Conversations with imaginary creatures... |
A place for our D&D adventures and the heroes that make them happen.
Conversations with imaginary creatures... |
A town meeting is called. Most of the town shakers and movers are here. Even Umbra Perivale, who made her usual entrance, teleporting into the middle of town hall, pyrotechnics and fanfare included, has arrived. Tarquin and Luna sit with the Rockseekers at the head of the large town council table, while Akra and Hundur at the other end with Toblen Stonehill. In between sit many of the other councillers, town planners and business owners. Harbin Wester, the townmaster, storms in under a cloud and throws down a bloodied cloak on the table in front of Gundren. There is a gasp, and Trevor the candlestick maker faints. The cloak obviously belongs to Toby, Trevors partner. Trevor had embroidered a woodland scene on the back of the cloak for his birthday. Many times you had seen the two together on market days, Toby always wearing his prized cloak. Toby worked as a courier, often going as far as Triboar to deliver messages for the town, while Trevor ran a small stall selling wooden wax polished candle sticks that he made by hand. He wasn't on the council and had just popped into the town hall to offer everyone tea. The Dwarf looks up, the distain he has for the man evident on his face. "This is all that is left of Toby!" yells the townmaster at the dwarf. "He was supposed to arrive this morning, from Conyberry. But instead a hunter found this.." pointing at the cloak "near the body of his horse, full of these." Black shafted arrows clatter on the table sliding to halt before the dwarf. Crude in their making, but deadly in flight, there is no denying they are not goblin arrows. "Yes, that is right goblins have returned to Phandalin! Poor Trevor is going to be very upset when Toby doesn't come home tonight!" Another gasp, and thud, as Trevor, starting to rise with Akra's aid, faints again. "Well?" stomped Harbin, "What are you going to do about this situation, dwarf?" The rumour of goblins in the woods had been circulating by hunters and woodsmen for about a week, but no hard evidence had been found. Conyberry, situated along the Triboar Trail, had until recently been deserted after an orc tribe had murdered all the farmers several winters ago. With Phanadlin and the mine growing, it was no longer safe to rely on food supplies from Neverwinter. A group of homesteaders and their families, ten in total now called Conyberry home and had planted and tended the harvest due for delivery to the towns stores. No news had been heard from Conyberry for two weeks, so Harbin had sent the courier to check on them. Gundgren, stares coldly at Harbin, but addresses Umbra. "Is your team ready?" "They are not my people to command," states Umbra, "but two of them are protectors, and there are two of their companions in town. Perhaps it is time they formed their own company to undertake this mission?" Gundren and looks at Tarquin and Luna "Well, you two, you've skulked about the place for a month, maybe it's time to head out and earn some of your own coin?" "So what is this company to be called...eh?" he says with an arched eyebrow. Gundrens lawyer nephew, Darphid, stands by with quill and parchment already in hand...
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Rest and taxation... It has been a month since the crash. It was a no-brainer to make the two day journey to Phandalin instead of the five day trek back to Neverwinter. Phandalin is truely a frontier town. Run by elected officials from the local business owners. The pompous townmaster, Harbin Wester, was keen to make your acquaintance, obviously seeking to gain alliances with new comers, but his tune played a different note once he found out you were here at the bequest of the Rockseekers, muttering something about there being 'too many godamn Rockseekers and their friends around these parts now'. The owner of the mines, Gundren Rookseeker and two of his extended family meet you with open smiles, but questioning eyes. But once your tales retold, strong embraces are given out freely, helped a little by the gleam of gold in the dwarves eyes. For your part in the rescuing of the dwarven princess from the clutches of the Dragon Cultists, you have been awarded annual drawings from the mines wealthy profits. A cut which should have set any elf or gnome up for life, but in these frontier lands, life does not come cheap or easy and a dwarf is never truely willing to part with his riches, without legal clauses and footnotes pertaining to intellectual property rights and the such like. But never let it be said that a dwarf does not honour great deeds. For your efforts you have been granted two adjoining rooms at the newly refurbished Tresendar Manor, with a large balcony that looks out over the rest of the town. The rooms are finely furnished, meals of a high quality are available in the