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OK and we move along once more. For the new PCs, Tiel is a former PC now an NPC, Zel should trust her she has never given any reason not to be trusted before. A pic of hr can be seen in the former PCs section of the Characters Tab under the Previous Characters section.
Kintargo - Rexus sighs, "Hmmm. Well, I suppose shopping is more interesting than what Ive found so far. There is a bit more to translate so maybe i the next week or so..." He continues to drone on a bit. The tension with Sholti and Zel is still there, perhaps time will heal the wound?
Kintargo Despite the breakout from earlier in the month, the Dottari security has become more lax. The people appear to be adjusting to this "new normal" well enough. Even with that, a few new recruits have joined the cause, mostly in assistance capacity in offering to share supplies and keep the mercenary "force" of Forvian Crowe outside of the city provisioned. Except for him showing up in full HellKnight armor,Zel's date is successful. Dalth is respectful and speaks of no further "incidents". Sera, Stricia, and Kadwyn are easily able to assist Zel with the day to day of her businesses, no one even questions who the new help are or where they came from. So that seems a victory as well. Kestral manages to meet a few members of this group, Tiel and Irisa while prowling the alleys and rooftops at night. Sholti spends more time at the Coffee House with Rexus who has been trying like crazy to break through the last few items to be translated in the documentation found in the Silver Ravens last hideout. Sholti Perception DC 25:
There appears to be a secret page embedded within the documentation itself, something that Rexus overlooked. --- - Business is a bit slow this particular afternoon and who should happen to walk in but Tiel, a close companion of Zel's. She stops and locks the front door, "Ladies, can we speak, in private?" --- - Rexus is a bit weary as the afternoon draws on, "I'm so close Sholti, so close..." His concentration is snapped when there is a loud banging sound from the front of the shop. Laria speaks loudly, as if to speak over the din but clearly to warn of danger, [larger]"What a pleasant surprise. Always happy to have the Dottari come by for a visit. How can I help you Gentleman and uh Lady?" [/larger]
OK. The group has now completed all sub plots presented with the exception of item 5. Which right now, is above the PCs level anyhow. I've put up a post for a bit of RP back at "home base". If any of you have any ideas you want to push forward, I'll move the campaign in that direction. Otherwise, I'll seed an update post with several new tidbits to act on. I could do that now but I don't want to try and railroad the game in any certain direction as I like to let the PCs exhaust all possibilities before I start moving the story along as the DM wills it. :-) As my personal life is beginning to stabilize a bit my posts should come more frequently. Thanks for all of your patience and sticking with the game despite the delays!
Kintargo - The four Ladies' arrive back at the Coffeehouse with none crossing their paths. As they enter through the front some of the patrons smile and wave seeing them as regulars others are too focused on their own cups or perhaps their own misery to acknowledge anyone. The morale of the city appears the same. Half the city seems to be getting along ok, or at least acting like it while the other half clearly are disturbed by the heavy hand of Barzillai Thrune and you can see it in their faces and body language. By the time you reach the back room, you see Sholti with Rexus poring through the documentation located in the old Silver Ravens lair. He looks up at you all and turns to Sholti, "Like I was saying, I had a break through this morning and... welcome my dears! You are just in time, listen". "The Silver Ravens were established in 4606 AR in the wake of the chaos that swept over Cheliax after Aroden’s death to help protect the city of Kintargo from oppression. The woman who founded the Silver Ravens was a mysterious elf known only as “Jackdaw,” a figure who, before the advent of the Age of Lost Omens, built herself into a sort of Kintargan folk hero who fought for the rights of the city’s downtrodden. Many of the Silver Ravens were adventurers or worshipers of Milani. Jackdaw, a swashbuckler, was the most powerful and influential of them all, but others who rose to particular prominence among the Silver Ravens were Amyreid a female half-elf cleric of Milani, Ba a male halfling enchanter, Kyda a female human rogue/bard, and Brakisi a male
The Silver Ravens defended Kintargo from being conquered no fewer than a dozen times during the Chelish Civil War: five times from power-hungry noble families, four times from agents of Thrune, once from an invasion of skum from the sea, once from a cabal of Nidalese vampires, and once from a blue dragon named Rivozair. The Silver Ravens maintained their main headquarters in and below the Kintargo Opera House; unfortunately, no information in the documents indicates any other safe houses the group may have maintained. Not even the one we found!" "There is still a bit more to learn, even some spells within that are quite interesting if any of you are spellcasters. We've made some headway lately but we've also made some noise. I think we should all like low for a bit, see what if anything develops over the next week or two and see whether we get a few more converts or any other opportunities present themselves to us. We are too few too push too much harder right now. Your thoughts on my ideas or the revelations?"
