Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Forgive the rather pedestrian title - I don't do fancy campaign names. I'm going to do a quick opening paragraph, and then an individual post each for each character setting the scene (as you all have different reasons for being there). Please wait until all eight posts are done before wading in (which might take a couple of days, especially as I am flying to Ho ng Kong half way through)) as the action will beging immediately after the opening scene. Which follows...
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
“Nearly closing time! The museum closes in five minutes!”
The doddery museum beadle, a white-haired human, calls out to the various members of the public still looking at the exhibits in the main hall of the Morgrave University Museum of Antiquities. Smiling benignly and nodding at museum regulars, he shuffles off, continuing to call.
“Closing time! The doors will be locked in five minutes!”
The place is pretty empty already. Orange light from the setting sun streams through the high windows and skylights above the gallery which runs round the hall, while the corridors which lead to the side halls beyond are already filled with shadows. Most people are heading for the exit, but a number remain behind, peering at items from the Age of Demons, reading the label on the red dragon skeleton which dominates centre of the chamber, or watching the other patrons.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Spoiler for Andrei:
Andrei thinks back to the unexpected note he received from Alidaber ir’Krone. An old acquaintance from the seminary, a few years older than him, they had often exercised together in the sparring field – good friend, but not a close one. The daughter of Norek ir’Krone, a successful general and paladin of the Church, and an excellent student, she had seemed destined for very great things, certainly a path eclipsing anything a bastard offspring of a minor lord could achieve, until….
Until her father betrayed the Church and the Flame with his cowardly desertion and fled his post, never to be seen again. I should have known better than hang around waiting for her!”
Certainly, after her father’s disgrace she had disappeared, though there were rumours that she had gone to Xendrik to escape her past and seek her fortune. And yet, her note had been insistent. “I must see you at once. You are one of the only ones I know I can trust. Meet me at the Museum of Antiquities at the university at the fifth hour. It is a matter of life and death.” So Andrei had come, intrigued despite himself.
He looks about the darkening hall. The sun goes down quickly this far south. He notices an elf avidly peering in at a giant’s war axe from Xendrik, while a hobgoblin peers at Dhakaani relics with an almost hungry look in his eye. A bored-looking half-elf of somewhat indeterminate gender stands around, looking as equally disgruntled as Andrei for some reason, while a shifter peers at passers-by as they head for the exit, seemingly looking for someone. An odd looking human – there’s just something “wrong” about him – shrugs and turns to head for the door, and another half-elf – this one definitely a woman – peers at everyone while hanging about, somewhat unconvincingly, by a mummy in a glass case.
Hmm, something of a rum bunch. Wait, I know him! Andrei, after a moment, recognises the tall, bald man entering the museum just as it is closing. Colvare! A former acquaintance, and a mutual friend of Alidaber, though the intervening years do not seem to have been kind. Now this is getting odder and odder.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Spoiler for Rayne:
Supposedly the word was that Morgrave were hiring for an expedition to Xendrik, and the coin was good. But the contact at Morgrave, who he was supposed to meet a couple of hours ago, hadn’t shown – some woman called Krone, who dealt with security matters and hiring muscle. A few polite enquiries at the desk revealed nothing, so Rayne had cooled his heels waiting to see if she was just late. But this was stupid – might as well head off and find some less elusive patrons.
He gazes idle round the room. A human warrior is full armour and prominently displaying the Silver Flame stamps about impatiently – wonder what his story is? An elf, dressed in a light chain shirt and with a sword at his hip, peers interestedly at Giant Age relics, lost in contemplation. A hobgoblin, lightly dressed and carrying a crossbow, glares intently at a case of Dhakaani weapons, and slowly shakes his head. A shifter male, looking a little lost, stands and gazes hopefully at the passing faces – hmm, looking for work too? – and another armoured human with some indefinable oddness about him, also probably looking for work, shrugs and heads for the exit. A half-elf woman, lightly armed and armoured, lurks by a mummy case, though she seems more interested in checking out the passers-by than the artefacts.
