Gemini Holbright had become a household name due to her forty years of service to the New Republic. Mistress Holbright, having turned her family home into the Holbright Institute of Higher Magics, sought out scholars, practitioners of the arcane, and like-minded individuals to uncover the source of the 'Spell Plague' which caused the destabilization of the weave with arcane magics reacting in violent ways in Embera. Gemini and her followers seek the truth and root cause in the ruins of Ellyria. The ancient mage city that once ruled Embera from on high but fell in a cataclysmic event that left no survivors. Those at the Institute believe the origins of the Spell Plague began at Ellyria's fall.
Your day begins with great anticipation. You've spent months in the auxiliary service of the Institute. You have worked on archives, taking testimony, and went through training to handle magical objects. You have never however set foot in Ellyria yourself. Today is the day that all changes. You and five other party members who you have lived and trained have been called to finally venture forth into the field. You will accompany two full fledged members of the Institute who are tasked at recovering items from a newly discovered area of Ellryia. You greet the day in your bunk amongst your party. Five others share the long narrow attic room that has housed you for weeks of fairly mundane work but all of you excelled. You realize you were being vetted of course. Throughout the weeks you were carefully watched by the higher ups in the hopes of testing your character. They wanted to make sure you were worthy to wear the illustrious robes of the Institute even if you will enter at the lowest levels. You know even those robes are held in reverence in the New Republic. They literally open doors to commoners and Kings...
It's a crisp fall day. The first of the year. The summer was long and arduous but you made it through. You know the Institute itself has weeded out several people already. Some have even ended up in prison! These people having proved to be ultimately unworthy of the vestiges of the Institute or trusted around the magic items you will now seek! You however are exceptional, or so you think so, with your service being reliable and your efforts marked by success. Now you will accompany two full fledged members into the field on your first task of retrieval that very day!
Two weeks from Zozobra through the Silva Donard mountains into the crater of Ellyria. The impact zone itself known to cause magic to become volatility unreliable. You are nervous but for reasons of your own you are ready. Rising from your bunk, having eaten a hearty breakfast and packed already that morning/night before, you see your party members readying too. You trust these people, well mostly…, and they've made it through a program just like you. You've all shown talents but they have many you don't. You do know together you've become a force to be reckoned with!
Coming into the room Zira, a half-orc/half-elf member of the Institute who's a rarity herself, is smirking as always as if she just heard a good joke.
"Come," Zira calls out from the dormity door. "They've gathered the horses and wagons. We leave now," she informs the room curtly before exiting in a swirl of dark green robes that look almost black!
Your robes are a dull gray with a brilliant emerald and amethyst patch of Holbright's embroidered on the left. It's a sturdy fabric but nothing too flashy. It's full of useful items and can be worn or carried. *a robe of useful items other patches TBA by DM* In your explorer's pack you also have one regular potion of healing a gift from Gen-ga Lor, an eccentric bronze dragonborn alchemist and cleric of the Raven Queen, who's healed your wounds, given you council, and been Zira's shadow. The two young members are usually joined at the hip but so far you haven't spotted the dragonborn that morning.
Down by the horses and wagons you readied yourself to leave….
OOC: Please now post in initiative order!
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“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Taking in a deep breath of the crisp morning air, Ted laughs as he throws his jumbled pack on the wagon. “We’re finally off gang! Now it’s time to really show you why Dreadbane is beloved all over Embera. ”
Leaning on the wagon, the half elf passes his hand through his multicoloured hair. Though he is fairly handsome, the cocky grin that dominates his face let’s on that he is all too aware of it. Having made a fuss over the last few months about the hideousness of the robes, he has mostly covered his with a fashionable brown jacket and made a V neck cut into it so he can show off his dangling necklaces. His studded leather armour underneath is the kind that fastens with buckles at the front, but Ted has kept the top two unfastened in a reckless fashion statement and his shirt collar peeks out above the leather. The bottom of his robe is tucked into his brown leather trousers showing off a chunky belt with a brass buckle. The bottom of his trousers are rolled up, revealing a tattoo of a drunken goat on his ankle just above his pointed ankle boots, adorned in an elven fashion.
As Erika passes him, he calls out to her, making no attempt to help with preparations. ”I hope you’ve been coming up with some rhymes to go with Dreadbane. I’ve grown tired of the usual songs of my deeds, and your peoples songs have such a..... fearsomeness to them, which really befits me I think.” He leans back further into the cart arrogantly as he chews on a stick of jerky.
