Karl arches an eyebrow as they return to the Wolf's Pelt Inn. He hadn't seen any apparent Mistresses or unsettling children earlier. Had they snuck in while everyone else was watching that poor sod go bust in the game of life? He notices, with satisfaction, that his usual spot hadn't been taken in his absence. He wouldn't have to go far whenever this. . . meeting was done.
He's not surprised by the woman's appearance. This was not a region where people stayed young, beautiful, and alive. This person must have known danger - and survival.
"Cider," he orders by way of drinks. Dinner selection was always less of a choice. When he sees a pause in the conversation, he introduces himself. "Karl Brenner. Amateur armorer, unlucky wine trader."
Seemingly just remembering something, he fishes a small, metal plate the size of a playing card out from his heavy layers of wool and fur. He tosses it onto the table, where it gleams with illusory, flaming script and an image of his own face. Unsurprisingly, the script reads 'Karl Brenner, Trader.'
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Attending Academy until November, slowdown in posts continue.
Ssej takes in the group and then pulls up a chair to the table sitting a bit distant from everyone else. When food is ordered he looks at the bartender and nods in his direction, "Usual for me." Then listens to all the introductions, around the table and turns his attention onto the lady, "Who are you and what do you want of me?"
When food arrives you notice that the food placed in front of Ssej is just a raw leg of some type of deer that Ssej picks up and starts to tear into, teeth ripping the meat form the bone with a little trail of blood flowing down the side of his mouth.
Vellynne gives her first smile as you make your comments about her strange methods. It is plainly a practiced smile, learned out of necessity for getting along in society, not a genuine one.
“Yes, my methods can be odd, but there are a lot of you and I didn’t want to risk missing you. My helpers have proven quite useful at times. They’re clever little folk, and quite loyal.”
She picks up your metal plate, Karl, and handles it for a moment before setting it back down. You notice a mild tremor in her arm as she does so. Not a tremor of nervousness, but more of some kind of physical condition.
“This is very well done, Karl, and it demonstrates precisely why I’ve gathered you here. But let me introduce myself properly, first. I am Vellynne Harpell, and I am here in Ten-Towns on behalf of the Arcane Brotherhood. I am tasked with discovering the nature of this terrible winter, and perhaps reversing it, to help these poor suffering people.”
She pauses, obviously hoping you all will introduce yourselves in turn, and also giving you a chance to ask questions before she proceeds.
Matthias enters the inn, glad to get at least somewhat of a break from the cold. He eyes the situation and figures this may be a person of some influence, someone perhaps worth knowing. "
"This is downright civilized," he says, shrugging off his pack with a grunt and taking a seat. "Thank you."
He listens to the others and their "summoner," sipping something hot if available, he tears into the food like a ravenous beast for a moment before muttering to himself "Enough, stop it" and slowing down the intake.
Eventually, he speaks. "Thank you again for the meal and drinks." He looks at the others in turn, as if gauging something. He sighs. "I'm named Matthias Blackwell, though I prefer that not be shared with anyone outside this conversation. I am currently going by the name Mannfried for...for personal reasons." His head twitches slightly and a tic-like spasm passes over his face for but a moment. He returns to the food and drink once more.
Has Matthias heard anything about the Arcane Brotherhood? 14 Arcana 2 History
Auraani takes a step forward and introduces herself to everyone, "My name is Auraani Ariessus of the elves of Myth Drannor." She pauses a moment and taking a queue from the man introducing himself as an armorer, says, "I'm an archer by trade, I hunt and put on shows of skill to make ends meet and I would like nothing more than to help these people."
You are certainly aware of the Arcane Brotherhood, an organization of wizards with a shady past as concerns Northern realms, the details of which you’re not clear about as it happened a long time ago. You’re mainly aware of them as a prestigious and somewhat secretive organization of wizards. You suspect that Vellynne must be a wizard, too, if she is part of them.
Variety sips her tea, "Variety, I'm here on an exploration, looking for history and artifacts related to giants, along with trying to fill in the missing pieces of this book of myths my mother and I found."
"Arcane Brotherhood? Sounds powerful and benevolent, " he mutters under his breath, instinctively in Primordial.
He distracts himself from his suspicion, committing names to memory. The silver (or white) dragonborn was Nazcal. He looked like trouble - the way he held himself and openly carried weapons in town. Even though the mace was not in hand, Karl felt like it was being brandished. The demon-blood was Variety. She was doing a poor job hiding her nature - a scarf and hood did little to conceal horns, purple skin, and a tail.