Strange – a lot of adventurers here. At that moment, another man enters through the main door from outside. The warrior of the Flame and he lock gazes and a shock of recognition runs through them. Maybe I’ll hang about for a couple of minutes – there’s something going on here.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Spoiler for Colvare
Need to get a move on – the note sounded urgent. Colvare thinks back to the unexpected note he received from Alidaber ir’Krone. An old acquaintance from Thaliost and a student at the seminary there while Colvare helped with his father’s business, they had got to know eachother through their fathers. Colvare’s father supplied the Thrane army, while Norek ir’Krone was a successful general and paladin of the Church until his disgrace and disappearance following his desertion of his post, never to be seen again.
Alidaber had been a good friend, but not necessarily a particularly close one. They had lost touch, and Colvare had problems of his own after that. Certainly, after her father’s disgrace she had disappeared, though there were rumours that she had gone to Xendrik to escape her past and seek her fortune. And yet, her note had been insistent. “I must see you at once. You are one of the only ones I know I can trust. Meet me at the Museum of Antiquities at the university at the fifth hour. It is a matter of life and death.” Intrigued, and also hoping that this could earn some well-needed gold, Colvare had come.
But the sky… Colvare inwardly curses himself – he needs to focus on matters in hand, not pander to his personal obsession. Now he was an hour late!
He steps into the dark hall, filled with musty antiquities. It was nearly closing time, and most of the patrons had left, but a few remained. An elf, dressed in a light chain shirt and with a sword at his hip, peers interestedly at Giant Age relics, lost in contemplation. A hobgoblin, lightly dressed and carrying a crossbow, glares intently at a case of Dhakaani weapons, and slowly shakes his head. A shifter male, looking a little lost, stands and gazes hopefully at the passing faces while an armoured human, with some indefinable oddness about him, is heading toward Colvare and the exit. A half-elf woman, lightly armed and armoured, lurks by a mummy case, though she seems more interested in checking out the passers-by than the artefacts, and a half-elf male with long white hair stands looking irritated and bored.
And, also pacing, is a familiar figure – Andrei, dressed in the regalia of a Flamic Knight! A former mutual friend of both him and Alidaber – what is he doing here?
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Spoiler for Shagraat:
He came to view these antiquities for himself, and to decide if they needed liberating from the clutches of Morgrave University. But, while the items are interesting, there is nothing of such value that he needed to plan a robbery. They are relics of ordinary hobgoblins, not the great heroes.
It is nearly closing time – probably best to leave and talk more among the wise of his people in Malleon’s Gate. While they are city goblins, tainted by their servitude to humans, they nevertheless have many interesting legends about Sharn, or more properly, Ja’Sharaat, “Bright Blade”, the glorious Dhakkani metropolis of old. But many of the goblin folk call it Duur’Sharaat, Blade of Sorrows, in memory of the fall of the empire. But the empire shall rise again – events have already begun in Darguun. Shagraat’s task is to use those legends to find the great relics and places of his people and aid them in their renaissance.
Shagraat has a last look about the hall before leaving and notices a number of individuals still lingering that pique his interest. A blond human warrior in full armour and prominently displaying the Silver Flame stamps about impatiently. An elf, dressed in a light chain shirt and with a sword at his hip, peers interestedly at Giant Age relics, lost in contemplation. A shifter male, looking a little lost, stands and gazes hopefully at the passing faces and another armoured human with some indefinable oddness about him shrugs and begins to head for the exit. A half-elf woman, lightly armed and armoured, lurks by a mummy case, though she seems more interested in checking out the passers-by than the artefacts, and a half-elf male, similarly garbed and with long white hair, slouches hand-on-hip, looking irritated and bored.
