Nare smiles, completely overjoyed by everyone's enthusiasm for both him and Ororanna joining. It takes him a lot to not jump around in wild excitement, so he does what he usually does, which is stand and stare with a big goofy smile.
His eyes widen at Sera's sudden display of affection for Hastos's rear. He holds back a snort for it, instead averting his gaze towards where the cage that his mouse was in. "Thank you, thank you all,"he says, slightly with a bow. Bringing his cane in front of him, then one leg at a time, he shuffles down towards the cage. Knowing it would take a bit longer than he originally thought, he turns around as says, "I am honored to be here. You won't regret it," before setting Lennie the mouse into it so it can finish its food.
"The armies..." he mumbles along with Sera.
Staring at the candle in Hastos's hand, he scrunches his nose like trying to sniff it. "The candle maker? Strange. I wonder if she has more in store... Is she still around? I would like to visit her."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- Skippy Doo from A Pup Named Scooby Doo
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
“Dana said sorry for giving you a candle? Why’s this town got so many strange customs” Merkas hops up to sit on the end of the bed. “As for what direction first then clearing a dead dragons hoard sounds good enough. My mother used to say ‘You gotta run before you crawl’, which I didn’t think made any sense until I was older and figured she meant you have to get where you’re going before you do what needs done. So, as much as I think helping another city with an invasion is important, I think the dragon hoard is a better step for Santkh right now. Bucky wants to come along, Gramma Kasi and Amelista can watch over the guild and recruit, Maybe Ory you should try to clear some of Amelista’s stack of small errands?”
Ororana looks equally puzzled by Dana's actions. "That's hardly a custom. Dana gave candles out to the refugees, but nothing like that. They're usually just simple white candles imbued with scents to cover up the stench and provide heat during the night. She might be the sweetest person in town, but she's an odd one. She's helped treat wounds for free, sang lullabies to orphaned children, and frequently shared her rations with the hungry. I've seen her sneak out of Santekh at night. Where she goes is anyone's guess, and I figure she just likes the solitude of the desert. I used to do the same thing in the graveyard, before I saw... well... what I thought were ghosts. Turns out they were just cultists." She lets out an embarrased laugh. "Most people in Santekh are haunted by something though. Some people drink; some people dance; some people sneak away to a quiet place. But no one just starts doling out Very Rare magic items."
Hearing Merkas's suggestion, she smiles. "You got it, boss! I'll take the new recruits that Kasi and Amelista find tonight, and head out in the morning."
Bastion Turn Orders: Recruit (Amelista and Kasi): Amelista and Kasi recruit 4 Defenders (Kasi found 1 Mage (Half-Orc), and Amelista finds 1 Gladiator (Human) and 2 Commoners (Kender) Run Bounties 1x/Day (Ororana): Guild Dues (10 Stl per Bounty, 70 Stl per week) Ororana takes the Spy, the Apprectice Wizard, and the Scout on the first bounty.
New NPCs unlocked! Mage:Orr the Unseen. Orr (they/them) works in the redlight district that has been established just beyond the Residential District. They provide lighting and special effects for the dancers. Preferring to remain hidden backstage, they aren't particularly social, but they have a gentle spirit. They came to Santekh with the Refugees brought here by Dawnbound and have been earning an honest living using their simple illusions with their orc friends, who became the erotic dancers.
Benefit: Orr can provide entertainment for the guild members if you build a Theater and use the Bastion Order Empower. At the end of a rehearsal period, each character who contributed to the concert or production can make a DC 15 Charisma (Performance) check. If more of these checks succeed than fail, you and any other character who contributed to the concert or production each gain a Theater die, a d6. This die increases to a d8 when you reach level 13 and a d10 when you reach level 17. At any point after the rehearsals end, a character can expend their Theater die to roll it and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw they make. If a character hasn’t expended their Theater die before gaining another, their first die is lost.