I'll push us forward by Thursday and BOT Kestral if need be, just an FYI.
Kintargo - The Ladies inspect the goods in the coffer.
It is clear, that these items will indeed aid the cause, what is not clear is whether this "Kestral" will... The other thing that is clear from the investigation of the Silver Stair is that the group that Stricia has come to find, has been annihilated by the Thrune.
Alright, moving forward once more. Kestral will be back into the swing by the 27th, meanwhile if anyone else is around feel free to get the scene moving forward.
Kintargo - HA ONLY:
Perception Despite the fact that it is the middle of the day and a patrol has just passed by, they did not even glance in the direction of the ruins. The Ladies are able to find a spot in a Kintargo back alley to sit down on a few crates and relax. They are all out of sight of the street but can see people coming form both directions, an ideal place to inspect the goods discovered and speak to one another.
Kintargo -
Kintargo - An initial search reveals nothing at all of use. Stricia begins to search more in depth as the rest of the Force begin to interact with the newcomer. Suddenly, some rubble shifts beneath Stricia's feet! Reflex Save She barely dodges out of the way of a semi collapse below that he activity above caused that could have damn near taken her leg off! However, the shift of rubble reveals a coffer! Coffer Contents:
Four scrolls and Seven potions. Based on the care in which they were wrapped it is likely they are magical. A more thorough investigation of them would be wiser elsewhere. The shifting of rubble does cause some noise...
Kintargo - Despite Kadwyn's failure to stay quiet, a good thing to discover now before a critical point ina mission must be undertaken, it seems that only the mysterious figure spotted the ladies. The figure appears to have left, hopefully not to alert the authorities. The foxes begin to search the ruins of the Silver Star, which would appear on their face, to yield little more than charred stone. The site is a sinkhole filled with said scorched rubble as the building collapsed into the chambers below when it burned.
Sorry for the long wait, between RL and the site being a f&@*ing mess we were delayed but finally underway once more!
Kintargo - By mid afternoon the four ladies' reach the area of the city where the ruins of the what used to the Silver Star lie. Patrols of the city do not seem any more frequent or aggressive than they have the past few weeks.
HA ONLY:
Perception DC 13
Zeldana Stricia Kadwyn Sera Stricia and Kadwyn:
As you close in on the ruins you notice a figure also approaching stealthily. The figure wears dark clothing with a mask covering its face. Kestral: If any of them do not exceed your 21 Perception roll from foerver ago you will notice them approaching the ruins the same time that you do.
Kintargo - Korva narrows her eyes and whispers, "Sabotage but who..." Maggie whispers in her ear, Korva then states, [b]"We shall keep our eyes wide open for any such saboteurs in the future. Please inform Lavinia when you head back up that we will need to create some sort of warning system form now on when anyone comes to visit or to the storage room..."{/b] Despite a search of the hideout, you find nothing. Well, the gator is still in the water but the Kenku seem to think its a fine deterrent for anyone trying to sneak into the nest through the water...
