Varin smiles. “ I understand, she is quite demanding, we should be able to get it done by tonight, including finding Garolon and installing it. We wouldn’t want to test the Serpent Queens patience.”
“Nera… now there was a name worth remembering. A famous thief — the one who walked into Baron Sukumvit’s Deathtrap Dungeon and came out alive. She was an idol of mine once. A true celebrity in Fang.
Her voice softens briefly, touched with genuine reverence.
“I dreamed of following in her footsteps, of facing that same gauntlet of traps and blades. But by the time I was of age, the Baron had transformed his spectacle into the Trial of Champions.”
A faint, sharp smile crosses her lips.
“Varin and I both entered… and survived.”
Her gaze drifts for a moment, as though remembering old scars.
“I followed Nera’s exploits for years, but then she vanished — slipped from the stage. Later I heard whispers… that she and her companions were captured by dark elves during a dungeon dive.”
She looks directly at Vydar now, eyes glimmering.
“The story goes she somehow escaped — saving some of her party and emerged with a dark half elf child. The child that escaped being sacrificed at the altar..a child named Vydar.”
Vydar stares at Serethys for a few moments, "She... She told me nothing of this... nothing other than that she was a thief and an adventurer..." His voice trails off. Had she just not wanted him to follow in her footsteps? Or did had she not wanted him to feel guilty for her having to give up her fame in order to raise him. He looks downward eyes focusing on nothing as he tries to process Serethys's words. Nera had eventually told him how he'd ended up in her care, and inadvertently how it had cost her her life as an adventurer. He'd never met the other surviving members of her party, but he's sure they resent him for the misfortune he'd brought on Nera. She knew he blamed himself, so hes sure this is why she kept her past from him.
He looks back up at Serethys. He'd had no idea that his and Nera's story had been spread to this extent, and he's not sure he likes that. How did word about him spread? Had it been Nera's party members? How did Serethys know all of this, down to the detail of his dark elf blood being tainted?
He closes his eyes and sighs heavily. He is hated by both the dark elves and the rest of the world for what he is, but it's not like any of it matters now. Not that, or the fact that Nera had hidden her past from him. He cannot be angry at her for wanting to protect him, and being angry at himself wont get him anywhere.
He then looks over to Amdaeng. "You came from Fang right? I want to go there. I want to see these trials."
(before she leaves) Serethys smiles. "Surviving the Deathtrap Dungeon changed her, as the Trails changed me. Its a curse you know, being known, being admired, fame. It dulls the edge that once kept you alive. Perhaps she realized that.
Her gave returns to Vydar, both steady and assuring.
“She must have re-evaluated what mattered most… and she chose you, Vydar. That wasn’t weakness. That was wisdom.”
“She saw potential in you — something worth the life she gave up. A new purpose. And I’ll admit…” her tone drops, smooth and genuine, “whatever path you’re walking now, I think it’s one she’d be proud to see.”
You are led back outside after the brief exchange, with the promise to have the Iron Hand completed and installed tonight. (Now off to the alchemist unless you have other business to attend to)
The weather has changed while you were within. A rain storm has rolled in from the ocean to the west. Mist and clouds descend on Port Blacksand.
Jharek feels more at ease now that they’ve made the decision of the artwork, mainly because he didn’t make the decision. He’s ready to head to the alchemist when the rest of the group is, especially now that they’ve found it to be raining
Having successfully negotiated for the Serpent Queen and Vydar discovering something about his past, you begin heading back toward the garden district where the alchemist has his store. The weather has turned to a drizzle and it is somewhat unpleasant out, with fog rising from the water. You begin crossing the bridge at the catfish river when you notice three rather unpleasant looking men on the far side. On their hips, a red crimson scarf.
"Well, well, what do we have here." (3)
A second smiles, "Bridge Toll", growls the leader (5). "5 gold a head, or maybe we take what we like."
From behind, you note two more men loitering at the far end of the bridge, both holding crossbows.
Amdaeng looked at the scarfs assuming they indicated affiliation, she looked to the others, " Can I beat the crap out of these guys or are they too connected?"
