OOC: although on normal circumstances I would wait for Your posts before making mine, the circumstances are not normal ;) We welcome three new players who will join the story and I'd like to introduce them to the story. I can imagine you may be busy or resting, so the following few posts (or simply PM me) will let you catch up with conversations or things you would like to do in Greenest, so please do not pay too much attention to the time line :) You and I may jump a little for a while.
Cerau:
As your conversation with the elder healer was taking place in the morning, you have time till afternoon to do whatever you'd like.
Near the afternoon, a boy comes to you and passes the information from the governor, that your presence is requested in the Tower. The governor would like to discuss the next actions.
Tyto:
As you are returning with the hunting party, you reach the town well past noon. You part with your companions near a warehouse. The guard that invited you (everyone call him "Lefty" for some reason) asked you to stay a moment. He came back from the warehouse and brought a spear... Well, something that looked like a spear. The handle made of oak tree was almost seven feet long, engraved in various animals and plants. The tip was made of blackened steel and was shaped like a leaf. He holds it for a moment, but then passes it to you. "I... I'd like you to have it... It's too heavy for me to use and it bothers me it is just sitting there..." It definitely looks old, but it is well maintained and fits your hand perfectly.
At the time you are being given the spear, a maiden approaches and with a dig she passes the same message as Creau has received: your presence is requested in the Tower as the governor would like to discuss the next actions.
Swan:
The governor directs you to the tower but keeps walking slowly to match your speed. You notice that he still has his hand on your arm and the mans that approached you who by every minute looks more and more anxious. Escobert is following a few steps behind as you can hear his heavy footsteps. As you enter the tower, the man tries to pass away, but the governor turns to him. "Well, my young man, there is no need to be leaving... Every friend to Lady Alexander is a friend of the town, so mine as well, so please join us!"
OOC: Flach, Elmin and Katarina I took the liberty to bind your fates into one introduction.
Flach, Elmin and Katarina:
Your story has begun in the evening. You have arrived to the town of Greenest yesterday, just before the attack. During the panic, you have helped few of the townsfolk to baricade in the towns mill and to fend it off the attackers. That helped to convince the towns people you are not the one who may be responsible for the attack as every one of you stands out a lot around the simple townsfolk.
After a few tense hours, as the dawn's light have chased away the night, it was clear the attack was over. There were still a few people missing yet it looked like the worst was over. You were offered a place to rest and some food, however some time midday you were welcomed by few guards, a sturdy, read haired dwarf with a serious looking axe still covered in blood and a towering above him the governor of Greenest, Tarbaw Nighthill.
After some talks with the locals, who described your actions during the attack he came to you.
"The gods have truly blessed the Greenest tonight. I thought only we had our guardians but it looks like the others had theirs as well. Thank you in the name of the town, its citizens and my own, and please let me invite you to a dinner today at three in the keep. I am sure you will be happy to hear the other stories of this night and it is crucial to discuss what to do next..."
He left soon after along with the dwarf and the guards have gone about their businesses.
It is close to noon so you had some time to get your stuff together and even get a cold water bath in the stream near the mill.
The keep is visible with no problems. It's located in the middle of the town, on a small hill that ensures good visibility of the town and the area nearby. You can reach it in couple of minutes of a slow walk. As you eventually enter the gate, you may see the courtyard. The five walls guard the stables to the left, a blacksmith, the entrance to the tower and the barracks to the right..
As you are getting closer, you can spot a damaged roof of the tower, some cracked roof tiles still on the ground. Once asked, an elderly, gray bearded man directs you to the tower. He claims the dinner will be served in the castellans dining hall.
As you enter the hall, you walk up the stairs and by the smell alone you can find the dining hall without problems. At the entrance a red haired dwarf stands and greets you.
"Welcome my friends. Please join us as we need to discuss our future." He directs you to the dining hall where by the long table a few people sit. One of them is governor Tarbaw Nighthill who you already know.
OOC: Please make your introductions at this point, however if you like, please add other actions you'd like to do or to describe anything you'd like (or PM me). I'd like to continue once everyone made their posts
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM in Tyranny of Dragons
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
Swan gently extracts herself from the governor's enthusiastic hold and turns to address him with a respectful nod. "Governor Nighthill,"she starts, gesturing toward the anxious man at her side, "This gentleman has informed me that his friend is missing since the attack. I think we should prioritize searching for any missing citizens that are still out there."
As she listens to the governor's praises and plans for a fair in their honor, Swan shakes her head with a slight smile on her lips. "I am no hero, governor, just someone trying to do the right thing. And these potions, maybe they can be better used for those injured and require immediate aid. Of course Greenest needs to recover, and we will do whatever we can to help. Where would you like to talk?"
When Fiach agreed to go to Greenest, she had not considered for even a moment how the town got its name. Even the fact that it was set in the region known as Greenfields wasn’t enough of a clue to set her up for what she encountered.
She was a city girl – used to the muted shades of greys and browns that an urban sprawl offers. But it wasn’t long before she left the confines of her usual habitat before she began to realise that green wasn’t a colour in and of itself. There were so many shades – and more relevant – green seemed to go on for miles and miles.
Urban landscapes varied acutely and finding your way based upon features was easy – even for someone accustomed to travelling by the rooftops. Not so the countryside, and she was pleased she had ‘borrowed’ a rudimentary map to follow on her long journey.
In addition, she had also pocketed a couple of books – one a selection of children’s short stories and the other a beginners guide to Draconic. The reason for the story book was that it was written in Draconic – a way to teach herself the language with practical, albeit simple, phrases and sentence construction. She parted ways with both at her last stop – slipping them into the inventory of a merchant’s wares at the local market in Berdusk. She may be a rogue, but she was no thief. Morally she merely repositioned wealth, with no personal gain.
