"The name we've been given is Warhawk," the wizard says. "He calls himself the liaison of Erdelun, so I think he answers to a higher rank. He's hard to miss. Thin and pale. Bright blond hair, almost white. Very distinct blue eyes."
The wizard inches slowly toward the gate as he talks, but the patrol squad leader, Captain Barro, catches on to him and orders his squad to restrain and escort him to the threshold of the village -- about 60 feet away from the hunter and the knight.
Karm, you are not quite sure you recognize the name. You do however remember that it was mentioned once or twice in the history of Sabitah. It refers to the communication method during the Third Age. The War Hawk is a species of messenger bird that had been bred by the Aarakocras so they wouldn't have to deliver messages anymore and can do other professions. It was called the War Hawk because it had been blessed by Ausvic, the God of War, Peace, and Judgement, to be able to always find the subject of the letter they carried. It was the preferred method of messaging before the spell Sending was invented. You don't think this is what the wizard referred to.
"Well that at least ties up with some of our own information", Drexon says in response to the description of the thin, pale person with bright blond hair.
A thought then occurs to him and he addresses the wizard through telepathy.
"How was it you were able to shield your thoughts?", he asks.
He watches the wizards body language trying to determine if there is any deceit there.
The wizard quirks his head toward Drexon and raises his eyebrow. Drexon, at first you feel a little bit muffled when you speak to him with your telepathy, but then the connection becomes clearer as if he has to willingly pull off the veil surrounding him.
"It is a trinket," he says. "Mine is a family heirloom, but it is not that rare that you can't find it in a common arcane shop. It allows me to block people like you that are too nosy for their own good. Well, in the spirit of cooperation, I will be frank and warn you that the Warhawk is a man of learning. He holds incredible arcane power, greater than even me, but not by much. It is likely that he will have the same ability to block psychic intrusion too."
You can feel and hear the genuineness of his inner voice. He seems to be truthful.
Still looking at Drexon, the wizard audibly asks once again, "So, how about that trade? I promise to remain visible at all times. My companions and I are going to stay here with the good ranger and the strapping hobgoblin captain while you do your business with someone who seems to be the leader of this village. After that, we can go back to Erdelun in time for a very late supper."
"We'll be waiting here," the wizard says as he rejoins his two companions. His horse, the one that has been suspended at the gate, is suddenly released. Its black color turned a little charcoal grey and its fiery mane shines a brighter white compared to the previously burnt orange. It's subtle, but the horse is definitely a bit livelier than before.
Captain Barro orders his men to watch the three riders as he points at the largest tower in the village right at the end of the main thoroughfare, beyond the broken fountain. As the captain escorts you to the tower, you can see hobgoblins of all ages glancing at you before scurrying away to do their business. You get the sense that this place is not as interested in newcomers as the people in the city. There is an air of stoic and strong sense of duty in the village.
A massive structure made seemingly of burnt stone, the Leader Tower stands 60 feet high, towering over the other buildings around it. It has the shape of a gourd, bulbous at the bottom and tapering at the top. Captain Barro leads you to a spiraling staircase in the middle of the tower and to the penthouse. Right in front of the door of what must have been the Leader's Office, two hobgoblins stand guard. You cannot see their face as they are wearing a blank mask, but you can see that they are heavily armed.
As you enter, you are greeted with the sight of a round office. Directly opposite of the door is a large desk with a large open window behind it. The Leader is standing near the window, staring pensively out to the village.
To the left is a long bench. Slouch lazily on the bench is an incredibly thin hobgoblin that almost look starved. His black hair is tied messily in a low ponytail. Despite his lack of decorum, there is a surprising clarity in his gaze. His hands are moving, wrist rolling and fingers tapping incessantly.
"Thank you, Barro," the Leader says as he turns to face the group. "I thank you for dealing with these riders with as little bloodshed as possible. My intention of calling you here is because your arrival has been foretold and I would like to offer some insight. I believe you are here because of the recent kidnappings in Erdelun, is that correct?"
{{Does anyone look inside the bag yet? Make a Perception or Investigation if you want to do it.}}
It is nice to hear we are on the right track, for we are, in a way, fairly lost. We will appreciate any insight. And i want to mention that i respect your desicion to let those things live after they killed some of your people. I am not sure if i would make the same judgment.
