Cool maps. Bookmarked!
Yeah; I got them from some dude in the Carrion Crown threads.
The party sets out for Lepidstadt; everybody says the old Mountain Road is safest...it's intermittently patrolled by watchmen, some more extortionist than dudley do right, but....they say the orcs who wander into Ustalav tend to give it a wide berth.
It passes through two towns....Tamrivena and Courtad...
the going's easy at first, mostly quiet moorlands, though there are homesteads here and there; the group sees at least a wagon or rider, or folk trundling farm goods into Tamrivena at least every few miles.
The first day is sunny; perhaps it's a sign that Pharasma shines down on your undertaking with approval.
The going is nice;.....sunny, and an exhilirating autumn chill.
Edwin eyes the ponies with suspicion.
No, outright distrust.
When questioned about his reluctance, he frowns mightily.
"Let me see. How do I phrase this?,... It's not that I CAN'T ride. It's that I prefer NOT too. Horses,... They're dangerous at both ends and crafty in the middle!"
He does, eventually, mount up with the others, and despite his gloomy foreboding about riding, seems to be fine once in the saddle. Although you do see him lean over and whisper something in his ponies ear early into the ride. After that, he passes most of the day's trip admiring the countryside. And poring over the book he and Alinya have been studying,...
After a day's ride without mortal peril of any kind, you reach Tamrivena. They do have an inn, and they're a little larger than Ravengro, and nestled in the fork of a river.
It's a cheerless place, not a major tourist attraction in any way; the tavern seems quite busy though. Lotsa travelers on the road it seems.
After being quiet for some time, Larissa moves her skittish pony closer to the paladin's mount.
"Castiel? You sounded like you knew of this Beast on trial. Is it a man? Why do they call it the Beast?"
“I’ve heard stories; tales – how much truth there is to them I cannot say,” answers Castiel. “From what I have heard, the Beast is no man but monster, though most stories I have heard suggest that it is humanoid in shape, but bigger and stronger than the tallest Kellid. Some tales claim that the Beast was created rather than born, and that its creator was amongst the first victims of its murderous rage – certainly not the last though. It is named Beast due to its savagery.
“I do not wish to deceive you with what may be false or fanciful tales; I dare say that Edwin may know more of the Beast.”
It's.....a big ass.....humanoid; been harrassing the areas around Lepidstadt for at least 20 years. Killed hundreds of people. Some say thousands.
Nitey nite!!!!!
Anybody want to do anything special in Tamrivena?
The inn and tavern is chock full o travelers, from all parts of Ustalav,....maybe even all over the continent.....
Castiel asks around, trying to determine if this amount of travellers is typical or unusual – and if unusual, is there some event, occasion or disaster that people are heading towards or fleeing from. He’ll also enquire of the state of and dangers along the road betwixt here and Lepidstadt.
If Castiel finds himself talking to someone who seems both knowledgeable and honourable , he enquires if the person has heard anything of the Whispering Way or other necromancers, and any foul plans that they may have afoot.
It's definitely abnormal amounts of traffic.
Castiel finds a messenger in the church's employ; hasn't heard anything out of the ordinary regarding the Whispering Way.
"Why;" he asks; "are they about?...."
"About here in Tamrivena? I have no reason to suspect so, though we encountered their handiwork down in Ravengro."
"How dreadful. Niekrowmauncers.......I really wish someone would finish them once and for all...
No; haven't heard anything hereabouts; they are rather adept at hiding their handiwork though....."
Having found himself come across too pushy and holier-than-thou, Castiel asks the others if they would ask about the amount of travellers.
heh heh....
Larissa shrugs and tries to strike up a conversation to find out what brings people out on the road, especially if she can find any girls her age.
Diplomacy
I'll keep going; anybody want to ask people stuff let me know; I can revisit the tavern....
The next stage on the way to Lepidstadt is bleaker. One more mildly xenophobic little city, then it's lonely moors. Looks like perfect werewolf territory.
About dusk, they trundle up on a string of gaily painted wagons parked by the side of the road. There's an odd assortment of folk, gathered as if in counsel. There's two women, sobbing inconsolably.
There's a hairy faced boy, howling like a wolf.
They all look up at the coming riders; although the two women continue wailing and the wolf hairy faced boy continues howling.
Larissa shrugs and tries to strike up a conversation to find out what brings people out on the road, especially if she can find any girls her age.
Diplomacy 1d20 + 11
She meets a group of young noblewomen. They're returning to University at Lepidstadt; they, however, say that most of the traffic is people flocking to the city to see the "dog and pony show" that is the trial of the Beast.
Back to wal mart. Forgot something.
huzzzah!
Rholf will happily chit chat with some travelers about where they've come from, where they're headed, how the journey's been, etc.
