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| Zobeck / halls of the mountain king pathfinder game |
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| nmilasich |
 Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 4:26 pm Post subject: Zobeck / halls of the mountain king pathfinder game |
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Hi, everyone,
I'm very excited to take my 10th level group into HOMK using the pathfinder rules set. I'm sure I will have questions and conundrums, and I'm also looking forward to sharing my groups adventures and experiences with everyone here. I've been waiting to run this adventure for about six months now, and I'm really enjoying exposing my players to Zobeck, both the good and the bad. I would love feedback and/or discussion. Just to let you know, in my game Volund is Mim and Lada is Vune. It's really fortuitious how well those two gods fit into the groups previous adventures. Both Mim and Volund have both human and dwarven followers, despite the fact that I came up with Mim before I had ever heard to Zobeck.
Well, anyway, enjoy!
Nick |
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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Introducing the Company of the Elven sisters:
Pylas - Elf Rogue 7, Shadowdancer 3
Pylas never fit in among the high elves. Her ice blue skin color and chaotic tendencies did not fit with the decorum of the elven court. She was a problem child, an embarrassment to her social-climbing father, and generally trouble. The only one she got along with was her half sister, Tialanna. When Pylas decided to run away and explore dragons delve, Tialanna came along. Pylas is charming, beautiful, playful, but tough. In her adventures, she has found a affinity for shadow, and now wonders about her heritage. She is very curious about the shadow fay, and is coming to Zobeck to learn more about them.
St. Eronk of the silver Anvil- Half Orc Barbarian 3, cleric 5, Holy Vindicator 1
Eronk is a simple soul, in that he is not too intelligent, but satisfied with his life and work. Eronk is a remarkable affable and good natured half-orc, free from the rage and frustration that afflict many of his kind. Born in dire poverty, he was adopted as a servant by an elven merchant who was generous enough to provide Eronk with room and board in return for protection and hard labor.
Eronk had a miraculous conversion to the worship of Mim (Volund), and became his cleric and crusader. This has filled Eronk with a sense of purpose and given him the strength to smite his foes. The dwarven followers of Mim have had a terrible difficulty with Eronk's priesthood, and tested him during the opening of the the temple of Mim in Brindenford. When they witnessed Eronks bravery and desire to kill large numbers of orcs during a raid on the town, the dwarven clergy grudgingly allowed him official membership in the church. The witnessing of Klobgeddon Ralisbash also figured strongly into this process.
Tialanna- Elf wizard 8 Loremaster 2
Tialanna has always been bitter about her father's philandering ways. She does not blame her half-sister for her father's excesses, though. Pylas and Tialanna have always been a team, with Pylas flouting law, and Tialanna appearing to be the good girl, but actually working away to break the system. Tialanna secretly was very happy to get away from the Elven Court, and didn't mind that Pylas thought it was her own idea. She has recently recovered a magical staff stolen from the collegium, and is going to Zobeck to collect a reward for its return, and to learn the secrets of shadow and sky magic.
Klobgeddon Ralibash- Fighter 7, Paladin 2
Klob was born for war. From the first, he excelled among the dwarf children in strength, intelligence and bravery. He was hand picked for command and leadership in his clan, and as Klob grew, his feats of strength and bravery were legendary. In the mountainhomes, they folk talked about a new young champion.
Then came the day that Klob allowed his pride to become more important than his duty. Instead of keeping watch of a back gate to an important dwarven hall, Klob pursued a group of goblins, leaving the gate to fall to the enemy. After censure, Klob was so ashamed that he left the mountainhomes to wander as a penitent to his god, Mim. He joined a human cleric on a mission to unmask and arrest a false half-orc cleric of Mim in a town called Brindenford. To his surprise, Eronk performed a great miracle, and Klob joined their group.
Klob is from the equivalent of Trollheim: he is not an ironcrag dwarf, and is as confused by their culture as anyone else. He considers his pedigree as a mountainhome dwarf better than that of the ironcrags and is not afraid to let any dwarf know it.
Klob is tough, arrogant and practical He likes theater and barbequed meat. He carries the dwarven relic-axe Osodgast into battle. He has recently become a paladin of Mim, and is very concerned about the apparent disappearance of the Many-bearded elder of Mim in the Golden Citadel.
Braddock – Fighter 5
Braddock is Tialanna's bodyguard, and works for the party in that regard and as an archer. He is a hireling, and is very loyal to the group for saving his life.
Rath – Naked Mole Dog
Rath is Klob's pet naked mole dog. He is useful for tracking, and for chasing down fleeing foes.
Today's adventure:
Detained at Customs
The Customary Mercy of Vune
The Customs of Odd Dwarves
The company of the Elven Sisters has been in Zobeck for two eventful days. They arrived on the clockwork ferry Golden Badger, a river-ferry owned by the splitrock company and piloted by Clovis and Vianna. Over the last few weeks, as Zobeckian dwarves and humans visited the town of Brindenford, the Company has gotten to know Clovis as a brash, crusty old dwarven engineer and Rabscuttle as a rather odd, slightly malfunctioning clockwork man. The PCs have developed an affection for the silly old clockwork man. Just before docking, a kobold leaps into the river and swims to shore. This spy goes directly to the chief of customs and makes a report about a rich group of hicks from the country coming into town.
Upon exiting the ferry , the Company is detained at the docks by Jaroslav, a corrupt customs official with connections to several consuls. He takes them to the customs blockhouse and shakes down for a large bribe. First he explains that all their possessions are to be impounded for bringing illegal gold and dangerous magical items into Zobeck. He then levies a fine of 200 gp per head, and then suggests that with a further payment of 2000 gold pieces, the party can hire Jaroslav as an “advocate” and he'll use his connections to make the charge go away.
Pylas, Klobgeddon and Eronk attempt to use diplomacy checks to convince Jaroslav to let the group go, to no avail. (low rolls) Pylas begins to consider attacking the official, but the others convince her that that would be a bad idea.
(I had a whole plot point ready, wherin the mighty heroes are chased out of the city by several squads of griffin knights with Javelins of Lightning and wands of Lightning bolt and end up spending the night hiding in the Margrave.)
After about half hour of being shaken down, Jaroslav leaves the room in disgust, only to back rapidly in, followed by a stout nun with an eye patch. This is Mother Superior Theodora of the church of Vune (replacing Lada in this campaign).
“Jaroslav! You are up to you old tricks, are you not!”
“No, Mother Superior. I am simply. . . “
“Why have you detained these good people?”
“They are dangerous terrorists. They carry illegal magical items and . . .
“Are you aware that two of them are members of the church of Mim (Volund)?”
“Their papers are obviously forged. . .”
“Enough! You are GOUGING THEM FOR MONEY and I am going to tell your Nana what you are doing!”
“Tell Nana?!” whimpers the official, aghast. “You can't tell my Nana!”
“SHE goes to church regularly and I think I need to have a word with her about your behavior.”
“No, no, I'm sure we can come to an accommodation. Please, my Nana doesn't need to know.”
“Very well, Jaroslav. You're releasing these individuals to me. Good day.”
The nun turns and walks out the door. Rather sheepishly, the Company of the Elven sisters follows. Once outside into the cold winter air, the nun rounds on them.
“Welcome to Zobeck. Lesson one: Even the Mother Superior of Vune has spies here. That should give you some idea of what kind of place this is. Zobeck is a hive of scum and villainy, and coin is the only god for many here.”
“Mother superior, we thank you for your help. . . “ begins Pylas politely.
“Never mind. I have an important task you must do.” The old lady passes them a piece of paper and stomps off.