Karm does not look into the bag but he occasionly glaces at it. He is surely curious.
"Death is part of their duty to the village," the Leader says. "They will be remembered."
The Leader moves to take a seat on his desk and motions you to find some seating for yourself. Three chairs have been set aside near the bench and a couple of chairs are in front of the Leader's desk. The other hobgoblin in the room remains on the bench.
"I am Garro Uriah, Leader of the Village Hidden in the Forest," the Leader says. "I called you here to give you some insight on the kidnapping. We had only speculation when we heard the news from passing rangers or travelers, but with this attempted theft of the Thirteen-Shaded Jade, there is only one reason the children are missing. They are to be used to empower the jade to unlock its full potential."
"The Thirteen-Shaded Jade is a part of a set," Garro continues. "Each piece of the set has to be unlocked before its full potential power can be realized. Uniting all thirteen will grant a wish capable of altering reality itself to an extent. The Hidden Villages have been entrusted with their protection since the end of the Second Age, but over time some have gone missing. Only five remain in possession of the Hidden Villages."
"Each gem has a different activation or awakening process. The Jade, in particular, requires the Attuner, the person who awakens it, to understand the price of life and death. It is the heaviest price to be paid in activating the gems. It requires the life and blood of seven children and seven elders. The process itself requires the gems to be bathed in the blood of the children to signify the purity of life and the blood of elders to signify the acceptance of death over the period of seven nights with the seventh night being the Hollow Night. Unlike the other gems that have earned some notoriety, the Thirteen-Shaded Jade has only been awakened once before and that is at the end of the Second Age. We have only stories and unreliable records at that time, but it was said that the Jade is capable of resurrecting an entire army in a blink of an eye or a God. The potential for this to be abused is immense and that is why it has to be kept safe."
"As I've said before, your arrival has been foretold. Our wise woman made a prediction when I first become Leader of this village that one day my old enemy will return and five shall come to aid me. Have you examined the belt? When I first see it, I knew that the day of the prediction have come. The people that you fought are not under the orders of a mere person, a local bandit boss, or a mad wizard looking for power. That buckle is the sigil of someone that called themselves the Cobalt Sovereign. They had tried to steal the Jade once before many decades ago. I foiled their plan personally. It seems that they are trying it again. Back then, they were operating under the organization called the Residuum. I am unsure if it still exists now."
Eremoz, you look into the pack and find a translucent pearl, a couple of rolls of paper, and a couple of bottles of ink. You also find 50 copper and 250 bronze. Attached to the belt beside the pack is the pouch that the Leader tipped over to reveal fluorescent dust before. Inside you find some fleece, a couple of gum arabic, and an owl feather.
{{In terms of D&D items, you get a pearl worth 100 copper (or 100 gp), papers and fine inks worth 50 copper (or 50 gp), 50 copper, and 250 bronze. You also get a component pouch filled with fleece, gum arabic, and an owl feather.}}
Cob watches as Eremoz looks in the bag then does his best to follow along with what the hobgoblin leader says.
"So, could whoever gets a whole set of these jade stones rip open a gateway between dimensions or even between different times?" Cob asks. "That might be why your seer saw us coming."
Cob muses for a moment longer before adding. "You don't know where this Cobalt Sovereign might be located do you?"
"With just the Jade?" Garro asks. "No, the Jade doesn't have the capability. There is one gemstone whose power stems from dimensional or spatial energy and it is under the protection of the Village Hidden in the Mountain. It is more commonly known as the White-Point Star or, in its earlier designation, the Twelve-Pointed Diamond. You will have to find them to inquire about it, but I can give you directions. They are hidden in the Weaving Mountains to the east."
You know of the Weaving Mountain. It is a mountain range in the northeast of the Verdant Trammel. It lies in The Republic of Yvraithe's territory and It is roughly 2 to 3 weeks' travel from the border of Vortes. It is the tallest mountain in the continent of Vorgeris and it is sometimes called the Cradle of Heaven.
"Unfortunately, I know not of where they fled to," Garro adds. "I banished them as mercy, but it appears that they spat on my mercy and still seek the Jade for their own want. Following the trail of the symbol will probably lead you to them."
