking about his property.
Varus went with Anders (On accident, it now seems) to go check with Brayjio.
Everyone else (You, Himalt, and Galenus) I had assumed had stayed behind.
I feel like I'm getting a few misunderstandings, possibly because of skimming or too much time between posts (my bad). Could everyone go back about a page, read through until current, and ask me any questions they feel uncertain about? I want to make sure everyone feels confident in the scene, even if you don't currently feel engaged by it. Who knows, maybe reading everything all at once will reveal details missed that might spark an interest.
Anders Buckman |
I am good...heading back to the house and trying to get Martin to come for a drink at the Cup so that Brayjio can scan him as we walk by. Also, I am waiting on Brayjio's commentary, if any, to the stone that I showed him.
Galenus |
I'm good. I'm at Martin's house; have him charmed for a little bit longer. Trying to extract info from him while waiting for Anders to return. Or at the very least, trying to let time pass. Was hoping to get this encounter over with soon so we can move on to the orcs; didn't really expect it to take this long.
Sharla Glasob |
Alright, I got that all wrong. I though we had all gone to Brayjio's house, and Anders and Varus were going to get Martin and bring him there. In that case, Sharla will stay with Galenus and make small talk.
Varus Arminius |
I feel that I'm mostly staying on the sidelines for this one, so that 1) I'm even less in danger of appearing to spam posts and 2) since the character is low-charisma, his best play is to stay silent. Had I made the history roll, I might have a different tack, but the RNG decided it was not to be. =)
Brayjio Springhand |
"Oh! That is a sending stone! It's a very convenient type of magic!" Brayjio says as he takes and looks over the stone the barbarian man holds out.
"You see, it has a pair with one other like it, and the two are able to simulate conversation, although with very precise limits and..." he trails off, realizing he's rambling.
He gives an apologetic smile to the relative savage, who might be lost with such choice of vocabulary and enthusiasm for details. "You can talk at a distance, through magic. I recently lost a pair myself."
The priest (NOT Varus), follows the two at a discrete distance of the two as they go back to Martin's house, intending to observe for now.
GM Grey |
Thanks for going over the details again guys! I'll try to post more frequently again to get through these scenes faster.
And Galenus, sometimes the best riches are found in the underestimated and overlooked details. It is wise to pull on every thread.
The disguised tumbler, arcane scholar, and the charmed zhentarim make small talk over tea (Drank or not). Martin is a man who always seems to have an opinion about everything, usually one involving profit.
"What's got my interest are those visions, after people die, you know? You've been the The Cup recently? Man, it's weird... FEELING Rob like that, you know? This simple farmer guy. Feeling his despair like that, his final moments. I felt his fear for his family from... SOMETHING. Not us. Well, not Sheamus or I anyway, maybe you'd know more, not that I'm complaining mind. Sometimes these farmer types just need to be leaned on. I digress though. The visions! I bed it could be a tourist attraction of a sort. Come experience death! WITHOUT DYING! I know some PEOPLE who would pay yellow for that experience you know. Hell, I heard of a merchant, some big wig on the sword coast. He actually hired a holy man to revive him after he was assassinated, and this merchant was actually the person who hired the assassin! Can you believe? This tosser spent how much money living a death fantasy? You better believe people will come here and pay to feel some farmer's last moments."
He says all of this without showing an ounce of disgust, only surprise and eager self-interest.
Before you have time to react to this money making venture, Anders and Varus arrive, and you notice Brayjio trying his best to look non-discrete not too far away out the door.
Anders Buckman |
Varus is not with me. He is actually at The Cup, awaiting our return.
Hey, all, I am back from talking things over with a good friend of ours. All this talkin' has really made me thirsty. I was wonderin' if you may want to join us at The Cup, Martin. Tell us what plans ya have now that ya lost yer partner. Plus, Varus is waitin' there for us, with your stone, Martin.
Galenus |
I know, right? I thought the same thing when I first encountered it! Galenus says in reply to Martin's money making scheme.