Garron dons the robe over his clothes and shifts a little so that it falls comfortablely over his shoulders. He climbs into the wagon easily and rolls his eyes at Dreadbane's comments. Not requiring much excess equipment, he lifts his pack up behind him and places it under his seat. Garron dismisses most of Dreadbane's comments, but his talking actually a bit soothing (although he'd never tell Dreadbane that) and Garron's nerves are calmed by the presence of the people he has trained around for months.
He helps anybody that needs help carrying any items, although everyone has shown themselves to be mostly self-sufficient so he likely just sits patiently in the cart. Calling to Zira he asks, "Hey, I haven't seen Gen-ga around today... Will they be coming with us?"
Trixi tightened the strings of the robe - works quite well as a cloak would you look at all these fancy patches! - threw her backpack into the wagon and jumped inside herself. "She is probably waiting to see your great deed herself and then the rime comes naturally, you know?" She smiled most innocently to Dreadbane and moved to the front of the wagon for the best possible view. "Finally!" (That was about the occasion, not the sit.) "What are we after? Anything specific? Or is it just a promising sight?"Trixi was the very definition of excitement and only hard drilled manners kept her from jumping on her sit impatiently. "Aw, Gen-ga keeps us waiting!"She looked around to spot the dragonborn but was immediately distracted by the horses - magnificen beasts! (they could be as well peasant's pack mules, she would still be impressed). Waiting or not, but the travel already promised to be exciting!
"Everyone get on a horse or the wagon there " Zira points to the wagon Garron has seated himself. "Gen is in the forward party scouting ahead they left at dawn," she adds with a deeper smirk than usual. "Come if the cock crows any louder Demeter will surely have all our skins," she reminds the party of Demeter Prothero their leader and a higher member of the Institute on Holbright's council of seven. "She's got her doubts you are ready but Gen and I know better don't we," she beams a smile at everyone before mounting a horse with black and white stripes before her familiar a tressy. Pokes his head our of her satchel. Zira loves animals and dotes on them openly. Her tressym Alister crawls from his sleeping place and she feeds him before she casts him into the crisp fall morning air. The black ball of fur looks almost comical as it flies aloft before poofing out of sight! "Let's move," she calls out again urging her steed towards the front gates into the city proper before the party will exit the sprawling city.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
The others would have noted Erika's absence in the dormitory this morning. As the early risers head to the wagons, they see the tall redhead returning to the gates of the compound in her leathers, a bow strung across her shoulders and a pair of rabbits tied to her belt. As she passes Ted, she gives him a nod, and speaks in her heavy accent. "Hmm, yes. I have a tune."She drums her hand against the lower section of her leather hauberk. "Dreadbane, o Dreadbane, lice in his mane, his mind can't be sane." She pauses, "No, that lyric would need work." She whistles the tune she was drumming to as she proceeds into the barracks, cutting the man a wicked grin before disappearing into the door.
She returns a few minutes later, her bag packed, her shield and axe slung across her shoulders. She now has her steel lamellar coat now over the leather hauberk, and gray cloak lined with wolf fur at the collar. A curved horn is tied to her belt, made from the real horn of some animal and bound by leather straps. The rabbits are strapped to the side of her bag.
She looks to Areon. "Apologies I did not tell you about last night. I wished one more time reflecting in the stars above, at the old forest pond. I hope you understand." She climbs into the wagon.
Molle slings the robe over her armor, before tucking her black hair behind pointed ears. It doesn't improve her sense of style, but the grey color at the very least doesn't clash with her orange clad clothes. She approaches one of the horses, and gives it a few good pets before setting her worn pack on its back. She chuckles at the tune, calling out as the woman leaves. "It suits him perfectly!"
After mounting her horse, she takes a moment to get comfortable. In their final moments of preparation, Molle double checks that everything is securely in place. She smiles, once seeing everything is in place, and looks ahead to the gates. "This expedition is going to be one for the history books. I can just feel it."
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The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
"It's a fitting tune indeed," Zira beams at Erika before smirking at Ted. "Surely every tasks with me is an adventure," she shoots to Molle then looking around nods. "Move out," Zira adds to Areon urging her horse to the middle in front of those on the wagon.