Gladiator: Cyrus. Cyrus (he/him) was a rebel fighter in the Dragon Army wars, but was captured. His combat prowess earned him a role as a Gladiator until he won his freedom. He's middle-aged and hobbled from years of gritty combat, but his skill with Spear and Shield is well respected. He was recruited initially into Tekel's mercenary band, but defected after their fall from grace. He's grateful to play his part for a mercenary guild that isn't corrupted.
Benefit: Combat and Maintain only.
Commoner: Catt Ringglimmer (she/her). Catt is an elder kender who loves jewels. She tends to be playful and mischeivous, and is not quite as clever as she thinks she is. She wanted to run Amber's store in her abscence, but Amber knows better than to trust another kender with bags of freshly cut gems. So, she mostly gambles in The Laughing Dwarf Dance Hall for coin. Being recruited to Dawndbound was a huge boon for her, as she's always wanted to travel and go on adventures.
Benefit: If you build a Gaming Hall, she can work the tables if she has 3 other Hirelings. You can use the Bastion Order Trade to gain Stl each week. A Gaming Hall offers recreational activities ranging from chessboards and darts to card games and dice. When you issue the Trade order to this facility, you commission the facility’s hirelings to turn the Gaming Hall into a gambling den for 7 days. At the end of the seventh day, roll percentile dice and consult the Gambling Den Winnings Table to determine your portion of the house's winnings:
Commoner: Ringmar Downyheels (he/him). Ringmar is a young kender with a lot of imagination and gumption. Inspired by Dawnbound, he was almost too eager to be recruited. Now that Santekh is mostly construced, he has a lot of time on his hands, which tends to get him in typical Kender misheif. Amelista saw an opportunity to keep those nimble fingers busy by giving him a position in the guild. He views Merkas as a legend, and the true leader of Dawnbound, and wants nothing more than to prove his worth to Merkas.
Benefit: If you build a Garden, you can use the Bastion Order Harvest. A Bastion can have more than one Garden. Each time you add a Garden to your Bastion, choose its type from the following options: Decorative Garden. This aesthetically pleasing Garden is full of flowers and topiaries. Food Garden. Delicious mushrooms or vegetables are grown here. Herb Garden. This Garden contains rare herbs, some of which have medicinal uses. Poison Garden. This Garden is stocked with plants and fungi from which poisons and antitoxins can be extracted. While in your Bastion, you can instruct the facility’s hireling to change the Garden from one type to another. This work takes 21 days, during which time no other activity can occur in this facility. When you issue the Harvest order to this facility, you commission the facility’s hireling to collect items of value from the Garden as noted in the Garden Harvest table. The work takes 7 days and costs you no money.
GARDEN HARVEST Decorative: The Garden produces either ten exquisite floral bouquets or ten vials of Perfume. Each of these can be sold for 5 Stl.
Food: The Garden produces mushrooms and vegetables that are sold to earn you 50 GP.
Herb: The Garden produces herbs that are used to create a Potion of Healing.
Poison: The Garden produces plants that are used to create either two vials of Antitoxin or one vial of Basic Poison.
Enlarging a Garden. You can enlarge your Garden to a Vast facility by spending 2000 Stl. A Vast Garden is equivalent to two Roomy Gardens, and can include two of the same type of garden or two different types. When you issue the Harvest order to a Vast Garden, each component garden produces its own harvest A Vast Garden gains 1 additional hireling.
Ororana will take Orr the Unseen, Cyrus, and Ringmar Downyheels on the first bounty. Each NPC will gain enough XP to take their first level. Orr will become a Wizard. Cyrus will become a Blood Hunter. Ringmar Downyheels will become a Druid.
Sera watched the settlement around her hum with restless energy. The Dawnbound guild was still little more than talk and promise, but already people were busy — running messages, debating plans, sketching maps and lists she barely followed. It made her head spin.
She wasn’t made for paperwork. She’d been a street girl once — quick with her hands, quicker with her wits — not some officer buried in parchment.
