GM Nazard's The Ascended (Inactive)

Game Master Nazard

Richard goes to his family business and negotiates a deal to take the group of six to Almus. His father has agreed to passage for protection services during the trip.

"This will save my father the expense of hiring guards for the trip. A new ship is ready and the schedules for it haven't been established yet. With our help, he can launch a week earlier than planned. We were lucky to find a captain available. He needs the money and is willing to start early. The ship sails tomorrow morning just after dawn. We have a few hours to prepare for our journey. See everyone at the docks before the sun rises. We will need an hour to familiarize ourselves with the new vessel.

Get this, they named her Masoumi's Light."

I had to go count things up, but it seems that this is the afternoon of the 19th of Arodus, if anybody cares. I seem to have gotten out of the habit of keeping track when the days change.

Tensions in the city have only grown since yesterday afternoon, but now you know the danger signs to look for and avoid any roving bands of Masoumites. Richard’s negotiations, as detailed above, are quite successful, though they also came with the personal price for Richard of joining the family for dinner that evening.

Returning to his place of lodgings to close out any rent owed, Ty finds a note, stamped with a frothing tankard that reads, ”Come for a pint,” in a familiar, spidery hand.

As Morgana leaves the Seventh Church, an old but luxurious carriage, its doors featureless, pulls up in front of her. The occupant, Kreighton Shaine, pulls back the curtain to motion her closer. ”Would you come for a brief ride, my dear?”

As Edward packs up his things in his little cell, a knock draws his attention to his partially-ajar door. ”So it’s true,” Jace says. ”You are leaving. What happened to you out there?”

Ty enjoys the attention his new look is getting him from people he's known for a long time. He leans back in his chair with his feet propped up on another as he listens to Morjun and drinks his ale.

But as the conversation turns more serious, Ty puts his feet down and leans forward, talking almost conspiratorially with his adopted father.

"Look, I can't... do those things forever. The guild seems like a dead end compared to what I can do on the road working for the right people. And yeah, you should think about taking a trip, too, if this Masoumi craziness continues.

"Speaking of which, I don't know why it's spreading as fast as it is. I've never met a human who felt that they were better than other races, and now there's literal crowds of them."

”They’ve always been there, Ty, they just used to have the decency to keep their opinions to themselves. But now they’ve been given ‘permission’ to be vile, and that’s all it takes to bring them out of hiding.”

Ty shrugs.

"If you say so. Maybe I never encountered it because I was doing that 'human street urchin' bit for so long.

"Anyway, is that all you wanted? To see if I'd take over the tavern?"

The half-elf chuckles. ”I wanted to see if you were alright. I care about you kid. I know that’s a strange concept for you, having somebody care about you. Though with your talk about being on the road with the right people, maybe you’ve found some other folks who care about you, too. I hope that’s the case. And don’t diss my tavern. Taverns are serious business to us Caileanites. It’s not like I have anybody else to leave it to, but even if I did, I’d want you to have it when my time comes.”

"Well, I care about you, too, so let's hope your 'time' is still far away." Ty clanks his mug against Morjun's.

"I'll check in with you when I get back. Please be careful."

"Whoa, they're linked? Morgana, do you know the grifts we can pull with these?!"

Morgana laughs, "It would certainly allow us to make people think we have two of everything... but I'm sure I could think of something better if you give me a minute or two."

She turns and nods her head, "Truly, a wonderful gift. My thanks... and even marked with the Butterfly," she smiles. Her expression sobers slightly at the request, and she nods, "We will certainly try to find what became of them... and, hopefully, help bring them home."

*********

Somehow I either completely missed or forgot that Kreighton Shaine is an elf!! It doesn’t change anything, since he’s basically a kind, eccentric fuddy-duddy with a rambling style of teaching, but I had a much different grandfather picture in my head. I guess it throws off my placing him at the events at Kassen’s Hold from Crypt of the Everflame but that was just fluff.