Strange – a lot of adventurers here. At that moment, another man – tall and bald – enters through the main door from outside. The warrior of the Flame and he lock gazes and a shock of recognition runs through them.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Spoiler for Mirra:
Mirra hangs about in the museum, hoping to track down her quarry. The wife of a certain Professor Gared Jone, an expert in the Giant Age, no less, suspects he is having an affair with the woman at the university, Alidaber Krone, who arranges security for his trips to Xendrik. Spending a lot of time together, that sort of thing. So Mrs Jone wants to know what is going on. Hardly a task for a qualified Medani inquisitive, but after the fiasco with the murderous noble, Mirra finds herself just getting the scraps from the powers-that-be. Supposedly Miss Krone would be meeting some potential mercenary recruits and Mirra wanted to try and get close and ingratiate herself. And she hasn’t shown, and it's nearly closing time.
Mirra idly look round the room, using her inquisitive training more out of habit than anything else. A human warrior is full armour and prominently displaying the Silver Flame stamps about impatiently – wonder what his story is? An elf, dressed in a light chain shirt and with a sword at his hip, peers interestedly at Giant Age relics, lost in contemplation. A hobgoblin, lightly dressed and carrying a crossbow, glares intently at a case of Dhakaani weapons, and slowly shakes his head. A shifter male, looking a little lost, fidgets and gazes hopefully at the passing faces – hmm, looking for work? – and another armoured human with some indefinable oddness about him, also probably looking for work, shrugs and heads for the exit. A half-elf male with long white hair slouches, hand on hip, with a bored expression.
Strange – a lot of adventurers here. At that moment, another man – tall and bald – enters through the main door from outside. The warrior of the Flame and he lock gazes and a shock of recognition runs through them. Hello – interesting…..
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Spoiler for Urthona:
Supposedly the word was that Morgrave University were hiring for an expedition to Xendrik, and the coin was good. But the contact at Morgrave, who he was supposed to meet a couple of hours ago, hadn’t shown – some woman called Krone, who dealt with security matters and hiring muscle. But this was agony, just waiting and waiting - Urthona could not even read the labels on the exhibits to relieve the boredom. No job, no money, and no closer to finding the totem.
He gazes round the room. A human warrior is full armour and prominently displaying the Silver Flame stamps about impatiently - a surprising coincidence, under the circumstances. An elf, dressed in a light chain shirt and with a sword at his hip, peers interestedly at Giant Age relics, lost in contemplation. A hobgoblin, lightly dressed and carrying a crossbow, glares intently at a case of Dhakaani weapons, and slowly shakes his head. Another armoured human - kind of weird looking, but hard to put the finger on why - also probably looking for work, shrugs and begins to head for the exit. A half-elf woman, lightly armed and armoured, lurks by a mummy case, though she seems more interested in checking out the passers-by than the artefacts, and another half-elf, a man with long white hair, slouches with a look of bored irritation on his face.
Strange – a lot of adventurers here. At that moment, another man - tall and bald - enters through the main door from outside. The warrior of the Flame and the newcomer lock gazes and a shock of recognition runs through them. So the Silver Flame might be important right now - maybe I'll hang around.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Spoiler for Hamathin:
With an ongoing interest is history, Hamathin is a frequent visitor to the museum while his wife presses the flesh in the King's court on behalf of Aerenal. Worthwhile, of course, but Hamathin has little patience for niceties and ettiquette. He peers in, hoping to enjoy this link to the past a while longer.
Hamathin has a last look about the hall before leaving and notices a number of individuals still lingering that pique his interest. A blond human warrior in full armour and prominently displaying the Silver Flame stamps about impatiently. A hobgoblin, seemingly as absorbed in studying the relics as he is, stares intently in a case of Dhakaani relics. A shifter male, looking a little lost, hops from foot to foot and gazes hopefully at the passing faces, and another armoured human with some indefinable oddness about him shrugs and begins to head for the exit. A half-elf woman, lightly armed and armoured, lurks by a mummy case, though she seems more interested in checking out the passers-by than the artefacts, and a half-elf male, similarly garbed and with long white hair, slouches hand-on-hip, looking irritated and bored.
