Eberk orders breakfast and some ale from the tavern keeper before joining his friends. He takes a seat and grabs a piece of fruit from Bjorn’s plate. “Good morning, everyone. While we have a minute I’d like to discuss the book.”
Sparhawk greets them all. When he looks up, he has a black eye and he nose is quite swollen, as if it were recently broken. It also shows bruising. He seems shaken, or sea sick perhaps. “Indeed. We have a lot to discuss this morning”
”Bjorn and Frangi, Eberk, and of course Lir. Tell us if anything interesting that happened and if you learned anything that could aid us. We can also discuss our options.” He wipes some blood from his still swelling nose as his eye becomes bloodshot from the bruising
“Then, I’ve got a bit of a story for you about my night after I left you."
"Bjorn made some money, nothing else happened really..."
Frangipani moved over and sniffed Sparhawk, then leaned in closer for deeper sniffs.
"Aye, it was a grounding experience to confirm that the people here are just as gullible as back home. I feel centered now," Bjorn says through a mouthful of sweet cakes.
He raises an eyebrow when Eberk mentions the book.
Sparhawk laughs, wiping his nose again. "Yes Bjorn, it is difficult to manipulate a giant lizard or killer plant. Learn anything else about the place we visited?"
"Evidently it's famous. Next sale is going up as "treasures from the hanging gardens of Nangalore," probably will draw more attention. They say there's an immortal queen living there, but she's gone crazy or something."
"Say, Eberk, they mentioned some priests use powerful drugs to get in contact with the gods. Is that why you became a cleric?" Bjorn grins. "No judgement here, of course."
“Yeah, I’m thinking we stumbled on queen zalkores tomb. I’m also guessing through some unnatural means, she is ‘alive’ in that room we couldn’t open, and perhaps cursed in some way.”
(Ooc: Did we recover a mask in Abernaths jungle home/ house of horrors or did we just see them spewing out poison?)
“Eberk my friend, thoughts on the book, and Lir, I gotta hear this one. Then…. My turn to tell you all a tale.” He smiles, bitterly.
“I say we give Bjorn the book.” He pauses for a second, trying to find the right words. “While the nature of the magic it holds may clash with my beliefs, Selûne teaches us to be tolerant of others.” Taking a deep breath, he continues. “I became too focused on the job and lost sight of that. I do think we were right in being wary, but with the things we have encountered we could use any boon available.” Eberk turns to Bjorn. “I’m sorry for how I acted.”
Sparhawk carefully considers Eberk's suggestion but is even more surprised that Bjorn says nothing.
"We took it from you Bjorn, because we were concerned that it is cursed or that you would be possessed. I value you as a friend and don't want anything bad happening to you." He looks to Bjorn for a reaction.
"Over the days of travel, you have not mentioned it once, so...clearly, it has not taken hold over you and possessed your soul. Maybe that was just our unfounded fear."
"We'll see what the group thinks. You know where I stand, but.... I highly value Eberk's opinion and I am not one to decide your fate."
He strokes the stubble on his chin. Clearly, he did not sleep well, and this decision-making seems to cause him some pain. (Headache)
"Perhaps either Volo or Dietrich could assist us in further evaluating this tomb to see if it could be of benefit. They seem to be knowledgeable, and we have few allies. Then with this information, you can decide if having the book is a good choice, not only for you, but to benefit the group."
Sparhawk frowns for a moment at Frangipanis last comment. He gathers himself, sitting more upright in his chair, as if he actually dreads sharing this information."
"Well, lets talk about my night." He smiles, weakly.
"I have a recurring dream sometimes. It involves something I don’t speak of. I think it time to share my story.
I came to Luskan from another land, exiled from my order.
