The Guild - Game Thread

(The sweet, sweet sound of so much starter money fading into the wind. I'll have to make a note to see if he can guilt some of the guards back in Sydill into getting him a spare waterskin and cooking utensils.)

(Don't know if after all that he would be aware of the Holy Knight and checking out the church deal, but I'm more than fine sitting out for that to hear what happens later. Wouldn't have much insight to add there, alas.)

(Oh, if only dev wasn't so broke and physically weak, I'd buy all the maps possible!)

Runt will have to pass on the armor and make due with what she has.

Gendan sells her non-magic shield for 10gp. 

Gendan will also buy a water skin and give it to Deva.

(OOC Elsara is departing correct?  Are we 4 maning it from here on?)

(Yes.)

Alright then moving on.

Summer 57
Time: 6:00 PM

The party boards the Pegasus Carriage again and it takes flight. It flies straight towards the South East and then takes a turn to the South. You all see the familiar building on top of the hill that is Guild HQ. The carriage lands on Guild property and you all get off. Horace says, "I'm going to go and discuss a few things with Catherine. All questing is postponed until tomorrow."

Now that you're in Sydil, what are you going to do with the 4 hours you have?

(Im bad with location names: Is this the city were i commissioned the dragon tooth into a weapon? and if yes, what is the progress on it ?)

You didn't exactly commission it at a city. Horace sent it for crafting. It has only been 2 days.

Gendan will check the job board. 

Though you can't take any jobs officially until next day, the job board still lists three messages. (DM: If you feel like it, you can venture out on your own to the job location if you think the situation is an emergency)

Message 1:

"Can someone please check on my sister in Romel? My sister works in the castle as a maid. I have been exchanging letters with her daily using the mail service. However, she has suddenly stopped responding. I'm very worried about her. Please someone hurry to Romel and check it out. I can't pay you much. Only 5 GP total but please check it out. I would pay more if I could but I'm just a lowly farmhand."
- Jordan Maxim, Concerned Brother in Sydil

Catherine's Note: This may not be a coincidence since there appear to be others in Sydil because a few others have lost contact with Romel. A few days prior, The Rurik Union received a letter from Nylock Silkstone, King of Romel requesting assistance to treat a strange epidemic that seem to have broken out in the city. A Plague Doctor was sent there  to investigate. He was supposed to arrive at around Summer 57 and inform us but we haven't received a message yet. Due to the nature of epidemics, the reasons for the Plague Doctor not reporting his arrival could be a number of things. The situation being serious and him being busy; The Mail office succumbing to the disease and thus unable to send the mail; Trouble with the Insta-mail device are just three of the many possible reasons. Regardless, I personally think all of these things happening is strange. If a Guild Member were to take this mission and send information regarding the reported epidemic and the missing Doctor, the Rurik Union may reward them with more than just 5 GP. However, due to the all too familiar nature of the Union's bureaucracy, what they will pay, if they will even pay, all depends on the nature of information delivered.

(OOC: So basically this mission's reward is actually unknown)

Message 2:

"I am an aspiring playwright. I have written some plays in my small village of Milstorm for some time. The plays all had mediocre success. However, I was recently struck by inspiration. I locked myself in my underground hideout to avoid distractions and spent the last 96 hour writing my best play yet! "Tower of the Mad Barbarian Sword Wizard" It's about... [Catherine's Note: A huge portion of this letter was removed by me because the writer went on a 10 page tangent describing his work in boring detail. Because it's my job I had to read the full fucking thing. Yes, it was boring and horrible and I had to get a big pitcher of ale before continuing. Yes the story is shit.] I wrote with such fervor that I passed out upon completion of the script. When I woke up and came out of my hiding spot, I was told that the village was almost destroyed by orcs. I was considering doing this anyway because a work as good as my latest must be performed on a bigger stage with a bigger audience than what is available in Milstorm. However, with the village in shambles, I have no choice but to go to Drynia and pursue my passion. Were I able, I would run to Drynia myself, such is my excitement to have my work performed in front of hundreds. Alas, the road is long, winding and dangerous. I will surely be beset upon by the deadly Bronze Leaf Bandits were I, a frail intellectual, to journey alone. That is why I require escorts to protect me and my valuable work while I travel to Drynia. I can not pay more than a few gold pieces now but I am sure my play will be a supreme success. Then, I can utilize my profits to pay you handsomely."

- Writing with the utmost sincerity, the aspiring playwright, Hans Fredrick Volentio

Message 3:

"WANTED: Mercenaries to board a Union Ship and set sail to hunt down pirates.
The waters of Tristar Sea near Cosmer have been plagued by Orcish pirates of late. A few merchant and passenger vessels have been attacked thus far. We plan to put an end to this piracy once and for all. However, we are currently understaffed. This is why we are recruiting mercenaries to join the crew of "The Vortex" as she sets sail to hunt down these pirates. Each participant will be paid a total fee of 250 Platinum Pieces. However, this payment will be given only upon successful mission completion. Nautical or Military experience preferred but not necessary. Combat experience mandatory. Price not negotiable."

- Cosmer Coast Guard

Val will tell Horace about warning the Church too and he will excuse himself to the others, go and buy 2 waterskin for each member of the party and left it on their rooms and then go out to the forest for the rest of the day. He will return next morning after looking and gathering for material components for his spells and just be in the forest.