She says over her should as she leaves, “And you don't know me, and you certainly will not recall that I gave you that paper. Good day!”
At that point, the company hires a coach and asks to go to the Hedgehog inn. Their driver is a chatty kobold named Blackeyes.
“Okay. Hedgehog. But first, shopping?”
“No!” say the elven sisters in one voice. “Hedgehog first.”
“But, shopping is very good in Zobeck. Buy yourself a pretty dress. Buy cosmetics, eyeshadow.”
“No, thank you.” says Pylas firmly. “We need to get to the inn and we have other business.”
When the coach stops, they are in a market. As Pylas steps out, a haggard-faced human woman offers up a garishly colored frock.
“A dress fit for a queen! Only 3 gold pieces!”
“Cosmetics, concealers, eyeshadow, ladies?”
They are in the midst of a rather shabby looking market.
“Blackeyes!”, Tialanna cries out in fury
“What?” says the surprised kobold. He is pocketing the silvers a merchant has just slipped him.
“One, we're not buying anything!” Tiallanna says as she slaps a dress out of Eronk's hands.
“Two, we're going to the Hedgehog directly, or I will kill you.”
“Yes Ma'am!”
Every gets back into the coach, and finally they end up at the Hedgehog. The group rents two rooms and stows their gear, placing two of their 3 chests of gold in the safe at the inn. They then prepare to change money, knowing that trade in Zobeck is done with Zobeckian paper scrip. Klob suggests the temple of Mim, knowing that they often have a precious metal depository and savings and loan operation.
Blackeyes takes the to the temple of Mim. It's a huge cathedral of dark brown stone. Carved into the great pillars of the cathedral are pillars with flames at the peak. The hammer and anvil symbol of Mim is repeated on stained glass, and below, the symbols of dwarven halls and guilds that have given donations and service to the cathedral are worked in stained glass as well. Under the main building, on the side, are several small doors. One of them is marked with dwarven runes, unobtrusively noting that it is the church bank. Klob looks at his companions, a human, a half-orc and two elves.
“I'd better do this alone. Why don't you guys wait out here.”
Stepping into small, solid entrance to the bank, Klob finds himself in a gateway chamber with a murder hole in the ceiling. This is nothing unusual in dwarven architecture, the assumption is that at some point in the thousand years it will last, the building WILL be assaulted by orcs or other scum, and thus defense is justified. From the side, a dwarf armed with a short boar-spear challenges him.
“Who goes there!”
“Klobgeddon of clan Ralibash. I am a paladin of Mim.”
“Have you business with us?”
“I do. I'm new to the city and have gold to change.”
“I see. It's Hard to be a Traveller Far From Home.” says the dwarf, with an odd intonation.
“I guess so.” replies Klob, a little confused.
He offers his hand to Klob in the tradition dwarven wrist-clasp. When Klob takes it, he notices one of dwarf's fingers is bent, which is odd. Moving into the bank, Klob notices more murder holes. The far side of the bank consists of small glass windows and tiny drawers for passing cash to the tellers. The pillars between the tellers are again the pillar and flame design.
Klob steps up to the teller, and thumps down the chest of gold.
“Customer name.” says the young, pot bellied dwarf behind the counter. His voice is a little tinny through the thick glass and wire grid beneath it.
“Klobgeddon Ralibash.”
“I don't recognize the clan name.”
“Ralibash. It's a mountainhome clanname.”
“Sure it is.” says the young dwarf sarcastically. “I need a clanname if you're to do business with us.”
“I'm a paladin of Mim. The clanname is Ralibash.”
“Listen. I've had others here claiming such things. You could be consorting with half-orcs or worse for all I know. I need more than that.”
“Mim's blood, man! I have perfectly good gold here and I want to do business. I'm of the Mountainhome and my clan name is Ralibash!”
“And I'm the many-bearded elder! Where did you get this so-called gold?”
“From Dragon's Delve and we fought for every coin of it!”
“Are you sure that's where you found it?
“I NEVER lie. I'm a paladin.”
“So you say. Now how much gold are you talking about, here? 20, 50 pieces?
“It's 5,000 in trade bars and coin.”
“F-five thousand?! Excuse me, I need to get my superior.”
The young dwarf turns and bellows, “DAAAA! I've got some nutter here with five thousand gold pieces. Says he's Mountainhome dwarf!”
A moment later a more quavering voice says “Well, boy, stop gawping and belly over.” A much older face appears at the counter.
“Clanname?” asks the older dwarf, in a more open manner.
“Ralibash.”
“That's indeed a mountainhome clanname. Warriors, are you not?”
“Oh, yes. It's a fighting clan.”
“I've corresponded with a Ralibash on issues of finance. Now how much gold do you have?”
“About five thousand in coin and bar.”
“Alright, Gooddwarf Ralibash. Step into the changing room and we'll count it out.” A section of the wall of the room raises on silent cogs. A stone table sits in the small chamber revealed. Klob lugs the chest to the table and thumps it down. The old dwarf waddles up to the table. His beard is gray and his eyes are lost in a maze of fine lines and wrinkles.
“Now, we have a 2% bar fee and a 5% coin fee. Seeing as you are a paladin of Mim, we drop that to 1% for the bars and 3% for coins. Oh, my. That's a fine axe you carry. It is a heirloom weapon, is it not?”
“Osodgast is the clan-axe of the Ralibash. I recovered it in Dragons Delve, but originally it is from the mountainhomes.”
“I see. As are you. It is Hard to be A Traveller Far From Home.” The old dwarf reaches out his hand for the traditional wrist-clasp. Klob grips it, and again, the other dwarf has one finger folded. It's just odd.
“Uh, yeah, I guess.” replies Klob. “ Let's get this done.”
The money is counted and the scrip is produced from locked boxes. It is given out in hundred, ten, one and 1/10 gold piece values. Each scrip has a serial number, which is copied into a logbook by the elderly dwarf. He then uses a hot stamp from a small coal brazier to brand each parchment sheet with the hammer and anvil symbol of Mim. This takes over an hour to do, but eventually Klob emerges from the bank with the paper money and a certain amount of confusion at the strange customs of the Ironcrag dwarves.
Now that they have some money, the Company of the Elven Sisters decides to look up the address that Mother Superior Theodora has given them. This paper leads to a mission of which we cannot speak at this time, as it was a PLAYTEST. Suffice to say it was a whirlwind tour of the highs and lows of Zobeck.
The next morning, at dawn, the Company of the Elven Sisters return to the Hedgehog Inn at the arcane square. They are exhausted, drained of spells, filthy and slightly shell-shocked. All four purchase warm baths and pass out. At dusk, the group regroups.
More to come!
Last edited by nmilasich on Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 11:37 am Post subject: |
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Summoned for Fun
Keeping up with the Elf Sisters
Disassembly by lead pipe
That evening, the Company of the Elven sisters rest in the Hedgehog Inn. They mingle with the apprentices, gaining information and playing games of chance. Pylas is particularly popular with the young men, but Tialanna is dared to use her magic. She speaks dreadful words of power.
A horrible insectoid creature coalesces within the inn's common room.
It turns to Tialanna and says. “What is your bidding master?”
“Foul Xill, I demand you take this apprentice to the ethereal plane and back.”
“Excellent. I will infect him with my eggs. . . .”
“NO EGG INFECTION! OF ANYONE!” cries out Tialanna.
“But there are so many excellent hosts, mistress. . . .”
“No!”
“Just one?”
“No! Now do my bidding!” The foul creature seizes a surprised apprentice and fades away. A few moments later they return. There is raucous applause, and the apprentices begin to mutter,”Well, she did summon an evil monster!”
