The Blackmire Company: Campaign

Abigail sets down her bag and begins to sketch out a rough draft of the mountains' range as she knows it, attempting to get Lafetha and Sim's input. Once she is done, Abigail tries to get Shephard to indicate the locations, based on what she has drawn.

Shepherd again shakes his head at Sim.  "Your impatience is a vice that will get you killed."  He does listen and perk up at the vision comment.  "Old magic.  You traded a memory and in turn, were granted a memory.  Sometimes it takes a moment of clarity for the memory to come to fruition."  He looks out over to the village for a second.  "If you have issues with my brother, go to him.  I am not his keeper." 

As Abigail takes some ink to parchment, the Shepherd helps identify some of the landmarks to be on the lookout for.  Assisting in some shading of regions on where they may be.  But the one group.  The one group he doesn't have any inkling to is the one he only met emissaries.  Possibly the "Fire & Steel" that the Hn'ti woman referred to, due to over-exaggerated pointing.

Abigail thanks Shepherd. "Well, I am off the the Blood Raven to catch up with Diadochi and Yaalin; we need to choose our next move, and I fear whatever we go with will mean long, rough, dinkless weeks ahead. So, time to go live it up a bit!" She smiles and hums a bit as she heads for the Blood Raven Inn.

Sim sighs “What you take for impatience my friend I see as being invested in preventing a great evil from getting loose. As always I do appreciate your assistance and certainly mean no insult. If you want to stay out of it I will leave you alone and hope with all my heart the world allows you to follow that path. I found this”. Sim holds out the Spear of Yeth. “Do you have any interest in having it? I know it belonged to Yeth.”

Diadochi sips his drink "you're absolutely right there is a story there!" ((Diadochi tells the story of the white Hawks, and of the cave with the ogre, hearing about Weatherbee's traveling habits)). Diadochi looks at Yaalin, "sounds like someone we know, eh? See Yaalin here has a yearning to learn that overrides her sense of danger. Which as her body guard gives me great job security. But I can see why my companions would elect to have you to not accompany us. Away from the mountain, travel time can be between the difference between life an death,  marching on our stomachs and all that." 

After some more drinking "your veiws on the bringing civilization to the mountain are very interesting. Truth be told it is how the Loxodon feel about everywhere else. Got to lead by example, and all that.  Ideally if you were in charge of the mountain how would it change?" 

Shepherd simply gives Sim a look at first.  "You are impatient.  You asked to speak to someone, and were told to wait.  Spring is here and the snow is beginning to melt," he gives a bit of a shrug.  "Investment. Impatience.  Both will lead the fool to shout in a valley and be confused while crushed by the avalanche."  

He seems to turn, but once he notices the spear he stops.  Simply looking at it.  A lone finger tracing over it.  "It's not for me...." he says after a few silent minutes.  "It deserves to be returned.  Brought back to Yeth's hut."  He motions for Abigail, placing a few other directions on her crude map.  "This was Yeth's home.  Place it to rest here, if you would."

Mr. Weatherbee lets out a hearty laugh.  "If I was in charge?  Why would I want to be in charge?  I'm a researcher, not a politician.  I have no interest in collecting taxes."  He orders a few ales for the table, returning the favor.  "I suppose if anything, I would teach them of the Faith though.  That they too can be in the Iron Queen's good graces.  I mean, it isn't there fault they come from people who decided not to go with her when she headed out and created civilization.  It would be their fault if they listened to the teachings and then chose to ignore it.  Became apostates or dark artists."

He takes a swig of the ale, before placing it down with a bit of a smacking of his lips.  "Why, what would you do?  How would the Loxodon want to bring to a place like this?"

Lafetha tells Sim and Abigail what Shepherd says in Druidic.

history 11 to see if I know anything about The Path of the Archdruids.

She asks Shepherd what The Path of the Archdruids is/are if roll is low and he can tell her more.

Quote from OMGitsAC >>

Lafetha tells Sim and Abigail what Shepherd says in Druidic.

 

history 24 to see if I know anything about The Path of the Archdruids.

