Desmond smiles. "Thank you, June. I have a feeling this will be quite useful."
"Well, Kiddu, you helped us save a fey from starvation, and taught some leprechauns a lesson about picking on others. I think it's time to call it a day."
"Oh, and Lilly told us why you did all this. Let me get in touch with another friend of mine, who knows a thing or two about all kinds of magic. He may be able to help her."
With that, Desmond escorts the kid back to town.
Sven thanks the fey: "It's very beautiful, thank you. Call us if you need help again."
And then he follows after Desmond and Kiddu.
@ Ven
Pepperclamp lead you to a tavern when you find former captain Sharpblast recovering from a hangover.
he blames himself for serving an impostor - pepeprclamp tells you in low voice.
@ Des, Sven
"Well atleast he's loyal." Vendrick murmurs before approaching the Captain.
"Greetings Captain Sharpblast, A moment of your time please. Your cooperation may be integral to stopping whoever was trying to break apart our alliance with Tuskkeep. What can you tell me about the expeditions Kayiqard had your men on? The ones to the druidic ruins..."
@ Des
Two days later, In Liro's tavern, you overheard a conversation
Guy A: Two day and no news from Ulsas's group, I better would have bet against them
Guy B:They were just to kill some skeletons in the whispering forest, they will be fine I tell you
At that moment a young lady approaches you. it is mirelle (that mystic theurge that joined the party in the mission of the Black Iron[ooc]I don't even remember if you paid her, but anyways)
His Desmond. I want to hire you for a small mission
@ Sven
Two days later captain Amra calls for you.
Amra: I will have to ask you something, and I hope you don't dislike it that much. - Three young person's approach, they all wear the ranger's outfit They are Sin, will and the little lady is Maya. They are new recruits and completed the theoretical training, it is time to be proved in the outside...So, say hello to your new team.
@ Ven
I'm not captain anymore...but I can't blame you, I should have noticed Kayiqard treachery. My head is hurting, so what exactly do you want to know.
"Did you recover anything from the ruins? Did Kayiqard ever tell you not to speak of anything in particular?" Vendrick tries to keep his excitement from bleeding into his voice.
The day after helping Kiddu, Desmond spends more time than usual in the tavern, seemingly in deep thought. Eventually, he stumbles (literally) into Sven, looking more drunk and happy than the boar-man has ever seen him.
"Shhven, my good friend" Desmond slurs, "I've done it! I've...I've found my calling! You probably didn't know thish, but I happen to be a devout follower of Cayden Cailean. I've been shhpending the day in deep, deep communion with him. And now, *hic* I've achieved enlightenment!"
He raises his arms skyward, nearly falling backward in the process.
"I have been blesshed with his holy energy! My mind ish abuzz with divine power! It co-*hic*-courses through me, filling me with warmth and confidenshe!"
"Now I can clearly shee the purposhe that has been misshing from my life. I have deshided to become a travelling priest, spreading hope and *hic* revelry in Cayden Cailean'sh name! And, ash it turnsh out, that will shimply require me to do the shame thing I've alwaysh been doing. But now, I'm doing it for a higher caushe!"
@ Ven
I think so, I think we found the staff we went sent after. And the king...I mean kayiqard - he say with disgust -didn't have to tell me to close my mouth, that was a given -
The day after helping Kiddu, Desmond spends more time than usual in the tavern, seemingly in deep thought. Eventually, he stumbles (literally) into Sven, looking more drunk and happy than the boar-man has ever seen him.
"Shhven, my good friend" Desmond slurs, "I've done it! I've...I've found my calling! You probably didn't know thish, but I happen to be a devout follower of Cayden Cailean. I've been shhpending the day in deep, deep communion with him. And now, *hic* I've achieved enlightenment!"
He raises his arms skyward, nearly falling backward in the process.
"I have been blesshed with his holy energy! My mind ish abuzz with divine power! It co-*hic*-courses through me, filling me with warmth and confidenshe!"