After a few drills with her sword, she felt the now-familiar weariness creep in. The armor drank from her; she could feel it. But she also felt its strength running through her veins like heat. It was a bargain she’d chosen to live with.
Back in her small room at the Laughing Dwarf Inn, she looked at the old gown folded across the chair. It didn’t fit her anymore — not since the armor had bound itself to her. Still, she wasn’t about to spend the evening sulking. With a mix of concentration and curiosity, she coaxed the living shell to shift. The dark chitin rippled like liquid night, adjusting under her will. The neckline deepened, forming a daring cleavage showing her breast. It parted reluctantly to expose her belly some.Her crotchless part widened. A black silken lioncloth covered ...enough. Showing skin made it feel vulnerable but Sera convinced it Her shoulders gleamed under the faint candlelight, and the armor’s veins hid making it look like polished obsidian. Not so alien.
Sera turned in the mirror and allowed herself a small, confident smile. She looked dangerous — and beautiful in a way that made her heart beat faster.
She draped a sheer wrap over her arms, strapped her sword at her side — she wouldn’t go unarmed, not in these times — and took one last look around the room. The laughter and music from below reached her ears.
“Just one night,” she murmured to herself. “One night to breathe before tomorrow.”
With that, she opened the door and stepped downstairs into the inn’s warm, golden glow — ready to lose herself in the noise, the music, and the promise of a few carefree hours.
The Laughing Dwarf Dance Hall is bustling with activity. There's music, dancing, gambling, and drinking. Most people seem to be having a good time. Glynnis hired a full staff after Dawnbound returned with the supplies, and she decided to keep them on board to handle the increased business. As such, Glynnis and Handar are sitting at the bar chatting when you come downstairs.
Handar gets up and approaches you to appraise your new outfit. "Ye look... beautiful Sera! All me life I ne'er seen a dress like that! Musta set ye back a few Steel, but it's worth erry coin!" He gives you a hug, but releases quickly when he feels how... lithe the material feels. Glynnis orders you a glass of wine and sets it on the bar. "S'pose ye'll be moving out to yer new guild hall now's ye got one." She says, trying to sound like she won't miss making breakfast for you in the morning. "Bout time... I'm losing money by not rentin' the rooms." Her smile is warm, but she hides it under a frothy beer.
Handar raises an eyebrow at Glynnis. "The kids" are most of what she talks about, and he knows it. "Ye know... now's Glynnis got the place staffed, I ain't doin' much round here. If'n... ye know... the guild needs a chef..."
Hastos spends the afternoon cleaning up and washing. He cleans up his new armor and dons the old, worn red cloak. He sets his great axe in the hilt on his back and the scimitar at his side. He also slings the shield across his back. He looks like he’s about to present for inspection rather than an evening in a pub. But given how things seem to go in that tavern, he’s not going to take any chances.
Hastos heads down in time to see Handar release Sera from a hug. He could help but notice Sera’s form was well represented and her dress made her look almost regal.
Hastos meets Handars hand with a firm handshake and Glynnis feels like she’s trying to break his neck with her hug. Hastos turns to Sera and gives her a hug as well. He resists the instinctual reaction to pull away as he feels the armor writhe ever so slightly at their contact. “Wow, you look… stunning, Sera!” He says, slightly regretting his choice in attire.
Hastos scans the room for potentially shady characters. (Perception: 17). “Everyone behaving themselves so far?” Hastos asks Sera as he concludes his scan of the room.
Merkas heads over to the Smithy near closing time, attempting to catch the Forgemaster as they close up and inform them that Barkly will be coming on a trip shortly with Dawnbound. After a short discussion and heartfelt thanks for stabling the strider while he and his companions were tied up with the council and court events he bids them farewell and heads in to visit with Barkly. (Cast Speak with Animals from the Ring of Animal Influence)
”Hey Barkly; these guys treat you well today? They aren’t forcing you to work too hard right?” Having the ability to directly speak with the strider only increased the kenders verbal deluge whenever he stopped by for a visit “Looks like we’re going out to search a dragon cave in a day or so, I hope you will come, I miss our times together. Really didn’t think that searching a graveyard would take almost a month away from me, helping people can take a long time, y’know. I might need to find a way to stop getting older if every time we accomplish something it takes a month or more for all the councils and stuff to decide how good it is. We’re likely taking Buckeran along. You think you could carry both him and I?”Merkas settles in beside Barkly leaning against their flank. Pulling out some raw mutton he picked up in one of the shops for her to munch on. “Oh, I never asked if you liked the name Barkly, if you have another you like better then I will call you that. Sure is nice being able to chat with you properly now. Kasi did a great job with this ring. Going to have to make some choices soon though, got to many of these items that need special attention, The guild symbol, this bloodvial, my cloak - looks good on me don’t it?, the ring that will keep us healthy together, and I gotta decide if the fancy book Bucky was worried about is something I wanna test out, whatcha think?”
Hastos spends the afternoon cleaning up and washing. He cleans up his new armor and dons the old, worn red cloak. He sets his great axe in the hilt on his back and the scimitar at his side. He also slings the shield across his back. He looks like he’s about to present for inspection rather than an evening in a pub. But given how things seem to go in that tavern, he’s not going to take any chances.
Hastos heads down in time to see Handar release Sera from a hug. He could help but notice Sera’s form was well represented and her dress made her look almost regal.
Hastos meets Handars hand with a firm handshake and Glynnis feels like she’s trying to break his neck with her hug. Hastos turns to Sera and gives her a hug as well. He resists the instinctual reaction to pull away as he feels the armor writhe ever so slightly at their contact. “Wow, you look… stunning, Sera!” He says, slightly regretting his choice in attire.
Hastos scans the room for potentially shady characters. (Perception: 17). “Everyone behaving themselves so far?” Hastos asks Sera as he concludes his scan of the room.
Glynnis laughs heartily, "As well as c'n be expected! A few cups an' plates broken here er there, but we ne'er been busier! Me only concern is runnin' outta beer! But there's still coffee. I dunna un'erstand wha' these locals like abou' the taste, but it's cheap an' brews quick." She appraises your new armor. "Seems yer doin' well too! The new look suits ye' better than that busted up gear ye been clangin' around in. What're ye two up to t'day?"
Merkas heads over to the Smithy near closing time, attempting to catch the Forgemaster as they close up and inform them that Barkly will be coming on a trip shortly with Dawnbound. After a short discussion and heartfelt thanks for stabling the strider while he and his companions were tied up with the council and court events he bids them farewell and heads in to visit with Barkly. (Cast Speak with Animals from the Ring of Animal Influence)
”Hey Barkly; these guys treat you well today? They aren’t forcing you to work too hard right?” Having the ability to directly speak with the strider only increased the kenders verbal deluge whenever he stopped by for a visit “Looks like we’re going out to search a dragon cave in a day or so, I hope you will come, I miss our times together. Really didn’t think that searching a graveyard would take almost a month away from me, helping people can take a long time, y’know. I might need to find a way to stop getting older if every time we accomplish something it takes a month or more for all the councils and stuff to decide how good it is. We’re likely taking Buckeran along. You think you could carry both him and I?”Merkas settles in beside Barkly leaning against their flank. Pulling out some raw mutton he picked up in one of the shops for her to munch on. “Oh, I never asked if you liked the name Barkly, if you have another you like better then I will call you that. Sure is nice being able to chat with you properly now. Kasi did a great job with this ring. Going to have to make some choices soon though, got to many of these items that need special attention, The guild symbol, this bloodvial, my cloak - looks good on me don’t it?, the ring that will keep us healthy together, and I gotta decide if the fancy book Bucky was worried about is something I wanna test out, whatcha think?”
