Greatwall was the name used to describe the southern border keep placed strategically on the Western Shore of the East Sellen River as the river flowed out of Brevoy. The river kingdoms were a wild place, and Greatwall was a keep that made sure the wild elements stayed out of the precious lands controlled by House Lebeda. The East Sellen River was a very important trade artery, and Greatwall was a stronghold built to ensure it stayed protected.
You think of your future in Greatwall, and before your summons, it was fairly bleak. Perhaps you were one of the original farmers and watched it transform into a war-forged stronghold. Maybe you were a deserter or soldier who spent his term and ended up here. Maybe you arrived on one of the major merchant caravans that still passed through the trade routes to the east. Although war makes trading dangerous, it also makes it profitable. Maybe you were part of the numerous contingent of Abadar or from a small Erastil shrine. Could you have been sent to further House Lebeda's interest in maintaining control of this vital trade route?
Hanspur was the diety nobody liked to talk about around Greatwall. Rumor has it the river traders would drown things to make sure their run through the dangerous lands would be successful. Sometimes these things were people, and it was rumored that Hanspur himself had taken an interest in the river kingdoms personally. One thing that was for sure, he probably didn't want the wild and chaotic riverlands turned into another Brevoy.
You sit at the Behir and Beholder, the only tavern in Greatwall, taking the chill off early spring night. Suddenly the front door opens, and three soldiers enter--you recognize them as the sergeant of the guard and two men-at-arms. As they approach you, you see another three guard enter through the rear door and approach your table.
As they approach, the sergeant of the guard, a slightly corpulent man with a dangerous-looking scar running down the left side of his face, points his finger in your direction.
"YOU...YOU...YOU....YOU...and...YOU!!"
He indicates each of you in turn
"You are all wanted by the Captain of the Greatwall Guard."
Edoom looks to see who else has been pointed out by the sergeant. He had just unloaded the cache of trade goods he had brought here at great peril, and there didn't seem to be any profitable goods to purchase for his return trip so he simply shrugged to see where this would go.
Standing Edoom looked around for a bit then returned his gaze to the sergeant. "Would I be out of place in inquiring why we might be wanted by the esteemed Captain of the guard"? He then bows slightly with a disarming smile hoping for a positive answer.
Maria wasn't rather sure what she must have down to be called out by the guard. Could it have been maybe her rousing orations had enthused some lordling of heavenly aspirations. As a priestess of Shelyn, the young half elf had dedicated most of her adult life at this point to worship and veneration of the arts and beauty, wondering just what she must have done. However, seeing as how others were called now began to sour the thought, maybe a lordling was fraught with such a street sermon that he had complained to the guard.
"O' me... ummm, why what is the matter sergeant," she asks somewhat worriedly in a typical Rostlander accent.
Before the confrontation with the guards, you recall what you know about this keep Greatwall......
Greatwall was constructed outside of the nation of Brevoy, but it is an official sanctuary of Abadar. Some refer to it as "The Vault" for it is the primary distribution center serving all trade down the river. Even some Abadar acolytes will tell you any trade that isn't along the river will cost over three times as much, and who wants to pay three times more?? So Greatwall is a collaboration between Abadar and their somewhat silent partner House Lebeda. Although soldiers in Greatwall wear Abadar insignia, many have noticed new arrivals arrived along the road wearing the House Lebeda swan as insignia, and switched to the golden key of Abadar as insignia. This is fine for jewelry, but expensive equipment within the ranks such as swords and shields, well they bear the Lebeda swan while the bearer also has a cloak clasp or necklace with the Golden Key.
Greatwall is on a low level of alert, they are reacting to a threat.
Karina takes her time in replying, she's dificult that way and the joruney here after her argument with her half-brother did nothing to improve her mood. The empty couple of tankards on her table - no food - tell their own story. As the daughter of a noble - a noble of House Olovsky, no less - she could probly make something of the way he's addressing her, but she isn't going to waste her anger on a sergeatn who's just doing his job. She makes a point of - slowly - finishing her drink, putting the goblet down next to teh ohters before she slowly stands up and gives teh sergeant a smile. "I'm happy to go with you - but just so I'm clear, is that *wanted* for a chat, or *wanted* as in wanted on suspicon of murder?" She hasn't killed anyone recently, certinly not in Brevoy and not the sort of people who'd be missed or that a guard captain would worry about. But it's good to know where you stand.