Suddenly the chant of “Evil elf! Evil elf!” rises up from the young students. The Company is bought many drinks that night. All receive multiple draws from the “Chalice of Rumors” that contain many tidbits about both Zobeck and the Mountainking adventure to come.
In the morning, the ladies are excited to go shopping. (I highly recommend The Kaiser's Bazaar series by AA Bieler, books A, B and C, if you have major shoppers in your group.) First of all, the group visits the arcane collegium. After showing her arcane talents, Tialanna is directed to the a professor that she had correspondence for. She and he have a conversation and he introduces her to the possibilities of sky and shadow magic. They agree to meet the next day to discuss a trade of spells.
Eronk travels to the great cathedral of Mim. It is a massive building of honey-brown stone, carved from a single great plinth of rock raised by a dwarf elemental sorcerer hundred of years ago. As Eronk enters, he sees that the temple has row upon row of pillars, each carved to have the image of a flat top with a bas-relief of a fire upon it.
There are 34 pillars in all. The first pillar has a bas-relief of a lost young dwarf alone in the dark. The second, the dwarf sees a flame in the distance. The third, the dwarf finds a forge. In the fourth an elder dwarf hands him hammer and tongs. Later reliefs show the dwarf forging weapons, and crafting art objects as he matures. Finally, in the pillars near the altar, the dwarf is elderly and sitting on a throne. Just before the altar, he hands his hammer and tongs to a young dwarf. The 34th and last pillar, to the right of the altar, has a bas-relief showing it to be cracked and fallen. A skull symbol is carved upon it.
“It represents death. That is the final passage of us all, and we must not fear it.” says a stout voice with signs of age. Eronk turns. A one-legged dwarf in priestly robes with a graying beard stands before him.
“Uh hello. I'm Saint Eronk. I made the Anvil silver. I came to worship Mim.”
“I know who you are, Eronk. I was in Brindenford for the opening of your temple. We killed orcs together in in the fields outside.”
“Yes. I kill many orcs in the name of Mim!”
“And you don't find that a contradiction?”
“Huh?”
“Never mind, Eronk. I've been working to accept your presence in our church, but Mim's grace runs in you and I will accept you. You are here for a reason.”
“Yes, I am. I want to pray at the altar and possible make something in the forge.”
“No, no. Mim has brought you here.”
“Really?!”
“Yes, Eronk. I am not the many-bearded elder of this cathedral. I am merely the curate.”
“Oh. I had hoped the meet the many-bearded elder.”
“She is at the golden citadel, but I have heard disturbing rumors. My auguries also suggest something is very wrong.”
“That's bad. I should go and see if she needs help.”
“Yes, Eronk. We would very much appreciate that. She has not send word to me in several weeks and I am concerned. Mim needs a champion to investigate.”
“Well, I'm more than happy to.”
“In that case, let me teach you the dwarven rites of Mim. First, you must fear no fire. . .”
Eronk and the curate prey in the dwarven fashion, allowing Eronk access to the clerical list from Dwarves of the Ironcrags.
The ladies finally hit the shops. They have a lot they want to do and buy. Blackeyes takes them to a small Elven market nestled into a tiny cul-de-sac in the temple district. A brick archway is marked subtly with elven symbols, and beyond, a tiny circle of shops. A few elves and humans quietly peruse the wares.
The first shop they go to is an elven wine shop. The sign, limned with faerie fire, says “Seril'piri amnaesylva.”
“We should get something for Felstor!”, says Tialanna (this is the elven sage in Brindenford)
“Absolutely. He loves wine.”
“And some more that glowing wine from the party last night.”
“Ah, the etherberry wine.” says the tall, dark haired elf merchant. “It's very rare.”
“How much for a bottle of that?”
“2000 gold pieces to start.”
“Oh. We'll, uh, get something else.” says Pylas quickly. “What do you have?”
“Well, we have a fine vintage of “Heart of Wine.” It's made by freezing wine and removing the ice as it appears. It's quite powerful.”
“That'll be perfect for Felstor. He's a lush.”, says Tialanna. They pick up a bottle for a mere 500 gold pieces.
“We'll take some of the sweet tree as well.” Another 400 gp changes hands.
“I'm so excited!”, says Tialanna. “All our favorite things from the Elven Court. I've missed them SO much in Brindenford.”
“I know! Can we get some of the candied flowers next?”
The ladies pick up some more less expensive bottles of wine as well and then move on to the candy merchant. They spend another few hundred gold on elven caramels for their halfling maid, “Auntie”, and candied fruits and flowers for themselves. Finally, they approach the real reason for their trip, the elven dress shop.
The shop is quiet, though gentle elven music plays with no obvious source. Dresses and rolls of cloth adorn the walls. A beautiful purple silk dress is displayed on a mannikin in the front window. As the ladies enter, the dress shifts in color to a cornflower blue.
“Did it just change color?” says Pylas.
“It did! Look, it changed back!” says Tialanna.
“That's awesome. We need to get those.”
“Can I help you, ladies?” says a calm, high pitched voice. A small elven child, perhaps equivalent to an eight year old human, has entered the room from the back. He has paper-white skin and inky black hair and eyes.
“Is you father or mother here, honey? We want to buy some dresses.” says Pylas.
“I'm an emancipated minor. This is my shop. Are you interested in the Kalokela? I have samples that change into up to 6 different colors.”
“Oh. Yes we are quite interested.”
“Six different colors. This is awesome!”
“Can you control the color change?”
“Yes, by concentrating you can control when and how the cloth changes color.”
“Excellent. The 6 color cloth is 1500 gold pieces per square yard. A dress would be 4500 gold pieces.”
“Uh, what about the two colors?”
“Less expensive. I could prepare a dress for about 1500 gold pieces.”
The ladies look at their roll of paper scrip. Indeed, the party has still to purchase spells and magic items.
With regret in her eyes, Pylas says, “We'll come back tomorrow.”
Next, Pylas heads to the Jewelers market, where she and Tialanna find Bofur Thriftaxe's jewelry store. Bofur has traded in Brindenford before, and made quite a bit of money selling diamond dust to the group. However, he's not available. A younger, gap-toothed dwarf with a well groomed black beard sits before glass-covered trays of jewelry.
“Hello. My name is Pylas and I'm looking for Bofur Thriftaxe.”
“Well Met. I'm his nephew Bifur. Uncle is busy, but I'm sure I can help you.”
“Ah, well, that would be good. Send him our greetings.”
“I will. He's been a little odd lately.”
“Oh, how?”
“Well, I met him at the dock yesterday when the Golden Badger pulled in, and he immediately made us walk up to the temple of Vune. Wouldn't say anything about why. Met with the high priestess. What would he have to do with her?”
“Hmm. That explains a lot.”, say Pylas. “He was doing us a favor. We had some trouble with customs.”
“Jaroslav, I bet. He's a right bastard, he is. Anyhows, my lady, what are you looking for?”
“Well,” says Pylas, “I had a wonderful sapphire sparkly that I had to sell to raise my companion from the dead, and a fine ruby ring looted from a demon king that I had to trade for a clockwork heart. I'm without something beautiful to wear and I hope that you would fix that.
“Well, we have 3 levels of quality, human work, masterwork, and dwarfcraft.”
“I want dwarfcraft. I'm looking for a fine sapphire ring.”
“Fine. Here's one. Note the quality:” Bifur passes Pylas a jeweler's loupe. “The gold and mithril twining is marked with fine dwarf runes and leaf patterns. Observe.” Sure enough, faint and tiny, perfect lettering and twining vines and leaves are visible. The gemstone is a perfect, faceted blue sapphire, though not a large one. It is a delicate ladies ring.