"Try the bigger cities," the slouching hobgoblin says. "This person or organization you're looking for has connections in high places and the cunning to stay hidden for so long. From the mercenary they hired, you can probably tell that you will be looking for a crime syndicate operating in big cities with many branches in small towns. Not a village; they would not deign a village to be enough unless the village have what they are looking for. You will also have to account for said organization or person posing or infiltrating another."
"This is Hiden Juiy," Garro says. "He is my Commissary and Chief Strategist."
Karm, you are not quite sure you have heard or read about any of them. However, you do remember that the prophecy that Old Man Jiminy gave before he sent you to the past mentioned something about a blue sovereign.
The trammel, the wild, the cradle says karm quiet, mostly to himself. I think we will have to seek out your friends in the mountains at some point, yes. Do you by chance know a hidden prince? Or a bleeding Queen?
"Hidden prince?" Garro asks. "I don't recall ever hearing such a title. There was a rumor of a hidden princess of the old Dusk Empire after the establishment of the Republic of Yvraithe, but that was centuries ago and the princess was pronounced dead at sea when a body washed on the northern coast with the face incredibly similar to the late Dusk Emperor and Empress. And a bleeding queen? I'm not sure I know about it either."
Cob looks in the pouch Eremoz tosses to Drexon but doesn't see anything he'd be able to make use of.
He then looks around at the others.
"Sounds to me then that these kids aren't sitting out in these woods anywhere," Cob says. "This blue crime lord might have operatives back in town. Might be worth just heading back and nosing around a bit."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Cob thinks back to Drexon "Yes, he looks okay. He's probably going to feel like he was hit by a train when he finally comes too but he'll live."
Cob listens to the rest of the conversation before asking.
"Who hired you?" Cob asks.
"The name we've been given is Warhawk," the wizard says. "He calls himself the liaison of Erdelun, so I think he answers to a higher rank. He's hard to miss. Thin and pale. Bright blond hair, almost white. Very distinct blue eyes."
The wizard inches slowly toward the gate as he talks, but the patrol squad leader, Captain Barro, catches on to him and orders his squad to restrain and escort him to the threshold of the village -- about 60 feet away from the hunter and the knight.
Does the name Warhawk ring a bell for Karm?
History: 28
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Karm, you are not quite sure you recognize the name. You do however remember that it was mentioned once or twice in the history of Sabitah. It refers to the communication method during the Third Age. The War Hawk is a species of messenger bird that had been bred by the Aarakocras so they wouldn't have to deliver messages anymore and can do other professions. It was called the War Hawk because it had been blessed by Ausvic, the God of War, Peace, and Judgement, to be able to always find the subject of the letter they carried. It was the preferred method of messaging before the spell Sending was invented. You don't think this is what the wizard referred to.
"Well that at least ties up with some of our own information", Drexon says in response to the description of the thin, pale person with bright blond hair.
A thought then occurs to him and he addresses the wizard through telepathy.
"How was it you were able to shield your thoughts?", he asks.
He watches the wizards body language trying to determine if there is any deceit there.
Insight: 3+5=8 (Passive: 15)
The wizard quirks his head toward Drexon and raises his eyebrow. Drexon, at first you feel a little bit muffled when you speak to him with your telepathy, but then the connection becomes clearer as if he has to willingly pull off the veil surrounding him.
"It is a trinket," he says. "Mine is a family heirloom, but it is not that rare that you can't find it in a common arcane shop. It allows me to block people like you that are too nosy for their own good. Well, in the spirit of cooperation, I will be frank and warn you that the Warhawk is a man of learning. He holds incredible arcane power, greater than even me, but not by much. It is likely that he will have the same ability to block psychic intrusion too."
You can feel and hear the genuineness of his inner voice. He seems to be truthful.
Still looking at Drexon, the wizard audibly asks once again, "So, how about that trade? I promise to remain visible at all times. My companions and I are going to stay here with the good ranger and the strapping hobgoblin captain while you do your business with someone who seems to be the leader of this village. After that, we can go back to Erdelun in time for a very late supper."
As the question hangs, Dvark begins to stir.
Drexon chuckles in response to being called nosy, although the others don’t know that is why.
”Ok, it seems our friend stirs, let’s do the deal and see this leader”, he agrees quickly.
