'Let the hunt for the secrets to the unanswered problems that plague humanity begin'
Dot.
With a brilliant flash of blue-white light and a choking puff of smoke, a black and grey bearded man of middling height suddenly stands before you. He is wearing dull grey scale mail over a somber scholar's outfit with an assortment of packs and pouches strapped about his person. He wears a dagger at his waist. In his hands he holds a bardiche. "Well met, traveler. There are those who would call me...Marlak?"
"Greetings Marlak! Are you an enchanter by any chance? I could use a man that can summon forth fire without flint or tinder, for I have it on good authority from the old man in scene 24, that there is a tower that needs exploring."
Marlak replies, "I am no enchanter. You look upon an alchemist. I am Marlak the Alchemist. I specialize in the crafting and selling of alchemical items. I would be happy to join you in your quest, for I am in need of a new tower since blowing up my old tower."
"I am sister Bicor of Castle Anthrax. I have been a naughty, wicked, and naughty nun and sent out of the castle for lighting the beacon, which I just remembered, looks like a grail."
"You're in luck Bicor! There are many a spankings to be dealt out in the unexplored tower. Surely such a task completion will lift your banishment."
"I hope it is perilous," says Marlak. "I could do with a bit of danger and excitement." He sets the butt of his bardiche on the ground and rests his free arm akimbo as he settles into the conversation. "Let's talk about what each of us brings to the table, so to speak. I like to think of myself as a jack-of-all-trades. I can stand toe-to-toe with the enemy in a pinch. I can pick locks, heal wounds, and hurl bullets with my sling. I can also blow things up. How about the rest of you?"
"No question there! It is certainly too perilous. The gods bless us this day, for what else would bring a capable team together such as this one! Among my chief weapony are surprise, fear, ruthless efficiency, and almost fanatical dedication to Erastil! In a pinch I can channel positive energy to the living."
Bicor twirls her sais in nimble fingers. "I am fast with these, fast enough to block some blows that might be heading your way. The elf thinks for a moment. "And rope. I bring rope.
She also holds out an arcane scroll asking if someone can cast its magic on her (mage armor).
|
Kala eyes Alduin with interest. I, too, count those weapons amongst my arsenal, only my devotion is to The Lord in Iron. And though I am also able to call down Gorum's judgement upon those who have been naughty in his sight, I rely more upon this instrument to make my foes snuff it. So saying, the Kellid reached down and grabbed the handle of her greatsword and brought the weapon up to rest across her shoulders.
|
|
A wide field of shattered weapons, barrow mounds, and mass graves surrounds the city of Absalom, a vast plain known as The Cairnlands. Rising from the war-torn earth like the grasping arms of the dead are countless siege castles, towers, and fortresses constructed over the millennia by would-be warlords who tried to take the great city and inevitably failed. Like forgotten monuments to failed conquerors, the siege castles of Absalom beckon the brave, the fearless, and the foolish with the promise of adventure and untold treasures,ever ready to crate heroes or entomb the fallen.
You have all been recruited by Harold Bisby, a local historian and antiques dealer. He has agreed to pay you each 100gp to do a job for him.
"Rumor has it that one of the sealed siege castles has been laid open by a minor earthquake," he explains. "Word of this is starting to get around and word on the streets is that no one has yet entered it. There is no record of who it belonged to or what it's purpose was. I would like you to go secure it so that I explore it and find out it's history and what items it contains."
With that you head out the next morning to explore the tower.
"No information at all on its origins? What about its location, how do we find this one tower among the Cairnlands?"
Marlak tosses a bomb in the air and catches it nonchalantly as he takes mental inventory of his gear. "I will help you, Mr. Bisby, but I would like dibs on my choice of quarters within the castle when this is through."
|
|
"There is nothing in any public records, or the private records that I have access to, that tells us who the tower belonged too. I would like to be the first among my peers to have that knowledge." He explains to your group.
Turning to Marlak,"Occupation of the tower is not really my concern. You may claim it as your own. I would just like to have time to properly go over it and find anything of historical value. Of course, you will be compensated for any treasures that you find. If you wish to keep them I would just like to document them first."
"Deal! We'll just take some written directions and head for the tower that hasn't been burned down, fallen over, and sank into any swamps. Easy enough to find, but getting there is just part of the story. There will undoubtedly be wildlife from the surrounding area that will have trespassed and established potential lairs. Not to mention the possibility of undead and angry spirits."
