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Jubilation fills the evening air in the normally staid town of Trunau, for it is the twelfth birthday of the Chief Defender’s youngest daughter, Ruby, and the townsfolk have been preparing all day for the ceremony and festivities to follow. A throng of spectators has amassed at the town Commons; the buzz of the crowd subsides as the weathered town leader, Halgra of the Blackened Blades, takes the stage and begins to speak.“Thank you all for joining us this night. I take immense pride in my responsibility as Chief Defender, especially when it comes to the honor of the hopeknife ceremony. It is always a great privilege to bequeath Trunauan youths their hopeknives as they come of age.” Halgra stops speaking long enough to open an ornamental case and retrieve a slender, ornately decorated dagger hanging from a silver chain. “But tonight is a special occasion, for the recipient of this hopeknife is none other than my youngest daughter.” Once again, Halgra pauses, but this time she turns to talk to the child beside her. “Ruby, by the traditions of our town, you have come of age. This hopeknife represents your responsibilities as an adult and defender of Trunau. You must be willing to use it on yourself, your fellow Trunauans, and your family—even me, should it come to that. It will be a far quicker death than that which the orcs will offer, and providing it is your duty. Do you swear to guard Trunau against all comers, and to use your hopeknife only for its intended purpose?” Ruby—dusky skinned, black-haired, and painfully shy—nods her head in response to her mother’s question. “If the orcs come, and there is no other option, this is where you cut—here, here, and here.” Halgra demonstrates which arteries to sever while Ruby watches. When she is finished, Halgra sheathes the hopeknife and places the necklace around Ruby’s neck before turning back to address the crowd
“Tonight, Ruby becomes a full member of our community! Let us welcome her, and celebrate her passage into adulthood! Trunau forever!” The crowd echoes Halgra’s last words in unison, signaling the end of the ceremony.
"Trunau forever!"
The cleric of Torag raises his voice in a cheer, though he is somewhat disturbed. Looking around town, seeing the number of half-orcs, he thinks I suppose not every human woman cornered by orcs manages to go through with the hopeknife. Some get captured and... and then we get half-orcs. Isn't that better than using the hopeknife, though? Where there is life there is hope, and even a half-orc may become a defender of Trunau. It is not my place to decide. I suppose the humans must choose for themselves.
Magnar is wearing his armor and has his weapons with him. The longspear leans up against a nearby building, while his warhammer is at his belt. Since Trunau is technically within the Hold of Belkzen, he is always on his guard for an orc attack.
"TRUNAU FOREVER" Geim shouted along with those gathered for the ceremony. He stood off to the side, somewhat separating himself from the crowd. At least this way he could see.
He clapped his hands as the necklace was placed over Ruby's head. It was a rather cheerful event for such a solemn tradition. Still, another day with no dead was an event worth celebrating in Trunau.
Kílien arrived just as the ceremony was beginning, and smoothly maneuvered through the throngs to find a place where she could see the town elders. A grim ceremony, she thought, half-listening to the Chief Defender's speech to her daughter. When the assembled crowd chanted "Trunau forever" in unison, she tensed, but there seemed to be no threat.
The area in which she found herself happened to have a few dwarves standing ready, she noted, and she warily saluted two of them. "Well met, uh, friends?" she greeted them hesitantly. Awkwardly she stared past them towards Ruby and Halgra, and considered how she could get closer to them.
Magnar takes a look at the dwarf who dresses like an elf. No armor? In orc territory? He sees the holy symbol of Erastil and thinks A ranger or scout, maybe?
"Greeting. I am Magnar, and I greet you in the name of the Father of Creation. This is Geim Bloodmaul. We have traveled together from Highhelm."
There is pride in his voice as he says the name of the great city, the impenetrable Sky Citadel that has stood strong for thousands of years.
Jorani takes in the ritual and makes a mental note to record the intricacies of how it works. Ceremonies like this are uncommon in most communities, even those found at the edges of what people normally call civilization. He smiles at the invocation of “Trunau Forever” and claps politely. A curious town, full of brave souls. If only we could all have such courage. With that thought and as the ceremony comes to a close, Jorani notices the gaggle of dwarves that have come together in the square. He approaches the group and raises his hand in greeting, ”Good evening, it’s a rare thing seeing other dwarves around here. My name is Jorani and I came in on a merchant caravan recently... what brought you here?”
Geim bowed his head as Magnar introduced them both. "Aye las. We're all friends here."
His eyes strayed a look in her direction, but he kept his attention on the ceremony. It was inspiring to a dwarf. A child coming of age, traditions being passed along. It almost brought a tear to his eye.
