It's quite cold for the first week of Autumn. Just cold enough to be insufferable on exposed skin, leaving you thinking about nothing but the cold, much to the detriment of your ability to think clearly. The icy wind certainly doesn't help.
Unfortunately, there are no horse paths to Belfrem. You had been able to make most of the journey in a hired carriage, until you reached a hill too steep for the horses. The coachman had apologized, clearly having never been here before, insisting that he couldn't take you any further.
Thus, you've spent the past hour making your way over steep hills on a narrow beaten path through a miserable grey forest. Twice now, you've lost the path due to the ground being buried in a blanket of fallen leaves. Luckily, you've all managed to realize this courtesy of Elzah, who's been able to keep a level head despite the cold.
As you reach the summit of what is by far the steepest hill you've climbed this morning, you see the pointed rooftops of the village of Belfrem, a welcome sign that your unpleasant journey has reached it's end... for now.
Why did you come to Belfrem in the first place? The four of you recount the details as you near the village.
Two weeks ago, you had overheard an oddly dressed traveler in a tavern telling some of his friends about a group of missing adventurers.
According to the man in the tavern, a group of five treasure hunters had made their way to the ruins of a haunted castle a couple miles South of Belfrem. Not long after their departure, one returned, claiming that the other four had been swallowed by mists. The remaining adventurer had been very close with the other four, and could not bear to lose them without knowing their fate, so she has remained in Belfrem ever since, doing everything in her power to gain some aid in searching for her friends. She has taken up lodgings in the village chapel.
Turns out, she comes from a rather wealthy family, and is promising a generous reward for anyone who so much as tries looking for her vanished comrades.
When you asked the man in the tavern how he knew all this, he merely chuckled, answering only that he "knew the land".
A quick pointer from a local leads you to the chapel. The village was small, so finding it wasn't the issue. Rather, recognizing it, as it does not resemble a chapel at all. As you find out, the chapel was actually a repurposed boarding house, dedicated to some god you've never heard of, presumably a local deity. However, as the farmer had told you, the priest who had overseen the chapel had disappeared years ago, leaving only one of his acolytes to tend to the place of worship.
The building is clearly old and unsurprisingly rather gloomy. The entire structure seems to be sagging and crooked, like an old man on the verge of falling over. However, it is clearly still very much lived in, given the smoke rising from the chimney and the lantern light dimly showing through the misted windows.
You knock on the door, and almost instantly, it opens. Standing in the doorway is a young half-drow with a welcoming smile.
Time of Day: 10:36 AM
Weather: Grey, overcast skies, cold winds.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
1. Arklos Bloodwild - Human Rogue - Played by ArkadeyBloodwild 2. Elzah - Human Barbarian - Played by gloveralex 3. Fennec - Human Blood Hunter - Played by badbovine 4. Jameson Kadir - Human Rogue - Played by BartyMcDougal 5. Lethia Forlun - Half-Elf Fighter - Played by RedPanda20 6. Qazka - Half-drow Paladin - Played by guyu
The half-drow tilts his head and scans the group of strangers curiously. "We are having a lot of new visitors these days... I am Qazka. How may I or this humble chapel be of help?"
Elzah steps forward, peering over Qazka's shoulder at the warm, welcoming interior of the chapel. "Well met, friend. We heard a rumor that you folks were in need of trackers. Erm, that is, folks like us that can find other folks who need to be found. Are lost, that is."She shifts her pack a bit as she tries to find her way out of this interaction. Finally, with a sigh, she settles upon the obvious request.
"We've come a long way and it would be much appreciated if we could come inside to rest a bit. We can fill you in on our business once we're warmed up a bit."
Behind Elzah, Lethia pushed forward, glancing at Qazka. "What she said,"Lethia stated pointing at Elzah, "But whatever you do, please let us in. I'm freezing!" Lethia moved forward, trying to squeeze past Qazka and into the little chapel behind him.
Jameson stood back and allowed the others to provide the explanations, feeling naturally out of place and perhaps overly familiar with the way that only nobles tended to react to nobles well at first impression. He did not cut an imposing figure, standing just under six feet tall with a wiry frame and medium-length brown hair that he subconsciously ran a hand through, trying to feel for any strands out of place.
