Are you ready to go?
Val stared at the man for a moment, impressed by his audacity. "Perhaps you'd like to explain first why you have a reputation as a cheater, before we risk our well-being by travelling with you? Never mind risking 100 gold each."
tag
Action 2
Val was not at all sure about this, but he gingerly climbed aboard, muttering, "It's an adventure," under his breath. He had to trust that her ladyship wouldn't have sent them to meet somebody that would get them killed. Though he wasn't entirely sure about that, just at the moment.
Action 1:
Bronwyn stomped up to Failin her eyes flashing. "What assurances can you give that you won't abandon us at the next sign of trouble. Obviously having half of our money already isn't enough incentive so how can we trust you?" Filled with righteous indignation and not seeing the hyprocrisy in her words she demanded, "Does your house know what you're doing?"
Action 2:
Bronwyn's eyes lit up at the reveal of Failin's land cart. All previous grievances were forgotten as she examined the cart with child-like wonder. "Fascinating," she murmurs. "Earth elemental powered, you say. Harnessed or willingly helpful? The elements are truly wondrous powers, don't you agree?"
Are you ready to go?Val stared at the man for a moment, impressed by his audacity. "Perhaps you'd like to explain first why you have a reputation as a cheater, before we risk our well-being by travelling with you? Never mind risking 100 gold each."
Failin was offended, "You would really take the word of common thugs over my own word. I told you I have not cheated anyone."
He scoffed, "The bugbears paid for a one time service and thought they had hired me forever."
Action 1:
Bronwyn stomped up to Failin her eyes flashing. "What assurances can you give that you won't abandon us at the next sign of trouble. Obviously having half of our money already isn't enough incentive so how can we trust you?" Filled with righteous indignation and not seeing the hyprocrisy in her words she demanded, "Does your house know what you're doing?"
Failin responded, "Listen, I did not run away but I am not capable of taking on three angry bugbears. My skills lie elsewhere."
He covered his dragonmark, "And yes, I have Orien blood running through my veins but I parted ways with my family long ago. I am still in the transport business."
He pulled out his money pouch, "And your money is right here so just let me know if you would rather seek alternative means of transport."
Action 2:
Bronwyn's eyes lit up at the reveal of Failin's land cart. All previous grievances were forgotten as she examined the cart with child-like wonder. "Fascinating," she murmurs. "Earth elemental powered, you say. Harnessed or willingly helpful? The elements are truly wondrous powers, don't you agree?"
Failin thought for a second, "I have no way of knowing. All I know is how to control it and it obeys my wishes. Can you communicate with elementals?"
Action 1:
Bronwyn calmed down some as Failin explained himself. "You know we don't have much choice by way of alternative means of transport. And we were told to seek you out. Lady E trusted you so we need to as well. Lead on."
Action 2:
A wistful look crossed Bronwyn's face, "I wish I could communicate with them but I haven't learned that yet. I've only learned to manipulate the element itself, not an elemental."
Action 1
Palisade considered the unrepentant d'Orien heir. The way the male had reacted to danger, using the hereditary magic of his 'mark to escape did not bode well for future conflicts. Individual Failin could not be counted for anything but looking after himself in a battle. It was almost a pity his continued existence was vital for their own purpose for the moment.
Squeak kept his approval quietly to himself. 'I hadn't thought about whether we could trust him based on these accusations. It is a good thing we now have someone as tricky as Val, er Vi, on our side'.
Squeak gave Palisade a meaningful look.
Action 1:
"Of course we need to go back to Rhukaan Draal. We're not planning on staying in Rose Quarry forever. But we have a detour first and I wasn't sure you'd be willing to wait or take the detour with us. And I don't know how long our detour will take. But we do need to return to Rhukaan Draal. What would you be willing to do for us?"
Action 2:
Bronwyn was grateful to have something to distract her when Failin started asking questions. The last hour of playing eye spy with Val was starting to get old because everything was either brown or beige. "We haven't been told a lot so anything you can share would be welcomed. We were told to get ourselves to the Cannith Outpost in Rose Quarry. What info can you share?"
As a newcomer to the group, Rokko kept his own counsel with Failin and let the others do the talking. He wasn't entirely sure at this point what he was getting into, but his intuition told him that he had found solid companions who were doing their bit for righteousness. He sat back and relaxed as the magical conveyance spirited them across the Darguun landscape.