You see, when I was a squire, my friend and mentor Galan and I ran into a group of drunk nobles and their bodyguards who were harassing several teen girls out running some errands. When we asked them to stop, the nobles turned their attention to us. They called us names and did what they could to provoke us as they continued to harass the unarmed teens. Finally, when racial slurs were yelled by the nobles and they ripped one of the girls shirts open, Galan lost his temper and struck the loudest of the lot. A fight ensued, and although the nobles and their guards outnumbered us, between our combat training and I suppose, my strength and size, we were able to fend them off. We were no worse for wear save for some cuts and bruises. However, I suffered a very broken nose and black eye from the scuffle. To our dismay, one of the nobles lay dead after a strike to the head from Galan's fist.
Anyway, we were arrested and put on trial for murder. As Galan was my elder, the bulk of the charges were going to land on him. Galan knew that he would be stripped of his titles and be a fallen paladin for breaking their code. He indicated that I had started the fight, had lost my temper, and had struck and killed the noble. Surprised by my friend's betrayal but loyal to the end, I did not open my mouth to protest. As a consequence, I was accused of assault leading to death and spent a year in our dungeon.
Upon completing my sentence, I returned to the order. However, more bad news developed. The truth came out as one of the young ladies clarified the initial report. My order decided that although I was certainly not in the wrong, not confronting Galan's lie and covering it up was technically, a break in our code. The now Sir Galan was dishonored and stripped of all titles as he had not accepted responsibility for his actions. Surprisingly, I, no longer a squire, was promoted to the rank of Sir (Paladin), for defending the two girls and for carrying the burden of Galan’s guilt. However, I have been exiled from my order, my honor lost. I was ordered to always keep my nose broken, as a sign of my broken oath."
"I tell you this, for two reasons. First, if you choose to keep me as your leader, you should know who I am.
Second, because when I have this dream, it is always the same. The fight with the nobles, the trial with my order, the feeling of betrayal of my closest friend.
But….this time my dream was different."
Just as the judge brings down the hammer, pronouncing my sentence the courtroom fills with a greenish-black mist, wicked laughter fills the space as a giant silver skull, marked with symbols and glowing eyes comes into focus.
After a second the skull dissipates and Luskan lays before my eyes. Lines of people in shackles being loaded onto boats, the mighty tower coated in some kind of green slime. On the dock, I see the Pirate Grendhal with a parrot perched on his shoulder shouting orders. I see the Minotaur we met before, but he seems to be coated head to toe in bronze, around his neck hangs the large sliver skull. This image is swept away by a lion-headed figure who says only “Crush this evil, or the world will Perish”
Frangipani looked up from stuffing the sixth sausage into her shark-like maw, she put her hand up, " Sorry, was the parrot barking orders or the pirate?"
" Sparhawk saved women.........not sure why women not save selves but its ok......stupid male die, other stupid male not accept honour for killing, Sparhawk take all honour and reward and women......maybe not women......now Cat-Face yell at Sparhawk in his sleep to kill more stupid males."
" Ok. I help. But I come back here after, its warm and smells nice and there are a lot of new things to eat."
Sparhawk smiles at his friend, Frangipani, seemingly relieved.
"Yes Frangi, some people, and yes men have this strange thing that compels them called honour. And...perhaps sadly, it is part of my character as well."
"After we complete our job for Dietrich, I will sail back to Luskan or a port nearby. I intend to confront Grindgal and free the slaves of his occupation. I will recover and if possible destroy this evil artifact, which I believe is a Lich of extreme evil.
As has been the case since we met, you will have a choice to make my friends. Do you follow me, or do you remain here to pursue your own varied interests.
I have earned treasure, I have earned your friendship, but I have not earned my honor back yet. This, I must do. It will soon be my purpose here in this land. I hope that my humble actions to help these people will allow the members of my order to grant me forgiveness."
a few moments Later you can hear Volos voice entering the inn, almost as if he never quit talking. Dietrich and Zaal accompany him, patiently listening as he finishes up his story and says “ well good morning friends, I hope you slept well on Kaya’s soft bedding. Truly the most comfortable beds in all Faerun.”