Diplomacy:
Nobody seems to have had any problems on the journey. They're all headed for Lepidstadt, to either see the big to do, or to vend goods and services there.
One guy, however, a merchant, says the roving guards along the roads are scant better than bandits. "They charged me a road tax. Didn't....specifically threaten me, but.....it was inferred.
Way out there, all alone.....pfft they'll "discover" me two days later and blame it on orcs. Something should be done about those ruffians!"
Another guy overhears him; says "aye, it's true. They're cocky bastards......what I do is travel with a leper bell. They leave me the hell alone....."
Sense Motive:
Rholf listens somberly to the report, as well as the corroborating voice offered, somberly and intently. "It is sad indeed that upholders of the law sink so low. Your bell is an excellent idea, though if an accident befell you, folk might deny you aid for fear of disease. My advice would be to seek out company heading the same direction, caravan up, and pool some resources to hire caravan guards. Ruffians are most often cowards, so numbers and defenses will most likely deter them, forcing them to seek easier prey. Spread the word about this, as well. The ideal is that those fools change their ways, but be willing to settle for them just leaving you be. Travel well, be safe, and I shall pray for you."
They seem pretty on-the-level.
The merchant.....would be happy, though, if your crew rolled those guys over.
"Unjust law, means trade cannot flow. Men cannot truly prosper.
We trade the tyranny of the old ways for new tyrants.
It beats orcs on the road, but.....only marginally. A different doom, a stagnation and slow dieing as society grounds to a halt."
Yeah; he's on the level. Kinda worked up, kinda neurotic, but sincere.
Nitey nite!
Alinya is withdrawn and distant, spending much of her time with Edwin deciphering the book. Her eyes and her mood seem to grow darker both, and she writes ever more fervently in her notebook.
"There are truths here. Great truths, mixed with the lies and the idiocy and the blasphemy. I fear... I fear I begin to see too much in these pages." She whispers, phaps to herself, perhaps to Edwin.
They seem pretty on-the-level.
The merchant.....would be happy, though, if your crew rolled those guys over."Unjust law, means trade cannot flow. Men cannot truly prosper.
We trade the tyranny of the old ways for new tyrants.
It beats orcs on the road, but.....only marginally. A different doom, a stagnation and slow dieing as society grounds to a halt."Yeah; he's on the level. Kinda worked up, kinda neurotic, but sincere.
"Rest assured, good sirs. If we are set upon by any such men, they'll get a full dose of corrective action."
"The world would thank you, my good man....."
anything else?
If not,......fast forward a day; next evening.....
I'll keep going; anybody want to ask people stuff let me know; I can revisit the tavern....
The next stage on the way to Lepidstadt is bleaker. One more mildly xenophobic little city, then it's lonely moors. Looks like perfect werewolf territory.
About dusk, they trundle up on a string of gaily painted wagons parked by the side of the road. There's an odd assortment of folk, gathered as if in counsel. There's two women, sobbing inconsolably.
There's a hairy faced boy, howling like a wolf.They all look up at the coming riders; although the two women continue wailing and the wolf hairy faced boy continues howling.
Rholf rides up to the group and dismounts. "What is going on here, good folk? How can we help?"
As he says this, he takes the measure of the hairy-faced boy, then the sobbing women.
Perception:
Diplomacy:
Sense Motive:
Alinya is withdrawn and distant, spending much of her time with Edwin deciphering the book. Her eyes and her mood seem to grow darker both, and she writes ever more fervently in her notebook.
"There are truths here. Great truths, mixed with the lies and the idiocy and the blasphemy. I fear... I fear I begin to see too much in these pages." She whispers, perhaps to herself, perhaps to Edwin.
Edwin, spending his time buried in the book with Alinya, (Instead of speaking to the others in the tavern and being useful! ;P) blinks, and gives Alinya a flat glance.
"Indeed." He responds calmly, reaching over and slowly flipping the book closed.
"I seem to have developed a slight headache. No doubt too many hours reading spidery script by candle light. Perhaps a drink and a breath of fresh air? Or in my case, a pipe?" He smiles amiably. The detective asks the lady what she would like to drink, and orders one for her and a strong spirit for himself.
Larissa likewise stops, but she does not dismount quite yet. With some concern, she asks, "Is he injured?" She studies the trio and their garish wagons, noting that there must be more people around considering the number of wagons in the string.
Diplomacy
Sense Motive
Castiel occasionally glances over in quiet concern at Alinya and Edwin's obsession with the professor's book. Despite their fascination in the tome they have not yet shared with the group anything of interest they have discovered within ...
Castiel rides up close behind Rholf towards the gypsies. As he dismounts, he takes the time to detect evil on the howling dog boy, aware of tales of werewolves in the northern reaches of the country.