He was less concerned by Failin's disappearance in front of the bugbears. As a Sharn goblin - a different race in a land dominated by others - he knew the value of a strategic withdrawal and not drawing too much attention, and the bugbears had been handled efficiently enough. Plus, a dead Orien heir meant walking to Rose Quarry. As he stretched his legs in the back of the land cart, he mused that that would never do.
Action 1:
"Of course we need to go back to Rhukaan Draal. We're not planning on staying in Rose Quarry forever. But we have a detour first and I wasn't sure you'd be willing to wait or take the detour with us. And I don't know how long our detour will take. But we do need to return to Rhukaan Draal. What would you be willing to do for us?"
Failin thought for a moment, "I thought you wanted to go to Rose Quarry. I heard nothing about a detour. Going to Rose Quarry and waiting for you a reasonable time, say a couple of hours, is part of the deal. I'm afraid I'll need more info before comitting myself to anything else."
tag?
Action 2:
Bronwyn was grateful to have something to distract her when Failin started asking questions. The last hour of playing eye spy with Val was starting to get old because everything was either brown or beige. "We haven't been told a lot so anything you can share would be welcomed. We were told to get ourselves to the Cannith Outpost in Rose Quarry. What info can you share?"
"The village of Rose Quarry belonged to Cyre before the war," Failin said. "Now it lies within Darguul territory. Originally, House Cannith prospectors established the village when they found a massive vein of red marble. Cannith brought in dwarves from the Mror Holds to mine and excavate the marble. Anywhere you see Cannith architecture, you may find Rose marble-Sharn, Flamekeep, Korth, even Rhukaan Draal-half the red stone in Khorvaire probably comes from the quarry."
He concluded, "But the mine is abandoned now..."
tag?
"Any rumours about the mine?" asked Rokko.
I don't think that's the detour.
However, I did make it such that you did go back to Jurak before you left to get your stuff so feel free to have everything you brought to Rhukaan Draal. Don't go crazy on me and please leave the kitchen sink behind. :)
Failin thought for a moment, "I thought you wanted to go to Rose Quarry. I heard nothing about a detour. Going to Rose Quarry and waiting for you a reasonable time, say a couple of hours, is part of the deal. I'm afraid I'll need more info before comitting myself to anything else."
Val wasn't sure how much to tell the red-haired man, but decided that he needed to know their ultimate destination. Otherwise, he would have no way to judge how long they would be.
"We hope to be only a few hours in Rose Quarry - we need to go to the Cannith outpost there for some information. From there, we must travel to Whitehearth to retrieve something. From my understanding, it is just across the border. Do you know how long it would take to get there? Or, would you be willing to take us in this?"
tag
"We don't really have a way of knowing how long we'll be in Whitehearth. It depends on how long it takes us to find what we're looking for. With luck, it'll only take a few hours. Or it might take a few days. Once we have it, we'll need to come straight back, and meet her ladyship in Rhukaan Draal."
I don't think that's the detour.
However, I did make it such that you did go back to Jurak before you left to get your stuff so feel free to have everything you brought to Rhukaan Draal. Don't go crazy on me and please leave the kitchen sink behind. :)
"Is there a way to call for you?" Squeak asked politely. "Perhaps we could call when we need to be picked up. Then you can spend your time waiting in a nice tavern instead of a dangerous hell-hole?"
Squeak held out a large travel biscuit in the shape of a Worg, with dried meat and cheese sprinkled throughout. "Worg Snap, anyone?"
Remembering his last experience with Squeak's cooking, Val was about to pass, but there was something so charming about the worg snaps that he had to take one. Giving it an experimental sniff, he discovered that it smelled good. Cautiously, he raised it to his mouth and took a nibble. "Squeak! This is great! Way better than your milk substitute. What's in it?"
The 'forged opened his mouth to answer, but Val held up a hand. "No, wait, I don't want to know. I don't want to know how you made it, either. But it really is tasty." He popped the rest of the "cookie" in his mouth, and took another. "If you ever get tired of guarding this pyromaniac here," he motioned to Bronwyn, who was busy staring into a little flame, "you and I should open a restaurant. Between my knowledge and your experimental capabilities, we could take Sharn by storm."
