Tossing back cold ales and cheap tales, a bunch of Pathfinders await their meeting with Drandle Dreng in a low rent tavern in Absalom...
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Kamda leans back in his chair, and eyeballs Ulfgar's armor crest.
Ack. Ye be from tha Five Kings as well? Kamda, Battlerager o' tha Stoneheart clan. Pleased ta meet ye.
He tosses back an ale and extends his hand for a shake before letting out a boisterous laugh.
So we're here ta wait on Dreng, eh? I wonder who he'll be disguised as this time?
He stands, and tucks his long black beard into his belt, before hefting his shield onto his back. It's a wide as the dwarf, and the relief of the Five Kings Mountains on it is far more deadly as it appears. If one looks closely, it's apparent that the lines and ridges of the mountains are raised, and are deadly sharp. Equally sharp are the edges of the waraxes crossed on his back, underneath it.
Well, 'spose we best figger out who does what 'afore we get sent into Torag knows where. I'll be yer shield, iffen ye need one to cast yer spells from behin'. Ain't no shame in it, it be how we dwarves kill so many durned orcs. I stop em, ye set em on fire. Or cover em in acid. Or... whatever yer magics be doin'.
He looks over the group with a discerning eye, at least, discerning for a dwarven rager.
And I be a historian fer tha Stoneheart clan, so if ye got stories or tales from yer own homes, I be wantin' ta hear em. It's why I joined the durned Society in the first place. Ain't nothing better than a good tale over a good ale, me Da always said.
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Kaeldra grasps Kamda's extended hand in earnest. "Pleased to meet you as well, sir dwarf. I'm Kaeldra Starfell, a sorcerer at your service. I do have a certain penchant for fire so I'd be more than happy to set fire to any orcs or whatever else has the misfortune of getting on our bad side." She winks, and takes a deep drink from her mead. "I take it you've met Dreng before? What is he like? This will actually be my first official mission with the Society. I'm eager to get started."
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Kamda smiles and gives the half elf a hearty dwarven handshake, probably almost yanking her poor arm out of its socket.
Pleased ta meet ye. Dreng is... Whatever Dreng wants ta be that day. Ye can't pen anything on tha man down, 'cept that he ain't likin it when agents ain't busy. Probly why he sent fer us ta meet 'im here.
He takes another huge draw of ale (read, he drinks an entire stein) and sits it on the table before turning to the Ulfen woman.
Ack, yer from tha North too? I did patrols in tha Ice Steppes with an Ulfen band... I tell ya, that wizard they had was a durned master o' that battleaxe 'e carried around, fer sure.
He grabs a turkey leg from his plate, and stuffs his mouth, speaking through the meat as juice runs into his beard.
Mmfh. Anyonmph hearf wha we sposed ta be doin?
"Squee!" Squeaks the bat hanging from a fold of her cloak.
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Kamda wipes his mouth.
Eh, I'm just hopin' fer a good story. I be needin' something good, after me last mission. Had ta protec' an' escort o' GOBLINS across Irrisen...
The look of horror and disgust on his face clearly shows how torn the poor dwarf was at the notion of actually having to defend goblins instead of murdering them.
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A broad shouldered Kellid woman with auburn hair that hint of mixed human parentage walks in with a young but healthy large predator cat with long sharp teeth. The female looks around before sitting down with the tiger laying down at her feet. She orders a mug of mead and some cooked meat. When it arrives she tears chunks of the meat off and gives it to her tiger while she sips from her mug.
"I was told to meet here for someone named Dreng." she says in a rough voice. "I take it you others are here for him as well?"
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"Yeah, a -friend of mine did something similar." Natula says with an edge to her fried voice. "How did it go?"
Eh, we kept 'em all alive. Wan't fond o it, but we did.
He eyeballs the big cat and the newcomer as well, then nearly falls over himself in excitement at a possible new story, and one completely foreign to the Stoneheart library, to boot.
Shave me trouser beard! I 'eard tales o' tha sort what can be trainin' those sorts o beasts fer combat an companions, but I ain't never seen it meself! Please, ye got ta share yer story wi' me!
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"Are you referring to Fangtooth or the dwarf?" the auburn haired female says gesturing to the axe laden dwarf while shifting the pole-arm in her hand so she can drink her mead. "Fangtooth is properly trained to behave until it is time to not behave. And he is trained for that as well. My name is Elowyn and recently joined the society from the Mammoth Lands." She is dressed in furs and horn armor which proves her primitive upbringing.
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"Apologies for the offense. Not used to being social. Having trained with the Kyonin elves I must confess some of their ways rubbed off on me. I have never met a dwarf before and from what the Kyonin elves say the dwarves are a hardy, dour, temperamental and bearded folk. I can see the beard and may soon discover the other traits."
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"Yeah, a -friend of mine did something similar." Natula says with an edge to her fried voice. "How did it go?"Eh, we kept 'em all alive. Wan't fond o it, but we did.
