Zel was so surprised by the sudden invitation for dinner that she completely messed up on her sword lunge, over-extending and managing to stumble right past him, before turning around. "Dinner? You and me? Just us?" She asked, wondering if this was some sort of cruel joke he was playing on her. No, that just couldn't be, not from what she had learned about him. "I suppose...well, I guess, perhaps, that wouldn't be a bad idea...err...where, exactly?"
|
Gwendal: Lord Farsain looks at you for a second then motions for you to follow him into his office. As you're walking he begins to speak."So you think I may have knowledge of an Elven Cleric whom rivals the powers of the Gods themselves? No one that I know of even has that kind of power. Might I ask why you are looking for this woman so I may better help you."
Zeljka: Zander looks at you with an odd expression, like he some how over stepped his bounds. "I mean if you don't want to I totally understand. Its just well..uh..you're pretty and I..uh..want to get to know you." He blurts out.
Zel blinks several times underneath her helm at Zander, wondering just what in Gorum's name was going on. She rested on her sword, leaning against it as she spoke back to him. The idea that he actually considered her pretty was just mind-boggling. Absurd, even. Half-orcs didn't do pretty.
"No, of course I want to...I mean, I would enjoy it if we did that. Where and when?" She asks.
|
|
"Well..uh..there's this really nice place in town and uh..I was hoping you would go wit me tonight. There is supposed to be this bard in town who is really good. But..uh..if you and your friends have something else going on them..uh..well ..um yeah..I totally understand." Zander answers. He start to blush and drag the tip of his sword in the dirt while talking.
The oracle couldn't help but stare at Zander, bashful and fumbling over his words. Could he really be so interested in her, the way that she was interested in him? "That...well, that seems like a good idea. I would like that," She states back to him, trying to keep her composure at the moment. "So, then, I suppose...I'll meet you later tonight. Yes," She nods to him, picking up her sword. "Ah, please, I'll be waiting by the dorms. That's...where I'll be. So." She nods again, before stiffly heading off - her mind whirling.
A nice place. Probably the kind of place that someone didn't go in soot-stained peasant clothes or clunky armor. She needed something else - a dress? Where around here would she go to find and buy herself a dress? And on such short notice as well - she doubted she could borrow something from anyone else.
|
|
Zeljka: You find a seamstress next to the Jeweler, up by SandPoint Cathedral. She is an older woman and is willing to fit you for a dress. She asks you exactly what the dress is needed for and when you'll be needing it. While you are there she also lets you know that if you need anything else she is the person you need to see. Her name is Magda.
Zeljka stares at all of the mannequins in the shop, the sleek forms with the feminine dresses. Somehow, they just didn't click for her. She hadn't worn a skirt since she was a little girl, after all. Starting again now when she was an adult seemed like it wouldn't work. She just didn't have the kind of build for it.
"I'm going to dinner and a show, apparently...err, is there anything...dressy without actually being a dress? I'm not exactly the type for a skirt, if you can understand that." Though maybe some jewelry would be good for her - she could wear a fancy necklace, probably. "Nothing open back," She added as well. It wouldn't be classy for everyone to see the tattooed visage of battle that adorned her back.
Zeljka takes a look at all of them, thinking to herself as she glanced them over, before picking out the third dress. It had the least amount of frills, and she liked the sleeveless design. That with the solid back...and it was cut in the front well enough for her to display a nice necklace as well. "I'd prefer it with the riding breeches, yes. Thank you," she tells her.
After getting herself measured, she darted into the jeweler's next door to see if she couldn't find herself a nice necklace.
Zel will procure for herself a nice silver and garnet necklace to go with the dress for the night's activities, paying the requisite price for the jewelry before going back to the seamstress. After she's finished with the dress, she'll pay her as well before heading back to the dormitory, for a quick bath and to dress, checking herself in a mirror.
Of all things for her to stupidly forget, she forgot to get proper shoes - so she was using her regular leather boots, polishing them to not seem so scruffy. The dress and the jewelry on her...it just seemed so weird. Like she was looking at an entirely different person.
Waiting outside the female dorms took every ounce of courage, as she limped into the cool air. The thought of anyone else seeing her in this farce felt just so embarrassing. Like she was a little girl playing at being a princess. Part of her wanted to bolt right back inside and just slip under the blankets of her bed.