“I love it. How much?”
“For you, 1000 gold.”
“Can we trade? I have some gemstones here.”
The young dwarf picks out 10 gemstones of various types and sizes. Pylas leaves with a beautiful new sapphire ring.
The Company regroups at the Hedgehog in the evening. Blackeye the kobold wanders in during dinner with a message for Tialanna. Apparently, a small consortium of magical item dealers is meeting in a coffee house in the gearworker's district.
“I take you, yes! I have the carriage.”
The Company of the Elven sisters rushes into the Sleeting night, as Blackeye whips his swayback nag. Once onto the smaller streets of the gearworkers district, Pylas' delicate elven ears twitch.
“Stop the coach! Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” says Klob
“Ssshh!”
Again, Pylas' delicate ears detect a rising hum and smash. Now she hears the thunk and clang of metal on metal. The Company exits the cab and makes their way to an alley opening. In the darkness, they can see figures beating a prone creature with clubs.
Tialanna has highest initiative, and immediately speaks words of eldrich power, hastening her companions. Klob and Eronk pick their way down the alley as one of the figures shines his lantern on the group. Pylas slips in as well. They surround and down the lantern bearing figure, even as he chants foul prayers to an evil god, raising a hateful, damaging miasma. From further down the alley, more maledictions are cried out. Klob sees the world grow black, but refuses to be blinded and shakes off the spell. Eronk is targeted as well, but calls upon the holy power of Mim to cast back the shadows. Speaking of Shadows, Pylas' shadow servant glides untroubled above the slick ground, reaching into one of the men at the back of alley with hideous undead chill, to sap his strength.
In a few more moments, it is over. One of the men in the back is drained of his strength until he falls to the icy ground, stone dead. The other is finished by Klobgeddon's heirloom axe.
Pylas rushes over the the victim. It is a clockwork man.
“Excuse me, young man!” , says the clockwork man to her politely, “I'm afraid my leg is over yonder. Could you please retrieve it for me?”
Pylas suddenly recognizes the clockwork victim.
“Rabscuttle! Oh, no! Everyone, collect his parts!”
All of the members work to collect finely-etched and enlayed gears and limbs.
“Rabscuttle, why are you here?” asks Pylas, as everyone searches the icy ground.
“I was delivering a message for the company when my friends invited me into this alley.”
“They weren't your friends, Rabscuttle!”
“Oh.” The old gearforged looks around as if suddenly noticing his situation. “ I seem to be in pieces. Could you see fit to help me?”
“We are, Rabscuttle. Just stay put.”
“Ah thank you, young man. My name is Rabscuttle. I work for the Splitrock Company. It's around the corner.”
“We're going to get you back to Clovis.”
“Oh, Clovis, yes! You were such a silly baby, Clovis. I remember how you cried and cried the first time you saw a elf. I agree, they're quite hideous, ha, ha!”
With effort, they gather all the parts of Rabscuttle and bring them to the coach. The company heads for the Splitrock company.
Last edited by nmilasich on Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:22 am; edited 3 times in total |
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Oh yeah. . . Spoilers ahead. Obviously. You Have Been Warned. |
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:13 am Post subject: |
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Return of the Prodigal and Disassembled Grandfather
Discussions over Whiskey
They're In
A great airship fills the sky at the splitrock company. Like busy ants, lines of dwarves carry crates of goods into the belly of the ship, as it rocks on the chill wind, tugging on its mooring ropes. As Eronk steps out of the coach, carrying Rabscuttle's torso, a grizzled, tattooed dwarf stops and gapes for a moment, and without a word makes a piercing whistle. Clovis arrives shortly thereafter. He knows the company from his visits to Brindenford on the Golden Badger. In fact, he's killed orcs with them before.
“Ah, Eronk, what have ye?”, says the dwarf. Upon seeing Rabscuttle, “Ah nae! Not aguin! How did you find him in such a state, lad?”
“Some people were beating him with lead pipes. We killed them.”
“Good on you!”
“Is he going to be okay?”, ask Pylas with tender pity. “Poor little Rabscuttle!”
. “Aye, lass, he'll soon be right as rain. I see you have his parts. Let's get old Rabscuttle inside and have a gearman work on huim. I'm sure he'll be fine.”
Once inside the low, solidly build warehouse, Clovis takes the group to a rather disheveled office and sits them down around a table.
“Let me provide you with a wee dram. It's the least I can do for taking care of old Rabscuttle.”
He pulls out several shot glasses. Clovis takes the dirty one, cleaning with his shirt. Once the glasses are down, he takes out a very old blue glass bottle, and begins to pour shots of some sort of thin, blue liquid. The space just above the shot glasses begins to shimmer from whatever fumes are being released.
“It's a fine old brew of fungus whiskey, the best of the ironcrags.”
“It's . . . very interesting.” says Tialanna. “What a pretty blue color.”
“Ah. That's from the spores!” says Clovis cheerfully.
“Now!” says Clovis, clearing his throat “To Adventure!”
“To Adventure!” says the group, returning the toast.
Everyone drinks and takes a fortitude save from the 180 proof liquor of destruction. Surprisingly, everyone passes except Clovis, who coughs and chokes.
“W-wrong pipe!” he wheezes. “All's well!”
“Now, I have a opportunity I'd like to talk to ye about. As yeh know, there's been a situation at the golden citadel. The miners were greedy for gold, and now their stinkin' rich. But YE CANNA EAT GOLD, can ye? We'll load up the Manticore with provisions, sail it to the citadel, and sell all we have. For a fair price, mind you, but it'll still be a kings ransom. It's a dangerous trip, though, and I need some strong arms. I was there on the day you bested the troll king, and I know ye are brave and strong. It's 4000 gold for the lot of you if you come along. What say ye?”
“I'd like to go. I'm worried about the Many Bearded Elder.” says Eronk.
“Oh, aye?” says Clovis, encouragingly.
“Yes. And I want to know how it can be a she and she has many beards.”
“Ladies, What think ye?”
Tialanna looks at Pylas. They both nod.
“We're in.”
“And Sir Klobgeddon?”
“Absolutely. I'm needed up there.”
“It's a deal them. The ship sales at dawn the day after tomorrow. Pack your things and finish your city business and we're off! |
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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Posts: 84
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Meeting Orlando
I'll be home for Mimstag
A Whole New World
The ship is scheduled to leave at dawn the day after tomorrow. The Company of the Elven Sisters returns to the Hedgehog and rests.
The next day dawns cold and wet as a winter storm brings sleet to Zobeck. After a warm breakfast the The Company of the Elven Sisters heads across arcane square toward the clockwork gate.
It is closed and locked.
“Well, now what are we going to do?”, says Pylas. Tialanna shrugs.
There is a tremendous flash, and a roiling pillar of smoke appears. A elderly man with and obviously dyed black beard and hair steps out of the smoke. His black silk robes are decorated with cloth-of gold stars, and the sleet does not fall on him. His dark eyes stare piercingly into Tialanna's.
“I'm Orlando, master of the Arcane Collegium. We need to talk.” and suddenly, the party is standing in a rather comfortable office with their host.
“Have a seat.” animated chairs scuttle up, and the party sits. Crockery begins to fly, as warm tea is prepared.
“You're quite a mage, Tialanna Landilinion. And the daughter of the Archmagus of the Elven Court.”
“I don't have anything to do with him, which is why I'm here, and why my name is just Tialanna.”
“I see. You have something of ours.”
“Yes I do. We found it in Dragon's Delve, and by right of salvage, it's ours.”
