Welcome to PBP Gameday X, running Sep 6, 2021 through Nov 15, 2021.
If you're reading this, you should know what to do.
The invitation to dinner at Lionlodge was addressed to each of you, individually, sealed with wax bearing the impression of a man riding what appears to be a dragon. The letter cited your recent accomplishments in the Korvosan hinterlands and hinted at a new "job" that would be uniquely appropriate to your group's skills. An advance payment of sixty gold pieces accompanied the invitation, signed by a man named Auldegrund Grimcarver.
He promised to fill you in with more details after a nice meal, and even if the job offer didn't interest you, he has promised another payment of sixty gold pieces for your time. Lionlodge is extremely remote, located deep within the Mindspin Mountains northeast of Korvosa, but if nothing else, the trip should give you a chance to relax before your next adventure begins! And so, you've spent the last few days heading into the mountains. The sun will set soon, but Lionlodge has just come into view around a bend in the road — hopefully dinner lives up to the anticipation!
Lionlodge is a squat stone bunker built against the cliffside, its twelve-foot-high walls rising at a steep, not quite vertical angle to a flat roof above. Carvings on the walls depict armored warriors riding dragons engaged in battle with ferocious beasts that are clearly terrorizing various humanoid bystanders. A large carving of a mountain lion, positioned as if it were in mid-pounce over the lodge's front doors, remains particularly artistic in its representation.
Jaithe spends a fair amount of the journey to the Lionlodge in brooding silence; something is bothering the sorcerer but she won't say what.
She pauses as the lodge comes into view, absentmindedly rubbing her chin as she thinks, her unnerving jaws hinging and unhinging.
Do any of you think this offer is too good to be true? Hmmm?
She adjusts her colorful robes in a way that makes her look more… human… before moving forward. Well, I suppose we're here now, yes? What do you say, my lovelies? Shall we?
"Too good to be true? Perhaps, perhaps." There is a slight melody to Kellsti's words.
"The seal on the wax was quite plain, quite plain. Could be from a trinket, a prop, or a fake. But yes, we should go, for excitement awaits."
"Yes, perhaps. The job sounds intriguing, though. Have any of you heard the name Grimcarver before? It sounds vaguely dwarven to my ear, though it's not a name I've heard before."
As the party banters and approaches the ornate front door, Kellsti pauses momentarily as they looks at the carvings, noting that they appear to have changed at some point in the past, but cannot readily discern what they originally depicted.
As Zerryd reaches to knock at the door, it suddenly swings in to open, revealing a pair of serious-looking dwarves. They appear to be twin brothers.
You're just in time for dinner, says one, and the other follows up almost at once. We hope the trip up the mountainside wasn't too strenuous.
Zerryd, inwardly pleased that his deduction about dwarves was at least partially correct, follows Takemiru's lead. "Thank you, the journey was fine. I am Zerryd, this is Takemiru, Kellsti, and Jaithe. And what, may I ask, are your names?"
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Welcome, friends. I am Vorlindi, says the first, while the second follows up at once with And I am Dorlivin. Dinner will be along shortly. Takemiru finds the words to be promising, as they catch the scent of numerous savory foodstuffs wafting from the portal.
Once inside, the party observes a large stone dining hall. It has a twenty-five-foot long wooden table in its center, surrounded by high-backed chairs. Shelves along the walls display all sorts of small taxidermic animal trophies, while larger mounted beasts (two standing bears to the east, a large wolf to the southeast, and some heads of elk and other mountain animals) have been placed along the walls. The most impressive feature in the room stands in the northwest, where a massive stone dragon doubles as an ornate fireplace, giving the room a pleasant warmth. Several stone doors are visible in the walls to the north and south.
Please be seated, Vorlindi says, grabbing a mug for each of you; and Dorlivin immediately chimes in, Your host is due in a few moments, as they take the mugs and fill them one by one.
What a lovely dining hall. Thank you. Jaithe accepts the glass and moves to the wolf, looking at it.
