EDIT: Just realized that this was also in the first set of scans.
Sorry, but I haven't had the time to study the scans thoroughly, and have mainly been relying on these forum messages to bring myself up to speed.
More gold (figuratively) on the way (will be in google drive link I sent earlier)....Sen Yen may be the other one with wealh. He retired to mind the tower due to lost arm, IIRC.
I remember this, vaguely.
Key points:
- there are dates! Cool!
- Brand was in Constantin when the shit went down with Dworkin ([ooc: my summer holidays?]). In the "good" timeline he was visited by Dworkin on 8-2-551 (where 2 is the month) who wanted to destroy the ring. He was in Constantin to visit the SooS because Wamzut had said there was something strange about him. I'm guessing that in this version Dworkin didn't turn up, and his investigation at SooS continued, but maybe got interrupted by something else? Would be nice to continue it.
Yes, Dworkin didn't contact Brand, and Brand hasn't seen him since. Happy for Wamzut to have sent Brand to the SooS to learn more about himself. However, the last thing Brand has heard about Wamzut is that he has apparently passed and Lord Vead now has a new court magus.
For Andrew's character Guilliame to do what he has to have done, it needs to be at least the fourth or fifth month of 551. So we need to have Brand sent to Last Chance, which presumably means he found out about his father's real job and Last Chance was his first official job for his father, working in cooperation with the warlord's men.
Was Brand involved in the fall of Last Chance, when it was taken by the goblins (who are now the itich)?
- DaiSan died in battle with Hugh
- Sen Yen was in tower
- Brand left for Last Chance on 22-2-551, with various magical items previously discussed. Perhaps some or all were returned? Or this hasn't happened yet?
See above. I would suggest he might have returned just recently.
- Brand used the name Falco Varsil when, and has "wanted for questioning" posters put up, when travelling to Last Chance!
All water under the bridge now. Last Chance has fallen to the itich, tribes of which are now putting pressure on the farms north of Ilbarsis.
And, the most recent thing that has happened that has relevance to Brand is the death of the warlord in a horse-riding accident.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Sorry, but I haven't had the time to study the scans thoroughly, and have mainly been relying on these forum messages to bring myself up to speed.
OK. In that case I will read them more carefully and try to summarize when I do.
More gold (figuratively) on the way (will be in google drive link I sent earlier)....Sen Yen may be the other one with wealh. He retired to mind the tower due to lost arm, IIRC.
I remember this, vaguely.
Me too. Still struggle with who owns tower. My best Guess is: Dworkin, Brand, Daisan, Melitta. Sey Yen probably just caretaker and sole occupant. Skinny Kol came after Sen Yen lost his arm.
Yes, Dworkin didn't contact Brand, and Brand hasn't seen him since. Happy for Wamzut to have sent Brand to the SooS to learn more about himself. However, the last thing Brand has heard about Wamzut is that he has apparently passed and Lord Vead now has a new court magus.
That sounds fine with me, but that probably means he knows more than he has weird dreams. My recollection is that he did have several sessions with Nathaniel who, among other things said "visit any time"...meaning, most specifically, in astral form, which I think Brand did.
For Andrew's character Guilliame to do what he has to have done, it needs to be at least the fourth or fifth month of 551. So we need to have Brand sent to Last Chance, which presumably means he found out about his father's real job and Last Chance was his first official job for his father, working in cooperation with the warlord's men.
That accords with my recollection. In the semi-rewrite it was the "prove yourself" job. Though the job was to find out why the arms shipment (or money) weren't getting through. There were deaths. It didnt take long. He returned. I don't recall details but will look for notes.
Was Brand involved in the fall of Last Chance, when it was taken by the goblins (who are now the itich)?
No. He left after finding/killing/exposing the malefactor.
- Brand left for Last Chance on 22-2-551, with various magical items previously discussed. Perhaps some or all were returned? Or this hasn't happened yet?
See above. I would suggest he might have returned just recently.
This might be true in the new version, but that pre-supposes he spent 3 months in Last Chance...I'd like to know how that worked out. I'd also be happy if he returned earlier to study Astral stuff....3 months is a lot of info to gather.
- Brand used the name Falco Varsil when, and has "wanted for questioning" posters put up, when travelling to Last Chance!
All water under the bridge now. Last Chance has fallen to the itich, tribes of which are now putting pressure on the farms north of Ilbarsis.
Not completely: it's probably an identity that has some effort put into it by the warlord and/or brand.
And, the most recent thing that has happened that has relevance to Brand is the death of the warlord in a horse-riding accident.
That I do remember. Though from where, and when, I have no idea. It may have just been conversation with you.
That's how he was last time; he was the one that took brand travelling and tried to scare him from being too adventurous. I *think* I sent those pages, not sure. I'd like to use influence from whoever to get in door. Minton also knows of Brand (he's been there before I think).
Minton would definitely know about Brand, perhaps more than Brand would like; he is the gatekeeper of the SooS because he can hear thoughts.
People to (a) watch my back, (b) be discreet and (c) perform errands. An ex-soldier with first aid or medical skills would be ideal... but I could also enquire if there are any non-religious hospices in the "poor quarter" or equivalent .. or just healers...., and perhaps make some donations and offer help etc. [The view being that in the longer terms, if he need off-the-books healing, he would go there]. In terms of people to have his back, I don't mean people who would die to defend him so much as people who would watch a door for him, or walk the more shady parts of town with him etc.
Thanks.
A protected childhood is a pretty modern concept. He's probably been doing adult stuff since at least 14 (or at least around it). Children were reseources, as son as they stopped being burdens. I can't imagine his stingy father didnt set him to some sort of work early on.