Zarbyn looks both ways, forward and back, before adding, "I'm all for dumping them into the river if we can manage that somehow!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Varin smiles. “ I understand, she is quite demanding, we should be able to get it done by tonight, including finding Garolon and installing it. We wouldn’t want to test the Serpent Queens patience.”
Vydar stares at Serethys for a few moments, "She... She told me nothing of this... nothing other than that she was a thief and an adventurer..." His voice trails off. Had she just not wanted him to follow in her footsteps? Or did had she not wanted him to feel guilty for her having to give up her fame in order to raise him. He looks downward eyes focusing on nothing as he tries to process Serethys's words. Nera had eventually told him how he'd ended up in her care, and inadvertently how it had cost her her life as an adventurer. He'd never met the other surviving members of her party, but he's sure they resent him for the misfortune he'd brought on Nera. She knew he blamed himself, so hes sure this is why she kept her past from him.
He looks back up at Serethys. He'd had no idea that his and Nera's story had been spread to this extent, and he's not sure he likes that. How did word about him spread? Had it been Nera's party members? How did Serethys know all of this, down to the detail of his dark elf blood being tainted?
He closes his eyes and sighs heavily. He is hated by both the dark elves and the rest of the world for what he is, but it's not like any of it matters now. Not that, or the fact that Nera had hidden her past from him. He cannot be angry at her for wanting to protect him, and being angry at himself wont get him anywhere.
He then looks over to Amdaeng. "You came from Fang right? I want to go there. I want to see these trials."
(before she leaves) Serethys smiles. "Surviving the Deathtrap Dungeon changed her, as the Trails changed me. Its a curse you know, being known, being admired, fame. It dulls the edge that once kept you alive. Perhaps she realized that.
Her gave returns to Vydar, both steady and assuring.
“She must have re-evaluated what mattered most… and she chose you, Vydar. That wasn’t weakness. That was wisdom.”
“She saw potential in you — something worth the life she gave up. A new purpose. And I’ll admit…” her tone drops, smooth and genuine, “whatever path you’re walking now, I think it’s one she’d be proud to see.”
You are led back outside after the brief exchange, with the promise to have the Iron Hand completed and installed tonight. (Now off to the alchemist unless you have other business to attend to)
The weather has changed while you were within. A rain storm has rolled in from the ocean to the west. Mist and clouds descend on Port Blacksand.
Jharek feels more at ease now that they’ve made the decision of the artwork, mainly because he didn’t make the decision.
He’s ready to head to the alchemist when the rest of the group is, especially now that they’ve found it to be raining
Amdaeng shook her head at Vydar, " They're a meat grinder for the amusement of the wealthy......****y the utterly exceptional few survive."
" Hmmmm, rain.....fun."
Having successfully negotiated for the Serpent Queen and Vydar discovering something about his past, you begin heading back toward the garden district where the alchemist has his store. The weather has turned to a drizzle and it is somewhat unpleasant out, with fog rising from the water.
You begin crossing the bridge at the catfish river when you notice three rather unpleasant looking men on the far side. On their hips, a red crimson scarf.
"Well, well, what do we have here." (3)
A second smiles, "Bridge Toll", growls the leader (5). "5 gold a head, or maybe we take what we like."
From behind, you note two more men loitering at the far end of the bridge, both holding crossbows.
(See OWLBEAR Rodeo for map)
https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/HHsHhfADc9Vc/The%20Known%20Dirt
Amdaeng looked at the scarfs assuming they indicated affiliation, she looked to the others, " Can I beat the crap out of these guys or are they too connected?"
"Well, this is not good!"
Zarbyn looks both ways, forward and back, before adding, "I'm all for dumping them into the river if we can manage that somehow!"
(A few perception rolls could be useful)
The apparent leader smiles, seeing that the group is considering fighting instead of paying the toll.
"We was hopin you'd see it that way. Have at em boyz, Longfinger will pays extra for elf ears."
Initiative: Everyone can declare actions, can change if needed as round goes on.
20 Vydar
18 (Bad guy)
16 Jherak, Lev
14 Lira
13 Zarbyn
10 (other 2 bad guys in front)
6 Amdaeng
6 Bad guys behind group.
Map on Owlbear rodeo.