"...It has been purported that one of his grandchildren has been afflicted with a mysterious virus."
Dr. Runemace perked up.
"Well then, that might be something I could do something about. Cavallo de Guerra you said?" He mused aloud.
Kenna says, "Yes it seems one of his grandchildren has been stricken with a disease."
Kenna continues, "Well, I have some information if exploited can make your team's railroad surely able to win."
"Excellent." Cretien says, expecting her to spill the beans.
Kenna smiles and says, "I think you are starting to understand the spirit of the contest. Well as the story goes: The white dragon Cheshimox, who originally hailed from north of Drakr, but six hundred years ago he flew to what we now call Ber, sought to prove himself against the other dragon tyrants. He brought with him ice carved from a glacier surrounding a “Vsadni,” one of undead giants that once ruled the tundras, and he deposited that perpetual ice in a lakeside cave five miles north of where the Cantabrilla Railroad runs now, called Abismo Condendado, which is on Liss' route, the company working with the Danorans. With a dragon’s patience he slowly transformed a few square miles into his own private icescape in the middle of a tropical badland. He conquered the lizardfolk servants of another dragon and transformed them into undead so they could resist the unearthly chill. When he was eventually slain, his servants endured and preserved his skull, hoping some day to return their master to unlife. I know where this horde of undead ghouls are and if you redead their leader you could get them to cause mass amounts of trouble for Ms. Jierre."
She then takes a quill from the table and marks the location on your map.
Kenna finishes her drink and then excuses herself and leaves.
John
John
John returned to the cottage, changing appearances a couple of times along the way while moving through the camp.
John walks into the cottage and says "Hello. I didn't realize we had company."
Your group goes to bed and you seem to have a good night sleep which is shuttered up at 430 about an hour before sunrise by the Beran Marching band. Everyone has gotten a good night sleep except maybe John who came back late.
You are somewhat angry at the unexpected wake up call but that brisk 5/3 clave being used gets your feet tapping. The cryer opens your cottage door and says, "Hear ye, Hear ye! You have an hour before contest begins. Teleportation, Scrying and Sendings will have become unblocked." and then he leaves with the drums and trombones laying it down.
The goblin maids come into your cottage will all sorts of foods. Loads of Arepas and Chincharron, plaintains and tangerines of all sorts with dragon fruit, monkey fruit and star fruit, things that can be had in Risur but are a bit less common. Also a large tray of Brigadeiros.
As you pile on your breakfast, Zarkava shows up and says, "Dr. Runemace, would you like to join me for a early morning run. We will be back before the contest begins."
After giving the group the passphrase "I like to lick Danorans" and gesturing to the folded piece of paper, John then proceeds to share everything that he learned with the group, including his near capture.
Once Kortemir leaves with Zarkava, John says "So, have we confirmed which group each member is going to join? I know that we tenatively discussed it last night, but we didn't get confirmation from everyone. I just want to be prepared for when we leave."
As the group discussed things, John pulled out several sheets of paper and began writing furiously.
Once he was finished, he handed a copy to the group headed to deal with the train situation, and the wrote a quick note to explain what the first document was.
Constables,
I am writing this instead of speaking aloud to limit the chances this information will be intercepted. The first document I have handed you is a key that will allow us to maximize our use of the Sending spell. The numbers each correspond to a phrase, meaning that given the limit on the number of words that may be sent using the spell, having the ability to have a single word represent large amounts of information will be most important; hence my list.
Please safeguard this document, as it will be our main means of communication once our group separates. We will plan on communicating with Sending twice a day, so you should prepare to hae someone receive and reply with sending using that method. This document also includes a two-word challenge and response we will use to confirm that our lists have not been compromised; please store these documents with different people.
Weapon Equipped = Quarterstaff
Crossbow Bolts = 10/10
Conditions = Detect Scrying (24h), Mage Armor (~1/9h)
Melee: Attack: BAB +4, Str +0 Damage: +0
Ranged: Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: +0
Reconnaissance (1/1)
Instant Doorknocker (1/1)
Quick Runner (1/1)
Arcane Reservoir (su): 7/7(max12) (+1 DC or caster level (free), quick study (full), dimensional slide (part of move))
Consume Spells (su): 2/2
Runestone of Power (first) 1/2
Spells (Caster Level 9, Concentration +13, SR +11)
Special: (6/7) Force Missile*
Zero (15): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Spark
First (16): (6/6) Burning Hands*, Feather Fall, Grease, Infernal Healing, Mage Armor, Magic Missile*
Second (17) (5/5) Admonishing Ray*, Glitterdust, Invisibility, Knock, See Invisibility
Third (18) (5/5) Clairvoyance/audience, Fireball*, Haste, Heroism
Fourth (19) (3/4) Ball Lightning*, Detect Scrying, Locate Creature
* +1 DC, +4 Damage
Femi rises early, excited to begin the project. He casts Detect Scrying as usual when he’s completed his morning studies to renew the spell and uses a runestone of power to cast Mage Armor. Over breakfast, when John writes a variety of things down he starts to wonder if maybe John’s being a bit paranoid, but he shrugs. We’re just being careful. he tells himself, though he marks it in his mind.