A lot of the above depends on the culture, and also on whether Alaric is Koric Brand's heir. I'm pretty sure that Brand's father wouldn't have liked him being involved with Constantine's criminal underworld at such a young age, especially since it would mean him spending many days and nights in town; probably why Brand ran away as the estate is about twenty miles to the south of Constantine straddling the border.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Another weird fact: I just remembered I was playing Sieglinde when the stuff with Dworkin went down (I wonder what happened to her). She was also psychic and the ring gave her massive headaches; something about it being anti-psi.
I presume this was because Brand wanted to visit the SooS about his powers etc.
Do you have Sieglinde's details, I could use her as an NPC.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
I have to admit that the Elephant was mainly to see if you were reading. That said, I am giving serious consideration to a family menagerie. People did a lot of that in the past. It would be fun if it was my mothers preoccupation , or fathers (or both), and not a business as such, and if I could give material support to it (if needed). [ooc: I don't like zoos, so it it was it might have to be an exotic animal refuge or something]. I could also imagine there might have been an elephant that he bonded with, or something, when he was young. Or we could skip the whole thing.
Leave the menagerie thing to me, unless it is something Brand wants to spend a lot of time doing. I see it as something Brand's father might do for both pleasure and to give people the wrong impression about him.
Regarding the bonding with the elephant: no. They would probably know each other by sight, but just that.
Are you regretting this yet?!?! Is it useful yet?
Definitely useful, but I have to fit it around other work. e.g., I have a short manuscript to finish copyediting tonight.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
A lot of the above depends on the culture, and also on whether Alaric is Koric Brand's heir. I'm pretty sure that Brand's father wouldn't have liked him being involved with Constantine's criminal underworld at such a young age, especially since it would mean him spending many days and nights in town; probably why Brand ran away as the estate is about twenty miles to the south of Constantine straddling the border.
I'm not suggesting Brand was either dutiful or ideal. He clearly has done stuff his father did not approve of. I was assuming that the pattern was established many years ago, possibly as an unintended result of the fathers drive to make him independant and think for himself (or possibly because of stifling rogor) -- either way he got guild connections and went north. The return to Constantin is on Brand's terms for a specific purpose (SooS); because he doesn't know the fate of Dworkin yet, he probably went to Gont as an interesting opportunity rather than the (previously imagined) meeting of minds. At this point he doesn't realize that "shit just got real, dude".
Edit: If the first son stuff aint plausible, go with second I guess.
Result: Brand is beginning to think his old criminal connections are leery of him because of what his father is and does. As to what the Difficulty Class (i.e., the DC) for the roll was, that you don't know.
My theories were Dad and Dworkin, or both.
It's probably close time for me to make contact with someone; suggest a meeting in a safe neutral location.
The gist of my approach might be:
"We both probably know why I don't seem to be included in the business these days. I understand that, but I don't think that's to either of our benefits. My new connections have no interest in local crime; and even if they do, I don't -- at least not in that capacity (smirk). They are preoccupied with things that disturb the smooth running of the empire. And I think that's something we all share; we all need prosperity so that it can be shared, each in our different ways. I have not and will never betray my oaths to the guild and I will not betray connections, or my family. I take my personal connections seriously -- tell that to XXX [oc: whoever I used to deal with, if not present]. What I would like is to perhaps set up unofficial contact, perhaps I can help in small ways. And in return, I would like to hear of things that are unusual. Non-guild lawlessness is bad for everyone. I am also happy to discuss helping in any way that does not severely conflict my loyalty. We've dealt before. You know me; I think we can make this work."
Not how this is done. You will need to find these people and go to then in character.
But first, is Brand going to stand up his father's weapons master? He is expecting him at training.
Despite all these forum messages, Brand has only just woken up after a bad night's sleep.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
It's up to you. Brand would have more freedom if he wasn't his father's heir, but having an older brother might also have its disadvantages.
In all cases that he was present I think the brother was absent/black-sheep and Brand was nominated heir. I'm happy to with him being heir and remaining unaware of any brother.
Okay, Brand is heir, and an only son as far as he knows.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
This might be true in the new version, but that pre-supposes he spent 3 months in Last Chance...I'd like to know how that worked out. I'd also be happy if he returned earlier to study Astral stuff....3 months is a lot of info to gather.
There's plenty of other things he could be doing in that time, but we should probably gloss over that or we will never get started in the here and now.
Let's just say that when he returned from Last Chance his father sent him to New Nineveh—far, far to the south—to get to meet relatives, see the home country, etc. The round trip is about 3,000 kilometres and he would probably be away for months to make the trip worthwhile doing.
Oh, and while Brand believes it might be possible to travel 1,500 kilometres while astral travelling, it is very hard to do and he has never succeeded in travelling any great distance himself. But on the other hand, on the few times he has astral travelled from his family's estate while he has been asleep, he has been able to cover the thirty-or-so kilometres to Constantine very quickly; and return instantly, if he has been woken up.
- Brand used the name Falco Varsil when, and has "wanted for questioning" posters put up, when travelling to Last Chance!
Not completely: it's probably an identity that has some effort put into it by the warlord and/or brand.
Happy for Brand to keep the Varsil identity. He doesn't have proficiency with a Disguise kit, but as long as he didn't try to pass himself off as Varsil somewhere he is know as Alaric Brand, this won't be a problem. It's not like they have photo ID or anything. People just have to accept you name on trust, in most cases, and it wouldn't be hard to have a letter of introduction made up.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Can we have got him the Bandolier/Belt stuff, at least. Also, I'm not really sure he would be up for a 3000km journey when he only came back to Constantin to research his powers....
Just for completeness, I have been through all notes....they follow. I will post about the curr3ent world. This is just a dump of everything I could find that seems even tangentially relevant.
Re Stones
Originally 9 stones. Wamzut took 2 (summoning); Frodo's group took 4 (haste, prot/magic; infravision; light).
Re Sword:
Fine sword: silver inlaid blade, silver hilt covered in leather (infravsion); two magic missiles (either side of hilt), all “non-detectable”...does that exist now?
