GM Elberion |
A few days later, messages wing their way across the city in the hands of friends, neighbours, urchins and colleagues.
They all read, simply this:
Dear X, although our jolly escapade into the ruins ended as more of a farce, I thought that you might enjoy a more productive sojourn.
If you can tear yourself away from the cobbles and join me on the open road for a few days then I think it will be worth our while.
Meet me at the Bear & Ragged Staff on the night of the new moon,
your friend,
Rain.
...
As shadows lengthen across Ptolus' shrouded alleys and market stalls are boarded and stored away, a cheery light is lit in the window of The Bear & Ragged Staff.
Local folk wander in to share a drink over the day's gossip before returning to their families, a few centaurs swish their tails and share stories by the bar and a group of halfling brothers and cousins shares drinks before a family engagement.
Behind the long bar, a tall woman with short hair and an easy smile pours drinks while a distant, day-dreaming old dwarf cleans glasses and wipes down tables.
And yet, those with keen senses of the rightness of things would feel an absence here. The bar awaits something, or some folk, perhaps even some adventurers?
Navarro Nedraid |
Navarro entered the Bear & Ragged Staff cautiously, a breath of salt air wafting through the tavern as he does. He looked around quickly as if afraid of meeting someone he was trying to avoid. Nothing jumped out at him, so he relaxed and walked up to the bar; drying sand falling from his clothing scrunched under his boots as he walked.
"Say, is Rain in yet?" He asked the barmaid. She just shook her head and pointed to a table over by the hearth. He ordered and ale (the holy water of Cayden Cailean!) and moved to the hearth.
He dropped his pack by the wall, flipped his cape, hat and magnificent dueling sword over the back of a chair. He rubbed his hands in the heat of the fire and grinned at everyone else there.
Timmins |
Timmins walks in with Shadow at his heels. The dog stops to sniff the air, as Timmins scans the room. Spotting Morsai he smiles and waves as he makes his way over.
"Morsai your here! Glad you could make it! Have you seen Rain yet?"
He stops one of the serving girls and orders ale and a tray of bread and cheese. He also asks for any old bones they might have lying around, for Shadow. The dog walks under the table and curls up by her master's chair.
Shol’a’saul |
Shol'a'saul enters the bar right after Timmins and moves quickly over to the table where her comrades have gathered.
"It is good to see you again! Has Rain made an appearance yet?" She asked with a frown on her face. She then motions for a glass of red bloodwine for herself.
Navarro Nedraid |
Navarro grinned.
"Oh yea, two or three at least. How about yourself?" He replied to Morsai. He took a drink of the ale to toast the newcomers as well.
GM Elberion |
If this adventure is going to be mostly wilderness, then I might switch Timmins to a wilderness Ranger, as opposed to an urban one. What do you think GM?
I would look for something flexible as we will be jumping between GMs and adventures. Certainly, urban rangers are more specialised.
Navarro Nedraid |
Drinking contentedly by the fire, Navarro made a sidelong glance at his companions.
"I don't suppose anyone here knows what Rain meant by 'Productive' in his note, eh?"
GM Elberion |
The dwarf wanders over to the table and swishes his cloth across the surface as he leans in to Morsai: "You break it, you pay for it: that includes tables."
Then he puts a bottle on the table, "Syrinelle, for your table."
If your chracter is the type who knows about fine wine, this is a very fine vintage from the Elven kingdom of Kyonin. If not, it's red booze.
Navarro Nedraid |
Interested, Navarro picks up the bottle and inspects it.
"An elven vintage, from Kyonin. Supposed to be very good." He looks at the others.
"Would anyone care for a glass?"
Navarro Nedraid |
Navarro pours a glass for anyone who wants one, then takes a drink himself.
"Mmm. Worthy of the blessings of Cayden Cailean!" He said, clearly savoring the elven wine.
GM Elberion |
I have PMed Jesset to clarify if he is in or not. I'll get things rocking soon, regardless.
Edit: Jesset has confirmed he will be stepping in shortly. Just lingering until then...
You realise that the dwarf placed three glasses on the table, two wine glasses and a tumbler. These appear to be the only glass vessels in the inn, so one of you will have to improvise.