Having negotiated the rolling grasslands, she crossed the river Chionthar and knew her destination could not be too far now. There was plenty traffic on the Uldoon Trail, as this was clearly a popular caravan route.
Reckoning one more day of travel, Fiach set up camp and ate the remainder of the deer she’d managed to kill a few days before. As she started a small fire, there was a rustling in her backpack and a tiny pink nose and white whiskers poked out. Soon the twitching nose was followed by a head and a body. The small white mouse scurried into the gaps in the roots of the tree that Fiach’s back was now resting against.
“Think I didn’t see you?”Fiach asked. She continued to cook the venison as she spoke, her eyes never leaving the fire. “Not too long now,”she added, her voice soft and gentle. She fished into a pouch in her belt and pulled out a small piece of cheese. Her nose recoiled at the aroma before she placed the morsel on her left knee.
A second later, the mouse scurried from its hiding place and took the piece of cheese between its front paws, whilst sitting up on its rear legs, using its tail for balance. It too sniffed at the cheese before taking its first nibble.
“Yes Kapra, it’s a little mature – but I know you won’t eat what I’m having. You can take it or leave it.”
They spent the next hour sitting in silence, each eating their fill, before Fiach quenched the fire. Then she climbed the tree and settled herself for as much sleep as she could muster, given the circumstances.
At the first light of dawn, Fiach was already on the move. By mid-morning she was sure she was not far from the settlement her quest had brought her here for. What she would do when she got there, she had no idea. Actually, she had plenty of ideas, but which one would be the right one was a different matter.
Then, in the distance she saw the obvious signs of a town – Greenest.
###
If she were a conspiracy theorist, Fiach might have believed her arrival – just before the attack – was in some way linked to the mayhem that followed. Regardless, the impact of the attack was to reinforce her commitment to the cause and to ensure the loss of her former master was not in vain.
Being singled out for praise felt uneasy for Fiach. Her modus operandi was to execute (no pun intended) and exit without causing even the slightest ripple on the pond. Being commended felt initially uncomfortable but left a strangely positive feeling in her chest. Not addictive – she hoped – but welcome none the less.
Rested, bathed and fed, she headed to the keep in good time. As was her way, she walked slowly and surely, counting anything and everything that mattered…guards, weapons, entrances, exits. By the time she’d reached the top of the hill she’d mapped out all scenarios in her head and come up with a Plan A, B and C should another attack ensue.
Having survived on travelling rations for most of the journey – and the occasional piece of unseasoned meat, the aroma that hit her as she climbed the stairs reminded her of what she had missed. She smiled and nodded assent to the red-headed dwarf before taking a seat at the long table. Once more, she assessed the room and the people therein, and waited for someone else to take the lead on any conversation.
Katarina didn't know what to expect when she arrived in Greenest. But what she definitely did not expect was to find herself immediately thrust into the role of helping to save the town. And then being hailed as a hero by the mayor. Still, it does feel nice to be recognized for her abilities instead of mocked by her so-called 'betters' (that is to say, her three sisters and brother).
The feline is a little bit on the short side for a tabaxi, but with a very athletic figure. She's a well-groomed feline, with fine clothing that looks rather out-of-place on a warrior. Still, she has proven herself quite capable with both her axe and sword. Her brown fur is soft and still a bit damp from her bath in the stream.
She arrives at the dinner a bit early, curious to see the inside of the keep. She doesn't say much to start with; mostly she observes and responds politely when people make small-talk.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
The governor's face was struck by a sudden change of appearance. "...I thought he was part of your party..." he looks at Swan and back to the man, who now looking around nervously.
"Who are you, exactly?" asks the low voice of Escobert who stands behind the man with one hand laid casually on his still blooded axe.
The man is quite nervous however while surrounded by Swan, the governor and the castellan, his arms go limp and with a loud sight he speaks. "My name is Nesim Waladra and a friend and my master who is missing is Leosin Erlanthar..."
"Leosin? The half elf with short beard?"The governor asks with clear surprise in his voice and eyes and turns to Escobert and Swan as you too have heard this name before. "You need to tell us everything..."Nighthill looks to the sky "...and let's have something to eat too."
OOC: Before we shall continue, let's wait for everyone to join in the dining room.
He then walks back to the keep and leeds you to the dining chamber. There are ten chairs by a long table. "Let's wait for the rest of the party and then we will ask you to tell your side of the story, Nesim..." says Escobert in a quite unique tone. Calm and polite by all means but with this little thing that ensures if whatever he will say is anything but the truth, things will not be as nice.
Close to the table payed out with local food, stands a young halfling - in his 60's - wearing a blue cape and a hood that cover most of his face. The cape is decorated with several embroideries depicting a crystal ball. His left hands holds preciously a deck of card, those close enough recognises a Tarot Deck, and attached to his belt a large spellbook with golden runes on the cover. Around his neck, one could see a small amulet containing a crystal ball with tiny eyes - the symbol of Savras, The Lord of Divination. On his right shoulder stands a tiny owl that scan the room by rotating her head almost at 360 degrees and seems then to whispers in the halfling ear. The halfling listens carefully to what the others are saying but one can see that the food on the table is captivating his attention as well. He grabs a pastry and introduces himself:
"Glad to meet you all, I was expecting a good adventures but I did not foresee this event. There are powerful forces at work here. Anyway, my name is Elmin Heartmane, adjutant to the Great Reader Zigmund Rummynth of CandleKeep. It is nice to finally meet you all." Elmin removes his hood, revealing black messy hair, black mischievous eyes and a large smile, bowing slightly his torso as a sign of reverence.