shared dinning room, or delivered to rooms on request. And a local tailor available to make any clothing required. A butler is on call to answer any needs. Once owned by the Tresendar family it was more of a castle than a manor, but the refurbishments made by the masons and carpenters have transformed it into a luxurious manor house. The rebuilt first two floors house other important dwarven representatives. Gundren is here often but otherwise is found at the mines. Although the lower portions of the old manor are still under repair, Tarquin has been afforded some space to stock a laboratory, and Luna discovered a secret side entrance to the lower levels of the manor. Tarquin and Luna received a 'pension' as part of being shareholders. They both parties after manor room upkeep, food, clothing, land mining taxes, administration fees and projected market instability, receive 1000gp per month. Amounts are paid in stamped mithral ingots valued at 200gp, 5 bars per month, delivered to the manor. The mithral bars are 5" long by 2" wide, and 1/2" thick, and weigh 5lbs each. Being a shareholder for the Rockseeker Trust Inc, comes with it's privileges but also with a certain amount of responsibilities. An annual fee for of 100gp each is required to continue as a voting member (we'll actually the small print - in 4pt medium condensed Dethek), clearly states that failure to pay the annual shareholder fee immediately voids any contract undertaken with Rockseeker Trust Inc, with loss of all outstanding privileges and wealth, including but not limited to shares...it goes on for a bit, but you get the idea. The contract is ironclad, with forfeiture being the only way out. As a representative of the Rockseeker Trust Inc they were immediately voted in by the local elected council, as 'Protectors' of the surrounding country, reporting to the appointed sheriff of the town, Sildar Halwinter, a 50 year old veteran soldier. Services included; protecting and managing any threats or perceived threats to the safety and prosperity of the town, the mine and lands adjacent to any lands own by members of the community, or mining industry areas, or areas in or around the above locations that may affect mine production, including but not limited to Neverwinter Wood, the Sword Mountains, the High Road, and the Triboar trail. Failure to comply to the needs and requirements of the town or mine, results in expulsion from the town and/or the local area, on penalty of imprisonment for a term of no shorter than 5 years per offence. Gundrens' nephew the a barrister and legal mind of the family, pointed out that any misconduct of Rockseeker Trust Inc shareholders, including but not limited to imprisonment or exile, would be in breach of the Trusts code of conduct and result in the immediate cancelation of said contract with the individual with forfeiture of any rights and any wealth as a effectively immediatley. And if that wasn't enough for our two valiant heroes, all officials including Protectors were 'encouraged' to make an annual investment of 50gp to a local business, randomly drawn from a roster of business owners, as part of a mentorship program aimed at growing the local industry. Tarquin received the Shrine of Luck; a small shrine made of stone from the ruins of a once forgotten temple. It is Phandalin's only temple and is dedicated to Tymora. It is in the care of a zealous young elf named Sister Garaele, who is also a member of the Harpers. Smitten by the charming wizard, Garaele waived the 50gp investment, and will continue to do as, as long as Tarquin continues to gift her with flowers and 'brilliant' ideas for the rebuilding of the ruined temple. Often, sister Garaele has blessed Tarquin with Tymora's luck, which has helped him on more than one occasion at the card table in The Sleeping Giant, a rundown, dirty, and dangerous watering hole, operated by a surly female dwarf named Grista. A debt of 200gp is owed for gambling and drinks at the bar. Luna received the Phandalin Miner's Exchange; a trading post where miners have their finds weighed and paid out. Run by a human woman named Halia Thornton. Halia is a member of any underground network of spies, and rigged the vote. She recognised that Luna had a very specific set of skills, ones that could benefit both parties. Halia is now a contact for Luna, and can provide information about the town and members in it. Halia waived the 50gp investment, but more than likely wants something in return, although she hasn't been forthcoming with what it might be, yet... Akra, as a guest of Tarquin and Luna's has a fine but modest room next door and is treated with the utmost respect by the dwarves who frequent the manor house. Although the head butler can be a little rude. A middle aged halfling named Flynbul Alderleaf, cousin to Quelline Alderleaf the owner of Alderleaf farm. Often, Carp Alderleaf, Quellines's 12 year old son visits the manor house to