Open for Dotting
|
"Ho ha!" the sprightly gnome shouts as he meets up with the others. His bright red hair sticks out at all angles and his armor is exquisitely and masterfully fashioned from the hide of a blue dragon. A greatsword is slung across the gnome's back and he walks bow-legged, as if more used to riding than walking.
"Fizzbeard Dragonfiend, servant and champion of the Lord Smiad!" the gnome bows before the assembled. "May honor and glory be bestowed upon us all and may all the dragons be slain, for that is the holiest of sports!" the gnome exclaims in greeting. "So what glory awaits us today? Is there a damsel in distress? I do love a good damsel in distress! I mean I love saving them! Much honor in that, ho ho!"
|
Osric stews by himself. Never an outspoken man, his brooding is not typical for him. He appears to be talking to himself, repeating a word or phrase...
-Posted with Wayfinder
Seated in the Army of Exploration command tent, Master of Swords Marcus Farabellus looks up from a pile of reports. He squints, indicates a few chairs, and launches immediately into his brief. We have little time. I’ll be as quick and clear as I can. Tancred Desimire and that traitorous dwarf, Thurl, are on their way to Jormurdun as we speak.
By now, every Society member knows about Thurl’s betrayal in Nerosyan. His alliance with that disgraced Chelaxian noble isn’t surprising. But the confirmation that they are grabbing for the Society’s prize charges the air with tension.
I knew something was wrong when our spies told us the villains weren’t leading their troops, but it took time to learn the truth. Those worms are using this battle as cover.
The Master of Blades points to one of the maps on the table.
The enemy’s forces are lined up here, blocking our advance. We’re making a direct assault to dislodge them, but we don’t have time to wait. I need you to go after them. Our forces have punched a hole in their line, giving you the opening you’ll need to slip through, track them down, and stop them.
Farabellus fixes each agent with a hard stare.
In the case of Thurl, that means permanently. He has destroyed countless lives and has put even more at grave risk. Don’t waste any energy trying to bring him back alive—not that he’ll likely give you the chance.
Desimire is more of a problem. The Society doesn’t need him back alive, either, but Paracountess Dralneen personally requested that we turn him over to Cheliax for trial. She has a personal stake in this. You may recall the mess surrounding her disappearance last year—including Tancred’s involvement. Take him alive, if you can. If not, bring back his body, but make sure his head and jaw are intact.
He steps back from the desk and takes a deep breath.
So, that’s it. Catch up to these treasonous villains and don’t let them get a foothold in Jormurdun. They’ve got a head start so they might take you right to the Sky Citadel’s entrance. That’ll at least save us the work of searching for it, but they must not be allowed to hold that site. And one more thing. If you do manage to get inside, try not to break anything. High King Borogrim is allowing the Society to explore the Citadel first, but we must turn it over in good condition.
The Master of Blades leans on the table again.
This mission is critical. Those two must not get their hands on any of Jormurdun’s treasures. The loss of historical knowledge is nothing compared to the damage they could do if those relics fell into the hands of those controlling the Worldwound. The quartermasters can outfit you with supplies once you’ve gotten yourselves together. I’ll have escorts take you through the battle lines. If you’ve got any questions, ask now. Otherwise, get going.
|
|
"So," Fizzbeard asks as his face falls slightly, "what you're say is. . . there's no damsel this time."
"Ah well, good Fizzbeard here is glad to take on evil wherever it lies! The Lord Smiad finds such things honorable and worthy of renown! But, please, could you tell us more about what Thurl and Tancred have done? I'm afraid I don't know them too well."
|
|
"I don't know about Thurl personally, only reports of his treachery. Rumors of diabolical experiments. Worse... But Desimire...he was connected to the Blackros family somehow. At least, he was a guest at the big wedding I attended. Demonologist. Real troublemaker, as it turned out."
"I guess it's just my lucky day. The Decemvirate was gonna let me retire. Just one more mission they said. And here I am...well, those two won't get to Jormurdun. Not if I have anything to say about it!"
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
Osric manages to crack a grin at the feisty gnome.
"You gnomes just don't know how to slow down! 'Course, they say that's why you live so long. No, I may not be old, but I sure feel it. After this, I plan to let someone else do the Seeking. I'll just watch over my homeland from the little Keep I've got back there."