Vorlindi, Dorlivin, may I ask, what are your own relations to our enigmatic host, this Auldegrund Grimcarver? What can you tell us of him?
"So kind, so kind." Kellsti takes a sip from her mug. "Do you work for our host, Grimcarver? Who is he?"
We are servants, Vorlindi says simply, and Dorlivin immediately continues. The hunter Auldegrund will join us soon.
Vorlindi seems strangely subdued as far as their emotions — not exactly detached, but definitely colorless and uninflected — and behaves oddly in a way they can't quite nail down. Certainly not like any dwarf Kellsti has ever met.
All at once the southernmost door flings open and a red-headed dwarf strides into the room. Ah! Welcome, welcome to the Korvosan Four! I am your host, Auldegrund Grimcarver! He moves to the head of the table and pulls the chair out. Please, come and sit![/b]
Auldegrund turns to Vorlindi and Dorlivin. Time for the first course, eh? The pair silently scuttle through the doors to the east, and Auldegrund turns to face the party expectantly.
Jaithe steps forward and raises her mug, letting the folds of the colorful robes fall gracefully.
Thank you for the invitation. To the Grimcarver, and new friendships at the LLion's Lodge! She drinks deep.
Zerryd looks to the rest of the party, then follows Jaithe to the table. "A pleasure to meet you. I am Zerryd."
"So many surprises we have today. What shall be next?" Kellsti takes a seat, her short legs dangling.
Excellent! Auldegrund also sits and moves a mug closer to him. I want to thank you for accepting my invitation! TO let you know, I've had rooms prepared for you overnight so that, come the dawn, we can all rise and take part in the Great Hunt!
Now then! I would know more about my guests! Auldegrund turns to Jaithe. Tell me, Jaithe, about the talents you bring to this troupe of yours! Vorlindi and Dorlivin shuffle in, bearing bowls of thick, hearty soup, placing one bowl before each party member and in front of Auldegrund.
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Well now! Jaithe samples the soup. This is delicious, by the way. Complex. She allows her jaws to bifurcate, watching how Grimcarver reacts.
Of course, if you've heard about us you already know how our merry band of miscreants here enacted revenge upon Duke Maunder, so I won't bore you with that. A famous tale, sung all about Varisia. No, how about the time we saved a group of Pathfinders — have you heard of them? Murderous tomb-robbers one and all — from unleashing a great evil upon Varisia.
Now, it all began when I performed a harrow reading for one Lens Lark, a rather interesting charlatan of the Society who pretends to know the weave of the Harrow, yet he comes to me at times for a true reading… She will weave a tale of following an augury that leads to the prevention of an ancient evil being unleashed by dim-witted Pathfinder agents.
…and that, Auldegrund, is why you always have a professional read the cards. Because failure to do so may lead to weeping and gnashing of teeth and even decapitation, as Merisiel found out. Speaking of, would you like a reading after dinner?
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Auldegrund nods disarmingly at Jaithe's recount, not at all taken aback by her non-conformity. Excellent, excellent! I have heard of these Pathfinders, and I, too, have found their reputation to be a passel of murderhobos! And we shall see on the reading! The dwarf next turns to Takemiru as the soup bowls are whisked away by Vorlindi and Dorlivin. And you, my fine furred friend! Tell me what brings you so far from your home!
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Takemiru grins, flattered, at the mention of his fur.
"Jealous? Some would pay quite a bit for a coat this fine." He then remembers the taxidermied animals, and his grin becomes forced.
"I come from the other side of the world, from a place full of spirits and mystery. I came to Avistan the way most merchant families do, through the frozen Path of Aganhei as part of a caravan. He leaves out the bits about his family actually being a bunch of bandits.
"But, that was not the life for me. Nature called. I felt the pull of the wild, and have spent the last however-many years living in the Korvosan hinterlands. Not to brag, but I've become quite the wilderness hunter myself."
He then goes on to wax poetic about life as a hunter and living off of the land.