She takes a curious look at the others the sertgeant has pointed at. She doesn't know them, and she wonders how she - with her wild, long hair, travel-stained cloak and obviously used weaponry - looks to them. They'd probly laugh if she told them who she really was - a daughter of House Orlovsky. But the name Zayatevya feels good on her, for sure.
After the sergeant makes his entrance, an attractive half-elven lady gets up from her dinner at a corner table. "Sergeant, I am sure this business can wait for a short song!!"
Standing a mere five feet tall and weighing about ninety pounds soaking wet, her sandy-brown hair offset piercing green eyes. The patrons bang their mugs and plates and shout "Emerald!" repeatedly. The sergeant glares at the small woman who jumps on the bar as she tunes her twelve stringed lyre.
She announces : "This is for the caravan workers and their guards, whose work makes the masters here wealthy."
She sings in a clear voice as here fingers deftly work to pick the strings. Link to Emerald's song
After her song, the sergeant looks at you again, it appears six more soldiers wearing Abadar insignia have joined him.
A tipsy Antonio sat at a table in the Behir and Beholder, alternately drinking and nuzzling with a girl he had picked up earlier that day.
"YOU...YOU...YOU....YOU...and...YOU!!"
He indicates each of you in turn
"You are all wanted by the Captain of the Greatwall Guard."
Tony blearily turned his eyes to the uniformed figure he can't quite resolve.
"Oh, hey Shae, do you see some guards here?" He asked his girlfriend, who didn't answer."Hello?" He said as he turned around. The girl he had been friendly with for hours was gone as if she had only been his imagination.
He turned back to the sergeant.
"Oh well, looks like my time is yours officer. Take me away!" He said dramatically.
The sergeant escorts you, under guard, into the main hall of Greatwall Keep itself, a giant pillared room containing a massive, wall-length hearth. A raging fire warms the barren marble walls and floor, and illuminates a long and wide oaken table covered with parchment and maps.
After about ten minutes the guards snap to attention as double doors at the end of the hall swing open. In strides Gillmore, Captain of the Greatwall guard, a well-built man with a war-hardened face but a manner more cordial than the sergeant with the scar who escorted you here. He is wearing a suit of gleaming silver white plate armor with a large white swan and has a sheathed Aldori dueling sword.
"I must apologize for the manner in which Sergeant Krayquer has brought you here. But our time grows short. Please sit down and relax as I have something which I need to discuss with you."
He claps his hands twice and two servers appear with jugs of wine and begin serving you. Then he orders all but you and Sergeant Krayquer out of the room.
When all have left, he continues..."As you may not be aware, Pitax and bandit warlords continue to pressure us. This jeapordizes our strategic position as we rely almost entirely on outside sources for supplies, and the raids and violence have made the journey here too unprofitable for most merchants. Even our traditional trading partners in Willip now refuse to take the risk. I need to prove to them they can make the trip safely and profitably, and this is where you come in."
"I wish you to escort a caravan of three merchant wagons to Willip and back. The caravan leaves tomorrow at dawn and must return as quickly as possible to make our schedule. The wagons carry traditional trade goods to be exchanged for the food and supplies we need to keep the merchants and my benefactors happy."
"You must use the old Grabford-Critwall-Willip trail to resupply the border posts and show Willip merchants that it can be navigated safely. I understand this puts you near Sellen river, a stone's throw from east bank of the river that is not even loosely under our control.
"For you heroic service to Greatwall, I will award you 1000gp each upon your return."
After he claps his hands again, the sergeant departs and returns with sacks of 250gp that are placed in front of you.
"This additional payment should cover incidental expenses before you leave."
He looks at you confidently, not really expecting you to decline.
"Well, what do you say?"
It's been a while since Karina was last in Brevoy and the little amount of nobly etiquette that was drummed into her was quickly lost in the rest of her more recent upbringing. She doesn't seem to know or care what house the captain is in service to. "Money's nice. What problems are you expecting for that amount?"
Maria had no real knowledge of the town nor the area, a simple Rostlander swept to a foreign land that she wasn't accustomed to from her small home. Even the simpler information that she could gather wasn't really enough for her to figure things out for whom their supposed client was, she barely knew whom she was working with for this job that she was pushed upon to help with, though 1000 gold coin was well worth the reward to help others... even if it felt like refusing wasn't an answer she could have.
