GM Rednal's War of the Burning Sky (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

"As long as the Lyceum stands, slim to none they just buckle in. The Raggies don't like magic that much to begin with, and the Lyceum won't just quietly give in to the demands of a power like that. There isn't a lot that a big group of angry wizards can't do if they really put their minds to it." The refugee explained. At that, Haddin just smirked. The rest of the group didn't seem too surprised, though Krystin and Tiljann were measurably more concerned for the people. "I can't say things are great here, but we're getting by - what we really need is for this war to be over. Did you lot want to stay with us?" The group clearly wasn't moving very quickly - it almost seemed like they wanted to go slow enough for things to settle down in the area before they tried to get into a town.

"Nae, although we thank ye for thinking of it. It was information we craved, and a veritable feast of it ye have granted us." Umbriak bowed his head in thanks and looked at the others. It seemed like it was time to carry on, unless they had something else to ask.

Farod nods, thoughfully: "That's what made me wonder. A big group of angry wizards should be quite capable of ending a siege by sea...ships seem like vulnerable targets to a great number of spells - if they manage to blockade Seaquen regardless...", he lets his voice trail off and shrugs.
"Guess only one way to find out, by heading there..."
Counting out 100 GP, Farod hands them to the refugees: "It's of little use in times of war, but wherever you find respite from the Ragesians, you may be able to make use of it to start anew."

"Even if the ships can't leave, Seaquen might be a good refuge if the Lyceum is as powerful as you describe. I hope that they are willing to let everyone in. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I hope we can meet again when this war is over."

The refugees began to stammer their thanks as Farod handed out coin, and you saw it quickly being distributed to the others. Whether you interpreted it through optimism (they were genuinely kind people who shared) or pessimism (might as well cut off any temptation to steal early), the result seemed to be the same.

As you pulled away from the refugees, Torrent tapped her chin. "I'm not sure Seaquen is actually blockaded - Farod's right that a fleet wouldn't have an easy time of it, not when all the wizards would be able to do it all over again the very next day. You want to take a place like that, you take it right away or not at all. Rumors have a way of getting out of hand, although I suppose we can't discount the possibility that they found a way to protect their ships. Either way, our destination remains unchanged."

"Unless we wish to go for a wee ride on a boat, I cannae see it making much difference to us." Umbriak looked around. "Are we intending to take a wee ride on a wee boat?"

"Well, why not? That said, I was mostly busy not getting killed by Ragesians and not being trapped in a fire forest. That is to say, we never really sat down and talked about where we're going, except away from the Ragesians? You and Torrent had a plan when we met?"
Maybe I simply forgot, but where were we headed again ultimately? And why?

"I was just trying to escape, and then the forest captured me. I thought we were just getting away from the coming army?"

Torrent snorted slightly once you were away from the refugee camp. "Shame about that hiccup with the intelligence, but no, Lyceum is our goal for now. They want to stand against Ragesia, and going by my contacts, they're the ones best positioned to do so. If we can get there and prove we support their cause - probably have to work at that a bit - we can join in. Ragesia has plenty of experience fighting wizards, but that's mostly one-on-one, when they can negate and contain arcane power. A large, determined group of Wizards is a hell of a lot harder to crack, and the best chance we have to shut down Ragesia's ambitions. They'll have us all under their boots if we can, so while I don't like the odds, I'm betting on the best chance of stopping that."

"Well I'm all for helping keep magic around, though I'm a bit biased since I'm currently being hunted down because of this little memento," Tchakar gave a waggle of his stark white fingers. "Not exactly the future I had planned, but I suppose now is as good of a time as any to find a cause, right?"

"Aye, a noble cause and a good quest do the blood good and balance the humours," Umbriak replied, nodding wisely. "If yon wizards can explaode themselves a dragon or two then this will be a job of work well done, but 'tis one best done with feet for now."

"Aye...Lyceum sounds like a decent enough goal. I don't like the idea of depending on others one bit. But as you say, this is greater than us, and it probably is the best shot we have at fighting back.", Farod agreed reluctantly. Haddim had seemed a bit too exited about the prospect of a large bunch of Wizards in a place...
...and if they encourage each other in their decadence and vanity that will be an awful place to be...

