"Pleased to meet you Mr. Ironeyes. Yes, I'm Ilecerys," he says putting his mug down. "Settling family drama, putting down goblins, and making some money in the process sounds like a fine adventure."
Okkar nods, and some sadness enters his voice. “Family drama that’s been dragging on far too long. And I’ve not much family left now. I drug most of my kinfolk along with me on this latest expedition where we found and entered The Knuckle. I’m the only one who made it out alive. They died without honor to their family name. I mean to make that right by them. I can do that much. I can’t drag any more of my kin into this, and clan Dronanath would spit in my eye. That’s why I’ve called on outsiders, hired blades. That’s why you all are here.”
“That’s the idea,” Okkar answers. “I’ve been a regular at this trading post since it’s the closest spot to where I suspected I’d find The Knuckle. I and my kin have came back here who knows how many times, nursing our sore arses and wounded pride after another failed expedition. This time we found it. Only the rest didn’t make it back. I plan to lead you all there, and we’ll clear out the mine, make it safe for miners to use again, then they can get to work finally pumping some gold into the clan’s coffers, and earn back the honor of the Steelhand family. Prove we weren’t traitors to the clan, in the end.”
"You say the location of The Knuckle and Steelhand Hall are unknown. Do you have any sort of clue as to where it could be from your own journey or family lore?"
OOC: Since I am a Sage Researcher, would I have come across any information about goblin curses or about this clan dispute?
OOC: You can use the Research feature if you have access to Dwarven records, which can be found within the cities of Dronanath. Your current location is away from the cities, a rural trading post in the mountains. Going to the cities would be a detour, but you can suggest this to the group. You can also roll History, DC12, to recollect any lore you might have retained from your prior studies, in the meantime.
[OOC: Aussie here and I've been blissfully asleep IRL for the last six or so pages of interaction. And, now I have to go to work. Sorry, but different time zones will need to be taken into consideration with such interactions.]
Nanoc's feet suddenly fall to the floor from his apparent nonchalant pose on a chair with his feet up on a table in the corner. "Sorry, I must have dropped off," he says in answer to all the stares. "I was more tired than I thought and that whiskey was stronger than I thought. What have I missed?"
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.
(( OOC: sorry; UTC+10 to sleeping...also wrong timezone! ))
(( OOC: Re: recognizing Cant; Galtheon has 'criminal background', so probably recognizes cant, but does not let on and dos not speak it ))
In response to Karina's request about calling him "Gal":
Galtheon's eyes narrow slightly, and he focuses on her, as if seeing her for the first time, "My mother called me 'Gal', and the woman who likely would have been my wife called me 'Gal'. If my proper name is too long for you, then I suggest you might try 'Galth'."
With that he picks up his glass and drains it, a dark mood settling over him.
When the man in armour walks in, Galtheon is drawn out of whatever dark place he has gone, and takes a keen interest; this is someone who is clearly of wealth, perhaps connected to their employer. Once it becomes clear he is not,he never-the-less continues to observe him, alternating his focus between him and the Tiefling, Taraven.
When Okkar enters, Galtheon's gaze shifts, and Okkar now becomes his focus. He can not help but laugh at the comment on "getting lucky", and the dark mood that had overtaken him apparently lifts.
At the question from the man in armour -- Evan -- Galtheon looks at him and nods, then turns back to Okkar, "Aye, you mentioned Goblins in your tale. Are we to assume that they are still present? I too would like to know what we face."
OOC: I would recommend regarding time zone differences we take some liberties with the flow of time in game. As there was some time prior to the arrival of the NPC contact, discussions among the PCs could have continued prior to that time. The method people are using of segmenting who and what they are responding to is a good one.
I appreciate everyone working with the time zones as best they can. If things are confused, let me know, but it’s more than fine to continue “prior scene” RP alongside “advance scene” RP given this format, just continue to clarify the context when doing so.
"You say the location of The Knuckle and Steelhand Hall are unknown. Do you have any sort of clue as to where it could be from your own journey or family lore?"
OOC: Since I am a Sage Researcher, would I have come across any information about goblin curses or about this clan dispute?
OOC: You can use the Research feature if you have access to Dwarven records, which can be found within the cities of Dronanath. Your current location is away from the cities, a rural trading post in the mountains. Going to the cities would be a detour, but you can suggest this to the group. You can also roll History, DC12, to recollect any lore you might have retained from your prior studies, in the meantime.
History 18
Taraven, your historical expertise was not focused on the lore of the Mror holds, so you have about as much inkling as to the location as Okkar likely did when undertaking his search - somewhere in the middle part of the Iron Mountains. With your superior roll you do recall a legend regarding a supposed “curse of greed” that aligns with the description of the supposed disagreement between the Steelhand family and the clan at large. The legend spoke of a Dwarven family, you assume Steelhand, who went from poverty to riches and became ensnared by a curse of greed, possibly bleeding in from some coterminous plane, possibly a curse laid on the land from times ancient, or some other source.