"Yeah, well that's good. Little miss perfect sorceress couldn't shut up about her 'little foray to the hoary north.' She's such an insufferable dolt. She got an owl familiar just to make herself seem smarter and all she does is tell stupid jokes with it. Gods' I hate sorcerers. And Kaylee the last sorcerer I worked with could stop jiggling all her girl parts for everyone to see. I swear, sorcerers drive me to drink." Reigning her fury in Natula turns her cold blue eyes to Kaeldra and asks. "So fire magic? It'll be handy having a second evoker along. Are you specialized or a generalist? Maybe we can swap spells out of our books. I'm somewhat specialized myself."
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"....I have never met a dwarf before and from what the Kyonin elves say the dwarves are a hardy, dour, temperamental and bearded folk. I can see the beard and may soon discover the other traits."
"That's funny." Natula creaks. "I was given to understand that most of the men of Kyonin had beards (of a sort) themselves." *Smirk*
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Kaeldra gives a small chuckle, "I'm actually not a wizard. I'm a sorcerer. If I were a wizard, I'd be more than happy to share my knowledge with you." She shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly. "I apologize for any confusion." Kaeldra gestures towards the bat nestled in her partner's robes. "I'm rather jealous of your bat familiar! Bats are such underrated, fantastic creatures."
"Squeek!" Kalas chirps approvingly.
...Hmm... Mistress keeps her alchemist's fire on her right hip. Squee....
You are in Absalom, the mighty City at the Center of the World,
Like all the great Pathfinders before you, you have just spent many hard weeks training at the Grand Lodge and based on the fables, outrageous tales, and 'fishing stories' bandied around about the Absaloms surrounds you’ve always longed to explore one of the countless ruins of failed conquerors that litter the plains outside the city’s walls to see if any of those legends were true.
You’ve all heard rumours that one of the sealed siege castles has been laid open by a minor earthquake. Word on the street is that no one has yet entered the tower, which folks are calling the “Fallen Fortress.” What better way to start a life of excitement and adventure than by exploring its long-abandoned, dusty halls and perhaps claiming its ancient treasures? Surely this is the reason you were called away to meet with Drandle Dreng.
After a long wait, and falling hopes, Dreng finally arrives.
"One of your fellow Pathfinders, Balenar Forsend, a young and aspiring bard decided to set out and build a legend around himself - wishing to be known for dash and derring-do. He too heard about the tower and decided to go and get first bragging rights for exploring it. Now you will be exploring it to find what remains of him. Questions?"
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Kaeldra listens with rapt attention to Dreng's briefing. She nods in agreement with her teammate's inquiries into the fate of Balenar. She tries to recall anything significant she's heard about the tower and it's locale since she's been here. Most of what she recalls falls in line with Dreng's postulation about Balenar's fate. "Unfortunately, it sounds like Balenar let himself become too enraptured by the lure of fame and fortune, and perhaps did not make all the necessary preparations before leaving on his adventure. Surely were he in his right mind, he would have acknowledged that not having someone to watch your back in a place that like would be foolhardy at best." She shakes her head and sighs. Too many adventurers are lost to situations such as this. However, there is hope that he is still alive and needs help. She awaits Dreng's reply to her teammates. That information would shape what will form the framework for their plan's to rescue or recover Balenar.
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Ulfgar looks up as Kamda Stoneheart greets him. He raises a mug of ale and says "And you will be able to add some glorious tales to our history soon!". On closer inspection, Kamda recognizes the head of a lizard, symbol of Kols, the oathkeeper tatoed on Ulfgar's face. A rare symbol for a battlerager.
As Ulfgar want to make his round and get everyone to know him in person, Drandle Dreng walks in and tells the layout of the mission.
"When did Balenar go missing?"
As Kaeldra shakes her head, Ulfgar can't be agree. "One of the first and most important things we've learned is to cooperate, he didn't go in alone, did he?"
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Kamda thuds his mug down after draining it one last time.
Sounds like pride got tha better o' 'im... We best be off then. Iffen he's in trouble, he's gonna need us there fast. Anyone need to get anything?
He starts for the door, and then looks up at Dreng a bit sheepishly.
Ummm, so... Where is the tower?
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Kaeldra laughs softly at the dwarf's enthusiasm. "Sir Kamda, surely we should get all the information Mr. Dreng here has to offer? We would be quite foolish to make the same mistakes that may have costed Balenar his life. While I wholeheartedly agree that time is of the essence, we need to approach this carefully. Alone or not, a Pathfinder Society member is no easy foe to vanquish. We could use some more information on the terrain between here and the tower."
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Kamda motions away Kaeldra's concerns with a wave of his hand.
Bah! I already got what be needin' to be doin' any vanquishin' right here!
The dwarf throws both his thumbs back over his shoulders, pointing at his axe heads poking out from behind his shield.