Listening intently to all that Jace has to say, Edward strokes his chin in thought at what's been revealed to him. "Careful, Jace, I would remain ever wary of this Augur gentleman. And there is something about this Masoumi that I cannot put my finger on but I fear he may be more of a wolf in sheep's clothing than a bringer of 'gifts and glories' as so have been claimed. Come... let us be off. Tell me more as we walk." Edward then nudges him forward as they take their leave.

”What could be wrong with him? Masoumi was an Iomedaen champion. Following him is no different than when Aroden worshippers also revered Iomedae.”

Jace and Edward make their way through the darkening city streets from the Ascendant Court, descending literally and figuratively from the glamorous to the wretched district known as the Puddles. The flooded area is home to the city’s poorest and vilest. A small crowd is gathering at a ruined and partially-flooded shrine of Aroden.
Inside you find around three dozen humans, most of them clearly residents of the Puddles, or at least better-off citizens pretending to be. Folks seem to be waiting for someone to emerge from a far door leading to the only intact room left. Two well-armed and well-muscles toughs flank the door, and nobody seems interested in venturing too close.

After ten minutes or so, the door opens and a figure emerges, swathed head to toe in a scarlet robe, hood drawn forward. The man approaches a crude altar and pulls back his hood to reveal a man with a quite ordinary face, save for eyes of a quite striking and piercing blue, which sweep across the small crowd with such intensity as to divine the secrets of those standing there simply through will alone. The robed man raises his hands in the air, creating a Flame, and invokes Masoumi’s name to begin the service. There is very little liturgy to speak of, mostly prayers and chants in a language Edward doesn’t know, nor do many others—he thinks it sounds like Osiriani—then the Augur begins a fiery sermon. He preaches at his impoverished congregants about their destitution, about the unfairness of being forced to live in such squalor, how the rest of the city saw repairs after the great earthquake that sunk this area below the high tide mark. He also raves about the new threat of the recent arrival of a goblin tribe, and how not only do you need to worry about footpads and thieves robbing you blind, but now goblins prowl the streets looking to eat their women and children. A good deal of the blame seems to rest at the feet of a ‘pointy-eared freak’ who commands the local division of the watch, who apparently takes no notice of the plight of those who haven’t lived a few centuries, too insignificant a lifespan to be of much concern. The man is clearly a gifted speaker who knows his audience, hitting on many legitimate grievances and injustices. At no point does he spew any human-supremacy rhetoric or overt racism, but his audience gets the message that their lives currently suck and it’s always a non-human that’s keeping them down.

After his sermon, he invites any listeners who wish to come forward and receive Masoumi’s blessing. His listeners are powerless, and the resplendent gods from the cleaner parts of the city aren’t helping them, but Masoumi isn’t interested in hoarding his power, doling it out only to those who study in some temple or academy, but to any who ask for it. One by one, a half dozen people come forward. The Augur, along with a small group of five ‘elders’ greets them warmly with hugs and laughs. He then asks each of them if they’re prepared to renounce old ties, devote their full thoughts toward Masoumi, and make him and him alone lord of their lives. When they agree, the six elders creating Flames, joining them together over the head of the initiate. The flames merge and grow, falling over the initiate, at first seeming like the person has been set on fire, but there’s clearly no burning nor pain and the fire quickly fades. Finally, the baptized initiate is invited to cup their own hands, and find that they too can now create their own Flames.

Jace seems enthralled in it all and looks like he’s considering also stepping forward.

Richard enjoys the meal with his family and as he looks at each one of them he wonders if this is the last time he will dine with them. After a restless nights sleep, he prepares to embark to the port. He says his farewells to his family.

"Don't worry mother, the Dawnflower will protect and guide me. My new found friends will also help keep me safe and I will do my best to keep them safe as well.

Please pray for me and my friends. We don't know how dangerous our adventure will be. Your faith in us will help bring us home safely."

Richard gives his mother a hug and receives some jeering comments from his brothers. His father accompanies him to the dock and bids his farewell with a simple

"See you soon son, good luck to you."