Strange – a lot of adventurers here. At that moment, another man – a tall, bald human – enters through the main door from outside. The warrior of the Flame and the newcomer lock gazes and a shock of recognition runs through them.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Spoiler for Benedetto:
Supposedly, the word was that Morgrave were hiring for an expedition to Xendrik, and the coin was good. But the contact at Morgrave, who he was supposed to meet a couple of hours ago, hadn’t shown – some woman called Krone, who dealt with security matters and hiring muscle. So Benedetto had cooled his heels waiting to see if she was just late. But this was stupid – might as well head off and find some less elusive patrons.
He gazes idly round the room. A human warrior is full armour and prominently displaying the Silver Flame stamps about impatiently. An elf, dressed in a light chain shirt and with a sword at his hip, peers interestedly at Giant Age relics, lost in contemplation. A hobgoblin, lightly dressed and carrying a crossbow, glares intently at a case of Dhakaani weapons, and slowly shakes his head. A shifter male, looking a little lost, hops from foot to foot and gazes hopefully at the passing faces – hmm, looking for work too? A half-elf woman, lightly armed and armoured, lurks by a mummy case, though she seems more interested in checking out the passers-by than the artefacts. Another half-elf, this one a male with long white hair, lounges with a bored expression on his face. Most of them give him sideways glances - his odd heritage tends to do that - but he is used to it and ignores them.
Strange – a lot of adventurers here. Ah, let's get out of here! Benedetto starts for the exit, but at that moment another man - a tall, bald human - enters through the main door from outside. The warrior of the Flame and the newcomer lock gazes and a shock of recognition runs through them.
Andrei Imarad |
Spoiler for Aubrey & Colvare:
Nodding curtly to his old acquaintance, Andrei replies, also in a whisper. "Not yet. I still have my final trials to complete."
"You received one too? She is late - and I am concerned." Andrei said, his voice cold and professional. Andrei was suspicious of the note, and even more suspicious of the fact that the letter was sent not just to him, but to someone he used to know.
It could not be coincidence.
Hamathin |
Hamathin, dressed in his usual black and gray, quietly moves toward the Dhakaani display and studies it for a moment, while continuing to try to pick up on the conversation between the newcomer and Andrei, more out of habit than for any particular cause.
After a moment, he murmurs, "A hobgoblin interested in history? A curiosity indeed."
Made the Listen and Sense Motive
Shagraat |
Shagraat steps back to let the elf have a look at the artifacts. A hint of a grin on his face, he murmers a baritone return. "Not so strange, I think. They're goblin-make after all. But there's little history here. Is the Giant Age display any better?"
Aubrey
If necessary, spot is 22.
Urthona |
Listen Check (1d20=18)
Sense Motive Check (1d20=7)
Urthona looks at the human approaching him.
"Waitin's not ma best virtue. Seems the Church will not give any new jobs tonight. Least they'll close up in five minutes. Then Ah'll be able to get back t'my old job."
Benedetto |
"Waitin's not ma best virtue. Seems the Church will not give any new jobs tonight. Least they'll close up in five minutes. Then Ah'll be able to get back t'my old job."
Benedetto nods,
pauses,
and asks very solftly, "What sort of a church job was you 'spectin' at a museum? Why not meet at the church?"
The lanky young man pauses again, looks around, bites his lower lip, and takes a deep breath.
""Course, you might be askin' me the same question, in regards to the university. Let me ask you, if you were a professional, hirin' guards for an expedition, would you turn up late, just t' see what happens?"
Colvare |
Spoiler for Aubrey & Andrei:
You haven't seen her yet? I was begining to think I had missed her until I saw you, being so late myself.
