Lucius interjects, “That is the question really, can we safely carry it? And how can we know for certain? I guess the point of burying or hiding it is so that no other unsuspecting soul finds it”.
He looks around at the others. “I don’t know the answers to those questions, I just know it reeks of evil, and I am not sure I trust anyone with it, including myself”, he adds.
“No harm should come to us from it as long as we don’t touch it. Would probably be a good idea to keep it as evidence I guess, if this is the cause for all the bad luck of course.” Ragnik looks towards Lucius trying to be reassuring “I can carry the coin in my pack until the gods grant me the ability to remove the curse.”
Lucius takes a good long look at Ragnik before nodding. "Yes, I think that might be for the best", he says relaxing a bit.
"The bad luck at the village, the huge wasps and now cursed coins. Something strange is happening in this region. You have good intuition Eraleigh, you think it is all connected?", he says with a frown.
Eraleigh sticks one hand in his pocket and strokes his chin in a comical imitation of a theatrical investigator: “I have no certainty at all. But it seems like a mighty coincidental sort of thing. Better to keep an eye on it, I say.”
The next morning dawns crisp and clean, with only a few white, puffy clouds moving to a gentle breeze moving eastwards over the ocean. You can even see a merchant ship, several miles out, making its southward along the coast. Though the ground is heavy with dew, it soon dissipates and the temperature rises quickly in the late spring. It is still a little before noon, when you see a something coming south along the road. It soon resolves itself into the figure of an man leading a string of five mules. The man's hair is gray with age and he has a long, grey beard. He wears dirty high boots, leather pants and a sleeveless felt coat which reaches to his knees over a linen shirt. The decoration around the hem, sleeves and neck is a mixture of blue and red. He wears a wide red sash around his waist, with a belt over it. Attached to the belt is a long, serviceable knife and a pouch. The mules carry an assortment of packs, and one has various kitchen knives, scythe blades, and axes attached.
Nadaar steps out to take in the fresh air. He hangs back but does not attempt to hide his presence from our visitor. If the visitor looks his way he will give a friendly smile and a nod.
"Wet," the man replies with a smile in a gravelly voice. "But, that's spring, ain't it. Still the roads is in good condition, though it still puzzles me why they're so straight. Especially through the hill country, would make more sense to go around the hills instead of flattening them."
"Good to know", Lucius replies. "Surely it benefits you that the roads are straight, makes for a quicker journey. I am sure they appreciate it", he says motioning towards the mules.
"If you don't mind my curiosity, where have you come from? seen any signs of trouble we should know about?" Ragnik asks the traveller with a friendly smile on his face, trying to not pry into their business too much.
"From Khalad Hirn by way of the Downs and the Old Wilderness Road." He gestures to the mule with the cutlery and axes, then to the others. He looks a bit sheepishly at Ragnik, "I know, not the best of Dwarven work. Only apprentice craft, bit still Dwarven make, and fetch a nice price down south." He thinks for a minute. "Well, if your headed north into the mountains there is bandits to worry about. And you'll need to watch were you camp as the bears are big and bad tempered up there. The Downs are peaceful, but having there own troubles. Spring has been good. No late frosts, but the trees and fields look blighted. It'll be a tough winter for those folks if it doesn't turn around."
Ragnik
Khalad Hirn is far to the west, and is a Dwarf hold known more for its gem mining, then smithing. Dwarven craftsmen follow the guild system of Master, Journeyman and Apprentice. While an apprentice would never be allowed to sell their work in the Dwarven communities, a blind eye is taken when selling to outsiders. Though the Master would never allow an apprentice to sell anything of horrible quality.
"Yes, much obliged, and good travels sir", Lucius says in agreement with Nadaar.
He walks on passed thinking it wise to carry on before the stranger asks questions of his own, ones that they may not wish to answer. He doesn't look back but listens to hear whether the others do the same or continue their conversation.