Elmin has been traveling on a poney since a few weeks now, straight from the Great Library in the search of his mentor. Vision of Destruction and Death led him to the small village of Greenest, but without any clear reason why.
"I... I'd like you to have it... It's too heavy for me to use and it bothers me it is just sitting there..."
Tyto bowed down to Lefty the guard and took the spear out of his hands - gently, almost as if it was a living being.
"I thank you for this generous gift. It is very beautiful and it..." Tyto stood up to his full size and held the spear up in front of him. "suits my size perfectly. It must have a special history, how did it enter your possession?"
A short while after the halfling entered, the doors of the dining hall swung open again - this time for a creature that couldn't be more different from the little wizard: A sturdily-built half-giant, easily two or three times the size of the halfling, ducked through the door frame. His skin has a light blue hue, and his long unkempt hair and beard are a deep maroon coloration. Despite his size, everything about him, from his posture to his friendly smile and his wise, light-gray eyes, gives away his gentle spirit. His clothes are a worn-down ragtag patchwork of different materials - some typically used for clothing, like leather, and linen, some not so much, like still-green moss, and grass. Those who already know him notice that a new spear - long, with a tip of blackened metal that is shaped like a leaf, and a handle of oak that is engraved with themes of nature.
He glances around the long dining table, mustering all of the guests and giving everyone, especially the ones he hadn't met yet, a smile and a little nod. Over the years, Tyto had gotten used to taking the time to show new acquaintances that he didn't mean harm, for his stature could sometimes be unintentionally intimidating. When his gaze fell on Leosin, his eyes widened a bit in realisation of who this particular half-elf must've been, and he forgot the smile. Without taking his eyes off the half-elf, Tyto spoke to the governor in his deep and rumbling voice:
"Governor Nighthill, I am sorry to disturb your..."Tyto paused for a bit, searching for the right word. "Dinner party. But while I was out hunting, I have found tracks, that I believe belong to the attackers. They might lead us to their encampment."
OOC: Hi, sorry for the delay. Yesterday a war was started with wasps, that have started to build their nest in my walls... Got stung a few times but it looks like the battle was won. Tomorrow, I'll finish them off and hopefully the war will be won.
As Tyto enters the dining room, the governor stands up. "Well, we are still missing one person, but she is a bit buzzy but will join you a bit later..." At the same time, a young boy enters with a vase filled with stewand walks out to bring a full basket of bread and fruit followed by a few bottles of wine. "Thank you Roderic." says the governor. "As you all know, Greenest was attacked last night by some sort of band..." he pauses for a moment. "The 'Band' however had a dragon or at least they got it to help them." he pauses for a moment. "By some divine intervention, we were warned before the attack by a man named Leosin. A half-elf who came to town few days earlier, was seen as a member of the group who attacked the town and who now is missing." The frustration is getting more and more visible not only in his voice but in movements and gestures as well. "I have sent some letters to inform others, but it will take time before we even know if anyone will be able to help us, so for now, we are on our own. I... Need... Answers." He walks nervously by the door. "We are not a big town, but I have my own reserves. I can give each of you 250 gold pieces... IF you get me the answers. I need to know who they were, where they are, how many of them are there and last but not least - WHY did they attack us."
"Nothing's better then solving a good mystery ! Even better if it is rewarded." Elmin smile grows. "I would gladly join the expedition, you might like to have some arcane users and my owl can scout ahead." Elmin takes a few more pastry. "for the road", he whispers to his pet how looks at him with interrogative eyes. He closes his bag, secure his spellbook and froze a second as if he has forgotten something. "Can I ask you if you have ever seen Great Reader Zigmund Rummynth here ? My cards and visions have send me here, but he is nowhere to find. I am a bit concerned by his disappearance."
Swan is sitting at the table. She is a young woman in her early 20’s, with blonde hair and amber eyes. Her beautiful features are sharp and severe, her eyes bright with purpose, and when governor speaks of the missing elf Leosin, her eyes sharpen with focus. With a nod of understanding, she stands up from her seat, the light clinking of her spear catching everyone's attention. Her shield, bearing the emblem of Ilmater, rests on her back as a testament to her devotion to the god of endurance and suffering. "I am prepared to seek out answers, Governor," Swan says, the intensity in her gaze unflinching. "We'll find this Leosin and unravel the motivations behind these attacks. I am confident in the capabilities of everyone here who's willing to join the search; together, we will find answers."
The governor gives a noticeable bow with his head to Elmin and Swan with appreciation. "I am sorry, but that name has never touched my ears. Nevertheless I am very happy to hear your willingness to search for answers, but I must caution you... There is only the six of you and although last night you all have proven you are capable of handling many threats, this time you will be on their territory and standing against a small army of these creatures, sell-swords not mentioning the dragons..." He gives a noticeable pause for that thought to sink in. "We know they have attacked other settlements, but we were the first town on their path, and I doubt we were the last one, so this responsibility falls onto us to do everything in out power to find what are they going to do next."
Next he turns to Tyto. "Master druid, are you sure these were the tracks of the attackers?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM in Tyranny of Dragons
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
Acutely aware that her whole reason for being here might pass her by, Fiach intuitively knew she had to avoid her natural disposition – to hide in the shadows – and make herself known. It also felt a little awkward to pledge herself to a group effort. She was trained to be a solo operator and fitting in with other’s plans and looking out for people was not precisely second nature to her.
Yet there was that odd feeling again – it felt somehow good to see herself as part of a team.
