GM JZ, if you’re still checking this thread, can you mark the game inactive for now?
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With my own father passing last year, I totally understand. Thanks for the great game guys. I'll be here if you're ever up to pick things up again.
I've got a roll20 account and I'd be happy to switch. The only wrinkle would be squeezing posts in from work. The office firewall doesn't play nice with roll20. I may be dependant on folks to move my token in the future.
"In any case, it sounds like we're going to have to get in there in person if we want to know what's behind those doors. Zed, are you still on board to try sneaking in after hours? Of those of us with hands, you have the best chance of getting in and out unseen to gather information."
Zelda studies the unusual statues briefly.
Hoping someone comes through the closed doors, she finds someplace secure to hide out for a while.
"I'm always happy to help", Zelda responds in her buzzing sultry tone. "Perhaps I should put on something more appropriate for the occasion." The large wasp lands on the ground. Her form rapidly melts away leaving an average-sized gray rat in its place.
"Is there someplace private we can operate from?" Vermundr suggests. "We can't live on Croon's floor for days."
I'm always down for a good murdering but we should probably try to understand the conspiracy first. There's a chance that the victims are alive.
"We'll need a writ or some other sign that we are investigating on your behalf", Vermundr adds after mulling over the scenario. "We already have targets on our backs. If we do get into trouble with the sheriff or some of the more impulsive locals, something official will keep it from coming to bloodshed."
I'm in a similar boat. Between my father passing away last year and my responsibilities at work ramping up, I've had to trim back my long term PBP commitments significantly. This was one game I made an effort to maintain precisely because I was enjoying it and playing with all of you so much.
Vermundr snorts, surprised by the Mayor's transparency and impressed by Zed's ability to get the truth out of him. "Tell us about the Recondite Order. What gods do they serve? And what's their connection to these Neighbors we keep hearing about?"
GM:
Seeing the state of the prisoner up close reaffirms Vermundr's belief in what he has to do.
Retrieving his dagger, the big man looks the near-death prisoner in the eyes and offers him some parting advice. "I'm ending this madness. You deserve to suffer for your crimes but even the Savored Sting knows when its enough. Make peace with your gods." After the span of a breath, he drifts close enough to drive the blade of his dagger between the dying man's ribs into his heart. "Well let's not keep the Lord-Mayor waiting."
GM:
Yeah. "I don't know that we've been in town long enough to ruffle any feathers. What can you tell us about the mayor? I doubt this is a social call."
"I believe that man may be a murderer but his punishment.. it's cruel. It may be worse than the blood eagle the mad jarls in the north sentence their worst enemies to. Yes, give me your enchantment. Ten minutes will be enough. Mercy can be swift." ***
His wolf prickles at the sheriff's tone but Vermundr doesn't find the thin man and his armed posse much of a threat. Still in nothing more than his own smallclothes, the big man scratches at his powerfully muscled and impressively hairy chest as he stretches. "We can't all stand around here while the ladies dress. Why don't we meet you and the mayor at his office later this morning? After we break our fast. Kazamir can hardly move most days until he's had a cup of that dark bitter tea he favors."
Vermundr is on board for most of the monster story. It isn’t until Croon starts discussing a vehicle that can travel under the water that he discounts the whole thing as a tall tale. ”The fishermen on the docks didn’t seem to have a high opinion of your work. Why would that be?”
Vermundr moves around the eccentric man's cottage with a caution that suggests he takes Croon's warning very seriously. "What can you tell us about the man chained up outside? The fishermen said it was a punishment. What crimes has he committed?"
Reluctantly, Vermundr finds himself agreeing with his companions' stance. His growling eventually gives way to a frustrated scowl.
"Why. Is. He. Chained?" Vermundr growls in growing frustration.
"What in the Nine Hells is going on out there?" Vermundr demands of the nearest fisherman as Zelda is returning. "That man is going to drown at high tide."