There's five others in addition to the party. Three heavily armed and armored on horseback as well as another wagon of two completely unintimidating looking scribes. It's a full house so to speak but needed for the treacherous mountain pass and lands between the party to the ruins. The Pilgrimage Road as it is known is riddled with bandits and other natural obstacles. It's around 8 o'clock and you know you'll be expected to cover at minimum 30 miles a day with wagons mixed into the caravan. Your numbers are easily spotted but by the looks of the party, by all appearances, you are a formidable challenge to those who might have nefarious intentions!
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Garron's nerves calm a bit with the arrival of each member of their group as they settle in and listens peacefully to the playful banter. As Zira gives the order to move, Garron climbs into the front of the wagon and with a crack of the reins, he urges the horses forward, and the wagon begins to move. If Trixi is still in the front area of the wagon, he strikes up a conversation with her. "I've never seen you so excited. You do know that this is only our first adventure." He rolls his eyes, but the broad smile on his face shows that he is only teasing her. He holds onto the reins with one hand and pulls out his dragonchess board with the other. Laying on the bench at the front of the wagon, he asks, "Care to learn? It might relax your mind and give your body a rest from all that bouncing around that you seem to be doing." With that, he begins to lay out the pieces and teach her the basics of the game.
OOC: Someone in the party wagon needs to drive FYI.
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“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
"Gladly!"Trixi already got her share of the road view ahead and it looked like the landscape was not about to change any time soon. Driving at this point was unlikely to occupy all Garron's attention anyway, so she had pleanty of time to learn - as enthusiastically as everything she did. "You know, we have something similar, though call it ... how to translate it... "Monster hunt" would be the closest,"commented Trixi after listening the rules and studying the boards. "And we use two boards - or more, depends how many plays, oh, and you do not show your pieces, you know, to make it more real, like a true hunt. Guess it's not that similar... But I like this one too!"
She dived into the game like into the deep waters - completely and curiously.
Molle nudges her horse into a trot, following closely behind the cart. Leaning forward, she says to the people riding in the back of the cart, "Sit on your bedrolls. It can get pretty rough, riding in there. Especially on a bumpy road. A sore bum puts a damper ontravel, even if it's funny to see people walk around with one."
After giving her advice, she pulls her horse back a little bit in case of sudden cart stoppage. She is still close enough to talk to, however, so one would just have to raise their voice a little.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
"What is everyone's expectation for the mission," Zira asks the party loudly with her characteristic smirk as Alistair reappears again with a comical pop.
He finds space on her lap his tail flicking as he balances his clawed paws on the explorer's saddle pommel tucking his wings in. Zira gives him a scratch as she urges the horse to keep a steady pace as the party passes through tje outskirts of the city towards the north gates out of Zozobra.
OOC: You understand three things: 1 the area is newly uncovered 2 you are to find, identify/document, and recover any/all objects of interest 3 safely transport them back to the Institute for study. In your previous experiences you've conducted interviews, uncovered items it shops or private sales, and studied items in the Institute archives.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Erika stretches out, relaxing as the city gates are passed and the sky seems much more wide and open around her, swaying along with the motion of the cart along the road. She wonders if 'Dreadbane' is sulking because of her little jibe at him. She glances over at the man, trying to read his expression before Zira speaks. (Insight 19)
Looking to Zira, "It is hard to say. We have heard so many things about this place. I can only imagine the ancient glories we might uncover! And the stories we will be able to tell afterwards of the wonders we have seen."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ted laughs at Areon’s Camaraderie “Team Shmeem, they make us look like pillocks. At least put your own spin on it, make it your own.” He says as he climbs into the wagon, lying with his head propped against the side and a feathered hat over his face.
Deception check - 18
As far as Erika can tell, Ted has taken the groups jibes in his stride, laughing along with everybody with little comments of “You’ll see.” He does however seem to be showing slight discomfort as he has blatantly ignored Molle’s advice and is shifting awkwardly in his spot.
”What do I expect? Well, I’m gonna show you guys a little of the Dreadbane method. A master doesn’t reveal all his tricks, but I’ll give you a few pointers for free. You guys need things, I’ll get them for you. Maybe some of these things go boom, it’s a dangerous job, and that’s why I’m here. I don’t run away from danger, I run towards it.”
"Ah, but Herr Bane, how do we even know what tricks to ask of you if you hide in secrets? Men of shadows, they tend to not have ballads written of their deeds." She pauses, looking him over. "Now, men who bring light to the darkness of the world! Hah, they have the true epics. Like Baldar the Bold, who stood alone against the dread shadow wyrm Narthax! Two days and two nights they fought, until the foul beast fled from his gods-blessed sword. Baldar's faith in the Stormfather and his desire to see his homeland safe made him a true hero."
