On the topic of the nearly-named Broken-Chain-Over-the-River-Land.
Alia of the Blade wrote:
Many of the others seem fine, but I would prefer a name I won't have to look up the first 20 times I write it ;) We can use those more complicated ones for regions or cities, too.
How about Hom? Sure it is apparently already taken buuuuut it's short! ;)
Otherwise there is:
Ulthar
Haumea (HULA DWARVES!!! The image just makes me smile.)
Telvurin
Mengkare
Gaen Vale
Athel Loren
Nysa
Sirion
Eridanus
Auriga
Pegāna
Sardathrion
Harza
Tarphet
Cyresia
Merimna
Babbulkund
Oonrāna
Plegáthanees
Agrodaun
Runazar
Kynash
Yarnith
Khamazan
Nydoon
Allathurion
Yann
Mandaroon
Astahahn
Perdóndaris
Belzoond
Hyrrokkin
Aoede
Tír na nÓg
Thule
Themiscyra
Nysa
Nibiru
Aztlán
R'lyeh
Arcadia
Kameland Something Something Narlmarches
Shrike Somthing
And a whole lot of others I'm not listing here.
I assume that Tor accepts our "settlement" then. In that case...
To Tor before he leaves:
"Well, that is that then. But one word about your project."
"Hunting is a royal privilege. Nobody cares if you take a rabbit or two for your stew pot, but the kind of operation you intend will need to have royal assent. You would need to go to New Stetven to get it but I doubt it would be too hard to get, assuming you are willing to pay for it."
"If we encounter you again in such an undertaking I expect you to have proof of such assent. If you prefer, we can take you as far as the road to New Stetven, though our duties prevent us from leaving the Stolen Lands."
Tor complies but adds darkly: "You're making a terrible mistake you know."
Tor begins breaking the bits of camp that were not broken when Tuskgutter came through. Mag's near dead, but Grogan is already coming around and none too happy for it or for being left tied over a horse's saddle.
They scowl but in the end move on.
Neither as it turns out is native to the area--they've just been known to hunt it.
The eventually run into Notch and the kobolds who grow unhappy when they find out that party has their pay.
In regard to Numalar's earlier inquiry about the Aspis Consortium, Tor gives you the presentation speech he memorized from various motivational and organizational seminars he has grudgingly attended back at the home office. Specifically that the group is branching out from the coast and up the Sellen River into its many tributaries amid the River Kingdoms (where their diviners are projecting a lot of market growth). He uses a lot of foreign nomenclature and can go on like this for hours.
Typical Foreign Nomenclature wrote:
"While we may be a lot of moving parts we can network ourselves together and by leveraging our individual core-competencies we should be able to reach out to the kobolds (and anyone else) and come to an a mutual understanding. I don't expect everyone one here to drink the healing potion without running it up the flag pole first, but by each of us employing our best practices we should be able to give 110% and thereby move the needle on this project. The adventuring party model is after all a vertically scalable ecosystem with each of us contributing value to empower one another toward a final beneficial price point with very little out of pocket buy-in on your part. Really, it all comes down to strong organizational values to reach a solution and then take it to the next level."
Any decisions on consortium policy or the allocation of resources, personnel or profits must go through the head office first, but he does imply that they would obviously split any profits based on locally sourced resources equitably based on work and services provided. *wink*
He also uses the word 'who' a whole lot you notice.
"You're probably wondering what all the fuss was with Grogan trying to kill Fuzzles over there. Who wouldn't? Especially with him being all priceless and all. Truth is he would fetch some fair coin but really it was more important to catch him before he went howling to the whole countryside what was up and, well, cause this to happen." He gestures around. "Especially while we were still negotiating. Anyhow, there isn't just one bloody spotted wolf. The forest is full of them. We just need Tamris here to tell us where."
Tor smiles broadly and opens his mouth to speak. to be continued in about two and a half hours at which point the villain will make a startling revelation that will make the ends the movies Se7en and Ferris Beuller's Day off seem like infomercials.
"You are wise Scarlet, As I said this man deserves death, he attacked us just for being with Fan, with no other knowledge of us, he struck without mercy, not knowing or caring that we were the ones he might be able to deal with. Stupidity and naked aggression in the pursuit of power is the aspis consortiums trademark. I still say we kill them and see what specifically Tamris was stopping"
"While I will admit my co-worker can be a bit brutish, not all of us are so. Still even if you think us the worst this world has to offer, I wouldn't go there friend. Who knows who they'll get to replace us. Besides, no one is dead--yet."
"The Swordlords of Restov and the Crown of Brevoy, since you asked. In short, the government, which has recently decided to show an interest in this backward part of the kingdom. And before you try to tell me that this isn't Brevoy, I suggest you try convincing the King-Regent of that."
"Ah, just the people who I wanted to see then. I represent the Aspis Consortium. I assume you have a charter of some sort? I would show you my card but well. Those who you see before you--both agents and local contractors--the kobolds, are undertaking a preliminary survey of the area's natural resources for possible investment and exploitation. We know perfectly well who this land belongs to and were planning on bringing our findings to your attention as soon as a possible business plan had been drawn up. There is rich bounty here in the Stolen Lands, bounty that Aspis would like to help Brevoy in developing toward a brighter future--and of course--our own mutual interests. Our organization could be very helpful in terms of providing expertise, resources and trade by way of an early investment in Brevoy's little boarder endeavor here."
He nods toward Tamris "This vagrant brigand, who you see before you, however stands against us--against us both! He has gone out of his way to hide what he knows of this place. He's halted our survey by way of guerilla actions and sabotage. This blackbird is the reason I and my fellows were summoned. He is an inveterate fanatic unwilling to bend regardless of the inducements provided. And I fear given what I now know that he is your enemy as well. It would do you well to restrain him again. He is quite dangerous."
Detectives Posh and Scarlet:
More broadly, where do little speckled wolves come from?
Noticing Tamris's silence, Alia raises an eyebrow:"If you feel disinclined to tell us what's going on, I have a feeling someone else would be more talkative. I would prefer hearing your perspective, but if Tor is the only person willing to share, I'll hear him out", turning to Tor: "Nope, you're stuck with that obnoxious woman and the brute."
"Pity they're both dreadfully unoriginal conversationalists. Call me Tor. May I know the names of those who are my current captors?"
Scarlet Scarab wrote:
"Wait, what's with the awkward silence?" She turns to Tor. "And why isn't he wetting his pants over how much trouble he's in?"
"I and 'my friends' represent a powerful consortium of merchant organizations. Who do you represent?"
When Tor says that he represents a 'consortium of merchant organizations' it occurs to you that the answer to their apparent torture of Tamris, to Grogan's nonchalant attitude toward the bounty posted for the assumed-to-be-extinct/much sought after dappled wolf and Tamris's hesitation to speak on the subject in front of strangers (even heroic ones) might be laying across the campfire, staring at your shins. Rain, the dappled wolf. Where, you wonder, does he come from?
The small crowd of wizards drop their long knives and put their hands in the air, at Alia's command. "To whom do I have the honor of surrendering too?"
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14Numalar can see for sixy feet perfectly well - like normal light so no problems seeing everyone involved. Stealth:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 hopefully some circumstance bonuses for darkness and cover
Burning Hands Reflex DC 16:2d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 = 8 Using saltpeter. Am at CL -1 thanks to neg. level.
Daze is will DC 15
Perception (sans Notch):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Will save:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
The six identical wizard stops abruptly in their tracks as if the group had forgotten what they were doing. They take no actions this round.
A real trap he skirted like the one in the fog. He really doesn't have much in the way of spells left after: shocking grasp, scorching ray, obscuring mist, mirror image, magic missile, ghoul touch and (of course) alarm.
Evil deed indicator (1. Stab a man while he's down, 2. Run like hell):1d2 ⇒ 2
What a miserable turn of events.... Still not a total loss, at least I won't have to ever work with Grogan and Meg again. Heh.
The six identical wizards, smile and tip their hats unison. They then run off into the woods.
Zokon having seen the bad guy through the burned away mist will double move in the direction he moved in until he ends up beside the caster
"Hello there"
Zokon dives through the fog and past the fallen Numalar and the hole he burned into it.
perception:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
And fortunate too. If the mist had still been there he probably wouldn't have noticed the tripwire.... connected to the trick spear. ;)
"You!? Blasted rangers!"
The owl dives in to harry Zokon. AoO if you have an appropriate weapon handy. Note: You are in a mist-free area. The square north and the one east both have mist in them.