Osric's got most of it. The Master of swords says, Thurl was one of us, a Venture-Captain in Mendev. That bastard betrayed us though and actually helped bring Demon's in over the Wardstones and sac the city.
Desimire is a chelaxian Demon worshiper who is responsible Summoning the Shadow Demon ARASTRAX to attack the Blackros Wedding, he also freed a bunch of notorious criminals and used them to build an army. The Paracountess is particulary interested in him since he framed her for treason against Cheliax and had her thrown into a prison in Hell.
These two scum have joined forces in order to get to Jormurdun before us. We have an army fighting their murderers and summoned demons right now.
See the quartermaster, he should have anything you need And here take this Map it will help you track down those bastards. With that Farabellus goes back to reports from the front line.
The Quartermaster supplies you with enough food and water to survive 6 days in the Worldwound and he can sell you any items you might need.
After leaving the Quartermast's tent a young looking pathfinder approaches. Names Kayluss, Marcus said my team was leading you to Thurl and Desimire’s last known location. We'll need to head out now. Our troups have been able to punch a hole in the enemies lines but I'm not sure how long it will last.
The barren, wartorn, lands of the Worldwound are eerily quiet with the wind bringing the occasional sounds of battle and death. After an hour of travel, the squad points out the direction Tancred Desimire and Thurl were last seen heading, then departs to join in the final assault on the
demonic army.
Your map and Kayluss's directions lead you to a stony outcropping with a decent view of the battle field. There are lots of signs of activity around the outcropping and it is fairly easy to find a trail where at least a dozen or so creatures head off deeper into the Wound.
As you head out the wind begins to howl and and a blood red snow starts to fall softly.
A huge wolf pads silently alongside Osric.
Despite the best efforts of the gnomes Osric is able to follow the trail across the broken terrain. You are making good time, even managing to bypass a small putrid bog full of oozing organs, which seemed to have held up your quarry.
As night quickly approaches the sharp peaks of the Wolfscrag mountains cut a jagged silhouette across the evening sky. The blood snow that has been falling all day begins to get worse and the temperature starts to drop significantly.
|
|
Osric sizes up the situation.
"It looks like we'll need to rest for the night. I've just cast a spell so that I can see in the dark. I will take the first watch with Grimtooth, but then I'll need to rest to regain my magic. Does anyone see a way for making a fire? Or perhaps have some shelter or magic to help us?"
You are able to spend the night in relative comfort, finding a rocky outcropping to shield you form the worst of the snow and wind. A small fire provides you with some warmth, though it smells like burnt hair and rotting flesh.
A fiery red sun greets you in the morning. The snow, which had reached almost a foot when you made camp is completely gone. All that remains are small quick moving rivers of blood and large puddles that seem to be quickly congealing. The temperature is bitterly cold and it seems to grow colder as the day goes on. After a quick search you are able to find the trail again.
Osric, with the aid of the party is able to pick up the trail again and follow it a a very good pace. After only a few hours you come across an abandoned campsite with the fire pit still warm.
After another hour or so traveling you reach a small ridge with a decent view of the steep rocky terrain up ahead. Osric is able to see movement on the trail ahead. About 5 miles in the distance you can see a group of figures and you are pretty sure this is you quarry. There are about a dozen different shapes, most of them are the same size and shape but one is larger and is being used as a mount. You don't have a lot of time to study them before they move deeper into the mountains and disappear from site.
Plotting you course Orsric is confident that you can cut some time from you travel by following the rise north and then cutting into the mountains, thus avoiding some of the steeper terrain. This path takes another hour or so and you can see the location where you spotted the other group getting closer and closer. As you approach the end of the rise and start to head back towards the path Ryster stops the party. Up ahead he can see that there are small mounds of earth up-ahead, and they are starting to tremble.
These are some sort of geyser, most likely abyssal in natures so its impossible to know exactly when it will erupt or what will come out.
Based on the size of the geyser you think it will have a 45ft radius spray. If you had to guess, you think the energy involved in this particular geyser is cold.[/dice]
Perception:
|
|
"Watch out, these are some kind of abyssal geyser. Not sure what might pop out..."
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
"Those are the geysers. Grimtooth is pretty fast, he could carry one or two of.us. And my armor will let me fly once each day. What do you say, should we try it?"
-Posted with Wayfinder