Larger groups of Wizards were widely rumored to be fond of using Unseen Servant spells and apprentices alike to do most of the actual work. On the other hand, it was widely agreed that you didn't become a strong wizard without real study and work - many of them didn't have time for more mundane concerns, and acted accordingly.

"The world isn't as peaceful as we'd like it to be. Sometimes you have to make the best of bad circumstances." Torrent agreed wryly. "Personally, I don't think much of their long-term odds. Ragesia is fundamentally expansionist - it has to keep growing and spreading its ideas because it can't truly tolerate coexistence. Anytime a force like that gets too big, they're in trouble, because someone's going to take offense and do something dramatic." she glanced skyward, frowning a bit. "You know, if teleportation is still buggered, that might explain why they're still standing at all. Keeps distant archwizards from simply teleporting in and laying waste to Ragesia's armies. I heard some people built this giant construct to fight a dragon awhile back somewhere over in Avistan... but as much as I'd like to ask them for help, I think we're going to have to fight Ragesia on our own. It's probably for the best, though." she shook her head a bit. "That's just maybes, and right now, we should be focused on our own survival. Let's set up camp and get some rest... and hope this blasted rain lets up sometime soon."

Umbriak perked up at the idea of a giant construct fighting a dragon. That sounded like it had far more potential than wizards. But he agreed with Torrent. "Aye, for now that should be our focus. Let us break out the tend and I shall rustle up rations."

I sure hope we never find that construct...

"A construct to fight a Dragon, hu?", Farod seemed lost in thought. "Adam...", he mumbled absent-mindedly, an image of a tiny blueish Tiljann coming unbidden to his mind before his sudden daydream ends as quickly as it started.
Nodding along with Torrent, he added: "Ragesia will fall. One way or another. Any empire dependent on constant expansion eventually crumbles - when they consume everything around them, they will turn upon themselves due to their learned hunger for strife."

"Maybe that's a better idea anyways. Rather than trying to meet them in combat with armies and wizards, could it be possible to sow dissent within their borders? Drive them to despise their own leaders, and tear down their war machine for us?" Tchakar asked as he cleared some debris before setting off to find at least a little dry wood. "And I would like to meet the creator of this giant construct. If it fought a dragon it probably wouldn't be taken out of the sky by a flaming forest..."

"One can hope." Torrent agreed. "Much as I'd love to see Ragesia fall on its own, though, I don't fancy our chances of living through it... or the damage they'll do to everything else along the way. Blasted fanatics. Can't reason with them, can't come to terms with them... and you often have to do stuff you'd really prefer not to just to protect yourself. If nothing else, Seaquen should be able to help break the siege back at Gate Pass - and as long as that stands, Ragesia can be contained."

With that pleasant(?) thought, you moved well away from the refugee camp, then set up your tents for the night. The rain didn't let up - if anything, it was getting a bit worse as you woke the next morning and continued down the coast. Finally, you saw a small thorp on the horizon. While clearly not Seaquen - Torrent noted your destination was still several days away, at best - the place appeared to be swelling with people at the moment.

"More refugees?" Umbriak pondered, looking down. It seemed like they might be able to at least get more tales. If you matched all the rumours, eventually you'd winnow something akin to the truth.

"If you're right, I can't imagine what Seaquen is going to be like. We won't know until we get a better look. Be careful though, big crowds like this are perfect for the nimble fingered folk. Or... so I've been told."

"Maybe refugees - we set out a few hours ago, well after sunrise. If they meant to make their way to Seaquen, they should also be on the road, moving towards the next settlement. Must be a reason they're dallying around in that Thorp. Only one way to find out, I guess...if the land path is blocked somehow, I'd prefer to find out before running into trouble."

From the looks of things, there were considerably more people than the town was built to hold - and it didn't look like they were just passing through. Given that, refugees were a very reasonable guess. A few people in rough leather armor seemed to be acting as guards near the proper entrance, and they noticed your approach, but didn't seem hostile.

Tchakar approached the nearest of the apparent guards and asked "What's going on? I knew things have been getting rough, but I didn't expect to see this much chaos. Are all of these people displaced from the fighting?"

Umbriak grunted, looking around at all the people. "Too many souls squeezed in here. Cannae last." He looked around uneasily.

"Aye. Barely by choice, I reckon.", turning to the acting guard, Farod asked:"What's the hold-up? Surely it's not that all these people hope they will be save here from the Ragesian Scourge."

"Aw, them? Most want to go on to Seaquen." the guard answered, sounding like he fielded such questions on a regular basis. "Only real way is through the marsh by boat, but not everyone can afford the trip. Lotta people're trying to find what work they can to scrape some coin together. Not worth tryin' it on your own, either - the marsh is dangerous. If you've got the coin, everything you'll need is for sale."

Umbriak looked at Torrent. "Why does my mind ponder the chances that we, too, shall be venturing into this yon marsh?" Nodding to the Guard, Umbriak asked, "And prey tell, how much does it cost to travel through yon Marsh?"

"Let me get this straight. These people are attempting to flee from the horrors of war, and likely death, and they are being refused passage because they do not have enough coin?"...there was a sharp undertone in Farods voice as he asked, then added, mumbling :"When the Ragesian vanguard arrives at the horizon, and the people grow desparate, you will not be able to restrain them...you know that, right?"
Of course he knows...he'll be safely on the other side of the marsh by that time... "They will rush into the Marsh, and to their deaths."

"Did you really expect anything different? There was a time I'd see this situation as a prime opportunity, and I expect that the people in charge here are going to welcome the Ragesians in, just like in Gate Pass. It's easy to turn a blind eye and make some coin until it's your head on the block."

The guard shrugged slightly. "We're not letting them starve." he pointed out. "And there really aren't enough boats for everyone, so we're doing what's best for the town. Rowboats are a hundred gold and seat three each - don't overload them unless you're stupid. Oars, maps, and labor to carry a boat the fifteen miles to the swamp edge are five gold each - that's one of the ways we let refugees work to earn coin for their own trips, by the way, honest pay for honest work - and gator tooth necklaces for warding off the wildlife are twenty-five."

"Why wouldn't they just pool their resources, buy a couple boats and get everybody over with multiple trips? 3 People go over, 1 comes back, 2 more people go over, and so on?", Farod inquired.
Certainly, there would be people afraid of being left behind...but at the same time, there would be people desparate enough to grasp at straws...
Turning to Tchakar and Umbriak, he continued:"I don't exactly feel comfortable leaving people behind - if there's anything we can do..."

"Sounds like the swamps be a little risky for just the one," Umbriak considered, perking up at the mention of alligator teeth necklaces. "These wee teeth necklaces...how many can ye make with one such beastie?" Well,it might supplement their income if Umbriak could punch a few out.

"Well... I... That's actually quite a bit more fair than I expected, given the circumstances. Could you direct us where we could purchase those items ourselves?"

To Farod, Tchakar replied, "We've got seven of us, so at least 3 boats. Add in 3 sets of oars, setting them up, and probably a pair of maps, just in case something happens to the first..." Tchakar trailed off as he tallied up the total, "We're looking at 340 gold pieces, and it leaves two empty seats. Perhaps we can find a family with a few small children, buy an extra boat and bring them along. It would be difficult for such a family to cross on their own, both because of the price and it would need both parents to row the entire way. We can't help everyone, but perhaps a few?"

"Trip through the swamp takes about two days of steady progress. Long time to be there on your own." the guard answered, wiping away a bit of water and sighing as the rain continued to fall. "A good gator'll get you enough teeth for two necklaces."

"Och, a wee hunt might help finance this trip then." Umbriak was happy to help people, but prefered to do it by hitting other things. And taking there teeth, today.

"Hm...I doubt people will take the boats with them once they crossed. How about a lenghty hunting trip, Umbriak? If we take the trip through the swamp, collect a dozen or two of the boats over there, then return here with them? We'd certainly get a couple Gator's attention...and help out the people. We should be well ahead of the Ragesians so spending a few days doing good shouldn't hurt our schedule too much...I mean, what good does it do if we flee these monsters, but turn into ones ourselves by loosing all compassion for our fellow humanoids."

"Eh... I'm not sure starting up a ferry business is the best idea. I'd rather put as much distance as I can between us and that army, and backtracking doesn't really help that," Tchakar suggested nervously.

At Tchakar's words, Torrent nodded. "The forest helped while it was burning, but there's no telling what might be behind us, or how far." she said quietly, away from the guard's ears. "I don't really like the thought of leaving people behind, either, but the only want to help everyone is to try and put an end to this war as soon as possible. Umbriak, what does Angradd say about things like this?" she added, inquiring of the Warpriest's views.

"To keep going fore so long as the plan holds," Umbriak said, considering. "He is the Forge-Fire, lord of attack. So long as ye plan accordingly, He will watch over you offence." The Dwarf nodded, adding, "His Teachings say to continue, end the war, and help as many as possible."

Farod sighs.
He by no means had intended to run a business - he simply wanted to help some of the more unfortunate ones among the refugees - by example, hoping that others might have followed in their steps.
Alas, he knew just as well that while they certainly could travel much faster than a full army, they had no idea how much time they really had...spending 4 days on such an errand might cost them dearly, later.
"Just as well. I'll spring for 4 boats. Each one headed by one of us, most ready for actual combat.", he points at Tchakar, Umbriak, Torrent and himself.
"3 of us go with Tiljann, Haddim, and Krystin", he points at Tchakar, Umbriak, and himself as he calls out the names. "That leaves at least 5 spots for those most in need of our help - the very old or very young that may not be able to make the crossing even if they manage to afford a boat by some miracle. Is THAT acceptable?"
Of course, there's the convenient side effect of separating Krystin and her Father. He'll probably insist on going with her, but lets see if he has any arguments...

"Sounds good to me."

Torrent nodded in agreement. Haddin snorted slightly and muttered something about being soft - glancing sharply at his daughter before he could speak - but he didn't actually object to the plan. Tiljann, for her part, considered for a few moments. Then, "I think we shouldn't spread word of our intentions, 'lest we be mobbed." she said quietly. "Better to find some people and make our offer, then be on our way. I've seen mortals in the fire forest before, and good people can do bad things in desperate times."

"But on the other hand," Umbriak mused, "Bad folks can do good things too." Shrugging, he added, "Let us see if we can find those who need help the most." Women without partners and with children seemed likely.

"I definitely agree with you on that. Pressed between an impassable swamp and an encroaching army isn't what I would consider a safe situation. I guess the best place to look would be wherever they're selling the boats and supplies. And we need to see about buying what we need anyways, so let's head there first."

"Words wise beyond your apparent age, Tiljann.", Farod smiled at the Fey Girl in agreement. Their age worked differently, he knew, but then, she did not have an opportunity to see much of the world yet.
"That said, I doubt there are lots of supplies to be had, but it doesn't hurt to take a look. Maybe someone is willing to sell something of interest to pay for the passage-"
Obviously, Farod had no plans to take advantage of the situation, but if a fair trade was to the advantage of both parties, the circumstances were no reason not to go through with it.
I was thinking children, too. Maybe also those accompanied by grandparents, with parents in the war or dead. MOSTLY, though, those (children/teens) with (emergent?) magical abilities or otherwise on the murder/target list of the Ragesians.

For what it's worth, there are enough refugees that you basically have your pick of age, gender, and apparent family status. XD Feel free to pick what you want and move on from there.

Well, as said, I'd take those least able to fend for themselves, and most likely to be targeted for extermination by the Ragesians. *shrugs*
We can leave things vapory, the deed is more important than the details. Anyway, good to proceed to shopping for supplies/browsing for desperate offers of heirlooms(that would be bought for a fair price).

Umbriak is happy so long as folks get helped.

Yup, I'm good with picking up a family that looks like they won't be able to make it across on their own and preferably has at least one member with magic abilities that could make them a target.

As you moved into town, you heard a few people calling out - one man selling boats, and another deerhide tents that were supposedly good against the rain that was still coming down. They didn't have much other than mundane items (non-magical, non-masterwork items worth 50 GP or less), but if you wanted to stock up on anything... or sell anything... now was definitely a good time.

Buying a tent seemed like a wise investment - hopefully it would even be decent - and Umbriak decided to see if anyone had any Fire Ink. It didn't seem likely, but...