As another joined their ranks, Geim smiled at the newcomer. "Greetings and well met. I am Geim, Geim Bloodmaul. This is Magnar and this is...uh...I didn't catch your name las. Magnar and I've traveled all the way from Highhelm."
He paused a moment and looked at Magnar before continuing. "Why we've come to kill orcs of course. What else is there to do in this blasted village?" he said with a chuckle.
"I can't wait for the next patrol. I need to stretch my legs."
Kílien bowed stiffly to the three. "I am called Kílien Halfelven, here as a representative of my people's village, two days' run from here." She tilts her head in a very elvish manner at Geim and Magnar. "You are from Highhelm? It is a great privilege to meet dwarves of such high connections, for I know something of your great city. Have you ever heard of a dwarf named-- oh, but hold, I am putting my own interests before my official business. Perhaps we can speak of it another time. I am here to warn the Chief Defender that orcs are on the move, massing armies to attack Trunau even as we stand here. My village's elders are certain they will be right on my heels. There is no time to lose, we must prepare."
"Is that so?" says Magnar with alarm, "Geim, you may get your wish sooner rather than later. We should warn the humans. Who is this Chief Defender?"
The cleric takes up his longspear.
Kílien points to the people in the central square. "I believe the Chief Defender is the mother of the guest of honor, there," she says. She gives Magnar a look of approval as he readies his weapon.
Funnily enough as you point, you notice all eyes on you four, and the little girl is standing by you "I choose these four"
And the crowd parts to make a path which leads to what appears to be a area set aside for tug of war
Magnar nods to the archer, "Oh yes, Halgra. That's right."
He is then is taken aback as Ruby calls to him.
"Uh... a game? But hadn't we best prepare for the orcs?"
He is willing to go, and moves through the crowd.
Jorani is slightly taken aback by the rapid-fire developments. An orc attack is imminent?
”It sounds like we are getting conscripted into a different sort of engagement. When did your elders expect the attack? And do you know anything else about their numbers, direction, or strategy? Suffice it to say - we'll have to explain to these folks that the festivities should be put on hold.”
Jorani attempts to remember the geography of the area, and tries to use that information to remember any other dwarven-orcish battles that had occurred in the past to find parrallels to their current situation - maybe they could use this to their advantage.
Kílien is taken aback by the attention of Ruby and the crowd while she begins to explain the details of her mission. "My people are fleeing to the west, for the signs of an intended attack on Trunau are clear. They are massing very near the site of our village, giants leading orcs. Our council decided we should send an emmisary to warn the city, and to fight on their behalf. I, I volunteered and was chosen. I do not know how soon, for it depends on the army's preparations." She looks uncomfortably at Ruby as she comes toward the group. "Perhaps this contest is an opportunity to win the respect of the town's leaders, so that they will take my warning more seriously." She follows Magnar and Ruby, waving very awkwardly to the crowd and trying to smile in a way that does not look angry or pained.
"Good idea, Kílien. Humans like their ceremonies. Let's participate, then warn Halgra. If the orc attack isn't imminent - like in the next hour - they would be angry at us for ruining this day for Ruby."
Kílien takes a deep breath and nods. She is worried about waiting even one hour, but in truth she doesn't know when the army will attack. It does seem unlikely that a host of orcs would have run here directly, as she did.
Geim hefted his enormous hammer and set it upon his own shoulder as he clapped Magnar hard on the back. "That's the best news I've heard all week. Now, let's see what we can help Ruby with. It seems like we have everyone's attention. Best to keep it so Halfelven here can speak her peace."
Jorani whispers to Kilien, ”Kilien, just let me know if you’d like me to take the lead on talking, otherwise I’ll just back you up. I know how to lubricate conversation from time to time - but this is your message.”
”Magnar, I see you follow Torag as well. Funny story - I was going to be a priest but... I guess I didn’t have the spark. I still serve him as best as I can - his blessing is reflected now in my connection to the stone itself, it seems.”
Jorani pulls out a small holy symbol from beneath his shirt and smiles.
As you walk through the crowd roll a knowledge local check
You guys make your way to the crowd and see 2 men who share a resemblance standing on the other side of the line holding their end of the rope. One who looks to be older smiles at his brother and says "It seems like Ruby has chosen a group of capable looking dwarves, at this rate, she'll be a town official like her mother.'
He turns to you and says "Best of luck, I'm Rodrik Grast and this is my brother Kurst. Let's see if you hold up to your looks.
Here is how we're going to run this
The map is Here
In a round, we start with rolling initiative, with the best person's modifier. If you win then you get a +2, if you lose then you get a -2. You combine all your strength mods (-1 from ruby) for a total of +8. the winner pulls the other team forward one square. We are running the contest 3 rounds at a time, and the person with the highest initiative (Kilien) will roll the initiative and the strength checks for the round
"Well, Jorani, the Father of Creation crafts his tools. And sometimes a tool is put to a use it's not meant for. One can use a forge-hammer to pound nails, but it's really not the best for that purpose. It sounds like you have found the task you are meant for?
I myself did follow the path of the priest. Though I have run into some resistance from those in Highhelm who are more focused on defending what we have rather than reclaiming what was lost. Geim knows of what I speak, and shares that goal."
He nods to the humans. "Greetings, Rodrik, Kurst. May the best team win."
He moves up and grabs the rope.
Kílien gives Jorani a look of gratitude -- she is certainly not very well-spoken, and seems to think herself very fortunate to find a group of dwarves that are so sympathetic to her mission. She places herself near the middle of the rope and prepares herself to pull.
I'll give you guys a +2 bonus
They pull you forward two squares the first round, then you guys pull back, and then they pull you forward again
Straining against the rope's burn, Kílien pants and strains. She is uncomfortably aware that she is outmatched, and desperately hopes that her new friends make up for her shortcomings. Her resolve is doubled, though, when she sees that their opponents' grip is loosening.
The brothers pull you forward a square, and you guys are straddling the line, Geim and Magnar's feet bare inches from the line, but as you guys are about to go over the brother who spoke winks at you, and then his feet go forward and he almost flies flat on his back. After that, it is apparent that he's doing most of the lifting, and you guys are able to pull them over the line
After this, the crowd rushes Ruby, and they carry her off for more of the festivities. Rodrik approaches you with an outstretched hand, Kurst following behind "Well fought dwarves, we tried our best but we couldn't pass the test. and he winks at you "I don't recognize any of you, how long will you be staying in Trunau?"
Magnar looks a bit annoyed at his 'victory' for a brief second, then glances back at Ruby and smiles. Humans are so sentimental. Not the way I'd teach the young, but ah well, it is their way.
Magnar shakes the human's hand.
"Well met, Rodrik. I do not know how long we will be here, but we have a most important message for Halgra."
Jorani brushes some of the mud from his clothes and laughs. ”Well, that WAS fun. You folks have a good festival here. I am just a well-armed historian, hoping to learn more about the world. I had planned on being here a few days only, but these folks seem to have some important business and I figure I might be able to help them.”
Kílien gives a very elvish salute and bow, quizzically regarding the brothers. They must care a great deal for Ruby, to allow themselves to be shamed in public for her, she thinks.
"Hail, goodmen, I am called Kílien Halfelven, lately from the village of Hilldale. The council of elders has sent me to warn the Chief Defender of an army massing in the hills, and to aid Trunau in its defense. I was fortunate to meet these steadfast dwarves when I arrived, and it seems we have joined our forces and our fates." She gruffly smiles, nervous at all this impromptu speechmaking, and fingers her bowstring anxiously.
Rodrik give a pleasant, hearty laughs at Jorani's comment 'Indeed it was enjoyable, though I daresay probably more so for Ruby then for you and I."
At Kilien's comment Rodrik raises an eyebrow "I hope you have some official letter of introduction or something, as I doubt Halgra would take the word of a strange dwarf claiming to speak for the dwarven elders.'
He then frowns a bit "I have been doing some investigation into some odd going ons, but they likely have nothing to do with orcs, and it is confidential information."
Kílien frowns, offended. "The elvish council of elders sent me to warn Trunau while they evacuate our village. There are giants and orcs massing only three days march from here! If the Chief Defender will not heed my peoples' warning, Trunau will surely suffer for it." She glares at Rodrik and quietly fumes.
Magnar responds to Rodrik, "Odd goings on? Well they might have to do with orcs and they might not. But we may be able to shed some light on those matters if you can bring yourself to trust us. I swear by the Father of Creation that I am on the side of the people of Trunau against any orc incursion."
With a scowl on his bearded face, Geim stood with his arms crossed. He didn't like being tricked, and while there was little real loss in this case, he still felt like he had been made a fool. The longer they talked though, the less he cared about the contest.
"I suppose helping in some manner is still helping, even if it's not spilling orc blood. What can we do for Trunau?"
Jorani notices a bit of the tension, and interjects ”Orc trouble or otherwise, I expect that we could lend a hand. As for the information being confidential, I think you probably know that dwarves are folk that can be trusted. We are steadfast like the stone which we sprang from, even if it makes us stubborn sometimes.” He smiles at Rodrik. ”What can we do for you to prove this?”
Hr sighs and leans forward "I encountered some sort of troll by the Plague House, I've been investigating with a friend of mine. It was just some random encounter, it probably saw the teens going in together and thought it would be a good location to get a meal. I was planning on taking a closer look just in case, but if you would like to help it could wait for tommorow.
"A troll, you say? Such beasts are very dangerous, but there are none better than dwarves at dealing with them. We will investigate. Stay back, my good man, and let us check it out first. From what I have heard this Plague House sounds like no place for children to be exploring. Try to keep them away from it if you can while we investigate."
Kílien tries to stamp down her frustration at the delay, and she nods curtly. "Of course we will help. Trunau is our home now, and wandering monsters on its streets are a danger to everybody. It is good you said something."
”Of course, I think we’re all happy to help. In the meantime you may want to post some extra watches on the walls in case there’s trouble. You can never be too careful. As I mentioned, I’m new in town so I’ll follow Magnar and Geim here who seem to know a bit more about the town than I do.” Jorani smiles at Rodrick.
To the party, later:
”I don’t know much about trolls, but I do know they’re powerful. I doubt they’d have snuck into town. Nevertheless, we should be on guard.”
Rodrik gives a hearty chuckle at Magnar's comment and says "Clearly you don't know the teenagers of any other race, because your Dwarven teens are clearly the only ones with respect for adult's words. I'll see what I can do, at the very least I'm sure Rodrik and maybe Omast would want to help. as well" and Rodrik nods "If you waould be interested in getting a drink I will be at the Ramblehouse in half an hour, after I try to set up a watch."
”We are almost always interested in getting a drink, but let us do our investigation now while we can. See you soon.” Jorani smiles at Rodrik.
"Are you sure we shouldn't drink first? I mean the human said it could wait until tomorrow?"
"If Rodrik wants to bring along Kurst and maybe Omast tomorrow with us, that might be good. It gives people pride to take a role in defending their own town.
So I don't mind going for a drink with Rodrik in half an hour, then maybe staking out the Plague House tonight and watching, with a plan to go in tomorrow with the humans."
After Rodrik leaves, Kílien frowns. "Maybe instead of going drinking with this man, I should try to get an audience with the Chief Defender. Do you think Ruby would help us, since we helped her win the rope contest?"
"Me, Omast, and Kurst are relatively high ranked members of the guard, so investigating this type of stuff in our living. I somewhat doubt the Chief defender would want to meet with out of town strangers on the night of her daughter's becoming an adult. And as to Ruby, while she may technically be an adult, her wisdom hasn't changed since yesterday, along with her physical might."
Kílien sighs, obviously uncomfortable with going out drinking, but anxious not to offend either her new companions or the guardsmen. She looks toward the center of town longingly, and then nods curtly to Magnar and the others.
"Let's be sociable, Kílien. It takes years to earn a dwarf's trust - we may earn these humans' trust after only one evening at a tavern. They do have lookouts posted, and hopefully also have scouts up and down the roads."
Kílien looks surprised and pleased that Magnar pronounced her name correctly, and she smiles shyly. "Very well," she says. "They do seem like strong men, quite able to do their part for Trunau. And it is kind of them to invite us to drink with them. I will try to ignore my fears and enjoy myself."
Jorani nods in agreement "Aye, I'm amenable to a bit of drinking myself. It doesn't seem likely that the hordes are at the gates at this very moment, so it would be good to get to know these folks. Lead the way, Rodrick"
He chuckles "Ok, let's go"
You guys head to the ramblehouse, and Rodrik says "We've never had a drinking contest with dwarves do you Kirsty? Let's see if our guy matches our legs. and the crowd laughs. A few minutes later a attractive Halfling woman comes over with 6 drinks and lies them on the table "I'll add it to your tab." and she begins to walk back to the bar, before Rodrik says "Keep em flowing until the last man stands." garnering a cheer from the crowd, and an eyeroll from Cham.
Here's how this is gonna go. You can drink a number of drinks equal to your con mod without making saves. When you drink your con mod +1 you make a decision 10 save, and every additional save the DC increases by 1. If you fall you pass out, and if you make it on the dot you upchuck, and your next save is made at a -1 penalty. We'll start with 7 drinks, so if your con mod is +2, you have to make 5 rolls, the last DC being 14.
Rodrik gets 2 rounds, then starts making saves
Kurst gets 1 round before he starts making saves