This is the game thread for 'Keep in the Cinderlands'.
'Keep in the Cinderlands' takes place in Varisia but draws upon 'Keep on the Borderlands' by Gary Gygax.
It has been seven days since the caravan left Korvosa travelling North. For the last couple of days, you have travelled with the waters of the mighty Yondabakari just to the west of you. Small overloaded barges guided by crews of halfling merchants and oarsmen drift slowly southward on the river.
The captain of your caravan, a halfling with the unlikely name of 'Longfellow', often hops on 'Ogre', his riding dog, and rides over to talk to the halfling barge captains about their cargo, their families, and any possible dangers ahead of the caravan. Longfellow passes much of this information on to you but little of it is of any interest. Little of it has to do with anything north of the waterfalls ahead of you. None of it has anything to do with Kerrigan's Keep -- the Keep in the Cinderlands -- where you are going.
Uemala Neddam and Lion of Irori are heading to Kerrigan's Keep to meet up with a famous Shoanti monk by the name of 'Falcon Warchild'. Familiar with the fighting styles and discipline of both the priests of Irori and the Shoanti warriors, Warchild has invited you to study with him. He hopes to attract a number of young monks who wish to train in the martial arts, far from the distractions of the city.
Kornelius was hired by Longfellow to guard the caravan.
The most difficult part of your journey occurs when you arrive at the Storval Rise. At the base of the waterfalls, the entire caravan is unloaded. The cargo is piled onto an ingenious elevator driven by the power of the waterfall. the carts, horses, cargo, and passengers are carried up the cliffside in the swaying, dangerous elevator. A giant arm, upon which are hung two large buckets, is swung into the waterfall. When the buckets fill, they descend pulling the elevator containing the cargo up. When the buckets reach the bottom, the arm swings out and the buckets begin to drain, slowly lowering the elevator. It takes five exhausting trips to move the entire caravan up the cliff. By the time you are done, morning has turned into evening.
On most days, Longfellow expects the guards to eat with him and leaves the monks to eat by themselves. Today, however, Longfellow is exhausted from loading the cargo on the elevator and goes to sleep early. Kornelius Rowel and the two monks find themselves eating at the same fire and get a chance to talk, which they haven't had much time to do before.
My name is Kornelius Rowel The Second (II) i was named after my father and i am a fighter just like him.
Also those elavator rides were exhausting-too exhausting for that hafling!
" Name's Better not say actually ...err... Just call me Lion. I'm a ... eh hem ... monk in training."
" Name's Better not say actually ...err... Just call me Lion. I'm a ... eh hem ... monk in training."
Although Kornelius has introduced himself, the monks remain quiet. One says nothing; the other won't give his name. Kornelius appears suspicious.
The next two days are extremely busy. Longfellow does not feel safe in the dry, open 'Cinderlands'. He keeps the caravan moving almost constantly and no one has time to talk or rest. He only stops the caravan when it is too dark to see.
He keeps complaining "I never should have taken this job -- supplies and passengers to Kerrigan's Keep! Hardly enough gold for the danger, I say. Hardly enough gold!!"
Lion approaches Longfellow and askes."So Longfellow, what do you know about Kerrikan's Keep".
Lion approaches Longfellow and askes."So Longfellow, what do you know about Kerrikan's Keep".
"He talks!" says Longfellow sarcastically. "Well, quiet one, Kerrigan's Keep is a keep on the Mindspin Mountains. You know, the Mindspins are a mighty dangerous place and I don't know why anyone would want to live in the keep. It used to be a Korvosan army keep during the worst of the Shoanti wars but now Lord Kerrigan owns it."
Korny :-) approches Longfellow and he says:
So..Haflin' friend
who is Lord Kerrigan?
Is 'e a fighter?
If not what is 'e?
Why did he build his keep 'ere?
"Ok ... err, thank you?" Lion says trying to be polite."Now",he lets the slightest bit of menace in to his voice to suggest what will happen if he answers like that again,"what about the monk there who is supposed to be training me?"
Have ya noticed dat de monk ober dere ha' bein' quiet ever since e' ga to da fire?
Now that they're out of the low country, the silent monk perks up, often at sunset gazing off to the west. Aproaches the three, "This reminds me of home, my name is Uemala Neddam".
Turns to Kornelius and Lion "Well met, my friends!" regards Longfellow "What kind of monsters make there homes near Kerrigin's Keep?"