The witch's compliment doesn't stick. The genasi seems fixated on the woman's tremors. Awful grandiloquent name for a group that sends blind old hags out to do their contract work. He tucks his business card away as Matthias introduces himself and can hardly conceal his grimace as the human shows his hand readily.
In this company?
Then there was the elf - Auraani - a paragon of elvishness if he ever saw one. Tall, blond, beautiful. Archer. He wondered if she subsisted on magical, leaf-wrapped bread. Aside from how she seemed to be favoring one leg, his only concern was - well, she seemed far from home. The only one who seemed even more out of place in a frozen wasteland was the cold-blooded swamp thing who was currently swallowing down a hunk of under-prepared beast flesh.
Stepping into the pause in the conversation, he regards the few patrons who returned to the tavern.
"Depending on who you ask, I suspect the locals might say their misfortune is not throwing enough people to this 'Auril' they seem to revere."
He takes a sip of his cider and frowns. After a moment the beverage begins to simmer in its mug.
"Name is Ssej and a fissher by trade, been living here a few monthss now and thesse "offerss" are sstarting to get on my nervess." Ssej replies in between ripping chunks of meat off the bone. "What doess thiss Arcane Brotherhood want of me and what do they get out of the deal?" He asks the lady.
“I’ve been here for some months now, and it’s plain that the situation here is dire. Icewind Dale is dying! This problem is too big for me to tackle alone. I need the help of people who are far more capable than my kobold friends. I’ve picked you all out as folk who have a special spark in them. You all have great potential, I can tell. I have an excellent eye for this sort of thing.”
“If you’ll be willing to help me out with my mission here, I’m sure the Arcane Brotherhood, in turn, will be able to compensate you with whatever you might need. And I mean more than mere monetary reward. I’m talking about powerful connections, favors called in.... I’m sure we can find some common ground. Interested?”
Karl only spends a moment considering her proposition. He finishes his current swig of cider and wipes an errant trickle from his chin.
"Well, Vellynne, I'm in. As I mentioned, I'm an aspiring businessman myself. Could definitely use some help getting started. . . And if I can help the poor and downtrodden as I line my pockets, even better!"
There's something in his smile that gives one the distinct impression that Karl was not a natural born philanthropist.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Attending Academy until November, slowdown in posts continue.
Her connections might be a way to get out of this cold land with my spoils though I am sure there is more she is not telling us, this might be my only way, Ssej thinks. "Count me in."
Variety pauses, thinking on the words, "How can you know so much already? Some of us haven't been in town long enough for people to know us that well."
Auraani ponders on Vellynne's words, taking special interest when she mentions the Arcane Brotherhood. She had never heard of them before, but they might harbor more knowledge on the subject of Arcane Archers and help her become one. There was also the poor people here as well, she couldn't say no and walk away if she had the ability to help them could she? She decided she couldn't.
"Helping the Arcane Brotherhood would mean the end of the lottery correct? I'm definitely in if it that's the case."
“I want there to be trust between us, so I’ll be frank. I’ve been observing many of the residents of Ten-Towns, screening them for those who may be of remarkable talent or power. As I said, I have a discerning eye for such things. To do this, I have been using my kobold friends, and my familiar.”
As she mentions this, the air shimmers over Vellynne’s left shoulder, and a snowy white owl quickly materializes. It stands on her shoulder and regards you all with an intelligent gaze.
Vellynne continues: “As a member of the Arcane Brotherhood, I am a wizard, and have many resources available to me. Yet it’s not enough. I could use your help. If you’ll all agree, we can discuss a task that I would ask you to do for me, as well as payment or reward.”
”Yes, if we can put an end to this neverending winter, I’m sure there would be no further need for a Lottery. The task I would ask of you may help us to further understand the strange weather here.”
Matthias is surprised at the offer and how the woman characterizes him as someone of great potential. But he feels a little urge, a compulsion. That other voice inside him—that strange whisper—pushes him to respond.
“Yes, yes,” he says, almost like an incantation. “This one shall not hesitate to walk into the wintry den of these foul frost gods.”
His words hang for a moment and then Matthias clears his throat and waves hand in a dismissive gesture. “Sorry about all that,” he says. “Yes, yes, I think it would be very good to work with this Arcane Brotherhood.”
He looks around the table. “And of course all these fine folks too.” He raises his glass. “Here’s to our success.”