She stayed out still, waiting on Zander - slightly paranoid that he'd been playing a fool's game on her from the very beginning.
|
Gwendal starts to wander around the castle, looking for work and perhaps to see if there are any soldiers off duty who would like to spar, when he notices a She-Orc dressed to the nines, except for her boots. At first, Gwendal thinks nothing of it, but he then realizes who it is who is waiting outside.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Zeljka, War-Maiden of the Jewelry store! Ehahahaha! Don't tell me you got dressed up just to see me! Ehahahaha!"
Gwendal starts to walk away, bellowing his usual cackle, when not even looking at her he says "By the way, nice boots. Ehahaha!" He then walks away, continuing to laugh until he is out of sight.
After Gwendal gets out of sight, he thinks to himself My sister would kill me for that... Oh, well.
Tasha over hears Gwendal talking to Zelja. She looks out the window andd sees that Zel is wearing her combat boots. Before going out the door she picks up a pair of fine leather black slippers and brings them with her. "Zel I found these in town today and was going to give them to you later but it looks like you need them now." Tasha hands Zeljka the beautiful black slippers. They are made of the finest, softest leather that can be found.
|
Talking with Tasha after their mission, Nathaniel also overhears Gwendal. His hand forms a fist which tightens as he watches Zel's expression before Gwendal arrives and as he walks away. Following Tasha, he leaves the room but instead goes after Gwendel. Turning the corner after him, he taps himself once on each lip and casts a spell.
Grabbing Gwendal, Nathaniel slams him against a wall and gets close, his hand meaningfully wrapping around the hilt of his blade. "You. You are going to go back to Zel right now and apologize for what you just said. Or I will EAT YOU." Nathaniel opens his mouth wide revealing a maw of razor-sharp teeth which he *SMASH*es shut barely an inch in front of Gwendal's face. Letting him go, he shoves him in the direction of Zel.
Zeljka thought that she couldn't possibly be more self conscious and nervous about this. That was until Gwendal, the biggest jerk that she had ever met, somehow stumbled across her. Despite knowing that he was more or less only good for fighting, she couldn't help but feel horrible from his mocking laughter and jeers at her current feminine attire.
She probably would have run (Well, hobbled) back inside if Tasha hadn't taken that moment to step out, bringing with her a pair of slippers far better than what she had on at the moment. For a moment, all she can do is just stare at them, before graciously accepting the shoes with nary a word. "Lend me your shoulder," She murmurs quietly, leaning on Tasha with one arm so she didn't have to put much weight on her crippled leg to change footwear.
Once she has the slippers on, she feels marginally better - though the twisted bones of her left leg are more visible now, they were certainly far better than the dusty boots she had on before. "...Thank you. Though I'm not sure if this was all for nothing or not. He hasn't shown up yet..."
|
|
Gwendal stands between a rock and a hard place when Nathaniel slams Gwendal against the wall and threatens him. Gwendal truly believes Nathaniel will eat him, but then he realizes just how he gets his power.
"Magic doesn't scare me, especially not yours. Tell you what, you and your sister have told me to watch me back, and it hasn't even been five minutes, so I'll make it up somehow. How's that sound? Turning back right now, though, well, Asmodeus himself won't make me turn back."
With that, Gwendal overpowers Nathanial back away from Gwendal and he begins walking away, his hand resting on the hilt of his Sword, Whirlpool. What have I gotten myself into now? he thinks as leaves the castle.
Step 1) Jewlery makes every woman's heart softer. Even if they are battle hardened, the right one will make her go nuts. Step 2) Write exceptional apology letter with said Jewlery inside and put inside door slot. Step 3)... I haven't gotten that far. Eh, Not the important part. Lets see, she wields a greatsword into battle, so she probably worships Gorum. Lets get her a little holy symbol of Gorum. Earring? Naw, she won't be able to wear that in a fullhelm, so we'll go with a necklace. Gwendal's thoughts are simple, but will hopefully be effective.
|
|
Shoved away by Gwendal, Nathaniel silently stands still and watches him walk away. He holds his hand up before his face and stares at it. As his new top hat begins to glow a dull gold colour, his hand changes, becoming blue, scaled, powerful...