Hearing Anders return, he says, That sounds good to me! Come on, Martin, let's see what they discovered.
To Anders, he thinks, You're taking point now. Martin thinks Varus is a cover story for us while the rest of us are Zhentrim in disguise. I dont know much about his people, so you're the smart one now. Don't forget, you went outside to talk to his superior from the magic rock thing.
When Varus is in sight, Galenus will telepathically relay to him the same message about a cover story.
Sharla Glasob |
"Sounds like a very good idea, Martin." Sharla says. She flexes her large, dark hands, and cracks her neck. "I'll go on ahead and get us some food." She jogs forward, shifts back once she gets to the cup, quickly orders some drinks, and then sits at a table and shifts back.
Anders Buckman |
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Anders shakes his head and bangs his ear a bit upon hearing Galenus in his head again.
Jeez, I hate that dung!
He walks deliberately towards The Cup, hoping that Brayjio gets the opportunity to find out what he needs.
GM Grey |
By the way Anders, Brayjio would have given the stone back to you. Upon which...
... You do notice a slight magical quality that you feel as if you can mentally interact with, triggering the magical properties of the Sending Stone.
"Yeah, sounds great. I could use a drink." Martin says, grabbing a shirt, a cloak, and his boots to get ready to leave.
The group leaves his house, Martin talking conspiratorially to Galenus as they walk. "That guy there? Terrible at cards, he's a great mark." he whispers, nodding to a townsfolk walking not far away.
Everyone arrives at The Cup and Dice before half of the spell's duration has expired.
Galenus |
How much time is left on the charm? And how long would it take to get to the place Shamus died?
Anders Buckman |
Anders chugs his ale, and looks at Martin. Well,
I used yer stone to talk to the boss, and he asks that ya show up in Baldur's Gate fer the next job.
He pulls the stone from his pocket, and drops it "accidently", then proceeds to step on it when he bends to pick it up, hoping to crush it under his weight.
Sharla Glasob |
"Best show up quick, little man!" Sharla booms out, slapping him on the back. "Wouldn't want to keep the big man waiting!"
Deception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Advantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
GM Grey |
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Anders' athletics to break the stone: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Anders drops the stone, stepping on it with his weight as he stumbles to pick it up. He doesn't feel a satisfying crunch beneath his foot, yet something does give ever so slightly.
Moving his foot off of the stone, he and Martin look down at the stone to see if it is already. Is hasn't been crushed, but cracked. A single sharp line, a fracture, splits the stone in two. Picking it up, Martin looks at boths sides, and find that the crack doesn't go all the way through.
"Well shit." he says sighing. "Yeah, I guess I better do that. I'll see if Choster is in town, I'm all packed already. Hopefully this thing still works, I'd hate to owe my friends a new set."
With that, Martin heads out of town on Choster's wagon before the spell's duration has expired. But only just.
-------------
Whew! Okay, I think I can wrap up this side quest now. This was the first of potentially SEVERAL discoverable FACTION-based challenges. I'll consider this one a success by just the skin of your teeth
The Zhentarim have lost interest in Wyatt Peak
-120GP has been added to the unspent GALT pool for the party to spend on upgrades, as the influence of the Zhentarim agent no longer has a draining effect on the town.
-ZHENTARIM HEROES ARE NOW DISINTERESTED IN WYATT PEAK. The right to play as a Zhentarim Agent with a future character is lost.
That's right! With each of these faction quests, either the Faction loses interest in Wyatt Peak (You get a bonus to Galt, or potentially other city-based benefit), OR their interest INCREASES and they start sending adventurers specifically to Wyatt Peak.
If a Faction sends adventurers, at any point when a player creates a new character, their character can be a member of an Interested Faction.
These Faction Characters will usually have some starting advantage over a by-the-book player character (starting gear, for example), as well as their own SECRET objectives.
The Zhents are disinterested in Wyatt Peak, meaning no one can make a Zhent Agent in the future of this campaign, but you do get a significant GALT bonus to improve the town with.