see his uncle Flyn, insisting on being told a story from the nice dragonlady. On a visit to Alderleaf farm, Akra found a particular area in a small grove of ancient looking trees that made the voice in her head clear. Many times she has returned to listen to the commune with the voice in her head.. Hundur the barbarian, after rescuing Tarquin form a burning mattress, breaking open the locked crate to free Luna, and tracking down a sap-sticky and concussed Akra, quickly ensured his short term employment to guide the party the remaining journey to Phandalin (mostly as he had a map). Although initially treated with open distain by the dwarves, he was tolerated as a guest, and for coming to the new 'shareholders' aid, has a room at Stonehill Inn paid for for up to the end of the month. Stonehill is a modest inn run by a short, friendly young human male named Toblen Stonehill. Toblen came from the east of the Triboar, seeking the opportunity in prospecting like many others. He soon found that he knew more about running an inn than mining, and so he established the inn. Several times Toblen has asked Hundur to escort drunken dwarven miners back home after closing times, the two have become good friends. On one such escort trip he defended several drunken miners from a hunting Crag Cat out for a tasty midnight snack. Gundren Rockseeker was so impressed that he invited him to visit the forge, after a discussion about smithing. While records for new weapons forged are current, the records of past forged weapons were destroyed long ago when orcs ravaged through the mines. There was a Spectator, a type of beholder, that had been a guardian of the forge from before the sacking of the mines, it was vanquished back to it's plane, but perhaps it would know if any great axes were made in the forge... It's all up in the air... The gnome Bambra Gallagher excited pulls on leavers and pushes knobs as the airships' motor starts to build the pressure enabling the pumps to force the highly volatile gas into the bladder above your heads. Bambra takes the airship directly out of the docks of the cloud giants castle before starting her descent. A booming voice echos from within the castles open sky garden near the docks behind you "You forgot this..." Suddenly a screaming figure flies high over the trees arcs through the air heading towards the airship. As the flailing figure gets closer, the trajectory obviously too high to land on the airship deck, a screaming Komgrirck lands squarely in the middle of the full gas bladder, arms and legs caught in the rope net that secures the bladder to the airship body. The impact jolts the airship, which abruptly descends several hundred feet in the space of a few seconds. Bambra, reaching for a lever, trips and smashes her forehead onto the wooden railing and collapses unconscious. The high altitude air currents force the airship way off course heading inland away from the city of Neverwinter still hidden below the thick cloud cover. "I'm okay!" yells the over sized kobold, "Edder told me how to get out of situations like this..." Several party members groan as Komgrirck pulls a knife from his belt with his free hand and starts to cut the ropes around his feet. Protests from the on lookers below fall on deaf ears, as the kobold misses his mark and punctures the bladder, releasing a loud burst of pressurised gas. While a Lori and Itif attempt to wake Bambra, and Tarquin and Luna start to formulate plans to quickly eradicate the pest on board, South looks about assessing an escape route. The bladder, hastily deflating, comes crashing down on the deck and the steel motor. The heat from the furnace that runs the pistons and gears, ignites the gas filled bladder with spectacular efficiency. Far below is a lone traveller on the High Road. Five days after leaving the city of Neverwinter, the monotony of walking is broken by a roaring explosion high overhead. Looking up, a flaming airship bursts from the cloud cover, violently spiralling towards the Neverwinter Wood. Smoke and the intense heat of burning gas and wood engulfs the deck of the airship within moments. The whirling motion of the spiral descent throws bodies from deck to rail and some beyond. Bambara still dazed is thrown clean into the cold air. Tulahk, the undead wizards head, launches himself from Tarquins grasp, he is lost in the cloud cover immediately as the airship barrel rolls forcing everyone remaining on board to grab any handhold possible. The barbarian, South, scoops up a sheet of canvas from the deck and leaps to the air, his massive frame twisting in the air as he releases the canvas while holding the corners. He hangs in mid air for but a moment, before the air current blasts him and his hastily fashioned air floatation device towards the mountainous peak of Mt Hotenow far below. He is lost to sight in the clouds, but his war cry echos out briefly "Yippee ki yay motherf........" As the ship