Smiling at his transformation, Nathaniel taps his hat and it returns to normal. "Not just magic, Gwendal..." he whispers quietly as he turns away and returns to his room. Tasha will be better able to take care of Zel for the night.
|
|
As Tasha walks away from Zeljka, a tall thin elven figure comes from the main building towards the female dorms. He stops back a few feet and is in complete awe and shock at the woman standing before him."Wow, Zel you look really nice. I like that dress one you." Zander says still in awe. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small silk bag and hands it to Zel. "You don't strike me as someone who like flowers and frills, but I do think you will like this."
Inside the silk bag is a broach made of iron and copper. The broach is a shield with sword going across it diagonally. In the hilt of the sword there is a beautiful flawless pearl and around the edges of the shield are tiny black onyx. "I make that for you." Zander says. The tips of his ears have started to turn a rosy pink color to match his cheeks.
The half-orc battle oracle looks rather stunned as she opened the silk bag given to her by Zander. This entire day had been completely surreal to her, wearing a dress and jewelry and nice shoes and now in possession of a lovely brooch. "It...it's well made. You're a good craftsman," she blurts out, attempting to put it on herself, pinning it to the dress. She takes a deep breath, before looking at the elven man.
If this was all but a dream, she wanted to run with it to completion. She could be happy with just a single night like this one. "Let's go, then."
It had been a wonderful date, when all was said and done. Eating good food, having pleasant conversation with the handsome elf, enjoying the evening's entertainment - the music was perhaps not completely to the half-orc's tastes, but she didn't let such a little thing ruin the event. For a few hours, she let herself forget about being a warrior and a craftswoman, and just allowed a little bit of happiness to shine in her heart.
She was quiet on the trip back, looking out of the carriage window, thinking. "Thank you for the dinner and show," she spoke up as they ventured close to the campus. "I really enjoyed myself. It's...hard for someone like me to try and be something other than what they were born to be. Both as divinely touched and..." She reached up and touched the tip of one of her small tusks with her finger, letting it speak for herself. "You could say this is probably the first time I've ever felt like...well, a normal woman."
|
|
While Zeljka is on her date, Gwendal writes a letter of apology to Zeljka and gives it to Tasha, saying "Thats for Zeljka. Read it and die."
It is the unfortunate side effect of my behavior that I insulted you earlier. I deeply regret it and promptly ask for forgiveness in such a way that no bodily harm will befall me. As a token of apology, please take this emblem of Gorrum, which I assume you worship due to your choice in weaponry and profession.
Once again, my sincerest apologies,
Gwendal
Tasha takes thee note from Gwendal and places it in her pocekt. "I'll see that Zel gets this when she gets back." Tasha hands Gwendal a slip of paper. "Lord Farsain asked that I pass this along to you."
Gwendal I hear that you have been looking for me. If you follow the road south of town you will find a small Gypsie camp. I will be there in a darkly painted wagon with a midnight black stallion. Knock 3 times on the door before entering.
~The Elf
|
|
When Tasha hands Gwendal the letter, he opens it, barely glancing at it.
Suddenly, Gwendal's eyes widen for a second. He then crumples the letter into his pocket and swiftly heads out the door, slamming it on his way out.
He spends the rest of the day and night reaching the Gypsie camp mentioned in the letter.
|
|
I have posted the into to Rise Of the RuneLords: Anniversary Edition. This will give you some background on the first book where you deal with the goblins.