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Karl arches an eyebrow as they return to the Wolf's Pelt Inn. He hadn't seen any apparent Mistresses or unsettling children earlier. Had they snuck in while everyone else was watching that poor sod go bust in the game of life? He notices, with satisfaction, that his usual spot hadn't been taken in his absence. He wouldn't have to go far whenever this. . . meeting was done.
He's not surprised by the woman's appearance. This was not a region where people stayed young, beautiful, and alive. This person must have known danger - and survival.
"Cider," he orders by way of drinks. Dinner selection was always less of a choice. When he sees a pause in the conversation, he introduces himself. "Karl Brenner. Amateur armorer, unlucky wine trader."
Seemingly just remembering something, he fishes a small, metal plate the size of a playing card out from his heavy layers of wool and fur. He tosses it onto the table, where it gleams with illusory, flaming script and an image of his own face. Unsurprisingly, the script reads 'Karl Brenner, Trader.'
Attending Academy until November, slowdown in posts continue.
Ssej takes in the group and then pulls up a chair to the table sitting a bit distant from everyone else. When food is ordered he looks at the bartender and nods in his direction, "Usual for me." Then listens to all the introductions, around the table and turns his attention onto the lady, "Who are you and what do you want of me?"
When food arrives you notice that the food placed in front of Ssej is just a raw leg of some type of deer that Ssej picks up and starts to tear into, teeth ripping the meat form the bone with a little trail of blood flowing down the side of his mouth.
Vellynne gives her first smile as you make your comments about her strange methods. It is plainly a practiced smile, learned out of necessity for getting along in society, not a genuine one.
“Yes, my methods can be odd, but there are a lot of you and I didn’t want to risk missing you. My helpers have proven quite useful at times. They’re clever little folk, and quite loyal.”
She picks up your metal plate, Karl, and handles it for a moment before setting it back down. You notice a mild tremor in her arm as she does so. Not a tremor of nervousness, but more of some kind of physical condition.
“This is very well done, Karl, and it demonstrates precisely why I’ve gathered you here. But let me introduce myself properly, first. I am Vellynne Harpell, and I am here in Ten-Towns on behalf of the Arcane Brotherhood. I am tasked with discovering the nature of this terrible winter, and perhaps reversing it, to help these poor suffering people.”
She pauses, obviously hoping you all will introduce yourselves in turn, and also giving you a chance to ask questions before she proceeds.
Matthias enters the inn, glad to get at least somewhat of a break from the cold. He eyes the situation and figures this may be a person of some influence, someone perhaps worth knowing. "
"This is downright civilized," he says, shrugging off his pack with a grunt and taking a seat. "Thank you."
He listens to the others and their "summoner," sipping something hot if available, he tears into the food like a ravenous beast for a moment before muttering to himself "Enough, stop it" and slowing down the intake.
Eventually, he speaks. "Thank you again for the meal and drinks." He looks at the others in turn, as if gauging something. He sighs. "I'm named Matthias Blackwell, though I prefer that not be shared with anyone outside this conversation. I am currently going by the name Mannfried for...for personal reasons." His head twitches slightly and a tic-like spasm passes over his face for but a moment. He returns to the food and drink once more.
Has Matthias heard anything about the Arcane Brotherhood?
14 Arcana
2 History
Auraani takes a step forward and introduces herself to everyone, "My name is Auraani Ariessus of the elves of Myth Drannor." She pauses a moment and taking a queue from the man introducing himself as an armorer, says, "I'm an archer by trade, I hunt and put on shows of skill to make ends meet and I would like nothing more than to help these people."
Matthias:
You are certainly aware of the Arcane Brotherhood, an organization of wizards with a shady past as concerns Northern realms, the details of which you’re not clear about as it happened a long time ago. You’re mainly aware of them as a prestigious and somewhat secretive organization of wizards. You suspect that Vellynne must be a wizard, too, if she is part of them.
Variety sips her tea, "Variety, I'm here on an exploration, looking for history and artifacts related to giants, along with trying to fill in the missing pieces of this book of myths my mother and I found."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"Arcane Brotherhood? Sounds powerful and benevolent, " he mutters under his breath, instinctively in Primordial.
He distracts himself from his suspicion, committing names to memory. The silver (or white) dragonborn was Nazcal. He looked like trouble - the way he held himself and openly carried weapons in town. Even though the mace was not in hand, Karl felt like it was being brandished. The demon-blood was Variety. She was doing a poor job hiding her nature - a scarf and hood did little to conceal horns, purple skin, and a tail.
The witch's compliment doesn't stick. The genasi seems fixated on the woman's tremors. Awful grandiloquent name for a group that sends blind old hags out to do their contract work. He tucks his business card away as Matthias introduces himself and can hardly conceal his grimace as the human shows his hand readily.