You are only a few miles now from Kerrigan's Keep. Longfellow, the two monks, two of the caravan guards, and 'Ogre' the riding dog are all sitting on one of the larger wagons.
Korny :-) approaches Longfellow and he says:
"So..Haflin' friend who is Lord Kerrigan? Is 'e a fighter? If not what is 'e? Why did he build his keep 'ere?" asks Kornelius.
"Lord Kerrigan? What are you interested in him for?" answers Longfellow "Kerrigan was the commander of a battalion of Korvosan soldiers that pressed north through Shoanti territory and established the keep. He built it there to guard against the orcs to the east and to attack the Shoanti in the north and west. He's a fighter alright. Or at least he was. These days, I hear he's more of a noble-type and a politician. He was the one Korvosan commander that the Shoanti trusted. When the Shoanti refused to make peace unless they were given the keep and the Korvosans refused to give it to them, Kerrigan bought it and opened it up to the Shoanti. They can trade with the Korvosans and Varisians there."
"Ok ... err, thank you?" Lion says trying to be polite."Now",he lets the slightest bit of menace in to his voice to suggest what will happen if he answers like that again,"what about the monk there who is supposed to be training me?"
Longfellow, hearing the menace in his voice, glances at his riding dog Ogre and says "It's okay boy; he's a friend." Ogre for his part appears to be sleeping.
"Falcon Warchild? Falcon Warchild is Kerrigan's adopted son. I don't know much about him. ... Just a second," Longfellow waves to one of the other caravan guards, an older man named Krikal. "Krikal, you fought with Kerrigan didn't you?"
"Not with him exactly. I was in another battalion at the Falcon River Massacre. Why?" answers Krikal a little defensively.
"These two are going to train with Falcon Warchild. They want to know about him," explains Longfellow.
"I don't know much except that he was orphaned at Falcon River and Lord Kerrigan adopted him. Guess you'll have to ask him the rest," answers Krikal abruptly.
Turns to Kornelius and Lion "Well met, my friends!" regards Longfellow "What kind of monsters make there homes near Kerrigin's Keep?"
"Well ... The Mindspin Mountains have got a lot of nasty creatures ... and I hear there is a clan of Lizardfolk in the marshes. The monsters you have to worry about though ...," Longfellow squints his eyes and grows silent for a moment looking at the road ahead.
As the caravan pulls closer you can make out a shape on the road and eventually can see it is the body of a dead horse shot with arrows.
"The monsters you need to worry about," says Longfellow, "Are the ones that did that."
Longfellow's driver pulls the wagon to a stop a little bit back from the horse. Everyone is looking around nervously for any bandits that might be about.
Korny :-) approches Longfellow and he says:
So..Haflin' friend
who is Lord Kerrigan?Is 'e a fighter?
If not what is 'e?
Why did he build his keep 'ere?
I jump off the caravan and look for any Bandits or Monsters.
Uemala jumps down and looks at the dead horse."Hmmmmn"
Spoiler for Uemala:
Uemala jumps down and looks at the dead horse."Hmmmmn"
The arrows are marked and painted like those of some of the Sklar-Quah tribes but they are of unusually poor quality.
[ooc]Good question!
is there any tracks leading away?
There are many tracks leading away. Most of them are caravan and horse's hooves. Some are human.
Did it get killed recently?[/ooc]
In the hot, dry sun of the Cinderlands, dead bodies go bad quickly. Many people would think this horse had been here for quite some time. You can tell that it has only been here a few hours.
You can decide how much to tell the other players.
I jump off the caravan and look for any Bandits or Monsters.
Spoiler for Kornelius:
While Uemala examines the horse's body, Kornelius looks for trouble. He finds it. He sees a flash of blue moving low to the ground. It isn't heading towards you but to a tree about 100 feet up the road.
Kornelius whispers in excitement "I saw a blur o' blue. Let's run towards dat tree."
Kornelius starts running towards the tree.
"This horse was killed by bandits, and not too longago." Then Uemala slowly follows Kornelius.
Lion quickly joins them
The three of you approach a twisted but still living tree. At the foot of the tree, in the shade of its branches, you can see the silhouette of what might be a human. The silhouette is leaning against the trunk, unmoving.
Approaching the the tree and the silhouette is a five foot long reptile with blue scales and a yellow stripe down the side -- a giant gecko! It is ignoring you and racing towards the figure under the tree.
ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!
1d10+3 ?¨ [8,3] = (11)
1d10+3 ?¨ [6,3] = (9)
"What a hit!" cries Kornelius
ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!