She asks Shepherd what The Path of the Archdruids is/are if roll is low and he can tell her more.

 

Things whisper in your ear as you hear the word Archdruid.  Memories that aren't your own flooding over and seeming to show you the meaning.  Unlike most druids - something gave you your ability to tap into the divine power of nature and the energies of the creatures known as Fey. 

Diadochi sputters "my dear sir, it's what we call a hypothetical, assuming you had the power, and time and money were no issue what would future of the ideal mountain be like. Though I suppose you've answered the question adequately despite the question's clumsy construction."

"What would it look like to me? I learned long ago to not right to force what I think is best on others. I'd like to see more civil minded services. Also goblins, villagers, and the Hn'ti seem to fear and hate each other, so I'd like to see peace and understanding between them. Also I wish there was no silver apple, also I here there is an ancient evil locked in a temple so I'd for that to not exist." Diadochi looks at Yaalin, "I suppose we might have the power to do something about that last part. But if we try and fail then the evil gets out and we'll leave the world worse than when we found it... A most unLoxodon-like notion." 

Diadochi will have polite conversation for a while and then retire for the night ((he'll rent a room again)). 

((Con roll to see how drunk Yaalin gets)) 4

With the drink getting to her head more than she expects Yaalin does not hide her scowl at the mention of bringing the Iron Queen to the mountains.

"Pre..Perh...Perhapsh it might not be best for you to accompany ush. As my friend hersh shaid shpeed is of the eshenshnce.  The Ancesheshtorsh would help me, but I do not exshpect the Iron Lady would. Whisch ish dishapointing caushe I want to hear more shtoriesh."  Shaking her head aware she is rambling, "Shorry, I feel I need Shleep.

She will excuse herself and stumble to a quiet corner and withdraw into her shell to sleep

Abigail eventually shows up to the Blood Raven.

((If the inn keeper is still awake, she will buy a drink and sit down to drink it alone before retiring to her room; otherwise, she will just head up - cross about missing an opportunity to do a bit of social drinking.)) 

Quote from Emzad >>

Abigail eventually shows up to the Blood Raven and sees the party is already underway, apparently. After settling in with her own drink, she will implore our traveling gnome, "Please, Mr. Weatherbee, wont you do us the honors of playing us a little something on your flute?" 

At some point before she gets too into her drink, she will tell Diadochi that she and Sim and Lafetha have been able to get some directions to the goblin villages, and that we should have a private group talk tomorrow about where we should go from here.

((unless something of particular interest is somehow brought up during the course of things I am going to assume the following: Abigail is going to spend the night much like her previous ones: making friends with the town folk, buying drinks for herself and others, encouraging entertainment, and eventually heading up to bed once there are not enough people to keep the conversations going. I will subtract another gold for a good evening - unless you think it needs to be more.)) 

 
Abigail leaves the camp after talking with Shepherd and the others.  It was already late during the conversation.  By the time of the hour+ walk to the Inn finishes, the townspeople are mostly leaving.  Diadochi, Yaalin, and Weatherbee seem to have gone to bed.  

That Night....

...At Camp,

In the middle of the night, at the camp, the sounds of horses neighing and panicking out through the camp.  Gunshots quickly follow.  Sim & Lafetha, you snap awake from your bedrolls under the stars.  

What do you do?

...In Diadochi's Room,

Diadochi is sound asleep.  The door opens and closes.  Not a sound.  Something shifts his weapon and shield under the bed.  The light sound of scraping metal on wood wafting to the room for a moment but not loud enough to stir the Loxodon.  Then, a small tickle on the foot.  Only causing him to stir.  The tickle tries again, before something grabs his trunk. It covering his breathing for just a moment.

Diadoch you snap awake with a deep breath.  Standing there in the room... Shale.  He puts his hands up to his lips, a 'shh' motion.  "We need to talk," he whispers.  

What do you do?

Diadochi looks Shale up and down, "I can see that. I'm very interested in seeing what you have to say as long as we can keep things civil"

Diadochi will stand up. He won't call for help unless Shale attacks. 