Shrugging off this interesting – yet entirely side-tracking – inner debate, Fiach stepped forward. “Please consider me a member of the party.” She paused for a few moments. “If you’ll have me, of course. My name is Fiach by the way.”
Katarina glances up from her dinner. It's commoner food... but it's certainly not bad.
"Katarina is very good with both axe and sword," she says. "And she is also sneaky and sees clearly in the night... Katarina would be quite happy to help however she can."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Cerau practically floats into the room with a shy smile, her eyes don't take in the room around her at first as thoughts consume her mind in a flurry. She notices Swan first and drifts over to stand behind the warrior. "I'm glad you've recovered. I seem to have missed what answers we're looking for while I was... um..."She takes in the new people who have joined their small group.
"Hello. I'm Cerau,"she introduces herself with a half dazed expression on her face. She lays a delicate blue hand on Swan's shoulder, her cool skin tone a striking contrast to the warriors warmth. Cerau's is a lithe air genasi with a soft smile, kind eyes and gentle beauty. Her hair floats on an invisible breeze as she shakes her head with a soft laugh, clearing her mind. Her genuine smile to the new comers is full of hope and you swear you see a shimmer of starlight glean across her eyes.
"Escobert was kind enough to grant me a visit to Arso. I'm afraid he knows very little information that could be of help to our cause. It was nice to talk to him though..."she blushes and trails off as she makes eye contact with Tyto. "I trust your hunting was successful."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On a quest for exciting stories and moments of character development.
The governor gives yet another bow as Fiach and Katarina announce their readiness to join the party. "You are most welcome, m'ladies" he says raising his cup.
A faint smile appears on governors face when Cerau has entered the room. "...Oh, speaking of the devil... Miss Cerau." He waits a moment as she takes a free place... "So once we are all here, would you mind telling us, what is going on with Leosin?" he addresses Nesim who sits in the corner of the room.
Nesim shifts his body on the chair but it's clear he is very uncomfortable either with the questions, the company or the chair.
"I m an acolyte... a monk of the Seven Winds temple. Our monastery is on the edge of the Sunset mountains, but we travel a lot. I was assigned by the head of our order to accompany Leosin in his travels and to be of any service to him..."he pauses for a moment. "About a month or so ago, we have encountered a first burned settlement. A few houses burned and raised... No survivors. A week later we have found another settlement, a bit bigger and some survivors who told us they were attacked at night but had no idea by whom. Leosin was traveling these land since and was taking notes, talking to the people we have met, going to a shady places... He kept doing 'his stuff' until one day he told me we need to go here. We came three days ago and he asked me to stay at the inn and he was almost all day away. That evening the town was attacked. That's it. Now he is gone."
The castelan watches him carefully and as Nesim ends his story, they exchange concerned looks with the governor. He gives Escobert a slight head gesture and he takes the monk out of the room and once the door are closed behind them, he puts his hand on his chin.
"That doesn't really answers any of my questions but Leosin may know something we do not, yet there is a possibility, he is pursuing his own agenda..."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM in Tyranny of Dragons
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Cerau listens with curiosity, her interest piqued at the mention of the temple. She watches the monk intently, trying to discern how much of his tale is truth and how much is fiction. Insight26
"Arso did say that Leosin had been wearing one of those black robes in the camp. Perhaps he accidentally got tangled up with something he shouldn't have,"Cerau offers, or perhaps he sought it out. She didn't like assuming the worst of people, especially those she hadn't met. "What if he sought out the destruction in order to stop it from spreading further?"
[OCC: Has Cerau heard of the Seven Winds temple?]
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On a quest for exciting stories and moments of character development.
"Thank you, Cerau,"Swan says as her amber eyes catch the blue of hers, "I'm feeling much better now. This person here, says he knows of Leosin, and that Leosin is missing. We intend to find him and seek answers about the attack on Greenest."She explains to Cerau, then she turns to others in the room. Her gaze sweeps across the faces of her new companions. "I'm Swan,"She introduces herself with a warm smile. "It's nice to meet all of you."
Swan listens carefully to Nesim's story, her brows furrowing as she takes in the information. "If there's any chance that Leosin is pursuing his own agenda, then we must be prepared for the unknown. It might be more than just a simple investigation. We should gather as much information as we can and be ready for whatever we might encounter."
Fiach listens intently to the conversation – especially the information that Nesim imparts. It was clear to her that Leosin was either implicated in the attack, or at very least would be able to shed light on these recent happenings. But not knowing the relationships fully, she was wary of voicing such thoughts aloud. Finally, she decided to speak.
“Leosin seems to be the key. Find him and we will surely find answers. So…when do we leave?”
As Cerau studies the talk and the behavior of the man, she comes to a conclusion he is not lying. It would be easier if she knew him before, but it doesn't look the monk is hiding anything or pretending he is someone else. As for the temple, the name sounds familiar however Cerau cannot recall where has she heard it.
(...) "What if he sought out the destruction in order to stop it from spreading further?"
"It could be so..." says the governor "...but why?"and then he turns to Nesim. "What does your order or chapter... do?" He obviously has a hard time finding the right words, however Nesim gives him a slight, understanding bow.
"Our temple is a home of many monks and we look to the nature itself to better ourself and those around us. We study the elements and sometimes we can harness their power. The head of our order, master Liang, The Falling Leaf, is said to be able to fly and he can make fire to obey his will."he says bowing his head in respect.
(...) "If there's any chance that Leosin is pursuing his own agenda, then we must be prepared for the unknown. It might be more than just a simple investigation. We should gather as much information as we can and be ready for whatever we might encounter."
"That is what worries me too."says the governor looking at Swan. "You must be ready for anything and keep your eyes and ears sharp..."and he turns to Fiach.