"Now I can clearly shee the purposhe that has been misshing from my life. I have deshided to become a travelling priest, spreading hope and *hic* revelry in Cayden Cailean'sh name! And, ash it turnsh out, that will shimply require me to do the shame thing I've alwaysh been doing. But now, I'm doing it for a higher caushe!"
"I'm sure he'd be proud."
-----------------------------------------------
"What did I do to deserve this punishment?" Sven asks as he looks at the newbies.
The next morning, Desmond shows no signs of a hangover. Perhaps his patron is already looking out for him!
"Why hello, Mirelle! As a newly appointed crusader of courage and revelry, I would be more than happy to help!"
"For the right price, of course. Crusaders still have to eat, y'know." he adds.
"Where is the staff now?"
@ Ven
We lost it...We had it, but we lost it because something attacked us in the mist. We get dispersed and could not find the way to return to look for it- He sees in your face that you will ask "why" you could not return for it
He says it was in the mistpines - as if that explained everything
@ Sven
Amra:It is for a short time, just patrol some area and that is it. Be nice on them - And leaves.
Maya (the 5 ft, pale skin, black haired blue eyes girl) says some nervously:So, sir, where are you taking us to patrol?
Will (the 5,7 ft, pale skin, green eyed blond) say with emotion in his words To the tanglewoods? the whispering forest? the bitterblood swamp? or perhaps...the peaks of death and despair!!
Sin (the 6,2 brown skinned, short black hair) just stay quiet.
@ Des
Of course, there is payment according to the time and risk of the job. It is easy, I just need you to scort me to four cascades so i can see by myself some ruins.
"Explain. I am not familiar with this region."
@ Vendrick
Pepperclamp:The mistpines is a haunted place, very dangerous. It was there where the ancient elves lived and, well, died. But their magic is still there, somewhat crazy now. Easy to get lost, easy to get killed almost without noticing. It actually surprise me that the expedition had partial success.
"Hmm, the four cascades, eh? I suppose I can manage that."
Desmond is trying his hardest to keep a straight face.
The elf strokes his chin as thoughts of uncovering ancient magic begin to override his other goals. "How do I get there? I must make preparations...wait wait, how was your expedition a partial success?"
@ Ven
Peperclamp:Well, they found something even if they lost it after that, to my knowledge that is way more than what was achieved in Ashorgals expeditions...not to mention that some of them survived, which is not small accomplishment there, I assure you that lord El'druin
@ Des
I know it is an easy task, I've seen you fight and know you can handle it. -
Probably she could go by herself if she were not so coward.
@ Sven
ok...
Peaks of death and despair: Lots of volcanoes, poisonous smokes, some few red dragons and demons roams...the surface. Not much reports of what is below, the communication with the dwarfs of there was lost more than 20 years ago.
bitterblood swamp: Marsh goblins and Lizardfolks constantly at war. Two years ago an adventuring party killed black wyrm there, quite a success. An actual standard place for adventures.
Whispering forest: The standard forest filled with undeads. The bodies there sooner or later are reanimated as some kind of undead, and sometime adventurers go crazy saying the forest is telling them stories. When the undead population is growing then Aldwall pays for every undead destroyed, standard stuff.
"As I said, I am happy to help." Desmond winks. "Maybe I'll learn a thing or two about divine magic."
@ Desmond
Travelling to Four cascades proves to be a quite calm endeavour. Once there however...
After a couple of minutes of walking inside the forest you hear a growl. Aheads of you you see an owlbear chasing two wild goblins. They all move in your direction.
"These Mistpines sound incredibly interesting. I imagine the ancient elves wouldn't mind one of their own kind poking around. Can you show it to me on a map?"
@ Ven
Pepperclamp:I will If you insist, but I highly advise in favor of caution with everything that have to do with the mistpines - you have the location pointed in a map
"Of course, caution is practically a part of my blood."
Desmond draws his sword as he places himself in front of Mirelle, and starts casting a spell.
"Stay near me, Mirelle. This'll be over in a moment." He gives her a reassuring grin and wink.
Vendrick makes preparations to travel to the Mistpines and will travel to Aldwall looking for his old bodyguards as he believed them to be most proficient.