One gold piece on a bottle of wine gets you the fancy stuff, as far as that goes, but this is not a fancy place. It's Rain's local, after all...
Jesset |
The bar door thumps open and reveal the sudden rain storm falling out side. Framed in the doorway, the feline humanoid scans the room until his intense gaze falls on Navarro. Lips curled in what one hopes is a smile, the figure ducks a bit to enter, then straightens to his full imposing height.
Stomping across the room, he looms over the table, bending a bit to peer more closely at Navarro "You have the look of a Nedraid! Tony said his brother would be here. I am Jesset, he may have mentioned me." the litorian growled, sparing a quick glance at the others at the table.
GM Elberion |
As Jesset greets the group, a man who had been nursing a horn of mead in a quiet corner rises and approaches you all.
Taking you in with a sweeping gaze, the man speaks: "Are you friends of Rain? He said one of you would be an impressive cat-man."
Seeing your nodding heads he grins a little, although his mouth is obscured by a heavy, salt-and-pepper moustache. You have a chance to take in the stiff-backed, grey-haired man. He has a military bearing and pronunciation which is dangerously close to aristocratic.
"I am an agent of Liofa Othen, headsman of Cessington Farrow. And, well... Rain is a friend to us, he said you might be able to help."
"I don't know if you've heard of the Cairn of the Ferocious Dead? Since before I was born it has been a local landmark to be avoided like no other but now... now it threatens us all. A pair of green dragons have made the cairn their home. We seek good folk of stout heart to help rid us of the threat to our town."
He looks around the inn, then leans in conspiratorially, "We didn't want any chancers, we want people who know what they're doing: that's why we asked Bucephaleus, sorry, Rain, to find us our allies."
Meeting in an inn, being approached by a questbringer... sorry to lay on the cliches. I promise this is an interesting adventure.
Shol’a’saul |
Knowledge History: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Shol'a'saul thinks for a moment before replying softly, "That cairn was used by a tribe of orcs – The Severed Ear tribe – who dwelled in the hills at the time. They were quite advanced in the arts of civilization, yet also as bloodthirsty and ferocious as their normal kin."
Morsai Gunderling |
Morsai watches Shol as she speaks before turning to the gentleman.
Two dragons? Adult, I assume...or siblings? A single dragon is a terrifying challenge, and you ask us to go after...two? I assume you have resources we can draw upon?
Morsai watches the man, skeptical at such va proposition...but not uninterested.
Navarro Nedraid |
Knowledge:Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Knowledge:Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Knowledge:Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Knowledge:Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Navarro leaned forward to listen, his foot on the seat of a chair as he took another drink.
"That sounds like a lot of trouble for a little town like that. Did something draw them to you?"
GM Elberion |
"Yes, they are a major concern for us, they're preying on our livestock. And our community."
The man looks uncertainly about, clearly concerned that you won't take the job, "We'll pay you, of course. We've gathered together enough funds to pay you 500 gold each: if you need supplies perhaps I could spend some of the money to purchase what you need?"
Jesset |
After listening to the flurry of questions, Jesset adds his own observation "Indeed. A single dragon would be an item of concern...two dragons...I wonder what brought them here, or who? I for one would investigate this curiosity."
GM Elberion |
"Stated their intentions? No. I've not seen them myself but they're out there, plenty of the townsfolk have seen them taking livestock from the farms. They swoop in and take what we can I'll afford to lose."
"I can introduce you to plenty of folk who've seen them, plenty."
Morsai Gunderling |
In general, I'd agree with you. If someone told me orcs were attacking, I'd be out through the door without asking questions...but I'd rather know in advance if they had giants with them. He says there are plenty of witnesses...if five minutes could be the difference between life and death, I can be a bit more patient than usual.
GM Elberion |
The man cannot quite supress a grin as he shakes you all by the hand, "Atheric Sirret, good to have you on board."
He is more than ready to head straight out to Cessington Farrow but doesn't mind waiting a day if you need to gather supplies or make arrangements.
You can travel on Atheric's cart (large and drawn by a team of four horses, it is clearly usually a working cart but has a few blankets draped across the boards) or make your own transport arrangements.