Would be nice if he had this.
Likely Calendar of events:
Most days start with exercised and admiring scullery maids.
5 Ishtar:
Melitta was in Constantin with Brand, possibly abut to seek revenge for Cyrus death by pursuing Nathan Narith
Brand studying books from Nathaniel but falls asleep
6 Ishtar:
Father “wants to see me when I go to the palace” (from mother)
Make my report on Last Chance (dictation to scribe)
Warlord wants to hear my version of the Ashan Expedition (guessing that it Agate Stane and Temple collapse that never happened(?))
Father has lunch with me “trying to find out who I am and what I want”.
Evening: several hours of reading book by Nathaniel (he waffles)
7 ishtar
Invitation to Luncheon with the warlord for the next day
Afternoon visit to SooS to see Nathaniel (who is in bed, partially paralyzed, but mentally competent), talking about Atral Travel
Aparrently I had pretentions of becoming a master! Apparently Brand was writing a treatise on psychic powers!!! [This may be after getting back from Gont]. Nathaniels survival apparently meant that there were already a lot of masters: Nathaniel, Solus, Rimstor, Narim and Minton.
Evening amd told Warlord invitation has smething to do with Engles alliance with Gont
Study Astral stuff long into night
8 ishtar
Play with new magical toys (amulet, sword etc)
At lunch Warlord asks if I want to become a full time member of the ESS; will be invaluable in dealing with Gont.
Victor Grasper (Constantin) likely behind smuggling of weapons to Goblins
Messages of Warlords Agents in Last Chance were not getting to “the ship”: messages left at message drop are probably being stolen.
Zarnack is the contact name.
Plan was to watch the message drop and follow any unauthorized person who collected the message. [ooc: didn't seem to follow plan]
Arrived Ilbarsis 27/2
Travelled north with peddler, slowly.
29 more travel. Several small villiage names.
30 more town names
1 More travel and town names. Second Chance is town before Last Chance. Arrive LC just before gates shut.
Brand seems to have a trusted companion called Mylar(?)
2/3 Falco tries out for guard duty on caravans and fails to pass the test (using unfamiliar weapon in old system: scimitar). Spent day being “Falco” and looking for work. Works on the docks for a day and earns 3 cons(!?!). When he returns to the inn he sees his target leaving. Man at table he vacataed is Zarnack: probably a mage and rumoured to be a hit man.
3/3/551:
Finds and follows target to brothel. Leaves at 2pm and follows. Follow around a lot, eventually led to sailors arms. Attacked by two sailors when I leave; kill one with TK and fail on other. Pursue, and he starts screaming about demons.
[Lots of details I’m not recounting: looks like brand was made and these guys hired to kill him]
4/3:
Shopping(?).
Then pursues his target [who it turns out is the warlords contact]; Brand asks for a report.
Target report that he infiltrated smugglers but his cover was blown by higher ups in Constantin. He is in process of cleaning before leaving.
He says he is leaving messages at the drop; they are not being found by ship captain tho.
[Never seemed to manage to work out if he was trustrworthy; I think play stopped before mission terminated]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Chance - version 2:
6/2/551
Back in Constantin with family
7/2/551
Find swordmaker to make silver inlaid sword suitable for infravision hilt and MM in crossbar (silver in hilt, silver inlay on blade).
8/2
SooS
Dworkin arrives.
Brand summoned to warlord and told of smuggling operation in Last Chance. 5 “top agents” have all been killed trying to investigate.
11/2
Accepted mission but asked for some items: Amulet of prot/esp & mm; infravision in longsword hilt. MM placed in sword and mind-over-body in coins. Permanent items are made “non-detectable”.
Brand is given name of contact in Ilbarsis, and goes by boat to Ilbarsis, then the tower. Next he heads via road to Last Chance.
[ooc: no more details]
Part of this timeline also involves Brand setting up an Arms School with Narim.
Venuss inhabits Brand and make himself known to Brand. They converse a lot; Venuss does not say who he is. Brand calls him Fred. In this version, Brand’s psychic power was the ability to amplify other powers. This is the history where they sailed overseas, and where he was writing a treatise for the SooS; it is also the history where Donn attacked Brand/Venuss while in the SooS.
OMG, but wait, there's more...from the old web site; in this he has a half-Brother (Dalshar) by a previous dalliance. Brand is also a "Priest of Venuss" which means he was too lucky in casinos and was banned from them, but gets free access to their facilities! I have no attachment to this, but it is interesting.
His early childhood was spent much as many other noble families of the time: studying, learning courtly manners, engaging in sports and games, and working as a page at the royal court.
Contrary to custom, his father Koric did not elect to foster Alaric with another noble family. Forever conscious of the difficulty he had experienced in taking over his own father's estate, Koric was determined that his son understand the management of the family estates, trade and businesses at an early age.
Koric saw to it that his son was effectively excluded from the distractions of court life. While it was neither possible nor desirable to release him from his duties at court, he banned Alaric from most of the social distractions associated with court life.
His early teenage years were spent working for his father, then later for his father's deputies, being trained in the running of the family enterprises. While other boys of his own age were serving as adjutants to comanders in the army, Alaric was working for his father, keeping books and delivering instructions to the buyers and sellers in the family trading houses.
While this life had it's advantages - he was frequently accorded the respect and authority of his father, and had a level of autonomy not usual for boys his age, it nevertheless rankled with Alaric. His own abilities were never truly tested, and his preferences were largely ignored.
By his mid-teens Alaric rebelled, and his father was forced to allow him to spend a full summmer at court. Alaric soon learned how little interest court life held for him, and was unable to hide his boredom. While the scions of other noble houses comported themselves about court as was befitting, Alaric chose instead to practice arms, and to train with the common soldiers. It was during this time that Alaric met his half-brother, Dalshar.