He does not introduce himself directly, but if asked replies with a simple, "Jameson. A pleasure, Qazka." He stands back to allow the rest of his new companions to enter first, despite his impatience with the cold. All these years away from the consistent warmth of the Kadir manor and the cold still bothers me. Old habits die hard, it seems.
Near the rear of the group, you notice a human man that is dressed more for the city than a trek through the countryside. His fine coat is a little dusty from the road. His dark hair and goatee are finely groomed. There is a shortsword on his right hip and a collapsed hand crossbow in a holster on his left. His eyes are never still, searching over he grounds, the building, and the people in sight. As he walks up to the door, he gives Qazka a quick smile without teeth and without eye contact. It's as if somebody told him that smiling was the appropriate greeting while meeting someone for the first time and over the years this has never worked out for him, but he still does it.
Qazka sidesteps and holds the door open with an amused expression on his face, "of course, make yourselves at home, though this may not be an inn if you are seeking one." He gives everyone a welcoming smile and gestures to the inside of the chapel.
As you step inside you see a shabby but warm interior that juxtaposes the gloomy exterior. There is a doorway on the right side near the front door, where a faint aroma of a freshly cooked meal seem to originate from. In the left corner nearest to the door are a few stacked long tables, and further inside are rows of uneven wooden benches. On the furthest end, there is a crudely carved, vaguely humanoid stone sculpture in front of an open window. You notice that all the windows along the side of the hall are open, but the chilly wind does not seem to make its way inside and it is just the right level of warm.
Once everyone's inside Qazka closes the door. He pulls one of the tables down, and drags two of the benches towards it, creating a makeshift dining area. He pats the table. "Have a seat. You came at a good time, we can talk over breakfast. Or brunch. Or morning tea? Whichever."
Without waiting for a response, he heads inside the doorway on the right. A few moments later, he reemerges, long hair now tied in a loose ponytail, holding what seemed to be a chopping board topped with mismatching bowls and utensils of different sizes and textures. He sets a bowl in front of everyone, it's simple meat and potato stew. He sits down himself, "I'm afraid I only caught one of your names?"
Elzah takes up a lot of space, and she knows it. She self-consciously rotates a couple of times, looking for a place to set down her gear so as not to block the door. She is a towering presence -- a 6' 3" human female with a massive great axe and pack strapped to her back. Elzah lives in the wilds, but has been around civilization enough to navigate simple social interactions.
Elzah gratefully grabs a bowl and plants herself at the center of a bench, which bows slightly with her weight. She forgoes the utensils and slurps the stew straight from her bowl. It's loud.
"Finally! I'm done being an ice cube!" Lethia hops inside, taking in the warm interior. "Right, names. I'm Lethia. Half-elf at your service." She bows down to Qazka, in the sassy, yet endearing way that only a 16 year old can pull off. She rushes over to the benches, carefully places her delicate bow, sturdy sword, and small pack next to her, and then hurriedly plops herself down. Her chocolate hair swishes around her shoulders.
Soon afterward, Lethia is busy eating. The stew was rich with flavor, even while being so simple. Lethia looks up, directing her silver eyes toward Qazka, the purple tints sparkling.
Amidst the clamor of introductions, eating, and making yourselves comfortable, a sixth figure silently enters the room from down the hall. A tiefling, immediately recognizable by her characteristic scarlet skin and curled horns. Her hair is of a similar color to that of her eyes: a striking snowy white.
She stands by the statue at the end of the room, looking over the four newcomers. Her eyes dart from one of you to the next, as though gleaning insight into each of you with every glance. Her hand rests on a small, leather-bound book hanging from her girdle. After a few seconds, she clears her throat.
EMERIA: "Good morning to you all. My name is Emeria. Am I correct to presume that you have come to aid in the search for my missing comrades?"
She gives a faint, albeit obviously forced smile as she speaks.
Still smiling, Qazka nods along as everyone introduces themselves. With no intention to hide, he watches everyone with interest and meets all eye contact with a gentle smile. "Pleasure to meet you all."We are getting so many new visitors lately.
Seeing Emeria, he says: "Ah, good morning, help yourself to some," Qazka waves a hand in the direction of the kitchen. "Can't talk business on an empty stomach."