As he watches his father depart, he hopes he will make him proud.

Actually, Richard, I need to make one small change to your account...

The next morning, his parents and brother Gregory accompany him to the docks, his other brother having gone out uncharacteristically early. He’s likely sad he didn’t get a chance to say farewell, but lumbers up the gangplank, getting directions from the bosun on which cabin is his. He’s clearly sharing with somebody, whose gear is already stowed away on board. As he unloads his own things, the familiar voice of James asks from the doorway, ”You don’t still snore, do you big brother?”

Appalled at the man's orating, Edward catches Jace's desire to move up out of the corner of his eye and he halts him by placing a friendly hand upon his shoulder. "Do you not hear it, Jace? The man spews nothing more than propaganda. Have you actually seen goblins roaming the streets looking for children to eat? I have not."

"And what about his slander of the commander of the local watch. Is there any real truth to what he is saying or does he slander him simply to further an agenda? He does nothing more than tell the people exactly what they want to hear and like cattle they follow because that's exactly what they want to hear. They are either naive, uninformed, or simply do not care and want someone to pay for their current situation of livelihood in which they have found themselves in. So instead of making some form of effort to relieve themselves of said livelihood, they would rather wallow in self-pity and spend their time blaming others for their predicament and this man provides them that. And do you realize what they will gain from all of this, Jace? Do you? I do. Nothing. They will gain nothing. They will remain as they are and gain nothing. But that's not this gentleman's problem, is it? He cares not for them. He has an agenda, I assure you, and these people are nothing more than pawns within it."

He looks solemnly at his friend, wondering if he's getting through to him at all. "Look, whatever it is this man preaches I would implore you to do your own research. Find out for yourself if any of it is true; do not simply take his word for it. And I would even suggest you do the same if it was coming from me. Of course, we've known each other for quite a long time so hopefully I'm fairly trustworthy by now," he gives a wink. "But even having said all of that... you know as well as I that Iomedae would never stand for such speak. Never. She is one to accept any and all as followers. This Masoumi is sold on humans ruling any and all and THAT, my good man, is unacceptable. At least to me it is and it should be to you as well."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Jace looks uncertain, but in the end, let’s himself be swayed by Edward’s words as easily as he had the Augur’s. As you both turn to leave, you see that you’ve caught the Augur’s notice, and those intense, steely eyes follow you out the back of the ruined chapel. You do, however, make it back to the Seventh Church without incident. Jace is silent almost the whole walk back and retires to his own room, looking to “think and pray”.

The next morning finds Sir Edward standing, ironically, at the base of the gangplank of Masoumi’s Light, alongside Morgana and Ty.

"Masoumi's Light.

"For real?"

Edward sighs and can only shake his head. "It would appear so, my good man, it would appear so. Irony is a funny thing, young Ty. Let us pray that is all that it is," he says with a sly grin and a wink as he looks out over the harbor, ready to set sail.

"I thought Richard was joking..." Ty mumbles as he hefts his pack and boards the ship.

Edward can't help but chuckle at the comment. "You know, to be honest, I thought he was too," he confesses, shrugging.

Morgana does her best to avoid a groan, finally saying, "I think I read something about it being considered bad luck to change it, as if it were daring Besmara to take notice... " Of course, I'm not sure I want to be under Masoumi's eye much either...

Valla and Sir Rollynd arrive together, Valla wearing the cloak of the inheritor. Her jaw sets as she reads the name and Sir Rollynd openly scowls. ”Has Sir Richard’s family gone over?” the halfling asks.

You climb the gangplank to find Richard already aboard, bunking with his brother who appears to be in charge of the merchant trade mission. A cabin has been set aside for Morgana and Valla, another for Edward, Ty, and Sir Rollynd. Within the hour, after the short but customary ritual involving a benediction against storms from a priest of Gozreh, blessings of good journeys from the priest of Desna, and ceremonial bribe to the church of Besmara to protect the new vessel from piracy, Masoumi’s Light slips from her berth, through the harbour, and into open waters. Once the harbour pilot has been transferred to a small skiff, the sails are unfurled, and the ship turns to the east to circle the Isle of Kortos.

It’s a three day’s journey to Almas. You learn very quickly that though he may be stout of heart, Sir Rollynd is not stout of stomach and spends a good deal of time draped over the railing. Other than that, it’s a pleasant voyage, and you arrive in Almas on the 23rd of Arodus.

Richard goes up on deck during the sail finding Sir Rollynd heaving his lunch into the sea. Recalling his words as he boarded, he does his best to dissuade any fears about his family.

"Politics. Always politics. My father told me that the builder was instructed that the name had to be 'Masoumi's Light'. He wasn't aware of all the race related prejudice when he agreed and didn't want to make any waves once he learned. He told me it would be 'Bad for business'. I wasn't that concerned, figuring it was such a short, one-way trip. Besides, we don't know if this thing is going to last long. Wynsal is probably right, Masoumi will 'put the xenophobic followers in their place'."

Once they arrive in Almas, Richard takes his brother aside

"You need to be careful James. Even though you and Gregory are human, your relationship to me may cause you some unnecessary distress. Stay focused on the business of shipping and trade and you should be fine. Tell mom and dad I arrived safely in Almas. I will try and send word when I reach the Arch."

As he prepares to leave he slaps James on the back

"Take care brother and use plugs if my snoring bothers you."

James snorts. "Just how important do you think you are? Nobody here knows you, and nobody knows me. I'm here to buy darkwood that they float down the Andoshen and ship it back to Absalom. Have your adventures big brother and enjoy your sleeping rough. I'll raise a toast to you from my feather pillow."

The city of Almas is old and grand, with many impressive buildings. Most of the violence in the People's Revolt 37 years ago spared the structures of the city, though the noble palaces were repurposed to serve the fledgling democracy. You don't feel the sense of tension and oppression that you've recently felt in Absalom. In fact, the mood of this city is vaguely celebratory and as you move further from the dockyards, you see signs of a recent festival. Many shops still have festive decor in their windows.

You need to decide on the next phase of your adventures. I have put two maps up on the combat map slideshow: Andoran and Cheliax. The first leg of your overland journey would take you to Alvis, then Egorian, Westcrown, and finally Corentyn, but there are many possible routes, both on roads and cross-country, unless you wish to find yourselves another ship and mix it up a bit. You also need to decide how you're going to travel. There was some mention earlier about getting hired as caravan guards to travel incognito, which is certainly possible, or you can remain unattached for greater mobility. I'm assuming no matter what you choose, you'll be buying yourselves some horses, as walking many hundreds of miles with a halfling in full plate is going to take a loooooong time.

Richard proposed the caravan guard option only to allow him the opportunity of avoiding long rides on horseback. While it is certainly within his abilities to travel that way, he was hoping he could minimize the amount of time spent bouncing his behind on the back of a strange animal. The incognito aspect was a happy coincidence.

"I will admit that I am going to miss the comfort of my bed and the delicious meals mom prepares. Try not to spill any of your drink while you are toasting, you know how dad hates it when you get drunk little brother."

After everyone has departed the ship, Richard pulls out his map of Andoran and begins to examine the parchment for the quickest and hopefully safest route to Alvis.

"I'm interested in seeing Falcon's Hollow. I've never actually been there despite the amount of trade my family does importing the darkwood lumber harvested from the Darkmoon Vale. Anyone have a preference on which way we should travel to Alvis?"

You could also buy yourselves a wagon and team of horses. Handle Animal or Profession - Driver is needed to operate a wagon, and the profession skill can be used untrained. Or even hire a driver.

Now THAT'S cool. Heck, folks, Edward still has 2000 gold left. That ought to get us something. I'm liking these ideas. You know, Edward has +8 in Handle Animal. Huh? Huh? :)

Smiling, "Well, if it plausible, I don't see why we cannot pay it a visit, my good man! But first, we must come to a concensus on a specific mode of travel. We could very well hire on as caravan guards, as you have suggested, Richard. Or we could possibly look to purchase our own transportation - if that exist within the realm of possibility - and go from there," he offers, looking to the others for their opinions on the matter.

Morgana thinks aloud, "Hiring a covered wagon might lead to certain Chelish guards thinking we're refugees... and the same may be true of unscrupulous slavers... and, in Cheliax, they might be one in the same. Hiring a carriage, rather than a wagon, would probably be more costly, but attract less of that kind of attention .... but then, more from brigands... "

She shrugs, "The biggest advantage, though, is that we'd set our own pace. Signing onto a caravan, while effective and making us harder to find, is also committing to someone else's route and schedule - and that may be subject to change."

She nods, "I've some coin to go toward hiring a driver. I think that's probably the most effective thing we can do. Though, I may just be saying that as an unskilled rider."

"I like the option where we're disguising who we are, but that's probably due to my occupational preferences. I'm fine with anything."

Ty is just happy to be seeing the world outside of Absalom.

"I like the idea of buying our own wagon."

Richard shakes his head a little disgusted with himself for not thinking of this before.

"This is my fault. I should have considered this before we left Absalom. Wait! Maybe my brother James can help us. He was always better at negotiations than I ever was."

If James is still at the dock, Richard will rush back there and discuss the situation with him and see if he can use the family business to get us a discount on a wagon/carriage. If not, he will leave word with a captain familiar with Wells Shipping and see if the family can send word to Alvis about transportation from there.

James is more than a little amused that his big brother is coming to him for advice on the real world. ”Where exactly are you trying to get to? Corentyn?! Why?- never mind! Probably don’t want to know. And you want to go in disguise? You know Cheliax isn’t actually like all the stories: so long as you don’t cause trouble or do something to draw attention to yourselves, like openly worshipping Saranrae, folks with obvious means can move from place to place without having to get six devils to stamp your passport. However, if you want a legitimate reason for going there, you’re a Wells. So long as one of you knows how to drive a wagon team, I can set you up with completely legitimate and legal credentials and a wagon of Osiriani spices that are fetching decent prices in Cheliax these days. Cheaper and faster to trade those by ship but a wagon won’t raise suspicion. Get them to Corentyn and trade for Varisian tapestries brought down from Magnimar, or just sell them for cash. You can either buy the spices outright for 60% or market value, then keep all your earnings, or take them on consignment and keep 20% plus expenses and deposit the rest onto our account with the trade guild. But why aren’t you going by ship? That’s a two week journey instead of two months!”

Ty leans over to Edward and Morgana while pointing at James.

"I like him."

Morgana chuckles, "Too bad we can't afford him. He'd make a wonderful quartermaster for our little trip."

Edward can't help but grin at the others comments. "He definitely seems to know his trade, doesn't he? You know, if we are able to procure our own transportation, I have a bit of skill at handling the reins. I believe we would fare quite well," he says with a fair bit of confidence as he crosses his arms and gives a wink.

It will take James a day to organize the wagon and spices. Will any of you want your own horses to ride or are you all riding in the wagon? A medium wagon with the two horses it will need to pull it plus feed will set you back 500gp. James can secure you 1,000 gp with of spices, requiring you to pay him 600, but he estimates you could get 1,200 for the lot in a port like Corentyn. You could also take the spices for free and earn 20% or around 250 when you sell them.

Whichever plan you choose to go with, he pauses before heading off. ”I meant it that Cheliax isn’t like the stories with Hellknights frisking every passing merchant, but there is one thing that isn’t an exaggeration. You don’t want to attract notice, and a halfling in plate mail will attract a lot of notice. Almost all halflings in Cheliax are slaves. I’m not suggesting you clap Sir Rollynd in chains, of course, but have a care about it.”

