A lumbering man emerges from the shadows. His scruff and eyes are illuminated by the fire's glow, the creases in his coarse skin filling with a deep hue. He awkwardly haunches over to Azrael while lifting his hood back.
"Are ye in need of a smith?"
His smudged nose and flowing beard hide his mouth, and his eyes look tired. A low rumble emanates from his stomach. The old man looks around to take note of everyone there.
"An' the same goes to any 'o the gentlemen 'ere. Been out 'o work. I can na' seem ta' find a settlement on account 'o this accursed fog. Been wanderin' fer days in this region."
He peers down at the letter in Azrael's hands, ignoring any formalities or space. A crooked finger rummages through his snowy beard. The old man turns around and haunches over to a nearby stump, promptly plopping down. He pulls a small bowl from his satchel and squeezes a spotted fruit into. Purplish, glowing liquid fills the wooden dish. Raising it to his mouth, the old man ravenously consumes the drink, strands of juice coating his beard. He puts the bowl away before grabbing a whetstone from his belt. Soft sounds of metal scraping stone linger in the air.
"Afflicted by an evil.." Azrael looks noticeably more serious than before as he passes the letter to the wood-elf next to him and turns to the large figure nearby.
"Well I intend on buying some plate mail whenever I can afford it. Perhaps this letter is my chance. If you don't mind me asking, why don't you share the markings of your Goliath brethren?"
Tanis begins to read the letter, seemingly unaffected by the blacksmith's arrival. His eyebrow raises for just a moment as he reads "...her time is at hand."
"Well you certainly have my interest master traveler. I cannot speak for these good fellows, but I am happy to accompany you back to your master."
Turning to the blacksmith, Tanis extends the letter to him,
"I believe the invitation was extended to all of us, sir, if you would like to have a look."
The old man thumbs over the letter, his eyes scanning the lines briefly. He scoffs aloud and hands the letter back to Tanis.
"True enough. Despite me distaste for nobles, I be glad ta' join ye."
He turns to Azrael, still sharpening the flat blade,
"A forge would be nice, aye. Na' sure me craft be as graceful, but i can promise ye a sturdy make, crude as it may be. Me name be Bruno, Bruno Barnett. I be glad ta' join ye, if jus' ta' get out 'o this region."
He silently returns to honing the edge of the metal.
Kilgore has been traveling long through night. He sees the fire in the distance and overhears the travelers speaking to one another.
He exits the shadows with his hood closed tightly over his head so that it would be easy to mistake him for a man.
"Well met, dear travelers. It seems the gods are smiling on me yet, I didn't imagine I'd see such fair folk at this late hour."
He leans on heavily on his staff as if taking the weight off of a wounded knee.
"I don't imagine any of ye have something to drink for a weary wanderer? And what's that there you all seem to be reading? I haven't had any good reading materials for quite some time."
Tanis looks across the fire at the Baroviaian and gestures towards Kilgore with the letter, clearly questioning whether he wishes to extend his invitation to the new, seemingly wounded, arrival.
"Well met, sir. You are welcome to share the fire and my dinner. I was just telling my new friends here about my master's plight."
The man nods in assent to Tanis.
"Something evil is plaguing the village of Barovia. My master is private, but their are terrible rumors. People have gone missing. Shops are closing down and leaving for other villages. We could indeed use a smith for we may need weapons for protection. My master is willing to share the wealth his family has accumulated for generations if we were rid of the darkness threatening to consume our town."
Azrael passes his water pouch to the other traveler and turns back to the courier. "What rumors have the people been spreading? I will set out at first light."
Kilgore takes the letter and quietly pores over it to see what clues it may hold.
*History check*
"I must admit that I'm intrigued at this new twist of fate. The gods must have brought all of us here together on this night for a reason. They never do anything by accident. Whether fortune favors us or has ill in store I do not yet know."
Kilgore removes his hood and reveals his long white hair. The dim light of the fire reveals a growing a smile on his face.
"This matter sounds urgent. Tell us, courier. What must we do to help your master? Where do we go?
Though we be yet strangers, we have all been summoned here for this purpose."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Barovia lies south, through the Svalich Woods. There have been folks who have gone missing. People are whispering about my Master's beloved. They say she isn't right. An evil has grasped her. But, my master keeps her hidden away. Sent me to find help. He is a secretive man, but a wealthy one. If you went to Barovia, I am sure you would be rewarded in turn. The land is rich with wealth."