Dietrich hands Zaal a pouch of coin and thanks him for getting him here safely. “ As always Zaal your professionalism and skill are always welcome. You are free to leave or if you would like more work and Captain Sparhawk would approve, you can continue to the prize. I am sure your skill set will come in handy. “
Black-eyed and broken-nosed, Sparhawk wipes a tear from his bloodshot swollen eye. "Why hello Master Dietrich. If you'll forgive my joke, my are you a sight for sore eyes."
He smiles and shakes his hand, genuinely happy to see a friendly face that he knows.
Zaal hefts the pouch in one hand before tucking it away without checking its contents. Then his tired eyes--for some reason even more tired now that it is morning-- turn to Sparhawk and his crew. He seems to consider them for a moment before shrugging and saying wearily, "I'm not used to working with others, but..." he shrugs, "It's not like I have work lined up already, so if you'll have me I'll take the job." As usual, he doesn't sound particularly thrilled or particularly disappointed. A job is a job, and since he knows Dietrich he'd sooner rather work for him than someone else.
Sparhawk looks at his friends, some color returning to his face.
"Zaal, hang out with us for a few days and get to know the crew, or should I say, let them get to know you. Then, if they like you and Frangipani doesn't eat you, there may be a place for you in our group. At that time, if its a good fit, I'll have you swear an oath." He smiles at Lir..., the last to join
"Sorry, as long as I'm the leader, that's how it works here."
"That sounds like an omen, no doubt. Well, if we're willing to use the book, then I say we bring the wrath of Thay down on that bastard pirate. He won't be expecting that."
"But that's a job for later. Even if we could sail there right away, I don't know how to really use the book yet. And besides, there's work to be done here, though the poor sods in Luskan might wish otherwise."
"Ah, welcome! Glad to see the sea didn't swallow ye up. If ye listen to some people," he nudges Lir, "you'd think that's all she does, is swallow people up."
"Zaal, was it? What's yer story? And by that I mean," Bjorn finishes assembling a kebab the size of which can only be described as hubris, "what's keepin' you up at night? Old wounds? A woman? The beckoning maw of the sea?"
" The crazy brain soup book?"
"Bjorn made some money, nothing else happened really..."
Frangipani moved over and sniffed Sparhawk, then leaned in closer for deeper sniffs.
" Yes...your night was interesting I think."
Sparhawk gives Frangipani a scratch on the top of her head, as if she were a cat.
"Eberk? the book."
"Aye, it was a grounding experience to confirm that the people here are just as gullible as back home. I feel centered now," Bjorn says through a mouthful of sweet cakes.
He raises an eyebrow when Eberk mentions the book.
Sparhawk laughs, wiping his nose again. "Yes Bjorn, it is difficult to manipulate a giant lizard or killer plant. Learn anything else about the place we visited?"
"Evidently it's famous. Next sale is going up as "treasures from the hanging gardens of Nangalore," probably will draw more attention. They say there's an immortal queen living there, but she's gone crazy or something."
"Say, Eberk, they mentioned some priests use powerful drugs to get in contact with the gods. Is that why you became a cleric?" Bjorn grins. "No judgement here, of course."
“Yeah, I’m thinking we stumbled on queen zalkores tomb. I’m also guessing through some unnatural means, she is ‘alive’ in that room we couldn’t open, and perhaps cursed in some way.”
(Ooc: Did we recover a mask in Abernaths jungle home/ house of horrors or did we just see them spewing out poison?)
“Eberk my friend, thoughts on the book, and Lir, I gotta hear this one. Then…. My turn to tell you all a tale.” He smiles, bitterly.
“I say we give Bjorn the book.” He pauses for a second, trying to find the right words. “While the nature of the magic it holds may clash with my beliefs, Selûne teaches us to be tolerant of others.” Taking a deep breath, he continues. “I became too focused on the job and lost sight of that. I do think we were right in being wary, but with the things we have encountered we could use any boon available.” Eberk turns to Bjorn. “I’m sorry for how I acted.”
Bjorn's as surprised as anyone. He makes the tactical decision to shut up for a minute and see where this goes.
Sparhawk carefully considers Eberk's suggestion but is even more surprised that Bjorn says nothing.