She pauses a moment, as if finally connecting some of what he said, before looking at him curiously. "If something dangerous is exploding, is it wise to run at it? With the, as you say, boom?"
Ted laughs, “I’ll leave wisdom to the crones, if the reward is lucrative enough I’ll run into anything - I always land on my feet. I don’t need an epic anyhow, I just like the way you tell ‘em.”
He stops and thinks a second before continuing. “Two days you say? Constant fighting? You think that’s possible? I think your pal Baldur may have embellished his story a little, probably just sweet nothings to impress a tavern wench. Heroes, they’re all the same, it wasn’t his faith that kept him going, just the thought of feasts, attention and his naughty little habits. Me, I never called myself a hero, far from it, and the songs they sing for me.... all overinflated, just like your Baldur. That’s why I like your one about the lice, it’s gritty and real. Being a hero, that’s not my gig, nobody can live up to their stories, they’ll only disappoint.”
OOC: my brain can't figure out what the deception roll is for Killilli. What's up?
Zira chuckles and grins at Erika. Of all the party she thinks she and Erika have the most in common.
"We'll let them go boom with Deadbane and ask Gen to put him together again," the rogue chimes in still grinning.
OOC: I'll allow all retro posts to respond to Zira's question from Blue, Math, and Nahbois "expectation for the mission" if you'd like but wanted to post below before heading to bed. Everyone else can post proactively to below.
The party travels the outskirts of the lower city and finds easy passage out of the north gate. People stop to watch them pass but they say nothing making no attempts to hail or hinder the party. The north gates are guarded well but passage out is easily made unlike passage in. Several caravan lines are clogging the Pilgrimage Road into the city as well as many folk of all walks of life on foot and horse back wait to pass through into Zozobra's high walls.
Once truly outside the gates having left the traffic jam of those entering the city behind they find a finely kept stone road double cart wide lined with ditches on either side. Fields of wheat needing harvesting dance in the light breeze as the party heads north. The Silva Donard mountains looming ominous and gray in the distance ahead.
Several hours later...
"It'll take us another day to reach them," Zira announces gesturing at the mountains still ahead before she falls suddenly silent giving a brilliant smile slightly distracted from her effort to converse. "Well, I'll tell them to hurry up shall I? Keep your scales on," she hisses but grins! "Oh," she says looking around. "Uh Gen says it's boring ahead and we should hurry up," she explains to the party chuckling before giving her horse a nudge to pick up pace.
Moving towards the front of the caravan a crackle of lightening closer to the mountains miles away flashes before serval minutes later thunder rumbles over the gently rolling landscape. Zira has left the party to speak to the mercenary types hired by the Institute as guards for the mission. She seems to be laughing as one, a bald but bushy bearded dwarf gives her a funny salute of sorts, before she leaves them and returns to the party.
"We should meet up with Gen-ga and the others tonight. About three more hours Dalen says," Zira explains. "Gen has set the first camp already but we've got the tents and things so... I mean they've scouted a good place well off thr road that's easily defensible. Oh, uh the druid Altima says weather's going to turn soon," she adds with a grimace as another rumble on distance thunder makes Alistair yowel and his black cost bristle. His disappointment is most evident when he poofs into his fey pocket dimension safe. "Traitor," Zira snickers then sighs looking over the party then out at the landscape. "Today's the easy day," she says sighing. "Closer to the mountains the farmland stops and the thieves hide. They know who we are so we gave up attempting to hide long ago. They know we have magic ourselves as well as objects of interest and value even before we reach the ruins. Be vigilant and hopeful they won't get lucky," she adds with her smirk before settling into her saddle for the last leg of the traveling day.
It's still all farmlands on either side of the party but the road seems to stretch ahead as far as the eye can see. It's well kept and the occasional farmer with carts of hay or cereal grain pass as well as farm hands and other travelers. It's easy travel.
OOC: I'll let everyone check in again for the first day before wrap up and onto the first evening on the road. Let me know if the pacing is too jarring or you feel too led into an outcome. G'nite all!
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
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Gemini Holbright had become a household name due to her forty years of service to the New Republic. Mistress Holbright, having turned her family home into the Holbright Institute of Higher Magics, sought out scholars, practitioners of the arcane, and like-minded individuals to uncover the source of the 'Spell Plague' which caused the destabilization of the weave with arcane magics reacting in violent ways in Embera. Gemini and her followers seek the truth and root cause in the ruins of Ellyria. The ancient mage city that once ruled Embera from on high but fell in a cataclysmic event that left no survivors. Those at the Institute believe the origins of the Spell Plague began at Ellyria's fall.