He nods at John’s suggestions, and prepares to meet the day. When John suggests sendings twice a day, every day, he shakes his head and holds up a finger, ‘one’. ”At least for starters.” he says aloud after checking that they’re not being scried. We can always do more as needed. he thinks, but he doesn’t want to use all the scrolls too soon.
Regardless of the parties decision, he’s ready, and eager, to go.
"Dr. Runemace, would you like to join me for a early morning run. We will be back before the contest begins."
Kortemir looks astonished at the idea and gawked for a moment.
Then, glancing at his teammates at their breakfast, he nodded."Well, yes of course. A nice early morning run."
He took off his jacket and hat, glanced at his case and walking stick where they lay, sighed and moved out.
John amends his note to once a day, noting specifically at our around midnight, and gives Femi a thumbs up.
Kort and Zarkava start out jogging around the grounds of the Summer Court and after a short pause she says, "I would like to thank you for your candor earlier and would like to answer any questions you might have."
GM Rolls
Kort returns to the group and you finish your breakfast and you hear the bell that you are able to start. You divide up the scrolls and due to the information that Glaucia gave you regarding teleportation circles, Femi uses the scroll to send John and Kort to Citado Cavallo.
He then whips out another scroll to send himself and Chretien to Renza, the closest location to the head of Griento Railways. When Femi does so, Chretien whisks off to Renza and Femi for some reason is still in their cottage in the summer court.
Kort and John
You ask some directions and you are told where the main citadel is. By the time you find it, you see Lya Jierre's back in the distance as the portcullis closes behind her.
Chretien
Femi looks around, wondering how this could be! If something went wrong, he'd have imagined it going the other way 'round.
Faced with the reality, he tries to think about what may have just happened.
"Hmm, thought he was coming. Perhaps I misunderstood."
Cretien will look for Griento Railways.
Once they had arrived at the Citado, John was less than thrilled to see that they had been beaten in arriving.
"So, how do you want to handle this? We know they have someone who can specialize in mind control working for them, specifically to work on Cavallo de Guerra. I would normally just create false patens of nobility and demand an audience, but I fear we have very limited time. Lya Jierre is moving fast and we need to keep up. Keep in mind for any plan that you might make that I can make you appear to be whoever you would like me to." John gestured for the two men to walk as they talked.
Femi
Chretien and Femi
He follows Chretien to the Girento Railways.
- - -
"That's odd, it usually has to be a closed circle around you, like a ring. I wonder how they snuck a gold thread in your clothes around your whole body."
"While I am a foreigner, I am actually a physician. I doubt our rivals can claim as much."
J+K
C + F
Femi tries to learn a few things as they walk, to see what's going on locally.
- - -
"No paws to be had here. Just some boots." shouts John with a chuckle. he then quietly says to Kort "I think I can work with that. I need to you not react to anything I say. Can you honestly do that?"
Cretien + Femi
Kort + John
The half giant woman suggests, "Admiral, I think it be best to let these two in since they are dignitaries from Risur."
The orc says, "That shall be an idea. Senores come in and we will speak at lunchtime. I need to teach my granddaughter the way of the grapple."
He barks at his men to give you a room next to Lya Jierre, Alonsa escorts you to your lodgings, which overlook the sea. You are able to see his mighty navy with a beautiful view across the harbor, free of the smog of Flint or Seobriga.
Femi will keep an eye on Cretien during his watch and consider the task ahead.
- - -
JOhn and Kort
Femi and Cretien
- - -
"We are. How can we help you?"
C+F
J+K
He asks Cretien, "How much cash do you think we can offer to help close the gap? I'm not sure what we're authorized to offer. I can check in with the home office though if you're not sure either. We do have the message scrolls."
- - -
"That is a good question. Also, we should see what they need the money for. Perhaps some of your magic can provide assistance they would otherwise pay for."
C+F
Femi and Cretien see the half orc Damata Griento, A middle-aged half-orc family man and would-be railroad tycoon looking down at a topography map of the area, Damata nearly ruined his whole clan’s livelihood when he was tricked by conmen into taking out a massive loan he could not repay for a railroad through the Anthras Mountains. Desperate to avoid his debtors, he stole his clan’s stash of magic weapons and would have delivered them if not for the unlikely intervention of dwarven philosopher Vlendam Heid and your party that ended up killing off his debtors.
He looks up and his crestfallen face slowly turns to that of ecstasy as he sees Cretien and Femi. He says, "Cephas, my friend what are you doing here, by the Panoply? How have you been?"
J+K
Glazing over the "Cephas" bit, making note to explain that to Femi later, Cretien gets right to the meat of the matter.
"Ah, Damata. Perhaps it is to be your lucky day. The Bruse has us in a competition, my team versus another. This particular competition is that I aid your company and the other team aids the Liss company, whoever's company reaches the goal first wins. That is a long-winded way to say we are here to help. What can we do?"
- - -