(Tialanna's most valuable possession is a Staff of Abjuration found in Dragons Delve. This is Monte Cook's Dungeon-a-day campaign, which is somewhat high magic and very challenging. HOMK is a break from this for our group. The staff is actually the Staff of Archmaga Abt, who was a great wizard of the collegium, and the item was used to dispel the enchantments guarding Castle Stross during the revolution.)
“So you possess a staff of the Collegium. We happen to possess a staff as well, a staff of the elves. Perhaps a trade is in order?
“That depends. Let me examine the item.”
Orlando waves his hand and a small drawer opens. Impossibly, a long staff of white ash rises out and floats over to Tialanna. She examines it, find it to be an elf-enchanted Staff of Frost.
“Of course, we are not likely to open up our spellbooks of Star and Shadow magic to an elf if she is not a friend of the collegium.”, says Orlando.
“There is no need to threaten, Archmagus Orlando. I don't respond well to it. I will trade staves with you, and I'll pay for the spells I learn.”
“Indeed, I name you associate of the Collegium. In return, I expect you to bring any unknown spells back to the collegium, and keep us informed on your explorations of Dragons Delve.”
“I'm writing a book. I'll make sure the collegium receives a copy.”
“Well, then, stay in with us today. Let's discuss tutoring fees for the spells you wish to learn. Your minions may go at this time.”
Tialanna spends the day studying new magic and writing spells into her spellbook. The rest of the Company finds Blackeye the kobold at the arcane square, and hires his coach to take them into the city. There, they purchase pemmican rations of dried meat and fruit, knowing well that conditions are most likelydire at the Golden Citadel.
Finally, they return to the Cathedral of Mim, to talk to the curate Trofil. Scaffolds line the walls of the great cathedral. Workers are hanging the ritual decoration of Mimstag, when all the weapons, armor and anvils of the faithful are blessed. Small children will savor the gift of warming coal and small knives and axes with which to fight evil. What little dwarf child would not be overjoyed to receive his Mimstag gift of coal and weapons?
The company walks past the minor shrines to Ninkash and Grejava, and stops before a small construction hidden in a the back corner of the cavernous structure. Someone has placed an obviously scavenged table in the corner. A hand-carved stature of a half-orc sits on the table, a silver anvil drawn on its chest and a garland of flowers around its next. Broken weapons, obviously of orcish manufacture, lay below the table and a candles burn by the statue. Several chalk messages are scrawled upon the ancient, holy stone. “We love you, St. Eronk.” says one, “No We Don't!” says another.
“I will not allow this shrine to be destroyed. Many in our congregation wish it so.” says a voice. It is the dwarven curate.
“Wow.” says Pylas. “If I didn't see it myself, I wouldn't believe it.”
“I know!”,say Eronk. “It's me! I think I make a great saint!”
“I believe, Eronk, that things happen for a reason.” the dwarf cleric responds.
“Father, we've arranged passage to the golden citadel.”, says Pylas.
“Indeed? I assume by airship. Mim be praised. I am sure that something terrible has happened.”
“What do you know?”
“I received messages from the Many-Bearded Elder through the power of Holy Mim. She told me of skirmishes in the deep, with savage, degenerate dwarves. She spoke of hunger and suffering. Then, nothing. My divinations reveal little. Heroes of Mim are needed.”
“We will go to this Golden Citadel and rescue the Many-Bearded Elder.” Klobgeddon says in a low, determined voice. “She will celebrate Mimstag mass in this cathedral in four weeks time!”
“I have a spell called sending.” Tialanna says, “We'll contact you when we get to the citadel and let you know what is going on.”
“Go with the blessing of Mim, my children. Remember, you must have no fear of fire, smoke or ashes. Defend the innocent, the married, the craft-worker. Smite the evil without hesitation or remorse. I Mim's name I send you.”
Down below the temple, Klobgeddon stores the rest of the party gold in the church bank, and the group heads for the Splitrock company. The landing field is a hive of activity, with dwarves loading great pallets of grain and other foodstuffs into the groaning hold of the ship. Rabscuttle totters about, getting in the way of work crews and moving vital supplies to improper places.
Klobgeddon is clouted roughly on the shoulder from behind.
“Klob, Ladies, Eronk! Young Braddock! I'm glad all of ye arrived.” roars Clovis good naturedly. “I'm hoping that there's less bloodshed than we had up in Brindenford, if ye know what I mean.”
“We can hope,” says Pylas. “I have a feeling this is going to be a very active trip.”
“Aye, well. I'll show ya to your bunks. You can sleep here, we're taking off at dawn.”
At dawn, a rather depressing drizzle keeps down the number of well-wishers. The dwarven crew rapidly fills the gas bag with liftgas as the engineer stokes the steam engines. Fins and propellers are deployed. As the great ship begins to rise, all of the Company feel a sickening twist in their stomachs. They quickly recover, for they are in awe at the vista of Zobeck stretching before them. Hundreds of chimneys belch smoke on this winter morning, and a flight of Griffin knights arc and twist in the air, flashing blue and green in their shining livery. Below, citizens tiny and dark like ants go about their business in the dull sprinkling of rain as the great ship above rises higher and higher into the sky.
Next, a thick mist envelops the ship, clawing at the sailors and adventurers on deck. The Manticore is rising through the low clouds. Everything is covered with a thick, cloying layer of wetness and drops begin to fall from the gasbag above. The Company huddles deeper into their Mammoth-wool cloaks, but the dwarven crew grin and simply ignore the droplets.
Then, sunlight blasts across the deck of the ship. The cloud layer falls below them as an endless fluffy carpet dropped from some great height, and the blue sky surrounds the ship. Cold, cold wind buffets the Manticore, and the ship pulls around at Clovis' command. He's holding some sort of small device in his hands, and after checking it twice, nods to the navigator in satisfaction.
“Now then, gather 'round all, and we'll introduce ourselves. Some of you who were on the Golden Badger might recognize our hired security from Brindenford. A few of us (a hideously scarred dwarf with 2 hand axes nods and smiles) have fought side by side with the Company. Now let me make introductions. . . .
Clovis introduces the group, and the crew in return. A few stand out. Zangen, the twitchy and distracted engineer is one. Ansgar is quiet to the point of silence. Vianna is already known to the Company, having traveled to Brindenford on the Golden Badger. Otto insists on showing off his two biceps, “Matta”, and “Pompelina.” , explaining that “We have little need of mercenaries on this ship. We can see to ourselves!”
It is agreed that half the party will stand each eight hour watch on deck. The group is divided into Pylas and Klob, and a group with Eronk, Braddock and Tialanna. Pylas and Klob take the first watch, while the others retire inside to rest and recover spells. The cook brings up mugs of a thick black liquid that looks and tastes like tar.
“Try it. It's an Ironcrag brew that keeps you alert.”
Pylas makes a face, but Klobgeddon quite likes it. Still, it IS warm, and they manage to drink it down. Watch is long and boring, and it's easy for they eyes to play tricks with you. This is worse this day, because of the monotony of the clouds below them, and the harsh light of the sun. Lunch is links of greasy but filling sausage, handed out again by the cook to dwarves who scoop them up and return to work, munching as they adjust wings, pump gas, and scrub decks. Rabscuttle finds himself between the steering wheel and the steersman on the aft castle, and red-faced with anger, Clovis sends him forward. He cheerfully approaches Pylas, and mistaking her for Clovis, speaks in quite intimate detail about his childhood nightly incontinence.