"We took it from you Bjorn, because we were concerned that it is cursed or that you would be possessed. I value you as a friend and don't want anything bad happening to you."
He looks to Bjorn for a reaction.
"Over the days of travel, you have not mentioned it once, so...clearly, it has not taken hold over you and possessed your soul. Maybe that was just our unfounded fear."
"We'll see what the group thinks. You know where I stand, but.... I highly value Eberk's opinion and I am not one to decide your fate."
He strokes the stubble on his chin. Clearly, he did not sleep well, and this decision-making seems to cause him some pain. (Headache)
"Perhaps either Volo or Dietrich could assist us in further evaluating this tomb to see if it could be of benefit. They seem to be knowledgeable, and we have few allies. Then with this information, you can decide if having the book is a good choice, not only for you, but to benefit the group."
"Thoughts?"
Frangipani sighed, " Book is bad. But I am not Bjorns mother or mate....so he can do what he wants."
" Dead queen probably very grumpy if we disturb....but I am not Captain."
" Also I do not want to go back to Luskan...this place is much nicer."
She wandered off and began ordering a prodigious amount of breakfast.
(OOC: I apologize for the long post)
Sparhawk frowns for a moment at Frangipanis last comment. He gathers himself, sitting more upright in his chair, as if he actually dreads sharing this information."
"Well, lets talk about my night." He smiles, weakly.
"I have a recurring dream sometimes. It involves something I don’t speak of. I think it time to share my story.
I came to Luskan from another land, exiled from my order.
You see, when I was a squire, my friend and mentor Galan and I ran into a group of drunk nobles and their bodyguards who were harassing several teen girls out running some errands. When we asked them to stop, the nobles turned their attention to us. They called us names and did what they could to provoke us as they continued to harass the unarmed teens. Finally, when racial slurs were yelled by the nobles and they ripped one of the girls shirts open, Galan lost his temper and struck the loudest of the lot. A fight ensued, and although the nobles and their guards outnumbered us, between our combat training and I suppose, my strength and size, we were able to fend them off. We were no worse for wear save for some cuts and bruises. However, I suffered a very broken nose and black eye from the scuffle. To our dismay, one of the nobles lay dead after a strike to the head from Galan's fist.
Anyway, we were arrested and put on trial for murder. As Galan was my elder, the bulk of the charges were going to land on him. Galan knew that he would be stripped of his titles and be a fallen paladin for breaking their code. He indicated that I had started the fight, had lost my temper, and had struck and killed the noble. Surprised by my friend's betrayal but loyal to the end, I did not open my mouth to protest. As a consequence, I was accused of assault leading to death and spent a year in our dungeon.
Upon completing my sentence, I returned to the order. However, more bad news developed. The truth came out as one of the young ladies clarified the initial report. My order decided that although I was certainly not in the wrong, not confronting Galan's lie and covering it up was technically, a break in our code. The now Sir Galan was dishonored and stripped of all titles as he had not accepted responsibility for his actions. Surprisingly, I, no longer a squire, was promoted to the rank of Sir (Paladin), for defending the two girls and for carrying the burden of Galan’s guilt. However, I have been exiled from my order, my honor lost. I was ordered to always keep my nose broken, as a sign of my broken oath."
Sparhawk pauses and takes a drink of coffee.
"I tell you this, for two reasons. First, if you choose to keep me as your leader, you should know who I am.
Second, because when I have this dream, it is always the same. The fight with the nobles, the trial with my order, the feeling of betrayal of my closest friend.
But….this time my dream was different."
Just as the judge brings down the hammer, pronouncing my sentence the courtroom fills with a greenish-black mist, wicked laughter fills the space as a giant silver skull, marked with symbols and glowing eyes comes into focus.