"How long ago was the tremor?"
|
|
Kala stood by listening to the conversation taking place, as the others attempted to glean useful bits of information that would aid in their mission.
Though she appreciated the effort on their part, in truth, it wasn't really necessary. The strength of Our Lord in Iron would carry the group through whatever obstacles brazen enough to manifest before them.
All that she wanted was the opportunity to cut down her enemies on the field of battle. To see their blood adorn her sword.
The thought brought a smile to Kala's face as she hefted up her pack in readiness to depart.
Marlak says, "It sounds like we have a deal. Point us toward the castle and we'll sort things out for you."
|
|
Bisby gives you a rough map to the location of the tower. "It is hard to say exactly when the tower was opened but it could not have been for more than a couple weeks."
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 plans: 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.
After peering into the darkness, Marlak takes a sunrod from his backpack and activates it. Then he sets the ends of the sunrod in a specially made sunrod-holding leather harness that he wears about his torso. "There. That's better. I am ready. Would anyone else like to light a lantern or something before we enter the ruins?"
No need, Erastil will provide." Alduin casts a light on his sword and then asks Erastil to Guide his next actions before pressing forward into the tower.
+light
+guidance
With the light provided, Sister Bicor climbs the rubble. She looks for tracks, even though she wouldn't recognize a footprint, because that is what one does. She plants the flag of their patron, (or whatever it is we are supposed to do to claim it for him)
"We can enter the ground floor, but it looks we can get inside directly here," the monk says, indicating the upper level. "since we get to keep any treasures, I say we head to the dungeon levels straight away."
Marlak climbs the rubble to stand beside Sister Bicor. He says, "There is no telling how deep the dungeons may go. Are you certain that you do not want to go up first?"
That is a good point, the monk concedes. "Yes, lets go up."
Marlak proceeds slowly and cautiously toward the rightmost opening. He is much louder than he intended to be. He is also much less attentive than he ought to be when searching for traps.
|
|
The northern wing of the tower seems to have escaped the worst effects of the collapse, but rubble still litters the floor and everything is covered in a thick layer of stone dust. Thick cobwebs cloak the ceiling and hand down the walls like gossamer tapestries. a single archway stands open in the southwest walls.
As Marlak enters the doorway a sticky web hits and entangles him. Looking up at the source Marlak sees the giant spider lurking in the ceiling.
"The Man They Call Malak, look out!" Alduin says moving past Malak and up to the spider. "Haha, I'll give you battle you pest!" Alduin hacks at the spider with his orcish half, all power no finesse or skill with the falchion more than a base familiarity.
Marlak is happy to let someone else go ahead of him. He follows Alduin into the room and strikes at the spider from a distance with his pole-arm.
(reach)
Sister Bicor rushes up to the spider with a flying knee to the mandible. "Kee Yah!"
for
for
"Whoo-uh-Oh..."
"Whew!"
|
|
Marlak is able to get his weapon up between the spider and himself as Alduin rushes past and nearly splits the creature in two. Bicor rushes past on the other side of Marlak and with a remarkable feat of agility lands a killing blow to the creature.
Nothing else stirs in the room as everyone looks around.
Marlak glances around the room.
"Ugh. Naughty bug, you should have sought giant flies in the forest. Evil, naughty, mischievous bug. You have been punished."
Alduin sets his fists to his hips, throws his head back, and lets out a mighty laugh. After a long laugh and a mighty inhale Alduin wipes a tear from his eye and looks around.
Alduin cuts the cocoon down and slips the collar off the dog. "The owner will be heartbroken at the fate of the dog, but this collar will give them closure."
"Let's move on!" Alduin heads toward the other room across the way in the abandoned tower.
Marlak takes a moment to free himself of webbing. Once that is accomplished, he is ready to proceed. "Let's go see what's in the next room."
"Looks like we have a climb ahead of us. Anyone have a grappling hook or climbing gear?"
Marlak says, "A rope? I, uh... Damnit, Alduin. I'm an alchemist, not a mountain climber! I do have a tanglefoot bag. Maybe we can use it to help us stick to the walls as we climb."
Sister Bicor pulls over a hundred feet of rope from her bag. "I've brought rope," she says and begins looking for the best place to climb.
Alduin sets to looking for the easiest way up, preferably where there is an outcropping or set anchor point on a higher floor to lasso or utilize.