"Certainly well... I could be of service," she says, clapping to the song before stopping somewhat awkwardly.
Linnes regards the sargent curiously; and follows along quietly- her experience with the guard telling her now is not the time for back talk. She drinks more than a mug of wine as she waits to be told what she is responsible for this time. "Ah, so my past finally came back to haunt me; huh? Good to know I can put that part away at least."
"Caravan guarding? Sure, I'll do it."
Edoom’s eyebrows rise at the offered funds. perhaps I’ve been moving goods in the wrong circles.
I’ll probably have to take you up on that offer. That’s a lot of gold”. SENSE MOTIVE.
PROFESSION: Merchant
He then reaches for the offered gold.
I don’t think they really expect us to return to collect
Check 1 Auto succeed.
Check 2
Check 3
I must apologize for the manner in which Sergeant Krayquer has brought you here.
"Think nothing of it my good man!" Snarked Antonio. He wondered however, at the collection of nobodies here gathered by the Captain. Curious.
As the servitors appeared with refreshment, Antonio reached a hand past the glasses and grabbed a carafe of wine for himself.At the mention of the money, he nearly spit out the wine he had just gulped and curious thoughts fled.
He snapped into an exaggerated salute.
"I live to serve! I accept the commission!"
The captain listens and carefully replies: "Bandits and orc raiding parties are the threat. I will bring in the sergeant to brief you."
The scarred sergeant enters with a scowl.
"I wasn't sure all you layabouts would sign on, but you need to listen to me if you want your mission to succeed. Greatwall depends on you following all my instructions to the letter."
"First, kill any lizardmen on sight. We are sure they are agents for our enemies, and they cannot be allowed to escape and give word of any of your movements. They are conniving and cunning--do not allow them to mess with your heads."
"Next, the orcs will be a threat. They prefer the open ground where no one can take cover. Orcs prefer to fight in a single group rather than small bands, so where there is one orc, there will be the rest."
He thinks before adding: "You should find the travel between the forts rather routine until you reach the eastern border. The advances in gold should help. Unfortunately we have little in the way of magic to provide, potions, scrolls and wands are being used elsewhere."
He looks at you with a scowl. "Did you get that? No lizardmen live!!"
"Anyway, find the merchants and Emerald at the tavern I found you sots at. They should be ready to leave first thing tomorrow."
"Kill the scaly things; got it." Linnes takes the gold and counts it; wondering what she should buy.
A nice dress! No! Definitely not a nice dress... If there isn't any potions maybe more healing kits?
Karina listens carefully, espcially to what isn't being said. "When you say the lizarmen are agents for our enemies - who do you mean by that?" The 'kill on sight' order sets her teeth on edge - she has killed, but not on demand like that. There are lines, some of them are spaced very close together but they still exist. And some lines you don't cross at all. But she deciees not to make an issue of it here. For all she knows, her new companions will be just fine with it.
Tony's face screwed up in thought as he took a swig of his carafe.
"Hey Sergeant!" He said, waiving his hand in the air vigorously.
"You sure about those orcish tactics? When I went to the University of Lepidstadt, one of the texts our instructors used was Lucilius' 'Urgosh at War'. They taught us that orcs favor broken terrain and small group tactics."
That said, he wondered about the orders about the Lizardmen...
Kill on sight. Got it.
Sergeant Krayquer seems much less personable and caring than Captain Gilmore. He laughs:
"Fancy universites really know what happens in the field. You go with that book learning if 'you' want to. You can meet the merchants in the tavern."
Arriving at the tavern, you meet the trio of merchants.
Malin is a boisterous man 5' 9" and carries at least an extra fifty points. His full brown beard and mustache frame a fun-lowing face with a double chin, but grey has begun to streak his chestnut brown hair. He seem to be a little grumpy, maybe due to waiting for his 'escorts'.
Emerald is a beautiful, poised half elf of less than ninety founds and stands less than five feet. She is less than 24 and she seems to hold an unusually responsible position as the number two and chief of logistics for the caravan.
