On a sunny September afternoon you find yourselves around a sticky table at the Long Hall Inn of Donnersshed discussing the future of your troop. Previously known as Nibelung's Cohort, you've recently decided to change your name after Nibelung took a cannonball to the head while assaulting a tower last week.
The barroom of the inn has seen better days, and has had better company. A passive perception points to a high tension powder keg of patrons: Two men in leather dusters eye you from their table, hands never far from holsters, several young farm boys boost about who is the best with a knife, a dwarf drinks at he bar, his hand resting on the head of his battle ax, and a dark figure, face hidden in a deep cowl sits alone in the corner swirling his half empty mug while his light crossbow sits loaded in front of him. At the same time some seem to be lighthearted. Chadin the Barkeep has a smile and laughs periodically as if he'd just remembered a joke, and an older balding man seems to be having a wonderful time smoking his pipe with a much younger risque looking lass.
Bankanor sips a drink, knife and whetstone on the table in front of him. With the death of Nibelung still stuck in his mind, he just wants to find new work and keep his troop together.
"So what do the rest of you think of think of signing up for new work as soon as possible. Some extra coin always helps. We could sign up for it as Bankanor's Band seeing as Nibelung is gone" He says this with a wry twist to his voice and sarcasm dripping from his tongue.
"start'n ta smell like a gorram barn in here" you overhear from one of the men in dusters
Devon snorts at Bankanor's remark.
"Bloody awful way to go, that was. I fear nothing with sword in hand and face to face, but those damned cannons are just so random and skill has no factor in it."
Devon glances at the two men in dusters, "What do you think their problem is?"
Joshua, his feet up the table, smiles.
"Not enough music and love in their lives. About the name, I wouldn't be so eager to put it where Nibelung's was, for fear of conjuring the same fate. What about 'The Survivors'? I think it gives the right idea."
"Then what in the gods name would we call it when you die? Naming something like that is just itching for death," she says after gulping down a mug of ale.
DIO, Uriel's faithful wolf companion lays down at her feet, chewing into a thick pig ear.
an over encumbered man struggles to fit through the door. He looks like he is about to go on a grand adventure, but has no idea what is is doing; his backpack is strapped wrong, his loosely rolled bedroll bounces and sways as he walks, and a pair of brand new hiking boots are tied to his belt by their laces. His clothes give the impression of a scholar, yet he has a bastard sword on his waist and a polished buckler strapped to his arm. It looks like he just stopped in at adventure-mart and grabbed one of everything: Too many belt pouches, pots, pans, a waffle iron, a large tent, hundreds of feet of rope, and half a dozen torches give him away as a newb. It is likely that if you followed him for a day you could collect a lot of new items as he drops them at the side of the road.
He awkwardly shuffles over to the Duster boys and begins pleading with them. The conversation is easy to follow: he wants them to take him up a mountain to look for a book and is willing to pay them double what he offered before because he is worried that someone is after him so he must leave immediately. they think that he is a quack and refuse to go up no gorram cursed mountain. As he continues in vein to bargain they heckle him.
As you chat you may make rolls for knowledge local and knowledge history or sense motive rolls for a hunch on anyone in the bar
"Good sir, come over here and tell us your proposition. Our table is actually looking for work" Bankanor calls out to the poor sap trying to be an adventurer.
"eh, oh... oh my. Well, um yes. I suppose.". He straitens his back and walks toward you. He looks a bit uneasy with the situation at first. Nice doggie, ere yes, I'm looking to hire experienced travelers to take me up Mt. Cabhsa. It is a dangerous place and people go missing at the summit, so most won't venture there. My research has lead me to believe that it is the location of an old fort, likely now infested by troll, with many significant archeological finds including the Veneficus Scriptor Mihi, a text thought previously to have been destroyed in the burning of the library at Carthdretta. I was offering the Gatlin boys 300gp a piece, but I only have 600."