Expect to see future Faction Quests appear as you progress and explore within the campaign. I have a few ideas of factions I intend on including, but be all means, take this to the DISCUSSION THREAD, and if there are any Forgotten Realms factions you would like to show their faces in town, please mention and I'll see what I can do.
GM Grey |
At a nearby table, those still in The Cup hear some chatter from villagers that just came in.
"You see that new guy skipping town? He paid Choster extra to get him out of town right then and there."
"He already had a few others you know? Choster was just hanging out to see if anyone else was looking to split. That carriage man is making a killing, I'm telling you. Cowards"
"Cowards?! Like you never thought about leaving? You know that Rufus has started letting his daughter chase off the Goblin raids?"
"I forgot about the goblins. Are they still being a pain? I thought after we killed a dozen or so of them off they were too scared to come back to town!"
"Oh yeah. They've been raiding the farms again, stealing away produce in the night. I hear early this morning, Venni got her first kill."
"Shit. It sounds like the bastards might be in need of food if they're coming back here... Or, they just don't fear us anymore..."
"See what I mean? Shit, with the Goblins to the West, and Orcs to the East, it's no shame that people are looking to leave town.
"Don't forget... "
"Right... The Mansion, to the North... Whatever is living there now..."
After a brief pause, one of them says...
"... Someone should really DO something."
Just doing some fluff writing for the bottom section of this post. Don't let it distract you too much from what you want to do. Which I believe is... Killing orcs?
How do you guys set off and is there anything you do before you leave?
----------------------------
Wyatt Peak has begun reacting
- Some villagers have began taking interest in the going-ons within their own town, rather than simply fleeing. People looking to push back against the terrors that haunt the town are getting ready to act.
I'll say that since we lost a faction (which is less interesting that gaining a faction) for the first Faction challenge, and from some of your actions taken in town, you may now choose to play as a Native to Wyatt Peak with any future character.
NOTE: When someone dies and is getting their new character ready, please keep it a secret from the others. PM what faction you would like to play as, and we'll discuss the specifics such as what your starting conditions, and missions are.
Any faction dependent information should be left off of your character sheet, including gear, and Roleplaying alone should reveal if a character actually is a member of a faction. Once learned, it can be added for ease of tracking it.
Varus Arminius |
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Awwwwww. That's nice. P.S. Anyone else think that the DM is a little -too- excited about someone dying? Anyone get that impression? =P
Varus nods and tips his flagon back, drowning the last gulp of mead and smacking his lips. "Well, by the Powers that seems like a good piece we've done here. Well, are we ready to go put in a day's work?"
Galenus |
Yup. Let's go see some orcs.
GM Grey |
It takes an hour to get to the orc-infested temple, and the party has tried two separate ways of entering the compound before. The first was through the cemetery, ignoring the front door. The second was over the cemetery fence, past a trapped corpse. Sheamus Asher?
Which way does the party approach this time?
random encounter: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Galenus |
OK, let's try it. And I want to visit the architect's sacrophogus.
Varus Arminius |
"Do we want to sneak around, as we did before? I recall that went quite poorly.
This time, let us set up in an advantageous position and let them come! We can either choose the time and place of the fight, or wait until something in that alchemist lab blows up and then brings the whole horde down on us to catch us wounded with our pants down!"
Himalt |
"I'd be very careful about bringing the whole place down on our heads. If it happens, it happens, but I recommend fleein' if it were to. After the orcs took over the temple, we sent some scouts out to determine their strength. Those that survived described an encampment that could probably house maybe over one or even two hundred. This isn't a small force of orcs that have put up shop in a temple, but rather a small army who is very good at acting discretely."
Himalt pauses for a second, thinking if there is anything else he should warn his employers about that might save his own life. "They are odd, for orcs. I don't know who their commander is, but they are operating in a very unorc-like manner. If your plan is to thin their numbers, expect it to be quite the lengthy endeavor. But so better for Wyatt Peak, it would be nice to not have to worry about hundreds of orcs nearby, even if they do keep well enough to themselves in the temple."