Noticing the traders sheepish looks Ragnik takes a look at the wares he is carrying “Dwarven apprentices still make Dwarven work my friend, this all looks like fine work the masters would be happy to see it go to use. I’m sure the craftsmen would be happy you took interest in their wares and their work will spread round the region.” Ragnik beams a bright smile at the trader “thank you for your time and the information. May the roads ahead treat you kindly, and be wary of large hornets!”
Ragnik waves the trader off and rushes off to catch up to the others.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Bidding the peddler goodbye, you continue north into the hill country. The flat lands begin to gently roll and trees begin to appear in the spaces between. You soon discover what the peddler meant and the hills grow taller and more frequent. At one point a long ramp has been constructed up a hill, where the hill has been dug out for the road. The effort this must have taken is impressive, though going around the hill would have been much easier.
The sun is setting as you approach the Downs, a vale farmers claimed from the wilderness. All does not appear well here. The fading light of day cannot disguise the curled and withered leaves hanging lifelessly from the trees. Early fruit rests upon the ground, blackened and soft. The grass is dry, brittle. The Downs has never been like this. Something is terribly wrong. Beyond the trees lies a small village just off of the main road. [See map at end of post]
OCC: Tonight is Christmas Eve on the Russian Orthodox Calendar (my wife). So more holiday wishes to everyone. I probably will not post tomorrow. So everyone have a great weekend.
Lucius surveys the scene around him. “I know we heard rumours but seeing it up close is another matter. How can bad luck cause this?”, he says motioning at the lifeless vegetation all around.
He looks to the others, “It is getting dark, we should look for somewhere in town to stay, assuming they have an inn. We haven’t talked about our approach to the locals. Are we going to be up front regarding our purpose or try and investigate discreetly a little first?”.
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Lucius interjects, “That is the question really, can we safely carry it? And how can we know for certain? I guess the point of burying or hiding it is so that no other unsuspecting soul finds it”.
He looks around at the others. “I don’t know the answers to those questions, I just know it reeks of evil, and I am not sure I trust anyone with it, including myself”, he adds.
So you are going to take it with you in the morning?
If so, the rest of the night passes without incident.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
“No harm should come to us from it as long as we don’t touch it. Would probably be a good idea to keep it as evidence I guess, if this is the cause for all the bad luck of course.” Ragnik looks towards Lucius trying to be reassuring “I can carry the coin in my pack until the gods grant me the ability to remove the curse.”
Lucius takes a good long look at Ragnik before nodding. "Yes, I think that might be for the best", he says relaxing a bit.
"The bad luck at the village, the huge wasps and now cursed coins. Something strange is happening in this region. You have good intuition Eraleigh, you think it is all connected?", he says with a frown.
Eraleigh sticks one hand in his pocket and strokes his chin in a comical imitation of a theatrical investigator: “I have no certainty at all. But it seems like a mighty coincidental sort of thing. Better to keep an eye on it, I say.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
The next morning dawns crisp and clean, with only a few white, puffy clouds moving to a gentle breeze moving eastwards over the ocean. You can even see a merchant ship, several miles out, making its southward along the coast. Though the ground is heavy with dew, it soon dissipates and the temperature rises quickly in the late spring. It is still a little before noon, when you see a something coming south along the road. It soon resolves itself into the figure of an man leading a string of five mules. The man's hair is gray with age and he has a long, grey beard. He wears dirty high boots, leather pants and a sleeveless felt coat which reaches to his knees over a linen shirt. The decoration around the hem, sleeves and neck is a mixture of blue and red. He wears a wide red sash around his waist, with a belt over it. Attached to the belt is a long, serviceable knife and a pouch. The mules carry an assortment of packs, and one has various kitchen knives, scythe blades, and axes attached.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Lucius watches the man approach with his mules, assuming he is some sort of trader but being wary nonetheless.
"Greetings traveller, what news of the road ahead?", he calls from beneath the hood of his cloak, keeping a close eye on him.
Nadaar steps out to take in the fresh air. He hangs back but does not attempt to hide his presence from our visitor. If the visitor looks his way he will give a friendly smile and a nod.