Your day begins with great anticipation. You've spent months in the auxiliary service of the Institute. You have worked on archives, taking testimony, and went through training to handle magical objects. You have never however set foot in Ellyria yourself. Today is the day that all changes. You and five other party members who you have lived and trained have been called to finally venture forth into the field. You will accompany two full fledged members of the Institute who are tasked at recovering items from a newly discovered area of Ellryia. You greet the day in your bunk amongst your party. Five others share the long narrow attic room that has housed you for weeks of fairly mundane work but all of you excelled. You realize you were being vetted of course. Throughout the weeks you were carefully watched by the higher ups in the hopes of testing your character. They wanted to make sure you were worthy to wear the illustrious robes of the Institute even if you will enter at the lowest levels. You know even those robes are held in reverence in the New Republic. They literally open doors to commoners and Kings...
It's a crisp fall day. The first of the year. The summer was long and arduous but you made it through. You know the Institute itself has weeded out several people already. Some have even ended up in prison! These people having proved to be ultimately unworthy of the vestiges of the Institute or trusted around the magic items you will now seek! You however are exceptional, or so you think so, with your service being reliable and your efforts marked by success. Now you will accompany two full fledged members into the field on your first task of retrieval that very day!
Two weeks from Zozobra through the Silva Donard mountains into the crater of Ellyria. The impact zone itself known to cause magic to become volatility unreliable. You are nervous but for reasons of your own you are ready. Rising from your bunk, having eaten a hearty breakfast and packed already that morning/night before, you see your party members readying too. You trust these people, well mostly…, and they've made it through a program just like you. You've all shown talents but they have many you don't. You do know together you've become a force to be reckoned with!
Coming into the room Zira, a half-orc/half-elf member of the Institute who's a rarity herself, is smirking as always as if she just heard a good joke.
"Come," Zira calls out from the dormity door. "They've gathered the horses and wagons. We leave now," she informs the room curtly before exiting in a swirl of dark green robes that look almost black!
Your robes are a dull gray with a brilliant emerald and amethyst patch of Holbright's embroidered on the left. It's a sturdy fabric but nothing too flashy. It's full of useful items and can be worn or carried. *a robe of useful items other patches TBA by DM* In your explorer's pack you also have one regular potion of healing a gift from Gen-ga Lor, an eccentric bronze dragonborn alchemist and cleric of the Raven Queen, who's healed your wounds, given you council, and been Zira's shadow. The two young members are usually joined at the hip but so far you haven't spotted the dragonborn that morning.
Down by the horses and wagons you readied yourself to leave….
OOC: Please now post in initiative order!
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Taking in a deep breath of the crisp morning air, Ted laughs as he throws his jumbled pack on the wagon. “We’re finally off gang! Now it’s time to really show you why Dreadbane is beloved all over Embera. ”
Leaning on the wagon, the half elf passes his hand through his multicoloured hair. Though he is fairly handsome, the cocky grin that dominates his face let’s on that he is all too aware of it. Having made a fuss over the last few months about the hideousness of the robes, he has mostly covered his with a fashionable brown jacket and made a V neck cut into it so he can show off his dangling necklaces. His studded leather armour underneath is the kind that fastens with buckles at the front, but Ted has kept the top two unfastened in a reckless fashion statement and his shirt collar peeks out above the leather. The bottom of his robe is tucked into his brown leather trousers showing off a chunky belt with a brass buckle. The bottom of his trousers are rolled up, revealing a tattoo of a drunken goat on his ankle just above his pointed ankle boots, adorned in an elven fashion.
As Erika passes him, he calls out to her, making no attempt to help with preparations. ”I hope you’ve been coming up with some rhymes to go with Dreadbane. I’ve grown tired of the usual songs of my deeds, and your peoples songs have such a..... fearsomeness to them, which really befits me I think.” He leans back further into the cart arrogantly as he chews on a stick of jerky.
Gilgin Hardhammer - Mountain Dwarf Cleric (Forge Domain) - Icewind Dale
Petal - Forest Gnome Druid (Circle of the Land - Forest) - Unsung Heroes of Embera
Garron dons the robe over his clothes and shifts a little so that it falls comfortablely over his shoulders. He climbs into the wagon easily and rolls his eyes at Dreadbane's comments. Not requiring much excess equipment, he lifts his pack up behind him and places it under his seat. Garron dismisses most of Dreadbane's comments, but his talking actually a bit soothing (although he'd never tell Dreadbane that) and Garron's nerves are calmed by the presence of the people he has trained around for months.