Up until his time at court his martial skills had lagged behind those of his peers. But with an enthusiasm born out of extreme boredom, he quickly became proficient with sword, bow and dagger.
At the end of summer his father saw a different person return from court. In physical terms Alaric was now taller and stronger, but his father saw something more. Alaric had in some way accepted the work he did for his father, and returned to it with maturity and energy. In relief at this change in attitude, Koric turned a blind eye to Alaric's growing interest in the gentleman's sport of gambling, something Dalshar had introduced him to.
Alaric was surpisingly successful. His exploits at the tables soon became legendary, and his father took a vicarious pride in the stories that circulated among some circles at court. At age 16, Alaric Brand became the youngest person ever to achieve the status of 'Priest of Venuss', and was inducted into the solumn brotherhood in a humorous ceremony. He still wears the remodelled Sorendenese coin around his neck [perhaps a coin that, for some reason, could only have been stolen, or is rare + has a different face on one side (Venuss?) and a special hidden marking, known to Temple owners].
Unfortunately for Alaric, the title meant that he was effectively banned from gambling in any Temple of Venuss, so a substantial source of personal income effectively dried up. It did mean that he could use any of the 'facilities' of the Temple for free (which he did), but it was insufficient to keep his interest, and the payments he occasionally received for his more active assistance at the Temple were no compensation for the notoriety he had enjoyed prior to be sanctified.
The change in status did however afford Alaric with the opportunity to acompany Dalshar on his own 'business trips' with greater regularity. Alaric knew that the Temple and his brother were closely connected to the Guild, and so to the darker side of life in Constantin. He had accompanied Dalshar on a few jobs: Alaric's task had been to pretend to be drunk, and stop singing if the guard approached.
Now he adopted a more active role, and began assisting Dalshar in his work. The inevitable chases, and associated danger, provided Alaric with a real substitute for the adrenalin of the gambling tables. Alaric admitted to himself that his work with Dalshar was more enjoyable that gambling, which had become almost ritually easy toward the end of his career.
Alaric was also introduced to another side of the guild: wives and families of members who had died in the service of the guild were looked after, and on one occasion, Dalshar asked him to find a place for a recent widow on one of his father's estates, which he did.
Dalshar found that, in collaboration with Alaric, his successes were enhanced. He began thinking of Alaric as his 'good luck charm', and took him on increasingly complex missions, taking increasing risks. Eventually their luck ran out, and they were caught stealing antique weaponry (something which Alaric collected).
Koric Brand found out about his son's activities, and used his influence to get them both released. He immediately sent Alaric to 'country estates', and bade Dalshar to 'never darken my door again'. [This may be particularly unfair, since this particular job may have been *for* Alaric].
Alaric spent a year as a virtual prisoner, honing his more traditional skills before 'escaping' and going to Ilbarsis. This escape was aided by the widow who he had placed, luckily, on the same estate in which he was imprisoned; she was able to take a message to the Temple, and they arranged for certain items to be purchased on his 'account'.
Koric, believing that Alaric has run off to his brother, hunted for him in Constantin. Eventually Dalshar was brought before Koric (he surrendered himself at the gates), and told Koric his son ran to Ilbarsis to escape from 'his pig-ignorant overbearing fool of a father'. Koric holds Dalshar until he can confirm Alaric is in Ilbarsis, then Dalshar is set free with a warning that he will "suffer the consequences", if he so much as speaks to Alaric.
A few weeks later, Koric received a note from Dalshar detailing Alaric's location and recent activities. Koric receives further (edited) updates from Dalshar intermittantly, and eventually writes back thanking him for his assistance.
Koric elects to leave his son to explore Ilbarsis for his own reasons.
Notes:
a. This makes Brand probably able to contact his brother if he *really* needed to. He would almost certainly like to, but probably would not choose to, for fear of making matters worse. He might, however, choose to make written contact (this might be fun!) - people at the 'Temple' could be intermediaries.
b. Dalshar probably has a 'Master Thief' as a patron, but Brand has never met him/her (as far as he knows).
c. 'Priest' status possibly gives him a place to run, or at least contact, in some cities. Not necessarily safety.
d. Brand probably knows, and is known by, the 'priesthood' of Venuss: these may just be itinerant show-gamblers, bouncers, card-sharps etc.
e. Koric knows Dalshar must have some power in the thieves guild, and probably suspects he his quite senior. Alaric probably knows very little about Dalshar's position, but may be able to work it out in time (the eyes of a 16 year old are not known for great perspective).
f. Dalshar's rise in the guild may have been aided to a small extent by the good luck he experienced with Alaric.
g. Koric paid a stipend to Dalshar's mother after he married his current wife, and Dalshar's mother ceased his formal education, electing to pay for security not a hobby. As a result he is unable to read much, or write at all. Any communication has to go through the Guild.
How about, as a way to move forward, Brand did speak to Nathaniel, has a book, is reading it still, worked with Nathaniel, but suffered a setback of some kind that means he is now only just recovering his ability to travel. IIRC from other stuff, meditation is the key and may be the key to his recovery. As part of his recovery he took the long trip you suggested?
Edit: can I also assume that, because of his delicate health, news of Dworkin was kept from him until recently?
But first, is Brand going to stand up his father's weapons master? He is expecting him at training.
Definitely. Exercise every morning, followed by meditation...then, if there are no pressing duties, he will take himself to one of the places that he used to frequent...6 months ago....or do whatever he used to do to contact his "contact".
I'm not suggesting Brand was either dutiful or ideal. He clearly has done stuff his father did not approve of. I was assuming that the pattern was established many years ago, possibly as an unintended result of the fathers drive to make him independant and think for himself (or possibly because of stifling rogor) -- either way he got guild connections and went north. The return to Constantin is on Brand's terms for a specific purpose (SooS); because he doesn't know the fate of Dworkin yet, he probably went to Gont as an interesting opportunity rather than the (previously imagined) meeting of minds. At this point he doesn't realize that "shit just got real, dude".
Edit: If the first son stuff aint plausible, go with second I guess.
Happy to go with the first son and Brand running away from home in his younger days and then returning as the prodigal son. Brand probably gets the feeling that his father's involving him in his secret occupation is a way of keeping an eye on his son.
Regarding Gont, I suspect we'll need to retcon that away seeing as it involved both Dworkin and Melitta, who can't have been involved now. Note, I have horrible visions of waves of kobolds falling under barrages of magic missiles from that session.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
That sounds fine with me, but that probably means he knows more than he has weird dreams. My recollection is that he did have several sessions with Nathaniel who, among other things said "visit any time"...meaning, most specifically, in astral form, which I think Brand did.
The weird dreams are new, and he hasn't astral travelled for a while.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Can we have got him the Bandolier/Belt stuff, at least. Also, I'm not really sure he would be up for a 3000km journey when he only came back to Constantin to research his powers....
Happy to give Brand the bandolier and stuff, we could have had it made when he visited New Nineveh at his father's request; getting to know his heritage, etc.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Regarding Gont, I suspect we'll need to retcon that away seeing as it involved both Dworkin and Melitta, who can't have been involved now. Note, I have horrible visions of waves of kobolds falling under barrages of magic missiles from that session.
lol. I don't want to disappoint you, but we be talking about different things. Are you talking about the tower with Magic Missile in the doors? That was one of my favourite memories. Not often you get the dead piling up semi-plausibly. If that's what you were talking about, I'm pretty sure it was pre-ring.
If there was another incident with bodies piling up, Im sad I missed it!
Just for completeness, I have been through all notes....they follow. I will post about the curr3ent world. This is just a dump of everything I could find that seems even tangentially relevant.
Re Stones
Originally 9 stones. Wamzut took 2 (summoning); Frodo's group took 4 (haste, prot/magic; infravision; light).
Thanks. Useful to know.
Re Sword:
Fine sword: silver inlaid blade, silver hilt covered in leather (infravsion); two magic missiles (either side of hilt), all “non-detectable”...does that exist now?
Would be nice if he had this.
It depends. How did he get it made? Do you remember?
Likely Calendar of events:
Most days start with exercised and admiring scullery maids.
5 Ishtar:
Melitta was in Constantin with Brand, possibly abut to seek revenge for Cyrus death by pursuing Nathan Narith
As far and Brand knows, Cyrus Black is not dead, so this didn't happen in this reality.
Brand studying books from Nathaniel but falls asleep
6 Ishtar:
Father “wants to see me when I go to the palace” (from mother)
Make my report on Last Chance (dictation to scribe)
Warlord wants to hear my version of the Ashan Expedition (guessing that it Agate Stane and Temple collapse that never happened(?))
I believe this involved Dworking as a Lion of Engle, which means it cannot have happened.
Father has lunch with me “trying to find out who I am and what I want”.
Evening: several hours of reading book by Nathaniel (he waffles)
7 ishtar
Invitation to Luncheon with the warlord for the next day
Afternoon visit to SooS to see Nathaniel (who is in bed, partially paralyzed, but mentally competent), talking about Atral Travel
Aparrently I had pretentions of becoming a master! Apparently Brand was writing a treatise on psychic powers!!! [This may be after getting back from Gont]. Nathaniels survival apparently meant that there were already a lot of masters: Nathaniel, Solus, Rimstor, Narim and Minton.
Brand as a master of the School of Occult Studies... probably not, though some of the above masters did enter the School through unorthodox means, which means it's not impossible. Though he probably needs to get a few years under his belt before he would be deemed acceptable.
Evening amd told Warlord invitation has smething to do with Engles alliance with Gont
Study Astral stuff long into night
8 ishtar
Play with new magical toys (amulet, sword etc)
At lunch Warlord asks if I want to become a full time member of the ESS; will be invaluable in dealing with Gont.
This probably didn't happen as Brand would have been there as a representative of his father, so the warlord wouldn't have made this offer.
Victor Grasper (Constantin) likely behind smuggling of weapons to Goblins
Messages of Warlords Agents in Last Chance were not getting to “the ship”: messages left at message drop are probably being stolen.
Zarnack is the contact name.
Plan was to watch the message drop and follow any unauthorized person who collected the message. [ooc: didn't seem to follow plan]
Happy with the above to have happened, so Victor Grasper is probably still out there.
Arrived Ilbarsis 27/2
Travelled north with peddler, slowly.
29<sup>th</sup> more travel. Several small villiage names.
30<sup>th</sup> more town names
1<sup>st</sup> More travel and town names. Second Chance is town before Last Chance. Arrive LC just before gates shut.
Brand seems to have a trusted companion called Mylar(?)
That name rings a definite bell, though I can't find anything on my hard drive.
2<sup>nd</sup>/3 Falco tries out for guard duty on caravans and fails to pass the test (using unfamiliar weapon in old system: scimitar). Spent day being “Falco” and looking for work. Works on the docks for a day and earns 3 cons(!?!). When he returns to the inn he sees his target leaving. Man at table he vacataed is Zarnack: probably a mage and rumoured to be a hit man.
3/3/551:
Finds and follows target to brothel. Leaves at 2pm and follows. Follow around a lot, eventually led to sailors arms. Attacked by two sailors when I leave; kill one with TK and fail on other. Pursue, and he starts screaming about demons.
[Lots of details I’m not recounting: looks like brand was made and these guys hired to kill him]
4/3:
Shopping(?).
Then pursues his target [who it turns out is the warlords contact]; Brand asks for a report.
Target report that he infiltrated smugglers but his cover was blown by higher ups in Constantin. He is in process of cleaning before leaving.
He says he is leaving messages at the drop; they are not being found by ship captain tho.