John slams his mug of ale down and wipes his beard with the back of his hand. "Chadin, another round my kind man!" he bellows to the barkeep. Turning back to the group he laughs "We should call ourselves the Cannonball Clan. The Cannonball Clan, We'll take off you head." he says the last part and lets out a ferocious laugh before picking up his mug to take a drink, temporarily forgetting that he had just downed the last drop moments ago.
Finally acknowledging the newcomer John turns to the man. "Come, sit, have a drink. I find it's always better to discuss beer over business, and business over beer," He says chuckling to himself.
John looks at the mans pack and tries to spot anything that looks particularly appealing to him. He also glances down to see the condition of the mans boots, finding it odd that a man should have an extra pair.
|
"cannonballs? where are the cannons? I say we are the Black Feather band... in honor of me! Fen could be our mascot." Vrexis chuckles and smiles, her long beak clicking as she does, she strokes the raven on her shoulder...her familiar. She sees the man come in and frowns... "well... seems like we have some trouble here... take a gander..."
" well we are adventurers... what are you concerned about... seem to be ready for the end of days.
"Cannonball Raiders, that would be good I think," Uriel responds. She also beckons the man over, "Come on over, DIO don't bite unless I tell him to."
|
|
WHERE ARE THE CANNONS! I see no cannons in our group, why should we call ourselves the cannonball Raiders when we have neither a boat nor any cannons! we have a wolf, a Raven, some weapons, music and fighting spirit!... not cannons Vrexis huffs loudly, her beak whistling like a bird for just the tiniest of moments.
"Okay Vrexis, no cannons in the name then. How about we call ourselves Pathfinder's, able to chart a route through anything to anything?"
Returning his attention to the stranger,
"Sounds like a dangerous proposition. What did you say your name was again?"
Joshua has heard of this mountain fortress. It was a an old Kingdom fort that was holding out against the advance of the empire in the early days of conquest. Instead of assaulting the fort the empire employed powerfulagic to curse the Fort and everyone inside it. This powerful magic came from the very book that this man is looking for.
His boots are freshly cobbled and not broken in. The boots on his feet are soft and would not last long on the trail. A switch blade with an ivory grip sticks out of a belt pouch and a spy glass is poking out of his pack.
John notes an something odd about his chest. A red glow perhaps?
Joshua starts reciting an old poem:
"This fortress is the warrant of death
The bird will die for it
It’s got seven door and thirty windows
And four towers that keep the world away
This fortress is the forgiveness for life
Like a tainted cheek of sin
It’s got seven gates and thirty people
And four towers that keep the world away."
He let's the words sink in, and then continues.
"That book you look for, Veneficus Scriptor Mihi, made the curse the fort still suffers. Maybe is better lost, or burned, than found."
In his deep voice he approaches the man, and continues.
"Who are you? What do you want that book for? I am sure we can help you, but you need to deal it straight to us for this to happen."
"The men who are after me are after the book as well. I seek knowledge and lore, they seek destruction and domination. It is true that the Tome has many dark spells, but there are also many lost spells of creation. I would walk the horizon to master such lore, but I would plummet to the bottom of the Abyss to stop it from falling into the hands of these gangsters. While I doubt they could read it themselves, they would likely sell it to a Duke of Galicia or a Fanatic Salton of the south. I implore you to assist me!" he is upset and seems genuinely concerned about the future of the book
Lost spells of Creation eh...
"Well I'm in for 100 of your gold pieces and a chance to look through that book."
With that Bankanor finishes his beer, stretches in his chair and lets out a bleating yawn.
"You look like you want to leave right away. Will tomorrow morning suffice?"
"I'll take the offer for 125, 100 for me, 25 for DIO."
"I'm out of funds for the expedition, but I'm sure there will be other valuables found during our expedition that will be more than fair compensation. I suppose tomorrow will do, I'd prefer now-ish"
"600 gold for the group is better than the zero we have now, I'm up for this trek. How bad could it really be after this long?" Devon says with some irony.
|
|
Vrexis chuckles and clicks her beak. "I like that! Pathfinders, that makes sense! the raven in her sholder equals its own opinion...
Paths are found and days pass by, but by all that is holy is never to die!
Vrexis pets her familiar and turns to the man. if it is lore, i am interested. My profession falls into that... category.