OOC: although on normal circumstances I would wait for Your posts before making mine, the circumstances are not normal ;) We welcome three new players who will join the story and I'd like to introduce them to the story. I can imagine you may be busy or resting, so the following few posts (or simply PM me) will let you catch up with conversations or things you would like to do in Greenest, so please do not pay too much attention to the time line :) You and I may jump a little for a while.
Cerau:
As your conversation with the elder healer was taking place in the morning, you have time till afternoon to do whatever you'd like.
Near the afternoon, a boy comes to you and passes the information from the governor, that your presence is requested in the Tower. The governor would like to discuss the next actions.
Tyto:
As you are returning with the hunting party, you reach the town well past noon. You part with your companions near a warehouse. The guard that invited you (everyone call him "Lefty" for some reason) asked you to stay a moment. He came back from the warehouse and brought a spear... Well, something that looked like a spear. The handle made of oak tree was almost seven feet long, engraved in various animals and plants. The tip was made of blackened steel and was shaped like a leaf. He holds it for a moment, but then passes it to you. "I... I'd like you to have it... It's too heavy for me to use and it bothers me it is just sitting there..." It definitely looks old, but it is well maintained and fits your hand perfectly.
At the time you are being given the spear, a maiden approaches and with a dig she passes the same message as Creau has received: your presence is requested in the Tower as the governor would like to discuss the next actions.
Swan:
The governor directs you to the tower but keeps walking slowly to match your speed. You notice that he still has his hand on your arm and the mans that approached you who by every minute looks more and more anxious. Escobert is following a few steps behind as you can hear his heavy footsteps. As you enter the tower, the man tries to pass away, but the governor turns to him. "Well, my young man, there is no need to be leaving... Every friend to Lady Alexander is a friend of the town, so mine as well, so please join us!"
OOC: Flach, Elmin and Katarina I took the liberty to bind your fates into one introduction.
Flach, Elmin and Katarina:
Your story has begun in the evening. You have arrived to the town of Greenest yesterday, just before the attack. During the panic, you have helped few of the townsfolk to baricade in the towns mill and to fend it off the attackers. That helped to convince the towns people you are not the one who may be responsible for the attack as every one of you stands out a lot around the simple townsfolk.
After a few tense hours, as the dawn's light have chased away the night, it was clear the attack was over. There were still a few people missing yet it looked like the worst was over. You were offered a place to rest and some food, however some time midday you were welcomed by few guards, a sturdy, read haired dwarf with a serious looking axe still covered in blood and a towering above him the governor of Greenest, Tarbaw Nighthill.
After some talks with the locals, who described your actions during the attack he came to you.
"The gods have truly blessed the Greenest tonight. I thought only we had our guardians but it looks like the others had theirs as well. Thank you in the name of the town, its citizens and my own, and please let me invite you to a dinner today at three in the keep. I am sure you will be happy to hear the other stories of this night and it is crucial to discuss what to do next..."
He left soon after along with the dwarf and the guards have gone about their businesses.
It is close to noon so you had some time to get your stuff together and even get a cold water bath in the stream near the mill.
The keep is visible with no problems. It's located in the middle of the town, on a small hill that ensures good visibility of the town and the area nearby. You can reach it in couple of minutes of a slow walk. As you eventually enter the gate, you may see the courtyard. The five walls guard the stables to the left, a blacksmith, the entrance to the tower and the barracks to the right..
As you are getting closer, you can spot a damaged roof of the tower, some cracked roof tiles still on the ground. Once asked, an elderly, gray bearded man directs you to the tower. He claims the dinner will be served in the castellans dining hall.
As you enter the hall, you walk up the stairs and by the smell alone you can find the dining hall without problems. At the entrance a red haired dwarf stands and greets you.
"Welcome my friends. Please join us as we need to discuss our future." He directs you to the dining hall where by the long table a few people sit. One of them is governor Tarbaw Nighthill who you already know.
OOC: Please make your introductions at this point, however if you like, please add other actions you'd like to do or to describe anything you'd like (or PM me). I'd like to continue once everyone made their posts
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
Swan gently extracts herself from the governor's enthusiastic hold and turns to address him with a respectful nod. "Governor Nighthill," she starts, gesturing toward the anxious man at her side, "This gentleman has informed me that his friend is missing since the attack. I think we should prioritize searching for any missing citizens that are still out there."
As she listens to the governor's praises and plans for a fair in their honor, Swan shakes her head with a slight smile on her lips. "I am no hero, governor, just someone trying to do the right thing. And these potions, maybe they can be better used for those injured and require immediate aid. Of course Greenest needs to recover, and we will do whatever we can to help. Where would you like to talk?"
When Fiach agreed to go to Greenest, she had not considered for even a moment how the town got its name. Even the fact that it was set in the region known as Greenfields wasn’t enough of a clue to set her up for what she encountered.
She was a city girl – used to the muted shades of greys and browns that an urban sprawl offers. But it wasn’t long before she left the confines of her usual habitat before she began to realise that green wasn’t a colour in and of itself. There were so many shades – and more relevant – green seemed to go on for miles and miles.
Urban landscapes varied acutely and finding your way based upon features was easy – even for someone accustomed to travelling by the rooftops. Not so the countryside, and she was pleased she had ‘borrowed’ a rudimentary map to follow on her long journey.
In addition, she had also pocketed a couple of books – one a selection of children’s short stories and the other a beginners guide to Draconic. The reason for the story book was that it was written in Draconic – a way to teach herself the language with practical, albeit simple, phrases and sentence construction. She parted ways with both at her last stop – slipping them into the inventory of a merchant’s wares at the local market in Berdusk. She may be a rogue, but she was no thief. Morally she merely repositioned wealth, with no personal gain.