You have a day in Almas. What would you like to do? You also need to choose a route. Falcon’s Hollow isn’t actually on your way, though depending on your route, it’s not a huge detour.

Morgana says, "I have no skill at riding, so I'd prefer to be in the wagon. At the same time, I would imagine the 'armoured guards' might want to be outriders.... and Rollynd would be best on the wagon as a personal servant, most likely."

"I'll stay in the wagon. If we get into a scrap, the first thing I would do is get off the horse, anyway."

I'm going to let Richard or the other worry about how to pay for the spices, but I can chip in for the wagon and other expenses (and help out for those who don't have enough coin.)

And... I don't want to give the impression that I'm disinterested, but the overland route we take doesn't matter to me. It's a long way to ride either way. Does anybody have any preferences about our route that we should try and match or avoid?

It doesn’t matter a ton to me either. I might hit one or two highlights along the way, but my intention is not to bog down the gameplay with endless side quests (since they wouldn’t have been available if you’d chosen a sea voyage). Since you’re going the merchant route, you won’t be able to cut cross-country, so one highway is the same as another. In Andoran, you don’t really have any reason to avoid one settlement over another. It will be a different story after Alvis when you cross the Chelish border. Until then, your options are to go south along the coast through small fishing villages, or north up river to Oregent and down along the mountain range.

Richard has a little over 150 gp, so he is unable to pay for the spices on his own. He is amenable to either route, so will not object if the party chooses to take the southern option. The carriage can hold 4 passengers and two drivers, so all of us can fit. The normal cost is 100 gp, but I'm sure James can set us up with a company rate.

Ty has ~1,800. I can cover Richard and anyone else that needs it.

The total cost (beyond any extra gear you’d like to buy like tents and bedrolls if needed), is 500gp for the wagon, horses, and miscellaneous stuff (feed, water barrels, etc.). Then if you buy the inventory from the Wells outright, it will cost you another 600gp, which will net you enough spices to sell for 1200 gp in Corentyn. Alternatively, you can take the spices for free, sell them in Corentyn, keep 250 gp and deposit the rest with the trade guild. You make more money if you buy them outright; otherwise, the Wells take more of your profits to mitigate their risk in giving you the free inventory. I would recommend that if you go the 1,100 gp route, you keep track of who gave how much and divide the profits along the same proportions. Valla and Rollynd can each contribute 100gp if that helps.

I seem to only have a hundred and a bit myself. About 170, all in.

Edward has 2005 gold. We got this. :)

Listening intently to the details given by Richard's brother, Edward pipes up. "Done! We will take it all, my good man! If you can set us up with the team of horses, a wagon that holds six, the spices, and any and all gear that is necessary, we would be most appreciative. Simply let me know the cost involved and we shall get squared away forthwith!" Slapping his hands together and rubbing them, "This is going to be most enjoyable, my fellow travelers!" he exclaims in delight, grinning.

Edward's got no problem in footing the bill. And no problem splitting any profits evenly amongst everyone. He's pretty cool like that. ;)

Which leaves you with what to do with your day in Almas and which route to take: coastal or inland.

Ummmmmmm I say coastal. What the heck. That'll be my vote. (But in all honestly, it really doesn't matter to me. Whatever the majority want is all good to me).

"So do we prefer coastal or the inland route? Myself, I believe coastal would prove to be far more scenic which therefore would result in my vote leaning heavily toward coastal. But that is a vote not set in stone so I would most assuredly not oppose inland travel by any stretch. Thoughts?"

Please also let me know how you are disguising yourselves, if at all, and when you adopt such a disguise. How obvious are your religious affiliations, that sort of thing.

Richard will travel with his armor as a Snow White robe. He will pose as a wealthy businessman - which of course he is, so little to no deception there - sorry, but I am not as good at trickery as Ty is :)

Question: How quickly does the armor convert to a robe and from a robe back to armor?

"Thank you for your generosity Edward. Needless to say the Wells family has invested in your well being."

Richard shows Edward the four new wands he purchased with his 3000 gold.