Rholf rides up to the group and dismounts. "What is going on here, good folk? How can we help?"
As he says this, he takes the measure of the hairy-faced boy, then the sobbing women.
Perception: 1d20+5
Diplomacy: 1d20+8
Sense Motive: 1d20+9
The two crying women seem....mentally challenged; there's a wolf faced boy (hirsutism), a short man with kyphosis, a 7 foot tall woman with a beard, a man from Mwangi lacking appendages; there's a beauteous dusky woman in fine silks. With four arms.
There's three clowns; you notice two of them have three arms and the other has three legs.And an immense man of ogreish proportions and cast.
An albino in a crimson top hat and crimson and white striped pants steps forward;.....
"Hello. I am Kaleb Hesse,......leader of the Krooked Kin."
he points at the two crying women; "their sister has wandered off;....we're....at a loss as to what to do,......It's been several hours."
Larissa likewise stops, but she does not dismount quite yet. With some concern, she asks, "Is he injured?" She studies the trio and their garish wagons, noting that there must be more people around considering the number of wagons in the string.
Diplomacy 1d20 + 11
Sense Motive 1d20 + 7
"No,......Wolfy is just sad. The sisters,....they're sad too....."
Castiel occasionally glances over in quiet concern at Alinya and Edwin's obsession with the professor's book. Despite their fascination in the tome they have not yet shared with the group anything of interest they have discovered within ...
It might help if the dm had done moreso; it also might've helped if the contents had been detailed......owell.
"Hello. I am Kaleb Hesse,......leader of the Krooked Kin."
he points at the two crying women; "their sister has wandered off;....we're....at a loss as to what to do,......It's been several hours."
"Well met, Kaleb. Call me Rholf. How many hours, and was it from this location, or along your journey? Also, is he healthy, or needful?"
the Book of The Esoteric Order of hte Palatine Eye:
[i][i]COMMENTARY (The Chapter that is not a Chapter)
This chapter, numbered 0, corresponds to the Negative,
which is before Kether in the Qabalistic system.
The notes of interrogation and exclamation on the previous
pages are the other two veils.
The meaning of these symbols is fully explained in "The
Soldier and the Hunchback".
This chapter begins by the letter O, followed by a mark of
exclamation; its reference to the theogony of "Liber Legis" is
explained in the note, but it also refers to KTEIS PHALLOS
and SPERMA, and is the exclamation of wonder or ecstasy,
which is the ultimate nature of things.
NOTE
(1) Silence. Nuit, O; Hadit; Ra-Hoor-Khuit, I.
COMMENTARY (The Ante Primal Triad)
This is the negative Trinity; its three statements are, in an
ultimate sense, identical. They harmonise Being, Becoming,
Not-Being, the three possible modes of conceiving the universe.
The statement, Nothing is Not , technically equivalent to
Something Is, is fully explained in the essay called Berashith.
The rest of the chapter follows the Sephirotic system of the
Qabalah, and constitutes a sort of quintessential comment upon
that system.
Those familiar with that system will recognise Kether,
Chokmah, Binah, in the First Triad; Daath, in the Abyss; Chesed,
Geburah, Tiphareth, in the Second Triad; Netzach, Hod and
Yesod in the Third Triad, and Malkuth in the Tenth Emanation.
It will be noticed that this cosmogony is very complete; the
manifestation even of divinity does not appear until Tiphareth; and
the universe itself not until Malkuth.
The chapter many therefore be considered as the most complete
treatise on existence ever written.
NOTE
(2) The Unbroken, absorbing all, is called Darkness.
note: entirety of text is copypasta from The Book of Lies, by Aleister Crowley...
"I bless Sun Ra, the morning light,
and Isis Moon, the light of night;
I bless the wind, the Horus Hawk,.....
I bless earth Geb, on which I walk."
buncha gobbledygook........or,......is it?
MWAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!
"Hello. I am Kaleb Hesse,......leader of the Krooked Kin."
he points at the two crying women; "their sister has wandered off;....we're....at a loss as to what to do,......It's been several hours."
"Well met, Kaleb. Call me Rholf. How many hours, and was it from this location, or along your journey? Also, is he healthy, or needful?"
"She's healthy, indeed;" he looks to her sisters. They're microcephalic......."she's like a child though. Even though she's all grown up. So, needful, in a sense.....innocence.....she has been gone, a few hours."
He points to some tracks, which lead down a slope, to a thicket and beyond.
The hunchbacked man; "Aye! We should go after her!!!"
The four armed woman; "Aside from Ivin the Trollborn,....." she points to the big big man, "none of us are any good at tussling."
She looks to Rholf; "You are sent here by serendipitous destinies I fain believe;....." yearning in her amethyst eyes.