Kintargo - Maggie is shocked by Sera's statement, "But who could it have been? No one has been down here but us, Tiel and Irisa." Zel indeed does manage to fish out a healing potion and provide it to Treep . Her eyes flicker as Kadwyn tries to move rubble off of her, unsuccessfully. However, quickly enough, the ladies are able to use teamwork to free the Tengu. Korva comes out from her room as Treep is freed her feathers frayed, "What's all of this?!"
Kintargo - As you race around the corner you find one of the Tengu, Maggie, under some rubble! She looks to be in bad condition. Heal DC 10:
If she does not get aid quickly, she will perish! Knowledge Engineering DC 13:
You see a way to get the rubble off without further collapse. This damage is minor despite the terrible lack of luck that someone was right here when it fell. Disable Device DC 14:
You notice tool marks around the area of the broken wall which indicates sabotage. But by who?!
Kintargo - Before Maggie can respond, the sound of a crash echoes from around the corner, in the same location where the Fox Force encountered the Dire Corby! HA ONLY:
Was Anyone There? 50%+ Yes. A scream rings out right after the crash. Maggie turns, "My sisters!" She rushes around the corner.
Kintargo - The four opt to head down in the Wasp Nest, after all it has been a few days since they went down to check on things. Moving through slowly to make sure no one is seeking to follow your group down, you finally open the secret passage and enter the new HQ of the Silver Ravens. A tense moment where you sense someone watching all of you passes as you realize it is merely the Tengu hiding in the shadows. Maggie, the youngest of the bunch grins, "We were starting to think you would all never come back. Where are Irisa and Tiel and who are these Ladies?"
Sorry, what is the Wasp's Nest? I see the map, but I didn't find any other information. That is the new HQ for the Silver Ravens located beneath the Longroads Coffee House. ;-) Sorry, forgot that most of you are turned over from when the group cleared that space out!
Kintargo - Rexus shrugs at the points the Ladies' make, "It may be that everything worth taking is indeed gone. I think they stopped patrolling simply because the time lapse since they destroyed it has been long enough that they believe no one who can or will resist is left within the city. Correct, it is not time sensitive but should be done, who knows what you will find?!" His eyes gleam with interest over what may be.
Kintargo - Rexus smiles at Zel, "I understand where both you and Sholti are coming from. I shall speak no further of it. We must trust each other and each other's judgment else all is lost. Now, the Silver Star was being patrolled heavily but may not be now that it has been some time since it was destroyed. Will you go explore it now or later? If later, I would suggest heading below. If now, take care that no patrols are nearby while you investigate".
--- Sholti: Rexus appears to want to move but stays where he is seated. "I understand what it is to lose family. However, if you do not fight, you may lose your family anyway. Consider that.
Now, if you change your mind, Tiel and Irisa have told me that they believe that the ruins of the Silver Star is worth exploring. I hope that the Ladies do see you there later". With that you take your leave.
Kids, in a few I will finally update.
Update now, one of the worst illnesses I've ever had in terms of length, almost two weeks!
Kintargo - Sholti:
You arrive early and find Rexus in a terrific mood for once, instantly he sees yur face and becomes somber, "What is it, what's wrong?" --- Knowledge Local DC 15 - Library Question from Stricia:
The Iroran Sacred Order of Archivists was reportedly destroyed by House Thrune during the Night of Ashes. It was the Order that oversaw the Library as to where the Linrary is located no one but the members of teh Order knew that. --- After Sholti's announcement and her departure, Rexus sighs, "She must do what she believes is right. She told me what transpired and I must admit I too am a bit perturbed that our seed of Rebellion hangs on by the precarious relationship between you and a Hellknight Zel. I know that Laria also has some thoughts on this and will share them with you but not during business operation hours. Still, what I did find and the reports of both Tiel and Irisa give me hope. Oh and by the way, Korva managed to sneak into the city the other night without any of you, seems she was trying to see if she could do it without endangering anyone but herself and well, mission accomplished, you can ask her about it as she's down below if you wish to. Here is what I decoded thus far: • The Silver Ravens were established in 4606 AR in the wake of the chaos that swept over Cheliax after Aroden’s death to help protect the city of Kintargo from oppression.