Having negotiated the rolling grasslands, she crossed the river Chionthar and knew her destination could not be too far now. There was plenty traffic on the Uldoon Trail, as this was clearly a popular caravan route.
Reckoning one more day of travel, Fiach set up camp and ate the remainder of the deer she’d managed to kill a few days before. As she started a small fire, there was a rustling in her backpack and a tiny pink nose and white whiskers poked out. Soon the twitching nose was followed by a head and a body. The small white mouse scurried into the gaps in the roots of the tree that Fiach’s back was now resting against.
“Think I didn’t see you?” Fiach asked. She continued to cook the venison as she spoke, her eyes never leaving the fire. “Not too long now,” she added, her voice soft and gentle. She fished into a pouch in her belt and pulled out a small piece of cheese. Her nose recoiled at the aroma before she placed the morsel on her left knee.
A second later, the mouse scurried from its hiding place and took the piece of cheese between its front paws, whilst sitting up on its rear legs, using its tail for balance. It too sniffed at the cheese before taking its first nibble.
“Yes Kapra, it’s a little mature – but I know you won’t eat what I’m having. You can take it or leave it.”
They spent the next hour sitting in silence, each eating their fill, before Fiach quenched the fire. Then she climbed the tree and settled herself for as much sleep as she could muster, given the circumstances.
At the first light of dawn, Fiach was already on the move. By mid-morning she was sure she was not far from the settlement her quest had brought her here for. What she would do when she got there, she had no idea. Actually, she had plenty of ideas, but which one would be the right one was a different matter.
Then, in the distance she saw the obvious signs of a town – Greenest.
###
If she were a conspiracy theorist, Fiach might have believed her arrival – just before the attack – was in some way linked to the mayhem that followed. Regardless, the impact of the attack was to reinforce her commitment to the cause and to ensure the loss of her former master was not in vain.
Being singled out for praise felt uneasy for Fiach. Her modus operandi was to execute (no pun intended) and exit without causing even the slightest ripple on the pond. Being commended felt initially uncomfortable but left a strangely positive feeling in her chest. Not addictive – she hoped – but welcome none the less.
Rested, bathed and fed, she headed to the keep in good time. As was her way, she walked slowly and surely, counting anything and everything that mattered…guards, weapons, entrances, exits. By the time she’d reached the top of the hill she’d mapped out all scenarios in her head and come up with a Plan A, B and C should another attack ensue.
Having survived on travelling rations for most of the journey – and the occasional piece of unseasoned meat, the aroma that hit her as she climbed the stairs reminded her of what she had missed. She smiled and nodded assent to the red-headed dwarf before taking a seat at the long table. Once more, she assessed the room and the people therein, and waited for someone else to take the lead on any conversation.
Katarina didn't know what to expect when she arrived in Greenest. But what she definitely did not expect was to find herself immediately thrust into the role of helping to save the town. And then being hailed as a hero by the mayor. Still, it does feel nice to be recognized for her abilities instead of mocked by her so-called 'betters' (that is to say, her three sisters and brother).
The feline is a little bit on the short side for a tabaxi, but with a very athletic figure. She's a well-groomed feline, with fine clothing that looks rather out-of-place on a warrior. Still, she has proven herself quite capable with both her axe and sword. Her brown fur is soft and still a bit damp from her bath in the stream.
She arrives at the dinner a bit early, curious to see the inside of the keep. She doesn't say much to start with; mostly she observes and responds politely when people make small-talk.
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Swan:
The governor's face was struck by a sudden change of appearance. "...I thought he was part of your party..." he looks at Swan and back to the man, who now looking around nervously.
"Who are you, exactly?" asks the low voice of Escobert who stands behind the man with one hand laid casually on his still blooded axe.
The man is quite nervous however while surrounded by Swan, the governor and the castellan, his arms go limp and with a loud sight he speaks. "My name is Nesim Waladra and a friend and my master who is missing is Leosin Erlanthar..."
"Leosin? The half elf with short beard?" The governor asks with clear surprise in his voice and eyes and turns to Escobert and Swan as you too have heard this name before. "You need to tell us everything..." Nighthill looks to the sky "...and let's have something to eat too."
OOC: Before we shall continue, let's wait for everyone to join in the dining room.
He then walks back to the keep and leeds you to the dining chamber. There are ten chairs by a long table. "Let's wait for the rest of the party and then we will ask you to tell your side of the story, Nesim..." says Escobert in a quite unique tone. Calm and polite by all means but with this little thing that ensures if whatever he will say is anything but the truth, things will not be as nice.
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
Close to the table payed out with local food, stands a young halfling - in his 60's - wearing a blue cape and a hood that cover most of his face. The cape is decorated with several embroideries depicting a crystal ball. His left hands holds preciously a deck of card, those close enough recognises a Tarot Deck, and attached to his belt a large spellbook with golden runes on the cover. Around his neck, one could see a small amulet containing a crystal ball with tiny eyes - the symbol of Savras, The Lord of Divination. On his right shoulder stands a tiny owl that scan the room by rotating her head almost at 360 degrees and seems then to whispers in the halfling ear. The halfling listens carefully to what the others are saying but one can see that the food on the table is captivating his attention as well. He grabs a pastry and introduces himself:
"Glad to meet you all, I was expecting a good adventures but I did not foresee this event. There are powerful forces at work here. Anyway, my name is Elmin Heartmane, adjutant to the Great Reader Zigmund Rummynth of CandleKeep. It is nice to finally meet you all." Elmin removes his hood, revealing black messy hair, black mischievous eyes and a large smile, bowing slightly his torso as a sign of reverence.
Elmin has been traveling on a poney since a few weeks now, straight from the Great Library in the search of his mentor. Vision of Destruction and Death led him to the small village of Greenest, but without any clear reason why.
Portent Rolls: 6, 1
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
"I... I'd like you to have it... It's too heavy for me to use and it bothers me it is just sitting there..."
Tyto bowed down to Lefty the guard and took the spear out of his hands - gently, almost as if it was a living being.
"I thank you for this generous gift. It is very beautiful and it..." Tyto stood up to his full size and held the spear up in front of him. "suits my size perfectly. It must have a special history, how did it enter your possession?"
A short while after the halfling entered, the doors of the dining hall swung open again - this time for a creature that couldn't be more different from the little wizard: A sturdily-built half-giant, easily two or three times the size of the halfling, ducked through the door frame. His skin has a light blue hue, and his long unkempt hair and beard are a deep maroon coloration. Despite his size, everything about him, from his posture to his friendly smile and his wise, light-gray eyes, gives away his gentle spirit. His clothes are a worn-down ragtag patchwork of different materials - some typically used for clothing, like leather, and linen, some not so much, like still-green moss, and grass. Those who already know him notice that a new spear - long, with a tip of blackened metal that is shaped like a leaf, and a handle of oak that is engraved with themes of nature.
He glances around the long dining table, mustering all of the guests and giving everyone, especially the ones he hadn't met yet, a smile and a little nod. Over the years, Tyto had gotten used to taking the time to show new acquaintances that he didn't mean harm, for his stature could sometimes be unintentionally intimidating. When his gaze fell on Leosin, his eyes widened a bit in realisation of who this particular half-elf must've been, and he forgot the smile. Without taking his eyes off the half-elf, Tyto spoke to the governor in his deep and rumbling voice:
"Governor Nighthill, I am sorry to disturb your..." Tyto paused for a bit, searching for the right word. "Dinner party. But while I was out hunting, I have found tracks, that I believe belong to the attackers. They might lead us to their encampment."
OOC: Hi, sorry for the delay. Yesterday a war was started with wasps, that have started to build their nest in my walls... Got stung a few times but it looks like the battle was won. Tomorrow, I'll finish them off and hopefully the war will be won.
As Tyto enters the dining room, the governor stands up. "Well, we are still missing one person, but she is a bit buzzy but will join you a bit later..." At the same time, a young boy enters with a vase filled with stewand walks out to bring a full basket of bread and fruit followed by a few bottles of wine. "Thank you Roderic." says the governor. "As you all know, Greenest was attacked last night by some sort of band..." he pauses for a moment. "The 'Band' however had a dragon or at least they got it to help them." he pauses for a moment. "By some divine intervention, we were warned before the attack by a man named Leosin. A half-elf who came to town few days earlier, was seen as a member of the group who attacked the town and who now is missing." The frustration is getting more and more visible not only in his voice but in movements and gestures as well. "I have sent some letters to inform others, but it will take time before we even know if anyone will be able to help us, so for now, we are on our own. I... Need... Answers." He walks nervously by the door. "We are not a big town, but I have my own reserves. I can give each of you 250 gold pieces... IF you get me the answers. I need to know who they were, where they are, how many of them are there and last but not least - WHY did they attack us."
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
"Nothing's better then solving a good mystery ! Even better if it is rewarded." Elmin smile grows. "I would gladly join the expedition, you might like to have some arcane users and my owl can scout ahead."
Elmin takes a few more pastry. "for the road", he whispers to his pet how looks at him with interrogative eyes.
He closes his bag, secure his spellbook and froze a second as if he has forgotten something. "Can I ask you if you have ever seen Great Reader Zigmund Rummynth here ? My cards and visions have send me here, but he is nowhere to find. I am a bit concerned by his disappearance."
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Swan is sitting at the table. She is a young woman in her early 20’s, with blonde hair and amber eyes. Her beautiful features are sharp and severe, her eyes bright with purpose, and when governor speaks of the missing elf Leosin, her eyes sharpen with focus. With a nod of understanding, she stands up from her seat, the light clinking of her spear catching everyone's attention. Her shield, bearing the emblem of Ilmater, rests on her back as a testament to her devotion to the god of endurance and suffering. "I am prepared to seek out answers, Governor," Swan says, the intensity in her gaze unflinching. "We'll find this Leosin and unravel the motivations behind these attacks. I am confident in the capabilities of everyone here who's willing to join the search; together, we will find answers."
The governor gives a noticeable bow with his head to Elmin and Swan with appreciation. "I am sorry, but that name has never touched my ears. Nevertheless I am very happy to hear your willingness to search for answers, but I must caution you... There is only the six of you and although last night you all have proven you are capable of handling many threats, this time you will be on their territory and standing against a small army of these creatures, sell-swords not mentioning the dragons..." He gives a noticeable pause for that thought to sink in. "We know they have attacked other settlements, but we were the first town on their path, and I doubt we were the last one, so this responsibility falls onto us to do everything in out power to find what are they going to do next."
Next he turns to Tyto. "Master druid, are you sure these were the tracks of the attackers?"
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
Acutely aware that her whole reason for being here might pass her by, Fiach intuitively knew she had to avoid her natural disposition – to hide in the shadows – and make herself known. It also felt a little awkward to pledge herself to a group effort. She was trained to be a solo operator and fitting in with other’s plans and looking out for people was not precisely second nature to her.
Yet there was that odd feeling again – it felt somehow good to see herself as part of a team.