Shale doesn't move.  Keeping himself in the middle of the room.  Seemingly ready to bolt if need be; either through the window or the door.  

"I'm afraid you all put a damper in my plans in getting that apple..." he trails off for a second.  "Took me a year to do the research, and make sure I found a wizard who could do it.  Let alone uniting the goblins to be willing to sacrifice themselves."  He taps his finger against his side.  Seemingly impatient.  "But I've heard of a way.  The creature that lives by the stinky tree.  She can do it, all for the cost of some villagers on the mountain.  You know.  The ones you and your friends killed plenty of.  Rather bold of you.  I decided to sneak around and move through tunnels.  Be stealth and avoid violence.  You all slaughtered.  Effective."

Shale takes a small step towards Diadochi.  "We could get it, though.  The key.  Together.  Then eliminate the creature.  I will need your help to get to the apple after the portal awakens.  To go through whatever trials still linger in the beyond.  But once we have it, I will pay each of you triple of what Blackmire is paying for it."  There's a bit of a pause.  "What do you say?" 

Diadochi takes a sip from his waterskin and offers it to Shale, "I had hoped we had set everyone back on getting into the temple an a semi-permanent  'great evil locked away for another 1000 years' and all that. Orta would probably help us get in if we give her the head. The strategy of going in for a loud tumble is more from necessity than choice." Diadochi motions towards his chainmail.

Before we go down the hypothetical path of us working together I have several questions that need answers. What is it you want? More to the point why do you want this apple so badly? What do you know about my brother? You said you needed us alive, why? If you get the Apple will you leave the goblins?  insight 11 

If he answers the questions to Diadochi's satisfaction

 If he doesn't answer the questions to Diadochi's satisfaction

He shakes his head 'no' to the offer of the water.  

"The apple, stories make it appear to be a relic, or a vestige of power.  Perhaps it's containing a escaped demon.  Or a creature that came with a Starfall.  Can you imagine if someone simply had that kind of power and didn't know what to do with it?  Or if they know exactly what is? I need to bringit back to the High Temple for safe keeping. "

He snaps his fingers, giving a huff.  "You should know, I'm a Priest of the Faith.  A servant of the Iron Queen.  Out on a Holy Task to bring this relic somewhere safe.  It was in my earlier years that I actually came with others to your country.  Met your family.  Met you," there's a bit of a pause.  A shimmer runs across Shale's body and face.  The illusion of a goblin fading.  You see a small creature of similar build standing there, dark robes with a simple gold-crest of the Faith's symbol: a helmet surrounded by a halo of blades.  The face is covered in a wooden goblin mask.  And in another moment, the illusion returns.  This time, with you knowing it, you can still see through it.  
(Diadochi, you can give a Perception check, and a Religion check with advantage)

"Your brother's abilities in battle were rather well known.  Especially while you were both being raised.  There was interest in having him come to the Faith, perhaps studying and joining one of the Holy Orders.  I know he learned some, but I do not know how far his studies went.  But I did hear of a small war in your kingdom.  And his, apparent, death."  He takes a few more steps, as if wanting to pace around.  "From what I have found, I think there is more to the temple in the mountains.  I think whoever build that portal moved the temple somewhere else.  Your help is needed so I do not have to do it all on my own.  It is my divine task to finish it and bring it back.  But having allies is helpful.  First I was thinking of using a the winged beast and getting some of the people here and along the mountain.  But you all... you all were selected to already do this.  It shortens my timeline."  

(Terminology - Starfall:  A term used when something from the sky above falls back to this plane.  There are rumors and legends that anything from weird creatures, to precious metals and other riches sometimes fall from the old world.  It is something you (all), have seen before but never encountered directly. )

He seems honest enough in his intentions and what he says.

Sim wakes up hearing the gun shots and groans. “Can’t a guy get some solid sleep?” Then he rolls on to his knees stands up and attempts to stealth 6 then moves toward the sounds. perception 17

he has his bow at the ready. 

Lafetha wakes up and pulls her bow out, and tucks back behind a tree for cover.

perception 24

Skill]perception[/skill] 17