In this company?
Then there was the elf - Auraani - a paragon of elvishness if he ever saw one. Tall, blond, beautiful. Archer. He wondered if she subsisted on magical, leaf-wrapped bread. Aside from how she seemed to be favoring one leg, his only concern was - well, she seemed far from home. The only one who seemed even more out of place in a frozen wasteland was the cold-blooded swamp thing who was currently swallowing down a hunk of under-prepared beast flesh.
Stepping into the pause in the conversation, he regards the few patrons who returned to the tavern.
"Depending on who you ask, I suspect the locals might say their misfortune is not throwing enough people to this 'Auril' they seem to revere."
He takes a sip of his cider and frowns. After a moment the beverage begins to simmer in its mug.
Attending Academy until November, slowdown in posts continue.
((Her name is HARPELL not Harrell, some kind of autocorrect, I fixed it))
"Name is Ssej and a fissher by trade, been living here a few monthss now and thesse "offerss" are sstarting to get on my nervess." Ssej replies in between ripping chunks of meat off the bone. "What doess thiss Arcane Brotherhood want of me and what do they get out of the deal?" He asks the lady.
Vellynne explains,
“I’ve been here for some months now, and it’s plain that the situation here is dire. Icewind Dale is dying! This problem is too big for me to tackle alone. I need the help of people who are far more capable than my kobold friends. I’ve picked you all out as folk who have a special spark in them. You all have great potential, I can tell. I have an excellent eye for this sort of thing.”
“If you’ll be willing to help me out with my mission here, I’m sure the Arcane Brotherhood, in turn, will be able to compensate you with whatever you might need. And I mean more than mere monetary reward. I’m talking about powerful connections, favors called in.... I’m sure we can find some common ground. Interested?”
Karl only spends a moment considering her proposition. He finishes his current swig of cider and wipes an errant trickle from his chin.
"Well, Vellynne, I'm in. As I mentioned, I'm an aspiring businessman myself. Could definitely use some help getting started. . . And if I can help the poor and downtrodden as I line my pockets, even better!"
There's something in his smile that gives one the distinct impression that Karl was not a natural born philanthropist.
Attending Academy until November, slowdown in posts continue.
Her connections might be a way to get out of this cold land with my spoils though I am sure there is more she is not telling us, this might be my only way, Ssej thinks. "Count me in."
Variety pauses, thinking on the words, "How can you know so much already? Some of us haven't been in town long enough for people to know us that well."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Auraani ponders on Vellynne's words, taking special interest when she mentions the Arcane Brotherhood. She had never heard of them before, but they might harbor more knowledge on the subject of Arcane Archers and help her become one. There was also the poor people here as well, she couldn't say no and walk away if she had the ability to help them could she? She decided she couldn't.
"Helping the Arcane Brotherhood would mean the end of the lottery correct? I'm definitely in if it that's the case."
"Sure, I'm in."
Vellynne answers Variety’s question:
“I want there to be trust between us, so I’ll be frank. I’ve been observing many of the residents of Ten-Towns, screening them for those who may be of remarkable talent or power. As I said, I have a discerning eye for such things. To do this, I have been using my kobold friends, and my familiar.”
As she mentions this, the air shimmers over Vellynne’s left shoulder, and a snowy white owl quickly materializes. It stands on her shoulder and regards you all with an intelligent gaze.
Vellynne continues: “As a member of the Arcane Brotherhood, I am a wizard, and have many resources available to me. Yet it’s not enough. I could use your help. If you’ll all agree, we can discuss a task that I would ask you to do for me, as well as payment or reward.”
To Auraani, she says:
”Yes, if we can put an end to this neverending winter, I’m sure there would be no further need for a Lottery. The task I would ask of you may help us to further understand the strange weather here.”
Auraani nods decisively, "Count me in then, what can we do to help?"
Matthias is surprised at the offer and how the woman characterizes him as someone of great potential. But he feels a little urge, a compulsion. That other voice inside him—that strange whisper—pushes him to respond.
“Yes, yes,” he says, almost like an incantation. “This one shall not hesitate to walk into the wintry den of these foul frost gods.”
His words hang for a moment and then Matthias clears his throat and waves hand in a dismissive gesture. “Sorry about all that,” he says. “Yes, yes, I think it would be very good to work with this Arcane Brotherhood.”
He looks around the table. “And of course all these fine folks too.” He raises his glass. “Here’s to our success.”