Dot in
Loud and raucous conversation filters through the door from the common room of the Uscalin Lodge, which doubles as the Ace of Dreams gambling house. “I know it’s here. I had it just a moment ago.” Venture-Captain Shevar Besnik lifts piles of papers and numerous boxes off of his desk, stacking them on various side tables and chairs in his clean but overly cluttered office. The tall, Varisian man’s face parts in a toothy grin as he lifts up a solid oak box. “Found it!” As if to punctuate his discovery, a crowd of players in the gambling hall erupts in cheers. Distracted for a moment, Besnik stares at the closed office door that leads to the common room. “Desna laughs. Well, she laughs at me, but she smiles on them.” The venturecaptain shrugs. “All they have is gold; what I have in here is far more valuable.”
Besnik opens the box’s lid painstakingly slowly, careful to keep the contents out of sight. With reverence, he lifts a large tome from the box and gently sets it on the table. “Careful, the binding hasn’t held up well. This is one of the few Tomes of Righteous Repose left in the world. I’m pretty sure there’s one in the library of the Sancta Iomedaea in Vigil, but I’m—well, let’s just say I’m no longer welcome there. That’s a story for another time.
“Up until today, I’ve only skimmed the pages. I didn’t want to damage it, but now that you’re here, I can’t wait any longer. Care to plumb the depths of this most ancient and wonderful storybook? Oh, the marvelous adventures we will soon read! This tome is a collection of tales describing how various crusaders died gloriously and honorably. I’m hoping to find some clues in the text that will lead us to an as-of-yet undiscovered site or relic. Maybe we can trade a bit of what we find with the Knights of Ozem and earn ourselves some goodwill. After what happened last time, we need it.
“Care to peruse the pages with me?”
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Prilla climbs on a chair to have a closer look at the ancient tome. She is a nut brown haired, freckle face halfling girl who is currently wearing druidical robes that are covered with images of butterflies and flowers. A flower garland is on her head, a symbol of Desna around her neck, and a starknife at her hip.
Desna does like a good laugh Venture Captain sir she says shyly. And I have to admit, I do enjoy a good book.
She paused for a bit.
Dare I ask why we are ... not in good favor with the Knights of Ozem?
Tiny Pebble's blue eyes sparkle with excitement at the prospect of adventure. He stands patiently beside his master in the meanwhile.
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Dare I ask why we are ... not in good favor with the Knights of Ozem?
"Somebody probably found out that one of those 'glorious and honorable death' stories was more smoke than flame, and it dimmed the Order's glow a bit," Chuckles a somewhat unnatural-looking, yet stunning-looking woman as she sips some potent, smoky spirit from the bar. "Or knowing them, perhaps someone had the sheer temerity to put a slain foe to constructive use!"
Her blackish-red hair is like embers, her eyes an eerie gold, her ashen skin reminiscent of fine ceramic. She is outfitted in a gilded breastplate over a tight, strategically-cut outfit of high-quality embossed buckskin; to the side of her seat rest a broad, black shield shaped like a sunburst, and a gleaming black longsword.
The hand not holding her drink cradles a heavy golden icon in the shape of four crossed swords, which the theologically-versed will recognize as the unholy symbol of Ymeri, Queen of the Inferno, Elemental Lord of Fire.
He answers Prilla Frost's question Well to know why we aren't in good standing, I'd have to explain who they are and what happened.
“They’re an order of Iomedaean knights based in Vigil. That’s about it; they aren’t typically an exciting bunch.”
“Have you heard of the Boartusk Twins? Garl and Shrade saved the lives of one of my teams a few years back, so I offered them field commissions. Then they got us in trouble by using wayfinders like badges of authority. I shipped them down to Old Mutton Chops for some training, but gaining the knights’ trust again is taking time.”
This also answers some of the questions that you all asked in a similar manner, ie Knight Thronerose's question.
Prilla didn't ask this question, but with her religion check, she would know what is going on with one of the questions that involve religous history, so here is an answer to a question you didn't ask.
Why is the Tome of Righteous Repose important? “Well, early
crusaders had amazing adventures fighting the Whispering Tyrant, orcs, and a whole host of other threats, but they don’t have very many records that aren’t as dry as an Iomedaean’s hip-flask. This tome gives us important insights into the crusaders’ adventures. Rellakarabee Fustbickle, the gnome author, interviewed dozens of crusaders and wrote about the most heroic and tragic deaths in this book. It wasn’t very widely published, so it’s been difficult to get my hands on it. The poetry is a bit purple, too. Not really my style—but perhaps it’s something you’d be able to interpret?”
He then looks at Vrothum and speaks an answer to a question, even though he didn't ask one.
“The book! Well, it’s a bit delicate; no telling how long the pages will last. I wanted to make sure we had multiple sets of eyes on it in case it gets damaged. So I don't blame you. I haven't looked through it until now.
Diplomacy/Local/Linguistics
15+: Rellakarabee Fustbickle is a gnome poet, known mostly among literary scholars. His subject matter revolves around heroic figures and tragic deaths. His style is too melodramatic to gain significant acclaim, though he is popular in some circles.
20+: Fustbickle based his poems on true stories from the Shining Crusade. However, the finer details are ambiguous at best. Rumors suggest he was on speaking terms with the mortal Iomedae.
History/Religion
10+: Lastwall was established in 3828 ar, when it seceded from Taldor. It is a military dictatorship, primary focused on keeping the Whispering Tyrant locked away and the orc hordes of Belkzen at bay.
15+: Lastwall originated from the remnants of crusaders living in the area after the conclusion of the Shining Crusade, the great war against theevil wizard-king TarBaphon (also known as the Whispering Tyrant, who rose after his death as a lich).
20+: Lately, Lastwall has had to recruit less pious individuals to fill its ranks. On the borders, followers of Gorum and Kurgess are more common than paladins of Iomedae and Sarenrae.
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Hmmm...Standing there picking meat out of his teeth with his pinky claw, is a well built purple Tiefling. Ill let the scholars look at the ancient book, it's not really my thing. He flicks a shred of meat on the floor, but awaits further information.
"Not my thing, either!", a dwarf with black hair and pale skin answers. He is wearing hide armor and also carrying a very long hammer made of adamantine, some fine dwarven craftsmanship. When poetry is mentioned, his eyes light up and grinning he exclaims:
"For colorful poetry
Just call the cavalry
If you wonder who that could be
Ask a great poet - me!
HAHAHAHA!"
He laughs loudly at his own crude humor, then he stops and introduces himself briefly.
"My name's Dimak Doomhammer.
This beauty here is why..."
He pats the massive head of his hammer.
"I don't have much glamor
But I make enemies cry."