lurches and spins, the hull violently tears itself apart, the force launching the bow and stern in opposite directions. At the front, with Lori and Itif holding on for dear life, flies off over the Neverwinter river, heading deep into the woods. At the back of the ship, Tarquin and Luna argue over the only parachute, while Akara spider climbs hanging on to the upside down deck, plummets towards the ground, crashing into the the foot hills around the southern end of the Neverwinter Wood. In slow motion we see Tarquin cartwheeling through the air, he spots a ruined structure in the southern end of the woods, perhaps an old castle or tower, it passes from view just as he is smothered by mattresses flung from the quarters below the broken deck. Catapulted from the ship, but sandwiched between two mattresses, he lands safely in a large hedge of brambles. A bluish glow briefly emanates from his mystical wind-catcher token around his neck. Luna, in a daring attempt to defy gravity runs, jumps and pirouettes back up pieces of falling wreckage, trying to catch the parachute knokced from Tarquins grasp. One misplaced foot sees her rocketed into a large open box full of ropes and canvases, the lid smashed down hard, locking her inside the box. The locked box spinning in the air hits a shrubbery on the ground, turning it into a explosion of leaves, before sliding to a halt in thick muddy patch. It is the only part of the stern to survive the landing. Akra, still clinging to a piece of the deck, spirals towards the nearby woods, as the trees get closer, a copper dragon materialises and grasps her in it's claws, softly drops her on a high pine tree branch, before disappearing. A creak heralds the pine branch giving way. Akra, swiftly navigates her way down tree, visiting every branch on the way, finally resting in a large bed of sticky pine needles below. The remains of the crashed airship stretch out over a mile long path, smouldering debris and wreckage coming to rest amongst tall grasses and rocky out crops. Hundur, stops to catch his breath and wipes the sweet from his sloping brow. It was further than he expected to make it to the crash site, but he gives a fanged smile as he sees what seems to be a wizard struggling to get out of a mattress stuck in the hedgerow... There are no signs of Lori and Itif, lost somewhere deep over the northern portion of Neverwinter Wood, not even a smoke trail. South, was last seen para-falling towards MT Hotenow, who could say where he ended up? And while there were no signs of Komgrirck, chard or otherwise at the crash site, your feel like you haven't seen the last of him... Tasked by the wizard Umbra Perrivale with spying on Acquisitions Inc, the MisAdventurers arrived in Neverwinter. After meeting with Bambra Gallagher and Tulahk, they HALFF'd (high-altitude low feather-fall) onto a cloud castle that a giant lord had parked high above the city hidden in dark clouds. After rescuing Olthanas from being throttled, dodged becoming a corpsicle from a young white dragon and avoiding the stomping of an irritated majordomo, they brokered a peaceful treaty with the giant young lordling. Olthanas promising not to attack Neverwinter or take part any any other raids planned through out the Sword Coast.Aboard an airship, the next destination is Phandalin... Hired by opposing groups, the MisAdventures entered the dark corridors of Undermountain, seeking fame, fortune and an ancient artefact known as the Mithral Gate. After a few adventures, culling some of the local population, releasing a green dragon, that returned the favour and attempted to make them lunch, and keeping a long forgotten dwarven temple out of the clutches of Halaster Blackcloak, the MisAdventurers headed back to the surface. Discovering that the Mithral Gate was a mistranslation in the dwarvish text and in fact was referring to the Star Port, a long forgotten base on the one of the Tears of Selune was a kick in the teeth. The artefact had been sent to the Star Port during the age of the Melairkyn clan dwarves to protect against an invading army of creatures not of this world. At this stage the way to access this base was still to be found. The raid of the village of Greenest, by a blue dragon and a mercenary army, saw two groups of adventures repel attacks and save villagers as they rushed about like headless chickens. While one group, know as the Misfits defended the keep and rescued stranded villagers, another group of heroes, The MisAdventurers, aided Oskar the Red in rescuing Kiri his sister from the clutches of the Dragon Cultists, who were behind the raid. After meeting a captive half elf, Leosin, the MisAdventures travelled north to Elturel, discovered what happened to the Misfits, attended the Festival of Heroic Deeds, meet Onthar Frume and undertook a mission to follow a caravan of suspected cultists heading to Waterdeep. |
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