After lunch, the second watch begins. Clovis takes advantage of the entire group being on deck to explain the usage of the Ballista and potions of Enlarge. Then Pylas and Klob rest. It is a long afternoon of watching the skies and avoiding working dwarves. At dusk, which comes early this time of year, the ship is eased down by pumping gas from the bag back into the tank. They fall through the clouds to find themselves above a leafless winter forest. The crew drop four anchors into a tremendously wide and tall oak tree and settle in for the night.
Dinner is a wild boar stew, brought up to the watch. Below decks, dwarves sing and gamble as they eat. The forest is dark and still.
More to come! |
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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Posts: 84
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Well,
I have a distinct feeling that my players are going to attempt regime change in the refugee section of the citadel upon arrival. As in, they are going to grab ALL the food and give it to the priests of Vune (Lada). I therefore expect to find themselves in pitched battle with 40 level 4 guards. It's a 10th level group with a lot of good equipment, so it might be fairly equal. Any ideas as to troubleshooting, strategy, general ideas?
So far, my group suspects the gold is tainted, but has no proof, suspects that a group of dwarves remaining at the golden citadel wishes to drive out the other dwarves (this is how they're explaining Ansgar). They also are assuming the Many Bearded Elder is alive. What do people think of having him alive, in Farragut, being driven insane by the Forsaken? My major undecided question right now is whether the Many Bearded Elder IS alive. I can go either way with that. What do people think? |
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| Wolfgang |
| Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:19 am Post subject: |
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Kobold Overlord
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 4988
Location: The Mines
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I say it's more heroic if he is still alive and the heroes can successfully rescue him. If they meet him, he might also be able to talk them out of a mass slaughter of the dwarven guards....
_________________
Wolfgang Baur
Publisher, Kobold Press |
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:00 am Post subject: |
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Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 84
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I agree, Wolfgang.
I'm going to have the many bearded elder (who is in fact, a female dwarf, and my party is really intrigued by her being many bearded), trapped in Farragut and being tormented by a shoggoth. I've been reading a lot of HP Lovecraft lately.
Now, as for the dwarves, I think the group will get along with them fine, as we have a dwarf paladin of Mim (Volund) in the group. I'm going to run the dwarven refugees as distrustful and fearful, but willing to allow the party to help them.
It's the mammonite merchants and food hoarders that are going to go toe-to-toe with the group, I'm almost sure. Just looking for opinions: if a really strong group of adventurers shows up and demands the merchant's hoarded food, what will happen? The group is first going to notice the merchants charm Clovis into selling all his food.
I figure, a pitched battle between the merchant guards and the group will quickly erupt. Of course, the merchants could also be sly, pretend to give in, and then either poison the food or come after the group when they are resting or otherwise indisposed. What the mammonite merchants will do is a big question.
Any ideas / advice from people who've played the scenario?
My players are having a great time, btw.
Well, we'll find out what happens on saturday! |
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| richgreen01 |
| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:44 am Post subject: |
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Joined: 06 Apr 2008
Posts: 774
Location: London, UK
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How did it go? Was there a big fight in the Great Hall?
We avoided this situation, because I managed to impress upon the players that Halston's bodyguards didn't look like pushovers, although they did heckle him a bit. Clovis and Vianna then sold him all the cargo that was saved against the PCs' wishes.
Cheers
Richard |
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:28 am Post subject: |
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Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 84
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The Company of the Elven sisters recognized the large number and hardened status of the merchant guards, and despite Pylas' keen desire to "Kill fatty" and take them all, violence did not occur. Tialanna recognized Halston's charm spell and dispelled it, and so Clovis refused to sell to Halston, instead the group distributed a days rations to each refugee, nearly starting a riot, and then made quite firm moves to secure the food. I believe my gaming group found yesterday's game both challenging and interesting. I'll do a write-up this week, hopefully, if work is not too busy.
Very interested to begin exploring the hearthforges. I'm looking forward to playing Abelard. |
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| richgreen01 |
| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:02 am Post subject: |
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Joined: 06 Apr 2008
Posts: 774
Location: London, UK
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| nmilasich wrote: |
| The Company of the Elven sisters recognized the large number and hardened status of the merchant guards, and despite Pylas' keen desire to "Kill fatty" and take them all, violence did not occur. Tialanna recognized Halston's charm spell and dispelled it, and so Clovis refused to sell to Halston, instead the group distributed a days rations to each refugee, nearly starting a riot, and then made quite firm moves to secure the food. I believe my gaming group found yesterday's game both challenging and interesting. |
Excellent stuff!
R |
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 84
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The Bird
Ghost Ship
Betrayed
At four in the following morning, the watch-bell rings, sending the groggy dwarves out of their hammocks and into action. The black dwarf-brew is passed around, and a simple breakfast of hot porridge eaten. Dwarves work to crack the thin sheets of ice off of the rails and decks of the Manticore with hammers while others spread sand on the decks to improve the footing. Still others place the propellers into their shafts at the back of the airship. Finally, the gas-bag is filled to capacity and the anchors thrown off. By 6:30 and dawn, the airship is already rising into the sky.
The second day passes uneventfully, the weather growing colder as the ground below begins to become more hilly and rolling. On the path below, the crew spies a dead horse and smashed wagon. There are ominous bloodstains on the frozen ground. In the evening, the crew ties the ship to a spur of rock rising above the rolling, forest hills, and settle down for a long night watch. Again, the crew drink and gamble below decks, gravely voices raised in song to the strains of a enthusiastically played accordion.
It is on the third day that blood is spilled.
In the mid morning, Pylas and Klob are on watch. The sky is clear and the sun is bright, although the air is cold enough that is burns them with each inhalation. Dwarven sailors man the rigging, and scurry about on deck. At the stern castle, the navigator hums a mindless ditty as he steers the ship north and west.
Pylas suddenly has the feeling she is being watched. She scans her keen senses across the deck and the sky, and finally sees a tiny speck of darkness in the blinding white of the sun. It does not seem to move, and then she realizes that the creature is moving rapidly toward the Manticore. Pylas immediately begins to ring the ships bell.
“A bird! It's a giant bird!” she cries. Klobgeddon readies his axe. Below, Tialanna, Eronk and Braddock awake with a start.
A few seconds later, a titanic shape thunders across the main deck, under the gasbag and is gone. Pylas sees bloodstains on the rigging, where Boso was climbing a few moments ago. Indeed, the dwarf is gone, clutched limply in the claw of the titanic raider. The bird turns and claws for altitude. Pylas downs a potion of Enlarge and picks up the Ballista. She fires an arrow that wings the creature. Tialanna steps out onto the deck and prepares to cast fireball. Pylas' shadow breaks from her, racing across the sky. It cuts through the great bird, but again, doesn't seem to harm it greatly.
“No fire, lass!” cries out Clovis, who has just emerged onto deck. “The liftgas is flammable, it' ll go up if where not careful!”
“Damnation!” grumbles Tialanna, switching to magic missile. The bolts hit the creature like much gentle rain.
The great bird flies out and up, gaining distance and altitude as it comes around the ship. Tialanna readies a lightning bolt and Pylas fires the ballista again. Eronk and Klobgeddon ready themselves to attack the creature the next time it draws near.
Tialanna grows impatient with the bird as it lazily spirals out of range of her lightning bolt. She instead casts magic missile, and as if it is aware of the opportunity, the hideous beast again dives towards the Manticore.
The great bird sweeps past the deck with a rumble like that of a freight train. It seizes Otto in its free claw. As it flashes past, Eronk drives his sword into the creature's flank, releasing a sheet of dark blood. Not to be outdone, Klobgeddon throws himself from the stern castle of the airship onto the back of the Roc. Clutching the feathers of the great bird with his teeth and one hand, Klobgeddon strikes the bird one-handed with his greataxe, sending flesh and feathers flying even as the great bird streaks away from the Manticore. Klob holds on for dear life as he screams dwarvish oaths.