[Never seemed to manage to work out if he was trustrworthy; I think play stopped before mission terminated]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Chance - version 2:
6/2/551
Back in Constantin with family
7/2/551
Find swordmaker to make silver inlaid sword suitable for infravision hilt and MM in crossbar (silver in hilt, silver inlay on blade).
8/2
SooS
Dworkin arrives.
Brand summoned to warlord and told of smuggling operation in Last Chance. 5 “top agents” have all been killed trying to investigate.
11/2
Accepted mission but asked for some items: Amulet of prot/esp & mm; infravision in longsword hilt. MM placed in sword and mind-over-body in coins. Permanent items are made “non-detectable”.
The medallion would probably not be possible in the world of the books for the warlord at least.
Brand is given name of contact in Ilbarsis, and goes by boat to Ilbarsis, then the tower. Next he heads via road to Last Chance.
[ooc: no more details]
Part of this timeline also involves Brand setting up an Arms School with Narim.
Venuss inhabits Brand and make himself known to Brand. They converse a lot; Venuss does not say who he is. Brand calls him Fred. In this version, Brand’s psychic power was the ability to amplify other powers. This is the history where they sailed overseas, and where he was writing a treatise for the SooS; it is also the history where Donn attacked Brand/Venuss while in the SooS.
None of the above has happened—yet. Also, Donn is now called Donai.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
OK. In that case I will read them more carefully and try to summarize when I do.
More gold (figuratively) on the way (will be in google drive link I sent earlier)....Sen Yen may be the other one with wealh. He retired to mind the tower due to lost arm, IIRC.
I remember this, vaguely.
Me too. Still struggle with who owns tower. My best Guess is: Dworkin, Brand, Daisan, Melitta. Sey Yen probably just caretaker and sole occupant. Skinny Kol came after Sen Yen lost his arm.
Yes, Dworkin didn't contact Brand, and Brand hasn't seen him since. Happy for Wamzut to have sent Brand to the SooS to learn more about himself. However, the last thing Brand has heard about Wamzut is that he has apparently passed and Lord Vead now has a new court magus.
That sounds fine with me, but that probably means he knows more than he has weird dreams. My recollection is that he did have several sessions with Nathaniel who, among other things said "visit any time"...meaning, most specifically, in astral form, which I think Brand did.
For Andrew's character Guilliame to do what he has to have done, it needs to be at least the fourth or fifth month of 551. So we need to have Brand sent to Last Chance, which presumably means he found out about his father's real job and Last Chance was his first official job for his father, working in cooperation with the warlord's men.
That accords with my recollection. In the semi-rewrite it was the "prove yourself" job. Though the job was to find out why the arms shipment (or money) weren't getting through. There were deaths. It didnt take long. He returned. I don't recall details but will look for notes.
Was Brand involved in the fall of Last Chance, when it was taken by the goblins (who are now the itich)?
No. He left after finding/killing/exposing the malefactor.
- Brand left for Last Chance on 22-2-551, with various magical items previously discussed. Perhaps some or all were returned? Or this hasn't happened yet?See above. I would suggest he might have returned just recently.
This might be true in the new version, but that pre-supposes he spent 3 months in Last Chance...I'd like to know how that worked out. I'd also be happy if he returned earlier to study Astral stuff....3 months is a lot of info to gather.
- Brand used the name Falco Varsil when, and has "wanted for questioning" posters put up, when travelling to Last Chance!
All water under the bridge now. Last Chance has fallen to the itich, tribes of which are now putting pressure on the farms north of Ilbarsis.
Not completely: it's probably an identity that has some effort put into it by the warlord and/or brand.
And, the most recent thing that has happened that has relevance to Brand is the death of the warlord in a horse-riding accident.
That I do remember. Though from where, and when, I have no idea. It may have just been conversation with you.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
A lot of the above depends on the culture, and also on whether Alaric is Koric Brand's heir. I'm pretty sure that Brand's father wouldn't have liked him being involved with Constantine's criminal underworld at such a young age, especially since it would mean him spending many days and nights in town; probably why Brand ran away as the estate is about twenty miles to the south of Constantine straddling the border.
I'm not suggesting Brand was either dutiful or ideal. He clearly has done stuff his father did not approve of. I was assuming that the pattern was established many years ago, possibly as an unintended result of the fathers drive to make him independant and think for himself (or possibly because of stifling rogor) -- either way he got guild connections and went north. The return to Constantin is on Brand's terms for a specific purpose (SooS); because he doesn't know the fate of Dworkin yet, he probably went to Gont as an interesting opportunity rather than the (previously imagined) meeting of minds. At this point he doesn't realize that "shit just got real, dude".
Edit: If the first son stuff aint plausible, go with second I guess.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Can we have got him the Bandolier/Belt stuff, at least. Also, I'm not really sure he would be up for a 3000km journey when he only came back to Constantin to research his powers....
Just for completeness, I have been through all notes....they follow. I will post about the curr3ent world. This is just a dump of everything I could find that seems even tangentially relevant.
Re Stones
Originally 9 stones. Wamzut took 2 (summoning); Frodo's group took 4 (haste, prot/magic; infravision; light).
Re Sword:
Fine sword: silver inlaid blade, silver hilt covered in leather (infravsion); two magic missiles (either side of hilt), all “non-detectable”...does that exist now?
Would be nice if he had this.
Likely Calendar of events:
Most days start with exercised and admiring scullery maids.
5 Ishtar:
Melitta was in Constantin with Brand, possibly abut to seek revenge for Cyrus death by pursuing Nathan Narith
Brand studying books from Nathaniel but falls asleep
6 Ishtar:
Father “wants to see me when I go to the palace” (from mother)
Make my report on Last Chance (dictation to scribe)
Warlord wants to hear my version of the Ashan Expedition (guessing that it Agate Stane and Temple collapse that never happened(?))
Father has lunch with me “trying to find out who I am and what I want”.
Evening: several hours of reading book by Nathaniel (he waffles)
7 ishtar
Invitation to Luncheon with the warlord for the next day
Afternoon visit to SooS to see Nathaniel (who is in bed, partially paralyzed, but mentally competent), talking about Atral Travel
Aparrently I had pretentions of becoming a master! Apparently Brand was writing a treatise on psychic powers!!! [This may be after getting back from Gont]. Nathaniels survival apparently meant that there were already a lot of masters: Nathaniel, Solus, Rimstor, Narim and Minton.
Evening amd told Warlord invitation has smething to do with Engles alliance with Gont
Study Astral stuff long into night
8 ishtar
Play with new magical toys (amulet, sword etc)
At lunch Warlord asks if I want to become a full time member of the ESS; will be invaluable in dealing with Gont.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re Last Chance (two versions) - Version 1:
Briefing
Victor Grasper (Constantin) likely behind smuggling of weapons to Goblins
Messages of Warlords Agents in Last Chance were not getting to “the ship”: messages left at message drop are probably being stolen.
Zarnack is the contact name.
Plan was to watch the message drop and follow any unauthorized person who collected the message. [ooc: didn't seem to follow plan]
Arrived Ilbarsis 27/2
Travelled north with peddler, slowly.
29 more travel. Several small villiage names.
30 more town names
1 More travel and town names. Second Chance is town before Last Chance. Arrive LC just before gates shut.
Brand seems to have a trusted companion called Mylar(?)
2/3 Falco tries out for guard duty on caravans and fails to pass the test (using unfamiliar weapon in old system: scimitar). Spent day being “Falco” and looking for work. Works on the docks for a day and earns 3 cons(!?!). When he returns to the inn he sees his target leaving. Man at table he vacataed is Zarnack: probably a mage and rumoured to be a hit man.
3/3/551:
Finds and follows target to brothel. Leaves at 2pm and follows. Follow around a lot, eventually led to sailors arms. Attacked by two sailors when I leave; kill one with TK and fail on other. Pursue, and he starts screaming about demons.
[Lots of details I’m not recounting: looks like brand was made and these guys hired to kill him]
4/3:
Shopping(?).
Then pursues his target [who it turns out is the warlords contact]; Brand asks for a report.
Target report that he infiltrated smugglers but his cover was blown by higher ups in Constantin. He is in process of cleaning before leaving.
He says he is leaving messages at the drop; they are not being found by ship captain tho.
[Never seemed to manage to work out if he was trustrworthy; I think play stopped before mission terminated]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Chance - version 2:
6/2/551
Back in Constantin with family
7/2/551
Find swordmaker to make silver inlaid sword suitable for infravision hilt and MM in crossbar (silver in hilt, silver inlay on blade).
8/2
SooS
Dworkin arrives.
Brand summoned to warlord and told of smuggling operation in Last Chance. 5 “top agents” have all been killed trying to investigate.
11/2
Accepted mission but asked for some items: Amulet of prot/esp & mm; infravision in longsword hilt. MM placed in sword and mind-over-body in coins. Permanent items are made “non-detectable”.
Brand is given name of contact in Ilbarsis, and goes by boat to Ilbarsis, then the tower. Next he heads via road to Last Chance.
[ooc: no more details]
Part of this timeline also involves Brand setting up an Arms School with Narim.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternate Alternate History:
Venuss inhabits Brand and make himself known to Brand. They converse a lot; Venuss does not say who he is. Brand calls him Fred. In this version, Brand’s psychic power was the ability to amplify other powers. This is the history where they sailed overseas, and where he was writing a treatise for the SooS; it is also the history where Donn attacked Brand/Venuss while in the SooS.
OMG, but wait, there's more...from the old web site; in this he has a half-Brother (Dalshar) by a previous dalliance. Brand is also a "Priest of Venuss" which means he was too lucky in casinos and was banned from them, but gets free access to their facilities! I have no attachment to this, but it is interesting.
His early childhood was spent much as many other noble families of the
time: studying, learning courtly manners, engaging in sports and games, and
working as a page at the royal court.
Contrary to custom, his father Koric did not elect to foster Alaric with
another noble family. Forever conscious of the difficulty he had
experienced in taking over his own father's estate, Koric was determined
that his son understand the management of the family estates, trade and
businesses at an early age.
Koric saw to it that his son was effectively excluded from the distractions
of court life. While it was neither possible nor desirable to release him
from his duties at court, he banned Alaric from most of the social
distractions associated with court life.
His early teenage years were spent working for his father, then later for
his father's deputies, being trained in the running of the family
enterprises. While other boys of his own age were serving as adjutants to
comanders in the army, Alaric was working for his father, keeping books and
delivering instructions to the buyers and sellers in the family trading
houses.
While this life had it's advantages - he was frequently accorded the
respect and authority of his father, and had a level of autonomy not usual
for boys his age, it nevertheless rankled with Alaric. His own abilities
were never truly tested, and his preferences were largely ignored.
By his mid-teens Alaric rebelled, and his father was forced to allow him to
spend a full summmer at court. Alaric soon learned how little interest
court life held for him, and was unable to hide his boredom. While the
scions of other noble houses comported themselves about court as was
befitting, Alaric chose instead to practice arms, and to train with the
common soldiers. It was during this time that Alaric met his half-brother,
Dalshar.
Up until his time at court his martial skills had lagged behind those of
his peers. But with an enthusiasm born out of extreme boredom, he quickly
became proficient with sword, bow and dagger.
At the end of summer his father saw a different person return from court.
In physical terms Alaric was now taller and stronger, but his father saw
something more. Alaric had in some way accepted the work he did for his
father, and returned to it with maturity and energy. In relief at this
change in attitude, Koric turned a blind eye to Alaric's growing interest
in the gentleman's sport of gambling, something Dalshar had introduced him to.
Alaric was surpisingly successful. His exploits at the tables soon became
legendary, and his father took a vicarious pride in the stories that
circulated among some circles at court. At age 16, Alaric Brand became the
youngest person ever to achieve the status of 'Priest of Venuss', and was
inducted into the solumn brotherhood in a humorous ceremony. He still wears
the remodelled Sorendenese coin around his neck [perhaps a coin that, for
some reason, could only have been stolen, or is rare + has a different face
on one side (Venuss?) and a special hidden marking, known to Temple owners].
Unfortunately for Alaric, the title meant that he was effectively banned
from gambling in any Temple of Venuss, so a substantial source of personal
income effectively dried up. It did mean that he could use any of the
'facilities' of the Temple for free (which he did), but it was insufficient
to keep his interest, and the payments he occasionally received for his
more active assistance at the Temple were no compensation for the notoriety
he had enjoyed prior to be sanctified.
The change in status did however afford Alaric with the opportunity to
acompany Dalshar on his own 'business trips' with greater regularity.
Alaric knew that the Temple and his brother were closely connected to the
Guild, and so to the darker side of life in Constantin. He had accompanied
Dalshar on a few jobs: Alaric's task had been to pretend to be drunk, and
stop singing if the guard approached.
Now he adopted a more active role, and began assisting Dalshar in his work.
The inevitable chases, and associated danger, provided Alaric with a real
substitute for the adrenalin of the gambling tables. Alaric admitted to
himself that his work with Dalshar was more enjoyable that gambling, which
had become almost ritually easy toward the end of his career.
Alaric was also introduced to another side of the guild: wives and families
of members who had died in the service of the guild were looked after, and
on one occasion, Dalshar asked him to find a place for a recent widow on
one of his father's estates, which he did.
Dalshar found that, in collaboration with Alaric, his successes were
enhanced. He began thinking of Alaric as his 'good luck charm', and took
him on increasingly complex missions, taking increasing risks. Eventually
their luck ran out, and they were caught stealing antique weaponry
(something which Alaric collected).
Koric Brand found out about his son's activities, and used his influence to
get them both released. He immediately sent Alaric to 'country estates',
and bade Dalshar to 'never darken my door again'. [This may be particularly
unfair, since this particular job may have been *for* Alaric].
Alaric spent a year as a virtual prisoner, honing his more traditional
skills before 'escaping' and going to Ilbarsis. This escape was aided by
the widow who he had placed, luckily, on the same estate in which he was
imprisoned; she was able to take a message to the Temple, and they arranged
for certain items to be purchased on his 'account'.
Koric, believing that Alaric has run off to his brother, hunted for him in
Constantin. Eventually Dalshar was brought before Koric (he surrendered
himself at the gates), and told Koric his son ran to Ilbarsis to escape
from 'his pig-ignorant overbearing fool of a father'. Koric holds Dalshar
until he
can confirm Alaric is in Ilbarsis, then Dalshar is set free with a warning
that he will "suffer the consequences", if he so much as speaks to Alaric.
A few weeks later, Koric received a note from Dalshar detailing Alaric's
location and recent activities. Koric receives further (edited) updates
from Dalshar intermittantly, and eventually writes back thanking him for
his assistance.
Koric elects to leave his son to explore Ilbarsis for his own reasons.
Notes:
a. This makes Brand probably able to contact his brother if he *really*
needed to. He would almost certainly like to, but probably would not choose
to, for fear of making matters worse. He might, however, choose to make
written contact (this might be fun!) - people at the 'Temple' could be
intermediaries.
b. Dalshar probably has a 'Master Thief' as a patron, but Brand has never
met him/her (as far as he knows).
c. 'Priest' status possibly gives him a place to run, or at least contact,
in some cities. Not necessarily safety.
d. Brand probably knows, and is known by, the 'priesthood' of Venuss: these
may just be itinerant show-gamblers, bouncers, card-sharps etc.
e. Koric knows Dalshar must have some power in the thieves guild, and probably
suspects he his quite senior. Alaric probably knows very little about
Dalshar's position, but may be able to work it out in time (the eyes of a
16 year old are not known for great perspective).
f. Dalshar's rise in the guild may have been aided to a small extent by the
good luck he experienced with Alaric.
g. Koric paid a stipend to Dalshar's mother after he married his current
wife, and Dalshar's mother ceased his formal education, electing to pay for
security not a hobby. As a result he is unable to read much, or write at
all. Any communication has to go through the Guild.
How does this all sound?
How about, as a way to move forward, Brand did speak to Nathaniel, has a book, is reading it still, worked with Nathaniel, but suffered a setback of some kind that means he is now only just recovering his ability to travel. IIRC from other stuff, meditation is the key and may be the key to his recovery. As part of his recovery he took the long trip you suggested?
Edit: can I also assume that, because of his delicate health, news of Dworkin was kept from him until recently?
But first, is Brand going to stand up his father's weapons master? He is expecting him at training.
Definitely. Exercise every morning, followed by meditation...then, if there are no pressing duties, he will take himself to one of the places that he used to frequent...6 months ago....or do whatever he used to do to contact his "contact".
Regarding the bonding with the elephant: no. They would probably know each other by sight, but just that.
Just to be clear: I mean bonding in the "he's happy to see it, it's happy to see him" sense, not in some weird game-mechanic mind control way.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Regarding Gont, I suspect we'll need to retcon that away seeing as it involved both Dworkin and Melitta, who can't have been involved now. Note, I have horrible visions of waves of kobolds falling under barrages of magic missiles from that session.
lol. I don't want to disappoint you, but we be talking about different things. Are you talking about the tower with Magic Missile in the doors? That was one of my favourite memories. Not often you get the dead piling up semi-plausibly. If that's what you were talking about, I'm pretty sure it was pre-ring.
If there was another incident with bodies piling up, Im sad I missed it!
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.