Squeak beamed - his eyes brightening significantly but momentarily. "Do you think so? While I will need to wait for her to die - preferably of old age - I would be very pleased to do so."
Action 1
"That IS expensive." Squeak agreed "But it could be a worthwhile investment if it means you do not need to be in danger."
Action 3
"How does the mist work?" asked Squeak casually "I know it kills the living, but is it a poison?"
Action 3:
Bronwyn's eyes are automatically drawn to the fire below. "No, we weren't expecting company but really I can't say for sure what I was expecting. I take it Rose Quarry normally doesn't look like this?
Action 2:
Instead of being insulted by being called a pyromaniac, Bronwyn took it as a compliment and a challenge. But she wasn't about to light up their only mode of transportation to prove it. She moved her flame closer to Val, "You haven't seen anything yet." With a huge smile she says, "My studies are going to result in bigger and more explosive flames, eventually." Then a peevish tone seeped into her voice, "And I don't need guarding. And Squeak doesn't have to wait for me to die to do what he wants."
Action 2
"And I don't need guarding. And Squeak doesn't have to wait for me to die to do what he wants."
"Incorrect. Protecting you for the duration of your natural lifespan is our mission. Disregarding our duty for reasons of personal preference would be unthinkable," Palisade declared.
Action 3
"Observation. There seem to be very few reasons for people to choose this place as a camping site. Suggest caution in case the past aggressors have managed to correctly predict our route. Thoughtful pause. Although lighting a campfire would be most sloppy for someone seeking to lay an ambush."
"Human lifespan averages fifty two years." pointed out Squeak. "I am undertaking research on medical care. I hope to be able to replace parts as they fail."
Action 2
Laughing, Val said, "Bronwyn and I are about the same age. By the time she dies of old age, I'll likely be dead too."
Val realized he had completely abandoned the speech pattern he had chosen for this particular Face; it was hard to maintain a proper persona with people who knew who you really were. Hmm, except poor Rokko. I should tell him the truth. But maybe after we say goodbye to Failin - no need for him to know that I'm not human.
Turning his attention back to the conversation, he said, "We can still make it work. When this "adventure" is over, we can get started. If you need to leave periodically with B, then I'll hold the fort until you get back and create some new masterpiece." He crunched another cookie. "Warg snaps. Brilliant."
Action 3
Val took in the scene with a growing feeling of dread. "I think it would be dangerous to assume that this has nothing to do with us. But to destroy a whole town? That's insane! How are we going to find what we're looking for now?"
"How does the mist work?" asked Squeak casually "I know it kills the living, but is it a poison?"
Squeak: I'm going to ignore this question for now but we'll bring it up again once we discuss the Mournland and adventuring in the Mournland later in the campaign.
I'll recap after dinner.
Game on!
Palisade considered Val’s report, making note of the Changeling’s superior eyesight for future reference. ”Obvious conclusion. The presence of animate undead after our earlier encounter with the Karrnathi shocktropper would suggest these strangers are of similar origin. Thus, they should be treated with suspicion. The numbers suggest easy victory over the strangers would not be achievable, nor are the benefits of risking ensuing of hostilities immediately obvious. This one suggests we avoid confrontation.”
"Undead?" said Rokko grimly. "We must be ready to fight. These abominations must be destroyed. I take it these are the opposition you have faced in the past?""
"Perhaps we should scout, find out the disposition of our enemies and what that sound is? Perhaps they are enslaved and may help us if it turns into a fight. I am small and can see in the dark, so I can probably make my way unseen. And I'm a goblin - I doubt they would view me as suspicious even if they saw me."
"We fought one earlier. It was a serious threat." Squeak admitted "Though if we have time to prepare and use weapons with a blast radius it could make a substantial difference."
"That makes sense." admitted Squeak "We need intelligence. Presumably they would not even bother to torture you if you were captured. They'd just execute you immediately."
Rokko looked at Squeak to see if he was joking, and then concluded that he probably wasn't. "I was assuming that Val might accompany me," he added.
"Hummmmm. Is Val's soul in sufficient state to experience an afterlife?" Squeak asked, intently.
"I wasn't expecting him to accompany me there. Only on the scouting trip," replied Rokko wearily.