There is a moment of shocked silence as Barkly processes the fact that she can understand you. "You... you are Blue Spark that is my rider. I remember. Nice little Blue Spark. Blue Spark give me heat. Gold Flame killed my rider, but Blue Spark protects. Barkly... one name is as good as another. I was called Froonth." The name sounds like a furnace being lit. "I will be called Barkly. What does it mean? Barkly... what is a Barkly?"
Though the ring does seem to give you the ability to talk to Barkly, it doesn't necessarily give her the ability to have deep meaningful conversations about magic items, but you can sense her emotional warmth. She's glad to be able to stretch her legs again.
The blacksmiths thank you for Barkly's services, and hand you a pouch of Stl. "She's a good worker. Kept the furnace goin' during the long hours, and helped us make a few magic items we couldn'ta made without 'er! We got our forge workin' round the clock now, so we don' really need 'er help anymore. But if'n we can rent 'er from time ta time ta make more Flame Bullets, we'd appreciate it!"
Nare smiles, completely overjoyed by everyone's enthusiasm for both him and Ororanna joining. It takes him a lot to not jump around in wild excitement, so he does what he usually does, which is stand and stare with a big goofy smile.
His eyes widen at Sera's sudden display of affection for Hastos's rear. He holds back a snort for it, instead averting his gaze towards where the cage that his mouse was in. "Thank you, thank you all," he says, slightly with a bow. Bringing his cane in front of him, then one leg at a time, he shuffles down towards the cage. Knowing it would take a bit longer than he originally thought, he turns around as says, "I am honored to be here. You won't regret it," before setting Lennie the mouse into it so it can finish its food.
"The armies..." he mumbles along with Sera.
Staring at the candle in Hastos's hand, he scrunches his nose like trying to sniff it. "The candle maker? Strange. I wonder if she has more in store... Is she still around? I would like to visit her."
<---- Skippy Doo from A Pup Named Scooby Doo
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Ibahalii Vriwhulth; Test Run
“Dana said sorry for giving you a candle? Why’s this town got so many strange customs” Merkas hops up to sit on the end of the bed. “As for what direction first then clearing a dead dragons hoard sounds good enough. My mother used to say ‘You gotta run before you crawl’, which I didn’t think made any sense until I was older and figured she meant you have to get where you’re going before you do what needs done. So, as much as I think helping another city with an invasion is important, I think the dragon hoard is a better step for Santkh right now. Bucky wants to come along, Gramma Kasi and Amelista can watch over the guild and recruit, Maybe Ory you should try to clear some of Amelista’s stack of small errands?”
Loyalty Begets Honour
Ororana looks equally puzzled by Dana's actions. "That's hardly a custom. Dana gave candles out to the refugees, but nothing like that. They're usually just simple white candles imbued with scents to cover up the stench and provide heat during the night. She might be the sweetest person in town, but she's an odd one. She's helped treat wounds for free, sang lullabies to orphaned children, and frequently shared her rations with the hungry. I've seen her sneak out of Santekh at night. Where she goes is anyone's guess, and I figure she just likes the solitude of the desert. I used to do the same thing in the graveyard, before I saw... well... what I thought were ghosts. Turns out they were just cultists." She lets out an embarrased laugh. "Most people in Santekh are haunted by something though. Some people drink; some people dance; some people sneak away to a quiet place. But no one just starts doling out Very Rare magic items."
Hearing Merkas's suggestion, she smiles. "You got it, boss! I'll take the new recruits that Kasi and Amelista find tonight, and head out in the morning."
Bastion Turn Orders:
Recruit (Amelista and Kasi): Amelista and Kasi recruit 4 Defenders (Kasi found 1 Mage (Half-Orc), and Amelista finds 1 Gladiator (Human) and 2 Commoners (Kender)
Run Bounties 1x/Day (Ororana): Guild Dues (10 Stl per Bounty, 70 Stl per week)
Ororana takes the Spy, the Apprectice Wizard, and the Scout on the first bounty.