Changes applied to Character sheet. 2 extra waterskins added to everyone's character sheet (except Deva because adding those would exceed your weight limit)

DM: The party is free to leave unwanted stuff in their rooms. To do so, tell me what you leave behind and I will make changes accordingly.

"Until next time, Sir. Thank you again... for everything." On the heel of a final bow, Devarus takes his leave of the others, promising to be hanging around near the local guard's main watering hole, if not their HQ if any has need of them. He also sheepishly thanks Gendan and Val again for the waterskins, if he hadn't already.

Before committing to sharing tales with old comrades however, the aged half-drow asks around to see if his mother's been in town. As well as neatly putting away his old uniform, leather armor, and handaxes. If he hears of his mother whearabouts he goes to find her. But if not, he proudly gathers up at least the old guard off duty to spin the tale of the venture, even going so far to show off the lingering scar of where one of the orc's axes had cut deep. As time grows short however he passes along the warning to watch out for special ale or offers of drink from merchants or the like. And to keep a special eye out for the more passive becoming aggressive, or vice versa out of seeming no cause.

(Going forward, I need to remember to record where Dev gets hit just for these moments.)

Devarus leaves at home/picks up:

Edited the character sheet accordingly.

Will post the results of Deva's stories and questions about his mother shortly.

Deva manages to gather enough stuff to have cooking utensils added to his inventory.

Deva asks around to see if his mother has returned. The guards all shake their heads. Though probably not the answer Deva was seeking, for some reason, he begins thinking of his mother more than usual. All the memories keep rising up without any sign of stopping.

At first it was only the slowing of pace, as training inspired instinct took over while the active mind lost track of reality. He tried to do what he always did as memories -- both unwanted and not -- surfaced; compartmentalize to ease suppression. Sure, it would hurt later. It always did in some form or another without fail. But such efforts were all but wasted this time around. Even if it was not quite the same malady as elder elves tended to suffer, the close second slowly overpowered him...

Then he stood before his mother's home: a quaint place of stone that stood at the edge of town, and only on the brightest days in summer did the shadows over it yielded to light. As fast fading memories of having at least dealt with business at his own home played in the background, Dev stood before his mother home deep in thought. He still wondered how she managed to get the trees nearby to grow in such a way as to shield her home from much of the sunlight. Or how the same came to be out of shubbery. As far as he knew at least, the "practice" of singing and nurturing that sort of development was the domain of surface elves.

Fearing another trip down memory lane, Devarus makes to step inside, knowing the door to be unlocked. It was a freedom anyone in town could enjoy, but many knew all too well not to accept the open invitation. Years ago, a thief made the mistake. Few knew the whole truth of the incident in town; but, to the day, Dev wished he had found the thief before his mother.

Deva enters the house. As expected it is empty and being left abandoned for half a year, there's dust and cobwebs. The open door leads to a cozy living room with a fire place old cheap paintings on the wall. Before he can start taking another trip down memory lane however, he hears a well-mannered, yet strong voice from behind him, "Deva?" It is curious how rangers manage to easily sneak up on people. Deva turns around to see the tall form of his mother standing behind him at the door way. She looks exactly as he remembers last seeing her. Tall elven frame, the dark skin of the Drow, the light hazel eyes and the light brown hair. She stands in her expensive azure dress, worn over studded leather. The dark green cloak hangs over her shoulders. The two ornate swords hang sheathed from her belt. The Boots of Elvenkind and the Amulet of Nondetection make her truly near-impossible to detect. She smiles warmly at the old soldier and says, "Welcome home Deva. Sorry the place is such a mess. I've been a bit busy of late."

"So I've noticed, Mother." Devarus turns returning the warm smile. Try as he might, he still fidgeted on the spot, as has been done on similar occasions, uncertain of whether to run and hug her, or do something far more mature. The mask of latter holds true outwardly, but only to an extent when it came to his mother. Even after things began to change with her, she saw through lies better than most saw the light of the sun; especially those of self-deception. The thought brings back memories of his father.

Memories he is quick to suppress in squeezing his eye shut. "So I've noticed, Mother." He replies finally, playing off the rising of emotion with a morose sounding chuckle. Perhaps realizing it after the fact, Dev throws caution to the wind by striding up to hug her. "I am just glad you alright, Mother. These disappearances-..." Catching himself, he gestures for them to move on inside. "There is a good deal I wish to share with you. Uhm, perhaps over tea? I should get it started. You.. still keep it in the usual place, right?" And on he rambles, losing himself in concerns of hospitality half-remembered taught by his father. "I don't know if you heard yet, but I joined the guild recently. Even... even had my first real adventure. Proved to be far more than expected, but.. we survived." 

Gendan shares the jobs from the board with the others as they are around HQ. “Anyone want to join the Cosmer Coast Guard for some merc work? 250pp! that’ll go a long way...”

Selene hugs Deva back. She lets go at the mention of tea and says, "Take a seat. I'll prepare the tea for us. " Over tea, she looks a bit worried when Deva mentions the Guild. "The Guild you say? I've heard about that. Isn't that a bit dangerous? More so than the guard? I mean it sounds like the last adventure was a very difficult one."