The lore involved this family breaking ties with its clan and becoming corrupted in their search for wealth until they reportedly turned into some sort of walking mineral beings themselves, cursed to ingest gold and silver. You took it to be a fable, a moral parable to frighten children about the dangers of avarice , but if it ever had factual origin it may be in Steelhand Hall and The Knuckle mine.
Narrowing his eyes a bit, Evan asks, “So, what proved to be fatal to your kin? I’d like to take some precautions if possible.”
Addressing Evan’s question, and Galtheon’s as well, Okkar shudders and delivers the grim report. “We had expected goblins. Maybe even the restless dead. What we got was closer to the latter, but unlike any undead I’ve ever encountered.”
Narrowing his eyes a bit, Evan asks, “So, what proved to be fatal to your kin? I’d like to take some precautions if possible.”
Addressing Evan’s question, and Galtheon’s as well, Okkar shudders and delivers the grim report. “We had expected goblins. Maybe even the restless dead. What we got was closer to the latter, but unlike any undead I’ve ever encountered.”
Okkar continues: "They were like the ghosts of dwarves, but dwarves turned to stone in part. It's difficult to describe. Their bodies were changed, hardened, what's the word, calcified, almost. They could merge into the stone of the walls, and emerge elsewhere to strike out at us. Wherever they touched us, we would have horrible fatigue. My entire leg went numb from where I was struck, and I drug myself out by my hands. My leg had this strange wound, where the flesh seemed to be hardening, turning gray and losing all feeling. It passed, over the next day or so, and returned to its former condition. Damn frightening, though. The others, they didn't make it."
"Undead?" enquires Nanoc looking around the room in feigned surprised. "Would they be undead dwarves then? Is that even possible?"
While doing so, despite the fact he was supposedly asleep when she made the query, Nanoc takes this opportunity to signal to Kerina that he understood her message.
"And where are the priests? By Avastar, I would have thought you would have brought in some holy men, if you knew there was going to be undead." [OOC: Forgive me if this is not part of the setting, I don't know Eberron.]
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.
"Undead?" enquires Nanoc looking around the room in feigned surprised. "Would they be undead dwarves then? Is that even possible?"
While doing so, despite the fact he was supposedly asleep when she made the query, Nanoc takes this opportunity to signal to Kerina that he understood her message.
"And where are the priests? By Avastar, I would have thought you would have brought in some holy men, if you knew there was going to be undead." [OOC: Forgive me if this is not part of the setting, I don't know Eberron.]
Okkar hangs his head and answers Nanoc. "Well I did bring at least one holy man, Evan there," he says, now distinguishing the two humans apart. "I don't know for certain they're undead. It could be a disease of a physical nature. All I know is they're dangerous, they're occupying The Knuckle, and it's my duty to clear them out and reclaim the mine and the honor of the Steelhand family name."
During this whole conversation, kerina has been doing that thing where she went to go leave but stood awkwardly just outside the door. Now, she sticks her head in. "are we going or not? I haven't had a fight in ages and I'm anxious to kick some stony dwarf butt!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
May all of your spells roll the best things for the situation on the wild magic table and all your checks to seduce dragons roll nat 20's
Okkar nods, and some sadness enters his voice. “Family drama that’s been dragging on far too long. And I’ve not much family left now. I drug most of my kinfolk along with me on this latest expedition where we found and entered The Knuckle. I’m the only one who made it out alive. They died without honor to their family name. I mean to make that right by them. I can do that much. I can’t drag any more of my kin into this, and clan Dronanath would spit in my eye. That’s why I’ve called on outsiders, hired blades. That’s why you all are here.”
“That’s the idea,” Okkar answers. “I’ve been a regular at this trading post since it’s the closest spot to where I suspected I’d find The Knuckle. I and my kin have came back here who knows how many times, nursing our sore arses and wounded pride after another failed expedition. This time we found it. Only the rest didn’t make it back. I plan to lead you all there, and we’ll clear out the mine, make it safe for miners to use again, then they can get to work finally pumping some gold into the clan’s coffers, and earn back the honor of the Steelhand family. Prove we weren’t traitors to the clan, in the end.”
*making for the door* "then let's go!"
May all of your spells roll the best things for the situation on the wild magic table and all your checks to seduce dragons roll nat 20's
My first char (and namesake) Lili Scheppen!
Proud member of the cult of grammar! (grand inquisitor)
History 13
OOC: I will respond to the History check and any other questions or dialogue a bit later.
Evan:
Narrowing his eyes a bit, Evan asks, “So, what proved to be fatal to your kin? I’d like to take some precautions if possible.”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
[OOC: Aussie here and I've been blissfully asleep IRL for the last six or so pages of interaction. And, now I have to go to work. Sorry, but different time zones will need to be taken into consideration with such interactions.]
Nanoc's feet suddenly fall to the floor from his apparent nonchalant pose on a chair with his feet up on a table in the corner. "Sorry, I must have dropped off," he says in answer to all the stares. "I was more tired than I thought and that whiskey was stronger than I thought. What have I missed?"
---
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.