It is obvious that the Roc is done with the Manticore and is returning to whence it came. The great bird twists and corkscrews in the air, trying to dislodge the killer dwarf attached to it's back. Pylas unrolls the carpet of Tral-Ferrer, looted from dragons delve, and takes off in pursuit of the Roc. Tialanna casts Mass Feather Fall, a spell she learned in Zobeck, centered on the Roc. Meanwhile, Klobgeddon raises his axe for one more strike, and slashes downward, severing the great bird's spine.
The Roc's corpse and the three dwarves begin to fall gently down. Pylas sweeps in, collecting first the unmoving body of Boso, and then a rather satisfied Klobgeddon and a quite agitated Otto. Otto claims to have killed the Roc himself, saying that “the girls here gave him a left, an' a right!”
Pylas forces a healing potion down Boso's throat, but it is too late for the dwarf. The talons of the Roc have finished him. The magic carpet drifts in to the Manticore and lands on the stern castle. Concerned dwarves cluster around. Clovis slaps Otto on the back, and then shakes Boso. The ship's doctor confirms Pylas' fears: indeed the dwarf is dead.
“St. Eronk, would ye lead us in a prayer to Mim, to memorialize our brave brother Boso?”
“Sure. I'd love to. Umm. . . Boso was a good dwarf. He was brave and worked really hard. He was killed by a giant bird, but that's okay, because another dwarf totally killed off the bird, which makes Mim happy. We know that Boso's going to go to Mim and be happy there and drink a lot and be warmed by Mim's sacred forge. In Mim's name.”
“In Mim's name.” murmur all of the gathered dwarves. Clovis sheds a tear.
“That was beautiful lad. Beautiful.” Clovis sighs, and gazes around at all of the silent, thoughtful dwarven airsailors. “Arright, Back to work ye louts! An' no smilin'!” Silently, the dwarves return to their tasks. That night, there is no singing and gambling.
The following day dawns cloudy and cold. There is thick ice on the railing and deck of the ship, and the crew goes to work with hammers and chisels in one hand and thick cups of the black brew in the other. They seem more back to their old selves, telling jokes and trading barbs as they clear the ship.
The land becomes more and more rugged over the course of the day, and eruptions of snow-covered stones appear above the treeline. Toward afternoon, the terrain is definitely mountainous below the ship. At dusk, the dwarves anchor the ship to a lonely spur of rock. The wind is bitter that night and as our sentries huddle in watch. From below, warm stew with sausage is brought up by crewmen only too happy to be out of the cold.
Before dawn, the ship again comes to life. It's getting harder to break the ice off of the rigging and the dawn brings little relief. Bundled against the cold, the crew returns to their constant labors. Tialanna, Eronk and Braddock keep watch. Indeed, it is the human henchman who first spots the balloon in the distance, just before noon.
It is the Drake, another ship of the Splitrock clan. It drifts sullenly, held by a single anchor to a steep, snow covered slope. Ice covers every exposed surface of the ship, and there are ominous dark shapes frozen in the rigging and onto the deck.
The Company of the Elven Sisters flies over on their flying carpet, gently alighting on the frozen deck of the wreck. Quickly searching, they find dwarves dead of poison, and the vermin who ate them dead as well. Tainted food lies nearby. Within the ship, dead refugees lie, their flesh pocked with yellow pustules and their eyes a weird gold color. The ship's mage lies broken and dead on the cargo deck, an octopus tentacle clutched in his dead hand.
“What have ye found?” cries Clovis from the Manticore.
“Lots of dead dwarves!” screams back Pylas. “We're going to explore the bottom deck!”
Pylas leads the way down the the lowest level of the ship. From the darkness, her keen elven ears detect movement. Instantly, she begins to fire her bow, sending arrow after arrow into the dark. A great bulk slams into her, knocking her down. Klobgeddon charges down the stairs, burying his axe in the spine of a great, multiheaded creature. It was nearly dead before he slew it, however, for Pylas' arrows have struck the eyes of each of the three heads of the chimera.
“How yeh doin' now? Anything on the bottom deck?”
“We're fine, Clovis!”, calls out Pylas, “Just killed some sort of giant monster, nothing to worry about!”
(In an incredible set of rolls, my wife managed to roll two criticals in three sneak attacking shots, doing over 80 points of damage to frostgrenze. Klobgeddon finishes the creature before it can even move.)
Behind the bulk of the dead chimera are two large iron bound chests. Pylas makes short work of the lock, and lifts the lid. All the Company stand in awe at the beautiful gold and mithril trade bars revealed. A light silver-yellow color, the carry the hammer and anvil of the Many Bearded elder upon them. It is a huge chest, and there is tens of thousands of gold pieces worth of trade bars. The group observes that the back of the chest has been broken into, and several bars stolen. The other chest is empty, its' lock broken off.
“Clovis, we found a lot of gold!”
“That's good, girlie. Is it safe for us to come over!?”
“ No, we haven't finished searching the ship!'
“Well, hurry up then!”
The party climbs up the forecastle, to find a charnel house within the front compartment (my ship model had a different layout from the module). Within are about 10 humans and dwarves, all dead. The have the strange pustules and yellow eyes like the others, and seem very undernourished. At the stern castle, The door is jammed. Eronk puts his shoulders into it, and with a sickening crack, the door slides open. A corpse, frozen to the floor, has given way and slid into the room. Within are two dwarves, one beaten black and blue, the other stabbed repeated, bloody holes bored into his chest, neck and hands. The beaten dwarf holds a screwdriver. It is obvious that they have killed each other. Pylas searches the room with her keen elven senses. She finds a nugget of gold within the mouth of one of the dwarves, and beneath a loose board, ten more of the trade bars, obviously from the chests below.
“They stole the gold. And then they killed each other.” says Pylas.
“Hmm.” replies Tialanna, using her medical knowledge to examine the bodies. “They definitely were sick.”
“Is it all right to come over?!” cries Clovis.
“YEEESS!” bellows Eronk. “Everything's fine cuz everything's dead!”
Dwarven sailors swarm over lines to the Drake. A small crane is assembled on the deck of the Manticore, and the large, full chest is passed over to the ship. The Company also hands over the stolen gold bars to Clovis. The last thing to explore is the rope ladder, brushing in a circular pattern on the snow-covered slope 50 feet below. Two black forms stand out against the white field. A few yards down, the slope becomes a sheer cliff plunging hundreds of feet.
“Come on, Clovis, let's check this out.” says Pylas. Bringing the dwarf captain along, they descend the ladder. The forms are corpses, masked in copper and wearing white.
Pylas bends over to search the first one, and suddenly, the snowfield erupts! A great vermiform creature rises above her. It is a horror from another time: great clutching mandibles snap and clatter, and small wings pump as the creature rears above the startled elf. With a snap of its neck, the creature plunges down and catches Pylas by the ankles, swinging her up into air. Her blood splatters Eronk, who leaps into action.
Or tries to. The snow is four feet thick on the slope, and Eronk slips, sliding past the creature and towards the cliff's edge. The doughty half-orc catches himself before going over the side, and manages to slash Spine into the side of the chitinous fiend.