18 History Check
*OOC*
You don't recognize where you have seen the seal before, but you can tell it is an ancient one. It must be from a house that has been noble for centuries.
"It sounds like we are all agreed. If you have no objections sir *addressing the courier*, I concur with Azrael that we should head out at first light. Also, since we are going to be traveling together, what should we call you, master traveler?"
13—Nature Check (to see if Tanis knows anything about Svalich Woods).
"My name is Patri. I am pleased you will be able to help us. We will strike out at dawn! The road is long and dark through Svalich. We will have to keep our eyes at the ready for highwaymen and foul beasts, but have no worries! The Morninglord will guide us."
*OOC*
The Svalich Woods are a vast forest which surround the Jagged Teeth mountains. Filled with wild game and popular for sport, but is also the edge of civilization.
You all stay up and talk for some time. Getting acquainted with one another until the fire begins to die a slow death. Patri pulls out a flute and begins to play a mournful song. You find consciousness begin to slip away from you. Before sleep grabs you, you remember Patri begin to tell a tale. The tale of a lost prince in a far away land who lost the love of his life...
You awaken. The four of you are alone. The remains of last night's fire sit in ash before you. Its' warmth long gone. There is no sign of Patri or any of his belongings besides the letter. Surrounding you is a fog so thick you think you may have to use a blade to cut through it. There is a road before you leading into a gloomy forest. You can't help but wonder whether the trees look quite the same as they did last night.
DM—Question: So two elves just slept a full night, unconscious, after a stranger played them a lullaby song. Would this strike us as alarming, since typically we should only spend four hours a night in our semi-conscious trance state?
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Continuing to eat his stew, Tanis addresses Azrael as he reads the letter:
"Tell me, friend, what manner of assistance does master Kolyan request?"
A lumbering man emerges from the shadows. His scruff and eyes are illuminated by the fire's glow, the creases in his coarse skin filling with a deep hue. He awkwardly haunches over to Azrael while lifting his hood back.
"Are ye in need of a smith?"
His smudged nose and flowing beard hide his mouth, and his eyes look tired. A low rumble emanates from his stomach. The old man looks around to take note of everyone there.
"An' the same goes to any 'o the gentlemen 'ere. Been out 'o work. I can na' seem ta' find a settlement on account 'o this accursed fog. Been wanderin' fer days in this region."
He peers down at the letter in Azrael's hands, ignoring any formalities or space. A crooked finger rummages through his snowy beard. The old man turns around and haunches over to a nearby stump, promptly plopping down. He pulls a small bowl from his satchel and squeezes a spotted fruit into. Purplish, glowing liquid fills the wooden dish. Raising it to his mouth, the old man ravenously consumes the drink, strands of juice coating his beard. He puts the bowl away before grabbing a whetstone from his belt. Soft sounds of metal scraping stone linger in the air.
You'll never shine if you don't glow
"Afflicted by an evil.." Azrael looks noticeably more serious than before as he passes the letter to the wood-elf next to him and turns to the large figure nearby.
"Well I intend on buying some plate mail whenever I can afford it. Perhaps this letter is my chance. If you don't mind me asking, why don't you share the markings of your Goliath brethren?"
Tanis begins to read the letter, seemingly unaffected by the blacksmith's arrival. His eyebrow raises for just a moment as he reads "...her time is at hand."
"Well you certainly have my interest master traveler. I cannot speak for these good fellows, but I am happy to accompany you back to your master."
Turning to the blacksmith, Tanis extends the letter to him,
"I believe the invitation was extended to all of us, sir, if you would like to have a look."
The old man thumbs over the letter, his eyes scanning the lines briefly. He scoffs aloud and hands the letter back to Tanis.
"True enough. Despite me distaste for nobles, I be glad ta' join ye."
He turns to Azrael, still sharpening the flat blade,
"A forge would be nice, aye. Na' sure me craft be as graceful, but i can promise ye a sturdy make, crude as it may be. Me name be Bruno, Bruno Barnett. I be glad ta' join ye, if jus' ta' get out 'o this region."
He silently returns to honing the edge of the metal.
You'll never shine if you don't glow
"Nice to meet you Bruno, I may hold you to that. It seems we're all headed to the same place. I'm Azrael."
Kilgore has been traveling long through night. He sees the fire in the distance and overhears the travelers speaking to one another.
He exits the shadows with his hood closed tightly over his head so that it would be easy to mistake him for a man.
"Well met, dear travelers. It seems the gods are smiling on me yet, I didn't imagine I'd see such fair folk at this late hour."
He leans on heavily on his staff as if taking the weight off of a wounded knee.
"I don't imagine any of ye have something to drink for a weary wanderer? And what's that there you all seem to be reading? I haven't had any good reading materials for quite some time."
Tanis looks across the fire at the Baroviaian and gestures towards Kilgore with the letter, clearly questioning whether he wishes to extend his invitation to the new, seemingly wounded, arrival.
"Well met, sir. You are welcome to share the fire and my dinner. I was just telling my new friends here about my master's plight."
The man nods in assent to Tanis.
"Something evil is plaguing the village of Barovia. My master is private, but their are terrible rumors. People have gone missing. Shops are closing down and leaving for other villages. We could indeed use a smith for we may need weapons for protection. My master is willing to share the wealth his family has accumulated for generations if we were rid of the darkness threatening to consume our town."
Tanis hands Kilgore the letter and resumes eating his stew.
Azrael passes his water pouch to the other traveler and turns back to the courier. "What rumors have the people been spreading? I will set out at first light."
"Much obliged, master elf. The name is Kilgore."
Kilgore takes the letter and quietly pores over it to see what clues it may hold.
*History check*
"I must admit that I'm intrigued at this new twist of fate. The gods must have brought all of us here together on this night for a reason. They never do anything by accident. Whether fortune favors us or has ill in store I do not yet know."
Kilgore removes his hood and reveals his long white hair. The dim light of the fire reveals a growing a smile on his face.
"This matter sounds urgent. Tell us, courier. What must we do to help your master? Where do we go?
Though we be yet strangers, we have all been summoned here for this purpose."
"Barovia lies south, through the Svalich Woods. There have been folks who have gone missing. People are whispering about my Master's beloved. They say she isn't right. An evil has grasped her. But, my master keeps her hidden away. Sent me to find help. He is a secretive man, but a wealthy one. If you went to Barovia, I am sure you would be rewarded in turn. The land is rich with wealth."
18 History Check
*OOC*
You don't recognize where you have seen the seal before, but you can tell it is an ancient one. It must be from a house that has been noble for centuries.
"It sounds like we are all agreed. If you have no objections sir *addressing the courier*, I concur with Azrael that we should head out at first light. Also, since we are going to be traveling together, what should we call you, master traveler?"
13—Nature Check (to see if Tanis knows anything about Svalich Woods).
"Yes, let us make haste as soon as the day breaks. The darkness conceals many dangers that the light reveals.
Tell us, courier, how is the road through Svalich woods? I don't believe I've come across this forest in my travels."
"My name is Patri. I am pleased you will be able to help us. We will strike out at dawn! The road is long and dark through Svalich. We will have to keep our eyes at the ready for highwaymen and foul beasts, but have no worries! The Morninglord will guide us."
*OOC*
The Svalich Woods are a vast forest which surround the Jagged Teeth mountains. Filled with wild game and popular for sport, but is also the edge of civilization.
You all stay up and talk for some time. Getting acquainted with one another until the fire begins to die a slow death. Patri pulls out a flute and begins to play a mournful song. You find consciousness begin to slip away from you. Before sleep grabs you, you remember Patri begin to tell a tale. The tale of a lost prince in a far away land who lost the love of his life...
You awaken. The four of you are alone. The remains of last night's fire sit in ash before you. Its' warmth long gone. There is no sign of Patri or any of his belongings besides the letter. Surrounding you is a fog so thick you think you may have to use a blade to cut through it. There is a road before you leading into a gloomy forest. You can't help but wonder whether the trees look quite the same as they did last night.
*End of Prologue*
Tanis slowly rises, notching an arrow into his bow. He begins to survey the area, attempting to get his bearings.
4—Nature Check (To see if Tanis recognizes whether something has changed in their environment)
16—Perception Check
Azrael wakes up to Tanis pulling out his bow while glaring intently at the treeline and laughs.
"Are you like this every morning? I suppose we should try to catch up with Patri."
DM—Question: So two elves just slept a full night, unconscious, after a stranger played them a lullaby song. Would this strike us as alarming, since typically we should only spend four hours a night in our semi-conscious trance state?