He helps anybody that needs help carrying any items, although everyone has shown themselves to be mostly self-sufficient so he likely just sits patiently in the cart. Calling to Zira he asks, "Hey, I haven't seen Gen-ga around today... Will they be coming with us?"
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Trixi tightened the strings of the robe - works quite well as a cloak would you look at all these fancy patches! - threw her backpack into the wagon and jumped inside herself. "She is probably waiting to see your great deed herself and then the rime comes naturally, you know?" She smiled most innocently to Dreadbane and moved to the front of the wagon for the best possible view. "Finally!" (That was about the occasion, not the sit.) "What are we after? Anything specific? Or is it just a promising sight?" Trixi was the very definition of excitement and only hard drilled manners kept her from jumping on her sit impatiently. "Aw, Gen-ga keeps us waiting!" She looked around to spot the dragonborn but was immediately distracted by the horses - magnificen beasts! (they could be as well peasant's pack mules, she would still be impressed). Waiting or not, but the travel already promised to be exciting!
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Everyone get on a horse or the wagon there " Zira points to the wagon Garron has seated himself. "Gen is in the forward party scouting ahead they left at dawn," she adds with a deeper smirk than usual. "Come if the cock crows any louder Demeter will surely have all our skins," she reminds the party of Demeter Prothero their leader and a higher member of the Institute on Holbright's council of seven. "She's got her doubts you are ready but Gen and I know better don't we," she beams a smile at everyone before mounting a horse with black and white stripes before her familiar a tressy. Pokes his head our of her satchel. Zira loves animals and dotes on them openly. Her tressym Alister crawls from his sleeping place and she feeds him before she casts him into the crisp fall morning air. The black ball of fur looks almost comical as it flies aloft before poofing out of sight! "Let's move," she calls out again urging her steed towards the front gates into the city proper before the party will exit the sprawling city.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
The others would have noted Erika's absence in the dormitory this morning. As the early risers head to the wagons, they see the tall redhead returning to the gates of the compound in her leathers, a bow strung across her shoulders and a pair of rabbits tied to her belt. As she passes Ted, she gives him a nod, and speaks in her heavy accent. "Hmm, yes. I have a tune." She drums her hand against the lower section of her leather hauberk. "Dreadbane, o Dreadbane, lice in his mane, his mind can't be sane." She pauses, "No, that lyric would need work." She whistles the tune she was drumming to as she proceeds into the barracks, cutting the man a wicked grin before disappearing into the door.
She returns a few minutes later, her bag packed, her shield and axe slung across her shoulders. She now has her steel lamellar coat now over the leather hauberk, and gray cloak lined with wolf fur at the collar. A curved horn is tied to her belt, made from the real horn of some animal and bound by leather straps. The rabbits are strapped to the side of her bag.
She looks to Areon. "Apologies I did not tell you about last night. I wished one more time reflecting in the stars above, at the old forest pond. I hope you understand." She climbs into the wagon.
Accent Reference: Mjoll the Lioness (Erika's Voice)
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Molle slings the robe over her armor, before tucking her black hair behind pointed ears. It doesn't improve her sense of style, but the grey color at the very least doesn't clash with her orange clad clothes. She approaches one of the horses, and gives it a few good pets before setting her worn pack on its back. She chuckles at the tune, calling out as the woman leaves. "It suits him perfectly!"
After mounting her horse, she takes a moment to get comfortable. In their final moments of preparation, Molle double checks that everything is securely in place. She smiles, once seeing everything is in place, and looks ahead to the gates. "This expedition is going to be one for the history books. I can just feel it."
The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
"It's a fitting tune indeed," Zira beams at Erika before smirking at Ted. "Surely every tasks with me is an adventure," she shoots to Molle then looking around nods. "Move out," Zira adds to Areon urging her horse to the middle in front of those on the wagon.
There's five others in addition to the party. Three heavily armed and armored on horseback as well as another wagon of two completely unintimidating looking scribes. It's a full house so to speak but needed for the treacherous mountain pass and lands between the party to the ruins. The Pilgrimage Road as it is known is riddled with bandits and other natural obstacles. It's around 8 o'clock and you know you'll be expected to cover at minimum 30 miles a day with wagons mixed into the caravan. Your numbers are easily spotted but by the looks of the party, by all appearances, you are a formidable challenge to those who might have nefarious intentions!