“Eremoz, can you help Dvark up please?”, he asks, knowing the Leonin was by far the most capable of hefting an Orc.
”Where is your leaders hut? Someone lead the way”, he then inquires of the Hobgoblin captain, ready to follow once Dvark is on his feet.
"We'll be waiting here," the wizard says as he rejoins his two companions. His horse, the one that has been suspended at the gate, is suddenly released. Its black color turned a little charcoal grey and its fiery mane shines a brighter white compared to the previously burnt orange. It's subtle, but the horse is definitely a bit livelier than before.
Captain Barro orders his men to watch the three riders as he points at the largest tower in the village right at the end of the main thoroughfare, beyond the broken fountain. As the captain escorts you to the tower, you can see hobgoblins of all ages glancing at you before scurrying away to do their business. You get the sense that this place is not as interested in newcomers as the people in the city. There is an air of stoic and strong sense of duty in the village.
A massive structure made seemingly of burnt stone, the Leader Tower stands 60 feet high, towering over the other buildings around it. It has the shape of a gourd, bulbous at the bottom and tapering at the top. Captain Barro leads you to a spiraling staircase in the middle of the tower and to the penthouse. Right in front of the door of what must have been the Leader's Office, two hobgoblins stand guard. You cannot see their face as they are wearing a blank mask, but you can see that they are heavily armed.
As you enter, you are greeted with the sight of a round office. Directly opposite of the door is a large desk with a large open window behind it. The Leader is standing near the window, staring pensively out to the village.
To the left is a long bench. Slouch lazily on the bench is an incredibly thin hobgoblin that almost look starved. His black hair is tied messily in a low ponytail. Despite his lack of decorum, there is a surprising clarity in his gaze. His hands are moving, wrist rolling and fingers tapping incessantly.
"Thank you, Barro," the Leader says as he turns to face the group. "I thank you for dealing with these riders with as little bloodshed as possible. My intention of calling you here is because your arrival has been foretold and I would like to offer some insight. I believe you are here because of the recent kidnappings in Erdelun, is that correct?"
{{Does anyone look inside the bag yet? Make a Perception or Investigation if you want to do it.}}
It is nice to hear we are on the right track, for we are, in a way, fairly lost. We will appreciate any insight. And i want to mention that i respect your desicion to let those things live after they killed some of your people. I am not sure if i would make the same judgment.
Karm does not look into the bag but he occasionly glaces at it. He is surely curious.
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Eremoz slings the belt over his shoulder and takes a look in the bag.
Perception: 9
He grabs Dvark and helps him in to the tower.
"Death is part of their duty to the village," the Leader says. "They will be remembered."
The Leader moves to take a seat on his desk and motions you to find some seating for yourself. Three chairs have been set aside near the bench and a couple of chairs are in front of the Leader's desk. The other hobgoblin in the room remains on the bench.
"I am Garro Uriah, Leader of the Village Hidden in the Forest," the Leader says. "I called you here to give you some insight on the kidnapping. We had only speculation when we heard the news from passing rangers or travelers, but with this attempted theft of the Thirteen-Shaded Jade, there is only one reason the children are missing. They are to be used to empower the jade to unlock its full potential."
"The Thirteen-Shaded Jade is a part of a set," Garro continues. "Each piece of the set has to be unlocked before its full potential power can be realized. Uniting all thirteen will grant a wish capable of altering reality itself to an extent. The Hidden Villages have been entrusted with their protection since the end of the Second Age, but over time some have gone missing. Only five remain in possession of the Hidden Villages."
"Each gem has a different activation or awakening process. The Jade, in particular, requires the Attuner, the person who awakens it, to understand the price of life and death. It is the heaviest price to be paid in activating the gems. It requires the life and blood of seven children and seven elders. The process itself requires the gems to be bathed in the blood of the children to signify the purity of life and the blood of elders to signify the acceptance of death over the period of seven nights with the seventh night being the Hollow Night. Unlike the other gems that have earned some notoriety, the Thirteen-Shaded Jade has only been awakened once before and that is at the end of the Second Age. We have only stories and unreliable records at that time, but it was said that the Jade is capable of resurrecting an entire army in a blink of an eye or a God. The potential for this to be abused is immense and that is why it has to be kept safe."