"What a hit!" cries Kornelius
Uemala leaps to Kornelius's side and attacks the gecko!
Even though the Kornelius began running towards the lizard first, the unarmoured Uemala overtakes him. The lizard continues towards the tree unconcerned by the fact there are now two meals instead of one. When the third meal -- Kornelius -- arrives behind the lizard, it begins to wonder if this is more food than it can handle. Turning to investigate this third -- still moving meal -- the monk is able to strike the lizard with his powerful fist. The surprised lizard turns back to the monk and is defenseless against Kornelius's sword.
Lion of Irori arrives on the scene too late to contribute to the battle but is the first to see what attracted the lizard's attention. Against the tree leans a leather-clad human. He seems to be unconscious and is bleeding from several wounds. What do you do Lion?
The surprised lizard turns back to the monk and is defenseless against Kornelius's sword.
...Blasted spoilsports... "Well Done" exclaims Lion. "Next time I'll participate myself."
"By the way, there is a bleeding man by the tree, could be useful, anyone here good at healing?"
"Hey Kornelius,nice hit!" says Uemala as he tries to help the bleeding man. Uemala yells to Longfellow for help with the wounded man. He then turns to Lion and Kornelius "Should we skin the lizard?"
"Hey Kornelius,nice hit!" says Uemala as he tries to help the bleeding man. Uemala yells to Longfellow for help with the wounded man. He then turns to Lion and Kornelius "Should we skin the lizard?"
Longfellow stumbles upon the conversation just at that moment and gets a mischievious look in his eye.
"Oh! I suppose you would be wanting me to let this bleeding man ride to the keep on one of my carts! I've got valuable goods on those carts and he hasn't paid the fare. I can't be taking passengers for free, particularly those that might damaged the shipment I have in good faith promised to deliver. Oh no! That will not do ...," he says his hands on hips huffing and puffing as he complains loudly. "Then again, I suppose that ... If you were willing to recognize the financial risk I was taking by ... say ... giving me the relatively worthless hide of that gecko there I could be persuaded to allow this man to ride to the keep. It certainly isn't that far and he should live until we get there."
Uemala turns to Kornelius and says "You killed it, what do you want to do?" for Lion and Kornelius:
"Sell it."mumbles Kornelius.
"Sell it."mumbles Kornelius.
Longfellow looks very pleased with himself and calls to the other caravan guards. "Careful with him. Set him on the middle cart. DON'T LET HIM BLEED ON ANYTHING!!"
He asks for the gecko's body to be loaded onto another cart and says "We can skin it later. Let's get out of here before whoever did this comes back for more."
The caravan moves quickly, but not so quickly as to jostle the wounded man. An hour later the caravan turns around a bend in the road and the towers of a keep appear into view at the top of a small rise. The keep seems out of place in this environment. It is the fine product of Korvosan military construction in an environment without decent roads.
As the caravan rolls up a winding dirt road to the keep, a horn bleats three times. Longfellow hops off the caravan and heads up to the gate where he has a few words with a guard and shows him some papers he has been keeping in a waterproof hide pouch for the entire trip.
The guard waves the caravan in and says "Welcome to Kerrigan's Keep gentlemen. I would normally take time to tell you the rules but we can do that later," he says. Calling to another guard he says "Arkhin! Show these men and the wounded to the Curate and then tell Captain Warchild that the bandits have left one alive for a change."
Longfellow asks the other two caravan guards to help him unload and says to Kornelius "I'll meet you at Sirap Hilltown's Inn later. We have a room."
To the two monks he says "You're here. Safe. Hope you find what you came for. I'll be heading south again in two weeks if you haven't, but you'll have to pay more for a trip back."
Within the large keep are several buildings, some as high as the outer walls. The guard Arkhin takes you around the corner of one and around another corner to a small chapel. Outside hang the holy symbols of many deities you recognize and some you don't.
Arkhin speaks quickly to an acolyte who summons the Curate (a priest). Arkhin then nods to you and disappears. The old Curate asks if anyone else is wounded and, hearing that you are all well, tends to the man praying in words you do not recognize but seem to understand in your heart. The man's wounds recede and he seems to breath more steadily.
After a few moments of silence as the Curate examines the man, wiping his brow and checking for more wounds, you hear a voice. The voice is commanding but gentle. "Please tell me how you came to find this man."
Turning, you see that a tall Shoanti man dressed in a simple cloak has entered the chapel. You do not need to be introduced to know who this is.
"Ah, Falcon Warchild, I'm ...... Lion of Irori. So, you're training me, right?"
"Ah, Falcon Warchild, I'm ...... Lion of Irori. So, you're training me, right?"
"Lion of Irori. ... Yes, you have been recommended to me as a student. But, I would like to know more about this man and how you came upon him. We've been having some trouble with bandits around the keep. Please tell me everything you can."
"Don't know anything particularly. We found him by attracting the attentions of a lizard - a dangerous one. For all I know, he might be a polymorphed dragon." Lion pauses. "Anyway, hope you can heal him - he might be able to speak for himself."
Kornelius Says:
Err......you are Falcon 'Orchild........Right?
I'm Kornelius.
Kornelius Rowel.
Before we found dat man we foud a dead horse shot by arrows.
The man was found leanin' against a tree with a Giant gecko
walkin' towards him.
What did we do?
I attacked with the help of Uemala (The so far quiet one) and then thanks to my luck (and his) I-I mean WE killed him.
Spoiler for Tarren the DM
When are you going to say the rules?
"Gentlemen. This man was shot by bandits. The bandits started to attack us last winter. Last winter, they attacked caravans loaded with supplies coming into the keep. I guess they have all the supplies they need, because now they only attack traders leaving the keep and stealing silver and gold coin."
"In that case he was probably a trader himself. Anyway, what else do you know about these bandits?, where are they coming from?, and can you heal him?
"My name is Uemala Neddam, I was not talking because I am a Shoanti. The arrows that killed the horse were badly made and I think they where made by renagade Shoanti." As Uemala says this he glumly looks down at the ground. Then asks Falcon Warchild "Are they Shoanti?"
"Where is the base of these bandits? How often do they attack?" asks Kornelius.
"In that case he was probably a trader himself. Anyway, what else do you know about these bandits?, where are they coming from?, and can you heal him?
"Yes, this man was a trader. He left our keep only this morning. There were two others with him," answers Falcon. "Can you heal him, Curate Dassjin?"
"He is healed," answers the Curate, "He is sleeping."
"My name is Uemala Neddam, I was not talking because I am a Shoanti. The arrows that killed the horse were badly made and I think they where made by renagade Shoanti." As Uemala says this he glumly looks down at the ground. Then asks Falcon Warchild "Are they Shoanti?"
"Many people in the keep think they are Shoanti. A group of thugs hired by some local merchants -- against my father's wishes -- recently raided a Shoanti camp north of here looking for stolen supplies and found none. Do you think they are Shoanti?" asks Falcon, "I was not raised by the Shoanti but I have spent years being tutored by one and I have never seen such poorly made Sklar-Quah arrows."
"Where is the base of these bandits? How often do they attack?" asks Kornelius.
"I do not believe the base is one of the Shoanti settlements as many others do. I believe they have a base on the other side of the river. They never seem to attack after a rainfall when the river is high and rapid. ... They attack whenever a small enough group leaves the camp heading south."
"Gentlemen. I need to speak with my father first, but I want to talk with you again tomorrow," says Falcon. Looking at Lion and Uemala he says "I will take you as my students but first, I think I could use your help. For now, please stay in 'Sirap Hilltown's Inn' and dine at 'The Old Mess Hall' with all the other merchants and caravan guards. Do not tell anyone that we have talked. Just pretend to be normal visitors of the keep. Come back to the chapel tomorrow and I will tell you how you could help me."
'Sirap Hilltown's Inn' used to be soldier's barracks. It is owned by a halfling named Sirap Hilltown but is managed by his son-in-law Larjen Widebottom. Widebottom shows you to your rooms and then points you the way to 'The Old Mess Hall' which is right next door.
'The Old Mess Hall' is a surprisingly nice restaurant for a keep in the middle of nowhere. Obviously, it used to be a mess hall for the soldiers when the keep had more soldiers in it. It has been cleaned, decorated with ... and serves a healthy menu but without many choices. Your choices today consist of 'duck soup' or 'roast duck and grains'.
Longfellow, who seems to be in a very good mood, buys dinner for all of you. One of the other caravan guards lets slip that he got a very good price for the gecko hide.
Many of the merchants, travellers, and soldiers eating there are talking about the latest bandit attack. There is a mix of Chelaxian, Varisian, and Shoanti guests in the restaurant.
** spoiler omitted **