Joshua shakes his head, and talks in his deep rich voice.
"No. If we go, we as as PARTNERS, not as employees. We divide the loot evenly, and we all have access to the book, and we all decide what to do with it when, and if, we find it. Deal?"
With much hesitation he agrees. Joshua's smile sways him.
Joshua shakes his hand.
"You are one of us now. Let's do this!"
|
|
Vrexis holds up a tallon. I have one condition to this though... let me read your thoughts to see that you are not lieing... that'd way I know it's not a trap... until then, you will be treated as a threat, and if you happen to do something even slightly aggressive then I will kill you without hesitation... so do you accept to have me read your thoughts? Verxis smiles, her beak just making her seem more menacing.
Joshua shakes his head, and turns towards the man.
"Always so... distrusting... better leave the bird do its stuff. What was your name again?"
"oh, yes. My name is Kimble Cahill. You may sift through my surface thoughts, just be kind."
|
|
Is it mistrusting to not belive a group of people who almost eraticated my entire Race? she says this to Joshua before turning to Kimble.
Vrexis nods and casts her spell. " okay, I will not try to ravage your mind, I will ask a few questions and all I want you to do is answer them... 1)do you mean us harm...2)what do you wish to do with this book you are looking for... and 3)is there anything you know about our destination?
"Yes, it is..." - says Joshua with a smile.
It is slightly annoying, but at least it keeps us safer
"Kimble, we can leave tonight then if you really want to. Also, please answer Vrexis quickly so we can get on with this."
Bankanor then continues sharpening his knife.
"I do not mean you harm, through t his task is perilous. I wish to read the book, in particular i wish to learn the ability to create sustainable demiplanes so that I make create a library safe from wars. I know that no one that has made it up to the fort has come back down, and I know that it is protected from divination. And yes I would much prefer to leave tonight" His thoughts seem inline with his words. You believe him to be honest.
"Well then, I'm in," she says stoically, bringing her lips to her mug mouth for once last chug.
John gets up from his seat and braces himself on the table, expecting the world to begin tipping, but it stays level. Apparently he hasn't drunk enough.
"I for one am growing tired of just sitting around, I'll help you get to the fort. It seems that Uriel is asking for more than her share, once again." he says in jest. "But I guess Dio does deserve a share. Saved my ass once or twice" John laughs and tosses a strip of dried meat towards the pup.
He walks over and leans on the bar. "Looks like we've managed to find work after all." John thinks to himself.
"Chadin, what have you got back there that's strong and in a bottle, I'm in need of some spirits to go.
Chasing is happy to serve "Bottles to go? Mudder's milk 5 silver, spring ginger Mead 2 gold, dragons spit spirits 4 gold, Si-Belle elven spiced wine 5 gold, Crom's dwarven fire whiskey 12 gold or the Double Panacea at 20 gold pieces a bottle. The Panacea includes sugar cubes and a set of 4 tiny glasses as well. Or I could give you a good price on ale, say 8 gold for a 60 quart barrel?" he tops of John's mug with more ale. "This one's on the house."
"Nothing better than some dwarven fire whisky am I right friend?" He says speaking to the dwarf, "and a mighty fine ax you've got there." turning back to the bartender he continues, "give me a bottle of whisky and a bottle of Mead, helps me sleep at night." John counts out 20 pieces of gold and lays them on the bar. "Pour this man another mug on me and keep the rest. I'll see you when we return, just might take you up on that barrel offer then. You take care of yourself Chadin."
John returns to the group with his mug in one hand and a bottle in the other, with the third tucked under his arm. "Are you done poking around inside the mans head Vrexis? A man should have some secretes eh?"
Joshua stands...
"Let's go, then. Those ruins won't explore by themselves, you know?"
Is the party prepared to go? It is two day walk to the mountain and a half day up it. If supplies are needed list them now and I will give you a quote for the general store.
I think Joshua is good (4 days rations) if we hunt a little on the way.
The bottled fire is a little pricey here at 24 gp a bottle. Total quote 123.5 gp