New NPCs unlocked!
Mage: Orr the Unseen. Orr (they/them) works in the redlight district that has been established just beyond the Residential District. They provide lighting and special effects for the dancers. Preferring to remain hidden backstage, they aren't particularly social, but they have a gentle spirit. They came to Santekh with the Refugees brought here by Dawnbound and have been earning an honest living using their simple illusions with their orc friends, who became the erotic dancers.
Benefit: Orr can provide entertainment for the guild members if you build a Theater and use the Bastion Order Empower.
At the end of a rehearsal period, each character who contributed to the concert or production can make a DC 15 Charisma (Performance) check. If more of these checks succeed than fail, you and any other character who contributed to the concert or production each gain a Theater die, a d6. This die increases to a d8 when you reach level 13 and a d10 when you reach level 17. At any point after the rehearsals end, a character can expend their Theater die to roll it and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw they make. If a character hasn’t expended their Theater die before gaining another, their first die is lost.
Gladiator: Cyrus. Cyrus (he/him) was a rebel fighter in the Dragon Army wars, but was captured. His combat prowess earned him a role as a Gladiator until he won his freedom. He's middle-aged and hobbled from years of gritty combat, but his skill with Spear and Shield is well respected. He was recruited initially into Tekel's mercenary band, but defected after their fall from grace. He's grateful to play his part for a mercenary guild that isn't corrupted.
Benefit: Combat and Maintain only.
Commoner: Catt Ringglimmer (she/her). Catt is an elder kender who loves jewels. She tends to be playful and mischeivous, and is not quite as clever as she thinks she is. She wanted to run Amber's store in her abscence, but Amber knows better than to trust another kender with bags of freshly cut gems. So, she mostly gambles in The Laughing Dwarf Dance Hall for coin. Being recruited to Dawndbound was a huge boon for her, as she's always wanted to travel and go on adventures.
Benefit: If you build a Gaming Hall, she can work the tables if she has 3 other Hirelings. You can use the Bastion Order Trade to gain Stl each week.
A Gaming Hall offers recreational activities ranging from chessboards and darts to card games and dice. When you issue the Trade order to this facility, you commission the facility’s hirelings to turn the Gaming Hall into a gambling den for 7 days. At the end of the seventh day, roll percentile dice and consult the Gambling Den Winnings Table to determine your portion of the house's winnings:
GAMBLING DEN WINNINGS:
d100 Winnings
01–33 3d6 Stl
34–50 1d6 × 10 Stl
51–85 2d6 × 10 Stl
86–95 4d6 × 10 Stl
96–00 10d6 × 10 Stl
Commoner: Ringmar Downyheels (he/him). Ringmar is a young kender with a lot of imagination and gumption. Inspired by Dawnbound, he was almost too eager to be recruited. Now that Santekh is mostly construced, he has a lot of time on his hands, which tends to get him in typical Kender misheif. Amelista saw an opportunity to keep those nimble fingers busy by giving him a position in the guild. He views Merkas as a legend, and the true leader of Dawnbound, and wants nothing more than to prove his worth to Merkas.
Benefit: If you build a Garden, you can use the Bastion Order Harvest. A Bastion can have more than one Garden. Each time you add a Garden to your Bastion, choose its type from the following options: Decorative Garden. This aesthetically pleasing Garden is full of flowers and topiaries. Food Garden. Delicious mushrooms or vegetables are grown here. Herb Garden. This Garden contains rare herbs, some of which have medicinal uses. Poison Garden. This Garden is stocked with plants and fungi from which poisons and antitoxins can be extracted. While in your Bastion, you can instruct the facility’s hireling to change the Garden from one type to another. This work takes 21 days, during which time no other activity can occur in this facility. When you issue the Harvest order to this facility, you commission the facility’s hireling to collect items of value from the Garden as noted in the Garden Harvest table. The work takes 7 days and costs you no money.