Hopefully, by the end of the week with Sholti's help, I can uncover even more secrets of these documents. Now to what Tiel and Irisa shared with me, During the Night of Ashes, three buildings mysteriously burned to the ground. No one’s saying it out loud, but the general consensus is that these three buildings and many of their occupants were specifically targeted by Barzillai Thrune as dens of sedition. The three ruins are the Victocora estate, the Thrashing Badger Tavern, and a music store called the Silver Star. My parents were part of the Sacred Order of Archivists, and I suspect that they were targeted by Thrune’s agents for this reason. The Silver Star was owned by Shensen herself an outspoken critic of Thrune. There are rumors that the location was also a secret shrine to Sarenrae. Furthermore, the Thrashing Badger was a favorite watering hole for the rebellious cult of Milani. For the first few days after the Night of Ashes, the Dottari patrolled the sites of all three ruins heavily, but now they’ve turned their attention elsewhere. I doubt there’s anything worth salvaging from my family estate as I went over it a few times. The Thrashing Badger’s ruins are almost entirely gone; the building burned through the boardwalk and collapsed into the water below. I suppose you could check that location if you wish. However, no one has checked the ruins of the Silver Star, perhaps that is our next lead?"
Are you? If so great but I was not sure!
Reminder! The Wasp's Nest currently holds 6 Silver Raven Figurine's of Wondrous Power. Description This silver figurine turns into a raven on command (but it retains its metallic consistency, which gives it hardness 10). Another command sends it off into the air, bearing a message just like a creature affected by an animal messenger spell. If not commanded to carry a message, the raven obeys the commands of its owner, although it has no special powers or telepathic Abilities. It can maintain its nonfigurine status for only 24 hours per week, but the duration need not be continuous.
Kintargo - The fox force minus one spend the day working at Zel's shop and setting up their sleeping arrangements, at least for the forseeable future. Sholti fails to return or materialize the next morning. After the "off" day, there is a knock on the door of the shop , when the door is answered, a note is stuck to the front door. Opening it, it reads: "Dear Sister - I have made a break through in my work and would love for you to come see it. Yours Truly, Rexus It seems that Rexus has made some headway in the documentation recovered from the Silver Ravens old lodge. Time for a trip to the Long Roads Coffee House!
Terrific RP folks, I'll let it play out a bit longer. Sholti, whenever you want to head back to your parents we can haandle that scene.
Kintargo - Fortune's Flower "No, certainly not now. You and your friends I am sure wish to decompress from your... camping trip. I will come to you tomorrow evening and would be delighted to eat your home cooking". The Hellknight unlocks the door and leaves the five of you alone.
Kintargo - Fortune's Flower Dalth nods, "Excellent, I am glad to not hear of it. Perhaps one day..." He pauses as if he wants to say something but stops himself. "Perhaps you and I can take a meal together?"
Kintargo - Fortune's Flower Dalth remains silent until the group reaches Zel's shop and she opens it. There are a few customers waiting out front but with a look from Dalth they all suddenly find some other place to shop at the moment. Once the door is closed with the group inside Dalth locks the front door and turns to look at Zel, "It was the oddest thing. A Dottari Officer this morning, one of the ones who you met a few days ago, informed me that someone with your description was spotted as part of a group of na'er do wells who freed several prisoners from the salt mines. After a lengthy confession, I was able to discover that your description was placed in the ear of these men by a Dottari who sought to do my personal reputation harm. Such activities are not unheard of and I will deal with that Dottari soon enough. With the confessions and the identification of your return to the gates this morning and leaving through the gates last night, I am sure that even upon inquiry it will be quite clear that you, nor your friends were involved in any such criminal activities. I trust that I'll not be hearing such scandalous rumors about you again my Flower?"
Wow... Glad I was on my phone than I laptop... Soda all over it with that reading. No joke. Well played! I thought you'd like that :-)
Kintargo "I imagine that was difficult indeed. My back is sore as well, it's difficult work strangling so many people to death with one's bare hands. Surprisingly difficult to the back muscles. One easy. Two still easy. But four humans plus a dwarf, that's work". He turns to look at you Zel, "I am sure you would not know anything about that of course. If I am not mistaken in fact, there are guards at the Nightgate that saw you and your friends take that camping trip north yes?" Based on the direction he is headed in, you get the sense he is walking all of you back to your shop Zel.
After a bit of a lull, that seems like the best way to start us off again. With a bang right? Right? :-)
North of Kintargo The group finds shelter in the wilderness of the North. Though they hear the sounds of threats nearby, their location is suitable enough that those same things, whatever they were did not see of hear them. The night passes by uneventfully for all but those on watch in the dead of night. --- Kintargo The sun's rays shine down on the five ladies as they make their way, with Dottari uniforms stashed away, to the Nightways Gate. The guards begin to question you when a familiar figure steps up behind them, Dalth. Well a figure familiar to Sholti and Zel, the rest of you see a massive Hellknight fully armed and armored. "Admit them", the Dottari on command begins to object when the Hellknight backhands him so quickly and with such force that the guards remaining standing don't hesitate to follow his orders. He gives his arm to Zel as he begins to walk with her casually through the streets of the city, "So... how was your outing in the north?" He looks back to see if the rest of the group follows.
Meant to get to this on Friday night but I was too damn tired to think straight!
North of Kintargo The Fox Force decides to "rough" it for the night.
One thing I almost forgot about, Sholti is supposed to meet with that elf she saved from the dottari patrol? I forgot as well! Yes, that would be good to do as well.
North of Kintargo Crowe and his mercenaries agree, you leave them trotting north into the wild. With them on your side, your forces have doubled in size! Of course you will need many, many more to be successful. But Kadwyn's words inspire hope within you all. The five of you are now alone, several miles north of the city with three of your number still dressed as Dottari and half the night still ahead of you.
North of Kintargo Crowe grins at Sera's statement, "I backed the wrong side. The Lord Mayor had us on retainer and the Thrune decided to eliminate as one of his first moves, I think we're alive because we were pawns removed from the game so early that he forgot to have us killed. I hope that's not his first mistake".
Waaaaay back when I posted: FYI, the open plot points some of which were delivered in spoilers: 1. A mercenary named Forvian Crowe and most of his men have been arrested and sent to the Sallix Salt Works in Old Kintargo possibly facing a sentence of execution if not hard labor. It seems this leader was an acquaintance of Tiel's new "employer" Hetamon Haace of the Devil's Threads. 2. Hiranno, and her Silver Raven statue, have not checked in with Laria all day long. 3. Clenchjaw’s tavern has gone bad. It was always a nice place to relax but since the Night of Ashes, though, the place is crowded and talk about politics has exploded—as has the number of brawls. Whatever’s causing these brawls at Clenchjaw’s has ruined one of the last places we have to escape the violence. 4. During the Night of Ashes, three buildings mysteriously burned to the ground. No one’s saying it out loud, but the general consensus is that these three buildings (and many of their occupants) were specifically targeted by Barzillai Thrune as dens of sedition. Those locations: Thrashing Badger, the Silver Star, and the Victocora estate. 5. The Order of the Rack has defeated and outlawed the Order of the Torrent. Some of you met some name NPCs that I would keep track of as potential allies (or enemies?) in the Rebellion.
Items 1-3 have been completed! Item 4 you have yet to look into. Item 5 you have yet to look into but Zel knows a certain someone who [i/may[/i] have more information here. I have two NEW plots I will drop in game once the PCs arrive once more at the Wasp's Nest. You can discuss I/C or OOC which one of the above to tackle next OR wait until the new plots are dropped and then decide. IN addition, as you are attempting to gain more support n the city, you can always spend a day or more seeking out those who are sympathetic to the cause or identifying those who are not!
Kintargo - Northbound Remulus and Christian continue to sail this time heading north as Forvian Crowe grins, "That's one hell of a lunch! Well regardless, I am a mercenary for a living but a man of fair judgment at heart. The way I see it, I owe you my life. I'm yours to command until I save each and every one of you in turn, especially you Sera. What say you men?" The men all nod in agreement and respond with "Aye's" not too loud as they are no fools. The boat lands soon enough and the group is easily able to scuttle it about 5 miles north of the lands that the fisherman from whom you "took" it lives. Crowe sighs, "We've some experience living off the lands so for a time we will do so, Remulus and Christian have enough for us to get started. What we will need from you ladies are weapons and provisions, at least if you expect us to be in any way effective in this fight. Or we could leave this place and sell our services elsewhere. With the skills of you five together we could make a great living is a more welcoming land..."
Night Assault on the Salt Works - Swallowed by the Sea Remulus and Christian are able to expertly sail the boat past all craft. No cry rips through the night as the boat slowly sails away from the docks near the Salt Works! After the group clears the final ship that could pose a threat Forvian Crowe finally breathes, "Well, I introduced myself and it seems you know my band. The questions that flood my mind now that we are... safe are as follows. First, who are all of you? Second, now what will you do with us?"
Night Assault on the Salt Works - Into the Night While the thugs seem sufficiently cowed, their leader is still unconscious so it is not possible to say what, if any, impact your efforts will have. Crowe though stays behind as the group made it clear, they do not condone his suggested tactics. Once that matter is taken care of Korva hisses, "Time to go!" The group and their rescued mercenaries hustle to the boats where Forvian grins widely, "Remulus and Christian. You dogs, you let the women folk do the rescuing, I hope you've stayed here just to work the tiller!" Remulus grins, "You took too long, get in. Hurry before we're spotted!" The boat begins to push off from the dock, heavily weighed down by all the extra bodies some of which smell to the Seventh Heavens.
Playing in 20+ games and running 26 (soon to be 27) is time consuming. Outside of the boards I have a fairly busy work schedule and of course a life! Often I find that if I fall behind in updates, I need to make time to simply update a Discussion Thread to inform the PCs of a particular game that I am either going to be posting later in the day or week or will be on a break form the boards for one reason or another. To save time updating so many damn threads I am going to open this thread and link all of my DM aliases (and PC aliases) to this thread to inform people as to status. Of course if people feel the need to ask other questions outside of PbP feel free to do so but mainly this will be a thread dedicated to ensuring that my PCs know my status and to assure everyone that even though I may have some absences away from the boards (or particular games) that new thread will be up to date with my status.
Night Assault on the Salt Works Crowe shakes his head, "They ain't Dottari these guards. They're thugs, the lowest kind of thugs as even the Dottari won't take 'em. You've seen how ruthless the Thrune is but you all need to do what you think is best. I am the one being rescued here so if you want 'em to live, that's on you. I've already got a target on me, I'll have a bigger one now". Korva's feathers bristle, "It's looking more like going and granting mercy than the reverse yes? If yes then we should go". Crowe grins at Sera, "I mean hot fer gettin' me an my men out, no disrespect meant there ma'am".
Yeah but now we have a moral dilemma! I know, fun right? ;-)
Night Assault on the Salt Works Korva shakes her head, "No, there is room for perhaps one but no more". Forvian Crowe speaks up, "Those Bastards were going to work us to death. Ruthless thugs who would kill, or worse, any of you without a second thought. If I had my weapons I'd go back and run them all through myself. Give me a blade and I'll see they don't reveal your identities to anyone".
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