The worm rears its ugly straight up to the sky, and swallows the elf whole. Despite her magical defenses from fire, the terrible heat of the creature's inside burn her as she is swallowed. Within, Pylas struggles for a weapon. Tialanna, shocked by her sister's hideous devouring, uses a newly learned spell from Star and Shadow magic, casting Orb of Light on the creature. Klob wades in, steady on his feet despite the thick snow and steep slope, and cuts the creature down with his axe. Everyone, Clovis included, works to extract a burned, slime-covered and battered Pylas from the gizzard of the dead worm. All is silent, except for the constant wind and the panting breath of the six.
Next, the bodies are checked. Indeed, they wear the same masks as the ones who assaulted Rabscuttle in the alleyway in Zobeck. Under their ice-stiffened tunics are pages from the logbook, and rubbings of gears and plates, all marked with very tiny dwarven runes. The slope is searched, but nothing else is found. Confused and thoughtful, everyone returns to the Manticore.
That night, Pylas is on watch as the ship hangs over a mountain peak, deep into the foothills of the Ironcrags. Most of the dwarves have retired early, not feeling like engaging in frivolities after seeing so many of their dead friends and coworkers on the Drake. Over the wind, Pylas hears the sound of voices. Putting her ears to the deck, she becomes privy to a conversation.
Clovis' thickly accented voice rises in both pitch and tone.
“What'dye mean return with the gold! It's ludicrous.”
“It's what we must do, for the clan and the company.” replies Vianna, in a calm, straightforward tone. “Without this money, the company is going to go under. We've lost the Drake.”
“And what about all of the dwarves and men starvin' in the Golden Citadel?! We have a responsibility under Mim to get those rations to our kinsfolk!”
This is enough for Pylas to hear. Anger fills her body, and her fists clench as she lifts a hatch, and heads directly for the Captain's Quarters.
Pylas determinedly climbs down a ladder and stomps across the cargo deck, and firmly knocks on the door to the captain's room.
“Eh, not now. I'm having a discussion.” says Clovis through the door.
“I know. I can hear it from the top deck. Let me in!” says Pylas.
“Eh, it's a little private, I'm afraid.”
“I'm coming in!” snarls Pylas. She throws open the unlocked door and walks in.
Vianna looks at her, hand on her hips. “This is a private conversation. Please leave.”
“Shut up!” roars Pylas. “Now you listen, you greedy little worm, WE'RE going to the Golden Citadel to rescue the many bearded elder and prevent everyone from dying of starvation and YOU'RE going to shut up and come along! How DARE you let all these people die!”
“How dare you! Hireling!” retorts Vianna.
“Now, Pylas. . . “ interjects Clovis “While I agree with ye and all, it's not right of you to come in here and speak so rudely to our benefactor. . . “
“With all due respect, Clovis, be quiet. You both listen, we ARE going to the golden citadel and that's final. I'm on watch until dawn. If either of you want to force the issue, you know where to find me. And Klobgeddon. And his axe.”
Pylas strides back to her watch-post, heart pounding. The night passes with little activity and the conversation below, if it continues, continues quietly. The next morning, Clovis rises before the dawn, along with the other sailors. Vianna is not to be seen. The weather become more foul as the day goes on. Ice builds ominously on both the ship and the gas-bag. The crew struggles to knock it off, but they are starting to fall behind.
The following day is the seventh day since the ship as left Zobeck. As dawn breaks, a nervous Guigo points out a line of ominous clouds on the horizon.
“I tell ya, my beautiful one, I hope that we make the citadel before we get mixed up in that storm. It's a bad one, I can see that.”
Pylas grimaces. It's been a long watch and she's ready to sleep. One the forecastle, Klob scans the horizon, face impassive, beard clotted with ice. All is still.
And then the world shifts. A great shudder writhes through the ship, snapping 3 of the anchor ropes and throwing Guigo off his feet. He cries out,
“The boilers are firing! Get below and find out what's happening!”
Klob leaps into action, thundering down the forecastle ladder two levels, onto the cargo deck.
Eronk, Tialanna and Braddock waken.
“Something's up in the Engine room. Get up!” Eronk, Tialanna and Braddock only have time to grab two items before they rush out and down the rear hatch. Rath the naked mole dog, curled up at Eronk's feet, follows.
Pylas summons her shadow, and sends it below to the engine room to spy and report.
Tialanna summons magic energy, hasting the other party members nearby. Pylas is still on the forecastle, waiting for her shadow. The shadow goes down into engine room. It hears clanging noises, but can see nothing through the thick steam. It then flies upward and reports this to Pylas. She charges down the front staircase, reaching rest of the group. Klob steps into the cargo-filled front room of the engine deck. A hideous barking rises, and an invisible creature bites at Klob's ankles. Ignoring the troublesome creature, Klob forges forward, but finds his way barred by a giant, ghostly hand. It is difficult to to push through it, and Klob only manages to move 5 feet towards the engine room.
Now hasted, the rest of the Company of the Elven sisters quickly maneuvers through the cargo deck, despite the constricted access. They come to the top of the stairs down, and Tialanna manages to get down the the lower level. Rath is able to charge down the stairs, and he races past his master, growling in mole-dog fury. Klob pushes forward five more feet, his next axe-strike dispelling the annoying hand. Tialanna feels a constricting magic take hold of her, but she summons her force of will and throws off the spell.
The next round, both Klob and Tialanna move forward to the door to the engine room. Tialanna has a permanent see invisibility cast on her, and she points out where an invisible figure is busy beating the safety valves of the engine in a most efficient way: she targets the unknown malefactor with a magic missile spell. Klob comes charging through the door, keeping his balance despite the greased floor. He reaches the invisible wizard as his blind sighted moledog leaps to attack. Rath trips the wizard, pulling him down, and Klobgeddon throws himself on the struggling, invisible figure, bearing him to the ground.
Pylas reaches engine room and begins to use her thief skills to calm the steam engine. Eronk reaches the wrestling, invisible mage and assists Klobgeddon, who pins the wizard. Refusing to be taken alive, the invisible saboteur bites down on the poison tooth he wears, expiring in a surge of coughed blood.
The corpse comes into view. It is Ansgar, the laconic crewman. His clothes are ripped, revealing elaborate tattoos. Eronk carries the body to the captains room. Clovis is shocked and pale. Pylas and Zangen, the engineer, remain below in the engine room, repairing the damage.
Eronk, peels the clothes off of Ansgar and Tialanna examines the tattoos. Two great, pillars rise up his his back to burst into flame on his shoulders. A fresh, dark tattoo of a traditional dwarven crypt lies between them. Below are a trowel, hammer and tongs, surrounded by bizarre runic inscriptions.
“Clovis, have you ever seen anything like this before?”, asks Tialanna. All of her loremaster knowledge has failed her.
“Nay. There are certainly not sailor's tattoos. I have not seen their like.”
“Eronk. Go get his footlocker.”
“Okay.”
Eronk returns with Ansgar's footlocker. Within are odd, fur ruffed and finely made white clothing, consisting of an apron and gloves, as if for a blacksmith but made of materials too fine to be worn during craftwork. Below is a spellbook, which Tialanna takes possession of.
“Okay, what the hell is going on here?” she says.
No one knows the answer, and the storm is catching up. |
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Joined: 26 Apr 2009
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| nmilasich |
| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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Joined: 26 Apr 2009
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A few questions.
So, is the great stairway beyond the clockwork gate? If so, it's been sealed for a long time. A few questions in this case.
1. How did miners get into the rest of the citadel to mine orichalcum before the door was broken? I'm assuming there are other areas to mine, perhaps down that third passage.
2. How did the dwarves get down into the citadel and back again, from places like the hearthforges and forge of fire blessing?
3. How did the mammonites get from the deep citadel to the upper halls before the gate was broken?
I'm just curious, would love to hear what the writers have to say.
Thanks,
Nick |
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