Auldegrund nods and appears engaged at Takemiru's treatise on roughing it. Takemiru is confident he's connecting with the dwarf very well.
Vorlindi and Dorlivin swoop in to refill cups as Auldegrund turns to Kellsti. A kobold among this menagerie! What a sight indeed! What brought you to team up with this group? How do you fit in with them?
"I am an artist, you see, and I seek to create a great masterpiece. My goddess Nocticula shelters artists, but I must first make a worthy enough work to impress the Nocticulans in New Thassilon. I must first have the experiences to draw from, and I find I like traveling with this group of people."
Kellsti takes a long drink, exhausted by so many words.
Kellsti tries to preach the doctrine of Nocticula but doesn't find a receptive audience in Auldegrund. That's nice, the dwarf says a little dismissively before turning to Zerryd. Tell me, my winged adventurer, what brought you to join up with this flightless (at least thus far) assembly? Vorlindi and Dorlivin head through the doors to the east as Auldegrund addresses the strip.
"Well, it was flight that brought me north to Korvosa, in fact. Flight from the devils themselves, in a way." Zerryd pauses to take a sip from the mug in front of him. "I flew north fleeing the storm of Cheliax. Now I gather the storm to me, and some day soon I shall return, bearing the thunder on my wings!" The strix takes another drink from his mug, eyes fixed on Auldegrund, looking for any sort of reaction.
Auldegrund stares at Zerryd a moment. Truly? This is the story you wish to share?
He turns as Vorlindi and Dorlivin return just then, each carrying platters laden with food. In any case, it is time for the main course! The meal consists of roasted game hens, venison, and multiple foraged greens and berries. Mugs are refilled and Auldegrund lifts his own. To the hunt! he says, quaffing easily half in one gulp, then digging in to his own plate.
I have a rule to never toast something I do not undnerstand. What are we hunting, dear Auldegrund? Surely, not these hens. Jaithe spears her own with a fork by way of demonstration. They would make for poor sport.
Kellsti shapes the food on her plate into a more pleasing appearance before digging in.
Of course not! Auldergrund chortles through his meal, and bits of masticated venison spray on the table as he does. Game hens, the very idea! No, no, friends, this hunt is for the savage lions of the mountain. There's one oversized pack of beasts that have eluded me so far, who should make for a sporting hunt!
Kellsti finds the plate to be well-seasoned: a touch of sweetness to the rub on the venison makes it less gamy, while the game hens have a surprisingly delicate flavor — and prepared perfectly.
They've been lucky, is all, Auldegrund snorts, slamming down his ale mug. There's about a handful of them, hunting in tandem. I'll get them yet, though, with your help!
Are these lions the eponymous creatures of the lodge itself?
Ha! No, not as such, Auldegrund says, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. The mountain lion is sacred to Erastil, don't you know. So I'm sure it's named after that.
Auldegrund turns to Zerryd and then to Takemiru. Come now, you two. My brothers went through all this trouble to cook this delicious meal, he says, holding up a half-eaten game hen. Sharing a meal is a fine way to get to know one another!
Mmmmm. And it's delicious!
"Yes of course" Zerryd says, taking a bite of the hen before him.
Auldegrund grabs another mouthful of deer meat. Good, eh? Nothing but the best for you lot! He moves his mouth a bit, then spit out a bit of bone before continuing. Now then. I've already paid fifteen gold pieces each for your interest. Are you up for joining me for this epic hunting expedition? If we're successful, it'll be double that for each of you!
I'm as stuffed as one of the creatures on the wall. I'd much rather see a lion hung there than Jaithe.
"It sounds like it will be a marvelous tale. I am in, I am in."
"I accept your generous offer as well."
Ha! Excellent! It'll be the experience of your life!
Kellsti pulls Jaithe aside quietly, when she gets a chance. "Our host, our host has been watching us closely. Do you see his impatience, his anger?"
seems pleasant enough to me. Let’s pour salt on this impatience.
Jaithe picks at her meal even more slowly, calls for more wine and swirls it about in the glass for very long moments.