"As I've said before, your arrival has been foretold. Our wise woman made a prediction when I first become Leader of this village that one day my old enemy will return and five shall come to aid me. Have you examined the belt? When I first see it, I knew that the day of the prediction have come. The people that you fought are not under the orders of a mere person, a local bandit boss, or a mad wizard looking for power. That buckle is the sigil of someone that called themselves the Cobalt Sovereign. They had tried to steal the Jade once before many decades ago. I foiled their plan personally. It seems that they are trying it again. Back then, they were operating under the organization called the Residuum. I am unsure if it still exists now."
Eremoz, you look into the pack and find a translucent pearl, a couple of rolls of paper, and a couple of bottles of ink. You also find 50 copper and 250 bronze. Attached to the belt beside the pack is the pouch that the Leader tipped over to reveal fluorescent dust before. Inside you find some fleece, a couple of gum arabic, and an owl feather.
{{In terms of D&D items, you get a pearl worth 100 copper (or 100 gp), papers and fine inks worth 50 copper (or 50 gp), 50 copper, and 250 bronze. You also get a component pouch filled with fleece, gum arabic, and an owl feather.}}
Cob watches as Eremoz looks in the bag then does his best to follow along with what the hobgoblin leader says.
"So, could whoever gets a whole set of these jade stones rip open a gateway between dimensions or even between different times?" Cob asks. "That might be why your seer saw us coming."
Cob muses for a moment longer before adding. "You don't know where this Cobalt Sovereign might be located do you?"
Does Cobalt Sovereign or the Residuum do something in Karms 'mind palace'?
History: 21
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
"With just the Jade?" Garro asks. "No, the Jade doesn't have the capability. There is one gemstone whose power stems from dimensional or spatial energy and it is under the protection of the Village Hidden in the Mountain. It is more commonly known as the White-Point Star or, in its earlier designation, the Twelve-Pointed Diamond. You will have to find them to inquire about it, but I can give you directions. They are hidden in the Weaving Mountains to the east."
You know of the Weaving Mountain. It is a mountain range in the northeast of the Verdant Trammel. It lies in The Republic of Yvraithe's territory and It is roughly 2 to 3 weeks' travel from the border of Vortes. It is the tallest mountain in the continent of Vorgeris and it is sometimes called the Cradle of Heaven.
"Unfortunately, I know not of where they fled to," Garro adds. "I banished them as mercy, but it appears that they spat on my mercy and still seek the Jade for their own want. Following the trail of the symbol will probably lead you to them."
"Try the bigger cities," the slouching hobgoblin says. "This person or organization you're looking for has connections in high places and the cunning to stay hidden for so long. From the mercenary they hired, you can probably tell that you will be looking for a crime syndicate operating in big cities with many branches in small towns. Not a village; they would not deign a village to be enough unless the village have what they are looking for. You will also have to account for said organization or person posing or infiltrating another."
"This is Hiden Juiy," Garro says. "He is my Commissary and Chief Strategist."
Karm, you are not quite sure you have heard or read about any of them. However, you do remember that the prophecy that Old Man Jiminy gave before he sent you to the past mentioned something about a blue sovereign.
The trammel, the wild, the cradle says karm quiet, mostly to himself. I think we will have to seek out your friends in the mountains at some point, yes. Do you by chance know a hidden prince? Or a bleeding Queen?
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
"Hidden prince?" Garro asks. "I don't recall ever hearing such a title. There was a rumor of a hidden princess of the old Dusk Empire after the establishment of the Republic of Yvraithe, but that was centuries ago and the princess was pronounced dead at sea when a body washed on the northern coast with the face incredibly similar to the late Dusk Emperor and Empress. And a bleeding queen? I'm not sure I know about it either."
Eremoz takes the money from the pouch and divides it amongst the party. (10 copper and 50 bronze each)
He tosses the pouch to Drexon. “Maybe you magic guys can make use of this stuff.”
Cob looks in the pouch Eremoz tosses to Drexon but doesn't see anything he'd be able to make use of.
He then looks around at the others.
"Sounds to me then that these kids aren't sitting out in these woods anywhere," Cob says. "This blue crime lord might have operatives back in town. Might be worth just heading back and nosing around a bit."