After a second the skull dissipates and Luskan lays before my eyes. Lines of people in shackles being loaded onto boats, the mighty tower coated in some kind of green slime. On the dock, I see the Pirate Grendhal with a parrot perched on his shoulder shouting orders. I see the Minotaur we met before, but he seems to be coated head to toe in bronze, around his neck hangs the large sliver skull. This image is swept away by a lion-headed figure who says only “Crush this evil, or the world will Perish”
(Please look at the image on post: 5185 (spoiler)
Frangipani looked up from stuffing the sixth sausage into her shark-like maw, she put her hand up, " Sorry, was the parrot barking orders or the pirate?"
" Sparhawk saved women.........not sure why women not save selves but its ok......stupid male die, other stupid male not accept honour for killing, Sparhawk take all honour and reward and women......maybe not women......now Cat-Face yell at Sparhawk in his sleep to kill more stupid males."
" Ok. I help. But I come back here after, its warm and smells nice and there are a lot of new things to eat."
" What are these meat tubes made from?"
Sparhawk smiles at his friend, Frangipani, seemingly relieved.
"Yes Frangi, some people, and yes men have this strange thing that compels them called honour. And...perhaps sadly, it is part of my character as well."
"After we complete our job for Dietrich, I will sail back to Luskan or a port nearby. I intend to confront Grindgal and free the slaves of his occupation. I will recover and if possible destroy this evil artifact, which I believe is a Lich of extreme evil.
As has been the case since we met, you will have a choice to make my friends. Do you follow me, or do you remain here to pursue your own varied interests.
I have earned treasure, I have earned your friendship, but I have not earned my honor back yet. This, I must do. It will soon be my purpose here in this land. I hope that my humble actions to help these people will allow the members of my order to grant me forgiveness."
a few moments Later you can hear Volos voice entering the inn, almost as if he never quit talking. Dietrich and Zaal accompany him, patiently listening as he finishes up his story and says “ well good morning friends, I hope you slept well on Kaya’s soft bedding. Truly the most comfortable beds in all Faerun.”
Dietrich hands Zaal a pouch of coin and thanks him for getting him here safely. “ As always Zaal your professionalism and skill are always welcome. You are free to leave or if you would like more work and Captain Sparhawk would approve, you can continue to the prize. I am sure your skill set will come in handy. “
Black-eyed and broken-nosed, Sparhawk wipes a tear from his bloodshot swollen eye.
"Why hello Master Dietrich. If you'll forgive my joke, my are you a sight for sore eyes."
He smiles and shakes his hand, genuinely happy to see a friendly face that he knows.
Zaal hefts the pouch in one hand before tucking it away without checking its contents. Then his tired eyes--for some reason even more tired now that it is morning-- turn to Sparhawk and his crew. He seems to consider them for a moment before shrugging and saying wearily, "I'm not used to working with others, but..." he shrugs, "It's not like I have work lined up already, so if you'll have me I'll take the job." As usual, he doesn't sound particularly thrilled or particularly disappointed. A job is a job, and since he knows Dietrich he'd sooner rather work for him than someone else.
Sparhawk looks at his friends, some color returning to his face.
"Zaal, hang out with us for a few days and get to know the crew, or should I say, let them get to know you. Then, if they like you and Frangipani doesn't eat you, there may be a place for you in our group. At that time, if its a good fit, I'll have you swear an oath."
He smiles at Lir..., the last to join
"Sorry, as long as I'm the leader, that's how it works here."
"That sounds like an omen, no doubt. Well, if we're willing to use the book, then I say we bring the wrath of Thay down on that bastard pirate. He won't be expecting that."
"But that's a job for later. Even if we could sail there right away, I don't know how to really use the book yet. And besides, there's work to be done here, though the poor sods in Luskan might wish otherwise."
"Ah, welcome! Glad to see the sea didn't swallow ye up. If ye listen to some people," he nudges Lir, "you'd think that's all she does, is swallow people up."
"Zaal, was it? What's yer story? And by that I mean," Bjorn finishes assembling a kebab the size of which can only be described as hubris, "what's keepin' you up at night? Old wounds? A woman? The beckoning maw of the sea?"
Weirdly Lir giggles to himself, before returning to his blank-faced calm.