OOC: Post at will.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Garron's nerves calm a bit with the arrival of each member of their group as they settle in and listens peacefully to the playful banter. As Zira gives the order to move, Garron climbs into the front of the wagon and with a crack of the reins, he urges the horses forward, and the wagon begins to move. If Trixi is still in the front area of the wagon, he strikes up a conversation with her. "I've never seen you so excited. You do know that this is only our first adventure." He rolls his eyes, but the broad smile on his face shows that he is only teasing her. He holds onto the reins with one hand and pulls out his dragonchess board with the other. Laying on the bench at the front of the wagon, he asks, "Care to learn? It might relax your mind and give your body a rest from all that bouncing around that you seem to be doing." With that, he begins to lay out the pieces and teach her the basics of the game.
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
OOC: Someone in the party wagon needs to drive FYI.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
"Gladly!" Trixi already got her share of the road view ahead and it looked like the landscape was not about to change any time soon. Driving at this point was unlikely to occupy all Garron's attention anyway, so she had pleanty of time to learn - as enthusiastically as everything she did. "You know, we have something similar, though call it ... how to translate it... "Monster hunt" would be the closest," commented Trixi after listening the rules and studying the boards. "And we use two boards - or more, depends how many plays, oh, and you do not show your pieces, you know, to make it more real, like a true hunt. Guess it's not that similar... But I like this one too!"
She dived into the game like into the deep waters - completely and curiously.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Molle nudges her horse into a trot, following closely behind the cart. Leaning forward, she says to the people riding in the back of the cart, "Sit on your bedrolls. It can get pretty rough, riding in there. Especially on a bumpy road. A sore bum puts a damper on travel, even if it's funny to see people walk around with one."
After giving her advice, she pulls her horse back a little bit in case of sudden cart stoppage. She is still close enough to talk to, however, so one would just have to raise their voice a little.
The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
"What is everyone's expectation for the mission," Zira asks the party loudly with her characteristic smirk as Alistair reappears again with a comical pop.
He finds space on her lap his tail flicking as he balances his clawed paws on the explorer's saddle pommel tucking his wings in. Zira gives him a scratch as she urges the horse to keep a steady pace as the party passes through tje outskirts of the city towards the north gates out of Zozobra.
OOC: You understand three things: 1 the area is newly uncovered 2 you are to find, identify/document, and recover any/all objects of interest 3 safely transport them back to the Institute for study. In your previous experiences you've conducted interviews, uncovered items it shops or private sales, and studied items in the Institute archives.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Erika stretches out, relaxing as the city gates are passed and the sky seems much more wide and open around her, swaying along with the motion of the cart along the road. She wonders if 'Dreadbane' is sulking because of her little jibe at him. She glances over at the man, trying to read his expression before Zira speaks. (Insight 19)
Looking to Zira, "It is hard to say. We have heard so many things about this place. I can only imagine the ancient glories we might uncover! And the stories we will be able to tell afterwards of the wonders we have seen."
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Ted laughs at Areon’s Camaraderie “Team Shmeem, they make us look like pillocks. At least put your own spin on it, make it your own.” He says as he climbs into the wagon, lying with his head propped against the side and a feathered hat over his face.
Deception check - 18
As far as Erika can tell, Ted has taken the groups jibes in his stride, laughing along with everybody with little comments of “You’ll see.” He does however seem to be showing slight discomfort as he has blatantly ignored Molle’s advice and is shifting awkwardly in his spot.
”What do I expect? Well, I’m gonna show you guys a little of the Dreadbane method. A master doesn’t reveal all his tricks, but I’ll give you a few pointers for free. You guys need things, I’ll get them for you. Maybe some of these things go boom, it’s a dangerous job, and that’s why I’m here. I don’t run away from danger, I run towards it.”
Gilgin Hardhammer - Mountain Dwarf Cleric (Forge Domain) - Icewind Dale
Petal - Forest Gnome Druid (Circle of the Land - Forest) - Unsung Heroes of Embera
"Ah, but Herr Bane, how do we even know what tricks to ask of you if you hide in secrets? Men of shadows, they tend to not have ballads written of their deeds." She pauses, looking him over. "Now, men who bring light to the darkness of the world! Hah, they have the true epics. Like Baldar the Bold, who stood alone against the dread shadow wyrm Narthax! Two days and two nights they fought, until the foul beast fled from his gods-blessed sword. Baldar's faith in the Stormfather and his desire to see his homeland safe made him a true hero."