"Hummmmm. Is Val's soul in sufficient state to experience an afterlife?" Squeak asked, intently.
"After our earlier conclusion, based on the options presented, this one believes one is better off withtout bothering with an afterlife," Palisade answered, with perhaps the tiniest hint of smug satisfaction in its voice.
"I am normally the last person to discourage theological speculation but can we concentrate on the scouting? Or we might all end up finding out about the afterlife."
"I am normally the last person to discourage theological speculation but can we concentrate on the scouting? Or we might all end up finding out about the afterlife."
Palisade considered the concept of resolving the difference of opinion through first-hand experience, but quickly deemed the suggestion infeasible; after all, preserving the live of Lady d'Deneith was its and unit Squeak's primary purpose of existence. Although if it were possible to limit the number of test subjects and contrive a means of getting a message back to the mortal realm...
"Agreed. Please proceed with due caution. Addendum. In the event of your capture, please strive to ensure your summary execution before information about our existence can be extracted from you by means of threat or application of pain.
Rokko just rolled his eyes.
Rokko just rolled his eyes.
Val is in Western Canada and probably just getting up (lazy!) so he/she probably will join you but we need to wait for confirmation.
I'll need stealth rolls from whoever is going.
Game on!
After agreeing the plan, Rokko crept out and towards the camp, sticking to the shadows as he went.
"Guys, focus! Nobody is dying, nobody is getting tortured for information. We're going to be careful and not get noticed." Val shook his head in exasperation. "Come on, Rokko, let's go."
It was destroyed four years ago by whatever destroyed what is now the Mounrland but it is not within the borders of the Mournland (adjacent to it).
Questions?
Game on!
Oooh, ok, my mistake. I totally thought it was still an active town. We'll pretend Val didn't over-react. But we're here to find the Cannith outpost, right? I didn't realize we were looking for the ruins of it.
Oooh, ok, my mistake. I totally thought it was still an active town. We'll pretend Val didn't over-react. But we're here to find the Cannith outpost, right? I didn't realize we were looking for the ruins of it.
Lady E's letter may explain things to forgetful adventurers. :)
PBP take so long between clues that I totally understand so just ask. :)
My Friends:
The object your recovered for me from the ruins beneath Sharn is a schema, a
piece of a pattern used to create items both mundane and magical. I have learned that
another schema connected to this pattern was being studied in a secret Cannith
Workshop in Cyre called Whitehearth. I wonder if this research is tied to the Day of
Moiurning?
Parts of my own House seek this pattern for evil purposes and I do not know
whom to trust. So I turn to you. I need you to travel to Cyre, find the workshop, and
recover the second schema.
The location of the workshop was a closely guarded secret lost when the
Patriarch of House Cannith died in the destruction of Cyre. You must travel to the House
Cannith Outpost in the town of Rose Quarry in Darguun to recover a record of all of
Cannith’s hidden workshops.
In Rhukaan Draal find a man named Failin in the Bloody Market. He can provide
you with transport to Rose Quarry. From there travel to the Mournland to find Whitehearth
and the second schema. It is an adamantine plate in the shape of a diamond about the
size of a human’s palm. Once you have retrieved it, return to Rhukaan Draal where I will
meet you. Succeed and I will see to it that you are well rewarded for your courage.
Lady E
I even did reread that note. What threw me was that everybody was referring to it as the town, not the ruins. I'm on the same page now. I'll stop whining. Any time now...
I even did reread that note. What threw me was that everybody was referring to it as the town, not the ruins. I'm on the same page now. I'll stop whining. Any time now...
Val?
It's dark out there; what are you doing for light?
Val followed Rokko out into the night; however, a few steps away from the land cart he realized that it was darker than she'd realized. "Rokko, hold up a moment." Not for the first time, he wished that assuming goblin form gave him goblin night vision. Instead, he pulled his ioun stone from his pocket. Wrapping it in a square of black silk that he kept for just such a purpose, Val left just a crack unwrapped. It then functioned as a bulls-eye lantern. Sort of. Except for the flickering. One day I'm going to be able to afford a real one of these, not a half-busted reject.
Taking care to make sure the glow was pointed away from the encampment, Val motioned to Rokko, "Carry on. I'm right behind you."
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
Good stuff, everyone!