GARDEN HARVEST
Decorative: The Garden produces either ten exquisite floral bouquets or ten vials of Perfume. Each of these can be sold for 5 Stl.
Food: The Garden produces mushrooms and vegetables that are sold to earn you 50 GP.
Herb: The Garden produces herbs that are used to create a Potion of Healing.
Poison: The Garden produces plants that are used to create either two vials of Antitoxin or one vial of Basic Poison.
Enlarging a Garden. You can enlarge your Garden to a Vast facility by spending 2000 Stl. A Vast Garden is equivalent to two Roomy Gardens, and can include two of the same type of garden or two different types. When you issue the Harvest order to a Vast Garden, each component garden produces its own harvest A Vast Garden gains 1 additional hireling.
Ororana will take Orr the Unseen, Cyrus, and Ringmar Downyheels on the first bounty. Each NPC will gain enough XP to take their first level. Orr will become a Wizard. Cyrus will become a Blood Hunter. Ringmar Downyheels will become a Druid.
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
Sera watched the settlement around her hum with restless energy. The Dawnbound guild was still little more than talk and promise, but already people were busy — running messages, debating plans, sketching maps and lists she barely followed. It made her head spin.
She wasn’t made for paperwork. She’d been a street girl once — quick with her hands, quicker with her wits — not some officer buried in parchment.
After a few drills with her sword, she felt the now-familiar weariness creep in. The armor drank from her; she could feel it. But she also felt its strength running through her veins like heat. It was a bargain she’d chosen to live with.
Back in her small room at the Laughing Dwarf Inn, she looked at the old gown folded across the chair. It didn’t fit her anymore — not since the armor had bound itself to her. Still, she wasn’t about to spend the evening sulking. With a mix of concentration and curiosity, she coaxed the living shell to shift. The dark chitin rippled like liquid night, adjusting under her will. The neckline deepened, forming a daring cleavage showing her breast. It parted reluctantly to expose her belly some.Her crotchless part widened. A black silken lioncloth covered ...enough. Showing skin made it feel vulnerable but Sera convinced it Her shoulders gleamed under the faint candlelight, and the armor’s veins hid making it look like polished obsidian. Not so alien.
Sera turned in the mirror and allowed herself a small, confident smile. She looked dangerous — and beautiful in a way that made her heart beat faster.
She draped a sheer wrap over her arms, strapped her sword at her side — she wouldn’t go unarmed, not in these times — and took one last look around the room. The laughter and music from below reached her ears.
“Just one night,” she murmured to herself. “One night to breathe before tomorrow.”
With that, she opened the door and stepped downstairs into the inn’s warm, golden glow — ready to lose herself in the noise, the music, and the promise of a few carefree hours.
The Laughing Dwarf Dance Hall is bustling with activity. There's music, dancing, gambling, and drinking. Most people seem to be having a good time. Glynnis hired a full staff after Dawnbound returned with the supplies, and she decided to keep them on board to handle the increased business. As such, Glynnis and Handar are sitting at the bar chatting when you come downstairs.
Handar gets up and approaches you to appraise your new outfit. "Ye look... beautiful Sera! All me life I ne'er seen a dress like that! Musta set ye back a few Steel, but it's worth erry coin!" He gives you a hug, but releases quickly when he feels how... lithe the material feels. Glynnis orders you a glass of wine and sets it on the bar. "S'pose ye'll be moving out to yer new guild hall now's ye got one." She says, trying to sound like she won't miss making breakfast for you in the morning. "Bout time... I'm losing money by not rentin' the rooms." Her smile is warm, but she hides it under a frothy beer.
Handar raises an eyebrow at Glynnis. "The kids" are most of what she talks about, and he knows it. "Ye know... now's Glynnis got the place staffed, I ain't doin' much round here. If'n... ye know... the guild needs a chef..."