She pauses a moment, as if finally connecting some of what he said, before looking at him curiously. "If something dangerous is exploding, is it wise to run at it? With the, as you say, boom?"
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Ted laughs, “I’ll leave wisdom to the crones, if the reward is lucrative enough I’ll run into anything - I always land on my feet. I don’t need an epic anyhow, I just like the way you tell ‘em.”
He stops and thinks a second before continuing. “Two days you say? Constant fighting? You think that’s possible? I think your pal Baldur may have embellished his story a little, probably just sweet nothings to impress a tavern wench. Heroes, they’re all the same, it wasn’t his faith that kept him going, just the thought of feasts, attention and his naughty little habits. Me, I never called myself a hero, far from it, and the songs they sing for me.... all overinflated, just like your Baldur. That’s why I like your one about the lice, it’s gritty and real. Being a hero, that’s not my gig, nobody can live up to their stories, they’ll only disappoint.”
Gilgin Hardhammer - Mountain Dwarf Cleric (Forge Domain) - Icewind Dale
Petal - Forest Gnome Druid (Circle of the Land - Forest) - Unsung Heroes of Embera
OOC: my brain can't figure out what the deception roll is for Killilli. What's up?
Zira chuckles and grins at Erika. Of all the party she thinks she and Erika have the most in common.
"We'll let them go boom with Deadbane and ask Gen to put him together again," the rogue chimes in still grinning.
OOC: I'll allow all retro posts to respond to Zira's question from Blue, Math, and Nahbois "expectation for the mission" if you'd like but wanted to post below before heading to bed. Everyone else can post proactively to below.
The party travels the outskirts of the lower city and finds easy passage out of the north gate. People stop to watch them pass but they say nothing making no attempts to hail or hinder the party. The north gates are guarded well but passage out is easily made unlike passage in. Several caravan lines are clogging the Pilgrimage Road into the city as well as many folk of all walks of life on foot and horse back wait to pass through into Zozobra's high walls.
Once truly outside the gates having left the traffic jam of those entering the city behind they find a finely kept stone road double cart wide lined with ditches on either side. Fields of wheat needing harvesting dance in the light breeze as the party heads north. The Silva Donard mountains looming ominous and gray in the distance ahead.
Several hours later...
"It'll take us another day to reach them," Zira announces gesturing at the mountains still ahead before she falls suddenly silent giving a brilliant smile slightly distracted from her effort to converse. "Well, I'll tell them to hurry up shall I? Keep your scales on," she hisses but grins! "Oh," she says looking around. "Uh Gen says it's boring ahead and we should hurry up," she explains to the party chuckling before giving her horse a nudge to pick up pace.
Moving towards the front of the caravan a crackle of lightening closer to the mountains miles away flashes before serval minutes later thunder rumbles over the gently rolling landscape. Zira has left the party to speak to the mercenary types hired by the Institute as guards for the mission. She seems to be laughing as one, a bald but bushy bearded dwarf gives her a funny salute of sorts, before she leaves them and returns to the party.
"We should meet up with Gen-ga and the others tonight. About three more hours Dalen says," Zira explains. "Gen has set the first camp already but we've got the tents and things so... I mean they've scouted a good place well off thr road that's easily defensible. Oh, uh the druid Altima says weather's going to turn soon," she adds with a grimace as another rumble on distance thunder makes Alistair yowel and his black cost bristle. His disappointment is most evident when he poofs into his fey pocket dimension safe. "Traitor," Zira snickers then sighs looking over the party then out at the landscape. "Today's the easy day," she says sighing. "Closer to the mountains the farmland stops and the thieves hide. They know who we are so we gave up attempting to hide long ago. They know we have magic ourselves as well as objects of interest and value even before we reach the ruins. Be vigilant and hopeful they won't get lucky," she adds with her smirk before settling into her saddle for the last leg of the traveling day.
It's still all farmlands on either side of the party but the road seems to stretch ahead as far as the eye can see. It's well kept and the occasional farmer with carts of hay or cereal grain pass as well as farm hands and other travelers. It's easy travel.
OOC: I'll let everyone check in again for the first day before wrap up and onto the first evening on the road. Let me know if the pacing is too jarring or you feel too led into an outcome. G'nite all!
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King