D&D since 1984
"Wet," the man replies with a smile in a gravelly voice. "But, that's spring, ain't it. Still the roads is in good condition, though it still puzzles me why they're so straight. Especially through the hill country, would make more sense to go around the hills instead of flattening them."
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
"Good to know", Lucius replies. "Surely it benefits you that the roads are straight, makes for a quicker journey. I am sure they appreciate it", he says motioning towards the mules.
"If you don't mind my curiosity, where have you come from? seen any signs of trouble we should know about?" Ragnik asks the traveller with a friendly smile on his face, trying to not pry into their business too much.
"From Khalad Hirn by way of the Downs and the Old Wilderness Road." He gestures to the mule with the cutlery and axes, then to the others. He looks a bit sheepishly at Ragnik, "I know, not the best of Dwarven work. Only apprentice craft, bit still Dwarven make, and fetch a nice price down south." He thinks for a minute. "Well, if your headed north into the mountains there is bandits to worry about. And you'll need to watch were you camp as the bears are big and bad tempered up there. The Downs are peaceful, but having there own troubles. Spring has been good. No late frosts, but the trees and fields look blighted. It'll be a tough winter for those folks if it doesn't turn around."
Ragnik
Khalad Hirn is far to the west, and is a Dwarf hold known more for its gem mining, then smithing. Dwarven craftsmen follow the guild system of Master, Journeyman and Apprentice. While an apprentice would never be allowed to sell their work in the Dwarven communities, a blind eye is taken when selling to outsiders. Though the Master would never allow an apprentice to sell anything of horrible quality.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Nadaar steps up and says "Thank you sir for the advice"
D&D since 1984
"Yes, much obliged, and good travels sir", Lucius says in agreement with Nadaar.
He walks on passed thinking it wise to carry on before the stranger asks questions of his own, ones that they may not wish to answer. He doesn't look back but listens to hear whether the others do the same or continue their conversation.
Nadaar nods to the traveler and follows Lucius
D&D since 1984
Noticing the traders sheepish looks Ragnik takes a look at the wares he is carrying “Dwarven apprentices still make Dwarven work my friend, this all looks like fine work the masters would be happy to see it go to use. I’m sure the craftsmen would be happy you took interest in their wares and their work will spread round the region.” Ragnik beams a bright smile at the trader “thank you for your time and the information. May the roads ahead treat you kindly, and be wary of large hornets!”
Ragnik waves the trader off and rushes off to catch up to the others.
Muktak will follow Nadaar and Lucius.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
- Litany Against Fear, Frank Herbert
Bidding the peddler goodbye, you continue north into the hill country. The flat lands begin to gently roll and trees begin to appear in the spaces between. You soon discover what the peddler meant and the hills grow taller and more frequent. At one point a long ramp has been constructed up a hill, where the hill has been dug out for the road. The effort this must have taken is impressive, though going around the hill would have been much easier.
The sun is setting as you approach the Downs, a vale farmers claimed from the wilderness. All does not appear well here. The fading light of day cannot disguise the curled and withered leaves hanging lifelessly from the trees. Early fruit rests upon the ground, blackened and soft. The grass is dry, brittle. The Downs has never been like this. Something is terribly wrong. Beyond the trees lies a small village just off of the main road. [See map at end of post]
OCC: Tonight is Christmas Eve on the Russian Orthodox Calendar (my wife). So more holiday wishes to everyone. I probably will not post tomorrow. So everyone have a great weekend.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Ragnar also nods to the traveler as he passes
Lucius surveys the scene around him. “I know we heard rumours but seeing it up close is another matter. How can bad luck cause this?”, he says motioning at the lifeless vegetation all around.
He looks to the others, “It is getting dark, we should look for somewhere in town to stay, assuming they have an inn. We haven’t talked about our approach to the locals. Are we going to be up front regarding our purpose or try and investigate discreetly a little first?”.