Jasmalus, another human in mid fifties, stands a full 6'1" weighing about a buck fifty (150#) giving him a frail and tired look. His solid white hair tapers into a nicely trimmed beard/moustache combo, but his clothing looks like that of a ragged beggar.
As Malin engages you in conversation, he quickly seems to take in the group and sighs.
He is disappointed in the experience of the party
Malin explains: "We move out tomorrow. I know you have an advance. I would buy some horses for mobility and the deterrence that mounted men tend to provide. You can ride on our wagons, but disembarking from them is not easy in a crisis. I can purchase minor items for you from the stock upstairs worth up to the 250gp you were alotted. I can bring items, weapons, and armor and get them transformed into masterwork quality from the priest too. Prepare a list, and I can get what you need with my people skills."
A graceful elf sweeps into the group, it is surprising you hadn't noticed him before. Barely five feet tall and wearing traveling clothes similar to the merchants. He looks like a typical elf, but his eyes are quite recessed. He plops down 250 gold pieces. "I need a shirt of the chain, well made to keep the hindrance down. I also need this Brevan crest placed on it if you can." He drops the money and a sketch of a swan on a lake.
The crest is that of House Lebeda
You also note he has moved next to Emerald and has managed to touch her on the sleeve, whisper in her ear, and make her blush a pretty crimson all within the span of five minutes while downing a full tankard of ale and starting on a second one. He gestures to Malin with the tankard.
"I need that crest. I do admit my royal bloodline is still being checked, but rest assured, I am worthy of all the honors given me."
He makes a series of quick hand gestures to your group. Then bows with a sweep of his arm.
Edoom rises to his feet.
"I would like to have a chance to look at your horses and choose a combat trained steed. If you have tack and saddlebags as well that would be magnificent".
Was for the most part confused. Usually when they needed a priest, it was for post mortem affairs or someone wanting some sort of religious event with her, but this was going out into the wilderness, ready to fight off banditry, something she supposed could be benificial, but why her.
"I'm a bit confused ser, but, why am I chosen with these folk. I guess could do healin' but I'm not the most expert of such magics."
Malin smiles at Maria. "Healing will be needed. I would suggest a light crossbow, even my wife can use one."
Edoom purchases a fully equipped dapple-gray horse that was trained to make courier runs, it seems quite fast, and was named Smoky.
Later in the evening as the tavern gets more crowded, the crowd calls for Emerald. Instead, the elf jumps up on the bar and introduces himself as Jasper. He turns to Emerald and says: "Play that song I wrote for you after we met."
He seems to be singing to her to impress her, but as she masterfully streams the lyre she seems unimpressed. After he is done, Emerald jumps up on the bar to play her own song that she sings to him. It is obvious that he broke her heart at some time.
Sergeant Krayquer enters to remind everyone the caravan will be loaded at first light and leave shortly after.
Linnes sighs after the songs finish. "I should probably get a bow then... A think a short bow should work. Any chance you can your hands on one for a strong lass like me?" She smiles a bit and stretches her arms.
Antonio greeted the three merchants with an expansive greeting.
Laying out much of his advance, he asks that his rapier be advanced to Masterwork.
He purchases a light riding horse and tack.
A Light crossbow and a variety of bolts.
A potion of Cure Light wounds.
A new Lute.
A pitcher of wine for himself and his new team.
While the merchants perform their services, Antonio drinks up with enthusiasm, while plucking away on his new lute to Emerald's songs with the enthusiasm only an amateur can bring.
Edoom makes sure to introduce himself to Smoky by taking him an apple and a few sugar cubes before returning to the inn. He enjoys the frivolity of the evening though with the early departure he keeps his wits about him.
Purchases
Smoky 110 GP
Saddle, Saddlebags, Bit & Bridle 4 days feed 16.2 GP
(2) Potions Cure light wounds 100 GP
He then manages to sit next to Maria.
"I can see the shared blood between us. Tell me your story".
As the evening sun sets in the tavern after an evening meal of generous proportions, the leader of the merchants sighs and waves Emerald over. The half elven female sits down and steeples her hands together.
"We have a tough month haul ahead of us. We may look back on tonight and appreciate shelter and food like this."
Jasper smiles as he drinks up and finishes a whole chicken.
Malin adds: "We will leave at first light. I am turning in."
Jasper bids his goodbye to the lady and promises to see her in the morning. As Malin takes one final drink from his tankard, he sees the bill for dinner and drinks under his tankard. He looks at it in surprise.
Jasper slipped something under Malin's tankard
You awake early to make it to the stables where the wagons are getting outfitted. The three large wagons are each being hooked to a pair of strong horses. Each carries a rough looking teamster and one of the merchants. The three wagons are being loaded with a variety of goods and boxes by Abadar soldiers.
The rutted and ill-used road to the east beckons.
The three wagons are very tall and each pulled by four horses. There is much room in the back for passengers and gear to be stowed. Jasper, Emerald and Malin each sit up front with a burly teamster that seems capable of pulling a wagon or driving a wagon. They are loaded and lined up in single file.
A troop of ten Taldan medium cavalry approach and salute Malin. The leader speaks after lowering his visor and exposing his noble beard.
"We will be escorting you for a day. Our patrol coincides with your route."
Camping for the night, a roaring fire and a large field kitchen is set up. A roast pig is cooked stuffed with flavorful nuts as Emerald supervisors two teamsters as they turn the pig.
The cavalrymen share some of the pig and continue their patrol eager to get free of the caravan. The Taldans salute and depart, having said no more than ten words between them.
Emerald takes out a thin flute, and begins to play a haunting melody as the teamsters clean up after the evening meal. The ride on the wagons has been quite comfortable, and their are actually well made springs to keep the wagon ride from being bouncy.
Malin jokes as he gestures with a sweeping arm movement to the group naturally gathered around the fire. "This is where we bond and cry and form a lasting friendship over emotional stories of our lives. Or not." He laughs with a deep baritone laugh.
Maria invests some of the downpayment on getting a horse and saddle for travel. She had never really ridden long distance before, so a good, trained horse being top priority. His name was Jervis and she smiled a top him as she rode him out of the stables after his purchase. Coincidentally, she ended up riding right alongside Edoom, raising a brow.
"I'm not sure I should tell my story to someone I just met so casually unless you'd like to be evangelized or something of the matter," she says with an attempt at a smile, not sure what he was going for, but kept the happy and easy-going attitude she "And while we might share pointy ears and all, I don't know you from Shelyn, got a name?"
"But of course. I am Edoom... and while I can Abely wield both weapons and magic, I'm more interested in turning small amounts of coin into larger amounts".
He then gives her his best smile and whistles a small tune under his breath. "Not being forward but if you hold the reins of your horse a little lower, you'll be less fatigued at the end of the day".
Linnes buys a couple of things the previous night in preperation.
She is a few minutes early; having went to sleep early and waking up with nothing better to do. She paces about and mutters soft reassurances to herself as she waits for the rest of them to arrive.
There is no activity the first night, and the caravan duty seems to pass in a blur of good meals, improving spring weather, and little activity on the road. The party continues the journey to Morsten and makes great time, cutting the seven day trip to six and coasting into the town of Morsten as night is falling. Heading straight for an inn and stable, you have the opportunity to sleep in comfortable beds with a roof rather than outside. Unfortunately you don't get to experience much of the town as you are out the other side of the town at first light.
Malin mentions his delight in the pace of the trip, and hopes to make Fort Belvor in eight days--the next stop on the journey. This trip skirts the river border between controlled territory on the west bank and the wild east bank. You are wound tightly as the river boundary seems not so secure at times, especially when you observe orc tribes moving on the other side of the river at times.
It is the eighth day out of Morsten (the fourteenth day out of Greatwall) and sleeping outside and traveling in light rain of the last few days hasn't been pleasant. When Emerald's wagon throws a wheel and it takes four hours for the teamsters to fix it, Malik curses and drives the group even faster. He hopes to reach Fort Belvor by nightfall, but seems resigned to some night travel.
Tensions run high as dusk begins to fall, and you plainly see fires burning in the distance on the eastern side. Then you realize that one of the fires isn't from across the river, but on the winding trail up ahead. When the trail straightens out, the source of the fire comes into view; a burning wagon, on its side in the middle of the road, part of an ambushed three-wagon train like yours.
You see that the middle of the three wagons lays overturned and virtually demolished on the road. To the right lies the charred wagon still smoldering. To the left stands a third wagon, apparently undamaged but awash with blood. Large spots of blood also dot the surrounding area, but you see no sign of the bodies anywhere. Cargo from the three wagons lies ransacked and scattered across the roadway, but little appears taken. You note numerous arrows lying among the cargo, several charred near the arrowheads.
A close examination of the caravan reveals it has been picked clean very recently and six bodies are discovered: three teamsters, two merchants, and an elf that looks remarkably like Jasper. There are bloody handprints left behind and bloody claw marks in the bodies and nearby vegetation.
The merchants insist on burying the bodies and saying some words over them.
Two idols resembling a rat on a piece of driftwood are found.
No longer smiling, Antonio peered at the bloody handprints and clawmarks.
"The Bloody Claw." He said aloud.
He took a quick look around, wary of another ambush.
"Yeah, they're an orc warband; a vicious bunch of marauders and raiders."
Edoom and Maria stop the group to collect 10 doses of dew of linary and then later 10 doses of ginger extract in the early days of the journey. Jasper is noticeably upset at the death of what looks to be his twin.
Edoom looks at the corpse... then at Jasper... "Do you know this one"?
He then hears Antonio's warning and draws his bow, notching an arrow and looking about.
Perception
Linnes frowns as she figures who left the bodies.
"Hmm... this is... unfortunate; but why are there so few bodies? And why so many claw marks and hand marks?"
Edoom spots an orc peeking out of a woodland trail as the funeral preparations are discussed.
INITIATIVE
ORDER OF ACTION
Edoom surprise round
Linnes
Edoom
Maria
ENEMY
PARTY
Status=Hidden with weapon of choice drawn
You thought Antonio was with the group, but some instinct must have triggered his quick reactions and he darted into some shadows.
Maria looked slowly down to her reigns before realizing what she was doing and correcting herself, smiling towards him. Her newness to riding was likely rather obvious, but she was sure to make up for the fact in enthusiastic learning and doing. After all, what would a good devotee of Sheyln do in a time like this. As she viewed the natural landscape, she still did wonder why she was chosen of all people. Having traveled for some time now with these people, it was a strange thing to go about the land on such a journey with complete and utter strangers.
She had gotten off her horse, moving over to inspect the idol, "Hanspur, a local deity," Maria says just before finding herself in the heat of a skirmish, "Trouble!"
From the time the first sergeant came to fetch her and the others, Morag was dismayed that they'd chosen her. In fact, she'd begun to place her hands together so that the soldiers could place manacles upon her, before she'd realized what was happening.
Not used to such good fortune, Morag decided to her windfall to bolster her complement of magic tricks : scroll of cause fear (25gp), scroll of mage armor (25gp), scroll of ray of enfeeblement (25gp), scroll of enlarge person (25gp). In addition, she purchases 1 potion of cure light wounds (50gp).
She eschews the purchase of a mount, preferring to ride on one of the wagons, making small talk with any of the teamsters that allow it.
She hops down from her wagon to assist in the internment of the unfortunate travelers, muttering "The Bloody Claw, just our luck to run into that bunch...."
Edoom envokes his magical guidance and time slows down a bit as he aims "True Maiden" his favorite bow at the sneaky orc and lets loose an arrow assisted by arcane energy.
Arcane Bow Shot
Piercing stick
He was a bit rushed in his shot and the Orc grabbed a branch to push it out of the way instead opening the path for the blue fletched black arrow as it sunk into his ugly face.
Taking a deep breath Edoom stood steady as the Orc prepared to launch himself at the group.
Arcane Bow Shot 2
Poke the Orc
The first arrow hits the shoulder, leaving a bleeding wound. Somehow the bleeding orc would not go down. The second arrow follows, but fails to hit the orc.
Edoom sighs, and remembers that orcs can be ferocious. What brings down other creatures, severely hamper orcs. They have been known to fight while a human would be bleeding out on the ground.
As the alarm is sounded, Jasper hoists his body double on his shoulder. Malin looks to Emerald, who orders, "Prepare the wagons to move out at my order!! Jasper and Malin, mount up now!!"
The trio leave the other two bodies under the shade of the trees and rush to the wagons. "There will be many more!!" Emerald screams.
"Blessed Sheyln, give us this day to overcome our conflicts..." Maria continues into an impressive array of litany, calling out a sermon to inspire her compatriots even if they didn't subscribe to her faith.