There was something so quaint and pleasant about a good bowl of stew. It was perhaps the simplest dish to make, hence its popularity within taverns across the realm, but there was such variety in its flavor and preparation. Years removed from the fine dining of his household, and Jameson still didn't miss it.
OOC: How tasty is the stew?
"That is correct, madame,"Jameson answers, cautious to answer only after he had fully finished chewing. "What can you tell us? Please hold nothing back, no detail is unimportant."
He was beginning to regret not asking the group to stop so he could purchase some parchment to jot down details. His memory rarely failed him, but one could never be too sure. Despite the calm in his voice, his leg had already begun to subconsciously twitch. So much time spent traveling to Belfrem, it's hard to believe we're finally here.
As the tiefling lady enters, Arklos rises to his feet in antiquated politeness. He bows slightly to her. He is listening intently to what she has to say.
Looking up from her food, Lethia notices the tiefling noble entering the room. Lethia can feel the power radiating from this woman. Lethia waits for her story.
EMERIA: "To be honest, there's not much to tell. You see, a few months back, we had been inspired to take up the life of adventuring. I had just graduated from the Elgrave College," she gestures to the book at her side "and my friends were skilled combatants to say the least. We felt we were ready to take on the lifestyle. For a while, it seemed we were right. We managed to put an end to a brigand, rescue a child from some harpies, and even slay awerewolf." At this, she gives a more genuine, prideful smile before continuing. "When we came to Belfrem, some folks in bright clothing told us of the ruins of an ancient castle a few miles South of here, in the land of Barovia. The castle had been the estate of Barovia's last ruler before it was brought down by a storm. Due to superstition, no one has settled in the land ever since, so it just sits there, empty. My comrades and I were more than intrigued, so set out to explore the ruins." she pauses and turns to Qazka. "May I have some water please?"
At Emeria's request, Qazka nods, "certainly." He heads back into the kitchen and comes back out with a pitcher in one hand and a precarious stack of variously-shaped mugs in another. He sets the items down in the middle of the table and begins pouring water into each mug. Once the mugs are filled, he pushes one in each person's general direction, though it is up to them if they want to take it. He settles again comfortable, leaning against the table and waits patiently for Emeria to continue her story.
(ooc: haha I'd say the stew isn't gourmet level but its a nice homecooked meal! you get the sense that it's all local ingredients, probably donated by the villagers
Emeria pulls a mug towards her and, after taking a large sip, continues.
EMERIA: "Thank you, Qazka. As I was saying, my comrades and I made our way to the castle. Seeing the state of the old thing, I had trouble believing a storm could have done that much damage. An earthquake, perhaps. Anyway, there wasn't much left of the ground floor and upper levels, as it was all buried under rock. We found a staircase leading into the lower parts of the castle and decided to make our descent. The stairs lead to a maze of crypts, whose occupants probably turned to dust long ago, given the lack of bones we found. I regret to say that we did not pay the highest of respects for the dead, and took most of what we found down there. Our exploration was uneventful, save for the last of the crypts. It contained a surprisingly well-preserved wooden coffin. Strangely, it was empty, as we found out when we pried it open." the disappointment in her voice is evident. "It was when we emerged from the crypts that we saw the mists. I immediately perceived that they were unnatural. They crawled up the mountainside from all directions, as though enclosing on us directly. We attempted to make our way around it, but it changed the speed of its advancement to match our pace, cutting us off again. Eventually, it forced us back to the castle ruins and into the crypts." She takes another long drink from the cup. "Unfortunately, the mist began pouring into the crypts after us. It moved through the corridors like a snake, eventually separating me from the other four. I could hear them shouting my name for a few minutes, trying to find me. But they did not hear when I shouted back to them. Then, their voices grew quieter, as though they were moving further and further away. At last, I heard them no more. The mists left, and I was alone. I have been searching the surrounding lands ever since, but to no avail."
Time of Day: 10:50 AM
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
Elzah peers at Emeria in thought. "What of your companion's possessions? Surely something of theirs was left behind? Footprints? Any signs of a fight?"
Jameson listens diligently, but before long he is out of his seat and pacing as he asks for clarifications during pauses.
"These...folks in bright clothing, what more can you tell us about them? Were they human? Men, women, something else? And their clothing, was there anything distinctive about it aside from its brightness? Did they all wear the same color, for example? And how many of them were there?"