It is troubling that she thinks she needs the help of both of us, though what she thinks I can offer I don't know. I have a few tricks you both may not be expecting though.
that last with a sly grin.
Hamathin |
Shagraat steps back to let the elf have a look at the artifacts. A hint of a grin on his face, he murmers a baritone return. "Not so strange, I think. They're goblin-make after all. But there's little history here. Is the Giant Age display any better?"
Hamathin, looking suddenly less stuffy, returns the grin, acknowledging the hit. "About as good as can be expected from a humans' museum. And your appraisal of these?"
Shagraat |
Shagraat grunts his agreement. "Interesting hints of the Dhakaani presence beneath all this. What came before..." He waves a clawed hand vaguely to indicate the chamber, the tower, the university, the district - the entirety of the Megalopolis of Sharn.
"I suspect that Morgrave has sold the more important pieces recovered with this lot. Or they hold them in trust elsewhere. I had hopes of finding better here."
Shagraat steps over to the next displayed artifact and bends his head to study it in the dying light.
Mirra d'Medani |
Listen 17+7=24
Sense Motive 6+4=10
Mirra looks at the two men conversing and then casually looks else where but keeps her ears tuned on their conversation. Interesting group of people in the museum tonight, some thing is going on. Mirra takes a quick look around for her assignment but is quickly loosing interest with everything around her. Come on professor just come walking around the corner pawing the help so I can finish this assignment quickly.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
(You can all try Listen checks, DC 12, to get Colvare's and Andrei's spoilers - it is pretty quiet in here.)
The shadows shroud the museum. The only sounds are whispered conversations among some of the eight people still yet to leave.
Suddenly, out of sight from one of the halls to the side, comes a hoarse cry, a loud clatter of something being dropped and...
Nothing. Simply a pregnant silence.
Urthona |
"Nope, wouldn't do that. That gal is in trouble... if not from someone else, surely from me. Or is she testing us?"
Urthona looks aronud... the seconds tick away. Closing time looms.
"Perhaps that guy in the church outfit knows more?" He nods to the knight in the armor of the Church of the Silver Flame. "Hope, it's not leadin' to a scavenger hunt. Sendin' us this way, that way, and in the end back to tha museum... I hate these."
Hearing the clutter..."What's that? Ah'll have a look. Ye comin' or what?"
Urthona is already on his way to the point of origin of the sound.
Andrei Imarad |
"A few tricks? Try not to burn everything down around you with one of your 'tricks' eh?" Andrei smiled, his cold demeanor beginning to thaw.
Everyone will probably see what he does now...
At the short sound of commotion, Andrei's hand blurs to rest on his longsword, the leather-wrapped hilt creaking as he closes his fist. "Something is not right." He says, quietly.
Crossing the room quickly, Andrei casts quiet instructions to Colvare over his shoulder. "Remain behind me. I shall investigate."
Catching the shifter's eye, Andrei gestures for him to stay back, before moving towards the hall.
Mirra d'Medani |
Waiting for a deserters daughter, wonder what she wants.
Mirra jerks her head around to look where the cry originated as her hand disappear under her coat to her rapier. Well that might be why she is late.
She slowly starts walking down the hall way towards the sound and she notices the Knight of the Silver Flame is also heading down the hall.
"Hey I'll take the left wall you take the right." She says softly to the knight.
Move Silently 12+1 = 13
Andrei Imarad |
Nodding in agreement, Andrei moves to the right-hand side of the hall, listening intently.
Listen Check. (1d20 1=16)
EDIT: Altered the post slightly to reflect where his position will be when the shit hits the fan...
Urthona |
Benedetto |
"What's that? Ah'll have a look. Ye comin' or what?"
Urthona is already on his way to the point of origin of the sound.
Benedetto turns towards the noise and is amazed at the way a half-dozen people more or less spring into action. He looks at the room tactically, determines where he'd do the most good defending the place against a raid*, and moves there.