I stand by my previous statements that democracy is dumb because people are dumb.
Alarmed, Vermundr looks for signs of locals attending some kind of rite. "I hope not..."
"Zelda, get closer and see if you can figure out what's going on out there."
That's a bummer JZ. =/ If you don't mind me asking, what was the job?
”That might be our man. Where can we find Gregorus?”
Noting the activity around the busy wharves, Vermundr steers the investigation that direction.
"I know you're all busy so we'll keep this brief: We're looking for a stranger that came through town recently. He was on horseback and in a hurry. Likely dressed in dark colors."
"Let's try asking around the town square", Vermundr suggests after seeing how unhelpful the clerk is. "There's a chance that someone that works in the area saw the rider on his way through town."
"I seem to have lost my appetite", Vermundr growls. "But I suppose it's important we keep our strength up should things turn ugly." "It may be hard to get information on our quarry if the rest of the locals are this friendly."
Unfamiliar with the struggle Constantin and Vala are eluding to, Vermundr grunts and moves to try the front door. "Prisoners? Was this another battle with the Way?" he asks.
Vermundr wrinkles his nose but says nothing about Illmarsh's stench. They were guests for at least a short time and it was bad luck to speak ill of one's hosts. Zelda, on the other hand, shares none of her master's manners and buzzes a little higher from the ground as if the town's aroma were contagious.
"It's a cold thing to leave an old man to suffer the storm alone", Vermundr chimes in as the fisherman tells his tale. "Nicely done Hazel."
Vermundr watches grimly.
"It sounds like Ilmarsh is our next stop", Vermundr suggests after hearing Kazamir's report. "If the rider left from there by ship it shouldn't hard to find out where he was headed."
"In any case, thank you for the help with the body", Vermundr offers the guard as the party begins to break away from the Law. "Do you have any suggestions for rooms in town. After he tried to kill us, I'm inclined to ignore the venues he offered."
Vermundr follows in silence, watching passerbys for eyes lingering a little too long on the group's activities.
"We should put him down and be done with it", Vermundr adds coldly. "If the Way can turn a judge, there's little chance a small town like this is clean."
Cursing in surprise, Vermundr rushes forward to club the bound assassin with a huge fist.
Vermundr wipes his hands clean once the task is done. "Someplace to get a hot meal would be a good start."
Flashback:
Finding himself an unexpected guest in the elder Rhuuls' household, Vermundr does his best to be a gracious one. He bids Zelda wait outside and binds his weapon tightly in its harness as the group enters the cottage.
"You have a lovely home," the big northerner offers humbly. "You honor us by sharing it with us." "At this point we have to assume the Way has agents everywhere. We should travel in pairs at a minimum at all times. If Vrood has a master, I dread to think what his magic must be capable of", Vermundr adds darkly.
Uncomfortable with the astral travel, Vermundr rides in sullen silence until Kazamir begins his lesson on the region's history. "And you believe this Whispering Way is somehow connected to the Tyrant? With that kind of history, shouldn't this area be filled with descendants of those that fought him?"
Where did we land on loot? Also, where did that belt of giant strength come from? Vermundr likes to know where his trophies have come from.
*** Vermundr regards his resurrected companions with a mix of quiet awe and curiosity. "It is a miracle you were returned to us. How is such a thing possible? I have always believed the sort of magic Vrood wielded could not be undone", he finally asks Hazel and Kazamir. "Do you remember much of the other side? I often wonder how I will be received in Calistra's halls when my time comes."
Are we about to split the party? I do love a good side quest. I can already see the title: Vermundr and Constatin's Buddy-Cop Adventure!
”Damn”, Vermundr growls as his only reply to the vision. Zelda’s buzzing increases intensely, mirroring her master’s unspoken rage. ”How deep does the Way’s corruption spread? I won’t rest until we cut it all out. For Lady Lorrimor.”
I was totally expecting Kendra to be behind it all!
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