Lass, it be my experience tha' when yer doin' a search an' rescue, ye wanna be gettin' there as soon as ye can. Iffen ye don't it usually just turns inta a "search an' bury what's left", iffen ye catch me drift.
He does wait for directions to the tower, though.
"What do we know about this place?"/"Do we know what foes lie in the tower? Or what dangers lie in wait for us as we enter it? Just wondering if this Balenar managed to send word of what lies ahead for us so we can prepare accordingly."
Dreng ponders your questions.
The old siege castle has stood in the Cairnlands for hundreds if not thousands of years, magically sealed after the death of its forgotten master. But recently, a minor earthquake rocked the land, accomplishing in moments what dozens of scholars, sages, and adventurers could not achieve in years—the quake caused part of the
siege castle to collapse, opening its interior for the first time in centuries. The locals are now calling this tower the 'Fallen Fortress'. Balenar has not sent any word back."
"We could use some more information on the terrain between here and the tower."/"Where is the tower?"
Dreng jabs his finger on a map that shows Absalom and its surrounds.
"The inevitable result of millennia of warfare and countless unsuccessful sieges on the walls of Absalom, the region known as the Cairnlands is filled with ruined siege engines and battlements. In addition to these rotting relics of war, the landscape is scattered with stone barrows, shallow graves, and makeshift tombs for those who fell in battle far from their native soil. While the promise of treasure constantly tempts adventurers and explorers to brave the crumbling castles of the Cairnlands, the walking dead buried without proper consecration provide enough of a deterrent that plenty of artifacts of ages past remain hidden among the rubble"
It looks like the tower is about ten miles from the gates of Absalom
"When did Balenar go missing?"/"He didn't go in alone, did he?"
"Only two days ago, by our best reckoning. Bards are fickle and mercurial, it was assumed he was lost in the arms of some new amorous affection and just overdue, but then the real story emerged. He went off alone by all accounts"
From your small private room you hear the excitement picking up in the common room outside, then a rather distinct hush as a few notes are strummed meaningfully.
The patrons then all begin singing as one,
"Follow the path, follow the stars, wherever your feet may take you.
Over the plains, over the hills, through forest and grassy glen.
No matter the time, no matter the trail, remember that you are loved.
I am with you, She is above, until we're together again."
And with that, the Ritual of Stardust completes.
Sheets here!
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Every Desnan over in next booth liked Stardust a lot, but the wizard, who sat just north of them - did not. The wizard hated Stardust - the whole Stardust season. Now, please don't ask why; no one quite knows the reason. It could be, perhaps, that her Air Jordans were too tight. Or it could be that her head wasn't screwed on just right. But I think that the most likely reason of all... may have been that her heart was two sizes too small. But, whatever the reason, her heart or her Jordans, she sat there on Stardust hating the Desnans. Staring up from her booth, with a sour witchy frown, at the warm, friendly smiles all about in their town. For she knew that every Desnan all about the jolly place was busy now, tossing Stardust in their fireplace.
"I think I got sand in my eye." Natula says crossly.
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A mighty-looking snake man enters the tavern. A giant, studded club rests along his back, bound to his body by two leather cords that criss -cross his exposed chest. "I am looking for Drandle Dreng!" bellows the man over the din of the amassed crowd.
He strides through the tables and chairs before spotting the telltale hair of the wizened man. He boldly strides up and stands attentively. "I have arrived, Ser Dreng." he says with a bow. "The Kortos and Aspis have been thwarted." he informs the man.
The short man looks up to the Oni
"Two Consortiums vexed? A great effort, but the week is still young - join your companions and go locate this wayward bard so he may be given a proper burial - and let his poor example serve as a common lesson"
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"It's a tower. That implies height. Do we have enough rope and a grappling iron or two should we need them? How about precautions verse the restless dead? Or even other loot--I mean rival explorers? The bard might have talked his way past them but I don't see much hope for this party." And then she turns to the giant--though she herself is pretty tall she can't match him for mass. "And you, whoever you are, How did you get in here without a tie?"
The journey from the safety of Absalom is blessed by Densa, and you arrive to your destination safely.
The ruined siege castle now being called the Fallen Fortress rises out of the churned earth of the Cairnlands. No doors or windows mar the otherwise smooth expanse of the tower’s walls.
The tower is quatrefoil in plan; its eastern wing has largely collapsed, exposing the interior floors to the open air. Only the topmost level seems whole, though its eastern portion hangs precariously over the mountain of rubble left by the collapse.
At ground level, the rubble frames a gaping hole in the side of the building that provides access to the tower’s darkened interior.
Watching the tower a while, you see a couple of large feral looking dogs picking around the base...
Elowyn
Giri
Kaeldra
Kamda
Natula
Ulfgar
ENEMY
R1
Kamda - UP
Natula - UP
ENEMY
Ulfgar
Elowyn
Giri
Kaeldra