*My guess: next to the unarmored man readying a spell. Benedetto moves alonside him, and says, quickly and quietly, "Hey there. Name's Benedetto; folks call me Ben."
Benedetto |
"Colvare. Any idea who might have just taken a fall? Sounded like a man, but who knows?"
Benedetto replies quietly "Well, I'm tempted to simply call out to see if the feller in the hall is okay, but that don't seem to be the way things are done in Sharn. Let's see what those folks up front notice."
Fatespinner's Rayne |
The white-haired half-elf sighs at the commotion, rising to his feet and casting a bothered glance in the direction of the noise. Seeing many of the other patrons motivated to investigate, Rayne smirks to himself. This was no test. Such a test would be petty and potentially hazardous to the precious museum. No, something was genuinely wrong here. The half-elf watched with morbid fascination as the others made their way towards the sound, following well behind more out of curiosity than any desire to help.
Rayne is hanging well behind the others, preferring to let the 'heroes' investigate. If any obvious threats make themselves visible, then I will contribute an eldritch blast or two. :)
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
The group heads towards the corridor from the main atrium to the hall where the shout was heard, the shifter rushing ahead, the white-haired half-elf lagging behind, and the others moving cautiously down the sides of the passage.
The museum is getting very dark now, though a number of the group are not impeded by the lack of light. The next hall is large, with a gallery running round its walls the next level up. Rows of glass cases stand mutely, and the stillness is palpable. In the middle of the floor by the entrance to the hall lies a softly glowing object.
(Listen checks, DC 15.)
Benedetto |
Benedetto's definition of 'sinister':
When Benedetto was 8, the family hounds started talking to him in a strange language. It took him two years to learn it, during which he enjoyed talking to them and finding out what the world looked like when you're a doggie. Then one day, they all suggested that Benedetto should kill the neighbor family. He didn't cotton to that suggestion, insofar as the neighbors were decent kind; so he took his slingshot and killed the hounds. Turns out the neighbor's chickens were telling their boy the same things about Benedetto's family. Damn lying chickens.
And that's how he came to read and speak the daelkyr language.
Benedetto's most exciting experience in Sharn:
Upon his arrival in Sharn, the head of the Finder's Guild had him fill out a request for room and board. He had never filled out a form before, and needed some help. At dinner that night, one of the other new guards, a halfling whose name Benedetto had never caught, had loudly teased the Marcher about needing help with the paperwork. Somehow, the halfling's shoes got tied together during the meal, and she'd tripped getting up from the table. Dinner that night had been stew, with some new vegetables that tasted pretty good.
With a grin to Ben, "Sounds like a plan. I and our knightly friend up ahead have reason to belive something sinister may be going on actually. I hope we are wrong, though"
"Hope so, too."
"It's getting quite dark isn't it? I could light our way a little, but I don't want to attract any more attention than we already are just yet!"
"We have people walkin' in armor, so we ain't gonna be no surprise. But can you put the light up there's a ways, rather than right next to us?"
Colvare |
"We have people walkin' in armor, so we ain't gonna be no surprise. But can you put the light up there's a ways, rather than right next to us?"
"True, well I have some torches I could toss, or I can make another object glow and throw it.....Kinda like that thing down there....But nothing that will work at range"
Urthona |
Listen check (1d20=3) again... sigh...
Urthona had stopped, when he had seen the sign from Andrei.
Don't want to be on the bad side of the only representative of the Church directly at the outset. Be patient... count to ten...but MY speed can help here...no...think of your mission... wait for the knight's signs...but anybody will surely be getting away... wait..1...2...3...4...5...6...
Colvare |
Colvare has a good long look at the glowiung object and notices that it glows in a rather nice way.... spot check:1d20+3=5
Cast "light" on a cross bow bolt, and hold it up to see a little better, trying to avoid messing up anyones darkvision.
This last 10 mins.
"That help Ben?"