@ Sven
Amra:It is for a short time, just patrol some area and that is it. Be nice on them - And leaves.
Maya (the 5 ft, pale skin, black haired blue eyes girl) says some nervously:So, sir, where are you taking us to patrol?
Will (the 5,7 ft, pale skin, green eyed blond) say with emotion in his words To the tanglewoods? the whispering forest? the bitterblood swamp? or perhaps...the peaks of death and despair!!
Sin (the 6,2 brown skinned, short black hair) just stay quiet.
"How far into your training are you? Whispering Forest needs clearing, but I need to know you can handle some undead. Answer me truthfully."
@ Sven
Maya answer nervously:We have never have real combat -
Will:So?, we completed the tests flawlessly, I'm sure we can handle it sir
Sin:...
@ Desm
You don't have to say anything to mirelle, the theurge is already hiding behind a tree.
The goblins that are running for their life throw you some shortspears to take you out of their way
They get close to you (move + attack range) and you can see one of them carry a big egg. The owlbear is another move+move behind.
@ Vendrick
You have to wait another day for the new ambassador to arrive, but after that you return to Aldwall without complications.
Mythakilis:Vendrick!!, this whole situation have the at the brink of a heart attack!!
Desmond easily sidesteps the clumsily thrown spears.
"Hey, hey, there's no need for that!"
He looks at the raging owlbear, then at the goblins.
"Don't make me regret this." he warns then, and charges at the beast.
As usual, he will parry if it attacks him:
Desmond cuts deep into the Owlbear. The creature try to strikes back but fails
The goblins just keep running away from all of that.
Well, you killed the poor owlbear mother and The goblin run away with the egg.
Mirelle:*Ahem*, good job.
"Just doing my job. Though, maybe next time warn me before you run off so I don't waste a spell." He says this with a smile, to show that it doesn't really bother him. "Shall we continue?"
"Calm yourself Mythakilis, the situation has been resolved for now. Now if you could...where can I find those two gentlemen who posed as my bodyguard?"
@ Ven
Mythakilis will not be at ease unless you give him a full report about the Kayiqard incident, and I'll guess you give it to himg because why not so let's proceed.
I don't know, I will ask somebody to look for them, why you need them?
@ Desmond
You go to the same ruins where you found kiddu last time. Mirelle start taking notes and draws. She takes her time, a lot of time to the point that nightfall is near.
"I wish to travel to some ancient elven ruins and see what I can find. Apparently their magic was strong enough to linger in the Mistpines. It was also visited by those allied with Kayiqard. Any clues that could lead us to other conspirators may prove invaluable." Vendrick says whilst humming to himself.
Desmond stays near the entrance, keeping an eye out for intruders.
After a while, he gets bored and starts pacing around.
"You sure are getting a lot out of these ruins. Are you sure you're not just stalling to spend more time with me?"
@ Sven
Maya answer nervously:We have never have real combat -
Will:So?, we completed the tests flawlessly, I'm sure we can handle it sir
Sin:...
Sven rubs his temples.
"Gods help me."
"Okay. Stay close to me. You wander off and die and I'll pay for a Speak With Dead just to tell you I told you not to."
"Cut zombies, crush skeletons, and run the f%*! away from anything that can float through walls, good general rules to live by. Anything weirder we'll play it by ear."
"I'll give you an hour to gather your gear, and then we head out."
@ Vendrick
Mythakilis almost chokes
The ruins of Nythn Enelean? in Mistpines? That is one of the most dangerous palce in the whole vale only second to the peaks of Death and despair, you can't go there and expect to return alive.
@ Desmond
What? - She doesn't pay much attention to you and keep working some minutes more.
@ Sven
They are ready when you are ready, do you do/buy something before leaving?
Desmond rolls his eyes. "Nothing, don't mind me."
He takes a bottle of whiskey out of his Haversack and spends the next few hours enriching his spirituality.
"We've known each other for a long time Mythakilis. You know how important my research is to me. Threats of death won't scare me away. Besides, I am resourceful. Those gentlemen are invaluably so as well. Anything I should know about the region? Also where can I find a library? Brushing up on my history should prove useful."