"What can you tell us about the rest of your comrades - physical descriptions, personalities, anything that could help us identify them?"
He doesn't share his final thought aloud. I'm used to the everyday brigand, but unnatural mists, werewolves, harpies...are we even able to handle what she could not?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Time of Day: 10:36 AM
Weather: Grey, overcast skies, cold winds.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
1. Arklos Bloodwild - Human Rogue - Played by ArkadeyBloodwild
2. Elzah - Human Barbarian - Played by gloveralex
3. Fennec - Human Blood Hunter - Played by badbovine
4. Jameson Kadir - Human Rogue - Played by BartyMcDougal
5. Lethia Forlun - Half-Elf Fighter - Played by RedPanda20
6. Qazka - Half-drow Paladin - Played by guyu
"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
The half-drow tilts his head and scans the group of strangers curiously. "We are having a lot of new visitors these days... I am Qazka. How may I or this humble chapel be of help?"
Elzah steps forward, peering over Qazka's shoulder at the warm, welcoming interior of the chapel. "Well met, friend. We heard a rumor that you folks were in need of trackers. Erm, that is, folks like us that can find other folks who need to be found. Are lost, that is." She shifts her pack a bit as she tries to find her way out of this interaction. Finally, with a sigh, she settles upon the obvious request.
"We've come a long way and it would be much appreciated if we could come inside to rest a bit. We can fill you in on our business once we're warmed up a bit."
Nell: Call of the Netherdeep
Behind Elzah, Lethia pushed forward, glancing at Qazka. "What she said," Lethia stated pointing at Elzah, "But whatever you do, please let us in. I'm freezing!" Lethia moved forward, trying to squeeze past Qazka and into the little chapel behind him.
Jameson stood back and allowed the others to provide the explanations, feeling naturally out of place and perhaps overly familiar with the way that only nobles tended to react to nobles well at first impression. He did not cut an imposing figure, standing just under six feet tall with a wiry frame and medium-length brown hair that he subconsciously ran a hand through, trying to feel for any strands out of place.
He does not introduce himself directly, but if asked replies with a simple, "Jameson. A pleasure, Qazka." He stands back to allow the rest of his new companions to enter first, despite his impatience with the cold. All these years away from the consistent warmth of the Kadir manor and the cold still bothers me. Old habits die hard, it seems.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Near the rear of the group, you notice a human man that is dressed more for the city than a trek through the countryside. His fine coat is a little dusty from the road. His dark hair and goatee are finely groomed. There is a shortsword on his right hip and a collapsed hand crossbow in a holster on his left. His eyes are never still, searching over he grounds, the building, and the people in sight. As he walks up to the door, he gives Qazka a quick smile without teeth and without eye contact. It's as if somebody told him that smiling was the appropriate greeting while meeting someone for the first time and over the years this has never worked out for him, but he still does it.
Qazka sidesteps and holds the door open with an amused expression on his face, "of course, make yourselves at home, though this may not be an inn if you are seeking one." He gives everyone a welcoming smile and gestures to the inside of the chapel.
As you step inside you see a shabby but warm interior that juxtaposes the gloomy exterior. There is a doorway on the right side near the front door, where a faint aroma of a freshly cooked meal seem to originate from. In the left corner nearest to the door are a few stacked long tables, and further inside are rows of uneven wooden benches. On the furthest end, there is a crudely carved, vaguely humanoid stone sculpture in front of an open window. You notice that all the windows along the side of the hall are open, but the chilly wind does not seem to make its way inside and it is just the right level of warm.
Once everyone's inside Qazka closes the door. He pulls one of the tables down, and drags two of the benches towards it, creating a makeshift dining area. He pats the table. "Have a seat. You came at a good time, we can talk over breakfast. Or brunch. Or morning tea? Whichever."
Without waiting for a response, he heads inside the doorway on the right. A few moments later, he reemerges, long hair now tied in a loose ponytail, holding what seemed to be a chopping board topped with mismatching bowls and utensils of different sizes and textures. He sets a bowl in front of everyone, it's simple meat and potato stew. He sits down himself, "I'm afraid I only caught one of your names?"
"Sorry. The name's Elzah."
Elzah takes up a lot of space, and she knows it. She self-consciously rotates a couple of times, looking for a place to set down her gear so as not to block the door. She is a towering presence -- a 6' 3" human female with a massive great axe and pack strapped to her back. Elzah lives in the wilds, but has been around civilization enough to navigate simple social interactions.
Elzah gratefully grabs a bowl and plants herself at the center of a bench, which bows slightly with her weight. She forgoes the utensils and slurps the stew straight from her bowl. It's loud.
"Ah, thanks for this."
Nell: Call of the Netherdeep
In his hunger, the urban-dressed man had already sat down and was reaching for a plate.
He stands up, hurriedly, and bows slightly. "Ach. Sorry, Herr Qazka. My name is Arklos"
He then sits back down and begins to eat. He has not had food this warm and fulfilling in days.
"Finally! I'm done being an ice cube!" Lethia hops inside, taking in the warm interior. "Right, names. I'm Lethia. Half-elf at your service." She bows down to Qazka, in the sassy, yet endearing way that only a 16 year old can pull off. She rushes over to the benches, carefully places her delicate bow, sturdy sword, and small pack next to her, and then hurriedly plops herself down. Her chocolate hair swishes around her shoulders.
Soon afterward, Lethia is busy eating. The stew was rich with flavor, even while being so simple. Lethia looks up, directing her silver eyes toward Qazka, the purple tints sparkling.
"Delicious!"
Time of Day: 10:40 AM
"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
Still smiling, Qazka nods along as everyone introduces themselves. With no intention to hide, he watches everyone with interest and meets all eye contact with a gentle smile. "Pleasure to meet you all." We are getting so many new visitors lately.
Seeing Emeria, he says: "Ah, good morning, help yourself to some," Qazka waves a hand in the direction of the kitchen. "Can't talk business on an empty stomach."
There was something so quaint and pleasant about a good bowl of stew. It was perhaps the simplest dish to make, hence its popularity within taverns across the realm, but there was such variety in its flavor and preparation. Years removed from the fine dining of his household, and Jameson still didn't miss it.
OOC: How tasty is the stew?
"That is correct, madame," Jameson answers, cautious to answer only after he had fully finished chewing. "What can you tell us? Please hold nothing back, no detail is unimportant."
He was beginning to regret not asking the group to stop so he could purchase some parchment to jot down details. His memory rarely failed him, but one could never be too sure. Despite the calm in his voice, his leg had already begun to subconsciously twitch. So much time spent traveling to Belfrem, it's hard to believe we're finally here.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
As the tiefling lady enters, Arklos rises to his feet in antiquated politeness. He bows slightly to her. He is listening intently to what she has to say.
Looking up from her food, Lethia notices the tiefling noble entering the room. Lethia can feel the power radiating from this woman. Lethia waits for her story.
Time of Day: 10:45 AM
"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
At Emeria's request, Qazka nods, "certainly." He heads back into the kitchen and comes back out with a pitcher in one hand and a precarious stack of variously-shaped mugs in another. He sets the items down in the middle of the table and begins pouring water into each mug. Once the mugs are filled, he pushes one in each person's general direction, though it is up to them if they want to take it. He settles again comfortable, leaning against the table and waits patiently for Emeria to continue her story.
(ooc: haha I'd say the stew isn't gourmet level but its a nice homecooked meal! you get the sense that it's all local ingredients, probably donated by the villagers
Time of Day: 10:50 AM
"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
Elzah peers at Emeria in thought. "What of your companion's possessions? Surely something of theirs was left behind? Footprints? Any signs of a fight?"
Nell: Call of the Netherdeep
Jameson listens diligently, but before long he is out of his seat and pacing as he asks for clarifications during pauses.
"These...folks in bright clothing, what more can you tell us about them? Were they human? Men, women, something else? And their clothing, was there anything distinctive about it aside from its brightness? Did they all wear the same color, for example? And how many of them were there?"
"What can you tell us about the rest of your comrades - physical descriptions, personalities, anything that could help us identify them?"
He doesn't share his final thought aloud. I'm used to the everyday brigand, but unnatural mists, werewolves, harpies...are we even able to handle what she could not?
See my profile for all my PbP threads!