Soon thereafter, a murderer terrorizes Sandpoint. Victims are left mutilated, and carved into their chests is a familiar seven-pointed star—a clue left by a madman calling himself “the Skinsaw Man.” The PCs eventually confront the murderer, an old acquaintance named Aldern
Foxglove, in a haunted mansion near Sandpoint. There, they learn that he is but an agent of a larger cult based in the city of Magnimar. The investigation moves to that city, where the PCs confront the Skinsaw Cult before learning a related danger has taken up residence in an old clock tower. Here, the PCs encounter the true leader of the cult, a sadistic lamia matriarch. Unknown to the PCs, this lamia matriarch has been charged with harvesting “souls of greed” to aid in the reawakening of an ancient wizard tyrant known as Runelord Karzoug. The lamia’s use of the Sihedron Rune—the same seven-pointed star both Nualia and the Skinsaw Man employed—hints at a larger threat. The heroic PCs are next sent into central Varisia to investigate why the rangers of remote Fort Rannick have gone silent. They arrive to find the fort overrun by ogres and the surviving rangers held prisoner by degenerate ogrekin. By rescuing the rangers, the PCs liberate Fort Rannick and start to piece together what’s really going on in the region. After dealing with a f looding town, a failing Thassilonian dam, and a haunted swamp, they
finally arrive on the upper slopes of the infamous Hook Mountain where they confront and defeat the ogres, and learn that a powerful stone giant named Mokmurian is planning a raid on their hometown.
The PCs return to Sandpoint to help defend against Mokmurian’s raiders, then take the fight to Jorgenfist, the fortress of the stone giants. By infiltrating this citadel and defeating Mokmurian, they not only end the threat of the massing army of giants but also discover that Mokmurian was but another agent of Runelord Karzoug, and that the Sihedron Rune is a symbol he is utilizing to aid in his return to this world. Yet, there’s still time before Karzoug can fully regain his powers. Using Mokmurian’s library of Thassilonian lore, the PCs learn that the key to Karzoug’s defeat may be hidden in a lost dungeon called Runeforge, and that the route to that dungeon is hidden in a dungeon below Sandpoint.
The PCs return to Sandpoint in search of that information, finding it in a recently opened shrine to Lamashtu guarded by an ancient lunatic from the time of Thassilon itself. Following the clues they find there, the PCs head north and enter the dungeon of Runeforge. After gathering components, they utilize the magical pool at Runeforge’s heart, transforming their weapons into potent runeforged weapons capable
of providing them significant advantages in the final
battle to come.
Armed with the weaponry they need, the PCs make the journey into the Kodar Mountains to confront Karzoug in his ancient city of Xin-Shalast. The PCs will need all of their wits, magic, and might to prevail, for Karzoug has drawn his most powerful allies to his side to defend him
from any and all who would try to stop his return!
Dotting for Campaign page.
|
|
Everyone had went into SandPoint for the SwallowTail Festival and are gathered around the hear Father Zantus speak. A sharp retort, like the crack of distant thunder, slices through the excited crowd as the sun’s setting rays paint the western sky. A stray dog that has crawled under a nearby wagon to sleep starts awake, and the buzz of two dozen conversations quickly hushes as all heads turn toward the central podium, where a beaming Father Zantus has taken the stage. He clears his throat, takes a breath to speak, and suddenly a woman’s scream slices through the air. A few moments later, another scream rises, then another. Beyond them, a sudden surge of strange new voices rises—high-pitched, tittering shrieks that sound not quite human. The crowd parts and something low to the ground races by, giggling with disturbing glee as the stray dog gives a pained yelp and then collapses with a gurgle, its throat cut open from ear to ear. As blood pools around its head, the raucous sound of a strange song begins, chanted from shrill, scratchy voices.
Ramiel raises the alarm. Goblins!!
Loading his crossbow, he targets the goblin in an attempt to avenge the canine.
13 across, 7 up - can't edit map. Between the dark shrub and that smaller circular meat vendor (I think I see cleavers on the counter).
OK, he's there... "R"
"Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!" cries Meeta, moving over to the rest of the group.
Looking over, Gates sees the event too late to save the dog. His anger rises, he draws his bow and fires.
Initiative
Shot one, targeting the goblin who killed the dog
Shot two, same goblin, or the one to his right if the first is dead
These are rapid shot only, no deadly aim and no point blank shot (range).
Finally Gates scans the field for anymore goblins he hasn't noticed yet
Perception:
There is a man off to the side of the goblins and the fighting party. The man is tall and has the elegance of an elf as he meanders on his way as if both tired and thirsty. A large backpack and something of a toolbelt and cloak can be seen on his person along with his armor. He had apparently run out of food because he never really leaves his home workshop but had to. Walking next to him is a medium sized dog like creature that seems to be a bunch of moving parts. His stomach growls as he looks around spotting the party but how well he spots them is questionable or how well they saw him.