(( OOC: sorry; UTC+10 to sleeping...also wrong timezone! ))
(( OOC: Re: recognizing Cant; Galtheon has 'criminal background', so probably recognizes cant, but does not let on and dos not speak it ))
In response to Karina's request about calling him "Gal":
Galtheon's eyes narrow slightly, and he focuses on her, as if seeing her for the first time, "My mother called me 'Gal', and the woman who likely would have been my wife called me 'Gal'. If my proper name is too long for you, then I suggest you might try 'Galth'."
With that he picks up his glass and drains it, a dark mood settling over him.
When the man in armour walks in, Galtheon is drawn out of whatever dark place he has gone, and takes a keen interest; this is someone who is clearly of wealth, perhaps connected to their employer. Once it becomes clear he is not,he never-the-less continues to observe him, alternating his focus between him and the Tiefling, Taraven.
When Okkar enters, Galtheon's gaze shifts, and Okkar now becomes his focus. He can not help but laugh at the comment on "getting lucky", and the dark mood that had overtaken him apparently lifts.
At the question from the man in armour -- Evan -- Galtheon looks at him and nods, then turns back to Okkar, "Aye, you mentioned Goblins in your tale. Are we to assume that they are still present? I too would like to know what we face."
OOC: I would recommend regarding time zone differences we take some liberties with the flow of time in game. As there was some time prior to the arrival of the NPC contact, discussions among the PCs could have continued prior to that time. The method people are using of segmenting who and what they are responding to is a good one.
I appreciate everyone working with the time zones as best they can. If things are confused, let me know, but it’s more than fine to continue “prior scene” RP alongside “advance scene” RP given this format, just continue to clarify the context when doing so.
Taraven, your historical expertise was not focused on the lore of the Mror holds, so you have about as much inkling as to the location as Okkar likely did when undertaking his search - somewhere in the middle part of the Iron Mountains. With your superior roll you do recall a legend regarding a supposed “curse of greed” that aligns with the description of the supposed disagreement between the Steelhand family and the clan at large. The legend spoke of a Dwarven family, you assume Steelhand, who went from poverty to riches and became ensnared by a curse of greed, possibly bleeding in from some coterminous plane, possibly a curse laid on the land from times ancient, or some other source.
The lore involved this family breaking ties with its clan and becoming corrupted in their search for wealth until they reportedly turned into some sort of walking mineral beings themselves, cursed to ingest gold and silver. You took it to be a fable, a moral parable to frighten children about the dangers of avarice , but if it ever had factual origin it may be in Steelhand Hall and The Knuckle mine.
Addressing Evan’s question, and Galtheon’s as well, Okkar shudders and delivers the grim report. “We had expected goblins. Maybe even the restless dead. What we got was closer to the latter, but unlike any undead I’ve ever encountered.”
Okkar continues: "They were like the ghosts of dwarves, but dwarves turned to stone in part. It's difficult to describe. Their bodies were changed, hardened, what's the word, calcified, almost. They could merge into the stone of the walls, and emerge elsewhere to strike out at us. Wherever they touched us, we would have horrible fatigue. My entire leg went numb from where I was struck, and I drug myself out by my hands. My leg had this strange wound, where the flesh seemed to be hardening, turning gray and losing all feeling. It passed, over the next day or so, and returned to its former condition. Damn frightening, though. The others, they didn't make it."
I tell the group what I recall about the curse of greed. And ask Okkar, “Were these creatures you encountered the walking mineral beings?”
Galtheon turns to Evan and says, "Have you heard of anything like this, priest?"
(( Has Galtheon? ))
[OOC: Taking a break from work.]
"Undead?" enquires Nanoc looking around the room in feigned surprised. "Would they be undead dwarves then? Is that even possible?"
While doing so, despite the fact he was supposedly asleep when she made the query, Nanoc takes this opportunity to signal to Kerina that he understood her message.
"And where are the priests? By Avastar, I would have thought you would have brought in some holy men, if you knew there was going to be undead." [OOC: Forgive me if this is not part of the setting, I don't know Eberron.]
---
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.
OOC: Roll Religion, for Galtheon, Evan, or anyone else.
Okkar replies to Taraven, "Could be, if you take stock in old wives tales and children's stories, these could be the real things."
Okkar hangs his head and answers Nanoc. "Well I did bring at least one holy man, Evan there," he says, now distinguishing the two humans apart. "I don't know for certain they're undead. It could be a disease of a physical nature. All I know is they're dangerous, they're occupying The Knuckle, and it's my duty to clear them out and reclaim the mine and the honor of the Steelhand family name."
Religion: 19 (Galtheon never paid much attention to the ramblings priests, but you never know)
During this whole conversation, kerina has been doing that thing where she went to go leave but stood awkwardly just outside the door. Now, she sticks her head in. "are we going or not? I haven't had a fight in ages and I'm anxious to kick some stony dwarf butt!"
May all of your spells roll the best things for the situation on the wild magic table and all your checks to seduce dragons roll nat 20's
My first char (and namesake) Lili Scheppen!
Proud member of the cult of grammar! (grand inquisitor)