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
Hastos spends the afternoon cleaning up and washing. He cleans up his new armor and dons the old, worn red cloak. He sets his great axe in the hilt on his back and the scimitar at his side. He also slings the shield across his back. He looks like he’s about to present for inspection rather than an evening in a pub. But given how things seem to go in that tavern, he’s not going to take any chances.
Hastos heads down in time to see Handar release Sera from a hug. He could help but notice Sera’s form was well represented and her dress made her look almost regal.
Hastos meets Handars hand with a firm handshake and Glynnis feels like she’s trying to break his neck with her hug. Hastos turns to Sera and gives her a hug as well. He resists the instinctual reaction to pull away as he feels the armor writhe ever so slightly at their contact. “Wow, you look… stunning, Sera!” He says, slightly regretting his choice in attire.
Hastos scans the room for potentially shady characters. (Perception: 17). “Everyone behaving themselves so far?” Hastos asks Sera as he concludes his scan of the room.
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Merkas heads over to the Smithy near closing time, attempting to catch the Forgemaster as they close up and inform them that Barkly will be coming on a trip shortly with Dawnbound. After a short discussion and heartfelt thanks for stabling the strider while he and his companions were tied up with the council and court events he bids them farewell and heads in to visit with Barkly.
(Cast Speak with Animals from the Ring of Animal Influence)
”Hey Barkly; these guys treat you well today? They aren’t forcing you to work too hard right?” Having the ability to directly speak with the strider only increased the kenders verbal deluge whenever he stopped by for a visit “Looks like we’re going out to search a dragon cave in a day or so, I hope you will come, I miss our times together. Really didn’t think that searching a graveyard would take almost a month away from me, helping people can take a long time, y’know. I might need to find a way to stop getting older if every time we accomplish something it takes a month or more for all the councils and stuff to decide how good it is. We’re likely taking Buckeran along. You think you could carry both him and I?” Merkas settles in beside Barkly leaning against their flank. Pulling out some raw mutton he picked up in one of the shops for her to munch on. “Oh, I never asked if you liked the name Barkly, if you have another you like better then I will call you that. Sure is nice being able to chat with you properly now. Kasi did a great job with this ring. Going to have to make some choices soon though, got to many of these items that need special attention, The guild symbol, this bloodvial, my cloak - looks good on me don’t it?, the ring that will keep us healthy together, and I gotta decide if the fancy book Bucky was worried about is something I wanna test out, whatcha think?”
Loyalty Begets Honour
Glynnis laughs heartily, "As well as c'n be expected! A few cups an' plates broken here er there, but we ne'er been busier! Me only concern is runnin' outta beer! But there's still coffee. I dunna un'erstand wha' these locals like abou' the taste, but it's cheap an' brews quick." She appraises your new armor. "Seems yer doin' well too! The new look suits ye' better than that busted up gear ye been clangin' around in. What're ye two up to t'day?"
There is a moment of shocked silence as Barkly processes the fact that she can understand you. "You... you are Blue Spark that is my rider. I remember. Nice little Blue Spark. Blue Spark give me heat. Gold Flame killed my rider, but Blue Spark protects. Barkly... one name is as good as another. I was called Froonth." The name sounds like a furnace being lit. "I will be called Barkly. What does it mean? Barkly... what is a Barkly?"
Though the ring does seem to give you the ability to talk to Barkly, it doesn't necessarily give her the ability to have deep meaningful conversations about magic items, but you can sense her emotional warmth. She's glad to be able to stretch her legs again.
The blacksmiths thank you for Barkly's services, and hand you a pouch of Stl. "She's a good worker. Kept the furnace goin' during the long hours, and helped us make a few magic items we couldn'ta made without 'er! We got our forge workin' round the clock now, so we don' really need 'er help anymore. But if'n we can rent 'er from time ta time ta make more Flame Bullets, we'd appreciate it!"
Merkas receives 200 Stl.
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk