A round of "Are not! and Are so!" ensues.
After a bit Didactylos takes the elven women aside and tells them what they want to know in full view of the other aghast philosophers.
"The dreaded nuckelavee is a manifestation of pollution and filth, be it the natural decay of a red tide or the intrusive pollution of sewage and other urban waste, or-" he says with a meaningful glare at the crowd. "-the gutless cowardice of others. A nuckelavee is a living irony—a carrier of disease and a spreader of corruption that unleashes its wrath against other sources that bring corruption into the world. I suspect the corruption spread by nuckelavees only serves to further their own sense of self-loathing and overall rage. While nuckelavees might, incidentally, carry out vengeance for the victims of such pollution, defending the denizens of their rivers, swamps, and bogs is not their primary drive, for they revel in inflicting the very corruption they hate and enjoy little more than watching their enemies sicken and die."
"Folktales tell of talismans to carry—fetishes of seaweed garlands, horsehair soaked in brine, or vials of sanctified seawater—or of prayers to recite to ward away nuckelavees or convince them the bearer is innocent. I can't vouch for any of these stories. Probably a load of aurochs' dung."
"Mean-spirited fey, nuckelavees ride forth from black waters to wreak bloody vengeance upon those who despoil nature despoilers."
One of the others pipes in with a shout of "Spurious romanticism!" at the cynic's words to which Didactylos responds with something completely undignified, before continuing on with a "Who's telling this anyhow!"
The women learn that Nuckelavees spend most of their days asleep in flooded hollows and sea caves, waking only to gnaw on bitter plants and algae, their primary form of sustenance. With their unnatural metabolisms, nuckelavees can survive for weeks on only a few bites of aquatic plant life, and are content to lie in torpor for months or even years. Possessing a supernatural relationship with the waterways in which they reside, these bloody fey know when harm has befallen their home or its denizens.
Regardless of what sparks a nuckelavee’s wrath, once one of these avengers’ ire is garnered, it gallops forth not just to correct the offense, but repay the pain. Only once blood and tears have quenched the fires of a nuckelavee’s rage does it willingly return to the water, often carrying with it some grisly trophy of its vengeance.
All nuckelavees are infected with mortasheen, a highly infectious wasting disease capable of wiping out the populations of whole islands. Despite the monsters’ obsession with defending natural waterways and the life therein, their interest seems to end at the shoreline. Nuckelavees have no interest in or apparent love for terrestrial beasts, especially those tamed and kept by the objects of their anger. Horses, cattle, and other livestock often prove the first casualties of a nuckelavee’s rampage, with those that aren’t left slaughtered in gory tableaus being infected with mortasheen and inevitably passing it on to their owners.
"Now bugger off! I'm missing the buffet!"
"Thanks! *You* have been most helpful - we shall not block your sunlight anymore." Illthir gives the knowledgeable but smelly man a small curtsey and head for the exit. The buffet was very tempting and all but they were supposed to meet up with the others. And besides she really wasn't sure how her tomato friend felt about other vegetables... "Let's head back to the others. Unless you want to stay a bit?"
---
"Whew. Should we just stay away from the shores when we are going the other way ...?" Illthir suggests only half in jest to Alia as they are making their way away from the temple.
"Well, it will have to do." says the archbanker to Durgan in regards to the other's attire.
A carriage arrives to pick them both up and then rides across town out the eastern gates and across a tall stone bridge and into the castle that overlooks the town.
"Now be careful. And mind what you say." warns the archbanker.
Footmen arrive to usher the pair in to a grand hall with overlooking mezzanine. The room is filled with noble party goers, servants and entertainers. Chamber music resonates through the warmly lit space.
He smiles.
"You folks don't seem the shtrictly military short either. What do you do?"
"We are adventurers, bandit hunters we are clearing out the greenbelt in hope that civilisation can be brought to the area."
replies Zokon hoping to keep the man talking
The tatted-up dwarf brings the 'stew'. It is stew-flavored.
"Mostly I just wander around. Doing jobs for people that most wouldn't like doing themshelves. I'm waiting to start one now. *hic* You're from the Gronzi Wood ain't you?" he says to Zokon. "I can tell by the acshent and eyebrowsh. You know a man by the name of Erlund Remuros?"
Ah, good old stew. Scarlet kicks back and starts eating.
Man, this stuff is strong!
Serena watches for a moment, somewhat amused by the goings-on. She was no stranger to training matches, though unarmed combat was hardly her forte. Still, the opportunity to test her skills intrigues her. She approaches the man in blue casually.
"What goes on here, then?"
"Just helping out at the temple here. It part of our deal with temple gymnasium master. Excuse me." he magics up a loud **Smack!** that coincides with the interloper in the ring hitting the man pinning his partner in the back with the chair. The action breaks up the pin. "Our denomination does not have a temple of our own so instead we share space here for our rites. Are you a follower of the Everlight? We are about to celebrate day's end, you are welcome to join."
The tatted-up dwarf brings the 'stew'. It is stew-flavored.
"Mostly I just wander around. Doing jobs for people that most wouldn't like doing themshelves. I'm waiting to start one now. *hic* You're from the Gronzi Wood ain't you?" he says to Zokon. "I can tell by the acshent and eyebrowsh. You know a man by the name of Erlund Remuros?"
Zokons attention snaps completely to the man now, "Yes I knew him, he's gone. He was a fine man. How did you know him."
Zokon is trying to conceal his concern and curiosity of what this man might be and know considering Erlunds background.
"Oh, I get around." he takes another quaff, gives a loud, contented sigh and wipes his mouth with the back of his sleeve.
"He taught me. "
Angus barges back in with an older, meaner looking dwarf that Scarlet recognizes as Arbalasti Singe her brother's chief siege wizard. He growls.
"Reit! Th' brigade's musterin' oot ay toon tae th' eest. we can reach 'em tonecht!" says Makdoon. "An' we ur leavin' tonecht. Half th' toon is lookin' fur th' brigade fur some reason."
"Grrrr."
"Siguard, so glad you could join us." calls a distinguished man from across the hall. He is surrounded by a cloud of courtiers and as Durgan notes more martial-seeming minders though the latter at a mostly-unobtrusive distance.
Archbanker Barasav introduces his popular friend as Rastine Selline, Aldori Swordlord, Champion of the List, Lord Mayor of Mivon. He kisses the Lord Mayor's outstretched ring and then introduces Durgan in kind.
"Lord Mayor. May your ventures be profitable. I congratulate you on this fine bastion of civilization that you run."
Durgan will also kiss the ring, if that is the custom in Mivon. Presuming this does not imply direct servitude, merely acknowledgement of Raston Selline's authority within the city."I am Durgan Far-Walker, traveling missionary of Abadar."
He will not volunteer too much information, but will keep an eye out for Hotspur. As the Archbanker said, Durgan will definitely be careful and mind what he says.
I didn't expect to actually meet the Lord Mayor...
The Lord Mayor smoothly observes all the formal protocols.
"The Lord Mayor is one of the most knowledgeable and informed people I know. He has graciously granted you a private audience once our business is complete. We won't be but a moment." says Archbanker Barasav proudly.
The two excuse themselves to a sumptuous wood-paneled drawing room off the side of the main hall.
"Someone is in trouble. Hehe." says a sly-looking man in noble attire. He holds a drink up as if to offer a toast. "Cheers."
In reply to Angus "Good or bad looking for the company? Will they be seeking you out to find where company is Angus?"
"Oy! Singe!" Scarlet puts down her stew-like concoction and stands up to hug or handshake the guy. He could ramble on for hours about the mysteries of magic but he couldn't carry a conversation for more than a few minutes without growing visibly bored.
"Hehe, yeah we're leavin' tonight- Wait, does that mean the company has a job lined up?"
"Someone is in trouble. Hehe." says a sly-looking man in noble attire. He holds a drink up as if to offer a toast. "Cheers."
"Oh? How so? And I have no glass, but please, go ahead. Is the wine good?"
Durgan tries to get a sense of this man's intentions.
"Yes," Serena nods, "I should like very much to join your evening prayers. Thank you for the invitation."
In reply to Angus "Good or bad looking for the company? Will they be seeking you out to find where company is Angus?"
Angus turns to Zokon with the expression of someone explaining something very simple to someone who was them self very simple. "In yer experience has thaur ever bin a time 'at it has bin a guid hin' 'at th' city guard was lookin' fur ye?"
"Oy! Singe!" Scarlet puts down her stew-like concoction and stands up to hug or handshake the guy. He could ramble on for hours about the mysteries of magic but he couldn't carry a conversation for more than a few minutes without growing visibly bored.
"Hehe, yeah we're leavin' tonight- Wait, does that mean the company has a job lined up?"
"Cannie hen! Singe hasnae bin reit since he took 'at javelin tae th' heed!"
**sniff, sniff **
Scarlet laughs even more before offering some of her stew to Singe. "Alright, alright. Sounds like someone in the Company angered the wrong guardsman."
"She turns to Zokon. Sounds like we need to find the rest of the party and clear out of here."
Suddenly the doors bust open, and in runs a frantic-looking treasure hunter and his friends.
"HEY GUYS! The city guard are lookin' to pay fer some daft lookin' gnome with whiskers an' a big tall hat and 'is friends! AY! THAT'S 'EM OVER THERE!"
Arbalasti bites the man and then all hell breaks loose.
Round 1! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Abalasti
__ Zokon
__ Tattooed Barkeep
__ Kigarou
__ Numalar
__ Scarlet
__ Angus
__ Fortune Hunters (4; red -3)
__ Erevenywg
__ The Crowd
Scarlet laughs uproariously. "Barbrawl!"
"Yes," Serena nods, "I should like very much to join your evening prayers. Thank you for the invitation."
"Well then, shall we?" the man pulls the tie loose from his blue robe and lets it fall to the ground. "I'm Narses Calot. Put 'er there."
She shakes the offered hand and shrugs. She wasn't exactly shy, but this was certainly unusual. But when in Mivon...
Serena carefully strips off her armor and gear, then removes her clothing, revealing a toned body. "Serena Mistcastle."
Zokon steps up to one of reds friends and draws his sap along the way
"Numalar out.. get out."
She shakes the offered hand and shrugs.
As the last of the Kurgessan clean up and leave more blue robed Sarenrae mystery cultists arrive. In all two dozen people of various ages (it is somewhat difficult to tell their stations because of their lack of accessories) partake in the service which while it does incorporate ideas and symbolism from the more mainline religion also includes some really obscure lore like the symbolic rites of evening wherein the Dawnflower descends into the Abyss to keep the world safe from the Rough Beast. There is a sort of circular conga-style dance and a number of songs and hymns to the Dawnflower that the others seem to know quite well.
The rites themselves only last about a half hour.
Calot explains that they usually have a bigger turn out for evening rites on Fireday, and dawn rites on Sunday.
"Oh? How so? And I have no glass, but please, go ahead. Is the wine good?"
Durgan tries to get a sense of this man's intentions.
"I am Lloutz Muniair, Baron of Landfall" he says with inebriated dignity. "The Lord Mayor is my brother--half brother that is. Raston doesn't do meetings with simple friars like yourself unless he wants something."
Durgan gets a bad vibe from the Baron. Here is a troublemaker if ever there was one. He has the air of a person who is both happy and spiteful over the fact that he is famous simply for being famous. Looking about Durgan notes that the man has a collection of three or four shady-looking friends. No, they are probably not actual friends. They are probably associates.
"I am Lloutz Muniair, Baron of Landfall" he says with inebriated dignity. "The Lord Mayor is my brother--half brother that is. Raston doesn't do meetings with simple friars like yourself unless he wants something."
"Greetings, your Lordship."
Durgan bows."I hope things are well in Landfall. If the Lord Mayor wants something honest and legitimate, it is my honor to help, praise Abadar. It is my sacred duty to help with the preservation and expansion of civilization and trade. Likewise, should you need my services for the administration of your own realm, perhaps we could discuss the matter after my meeting with your half-brother. I am a skilled accountant, and trained in other aspects of bureaucracy. Would you like to hear about the filing system I implemented in Winterbreak?"
Durgan does his best to seem earnest and straightforward. He will keep an eye on Lloutz and his "associates," but he isn't going to cause a scene over any insults.
Is there a seneschal or other such official of the Lord-Mayor in the hall? If Durgan sees any pick-pocketing, he would like to report the matter quietly to a proper official.
After the rites are complete, Serena thanks her hosts and dresses before heading for the tavern.
Zokon hits someone who hits someone looks like the opposing group's dad.
The barkeep carefully moves along his display to select a cheap but heavy bottle of liquor to use as a weapon.
Round 1! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Abalasti
__ Zokon
__ Tattooed Barkeep
__ Numalar
__ Scarlet
__ Angus
__ Kigarou delay
__ Fortune Hunters (red -3, orange -4)
__ Erevenywg
__ The Crowd
Tenacity: 13/13
Scarlet leaps into the crowd and starts busting as many heads as she can. Her skin turns bright red as she punches anyone in range who's itching for a fight. "You think you can take me on, big guy? BRING IT ON, HAHA!"
"Yes, Lord Mayor. Thank you, I will have some wine. I know your time is valuable, so I thank you for it, and I will cut right to the chase: my comrades and I encountered a strange creature in the swamp, apparently called a nuckelavee. Looked like a flayed horse and rider joined together. Causes supernatural terror in those who see it. It accused us of being 'despoilers', though apparently was persuaded to not attack. I admit, with some shame, that my mind was not strong enough to resist its spell of terror. So I was not there for the conversation. But I trust the reports of those who were.
Have there been reports of this creature in the Hooktongue Slough? Should you know of it, I would be grateful for your assistance. And if you do not know of it, I offer my information for the benefit of your travelers or traders. The day is coming, I believe, when the realms of the Stolen Lands will be prospering economies and well-established trading partners of Mivon. I do not believe this creature to be a friend of civilization and trade."
"Huh. The crowd sure looks lively tonight..." the skald remarks as they approach the in. The roars and screams made that much clear. And the bottle sailing trough a window only helped her draw that conclusion. Now this wasn't something she was unfamiliar with, but she still prefered when she didn't have to dodge stuff while relaxing. Ah well. "Let's hope it isn't our company that's the center of this kerfuffle!"
"Let's hope it isn't our company that's the center of this kerfuffle!"
"HAHAHA! This is great!" Scarlet elbows a drunkard wielding a bottle. "Bah, everyone else should be here!"
"HAHAHA! This is great!" Scarlet elbows a drunkard wielding a bottle. "Bah, everyone else should be here!"
"That laugh - Scarlet...?" Illthir tilted her head to try and hear better. She wasn't sure, but it felt like her hopeful theory had been dashed.
Durgan is happy to talk about his ministry, his travels, and his labors helping expand the frontiers of civilization.
He is less happy when the inquiry turns to the party, and realizes at once that the party is in trouble. But can't do anything about it and doesn't see any chance of success in misleading the Lord Mayor. Better to just stick with the truth.
"I normally travel alone, though not always. I met up with a half-elven paladin some time ago and we traveled together. More recently in Fort Drelev I met up with some of the people you describe. A chartered company, I understand. The gnome, the tall fey woman, an elf woman. Those three as you say. There was a human man with robust enough eyebrows for a human, I suppose, but that is not very specific. It may or may not be the man you mean. There was a half-elf woman, but not the one you describe, I think. Her name didn't mean 'moon' as far as I know. And she had no large pet cat. There were two more in the band besides those, the paladin, and myself. I have been traveling with them to aid in the execution of their charter. Their charter involves bringing civilization to the wilds of the Stolen Lands, a sacred duty of mine that will bring profit to Mivon in due course. I will swear to all of this within a Zone of Truth if you wish.
Why do you ask? Have they committed some crime? Or do you wish to do business with them?"
Angus attempts to climb up on the bar but stumbles! "Someain gezz a boost!"
"You bit me!" Shouts the rakish looking half-elven master of the obvious. He tries to fend off Arbalasti with his boot but the old dwarf is tenacious.
For punching their old wizard ally the fortune hunters lay into Zokon.
"Lay off the old man you jerk!" shouts a tall blonde woman in heavy armor cuffing him with her gauntlet.
"I've got him!" says a man in hunters garb, punching him in the kidney.
"Hold him still until I can find something to beat him with! I'll teach him for picking on a defenseless wizard!" shouts the old man casting about for something heavy bludgeon Zokon with.
Erevenyng looks about for somewhere safe to sit.
Her utter nonchalance about the whole thing is distracting. She just up and walks across the room as if no one was there. Boots, bodies and fists fly but none ever seem to in the Erevenyng is in. Instead most people miss her and hit the man with Arbalasti hanging off his boot.
Meanwhile, slumped on his bar stool Kigarou sleepily--almost accidentally--batters anyone who gets to close to him.
The melee spreads to every table.
Meanwhile the barkeep keeps looking for a not too expensive weapon from his shelf as small bits of furniture impact all about him.
Arbalasti hangs on to the man by his teeth--worrying his boot like an old guard dog.
The man screams.
Round 2! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Arbalasti -3 t
__ Illthir
__ Alia
__ Serena
__ Zokon -10 t
__ Numalar -3 t
__ Scarlet -3 t
__ Angus -3 t
__ Fortune Hunters (red -10 t, orange -7 t, green -3 t, yellow -3 t)
__ Kigarou -3 t
__ Erevenywg -1 t
__ The Crowd -18 t
__ Tattooed Barkeep -3 t
|
Angus attempts to climb up on the bar but stumbles! "Someain gezz a boost!"
"Hey! That's my hat! Watch who you step on!" shouts Numalar.
Numalar ducks around the end of the bar.
"I think these people need to lighten up," Numalar says. He spits a ball of golden sparkles towards the group attacking Zokon, and the sparkles explode in a dazzling shower.
Tenacity 19/22
"...Yep. That's Scarlet all right." Illthir started to pull up her sleeves. Just in case. But it looked like they were winning already and there *might* be some point to not getting punched. Instead she focused on trying to see if the city watch was coming or not.