Shrugging off this interesting – yet entirely side-tracking – inner debate, Fiach stepped forward. “Please consider me a member of the party.” She paused for a few moments. “If you’ll have me, of course. My name is Fiach by the way.”
Katarina glances up from her dinner. It's commoner food... but it's certainly not bad.
"Katarina is very good with both axe and sword," she says. "And she is also sneaky and sees clearly in the night... Katarina would be quite happy to help however she can."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Cerau practically floats into the room with a shy smile, her eyes don't take in the room around her at first as thoughts consume her mind in a flurry. She notices Swan first and drifts over to stand behind the warrior. "I'm glad you've recovered. I seem to have missed what answers we're looking for while I was... um..." She takes in the new people who have joined their small group.
"Hello. I'm Cerau," she introduces herself with a half dazed expression on her face. She lays a delicate blue hand on Swan's shoulder, her cool skin tone a striking contrast to the warriors warmth. Cerau's is a lithe air genasi with a soft smile, kind eyes and gentle beauty. Her hair floats on an invisible breeze as she shakes her head with a soft laugh, clearing her mind. Her genuine smile to the new comers is full of hope and you swear you see a shimmer of starlight glean across her eyes.
"Escobert was kind enough to grant me a visit to Arso. I'm afraid he knows very little information that could be of help to our cause. It was nice to talk to him though..." she blushes and trails off as she makes eye contact with Tyto. "I trust your hunting was successful."
On a quest for exciting stories and moments of character development.
The governor gives yet another bow as Fiach and Katarina announce their readiness to join the party. "You are most welcome, m'ladies" he says raising his cup.
A faint smile appears on governors face when Cerau has entered the room. "...Oh, speaking of the devil... Miss Cerau." He waits a moment as she takes a free place... "So once we are all here, would you mind telling us, what is going on with Leosin?" he addresses Nesim who sits in the corner of the room.
Nesim shifts his body on the chair but it's clear he is very uncomfortable either with the questions, the company or the chair.
"I m an acolyte... a monk of the Seven Winds temple. Our monastery is on the edge of the Sunset mountains, but we travel a lot. I was assigned by the head of our order to accompany Leosin in his travels and to be of any service to him..." he pauses for a moment. "About a month or so ago, we have encountered a first burned settlement. A few houses burned and raised... No survivors. A week later we have found another settlement, a bit bigger and some survivors who told us they were attacked at night but had no idea by whom. Leosin was traveling these land since and was taking notes, talking to the people we have met, going to a shady places... He kept doing 'his stuff' until one day he told me we need to go here. We came three days ago and he asked me to stay at the inn and he was almost all day away. That evening the town was attacked. That's it. Now he is gone."
The castelan watches him carefully and as Nesim ends his story, they exchange concerned looks with the governor. He gives Escobert a slight head gesture and he takes the monk out of the room and once the door are closed behind them, he puts his hand on his chin.
"That doesn't really answers any of my questions but Leosin may know something we do not, yet there is a possibility, he is pursuing his own agenda..."
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
Cerau listens with curiosity, her interest piqued at the mention of the temple. She watches the monk intently, trying to discern how much of his tale is truth and how much is fiction. Insight 26
"Arso did say that Leosin had been wearing one of those black robes in the camp. Perhaps he accidentally got tangled up with something he shouldn't have," Cerau offers, or perhaps he sought it out. She didn't like assuming the worst of people, especially those she hadn't met. "What if he sought out the destruction in order to stop it from spreading further?"
[OCC: Has Cerau heard of the Seven Winds temple?]
On a quest for exciting stories and moments of character development.
"Thank you, Cerau," Swan says as her amber eyes catch the blue of hers, "I'm feeling much better now. This person here, says he knows of Leosin, and that Leosin is missing. We intend to find him and seek answers about the attack on Greenest." She explains to Cerau, then she turns to others in the room. Her gaze sweeps across the faces of her new companions. "I'm Swan," She introduces herself with a warm smile. "It's nice to meet all of you."
Swan listens carefully to Nesim's story, her brows furrowing as she takes in the information. "If there's any chance that Leosin is pursuing his own agenda, then we must be prepared for the unknown. It might be more than just a simple investigation. We should gather as much information as we can and be ready for whatever we might encounter."
Fiach listens intently to the conversation – especially the information that Nesim imparts. It was clear to her that Leosin was either implicated in the attack, or at very least would be able to shed light on these recent happenings. But not knowing the relationships fully, she was wary of voicing such thoughts aloud. Finally, she decided to speak.
“Leosin seems to be the key. Find him and we will surely find answers. So…when do we leave?”
As Cerau studies the talk and the behavior of the man, she comes to a conclusion he is not lying. It would be easier if she knew him before, but it doesn't look the monk is hiding anything or pretending he is someone else. As for the temple, the name sounds familiar however Cerau cannot recall where has she heard it.
"It could be so..." says the governor "...but why?" and then he turns to Nesim. "What does your order or chapter... do?" He obviously has a hard time finding the right words, however Nesim gives him a slight, understanding bow.
"Our temple is a home of many monks and we look to the nature itself to better ourself and those around us. We study the elements and sometimes we can harness their power. The head of our order, master Liang, The Falling Leaf, is said to be able to fly and he can make fire to obey his will." he says bowing his head in respect.
"That is what worries me too." says the governor looking at Swan. "You must be ready for anything and keep your eyes and ears sharp..." and he turns to Fiach.
"As soon as you are all well and ready. If lady Alexander is ready, you may go even now..." he looks at Swan.
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
The halfling approaches "I agree, let's move now. The longer we wait, the further they could go"
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation